Events Etc.: Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — Business leaders celebrated 2009 as the year “the rest of the world discovered Conway” at the annual meeting of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, March 4.

Mayor Tab Townsell, in his welcome to the crowd gathered at the HPER Center at the University of Central Arkansas, highlighted such accomplishments as Conway having one of the top economies in the state, Hewlett-Packard Co. opening its new location in the city in December and the legislative delegation making significant progress toward securing a southern loop interchange for Conway by next year.

Conway Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEOBrad Lacy said that thanks to the opening of the HP site and UCA student Kris Allen’s rise to fame on American Idol, the rest of the nation turned its eyes to Conway in 2009.

Johnelle Hunt, wife of the late J.B. Hunt, founder of J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., was the special guest speaker for the evening. She shared a few thoughts in an onstage interview with Little Rock television personality Melissa Dunbar-Gates.

Hunt spoke of her husband’s humble beginnings and how, through his many ideas and determination, he started one successful company, then another and another. She noted she has known hard times, however.

“We met on a Saturday with our attorney. We didn’t know how we could keep that trucking company going. Allwe could do was declare bankruptcy. But we went back to work on Monday and never talked about it again.

“I think HP is lucky to be in Conway. People in Arkansas have the best work ethic. That’s what has made our company.”

A much-anticipated part of the annual meeting is the unveiling of the Toad Suck Daze T-shirt logo and the announcement of the festival’s entertainment lineup. Headliners for this year’s event will be Skillet, Clint Black and Jason Crabb.

Several awards were presented Thursday night. The Chamber’s highest honor is the Distinguished ServiceAward, which was presented to First Security Bank President Johnny Adams, who, in addition to his years of community service, led the team effort to restructure the Chamber of Commerce in 2006 and put together a financing package for the effort to recruit HP in 2008.

The Good Neighbor Award is presented annually to “an individual who has given of his or her time and talents, going above and beyond the call of duty to help those around them.” This year’s award was presented to Mary Acklin, a longtime Chamber member, businesswoman and humanitarian.

The following awards were also presented:

◊Get Smart. Go Green Award: A & J Collision Repair;

◊Young Business Leader ofthe Year: Danny Patel;

◊Minority Business of the Year: Sandstone Real Estate Group;

◊Business of the Year, 24 Employees or Less: National Bank of Arkansas;

◊Business of the Year, 25 to 99 Employees: Women’s Inc.;

◊Business of the Year, 100 to 500 Employees: American Management Corp.;

◊Business of the Year, Over 500 Employees: Acxiom Corp.;

◊Business Executives of the Year: Mike Coats and Mike Kraft; and

◊Chamber Achievement Award: Speaker of the House Robbie Wills; State Sen. Gilbert Baker; and State Reps. Eddie Hawkins, Linda Tyler and Linda English for their representation during the 87th General Assembly.