Each month we'll be featuring a chamber member woman-owned business for their impact in our community. For January, we have chosen GSI, owned by Gina Radke. CONGRATULATIONS!
How long have you been in business?
Gina:GSI has been in business for almost 17 years.
What is your favorite part of working with businesses in Central Arkansas?
Gina: The business community, and the ease of access to state decision makers. I do not believe we would have been as successful as we have been had we have stayed in California.
How did you get started?
Gina: After selling our home in Florida for a profit in 2004, we searched for business opportunities and ended up buying a product line from a relative, at that time we started GSI and began to produce the products in Arkansas.
What are your biggest challenges as a business owner or as a woman business owner?
Gina: Being a woman in manufacturing, and owning a manufacturing company as a women has a unique set of challenges. No matter how much time I have spent running machines, working with auditors, or actually running the business people tend to assume that I am just the owner for tax purposes, or to get government contracts. This is worse because my husband and I are in business together. We often get the question “Does she really work for the company?” Then of course there is the human factor of finding, training and keeping staff.
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Gina: I would change the stigma behind manufacturing jobs. People assume manufacturing jobs are dirty and unskilled and that is very far from the truth in my company. Today Machinist are computer programmers, highly skilled and working in clean environments.
Do you have any important advice you could share to another person or woman who wants to start their own business?
Gina: Get all the free advice you can. Look into local resources, and pick as many brains as you can. There is free knowledge everywhere. And of course read my book! More Than, How to be Bold and Balanced in Life and Business.
JOIN A COMMITTEE IN 2022!
Vanguard
(The Doers)
-Serves in a public relations capacity by representing The Chamber in the community
-Attends all ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings and grand openings
-Provides volunteer support for all Chamber events
-Serves as mentors to new and existing Chamber members
Baggo for Business/Bowling for Business
-Plans Bowling for Business in February
-Plans the Baggo Tournament in October
-Solicits sponsors and giveaways
-Volunteers the day of the tournaments
Golf
-Plans The Chamber's annual golf scramble
-Solicits sponsors and giveaways
-Volunteers the day of the tournament
Education
-Works with the business community and local educational institutions to provide a quality workforce
-Identifies outstanding local students for scholarships
-Promotes and supports quality public school education
-Supports the following Educational Programs: Arkansas Scholars, ALPS: Advancement, Leadership, Personal Growth & Service, and AR Kids Read
LEADS Group
(2 non-competitive groups)
-Exchanges leads, ideas and information through the fellowship of members of diverse professions
-Furthers business and financial interests between Chamber members
-Quarterly dues: $25.00 (First quarter free!)
Military Relations
-Enhances good relationships between Chamber business members, The Little Rock Air Force Base and Camp Robinson
-Continues to seek new ways to assist the military community
For more details about chamber programs and events, visit www.nlrchamber.org.
To join a committee, to ask questions or find out which committee is the best for you, contact Kathleen Fitzpatrick at kathleen@nlrchamber.org
or call 501-372-5959.
Friday, January 7th
11:45 am - 1 pm
North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Conference Center
Preparing Today's Youth For Tomorrow's Leadership Challenges
ALPS: Advancement, Leadership, Personal Growth, Service (formerly Leadership Renaissance), the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce's youth leadership program, is beginning its twenty seventh year of building and empowering students to become future leaders. The program is designed for high school JUNIORS who live in North Little Rock without regard to which school they attend and to students from surrounding areas that attend North Little Rock High School and North Little Rock Center of Excellence. The three sessions focus on Leadership Skills, Social Service, Government & Law, Financial Literacy, Business & Industry, and Community Development.
With your support, we are able to provide all program materials including: snacks, lunch, graduation dinner, T-shirt, class picture, graduation certificate, a limited number of scholarships and tuition for those who need financial assistance.
The Arkansas Scholars program is a program of the Arkansas Business and Education Alliance supported by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. Students are required to meet a set of criteria that will prepare them for both the workplace and additional education after high school. The Chamber is asking its business members or individuals to partner in this great achievement.
The following sponsorship opportunities available are:
