Hughes Still in Middle of the Action at Springdale Chamber

As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. Just ask Rhonda Hughes, vice president of operations at the Springdale Chamber of Commerce.

Hired as a secretary in 1981, the Elkins native has since done just about everything a chamber employee can do. Membership, tourism, promotions, events, economic development and sponsorships — you name it and Hughes has done it.

These days, Hughes and her colleagues at the chamber have to consider a balance between the old urban core on the east side and the sparkling new developments on the west. But that’s not how it began.

When Hughes first signed on, it was all about Emma Avenue and Parsons Stadium, then home to two annual events that defined Springdale’s social calendar — the Rodeo of the Ozarks and the Albert E. Brumley Sundown to Sunup Gospel Sing.

Hughes cut her teeth promoting both events. This was in the era of mayor Charles McKinney, who as a city councilman and mayor was in office for nearly 40 years.

At that time, mainstays such as Jeans and Things, Cameron’s, Famous Hardware, McKinney Drug and Tatman’s Jewelry were all downtown.

Hughes, who was the chamber’s membership services director when she was selected as a member of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 1999 Forty Under 40 class, recalls an old-school event called Stagecoach Inn, when the banks and businesses came together for a two-week celebration of food and fellowship leading up to the rodeo.

But those events weren’t catered. Volunteers and the wives of the bank presidents and business owners cooked the meals.

Times have definitely changed.

“A lot of those businesses are gone or have moved out west,” Hughes said.

With fading attendance, the Albert E. Brumley Sundown to Sunup Gospel Sing left Parsons Stadium in an ill-fated move to a new venue. The Rodeo of the Ozarks, though still in close touch with the chamber, became its own entity and assumed the duties of planning and promoting the event.

With the old days in the rearview mirror, a new day emerged on the horizon.

The creation of Har-Ber Meadows, an upscale subdivision west of Interstate 540, kick started the westward drive that forever changed Springdale. The exclamation points came in the fall of 2005, when Har-Ber High School opened, and in April 2008, when the Northwest Arkansas Naturals played their first game at Arvest Ballpark.

Hughes, of course, was at the chamber throughout the transition, and along the way earned her Institute of Organizational Management designation. In her tenure, she’s seen the chamber’s staff grow from three to 12, then down to six during the recession and back to its current configuration of nine.

As employees have come and gone, so have events. Feather Fest flew away and the Business Expo ran its course.

But in their place are signature gatherings like the Teacher Appreciation Breakfast to kick off each new school year, Morning Brew, Schmooza Palooza, the fall golf classic and a brand new event, the Prime of Your Life Expo, that’s targeted at baby boomers.

In short, regardless of the era or the economic climate, there’s always something to do. And Hughes wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s never the same thing here,” she said with a smile. “It’s always different. I enjoy being in the middle of things and knowing what’s going on.”

Looking ahead, Hughes sees great opportunities for Springdale.

Out west, a commercial-residential district is under consideration in the area around the ballpark. A planned exit off I-540 at Oaklawn Drive will provide direct access to the location.

Back on Emma, the Razorback Regional Greenway will feature a rest stop at Shiloh Square in the heart of downtown. Also underway is a five-year plan called Invigorate Springdale, which will need the full support of business and civic leaders if it is to be successful, Hughes said.

Hughes understands that both projects will take time, effort and money. What she also knows is that she’ll be right there in the middle of the action as Springdale continues to fight for its place in Northwest Arkansas.

“There were a few times when I thought I should look for something else and actually went to interviews,” she said. “But honestly, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”