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Conway Regional Recognized for Medical Excellence Story on Page 6
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Local business, community leaders face off at new tennis courts Off The Clock: Game. Set. Match! – presented by Centennial Bank, Conway Regional Health System, Sowell Architects, TriTechne, and the City of Conway – celebrated the opening of the new eight-court Conway Tennis Complex. The family-friendly event featured a kids court for children 10 years old and younger, a “celebrity court” that showcased matchups from local business and community leaders, and a court for more serious tennis players. Palmer Music Company provided live music, and and Stoby’s Restaurant, PattiCakes Bakery, Chick-fil-a, Smoothie King, Moe’s Southwestern Grill, Andy’s Frozen Custard, and Whole Hog Café provided free food. Underwriter sponsors included Corco Construction, Crain Buick GMC, and Crain Kia and supporting sponsors were CAMS Containers and Mobile Storage, Safely Tucked Away Mini Storage and Palmer Music Company. Several business and community leaders agreed to participate in “local celebrity matches” for friendly competition at the event.
County Judge Jim Baker and Mayor Bart Castleberry
Conway Human Development Center athletes helped cut the ribbon on the new Conway Tennis Center.
Arkansas House of Representatives candidates for District 70 Andy Hawkins and Spencer Hawks
City councilwomen Shelia Isby and Shelley Mehl
City councilmen Mark Ledbetter and David Grimes
Police chief Jody Spradlin and former police chief A.J. Gary with former fire chief Bart Castleberry and fire chief Mike Winter
Felicia Rogers of City of Conway and city councilwoman Mary Smith
Former Chamber board chairwomen Lori Ross of Conway Regional Health System and Lori Case Melton of First Service Bank
Greg Sanson of Centennial Bank and Johnny Adams of First Security Bank
Former Conway Mayor Tab Townsell, now executive director of Metroplan, and Jamie Gates of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce
Conway Regional Health System CEO Matt Troup and Baptist Health Medical Center administrator Tim Bowen
Hendrix College president Dr. Bill Tsutsui and University of Central Arkansas president Dr. Houston Davis
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Awards breakfast honors administrative professionals, paraprofessionals Held in April during service industry. Administrative Professionals “In 2015, we created the Week, the Conway Area Chamber Administrative Professionals of Commerce’s Administrative Awards to recognize the Professionals Awards event contributions of those who celebrates the valued work of work behind the scenes,” Lacy administrative professionals and said. “This year, we included paraprofessionals and recognizes paraprofessionals in that individuals in the Conway area recognition, and in 2019, we who keep their offices running will open the awards to servicesmoothly. oriented professionals ranging Administrative professionals from landscapers and HVAC may include administrative providers to those working in support staff, executive assistants, technology support and at staffing office or facility managers, agencies.” office clerks, and receptionists. Nominations are already Paraprofessionals include, but open for the 2019 awards. Visit are not limited to, paralegal, surveymonkey.com/r/2018Conw The 2018 Outstanding Administrative Professionals and Paraprofessionals are (seated, from left) instructional assistants, directayChamberAwardNominations to Outstanding Administrative Professionals Carol Harrison, Myrna Eldridge, and Colleen Brock. care workers, and may include submit a nomination. Outstanding Paraprofessionals (standing, from left) are Bridget Fuller and Nakia Jackson. paraprofessionals in fields The 2018 Administrative such as education, accounting, Professionals Awards breakfast Myrna Eldridge, Green Bay Packaging, engineering, and medical fields. was presented by Stoby’s and PattiCakes Arkansas Kraft Division Early this spring, the Conway Area Bakery. Klaasmeyer Construction and Carol Harrison, First Security Bank Chamber sent out a call for nominations Kimberly-Clark Corporation were platinum throughout its membership for the sponsors. UCA’s Division of Outreach and Outstanding Paraprofessionals: categories of Outstanding Administrative Community Engagement was a host partner Nakia Jackson, Counseling Associates Professional and Outstanding for the event. Bridget Fuller, Nabholz Construction Paraprofessional. Those nominated exceed work expectations, collaborate successfully Chick-fil-A owner and operator Alan with colleagues and community members, Kizer delivered a keynote address about and manage resources efficiently. the difference between “customer service” A selection committee of chamber of and “customer served.” The quick-service commerce executives from outside the restaurant chain is well known for its state of Arkansas selected the five winners, investment in customer service training, who were honored at a breakfast on which is demonstrated through the Thursday, April 26, in the Brewer-Hegeman politeness of its employees. Conference Center on the campus of the At the conclusion of the breakfast, Conway University of Central Arkansas. Area Chamber president and CEO Brad Lacy announced that the Administrative Outstanding Administrative Professionals Awards would be renamed With a conducting baton in hand, keynote speaker Alan Kizer Professionals: “Workplace Wonders” to expand the scope of Chick-fil-A encouraged the crowd to “be a conductor” in their Colleen Brock, Milestones Services, Inc. respective organizations. of recognition to include others in the
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Conway Regional Recognized for Medical Excellence in Overall Hospital Care Medical Center ranked by CareChex as Leader in Central AR For almost a century, Conway Regional Health System has served the greater Conway community and today provides services in the surrounding five-county area. Through continued expansion of services, innovation and an acute focus on patient care, Conway Regional has positioned itself as a leader in health care in central Arkansas, as recently noted after a national assessment of health care services. Conway Regional recently received a 2018 Quality Award from CareChex® “for medical excellence in overall hospital care” among hospitals located across central Arkansas. CareChex®, an information service of Quantros, Inc., scores, rates, ranks and compares inpatient quality performance across general, acute, non-federal U.S. hospitals in 38 clinical categories using publicly available data from the most recent and consecutive 10 quarters. The central Arkansas market, as defined by CareChex®, includes Benton, Conway, Jacksonville, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Searcy and Sherwood. In addition to recognition as the
market leader for medical excellence in overall hospital care, Conway Regional also received national recognition in nine services lines for medical excellence or patient safety. Those services include cancer care, cardiac care, gastrointestinal care, heart attack treatment, neurological care, orthopedic care, stroke care, vascular
surgery and women’s health. “In everything we do, our team strives to excel for our patients and our community, and to set the standard of care on a state and national level,” said Matt Troup, president and CEO of Conway Regional Health System. “As we continue to build upon the comprehensive health care we have offered for almost a century, we will always place our patients and quality as our top priorities.” “This recognition is achieved only through a consistent track record of excellence so these awards truly represent the health care leaders in communities nationwide,” said Amy Lee, Director of Marketing for Quantros. “It’s impressive to see the outstanding work being carried out by community hospitals in multiple specialties, and to see those same institutions being ranked at a regional and national level.” Nationally, 4,733 hospitals are evaluated in the category of Overall Hospital Care; however, the number of hospitals that are scored in specific specialties differs, and depends on the number of health care facilities who offer that particular service. During the past two years Conway Regional
Health System has experienced a notable expansion in services. In 2016 the hospital announced, in collaboration with Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH), a pediatric nursery alliance between the two hospitals. The Arkansas Children’s Hospital Nursery Alliance put into place coordination of care between neonatologists at ACH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and pediatricians in Conway Regional’s NICU and newborn nursery to help further improve the quality of newborn care. Neonatologists at ACH provide immediate consults to pediatricians at CRHS, educational support, quality data review, implementation of best practices in collaboration with ACH, and training through telemedicine for the purpose of improving neonatal care close to home. They also provide support as needed to help the babies at CRHS or at ACH get the best care possible. Additionally, Conway Regional created a Neuroscience Center, providing services in neurology and neurosurgery. In 2017, the hospital added sports
medicine services. The hospital was the first in Faulkner County to offer 3D mammography screening and the first hospital in Arkansas to implement the American Heart Association’s Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) Program to help all patientfacing staff maintain CPR skill competency to achieve better patient outcomes through highfrequency training. Additional components of the Conway Regional Health System include Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, a home health agency, an all-digital outpatient imaging center, an outpatient surgery center, senior mental health services, eight primary care clinics, an after-hours clinic and one of the largest hospital-owned fitness centers in the nation. More than 1,800 babies were born last year at Conway Regional. The hospital’s Emergency Department is one of the busiest in Arkansas with more than 32,000 visits in 2017. To learn more about the 2018 Quality Awards by CareChex®, go to www.CareChex.com.
North Metro Economy at a Glance PulseOfConway.com
Unemployment Rate February-2018 Seasonally Adjusted US .......................................4.1% Arkansas ..............................3.8% Not Seasonally Adjusted US........................................4.4% Arkansas..............................4.8% Cleburne County...................5.4% Conway County....................5.2% Faulkner County...................3.9% Perry County........................5.2% Van Buren County.................6.0% Sales Tax Collections April Cleburne County 2018......................... $458,816.50 2017......................... $427,502.42 Percent Change..................7.32% Tax Rate...........................1.625% Conway County 2018......................... $405,369.20 2017......................... $420,800.75 Percent Change................ -3.67% Tax Rate.............................1.75% Faulkner County 2018......................... $688,727.87 2017......................... $715,294.30 Percent Change................ -3.71% Tax Rate.............................0.50% Perry County 2018......................... $117,871.05 2017......................... $114,538.44 Percent Change..................2.91% Tax Rate.............................2.50% Van Buren County 2018......................... $290,393.95 2017......................... $300,350.96 Percent Change................ -3.32% Tax Rate.............................2.00% Bank Deposits June-30 Cleburne County 2018......................... $524,244.00 2017......................... $513,251.00 Percent Change .................2.14%
Conway County 2018......................... $382,665.00 2017......................... $387,785.00 Percent Change................ -1.32% Faulkner County 2018...................... $2,052,122.00 2017...................... $1,855,340.00 Percent Change................10.61% Perry County 2018........................... $71,596.00 2017........................... $72,391.00 Percent Change................ -1.10% Van Buren County 2018......................... $277,646.00 2017......................... $285,875.00 Percent Change................ -2.88% Residential Units Sold (New and Existing) Year to Date (February) Cleburne County 2018.........................................44 2017.........................................41 Percent Change..................7.32% Conway County 2018.........................................14 2017.........................................24 Percent Change.............. -41.67% Faulkner County 2018....................................... 187 2017....................................... 220 Percent Change.............. -15.00% Perry County 2018.........................................10 2017...........................................3 Percent Change..............233.33% Van Buren County 2018.........................................32 2017.........................................20 Percent Change................60.00% Values of Residential Units Sold Year to Date (February) Cleburne County 2018........................... $9,509,500
2017........................... $6,514,982 Percent Change................45.96% Conway County 2018........................... $1,571,094 2017........................... $2,068,296 Percent Change.............. -24.04% Faulkner County 2018......................... $32,747,253 2017......................... $36,700,180 Percent Change.............. -10.77% Perry County 2018........................... $1,221,600 2017.............................. $628,188 Percent Change................94.46% Van Buren County 2018........................... $3,285,280 2017........................... $3,192,620 Percent Change..................2.90% Average Price of Residential Units Sold Year to Date (February) Cleburne County 2018.............................. $432,925 2017.............................. $317,559 Percent Change................36.33% Conway County 2018.............................. $237,120 2017.............................. $173,175 Percent Change................36.93% Faulkner County 2018.............................. $349,283 2017.............................. $334,700 Percent Change..................4.36% Perry County 2018.............................. $222,323 2017.............................. $526,565 Percent Change.............. -57.78% Van Buren County 2018.............................. $202,794 2017.............................. $242,811 Percent Change.............. -16.48%
Sources: Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Arkansas Realtors Association.
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Registration open for Conway Area Chamber bowling event is from noon to 3 p.m. Managers who are Bowling times include looking to provide team building or reward lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Lunch is included for all opportunities for their participants, giving more employees may find that than 200 professionals Bowling for Business is the chance to network right up their alley. while enjoying traditional Presented by TriTechne bowling alley fare. Smith and Crafton Tull, Bowling Ford is the lunch sponsor. for Business encourages Five-person team interaction in a fun and sponsorships are available laid-back environment Friday, June 15 for $200, and lane and promotes friendly Conway Family Bowl sponsorships – which competition among include a team of five, participating businesses. company identification on The ninth annual event, one lane, T-shirts for each bowler, and an opportunity to give door hosted by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, will BUILDING take place OR LOOKING FOR TEAM REWARD Presented by: OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES? prizes at the event – are available for $400. Friday, June 15, at Conway Family Bowl. To participate in Bowling for Business on June 15, register online at Bowling for Business offers morning and afternoon “flights.” The Friday, June 15 We have something that’s right up your alley. ConwayChamber.org morning flight is from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., and the afternoon flight Family Conway Bowl or call 501-327-7788.
B OW L I NG
B OW L I NG
f o r Bu s i n e s s
f o r Bu s i n e s s
Lane Sponsor – $400 Team of 5 | T-shirt for each bowler | Lunch | Signage Opportunity to provide participant giveaways
Team Sponsor – $200LOOKING FOR TEAM BUILDING OR REWARD Lunch Sponsors Team of 5 | Lunch OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES?
Bowling Times
Presented by:
We have something that’s right up your alley.
Morning Bowl Afternoon Bowl 10Lane a.m. – 1p.m. p.m. – 3 p.m. Sponsor – 12 $400
T-Shirt Sponsor
Team of 5 | T-shirt for each bowler | Lunch | Signage Opportunity to provide participant giveaways Bowling times include lunch from 12 – 1 p.m.
First Service Bank
Team Sponsor – $200 SIGN UP YOUR TEAM TODAY! Team of 5 | Lunch
Bowling Times
501-327-7788 | ConwayChamber.org
Morning Bowl 10 a.m. – 1p.m.
Afternoon Bowl 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Lunch Sponsors
T-Shirt Sponsor
Bowling times include lunch from 12 – 1 p.m. First Service Bank
Team Northwestern Mutual at Bowling for Business 2017
SIGN UP YOUR TEAM TODAY!
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Conway seniors recognized for academic achievement follows: Organized by the Chloe Baker (National Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and Merit Scholar), Hendrix College; Aaron Bowden, presented by Acxiom, Arkansas Tech University; Academic Signing Day Christopher Burlison, recognizes high school seniors in Conway who United States Military Academy – West Point, have received significant Matt Depner (National academic awards and Merit Scholar), University substantial scholarships. of Central Arkansas; The ceremony took Audrey Ferrari, University place April 25 at Brewerof Central Arkansas; Hegeman Conference Kirsten Flippo, University Center on the campus of of Arkansas; Olivia Ford, the University of Central Fifty-four seniors from Conway’s high schools were recognized at the 2018 Academic Signing Day. Arkansas State University; Arkansas. One by one, recognized in one of these five areas: Anna Grace Freyaldenhoven, University the 54 honorees – the largest group in the • the recipient of a top scholarship of Arkansas; Michael Frost, University of history of the event – stated where they plan from the four-year accredited college or Central Arkansas. to attend college, signed a placard indicating university they plan to attend; Amanda Gericke, University of Arkansas their choice, and received an award. Dr. • a National Merit Scholar or National Community College at Morrilton; Brooke Maria Markham, director of the Arkansas Merit Finalist designation; Glover, University of Central Arkansas; Department of Higher Education, delivered • acceptance into a U.S. Service Academy; Madeline Graff, University of Central the keynote address. • the winner of a state or national Arkansas; Mia Graff, University of Central Graduating seniors from Conway High scholarship program; and Arkansas; Cade Griffith, Central Baptist School-West, St. Joseph High School, • the recipient of a Governor’s College; Lauren Hall, University of Central Conway Christian High School, and those Distinguished Scholarship or Governor’s Arkansas; Marley Hall, University of home-schooled in the Conway School Scholarship. Arkansas Community College at Morrilton; District were eligible to apply. This year’s The 2018 honorees, along with their Faith Hargis, Lyon College; Harrisson Hite; honorees maintained a cumulative GPA of college or university of choice, are as 3.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale and have been University of Arkansas; Jarrett Hoover, University of Arkansas. Cole Hoover, University of Arkansas; Dawson James, Central Baptist College; Michael Langley, University of Central Arkansas; Noah Layton, University of Arkansas; Kendra Lea, Arkansas State University; Rachel Ledbetter, Harding University; Jenna Lewis, University of Central Arkansas; Gopi Lukhi (National Merit Scholar), University of Alabama; Demi March, University of Arkansas; Ian Martin O’Dwyer, University of Central Arkansas; Amy Elrod, director of talent development at Acxiom, spoke about the Dr. Maria Markham, director of Arkansas Department of Higher significance of Academic Signing Day.
Education, delivered the keynote address.
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Haley Mathis, Harding University; Veronica Milnes, Arkansas State University; Jack Mizell, University of Arkansas; Candace Moix, Ouachita Baptist University; Abigail Morris, Ouachita Baptist University; Madelyn Moss (National Merit Scholar), Oklahoma City University; Sydney Mulhearn, Hendrix College. Quinn Odom, University of Arkansas; Casey Ott, University of Kentucky; Emily Pennell, University of Arkansas; Catherine Peppers (National Merit Scholar), Smith College; Jackson Quick (National Merit Scholar), Harvard University; Sarah Raycher, University of Arkansas; Charles Rieth, University of Arkansas; Tanner Ruth (National Merit Scholar), University of Arkansas; Kara Show, University of Central Arkansas. Lacey Simpson, University of Arkansas; Noah Smith (National Merit Scholar), Lyon College; Sara Sperry, University of Central Arkansas; Epifanio Torres (National Merit Scholar), Princeton University; Jazmine Trammell, University of Central Arkansas; Parker Trussell, University of Central Arkansas; Wilson Vanderslice, Eastman School of Music; Emily Weller, University of Central Arkansas; and Brent Yrle, University of Central Arkansas. In addition to Acxiom as presenting sponsor, other sponsors for this year’s Academic Signing Day included UCA Division of Outreach & Community Engagement, Conway Corporation, Klaasmeyer Construction, Virco, Crafton Tull, Aramark, Textbook Brokers, and Smith Ford.
At Academic Signing Day, the students introduced themselves one by one and stated where they currently attend school and where they plan to attend college. They then signed a placard indicating their choice and received an award.
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Dr. Michael Hargis, provost at the University of Central Arkansas, welcomed honorees and their families to campus for Academic Signing Day.
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