Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Annual Report

2018
annual report
1

Message from our Chairman
My year serving as chairman
of the board for the Russellville
Area Chamber has flown by, but
great things were accomplished
to grow our vibrant economy.
This annual report will provide
an overview of our economic
development efforts, networking
opportunities, and accelerated
growth of the Leadership
program, and the Chabmer saw
new major emphasis in education
and leadership training.
The new name of Russellville
Regional Leadership Academy
best defines the new interest
in the region best described as
the largest class in 33 years of
the leadership program. Class
32 easily became the largest
leadership class in the 32 year
history with a class of 30.
However, Class 33 shot past
that with a class of 40. The
fourth largest leadership class in
Arkansas.
A new successful Governmental
russellvillechamber.org
Affairs program with emphasis
on candidate interviews and
building statewide relations was
started during this year.
Workforce development
partnered with the Alliance had a
very aggressive year.
The implementation of seven
new councils during 2017
under Brad Allen was major
in changing the chamber from
an event driven chamber to a
program driven chamber aimed
at programming to build a better
community. Because of our new
direction, we were able to begin
the application process to become
a nationally accredited chamber.
Following ten months and
hundreds of hours spent in
the application process, the
Russellville Area Chamber
received the recognition of a
Four Star Accredited Chamber
of Commerce. The highest
recognition nationally is Five
Star and our chamber joined only
five other chambers in the state
as an accredited chamber.
We also congratulate the Alliance
on the many months of work in
state certification of an existing
site. Today, Newport, Little
Rock, and Russellville are the
only cities in the state with a
certified site.
These are just a few of this year’s
accomplishments that are close
to my heart, but with your help,
we’ve filled these pages with
success stories. Thank you for a
wonderful year!
Adam Anderson
Nationwide Insurance
2018 Chairman of the Board

Membership
Board
Officers
Organizational Chart
Government
Affairs
Business Leader
Andy McNeill
Staff Leader
Paul Harvel
Angela Bonds
Leadership
Business Leader
Steve Mallett
Staff Leader
Paul Harvel
Angela Bonds
Economic
Development
Business Leader
Chip Blanchard
Staff Leader
Paul Harvel
Suzy Griffin
Quality of
Place
Business Leader
Tonya Oates
Staff Leader
Tabatha Duvall
Education
Business Leader
Dr. Mark Gotcher
Staff Leader
Angela Bonds
Donna Kennamore
Paul Harvel
Membership
Services
Business Leader
Joe Wolfe
Staff Leader
Misty Lumpkins
Programs &
Events
Business Leaders
Todd Sweeden
Kylia Stewart
Staff Leader
Donna Kennamore
State Class Established
Industries
Federal Alumni Industry
Recruitment
Local Recruitment Established
Retail
Candidate
Forums
Transportation
Uncommon
Communities
Tourism
Beautification
Health &
Wellness
Arkansas
Scholars
Arkansas Tech
University
Teacher
Appreciation
Recruitment
Reevaluation
Engagement
Customer
Service
First Friday
Breakfast
Sunset Cinema
Annual
Meeting
Curriculum Shop Local Building
Retention River Valley
Standards
Business Expo
Golf
Tournament
Workforce
Development
Parks &
Recreation
Red Coat
Ambassadors
Leads Group
Top Investor
Stewards
Feedback
National Accreditation Achieved
The Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce is
pleased to announce that after a comprehensive
self-review, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has
awarded us with 4-Star Accreditation. This
prestigious honor puts us among the top 3% of
chambers nationwide. This past year, the staff,
board, and volunteers of RACC spent countless
hours completing the Accreditation process. Our
task: demonstrate competency in 9 core areas
ranging from finance to facilities. The result of our hard-work is evidenced by this impressive rating. But in
truth, we should all be extraordinarily proud of this milestone achievement.
3

Governmental Affairs
Volunteer Executive:
Andy McNeill, Denali Water
Solutions, Chair of Governmental
Affairs
Staff Responsibility:
Paul Harvel, President & CEO
Angela Bonds - Director of
Leadership Development and
Governmental Affairs
Staying informed and updated on
legislative affairs at the national
and local levels is important to our
members. The Chamber of Commerce
provided many opportunities for
members to meet, talk and share
concerns with local, state and national
leaders.
Federal Government
Congressman Steve Womack was
invited by the Chamber of Commerce
in April. A round-table discussion
was held for Chamber members and
area businesses sent in questions for
the congressman prior to the event
regarding business-related issues.
Congressman Womack made a second
trip to meet with Chamber members
in August and provided an update on
legislation.
Russellville had the largest
delegation in the state to participate
in the Arkansas State Chamber of
Commerce Washington DC Fly-
In April 17-19. Meetings occurred
in the offices of Senators John
Boozman and Tom Cotton, and with
US Representatives Steve Womack,
French Hill, and Bruce Westerman.
Topics of meetings were national
issues, Arkansas Tech University, and
sales tax on online sales.
Senator John Boozman was the guest
speaker at the mid-year Arkansas
Valley Alliance meeting at Arkansas
Tech University where over 150
Alliance and Chamber Members
attended. Congressman French Hill
made a visit to Russellville where
over 60 people attended to hear a
congressional update at the Chamber
of Commerce Office.
Candidate Forums
Candidate forums were held for
Chamber members prior to elections
for the District 16 Senate seat,
District 17 House of Representative
seat, Pope County Judge, and City
Council. A mayoral candidate forum
was held during our November First
Friday Breakfast.
russellvillechamber.org

Education
Volunteer Executive
Dr. Mark Gotcher, Russellville
School District, Chair of
Education
Staff Responsibility
Angela Bonds - Director of
Leadership Development and
Governmental Affairs
Donna Kennamore - Office Manager
and Events Coordinator
Paul Harvel, President & CEO
Arkansas Tech
University
In collaboration with Arkansas
Tech University, the third annual
Paint the Town Green & Gold
was held in September. Local
businesses were encouraged to
decorate the interior and/or
exterior of their business. While
many businesses participated,
twenty-seven entered the
decorating competition for the
coveted traveling trophy.
A festival was held downtown
that included local bands, a peprally,
awards, children games
led by Arkansas Tech athletes,
food trucks, pictures in the alley
by a local photographer and the
university’s ambassador Jerry the
Bulldog.
The week culminated with the
traditional party in the plaza and
football game on Arkansas Tech’s
campus.
The 4th annual Paint the Town
Green & Gold event has been set
for September 9-14, 2019.
Russellville School
District
The Arkansas Scholars
Recognition Banquet was held at
Russellville High School, and 80
seniors, who had to meet certain
requirements, were honored
with a special dinner and award.
Brandon Wright with the Norman
Career Services of Arkansas Tech
University was the guest speaker.
5

Leadership
Volunteer Executive
Steve Mallett, City Corporation,
Chair of Leadership Russellville
Staff Responsibility
Paul Harvel, President & CEO
Angela Bonds - Director of
Leadership Development and
Governmental Affairs
Having current and future leaders
that are involved and support
the community is one of the
Russellville Area Chamber of
Commerce’s most important goals.
The Russellville Area Chamber of
Commerce leadership program is
designed to identify, educate and
motivate potential leaders.
Class 32
Leadership Russellville Class 32
was the second largest class in
the history of the program with
30 participants. It started in the
fall of 2016 and concluded in
June 2017. In January, the class
learned about Health and Wellness
in the River Valley. Tours of
the Russellville Senior Activity
Center and Pediatric Plus started
the day. Saint Mary’s Regional
Health System highlighted
various aspects of the hospital
and CEO Jim Davidson met with
the group to tell the Saint Mary’s
story. A Sherwood Urgent Care
representative also met the group
that day. The day finished up with
the group traveling to the Saint
Mary’s Wellness & Fitness Center.
In February, State Government
Day was an overnight trip to
Little Rock. On day one the
class convened at the Little
Rock Regional Chamber of
Commerce and heard from field
representatives from the office
of Congressman Steve Womack
and Senators John Boozman
and Tom Cotton, as well as
Skip Rutherford, Dean of the
Clinton School of Public Service.
Leadership Springdale and
Leadership Russellville met for a
group dinner and reception. Day
two consisted of meeting three
lobbyists at the State Chamber
of Commerce. Randy Zook of
the State Chamber and other
lobbyists spoke to the group about
their lobbying efforts and current
legislation that will affect the
business community. The class met
Governor Asa Hutchinson, toured
the State Capitol and concluded
the day with a luncheon with local
representative Trevor Drown at
the Little Rock Club.
City and Regional Government
was discussed in March. The
class met with regional mayors
from Morrilton, Pottsville, Dover
and Russellville in an effort to
learn more about the different
communities and the River Valley
region as a whole. The group also
met at City Hall for lunch with city
department directors from Police
& Fire, Code Enforcement and
Community Development, Animal
Shelter & Animal Control, and
the Regional Airport. Leadership
Russellville ended the day
attending a city council meeting.
Education in the area was reviewed
in length and included tours of
a local elementary school, the
junior high, the Center for the
Arts, the high school and career
center. Presentations from various
Arkansas Tech representatives and
a tour of campus concluded the
day.
russellvillechamber.org

Hospitality and Tourism are
important economic aspects in
the area. Leadership got a chance
to hear from local leaders from
the state park, advertising &
promotion commission, and the
hospitality association.
June’s leadership graduation
featured Dr. Phillip McClure as
guest speaker and presentations of
community projects. This year’s
projects included the purchase
of drug take back boxes for local
precincts, a River Valley Trade
Expo and two solar benches to be
placed on El Paso.
A New Name a New Year
In August Leadership Russellville
changed its name to Russellville
Regional Leadership Academy
(RRLA). The name change
provides a more regional appeal
to participants. Anyone interested
throughout the river valley area
are encouraged to apply.
The Russellville Regional
Leadership Academy set a new
record with 40 participants in
the 2018-19 class. Making it the
4th largest leadership class in the
state. Class 33 is comprised of
individuals from Yell, Johnson and
Pope Counties.
Class 33 held an opening
overnight retreat at Mountain
Harbor Resort on Lake Ouachita
in September. Dr. Phillip McClure
and his wife Theresa, of McClure
Professional Services, provided
leadership team building and skills
training to the group.
The leadership session in
November focused on Federal
and County government. Field
representatives from Congressman
Steve Womack’s office and from
Senator John Boozman and
Tom Cotton’s office spoke to
participants about their duties,
locations of their state offices and
current legislation. Pope County
Judge Jim Ed Gibson spoke to
the class at the Courthouse about
county operations, his proudest
accomplishments of his 20 years
in office and introduced the class
at the monthly quorum court
meeting.
Class 33 will continue to meet
monthly for sessions from January-
June 2019.
Leadership Alumni-new
program
This newly formed organization
met two times in 2018. The alumni
association approved several
action items to work on. They
will present a Distinguished
Leadership Alumni award to a
former graduate of the class. The
first Distinguished Alumni award
was presented to state senator
Breanne Davis at Leadership
graduation. Alumni will also
serve as the main recruitment
arm for the leadership program,
assist when needed in curriculum
building and serve as session
leaders.
7

Economic Development
Volunteer Executive
Chip Blanchard, First State Bank,
Chair of Economic Development
Council
Staff Responsibility
Paul Harvel, President & CEO
Suzy Griffin, Executive Vice
President - Economic Development
In 2018, the Chamber worked closely
with the Arkansas Valley Alliance on
economic development programs with
the goal of supporting established
employers (existing business and
industry) and the jobs they provide.
At the same time, we have worked
on developing prospects to bring
future jobs and investment to our
community. Workforce development
is a critical for supporting existing
jobs and attracting new jobs.
Prospect development efforts
have been focused on building our
relationship with the AEDC. Many
hours have been worked to achieve
“Competitive Community” status from
the AEDC. Having our industrial
sites, including the Dalton King
building ready to show is important in
attracting prospects and creating new
jobs. Working with the Alliance, we
are developing a marketing campaign
to attract and keep workforce in the
area, which will support current and
future employers. Looking at more
long-range growth and jobs, we have
continued to invest staff time and
resources into the Intermodal project.
Supporting current
jobs at existing/
established employers
As a partner with the Alliance we
supported seven local companies in
2018 that expanded or made plans
to expand. We participated with the
Alliance to host a meeting featuring
Tom Kennedy with Entergy, where
future plans for Arkansas Nuclear
One were discussed. Poco Graphite
used the Chamber office for corporate
meetings and were successful in their
efforts to keep jobs in Russellville.
Over 26 industries have been visited
and many more have been contacted
in 2018. Local companies have
been given assistance with many
things including utility tax-credit
information, information about new
sales tax exemption for replacement
parts in manufacturing, information
on training grants, information on
plant closings in other communities,
and contact information for
international trade resources.
Wage and Benefit
survey- new program
In response to requests from
established industries, an expanded
wage and benefit study was conducted
in November 2018. Chamber
and Alliance staff developed a
comprehensive survey that included
average wages for different job
categories and levels, work shift
information, incentive programs,
and detailed questions about health
insurance and other benefits.
Workforce
Development to
support current and
future jobs- new
program
Efforts to support workforce
development as a partner of the
Alliance continued in 2018. Training
needs survey results were reviewed
by a group of leaders from education
and industry in January. Industries
were invited to a meeting in March
to learn more about the Springdale
workforce development program,
and discuss future plans for our
local program. In April, industries
were invited to have lunch and tour
Rockline Industries. At Rockline,
they held a round-table discussion
focused on workforce development,
and other common issues and
concerns. In June the Chamber
and Alliance co-hosted a luncheon
for industries to hear about the
Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and
the Arkansas Workforce Initiative.
At the luncheon, the AEDC reviewed
the program that was developed to
create standardized profiles for entry
level jobs and identify overlapping
training needs. Local employers who
attended were Tyson, Poco Graphite,
Entergy, Greenville Tube, Hackney-
Ladish, Rockline, Firestone, and Zero
Mountain. In April, Chamber and
Alliance staff along with existing
industries toured the UACCM
Workforce Training Center as part
of their grand opening, to learn
more about what is offered in order to
make recommendations to our local
companies. Governor Hutchinson was
the featured speaker. In October, the
Chamber and Alliance participated
in Arkansas Tech’s manufacturing
day program for area high school and
college students. The purpose of the
event was to recruit local workers for
manufacturing jobs.
Prospect Development
for future job
creation- new program
In 2018 we continued to build our
relationship with the Arkansas
Economic Development Commission
(AEDC). With the Alliance, we
hosted a staff breakfast for the AEDC
in April. In August, the Chamber
and the Alliance hosted the AEDC
Commission board members in
Russellville. Their visit included a
tour of ConAgra for commission
members and staff, a welcome dinner,
board meeting, and spouses’ brunch.
Competitive
Communities Initiativenew
program
The Chamber and Alliance committed
to participate in the Competitive
Communities Initiative (CCI) as
requested by the Governor’s office
and the AEDC in April 2018. CCI
is a comprehensive review program,
russellvillechamber.org

that came as a directive from the
Governor, in which the AEDC looks
at different aspects of economic
development in a community.
The four components of CCI are
Economic Development Organization,
Economic Development Funding,
Workforce Narrative, and Product
Readiness (sites and buildings).
Many staff hours have gone into this
extensive review process. Working
with Arkansas Tech, UACCM,
City and County officials, and local
Workforce Development Center
personnel, the information was
compiled and submitted to the AEDC.
By participating in this program, we
are letting the Governor, the AEDC,
and prospective companies know that
we are ready to compete for jobs.
Certified Site - New
Program
One of the requirements of CCI
is to have a “certified” site. The
Chamber would like to congratulate
the Alliance for their many months
of work to have an industrial site
in Russellville certified in October
2018. We are one of three cities in
the state that have a certified site,
which demonstrates a high level of
preparation to a prospective company.
The criteria to be certified includes
an environmental study, soils tests,
clearance for endangered species and
historical significance, information
about flood plains, earthquake zones,
utilities, zoning laws, and more. The
Alliance plans to have additional sites
certified in 2019.
Economic Development
Strategic Five-Year
Plan- new program
At the request of the state, the
Chamber and the Alliance completed
a regional economic development
strategic five-year plan. The
strategic plan covers many aspects of
maintaining and growing a healthy
local economy, including business
retention and expansion, retail
development, industry and business
recruitment, leadership development,
entrepreneurship and talent
development, and quality of place.
Retail Developmentnew
program
Two trips to visit out of state
prospects were made with the Alliance
in 2018. Chamber staff worked hard
over a period of weeks to clean up
the Dalton King building and get it
ready to show prospects, and it has
been shown several times during
the year. We have submitted sites in
response to requests for information
(RFI) from the AEDC, and directly
to prospective companies. Two trips
to Dallas were made in 2018, to visit
professional site consultants for the
purpose of marketing the Dalton
King building, and promoting retail
development. With the Alliance, we
attended a retail trade show in Las
Vegas in May 2018, and we plan to
host a Russellville booth at a retail
trade show in Fort Worth in 2019 for
the recruitment of retail industry.
Intermodal project
After being on hold for many years,
the Intermodal project was given the
green light to move ahead in June
2018, when a Federal court dismissed
a lawsuit filed by opposition to the
project. In July, the Chamber and
Alliance arranged a meeting with
Senator Boozman for Intermodal
officers. In August, the past operator
of the Little Rock port, Paul Latture
Jr. was invited to conduct a working
session with the Intermodal board.
Also in August, a meeting with
Congressman Steve Womack was
arranged. We have been in contact
with property owners, and are
working to have the map of property
owners updated in order to make
additional contacts. In October, we
arranged a meeting and tour of the
Little Rock Port. Intermodal board
members heard about the forty-year
process of building a port, and how
the slack-water harbor in Little Rock
was put together forty-five years ago.
The rail set-up at the Little Rock port
and how all of these things apply
to the current Intermodal project
in Russellville were reviewed. This
project, through it is very long-range
in nature, could have lasting benefits
for our community and improve our
ability to compete for jobs.
9

Membership & Membership Relations
Volunteer Executive
Joe Wolfe, JBS, Chair of
Membership & Membership
Relations
Staff Responsibility
Misty Lumpkins, Director of
Membership Relations
In January the Membership
Services council got right to work
with Joe Wolfe from JBS as our
business leader. We had several
members that were interested in
being a part of this council, so at
our first meeting we decided to
split into two groups – Member
Focus Group and Re-evaluation
Group.
Vacationers/
Engagement – New
Program
The Member Focus Group
concentrated on how to get our
members more engaged in the
Chamber. The “Vacationers”
were established by the creative
minds in this group, and they
made their first appearance at the
Alliance Mid-Year Meeting at
Arkansas Tech University. The
“Vacationers” have made several
appearances since that first day,
russellvillechamber.org
and it fits perfectly with our
motto “Learn, Work, and Live
Like You’re on Vacation,” they
portray that in their appearances.
This group implemented great
changes on the time line on posts
and how we can market ourselves
better with the suggestions on
our social media presence and
how to show the fun side of the
Chamber. All of these efforts help
with retention and recruitment
of members. We will be meeting
more in 2019 to accelerate
implementations of the changes
we have made.
Tiered Dues – New
Program
The Re-evaluation Group
concentrated on bringing our
Chamber to the next level and in
line with other chambers around
the state/country by creating a
tiered dues structure that would
benefit every member. After 3
months of constructing the levels
and structuring the benefits
in each tier, the Re-evaluation
Group presented a tiered dues
structure to our Chamber Board
of Directors that was approved.
This group also made it possible
for us to apply for our Chamber to
become an Accredited Chamber
of Commerce with this change
in our membership investment
structure. With other additions
to the Program of Work and
after months of effort from
the staff, the Accreditation was
accepted by the US Chamber
of Commerce. We have only
scratched the surface visiting
with members to move to the new
structure. In 2019 many more
members will make the change
because they will see the benefits
of moving to tiered due.
Leads Group – New
Program
Leads Group is a new addition
to the Chamber that was created
for the purpose of producing
networking sales for our members
in February. This group was
designed similar to the Leads
Group in Little Rock that has
been very successful for the past
14 years. This group focuses on
generating leads with the current
Chamber client base, family
and friends for other members
in the group. In its first year it
has generated over forty leads

with thousands of dollars in
revenue for those members. This
group will be a major player in
networking sales in 2019.
Red Coat Ambassadors
The Red Coat Ambassadors are
also a part of the Membership
Services council. The
Ambassadors are a group of
men and women that are voted
on by their peers to be part of
this elite group of volunteers.
They help us by visiting with our
members throughout the year
with no purpose other than to
check on them, finding out how
their businesses are doing, and to
see if there is anything we can do
for our members. They help us
celebrate our members in special
times such as 42 ribbon cuttings,
groundbreaking, anniversaries
and expansions this year alone.
The ground breaking for The
Arbors Assisted Living project
brings a capital investment of
$25,000,000 with over 100 jobs for
Russellville. They have delivered a
countless number of Welcome to
the Chamber packets, to welcome
our new members to the Chamber.
They have volunteered over
500 hours by visiting with 752
members at least once this year,
by greeting our members and
guests at First Friday Breakfast,
helping our exhibitors and guests
at the River Valley Business Expo,
welcoming members and guests at
Arkansas Valley Alliance Mid-Year
Meeting, escorting members and
guests to their tables at the Annual
Meeting just to name a few. When
ever they are asked to attend
candidate forums or town hall
meetings with our legislators they
are there. They worked tirelessly
to represent the Russellville area
in everything they do.
Staff Driven Initiatives
Our membership has grown this
year with over 70 new member
businesses that have joined,
which brings the total number of
members to 761. Our retention
rate of members is at 91.6% which
is up from 89% last year. Our
members are more engaged and
involved than they have been in
years past.
We continued to host Membership
Feedback Meetings to hear what
our members want us to do and
what we are doing well, so we can
continue to move forward as a
Chamber for the community as a
whole.
Our members are our number
one priority, the Chamber staff
and interns visited with all local
members to say thank you for your
membership, when we delivered
our membership plaques and
decals between April and the end
of June. Our goal is to have your
Chamber staff and interns visit
members at the beginning of the
year in 2019, so look for your new
plaque and decal coming soon.
In the fall we completed the
advertising sales of 32 ads for the
new Community Profile & Buyers
Guide where we will have 5,000
copies available and an online book
to view in January 2019. They will
be delivered to our membership
and prospective professional and
citizens that are visiting or moving
to the Russellville area.
We’ve had approximately 20
events and programs in 2018
with support from 120 businesses
with sponsorships and over 250
businesses involved at these events.
11

Programs & Events
Volunteer Executive
Kylia Stewart, Suddenlink Media
- Altice USA , & Todd Sweeden,
Sweeden Florist, Co-Chairs of
Programs & Events
Staff Responsibility
Donna Kennamore- Office Manager
and Event Coordinator
First Friday Breakfast -
New Program
The First Friday Breakfast was a new
program added to our Program for
2018, and it has reached more of our
members than any other program
that has been started. It was our goal
to bring in guest speakers who can
help build our economy and put our
community on the map. During these
events, we have averaged over 100
attendees with standing room only.
The First Friday Breakfast events that
took place in 2018 are as follows:
• Russellville School District: Dr.
Mark Gotcher - Dr. Gotcher is
the superintendent of the 5,200
student Russellville School
District. Dr. Gotcher spoke on the
importance of public education and
building community relationships.
• Russellville City Mayor: Randy
Horton - Mayor Horton gave the
State of the City Address which
focused on economic development
and what he and the city council
have been able to accomplish
within our community.
• Director of Tourism for the
Arkansas Department of Parks
and Tourism: Jim Dailey - Mr.
Dailey conveyed how important
tourism dollars are for the state
and our region.
• Arkansas Economic Development
Commission Director: Mike
Preston - Mr. Preston is the first
professional Economic Developer
to be appointed to the position.
This was a priority of Governor
Hutchinson. It is apparent Mr.
Preston and the AEDC has become
our number one partner in job
creation in Russellville.
• Arkansas Highway Commissioner
Director: Philip Taldo - Mr.
Taldo reviewed highway funding
and several prospects coming
up and stated Russellville has a
tremendous potential for growth.
We look at Philip Taldo as OUR
Highway Commissioner.
• Leadership Graduation: Phillip
McClure - Mr. McClure of
McClure Professional Services
spoke to the 29 graduates of
Leadership Russellville Class 32
and encouraged the new leaders
to go forth and take their gained
knowledge to make a difference.
• CEO of Saint Mary’s Regional
Health System: Jim Davidson
- Mr. Davidson reviewed the
economic importance of the health
care industry and health care
services in Russellville.
• Mayor of Little Rock: Mark
Stodola - As this year’s President
of the National League of Cities,
Mayor Stodola, spoke about what
it takes to be a leader and the
characteristics of good leadership
individuals.
• President of Arkansas Tech
University: Dr. Robin E. Bowen
- Dr. Bowen was able to boast
about a record enrollment year
and highlighted the numerous
successful programs that makes
ATU a well sought after University
to attend.
• Russellville Mayoral Candidate
Forum - Mayor Randy Horton,
Alderman Freddie Harris, and
Richard Harris had an opportunity
to answer a few questions and to
give an overview as to why they
were running for the position of
russellvillechamber.org

Mayor of Russellville.
Bash at the Ballpark
Bash at the Ballpark was held in
conjunction with the Multi-Sport
Complex dedication. Building these
business relationships with both
schools is a top priority of the business
community.
Sunset Cinema
This summer and fall The Chamber
of Commerce hosted three Sunset
Cinema evenings out at the Lake
Dardanelle State Park. With all
three movies combined, we had 500+
people from our community enjoying
the festivities which included bump’n
jumps, popcorn/cotton candy, and food
hot off the grill. With our 12 sponsors
contributing to these fun-filled nights
many door prizes were given away as
well.
River Valley Business
Expo
In August we hosted the 15th Annual
River Valley Business Expo. It was
a huge success with 104 vendors,
numerous sponsors, and over 3100
in attendance. The Preview Party
included live music and wonderful
food provided by our sponsors. Over
100 door prizes were given away with
our grand prize winner taking home a
Patriot 8.5 foot kayak.
13

Quality of Place
Volunteer Executive
Tonya Oates, Turning Point
Behavioral Health, Chair of
Quality of Place
Staff Responsibility
Tabatha Duvall, Communication
Director
The Quality of Place committee
began meeting regularly in
2018 and began planning
upcoming projects, figuring
out how to help on existing
projects, and completed a
fundraiser in the fall.
Uncommon Communities
In March, the Quality of Place
committee hosted the other
four Uncommon Communities’
county steering committees.
Over 50 attendees were able to
learn about the importance of
entrepreneurship in the modern
economy. The attendees also
completed a driving tour of
Russellville which produced a
“First Impressions Guide.” This
guide contains what those from
outside our community gathered
as their first impression of
Russellville, and the things they
think we should capitalize on or
could improve upon.
Beautification
The Quality of Place council
began working on a pocket
park project that will be located
under the Main Street Overpass
at Boston Avenue. There were
two clean up days scheduled in
November to start the process,
council members helped
produce a mock-up of what
the park could be, and a $2600
grant was received from the
Russellville Board of Realtors.
Another $1000 grant from the
Vaughn Grisham Foundation
and Pope County Community
Foundation was matched from
$500 of proceeds from the
2016 Farm to Fork dinner to go
toward the repaving project that
will be happening in connection
with City Corporation’s updates
to the downtown water lines.
Farm to Fork
In October, the 3rd Annual
Farm to Fork dinner sold out.
A five course meal was prepared
by local chef, Ken Dempsey,
along with students from
Arkansas Tech’s Hospitality
Administration department
and the Arkansas Tech Career
Center. Local farms, like
Ralston Family Rice, and other
producers, like Cypress Valley
Meats, helped provide all locally
sourced ingredients for the meal
and gifts for the attendees to
take home.
russellvillechamber.org

Communication & Marketing
Staff Responsibility
Tabatha Duvall, Communication
Director
Paul Harvel, President & CEO
The marketing outreach of the
Chamber continued to grow
in 2018. Online, there were
over 35,000 individual visitors
to the Chamber of Commerce
website, and the number of
followers on Instagram and
the average Facebook post
reach each doubled. This is due
largely to the implementation
of live video on Facebook and
regular posts to the Instagram
page. The weekly emails to the
members reached a 30% open
rate, which compares to a 21%
national average.
A New Approach
The Chamber and the Arkansas
Valley Alliance for Economic
Development have recently
partnered on a marketing
initiative to really promote the
Quality of Life in the River
Valley. The main goals of
this campaign are to attract
employees, and their spouses, to
the River Valley and to entice
local talent, including recent
Arkansas Tech Graduates, to
stay in the River Valley to work.
The themes that will be used
in our advertisements include
“Learn, Work, Live Like You’re
on Vacation,” and “Graduate to
Good Living.”
Many of the audiences the
Arkansas Valley Alliance and
Russellville Area Chamber are
attempting to reach, including
the 18-25/recent graduate
market, are receiving their
information from the internet.
The websites for the Chamber
and Alliance will be updated
to become more attractive to
potential employees, and much
of the marketing will be done
online, in addition to carefully
selected printed publications.
Advertisement in economic
development magazines have
already been placed aimed at
industry recruitment using
the same theme. Marketing for
new industry and expanding
industry will be around Quality
of Life and Quality of Place.
15

Communication & Marketing
we spend weekends
online
Petit Jean State Park
Stay connected with your loved ones.
Russellville is home to nearly 500 acres of city parks, plus four
state parks right in our region. We also happen to be surrounded
by two national forests and a national river. In Russellville, there
is always an opportunity to connect with the great outdoors and
your friends and family. Live like you’re on vacation.
708 West Main • Russellville, AR 72801 • 479.968.2530
russellvillechamber.org • arkansasvalleyalliance.com
russellvillechamber.org

Communication & Marketing
we can be a bit
dramatic...
...but we put on a good show.
Russellville is home to The Center for the Arts, a
1,875 seat performance hall, right on the campus of
Russellville High School. Every year, local productions
from the schools, River Valley Arts Center, and
Russellville Dance Foundation fill the seats and
national acts are known to rock the house!
708 West Main • Russellville, AR 72801 • 479.968.2530
russellvillechamber.org
17

Communication & Marketing
IT’S A
ROUGH LIFE...
...but someone has to live it.
Why not you? Russellville was voted by Zippia as the best worklife
balance in the state of Arkansas, and with our miles of streams
and acres of lakes, you can live life in the fast lane or float the day
away.
illinois bayou
708 West Main • Russellville, AR 72801 • 479.968.2530
russellvillechamber.org • arkansasvalleyalliance.com
russellvillechamber.org

2018 Chamber Officers & Council Chairs
Adam Anderson
Nationwide Insurance
Chair
Joe Wolfe
JBS
Vice-Chair
Dana Caldwell
JTS Financial
Secretary/Treasurer
Brad Allen
McDonald’s
Immediate Past Chair
Tony Lee
Lee’s Trash Service
Officer
Jim Davidson
Saint Mary’s Regional Health System
Officer
Chip Blanchard
First State Bank
Officer
Andy McNeill
Denali Water Solutions
Government Affairs
Steve Mallett
City Corporation
Leadership
Dr. Mark Gotcher
Russellville School District
Education
Tonya Oates
Turning Point
Quality of Place
Chip Blanchard
First State Bank
Economic Development
Joe Wolfe
JBS
Membership Services
Todd Sweeden
Sweeden Florist
Programs & Events
Kylia Stewart
Suddenlink Media - Altice USA
Programs & Events
19

708 West Main Street, Russellville, AR 72801
Office: 479.968.2530 Fax: 479.968.5894
chamber@russellvillechamber.com
russellvillechamber.org
Chamber Staff
Paul Harvel
President & CEO
PHARvel@arkrivernow.com
Suzy Griffin
Executive vice president -
Economic Development
sgriffin@russellvillechamber.com
angela bonds
director of leadership development
and governmental affairs
abonds@russellvillechamber.com
Tabatha Duvall
Communication Director
tduvall@russellvillechamber.com
charleigh Kennamore
economic development assistant
ckennamore@russellvillechamber.com
donna Kennamore
office manager and events coordinator
dkennamore@russellvillechamber.com
Mallory Leavell
receptionist & Membership Relations
chamber@russellvillechamber.com
MISTY LUMPKINS
Director of Membership Relations
MLUMPKINS@russellvillechamber.com
jazmin hughes
Membership Relations
chamber@russellvillechamber.com
russellvillechamber.org