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The Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class spent a day on entrepreneurship and regional collaboration, touring a small business incubator and hearing from local owners about what it takes to build a company.
The group visited the Ozarks Small Business Incubator in West Plains, Missouri, for a question-and-answer session on how the incubator helps startups and growing businesses get off the ground. The stop across the state line reflected a regional approach to economic development.
A panel of local business owners followed. Duncan and Meg Clayton of Nature’s Way Health and Lifestyle, Russell Tucker of Rapp’s Barren Brewing Co. and Blue Heron Campground, Brian Littleton of Little B’s Grill and business owner Matt Norcross shared their experiences, challenges and advice for running a successful business.
The day closed with a discussion led by Dani Pugsley, president and CEO of the North Central Arkansas Economic Alliance and the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce. She spoke on economic growth and the role of strong community partnerships across the region.
The outing is one stop in a yearlong program the Chamber uses to build local leaders. The Leadership Class is designed to educate and inspire current and emerging leaders by giving them a deeper understanding of the organizations and services that make the community strong.
Over the course of a class year, members tour local institutions and meet the people who run them. A recent class spent a day with the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office learning about local law enforcement, while other sessions have focused on sectors such as economic development.
Past classes have also taken on community projects. The 2024 class organized a Workforce Development Summit that brought Arkansas Chamber of Commerce President Randy Zook to Mountain Home, and the 2025 class studied the future of the local industrial park.
For newcomers, the program offers a fast way into civic life, and for longtime residents it builds connections that carry over into their work. Graduates have gone on to serve on the Chamber board and other community boards.
