womenfoundationarkansas.org

Two different publications with one shared agenda - supporting and covering the successes of Arkansas women.

Congratulations to the Women’s Foundation of Arkansason another successful year!

OCTOBER 2013 § VOL. 12

No8

Mimi San Pedro

power of the purse

Seeing RedThe Rep and the AAC

bring Little Rock a one-of-a-kind

Rothko experience

Rise & DineOur best brunch picks

Wish List24 nonprofi ts share their

stories and greatest needs

a Soirée special promotion

Through the Women's Foundation of Arkansas,

Mimi San Pedro uplifts the state's women and girls

little rock’s premier city magazine

Soiree_OCTOBER13_Cover.indd 1

9/18/13 Sep 18, 13 1:04 PM

The Lists [P15, 17]

The eight-figure price of Prairie Wings

Whispers [P3]

Exec Q&A With Larry Evans� e past and currentVP and general man-ager of AT&T in Ar-kansas and Oklahoma talks about life in the smartphone era. [P26]

VOL. 31, NO. 14 APRIL 7-13, 2014 $1.50

UPDATED DAILY: ArkansasBusiness.com

BusinessCautionary Tale:Former Little Rock trucking exec Ralph Bradbury has been ordered to pay the IRS bill on a company he didn’t own, but the owners are off the hook. [P10]

Arkansas

Largest Employers, Payroll Companies

THE STATE’S BUSINESS NEWS AUTHORITY.

UPDATED DAILY: ArkansasBusiness.com

SPOTLIGHT: Employee Compensation & Benefi ts

By Luke JonesLJones@ABPG.com

NONTRADITIONAL BENEFITSCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Nationally, about 30 per-cent of a company’s compensa-tion expenses per employee go toward benefits. These include all the typical perks: health insurance packages, sick days, vacation days, 401(k), etc.

But increasingly, companies are looking to offer benefits that fall outside the normal range: flexible hours, paid lunches, ice cream on Fridays. These perks might not be mentioned in the company handbook, but they’re becoming more important in attracting a new generation of employees and keeping the old ones.

The big name in this area is, of course, Google, with its on-staff masseuses, travel insur-ance and free corporate cafete-rias. But Google doesn’t have a corner on the market. Many smaller companies, including some in Arkansas, are trying to make work feel more like home.

“People are really starting to move toward the flex time, working from home, bringing their dogs to work. It’s becom-ing really common,” said Kelly DeStafano, state director of the Arkansas Society for Human

State Sen. Jane English has no use for the private option, the Medicaid expansion providing health insurance to the poor.

But the Republican lawmak-er from North Little Rock saw an opportunity and took it, and what began as an old-fashioned political horse trade — you get my vote, I get something for my constituents — appears likely to

evolve into a governor-backed legislative package that next year will seek to transform workforce training in Arkansas.

That’s because English would rather see the poor move out of sometimes multigenerational poverty into a job; so would Gov. Mike Beebe. At the same time employers in Arkansas, par-ticularly manufacturers, want a workforce that will show up for work and know how to use a ruler. (See sidebar.)

These wishes are on track to coalesce into a broad-based effort involving state agencies ranging from the Department of Correction to the Department of Higher Education to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, along with the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges and the Arkansas

By Jan CottinghamJCottingham@ABPG.com

Making It WorkSen. Jane English made an old-fashioned deal to jump-start a new approach to worker training. [PHOTO BY JASON BURT]

ARKANSAS BUSINESSPUBLISHING GROUP

BUY YOUR TICKETS: Best Practices for Cities & Counties Symposium, April 23Tickets available at ArkansasBusiness.com/BestPractices

WORKFORCE TRAININGCONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Nontraditional Benefits and Unusual Perks Are GrowingIn Popularity

Lawmaker helps spur workforce training reform

Arkansas Business

Best Practices for

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A woman’s purse is the container of her essence, the sacred, private space that holds her identity, her valuables, her memories, her dreams, her mystery.

Location & Contact:1510 South Main St.Little Rock, AR 72202Phone: 501.916.9022Email: essepursemuseum@gmail.comessepursemuseum.com

Hours:11 a.m. - 4 p.m.Tuesday through Sunday(Closed Mondays)

Admission:Regular: $10Seniors (60+): $8Military: $8Students (6-18): $8Children 5 and under: FreeAsk about group rates.

ESSE offers free parking and is close to many other SoMa attractions, including The Bernice Sculpture Garden, South on Main, Community Bakery, The Root Café, Boulevard Bread Co. and The Green Corner Store & Soda Fountain (Loblolly Creamery.)Museum & Store

ESSE

An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

arkansasbluecross.comThe Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. Helping Arkansas’ bright young women live fearless.

MPI 2104 8/14

ACHIEVE

DREAM

big things.

big dreams.

Tribute by SoMa Businesses & Merchants

f SoMa, the fabulously re-emerging area of Main Street south of I630, were to elect a first lady, the honor would undoubtedly be bestowed upon Anita Davis. SoMa CEO? Anita Davis. Fairy godmother?

Anita Davis. Savviest businesswoman? Anita Davis.

To those of us who work, play, live and thrive in the area, she’s all that and more.

Anita had a vision several years ago, a vision that led her to buy the Bernice Building in 2005, found the The Bernice Garden in 2007, bring various businesses to the neighborhood, then open ESSE Purse Museum in 2013 – a vision that helped turn a blighted neighborhood into the SoMa that was recently recognized by Southern Living as “The Next Great Neighborhood.”

Anita Davis also had the vision to found the Arkansas Cornbread Festival, now in its fourth year, which draws people, attention, and, most importantly, business to our area. Without her generosity of spirit and good business sense, who knows where we’d be today?

Those of us who know, appreciate, respect and love her are thrilled to offer this tribute to the woman who helped make us what we are today – successful, and privileged to know her.

Thank you, Anita.

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Cindy is there to celebrate the good times and help you meet

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Live the Life You Want

Acxiom is a proud sponsor for the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Power of the Purse event

Acxiom is pleased to salute our own Catherine Hughes, this year’s Woman of the Year in Philanthropy. A founding member of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, Catherine, who serves as our company’s corporate governance officer and secretary, has generously bestowed her time, her money, and her heart to a wide array of philanthropic endeavors through the years. Her gift for giving and her devotion to helping those in need stand as an inspiration to us all. Congratulations, Catherine!

A Gift for Giving

Catherine Hughes 2014 Woman of the Year

in Philanthropy

Acxiom is a proud sponsor for the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Power of the Purse event

Acxiom is pleased to salute our own Catherine Hughes, this year’s Woman of the Year in Philanthropy. A founding member of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, Catherine, who serves as our company’s corporate governance officer and secretary, has generously bestowed her time, her money, and her heart to a wide array of philanthropic endeavors through the years. Her gift for giving and her devotion to helping those in need stand as an inspiration to us all. Congratulations, Catherine!

A Gift for Giving

Catherine Hughes 2014 Woman of the Year

in Philanthropy

Promoting diversity and equality in the practice of law and in our community is more than something we do. It’s a part of who we are. Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP has

long focused on fostering a culture of equal opportunity, and that dedication continues today. Our commitment to excellence makes our firm and our community stronger.

113 years of history & 63 attorneys & 2 locations & 33 practice areas & hundreds of jury trials & countless successful results for our clients & in all 75 counties in Arkansas. | Attorneys At LAw www.wLJ.com

Leading the Way.Cultivating Leaders

LittLe rock: 200 w. capitol Ave., ste. 2300, Little rock, Ar 72201 | 501.371.0808 | edwin L. Lowther, Jr., Managing Partner northwest ArkAnsAs: 3333 Pinnacle hills Pkwy., ste. 510, rogers, Ar 72758 | 479.986.0888