CONWAY, Ark. (Sept. 2, 2025) — SPARK!, presented by First Community Bank, has announced its speaker lineup for its professional development conference Nov. 10 in Conway.
This year’s speakers are Michelle Edelen, Grace McCarrick, Sam Richter, and Damon West. The one-day professional development event welcomes hundreds of regional business leaders seeking to enhance their leadership skills and engage their teams. The nationally recognized speakers will share their findings on timely subject matters, such as content creation, artificial intelligence, and more.
“First Community Bank is a locally owned and operated bank with a big heart for the communities we serve,” said First Community Bank Conway Community President Grant Gordy. “This is a valuable opportunity for local businesses to learn from nationally recognized speakers right here in our community.”
SPARK! will be held Monday, Nov. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Reynolds Performance Hall on the University of Central Arkansas campus.
“SPARK! is our opportunity to provide professional development, close to home, for our regional employers,” said Conway Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brad Lacy. “This allows their employees to gain meaningful professional development without the added costs of travel, hotels, or airfare.”
Tickets are now available for SPARK! and can be purchased at sparkconway.com. Tickets are $250 per person with a special rate for organizations and groups of five or more.
Michelle Edelen, known as “The Excellence Engineer,” is a leadership expert and keynote speaker with more than 30 years of experience guiding organizations and individuals toward excellence. Edelen has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News, spoken at TEDx events, and received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Grace McCarrick is a founder, content creator, and speaker who teaches essential soft skills to help teams thrive in today’s workplace. She has delivered presentations for companies including Airbnb, Amazon, and Live Nation, encouraging organizations to rethink workplace culture.
Sam Richter is a Hall of Fame speaker, author, and the founder of SBR Worldwide/Know More. Recognized globally for his expertise in digital information and artificial intelligence, Richter helps organizations leverage online intelligence for immediate results. Through high-content keynote presentations and training programs, he has shared his knowledge with companies such as 3M, FedEx, and the New York Yankees.
Damon West is a keynote speaker who delivers a powerful message on personal transformation and resilience through his “Be a Coffee Bean” philosophy. Drawing on his own experience of overcoming adversity, West emphasizes that true change comes from within. He has spoken to audiences at organizations including Walmart, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Hallmark Channel, sharing leadership strategies and lessons in positive living.
SPARK!, a professional development event of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, is presented by First Community Bank. Speaker sponsors are Acxiom, Conway Corporation, Linda and Rush Harding, and Turbare Manufacturing. For more information, visit sparkconway.com.
###
