Arkansas

THE STATE’S BUSINESS NEWS AUTHORITY.

Turning Tables
Southern Aluminum’s line of linenless furniture,
at a banquet hall near you. [P12]

Business
UPDATED DAILY: arkansasbusiness.com
Delayed in the USA
Lisa Ferrell on trade, the pandemic and a shaky
supply chain. [P19]
VOL. 38, NO. 32 AUGUST 9-15, 2021 $1.50

SPOTLIGHT: Made In Arkansas

David Rice, vice president and director NIL Law

Shows
of marketing at Grapette International,
tosses back a signature soda at the
Malvern plant. [PHOTO BY KAREN E. SEGRAVE]

Players
Exec Q&A:
The $$$
Andrew
By Marty Cook
[email protected]

Faulkner It didn’t take much time

for student-athletes to get in
Staley Technologies’ on the money — or gift cards
CEO sees exciting or merchandise — once the
opportunities for NCAA removed its regula-
manufacturers seeking tions against the commercial
use of their name, image and
efficiencies behind the
likeness.
assembly line. [P22] University officials and
legal minds advise caution,
but the athletes are signing
The List [P13] up in droves to put their NIL
to work for them, for once.
Arkansas’ Largest In Arkansas, student-ath-
Manufacturers letes were set to profit from
Whispers [P3] Grapette goes beyond purple NIL thanks to a new law
that was set to go into effect

Taste of New Orleans

Hot Springs Village Jan. 1, 2022. Several other
finds its Voice states had similar legislation
in place or in the works, so
the NCAA Division I Board
of Governors rescinded its
Grapette International adds National Fruit Flavor Co. recipes for cocktail mixers, restrictions nationwide this
ARKANSAS BUSINESS
PUBLISHING GROUP Sno-Balls and more to its menu of syrups and concentrates . [P9] summer.
The University of
Arkansas in Fayetteville had
begun preparing for the new

A Film Distributor’s Tangled Plot system in March by hiring

former track and field stand-
out Terry Prentice as the
By Mark Friedman CEO Eric Parkinson, who face troubles largely on an illness university’s senior associate
[email protected] million-dollar judgments in that struck its longtime presi- athletics director for athlete
both New York and California, dent, Don Frederick Shefte of brand development. The uni-
A Fayetteville penny-stock not to mention a 2019 cease-and- Fayetteville, in 2017. Shefte, who versity created a webpage in
film distributor dealing with desist order from the Arkansas is in his 70s, was hospitalized May called Flagship that lists
millions in legal judgments and Securities Department for secu- for 18 weeks in 2018, Parkinson the rules and regulations of
a state securities fraud finding is rities fraud. said, and retired from Hannover NIL and the student-athletes’
framing a comeback story: try- Parkinson told Arkansas earlier this year. Then he filed requirements for reporting
ing to raise $8 million to launch Business last week that he’s for personal Chapter 7 liquida- any signed contracts.
a video streaming service. working to reverse the judg- tion. Flagship partnered with
But the plot details may not ments and have the ASD order
add up for Hannover House Inc. “expunged.” HANNOVER HOUSE NIL CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
and its one full-time employee, He blamed Hannover’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Last Chance to apply for the Executive Leadership Academy! [P23]

Apply today at arkansasbusiness.com/leadership
 2021
JOIN US TO HONOR
THE HISTORY OF ARKANSAS’
TRAILBLAZING WOMEN.

Thursday, November 4, 2021

6 p.m. – Reception / 7 p.m. – Dinner/Program
Statehouse Convention Center
Wally Allen Ballroom, Little Rock, AR
PRESENTED BY

SPONSORED BY

& The Rockefeller Family

F O R T I C K E T I N F O R M AT I O N : A RWO M E N S H A L L O F FA M E . C O M O R 5 0 1 . 3 7 2 . 5 9 5 9
 Arkansas Business August 9, 2021  3

Arkansas
Business Shoreline at Rockwater Purchase

Whispers
W. Thir W.
d Stree
t Th
ir d
Str
ee t
Ri
ve

ue
r fr

Aven
on

reet
t
For daily news, register at arkansasbusiness.com/enews Dr

r St
i ve

Pike
e
Park
A Publisher’s Voice papers in our group here in Arkansas,”
“It’s really interesting, going through she said. “So out of those 20 papers, the
the process of buying a newspaper,” says Hot Springs Village Voice is the only one
Jennifer Allen, the former GateHouse left.”
Media publisher who came up with a Not long after losing her job running
new plan after GateHouse merged with the Voice for Gannett, she got a call from
Gannett and eliminated her position late an executive at the company asking if Recovery Centers of Arkansas
last summer. she’d ever considered buying the paper
She wasn’t talking about picking she had worked for since 2007. N Arkansas Riverbend facility at 1201 River Road, North Little Rock
River
up a single copy, but rather purchas- “I didn’t even know buying the paper
ing the entire Hot Springs Village Voice, was an option, but this person said that Shoreline At Rockwater LLC, led by Lisa Ferrell and Jim Jackson, bought a 3.3-acre parcel
a 4,500-circulation weekly in the gated if I was interested, they would help me.” and the 18,450-SF Riverbend facility for $1.7 million from Recovery Centers of Arkansas. The
community north of Hot Springs. Allen, a Henderson State University deal completes the assembly of about 7 acres for future expansion of North Little Rock’s
In December 2019, GateHouse graduate and veteran of the Arkadelphia Rockwater development. [GOOGLE MAPS]
acquired Gannett, the nationwide Daily Siftings Herald and the Hot Springs
chain anchored by USA Today, retain- Sentinel-Record, closed on the deal in
ing the Gannett name and, Allen said, February, becoming the Voice’s owner ‘Locally Owned Again’ plications. I mean, it is going really well.”
the Virginia company’s attitudes toward and publisher. She wouldn’t reveal what “It has worked out great, and the com- Allen has plans for a paywall to pro-
small community papers. “I would say she paid, or even what bank helped swing munity has been so supportive of having mote paid readership of its website.
that their business model is more geared the deal. “I got a business plan together the paper locally owned again,” Allen “We’ll probably be doing that in the last
towards the big metro markets instead with a lot of help from Henderson State’s said. The paper now has a staff of 11, but quarter of this year. But we’re mainly
of the small community markets,” said Arkansas Small Business & Technology no editor. focusing on local news, capturing that.”
Allen, who started in newspapering as a Development Center, and it all just went “There’s been an increase in our Allen, who lives nearby and owns
high school student in Malvern. from there.” advertising, and businesses are going in
“At one time [GateHouse] had like 20 The paper comes out every Tuesday. full force pending any more COVID com- WHISPERS CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

We build strong relationships through food.

It’s our purpose at Simmons. It’s why we do what we do.
Homegrown and firmly rooted in We believe good relationships are good business.

Arkansas for more than 70 years. Today. And every day.

Family owned and operated since 1949.

4  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business WHISPERS
WHISPERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 The Ultimate Estate Sale with a good cost of living.” Moving dozens of trailers of furni-
Speaking of Hot Springs Village: An After building the house, the couple ture and collectibles back to California
property in Hot Springs Village, said estate sale that started there last week is made more than 30 trips from their home was not practical, so the Ehlenbergers
she’ll find an editor eventually. Allen and a logistical nightmare for the only child in coastal Rancho Palos Verdes to deliver hired Teapots & Treasures to sell most of
the staff have divided up news beats and of a California couple. trailers of possessions amassed during what had already been delivered to Hot
other duties. She rehired former man- Teapots & Treasures, the estate sale Craig Ehlenberger’s 40-plus years as an Springs Village.
aging editor Jeff Meek, who retired in company operated by Nancy Spradlin antiques hobbyist. The first part of the sale was held
2019, as a reporter and coordinator of and Dodie Kenney, advertised the sale at “Their hope was to pack everything up Thursday through Sunday, and more sales
coverage. 38 Manso Way as “the biggest sale we and move to Arkansas,” Eric Ehlenberger are planned in September and October.
When Allen started at the Voice in have ever tackled.” told Whispers. The six-bedroom house on Lake
2007, it was owned by the Richardson The home, 8,630 SF on one level, was But the move was never completed — Granada is also for sale. It’s listed for $1.3
family, which sold out to Stephens Media, built in 2018 by Craig A. Ehlenberger, a “There’s still just as much stuff still here” million by Natalie Caldwell of Crye-Leike
who then sold to GateHouse in 2015. financial adviser, and his wife, Eloise, in California, he said — and the new Realtors in Hot Springs.
Buying the Voice was a welcome and is owned by their family trust. house has never been lived in.
stretch, Allen told Whispers. “It has been Their son, Eric, said his parents had Both his parents have been diag-
a good experience and I learned a lot of no connection to Arkansas before they nosed with illnesses that prevent them Seven-Digit Deals
things. You know, I’d never owned my started looking for a retirement location from moving to Hot Springs Village, he The week’s string of Pulaski County
own business before. It’s a revelation.” that was “not too cold, not too hot and said. real estate transactions kicks off with a
Kum & Go in southwest Little Rock.
w The John J. Sorci Trust sold the
4,995-SF project at 7620 Baseline Road
for $3.9 million to Agree Convenience

Touching lives.
No. 1 LLC, an affiliate of Agree Realty of
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
w 2500 Kavanaugh LLC of Mur-

Powering the future. freesboro, Tennessee, bought its name-

sake address in the Hillcrest area of Lit-
tle Rock for nearly $3 million.
Who sold the 37-unit Valley View
At Entergy, the communities we serve are the communities we call home. Square Apartments? Kaiser LLC, led by
That’s why we stay active and involved – because we know our responsibility Bek Kaiser; and CSW LLC, led by Willis
reaches beyond the power grid. So, we invest in education and industry, while Smith.
developing new solutions to power tomorrow. As a community, our successes w Kitterman Properties II LLC, led by
fuel each other. We’re all on a circuit. And together, we power life. John and Marsha Kitterman, sold the
entergy.com 44-unit King’s Crossing Apartments at
6815 Forbing Road in south Little Rock
for $2.4 million.
Buyer: Bandit Properties LLC, led by
Zack Dennis and Kurt Cochran.
w The Brad & Kathy Workman Joint
Revocable Trust sold a 3,217-SF condo on
the 18th floor of the River Market Tower in
downtown Little Rock for $1.4 million to
David and Tracy Rhodes.
w Rocky River Land Co. LLC of Los
Alamitos, California, acquired the 2,464-
SF Jiffy Lube at 11323 N. Rodney Parham
Road in west Little Rock for $1.2 million.
Sellers? Barclay Prop. LLC and Web
Lubrication Inc., led by William Barclay Jr.

Banking on Devo
University of Arkansas basketball
standout Davonte “Devo” Davis has been
busy with his name, image and likeness
sponsorships.

Arkansas
Business
ISSN: 1053-6582. USPS Number 730-650
Vol. 38 Number 32, Aug. 9 - Aug. 15, 2021. Arkansas
Business is published weekly for $64.95 per year
and 6 months for $39.95 by Arkansas Business
Publishing Group, 114 Scott St., Little Rock, AR
72201, P.O. Box 3686, Little Rock, AR 72203, (501)
372-1443, facsimile (501) 375-7933; Periodical
postage paid at Little Rock, AR. Postmaster, send
address change to Arkansas Business, P.O. Box
3686, Little Rock, AR 72203. Copyright 2021 Five
Legged Stool LLC.

Subscribe Today:
A message from Entergy Corporation ©2018 Entergy Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
501-455-9333
888-322-6397
arkansasbusiness.com/store
 WHISPERS Arkansas Business August 9, 2021  5
The NCAA allowed student-athletes impressed with Davis’ business acumen Lindsey Jennings is a former high school Henry compared the twisties to a
to start profiting from their NIL (see and maturity. and college gymnast, so Whispers asked pilot’s sensation flying out of a cloud
Page 1) this summer. Razorbacks have The bank plans to run print ads, post her about the troubles of Simone Biles, upside down after losing all sense of spa-
been active so far, and none more so social media content and put up a bill- who withdrew from several competitions tial orientation.
than Davis, a 6-4 sophomore guard from board in Jacksonville to capitalize on its at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. “It is frightening because gymnastics
Jacksonville. partnership with Davis. Henry said that during her career at is all about mind and body control,”
Davis, 19, has announced deals with “He is as good a young man as he is the University of Central Arkansas, tum- Henry said. “If you are unable to sync
J.J.’s Grill, Gwatney Chevrolet and OZK a basketball player,” Wilson said. “If we bling runs were done on rubber mats and those two, the results can be disastrous.
Insurance on his social media, and will were going to take advantage of NIL, not the current springboard floors. This isn’t a mechanical issue. It is a dis-
soon add another: First Arkansas Bank & we wanted to connect with someone She said the “twisties,” which Biles orientation. You lose your ability to tell
Trust in Jacksonville. of good character and talent. Devo fits said were afflicting her, are no joke. where you are.
“It was a natural fit,” FAB&T CEO and the bill.” “I have only experienced twisties a “When you’re flipping and twisting,
President Larry Wilson said. “This was couple of times on uneven parallel bars; I that is critical.” n
a unique opportunity right at the start, did not do the kind of stunts that Simone
and we didn’t want to miss out.” With a Twist is able to do on floor,” Henry said. “I can
Wilson, a UA alumnus, is an ardent Attorney Judy Henry knows about legal understand how you can become dis-
Razorbacks fan. Davis’ family are twists and physical ones. The chair of oriented with the kind of spinning and
longtime customers, and Wilson was the Sports Law Practice Group at Wright flipping that occurs right now.”

WE DON’T JUST
BUILD INDUSTRY—
WE BUILD LEGACY.

ú PLANT ADDITIONS
ú DOCK ADDITIONS
ú REMODELS
ú CONCRETE TILT-UP
ú METAL BUILDINGS
Ramsons has been a leader ú NEW CONSTRUCTION
in industrial construction ú DAMAGE REPAIR
since the company’s ú DEMOLITION
inception in 1971. ú METAL ROOFING
Our portfolio includes some of ú STORM DRAINAGE
the state’s largest employers ú INTERIOR TRENCH WORK
including Hytrol Conveyors, ú PARKING LOT ADDITIONS
Great Dane and Spirit ú MACHINE FOUNDATIONS
Manufacturing.

In addition, we have an
Industrial Solutions Division,
dedicated to providing
micro-project solutions to 870.935.1210
industrial clients.
ramsonsinc.net
3111 Dan Ave.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
@ramsonsinc
6  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business

ArkansasWeekly
COVID-19

Tyson Orders

Report
Business Vaccinations
For All Workers
For daily news, register at arkansasbusiness.com/enews Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale said
last week that it will require all U.S.
workers — some 120,000 people — be
Government vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 1.
The move makes the publicly trad-

State Starts the Fiscal Year ed meat processor the largest U.S. food
company to require vaccinations for its
entire workforce. The company said that
Well Over Budget Forecast almost half of its U.S. workforce — 56,000
people — have been vaccinated already,
but that it wants to do more.
Led by CEO Donnie King, above, Tyson Foods is
the largest U.S. food company to require vacci-
Arkansas started its fiscal year with “Getting vaccinated against COVID- nations for all its employees. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
revenue coming in $39.2 million above 19 is the single most effective thing we
forecast, the state’s finance office said can do to protect our team members, reps — a $200 payment to frontline
Tuesday. their families and their communities,” employees who are vaccinated outside of
The Department of Finance & Chief Medical Officer Dr. Claudia Coplein their normal shift or through an external
Administration said the state’s net avail- said in a news release. source.
able revenue in July totaled nearly $515 “With rapidly rising COVID-19 case The announcement of Tyson’s vacci-
million. The revenue came in about $151 counts of contagious, dangerous vari- nation mandate comes days after anoth-
million below the same month last year, The Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock. ants leading to increasing rates of severe er major Arkansas employer, Walmart
but officials said that comparison was [PHOTO BY LANCE TURNER] illness and hospitalization among the Inc. of Bentonville, said all workers at its
skewed because the state’s income tax U.S. unvaccinated population, this is the headquarters and managers who travel
filing deadline in 2020 was delayed to in nearly $28 million higher than fore- right time to take the next step to ensure within the U.S. must get shots by Oct. 4.
July because of the coronavirus pan- cast and sales tax came in $17.4 million a fully vaccinated workforce.” Other large employers are ramping up
demic. above forecast. In a memo to employees, CEO Donnie pressure on workers to get the vaccine,
All of the state’s major revenue cate- Arkansas ended its last fiscal year King said the company does not take as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations
gories came in above forecast. The state’s with a nearly $1 billion surplus. instituting a mandate lightly. spike due to the virus’ fast-spreading
individual income tax collections came — The Associated Press “We have spent months encouraging delta variant and low vaccination rates
our team members to get vaccinated — in some parts of the country, including
today, under half of our team members Arkansas.
Government are,” he said. “We take this step today But many companies that rely on
because nothing is more important than large low-income workforces, including
Department Devotes $1.8M to Fairs in State our team members’ health and safety,
and we thank them for the work they do,
Amazon, Walmart and major grocery
chains, have so far declined to mandate
The Arkansas Department of demic. every day, to help us feed this country, vaccines for their frontline workers, in
Agriculture recently provided nearly $1.8 “Fairs are great venues to showcase and our world.” part to avoid fueling a labor crunch and
million to fairs across the state. our state’s largest industry and they pro- The company said employees at U.S. persistent worker turnover. Many unions
Of that, $724,272 will help county vide opportunities for Arkansas youth office locations must be fully vaccinated also are firmly opposed to vaccine man-
fairs, the Four States Fair, the Arkansas- to learn more and be involved in the by Oct. 1. All other workers are required dates for their workers.
Oklahoma Fair and the Arkansas State agriculture industry,” state Secretary to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1, “subject The spread of the delta variant is also
Fair pay for event operations and other of Agriculture Wes Ward said in a news to ongoing discussions with locations prompting some companies to reim-
event-related expenses. release. “We hope that fairs across the represented by unions.” pose mask mandates for workers — even
The rest will help county and district state will be able to have their sched- The company said it will allow excep- those who are vaccinated — in keeping
fairs pay for routine maintenance and uled events this year after the corona- tions to the mandate for workers who with new guidance from the Centers for
improvements to fair facilities as well as virus forced many events to cancel last seek medical or religious accommoda- Disease Control & Prevention.
defray unavoidable expenses and cover year.” tions. — Lance Turner and
needs created by the coronavirus pan- — Arkansas Business staff Also under discussion with union The Associated Press

Arkansas Manufacturing Top 10 Arkansas Manufacturing Sectors

In millions of dollars, 2019
Top 10 Sectors
Food, beverage and tobacco products $4,100

Manufacturers in Arkansas account for 15% Paper $2,110

of the total output in the state and employ Fabricated metal products $2,003
12% of the workforce, according to the Primary metals $1,743
National Association of Manufacturers. Machinery $1,473
Total output from manufacturing was
Plastics and rubber products $1,328
$19.56 billion in 2019, the association said.
There were an average of 148,000 manu- Wood product manufacturing $1,107
facturing employees in Arkansas in 2020, Aerospace and other transportation equipment $1,097
with an average annual compensation of Chemicals $1,074
$61,389.83 in 2019, the NAM said. Petroleum and coal products $817

Source: National Association of Manufacturers $0 $1,000 $2,000 $3,000 $4,000 $5,000

 WEEKLY REPORT Arkansas Business August 9, 2021  7
COVID-19
BUILDING ARKANSAS
School Districts WITH INTEGRITY
Sue Arkansas SINCE
Over Mask Law 1949
A pair of Arkansas school districts last
week sued the state over a law that pro-
hibits state and local governments from
imposing mask mandates.
The Little Rock School District and
the Marion School District filed suit on
Thursday, as legislators met in Little 1.877.NABHOLZ
Rock to discuss bills that might change nabholz.com

Act 1002 to give local schools the power

to make their own mask mandates.
The districts’ joint lawsuit is the sec-
ond the state faces over the measure Gov.
Asa Hutchinson signed into law in April.
Another lawsuit, filed by two parents
represented by attorney Tom Mars, was
filed on Aug. 2.
Hutchinson called the General
Assembly into special session last week to
consider rolling back the ban for schools.
He had faced calls to lift the ban amid
rising hospitalizations and the looming
start of the new school year.
The schools’ lawsuit argues that the
ban violates Arkansas’ constitution. It
seeks a temporary order blocking the
prohibition while the lawsuit is consid-
ered.
“No rational reason exists for deny-
ing public school students, teachers and
staff, and the school boards which are
obligated to keep them safe, the ability to
ensure that all who work and learn in our
public schools are as safe as possible,”
the lawsuit said.
The Little Rock School District voted
unanimously last week
to go forward with the
lawsuit, which was ini-
tially proposed by dis-
trict Superintendent
Michael Poore.
In a video posted to
YouTube, Poore said
Michael Poore schools should be able
to decide on their own
mask policies.
“This is a common sense approach
and, in my mind, local control should
dictate mask compliance,” Poore said.
“We should be doing everything in
our power to protect our young people.”
The Marion School District on
Thursday said 839 students and 10 staff
members have quarantined since class-
es began last week because of its out-
break.
The district said in a Facebook post
that 46 students and 10 staff have tested
positive for the virus.
Superintendent Glen Fenter spent the
end of last week working to persuade leg-
islators to change the mask law.
Mars’ lawsuit was scheduled for a
hearing in Pulaski County Circuit Judge
Tim Fox’s courtroom last Friday.
— Arkansas Business staff and
The Associated Press
8  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business

NIL: Collegians
start to cash in The University
of Arkansas

on their stardom has hired Terry

Prentice as its
senior associ-
Continued From Page One ate athletics
director for
the Walton College of Business and athlete brand
the university’s Office of Innovation development.
& Entrepreneurship to help the stu- It also created
dent-athletes maximize their earnings a webpage
potential and learn about the business in May called
world they are now entering. But the Flagship that
Razorbacks athletic department didn’t lists the rules
expect to be dealing with NIL until next for NIL and
year. requirements
“For us it was a surprise because we for stu-
thought it was going to come a little bit dent-athletes
later and we were prepared to start in to report any
January,” Prentice said. “I think we were signed con-
more prepared for this. It doesn’t mean tracts. [PHOTO
we are perfect. We are going to contin- BY MARTY COOK]
ue to evolve as we move along. We are
going to embrace this and not run from images recorded at venues associated Business Perils 101 that company aligns with your values,’”
this.” with the university. Few people in Arkansas may know Prentice said. “We strongly encourage
Arkansas State University in “I think it is a cool thing to do; fun more about sports contracts than them to do their own homework and
Jonesboro has a webpage called Red stuff to do with the student-athletes,” Judy Henry, the chair of the Sports really research the companies.
Wolves Ventures dedicated to the NIL said Jordan Wright, the owner of Wright’s Law Practice Group at Wright Lindsey The same goes both ways, because
issue. Red Wolves spokesman Jerry Scott Barbecue. “It is just awesome that the Jennings law firm in Little Rock. those companies are researching the
said NIL would be supervised by Josh kids who work so hard can receive some Henry, a former collegiate gymnast, student-athletes. They have to realize
Daume, the senior athletics director free benefits. To be able to reward them is married to a former UA football player they are in the real world of business
for compliance, but the university may and help the business and get some pub- and is the mother of another; additional- now.”
eventually create a specialized position. licity is really exciting.” ly, she is Razorback football coach Sam That is part of Henry’s concern. For
“We monitored it and will continue to Wright clarified that the bene- Pittman’s agent. most student-athletes, whose careers
monitor it,” Scott said. fits aren’t actually free because NIL “My concern is that student-athletes will end after college, getting a few
sponsorships require the student-ath- are not prepared for the onslaught of bucks or a gift card can be a pass-
letes to perform a service. But Wright contacts and presentations,” Henry said. ing part of the college experience, but
Sign Me Up said an athlete making an Instagram “For student-athletes who don’t have she doesn’t want student-athletes to be
Shortly after the NIL business opened, post or a tweet isn’t really work. representation, I implore them that they shortsighted.
Razorbacks wide receiver Trey Knox “That, to me, is something that doesn’t need to find an experienced advocate “Most of the student-athletes don’t
signed with PetSmart and has posted cost them anything,” Wright said. “I say who knows what it is to negotiate a con- have a professional career ahead of
several times on Twitter advertising its it’s free considering they can do it with tract.” them; they are not Moses Moody,” said
products; the star of the posts is really their name, image or likeness. They own Prentice said the university is trying Henry, referring to the former Arkansas
Knox’s dog, Blue. that. It’s free to them.” to tie the NIL opportunities with the star who was selected by the Golden
J.J.’s Grill in Fayetteville has been
active, scooping up football, baseball
and men’s and women’s basketball
standouts, each of whom made short vid-
eos on social media. In one, Razorbacks
“My concern is that student-athletes are not prepared for the
pitcher Connor Noland throws a base- onslaught of contacts and presentations. For student-athletes
ball, emblazoned with J.J.’s logo, that
breaks a plane of glass through special who don’t have representation, I implore them that they need to
effects and, in another, basketball player
Amber Ramirez dribbles around in an
find an experienced advocate who knows what it is to negotiate a
empty gym. contract.”
Men’s basketball player Davonte
“Devo” Davis has signed agreements [JUDY HENRY, SPORTS LAW PRACTICE GROUP CHAIR, WRIGHT LINDSEY JENNINGS]
with J.J.’s, Ozark Insurance and Gwatney
Chevrolet. Wright didn’t disclose how much he overall college learning experience. The State Warriors in the first round of the
Davis and other Razorback athletes, pays the players he sponsors, other than university is considering starting an NIL NBA draft in July. “They may not have an
such as linebacker Grant Morgan, are to say it ranged from $100 to several class, open to all students, that explains opportunity to capitalize on the name,
working with representatives to help hundred and also included gift cards. personal publicity rights. image, likeness later. I get that.
with NIL deals. Prentice said the university reviews each “We are trying to make this as robust “They have to be cautious about NIL
contract to make sure each is in com- as possible,” Prentice said. for the same reasons a first-rounder
pliance with the law, but otherwise the There are restrictions with NIL: needs to be cautious. There is nothing
No Free Meal university said contracts are protected Athletes can’t advertise guns or alcohol that is free about name, image and like-
Another notable sponsorship was by federal privacy laws. or adult businesses. Otherwise, Prentice ness.” n
when Wright’s Barbecue in Johnson “It is a great opportunity for the stu- said, he and the university don’t have
(Washington County) announced it dent-athletes to grow their brand,” veto power over sponsorships. He does
was partnering with all the Razorbacks’ Prentice said. “It is a great opportunity for encourage the athletes to put some
offensive linemen. the business to use people who are at the thought into every potential partner-
None of the sponsored players wear peak of their careers. In between, we just ship.
Razorbacks paraphernalia, nor are their have to make sure that it is above board.” “We educate them on, ‘Hey, make sure
 SPOTLIGHT: Made In Arkansas Arkansas Business August 9, 2021  9

Grapette Takes On New Orleans Flavors

Malvern manufacturer
Clockwise
expands its sweet menu from top left:
of tasty, fruity syrup blends The Grapette
International
By George Waldon plant in Malvern
[email protected] is covered in work
after emerging
Last summer, Grapette International from a pandem-
Inc. quietly broadened its production ic-tainted 2020.
palate of syrups, concentrates and pow- Katie Barrett
dered flavorings with a batch of distinct bottles bubble-
tastes a la New Orleans. gum Sno-Ball
The Malvern manufacturer struck a flavoring for icy
licensing deal with National Fruit Flavor treats. Karina
Co. to use its Big Easy recipes and make Rodelo sorts and
its branded lines of syrups, concentrates boxes electro-
and cocktail mixes in Arkansas. lyte-stoked freez-
The addition of Zodiac frozen drink er pops. Katherine
mixes, Old Comiskey cocktail mixes, Hannah heat seals
Zodiac flavor shots, Sno-Ball concen- a bag of private
trates and syrups, Tasty all-purpose label powdered
syrups and Gambelini coffee syrups sports drink mix.
effectively doubled the Grapette book of David Rice shows
business. the new plant
After enduring a pandemic-taint- space. Workers
ed 2020, the company is savoring a big mix up a big batch
rebound this year thanks to the combi- of Sno-Ball syrup.
nation of ongoing private-label contracts Zayne Morrison
and new name-brand orders. sifts citric acid
“Demand has been unprecedent- into finer granules
ed,” said David Rice, vice president as it pours into
and director of marketing at Grapette. a mesh strainer.
“Normally, we’d see a big slowdown this [PHOTOS BY KAREN E.
time of year.” SEGRAVE]
Rice was coy about Grapette’s rev-
enue, but industry estimates peg the
merged sales of the similarly-sized com-
panies at about $8 million annually.
Grapette has doubled the workforce
to 30 at its 45,000-SF plant and is looking
to add more. The company is in the pro-
cess of equipping a 5,000-SF addition to
increase its output.
“I thought it would be like moving
their production inside of what we were
doing, but instead it was like stacking
their company on top of our existing
company,” Rice said of the 2020 deal with
National Fruit Flavor.
Grapette established a relationship capability to carry the company’s legacy The company still produces the The domestic trademarks for Grapette
with the company in 2005 when it helped forward. famed Grapette flavoring for its name- and Orangette were reacquired in 2000,
with production in the wake of Hurricane “We want to show that we are produc- sake drink. However, the company’s and a reappearance of the brands on
Katrina. Hard hit by the restaurant dis- ing the original New Orleans flavors that Orangette soda, which debuted in 1947, Walmart shelves followed.
ruption last year, National Fruit Flavor people have come to expect,” Rice said. is part of a more popular niche these Grapette International relocated from
issued severance packages to its employ- Owned by the Gambel family since days. the Spa City to Malvern in 1999 when
ees in case layoffs turned into lost jobs. 1961, National Fruit Flavor was launched “There are more orange soda drinkers it moved into the former Greenman
“That’s when we made an offer,” Rice in 1917. Like Grapette and its purple these days than grape soda drinkers,” Technologies plant in the Hot Spring
said of the 2020 deal. “They were going namesake beverage, National Fruit was Rice said. County Industrial Park.
to shut the company down. We reached established on the success of a carbon- Founded in Camden in 1939, Grapette Sensory evaluation of flavors in the
out to them in May, and final documents ated soft drink: Orange Squeeze. Soft dwindled after the sale of its domes- company labs is a constant for qual-
were signed in July. About 80% of the cus- drink bottling is no longer a part of either tic operations in 1970. The company’s ity assurance as well as new product
tomers we inherited are within 100 miles company’s operations. flavoring business was rekindled in development. What’s the strangest flavor
of New Orleans.” “Their company is over 100 years old,” Hot Springs during the 1980s, and the developed? That would be dill pickle for
After a 2020 pandemic postponement, said Rice, who represents a third gener- Grapette formula provided the flavoring the snow cone market.
the Louisiana Restaurant Association ation of family ownership in Grapette for Walmart’s private-label grape soda. “We were able to get pretty close to
Showcase returned last weekend. Billed International. “We’re over 80 years old.” “For a long time, you could only get that,” Rice said. n
as a two-day marketplace for restaurant In its heyday during the 1950s, Grap- Grapette under that name internation-
and foodservice professionals, the Aug. ette soda was produced by more than ally,” Rice said. “When people would ask
7-8 gathering was the first big opportuni- 300 bottlers in 42 states. Back then, us where they could buy Grapette here,
ty for Grapette to connect with National Grapette outsold all other grape-flavored we’d point them to Walmart. For a while,
Fruit Flavor clients and demonstrate its soft drinks combined. it was the worst-kept secret.”
10  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business
SPOTLIGHT: Made In Arkansas
Hannover House: a nearly four-decade veteran of the film
distribution and marketing business.

Penny stock owes

Since 2002, Hannover House has
released more than 400 titles, includ-
ing “Twelve,” “Grand Champion” and
millions, seeks “Savage Land.”
To distribute DVD movies, Hannover

new investors gave producers a royalty advance of

$50,000 to $100,000, then sold the DVDs.
The company would deduct the distribu-
Continued From Page One tion fees and the cost of marketing, and
the rest would go to the producer.
“I have taken control over the matters “And I would say the DVD business
that were neglected,” Parkinson said. was a really good meat-and-potatoes
“And we seem to be making progress.... business … until about 2014 or 2015,”
We’re comfortable enough to move Parkinson said.
ahead with our offering.” Dealing with Walmart Inc. became a
The multi-studio streaming service, New York film blessing and curse, he said. If Hannover
called MyFlix, was announced in May producer Bruce House placed a DVD title in the
2018, and Parkinson hopes to have it Lewin hired Bentonville retail chain, it would need
launched by the end of September or “we Hannover about 25,000 copies to cover more than
could hold it all the way to Thanksgiving.” House of 4,000 stores nationwide. “They don’t
Beneath the talk of moving on, how- Fayetteville want empty shelves,” Parkinson said.
ever, the legal problems remain. to release and “Well, who’s going to pay for the manu-
Hannover House suffered a setback distribute facturing and the freight? It’s good old
last month when a New York judge “Dancin’ It’s Hannover House.”
denied a request to vacate a $1.5 mil- On!” in 2015. But if only 3,000 copies of the movie
lion default judgment entered against In 2018 he sold, then 22,000 units would be returned
Parkinson, Shefte and the company in received a to Hannover.
October 2018. $1.3 million Still, the producer would want money
Parkinson said in a court filing that judgment plus for the 25,000 copies, Parkinson said. “So
he didn’t learn of the judgment until costs that we ended up getting some lawsuits from
February, after Shefte filed for bank- Hannover people who wanted to know how come
ruptcy. But New York attorney Steven House CEO Eric they didn’t get a check from Hannover,”
Gold, representing plaintiff Bruce Lewin Parkinson has he said. “It’s, like, ‘You didn’t earn one.’”
of New York, offered evidence that been unsuc- He said that model became too diffi-
Hannover House and Parkinson have cessful in over- cult “because you can’t sustain a busi-
known of the judgment for more than two turning. ness selling 3,000 copies of a movie.”
years: Parkinson mentioned the Lewin Then he said the company went to
judgment in an email from January 2019, tain pertinent and material informa- the letter. what he called the Netflix model. That
and Hannover House acknowledged the tion that a reasonable investor would “And they could not find any factual involved opening a movie in enough the-
judgment in a U.S. Securities & Exchange want to know prior to making an invest- basis for issuing a cease-and-desist let- aters that Netflix would then buy the
Commission filing for the year ended ment.” The ASD said Hannover House ter for something we have never done,” rights to the film for more than enough
Dec. 31, 2019. also didn’t disclose “several judgments Parkinson said. to cover the costs.
“The Defendants are wasting plain- and pending civil suits existing and filed Parkinson added that the department But around 2016, Netflix stopped buy-
tiff’s time and resources and abusing the against Hannover House” before the said the order could not be removed ing movies and started making its own.
process of the Court and should have investment was made. without a hearing, and that no hearing Netflix would buy a film only if it had
sanctions entered against them for the After receiving the investment, could be held because of the COVID-19 “a substantial box office performance,”
costs Plaintiff has incurred to oppose Hannover, Parkinson and Shefte “made pandemic. Parkinson said. “Well, you’re back to that
their frivolous motion,” Gold wrote. several ‘lulling statements’ that were He said Hanover House deserves a same old formula. How do you get some-
The judge subsequently reject- false and misleading and designed to hearing. “They made allegations which body to choose an independent film
ed vacating the judgment, ruling that cover up the fraudulent omissions relat- are demonstrably untrue,” Parkinson instead of the new Avengers movie? It’s
Hannover House had waited too long to ed to [J&J’s] investment,” the filing said. said. really, really hard.”
object. Parkinson, the CEO, said he was ASD accused Parkinson of posting In an interview with Arkansas He said that is why Hannover House
appealing that ruling as well. a “fake legal pleading designed to con- Business last week, McLaurin disagreed began to distance itself from the distri-
Another hurdle to Parkinson’s MyFlix vince the public that the Texas Judgment with Parkinson’s take on the events. bution model and focus on streaming
offering and an eventual Hannover would be dismissed” on the company’s “We have never said that we could not programs.
happy ending is the Arkansas Securities blog in June 2019. The department said have hearings as a result of coronavirus
Department’s cease-and-desist order. “no such pleading has ever been filed issues,” he said.
Parkinson said he’s seeking a hearing with the court.” He also said that the department MyFlix Announced
from the ASD to re-examine the order. In a cease-and-desist letter, the state stands by the allegations in the order. Parkinson said MyFlix was announced
The order says a private investment ordered Hannover House, Shefte and He said Parkinson and Shefte were never at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018.
firm in Texas invested a total of $146,000 Parkinson to stop “committing fraud told the department couldn’t “substan- “MyFlix is huge,” Hannover House
in Hannover House from July 2014 to or deceit in connection with the offer tiate the allegations in the order, or that said in a May 23, 2018, blog post. “The
June 2015. The order didn’t name the or sale of any securities in the state of we have any plans to undo the order at unanimous supplier support for this
firm, but court documents show it Arkansas.” The department also ordered a hearing or otherwise,” McLaurin said. streaming venture — including support
is J&J Investments Inc. of Dallas. J&J Hannover House to stop selling securities of on-boarding fees and supplier pro-
Investments, which didn’t return a call in Arkansas unless they are registered. vided marketing — indicates that this
for comment, sued Hannover House in Parkinson told Arkansas Business last Business Model venture is the right business model (and
2015 in a Texas state court to recover the week that Hannover House had never When Parkinson bought Hannover finally) at the right time. We believe that
money it invested, plus lost profits and made unregistered securities offer- House of California in 2002, it was Cannes 2018 will be marked as the point
other damages. J&J received a judgment ings to Arkansans. He said that one of involved in book publishing, he said. in time that [Hannover House] evolved
of nearly $370,000 in 2016. Shefte’s last official acts at the company He moved the company to northwest into primarily a streaming portal.”
The Arkansas Securities Department was to talk to Campbell McLaurin, the Arkansas and added distributing DVD Parkinson told Arkansas Business last
found that Hannover House, Parkinson Securities Department’s associate gen- movies to its portfolio “because DVD was week that the delay in getting the service
and Shefte failed to disclose to J&J “cer- eral counsel, seeking an explanation for hot as a pistol back then,” said Parkinson, launched was partly caused by having to
 Arkansas Business August 9, 2021  11
SPOTLIGHT: Made In Arkansas
“earn the trust of the program suppliers, “On each occasion, Defendants pro-
because we’re not paying them royal- vided excuses as to why funds had not Highland
ty advances. We’re basically saying to yet been provided,” the suit said. “None Pellets creat-
them, ‘You’ve got 500 titles in your film of these excuses was acceptable.” ed 100 jobs at
library, 50 of them are on Netflix, what Parkinson said in a follow-up email its Pine Bluff
are you doing with the other 450 titles?’” to Arkansas Business that film distri- plant and aims
Hannover House hopes to get per- bution tends to be a litigious business. to grow capac-
mission to place titles on MyFlix and pay “Independent producers always think ity by 12% in
the content creators out of revenue from they have the next big ‘Blair Witch’ sur- a deal with
subscribers. prise hit — and if a film doesn’t perform, Orion Energy
COVID added to the delay in getting it’s easier to blame the distributor than Partners.
the service launched. “We just couldn’t to look at the poor reviews,” he wrote ref- [PHOTO BY MARK
do anything during the pandemic year erencing the 1999 indie horror film that FRIEDMAN]
because you couldn’t even get people to cost about $60,000 to make but generated
come in,” Parkinson said.
There are eight contract employees
working on MyFlix, and Hannover has
nearly $250 million at the box office.
He wrote that Hannover House has
released more than 450 titles since 2002
Wood Pellets: Good Fit
For a State Full of Trees
spent about $275,000 on the project, “and only faced 17 producer lawsuits.”
Parkinson said. Last week, Hannover He said while that might seem like a high
shares were trading just over 2 cents. number, it’s low compared with other
studios and independent distributors.
In 2018, Lewin received a judgment for By Sarah Campbell-Miller Another recent project is Dansons
Shefte’s Illness $1.3 million plus interest and costs that [email protected] USA’s barbecue wood pellet mill
In 2017, Hannover’s president’s health totaled $1.5 million against Parkinson, and distribution center in Hope. The
problems became worse. Shefte, a former Shefte, Hannover House and its subsidi- South Arkansas has been fertile Phoenix company is planning a grand
partner in the San Diego law firm Seltzer ary, Medallion Releasing Inc. ground for the wood pellets industry opening in October, President Jeff
Caplan, joined Hannover House in 2007. “I tried to collect for a few years, this year, as three manufacturers have Thiessen said.
He said in a June court filing that he has nothing happened,” Steven Gold, a New recently started or completed projects. Dansons’ project, announced in
been battling health problems for about York attorney representing Lewin, told At least two are expecting continued February, is expected to create 50-100
10 years. “In the summer of 2017, my con- Arkansas Business last week. growth, and it appears they’re in the jobs over the next three years. The
dition worsened, making it hard to catch Another attorney, Marc Lazo of Irvine, right place for an industry built on pine facility features three pelleters and will
my breath, even on modest exertion,” he California, said he’s trying to collect on a fiber. have an initial capacity of 100,000 tons
wrote. $963,000 default judgment in 2019 from “We’re sitting here in a state of of pellets made for the Pit Boss Grills
He said he wasn’t at the office for the California against Hannover House that almost 19 million acres of forest land, and Louisiana Grills brands, and the
last 10 weeks of 2017 and was hospital- has ballooned to $1.8 million after inter- which is about 56% of the entire state,” infrastructure is in place to triple the
ized starting in June est, attorneys’ fees Max Braswell, executive vice president production capacity.
2018 for a total of 18 and other costs. of the Arkansas Forestry Association, As of July 30, Dansons had hired
weeks. The court fight told Arkansas Business. “And so you nearly 30 people. “We’re continuing to
At that time he “I have taken control is related to a 2016 have a tremendous supply of available hire. I think the first wave will probably
said he was incapac- movie called “Union and sustainably grown fiber.” be closer to between 40 and 50, in that
itated and unaware over the Bound.” Lazo alleged The supply currently outstrips neighborhood,” Thiessen said.
of the “gravity and matters that Hannover House demand, Braswell said. “So when we “The company just keeps growing
urgency” of the New and its officers have the opportunity for [wood pellet] by leaps and bounds,” Thiessen said.
York lawsuit in con- that were defrauded his cli- plants like this to locate in Arkansas, it “We’re growing with the market, and
nection with the 2015
movie “Dancin’ It’s
neglected. ent, Michael Davis,
president of Uptone
provides new markets. We feel like that
it’s a win-win scenario, not only from
we’re just blessed with great retail part-
ners,” including Walmart, Lowes and
On!” Shefte referred And we Pictures Inc. of North an economic perspective, but from a Menards, a Wisconsin home improve-
questions from Carolina, by “basi- forest health perspective.” ment chain with hundreds of stores
Arkansas Business to seem to be making cally taking con- The largest of the recent projects is from Wyoming to West Virginia but
Parkinson.
Bruce Lewin of
progress... . We’re trol of the film and
acquiring the distri-
an expansion of the Highland Pellets
LLC facility in Pine Bluff, which has cre-
none in Arkansas.
Dansons saw “huge growth” in
Southampton, New comfortable enough bution rights without ated 100 jobs there and will create hun- 2020, he said. A consumer trend away
York, was the exec- actually distributing dreds more with suppliers, co-founder from propane grills to wood pellets
utive producer of to move ahead with it.” and Chairman Tom Reilley said. accelerated during the pandemic, and
“Dancin’ It’s On!”
He hired Hannover
our offering.” That case was set-
tled in state court,
In December, his company reached
a $135 million capital partnership
Dansons’ retail partners were deemed
essential, so they never closed amid
House to release [ERIC PARKINSON, CEO, but Lazo alleged the with Orion Energy Partners LP to fund shutdowns designed to slow COVID-19
and distribute the HANNOVER HOUSE] defendants breached an expansion of the facility that will infections.
film. He then sued the settlement agree- increase its annual capacity by 12%, The third recent project is by Drax
Hannover House in ment, which trig- to 675,000 metric tons of wood pellets. Group of Selby, England. The company
New York state court in 2016. gered the suit that resulted in the default The pellets will be used as fuel for announced in May that it would begin
According to Lewin’s suit, Hannover judgment. renewable electricity production at a building three “satellite” pellet plants
House, Parkinson and Shefte forecast- Parkinson said he also is working to converted coal power plant. The com- in Arkansas, investing $40 million and
ed that the movie would generate net have the judgment overturned on the pany has a long-term contract with a creating about 30 jobs.
income between $1.4 million and $5.6 grounds that there was already a settle- European power producer. The first is being built near a West
million. In 2015, Lewin provided $1.3 ment agreement in place. Reilley also said Highland Pellets Fraser sawmill in Leola (Grant County)
million to advertise and distribute the Parkinson said if the judgments stand, will build a smaller facility, with a and is expected to be operational in
film. Under the terms of the agreement, “we’ll pay them. The upside is so big for 300,000-ton capacity, on 54 acres that October. The others will be built in the
Lewin was to be paid in full first before the MyFlix site that these little things are it acquired last year at the Port of Pine coming months at sites the company
anyone else received any proceeds from … a little bit annoying matters from the Bluff. has not disclosed.
the film’s revenue. scope of things.” n The company owns another 350 The plants are expected to produce
By January 2016, Lewin hadn’t acres in Ogemaw, an unincorporat- about 120,000 tons of pellets a year that
received any money, the suit said. For the ed community southwest of Camden will be used as fuel for renewable elec-
next several months, Lewin continued to in Ouachita County, and plans to do tricity production.
ask about the return of his money and a something there in the next few years, The company did not respond to
percentage of the movie’s profits. Reilley said. interview requests by press time. n
12  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business
SPOTLIGHT: Made In Arkansas

Southern Aluminum Sets Tables for Picnics, Conferences

By Kennadi Harris coming out of a town of 11,000 people,”
[email protected] he said, “and I was one of those as a
customer. And I came here for the first
Southern Aluminum of Magnolia has time in 2016 to visit the facility. And I was
a place for everyone at the table. like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I mean, this is
SA manufactures tables, including Southern amazing.
heavy-duty picnic tables and lightweight Aluminum’s “The fact that we are not sourcing
tables that don’t require tablecloths even 73,000-SF plant or having things made overseas is very
in settings like conference rooms and in Magnolia impressive and I contrast that with
banquet halls. makes furniture the other businesses that we compete
“We’re proud to say that we are USA- for customers against,” Moffett said.
made quality furniture,” said Chief in the U.S., The company tries to be environmen-
Brand Officer Andrew Moffett. “And the Canada and Latin tally friendly. SA’s main source material,
linenless — I call it linenless event furni- America. [PHOTO aluminum, is highly resourced and recy-
ture — really spans the gamut of typical PROVIDED] clable. Schultz, who was CFO until the
meeting tables that you might see in a sale, ensures that all equipment is up to
hotel meeting space, in training centers, Schultz became president and CEO. The Southern Aluminum brand date, using less power, saving electricity
things of that nature.” Southern Aluminum caters to several prides itself on staying true to its roots and water usage. They also implement
The company dates to 1978, when markets and has customers all over the in southern Arkansas. Nearly everything sustainability within the offices, reusing
founder Charles Taylor began making country and in some parts of Canada and from the talent to the material is sourced and recycling various materials.
aluminum picnic tables. Latin America. at a local level and the products are pro- Southern Aluminum plans to contin-
The first featured product, a table The company’s largest markets are duced through a combination of crafts- ue innovating. “We are really exploring
called the Southern Piknik, was followed hospitality, government, education and manship and automation. everything outdoors,” Moffett said. To
by other innovative furniture, all made health care, but its products are also That story is one thing that attracts accommodate consumer demand to sit
in a 73,000-SF facility that employs 134, appropriate for any organization that customers, said Moffett, who was intro- outside, SA plans to release a new line of
plus six more in other states. SA declined needs tables — senior living centers, reli- duced to SA when he was an event picnic tables this fall.
to disclose its annual revenue. gious organizations, etc. planning executive with Marriott “What does that aluminum become
In 2018, Taylor’s son Mark sold the “They can pick and choose what they International. outside of a typical meeting table? That’s
company for an undisclosed price want, and that’s why we’ve got a pretty When the pandemic shuttered hotels what we really want — to get inventive
to a private investment group led by broad spectrum of products for custom- in 2020, Moffett took a job with the com- with our designs and our ideas and deliv-
J.H. Whitney & Co. of New Canaan, ers to buy from. That’s what allows us to pany that impressed him as a vendor. er something ... to people where they say,
Connecticut. Mark Taylor remains have these diversified markets,” Moffett “We talk to a lot of customers that ‘Well, I can’t believe I lived without this
a director, and longtime CFO Allison said. don’t really believe that our product is for so many years.’” n

Investing in Arkansas

BUILDING ARKANSAS
SINCE 1973

Little Rock Springdale

www.KincoConstructors.com
 The List Arkansas Business August 9, 2021  13

Largest Manufacturers
Largest Manufacturers
Ranked by number of employees in Arkansas
Ranked by number of employees in Arkansas
Company
Largest Manufacturers
Ranked by number of employees in A
Address
Ranked Company
by number of employees in Arkansas Ark. Employees
Phone, Website(s)
Address Revenue
Ark. 2020 Arkansas Locations
Employees Line of Business TopCompany
Executive(s)
Company Address
Phone,
AddressWebsite(s) Revenue
Ark. 2020 Arkansas Locations
Employees Line of Business Top Phone,
Executive(s)
Website(s)
Berryville, Clarksville, Dardanelle,
Phone, Website(s) Revenue 2020 Fayetteville,
Arkansas Locations
Fort Smith, Grannis, Green Line of Business Top Executive(s)
Tyson Foods Inc. Berryville, Clarksville, Dardanelle,
1 2200 Don
Tyson FoodsTysonInc.Parkway, Springdale 72762 24,000 Forest, Hope,
Fayetteville,
Berryville,
Nashville,
Fort Smith,
Clarksville,
North Little
Grannis,
Dardanelle,
Rock,
Green Poultry processing, feeds and related Donnie King

1
$43.19
24,000 bil. Pine Bluff,
Forest, Hope,Rogers, Russellville,
Nashville, North Scranton,
Little Rock, products
Poultry processing, feeds and related CEO Tyson
Donnie KingFoods Inc.

1
(479)Don
2200
(479)
290-4000,
Tyson Foods
2200 290-4000,
Tyson Inc.
Don Tyson Parkway,
tysonfoods.com
Parkway, Springdale 72762
tysonfoods.comSpringdale 72762
$43.19
24,000
$43.19 bil.
Fayetteville,
Siloam
bil. Pine Bluff,
Forest,
Buren,
Siloam
Pine
Hope,
Waldron
FortSpringdale,
Springs,
Rogers,
Springs,
Bluff,
Smith, Grannis,
Nashville,
Green Van
Texarkana,
Russellville, Scranton,
North Little
Springdale,
Rogers, Texarkana,
Russellville,
Rock,
Scranton, Van
products
Poultry processing, feeds and related
products
1CEO 2200King
Donnie Don Tyson Parkway, Spr
CEO (479) 290-4000, tysonfoods.
(479)
Simmons 290-4000,
Foodstysonfoods.com
Inc. & Affiliates Buren, Waldron
Siloam Springs, Springdale, Texarkana, Van
2 601 N. HicoFoods
Simmons St., SiloamInc. & Springs 72761
Affiliates
4,500 Decatur, Gentry, Siloam Springs, Van Buren
Buren, Waldron
Suppliers of poultry, pet food, and Todd Simmons

2
$2.00 bil.
4,500 Decatur, Gentry, Siloam Springs, Van Buren animal nutrition
Suppliers products
of poultry, pet food, and President
Todd Simmons& CEOFoods Inc. & Affil
Simmons

2
(479)
601
(479)
601
N. 524-8151,
Simmons Hico Foods
524-8151,
N. HicoInc.
George's
simmonsfoods.com
St., Siloam Inc. Springs
simmonsfoods.com
St., Siloam Springs 72761
72761
& Affiliates $2.00
4,500 bil.
bil. Decatur, Gentry, Siloam Springs, Van Buren
animal nutrition products
Suppliers of poultry, pet food, and 2 601
President
Todd
Carl(479)
N.
& Hico
Simmons
George
CEOSt., Siloam Springs
524-8151, simmonsfood
3 (479)
402 W.524-8151,
George's Inc. simmonsfoods.com
Robinson Ave., Springdale 72764
$2.00
4,100 Batesville, Bay (Craighead County), animal nutrition products
Poultry processing
President & CEO
Charles
Carl George
George
3
$1.50
4,100 Batesville,Rogers,
bil. Newport, Springdale
Bay (Craighead County), George's Inc.

3
(479)
402
(479)
402
W.927-7000,
George's Robinson
927-7000,
PecoW.FoodsRobinson
georgesinc.com
Inc. Ave., Springdale 72764
georgesinc.com
Inc. Ave., Springdale 72764
$1.50
4,100bil. Newport,
Batesville,Rogers,
Bay Springdale
(Craighead County),
Poultry processing
Poultry processing
3 Co-CEOs George
Charles
Carl402
Co-CEOs
George
Charles
W. Robinson Ave., Springd
(479)George
927-7000, georgesinc.co
4 (479)
1101 927-7000,
Greensboro
Peco Foods Inc. georgesinc.com
Ave., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
$1.50
3,500 bil. Newport, Rogers, Springdale
Batesville, Corning, Newark, Pocahontas Food processing, poultry production Mark
Co-CEOsHickman

4 3,500 -- President
Mark Peco & CEO Inc.
Foods
Hickman

4
(205)
1101
(205)
1101
345-4711, Ave.,
Greensboro
Peco Foods Inc.
pecofoods.com
345-4711, pecofoods.com
ABBGreensboro
Tuscaloosa,
Ave., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
AL 35401
3,500 -- Batesville, Corning, Newark, Pocahontas
-- Batesville, Corning, Newark, Pocahontas
Food processing, poultry production
Food processing, poultry production
4 1101
President
Mark Greensboro
& CEO
Hickman
(205)&345-4711,
Ave., Tuscaloo
pecofoods.co
5 (205)
5711
ABB 345-4711,
R.S. Boreham pecofoods.com
Jr. St., Fort Smith 72901 2,300
-- Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Ozark Industrial components, electric motors
President CEO
Bjoern Rosengren

5 2,300 CEO ABBRosengren

Bjoern

5
(479)
5711
(479)
5711
646-4711, abb.com
ABBR.S. Boreham Jr. St., Fort Smith 72901
646-4711,
R.S. Boreham
Bachoco OK Foods abb.com
Jr. St., Fort Smith 72901 2,300 -- Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Ozark
-- Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Ozark
Industrial components, electric motors
Industrial components, electric motors
5 CEO 5711 Rosengren
Bjoern
(479)
R.S. Boreham Jr. St., Fort S
646-4711, abb.com
6 (479)
4601 646-4711,
N. Sixth
Bachoco OK Foods St.,abb.com
Fort Smith 72904 2,200
-- Fort Smith, Hermitage
Frozen processed poultry products, CEO McGee
Drew

6 2,200 precooked
Frozen chicken,
processed feeds products,
poultry President
Drew Bachoco& CEO
McGee OK Foods

6
(479)N.783-4186,
4601
(479)
4601
Conagra
Sixth
Bachoco OK Foods
783-4186,
N. Sixth
St., okfoods.com
Fort Smith
St.,okfoods.com
Brands Fort Smith 72904
72904
2,200 -- Fort Smith, Hermitage
-- Fort Smith, Hermitage
precooked chicken, feeds
Frozen processed poultry products, 6 Drew4601
President
(479)
N.
&
McGee Sixth
CEO St., Fort Smith 7
&783-4186, okfoods.com
7 (479)
222
Conagra 783-4186,
Brandsokfoods.com
Merchandise Mart, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60654 2,000 Fayetteville, Russellville
precooked chicken, feeds
Maker of branded foods
President
Sean CEO
Connolly

7
--
2,000 Fayetteville, Russellville President
SeanConagra & CEO
Connolly Brands

7
(312)
222
(312)
Nucor
549-5000, Mart,
Merchandise
Conagra Brands
549-5000,
222 Merchandise
conagrabrands.com
Suite
conagrabrands.com
Mart, Suite 1300,
Corp. (Nucor-Yamato
1300, Chicago, IL 60654
Chicago, IL 60654
Steel)
2,000 --
-- Fayetteville, Russellville
Maker of branded foods
Maker of branded foods
7 Sean222
President Merchandise
& CEO
Connolly
(312) 549-5000,
Mart, Suite 1
conagrabran
8 (312)Rexford
1915
Nucor 549-5000,
Corp. Road, conagrabrands.com
Charlotte, NC
(Nucor-Yamato 28211
Steel)
2,000
-- Armorel (2), Hickman Sheet steel, structural steel shapes
President
Leon & CEO
Topalian

8 2,000 President
Leon Nucor &Corp.
CEO (Nucor-Yamat
Topalian

8
(704)
1915
Nucor
(704)
1915
366-7000,
Rexford
Corp.Road,
366-7000,
Rexford Road,
Georgia-Pacific LLC
nucor.com
Charlotte, NCSteel)
(Nucor-Yamato
nucor.com
Charlotte, NC
28211
28211
-- Armorel (2), Hickman
2,000 Armorel (2), Hickman
Sheet steel, structural steel shapes
Sheet steel, structural steel shapes
8 1915
President
Leon Rexford
& CEO Road, Charlotte,
Topalian
(704)&366-7000, nucor.com
9 (704) 366-7000,
133 Peachtree
Georgia-Pacific nucor.com
St. LLC
NE, Atlanta 30303 1,850 --
-- Crossett, Fordyce, Fort Smith, Gurdon Paper and wood products
President
Christian CEO
Fischer

9 1,850 President &Fischer

CEO
Georgia-Pacific
Christian LLC

9
(404)
133
(404)
133
Cooper
652-4000,
Peachtree
Georgia-Pacific
652-4000,
Peachtree
St. NE,
Tire &St.
gp.com
LLCAtlanta 30303
gp.com
NE,
Rubber Atlanta
Co. 30303
1,850 -- Crossett, Fordyce, Fort Smith, Gurdon
-- Crossett, Fordyce, Fort Smith, Gurdon
Paper and wood products
Paper and wood products
9 133 Peachtree
President
Christian CEO St. NE, Atlanta
&Fischer
(404)&652-4000, gp.com
10 (404)
Cooper 652-4000,
3500 Washington
Tire & Rubber gp.com
Road,Co. Texarkana 71854 1,800 Texarkana Passenger car, light and medium truck, President
Brad Hughes CEO

10
--
1,800 Texarkana motorcycle and racing tires
Passenger car, light and medium truck, President
Cooper
Brad Hughes & CEO
Tire & Rubber Co.

10
(870)Washington
3500
(870)
773-4502, coopertire.com
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.
773-4502,
3500 Washington
Butterball
Road,
LLC coopertire.com
Texarkana
Road, Texarkana 71854
71854
1,800 --
-- Texarkana
motorcycle and racing tires
Passenger car, light and medium truck, 10 3500
President
Brad(870) &Washington
Hughes CEO
&773-4502,
Road, Texa
coopertire.co
11 1(870)
Butterball773-4502,
Butterball Lane,coopertire.com
LLC Garner, NC 27529 1,688
-- Huntsville, Jonesboro, Ozark
motorcycle and racing tires
Turkey production
President
Jay Jandrain CEO

11 1,688 President
Jay & CEOLLC
Butterball
Jandrain

11
(919)
(919)
Dassault
255-7900,
1Butterball
Butterball Lane,
255-7900,
1 Butterball
LLC
butterball.com
Garner,
Lane,butterball.com
Falcon Garner,
Jet Corp.
NC 27529
NC 27529 1,688 -- Huntsville, Jonesboro, Ozark
-- Huntsville, Jonesboro, Ozark
Turkey production
Turkey production
11 Jay 1Jandrain
Butterball
President & CEO Lane, Garner, NC
(919) & 255-7900, butterball.co
12
1,480 Falcon business jet completion and President CEO
Thierry Betbeze
(919)E.255-7900,
3801
Dassault 10th
Falcon butterball.com
St., Little Rock 72202
Jet Corp. Little Rock
bil. 1 Little Rock
12
1,480
$6.71 servicebusiness jet completion and
Falcon CEO Dassault
Thierry Betbeze Falcon Jet Corp.

12
(501)E.372-5254,
3801
Dassault
(501)
3801
McKee
10th Falcon
372-5254,
E. 10th
Foods
dassaultfalcon.com
St., LittleJetRock
Corp.72202
dassaultfalcon.com
St.,Corp.
Little Rock 72202
$6.711,480
bil. 1
Little Rock
service
Falcon business jet completion and 12 CEO 3801Betbeze
Thierry E. 10th St., Little Rock 72
(501) 372-5254, dassaultfalco
bil. 1 Gentry
13 (501) 372-5254,
555 McKee
McKee FoodsDrive, dassaultfalcon.com
Corp.Gentry 72734 1,460
$6.71 service
Snack cakes
CEO
Mike McKee

13 1,460 -- President
Mike McKee & CEO
McKee Foods Corp.

13
(479)
555
McKee
(479)
736-2601,
McKee FoodsDrive,
736-2601,
555 McKee
mckeefoods.com,
Gentry 72734
Corp.
Drive,mckeefoods.com,
littledebbie.com
Gentry 72734 littledebbie.com
-- Gentry
1,460 Gentry
Altheimer, Bradford, Corning, Delaplaine,
-- Des Arc, Dumas, Fair Oaks, Griffithville,
Snack cakes
Snack cakes
13 555
President
Mike(479)McKee
&
McKee CEO Drive, Gentry 72734
736-2601,
President & CEO mckeefoods.c
(479)
Riceland736-2601,
Foodsmckeefoods.com,
Inc. littledebbie.com Altheimer, Bradford, Corning, Delaplaine,
14
1,413 DesGrubbs,
Arc, Hazen,
Dumas, Hickory Ridge,
Fair Oaks, Holly Grove,
Griffithville, Karl D. Kennedy
2120 S. Park
Riceland Ave.,Inc.
Foods Stuttgart 72160 Altheimer,
2 Grubbs, Bradford, Corning, Delaplaine, Miller and marketer of rice
14 $868.00 1,413
mil. Jonesboro, Knobel,
Hazen, Lonoke,
Hickory Newport,
Ridge, Holly Grove, President
Karl & CEO
Riceland
D. Kennedy Foods Inc.

14
(870)
2120
Riceland
(870)
673-5500,
S. ParkFoods
673-5500,
riceland.com
Ave., Stuttgart
Inc.
riceland.com
2120 S. Park Ave., Stuttgart 72160
72160
$868.00 mil.1,413
Des Arc,Pendleton,
2 Jonesboro,
Parkin,
Grubbs,
Dumas, Fair
Knobel,
Hazen,
Waldenburg,
Parkin,
Hickory
Oaks, Griffithville,
Stuttgart,
Lonoke,
Ridge,
Weiner, Wheatley
Pendleton,
Knobel,Stuttgart,
Tuckerman,
Newport,
Holly Grove,
Tuckerman,
Miller and marketer of rice
Miller and marketer of rice
14 2120
President
Karl(870) S.
& Park
CEO
D. Kennedy Ave., Stuttgart 72
&673-5500, riceland.com
(870) 673-5500, riceland.com $868.00 mil. 2 Waldenburg,
Jonesboro,
Weiner,
Lonoke, Newport,
Wheatley
President CEO
Pilgrim's Pride Corp. 1,401 Parkin, Pendleton, Stuttgart, Tuckerman,
15 1770 Promontory
Pilgrim's Pride Corp.Circle, Greeley, CO 80634 De Queen
Waldenburg, Weiner, Wheatley
Processed poultry, hatch/grow-out and Fabio Sandri

15 1,401 -- feed milling

Processed poultry, hatch/grow-out and Fabio President & Global
Pilgrim's
Sandri PrideCEO
Corp.

15
(970)
1770
Pilgrim's
(970)
506-8000,Circle,
Promontory
506-8000,
1770 Promontory
Hytrol ConveyorCircle,
pilgrims.com
Pride Corp. Greeley, CO 80634
pilgrims.com
Greeley, CO 80634
Co. Inc.
1,401-- De Queen
-- De Queen
feed
Processed 15
millingpoultry, hatch/grow-out and President 1770
Fabio Promontory
& Global CEO
Sandri
(970)&506-8000,
Circle, Greele
pilgrims.com
16 (970) 506-8000,
2020 Hytrol
Hytrol Conveyor pilgrims.com
St., Jonesboro
Co. Inc. 72401
1,318
mil. Fort Smith, Jonesboro
feed milling
Manufacturer
President
David Peacock Global CEO

16
$207.26 1,318 President
DavidHytrol Conveyor Co. Inc.
Peacock

16
(870)Hytrol
2020
(870)
935-3700,
Hytrol Conveyor
935-3700,
2020 Hytrol
Cargill
hytrol.com72401
St., Jonesboro
Co. Inc.
hytrol.com72401
St., Jonesboro
mil. Fort Smith, Jonesboro
$207.261,318
mil. Fort Smith, Jonesboro
Manufacturer
Manufacturer
16 2020
President
David Hytrol St., Jonesboro 72
Peacock
(870) 935-3700, hytrol.com
17 (870)
15407 935-3700,
Cargill McGinty Road hytrol.com
W., Wayzata, MN 55391
$207.261,183 Greenwood, Rogers, Springdale, West Turkey production, grain processing and David President
W. MacLennan

17
-- Memphis
1,183 Greenwood, Rogers, Springdale, West distribution
Turkey production, grain processing and David Chairman
W. &
Cargill CEO
MacLennan

17
(952) McGinty
15407
Cargill
(952)
15407
Tenneco
742-7575,Road
742-7575,
McGinty
cargill.com
W., Wayzata, MN 55391
cargill.com
Road W.,Inc.
Automotive Wayzata, MN 55391 1,183-- Memphis
Greenwood, Rogers, Springdale, West distribution 17
Turkey production, grain processing and David
Emission control and ride control
15407
Chairman &McGinty
CEO
W. MacLennan
(952) 742-7575,
Road W., Wayz
cargill.com
18 (952)
500 N. 742-7575,
Field cargill.com
Drive,
Tenneco Automotive Inc. Lake Forest, IL 60045 1,108-- Memphis
-- Paragould
distribution
products;control
Emission systemsandforride
automotive
Chairman
Brian
control OEM Brian
& CEO
Kesseler

18 1,108 CEO Tenneco

Kesseler Automotive Inc.

18
(847)
500
(847)
500
N.482-5000,
Field
N.482-5000,
Remington
Drive,
Tenneco Automotive Inc.
Field Drive,
Arms
tenneco.com
Lake Forest,
tenneco.com
Lake
IL
Co. Forest, IL 60045
60045
1,108-- Paragould
-- Paragould
and aftermarket
products;
and
systemsand
Emission control
aftermarket
for ride
automotive
control OEM
products; systems for automotive OEM
18 CEO 500
Brian N. Field Drive, Lake Forest
Kesseler
(847) 482-5000, tenneco.com
19 (847) 482-5000,
2592 Hwy.
Remington 15Arms tenneco.com
N., LonokeCo. 72086
1,029
-- Lonoke
and aftermarket
Ammunition manufacturer
CEO
Craig Thomas

19 1,029 PlantRemington
Craig Manager
Thomas Arms Co.

19
(501)Hwy.
2592
(501)
2592
676-3161,
Remington
676-3161,
Hwy. 15
N.,remington.com
15 Arms
N.,
LonokeCo. 72086
remington.com
Lonoke
Lennox International Inc. 72086
-- Lonoke
1,029 Lonoke
Ammunition manufacturer
Ammunition manufacturer
19 Plant2592
Craig Hwy. 15 N., Lonoke 7208
Manager
Thomas
(501) 676-3161, remington.com
20 (501) 676-3161,
2140 Lake
Lennox remington.com
Park Blvd.,
International Richardson,
Inc. TX 75080 1,010--
Little Rock, Stuttgart HVACR manufacturing
Plant Manager
Todd M. Bluedorn

20
--
1,010 Little Rock, Stuttgart CEO Lennox
Todd International Inc.
M. Bluedorn

20
(972)Lake
2140
(972)
1 Dassault
2140
497-5000,
Aviation
Lake
Park Blvd.,
Lennox International
497-5000,
revenue
Park
lennoxinternational.com
Richardson,
Inc.
lennoxinternational.com
Blvd., converted
Richardson, from
TX 75080
TXeuros as of Dec. 31 2 Fiscal year ended
75080 1,010--
July 31, 2020
-- Little Rock, Stuttgart
HVACR manufacturing
HVACR manufacturing
20 CEO
Todd
CEO
2140
(972)
Lake Park Blvd., Richards
M. Bluedorn
497-5000, lennoxintern
Sources:
1 Dassault the
(972) companies,
497-5000,
Aviation revenueArkansas Economic Development Commission
converted from euros as of Dec. 31 2 Fiscal year ended July 31, 2020
lennoxinternational.com
Researched by Roxanne Jones 1 Dassault Aviation revenue converted
Sources:
1 DassaulttheAviation
companies, revenueArkansas
convertedEconomic Development
from euros Commission
as of Dec. 31 2 Fiscal year ended July 31, 2020 Sources: the companies, Arkansas Eco
Researched
Sources: theby Roxanne Jones
companies, Arkansas Economic Development Commission Researched by Roxanne Jones
Researched by Roxanne Jones
14  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business

Kennel Purchase Hillcrest Home I

A 6,637-SF pet project in Little Rock’s A 5,023-SF home in the Hillcrest
Riverdale area drew a $749,750 transac- area of Little Rock changed hands in a
tion. $930,000 deal.
Hound’s Lounge Pet Resort & Spa LLC, Hunter and Kelly Gibbs bought the
led by Justin Harris and Mandy Marshall, house from Charles Hamilton. The deal
Lakeside Estates Mobile Home Park acquired its 1711 Rebsamen Park Road is funded with a 30-year loan of $744,000
location. The seller is JEA Investments from Regions Bank of Birmingham,
2613 E. Coffelt Road, Jacksonville
Ltd., led by John Edward Allen IV and his Alabama.
wife, Catherine. Hamilton purchased the residence for
The deal is financed with a 10-year $585,000 in October 2016 from William
loan of $599,800 from BancorpSouth Rector Jr. and his wife, Sarah.
67
Bank of Tupelo, Mississippi.
The limited partnership bought the
167
0.26-acre property for $415,000 in June Bretagne Circle II
2010 from Keith Hardin. A 5,070-SF home in west Little Rock’s
Bretagne Circle neighborhood sold for
$900,000.
Beverage Buy Mark and Christina Hopkins acquired
A 5,000-SF warehouse in North Little the house from Mark and Tammie Davis.
Rock is under new ownership after a The deal is financed with a 30-year loan
$215,000 sale. of $548,250 from Encore Bank of Little
Thomo Enterprises LLC, led by Geoff Rock.

Lakeside Estates Sale Thompson, purchased the 3517 E. Broad-

way project from Commercial Beverage
Equipment Inc., led by Joyce Norrell.
The Davis family bought the resi-
dence for $795,000 in April 2019 from
Mark and Krista Storey.

Tops $3.6 Million Mark The deal is backed with a five-year

loan of $375,000 from Bank OZK of Little
Rock. Hillcrest Home II
A 26.05-acre mobile home park in Commercial Beverage acquired the A 3,146-SF home in the Hillcrest area
Jacksonville weighed in at $3.69 million. 0.34-acre development in November of Little Rock drew a $725,000 transac-
Jacksonville MHC Ltd. of Erlanger, 2012 from Mason Family LLC, led by Rog- tion.
Kentucky, purchased Lakeside Estates er Mason. Catherine Weiss purchased the house
Mobile Home Park at 2613 E. Coffelt Road from Phillip Johnson.
from JES Properties LLC, led by Paul The deal is backed with a 30-year loan
Spellmann. Forest Heights Place of $652,500 from First Horizon Bank of
The limited liability company ac- A 4,702-SF home in the Forest Heights Memphis.
quired the project for $1.2 million in Place neighborhood of Little Rock Johnson acquired the residence for
April 2007 from Bill and Peggy Oakley. weighed in at $1.24 million. $309,000 in September 2002 from the
J. Ford Properties LLC, led by Philip Federal National Mortgage Association.
Gray, bought the house from Andrew and
Envy Transaction Jennifer Faulkner. The deal is funded
Villages at Wellington
An 8,422-SF cocktail lounge in Little
Rock tipped the scales at $1.7 million. Real Deals with a five-year loan of $1.3 million from
First Security Bank of Searcy. A 4,838-SF home in the Villages at
T And M Real Estate Investments
LLC, led by Tracy and Marcella Johnson,
George Waldon The Faulkners purchased the proper-
ty for $185,000 in September 2002 from
Wellington neighborhood in west Little
Rock is under new ownership after a
bought the Envy night club at 7200 Col. [email protected] the Michael B. Crosby Sr. Revocable Trust. $675,000 deal.
Glenn Road. The seller is L&J Catering Faheemullah Beg and Zafirah Salman
Inc., led by J.D. Lipscomb. Office Transaction bought the house from HRPG Homes LLC,
The deal is financed with a five-year A 20,391-SF office building in Sher- Sologne Circle led by Hemachand Atluri.
loan of $2 million from Central Bank of wood changed hands in a $900,000 deal. A 6,369-SF home in west Little Rock’s The deal is funded with a 30-year
Little Rock. Hankins Family Investments LLC, led Sologne Circle neighborhood tipped the loan of $685,400 from Arvest Bank of
L&J Catering assembled the 4.27-acre by Stuart Hankins, purchased the 5604 scales at $1.1 million. Fayetteville.
property in deals with Hush Puppy Inc., Commerce Court project. Drew and Sydney Smith acquired the HRPG Homes purchased the loca-
led by Sheila Moredock, $210,000 in No- The seller is Commerce Office Park home from Anthony and Rosanne Pignio. tion for $36,250 in November 2016 from
vember 2000; Les By Jomp Investments LLC, led by Byron McKimmey. The deal is The deal is financed with a 30-year loan Winrock Enterprises Inc., led by Russ
Inc., led by Byron House, $10,000 in Sep- backed with a $300,000 mortgage held by of $548,200 from Simmons Bank of Pine McDonough Jr.
tember 2010; Charles and Nanette Billy Morden. Bluff.
Rhodes, $2,000 in May 2012; and Janet The 3.27-acre site was acquired in The Pignios bought the residence for
Adams, $48,000 in December 2014. January 1992 as part of a $500,000 deal $1 million in June 2017 from Brent and Prospect Terrace
with Twin City Bank of North Little Rock. Peri Walker. A 3,236-SF home in Little Rock’s
Prospect Terrace neighborhood rang up
Dollar Deal a $640,000 sale.
A 9,040-SF Dollar General in Little Lew Drive Purchase Bretagne Circle I Chris Maris Custom Homes & Re-
Rock rang up a $1.49 million sale. A 30,400-SF showroom-warehouse A 7,114-SF home in west Little Rock’s modeling LLC acquired the house from
Duncan Family Trust of Carmel Valley, project in southwest Little Rock sold Bretagne Circle neighborhood rang up the Laura Rasco Reeves Revocable Trust.
California, acquired the 14610 Arch for $875,000. Lew Drive Investment LLC a $1.08 million sale. The deal is financed with a one-year
Street Pike project from Argen Holdings of Lakewood, Colorado, bought the Mark and Tammie Davis purchased loan of $1.2 million from Central Bank.
(Arch) LLC, led by Leonard Boen. Arkansas Vacuums project at 9110 Lew the home from the Suzanne Lindsay The residence was bought for $380,000
The deal is backed with a 10-year loan Drive from Gary Heral. Bradshaw Revocable Trust. The deal is in November 2009 from the estate of
of $575,000 from First Oklahoma Bank in The deal is funded with a five-year backed with a 30-year loan of $846,000 Francis W. Tucker. n
Jenks. loan of $700,000 from First National from Ally Bank of Sandy, Utah.
The limited liability company bought Bank of Eastern Arkansas in Forrest The trust acquired the residence for
the 1.53-acre location for $265,000 in City. The 3.63-acre site was purchased $1 million in June 2016 from the Formi-
February 2014 from Koon Properties LLC, in September 1983 as part of a $100,000 cola Family Revocable Trust, led by Tom
led by Walter and Diane Koon. deal with the estate of Grace Richter. and Cindy Formicola.
16  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business

El Dorado, the Long View, arkansasbusiness.com

And Evolution at MUSA
One of the many things Andrew Clyde
has learned in business is to never say
never.
Daily Online News
“For one thing, I never thought I’d
find my way back to El Dorado and south With You On the Go
Arkansas,” said Clyde, president and
chief executive officer of Murphy USA.
The nationwide chain of gas stations
and convenience stores, which had $14
billion in 2019 revenue, is based in El
Dorado, Clyde’s hometown.
“It has become an incredible oppor-
tunity to lead a company that’s growing,
creating opportunities and having a real
impact here.” Energy Most Read Stories of the Week
Here are the most popular online stories for the week ending Aug. 5.
Clyde, who has an accounting degree
from Southern Methodist University
Kyle Massey All stories listed below are available for free this week at arkansasbusiness.com:
in Dallas and a master’s from Kellogg [email protected]
1. Hutchinson Calls Special Session on Mask Law
Graduate School of Management at
Legislature looks into giving public school boards the power to decide whether to require face masks.
Northwestern University outside of Like other employers, MUSA has had
Chicago, had certainly seen the world. He trouble filling jobs, and in May it offered 2. A Harps for the Food Island of England
spent two decades at Booz Allen Hamilton $500 bonuses at some stores for new Harps to take over space at 301 Pine Bluff Hwy. vacated by Kroger last month.
and Booz & Co. of New York, becoming hires who work through Sept. 10. Other 3. Bank of America Plaza Awaits Reimagination
vice president in its global energy practice. existing employees and new hires were Third-tallest building on Little Rock’s skyline remains an investment puzzle.
But home beckoned in 2013, in the offered an extra $2 an hour in wages.
form of Murphy Oil, which was spinning But jobs don’t go idle long at Murphy Vaccination Deadlines w All Tyson leadership by Sept. 24
off its Murphy USA retail division. USA’s home office on Peach Street. The for Tyson Employees
Clyde has led the company ever since, corporate pay is competitive or better, w All office employees by Oct. 1
and you might say it has worked out well. and Clyde called the area a pleasant and w All other team members by Nov. 1
MUSA’s stock price a week ago, $148.83, inexpensive place to live and work.
was near its highest mark ever. After specializing for years in gaso- w All new hires must be fully vaccinated
“Growing up here, I saw a lot of com- line kiosks with a few convenience items prior to their start date.
panies come and go,” Clyde said in a tele- built outside Walmart Supercenters,
w Union members will be subject to
phone interview last month. “Conagra Murphy USA changed course in 2015 the results of union bargaining on
had a regional headquarters here but after Walmart began building its own this issue.
moved it. Cooper Industries and some stations. Clyde’s company shifted to
other firms didn’t rebuild after a tornado building 1,400- and 2,800-SF standalone 4. Tyson Foods Requires All Workers to Be Vaccinated
struck the industrial park.” stores to diversify its merchandise mix. The move makes Tyson the largest U.S. food company to require vaccinations for its entire workforce.
Deltic and other timber companies in “The company grew up selling low- 5. Former Tyson Foods Employee Sentenced for Fraud
Union County were acquired by out-of- price gasoline, tobacco and beverages Former manager at Kansas plant sentenced to 27 months in prison for $416,000 fraud scheme.
state players simply “because they were in our small kiosks which cemented our
smaller companies in a world of consoli- low-price brand proposition with cus- Explore the Great Northwest
dation,” Clyde said. tomers. Those kiosks now represent less The Arkansas Business Northwest Arkansas report, sent twice a week,
But the area remains “blessed with a than half of our stores,” Clyde said. “The is where you’ll find the latest numbers on what’s happening in
lot of land, access to power and water, as bigger stores have an assortment of grab- Arkansas’ fastest growing region. Get the line on the 479 by
well as rail logistics, which is a huge stra- and-go food, roller grills, beer caves, etc.” registering for free at arkansasbusiness.com/nwanews.
tegic advantage for chemical companies In part to improve quick-service
tht continue to grow and expand around restaurant offerings, in February Murphy
existing facilities,” he said. USA closed on a $645 million acquisi-
The underground minerals of the tion of QuickChek Corp. of Whitehouse
Smackover geological formation deter- Station, New Jersey, which added nearly
mined the area’s past and perhaps fore- 160 convenience stores in the Northeast
shadow its future. The oil and gas boom to MUSA’s portfolio.
is long over, but there’s lithium in the “Being in the food business is differ-
underground waters, and Clyde is excit- ent than being in the convenience store
ed about it. Standard Lithium Ltd. of business,” Clyde explained. “It’s a differ-
Vancouver, Canada, and other compa- ent set of capabilities to be really good at
nies are mapping out an industry supply- food and beverage, the menus, the prod-
ing makers of lithium-ion batteries. uct assortment, the handling. And what
Murphy USA stayed in El Dorado last we recognized was it would take us a lot
year when its former parent company longer to build those capabilities and just Constant Updates on Social Media at:
moved to Houston. “That is a major hub become OK vs. buying the capabilities at
for the petroleum industry, and it made
sense for Murphy Oil to be there, how-
ever there is no similar concentration
scale at a level of quality well above the
convenience store industry.
“Rather than just buying a better con-
 /arkansasbusiness /arkansasbusiness @arkbusiness

of talent and resources for commodity venience store chain that did food and
retailers like Murphy USA,” Clyde said. beverage a little bit better, we bought a
Follow Our Editors on Twitter at:
Murphy USA had far surpassed Murphy [quick-service restaurant] in QuickChek Mitch Bettis Lance Turner Gwen Moritz Mark Friedman Sarah Campbell-Miller
Oil in local employees, with more than that just happens to have convenience Publisher Editor Contributing Editor Senior Editor Assistant Online Editor
600 compared to 82 at Murphy Oil when items in it; and they sell fuel in about half @mitchbettis @LT @gwenmoritz @markjfriedmanII @ArkNewsGirl
it moved last year. their stores.” n
 Arkansas Business August 9, 2021  17

Bodcaw Bank Transport Companies

Makes Move Hauling In Revenue
To East Texas Things are going well for the state’s
publicly traded transportation compa-
nies, and not just because the Interstate
Bodcaw Bank of Stamps is making an 40 bridge spanning the Mississippi River
interstate move to enter a new market. between Memphis and West Memphis
The $151 million-asset lender intends to finally reopened.
set up shop at 3625 Richmond Road in
Texarkana, Texas. Banking The second quarter of fiscal 2021 was
good for companies such as J.B. Hunt
“We’re excited about the new office
and are remodeling to make it our own,”
George Waldon Transport Services Inc. of Lowell. J.B.
Hunt reported income of $172.2 million
said Natalie Copeland, executive assis- [email protected] for the second quarter of fiscal 2021, a
tant at Bodcaw Bank. 41% increase from the previous year.
Three years ago, the 4,400-SF loca- weeks ago when JPMorgan Chase Bank of Two other state companies, ArcBest
tion was home to a branch of Magnolia’s
Farmers Bank & Trust, part of the 2014
Columbus, Ohio, opened its west Little
Rock branch at 12900 Chenal Parkway.
Corp. of Fort Smith and USA Truck Inc.
of Van Buren, both reported record rev- Transportation
acquisition of 1st Bank of Texarkana,
Texas. The office is Bodcaw’s second
The $3.6 trillion-asset lender’s Arkan-
sas move is part of a dual-state effort
enue. ArcBest said it generated $949 mil-
lion in revenue in the quarter, while USA
Marty Cook
branch effort. The bank opened its first overseen by Lee Mahan, executive direc- Truck reported $170 million. [email protected]
branch in Magnolia in 2019. tor of market expansion in Arkansas and USA Truck earned nearly $4.2 million
The branch activity at Bodcaw Bank Mississippi. in the quarter, a turnaround from the we see challenges in this area continuing
follows a change in leadership in 2018 The 16-year JPMorgan Chase veteran $931,000 it lost in the same quarter a year because of the importance of attracting
when Korey Keith was named president came to Little Rock via Tulsa, where ago. PAM Transport Inc. of Tontitown also and retaining our people.”
and CEO. he was executive director of Oklahoma reported a turnaround: It made $15.3 J.B. Hunt also made news recently
Three other Arkansas-based lenders banking operations. Mahan set up resi- million in the second quarter, up from a with the release of its 2020 Sustainability
are among a dozen banks that operate 20 dence in Little Rock while shuttling back loss of $823,000 a year ago. Report, the first time the company has
offices in the Texarkana market west of and forth to Jackson. “It was only one year ago that we were undertaken such a project. In November,
State Line Avenue. For now, the focus is on establishing scrambling to find replacement freight as J.B. Hunt named Craig Harper as chief
The $1.8-billion-asset Farmers Bank JPMorgan Chase in the capital city mar- many of our largest customers reacted to sustainability officer; he had been COO
& Trust holds a leading position with kets of both states. About 45 staffers will the pandemic by completely suspending before taking over the newly created role.
an 18.59% stake ($271.8 million) in the be deployed to operate the three Little their operations,” PAM CEO Joe Vitiritto Roberts called the company’s sus-
$1.9-billion deposit market. Rock branches and one North Little Rock said. “Now, just one year later and with tainability report the “next step on our
Bank OZK of Little Rock holds the office that JPMorgan Chase is develop- a redesigned network, we are pleased to sustainability journey.” The report high-
eighth largest share of deposits at 6.92% ing. report record revenue and record operat- lighted a J.B. Hunt projection that it had
($101 million), and Diamond Bank of The bank is in the early stages of ing income for the quarter.” reduced emissions by 3.5 million met-
Murfreesboro stands at No. 11, 0.78% working on a branch at the northeast J.B. Hunt reported a strong quar- ric tons by switching freight from truck
($11 million). corner of Chenal Parkway and Kirk Road. ter across all segments: Intermodal, transport to intermodal, and had saved
In 2004, the $26.6 billion-asset Bank Dedicated Contract Services, Integrated drivers from driving 4.3 million empty
OZK opened the first of its two Texar- Capacity Solutions, Final Mile Service and miles with better logistics through its 360
kana branches in Texas. The $733 mil- Encore Effort Truckload. CFO John Kuhlow said even platform.
lion-asset Diamond Bank started its Little Rock’s Encore Bank has its eyes during the good times labor shortages are Nick Hobbs, who replaced Harper as
branch there in 2017. on a branch deep in the heart of Texas taking their toll. COO, said during the July conference
at 711 Broadway in San Antonio. The In an April 15 conference call, CEO call that he was reviewing the company’s
intended location for the $908 mil- John Roberts called vendors and suppliers
JPMorgan Chase lion-asset lender is Suite 350 of The empty drivers seats to ensure they were
The largest bank in America official- Soto, a new six-story office building that “a meaningful part “aligned across our
ly entered the Arkansas market a few opened last year. of our mid-term and “[T]his reduction operational and sus-
The 140,000-SF structure was touted potentially long- tainability goals.”
as the biggest mass-timber project in term future.” Kuhlow was meaningfully Part of the
Bodcaw Bank, Texas during its construction. said during the sec- offset by increases Sustainability Report
Stamps The addition of Encore will double ond-quarter call that dealt with social
Total Assets: $151.2 million the presence of Arkansas banks in San J.B. Hunt had spent across all pay items issues, and the com-
Net Income: $908,000 Antonio’s $132.6 billion-deposit market, $10 million less in the pany said it had cre-
Staff: 32 where 42 banks are on the ground. quarter on COVID- for both drivers ated an employee
Two Full-Service Locations: Bank OZK entered town in March 19-related expens- and non-driver resource group called
Stamps and Magnolia 2014 with the purchase of Houston- es, mostly from the PLUS (+) for LGBTQ
(As of June 30) based Bancshares Inc. and its $301 mill- reduction in paid employees.” workers. The compa-
Total Net Efficiency ion-asset Omni Bank. San Antonio de- time off for employ- ny also has employ-
Assets Income Dividends Ratio posits for Bank OZK total about $20.6 ees. The company [JOHN KUHLOW, CFO, J.B. HUNT ee resource groups
2011 $76,597 $760 $500 63.43% million. had a policy last year TRANSPORT SERVICES INC.] for women, Latinos,
2012 $76,641 $769 $2,250 60.81% Regarding Texas aspirations, Encore to pay up to 80 hours African Americans
2013 $77,056 $923 $0 54.29% also has branches in the works for Aus- of leave for employees who were either and military veterans.
2014 $74,374 $1,015 $300 54.88% tin, scheduled to open this month; infected with COVID or in quarantine. J.B. Hunt promoted Jermaine Oldham
2015 $74,981 $707 $0 62.41% Dallas, slated to open in September; After vaccines became available, the to be the company’s vice president of
2016 $76,853 $587 $400 65.87% and Fort Worth, set to open in October. company paid employees eight hours so inclusion, and Chief Commercial Officer
2017 $72,004 $630 $600 65.21% During the past 12 months, the bank’s they could get vaccinated. Shelley Simpson oversees the company’s
2018 $94,933 $611 $25 58.80% staff has grown from 61 to 170. “[T]his reduction was meaningfully inclusion efforts.
2019 $117,302 $880 $10 54.54% Encore, known as Capital Bank until offset by increases across all pay items “Inclusion is a key part of everything
2020 $131,565 $1,461 $358 54.63% 2019, recorded a six-month profit of $1 for both drivers and non-driver employ- we do in our organization,” Simpson said
million as of June 30. That compares ees,” Kuhlow said in a July conference in the report. Simpson is also the J.B.
Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. All dollars in with net income of $1.2 million for the call. “The impact of the reopening on Hunt’s executive vice president of people
thousands except where noted. same reporting period last year. n salaries and wages is widespread, and and human resources. n
18  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business

At What Arkansas
Shots in
Price? Business the Dark
EDITORIAL Views W
hen the earliest of COVID-19
vaccines began to roll out in
December, one of the things

T
he shortage of nurses — and, real- we began talking about in our then-vir-
ly, every other category of health Arkansas Business’ Opinion Page tual newsroom was whether employers
care professional — has been a would make their employees get the shot.
near-constant topic in Arkansas Business
for more than 20 years. But COVID-19
headwind local hospitals are facing.
“We’ve literally had nurses who walk out
It seemed like inside baseball, even
for our business audience. Because who Editor’s Note
has transformed the chronic nursing
shortage into an acute condition — espe-
in the middle of a shift because they can’t
take it anymore,” Dr. Cam Patterson,
wouldn’t want to get vaccinated? We were
roughly 10 months into a pandemic that Lance Turner
cially in hospitals. chancellor of the University of Arkansas paralyzed the economy, forced millions [email protected]
And it’s not just a question of how for Medical Sciences, told the Arkansas of layoffs and brought the health care sys-
many nurses are being produced by the Democrat-Gazette. “... They have been tem to the brink. Anything we could do to includes hourly workers operating fac-
state’s training programs. The pandem- through the wringer.” bring this nightmare to a quick end would tories, distribution centers, restaurants
ic has been a game of whack-a-mole, This third wave is especially hard on be worth doing and doing quickly. or theme parks, you may face opposition
with nurses being enticed to areas of them, caring for victims of a viral infec- Certainly the overwhelming major- against mandates from unions. Tyson
greatest need by lucrative offers of short- tion that in most cases could have been ity of Arkansans would rush to get Foods and the Walt Disney Co. of Los
term employment. As Senior Editor Mark prevented with a simple, free vaccina- shots as soon as they were available. Angeles have faced this challenge.
Friedman reported last week, a subur- tion. “This is becoming less like employee Governments, perhaps in concert with You’ll also run the risk of exacerbat-
ban New York hospital was offering more burnout and more like acute stress lead- business, nonprofits and health groups, ing an already historic labor crunch.
than $6,000 a week for RNs to work in an ing to mental trauma,” Patterson said. would mount furious efforts to fill the Mandate-adverse employees in compet-
emergency room. So much of the recent discussion gaps. In only the most obscure situations itive industries might rather work some-
Baptist Health’s CFO, Brent Beaulieu, about labor shortages and wage inflation would employers have to cajole their where else, leaving you to replace work-
confirmed that his hospital group has have centered on industries decimated workers, much less require them to get ers in a seller’s market for talent. Your
lost nurses to the travel nurse agencies — by the pandemic, but the impact on the shots as terms of their employment. costs will go up.
and, as a result, ended up having to rely health care industry and its workforce And yet here we are in August with less There’s also the blowback. Mercy’s
on short-term contract nurses. Contract may be far greater. Highly skilled profes- than 40% of the state’s population fully mandate drew protests in Rogers and
labor, he said, is expected to cost $43 sionals have always been hard to come vaccinated and less than 50% partially at its hospital in Springfield, Missouri,
million more this year than in the good by; after a year and a half on the front vaccinated. And it’s only now, with hospi- where 50 people showed up one day
old days before COVID. lines, some may never want to come back talizations at a pandemic high and deaths to decry what they see as an infringe-
The pay differential isn’t the only at any price. n back on the rise, that we’ve seen Arkansas’ ment of personal liberties. In Rogers, a
vaccination pace begin to quicken. woman speaking to the local CBS affil-
So employers have stepped in. It start- iate described the mandate as “medical
ed in the places you’d expect — hospitals. Jim Crow.”
STAFF DIRECTORY On July 7, Mercy, with hospitals in Fort And there’s the challenge to your
Smith and Rogers, became the first in human resources department, which
Arkansas Business Assistant Editors Marty Cook, Kyle Massey BUSINESS SALES & MARKETING Arkansas to require all staff to be vacci- will bear the brunt of implementation.
Publisher Mitch Bettis Online Production Director Tre Baker Vice President of Business Sales nated. Others followed, supported by the As labor attorney Stuart Jackson wrote
Editor Lance Turner Assistant Online Editor Sarah Campbell-Miller Bonnie Jacoby
Arkansas Hospital Association, which for Arkansas Business in January, HR
Art Director Wayne DePriest Researcher Roxanne Jones Senior Account Executives
said hospital employee vaccinations managers must be prepared to listen
Rosemary Bruton, Myles McDougal
EDITORIAL
would “maintain the long-term ability of and respond to employee requests that
BUSINESS SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS Account Executives Hannah Camp,
Managing Editor Jan Cottingham Mitchell Crenshaw, Elizabeth Haman,
our health care system to respond to the involve health-related or religious rea-
Publisher Chris Bahn
Contributing Editor Gwen Moritz Alex Harper, Mason Magouyrk, pandemic and to safely care for patients.” sons not to take the vaccine and try to
Managing Editor Todd Traub
Senior Editors Mark Friedman, George Waldon Abby Nolan Then, as the fast-spreading delta vari- make reasonable accommodations. To
ant ran wild, employers outside health fail to do so risks violating the Americans
Soirée Publisher Mandy Richardson Events Manager Tiffany Mattzela care began implementing their own With Disabilities Act or the Civil Rights
Little Rock Soirée Editor Jess Ardrey Awards Events and Marketing Lead Kelli Roy measures. That phase began on July 30 Act — a potentially costly prospect.
Little Rock Soirée Sales Bethany Robinson, Betsy Smith Education Events Coordinator Maddie Schmidt right here in Arkansas with the coun- It’s no wonder a hard vaccination
Consumer Publications Publisher Rachel Pitre FLEX360 WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
try’s biggest employer, Walmart Inc. of mandate can seem to many business
Consumer Publications Editor Lindsay Irvin Executive Director of Custom Solutions John Tucker Bentonville. At the same time it reinstated owners, executives and managers as the
Consumer Publications Assistant Editor Beth Dedman Director of Software Development Jonathan Peoples the mask requirement for frontline work- “nuclear option.” The carrot — gift cards,
Senior Account Executive Brandy Hubener Web Developer Colton Williams ers, Walmart required that all corporate days off and other incentives —  seems
Account Executives Bliss Mosley, Alicia Sandage Project Manager Amanda Potter Cole employees and managers who travel the preferable to the stick.
Consumer Publications Assistant Corinne Paczewitz Website Client Account Manager Laurie Jetts U.S. must be vaccinated by Oct. 4. We were naive to think that the major-
Digital Account Executive Georgia Gazette But it was Tyson Foods Inc. of ity of Arkansans would happily embrace
Production Manager April Scott Digital Account Manager Elizabeth Steely
Senior Art Director Dean Wheeler
Springdale that took it a step further, the vaccine, or that our institutions
Digital Marketing Specialists Hannah Hegwood, Jessica Eubanks, mandating the vaccine for all its workers, —  health care, business, government,
Senior Designers Omar Alonso, Emma Devine Aly Smith, Libbie Swearingen
Advertising Coordinators Bethany Johnson, Madeline Martin Digital Marketing Coordinator Ashlyn Quesinberry
becoming the biggest U.S. food company nonprofits —  could quickly convert the
Digital Operations Specialist Rebekah Eveland Digital Marketing Sales Executive Lauren Sanders to date to impose the requirement. CEO holdouts. But should it be this hard?
Donnie King said that they’d tried just
Circulation Manager Dana Wade ADMINISTRATION about everything else to get shots in ***
Senior Circulation Coordinator Shannon Speed President Mitch Bettis
Advertising Assistant Brock Walker
arms, but that they needed to do more. I interviewed Jackson of Wright
Accounting Manager Natasha Norris
Customer Service Specialist Gillian Chastine
“We have spent months encouraging Lindsey Jennings of Little Rock in
Billing & Payables Specialist Amanda Martin
Human Resources Bill Page
our team members to get vaccinated — January on what employers should con-
Executive Assistant Kristen Heldenbrand
today, under half of our team members sider when weighing vaccine mandates.
are,” he said. You can watch that video at arkansas-
business.com/vaccine. n
***
ARKANSAS BUSINESS
PUBLISHING GROUP It’s no small thing for any employer to Lance Turner is editor of Arkansas
114 Scott St., Little Rock, AR 72201 | 501.372.1443 | Fax: 501.375.7933 | arkansasbusiness.com | abpg.com © Copyright 2021 • Five Legged Stool LLC take this on. Business. Contact him at lturner@abpg.
As a manager, if your workforce com or @LT on Twitter.
 VIEWS Arkansas Business August 9, 2021  19

More U.S. Manufacturing a Must Amid Global Crisis

A
s businesses rapidly encounter at minimum, stockpile them.  relying on longstanding relationships.
more unprecedented challeng- In the face of another pandemic, As the world faces the alarming con-
es, the ability to adapt imme- PPE can be weaponized, reserved sequences of climate change, more
diately will be the key to long-term for the producing nation’s citizens or deadly viruses and other unknown
survival. given out for strategic geopolitical pur- challenges, nations must cooperate to
In the face of the pandemic, our poses. China has become the glob- solve these problems; however, busi-
company pivoted from real estate al supplier of PPE. Chinese PPE and nesses may fare better working locally
development to providing high-quality medical equipment manufacturers get to combat the resulting marketplace
PPE, first in our home state of Arkansas significant subsidies and benefits from and supply-chain uncertainties. 
and then to businesses and individuals government mandates for purchasers Having witnessed the desperation
in 34 states. Several lessons emerged to buy Chinese goods. While being to obtain life-saving PPE by our clients
from the experience; one crucial les- dependent on any country for life-sav- who are medical providers and having
son is that the U.S. urgently needs to
increase domestic production of criti- Commentary ing equipment is a precarious position
to be in, given the state of U.S.-Chinese
personally experienced the difficulty
of getting PPE from China due to tense
cal goods.
Every time our new business faced Lisa Ferrell relations, it is downright dangerous.
The U.S. government must make
U.S.-China relations, it is clear that a
pure free-trade position with regard to
a challenge, we sought local solutions [email protected] the investment and market guaran- critical goods is not in the best interests
first. We used Arkansas suppliers, tees that will significantly increase of the United States. While combat-
retail outlets, custom designers, print- But sudden Chinese and U.S. gov- U.S. production and ensure its citizens ing the current pandemic, the Biden
ers, packagers and more. Our efforts ernment rule changes and tariffs have access to life-saving gear without administration and Congress should
employed 70 Arkansans in mask pro- between the two countries made having to navigate the international use the U.S. Innovation & Competition
duction and distribution. importing difficult. Limited air trans- tensions of the day. Act to ensure that we have the domes-
Ultimately we needed other suppli- port and long lead times for cargo ship Unfortunately, the pandemic still tic capacity to withstand the next glob-
ers as demand outstripped the abil- delivery exacerbated the problem. plagues the globe and our country, and al crisis without relying on the vagaries
ity of the local manufacturer to pro- Hospitals and first responders the need for PPE will continue. Our of geopolitical conflicts. n
vide masks. First, we looked without were largely unable to obtain even business will continue to supply PPE
success for U.S. suppliers as few U.S. more critical PPE, such as N95 masks to our customers. Starting a business Lisa Ferrell, CEO of North Bluffs
textile manufacturers still exist. Then and sterile gowns, due to worldwide amid trade tensions and heightened Development Corp. of Little Rock, is the
we turned to our network of existing demand, inadequate domestic supply global anxiety has called into question founder of Southern Cap Opportunity
Chinese construction industry suppli- and deliberate limits placed on exports my embrace of globalism, free trade Zone Fund LLC, a team of tax, legal and
ers who were able to meet our high by the Chinese government. The U.S. and high tech. fund professionals connecting investors
standards. The manufacturers them- absolutely must increase its manufac- Our company was able to succeed with eligible opportunity zone projects.
selves have proven to be good partners. turing capacity for critical supplies or, by turning to local partners first and Email her at [email protected].

Estate Tax Bills Pose Threat exemption level, making more farms
subject to the capital gains tax. The
and cattle ranch examples from a Texas
A&M study. You can read that analysis at

To Arkansas Family Farms

Sensible Taxation & Equity Promotion arkansasbusiness.com/farmstep.
Act would eliminate the stepped-up If the changes move forward, the
basis provision, while a measure called next generation of farmers can’t begin

I
f Congress approves legislation to the For the 99.5 Percent Act would lower to generate income to pay themselves
alter federal estate taxes, it will like- the exemption level by nearly 70%. until after the tax liability is paid. Can
ly mean the end of many Arkansas What does this mean for Arkansas you imagine a young Arkansas farmer
family farms. In fact, if the current bills farmers and ranchers? A lot, unfortu- or rancher choosing to continue a family
become law, it could mean many young nately, because so much value of the asset farming tradition if taking over means
Arkansas farmers and ranchers would base in farming is tied up in land, where going years without pay?
have to work three and half years or lon- appreciation causes a dramatic increase From an agriculture economics per-
ger without pay just to meet the new tax in tax liability without the change in spective, it’s safe to say the future of
burden. basis. Simply put, an increased tax liabil- Arkansas agriculture is at stake. n
Under current law, most farms aren’t ity will exceedingly make it more diffi-
subject to federal estate taxes. But pro- cult to make a living in agriculture. Jessica Richard holds a doctorate in
posals in Congress would significantly It may not be the intention to have agricultural economics from Oklahoma
lower the exemption threshold, poten- the agricultural community carry more State University and a master’s in agri-
tially affecting twice as many farms in
the state. Commentary than its fair share of the tax burden, but
the consequences are far reaching for the
cultural economics from the University
of Kentucky. She is director of commodi-
First, let’s provide some context for
how these tax laws apply. Jessica Richard state’s top industry.
The Arkansas agriculture community
ty activities and economics at Arkansas
Farm Bureau. Email her at jessica.rich-
Suppose a farmer’s son or daugh- [email protected] has an interest in explaining how we [email protected].
ter inherits the farmer’s land and other would be affected by these tax proposals
assets. The difference between what the years later, the tax liability is a function to avoid the impacts that would result
farmer paid for assets (or value at inher- of the new fair market value minus the from proposed changes. Arkansas Business welcomes Letters to
itance) and fair market value is, at the fair market value at inheritance — or Based on the latest U.S. Department the Editors. Letters must be signed and
time of transfer, called capital gains. “stepped up basis.” In short, the capi- of Agriculture Census of Agriculture writers must include their hometowns
Capital gains are taxed if they are held tal gains tax provisions can be avoided data, lowering the exemption level from and contact information so we can
more than a year, but these taxes can be at the time of inheritance as long as its current provision will effectively dou- confirm their identity. Letters are subject
avoided by changing the basis on which “stepped-up basis” is in place. ble the number of farms in Arkansas that to editing for clarity, length, spelling and
the assets are valued. In this scenario, In Arkansas, it takes about 3,400 will be subject to the capital gains tax. punctuation.
the current fair market value becomes acres of farmland to reach the current For more on the topic, Arkansas Farm Letters may be mailed to Editor Lance
the basis, which is a “step up” from the exemption level. This means, at the Bureau has developed an in-depth anal- Turner, Arkansas Business, 114 Scott St.,
original value or price paid for the asset. time of inheritance, any acreage above ysis of the two proposals and how each Little Rock, AR 72201; faxed to (501) 375-
Should the son or daughter get out that threshold would face the estate tax. could affect the Arkansas ag industry. 7933; or emailed to [email protected].
of the business and sell the assets five The current proposals would lower the The analysis includes Arkansas row crop
20  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business

Legal Notices All persons having claims against the estate must three (3) months from the date of the first publication All persons having claims against the Estate must
PROBATE NOTICE exhibit them, duly verified, to the undersigned within
PROBATE NOTICE of this Notice, or they shall be forever barred and
PROBATE NOTICE exhibit them, duly verified, to the
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, six (6) months from the date of the first publication IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY, precluded from any benefit in the Estate. Provided that IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF BENTON COUNTY, undersigned within six (6) months from the date
ARKANSAS of this notice, or they shall be forever barred and ARKANSAS claims for injury or death caused by the negligence of ARKANSAS of first publication of this Notice, or they shall be
PROBATE DIVISION - 4TH precluded from any benefit in the estate. FOURTEENTH DIVISION the Decedent shall be filed within six (6) months from PROBATE DIVISION forever barred and precluded from any benefit in the
the date of the first publication of the Notice, or they Estate. This Notice first published on the 9th day of
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CLARENCE This notice first published on the 2nd day of August, IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF shall be forever barred and precluded from any benefit RE: IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HARRY August, 2021.
McNEW RITTELMEYER, deceased 2021 in Arkansas Business,, P.O. Box 3686, Little WILLIAM EARL ELMS, Deceased in such estate. ARTHUR FEDDE, DECEASED 04PR-21-760
No. 35 PR-2021-355 Rock, AR 72203. No. 60PR-21-1203 JANICE KAY DUTTON, as
This Notice first published the 2nd day of August, NOTICE OF PROBATE Nominated Personal Representative
NOTICE MICHELLE PASHKEVICH, NOTICE 2021. LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: c/o Jacob T. Newcomb
Last known address of the decedent: PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Last known address of Decedent: 5010 Yvonne Street, 1113 Horseshoe Drive DAVIS, BUTT, TAYLOR & CLARK, PLC
4 Westridge Dr. Pine Bluff, AR 71603 By: Maxie G. Kizer, P.A. Little Rock, Arkansas 72210. Harvey Morrison, Jr. Pueblo, CO 81001 P. O. Box 1224
Date of death: June 21, 2021 Attorney at Law Date of Death: April 7, 2021 5012 Yvonne Street DATE OF DEATH: March 30, 2019 Fayetteville, AR 72702-1224
P.O. Box 7423 Little Rock, AR 72210 (479) 521-7600
An instrument dated August 17, 2017, was on the Pine Bluff, AR 71611 An instrument dated June 7, 2007, was on June 7, An instrument dated the 23rd day of March, 1978, THIS INSTRUMENT PREPARED BY:
15th day of July, 2021, admitted to probate as the 870-534-7004 2021, admitted to probate as the Last Will of the was, on the 24th day of April, 2019, Davis, Butt, Taylor & Clark, PLC
Last Will of the above named decedent, and the under- above-named Decedent and Harvey Morrison, Jr. has admitted to Probate without administration as the Last Attorneys at Law
signed has been appointed Personal Representative Wm. Kirby Mouser been appointed Executor thereunder. A contest of the Will and Testament of the above-named Decedent P. O. Box 1224
hereunder. A contest of the probate of the Will can Baim Law Firm probate of the Will can be effected by filing a petition and the undersigned is nominated as Personal Fayetteville, AR 72702-1224
be effected only by filing a petition within the time P.O. Box 5100 with the time provided by law. Representative thereunder. Contest of the probate of
provided by law. Pine Bluff, AR 71611 the Will can be effected only by filing a Petition within
870-534-2941 All persons having claims against the Estate must the time provided by law.
exhibit them, duly verified, to the undersigned within

For advertising information contact Bonnie Jacoby at (501) 455-9308 or [email protected]

2021

2021

2021

BEST
PLACES
TO WORK
IN ARKANSAS
2021
JOIN US FOR A HYBRID CELEBRATION
TO HONOR THE 2021 WINNERS!
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29, 11:30 A.M.-1 P.M.

For more information on ticket packages:

arkansasbusiness.com/tickets/bestplaces

PRESENTED BY ENTERTAINMENT SPONSORED BY IN PARTNERSHIP

SPONSOR

Keeping People Productive at home...at work...at life

 Arkansas Business August 9, 2021  21

Arkansas Super Mover

Business
Movers+Shakers
A closer look behind a prominent promotion
This Week: Timothy Langford, Chair of the Department of Urology at the University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences

New Position: Timothy Langford has

been appointed as the new chair of the
Submit news items to arkansasbusiness.com/movers Department of Urology at UAMS in Little
Rock. He is set to begin his new role Oct.
3. Langford will succeed Rodney Davis,
Education terms they have established. Choate has who is retiring after holding the post since
Jennifer Laudadio has been invested more than 25 years of legal experience, 2012. “The opportunity to lead a program
in the Aubrey J. Hough including practice in his own firm. in which I started my career and where I
Jr., M.D., Distinguished will teach and train the next generation
Chair in Pathology at of urologists is inspiring and invigorating,”
University of Arkansas Government Langford said.
for Medical Sciences in
Little Rock. Laudadio Background: Langford has 30 years
serves as professor and of experience in urology. He previously
chair of the Department worked at Arkansas Urology, where he was
Jennifer of Pathology in the UAMS president from 2011 to January 2021. He
Laudadio College of Medicine. She served Arkansas Urology for 28 years and
has been with UAMS since 2013. there completed general surgery internship, Timothy Langford has 30 years of experi-
Justin Hoadley has been hired as residency training in general surgery and his ence in urology. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
the director of special Shara Colleen urology residency, serving as chief resident.
events at the University Brazear Carr “Dr. Langford brings superb experience in Education: Langford received his bachelor’s
of Central Arkansas in Shara Brazear and Colleen Carr have urologic surgery and clinical leadership to degree in zoology from Arkansas State Uni-
Conway. Hoadley most been appointed to positions at the city UAMS,” said Dr. Susan S. Smyth, UAMS’ versity in Jonesboro. He graduated from the
previously served as of North Little Rock. Brazear has been executive vice chancellor and dean of the UAMS College of Medicine in 1988. He is also
director of event plan- appointed director of communications. College of Medicine. certified by the American Board of Urology. n
ning for Tanarah Luxe Carr has been appointed director of
Floral of Little Rock. He workforce development. Carr previously
Justin also worked at Events served as director of economic develop- after serving as interim performed the roles of
Hoadley Rental & Floral in ment for the city of Sherwood. director. He is respon- director of operations,
Conway for eight years. Jay Ellington has been hired as city sible for clinical over- vice president and gen-
manager for the city of sight and training of eral manager. In his
Texarkana, Arkansas. the clinic nursing staff new role, Kirksey over-
Environmental He previously served throughout 55 clin- sees daily operations
Jacob Bird has been promoted to vice as the administrative/ ic locations. He has 20 and works directly with
president of logistics general service director John years of nursing expe- Ben President and CEO
at CTEH of North Little for Ruston, Louisiana, Hutchison rience and has served Kirksey David Roth in the strate-
Rock. Bird has been and assistant city man- various roles at Washington Regional. gic leadership of the organization, which
with CTEH since 2011 ager in Corpus Christie, Julie Turner, an advanced practice guides early-career professionals in inte-
and has served as an Jay Texas. registered nurse, has grating Christian faith and work life.
environmental scien- Ellington Brian Bowen has joined Baptist Health Joshua Ayres has
tist, operations man- been appointed chief of staff to Arkansas Breast Center ’s Health joined the board of
ager and director of Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and High Risk Breast & directors of the
Jacob logistics and operations Kerry Jucas Moody has been appointed Hereditary Cancer Arkansas Chapter of the
Bird support. deputy chief of staff. Bowen will succeed Clinic in Little Rock. Alzheimer’s Association.
Cory Cox as chief of staff in mid-August Turner received her Ayres, a strategic busi-
as Cox transitions to a new job with doctorate of nurs- ness consultant, is vice
Energy & Utilities CareSource. Julie ing practice at the president of client suc-
Jim Clark has been Turner University of Tennessee Joshua cess at First Orion of
promoted to assistant Health Science Center in Memphis. Ayres North Little Rock.
director of human Health Care
resources at Conway Dr. Shrikant Tamhane has joined
Corp. He previous- Baptist Health Specialty Legal Real Estate
ly served as human Clinic of North Little David Mitchell Jr. has been appointed as Beth Langley of Title Guaranty Co. in El
resources specialist. Rock as an endocri- litigation section head at Dorado has been named president of the
Clark has been with nologist. Tamhane Rose Law Firm in Little Arkansas Land Title Association board of
Jim Conway Corp. since received his doctor- Rock. Mitchell has suc- directors. Other ARLTA members recog-
Clark July 2019. ate from B.J. Medical ceeded B.J. Walker, who nized at the association’s recent conven-
College in Pune, India. has stepped down after tion were: Billy Roehrenbeck, owner of
He completed his resi- serving this role for nine Pulaski County Title in Little Rock, who
Financial Services Shrikant dency in internal med- years. Mitchell was also was named 2021 Arkansas Title Person
Lile Choate has Tamhane icine at Medstar Good named to Benchmark of the Year; Bryan Gibson, of Waco Title
joined Bank OZK of Samaritan Hospital, affiliated with David Litigation’s 2021 40 & in Springdale, who was named Arkansas
Little Rock as senior Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore. Mitchell Jr. Under Hot List. Young Title Person of the Year; Dale
vice president and per- Tamhane also completed fellowship Spence of Pulaski County Title of Little
sonal trust officer. In training in endocrinology, diabetes, Rock and Eva Lou Crawford of Kings River
this role, he will work metabolism and nutrition at the Mayo Nonprofits Title of Berryville, who received the 50
with individuals and Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Ben Kirksey has been promoted to Year Award; and Wade Williams of Kings
families to ensure their John Hutchison has been appointed chief operations officer at Workmatters River Title in Fayetteville and Debra Lynn
Lile estate plans are admin- as director of nursing for system clinics of Fayetteville. Kirksey has been with Crow of Kings River Title in Berryville,
Choate istered according to the at Washington Regional of Fayetteville the organization since 2013 and has who received the 25 Year Award. n
22  August 9, 2021 Arkansas Business

Arkansas This Week: Andrew Faulkner

Owner and CEO of Staley Technologies of Little Rock
Business
Exec Q&A
To submit questions or interview suggestions, email [email protected]
Do you see promising opportu-
nities for manufacturers in new
technology? What is making
things better? With the speed of
adaptations in technology, the cost
Bio
Background: Before buying Staley
Technologies in 2018 and acquiring POSitive
Solutions Group and merging it into the
has come down as well. This is good company this year, Faulkner owned
news to manufacturers, particularly if and operated Advanced POS Solu-
Andrew Faulkner acquired POSitive Solutions Group of Williamston, they previously explored something tions, one of the fastest-growing
Michigan, in January. like a cloud-based software and were value-added resellers for NCR Corp.
intimidated by that bottom-line of Atlanta. Faulkner later merged
What challenges are man- hardware and software to come to- number. Additionally, network safety APS with Staley, and today the
ufacturers facing? The pan- gether as a viable, effective solution. has increased because of this cloud- company, which offers an extend-
demic has not been all too kind to And, consistent with many other based software. We are able to keep ed suite of commercial technology
manufacturers. The most obvious industries, manufacturing has strug- most of these integrations off their products and services, has more
and acute challenge is the ongoing gled to hire and onboard staff. network and provide transparent, than 200 employees around the
supply-chain issue. The global supply and quick returns on investment. country.
shock that began at the beginning of COVID prompted many sectors Data reporting and results are Education: Faulkner has a bach-
the pandemic “exposed vulnerabili- to rethink their operations. real-time, which offers insights on elor’s degree from the University of
ties in the production strategies and How is manufacturing chang- how to improve, identifies issues and Arkansas at Fayetteville and a law
supply chains of firms just about ev- ing in response? Manufacturing creates opportunities. degree from the University of Arkan-
erywhere,” according to the Harvard is expecting more from its business, sas at Little Rock’s William H. Bowen
Business Review. This eliminated the from efficiencies behind the line to its What were the most important School of Law. n
dependence on more unpredictable technology. Cloud-based solutions lessons you learned from the
sources and essentially sped up are now a vital, integrated part of pandemic? Trust your team. With [PHOTO BY JASON BURT]
the industry’s move to automation. daily operations, using fiber, Wi-Fi, everyone working remotely, I had to
That move to automation was and Internet of Things, kiosks, digital trust that all 250 Staley employees What are the most exciting With that in place, we can all expect
is heavily reliant on technology signage and software to be better were doing what they were sup- things you see coming for man- to see more and more digital signage,
solutions, and I’ve seen it firsthand. day-to-day. Not only does this reduce posed to be doing. That was critical! ufacturing? Several trends to look kiosks and automation in general.
It’s not always easy, but, now more bulk, it also offers opportunities Personally I have been convinced out for are most intensely focused The ongoing nature of the pandemic
than ever, it’s necessary and requires for synchronized operations that through this process that we can in the cloud-based technology has some impact here, but overall, I
moving past the technology itself communicate automatically, rather not only survive, but thrive with a category. Wi-Fi, artificial intelligence, would say it escalated the growth of
and into true solutions that require than manually. teleworking format. and IoT are key pieces to that future. an already innovating industry. n

Take heart—we’re
here for you.
The COVID-19 outbreak is an evolving
crisis, and we want to keep you up to
speed on the latest tax and accounting
updates as we evaluate ways to
mitigate the inevitable economic
effects. Visit our COVID-19 Resource
Center at bkd.com/covid-19 for
relevant news, changing guidelines
and new regulations.

Everyone needs a trusted advisor.

Who’s yours?

501.372.1040 • @BKDLLP
 Arkansas Business HUNTER

EXECUTIVE
YURACHEK
Vice Chancellor
and Director of Athletics,
University of Arkansas

LEADERSHIP
“Build your Foundation:
Leading from Core Values”

A C A D E M Y
MEGAN CROZIER
Executive Vice President and
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS Chief Merchant, Sam’s Club
FALL 2021 “Build your Culture: Leading
an Empowered Workforce”

This exclusive
five-session program
for advancing professionals,
executives and
GREG WILLIAMS
small business owners Current Chief Executive Officer
includes insights and Chairman, and
JAKE NABHOLZ
from proven leaders. Incoming Chief
Executive Officer
Nabholz Construction
AUGUST 20-OCTOBER 15 “Build your Pipeline:
Leading through
21C MUSEUM HOTEL BENTONVILLE Organizational Change”

APPLY TODAY AT
HEATHER
ARKANSASBUSINESS.COM/ NELSON
LEADERSHIP Co-Founder
and President,
DEADLINE: AUGUST 13 Seal Solar
“Build your
Endurance: Leading
through
Conflict/Crisis”

DR. MARTA LLOYD

CEO, Winthrop
Rockefeller Institute
“Build your Future:
Leading an Engaged
Workforce “
 ®

The Arkansas I.T. company

that helps your company
leverage I.T.
TeleComp provides solutions for secure phone, internet
and other vital technologies to help your company fly.

We’re your full-service I.T. resource providing

Business Phone highly customizable solutions for organizations
Systems of all sizes.

Founded in 2003, we’ve expanded to become

one of the fastest-growing I.T. providers in the
United States. But no matter how big we get,
Managed Services we maintain a scrappy, start-up mindset and
& WiFi focus on family and community.

We were Made in Arkansas

and we love serving every
organization that makes
Fiber Internet & Arkansas great.
SD-WAN

Contact us and let us help you take off.

www.TeleComp.com | [email protected] | Toll f ree (888) 831-9400