About us

Thrive Inc. has been rooted in Helena, Arkansas, since 2009, helping rural communities tell their story and shape their future. We focus on place branding and placemaking—reimagining how a town looks, feels, and is experienced—to spark new opportunities and pride of place. At the heart of Thrive are local high school and community college students, who join us through paid internships and after-school workshops. Together, we dive into art and design, entrepreneurship, and leadership, giving students creative career skills while making a visible impact in their community.

Here’s the difference with Thrive: your town’s investment in a rebranding project also invests in local students. Every dollar spent with us on your branding project is matched to support our local after-school programs—fueling community change and the next generation of leaders.

Our Team

  • Will Staley

    Executive Director & Creative Director

  • Ryan Biles, AIA

    Director of Development & Placemaking

  • Jarod Wilson Hamm

    Associate Creative Director

  • Avery Mills

    CLYP Program Coordinator

  • Lisa Dulaney

    Office Manager

  • Candace Dolls

    CLYP Program Coordinator

  • Larrie Jackson

    Placemaking Technician

  • JaMica Donaby

    Placemaking Technician

PCCUA Instructors

Chelsea Antici

Design Entrepreneurship

Austin Britt

Photography

Candace Dolls

Drawing & Printmaking

Will Staley

Graphic Design

Kyle Miller

Videography

Laura Miller

UX/UI Design

hiStory

Thrive was created by co-founders William Staley and Terrance Clark after sharing educational paths steeped in Design for Social Impact and Community. A Pratt Institute Master of Industrial Design thesis project of Staley, the overall concept of Thrive was debuted in Spring of 2007 to learn how design could assist people living in economically distressed places like the Mississippi River Delta Region. After multiple trips to and from Arkansas, and after working with the support of the Pratt Institute Design Incubator the team moved to Helena, Arkansas from Brooklyn, New York to get started in Fall of 2010.

With the continued earned income support of Thrive’s branding services department, The historic progression of program iterations of Thrive Inc. are (listed in order); The Helena Entrepreneur Center; Helena Second Saturdays; Thrive Arts; The Thrive Design Mentorship program; The Thrive Design Apprenticeship program; The Thrive Design After School program; and finally as of the 2021-2022 school year – Thrive’s Creative Leadership Youth Program.

Mission Statement

To expand economic opportunity in rural communities through youth-engaged place branding and asset development.

Vision Statement

All communities will have access to the joy and vibrance found
in good design.

Board of directors

Ryan Biles
Board President
Principal, Ryan Biles Architect

Misti Staley
Treasurer
CEO, Staley House
Creator of the FreeArm Tube Feeding Assistant

Will Staley
Vice President
Executive Director

Marty Maxwell Lane
Director, School of Art, University of Arkansas

Dr. Keith Pinchback
Chancellor, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas

Theortres Parham
School Psychologist for Phillips County school districts
Former principal of Helena/W. Helena Schools

Jarvis Smith
Pastor of Second Baptist Church, West Helena
Delta Force 3 Radio Show Personality

annual reports