Catalyst NEA is an economic development and leadership forum that highlights Northeast
Arkansas's role as a key driver of state and regional economic success.
SAVE THE DATE: 11/05/26
Arkansas State University’s Neil Griffin College of Business and the Delta Center
for Economic Development will host the 2026 Catalyst NEA: Economic Development and
Leadership Forum on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Embassy Suites and Red Wolf Convention Center in Jonesboro.
Join leaders from across Arkansas for a day focused on the future of Northeast Arkansas
and the ideas influencing the state as a whole.
Information on panelists and ticket sales will be released on July 7.
Catalyst is more than a conference. It’s a platform for connection, a catalyst for
strategic action across sectors. It's where we bring our momentum into the same room
and point it at what’s next.
Catalyst is more than a conference. It’s a platform for connection, a catalyst for
strategic action across sectors. It's where we bring our momentum into the same room
and point it at what’s next.
Why attend Catalyst NEA?
Attendees engage with industry leaders and top experts as they examine pivotal sectors
driving growth in the region and across the state. Previous topics include:
Steel & Advanced Manufacturing – Forging Innovation into Regional Strength
Agriculture – Turning Farm Strength into Business Growth
Regionalism – Converting Momentum into Long-Term Prosperity
Entrepreneurship – Building Companies and Careers in NEA
Healthcare – Building a Stronger, Healthier Region
Infrastructure – Power, Logistics and Regional Readiness
Mentorship – Building Networks that Drive Success
If A-State can help — with faculty expertise, student talent, or facilities — ask
us. That’s why we’re here.
Todd Shields, A-State Chancellor
Previous Events
The aim is straightforward: align higher education and 21st-century workforce development
with employer needs, pair faculty expertise with real-world challenges, and build
experiences that keep talented graduates in Arkansas where they can help companies
scale and our economy grow.
Catalyst NEA 1.0 featured a series of panel discussions with leaders from manufacturing,
healthcare, higher education, mental health and leadership, centered on collaborative
partnerships that can be a catalyst for future growth in Arkansas.
Catalyst NEA 2.0 featured a series of panel discussions centered on agriculture, infrastructure,
entrepreneurship and regionalism, highlighting how strategic collaboration and shared
momentum can position Northeast Arkansas for sustained economic growth and opportunity.
Catalyst NEA in Action
A look inside the conversations, connections and momentum shaping the future of Northeast
Arkansas.
Conversations among infrastructure and transportation leaders help shape the future
of connectivity and growth in Northeast Arkansas.
Leaders in Northeast Arkansas’s steel industry join Chancellor Todd Shields to discuss
innovation, workforce and the region’s growing manufacturing impact.
Cross-industry conversations during Catalyst NEA highlight the connections driving
regional growth.
Entrepreneurship panelists Jim Washam, Eric Howerton, Amanda Herget, Dave Stickler
and Heather Nelson discuss what it takes to build, grow and sustain a business.
Education leaders and policymakers engage in conversation, highlighting collaboration
driving regional progress.
Catalyst NEA brings together influential leaders from across Arkansas to share ideas
and shape the region’s future.
Questions?
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