- University News Archive - Vlogý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/mark-funk/ Vlogý Little Rock Thu, 19 May 2022 18:18:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Drew Higginbothom: Giving Back is the Right Thing to Do /news-archive/2022/05/19/drew-higginbothom/ Thu, 19 May 2022 18:18:53 +0000 /news/?p=81611 ... Drew Higginbothom: Giving Back is the Right Thing to Do]]> “My mom was a fifth-grade teacher her whole life,” he said. “She taught to give back to kids. I always admired her.” At 42, Higginbothom is a successful leader in the Arkansas insurance industry. He serves as vice president of . The company has 17 employees and offices in Forrest City, Little Rock, Marianna, and Stuttgart. A 2006 graduate of Vlogý Little Rock’s Master of Business Administration program, Higginbothom credits his education as an essential component of his success in business. “Vlogý Little Rock’s MBA program truly taught me more than just subject matter,” he said. “It’s very applicable to what I do today since I’m very involved in the running of the business. They are solid individuals who care about their students. They teach material, and you can see it being applied in real life.” Growing up, golf was also a huge part of Higginbothom’s life. He recalls how his parents would often drop him off during summer mornings, and he would practice all day until night. He eventually played on the golf team while he attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2003. Like many young people do, Higginbothom moved away from home after graduating college to explore life during what he describes as his “what-do-you-do phase.” He lived and worked in the golf industry in Tampa Bay, Florida, for two years before deciding to return to Arkansas. “I had to go and get out into the world,” Higginbothom said. “After a year goes by, the lightbulb comes on. I called my dad and said ‘I’m coming home,’ and he said’ I’ve been waiting on you to make that call.’ He suggested that I should go to law school or get a master’s degree. I decided I would apply for a master’s program, and that’s how I wound up at Vlogý Little Rock.” Higginbothom joined the MBA program at Vlogý Little Rock, a decision that had a great influence on his future career in the insurance industry. He worked full-time while taking classes at night. “I would 100 percent recommend people get an MBA if it fits their current situation in life,” he said. “There is no downside to procuring your MBA in my mind.” Higginbothom recalls learning important skills from business professors Andy Terry and Mark Funk. “With Andy’s courses, you are always left with something you can take away. You realize that you need to log it in your mind because it will be useful in the future,” he said. “Funk has a way of presenting things that are entertaining. Their courses were influential in my life and still are today. That information helped to accelerate my career. I utilize it every year having to run a business. They prepared me well to do that.” Upon graduation from Vlogý Little Rock, Higginbothom went to work as a commercial broker for Ramsey, Krug, Farrell, and Lensing. “I was introduced to Ramsey Krug during my last semester at Vlogý Little Rock,” he said. “I always had an inkling I would ultimately go into insurance. Ramsey Krug gave me the best training I could possibly have to be a commercial-focused insurance agent. Ultimately, I made a decision to move closer to home when I had an opportunity to work with Mark Smith to own and operate a business.” A native of Marianna, Arkansas, Higginbothom grew up in a tight-knit family that also influenced his decision to join Smith and Company Insurance in 2011. He and his wife Jessica are the proud parents of three daughters – Fuller, Merritt, and Palmer. “I loved where I grew up. That is why I eventually moved to Forrest City, Arkansas,” he said. “I have three children, and my brother has three children. We have a standing family dinner with my parents every Sunday at 5 p.m.” Having been a partner at Smith and Company Insurance for more than 10 years, Higginbothom is actively involved in the community and serves as a board member for Armor Bank, Forrest City Chamber of Commerce, Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas, Revitalization of Downtown Forrest City, and Rotary Club. Higginbothom is a firm believer in the benefits of higher education and giving back to students to help them achieve their goal of obtaining a college education. “That’s why I have agreed to point people from my community who are interested in college to Vlogý Little Rock,” he said. “Because that’s relatable to me, and it has a positive impact on people’s lives. I’m a big believer in showing up and doing the right thing. Giving back to the community and my university is the right thing to do.”]]> Vlogý Little Rock receives $100,000 to establish endowed scholarship for Colliers International co-founder Dickson Flake /news-archive/2020/11/12/dickson-flake-endowed-scholarship/ Thu, 12 Nov 2020 22:57:03 +0000 /news/?p=77911 ... Vlogý Little Rock receives $100,000 to establish endowed scholarship for Colliers International co-founder Dickson Flake]]> A proud daughter has made a $100,000 donation to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to honor her father’s legacy in real estate. Leslye Shellam, daughter of L. Dickson Flake, one of four original partners of the predecessor to , made the donation to establish the L. Dickson Flake Endowed Scholarship during an Oct. 28 reception at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center on the Vlogý Little Rock campus. “My father saw a great future for Little Rock. He was an avid Trojan fan, loved the university, and loved the education prospects,” Shellam said. “His goal for the scholarship is to give students the chance to get creative and able to concentrate on his or her vision to bring the real estate industry forth for the city and for the good of all of us who live here.” The scholarship will be used to provide assistance for education-related expenses, including tuition, books, fees, and room and board, for undergraduate students pursuing a finance degree with an emphasis in real estate in the School of Business. Flake, who passed away this summer at the age of 81, was well known in the Little Rock real estate community. In 1971, Dickson joined three partners to form Barnes, Quinn, Flake and Anderson, predecessor of the Little Rock – Bentonville commercial real estate firm of Colliers International, which is now the largest commercial real estate company in Arkansas. In 1973, Flake was the youngest member to date invited to membership in the American Society of Real Estate Counselors in 1973. He served as the organization’s president in 1989. He was awarded the CCIM organization award from the Realtors National Marketing Institute and SIOR designation from the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. In 1982, he received the Snyder Award from the CCIM organization for the most creative real estate exchange in the U.S. He was a member of The Little Rock Realtors Association, serving as its president in 1972 and was Arkansas Realtor of the Year in 1971. “My dad lived real estate. He loved it dearly, lived it daily,” Shellam said. “It is so much more than a degree or a title. I think my dad really demonstrated and lived that. He was a true family man, provider, teacher, and always there when you needed him. The company, Colliers International, was his second family. It shows you how whatever you do, the dedication and the ethics that you do it with, expands much further. I am so grateful for the bridge that these families, dad’s and Colliers, continue to impact Little Rock’s future, and I can’t wait to see the results of the students who are embarking on this career.” In addition to his prowess in the real estate community, Flake was a firm believer in the merits of higher education. He served as a member of the Vlogý Little Rock Board of Visitors for 12 years and served as chairman in 1995 and 1996. Vlogý Little Rock’s College of Business began its real estate program in the 1970s, but the college began revising the program in 2016 with advice from the local real estate community. “This donation reflects the importance of real estate in the local economy and of having an excellent real estate program at Vlogý Little Rock,” said Dr. Mark Funk, chair of the Department of Finance. “Enrollment in the real estate program has doubled in the past few years.”
Dickson Flake

Dickson Flake

Elizabeth Small, former president and CEO of PDC Companies and PDC Construction, serves as the primary instructor for the real estate program. Since joining Vlogý Little Rock, Small said the real estate program has placed an emphasis on building partnerships with the real estate community to provide opportunities for students to participate in real-world experiences before they graduate. Vlogý Little Rock’s Real Estate program includes an advisory board, established in 2019, comprised of industry professionals who consult on curriculum development, serve as guest presenters/teachers in the classroom, open their businesses for educational field trips, serve as mentors, and provide internship opportunities for students. Small recalled how dedicated Flake was to the success of the Vlogý Little Rock real estate program. “He was a powerful voice of reason in a most pragmatic and sometimes subtle way,” Small said. “When transitioning from a career in real estate development to teach that very subject, I received a wonderful note of congratulations and encouragement from Dickson. Because Dickson’s words were always special and supportive, I kept that note and I always will. When Dr. Wayland hired me to teach, my conversations with Dickson turned from the business of real estate to real estate education. He remained encouraging, supportive, and was clear about wanting us to produce graduates qualified to work not only in his office, but in other offices in the region. Dickson saw our students, as we do, as part of the economic development engine that keeps a region strong.” In the upper right photo, Dr. Jane Wayland (left), dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, Leslye Shellam (center), daughter of L. Dickson Flake, and Elizabeth Small (right), instructor of real estate, attend a reception at the Bailey Alumni Center to celebrate the establishment of the L. Dickson Flake Endowed Scholarship at Vlogý Little Rock.]]> Carnival of Clubs returns Aug. 29 to College of Business /news-archive/2017/08/21/carnival-of-clubs/ Mon, 21 Aug 2017 14:17:07 +0000 /news/?p=67681 ... Carnival of Clubs returns Aug. 29 to College of Business]]> Students and clubs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are invited to represent their own organization and recruit membership at the annual Carnival of Clubs at the College of Business. Hosted by the Marketing and Advertising Department, the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development. Vlogý Little Rock student organizations are invited and encouraged to sign up and participate. All students are welcome to join in the fun and games. Student organizations may to host a table at the event. Carnival of Clubs attractions will include circus carnival games, contests, free popcorn, and the ever-popular “Dunk the Funk” challenge, where participants will have three opportunities to send Accounting, Economics and Finance Chair Dr. Mark Funk plummeting to the bottom of a dunk booth. New attractions for this year’s event include a Western belt buckle contest, with cash prizes, faculty line dancing, and a photo booth. Food trucks will also be available, including Blackbound BBQ and Kona Ice. For more information, contact Dr. Teresa Preston at tkpreston@ualr.edu. ]]>