How long have you been working for a chamber? I know you were previously at Sherwood, but not sure on the other stops
I recently became the new Executive Director at the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce in January 2023. I am coming over from the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce where I served as the President/CEO since 2018. In my early career I worked in the state office of Arkansas federal legislators and the Texas Attorney General’s office. I have worked in government since graduating from college and took the leap to the nonprofit world in 2018.
I was honored to be a graduate of Leadership Arkansas class XVI in 2022. I currently serve on the Arkansas Economic Development and Chamber Executives board of directors, the Little Rock Air Force Base community council board of directors and the Camp Robinson/Camp Pike
How long have you lived in Maumelle?
My husband Stephen and I have been married 22 years and have been residents of Maumelle for 10 of those. We have three children, Emily – age 25, Spencer – age 18 and Macy – age 17. Stephen is an Allstate Insurance agent.
I know you also have a snow cone business; how long have you been doing that?
Along with our day jobs, my husband and I purchased the food truck, sugARush Snoballs in 2019. We were regular customers and when the Maumellians that owned the business at that time decided to sell, our addiction influenced us greatly. We serve New Orleans style shaved ice with homemade syrups and other delicious toppings that provide that “sugARush”.
How has the experience of owning a business impacted the kind of work you do for a chamber of commerce?
I assisted my husband Stephen open his small business in 2013 and worked with him for 5 years. Previously, I also worked with our family business, Rice Capital, in Stuttgart, and most recently our food truck business here in Maumelle. I have experienced firsthand the trials and tribulations that small businesses encounter every day and will work to help Maumelle area businesses make the connections they need to retain and expand their presence. The chamber is designed to serve as the driving force in bridging businesses, community members, workforce development and educational needs for our city.
Are you from Arkansas and if so, where did you grow up and, if not, how did you make your way to central Arkansas?
My family originates in Northeast Arkansas, but the rice industry moved us to Mississippi during my elementary years where I graduated from high school in Greenville, Mississippi. I then continued on to the University of Mississippi and graduated with a Bachelor of Public Administration degree and minored in Sociology. The rice business again moved us back to Arkansas in the 1990’s and we have been living in Central Arkansas ever since.
What are some of your plans for the Maumelle chamber in terms of events and such?
The chamber is working to bring back our ambassador group, we started a leads group in February and will start back with monthly luncheon beginning with the “State of the City” luncheon in March. We have the Annual Banquet scheduled for April 13th at the Venue at Westwind and the annual golf tournament on May 11th at the Maumelle Country Club. May 23-25, the chamber, along with city’s economic development director, Courtney Dunn, will host a community/economic development event at the Maumelle Community Center. More information will be released on the event in the near future, but it will be like a pep rally for Maumelle. Anyone interested in getting involved can reach out to the chamber.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Maumelle is a great city, and we feel very lucky to have been able to raise our children here during their formidable years. It is a blessing to be able to work with such a wonderful community and I look forward to a great future for the people of Maumelle.
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Q&A: Kellie Wall, Executive Director of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce
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Kellie Wall, below, was hired to be the new Executive Director of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce.
The following is a lightly edited transcript of a Question & Answer session with ArkansasNewsroom.com.
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How long have you been working for a chamber? I know you were previously at Sherwood, but not sure on the other stops
I recently became the new Executive Director at the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce in January 2023. I am coming over from the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce where I served as the President/CEO since 2018. In my early career I worked in the state office of Arkansas federal legislators and the Texas Attorney General’s office. I have worked in government since graduating from college and took the leap to the nonprofit world in 2018.
I was honored to be a graduate of Leadership Arkansas class XVI in 2022. I currently serve on the Arkansas Economic Development and Chamber Executives board of directors, the Little Rock Air Force Base community council board of directors and the Camp Robinson/Camp Pike
How long have you lived in Maumelle?
My husband Stephen and I have been married 22 years and have been residents of Maumelle for 10 of those. We have three children, Emily – age 25, Spencer – age 18 and Macy – age 17. Stephen is an Allstate Insurance agent.
I know you also have a snow cone business; how long have you been doing that?
Along with our day jobs, my husband and I purchased the food truck, sugARush Snoballs in 2019. We were regular customers and when the Maumellians that owned the business at that time decided to sell, our addiction influenced us greatly. We serve New Orleans style shaved ice with homemade syrups and other delicious toppings that provide that “sugARush”.
How has the experience of owning a business impacted the kind of work you do for a chamber of commerce?
I assisted my husband Stephen open his small business in 2013 and worked with him for 5 years. Previously, I also worked with our family business, Rice Capital, in Stuttgart, and most recently our food truck business here in Maumelle. I have experienced firsthand the trials and tribulations that small businesses encounter every day and will work to help Maumelle area businesses make the connections they need to retain and expand their presence. The chamber is designed to serve as the driving force in bridging businesses, community members, workforce development and educational needs for our city.
Are you from Arkansas and if so, where did you grow up and, if not, how did you make your way to central Arkansas?
My family originates in Northeast Arkansas, but the rice industry moved us to Mississippi during my elementary years where I graduated from high school in Greenville, Mississippi. I then continued on to the University of Mississippi and graduated with a Bachelor of Public Administration degree and minored in Sociology. The rice business again moved us back to Arkansas in the 1990’s and we have been living in Central Arkansas ever since.
What are some of your plans for the Maumelle chamber in terms of events and such?
The chamber is working to bring back our ambassador group, we started a leads group in February and will start back with monthly luncheon beginning with the “State of the City” luncheon in March. We have the Annual Banquet scheduled for April 13th at the Venue at Westwind and the annual golf tournament on May 11th at the Maumelle Country Club. May 23-25, the chamber, along with city’s economic development director, Courtney Dunn, will host a community/economic development event at the Maumelle Community Center. More information will be released on the event in the near future, but it will be like a pep rally for Maumelle. Anyone interested in getting involved can reach out to the chamber.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Maumelle is a great city, and we feel very lucky to have been able to raise our children here during their formidable years. It is a blessing to be able to work with such a wonderful community and I look forward to a great future for the people of Maumelle.