We’ll be celebrating our 2024 successes, and recognizing the organization’s current and incoming leadership and Community Awards winners in a luncheon format.
The Big Picture: We’re telling the very important story of the Chamber’s Vision/NEXT initiative and how it keeps inspiring the entire organization to be forward-thinking in serving business and community together.
The initiative’s desired outcomes are ensuring that RLC is relevant to the next generation; competent in an era of rapid change; necessary because our mission-work solves real business and community challenges; and sustainable with our funding.
Chamber Team
Keynote Speaker: Chancellor Charles F. Robinson | University of Arkansas
Charles F. Robinson, the seventh chancellor of the University of Arkansas, is committed to advancing the university’s land-grant mission to provide opportunity and transform lives through education, research and service.
Questions? Contact
Luisa Pastor Manager of Special Events
Raymond Burns, CCE President/CEO
Ross Phillips, IOM Chief Operating Officer JR Shaw, IOM Executive Director, Destination Rogers Shelle Summers, IOM SVP of Member Services
2024 was an exciting and transformative year for the Rogers Lowell Chamber. As the second year of our Vision/NEXT 3-Year Strategic Plan, it continued to inspire us to imagine the next 100 years for our community and reimagine the Chamber’s role in ensuring a future where we remain:
• Competent in an era of rapid change, solving important business and community challenges with our mission-work.
• Sustainable through long-term funding from our customers, members, and investors, building upon the solid foundation of the past century.
• Relevant to the next generation of dedicated leaders, attracting and activating their engagement with both the Chamber and our community.
Last year, Vision/NEXT drove innovation and change, prompting the implementation of a new communications platform. This streamlined approach allowed us to share the Chamber’s mission-work stories more effectively, amplifying our impact. Additionally, we actively engaged with business and community leaders to better understand the challenges facing our region. These insights are shaping the foundation of our next strategic plan, positioning us for long-term success.
Embracing Growth While Preserving Community
Looking ahead, we hosted the 2024 Leaders Conference with a focus on how our community can move forward over the next 100 years. This inspired an update to our Vision 100 plan, emphasizing a shift toward a more regional approach in our planning. As significant growth continues to reshape our area, we face the challenge of preserving the smalltown, hometown feel that defines our identity. The
Rogers Lowell Chamber will act as a key convener and influencer, ensuring growth aligns with the values and quality of life our community holds dear. Together, we will shape the next 100 years with purpose and vision.
Serving Business & Community Together
For over 100 years, generations of business and community leaders have helped the Chamber build a strong reputation as influencers, catalysts, and conveners for Rogers, Lowell, and Northwest Arkansas. This legacy informs our brand promise:
“Passionate people serving together to create a thriving community for all.”
This commitment inspired our new tagline: “Serving Business & Community Together.” It encapsulates the Chamber’s promise to deliver impactful results for our members, customers, partners, and investors.
Mission-Work Making a Big Impact
Your investment in our mission-work impacts not only your business’s success but also the community’s quality of life. It sustains our momentum for the next century in these five key focus areas, which we call the Mission 5:
• Advocacy & Government Affairs: Advocating for business-driven public policy that positively impacts businesses of all sizes.
• Community Development: Activating leaders and delivering programs that build a cohesive and welcoming community.
generation workforce pipeline and fostering sustainable growth downtown.
• Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development: Curating resources, educational opportunities, and connections for small businesses to succeed.
Highlights of 2024
• Workforce Development: Connected industries and educators, increasing CTE (Career and Technical Education) enrollment by 13% and facilitating 875 live job interviews through Draft Day NWA.
• Economic Growth: Over $400 million in new commercial and industrial developments announced, surpassing the $300 million target.
• Legislative Engagement: Hosted 10 legislative events, including a Legislative Wrap-Up Breakfast and roundtables, connecting businesses with policymakers. Civic engagement initiatives like the Civics Bee attracted 19 participants, with one student placing in the top 10 nationally.
• Job Creation: Exceeded expectations with over 2,300 new jobs created, surpassing the 5% growth goal.
• Downtown Development: Completed or near completion of 135 new apartments in Downtown Rogers, exceeding the annual goal.
• Community Development: Reached 26 new minority Chamber memberships, provided entrepreneurship counseling resources, and made 30 mentorship connections.
• Tourism Impact: Destination Rogers efforts boosted room tax revenue to over $1.72 million, a 10% increase.
• Marketing Success: Increased social media followers by 10% and exceeded advertising revenue goals, generating $108,135.
• Membership Growth: Added 224 new
businesses, bringing total Chamber memberships to 1,933. Looking Forward
In this Annual Report, you’ll find more details about our accomplishments and initiatives from 2024. I encourage you to explore how you can engage with us this year as we continue building a cohesive and connected community where people are excited to visit, live, invest, work, and play.
Save the Date
Finally, don’t forget to purchase your tickets for the Annual Celebration of Business & Community! This year, we’re continuing a new luncheon format, taking place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, at the Rogers Convention Center. I look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate our collective successes and look ahead to an even brighter future.
CommercialCafe’s 2024 Best Places for Millennials to Live & Work ranks Northwest Arkansas #9
USA Today’s Best Independent Coffee Shops in the U.S. Ranks Onyx Coffee Lab #4
2 James Beard Foundation semifinalist nominations for Best Chef: South
• Chefs Rafael Rios (Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico) and Jordan Wright (Wright’s BBQ) both secured James Beard Foundation semifinalist nominations for Best Chef: South, one of the nation’s most prestigious culinary honors.
14th Annual Good Food Award Finalists
• Selected from over 2,000 entries, products from both Pink House Alchemy (Elixirs) and Onyx Coffee Lab (Chocolate) were named 14th annual Good Food Award finalists, with the Madagascar Dark Chocolate and Chai Milk Chocolate + Pink Peppercorn Terroir Chocolates by Onyx ultimately securing wins.
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• Third Space Experiences Redefine Downtown as a Destination
• Builds & Sustains Trusting Relationships that Increase Engagement
• Gets Chamber a Seat at the Table with Decision-Makers
• Accomplishes Outcomes Benefitting Business & Community
• Helps Chamber Fulfill Mission-Work & Engage Members with Legislators
• Increases Revenue for Leisure & Hospitality Industry
• Generates a Return on Investment from Destination Marketing Spend
• Drives Quality of Place Initiatives for the Destination
• Champions & Sustains Destination's Quality of Life
• Defines Pathway to Chamber Engagement & Leadership
• New Programming & Events Increases Activation with Chamber
• Ensures Chamber & Community Remain Relevant
• Builds Pipeline for Future Business & Community Leaders
• Spirit of Inclusivity Ensures All Voices & Opinions are Heard
• Increases Chamber Engagement with Minority-Owned Businesses
• Improves Diverse Representation
• Creates a Welcoming Community & Opportunities for All
• Vital to Helping Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs Start, Run & Grow Business
• Creates Value for Chamber Membership
• Delivers Relevant Education and Professional Development Opportunities
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CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Michael Parker Nabholz
Board of Directors
CHAIRMAN-ELECT Josh Vasquez Generations Bank
MEMBER AT LARGE Mike Dodge Carroll Electric Cooperative Executive Committee
TREASURER Jaclyn Henderson Regions Bank
PAST CHAIRMAN
Tom Allen Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners
2025 Directors
Jason Adams Benchmark Group
Chad Evans Arvest Bank
Carey Lingenfelter Ozark Juniors Volleyball Club
Michelle Wynn Child Care Aware of NWA
Bruce Barkley KHBS/KHOG
Ron Amos Minuteman Press
Lane Crider Beaver Water District
Angela DeLille Cox Communications
David Foster APAC - Central, Inc.
Greg Hines Mayor, City of Rogers
Tom Hopper TallChamps, LLC
Kaala House The Agency - NWA
Peter Lane Walton Arts Center
Barry Moehring Benton County Judge
Chris Moore Mayor, City of Lowell
2026 Directors
Andrea Allen Onyx Coffee Lab
Austin Bryan HoganTaylor LLP
Ryan Dagley Signature Bank of Arkansas
Trevor Hensley Crafton Tull
John McKay Glad Manufacturing Co.
Ever Cuellar Sterling Bank
PRESIDENT/CEO Raymond Burns Rogers Lowell Chamber
CORE VALUES
Passion
We are proud to work here; we are committed to creating an optimistic and balanced culture through passion, enthusiasm and dedication.
2027 Directors
Alex Martelli PepsiCo
Andrew Branch NWA National Airport | XNA
Carol Moralez Upskill NWA
David Keefauver J.B. Hunt Transportation, Inc.
Joseph Stephens Assembled Products Corporation
Kraig Pomrenke Rogers Convention Center & Embassy Suites of NWA
Ex-Officio Directors
Joey Msall Black Hills Energy
Dr. Jeff Perry Rogers Public Schools
Rick Naegler Northwest Medical Center
Eric Pianalto Mercy Northwest Arkansas
Gus Reyes-Jacobo Generations Bank
Dr. Dennis Rittle Northwest Arkansas Community College
Drew Stoner First Security Bank
Natalie Tibbs Children & Family Advocacy Center
Stennett Thompkins AAA Insurance
Denise Thomas Arkansas World Trade Center
Dick Trammel Chairman Emeritus
Jeff Wood Tyson Foods, Inc.
Integrity
We are the trusted and dependable source. We are honest and accountable in all endeavors and do the right thing because we are guided by a set of moral principles.
Service
We exceed expectations by providing knowledgeable, thoughtful solutions, and leading by example.
Community
We better our community through servant leadership, encouraging compassionate relationships, and collectively working toward a common goal.
Togetherness
We believe that through diversity, collaboration, and teamwork we create an inspired, open, and welcoming environment that leads to the greater good.
Mission Support Divisions
Marketing Communications
Mission Work Divisions
Economic Development
Accounting & Finance
Member Services
Customer Service
Downtown Development
Government Affairs
Community Development
Destination Marketing & Management
Marketing Communications
Marketing Communications division’s work impacts the Rogers-Lowell Area, Chamber members and partners and the business community. They deliver easily accessible and up-to-date information about local businesses and our community by sharing stories about the Chamber’s mission, accomplishments, strategic programs and major events. They also help unify communications and messaging into “one voice” for our community.
1. Evolved the chamber’s internal and external communications (using the Smart Brevity platform) to improve audience engagement by sharing only what was vital and worthy of our readers’ time in a format that was easier to read.
2. Explored new marketing communications channels and techniques to further reach the NextGen leadership audience.
3. Monetized Chamber’s Digital Advertising Assets with the Member Services Division to Generate Incremental Revenue for the Chamber.
4. Media Plan: Advertise and Promote Chamber’s Mission 5 Work and Signature Events/Programming.
5. Grew Social Media Engagement (Likes, Comments, Shares & Clicks) with Target Audiences (Customers, Members, Investors and Community).
6. Produced Deliverables to Position Chamber as the “Voice of Business” and “Trusted Source” by informing target audiences with timely, relevant, and essential News, Information and Resources.
7. Promoted RogersLowell.com to Increase Traffic and Convert Visitors to New Members via the Online Application Form.
8. Delivered In-House Agency Design Expertise and Creative Production Services to Support Success of Chamber’s Divisions and Saved Money for the Chamber.
9. Go Downtown Rogers: Provide Marketing Communications Support to Build the Sub-Brand’s Presence and Awareness.
462,890
10. Destination Rogers: Provided Marketing Communications Support for Group Sales Efforts, Social Media Campaigns, Website Content, eNewsletters Production, and Content Creation Calendar for key Target Audiences (Groups and Meetings, and Leisure).
383,954
Accounting & Finance
Our Accounting and Finance prepares useful, relevant, and clear financial information and statements for the Chamber in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards (GAAS) in the U.S. Working with both internal customers and external partners, they provide the right data to the right people at the right time to facilitate our organizational success. They also support the human resources needs of the organization.
2024 Goals:
1. Provide quality financial data: understandable, reliable, relevant financial analysis and reporting.
2. The Chamber Audit Committee: provide detailed transparent reporting while ensuring that financial statements comply with GAAS (generally accepted auditing standards) rules for nonprofits.
3. Manage Health and Wellness benefits for our staff.
Member Services
Membership in the Chamber is a direct investment in the work we do to grow business and build community. Our Member Services division helps you understand how to connect, invest and grow with us. Whether you are a community partner, member or both, we offer valuable information, services and programs to deliver value and return on your investment with the Chamber.
2024 Goals:
1. Increase annual investment revenue for financial stability.
2. Monitor retention and engagement to ensure ROI for members.
3. Increase sponsorship and advertising revenue to sustain our mission work.
4. Continue to develop new programs and events to engage NextGen in the Chamber.
225 $72K 1930 $742K
87% member retention total members valued at over over new members valued at over
Thank-a-Teacher
Coffee Connection
Coffee Connection
Customer Service
Our Customer Service division has a reputation of delivering excellent customer service to external and internal customers. They ensure cohesion within the Chamber and Community through effective communications, processes and procedures. In addition to supporting the Chamber’s goals, they help our visitors, members, new residents and board members get information they need to know.
2024 Goals:
1. Provide Customized Service for each Chamber Division to Support our Mission 5.
2. Provide Customized Service for all Chamber Stakeholders.
3. Provide Customized Service for All Visitors and Residents in Our Community.
We aim to provide Customized Service for All Visitors and Residents in Our Community.
Economic Development
New job creation and business expansion impact businesses by creating meaningful opportunities to sell goods and services to new businesses and residents. Our Economic Development division works with industries both large and small to increase job growth and business expansion. They also work with individuals to support and increase our growing small business community.
Spring & Fall Job Fairs
152 $400 million $28 million
interviews conducted as part of Draft Day 2024 875 area employers
600 attendees
2024 Goals:
1. Create Workforce Development Opportunities in Our Community.
2. Be a Business-friendly Community focused on Business Growth and Commercial Development in Rogers and Lowell.
3. Invigorate Commercial Development in Lowell through business expansion and new retail opportunities through $5 million in new capital development.
4. Engage the Small Business Community.
in new developments underway in Rogers and Lowell Record-setting Rogers sales tax in November 2024
Downtown Development
Our Downtown Development division is the primary point-of-contact for economic development in Downtown Rogers and provides resources and help implementing the Downtown Rogers Initiative Plan. They focus on increasing the number of businesses, employees, and residential properties in the downtown core.
Go Downtown Rogers Newsletters
• 13,983 DT Rogers newsletters delivered in 2024
• 3% click through rate
• 59% Open Rate
• 2,900 Subscribers
• 30 news releases and earned 160 media placements
Downtown Merchant Meetup Downtown Merchant Meetup
2024 Goals:
1. Increase Multi-Family/Mixed-Use Residential Development in Downtown Rogers.
2. Attract Supplier, Professional Services and Light Manufacturing Employers and Jobs to Downtown Rogers.
3. Establish the Rogers Lowell Chamber as the Primary Point-of-Contact for Doing Business in Downtown Rogers
4. Connect All Activities to the Mission of Economic Development and the Master Plan with at Least Six (6) Public Announcements.
5. Showcase Why Downtown Rogers is an Ideal Place to Conduct Business, raise a Family and Enjoy Quality of Life Amenities and Activities.
6. Develop and Promote Downtown Rogers as a Destination Location for Arts, Music, Dance and Other Interactive Experiences.
7. Build Community Value through Effective Activation of Under-Utilized Properties.
Met with all 32 of the businesses that opened since 2024
Sign up for our Downtown Rogers Newsletters for 2025 updates!! 135 apartments are at or near completion
Our Government Affairs & Advocacy division serves as the link between members and local, state and federal government by advocating for pro-business and quality of life issues that are important to Northwest Arkansas. They also engage in activities that produce long-term positive impacts including voter registration and education, engagement of members in the political process and continuously improved outreach efforts.
2024 Goals:
1. Continue to Build Trusting Relationships that Allow Us to Serve as the Regional Link between Business and Government.
2. Encourage engagement by the Business Community in the Political Process.
3. Facilitate Opportunities share Business Issues and Create a Dialogue about interactions between Business & Government. at National Civics Bee
National Civics Bee® Local Competition:
Hob Nob at Business After Hours:
National Civics Bee® Local Competition
Hob Nob at Business After Hours
Community Development
Programs in our Community Development division impact and enhance the quality of life in Rogers, Lowell and the region. They are committed to expanding our social equity and inclusion (SEI) initiatives to better welcome the growing number of residents, workers, and visitors from all backgrounds. They also support educational programs and help develop our leaders for the future.
2024 Goals:
1. Define Pathways to Chamber and Community Engagement & Leadership for NextGen Leaders.
2. Ensure Chamber & Community Remains Relevant and Inclusive.
3. Increase and Activate Next Gen Leaders with Programming through Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders (NWAEL).
20% increase in Minority Chamber Membership
4. Monetize Chamber’s Community Engagement Division
5. Increase Chamber Engagement with Minority Small Businesses.
6. Create a Welcoming Community & Opportunities for All.
7. Increase and Activate NWA Female Leaders with Programming through Hustle in Heels.
34 leaders educated in Leadership Benton County
20% increase in leadership program participation
22 students connected to Arvest First Leadership
NWA Community Showcase
Destination Marketing & Management
Destination Rogers creates economic opportunity for our community by attracting meetings, conventions, tournaments, events and leisure visitors to the city of Rogers and Northwest Arkansas. Overseen by the Rogers Advertising and Promotion Commission, Destination Rogers is our Destination Marketing Organization responsible for marketing the city to visitors.
2024 Goals:
1. Maintain and grow group sales efforts targeting meetings, conventions and corporate events, and spur new business growth in small meetings, sports, religious, international and motorcoach markets.
2. Support Sales Efforts Through Digital and Social Media Marketing Strategies for the Meetings Market
3. Align Destination Marketing Messaging with Rogers Lowell Chamber Communications in Support of Community Driven Programming
4. Maintain Strong Partner Relations and Assure Shared Mission of Marketing the Destination
5. Gather Customer and Destination Research and Data to Enhance Sales, Marketing and Community Development Efforts
228 total leads sourced 1 7 7 new leads sourced
109K + future sourced room nights
Railyard Bike Park
Rogers Lowell Chamber Events
Mixer de Negocios
Tuesday, February 4 from 9 - 10:15 am
Dance with Me Studio by Aura 210 East Chestnut Ave., Rogers Free bilingual networking event!
Coffee Connection
Tuesday, February 11 from 8:30 - 9:30 am
Great Southern Bank 2522 S. Pinnacle Pkwy. Ste. 101, Rogers
Business After Hours
Thursday, February 20 from 5 - 6:30 pm
K9 Resorts of Rogers 3707 W. Southern Hills Blvd., Rogers
Central Referral Connection
Every Wednesday from 9 - 10:15 am
Golden Corral | 2605 West Pleasant Crossing Drive, Rogers
March 13 from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Rogers Convention Center
Join us for:
• Keynote speaker: Chancellor Charles F. Robinson, University of Arkansas.
• Announcement of Community Awards: Elbert S. Graham/Elza Tucker Award, Dick Trammel Good Neighbor Award, and Rogers-Lowell Spirit Award.
• Recognition of 2024 Small Business of the Year and Ambassador of the Year.
