January 27, 2021 Issue, Page 12 of 18

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January 23, 2021 Outgoing and incoming Elk City Chamber of Commerce presidents discuss goals By Shonda Little dy Cummings was the Chamber that puts us on the map. It is president. She is someone I ad- also another thing for our citi- In typical years, the Elk City mire a lot. She shows that hard zens to enjoy, so you have that Chamber of Commerce hosts work can really change things.” double bonus.” their annual Chamber Banquet Although commerce organi- Wyatt will continue to serve in January. Local business own- zations are often affiliated with for the next year, assisting in- ers, leaders and politicians pack retail and restaurants, Wyatt coming president Katherine the First Baptist Church Activ- sees a benefit for non-tradition- Brown with decisions. ity Center to devour the best ca- al businesses, such as oilfield “ would encourage everyone tered food available in western companies. to get out and get involved. I re- Oklahoma while listening to “For us, we do better when alize what makes Elk City great speeches upon the vision of lo- our community does better” is working together to make us cal commerce. she said. “It is really a quality of stand out. I think for all of us But that is typical years. life issue. It is important for not what we want for our children History will record 2020 as just us, but our employees to is for them to come back home. anything but typical. Covid-19 have everything they need right ‘My oldest child was born in Tul- has changed the landscape of here at home. It builds better sa, but she doesn’t remember it. everyday life and the annual Elk schools, it keeps our money lo- ‘This is her home andI want her City Chamber Banquet has been cal and it funds the roads and to come back to it. That doesn’t no exception. bridges we use everyday in our have to mean to live here. We As much as the Chamber of business. My husband has do- want Elk City to be a place that Commerce hoped to avoid it, nated alot of his time and effort our kids want to come back to the annual feast and festivities to the softball board because it visit or come back to live. No were cancelled. is something we wanted for our one helps that more than the For both outgoing Chamber kids. That is also how we see Elk chamber,” Wyatt said. of Commerce President Angela City’s Chamber of Commerce.” As Wyatt transitions out of ‘Wyatt and incoming president Wyatt acknowledged the un- the position of Elk City Cham- Katherine Brown, the irregu- predicted difficulties that Co- ber of Commerce President, larities only highlight the great vid-19 presented. Katherine Brown ascends to the need for the civic organization. “There were many things we helm. In 2005 Wyatt came to Elk had planned or hoped to plan Brown operates LaDonna’s City by happenstance when she when I took over that just were Wine and Spirits aside her and her husband were present- not able to take place because mother and father-in-law. Above Angela Wyatt is with her ed with the opportunity to be- we, of course, wanted to think “Normally, I would have be- daughters, at right, Katherin Brown. come owners of the managing first about the safety of our come the president officially at Courtesy photos. portion of Anadarko Dozer and community. The Chamber also the banquet, but we were un- Trucking. had that benefit of us work- able to hold it this year because “I had been a Tulsa Police ing together to ensure as much of Covid,” Brown said. “I am al- Department detective. We only safety as possible to hold the ready acting as president, but Brown didn’t become imme- had one daughter at the time, events that we were able to,” it will not be official until our diately active. Once she did, but my husband had grown up Wyatt stated. February meeting” though, she says she realized in western Oklahoma. We knew ‘Among the changes that Wy- ‘A Clinton native, Brown later the unique value, this place offered the kind of att oversaw was moving the Elk lived in Lawton before moving “I would say to any business childhood we wanted for our City Chamber of Commerce to to Elk City. Like Wyatt, she saw that they should join because kids.” the downtown region. the value in raising children in a it gives you an added benefit of Wyatt's husband Jay was “We had a great deal of sup- small western Oklahoma town. community. You get to network. raised in Fredrick and had port from the community,” Wy- “People will ask me how I ‘You get to hear what is working Brown is looking forward to those businesses buy from our worked as a superintendent for raised five children and I just att added. “I would say that we for other businesses. We all have the Home and Garden Expo, other businesses, Our primary a multi-state construction com- especially saw a lot from First say that I didn’t do it by my- the common goal of succeeding the Farm and Ranch Expo and goals are keeping local money pany. National Bank and the Thur- self,” Brown laughed. “It took and Elk City succeeding is im- the Fall Festival of the Arts. here local, bringing in outside “We knew it was a good de- mond family in helping fund the teachers, the coaches, the portant for that aspect. You also “{ didn’t realize how many money and working together cision as soon as we got here,” that project. Director Cupp businesses they went into, get great customers from it. This things — big and little — that to help each business succeed,” Wyatt recounted. “We didn’t was also instrumental. We also our friends and even the nosy is true for me and I think it is the Chamber organizes every Brown explained. just want to come here to make added the Thunder Court by the neighbor down the road. Every- true for all our members. When year. Bach one of those events Brown is also excited to see money from the oilfield. We high school’s skate park. One of one here wanted to see them I go to buy something, I start brings in tax dollars to our com- the City of Elk City and the Elk wanted to be part of the com- the high school classes worked do well and succeed and I credit munity and be involved. There to raise those funds and reached that to helping me raise them.” first with businesses owned by munity. They help the hotels, City Chamber of Commerce re- was really no better way than out to the Oklahoma City Thun- While LaDonna’s has been commerce members. We work the restaurants and the down- join efforts. the Chamber of Commerce. der organization. They paid for a longtime member of the Elk hard to keep our money within town businesses. The tax mon- “Itis on the February agenda, WhenI first got involved, Melo- half and itis just something else City Chamber of Commerce, our community,” Brown stated. ey helps fund our town. Then but we hope to see that passed We appreciate everything you do for our community! Thank you Elk City QuaLiry® Don't Pay More to Cover Your Floor LLC Chamber of Commerce 1503 West Third « Elk City, OK 73644 580-243-1112 ¢ FED. IDENT. #731388647 Elkwood Assisted Living 1000 Ethwood Biv, Ek City + 580.225.0506 HI-PRO 720 S. Main, Elk City WWW sentiorlifestyle.com FEEDS 580-225-0191 WWWw.elkcitycoop.com