The Mayor's Fifth Annual Development Roundtable was held Wednesday, May 10 in the Cox Convention Center.

Changes for the 2006 Roundtable

The Fifth Annual Mayor's Development Roundtable brought more outside experts, more give-and-take and more topics chosen by the development community... more of the features and content attendees asked for.

We asked past attendees what topics interested them for this year's Roundtable. Three of their top choices were on the agenda:

• Opportunities and Trends in Retail Development
• Public and Private Riverfront Development
• Downtown Planning: The I-40 Relocation/Expansion Area

All of this year's topics feature out-of-state experts and a panel of local representatives, with opportunities for open-forum discussion. This year's luncheon involves all guest speakers and panel members in a "super panel" dialogue with the Mayor and attendees.

Mick Cornett
Mayor of The City of Oklahoma City

Mick Cornett became Oklahoma City's 35th mayor on March 2, 2004. Elected at age 45, Cornett became the City's youngest mayor since 1959. Cornett was re-elected on March 7, 2006, with over 87 percent of the vote, the highest percentage in Oklahoma City history.

Standing for efficient government and responsible leadership, Cornett has worked to promote an inclusive and optimistic vision of Oklahoma City, one driven by bold ideas. Cornett’s humble nature, intense work ethic and optimistic attitude have become emblematic of a city that, as Cornett says, “works hard and dreams big.”

Cornett’s top priority as mayor of America’s 29th-largest city has been the implementation of MAPS for Kids, which in 2006 saw the grand opening of the new Frederick Douglass High School. Two more brand new high schools are under construction, and dozens more school projects are in some phase of construction or planning.

Since Cornett's arrival in the Mayor's office, the City has continued a renaissance, strengthened by significant and rapid growth, and marked by thrilling accomplishments that seem to arrive almost every day. The arrival of Dell Computers on the Oklahoma River in 2004, and the arrival of the NBA’s Hornets in 2005 have underscored Oklahoma City's emergence as a world-class city. To long-time residents and visitors alike, the City seems as optimistic as it has been since it was founded in a single day on April 22, 1889.

For that success, Cornett is quick to credit the vision of his predecessors, the hard work of the City Council, the City Manager, the staff of the City, and the people of Oklahoma City. Because of them, Oklahoma City is proudly becoming a model of progress for the nation. By nearly every measure, and on nearly every front, Oklahoma City is booming like never before, and no one is happier about that, or more anxious to share the credit, than Mayor Mick Cornett.

Cornett represents the fourth-generation of his family to make their home in Oklahoma. Cornett was born and raised in Oklahoma City, the son of a postman and a school teacher. He graduated from Putnam City High School, where he was honored as the most outstanding student in government. He went on to the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a degree in journalism, and graduated on the Dean's Honor Roll.

Cornett then embarked on his career in broadcast journalism. He spent 20 years in local television, first in sports and later in news. He served as a reporter, anchor and manager, and simultaneously worked as a newspaper columnist and sports play-by-play announcer. As a news anchor, he covered City Hall from 1997 to 1999, where he gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of city government in our daily lives, and to our city’s future growth.

In 1999, Cornett left local television, started his own video production business, and returned to the University of Oklahoma as a professor.

In 2001, Cornett entered politics by challenging a two-term incumbent on the City Council, and won his seat by the largest margin over a sitting incumbent in City history. He served on the City Council until being overwhelmingly elected mayor in 2004.

Mick and his wife Lisa began dating when they were high school sophomores and have been together ever since. They have raised three sons—Michael, Casey and Tristan.

For more information on Mayor Cornett’s current policies, read his 2006 State of the City Address here.

Brent Bryant
Business Manager, Finance Department
City of Oklahoma City

Brent Bryant is responsible for the overall management of the City’s debt program and is responsible for the City’s TIF districts. During Bryant’s tenure, he has been responsible for the oversight of bond issues totaling over $500 million.

In 2004, Brent worked with County and School leaders to develop a TIF district that facilitated the $50.0 million Dell development and a potential for up to 3,500 new jobs. He is currently leading the downtown TIF efforts which is expected to bring over 500 new single family residential units and approximately $350 million in private investment. Bryant was also a key member of the City’s team that developed a funding plan and negotiated a redevelopment agreement for the renovation of the historic Skirvin Hotel, which is expected to open in early 2007.

Bryant works directly with the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and State department of Commerce to develop strategies to lure new industries to the City or to expand existing ones. Bryant also works with other government agencies to facilitate common ground policy. One such policy pertained to the development of enhanced wireless 911 service funding plan for the State of Oklahoma. Bryant worked with members of the various Council of Governments and the City of Tulsa to facilitate a plan that met each government entities priorities, balancing the varying requirements between the urban and rural areas.

In 2004, Bryant was certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council.

Russell Claus
Manager
Economic Development Division

Russell Claus manages the Economic Development Division within the Oklahoma City Planning Department. Russell has worked for the City for nearly 10 years in a range of capacities fostering redevelopment within downtown and the inner city. Russell started in Oklahoma overseeing recovery efforts in the area affected by the 1995 Murrah Building bombing. Russell is currently overseeing several planning studies that will lay the groundwork for the next phase of development, including the I-40 Study Area. He has also initiated the development of a comprehensive Brownfields redevelopment strategy for Oklahoma City. Other functions managed through his Division, include the Empowerment zone, several small business loan programs, and individual redevelopment projects.

Russell grew up in Australia where he received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. Russell moved to the US in 1992 to complete a Masters in City Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in 1994. Russell has previously worked for the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, the City of Brisbane, the Nature Conservancy, and Pierce County Planning in Washington State. Russell also spent six years traveling through SE Asia, Europe, and North and Central America.

Fernando Costa
Planning Director
City of Fort Worth, TX

Fernando Costa has served as planning director for the City of Fort Worth since 1998. As an advisor to local officials in one of the country’s fastest growing big cities, he has helped Fort Worth to gain recognition as one of America’s “most livable” communities. In announcing that designation, Partners for Livable Communities cited Fort Worth’s sustainable development policies and its pursuit of those policies through the city’s annually updated comprehensive plan. To implement the comprehensive plan, Costa is playing leadership roles on several major redevelopment initiatives, including the Trinity Uptown flood control and economic development project, the Lancaster corridor redevelopment project in the south end of Downtown, and Fort Worth’s award-winning urban village development program.

Before moving to Texas, he served for eleven years as planning director for the City of Atlanta, where he helped community leaders to use the 1996 Olympic Games and a federal empowerment zone designation as catalysts for revitalizing Atlanta’s central business district and surrounding lower-income neighborhoods.

Costa chairs the Vision North Texas Advisory Committee, a partnership between the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Urban Land Institute’s North Texas District Council to promote sustainable development throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Through ULI, he has also served as an advisor to several large cities on economic and community development issues, including New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Costa is also active in the American Planning Association, for which he has served as a chapter president, division chair, accreditation board member, and journal editorial board member. He has held leadership positions with many non-profit community organizations and currently serves as president of the 13-county Tarrant Area Food Bank.

Costa received degrees in civil engineering and city planning from Georgia Tech, and served as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

James D. Couch
City Manager
City of Oklahoma City

James D. Couch was appointed City Manager of the City of Oklahoma City on November 9, 2000. In the position he serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the City responsible for the management and day-to-day operation of City government. Oklahoma City is a full-service City with nearly 4,300 employees and a total budget of $700 million. Mr. Couch serves on the following City-related boards and agencies: Oklahoma City Airport Trust, Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, Oklahoma City Zoological Trust, and the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Also, Mr. Couch serves as General Manager of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area School Trust, which oversees a half-billion dollar construction program.

Mr. Couch serves on the Downtown Oklahoma City (DOKC) Board of Directors, Executive Board of the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University, the United Way of Metro Oklahoma City Board of Directors, and is an ex officio member of the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation. Additionally, he is active in various church activities at Peace Lutheran Church.

Prior to his appointment as City Manager, Mr. Couch served as Assistant City Manager/MAPS Director for 2 1/2 years and Water/Wastewater Utilities Director for 11 years. In those capacities he served as the General Manager of both the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust and the McGee Creek Authority and was responsible for the Water/Wastewater Utilities budget of $100 million annually, as well as the $390 million Metropolitan Area projects capital construction program.

Previously, Mr. Couch held positions as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Edmond, Oklahoma; Public Works Director for the City of Casper, Wyoming; and, Office Director for Buell, Winter, Mousel and Associates, Consulting Engineers – Omaha, Nebraska; Sioux City, Iowa; and Casper, Wyoming. He received a Bachelor of Science – Civil Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the States of Oklahoma and Colorado.

Carl Edwards
Price Edwards & Company

Carl Edwards is one of two managing partners of Price Edwards & Company, the largest Oklahoma-based commercial real estate service company. In addition to overseeing the retail division which manages and leases over 20 shopping centers in the Oklahoma City area, Edwards is responsible with his co-managing partner, Ford C. Price, Jr., with the overall profitability and strategic planning of the company.

Activities of Price Edwards & Company include property management, leasing, brokerage, development and construction of office buildings, shopping centers, apartment complexes and industrial facilities.
Edwards is actively involved in overseeing all management and leasing efforts of the firm’s retail building portfolio to ensure asset protection and enhancement of client owned properties. Carl serves as an active member and participant in ChainLinks Retail Advisors, a national retail leasing and networking organization.

Burns Hargis
Vice Chairman, Bank of Oklahoma

Burns Hargis is Vice Chairman of Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. He is a graduate of Oklahoma City's John Marshall High School and holds degrees in accounting from O.S.U. and in law from O.U.

He is a former president of the Oklahoma County Bar Association, former president of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is a charter Master and past President of the Bohanon American Inn of Court. Mr. Hargis practiced law in Oklahoma City for 28 years, most recently with the firm McAfee & Taft. Mr. Hargis is included in the publications, “Who’s Who in American Law” and “The Best Lawyers in America.”

Hargis served as vice-chairman of the Oklahoma State Election Board, the Oklahoma Constitutional Revision Commission, and served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services. He is a former member of the Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Mr. Hargis was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Oklahoma in 1990.

Hargis presently serves on the Boards of Bank of Oklahoma, N.A., Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce – Chairman (2003, 2004), State Fair of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, and several other philanthropic organizations. Mr. Hargis also serves as a member of the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges of Oklahoma State University.

He appears weekly with sparring partner, Mike Turpen, on the award winning television program "Flashpoint" on KFOR (Oklahoma City) and on KOMA, (Oklahoma City) and KRMG (Tulsa).

James H. Hasenbeck, AIA
President & Managing Principal
Studio Architecture, PC

As one of the founding partners of Studio Architecture, P.C., James H. Hasenbeck has served as principal-in-charge and project manager on many award winning projects throughout his career.

His recent work includes projects for the City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority, City of Broken Arrow, and the State of Oklahoma. Project development, program coordination, design guidelines, project sequencing, project cash flow, cash encumbrance, and implementation strategies represent the services provided during those projects.

Studio Architecture is currently project principal on the North Canadian River Strategic Action and Development Plan for the Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority.

Bringing together the many users of a public project and the many talents of specialized consultants to accomplish both consensus building and improving the quality of life for the community are among his greatest attributes.

Grant Humphreys
President/CEO
Humphreys Capital Investments

Grant Humphreys founded Humphreys Capital Investments in November 2000.

Since that time he has formed and/or managed several companies which have acquired, developed, and now operate commercial real estate in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The self-storage component of Humphreys’ property portfolio consists of twelve facilities under the ‘StoreRoom Self-Storage’ brand. These twelve facilities comprise 6,000 units and more than 755,000 rentable square feet. Humphreys Capital Investments, LLC serves as the Manager of each of the owning entities. Grant also oversees the daily operations of StoreRoom Management, LLC, a property management company formed to operate the facilities which currently employs 20 people. Grant’s duties have included acting as the general contractor on all development projects, property acquisition, recruitment and training of facility management personnel, site selection of future locations, and responsibility for all aspects of management and operation of the properties.

In the Spring of 2005, the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority awarded the right to redevelop a key downtown property to Urban Form, LLC. This company was formed by Grant Humphreys for the purpose of developing owner-occupied housing in downtown Oklahoma City. In March, 2006, the first project known as “Block 42” should begin construction and will offer 42 condominiums. This development will be the first owner-occupied housing built in downtown Oklahoma City in decades.

Humphreys began his professional career with Trammell Crow Company in its Dallas office as a broker of retail and investment properties. As a company vice president based in Oklahoma City, he focused on downtown and office property brokerage and was responsible for the marketing and leasing of Bank One Corporation’s office property portfolio.

Larry Kilduff
The Kilduff Company, LLC

Larry Kilduff is the President and Managing Member of The Kilduff Company, LLC; a privately held, Milwaukee, Wisconsin based Real Estate Development Company. Over the last 22 years, Larry has been involved in Retail and other Commercial development projects across the country, totaling millions of square feet and with a total value reaching the hundreds of millions of dollars. Since 1997, Larry’s passion and the primary focus of activity, has been revitalization of underserved and distressed communities, both urban and rural. This has led to partnerships of various kinds with communities and community based organizations. In addition to his development activity, Larry and The Kilduff Company, provide development consulting and technical assistance to communities and community-based organizations nationwide.

Larry has been a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the trade association of the Retail Development Community, since the mid 1980’s and has been an active volunteer in the association since 1997. Currently, Larry serves as a volunteer member of ICSC in the following capacities:

• ICSC Central Division Government Relations Chair
• Faculty Member School of Economic Development, University of Shopping Centers
• Alliance Task Force, Member
• Government Relations Committee, Environmental Issues Sub Committee, Member

Larry is a nationally recognized expert in the issues concerning the revitalization of cities and other underserved markets, Brownfield redevelopment and informing the planning process with Market Realities to generate realistic and sustainable long term growth in communities. Larry is often called upon to speak and teach on these issues nationwide.

Dave R. Lopez
President
Downtown OKC, Inc.

Dave Lopez is president of Downtown Oklahoma City, Incorporated, a non-profit organization focused on the continued revitalization of the city’s central core.

Lopez is a director of American Fidelity Corporation, a leading insurer in the education and association markets, and his community volunteer work includes serving on the boards of Allied Arts, the Latino Community Development Agency, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and the Oklahoma Arts Institute.

Before concluding his 22-year career with SBC Communications, Lopez held a variety of management positions with the company and its subsidiaries in Houston, Dallas, St. Louis, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Austin. Lopez served his last six years with SBC as an officer of the corporation, including a four-year assignment as its president of Oklahoma and later as SBC’s president of Texas.

Lopez was active in a large number of civic, education and economic development organizations during his SBC career and also was a board member of several national Hispanic organizations. He has been frequently recognized for his contributions to communities and organizations. Honors include the Dean A. McGee Award by Downtown Oklahoma City, the Humanitarian of the Year by the Oklahoma City Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Eagle Award by the National Eagle Leadership Institute. In addition, Oklahoma Christian University in 1998 presented Lopez with an honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree. Lopez was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to the board of regents for the Texas Tech University System in 2001 and he served in that capacity until September, 2003.

Lopez was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from New Mexico State University in 1974 and a Master of Arts degree from the same institution in 1979. Before embarking on his telecommunications career with SBC, Lopez also was the sports information director for five years at his alma mater.

Nancy Ryan, AICP
Rio Salado Project
City of Tempe, AZ

Ryan joined the Rio Salado project for the City of Tempe, Arizona as a Senior Planner in May 2001 and was promoted to Rio Salado Project Manger in 2005. Nancy oversees all construction projects around Tempe Town Lake, working closely with engineers, contractors and private developers to facilitate public and private development on the 420 acres surrounding Tempe Town Lake.

Ryan also directs the operation and maintenance of the 220 acre Town Lake and surrounding parks.

Ryan has a broad range of skills in community planning, preparation of growth management plans and land use analyses, community redevelopment/downtown planning, economic development, strategic planning, development code implementation, community participation and consensus building programs and environmental review from consulting for 13 years as a sole-practitioner. With time also spent working for a housing developer and for a land use attorney in the Seattle, Ryan ’s career has emphasized all aspects of land development.

Ryan has more than 28 years experience in city planning. She received her bachelor’s degree in urban planning from Cal Poly Pomona, California, and her master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Washington. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners since 1988. Nancy is also a Certified Public Manager having completed this specialized program at ASU School of Public Affairs in October of 2004.

She serves at the Treasurer of the Arizona chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) and has participated in other leadership roles in the Washington State chapter.

Cheryl L. Twete
Director of Development
City of Portland, OR

Cheryl Twete has been with the Portland Development Commission (PDC) in Portland, Oregon, since 1985 and has broad experience in public real estate development projects, redevelopment planning, housing development, and policy analysis. Ms. Twete currently holds the position of Director of Development at PDC, and is responsible for a department of 42 staff and 10 urban renewal areas. Prior to her position as Director, she was the Senior Development Manager of the North Macadam and Gateway Urban Renewal Areas. Her main project responsibilities included: implementation of the recently approved development agreement for the South Waterfront Central District Project with Oregon Health Science University and North Macadam Investors, LLC, managing and coordinating the efforts of PDC and City Bureaus. She also managed the Gateway Area, specifically focusing on Gateway Transit Center redevelopment, and redevelopment activities at strategic locations, towards the public goal of creating a Regional Center.

As Director of Development, Ms. Twete serves as a member of the Commission management Team, Director’s Collaborative and reports to the Executive Director, Bruce Warner.

Other project responsibilities have included, managing downtown housing development projects (including projects at RiverPlace and Union Station) and working on the Oregon Convention Center Development Strategy. Ms. Twete was responsible for the management of the Commission’s transit-oriented development program. She has participated in multiple, mixed-use development offerings and has extensive knowledge of public/private development partnerships and planning and public policy.

Ms. Twete has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Planning from Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minnesota, and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning Degree from the University of Oregon.

Roy H. Williams
President & CEO
Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce 

Roy Williams became the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber on January 1, 2004, after having served as Executive Vice President of Economic Development since mid-2002.

Williams has held numerous executive leadership positions in Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development organizations in Texas, Arizona, Ohio and Oklahoma. Some of these include the Texas Governor’s Office, the Texas Department of Commerce, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (Arizona), the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce (Ohio), and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. His experience in economic development however, is not just limited to domestic activities. Williams also was responsible for international trade and investment offices in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Korea, India, Belgium, Germany and Mexico.

Additionally, Williams was Partner, co-founder, and President of The Economic Development Group, Inc., an international economic development consulting firm with offices in Ohio and Arizona. In that capacity he helped build economic development strategies and tools for cities, counties, regional partnerships, states, utility companies, universities, private companies and even foreign countries. As well, he performed corporate site location consultant work for companies and executive searches for economic development organizations.

Williams also has served on the faculty for several professional certification programs including the United States Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management and the International Economic Development Council’s Economic Development Institute. And he is an active participant of numerous domestic and international Councils and Associations, holding both membership and appointed positions. Nationally, Williams serves on the American Chamber of Commerce Executive’s Board. Statewide and locally, Williams serves on numerous Boards of Directors, some of which include the Oklahoma Business Roundtable, the State Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma State Fair, the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation, Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives, Oklahoma Industries Authority, Downtown YMCA, the Oklahoma Technology Development Corporation - i2E, Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc., United Way, Leadership Oklahoma City, and several others.

Williams has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Lutheran University and pursued his M.B.A. at Sam Houston State University. As well, he is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management at Southern Methodist University, successfully completed the American Chamber of Commerce Executive Leadership Program at the Center for Creative Leadership in North Carolina, and is a graduate of the Governor’s Center Strategic Leadership for State Executives program at Duke University.