Minority Business Accelerator Committee

05/11/2026

Smart Business: Understanding A.I. In Today's Workplace Lunch & Learn 🤖💼

Join us for an engaging A.I. Lunch & Learn designed to help Chamber members better understand how artificial intelligence is transforming today’s business landscape. From marketing and customer service to productivity and operations, this session will explore practical, real-world ways businesses can leverage A.I. tools to work smarter, save time, and stay competitive in an evolving marketplace.

Perfect for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals of all experience levels.

📅 Wednesday, June 17
⏰ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Conference Center
💵 Cost: $15

Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, First Security Bank, for supporting this important conversation on innovation and business growth.

Reserve your spot today!
https://web.nlrchamber.org/events/Lunch-Learn-Smart-Business-Understanding-AI-in-Today-s-Workplace-1845/details

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

What an incredible evening hearing from inspiring women leaders! 💪✨Thank you to everyone who joined us at Empower HER: Leadership, and to our sponsors: ACC Capital & North Hills Florist & Gifts! 👏

We hope you walked away feeling empowered & ready to lead with boldness & authenticity! What's one takeaway from last night that stuck with you? 👇

If you'd like to stay up to date on future events or to learn more about the MBA Committee, send us a message! We can't wait to keep connecting with you & sharing resources to help your business, our community, thrive! 🤩

03/31/2026

Today's the day! 🤩 We hope to see YOU tonight at 5:30 at The North Little Rock Chamber Of Commerce!

03/23/2026

Empower HER: Leadership is a FREE event & will take a look at where we are and where we’re going. This panel brings together, women leaders from across business, nonprofit, and community sectors to reflect on the current state of leadership in the evolving landscape for women in professional spaces. Panelists will share honest insights on where we are today – highlighting progress made, challenges that remain, and lessons learned – while looking ahead to where leadership is headed.

Thank you to our amazing Presenting Sponsor, ACC Capital and our In-Kind North Hills Florist & Gifts for providing some beautiful arrangements!

This is a free event, but please register to let us know you’re coming!

Register here: https://web.nlrchamber.org/events/Empower-HER-Leadership-1816/details

03/23/2026

A huge THANK YOU to ACC Capital for serving as the Presenting Sponsor of our upcoming Empower HER: Leadership Event on March 31! ✨

We are incredibly grateful for your leadership and support in helping us bring this powerful event to life. Your investment in empowering women and strengthening our community makes a lasting impact, and we are truly excited to partner with you.

We can’t wait to celebrate, connect, and be inspired together—see you on March 31! 💕

03/23/2026

A huge THANK YOU to North Hills Florist & Gifts for providing the beautiful florals for our upcoming Empower HER: Leadership Event on March 31! 💐✨

We are incredibly grateful for your support in helping us create a welcoming and inspiring atmosphere for such a meaningful event. Your contribution will truly add a special touch as we celebrate and empower the amazing women in our community.

We can’t wait for everyone to experience it—see you on March 31! 💕

03/11/2026

Meet the panelists! 🌟 Faviola Alba serves as Senior Vice President and Community Business Lending Manager at Arvest Bank. With a proven track record of excellence, Faviola has demonstrated exceptional expertise in developing and implementing effective sales processes and operational strategies that empower her teams to deliver superior customer service.

As a dedicated Business Lending Manager, Faviola has established herself as a trusted advisor, facilitating lending and providing comprehensive financial solutions tailored to the unique needs of individuals and businesses. Her deep understanding of the credit landscape allows her to support clients in achieving their financial goals with precision and care.

Beyond her professional achievements, Faviola is recognized for her extensive community involvement and an unwavering commitment to making a lasting, positive impact on the banking industry and the communities she serves.

Thank you, Faviola, for your willingness to speak with us! 🫶

03/06/2026

Meet our moderator! 🌟 Ebony Mitchell is a dedicated professional from Harrison, Arkansas, with a strong academic, arts, and leadership background. She grew up dancing and performing throughout the United States. Ebony graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in December 2019 with a degree in Business Marketing and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Health Administration from John Brown University in May 2022.

Ebony's commitment to service and advocacy has been evident throughout her career. She proudly served as Miss Arkansas 2022, representing the state at the Miss America Competition. Over the past 10 years, she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about online safety, collaborating with the Arkansas Department of Education and elected officials to provide crucial training for educators and students across the state. She was also a member of Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XL.

In recognition of her dedication, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Ebony to the Arkansas 250 Commission. Her professional experience spans marketing, teaching, sports marketing, and nonprofit sectors, but she is most known for her unwavering advocacy for children across Arkansas.

Currently, Ebony serves as the Director of External Affairs for the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association, where she continues to make a meaningful impact in the community and beyond.

Thank you, Ebony, for your willingness to speak with us! 🫶

03/03/2026

Meet the panelists! 🌟 Dr. Shaneil Ealy is a connector, a community builder and an advocate for women’s leadership. She is the Executive Director and a founding member of the Women’s Leadership
Network (WLN), a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women to lead with authenticity, confidence and purpose. WLN’s mission is to build agency through connection, community and shared resources—so that every woman can own their power.

After two decades in higher education—most recently as Associate Vice President in the
Division of Outreach and Community Engagement at the University of Central Arkansas—Dr. Ealy stepped boldly into her purpose: creating spaces where women thrive. Through WLN, she now leads innovative, community-driven programs that support women across all life and leadership stages.

She has been honored with the Outstanding Woman in Nonprofit Award and the CALI Award for community leadership from the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Ealy was recently named one of AY Magazine’s Intriguing Women of 2025. Known for turning vision into impact, Dr. Ealy is committed to mentoring the next generation of women leaders and helping others find clarity in their calling.

Outside of her work, Shaneil and Taft, her husband of 22 years, are raising two football-loving sons, Henderson and Jase, while running three businesses: two diesel repair shops and H & J Express Towing and Recovery, named after their boys. They also manage cattle farms in
Central Arkansas in their spare time. Whether she’s enjoying nature, creating a new recipe,
teaching the youth at church or cheering from the bleachers, she brings the same energy to her personal life as she does her professional one—intentional and all in.

Thank you, Dr. Ealy, for your willingness to talk with us! 🫶

02/26/2026

Meet the panelists! 🌟 Anna Beth Gorman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, an organization that is one of the leading equity partners in building women’s economic security across the state of Arkansas. During her tenure, the Women’s Foundation has seen tremendous growth while focusing on two signature initiatives, Girls of Promise and Women Empowered. Prior to leading the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, she served as an executive with the Girl Scout organization for several years. In 2022, she was the Democratic Nominee for Arkansas Secretary of State. And for the last three years she has been recognized as one of the 250 most influential leaders in Arkansas by Arkansas Business.

She is a past chairman of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, active in Club 99 Rotary, board member of Arvest Bank Little Rock, and a very proud Girl Scout Troop Leader. She began her career in Public Service working for the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, as well as a Master of Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Thank you, Anna Beth, for your willingness to speak with us! 🫶