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For more information:Lou Ann Nisbett President and CEO 510 Main Street P.O. Box 5069 Pine Bluff, AR 71611 p: (870) 535-0110 f: (870) 535-1643 nisbett@pinebluffchamber.com |
About The Alliance Community Development Division The Greater Pine Bluff Chamber Of Commerce The Chamber of Commerce in Pine Bluff is a venerable institution with an uninterrupted record of more than 90 years of community service and development (formed 1911). A non-stock, not-for-profit Arkansas 501 (c) (6) corporation, The Chamber boasts nearly 700 member businesses with a strong cadre of dedicated volunteers facilitating many of its programs. The 2008 board of directors is comprised of the following: H. F. (Ford) Trotter III, Chair; general manager, Trotter Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Robert Dill, Chair-Elect; executive vice president marketing, Simmons First National Bank Zachary Taylor,Treasurer, attorney at law, Brockman, Norton & Taylor Kaleybra Morehead, Ed.D., Secretary; associate vice president for college relations/institutional advancement, Southeast Arkansas College Rob Cheatwood, Past Chair; operations manager, ATEAM Temporaries/ Snelling Personnel Tommy Palmer, Business Division Chair; owner, Stereo Junction Chris Hart, Community Division Chair; Manager Human Resources, Central Moloney, Inc. Jack Talbot, Government Division Chair; attorney at law, Bridges, Young, Matthews & Drake, PLC Roy Ferrell, Membership Division Chair; vice president trust officer, Simmons First National Bank Ken Bethge, Director; vice president, Jefferson Title Company Joy Blankenship, Director; executive director, Pine Bluff Downtown Development, Inc. Burney DeMaine, Director; president, Comfort Air Condition Steve Ferren, Director; president, BBF Oil Company Donald Hatchett, Director; account service manager,Entergy Arkanas Chris Hill, Director; Evergreen Packaging Hon. Mike Holcomb, Ex-officio Director; county judge, Jefferson County Walter Johnson, Director; senior vice president, Jeferson Regional Medical Center Hon. Carl A. Redus, Jr., Ex-officio Director; mayor, City of Pine Bluff Eva McGee, Director; associate vice chancellor, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Lou Ann Nisbett, Ex-officio Director; president and CEO, The Alliance Fred H. Reed, Director; president, Reed Architectural Firm Adam B. Robinson, Director; chairman, Ralph Robinson & Son Jarrod Russell, Director; associate attorney, Ramsay, Bridgforth, Harrelson & Starling LLP Victoria Warriner, Director; vice president-marketing, Pine Bluff National Bank The primary work of The Chamber is conducted through four divisions with 13 committees and task forces. Business Division The business division is comprised of three committees: Agribusiness Committee. This committee continually seeks new and better ways to serve the farming community that constitutes a major portion of the local economy. The Arkansas Delta region is located generally to the east and south of Pine Bluff, while to the west and north are valuable timberlands, which support the wood and wood products industries. This area of Arkansas has long been noted for its high yields of cotton, rice, and soybeans; more recently it's known for the production of pond-raised fish. Each agricultural sector is highly valued by the Pine Bluff community. Among the committee's projects is the Farmers Appreciation Fish Fry, held annually in honor of the "Jefferson County Farm Family of the Year." Business Relations Committee. The American entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Pine Bluff, Arkansas! Small business is widely recognized as the backbone of the national economy, consistently creating more new employment opportunities than any other sector. This committee not only seeks to serve and encourage businesses and their owners with a variety of programs, but also seeks to help businesses teach customer service skills to employees. The Chamber is a partner in the newly organized Pine Bluff Entrepreneurship Collaborative. In addition, The Alliance provides office space and services to the Southeast Arkansas Chapter (#621) of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a free business counseling service for small business that records an expanding base of local clients. Business Expo Committee. Business is promoted at Business Expo held annually at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. At this very popular event, area businesses have the opportunity of displaying their goods and services to a wide array of potential customers. Concurrently, personal contact opportunities and breakfast meetings featuring prominent regional or national speakers occur. Community Division Various committees and task forces carry out the work programs of the Community Division. Community Marketing Committee. Ours is a highly mobile society with executives and employees of major companies and institutions often required to relocate geographically. And, Pine Bluff-Jefferson County has established a long-term record of sustained economic growth as existing companies expand and new firms discover the advantages of being located in this community. The Pine Bluff commuting zone is quite large, extending from the Louisiana border to Little Rock and beyond. Therefore, employees have a wide range of residential options available: from metropolitan areas to rural acreage. This committee assists newcomers in choosing the best residential location for each family. Leadership Pine Bluff. Each year this well-established program carefully trains 25 emerging community leaders in a broad spectrum of topics. The result is a cadre of energetic and dedicated individuals who understand the unique characteristics of this area, and what makes it tick. Today, alumni of this program occupy key leadership roles in the community and regularly perform invaluable volunteer services. Task Force on Urban Growth and Development. This task force has a goal of initiating a cooperative, community-wide effort to accelerate the quantity and enhance the quality of development of the inner city. The resulting Reinventing Downtown Pine Bluff process is leading to a cooperative effort between the city of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Pine Bluff Downtown Development and The Alliance to implement a major revitalization process. UAPB/SEARK College Committee. The goal is to promote and support both of Jefferson County's institutions of higher education. The committee sponsors a run/walk scholarship benefit event each September that nets $4,000 funds for a Transfer Student Scholarship awarded to a graduate of Southeast Arkansas College who will continue his/her education at UAPB. Arkansas Scholars Committee. Utilizing the Arkansas Scholars program, the committee is developing a spirit of cooperation between the four Jefferson County public school district and the business community. Volunteers are recruited and trained to make presentations to the eight-grade students in all public schools about the benefits of completing high school on track and making good grades-and then continuing their education. Government Division The Government Division carries out its mission through three committees: Issues and Legislation Committee. Government at the local, state and federal levels often has enormous impact on the lives of Chamber members and their business activities. Accordingly, this committee continually monitors pending legislation and activities of many regulatory agencies. When appropriate, the committee is prepared to speak on behalf of Chamber members in addressing these issues. Candidates Committee. During election seasons this committee surveys candidates for a variety of elected positions and publishes the responses that are obtained. In this way Chamber members are able to effectively compare the records and positions of candidates prior to election dates. Additionally, the committee sponsors a Candidate Development Institute, or "CDI." CDI examines a broad range of factors related to political campaigns from demographic analysis to polling, advertising and fund-raising techniques. Although Chamber members receive preferential consideration for enrollment, the program is open to all. Neither The Chamber nor The Alliance endorses candidates for public office. Transportation Committee. Pine Bluff has historically served as a regional transportation center. Multi-modal transportation facilities are in place: a natural slackwater harbor on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System; major classification and maintenance yards operated by the Union Pacific Railroad; an executive-jet municipal airport, Grider Field, offering charter services in the community, and the Little Rock National Airport located less than one hour's driving time; and a network of state and federal highways, including I-530, radiating from the city. But continual improvement in our transportation infrastructure requires constant attention. This committee works closely with elected officials and public agencies at all levels of government to assure that those necessary improvements are made. Membership Division The Membership Division accomplishes its goals through the work of two committees: Chairman's Club. This highly visible and energetic band of volunteers is known throughout the community as "The Redcoats." The group serves as the public relations arm of The Chamber and goodwill ambassadors for Pine Bluff-Jefferson County and each year participates in scores of groundbreaking ceremonies, ribbon-cuttings and official functions. While members of the Chairman's Club obviously enjoy their civic activities, they also make a tremendous contribution to the area's sense of unity and continual progress. Member Services Committee. Each year The Chamber seeks the active participation in its many and varied programs by an ever-increasing number of business, industrial, professional, government, institutional representatives and civic-minded individuals. Committee members are very knowledgeable and are always prepared to discuss the advantages of Chamber membership and participation in the work of The Alliance. Convinced that "Problems are nothing but opportunities in work clothes," committee members also perform one of the most important missions of The Chamber: listening very carefully to the members. Existing programs can be tailored to meet many such needs, or new programs can be created when circumstances warrant. In either event, the work of this committee enables The Chamber to be responsive to its members. Community Services In addition to the work of the foregoing divisions and committees, The Alliance staff conducts a number of programs classified simply as Community Services. These activities include a wide range of projects. As is often said, "The Chamber manages and arranges many of the things in the community that a lot of people think just happen." Another aspect of community services includes communicating with members of The Chamber and its affiliate organizations, as well as the community. This is accomplished through publication of a weekly electronic newsletter The Alliance Bulletin, our web site at http://www.pinebluffchamber.com and a Chamber membership directory, "Who's Who in Pine Bluff Business." |
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The Alliance · 510 Main Street · PO Box 5069 · Pine Bluff, AR 71611 · USA phone: 1.870.535.0110 · email: info@jeffersoncountyalliance.com |
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