Apptegy layoffs - anyone hearing who's hiring around Little Rock?

Saw that Apptegy confirmed they cut staff in a restructuring a few weeks back, but they're not saying how many. So nobody outside really knows how big it was. I don't work there, but a couple of people I know in the tech scene downtown do know folks who were affected.

Rough timing for anybody who got caught in it. Hiring around here isn't like Austin or Dallas where you can throw a rock and hit three startups. Best I can think of off the top of my head is the usual: Bank OZK, Dillard's, LiveRamp, Baptist Health, Entergy, plus whatever's going on at the Tech Park. Probably a lot of remote stuff too, but that's a different game.

If you're hiring, or you've been through a layoff yourself and have advice on what actually worked here, post it. Even just "my company is looking for a developer, a data person, a support lead," whatever. I'd rather see this thread be useful than turn into speculation about what happened inside the company. None of us know that.

And if you're one of the ones affected, sorry. Hope something turns up quick.

Good call keeping this off the speculation. Nobody here knows what went on inside.

Couple more to add to Kevin's list: UAMS and Arkansas Children's both hire IT and data people constantly and it's not always on the radar of the startup crowd. State agencies too, the state job site is slow and clunky but they do post tech roles. Also Stephens and Arkansas Blue Cross if anybody's into finance/insurance side.

Worth stopping by the Venture Center downtown, they know who's hiring around here and they're friendly 👍 Hope everybody lands somewhere quick.

Second the Venture Center... they're good people to talk to even if you're not a startup person. Also Arkansas Children's seems to have IT stuff posted all the time...

Rough with school letting out in a couple weeks too. Hope everybody lands somewhere soon.

Thanks, both. I'd have missed UAMS and Children's. Those are the kind of places that never come up when people talk about tech jobs here, but they post IT and data roles all the time.

The state job site is clunky, but a lot of people sleep on it. If you're a state-job person, the benefits and stability make up for the interface.

I don't work there, so I'll leave the Venture Center to anybody who actually needs it. If you're one of the ones affected and want a second set of eyes on a resume, I'm happy to look. Just send a message.

Thanks for offering the resume help, Kevin. That's the kind of thing that actually helps someone.

Mod note: I'm glad this has stayed on who's hiring and not on what happened inside the company. Let's keep it that way. If you're hiring, post the role. If you were affected and don't want to post publicly, message Kevin or me and we'll point you to whoever we can.

One more to add: the school districts. LRSD and PCSSD post tech and data jobs now and then, and they're easy to miss if you only watch the startup side. I follow the board agendas anyway, so I'll flag anything I see.

Good one, Clay. LRSD and PCSSD slipped my mind, and I'm usually reading their budget docs anyway because of the millage. Funny how I never think of them as employers.

Fair point on the DMs too. If anybody wants to send a resume or just talk through next steps, my inbox is open. I won't post anything about who reached out.

Reading millage budget docs for fun, Kevin, that's dedication 😄 But you're right, the districts are huge employers and nobody counts them.

One more angle, and it's me being me about new businesses: the newer spots opening up around SoMa, the River Market and Main St are hiring too, and a lot of them need someone who can do the website, the books, the ordering setup, whatever. Not startup money maybe, but it keeps things going while you line up the real next thing. Sometimes just walking in and asking works better than the online posting.

Also, if anybody's stressed, a loop on the River Trail this weekend does more than you'd think. Hope everybody lands somewhere good 👍