OKLAHOMANS SAY NO to STATE QUESTION 744 Chamber Helps
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
November 2010 www.okcchamber.com cHAMbEr HELpS rEcrUIT grOcErY wHOLESALEr In total, the company is investing $24 million in the region – including upgrades and expansions. They plan to have the facility fully operational in 2012. Another victory for the Chamber’s “Nash Finch will service more than Economic Development team came 40 commissaries in 10 states from in October when MDV Nash Finch, the Oklahoma City facilities ranging a national grocery wholesaler that from Texas to North Dakota,” said Ed supplies Tinker Air Force Base Brunot, chief operating officer of MDV, and other military installations, formerly known as Military Distributors purchased two warehouses totally of Virginia. over 500,000 square feet in Oklahoma City and announced their plan to open The Chamber worked on this project in a distribution center at the locations. They cooperation with the Oklahoma Department plan additional expansions. The facilities will of Commerce and Price Edwards & Company. employ about 200 people. OKLAHOMANS SAY NO TO STATE QUESTION 744 After months of difficult campaigning with nearly $2 million raised, the One Oklahoma Coalition celebrated victory as State Question 744 was defeated in all 2,229 precincts with 81.4 percent against the measure. The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber joined more than 100 other organizations in opposing SQ 744 through the One Oklahoma Coalition. “It was vital that we defeat State Question 744 in order to ensure that our state and its hundreds of agencies can continue to function properly,” said Roy H. Williams, Chamber president and CEO. “Now that we’ve had this victory, it’s time for us to work together to enact meaningful reforms in our state’s education system.” The Chamber is a long-standing advocate for education funding and reform in the region as well as the state, and will continue to pursue reform opportunities in the coming legislative session. “Both sides of the issue care deeply about our state and the quality of our education and Governor Brad Henry thanks One Oklahoma the future of our young people,” said Governor Brad Henry, honorary chairman of the One Coalition supporters at the No SQ 744 Oklahoma Coalition. “We owe it to them to put aside our differences and come together, not as watch party. Democrats and Republicans, but as Oklahomans who care about the future of our state.” A leader in Customer Satisfaction Glenn Reynolds, V.P. Mortgage Loan Manager with Mortgage Loan Officers Elaine Hightower, C.J. Baxendale, Martha Vaught and Linda Scott. Ranked highest in the region*. Arvest has been honored for outstanding customer satisfaction by actual customers. We’d like to thank them for ranking us “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the Southwest Region” in the latest J.D. Power and Associates study. Categories included transactions, account statements, conveniences, fees and problem resolution. Ready to see for yourself? Stop by Arvest today. Oklahoma City Del City Choctaw Moore Norman Yukon Edmond Midwest City Stillwater *Arvest Bank received the highest numerical score among retail banks in the Southwest region in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Retail Banking Satisfaction StudySM. Study based on 47,673 total responses measuring 12 providers in the Southwest region (AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, UT) and measures opinions of consumers with their primary banking provider. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in January 2010. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com. LEAdErSHIp NOTES 2010 OFFIcErS DAVID tHOMPSON OPUBCO Communications Group Looking Ahead and Working Together 2010 Chairman J. lArry NICHOlS Now that Election Day has passed, it’s time to put away the Devon Energy Corporation campaign signs, take off the bumper stickers and look ahead to Immediate Past Chairman CArl E. EDwArDS the coming legislative session. After we pause to congratulate and Price Edwards & Company welcome our newly elected officials, it is vital that we work together Treasurer / Corporate Secretary ClAytON I. BENNEtt in order for our state’s future to remain bright. Dorchester Capital Vice Chair, Strategic Planning The Chamber’s Government Relations Steering Committee and PEtEr B. DElANEy Board of Directors are working to finalize our priority agenda for the OGE Energy Corp. Vice Chair, Economic Development 2011 legislative session. These issues will cover a range of areas rHONDA HOOPEr from economic development and lawsuit reform to health care and Jordan Associates education. Chamber members will receive the 2011 legislative roy H. williams Vice Chair, Convention and Visitors Bureau KIrK HuMPHrEyS priorities early next year when we mail the legislative Guide along President & CEO The Humphreys Company with our other annual publications. And please mark your calendars for Thursday, Jan. 27 when we will Vice Chair, Aerospace BrADlEy w. KrIEgEr host our annual legislative Breakfast to kick off the start of the session. Arvest Bank Group Vice Chair, Government Relations I want to thank all of you who helped the One Oklahoma Coalition to defeat State Question 744. This David r. lOPEz Chamber has long been an advocate for an improved education system and has helped bring hundreds American Fidelity Foundation Vice Chair, Education and of millions of new dollars to our schools, both in local and state initiatives. Now, it is the time for key Workforce Development stakeholders from all sides of this issue to come together to identify meaningful ways to improve our MArK FuNKE Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. public education system. Our state cannot afford to deprive our children of the quality education they Vice Chair, Biosciences need and deserve. The Chamber will continue to fight on the front lines for education reform in our BryAN gONtErMAN state. It is time that we demand changes to a system that is producing unacceptable results. Our AT&T Oklahoma children deserve better and we need to not let them down. Vice Chair, Forward Oklahoma City rOgEr N. MItCHEll Oklahoma Natural Gas Company As we gear up for another legislative session, please take a moment to visit the Chamber’s Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications legislative Action Center at www.legislativeactioncenter.net. Here you can sign up for legislative BruCE lAwrENCE update e-mails sent regularly throughout the legislative session. You can also join the Action Network INTEGRIS Health Inc. and receive alerts when your involvement can make a critical difference at our capitol. Vice Chair, Membership Tom J. MCDANIEl Oklahoma City University Vice Chair, Transportation Sincerely, rOy H. wIllIAMS Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President & CEO THE pOINT! Roy H. Williams ISSUE #3429 - November 2010 Editorial staff Chamber CEO & President Cynthia Reid, Jennifer Seaton, Stefanie Appleton, Jill Harrison DESIGNER Elyse Fair 297-8900 [email protected] oint! www.okcchamber.com p www.twitter.com/okcchamber The www.facebook.com/okcchamber hamber The Point (ISSN 1075-6264) is c published monthly by the ity Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, c 123 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. rEcrUITINg NEw talent cVb SpOTLIgHT POSTMASTER: 4 5 Send address changes to The Point!, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber or e-mail [email protected]. reater Oklahoma g SUBSCRIPTIONS: $5 per year included in Chamber UpcOMINg cHAMbEr EVENTS rEpOrT ON bIOScIENcE INdUSTrY membership; nonmembers, 6 10 $25 per year within the U.S. Periodicals Postage paid at Oklahoma City. Advertising rates UPON REQUEST. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising. cHINA VISIT: MArcH 10-18 wELcOME NEw MEMbErS November 2010 - ontents15 16 3 c cHAMbEr OFFErS rESOUrcES TO rEcrUIT TALENT When it comes to recruiting new talent to Greater Oklahoma City, employment, climate, area the Chamber is your go-to source for high quality and informative attractions, Oklahoma City materials. accolades and more. “With our new Relocation Guides hot off the presses and The Chamber also hosts an a relocation site geared toward bringing executive talent to arsenal of videos about Greater Greater Oklahoma City, the Chamber is able to market our city Oklahoma City on their YouTube to companies and individuals looking to move here,” said Roy H. channel, www.youtube.com/ Williams, Chamber president & CEO. “We are always willing to visitOklahomaCity. These help companies get the necessary materials and information to videos highlight what individuals or groups looking to make Oklahoma City their home.” Oklahoma City has to offer The new Relocation Guide includes information on a variety of potential residents and topics important to those looking to move to a new city, including: visitors and includes education, top industries, transportation, local culture and testimonials about the housing. surprises you’ll find here. The most recent development in the Chamber’s arsenal of For more information on the Chamber’s relocation materials is the website ABetterlifeOKC.com. This relocation services, contact Aimee Schones, business recruitment site has been instrumental in helping companies relocating to coordinator, at [email protected]. Greater Oklahoma City provide their employees with information I N OU T to help them make an informed decision about their individual relocations. The site features information on housing, schools, Dale Rogers Training Center Holiday Gifts with Heart Give your customers and employees a quality gift that also makes a difference in peoples lives... 4 spices, beautifully packaged with a recipe card & a oint! p special