November 11, 2022

11/11/2022

An old american flag on a antique wooden platform - Veterans Day

LEADERSHIP......was happening this week in Ponca City. Veteran's Day, football playoffs, actual Ponca City Leadership Industry Day, PCDA Board of Trustees meeting and getting ready for global entrepreneurship next week. Then there is Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday (staff will fill you in; just keep reading) and then, well, Christmas people. Christmas!!! Check out all the happenings, put events on your calendar and enjoy the end of the year. Go Wildcats!

PONCA CITY LEADERSHIP.....had their industry day this week. Our very own Laurence Beliel was the day chair for the 36th Leadership class. the 36'ers were treated to tours of local industry and a very special panel discussion with local industry leaders including our very own PCDA Trustee Garrett Bowers! Comments from the class included comments such as "I never new there was so much manufacturing in Ponca City!". Fact: Ponca City is in the top five community in Oklahoma for manufacturing output! You might know Head County if made right here in Ponca City, but not that 36 foot high vessels are being built in the AIP as well!

PC Leadership Industry Day kicked off in the new Pioneer Tech Conference Center with David Myers giving an overview of industry in Ponca City and then these guys (see picture below) knocked it out of the park talking about their industries and answering a flurry of questions. A big thank you to all who took time out of their day to give a tour, answer a question or assist with panel discussions!

PROGRESS.....was visible in the two building projects currently happening in the Airport Industrial Park. The Cookshack expansion continues to move along at a fast pace, with walls up and work continuing inside just in time for the current cold snap.

SPEC BUILDING DUKE..... is getting close to the all important concrete pour with conduit for the electrical being installed earlier in the week and the stem wall prep completion. Check out that rebar!

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.....is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Amercan Express started this official day back in 2010 and Main Street Stores all over the U.S. have adopted this slogan. If you haven't strolled through Downtown Ponca City lately, mark this day on your calendar. Baby and matching PJ sets? Check out Farmhouse Kids. Need some stocking stuffers? Cast Iron is your destination. Want some original art or even make it yourself? Doodle Academy and Completely Quilted are calling your name.

These small businesses are the heart of our community: your neighbors and friends. Support them this holiday season. Just like PCDA supports our industries such as contract manufacturing, food and agriculture, back office and some oil and gas thrown in the mix. Shop Small, shop local. And there's always the Santa Bucks!

WORK YOUR PITCH.....next week with a web based, Zoom in tutorial on getting your elevator pitch right and tight. Elevator pitch? Let us explain. Imagine yourself in an elevator for about 30 seconds and you realize the person you are standing next to in this elevator is a prospective customer. How are you going to create interest for your business or products in just 30 seconds? The goal is to open a conversational door which leads to a possible sale. You have to kiss a lot of frogs, etc..... to get one prince (in this case customer). Other programs next week include "Finding Grants", Starting your business and finding customers. See the flyer below and start your journey into owning your business. Call Kat at 580.761.3028 or Ben Evans at 580.718-4262 now to reserve your seat.