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Tulsa Metro Chamber inaugurates new chair and announces initiatives for 2011
University of Oklahoma-Tulsa President Dr. Gerard Clancy succeeds Don Walker
The Tulsa Metro Chamber elected, Dr. Gerard Clancy, president of the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, as its 2011 chair of the Board of Directors.
Clancy succeeds Chair Don Walker, president and CEO of Arvest. More than 1,200 area business leaders, local officials and citizens were in attendance when the Chamber formally inaugurated Clancy at its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 18. The Annual Meeting was presented by Oklahoma State University-Tulsa and hosted by the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center.
Walker’s outgoing remarks noted the tough economy and the effects on local and state budgets, but also centered on the need to continue to work together for the betterment of the region.
Clancy’s inauguration speech identified the following 2011 priorities: (1) maintaining the Chamber’s long-term strategic plan and focus on job creation, regional tourism, legislative success, and education; (2) promoting a positive and confident attitude about the Tulsa region; (3) calling on leaders to focus on economic development; (4) introducing diversity and inclusion as a critical role of economic development; and (5) working together as a region.
“We must recognize we’ve gained ground on our competitors, but yet we continue to overlook and dismiss it. In order for the Tulsa region to keep pressing forward we need to recognize that we are, in fact, moving down the right track,” said Clancy.
Learn more about Dr. Clancy and read his inauguration speech online.
Volunteer awards presented at Annual Meeting
The Tulsa Metro Chamber relies on the energies and expertise of members filling more than 3,200 volunteer positions to help shape a prosperous future for the Tulsa region. Participation on Chamber committees and task forces is a membership privilege and provides a voice in the creation of Chamber priorities.
Volunteer positions range from providing input on community development initiatives, to welcoming new businesses, to participating in roundtable discussions on health care, education or even formulating the Chamber’s legislative agenda.
The following awards were presented during the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Hospitality Club – in 2010, the Chamber’s Hospitality Club held 87 open houses, grand openings and ribbon cuttings on behalf of our members.
Carl Novara, Farmers Insurance * Novara Insurance Agency was named the Hospitality Club Volunteer of the Year for his attendance at 71 events and assistance to secure eight new Chamber memberships.
Resource Campaign Top Producer – the annual Resource Campaign is considered a top model program by Chamber peers and provides 24 percent of the Chamber’s annual operating budget. During the campaign volunteers attract new members, renew memberships sold in previous campaigns and secure business sponsors for chamber programs, events and publications.
Lynda Wingo, Miss Helen’s Private School, was recognized as the Resource Campaign’s Top Producer for her role as a Campaign vice chair and having raised $127,398 to support the Chamber’s programs and services.
Awards of Excellence -- embodies the true spirit of going above and beyond everyone’s expectations. There are two award winners this year.
First is Wade Edmundson, Summit Bank, for his leadership role in the success of the Chamber’s annual Resource Campaign. Edmundson has previously served as a Vice Chair in 2008, the co-chair in 2009, and in 2010, he chaired the Resource Campaign Chair and broke all records to raise $2,822,509. Because of his work, the Chamber’s Campaign remains the second largest of its kind in the nation.
The second award winner is Amie Roberg, CastleCom and a member of Tulsa’s Young Professionals. For more than five years Roberg has led a group of TYPros volunteers to launch The Forge, a business development center, which opened in June 2010 and currently houses four start-up companies.
Chairman’s Award -- since 1992, the Board Chair has presented the Chairman’s Award to volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and exceptionally unselfish dedication to a project or program that could bring substantial long-term benefits to the community.
Chair Don Walker bestowed the Chairman’s Award on Jenks Mayor Vic Vreeland for his leadership provided to the Tulsa region for the last 20 years. Mayor Vreeland has led Jenks to economic success in growth and retail development; has served the Tulsa region by advocating for Vision 2025 and Arkansas River development; and has volunteered for the Chamber on both the VisitTulsa Board of Directors and on the Tulsa’s Future economic development campaign.
Volunteer in 2011
To learn how your company and employees can better serve the Tulsa region by volunteering for the Chamber, contact Karen Humphrey at 560-0250 or email KarenHumphrey@TulsaChamber.com.
Tulsa continues to add new jobs
The third week of 2011 brought with it three jobs announcements for Tulsa. This is just the beginning of good news for the region, said Jim Fram, the Chamber’s senior vice president of economic development.
“We certainly intend for these types of announcements to continue throughout 2011,” he said. “The Chamber’s economic development team is currently working 58 projects, a few of which are large new jobs and capital investment projects.”
GWACS Defense, Inc. (GDI), a four-year-old, Tulsa-based research and technology company specializing in sniper and gunshot detection systems for the military, announced today it has been accepted into Oklahoma’s 21st Century Quality Jobs Program, an incentive created to attract growth industries and sectors through a policy of rewarding businesses with a highly skilled, knowledge-based workforce.
“As we continue to grow and expand our customer base and product offerings, we will remain a Tulsa-based company…” said Jud Gudgel, the company’s president and chief operating officer.
Through its participation in the Quality Jobs Program, GDI anticipates creating up to 58 new jobs in the next two to five years. The 58 new jobs support an additional 166 indirect or induced jobs and an annual economic impact of $22.7 million in the Tulsa region. For the company to qualify for the state incentive package, the average wage of the jobs created must be at least $94,418.
“Through the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s economic development plan, Tulsa’s Future, we are committed to assisting innovative companies like GWACS Defense in bringing impactful, high-wage jobs to our region,” said Mike Neal, the Chamber’s president and CEO. “We look forward to helping the company with further expansion and workforce attraction.”
Click here to read more about the GDI announcement.
Avis Budget Group announced last week it is seeking 50 to 60 CSRs to be hired and trained by March. These jobs will create an additional 58 indirect and induced jobs and mean a $10.7 million economic impact on the Tulsa region. Additionally, these 60 new employees will provide $580,000 annually in city and state taxes.
The Chamber’s Business Retention and Expansion staff guided Avis through the Oklahoma Quality Jobs program in 2010 and researched job creation options for the company. Avis Budget Group has closed some of its other call centers in the U.S. and Canada and moved around 175 of those positions to Tulsa.
The company has found Tulsa to have a talent workforce and low cost of doing business, said Avis spokesperson David Polen.
Additionally, Ameron International Corp., announced it will build a steel pole factory in Tulsa that will create as many as 50 welding and engineering jobs. The company is making a $35 million capital investment in building the 75,000-square-foot plant, which will take about two years to complete and will be located in North Tulsa near 66th Street North and Whirlpool Drive.
“This investment represents a significant strategic growth opportunity…” said James S. Marlen, Ameron’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, in a press release. “With the new plant, we will have a cost-efficient, state-of-the-art manufacturing process and the capacity to grow the business.”
The new site will be Ameron’s second Tulsa location.
SportsEvents readers name Tulsa a “Destination to Watch”
Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Visit Tulsa have been named to SportsEvents Magazine’s coveted list of “Destinations to Watch in 2011,” which recognizes outstanding destinations and venues for hosting sporting events with a “Readers’ Choice Award.”
A special feature highlighting the destinations as well as event organizers recognized for their efforts was included in the January 2011 issue of SportsEvents Magazine.
“It is such an honor for us to be recognized by the very industry we strive to serve,” said Ray Hoyt, interim senior vice president of VisitTulsa and Tulsa Sports Commission executive director. “The sports market has become a major player in visitor attraction and Tulsa has a leg up on the competition with our outstanding venues and partners like the BOK Center, Expo Square and ONEOK Field.”
SportsEvents Magazine is the sports events industry’s #1 publication dedicated to helping organizers of sports events be more successful and efficient with their events.
The industry professionals, destinations and venues profiled in SportsEvents Magazine’s January 2010 issue were nominated by readers of the magazine and by their industry peers.
Tulsa was acknowledged for excellence within the destinations and venues category. Sports event planners nominated their favorite destinations and venues for hosting sports events. The destinations and the marketing organizations that represent the recognized destinations have proven they are willing to go above and beyond the normal service levels expected by providing both the physical attributes and commitment to hospitality and service that today’s discriminating sports event planners demand.
Economic Development news
Chamber VP earns elite certification
Justin McLaughlin, vice president of economic development for the Tulsa Metro Chamber, has successfully completed the International Economic Development Council’s Certified Economic Developer Program to earn his CEcD certification. The CEcD is the industry’s leading designation.
“This accomplishment reflects Justin’s knowledge and professionalism as well as his ability to pass a rigorous testing and interview process,” said Jim Fram, the Chamber’s senior vice president of economic development. “Justin’s achievement adds credibility and stature to our professional economic development team.”
McLaughlin leads new job and new capital investment projects for the Chamber. McLaughlin also holds a business finance degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.
Jim Fram, the Chamber’s senior vice president of economic development (left), and Mike Neal, the Chamber’s president and CEO (right), discussed Tulsa’s recent new job activity with David Sours from CB Richard Ellis – Dallas at a reception last week in Dallas. |
Chamber makes business attraction marketing trip to Dallas
As part of its Tulsa’s Future II economic development plan, the Tulsa Metro Chamber partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma Governor’s Economic Development Marketing Team, and chamber and economic development peers from across Oklahoma to host a business attraction marketing reception last week in Dallas. Attendees from the Dallas area included site location consultants, corporate real estate executives, developers and Dallas/Ft. Worth-area company officials.
“Interactions with key decision makers in business relocation are essential to developing relationships that lead to projects for the Tulsa region,” Fram said. “Events like the annual Dallas reception allow us to tell the Tulsa region’s story and share why site location experts should put us at the top of their project lists. Our region is competing with peer cities across the country, and the Tulsa’s Future II plan calls for aggressive business attraction marketing to bring new companies and new jobs to Tulsa.”
The Tulsa Metro Chamber has participated in the Dallas event since it began in 2006. Attendance has grown from a few dozen attendees to more than 80. Through its Tulsa’s Future plan, the Chamber has participated in nearly 100 marketing trips to targeted U.S. cities in the past five years.
Tulsa companies recognized in national publications
Forbes released a list of the 16 hottest American companies for job offers based on steadily rising payrolls and the prospect of strong top-line growth through 2015. Tulsa’s LaBarge Inc., an electronics manufacturing services company, shows a projected future growth of 11 percent, according to Forbes, and received an integrity rating of 95 out of 100.
“If you have a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or some experience in radio frequency testing, check out the openings at a LaBarge site in Tulsa,” the publication said.
Click here to view the Forbes list.
Also, Tulsa-based QuikTrip Corp., improved its ranking in Fortune magazine’s list of the 100 best places to work. The company was ranked at No. 34, up from No. 41 in 2010. QuikTrip has made the list nine consecutive times. The company is led by former Chamber chair Chet Cadieux.
“The Chamber would like to congratulate these two successful Tulsa companies and their employees,” said President and CEO Mike Neal. “QuikTrip and LaBarge serve as leading Tulsa employers as well as top businesses in their industries, and our region benefits greatly from them choosing to grow their companies here.”
According to Fortune, training and promotion from within are gospel at QuikTrip, which offers benefits that include tuition reimbursement up to $4,000 and adoption aid.
Click here to read more.
Former Charlotte mayor speaks during INCOG Fast Forward kick-off events
At a luncheon sponsored by The Tulsa Metro Chamber and the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors last week, former mayor of Charlotte, N.C., Pat McCrory spoke to a group of community representatives about the transformation that took place in Charlotte with the implementation of a mass transit system.
The luncheon was part of a day-long series of events to unveil the Indian Nation’s Council of Government’s new Regional Transit Plan called Fast Forward.
The plan will focus on using transportation options including buses, streetcars, commuter rail and light rail, to link points within Tulsa, as well as Tulsa to Bixby, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso and Sand Springs. The plan is expected to be completed this summer.
McCrory’s presentation, “Mayberry and Metropolis” was how he defined his vision for Charlotte in that he wanted the best of both worlds for his city, and instructed the audience that part of being able to sell a vision is being able to articulate it.
McCrory’s crusade for transit came shortly after he won his first term as mayor in 1995, a position he served for 14 years. His plan is credited with turning the city’s economy around and improving the overall quality of life.
His presentation spoke to the importance of acting now for the health and future viability of the local economy and presented several steps needed to enact a vision.
“In business you either grow or you die,” said McCrory. “Those are your two options. If you decide to do nothing, you will die.”
McCrory also gave an extended, follow-up presentation during a session held later that afternoon.
To see the KJRH news story about the program’s launch, click here.
What we’re working on:
Executive
• Meeting with the Chamber’s senior management team.
• Meeting with State Secretary of Transportation Gary Ridley.
• Attending the Owasso Chamber 2011 Annual Awards & Installation Luncheon.
• Meeting with area hospital executives.
• Hosting the Chamber’s executive committee meeting.
• Presenting at the Tulsa City Council Urban & Economic Development Committee meeting.
• Attending the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Metro Cities Council Meeting in Miami, Fla.
Membership
• Updating the strategic plan.
• Evaluating staff.
• Updating membership weekly sales report.
• Recruiting campaign volunteers.
• Editing campaign sponsorship list.
• Hosting a Hospitality Club training session.
Marketing and Communications
• Preparing materials for the OneVoice press conference.
• Creating a Tulsa Sports Commission back drop for trade show use.
• Working with The University of Tulsa to create a media buy for the NCAA Tournament.
• Drafting copy for the Chamber Report.
• Preparing media reports.
• Assisting company with new location announcement.
• Completing annual publications.
• Completing new brochure for Let’s Do Business program.
VisitTulsa
• Promoting Tulsa to over 400 meeting planners at the Religious Conference Management Association Annual Meeting in Florida.
• Meeting with the Green Country Marketing Association.
• Working on visitor development marketing and convention marketing.
• Hosting the VisitTulsa Advisory Council.
• Planning for Destination Showcase.
• Meeting with SAIGE about conference services.
• Hosting Student Mobilization for a site visit.
• Hosting the meeting planner for Appaloosa Horse Club for a pre-event planning session.
• Developing a map for visitors to use during the NCAA Tournament.
Education and Workforce
• Meeting at the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center to identify opportunities and collaboration for Tulsa.
• Hosting a Northeastern Oklahoma employer focus group meeting with consultants for state-wide workforce system review.
• Attending a statewide Aerospace HR Initiative meeting.
• Hosting a Mayor’s Mentoring Breakfast.
• Prepping for both the Union Public Schools and Tulsa Public Schools Oklahoma Scholars kickoff events.
• Attending and presenting at the Texas Association of Partners In Education conference.
• Attending the Tulsa County Mentoring Coalition meeting.
• Drafting content for the Partners In Education February e-newsletter.
• Writing the winter edition of Partners In Education newsletter.
• Recruiting volunteers for Oklahoma Scholars presentations in Union and TPS.
• Placing College Access Career Readiness coaches in schools.
Economic development
• Presenting at the City Council Urban and economic development meeting.
• Attending a city councilor luncheon.
• Continue search for Tulsa area facilities for new warehouse/distribution client.
• Participating in the Mayor’s Mentoring Breakfast.
• Hosting a Small Business Forum focused on managing four generations of employees.
• Participated in monthly meeting of NAIOP, Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
Tulsa’s Young Professionals
• Interviewing candidates for program coordinator.
• Matching members for the board intern program.
• Holding a Leadership Team retreat.
Government Affairs
• Attending State Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee meeting.
• Attending Owasso Chamber of Commerce 2011 Annual Awards and Installation Luncheon.
• Attending Journal Record Legislative Report training.
• Finalizing D.C. Fly-In preparations.
• Preparing for 2011 Legislative Reception.
• Preparing for Congressional Luncheon featuring Congressman Frank Lucas.
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.
Business World
CFS II
Granite Transformations of Tulsa
Homevesters
Hytorc Central
Magnir Group, LLC
Resolution Consulting, LLC
SH Management
Tulsa Industrial Products
Valpak of Tulsa
AT&T Mobility
Stefanie Wall, Retail Store Manager
10035 S. Memorial Drive
Tulsa, OK 74133
Phone: 459.0159
www.att.com
Mathnasium
Vane Lucas, Owner
8032 S. Yale Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74136
Phone: 574-2222
www.mathnasium.com
Best Dressed Frugality Boutique
Laura Huynh, Owner
6935 South Lewis
Tulsa, OK 74136
Phone: 493-2378
www.bestdressedllc.com
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