ExCEL program, Vines Center earn top honors from Arkansas Business
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Dec. 9, 2016
Fast facts
- Vines 4-H Center earns 2016 “Best Team Building Center” from Arkansas Business
- Eighth time to be honored
- Center was finalist for “Best Place for a Company Retreat”
(340 words)
FERNDALE, Ark. – Grass, sunshine and water balloons aren’t the usual management tools for building a better workforce, but those very ingredients are what helped lift the ExCEL program and the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center to “Best Team Building Center” status for the eighth time among readers of “Arkansas Business.”
Not bad for a program that’s been in business since 1986. ExCEL also earned the honor in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
“We're very excited about winning ‘Best Team Building Center’ in Arkansas Business!” said Luke Nipper, 4-H ExCEL coordinator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“The readers of Arkansas Business magazine vote for the Best of Biz awards and it means a lot to the 4-H Center and ExCEL program to be selected as the winner of this category,” he said. “We work with many organizations across the state and it is such a privilege to have the opportunity to work with them all.
“We love the fact that we're a part of such a good community and we hope to continue providing great service in team development for many years to come,” Nipper said.
Updated facility
“The center staff has put a lot of time and effort into the recent facility updates,” said J.J. Pitman. director of the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center. “One of our goals it to win the Best of Business in the Best Place for a Company Retreat category and to be a finalist this year is one step closer.
“We are also very proud of the program staff for winning the Best Teambuilding Center for its eighth time,” Pitman said. Having various companies, schools and other organizations send personnel for teambuilding is part of the efforts to “introduce the Vines 4-H Center to new clients.”
Follow the center on Twitter at @ar4Hcenter and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arkansas4hcenter/ .
Arkansas 4-H Center at 501-821-6884.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu
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