Programs
Special Projects and Events
The Oklahoma Business Roundtable actively supports special programs to promote Oklahoma’s economic development. These include workforce development, entrepreneurship, new company start-up and corporate
performance. Program highlights:
Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup
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The Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup is a unique statewide collegiate business plan competition. Managed by i2E, the program encourages students of Oklahoma universities and colleges to act upon their ideas and talents in order to produce tomorrow’s businesses. 2011 Roundtable funding was targeted to scholarships, business commercialization and the Welcome Reception. Two participants were awarded $5,000 Paulsen Award scholarships by the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. The winners were Ashley Zumwalt from the University of Oklahoma and Faith Garlington from Oklahoma State University. The award is named in honor of Don Paulsen, long-time President of the Roundtable.CerebroGen Pharmaceuticals, a team from the University of Oklahoma, won the $25,000 first-place prize as the Graduate Division winner at the annual Donald W. Reynolds Tri-State competition held in May. |
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Oklahoma Quality Awards
Modeled after the respected and prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the Oklahoma Quality Award is an important benchmark for Oklahoma companies on the path of continuous performance improvement. The Roundtable sponsors the annual Awards Luncheon held at the Governor’s Mansion and other professional training events. The 2011 Honoree was SSM Healthcare, Oklahoma City.
The Foundation is also embarking on a new Sharing of Best Practices series - designed to develop a think tank for Oklahoma businesses with the goal of sharing best practices in a variety of focus areas ranging from leadership to human resources to process management.
Marketing & Recruitment
The Oklahoma Business Roundtable supports efforts to expand existing business and recruit new investment to Oklahoma. Roundtable funding leverages business development activities by the Commerce Department and statewide partners - targeted to global site location consultants and corporate decision makers. Key targets include companies in diverse industries such as aerospace, corporate services, technology, advanced manufacturing, bioscience, and energy - both traditional and renewable.
Strategic marketing events held this past year include:
Dallas & New York Corporate Networking Receptions
The Commerce Department and community partners hosted the 6th annual sales and networking reception at the Oklahoma-owned Hotel ZaZa in Dallas in January. This year’s event drew a crowd of over 71 business executives and site location consultants. Meetings were held with 22 companies. In September more than 80 executives representing 37 companies attended the annual Oklahoma Business Reception at the legendary 21 Club in New York City.
European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
Held in April in Brussels, Belgium – over 9,000 attendees and nearly 450 exhibitors. The state held a major reception for target companies and held foreign direct investment (FDI) meetings with 32 companies yielding several project leads.
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
Held in May in Anaheim, CA with over 20,000 attendees. Governor Fallin led the state delegation. The state team hosted a special reception for 57 corporate guests and conducted 58 FDI and domestic appointments. Aerospace - Paris Air Show – June 2011 An Oklahoma economic development delegation worked the world’s largest aerospace trade show. Senator Jim Inhofe was the featured speaker at a breakfast for 83 corporate guests. The delegation worked a special Oklahoma trade booth and held 35 meetings with targeted company representatives.
Lt. Gov. Turkey Hunt
Lt. Governor Todd Lamb served as host for the annual gathering and hunt – targeted to site consultants and business executives from across the nation. The event was held in five communities across the state: Alva, Duncan, Hugo, Okemah, and Woodward.
IAMC (International Asset Management Council)
The Council is comprised of corporate real estate executives of major global companies. The Roundtable provided funding for networking events at both meetings - in Hot Springs, VA and Albuquerque, NM.
OK BIO SUPPORT
The Roundtable continued its funding commitment to OKBIO, the state’s new bioscience promotion association. Executives at New York Reception Oklahoma delegation at EWEA BIO International 2011 Governor Mary Fallin led a 70-member Oklahoma bioscience delegation to the world’s largest industry networking event, the BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization) 2011 trade show in June in Washington D.C. Roundtable funding supported participation by several “early stage” Oklahoma companies and researchers.
BIO International 2011
Governor Mary Fallin led a 70-member Oklahoma bioscience delegation to the world’s largest industry networking event, the BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization) 2011 trade show in June in Washington D.C. Roundtable funding supported participation by several “early stage” Oklahoma companies and researchers.
New York City Business Marketing Event Targets Prospects /Consultants
Over 80 guests attended the annual Oklahoma Business Reception at the 21 Club in New York City on Thursday, September 15th. Hosts included Governor Mary Fallin, Roundtable Chairman Don Walker, Secretary of Commerce Dave Lopez and community representatives. The group networked with east coast area site location consultants, business prospects, finance executives and representatives of headquarter companies with operations in Oklahoma.
Other Marketing Events:
- American Meteorological Society Conference in Seattle (January). – Hosted opening reception (500 guests) to attract additional research and manufacturing from weather-related industry to Oklahoma.
- Aero Summit 2011 – held in Tulsa in (June). Roundtable provided special funding for education and training providers who are supporting efforts to grow the engineering profession throughout Oklahoma.
- US First Robotics Competition – Continued support to help high-school students discover career potential in engineering and research.
Oklahoma Business Roundtable