Over 900 people attended the Chamber’s Centennial Celebration of Business & Community on March 29 at the Rogers Convention Center. The annual Celebration is always the highlight of the Chamber’s year, recognizing businesses and individuals in the community as well as current, outgoing, and incoming leadership. This year’s event took attendees on a fun journey in time looking back at the last 100 years and exploring what’s next for the future.

Celebrating a Legacy of Leadership Success

Since 1922, your Chamber has been working hard for business and community – we have a passion for that. It’s a proud history of leadership and action and being your seat at the regional table.

We told our Chamber’s centennial story by featuring the people and organizations that have made us what we are today. Our legacy of success wouldn’t be possible without our business and community leaders. The night was a fun journey back in time through the lens of our unique history and diverse people and organizations that made an impact on the Chamber’s successes the last 100 years.

Rogers-Lowell Spirit Award

Angie Tucker-Ridley, Chairman of the Board for the Chamber, presented the first award of the evening for the Rogers-Lowell Spirit Award which recognizes an individual or organization for significant contributions to the betterment of our community. Angie said, “Tonight, I’m excited to announce that our centennial year’s Spirit Award goes out to our founders – The Rotary Club of Rogers. Congratulations and thank you for envisioning what our organization could be and inspiring us to become it.” Jene Huffman-Gilreath accepted the award on behalf of The Rotary Club of Rogers. 

The Chamber’s origin goes back to 1922 when local Rotary Club leaders founded the Rogers Chamber of Commerce to help serve our community, and to this day, Rotary’s influence on the Chamber is still there. Angie noted, “one of the guiding principles of Rotary is The Four- Way Test. It’s a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians used for their personal and professional relationships and is recited at club meetings. Today, these same principles are deeply steeped in the Chamber’s DNA as much as our Vision and Mission.”

The Leadership Challenge

Raymond Burns, President/CEO of the Chamber, told the audience that “the chamber’s story is one of working quietly behind the scenes to get things done successfully.” He said, “from our beginnings in 1922 to now, our Chamber has worked hard to remain relevant and necessary by cultivating and activating local business and community leaders from all backgrounds – the influencers and disrupters.”

Raymond issued a challenge to the future leaders in the room to step up and help lead us into the future. He said, “throughout our history, when our leaders come to the table with us, we get the right things done. When we get things done that matter, we create momentum to sustain our success. That’s a big part of the Chamber’s story."

“I challenge all future leaders here tonight to activate your leadership skills with us, follow in your forefather’s footsteps, engage on what’s next with us and help us continue our excellence in growing business and building community.”  Raymond Burns, President/CEO

Founder of Rogers, B.F. Sikes, Makes Appearance

The first guest of the evening was B.F. Sikes (performed by local actor John Wayne Ford compliments of the Rogers Historical Museum). Sikes owned the original 160 acres that became the town site of Rogers. He donated the right-of-way to the railroad and laid the original town site. Sikes gave a brilliant performance and told the audience things they never knew about Rogers.

Growth: From Subsistence Farming to Agribusiness

The Rogers-Lowell Area has a rich community history. Much of the growth in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s was due to the area developing into both a local trading center and shipping point for locally grown apples.

Apples became the first major industry replacing subsistence farming. After the Great Depression, the apple industry was in decline and farmers turned to alternative methods like raising poultry. Agriculture had taken off and by 1948 Benton County was leading the nation in broiler chicken production.

Infrastructure:  Building the Region

Bill Watkins, Past Chairman of the Board, current President of the Beaver Water District Board of Directors, and Principal Attorney at the law firm of Watkins, Boyer, Gray & Curry, PLLC in Rogers continued the journey back in time looking back on how the Rogers-Lowell community addressed important infrastructure needs.

“In 1912, Rogers City Council formed a commission of local businesspeople tasked with formulating a plan to help uplift the city. These leaders got together and in 1924 successfully completed the paving of downtown Rogers. This was an important leadership moment early in our history.” - Bill Watkins

Today, our community leaders continue to work with the Chamber to make the Rogers-Lowell Area the best place to live, work, play, visit and invest. Our quality of life is the result of years of their hard work addressing our infrastructure needs - from water, recreation, transportation, education, to healthcare and housing. Bill walked us through key historic milestones for each of these needs.

One infrastructure opportunity moving forward is ensuring responsible growth with attainable housing. This is now an ongoing and intentional effort for the entire region. NWA is expected to add more than 80,000 households by 2040.

The Northwest Arkansas Council's new workforce housing center is focusing on improving and creating well-designed housing opportunities for working families in the region.

Cornerstones of Rogers Industry

Pat Harris, past Chairman of the Board and CEO at Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette, took us back in time exploring the foundations of commerce and cornerstones of industry.

Until the 1950's, farming was the primary industry for Rogers and the entire business community's footprint was in a five-block area downtown. The population had remained constant at around 3,500 for 30 years.

Pat said, “Local businesspeople saw the opportunity to develop the Rogers economy by attracting manufacturers. These leaders later formed the industrial foundation of Rogers and in 1959, Daisy Outdoor became the first company to relocate its plant to Rogers. Companies like Glad Manufacturing Company, Bekaert and Tyson Foods represent the foundation on which commerce was built and are cornerstones of industry for our region."

Rogers Westward Expansion

Since it was founded, Rogers has seen a significant westward expansion with residential and commercial development, and infrastructure and housing projects. Expansion has given us Pinnacle Heights, Founders Plaza, a parking deck, One Uptown, Pinnacle Village and a variety of new retail experiences. The Centennial Celebration featured some of the leaders who were instrumental in the recent westward expansion of Rogers.

Tom Allen, Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners, looked back at the last decade of development and talked about how far we have come. He said, “the bottom line is that retail is still alive and well in the U.S. and especially in the Rogers-Lowell Area, from Downtown to Uptown (Pinnacle Hills).

2022 Dick Trammel Good Neighbor Award

The Dick Trammel Good Neighbor Award, the Rogers community's highest honor, was first awarded in 1974 to recognize an individual who has contributed to the betterment of Rogers and the region.

“The area between Walnut and Pleasant Grove was ripe for retail development. But we needed leaders to step up and help our community take advantage of this opportunity. Our Good Neighbor Award recipient was one of those leaders who stepped up to the challenge. ~ Raymond Burns, President/CEO

This year's recipient was elected Mayor of The City of Rogers in 1998. He worked with entrepreneurs like J.B. Hunt and John Q. Hammons to create westward expansion that helped us become a vibrant destination for office space, healthcare, and professional services.

Our community owes much of this success to his leadership in bringing the city to the table as a partner to create what we see in Rogers today. Congratulations to Congressman Steve Womack!

City of Lowell Development

Nick Hobbs, Past Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer and President of Contract Services for J.B Hunt Transport Services, Inc. talked about the history of Lowell.

Nick said, “the City of Lowell was originally a small settlement known as Robinson's Crossroads, settled in the 1840's consisting of about 30 homesteaders. The town was known as "mudtown" by early travelers due to their wagons getting stuck in the mud after rains.”

Fast forward to today, and Lowell has become one of the friendliest and safest places to live, work and play with over 13,000 people calling it home. Located in the heart of NWA's two largest counties, it is a growing, progressive city with a variety of eating establishments, lodging, entertainment, shopping, and recreational amenities.

Lowell founded its Chamber of Commerce in 1976 but merged with the Rogers Chamber of Commerce in 2000. The Centennial Celebration celebrated the leaders who have been a big part of Lowell's expansion and development.

2022 Elbert S. Graham / Elza Tucker Award

Our highest award for outstanding service to the community of Lowell is the Elbert S. Graham / Elza Tucker Award. It was first awarded in 1974 and recognizes an individual for significant contribution to the betterment of the Lowell community.

“Our award recipient this year has been a face of Lowell for nearly two decades. She has a cheerful heart and welcoming attitude. She is always willing to offer a kind word or lend a helping hand. Congratulations to the City of Lowell’s Melanie Houston!” ~ Nick Hobbs

This year's recipient began her career in Lowell in 2003 as a court clerk and is now the Mayor's assistant. Her impressive volunteer service includes helping with the Mudtown Days festival, coordinating parades, and assisting with the Easter egg and Christmas parade events. Her selfless service to Lowell has enriched the lives of those around her. Congratulations Melanie Houston!

Small Business of the Year

Martha Londagin, Business Consultant at Startup Junkie Foundation, and member of the Chamber’s Small Business Council presented the Small Business of the Year award.

She said, “Small businesses are a vital part of our local, regional, and national economy. Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development is one of the Chamber’s five key mission-work areas and our Small Business Council guides us as the voice of small business. Each year, we recognize four outstanding small businesses of the quarter who are automatically nominated for Small Business of the Year.”

This year’s winner supports nonprofits that benefit the children of wounded, ill and fallen military heroes and is passionate about giving back. They also work to create exceptional dining experiences and cater many of the Chamber’s events. Congratulations to GRO Catering!

Community Leadership in Action | Vision 100

Martha pointed out that the Chamber realized back in 2011 just how important having diverse representation and being inclusive were to the community. It became the first chamber in the region to hire a full-time staff position to help navigate the challenges of welcoming a growing and more diverse population.

She talked about our people having a willing spirit, a healthy focus, and a progressive attitude and possessing the core values of faith, family, community, education, and economic prosperity. “These are the community’s shared values from the Vision 100 Community Action Plan – our roadmap to 2035,” she said.

Vision 100 was developed by engaging in a process of discovering the kind of future our Rogers-Lowell community wanted. Residents expressed their ideas in an online survey followed up by a series of community tables. Through this discovery, we learned what our community envisions for itself in anticipation of our area reaching a population of 100,000 before 2035.

Vision/NEXT: Exploring Our Future Together

Eric Pianalto, former Chairman of the Board and President of Mercy Hospital Northwest, began his portion of the program pointing out the evolution the Chamber has undergone over the immediate past 5 years. With its Chamber 3.0 initiative, the Chamber began an intentional effort to ensure it stays relevant, necessary and competent in the coming decade and beyond.

Eric said, “As the Keeper of the Community Vision and Voice of Business, the Chamber will lead the way to sustain our prosperity for another 100 years. We will focus on our mission-work in five key focus areas – Community Development, Advocacy & Government Affairs, Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development, Economic Development, and Destination Marketing & Management.”

As a result of this initiative, the Chamber leaned into its role as "the Keeper of the Community Vision and Voice of Business" by defining and focusing on it's mission-work with 5 key focus areas. Just like our Rotarian founders, the Chamber’s basic purpose will always be convening the community’s diverse group of business professionals to exchange ideas, work together, and form meaningful, lifelong relationships built on trust.

Leaders of Tomorrow Discuss Vision/NEXT

Attendees of the Centennial Celebration heard from a panel consisting of Rogers City Councilwoman April Legere, Alex English of Northwest Arkansas National Airport, and Josh Vasquez of Encore Bank. The panel was moderated by incoming Chairman of the Board Erin Kiefer, President and CEO at Assembled Products Corporation. The discussion centered around the future of leadership in Northwest Arkansas and what needs to happen for us to create a welcoming and vibrant community for our future residents, workforce, and the next generation

Chamber Receives 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Did you know that the first known use of the term “chamber of commerce” occurred in France in the late 17th century, and the oldest chamber of commerce in America is that of the state of New York, organized in 1768?

By 1870, the number of local chambers of commerce had increased to 40. Today, there are over 7,000 chambers in the United States. Out of those today, only 200 are accredited by the U.S. Chamber and only 136 are rated as 5-star -- the best of the best.

To close our Centennial Celebration, the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce announced that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has once again recognized our Chamber as one of its 5-star accredited chambers and ended the evening with a celebratory champagne toast and the ceremonial passing of the gavel to Erin Kiefer, our 2022-23 Chairman of the Board.

"This is a prestigious honor and recognizes the Chamber for its outstanding contributions toward making positive change in our community. It’s also acknowledgement from industry peers for the chamber’s expertise, strong leadership and results fostering a pro-business environment." ~ Raymond Burns, President/CEO

By earning Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a chamber shows its dedication to:

• Reviewing, improving, and promoting strong business practices
• Recognizing leadership and outstanding contributions to the community
• Supporting the principles of free enterprise and promoting pro-growth policies at federal, state, and local levels
• Establishing best practices and staying in-step with industry changes

Accreditation with the United States Chamber of Commerce is the only program of its kind that defines excellence in chamber planning and recognizes chambers for outstanding contributions toward positive change in their communities. There are over 900 chambers that have participated in the program since 1964.

View the Chamber Voice of Business Newsletter: Centennial Celebration Special Edition HERE or view the full show video replay on the Chamber's YouTube channel HERE.