Page 5 - RVO Women In Business Jan 2017

Advertising Supplement to the River Valley & Ozark Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Women in Business • Sunday, January 29, 2017 • 5VV
Nancy Beene Conway Collision Center
By Emily Edmisten
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
Nancy Beene and her husband, Danny, have two sons, Todd and Chad. When the boys were growing up, the Beenes lived on a rural road with a one-
lane wooden bridge leading up to their house.
“As teenagers, the boys enjoyed helping Danny work on their trucks,” Nancy said. “One misty day after
working on his truck, Chad started down the road. Because of the road’s slick conditions, Chad and Todd met at the bridge and slid into each other. That was the
beginning of a future in car repairs.”
When they heard that Conway Collision Center
was for sale, Nancy and the family took a leap of faith and purchased it. Nancy focuses on running the family business as president, alongside Todd and Chad, who play vital roles in the company. While her sons focus on customers and vehicle repairs, Nancy focuses on the day-to-day paperwork of managing a business. She said all these responsibilities keep her mind active.
“My oldest son, Todd, is in the office,” Nancy said. “He is great with customer service and is forward-thinking about keeping track of operations. My other son, Chad, is the shop foreman and knows more of the technical
I’VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
WHAT RUNNING A BUSINESS ENTAILS. IT’S NOT JUST ME; THIS BUSINESS WORKS FOR 14 EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES, ALSO. I’M SURE YOU HAVE HEARD THAT OLD SAYING, ‘TAKE CARE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES, AND THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.’ WE HAVE REALLY GOOD EMPLOYEES, AND WE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.”
— Nancy Beene
aspect [of the business]. We each seem to have our niche.” However, Nancy’s sons aren’t the only family mem- bers who bring in business. Annie, the family’s English bulldog, regularly comes to work with Nancy and inter-
acts with the customers.
“Annie especially loves kids,” Nancy said. “If she is
asleep in my office and hears a child, she will wake up and run to greet them.”
Although Nancy works in her office a lot, she enjoys the entire atmosphere that owning a business brings. Meeting new customers and seeing returning friends are highlights in her day, she said.
“I’ve learned a lot about what running a business entails,” Nancy said. “It’s not just me; this business
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Nancy Beene, president of Conway Collision, focuses mainly on paying bills, organizing the office and making sure the business is running properly.
works for 14 employees and their families, also. I’m sure you have heard that old saying, ‘Take care of your employees, and they will take care of you.’ We have really good employees, and we take care of each other.”