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  • Put your business front and center by sponsoring a Chamber event, annual program, or digital media.

    New network building events in 2022 include the Battle of the Business Bowling Tournament and the Local Lunch for restaurants.  BE PRO BE PROUD and Connecting Educators in Industry are focused on building the workforce pipeline for our community.  Also new this year are two annual program sponsorships, the Governmental Affairs Committee, and the Chamber Ambassadors, both focused on advocacy for a strong, business friendly climate in our community, county, and state. 

    Or promote your business utilizing the Chamber website, which received more than 145,000 visits in 2021. And don't forget the long running favorites; the Annual Meeting & Business Expo, the Golf Classic, Business After Hours, and the Arkansas Scholars Award Ceremony.

     

     

     

  • Arvest Adds Eddie Lee Herndon to Bank Board in Fort Smith

    Press Release

    FORT SMITH, Ark. (March 19, 2025) – Arvest Bank is pleased to announce Eddie Lee Herndon has been appointed to its board in Fort Smith. Herndon is currently community affairs manager for Oklahoma Gas & Electric.

    “We are excited to have Eddie Lee join our board in Fort Smith,” said Mike Jacimore, president of Arvest Bank – Fort Smith region. “His experience, knowledge and community relationships make him a tremendous asset for Arvest and our work in this region.”
     


    Prior to joining Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Herndon served as president and CEO of United Way of Fort Smith Area and United Way of West Tennessee from November 2011 to February 2015. He serves on numerous boards including the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, Western Arkansas Planning and Development District, LeFlore County Economic Development Commission, Fort Smith Regional Alliance, Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club, University of Arkansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Oklahoma Imagination Library and is a founding emeritus board member of the Arkansas Imagination Library.

    Herndon is a graduate of Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee, and has spoken to and conducted board development, fundraising, leadership, volunteerism, entrepreneurism and crisis management training for hundreds of groups, including Dolly Parton’s Homecoming in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America at Red Rocks, Colorado. 
     

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    About Arvest
    With more than $26 billion in assets, Arvest Bank is a community-based financial institution serving more than 110 communities in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Established in 1961, Arvest Bank is committed to meeting the needs of its more than 830,000 retail and business customer households by continually investing in the digital tools and services customers expect. Its extensive network of more than 200 banking locations provides loans, deposits, treasury management, wealth management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing as a part of its growing list of digital services. Arvest is known for its commitment to the communities it serves and to attracting, hiring and retaining a diverse group of talented people. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. To learn more please visit www.arvest.com.
     

    Arvest Adds Eddie Lee Herndon to Bank Board in Fort Smith