News
Our clients are doing big things ...
March 24, 2021
New AEDC initiative partners with colleges to promote desired industry skills
The Arkansas Department of Commerce today launched a new initiative to designate high-achieving state college workforce training programs that meet specific regional workforce needs in high-demand fields as “Centers of Excellence.”
December 9, 2020
U.S. Steel to acquire remaining stake in Big River Steel
United States Steel Corp. is on the verge of becoming the sole owner of Big River Steel, the first “superproject” in the history of the Natural State.
November 18, 2020
Big River Steel Doubles Capacity
Expansion Project achieved ahead of schedule and under budget
OSCEOLA, Ark. - Big River Steel announced today that it successfully started up the second phase of its Arkansas-based scrap metal recycling and flat-rolled steel production facility. The Phase Two expansion budgeted at $716 million will double Big River Steel's production capacity to 3.3 million tons annually
October 30, 2020
Mullenix & Associates Welcomes New Attorney
Firm Now Includes Two Former Legislators, Three Lawyers
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Oct. 29, 2020) – Mullenix & Associates has welcomed Tucker Brackins, staff attorney, to its team. The firm’s members now include two former legislators and three lawyers.
August 31, 2020
SAP Named a Leader in 2020 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data Integration Tools for the 13th Year in a Row
WALLDORF — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced that independent analyst firm Gartner Inc. has named SAP a leader in its Magic Quadrant for Data Integration Tools* report. Gartner evaluated 20 vendors and named SAP a leader based on its “ability to execute” and “completeness of vision.” This is the 13th consecutive year that SAP has been named a leader in the Magic Quadrant for Data Integration Tools.
August 12, 2020
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE: ARKANSAS BLUE CROSS CARRIES ON THROUGH PANDEMIC
The usually bustling corner of Sixth and Gaines streets in downtown Little Rock is quiet these days, but the business of health insurance in Arkansas is anything but.
For Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which has called Gaines Street its corporate home for more than 60 years, the pandemic has meant business as usual even if virtually all of the company’s employees are working from home these days
July 16, 2020
Arkansas Businesses Are Responding To COVID-19
NASL members Mullenix & Associates reports with over 30,000 confirmed cases and over 300 deaths, Arkansas continues to be in a state of emergency and is currently considered a hot spot for COVID-19. We have adapted to working remotely to ensure the health and safety of both our team and clients.
May 18, 2020
Alex Ray Recognized by Walton School of Business for Work on Energy Efficiency Project
Alex Ray, current Executive MBA student and director of business development, Arkansas and performance infrastructure at Johnson Controls, played an integral role in the development of an $8 million energy efficiency project in WashingtonCounty.
With the largest rooftop solar array in Arkansas, the project will bring an estimated 19% reduction in electric use, 15% reduction in water use and 8% reduction in gas use. The project will reduce C02 emissions by an amount equivalent to planting more than 40,000 new trees. Great work, Alex!
May 2, 2020
A Big River Steel Update From CEO Dave Stickler
Osceola, AR (Saturday, May 2, 2020) – Big River Steel CEO Dave Stickler gives a BIG thanks to all Big River Steel employees and talks about future plans.
APRIL 26, 2020
OAKLAWN SPLITS ARKANSAS DERBY; BOTH RACES TO CARRY FULL POINTS
HOT SPRINGS, AR (Sunday, April 26, 2020) – In a move believed to be unprecedented in American racing history, Oaklawn will split the 84th running of the Arkansas Derby Saturday, May 2. Thanks to the cooperation of Churchill Downs, both divisions will carry the full 170 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
The Arkansas Derby was originally scheduled to have a purse of $1,000,000. Under the provisions of the split, each division will have a purse of $500,000.
Arkansas Northeastern College pushing to graduate more steel workers
The expansion of a steel mill in Osceola has prompted an ever-growing push to hire more qualified candidates.
Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) partners with several corporations in the trade industry such as Big River Steel in hopes of graduating more students to enter the manufacturing field.
Big River Steel closes deal with U.S. Steel, values Osceola mill at $2.3 billion
Privately held Big River Steel in Northeast Arkansas has closed on its deal announced last month to make United States Steel Corp. a minority stakeholder of the company’s scrap recycling and steel production facility in Mississippi County.
Under terms of the agreement, U.S. Steel will hold a 49.9% ownership interest in the world’s only LEED-certified steel production facility. U.S. Steel’s investment will join majority ownership positions now held by Big River Steel’s executive management team, the Arkansas Teachers Retirement System, and the preferred equity ownership position held by Koch-owned KM BRS LLC and TPG Furnace L.P., an affiliate of Goldman Sachs vehicle TPG Growth.
U.S Steel to pay $700M for stake in Big River mill
U.S. Steel Corp., based in Pittsburgh, will pay $700 million to take 49.9% ownership of Big River Steel, which was built near the Mississippi River, just south of Osceola, funded in part by Arkansas taxpayers. U.S. Steel has an option to buy the remaining 50.1% of the company within four years, the company said Tuesday in announcing the deal. Big River’s $1.3 billion mill opened in January 2017, after about two years of construction. The mill has about 550 employees, with average annual pay of $75,000, including bonuses. It remains the largest economic development project in state history.
Mullenix & Associates To Welcome Kelley Linck
Firm Now Includes Two Former Legislators
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Sept. 10, 2019) - Mullenix & Associates LLC today announced Kelley Linck will join the firm in mid-October. With this addition, the firm will have seven members, including two former legislators and three attorneys, and a combined 65 years of experience with state legislative, policy and regulatory issues.
Chain rings up big sales in state; McDonald's buys up $676M in goods
Fast-food giant McDonald's Corp. buys tons of commodities from suppliers around the world, and yet the super-size orders are filled in Arkansas.
Just last year, the McDonald's system bought more than $676 million in agricultural products from the Natural State, ranging from chickens and canola to soybeans.
Green Steel: How Arkansas Became Home To America's Cleanest And Fastest-Growing Steelmaker
Inside cavernous blue hangars set on 1,100 acres of what was once soy fields abutting the Mississippi River, a succession of 300-ton scrap-filled buckets—the remains of old cars and refrigerators—await their turn at the furnace. Wailing sirens pierce the deafening rumble, and sparks fly as blindingly yellow flames rise up from the glowing ladle.
Zekelman Industries to build largest tube mill in the world in Blytheville, add 75 jobs
Zekelman Industries, the parent company of Atlas Tube, announced Tuesday (July 30) in Blytheville it will build the world’s largest continuous ERW tube mill on property adjacent to its existing Atlas Tube mill.
Le Bonheur named a Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital has been named a Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. This is the ninth consecutive year Le Bonheur has been included in the prestigious list with recognition in eight specialties.
Big River Steel closes on $800 million debt-equity financing package to expand scrap metal capacity
Big River Steel on Monday (June 3) announced it had closed on a debt-and-equity financing arrangement to expand its scrap metal recycling and flat-rolled steel production facility in Osceola, doubling current capacity to 3.3 million tons annually.
Arkansas Northeastern College to Open Allied Technology Center
When Arkansas Northeastern College opened its new Center for Allied Technologies, it consolidated three facilities, enhanced its role as a leader in custom training and education and brought the world to its doorstep.
Prairie Grove teacher saves student’s life by using an app
A touch of a button is all it took for one Prairie Grove teacher to save her student’s life. Brandy Carte, a special education teacher at Prairie Grove Elementary, credits her live-saving technique to something she holds right in the palm of her hand–her phone.
