LOVE, LITTLE ROCK 2017 ANNUAL REPORT WORKING TOGETHER IN 2017 1,101 NEW JOBS $47,467,336 NEW PAYROLL 23 PROSPECT VISITS 2017 102 METROCK $182,195,000 PARTNERS NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENT 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 3 WHY WE #LOVE LITTLE ROCK Jay Chesshir, CCE* ** Buckley O’Mell Angela Sanchez Melinda Moody* President & CEO Vice President, Advocacy Vice President, Communications Executive Director, Leadership 501.377.6002 501.377.6005 501.377.6003 Greater Little Rock [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 501.377.6012 [email protected] Graham Cobb* Paul Latture, CCE, CED* ** Kathy Perez* Janie Wayne Chief Operating Officer Vice President, Economic Executive Assistant to the Director, Finance 501.377.6007 Development; Executive Director, President & CEO; Building 501.377.6009 [email protected] Metro Little Rock Alliance Operations Manager [email protected] 501.377.6006 501.377.6010 [email protected] [email protected] LOOKING BACK AT 2017 Economic 11 Development Leadership 7 14 Advocacy MetRock Now 9 Workforce Development 13 Small Business 4 LITTLE ROCK REGIONALChairman’s CHAMBER 6 Message 15 & Diversity Kristi Barr** Autumn Wilder A.J. Reynolds Susan Miller Director, Workforce Development Manager of Events Member Development Director Receptionist (2nd Floor) and Education 501.377.6016 501.377.6013 501.374.2001 501.377.6017 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ben France** Miguel Lopez Derrell Hartwick Amy Longo Director, Business Attraction and Director, Small Business and Member Development Director Receptionist (1st Floor) Expansion Entrepreneurship 501.377.6015 501.377.6028 501.377.6004 501.377.6021 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CCE Certified Chamber Executive; CED Certified Economic Developer * Graduate, Institute for Organization Management; ** Graduate, University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute 31 Sponsors Chamber 37 Members Entrepreneurship 18 & Innovation 26 Events Member Groups People & 33 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 20 Programs 5 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE My year serving as chairman of the board for the Little Rock Regional 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 wins, networking opportunities, member- ship growth, and the many ways your chamber has served you, but I’d like to hit some highlights here. The Little Rock Technology Park held its grand opening celebration in the spring. The Tech Park is a huge success story for our region and a hub for innovators and entrepreneurs. As of October, 38 companies had moved in, and it was 83 percent leased. Phase 1 came in $2,500,000 under budget and Phase 2 is in the early planning stage. Did you know Latinos make up the fastest growing demographic group in our state? The chamber wants to serve this growing population, and major strides were taken toward meeting the needs of Hispanic business owners. The newly launched Hispanic Business Committee seeks to bridge the gap between Spanish- and English-speaking communities in our region. When it comes to workforce education, we’re thrilled that the North Little Rock School District has experienced such success with their Center for Excellence, which opened in August with 400 students enrolled, and offers career strands of medical professions, engineering, computer science, advanced manufacturing, and transportation distribution and logistics. The Little Rock School District has also launched its Excel Careers for Advanced Professional Studies, which offers classes in health professions, technology solutions, teacher preparation, and construction trades. Starting at the high school level to prepare young people for the workforce will pay big dividends for our region. Starting at the high school level 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! to prepare young people for the “workforce will pay big dividends for our region. John Riggs IV Chairman, Board of Directors 6 LITTLE ROCK” REGIONAL CHAMBER Cathy Tuggle Chairman Elect LEADERSHIP OFFICERS Vice Chairman, Small Business BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anthony Brooks Chairman Platinum Drywall, Inc. Terms Expiring 2017 John Riggs IV Curtis Barnett Riggs Family Vice Chairman, Transportation & Infrastructure Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield President & CEO William Clark State Rep. Charles Blake Jay Chesshir Clark Contractors, LLC CenArk Transportation LLC Little Rock Regional Chamber At Large Members John Harris Chairman Elect Nat Lea Coulson Oil Company, Inc. Cathy Tuggle Ronnie Dedman WEHCO Media, Inc. Apartment Hunters Kevin Huchingson Treasurer Troy Wells Colliers International Treasurer Baptist Health Ronnie Dedman Robin Miller AT&T President, Fifty for the Future Coldwell Banker RPM (Ex Officio) Ben Noble Immediate Past Chairman Gary Smith Jeff Hathaway Noble Strategies, Inc. Glass Erectors Coldwell Banker Commercial John Rutledge Hathaway Group First Security Bank SENIOR COUNCIL Gordon Silaski EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (Past Chairmen) Centennial Bank 2015 Jeff Hathaway Chairman, Economic Development Terms Expiring 2018 Rick Riley Van Tilbury Immediate Past East Harding Construction Entergy Arkansas Chad Aduddell Chairman CHI St. Vincent Chairman, Membership 2014 John Burgess Gary Smith Justin Allen Glass Erectors Mainstream Technologies Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP Chairman, Advocacy 2013 Robin Connell Ruth Whitney Hon. J. French Hill PLANTation Services Congressman, 2nd Congressional inVeritas District of Arkansas Donnie Cook Vice Chairman, Communications Bank of America Franklin McLarty 2012 Martin M. Rhodes Schawnee Hightower McLarty Companies Martin M. Rhodes Verizon Jay Chesshir Vice Chairman, Community 2011 Marcus Wallace President & CEO Development Hugh McDonald AdvantaClean Environmental Kevin Crass Entergy Arkansas of Central Arkansas Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP Alfred Williams Vice Chairman, Education BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc. & Workforce Patrick Schueck Lexicon, Inc. Vice Chairman, Public Safety Chuck Cook Regions Bank 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 7 LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ex Officio Capi Peck Tad Bohannon Chairman, Little Rock Advertising & Terms Expiring 2019 Promotion Commission CEO, Central Arkansas Water Hunter Bale Bryan Day Michael Poore Bale Chevrolet Company Superintendent, Little Rock School District Executive Director, Little Rock Port Nick Brown Authority Rodolfo Quilantán-Arenas Southwest Power Pool Marcy Doderer Consul General, Mexican Consulate Jim Cargill President & CEO, Arkansas Children’s Dr. Daniel Rahn Arvest Bank Hospital Chancellor, University of Arkansas Rajesh Chokhani Col. Gerald Donohue for Medical Sciences Welspun Tubular, LLC Commander, 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Greg Ramon Adam Mitchell Air Force Base Manager, Little Rock Water Reclamation Simmons Bank Dexter Doyne Authority Susan Reynolds Chairman, Little Rock Port Authority Kelly Rodgers The Janet Jones Company Dr. Margaret A. Ellibee Superintendent, North Little Rock School District Paul Rivera President, University of Arkansas - Pulaski Caterpillar, Inc. Technical College; Chairman, Dr. Andrew Rogerson Rodney Showmar North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Chancellor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock Arkansas Federal Credit Union Gretchen Hall Chief Executive Officer, Little Rock Ralph Shoptaw Convention & Visitors Bureau President/General Manager, Arkansas Gabe Holmstrom Livestock Show Association Over the past eight years of serving on the board, Executive Director, Downtown Hon. Joe Smith Little Rock Partnership Mayor, City of North Little Rock Hon. Barry Hyde Dr. Roderick Smothers I have seen exciting progress made in our region County Judge, Pulaski County President, Philander Smith College Dr. Joseph Jones Hon. Mark Stodola to allow economic growth for both large and small President, Arkansas Baptist College Mayor, City of Little Rock “ Ashley Kerksieck Dr. Janice Warren businesses. I am so excited to be a part of a Chairman, Create Little Rock Interim Superintendent, Pulaski County Ronald Mathieu Special School District Executive Director, Bill & Hillary Clinton passionate group that has dedicated itself to making National Airport Bruce Moore our community a better place to live and work! City Manager, City of Little Rock – Cathy Tuggle Chairman” Elect 8 LITTLE ROCK REGIONAL CHAMBER METROCK NOW The Little Rock region, made up 16,129 of vibrant corridors, is coming NEW JOBS together to form a special place to live, work, and play. Inter-city $ highways, where miles equal 563,383,257 minutes, connect unique commu- NEW PAYROLL $90,747,831 nities offering dynamic work/ life opportunities. It is our role to PROJECT GRANT FUNDS NEGOTIATED market these assets together in a cohesive manner. To sustainably grow our regional economy, we must continue to focus on assisting our existing companies with issues restricting their growth, while marketing our regional assets to new indus- tries searching for a site. Today, 2005 TO more than ever before, quality of place is defined by infrastructure, present human capital, and vibrancy. All three have to be nurtured to 102 retain and attract people, jobs, METROCK and new investment. With your $ PARTNERS help, we can empower