Arroyos starts business, writes book
Adam Arroyos released a book, PerformanceGPA, on Jan. 2, outlining ways to accelerate and grow individual and organizational performances. His book is part of the business he started in October 2012, Grandslam Performance Associates LLC.
Grandslam Performance Associates is an advisory business that specializes in talent management, diversity and inclusion and strategic-relationship management.
Working with Arroyos are Jayshica Amargos, chief operating officer, and Lyndsey Coleman, business manager.
Arroyos was also president of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting and was president of the ALPFA Institute at the University of Arkansas from its creation in May 2011 until September 2012.
Amargos and Coleman worked for Arroyos at the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting Institute, serving as vice president of operations and executive assistant to the president, respectively.
In the book, Arroyos shares how he was able to go from a first-generation college minority-member student to a successful businessman by serving others. The book is available online at performancegpa.com.
Dickey’s Barbecue to open in Rogers
Dickey’s Barbecue is opening a new restaurant in Rogers.
Franchise owner Jared Thompson will open a Dickey’s off Promenade Boulevard later this year. Thompson also owns the Dickey’s in Lowell. That restaurant opened in 2009.
Jami Zimmerman, company spokesman, said Thompson has also pledged to open restaurants in Bentonville and Fayetteville in the next two years.
She said a typical Dickey’s location has 10 employees.
Dickey’s Barbecue added almost 100 stores last year and is planning to add at least that many across the country this year.
The first Dickey’s opened in Dallas in 1941.
Fayetteville startup is awarded grant
A $150,000 grant from the National Science Foundation was awarded to cycleWood Solutions Inc. of Fayetteville.
The fledgling company is working to produce a sustainable alternative to the high-density polyethylene bags distributed by stores.
The grant money will be used to develop a prototype for the biodegradable and compostable XyloBag, said Nhiem Cao, president and chief executive office of cycle-Wood Solutions. The single-use XyloBag blends lignin, an abundant organic polymer that is commonly derived from wood, with a biodegradable material. The bag will degrade in 150 days, Cao said.
The foundation’s Phase I grant came through the Small Business Innovation Research Program, which allows federal agencies to stimulate technological innovation by strengthening small businesses that meet federal research and development needs.
Cao incorporated cycleWood Solutions with co-founder Kevin Oden in 2011 with an office at the Arkansas Research and Technology Park in Fayetteville. Both hold bachelor’s degrees in engineering and master’s of business administration degrees from the University of Arkansas. Their company has filed three provisional patent applications for lignin-related technology. They are also exploring uses for insulation and automotive parts.
Since developing the business concept two years ago with other students in the university’s New Venture Development class, the cycleWood leaders have attracted almost $100,000 in cash awards, including $27,000 at the 2011 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup competition. The startup is a client of the university’s Genesis Technology Incubator program.
Technology transfer recognized
The U.S. Small Business Administration wants nominations to honor small businesses that succeeded using its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
The Hall of Fame award recognizes companies with long-term success in research, innovation and product commercialization. The Tibbetts Award has a category for companies that have participated in the SBIR/STTR programs, and another for individuals who advocate for the programs.
Nominations will close 4 p.m. Jan. 31. Awards will be presented in Washington, D.C., in May. Nominations may be submitted at tibbetts2013.challenge.gov for Tibbetts Awards to companies and individuals or sbirhof2013.challenge.gov for Hall of Fame Awards.
Classes offered for basic education
The Adult Education Center at Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale is accepting students for free instruction toward a General Educational Development high school equivalency program, English as a second language and U.S. citizenship. New classes are also forming in basic and intermediate computer literacy, workplace skills and certification using Microsoft software.
Adults may register between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 709 S. Old Missouri Road in Springdale, by calling (479) 751-0181, e-mailing NTIAdultEducatio [email protected] or on the website nwti.edu.
Briefs are for businesses in Northwest Arkansas that are new, have moved or closed, opened a new branch, changed owners or have been honored by an independent organization. E-mail items to [email protected]. Information will be published as space allows.
Business, Pages 58 on 01/13/2013