It is with extremely mixed emotions that I announce Matt Pivarnik is resigning his position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, effective Jan. 8, 2016, to lead the Greater Topeka Chamber and the GO Topeka Economic Development Organization as its President and CEO. 

Matt has led the Tulsa Regional Chamber team to great heights during his sixteen years with the organization. Under his leadership, the organization has garnered numerous national awards and accolades, including being named the Best Chamber in the Nation a record three times by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Currently guiding staff efforts in the quest toward quality through the Oklahoma Quality Foundation program, Matt has been the consistent voice for striving toward improvement across the organization.

While Chambers across the country struggled during the recession, the Tulsa Regional Chamber has continued to pave the way toward new membership investment tools and strategies toward member ROI. Matt’s keen focus on increasing the professional bench-strength of the organization has resulted in the Chamber being regarded as one of the most successful, innovative organizations in the region and across the nation.

These successes were catalyzed by Matt’s commitment to going above and beyond to get the job done.

While we are confident this new journey will lead him to even greater heights in the Chamber and economic development fields, Matt has forever left an indelible mark on the future of the Tulsa Regional Chamber and region.

One of Matt's most successful impacts is the creation of TYPros, when ten years ago he forecasted that young professionals would hold the key to future economic development success of cities. Fast forward ten years, and the organization has now grown to over eight thousand members and has had significant impact on Tulsa’s talent recruitment efforts, quality of life and in establishing Tulsa’s future leaders. TYPros is now the largest, most successful organization of its kind across the nation, a result of Matt’s commitment to going above and beyond to think outside the box.

"I've had many mentors, colleagues and friends who have been there every step of the way as we together have strived to make Tulsa one of the top places in the country for young talent and successful industry," said Matt Pivarnik.

"Accepting this new role means I'm leaving behind sixteen years of personal and professional friendships that have guided my success as a Chamber professional, however I'm confident this organization has never been more poised for continued success under the leadership of a most committed group of volunteers, one of the best executive committees in the nation, in addition to an impressive staff that leads the country in their programming work geared toward ensuring businesses are successful and the community at-large harnesses its greatest attributes to continue growth and economic success," he added. 

"I'm excited about what is to come for the Tulsa Regional Chamber, particularly under the leadership of Mike Neal, a mentor to many, but more importantly someone whom I have spent considerable time with learning the tools of this trade. I value Mike's leadership and know this organization will continue jumping leaps and bounds, setting the model for Chambers across the country, under his direction," Pivarnik stated.

Matt also spearheaded the internal & external Diversity & Inclusion Program with the Tulsa Regional Chamber. The Diversity & Inclusion effort has transformed the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s staff. The success of the internal effort spurred the development of an external organization, Mosaic, which is committed to the business case for regional diversity and inclusion. Our Chamber, again, is seen as a national model in this area, due in part to Matt’s forward-thinking and ability to truly care about doing what is right versus what is expected.

I’ve had the pleasure of working side-by-side with Matt for the past ten years, and believe he is unequivocally one of the top Chamber professionals in the country. This is an outstanding career opportunity for him. We all are most appreciative of his service to northeast Oklahoma at the Tulsa Regional Chamber; and for representing our organization in his leadership roles with the American Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives; the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management; the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives; and MAKO (Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma) Chambers. We will surely miss Matt and his ability to inspire us all to remain passionate about the work we do. Please join me in extending best wishes to Matt, Wendy and their sons as they begin this new journey next month.

-Mike Neal