Chamber Voice Magazine | June 2023 Issue

We’re Developing Talent Pipelines for Current and Future Workforce Needs

Labor shortages are impacting every industry across Rogers, Lowell, NWA, and the country. To address the issue, the Rogers Lowell Chamber (RLC) has emphasized workforce development as a top priority in our mission’s key focus area of Economic Development. To help you understand our work better, it’s important that we look together at our past, current initiatives, and future efforts in workforce development.

CHAMBER STAFF

Raymond Burns, CCE

President/CEO rburns@rogerslowell.com

Vickie Grotts, IOM

Senior Vice President of Accounting & Finance vickie@rogerslowell.com

Ross Phillips

Senior Vice President of Community Development ross@rogerslowell.com

Karen Wagaman

Vice President of Downtown Development karen@rogerslowell.com

Luke Wiggins, TMP

Director of Sales | DESTINATION Rogers luke@rogerslowell.com

Lorraine Ducharme

Finance Manager lorraine@rogerslowell.com

Mariana Osorio

Community Engagement & Inclusion Manager Mariana@rogerslowell.com

Meredith Alvarez

Customer Relations Specialist meredith@rogerslowell.com

J.R. Shaw, IOM

Executive Director/ Executive Vice President | DESTINATION Rogers jr@rogerslowell.com

Steve Cox, IOM

Senior Vice President of Economic Development steve@rogerslowell.com

Geovanny Sarmiento

Senior Vice President of Community Engagement & Inclusion geovanny@rogerslowell.com

Sara Lynn Geiger

Vice President of Government Affairs sara@rogerslowell.com

Maggie Matuschka

Special Events Coordinator Maggie@rogerslowell.com

Marni Rogers, IOM

Member Relations Manager marni@rogerslowell.com

Dane Clark

Sales & Services Coordinator | DESTINATION Rogers dane@rogerslowell.com

Nyasha Bgoni

Marketing Communications Manager Nyasha@rogerslowell.com

Shelle Summers, IOM

Senior Vice President of Member Services ssummers@rogerslowell.com

Brad Phillips

Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications brad@rogerslowell.com

Katie Burns

Vice President of Operations katie@rogerslowell.com

Nick Smith

Creative Services Director nick@rogerslowell.com

Skylar Rutherford

Marketing Communications Manager skylar@rogerslowell.com

Susana Silva

Accoutn Executive Susana@rogerslowell.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Mike Power

First Security Bank

CHAIRMAN-ELECT

Tom Allen

Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners

Executive Committee

TREASURER

Michael Parker Nabholz

PAST CHAIRMAN

Erin Kiefer Assembled Products Corporation

PRESIDENT/CEO

Raymond Burns

Rogers Lowell Chamber

MEMBER AT LARGE

Josh Vasquez Encore Bank

2023 Directors 2024 Directors 2025 Directors

Kristen Boozman

Portfolio Sotheby’s International Realty

Dean Fisher Glad Manufacturing Company

Angela GraysonGA Precipice IP, PLLC

Mat Mozzoni Cox Business

Chris Blair Northwest Health

Knight Weis* Signature Bank of Arkansas

Andrea Allen

Onyx Coffee Lab

Daizy Andrade University of Arkansas

Andrew Branch

NWA National Airport-XNA

Austin Bryan Hogan Taylor

Lane Crider Beaver Water District

Ever Cuellar

First Security Bank

Mike Dodge Carroll Electric Coop. Corp.

Keri EarwoodMS Shelter Insurance

Bruce Barkley KHBS/KHOG

Eric Pianalto Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas

Gaven Smith

J.B. Hunt Transportation, Inc.

Stennett Thompkins AAA Insurance

Brandy Tuft* Forvis

Josh VasquezCD Encore Bank

Ex-Officio Directors

Cole Shields Pinnacle Hills Promenade

Cathy Foraker AT&T (retired)

David Foster APAC - Central, Inc.

Bradley Hardin AEP/SWEPCO

Mayor Greg Hines City of Rogers

Tom Hopper TallChamps, LLC

Corry Hull BHC Insurance

Tonya Jackson Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Peter Lane Walton Arts Center

Mayor Chris Moore City of Lowell

Barry Moehring Benton County Judge

Joey Msall Black Hills Energy

Lulu Peredo Runway Group

Dr. Jeff Perry Rogers Public Schools

Brent Massey CEI Engineering Associates, Inc.

Brad Crain Arvest Bank Benton County

Jaclyn Henderson* Regions Bank

Carey Lingenfelter Ozark Juniors Volleyball Club

Michelle Wynn Child Care Aware of NWA

Jason Adams Benchmark Group

Rafael Rios Yeyo’s Mezcaleria & Taqueria at the 1907

Dr. Dennis Rittle Northwest Arkansas Community College

Dr. Jim Rollins Northwest Technical Institute

Matt Taliaferro Boys & Girls Club of Benton County

Denise Thomas World Trade Center Arkansas

Kraig PomrenkeDM Embassy Suites NW Arkansas

Mickey Rapier Fellowship Bible Church of NWA

Dick Trammel Chairman Emeritus

Jeff Wood Tyson Foods

INTRODUCTION from the RLC SVP of Economic Development

Welcome to the June Chamber Voice! We have put together a great issue of the Chamber Voice of Business Magazine for June. Several of the articles and features, including the cover story, focus on areas I have a hand in each day. Here’s a quick preview of some of my favorite stories that you’ll find inside.

One big thing: In my Economic Development role at the Chamber, I see the number one issue impacting our members and the entire business community is workforce development.

• At the end of May, I had the opportunity to present to our Board of Directors talking about all the ways we’re helping create talent pipelines in our community. This month’s cover story is a recap of that presentation for our membership. You’ll learn how seriously focused we are on helping our businesses and community with this challenge.

Steve Cox, IOM senior vice president of economic development

steve@rogerslowell.com

Listen to the new podcast: One of the best ways to stay informed about the work your Chamber is doing is subscribing to our podcast. Read the article highlighting our Chamber Voice of Business Podcast that I co-host with Nick Smith, Director of Creative Services.

• This bi-weekly podcast focuses on issues impacting our community and showcases the Chamber’s mission-work in our five key focus areas (Mission 5) with some fun conversations and compelling topics thrown in along the way.

• Recent episodes have focused on education and workforce development.

The Voice of Small Business: Here’s your chance to meet the 2023 Small Business Council. These volunteers help keep the Chamber informed on pressing issues for the small business community.

Check out these stories, too: Learn about us hosting a recent visit of city representatives from Frisco, TX where they benchmarked Downtown Rogers for ideas on how to grow their downtown and city. Read the recap of our second quarter Spotlight Series which focused on Healthcare in NWA, an important issue as our region continues to grow at a rapid pace. NWA is now the 100th largest metro area in the country.

• Yes, but: It’s not all about my work initiatives though, enjoy our other articles this month talking about RLC’s community development, inclusion initiatives, government affairs, NextGen programming (such as Hustle In Heels), and upcoming events.

Dig deeper: Each month our staff works hard to capture and tell the stories of the mission-work we’re accomplishing. Stay connected to what’s going on by reading our monthly Chamber Voice of Business Magazine. We hope you enjoy this issue.

How Workforce Development became a Strategic Priority

Brief History: Workforce development showed up on the Chamber’s radar in 2013 when the NWA Council began its Employer Retention and Expansion Survey program. Chambers from across the region interviewed businesses to learn about successes, challenges, and how we can help.

• A lack of skilled labor, specifically in the manufacturing sector, quickly surfaced as an issue of concern and conversations began on how to fix it. Collaborations began on legislative action, school curriculums, and upskilling existing workers to create talent pipelines for major industry.

RLC recognized a disconnect between skills being taught in classrooms and what employers needed to fill jobs. The Chamber, in our role as conveners, began connecting education with industry through Large Industry Council meetings, Advisory Councils, and the launch of our Kindergarten to Job (K2J) Connect program bringing educators and students from across the region together with local employers to showcase career pathways in various industries.

Opportunity revealed: What COVID showed us is that labor shortages across all sectors required the need for workforce development to become a top priority.

• We took this opportunity to pivot our efforts away from just manufacturing and include all sectors. Through talent pipeline fellowships, staff learned the importance of early career exposure and the need for more students to see viable career pathways.

Current work: Beginning in 2021, the Chamber expanded our efforts in workforce development and refocused on career exposure for students.

• Our partnerships expanded beyond Rogers Public Schools to include NWACC, NTI, U of A Global Campus, BIT, Upskill Arkansas, and ACT Workkeys (Career Readiness Solutions).

• We worked internally to tear down silos and bring workforce development into all aspects of the Chamber’s efforts, specifically Destination Rogers, Community Development, Marketing Communications, and Government Affairs.

K2J Connect brought educators together

to tour factories and learn specific skills needed for industries. We partnered with Rogers Public Schools to host career fairs. We featured monthly articles highlighting workforce education in the Chamber Voice of Business Newsletter to raise awareness. Momentum was beginning to build, and solutions were starting to come together, then COVID happened.

• Our focus shifted to showcasing viable career pathways that don’t require college degrees and incurring student debt.

Mission-work highlights:

• K2J Connect expanded to include students on tours and moved beyond factories and into medical, early childhood education, construction, hospitality, and finance fields.

• Draft Day NWA: We partnered with the Arkansas State Chamber to host Draft Day NWA which included 2,000 student participants and over 800 interviews for seniors.

• Mountie Mentors launched in 2023 showcasing career success in non-degree fields.

• The RLC LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advancement & Development) program expanded to include workforce development efforts for underserved and underrepresented students.

• Destination Rogers hosted Tourism Talk which featured a hospitality career fair for 300+ students.

• Build My Future saw over 800 students exposed to construction field jobs.

• Career/Job Fairs: We saw over 650 students participate in the Rogers New Tech Career Fair. Local schools are now bringing students to RLC’s NWA Job Fairs to showcase careers and get jobs.

Bottom Line: In total, over 4,000 students will receive career exposure opportunities in 2023.

Strategic communications: Storytelling to raise awareness continues to be a tool we use to grow and expand our workforce offerings. Utilizing Chamber communication channels like the Voice of Business Newsletter, Voice of Business Podcast, Mission Minute videos, and social media we spread the word about the importance of workforce development and growing partnership opportunities.

What’s next: Chamber staff recently spoke with the Board of Directors to update them on our workforce efforts and to get feedback on what more work can be done. The meeting went into more detail than in this article on our programs and spoke on the importance of increasing our efforts to grow existing and create new talent pipelines. Board members offered their insights, asked detailed questions on our work, and provided suggestions on additional steps to take.

Dig deeper: The workforce challenges facing our region and nation did not develop overnight and will take years to fully overcome. The Rogers Lowell Chamber is committed to addressing workforce development as a top priority as long as it remains a top issue for our members.

• If you are interested in learning more about our workforce development efforts or are interested in partnering, please reach out to Steve Cox at steve@rogerslowell.com.

Steve Cox, SVP Economic Development, presents the Chamber’s mission-work update on Workforce Development to the Board of Directors in May.

Mixer de Negocios: Fostering Collaboration, Networking & Diversity in the NWA Business Community

Mix

it up!

Mixer de Negocios, a monthly event hosted by Dance with Me Studio by Aura, in collaboration with Conexion de Negocios Latinos and the Rogers Lowell Chamber, is revolutionizing the way small businesses connect, collaborate, and promote diversity in the market.

• This brings people from all backgrounds together, promoting networking opportunities for everyone in the community.

Why

it matters:

The event serves as a powerful platform for small businesses to connect with potential partners, suppliers, and customers.

• By providing a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere, it encourages individuals to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and build long-lasting professional relationships.

• The diverse range of attendees ensures a broad spectrum of skills and perspectives, enhancing the chances of finding new business opportunities and expanding networks.

The Big Picture: One goal of Mixer de Negocios is to place a strong emphasis on diversity awareness in hiring practices.

• By highlighting the benefits of diverse workforces, it provides a platform for discussing best practices, sharing success stories, and connecting businesses with diverse talent pools.

• Through these initiatives, we are building together a more equitable and inclusive business community.

What you can

do:

Whether you are an established business owner or an entrepreneur, attending this networking event provides invaluable opportunities to network, learn, and thrive in the everevolving business landscape.

Hustle in Heels X Danyelle Musselman

Background: Hustle in Heels - Ladies Lead NWA is an RLC initiative dedicated to empowering, educating, and connecting women with a modern approach to professional and business development.

Why it’s important: All women in business are encouraged to attend Hustle in Heels events, whether you work in a professional office environment or run a machine in a manufacturing facility—all are always welcome!

#HeelsNotRequired

• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn!

What happened: Danyelle Musselman is a very well-known lady leader in our state. We had the opportunity to hear how she has built her teams through the years, lessons she’s learned, and much more during an exclusive Q&A session!

What’s next:

JUNE 6 POP UP: Hustle in Heels Pop-Up: The Unexpected Life with Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author, Linda Stubblefield, CFP©!

• Tuesday, June 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

• Page Living at Pinnacle Hills: 5050 W Highland Knolls Rd., Rogers

• Learn what you can control and how to empower yourself for a strong, stable future.

• $5 TICKETS HERE!

JULY 25 SOCIAL: Show Up & Glow Up X Beautiful Lives Boutique

• Tuesday, July 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• Beautiful Lives Boutique - Bentonville: 327 S Main St. Bentonville

• Professional headshots will be included at this event!

• MORE INFO COMING SOON!

NWA Spring Job Fair connects job seekers to employers

Nearly 300 job seekers participated in the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Spring Job Fair at the Frisco Station Mall in Rogers. The Rogers Lowell Chamber hosted the annual job fair on May 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 96 employers set up booths to start their hiring process.

Why it matters: Northwest Arkansas is growing every day. Job fairs help boost the economic development in our region. We’re connecting job seekers to employers to fill important positions that help keep local businesses open and running.

Our mission: One of our 2023 goals for our economic development division is to create workforce development opportunities in our community. Our job fairs allow us to fulfill this mission through action.

What they’re saying:

America’s Car-Mart attended the 2023 NWA Spring Job Fair and has been attending for a while.

• “This is the best job fair in the area. There are always a wide variety of candidates to meet with who are very interested in finding employment immediately. The event is very well run, and we will continue to return!” – Kayla Wiles, America’s Car-Mart

What’s next: Registration is now open for the 2023 NWA Fall Job fair on October 4th. REGISTER HERE!

Special thanks to our sponsors

NWA Healthcare leaders speak at May Spotlight Series

RLC’s Spotlight Series is designed to bring the right people together at the right time to spark innovation, inspire ideas and align our community around common goals.

• Each quarter we feature a different theme to spotlight progress and illuminate issues that are opportunities for growing business, activating high-impact leaders, and building a strong and diverse place to visit, live, invest, work and play.

Why it’s important: The panel discussed a range of important topics including the impact COVID has played in changing healthcare. They also spoke on the importance of collaboration between medical organizations to provide the best care possible and the success of increasing medical residency programs in NWA to prevent brain drain of graduating medical students.

What happened: The Rogers Lowell Chamber continued its 2023 Spotlight Series May 11 by hosting a moderated panel of healthcare professionals speaking on the current and future role healthcare plays in our region:

of Medicine & Whole Health Institute

Executive Director of the Community Quality Alliance, Northwest Health

RYAN CORK (moderator) Health Care Transformations Division, NWA Council

ERIC PIANALTO Chief Strategic Growth Officer, Mercy Arkansas

WALTER HARRIS President of Health Care Transformation, Alice L. Walton School

bruce shepard

Marcy Doderer President/CEO, Arkansas Children’s

Chamber Hosts Influencers for a FAM Tour of Rogers

Destination Rogers a division of the Rogers Lowell Chamber, hosted a busload of influencers on a recent FAM Trip (short for familiarization tour) to our city. All we must do is get them to visit here, and then influencers can help us share information and inspiration about what to do and see here!

• Let’s get familiar: A FAM Trip to Rogers helps influencers to see our destination, kick the tires and experience what we have to offer.

• Why it matters: The best way to sell our city to folks who haven’t been here, or been here in a while, is a well-organized FAM tour. And wow, can these folks we recently hosted influence travelers to visit Rogers!

• Who visited: The tour bus was full of Arkansas Welcome Center advisors from all around the state. Each of them was equipped with the knowledge to recommend Rogers to travelers when they are asked: “What can we do while we are in Northwest Arkansas?”

Dig deeper: Rogers is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the nation, but the heart and soul of small-town America is still alive and well here. Explore our Destination Guide to learn why we’re such a great place to visit.

Our Mission-work: Destination Rogers is all about promoting our city attractions and amenities and encouraging that very first visit here because we believe it all starts with a visit.

• The visit: Whether it’s a visit for a concert, biking event, convention, or doing business, building a place where people want to visit also builds a place where people want to live and work. It really does start with a visit.

Chamber’s thought leaders speak at Spring Retail Symposium

What is thought leadership?

Thought leadership is a content marketing strategy that positions a person or brand as a trusted subject matter expert in a particular field or industry. It involves the process of creating and promoting content about your industry and contributing to the conversation that’s happening with your prospects, customers, members, and strategic partners.

Background: Retail continues to change in complex ways, and the future will look very different from today.

• On May 12, this retail symposium explored the principal trends that will impact the retail experience from 2023 onward, and how best to future-proof your business for this transformation.

Why it’s important: NWA is at the center of retail. We are home to the world’s largest retailer and to hundreds of smaller retailers that thrive in the ever-changing region.

What happened:

ULI Northwest Arkansas invited Karen Wagaman (Vice President of Downtown Development) and Geovanny Sarmiento (Senior Vice President of Community Engagement and Inclusion) to speak about Main Street Trends: Supporting Downtown Businesses:

Downtown development insights:

Presented by Karen Wagaman

• The Plan: The Downtown Rogers Masterplan has been a success attracting retail and restaurants and transforming downtown into an ideal destination for entertainment, and nightlife.

• Infrastructure: The City of Rogers’ investment in water and sewer infrastructure, new sidewalks and street, parks, The Butterfield Stage and public arts, as well as the Railyard Entertainment District, have further attracted new investment in Downtown Rogers.

• Retail trend: Merchants who offer interactive experiences are successfully growing their customer base. They are taking advantage of the popularity of providing ticketed events including food/beverage and art classes, live music, outdoor experiences, book clubs, fun runs, pop-up shops and opportunities to collaborate with and support non-profit organizations.

Minority business insights:

Presented by Geovanny Sarmiento

• Challenges: Minority owned businesses are facing pressures from escalating rent, supply chain issues, and financial rate increases.

• Needs: There is a growing need for code changes and expansion to transform old light industrial zones nested in very desirable areas into retail space to accommodate the growing need for affordable retail fronts.

• Growth trend: The rapid demographic growth in the major cities in NWA has contributed to the success of many minority entrepreneurs serving the retail needs of the growing population.

Get Out & Get Into Summer in Rogers

Your Destination Rogers Summer bucket list starts getting smaller NOW! With everything there is to do and see in Rogers and Northwest Arkansas this summer, making major memories all starts with a visit!

Outdoor adventures: June is designated Great Outdoors Month by the National Parks Service, so visit the Beaver Lake area and the Ozarks for outdoor adventures. History, heritage, and high adventure await!

It’s all on the menu: Fill your plate and fill your bucket list with world class eats and drinks at award winning local hangouts.

Pedal on: May is National Bike month and Northwest Arkansas has more than 250 miles of top-tier mountain bike trails, offering cyclists one of the best singletrack experiences in the nation. Rogers boasts some of the most used trails in the area, not to mention the coolest downtown jump park around!

Rogers comes alive for live music at the state’s finest venues. The Walmart AMP Uptown and the Butterfield Stage Downtown will keep you dancin’ in the streets all summer long!

More than music: The Rogers arts and culture scene doesn’t stop with live music. History, heritage, theater, visual and all performing arts deserve a reservation on your summer schedule.

Dig deeper: Whatever your tastes or interests, getting out and getting into summer in Rogers is easy. Destination Rogers provides the inspiration and information, all you have to do is start, with a visit to DestinationRogers.com.

Focus on Community is a monthly feature sharing news and information about the businesses and people who make the RogersLowell Area a great place to live, work, play and invest.

Rogers Animal Services Offers Free Adoptions for Community

Stronger together Rogers Animal Services joined forces with the Bissell Pet Foundation and Dogtopia to offer zero-fee adoptions for all dogs and puppies from May 2-13.

• Rogers Animal Services was one of the more than 350 shelters to participate in the Empty the Shelters event.

Welcome Home: Pets adopted as part of the event were fully vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed or neutered at a discounted cost.

• If you’re interested in adopting, give the shelter a call at (479) 621-1197 or take a look at all of the pets available for adoption on their website.

What they’re saying: “Shelters are calling me daily and BISSELL Pet Foundation is feeling the burden of overcrowding. With the euthanasia of homeless dogs up 22% in just the first quarter of 2022 alone, we knew we had to act quickly to help at-risk pets,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “Empty the Shelters is the largest funded adoption event in the country.”

From the heart: Adoption fees were covered by the Bissell Pet Foundation, a foundation that focuses on providing support to animal welfare organizations which includes vaccinations, microchipping, spay/neuter services as well as crisis and disaster response.

• BPF has provided a second chance for almost 140,000 pets in the U.S. and Canada since the event began in 2016.

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular at the Walmart AMP

Experience the grandeur of American Patriotism at the Fireworks Spectacular show at the Walmart AMP on July 4th!

What’s happening: The fireworks show will be accompanied by the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) directed by Paul Haas. The community will be able to witness patriotic pops at the outdoor amphitheater surrounded by music.

How it all started: SoNA has been an integral part of arts, music, and culture in NWA since 1954. The symphony is also involved in preparing for the future through the SoNA Mentorship program which provides free tickets to over 1,000 students per year.

History: On Independence Day, we celebrate our country declaring independence from Great Britain. On July 4th, 1776 our founding fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence and now the federal holiday is a time where we commemorate our freedom.

Learn more: It does not get much better than this when it comes to finding fun family-friendly activities in NWA. From the symphony orchestra to the fireworks, this is something every member of the family will enjoy!

• Tickets for the Fireworks Spectacular are available now starting at $3.

• Gates open at 7:00 pm, music starts at 8:00 pm, and fireworks start at 9:15 pm.

Congratulations to the NWA Business Journal’s Fast 15

NWA Business Journal published its 15th Annual Fast 15 issue on May 8, 2023. This issue was dedicated to young professionals making a difference in our community.

Congratulations to these Chamber members:

• Taylor Toreno, Sam’s Club

• Cameron Clark, Bennett Commercial Real Estate

• Ericka Young-Melber, Young’s Moving Service

• Ryan Pottinger, Garver

• Johnny Galloway, Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners

• Caleb Lebow, Olsson

• Lourdes “Lulu” Peredo, Runway Group

• Brandon Andrews, Signature Bank

Why

it matters:

The Rogers Lowell Chamber is dedicated to preparing leaders for the future. With eight members and one staff member on the Fast 15 we are fulfilling that promise. Working with our members, partners, customers, and investors, we are committed to serving business & community together.

Staff making a difference: Sara Lynn Geiger, the Rogers Lowell Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs, was also featured in this issue as one of the Fast 15. Nominees had to meet certain criteria to be selected:

• Be under 30 years of age

• Contributed to their community and/or company

• Embody leadership qualities that show a fast track to leadership in politics or business

• Resident of Northwest Arkansas or Fort Smith area

Dig deeper: The magazine issue highlighted each member of the Fast 15. The class shared their personal experiences and how they shaped them to become active members of the NWA community. From nonprofit communities to Fortune 500 companies, these young professionals are making their mark in the region. Read the issue to learn what’s next for the class members.

Upcoming Hobbs State Park Programs

Hobbs State Park - Conservation

Area: Branch out this summer and head to Hobbs State Park to experience nature.

• The national park is the largest in Arkansas with over 12,000 acres of trails, campsites, and ADA accessible landscape.

Why it’s

important:

Arkansas State Parks work to protect the Natural State. As a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism parks like Hobbs State Park preserve the state for future generations. By participating and sharing these programs, we can improve the quality of life and the thriving economy in our state.

What’s

happening:

This summer the park has many interactive programs and workshops for all ages.

• Venomous Snakes of Arkansas June 10 | 2:00 pm: Stay safe and learn from Park Interpreter Steve as he identifies six venomous snakes that live in the Natural state.

• Sunset Kayak Tour June 22 | 7:30 pm: Chase the sunset with a kayak tour on Beaver Lake. All equipment is provided and there’s space for 10 participants. Age 9-12 $12 and 12 and up $18.

• Meet the Nightshift June 24 | 8:00 pm: Explore the park in the nighttime and learn what happens when Hobbs State Park sleeps. The event will start on the Van Winkle Trail with a lightning bug hunt. Next explorers will hike on the Sinking Stream Trail. Recommended for those age six and up.

More than $100,000 raised at Arkansas Children’s Northwest Auxiliary Annual Event

Arkansas Children’s Northwest

Auxiliary raised $112,811 at their annual À La Carte event May 4. These funds will be used to help provide expert pediatric care at Arkansas Children’s Northwest Hospital.

What happened: The event offered a lot of fun things to do:

• Silent Auction Guests at the event were able to make bids online for some big ticket items such as a Fly ARH date night with dinner, a Bentonville Staycation, and a framed Taylor Swift CD.

• Tasting Event with 19 restaurants in attendance, guests were able to taste the best of NWA food. Attendees had a large variety of dining options from Ella’s Table, Table Mesa, to Bonefish Grill in Rogers.

• Entertainment Partygoers were able to get their caricatures created by Terasa Farrington aka Okie Artist. The fun continued with DJ Antonio “Party Master” Williams, and photos.

Cool venue: The event was hosted by Ledger in downtown Bentonville. The Ledger is the first bikeable building in the world. À La Carte was hosted on the 6th floor of the building.

What they’re saying: Nici Fleming, À La Carte’s 2023 event chair, planned the French themed night.

• “We are overjoyed to be able to come together and champion children. This year’s À la Carte would not have been such a success without the support of our sponsors and the work from our organizers and volunteers. I believe this community effort has and will continue to help the ACNW Auxiliary keep up its vital role in supporting our hospital and making children better today and healthier tomorrow.”

Dig in: The Arkansas Children’s Northwest Auxiliary is a volunteer organization that supports patients and families through fundraising and service projects.

Making local businesses stand out since 1902.

Introducing the 2023 Small Business Council

The Small

Business Council (SBC) is a very important committee of the Rogers Lowell Chamber (RLC).

Why it matters: SBC was created to be the Voice of the Small Business Community and to provide guidance to RLC on small business needs. These volunteers work hard to make a difference in the business community.

• The Council is made up of Chamber member volunteers who own, work for, or actively serve small businesses throughout NWA.

What they do: Some of the roles of the Council include choosing an Outstanding Small Business of the Quarter, selecting educational seminar topics, and conducting the bimonthly Chamber Tutorial (formerly known as Member Orientation).

Sam Gardner Walker Brothers | Chair

Kaala House Collective Real Estate Partners | Co-Chair

Ron Amos Minuteman Press | Past Chair

Melissa Dysart Level 5 Architecture

Amanda Johnson Bumbles & Boots Custom Creations

Ever Cuellar First Security Bank

Julie McAllaster Business and Industry Training

Gilbert Rodriguez Arvest Bank

Stephanie Hogan Edward Jones

Jay Myers JMAR Roofing

Josh Vasquez Encore Bank

Jeremy Janes Janes Insurance & Brokerage

Jeff Hatley Ozark Regional Transit

Jolene Rogers Liberty National - Everett & Associates

Ken Greene SCORE

Denise Thomas Arkansas World Trade Center

Lori Lieblong Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center

Shelle Summers Rogers Lowell Chamber

Steve Cox Rogers Lowell Chamber

Branch Photography captures our hearts and more: portraits and commercial photography

The journey begins:

• 1978 Keith Branch launched his career in photography at his hometown newspaper that quickly expanded his skills to capture portraits and weddings.

• 1986 Earned a degree in Business Administration Accounting and opened his first studio in Alamo, Tennessee.

• 1996 Earned his Master’s, Photographic Craftsman, and Certification degrees from the Professional Photographers of America.

• 1998 Moved to Northwest Arkansas and never looked back!

By the numbers:

• 8 years in a row: voted #1 Photography Studio and Best of the Best Photographer by the readers of Celebrate Arkansas magazine!

• 5 years in a row: official photographer for the Rogers Lowell Chamber’s Annual Celebration!

Branch Photography

479-601-6480 | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | keithrbranch@gmail.com

Commercial: BranchImpressions.com | Portraiture: BranchPortraitDesign.com

photographer. I fell in love with photography as a kid: meeting so many great people; getting to go places; and photographing buildings, locations, and products to help companies in marketing. It makes me happy and proud that thousands of wall portraits, that I created, are living on walls around the world.”

– Keith Branch

Educator at heart: Londagin leaving Startup Junkie Foundation to teach English

How it all started: Armed with an extensive resume, Londagin joined Startup Junkie four years ago, offering business advice to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Before that, she was a vice president and SBA loan specialist at Legacy National Bank in Springdale. She previously was a training coordinator and business consultant at the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

What they’re saying:

Londagin, who lives with her husband in Grove, OK., has two degrees from the UA, including a law degree.

What’s happening: Martha Londagin is returning to her roots, which will be a significant loss for Northwest Arkansas’ business community but a big gain for schoolkids in northeast Oklahoma.

New assignment: Londagin, a business consultant with the Startup Junkie Foundation in Fayetteville, is leaving the nonprofit for a job teaching English at Wyandotte High School. Her last day with the foundation is May 31, and she’ll begin the teaching assignment this fall.

Saying goodbye: Londagin emailed the career update to clients, friends and colleagues late last month.

• “Some of you may not know this, but I began my professional life as a high school English and communications teacher,” she wrote. “I taught in Arkansas and Oklahoma public schools for seven years.”

• “I have been fortunate to have worked with and learned from Jeff Amerine, the Startup Junkie Consulting founder, since we met when I first started work at the Walton College ASBTDC in 2012,” Londagin wrote. “Jeff has had the vision of greatness for this incredible NWA entrepreneur community since 2008.

• “Brett Amerine [his son] and Jeff blessed NWA with the creation of the Startup Junkie Foundation in 2015 to provide access to entrepreneurship for all persons, and both have mentored me and assisted me in being an effective consultant to my hundreds of clients.”

What’s next: Londagin is also the capital access manager for microloan nonprofit Kiva’s Northwest Arkansas hub. She said that Claudia Scott has been hired to fill that role.

Thursday, June 15 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott

4201 W. Green Acres Rd. Rogers, AR

Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) will set up booths and share information about who they are and what they do.

NPOs: Register for a booth to showcase your mission, recruit volunteers and offer opportunities for participants to give back to the community.

Thursday, August 10 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Rogers High School

2300 S. Dixieland Rd. Rogers, AR

Q1 Ambassador of the quarter: Toni Leutjen

“People do business with people they like and trust that have a great product. I love speaking with other businesses on how they can grow their business and increase foot traffic. Being an RLC Ambassador is a highlight in my life. The Rogers Lowell Chamber is excellent in promoting businesses in our area for over 100 years!”

- Toni Luetjen

Congrats! Toni Luetjen Director of Marketing & Business Development for Landers Toyota NWA since March 2018.

Present! Toni actively represents Landers Toyota at: Central Referral Connection, ribbon cuttings, groundbreaking ceremonies, open houses, Coffee Connection, Business After Hours and more! Leutjen is a former representative on the Member Engagement Committee as well.

• Toni’s presence at Chamber events has strengthened the relationship between the community of NWA and Landers Toyota NWA.

Three non-profit organizations opening first brick & mortar locations in Downtown Rogers

Philanthro-diner: Harold’s Diner, Soda Fountain & Farmacy has a mission that feeds those with food insecurities & provides empowering opportunities for those overcoming life challenges.

• They are creating a place that builds the community and gives the Lord’s children the foundation to reach their full potential.

• Located at 710 N. 2nd Street (Former Hawk Moth building)

• Watch for pop-up events leading up to their grand opening later this summer.

• HaroldsGatherings.org | | 479-244-9800 | haroldsgatherings@gmail.com

• Instagram

All aboard! Music Moves presents The Music Depot, a dedicated place for education and live music, providing a venue for the growth of the Black Music Curriculum, as well as creating a safe space for the community to show up authentically and learn all about the amazing musicians and artists the greater region has to offer.

• Their mission is to make Black music accessible to students and to our communities through performance and education.

• COMING SOON to 206 W. Walnut Street (Formerly Golden’s Jewelry) | This space is currently being transformed in to a music venue and educational programming space.

Benevolent bakery:

Big Heart Bread bakes artisan sourdough breads that feed you while supporting your community. BHB is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with profits currently being donated to serve young women who reside at Saving Grace NWA in Rogers.

• Feeding our community, one loaf at a time. BHB has one simple goal: to bake delicious sourdough, share it with bread lovers, and use the proceeds to serve kids in my community.

• OPENING SOON! Next door to Nola’s Pantry on W. Chestnut St. and vending at the Rogers Local Food Market

• BigHeartBread.com | laurie@bigheartbread. com

• Instagram & Facebook

• MusicMovesAR.com | info@musicmovesar. com | 479-595-9109

• Instagram Facebook & YouTube

ACCURATE FORECASTS ON THE GO! DOWNLOAD THE 40/29 NEWS AND WEATHER APP TODAY!

A Texas Size Welcome in Downtown Rogers

What happened: The Chamber and the City of Rogers recently hosted a site visit from representatives of Frisco, Texas to discuss urban planning, Downtown revitalization, and comprehensive growth plans for our city.

• Hosted at Ozark Beer Company in Downtown Rogers, this multi-hour meeting created great conversation highlighting the redevelopment of Downtown Rogers and learning the similar challenges and opportunities found in Frisco.

What was said:

Lacy Bray, Co-founder of Ozark Beer Company, spoke on the success and challenges of being the first craft brewery to open in Rogers, bringing community together through interactive events, and being a staple of the Downtown Rogers lifestyle scene.

• John McCurdy, Director of Community Development for the City of Rogers, spoke on the importance of comprehensive growth maps and master planning for redevelopment of Downtown Rogers.

• Karen Wagaman, VP of Downtown Development for the Rogers Lowell Chamber, shared the importance of placemaking, including: utilizing Downtown Rogers amenities such as the Railyard Live on the Butterfield Stage, Art on the Bricks Art Walk, and the more than 50 businesses offering interactive experiences along with retail and restaurant services.

• Steve Cox, SVP of Economic Development for the Rogers Lowell Chamber, spoke on the Chamber’s Vision 100 Community Plan showing our residents desire for a vibrant Downtown area.

Why this matters:

Downtown Rogers has seen much growth and development over the past few years. This deliberate effort from the Chamber, City, and developers has breathed new life into our Downtown area and created a sense of community and belonging for residents and visitors alike.

Challenges: Minority owned businesses are facing pressures from escalating rent, supply chain issues, and financial rate increases.

• One goal of the Chamber’s Downtown Economic Development Plan is showcasing why Downtown Rogers is an ideal place to conduct business, raise a family, and enjoy quality of life amenities and activities.

• This site visit was an opportunity to share the successes of our business owners and community leaders with Frisco, Texas.

Bottom line: We appreciate the opportunity to share the successes of our business owners and community leaders as we inspire other communities across the nation to learn from our experiences and encourage them to do the same.

New and improved RLC Voice of Business Podcast

What’s new? Have you checked out the latest content on our podcast channel lately? Relaunched in January, the podcast allows you to listen to episodes while you’re on the go. It covers topics of regional and statewide interest, current events, and legislative events as well as interviews with community leaders, elected officials, newsmakers, community/economic developers and more.

Episodes 1 through 5 covered the new branding and mission work of the Chamber as well as introduced the audience to several staff members they may not have heard from yet. There were also in-depth discussions about Cultural Movements within Business and Women in the Workplace, all of which led to the 5th episode announcing our Annual Celebration and including 40/29 News Anchor Allison Wise as a special guest panelist.

Episode 6 had hosts Steve Cox and Nick Smith interview guest panelists Joe Rollins, Director of Workforce Development with the Northwest Arkansas Council, Tara Dryer, Senior Managing Director with the University of Arkansas Global Campus, and Dawn Stewart, Director of Career and Technical Education/Launch Career Programs with Rogers Public Schools, about the importance of Workforce Development to Northwest Arkansas and the country.

Episode 7 introduced the audience to the newly rebranded Destination Rogers (formerly Visit Rogers) organizations as well as what their mission work entails under the Chamber umbrella. Destination Rogers is uniquely positioned as far as DMO’s go as they work in collaboration with the Chamber to create economic opportunity for the community by encouraging event organizers to choose their location for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

In Episode 8 Steve Cox and Nick Smith get to interview Dr. Jeff Perry, Superintendent of Rogers Public Schools, and Jim Davis, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education of Rogers Public Schools, about public education in Northwest Arkansas. The panel focused on public education and what it provides to our community. From general learning initiatives to extracurriculars, IEPs, and career counseling, there are countless ways the public schools in our area are working to benefit the next generation.

The latest episode hosts Steve Cox and Nick Smith get to interview Jenny Wilkinson – Senior Manager, US Insights & Analytics at Mondelez International, and Monica Kumar –Belonging, Equity & Inclusion Strategist with EngageNWA about their experiences as Asian Indian Americans living and working in Northwest Arkansas. The interview was conducted in honor of AAPI Heritage Month and was a part of the Chamber’s efforts to educate our community on the diverse backgrounds of those living and working together in Rogers, Lowell, and the rest of NWA.

Thursday, June 8 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Downtown Rogers

Pop-Up Art Exhibits: 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Live Music: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

2nd Thursday of every month in indoor and outdoor locations

Thursday, July 20 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Rogers Lowell Chamber 317 W. Walnut St. Rogers, AR

Part 3

Learn about winning strategies for marketing, promotion and social media with Mirna Ordonez.

NEW MEMBERS | April 2023

1st Choice Home Care

(870) 222-0088 | https://www.1stchoicehomecare.net

HOME HEALTH SERVICES

Bentonville Eye Care at Pinnacle (Opening Soon)

5001 W. Pauline Whitaker Pkwy., Ste. 125 | Rogers, AR 72758

(479) 268-3268 | https://visionsource-bentonvilleeyecare.com

OPTICAL, OPTOMETRISTS, OPTICIANS AND OPTICAL LABS

Bespoke Homes - Bellview Place (Coming Soon)

4030 West Dr. | Rogers, AR 72758

(479) 802-5200 | https://www.bespokenwa.com

REAL ESTATE - DEVELOPERS AND INVESTORS

Bespoke Homes - The Village at Pinnacle Hills

(Coming Soon)

W. Perry Rd. | Rogers, AR

(479) 802-5200 | https://www.bespokenwa.com

REAL ESTATE - DEVELOPERS AND INVESTORS

Bryan Properties - The Bend on Promenade (Opening Soon)

4401 W. Cedar Brook | Rogers, AR 72758

(501) 613-1605 | https://www.thebendonpromenade.com

APARTMENTS

Delta Crawfish NWA

Lowell, AR 72745

(479) 200-1923 | https://deltacrawfishnwa.com

Food Products, Services, Supplies & Brokers

Emery Sapp & Sons

5168 N. Oak St. | Springdale, AR 72764

(479) 531-2235 | https://emerysapp.com

CONTRACTORS - EXCAVATING

Exit Realty Harper Carlton Group

2603 W. Pleasant Grove Rd., Unit 103 | Rogers, AR 72758

(479) 372-6246 | https://exitrealty.com/office/Rogers/AR/4573/EXIT_

REALTY_HARPER_CARLTON

REAL ESTATE - COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

Firstar Bank

6200 Massard Rd. | Fort Smith, AR 72916

(479) 551-2600 | https://www.firstar.bank

BANKS AND BANKING ASSOCIATIONS

Horner & Shifrin

3604 NW Frontage Road #6F | Bentonville, AR 72712

(479) 398-7250 | https://www.hornershifrin.com

ENGINEERS-CIVIL/ENVIRONMENTAL/ CONSULTING/TESTING

PwnCNC

225 Grant Place, Ste. C | Lowell, AR 72745

(479) 480-4337 | https://pwncnc.com

MANUFACTURERS

SideRide LLC

Lowell, AR 72745

(479) 640-7495 | https://www.sideridenwa.com

CAR AND LIMOUSINE SERVICES

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS | April 2023

30+ YEARS

APAC - Central, Inc. - 57 years

Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette - 47 years

ACE Glass - 46 years

Benchmark Group - 45 years

Simmons Bank - 43 years

Dolle Electric - 41 years

Visiting Angels of NWA - 33 years

My Other Mother Child Care Center & Pre-School - 31 years

21-30 YEARS

Boys & Girls Club of Benton CountyRogers Unit

Fairfield Inn & Suites of Rogers

HEBCO, Inc.

Job Guide

Kinco Constructors, LLC

Lindsey & Associates - Bill McClard

Sonic - Drive In Tallchamps, LLC

11-20 YEARS

Advanced Telecom Group

AMP Sign & Banner

arisa health

Barton’s Home Outlet

Bayer HealthCare

Bentonville Glass Inc.

Clear Energy, Inc.

Core Architects

Crye-Leike Realtors

Don’s Cold Storage & Transportation

First Horizon Bank

Great Southern Bank

Harness Roofing, Inc. - HRI

Hook Line & Sinker

In Retrospect Vintage - KitschFleatabulous

Kendrick Fincher Hydration for Life

Kwik Kar Service Center

Legacy National Bank

McClelland Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Ninja Realty - Christy Fournier

NWA Restore It

OneDigital Health and Benefits

Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.

Shady Beach Inc.

Smith Family Clinic

6-10 YEARS

Aelous Real Estate & Property Management

All Weather Air Service

Blew & Associates P.A.

Equity Bank

EVT - Enterprise Vision Technologies

Grand Savings Bank

Kutak Rock LLP

Living Tree Pediatrics, PLLC

Onin Staffing

Onyx Coffee Lab

Paradigm Advisors LLC

Promenade Health and Rehab

SERC Physical Therapy

Strategic Consulting Services, LLC

Top Shelf Marine

2-5 YEARS

Alison Nail-Malone

American Sharpening & Supply

America’s Car-Mart

Arkansas Swim Academy

Arkie Apparel

Beaver Lake Outdoor Center

Brick Lane

Edward Jones - Stephanie Hogan

Empowered Tax Services, PLLC

Hatfield Properties

The Higher Calling Agency, Inc. DBA

GEICO Local Office - NW Arkansas

Hissho Sushi and Craft Beer Bar

Java Dudes Coffee Company

MANA Family Medicine

Natural State Pest Control

NWA Getaways Dream Vacations

Petland Rogers

Pickleman’s Gourmet Café

Pinnacle Groves by Abby Senior Living

Renewing Grace Together

StudioChunky

United Federal Credit Union

Workman’s Travel Center Lowell/ The Ozark Mountain Grill

1 YEAR

1st Choice Flooring

Apollo IT Services

Country Inn and Suites

Encore Bank

Exos Advisors

Flooring by Design

The Joint Chiropractor

Natural State Beverage Company

Purview Life

Rogers Local Food Market

Unit Architecture

Chamber Business Connect & Educational Events

The Rogers Lowell Chamber hosts a variety of events to help build your network and learn. Below are the upcoming events to note. For more event details and to register, visit us online at RogersLowell.com.

Every Wednesday in Rogers

Presented By | Equity Business Solutions

JUNE Host Sponsor | Arvest Bank

Location | Golden Corral

Address | 2605 W Pleasant Crossing Dr. | Rogers

If you are looking to connect to businesses in Northwest Arkansas, come and join us for coffee, breakfast snacks and great connections.

BRICKS

Presented By | T-Mobile

Partner | Tyson

Location | Downtown Rogers Businesses

Art on the Bricks Art Walk showcases the art of regional artists while enhancing the artistic and cultural opportunities in Downtown Rogers.

15

presenting Sponsor | Equity Business Solutions

Address | 4201 W. Green Acres Rd. | Rogers

Networking with a Purpose allows Chamber members and community leaders an opportunity to network with local nonprofit organizations in a relaxed, informal atmosphere, similar to our Business After Hours event.

Every Friday in Fayetteville

Presented By | Printova Sign & Graphics

Location | Golden Corral

Address | 4507 North College Ave. | Fayetteville

If you are looking to connect to businesses in Northwest Arkansas, come and join us for coffee, breakfast snacks and great connections.

Presented By | Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and SERVPRO

Hosted By | Black Hills Energy at First Tee of NWA

Address | 715 E Monroe Ave. | Lowell

Set your alarm early, and join us for Coffee Connection, an awesome morning business-building networking event!

ADDRESS | Rogers Lowell Chamber 317 West Walnut, Rogers

Designed and presented by members of the Chamber’s Small Business Council (SBC), this event’s purpose is to inform members, prospects, and new representatives of all the benefits their membership investment, explain how to best utilize the Chamber’s programs and staff, and review all of the work the Chamber does behind the scenes to make Rogers, Lowell, and all of Northwest Arkansas an ideal place to live, work, and play.

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