Chamber Celebrates 125 Years of Supporting Oklahoma City Program
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125 YEARS OF 1889-2014 May 2014 www.okcchamber.com Chamber Celebrates 125 Years of Supporting Oklahoma City On May 25, 2014, the Greater Oklahoma City oversaw efforts to promote Oklahoma City and establish Chamber will mark its 125th birthday. Organized just economic diversity. Continued on page 10 a little more than one month after the Land Run of 1889, the Chamber has been the driving force behind the growth and development in Greater Oklahoma City since the city’s birth. Only one month after its founding, Oklahoma City had several hundred businesses, but no solid economic base. Wanting to support the community and establish Oklahoma City as a regional center for railroads, agriculture and manufacturing, many business leaders banded together to form the Board of Trade, the Organized one month after the Land Run of 1889, the Greater predecessor to the Chamber. The first meeting resulted Oklahoma City Chamber will celebrate its 125th birthday on in an election of 21 directors and nine committees that May 25, 2014. Program Helps Recruit and Retain College Graduates Recent rankings confirm what many already know: Oklahoma City metro continues to average a 1.5 percent Oklahoma City is a great place to start a career. Forbes annual job growth, it is estimated that the area will add recently ranked Oklahoma City as one of America’s nearly 100,000 jobs over the next 10 years. Attracting most affordable cities, and in January, NerdWallet called and retaining a qualified workforce is essential to the Oklahoma City one of the best places for job seekers. success of Oklahoma City’s businesses. Those who do business in Oklahoma City recognize the The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is working to factors that contribute to this success – the low cost of help area businesses to recruit and retain the best and living, strong economy and high quality of life make the brightest college students. One key component of that Oklahoma City region a fantastic place to do business. effort is the InternOKC program, which kicks off next However, traditional population gains alone will not Continued on page 5 be sufficient to provide enough workers to meet the Turn to pages 6 & 7 to find out about the demands of Oklahoma City’s growing economy. If the Chamber’s upcoming events. 215 OK Chamber_PR.indd 1 7/24/09 3:09:53 PM 2014 OFFICERS PETE DELANEY OGE Energy Corp. Leadership Notes 2014 Chairman DAVID RAINBOLT BancFirst Visionary leadership, unparalleled growth. Chair-Elect Vice Chair, Government Relations CARL EDWARDS The settlers who gathered in a tent just 30 days after Price Edwards & Company the Land Run of 1889 to form the Board of Trade in Immediate Past Chairman Oklahoma City knew that this city’s future was tied to DAVID A. JACKSON JPMorganChase Bank, N.A. its economy. While the name of the organization has Treasurer changed in the ensuing 125 years, the enthusiasm for the BRUCE LAWRENCE INTEGRIS Health mission has never wavered, and history bears witness to a Corporate Secretary string of remarkable accomplishments. CLAYTON I. BENNETT Dorchester Capital Vice Chair, Strategic Planning The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber has been Roy H. Williams, CCE fortunate to have in its membership - since the very BRYAN GONTERMAN President & CEO AT&T Oklahoma beginning - visionary business leaders who worked Vice Chair, Membership within their industry and for the greater good. Whether it was attracting packing RHONDA HOOPER Jordan Advertising plants or a military base; developing a water supply or a hospital complex; building Vice Chair, Economic Development a highway or a university; or creating amenities that would attract visitors and PERCY KIRK Cox Communications Oklahoma entertain residents, the Chamber has helped lead Oklahoma City in nearly every Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications facet of its development. BRADLEY W. KRIEGER Arvest Bank The task we have in front of us is no different, and neither can we let our sense of Vice Chair, Military/Aerospace resolve for building our city lessen as we see success. Oklahoma City is still a young TOM J. MCDANIEL American Fidelity Foundation place with unlimited potential. And we have the wind at our back. Vice Chair, MAPS Development J. LARRY NICHOLS Take a moment this month to celebrate our city. Visit an attraction or business Devon Energy Corporation you’ve never been to, try a new restaurant or go to a new event or festival. This is a Vice Chair, Strategic Planning community that is growing and changing before our eyes and you have each had a JOHN RICHELS Devon Energy Corporation part in making that happen. Then, let’s get back to work. Vice Chair, Forward Oklahoma City TERESA ROSE Chesapeake Energy Corporation Vice Chair, Education/Workforce Development Sincerely, NATALIE SHIRLEY Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City Vice Chair, Convention & Visitors Bureau ROY H. WILLIAMS, CCE Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President & CEO Roy H. Williams, CCE THE POINT! ISSUE #3471 - May 2014 Chamber CEO & President Editorial staff Kaylee McDaniel, Cynthia Reid, Jennifer Seaton Designer Josh Vaughn 297-8900 [email protected] www.okcchamber.com www.twitter.com/okcchamber www.facebook.com/okcchamber Upcoming Events 2014 TRDC Campaign The Point (ISSN 1075-6264) is 6 12 published monthly by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, 123 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. POSTMASTER: Tourism Spotlight Airport Growth & Development Send address changes to The Point!, 9 15 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber or e-mail [email protected]. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $5 per year included in Chamber membership; nonmembers, $25 per year within the U.S. New Convention Center Welcome New Members Periodicals Postage paid at Oklahoma City. 11 16 Advertising rates upon request. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising. CONTENTS Mail Dominance. Maximize your direct mail presence with COMTECH. OMTECH SETS THE BAR IN DIRECT MAIL strategies for business. You could say we dominate in unique mail solutions. But we don’t stop there. We also provide a range of design-layout and printing solutions to reach your businesses direct success. Direct success. Contact one of our representatives today and let us show you how we can help your business dominate in your world market. 405.843.3185 | www.accesscomtech.com Internships Help Businesses Grow OKC’s Workforce (continued from page 1) By participating in InternOKC, Greater Oklahoma City businesses can contribute to the growth and development of the city’s workforce. The Greater Oklahoma City region is home to 125,000 college students looking to start their careers. Companies with internships can recruit young talent that is vital to the future of their business – and to the future of Oklahoma City. During the program, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns while learning key skills that will help them succeed professionally. Session dates will be June 11 in the afternoon and during lunch on The Greater Oklahoma City region is home to 125,000 college June 18, June 25, July 2 and July 9. The cost to register students looking to start their careers. interns for the program is $75 per intern, which includes month. This award-winning leadership development lunch at each session. To register interns, visit www. program highlights the benefits of living and working greatergrads.com/summerintern. in the Oklahoma City region through a five-week series of luncheons. The program also fosters peer networking For more information, or for help in identifying your emilbourn@ and provides resources to help college students transition internship needs, contact Elisa Milbourn at okcchamber.com from college to career. Last year marked the largest or 297-8951. InternOKC group to date with more than 80 local companies and 450 interns participating in the program. experience precision A National CPA & Advisory Firm Getting it right never goes out of style. BKD CPAs and advisors have been zeroing in on excellence for more than 90 years. Part of delivering unmatched client service means paying attention to detail and taking respon- sibility to get it right—the first time. Quality control is ingrained in our culture. Our Oklahoma City staff invites you to experience the added benefits of BKD’s disciplined approach. The Point! Todd Lisle // Managing Partner // bkd.com [email protected] // 405.606.2580 Two Leadership Square // 211 N Robinson // Oklahoma City May 2014 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber 5 UPCOMING EVENTS Learn the Importance of a New Convention Center The next Friday Forum luncheon will focus on the significance of Oklahoma City’s new convention Engage Your College center, approved in MAPS 3. The more than $2 billion that tourism contributes per year to Oklahoma City’s Interns economy is significant and continues to grow. Hear Will your organization have interns this summer? from national experts from the convention industry Want to contribute more to their development into as well as local organizations about why the new a young professional? Enroll them in the Chamber’s convention center is a critical component to attracting InternOKC program! This five-week series of events more regional and national visitors. Thanks to Signature will include information on living, working and playing Sponsor Cox Business, Corporate Sponsor Guernsey in Oklahoma City as well as professional and life skills and Host Sponsor The Beacon Club. beneficial to young professionals. InternOKC kicks off Friday, June 6 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. June 11 with an afternoon session followed by weekly The Beacon Club, 210 Park Ave. 24th Floor $35 for members, $50 for nonmembers luncheons on June 18, June 25, July 2 and July 9. www.okcchamber.com/ff. Last year, more than 450 interns participated from 80 The Point! May 2014 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber 6 different companies. Registration fee is $75 per intern and includes lunch at CALENDAR OF EVENTS each session.