Editor’s Note: “The Economic Development Side” originally appears in the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce’s weekly member e-newsletter. It is written by Rhonda Dishner, the Economic Development Alliance’s executive assistant.
Spans of time usually pass in one of two ways. Depending on related situations, they either seem to move in slow motion or they fly by. The subject timespan of this week’s column is a period of ten years. One decade. And it has flown by.
For a long-time staff member of the Economic Development Alliance, it seems like yesterday that Lou Ann Nisbett walked into the building as the Alliance’s new president and chief executive officer. Actually it was September 15, 2006.
In acknowledgment of Nisbett’s ten years of service, a luncheon was hosted in her honor on September 23 at Pine Bluff Country Club. Board Chairman Mac Bellingrath made arrangements on behalf of the Alliance’s other executive officers, David Bridgforth and Steven Brown, and the board. Invitees included Alliance board members, representatives of Alliance affiliate organizations, and Nisbett’s six-member staff.
After jokingly assuring Nisbett that this wasn’t a roast, Bellingrath made a few prepared remarks that began with thanks for “truly investing ten years of your career with us,” calling it a decade of “outstanding progress” and mentioning some of the industries that have located, expanded or been announced.
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Bellingrath also expressed his belief that Nisbett’s sincere commitment to this community is part of “your Christian mission,” and he enumerated other attributes like fine character, fine ambassador for the community, hard worker, and always positive, in addition to pointing out that she is skilled in economic development and has the admiration of her staff.
Chuck Morgan, president of what’s now Relyance Bank, was chairman of the Alliance board in 2006. At the luncheon, he reminisced about the day that he and several directors of Alliance organizations — Ford Trotter, Brian McGeorge and (the late) Joe Ratliff — drove to Marshall, TX, to speak with Nisbett.
Although she had been identified by an executive search firm as a highly qualified candidate for the job, Morgan remembered that Nisbett was not looking for a new position and had to be convinced to make an unplanned move to Pine Bluff. “She finally agreed, and she’s been a great fit for our community,” Morgan added.
Past board chairman Tommy May, retired former chairman and CEO of Simmons First National Corporation who now heads the Simmons First Foundation and works with Nisbett on the Go Forward Pine Bluff initiative, agreed with Bellingrath’s assessment of Nisbett’s character and work ethic.
“I agree that the many things Mac said about Lou Ann are true, especially regarding her positive attitude and hard work,” May summarized even as the group was still amused at several board members’ comments about just how early her work days start and she begins answering emails and texts.
As tributes were concluding, Nisbett expressed her appreciation for the unexpected recognition and for members of all the boards who volunteer their time in support of Alliance economic development efforts.
In addition to the guest of honor, attendees were Bellingrath, Bridgforth, Brown, May, Morgan, David Bush, Marty Casteel, Rob Cheatwood, Ted Drake, Scott McGeorge, Chad Pittillo and Ford Trotter and staff members Caleb McMahon, Rhonda Dishner, Monica Mitcham, Nancy McNew, Mandy Owens and Twylla Lee.