Little Rock Companies Provide Office Space for New University Outreach

Kathy Edgerton with alumni Jim Faulkner and John Rutledge

Alumnus Charlie Whiteside and Mark Power, assistant vice chancellor for development

Kathy Edgerton, director of regional advancement programs, with alumnus Lee Bodenhamer

Chris Wyrick, vice chancellor for advancement, speaks at the open house on May 21

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Flake & Kelley Commercial and Capitol Avenue Development Co. are providing office space for the University of Arkansas to use in downtown Little Rock. The space will be used by an advancement professional, staff members from enrollment services and any other university officials traveling to Central Arkansas for university purposes. The university is establishing the office to have a greater presence in the Little Rock area with the robust base of alumni, prospective students and donors who live there.

“This space will give us the much-needed flexibility to carry on official university business in an area where we have a large concentration of alumni and prospective students,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “We are grateful to Flake & Kelley Commercial and Capitol Avenue Development Co. for providing us with this opportunity and are pleased to have a concrete presence in central Arkansas.”

The office, located in the Metropolitan Tower in downtown Little Rock, includes meeting places, a conference room and a patio that can be utilized for events. Staff members located in Little Rock, such as Kathy Edgerton, director of regional advancement programs, will work from the location, which will provide increased opportunities for interaction with the Central Arkansas Advisory Committee members who live in the area.

“Little Rock is vital to our success as advancement professionals,” said Chris Wyrick, vice chancellor for university advancement. “This space will give them the opportunity to have a home base away from the Hill and will give them another venue option for meeting constituents and hosting events.”

An open house was held on May 21 to celebrate the new space. The university presented Flake & Kelley Commercial and Capitol Avenue Development Company with a memento and gave them special recognition for their generous support. James Harkins, a 1998 graduate of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the university and broker and shareholder with Flake & Kelley Commercial, accepted the token of appreciation on the company’s behalf.