Our world is bigger

than the box.

Don & Millie Nelms, originally from Paris, Texas, have called Fayetteville, ​Arkansas home for over 50 years. Don started his first business selling Honda ​motorcycles in 1971 and a year later added Honda cars. Eventually Don owned ​and operated many automobile dealerships throughout Northwest Arkansas ​with Adventure Subaru being the most recent. The original location on College ​Ave is now home to the Nelms Foundation offices and the Nelms Dyslexia ​Center. Don & Millie enjoy their home in Fayetteville and their family’s nature ​preserve in Jasper, Arkansas. Don’s nature photography can be found in the ​Nelms Gallery in downtown Jasper and at www.nelmsgallery.com.


As a child, Don struggled with reading and spelling. At that time, little was ​known about dyslexia in the education community. He was able to find a safe ​place in his dad’s automobile repair shop where he could use his strengths ​working on cars. While more research and resources are available today, ​dyslexic children still struggle with school. The Don & Millie Nelms Foundation ​will focus on providing ways to improve the dyslexic experience for children ​and adults and advance conservation.

Watch the video below that includes Don’s story and was shown at the 2022 National ​Subaru Convention in Austin, Texas.

​Scott received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Science in Natural Resource ​Ecology from the University of Illinois. From 1996 - 2022 Scott worked with The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas, ​starting as a land steward and becoming director in 2003. During this time, the Conservancy worked with partners to ​create many positive state, federal, and private landowner conservation programs that improved habitat on more than a ​million acres in Arkansas. They also created and added to dozens of new natural areas, wildlife management areas, ​national wildlife refuges, state forests and nature preserves. In addition to work in Arkansas, Scott has helped develop ​conservation programs in Central America and Africa and was responsible for supporting the Conservancy’s North ​American fire restoration program. He previously worked as a wetland ecologist for the Illinois Natural History Survey. ​He has testified on conservation issues for congressional and state legislative committees, has assisted in the ​development of positive federal and state conservation legislation, and has authored or co-authored 20 articles and ​book chapters. He is a member of the Buffalo River Foundation’s Advisory Board, has received partnership awards from ​the US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Forest Service and was inducted into the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame in ​2016. Scott and his wife, Angela, live in Fayetteville and have two grown children Charlie and Annie.

Scott Simon, Director

scott@nelmsfoundation.org

Jessica has 20 years of experience working in administration and operations. While working for the Pulaski County Circuit & ​County Clerk, she assisted in the oversight of elections, court filings, land records, and human resources. After serving as ​Finance Director for a statewide political campaign and later as Project Manager for a multi-state retail operation, her family ​relocated to Northwest Arkansas. Since 2013, she has worked for the Nelms family in operations, human resources and benefit ​administration across their multiple businesses. She lives in Prairie Grove with her husband, Daniel, and their three sons, Aiden, ​Leo and Silas.

Jessica Robertson, Program Manager

jessica@nelmsfoundation.org

Back row, left to right: Rebecca Harris, CPA; Scott Price, Business Manager and Personal Assistant;​​Scott Simon, Director of the Foundation; Jessica Robertson, Program Manager.

Front row: Millie and Don Nelms


The foundation has started its first project, The Nelms Dyslexia Center. Foundation investments ​will be supporting this non-profit center over the next three years.


Don & Millie Nelms Foundation

2781 N College Ave

Fayetteville, AR 72703

(479) 332-4216