Calendar of Events

In-Person Event | $25 Registration Fee  REGISTER TODAY!

APROVED BY SHRM FOR 2 PDC'S AND APPROVED BY HRCI FOR 2 "GENERAL" CREDITS.

This is the third 2022 program in the quarterly Spotlight Series designed to bring the right people together at the right time to spark innovation, inspire ideas and align our community around common goals. Each quarter features a different theme to spotlight progress and illuminate issues that are opportunities for growing business, activating high-impact leaders and building a strong and diverse place to visit, live, invest, work and play. 

A 2021 Pew Research Center study found that 85% of Americans say availability of affordable housing is a problem in their local community, with 49% saying it is a major problem. Rising housing and rental costs across Northwest Arkansas are putting undue pressure on our local workforce and it is time to shine a light on this issue and discuss what can be done to minimize the impact on our local workforce, businesses, and our community. We invite you to join us at the Spotlight Series: Workforce Housing in NWA in a panel discussion featuring subject matter experts on both affordable workforce housing and human resources.

Moderated by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal's Paul Gatling, the panel will feature Duke McLarty with the NWA Workforce Housing Center and Monique Pierre with Partners for Better Housing as they offer thoughts and perspectives on the housing challenges our region is facing, the unintended consequences to our strong regional economy and growth, and the impact being felt in the business community.

About the Speakers:

Moderator - Paul Gatling, Editor | Northwest Arkansas Business Journal  

Paul Gatling is editor of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, where he’s worked since 2011. He previously spent nine years as sports editor at the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville. A native Arkansan, Gatling was raised in Bald Knob and graduated from Bryant High School in 1993. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Henderson State University in 1998.

Panelist - Duke McLarty, Executive Director | Northwest Arkansas Workforce Housing Center

Duke collaborates across the region to develop innovative housing solutions that promote well-designed, mixed-use neighborhoods for the region’s workers and their families. He previously served as the Senior Director of Government and Community Relations for AIR Communities, an apartment focused real estate investment trust. Prior to joining AIR Communities Duke was a Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration. He is a graduate of Missouri State University and the University of Arkansas School of Law and is married with three children.

Panelist - Monique Pierre, CEO | Partners for Better Housing

Monique L. Pierre has spent over two decades of her career as a housing and community development professional, advocating for and developing safe, decent, affordable, and attainable housing. A proponent of equitable communities, she began her career working in public housing to provide resident services across the City of Detroit. She also served as the Chief Development and Modernization Officer for one of the Nation’s largest housing authorities overseeing day-to-day operations of a multi-million-dollar development, modernization, construction management, and compliance division. She is a two-time recipient of awards from the state of California’s Department of Housing and Community Development and has received certifications from HUD as a Home Certified Specialist, Novogradac Property Compliance Certification, and The National Development Council, earning a certification in Development Finance. She trained at Rutgers University in their Public Housing Directors Training Program and with NAHRO in their Executive Directors Program. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Michigan State University and is enthusiastic about serving others in the housing space through proactive problem solving and celebrating right alongside participants who are handed their first set of keys to their new home.

Panelist - Alison Nail-Malone, Founder/Managing Director | NOARK and Malone Consultants Group

Alison Nail-Malone is the Founder and Managing Director of Malone Consultants Group which focuses on ensuring that small businesses and nonprofits have access to transformational human resources support and leadership development strategies (versus it being a luxury). Alison has led recruiting and human resources departments, while benchmarking companies for sustainable leadership growth, business objectives and results. Her commitment to Emerging through Executive Leaders is changing the way they perform at their highest level to create an exponential return on team dynamics and bottom-line interest while remaining true and authentic to, and for, themselves. She is a teacher, a noted public speaker and an expert communicator for community, political and civil rights events. Alison also enjoys spending time with her family and visiting America's national parks (always on the search for Bigfoot!)

Parking Instructions - When you arrive at the building, pull into the parking garage between Ruth's Chris and 1st National Bank, and follow it up to the top floor. You can enter the building through the rooftop of the parking garage.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds are not accepted within 48 hours of event.

Register Today!