Cheers, volunteers!
Engage Arkansas honored the 2025 Volunteer Communities of the Year at the League’s 2026 Winter Conference during a January 15 awards luncheon. Amanda Nipper, director of employee experience and career growth at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and chair of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism presented the awards. The annual award recognizes cities and towns that exemplify the spirit of public service through volunteer initiatives. The 2025 recipients are Cabot, Jonesboro, Keo, Maumelle, Pangburn, Sheridan and Wrightsville. For information about promoting civic engagement and to learn more about the award selection process, please visit EngageArkansas.org.
Celebrating Trendsetters
Also during the luncheon, the Arkansas Business Publishing Group presented its 2025 Trendsetter City Awards, which recognize cities and towns that improve the quality of life for their residents through innovative initiatives in categories such as diversity and inclusion, infrastructure and water, and tourism development and creative culture.
ABPG presented Blytheville with the 2025 Don A. Zimmerman Pinnacle Award for the city’s outstanding efforts in the category of education and workforce development. Above from left, Blytheville Council Member Jacquin Benson, Jr., Stacey Walker and Jernal Woods with Arkansas Northeastern College, League Executive Director Mark Hayes, Blytheville Mayor Melisa Logan, Blytheville HR Director Dr. Alisha Williams and Crews & Associates Senior Managing Director Paul Phillips.
The other 2025 winners and honorable mentions are Arkadelphia, Bentonville, Camden, Crossett, De Queen, Fairfield Bay, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Harrison, Heber Springs, Hot Springs, Huntsville, Jonesboro, Keo, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Paragould, Pea Ridge, Siloam Springs, West Memphis and Wrightsville. To learn more about the winning initiatives, please visit www.arkansasbusiness.com/supplements/trendsetter-city.
