CHAMBER LEADERSHIP
​

CHAMBER STAFF

• Rich Cantillon, President
• Tiffany Hermann, Vice President
• Zach Trantham, Tourism Coordinator

​2020 OFFICERS

• Chair, Garrett Bowers
• Chair-Elect, Wendy Stobbe
• Vice Chair, Rick Hancock 
• Treasurer, Adam Leaming
• Immediate Past-Chair, Shasta Scott
• President, Rich Cantillon

DIVISION CHAIRS

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

​EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS

• City of Ponca City – Mayor Homer Nicholson
• City of Ponca City – Craig Stephenson
• Board of Education - Shelley Arrott
• District Attorney – Brian Hermanson
• Northern Oklahoma College – Dr. Cheryl Evans
• Pioneer Technology Center – Traci Thorpe
• Ponca City Development Authority – Steve Hermann
• Ponca City Police Chief – Don Bohon
• Ponca City Main Street – Chelsea McConnell
• Senator Bill Coleman
• Representative Ken Luttrell

BOARD MEMBERS
Terms Expiring 12/31/2021

• Brad Fox
• Pat Darby
• Suzanne Devinney
• Russ Didlake
• Marci Howey

Terms Expiring 12/31/2022

• Melissa Cecena
• Megan Collom
• Jerod Helling
  
• David Thomas
• Sean Grigsba

Terms Expiring 12/31/2023

• Katie Blake
• Kirk Brown
• Spike Henderson
• Ashley Peitz
• Chad Winslow

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: Garrett Bowers, Bowers Trucking & Logistics  

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: Garrett Bowers, Bowers Trucking & Logistics 

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, University Center 

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 participate in the Chamber’s Goodwill Days, in order to make contact with, and receive feedback from Chamber members.
• To attend the Chamber’s goodwill visit to another chamber in 2018.
• 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
​
Chair: April Bookout, Osage Casino
Vice Chair: Angela Spicer, 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 educate our Chamber members and area citizens on how to get registered and how to vote.
• To identify, promote and support those serving on state and federal level boards.
• To host an elected officials appreciation picnic.
• To promote voter registration.
• To 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. City Hall in the McFadden 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 hold monthly “Tap into PYE” at Vortex Alley on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 6-8 pm.
• To organize and present “Meet and Eats” professional development luncheon.
• To sponsor group sporting events.
• To present various activities geared towards retention of young workforce with the Ponca City area.

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

Chair: Berry Harrison, Bowers Trucking & Logistics 

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.
• To encourage continued improvements to Highway 77 from
• Newkirk to the Kansas border toward becoming at least a Super 2 Highway.
• To support continued improvement of the telecommunications infrastructure.

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

Chair: Brad Fox, Evans and Assoc.
Vice Chair: John Kuhlman, ABT Solutions

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 through the PRIDE Program.
• To coordinate “Shop Ponca First” programs such as Cash Mob and
• the Santa Buck Giveaway.
• To promote Crazy Days.
• To promote and support the Chamber Buck program.
• To partner with the Chamber Ambassadors on the annual Goodwill Days.
• 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.
• To present the 8th Grade Oklahoma Scholars Program and the
• PRIDE program at Ponca City High School.
• To provide information to the Chamber Governmental Affairs
• 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.
• To conduct on-site visits of our local schools and the workforce office.
• To prepare and distribute a summer children’s activity handout.

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: Samantha Day, Rick Scott Construction  

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 Kaw Lake Association, 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, B&B Sun 'N Fun Recreation