Roy Williams retiring as CEO of Greater OKC Chamber

Roy Williams, longtime CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, announced Thursday he is retiring after a 17-year stint that saw diversification of the economy and efforts to promote criminal justice reform.

Williams, who started at the chamber in 2002 as executive vice president of economic development, said he began discussing retirement plans last year with the organization’s leadership.

“I've been here 20 years,” said Williams, 71. “I've been president 17 plus. It's time.”

Williams’ retirement follows last month's announcement by Cathy O’Connor, president of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, that she too is retiring. That leaves Oklahoma City without its top two veteran economic development leaders.

“The impact Roy has left on this city is significant,” said Sean Trauschke, OGE Energy Corp. CEO and chamber chair. “His vision as an economic development leader has helped this organization drive an aggressive agenda for growth and development. He leaves an incredible legacy for our community.”

Williams’ retirement follows completion of several major objectives that included construction of a new convention center and development of the Omni Hotel, expansions at Tinker Air Force Base, the start of transforming the Oklahoma Health Center and other area research and science anchors east of downtown into an innovation district.

David Holt, re-elected Tuesday for a second term as mayor, said the retirements are not a total surprise. Holt succeeded Mick Cornett after he served as mayor for 14 years and Jim Couch ended his 18-year stint as city manager shortly after Holt took office at City Hall.

“When I came into office four years ago I pointed out that we were about to have a leadership transition,” Holt said. “If you looked at the top level of civic leadership, they were all in their jobs for 15 to 20 years and they were all approaching their 60s. It was obvious we were going to go through a transition.”

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Prior to joining the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Williams held economic development or executive leadership positions at the Texas governor’s office, the Texas Department of Commerce, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

WIlliams joined the chamber as Executive Vice President of Economic Development in 2002 before becoming president and CEO in 2004.

Holt credited Williams with successfully campaigning for two MAPS elections and the Better Streets Safer City initiative.

The chamber on Thursday reported that during his tenure the organization worked with companies to announce 88,015 new jobs and an estimated $7 billion in capital investment. The population during his tenure grew by 340,000 and the gross domestic product grew by $32 billion.

Trauschke called Williams “a leader who looks for results, not credit.”

“That makes him someone people want to collaborate with,” Trauschke said. “And when he asks for your help, you can’t help but say yes.”

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Trauschke said that cooperative spirit was key to putting together deals approved by voters to acquire the former General Motors plant and BNSF rail yard in southeast Oklahoma City to accommodate growth needs at Tinker Air Force Base.

Clay Bennett, chairman of the Oklahoma City Thunder, credited Williams with helping bring the NBA to Oklahoma City.

“Roy has been so much more than a typical chamber president,” he said. “I think back to so many situations — bringing the Hornets and then the Thunder, to our work with criminal justice reform to campaigns like MAPS — where his wisdom, insight and understanding was absolutely crucial to our success.”

O’Connor was the first president at The Alliance for Economic Development when it was launched in 2011. At the time it was started to oversee the city’s Urban Renewal, Redevelopment and Port authorities, the chamber was described as being tasked with catching the fish while the alliance was tasked with the cooking the fish through assembling incentives and development agreements.

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No announcement has been made yet on a replacement for O’Connor. The chamber announced it will launch a national search to replace Williams.

Williams said his successor likely will be asked to assist in campaigning for a bond election for Oklahoma City Public Schools and funding for the Regional Transit Authority. He said work ahead includes further work with the innovation district and ongoing job creation and criminal justice reform.

In the meantime, he likely has one more campaign to oversee with a request coming to county voters to pay for a new jail.

“The last 20 years, to see everything that has happened, is fun,” Williams said. “To watch it, to be a part of it, makes you feel good.”

Steve Lackmeyer started at The Oklahoman in 1990. He is an award-winning reporter, columnist and author who covers downtown Oklahoma City, urban development and economics for The Oklahoman. Contact him at slackmeyer@oklahoman.com. Please support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Roy Williams retiring as CEO of Greater Oklahoma City Chamber