Water district gets national gold award

Beaver Water District, based in Lowell, received the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance on Monday at the organization’s annual meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla. Gold awards recognize outstanding achievement in implementing the nationally recognized “Attributes of Effective Utility Management.” These industry standards concern utility performance in product quality, customer satisfaction, employee and leadership development, operational optimization, financial viability, infrastructure stability, operational resiliency, community sustainability, water resource adequacy and stakeholder understanding and support.

According to the association, Beaver Water District’s focus on performance measures has improved its bottom line, making operations more efficient and sustainable while engaging employees.

Visual arts academy honors design firm

Elkins Design of Bentonville was among the Davey Award winners honored Oct. 22 by the International Academy of the Visual Arts. The Davey Awards, focused on smaller firms, received almost 4,000 entries from around the world this year. Elkins Design received a Gold Award for its “KPFG Trends Brochure” for client, Kent Precision Foods Group. The designers also received three silver awards.

Paul Mitchell beauty school opening

Paul Mitchell, The School Arkansas, 4156 N. Steele Blvd., Fayetteville, will host a grand opening and ribboncutting Monday at noon. The school, owned by Stephanie and Greg Kellogg, is designed to train up to 80 students.

The ceremony includes appearances by John Paul DeJoria, co-founder and CEO of Paul Mitchell Systems, and Winn Claybaugh, dean of Paul Mitchell Schools.

UA student union ranked 17th in nation

The online publication Best College Reviews has released its list of the “25 Most Amazing University Student Unions,” ranking the University of Arkansas at 17th in the nation, according to a university news release. The Arkansas Union is one of only two in the Southeastern Conference to make the top 25 list.

Survey factors included architectural nobility and student satisfaction. The building, which turned 40 years old Sept. 26, was praised for having 205,315 square feet devoted entirely to student support. Those areas include 25 department and retail stores, the Union Market Food Court and a 1,500-square-foot exercise room.

The Arkansas Union’s renovation work in recent years created the Student Technology Center and the fitness facility. This week a ceremony was held to open the South Terrace, a casual, semi-private outdoor dining and studying area for students.

Arvest opens new Fayetteville branch

Arvest Bank held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday at its new Fayetteville branch at 2389 N. College Ave.

The branch is twice the size of the office it is replacing at 1947 N. College Ave.

The previous branch opened as a McIlroy Bank in 1962 and featured the first drive-through banking window in Fayetteville. It was renovated in 1994 and expanded to 3,150 square feet. Arvest Bank acquired McIlroy Bank in 1986.

The new branch at the intersection of Township Street and College Avenue has 6,562 square feet and was designed by Wittenberg, Delony and Davidson Architects.

The branch has eight teller stations, expanded safety deposit boxes, five drive-through lanes and 43 parking spaces.

It is constructed to U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.

CDI Contractors was the construction company on the project. Grey Rock, HSA Engineers and Engineering Consultants Inc. were the engineering firms.

International trade class starts Nov. 9

The World Trade Center Arkansas is hosting a twopart class on “Legal Aspects of International Trade” Nov.

9 and 16. Classes will be held at the center, 3300 Market St. Suite 400 in Rogers, and start at 9 a.m. both days.

The class costs $160 and includes access to an online textbook and the testing fee. Lunch is provided.

Kevin Litz, a partner with Tulsa-based law firm Leblang, Mawby & Litz, will lead the program that will cover trade agreements, international contracts and partnership agreements, anti-trust laws, logistic and insurance, e-commerce and resolutions and disputes.

Litz is also vice chairman of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Oklahoma District Export Council.

For more information or to register contact Laura James at [email protected] or (479)-418-4803.

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. Email items to [email protected]. Information will be published as space allows.

Business, Pages 64 on 11/03/2013