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Tulsa Sports Commission names new executive director
Ray Hoyt accepts position to lead organization
VisitTulsa Senior Vice President Dave Nolan announced today the selection of Ray Hoyt as the executive director of the Tulsa Sports Commission at a press conference at the BOK Center.
“The Tulsa Sports Commission is building an impressive portfolio of events both created and attracted to impact the region’s economy and it is critical we build on that momentum now and utilize the incredible assets Tulsa has to offer as a sports destination,” said Nolan. “We feel strongly that Ray is the person to lead this organization in the right direction and strengthen Tulsa’s sports reputation.”
Hoyt previously served as the director of national games and athlete relations in the National Senior Games Association, headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., where he oversaw the direction of all NSGA national events and programs. Prior to that he was the executive director and president of the Senior Games in Louisville, Ky., where he was successful in partnering with businesses and agencies to gain financial and community support for the 2007 Senior Games and helping the event reach national prominence.
As the executive director of the Tulsa Sports Commission, Hoyt will oversee the creation and development of sports events opportunities in Tulsa and the surrounding area with the overall goal of providing a positive economic impact and improving the regional quality of life. Hoyt will report to the Tulsa Sports Commission’s Board of Directors and the VisitTulsa Advisory Council.
“The people already here; the vision of the leadership; and the engagement of the community were all major factors that influenced my decision to accept this position and relocate to Tulsa,” said Hoyt. “Tulsa has recently built several new facilities to support a strong passion and commitment to a successful sports commission in the region. When my wife and I visited, we were impressed with the beauty and cleanliness of the city, the thoughtfulness of the people and their sense of community pride.”
The Tulsa Sports Commission serves to create a positive economic impact in the Tulsa region through attracting, developing and facilitating amateur sports events, sports-related conventions and other sports ventures enhancing the community’s quality of life. Since its inception, the TSC has accounted for more than $250 million in economic impact to the Tulsa region. Recent events hosted or attracted to the region include the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough, 2010 Conference USA Championships and the 2nd and 3rd Rounds of the 2011 NCAA Tournament in March. The TSC is also a founding member of the National Association of Sports Commissions.
“Sports is a huge economic generator for the tourism and entertainment industry, which provides a $1.2 billion economic impact each year and supports more than 24,000 jobs on an annual basis in the region,” said Doug Stuart, chairman of the Tulsa Sports Commission Board of Directors and president of J.D. Young Company. “The citizens in Tulsa and Tulsa County have invested millions of dollars in facilities and VisitTulsa and the Tulsa Sports Commission are working hard every day to return the investment.”
Hoyt officially joined the Chamber on Sept. 7, 2010. Developing a strategic plan to increase Tulsa’s profile and presence in the national sports industry will be among his first duties.
City of Tulsa presents plan for improving efficiency and effectiveness of services
Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett presented recommendations of an independent study that will provide a long-term road map for the operations of Tulsa city government. The report, which was based on input from employees, focuses on strategic opportunities to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of services provided by the city.
"The KPMG study is a significant turning point in the direction of the city. It presents a great opportunity for both the Mayor and the City Council to use this insight to reduce costs, improve service, and eliminate inefficiencies," said Mike Neal, Tulsa Metro Chamber president and CEO. "A special thanks to our civic volunteers for the time dedicated to serving on the steering committee and to the Tulsa Community Foundation for underwriting the cost of KPMG's services. This valuable gift will continue to benefit the city for decades."
“Managing Change: Opportunities for Municipal Efficiency and Effectiveness” was developed by KPMG, an independent, third-party firm of efficiency experts, and was funded by Tulsa Community Foundation at no cost to the city or taxpayers. In addition to gathering input from 457 employees, KPMG used a systematic approach based on leading practices in government and commercial sectors to review 1,512 city services provided by 20 city departments.
“With an estimated $18.2 million shortfall in next fiscal year’s budget on top of the $11.6 million shortfall in the FY2010-11 budget, we must find ways to reduce costs while continuing to provide basic, high quality services to our residents,” Bartlett said. “We have outstanding employees, but some inefficient, outdated processes and programs. This report provides recommendations on how to remove those inefficiencies and better utilize taxpayer money.”
Bartlett is establishing the Management Review Office led by Preston Doerflinger, city auditor, to lead the implementation process.
“Cities and companies across the nation are implementing improvements to become more effective and competitive,” Doerflinger said. “I am excited by the opportunities presented in this study and honored to be leading this effort. I look forward to working with our employees and city leaders to evaluate the opportunities and implement those that will help us improve our services and more efficiently use taxpayer dollars.”
Key findings in the report include:
• 61 percent of city services are not mandated (some may be strategically aligned or provide critical support)
• Of the total services provided, 69 percent should be benchmarked for cost-effectiveness
• 61 percent of services have no basis to determine if they are competitive with other private or public organizations
• Only 12 percent of services possess measurable objectives, goals or performance measures
• Many customer-service provider relationships do not appear to establish service-level expectations
• Many administrative processes are manually intense, with multiple levels of approval
Recommendations in the report include:
• Competitive bidding on the right to lease assets, including operation, maintenance and financing of services
• Strategic elimination, reduction or suspension of some services
• Strategic sourcing of services across internal resources and external providers to convert fixed into variable costs
• Managed competition to ensure the largest savings possible
• Utilization of public-private partnerships to offset or transfer the city’s investment in operating and capital costs
• Internal consolidation and development of inter-agency relationships to maximize efficiencies
• Centralization and automation of processes and leveraging of shared resources
A Steering Committee consisting of business and philanthropic leaders and representatives from the City Council, the Mayor’s Office and Tulsa County oversaw the study process. The committee approved KPMG’s methodology prior to the study, validated potential opportunities and provided input on priority initiatives for consideration during the first phase of implementation.
Click here to view the entire KPMG Report
Chamber launches CEO Roundtable initiative
Area business leaders are invited to sign up for the no-cost personal advisory groups
The Tulsa Metro Chamber’s Small Business Council is starting a new initiative it expects the business community to find extremely valuable. CEO Roundtables are groups of eight non-competitive CEOs (or equivalents) who serve as each other’s advisory board and support unit. Roundtables are self-governing groups that meet monthly for at least two hours to share best practices and exchange ideas in a confidential setting.
“The goal of the CEO Roundtable is simply to make all participating CEOs more effective personally and professionally,” said Sean Kouplen, Small Business Council member and president of Regent Bank.
Kouplen presented the idea for the groups to the Small Business Council and is currently participating in one of two “beta” test roundtables. The response has been tremendous.
“The participants seem to be getting much-needed encouragement, feedback and resources which we believe will make them more successful as business leaders in this challenging environment,” Kouplen said.
Deadline to apply for groups forming in October is Thursday, Sept. 30. The groups will be ongoing and additional training dates will be announced throughout the year.
Tulsa Metro Chamber will provide facilitator and group training but will not participate directly in the group. Chamber staff will survey participants regularly to ensure the groups are beneficial and functioning to the satisfaction of group members.
To participate in CEO Roundtables, applicants must hold the position of CEO or the equivalent in his or her company; the company must have been in existence for at least two years; the company must be a Tulsa Metro Chamber in good standing; and the company must have a minimum annual sales revenue of $250,000.
Sign up today
Further criteria and an application can be found by clicking here. There is no cost to participate.
For questions or to submit an application, contact Warren Unsicker at warrenunsicker@tulsachamber.com or 918.560.0235.
State Question 744 major topic at Speaker Pro Tempore Forum
The Chamber’s annual Speaker Pro Tempore Forum held last week provides an opportunity for the regional business community to hear from leaders at the state capitol and the message last week was clear: No to State Question 744.
Sen. Brian Bingman, who spoke on behalf of Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, Speaker of the House Chris Benge and Speaker-designate Kris Steele all stood adamantly against the measure and warned attendees of the dire effects the bill could have if passed.
“If [State Question 744] were to pass the impact on this state would be a billion dollars coming from every other agency in the state,” said Bingman. “I can’t tell you how important it is that this measure be defeated.”
“No one can say Tulsa is not in favor of funding education,” said Steele. “But elected officials ought to be able to set the budget within our own parameters.”
State Question 744 would raise the annual education budget in Oklahoma to the regional average per pupil expenditure in Oklahoma’s six bordering states. The projected cost to spending on common education would have to increase by almost $1.7 billion over a three-year phase-in period. Given that the state remains in the midst of a deep and prolonged budget crisis, passage of SQ 744 would ensure a severe funding shortage for all other functions of state government that would necessarily require even deeper budget cuts, tax increases, or both.
Steele assured attendees that common education funding has been and will continue to be a priority saying that while other government agencies have averaged 14 percent in budget cuts, education reduction has remained at just under 8 percent.
“Common education will continue to be a priority, but we can’t fund it at the expense of every other agency,” said Steele.
For more information on SQ 744 visit the One Oklahoma Coalition website here.
The Speaker Pro Tempore Forum served as Benge’s final formal address as Speaker of the House and he used the opportunity to thank the region for a successful partnership.
“The things we have been able to accomplish as a community I want to share with everyone in this room and the Chamber at large,” said Benge. “As a region we are positioned well to do well in the future.”
The Honorable Dewey Bartlett, mayor of Tulsa, will make his formal address at the Chamber’s State of the City on Wednesday, Sept. 15 from noon – 1 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Career Access College Readiness program kicks off
The Tulsa Metro Chamber is launching a new program called Career Access College Readiness (CACR) to build upon its existing education programs, Partners In Education and Oklahoma Scholars, further helping students prepare for college upon graduation. The program is a partnership among the Chamber, the OU-Tulsa Community Engagement Center and Tulsa Public Schools and will provide coaches to seventh and 10th grade students to help them understand the countless college and workforce options post-high school.
Through the program, volunteers from the local business community are matched with small groups of students to help them learn about and plan for college through a variety of subjects, including how to apply for college, how to acquire funding for college and knowing which courses to take.
The Chamber is currently seeking coaches for CACR, which will launch in January 2011, and invites business professionals to the CACR kickoff, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 28, to learn more about the program and upcoming training sessions. Join us for the kickoff at OSU-Tulsa, 700 N. Greenwood, in the auditorium. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the program begins at 8:30. For information or to become a coach, contact Heather Johnson at heatherjohnson@tulsachamber.com or 918.560.0218.
CACR is part of the Chamber’s Talent Dividend Initiative, which has a goal to grow the region’s talent pool and increase the Tulsa region’s college attainment rate by one percentage point.
National Aerospace Week recognizes importance of industry
National Aerospace Week is Sept. 13-17, and the Oklahoma Aerospace Alliance (OAA) is commemorating the week with several events throughout the state, including a general membership meeting and networking session in Tulsa for OAA members with gubernatorial candidates Jari Askins and Mary Fallin, co-sponsored by the Tulsa Metro Chamber and SpiritBank.
National Aerospace Week is recognized nationwide and brings attention to the important contributions of the U.S. Aerospace industry as one of the country's leading economic engines. In the Tulsa region, the aerospace industry provides more than 13,300 jobs throughout 100 companies with a $4.3 billion annual impact.
National Aerospace Week in Oklahoma includes a press conference, statewide open house tours and the general membership meeting on Sept. 14, which is free to all OAA member companies.
For more information about National Aerospace Week in Oklahoma and registration information for each event, click here.
Chamber lobbies federal agenda at D.C. Fly-In
Tulsa Metro Chamber President and CEO Mike Neal and Vice President of Government Affairs Gwendolyn Caldwell will visit with Oklahoma’s congressional delegation today and tomorrow at the Oklahoma State Chamber-hosted Washington D.C. Fly-In.
Conversations with the delegation will center around top priorities as found on the federal OneVoice agenda.
Topics to be discussed include:
• Supporting timely reauthorization of the federal surface transportation programs.
• Supporting Senator Jim Inhofe’s request for funding for implementation of the Arkansas River corridor master plan.
• Securing $16 million in emergency federal funding to address currently identified deficiencies with the Arkansas River levee (west Tulsa/Sand Springs) and bring the levee into compliance with Corps of Engineer Standards.
• Securing public funding for hospital services, urgent care, outpatient and specialty care services, FQHC’s and graduate medical education at Tulsa-based medical schools to ensure appropriate access to care for the underserved patient population which relies upon the Tulsa healthcare network for services.
• Maximizing federal health information technology funding and available stimulus funding for the Tulsa region for health information technologies, health information exchange and health information management- organized as a Tulsa regional consortium.
• Strengthening existing energy businesses through legislation and educational outreach that promote exploration and production of oil and gas in the U.S.
Advertise with the Nation's Best Chamber
The Tulsa Metro Chamber’s Membership Directory and Community Profile is our most requested publication and we still have space for you to get your business’s products and services before Tulsa Metro Chamber members, the regional community and potential newcomers.
In addition to the printed piece, the entire publication can also be found online where it’s available to the more than 100,000 visitors our site receives each year. Chamber membership entitles each company to one listing in the alphabetical section by company and one in the classified section by type of business, but display advertisements will help your business stand out from the competition.
Advertising space is available to fit every budget with display ads starting as low as $315.
If you’d like to discuss opportunities with a Lawton Publications sales rep, please contact Tracy Pope at (918) 560-0249 or email tracypope@tulsachamber.com.
What we’re working on:Executive:
• State Chamber Congressional Fly-In Washington D.C. and meetings with legislators.
• Apache CNG Event with Speaker Chris Benge.
• Mayor Dewey Bartlett’s State of the City Address.
• Executive committee meeting.
• Tulsa Sports Commission Advisory Council meeting.
VisitTulsa:
• Hosting AMHR Nationals at Expo Square miniature horse show.
• Bimonthly hospitality industry meeting hosted this month by Expo Square.
• Wrapping up Housing Bureau efforts for Arabian Horse Association’s US National Championships for 2010.
• Editing and compiling the Tulsa attractions map and the Heart of Tulsa map for VisitTulsa.
• Attend Hispanic Business After Hours.
• Attend National LGBT Awareness Day.
• Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice’s New Leadership Roundtable meeting.
• Tulsa Hotel and Lodging Association monthly meeting and annual bed making contest in honor of National Housekeeping Week.
• Downtown strategic planning session meeting.
Tulsa Sports Commission:
• NCAA Men’s Basketball entertainment committee meetings and brainstorm.
• NCAA Men’s Basketball hotel logistics.
• Red Bull air races logistical research.
• USA Rugby logistical research.
• Document, review and analyze S.P.O.R.T.S. Conference results.
Economic Development
• Meeting with two prospective companies interested in relocating to Tulsa.
• Holding small committee meetings focusing on the development of a multi-jurisdictional local cash incentive fund.
• Attending an annual New York event with the Oklahoma Governors Economic Marketing Team to meet site location consultants and corporate real estate executives.
• Submitting a request for proposal on a manufacturing project with 280 potential jobs.
• Attending small task force meetings evaluating funding opportunities for land acquisition to be used for future local incentive purposes.
• Attending EDC Entrepreneurship meeting for planning of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
• Participating in the National Aerospace Week activities statewide.
• Presenting the keynote address to the Southeast Tulsa Rotary.
• Hosting an educational event for local business owners regarding opportunities for conversion of fleet vehicles to Compress Natural Gas.
Education and Workforce
• Assisting with Northeastern State University’s reaccreditation report.
• Recruiting volunteers for the new College Access Career Readiness program.
• Attending a Workforce Investment Board meeting and reorganization.
• Hosting a Talent Dividend Steering Committee meeting.
• Assisting with the OSU Center for Health Sciences dean search.
• Hosting an Education Forum featuring the Tulsa director of Teach for America.
• Planning and sending invitations for the 2010 Return On Inclusion Summit in October.
Tulsa’s Young Professionals
• Facilitating a brainstorming session for all past and current chairs of the organization.
• Interviewing three potential tenants for The Forge.
• Reviewing 2011 community partner applications.
Government Affairs:
• Scheduling and organizing remaining congressional forums and the Mayor’s State of the City.
• Participating in the OK Prosperity project to educate voters about the upcoming November elections.
• Organizing voter registration drive.
• Monitoring legislative interim studies.
• Securing endorsements for the 2011 OneVoice agenda.
Marketing and Communications
• Promoting the new CEO Roundtables program.
• Creating direct mail pieces for economic development prospects.
• Developing content for a downtown development website.
• Planning a press conference to announce a company expansion.
• Revising and reprinting collateral materials.
• Writing content for the 2011 Visitor’s Guide.
• Creating communications plan to defeat State Question 744.
• Finalizing content for the new Tulsa Sports Commission website.
• Finalizing marketing plan for NCAA Tournament in March.
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.
Aladdin Flooring, LLC
Applegate Backhoe Excavation
Bezan Warden and Gonzales Endodontics
biopology LLC
Certified Carpet Cleaning & Restoration
Charles Ford Investments
Crossbridge Consulting, LLC
Electrotech Services, LLC
Furniture Medic by Joe Traynham
Harker Law Office, PLC
Humphrey Associates, Inc.
JB Partners
Mattress Firm
Perfect Occasion
RR Waste Solutions
Smart Home Solutions
Solomon, Simmons, Sharrock & Associates
Terra Pad
The Patriot Golf Club
The Skin Boutique
Tulsa Door Deals
Visual Aids Electronics
CBMJ Enterprises Inc.
Cheryl Jones, President and CEO
Phone: 298.4824
Business Services
State Farm Insurance – Bryan Smith
Bryan Smith, Agent
6937 S. Sheridan Road
Tulsa, OK 74133
Phone: 481.7283
www.callbryansmith.com
Forest Hills Care and Rehab
Amanda Wilson, Director of Marketing and Administration
4300 W. Houston Street
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
Phone: 254.5000
www.sunbridgehealthcare.com
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