Buddy Philpot

Buddy Philpot

Family Adviser
Walton Enterprises

Since 2016, Buddy has served as the Senior Family Adviser on the Walton Enterprises team. Prior to joining Walton Enterprises, Buddy was the Executive Director of the Walton Family Foundation from 2001-2016. As Executive Director, he lead program strategy and grew the foundation’s annual grantmaking from $40 million in 2000 to $5 billion in 2016. Before joining the foundation, Buddy spent more than 20 years in commercial banking, joining the Arvest Bank Group in 1987 as a founding team member and later serving as President for 10 years. He continues to serve the bank as a member of the Board of Directors and on the Executive Loan Committee.

Buddy is an active board member on national and community non-profit initiatives serving as a Director at EFF, Building Charters Fund, a member of the Northwest Arkansas Council, a Director of Camp War Eagle and on the Finance Council at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Buddy is a founding Board Member of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Endeavor Foundation and The Jones Center for Families.

Buddy has a BSBA in Finance and Banking from the University of Arkansas and a Graduate Degree in Banking from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU.