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Tulsa-area leaders announce launch of OklahomaBizPac
The nonpartisan political action committee will identify and support state-level candidates.
Business and community leaders from the Tulsa region announced today the launch of OklahomaBizPac, a nonpartisan political action committee that will work to identify and support state candidates who demonstrate leadership and diplomacy, promote a pro-business climate, and serve as strong advocates for the state of Oklahoma.
OklahomaBizPac is led by a board of directors comprised of business and community leaders from the Tulsa region who represent a cross-section of industries, interests and backgrounds.
“We have a history of successful advocacy through the Tulsa Metro Chamber-led OneVoice coalition that, for five years, has presented a unified vision for the growth of our region,” said David Page, OklahomaBizPac chair and market president for J.P. Morgan Chase and Co. “OklahomaBizPac will continue this tradition of political success, and will allow us to identify and support strong leaders at the state level, no matter their party affiliation, who will champion our region’s key issues at the State Capitol.”
For more information about OklahomaBizPac, visit the Tulsa Metro Chamber website.
Tickets on sale now for premier gymnastics competition
Tickets for the USA Gymnastics U.S. Elite Challenge are available for purchase now at www.tickets.com and www.bokcenter.com. This event is the first step for gymnasts looking to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.
More than 400 competitors will register for trampoline and tumbling’s top event in Tulsa March 30 through April 1. Held at the Tulsa Convention Center, the three-day competition showcases the nation’s best in men’s and women’s trampoline, tumbling, synchronized trampoline and double mini-trampoline.
Events involve athletes using trampolines that can propel them up to 30 feet in the air, during which they can perform single, double and twisted somersaults. Tumbling utilizes elevated spring runways that enable athletes to jump at heights of more than 10 feet and execute a variety of acrobatic maneuvers. For the double-mini competition, the athlete makes a short run, leaps onto a small two-level trampoline, performs an aerial maneuver and dismounts onto a landing mat.
One man and one woman will represent the United States in trampoline at the 2012 London Olympics. To get there, they must compete in Tulsa.
Children under the age of 8 are free. Tickets are $10 for adults. All-session passes are available for $20. Click here to purchase tickets now, or buy yours at the gate March 30 through April 1.
For more information about the U.S. Elite Challenge, visit the Tulsa Sports Commission website.
Cherokee Nation’s economic impact in Tulsa region tops $1 billion
The Cherokee Nation’s economic impact in northeast Oklahoma tops $1 billion, according to a newly-released report. The Tulsa Metro Chamber joined the Cherokee Nation at a press conference in Tulsa last week to announce the report’s findings.
"While we knew all along the impact was substantial, we were proud to see the significant impact our tribal and business operations have on the state of Oklahoma,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker.
The Cherokee Nation has an impact of more than $1.06 billion, provides $401 million in salary and supports nearly 14,000 Cherokee and non-Cherokee jobs, according to the report. The Cherokee Nation employs 9,000 people directly. The report showed the impact the Cherokee Nation has on its 14-county jurisdiction, which covers the northeast corner of Oklahoma, including Tulsa County.
“The Cherokee Nation is making a tremendous impact on our regional economy in all aspects and has plans to continue being a catalyst for economic development,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Metro Chamber. “This report released by the Cherokee Nation is further evidence of their dedication to economic development.”
Prosperity Project provides valuable election tools, information
Navigating the political climate, current issues and election dates is made simpler through the Oklahoma Prosperity Project, a program of The State Chamber of Oklahoma. Via a website, www.okprosperity.com, the program serves as a central resource for sharing critical election issues with employers and employees, including how and where to register to vote, a list of legislators and voting records, and information on state and federal issues.
The Oklahoma Prosperity Project is a nonpartisan issue education and election service and does not endorse particular candidates. The Tulsa Metro Chamber partners with The State Chamber of Oklahoma to provide information about the Prosperity Project to members. More than 2,000 Oklahoma companies receive election toolkits through the program, which provides posters, e-mail messages, payroll stuffers and other information to assist companies in keeping employees informed and engaged in the election process.
Keep reading the Monday Memo and other Tulsa Metro Chamber publications for updates and resources from the Prosperity Project, including information on critical issues pending at the Capitol and contacting policymakers about particular issues.
Mike Neal named one of Oklahoma’s most-admired leaders
The Tulsa Metro Chamber’s own Mike Neal, president and CEO, was honored at The Journal Record’s third annual “Oklahoma’s Most-Admired CEOs” event last week in Oklahoma City.
“All of our honorees clearly demonstrate the attributes of integrity, values, vision and commitment to community that this program sets out to recognize, and each offers their own unique style that makes them exceptionally strong leaders,” said Mary Mélon, president and publisher of The Journal Record, in an article.
Neal was named president and CEO of the Tulsa Metro Chamber in 2006 and has led the organization to two Nation’s Best Chamber awards. An active member of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Neal has earned several professional designations, including the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation and the Certified Community Developer (CCD).
Honorees were selected from a panel of business and community leaders. For Neal’s profile on The Journal Record website, click here.
Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHCs): A OneVoice priority
Federally Qualified Health Care centers (FQHCs) are included in the Tulsa Metro Chamber-led OneVoice federal legislative agenda for 2012. The agenda calls for support of graduate medical education funding through FQHCs in order to provide training for additional Primary Care residents in Tulsa, of which the centers are in great need. FQHCs play a vital role in Tulsa’s health care system by providing comprehensive health care to persons of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay.
The Chamber will host a health care forum devoted to addressing the services, sources of revenue and challenges confronting Tulsa’s local FQHCs. Speakers will include John Silva of Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Laurie Paul of Community Health Connection and Carmelita Skeeter of the Indian Health Care Resource Center.
The forum is scheduled for tomorrow, Feb. 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the second floor conference room of the Chamber offices, 2 W. Second St. The forum is free to attend and open to the public. To register, contact Sharon Goswick at 918.560.0276 or sharongoswick@tulsachamber.com.
U.S. Chamber welcomes Congressional action on EPA job-killing rule
The Tulsa Metro Chamber joined with the U.S. Chamber and others last week in thanking Sen. Jim Inhofe for his ongoing efforts to quell the onslaught of burdensome EPA regulations. Inhofe introduced a Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval of the EPA’s “Utility MACT” regulation. The EPA estimates that the rule will cost an astounding $10 billion each year, making it the most expensive regulation to date for power plants.
One of the top priorities on the 2012 OneVoice Federal Legislative Agenda is the restriction of federal agency rulemaking authority, and the implementation of commonsense policies which would require a cost benefit analysis be performed on current and future regulations.
“We greatly appreciate the senator’s consistent stand to create a playing field that allows economic expansion in our country,” said Chris Benge, senior vice president of government affairs for the Chamber.
The Chamber and its government affairs team will continue to work with Oklahoma’s federal delegation to ensure costly federal regulations don’t interfere with the success and recovery of businesses throughout the U.S.
February report reveals all-time record in sales tax collections
Oklahoma consumers punched it up a notch in late December and early January, as the state set an all-time monthly record for state sales tax collections, Finance Director Preston Doerflinger announced. Sales tax collections to the state’s General Revenue Fund, the main source of state funding, totaled $165 million in January, Doerflinger said.
“This is the largest amount of money we have ever collected from sales taxes in any month of any year ever in Oklahoma,” Doerflinger said. “Consumer confidence appears to be high early in the second half of the 2012 fiscal year.”
In January, general revenue fund collects brought in $524.9 million, a 7.1 increase over the same month last year. Income taxes to the general revenue fund brought in $235.4 million, or 12.7 percent more than the previous year. Income tax collections include individual and corporate taxes.
What We're Working OnExecutive Offices
Presenting at the Economic Development Commission meeting
Attending the Tulsa Area United Way Annual meeting
Hosting Legislative Briefing Breakfast
Hosting Chamber Board of Directors meeting
Meeting with TYPros Advisory Council
Presenting at the Tulsa Economic Development Commission meeting
Hosting Northeastern Oklahoma Delegation Briefing Breakfast
Meeting with Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Historical Society
New Business Development
Attending North American Prospect Expo (NAPE) Energy Show with Mayor Bartlett to meet with prospective companies
Attending Morton Comprehensive Health Services Health Care Symposium
Attending Planning for Goods Movement: Players, Trends, Challenges INCOG meeting
Existing Business Development
Meeting with OCAST regarding Technology Showcase event
Setting appointments for the Governors Trade Mission to Europe
Meeting with company exec to discuss status of relocation/expansion effort
Marketing and Communications
Preparing for Friday’s Legislative Briefing Breakfast
Drafting content for the Tulsa’s Future annual report
Shooting new video footage for membership video
Downtown Development
Working with various downtown stakeholders to discuss alignment of goals and strategies for downtown development
Meeting with bank executives for an update on the commercial and residential lending climate for downtown development
Meeting with a new downtown business/property owner and touring facility
Small Business
SourceLink Tulsa meeting
Attending Hispanic Chamber of Commerce luncheon
Small Business Council legislative committee meeting
Resource Development
Developing membership marketing campaign
Recruiting new volunteers for the Resource Campaign
Visited local businesses to discuss investment opportunity in VisitTulsa Campaign
Tulsa Sports Commission
Finalizing details for B.A.S.S Local Organizing Committee’s travel to Bassmaster classic 2012 in Shreveport, La.
Hosting pre-event site visit with USA Gymnastics Director and head coach for U.S. Elite Challenge
Finalizing the A.C. Milan invitations to recruit teams for the A.C. Milan Heartland Cup Jr. Nationals
Education and Workforce
Preparing for education forum on urban education on March 7
Meeting with TCC to identify opportunities to create demand-driven training programs to meet the needs of area businesses
Meeting with Tulsa Tech to discuss workforce programs and development
Hosting health forum on Federally Qualified Health Centers
Tulsa’s Young Professionals
TYPros’ Leadership Team hosting Advisory Council meeting
Unplugged with Paula Marshall, CEO of The Bama Companies
Working on a new TYPros video
Government Affairs
Launching OklahomaBizPAC, the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s political action committee for state races
Hosting Legislative Briefing Breakfast on Friday
Attending the Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber’s monthly luncheon
VisitTulsa
Preparing to open PassKey housing services for the Appaloosa Horse Club’s 66th U.S. Nationals
Organizing follow-up information to move forward on leads collected from trade shows attended in the last two months
Working to set up appointments for the upcoming DMAI’s Destinations Showcase Conference Expo
Chamber welcomes new businessesEach month the Tulsa Metro Chamber's Hospitality Club welcomes new businesses and new Chamber members to the community by assisting with ribbon cuttings and groundbreaking announcements.
New members
B & B Liquor Warehouse
Children's Musical Theatre of Bartlesville
Graebel
J&M Welding, LLC
Nevus Outreach, Inc.
Stroman & Associates
United Aerostructures Inc.
Visions
Zoomba Technologies
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