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Chamber Chairman asks City Council to reconsider
In Saturday’s Tulsa World Reader’s Forum, Chamber Chairman Don Walker, president and CEO of Arvest Bank, asks Tulsa’s City Council to reconsider its rejection of a proposed exploratory committee with Tulsa County.
Mayor Dewey Bartlett and County Commissioner Chair Karen Keith have recommended a collaborative group to discuss, where possible, how the City and County can save money through shared services. Possible ideas include purchasing in bulk for reduced costs, right-of-way maintenance and more.
Growing regionalism is one Walker’s top initiatives during his chairmanship in 2010.
Click here to read the entire editorial by Don Walker titled “Together we succeed; independently we fail.
Tulsa Metro Chamber convenes leaders to discuss city’s draft plan
The Tulsa Metro Chamber’s role in community collaboration was evident last week when it held a meeting with area hospital leaders, builders, and developers to voice concerns of the City of Tulsa’s draft document that was generated through PlaniTulsa, the city's multiyear effort to update its comprehensive plan.
In a small group roundtable last Thursday, John Fregonese, the consultant on the comprehensive plan, answered concerns regarding the major metro hospitals’ ability to grow while bordering neighborhoods.
“The health care industry is Tulsa’s largest next to aerospace and is the only industry that has sustained employment and capital growth every year,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO. “It is absolutely critical to ensure our hospitals are able to adequately prepare for the future decades and meet the needs of a growing population.”
Also in attendance was City Councilor Bill Christiansen who was able to hear, first-hand, the trepidation of some points in the draft plan and participate in feedback. One point of concern, among developers, is the recommended change of planning and zoning administration from INCOG, Indian Nations Council of Governments, to the City of Tulsa. Developers fear planning could become a political “football” in City Hall and will stymie progress.
A second special meeting of the Planning Commission will discuss possible modifications to the draft comprehensive plan at 1:30 p.m. April 14 at the City Council Committee Room on the fourth floor of City Hall.
Resource Campaign kicks off tomorrow
Secure a sponsorship today for maximum exposure
The Tulsa Metro Chamber's annual Resource Campaign will kick-off tomorrow and approximately 150 volunteers are available to help businesses identify and secure sponsorships of Chamber programs and events.
The Chamber will announce this year’s campaign goal at the event. Last year volunteers raised $2,540,290, which was nearly $250,000 more than the original goal of $2.3 million.
Each dollar raised throughout the 10-week campaign is returned to members in the form of business-building events and initiatives benefiting the entire region.
By sponsoring events and programs sold through the Resource Campaign, local businesses and organizations are ensured prime advertising real estate to the Chamber’s broad audience reaching as far as Washington, D.C.
Beyond the promotional benefit, involvement in the Chamber’s Resource Campaign is an opportunity to strengthen the Tulsa region by supporting an organization working on behalf of workforce attraction, economic development, business retention, government affairs and much more to continue growth in the Tulsa region.
Take advantage of the opportunity to boost business and the region. To learn more about available sponsorships or trade opportunities with the Tulsa Metro Chamber, contact Karen Humphrey, campaign director, at karenhumphrey@tulsachamber.com or call 560-0250.
This annual campaign contributes approximately 23 percent of the Chamber's total annual budget.
Tulsa Metro Chamber reaches 2000 followers
Last week @TulsaChamber welcomed its 2000th follower on Twitter.
Tulsa native Elizabeth Floyd currently lives in San Francisco, but is anxious to return to Tulsa and will soon be counted among a growing group of “boomerangers” who grow up here, leave to experience another part of the country and eventually return. Read about her decision to return to Tulsa in her own words.
Where did you go to high school?
Booker T. Washington. I was part of the “Class of 2000” project by the Tulsa World that profiled a group of students from kindergarten through their high school graduation.
Where did you go to college?
I attended the University of Oklahoma and majored in political science.
How did you end up in San Francisco?
A job fell into my lap doing fundraising and development for a non-profit organization. San Francisco is an amazing, beautiful city and I jumped at the opportunity to experience it.
What did you miss most about Tulsa while living there?
Family and friends were at the top of the list, of course, but I also missed the personality of the city—Tulsans are friendly, classy and embody everything I love about Oklahoma.
What made you decide to move back?
I’ve always known that I wanted to return to Tulsa, and when a great job opportunity presented itself recently, I accepted right away. I like to tell people, “I tried the east, I tried the west, but I’m coming back to the middle for good.” No matter where I’ve lived, my heart has always been in Tulsa.
What do you plan to do once you arrive back in Tulsa?
I have a long list. I’m especially excited to have a cocktail at Trula in the Mayo, hop around Brookside and the Blue Dome District, go to a concert at the BOK Center, see the azaleas in Woodward Park, and do some shopping in Utica Square.
Is there anything new about Tulsa that enticed you to make the move back?
It’s obvious just how much Tulsa has developed in the past several years, and the city feels incredibly vibrant right now. Each time I came back for a visit, I notice great new shops and restaurants. I’ve also followed the success of TYPros, and I'm looking forward to getting involved.
Partners In Education goal deadline approachingThe Chamber is seeking 100 new partners by the end of the school year
Today’s students are tomorrow’s business, community and government leaders. With this in mind, the Chamber advocates to raise the standards of excellence for the educational establishments and institutions surrounding Tulsa, including Tulsa Public Schools.
Your company can help.
Recognizing the need to engage Tulsa-area students, the Chamber encourages its members to participate in programs like Partners In Education. Through the program, Tulsa-area corporations, community organizations and faith-based entities are matched with individual schools, multiple schools or the district to provide resources through volunteers, cash and in-kind contributions.
Your company can assist us in reaching the 2009-2010 goal of 1,350 partners. To become a partner and make a difference in the lives of students in Tulsa, contact Heather Johnson at heatherjohnson@tulsachamber.com or 918.560.0218.
Entrepreneurial Spirit Award entries now being accepted
SpiritBank and Tulsa Community College are hosting the 2010 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award competition, an awards recognition program open to anyone in the Tulsa area with an existing business in operation for up to five years and individuals with an idea for a new business. The winner must agree to establish or expand the business in Tulsa.
First-place prize for the Spirit Awards is $30,000. Entries will be accepted April 6 – May 13 online at www.TulsaSpiritAward.com. A special kick-off event is scheduled for 5:40 p.m., tomorrow, April 6 at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First St.
Tulsa Metro Chamber supports emerging businesses in the Tulsa region and offers a new resource to entrepreneurs and small business owners. SourceLink Tulsa launched in February and provides referrals to connect entrepreneurs with area resource partners offering business-building services. The program’s Web site, www.SourceLinkTulsa.com, offers the “Resource Navigator,” links to online resources, a library of how-to guides and other valuable materials, and a schedule of entrepreneurial educational and business development opportunities, including the Spirit Awards.
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.
Lee’s Bicycles Inc.
Adam Vanderburg, President and Owner
420 E. 2nd Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
Phone: 743.4285
www.leesbikes.com
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