Mother and Daughter Named Best of the Best in 2023

Like mother, like daughter.

It’s always good to see women winning in business. And when it’s a family affair, that’s even better, especially for Apex Staffing’s owner Shannon Steed, and her daughter, Shelby Brogdon, O.D., an optometrist with McFarland Eye Care.

While they’ve both forged unique paths through very different fields, they share a common mission of building up others around them to develop strong teams. Shannon Steed and her team at Apex Staffing won Arkansas Democrat Gazette’s Best of the Best for Best Employment Agency 2023. Shelby Brogdon, O.D. following in her mother’s award-winning footsteps, was named Best Optometrist 2023.

No stranger to hard work, Shelby Brogdon graduated with honors from Optometry school in 2018. It was her mother, Shannon, who shaped her drive to succeed. Shelby said “growing up, I watched my mom work hard to reach her goals each and every day. She is truly an inspiration to me and the reason I am where I am today.”

This is not the first time the pair has been recognized by the same publications, either. Soiree’s Women to Watch recognized mother, Shannon Steed in 2019 and daughter, Shelby Brogdon in 2020. Further, Shannon’s business Apex Staffing has been nominated for the Best of the Best 8 times, winning 3 years in a row, while Shelby has been nominated 5 times, winning Best of the Best for 4 separate years in her category.

When asked how motherhood shaped her way in business, Shannon shared “Throughout business and in life, motherhood truly gives you perspective – always expect the unexpected and value the lessons along the way. I quickly learned in business you must work smarter, not harder.”

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette compiles the annual Best of the Best contest. Readers nominate people, places and services across 63 Arkansas counties. To see all of the Best of the Best winners and finalists, visit the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Digital Edition.