Editor's note: This column is reprinted from the Winter 2014 edition of Oklahoma Builder magazine
By GINA COX
Chair/State Associates Council
Wow, the year is winding down and so is my term as your State Associates Council Chair.
2015 has an awesome opportunity for Associates. The Audacious Goal for our Strategic Plan states that we, the Association, strive to be the premier resource for our members. To be that premier resource, we have to continue to provide a variety of educational opportunities and what better way to do that than to expand the Oklahoma Building Summit to be even bigger and better!
Gina Cox, State Associates Council Chair
At our Fall Board meeting, Phil Rhees, our incoming president, and Mike Means presented the concept for this summit. As Randy Chambers put it - "we are back in business!"
This event will be a lot like the convention. It will be a two-day event in Downtown OKC. It will be two days of education, a tradeshow floor with 80-100 booths with opportunity for more than just five minutes of stopping by, and an evening event that will be nothing but FUN!!! There will be sponsorship opportunities for your companies, the opportunity for us to raise some money for scholarships and education events and an exciting social event that allows for lots of networking!
Associates have been asked to help make this THE premier event for our State Association. I am very excited for the opportunity for us to help in planning this event and I encourage everyone to make plans to participate.
Membership continues to be a focus in the Strategic Plan. A fabulous video has been produced and was unveiled at the Fall Board meeting. The video is a tool that all Associations across the state can use in their recruitment efforts. This video highlights the value of membership, not only for builders, but for Associates as well. My message in the video is this, "As Associate members, remember that the value is in the relationships you make with everyone, not just the builders. I would not trade the friendships I have made over the last 16 years for anything!"
The final item of business is the announcement of your incoming officers for 2015:
Steve Sullivan - State Associates Council Chair
Steve Taylor - State Associates Vice Chair
Chris Evans - State Associates Secretary
Vanessa Shadix - State Associates Treasurer
I would also like to thank the following for volunteering to the following positions in 2015:
Laurie Matthews - Central Area Rep
Mark Priess - NE Area Rep
Randy Chambers - SE Area Rep
Titian Burris - SW & NW Area Rep
Connie Stokes - National Associates Council Rep
Titian Burris - Golf Tournament Chair
In summary, 2014 was the year the groundwork was laid. I leave you in good hands! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your Chair for 2014. We have very hard working members and leadership that will continue to make the future a success.
