Saturday Kudos: Causey To Head Arkansas Aerospace Alliance

There’s a new leader for the state’s aerospace alliance, an advertising agency veteran strikes out on his own, while Mainstream Technologies and Crystal Bridges Museum expand.

CHAD CAUSEY TO HEAD AEROSPACE ALLIANCE
Chad Causey has been named executive director of the Arkansas Aerospace Alliance, which was formed last year to promote the aerospace manufacturing sector in the state.

Causey currently serves as a Senior Associate and Counsel at Noble Strategies, a state and federal government affairs firm based in Little Rock. Prior to his current role, Causey practiced law in Jonesboro and was Chief of Staff to former Congressman Marion Berry of Arkansas’ First Congressional District, where his work focused heavily on transportation and infrastructure issues. He also was the Democratic nominee for the First District Congressional seat in 2010.

“We are pleased to have Chad serve in this critical role in moving the Alliance to the next level,” said Bob East, Board Chairman of the Arkansas Aerospace Alliance. “Bringing on an Executive Director will help us recruit more members, coordinate aerospace work-force training needs and promote Arkansas as the location for aerospace companies to locate.”

According to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, there are approximately 180 aviation and aerospace companies in the state with more than 9,000 employees. Causey says he wants to work with the state’s two- and four-year colleges and universities to recruit and train workers in the aerospace industry.

“New aerospace industries will choose to locate in Arkansas based on our ability to provide an educated and well-prepared workforce,” said Causey. “Our outstanding workforce is one of the many reasons why companies like Dassault Falcon Jet have settled in Arkansas.”

NEAL MOORE LAUNCHES NEW CREATIVE SHOP
Neal Moore of Maumelle, a 25-year veteran of the advertising industry, has opened his own shop. He has moved to west Little Rock and will have offices with George Creative Productions, a video company. Their offices are located at #6 Seven Acres Drive, just off Highway 10. His web address is NealMooreCreative.com.

Moore will offer a complete range of advertising and marketing services including creative concepts and execution, marketing planning, public relations and publicity, web development, direct mail and e-marketing, special event planning and broadcast production.

Moore is an award-winning creative director and a founding partner of The Communications Group, a Little Rock advertising firm. Moore is also an award-winning voice actor for radio and television with clients locally, regionally and nationally. He is also a columnist for the Maumelle Monitor.

He is a board member of the International Association of Business Communicators/Arkansas Chapter and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the American Advertising Federation.

MAINSTREAM ADDS SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Little Rock-based Mainstream Technologies hired Elton Pruitt to its software development staff. Pruitt was hired as additional support for continuing growth at Mainstream.

Pruitt’s most recent position was with Aristotle, Inc., where he was employed for 16 years. His most recent position was as a Developer 3/Team Leader. Pruitt led a small team of Web developers in building web applications for a variety of largely tourism-related clients. He was involved in hands-on development and helping to manage projects as well.

CRYSTAL BRIDGES NAMES NEW BOARD MEMBER
Elizabeth Glassman, president and chief executive officer of the Terra Foundation for American Art, has recently been appointed to the board of directors of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Since joining the Terra Foundation in 2001, Glassman has led the organization in developing and launching its expanded grant program, which has since awarded approximately $45 million for some 450 exhibitions and scholarly programs in more than 30 countries. Glassman also oversees the Foundation’s collection of American art, which continues to grow and be shown at venues across the world.

Last year, the Terra Foundation began a multi-year collaboration with Crystal Bridges, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA, and the musée du Louvre in Paris to establish American Encounters, a series of focused exhibitions featuring selected works from each institution. The exhibition travels to each partner museum.