October 2013 www.okcchamber.com Two Decades of Investing in OKC Oklahoma City is doing a number of things right in convention in Oklahoma City, former Mayor Ron the eyes of other cities, but the one topic that comes Norick recalled the early days of his time in office and up again and again is the City’s and its citizens’ how the City’s lack of self-investment was putting the consistent decision to invest in itself. Since 1993, the city on a dire path. City of Oklahoma City has invested more than $2 “We had not passed a bond issue in Oklahoma City billion in special projects, roads, public safety and since 1976 and by then it was about 1989. If you more, with another nearly $1 billion already planned go 13 years in your city and don’t pass a bond issue, to take shape over the next 10 years. you’ve got a problem,” said Norick. “Your streets This level of self-investment was not always the are decaying. Your parks are decaying. Everything is natural course of action in Oklahoma City. Recently decaying.” when speaking to a group during the American It was under the leadership of Mayor Norick that Chamber of Commerce Executives’ (ACCE) annual Continued on page 10 OKC’s Fastest Growing Companies Honored Recently, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber celebrated the fastest-growing, privately-owned companies at the 17th annual Metro 50 Awards. Earning the distinction of Greater Oklahoma City’s fastest-growing company was Tri-State Industrial Group. Established after the oil boom collapse of the 1980s, the company has grown from two people, a toolbox and a list of contacts to one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing companies. The company provides electrical expertise and infrastructure services. The company grew from 50 employees in 2010 to more than 300 today. During 2012, Tri-State Industrial Group saw a 423 percent of Tri-State Industrial Group, represented by Gary Allison, CEO, revenue growth increase. was honored as the fastest growing company by Mayor Mick Cornett and Rhonda Hooper, Jordan Advertising, along with Metro 50 committee members. Continued on page 7 The Chamber is your go-to source for news and information about Greater Oklahoma City. Look for this symbol inside and get connected to even more content via the web. The Point! October 2013 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber 2 215 OK Chamber_PR.indd 1 7/24/09 3:09:53 PM 2013 OFFICERS PETE DELANEY OGE Energy Corp. Leadership Notes 2013 Chairman CARL EDWARDS A Time for Tough Decisions Price Edwards & Company Immediate Past Chairman Since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, the DAVID A. JACKSON business community, particularly small businesses, JPMorganChase Bank, N.A. Treasurer have been waiting to see how it would impact their BRUCE LAWRENCE employees and their bottom lines. That time has come INTEGRIS Health Corporate Secretary for thousands of Greater Oklahoma City businesses to CLAYTON I. BENNETT make critical financial decisions for how they will move Dorchester Capital Vice Chair, Strategic Planning forward under the new rules and regulations. BRYAN GONTERMAN AT&T Oklahoma In 2001, the Chamber got into the business of health Vice Chair, Membership insurance with our Chamber Choice program. Health Roy H. Williams, CCE RHONDA HOOPER President & CEO Jordan Advertising insurance is not usual chamber business, but when we Vice Chair, Economic Development saw small businesses across our region struggling to provide access to healthcare to PERCY KIRK Cox Communications Oklahoma their employees, we knew we had to do something to help. Over the past decade, Vice Chair, Marketing & Communications Chamber Choice has made it possible for hundreds of small businesses to offer BRADLEY W. KRIEGER Arvest Bank reasonably priced health insurance to their employees. But times are changing. Vice Chair, Military/Aerospace TOM J. MCDANIEL With the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, Chamber Choice and other similar American Fidelity Foundation health insurance options are becoming a thing of the past, and businesses throughout Vice Chair, MAPS Development J. LARRY NICHOLS Greater Oklahoma City are faced with costly decisions that will affect their employees Devon Energy Corporation and their bottom lines. We are actively working to bring information to our members Vice Chair, Strategic Planning DAVID RAINBOLT to help them make informed decisions. Since chambers throughout the U.S. are BancFirst facing similar challenges, we will be able to combine our efforts to provide some Vice Chair, Government Relations JOHN RICHELS essential information to help you better understand the new policies and regulations. Devon Energy Corporation We know that these decisions are weighty and I hope that if you ever have any Vice Chair, Forward Oklahoma City TERESA ROSE questions, you will reach out to us. It is certainly a complex issue and we may not be Chesapeake Energy Corporation Vice Chair, Education/Workforce experts, but we will do everything we can to ensure that you get the best and most Development up-to-date information so that you can make the choices that are right for your NATALIE SHIRLEY Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City business and your employees. Vice Chair, Convention & Visitors Bureau ROY H. WILLIAMS, CCE Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Sincerely, President & CEO THE POINT! ISSUE #3464 - October 2013 Editorial staff Cynthia Reid, Jennifer Seaton, Stefanie Appleton Roy H. Williams, CCE Designer Chamber CEO & President Kathryn Bolay-Staude 297-8900 [email protected] The Point! www.okcchamber.com www.twitter.com/okcchamber www.facebook.com/okcchamber Regional Population Increases Upcoming Chamber Events The Point (ISSN 1075-6264) is 5 6 published monthly by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, 123 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. POSTMASTER: Malls, Retail Market Thriving Mapping Two Decades of Investment Send address changes to The Point!, 8 10 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber or e-mail [email protected]. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $5 per year included in Chamber membership; nonmembers, October 2013 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber SchmoozaPalooza: Oct. 29 Grand Openings $25 per year within the U.S. 13 18 Periodicals Postage paid at Oklahoma City. Advertising rates upon request. 3 Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising. CONTENTS 2.2 MIL 2.6 MIL gross impressions each week unique visitors every month OPUBCO Communications Group is a unique, all-in-one media company. As the #1 source of news and information, we’re also your source for innovative marketing and advertising strategies. Every year, we print and mail over 40 million pieces of direct mail. We produce video and audio in our studio. We design ads, develop websites, and still manage to write hard-hitting, award-winning news stories that are read by 69% of adults in the Oklahoma City metro. With over 2 million readers both in print and online, no other media company can develop your marketing strategy, execute it across their own platforms, and reach the largest possible audience the way that OPUBCO Communications Group can. The Point! NEWSOK.COM For more information about our products and services, visit opubco.com or call (405) 475-3338. October 2013 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber 4 Greater Oklahoma City Seeing Growth Greater Oklahoma City’s economic strength and low and McClain counties (with each seeing at least a 1 percent cost of living are key factors in the region’s increased increase). The region’s overall population increase was 1.3 population growth. Both Forbes and Yahoo! Finance percent, which was nearly double the national rate. have included Oklahoma City on lists of some of the The cities seeing the fastest population growth were nation’s fastest growing metros, but the increase in Newcastle (5.7 percent), Piedmont (5.2 percent), Harrah population extends beyond the city’s borders. (3.9 percent), Mustang (3.0 percent) and Yukon (2.7 Greater Oklahoma City, which includes Canadian, percent). Oklahoma City saw a 1.2 percent increase. Cleveland, Grady, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma, Payne and Pottawatomie counties, includes CITIES WITHIN THE GREATER OKLAHOMA four of the 10 fastest growing counties in the state of CITY PARTNERSHIP Oklahoma, as well as two of the top 100 fastest growing 2012 2011-2012 % counties in the U.S. City Population Change Change “Our region has experienced great stability, even Newcastle 8,292 445 5.7% during the latest national recession,” said Eric Long, Piedmont 6,227 306 5.2% Research Economist, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Harrah 5,398 205 3.9% “A low unemployment rate, low cost of doing business, Mustang 18,543 541 3.0% low cost of living and increased job opportunities has Yukon 24,128 637 2.7% made Greater Oklahoma City the perfect place to land for recent college graduates and experienced workers.” Moore 57,810 1,495 2.7% Guthrie 10,623 278 2.7% The counties with the greatest population increase from Goldsby 1,891 50 2.7% 2011-2012 were Logan, Canadian, Cleveland, Oklahoma Choctaw 11,626 262 2.3% Edmond 84,885 1,922 2.3% Tuttle 6,218 131 2.2% 0.5% Norman 115,562 2,289 2.0% -1.4% 2.7% Blanchard 7,935 135 1.7% El Reno 17,510 242 1.4% Shawnee 30,649 437 1.4% 0.1% Midwest City 56,080 653 1.2% Oklahoma City 599,199 7,232 1.2% 2.6% 1.3% Stillwater 46,560 512 1.1% Prague 2,394 16 0.7% 0.7% Noble 6,653 29 0.4% 1.7% Stroud 2,689 9 0.3% 0.2% Del City 21,813 67 0.3% The Point! Chandler 3,095 5 0.2% Bethany 19,418 12 0.1% 1.1% Spencer 3,985 -1 0.0% Chickasha 16,162 -48 -0.3% Cushing 7,853 -37 -0.5% Kingfisher 4,643 -44 -0.9% Source: US Census Bureau, 2011-2012 Population Estimates Purcell 5,952 -54 -0.9% October 2013 Greater Oklahoma City Chamber 5 UPCOMING EVENTS 2013 Annual Meeting SAVE December 12 | 11 a.m.