March is finally here, and I, for one, am ready for spring. Of course, in Arkansas, winter often extends its icy tentacles into the unofficial first month of spring, but we are close regardless.
As we prepare to celebrate the transition into spring, we have got a lot to celebrate inside this issue of Arkansas Money & Politics. This month, AMP will shine a spotlight on the C-suite, as we do every year; economic development; finance; the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce awards winners; and much more.
Our C-suite package will feature the story behind leadership development programs such as Leadership Greater Little Rock and Leadership Arkansas. We will have spotlight features about C-suite execs, including Shelley Short, president and CEO at the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce, and Brad Chambless, CEO at Farmers & Merchants Bank, as well as profiles of “unconventional” bosses — those CEO-types you might not necessarily peg as a CEO if you saw them in the grocery store, including Brandon Haubert, CEO at WH Law, and Rob Hefley, co-founder of Gray Beard Forge.
Our finance coverage will include visits with the state’s top economists and a look at nonprofits that help homeless Arkansans master their finances and take back their lives, as well as a look at public bonds.
We will also recognize the outstanding businesses and business leaders who were recently honored by the Hot Springs chamber.
In sports, we are running Part 2 of our sit-down with new Little Rock Trojans Athletic Director Frank Cuervo, and give a wrap-up of the Broyles Award debut at Oaklawn after decades in Little Rock.
We hope this issue inspires you as the weather warms, the grass greens and Arkansas’ famous buds come into bloom. Take time to enjoy it all — and take us along for the ride.
Cheers to springtime and a new issue. As always, thanks for reading. Hit me up with story suggestions at hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com.
