📌 Summary
As the Director of Information and Statistics at the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, I supported both business development and IT operations for a 10-person office.
I helped companies like Mars, Umarex, and Mitsubishi explore and expand into Fort Smith by researching property options and providing data for relocation proposals. I also managed the office’s technology, including systems, servers, user support, and vendor coordination.
This work helped bring new businesses to the city and improved IT performance in the organization.
📂 Role Overview
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💼 Company: Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce
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📆 Duration: July 2007 - January 2011
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🏢 Employment Type: Part-time for a year, then full-time
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📍 Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas
🎯 Key Responsibilities
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Business Development and Property Research - Researched 55+ RFPs to help companies evaluate Fort Smith for relocation or expansion, including site availability, infrastructure, and incentives.
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Site Selection and Evaluation - Provided data on property locations, market trends, and analysis to help companies make informed decisions.
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Stakeholder Coordination and Data Management - Worked with company leaders, developers, and government officials to share important data for project planning.
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IT Administration and End-User Support - Provided daily support for office devices, printers, software, and internet services.
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System and Server Management - Maintained file servers, Microsoft Exchange, and shared drives to keep operations running smoothly.
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Vendor and IT Liaison - Coordinated with IT vendors for system upgrades, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
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Hardware and Software Maintenance - Installed and managed office devices, operating systems, and applications.
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Data Management and Security - Ensured secure access to files and backed up critical data.
🚀 Achievements and Impact
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✅ Attracted major companies - Supported Mars, Umarex, and Mitsubishi in expanding into Fort Smith, boosting the local economy.
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✅ Streamlined site selection - Provided accurate location data, helping companies make faster decisions about relocation.
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✅ Improved IT systems - Tuned Microsoft Exchange and managed servers to improve file access and email services.
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✅ Managed multiple priorities - Balanced business development projects and IT needs for a 10-person office.
🛠 Skills
- Adaptability and Learning
- Collaboration and Teamwork
- Customer Service and Communication
- Data Recovery
- End User Training and Support
- Hardware and Device Management
- Knowledge Management
- Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
- Project Management and Task Prioritization
- Proofreading and Editing
- Research and Competitive Analysis
- Security and Compliance Management
- Site Selection and Evaluation
- Stakeholder Management
- System Administration
- Technical Documentation
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Website and Content Management
💻Software and Tools
- Active Directory
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Excel
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Microsoft Sharepoint
- State and Local GIS
- Windows OS
🔗 Related Links
- 🌐 Organization Website: fortsmithchamber.org