When Christy Gillenwater became president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber in 2023, she arrived with a track record of award-winning leadership and decades of experience in economic development. From leading chambers in Indiana and Tennessee to serving on national business and civic boards, Gillenwater has built a career centered on strengthening communities. We caught up with Gillenwater and got her thoughts on …
… what stands out about OKC.
What drew me to Oklahoma City was the unparalleled momentum and the ‘can-do’ spirit that defines this region. OKC is a community that doesn’t just talk about bold vision – it delivers through collaborative action, like the transformative MAPS investments that have reshaped our skyline and quality of life. The Oklahoma Standard and partnership between business, government and civic leaders is truly catalytic. Our community is fueled by servant leaders who care about their fellow neighbors. Since arriving, what has surprised me most is the depth of genuine warmth and resilience here. Oklahomans don’t just welcome you, they invite you in as a partner from day one. The talent, the innovation across sectors and the unwavering commitment to lifting the entire region have exceeded even my high expectations. It’s an honor to help amplify that energy.
… economic priorities.
Workforce development and education/talent alignment will be the defining priority. We’re launching bold initiatives, like our partnership with CivicLab, to create a five-year regional strategy that connects education, industry and opportunity. In a competitive global economy, our success hinges on building a pipeline of skilled talent that fuels innovation in aerospace and defense, energy, life sciences and emerging tech. This isn’t just about jobs, it’s about equipping every resident to thrive. By working together with our partners, we’ll set the standard for dynamic growth that benefits businesses, families and communities alike.
… the throughline in her leadership style.
Collaboration at the highest level – building trust, aligning around a shared vision and empowering teams to lead with urgency and heart. Harnessing OKC’s servant leadership: bringing stakeholders together not just to participate, but to create extraordinary outcomes. Strong ongoing dialogue and strategy meetings with board leadership are critical. Together, we set bold goals while rolling up our sleeves alongside our partners. It’s about listening, acting decisively and celebrating wins as a team. That approach has consistently unlocked potential and built the OKC Chamber to deliver real impact.
… looking towards the future.
We’re incredibly excited about the acceleration we’re poised for. Oklahoma City is built for what comes next – leveraging our MAPS legacy, the OKC way of collaboration and our innovative edge to become a magnet for talent, investment and opportunity on a national and global scale. Welcoming major sporting events such as seven gold medal events of the LA28 Olympics, advancing our target business sectors, and creating pathways for all Oklahomans to succeed— that’s the future we’re all creating.
It’s a privilege to be a part of the fabric of OKC. Every day, we’re inspired by our business leaders, elected officials, non-profit partners and residents who embody catalytic leadership. For the OKC region to be the most engaged, dynamic and collaborative in the nation, it takes all of us aligning together to advance our community.
… explaining the Chamber’s work to everyday Oklahomans.
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber leads efforts to grow the region’s economy and improve quality of life. That includes supporting job creation and business expansion, strengthening education and workforce pipelines, advancing key infrastructure and community initiatives, driving visitation to the destination which supports jobs and economic impact, and advocating for policies that benefit Oklahoma’s business climate and residents.
When we help a local business expand or we recruit a company here, that means we have more family-supporting jobs; when we recruit a convention or sporting event here, tourism dollars fill our restaurants and hotels; when we assist with quality-of-place investments, our parks, schools and downtown are more activated and vibrant. When we advocate for strong incentives, better infrastructure or talent pipelines, it means better-paying jobs in your neighborhood, thriving small businesses, and opportunities for your kids to build a future right here at home. We’re your partner in building an Oklahoma City region where hard work pays off and prosperity is shared.
… OKC’s untapped potential.
Our potential is sky high. Untapped potential lies in fully activating and aligning our economy with our education and workforce sector. As we invest in improving educational outcomes and aligning workforce development across the Greater Oklahoma City region, we look forward to working alongside community stakeholders to develop a bold education and workforce strategy this year. We’re also continuing Team OKC efforts tied to the LA28 Olympics and are energized about continued progress on major projects that will reshape Oklahoma City’s entertainment scene and quality of life. Telling our shared story is also a critical opportunity. A new branding initiative is underway, which will help define and elevate Oklahoma City’s identity on a national stage. The effort, led by agencies MMGY and Gooden Group, is focused on creating a clear, unified story for the city as it continues to grow within national and international conversations.
Our success will be directly tied to continuing to invest in people and places across our entire 10-county region. With the collaborative Oklahoma spirit we’ve shown time and again, we can turn these opportunities into the next chapter of dynamic growth that positions OKC as a national standout.
