Before Chung Tan started working in Fayetteville, the city didn't know how many businesses were operating inside its own limits. No registry. No emergency contacts. No way to answer the basic question: who is actually here?
Chung Tan is the Director of Industry and Employment Services for the City of Fayetteville, a Certified Economic Developer, and one of North America's Top 50 Economic Developers. She spent 10 years building economic development at the Fayetteville Chamber before joining the City in 2019, and her career started not in Arkansas but in Malaysia, where she served as boots on the ground for Arkansas and Georgia companies expanding into Southeast Asia. In this episode, Angela Belford sits down with Chung to hear the full story: how a tip from a friend turned into a cross-ocean move, how she built a business license registry from scratch, how the city now uses data to identify sector gaps and recruit strategically, and why she believes the most powerful thing about Northwest Arkansas is that people here are not afraid to ask for help and not afraid to give it.
If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to shape a city's economic future, if you've felt stuck because you think you chose the wrong path, or if you've needed someone to give you permission to pivot without calling it failure, this episode delivers. Chung's mantra is simple and she means every word of it: nothing is permanent, so go for it.
Listen to this episode of HerStory now and hear from the woman who has spent 16 years helping Fayetteville understand what it is and plan for what it can be.
The Women of All Generations event is June 16, 2026, 3 to 6 PM at the Fayetteville Town Center. Tickets at fayettevillear.com/woag.
Mentioned in this episode:
- City of Fayetteville Economic Development: fayetteville-ar.gov
- Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce: fayettevillear.com
- University of Arkansas research and development investment announcement
- Arkansas Association of Asian Businesses (AAAB)
- Suzanne Clark (referenced as an example of career pivoting)
- Women of All Generations event: fayettevillear.com/woag
Connect with Chung:
Mentioned in this episode:
Women of All Generations | June 16, 2026
The Women of All Generations event is almost here. Join us June 16, 2026 from 3 to 6 PM at the Fayetteville Town Center for an afternoon of real conversation, connection, and celebration. Tickets and sponsorships are available now. You belong in that room. Grab your spot at fayettevillear.com/woag.
