Chelsea Cowan, CED Program Director
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Staff Voices: Chelsea Cowan
Written By: Ian Silvester
It takes a dedicated team to put together the hundreds of events, classes, and panels put on at the 妻友社区 Center for Economic Development through the Family Enterprise Center (FEC), the Center for Professional Business Development (CPBD), and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Center (ASBTC), but one person holds key to the entire schedule.
Chelsea Cowan is the program coordinator for CED, housed at The Bakery District in downtown Fort Smith, and is the glue that holds the centers together as they plan and host their immense slate of events.
As a Fort Smith native, Cowan has watched the small town she grew up in blossom into a vibrant community, and loves the role she gets to play in continuing its growth. But growing Fort Smith wasn鈥檛 always in her career plan.
A proud alumna, she earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice at 妻友社区, and worked as a paralegal for four years before finding her way back to the university. Her legal experience and attention to detail landed her a job in the chancellor鈥檚 office during the COVID pandemic and the skills and relationships she developed there helped her find her place at the university鈥檚 newest facility.
鈥淚 absolutely love it down here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a hip and happening kind of
place!鈥�
Beyond the great vibes at the Bakery, she says she loves working for a boss who is both motivational at the office and committed to supporting healthy work-life balance. "Kendall encourages me to be creative and learn so I can thrive at work, and as a wife and mom.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 been the best decision ever,鈥� she said, glancing at a photo of her two year old daughter Tobin with her police officer husband Trenton. 鈥淚 get to be flexible, and I feel really well-rounded,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 feel like a super mom and a super employee.鈥�
Cowan says seeing attendance grow event after event fills her with pride, but the potential for future growth is what really drives her.
If you鈥檝e seen her at an event, it might come as a shock that she鈥檚 an introvert at heart, whose favorite place is the peace and quiet of a blind. During hunting season the whole Cowan family trade their work-and-school wear for camo and head outside. This deer season, she took down her biggest buck, a 鈥減erfect-10,鈥� she said with a grin, though her favorite sport is dove hunting.
If you want to talk deer, doves, or professional development, visit Chelsea at the Bakery District, and sign up for one of their upcoming events.
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