Fort Smith chamber hires Paul Harvel for top job (Updated)

Paul Harvel, now serving as president of the Clark County (Arkadelphia) Economic Development Corp., has been hired as the new president of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. The chamber board of directors approved Harvel at their Thursday board meeting.

No effective date for Harvel joining the chamber was given.

Updated info: "I am excited about this," Harvel told The City Wire. "(Fort Smith) is a great place … and there is so much that can be done here."

Harvel said his first task would be to visit with as many chamber members as possible before defining any significant new directions for the chamber.

"I want to visit with the membership, small and large members, and see what’s on their minds. They’ve been here, they know it (the chamber), and I should talk to them," Harvel explained.

Harvel has served as president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce for two years, and served more than 20 years as the president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is now a commissioner on the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Harvel started Leadership Little Rock in 1985 and was responsible for the vision and construction of the $8.6 million Little Rock Chamber Building, now considered one of the nation’s premier chamber marketing facilities, according to a statement from the Fort Smith chamber.

The chamber began its search for a new president when Tom Manskey announced Dec. 18 he would resign the chamber president job effective Jan, 30, 2009. Sandy Sanders was tapped to serve as interim chamber president until a replacement was found.

Roger Meek, chairman of the chamber board of directors, told The City Wire that Harvel comes to the job with a “clear interest” in building an economic development team for the Fort Smith region.

“He explained to the board today that no one person can make that (economic development) happen. It is his belief that in today’s world, it takes a lot of people in place in a community, or in a region, to do that,” Meek said.

Meek said Harvel’s overall experience with chamber work was a big factor, especially in terms of membership development.

“His philosophy about the relationships that a chamber needs to have and can have with the businesses in its area was very impressive. That was certainly a positive,” Meek explained.