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Chamber Annual Banquet to Feature U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton as Speaker

Posted on March 17, 2013

U.S. Representative Tom Cotton will be the keynote speaker at the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet on April 2 at the El Dorado Conference Center.

Cotton represents the Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas. A native of Dardanelle, Cotton graduated from Harvard and Harvard Law School. He clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals and practiced law before joining the United States Army as an infantry officer. He spent nearly five years on active duty, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Cotton?s military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Ranger tab. Most recently, Cotton worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Co. He began his first term in Congress in January 2013 and currently sits on the Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees.

The Annual Banquet, which is sponsored by Entergy and supported by Mustard Seed Financial, culminates a year of dramatic change for the Chamber. After completing a successful internship awareness campaign and jobs campaign, the Chamber hosted the first county-wide Economic Outlook Luncheon in June. Since then, the luncheons have continued quarterly, each in a different Union County town. This past year also included the graduation of Class 1 of Leadership Union County, along with the implementation of the Chamber?s new strategic plan for economic development and a new tiered dues structure.

The event marks a change in Chamber board leadership. Current Chamber Board Chair Melissa Jerry of First Financial Bank will hand over the reins to Chair-Elect Bill Luther of Entergy.

"Thomas Huxley said ?The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher,?? Luther said. "I am excited with the steps we have climbed under the leadership of Henry Florsheim, his staff and Melissa Jerry. I feel we are headed the right direction and I am confident that we will continue climbing the ladder.?

The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail ?reception followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. In addition to Cotton?s address, First Financial Bank will present the FFB Nonprofit Excellence Award to a Union County nonprofit based on the impact of their work on the community, fiscal responsibility and board governance. The award includes a prize of $3,000 to the winner and $1,500 to two non-winning finalists.

Tickets to the banquet are $30 per person or $240 for a table of eight. Contact the Chamber at (870) 863-6113 or markeith@goeldorado.com to purchase tickets.

For more information on the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, contact Henry Florsheim at (870) 863-6113 or at henry@goeldorado.com. The El Dorado Chamber of Commerce provides leadership in economic and community development for El Dorado and Union County in order to improve the quality of life for all its citizens.

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