“INnovation Day is the day for the entire city and county to come out to mark the day as an important milestone that has been achieved.”
By Rev. Arthur L. Hunt, Jr.
Mr. Chester Fort, a senior level management executive with West Fraser Timber Company, a multi-billion-dollar company based in Canada with offices in the USA, delivered a powerful keynote address in Dumas at INnovation Day 2020 on Wednesday, September 30. He spoke at THE LEGACY CENTER in West Dumas located at 501 West Bowles. It was a success in many ways for Dumas.
Hundreds of people showed up for the day which included presentations from the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services along with community groups from across the city and expanded counties. And with the support of Joynetradio.com and Country97.3 radio stations, combined with social media, thousands were able to hear about the work in Dumas and SEARK for the new DAT—C, Digital Arts Technology College Network coming in 2021.
A special food distribution by the Arkansas Food Bank served hundreds of persons and special music performances were also featured by David Ashley from Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Ashely also represented The Arkansas Lupus Foundation.
The keynote by Mr. Fort was an incredible story starting with him growing up in poverty in Bluff City, Arkansas as the youngest of 8 siblings. Now married to his wife Lorretta for 35 years with two children and 8 grandchildren, he shared from his years of experience with family, God, work, and relationships.
For people who needed to believe that you can overcome hardships, he shared the intimate account how his wife became pregnant in high school and had a baby in March ahead of her senior year and never went back to finish. She was an ‘A’ student. Later she achieved her GED and went on to graduate from Henderson State, University.
His story and message was rich in true accounts of poverty and challenges that he refused to hold him back. Inspired by his father who worked in the timber industry, Chester Fort took his faith in God, his commitment to family and work and went from pushing a broom and a shovel to at one company on to being recruited by other companies that brought him to great lessons and great promotions and earnings.
He now oversees several plants (including Arkansas locations) with West Fraser. He left many great lessons and challenges with the audience ranging from ages 6 years old to 70 years and older. A few of them served notice on being healthy; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He spoke of taking personal responsibility over complaining and blaming others. He spoke of time management and how not to waste it.
The day ended with moments with two candidates who were in attendance, Linda Hunt Rogers who is running for Dumas City Council and Shelly Billingsley who is running for City Clerk.
The College of Aspiring Artists, ASC Property Management, HMC—Ministries, City P.R.I.D.E.—Positive Results in Dumas, Everyday, and Dumas REDI, Rural Economic Development Innovation were the presenting partners of INnovation Day. Dumas Mayor Flora Simon delivered a proclamation. For reflections on the full day, visit THE LEGACY CENTER in West Dumas at www.thelegacycenterinwestdumas.org.
