Marion Chamber presents 2016 Awards

Marion Chamber presents 2016 Awards

Outstanding businesses, individuals recognized at ceremony

news@theeveningtimes.com

2016 is shaping up to be a great year for Marion and the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

Hino Motors added over 100 new jobs and continues to grow.

Bayer Crop Science recently built a new $4.8 million facility just off I-55 and Highway 64 which will bring some of the finest scientific minds to Marion for soybean breeding research.

And TTX which refurbishes railcars opened a manufacturing plant out at the Intermodal facility with 30 new jobs.

“We’ve got good things going on on the industrial front,” said Chamber President Mike Demster.

But it is still the small business community which remains the heart and soul of the local economy.

“These businesses are so important because they are on the front lines of business customer relationships,” Demster said.

“They don’t have a corporate culture to fall back on.”

The Chamber welcomed Governor Asa Hutchinson and saluted its members during its annual awards banquet on Sept. 12 which this year was held at the Reynolds Center at ASU Mid-South.

The Beauty Parlor was honored as New Business of the Year.

Sara Haralson started the hair salon with two stylists and has since grown to six employees.

“She’s drawing folks from all over who come to take part in her services,” Demster said. “She has done a tremendous job and we are so glad to have her.”

Business of the Year was awarded to Tara Barton and Rachael Ruud of The Merry Magnolia.

Demster said he was pleased the award went to a local retailer, which has been a big focus of their recruitment efforts.

“We often refer to Memphis as a blessing and a curse,” Demster said. “It’s a blessing because we are minutes away from big city attractions. But we’re also minutes away from some fairly formidable retail competition. The Merry Magnolia has carried the flag for our retail sector.

It’s one of the number one top stops for tourists that come to the area. I don’t know where they find the things they have in the shop, but I can tell you from experience that if you see something you better go get it because it won’t be there twice.”

Chamber Member of the Year was presented to Randy Sullivan of Arkansas Distributing.

“He’s Mr. Humility,” Demster said. “He said ‘but I’m just the face of Arkansas Distributing.’ But I can tell you everything they do has Randy’s fingerprints on it. We are grateful for everything he and Arkansas Distributing does.”

Local historian Norman Vickers was this year’s recipient of the Ernest Crawford Lifetime Achievement Award.

“If you look up curiosity in the dictionary, it is going to refer you to Norman Vickers,” Demster said.

“He sees the world through a different lens. He asks questions and wants to know why and how certain events have evolved. He is just a remarkable human to spend time with. It goes back to his Army days where was a deejay in Okinawa for a while and 30 plus years as a historical educator in eastern Arkansas. Most recently he served as president of our Sultana Historical Preservation Society. And he is just a great friend.”

And outgoing Chamber Board of Directors president Karen Weaver passed the gavel to incoming president Reagan Davis.

By Mark Randall