State of the Region 2025

SEPTEMBER 25 Embassy Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City Downtown Medical Center 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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WELCOME Teresa Rose Chair, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Executive Director, One Heartbeat Foundation

PRESENTING SPONSOR RECOGNITION

OPENING PRESENTATION: REGION AT A GLANCE Christy Gillenwater President & CEO, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber

LUNCH SERVICE

SUCCESS AROUND THE REGION Moderator: Teresa Rose Chair, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Executive Director, One Heartbeat Foundation

Jim Collard Director of Planning and Economic Development, Citizen Pottawatomi Nation

Jim Cowan Economic Development Director & President, Chickasha Chamber

Shawnda Rooney Economic Development Director, City of Guthrie

Jennifer Thornton Director, Visit Edmond

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INCENTIVES PANEL Moderator: Christy Gillenwater President & CEO, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber

Michael Davis President & CEO, Oklahoma Industrial Finance Authorities

Representative Brian Hill Oklahoma House of Representatives: 47th District

Lawrence McKinney President & CEO, Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition

Alba Weaver Director of Community Affairs and Economic Development, OG&E

CLOSING REMARKS & ADJOURN

OPENING PRESENTATION: REGION AT A GLANCE

TERESA ROSE Chair, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Executive Director, One Heartbeat Foundation

Teresa Rose is the new executive director at One Heartbeat Foundation. She has spent her career serving others and improving her community, holding a variety of executive positions, including senior leadership roles at Communities foundation of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Community Foundation and Chesapeake Energy Corporation. Her expertise in community relations, government affairs, philanthropy, and legal matters, combined with her heart for giving, enabled her to provide individuals, families and organizations with guidance and options as they choose the best way to approach giving. EMCEE & MODERATOR

CHRISTY GILLENWATER President & CEO, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber

Christy Gillenwater serves as the president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. Christy currently serves as chair of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. She is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, and the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy National Advisory Council. Christy previously served as president and CEO of the Chatanooga Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Indiana Chamber, and prior to that, president and CEO of the

PRESENTER & MODERATOR

Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce in Indiana. Christy led both of those organizations to win the National Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Christy was born and raised in Cincinnati. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in public affairs from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration from Ball State University. In 2012, Christy was named a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE), the only national certification for chamber professionals.

SUCCESS BEYOND OKC

JIM COLLARD Director of Planning and Economic Development, Citizen Pottawatomi Nation Dr. Collard is currently the Director of Planning, Economic and Industrial Development for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN), a Native American Tribe. In this capacity he compiled and is implementing the CPN Economic Development Strategy. This entails developing Iron Horse, a rail-anchored Eco-industrial park following the principles of the Circular Economy. Iron

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Horse is the first Foreign Trade Zone on Native American land with activated sites. Additionally, Dr. Collard serves as the Police Chief for the CPN. Dr. Collard is a Fellow and completed an eight-year term on the Board of Directors for the International Economic Development Council. He holds the prestigious Certified International Trade Professional designation from the Forum for International Trade Training and in June 2022 was elected to the Board of Directors. He is also on the Executive Committee of the International Inter-tribal Trade & Investment Organization (IITO). Dr. Collard is a current member and Past Chair of the OK Governor’s International Team (now Global Oklahoma) and is a member of the Oklahoma District Export Council. He has traveled extensively internationally on business and as a participant in trade missions and diplomatic delegations. He was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee to the United States Trade Representative (EOP). He is also the co-founder and chair of the Tribal-Municipal Dialogue, a group dedicated to increasing cooperation between tribal & local governments. Dr. Collard is also a Professor of Practice faculty member within the University of Oklahoma Regional and City Planning Program. Additionally, he serves on several OU advisory committees. Prior experience includes service in the U.S. Army; seven years as a police officer; seventeen years as a city manager, and five years as an executive in the environmental services industry.

SUCCESS BEYOND OKC JIM COWAN

Economic Development Director & President, Chickasha Chamber

Jim Cowan, a Chickasha native, serves as Executive Director of the Chickasha Economic Development Council and President of the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce. A SWOSU graduate, Cowan brings over 30 years of business experience, including 17 years as owner of Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Brewery and three terms as President of the Bricktown Association. After selling his brewery in 2007, he served as Bricktown

Association Director during OKC’s NBA arrival. His early career included management roles at Steak & Ale and Waterford Hotel. Recently selected for Leadership Oklahoma’s 36th class, Cowan champions economic growth through innovative community initiatives in his hometown.

SHAWNDA ROONEY Economic Development Director, City of Guthrie

Shawnda Rooney is the Economic Development Director for the City of Guthrie. For the past 7 years, she has helped foster economic development growth for the City of Guthrie through community improvement projects, retail attraction, tourism growth, and strategic planning. She works closely with the City’s tourism director on film-related projects, helping position Guthrie as both a vibrant community and a unique destination. She’s passionate about fostering sustainable growth while preserving the charm and character that makes Guthrie one of Oklahoma’s most distinctive cities.

SUCCESS BEYOND OKC

JENNIFER THORNTON Director, Visit Edmond

Jennifer Thornton has served as Tourism Director of Visit Edmond since 2019. She is a City of Edmond employee and long-time Edmond resident. Jennifer has extensive marketing experience from 30 years working in the Oklahoma City metro area. Her previous careers include Vice President of Business Development for STAPLEGUN (an advertising agency based in Oklahoma City), Director of Marketing for the Greater Oklahoma City

Chamber and Vice President of Marketing for United Way of Central Oklahoma. She attended Ohio University where she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication. She is a member of the U.S. Travel Association, past chair of the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association, an advisory board member of Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce, board member of Edmond Rotary and Edmond Cycle 66 and a founding member of Route 66 Midpoint Corridor. Jennifer’s heart for service is evident by her membership in Impact Oklahoma and United Way Leadership Society. Jennifer is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City and Leadership Edmond. She is past president of several nonprofit organizations including Huntington’s Disease Society of America, Women in Communications and Oklahoma City American Advertising Federation. Her goal is to elevate the “Edmond experience” to attract more leisure travelers, sports tournaments and business conferences to Edmond.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INCENTIVES MICHAEL DAVIS

President & CEO, Oklahoma Industrial Finance Authorities

Mr. Davis joined the Oklahoma Finance Authorities in 2011and is responsible for the oversight of both the Development Finance and Industrial Finance Authorities. Each authority is actively engaged in providing financing solutions for economic development, public infrastructure, healthcare and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Before joining the Oklahoma Finance Authorities, Michael was Vice

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President of Finance at the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority where he was responsible for funding and secondary market strategies, public debt issuance and managing investor relations. Previously, Mr. Davis spent 10 years with MidFirst Bank. He held positions of increasing responsibility over his tenure in mortgage lending, financial management, accounting, operations management, and information technology. Michael is a lifelong Oklahoman and has a passion for improving the lives of every Oklahoman actively traveling the region and state promoting economic development. Mr. Davis holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Quantitative Economics and Finance from Oklahoma State University. Mr. Davis is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN HILL Oklahoma House of Representatives: 47th District

Brian Hill is a husband, father, entrepreneur, public speaker, former youth pastor, author, and a Representative for the Great State of Oklahoma in House District 47. Brian Hill is married to his college sweetheart, Melissa, whom he met at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany. After marrying in 2001, they have been blessed with two children, Eleanor and Josiah. He and Melissa partner in multiple companies together and

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love to travel with their children. Brian is passionate about leading business ventures, economic development, investing in entrepreneurs, developing future leaders, and advocating for youth in foster care. In 2018, Brian was elected by the wonderful people of House District 47 into the 57th Legislature of Oklahoma, where he now serves as the Chair of the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee and Director of the House Page Program, while additionally serving as a member of the House Committees on Appropriations & Budget, Children, Youth and Family Services, and General Government.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INCENTIVES LAWRENCE MCKINNEY

President & CEO, Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition

Mr. McKinney has served as President and CEO of the Cleveland County Economic Development Coalition since 2021, leading a team of economic and community development professionals and volunteer community leaders responsible for facilitating the creation of primary jobs and an improved quality of life for the citizens of Cleveland County. The son of Air Force veterans, McKinney was born on Hill Air Force Base

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in Ogden, Utah. He has an undergraduate degree in Economics and Finance as well as a Master’s degree in International Business from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Over his 35- year career in Economic Development, he has traveled throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States (43 states and counting), giving him a unique perspective on community growth and prosperity. Previously, in addition to leading five Chambers of Commerce and Development Authorities, he served as Chief Operating Officer for the nation’s leading strategic economic development consulting firm for Cities, Counties, and Chambers of Commerce. In March 2025, McKinney was named the Economic Developer of the Year by the world’s largest economic development trade association and professional certifying body, the International Economic Development Council. And in August 2025, the Cleveland County EDC was awarded second place nationally for the Best Use of Federal Resources. Mr. McKinney is married to Army veteran Elizabeth Hennen McKinney, Ed. S, CEO of Economic Strategy Professionals, LLC, and they have five children and five grandchildren.

ALBA WEAVER Director of Community Affairs and Economic Development, OG&E Alba N. Weaver is the Director of Community Affairs and Economic Development at OGE Energy Corp., where she leads initiatives across a 30,000-square-mile service area in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. With more than 25 years of experience in economic development and the utility industry, Alba has been instrumental in driving growth and helping attract major employers that preserve and create jobs across the OG&E Service

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territory. Earlier in the year, Alba was named one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America by Consultant Connect. She is also a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City Class 16 and Leadership Oklahoma Class 33, and actively serves on numerous boards advancing education, workforce, arts, health, humanities and economic and community development. Alba has been recognized with multiple leadership and service awards and continues to champion Oklahoma’s growth with vision, collaboration, and impact.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

OCTOBER 8 CHAMBER FORUM 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City, Inc. 100 N. Broadway Ave., 34th Floor Suite 3400

NOVEMBER 19 STATE OF THE ECONOMY 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St.

DECEMBER 17 ANNUAL MEETING 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St.

KEEP OKC MOVING Wednesday, Oct. 8 | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City