Fifty-seven individuals from across Arkansas have been selected for Leadership Arkansas Class XII, a program operated by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce / Associated Industries of Arkansas.  The Underwriting Sponsor for the 2017-2018 Leadership Arkansas program is The Citizens Bank of Batesville.  The Presenting Sponsor is ARcare, and Statewide Program Sponsors are Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Farm Credit of Arkansas, Mitchell Communications,  Nucor Steel-Arkansas, Southwest Power Pool, and Walmart.

The Chairwoman for Leadership Arkansas Class XII is Toni Bahn, Director of Governmental Affairs, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce / Associated Industries of Arkansas.

Vice Co-Chairs for Leadership Arkansas Class XII are Mark Scott, Senior Communications Manager, Walmart, Inc., and Jill Dabbs, Mayor of the City of Bryant, Arkansas.

Leadership Arkansas Class XII launches its activities on Sunday, October 1 at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute in Morrilton, Arkansas.  The session is being sponsored by Green Bay Packaging/Arkansas Kraft Division. Other planned sessions include:

Session II:      Arkansas’s Workforce

October 26-27, 2017, Fort Smith. Sponsored by First National Bank of Fort Smith, Gerdau Special Steel North America and AOG.

Session III:     Government & Military

November 29-30, 2017, Little Rock & Jacksonville. Sponsored by Entergy Arkansas and Wright Lindsey Jennings.

Session IV:     Agriculture & Outdoor Life

December 11-12, 2017, Stuttgart. Sponsored by Riceland Foods.

Session V:      Natural Resources, Defense & Industrial Development

January 22-23, 2018, East Camden, El Dorado & Magnolia.

Session VI:     Economic Development, Infrastructure & Education

February 26-28, 2018, West Memphis, Wilson & Blytheville. Sponsored by Southland Park Gaming & Racing.

Session VII:    Tourism, History & Revitalization

March 29-30, 2018, Hot Springs

Session VIII:   Regional Development

April 24-26, 2018, Fayetteville, Springdale & Bentonville. Sponsored by Northwest Technical Institute.

Session IX:     Leadership, Planning & Graduation

May 24-25, 2018, Little Rock

If your company or organization would like to sponsor a session, contact Bill Watson at bwatson@arkansasstatechamber.com or 501-802-1740.

The mission of Leadership Arkansas is to challenge, inform, inspire and engage current and future business and civic leaders to enhance the economies of – and the communities within – the state of Arkansas.  Leadership Arkansas’s vision is to work to build a strong and vibrant state by training skilled community leaders to recognize and capitalize on opportunities, motivate others to act to strengthen regions and communities, serve as ambassador for the potential and growth of the state, and promote the election and appointment of officials who understand the diverse aspects leading to growth of Arkansas.

Leadership Arkansas comprises a nine-month class program consisting of nine multi-day sessions held in different locations throughout the state. The sessions feature Arkansas leaders who represent a wide geographic base and who have diverse backgrounds and vocations.  The members are given broad exposure to the many social, political, geographic and environmental complexities of the state; on-site demonstrations and tours; unique cultural experiences; insight into the people, places and history that influence public policies; and fun and casual settings which foster new relationships and camaraderie.

Leadership Arkansas has educated and engaged over 500 alumni since its inception in 2005 and represent nearly every Arkansas county.

 

The State Chamber/AIA is pleased to present four leading experts from the Global Interdependence Center from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at the Association of Arkansas Counties Meeting Room located at 1415 W. Third St. in Little Rock. The cost is $25 per person.

The four speakers are:

• David Kotok, Chief Investment Officer for Cumberland Advisers, who will speak on U.S. Equity Markets
• Michael Drury, Chief Economist for McVean Trading & Assessments, LLC, who will speak on China and its impact on world commodity markets
• Manuel Balmaseda, Chief Economist at CEMEX, a leading global building materials corporation, who will speak on Latin and South America
• David E. Altig, Executive Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, who will speak on the U.S. Economy

For more information on the program, click https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GIC-AIA-Save-the-Date.pdf

To register, click https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Registration-form-GIC-11.3.17.pdf

Registration is now open for the State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting, which will be held Wednesday, November 8 in the Wally Allen Ballroom of the Statehouse Convention Center. Danielle DiMartino Booth, the author of “Fed Up: An Insider’s Take on Why the Federal Reserve is Bad for America,” will be the keynote speaker.  McGeorge Contracting Company Inc. is the Title Sponsor.

The cost for the Annual Meeting is $75 per person. To register, click https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017-Annual-Meeting-Registration-Form.pdf

We would like to thank and recognize the following sponsors:

Presenting – BKD, LLP, Citizens Bank, Entergy Arkansas, Southland Park Gaming and Racing and Walmart Stores Inc.

Partner – Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, McKee Foods Corporation, Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control, Nabholz Construction Services and XTO Energy, Inc., an ExxonMobil subsidiary

Supporting – AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company, Arkadelphia Regional EDA & Area Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Business Publishing Group, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Little Rock Regional Chamber, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C., Southwest Power Pool, U.S. Bank and Wright Lindsey & Jennings, LLP

Table – Arvest Bank, Black Hills Energy, CenterPoint Energy, Central Moloney, Dover Dixon Horne PLLC, Farm Credit Services of Arkansas, Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce/University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, Kutak Rock, Nucor Arkansas, Office of Auditor of State Andrea Lea, Regions Insurance, Rose Law Firm and Winrock International/Innovate Arkansas.

Gold – First Community Bank

Silver – Domtar Industries, Future Fuel Chemical Company, Gerdau Special Steel and Signature Bank of Arkansas

Bronze – Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Hot Springs Metro Partnership, Relyance Bank and Union Pacific Railroad.

If your company or organization is interested in sponsoring the State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting, contact Bill Watson at bwatson@arkansasstatechamber.com or 501-802-1740.

The State Chamber/AIA recently developed an informational piece covering the Arkansas Congressional Delegation that lists each member: Sen. John Boozman (R), Sen. Tom Cotton (R), Rep. Rick Crawford (R – First District), Rep. French Hill (R – Second District); Rep. Steve Womack (R – Third District) and Rep. Bruce Westerman (R – Fourth District); their contact information, state offices, committee assignments and key staff.

To access the piece, click https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Arkansas-Congressional-Delegation-Information-Sheet.pdf

 

Arkansas Learns is the Title Sponsor for the State Chamber/AIA’s 2017 Door to Door meetings throughout the state. The meetings, planned through October, will address key issues impacting businesses in Arkansas and feature the presentation of the 2017 Business Matters Leadership Awards recognizing legislators who supported positive business initiatives during the 91st General Assembly, as well as presentations of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise Award to members of the Arkansas Congressional Delegation.

The lunch and program are free for attendees at each event, but reservations are required. Please RSVP to Toni Bahn at tbahn@arkansasstatechamber.com at least a week before the event and indicate the meeting you will be attending.

Below are the locations, dates and times for upcoming meetings:

• Searcy, in conjunction with the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., September 19, Cone Chapel, Harding University, 915 E. Market St. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. Jonathan Dismang, Rep. Joe Farrer, Rep. Jeremy Gillam and Rep. John Payton. Sponsored by Entergy Arkansas.
• Jonesboro, in conjunction with the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday, September 20, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, 1709 E. Nettleton Ave. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. John Cooper, Sen. Blake Johnson, Rep. Brandt Smith, Rep. Scott Baltz, Rep. Fran Cavenaugh, Rep. Jack Ladyman, Rep. Johnny Rye, Rep. Dwight Tosh and Rep. Joe Jett. Congressman Rick Crawford will also be presented with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise Award. Sponsored by E.C. Barton & Company, Entergy Arkansas, Nabholz-Jonesboro and E. Ritter & Company.
• North Little Rock, in conjunction with the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Thursday, September 21, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. Jane English, Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, Rep. Karilyn Brown, Rep. Tim Lemons, Rep. Roger Lynch and Rep. Carlton Wing. Sponsored by Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Delta Dental and Entergy Arkansas.
• El Dorado, in conjunction with the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesday, September 26, El Dorado Country Club. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. Eddie Cheatham, Sen. Trent Garner, Rep. Sonia Barker, Rep. Lane Jean and Rep. Matt Shepherd. Sponsored by Lanxess and Entergy Arkansas.
• Pine Bluff, in conjunction with the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday, September 27, Ballroom, Pine Bluff Country Club, 1100 Country Club Rd. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. Trent Garner, Rep. Ken Bragg, Rep. David Hillman and Rep. Mike Holcomb. Sponsored by Central Moloney Inc. and Entergy Arkansas.
• Batesville, in conjunction with the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Thursday, September 28, Independence Hall,  University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB). Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. Missy Irvin, Rep. Michelle Gray and Rep. James Sturch. Sponsored by Citizens Bank, Entergy Arkansas, First Community Bank, FutureFuel Chemical Company and UACCB.
• Russellville, in conjunction with the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesday, October 10, Lake Point Conference Center – Event Center. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Rep. Mary Bentley, Rep. Sarah Capp, Rep. Jon Eubanks, Rep. Ken Henderson and Rep. Aaron Pilkington. Sponsored by Arkansas Tech University and Entergy Arkansas.
• Washington County, in conjunction with the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday, October 11, Springdale Country Club. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. Lance Eads, Sen. Uvalde Lindsey, Rep. Bob Ballingers, Rep. Charlie Collins, Rep. Robin Lundstrum and Rep. Jeff Williams. Sponsored by Black Hills Energy, Entergy Arkansas, McKee Foods Corporation, Tyson Foods and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
• Hot Springs, in conjunction with the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Thursday, October 12, Hotel Hot Springs. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. Alan Clark, Sen. Bill Sample, Rep. Bruce Cozart, Rep. Mickey Gates, Rep. Laurie Rushing and Rep. Less Warren. Sponsored by Entergy Arkansas.
• Blytheville, in conjunction with the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday, October 16, Holiday Inn. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. David Wallace. Sponsored by Entergy Arkansas and Nucor/Nucor-Yamato.
• Little Rock, in conjunction with the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Friday, October 20, Salon B, Chenal Country Club, 10 Chenal Club Blvd. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, Rep. David Sanders, Rep. Andy Davis, Rep. Mark Lowery, Rep. Jim Sorvillo, Rep. Lanny Fite and Rep. Kim Hammer. Congressman French Hill will also be presented with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise Award. Sponsored by Arkansas Business Publishing Group, CenterPoint Energy, Entergy Arkansas and Southwest Power Pool.
• Mountain Home, in conjunction with the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday, October 23, Big Creek Golf and Country Club. Recipients scheduled to receive awards include Sen. Scott Flippo, Sen. Missy Irvin, Rep. Jack Fortner, Rep. Ron McNair and Rep. Nelda Speaks. Sponsored by Entergy Arkansas.