The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce has been the voice of the Conway (and surrounding area) business community since 1891 and Executive Vice President Jamie Gates is not only a leader in the Conway community, but is a well-known community and economic development expert throughout the state. On episode 8 of the CDI podcast, you'll learn more about Jamie and his thoughts concerning the state of business in Arkansas.

Dr. Jeff Standridge is the Managing Director of the AR Conductor, a public-private initiative powered by the Central Arkansas Venture Team, sponsored by the University of Central Arkansas and supported by Startup Junkie Consulting and Community Venture Foundation. Episode 7 of the CDI podcast explores the world of entrepreneurship in Arkansas through the eyes of Dr. Standridge and his unique background.

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce Julie Murray is an experienced business professional with an extensive background in strategic planning and community development. Join us on Episode 6 of the CDI Podcast to learn more about Julie, Van Buren, and her unique views from the Chamber world!

Entergy Arkansas is a foundational piece of community and economic development in our state. Tandee White, Entergy's Community Development Program Manager, shares her insights into supporting our local communities, preparing for the future, and her experience on the ground in our cities and towns. Entergy is a sponsor of CDI 2020 and a strong advocate and partner for our team at the University of Central Arkansas.

Engaging young people in our communities can sometimes be a challenge, but their input is necessary if you want to create a vibrant, growing city. Learn some tips and tricks on engaging young folks (specifically college students) from two amazing University of Central Arkansas students, Will Gloster and Javier Hernandez.

Director of Service Learning and Volunteerism at the University of Central Arkansas Dr. Lesley Graybeal joins us on the CDI Podcast to answer questions about service learning, volunteerism, and how you can harness the power of college students to make a positive impact on your community.

On this episode, we learn about the organization with a long name that provides amazing results: the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (better known as the ASBTDC)! Interim Programs Manager Whitney Horton shares resources the ASBTDC provides and gives us a peek behind the curtain into her past and present.

Welcome to the CDI Podcast! On this episode, University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) Director Shelby Fiegel and Assistant Director Dylan Edgell share information about their work at UCA CCED, themselves, and what to expect on upcoming episodes.