|
Tulsa Metro Chamber prominent at national conference
(L-R) Mike Neal, Ruth Littlefield, Tonya Freese, and Matt Pivarnik celebrate Littlefield's designation as a Certified Chamber Executive and Freese's award for Lifetime Achievement in membership development. |
Chamber leadership attended the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) national conference last week in Los Angeles and again grew the prominence of the Tulsa Metro Chamber’s programs as examples of best practices in the industry.
Staff participated in a number of discussions and led panels and committees, such as: Mike Neal, president and CEO, presented a panel on “Winning your next strategic funding campaign;” Matt Pivarnik, executive vice president, led a panel discussion on “Successfully executing your fundraising campaign;” and Sheila Curley, vice president of communications and marketing served on the panel of judges for the Chamber of the Year award.
Littlefield earns Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation
Ruth Littlefield, vice president of membership development and retention, recently attained her Certified Chamber Executive certification. Littlefield is the only female in the state with the certification, and one of less than 500 across the nation holding a CCE designation.
The rigorous certification process began with a lengthy application packet. Upon successful application approval, Littlefield was required to submit a two-part essay piece. Then an in-person oral presentation and interview was conducted before a three-person panel. Finally, Littlefield was required to pass a five-hour examination.
Littlefield has worked for the Tulsa Metro Chamber for three years, where she manages membership relations and works to bolster Chamber membership and retention efforts. Before joining the Tulsa Metro Chamber, Littlefield served as president of the Jenks Chamber of Commerce.
Freese receives lifetime achievement in membership development
Tulsa’s Membership Development Representative Tonya Freese received the bronze level of Lifetime Achievement Award for her commitment to her career and ranked in the Top 10 in number of memberships secured across the nation.
“This is a very significant milestone,” said Pivarnik. “This award benchmarks sales success against like-sized organizations. Tonya is a top-tier professional in membership development and is considered one of the best in the nation.”
Federal delegation passes bill to increase debt ceiling
The federal delegation voted last week to increase the debt ceiling and begin the long, trying process of addressing the nation’s debt crisis.
Debating such issues as the debt crisis is never easy, and the Chamber acknowledges the Oklahoma congressional delegation’s commitment to actively protecting our nation’s well-being and commends them for their perseverance in reaching an agreement when no good option for resolution existed.
Diligent work to reach a middle ground was vital in protecting our nation’s credit, defending our international reputation for economic reliability and beginning to address our growing debt problem.
“The Tulsa Metro Chamber is both relieved and encouraged that Congress successfully reached a compromise in the difficult debt ceiling debate, where no perfect option existed,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Chamber. “We are thankful the issue at hand is resolved and look forward to the progress that can now be made to address the needs of our country.”
Chamber signs on national letter against EPA air quality reform
The Tulsa Metro Chamber added its name to a national sign-on letter urging President Obama to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from moving forward with ground-level ozone regulations. These regulations could result in as many as 7.3 million lost jobs and up to $1 trillion in compliance costs by 2020.
The EPA has long-supported the proposed lowering of the New National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, regardless of the effects implementing a lower standard would have on a number of counties, states and private-sector businesses that already face significant economic challenges. These organizations would be required to implement and comply with unnecessary and ill-fitting regulations yet again, at the expense of American jobs and the energy sector.
Supporting the adoption of a more reasonable timeframe for the implementation of new ozone standards is a top federal priority on the 2011 OneVoice agenda and the 2011 OneVoice Energy and Environment taskforce has called for a proven environmental benefit to be produced before additional regulations are passed.
Tulsans area legislators appointed to health care and water panelsTulsa-area legislators will serve on the legislative committee charged with studying the impact of federal health care reform on Oklahoma and making recommendations.
"Simply put, the committee will show Oklahoma what to expect from this law, how we can continue to protect Oklahoma's interests and how we can make sure we are best prepared as a state," Rep. Glen Mulready said.
Mulready will lead the Joint Committee on Federal Health Care Law with Sen. Gary Stanislawski. Also representing the Tulsa metro region are Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, Sen. Bill Brown, and Sen. Brian Crain.
Crain has also been appointed co-chair of a 16-member committee that will study water laws, review the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan and issue recommendations to the Legislature. He is joined by Tulsa Representative Dan Sullivan on the committee, which will also solicit input from tribes, individual citizens, government officials, engineers, water-quality experts, recreational enthusiasts and others.
To read more, click here.
Nominations for Tulsa’s Fast 50 due Aug. 15
The nomination period for the Journal Record’s Tulsa’s Fast 50 awards has been extended to Monday, Aug. 15. Honorees will be featured in the Tulsa’s Fast 50 publication and be celebrated at an awards dinner Tuesday, Nov. 8.
“The Chamber is proud of Tulsa’s local companies that are quickly turning into the big hitters for the region and state,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Chamber. “These companies represent business intuition and know-how that results in job growth, economic impact and a better Tulsa metro. The Chamber’s role in supporting these companies reaches outside our own program of work and into community efforts to recognize and applaud them, like the Tulsa’s Fast 50 event.”
Companies must have been in business for three years, be for-profit, privately owned, and headquartered and operated in the Tulsa metro area, have operating revenues or sales of at least $1 million and must not be a holding company, regulated bank or utility.
Click here for more information, to nominate a company or to attend the awards reception.
Applications available for the Tulsa’s Young Professionals 2012 community partner
Applications are currently available for the TYPros 2012 community partner.
Each year, TYPros pairs with an area nonprofit to host a number of fundraising events, provide volunteers and offer support of any kind for their benefit.
In the first half of 2011, TYPros raised more than $13,000 for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, their 2011 community partner. Past community partners include Junior Achievement of Oklahoma, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Youth Services of Tulsa and Youth at Heart.
Becoming a community partner is a great way to boost awareness of a nonprofit while creating lasting relationships with volunteers and the TYPros community.
Click here to download the application. Submit completed applications to Shagah Zakerion at shagahzakerion@typros.org by Sept. 7.
This week's top prioritiesExecutive Office
• Hosting Regional Chamber Coalition meeting
• Hosting Mayor’s Business Retention breakfast
• Hosting Tulsa’s Future Oversight Committee meeting
Economic Development
• Attending the Tulsa Industrial Authority Board Meeting and Tulsa Airport Authority Meeting
• Participating in final planning meeting for Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Conference/Expo
• Continue Lead Development Calls, including meeting with company on growth opportunities and following up with consultant on last week’s site visit
Downtown Development
• Attending a session of the US National Trust Preservation Leadership Training/Advanced Program hosted at the City of Tulsa
• Participating in CDFA’s (Council of Development Finance Agencies) Intro Tax Credit Finance Course
Small Business
• Meeting with new Tulsa representative for OCAST
• Site visit for new manufacturing company
• Meeting with professional services company
Education and Workforce
• Partners in Education Kick-Off
• Health Care Forum: Health care forum: The future of Oklahoma without medical residents
• Attending Spirit Aerosystem’s Career Readiness Conference in Wichita
TYPros
• Working with TEDC on fundraising efforts for the matching component of the EDA grant.
• Planning a development series tied to Street Cred.
• Hosting family friendly pool party at Meadowbrook Country Club.
Government Affairs
• Hosting Regional OneVoice Legislative Summit
• Presenting to Regional Chamber Coalition & Tulsa’s Future II Investors meeting
• Attending legislative Interim Task Force on Tax Credits and Economic Incentives meeting
Tulsa Sports Commission
• Tulsa Sports Commission staff brainstorm and strategic planning retreat
• Site Visit coordination and BID process for potential new event
• Operation and logistics planning for AC Milan, Fall Fundraisers and BMX Grand Nationals
VisitTulsa
• Meeting on IEDC Bid
• Attending Society of Government Meeting Professionals’ luncheon in Stillwater.
• Preparing to welcome the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association’s Annual Conference and Tradeshow to downtown Tulsa
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:
A Plus Complete Indoor & Outdoor Services
Legend at Mingo Road
Mobile 1 Glass
MPW Engineering
Ramada
Telephone Connections
Ribbon Cuttings:
The Campbell Hotel
Barbara Casey, Owner
2636 E. 11th Street
Tulsa, OK 74104
Phone: 918.744.5500
www.thecampbellhotel.com
Clare Bridge of Tulsa
Omar Stiefer, Regional Vice President
6022 E. 71st St.
Tulsa, OK 74136
(918) 494-4011
www.brookdaleliving.com
|
|
|
