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CED Excellence Awards

Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards

You are invited to join us at the Bakery District for our second annual UAFS Center for Economic Development – Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards.

This event is dedicated to honoring the achievements of regional family-owned and small businesses.

SOLD OUT!

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

5:30 p.m. - networking and complimentary drinks

6-8 p.m. - event

The Bakery District in Fort Smith

Nominations are now closed.

Event Details 

  • Business / Business Casual

  • The business must be located in Sebastian, Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Scott, or Polk counties in Arkansas or Le Flore or Sequoyah counties in Oklahoma.
  • Nominations will be accepted until Sept. 24, 2025.
  • Businesses and individuals CAN nominate themselves and are encouraged to do so.
  • Nominees DO NOT need to be current members of the UAFS Jim Walcott Family Enterprise Center or Small Business Technology and Development Center.
  • To qualify for a small business award, the business must have no more than 50 employees.
  • To qualify for a family-owned business award, the business should have at least two family members actively participating in company management, and the family must have a controlling interest in the business.
  • To qualify for the “Advisor of the Year Award,” the individual should be primarily engaged in providing resources to either  family or small businesses. 
  • There will be one winner per award, but the awards committee may give out two awards in cases where two companies or individuals are difficult to make a decision.
  • One nomination per person/per award but multiple people within an organization can nominate.

For questions about the event, contact either Justin Smith at Justin.SmithFREEuafs or Chelsea Cowan at Chelsea.CowanFREEuafs.
Joel Manby

2025 Keynote Speaker

Joel Manby

We’re thrilled to welcome Joel Manby—former CEO of SeaWorld, Herschend Enterprises (operator of Dollywood and the Harlem Globetrotters), and SAAB North America—as the keynote speaker for the 2025 CED Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards.

With more than 25 years of CEO experience across the automotive, entertainment, and nonprofit sectors, Joel brings a rare blend of strategic leadership and values-driven impact. He is the author of "LoveWorks: Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders," a bestselling book that explores how leading with love—through actions, not words—can transform organizations from the inside out.

Currently a Thought Leader for John Maxwell Leadership, Joel mentors, consults, and speaks on LoveWorks and the leadership lessons drawn from his remarkable career.
 

Click here for full Biography

Award Categories

Click on the categories below to view the description of each award.

To qualify for a Small Business Award, the business must have no more than 50 employees.

  • Technology and Innovation Business Award – Highlights a small business that has demonstrated innovation in their products, services, or processes coupled with substantial growth and scalability in their operations.
  • Early Success and Growth Award – Acknowledges a small business that has experienced rapid success and growth within a short timeframe, achieving milestones such as acquiring customers, generating revenue, or securing funding.
  • Small Business of the Year Award – This is the highest honor in the Small Business Awards category, recognizing a small business that has achieved outstanding performance, resilience, and impact. Honorees exhibit a powerful combination of sustained growth, innovative practices, and a deep commitment to their customers, employees, and community. This award celebrates a business that not only thrives in a competitive market, but sets the standard for excellence in small business leadership.

To qualify for a family-owned business award, the business should have at least two family members actively participating in company management, and the family must have a controlling interest in their business.

  • Legacy Champion Award – Honors an individual whose leadership within a family business exemplifies the highest standards of excellence, contributing significantly to both the business and the broader community. This award celebrates those who champion the preservation and enhancement of family legacies, irrespective of their familial ties to the enterprise.
  • Emerging Luminary Award – Acknowledges an individual who is a rising leader or emerging talent within a family business and who demonstrates exceptional promise and impact within the company as well as the local community.
  • Family Unity Award – Recognizes a family-owned business characterized by strong familial bonds, collaborative spirit, and a shared vision among its members. This award highlights businesses where trust, unity, and genuine personal connections are cultivated and nurtured amongst family members.
  • Business Renewal Award – Commends a family business for its proactive efforts in ensuring the sustained growth, longevity, and prudent stewardship of assets with a keen focus on securing the interests of future generations.
  • Family Business of the Year Award – This is the highest honor in the Family-Owned Business Awards category, awarded to a family-owned business that exemplifies multi-generational excellence, integrity, and leadership in its industry and community. This business stands out for its legacy of impact, commitment to shared values, and ability to navigate challenges while maintaining strong family cohesion. It is a model of how family businesses can drive innovation, stewardship, and meaningful change over time.
  • Business Advisor of the Year Award – Recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional service in advising or supporting family-owned or small businesses. This advisor has provided valuable insights, resources, and strategic guidance that contribute to the growth and sustainability of the businesses they serve. Nominees may come from a range of professional sectors, including but not limited to: accounting, legal, insurance, banking/trust, wealth and financial advising, business brokerage, mergers and acquisitions, and more.

Sponsor

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