Business Briefs for July 17, 2006

ðÐWindstream Corp. of Little Rock, the newly formed company that combined Alltel Corp.'s wireline division and Valor Communications Group Inc., will replace Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. on Standard & Poor's 500 stock index. Cooper Tire has a market capitalization of about $664 million, ranking 500th in the index. The index change will be made after the close of trading on Monday. Windstream is expected to carry the symbol WIN when trading begins.

ðÐThe MarBax Shirt Co., a subsidiary of Capital Mercury Apparel Ltd. of New York City, will close its shirt distribution center at Gassville (Baxter County) by the end of the year, putting 75 out of work. The company, which handles such brands as Arnold Palmer, Bill Blass and Robert Stock, said overseas competition is forcing the closure. A shipping facility at Marion County Shirt Co. at Yellville, which employs 75 to 90 people, will continue to operate.

ðÐRonald Pierce has been appointed to the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission by Gov. Mike Huckabee. Pierce replaces Mike Freeze, whose term ended June 30. Pierce, 71, is CEO and owner of Challenger Inc. Bass Cat Boats at Mountain Home. Previously, he was employed with Baxter/Travenol Laboratories as plastics superintendent in Mountain Home. He was also mayor of Mountain Home from 1976-86.

ðÐBob Corscadden, chief marketing officer for Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale, is resigning as of July 20 for personal reasons after 14 years with the meat processor, and his duties will be assumed by Tyson's vice president of marketing services, Sue Quillin, who has most recently overseen branding, advertising and market research for Tyson.

ðÐThomas "Mack" McLarty III, an Arkansas native and former White House chief of staff during the Clinton administration, has joined the board of directors of IdleAire Technologies Corp. of Knoxville, Tenn. IdleAire is a private company that makes independent, external systems for trailer trucks that provide the same sorts of services inherent in a recreational vehicle, including air conditioning and heating, Internet access, and electricity. Truck drivers are able to shut off the truck when idle but still have access to those comforts.

ðÐMelvyn Bell of Little Rock, 68, died July 8 after a long battle with cancer. He was CEO for Environmental Systems Co., or Ensco, and a partner of Bell Burrough Brasuell & Uerling. He was a former owner of the Magic Springs theme park in Hot Springs. He also had owned Belvedere Country Club in Hot Springs.

ðÐEd Coulter, the founding and current chancellor of Arkansas State University at Mountain Home, has become chairman of the American Association of Community Colleges board of directors. Coulter began his one-year term on July 1. He succeeds Michael B. McCall, president of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System.

ðÐMercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas at Rogers announced a restructuring of its leadership, naming George Flynn, the chief operating officer, to be CEO and Susan Barrett, who had been president and CEO, to be president. Mercy Health said Barrett will focus on community relationships and activities, as well as fundraising. Flynn will focus on hospital operations.

ðÐThe Arkansas Oklahoma Wireless Association will hold its quarterly luncheon on July 19 at the Waterford Marriott in Oklahoma City. The association has grown to 100 members. It comprises members from all sectors of the wireless industry: carriers, site providers, tower companies, equipment vendors, construction companies, and legal and other consultants. It promotes wireless industry awareness. For more information, visit .

ðÐNorth Arkansas Regional Medical Center at Harrison has signed an agreement with the National Emergency Services Healthcare Group to provide new services in the emergency department, focusing on improving patient satisfaction, enhancing quality guidelines and protocols, as well as improving patient wait times.

ðÐThe northwest Arkansas chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants has been awarded Outstanding Achievement in Certification for 2006 by the Institute of Certified Management Accountants' board of regents. The chapter, based in Fort Smith, was organized in 1966 to provide professional education and networking for management accountants.

ðÐA University of Arkansas at Fayetteville workshop on energy and value-added products from biomass will be held Aug. 24-25 at Embassy Suites in Little Rock. Topics will include biomass feedstocks; biodiesel and other biofuels; biorefineries; value-added products; economic development benefits; and marketing, business and entrepreneurial activities. The cost is $30, which includes reception, lunch and workshop materials. After Aug. 6, the price is $50. For more information, e-mail or call Jerry King (479) 575-5979.

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