Jeremiah Anderson Director of Business Attraction at Little Rock Regional Chamber Jeremiah Anderson is the Director of Business Attraction for the Little Rock Regional Chamber. In this role, he leads the proactive marketing and attraction efforts for the Chamber. He also manages the pipeline of prospective companies considering Metro Little Rock for relocation and expansion opportunities.
Matthew C. Boch, J.D. Partner at Wright Lindsey Jennings Matt Boch is a tax attorney who helps businesses manage their tax liabilities by resolving their Arkansas and multistate tax problems and by leveraging economic development incentives. His clients range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, and engagements range from audits to appellate litigation. Within Arkansas, Matt is a leading tax advisor and advocate, and he has been listed by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Chambers as well as being included in Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 (2021). In addition to his work for specific taxpayers, Matt helps all Arkansas taxpayers through his policy work as Tax Counsel for the State Chamber of Commerce. Matt formerly chaired the Arkansas Bar Association Section of Taxation and the Arkansas Tax Advisory Council. Matt also authors the Wright Lindsey Jennings Arkansas Tax and Incentives Update blog. Nationally, Matt serves on the board of the National Association of State Bar Tax Sections and the State and Local Taxes Executive Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation, and he is a member of the Council on State Taxation, the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, and the Independent SALT Alliance.
Anita Brackin Vice President, Workforce Development at Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce Anita Brackin joined the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce in June 2021 as the Vice President of Workforce Development. Prior to this, Anita served as Associate Vice President, Workforce, Economic Development and Continuing Education at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis. In that role, she was responsible for fostering business and industry relationships for developing and administering workplace-training programs and community education opportunities. She worked with local, state and federal agencies to identify program resources to secure funding to expand existing programs and develop new programs to meet industry sector needs.
Jon Chadwell, CEcD Director of Newport Economic Development Commission Jon Chadwell is the Executive Director of the Newport Economic Development Commission (NEDC). The NEDC manages an economic development fund created by a one-half-cent sales tax in Newport, Arkansas. Jon has worked in local economic development for 29 years, the past 17 years in Newport. Previously he held similar positions in both Prescott and Camden, Arkansas.
Shelby Fiegel, PCED Director - Center for Community & Econ. Dev. of UCA's Center for Community & Economic Development Shelby Fiegel, PCED Director - Center for Community & Econ. Dev. of UCA's Center for Community & Economic Development https://uca.edu/cdi/ Shelby Fiegel is the Director of the University of Central Arkansas Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) and the Community Development Institute (CDI). She is an Honors graduate of Arkansas State University and holds a degree in public relations with minors in marketing and English. Shelby is a certified Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED), designated by the Community Development Council, and is a 2016 graduate of CDI.
Laura Fine State Director of Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center Laura Fine State Director of Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center http://asbtdc.org/ Laura is the State Director for the Arkansas SBTDC hosted by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She joined the program in 1989 initially engaged in training and communications roles prior to becoming Assistant State Director in 1992 and then Associate State Director in 2013. She was named State Director in 2017. Prior to joining the Arkansas SBTDC, Laura was a trainer and special projects manager for Levi Strauss & Co.
Jim Fram, CEcD CCE FM Principal & Founder of Community Growth Strategies, LLC Jim Fram is a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) and a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) with 30+ years successful economic development and senior level chamber of commerce management experience in Little Rock, AR, Bartlesville, OK, Killeen-Fort Hood, TX, Lincoln, NE, Tulsa, OK, and most recently Hot Springs, AR capping a highly successful career that began in Harrison, AR in the early 1980s.
Danny Games, CEcD, EDFP Director of Business & Economic Development at Entergy Arkansas Danny Games is the Director of Business & Economic Development for Entergy Arkansas. Based in Little Rock, Entergy’s team of economic development professionals focuses on assisting the state and local communities in becoming more competitive for attracting new businesses and supporting existing businesses throughout the Entergy Arkansas service territory.
Katherine Holmstrom, PCED Existing Business Project Manager at Entergy Arkansas Katherine Holmstrom joined Entergy’s Business and Economic Development Team in September of 2021 as the Existing Business Project Manager. In this role, she focuses on facilitating the growth of existing customers, project coordination, and external affairs.
Brandon Horvath, EDFP Consulting Manager at Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center Brandon Horvath, EDFP Consulting Manager at Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center http://asbtdc.org/ Brandon Horvath came to the Lead Center in April 2020. He is focused on increasing capital investment in ASBTDC client companies.
Linsley Kinkade, PCED Senior Director, U.S. Programs of Winrock International Linsley Kinkade, Senior Director, U.S. Programs, is responsible for developing, managing and implementing entrepreneurship, innovative ecosystem, community and workforce development projects for Winrock’s U.S. projects. Kinkade has worked directly with rural municipal and Native American tribe leaders in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma to build their capacity to improve their communities. She has mentored more than 60 community organizations across the three-state region. Kinkade’s development projects work directly with disadvantaged populations seeking training and support to enter the workforce and have led to the employment of more than 200 previously unemployed or underemployed Arkansans. She is a certified professional community and economic developer, earning her certification in 2012. She also serves on the Community Development Institute–Central Advisory Board. Prior to joining Winrock, Kinkade spent a number of years on Capitol Hill working for Rep. Vic Snyder and Sen. Blanche Lincoln. She has an in-depth understanding of the federal government grants and appropriations processes and has testified before Congress on rural development issues. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from the University of Arkansas.
Stuart S. Mackey, CCIM, SIOR Principal/Executive Vice President at Hathaway Group This real estate pro has worn a lot of hats (and ties). Stuart’s career path includes stops in professional theatre, hospital administration, ice cream, coaching (soccer) and banking before finding his home here. So he understands small business and big business. Day-to-day financials. Marketing. Leadership.
Itzel Meador SBA Director of First Security Bank As of May 2021, Itzel Meador became the SBA Director for First Security Bank. In this role, Ms. Meador will be creating and scaling a new SBA Lending platform for SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loans. Based in Searcy, AR, First Security Bank is privately held and can meet any financing need with 78 locations in AR and over $7 billion in assets. Ms. Meador is proud to be leading the efforts for future growth by handling all aspects of loan origination, processing, servicing, and liquidation of SBA loans for First Security Bank.
Charles Parker Project Director of The Retail Coach Charles Parker is a Project Director for The Retail Coach, a national municipal consulting firm that specializes in retail recruitment and development. Charles brings a strong background of economic research and entrepreneurship to his work with communities, which helps him build successful strategies for communities looking to attract new businesses, restaurants, and developers as well as revitalize their downtown districts. The Texas native earned his MBA from Mississippi State University and is an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and Main Street America. Charles is a frequent speaker at conferences, municipal leagues, and economic organizations.
Corey Parks, PCED MBA Vice President of Economic Development at Conway Area Chamber of Commerce/Conway Development Corporation Corey Parks, PCED MBA Vice President of Economic Development at Conway Area Chamber of Commerce/Conway Development Corporation https://www.conwaychamber.org/ Corey Parks is the Vice President of Economic Development for the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and Conway Development Corporation. He manages the organizations' community and economic development efforts, oversees talent and workforce development initiatives, and assists with the government affairs agenda.
Mike Preston Secretary at Arkansas Department of Commerce Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Michael “Mike” Preston executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) in March 2015 and Secretary of Commerce in July 2019. Preston is highly regarded as a leading advocate in economic development.
Shelle Randall, CEcD Director of Workforce Development & Existing Industry at Jonesboro Unlimited Shelle Randall is a Certified Economic Developer and staffing professional with over 16 years of experience in workforce development, talent attraction, project management, human resources, strategic planning, and business retention and expansion.
Andrew Ratchford Senior Consultant at Global Location Strategies Andrew has worked in real estate his entire career. With experience in non-profit housing development, county government planning, development services, and economic development as well as asset management for a private equity multi-family housing developer, Andrew brings a diverse perspective to the site selection process.
James Reddish, CEcD, CCE Executive Vice President at Little Rock Regional Chamber James Reddish joined the Little Rock Regional Chamber in March of 2018. In his capacity as Executive Vice President, James has responsibility for the chamber’s full suite of programs, events, communications, sales and member relations. He also provides strategic guidance to the chamber’s economic and workforce development team.
Shelley Short, IOM Vice President, Programs & Partnerships at Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/AIA Shelley is responsible for the development, management and execution of the chamber’s programs and strategic partnerships. She also serves as the executive director of Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives (AEDCE), the professional association of local chamber executives and economic developers in the state. Shelley is a native Arkansan with more than thirteen years of economic development experience, most recently serving as the Director of Marketing for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission before joining the State Chamber in 2015. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Management from Regent University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas. Shelley serves on the Arkansas Department of Education State Coalition for Family and Community Engagement, the Board of Directors for the MAKO Conference, and is a member of the Census 2020 Arkansas Counts Complete Count Committee. She is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Southern Economic Development Council and is a graduate of the US Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management and the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.
Jeff Standridge Managing Director of AR Conductor Dr. Jeff D. Standridge helps organizations and their leaders generate sustained results in the areas of innovation, strategy, profit growth, organizational effectiveness and leadership. Formerly a Vice President for Acxiom Corporation, he has led established and startup business units in North & South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Jeff serves as Managing Director for the Conductor (www.ARConductor.org), is Co-founder of Cadron Capital Partners, and teaches in the College of Business at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA.edu).
Kay Stebbins Director of Research and Analytics at Boyette Strategic Advisors Kay, who joined Boyette shortly after the firm was founded, is a seasoned research analyst, project lead, and strategic planning and communications professional. With a unique combination of creativity and analytical skill, she builds community and corporate strategies rooted in extensive data mining techniques.
Bentley Story, CEcD Director, Business Development of Arkansas Economic Development Commission Bentley Story is the Director of the Business Development Division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC). A native of Forrest City, Arkansas, Bentley began working at AEDC in 2007 as a Project Manager working with companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Dillard’s, and Windstream. In 2012 he was promoted to Division Director, where he oversees the work of a professional team of project managers and international representatives who are responsible for recruiting new business to Arkansas, helping existing businesses grow, and preparing communities to take advantage of economic development opportunities.
Sam Walls, III CEO of Arkansas Capital Corporation Sam Walls III has been with Arkansas Capital Corporation for 19 years and currently serves as its CEO. Arkansas Capital is a non-depository Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that has helped provide over $2 billion in capital through small business loans and project finance. Arkansas Capital works closely with state and local leaders to further economic development initiatives. Mr. Walls is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and the Bowen School of Law in Little Rock, Arkansas. Currently, he is serving as a board member of the National New Market Tax Credit Coalition, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, and the Mount St. Mary’s Foundation.
Allison J.H. Thompson, CEcD, FM, EDFP President & CEO of Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County/Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce Allison J. H. Thompson is the Pres./CEO of the Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County, Arkansas, known as the Alliance, comprising economic development and the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Alliance provides services to the Economic Development Corporation of Jefferson County and the Pine Bluff – Jefferson County Port Authority.
Mark Young, CEcD President and CEO of Jonesboro Unlimited Mark Young is President and CEO of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, serving in that capacity since April 2006. The mission of the Chamber is to enhance the quality of life in our community through service, leadership and economic development. Mark also leads the economic development organization, Jonesboro Unlimited, serving as President. Jonesboro Unlimited has recently embarked on a bold five- year strategic plan to increase prosperity in Jonesboro.
Sarah White Principal & VP of Site Selection at Global Location Strategies Sarah has worked in site selection and economic development her entire career. Her first experience was a three-year internship with the South Carolina Department of Commerce's (SCDOC) Coordinating Council for Economic Development, the incentive granting entity for the state. She then joined McCallum Sweeney Consulting for 10 years to advise corporations on their location strategy. Her experience included conducting property evaluations, workforce analysis, and incentive negotiations in the industry sectors of manufacturing, distribution, and office headquarters. Prior to joining GLS in 2019, Sarah was Director at Quest Site Solutions, a spin-off of McCallum Sweeney, where she facilitated site selection services for industrial clients as well as provided economic development consulting services.
Sharon Younger, Ph.D. President/Founder of Younger Associates Sharon Younger is president and founder of Younger Associates, Inc., an economic research and strategic communications firm that provides services to private developers, site consultants, economic development organizations and transportation agencies.
