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Mike South (Flake & Kelley Commercial), a Chamber Ambassador since 2007, has been named Ambassador of the Month for the second month in a row.

During March, South participated in six ribbon cuttings, attended three meetings, hosted one meeting, and worked three Serve The Rock shifts.

Numbering around 40, the Chamber’s Ambassadors host over 100 ribbon cuttings a year and power events such as the quarterly Business After Hours and the annual Taste of the Rock and Ambassador Golf Tournament.

Those interested in becoming the “face of the Chamber” should apply with Kathy Perez Hester, who will schedule an interview with qualified applicants and a panel of current members. While the business development opportunities are great, so is the time commitment, as Ambassadors are expected to participate in at least two ribbon cuttings a week. They are also responsible for selling tickets to and staffing the previously mentioned Chamber events.

The Ambassadors are chaired by Denise White (First Security Bank). For more information, contact Kathy Perez Hester, 501.377.6016.

There’s a whole lot of talkin’ going on about downtown Little Rock. Two committees, the Downtown Little Rock Partnership Commerce Committee and the Main Street Revitalization Task Force, have almost 40 people thinking and talking about downtown every day.

“What we have are representatives from all of the stakeholders from downtown. So all of us on the Commerce Committee are working to put together marketing materials that will benefit everybody,” said Mike South, co-chairman of the commerce committee, who is employed by Flake & Kelley. “We’re thinking every day to see what we can do to make downtown better. Retail follows rooftops downtown. The exception to that is the River Market and the way it has developed. The hope is that it will turn the corner and come down Main Street.”

www.kelleycommercialpartners.com to view the full article written by Phyllis Brandon.

Riders from around the world take on two challenges: raising the money needed to fund research for better treatments and a cure for diabetes, and reaching a personal training goal to prepare for a destination cycling experience. The JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes offers:

• Multiple fundraising and mileage options
• Training with a certified coach in your local area
• Ride destinations designed for riders of all fitness levels

The journey begins by traveling to one of our destination Ride locations. Meet up with fellow riders and begin a fun-filled weekend including safety seminars, planned excursions, and team building celebrations. It all leads up to the big event … Ride Day.

www2.jdrf.org to view Hank Kelley’s page.

The 24th edition of Arvest Bank’s Skyline Report for Benton and Washington counties is sure to be well-received.

That’s because the report, issued Tuesday, indicates the first consequential positive absorption in the commercial real estate market since the third quarter of 2008. A total of 387,877 SF was absorbed in the second half of 2010, according to the report.

“This quarter’s report shows some early positive signs in the commercial market for the first time in quite a while,” researcher Kathy Deck said in an accompanying news release. “While encouraging, we do still have a long way to go in working towards a more balanced commercial real estate market.”

Deck is director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas’ Walton College of Business. The CBER conducts the Skyline Report, a quarterly analysis of the latest commercial, single-family residential and multifamily residential property markets in Benton and Washington counties.

To read the full Arkansas Business article,www.arkansasbusiness.com

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – (Nov. 12, 2010) – Flake & Kelley Commercial was awarded an incentive check of $6,300 from Entergy Arkansas, Inc.’s Large Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Solutions Program for upgrading the energy efficiency of the lighting and air conditioning systems in the Metropolitan Tower. The no-cost C&I Program provides technical and financial support to help businesses identify and implement energy efficiency upgrade projects.

The incentive was determined by the total amount of energy that the Metropolitan Tower will save. The high efficiency lighting and air conditioning equipment will save nearly 406,700 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, equivalent to preventing the carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 56 passenger vehicles, according to Environmental Protection Agency calculations.

“It’s important as a property management firm that Flake & Kelley Commercial sets a positive example for our community, and reducing our energy use is a critical step,” said CEO Hank Kelley. “While the ownership sees reduced energy costs, our customers are able to appreciate the increased comfort in the building.

As part of its participation in the program, Flake & Kelley Commercial will continue to evaluate additional efficiency opportunities in 2011. “We look forward to working with Entergy and the C&I Program to identify ways to further reduce energy use not only in the Metropolitan Tower, but in other buildings that we manage as well,” said Kelley. “Energy efficiency projects make sound financial sense, as the reduced energy use generally offsets the cost of the initial investment.

“We identified a real need for an energy efficiency program that specifically targets large commercial and industrial businesses,” said Entergy Manager of Real Estate Operations David Ingram. “This program is an organized effort to bring needed resources and energy efficiency to Arkansas businesses.”