The exception to the rule

It's not common for a small business of 27 employees to have such a huge impact on a community. Yesterday I met the exception. Cameron Smith (and Associates) is one of the candidates for the Small Business of the Year Award presented by the Small Business Council of the Rogers Lowell Chamber of Commerce. (The award is presented at the Business Expo August 6 during the keynote with Harley Davidson's Clyde Fessler.)

Contrary to popular belief, CSA is not a recruiter for Wal-Mart. They are an executive search firm for the SUPPLIERS of Wal-Mart. And their reach goes beyond Bentonville as they corner the retail executive market in several vendorvilles around the country. The global canvas is probably not far behind.

But back to little ole' Northwest Arkansas population 440K give or take a few, gaining acclaim as one the country's more stable, more suitable, more livable business communities.

Since opening up shop in the state in the early '90s, CSA has directly influenced the local economy in a big way. To date they've brought 1,232 teams to NWA – a number Cameron Smith can rattle off like his SSN. There are 5,434 people in the supplier community within a 27-mile radius and 60K suppliers affiliated with Wal-Mart enmasse. CSA can reach out and touch every one of them in a single click.

Nope, most small business don't wield that kind of power.

I admit. I was impressed.

Gainfully employed and grateful, Cameron (and his Associates) actively engage at the executive level on several mover-and-shaker boards, councils, and outreach programs that affect the lives and liberties of many here in NWA. Single Parent Scholarships (Cameron's mother was a hard-working single parent), Athletic Outreach (AAO), and Street Smart programs that "help them help themselves" match the company's charitable efforts with its core values.

And if the economy stinks, CSA makes lemonade. With a volunteer effort to help the recent layoff victims brand themselves for new employment, CSA caught the media eye nationwide, which caught the eye of CEOs at major retailers nationwide, which started conversations nationwide, which opened doors...

Yep. The exception to the rule.

Copyright 2009 Janie Clark