2011 Mayor's Development Roundtable

Each spring, Mayor Mick Cornett hosts the Mayor’s Development Roundtable. This event highlights the public and private sector’s commitment to developing a great community by bringing together experts, local panel members, and attendees to discuss topics relevant to Oklahoma City’s growth and development.

2011 Program

• Wednesday, May 11, 2011
  8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  Cox Business Services Convention Center, Great Hall C

20/20 Lightning Round

This year, the Mayor’s Development Roundtable will integrate four short local presentations into the program as an opportunity for the local development community to highlight work recently completed or planned in Oklahoma City.

Village Verde

Village Verde is a 480-acre community planned in Northwest Oklahoma City. It has been designed with a focus on green initiatives, civic spaces, affordability, energy efficiency standards, and zoning for mixed uses.

Wired Lofts

Wired Lofts are affordable, unique two-story apartments on a real street rather than in the middle of a parking lot to create a stronger community feel amongst tenants. The design has a unique, industrial look with metal cladding, tilt-up panels, concrete counters, and exposed structure and has a strong appeal to young professionals

LEVEL Urban Apartments

City Center Development, LLC is bringing premier rental housing to downtown Oklahoma City at the top of Walnut Street. LEVEL™ Urban Apartments is a modern, affordable and livable mixed-use community encased in a contemporary four-story building, complete with 228 apartment units and retail spaces on the ground level.

New Market Tax Credits

New Markets Redevelopment, LLC (NMR), an affiliate of Wiggin Properties, has $50 million of tax credit authority available to support development of downtown projects. NMR has previously provided tax credit funding for the renovation of the Skirvin Hotel, the construction of the Saints Medical Plaza office building, and the renovation of the Zio's building in Bricktown.

Speaker Bios:

Mayor Mick Cornett

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

Cornett has quickly developed into a statewide and national spokesperson on municipal issues. He is frequently asked to speak to Congress and the White House on behalf of cities across the nation.

In 2007, he was elected as a Trustee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the highest governing body in that organization. He had previously served on the Advisory Board and as Chair of the Urban Economic Policy Committee. Cornett is also the national President of the organization representing Republican Mayors and Local Officials (RMLO). In June, 2007, Mayor Cornett made the exciting announcement that Oklahoma City had secured the 2010 Annual Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Standing for efficient government and responsible leadership, Mayor 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."

As mayor of America's 29th-largest city, Cornett has focused on two fundamental priorities - education and jobs. At the top of his list has been the implementation of MAPS for Kids, which continues to keep its promise to renovate or rebuild every single building in the Oklahoma City Public Schools system, while also providing capital funding to the 23 other school districts that serve Oklahoma City. In 2007, the U.S. Conference of Mayors awarded Cornett the "City Livability Outstanding Achievement Award" for those efforts. Later that year, Mayor Cornett led the charge to pass another initiative addressing school infrastructure in the inner city.    

Since Cornett's arrival in the Mayor's Office, the City has continued an economic renaissance, strengthened by significant and rapid growth, and marked by thrilling accomplishments that seem to arrive almost every day.

Over 72,000 new jobs have been created in Greater Oklahoma City since Mayor Cornett took office, led by the arrival of Dell Computers on the Oklahoma River in 2004. The arrival of the NBA in 2005, the permanent attainment of major league status in 2008, and the announcement of the new Devon Tower that same year have all underscored Oklahoma City's emergence as a world-class city.

In addition, Cornett successfully spearheaded initiatives to improve the State Fair facilities in 2004, our City streets in 2007, and the Ford Center in 2008. Cornett's efforts to use sports as an economic development tool won him the Abe Lemons/Paul Hansen Award from Oklahoma City University in 2006 and the Ray Soldan Media Award from the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association in 2008.

On December 31, 2007, Cornett put Oklahoma City on a diet (www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com), a movement to change the culture of obesity in Oklahoma City. For those efforts, the Oklahoma State Medical Association awarded him the "Prevention in Practice" award, Blue Cross Blue Shield awarded him the "Rodney L. Huey, M.D. Memorial Champion of Oklahoma Health award" and the Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition awarded him the "Public Official" award.

For all of this 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 and started his own video production business, which he still operates today. He also returned to the University of Oklahoma as a journalism 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. On February 24, 2004, Cornett was elected Mayor with 58 percent of the vote. At age 45, he was the youngest mayor the City had seen since 1959. Cornett was re-elected on March 7, 2006 with 87 percent of the vote, the highest percentage for any mayoral candidate in City history. He was again re-elected on March 2, 2010, with 58 percent of the vote.

For more information on Mayor Cornett's current policies, read his 2010 State of the City Address here.

Ellen Dunham-Jones, Georgia Institute of Technology

Ellen Dunham-Jones is an award-winning architect, professor of architecture and urban design at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a leading authority on suburban redevelopment. She and co-author June Williamson recently published Retrofitting Suburbia; Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs (Wiley & Sons, 2009). The book’s documentation of successful retrofits of vacant superstores, dead shopping centers, and dying business parks into more sustainable places has received significant media attention in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Urban Land, Planning, and Architectural Record. The book received a PROSE award from the American Association of Publishers, was featured in Time Magazine’s March 23, 2009 cover story, “10 ideas changing the world right now” and is the subject of her 2010 TED talk.

She has published over 50 articles linking contemporary theory and practice, serves on several advisory boards, and is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Congress for the New Urbanism. She received undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture from Princeton University and taught at UVA and MIT before joining Georgia Tech’s faculty to serve as Director of the Architecture Program from 2001-2009.

Carl Edwards, Price Edwards & Company

Carl Edwards is a partner of Price Edwards & Company, the largest Oklahoma-based commercial real estate service company. In addition, he is a manager of PEC Investment Properties LLC, an affiliate of Price Edwards & Company as well as other real estate ownership entities. Carl serves as Chairman of the Presbyterian Health Foundation, a local foundation that owns and operates a $100+ million bioscience research park at the OU Health Center. He is Chairman of the Oklahoma Metropolitan Area Public Schools Trust (better known as the MAPS for Kids Trust), and in 2011 and 2012, he will be Chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Mosher, Trammell Crow Company, Denver CO

A Denver native, Bill Mosher is currently the Area Director for Development & Investment for the Trammell Crow Company, where he oversees the Company’s development and investment activities in Colorado.

Prior to this position, Mr. Mosher formed Mosher Sullivan in 2003, a real estate development company specializing in complex urban mixed-use projects involving public-private partnerships and financing techniques. He also serves by contract as CEO of the Denver Convention Center Hotel Authority, which financed, designed, constructed, furnished and operates the $285 million, 1100-room Hyatt convention center hotel.

Prior to these positions, Mr. Mosher served four-years as an owner of Mile High Development. In addition, he served nearly nine years as President of the Downtown Denver Partnership, where he helped guide the rebirth and development of central Denver. Before joining the Downtown Denver Partnership, Mosher served as the Executive Director of the Downtown Development Corporation and the Industrial Development Authority in Tucson, Arizona.

Mr. Mosher received his Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Arizona in 1976 and remains active in urban consulting and speaking engagements. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a past chairman of the International Downtown Association (IDA) and a past board member of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He is currently a member of the Colorado Forum and serves on the board of the Judith Ann Griese Foundation.

Catherine O’Connor, Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, Inc.

Catherine O’Connor was recently appointed President of the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City. The Alliance is a newly created non-profit organization designed to advance private development by establishing a one-stop shop and providing specialized services for developers.

Previous to this position, Cathy served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Oklahoma City since May 2001, overseeing the departments of Finance, Planning, Development Services, the City Clerk’s Office and Public Information and Marketing. Cathy was responsible for the City’s economic development efforts including development of the incentives to bring Bass Pro Shops, QuadGraphics and Dell Computers to the Oklahoma City area. Cathy also developed the City’s Strategic Investment Program, a $75 million local economic development incentive fund approved by the voters in December 2007. Ms. O’Connor was an instrumental part of the City’s downtown redevelopment efforts including management of the City’s Tax Increment districts. She led the City’s team to structure the terms for the redevelopment of the Skirvin Hotel and most recently led the City’s team to create a new tax increment finance district for the Devon Headquarters to fund over $100 million in streetscape, park and other public improvements in downtown Oklahoma City.

Cathy began her career with the City while still an undergraduate student at the University of Oklahoma where she received her B.A. and Masters of Public Administration. Ms. O’Connor is active in a variety of community organizations and currently serves on the board of directors of the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City, the Arts Council, the United Way of Central Oklahoma and the Youth Leadership Exchange. Ms. O’Connor is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City and Leadership Oklahoma. Cathy was named the Journal Record’s Woman of the Year in 2009 and has also received the Stanley Draper Award for Community Excellence from Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc. and a Byliner Award for Economic Development from the Association of Women in Communications. She is a member of the International City Management Association, the Urban Land Institute, The Economics Club and the Government Finance Officers Association where she is a member of the executive board and the standing committee on budgeting.

Jim Parrack, Price Edwards & Company

Mr. Parrack joined Price Edwards & Company in 2007 and heads the firm’s Retail Division. The division encompasses management and brokerage activities for over 50 shopping centers in Oklahoma and North Texas. He 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. Jim is an active member and participant in ChainLinks Retail Advisors, a national retail leasing and networking organization. He is a Licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Oklahoma and a Certified Property Manager.

For the prior 15 years, Jim ran the operations of Precor Realty Advisors, Inc., an Oklahoma City based real estate company with extensive experience in the development, property management, and leasing of historic properties, tax credit properties, and distressed property renovation and turnaround. Developments included the Garage Loft Apartments, the Hudson Essex Loft Office redevelopment, 701 Broadway, and the 125 Park Office Condominiums.

Richard Tanenbaum, Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings

Richard Tanenbaum is the principal owner of Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings and brings over 35 years of commercial real estate experience including development, acquisition, and brokerage. Richard owned and operated over eighteen restaurants in Texas, including the Atchafalaya River Front Café, before joining GTH. Throughout his tenure, Richard has demonstrated the ability to provide creative and quality real estate solutions for corporate users needing commercial space in the Oklahoma market.

Since taking over as CEO, Richard has vastly expanded the asset base of GTH’s commercial portfolio as well as the company’s capabilities and expertise in different types of construction including industrial, office, retail, and multi-family. Since 1997, he has overseen the growth of the company’s commercial portfolio from 800,000 square feet to over 6,000,000 square feet. Richard has completed over 35 projects totaling more than $350,000,000 making GTH one of the largest developers in Oklahoma.

David Wallace, Wallace Bajjali Development Partners, LP

David Wallace serves as Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of General Partner and Chairman of the Investment Committee for Wallace Bajjali Development Partners, L.P., a real estate development firm active in the Texas market. Mr. Wallace served three terms as mayor of the City of Sugar Land, Texas and is an expert on public-private sector collaboration on real estate projects. As mayor, he was instrumental in the city entering into a number of high-profile partnerships with private sector real estate developers to redevelop and rejuvenate certain areas of the city.

David Wallace served on the U. S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council-State and Local Officials Senior Advisory Committee and on the Board of Directors as Vice President of the TexasOne Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Wallace was appointed as Research Scholar for Economic Development of the International Council of Shopping Centers. Most recently, he is the author of Retail Development Through Public-Private Partnerships (ICSC).

Mr. Wallace received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate Finance from the University of North Texas. In addition to this schooling, Mr. Wallace attended Union College in Schenectady, New York and received a scholarship to study International Real Estate, International Finance and International Law at the University of Reading located in Reading, England.