Randy Zook

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…

Arkansas lawmakers received an open letter today urging them to take action on securing funding for state roadways and bridges. In the letter, a state-wide coalition of officials requests that lawmakers approve funding to make improvements to Arkansas roads and…

The U.S. and China have been at odds over trade policies for several months now, with each nation throwing tariff after tariff in a tit-for-tat dispute that’s damaged certain sectors of the economy, including in the Natural State. But recent…

RANDY ZOOK, PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE ARKANSAS STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Arkansas has committed itself to adopt a minimum wage that will substantially exceed the federal minimum wage. By January 1, 2021, Arkansas’ rate will be $11.00 per hour…