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of Conway The premier source for business news in the North Metro region.
Conway Regional Health System Introduces Inaugural Class of Internal Medicine Residents Conway Regional Health System will welcome five internal medicine residents to the inaugural class of its Internal Medicine residency Program, which will begin on July 1, 2022.
APRIL 2022
PulseOfConway.com
Pafford Medical Services coordinates with fire departments, area hospitals to provide the “best clinical care with the best equipment” Effective March 1, 2022, Pafford Medical Services became the provider of emergency medical services for the City of Conway and Faulkner County. Headquartered in Hope, Arkansas, Pafford Medical Services is the largest ambulance provider in the state. The familyowned company was established in 1967 and offers all forms of pre- and post-hospital health care in numerous communities across four states. While the transition from the previous EMS provider was seamless, residents of Conway and Faulkner County can expect some positive changes, said Clay Hobbs, chief operating officer at Pafford Medical Services.
More Ambulances. Faster Response Times. Pafford Medical Services has a total of seven advanced life support, or ALS, ambulances located throughout Faulkner County: four in Conway at each fire station and one apiece in Greenbrier, Mayflower, and Vilonia. Two additional BLS, or basic life support, ambulances are available to transfer patients to and from hospitals and are staffed with emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Hobbs said Conway and Faulkner County have not only more ambulances than ever before but also more locations where these ambulances are stationed. Rather than depart from a central location during an Continued on page 5.
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C O N WA Y , A R KA NSAS
APRIL 29- MAY 1 DOWNTOWN CONWAY
PRESENTED BY: PulseOfConway.com 2
table of
Contents 05 06 07
Cover Story Pafford Medical Services named provider of emergency medical services in Conway and Faulkner County Health Care Conway Regional Health System Introduces Inaugural Class of Internal Medicine Residents
Pulse
of Conway EDITOR | Adena J. White GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Kara Darling DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS | Lee Hogan
RESEARCH AND STATISTICS VICE PRESIDENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | Corey Parks
ADVERTISING SALES
Real Estate & Health Care Economy The Top 5 Home Sales in Faulkner County The North Metro’s $1.1 billion health care economy
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER | Lindsay Henderson DIRECTOR OF SALES & MEMBER ENGAGEMENT | Leo Cummings III
ADMINISTRATION
09
What’s that gonna be? Glover Fitness Moving Across Front Street
12
Economy at a Glance Key Economic Indicators for Conway
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | Laura Grimes SENIOR ACCOUNTANT | Jennifer Hiegel-Shelden
CONWAY PUBLICATIONS EDITORIAL BOARD Johnny Adams Bill Adkisson Lori Melton Lori Ross
events
Calendar 29-1
Jeff Standridge
A P R I L - M AY Toad Suck Daze PRESIDENT & CEO | Brad Lacy
10
M AY Off the Clock: Conway Regional Health System
26
M AY Outlook Conway
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | Jamie Gates
900 OAK STREET CONWAY, ARKANSAS 72032 501-327-7788 news@pulseofconway.com
2
JUNE CEO Luncheon
3 Pulse of Conway
COVER STORY
emergency, Pafford’s ambulances are
ambulances. All the company’s ALS
located throughout the county at fire
ambulances are equipped with life-
stations, leading to faster response
saving equipment – such as intubation
times. This setup is in response to the
and airway management tools,
City of Conway’s request that its new
transport ventilators, cardiac monitors,
EMS provider integrate more closely
defibrillators, and CPR devices – along
with the fire department. “What we were able to do was put the
MEDICAL SERVICES
ambulances out into local communities
with highly trained paramedics who can administer advanced life support care and medications.
at fire stations so that they are closer
Hobbs said. “We understand that
to people who are calling into the fire
it’s a family member, a loved one –
EMS operations, Pafford Medical Services
stations for help,” Hobbs said. “This
someone’s parent, child, or spouse –
looks forward to establishing a strong
was done to make sure we could get
that we’re coming to take care of. It’s
presence in Conway and Faulkner
to homes and businesses faster when
usually the worst day of that patient’s
County as an involved community
someone calls 911.”
life, and the person calling us for
partner and corporate citizen.
Hobbs said this integration with the fire departments also enables first medical responders to “plan together,
assistance expects us to help make that bad situation all better. “We want to make sure we’re
In addition to providing high-quality
“Pafford Medical Services is a community-based, family-owned company,” Hobbs said. “And we want
train together, and respond to calls
providing the absolute best clinical
to make sure we’re visible in the
together” as one unified system. Since
care with the best equipment,” Hobbs
community so that when somebody
being selected as the EMS provider
said. “It takes coordination with all of
needs us at 2 a.m. and welcomes us into
for Conway, Pafford Medical Services
our health care facilities to do that.”
their home, they recognize the faces of
also has worked closely with Conway Regional Health System, Baptist Health Medical Center—Conway, and other
Pafford and are familiar with our Team. High-Quality EMS Operations Pafford operates one of the most
“We take our responsibility in the community seriously. We want to make
health care providers to establish
sophisticated, clinically advanced
sure residents of Conway and Faulkner
protocols and plans of care for patients.
ambulance services in the country. The
County have the absolute best when it
City of Conway and Faulkner County
comes to emergency medical care and
received a new fleet of state-of-the-art
transportation.”
“Every call that comes into us at Pafford is extremely important,”
5 Pulse of Conway
Conway Regional Health System Introduces Inaugural Class of Internal Medicine Residents Conway Regional Health System will welcome five internal medicine residents to the inaugural class of its Internal Medicine Residency Program, which will begin on July 1, 2022. Residents include Mallory Bagwell, Zhexiang (Alex) He, Ebrahim Karimjee, Sohaib Rana, and Agborya Nelson Tabe. The Conway Regional Internal Medicine Residency program will encourage innovation while focusing on traditional topics of internal medicine including cardiology, pulmonology, nephrology, infectious disease, gastroenterology, hematology/ oncology, rheumatology, endocrinology, and geriatrics. President and CEO Matt Troup said the program will train a generation of physicians who are “critical thinkers, compassionate providers, skilled clinicians, and future leaders in medicine.” “They are exceptional additions to our Conway Regional team, and we look forward to encouraging them in their practice, growing them as medical professionals, and preparing each of them for a successful life as an internal medicine physician,” Troup said. On Match Day 2022, which took place March 18, medical students around the world learned where they will complete their residency training for the next three to seven years. Match Day is known as the highlight of many physicians’ careers, marking
the day that their lifelong dream of becoming a physician is made a reality. Since receiving accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in 2021, Conway Regional has been on a journey to establish its Internal Medicine Residency program. Rebekah Fincher, chief administrative officer and designated institutional officer, said more Arkansas medical students will have an opportunity to match with an internal medicine residency in the state upon graduation. “This, combined with a need for more internal medicine physicians throughout Arkansas, will allow us to increase health care access by producing exceptionally trained physicians who, we hope, will stay in the state to provide care,” Fincher said. Residents will learn to practice as effective members of the health care system through a multi-disciplinary, team-based approach to providing care within the inpatient and ambulatory settings. The program will be based at Conway Regional Medical Center with opportunities at CHI St. Vincent in Little Rock. “Our team is excited about this new facet of Conway Regional and are committed to equipping our Internal Medicine residents with experience and skills to be great clinicians,” said Greg Kendrick, MD, director
of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. “There is a need for Internal Medicine physicians in our state, and I believe our hospital is uniquely qualified to train young doctors on their path to independent practice.”
Meet the First Internal Medicine Residency Class at Conway Regional The following physicians will join the Conway Regional team: Mallory Bagwell is a 2022 graduate of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Her hometown is Arkadelphia, and she is a 2016 graduate of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. Zhexiang (Alex) He is a 2022 graduate of the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith, Arkansas. His hometown is Zhengzhou, China, and he is a 2011 graduate of the University of North Texas in Denton. Ebrahim Karimjee is a 2022 graduate of the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith, Arkansas. His hometown is Houston, Texas, and he is a 2015 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Sohaib Rana, MD, is a 2009 graduate of the Jinnah Medical and Dental College in Pakistan. His hometown is Karachi, Pakistan, and he is a 2003 graduate of the OASYS School in Karachi, Pakistan. Agborya Nelson Tabe, MD, is a 2017 graduate of the University of Buea Faculty of Health Sciences in Cameroon. His hometown is Buea, South West Region – Cameroon, and he is a 2008 graduate of the University of Buea, in Buea, South West Region – Cameroon.
PulseOfConway.com 6
REAL ESTATE
Top 5 Home Sales in Faulkner County: April 2022 The top five recent home sales in Faulkner County averaged nearly $340,000 and more than $153 per square foot. The top home sale was in Greenbrier at 23 McKaskle Cove, which totaled $413,820 and $165 per square foot. Four of the top five home sales were in Conway and averaged $151 per square foot. View the complete list below.
APPROX. YEAR BUILT
ADDRESS
BEDS
FULL BATHS
APPROX SQ. FT.
DAYS ON MARKET
$413,820
23 McKaskle, Greenbrier
4
2
2,580
0
$165.00
2022
$380,725
2311 Holly Hill, Conway
4
2
2,293
1
$166.04
2022
$337,812
2505 Lilac Drive, Conway
3
2
2,135
0
$158.23
2022
$290,000
2270 Millwood, Conway
3
2
2,417
0
$119.98
2000
$274,900
2850 Carmichael, Conway
3
2
1,720
0
$159.83
2022
Price
PRICE PER SQ. FT.
HEALTH CARE
The North Metro’s* $1.1 billion health care economy Caroll
The local health care economy is larger, faster growing, and Benton higher paying than most of the region’s other industries. • 15,348 jobs Washington • $58,918 average earnings for a health care job vs. $48,600 for all jobs in the region • From 2016 to 2021, health care jobs in the region grew 5%. All other jobs grew 0.4%
Crawford
• Health care Practitioners and Technical Occupations make up 41% of all health care jobs. • Health care is the region’s third largest industry, representing 9.8% of our total economy (Manufacturing 12.7% and Government 10.7%)
Fulton
Baxter
Izzard Searcy
Newton
Franklin
Stone
Van Buren
Johnson
Sharp
Independence Jackson
Cleburne
Greene
Lawrence
Craighead
Poinsett
Pope Conway
Logan
Cross
White
Faulkner
Woodruff Yell
Saint Francis
Perry
Scott Pulaski
Lonoke
Prairie
Saline Montgomery
Polk
Lee Monroe
Garland
Phillips Hot Springs
Howard
Grant
Arkansas
Jefferson
Pike Clark
Sevier
Dallas Cleveland
Lincoln Desha
Little River
Hempstead
*Faulkner, Pope, Conway, Van Buren, Cleburne, Perry, Yell, and White counties
Nevada
Ouachita Drew
Calhoun Bradley Miller Columbia
7 Pulse of Conway
Clay
Randolph
Marion
Madison
Sebestian
• From 2021 to 2026, health care jobs in the region are projected to grow 8%. All other jobs are projected to grow 5.6%
Boone
Lafayette
Union
Ashley
Chicot
Critten
The
Ladder
A roundup of new hires, promotions and employee awards. Submit your company news and updates to news@pulseofconway.com.
T. BROWN
MALCOLM
LANGLEY
J. BROWN
PRATT
PALMER
REED
Arkansas Home Builders Association Names New President Tanya Malcolm has been named president of the Arkansas Home Builders Association. Malcolm is a senior marketing consultant with Summit Utilities and has served on the board of directors for the Faulkner County Home Builders Association for nine years. 911 Restoration of Central Arkansas Promotes Tim Reed to Operations Manager Tim Reedh as been promoted to Operations Manager at 911 Restoration of Central Arkansas. He was recognized with a prestigious award for his dedication and commitment to service in Conway and the surrounding area. Tom Watson Construction Named 2021 Energy Smart Builder of the Year Tom Watson Construction was named the 2021 Energy Smart Builder of the Year by Conway Corp. The company built 14 homes in 2021 that were designated as energy smart, and has built 50 energy smart homes in the last three years. Energy smart homes use less energy than standard-built homes and help save homeowners money and energy. Specifications from the U.S. Department of Energy recommendations show energy smart homes can save 20-30% energy use over a standard built home.
BUTLER
McPHERSON
TACKETT
TROXLER
Conway Corp Announce Employee Promotions, Certifications Conway Corp electric department employees Trey Brown and Paul Langley were promoted to Journeyman Lineman recently after successfully completing a four-year apprentice program through the Missouri Public Utility Alliance. Conway Corp electrical technician Jody Brown recently completed training and passed the exam necessary to earn his Master Electrician certification. Conway Corp water systems foreman Marty Pratt and utility worker apprentice Logan Palmer have successfully completed the Pipeline Assessment Certification Program, Manhole Assessment Certification Program and Lateral Assessment Certification Program from the National Association of Sewer Service Companies. Pratt was recently promoted to water systems foreman, along with Chad Butler. Groundmen Tylor McPherson, Cody Tackett and Kyle Troxler have all been promoted to Apprentice Lineman 1. Mainstream Technologies Hires Kevin Hambel Mainstream Technologies has hired Kevin Hambel as its senior managed services engineer. He will provide support for managed service clients, which can range from simple workstation issues to complex matters related to client servers and network infrastructure.
Conway Regional Announces New Class of Residents Conway Regional Health System welcomes four new family medicine residents as the next class of its Family Medicine Residency Program, which will begin on July 1. Residents include Taylor Dilday, Payton Hartman, Gregory Kwon, and Trey McClain.
DILDAY
HARTMAN
KWON
McCLAIN
PulseOfConway.com 8
What’s that gonna be? The latest news on new businesses, shops and stores coming to Conway. Read more about new Conway developments at pulseofconway.com.
Glover Fitness Moving Across Front Street Glover Fitness is moving across Front Street to a new location in a former warehouse owned by Covington Properties at 1140 Front St. Jason Covington of Covington Properties said Glover Fitness needed a larger space than its current location at 1127 Front St. Remodel work on the new space is nearing completion. Covington said he plans to hand over keys to the space April 15. Glover Fitness owner Maggie Glover said she plans to move into the new space in May. Glover Fitness opened in 2017 as a women’s group fitness gym. Glover said the gym has experienced growth every year since its opening and has fully
recovered from a dip in membership during 2020 when COVID forced the gym to close for a few months. Glover Fitness offers various classes and training, including yoga, pilates, cardio, strength and more.
Economy at a Glance The key economic indicators for Conway and Faulkner County.
LABOR
December 2021 Civilian Labor Force
Unemployment Rate 1,353,108
162,294,000 Seasonally Adjusted
U.S. 162,696,000
AR 1,352,420
Conway 33,620
Faulkner Co. 61,041
U.S.
AR
U.S.
AR
Conway
Faulkner Co.
3.9%
3.1%
3.7%
2.4%
2.0%
2.0%
Seasonally Adjusted
Not Seasonally Adjusted
Not Seasonally Adjusted
TAX COLLECTIONS Sales & Use Tax
Restaurant Sales Tax*
Hotel Sales Tax
Conway
Conway
Conway
YTD - February 2022
YTD - January 2022
2022 $8,066,730.59 2021 $6,537,077.38
2.125% TAX RATE
23.40% change
YTD - January 2022
2021 $422,473.08
2021 $28,274.84
$359,237.32
2020 $19,274.24
2020
17.60% change
46.70% change
Faulkner County
2022 $2,469,729.23 2021 $2,012,397.89 22.73% change
0.5% TAX RATE
$ *includes mixed drink sales
SINGLE FAMILY HOME SALES
Year to Date (February 2022)
Home Permits
Homes Sold
Home Sales
Average Home Price
Conway
Conway
Conway
Conway
2022 48
2022 61
2022 $13,403,990
2022 $219,738
2021 51
2021 139
2021 $31,601,727
2021 $227,351
-5.88% change
-56.12% change
-57.58% change
-3.35% change
Faulkner County
Faulkner County
Faulkner County
2022 124
2022 $27,271,155
2022 $219,929
2021 278
2021 $60,512,913
2021 $217,672
-55.40% change
-54.93% change
View more economic data at pulseofconway.com Data is current at the time of printing.
1.04% change
13 Pulse of Conway
PulseOfConway.com 14
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