Be Pro Be Proud, the Associated Industries of Arkansas workforce initiative, will kick off the 2019-2020 Workshop Tour and unveil the Second Generation Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 in Governor’s Hall IV of the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

The Workshop Tour is presented by Union Pacific Railroad. Other Capital Campaign team members are Ritter Communications, Delta Regional Authority, Arkansas Department of Career Education, AGC Arkansas, Altec, Arkansas Trucking Association, Cooper Tires, Daimler, Doggett Freightliner, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Haas Automation Inc., Maxion Wheels, Naboholz Construction Services, Pace Industries, Pike Corporation, Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), Tyson Foods, Inc. and Welsco, Inc.

Right now, tens of thousands of skilled jobs in Arkansas’s construction, manufacturing, transportation and utility industries are unfilled. Be Pro Be Proud, launched on March 8, 2016, is leading the movement to bring a new generation of pride, progress and professionals to Arkansas’s skilled workforce.

Be Pro Be Proud is operated through the Arkansas State Chamber’s Associated Industries of Arkansas Foundation. For more information on Be Pro Be Proud, contact Director Andrew Parker at apaker@arkansasstatechamber.com or 501-210-4202.

The State Chamber/AIA has announced the hiring of two employees for the organizations’ Be Pro Be Proud workforce initiative. Trey Lamberth has been named Communications Director and Emily Lamm has been named Logistics and Scheduling Director.

“The Be Pro Be Proud effort continues to gain positive momentum in Arkansas and beyond her borders.  We are pleased with its impact and growth and are confident the talent Emily and Trey bring will further enhance our capacity to inform students, parents and teachers about the wealth of skilled professional opportunities within our construction, manufacturing and transportation industries” said Randy Zook, Arkansas State Chamber President and CEO.

Trey Lamberth, Director of Communications:

Trey is an award-winning philanthropist and a leader in the Arkansas business scene. Previously, Trey was the Digital Advertising Director for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Lamberth has dedicated himself to building creative opportunities for organizations to express their brands to the public. Trey holds a degree in communications from the University of Central Arkansas and spends his free time performing as a drummer in four bands – the most notable being the late CeDell Davis who was nominated for a Grammy in 2015.

Emily K. Lamm, Director of Logistics and Scheduling:

Emily brings more than a decade of government and nonprofit experience to the Be Pro Be Proud team. Lamm served as the Executive Director of the Arkansas State Police Foundation and Chief of Staff at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas after serving under Mike Beebe’s Deputy Director of the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. Emily lends this experience and expertise to help ensure companies and communities around the state are able to utilize Be Pro Be Proud to attract talent into high-skill, high-wage employment opportunities. Lamm is an Arkansas State University graduate and enjoys spending time experiencing the unique beauty Arkansas offer her husband and newborn son.

Be Pro Be Proud, launched on March 8, 2016, showcases to Arkansas students the many career opportunities available within the construction, transportation and manufacturing industry sectors. Be Pro Be Proud is operated through the Arkansas State Chamber’s Associated Industries of Arkansas Foundation, its 501(c)(3) foundation which primarily focuses on workforce education.  Andrew Parker is the Director of the AIA Foundation and the Be Pro Be Proud effort in addition to other responsibilities through his role as a Director of Governmental Affairs for the Chamber. 

The State Chamber/AIA will hold 16 Door to Door Meetings throughout the state in September and October to provide updates on the results of the 92nd General Assembly.

Locations will include Little Rock, North Little Rock, Fort Smith, Texarkana, Bentonville/Rogers, Fayetteville/Springdale,

We would like to thank and recognize the following sponsors for these events.

Statewide – Arkansas Learns

Supporting – AEP/Southwestern Electric Power Company, CenterPoint Energy, Citizens Bank, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Garbro, Tyson Foods Inc., Walmart Stores Inc.

If you company or organization is interested in helping sponsor one of these events, contact Bill Watson at bwatson@arkansasstatechamber.com or 501-802-1740.

Applications for Leadership Arkansas Class XIV are being accepted through August 2.

Leadership Arkansas is a unique program designed to take a comprehensive view of the economic and political challenges that face this State. First introduced in 2005 by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas, our staff, with the guidance of the organizations’ Boards and Executive Committees, recruits highly-motivated individuals to experience first-hand the dynamic interactions between cities, industries, governmental units and the people they serve.

For further information or to apply, click https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/partners-links/leadership-arkansas/application-requirements-class-xiv/

We would like to thank and recognize the following sponsors for Class XIV:

Underwriting – Citizens Bank

Presenting – ARcare

Statewide – Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Farm Credit Services of Arkansas, Nucor Arkansas, Southwest Power Pool and Walmart Inc.

For more information on Leadership Arkansas, contact Program Director Toni Lindsey at tlindsey@arkansasstatechamber.com or 479-409-4389.

Save the date for the Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives (AEDCE) Annual Conference, which will be held Aug. 25 – 27 at the Fort Smith Convention Center.

The AEDCE Annual Conference is the premier annual gathering of community & economic developers and chamber of commerce professionals in Arkansas. The conference is the place to gain valuable insights and updates around issues impacting community/economic development and trends/best practices for those in the chamber of commerce field. With a rich blend of participants, this annual event offers outstanding network building and collaborative idea-sharing opportunities.

To register or for more information, click www.aedce.org/annual-conference. For questions, contact Shelley Short at 501-210-4206 or shelley@aedce.org.