2017 ANNUAL REPORT
T
he term “circus” has been used unfairly to describe something that is chaotic and unorganized. We invite you to retire that idea and reflect on what is true about the circus. The circus is a shared social experience that entertains, overwhelms the senses, and defies expectations. The amazing moments that take our breath away during a circus don’t happen by chance; they are well orchestrated. The circus celebrates variety and talents that come from diversity. The circus is ambitious and almost foolishly optimistic. The circus brought us the literal bandwagon and the idea that the show must go on. Young people run away and join the circus. And if you spend too much time around a circus … it gets in your blood. For all of these reasons, the circus is the greatest show. And for the exact same reasons, Conway is the greatest city.
m cha ber of commerce
LADIES & GENTLEMEN...
it’s a balancing act of speakers and topics. it’s a sideshow of sales and entertainment. Chamber events bring together businesses from across central Arkansas.
Membership Event
In November, almost 200 energetic volunteers participated in the Chamber’s fourth membership event. In only two days, those volunteers recruited 248 new chamber members, pushing our total membership to over 1,400.
North Metro Healthcare Awards
February brought us the inaugural North Metro Healthcare Awards. More than 200 area healthcare professionals gathered to celebrate industry leaders and listen to Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Greg Bledsoe. Reliance Health Care was the underwriting sponsor for this first-time event.
Off the Clock
A new hospital (Conway Behavioral Health), a new office building (Conway Corporation), a planetarium (UCA Conway Corporation Center for the Sciences), a Christmas tree, and even a new bridge (6th Street overpass): The 2017 Off
the Clock events featured tasty food, fun music, and great networking in a truly historic series of locations.
Outlook Conway
Smith Ford and Thomas & Thomas sponsored a “deep dive” into the north metro economy during Outlook Conway. Four hundred attendees heard expert panelists deliver insight and forecasts on key economic drivers. This intensive, half-day economic forum provided wide-ranging statistical information highlighting trends locally and regionally.
Annual Meeting
Academy Sports + Outdoors CEO JK Symancyk headlined the Chamber’s 126th Annual Meeting. 1,100 business and community leaders celebrated the accomplishments of award winners as the Chamber unveiled its most ambitious initiative in decades, the Conway 125 capital campaign.
Business Expo & Taste of Conway
Conway’s largest business-to-business networking event was followed by the most delicious event in town—Taste of Conway. More than 1,100 attendees visited 95 business exhibitors before sampling food from 27 local restaurants and caterers. Baptist Health sponsored the daylong, open-to-the-public event.
CEO Luncheons
The 2017 CEO Luncheon series was held at Central Baptist College and featured Lencola Sullivan of the Royal Dutch Shell Headquarters, Heather Larkin of the Arkansas Community Foundation, and Matt Wiltshire of the Acadia Hospital Group as keynote speakers. Over 500 chamber members attended the luncheons, presented by Nabholz Construction Corporation.
Bowling for Business
More than 200 area professionals helped us take over Conway Family Bowl for a day of networking, team building, and “competition.” Sponsored by Crafton Tull and TriTechne, Bowling for Business offered attendees an array of prizes and a joint luncheon between the morning and afternoon “flights.”
Teacher Breakfast & Education Fair
Educators from Conway Christian, St. Joseph, and the Conway Public School District were welcomed back to school by presenting sponsor Conway Corporation and more than 100 participating vendors.
Academic Signing Day
Thirty-four students representing Conway, St. Joseph, and Conway Christian Schools were honored at the 2017 Academic Signing Day,
presented by Acxiom Corporation. Honorees must have a 3.8 GPA and be the recipient of a top scholarship from a four-year accredited college/ university, designated as a National Merit Finalist or Scholar, accepted into a United States Service Academy, or awarded a Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship or Governor’s Scholarship.
Women in Business
Arkansas Children’s Hospital CEO Marcy Doderer addressed a crowd of 350 professional women from central Arkansas during the December Women in Business awards. Conway OB/GYN and First Arkansas Bank & Trust sponsored the event celebrating the contributions and achievements of women in all industries. This year’s Diamond Achievement Award recipient was Lori Ross of Conway Regional Health System.
Minority Enterprise Development
In partnership with Reynolds Performance Hall, Northwestern Mutual sponsored the 2017 MED Awards recognizing the achievements of minority entrepreneurs in the Conway area as well as the individuals and organizations committed to advancing minority business enterprise. Attendees received access to a nationally recognized speaker at an intimate reception prior to the speaker’s public lecture. Mary Acklin, retired owner of Acklin Rental Property, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Toad suck daze
BOYS AND GIRLS, CHILDREN OF ALL AGES… Bright lights, indulgent tastes, and family entertainment. Nothing brings people together like Toad Suck Daze. But behind the fun is a mission to enhance education. Perfect weather and a record number of sponsors combined to make Toad Suck Daze a resounding success. After consuming 10,000 lemonades, 7,900 corn dogs, and 4,800 funnel cakes, attendees certainly didn’t leave hungry. They also left with lifelong memories, as 714 area children participated in one of 150 toad races. Conway’s Cooper Wood was crowned the 2017 World Champion Toad Racer. Presenting sponsor Crain Automotive helped the festival contribute $90,000 to local causes ranging from pre-K and youth arts education to purchasing the hanging flowering baskets for downtown.
Convention & Visitors Bureau
COME ONE! COME ALL. Step right up and see amazing feats of speed and strength! Take in the wonders of unimagined talents. Our sporting facilities host thousands of youth athletes every year. Our cultural amenities attract art, music, and Theater lovers of all ages. In 2017, record-setting local restaurant sales totaled almost $190 million. That number was contributed to, in large part, by the 50 events partnered with or recruited by the A&P Commission. The events included Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre performances, baseball tournaments, 5Ks, and rodeos. In 2017, the Conway Convention and Visitors Bureau also used A&P tax proceeds to improve and expand the special event space at the Conway Expo Center. The 6,200-square-foot meeting space features full A/V capabilities and a full catering kitchen. The High School All-Star games and Coaches Clinic contract was extended in 2017 to run through 2022. Almost 600 student athletes are in Conway through the week for the games, and more than 3,500 coaches attended the weeklong coaches clinic.
wntown pa do rtnership
PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CENTER RING A city’s downtown lives in the spotlight. It can’t be missed, and ours demands people take notice.
Downtown Conway continued to see major investments with the grand opening of Conway Corporation’s threestory, 30,000-square-foot headquarters building on Locust Avenue. Conway Corporation and the City of Conway
Public and private investment keeps downtown Conway thriving. finished work on new streetscape and infrastructure on Spencer and Smith Streets, just as Salter Properties began construction on JLofts. The four-story, 21-unit multifamily project marks the largest investment to date in downtown living. Downtown’s largest anchor, Hendrix College, opened the Mary Ann & David Dawkins Welcome Center and announced the $110 million “Be Hendrix” campaign. The campaign features the $24 million Miller Creative Quad, a mixed-use development that will include the Windgate Museum of Art.
conway 125 projects
YOU WON’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES!
Pay close attention, and you’ll see an entire city transforming before your very eyes.
The Chamber announced an ambitious quality-of-place program at its 2017 Annual Meeting. The 125 Campaign is a seven-project plan designed to transform the city into a more desirable place to recruit and retain talent. The seven projects include Roundabout Art, Splash Pads, Trails Everywhere, Wayfinding Signage, Interstate Beautification, Startup Space, and a refurbished Grand Theatre. Partnering with the City of Conway, Conway Corporation, UCA, and the business community, significant progress occurred in the months following the Chamber’s announcement. Conway Corporation announced a $1 million gift to establish The Arnold Innovation Center in downtown Conway. Honoring retiring CEO Richie Arnold, the AIC will provide a physical home for the city’s startup community, featuring a continuum of office options for entrepreneurs as they build their businesses. A partnership between the City of Conway and the University of Central Arkansas will build a $3 million pedestrian bridge crossing Dave Ward Drive, connecting
the university to the southern leg of the city’s trail system. Coupled with the new Central Landing Bridge at Interstate 40, pedestrians and cyclists have new, safe crossing options available for what had been major barriers. The two projects pave the way for a strategic expansion of the trail system into the city’s commercial districts. The Chamber, through the Conway Foundation, moved one step closer to establishing a nationally competitive, downtown, live music venue with their purchase of The Grand Theatre. Built in 1909, The Grand was Conway’s first theater. Having served as storefronts since the 1950s, a refurbished Grand brings the city a 350-seat venue for live music, theater, community events, and documentary film.
ernment gov affairs
LET’S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD(S)
A circus (and a city) survive on its ability to move efficiently. The Chamber’s government affairs efforts delivered on several transportation-related promises in 2017.
Two high-profile highway projects opened in 2017 that better connect the city of Conway to Faulkner County and central Arkansas. The “southern interchange” three miles south of Dave Ward Drive opened in June, putting southern Conway within 20 minutes of west Little Rock commercial areas. The new section of Highway 25 extending Salem Road to Lake Beaverfork has changed the way north Faulkner County residents travel into Conway. In November, the Chamber successfully led efforts to pass a new sales tax dedicated to local streets. The five-year program will raise more than $25 million for repairs and construction while giving the city the capacity to partner with the Arkansas Department of Transportation on local highway projects.
The Chamber’s government affairs efforts at the local, state, and federal levels help keep Conway moving.
Top Left: Baker-Wills Parkway (exit 132) has been in the works since 2009. Former Senate Budget Chair Gilbert Baker (left), former Speaker of the House Robbie Wills (second from right), and former Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department Commissioner Cliff Hoofman (right) worked to secure funding for the $36 million project. Also pictured are Susan Baker (second from left) and Dana Wills (center). Right: Scott Bennett, director of the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Bottom Left: Washington, D.C. trip attendees.
economic development
JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON
Some of the highest praise a city can receive is when a business chooses to relocate, expand, or invest locally. In 2017, the Chamber celebrated exciting announcements in retail, manufacturing, health care, and technology.
Economic development projects were numerous in 2017. Health care continued its dramatic growth in the market. Baptist Health–Conway opened a $15 million, 75,000-square-foot medical office building adjacent to the new hospital. Conway Behavioral Health finished construction on a $24 million, 80-bed facility that will employ 200 people when fully operational. Linen King, a regional provider of health care laundry services, opened a new 65,000-square-foot facility in the Guy Murphy Industrial Park and expanded to employ 100 people. Acxiom Corporation announced a consolidation of its central Arkansas operations onto its Conway campus. As a part of the move, the corporate headquarters returned to the city along with 200 additional employees. Ensono and Crum & Forster opened new Conway
offices in the Southwestern Energy building, relocating a combined 175 employees to The Village at Hendrix. Canadian manufacturer DBG purchased the assets of Navistar’s Conway operations. Conway will become the U.S. headquarters for the truck, automotive, and farm equipment supplier. The company will completely refurbish the manufacturing facilities and employ over 200 associates. The retail sector continued to expand as the Lewis Crossing Development added its largest anchor, Sam’s Club. Conway’s regional retail market grew with overall retail sales up over 5 percent to eclipse $1.5 billion for the first time in the history of the city.
nway area con leadership t i s t u te i
A NEW GENERATION OF RINGLEADERS in Conway, New leaders pick up where their predecessors left off, inheriting generations-old enthusiasm for building a city.
After 28 years, the Faulkner County Leadership Institute became the Conway Area Leadership Institute, or CALI. In addition to rebranding, the program became wholly owned by the Chamber. A redesigned curriculum immerses participants in the seven focus areas of the Conway 2025 community strategic plan. Thirty-eight participants representing a cross section of the business, civic, and nonprofit communities graduated after completing the eight-month program. CALI is designed to help prepare community leaders for service locally and within their own businesses and organizations.
The Conway Area Leadership Institute prepares community leaders for service both inside and outside their companies or organizations.
chairman’s circle
THE STARS OF THE SHOW The show must go on. these members keep it going.Together, they invest more than $1 million in our community and economic development organizations. That ain’t peanuts.
Diamond
Conway Convention & Visitors Bureau/ City of Conway
Platinum
Conway Corporation Conway Regional Health System Crain Buick GMC/Crain Kia
Gold
Acxiom Corporation Baptist Health Medical Center Centennial Bank Central Baptist College Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland Crafton Tull First Security Bank/ Crews & Associates Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Nabholz Construction Corporation Southwestern Energy Company TriTechne University of Central Arkansas Foundation Virco Whisinvest Realty, LLC
Silver
American Management Corporation ARcare Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Arkansas Business Publishing Group Arvest Bank AY Magazine Barefoot Athletics Caldwell Toyota
Delta Dental of Arkansas Eric Rob & Issac First Service Bank Garver Green Bay Packaging – Arkansas Kraft Division Klaasmeyer Construction McDonald’s Metova Nabco Park Hill Home Preferred Medical Regions Bank Reliance Health Care and Incite Rehab Rock-Pond Solutions Rogers Group Salter Construction/ Salter Properties Simmons Bank Smith Ford
Snap-on Equipment Thomas & Thomas Trinity Development Walmart/Sam’s Club Wonder State Box Co.
Bronze
Academy Sports + Outdoors American Safeguard Insurance Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/ River Valley & Ozark Edition Arkansas Federal Credit Union Bank of the Ozarks Cintas Conway OB/GYN Corco Construction Covington Companies DeBoard Electronics/ C2 Powersports Edafio Technology Partners
First Arkansas Bank & Trust Fureigh Electric Hendrix College International Paper Lindsey Management Log Cabin Democrat Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic Mainstream Technologies Moix RV Northwestern Mutual Pediatrics Plus Petit Jean Meats Pro Auto Sowell Architects Stoby’s/PattiCakes Bakery
governing boards
WALKING THE TIGHTROPE OF BUSINESS & COMMUNITY Don’t look down. Focus forward and move toward the goal. The perfect combination of deliberate and daring. Conway Area Chamber of Commerce EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dr. Melanie Smith, Chair Andrea Woods, Past-Chair Scott Champlin, Vice-Chair Jason Culpepper, Treasurer Brad Lacy, Secretary Patti Stobaugh Pete Tanguay
BOARD MEMBERS Chris Boudrie Tim Bowen Dr. Thomas Cabantac Will Cone Drew Gainor Korry Garrett Julie Gillaspy Darren Jones Cate McConnell Sarah Murphy Joanna Nabholz John Ben Scherrey Dr. Brad Teague David Traylor Matt Troup Mike Yoder Bill Adkisson Jim Baker Dr. Spencer Gordy
Bart Castleberry Shelia Isby Lori Quinn Charles Frost Randy Milligan Blake Robertson Dr. Bill Tsutsui
Conway Development Corporation Bill Adkisson Jerry Adams Bret Carroll Mark Ferguson Johnny Adams Brad Hegeman Ronnie Williams Sherry Smith Scotty Bell Bunny Adcock
Ed Choate Eddie Glover Dr. Jeff Standridge
Conway convention & Visitors bureau Reggie Rose, Chairman Jeremy Gardner Andy Hawkins Shelia Isby Alan Kizer Travis Mulhearn Danny Patel
Downtown Partnership
Bunny Adcock Jack Bell Bill Bethea Mike Coats Stephanie Covington
Shelley Mehl Greg Nabholz Rob O’Connor Lori Quinn Jeanne Smyers Kelly Sublett Dot Welch Kent Welch Kim Williams
conway Foundation Linda Linn Charlie Nabholz Bill Hegeman Ellen Roberts LeAnn Dietz Gene Klaasmeyer Lane Housley Jay Myers Eric Hutchinson