Arkansas Money & Politics November 2020

We’re invested in Arkansas.

For more than a century, Garver has been helping the Natural State grow with the most advanced highway designs.

Because we’ve learned that when we invest in necessary infrastructure, business development follows, and that makes Arkansas a better place to live. We’re proud to help Arkansas grow, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

For more information, contact: Jerry Holder, PE, Director of Transportation JDHolder@GarverUSA.com | 501.376.3633 GarverUSA.com

ENSURING ACCURATE AND EFFICIENT POWER FOR EACH AND EVERY MEMBER. Robin tests and checks meters that power the homes, farms and businesses in central Arkansas. She’s another reason our 17 strong distribution partners are committed to providing reliable, dependable power for our futures.

Robin Harris METER TECHNICIAN FIRST ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

1 Cooperative Way • Little Rock, AR 72209 • (501) 570-2200 • www.ecark.org

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

4

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

5

N OVE M B E R 2020

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

6

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

7

N OVE M B E R 2020

A

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

8

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

A

A

A AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

9

N OVE M B E R 2020

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

12

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

13

N OVE M B E R 2020

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

14

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

15

N OVE M B E R 2020

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

16

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

17

N OVE M B E R 2020

A BOLD BOLD, NEW

ARTS EXPERIENCE COMING TO LITTLE ROCK IN 2022

The new Arkansas Arts Center will transform the visual and performing arts experience.

Visit reimagining.arkansasartscenter.org to follow our progress.

Daytime view from Crescent Drive of the Arkansas Arts Center’s new north entrance, featuring the 1937 Museum of Fine Arts Façade and, above, a gathering space with views of downtown Little Rock. Image courtesy of Studio Gang and SCAPE.

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

22

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

23

N OVE M B E R 2020

A

FEARLESS IS

TAKING OUR JOB SERIOUSLY. SERVING OUR CUSTOMERS ENTHUSIASTICALLY. PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH FERVENTLY. GIVING BACK GENEROUSLY. BEING GRATEFUL GENUINELY. THANK YOU! For trusting us for more than 70 years to bring you, your loved ones, your company, your community peace of mind.

MPI 9497.1 111/20

We’re hiring an

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AY Media Group is growing and we are looking for an energetic, highly motivated, media-savvy, goal-oriented Account Executive candidate for who is interested in helping local companies grow and succeed.

Required Experience: Must have outside sales experience, media sales a plus. You will maintain existing accounts but should also be comfortable prospecting new businesses both over the phone and in person.

Must be entrepreneurial in spirit and enjoy building relationships and meeting new people. Successful candidates will have strong verbal and written communication skills.

ABOUT

YOU

To apply, or for more information email resume to hbaker@armoneyandpolitics.com.

MEDIA GROUP

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

30

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

31

N OVE M B E R 2020

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

32

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

33

N OVE M B E R 2020

INTEGRITY EXPERIENCE QUALITY DEPENDABILITY

When you see our sign, you know.

ThankGodItsFootballSeason-3-4.875x8-Final.pdf

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

1

9/29/20

2:07 PM

CRCRAWFORD.COM | 479-251-1161

34

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

35

N OVE M B E R 2020

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

38

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

N OVE M B E R 2020

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

40

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

42

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

Les Eaves

Rob Guthrie

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

43

A

N OVE M B E R 2020

UNCERTAIN TIMES. STEADY GUIDANCE.

A MESSAGE TO THE CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY

The impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry is real. You may be facing project shutdowns, supply chain disruptions, contract David Jones

language questions, insurance coverage issues, lien claims, and essential vs. non-essential construction decisions, not to mention worrying about the health and safety of your workers.

We’ve been helping Arkansas build and grow for 120 years and our construction law team is here for you now. Visit www.WLJ.com for legal resources for this ongoing situation.

EST.

Rogers

Patrick Wilson

1900

Little Rock

wlj.com

Steve Lancaster

Straight from the definition, Nexus strives to be a meeting place - a point of connection, meaning, and creativity for our beloved city.

The core of our being is community, whether you’re a local, a vagabond, or you’re here for a limited moment, we want that moment to be remembered here.

Congratulations Emily Krablin on being named one of the top CPAs in Arkansas.

For expert accounting, tax, and CFO Consulting services, visit Emily at Todd CPAs.

301 President Clinton Avenue, Suite B, Little Rock 501.295.7515 nexuscoffeear nexuscoffeear.com

Little Rock 501-224-0610

ToddCPAs.com

Stuttgart 870-673-8516

Thank You, Arkansas Centennial Mortgage is proud to serve our home state and grateful for you selecting us as one of AMP’s Top Three Mortgage Companies in Arkansas. As a relationship-focused bank, our focus is providing peace of mind for our account holders and enriching the communities in which we serve.

Thank you for trusting us and choosing us as one of the best in the state.

MORTGAGE

My100Bank.com

/ HomeBancShares Company (NASDAQ: HOMB) / NMLS #466091

INNOVATIVE SYSTEMS, INC. pride ourselves on pinpointing IT issues and preventing problems before they occur by using a strategic plan to build and manage your technology. Our top priority is your business and making sure you adopt the right technology and in the right way.

710 JONES STREET

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

MEASURABLE CLEANING At JAN-PRO, we mean clean.

Jan-Pro.com/Arkansas Central Arkansas: 501-907-9315

Northwest Arkansas: 479-318-7760

ISI.CC

5 01- 2 1 7- 8 4 8 4

Thank you for choosing

as one of the BEST Woman-Owned Businesses in Arkansas.

QUALITY FULL-COLOR PRINTING l DIRECT MAIL l LIST SOURCING & MANAGEMENT PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS l FLEET GRAPHICS & WRAPS l SIGNS & BANNERS WAYFINDING SIGNS

l

EXPERIENTIAL GRAPHIC DESIGN

l

ONLINE ORDERING

AllegraLittleRock.com l Image360LittleRock.com

Our doctors listen with their

earts H Stethoscopes and

Quality Care Rooted in Arkansas

Dr. Jarvis

Medical Director of Adult Psychiatry

Dr. Schay

Dr. Powell

Medical Director Of Substance Use Disorders & Patriot Support Program

Staff Psychiatrist, Adult Psychiatry

Dr. Palmer

Medical Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient and Residential Treatment

21 Bridgeway Road — North Little Rock, AR 72113 | 1-800-245-0011 | TheBridgeWay.com

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

48

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

51

N OVE M B E R 2020

, SOLD IT , SOLD IT !

SOLD IT

Over $30,000,000 in Assets sold and Closed in 2020!

AUCTIONEERS DO A LOT OF TALKING, BUT AT WILSON AUCTIONEERS, OUR PROPERTIES AND RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. 929 AIRPORT ROAD | HOT SPRINGS | 501-624-1825 | WILSONAUCTIONEERS.COM

We go the (social) distance to find your space.

W

e have safely and successfully completed transactions all over Arkansas, getting deals done throughout 2020. Projects include

retail leases of all sizes. Major investment transactions. Office buildings and warehouses. You name it, we’re doing it. Our group is ready for the next one – and we hope it’s with you.

501.663.5400 | HathawayGroup.com | 2100 Riverdale Road, Suite 100 Little Rock, AR 72202 Commercial Real Estate

HONORED to serve Arkansas the past 25 years.

MOTIVATED to serve Arkansas the next 25 years.

ECCI is dedicated to continuing the expansion of Arkansas’ industry through compliance, sustainability, and creating innovative and efficient engineering solutions for our partners and their growing business.

501-975-8100 | www.ecci.com

“The luuy yo deseve” ELITE LIMO, LLC SPECIALIZES IN: • Weddings • Birthday celebrations • Bachelor/bachelorette parties • Ladies night out • Ladies day shopping • Holiday parties • Christmas light rides & more!

Call 501.514.8060 or email elitelimollc@yahoo.com. Find us on Facebook at Elite Limo LLC.

Zac, our founder, began his security career in 2009 as an alarm apprentice for a local security company. It was there that he learned the basics of the industry. His desire to learn and do more led him to another alarm company in 2012, where he would have the opportunity to work as an alarm technician. During his time as an alarm technician Zac acquired skills that would separate him from others in the field of access control, cameras, home automation, security systems, VoIP phone systems, remote camera deployments and wireless access points. He worked hard as an alarm technician learning the ins and outs of project installations, and customer service for the next four years.

In 2016 he was promoted to a project manager and oversaw projects of various sizes, helping run crews to complete projects on time and under budget. Again, Zac felt like he could do more so in 2017 he left and went to work for a national company where he would learn project management on a whole new level. During his time he managed multiple jobs for companies like Kroger, Amazon, Walmart distribution centers and fulfillment centers across the United States. He helped manage crews of 10+ in various states from the west coast to the east coast and everything in between. His main focus was learning how to do project estimating and how to complete project proposals.

In 2016, Zac found himself completing more and more projects for family and friends. With the encouragement of his wife, he founded Diamond State Technologies. In 2019, he quit his corporate job to devote his full attention to the growth of his business. In his 10+ years of experience in the alarm and security industry, Zac saw the good, the bad, and the ugly. He knew that with proper knowledge of design, installation and training practices, Diamond State Technologies would stand out as the #1 leading security provider in Arkansas. Remembering this, Zac passionately invested all his industry knowledge into Diamond State Technologies to be different, to be better, and to stand out as a company that truly cares about its customers and employees.

CONTACT US We love to chat about security, give us a call or shoot us a text if that’s your thing.

479.225.6559

WWW.UACCM.EDU

THANK YOU Our commitment throughout almost six decades of educating and training students to strengthen Arkansas’s workforce:

Readers of AMP for Voting UACCM

Best Arkansas Two-Year College

Offering relevant, high-wage career and technical programs that provide essential workers in business, health, education, and manufacturing

UACCM celebrates a proud past as we anticipate a future full of hope and continued progress.

Expanding academic course offerings, including specialized 2+2 plans with state universities that allow a smooth transfer into a bachelor’s degree

UACCM provides:

Increasing access to affordable, high-quality programs taught by a caring, supportive faculty

 Tuition rate that provides an excellent value

Maintaining and increasing state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and facilities Offering a robust concurrent student program that results in high school students completing collegiate certificates and associate degrees in conjunction with their high school diploma

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

59

 High degree of personalized attention

 Scholarship and financial aid packages that result in no student debt  A strong workforce for the state of Arkansas  A Journey with Meaning

N OVE M B E R 2020

DELIVER THE BEST TO THE BEST CONGRATULATIONS GENERAL DYNAMICS-OTS & OUACHITA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ON YOUR GROUNDBREAKING SOLAR + STORAGE PROJECT

SOLAR POWER

BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE

CONTACT US FOR A FREE ESTIMATE & ENERGY ANALYSIS

For more information, visit todayspower.com DEVELOPING SOLAR PROJECTS FOR THE UTILITY SCALE | COMMERCIAL | MUNICIPAL | AGRICULTURAL | EDUCATION INDUSTRIES

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

60

Get the latest on Arkansas health care, business, politics and startups sent straight to you.

Sign up for our e-newsletter.

Visit arkansasmoneyandpolitics.com and click the SUBSCRIBE tab.

GET THE POWER TO

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

63

N OVE M B E R 2020

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

64

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

“And then, we’re building fiber optics. That is another labor-intensive process; there’s no shortcut to putting fiber in the ditch or streaming it from a telephone pole. That just simply takes time.”

All of this activity, plus providing just under 1,000 in-state jobs and generating $5 billion in annual revenues, should make Windstream one of the more high-profile companies on the Arkansas business landscape. But outside of its client base, such is not the case. Thomas said this is in part due to the targeted strategy by which the company markets itself.

“If you’re in one of the communities we serve, you’ll see our trucks, you’ll see our people, and you’ll see our ads. We advertise aggressively in our residential business,” he said.

“But when it comes to marketing and advertising to B-to-B, mid-sized enterprise customers, you’re not going to succeed there through mass marketing. That’s not an efficient way to gain market share.

“The way to gain market share is through targeted digital campaigns. We invest a lot in next-generation marketing capabilities, making sure we reach the customers and prospects where we think we’re best positioned to succeed. We’re targeting the chief information officers, the VP’s of infrastructure or network.

That’s who we interact with, and I’ll tell you, those people do know Windstream.”

In fact, if the average Arkansan has heard anything of Windstream over the last 36 months, it’s likely had more to do with court filings than streaming speeds. In 2017, the company was sued by New York hedge fund Aurelius Capital Management LP, which claimed Windstream had defaulted on certain bond agreements, an eye-glazingly complicated dispute that came to a head in February 2019. In that decision, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman found in favor of the plaintiff, ordering Windstream to pay $310.5 million plus interest from and after July 23, 2018.

The judgment drove Windstream into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, where it spent more than a year restructuring, a central element of which was negotiating a settlement with fellow Little Rock company Uniti Group over a

ARM O N E YA ND P O L I T I C S .COM

65

squabble concerning access to Uniti’s network assets. Once achieved and having slashed its debt, Windstream emerged from Chapter 11 this fall stronger and better positioned for growth, Thomas said, despite misconceptions to the contrary.

“Folks hear the words ‘restructuring’ and ‘lawsuit,’ and they don’t think businesses can move forward,” he said. “In fact, that 18-month restructuring was a great outcome for our customers. Our debt is significantly reduced. We just launched a nearly $2 billion capital-investment program. We never took our eye off the ball. Our team stayed absolutely focused on our customers and investing for the future.

“Before the restructuring, Windstream was on this path of investing in network infrastructure and building next-generation software capabilities. I think it’s a compliment to our board and to our employees that we stayed focused on that mission. We grew our SD-WAN UCaaS business by over $100 million during the restructuring. Our residential broadband business is now in the process of setting record growth numbers.”

Still, living and working under the cloud of litigation and bankruptcy was not an easy thing to manage. Predictably, Windstream’s stock price tumbled, and while Thomas said there was never a feeling among upper management of an existential threat, the experience drew out new dimensions of leadership both individually and collectively, especially with the dawn of COVID-19.

“My belief — the belief of the team, overall — was that we will get through this, and we will come out in a better position,” he said.

“Now, we all knew the process of going through the restructuring itself and the litigation would be a difficult process and a lengthy one. But we knew if we stayed focused that we would get a good end result at the end of restructuring.

That’s what was accomplished. I think it was really just about having some perseverance and staying focused on your goal.

“Personally, I learned you have to be vulnerable as a leader. You have to tell people what you’re thinking and why you’re thinking it, even emotionally. It’s OK to communicate that

N OVE M B E R 2020

COMMUNICATIONS

was a gut punch how the litigation came down. But, at the same time, point people towards the mission vision that we have and point out the successes along the way. Over those 18 months, the team just kept having these small wins and some big wins along the way. Frankly, it was really motivating to the rest of the organization as we communicated those success stories.

“Say what you will, everyone likes winning. When you start winning in the marketplace like we have, even during the restructuring period, that’s motivational.”

“WINDSTREAM’S Through COVID-19, litigaSIZE IS A STRATEGIC tion and restructuring, Thomas insists that the company has ADVANTAGE. WE emerged with abundant growth AREN’T THE SIZE OF opportunities, and what’s more, is better positioned to take adAN AT&T OR A VERIZON vantage of those opportunities OR ANY OF THOSE than at any time in its history.

“Windstream’s size is a strateCOMPANIES THAT gic advantage. We aren’t the size ARKANSANS ARE of an AT&T or a Verizon or any of those companies that ArkanFAMILIAR WITH..." sans are familiar with, but we’re much larger than a small competitor that might not be able to make the same investments,” he said.

“Windstream invested over a billion dollars this year in building network and software capabilities. We have scale, but we also have the agility that comes from being smaller.

Decisions get made quickly. We focus exclusively on our customers. We know what segments we want to win.

“We do see the opportunity. Windstream is going to have its most successful residential broadband year in 2020. Over 60,000 residential broadband customers will join Windstream this year, which will be our largest growth ever, in the history of the company. At the same time, COVID has highlighted that there still is a digital divide where rural America still needs more investment to match and have parity with urban America. We believe Windstream can be part of that solution.”

N OV E M B E R 2 02 0

66

ARM ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

67

N OVE M B E R 2020

IT Support You Can Trust Stress-Free IT Support that takes care of your Computers and Phones

N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

68

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

69

N OVE M B E R 2020

GRAND CHAMPION

WE’RE PROUD TO BRING INNOVATIVE DESIGNS TO LIFE IN ARKANSAS

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THIS YEAR’S WINNERS N OVEM B ER 2 02 0

80

A R M ON E YA N D P OL ITIC S.COM

2020 | ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS

13 AIA 2020 DESIGN AWARDS

PROJECT: NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE WASHINGTON COUNTY CENTER

PROJECT: PARSON HILLS ELEMENTARY STUDENT-BASED HEALTH CENTER

FIRM: HIGHT JACKSON ASSOCIATES

FIRM: CORE ARCHITECTS

CONTRACTOR: MILESTONE CONSTRUCTION

CONTRACTOR: NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION

LOCATION: SPRINGDALE, AR

LOCATION: SPRINGDALE, AR

PROJECT: SAFE FOODS CORPORATION GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS

PROJECT: SUE WALK BURNETT JOURNALISM AND STUDENT MEDIA CENTER

FIRM: LEWIS ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS

FIRM: MAHG ARCHITECTURE

CONTRACTOR: NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION

CONTRACTOR: CDI CONTRACTORS

LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR

LOCATION: FAYETTVILLE, AR

PROJECT: TANGLEWOOD CABIN

PROJECT: TFR RESIDENCE

FIRM: MARLON BLACKWELL ARCHITECTS

FIRM: BRADLEY EDWARDS ARCHITECT

CONTRACTOR: INSITE CONSTRUCTION

CONTRACTOR: REFORM CONTRACTING

LOCATION: WAR EAGLE, AR

LOCATION: SPRINGDALE, AR

Brighter future. Cleaner power.

Entergy Arkansas is investing today to power a brighter future for our customers. Clean, reliable energy is not only vital to the safety and comfort of every Arkansan, it fuels industry and our economy.

Together, we power life.

BUILDING CLEAN POWER GENERATION Entergy is the largest solar power provider in Arkansas with more than 3,500 acres of solar arrays currently operating or under development. Together, our facilities will provide enough clean power to energize more than 61,000 homes.

MODERNIZING THE GRID We are improving reliability and customer service by upgrading our critical infrastructure and installing new advanced meters, giving customers more confidence and control at their fingertips.

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES We have been serving Arkansans for more than a century, with nearly 2,800 employees and over 700,000 customers. We’re honored to have been named the 2020 “Best Company in the State” by Forbes.com, and a Top Economic Development Utility by Site Selection magazine.

Learn more at entergyarkansas.com/brightfuture.

A message from Entergy Arkansas, LLC ©2020 Entergy Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

A Growing Health System for a Growing Community

Expanded Access

Innovative Services

More Specialists

Tom Roberts, MD, Orthopedic Specialist Tom Roberts, MD is a highly skilled orthopedic surgeon, dedicated to delivering orthopedic excellence through high-quality, compassionate care. Equipped with advanced technology and years of experience, he offers a wide array of bone and joint disease evaluation, treatment, and surgeries.

Schedule your visit at ConwayRegional.org/Appointments.

We’re not just growing—we’re growing together.

New Medical Offices