FNBEA to hold St. Jude Benefit 5K

First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas To Hold St. Jude Benefit 5K

First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas, in partnership with KFIN, will hold the Race for the Cure 5K benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on Saturday, October 29, 2016. The race will begin at 8:00 a.m. and both start and end at the FNBEA Osceola Branch, located at 1460 W Keiser Avenue in Osceola. Pre-registration before October 14 is $25, and guarantees a t-shirt for the race. Late registration is $30 and begins October 15, and day-of registration will be available from 7:00 – 7:45 a.m. the morning of the race.

In addition to awards for each age group, there will also be a battle of the schools between Osceola and Rivercrest as a challenge to see which school can raise the most donations for St. Jude. Since students will be gathering donations to give at school, students will have a discounted race entry fee of $10 as an incentive to participate in the 5K itself.

Click here for the general registration form.

Click here for the student registration form.

For more information, contact Taylor Lucius at First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas at 870-622-0400 extension 1504, or stop by the bank.

First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas is a proud member of the Osceola/SMC Chamber of Commerce.

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Free Business Development Conference Set for September 30

2016 NORTHEAST ARKANSAS BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
“Innovation & Inclusion:  Creating Job Opportunities in the Rural Marketplace”

Innovation, inclusion and job creation in rural Arkansas will be the key words at an upcoming regional conference to be held in Blytheville, Arkansas.  Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, the 2016 Northeast Arkansas Business & Enterprise Development Conference, with a theme of “Innovation & Inclusion:  Creating Job Opportunities in the Rural Marketplace” will bring together approximately 20 private, state, federal and nonprofit organizations with a singular mission of equipping small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills and resources to start and expand their businesses.

Hosted by the Arkansas Human Development Corporation (AHDC), Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC), Arkansas State University-Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), Mississippi County Economic Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the conference will be held Friday, September 30, 2016 from 8:30 am – 2:00 pm at the Holiday Inn - Blytheville, 1121 Main Street, Blytheville, AR 72315. Topics will include but are not limited to, building effective partnerships, securing capital, how to sell goods and services to the government, and social media.

Join us at 8:30 am for a “Lenders Roundtable Breakfast,” where participants will network with local, regional and statewide lenders. Organizations invited to participate include Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, Communities Unlimited, Eastern Arkansas Planning and Development District, FORGE, Farmers Bank and Trust, Hope Credit Union, Southern Bancorp, USDA – Rural Development …and MORE! Lunch will also be provided.

Current business owners and those just getting started, youth entrepreneurs, business and technical school students, apprentices, veterans and community and economic development professionals, are invited to attend this unique opportunity. You will engage with other business owners, receive help with research and business planning, learn how to increase your networking results and learn to do more business with government and private industry. Mr. Samuel Rikkers, Administrator, Rural Business Cooperative Services – USDA, Rural Development, Washington, DC will be luncheon speaker. 

Don’t miss the opportunity to help your community create needed JOBS by learning valuable insights to help your small business GROW! And, INNOVATE! 

Click here to download the flyer.

AN INVESTMENT OF TIME IS THE COST TO ATTEND BUT REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED.

You may register by calling Arkansas Human Development Corporation at (800) 482-7641  

or online at http://goo.gl/McuCqE

Information submitted by:

Arkansas Human Development Corporation

Contact: Clevon Young

cyoung@arhdc.org

501-374-1103

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Call for Participants: 2016 Leadership Academy

Due to its overwhelming positive response and success last year, the Osceola/South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the continuation of a

program that will enrich the local workforce and professional community.

The Leadership Academy of Osceola and South Mississippi County is relaunched last year after a nine year hiatus. "We had a lot of new people in leadership positions or on their way there, so the time was right to bring it back," said Chamber Director Ammi Tucker. The goal of the academy is to help identify and strengthen those that have community leadership potential, as well as help local businesses and industries cultivate potential leaders and increase opportunities to promote from within.

The Academy will take place in one day-long meeting per month from September through December, and culminate with a day trip to Little Rock in early 2017. Each session will be interactive, hands-on, and designed to equip participants with the tools that will better prepare them for leadership opportunities within the community as well as their organization or company. In a new twist to the program, sessions will be held at various locations in communities throughout South Mississippi County to help make participants more aware of the people, places, and resources in our area.

The 2015 Leadership Academy Class recognized for completion.

The Chamber is striving to keep the Leadership Academy rich in content yet still accessible. The tuition fee is $350 per participant and includes meals and snacks, program materials, transportation & meal during the Little Rock visit planned for early 2017. A discounted tuition per participant is available if any company wishes to enroll three or more employees. Also, a limited number of scholarships may be awarded to businesses or nonprofit organizations with 10 or fewer employees.

Sessions begin Wednesday, September 7, and the deadline for applications is Friday, September 2, 2016.  For more information about the Leadership Academy, or to inquire about sponsor and partnership opportunities, contact Ammi Tucker at 870-563-2281 or osceolachamber@sbcglobal.net

Helpful quick links:

Download the Leadership Academy Application for Enrollment

Download the Leadership Academy Program Booklet 
Download the Leadership Academy Scholarship Application
Download the Leadership Academy Sponsorship Commitment Form

Osceola/SMC Chamber Initiatives information

Local Business Owner Receives National Recognition

Garden City, NY – The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) honors Linda Moore as a 2015-2016 inductee into its VIP Woman of the Year Circle. She is recognized with this prestigious distinction for leadership in business. NAPW is the nation’s leading networking organization exclusively for professional women, boasting more than 700,000 members and over 200 operating Local Chapters.

“I am pleased to welcome Linda into this exceptional group of professional women,” said NAPS President Star Jones. “Her knowledge and experience in her industry are valuable assets to her company and community.”

Almost two decades ago, Linda Moore moved from New Jersey to Blytheville. In search of employment, Linda applied for a payroll clerk position, but was hired as a Front Office Clerk at a staffing service. After working with this service for one year, she was promoted to Office Manager. Three years later, she was offered the opportunity to start Dawson Employment Service with a silent partner. She has been there for the past 18 years.

After eventually buying out her partner, Linda became the sole Owner, President, and Director of Operations. Between two locations, her position entails in-house bookkeeping, inside and outside sales, letter correspondence, advertising, marketing, recruitment of staff, and visits to client work sites, professional memberships, and meetings.

Throughout her 21 years in the staffing industry, from entry level to ownership, Linda gained the ability to communicate effectively with people. Her other areas of expertise include customer service, computer data processing, payroll processing, and accounting.

“I use these skills to help make a difference in my community by changing lives through quality job placements,” she said.

Learning quickly that in Mississippi County, it’s not just what you know but who you know when it comes to advancement, job placements, and growth of business, Linda admits the most challenging obstacle is trying to gather and maintain the loyalty of businesses that use staffing services. Day-by-day, she is rewarded by helping people and refers often to her company’s slogan: “Together We Can Change Lives One Job At A Time…”

Dawson Employment Service has offices in both Blytheville and Osceola, and is a proud member of the Osceola/SMC Chamber of Commerce.

About NAPW

NAPW’s mission is to provide an exclusive, highly advanced networking forum to successful women executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs where they can aspire, connect, and achieve. Through innovative resources, unique tools, and progressive benefits, professional women interact, exchange ideas, advance their knowledge, and empower each other.

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