After being arrested for accepting kickbacks of cash hidden in pie boxes and forced to resign from the Treasurer’s office under the threat of impeachment, Shoffner is not really who the DPA now wants to lift up as their role model.  However, the fact is they did so only three years ago.

The Twitter exchange started when Republican Party of Arkansas spokesman David Ray pointed out their predicament.

But Martin would have no part of this and chimed in attempting to refute Ray’s claim.

Ray responded that Shoffner made this claim on her website – which has now been taken down, but is archived here. The page states “Most recently, Martha was named as 2010 Arkansas Politician of the Year by the Arkansas Democratic Party.”

Martin shot back insisting that they don’t give out this award.

But when I informed Martin that the DPA sent out an email touting Shoffner as the “Elected Official of the Year” her story changed once again saying that Ray used the term “politician” (from Shoffner’s webpage) not “elected official.” She also now claimed that the award was only for Jackson County and not statewide.

And again, after I pointed out that it was in fact a statewide award, she finally admitted the truth that the award was in fact a statewide award from the Arkansas Federation of Democratic Women and was in the 2010 newsletter from the DPA.  So she then moved into some pie humor.

I wonder if she will ever apologize for calling Ray a liar when it turns out he basically had it right in the first place.

Extra credit – here is video of Shoffner’s speech at the Democratic Party of Arkansas’s JJ Dinner in 2010.

The post Democrats Try To Re-write History On Shoffner appeared first on Talk Business.

Janet Roderick, state director of the Arkansas Small Business Technology and Development Center (ASBTDC), says she’s seeing job growth and branching out.

“We are seeing a kind of improving small business climate,” said Roderick in a recent Talk Business Arkansas interview. “When I say that, the last year we’ve seen more small businesses begin to do a little more expansion.”

The ASBTDC is housed at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. It has satellite centers at various college campuses throughout the state.

It provides management and technical assistance to small businesses. From seminars and workshops to free individual consulting, low-cost training, and market research, the center helps business owners identify where their markets are and where they can grow.

“The area where we see the greatest need for small businesses is in that market identification,” Roderick said. “Where can they expand to? Where can they maintain their market? And probably the area they make the most errors in early on is not getting good market research to help them make those decisions.”

The ASBTDC has a deep reservoir of consumer market data. Through the center, a business owner in a certain location can identify consumer buying habits within a targeted region and overlay that information with demographic data, such as what a consumer reads, how large their families are, how much they spend, and what they eat when they dine out.

In 2012, the ASBTDC helped small businesses in Arkansas create or retain 1,447 jobs, increase the sales for businesses they worked with by $50.4 million, and assisted in obtaining nearly $55.5 million in total capital.

Roderick says the two major areas she sees small businesses struggle with the most are “access to good trained employees” and “access to capital.”

“You’ve got to have the financing to take care of that market you’re wanting to go after,” she said.

You can learn more about the services of the ASBTDC at this link. And you can watch Roderick’s full interview below.

The post Small Business Advocate Says Climate Improving appeared first on Talk Business.

For the past few years, the public’s focus has been on Republicans’ opposition to the president’s agenda, their desire to shrink (even cripple) government and their conservatism. But the IRS scandal, along with controversies involving the attack in Benghazi and the Justice Department’s collecting of journalists’ telephone records, has changed the political narrative.

While the Oklahoma tornado tragedy will dominate media coverage for the next few days, the new political narrative that will re-emerge when journalists return to politics involves questions about what the administration knew, said and did. The new focus on the Obama administration puts it on the defensive and should boost enthusiasm on the political right throughout this year.

While we don’t know how long the focus will stay on the administration — or whether Republicans will stumble over the investigations or matters of public policy — between now and the November midterms, it is undeniable that recent events have altered, at least for now, the trajectory of the 2014 elections.

“Senate Democrats – who pressured the IRS to target conservative groups – have an obligation to defend the citizens and organizations that were bullied by their own federal government,” said NRSC Communications Director Brad Dayspring, who also pointed out that Pryor took $11,000 in contributions from an IRS employee PAC. “Mark Pryor is a United States Senator, and that requires action not just hollow press releases – but he continues to hide behind them.”

I will add that these Washington D.C. scandals could be exacerbated by the Shoffner scandal back home.  Of course, Sen. Pryor has nothing to do with Martha Shoffner’s problems, but a Democrat taking bribes hidden in pie boxes hurts the ticket as a whole and certainly fits the narrative Rothenberg describes above.

Previously, Rothernberg listed Sen. Pryor as the “most vulnerable senator seeking re-election next year.”

The other major rating group – The Cook Political Report – has the race rated “Lean D.”

“When Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor was up for re-election to a second term in 2008, Republicans didn’t even field a nominee, and Pryor was re-elected with 80 percent of the vote. Just five years later, Pryor seems to be facing a different situation, and there is little doubt that he will get a much more competitive race next year,” they write in their analysis. But they add “Until Republicans have a nominee, the race is in the Lean Democratic column.”

I would look for both ratings to shift whenever a candidate formally announces against Pryor.  I have little doubt that Congressman Tom Cotton will do so sometime this summer.  In fact, I already know he is taking steps to have a campaign team in place for when he does announce.  No one is on the record yet, but it is clear it is fully expected Cotton will run.

The post Rothenberg Moves Arkansas Senate Race To ‘Toss-Up’ appeared first on Talk Business.

Kathy Deck, director of business and economic research at the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, said underemployment has remained in the double digits even as an economic recovery has appeared to gain traction.

The term “underemployed” refers mainly to workers who are part-time but wish to be full-time or workers who are only marginally attached to their jobs, she said.

Deck said the number of unemployed or underemployed in Arkansas stood at 13.4%, while nationally the figure was 14.5% for the month of April. The number, referred to as the U-6 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reflects the total unemployed plus “all marginally attached workers” and those “employed part time for economic reasons.

Some of those who are underemployed are individuals who have some college education or degrees, she said.

“When people are college educated or have some college but can’t get jobs, that’s human capital that’s being wasted,” she said. “Those are wasted resources that we don’t want, that cause our economic prosperity to be lower than it would be otherwise.”

In Oklahoma the U-6 rate in April was 9.8%, and reached 12.2% in Missouri.

And it is not only those working in part-time positions looking for full-time work who may be underemployed.

A national poll of 1,000 adults conducted by YouGov and The Huffington Post show that 29% of respondents answered yes when asked, “In the past five years, have you worked in a job that was below your skill level because you couldn’t find a job that fit your skill level?”

The same poll showed 20% of respondents answered yes when asked if they had taken part-time work even though full-time work was desired and another 25% said their current job was a step down from their job five years ago.

Steve Schulte, president of Little Rock-based FirstStaff, said it was a trend his company was seeing, especially in the Fort Smith area.

“The vast majority are coming in unemployed and a smaller percentage would be those looking to change employment,” he said, adding that the changing employment situation in Fort Smith had changed the dynamics of his organization’s applicants.

“A lot of the manufacturers, especially in Fort Smith, have displaced a lot of people looking for work,” he said. “It’s not just manufacturers, but supporting companies that provided products to those manufacturers, as well.”

Typically, employers have used Schulte’s employment agency to fill positions temporarily.

“Primarily, temporary work is a bridge to permanent work, or regular work and so a significant number of our temporary employees will get hired by the client where we send them,” he said.

But for the vast majority of individuals who are looking for full-time employment at firms like FirstStaff, moving from a temp to a full-time employee with benefits may not be as easy as expected.

That, Schulte said, is because his clients are not transitioning as many temps into full-time works as they were before the recession began.

“Our client companies are more hesitant to convert a temporary employee to a typical (full-time) employee,” he said. “They are leaving them (as a temp) for a longer period of time and being more deliberate in those decisions.”

He said the reason for the resistance to moving the underemployed temps to full-time employees tied directly back to the uncertain economy experienced in the United States since the recession began 2008.

“There’s just a general uncertainty, not knowing whether they are going to need their current production levels or if things are going well, how long that is going to last.”

For students graduating high school or adults looking to freshen their resume, Deck said it was important to make themselves marketable and desirable in order to avoid falling into the underemployment trap found by 13.4% of all Arkansans.

“You hear a lot of people say follow your passion, but you should also be sure that passion has gainful employment or a likelihood to avoid being underemployed,” she said.

The post Arkansas’ ‘Total’ Jobless Rate Reaches 13.4% appeared first on Talk Business.

This year’s winners are:

• Agribusiness – Tyson Foods (Springdale)
• Small Manufacturer Exporter – Conway Machine Inc. (Conway)
• Medium Manufacturer Exporter – Alliance Rubber Company (Hot Springs)
• Large Manufacturer Exporter – Welspun Tubular (Little Rock)

This is the fourth year for the program which is co-sponsored by the Arkansas District Export Council, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, U. S. Commercial Service, and the Arkansas World Trade Center.

Judging criteria was based on factors such as most recent percentage of export sales to total sales, growth of export sales over the past three years, the company’s goals and commitments internationally and the number of jobs saved or created due to the company’s export performance

According to Census Bureau data, Arkansas’ export shipments of merchandise in 2012 totaled $7.6 billion – an increase of 36 percent over 2011 totals.

Arkansas’ largest markets in 2012 were Canada ($1.7 billion), Mexico ($845 million), China ($720 million) and France ($365 million). More than 14% of Arkansas manufacturing workers depend on exports for their jobs.

1,627 Arkansas companies exported goods or services in 2012. Roughly 78% of these companies were small- to medium-sized.

The post Four Arkansas Companies Honored For Global Trade Success appeared first on Talk Business.

Bartlett will report to Mike Duke, Walmart’s president and CEO, and will serve as a member of the company’s executive council. His responsibilities will include oversight of external communications, government relations and sustainability, as well as the Walmart Foundation, which contributed more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind donations last year.

“Corporate Affairs plays a strong role in helping us meet our business objectives at Walmart,” said Mike Duke. “The team also helps us step up to the broader role we can play in meeting some of the biggest social challenges in the world today – issues like fighting hunger, job creation, sustainability, women’s economic empowerment and the availability of healthier food.”

Duke added, “Dan’s personal integrity, strong professional skills and broad understanding of world affairs make him the ideal leader to continue moving us forward. He has had key roles in government and at a major communications company. He has also counseled a wide range of multinational corporate clients in areas such as growth strategy, crisis management and public opinion. He is known for being straightforward, a good listener and collaborative – all traits that will serve him well at Walmart.”

Bartlett replaces Leslie Dach, who announced he would step down from the post earlier this year.

Prior to Hill+Knowlton, Bartlett was a senior counselor to President George W. Bush. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of the president’s strategic communications planning, formulation of policy and implementation of the president’s agenda. He also oversaw the White House press office and the Offices of Communications, Media Affairs and Speechwriting and Global Communications. Bartlett also played a key role in George W. Bush’s presidential and Texas gubernatorial campaigns.

Bartlett has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently an adjunct professor at the university’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.

The post Wal-Mart Hires Dan Bartlett For Corporate Affairs Post appeared first on Talk Business.

Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is the headline speaker for the J-J Dinner scheduled for June 13 at the Statehouse Convention Center at 7 pm.

If Granholm’s speech is anything like the one she gave at last year’s Democratic National Convention, then folks will not be bored to say the least.

The J-J Dinner is the state party’s largest fundraiser and is always a fun time for Democratic politicos. There are also likely to be pre-parties and after-parties that the DPA will unveil soon. I’ll give an update once those details are settled.

If you’re interested in attending the J-J Dinner click here for details.

The post Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm Headlines DPA J-J Dinner appeared first on Talk Business.

Highley said that cooperation of industry and government groups has resulted in significant standards to protect the nation’s electric grid, but he also called for more information to be shared.

“Given the constantly evolving landscape of cyber risks, the industry recognizes that not every threat or vulnerability can or should be addressed in a standard,” said Highley. “Much of the information needed to fully understand the nature of the cyber threats faced by our industry is classified at a level that is unavailable to our organizations.”

You can read his full comments here.

Also, Peter Urban with Stephens Media’s Washington, D.C. bureau reports:

The number of reported cyber security incidents affecting critical infrastructure control systems increased from nine in 2009 to 198 in 2011, according to a federal report.

Republicans and Democrats disagree on the approach Congress should take to protect the nation’s electrical grid infrastructure.

Republicans spoke favorably of a “voluntary” approach that would have the government provide incentives — such as tax credits and liability protections — to encourage an industry-led effort to bolster security of critical infrastructure.

Democrats raised concerns that some regulations may be needed to insure the protection of the electric grid and other critical infrastructure.

You can access the full Stephens Media report here.

The post Electric Cooperatives CEO Testifies On Cyber-security appeared first on Talk Business.

The Cass Freight Index for April fell 3.5% compared to March, and were 1.3% below April 2012 levels.

“North American shipment volume and overall freight expenditures both slumped in April, following strong showings in March. The drops are not unexpected given the slowing state of the economy overall,” noted Rosalyn Wilson, a supply chain expert and senior business analyst with Vienna, Va.-based Delcan Corp., who provides economic analysis for the Cass Freight Index.

Wilson said the pattern of starting strong only to fall back is becoming a recent trend, but the 2013 figures indicate a deeper decline.

“This month’s declines are significant because once again both the number of shipments and dollars spent have fallen below same month 2012 levels, and the number of shipments is even lower than the April 2011 level. This is indicative of the slow growth experienced since 2010 that has created a very narrow bounding range for each measure, with a small difference between the lows and the highs,” Wilson explained.

Cass uses data from $22 billion in annual freight transactions processed by its information processing division to create the Index. The data comes from a Cass client base of 350 large shippers.

HOUSING, MANUFACTURING SLIP
The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted Truck Tonnage Index fell 0.2% in April after rising 0.9% in March. Compared with April 2012, the index was up 4.3%, which is the largest year-over-year gain since January of this year (4.7%).  Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2012, the tonnage index is up 4%.

“The slight drop in tonnage during April fit with trends from other industries that drive a significant amount of truck freight, such as manufacturing and housing,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello noted in the report.

Like Wilson, Costello also said overall economic shifts – factory output slipped 0.4%, housing starts down 16.5% – created weakness in the trucking sector.

“After rising significantly late last year and in January of this year, truck tonnage has been bouncing around a narrow, but elevated band over the last three months.” he said. “It is also worth noting that the year-over-year comparisons are much better than expected just a few months ago and I’m hearing good comments about freight so far in May.”

INVENTORY ADJUSTMENTS
Wilson reported that March and April saw a trend in which inventory levels were being adjusted downward.

“Businesses have been drawing down inventories for the last two months based on expectations that the economy will be lethargic,” she noted in her Cass report.

The “bouncing around” narrative from Costello holds true for Fort Smith-based ABF Freight System, one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers.

ABF tonnage levels during the first quarter of 2013 were up 6.7% compared to the same period in 2012. However, April saw a 2% to 3% decline in revenues based on several factors, included a dip in billed revenue per weight.

“Quarterly tonnage levels have fluctuated significantly in recent years. ABF experienced quarterly decreases in year-over-year tonnage per day from third quarter 2011 through third quarter 2012, which were influenced by ABF’s initiatives to improve account profitability and led to year-over-year increases in billed revenue per hundredweight for each quarter of 2012,” noted the company’s most recent 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “In fourth quarter 2012, ABF experienced a slight increase in tonnage levels versus fourth quarter 2011. The first quarter 2013 year-over-year daily tonnage increase compares favorably to first quarter 2012 tonnage levels, which were 10.6% lower than the same period of the previous year.”

Rail shipments for the week ended May 11 are up 2.2% compared to the same week in 2012, according to the Stephens Inc. “Weekly Rail Update.” Year-to-date, the carload numbers are up just 0.9%.

“Overall, the increase in industry volumes was driven by intermodal (+3.9%) and petroleum & related products (+50.5%). Coal volumes improved slightly (+0.8%) and the largest decline came from grain (down 21.6%),” noted the Stephens report.

The post Overall Freight Shipments, Values Dip In April appeared first on Talk Business.

His in-depth report features interviews with Little Rock native Jeff Nichols, whose current film, “Mud,” is doing well. Hickey also talks with Arkansas Motion Picture Institute director Courtney Pledger, Democrat-Gazette film critic Phillip Martin, and several other players in the state’s film and digital production business.

One of the big reasons Arkansas is seeing phenomenal growth among young filmmakers is that good cameras are much more affordable and editing can be done on laptop computers. In the last decade, barriers to entry have fallen dramatically, thus leading to an explosion of small-scale original productions.

Hickey’s full report can be listened to here.

Also, we review our recent TV and magazine interview with Arkansas Film Commissioner Christopher Crane:

Arkansas Film Commissioner Christopher Crane says that new incentives approved by the state legislature are already paying dividends.

The General Assembly approved changes to the state’s film and digital products incentive act, which allows filmmakers working in the state to qualify for rebates and tax breaks.

One of the main aspects of the new law increased the sales tax rebate from 15% to 20% and provided a payroll tax break for productions exceeding $200,000.

“My phone has not stopped ringing,” Crane said. He added that three new movie projects – “Greater: The Brandon Burlsworth Story,” “Guttersnipes” and “Valley Inn” – are all poised for production.

“Greater” is a movie production that tells the life of former Arkansas Razorback football player Brandon Burlsworth. As a walk-on, Burlsworth eventually earned All-American status and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. The Harrison native died tragically in an automobile accident before starting his pro football career.

“Guttersnipes” is a drama about a 17-year old homeless girl and a 12-year old autistic girl who has been abandoned. The movie chronicles the evolution of their relationship which starts in a harsh manner, but grows into a caring friendship.

“Valley Inn,” an independent film set in northwest Arkansas, follows a college student who lands in tiny Hindsville on a mission to sell Christian books door-to-door one summer. The character-driven movie is chocked full of comedy, romance, and introspection.

Crane also said that a long-term, recurring series may also be in the works.

“We have one right now that is going to be a constancy in the industry should we land it. It would mean a many year commitment,” he said.

Crane said recent successes and long-term projects are beneficial in growing the talent pool for behind-the-scene workers in the production business. He has worked to position the state for slow growth, not rapid growth, in order to expand the industry’s workforce in a sustainable way.

“Over the last two years, we’ve been able to garner some nice-size productions. All of the local universities and two-year colleges have great grip and gaffe curricula to support the industry, and we’re seeing a rise in some of the retail establishments too,” Crane said.

He also said that the late-April premiere of the movie “Mud,” which was filmed in the Arkansas Delta by Little Rock native Jeff Nichols and stars Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Sam Shepherd, will be a major moment in Arkansas film history.

“It truly is one of those pride moments for us,” said Crane.

“Mud” has already spawned numerous positive reviews.

The story centers on two young boys interested in an abandoned boat found in a tree on an island in the Mississippi River. A mysterious stranger named Mud is living in the boat, they learn.

After befriending him and working to help him escape from a manhunt in order to rendezvous with a love interest, the boys learn more about the complicated lives of the two main characters played by McConaughey and Witherspoon.

The ending has a number of unexpected twists.

Unlike a great movie, Crane is hoping that Arkansas’ film and digital picture industry growth is predictable and full of met expectations.

“That would be a continuing story line I’d love to see,” Crane said.

The post KUAR: Arkansas Sees Tide Of New Filmmakers appeared first on Talk Business.

Shoffner, who was arrested Saturday by the FBI, had indicated on Monday she did not plan to resign.

Today, more elected officials from both political parties renewed their insistence that she step down from her post immediately.

In a letter to Gov. Mike Beebe dated May 21, 2013, Shoffner said:

It is with great sadness that I tender my resignation of the office of Treasurer of the State of Arkansas.

I am proud to have been elected by and to have served the people of the State of Arkansas and regret that I can no longer perform the duties and responsibilities owed to the public.

Please accept this resignation effective 5:00 p.m. today’s date, May 21,2013.

Shoffner’s resignation now sets up a path for Gov. Beebe to name a replacement to fill out her term of office, which ends in January 2015.  He is under no time constraint to name a replacement, but he will likely make a decision soon in order to restore leadership to the office.

The duties of State Treasurer, which pays roughly $54,000 annually, include receiving and keeping monies collected by the state, managing and investing funds, and disbursing funds according to state law.

Beebe will have an interesting dilemma of who to choose for the post.  The circumstances dictate that a learned hand might make the most attractive candidate to be appointed State Treasurer.  That person might be a retired or soon-to-be-retired banking or financial executive.  It could also include a former state finance official with knowledge of the office and the state government financing processes.

The person Beebe appoints cannot run for re-election to the Treasurer’s post, but could run for another elective office.

One might think that Beebe must also be cognizant that the person he appoints affiliates as a Democrat.  Currently, state law prescribes that the “majority status” in Arkansas is defined as the political party with the majority of constitutional offices.  Democrats held a 4-3 advantage prior to Shoffner’s resignation.

Maintaining that advantage has the most impact in the composition of county election commissions.  The “majority party” gets two representatives on each of the 75 county’s election commissions, while the “minority party” only gets one representative.

State law prescribes that the “majority party” is defined by the make-up of the constitutional officers after certification of the election by voters, meaning that Beebe’s appointment should not disrupt the current construction of the majority/minority party status.

From ACA § 7-1-101 (18):

“Minority party” means that political party whose candidates were elected to less than a majority of the constitutional offices of this state in the last preceding general election or the political party that polled the second greatest number of votes for the office of Governor in the last preceding general election if all of the elected constitutional officers of this state are from a single political party.

The post Treasurer Shoffner Resigns From Office appeared first on Talk Business.

My heart goes out to the families and communities affected by the severe storms in Oklahoma. Arkansas knows devastation, and we feel for Oklahoma’s enormous loss and suffering. But they’re not alone. With hard work and help from fellow Americans, they’ll rebuild, recover, and stand strong. Like I said when I cast my vote for the Hurricane Sandy Supplemental Disaster Assistance Appropriations bill in January, I’ll continue to support disaster relief for communities in need. Arkansas is here for you, Oklahoma.

It seems to me the reason to bring up his vote for Hurricane Sandy Supplemental Disaster Assistance Appropriation is because Cotton was one of 67 Republicans who voted against the appropriation in the House.

“I pledged throughout my campaign to confront America’s debt crisis and today I upheld that pledge by voting against legislation that would have added another $10 billion to our staggering national debt because it did not offset that funding for the national flood-insurance program with equal spending cuts,” explained Cotton at the time.

But spokesman for Sen. Pryor’s office Michael Teague dismisses that the statement was politically motivated.

“It’s specifically mentioned because the federal disaster aid that will be used in Oklahoma primarily comes from the Stafford Disaster Relief fund. That account was extremely low at the end of last year. So, in January Congress passed the Hurricane Sandy Supplement and that money went to replenish the Stafford Disaster Relief fund. That’s also the same fund that Arkansas received its assistance from after the ice storms this year,” said Teague.

Okay, but it is clear to me that Pryor was trying to inject some politics into a human tragedy in our state next door.  His statement fits as part of the overall strategy of his Democratic Party to paint Cotton as an extremist.  Pryor’s statement could have said that he supports the Stafford Disaster Relief Fund but – in my opinion – pointed to the Sandy vote in an effort to paint a contrast.

“I totally dismiss it as politically motivated,” continued Teague in a follow-up.  “Do you dispute the facts of how we fund the disaster relief fund?  It appears you’re the only one injecting politics into the statement.”

It’s an attempt to score political points on a vote of Cotton and change the subject from – as the Senate Conservative Fund has been pointing out – his own record of voting with President Obama 95 percent of the time.

The post Sen. Pryor Politicizes Oklahoma Tornado Tragedy appeared first on Talk Business.

In the recently concluded legislative session, in-fighting among lawmakers and interest groups resulted in no tort reform measure being referred to voters in the 2014 general election.

The only path for supporters of a proposal would be to collect signatures to qualify a measure for the ballot next year.

In late 2011, the Arkansas Supreme Court struck down major provisions in a tort reform law that was passed nearly a decade ago.  The Supreme Court ruling had far-reaching ramifications as it addressed a state statute put on the books in 2003, the Civil Justice Reform Act, that capped punitive damages in plaintiffs’ lawsuits at three times the amount of compensatory damages, with a maximum award of $1 million.

On Tuesday (May 21), state chamber members were sent an email survey asking questions ranging from familiarity with the issue of “lawsuit reform,” caps on jury awards, and abuses of the legal system.

Members were also asked in the survey:

Would you be willing to participate in an Arkansas State Chamber-led effort to pass an amendment to the state’s constitution, in order to implement common-sense lawsuit reform in Arkansas?

Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce CEO Randy Zook said that his group, which represents a variety of business interests across the state, is still trying to determine if a tort reform ballot measure is worth pursuing.

“We’re in a formative, decision-making stage. We’re not exactly sure about the best way to go about this,” Zook said in a recent Talk Business Arkansas TV interview.

He cited as problematic three legislative-referred proposals that have already qualified for the ballot as well as high-profile races for the U.S. Senate and Arkansas Governor next year.

“That makes for a complex environment. You get lost amongst the noise,” Zook said.  A week ago, Zook said he felt fairly confident that a tort reform campaign would happen.

You can view Zook’s full interview below, including his extensive comments on a potential pipeline closure that could greatly impact aviation and trucking industry interests in parts of Arkansas.

The post State Chamber Testing Attitudes On Tort Reform appeared first on Talk Business.

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System, the New York City Employees’ Retirement System and the Indiana Electrical Workers Pension Trust Fund brought suit against the retail giant for financial damages and breech of fiduciary responsibility relating to the bribery allegations within the company’s Mexican business unit.

The investors contend Wal-Mart is hiding e-mails and other relevant documents about the Mexican bribery allegations to protect directors, but Delaware Chancery Court Judge Leo Strine ruled the documents must be turned over to the court as they are not covered by attorney-client privilege as Wal-Mart attorney’s argued.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. does comment on pending litigation.

The case: Indiana Electrical Workers Pension Trust Fund IBEW v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., CA No. 7779-CS, Delaware Chancery Court (Wilmington).

The post Wal-Mart Told To Disclose Documents In Bribery Probe appeared first on Talk Business.

Monday’s action paves the way for a vote among the estimated 7,500 union workers employed by Fort Smith-based ABF. ABF Freight is one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers and is the largest subsidiary of Fort Smith-based Arkansas Best Corp.

The wage reduction, a key negotiation point pushed by ABF Freight officials, schedule provides for a 7% cut beginning in the pay period following contract ratification. But beginning July 1, 2014, wages are increased 2%. Wages again increase 2% on July 1, 2015, up 2% on July 1, 2016, and up 2.5% on July 1, 2017.

“Nobody ever wants to see a pay cut, but in light of the company’s struggles and our desire to see the company survive, something needed to be done. It is in our best interests, as well as ABF’s, that this company be given a chance to climb out of this deep recession so that our members’ futures are protected.” Gordon Sweeton, co-chairman of the National ABF Negotiating Committee for the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee (TNFINC), said in a Teamsters statement.

The Teamsters urged qualified union members to approve the proposed contract.

“Your Teamsters National ABF Negotiating Committee has worked very hard in 2013 to beat back the employer’s attempt to essentially throw out the existing contract in its entirety. The committee believes this agreement represents the best opportunity to maintain Teamster standards and employment in the freight industry.”

Ballots will be mailed June 3, and must be returned by June 27.

WAGE CUT NECESSITY
Arkansas Best officials have said that wage cuts were necessary for the company to return to profitability.

The company reported on April 30 a first quarter 2013 loss of $13.4 million. The loss of 52 cents per share was higher than the consensus analyst estimate of a loss of 41 cent per share. Revenue during the quarter was $520.7 million, well ahead of the $440.9 million during the same quarter in 2012.

The quarter followed a 2012 that saw the Fort Smith-based transportation holding company post a $7.7 million loss, a wide swing from the $6.159 million gain in 2011. Arkansas Best has been unable to post two consecutive years of income gains since 2008.

The proposed deal also includes a reduction in vacation days for time that accrues after April 1, 2013. The deal also includes bonus pay for union employees of the ABF operating ratio – a key metric used in the trucking industry – of below 96 for any full year. An operating ratio of 96 indicates that the company earned $1 for every 96 cents in expenses.

WORK, CARRIER FLEXIBILITY
The company was also able to negotiate for flexibility in work schedules and work across job classifications.

A union report on the agreement noted: “While much of the debate was over road dispatch procedures and job bidding, the company also wanted to merge various job classification responsibilities so that drivers could be forced to work the dock and road drivers could be asked to make city runs or hostile equipment at the end of their workday if so directed. While the union rejected the broadest of these demands, we did accept a few proposals that affect yard operations including that there would be no ‘forklift driver only’ bids under the new agreement and that bid hostlers could be required to move (in seniority order) during their shift to where work is most needed in the yard.”

Union officials also granted the company flexibility to use non-union, outside carriers to move quickly to capture new business or to reduce the number of “empty miles.”

“ABF also demonstrated in negotiations that certain new business opportunities with key shippers have been lost to non-union competitors over the past five years because ABF could not respond to customer demands and re-position sufficient numbers of drivers and equipment quickly enough to adequately service such events as a new product launch,” explained the union report.

However, the non-union carrier provision also includes “strong road driver protections” that essentially prevent layoffs of union drivers employed prior to a certain date, according to the Teamsters document.

LAWSUIT CONTINUES
Existing contract terms were agreed to in 2008 as part of a National Master Freight Agreement (NMFA) with which Arkansas Best, YRC and other trucking companies participated.

Threatened with bankruptcy, YRC was able to obtain a 15% wage reduction from the Teamsters prior to 2010. The deal also saw YRC give equity and board seats to the Teamsters in return for the wage cuts.

Arkansas Best continues to pursue a $750 million lawsuit against the Teamsters and competitor YRCW. Arkansas Best alleges that wage deals between the Teamsters and YRC violated the NMFA. The NMFA, implemented April 1, 2008, was designed to create equal labor costs and other benefit payments among trucking companies with drivers represented by the Teamsters.

The lawsuit, first filed in November 2010, was recently dismissed a second time by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Webber Wright (Eastern District of Arkansas). On Oct. 29, 2012, Arkansas Best appealed the case again to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (St. Louis). The Circuit has once appealed in favor of Arkansas Best.

The post Teamster Reps Endorse ABF Contract appeared first on Talk Business.

Shoffner, who will plead “not guilty” to charges of extortion for accepting cash payments in exchange for state business, has seen Gov. Mike Beebe (D), Lt. Gov. Mark Darr (R), Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D), Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Will Bond, as well as many other party officials and leaders from both sides of the aisle call for her to step down immediately.

When asked if she planned to resign, the State Treasurer told reporters on Monday, “Not at this moment.”

Talk Business reported yesterday that the Arkansas Constitution has an impeachment provision, which allows for two methods for removing a state official from office.

The method that seems most likely to be tried – possibly for the first time in state history if Shoffner remains opposed to resignation – is Article 15, Section 3, which says:

The Governor “upon the joint address of two-thirds of all the members elected to each House of the General Assembly, for good cause, may remove the Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Judges of the Supreme and Circuit Courts, Chancellors and Prosecuting Attorneys.”

As it became clear on Monday that a standoff may be forthcoming, questions have been raised about the procedure for this route, specifically what is meant by “joint address.”

Matt Campbell, legal scholar and blog moderator at the recently resurrected Blue Hog Report, offers analysis of this provision:

As I see it, there are two possible interpretations of the phrase, “upon the joint address” as it is used in this provision. The first is that the Governor may tell two-thirds of each chamber that he has good cause to remove one of the listed officers.

Such an interpretation, however, would be illogical. After all, the “good cause” required under Art. 15, sec. 3, is lower than the level of cause needed for impeachment under sec. 2. It would hardly make sense to say that, where the evidence was insufficient to support an indictment in the House, the Governor could remove a duly elected officer merely by telling two-thirds of each chamber that he was going to, while an officer facing a higher level of evidence against him could only be removed after being charged by the House and getting a supermajority in the Senate.

The second interpretation, which I believe is the correct one, is that the Governor may remove one of the listed officers for good cause once he has been asked to do so by two-thirds of each chamber. I base this conclusion on a number of things:

1. This reading makes logical sense, as described above. Possible removal on a lower level of proof should contain a higher level of protection for the officer being removed.

2. While obsolete now, the word “address,” as used here, has a particular meaning: a request to the executive by the legislature to remove a judge for unfitness. This meaning is in perfect accord with the way “joint address” was used in the 1836 Constitution, and, while the drafters of the 1874 document appear to have expanded the applicability beyond judges, the specialized meaning of “address” as a noun in this context still makes the most sense. This interpretation is bolstered by the title of the section — Officers removable by Governor upon address — which would mean, correctly, “officers removable by Governor upon request by the legislature.”

3. This interpretation is most loyal to the syntax of the provision.

You can read Campbell’s full analysis at this link.

The post Blue Hog Report: ‘Joint Address’ & Removing Shoffner From Office appeared first on Talk Business.

Sponsored by Little Rock-based Arkansas Capital Corp., the aim of the contest was to boost awareness for state entrepreneurs and to draw attention to a new web site, ArkSourceLink.com.

The site provides free resources and a one-stop shop for start-ups and existing businesses looking for advice ranging from funding to marketing to mentorship.

The March Madness-style “Battle of the Brands” contest pitted famous – and yet to be famous – iconic Arkansas companies against one another. Every week, businesses competed against each other to advance in the tournament bracket.

From a field of 64, the Final Four included Guillermo’s Gourmet Grounds, The Twisted Purl, Whole Hog Cafe, and Yarnell’s.

Everyone loves a Cinderella story and The Twisted Purl certainly pulled the upset of all upsets. It beat Whole Hog Cafe in the finals – no small feat for a one-person company with a worldwide audience.

Talk Business Arkansas visited with Cyndi Minister, owner of The Twisted Purl, a Conway-based homemade yarn and fiber company. Minister, who describes herself as “an avid knitter and full-time spinner,” was born in England, grew up in California, lived for a period in Vermont, and now calls Arkansas home.

TBA: What made you enter the competition?

Minister: I learned about the competition while attending BarCamp Conway earlier this year and thought it would be a fun way to get my business name out there. By entering the competition, I had hoped The Twisted Purl would get a tad more statewide support and recognition. Plus, I love competitions.

TBA: What happened to you and your business through the course of this competition?

Minister: It was just such an honor to have been chosen as one of the Top 64 Brands among so many recognized, state loved companies. Weekly, I had to adjust social media strategies and come up with new approaches to keep our fans and followers engaged. It was a blast! From covering a Daisy BB Gun in yarn to creating numerous weekly themed items, I tried to keep it fun. I watched as our fan base grew and in turn our sales increased. My family and I celebrated each weekly victory with shock and an extremely grateful attitude. Handmade is a story that must be told and sharing our journey has been immeasurable.

TBA: How will you capitalize on what has happened over the course of the past few weeks?

Minister: The Twisted Purl is a handmade company run by just one crafty, crazy, yarn lady. I plan on continuing to share my love of Fiber Arts and my passion of handmade. Each skein of handmade yarn is a unique creation and our customers get to take the yarn and continue their own handmade story by creating something of their own. I hope the momentum we have built, can help to shed more light on Fiber Arts and other handmade businesses, as well as to continue to propel our own company. Handmade is heart and passion and is treasured for generations. I’m just blessed to be able to do what I love and share the adventure with others.

TBA: Are you surprised you won and got so much voting support?

Minister: Each week, I was astonished to get past each company. I was absolutely floored to have beat Whole Hog Cafe in the end. I mean, this is Arkansas, we are pretty passionate about our BBQ and our Hogs! The support The Twisted Purl received was amazing. We had votes coming in from all over the world and it seriously blew me away. Being a small business of one and having to run every aspect of the company myself is difficult at times but very rewarding. Having the support of our fans, friends, and family in such an outpouring has been overwhelming and really meant the world.

The post Meet The Biggest Brand In Arkansas: The Twisted Purl appeared first on Talk Business.

Jane Wickard Rogers exemplifies positivity by her warm smile, her firm hand shake and her many efforts to improve Arkansas through volunteerism and board service, including being the first chairwoman of the Board of Trustees for the University of Arkansas System.

For years, Rogers, 66, has been instrumental in bringing art to Little Rock. In fact, for seven years, she worked with the Sculpture at the River Market to bring sculptures to Little Rock for an annual show each October. Art is also acquired from the proceeds of the Sculpture at the River Market show and is on display in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden in Peabody Park.

“The Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden is a real prize for the city,” Rogers says.

Visitors can stroll on the meandering paths through the sculpture garden that is just a few minutes walk from the River Market.

This civic leader also believes that bringing art to a city makes it feel more friendly, and the $2 million worth of art that is tucked throughout the River Market area in downtown Little Rock improves the vibe of the community, she says.

Beyond bringing more art to Little Rock, Rogers also helped organize the very first Riverfest after it moved to the river in 1983 and served as the executive director of Riverfest Inc., a nonprofit organization, for seven years. What began as a family festival for the arts has evolved into the largest music festival in Arkansas and one of the South’s largest music festivals.

Riverfest was founded by the Junior League of Little Rock in July 1978 and called Summer Arts Festival in Murray Park. It moved to Julius Breckling Riverfront Park on the south bank of the Arkansas River on Memorial Day weekend in 1983.

“The first year, we had just finished putting sod down that week,” Rogers says with a laugh recalling the first Riverfest at the river, “and it would slide down the hill when people would sit on it to watch a concert.”

As a native of Little Rock, Rogers has a vested interest in the city, and as a graduate of the University of Arkansas, Rogers has an interest in the university as well.

After receiving her degree in secondary education from the UofA, Rogers taught sixth grade at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic School in Little Rock for three years before she and her husband, Jay, had their two children.

“Once my kids were in junior high, they were old enough to do their own laundry and cook dinner,” Rogers says, “that’s when I went to work for Riverfest.”

After leaving her position as executive director of Riverfest, Rogers became director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, where she said she got to know and understand the workings of the governor’s office during Mike Huckabee’s tenure. After two years, she left her position there, but she continued to organize events for the governor’s office as a freelance special events coordinator.

She has served on the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees since 2003, and recently took the title as the first chairwoman in the history of the board. Although Rogers doesn’t put a lot of emphasis on making history as the first woman chairperson, she does plan to emphasize doing what’s best for the university and all of its 16 campuses.

“Good things are going on on everyone of those campuses,” Rogers says.

She has asked each chancellor to give her eight to 10 current points of pride on their campuses, and she published those points.

“At each meeting, I will talk about the good things there and what a great job they are doing. I want to emphasize the positive,” she says as she pulls a “Points of Pride” publication from her notebook.

The 19-page magazine-style publication highlights good things that are happening on the campuses of the five universities, five community colleges, medical school, two law schools, presidential school, mathematics and sciences high school and units dedicated to agriculture, archeology and criminal justice in the University of Arkansas System.

“I appreciate the thorough manner in which Ms. Rogers addresses board action. She does not hesitate to challenge the status quo and wants to promote all system colleges and universities,” says Debbie Frazier, chancellor at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. “This was apparent in one of her first actions as board chair when she requested all institutions to submit 10 points of pride to emphasize their unique qualities. Her actions indicate her inclusive leadership style and her willingness to promote the diverse missions of the colleges and universities within the University of Arkansas System.”

Rogers took the helm from former chairman Mike Akin of Monticello in March. She faces several challenges as chairwoman, and she says the biggest question is obviously money.

“Without a doubt the biggest challenge has to do with funding,” Rogers says. “We don’t want to out price our students [by raising tuition too much]…. We are asking the chancellors to tighten their belts.”

Rogers also says that president of the University of Arkansas Systems, Dr. Donald Bobbitt, has emphasized distance learning, or online classes. This can result in savings for the universities and their students.

In March, Rogers chaired her first board meeting at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

“The first meeting with her as chairperson was on our campus, and from what I saw there, I think she’ll be a great leader,” says Jack Lassiter, chancellor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. “I’ve known her for a long time, and she’s caring and attentive to the needs of the institutions. She’ll be a great chairperson.”

Taking her time to make appropriate decisions regarding the university, Rogers evaluated each of the trustee’s talents and hand picked them for committees. When choosing who would head up board committees, Rogers says she takes each person’s strengths and uses them where she believes they will work best.

“I’m working with nine other trustees, and I looked at the person and used their strengths to make our organization stronger,” says Rogers. “I studied the list of committees and made the placement of each board member. Our job is to pay attention and to help the chancellors and president in any way we can. We watch over spending and keep tuition as low possible.”

Rogers says she believes she’s fortunate to be the chairwoman of the board, but she doesn’t put much emphasis on the fact that she’s the first woman to chair the board.

She also has served on the Delta Trust’s board of directors for 13 years, and she has served more than 20 years on the board of the Chi Omega Fraternity, which is the largest women’s fraternity in the U.S.. Interestingly, Chi Omega originated at the University of Arkansas in 1895.

Rogers chaired the national centennial for Chi Omega in 1995, and served as its president and was on the national governing board for seven years. She also received the President’s Award in 2002, which is Chi Omega’s highest award for service.

“Chi Omega provides young women and alumni strong leadership skills, and it was that leadership training that gave me the confidence to lead the board of trustees,” Rogers said.

The post UA Board Chair Leaving A Positive Mark On Arkansas appeared first on Talk Business.

The “digital divide” is a phrase used to describe the geographical or generation gaps between younger and older users of technology, such as smartphones and computers.

UCA Professors Mark McMurtrey, Ronald E. McGaughey, James P. Downey and Steven M. Zeltmann from the Department of Management Information Services issued their report, “Seniors and information technology: lessons from the field,” which highlights trends and demographic data about how usage of technology is becoming more commonplace among older users.

“While those in the upper age bracket (65 years and older) use a computer (and connect to the internet) least among all the divisions, by far the highest rates are again by their predecessors: those in the 45–64 years age group (US Census Bureau, 2005b; internet release date: June, 2009),” the report says.

“Marketers need to be prepared to capitalize on these opportunities when they avail themselves in the not too distant future. As will be shown next, they should be focusing their efforts now on our senior citizens,” it also states.

Jacob Kauffman with our content partner, KUAR-FM 89 News, reports in more detail on the study.

The study reveals some surprising truths about seniors. They have more money available for technological expenses, are already a significant online presence, and they use technology and the internet in comparable ways to younger generations.

As seniors continue to embrace the digital world technologies will begin to reflect its new users. McMurtrey says the growing presence of seniors online opens the door for hardware and software developers to create programs designed for the needs and interests of seniors.

Access Kauffman’s radio report at this link, which also includes access to the full UCA study.

The post UCA Study: Digital Divide Shrinking Between Generations appeared first on Talk Business.

A Google+ Hangout chat, sponsored by Washington, D.C.-based The Internet Association (IA), brought together the offices of Sens. John Boozman (R ) and Mark Pryor and IA President CEO Michael Beckerman.

Business and government panel participants included:

• Susie Marks, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
• Jeffrey Hall, Arkansas Farm Bureau
• Mike Abbiatti, Arkansas Research & Education Optical Network (ARE-ON)
• Matt Price, Bourbon and Boots
• Ellie Keffler, UA Associated Student Government

Andy York, chief of staff for Sen. Pryor, warned that one of the challenges facing Congress in setting policy to guide Internet commerce is the rapid speed with which technology changes.

“The last thing you want to do with legislation is to be technology-specific to a point where anything you write, any policy you create is going to be obsolete 10 or 15 minutes after you draft it into law,” York said.

FROM SECURITY TO WORKFORCE
Security is another policy hurdle. Small businesses are on guard to protect against identity theft, while attacks from domestic and foreign hackers constantly requires diligence for those doing business on the Internet.

Abbiatti – who oversees ARE-ON, a large bandwidth Internet portal used by researchers for telemedicine and higher education projects – said that Arkansas has caught up with the rest of the country and world despite its later entry into the international high-speed network known as the LambdaRail.

“Arkansas is not behind in the Internet economy, we’re just new,” said Abbiatti. “Being new means having a different set of rules.”

He said Arkansas is taking its intellectual capital and leveraging it on a global scale through research and new technologies. Abbiatti said since ARE-ON has evolved in recent years, UAMS has expanded telemedicine capabilities to 400 clinics across the state.

“We are new, but we are still behind,” said Matt Price, founder of Bourbon and Boots, an online commerce site selling Southern-style gift items. He said workforce opportunities are hindered by educational models that don’t account for the rapidly changing dynamics of Internet technology.

“I think that’s a hurdle for businesses like mine, when you’re trying to look around and find talent,” Price said. He also noted that two of his four full-time employees do not have college degrees. They are self-taught in their Internet skills.

IMMIGRATION
The hottest topic of debate in the Google+ Hangout discussion centered on immigration. Congress is likely to spend the better part of the next month discussing potential immigration reform.

While much debate has focused on illegal immigrants and how to handle their citizenship, a big issue in the tech community revolves around overseas students who come to the U.S. for education, create Internet-based business models, then return to their native lands.

There are worries, and proof, that these workers could use their American-based educations to start-up new firms in competition with U.S.-based counterparts.

“This is part of a much bigger debate,” said Sen. Boozman. “We have to get that straight.”

He added, “I would like to do immigration reform incrementally. At the top of the list is making sure that people who can contribute in a way of accessing information through our universities and things so we can allow them to get the right documentation so they can stay and contribute.”

“Immigrants play a big part in our state’s economy, but we need to have the technology in place to be able to track where our immigrants are as they move from job to job and to be able to confirm their status and the type of workers our businesses are hiring,” said Marks with the state chamber.

FROM THE FIELDS TO THE CLASSROOM
No industry may have undergone a more dramatic transformation than the state’s agricultural industry.

Hall, with the Farm Bureau, said that farmers now use technology to plant, test and monitor their crops from start to finish. He said that a 62-year old farmer does not fear using technology although he may be aided by a 22-year old grandchild helping the family farm.

Hall also said that farmers utilizing Twitter and other social media are using those platforms to participate in public policy discussions through online town halls with elected officials like Sens. Pryor and Boozman.

“I do know several of our young farmers recently tweeted some questions and rated the Senators responses via Twitter,” Hall said.

Keffler, a junior history major at the University of Arkansas, said she hasn’t taken an online course in her studies, but has several colleagues who have met core curriculum requirements through Internet studies.

She won’t be surprised if that trend continues and grows in the coming years. Keffler also said that Internet-based communication through social media apps are the preferred choice of dialogue for her generation.

UA officials use Facebook, Twitter and text alerts to communicate with students regularly about campus events and concerns.

“Social media is the best way to get that information out to people about events happening on campus,” Keffler said.

You can access the full Google+ Hangout discussion in the video below.  Talk Business Arkansas executive editor Roby Brock moderated the discussion.

The post Internet Business Challenges: Security, Infrastructure, Immigration & Change appeared first on Talk Business.