Business Weekly
October 5 – 9, 2009
- State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting to be Held October 19
- Governor’s Quality Award Banquet to Honor 2009 Recipients
- Chamber “Door-to-Door” Regional Meetings Continue
- Ad Deadline Extended for Arkansas Manufacturers’ Directory
- Arkansas Workforce Summit Scheduled for November 5 at Verizon Arena
- Leadership Arkansas Class IV to Hold Governmental Session in Little Rock
- Women Business Owners to be Honored at State Chamber/AIA Brunch
- State Chamber Partnering with ADWS to Address Workforce Issues
- How to Win an Election Seminar Slated
- Small Business Council Sets Final Meeting for 2009
- MED Week Meetings Held Throughout State
- SBA Presenting Free Seminars on ARRA Financing Opportunities
- Claiborne Deming Honored for Education Efforts in El Dorado
- Brownfields Revolving Loan Workshop Set for October 15th
- Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Scheduled for October 16 - 25
- Omnibalm to be Featured at PDMA Technology Showcase
- Wayne Hartsfield Remembered
- Welcome to Our New Members
- Thanks to Our Pinnacle Members
- Calendar of Events
State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting to be Held October 19
The State Chamber/AIA will hold our 81st Annual
Meeting on Monday, October 19th at the DoubleTree Hotel in
U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln will be the keynote speaker. A Congressional Briefing will also be held, as well as a General Member Meeting and a Congressional Staff Networking Lunch.
We appreciate the support of all the Annual Meeting Sponsors, which are listed below.
Presenting Sponsors:
Allens Inc.
BP America
Petrohawk Energy Corporation
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Other Major Sponsors:
Harriet and Warren Stephens, Stephens Inc.
Morning Coffee Sponsors:
Cox Communications
Mitchell Williams Selig Gates & Woodyard, PLLC
Pfizer, Inc.
XTO Energy
Dessert Sponsors:
CenterPoint Energy
Deltic Timber Corp.
Nucor/Nucor-Yamato Steel
Southwestern Energy Company
Table Sponsors:
AT&T Arkansas
Central Moloney Inc.
CenturyTel
Cross Gunter Witherspoon & Galchus P.C.
Entergy
Kutak Rock LLP
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Windstream Corporation
Gold Sponsors:
McKee Foods Corporation
Riceland Foods Inc.
Silver Sponsors:
Arkansas Capital Corporation Group
Cintas
Domtar Industries, Inc.
Electric Cooperatives of
Global Strategy Group
The Heritage Company
Hiram Walker-Pernod Ricard
Home Depot
Impact Management Group
Langston Companies Inc.
Nabholz Construction Company
Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
Bronze Sponsors:
Affiliated Real Estate Appraisers
Bentonville-Bella
Razor Chemical Inc.
Below is the Annual Meeting Agenda:
8:45 a.m. Check-In
9:15 a.m. Keynote Address: Senator Blanche Lincoln
10:15 a.m. Congressional Briefing
Members of the Congressional Delegation
11:00 a.m. Business Session
Status of Organization, Recent Statewide Activity & Vision for Future
Randy Zook, State Chamber/AIA President & CEO
Election of State Chamber/AIA Officers and Directors
Randy Wilbourn, State Chamber Chairman
Ray Dillon, AIA Chairman
12:00 noon Remarks: Governor Mike Beebe
Congressional Staff Networking Lunch
To register for the Annual Meeting, click here, go to the event and click on the registration link.
For additional information contact Deb Mathis at 501-210-4212 or dmathis@arkansasstatechamber.com.
Governor’s Quality Award Banquet to Honor 2009 Recipients
The Governor’s Quality Award Banquet will be held
Monday evening, October 19th, at the DoubleTree Hotel in
Tickets for the banquet are $75 each; tables of 10 cost $750. Reservations are required and the deadline to register is October 9th. To register or for additional information, contact Governor’s Quality Award Program Director Sue Weatter at 501-372-2222 or sweatter@arkansasstatechamber.com.
The vision of the Governor’s Quality Award Program
is to contribute to the success of
The Award is used by all types of businesses, healthcare organizations, schools, government agencies, churches and other types of organizations interested in improving quality, productivity and financial effectiveness. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is used as a basis for the Arkansas process combining the advantages of using the most current, comprehensive and widely accepted criteria available to assess progress toward long-term improvement of organizations and total quality management.
Chamber “Door to Door” Regional Meetings Continue
The State Chamber/AIA continued its series of “Door to Door” Regional Meetings with an event on
September 28 in Arkadelphia.
The Regional meetings have drawn more than 400 state and
local chamber leaders, community leaders, local business representatives and
state legislators. They feature presentations on state and federal
governmental affairs issues and State Chamber/AIA programs and events by
State Chamber/AIA President and CEO Randy Zook, Executive Vice President
Additional “Door to Door” meetings are planned
for October 13 in
For further information, contact Deb Mathis at 501-210-4212 or dmathis@arkansasstatechamber.com.
Ad Deadline Extended for
The advertising deadline for the State Chamber/AIA Arkansas Manufacturers' Directory has been extended to October 30. Ad material is due November 6th.
The Directory will be published in December and will
contain in-depth company profiles of more than 4,000 industrial businesses.
Each
Copies of the Manufacturers' Directory will be distributed to State
Chamber/AIA members, membership prospects and manufacturers throughout
The Arkansas Manufacturers' Directory will have a one-year
shelf life and will be a good marketing vehicle for you to promote your
services among our members, membership prospects and manufacturers throughout
the state.
For information on advertising rates and specifications, contact
Mark your calendar today for the Arkansas Workforce Summit to be held November
5, 2009, at the Verizon Arena in
The Arkansas Workforce Summit is an
interactive conference, delivering practical, demand-driven solutions for
today's workforce challenges. The
Plenary Sessions will include:
- The Governor's Workforce Cabinet: Integrating Education, Workforce and Economic Development
- Building Work Ready Communities
- State Sector Strategies: Regional Solutions to Address Skill Needs
Breakout Sessions will address:
- Retaining
- Town Hall: Hear From Employers What Employers Need in Skilled Workers
-
-
- Registered
Apprenticeship: Meeting the Skilled Workforce Needs of
- Educating
The
For more information, please call 1-888-281-9717 or visit www.dws.arkansas.gov.
Leadership
The next Leadership Arkansas Class IV Session will be held
October 19-20 in
Additional sessions will include:
Session II – Central Arkansas,
K-12 Education/Workforce, December 3-4,
Session III –
Session IV – South Arkansas
Economy, Timber, Oil & Gas, March 18-19, 2010,
Session V – Northeast/Delta
Economy, Healthcare & Agriculture, May 20-21, 2010,
Session VI –
Leadership
Sponsorships for each of the sessions are available at the
$2,500 level (Presenting) and the $1,000 level (Participating). Contact
For additional information on the Leadership Arkansas
program, contact
Women Business Owners to be Honored at State Chamber/AIA Brunch
Women business owners in
The event is free to all women business owners in the state. Please make your reservation by contacting Susie Marks at 501-210-4206 or smarks@arkansasstatechamber.com.
State Chamber Partnering with ADWS to Address Workforce Issues
Do you want to own
your own business, be your own boss, and use the entrepreneurial mindset to
take control of your future? Do you own a business and want to make it grow
and be more profitable? Then plan to attend the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services' Get in the
Game Entrepreneurial Conference on Tuesday, November 3rd at
Verizon Arena in
The Get in the Game Entrepreneurial Conference will focus on providing individuals with the necessary information to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. These range from self-employment opportunities to creating a new venture with employees, as well as outreach to dislocated workers across the state. Your organization has valuable information to share, so we invite your participation in this event as an exhibitor. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED; FREE ADMISSION and COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH!
The
For more information on attending these events, please call 1-888-281-9717 or visit www.dws.arkansas.gov.
If you would like to be an exhibitor on November 3 or November 4, please call Susie Marks at (501) 210-4206 or smarks@arkansasstatechamber.com.
How to Win an Election Seminar Slated
The State Chamber/AIA is partnering with the Arkansas Farm Bureau to again present the “How to Win an Election” Seminar.
The two-day seminar will be held November 3-4 in the Bob
Lamb Conference Room of the
Attendees will learn how to:
- Evaluate the candidacy,
- Clarify issues,
- Plan campaign strategy,
- Create an effective organization and
- Manage the money
The seminar was developed by the American Farm Bureau, an organization noted for its understanding of the political process, with the help of professional political consultants and staff members of the Democratic and Republican parties. The instructors are members of the American Farm Bureau Federation team. Videotaping, a case study and a computer simulation allow attendees to test techniques, tools and methods.
The cost is $225 for a candidate, $225 for a campaign
manager, $225 for a spouse without a candidate and $195 for a spouse when
joining a candidate. The fee includes materials, two lunches, a Tuesday
evening reception and refreshment breaks for both days. It does not include
overnight lodging, so participants will need to make arrangements for their
stay in
Space is limited. Attendees must register by October 20, 2009. To register, click here. For additional information, contact Stanley Hill at 501-228-1654 or stanley.hill@arfb.com.
Small Business Council Sets Final Meeting for 2009
The State Chamber/AIA Small Business Council has scheduled its final meeting for 2009 on Thursday, November 5th. The meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the State Chamber/AIA Conference Room.
The topic for the November 5th meeting will be “Disaster Preparedness.” Lunch will be provided as well as a legislative update.
A survey was recently distributed to everyone on the Small
Business Council roster. If you have not filled out and returned your copy of
the survey, please do so as soon as possible. If you need another copy of the
survey, contact
MED Week Meetings Held Throughout State
Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week was celebrated
recently with a series of events throughout
MED Week, the largest federally sponsored conference held on behalf of minority entrepreneurs and business enterprises, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce “Minority Business Development Agency” (MBDA). Since 1983, the U.S. President has proclaimed a National MED Week observance to recognize the outstanding achievements of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and to honor those corporations and financial institutions that support minority business development.
MED Week in
The State Chamber/AIA, in conjunction with AMBDR, worked
with the local chambers, universities and city governments in
SBA Presenting Free Seminars on ARRA Financing Opportunities
Small business owners can get the facts about no-interest,
no-fee loans and other small business financing provisions in the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act at free events around
“The Recovery Act: What’s In It for Small Business,” a three-hour seminar, will be presented in the following locations:
·
·
Magnolia, Oct. 13 – Southern
·
The U.S. Small Business Administration and Arkansas Small
Business and
Small business owners that need help with debt payments in
the slow economy can learn about SBA’s
There is no charge to attend the three-hour seminars, but pre-registration is requested. Register online at here or call the ASBTDC at (800) 862-2040.
Claiborne Deming Honored for Education Efforts
in
More than 350 college and university presidents, chancellors and other higher education officials joined Governor Mike Beebe in honoring Claiborne Deming on October 2nd during the Arkansas Association of Public Universities’ Annual Higher Education Conference. Deming received the first “Tip of the Spear Award,” designed to recognize those who value the importance of higher education and its direct impact on the state’s future economic development.
Deming, the former CEO of State Chamber member Murphy Oil,
founded “The El Dorado Promise,” which guarantees college
scholarships to
Brownfields Revolving Loan Workshop Slated for October 15th
If you are considering expanding your business, building
on a new site or even starting a new business, a brownfield property may be a
great option for you.
A free half-day Brownfields Revolving Loan Workshop will
be held from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 15th in
the Second Floor Ballroom of the
Space is limited. To RSVP, call 501-244-4927.
The Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute (HSDFI) will
present the 18th annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
(HSDFF) at its facilities based at
One of the first and the oldest documentary film festivals in the world (second only to Amsterdam) dedicated solely to documentary film, the 18th annual HSDFF will premier Food, Inc., which lifts the veil on the U.S. food industry – an industry that has often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihoods of American farmers, the safety of workers and our own environment. Other world premiers include the Ron English documentary, Abraham Obama, and a documentary about the life of legendary bluesman Bobby Rush.
Known as “the filmmaker’s festival” for its non-competitive focus, HSDFI is finalizing the 100 films to be screened this year, which include entries from countries throughout the world. Tickets for the festival are $5 per film, $50 for a three-day pass and $150 for a ten-day pass.
For more information about HSDFI or this year’s documentary film festival, contact Malinda Herr-Chambliss, executive director of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute, at 501-321-4747 or e-mail MHerrChambliss@hsdfi.org.
Omnibalm® to be Featured at PDMA Technology Showcase
Omnibalm®, a line of therapeutic skin
creams developed by
The
2009 conference, which runs November 2nd through 4th,
takes place in
Balm Innovations, the parent company of Omnibalm, is a State Chamber member. Lydia Carson, president and CEO of Balm Innovations, is the chairman of the State Chamber/AIA Small Business Council.
Wayne Hartsfield Remembered
Wayne Hartsfield, a business and community leader and lifelong Searcy resident, passed away on Thursday, September 3rd, at the age of 74.
Hartsfield, a past president of the Arkansas State Chamber
of Commerce, graduated from
He served as an Army officer after college and became a captain in the Army Reserve prior to joining First National Bank of Searcy. He retired as President and Chairman of the Board for Regions Bank of Searcy and remained a consultant for the bank until his death.
His accomplishments and service include serving as
president of the Arkansas Bankers Association, past president of the Searcy
Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Searcy Lions Club. He also
served on the Arkansas Board of Education, Arkansas State University Board,
White County Medical Center Board of Trustees, Arkansas Sports Halls of Fame,
the Blue Ribbon Highway Commission, the
Welcome to Our New Members
Thanks to the following companies and organizations that have recently joined the State Chamber/AIA:
Intrust Bank
Michelle Staging With Style
Nice-Pak
Paschall Strategic Communications
Stallion Transportation Group
The
Thanks to Our Pinnacle Members
Thanks to Nice-Pak, which recently joined as a Crown member, and Delta Dental of Arkansas, which recently upgraded their membership to the Crown level. We would like to express 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
Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Chesapeake Energy, Inc.
Cox Communications
Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Tyson Foods, Inc.
XTO Energy, Inc.
PEAK
Arvest Bank
AT&T Arkansas
BP America, Inc.
CenterPoint Energy Southern Gas
Electric Cooperatives of
FedEx Freight - East
Georgia-Pacific Corporation
Kraft Foods
Nucor/Nucor-Yamato
Oaklawn Jockey Club
Southwestern Energy Company
State Farm Insurance
Verizon Wireless
Windstream Corporation
CROWN
Acxiom Corporation
AEP Southwestern Electric Power
Albemarle Corporation
American Greetings Corporation
Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation
Bank of the Ozarks
CardinalHealth
CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company
Crossland Construction
Delta Dental of
Deltic Timber Corporation
Dynegy
Evergreen Packaging Company
Experian
Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas, Inc.
Fidelity National Information Services
Forest Oil Corporation
Glad Manufacturing/A Clorox Company
International Paper Company
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Lion Oil Company
McKee Foods Corporation
Nabholz Construction Corporation
Nice-Pak
OG+E
Petrohawk
Philander
RebeccaRice & Associates
Riceland Foods, Inc.
Russellville Steel Company Inc.
Signature Bank of
Stephens Inc.
The Clorox Company
The Trane Company
Transplace
US Bank
Waste Management
Weyerhaeuser Company
Wright Lindsey & Jennings
Calendar of Events
October 13 State Chamber/AIA “Door-to-Door” Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
October 14 State Chamber/AIA “Door-to-Door” Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location TBD
October 19 State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting
State Chamber/AIA Board Meeting
DoubleTree Hotel
October 19 Governor’s Quality Award Banquet
DoubleTree Hotel
October 19-20 Leadership
Governmental Session
State Capitol
October 22 Women
in Small Business
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
State Chamber Conference Room
October 28 State Chamber/AIA “Door-to-Door” Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Harbor Oaks
October 29 State Chamber/AIA “Door-to-Door” Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Town Club
November 2 State Chamber/AIA Tax Committee Meeting
1:30 p.m.
State Chamber Conference Room
November 5 Small Business Council Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
State Chamber Conference Room
November 11 State Chamber/AIA “Door-to-Door” Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location TBD
December 3-4 Leadership
December 9 State Chamber/AIA “Door-to-Door” Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location TBD
Batesville
