Leadership & Committees

Goals:

• Aggressively recruit new businesses and individual investors. Each Ambassador is encouraged to recruit a minimum of one new Chamber investor in 2026.
• To work with the Chamber staff to update investor contact information.
• To attend and promote investor participation in Chamber functions, including ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, “Business After Hours,” Cash Mobs, and Chamber Lunch & Learns.
• To encourage committee participants to attend the Chamber’s goodwill visit to another chamber in 2026.
• To continuously strive to improve the retention rate of new chamber investors by utilizing investor touchpoints each year.
• To work with existing investors and seek their views on how the Chamber can better serve them through targeted questioning.
• To transition the Ambassador Committee into a structured Ambassador Program focused on consistent engagement and impact.

Goals:

• To develop recommendations to be presented to the Chamber Board of Directors on federal, state, county, and area legislative issues that affect the business environment and communicate the Chamber’s position to appropriate officials and the general public.
• To visit the Capitol as a group to promote the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda and meet with our state legislators.
• To host spring Legislative Forums each year, and to alternate annually between a State of the City & County Forum and a State of the Schools Forum.
• To conduct candidate forums for area elections.
• To host an elected official’s appreciation picnic.
• To promote and increase Ponca City area citizens’ involvement with local, state, and federal governments.
• To develop and advocate for a Chamber Legislative Agenda, and communicate agenda topics and advocacy opportunities to Chamber investors.

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.

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) and invite key city/county/state officials representing transportation systems to participate in the committee and provide pertinent updates.
• To support recreation improvements for Ponca City citizens
• Recognize and celebrate local non-profits each quarter for outstanding work that enhances the quality of life in Ponca City. Recognize the non-profit of the year at the yearly Chamber Celebration.

Goals:

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

Goals:

• To seek the support of Chamber Businesses for the (PIE) Partners in Education Program so 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 any educational organization interested.
• 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.
• Encourage partnerships between local education organizations and local businesses to provide opportunities for internships and apprenticeships.
• Focus and provide information on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education to prepare students for careers in emerging industries.
• Work closely with local businesses to understand their workforce needs and communicate these needs to local education institutions so they may tailor programs accordingly. Ensure education and organizational representatives are in attendance at committee meetings to inform and work as the liaison for workforce needs.
• Host a ‘Future of Work’ event.

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.
• To partner with the Oklahoma Department of Tourism in promoting Ponca City as a Tourism Destination in the national and international travel markets.
• To partner with, Red Carpet Country and Green Country in marketing Ponca City as a tourism destination.