BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20220805T123000Z DTEND:20220805T133000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:2022 First Friday Breakfast Series: August 5th DESCRIPTION:Join us on Friday\, August 5th for First Friday Breakfast. In the spirit of our "Shop Local" campaign during this back to school season\, you will have an opportunity to hear from a few LOCAL business owners. They will share information on how they got started\, challenges they had to overcome and advice for attaining success! This will be a panel discussion moderated by Bill Sabo\, Regional Director for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Department at UAFS. \n\n \n\nIn Arkansas\, small businesses make up the majority of the business landscape. According to an article published by Arkansas House of Representatives\, 99.3% of businesses in the state are small businesses this equates to approximately 260\,000 businesses. It is estimated that for every $100 spend at a local business\, $68 recirculates and remains in the local economy. Small businesses employ 47% of Arkansas employees or approximately 491\,000 people. When you show patronage to a small business\, you are doing business with someone that took a chance on their dreams or are working hard to continue the dream of their families. \n\n \n\nWe will be hearing from a few of the individuals that chose to "take a chance' in Fort Smith today. \n\nIncluded on the panel are: \n\n \nDr. Sandy Johnson\n\nOwner/Provider\n\nJohnson Dermatology\n\nIn business for over 16 years\n\nAaron Littlefield\, III\n\nPres/CEO\n\nLittlefield Companies\n\nFamily owned/operated business for over 75 years\n\n \n\nMelissa Vitale\n\nOwner/Operator\n\nTrue Grit Running Co.\n\nIn business since 2016\n\n \n\nJoe Caldarera\n\nOwner/Operator\n\nTaliano's Italian Restaurant\n\nFamily owned for 52 Years X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Join us on Friday\, August 5th \;for First Friday Breakfast.  \;In the spirit of our &ldquo\;Shop Local"\; campaign during this back to school season\, you will have an opportunity to hear from a few LOCAL business owners. They will share information on how they got started\, challenges they had to overcome and advice for attaining success! \; This will be a panel discussion moderated by Bill Sabo\, Regional Director for the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Department at UAFS. \;
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\nIn Arkansas\, small businesses make up the majority of the business landscape. According to an article published by Arkansas House of Representatives\, 99.3% of businesses in the state are small businesses this equates to approximately 260\,000 businesses. \; It is estimated that for every $100 spend at a local business\, $68 recirculates and remains in the local economy. \; Small businesses employ 47% of Arkansas employees or approximately 491\,000 people. \; When you show patronage to a small business\, you are doing business with someone that took a chance on their dreams or are working hard to continue the dream of their families. \;
\n \;
\nWe will be hearing from a few of the individuals that chose to &ldquo\;take a chance&rsquo\; in Fort Smith today. \;  \;
\nIncluded on the panel are: \;
\n \;\n

Dr. Sandy Johnson
\nOwner/Provider
\nJohnson Dermatology
\nIn business for over 16 years

\n\n

Aaron Littlefield\, III

\n\n

Pres/CEO

\n\n

Littlefield Companies

\n\n

Family owned/operated business for over 75 years
\n \;

\n\n

Melissa Vitale

\n\n

Owner/Operator

\n\n

True Grit Running Co.

\n\n

In business since 2016
\n \;

\n\n

Joe Caldarera

\n\n

Owner/Operator

\n\n

Taliano'\;s Italian Restaurant

\n\n

Family owned for 52 Years

\n\n

 \;

\n\n

 \;

\n\n

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\n LOCATION:University of Arkansas Fort Smith\, Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center\, Reynolds Room 800 North 49th Street Fort Smith\, AR 72904 UID:e.201.14958 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20261024T122957Z URL:https://public.fortsmithchamber.com/events/details/2022-first-friday-breakfast-series-august-5th-14958 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR