press release

Chamber names Kim Wilmes senior Vice President of economic development

Rhett Morgan
Oct 23, 2024

She will lead Tulsa’s Future, the Chamber-led regional economic development partnership

The Tulsa Regional Chamber announced today the hiring of Kim Wilmes as senior vice president of economic development, effective Oct. 28. Wilmes will lead the Chamber’s economic development efforts through Tulsa’s Future, the Chamber-led public-private regional economic development partnership. A 22-year economic development veteran, she also will be responsible for workforce and talent strategies.

“I am honored to be a part of this award-winning team and look forward to further strengthening our regional partnerships,” Wilmes said. “Tulsa is at a pivotal moment; this community has generated incredible momentum, and we now stand at an inflection point that could propel us into a new era of growth. I am excited to collaborate with our regional partners to create transformative opportunities that will drive long-term economic growth and prosperity for all.”

Wilmes comes to Tulsa from Oklahoma City, having most recently served as vice president of talent and economic development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. In that role, she worked with economic development organizations from 10 counties to promote the region and develop competitive project proposals. During her career, Wilmes has helped facilitate $3.2 billion in capital investment in the region and the creation of more than 20,000 jobs with a total payroll of more than $1 billion.

Before coming to Oklahoma City, she held vice president and marketing roles at Enterprise Florida, Inc. (2002-16), the Sunshine State’s economic development organization, and she was president and CEO at Florida’s Great Northwest (2016-19), a regional economic development organization in Niceville, Fla.
“We are overjoyed to welcome someone with the credentials of Kim Wilmes to guide our economic development efforts at the Tulsa Regional Chamber,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “Kim is a decorated economic development executive who has been a success at every stop of her career journey. Her familiarity with our Chamber and the State of Oklahoma will be an incredible asset to Tulsa’s Future, the Chamber-led regional economic development partnership. I also want to commend Chamber Executive Vice President and COO Justin McLaughlin for stepping in as interim senior vice president of economic development and doing a phenomenal job for these past six-plus months.”

Tulsa’s Future is a collaborative economic development partnership that works with the City of Tulsa, more than 100 private investors, and numerous regional and tribal partners to further economic prosperity in the Tulsa region. Since its inception in 2005, Tulsa’s Future has generated more than 80,000 jobs and more than $6 billion in capital investment.

“Kim’s impressive resume and exceptional drive will help push our economic development efforts to the next level,” McLaughlin said. “Her high standards match ours, and we are eager to see her innovation and vision at work in the Tulsa region.”

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum praised Wilmes’ track record of success and leadership.

“Her experience in driving job creation, facilitating significant capital investments and fostering strategic partnerships makes her the ideal candidate for this role,” said Bynum. “We are excited to welcome Kim and look forward to the innovative strategies she will bring to Tulsa.”

Dr. Cliff Robertson, president and CEO of the Saint Francis Health System, is chair of Tulsa’s Future.

“Companies that want to expand in, or relocate to, Tulsa want an economic leader who can help them prosper,” Robertson said. “Kim Wilmes knows the region and the state, and we are thrilled to have her guiding Tulsa’s Future.”

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