FORT SMITH, Ark. — The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (UAFS) Center for Economic Development is holding its inaugural Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards later this year, and they've tapped a famous face to keynote.
Willie Robertson, the star of "Duck Dynasty," a New York Times bestselling author, and the CEO of Duck Commander, will give the keynote address at the ceremony.
The announcement was made by UAFS on Aug. 8.
UAFS says that the event will honor regional and family-owned small businesses and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Jim Walcott Family Enterprise Center. Robertson's keynote is set to be a "highlight" of the event.
"[Robertson] will share the remarkable journey of his family's business, detailing how they grew a modest enterprise into a multi-million-dollar empire, offering valuable insights into entrepreneurship, family collaboration, and overcoming challenges," UAFS said in a release.
The ceremony will be Oct. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Bakery District in Fort Smith. Nominations for the awards are open until Sept. 12, and submissions can be made here.
Individuals, family-owned businesses, and small businesses can be nominated.
Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.
