Conway Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Annual Meeting

CELEBRATING

125 YEARS 1891–2016

A CONVERSATION WITH John James, Page 6 HONORING 50+ YEARS of Chamber membership, Page 24-25

T WENT Y-SIXTEEN

ANNUAL MEE TING THURSDAY, MARCH 17 6:30 p.m.

University of Central Arkansas HPER Center

2016 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, Page 8 2016 AWARD WINNERS Pages 10-21

Join the conversation online: #ConwayAM

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UNDERWRITER The 2016 Conway Area Chamber Annual Meeting is underwritten by Reliance Health Care. Founded in 1998, Reliance Health Care, Inc. has earned the trust and respect of the geriatric population of Arkansas by providing excellent nursing and recuperative care designed to give families the peace of mind they deserve.

Reliance’s owners and directors bring the unique combination of energetic youth and fresh ideas coupled with generations of experience to the field of health care management with indisputably successful results.

Reliance Health Care is proud to call Conway home and proud to underwrite this year’s Annual Meeting.

Learn more about the Reliance family at www.RelianceHC.com.

2016 SPONSORS AWARDS

PRESENTING

A specialized healthcare provider, Pediatrics Plus serves more than 1,000 children birth to 21 in outpatient settings and six weeks to six years through its developmental preschools in Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock and Russellville. It has proven itself a leader in Arkansas and across the nation by delivering evidencebased care, participating in and publishing research studies and investing in local communities.

In Conway alone, Pediatrics Plus serves more than 400 families and employs 170. Its newly expanded 40,108 square foot state-of-the-art facility at 2740 College Avenue is specifically designed to deliver the highest level of excellence in services. It will include a multi-purpose room for parent and staff trainings; a low and high sensory therapy gym; gross motor therapy gym; a feeding and swallowing lab; activities of daily living suite; and a fully accessible playground. For more information, visit pediatricsplus.com The Log Cabin Democrat and WINC Magazine are part of the Morris Publishing Group, based out of Augusta, Georgia.

The Log Cabin has covered Conway and Faulkner County for more than 136 years and is dedicated to being an interactive news source for the community, a resource for documenting the economic growth and achievements of local businesses and residents. Local reporting combined with relevant national and world news delivers an all-encompassing product to over 8,000 loyal subscribers in print and online.

WINC is a monthly lifestyle magazine covering people and events in Faulkner County. Decor, food, local business owners and outstanding youth are featured in every issue. WINC reaches more than 20,000 readers every month by free distribution to over 200 locations throughout Faulkner County, as well as to our Log Cabin Democrat subscribers. For over 10 years, WINC magazine is a must-have read to stay connected to the trending lifestyle of Faulkner County residents.

For a full list of 2016 sponsors, see Page 27.

SPEAKER

JOHN JAMES, CEO Hayseed Ventures

A conversation with John James, founder and CEO of Hayseed Ventures, will headline the Conway Area Chamber’s Annual Meeting. James will be interviewed by Melissa Dunbar-Gates from KARK. Located in Fayetteville, Hayseed ventures is a startup studio focused on online customer acquisition.

James has worked in ecommerce for over two decades, paying for medical school with proceeds from his first ecommerce company founded in his dorm room at the University of Arkansas in 1995. James is a family practice physician who, on the last day of his residency, gave up medicine for the adventure of innovation.

Prior to founding Hayseed Ventures, James served as the founder and CEO of Arkansas’s most successful tech startup, Country Outfitter and Acumen Brands, raising over $100 million in venture capital. He has built and sold multiple businesses centered around online customer acquisition, including ventures in keyword arbitrage, multichannel niche retail, and hyperlocal online media.

James will talk about Arkansas’s role in the tech economy and the experience of growing a business and investment culture in Arkansas.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD The Distinguished Service Award is the Chamber’s highest form of recognition. Established in 1957, this award is presented annually to an individual or group who has rendered special service for the benefit of the community. Candidates have demonstrated an active leadership role for the betterment of the community through their involvement in business, civic, and social service organizations.

JERRY ADAMS Arkansas Research Alliance

From promoting education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to creating a new health care model for lowincome residents, Jerry Adams has made substantial contributions to the Conway-area business community.

He is the president and CEO of Arkansas Research Alliance, an economic development organization he founded in 2008 that invests in job-creating research through public and private partnerships.

Mr. Adams spent much of his professional career at Acxiom, having joined the company in 1973 when it had only 25 employees. He held a variety of senior-level leadership roles during his 34-year tenure at Conway-grown Acxiom, which is now a billion-dollar corporation with more than 7,000 employees worldwide.

Mr. Adams has given freely of his talents, time, and resources to causes that align with his passion for education, health care, and innovation. He has been instrumental in establishing numerous businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve Conway and the state of Arkansas, including Arkansas Community Foundation, Conway Interfaith Clinic, Conway Downtown Partnership, Accelerate Arkansas, STEM Coalition, Arkansas Preschool Plus, Black Oak Analytics, and Mike’s Place, among others.

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GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD Established in 1973, the Good Neighbor Award is presented annually to an individual who has given of his or her time and talents. Candidates are known for going beyond the call of duty to help others. The nominee exemplifies outstanding public service to the Conway area.

CHERYL DANIELS Conway Public Schools

Cheryl Daniels is a special education teacher at Conway High School. In 2005, Ms. Daniels established a community service organization called “Caring Cats.”

The club began with a few dozen students and has since grown to an average of 200 to 300 members each year.

Through Caring Cats, students with varying levels of ability work alongside one another to perform random and planned acts of kindness that benefit the school and community. Caring Cats has undertaken community service projects that include providing gifts to hundreds of children in need during the holidays; participating in food and clothing drives; visiting individuals with developmental disabilities and the elderly; and assisting with cleanup and relief efforts following natural disasters.

Ms. Daniels’s passion for community service is evident through her involvement with a number of organizations that help meet the needs of underserved populations. She has recently joined the board of directors for Deliver Hope, an organization that supports youth in the juvenile justice system. Ms. Daniels has also volunteered with Conway Human Development Center, the Special Olympics, Bethlehem House, and other organizations.

10 CONWAY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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BUSINESS EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR The Business Executive of the Year Award recognizes the owner, executive, or president of a business who has displayed outstanding performance in either an individual or collaborative endeavor. The nominee is a driving force behind the company and works to maintain an enriched business climate and an enhanced quality of life in Conway.

DR. GREG MURRY Conway Public Schools

Dr. Greg Murry has served as superintendent of Conway Public Schools since 2007. Under his leadership, the district has become synonymous with academic excellence and has experienced significant improvements to its facilities and financial standing.

During Dr. Murry’s tenure as Conway Public Schools’ top administrator, the U.S. Department of Education recognized two elementary schools in the district as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Additionally, all schools are performing better academically today than before 2007.

In 2010, Conway Public Schools led a campaign to promote a millage increase to build a new high school and an additional elementary school. The success of this effort underscores the district and community’s commitment to providing quality public education to more than 9,700 students.

Dr. Murry is active in the community, having served on the board of directors for Conway Corporation and the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Conway Men’s Chorus and was involved in the Boys and Girls Club’s capital campaign for a new facility.

BUSINESS EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

RHEA LANA RINER Rhea Lana Inc.

Nearly 20 years ago, Rhea Lana Riner started a children’s consignment business out of her home with 11 consignors and three racks of clothing. Since then, Rhea Lana Inc. has become a premier children’s consignment company that hosts sales at 76 locations in 24 states.

Ms. Riner franchised the company nine years ago, making Rhea Lana a household name for families across the nation. As CEO, Ms. Riner ensures that each of her company’s consignment events offers high quality, affordable merchandise in a neat, well-organized setting.

In addition to providing clothes and toys for children at a reasonable price, Rhea Lana Inc. gives her customers the opportunity to volunteer at sales events to receive additional benefits. Volunteers can shop early with a discount and receive advance notice of sale events. Her business model has earned Ms. Riner and her company numerous accolades, including the Silver Stevie Women in Business Award for Maverick of the Year, Enterprising Women Award, and being listed among Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing companies.

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YOUNG BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR The Young Business Leader Award recognizes a community business leader, age 40 or younger, who has helped create a more vibrant business and social environment for all of Conway’s residents.

AUSTIN & ASHTON SAMUELSON Tacos 4 Life

Austin and Ashton Samuelson are the owners of Tacos 4 Life, a for-profit business with a mission to fight world hunger through its Meal4Meal program. For every taco, quesadilla, burrito, salad, or rice bowl sold, Tacos 4 Life donates $0.22 to “Feed My Starving Children.” Meals are distributed to Swaziland, Africa, and Honduras. With two locations in Conway and one in Fayetteville, Tacos 4 Life serves up great food while empowering Arkansans to join the fight to end world hunger.

The Samuelsons and the Tacos 4 Life team organize a nonprofit event each year known as the MobilePack. During this annual event, 3,000 people from across the community come together to pack the meals donated through restaurant sales. To date, the Samuelsons and Tacos 4 Life have hosted four MobilePack events, providing people of all ages and abilities with a hands-on experience in helping eradicate world hunger.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Pages 15-21

The Business of the Year Award recognizes businesses for their continued growth, innovation, and community involvement. It is the premier honor to the best overall business in Conway and is presented in the following categories: Outstanding Nonprofit, Outstanding Hospitality, Outstanding Retailer, Outstanding Large Employer (100 employees or more), and Outstanding Small Business (99 employees or fewer).

OUTSTANDING NONPROFIT

RENEWAL RANCH Since it opened in January 2011, Renewal Ranch has provided long-term, faithbased rehabilitation to adult men 21 years of age and older who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. Many of the men who participate in the program are homeless, unemployed, uninsured, and in debt.

Renewal Ranch provides these men with food, housing, counseling, and education and job training at no charge.

While traditional rehabilitation programs only report a 4 to 5 percent success rate, two-thirds of the men who graduate from Renewal Ranch’s yearlong program remain clean and sober a year after graduation. So far, the organization has 144 Phase One graduates.

During the first phase of the program, each resident performs 300 hours of community service. Service projects have included packing food boxes for Operation Christmas Child, providing lawn maintenance for elderly community members, and assisting with cleanup and rebuilding efforts following a natural disaster. The residents have also helped plant flowers in downtown Conway and have volunteered for cleanup after Toad Suck Daze.

OUTSTANDING HOSPITALITY

CHILI’S BAR AND GRILL Chili’s Bar and Grill consistently ranks among the top-selling restaurants in Conway. Chili’s offers a casual dining experience for sports teams, groups celebrating special occasions, or simply a night out.

The team at Chili’s Bar and Grill in Conway hosts numerous “GiveBack Nights” each year to support local organizations’ fundraising efforts. These organizations recruit friends, family, and community members to eat at Chili’s on a specific date, and a portion of the proceeds is given to the organization.

In addition, the Conway “ChiliHeads” are ranked nationally for their fundraising efforts in the franchise’s annual campaign benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Conway location raises more than $15,000 each year to assist St. Jude in its mission to treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

OUTSTANDING HOSPITALITY

ZAZA FINE SALAD & WOOD-OVEN PIZZA CO. Since ZAZA Fine Salad & Wood-Oven Pizza Co. opened its location in The Village at Hendrix nearly six years ago, it has become a go-to place for build-your-own salads, Napoli-style pizza, and the only gelato in Conway. Readers of WINC magazine have recognized ZAZA as “Best Place to Have a Salad” for two years in a row.

The restaurant’s owners are committed to the farmto-table movement and have established relationships with more than a dozen local family farms. ZAZA supports these farmers by buying produce or featuring farm-fresh ingredients in its specials.

ZAZA aims to play a vital role in creating a just and sustainable food system in Arkansas by demonstrating a commitment to local farmers and cultivating an understanding of the importance of local food systems. The restaurant envisions a future in which local farms feed local families, and direct relationships with farms across Arkansas contribute to a vibrant local economy and a healthy population.

OUTSTANDING RETAILER

MCKINNEY TIRE PROS For 65 years, McKinney Tire Pros has built a reputation on integrity and unmatched customer service. Owners Rustin and Andrea Standridge acquired the business in January 2014 and are staying true to the original mission to treat customers like family.

McKinney Tire Pros is an authorized Tire Pros dealer. This network of independently owned tire and automotive repair facilities offers national warranties and service.

Through this affiliation, McKinney Tire Pros’ customers can have peace of mind that their warranties will be honored at more than 400 locations nationwide without sacrificing the personal service they would receive from a family-owned business.

McKinney Tire Pros has a team of highly skilled and experienced tire technicians, service managers, and mechanics who treat each other like family. Employees are provided with lunch every day, and team members spend time together outside of work. This focus on relationships among the staff not only contributes to a positive work environment but also helps to enhance the overall customer experience at McKinney Tire Pros.

OUTSTANDING SMALL BUSINESS

HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE Home Instead Senior Care offers affordable, in-home care services to seniors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The CAREGivers provide compassionate and reliable home care services to help keep seniors safe and independent wherever they call home. The Conway facility serves seniors and their families in communities located in Faulkner, Conway, Cleburne, Perry, Van Buren, and Pope counties.

Home Instead Senior Care puts relationships first to support those giving care, to protect the dignity of those receiving care, and to enhance the quality of life for both seniors and their families in every caregiving experience.

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OUTSTANDING LARGE EMPLOYER

INCITE REHAB Incite Rehab is a rehabilitation center specializing in physical, occupational, and speech therapy services.

The company began in October 2005 to close the divide between health care providers and therapy service providers. To accomplish this, Incite Rehab hired skilled therapy managers in the rehabilitation industry to bridge the gap between nursing and rehabilitation departments so customers could receive the best care.

Incite Rehab employs 1,000 highly trained and experienced therapists. The staff assists in the development of systems that improve the communication between nursing and rehabilitation departments. More than 75 facilities in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri benefit from this atmosphere of partnership and collaboration.

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

H o n o r i n g 5 0 + Ye a r s As we celebrate our 125th anniversary, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce honors those loyal businesses who have been members of our organization for 50 years or longer.

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‘Thank you’ to our longest serving members.

• CenterPoint Energy, 1946 • Conway Corporation, 1946 • Covington Roofing Company, 1946 • Entergy, 1946 • Farris Agency, Inc., 1946 • Fletcher Smith’s Jewelers, 1946 • JCPenney Company, 1946 • Roller-McNutt Funeral Home, 1946

• Satterfield Oil Company, 1946 • Smith Ford, Inc., 1946 • AT&T Arkansas, 1947 • H3 Home & Décor, 1948 • New York Life Insurance Company, 1951 • Kordsmeier Furniture and Appliance Company, 1952 • Nabholz Construction Corporation, 1953 • Henry & Henry Attorneys at Law, 1956

• WestRock Company, 1956 • Ott Insurance, 1957 • Hiland Dairy Foods, 1957 • Nabholz Properties Inc., 1961 • U.S. Bank, 1961 • Senator Stanley Russ, 1963 • Rogers Group, Inc., 1963 • Bank of America, 1963 • Kordsmeier Remodeling, 1966 • Wal-Mart, 1966

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

• Am • AR • Ark • Ark • AT • Ban • CD • Ce • Cin • Co • Co Cons • De • Ens • Ent • Eric • Fla

SILVER SPONSORS • American Safeguard Insurance • ARcare • Arkansas Business Publishing Group • Arkansas Oral Surgery • AT&T Arkansas • Bank of the Ozarks • CDI Contractors, LLC • Central Baptist College • Cintas Corporation • Corco Construction • Covington Roofing | Covington Construction | Covington Properties • Delta Dental of Arkansas • Ensono • Entergy • Eric Rob & Isaac • Flake & Kelley Commercial

• Green Bay Packaging • JSI Metal Recycling • Metova • Nabholz Construction Services • Northwestern Mutual • Rik Sowell Architects • Simmons First National Bank • Smith Ford • Snap-on Equipment • Stephens, Inc • Sunbelt Convention Services • Thomas & Thomas LLP, CPAs • U.S. Bank • US Compounding Inc • Virco Manufacturing Corporation

THANK YOU

FLORAL

SPEAKER RECEPTION