New Fort Smith chamber president to begin May 26

Paul Harvel will begin May 26 his new job as president of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber announced April 16 it had hired the Arkansas chamber veteran but did not have a date on when he would begin.

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 told The City Wire he would start May 26 but would attempt to be at the chamber every Monday prior to that date to get familiar with chamber operations and staff.

The responsibilities of closing out his time at the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance have kept him from focusing on plans for the new job, Harvel said. Harvel officially resigned from the alliance on April 17.