TIFS Business Spotlight: Local Trade Partners is a world-class organization dedicated to providing barter opportunites
- Dennis McCaslin
- Aug 30, 2025
- 2 min read
Local Trade Partners (LTP), founded in Northwest Arkansas 2009 by seasoned entrepreneur and Certified Trade Executive Rolf Wilkin, is a transformative trade exchange network strengthening small businesses across Northwest and Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma.
By facilitating cashless barter transactions, LTP connects businesses and boosts local economies.
Wilkin, inspired by the success of trade exchanges elsewhere and supported by a modest inheritance, launched LTP to provide Northwest Arkansas businesses a new growth avenue through trading goods and services.
With no local exchange available, he built LTP from scratch, driven by a mission to enhance regional commerce.
A Louisiana State University graduate with a degree in Business Administration, Wilkin grew Eureka Pizza into a regional favorite, earning accolades like Northwest Arkansas Business of the Year and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
A community leader, he’s served as past president of the Arkansas Restaurant Association, Chairman of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, and a board member of the National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE).
Wilkin resides in Fayetteville with his wife, Ceri, and their three children, staying active in the Springdale Rotary Club and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Wilkin’s vision was amplified by Rich Creyer, LTP’s Senior Broker and a Certified Trade Broker.
With an economics degree from Lehigh University and decades of experience at IBM, AIG, and as CEO of the Employee Benefits Resources Center, Creyer joined LTP full-time in 2010, growing membership from 90 to over 1,000 by 2019.
A Prairie Grove resident and Paul Harris Fellow with the Springdale Rotary Club, Creyer is dedicated to driving business growth through strategic trade.
LTP officer manager Kady Bright serves as a "bridge" connecting individuals, fostering relationships that go beyond transactions. Kady serves as the liaison and coordinator for the entire process and is knowledgeable in all aspects of barter and the power of cshless transactions.
Spanning Eureka Springs to Fort Smith, west into Oklahoma, and north to Branson, Missouri, LTP’s network has grown significantly, surpassing 250 members within two years and reaching 1200 by 2024.
By enabling cashless trades, LTP helps businesses increase revenue, reduce costs, and utilize excess inventory or capacity while fostering lasting partnerships. From retail and hospitality to construction and professional services, LTP’s diverse membership reflects the region’s economic vitality. Looking Ahead
With strategic insight and a commitment to community, LTP’s team continues to empower local businesses, making barter a catalyst for success.
For more information or to join the network, contact Local Trade Partners at 479-461-0126. to discover how LTP can help your business thrive.
