Bentonville chamber hires Travis Stephens as new vice president of operations
by March 12, 2019 2:14 pm 1,180 views
The Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce has hired Travis Stephens as vice president of operations, effective March 18. Stephens is filling the staff position held previously by Debbie Griffin, who resigned as executive vice president and chief operating officer in January.
Stephens, a native of Fort Smith, has been director of economic development for the city of Bella Vista since 2016. Before that, he spent five years as CEO of the Clarksville-Johnson Co. Chamber of Commerce.
“Travis understands the currency of place in today’s hyper-mobile economic landscape,” Chamber President and CEO Graham Cobb said in a statement. “He celebrated trail building in Bella Vista and ushered public arts projects in Clarksville. Activities like this move the needle. However, I am most excited about his excitement for data and reporting. By the end of 2019, I expect us to know more about our members and be better prepared to serve them.”
Stephens said he is eager to play a key role in the chamber’s leadership.
“I’m excited to be joining this dynamic team,” he said. “We will continue to prioritize the value we provide our members while evolving our services in advance of their needs.”
The Bentonville chamber has 8 full-time employees and 2 contract employees, and a little more than 1,000 members. The nonprofit organization is making preparations to relocate in a couple of months from its office in the Tucker’s Corner building on the downtown square to a building at 702 S.E. Fifth St., an address north of the 8th Street Market in an area designated by the city as the market district.