The CommerceCast

This week on The CommerceCast: Mark Holt and ToddBaltz sit down with the podcast's most requested guest to date: Graycen Bigger, Executive Director of the Northeast Arkansas (NEA) Intermodal Authority.Graycen shares her journey from growing upin Paragould to double majoring in journalism and art history, moving to New York City for graduate school, and writing her thesis on the massive economic impact of Crystal Bridges.As head of the NEA Intermodal Authority—representingRandolph, Lawrence, Clay, and Sharp counties—Graycen pulls back the curtain on how regional economic development actually works. She delivers a masterclass on Issue 3, explaining how modernizing Arkansas's 1874 economic development laws can help rural communities recruit restaurants, retail, and housing, all without raising taxes. In This Episode:The NYC to Pocahontas Journey: Graycen’s path from journalism and art auctions in New York to teaching at ASU and renovating a century-old family home.The Duck Lodge Pitch: The wild behind-the-scenes story of recruiting Tate, overcoming tornado damage right before their visit, and hosting Irish execs at a local duck lodge.What is Issue 3? How Issue 3 updates 100-year-old state laws to allow performance-based local incentives for retail, restaurants, and childcare—with complete local control and zero tax hikes.Links & Resources:Follow the Chamberon Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamberConnect with NEA Intermodal: [email protected] NEA Intermodal on Facebook!Have a story we should tell? Email us at [email protected] Inquiries: Reach out to the team at ⁠[email protected]⁠Want to promote your business on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios.Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd BaltzProduced by: FoxLion StudiosExecutive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark HoltMusic by: AGISpecial Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of CommerceSponsored by: ProMed Ambulance, Pocahontas Glass and Custom-Pak(c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

This week on The CommerceCast: Producer Todd is joined by Buddy Grimsley of Radiance Tanning, Printing and Shipping. He talks about the organization of the two distinct stores and how gives tips on how to properly mail an important package. He is not the only guest on the pod though: his wife Maxie gets a ton of shout-outs from Buddy! He tells Todd how they met and how she is in constant motion: from leaning about the proper tanning color for pageants to traveling to remote construction sites. Enjoy today’s episode with Buddy Grimsley!Links & Resources:Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamberCheck out Radiance Shipping: radianceshipping.coFollow Radiance on Facebook! Have a story we should tell? Email us at [email protected] Inquiries: Reach out to the team at ⁠[email protected]⁠Want to promote your business on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios.Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd BaltzProduced by: FoxLion StudiosExecutive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark HoltMusic by: AGISpecial Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of CommerceSponsored by: ProMed Ambulance, Pocahontas Glass and Custom-Pak(c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

This week on The CommerceCast: Producer Todd sits down with Scott Trammel, founder of Tool Central and a cornerstone of the Randolph County business community. Scott pulls back the curtain on the pivotal economic moments that reshaped Pocahontas over the past 40 years. Finally, Scott delivers a passionate message on leadership, faith, and character—explaining why true community servants use "we" instead of "I".In This Episode:The Origins of Tool Central: Growing up in Pocahontas and Rogers, returning to farm in 1981, and launching Tool Central in a tiny 300-square-foot building.Servant Leadership Philosophy: Why true leaders focus on "we" over "I," the principle of "planting trees you sit underneath," and Scott's call for young leaders to step into civic roles.Faith & Integrity in Business: How Matthew 6:34 ("do not be anxious about tomorrow") and James 1:5 guided Scott through 40 years of marriage and business ownership.Links & ResourcesFollow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamberAnnual Chamber Banquet: Purchase a ticket @ randolphchamber.com Have a story we should tell? Email us at [email protected] Inquiries: Reach out to the team at ⁠[email protected]⁠Want to promote your business on the podcast? Email us at [email protected] & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios.Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd BaltzProduced by: FoxLion StudiosExecutive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark HoltMusic by: AGISpecial Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of CommerceSponsored by: ProMed Ambulance, Pocahontas Glass and Custom-Pak(c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

This week on The CommerceCast: Mark Holt and Todd Baltz sit down with Dr. Lance Arbuckle, Superintendent of the Pocahontas School District, to ring in the brand-new school year.Before we jump into school updates, Mark does a little surname ancestry digging and reveals that "Arbuckle" translates to "the land belonging to the shepherd"—a fitting title for a man now shepherding thousands of Pocahontas students. Dr. Arbuckle shares his family's deep roots on their 360-acre Southeast Kansas farm and the day his great-greats unknowingly shod Jesse James' horse backwards to fool the U.S. Marshals.We also trace his personal path to Northeast Arkansas. From performing as a Division 1 cheerleader at the University of Kansas (where he met his wife) to teaching science in Bentonville and principal tenures in Rogers, Dr. Arbuckle breaks down how his philosophy has evolved into a "holistic" approach to education.Finally, we look closely at the immediate and long-term future of the Pocahontas School District. Dr. Arbuckle reveals the balanced plans for a brand-new high school facility, the district-level mechanics making free lunches possible for all students, and how the "demassification of education" is coming to life through a new flexible learning pathway for local juniors and seniors.In This Episode:The Blacksmith & The Outlaw: The incredible Arbuckle family legends of Southeast Kansas, including how Jesse James tricked U.S. Marshals with backward horseshoes.The 2029 High School Timeline: An inside look at how the board saved $10 million by designing a high-efficiency 10-12 building, with this year's sophomores projected as the first class to graduate from the new school.Free Breakfast & Lunch for All: Why the district is absorbing the costs of student lunches, and the critical importance of families filling out the state forms to lock in this break-even status for the next 5 years.Flexible Learning Pathways: A look at the new pilot program allowing upperclassmen to mix on-campus classes with BRTC college courses, online learning, and off-site studies.Links & Resources:Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamberFollow the PSD on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PocahontasHighSchoolDownload the Ball Frog app in your phone's app store to follow all PHS sports! Have a story we should tell? Email us at [email protected] Inquiries: Reach out to the team at [email protected] to promote your business on thepodcast? Email us at [email protected] & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios.Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd BaltzProduced by: FoxLion StudiosExecutive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark HoltMusic by: AGISpecial Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of CommerceSponsored by: ProMed Ambulance, Pocahontas Glass and Custom-Pak(c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.

Special Release! Redskin Football is here so makeyour way over to Schoonover Stadium!This week on the CommerceCast, Mark and Todd take the show on the road and briefly interrupt football practice to chat with Head Coach Casey Chester and his staff and a few of the senior Redskin football players about the upcoming season. Coach Chester’s blood runs Redskin red as he tells us about he and his family’s tradition of pouring into the Pocahontas School System and its athletics department. Coaches Hibbard, ‘Noft, and Davis share how they are preparing for the upcoming season and the importance of the phrase "there is no “I” in team”. Encouraged to be leaders on and off the field, seniors Ryder, Xavyer, and Spencer share their philosophies and goals for their last year as Pocahontas Redskins. This was one of those episodes that makes you proud to be a member of a small-town community.Reminder: submit your nomination(s) for the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Business and Sports Halls of Fame at Chamber of Commerce website at the link below. Nominations close September 1st.Links & Resources:Follow the Chamber on Facebook: www.facebook.com/randolphcountychamberNominate for the Halls of Fame: www.randolphchamber.comFollow the Redskins: www.pocahontaspsd.com/o/phs/athleticsWatch the Redskins: www.youtube.com/@redskinbroadcastingnetwork Have a story we should tell? Email us [email protected] Inquiries: Reach out tothe team at [email protected] to promote your business on thepodcast? Email us at [email protected] & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Credits: The CommerceCast is a production of FoxLion Studios.Hosted by: Mark Holt and Todd BaltzProduced by: FoxLion StudiosExecutive Producers: Todd Baltz and Mark HoltMusic by: AGISpecial Thanks: The Randolph County Chamber of CommerceSponsored by: ProMed Ambulance and Pocahontas Glass (c) 2026 The CommerceCast. All Rights Reserved.