Business community wants action from new chamber president

An informal and non-scientific survey of Fort Smith business leaders suggests that the business community hopes the new chamber president will be aggressive, transparent and move beyond just talking about regional economic development.

The City Wire recently asked about 50 Fort Smith business leaders four basic questions of the hiring of Paul Harvel as the new president of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The questions were:
• If you could have 30 minutes of one-on-one time with Harvel, what advice/direction/information would you give him?
• If you could have 30 minutes of one-on-one time with Harvel, what would you want to hear from Harvel in terms of his vision for the chamber and the community?
• What do you think Harvel’s challenges will be in his first 6 months?
• What do you think Harvel’s opportunities will be in his first 6 months?

ADVICE FOR HARVEL
“Be direct and be aggressive. The Chamber has a vital role to play in business development and leadership, and it seems that they have not been the voice of strength or solidarity that they could be or perhaps once were. Start on day one from a position of strength and challenge people to get behind the idea that many are better than one and when we stand together for progressive ideals, we stand for something.  Fort Smith and the region deserve that and more.”
— Jake Files, Fort Smith area real estate developer and former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives

“I would ask Mr. Harvel to consider the opportunity we have to make real change in how we perceive ourselves as a region. The timing is perfect with a relative new group of leaders. Mr. Harvel, Mr. (Dennis) Kelly (city of Fort Smith), Dr. (Paul) Beran (University of Arkansas at Fort Smith), Mr. (Ivy) Owen (director, Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority) and other leaders have an incredible opportunity to re-write the playbook. Now more than ever we must develop a strategy that will take a long term approach to the economic development of the region. We must focus on how we are perceived from the outside and how and what our residents talk and feel about our region. We need investment in parks and recreation that will not only serve as an economic tool for bringing in out of town guest but will create another focal point for all of us to take pride in. We must put emphasis in programs and infrastructure that retain young families.”
— Ed Devero, businessman and member of the Fort Smith Convention Center Commission

“Make the success of the (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center) the chamber’s top priority. I’d much rather see this community foster numerous start up companies than be one of 1,000 cities chasing after one established company looking for the best incentive package.”
— Travis Stephens, former candidate for Fort Smith city director

Stephens also suggested Harvel work to strengthen the chamber’s relationship with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, do more to provide advantages to chamber membership and to help support the revitalization of Young Emerging Leaders (YEL).

“I would like to see the Chamber possibly explore taking YEL underneath its umbrella with a staff person to (not necessarily lead the organization) but handle a lot of the administrative duties in order to free up time for those volunteering to sustain its success. There are lots of young professional organizations in other cities that are assisted or even run by chambers,” Stephens noted.

HOPES FOR HARVEL’S VISION
“What I would want to hear is that he will do all the above and to move forward in a real regional dynamic. I have heard him tell what he did in the Little Rock area and that is vital for this area as well. We have natural partners in the Crawford, Washington and Benton County areas and we need to be a part of this. We also need to look along the river. … I also want to hear the chamber being a cheerleader for the area and outreach to the rest of the state that we want to be a player. As Emon Mahony has said, ‘Fort Smith is just not a player.’ We need to get in the game as a vital part of Arkansas and a vital neighbor to Oklahoma.”
— Fort Smith Municipal Judge Jim Spears

“I would want to have him tell me who he is and WHY he is here. … I would hope that it is not to have another job or because he was looking for a place to land, but that he wanted to make a difference and saw our part of the world as the best place for him to do that. I would want to hear that he sees the promise in the region and has ideas on how to take advantage of it. I would want to see that he is capable of leading the charge and bringing people together to be for the same idea (even when it wasn’t their idea).  I would want to know that he believes that much can be accomplished even in a down time, and that time is now.”
— Jake Files

HARVEL’S CHALLENGES
“Convincing the community that while we have been served well over the past 40 years by manufacturing that we also need to pursue other types of business to compliment and adapt to the next 40 years.”
— Ed Devero

“His challenges and opportunities are one and the same. Form a cohesive team for regional economic and social development; gain political credibility; create a strategic plan that is shared with the citizenry; and be the face of growth for the area. He is very well placed to accomplish this with his friends and connections in Little Rock and across the state from the time that he was head of the state chamber and the Little Rock chamber. I am pumped about the possibilities but I have been before only to be disappointed. Hope springs eternal.”
— Judge Spears

HARVEL’S OPPORTUNITIES
“He is new and won’t be held responsible for the lack of transparency or action on what was told was going to be accomplished. If he can come in and show strong leadership, he will truly be an asset to our region. I hope for his success, and that it will translate to successes for many.”
— Jake Files

COMMENTS WITHOUT ATTRIBUTION
Comments from those in sensitive positions who wanted to comment without attribution included:

“Make the chamber a headquarters for our city with extensive knowledge, willingness to help people get things done, a ‘can do’ attitude; and positive customer service and public relations by EVERY chamber employee. For too many years, chamber officials and staff told everyone what a great job they were doing and refused to listen or follow up on good ideas presented by others. They often seemed to think visitors or individuals coming in the office were a bother rather than customers to be served.”

‘I would ask him if he intends to be a more open and transparent president, and if so, will he ask the same of the board and economic development team. I would also ask him — once he gets his bearings — if he would support the publication of a Fort Smith chamber report card grading the chamber’s score on the implementation of the TIP Strategies report that the chamber adopted. How exactly has the $4 million in cash and pledges been spent in support of the adopted and much-publicized plan.”

On challenges:
“Establishing a first class, high performing organization with exceptionally well trained employees. Adding staff who share the vision and who have the energy and ability to perform well.”

On Opportunities:
“Everyone is ready for leadership and collaboration and will be quick to respond. The community is hungry for leadership.”

“Turning the negative perceptions into positives, and to put to rest some of the bad taste left over from Mr. (Tom) Manskey. He (Harvel) needs to get the real business leadership in Fort Smith, the region and the state feeling positive about being more involved with us.”

Some of the most interesting advice came from Judge Spears.
“The advice I would give him is to listen, but not be persuaded by the general noise. To not be limited to any preconception of Fort Smith he may have. To appreciate the general dedication he will find in the public servants who work for us. To not be discouraged by some of the attitudes of elected officials. It’s not their fault that they don’t really see the big picture. Mostly to share all but confidential information. The perception is that all is shrouded in mystery at Garrison and Court Street.”