Innovation through cross-pollination.

That was the thrust Thursday night of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, which for the first time convened all three of its industry councils – Manufacturers’, Aerospace and Technology – to exchange ideas.

More than 60 business, tribal, government and nonprofit leaders from the area attended the Tri-Council Meeting, which was held in the Rendezvous Room of the Vast Bank building.

“If you don’t think you need somebody’s help, you’re wrong,” said Colin Jones, chair of the Manufacturers’ Council. “We wouldn’t be able to be as successful as we can be unless we use each other to lean on.

“…You guys are leading the charge and leading the way on where we need to be and where we need to go and not forgetting about where we’ve been to get here.”

The Chamber has hosted industry council meetings since 2014, when the Manufacturers’ Council was established. The Aerospace Council followed in 2020 and the Tech Council in 2023.

“The formation of these councils helps us build relationships with these businesses and grow a strong place of community,” said Tech Council organizer Angie Zaricor, a senior director of economic development for the Chamber.

Brien Thorstenberg, vice president of economic development for the Chamber, oversees the Manufacturers’ Council, which meets every other month.

The Tech Council, which began with 15 startups, now has 60 companies, Zaricor said.

“Tech in Tulsa has been around for a long time; we know that,” said Tech Council Chair Tammy Torkleson, president and CEO of Indigo Technology. “But tech as an industry is finally getting recognized. So, that is really what we’re looking at.

“…We want our customers to come from Tulsa and everywhere else, but we have to have them come from here first because we have to have a base.”

Chair of the Aerospace Council is NORDAM Group Vice President Bailey Siegfried. Tulsa-based NORDAM is one of the world’s largest independently owned aerospace companies, employing 2,500 stakeholders across multiple facilities in North America and Europe.

“On behalf of the Aerospace Council, thank you for letting us make things fly safely,” Siegfried said. “And on behalf of NORDAM, what we do is build bonds that last. I’m looking forward to building some bonds with you all that last.

“When we work together and we have a diverse group, we can make more together. That’s the whole purpose of this. There’s an opportunity to meet suppliers, customers. There are networking opportunities that will ultimately help you grow, as well as our great city and state.”

For more information on the Chamber councils, please contact Brien Thorstenberg (Manufacturers' and Aerospace) at 918-560-0231 or Angie Zaricor (Technology) at 918-560-0217.