Business Weekly E-Newsletter
March 31- April 4, 2008
Fort Smith Leadership Week Highly Successful
Thanks to the efforts of several local volunteers including Rob Ratley of OG+E, Ricky Cross of AT&T and Michael Callan of AOG during Fort Smith Leadership Week March 24-28, several new members were recruited and several current members will be raising their level of investment in the State Chamber/AIA.
The volunteers worked with State Chamber/AIA staff and joined staff members in meetings over the five-day period with prospective and current members including Sparks Health System, The Trane Co., Carco Rentals, Whirlpool Corp., Beall Barclay & Co., Kraft Foods, First National Bank of Fort Smith, Experian, Acme Brick Co., Gerber, Baldor Electric Motor Corp., Rheem, Arkhola Sand & Gravel and Butler & Cook, Inc.
On March 27-28, the Fort Smith Leadership Arkansas Session covering economic development and manufacturing was held and included presentations by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and a panel comprised of member companies that are working in the Fayetteville Shale region.
The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the State Chamber/AIA also met on Thursday, March 27, at the Holiday Inn City Center in Fort Smith. Prior to their meeting, board members were invited to join members of the Leadership Class on a tour of the Hiram Walker – Pernod Ricard USA facility.
After the board meeting, directors joined members of Leadership Arkansas Class II for a reception and dinner at the Town Club. Jim Walcott, president of Weldon Williams & Lick Inc., was the guest speaker.
Leadership Arkansas Class II is sponsored by Southern Bancorp. The presenting sponsor for the Fort Smith Session was UA-Fort Smith. Partner sponsors included Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Arkansas Tech University, AT&T, CenterPoint Energy, First National Bank of Fort Smith, Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, Golden Living, Hiram Walker – Pernod Ricard USA, Northwest Arkansas Community College, OG+E, Rheem, Van Buren Chamber of Commerce and Warner Smith & Harris, PLC.
Governor Will Emcee Congressional Dinner; Room Block Filling Fast
Participants in the State Chamber/AIA’s 49th Annual Washington Fly-In and Congressional Dinner can plan on an eventful night on Monday, April 28, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va.
The evening begins with a 6 p.m. reception followed by the Congressional Dinner at 7 p.m., with both events featuring ample chances for productive contact with members of our congressional delegation and their staffs. Governor Mike Beebe has agreed to serve as master of ceremonies for the dinner again this year.
Excellent networking opportunities will also be provided after dinner in the Hospitality Suite, once again hosted by the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Executives.
We will also visit with our senators and representatives and their staffs at their offices and at district dinners, luncheons and breakfasts April 27-29. Many Fly-In participants like to take advantage of the activities scheduled over these three days. However, if you have a limited schedule, we encourage you to consider attending just the reception and dinner.
The cut-off date to secure a room from the State Chamber/AIA block at the Crystal Gateway at the special discounted rate of $195 (single or double) is tomorrow, April 3, and our block is selling out fast. Rooms are still available, but you must make your hotel reservation ASAP! In fact, we sold out our original block and the hotel has made a few more rooms available.
All hotel reservations may be made directly by calling 703-920-3230 or 1-800-228-9290. Please make any/all revisions to your hotel reservations through the State Chamber/AIA office by calling Deb Mathis or Susie Marks at 501-372-2222. You can also click here to access the hotel and contact information on our Web site calendar. The registration form is also on our Web site.
Leadership Arkansas Plans Two Final Sessions
Following the Economic Development and Manufacturing Leadership Arkansas Session on March 27-28 in Fort Smith, Leadership Arkansas plans two final sessions. The Jonesboro/Paragould session on May 22-23 will focus on education and the Northeast Arkansas economy. The Fayetteville/Springdale session on June 26-27 will cover infrastructure challenges, the Northwest Arkansas economy and the graduation for members of Class II.
These remaining Leadership Arkansas sessions represent outstanding investment opportunities in which companies and organizations can participate. Leadership Arkansas takes a statewide view of the economic and political challenges that face our state, offering leadership opportunities that expand the impact of community leaders. It builds a sense of community by identifying and training individuals with the passion and commitment to become personally engaged in issues, programs and activities aimed at building a better Arkansas.
By helping sponsor one of the remaining activities – the sessions in Jonesboro/Paragould and Northwest Arkansas as well as the graduation – companies and organizations have the chance to personally meet and get to know these individuals who will be leading Arkansas in the future. Our sponsorship goal is $20,000 for each of these events.
Partner sponsorships at $1,000 include an invitation to a reception and dinner with Leadership Arkansas class members, signage at the event and inclusion in the promotional and printed materials for the session. Presenting sponsorships at $2,500 include all of the above plus an opportunity to present during the session and an opportunity to place a company brochure or message in the participants’ notebooks.
For further information on Leadership Arkansas, contact Susie Marks at 501-210-4206 or e-mail her at smarks@arkansasstatechamber.com .
Workers’ Comp Committee to Meet April 8
The State Chamber/AIA Workers’ Compensation Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the State Chamber/AIA’s Bob Lamb Conference Room at 1200 W. Capitol in Little Rock to discuss workers’ comp legislation for the 2009 legislative session and workers’ comp issues of interest to the business community. The initial meetings have begun between the State Chamber/AIA and AFL-CIO representatives. Co-Chairmen Lynn Tatum and Max Koonce will update the committee on these talks with labor.
Governor’s Quality Award and State Chamber/AIA Join Forces
The Governor’s Quality Award (GQA) and the State Chamber/AIA have formed a working partnership to use our collective programs and activities to continue building a better Arkansas. The outstanding GQA program provides opportunities for companies and organizations from all over the state to measure their progress in their journey of performance excellence.
It takes great commitment to remain focused to increase your company or organization’s effectiveness and to stay competitive. Utilizing this process can help you:
- Jump-start change initiatives,
- Energize improvement initiatives,
- Focus your organization on common goals,
- Assess performance against the competition, and
- Align your resources with your strategic objectives.
If you have never taken part, the cost is $750 for your company or organization to participate at the Challenge level. The only requirement at this level is to complete a three-page organizational profile and attend a seminar.
Another important factor in your organization is your employees. Providing volunteers to become Examiners for this process improvement program will benefit your organization in numerous ways. Not only do they receive valuable training and experience in understanding and applying the Criteria, they also develop analytical consensus-building skills that can be applied at your workplace.
Contact with other volunteers and the opportunity to assess leading organizations can keep employees current with best practices. The Examiners make an enormous contribution to our state and grow substantially both professionally and personally as a result.
This excellent training for our volunteer Examiners in the program is tuition free. However, for individuals who are interested in receiving the ASQ Certified training but cannot participate as an Examiner, tuition is $995 per person. For full details on your company’s participation in the GQA program or for information on Examiner training, click here to go the GQA Web site. You can click here to view the 2008 Intent to Apply Form or here to view a 2008 Board of Examiner Application.
The deadline for the intent to apply is this Friday, April 4. If you have questions or would like to apply, please contact Sue Weatter, our GQA administrator, at 501-372-2222 or sweatter@arkansasstatechamber.com .
Susie Marks Chairman-Elect of Center for Chamber of Commerce Excellence
Susie P. Marks, senior vice president-programs at the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas, is chairman-elect of the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma’s Center for Chamber of Commerce Excellence.
This professional development program provides training and resources for chamber of commerce executives.
Participate in Political Process by Contributing to State Chamber/AIA PACs
With the candidate filing period ended, the State Chamber/AIA is in the process of evaluating prospective candidates and reviewing the possible legislative races. One way you can participate is by contributing to our Political Action Committees.
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce PAC and the Associated Industries of Arkansas PAC were founded to elect business-minded candidates who will fully support Arkansas’s business community in the state legislature. Your help is critical. Your contributions will go toward electing a pro-business General Assembly that will continually enhance the economic climate in Arkansas.
A “person” may contribute up to $5,000 per calendar year to each PAC. “Person” includes any individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, business trust, company, corporation, association, committee, or any other organization or group of persons acting in concert. The name and address of each “person” who contributes more than $500 to a PAC must be reported to the Secretary of State.
Checks should be made payable to either the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce PAC or the Associated Industries of Arkansas PAC and mailed to P.O. Box 3645, Little Rock, AR 72203.
You can also help by providing information on pro-business candidates and your knowledge of all potential candidates in your district. Please send this information to Kenny Hall, our executive vice president, by e-mail at khall@arkansasstatechamber.com .
Arkansas Business to Host Employers Symposium on Health Issues
As an employer, are you concerned about the rising costs of health insurance to your employees? Would you like to learn more about how the health of your employees can affect your insurance costs and improve your bottom line? Do you want to hear some concrete steps that you can take to address these issues?
If so, then Benefiting Arkansas: Health Issues for Employers, presented by Arkansas Business and the University of Central Arkansas, is for you. This symposium on Wednesday, May 7, will provide information and advice related to this timely issue that is of concern to employers around the state.
The symposium will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Reynolds Performance Hall on the UCA campus in Conway and will feature a variety of notable speakers addressing these topics:
- Health & Insurance Trends in Arkansas
- Cost-containment Techniques
- Wellness Plans and Prevention
- Options for Large Employers
- Options for Small Employers
- Overview of Proposed Political Solutions
Seating will be limited, so reserve your space now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.arkansasbusiness.com/benefitingarkansas If you have any questions regarding the tickets or the symposium, please contact Michelle Carney at (501) 372-1443, Ext. 306, or mcarney@abpg.com.
UALR IEA Presenting Economic Forecast Conference
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Institute for Economic Advancement (UALR IEA) is presenting the UALR Economic Forecast Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at the Hilton Hotel, located at 925 South University Ave. in Little Rock.
The economic forecast combines the national and international data series with the Institute’s research capability and general knowledge of the Arkansas economy. Additional insight is provided by local business leaders. The goal of the conference is to provide valuable information on business and economic developments.
Scheduled presenters include: Joel Anderson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; Thomas Goho, co-director and faculty member, Stephens University, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Jeff Hankins, president and publisher of Arkansas Business Publishing Group; Robert Smith, senior vice president, industrial programs, Dassault Falcon Jet; Thomas Schueck, chairman/CEO, Lexicon, Inc.; Danny Games, director of corporate development, Chesapeake Energy, and Randy Zook, deputy director of administration and finance, Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
The registration fee for the conference is $50 per person. To register or for more information, contact Neva Wayman of the UALR Institute for Economic Advancement at (501) 569-8551.
Welcome to Our New Members
Thanks to the following companies and organizations that have joined the State Chamber/AIA during the first quarter of 2008. These new members represent an investment amount of approximately $50,000.
AAMSCO Identification Products, Inc
AARP
Argenta Community Development Corporation
ASI
Barnhart Crane and Rigging
Best Park LLC
Brownlee Construction Consultants
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Combined Financial Services, Inc.
Complete Payroll Services
Cricket Communications, Inc.
Data Path
E Commerce Services, Inc.
Electric Transportation of Arkansas
Empirio Trucking
Goff Distribution
Haas Factory Outlet
The Hall Group
Human Resources Professional Search
Kevin Hunt, Inc.
La Quinta Inn Little Rock at Rodney Parham Road
Lenders Title Company
Lilac, LLC
Lion's World Services for the Blind
Manpower
Mark V Williamson Company, Inc.
Mitchell Communications Group, Inc.
Moe’s Southwest Grill
National Center for Toxicological Research
Parkhurst Brothers Publishing
Powers of Arkansas
RedStone Construction Group, Inc.
Rivendell Behavioral Services of Arkansas
Rock City Staging, LLC
Sage Partners
SimplexGrinnell
Time Warner Telecom
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Webster University
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
The Wilson Company
Thanks to Our Pinnacle Members
The State Chamber/AIA welcomes CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission as our newest Pinnacle member.
We wish to express special thanks to all of our Pinnacle investors, the respected companies that support the State Chamber/AIA at the highest annual investment levels. We appreciate all that they do for us.
APEX
Alltel Corporation
Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
SUMMIT
Chesapeake Energy, Inc.
Cox Communications
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods
Tyson Foods, Inc.
PEAK
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Arvest Bank
AT&T Arkansas
CenterPoint Energy Southern Gas
Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas
FedEx Freight - East
Georgia-Pacific Corporation
Harps Food Stores, Inc.
Kraft Foods
Oaklawn Jockey Club
Pathfinder Exploration LLC
Petrohawk Energy Corporation
SemGroup LP
Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Southland Park Gaming & Racing
Southwestern Energy Company
State Farm Insurance
Weyerhaeuser Company
Windstream Corporation
XTO Energy, Inc.
CROWN
Acxiom Corporation
AEP Southwestern Electric Power
Albemarle Corporation
Alta Resources LLC
American Greetings Corporation
Arkansas Employees Federal Credit Union
Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation
Arkansas Western Gas Company
Bank of the Ozarks
CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission
Deltic Timber Corporation
Dynegy
Entegra Power Group LLC
Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas, Inc.
Forest Oil Corporation
Glad Manufacturing/A Clorox Company
Golden Ventures
International Paper Company
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Lion Oil Company
Metropolitan National Bank
Murphy Oil Corporation
Nabholz Construction Corporation
Nucor-Yamato Steel
OG+E
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
Philander Smith College
Pinnacle Foods Group LLC
Potlatch Forest Products Corporation
Pulaski Technical College
Rheem Air Conditioning Division
Riceland Foods, Inc.
Signature Bank of Arkansas
Simmons First National Corporation
Stephens, Inc.
Storm Cat Energy
Suez Energy North America
The Clorox Company
The Trane Company
US Bank
Waste Management
Wright Lindsey & Jennings
Calendar of Events
April 7 – 18 Northwest Arkansas Membership Blitz
April 21 – 23 Northeast Arkansas Membership Blitz
April 27-29 Annual Washington Fly-In and Congressional Dinner
District Dinners, Lunches and Breakfasts
Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
April 28 State Chamber/AIA Board Meeting
Crystal Gateway Marriott
Arlington, Virginia
May 22 – 23 Leadership Arkansas Class II Session
Education and Northeast Arkansas Economy
Jonesboro/Paragould
June 3 Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon
12 p.m., Embassy Suites Hotel
Little Rock
June 26 – 27 Leadership Arkansas Class II Session
Northwest Arkansas Economy/Infrastructure Challenges
Fayetteville/Springdale
June 27 Leadership Arkansas Class II Graduation
Presented by Harps Food Stores, Inc.
