Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce
Monthly Newsletter
May 2020

For the latest information or updates on events check our website at www.fortsmithchamber.org
Upcoming Events
Business 2 Business Luncheon
Networking Event 

Presented by:
Westark Plumbing

Limited Spaces Available! Early Registration is recommended!
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Virtual Networking
on Zoom Video Conferencing

After you register, you will be emailed the Meeting ID number and Password.
When you join the event, you will be in a waiting room before being added to the meeting.
We suggest you download the Zoom Cloud App on you phones or visit Zoom on your desktop/laptop
Click on the  Event Page  for more Tips on Attending.

COVID-19 UPDATES
We are updating this list daily as new resource information and links become available! To see this resource list  click here.

If you are needing additional help or have specific questions you cannot find answers to on the provided information links, please email us at  i nfo@fortsmithchamber.com    or call us at 479-783-3111 and we will help research the answer for you.
We have launched a gift card feature page. You will find gift card purchase options for our Chamber Members on this page. If you would like to have your business included on the gift card page, please email Dawn Turner with your logo and gift card purchasing information at 
We are also promoting any of our members' special delivery and curbside offers or online shopping offers. Check out our page that we will keep updating for food, services, and shopping options to help during this time of "Social Distancing"
We will also share these offers out on our Facebook page individually from the businesses as they inform us of their options and offers. If you are a member of the Fort Smith Chamber and would like to inform us of an offer to share, please fill out this survey:
Education News & Events!
Don't Miss This Opportunity! Leadership Fort Smith Applications for the Class of 2021 are Open!

Our motto "Learn. Connect. Lead." states our goal very simply -- to give participants learning opportunities, connect them to the community, and give them the tools to lead. We also use the phrase "back-stage pass" because our sessions give the class an amazing behind the scenes experience. It is both a professional development and community leadership program like no other!
Please join us for a double celebration on July 30!

We will celebrate the Commencement Ceremony for the Leadership Fort Smith Class of 2020 and announce the Class of 2021 on Thursday, July 30, 2020.

We are so excited to celebrate BOTH classes! As we get closer to this event, tickets will be available for purchase. Alumni who purchased a Silver Membership will have a ticket reserved for this event. Sponsors for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 will be recognized as well.
If you are interested in sponsoring our Leadership Fort Smith program, please contact Susan Krafft at skrafft@fortsmithchamber.com to learn more.
Through Zoom, our Education Committee was still able to complete all Junior Leadership Academy Class of 2021 interviews! We met so many wonderful students from Northside, Southside, Future School, Greenwood, and Hackett High Schools. The JLA Class of 2021 will be announced in May and will kick off in August with our Opening Retreat. 
Please consider Sponsoring a JLA Student!

Each year our Chamber members have generously sponsored our students so that they pay no tuition for participation in the program. We will have approximately 35 students in the next class, so we hope to get each student sponsored!! This is a $250 sponsorship for each student -- please contact Susan Krafft at skrafft@fortsmithchamber.com if you are interested in sponsoring a JLA student. 
Honors Banquet
In-person Event
Re-imagined for 2020!  
Contact Susan Krafft at skrafft@fortsmithchamber.com if you are interested in sponsoring
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 and guidance from the CDC, we will not be able to hold these events in 2020. The Chamber has hosted the Honors Banquet for 58 years and this is the first time to our knowledge we have ever had to cancel. But we won't let that stop us from celebrating these students! 

We still feel it is important to recognize our graduating seniors who have reached this level of achievement! After they have missed so much, we hope you can help us do something special for these students.

If your circumstances allow, we hope you will consider sponsoring our efforts to recognize all graduates who are receiving an Honors Diploma from Northside, Southside, Future School, and Union Christian Academy.

Here are the sponsorship levels available (amended from our original sponsorship package to reflect changes in this event):
$250 - Sponsor a Student 
$500 - Bronze Sponsor
$750 - Silver Sponsor
$1500 - Gold Sponsor

All sponsors will be acknowledged on our website, on all social media platforms, and in the full page Times Record ad. All sponsors will also be acknowledged in the packet we send to each student with the Honors Pin/Certificate or Medal. Recognition will be more prominent for our higher level sponsors (logo vs. name listed). 

2020 Census Update
Remember to take your 2020 Census now! Please share this link  2020census.gov  with employees, co-workers, friends, and family and makes sure yourself and everyone is counted!
Ambassador of the Month
Congratulations to Bryn Tucker for being selected as our March Chamber Ambassador of the Month! Bryn Tucker is the proud owner of Victory In Print, a Fort Smith based printing brokerage.

She and her husband started the company a few years ago after seeing the need nonprofits had in regards to printing. Over the years, they have worked diligently to create relationships with presses both locally and across the country to best meet the needs of their customers. They now work with not only with nonprofit agencies, but also with for profit companies, helping each to have access to more affordable printing through education and advocacy. They regularly meet with businesses and organizations to make sure they are maximizing their marketing budgets. Bryn and Scott work side by side, to help their clients find Victory In Print.

Bryn and her family are Texas natives. She enjoyed teaching for seven years while in Texas, but when she moved to Fort Smith in June of this year, she decided it was time to run the family business. Since then, Bryn has jumped in feet first, getting to know the community through joining the Chamber of Commerce and regular service through Antioch for Youth and Family, as well as Heart to Heart Pregnancy Resource Center.

She is now a proud Chamber Ambassador and loves attending ribbon cuttings and always enjoys hearing each business owner share the vision and heart of their business. She and Scott have been married for over twenty years and are proud parents of five amazing children. As a family the shared belief in serving others is paramount. The mission of Victory In Print fits perfectly in line with the Tucker’s deep desire to help others.
Bryn Tucker
Victory in Print
email: bryn@victoryinprint.com
phone: (214) 207-0810
Sneak Preview for June
All events in June are subject to change depending on the provided guidelines from the CDC and AR Governors office.
Date and Time:
Friday Jun 12, 2020
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM CDT

Breakfast at the EXPO: 7:30 AM
Expo Floor Opens after First Friday Breakfast (9:00 AM)

Location:
Fort Smith Convention Center
55 S 7th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901
  
Fees/Admission:
Registration is still OPEN.


Description:

The Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce Business & Career Expo is an opportunity for our members and non-members to showcase their business, products, services and employment opportunities to the community.  Institutions, organizations, and companies participating in our Expo can promote and support growth within their industry, network with like-minded contributors, fill open positions and engage with the workforce of the future. 
 
Our annual high-energy, high traffic event attracts 600-800 attendees and 80-100 exhibitors in a dynamic business-to-business atmosphere. We kick-off the day at 7:30 a.m. with a prominent and successful business speaker at our First Friday Breakfast which draws approximately 500 attendees. 
 
The Expo floor opens at the conclusion of breakfast, which is at approximately 9:00 a.m.  Exhibitors from around the Greater Fort Smith region and the state will represent their businesses and career opportunities. The 188th Flight Simulator and Department of Workforce Services will be featured with their mobile units.


Click the form below for a downloadable PDF file and email your entry to Lindsey Trantham LTrantham@fortsmithchamber.com