Chamber Voice | September 2025

C H A M B E R VO I C E

September 2025

Supporting School Systems A look at the Thank-a-Teacher Celebration honoring Rogers Public Schools teachers and staff at Rogers High School. pg. 10

CONTENTS

LOCAL RESTAURANT EXPANDS

4

Me r m a i d s S e a fo o d Re sta u ra nt & Ca te r i n g i s o p e n i n g i t s d o o r s i n Ro g e r s

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

6

Lo ca l b u s i n e s s m e m b e r s a t te n d e d a Fe d e ra l Le g i s l a t i ve Ro u n d ta b l e fe a t u r i n g S e n a to r Jo h n Bo oz m a n a n d Co n g re s s m a n Steve Wo m a c k

GLOBAL HOTEL PLANTS ROOTS IN ROGERS

8

Tr u by H i l to n j o i n s C h a m b e r to e n g a g e l o ca l s a n d a t t ra c t yo u n g t ra ve l e r s

SUPPORTING SCHOOL SYSTEMS

10

T h a n k- a -Te a c h e r Ce l e b ra t i o n , p re se nte d by Sa m’ s Fu r n i t u re , h o n o re d Ro g e r s P u b l i c S c h o o l s te a c h e r s a n d sta f f a t Ro g e r s H i g h S c h o o l

BAKERIES ON THE BRICKS

12

A r t o n t h e Br i c k s A r t Wa l k h i g h l i g hte d t h e a r t of b a k i n g , i n c l u d i n g n e a r l y 10 D ow ntow n Ro g e r s b a ke r i e s a n d s we et t re a t s

MUSIC INDUSTRY MOMENTUM

13

Me m b e r s of t h e D ow ntow n Ro g e r s b u s i n e s s co m m u n i t y a t te n d e d t h e Me rc h a nt Me et u p a t T h e Mu s i c D e p ot

VALUED PARTNERSHIP

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The Rogers Lowell Chamber highlighted its partnership with Jon Fritchey and Golden Corral Buffet & Grill JULY NEW MEMBERS JULY MEMBER RENEWALS AUGUST RIBBON CUTTINGS

19

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR rd

EVERY WED

SPOTLIGHT SERIES

CENTRAL REFERRAL CONNECTION

COFFEE CONNECTION

1 1 : 3 0 a m -1 p m @ Ste r l i n g Ba n k , Ro g e r s

9 -10 : 1 5 a m @ G o l d e n Co r ra l , Ro g e r s

8:30-9:30am @United Bank, Rogers

3

11

th

LEVEL UP LOCAL 8:30-9:30am @Rogers Lowell Chamber

ART ON THE BRICKS 4:30-7:30pm @Downtown Rogers

18

13

9

th

th

17

th

NWA COMMUNITY SHOWCASE

CHAMBER TUTORIAL

10:00am-3:00pm @Butterfield Stage

8:30-10am @Rogers Lowell Chamber

th

25 th

NETWORKING WITH A PURPOSE

MERCHANT MEETUP

HUSTLE IN HEELS

EMERGING LEADERS

5-6:30pm @NWA Food Bank

8:45-10am (location TBA)

9-10am @Sterling Bank, Rogers

2-4pm @Supply Chain HOF, Rogers

2025 NWA

FALL JOB FAIR

A r ka n s a s ’s l a rg e st, l o n g e st- r u n n i n g j o b fa i r, d raw i n g j o b s e e ke r s f ro m a c ro s s t h e re g i o n .

presented by

October 1st | 10AM-3PM @ROGERS ACTIVITY CENTER 3

LOCAL RESTAURANT EXPANDS TO ROGERS Af te r m o re t h a n 2 0 ye a r s i n Fayet tev i l l e , Me r m a i d s S e a fo o d Re s t a u ra nt & C ate r i n g h a s o p e n e d a n ew 5 ,0 0 0 - s q u a re - fo ot l o c at i o n at 2 0 1 1 S . Pro m e n a d e B l vd . , No. 4 4 0, i n Ro g e r s , ex p a n d i n g G o l d e n Ta b l e Co l l e c t i ve's c u l i n a r y fo ot p r i nt to fo u r re s t a u ra nt s a c ro s s No r t h we s t A r k a n s a s . T h e n ew Ro g e r s l o c at i o n of fe r s t h e s a m e h e a r t fe l t h o s p i t a l i t y t h at m a d e t h e i r Fayet tev i l l e s p ot a l o c a l favo r i te fo r ye a r s .

Me r m a i d s , k n ow n fo r i t s co a s t a l c h a r m , S o u t h e r n h e a r t, a n d m e m o ra b l e ce l e b rat i o n s , i s a b ra n d of G o l d e n Ta b l e Co l l e c t i ve , l e d by C h e f To d d G o l d e n and Nickki Golden.

T h e G o l d e n s h ave b e e n p a r t of t h e No r t h we s t A r k a n s a s re s t a u ra nt s ce n e fo r ove r 4 0 ye a r s , w i t h ot h e r b ra n d s i n c l u d i n g Is a b e l l a’s I t a l i a n , TJ ’s S a n d w i c h S h o p, a n d H u g s Ice Cre a m .

G et t h e f u l l s to r y o n t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r Yo uTu b e c h a n n e l .

“ T h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r i s s o h e l pf u l fo r u s ,” s a i d Ha n n a h G o l d e n , t h e Eve nt s Co o rd i n ato r a n d Ma r ket i n g Ma n a g e r at Me r m a i d ’ s . “ I l ove g o i n g to a l l t h e n et wo r k i n g eve nt s . Yo u g et to k n ow s o m a ny ot h e r b u s i n e s s e s i n t h e a re a .”

5

F R I DAY • A U G 8 , 2 0 2 5

FEDERAL ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

Lo c a l b u s i n e s s m e m b e r s at te n d e d a Fe d e ra l Le g i s l at i ve Ro u n d t a b l e Au g . 8 , fe at u r i n g S e n ato r Jo h n B o oz m a n a n d Co n g re s s m a n Steve Wo m a c k at t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r.

T h ro u g h a p a n e l d i s c u s s i o n , b ot h S e n ato r B o oz m a n a n d Co n g re s s m a n Wo m a c k a d d re s s e d i s s u e s h a p p e n i n g at t h e fe d e ra l l eve l a n d h ow t h o s e w i l l i m p a c t o u r l o c a l co m m u n i t y — i n a d d i t i o n to t a k i n g q u e s t i o n s f ro m at te n d e e s .

“ O u r w h o l e p u r p o s e i s to s e r ve b u s i n e s s a n d co m m u n i t y to g et h e r, a n d t h at c a n l o o k l i ke a w h o l e h o s t of t h i n g s ,” s a i d S a ra Ly n n G e i g e r, V i ce Pre s i d e nt of G ove r n m e nt Af fa i r s at R LC . “ On e of t h e b i g t h i n g s i s b e i n g t h e co nve n e r a n d t h e co l l a b o rato r — a n d m a k i n g s u re t h at we of fe r o p p o r t u n i t i e s fo r p e o p l e to co m e i n a n d e n g a g e i n co nve r s at i o n s .”

T h ro u g h h o s t i n g eve nt s l i ke t h i s , t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r co nt i n u e s i t s m i s s i o n wo r k i n s e r v i n g a s t h e re g i o n a l l i n k — b et we e n b u s i n e s s a n d g ove r n m e nt.

Ways Yo u C a n G et I nvo l ve d : Sign up to receive weekly email updates on activities and issues occurring in Little Rock and Washington D.C. that impact on your business.

Attend a monthly Government Affairs Committee meeting to hear updates on policy and legislation and discuss government-related issues affecting our region.

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7

GLOBAL HOTEL PLANTS ROOTS W i t h l o c at i o n s a c ro s s t h e g l o b e , Tr u by H i l to n Ro g e r s B e nto nv i l l e h a s ex p a n d e d i t s p re s e n ce to No r t h we s t A r k a n s a s — a f te r o p e n i n g i t s d o o r s i n O c to b e r 2 0 24 a n d j o i n i n g t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r i n May 2 0 2 5 .

“ B e co m i n g a Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r m e m b e r wa s p a r t t h e h ote l ' s m i s s i o n ,” s a i d Na d i n e M i l l e r, G e n e ra l Ma n a g e r at Tr u by H i l to n , “ to i nte g rate i nto t h e l o c a l co m m u n i t y a n d at t ra c t yo u n g fa m i l i e s a n d t rave l e r s .”

G u e s t s c a n c h o o s e f ro m a cco m m o d at i o n s s p a n n i n g fo u r f l o o r s a n d 9 0 ro o m s — w i t h f re e p a r k i n g a n d b re a k fa s t, a f i t n e s s ce nte r a n d u n i q u e a m e n i t i e s l i ke co r n h o l e a n d a p o o l table.

IN ROGERS

9

SUPPORTIN T h a n k- a -Te a c h e r Ce l e b rat i o n , p re s e nte d

by S a m’s Fu r n i t u re , h o n o re d Ro g e r s P u b l i c S c h o o l s te a c h e r s a n d s t a f f o n Au g . 7 at Ro g e r s H i g h S c h o o l .

Ed u c ato r s re ce i ve d m o re t h a n $ 1 6 , 8 0 0 i n d o o r p r i ze s d o n at i o n s , a te a c h e r fa i r fe at u r i n g 8 0 + ve n d o r s a n d a $ 1 0,0 0 0 a wa rd g i f te d to a l o c a l l y n o m i n ate d te a c h e r, Je n n i fe r Pl u m l ey, f ro m Ea s t s i d e El e m e nt a r y S c h o o l .

“ We ’ ve b e e n a p re s e nt i n g s p o n s o r fo r a b o u t te n ye a r s ,” s a i d Jo e D o n a l d s o n , ow n e r of S a m ’ s Fu r n i t u re . “ I n s te a d of j u s t g i v i n g a g i f t o r s p e a k i n g , we wa nte d to t r u l y h o n o r te a c h e r s . S o , we s ta r te d by g i v i n g a $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 h o m e m a ke ove r to a d e s e r v i n g te a c h e r n o m i n ate d by p e e r s o r p r i n c i p a l s .”

Jennifer Plumley 2025 Home Makeover Winner

G SCHOOL SYSTEMS “ T h i s i s o n e of my favo r i te C h a m b e r eve nt s ,” s a i d Ro s s Ph i l l i p s , C h i e f Op e rat i n g O f f i ce r at R LC . , “ b e c a u s e i t ’ s o u r c h a n ce to s i m p l y s ay t h a n k yo u to t h e te a c h e r s w h o d o s o m u c h to s h a p e t h e n ex t g e n e rat i o n of l e a d e r s .”

G et t h e f u l l s to r y o n t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r Yo uTu b e c h a n n e l .

11

T H U R S DAY • A U G 1 4 , 2 0 2 5

BAKERIES ON THE BRICKS I n Au g u s t, t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r ’s A r t o n t h e Br i c k s A r t Wa l k h i g h l i g hte d t h e a r t of b a k i n g , i n c l u d i n g n e a r l y 1 0 D ow ntow n Ro g e r s b a ke r i e s a n d d e s s e r t s p ot s – w i t h ove r 1 0 0 at te n d e e s .

Pa r t i c i p a nt s ex p l o re d D ow ntow n Ro g e r s t h ro u g h a b a ke r y-t h e m e d s c ave n g e r h u nt, fe at u r i n g f re s h l y m a d e m a c a ro n s a n d b row n i e s to a r t i s a n s o u rd o u g h a n d c h o co l ate t r u f f l e s .

Pa r t i c i p at i n g Lo c at i o n s : Bu t te r + B l o o m s Bi g He a r t Bre a d A l ex a n d e r B a k i n g Co. B a ke d by Ko r i He a r t & Su g a r Co n fe c t i o n s G e l at i s s i m o Tra s h Ice Cre a m A n i m e C a fe Yo g a Sto r y DT R

“ It ’ s c l e a r t h at a r t i s a n a n d l o c a l l y ow n e d b a k i n g h a s g row n i nto p a r t of DT R ' s i d e nt i t y,” s a i d S a m Da n n e b e rg , Di re c to r of D ow ntow n D eve l o p m e nt at R LC . “ S o , i t ’ s i m p o r ta nt t h at we h i g h l i g ht t h i s s p e c i a l i n d u s t r y we h ave h e re t h ro u g h eve nt s l i ke t h i s .”

A r t o n t h e Br i c k s A r t Wa l k i s a Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r eve nt h a p p e n i n g i n D ow ntow n Ro g e r s t h e s e co n d T h u r s d ay of e a c h m o nt h f ro m 4 : 3 0 -7 : 3 0 p. m . Eve r y m o nt h b r i n g s s o m et h i n g f re s h a n d exc i t i n g w i t h n ew a r t i s t s , ex h i b i t s a n d ve n u e s to ex p l o re !

T H U R S DAY • A U G 2 1 , 2 0 2 5

MUSIC

INDUSTRY MOMENTUM I n Au g u s t, m e m b e r s of t h e D ow ntow n Ro g e r s b u s i n e s s co m m u n i t y at te n d e d t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r ’s Me rc h a nt Me et u p at T h e M u s i c D e p ot.

At te n d e e s l e a r n e d m o re a b o u t t h e l o c a l m u s i c i n d u s t r y ’s i m p a c t a c ro s s No r t h we s t A r k a n s a s a n d D ow ntow n Ro g e r s .

S eve ra l s p e a ke r s s h a re d t h e i r i n s i g ht – i n c l u d i n g Re g g i e Ja m e s w i t h T h e M u s i c D e p ot, J. R . S h a w w i t h D e s t i n at i o n Ro g e r s a n d S a m Da n n e b e rg w i t h t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r.

“ Ro g e r s i s n ow t h e re g i o n' s l i ve m u s i c h u b , w i t h ve n u e s l i ke T h e M u s i c D e p ot, Bu t te r f i e l d Sta g e , Wa l m a r t A M P, a n d l o c a l re s ta u ra nt s d ra w i n g c rowd s ,” s a i d J . R . S h a w, E xe c u t i ve Di re c to r of D e s t i n at i o n Ro g e r s at R LC . “ D ow ntow n co l l a b o rat i o n i s s t ro n g e r t h a n eve r, b r i n g i n g m o re v i s i to r s to s h o p , e at, a n d e n j oy.”

Me rc h a nt Me et u p i s a Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r eve nt h a p p e n i n g i n D ow ntow n Ro g e r s t h e t h i rd T h u r s d ay of e a c h m o nt h f ro m 8 : 4 5 – 1 0 a . m .

13

VALUED PARTNERSHIP

W / J O N F R I T C H E Y, G E N E R A L M A N A G E R AT G O L D E N C O R R A L , R O G E R S T h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r h i g h l i g hte d i t s p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h Jo n Fr i tc h ey a n d G o l d e n Co r ra l Bu f fet & G r i l l , a l o n g t i m e s u p p o r te r of t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r.

O ve r t h e ye a r s , G o l d e n Co r ra l h a s b e e n i nvo l ve d w i t h C h a m b e r eve nt s l i ke T h a n k- a Te a c h e r, Sp o r t i n g C l ays C l a s s i c , a n d C h a m b e r P i c n i c , a s we l l a s of fe r i n g t h e i r s p a ce a s a m e et i n g p l a ce fo r n et wo r k i n g g ro u p s a n d R LC A m b a s s a d o r s .

“ G o l d e n Co r ra l h a s b e e n a n e n g a g e d m e m b e r of t h e Ro g e r s Lowe l l C h a m b e r fo r ove r 1 5 ye a r s ,” s a i d R ay m o n d Bu r n s , Pre s i d e nt a n d C EO at R LC . “ T h e i r d e d i c at i o n to s u p p o r t i n g eve nt s l i ke Ce nt ra l Re fe r ra l Co n n e c t i o n h a s a l l owe d t h e C h a m b e r to co nt i n u e s e r v i n g a s t h e t r u s te d s o u rce fo r g row i n g b u s i n e s s , a c t i vat i n g l e a d e r s a n d b u i l d i n g co m m u n i t y."

I n a d d i t i o n to t h e i r s p o n s o r s h i p s , G o l d e n Co r ra l h o s t s t h e R LC Ce nt ra l Re fe r ra l Co n n e c t i o n eve r y We d n e s d ay f ro m 9 - 1 0 : 1 5 a m .

C L I C K TO V I E W J U LY N E W M E M B E R S

C L I C K TO V I E W J U LY M E M B E R R E N E WA L S

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