B U I L D I N G Y O U R V I S I O N F O R

Local retail sales, commercial construction and job creation all

bucked national trends, setting records in 2010. The impact of new

facilities and wages has laid the foundation for future growth.

B U I L D I N G

Conway continues to flourish due in large part to the strong partnerships and

common goals of the Chamber of Commerce, A&P Commission, Conway Development

Corporation and Downtown Partnership. It’s their dedication that is making

Conway a better place to live.

B U I L D I N G eadership

The following individuals, businesses and organizations were

honored during the 2010 Annual Meeting:

Good Neighbor AwardMary Acklin

Get Smart. Go Green AwardA & J Collision Repair

Young Business Leader Danny Patel

Minority Business of the Year Sandstone Real Estate Group

Business Executive of the Year Mike Coats and Mike Kraft

Chamber Achievement Award Faulkner County Legislative Delegation

Distinguished Service AwardJohnny Adams

BUSINESSES OF THE YEAR

24 or Less EmployeesNational Bank of Arkansas

25 – 99 EmployeesWomen’s Inc.

100 – 500 EmployeesAMC

501+ EmployeesAcxiom

2010 Annual MeetingWith a record attendance of over 900 business and community leaders, the 2010 Annual Meeting was held at the University of Central Arkansas HPER Center. Attendees enjoyed a conversation with special guest Johnelle Hunt (below), co-founder of J.B. Hunt Transport.

Number of Jobs in Faulkner County: 40,239

Board Reception and Open House

CEO LuncheonsMore than 375 Chamber members attended CEO Luncheons in 2010. The three luncheons featured the lead executive from Fayetteville Express Pipeline, Southwest Power Pool and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Membership PaysThe Schapiro Group Study, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives with support from Small Business Network, Inc., was designed to determine the real value to companies in terms of consumer outcomes of joining and being active in their local chamber of commerce.

Data for the study came from a scientific web-based survey of 2,000 adults nationwide. The chosen survey style yields powerful results because it bypasses the subjectivity of most opinion polls. A sampling of some of these results proves this to be the case:

59% of consumers think that being active in the local chamber of commerce is an

effective business strategy overall.

40% When consumers know that a restaurant franchise is a member of the chamber of

commerce, they are 40 percent more likely to eat at the franchise in the next few months.

43% When consumers know that an insurance company is a member of the chamber of

commerce, they are 43 percent more likely to consider buying insurance from it.

63% When consumers know that a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce,

they are 63 percent more likely to purchase goods or services from it in the future.

Hotel Sales

in Conway:

$17.5 Million

Conway continued to see strong economic growth. Buoyed by the

natural gas industry for several years, 2010 marked positive growth

in other sectors as well. Total job numbers in Faulkner County

topped 40,000 for the first time in history.

B U I L D I N G rowthArkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield

Construction began on the $12 million, 17,000-square-foot USAble Corporation Service Center. The facility will house 20 employees with a payroll of nearly $1 million and becomes the fourth tenant in The Meadows.

Southwestern Energy Houston-based Southwestern Energy Company drew closer to finishing construction on their new $30 million, 120,000-square-foot regional headquarters. The facility will have 500 highly paid white- collar professionals and solidifies the importance of the natural gas industry to the city and state.

RockTennRockTenn announced that it would invest $4 million in its Conway facility. The expansion increased the plant’s capacity by more than 20 percent, strengthening the Conway facility’s position within the company.

In March, Hewlett-Packard held a grand opening celebration of its new $36 million office facility. Company officials were joined by Governor Mike Beebe as community leaders toured the campus. By the end of 2010, Hewlett-Packard had hired more than 1,200 new employees.

Hewlett-Packard Grand Opening

Total market value of natural gas produced in Faulkner

County: $186 Million

The Village at Hendrix2010 marked the opening of the first residential and retail components of The Village at Hendrix. The neo-traditional community, adjacent to the college’s campus, is unique in Arkansas and the region.

Conway Regional Health System ExpansionIn June, the Conway Regional Health System Board of Directors voted to move forward with the largest expansion in the history of the institution. The $32 million, 85,000-square-foot addition will house a new surgery department and facilitate the expansion of the women’s center.

Faulkner County Bank

Deposits: $1.58 Billion

Conway Towne Centre The Conway Towne Centre received a long-awaited $8 million redevelopment. The cornerstone of the project was Cinemark’s new 12-screen movie theater. The project brings new life to Highway 65, the city’s northern gateway.

Kimberly-Clark ExpansionKimberly-Clark marked the 40th anniversary of its Conway facility with the announcement of one of the largest expansions in its history. Company officials will invest $65 million, add nearly 60,000 square feet of space and hire 100 new employees.

Conway Retail Sales: $1.249 Billion

Conway is too good to keep all to ourselves. Visitors of all kinds helped fill

restaurants, hotel rooms and athletic fields in 2010.

B U I L D I N G nthusiasm

New name. Same mission.In December 2010, the Conway Advertising and Promotion Commission began marketing itself as the Conway Convention and Visitors Bureau. The “CVB” name is an industry standard in attracting tournaments, conferences and events.

2010 Numbers of Note4,102 Hospitality guides given out

1,326 Maps distributed

22 States represented by tourists visiting the Chamber

Crappie Masters TournamentThe Conway A&P Commission sponsored the first-ever Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters Tournament in Arkansas. The tournament was held March 26-27 on Lake Conway. More than 160 anglers from 14 states participated in the two-day event. Don Blakely and Marvin Deckard won the top prize, weighing in with a two-day total of 23.09 lbs.

The tournament was a first for this area and a huge success. Numerous participants spent many days in Conway fishing in preparation for the tournament. More than 500 spectators attended the weigh-in for the championship.

Kids Fishing RodeoA Kids Fishing Rodeo was held in conjunction with the Crappie Masters Ultimate Challenge. The Fishing Rodeo had more than 200 participants ages 15 and under.

Crappie Masters 2010 Angler Team of the Year Don and Toni Collins with Chairman Lori Ross (below)

Conway Restaurant Sales: $140 Million

“It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about where you spend it.”The Conway Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce kicked off the Choose Conway campaign in November. The first Choose Conway television spot touted local shopping and dining options using a Christmas theme. Utilizing local residents, future spots will focus on a variety of the reasons one should Choose Conway.

Conway Corporation customers received a bill insert during the holiday shopping season. The insert encouraged Conway residents to keep their spending local.

The expectation of the campaign is not to retain 100 percent of the local shopping and dining dollar, but to make Conway businesses the natural and first choice for shopping and dining. For nonresidents, the campaign will highlight many reasons to Choose Conway for everything from a night away to an afternoon on the bike trails.

HoopPlay USA Basketball Tournament In December, Conway was selected as the host city for the HoopPlayUSA.com national tournament. An estimated 200 teams from around the country will come to Conway in 2011 and play a guaranteed five games at multiple locations throughout the city. The Nationals Tournament is HoopPlayUSA.com’s largest event.

Conway Expo Center & Fairgrounds

Opened in September, the new 40-acre Expo Center and Fairgrounds have already hosted several successful events. The Faulkner County Fair, Business Expo, Taste of Conway and Dazzle Daze helped introduce this much-needed asset to thousands of welcome visitors. The 45,000-square-foot Expo Center will also have an attached event center, which will be 14,000 square feet. The pavilion is an additional 54,000 square feet. The Expo Center will allow larger events to be held locally and bring a variety of events to Conway, which will result in an economic impact through increases in restaurant, hotel and retail sales.

Chairman Lori Ross

and representatives of

the 2010 Chairman

Circle Companies

In 2010, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Circle

recognized a record 19 members who invested at least $7,500 per year.

These investments underwrite the Chamber’s economic development,

education and government affairs programs. For more information on

the Chairman’s Circle, contact Brad Lacy at Brad@ConwayArkansas.org.

B U I L D I N G nvestors DIAMOND

City of Conway Hewlett-Packard

PLATINUM

Acxiom Corporation Chesapeake Energy

GOLD

Conway CorporationConway Regional Health System

First SecuritySonic

Southwestern Energy Company

SILVER

Centennial BankCrain Automotive UCA Foundation

Windstream

BRONZE

Crafton Tull Hendrix College

Nabholz ConstructionRegions

Verizon WirelessVirco

Conway Academic Signing DayConway Academic Signing Day 2010 honored 28 local high school students. Academic Signing Day recognizes a select few of the high-achieving students who receive significant academic awards and substantial scholarships.

Requirements to be considered:

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher and/or

• the designation as a National Merit Scholar or

• acceptance at a United States Service Academy

Final selection criteria:

• Be the recipient of a top scholarship

from their four-year accredited

college/university of choice, or

• be accepted in the Honors College

at their four-year accredited

college/university of choice, or

• be the winner of a state or

national scholarship program

Teacher Breakfast and Education Fair

More than 750 faculty and staff from Conway Public Schools, St. Joseph School and Conway Christian School attended the sixth annual Teacher Breakfast and Education Fair. The fair provides an opportunity for businesses to not only welcome the K-12 grade teachers back to school, but also to showcase their products and services.

Computers to Conway Adult Education Center

Conway Development Corporation and the Education Committee of the Chamber donated 10 computers to the Adult Education Center. The computers are benefitting the Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy training center – a free community-based workforce development program that addresses the need to improve the basic skills of the unemployed and the underemployed.

From our award-winning teachers to our three major colleges, it’s no surprise

that Conway has a lot to offer in terms of education. There are many public

and private paths to learning, no matter what stage of life you’re in.

B U I L D I N G ducation

Students honored were from

St. Joseph High School (1),

Conway Christian (3),

Conway High

School (24).

Discovering Tomorrow’s LeadersDuring the fall, students participating in a nonprofit organization were nominated as outstanding leaders. Chesapeake Energy and the Chamber teamed up to recognize outstanding student leaders, and a computer was donated to each of the eight winner’s schools. In November, a DTL banquet was held at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center.

University ExpansionUCA ExpansionIn December, UCA officials broke ground on Bear Hall, an $18 million, 120,000-square-foot residence hall (right), which will be the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) facility on campus. The new hall will feature 12 skyboxes, which are being built for $2 million. In addition, the 80,000-square-foot College of Business building was dedicated in February.

Central Baptist College ExpansionOver the next 10 years, the college plans to more than double its enrollment. To prepare, CBC unveiled a 16-step master plan (bottom right) that includes campus-wide renovations and the addition of four three-story buildings.

Hendrix ExpansionFrom the outside, it looks like it has always been there, while the inside has technology you didn’t know was invented yet. The $26 million LEED Gold Certified Student Life and Technology Center (below) is a tribute to sustainable building at its best.

Workers Employed

in Education & Health Services:

6,075

At Toad Suck Daze, attendees enjoy the concerts, food, Toad Races and so

much more. The festival is founded on education, and the committee continues

its longstanding tradition of funding educational opportunities. Many things

may change, but the focus on education that Toad Suck Daze puts into practice

will continue – and so will the Toad Races.

B U I L D I N G radition

Toad Races: Over 80 in 3 days

Toad Market: 134 vendors; 70 from Arkansas, 15 other states represented

Business Expo: 47 vendors, all from Arkansas

Concessions: 42 vendors; 32 from Arkansas, 7 states represented

Amusement: 3 vendors, all from Arkansas

Volunteers: 42 year-round volunteers log 3,250 volunteer hours

Weekend of Festival: 1,700 hours of volunteer work

Toad Suck Daze Fun Facts

ALFiE Awards 2010Arkansas Festivals and Events Association Recognizes Toad Suck Daze

Volunteer of the Year – Jerry Rye (pictured left)

Outstanding New Idea – Incident Command Center – Runner-Up

Promotional Material – Social Media Campaign – Silver

Promotional Material – Souvenir – Gold

Promotional Material – Color Brochure – Silver

Promotional Material – Event Website – Silver

Promotional Material – Event Photo – Gold

Progress of Scholarship FundingToad Suck Daze Generates Educational Funding

Toad Suck Daze is not only an award-winning festival; it’s also a smart festival. Having distributed more than $581,000 in scholarships to over 180 individuals, Toad Suck Daze is well on its way to surpassing the $1 million mark in scholarships alone. In fact, it already has when you consider that an additional $500,000 has been contributed to endowments.

2010 Funding

$40,000 UCA, Hendrix and Central Baptist College

$1,500 University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton

$1,500 Faulkner County Single Parent Scholarship Fund

$50,000 Toad Suck Daze Get Smart Endowment at the Community Foundation of Faulkner County

$93,000 Total 2010 Scholarship Funding

As a rule, businesses don’t have the time or resources to focus on public infrastructure

or legislation; however, they are affected by it. Your Chamber was a strong voice for a

number of job-creating infrastructure projects and pro-business policies in 2010.

B U I L D I N G dvocacy

TransportationThe Government Affairs Program of Work consisted of a continued focus on three major transportation projects, which represent an investment of over $60 million.

Relocation of Airport: The relocation of the airport to Lollie Bottoms (top right) will address current safety issues and accommodate our economic growth. Lollie Road was relocated in 2010 to prepare for construction of the $29 million airport. The airport is scheduled to break ground in April 2011.

Southern Interchange: The new interstate exit at mile marker 132 will be the southern terminus of the proposed Conway Western Loop (right). The $28 million project includes a full-service interchange and railroad crossing. It will provide quick access from the interstate to The Meadows Technology Park, southern Conway and southern Faulkner County. The first phase of construction is scheduled to go to bid in December 2011.

Relocation of Highway 25: The relocation of Highway 25 and connection to Salem Road at interstate exit 124 will improve access to northern Faulkner County with a more direct and safer route.

Door-to-Door Meeting at UCAThe Arkansas State Chamber Door-to-Door program visited Conway and addressed about 30 Conway Chamber and community leaders.

The program was designed to inform and empower local businesses about important ballot issues on the November general election ballot and critical political issues expected to arise in the 2011 Arkansas General Assembly.

Healthcare Reform & Your Business

Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Randy Zook was the guest speaker at the Healthcare Reform & Your Business informational meeting hosted by the Small Business Council of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. The meeting included an overview of the new legislation and its impact on the business community.

DC Fly-InIn February, a delegation from the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, Conway Development Corporation, City of Conway, and Faulkner County spent several days advocating Faulkner County’s legislative priorities and infrastructure needs to Arkansas senators, representatives and respective staff.

Conway 2012: For the Students of TomorrowA millage increase was required to help fund the Conway 2012 Plan. With a goal of informing citizens, a Conway 2012 Millage Committee was formed and led by Tom Courtway. The millage increase passed with over 70 percent of voters showing support for the students. The new campus expansion to be built in accordance with the Arkansas school facilities standards will provide approximately 85 new classroom spaces and room for 10th, 11th and 12th grades. It will also provide state-of-the-art instructional and science lab space deserving of Conway’s strong, historic commitment to education.

Issue Numbers 2 and 3The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce joined the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce campaign in support of Issues 2 and 3.

Issue 2 Highlights

Remove an interest rate cap of 5 percent above the federal discount rate, now .75 percent, on consumer loans, but would leave a 17 percent cap in place. Lenders are currently limited to whichever cap is lower.

Repeal an interest rate cap of 2 percent above the federal discount rate on bonds issued by or loans issued by or to governmental units.

Allow governmental entities to issue bonds to finance energy-efficiency projects and use savings from the projects to repay the loans.

Issue 3 Highlights

Repeal a section of Amendment 82 that restricts the issuance of economic development bonds to major projects guaranteeing at least a $500 million investment and at least 500 new jobs.

It would authorize the Legislature to set new financial criteria for the bond issues.

The two financial amendments were intertwined and together were designed to make the state more competitive in recruiting industry.

Both issues were supported overwhelmingly by Arkansas voters. Arkansas is now better prepared to compete nationally and globally.

Conway Young ProfessionalsConway Young Professionals (CYP) offered its almost 200 members an opportunity to thrive socially and professionally in 2010. CYP highlights from 2010 included the Annual Meeting After Party with Tragikly White, Kickin’ It for the Kids’ Kickball Tournament and a food drive benefitting Bethlehem House. Regular “Power Lunches” and “Off the Clock” events provide year- round outlets for education or entertainment.

Chamber Numbers

of Note

353 Joined the Chamber

911 Members who renewed their

membership

150 Members placed info in the

Chamber lobby

100 Members promoted their business

on the relocation disk

212 Times Chamber facility was

utilized for meetings by members

53 Ribbon Cuttings

Business After HoursThe Hilton Garden Inn hosted Business After Hours ’70s style. Business After Hours allows members to strengthen professional relationships and develop new opportunities to work with fellow Chamber members. The groovy event brought together over 150 members who enjoyed an evening of music, networking, food and fabulous prizes.

Professionals also had a great year in Conway. Because of the many new and

established companies in Conway, the Chamber created more opportunities

for networking and community involvement.

B U I L D I N G pportunities

The Explore Business Expo & Taste of Conway The Explore Business Expo allowed attendees and businesses to explore the products and services of over 70 Chamber member businesses. The Expo included sessions throughout the day, cooking demonstrations and ended with Taste of Conway. Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to try out the Explore Indoor Zip Line (below right) and check out Chesapeake’s CNG Chopper.

Taste of Conway showcases the fabulous collection of local talents and flavors available in Conway. Hosted

by the Conway Convention & Visitors Bureau, Taste of Conway allowed attendees to sample from more than 30 restaurants and caterers.

Bowling for BusinessChamber members gathered at Conway Family Bowl for the inaugural Bowling for Business. Besides the incredible opportunity to network with fellow Chamber members, participants showed off their bowling skills in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

Morning Winners

UCA Athletics – 1st PlaceSouthwestern Energy – 2nd PlaceUS CosmeCeuticals – 3rd Place

Afternoon Winners

24/7 Fitness – 1st PlaceCentennial Bank – 2nd PlaceBest Buy for Business – 3rd Place

Overall Winners

24/7 Fitness – 1st PlaceUCA Athletics – 2nd PlaceSouthwestern Energy – 3rd Place

Leads GroupsLeads groups are a proven resource for growing businesses of all types and sizes. The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce offered two leads groups with 45 members in 2010: Toad Suck Nation and Conway Business Professionals. Membership in a leads group is exclusive. Each group is composed of professionals representing a different field of business, so there is no competition within the group.

FC Business Journal

The Faulkner County Business Journal offers in-depth coverage of the local economy. News, events, data and editorial all combine to tell the story of Faulkner County’s growing economy.

“The leads group is a tremendous

selling tool for us. Our company

has generated 20 percent of

sales this year alone. During a

recession, we show a 32 percent

increase in sales from 2009 to

2010. For $25 a quarter, it’s been

a great return on investment.”

- Kirk Netherton,

Netherton Promotions

America’s:4th-Strongest Economy

5th-Smallest Change in Unemployment

12th-Best Unemployment Rate

B U I L D I N G ational Recognition

America’s 7th-Best Place for Jobs

- Forbes

University of Central Arkansas

1 of “The Best 300 Business Schools” - The Princeton Review

23rd-Most Desirable Large Schools

24th-Most Desirable Rural Schools- Newsweek

17th out of 69 “Top Public Schools” among regional universities in the South

- U.S. News & World Report

6th on the Top 10 Geekiest Cities List- OnlineUniversity.com

Home of One of America’s Best High Schools- Newsweek

Finalist City for Municipal Excellence

- National League of Cities

15th-Lowest Drop in Gross Metropolitan Product

Top 19 Metros with Continuous Output Growth

12th-Lowest Fall in Housing Prices

- Brookings Institution

Hendrix College

1 of 44 national “Best Buy” Colleges and Universities- Fiske Guide to Colleges

102nd on “Best Colleges” List - Forbes

#1 “Up-and-coming Liberal Arts College” - U.S. News & World Report

5th “Easiest Campus to Get Around”

13th “Best Athletic Facilities”- Best 371 Colleges

B U I L D I N G eamworkThe Chamber’s most important role in the community may be bringing together

talented individuals and organizations. Together, this fleet of volunteers is working

to create Conway and Faulkner County’s economic excellence. Not a one of the

Chamber initiatives, events or successes would be possible without the support,

encouragement and hard work of these civic-minded individuals.

The AmbassadorsThe Ambassadors represent the Chamber and provide a special welcome and hospitality to attendees of functions and events. Ambassadors promote the Chamber in the community, help the Chamber staff host special events and attend ribbon cuttings and ground breakings.

The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors allow the staff to have an increased reach in the community and are considered an extension of our team. The 2010 Ambassadors attended over 50 ribbon cuttings and ground breakings as representatives of the Chamber.

Appreciation Packet FactsNumber hand delivered: 812

Number of volunteers: 51

The SurveyOver 1,400 Conway area residents participated in a short survey to identify local priorities. This almost tripled our goal of 500 responses. The survey asked residents to prioritize 43 possible focus areas. Based upon results, the Conway 2025 steering committee then identified the top 12 areas.

Education

Transportation

Public Safety

Job Creation

Minority Affairs

Public Transportation

Arts and Culture

Drainage Land Use and Planning

Parks and Recreation

Downtown

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Residents Determine the GoalsDuring the survey process, respondents were asked if they were willing to help write the plan. Over 300 people volunteered. In April, over 150 area residents attended a Conway 2025 Kick Off Meeting at Conway High School East. For several months following it, approximately 200 volunteers participated in over 50 meetings to set the goals for each focus area.

For communities to thrive, there must be a strategic, long-range plan for the

future. The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce facilitated this strategic-

planning process to develop Conway 2025, our community’s long-range plan.

B U I L D I N G

The ResultsOnce goals were established for the 12 focus areas, they were rewritten for consistency and condensed where overlap occurred. It became obvious that the plan could then be reduced to seven sector groups.

Keep Conway Moving

Keep Conway Active

Keep Conway Building

Keep Conway Working

Keep Conway Safe

Keep Conway Creative

Keep Conway Learning

If 2010 was all about planning, then 2011 is all about doing.

Visit Conway2025.com to see how you can help build Conway’s future.

2025 Plans

Value of Building Permits in

Conway in 2010: $150 Million

Over 1,400 surveys were collected through citywide kiosks and Conway2025.com

Community members from

every walk of life helped set the

direction for the 2025 process.

Conway Area Chamber of CommerceLori Ross - Chairman

Ronnie Williams - Chairman-Elect

Andy Hawkins - Immediate Past-Chairman

Lori Case - Treasurer

Brad Lacy - Secretary

Bill AdkissonGary Adreon Jay CaldwellBret CarrollWayne CoxDave CronkCeleste Flanagin Lane HousleyArch Jones Jr.Pam McDowell-Brooks

Dr. Greg Murry Steve PowersJohn Pownall Lori Windle QuinnJim Rankin Scott SchallhornJudge Preston ScrogginSherry SmithJeff StandridgeJoe Stockton Scott ThoneBill TobiasMayor Tab TownsellJennifer TuckerShelia Whitmore

Conway A&P CommissionMike Kraft - Chairman

Angela BagbyJeremy GardnerAndy Hawkins

Ray KordsmeierReggie RoseShelia Whitmore

Conway Development Corporation Bill Adkisson - Chairman

Jerry Adams - Vice Chairman

Johnny AdamsRichie ArnoldTom CourtwayJack Engelkes

Mark FergusonBill HannahLouis StellTab Townsell - ex-officio

Lori Ross - ex-officio

Conway Downtown Partnership Jerry Adams Jack Bell Bill BetheaKarla Carney-Hall Mike Coates George Covington Rick Fahr

Bill Hegeman Shelly Mehl Greg NabholzLori Quinn Shawn Rea Sherry Smith

2010