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Mike Preston wearing a new hat in the business arena
Former Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston is wearing a new hat these days — a hard hat. Preston was recently named CEO of CDI Contractors, a construction firm owned…
Tag: Mike Preston
by - September 22, 2025 4:53 pm
CDI Contractors names former Commerce Secretary Mike Preston as CEO
CDI Contractors, LLC announced Monday (Sept. 22) a series of leadership changes that included Mike Preston, former Arkansas Secretary of Commerce, being named CEO of the construction company owned by…
by - January 18, 2023 10:20 am
Former Commerce Secretary Mike Preston joins Stephens Inc.
Former Arkansas Secretary of Commerce and Arkansas Economic Development Commission director Mike Preston is joining Stephens Inc. to start a new Site & Incentive Advisory (SIA) practice, the Little Rock-based…
by - November 3, 2021 10:35 am
State’s Commerce chief using supply chain issues to market Arkansas
Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston sees an opportunity in the bottleneck choking global trade. Preston said the state’s geographic location, transportation advantages, and economic leadership chemistry has positioned Arkansas…
by - February 7, 2021 9:57 am
Beyond unemployment insurance, Arkansas Secretary of Commerce focused on broadband, jobs pipeline
Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston is juggling a lot these days: unemployment insurance, broadband expansion, a spate of bills at the legislature, and efforts to keep economic development projects…
by - October 20, 2019 9:54 am
Commerce chief: Brakes on new Chinese projects in U.S., Arkansas; prospects abound in India, UAE
While prospects abound for Arkansas in the Middle East and India, new Chinese investments have largely ground to a halt in Arkansas and U.S., according to Arkansas Secretary of Commerce…
by - April 28, 2019 10:17 am
AEDC chief recounts busy week, says Chinese projects still moving forward
With 750 new jobs announced over a three-day period, the state’s top jobs recruiter says the pipeline “is full” for more and he expects to close most, if not all,…
by - January 28, 2018 9:48 am
2018 executive wish list includes better healthcare, more jobs and higher-skilled workforce
As part of Talk Business & Politics “2018 State of the State” magazine, three Arkansas executives offered their insights on the upcoming year and their expectations. Former Deltic Timber CEO…
by - July 30, 2017 9:38 am
AEDC director talks China, rice; cautious about NAFTA negotiations
Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston said Gov. Asa Hutchinson and President Donald Trump’s administration deserve credit for the breakthrough with the reopening of U.S.-China rice and beef…
by - March 20, 2017 5:59 pm
State training programs for blue-collar workers could be pared under Trump budget
A key program that is part of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s workforce initiative to retrain and retool Arkansas’ blue collar-focused labor pool for a more technology-oriented economy could be at risk…
by - February 26, 2017 9:52 am
AEDC’s Mike Preston: Trump a factor in full project pipeline, wary of bills affecting Arkansas’ image
Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston said there is brimming CEO confidence that has his agency’s pipeline of potential projects full. Preston, who appeared on this week’s edition…
by - December 11, 2016 10:53 am
Fidel Castro is dead. What’s next?
Editor’s note: Mike Preston is executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Opinions, commentary and other essays posted in this space are wholly the view of the author(s). –––––––––––––––––––…
by - July 6, 2015 9:58 am
AEDC’s Mike Preston bullish on Arkansas, eager to improve state’s image
Mike Preston, the new executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, sits in his fourth-floor office overlooking Capitol Avenue in downtown Little Rock on a sunny late-spring afternoon, sipping…
by - March 29, 2015 2:04 pm
New AEDC boss: Rural Arkansas, public-private partnerships part of focus
On Thursday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson officially named Mike Preston as the new executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the state agency charged with recruiting and retaining jobs. Preston…