Small Business Saturday

The first ever Small Business Saturday is this Saturday, Nov. 27. It's squished in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and encourages shoppers to get out and support the small businesses that are getting our economy going again. By shopping small, you'll be helping the economy in a big way! To learn more about Small Business Saturday and how it can possible save you $25, check out the Small Business Saturday Facebook page here. Happy shopping!

Meet the New Director of the Rogers Convention & Visitors Bureau

Another new face has joined the Chamber team! We're excited to have Allyson Twiggs Dyer as the new director of the Rogers Convention & Visitors Bureau! Allyson is very familiar with the area, having lived here her entire life, and experienced in CVB work. Prior to joining the Rogers CVB, she was the director of the Fayetteville CVB for 8 years. During that time, she received certification as a Destination Management Executive which is the highest accreditation in the visitors bureau industry.

Some of you may recognize Allyson's name from her years as an Arkansas Razorback where she earned four letters in basketball. She also received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Arkansas. After college Allyson worked for Fox Sports as color commentator for Lady Razorback basketball games.

Allyson serves on the Board of Pagnozzi Charities, Razorback Foundation ‘A’ Club committee, and in 2007 Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 40 under 40. Allyson is married to David Dyer and has an 12 year old son named Spencer. Allyson is excited to join the team at the Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce. She says she'll continue to work hard bringing people to Rogers and looks forward to getting to know and help those across northwest Arkansas.

Welcome to Our New VP of Government Affairs!

The Chamber would like to welcome our new Vice President of Government Affairs, Michael Lindsey. Prior to joining the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, Michael was a public finance banker with Morgan Keegan where he provided financial advisory and bond underwriting services to municipal and non-profit clients throughout Arkansas and Missouri.

Here are some fast-facts about Michael to help you get to know him a little better:

* He serves on the city of Fayetteville's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and is a member of the board of directors for the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks.
* He is a published author. His book on the history of the Arkansas State Police was published in 2008.
* He has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and a master's in history
* He's an avid runner and has completed seven half-marathons in the past four years
* Michael and his wife, Lara, live in Fayetteville with their two daughters, Bailey (11 years old) and Amelia (7 years old)

We are excited to have Michael join the Chamber team. He's looking forward to getting to know all of the members and work towards protecting your interests!

Twitter Feed - NWA Business Conference & Expo

Even though the Business Conference & Expo is behind us, it's interesting to go back and look at the day's events and speakers through the words of others. Below is the Twitter feed of the attendees using the hashtag #2010nwabiz throughout the day. The user's Twitter handle is highlighted in orange. A lot of great information was learned and shared. You might want to start at the bottom and scroll your way up so you can read about what's happening in chronological order. Happy reading.

RLACC View pictures from the 2010 NWA Business Conference & Expo here: http://bit.ly/aaYOgt #2010nwabiz

markcloud My first NWA Business Conference and I was impressed. All the speakers were informative and engaging and it was well presented #2010NWABiz

thebelfordgroup From a lead generation perspective, this was the best NWA Business Conference. Thanks @RLACC #2010nwabiz

RLACC @ARWTC thank you for being a great partner for the #2010nwabiz!

ARWTC @RLACC Thanks for the RT and great job today! #2010NWABiz Reply

LawsonHembree Thanks to everyone who came out to the #2010NWABiz Conference today (esp those that stopped by the @ARWTC booth!

aprilpantall Check out @uopx booth and say hello!RT @RLACC: Business Expo is open until 6:30. Free & open to the public. JQ Hammons Center #2010nwabiz Reply

markcloud I thought Bill Ransic had some great pts: be flexible, creative mktg via community service and the mentality of an entrepreneur..#2010nwabiz

jennhaile The Amaretto chocolate chip cookies at the Candy Bouquet booth are to die for. nom, nom, nom... #2010nwabiz

ARWTC Thanks to Wendy Soderquist-Togami and the @SoderquistCentr for participating in #2010NWABiz!

RLACC Footage shot today at the #2010nwabiz for the "Guiliana & Bill" show on Style Network will air in October. We'll let you know when to watch

jennhaile Bill Rancic and his reality tv show crew. #2010nwabiz #fb http://tweetphoto.com/37028414

RLACC Congrats to Hight-Jackson & Associates for being named the Small Business of the Year today! #2010nwabiz

ARWTC You join a company for what it stands for; you leave because of your supervisor. #2010NWABiz

ARWTC Wendy Soderquist-Togami of the @SoderquistCentr speaking in one of the breakout sessions at #2010NWABiz: http://tweetphoto.com/37023062

ARWTC Clarity at the organizational level promotes sustained execution at the individual level. #2010NWABiz

ARWTC The best leaders are clear communicators. #2010NWABiz

RLACC Bill Rancic and his reality tv show crew. #2010nwabiz

ARWTC Building a company based on values is a serious deal. #2010NWABiz Reply

ARWTC Company culture always happens; employee engagement and performance isn't as
guarenteed. #2010NWABiz

ARWTC Now attending the session led by Wendy Soderquist-Togami of the @SoderquistCentr on corporate culture. #2010NWABiz

Martine1 Officially met Bill Rancic. What a motivational, great guy #2010nwabiz

Martine1 Head out to the Expo. It opened at noon! And join us later for Business After Hours #2010nwabiz

thebelfordgroup Small businesses can use community service as an excellent marketing tool. #2010nwabiz

Martine1 How can you market your business in a down economy? Be involved in your community #2010nwabiz

thebelfordgroup Outstanding speakers at NWA Business Conference. Mike Thompson & Bill Rancic @Thompsonoc #2010nwabiz

Martine1 Where do you find your constant motivation? Enjoy and be passionate about what you're doing #2010nwabiz

LawsonHembree "Entrepreneurs must be proactive, not reactive." -Bill Rancic #2010NWABiz

Martine1 A good manager is like an Orchestra Conductor Conductor's not an expert but has the ability to harmonize the individual players #2010nwabiz

Martine1 Practical execution, agility and risk leads to success #2010nwabiz

ARWTC Entrepreneurs know that talk is cheap and that results are what is important. -Bill Rancic #2010NWABiz

Martine1 Rancic was actually an alternate on the first season of The Apprentice that he went on to win #2010nwabiz

thebelfordgroup Be ready to adjust when the rules of business change. #2010nwabiz

Martine1 "Dateless and Lonely during the Holidays" aired on Thanksgiving Day lead to success of his Cigar of the month club business #2010nwabiz

thebelfordgroup Take a good idea and make it better. #2010nwabiz

Martine1 Rancic- Recognizing an opportunity and seizing it!#2010nwabiz

ARWTC For entreprenuers, it's all about making the most of the time you are given. -Bill Rancic #2010NWABiz

angelabelford Make your time count as entrepreneur. Bill Rancic #2010nwabiz

aprilpantall There as well at @uopx booth! RT @danasargent: At the NWA Biz Conference & Expo.

Martine1 Rancic's business start was at his grandmas house serving pancakes #2010nwabiz

ARWTC The key to entrepreneurship is finding an oportunity & seizing it. #2010NWABiz

thebelfordgroup Entrepreneurial trait: recognize an opportunity, then seize it.#2010nwabiz

Martine1 Bill Rancic keynote speaker @RLACC Bus Conf #2010nwabiz http://twitpic.com/2bviaf

ARWTC Bill Rancic, winner of the first season of The Apprentice, speaking at the #2010NWABiz: http://tweetphoto.com/37002535

danasargent At the NWA Biz Conference & Expo. #2010nwabiz

thebelfordgroup Lunch with Bill Rancic #2010nwabiz.

ARWTC Thank you Nicole Bivens Collinson of @STRTrade for speaking at #2010NWABiz on behalf of the @ARWTC!

journaljeff It's not too late to make the NW Ark. Business Conf. & Expo today at the Hammons Center in Rogers. But you better hurry. #2010NWABIZ!

journaljeff Bill Rancic says he’s cautious on real estate, but not out of the market. Recently got some distressed property to develop. #2010NWABiz!

jennhaile Just wrapped up interviews w @billrancic. Getting ready for his keynote address now. #2010nwabiz http://tweetphoto.com/36994429

ARWTC Take advantage of trade associations, Free Trade Agreements, & organizations like the @ARWTC when getting into global trade. #2010NWABiz

markcloud Listening to Larry Yancey discuss VC concepts... This guy is good! #2010NWABiz

MurDog Champion Leaders are Enlightened, Connected, Change Makers, Opportunity Minded by Mike Thompson. #2010nwabiz (via @thebelfordgroup)

MurDog Listening to Mike Thompson, formally of Thompson Murray, open the conference.... I loved Monster Inc. too.. #2010NWABiz (via @markcloud)

angelabelford I love the natural ability of some people to quickly determine that you aren't a good prospect for them.#2010nwabiz

angelabelford RT @RLACC: Bill Rancic is in the building. Media interviews are underway. #2010nwabiz

ARWTC You are never too small to get involved in global trade. #2010NWABiz

ARWTC Arkansas has 1484 exporters (1148 are small and medium sized enterprises). #2010NWABiz

ARWTC Firms that export have 119% more employment. #2010NWABiz

ARWTC The way we buy tells companies what we want. If you buy imported goods, it signals a desire for imports. #2010NWABiz

ARWTC Arkansas exported $355 mil in maufactured goods in May 2010. #2010NWABiz

ARWTC 95% of the world's consumers are outside the US. #2010NWABiz

ARWTC Nicole Bivens Collinson, sponsored by the @ARWTC, speaking at #2010NWABiz on the importance of trade: http://tweetphoto.com/36989844

RLACC Don't forget the Expo opens at noon at the JQ Hammons Center. Free & open to the public. Bus. After Hours is from 5-6:30. #2010nwabiz

ARWTC Nicole Bivens Collinson will be speaking at 11. The title of her talk is "Trade is Not a Four Letter Word." #2010NWABiz

ARWTC The @ARWTC booth at #2010NWABiz. Stop by for a chance to win a door prize. http://tweetphoto.com/36982997

markcloud http://tweetphoto.com/36981437 who's with me? #2010nwabiz

jennhaile Bill Rancic is in the building #2010nwabiz 1

markcloud I doubt I will be part of the 4% but I will take the organizational champion test.... I'm even willing to post the results...#2010nwabiz

thebelfordgroup Thanks @thompsonoc for a great session.#2010nwabiz

angelabelford Leadership words: Invest & inspire, action, agility, curious & courageous. #2010nwabiz

BrentLeas Take the challenge and go to www.organizationalchampions.com #2010NWABiz

RLACC Business Conference is underwater! Mike Thompson is speaking now. www.organizationalchampions.com. Great advice! #2010NWABiz

thebelfordgroup OrganizationalChampions.com for leadership assessment.#2010nwabiz

thebelfordgroup Champion Leaders are Enlightened, Connected, Change Makers, Opportunity Minded by Mike Thompson. #2010nwabiz

BrentLeas Good stuff from Mike Thompson; Great takeaways! #2010NWABiz

ARWTC For those of you participating in the NWA Business Conf. today, use the hashtag #2010NWABiz. See you there!

markcloud Listening to Mike Thompson, formally of Thompson Murray, open the conference.... I loved Monster Inc. too.. #2010NWABiz

angelabelford Ready to listen to Mike Thompson at NWA Biz Conference #2010nwabiz.

MurDog At the NWA Business Expo. Can't wait to hear the speakers. #2010nwabiz

hashtager # RT @RLACC: If you'll be at the NWA Bus Conf & Expo today, we're using the hashtag #2010NWABiz

TechTeacherGirl RT @RLACC: If you'll be at the NWA Bus Conf & Expo today, we're using the hashtag #2010NWABiz

RLACC If you'll be at the NWA Bus Conf & Expo today, we're using the hashtag #2010NWABiz

Tickets on Sale NOW!

Buy your tickets now to our second annual Northwest Arkansas Business Conference & Expo presented by Sam’s Club and sponsored by Cherokee Casino and Ziplocal.

The Arkansas World Trade Center and the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal have partnered with the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce to help provide a solution for your business needs. The event will be held Aug. 5 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. It’s the area's only regional business conference and expo and drew more than 250 conference goers and more than 2,000 expo attendees last August. There are professional development seminar topics to help your business thrive, not just survive in this economy!

2010 NWA Business Conference seminar topcis include:

“Get Ready, Get Set, Go Close the Deal”

“Marketing or Technology”

“Health Care”

“Collection Strategies for Improving Your Company’s Bottom Line”

“Show Me the Money; Investors & Venture Capital”

“Trade is Not a Four Letter Word”

“Five Small Business Strategies for Social Media”

“Managing Company Culture & Leadership”

“Franchise is it for Me?”

Bill Rancic, best known as the first winner of Donald Trump's reality TV show The Apprentice, will be the keynote speaker. Rancic is a real estate developer and entrepreneur in Chicago and the author of "Beyond the Lemonade Stand," the follow-up to his New York Times best-seller "You're Hired: How To Succeed In Business And Life From The Winner Of The Apprentice." Rancic also produces and stars in the A&E series “We Mean Business,” and Style Network’s reality series “Giuliana and Bill.” Join Rancic as he discusses entrepreneurship, high-stakes pressure, marketing, and adapting to change to make a business more profitable. Attendees will be able to leave the conference with ideas you can use to impact your career and business.

If you’d like to be a more effective leader, then don’t miss author and northwest Arkansas resident Mike Thompson’s session. He’ll be sharing tips from his book, “The Organizational Champion.” Thompson is the CEO of SVI, a leading organizational development company whose mission is to create irresistible companies and extraordinary people. Thompson is one of the most forward thinkers in leadership and he coaches current and next generation CEOs at many of the world’s largest companies.

Click here for the event schedule and to purchase your ticket. You won't want to miss this event!

Business After Hours at Spa Botanica

Need to unwind from a long day at work? You won't want to miss our next Business After Hours July 15 from 5 - 6:30 at Spa Botanica, located in Embassy Suites in Rogers. The spa is celebrating its 3rd birthday, but at this party, you'll be the one being given special treatment! At the event, there will be mini spa services, food, spa tours and each guest will be able to pop a balloon for a chance to win spa products and services.


Business After Hours business-building networking continues to grow, with approximately 200 in attendance at each event. Mix and mingle with other NWA business professionals and find out what other businesses have to offer. Make new contacts, generate business leads and find new vendors.

10th Annual International Festival

Dora the Explorer is in the house! She flew into town yesterday to gear up for her big 10th birthday celebration Saturday, June 5 at the 10th annual International Festival in historic downtown Rogers. Dora's not the only one excited about the festival! Vilma, the Chamber's Diversity Coordinator, has been working around the clock to make sure this festival is a success! We are all looking forward to the festival tomorrow and all of the fun activites planned during the event. Make sure you come hungry, because there is going to be food from dozens of different countries there! Don't forget about all of the entertainment. There are international fashion shows at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., cultural exhibits and international dancing.

Shhh... don't tell the kids, but there's also a fun opportunity for them to LEARN about the more than 50 countries represented at the festival. How cute is this passport? Make sure your kids pick one up when they get there. Inside, kids are directed to find the booth with the flag represented on the page, then they can color the flag to look like that country's flag. Very cute (and educational!)

The festival is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Rogers. Don't miss it! While there, don't forget to register for our giveaway of TWOAmerican Airlines roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the contiguous 48 states, Canada & Mexico! Fore more information on the festival, visit www.RogersLowell.com.