February Lunch Meeting.   

How Economic Development Initiatives are Driving Regional Growth - 

And What It Means for Your Business
Join the Tulsa Regional Chamber and Partner Tulsa for an insider update on Tulsa’s economic development efforts and current priorities. Learn how this business-focused overview of upcoming economic development initiatives will impact area businesses, jobs and growth opportunities.

Speakers:  

Kim Wilmes, Tulsa Chamber Senior VP of Economic Development

Michelle Barnett, Senior VP of Economic and Workforce Development for TAEO  - Partner Tulsa.

About the Speakers:

Kim Wilmes spearheads the Chamber’s economic development initiatives through Tulsa’s Future, a public-private regional partnership. With 23 years of experience in economic development, Kim oversees business attraction, retention and expansion, research, and talent/workforce development for the region. Previously, Wilmes was the VP of Talent & Economic Development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, managed the Greater Oklahoma City Partnership and was President/CEO at Florida’s Great Northwest, a regional economic development organization representing 12 counties in the Florida Panhandle.

Her career in economic development began at Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development organization, where she spent 14 years and ultimately served as Vice President of Marketing, overseeing the global branding and marketing strategy for Florida.

Recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect, Wilmes holds a MBA from the U of Florida and a BA,  Business Administration from the U of North Florida. She also holds the designation of Master Practitioner in Advanced Economic Development Leadership. 

Michelle Barnett leads a team of professionals working on small business and entrepreneurship, business attraction, retention and expansion, and workforce development with the goal of increasing economic mobility for Tulsa residents. Before joining TAEO, Michelle worked as the deputy chief of economic development for the City of Tulsa. There, Michelle sought to provide a ladder for Tulsa residents and eliminate the challenges of navigating city processes. Her team was responsible for helping businesses grow, from startups to multi-national companies, by connecting them to resources inside the city and externally with its many local partners.

Michelle holds a BS and MS in Civil Engineering from the U of Oklahoma. She is a Professional Engineer in the State of Oklahoma and a Certified Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council. In 2021, Michelle was awarded the Franzini Fellowship for Women in Development Finance from the Council of Development Finance Agencies. Michelle is energized by connecting people to work they love, helping businesses grow, and empowering communities to achieve economic resilience. She believes that it is not enough that Tulsa creates more jobs, but that Tulsa creates jobs that increase individual economic mobility. Doing so requires access - relational, physical, and educational - for all Tulsans.

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