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- Preconference Activities
10:30AM
Golf Outing - Sponsored by Nabholz
Tee times starting at 10:30 AM - 2-man Scramble
$47 per golfer - includes greens fee, tax, cart, and range balls
Country Club of Arkansas
3 Country Club Circle
Maumelle, AR 72113
1:00 PM
Tour of Amazon's LIT1 facility - Limited to 25 total attendees - Must be a member of AEDCE to attend and provide your own transportation
Amazon - LIT1
7001 Zueber Road
Little Rock, AR 72206 - AEDCE Board of Directors Meeting
Hoffman
- AT&T Hospitality Suite
Presidential Suite - Room 1915
- Registration and Continental Breakfast
Outside of Salons A, B, C
- Conference Welcome
Salon A
- General Session • Demystifying Amazon – Communities are our Business
Tonya HallettSalon A
As a company who strives to be Earth’s Best Employer, Amazon’s commitment to people stretches far beyond our employees. Focused on the intersectionality people and places, we are excited to innovate on behalf of global communities. Amazon is working to tackle barriers in the communities where it operates. This includes the work of engaging and investing in people and families to not only meet, but exceed their access to food, healthcare, education, etc. This presentation will reveal how Amazon is committed to helping business leaders, governments and organizations build a better future one community at a time.
Tonya Hallett
Vice President, People eXperience Technology (PXT) at Amazon
- Networking Break
Sponsored by Wynne Economic Development
- Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Julie Allen, PCED•Jon Chadwell, CEcD•Rush Deacon•Jennifer Emerson, EDFP•Michele Linch, PhD•Sarah McBroom•Bentley Story, CEcD•Kevin TiptonOption 1: Show Me the Money! What you should know about economic development funding options | Salon A
EB-5, Discretionary & Statutory Incentives, Economic Development Sales Taxes, PILOT Agreements, and federal grant programs are tools in the economic developer's toolkit to help make a good project even better, but how do they work? This session will explore different financial options that economic development practitioners should know about to better their community and secure their next investment.
Option 2: Career Blade Arkansas: Local chambers of commerce can now connect business and industry with their future workforce through meaningful school engagement | Hoffman
Join us to learn how Career Blade provides local chambers an opportunity to improve their value to current and prospective members by increasing the visibility and awareness of chamber members to their future workforce. By completing a short survey, chamber members’ business information will appear in Career Blade Arkansas resources that support regional and statewide workforce development at the K-12 grade levels and promote meaningful school engagement. Funded by the Arkansas Department of Education and in partnership with the Arkansas Public School Resource Center, Career Blade is a free resource for chambers, businesses and schools.
Option 3: Project Equity: Why Employee Ownership Is Economic Development’s Best-Kept Secret | Manning
Did you know that half of the businesses in your community are likely owned by business-owners that are at or nearing retirement age, many at risk of closure without an exit plan? At the same time, businesses are struggling to retain their workforce like never before amidst the “great resignation.” Join this session to learn more about employee ownership and practical ways economic developers can apply it to strengthen and retain local businesses, lower workforce turnover, and build stronger, more resilient local economies.
Julie Allen, PCED
Director of Newport Area Chamber of Commerce
Jon Chadwell, CEcD
Director of Newport Economic Development Commission
Rush Deacon
Sr. VP, Special Projects at Arkansas Capital Corporation
Jennifer Emerson, EDFP
Deputy Director & Executive Vice President of Operations at Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Michele Linch, PhD
State Director of AR Career Awareness and Preparation System (AR CAPS)
Sarah McBroom
Sr. Manager for Regional Engagement at Project Equity
Bentley Story, CEcD
Director, Business Development of Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Kevin Tipton
President at Dreamline Manufacturing
- AEDCE Awards Luncheon
The Honorable Asa HutchinsonSalons B & C
Sponsored by:
Entergy
Helena Harbor
Little Rock Regional Chamber
Mississippi County Economic Development
Newport Economic Development Commission
The Honorable Asa Hutchinson
Governor at State of Arkansas
- General Session • The Impact of DRA on Community Sustainability
Justin Archer Burch•Dr. Corey WigginsSalon A
This one-on-one conversation will focus on how the impact of Delta Regional Authority (DRA) can holistically help communities become sustainable through infrastructure, workforce, health care, and increase of human capital in the Delta region.
Justin Archer Burch
National Director of Workforce & Small Business at Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Dr. Corey Wiggins
Federal Co-Chairman at Delta Regional Authority
- Networking Break
Sponsored by West Memphis Economic Development
- General Session • Six Ways to Make Your Digital Content more Successful!
Brian AikenSalon A
There are 6 ways to become more successful in utilizing your digital content the correct way.
This presentation will guide you through these main steps with many videos and examples.
1. Make Your Videos Comprehendible Without Audio
2. Make Your Videos Shorter
3. Make Your Videos Specific
4. Stay Consistent with Your Postings
5. Use Different Types of Posts
6. Get the Most Out of Your Posts!
Brian Aiken
Founder/Director of Neon Cloud Productions
- Networking Break
Sponsored by City of North Little Rock
- Special Guest Speaker -Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Salon A
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
2022 Candidate for Governor (R) at Sarah for Governor
- Concurrent Breakout Sessions
Katherine Andrews•Kristi Barr•Kurt Castleberry•Derek Dyson•Danny Games, CEcD, EDFP•Scott Kuttenkuler•JD LoweryOption 1: Trends in the Electric Utility Industry | Salon A
Representatives from Arkansas’s electric sector will discuss trends in their industry that are related to and impact economic development. Topics to include the growth of solar development in the state, the emergence of cryptocurrency mining operations and the advancement of electric vehicles.
Option 2: Talent and Workforce Development - Two approaches to creating a culture of enhanced learning | Hoffman
The Academies of Central Arkansas and the Saline County Career Technical Campus are transforming workforce and talent development across central Arkansas. Each framework is presenting students with options to enhance their learning and skills development leading to successful careers after high school.
Option 3: Outdoor Recreation as an Economic Driver | Manning
Outdoor recreation is quickly becoming a major contributor to our nation’s economy. This session will focus on the economic impact of outdoor recreation, the creation of Offices of Outdoor Recreation across the country, and how chamber and economic development organizations can connect to this sector. This session will review national and state impact data and case studies, as well as resources to increase access, promotion, and growth.
Katherine Andrews
Director, Office of Outdoor Recreation at Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism
Kristi Barr
Director, HR & Talent Initiatives of Little Rock Regional Chamber
Kurt Castleberry
Director of Resource Planning & Market Operations at Entergy Arkansas
Derek Dyson
President & CEO of Today's Power
Danny Games, CEcD, EDFP
Director of Business & Economic Development at Entergy Arkansas
Scott Kuttenkuler
Assistant Vice Chancellor at Saline County Career Technical Campus - ASU Three Rivers
JD Lowery
Manager - Community and Economic Development at Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation
- Bus Loading and Departure for Governor's Mansion
AEDCE has arranged for transportation to and from the Governor's Mansion for the network building reception.
There will be two buses that will make trips to/from the mansion. Below is the approximate schedule. The first bus will leave at 5:45PM.
Load at 5:30 - Leave at 5:45
Load at 5:45 - Leave at 6:00
Load at 6:00 - Leave at 6:15 - Network Building Reception
AEDCE is pleased to host this year's Network Building Reception at the beautiful Arkansas Governor's Mansion. Transportation will be provided to and from the venue for conference attendees. Our entertainment for the evening will be provided by Christopher Crane (Arkansas Film Commissioner) and his band, CC and the Phunkbari 5. You don't want to miss this event!
Arkansas Governor's Mansion
1800 Center Street
Little Rock, AR 72206
Sponsored by:
Bailey Construction
Crossett Economic Development Foundation
Wright Lindsey Jennings - Bus Loading and Departure for LR Marriott
Buses will depart the Mansion at 7:30PM and 7:45PM.
- AT&T Hospitality Suite
Presidential Suite - Room 1915
- State of the State Breakfast & AEDCE Membership Meeting
Secretary Mike PrestonSalons B & C
Sponsored by:
Arkansas Capital Corporation
Jonesboro Unlimited
Monticello Economic Development Commission
Secretary Mike Preston
Secretary at Arkansas Department of Commerce
- Break
- Special Guest Speaker • Dr. Chris Jones
Salon A
Dr. Chris Jones
2022 Candidate for Governor (D) at Chris for Governor
- Networking Break
Sponsored by Magnolia Economic Development
- Site Selection Consultant Panel
Kim Moore, CEcD, EDFP, MEDP•Andrew Ratchford•Benjamin WorrellSalon A
Sponsored by:
Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County, Arkansas
Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas
OG&E
Kim Moore, CEcD, EDFP, MEDP
Executive Managing Director of Newmark
Andrew Ratchford
Senior Consultant at Global Location Strategies
Benjamin Worrell
Consultant, Credit & Incentive Services at McGuire Sponsel
- Conference Closing
Salon A
- Post Conference Add-On Sessions
Kim Moore, CEcD, EDFP, MEDP•Andrew Ratchford•Benjamin Worrell12:30 PM - Site Location Consultant Roundtable
Salons B & C
1PM - Tour of Saline County Career Technical Campus - Must provide your own transportation
13600 I-30
Benton, AR 72015
If you are traveling southbound on I-30, take exit #114 and stay on the frontage road for approximately 1 mile. The large new campus will be on your right.
If you are traveling northbound on I-30, take exit #111 and travel on US-70 W for approximately .5 miles, turn right onto the frontage road and continue for approximately .3 miles and the destination will be on your leftKim Moore, CEcD, EDFP, MEDP
Executive Managing Director of NewmarkAndrew Ratchford
Senior Consultant at Global Location StrategiesBenjamin Worrell
Consultant, Credit & Incentive Services at McGuire Sponsel