Every January, we highlight the hard work and community outreach of a few of our members in the healthcare industry.

Below are some messages from some of our members who make up our Healthcare Committee. The Healthcare Committee works to recognize and celebrate the vital role of healthcare in our region. Among other activities, committee members help select the annual Physician of the Year, participate in the Chamber’s Healthcare Heroes campaign and Healthcare Reception, and collaborate on initiatives during Healthcare Month each September. Through these efforts, the committee supports and honors the healthcare professionals who make a lasting impact on our region.

Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care

Area Agency on Aging

Arkansas Colleges of Health Education

Methodist Village Senior Living

Mercy

United Way Fort Smith

First Friday Breakfast

Arkansas Secretary of State, Cole Jester, delivered a fantastic and informative keynote message on January 9th at our First Friday Breakfast event!

He discussed security updates on the campus of the Arkansas Capitol, achievements in voting regulations, and improvements to business license filing since he assumed this role last year. 

Congratulations to Chris Morris with McClelland Consulting Engineers, Inc. and Shea Foldvary with United Way of Fort Smith Area, Inc. on winning the incentive drawings provided by Choctaw Casinos & Resorts!

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible and helping bring this information to our members. 

Presenting Sponsor: Arkansas Colleges of Health Education

Hosting Sponsor: Przybysz & Associates, CPAs and Przybysz Wealth Management, LLC

Buffet Sponsor: Simmons Bank

Coffee Bar Sponsor: Express Employment Professionals

Incentive Drawing Sponsor: Choctaw Casinos & Resorts

Location Sponsor: University of Arkansas - Fort Smith

Business 2 Business Luncheon

Our first networking event of 2026 was a blast!

Attendees enjoyed lunch and conversation during our Business 2 Business Luncheon on January 15th at The Bakery District. 

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible!

Presenting Sponsor: Arvest Bank

Hosting Sponsor: McClure Professional Services

Lunch Sponsor: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

Location Sponsor: The Bakery District

Business Brew

It was an energizing morning at our Business Brew event on January 20th!

Attendees enjoyed breakfast and networking with fellow professionals at The Hangout Fitness and Sports. They were also able to tour the facility and enter for some great door prizes!

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible!

Presenting Sponsor: Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland

Hosting Sponsor: The Hangout Fitness and Sports

Breakfast Sponsor: Savvy Social Creative

Junior Leadership & Career Academy

We explored what keeps Fort Smith busy during our Arts, Hospitality, & Tourism session - thanks to our Session Sponsor Hampton Inn by Hilton Fort Smith!

Laura Asbill from Hampton Inn kicked off our day at the hotel talking about career paths and opportunities to travel the world in field of hospitality. She informed students on our region's largest tourism drivers.

Lolly Swicegood, Olan James, and Joanna Hernandez with Discover Fort Smith showcased the beautiful new visitors center and talked about their roles to create excellent experiences in the River Valley! 

John Jeter from the Fort Smith Symphony talked about how important it is to celebrate your city and embrace the amazing offerings we have. 

For lunch, we heard from Chef de Cuisine, Don McClelland, about his experiences at the Culinary Institute of America and how being a chef has taken him across the country. He also made incredible chicken teriyaki bowls for us!

We closed out the day touring the U.S. Marshals Museum and Fort Smith Regional Art Museum to further experience tourism drivers in our area. 

Thank you to our annual sponsors for their continued support!

Presenting Sponsor: OG&E

Annual Lunch and Break: Georgia-Pacific, Dixie

Platinum Sponsors: AT&T, Silgan Plastic Food Containers

Gold Sponsors: ABB, First National Bank, Hytrol, Mercy Fort Smith, and RightFiber

Leadership Fort Smith

The Class of 2026 enjoyed our Economic Development session, sponsored by Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp! 

We started the day with an informative tour and overview of global operations at ABB Motors and Drives US. 

Tim Allen, President & CEO of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Clint O’Neal, Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, joined us afterwards to discuss the Courtship of Companies in our city and state. 

ArcBest Innovation Lab welcomed us to explore their technology advancements that are changing manufacturing globally. 

We closed out the day by visiting the Fort Smith Regional Airport, and getting on base at the Ebbing Air National Guard Base. We learned about how they work together and their individual missions. The group got a jet tour, and learned about the equipment that keeps them safe while flying. 

It was an incredible day of learning, and we are thankful for our annual sponsors that make it happen! 

Presenting Sponsor: Arkansas Colleges of Health Education

Partner Sponsors: BHC Insurance, Mercy Hospital Fort Smith

Perks of Membership

Members and non-members gathered for our first Perks of Membership informational meeting on January 15th.

Perks of Membership is a relaxed, roundtable-style discussion open to both prospective and current Chamber members. Attendees will have the chance to introduce themselves, share what their business needs most right now, and connect with others while learning about the many benefits and resources the Chamber offers.

Foodie Friday

We had a fantastic time during our Foodie Friday at Fort Smith Coffee Co. in the U.S. Marshals Museum on January 16th! 

Thank you to everyone who joined us to support a local coffee shop and Chamber member. Congratulations to the giveaway winners!

Our new Foodie Friday takes us to various Chamber-member restaurants, coffee shops, and dessert spots to support, network, and enjoy lunch or treats. This is a fun, casual way to show some love to our local food and beverage members while building stronger business connections across the community.

Stay tuned for our next Foodie Friday meetup announcement!

January Ribbon Cuttings and Ground Breakings

Congratulations to the members who held ribbon cuttings and ground breakings with us this month! We are thrilled to celebrate these milestones

with you! 

New Members in January

We are so excited to welcome these businesses as members!

Opulent Party Design

Fort Smith Green Clean

Ozark Clinical Research

Angela Chantell Interiors LLC

Cam Campbell Chuck Fawcett Realty

Bright Staffing & Recruiting

Linda Black Chuck Fawcett Realty 

Lisa's Louvers of NWA, LLC

River City Realty 

Shelly Blaylock- River City Realty 

HTeaO

Taylor Rosas Agency LLC

Meridian Title Company

Kelly Co Travel 

RZ Painting LLC

Harper Ellis Salon 

Nailed it by Lex

AMBASSADOR OF THE MONTH

December 2025

We would like to congratulate Krystina Israel with Mercy Hospital Fort Smith on being chosen as our December Ambassador of the Month 🎉

We would also like to recognize and thank the companies that allow their BEST to be a part of our ambassador team!

Listed are the TOP 5 ambassadors who were extremely engaged with our new members, volunteered at events, and had a great online presence this month!

Krystina Israel - Mercy Fort Smith

Sterling Henderson - ClearCreek Wealth Management

Monica McCollum - Arvest Bank

Jill Golding - United Federal Credit Union

Laura Asbill - Hampton Inn by Hilton Fort Smith

Krystina is a Business Development Manager at Mercy. With over a decade of experience working in healthcare, she strives to identify and pursue new business opportunities to grow the hospital and clinic services and their reach. In this role, she is responsible for developing and executing strategic plans, building relationships with community members and employers, and ensuring Mercy services meets the needs of the community.

Krystina is a graduate of University of Arkansas- Fort Smith, and she began as an ambassador in 2019. She currently volunteers as a community interviewer at Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. She is also a graduate of Leadership Fort Smith 2021 "(Best class EVER)" and Ambassador of the Year 2020.

"I love being an ambassador because of the comradery between all the ambassadors. We are truly a family. Everyone is here to help each other grow both professionally and personally."

About Mercy:

Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith traces its roots back to 1853, when the Sisters of Mercy arrived by steamboat to care for the sick and educate the local community. In 1905, they established the St. Edward Infirmary, named after Bishop Edward Fitzgerald, marking the beginning of organized hospital care in the region. In August 1975, the Sisters opened a modern hospital on Rogers Avenue and began operating as St. Edward Mercy Medical Center. In 2012, the hospital officially adopted the name Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, reflecting its affiliation with the broader Mercy health system. In May 2025, Mercy Fort Smith opened a newly expanded emergency room and intensive care unit, while in August 2025 construction got underway on an expanded cancer center. Today, the hospital continues to serve the River Valley with advanced services ranging from robotic surgery to neonatal intensive care.

Congratulations to Krystina and all of our Ambassadors on another great month!

Thank you to Fig and Fern Floral for helping celebrate our Ambassador of the Month!

Grow Your Business in 2026 with the Fort Smith Chamber — Marketing Guide Now Available!

Our 2026 Fort Smith Chamber Marketing Packet is now available! Follow the link below to see all the exciting ways you can get involved next year!

Does your business offer a military discount?

Does your business offer a military discount? Fill out the form linked above and your business will be listed on our website and will receive a window sticker!

View our military discount directory here: https://www.fortsmithchamber.org/military-discounts/.

Thank you to all of our area businesses who offer discounts and support our military members!

2026 First Friday Breakfast Series: February 6th

Join us on February 6th at 7:30AM at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center! This month our featured guest speaker is Colonel Jonathan Esparza, Commander, 188th Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas Air National Guard. Whether your looking to expand your network, gain valuable insights, listen to an informative program, or simply enjoy a delicious breakfast among peers, this event is for you. 

Seats are limited, so don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow business professionals and community leaders. We look forward to seeing you there!

Click here to learn more about Colonel Esparza! 

2026 Business Brew Series: February 17th

Join us at our February Business Brew: Your Monthly Morning Networking Hub!

Held every third Tuesday, our monthly Business Brew event happens from 8:00AM to 9:00AM at a new space each month. This month, we will be at Fit Body Boot Camp. This casual event provides a refreshing way to kick off your day and expand your network! The goal of our Business Brew event is to create an inviting space where you can meet other members, discuss your business, share your goals, and forge meaningful relationships. Conversations flow easily over a light breakfast and fresh coffee, helping you to connect authentically.

Feel free to bring your business cards, brochures, and any materials that tell your story! Wear your name tag and bring a door prize (optional).

ChatGPT in Action: Hands-On Training for Daily Practitioners:

Wednesday, February 18th

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM 

This session will be held via Zoom

$100 for Chamber Members | $125 for Non-Members   

You know what ChatGPT is. You use it almost every day. But are you getting the most out of it?

In this no-fluff, hands-on session, Aric Mitchell will tackle the advanced capabilities of ChatGPT, particularly how it can do more than simply write emails and summarize news stories. 

You'll learn how ChatGPT can help you automate workflows, build practical applications (even with zero coding experience), and improve clarity, creativity, and communication across your organization. 

Perks of Membership

Date and Time: Thursday, February 19th, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Perks of Membership is a relaxed, roundtable-style discussion open to both prospective and current Chamber members. Attendees will have the chance to introduce themselves, share what their business needs most right now, and connect with others while learning about the many benefits and resources the Chamber offers.

Submit Your News

Share your news with us and it could be included in the next Chamber Connections newsletter!

This feature is to celebrate company milestones, employee recognition, promotions, or other accomplishments. Please utilize your Chamber Master account for events, deals, or general news releases.