Invest Fort Smith 2025

Event Details:

Thursday, November 13, 2025

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

UAFS Center for Economic Development, The Bakery District - 70 South 7th Street, Fort Smith

Presented by: Main Street Fort Smith & PRIME: River Valley Professional Summit

Hosted by: UAFS Center for Economic Development

Agenda

• 9:30 - 10:40 AM | Exclusive professional headshot session with Kane Bassham for $25 -- Link to sign up: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/plusgrand-media-x-invest-heads
• 10:45 AM | Doors Open
• 11:00 AM | Welcome – Amanda Hager, Executive Director, Main Street Fort Smith
• 11:00 – 11:45 AM | Lunch & Learn
• Fort Smith CityView – Victoria Walls
• Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center – Ty Barrett
• 12:00 – 12:50 PM | ChatGPT in Action – Aric Mitchell, Publisher of mAIn Street & Communication Strategist 
• 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Fort Smith is Growing: Turning Opportunities into Action
• Learn how Fort Smith’s growth is creating new opportunities in procurement, infrastructure, and small business support.
• Panelist
• Sam Sicard, President and CEO, First National Bank
• Col. Nick “Matrix” Idhe, Commander, USAF 85th Fighter Group
• Ty Barrett, Director, UAFS Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
• Christina Catsavis, Board of Director, City of Fort Smith
• Moderator: Kendall Ross, Assoc. Vice Chancellor - Economic and Workforce Development, UAFS
• 2:00 – 2:30 PM | Vendor Mingle
• 2:30 – 3:50 PM | Invest x PRIME: Reinvesting in Downtown Fort Smith: How to Revitalize, Restore, and Reimagine
• Explore how real estate, infrastructure, and entrepreneurial investment are reshaping downtown into a hub for business and community life.
• Panelist
• Amanda Hager, Executive Director, Main Street Fort Smith 
• Stuart Ghan, Partner and Principal Broker, Ghan & Cooper Commercial Properties 
• Ashleigh Bachert, Executive Director, Discover Fort Smith 
• Terra Harvell, CEO & Founder, Harper Ellis Hair Co. and Harper Ellis Hair Salon 
• Moderator: Maggie Rice, Deputy City Administrator, City of Fort Smith
• 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Happy Hour at Digs