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Join Tulsa in China
Join the Tulsa Metro Chamber, business leaders and friends for a trip-of-a-lifetime to experience the wonders of China. Fuel the growth of international business and enjoy an amazing cultural exchange during a nine-day, adventure-filled itinerary in Bejing.
Departing on March 21, 2010, trip attendees will visit the Great Wall of China, walk among palaces, gardens and temples, see its famous Panda bears at the Bejing Zoo, partake in a traditional tea ceremony and enjoy the experience of the famed Peking Opera. Entrance to these attractions and more are part of this all-inclusive package.
Tour managers will help Tulsa in China guests discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. With help from an interpreter, you will learn about a local family’s history and way of life when you share lunch with them in their Hutong home. Travelers will also visit a kite master and learn the history of the favorite pastime of many locals.
Opening Asian markets to Tulsa is critical in today’s global economy. According to the office of Gov. Brad Henry, China and southeastern Asia were among Oklahoma's top export markets in 2008, accounting for more than $350 million in transactions. The Tulsa Metro Chamber will schedule visits with Bejing businesses for Tulsa in China participants tailored to your needs.
To learn more, attend a free information session on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 4 p.m. in the second floor conference room at the Tulsa Metro Chamber, Two West Second St.
To reserve a seat, contact Karen Humphrey at 918.560.0250 or karenhumphrey@tulsachamber.com
This unique trip is offered in partnership with WorldTravel Services and Collette Vacations. Click here to view the entire itinerary and associated cost.
Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau executive retires after 30 years
The Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau announced its executive leader and senior vice president, Suzann Stewart, retired October 15, 2009. Stewart led the Tulsa CVB for 30 years and cultivated a progressive and successful organization. Furthermore, she is recognized as one of the top-tier executives in the nation among her peers. Stewart’s numerous accomplishments during her tenure include maintaining an excellent rapport with community leaders, property owners and venues; and successfully advocating on behalf of the establishment of a hotel/motel tax—among the first of its kind in the nation. Most recently, under Stewart’s leadership, the Tulsa CVB launched a new community branding campaign and was instrumental in the revitalization of Tulsa’s tourism industry downtown.
Since 2003, the city of Tulsa invested in an 18,000 seat arena, the BOK Center which is now the No. 9 venue for tickets in the U.S.; a $50 million renovation to its Maxwell Convention Center; and built a new baseball stadium downtown set to open in 2010.
Read more about Stewart’s career and future plans in the Tulsa World article, “Vision Accomplished.”
Chamber emphasizes importance of attaining college graduates
Education is the pipeline supplier for all Tulsa-area employers and is the best opportunity to remain competitive in today’s marketplace. The Tulsa Metro Chamber is committed to making the region a leader in workforce preparation and attraction by working hand-in-hand with the secondary education system and creating an environment that encourages the best and the brightest to stay in Oklahoma after graduation.
In a push to increase the region’s talent pool, Tulsa’s business, education and civic leaders will gather at the invitation of the Tulsa Metro Chamber to begin to develop strategies for increasing the city’s college attainment rate. The strategic planning is part of the national “Talent Dividend Tour” from CEOs for Cities, a national network of urban leaders dedicated to building and sustaining the next generation of great American cities. Tulsa is one of only 30 cities on the tour.
“Increasing the number of Tulsans who hold a college degree is no longer just an education issue; it’s an economic development issue,” said Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal. “We must focus on growing our pool of talent if the Tulsa region is to create jobs that provide security, stability and wealth for the future.”
Tulsa would see an additional $646 million pumped into its economy annually by increasing the percentage of people with four-year degrees by just one percentage point – from 24.5 percent to 25.5 percent– according to a recent analysis by CEOs for Cities.
The Talent Dividend Tour in Tulsa will include three sessions: a strategic planning event with Tulsa’s Young Professionals, an invitation-only breakfast with community and business leaders and higher education partners, and a public session called the “Employer Workforce Outlook.”
The Employer Workforce Outlook will feature CEOs for Cities President and CEO Carol Coletta and a group dialogue about how the Tulsa community can engage in the effort to attain college graduates. Coletta is host and producer of the nationally syndicated public radio show Smart City and was named one of the world’s 50 most important urban experts in 2008.
There is no cost to attend the Employer Workforce Outlook, scheduled for 3-4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the Tulsa Tech Health Sciences Center, Lemley Campus, 3420 S. Memorial Dr. For more information or to attend, contact Sharon Goswick at sharongoswick@tulsachamber.com or 560.0276.
Presented by
Education Benefactors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bama
Southern Nazarene University
OU-Tulsa
Benge, Coffee address the Tulsa area business community
The budget, health care and economic development were three of the major topics discussed at last Tuesday’s Speaker/Pro Temp Forum hosted by the Tulsa Metro Chamber.
Speaker of the House Chris Benge and Senate Pro Tempore President Glenn Coffee shared the podium to address the Tulsa area business community on opportunities and challenges Oklahoma legislators will face in the 2010 legislative session.
Benge opened his address commenting on Oklahoma’s position among the rest of the nation.
“I really do think what we’ve done over the past three to four years has allowed us to be well represented among other states,” said Benge. “Comparing unemployment rates, other states are quite envious of our situation.”
While Benge’s opening remarks were words of praise the rest of his address was focused on concerns and issues that will be major factors in the next legislative session.
“We are going to be dealing with a situation budget wise few people in the legislature have dealt with,” said Benge. “It is going to be different dealing with revenue in decline. The concerning thing is we don’t know for sure where the bottom is.”
The declining natural gas prices and record reserves around the nation were one factor Benge attributed to Oklahoma’s economic woes and warned that until natural gas prices rose and production amped up, Oklahoma would continue to see slow economic growth if not decline.
While health care reform remains a major national issue, Benge also noted the importance of maintaining Oklahoma’s commitment to the OSU Medical Center in training local doctors to take care of Oklahoma’s rural and urban patients.
Coffee echoed Benge’s national concerns about health care policy noting only two states are not in health care deficits proving the current health care system is not sustainable.
Economic development was also a part of each legislator’s formal address.
“It is important for us to continue to focus on being a vibrant, open doormat for business to come to this state,” said Coffee.
Worker’s compensation was a major area of concern Coffee felt must be addressed this session.
“Today we have half the (worker’s comp) case load, but twice the cost,” said Coffee. “Addressing worker’s comp is an important, significant step in moving the ball forward. I’m sure we’ll find some common ground before the session’s out.”
Questions from the audience were presented to the legislators before the forum’s conclusion including the top priority on the 2010 OneVoice legislative agenda regarding funding for the Gilcrease Expressway.
“We need to find a solution,” said Coffee. “What we need not happen is a backup on road funding. It’s going to take more than just state dollars (to fund it). But if we’re going to see Tulsa grow in every way; it’s a critical part.”
Middle school seeks community partners
Tulsa Met-Franklin Middle School, formerly known as Franklin Youth Center, is one of five “Big Picture” schools in the Tulsa Public Schools district. Big Picture schools were established in the United States in 1995 and operate, in part, through funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Big Picture Learning model seeks to educate students based on performance, achievement, motivation and displayed behavior.
Previously considered an “alternative education” school, Tulsa Met-Franklin now incorporates Big Picture Learning by emphasizing students’ interests and integrating those interests into math, science, language and history lessons. The model has proved successful and Ava Fisher, Tulsa Met-Franklin’s principal, is positive that this learning model will retain students who faced challenges in traditional school settings.
Tulsa Met-Franklin does not currently have partners through the Chamber’s Partners In Education program and is actively seeking partners to help the students meet academic goals. To learn more or to become a partner, contact Heather Johnson at 560.0218 or heatherjohnson@tulsachamber.com.
Education Benefactors
Tulsa named a great place to launch a start-up
Tulsa has long been known for its entrepreneurial spirit, and for good reason. “This Midwestern city is very pro-business and attracts entrepreneurs with its tax incentives, low startup costs, and friendly citizens,” according to a recent article in CNN Money. The national publication recently named Tulsa the No. 19 place to launch a small business start-up.
The article attributed Tulsa’s entrepreneur-friendly environment to the Oklahoma tax structure, the city’s extensive small business resources, low cost of living, and transforming downtown.
“Tulsa small businesses create the majority of our jobs, drive our economy and are part of the solution to lead us out of the economic downtown,” said Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal. “It is no surprise for Tulsa to be named a great place to start a business, because many successful entrepreneurs call Tulsa home and more and more are emerging every year.”
Eighty-one percent of all businesses in the Tulsa MSA have fewer than 10 employees. These 29,020 businesses create a total economic impact of $3.1 billion, and provide more than 55,000 primary jobs with an estimated payroll of $1.4 billion annually.
Click here to read the article on CNNMoney.com. And to read about one of Tulsa’s successful small businesses, Docvia, LLC, click here.
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.
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