Randy Zook

Governor Asa Hutchinson has proclaimed Oct. 18 – 22 to be Chamber of Commerce Week in Arkansas. He presented the proclamation to various local and state chamber representatives last week. More than 140 local Chambers of Commerce operate in Arkansas,…

Face of ChambersArkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas were founded in 1928. After World War II, business leaders saw the need for a coordinated effort to develop the…

A new hate crimes bill has passed out of committee that would delay release for offenders who target individuals from identifiable groups or classes. The Arkansas Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 622 with a ‘Do Pass’ recommendation. The bill,…

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield (ABCBS) is launching a statewide health campaign to educate Arkansans on the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine and to encourage vaccination. Entitled “Vaccinate in the Natural State,” the project is a collaboration led by…

by Becky Gillette As of March 3, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had not yet been detected in Arkansas, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported multiple other states had announced their first positive tests for COVID-19. CDC…

One of the leading voices on behalf of business and industry in the state, Randy Zook is a former executive with a $200 million Atlanta-based envelope company who in his lobbying and association roles has grown into one of the…

by Tyler Hale During the 2019 Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/AIA annual meeting, officials unveiled a new initiative targeting the opioid crisis that is designed to help Arkansas employers. The new initiative, Together Arkansas, is a series of free resources…

by Ryan Nix To survive in a constantly evolving economy, businesses must be mindful of trends and flexible enough to accommodate them. Of all the issues affecting local industries, two loom above the rest. First, the legalization of medical marijuana…

The second biennial Arkansas Tax Conference is being held this November in Little Rock. Scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19, the conference attracts administrators, tax experts and other leaders to explore the cutting-edge of Arkansas taxes. During the conference, attendees will…

by Chris Price Arkansas’ community colleges and technical schools providing a shorter path to jobs, prosperity Maybe you’ve seen one of the trending internet memes mockingly comparing so-called “professional” jobs with skilled labor. The general theme shows a depressed-looking yuppie…