Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

EDO Attends Show, Seeking Leads

Jon Chadwell, executive director for the Prescott/Nevada County Partnership, joined with Entergy's Teamwork Arkansas working to find business leads from the automotive industry at a Society of Automotive Engineers trade show held in Detroit, Mich., March 6-9.

Teamwork Arkansas, the economic development department of Entergy Arkansas, sponsored this marketing trip for a team of economic development professionals made up of five Arkansas community representatives. The team initiated contacts among the 1,300 companies exhibiting at the show, emphasizing Arkansas as an optimal business location.

"This is a large, sought-after trade show to attend, one that Teamwork Arkansas has been trying to exhibit in for several years," Greg Joslin, trade show coordinator for Teamwork Arkansas.

"With over 1,300 exhibitors, record attendance of 49,086 and almost 50 other economic development groups at the show vigorously competing for leads, it is clear that the automotive industry sector is highly sought after for recruitment," Joslin said. "After a lot of hard work, the team came home with eight A' leads  that's prospects with concrete plans to expand within a year and a willingness to look at Arkansas  and 14 B' leads, which are prospects with expansion plans that are less firm."

Those helping Chadwell recruit business to Arkansas were:

Jeff Pipkin, executive director of the Russellville Economic Development Partnership, Inc.,

Clif Chitwood, marketing director for the Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville,

Mary Seymore, executive director of the Bradley County Industrial Development Corporation,

Paul Brewster, customer service manager with Entergy based in Magnolia, and

Greg Joslin with Entergy's Teamwork Arkansas.

Teamwork Arkansas, now in its 13th year, is dedicated to helping Arkansas communities develop their ability to attract business. Teamwork also facilitates contacts between business prospects and the communities.

For more information about Teamwork Arkansas resources available to Arkansas communities contact Sherry Smith at 501-377-4434.