Marion Chamber of Commerce Banquet set for Sept. 12

Hear from guest speaker Rex Nelson, senior editor of the Arkansas Democrat- Gazette

Marion Chamber of Commerce The Marion Chamber of Commerce has proudly announced plans for its 2019 Annual Awards Banquet to be held Thursday, September 12th at the newly refurbished Meadowbook County Club. The program will feature guest speaker, Rex Nelson, one of the most high-profile writers and speakers in the state.

As senior editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, he writes three columns a week and essays for the cover of the newspaper’s Sunday Perspective section. He’s the author of three books as well as author of a popular blog known as Rex Nelson’s Southern Fried and makes regular television and radio appearances.

Nelson served for almost a decade as the policy and communications director for Gov. Mike Huckabee and then served for four years in the administration of President George W. Bush as one of the president’s two appointees to the Delta Regional Authority. He has been inducted into the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. In 2016, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Rural Development Commission named Nelson as its Rural Advocate of the Year for the state of Arkansas.

Tracy Brick, MCOC President and Economic Development Director, stated “We are pleased to welcome Mr. Nelson as the keynote speaker for the 2019 banquet. Rex is very familiar with Marion and is a staunch supporter of the Sultana story, Tacker’s Shake Shack and the entire Delta region.

The Chamber gratefully acknowledges the 2019 Annual Sponsors, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Cirttenden, Willowbend at Marion, Fenter Physical Therapy, Fidelity National Bank, Preimer Bank, Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc., Southland Gaming Racing, ASU Mid-South, Esperanza Bonanza, First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas, T1G, Arkansas Greyhound Kennel Association and Farm Bureau.

Tickets may be purchased online through the MCOC website, www.marionarchamber. org, by calling the Chamber at 870-739-6041 or e-mailing the Chamber office at chamber@marionarkansas. org.

Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the program is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Following the speaker’s comments, annual awards will be presented by Chamber officials in a brief presentation ceremony.