For several years the NWA Emerging Leaders Sustainability Team has partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Benton County to make their annual golf tournament fundraiser a near zero waste event. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday, October 23 and WE NEED YOU! Interact with participants while aiding them in recycling on the golf course. Volunteers are needed all throughout the day at Kingswood and Berksdale golf courses in Bella Vista. To check out the shifts and register to volunteer, simply fill out the form below.

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This new initiative from the Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders Community Enrichment Team is designed to inspire local businesses, city leadership, and the greater Rogers community to see the potential of an underutilized area of Downtown Rogers. The areas in question are Centennial Park, the alleyway located directly behind the park, and a parking lot directly south of the park.

Through a partnership with the Northwest Arkansas chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the group has worked with the city to install lighting in the alleyway to make it more attractive to pedestrians. They will also be cleaning up Centennial Park, putting in a temporary art installation from local art galleries, and creating food truck parking.

“When we first started this project, it was just a couple of people throwing around a couple of ideas about what we could do,” said Katie Strickland, Assistant Branch Manager for the Bank of Arkansas and Vice-Chair of the Better Block Initiative for the Community Enrichment Team. “What we found was a city and a community with a ton of passion and energy to re-imagine the core of Rogers in a new way. We wanted to help turn some of that imagination into reality.”

With trees coming in from a local nursery and food trucks coming in from the local area, the parking lot next door to the Rabbit’s Lair will become a shaded eatery for the day. “The goal was never to do anything permanent,” said Strickland. “Our goal was to influence the stakeholders in the area to see the space as having the potential to be more than it is today.”

The focus of the Community Enrichment Work Group is to be a breeding ground for initiatives designed to positively impact the Northwest Arkansas Community and help provide the resources to turn those ideas into reality. The group has two other initiatives active year round: Lunch with A Leader – an intimate lunch with a prominent community leader focused on leadership development held quarterly; and Volunteer Day – A day where emerging leaders from all over the area take some time off of work and get out to network, learn more about the organizations in the area, and impact the NWA community in a positive way.

#popUPnwa

Contacts:

Katie Strickland (Vice-chair Better Block Initiative lead)  – KStrickland@bankofarkansas.com 501-258-0317

David Bradley (Community Enrichment Work Group Chair) dgbradl@gmail.com 870-740-2216

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The post Volunteers Needed for Rogers Cycling Festival first appeared on NWA Emerging Leaders.

Leadership Fayetteville

Leadership Springdale

Leadership Benton County

The post Community Leadership Programs Now Accepting Applications first appeared on NWA Emerging Leaders.

The Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders’ Political and Government Affairs Team is hosting a free monthly breakfast series, presented by Mitchell Williams, designed to answer all of your questions about running for political office.  Whether you want to serve on a school board, the state legislature or even at the federal level, these casual monthly breakfasts will bring experts and veteran politicians together to discuss the finer points of running for office and provide advice and guidance on how to run a successful campaign.

June 24, 2015 – Running 101 will lay out the basics of what it takes to run for any elected office and inspire you to take the next step.

July 22, 2015 – In the Finance and Ethics session we will discuss fundraising and demystify the regulations and reporting requirements for candidates and elected officials.

August 26, 2015 – The Media and Marketing session will help you learn to manage the media and control your campaign’s message.

September 23, 2015 – Ready to Run takes all the knowledge we’ve gained over the series and puts it together with a Charge to Serve! Let our speaker inspire you and answer any lingering questions you may have about running for public office. After this session, you’ll be prepared to get out and ask for the vote!

*Attendance at all sessions is not required but encouraged.

Lowell Chamber Office (506 Enterprise Drive, Ste. 102, Lowell)
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Light Breakfast Provided
FREE to attend; Registration Requested
Click here to Register!

Presented by Mitchell Williams

Brought to you by NWAEL

The post Political & Government Affairs Team announce Political Candidate Training Series first appeared on NWA Emerging Leaders.

NWA Emerging Leader’s own Sustainability Team has partnered with Downtown Bentonville Inc. to make the May First Friday more sustainable.  May’s Footprint Friday Event will focus on bringing awareness to our community about sustainable measures and hunger awareness as part of this effort, the NWAEL Sustainability Team will work with other community volunteers to collect recyclables, reusables, and compost to minimize the waste that goes into our landfills.

There will be three recycling collection stations set-up around the Bentonville Square and volunteers are needed to run these stations and help educate the community on recycling.  Volunteers can sign up for any (or all) of the two hour shifts that will take place between 11am and 9pm (shifts: 11am-1pm, 1-3pm, 3-5pm, 5-7pm, and 7-9pm).

If you are interested in volunteering or need more information please contact Stephanie Garman.

The post Sustainability Team is MAKING AN IMPACT at the Bentonville First Friday first appeared on NWA Emerging Leaders.

These NWA Emerging Leaders have been featured in past newsletters.  Check them out!

Matt Kezhaya

Employer: Kezhaya Law PLLC

Length of time in NWA: Since August 2008

How long have you been in NWAEL? Since October 2014

How has being part of Emerging Leaders helped you connect with NWA? Working with the Political & Government Affairs group has put me in contact with elected officials.  Also, the Board Service Certification program gave me a few pointers to be a better director for the Bentonville Public Library Foundation.  But, most importantly, it’s a great place to find like-minded young professionals and make new friends.

Other comments regarding NWAEL: I’m excited about the upcoming social events.

Tara Dryer

Employer: University of Arkansas

Length of Time in NWA: 8 years

How long have you been in NWAEL? 6 years

How has being part of Emerging Leaders helped you connect with NWA? Beyond the educational events and opportunities that NWAEL puts on for its members, the greatest value has been meeting new people in various sectors of the business community and being able to engage with them in a variety of professional capacities. Through the workgroups, you are able to get involved in areas on the community that you are passionate for whether it be community enrichment, legacy, trails, political and government affairs or sustainability or a little bit of everything. Emerging Leaders is built around what our members want it to be so our members are what shapes the direction of our organization. Getting involved is the reason I am now connected!

Paul Wilson

Employer: INTRUST Bank

Length of Time in NWA: 6.5 years

How long have you been in NWAEL: 6 years

How has being part of NWAEL helped you connect with NWA:  My family and I moved to NWA in January 2008 to further my career with INTRUST Bank, and we moved here not knowing one person and very little about the region.  NWAEL was a conduit for me.

It all boils down to working closely with others and engaging existing leadership.  Serving on the board and starting the Sustainability Workgroup allowed me to identify needs, share a vision, communicate that vision, build consensus and ultimately execute a strategy.  This process provides access, while allowing existing leadership as well as peers to get to know your character, motivation, capacity for discernment and personally witness your work ethic.  Those things translate in our minds from community initiatives to career initiatives and ultimately builds trust and earns you credibility.  If you do it well in one area, odds are you do it well in other areas too, but the context is expanded outside your smaller scope and sphere of influence.

And so it compounds!  Before I knew it, I was being asked to serve on other boards and have been given many meaningful opportunities to work with new and existing leaders because of the successes that emerged out of NWAEL.  The relationships that were developed have turned into lasting friendships and are people I trust and call to this day.  We share an experience, and it’s no longer simply walking away with a business card.  It’s more substantial.  I’ve become vested in the NWA community, and now this is where I call home.

Other comments regarding NWAEL:  Like any organization, you’ll get out what you put in.  If you’re sitting on the sidelines waiting for something to happen, you’ll never experience the full reach of the benefits that come from NWAEL.  Make something happen today; join a workgroup, start a workgroup or present an idea to fill a gap somewhere in the community.  Leave something better than when you arrived.  The benefit is reciprocal.

Natalie Bartholomew

Employer: First National Bank of NWA

Length of time in NWA: 32 years (5^th generation to live in NWA)

How long have you been in NWAEL: 9 months

How has being part of Emerging Leaders helped you connect with NWA: Although I have been a lifelong resident of NWA and my roots run deep in this area, Emerging Leaders gave me an immediate plug into a fun, motivated group of professionals after a job change that took me from Washington County to Benton County. I am also finding that my new connections through NWAEL are intertwining with other organizations that I am involved with which helps strengthen the relationships even further.

Other comments regarding NWAEL: NWAEL is an excellent opportunity for anyone regardless if you are a NWA native or new to the area.

Bo Yarborough

Employer: Walmart Stores Inc

Length of Time in NWA: 1 year recently, 8 years away before, but grew up here

How long have you been in NWAEL: 1 year

How has being part of Emerging Leaders helped you connect with NWA: Since joining NWAEL I’ve been exposed to professionals in industries ranging from banking, consumer goods, retail, not for profit, etc.  Being a NWAEL member has helped me meet my goals on a professional level, as well as a personal level. I’ve connected with people who’ve contributed to my success at work, as well as being exposed to many opportunities to give back through some amazing non-profit organizations.

Other comments regarding NWAEL: NWAEL is the best way for young and seasoned professionals in NWA to get connected, get involved, and to make a difference in the community we all love so much.  Being involved in the work0groups has given me the opportunity to turn things I’m passionate about into action and help others reach their goals as well.

Tina Winham

Employer: NUK

Length of Time in NWA: I have lived in Northwest Arkansas my whole life!  Born in Gravette, Arkansas

How Long Have You Been in NWAEL: I have been a member of NWAEL for 6 years

How has being part of Emerging Leaders helped you connect with NWA:  NWAEL has provided opportunities for me to meet others and learn about our region and how to match up skills and passion with the needs of our community. I’ve also benefitted from leadership development and the vast opportunities that are made available to us to learn from some of our successful community leaders. I appreciate the friendships that have been created and partnerships that have been formed to improve our community.

The post Check Out These IMPACT Makers first appeared on NWA Emerging Leaders.

The post NWAEL Volunteeers at the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center first appeared on NWA Emerging Leaders.

Sustainability Workgroup
What: Boys and Girls Club of Benton County Golf Tournament
The Sustainability Workgroup solicits volunteers to manage the waste at the golf tournament.  This results in a zero-waste event!
When: Friday, August 1.  Shifts are avaliable all day between 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Kingswood & Berksdale Courses – Bella Vista
Volunteer Roles: Assisting participants and volunteers in sorting waste in appropriate bins.
Sign-Up: Follow the link and then click on the button labeled “Volunteer Registration”
http://www.bgcbentoncounty.org/the-20th-annual-boys-and-girls-club-summer-classic-tournament/
100 volunteers needed!

Greenways & Trails Workgroup
What: Race for the Spike/Frisco 5 Poker Ride
Race for the Spike is an 11-mile bicycle race from downtown Rogers to Avoca and back to downtown Rogers.  Bikers who beat the train win a commemorative railroad spike.  This race is in conjunction with Frisco Festival and the proceeds support the Community Bike Program.  The Community Bike Program places bicyles on the Rogers Trail System for free, public use.
When: Saturday, August 23, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Downtown Rogers – Chestnut & Arkansas Street
Volunteer Roles: Traffic control, registration, water & food service, poker ride station workers, etc.
Sign-Up: Email Whitney Yoder at whitney@rogerslowell.com.  Include time available to volunteer on the morning of August 23.
20 volunteers needed!
Learn More: http://nwaraceforthespike.com/

The post NWAEL Seeks Volunteers for Community Events first appeared on NWA Emerging Leaders.

The Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders are proud to offer its members an opportunity to meet with Mayor Greg Hines.  Greg Hines was sworn in as the 40th Mayor of Rogers on January 1, 2011.  In 1998, he was elected as the youngest member in history to the Rogers City Council where he served for 12 years.  Mayor Hines has provided valuable leadership to the city and was successful in the passage of a $135 million dollar bond issuance, which has provided the residents of Rogers with a new state of the art aquatic park, sports complex, improved streets, and additional funding for the fire and police departments.  He will discuss his personal leadership philosophy and the tools he’s used to affect positive change for the betterment of the community.  Please see his full biography below.

Lunch with a Leader provides NWAEL members access to the region’s top leadership.  The size of the group is limited to allow for a casual, informal discussion.  Don’t miss this interactive program!

Seats are limited to the first 15 to RSVP, so register to attend today!  The lunch is set for Wednesday, June 23 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Crafton Tull (901 N. 47th St., 3rd Floor, Rogers).  $15/person.  Click here to register.

For more information contact Whitney Yoder at whitney@rogerslowell.com

Full Bio – Mayor Greg Hines

Greg Hines was sworn in as the 40th Mayor of Rogers on January 1, 2011. Greg attended Rogers Public Schools and the University of Arkansas. Hines has dedicated many years of service to the people of Rogers. In 1998, he was elected as the youngest member in history to the Rogers City Council where he served for 12 years. Mayor Hines has deep roots in the community as a fourth generation Rogers’ native.  He has had successful careers as a small business owner and in government, holding various positions in both the private and public sectors.

Prior to being elected Mayor of Rogers, Greg spent 10 years as a law enforcement officer fighting crime on the streets and as the lead investigator in some of the most high profile crimes in Benton County.  During his years in law enforcement, Greg was awarded the Investigator of the Year honor from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the STEP Award for Outstanding DWI Enforcement as a uniformed patrol officer as well as many service commendations. Also, Greg served as the Director of Public Safety for Benton County.  In this role, Greg oversaw the Road Department, Veterans Affairs, the Juvenile Detention Center, and the Community Service Program.  He managed over 100 county employees and a taxpayer funded budget of $10.4 million dollars.

Greg’s accomplishments during his first two years in office include passage of a $135 million dollar bond
issuance, which has provided the residents of Rogers with a new state of the art aquatic park, sports complex, improved streets, and additional funding for the fire and police departments. Additionally, despite the Recession the City of Rogers sales tax collections have been the highest in the City’s history during 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Not only are Greg and his family active members of Central United Methodist Church, but he has served on the staff parish boards and on the board of trustees.  He is an honoree member of the Rogers Noon Rotary.  Also, Greg has been on the boards of: The Rogers Animal Shelter Advisory Board, Ozark Regional Transit Board, and as Vice-President of the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center Board of Directors.  Most recently, Greg was awarded as the first class on the Wall of Distinction by the Rogers Public Education Foundation for his outstanding accomplishments.

Mayor Greg Hines is married to Lisa Brunner Hines and is the father of two beautiful daughters, Emily and Haley.

The post Lunch with a Leader to feature Mayor Greg Hines first appeared on NWA Emerging Leaders.