CHAMBER LEADERSHIP
​

CHAMBER STAFF

• Rich Cantillon, President
• Tiffany Hermann, Vice President
• Zach Trantham, Tourism Coordinator
• Karissa Ferguson, Membership Specialist 

​2022 OFFICERS

• Chair, Wendy Stobbe, Hospice of North Central Oklahoma
• Chair-Elect, Rick Hancock, Rusty Barrell Supper Club
• Vice Chair, Kelsey Wagner, My Media Matter/Ponca City Monthly
• Treasurer, Adam Leaming, Ponca City Public Schools
• Immediate Past-Chair, Garrett Bowers, Bowers Trucking and Logistics
• President, Rich Cantillon

DIVISION CHAIRS

• Ambassadors, Ponca Politics Committee - Rick Hancock
• Community Development, Ponca City Business Council, Education and Workforce Development - Kelsey Wagner

​EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS

• Alliance Health Ponca City - Melissa Cecena 
• Board of Education - Shelley Arrott
• City of Ponca City – Mayor Homer Nicholson
• City of Ponca City – Craig Stephenson
• District Attorney – Brian Hermanson
• Equity Bank - Spike Henderson
• First National Bank of Oklahoma - Nick Liegerot
• Northern Oklahoma College – Dr. Clark Harris
• Pioneer Technology Center – Traci Thorpe
• Ponca City Development Authority – Steve Hermann
• Ponca City Police Chief – Don Bohon
• Ponca City Main Street – Maci Heppel
• Ponca Tribe - Trey Howe
• Phillips 66 - Kevin Schmitt
• Representative Ken Luttrell
• RCB Bank - Jerod Helling 
• Senator Bill Coleman

BOARD MEMBERS
Terms Expiring 12/31/2022

• David Thomas, Vortex Alley Brewing
• Sean Grigsba, Kay County Sherriff's Office  

Terms Expiring 12/31/2023

• Katie Larssen, Supported Community Lifestyles 
• Kirk Brown, K&C Manufacturing 
• Ashley Peitz, Custom Mechanical Equipment 
• Chad Winslow, A+ Printing 

Terms Expiring 12/31/2024

•  Kaity Beaty, Farha Wholesale/Fowler Vending 
• Chad Barney, Ponca City Country Club
• Kevin Florer, Edward Jones
• Noel Melendez. El Patio of Ponca City 
• Jamie Phillips, Marland's Place 

CHAMBER COMMITTEES
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CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Objective: Govern and set policy for the Chamber, make decisions representing the membership, and provide direction, support, and necessary resources to carry out the Chamber’s business plan.

Membership: Elected by the membership and by appointment

Meeting Date: 4th Tuesday – 11:00 a.m., Chamber Office Patt Hughes Board Room

Chair: Wendy Stobbe, Hospice of North Central Oklahoma

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Objective: Act for the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board, oversee the Chamber’s business plan implementation and employ and provide direction to the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber.

Membership: Officers and C.E.O. of the Chamber

Meeting Date: 3rd Wednesday – 11:30 a.m., Chamber Office Patt Hughes Board Room

Chair: Wendy Stobbe, Hospice of North Central Oklahoma

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Objective: Ensure that the Chamber of Commerce remains fiscally sound and that all monies are handled in a prudent manner.

Membership: By appointment

Meeting Date: 3rd Wednesday – 11:00 a.m., Chamber Office Patt Hughes Board Room

Chair: Adam Leaming, Ponca City Public Schools 

AMBASSADORS

Objective: Recruit new members, retain existing members and serve as the official goodwill diplomats for the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Membership: Open to any Chamber member

Goals:

• To aggressively recruit new business and individual members. Each Ambassador is encouraged to recruit a minimum of one new Chamber member in 2018.
• To work with existing members and seek their views on how the Chamber can better serve them.
• To work with the Chamber staff to update membership contact information.
• To attend and promote member participation in Chamber functions including ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, “Business After Hours,” Cash Mob, and Chamber Lunch and Learns.
• To encourage committee members attend the Chamber’s goodwill visit to another chamber in 2022.
• To continuously strive to improve the retention rate of existing chamber members.

Meeting Date: 3rd Tuesday – 8:00 a.m., Chamber Office Patt Hughes Board Room
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Chair: Angela Spicer, Hospice of North Central Oklahoma
Vice Chair: Jennifer Miller, Alliance Oklahoma Home Health

PONCA POLITICS COMMITTEE

Objective: Promote responsible legislation and government which creates an environment for economic development and enhances quality of life for our city and region at all levels of government.

Membership: Open to any Chamber member

Goals:

• To develop recommendations to be presented to the Chamber Board of Directors on federal, state, county and local legislative issues that affect the business environment, and communicate the Chamber’s position to appropriate officials and the general public.
• To conduct public forums such as “Ponca Politics” to discuss pertinent issues on a non-partisan basis.
• To continue to communicate with Chamber members on legislative issues that affect our region and state.
• To promote voter registration by educating our community on how to get registered to vote
• To host an elected officials appreciation picnic
• To promote and increase Ponca City area citizens’ involvement with local and state governments by serving on various boards in Ponca City and within Kay County.
• To host “Ponca City Day” in the Capitol rotunda during the legislative session to promote Ponca City.
• Legislative issues: Support passenger rail service; support adequate funding for Oklahoma Department of Tourism; support adequate funding for K-12 education, technology centers and higher education; support no unfunded mandates; support online sales tax collection; support sales tax enforcement; and, support adequate funding for infrastructure needs.

Meeting Date: 4th Friday – 11 a.m. Chamber Office Patt Hughes Board Room.
Committee does not meet in December.

Chair: Wayne Mitchell, Individual Member 
Vice Chair:  Dawn Brakey, Pioneer Technology Center​

PONCA YOUNG EMPLOYEES

Objective: The Ponca Young Employees group is in place to retain the young workforce of Ponca City within the age range of 21-40 by facilitating engagement in our community. The group is steered by a planning committee open to those in our specific age range, however the group activities are open to all others.

Membership: Open to any Chamber member, age range of 21-40.

Goals:

• To present various activities geared towards retention of young workforce with the Ponca City area
  
• To organize and present educational and professional development breakfasts and luncheons
  
• To sponsor group sporting events.
• To hold networking and relationship building social events.  
  

Meeting Date: Third Thursday – 5:30 p.m. Rotating meeting locations.

Chair: Ally Broome, Marland's Place

The other events beside Tap into PYE are marketed through our Facebook page ​

community development

Objective: Encourage and actively support the development of a comprehensive commercial and public infrastructure system (streets, highways, air and rail service, etc.) that promotes growth, educates our community and enhances the quality of life in our region.

Membership: Open to any Chamber member

Goals:

• To collaborate on common issues with federal, state, regional, city, education and county officials.
• To advocate for a comprehensive multi-modal transportation system (streets, highways, trails, public transportation, air and rail service).
• To support recreation improvements for Ponca City citizens.

Meeting Date: 3rd Thursday – 10:00 a.m., Chamber Office Patt Hughes Board Room

Chair: Mindy Meyer, AllianceHealth Ponca City 
Vice Chair: Don Nuzum, Ponca City Airport

business council

Objective: Support and enhance Ponca City’s business community in
the areas of business development, education, communication and
networking opportunities through specific programs and activities directed to the needs of business.

Membership: Open to any Chamber member

Goals:

• To plan and coordinate activities, to include at least 4 educational workshops, to meet the current needs of business.
• To recognize 12 outstanding business/partners during the year and make a recommendation for Business of the Year which will be recognized at the annual Chamber banquet.
• To offer education on quality customer service.
• To coordinate “Shop Ponca First” programs such as Cash, Crazy Days Mob, Receipt Campaign, and the Santa Buck Giveaway.
• To promote and support the Chamber Buck program.
• To support ribbon cuttings, welcome new members to the Chamber and encourage all members to participate in the Ponca City Business Council

Meeting Date: 1st Tuesday – 8:00 a.m., Chamber Office Patt Hughes Board Room

Chair: Kelly Cross, Rick Scott Construction 
Vice Chair:  ​Ben Evans, Pioneer Technology Center 

education and workforce

Objective:
Support all local education systems, organizations and
agencies. Provide an open format that allows for educational and
workforce issues to be presented.

Membership: Open to any Chamber member

Goals:

• To seek support of Chamber Businesses for the (PIE) Partners in Education Program so that each school has at least 2 active partners.
• To provide a platform for all Ponca City schools to present ideas and concerns.
• Teach customer service training at Ponca City High School
• To provide information to the Chamber's Ponca Politics Committee on education and workforce issues.
• To host a new teacher luncheon.
• To host a support staff appreciation day.
• To hold a “Stuff the Bus” school supply collection event.

Meeting Date: 1st Thursday – 4:00 p.m., various school sites during the school year. Committee does not meet in January, June or July.

Chair: Natalie Prather, Community National Bank & Trust
Vice Chair: Arlene Stauffer, First Christian Church 

tourism bureau

Objective: Promote Ponca City attractions and events.

Membership: By appointment

Goals:

• To promote the tourism development effort through the Chamber as economic development for Ponca City.
• To increase tourism traffic to Ponca City at our attractions and events both individually and by motor coach.
• To increase our marketing efforts throughout Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and with snow birds traveling I-35.
• To partner with the Oklahoma Department of Tourism in tourism trade shows.
• To partner with the Oklahoma Department of Tourism in marketing Ponca City to the European travel market.
• To partner with, Red Carpet Country and Green Country in marketing Ponca City.

Meeting date: 4th Thursday – 9:00 a.m., Chamber Office Patt Hughes Board Room

Chair: Terri Sherbon, Ponca City Charity Angels AMBUCS