Saline County Economic Development Corporation [Press Release]

Benton Chamber Exec Honored as First Mid-South Economic Development Professional

Saline County, AR (March 12, 2007) –

Mr. Mark Gillis, executive director of the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce was recognized today as the first ever certified Mid-South Economic Development Professional by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Center for Economic Development Education.

Dr. Ron Swager, course director, Ms. Maria Haley, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, and Eddie Black, Saline County Economic Development Corporation board chairman and Benton Area Chamber of Commerce board member, were on hand to make the presentation at the evening AT&T reception honoring the 2007 Mid-South Basic Economic Development Course (MSEDC) at UALR’s Jack Stephens Center. The MSEDC is in its fourth session at UALR with a record number of 40 attendees for the Class of 2007.

“We are very honored to be able to present Mark with the first-ever Mid-South EDP certification. We appreciate Mark’s commitment of time and hard work required to complete the certification program,” said Swager. “Through his example, we hope to see many others follow.”

“I am very proud of Mark for his determination and extra effort spent doing coarse work to achieve the designation of Mid-South Economic Development Professional,” said Black. “And I believe the knowledge he gained will be invaluable as we work together in Saline County to attract key business to our County.”

The Mid-South Economic Development Professional designation is obtained through the UALR Center for Economic Development Education by completing 18 hours of specified instruction and successfully completing a comprehensive examination.

“Being the first college graduate in my family, I've always been involved in continuing education because education is the only thing that can't be taken from you,” said Gillis. “I’m grateful to UALR to be able to continue that education here in Arkansas and to Entergy for providing scholarships to pursue such.”

For more information on the certification program or the Center, please visit www.aiea.ualr.edu/econdev.