October 2012 www.okcchamber.com Vote YES on State Question 766 (SQ) 766. SQ 766 will permanently exempt personal property from intangible personal property tax. The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber has joined forces with more than 100 organizations and businesses to form a coalition to pass SQ 766. In 2009, The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that businesses owed property tax on intangible personal property. Under the ruling, County Assessors were authorized to begin assessing and collecting the tax on intangible property, which includes important business assets such as patents, licenses, trade names Voting YES on SQ 766 will protect Greater Oklahoma City and even professional goodwill. In response, the businesses and individuals from a significant tax increase that State Legislature passed a resolution for Oklahoma would have a negative impact on our economy. businesses to pay a business activity tax in lieu of the On Nov. 6, Oklahomans will be asked to vote on six intangible property tax, until a task force could be State Questions. One of those, and the most important assembled. to Greater Oklahoma City businesses, is State Question Continued on page 5 Fastest-Growing Companies Honored Recently, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber exploration and production company. In 2011, RKI celebrated the fastest-growing, privately-owned was the No. 1 fastest-growing company on the Metro companies at the 17th annual Metro 50 Awards. 50 list. Earning the distinction of Greater Oklahoma The third fastest-growing company was Mariposa City’s fastest-growing company was Saratoga Roofing MedSpa which provides an extensive menu of non- & Construction. Established in 1999, the company surgical skin rejuvenation and body contouring services. provides service in commercial roofing through a variety In the last year, Mariposa MedSpa saw annual revenues of roofing solutions and capabilities. Saratoga Roofing grow by more than 300 percent. has more than 200 professionally-trained project To see a complete list of the 2012 Metro 50 winners, managers, foremen, roofing mechanics and laborers. visit www.okcchamber.com/metro50. During 2011, the company saw revenues of more than $12 million, up from $538,941 just two years before. This year’s second place winner, RKI Exploration & Production, LLC, is an independent oil and gas 2012 Election Guide Inside pgs. 10-11 215 OK Chamber_PR.indd 1 7/24/09 3:09:53 PM 2012 OFFICERS Leadership Notes CARL EDWARDS Price Edwards & Company Let’s make intangible taxes tangible for you 2012 Chairman DAVID THOMPSON InvesTrust On Nov. 6, we will head to the polls to vote on a number Immediate Past Chairman of offices. In addition to the offices being elected will be PETER B. DELANEY OGE Energy Corp. six State Questions, and there’s one in particular that we Treasurer / Chair-Elect all need to thoroughly understand – State Question 766. BRUCE LAWRENCE The more you learn about it, the clearer the need becomes INTEGRIS Health Corporate Secretary to vote YES to exempt intangible personal property from CLAYTON I. BENNETT the state’s ad valorem tax. Dorchester Capital Vice Chair, Strategic Planning Failing to pass this measure will result in a significant MARTHA BURGER Chesapeake Energy Corporation tax increase and would negatively affect every Oklahoma Roy H. Williams Vice Chair, Education and business and individual. President & CEO Workforce Development MARK FUNKE Vote YES on State Question 766 to prevent things we cannot see, touch or hold Southwest Bancorp from being taxed. If we don’t pass State Question 766, all of the following things could, Vice Chair, Community Redevelopment BRYAN GONTERMAN be taxed: AT&T Oklahoma Vice Chair, Membership • Copyrights, trademarks & patents RHONDA HOOPER • Good will Jordan Advertising Vice Chair, Convention and Visitors Bureau • Computer software PERCY KIRK • Academic degrees and marriage licenses Cox Communications Oklahoma Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications • And more BRADLEY W. KRIEGER Arvest Bank What’s equally concerning is that individual counties would have the authority to Vice Chair, Government Relations determine how much each intangible property item is worth, creating a confusing TOM J. MCDANIEL American Fidelity Foundation system for companies with locations across the state fields. Vice Chair, MAPS Development It is critical that we pass State Question 766. Not doing so would not only cost all J. LARRY NICHOLS Devon Energy Corporation Oklahomans more money but also set back our economic growth, hindering us from Vice Chair, Forward Oklahoma City competing with other states for high-paying jobs. DAVID RAINBOLT BancFirst On Nov. 6, please join me in voting YES for ourselves, our businesses, our economy Vice Chair, Economic Development and State Question 766. ROY H. WILLIAMS Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President & CEO Sincerely, THE POINT! ISSUE #3452 - October 2012 Editorial staff Cynthia Reid, Jennifer Seaton, Stefanie Appleton, Jill Harrison Designer Kathryn Bolay-Staude Roy H. Williams 297-8900 Chamber CEO & President The Point! [email protected] www.okcchamber.com www.twitter.com/okcchamber S State of the Economy: Nov. 29 Annual Meeting: Dec. 13 www.facebook.com/okcchamber T 6 7 The Point (ISSN 1075-6264) is published monthly by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, 123 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. EN 2012 State of Creativity Forum 2012 Election Guide POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Point!, T 9 10 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber or e-mail [email protected]. N SUBSCRIPTIONS: $5 per year included in Chamber October 2012 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber SchmoozaPalooza: Oct. 25 CVB Celebrates 40 Years membership; nonmembers, 12 15 $25 per year within the U.S. Periodicals Postage paid at Oklahoma City. 3 Advertising rates upon request. CO Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Watch your business grow with our marketing services. search engine optimization Print. Digital. Video. OPUBCO Communications Group. website development OPUBCO Communications Group crafts marketing social media solutions for businesses of every size. management We do this by embracing change and harnessing the email marketing power of new ideas and technologies. But we also bring more than a century of experience to the table — time direct mail we’ve spent figuring out what really works. commercial printing What’s that mean for you? A business partner with fresh ideas and the smarts to make them work for you. Contact market research & analysis us today to learn more about how we can help your The Point! business thrive in this competitive market. search engine marketing creative services audience targeting print & digital advertising 9000 N Broadway, OKC | (405) 475.4094 | opubco.com October 2012 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber 4 Watch your Vote YES on SQ 766 (continued from page 1) Now, three years later, the business activity tax is set at risk. Personal goodwill, trademarks and copyrights, to expire and local businesses will once again be asked computer software, literary works and awards can also be to pay taxes on their intangible property. The State considered intangible property. Legislature has successfully put the decision back in the “Our Chamber is comprised of more than 5,000 hands of Oklahoma voters, and put the issue on the businesses, both large and small. I cannot express to Nov. 2012 ballot. If SQ 766 passes, intangible personal our members and every Oklahoman how critical it is business property will be permanently exempt from personal that we vote YES on State Question 766,” said Roy H. property tax. Williams, Chamber President and CEO. “If SQ 766 If SQ 766 fails, the tax increase from business to does not pass, the impact will be felt statewide. We must business will vary widely due to the fact that the items pass this measure to protect Oklahoma businesses and that fall under the category of intangible personal individuals.” grow property are difficult to quantify. What we do know, is Do not let the court raise our taxes. Vote YES for that the failure of SQ 766 will be potentially crippling State Question 766, to permanently exempt intangible with our marketing to many local businesses and will hurt Oklahoma’s personal property from property tax. For more ability to remain competitive with other states in information about State Question 766, visit recruiting and retaining companies with high-paying www.yeson766.com or contact Mark VanLandingham services. jobs. or 297-8925 at [email protected]. Businesses are not the only ones that will be For information on the five other State Questions on the negatively affected if SQ 766 fails – individuals are also ballot, visit www.okprosperity.com. search engine optimization Print. Digital. Video. OPUBCO Communications Group. website development OPUBCO Communications Group crafts marketing social media solutions for businesses of every size. management We do this by embracing change and harnessing the email marketing power of new ideas and technologies. But we also bring more than a century of experience to the table — time direct mail we’ve spent figuring out what really works. commercial printing What’s that mean for you? A business partner with fresh ideas and the smarts to make them work for you. Contact market research & analysis us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive in this competitive market. The Point! search engine marketing For business and industry training needs contact: creative services Robin Roberts Krieger audience targeting