This year, the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual expo breakfast was filled with inspiration and recognition, but it was the words of guest speaker Bobby Gosser Jr. that seemed to resonate with attendees.
Held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center on Thursday morning, Bobby Gosser Jr., president and CEO of Baldwin & Shell Construction Co., shared his journey, leadership philosophy and insightful perspectives on success.
Gosser, whose extensive background includes construction management and community development, began by expressing his initial surprise at being invited to speak. Despite his initial hesitation, Gosser delivered a powerful message about leadership, growth and community involvement. He detailed the history and evolution of his company, founded in 1946, and highlighted its portfolio of projects, many of which include projects in Pine Bluff including the new Watson Chapel High School under construction. However, it was his personal reflections and advice that captured the audience’s attention.
He emphasized the importance of setting goals, being receptive to feedback and empowering employees. “Employees need to be able to do the job; let them do the job,” he said, emphasizing the need not to micromanage. “Not everyone is good at the same things … I advise our staff to be patient.”
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Gosser also touched on the significance of community involvement, citing his company’s partnership with Craig O’Neill’s Imagination Library. “With that partnership together, we became involved, we sponsor him, we pay his expenses to go across the state and read to kids,” he said.
Throughout his speech, Gosser’s genuine passion and down-to-earth approach shone through. He candidly shared his experiences, both successes and setbacks, and offered practical advice for navigating challenges. He encouraged attendees to view mistakes as learning opportunities.
The audience was visibly engaged, nodding along with Gosser’s insights and applauding his thoughtful remarks. His message of continuous improvement, community dedication and authentic leadership left a lasting impression on all who were present.
The event also included the recognition of various individuals and organizations for their contributions to the community, adding to the morning’s overall celebratory atmosphere. However, it was Gosser’s heartfelt words and valuable wisdom that stood out as a true highlight of the Chamber Expo breakfast.
Gosser has built a remarkable career since joining Baldwin & Shell in 1987. According to his biography, his leadership spans major projects in education, health care and commercial sectors across Arkansas. Gosser is also a U.S. Army Reserves veteran and an active contributor to civic and industry organizations.
He provided an overview of Baldwin and Shell, emphasizing its long history.
“Founded in 1946, currently the past few years, we have a $300 million market in business,” he said. He further explained the range of projects the company undertakes, “We work in a lot of different sectors, commercial, national, K-12, municipalities, cities and religious institutions. We do a lot of renovations all week.”
Gosser concluded with the concept of continuous improvement. “If everyone in this room can do one thing better than you did yesterday, just one thing, how better would your companies be?” he said.
The Business Expo honored outstanding individuals and organizations with special awards. State Farm agent Kevin Bonnette was named Business Person of the Year.
The Non-Profit Organization of the Year award went to Jenkins Memorial Center & Industries Inc. Calicia Tisdale of Saracen Casino Resort was honored as Young Professional of the Year.
The Chamber expressed gratitude to its sponsors, including Simmons Bank, Relyance Bank, Jefferson Regional and others. The event featured a health fair and hospitality suite, showcasing organizations such as the American Red Cross, CASA Women’s Shelter, and United Way of Southeast Arkansas.
Exhibitors included prominent businesses such as Baldwin & Shell, Saracen Casino Resort, Southeast Arkansas College and Suzano Packaging. The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Expo drew several hundred visitors.
