2020 Build Bentonville Lunch - Small Business Support

Description

The Build Bentonville program boasts one of the most diverse attendee lists of any Chamber event with more than 125 businesses being represented.

With 34 people moving to Northwest Arkansas each day, Bentonville has quickly become a hot spot for serial entrepreneurship. Due to new technological advances, access to one of the most generous communities, and a vast support network of movers and shakers, our region has boundless opportunities for success, even during a national crisis. 
We know, and see, first-hand how our community is responding to COVID-19. We also know, and see, first-hand how small businesses are needing our help now more than ever. During this lunchtime discussion, you will hear from leaders that are working on the frontlines of small business support. We will be discussing what is timely and what is appropriate while digging into some of the tougher questions we are all wondering, such as:

• "How do I market now to bring back my customers?"

• What may be next for our economy and what is predicted for economic recovery?

• Are there any other additional resources? What am I missing?

Have an idea? Are you needing advice? Let us know! We're sure you aren't the only one asking. 

Guest Panelists:

Martha Londagin - Executive Consultant, Startup Junkie 

Martha Londagin is an Executive Consultant with the Startup Junkie Foundation. She consults with small business owners and entrepreneurs in the region regarding all aspects of starting a business or growing their current businesses and maintaining economic viability. Martha has worked as a business banker, business attorney, Walton College small business center consultant, and as a public-school educator. She is currently also the Capital Access Manager for the NWA Kiva Hub providing guidance for entrepreneurs to gain access to crowd-funded loans for economically disadvantaged small business owners via the kiva.org platform. The local NWA Kiva program is funded by the Walton Family Foundation and includes a matching-loan fund it provided to Kiva for Benton and Washington County approved borrowers. This international loan program began in 2005 and was launched in the US in 2011. It provides 0% interest, no fee, no collateral pledge loans from $1,000-$10,000 (and up to $15,000 for the COVID 19 program for 2020) for economically disadvantaged small business borrowers unable to obtain capital through traditional lending programs through Kiva’s crowd-funding platform. 

Startup Junkie is a team of passionate people working every day to empower entrepreneurs and innovators in Arkansas through its many events it hosts each month, consultations with over 800 regional entrepreneurs annually, and its varied programs in collaboration with NWA groups, institutions, schools, cities, and community organizations. It also has a central Arkansas program based in Conway at UCA named the Conductor. Startup Junkie is funded through partnerships with the Walton Family Foundation, the AEDC, the United States SBA, and a federal Economic Development program. The services and events of the Startup Junkie Foundation and the Conductor are provided to the public at no-cost due to partnership funding.

For more information: startupjunkie.org

Rob Husong - President, First National Bank of NWA

With over 20 years of banking experience, Husong oversees more than 50 employees and over 10,000 accounts. He says it best with, “My job is to figure out how to make others successful, whether it’s an employee or a customer,” he said. “I love being able to help a community, and at the end of the day, that’s what I like best.”

Mary Beth Brooks - Director, Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC)

Bringing 28 years of banking experience to the position, Mary Beth Brooks became director of the ASBTDC at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in August 2018.

She was president and CEO of The Bank of Fayetteville from 2004 to 2015, then went into private consulting. Earlier in her career, she held executive roles at Arvest Bank Group.

Active in the community, Brooks has served on the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Northwest Arkansas Council, Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce board, Fayetteville Public Education Foundation board, Yvonne Richardson Community Center board, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and UAMS Northwest boards. She helped found the Walton College Alumni Society.

Brooks is a graduate of the university and has a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Banking degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Krista Cupp - Director of Communications, Runway Group

 Krista Cupp is Director of Communications for Runway Group in Bentonville, Arkansas. She is responsible for communications and marketing across the Runway’s businesses, investments and executive leadership. Her previous roles include Vice President of The Herald Group, a public affairs agency in Washington D.C., Corporate Identity and Executive Communications lead for Tyson Foods, and Senior Elections and Grassroots Coordinator for the National Rifle Association.

Krista sits on the Leadership Circle for the Independent Women’s Forum and is a member of the Arthur Page Society. She earned a political science degree from William Jewell College and resides in Bentonville with her family. 

There will be a Q&A session following the panel discussion.

Registration is required. If you have any questions or are interested in sponsoring this program, please contact Evan Gray at the Chamber.
479-273-2841 or egray@greaterbentonville.com