By Randy Rice
"In 2007 when I had just started
with the chamber, the board asked
me to give the keynote at the annual
banquet," Wayne Mays, recently
retired Siloam Springs Chamber of
Commerce president began. "As I was
putting together my speech I remember
being struck by the fact that Siloam
Springs seemed to be a very moral and
conservative, yet open and welcoming
community. So I coined the phrase
'I see a community that is anchored
on the east by Day Spring Cards
(Christian greeting card company) and
anchored on the west by John Brown
University'. I saw Siloam Springs
as a town with a real moral center.
As I reflect back 12 years later, I can
honestly say it is still true."
'Welcoming' is a word Mays uses
often when describing his adopted
town. "This town welcomed me and
my wife Barbara when we first arrived
13 years ago. And it is still welcoming
others who come from all over
northwest Arkansas, the surrounding
states and, frankly, around the world,"
Mays said. "Anyone who is looking
for a place to put down roots where
they will be accepted and appreciated,
put to work and valued as individuals,
Siloam Springs is the place they should
be looking at."
When Mays took the helm of the
Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce
back in 2006, the town was on the
verge of a growth spurt along with
the rest of Northwest Arkansas. Mays
recognized this as an opportunity to
get the Chamber of Commerce more
engaged with the city administration
and the community in general. And
he believed having the right board
members was key to a successful
future. "I have seen remarkable people
come on our board and chair our board
that truly had the community's best
interest at heart," Mays said. "And
they saw, as I did, that having a strong
chamber of commerce can really make
a difference in the quality of life of
Siloam Springs as well as attract new,
Reflections on
12 years of growth
& community service
Wayne Mays
18 • Best of Siloam Springs Wednesday, March 25, 2020 Siloam Springs Herald-Leader
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