Bella Vista Business Association Directory

8 | 2023 Bella vista Business association directory Rhonda Yazel hasn't been in Northwest Arkansas for very long, but she's found her new hometown thanks to her job at Bank OZK and the Bella Vista Business Association. Yazel is the branch manager of Bank OZK in the Sugar Creek Plaza, and she loves her job. "One thing I love about the branch I work at is a lot of younger people do their banking online, but we still have lots of people that love to come into the bank. ey become friends. We know their pets' names, their grandchildren … We love seeing them, too. We love the interaction with the customer. Sometimes they run into friends of theirs and there's a lot of visiting and laughter. I love that the customers are people to us, not just an account number." ere are two branches of Bank OZK in Bella Vista. e second one is near Highland's Gate. Each branch has five employees, but if a customer needs to meet in person with a loan office or another specialist, someone will come in from one of the other 12 branches in Northwest Arkansas. On Fridays, customers get cookies at the Sugar Creek location. e cookie dough comes from Allen's Grocery, across the parking lot. e cookies are baked, a few at a time, in the bank's tiny kitchen. e whole building smells like cookies, she said. ere are always several types of cookies to choose from. "e customers love them," she said. ey bake at least 100 cookies and usually run out by the end of the day. Bella Vista is unique, Yazel said. While it's no longer considered a retirement community, there are still many retired people around and they are oen the ones who want to come inside the bank. ere are also a lot of small businesses that people know, she said, and she's getting to know them through the BVBA. is year, Yazel is treasurer of the BVBA and involved in planning. "We're trying to do more ribbon cuttings, like the recent one at Phat Tire," she said. at's one way the association helps new businesses get the word out. Although the bank won't be participating in the Business Expo this year, Yazel is looking forward to an event that BVBA is planning for October. "It's hard to do trick or treating in Bella Vista," she said. e winding roads and lack of sidewalks make it dangerous. e association will be hosting a Halloween event, where each business will man a booth and pass out treats. Many of the booths will also have games for children to play. It will be similar to the trunk or treat events that are held at area churches. BVBA has given Yazel the opportunity to network with other local businesses. At their monthly meetings, each attendee has a few minutes to describe their business. "During that time, I can talk about special promotions, or what sets us apart," she said. ere are 40 to 50 people at most meetings, she said. While the morning meeting scheduled for every other month is oen a business meeting, the evening meetings are more social. Recently, several members partnered to present an evening meeting that included catered food and wine tasting, she said. e association also produces a newsletter, which is another way that members can get the word out about their promotions. Bank OZK all about customer service Bella Vista Contractors specializes in home remodeling, full-service painting, home maintenance and repairs, general carpentry, deck and fence preservation. 479-903-1630 www.BVContractors.com Remodeling painting maintenance We live where you live. By Lynn Atkins Special to Bella Vista Business Association Directory

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