Newport native serves area in several ways
Newport native serves area in several ways
Kevin Pearce is passionate about Newport.
He was born, raised and educated in the Jackson County seat and now serves in several leadership roles in his hometown. Pearce, 37, is president of the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is student recruiter and community-engagement coordinator for Arkansas State University-Newport. And he does the play-by-play commentary for the Newport Greyhounds sports teams.
“Kevin is a Newport native with great energy and a positive attitude,” said Julie Allen, chamber director. “He understands and embraces strong partnerships, which is key for any successful community. We are fortunate to have him as president in 2018 as we continue to strengthen the chamber and the city of Newport.”
Pearce joined the chamber in 2013 and was elected to the board right away. “I’ve just worked my way up,” he said.
“The objectives of the chamber are to grow the community and look for new businesses,” he said. “My thing is the youth. I’m always looking for things for the youth to be involved in. I want to find ways to keep families here.”
As a chamber member, Pearce is involved in the Delta Visual Arts Show, which is set for Saturday in various locations in downtown Newport.
“I came on board with the arts show in year two or three as an organizer,” he said.
Pearce graduated from Newport High School in 1998. He attended Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge on a baseball scholarship for one year and graduated from Arkansas State University in 2002 with a degree in sports management.
He has worked with several minor league sports franchises, including the Arkansas Riverblades and Mississippi Seawolves hockey teams, the Arkansas Travelers baseball
I’ll always be involved in the chamber and in the community.” Kevin Pearce 2018 PRESIDENT OF THE NEWPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
team, and the Arkansas RimRockers basketball team as director of ticket sales.
He said he got a job as the general manager of an arena football team in Macon, Georgia.
“I already had my bags packed and was ready to go, when I went in to say goodbye to my 2 1/2-year-old daughter,” he said. “I couldn’t go. … I couldn’t leave her. That was a turning point in my life. I decided to stay here and do something in the community.”
Pearce worked in radio sales and also served as the coordinated school health director for the Newport School District.
He went to work at ASUN first as a career coach, or career facilitator, serving students in the Newport School District. He served in that capacity for three years.
Pearce worked as general manger of ASUN’s radio station, KOKR/KNBY, for one year. During that time, the chamber recognized the radio station with the 2014 Small Business of the Year Award.
Pearce has been in his current position at ASUN for 2 1/2 years.
“I travel in my job, but not far,” he said. “I don’t go outside the state. I now live in Jonesboro, but I work and play in Newport, where my passion is.”
Pearce said he married “a Jonesboro girl.”
He and his wife, Shannon, have a baby daughter, Charley Evelyn, who is 1 month old. Pearce also has a 14-year-old daughter, Kathryn Macayle Pearce, who lives in Newport and attends Newport High School.
His parents, Michael and Kathy Pearce, are retired educators, “with about 40 years apiece,” he said. His father was a coach, and his mother taught fourth-grade. They continue to live in Newport. He has one older sister, Lori Pearce Harms, who lives in North Little Rock.
Pearce enjoys coaching junior high softball, golf and sports broadcasting.
“I hope ESPN will give a me a call someday,” he said, laughing. “I have zero training as a radio commentator. I started out in sales.
“I’m really shy,” he said. “I am really an introvert, but once I get on the radio … I love it.
Pearce played three sports in high school — baseball, football and basketball — and lettered in all three.
He said he also loves history, especially the Civil War era.
“In the next 10 years, I feel I’ll still be a part of this community,” Pearce said. “I enjoy higher education. I have a passion for this area. I’d like to see the kids who don’t think they can go to college be able to go to college. We are a vo-tech school that offers ways to many careers. We offer hands-on skills that might appeal to many students. Diesel technology, nursing, surgical technology, agriculture technology … these all offer great opportunities to students.
“Even after my term as president of the chamber board is over, I will continue to be a chamber member,” he said. “I’ll always be involved in the chamber and in the community.”
Pearce is a past president of the Jackson County Youth Athletics Association, serving in that capacity for two years. He remains on the organization’s board of directors.
“We organize the baseball and softball league for Newport and Jackson County,” he said.
“I am also a part of a new mentor/mentee program where I mentor a third-grade student,” he said.
Pearce is a member of First Baptist Church in Newport.