Arkansas Money and Politics March 2021 by AY Magazine

MARCH 2021/armoneyandpolitics.com

NOW

MORE THAN EVER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

LEADERS PRIORITIZING SKILLED LABOR POOL By Mark Carter/13

Cycle tourism | COVID at one year | Musselman’s contract $5 USD

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MARCH CONTENTS

AMP visits with education and business leaders about maintaining a highly skilled workforce.

38 | A year of COVID

March is the anniversary month for the COVID-19 virus and its shutdown of much of the global economy.

13 | SPREADING THE WORD The Be Pro Be Proud tour picked back up this spring (with COVID restrictions, of course), traversing the state to spread the good news of workforce development.

72 | State of the unions

Arkansas Federal, the state’s largest credit union by assets, will soon move its corporate headquarters to west Little Rock.

88 | Cajun’s to Copper

This month’s Digs of the Deal revisits the iconic Cajun’s Wharf, which closed in 2019, and how Copper Grill took up the baton.

92 | Executive Extracurriculars

This month’s installment visits Julian and Sons in Heber Springs, where craftsmen make custom gun cabinets. MARCH 2021/armoneyandpolitics.com

NOW

MORE THAN EVER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

LEADERS PRIORITIZING SKILLED LABOR POOL By Mark Carter/13

Cycle tourism | COVID at one year | Musselman’s contract $5 USD

ON THE COV E R 98 | THE RETURN OF HAWGBALL Razorbacks basketball coach Eric Musselman, most would agree, is in line for a raise and a contract extension. But just how might the second-year head Hog’s contract be restructured? M ARC H 2 02 1

NWACC’s Dr. Evelyn Jorgenson, photographed by Meredith Mashburn, is working with other education and business leaders to promote workforce development in Arkansas.

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MARCH CONTENTS

PUBLISHER

Heather Baker | hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com EDITOR Mark Carter | mcarter@armoneyandpolitics.com STAFF WRITER Katie Zakrzewski | katie@armoneyandpolitics.com ART DIRECTOR Jamison Mosley | jmosley@armoneyandpolitics.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Rebecca Robertson | rrobertson@armoneyandpolitics.com DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Kellie McAnulty | kmcanulty@armoneyandpolitics.com

30 | ON THE ROAD AGAIN Road cycling is emerging as a real tourism opportunity with Central Arkansas and the Delta, in particular, poised to benefit with the development of USBR 80.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lora Puls | lpuls@armoneyandpolitics.com COPY EDITOR Lisa Fischer | lfischer@armoneyandpolitics.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Dustin Jayroe | djayroe@armoneyandpolitics.com ONLINE EDITOR Tyler Hale | thale@armoneyandpolitics.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Greg Churan | gchuran@armoneyandpolitics.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Tonya Higginbotham | thigginbotham@armoneyandpolitics.com Mary Funderburg | mary@armoneyandpolitics.com Tonya Mead | tmead@armoneyandpolitics.com Kyle May | kyle@armoneyandpolitics.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Jacob Carpenter | ads@armoneyandpolitics.com CIRCULATION Ginger Roell | groell@armoneyandpolitics.com ADMINISTRATION Casandra Moore | admin@armoneyandpolitics.com

CEO | Vicki Vowell TO ADVERTISE CALL

501-244-9700 or contact hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com TO SUBSCRIBE | 501-244-9700 ADVISORY COMMITTEE

42 | REVISITING RESTAURANTS

Joyce Elliott, Arkansas State Senator; Gretchen Hall, CEO, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau; Stacy Hurst, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism; Heather Larkin, CEO, Arkansas Community Foundation; Elizabeth Pulley, CEO, Children’s Advocacy Centers; Gina Radke, CEO, Galley Support Innovations; Steve Straessle, Principal, Little Rock Catholic High School; Kathy Webb, Representative, Little Rock City Board

During the pandemic, Arkansas restaurant owners have adapted and done what is necessary to keep their businesses open under challenging conditions.

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Kayla McCall, Lauren McLemore

CONTRIBUTORS

Lisa Fischer, Angela Forsyth, Becky Gillette, Kelley Bass, Evin Demirel, Dwain Hebda, Dave Roberts, Carl Zylowski

68 | STILL BLOOMING Arkansas’ under-the-radar wine industry blooms on in Altus, the heart of Arkansas wine country. The Wiederkehr and Post families have no plans to stop growing. ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

AMP magazine is published monthly, Volume III, Issue 11 AMP magazine (ISSN 2162-7754) is published monthly by AY Media Group, 910 W. Second St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Periodicals postage paid at Little Rock, AR, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to AMP, 910 W. Second St., Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201. Subscription Inquiries: Subscription rate is $28 for one year (12 issues). Single issues are available upon request for $5. For subscriptions, inquiries or address changes, call 501-244-9700. The contents of AMP are copyrighted, and material contained herein may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Articles in AMP should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised in the magazine are not necessarily endorsed by AMP. Please recycle this magazine.

M A R C H 2021

PLUGGED IN

Dria Etienne, owner of Mickey’s Cakes & Sweets in Little Rock, adorned the cover of AMP’s February issue. Mickey’s is one of the state’s more prominent Black-owned businesses, and business has been good. Etienne revealed plans to franchise the Mickey’s model.

Stephanie Jackson is getting the message across, leading communications for the Little Rock Mayor’s office.

INSTAGRAM

FEEDBACK BEST BUY, INNOVATION HUB LAUNCHING FIRST TEEN TECH CENTER IN ARKANSAS “Congrats to you and your team. This is excellent news. Great article too!” Cory Lanier Great initiative and great article! Adita Karkera APRIL ROY CREATED FEMPAQ AS A PRODUCT, ENDED UP CREATING A MOVEMENT “Thank you so much for featuring femPAQ and spreading the word on the importance of menstrual health.” April Roy TITANS OF TECH IN ARKANSAS: 2021 “Now we have to perform and drive this state’s tech-based economy forward. Nobody listed can shirk their role. It’s in ink. Great news is, there is so much talent, such passion and creativity in these firms, anything is possible. Dream bigger. Do better.” Stan Zylowski

The University of Arkansas for Medicine Sciences (UAMS) has named Sara Shalin, M.D., Ph.D., as the chair of the Department of Dermatology in the university’s College of Medicine.

“What an honor! Thank you. Glad to see so many friends on this list as well!” Brian Bauer

TOP ONLINE ARTICLES 1. City of Little Rock Unveils Harriet Tubman Sculpture at City Hall 2. Titans of Tech in Arkansas: 2021 3. Bill Gates Becomes Biggest U.S. Farmland Owner, Has Extensive Arkansas Land Holdings 4. Tractor Supply Buys Orscheln Farm and Home in $297 Million Deal 5. Walmart Extends COVID-19 Emergency Leave Policy to July 2021 6. Three Arkansas Companies Named Among World’s Most Admired in 2021 7. The Last Word: The Legacy of Allen Homra 8. Donnie King Taking COO Role at Tyson Foods 9. April Roy Created femPAQ as a Product, Ended Up Creating a Movement 10. Entegrity Developing First Net Zero Mixed Use Building in Fayetteville

Elizabeth Glasbrenner, the co-founder and CEO of Smiley Technologies, is the sole Arkansas executive selected for the first round of this inaugural Forbes list in 2021. Lee Watson is leading the charge on cybersecurity in Arkansas.

@AMPPOB M ARC H 2 02 1

ARMON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

EDITOR’S LETTER

By Mark Carter

JUST ANOTHER NIGHT AT CAJUN’S WITH SAM AND BOB

ump into a Central Arkansas native of a certain age, and chances are he or she will have a Cajun’s story or two to share. Cajun’s Wharf was an iconic Little Rock spot for decades, tucked between the Junior Deputy ballfields and the river in a different kind of retail/industrial development vaguely reminiscent of Eraserhead. Cajun’s was restaurant, bar and entertainment venue but above all, a place to see and be seen. Though very much a Central Arkansas thing, its name was recognizable throughout the state. The restaurant closed for good in 2019, but its spirit lives on through sibling restaurants, Capers in west Little Rock and Copper Grill downtown. (The drive to and from work runs right by Cajun’s. Almost every trip, I’m reminded of the time years ago, passing by with the kids, when our older son asked out of the blue, “What’s cuh-JUNS?”) Cajun’s (pick your pronunciation of choice) is the subject of the March installment of Katie Zakrzewski’s The Digs of the Deal series, which has become one of my favorite features in this publication. She visited with former owners Mary Beth Ringgold and Dan Novach about how Cajun’s became a favorite political hangout and that legacy transferred over to Copper Grill. They shared some great anecdotes, one of which is saved for this space. From Dan: “One night, well before I was a partner, when I was the general manager, Sam Walton and Bob Hope came in together.

Just walked right through the front door, no reservation. There was a Walmart shareholder’s convention in Little Rock, and Bob Hope was entertaining at one of the events. I will never forget that night. I was so excited to tell my parents about it. “I remember Bob Hope picked up the tab with what appeared to be a very wellused, original Visa card. Not that many people paid with credit cards back in those days. Later, I remember thinking, ‘I should have picked up their tab.’” For you whippersnappers, Bob Hope (and of course, Mr. Walton) was a big deal. One of the biggest. Mawmentum Gracie the black Lab, aka The Mess, once consumed a box of World’s Finest chocolate bars. You know, the fundraising candy bars. She probably consumed at least a dozen — wrappers, apparently, and all. A tiger shark on four legs. Watching The Mess recently sniff out from under the snow and then consume a pile of her own poop made me contemplate, among other big picture things, her gargantuan gullet. Her magnificent, yes, maw — our word of the month for March. Not much historical backstory here — maw is old English (with German and Dutch origins) for the jaws or throat of a voracious animal or any kind of receptacle (think stomach) to which food is transported. Informally, it’s also come to be used for the figurative gullet of a greedy person — “The politician stuffed illegal

Now that’s the kind of (satirical?) headline we need more often. As always, thank you for reading. Hit me up anytime, good or bad, at MCarter@ ARMoneyandPolitics.com.

SPRING FEVER, Y’ALL

t waited until the last minute, but the winter of 2020-21 closed with a bang. We were long overdue for some snow, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. But I’m ready for spring, y’all. And I’m ready for the pandemic to be a permanent part of history, with local restaurants, movie theaters and ballparks filled to the max with people. We’re not there yet, but small businesses seem to have reason for optimism that we might be before long. This month’s issue of AMP visits with local restaurants (a favorite business category of mine).

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Congressional Republicans Make Deal: Democrats Get Everything They Want, But Mr. Potato Head Will Stay Male

By Heather Baker

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

campaign donations down his maw” — or a gaping chasm into which things descend — “The explorers descended into the maw of the pitch-black cavern.” (My literal maw was on display reading about Deluca’s and At The Corner, still cranking out great food, in this month’s issue.) On a more abstract level, common sense these days seems to have descended into a gaping maw of what can only be described as self-destructive self-absorption. Every time I catch a headline that could’ve been pulled from Orwell reporting yet another scratch-your-head moment — oftentimes, the scratch-your-head moment relates to how it’s reported, but I digress — I’m reminded of the great humorist Dave Barry’s favorite catchphrase: I’m not making this stuff up. Those candy bars never came back up from Gracie’s maw, somehow. But my sources confirm that she does continue to recycle poop. *** And finally, some breaking news you may have missed, courtesy of that citadel of satire (or is it….?), The Babylon Bee:

Dwain Hebda talks to restaurateurs about how they’ve adapted and adjusted their business models in order to stay open. We also take our annual look at workforce development. State educators and industry leaders are working hard to make sure high school graduates are properly prepared for the career choice ahead of them and to ensure the state’s workforce remains viable. Lots of good stuff inside. Thanks for reading and remember — spring is just around the corner. Send your comments or questions to me at HBaker@ ARMoneyandPolitics.com.

M A R C H 2021

VIEWPOINT

WHY ‘BIKEABILITY’ IS IMPORTANT BY DAVE ROBERTS

use the word “bikeability” quite a bit these days, but thought I would look it up, for the sake of this article, to see if it is officially a word. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, bikeable means “suitable or fit for biking, or capable of being traversed by biking.” My own definition is that bikeability is like walkability only on wheels. If you are a mayor, city planner or county judge in Arkansas, my question for you is, “What is your community’s bike score?” Most have heard of a community’s walk score. A bike score is similar but measures whether a location is suited for cycling on a scale of 0-100. The score uses four equally weighted components: 1) bike lanes, 2) hills, 3) destinations and road connectivity and 4) bike commutingmode share. It is safe to say that nearly all Arkansas towns, except for a few cities in Northwest Arkansas, fall into the 0-49 “Somewhat Bikeable” category (minimal bike infrastructure). So why should we care? Why is bikeability important? “When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.” – H.G. Wells A community that embraces the importance of bikeability understands that cycling brings several benefits to its residents and visitors. These include benefits on a personal level such as physical health and equity. There are communityrelated benefits like sustainability, quality of life and transportation. And perhaps the most important benefit, at least from a community leader’s point of view, is economic development. Let us look at how bikeability can affect the bottom

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line. “At its most basic, bicycle tourism is a strikingly simple idea.” One of my favorite YouTube channels, Path Less Pedaled, sums it up well. “Encourage people on bikes to travel to or through your community; invite them to stay the night or eat a meal or visit the local museum; and rake in the economic benefits.” PathLessPedaled.com even has a video called “How Bicycles Can Save Small-Town America.” It may seem odd to the average Arkansan, but some people actually ride their bike across multiple states. An article in this month’s Arkansas Money & Politics introduces readers to the U.S. Bicycle Route 80 that will connect West Memphis with North Little Rock. Nationally, bike tourism accounts for an estimated $83 billion in trip-related spending, which does not even count gear sales (2018, Outdoor Industry Association). According to AdventureCycling.org, most bicycle travelers have a college education, are 52 years old on average, and more than half make $75,000 per year. These could be cyclists who wish to ride through your town as they cross the state or come to Arkansas for cycling adventures, like the state’s five epic mountain bike rides, numerous monument trails or the Arkansas High Country gravel route. “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.” – Ernest Hemingway Once bicycle tourists are riding through the community or visiting town to start their ride, what comes next? They need accommodations: hotels, Airbnb or campgrounds. They need restaurants, supplies, medical clinics and safe routes

through town. That is where bike facilities come into play. (Remember the bikeability score above?) Adding trailheads that lead to paved paths, greenways, bike lanes and even sharrows (arrows on the pavement to let vehicles know they are sharing the lane with bicycles) will provide safe access for all non-motorists. The best part about adding these facilities, which are often partially funded by grants from various state agencies or private foundations, is that local residents will benefit too. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that 60 percent of all U.S. automobile trips are under five miles in length, a distance in which bicycling and walking could be substituted for driving. When asked why they don’t ride their bike to work or the store, most people will answer, “Because there’s not a safe route to get me where I need to go.” Bicycle facilities accommodate the visitors who want to stay, spend and play while also meeting the local residents’ active transportation needs. Truly a win-win! “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” – John F. Kennedy Dave Roberts, ASLA, is senior vice president of planning and business development at Crafton Tull. He is a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Cycling. For more information, please contact him at 501-6643245 or by email at dave.roberts@craftontull. com.

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DISCOVERY ECONOMICS

ARKANSAS’ NANO-ECONOMY Q&A WITH DR. MIN ZOU, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS By AMP Staff

anomaterials may be too small to view with the naked eye, but their value to Arkansans is evident every day. From increasing the efficiency of conveyor belts to promoting the growth of stem cells to repair brain injuries, nanotechnology is opening incredible doors in the Natural State. Dr. Min Zou, a 2016 Arkansas research alliance fellow and member of the ARA Academy, is a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas and a faculty member of the Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering and the interdisciplinary Microelectronics-photonics (microEP) Graduate Program at the UA. She and her team are using the tiniest materials to make enormous impacts on Arkansas’ economy.

AMP: In a few words, describe your field of research. Dr. Zou: The world is full of surfaces interacting with each other. My research focuses on enhancing these interactions through nanoscale surface engineering. AMP: You said “nanoscale.” What does that mean? Dr. Zou: “Nanoscale” refers to structures with dimensions measured in nanometers (nm), or 10-9 meter (m). To provide perspective, imagine the thickness of a sheet of paper. Its thickness is around 100,000 nanometers. My work involves creating nanostructures and films on surfaces to enable various properties and functions. While nanostructures are extremely small, the impact of nanoscale research is huge. AMP: How is this field of research meaningful to Arkansas companies and Arkansans in general?

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Dr. Zou: Materials with nanoscale dimensions (typically less than 100 nm) show novel physical, chemical, mechanical and optical properties that bulk materials do not have. These novel properties can be used to create materials or surfaces with specific functions for many products and services that impact Arkansas companies and the public. For example, nanotechnology can be used to create low friction coatings that can help Arkansas companies reduce energy consumption. Controlling the surface of glass, or other transparent materials, at the nanoscale enables more light to be transferred (anti-reflective) which boosts performance of solar cells and LED lighting. Broadly speaking, nanotechnology can improve areas such as transportation, materials handling, renewable energy, medicine, health care and more. AMP: How is your research being applied specifically to local companies?

Dr. Min Zou

Dr. Zou: My research lab has developed several surface-engineering technologies that have led to the formation of two local startup companies — SurfTec LLC and WattGlass LLC — working on commercializing some of these technologies. SurfTec has developed low-friction coatings and anti-icing/icephobic coatings that can be applied in a wide range of applications. To date, this includes lubricant sprays for industrial applications and ski waxes for consumer applications. Recently, SurfTec worked with Allied Cycle Works in Rogers to develop a product that can improve the energy efficiency of bicycle chains. We also are working with Hytrol Conveyor Company in Jonesboro to improve conveyor system energy efficiency. SurfTec’s anti-icing/icephobic coating could help prevent the devastating disaster caused by ice accretion on power generation systems and prevent power outages, like the one we saw in February due to the severe weather. WattGlass develops anti-reflective, anti-fogging and self-cleaning coatings,

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which are applied to solar panels and streetlights to improve the energy efficiency of these products. We hope to continue to apply these and new technologies to benefit the state of Arkansas. AMP: You serve as the director for the Nano Mechanics and Tribology Laboratory (NMTL) and have a track record of converting promising research into real-world applications. What does the future look like for NMTL? Dr. Zou: NMTL will continue to conduct cutting-edge research in nanoscale surface engineering through various advanced manuDr. Zou with her team: (front row, from left) Dr. Dipankar Choudhury, Firuze Soltani Kordshuli, (back row, from left) Mahyar Afshar Mohajer, Josh Goss and Steven facturing techniques. We are using Sonntag. several new technologies, such as 3D nanoprinting and laser processing, to give researchers more power to tailor material properties toward new applicacustomer discovery and prototype debackgrounds through partnerships with tions. A particular focus is on biomedical velopment are the key challenges. That’s various talent search programs and proapplications, which include orthopedic why programs like ARA Impact Grants vide them with research opportunities implants, scaffolds and organ-on-a-chip and the UA Chancellor’s Discovery, Creand graduate student mentors. devices. ativity and Collaboration Fund are so The TRIO program funded by the U.S. We will continue to commercialize important. Not only do they allow us to Department of Education is one example, technologies developed in our lab by proinvestigate new types of research and dewhere two-thirds of students are from viding students with entrepreneurship velop early data, they also enable us to low-income backgrounds and would be training and leveraging partnerships conduct commercially-oriented proof-ofin the first generation of their family to with companies around the world. concept and prototype development. attend college. At later stages, we could AMP: What is needed to turn research The research and talent in Arkansas provide undergraduate research opporinto commercial impacts? What chalsuccessfully compete on a global stage, tunities and fellowships to students from lenges or friction points (no pun inand it is vital that students and startups traditionally underrepresented groups in tended) exist that make this more are supported, otherwise they go elsescience, such as women and minorities. challenging? where for opportunities. The Arkansas Research Alliance Academy Dr. Zou: In order to create commercial AMP: How can we attract, retain and of Scholars and Fellows is a community of impacts, research must lead to technolodevelop talented and diverse people to strategic research leaders who strive to maxigies that are reproducible, scalable and research roles? How can we make remize the value of discovery and progress to competitive in the marketplace. Crucial search appealing for everyone? advance the knowledge-based economy of to this process are researchers with an the state. Learn more at ARAlliance.org. entrepreneurial spirit who are passionate about taking new technologies to market. Dr. Zou: We could identify talented stuMantooth will present at ARA Project Scope In my experience, funding support for dents early, in grades 7-12, from diverse in March.

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M A R C H 2021

WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT

Workforce development is this month’s focus of Arkansas Money & Politics. Inside, AMP features the Be Pro Be Proud program from the Arkansas State Chamber/Associated Industries of Arkansas and visits with a few technical college presidents — Dr. Evelyn Jorgenson of NorthWest Arkansas Community College, Dr. Bentley Wallace of South Arkansas Community College and Dr. James Shemwell of Arkansas Northeastern College — as well as Be Pro Be Proud board member Michael Garner. They talk about trends in workforce development and the importance of maintaining a highly skilled labor pool. We’ll also look at the Academies of Central Arkansas program and list the state’s technical colleges and workforce development institutions.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

ALTERNATE PATHS

PROGRAM MINING STATE FOR FUTURE SKILLED WORKERS

n the 1978 classic, Animal House, Bluto wore a sweatshirt that communicated a whole lot in one simple word: College. The Deltas’ living mascot did college well in a metaphysical sort of way, of course, even if he didn’t excel in practical terms. (A grade point average of 0.0, after all.) But as the film’s epilogue reveals, the future Sen. Blutarsky rode off into the sunset anyway. We don’t know whether his seven years of pre-med studies ever led to a Faber degree, but Bluto, rest assured, turned out OK. The metaphysical appeal of the college experience so aptly illuminated in Animal House continues to attract high school graduates, even as virtual higher education settles into vogue out of necessity. But a degree isn’t required to launch so-called “blue-collar” careers, many of them lucrative in states like Arkansas with a low cost of living where a dollar stretches further. And practicality often wins the day for those prospective college students not committed to a specific course of study or discouraged by the prospect of graduating with massive student loan debt. Manufacturers and other employers in need of skilled laborers continue to mine the landscape for them. While the traditional college path remains essential for those planning to enter certain fields or those seeking a classical education, one Arkansas program is reaching students across the state by dangling an alluring carrot — alternate paths that can offer faster, debt-free routes to high-paying jobs. Each spring and fall, the Be Pro Be Proud initiative sends its mobile workforce-development lab — a 44-foot-long, 1,078-square-foot-long, extendable tractor trailer — to schools, conventions and other events across the state. The workforce lab includes various real-life, industry simulators used to train employees. The simulators also give students a taste of what a job actually entails — what it likes to drive a forklift, operate robotic equipment or program precision cutting, for example. The program also provides numerous resources, including job listings and training opportunities, at BeProBeProud.org. Be Pro Be Proud was launched in 2016 by Asso-

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BY MA R K CA RTE R

ciated Industries of Arkansas (AIA), the nonprofit foundation of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and its model has been adopted in South Carolina and Georgia. Through January, and despite a spring 2020 tour cut short by COVID-19 and strict guidelines limiting participation since, the program had reached 308 cities and towns in Arkansas over 586 tour stops. The mobile lab had hosted 101,197 visitors, and 21,273 students had indicated interest in learning more, according to Trey Lamberth, director of communications for Be Pro Be Proud and the State Chamber.

THE BE PRO BE PROUD PROGRAM SENDS ITS MOBILE WORKFORCEDEVELOPMENT LAB TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

M A R C H 2021

The mobile lab provides different industry simulations for students to experience.

With a widening generational skills gap, Be Pro Be Proud aims to help ensure there will be skilled laborers to take over for the ones approaching retirement age. The National Association of Manufacturers reports that roughly 83 percent of manufacturers have seen a moderate or serious shortage in skilled workers. In Arkansas, the workforce is getting older. Roughly 49 percent of skilled workers in the state are age 45 or over, 18 percent falls between the ages of 55 and 64, and 33 percent of the skilled workforce is under the age of 45, Lamberth said. Arkansas is attractive to many industries because of its business environment and the quality of its skilled workforce, and officials from the public and private realms want to keep it that way. Be Pro Be Proud is supported by private companies representing multiple industries in the state, from Nucor Steel to Galley Support Innovations, and receives state and federal funding as well. “Our whole purpose is to show students a different pathway,” Lamberth said. “Rather than going into debt right away, a student could make $40,000 to $50,000 starting out as an apprentice. We want to look at what really drives career choices. We want to grow more skilled workers but also potentially build

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a new generation of business owners and entrepreneurs.” He noted that a 19-year-old could apprentice as a high-voltage lineman, and in three to five years, earn $90,000 a year. The program also encourages entrepreneurship and promotes education at two-year vocational schools to complement training. Michael Garner, president of Little Rock’s Phillips Commercial/Haas Automation, a division of Phillips Corp., needs workers to choose his company. He told Arkansas Money & Politics that he has 42 open positions to fill in 2021. “It’s unfortunate we struggle to fill these roles,” he said. Phillips employs 10 in Arkansas with a total workforce of roughly 160. It provides advanced manufacturing equipment such as CNC machines (motorized maneuverable tools and platforms), 3D printers and robots along with the expertise to apply these technologies to the manufacturing process. Garner said Phillips currently has service technician positions open that start at $45,000 to $55,000 a year and within five years could pay between $70,000 and $80,000. Plus, these jobs come with perks — a company car, cellphone and laptop. “Think about being a young family starting out, and your employer is providing you a vehicle for work, which means fewer car payments, less gas and insurance but still a way to work,” he said. “We just hired an intern that did a ride-along as a high school student with one of our technicians. He’s been out

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of school for over a year and wasn’t happy with his current job. As an intern, we hired him at $30,000 annually; upon successful completion of our six-month intern program, he’ll be hired as full time at $45,000. And once he receives his certified technician status, he’ll be increased to $50,000 annually. “This should all happen within his first year at zero cost to him.” Garner said college degrees aren’t required because they don’t deliver the learning that’s needed to do the job. For many, getting in the door requires just a clean driving record and background check. Sample professions promoted by Be Pro Be Proud for which a college degree isn’t necessary include computer programmers, CAD/CAM drafters, commercial truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, linemen, tool and die makers, plumbers, electricians, HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) technicians, welders and fiber optics technicians. AIA estimates that Arkansas computer programmers, for example, make an average annual salary of $69,540 with the top 10 percent of the industry making $102,040. The average median household income for Arkansas in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, was $48,952. Be Pro Be Proud is full steam ahead — with COVID restrictions — in 2021, the spring tour having been launched Jan. 19 at Hamburg High School. It’ll wrap up May 7 in Fort Smith. In between, the tour will have hit towns like Danville, Mulberry, Mount Vernon and Fordyce — small, rural communities in which many students don’t have the option of pursuing a traditional college education. Garner said his company is limited because its customers can’t grow and expand due to a shortage of skilled labor. “It’s not uncommon for a customer to tell us they would love to buy more equipment, but they can’t find enough skilled people to run what they have,” he said. “Customers will actually turn down work because they are at capacity with their current employees.”

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SAMPLE ANNUAL SALARIES FOR SKILLED LABORERS IN ARKANSAS (AVERAGE TOP 10 PERCENT SALARY, AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY)

COMPUTER PROGRAMMER $102,040 $69,540

PLUMBER $61,120 $39,940

CAD/CAM DRAFTER $78,540 $59,080

ELECTRICIAN $62,800 $43,530

COMMERCIAL TRUCK DRIVER $60,710 $37,930

HVACR TECHNICIAN $58,350 $36,850

AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS $87,970 $56,740

DIESEL TECHNICIAN $58,360 $38,250

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR $49,420 $35,430

CNC OPERATOR $48,810 $35,980

LINEMAN $95,780 $69,960

CONSTRUCTION $90,750 $56,250

TOOL AND DIE MAKER (Top 10 percent only) $95,500

WELDER $60,460 $36,620

MACHINIST $60,390 $38,350

FIBER OPTICS TECHNICIAN $79,220 $62,020 Source: AIA

M A R C H 2021

TRAVIS BIRD: SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF YEAR Travis Bird, Owner and CEO of Arkansas Elite Welding Academy, LLC, in Quitman, was named the 2020 Small Business Person of the Year for Arkansas by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Winners from each state, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico were honored in Washington, D.C., as part of National Small Business Week recognizing the contributions to the economy of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“I never thought welding would get me to where I am today. With hard work, determination and help from God, all things are possible.” - Travis Bird M ARC H 2 02 1

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EXEC

Q&A BY MARK CARTER

igher education was due for a reassessment anyway — from the way it’s delivered to its very value proposition. But the pandemic accelerated things. More than ever, workforce development is the name of the game as the economy becomes more reliant on workers who can deliver very specific and highly valued skills. For this month’s Executive Q&A, Arkansas Money & Politics visited with Drs. Evelyn Jorgenson, Bentley Wallace and James Shemwell, presidents of NorthWest Arkansas Community College, South Arkansas Community College and Arkansas Northeastern College, respectively, as well as Be Pro Be Proud board member Michael Garner, president of Phillips Commercial in Little Rock.

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M A R C H 2021

EXEC Q&A

DR. EVELYN JORGENSON President, NorthWest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville Dr. Evelyn Jorgenson plans to retire next year as president of the state’s largest two-year community college. During her nine-year run, “Dr. J” — as she is known around campus — presided over NWACC’s growth into the state’s largest two-year school. Before she steps down, Jorgenson wants to make sure NWACC and other institutions like it continue to help students become career-ready, whether their educational path represents a journey of two or four years. AMP: Discuss the role of NWACC and other institutions in helping Arkansas maintain a robust skilled workforce. Dr. Jorgenson: I think the role of NWACC and other institutions in making sure Arkansas maintains a skilled workforce is vital to the future of this state. The bottom line is that without a welleducated, well-trained workforce, businesses and industries already in Arkansas will not be able to expand and may even be tempted to leave, and new businesses and industries will be reluctant to locate in Arkansas. In my opinion, too many people believe it is all about corporate taxes, but a state could be tax-free for example, and if an industry’s research shows that there is not an available educated workforce, then the location still becomes a losing proposition for that business. An educated workforce is paramount. As educational institutions, NWACC and others must help legislators, industry recruiters, economic development offices and others understand this important fact. We should not have a situation where there are large numbers of unemployed at the same time that we have large numbers of unfilled, open positions in business and industry. Training and education are the answer to that.

AMP: In what other ways are schools like NWACC positioned to help reinvigorate the COVID-impacted economy? M ARC H 2 02 1

Dr. Jorgenson: Community colleges are well-positioned to help reinvigorate the economy. NWACC, for example, has a variety of short-term and longer-term workforce training programs as well as education that leads to very affordable associate degrees that then transfer to fouryear universities and colleges. For the unemployed or for those employees who have had their hours greatly reduced because of COVID, NWACC has opportunities for those people to enhance their job skills and strengthen their resumes. That could be something relatively quick and short-term such as an OSHA class, construction/skilled-trades class, computer class, CNA, entrepreneurship training for starting your own business… The list goes on and on. Additionally, nearly all of the short-term certificates that we grant can be used toward an associate degree at some point in the future if desired. Those are referred to as “stackable credentials” because one by one, they can stack onto each other to lead toward a longer term goal of a college degree, if that‘s the goal. Each class or certificate is valuable in and of itself, but each also stacks into an associate degree if desired. NWACC is also very responsive to community needs. As the economy changes, as local priorities change, as business and industry in the area changes, we respond by meeting with our local business and industry advisory committees. Listening to them, we take their advice, we shape programs that will meet the needs of our specific community. One such recent 20

Evelyn Jorgenson

certificate program is a Bicycle Industry Employers Association (BIEA) technician program that trains people to be technicians to work on the highly specialized Stacy Hurst (and expensive) mountain bikes, for example. There are lots of opportunities for short-term and longer-term training and education at NWACC.

AMP: Tell us about the Reskilling and Recovery Network with which you’re involved. Jorgenson: Twenty-one states including Arkansas came together last year through a partnership between the National Governor’s Association (NGA) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to collaborate, share data and ideas, discuss equity and focus on how to move the economy forward, particularly focusing on adult learners, many of whom had lost jobs in the COVID-related economic downturn. Each individual state’s efforts were reported and discussed so that we could all learn from each other. Efforts focused on short-term training; better support for students, from food banks to child care; pathways to success using stackable certificates; flexible scheduling and training programs and the importance of skill development; as well as certificate and apprenticeship programs. We came away with many good ideas that we hope to implement, and we will continue to review the information to glean additional ideas and contacts for future discussions. ARMON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

EXEC Q&A

DR. BENTLEY WALLACE President, South Arkansas Community College, El Dorado

Mountain View native Dr. Bentley Wallace just concluded his first year on the job as president of SouthArk. Wallace is an Arkansas communitycollege veteran, having served in leadership roles at Arkansas State University-Newport and the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College, where he served as vice chancellor of economic development. His doctorate in human resource and workforce development education from the UA included a research focus on career readiness.

Bentley Wallace

AMP: Are more students attending SouthArk for skills training or as an entry point to a four-year college? Dr. Wallace: Roughly 75 percent of our students are in career-prep programs including health science, industrial technology, process technology, welding, automotive maintenance, culinary arts, etc. The remaining 25 percent of our students are in associate degree programs that are designed to transfer easily to a four-year college or university.

AMP: Is the rising cost of higher education making skills training a more attractive option for many students? Dr. Wallace: Prospective students are becoming more and more aware of the value proposition that technical education provides when compared to traditional paths in higher education. Community colleges like SouthArk allow students to access and complete their higher ed journey at lower costs, then transition into employment sooner. The health science and technical programs at SouthArk lead to high wage/high demand careers that often exceed lifetime earnings experienced by graduates with four-year degrees. AMP: Describe the role of a school like SouthArk in developing a comARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

munity’s workforce and its overall impact on the community. Dr. Wallace: Improving the overall economic health of the region is dependent on increasing the per-capita income of the people who live here. South Arkansas Community College prepares graduates to be safe, produc21

tive and well-retained employees for the leading employers of southern Arkansas and beyond. Education attainment is a leading contributor to earning potential, and most 21st century jobs require some education past high school, but not a four-year degree. SouthArk provides the vital link between training and economic growth. M A R C H 2021

EXEC Q&A

DR. JAMES SHEMWELL President, Arkansas Northeastern College, Blytheville A 2019 state economic report found that a steel-industry technology associate degree from ANC produced graduates whose first-year, full-time wages exceeded the average annual salary of every bachelor’s degree program in Arkansas. Dr. James Shemwell takes pride in the opportunities his school affords students from the state’s northeast corner, including many students from Missouri’s bootheel. ANC students go on to become doctors and lawyers in addition to industry managers and skilled workers, he said. Another source of pride — in 1977, the school then known as Mississippi County Community College, was awarded a $6.3 million federal grant to build the nation’s first solar photovoltaic prototype facility.

AMP: How has the pandemic impacted ANC’s mission? Dr. Shemwell: Although the COVID-19 pandemic forced changes in how ANC fulfills its mission, it also triggered innovations in educational delivery that will long survive the pandemic. Integrating telecommunication applications such as Zoom married face-to-face instruction with remote delivery to create a real-time virtual classroom experience. This affords students most of the advantages of face-to-face instruction, such as visual and auditory learning techniques, without having to be physically present in a particular location. Forced to rethink how education is delivered, we already have begun working toward the next progression, namely, marrying real-time instruction with asynchronous learning in the same class. In other words, melding the currently separate structures for face-to-face instruction versus online instruction into one seamless structure that allows for students to participate in lectures and class assignments in real time, either in person or by Zoom, or on their own time online within each week’s schedule, and to alternate between these methods throughout the semester. While this approach will not apply completely to classes in every program due to professional licensure requirements, such as certain health care fields or the necessity of hands-on application such as welding or aviation maintenance, M ARC H 2 02 1

this virtual classroom approach has some degree of application for all programs at Arkansas Northeastern College.

AMP: Did 2020 accelerate the need for workforce development and alternatives to the traditional college route? Dr. Shemwell: Even during the economic boom over the past few years, millions of Americans with bachelor’s degrees remained unemployed or in lowskill jobs because far too many students major in fields with little value in the labor market. For instance, wages for social science careers are very modest because there are far more people with this type of knowledge than there are jobs that require such knowledge. Meanwhile, well-paying jobs requiring math or technical proficiencies remain unfilled because too few students pursue education and skill training in these high-demand fields. The pandemic may actually end up having a positive effect in terms of reversing this skills gap. Because social life and athletic events at universities have been largely curtailed or sterilized as a result of COVID-19, potential students and parents of potential students are more directly confronted with the real reason that the overwhelming majority of people attend college, namely, to prepare for a career after college. This realization is causing potential students to consider 22

James Shemwell

other options to “university life” with a greater focus on career goals. Community colleges offer a variety of programs requiring two years or less of studies, which lead to well-paying careers in health care, advanced manufacturing, welding and much more.

AMP: Even without a global pandemic forcing a re-examination of how things are done, were more students bound to be drawn to the high ROI afforded by specialized skills training? Dr. Shemwell: Technology and easy access to information have ushered in an era of customization. People can customorder products from around the world as well as services tailored to a customer’s exact wants. It stands to reason that employers also seek customization in desiring new employees who possess the specific skill sets required for specific jobs. The ability to demonstrate skill sets — through professional certifications, for example — has much more value to employers today than do diplomas in generic fields of study. Students graduating high school are slowly but surely starting to realize that the quickest way to a lucrative career is not through the marking of four years on a calendar but, instead, by mastering in-demand skill sets in a fraction of the time and cost. The more that this trend continues, the better that the American economy will prosper. ARMON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

EXEC Q&A

MICHAEL GARNER President, Phillips Commercial/Haas Automation, Little Rock

Michael Garner understands the advantages of specialized, skilled labor. His company manufactures, sells and services advanced manufacturing equipment including robotics. Specialized, skilled labor is essential to his industry. Garner serves on the board of directors for Be Pro Be Proud, the workforce development initiative launched in 2016 by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas.

AMP: How important is it to address the generational skills gap experienced in many industries? Garner: It’s critical to our existence and the ability to have a growing economy. Having the ability to learn a skill or trade makes us less dependent on others — other countries or even other people. Think about having the skill to fix things around the house, whether it’s what you do as a career or just having a skill that makes you more versatile, it creates a more opportunity. I always ask what we are going to do when no one is available to fix things. As long as there are consumers, there will be a need to repair, innovate or build. AMP: Can initiatives in schools and programs like Be Pro Be Proud really help address a potential future shortage of skilled workers? Garner: Given that we removed vocational learning from our schools in the early ’90s, we need awareness. We have a couple of generations that don’t realize how things are made or, more importantly, didn’t get exposure to a trade that they would have been passionate about. Initiatives like Be Pro Be Proud are important to giving students a hands-on experience to things that in most cases ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

they didn’t know existed. We need all students to know what options are available to them, and create a better opportunity to place them in a career that they love, rather than forcing them into a job just to earn income. I also think it’s important to educators, parents and grandparents who might not realize how much technology has changed and just what great opportunities are available in industries such as advanced manufacturing.

Michael Garner

ply themselves and as a result, be a better student. It would also allow them to better understand and evaluate the value and cost of their education. Our role in educating students should be to make them employable at many levels, and far too many students are graduating college with sizable debt and non-employable skills. If the stigma had been lifted, you wouldn’t be able to construct or convert learning spaces for technical or skill trades quick enough.

AMP: In your experience, does it feel like the stigma attached to not attending a traditional, four-year college after high school is being lifted? Garner: I think we have started to create more awareness, but I don’t think we’re close to solving this problem. I really think it’s more about providing equal opportunity for a career path and, most importantly, the level of income and quality of life a person wants. I think we still have room for improving the understanding of what’s available and how can we make sure when students graduate high school that they have a career plan. That career plan could include internships, trade schools, associate degree programs or the traditional four-year degree. I think we could make students better prepared for growth and learning by having the opportunity to ap23

M A R C H 2021

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

TELCOE LOOKS TO SPUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ‘ACADEMIES OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS’

BY KATI E ZA KR ZE WS KI

ithin the last five years, many business and political leaders have begun to recognize that the American educational system is one-size-fits-all. But Telcoe Federal Credit Union has collaborated with the Little Rock Regional Chamber and several other business, political and education leaders to create the Academies of Central Arkansas. Structurally conceived by Ford Next Generation Learning, the idea is to educate high school students with relevant and careeroriented learning. The program is designed to give Arkansas students more options beyond college at the time of their high school graduation. The program works with the four public school districts in Pulaski County. Launched for incoming high school freshmen in the fall of 2020, the program had been in the works for three years, according to James Reddish, executive vice president of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. The Ford program, from which Academies of Central Arkansas was spun, started in 2005. Reddish said it essentially has codified a way of transforming the high school education system by offering classes that emphasize relevance in students’ career goals. “And it’s now been implemented in over 40 communities across the country, literally coast to coast,” he said. “2018 is when we started to explore this idea. The idea gained momentum after a trip to Nashville with all four of the school districts’ superintendents and educational leaders. Fast-forward into early 2019, and Entergy Arkansas paid for an initial benchmarking study that reaffirmed that this was a possibility.” Reddish worked alongside other prominent, local education leaders including his Chamber colleague, Director of Workforce Development and Education Kristi Barr, to flesh out this unique educational model. Since the launch in Central Arkansas, student performance has gone up. Additionally, students who may not feel that college is right for them have the skills needed to pursue other careers by the time they receive their high school diploma. “It really represents a culture change, not necessarily a program, in that it’s much more permanent, and it provides the opportunity in every community where this has been done with higher GPAs, higher college-bound rate, industry-recognized credentials, tardiness goes down, discipline issues go down, and absentees goes down,” Reddish said. “Students are engaged in what they’re learning in a way that they, frankly, wouldn’t in the [traditional] high school model. And that has been the case for the last 160 years. We have to be invested in our students. As business leaders and civic leaders, we need to be providing for our students the chance to attain wealth, a stable family and an available wage.” While Ford Next Generation Learning provides a guideline for how the educational structure should be, it is ultimately those invested in the education of the local community who play a prominent role in creating the curriculum, Reddish noted.

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“We also wanted to make sure that faithbased leaders, politicians and business leaders were also a part of this process. And so since early 2019, this has really been a community transformation effort that ultimately led toward this physical manifestation last fall in 2020,” Reddish says. Participating schools have designated Michele Beasley “academies” geared towards certain careers such as health care, manufacturing, engineering, technology and more. Plus, students also learn about financial literacy. The approach allows students to see how and why everything that they learn is relevant, Reddish said. “This change in educational perspective is not limited to some students or to James Reddish advanced students — it’s provided to each and every student, especially students who might not have the same opportunities otherwise.” This allows professional organizations such as Telcoe to adopt an academy, making it possible for students to job shadow and receive special training and education in the fields in which they want to pursue a career. Michele Beasley, Telcoe’s vice president of consumer lending, said the credit union is no stranger to getting involved in the educational developments of Arkansas students. “Every year, April is YOUTH month at Telcoe Federal Credit Union, which serves to encourage young members to develop healthy saving habits,” Beasley said. “Telcoe is also invested in helping our younger members understand the ins and outs of personal finance.” Telcoe, the state’s second-largest credit union in terms of assets and members, has always prioritized financial literacy and education, Beasley noted. Telcoe is also working to promote education in Arkansas with organizations such as Junior Achievement. “We are also active in the local schools, where we offer a reality fair that show students the financial realities of the world with exercises like buying a mock house or car, creating a budget and so on,” she said. “Each April, we offer free savings accounts to those under 18, and for many years, we have offered a youth certificateof-deposit special that offers a high dividend rate to help promote youth savings and help parents and grandparents to begin having conversations in the home about money. “We want to help improve the savings rate among our members and allow them the ability to pay themselves first by saving through payroll deduction. Financial wellness is fundamental to the opportunity for individuals to pursue their dreams.”

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TECHNICAL COLLEGES AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS IN ARKANSAS

UA-Pulaski Tech INSTITUTION

LOCATION

Arkansas Construction Education Foundation

Little Rock

Arkansas Elite Welding Academy

Quitman

Arkansas Northeastern College

Blythville

Arkansas State University-Beebe

West Memphis

Arkansas State UniversityMountain Home

Mountain Home

Arkansas State University-Newport

Newport

Arkansas State University Three Rivers

Malvern

Arkansas Tech University-Ozark

Ozark Little Rock

Black River Technical College

Pocohantas

Black River Technical College

Paragould

Business and Industry Training

Bethel Heights

Springdale

Ozarka College

Melbourne West Helena

South Arkansas Community College

El Dorado

Southeast Arkansas College

Pine Bluff

Southern Arkansas University Tech

Jacksonville

Baptist Health College Little Rock

LOCATION

Northwest Technical Institute Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas

Beebe

Arkansas State University Mid-South

Arkansas Welding Academy

INSTITUTION

Camden

Ultimate Technical Academy

North Little Rock

United Welding Institute Inc.

Pottsville

University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College

North Little Rock

University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management

North Little Rock

University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology

Crossett

University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology

McGhee

De Queen

University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville

Batesville

East Arkansas Community College

Forrest City

University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton

Morrilton

National Park College

Hot Springs

University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana

Hope

University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain

Mena

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas

North Arkansas College NorthWest Arkansas Community College ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

Harrison Bentonville

M A R C H 2021

‘NOT YOUR FATHER’S FACTORY FLOOR’

ABB HELPING CHANGE CONVERSATION ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

alking the floor at ABB’s industrial electric motor plant in Fort Smith, Johnny McKusker remembers an old advertising tag line and applies it to his industry. “This isn’t your father’s factory floor.” Indeed, the vibe on ABB’s bright, manufacturing floor feels almost more high-tech than traditional factory conjuring images of dark, dirty furnaces — a stigma that lingers still in the public consciousness. McKusker, vice president for operations, and Jason Green, vice president for human resources, and their colleagues at ABB’s division headquarters in Fort Smith are doing their best to help educate students throughout the city and western Arkansas that their post-high school graduation options may entail more than they realized. ABB offers high paying, rewarding careers that help shatter pre-conceived notions about a career in manufacturing. “We’re really trying to change the conversation about career and technical education,” Green said. “It doesn’t happen overnight, but with an aging workforce and different technology in our operations, there’s a need to create a

pipeline of technical talent.” ABB is working with the local university and 22 public K-12 school districts to do just that. Through its youth apprenticeship program, ABB brings in high-school juniors and seniors to work at the Fort Smith plant and complement classroom training in advanced manufacturing received through the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) and the local school districts. And ABB works with other local institutions, such as Arkansas Tech University-Ozark, to help raise the profile of career and technical education and training in that community as well. Students participating in the youth apprenticeship program, selected through a competitive process, are exposed to the advanced manufacturing technology on display at the Fort Smith plant such as digital simulation and advanced robotics. Teaching opportunities include augmented reality (AR), a tool which entails the digital overlay of processes onto a physical environment. As McKusker understates, “Very modern, digital capabilities.” McKusker and his team in the Fort Smith plant host

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M A R C H 2021

TOURISM

NEW HORIZONS POTENTIAL FOR CYCLE TOURISM HAS LOCAL OFFICIALS READY TO RIDE BY MARK CARTER

Touring cyclists sample a lonely but picturesque stretch of highway in southern Lonoke County. (Courtesy of Crafton Tull)

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ity leaders across Arkansas are placing a priority on multi-use transportation infrastructure, as road cycling, bolstered by the pandemic, continues to grow in popularity. Soon, that infrastructure should include the state’s first officially designated U.S. Bicycle Route, USBR 80, to ferry touring road cyclists across the Arkansas Delta from the Mississippi River at West Memphis to the Arkansas River at North Little Rock. Just as Northwest Arkansas capitalized on built-in advantages to become a mecca for mountain biking, officials both public and private think Central Arkansas and the Delta could benefit from road cycling’s rising popularity. And in the case of USBR 80, the allure of cycle touring. Biking, both on- and off-road, has steadily risen in popularity in the United States in recent years, and many local governments are positioning themselves to take advantage of the tourism opportunities it affords. The 2017 Arkansas Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) reported that almost two-thirds of all Arkansans participate in some form of outdoor recreation, generating $10 billion in consumer spending. And while precise numbers aren’t yet available, anecdotal evidence suggests that stir-crazy Arkansans with limited entertainment options took to the outdoors more than ever, and in more ways than ever, in 2020. Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas have been showered with global recognition over the past decade for the forward thinking — emboldened by generous support from the Walton Family Foundation — displayed in building the infrastructure required for the area to become one of mountain biking’s legitimate U.S. hotspots. Julie Kelso is among those who think the Delta could become a national touring hotspot for road cyclists, as riders discover the often overlooked and primordial beauty afforded by its backroads. As vice president of planning at Crafton Tull, the civil engineering, architecture and surveying firm based in Rogers with offices in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Conway, Russellville, Fort Smith as well as Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Kelso helped lead the feasibility study that ultimately determined the route for what will be USBR 80. The study was commissioned by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, funded through a federal State Physical Activity and Nutrition grant and conducted by Crafton Tull, working with state and local officials to determine the best touring route for road cyclists through east Arkansas.

TOURISM

Julie Kelso believes the designation of USBR 80 through eastern Arkansas will attract new riders to the state. (Jamison Mosley)

Kelso said the planning and touring of potential routes alone gave her team a renewed appreciation for the Arkansas Delta and its potential for tourism. “You’re going through a part of the state that people may not have typically visited as a touring destination. And it really highlights the beauty of the Arkansas Delta. You’re seeing it at a different pace whenever you’re on a bike, and you’re going through towns you may not have noticed when traveling by car, maybe not paying attention to some of the cool char-

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acteristics of the town. “You just experience it a different way on a bike. It’s a great way to see the state. We did some of our assessments when the cotton was in full bloom — you see the agricultural aspects of the Delta, you see the wildlife in the Mississippi Flyway… You’re going through some beautiful country; you’re crossing some beautiful rivers; and it’s just really captivating.” The route chosen for USBR 80 was one of two assessed by Crafton Tull — northern and southern routes each

picking up at the foot of the Mississippi River-spanning Harahan pedestrian bridge in West Memphis and finishing at the north side of the Big Dam Bridge. The southern route through Hughes, Marianna, Clarendon, Stuttgart, England and Scott ultimately was selected for its potential to better accommodate the needs of long-range riders through access to food, medical treatment, lodging, bike maintenance and other amenities. Eventually, USBR 80 would extend westward from the Big Dam Bridge and intersect USBR 51 in western Arkansas. Kelso said cycle tourism won’t be limited to riders from out of state visiting Arkansas for the first time. The emphasis on riding and the development of trail systems will further promote Arkansas destinations to its own residents. “All these efforts are starting to gain steam,” she said. “Once we start linking up all these existing and planned trails, people will be able to experience the state in a different way.” The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) was established in 1978 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the same organization that numbers U.S. highways and interstates. And it mirrors the federal highway system — the bike network is maintained by state and local governments and utilizes a similar numbering system. But until 2011, it consisted of just two routes. By 2018, the USBRS had expanded to include 36 total routes covering more than 13,000 miles across 26 states, mostly in the eastern half of the country. When complete, it will connect the continental United States and encompass more than 50,000 miles of bike routes, all utilizing existing low-traffic roads, off-road bike paths and bike lanes. The plan is for USBR 80 to connect the North Carolina coast with Oklahoma City. USBR 51, meanwhile, will connect USBR 10 in Minnesota with USBR 45 in south Louisiana west of New Orleans. ArDOT expects to submit the

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application for USBR designation between Memphis and Little Rock, the first such designation for Arkansas, by the fall of 2021. Kim Sanders, ArDOT’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, said designation of the state’s first USBR represents an important step toward the evolution of cycling from a recreational activity to a true mode of transportation. She cited the growth of cycling in Central Arkansas spurred by the construction of the Big Dam and Two Rivers bridges, the pedestrian conversion of the Junction and Clinton bridges connecting the downtowns of Little Rock and North Little Rock, and the development of the 17-mile Arkansas River Trail System on both sides of the river, a popular ride for local cyclists. “As we have seen in Central Arkansas, if you build it, they will come,” Sanders said. “Cycling has really exploded in Central Arkansas since their construction.” She also noted the growing popularity of the state’s Delta Heritage Trail, which includes a state park and by 2025 will connect Lexa in Phillips County with Arkansas City in Desha County. In spots, the trail utilizes parts of the Mississippi River levee and ultimately spans 84.5 miles. “Recreational cycling is the gateway to cycling as transportation,” Sanders said. “Look at the 38-mile Razorback Greenway in Northwest Arkansas. The Greenway is a transportation spine that gets heavy usage. The next crucial step is for cities and metropolitan regions to look at safer multi-use transportation infrastructure.” Local and state officials believe introducing Arkansans to the health and

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England Mayor Butch House would love to see his town teeming with touring cyclists. (Jamison Mosley)

recreational benefits of riding is the first step to incorporating cycling as a true alternate mode of transportation. Plus, as Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas

“As we have seen in Central Arkansas, if you build it, they will come.” have demonstrated, riders from across the country and even beyond will travel to discover new routes and therefore new places. And USBR designation,

in the bike touring world, is a big deal. It means a route has been vetted by its host state as the safest and most accommodating available, and perhaps most importantly, it serves as a tourism draw. Butch House is the mayor of England, the Lonoke County farming community of roughly 2,700 that sits about a half day’s casual ride east of the Little Rock metro. The lonely stretch of state highway between it and Little Rock, cutting through fields of soybean, rice and cotton oftentimes under a canopy of old pecan trees, has long been a popular touring destination for local cyclists. And England sits on the future USBR 80. House and his city council are on board with the designation, and he believes local residents are receptive as well. The council already passed a resolution supporting it (required of all counties and municipalities through which a USBR route runs). “I really think it will be a plus for us,” he said of the designation. “It would be a very attractive addition to the city. We already get some cyclists who come through the area. We’re so close to Little Rock, we get a lot of bikes through here. It would be great to have more of ‘em stopping to get some water or something

M A R C H 2021

TOURISM

(Courtesy of Crafton Tull)

to eat. It would really add to our downtown if we could do some positive things to help draw them here.” House’s vision of a downtown teeming with residents and bike-rising day trippers alike was fueled by a visit to Collierville, a small city of about 51,000 within the Memphis metro that was home to two Civil War battles and is known for its historic town square. “They had a little museum in the old train depot; there were people and bicycles everywhere; and they had facilities set up by the tracks for riders to change tires and other things,” he said. “It was a real draw for the square.” Such a scene ultimately could play out in towns across the Delta, as USBR designation and attractions such as the Delta Heritage Trail and the Mississippi River Trail draw visitors from other parts of the state and even country. And more cyclists are expected to head east out of Little Rock to explore their Delta backyard. Road cycling has

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become a prominent fixture to the Little Rock streetscape, and as more people are introduced to it, cycle tourism becomes more likely. Sam Ellis, who owns Rock Town River Outfitters in Little Rock’s River Market District and rents bikes and kayaks, said business spiked during the pandemic. “There are more outdoor activities available in Arkansas than many other places,” he said. “We offer opportunities such as bike rentals so people can get out and explore the trails. Biking is an outdoor activity that gets people safely out of the house while social distancing. A lot of people were getting stir-crazy and wanted a way to get out of the house safely with their family, and biking and kayaking were two of those activities.” Development of bike routes and trail systems to accommodate a growing user base is a proven winner in Arkansas. A 2017 study commissioned by the Walton Family Foundation estimated the total economic benefit of the Razorback Gre-

enway to be $137 million; the value of homes located within a quarter mile of the Greenway to have increased in value by an average of $15,000; and the region to have realized $85 million in health benefits associated with its development. Daniel Holland, transportation planner for Metroplan, the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Central Arkansas, believes a similar impact could be realized in the Little Rock metro through an expanded Arkansas River Trail that will connect to the Southwest Trail to Hot Springs. By 2024, the Southwest Trail will link Little Rock to Hot Springs National Park, the Northwoods Trail System in Hot Springs as well as the south loop of the renowned Arkansas High Country Route. In February of last year, Metroplan directed $55 million over 10 years to help Central Arkansas build out this regional trail network connecting the entire metropolitan area in the same way the Greenway links the downtowns of Fayetteville,

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intrastate cycling tours, the Delta areas Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville. to all the region’s outdoor offerings.” could certainly economically benefit In Little Rock, it all starts with the River The new “Hub Communities” profrom cycling tourism.” Trail, Holland said. gram through the Arkansas Department The popularity of the Razorback “It will act as a fulcrum to major spurs of Parks, Heritage and Tourism should Greenway in NWA has spawned busitowards Conway, Jacksonville-Cabot, the help entice cities and towns to invest in ness and residential development Southwest Trail and the budding Souththe potential of cycle tourism. The proalong its route, and Holland envisions east Trail, which will connect downtown to gram rates communities from one to something similar for Central Arkanthe airport and river port. Cities will be able four diamonds based on their degree of sas, which he believes has yet to realize to coordinate local bike trails to connect to cycle friendliness. its full potential. our regional routes. Our hope is to have “These designations help cyclists plan “Examples throughout the country, trails that rival any system in the nation.” their treks and cities advertise themselves including from our friends in NorthLater this year, Metroplan and Crafas desirable destinations,” Holland said. west Arkansas, show the popularity of ton Tull will launch a 15-month project to “Greater buy-in to cycling culture will trails and parks,” he said. “There is no identify precise routes and “prioritize inincrease a community or region’s likelivestments to achieve quicker results,” Holland added. As for USBR 80, Holland believes it will play an important role in Metroplan’s regional biking strategy. “The route will serve local populations by providing multi-modal connections for commuting or recreational travel between our cities,” he said. “We hope that as USBR 80 continues west in subsequent phases, it will directly serve Central Arkansas communities west of Little Rock. The route will be an integral part of our region’s push towards greater multi-modal connectivity and a more healthy and active population. “Metroplan’s focus on the trail network is to connect Will an increased buy-in to the cycling culture lead to more tourism? Metroplan officials believe it will. communities to provide a transportation option that ofquestion that businesses and develten does not currently exist.” hood of becoming a tourist hotspot. Aropers are taking note of these trends. The planned USBR 80 is laid out on kansas is an interesting state. Our regions We are beginning to see apartments in existing city streets, county roads and are topologically varied and have their Conway pop up along trails with ads state highways. Sanders noted that no own unique charm. The draw to crossboasting about trail access. The Preroutes need to be constructed or any country cycling treks is seeing new places serve and Centerstone Apartments are costs incurred outside of potential investand immersing in the local culture.” two examples. ments from route communities in spur Kelso added, “The designation of “The River Trail is a great spine but routes, signage and related accommodaUSBR 80 is an exciting step in expanding imagine if a cyclist could stroll the rivertions. The Delta stands to benefit from the bicycling network for transportation, bank all the way to Conway. Metroplan USBR 80, she said. recreation and touring that highlights would love to see communities build off “Though connectivity to major trail communities and landscapes across the the eventual regional system to connect systems in neighboring states and long Natural State.”

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M A R C H 2021

WHERE TO GO IN ARKANSAS A list of some of the Natural State’s more prominent tourist attractions. CENTRAL

SOUTHWEST

Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (formerly the Arkansas Arts Center)

Little Rock

Clinton Presidential Library

Little Rock

Hot Springs National Park

ESSE Purse Museum

Little Rock

DeGray Lake State Park

Bismarck

Old State House

Little Rock

Murphy Arts District

El Dorado

Central High School National Historic Site

Little Rock

Ouachita National Recreation Trail

Plantation Agriculture Museum MacArthur Museum of Military History

Hot Springs lakes

Historic Arkansas Museum Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

Little Rock

Hot Springs

Historic Washington State Park

Washington Mount Ida Royal

Northwoods Trails

Hot Springs

Magic Springs amusement park

Hot Springs

NORTH CENTRAL Blanchard Springs Caverns

Bella Vista to Fayetteville

Greers Ferry/Little Red River Buffalo National River

West Fork

Dogpatch (future Johnny Morris/ Bass Pro development)

Havana Eureka Springs

Heber Springs Mammoth Spring

Ozark Mountain Folk Center

Dardanelle

Fifty-Six Boxley

Spring River

Mountain Home

1905 Basin Park Hotel

Mena

Lake Ouachita Vista Trail

NWA

Mount Magazine

Hot Springs

Gangster Museum of America

Little Rock-NLR

Mount Nebo State Park

Hope

Womble EPIC mountain biking trail Little Rock

White River

Hot Springs

Queen Wilhelmina State Park

Scott

River Market District

Devil's Den State Park

Roland to OK border

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

Little Rock

Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway

Hot Springs

Birthplace of Bill Clinton

North Little Rock

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

Arkansas River Trail

Murfreesboro

Bathhouse Row

Scott Little Rock

Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum

Hot Springs

Crater of Diamonds State Park

Mountain View Jasper

Pea Ridge National Military Park

Pea Ridge

Upper Buffalo Headwaters EPIC mountain biking trail

Museum of Native American History

Bentonville

Syllamo EPIC mountain biking trail

Mountain View

Trail of Tears Park & Historic Site

Fayetteville

White River

Mountain Home

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Bentonville

The Momentary

Bentonville

The Walmart Museum

Bentonville

Crescent Hotel & Spa

Eureka Springs

DELTA Lake Chicot

RIVER VALLEY Petit Jean State Park

Oppelo

McGehee

Grand Prairie

Stuttgart

Hampson Archeological Museum State Park

Wilson Gillett

Paris

Arkansas Post National Memorial

Post and Wiederkehr wineries

Altus

Southland Park Gaming and Racing

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Future USBR 80

Fort Smith

Lake Village

WWII Japanese American Internment Camp Museum

Mount Magazine U.S. Marshals Museum (opening late 2021)

Pettigrew

West Memphis West Memphis to NLR

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M A R C H 2021

COVID

THE

PLAGUE

YEAR By David Conrads

AFTER INITIAL SHOCK, ARKANSAS ROLLS WITH COVID PUNCHES

t’s been a year since the first case of the novel coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, was confirmed in Arkansas, likely brought to the state by a resident of Pine Bluff after visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The toll from the disease worldwide has been catastrophic, and Arkansas has not been spared. Over the past year, roughly 5,500 deaths in Arkansas have been attributed to COVID, hundreds of thousands afflicted, jobs and businesses lost, and virtually everyone’s lives disrupted in some way if not upended entirely. It has been a century since the world has seen a global pandemic of this

magnitude, so nobody in a leadership position had any direct experience dealing with a calamity of this scale. So how is Arkansas faring, generally speaking, and what are our prospects for a return to some semblance of normalcy? “It’s been a shock to the state, but we’ve responded well,” said Dr. Jose Romero, an infectious disease specialist at UAMS Health in Little Rock who also serves, since August 2020, as the state’s secretary of health. Romero told Arkansas Money & Politics that at the beginning of the crisis, Arkansas had no diagnostic capability but was sending test specimens to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Now the state is capable of processing more than 3,000 specimens a day. “We’ve built a robust diagnostic capability within the public health system,” Romero said of testing efforts begun by Dr. Nate Smith, the previous health secretary who last year took a job with the CDC. “That’s been instrumental in us being able to really get a handle on where outbreaks are occurring and tracking them.” Romero said he’s grateful the state hasn’t gone “over the cliff” and overwhelmed the health care system, which was his biggest concern at the end of 2020 and which it came perilously close to doing in January. Arkansas being largely rural presents special problems, but Romero thinks the state is doing well with vaccines. He’s proud of the fact that as of late February, the state ranked 13th nationally in getting the state’s allotment out to the public. He is concerned, though, about the future availability of the vaccine, especially now that variants of the virus have emerged, and also with what he calls “vaccine hesitancy” or “vaccine reluctance” voiced by a segment of the population. Though he believes the state has weathered the storm, Romero thinks masking and social distancing will continue for a while yet, at least until the end of the year. When those restrictions are no longer needed, he said, will depend on a number of factors such as variants and the public’s accep-

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“Now that we know that the variants are in a growing number of states, we need to continue with our physical mitigation methods and not drop our guard,” Romero said. tance of the vaccine. “Now that we know that the variants are in a growing number of states, we need to continue with our physical mitigation methods and not drop our guard,” he said. “These variants spread quickly and, at least for the [United Kingdom] variant, have been associated with a greater risk of severe disease and death. I think the future is positive if we take hold of it the right way, and we can get through this. I’m very pleased that we are where we are today with regard to not overwhelming the health care system and that we have some vaccines that are coming out with more on the way.” Bo Ryall, president and CEO of the Arkansas Hospital Association, thinks hospitals in the state adapted well to early challenges of the pandemic, including lack of Personal Protective Equipment and limited testing capacity. He said hospitals did well in looking ahead and buying equipment, especially ventilators, early on, and have also done a good job of communicating with each other to coordinate distribution of patients and the availability of resources like ICU beds. That has been instrumental in allowing small, rural hospitals to cope with spikes in hospitalizations, which sometimes pushed them to near-capacity levels. “This cooperating and coordinating has been something great that’s come out of the pandemic,” he said. Dr. Jose Romero Noting that the biggest challenge

M A R C H 2021

When the pandemic will be over and life returns to normal is still an open question about which even health experts are loath to make predictions.

has been acquiring and retaining staff since the summer as Arkansas hospitals competed for ICU nurses, respiratory therapists and other medical staff with travel nurse agencies and from hospitals in states like Florida, California and Texas that experienced big surges in infections. Ryall’s priority now is working with the Arkansas Department of Health, pharmacists and hospitals to get as many people vaccinated as possible, as quickly as possible. “We’re in a race to get as many people vaccinated as possible before the variant reaches us,” he said. Schools facing COVID have been presented with a unique set of problems. For starters, juggling the options of remote or in-person learning — or a mix of both — for children ranging in age from five to 18, making classrooms safe for students and staff, providing meals for students and families who depend on them, dealing with often conflicting pressure from parents and having to constantly recalibrate as the pandemic raged on. Teresa Knapp-Gordon, a library media specialist in the Little Rock School District (LRSD) and president of the Little Rock Education Association, thinks the emphasis to reopen businesses as quickly as possible reduced teachers to babysitters, leading to a possible lost year of learning. But she praised LRSD and state leaders for being proactive in efTeresa Knapp-Gordon Montine McNulty

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forts to contain the virus. “At least we’re getting the vaccine and the opportunity to develop some immunity to the virus,” she said. While some industries have been able to navigate COVID reasonably well and others have even prospered because of it, the hospitality industry has been hammered. The U.S. Travel Association estimates that 4.5 million American travel and tourism jobs were lost in 2020, and the World Travel and Tourism Council fears the global toll could reach as high as 174 million by the time normal travel resumes. According to Montine McNulty, CEO of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, the hospitality industry in Arkansas was on track for a banner year in early 2020, posting record numbers in both visitations to the state and sales tax receipts. When COVID hit in March and many businesses shut down, the impact was probably felt the most by hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and similar businesses. “We went from near the very top to the bottom,” McNulty said. “It was a huge hit for a major industry in Arkansas.” While leisure travel has picked up lately and smaller venues are offering events on a limited scale, large venues and convention hotels are all but completely dark. McNulty cites a report that says the pandemic has wiped out 10 years of hotel job growth and employment. McNulty does not expect conventions or business travel to return to pre-pandemic levels until late 2022 or early 2023. “Our hotels are in dire straits,” she said. McNulty praised Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the

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Arkansas legislature, who she believes were very supportive of the hospitality industry and of business in general. With a balanced state budget and finances in reasonably good shape, the state has been able to do a lot to help businesses stay afloat during this time of crisis, she said. “I think Arkansas is really going to come out of this well, comparatively speaking. It is a disaster, but compared with other states, we should be OK.” Elliot Hunt, owner and executive chef at Atlas, a new fine dining restaurant in Fayetteville, expects to be OK, too, but not without a lot of hard work and plenty of anxiety. Opening his own restaurant had been a lifelong dream, nurtured during years of honing his culinary skills working at restaurants in France, Australia, India, Vail and Chicago, before returning to his hometown. After three years of planning, Hunt and his business partner, Brandon Rostek, opened Atlas. The timing of the opening last year, Feb. 1, could hardly have been worse. Six weeks after Hunt plated his first entree, the governor ordered restaurants closed for everything but carryout service. This left Hunt with no choice but to furlough 27 of his staff off 33 (“That was probably one of the hardest days I’ve ever had,” he said) and place his expertly crafted cuisine into compostable cardboard boxes for customers to reheat in their microwave ovens at home. “We joked in the kitchen that every to-go box felt like a coffin for food,” he said. Though he had no intention of offering carryout service, Hunt’s willingness to be flexible and roll with the COVID-related punches allowed Atlas to survive the summer, more or less breaking even. “The local community pulled us through,” he said, noting that customers ordered carryout meals and purchased gift cards. “It was a very humbling experience. They really came out and supported us in our time of need.”

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Hunt also received grants and other financial help from the government, including a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program, which he said were lifelines that kept the business afloat. Support from the tightly knit culinary community in Fayetteville was also instrumental in maintaining everyone’s mental Elliot Hunt and emotional well-being, he added. In early May, when the state went into its first phase of reopening and restaurants were permitted to open their dining rooms to one-third capacity, he and Rostek opted not to reopen, believing it was not financially feasible. Instead, they continued with carryout only until June, Brandon Rostek when they reopened partially by offering six-course dinners on weekends. In August, the dining room of Atlas has reopened to about 50 percent capacity, and the menu has returned to its original model of fine dining. Even using only half of the dining room’s seating capacity, Hunt says Atlas is doing well. Vaccinations have started, but variants of the virus are gaining traction in the United States. When the pandemic will be over and life returns to normal is still an open question about which even health experts are loath to make predictions. On top of that, restaurants are among the most risky businesses going. Does Hunt think he’ll make it? “It’s my lifelong dream to have this restaurant,” he said. “We pivoted so much, I felt like we were doing pirouettes. I will dance until I die to keep this place open. We definitely are going to make it.”

M A R C H 2021

SMALL BUSINESS

Second Chance RESTAURATEURS DISCUSS A YEAR UNDER COVID-19 AND WHAT LIES AHEAD BY DWA I N HE BDA

Helen Grace King and the At The Corner team have mastered the art of curbside delivery.

mouth of President Clinton Avenue, At The Corner. Eighteen months ago, patrons would be cozied up to plates of eggs or chicken and waffles with the music of the bustling kitchen in the background. Instead, the lucky ones who get a table are those who eat outside in the restaurant’s improvised outdoor dining room. Or, they pull up for their fare curbside, then keep moving. Helen Grace King is thankful for such options, as without them, the outlook would be bleak for the popular eatery. And she’s proud of how management and staff have been able to adapt to serving people seated under industrial heaters or meeting them with a smile at their car window. But, she admits, something gets lost outside.

On a brisk weekend morning, gray skies hang low over Little Rock’s River Market district. Urban dwellers are just coming to life in the chic neighborhood, commingled with out-of-towners craning their necks for a bit of local flavor. It’s the kind of morning to curl up in a booth at the local coffee shop and peoplewatch as the steam from your cup unfurls. But this is the era of COVID-19, and such spots are harder to find these days. Take the venerated diner spot squared at the

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“MY PERSONALITY IS VERY MUCH ABOUT POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, AND FOR SO LONG, I WAS LIKE, ‘WHAT AM I MISSING IN MY LIFE?’ I REALIZED THAT MY FOOD WAS LITERALLY DRIVING AWAY.” - Helen Grace King

“At the beginning of the pandemic, we were just curbside only,” she said. “My personality is very much about positive reinforcement, and for so long, I was like, ‘What am I missing in my life?’ I realized that my food was literally driving away. “You know, we make everything from scratch. I never got to hear or see that facial expression like, ‘Mmm, this is so good.’ Or, ‘Wow! This is so great. Thank you so much.’ Or, ‘Hey, tell me about this recipe.’ You kind of just lose that with curbside.” Any way you slice it, Arkansas’ restaurant industry is a tough business. Razor-thin margins, inconsistent regulations and codes, unstable food costs and the fickle tastes of the public all contribute to restaurants as one of the more volatile business categories. The mortality rate of such businesses isn’t as dire as frequently advertised —only 17 percent of restaurants fail in year one versus the urban legend 90-percent figure that gets cited. But it’s still one of the riskier market segments in any business community. And that was before coronavirus. Now, a year later, the picture is only moderately better for the state’s hospitality industry as proprietors continue to hold vigil for something resembling pre-pandemic operating conditions. Anthony Valinoti, owner of fabled Deluca’s Pizzeria in Hot Springs, said mom-and-pop businesses like his had to change the whole paradigm of how they did business. “It was very difficult,” he said. “I’m primarily a sit-down restaurant; you come in, you sit down, you get a drink, you order your appetizers, you get your pizza, you get your dessert. Well, to do that all at once was a much different way of doing business than we could have ever imagined. “I think public health should come first, obviously, especially with something we’ve never witnessed in the 55 years of my life. You had to have the concern for the public first. But when you have to wear the mask, you have to sit so many feet away, it’s not making people feel all that comfortable, let’s be honest. Restaurants are designed to make people feel comfortable. They’re designed to welcome you in.” Nationally, the hospitality industry is hemorrhaging. In February, the U.S. Labor Department reported 2.4 million jobs have

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Leila King delivers a hot order during the February cold spell.

been lost to date in the sector, and recent figures clearly show the states clamping down hardest are doing worse than those taking a more moderate stance. OpenTable.com reported in February eight states where indoor dining is still banned entirely or by individual city or county ordinances. Of these, only Colorado reported job loss in the 10-20 percent range; the remainder fell into the 20-30 percent range (California, Illinois, Oregon and Washington) or the 30-plus percent range (Michigan and New York). New Mexico, which restricts indoor dining by county, did not report job loss figures for the survey. Making matters worse, some states have gone through multiple rounds of mandatory restaurant closures, often allowing reopening only after additional safety modifications at the proprietor’s expense. The Wall Street Journal reports in states like California, this open-close-open cycle is even more devastating to the industry’s comeback. “Nearly 39,000 businesses tracked by Yelp closed and then reopened more than once between March 1 and the end of last year, and more than 17,700 reopened three times or more,” the paper reported Feb. 12. “The Los Angeles metro area had the

M A R C H 2021

“I’M PRIMARILY A SIT-DOWN RESTAURANT; YOU COME IN, YOU SIT DOWN, YOU GET A DRINK, YOU ORDER YOUR APPETIZERS, YOU GET YOUR PIZZA, YOU GET YOUR DESSERT. WELL, TO DO THAT ALL AT ONCE WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING BUSINESS THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED.”

highest number of multiple closings, nearly 7,000 in all. The New York metro area, by comparison, had nearly 4,000 businesses reopen more than once. “St. Felix [restaurant] welcomed customers back Feb. 5. It marked the fourth time in the last year that the … dozen or so employees scurried to reopen the Hollywood location and a sister restaurant in West Hollywood due mostly to local pandemic restrictions. [Co-owner John] Arakaki estimated it cost about $30,000 each time.” Arkansas stacks up well by comparison, even if things aren’t back to pre-pandemic levels, said Montine McNulty, CEO of the Arkansas Hospitality Association. She also praised restaurateurs’ response to both the pandemic and the state and local restrictions that came out of it. “I would give [the industry] a B+, certainly. I wouldn’t say that their businesses are in the B+ range, but their response has been remarkable,” she said. “I was most impressed because restaurant owners’ immediate concerns had to do with employees and the safety of employees. They were very concerned about that, more so than about themselves.” McNulty said as the industry fights its way forward, staffing will again be of primary concern, but this time the challenge is to hire and retain enough quality employees to fuel the comeback. Many restaurants are finding the workers they were forced to furlough in the spring weren’t available in the second half of the year, sending them scrambling to shore up replacements. “Some former employees have been content to stay home with unemployment or the [COVID-relief ] checks. Some have done it for family reasons,” McNulty said. “Many of them started looking for other options and other things they can do. Therefore, the employee pool is shrinking, and there’s going to be more competition. That is a big concern that will go on for some time.” Bar and restaurant owners also decry the way their industry had been portrayed as the primary breeding ground for new COVID cases. Back At The Corner, King said there were extreme restrictions from the very beginning for restaurants compared to

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other businesses. “It felt like the only place you could catch COVID was restaurants,” she said of the public perception. “You could max out Kroger and Home Depot and Walmart, but I could - Anthony Valinoti only have 20 people in my restaurant. It just didn’t make sense. There was no consistency in the dialogue of what politicians, local and national, were saying. From a business owner’s standpoint, it was extremely frustrating.” In fact, public relations issues concerning restaurants and COVID continue to be thorny. As recently as November, the industry dealt with fallout from a Nature.com study, led by Stanford University, that called indoor dining a major “superspreader” environment. It further suggested nationwide capping of occupancy at 20 percent would reduce infections by more than 80 percent, even while acknowledging a typical restaurant would lose 40 percent of business in the process. Not surprisingly, industry groups shot back immediately. The National Restaurant Association called the study “fraught with error,” adding that mandatory caps on occupancy unfairly singles out an industry while making matters worse for businesses barely hanging on as it is. A survey of 400 restaurants by Rewards Network found not only less than 30 percent could operate indefinitely with current capacity restrictions in place, almost half said they wouldn’t last a year. Valinoti said many in the state’s leadership seem to hold the same perception as the Stanford study, resulting in unfair treatment from a regulatory perspective. He said while no one could have been adequately prepared for the uncharted waters of COVID, mom-and-pop hospitality businesses have become an alltoo-easy scapegoat. “I think the politicians didn’t get it right. I think the politicians sent mixed messages about way too many things,” he said. “We’re going through a time where we’ve never seen this, I’ll give you a small pass on that. But then again, the message was so mixed that I really think they just kicked this can right down the

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street. I really feel that way. “There’s nothing like what the restaurants have had to go through. You’ve had strip clubs that are open. How do you close a restaurant at 10 or 11 p.m. and have a strip club open? It’s utterly absurd. The message is so inconsistent about what they were trying to do that some of us small business guys look at it like, are you joking? Like, this is it? You let us do this, but you can’t do that? “If you’re going to close us down, close us all down. Everybody needs to play by the same rules, OK, and that really hasn’t been the case throughout this entire pandemic. I think they failed miserably.” As for what the pandemic forced in terms of adaptations that are likely to become a permanent part of operations, King said alternative dining options — be they patio, curbside or drivethru services — will likely become must-haves for restaurants going forward. “I think outdoor dining is here to stay, for certain. If restaurants didn’t have it before, I think they want to do it,” she said. “I personally love our curbside operation. We have become really good at it; it was very successful, and it still is. Curbside spoils customers. I know it spoils me from a customer standpoint. “That said, there’s a huge learning curve when you go curbside. We had to completely redefine what it meant to take our dining experience that people love from At the Corner and put it in people’s cars.” McNulty said not only does increased number of vaccinations lead the list of things that would have an immediate positive impact on the industry, but she can see a day when proof of vaccination will be required of patrons, much like temperature checks are now. “Sure, I could see that. They give you a slip of paper showing that you’ve had the vaccine,” she said. “These restaurants can’t survive if the virus is rampant in their business. So yes, [proof of vaccination] is a possibility. I know some people think it infringes on their rights to do what you want to do, but it’s a different world we live in with this virus raging. We’ve all got to be willing to do whatever it takes.” Valinoti said the most pronounced outcome of the pandemic’s first year is the renewed appreciation that restaurateurs have for their patrons, which spurs better, more conscientious operation overall. “When we first reopened, the first night, we had 25 people in the place, and I looked at one of my crew and I said, ‘This is amazing,’” he said. “He said, ‘Well, it’s 25 people…’ I said, ‘Yeah; it’s 25 more people than we’ve had in months, and it’s a beautiful thing.’ When you don’t take your customers for granted, obviously, you want to protect them. If there’s anything good that came out of coronavirus, I will say this — airports, airlines, hotels, casinos, bars, restaurants have never been this clean, ever. This is something that should stay that way. It really should. “We’ve not taken for granted the people that come to our restaurant, and I’ve always been that way. The outpouring of love and affection that people have had for us, whether it was through takeout or whether it was to come sit down, it’s a great thing. It really is.”

At the Corner and its curbside service became a fixture for downtown Little Rock patrons. Valinoti believes the pandemic has provided restaurateurs with a renewed sense of appreciation for their customers.

Suzon Awbrey and Chris King, owners of Stickyz and Rev Room in downtown Little Rock. (Jamison Mosley) M ARC H 2 02 1

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SMALL BUSINESS

MUSIC MEMORIES

& CHICKEN RELATIONSHIPS AT CORE OF STICKYZ/REV ROOM MODEL BY KELLEY BASS

legendary band’s U.S. tour. And who did Mick and the boys choose as the opening act on June 25, the second show on the 2019 tour, also in Chicago? Well, that would be Whiskey Myers, big buddies of King and Awbrey. Whiskey Myers is one of the rare groups to play multiple consecutive nights at their clubs, as the “red dirt” band from Texas played the Rev Room on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday in 2019. Thinking Whiskey Myers might be ready for a bigger venue, after one of the shows King and Awbrey walked the band’s tour manager down to First Security Amphitheater, just a couple of hundred yards behind Rev’s back door. After surveying the space, the tour manager said, “Nah … I think next time we’ll just play four nights at Rev.” Add in Gary Clark Jr., the Revivalists and Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk, and realize that five of the 15 bands that opened for the Stones on that 2019 tour previously played at one of Awbrey’s and King’s clubs in Little Rock. And who else might music fans be mad they missed in the intimate confines of Stickyz or Rev? Well, there’s the time in 2008 the Zac Brown Band played a Wednesday night at Stickyz for about 40 fans and later on the same tour sold out (then) Alltel Arena on its way to three Grammy Awards. “We got a shoutout from Zac from the (Alltel) stage,” King remembered. And what about Eric Church? Heard of him, he of 10 Grammy nominations? Well, you probably hadn’t when he was playing Rev Room.

he tens of thousands of music fans who have gone to concerts at Stickyz and Rev Room over the last 20 years likely consider it a basic business transaction: Factor in the ticket price, what you’ll spend on drinks and food, and hope the experience is worth the outlay. Most people likely think it’s the same basic business transaction for Suzon Awbrey and Chris King, owners of the two premier music destinations in the River Market District of downtown Little Rock: Factor in how much they have to pay the band, what extra expenses are in their contract “rider” (green TicTacs, maybe?), what the market will bear on ticket price, whether it will be a big drinking crowd, and then hope a bunch of people show up … and that they’re thirsty. That’s clearly the nuts-and-bolts realities of operating a music club. But the collateral beauty of being in this business for the long haul is the relationships — with musicians, road managers, their crews. There are acts many fans have seen over and over at Stickyz or Rev, sometimes as often as three times a year. And that frequency means Awbrey and King have that same number of opportunities to build and nurture friendships and create memories that last forever. After a rocking two-hour show for screaming fans, musicians rarely can just turn it off. So once the club closes, there are often “after-parties” that create as many or more memories as the shows themselves. And you never know how those might play out. Like the time after a show Awbrey and the members of Cross Canadian Ragweed decided it might be fun to climb up the crane being used to build the First Security building across from Stickyz and hang a CCR flag at the top. Another fun fact of the business is that a certain number of bands that play a 200-capacity club like Stickyz will get more popular and can sell more tickets everywhere they stop, including Little Rock. King freely admits that one of the main reasons Awbrey and he decided in 2006 to accept the deal to lease the former Pour House space and create the 600-capacity Revolution Room at the corner of Cumberland Street and President Clinton Avenue was to sell more tickets to shows featuring two very different but very popular bands that routinely sold out Stickyz: Cross Canadian Ragweed and B-Side, which later became known as Boom Kinetic. “You could call Rev, ‘The House That Cross Canadian Ragweed Built’,” King said. But beyond the financial allure of packing more CCR and B-Side fans into Rev Room, “We knew the city needed a ‘middle ground’ room,” in terms of capacity, Awbrey said. The ability to sell more tickets attracts a different level of bands in terms of popularity and thus ticket sales. And then there are the bands you might be lucky enough to catch on the way up. Some of those bands’ next logical steps don’t take them from Stickyz to the Rev Room, but maybe from Stickyz to … Soldier Field in Chicago, opening for the Rolling Stones. Yes, that is just a small part of the story of St. Paul and the Broken Bones, who as on-the-way-up relative unknowns played for about 40 people at Stickyz in 2013. And then they were the opening act for the Stones on June 21, 2019, the first date on the

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*** When you look at pictures of King and Awbrey with some of the artists who’ve played their clubs, you see these are not perfunctory “grip-and-grin” shots. These are pictures of friends so happy to be together again, cheek to cheek, with wide smiles. So how did a girl from Jacksonville and a boy from Little Rock end up chummy with artists as varied as Coolio and Luke Combs (who got paid $500 as an opening act at Rev way back when)? It’s probably not coincidental they both grew up in families that loved music. “I got my dad’s skill of not being able to play an instrument, but he was a huge Motown and R&B guy, and I grew up with a lot of those sounds,” Awbrey said. An only child, King said his parents “always had music playing around the house, some I liked and some I learned to like, and I was actively buying music by the time I was 11 or 12.” When Awbrey was a sixth grader, her mom took her to her first concert, Lionel Richie and the Pointer Sisters at Barton Coliseum. “I clapped so hard my hands were swollen.” The pair barely overlapped at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. “My last college class was her first college class, geology lab,” King said. “At the end of the semester, we went on a field trip to look at rocks. But that was it.” King was social chairman for his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and one of his duties was booking bands to play at fraternity parties. When he turned 21, he went to work at JR’s Lightbulb Club right off the square in downtown Fayetteville. When

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the older student booking the shows at JR’s was about to graduate, Jimmy Rapert, the club’s owner and namesake, asked King if he would take on that duty. “He said, ‘Here’s your budget. Use your taste, but don’t lose money,’” King said with a laugh. There was a restaurant above the club that JR had always leased to an outside operator, but at one point he decided to take it over and put in a pizza restaurant. King had worked at U.S. Pizza when it first opened in Fayetteville, and his grandparents — Leita Mae and Ed King — for decades had owned and operated El Cena Casa, a Mexican restaurant on I-30 in Benton. King had worked in that kitchen off and on for years growing up. Meanwhile, Awbrey had been a hostess at Hoffbrau, a popular Fayetteville restaurant, and after turning 21, she went to work at JR’s Pizzeria. “They said, ‘We want you to be a bartender,’ so I got a lot of on-the-job training. I finished school and ended up managing the pizzeria.” The Lightbulb Club/Pizzeria colleagues decided they were pretty fond of each other and began hanging out 24/7. The house they shared was where many of the special friendships with musicians and their crews were forged. An important part of the Chris-Suzon story — and thus the Stickyz story, primarily — is that they were experienced restaurateurs. And they knew the first restaurant/bar they owned would never survive as a music venue only (though Rev Room essentially has done that), and they had some ideas on what they might serve when they had their own spot. “We had heard about a place that served only chicken fingers, basically, and that stuck with us,” King remembered. “We were eating a lot of chicken sandwiches at the time, and our creative juices just started flowing. If the foundation was chicken fingers, we figured we could do a lot with that. If you can have different flavors of chicken wings, why not different flavors of chicken fingers? We were playing around with ideas, having people over to our house, cooking up different recipes with a close group of friends.” One of those friends was Charlie Robison, a Texas musician of considerable renown (Google him). Charlie and his band happened to be at Awbrey’s and King’s the night some magic happened. “Charlie was at our house in Fayetteville the night we finalized the chicken recipe,” Awbrey recalled. “Back in those days, we used to have a lot of house parties [after concerts at JR’s]. The bands would stay over with us. They weren’t on a bus back then; they were in a van. They’d spend the night, eat breakfast in the morning and then get in their van and go. Then they started driving buses, so we moved the parties to the buses.” Being from Central Arkansas and having family here — and being fun, hip, music-loving youngsters — Awbrey and King came home often. “We had some interest in the River Market, and we were also coming down a lot for shows at Juanita’s,” King said. Watching from afar as momentum began to build in the River Market, he added, “Another catalyst was they had just announced the site of the Clinton Presidential Library. We knew that was going to happen in 2004,” and they foresaw how that would accelerate

Awbrey and King with the key to their first house together in Fayetteville.

Awbrey with (clockwise from top left) Josh Abbott, Coolio and former Rev Room manager Gregg Presley, Gary and Micky Braun from Micky and the Motorcars and Randy Rogers.

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Outlets for ‘Outlaw Country’ While Stickyz and Rev Room have always featured acts representing a wide range of musical genres, those who are fond of the style

the growth of the district. “We decided we were interested in moving into this area if anything became available,” King said. That “anything” was Six Bridges, a bar/restaurant on Commerce Street (now River Market Avenue) that featured live music.” They closed the deal, did some remodeling and opened in 2000. (The COVID-19 pandemic knocked a hole in their 20th anniversary party plans.) They were careful how they programmed their new club because it was a restaurant, too. “We knew we didn’t want the music to be too heavy — because of the restaurant component, we didn’t want to be over the top with the volume — or have lewd content,” King said. “Once the smoking rules changed, we knew we had to go no smoking, because we had to let in people under 21. Kids love chicken fingers.” They got in a groove with bands that drew big crowds — bands that became their friends. In 2006, they got the chance to open Rev Room and have that larger space they needed for Cross Canadian Ragweed, B-Side and all the other bands too big for Stickyz but not so big that they made sense for Robinson Center. And along the way their relationship changed from romantic/business to just business. Awbrey’s and King’s engagement ended in 2002, but their relationship and friendship never will. “I couldn’t do it without him,” Awbrey said. “We are good business partners.” The pair’s relationship with many of the bands they’ve worked, hung out and partied with over the years are also forever special to them. These days, some of their friends stop to see them even when they aren’t playing in Little Rock. That’s one of the benefits of living near the confluence of Interstates 30 and 40. Awbrey: “They’ll say, ‘Can we park our bus and come eat? We decided to do a layover in Little Rock tonight. What are y’all doing?’ We’ve got 22-to-25-year relationships with some of these guys. We’ve literally seen each other grow up.”

of music known as “red dirt” or “outlaw country” have more reasons than most to flock to the clubs Suzon Awbrey and Chris King own and run. Listeners to Outlaw Country (Channel 60 on Sirius-XM satellite radio) are certainly familiar with these artists who have played for (and hung out with) Awbrey and King: • Guy Clark (RIP) • Shooter Jennings

• Justin Townes Earle (RIP)

• Alejandro Escovedo

• Chris Knight

• James McMurtry

• Whitey Morgan

• Drive-By Truckers

• Derek Trucks

•J ason Isbell and the 400 Unit

• Son Volt

• Blackberry Smoke

• Pat Green

• Randy Rogers Band

• Elizabeth Cook

•C ross Canadian Ragweed

• Cody Jinks

• Reckless Kelly

• Wade Bowen

•J ason Boland and the Stragglers

• Will Hoge

• Brent Cobb • Whiskey Myers • Joe Ely • Hayes Carll • Robert Earl Keen • Turnpike Troubadours

• Billy Joe Shaver (RIP)

• Leon Russell (RIP)

• Ward Davis • Paula Nelson • Sunny Sweeney • William Clark Green • Stoney LaRue • Mike McClure

• Lucero

• Micky and the Motorcars

• Ryan Bingham

• American Aquarium

ECONOMICS ARKANSAS

RIDING UP THE LADDER

MOTORCYCLE-LOVING ARVEST EXECUTIVE ALSO A KEY VOLUNTEER WITH ECONOMICS ARKANSAS

R By Becky Gillette

Robyn Breshears

obyn Breshears, executive vice president and sales manager at Arvest Bank, Benton County, defies some of the stereotypes about bankers. She has climbed the career ladder in a field where most executives still are traditionally male, and she is as comfortable riding her motorcycle as she is overseeing the retail side of the bank (deposits, consumer loans, marketing, branch services, property and security), which has 26 branches and about 400 associates. While there are a lot more male than female banking executives, Breshears sees evidence the banking industry as a whole is making some advances in gender equity.

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“From the Arvest perspective, hard work is really what helps you reach your career goals,” she said. “You have to work hard to advance. I think there are some qualities women bring including being better listeners, better collaborators and paying attention to details. Yet, sometimes women are challenged in a business discussion versus a feel-good discussion. That is where women may need to get out of their comfort zone and explore their ability to grow a business and have business-level conversations.” Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Breshears earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from East Central University in Ada, Okla., and then became a CPA and worked in public accounting for almost five years. Ten years later, she obtained her MBA from

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“Any community we choose to live in deserves volunteer help to continue to lift the quality of life.” –Robyn Breshears

tion in their classrooms, for more than 30 years. Breshears became involved when a former Arvest executive retired as a board member. “I raised my hand because I believe in the mission of EA,” Breshears said. “The ability to further educate about the importance of free markets, capitalism, financial literacy and economics comes to life in the classroom using EA’s curriculum. Students get so excited to play the stock market games, study real-world projects and take the ‘eek’ out of economics, as our director, Kathleen Lawson, would say. This country is strong because of our ability to experience free enterprise. It’s important that we keep it going, and what better way than to empower teachers to teach our students about these concepts?” Breshears sees the program as the best way to help Arkansas from a foundational perspective. She believes if students can grasp these concepts early, the world is wide open to their ideas and ability to grow a business, create jobs and contribute to the economy of the state. The EA programs bring economics to life by showing it is not anything to fear.

the University of Arkansas. It was working in public accounting that sparked her interest in banking. She had joined the audit department of Finley & Cook, which specialized in bank and governmental audits. “I had the privilege of traveling the state to audit many banks and quickly learned about banks and the important role they serve in communities,” Breshears said. “Part of an audit requires that you review the loan portfolio for credit quality. After leaving the bank each evening, you could drive through the town and see businesses in operation because of a loan the bank had made. That was my first indication of the importance of banks and the financial industry to our economy.” Breshears started at Arvest in 2001 as a trust officer and spent five years administering trust agreements. In 2006, she transitioned to managing the private banking team in the bank’s Springdale market. In 2012, she took a regional manager’s role and managed the private banking teams in Springdale and Benton County. In 2015, Breshears moved into her current role. Arvest has supported Economics Arkansas (EA), a nonprofit that focuses on training teachers to incorporate financial educa-

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M A R C H 2021

“It just sparks so much energy and curiosity for a student,” Breshears said. “And teachers involved learn new methods for teaching economics to kids. So they learn the value of enterprise, financial literacy, understanding how a business runs and what that means to a community. It is about creating opportunity in our communities.” Breshears is spearheading a virtual Think Inside the Box fundraising pitch competition March 16 that will be judged by some of the state’s top business executives. Attendees will have a chance to pitch a product idea conceptualized and prototyped in 10 minutes using very limited supplies announced at the start of the event. Lawson said, “It is a small event with big leadership. The event is largely organized by a small committee of Arvest market presidents led by Robyn, who is vice chair of EA. Her committee has helped raise money for this event. This marks the fourth year under her tenure as committee chair to raise money for EA. She and her committee have raised over $200,000 for us. Despite COVID-19 circumstances, we just finished a recordbreaking year. We served 4,000 teachers in 2020, which is double what we were doing five years ago.” Lawson sees Breshears as a mentor who has been very effective in growing the EA programs. “I aspire to be like her in many ways,” Lawson said. “She really does believe in our mission. Robyn has been dedicated to Economics Arkansas since joining the board of directors in 2017. She always asks probing and forward-thinking questions and sincerely wants to advance the organization and support the staff. She is very generous with her time and resources and is a true advocate and champion for economic education.” When Breshears raises her hand to volunteer, she is all in. “Any community we choose to live in deserves volunteer help to continue to lift the quality of life,” she said. “Education is always so important. Education is key to equipping out students with the tools they need to be successful.” Breshears and her husband, Hank, have been married for 33 years. The couple have two grown daughters, both married, and two grandchildren. She grew up riding motorcycles with her father, and two years ago she bought her own motorcycle so she could stop being a passenger seeing the back of her husband’s helmet. “I wanted to enjoy the ride from a different seat,” she said. “You see the road and surroundings in a different way than in a car. The ability to be in nature, not just observing nature, is just incredible. It is just such a free feeling. I love it! Of course, I’m a fair-weather rider, so I enjoy other activities like playing with my grandchildren, reading and working on jigsaw puzzles.” M ARC H 2 02 1

EA fundraising judges include state’s top executives

By Becky Gillette

he judges for a virtual fundraising event on March 16 for Economic Arkansas (EA) read like a “Who’s Who” of some of the top executives not just in Arkansas but nationally and internationally. Jim Walton, who is chairman and CEO of Arvest Bank and a longtime member of the board of EA, and his wife, Lynne, are honorary chairs for the virtual event. Honorary judges include John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., and his wife, Brandy; Shelley Simpson, chief commercial officer, executive vice president of people and human resources at J.B. Hunt; Todd Simmons, CEO and co-vice chair of Simmons Foods; Megan Crozier, executive vice president and chief merchant of Sam’s Club; and Scott Spradley, chief technology officer of Tyson Foods, and his wife, Annie. Participants in the event will be tasked with developing products conceptualized and prototyped in 10 minutes using limited supplies announced at the beginning of the event. EA Director Kathleen Lawson said the event mirrors one of the many engaging ways EA trains teachers to make economic education exciting in the classroom, no matter what grade or subject. “Encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit is just one facet of this work. For 59 years, EA has been a valuable resource for PreK-12 classrooms across the state. In 2020, more than 4,600 participants were trained to integrate economics, entrepreneurship, and financial education into the classroom — making 2020 a record year for the organization,” she said. When schools went virtual last March, EA pivoted to virtual learning opportunities for teachers. “We are excited to bring that experience to a virtual fundraising event where we can showcase our efforts to take the ‘eek’ out of economics,” Lawson said. “I’m excited to give our sponsors and ticket holders an opportunity to experience in a very fun way the concept of using materials to build something and then ‘selling the idea’ to a panel of judges. Donors get to see the things we do. They get to have fun while we showcase what we do and raise money. It promises to be a fun and unique fundraiser done virtually with friends and/or co-workers.” EA’s mission is to equip pre-K and K-12 schools with standardsbased resources and professional development to teach economics, personal finance and the free-enterprise system. The event will take place at 6 p.m. on March 16. Sponsorships start at $1,500, and the event is limited to 50 attendees. Tickets are $150. For more information, email Lawson at kathleen@economicsarkansas.org.

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NONPROFITS

FEELING THE SQUEEZE

NONPROFITS RELYING ON

GUMPTION, FAITH

TO SURVIVE

Arkansas Hunger Alliance volunteers gather produce at the organization’s garden.

By Angela Forsyth

up. Pandemic-related issues started a chain reaction that caused more people to be dependent on nonprofits. Job loss led to homelessness. Financial instability led to food instability, which became food poverty. Financial stress became emotional stress and (for some) led to domestic abuse. Lockdowns and social distancing meant kids weren’t in school, which meant fewer eyes on kids, and more cases of abuse and neglect went unreported. Nonprofits that support these families are needed now more than ever. The pandemic has squeezed charities into what some might consider an impossible situation, but even with all the challenges in front of them, many of our local nonprofits have surprisingly managed to keep up. Out of sheer passion, downright gumption, pull-up-by-the-bootstraps attitude and unshakable faith, several Arkansas nonprofits have remained financially strong while meeting the growing need.

onprofits, like many other businesses, have felt the heavy financial burden brought on by COVID-19. But, unlike most businesses, charities have faced the unique challenge of balancing a higher demand for services with a decline in revenue. The financial instability that has created more need for charitable services is the same one that has reduced the number of donors. Many individuals and businesses who have donated regularly in the past are no longer able to give. Compounding the problem, social distancing and lockdown mandates have made it impossible to hold the in-person fundraising events that usually bring in the most money. For the most part, an entire year has passed without galas, auctions, luncheons, dinners or any other social events that attract new donors. While donations are down, the need for services has gone

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HOW THEY’RE DOING NW Arkansas Children’s Shelter NACS is a safe haven that provides 24hour residential, emergency triage care for children who are victims of abandonment, abuse or neglect. According to Grants and Marketing Manager Kate Lunsford, the children’s shelter first saw a drop in intake while schools were in lockdown, and then saw a rise in children needing placement after schools reopened. “The isolation of the children has really been the most frightening aspect of the pandemic for us,” she told Arkansas Money & Politics. “When the children weren’t attending school, church or afterschool activities, they were not around safe, trusted adults like teachers, youth group leaders, coaches, etc., who are typically the first to notice the signs of potential abuse and neglect.” To deal with the rising demand, staff members have worked extra hours and made strategic changes inside the building to make it easier to accept more children. In 2020, Arkansans stepped up and increased the funding for the most basic needs of food and shelter. Ozark Rape Crisis Center ORCC helps survivors of sexual violence by providing a 24-hour crisis hotline. Victim advocates also are available to accompany victims to area hospitals, law enforcement agencies and court. The center offers information and referral services for follow-up care and offers support groups and community education. In the first month of the pandemic lockdown, ORCC was eerily quiet. “I can think back on days where the phone didn’t ring at all,” Executive Director Dorinda Edmisten said. “That lasted about a month. Then, in mid-April, the call volume increased almost overnight, and it became hard to meet the need.” All ORCC staff who had been working remotely jumped back into the office to handle the sudden increase. The center has maintained the 24-hour hotline and phone services and has pivoted from in-

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person drop-ins to scheduled visits and virtual appointments. Individual donations have decreased significantly. In order to continue the most urgent services, the center made cuts and is continuing to seek other funding sources. “As a nonprofit, we are getting by and hope we will continue to do so,” Edmisten said. Union Rescue Mission The Mission operates the Dorcas House, which serves women who are victims of domestic violence, recovering from addiction or homeless, and the Nehemiah House, a drug and alcohol recovery program for men. “This has been a very difficult season for everyone, but especially those who struggle with addiction,” Michelle Harper, director of development, said. “The isolation, impact from job losses, school going online and many other factors have created feelings of despair and hopelessness.” The organization provides free recovery programs, especially as the number of addiction and abuse cases have risen. Challenges have ranged from having to social distance and reduce the number of people in each house to losing food donations leftover from restaurants and events. “Lives are at stake, and it’s no exaggeration,” Harper emphasized. The Mission has turned to online fundraising, in addition to its ongoing clothing and household donations. The charity also held an outdoor fundraising event in March. Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance takes on the mission to reduce hunger, improve access to nutritious food and provide tools and education for partners. It works with the state’s six regional Feeding America food banks, helping them purchase food for distribution to local pantries. In partnership with Share Our Strength, the alliance is responsible for launching the Arkansas No Kid Hungry campaign which provides school breakfasts, after-school meals and food for kids throughout the summer.

According to Communications Manager Rebekah Hall Scott, hunger soared in 2020 with Feeding America estimating that by the end of last year an additional 157,000 Arkansans faced hunger, including one in three Arkansas children. “As more Arkansas children, families and individuals face food insecurity, the future of our state is at stake,” Hall Scott stressed. “Our neighbors in need must have access to food assistance and other critical resources to get through the continuing economic and health crisis.” Thanks to a few large grants, the alliance was able to award subgrants to local hunger organizations, distribute truckloads of food to Feeding America food banks and continue No Kid Hungry initiatives. Family Service Agency The Family Service Agency focuses on improving the economic health of families, reducing the incidence of domestic violence, treating substance abuse, helping families and individuals resolve conflict, providing affordable housing and helping people and employers solve work performance problems. According to CEO Victor Werner, the

NWA Children’s Shelter

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agency was able to adapt in a way that allowed the nonprofit to continue without interruption. Many client appointments switched to virtual, and classes were attended on Zoom. “For us, due to our funding sources and the PPP loan, the effect was minimal,” Werner said. “We were able to retain all our staff. So, really not much of a funding change for us, but I’m pretty sure that has not been the case for others.” In addition to the loan, the nonprofit is exploring new fundraising initiatives. Saving Grace Saving Grace provides transitional housing, life skills education and supportive relationships to young women who have aged out of foster care and are facing homelessness. At the start of the pandemic, the organization was about to hold its annual fundraising luncheon and was forced to quickly switch to a digital version. The number of donors dropped to half the number of the previous year, but those who gave were able to make up for the ones who couldn’t. “God provided every penny we needed to keep our doors open,” Community Coordinator Kamber Henson shared. “We are

learning to lean in and adapt. Though we’ve been forced to make changes to ensure the safety of our girls, staff and volunteers, we are continuing to press on and trust God.” Throughout the last several months, some residents lost their jobs. Others who had to move back in when their college dorms closed. Social distancing forced housing changes. Despite these challenges, more girls became independent and graduated from Saving Grace than in previous years. CASA Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) provide compassionate volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children. The organization works to speak up for the best interests of these children in court. Director of Development Colleen Smith said practically everything has changed for CASA since courts briefly shut down and then moved online. Staff and advocates have pivoted to virtual visits, Zoom court and online training. Despite the changes, fewer donors and greater demand, the organization has been able to keep up with services thanks to some loyal supporters who stepped up

to bridge the gap. “The community showed up in a huge way in terms of continuing to fund our mission,” Smith said. “People realized the importance of our work and felt a true calling to engage any way they could to support us.”

WHERE THEY GO FROM HERE

Though many nonprofits have managed to stay afloat despite the drop in donations, they all agree that much more financial help is needed. Werner said, “In spite of the challenges that everyone is facing, there are those who can still afford to help support their favorite nonprofits.Every little bit helps. Many nonprofits serve underserved populations. If some of these services end, then the safety net for this population ends as well.” Time will tell what the long-term repercussions will be, especially on the most vulnerable. Smith said the effects of this pandemic on families and nonprofits will continue for years to come. “We hope everyone will continue to invest their time and resources to improve the lives of our friends and neighbors.”

CASA volunteers work with foster children.

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CELEBRATING

GIRL SCOUTS’ COOKIE CEOs Life skills, values learned help launch women business leaders It’s Girl Scout cookie season, and for many Americans, that means rushing to buy boxes of delicious treats. But for the Girl Scouts themselves, it means so much more than helping to satisfy an annual craving. During cookie season, as Girl Scouts are planning, selling, taking orders, distributing and delivering, they’re also gaining fundamental knowledge in economics, entrepreneurship, salesmanship, the value of hard work and more. Whether it’s the annual cookie drive or one of the other many community activities in which they are involved, these Girl Scout “Cookie CEOs” are learning the value of goal setting, decision-making, money management and business ethics. All these are a part of what makes the Girl Scout experience so unique and particularly important in setting girls up for lifelong achievement. Girl Scouts USA founder Juliette Gordon Low once said, “The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” Lifelong learning and achievement are the foundation of the organization, and many successful business leaders — CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs — got their start as Girl Scouts. On the pages that follow, we’ll meet five Arkansas executives who represent Today’s Cookie CEOs. These women serve as strong examples to young girls of the role Girl Scouts and its many programs can have in their future successes.

ANDREA ALBRIGHT

Andrea’s Favorite Cookie:

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/MERCHANDISING, WALMART

Do Si Dos

What lessons from your Girl Scout days do you incorporate as a woman leader today? Confidence and grit. Everyone has an opinion on you and your abilities. Biases are rampant. But believing in yourself and your abilities and never giving up is key to being successful. This was something that I learned in Girl Scouts. In what specific ways does participation in Girl Scouts foster and develop leadership traits? I think it teaches a lot of valuable leadership lessons. The badge activities and cookie selling all have lessons that relate to teamwork, commitment, responsibility, tenacity and hard work. These skill sets are critical for success in the corporate environment and in life in general. What is your favorite memory as a Girl Scout? Selling cookies. Building my own business, learning how to market it, promote it, sell it and then see the results on the other side…That was incredible.

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M A R C H 2021

Sandy’s Favorite Cookie:

Thin Mints

SANDY EDWARDS, SENIOR DIRECTOR, CRYSTAL BRIDGES What lessons from your Girl Scout days do you incorporate as a woman leader today? Be prepared. The importance and value of those two words have shaped my encounter with life. The successful act of preparation involves a thoughtful and satisfying approach to gaining knowledge and understanding. Being prepared instills confidence, clarity, independent thought and resilience. In what specific ways does participation in Girl Scouts foster and develop leadership traits? The organizational framework is brilliant. Under the thoughtful guidance of the troop leader, effective approaches to collaboration, communication and problem solving are modeled, experienced and adapted. Achievement is recognized and celebrated. Within the security of the troop, a girl is encouraged to pursue personal interests with the aim of doing her best to master relevant and useful subjects. Encouragement to “do one’s best” is a subjective measure that fosters non-competitive, meaningful relationships with other girls when working on shared goals. In that light, Girl Scouting develops leaders who respect, nurture and maximize individual effort to successfully accomplish a larger common goal. What is your favorite memory as a Girl Scout? Deep woods camping in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. For this Girl Scout, there is no richer memory. Discovering a remote site, preparing a hearty meal and then settling around a roaring fire to stories and songs…. Drop mic. M ARC H 2 02 1

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NATALIE GHIDOTTI CEO, GHIDOTTI COMMUNICATIONS What lessons from your Girl Scout days do you incorporate as a woman leader today? I think the biggest takeaway from my days as a Girl Scout is the foundation of independence my leaders taught me. As a Girl Scout, we were taught confidence and courage to be anything we wanted to be. We also were taught the importance of teamwork and depending on other girls in our life — and those are things I use today as a leader at work and in my personal life. Girl Scouts taught me that BOTH individuality and teamwork are crucial in success. It’s important to have confidence in yourself to get the job done, but you also need to be willing to come together as a group to accomplish big things. In what specific ways does participation in Girl Scouts foster and develop leadership traits? As a troop leader of sixth grade girls (since they were in kindergarten), I believe the best aspects of Girl Scouts are reminding girls on a daily basis that they can do whatever they set out to accomplish. This program is vital in teaching girls from a young age that they have the tools to create change in our world. And the key is to help them understand how to work together (with all types of people) to create the needed change. This is what leaders must do, and the Girl Scouts ensure their girls know this from an early age. What is your favorite memory as a Girl Scout? Two favorite memories — the first being camp! I just loved piling in a tent with my friends and playing flashlight games and scaring each other with stories of spiders and bears! The camp songs around the fire and making s’mores — I still love doing that! My other favorite memory is a sleepover party where we put on a talent show, and my group choreographed a dance to the 1988 hit “Jungle Boogie.” LOL! See, Girl Scouts serves in so many ways!

Natalie’s Favorite Cookie:

Samoas

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M A R C H 2021

Tanarah’s Favorite Cookie:

Tagalongs

TANARAH HAYNIE FOUNDER & CHIEF CREATIVE

DIRECTOR, TANARAH LUXE FLORAL In what specific ways does participation in Girl Scouts foster and develop leadership traits? I have always believed that leadership can be developed. I work on those traits still today. I think Girl Scouting gave me some of my earliest goals and showed me how to obtain them. I loved being a part of it and working to fill up my sash with as many badges as I could! How can participation in Girl Scouts help set the stage for lifetime achievements? I think life can be so difficult at times. Participation in the Girl Scouts can set the stage by building confidence. Confidence is the key component that gives you any chance to achieve your goals. What is one thing you would tell your younger Girl Scout self? To keep going and make the most of the time I had as a Girl Scout! I stopped way too early in my involvement with the Girl Scouts. Girl Scouting was not as prevalent to the new community I moved to with my family, so there was not an opportunity for me to continue something I loved being a part of so much.

KARA WILKINS CEO, K. WILKINS CONSULTING GROUP What lessons from your Girl Scout days do you incorporate as a woman leader today? As a lifelong member from Brownie to Senior and a former troop leader, there are countless lessons that I incorporate from my time as a Girl Scout. Selling cookies was my first venture into entrepreneurship and taught me invaluable skills, such as how to execute a business strategy, how to communicate effectively, along with money and time management skills. This set the foundation for me to become the successful owner of K. Wilkins Consulting Group and co-host of “Blackbelt Voices” podcast, which has been nationally featured in O Magazine, Vanity Fair and Apple podcasts. In what specific ways does participation in Girl Scouts foster and develop leadership traits? Girl Scouts was the first place where I felt empowered to become a leader in my community. Whether through selling cookies, earning badges or working alongside fellow troop members to accomplish a goal, Girl Scouts allowed me the opportunity to know that I can achieve anything through hard work and perseverance. How can participation in Girl Scouts help set the stage for lifetime achievements? Participation in Girl Scouts can lead to a wealth of opportunity for young women. Awards such as the Girl Scout Gold Award are an excellent way to boost your college application, and there are scholarship opportunities available for young women through Girl Scouts as well.

Kara’s Favorite Cookie:

Trefoils

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WINE ON THE

MOUNTAIN ARKANSAS’ UNDER-THE-RADAR INDUSTRY STILL BLOOMS IN ALTUS By Dwain Hebda

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A postcard from Wiederkehr Village, circa 1960, with Herman Wiederkehr.

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COMMUNITIES OF INDUSTRY

The entrance to the restaurant at Wiederkehr.

he view from the grounds of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Altus rivals anything to be had in the Natural State. Standing in the shadow of the historic house of worship, the visitor gazes out over the Arkansas River valley spreading below like a living patchwork quilt. Emerald and kelly in springtime, ablaze in autumn, it’s a view of the Almighty in water, crops and pine. St. Mary’s herself was designed both to rival and reflect the natural beauty of her surroundings; her sandstone shell harvested from yonder hillside, her soul a stunning amalgam of stained glass, painted artwork and gold leaf murals. The 120foot bell tower is an arm thrown to the sky, beckoning generations of miners, farmers, railroad workers and winemakers by the peal of her bells — 6,400 pounds of them — to pray for good harvests, healthy families, better weather.

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The bells of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Altus.

A few steps away lies the church cemetery, for which a short stroll is like walking through the Altus phonebook. Most of the names here can still be found in this Franklin County alcove, the latest in a line of people who cleared the land, built the church, established the town and formed the backbone of an industry. Altus isn’t the only place Arkansas grapes are grown and wine is made, but it’s the undisputed taproot of the state’s winemaking tradition. Dennis Wiederkehr is typical of most of the winemakers up here, a fourth-generation head of the family business. He described the area as close-knit, a byproduct of the familial ties that run deep and wide all over the mountaintop. “I’m in a unique position,” he said. “I’m related, in one way or another, to every winery on the wine trail here in Altus. I’m related to the Post family, from Post Winery. The Post family has Mount Bethel. I’m

double-cousin to them, actually. Even Audrey [House, owner of Chateau Aux Arc], her children are related to me through her husband. “Our mentality is, we don’t want to see anybody fail. When somebody comes to visit the wine country trail here in Altus, we hope they take the time to stop at all of the wineries. There’s a competitive spirit, but we have meetings, and we work with the Arkansas Wine Producers Council, and we just do things that can collectively strengthen the Arkansas wine industry.” Tina Post, fifth generation of Post Familie Winery and a member of another founding family of the Altus wine community, said that’s one of the best parts of the job for her, getting to meet people from everywhere. “Hospitality is a big thing for our family. We gather at big weddings and different celebrations. There is something magical

M A R C H 2021

Johann Wiederkehr and Jacob Post came to learn of cheap land in Arkansas and settled into a spot they found vaguely reminiscent of their respective homelands of Switzerland and Germany.

Scenes from Wiederkehr Village Weinfest.

about people gathering around a table and sharing food and drink and company.” Post said the blurred line between family tradition and corporate operations is one way the business has survived this long, and how the past informs the future. To wit, the company’s Trellis Room restaurant, serving fresh, farm-totable fare, grew out of this longtime tradition of hospitality. “We grew up always feeding so many people. It wouldn’t be uncommon for there to be 20 people come in for lunch,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons I started our food program a few years back. We try to have that same spirit that we had growing up. To bring that into the business, I think, makes so much sense.” The two seminal families began their story seeking the same goal — building a better life for themselves outside of Europe. Both patriarchs — Johann Wiederkehr and Jacob Post — came to learn of cheap land in Arkansas and settled into a spot they found vaguely reminiscent of their respective homelands of Switzerland

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and Germany. “How my family ended up here in 1880 was, Subiaco, the abbey across the river, was Benedictine monks, who were Swiss. They were writing people back home in Switzerland,” Wiederkehr said. “The letters from the monks described the area as similar to the foothills of the Alps. The land was at a very reasonable price through the Catholic church, and family members came, and they each bought ‘80s,’ or 80 acres. They started a new life.” The settlers were as impressed with what was under the surface as above it, a range of soils that when properly cultivated could all grow grapes. Plenty of water and unique topography also lent to the overall favorable terroir of the area, providing as it does a natural barrier against all but the worst cold spells. “We’re kind of in a meso-climate. We’re between the Ouachita mountain range and the Ozark mountain range, the Boston Mountains, that run east and west,” Wiederkehr said. “I’m not sure if there’s another east-and-west-running mountain

range that’s side-by-side like this with the Arkansas River running between the two. “That gives a kind of a protection for frost, but it won’t stop a freeze. In 2007, it got down to 20 degrees in either late March or early April. Leaves were already out as big as your hand.” While Wiederkehr Wine Cellars was founded first in 1880, making it the oldest continually operating winery in the state, the fortunes of the two families ran parallel to one another. Each generation dealt with natural hardships — weather, storms, sickness — as well as the manmade variety, such as Catholic- and ethnic-bias and Prohibition. “Joseph Post took over the winery from his father, Jacob, and moved it to where Mount Bethel Winery is now,” Post said. “His wife, Katherine, was actually more interested in the wine part than my greatgrandfather. Even on the label, it has her name, Mrs. Joseph Post, on it. “Of course, Prohibition came along, and you could still make sacramental wine, or you could make 200 gallons for yourself. Well, she kept selling wine. You could go in and get a sandwich and bring your own jug, and she would fill it up for a

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Post Familie and Wiederkehr are the largest producers of wine in the state. Dennis Wiederkehr (upper right) is eager to revive the wine festival in 2021.

dime. She never knew a stranger, and she was very hospitable, which is in the family in general.” Thing is, the enterprising Katherine also made whiskey, which got her into hot water with the authorities. It’s a family story that turns Tina Post’s voice cold even after all these years. “She sold two quarts of whiskey to two revenuers. Of course, I think that’s entrapment,” she said. “She got in trouble and was actually on the front page of the St. Louis Post Dispatch in 1929. She told the reporter that repeated crop failures during recent years tempted her to sell it. It was from her homemade stock, and she had the hopes of obtaining money to educate her children. She actually went to jail, but it was not a long time. She said it was the best vacation she ever had.” As time went along, both families played key roles in organizing local growers into cooperatives and serving in offices to promote both the product and its producers as tourist attractions. The Wiederkehr clan showed a particular flair for marketing and a strong independent streak — attributes that came together in incorporating their property as its own vil-

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lage in 1975 to avoid annexation by Altus. By that time, Wiederkehr had also expanded to restaurant operations in 1967 and an annual wine festival in 1963, an event Dennis Wiederkehr is eager to revive in 2021 after skipping last year due to COVID-19. The event features various activities including steinstossen (stone throwing), caber toss (tossing a pole) and various grape stomp competitions, all set within the village’s Swiss-themed grounds. “There’s four or five different stomp competitions throughout the day, and the winners of the first four stomps compete in the finals for the state championship grape stomp,” Wiederkehr said. “There’s also dancing and different types of music. It always used to be Alpine-type music, but we’ve spread that out to where we have some country, some rock ‘n’ roll. We’re trying to have something for everyone. “There’s food on the grounds, there’s face-painting, there’s games for the kids. We have horseback trail rides, carriage rides. This year, the week before Wine Fest, we’ll also have a little hot-air balloon rally on Friday and Saturday that people will be able to come out and see.” As the area continues to flourish —

Post Familie and Wiederkehr are today the largest producers of wine in the state — it’s attracted a growing number of wine tourists. This, in turn, has inspired the creation of other winemaking operations, from Roland to Eureka Springs and from Paris to Northwest Arkansas. Binding them all is the Arkansas Wine Trail, visited by thousands each year. Like many small farming communities, Altus has had its challenges as far as growth; Chateau Aux Arc, the last “new” winery to open here, did so more than 20 years ago. But as both of these storied families can boast of still more generations at work in the business, the legacy of Arkansas wine on the mountain appears secure. Post said, “Yes, there is a sixth generation, and we have some little seventh generations running around that can be helpful, as well. They’re helping to sell grapes or helping to tie or pull vines from between the rows. There are some that actually have gone on to get degrees in food science and have worked in other wineries out in California. We have some who are interested in staying in the wine business, so we’ll just have to see where that goes. You never know, do you?”

M A R C H 2021

FINANCE

GROWTH MODE BY BECKY GILLETTE

ARKANSAS FEDERAL CONTINUES GROWTH DESPITE PANDEMIC

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rkansas in the name of Arkansas Federal Credit Union reflects its history being founded in 1956 to serve the banking needs of personnel at the Little Rock Air Force Base. But today, while this is one of the largest financial institutions in the state with more than $1.5 billion in total assets, its membership is not limited to residents of Arkansas. Arkansas Federal has more than 120,000 members in all 50 states and 22 foreign countries. It employs about 300 people and has 18 branches. Banks have been under pressure during the pandemic, as many customers have struggled to pay business, personal and mortgage loans. While many banking institutions have had to lay off or furlough some of their employees, Arkansas Federal continues to grow and expand, opening three new branches in 2020, and is still on track to open its new Little Rock headquarters and branch office on Cantrell Road in the fall of 2021. Arkansas Federal remains financially secure and has continued to grow during these challenging times, said Rodney Showmar, president and CEO.

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M A R C H 2021

FINANCE

“The combination of employee and member satisfaction is another reason we continue to thrive.” “Profits are used to return real tangi“We are proud to say that there have ble value to our members,” Showmar been no layoffs, pay cuts or hiring said. “Whether it’s value in the form freezes,” Showmar said. “Not only that, of lower fees, better loan rates, higher but we’ve also continued to hire top taldividends or a combination of all of ent, with the addition of 97 new team these benefits, it results in outstandmembers since March. We continue to ing financial value for our members.” experience record growth, despite the Members maintain membership even many new challenges 2020 brought. if they move out of Arkansas, provided This steady, continued growth is a dithey maintain a savings balance of $5. rect reflection of our commitment to make a difference in the lives of our employees, members and the communities we serve.” It’s all about convenience for the member. “We want to make it easy for members to transact with us, whether they prefer to meet with us face-to-face, through our stateof-the-art digital channels or over the phone,” Showmar said. “In addition, the combination of employee and member satisfaction Rodney Showmar Terry Vick is another reason we continue to thrive.” Arkansas Federal was listed as a “Best There are no military, state, or governCredit Union to Work For” in the counment affiliations required to become a try by Credit Union Journal, and only 18 member. Any Arkansas resident can credit unions with assets of $1 billion apply online, over the phone or at or more made the list. Showmar said any of Arkansas Federal’s locations. A the credit union takes member feedconsumer can become a member by back seriously and uses it to improve depositing $5 into a savings account. service. This $5 not only grants membership, “It’s one of the reasons we are proud but it also establishes an ownership to share the results of our Net Promoter share of Arkansas Federal. Score (NPS) for 2020, which stands at Being a not-for-profit, 501(c)(1) finan71 percent, which is considered ‘World cial cooperative has advantages, as the Class’ by NPS standards,” he said. credit union doesn’t have to provide One of the first things Arkansas Feda return to outside stockholders like eral did when the pandemic hit was most other financial institutions. Inoffer its members the opportunity to stead, earnings are returned back to skip a payment for every single conmembers.

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sumer loan. It proactively reduced the minimum payment required on all credit cards to $0 for three consecutive months. Members were allowed to skip two additional loan payments beyond the normal once-a-year skip, as well. No type of proof or documentation was required to get this assistance — customers were taken at their word. Arkansas Federal also offered personal loans at a low rate for those who needed them. Terry Vick, executive vice president and chief lending officer, said existing loans were modified for members who requested it. “By modifying the loan, there was no need for the member to reapply. We simply utilized their FICO score at the time they applied for the loan to see what we could do. If the member thought their FICO score had improved since their original loan application date, then we could do a hardhit credit inquiry at their request and make their loan structure even more favorable.” Vick said Arkansas Federal employees quickly adapted to the new climate and focused on a new way of supporting members’ financial wellbeing. “Teams worked around the clock to expand emergency financial services to members such as no- to low-cost loans, expanded skip-payment options, as well as other loan solutions such as the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program loans,” he said.

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TOP 25 ARKANSAS CREDIT UNIONS (ranked by assets)

INSTITUTION

TOTAL ASSETS MEMBERS NUMBER OF (APPROXIMATE) (APPROXIMATE) LOCATIONS

LOCATION

YEAR OPENED

Arkansas Federal Credit Union

Jacksonville

$1.5 billion

121,000

1956

Telcoe Federal Credit Union

Little Rock

$407 million

42,000

1959

Success Credit Union (formerly NEACU)

Blytheville

$153 million

26,000

1959

Mil-Way Federal Credit Union

Texarkana

$138 million

12,000

1956

Arkansas Best Federal Credit Union

Fort Smith

$137 million

14,000

1960

Fairfield Federal Credit Union

Pine Bluff

$95 million

11,000

1958

Arkansas Superior Federal Credit Union

Warren

$82 million

10,000

1957

Timberline Federal Credit Union

Crossett

$78 million

10,000

1957

Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union

Malvern

$71 million

10,000

1960

Fayetteville

$68 million

9,000

1965

Pine Bluff Cotton Belt Federal Credit Union

Pine Bluff

$61 million

6,000

1936

Pine Federal Credit Union

Pine Bluff

$49.4 million

5,000

1958

Alcoa Community Federal Credit Union

Benton

$48.9 million

5,000

1957

River Valley Community Federal Credit Union

Camden

$47.7 million

7,000

1953

Truservice Community Federal Credit Union

Little Rock

$42 million

5,000

1930

Baptist Health Federal Credit Union

Little Rock

$36.5 million

7,000

1959

Hurricane Creek Federal Credit Union

Benton

$36.1 million

4,000

1957

United Arkansas Federal Credit Union

Little Rock

$31 million

3,000

1982

Subiaco

$29 million

3,000

1948

North Little Rock

$28 million

3,000

1992

Little Rock

$25.4 million

5,000

1973

Arkadelphia

$24.8 million

4,000

1957

Lion Federal Credit Union

El Dorado

$16.6 million

2,000

1992

River Town Federal Credit Union

Fort Smith

$15.8 million

3,000

1986

Electric Cooperatives Federal Credit Union

Little Rock

$15.7 million

3,000

1979

UARK Federal Credit Union

Subiaco Federal Credit Union UP Arkansas Federal Credit Union Dillards Federal Credit Union Patterson Federal Credit Union

As of February 2021, the 55 credit unions headquartered in Arkansas had 344,046 members, more than 100 locations and more than $3.42 billion in assets.

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Source: CreditUnionsOnline.com

M A R C H 2021

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HEALTH CARE

Merritt Dake

BICUSPID CO-OP? ROCK DENTAL BRANDS, ARKANSAS’ HOMEGROWN DSO, BUILT TO SUPPORT ORAL PRACTITIONERS

n 2009, Merritt Dake was approached by a group of orthodontists to help create a business model to build a national orthodontic group practice. While that group never got off the ground, one of the ring-leaders based out of Jonesboro convinced him to leave his practice as a CPA in Dallas and move to northeast Arkansas to help build a group practice in Arkansas. While working in Jonesboro, Dake formed a relationship with Dr. Bryan Hiller. Aligned in their vision and ethics, Dake and Hiller set out to build a group practice of their own, starting with a clinic in Hot Springs. Together, Hiller and Dake opened several new orthodontic clinics around central Arkansas. During that time, they also started leveraging their expertise in creating scalable systems to support the back office functions of other orth-

By Carl Kozlowski

odontic and dental practices as the thirdparty management company, AXPM. Among the group of practices supported by AXPM were the orthodontic clinics owned by Merritt’s father, Dr. Mark Dake of West Plains, Mo., who partnered with Hiller and the younger Dake in founding the management company. As the number of clinics being supported by AXPM grew, so did the trend of consolidation in the dental industry. In 2014, many of the doctors being supported by AXPM made the decision to form a group practice of their own. “With the trend of consolidation ramping up, a lot of the doctors didn’t like their options for partnership. Jokingly, I tell people that instead of ‘selling out to the man,’ the doctors that were supported by AXPM decided to bind together themselves and ‘fight the man,’” Dake said. “And it made a lot of sense, as so much scale was already built in with each of these clinics already sharing the

same tools and systems for all of their back office support.” In 2015, the group of providers officially joined together under the name Rock Dental Brands. “The most important thing to us from the beginning was that we had to be led by providers,” Dake said. “As CEO, I am not involved in any patient, clinical or provider aspects of the business, nor is anyone on the Rock Dental Brands team.” One of AXPM’s key functions was a practice management software, which has since spun off as a stand-alone business also based in Little Rock, called Greyfinch. Today, Rock Dental Brands has grown to include 82 providers working in nearly 100 clinics across Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri, and is composed of four distinct divisions: Rock Family Dental, Westrock Orthodontics, Impact Oral Surgery and Leap Kids Pediatric Dental. While most are physically stand-alone

“Managing the team and worrying about accounts payable and receivable are things that you never really focus on in school,” Hiller said. “Being able to have them take that away and be able to focus on the patients is far and away the best part of it.” clinics, some locations have pediatric dentists and orthodontics practices located next door to each other for the sake of patient convenience. While those four brands have the biggest presence in Arkansas, there are up to 15 subsidiary brands across the network since some providers choose to maintain their own independent identities. Since the parent company’s goal is to “treat the community,” members are allowed to choose the type of branding that makes the most sense for them, either individually or regionally. Dental support organizations (DSOs) like Rock Dental have become more commonplace, comprising about 20 percent of the national market as dental students graduate with astronomical debt and find working with a larger support structure essential since they face difficulties getting loans to start their own independent clinics. Regardless, Dake points out that Rock Dental doesn’t operate as a franchise model along the lines of Aspen Dental, 1800 Dentures or Affordable Dentures chains. “The real way to look at it is that groups like Aspen Dental are set up in the de novo type of model, in which they go out and build practices that are always under the same brand,” he said. “By and large, we at Rock Dental act as support arms for efficiencies of back-office services for the practices. Our providers are all part of one group on a state-by-state basis. “The unique thing about us is that our providers also own part of the support

company,” he added. “They operate on the same team, but we make sure that our providers have their own independence and ability to have a brand that works for them specifically and for their community. We’ll support you how you want, but there are some common things that make logical sense to get the most out of your practice.” All of Rock Dental’s outlets share the web-based portal, AXPM One, across all practices, which allows team members access to documents, emergency action plans and policies and procedures at any given time. The team approach is also special because of the fact that the dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons across the network of clinics help consult with each other on the entire range of dental needs through their Peer Review Program. The clinics also share a Doctor Executive Committee, which provides oversight of quality and standard of care, maintains defined clinical guidelines for all practices, evaluates the peer review findings and defines continuing education needs. “As far as I’m aware, we were the first ones in the area to do it,” Dake said. “It really was born out of our original providers saying, ‘If we’re going to do this as a group, I want to make sure we can prove we have quality care, and we don’t just say that’s what we’re doing.’ We also have a quality assurance metric in which there is an ongoing review of randomly pulled cases for providers that are evaluated to ensure that everybody is providing quality care.”

The peer review program reviews cases from all levels of doctors in the group, ranging from the newest through the most experienced. The goal is to provide leadership amongst the providers in a way that is akin to the medical boards found in hospitals, and its participants are involved on a rotating basis in order to ensure that all have input on key decisions. “To be honest, for some providers it’s a little bit scary at first, but the goal is for learning,” Dake said. “There are a lot of side study groups, which share their knowledge and create a support group for cases that may be difficult. It is a collaborative approach to try and ensure that quality is happening, and we tend to attract providers that are comfortable operating in that more transparent environment.” As a provider as well as Rock Dental’s president of orthodontics, Hiller has been able to see the positive effects of the DSO from both sides of the business. “Managing the team and worrying about accounts payable and receivable are things that you never really focus on in school,” Hiller said. “Being able to have them take that away and be able to focus on the patients is far and away the best part of it. “Rock Dental coordinates all of the behind-the-scenes stuff like paperwork and calendar. With COVID, dealing with quarantine and all the new regulations and procuring supplies was difficult to do, but handling those functions made life much more manageable.”

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M A R C H 2021

AGRICULTURE

SAFE

BET

Experts see farmland remaining a wise investment By Tyler Hale

arming is big business in Arkansas, forming the backbone of the state’s economy. Pumping $16 billion in the state’s economy each year, agriculture is the biggest industry in the state, impacting virtually everyone in the state. In Arkansas, producers are diversified, planting rice, cotton, soybeans, wheat and other crops. Other producers are invested in beef cattle or dairy farming. There are

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Institutional investors are primarily seeking total returns and diversification...

Ben Wellons

Gar Lile

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also aquaculture producers, raising catfish and goldfish. But agriculture has a wider impact beyond crop production. It has given rise to a whole range of industries, from equipment manufacturers and dealerships to aerial applicators. Farmland has a major financial impact, and investing in farmland has become a major asset for diversifying portfolios. According to Dr. Bruce Sherrick, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign professor and director of the TIAA Center for Farmland Research, farmland is a unique asset — being large-scale and very diverse in terms of location and crop production. “It’s a very heterogeneous asset,” Sherrick said. Historically, farmland has been a farmer-to-farmer market, he said. That is still largely the case for the $3 trillion farmland market. However, institutional investors have grown their presence, with financial institutions like Bank of America having specialty asset-management divisions to oversee investment and management services for wealthy individuals and families, as well as pension funds invest-

ing in farmland. Farmland investing got a bigger profile in early 2021 with the revelation that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates had become the largest farmland owner in the United States. Per reporting from the Land Report, Gates and his wife Melinda own 268,984 acres of land, most being farmland, with 47,927 acres in Arkansas — equivalent to 17.8 percent of their total land holdings. Jeffrey Hignight, a farmland asset manager and real estate broker with Glaub Farm Management in Jonesboro, said most institutions and investor groups focus on purchasing 1,000 acres of land, while individual investors and farmer-operators typically focus on acreage under 1,000. While the amount of property being purchased may vary, the reasons for buying are largely the same — namely that farmland offers stability and diversification. As Ben Wellons, president and broker at Little Rock’s Wellons Real Estate, puts it, “Farmland in Arkansas can produce stable and consistent income returns for investors/buyers, and for the most part does not show dramatic up or down swings in profits or valuations.” Wellons noted that many of the sales occurring through his firm have been through larger private or public investors “needing an outlet for disposition of cash,” while there have been some individual investors making inroads into farmland. Hignight agreed, pointing out that farmland offers “attractive long-term total returns” while providing diversification and offering an asset that produces a product. The biggest difference among investors, in his view, will be the attachment to the land. “Institutional investors are primarily seeking total returns and diversification while an individual investor may have more specific ties to a region from being raised on a farm or resides in a rural area

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and understands the investment opportunity in farmland,” he said. Gar Lile, president and principal broker of Lile Real Estate Inc. in Little Rock, also pointed out the ancillary benefits of investing in farmland. He emphasized the production capacity of a row-crop farm, which allows investors to compound their profit margin. Robert Eason, co-owner and principal broker of Mossy Oak Properties and Delta Land Management of North Little Rock and Leslie, estimates that good farmland in Arkansas can provide more than $150 per acre of cash rent each year. “I deal a little bit with a stock portfolio, but there’s not many of them that are producing more dividends like that,” he said. There’s also the possibility of adding hunting clubs or turning part of the land into recreational property that adds additional value and profit potential. “I think you get the best of both worlds. You know, you can’t go play in the stock market or play with your stocks, but with farmland, timberland and recreational property, you can,” Lile said. Global and national economic conditions are spurring many to invest in farmland to park cash and keep a steady value. Eason discussed the specter of inflation, which he said was driving clients to snap up farmland. “It might go up and down and in overall price, but you know, you’re always going to get some sort of return, and it’s not going to go to zero. Most of the guys that we deal with believe that we’re headed towards an inflationary timeframe, and farmland is going to be a really good asset then if that does happen,” he said. Sherrick corroborated the inflation concerns, saying that farmland prices are increasing across the United States due to the possibility of post-pandemic inflation. “It’s very clear that the prices are going up a little bit again, historically, with very strong consistency. So that turns out to be a motivating factor, given that people

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seem to be concerned about the possibility of returning inflation to the post pandemic,” he said. Getting your hands on farmland is sometimes easier said than done. Both Hignight and Lile referred to the Arkansas farmland market as “thin,” with few tracts of land available for sale. Arkansas Farm Bureau estimates that the state has 14.5 million acres of workable farmland with 18,778,660 acres of forest land and 49,346 farms operating in Arkansas. Of this land, Hignight estimates that less than 1 percent is sold on the open market each year. “Many tracts of land that we have sold are at the third generation ownership level. Grandparents bought the farm, and now the grandkids are selling due to the dilution factor. Others are shorter term but in general, cropland is held for many years,” Hignight said. “The current market leans towards a seller’s market. Demand for land is up while the supply is limited. Anyone with quality cropland will obtain a strong price on the open market.” While Lile said it was a good time to have farmland on the market, he sees few sellers motivated to get rid of their land. This is largely due to a satisfaction with the returns and stability the land offers. “This is a very good time to put your property on the market to have a market analysis done by a broker,” Lile said. “The market is very thin, so it’s a good time for someone to put their property on the market. You’re not having to worry about prices on the stock market every day.” While farmland is a stable, traditiondriven industry, there are some companies looking to innovate in the field. One of the newest innovators in the farmland investing space is Carter Malloy and his company AcreTrader, which enables investors to buy shares in rigorously selected farms around the United States. Malloy founded the Fayetteville-based startup in 2018 and has seen its fortunes rise in a few short years, increasing the number of farmland investments on its

Robert Eason

Carter Malloy

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We've been banking on ARKANSAS FARMERS

since 1903.

Global and national economic conditions are spurring many to invest in farmland to park cash and keep a steady value.

site by a factor of 12 in 2020 alone and “We are thrilled to come in and invest raising more than $5 million in seed in that land and improve the quality of funding. that land. And ultimately that helps to But what interests Malloy is increasimprove the farmers’ operations,” he ing access to farmland and getting the said. “The largest source of growth for highest-quality investments. Before our company has been successful partfounding AcreTrader, Malloy began innerships alongside farmers that recogvesting in farmland nize the value in and was frustrated what we do.” by the opaqueness No matter how While Lile said it of the process. farmland investwas a good time to “There’s not a lot ment changes of information out with technology, have farmland on the there will always there, and there’s not a common sysbe a drive to buy market, he sees few tems or data inframore land, acsellers motivated to structure across the cording to Eason. industry,” he said. Both investors and get rid of their land. Malloy had a farmers will be This is largely due to driven to purchase “holy cow” moment when he realadjoining a satisfaction with the that ized that he could piece of property increase investor high-producing returns and stability ment opportunicropland. the land offers. ties to farmland, “It seems like which he calls a people are going “great American to continue to buy. asset,” online. At the core of the comI think we’re always going to have your pany, Malloy focuses on access, liquidity private investors. They’re always going and transparency in the investment proto be purchasing. There’s not a landcess, stressing that the process should owner or a farmer out there that I know be a well-informed one for buyers and of that, if something comes up next to sellers. them, they’re not going to at least try to AcreTrader provides this by workbuy it,” Eason said. ing with farmers themselves. As Malloy “What I say about farmland or land said, the farmers know the property betin general, is that stocks might go to ter than anyone else, and the company zero, bonds might go to zero, but land is works to improve the land and manage it. not going to go to zero.”

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M A R C H 2021

THE DIGS OF THE DEAL

COPPER GRILL

EMBOSSED WITH SPIRIT OF CAJUN’S WHARF

BY KATIE ZAKRZEWSKI

hen hearing the name “Cajun’s Wharf,” Arkansans everywhere — or at least those in Central Arkansas — are bound to listen with hushed, reverent tones. The famed former restaurant, tucked against the banks of the Arkansas River, once hosted politicians, celebrities and a host of renowned guests. While Cajun’s Wharf may now be a memory, Copper Grill in downtown Little Rock has since made itself the new home of the notable clientele that made Cajun’s a household name — and of their pivotal business and political arrangements as well. Mary Beth Ringgold, the former owner and founder of Cajun’s Wharf, opened Copper Grill with Dan Kovach in 2007. Kovach is the current operating partner with his partner, Leland Stice. Kovach said the opening of Copper Grill was a team effort. “We’d been looking at different concepts in the state and created this one together. When Copper Grill first opened, there was a grocery store in the building, which is now our private dining room. Pre-COVID, we could seat 90 people in there, and 130 with a standing cocktail party.” In 2007, there were plenty of condos downtown that people would purchase as an investment, and Copper Grill was poised to cater to them. But there seemed to be some sort of initial disconnect between the menu at Copper Grill and patrons, Kovach said. “The dining concept was more of an upscale steak-andchop house. Then after three or four years of trying to figure out what we were and weren’t doing right, we realized that the folks living in this area, especially the condos, are

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wealthy people, and money wasn’t an issue. “We started to scale the menu back and make it a little more casual, and more open to everyone. Everything that we’ve done has been made from scratch. We decided that we needed to make a menu that was more frequent-friendly. We’re now an upscale casual spot, serving everything from a burger to a prime-age filet mignon. Now, we appeal to people across the spectrum.” As Copper Grill was able to cast a wider net for its customer base, more notable individuals throughout the Natural State began to frequent the restaurant, just as they had at Cajun’s. “We’ve always been a spot for the political scene with the Clinton School close by,” Kovach explained. “Mary Beth was over the Little Rock Visitor and Convention Bureau, and she had connections with people in the state. Jim Dailey [former Little Rock mayor] and Skip Rutherford [former Clinton aide and dean of the Clinton School] would come in, along with the other movers and shakers in the city. People knew that they could come in here and conduct business after hours without seeing everyone that they knew in here.” Copper Grill has also been a meal-time favorite for former Gov. Mike Beebe, former Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and current Mayor Frank Scott Jr., even before Scott was elected. “Copper Grill has remained one of Mayor Scott’s favorite places, even after his election. A lot of his campaign meetings and dinners were here at Copper Grill,” Kovach said. “And Gov. Beebe has Copper Grill designated as one of his favorite places.” The expansion of the party room and the menu allowed Copper Grill to appeal to a broader spectrum of people and host more events outside the political realm. “We’re a little bit of everything for everybody,” Kovach said.

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you that his first general manager was Mike Warr. After his time at Cajun’s, Mike moved to Memphis and went on to own and operate restaurants there. In 1986, he purchased Cajun’s from Bruce Anderson. The following year, Mike made me a minority partner, and our partnership group had the restaurant until November of 1993 when we sold Dan Novach on the Cajun’s to Landry’s Copper Grill patio with Seafood. They opBarron and Shilo. (Photo erated it through provided) May of 1999.” Ringgold, along with business partners including Kovach, also were operating Capers Restaurant, and bought Cajun’s back from Landry’s Mary Beth Ringgold (Jamison Mosley) in June 1999. After undergoing a “We can get a group of 15 people together, and everymajor renovation body in the group can get something different and and trying to make unique. As far as hosting groups goes, we act as the the establishment meeting place for retirement groups, fantasy-footreminiscent of the ball draft parties, church groups and business peooriginal Cajun’s, ple and groups traveling from all over. Even though a the iconic restaulot of these folks are paying for their meal with busirant reopened it in ness accounts, they choose Copper Grill and have October 1999 to the for some time. We’ve got a diverse, economical menu highest annual sales volume in the company’s history. and a great, well-priced wine list.” Ringgold elaborated on the events that helped put Cajun’s But Kovach notes that Copper Grill’s menu and diversity on the map: in clientele has the advantage of branching out from a no“I am not sure if it was 1975 or 1976, but Cajun’s was rectable predecessor. ognized as one of the top grossing restaurants in the United “Copper Grill’s history stems from Cajun’s,” Kovach asStates. The thing that made it special was that it was a true serted. “After we closed Cajun’s, Mary Beth offered to sell destination. You could spend the entire evening there if you Copper Grill to me. On Nov. 1 of that year, we officially wanted. Walk in and put your name on the list for dinner. signed off on buying it.” Then, go to the bar or the deck, overlooking the Arkansas Cajun’s Wharf was opened March 15, 1975. The concept River, and enjoy a couple of beverages and handmade specialwas designed to be a 260-seat restaurant with a big bar ties like the oysters Bienville, crab au gratin and fried shrimp. overlooking the Arkansas River. It was set up to have early All while listening to some light acoustic guitar or jazz. In the entertainment to make it Little Rock’s premier happy hour early days, Dixieland was the flavor of choice musically. destination. Cajun’s also had popular banquet spaces and “Then, when your name was called, go back to the restau“tucked away” smaller, private dining rooms. rant and feast on Alaskan king crab legs, gulf shrimp prepared Ringgold recalled, “The principal owner was Bruce Anderin many different ways, great steaks and more fresh fish than son. He had several business partners, but since I did not work you could imagine. After that, head back to the bar and dance with the initial group in the 1970s, I don’t feel like I can accuthe night away to some of the best performing acts and bands rately name every person who partnered with Bruce. I can tell

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M A R C H 2021

THE DIGS OF THE DEAL in the region. It really was a magical place. Especially when it was ‘cadillacing.’” By design, Cajun’s was the ideal venue to meet and greet and dine. The bar was an active place to have a beverage and discuss business. “Many a legislator and lobbyist were seen exchanging dialogue. Particularly in the ‘old days.’ As laws and public opinion changed over the years, I think those gatherings seemed to happen less frequently,” Ringgold said. From politician to business owner to celebrity, from Sam Walton to Bob Hope, famous people from all over the country would stop by Cajun’s Wharf for dinner as the establishment’s reputation grew. As Kovach noted, the legacy of political events held at Copper Grill was rooted in Cajun’s origins. Ringgold confirmed that the restaurant’s political legacy was born at Cajun’s. “I remember the day that Mike Beebe announced that he was going to run for governor,” she said. “He was having din-

ner with his long time friend, Don Tilton. I remember going by his table to congratulate him. I think he was one of the best governors in Arkansas history. A side note — he loved our oysters Bienville. To this day, I think he would tell you that it is one of his favorite foods.” On Jan. 8, 2007, Cajun’s hosted the memorable “Painting Arkansas Blue” inauguration party for Beebe. Ringgold and staff had planned for 1,000 people, which would have been a breeze, given the venue’s size and layout. But, as the hours clicked by that day, the demand for tickets went crazy. Ringgold recalled working with Little Rock public relations man Denver Peacock as the demand for tickets ratcheted up. “Every 15 minutes, he would call me to say we need to add 20 more people, add 10, add 50. When the night came, it was by far the most people ever inside of Cajun’s. We had to let

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people in as we let people out the door. I think we ended up with over 1,700 people all told, well over fire code. So, sorry Little Rock Fire Department.” Cajun’s hosted Beebe’s second inaugural event on Jan. 10, 2011. It was themed, “The Beebe-Que: A Southern Casual Affair.” “It was kind of a throwback to Gov. [David] Pryor’s Blue Jean Bash parties. It was also highly attended,” Ringgold added. As a follow-up to the opening of the Clinton Library and Museum in November 2005, Cajun’s hosted a big party for staff and volunteers as well as Little Rock city directors and staff who worked to make the library a permanent fixture in the city. The party also produced a packed house, and President Clinton was in attendance. Most recently, in November 2018, Cajun’s hosted Scott’s mayoral election night party. “People were coming from everywhere and at one point, you couldn’t get into the parking lot. There was so much excitement about our new mayor,” Ringgold said. Kovach recalls the political action and parties that took place at Cajun’s. “When I was a young server at Cajun’s 20 years Former Gov. ago, a lot of politicos would come to Cajun’s after different sessions, so I got to know Beebe, and so Mike Beebe with his wife, did Mary Beth,” he said. “Copper Grill kind of Ginger, at an became a second place for people to go to. Gov. inauguration [Asa] Hutchinson comes in twice a month, and party held Beebe comes in quite a bit as well. [Former Gov.] at Cajun’s. Jim Guy Tucker is a frequent guest of ours. We (Photo deliver food more now than dine in, and so we courtesy still deliver to plenty of politicos. When Beebe of Denver was in office, we did both of his big election wins Peacock) at Cajun’s. Thousands of people would come. There has always been a connection with Cajun’s and with the larger network. Copper Grill is a local small guy. We seemed big, but the legacy at Cajun’s rolled over to us.” Kovach on the success of Cajun’s and the influence of Clinton: “In the ‘80s, Cajun’s was at one point one of the highest grossing restaurants in the United States. Bill Clinton, when they opened the Clinton School, we had a private party with him, a big celebratory party because they had such a resounding response to the school’s opening. It took up the space in the bar. Mary Beth, myself and Clinton had a conversation outside. He told us that he was so proud to be governor when Cajun’s was the highest grossing restaurant. There is a long-standing political connection with Copper Grill and Central Arkansas, because Cajun’s was where all of the movers and the shakers came. It was one of the old spots, and there was the connection with Mary Beth as well. So many people came and supported it. When the Clinton

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Grill’s success to the leadership of Kovach and is grateful the Library brings in speakers, a lot of local politicians come into Cajun’s legacy carries on through him. Copper Grill, since it’s a fluid location in the journey from “I give Dan Kovach all of the credit for the current success the state capitol to the Clinton School.” of Copper Grill. He took his great energy for making people Kovach also recalled that Mike Bloomberg (endorsed happy and just turned it loose. He is a natural. He is there, by Scott) ate at Copper Grill in the private room when the engaged and always listens to what his guests are telling him. Democratic primary was still in full swing, and that the esThen, he takes that intel and uses it to make subtle improvetablishment was packed. He said Bloomberg loved the magments. Also, the concept is very good and very consistent,” num cheeseballs. she said. “They start with the very best raw ingredients and Both Ringgold and Kovach appreciate the ability of a have created a fun menu that speaks to everyone. It features a shared meal to bring people together. terrific selection of entrées and many great sharables. As well, “I have been doing this a long time and have been a daily the atmosphere is friendly, welcoming and comfortable. The student of human nature and behaviors,” Ringgold said. Copper Grill is a winner on all fronts.” “Working alongside the general public presents all types of Ringgold on the closing of Cajun’s: challenges, but it provides a level of education you can’t get in school. I think there is something about sharing a meal “In 2019, facing unfavorable lease renewal terms, extremely together that is very human and neutralizing. It levels the high building-repair costs and sagging weekday traffic, we made playing field a bit and doesn’t have the implied time manthe very difficult decision to close Cajun’s. Our final day was agement necessity that you feel in an office. May 31, 2019 — an almost 45“You are more apt to year run. Cajun’s was part of share some pleasantries Cajun’s was famous for its deck the Little Rock landscape for about your life and family overlooking the Arkansas River. almost 45 years. Little Rock and then gradually move loved Cajun’s. That was eviinto business topics. Condent when we announced the versely, sitting across a closing and gave everyone desk from someone lends two months to come out and itself to getting right to enjoy it one last time. There business and then out the door. Plus, I think that it is were some folks who came meaningful if someone is out every day. Many came willing to invest a couple once per week. Those two of hours with you over months turned out to be the lunch or dinner. You are busiest two months ever in probably more likely to the history of Cajun’s.” win them over, providing Ringgold is grateful the of course, you use your Cajun’s legacy is continued best manners.” through Kovach and Copper Grill, even through a pandemic Assessing the impact Cajun’s Wharf has had on the Arkanand its unique challenges for the restaurant industry. And sas political landscape, Ringgold insists the spirit of Cajun’s Kovach asserts that pandemic restrictions have fallen harder was transferred to Copper Grill. But there’ll never be another on restaurants and bars than other businesses. Cajun’s. “I can’t tell you of any secret political meeting that changed “Grocery stores haven’t been regulated as hard and as consisLittle Rock. But, I can tell you that Arkansas governors, Arkantently, whereas we [took] a total hit,” he said. “It’s not that I wantsas legislators and senators, U.S. senators, U.S. congressmen, ed 100 percent capacity, it’s that the restrictions that they put on former and current mayors and former President William J. us were a broad stroke rather than doing it business to business.” Clinton all have been to Cajun’s. It was a trusted place where But Kovach sees the light at the end of the tunnel. He knows people felt welcome and safe. And, it was a given that the food that the experience of those who have helped the Copper Grill would be great and a good time would be had by all.” flourish into what it is today is enough to make it through the Copper Grill also has the luxury of a great reputation, but current challenge. Whether it’s a candidate watch party or anit’s more of a hidden gem. Kovach joked that people come to other event, Copper Grill is embossed with the spirit of its preCopper Grill because they’re going to run into who they want to see, and not who they don’t. Ringgold credits all of Copper decessor and remains “a little bit for everybody.”

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M A R C H 2021

EXECUTIVE EXTRACURRICULARS

CRAFTSMEN, COLLECTORS HEBER SPRINGS COMPANY HELPING FIREARMS CONNOISSEURS TELL THEIR STORIES BY TYLER HALE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMISON MOSLEY

uying a gun can be an almost holy experience for the right person. Feeling the cool metal of the barrel, the wood grain of the stock and the tension of the mechanisms is part of a ritual for gun owners. It’s ecstasy in the form of steel and wood. For some, gun collecting is less of a hobby and more of a passion. That’s especially true in the United States, where gun ownership, despite falling in recent decades, is a well-established tradition. According to a 2019 Gallup Poll, 32 percent of U.S. adults said they owned a gun, while 44 percent said they lived in a gun-owning household. In Arkansas, this percentage is likely higher. The poll listed Republicans, rural residents, men, “self-identified conservatives” and Southerners as top groups most likely to own guns, with Republicans having a 50 percent likelihood of owning guns, rural residents at 48 percent, men and conservatives at 45 percent and Southerners at 40 percent. But collecting guns goes beyond just owning a shotgun or two or a few rifles. Taylor Denniston, the owner of Fort Thompson Sporting Goods in Sherwood, said gun collecting is easy to fall into for those who love hunting and shooting, but that collectors come in all stripes. At his sporting goods store, Denniston sees people coming in to buy for a multitude of reasons beyond just hunting, whether people are collecting guns as investment pieces or for the “cool factor.”

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Denniston said a lot of gun buyers are collectors. “First off, they like to shoot them and have them, but a lot of the stuff they’re collecting, they’re really not even really shooting. They’re just buying it because they like it. Some of them gain value — some of the older Winchesters and Colts and stuff, that if you bought them a long time ago and kept them in good shape, you could have made quite a bit of money off of them for what they go for now on the auction sites. But I think a lot of the people are doing it as a hobby. “They’re cool. Some of the guns, like what you would call collectible shotguns, are almost like art with all the hand engraving and the fancy wood. Once you get up into the upper end price points, you can get some really pretty stuff.” It’s hunting, though, that really draws in gun buyers, according to Denniston. “We sell tons of shotguns and rifles, and they may say, ‘Hey, I want to start target shooting or deer hunting or duck hunting,’ so they may come in and buy their first shotgun,” he said. “Then they buy a 12-gauge and they say, ‘I want to get a 20 gauge. Then they go buy a second one, and they’re like, ‘Well, I may go on a pheasant hunt… so I want to over-under, maybe in a 410 or 28 gauge and they just kind of start buying different things. They keep coming back and adding to their collection.

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“And then by the time they’ve turned around, they’ve amassed quite a few different ones,” he said with a laugh. Once collectors have the guns, then there’s the question of where to put them. The common solution is gun safes, where the guns can be stored behind steel doors to be pulled out when needed. Safes serve a much-needed utilitarian purpose, but one Arkansas company is raising the game for gun and trophy rooms. Located off the beaten path in Heber Springs, Julian & Sons is crafting extraordinary cabinetry designed to showcase gun collections, hunting trophies and more. But owner Joe Julian said he isn’t satisfied with just putting guns on display. He wants to help the owners tell the stories of their collections and their hunts. “Most people start out hunting, white tail hunting ducks, squirrels, whatever it is. But that love can turn into a passion. If somebody invites them on their first safari in Africa or they go and kill their first elk, they really don’t know what to do with it. When they get all this stuff, they know that they want to display this. They want to find a way to, to share this with their family and friends, and we’ll come in and help them, not only do the space allocation for the floor plan to make sure everything works. We come in and draw the elevations and help them organize their trophies from their hunts and their guns in a way that helps tell their story,” he said. It all started with his father, the late Tom Julian, who launched Julian and Sons in 1985. Tom Julian wanted to launch a woodworking company with his sons, and he started it in the family garage, teaching his four sons the trade. As the company grew, they found their niche: gun and trophy rooms. Building gun and trophy rooms was a classic case of Tom Julian knowing that he could build something better than what was already there. Joe Julian said that Tom’s background in custom homebuilding served him well, giving him insight into the functional and aesthetic design of these rooms. Joe Julian

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M A R C H 2021

EXECUTIVE EXTRACURRICULARS “He started recognizing and noticing these trophy rooms and these gun rooms just didn’t look right. They didn’t have the right feel — they were more museum feels — or had as many animals as you could stuff on a wall. So he said, ‘We can do this better.’ “So we were able to go in and help these people redesign their rooms or design new rooms that were more consistent with their hunts, their memories, their lifestyles. That’s really how we got into the hunting and guns,” Julian said. For Julian, these gun and trophy rooms are not just repositories for firearms and dead animals. They are intended to be a centerpiece and showstopper for a home, telling the stories of the owner’s passions, whether that’s big game hunting in Africa, duck hunting Arkansas or just showing off prized Winchesters. “We’re able to really give them something that they couldn’t have with any other experience,” he said. “In certain areas, people go in, walk through [a trophy room] and they’re done, and they move on to somewhere else in the home. But what we want to do with these rooms is we want people to come in and spend time there.” Julian’s craftsmen use a range of woods to build the cabinetry and features for each custom room, which he said are in homes across the United States, England, South Africa and even Dubai. Each year, Julian estimates the company averages 24 jobs, with projects ranging from $30,000 to $1 million or more. While the price is eye-popping, Julian delivers with exacting attention to detail. The company has developed its own system for displaying guns, allowing guns to be raised or lowered or displayed horizontally or even angled — all to improve the visual experience. They add billboard cloth to make the guns pop and outsource details to master craftsmen to ensure that each custom room and piece has the best possible luxury finishes.

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The custom work at Julian and Sons is inteded to be a centerpiece and showstopper for a home.

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“That’s so satisfying to enhance somebody’s life with not only the work that we’ve done, but bringing them together with other like-minded people. It’s just amazing.”

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M A R C H 2021

EXECUTIVE EXTRACURRICULARS

Julian and Sons uses fine-grain walnut for its cabinets and rooms.

“You can go buy a piece of hardware anywhere, but to have a custom piece of hardware handmade by an Arkansas blacksmith — we have a long blacksmithing tradition in this state — that adds so much. It’s a small detail and a lot of people won’t see it, but, but our clients know and appreciate that,” he said. Julian and Sons is expanding its range products, and Julian said that the company is working to develop a portable gun rack, made with the same exacting craftsmanship and exotic woods as found in a full room but in a compact size. This gun rack would allow hunters to set up and have their guns ready on the fly during a hunt, or it could even be a display piece in a home. For Julian, it’s a way of getting that signature Julian and Sons luxury experience at a more affordable cost. At the end of the day, these luxury gun rooms are all about bringing people together, Julian said. His father designed a gun room in Ranger, Texas, for a client, and when he found out that another potential client lived just down the road, he arranged a tour of the room. What started out as a business discussion turned into a lifelong friendship between the two Texans, brought together by a love of guns and hunting. “That’s so satisfying to enhance somebody’s life with not only the work that we’ve done, but bringing them together with other likeminded people. It’s just amazing,” Julian said .

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The finished products, with their attention to detail, distinguish the work of Julian and Sons. (Photo provided)

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M A R C H 2021

SPORTS

YES,

ERIC MUSSELMAN IS IN LINE FOR

A BIG RAISE.

BUT THE DYNAMICS AREN’T SO SIMPLE.

fter coaching Arkansas to its 10th straight SEC win in early March, Eric Musselman was well on his way to becoming one of the hottest coaches in the nation. He was leading a Razorbacks basketball team that was doing things the program hadn’t seen since that last glorious decade of the 20th century: a Top 12 ranking, a top 25 matchup in Bud Walton Arena and an elite team on multiple statistical fronts. But the success also highlighted an emerging disparity. Despite Arkansas’ newly recaptured lofty status, the salary of its head coach was tied for the lowest in the SEC (among public universities).

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By Evin Demirel

Razorback basketball coach Eric Musselman

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In early March, Yurachek said he’d already begun informal talks with Musselman’s agent about updating Musselman’s contract. That disparity hit even closer to home when Nate Oats, Musselman’s main contender for SEC Coach of the Year, got a raise from $2.45 million annually to $3.225 million. Oats also got a contract extension running through 2027. It was warranted. Through the last week of SEC season play, Oats had led Alabama to a record of 36-21 in his two years in Tuscaloosa. That includes a regular season SEC crown this season. By announcing the raise in late February, Alabama’s athletic director Greg Bryne didn’t wait until after the season to show him some contractual love. Would Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek do well jumping the gun with Musselman, too? Musselman, also in his second year with the Hogs, had an overall record of 39-17 at Arkansas. That includes a resounding late February win at Bud Walton Arena over then-No. 8 Alabama. However, even with the 10-game SEC winning streak, his SEC record (18-15) was still well below Oats’ (23-13). Of course, there’s some important context here. Namely, injuries cost Arkansas two of its best players in the last two seasons — Isaiah Joe and Justin Smith — over significant stretches during conference play in 2019-20 and 2020-21. In early March, Yurachek said he’d already begun informal talks with Musselman’s agent about updating Musselman’s contract. “My philosophy is that Eric and I will sit down together at the end of the season, when that’s over, and talk about what his contract looks like and what’s important to him moving forward,” Yurachek said. “His agent and I have talked behind the scenes about that.” When it comes to offering Musselman a raise and extension, there may be some urgency at play, however.

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In 2019, Musselman signed a five-year contract with Arkansas for $2.5 annually to run through April 30, 2024. That, however, will be extended to 2025 because the Razorbacks will make the 2021 NCAA Tournament. There are plenty of other performance-based incentives too. Here are the main ones: • $ 100,000 – Win the SEC regular season championship • $100,000 – Win the SEC Tournament • $25,000 – Win SEC Coach of the Year • $50,000 – Win National Coach of the Year • $100,000 – For an NCAA Tournament appearance • $250,000 – For a Sweet 16 appearance • $350,000 – For a Final Four appearance • $ 500,000 – For winning the national championship • $25,000 – Graduate 90 percent or more of studentathletes in academic year in which they exhaust eligibility • $12,500 – Graduate 80 percent to 89 percent of student-athletes in academic year in which they exhaust their eligibility

M A R C H 2021

To ensure Musselman isn’t poached away, Hunter Yurachek has an important decision to make about how much of a raise to offer Musselman.

Now Better Than Later? In late February, sports radio host Paul Finebaum explained why locking down Oats with a bigger buyout now — as opposed to waiting until the end of the season — was so important. Finebaum pointed out that there could be some big job openings in college basketball in the next couple years. Perhaps at Syracuse, where the 76-year-old Jim Boeheim may retire. Or Duke, where the 74-year-old Mike Kryzyewski may leave. “John Calipari may decide he’s had enough of the critics at Kentucky and go to the NBA,” Finebaum added. “North Carolina could open. Michigan State is a job that I’m sure Nate Oats has always coveted because of his relationship with Tom Izzo. You don’t need that going on in March after Nate Oats gets to the Elite Eight or the Final Four.” Finebaum’s pretty spot on here. There are an unusually high number of “blue-blood” programs with potential openings in the short term. The heat is especially hot on Calipari, whose Wildcats lost 15 of their first 23 games — by far his worst season at the helm of the sport’s most high-pressure program. Hog fans should pay attention to the shifting landscape, because the same logic that Finebaum applies to why Bryne needed to lock down Oats also applies to Musselman. He had Arkansas playing better than any point in the regular season since the mid-1990s. With his increasingly proven ability to integrate new transfers with holdovers and incoming freshmen at a

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Muss with head football Hog Sam Pittman and Yurachek (with a photo bomb from his daughter).

high-major level, there’s no reason to expect Arkansas’ upward trajectory to level off soon. Perhaps Musselman isn’t quite as attractive as Oats to elite programs because he’s a decade older, and Alabama for much of this season was perceived to be a stronger program on the national scene. But that’s no reason to think Musselman is safe. In fact, if Bryne’s move really confirmed Oats will stay at Bama for at least a few more years, then when those bigger jobs open up the pool of great coaches who aren’t essentially locked down will be smaller. To ensure Musselman isn’t poached away, Hunter Yurachek has an important decision to make about how much of a raise to offer Musselman. And how much should the Hogs’ postseason performance play into his decision? A Sweet 16 run, after all, would make Musselman a much bigger national star. No doubt, Yurahchek knows the possibility of poaching from deeper-pocketed suitors. There’s

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much to be said about showing more of a commitment early on to ward off potential suitors, but there’s also the overhanging specter of what happened with former Razorback football coach Bret Bielema in 2014. Bielema finished strong in his second season, blowing through Ole Miss, LSU and Texas. Yurachek’s predecessor, Jeff Long, was so smitten with the seemingly upward arc of the football program that he gave Bielema a hefty extension and raise.

In hindsight, Long’s display of commitment was too early. It would have made more sense to simply wait another season or two and make sure Bielema could keep it up. Has Musselman already shown enough to warrant the kind of raise that Hog fans wished Long never made? With every win tacked onto that SEC winning streak, the answer increasingly appeared to be, “Yes.”

2020-21 SEC BASKETBALL COACHES’ SALARIES Source: USA Today NATIONAL RANK

SCHOOL

COACH

ANNUAL SALARY

Kentucky

John Calipari

$8.2M

Tennessee

Rick Barnes

$4.7M

Texas A&M

Buzz Williams

$3.843M

Auburn

Bruce Pearl

$3.84M

Georgia

Tom Crean

$3.2M

South Carolina

Frank Martin

$3.05M

Missouri

Cuonzo Martin

$2.9M

Ole Miss

Kermit Davis

$2.85M

Florida

Mike White

$2.81M

Mississippi State

Ben Howland

$2.55M

LSU

Will Wade

$2.502M

Arkansas

Eric Musselman

$2.5M

Alabama

Nate Oats

$2.46M

Notes: Vanderbilt is a private institution and doesn’t have to report coaches’ salaries. The numbers for Nate Oats of Alabama reflect his salary for the 2020-21 season; in February, he was given a contract extension and raise to $3.225 million annually.

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M A R C H 2021

DIGEST

NEWSMAKERS ARKANSAS PBS, FARM BUREAU PARTNER ON AGRI PROGRAMMING

UA’s ‘WOMEN IN IT’ CONFERENCE SET FOR APRIL 7

rkansas PBS and Arkansas Farm Bureau are partnering on new programming, highlighting community and agricultural life in the Natural State. In a new monthly series entitled Good Roots, the organizations will examine rural community life and agribusiness, looking at the traditions in Arkansas and the modern evolution of these practices. The series will premiere on April 16 on Arkansas PBS and its website, MyArkansasPBS.org. The series will air on the second Friday of each month, starting in May. Segments and footage will also be featured all Arkansas PBS digital platforms. “As Arkansans, we all have a proud, emotional tie to this unique place we call home,” Arkansas PBS CEO Courtney Pledger said in a statement. “Good Roots will shine a light on the agricultural backbone of the state and share the essential stories, experiences and news of our rural communities.” Arkansas Farm Bureau will provide “major” funding for the programming, Arkansas PBS announced. Arkansas Farm Bureau board president Rich Hillman said, “Arkansas Farm Bureau is dedicated to sharing the critical role agriculture plays in our lives and economy. Arkansas is built on the foundation of farming, and that story is much more complicated than what is often portrayed.”

he University of Arkansas is hosting its first ever Women in Information Technology virtual conference, “Hack the Journey,” on April 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Erika Amoako-Agyei, business coach at Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (Seed). She will be joined by Dr. Atty Mashatan, founder and director of the Cybersecurity Research Lab at Ryerson University in Toronto, and other industry leaders. The conference is hosted by UA Walton College Executive Education and the Department of Information Systems. Registration has been extended to April 2 and is available at ExecEd.UArk.edu/2021-women-in-it-conference. For more information email ExecEd@Walton.UArk.edu.

LRCVB LAUNCHES CYCLING SITE

he Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) has launched a website dedicated to Central Arkansas cycling and trails. The Little Rock metro features more than 1,200 miles of trails. Aimed to provide easier access to trail maps and points of interest, the website — LittleRock.com/ experience-little-rock/cycling — covers almost every type of trail in the area. The 97 featured trails on the website include: • 24 road cycling routes • 19 beginner rides • 5 gravel trails • 66 mountain biking trails within six mountain biking trail systems • 8 self-guided tours Riders can also use the website to search for cycling laws, local outfitters, cycling clubs and rides. Routes can be accessed

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by the Ride with GPS mobile app for voice navigation and offline maps. Garmin and Wahoo riders can sync routes to a device for on-screen navigation. The routes can also be synced to other devices, ride apps and fitness-tracking apps. The website provides an updated blog showcasing recent cycling news, tips and trails to try out. Attractions in and around Central Arkansas, such as museums, hotels and local breweries/wineries/ distilleries, are included as stops and destinations for cycling trips. “People are starting to think about travel again, and research shows that they are looking for things to do outdoors and in nature for safe, relaxing, stress-free experiences,” LRCVB president and CEO Gretchen Hall said in a statement. “Now is the perfect time for people to discover Little Rock’s hidden gems of more than 1,230 miles of biking trails right here in the state’s capital city.”

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WELCOME TO THE TEAM As USAble Life’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Human Resources Organizational Development lead, Michelle is responsible for directing all legal, compliance, and Human Resources Organizational Development (HROD) functions. She serves as a strategic business partner to senior management, advising on legal matters and recommending HROD strategies that impact business operations. Welcome to the company, where we make a meaningful difference every day.

Michelle Harding Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Human Resources Organizational Development

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M A R C H 2021

THE LAST WORD

BROADCASTING NOT ALL ABOUT TALKING. WHO KNEW?

y trajectory to a lengthy career as a journalist slash broadcaster begins in Dermott, the town where I was raised, at a little radio station owned by then TV weatherman Ron Sherman. It was a brand new country music radio station, and I guess word got out at the coffee shop that I wanted to work in broadcasting. After the summer was over, I journeyed to the Hill and enrolled in the University of Arkansas to study journalism with an emphasis in public relations and advertising. I did not choose broadcast journalism as a major, because in my mind, I thought, what could anyone teach me about talking? I was right in some respects. I did win “Most Talkative” my senior year of high school. I had a college teacher almost kick me out of a dance class (quit judging; it was an easy elective along with Film Lecture) because I talked so much. I was at Girls State as a rising high school senior, and the director stopped the whole thing to tell me to hush. Therefore, I hoped broadcasting was all about talking. Boy, was I wrong. I graduated from the U of A a month after Nolan Richardson was hired to coach the men’s basketball team. I started three weeks later at KATV, Channel 7, a television job, in Little Rock as a desk assistant. I didn’t choose to pursue advertising/public relations just yet. I knew that was for later. I was at Channel 7 for 10 months; a budget cut in April 1986 had me out the door quicker than you could say, “Ned Perme.” In fact, I babysat Perme’s kids during that time because I made just 50 cents an hour more than minimum wage when minimum wage was ridiculously low, and I had to supplement with a side hustle. I had a spending problem, which is for another time. But I was flat broke. My short time in TV news taught me one thing: I knew it wasn’t for me. It takes a lot more work than just being loquacious. For starters, you have to be more focused than I could ever be. And accurate. And you

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BY LISA FISCHER

couldn’t come back from an assignment bad-talking the shoes Anne Jansen, the rival news anchor, was wearing. So I hopped over to radio and hosted my own talk show on then AM-signal only, KARN. From 1-3 in the afternoon. With no cell phones. Let me remind you that I was hosting a talk show begging people to call, and they had to pull over and put coins in a pay phone to be on the air. This is why I love technology. You young whippersnappers and your mobile devices. But while I was on KARN flapping my jaws, I had the opportunity to work at KARK, Channel 4, and host a segment known as “Dialing for Dollars.” So I did both. I was on the noon show on Channel 4 and then raced over to KARN to be on the radio. I was also hired to be the entertainment reporter at Channel 4. That’s when I could come back from a news story and diss Anne Jansen’s shoes. I got the boot from KARN just two years after my not-so-meteoric rise in radio. I didn’t have what it took. The average listener was an educated 42-year-old male. I was an inane, 25-year-old female. We didn’t have a lot in common. After a couple of other radio gigs, I thought I had hung up my mic. But after many years as an unassuming homeschool mom to three children, I showed back up on the radio in 2006 on Little Rock’s B98.5 until 2018. And I never really left your television screens. I have hawked everything from Brandon House furniture to Cost Plus Furniture to Hank’s Furniture. I clearly have a way with furniture shoppers. I am still on TV advertising home improvement products through Ron Sherman

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Advertising. Yes, the man who hired me in 1981 is still hiring me 40 years later. My voice is now heard all over the planet. That’s not hyperbole. I have a podcast called the “Lisa Fischer Said” podcast. Like clockwork, I get downloads weekly from two listeners in Belgium and one in Australia. I am killing it in Belgium! I also put that “A” in senior-level copy editing to good use as the mean, staff copy editor at AY Media Group. I have a red pen that would make your 10th-grade English teacher proud. And I’m the editor-at-large for AY About You. I give story ideas and try to tell the real editor how he needs to run his magazine. I have had plenty of birthdays since I started my career, but I have as much energy now as I did when I wore that garish, yellow floral-patterned dress with the big shoulder pads on TV in the ’80s. I feel like my career now includes days of being in public relations as well as the other plates I spin, because I enjoy telling the public through social media about local businesses and products. I love the art of communicating no matter how we accomplish it. Radio, TV, podcast, social media, print, heck, I love to text and am notorious for leaving verbose voice memos. That “Most Talkative” title is something I wear with pride. Lisa Fischer is the editor-at-large for AY About You and the copy editor for all publications of AY Media Group. She’s been happily married to Kris Fischer for 33 years, and they have three grown children and two really cute granddaughters.

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