Public Relations

Local Entrepreneur Partners with NWACC to Provide Educational Opportunities for Sustainability

BENTONVILLE (Thursday, October 30, 2008) – Local businessman Bill Stribling and his wife Cathy have made a generous donation to the NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) Foundation to name the Stribling Sustainability Institute, which will be housed within the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development. 

The NWACC Foundation recently broke ground on this new 40,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, which will be located adjacent to the existing Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies on the north side of the NWACC campus.  A major component of the NWACC Foundation’s $16 million capital campaign, the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development is scheduled for completion in 2010.  The new facility will house the College’s business and technology programs, provide innovative curriculum to serve the northwest Arkansas community, and act as a regional hub for entrepreneurial activity. 

Stribling (pictured) and his team at Stribling Packaging and Juiced Creative in Rogers have been instrumental in curriculum design for the Sustainability Institute.  In addition, his company will have representation on the College’s Sustainability Advisory Committee. 

“We are so grateful to Bill and his team for their leadership and endorsement of this project,” said NWACC President Dr. Becky Paneitz.  “With their participation and support, the Sustainability Institute will provide students with innovative solutions to address present demands without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  

Dr. Donna Wood, Associate Vice President for the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development said, “The Stribling Sustainability Institute will address the needs of regional business and industry leaders by producing qualified candidates for jobs and occupations related to corporate environmental sustainability.”

The Stribling Sustainability Institute will impact the movement of the northwest Arkansas region into green technology and enhance local economic development through training for high-growth, high-demand jobs.

Not only has Stribling contributed financial resources and human capital to this venture, he has also helped to connect NWACC with some of the major players in the sustainability field – ICPF (International Corrugated Packaging Foundation), AICC (Association of Independent Corrugated Converters), and the FBA (Fibre Box Association).  

Stribling Packaging & Juiced Creative are leaders in design, manufacturing and co-pack of industrial and retail packaging and point of purchase displays. Juiced Creative was launched by Stribling in the fall of 2007 to address marketing and design needs for both their internal and external client base. 

Stribling will be the guest speaker at the Jack Shewmaker Business Leaders Lecture Series on Wednesday, November 19th at the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies.  His presentation entitled Entrepreneurship Today will highlight the history of Stribling Packaging, as well as discuss today’s entrepreneurial climate.  There is a reception beginning at 6:30pm, followed by the presentation at 7:00pm.  This event is hosted each semester by the College’s Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team and is free to the public.

 For additional details regarding the Business Leaders Lecture Series, please contact Becky Hudson, Sam M. Walton Fellow/SIFE Advisor at (479) 619-3103 or rhudson1@nwacc.edu.  For more information about the NWACC Foundation’s capital campaign, contact Meredith Brunen, Associate Director for Development at (479) 619-4176 or mbrunen@nwacc.edu.

For questions/comments on this content, please contact Meredith Brunen.

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