How the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is unifying the region’s brand

City Nation Place Americas is an annual conference that brings together leaders in tourism, economic development and place branding from across the United States and Canada. At this year’s event, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber President and CEO Christy Gillenwater outlined how Oklahoma City is working to bring its many voices and stakeholders together under a single, unified community brand.

Oklahoma City has no shortage of stories to tell. From tourism and film to retail, economic development and major events, multiple efforts have long promoted different aspects of the city. Much of that work lives within the Chamber itself, spanning tourism, workforce, public policy and placemaking, alongside major initiatives like MAPS, GO Bond campaigns and the new downtown arena.

Over time, that activity evolved into a broad mix of brands, messages and priorities. The Chamber’s focus now is bringing greater alignment to that work. Rather than consolidating efforts, the approach centers on shared direction, cross-functional collaboration and a more coordinated strategy for how Oklahoma City presents itself.

That alignment is also taking shape internally. The Chamber is in the process of bringing together its marketing and communications staff, moving from separate groups supporting tourism and the business community to a single, unified marketing and communications team. The shift is designed to better align messaging, reduce duplication and ensure a more consistent voice across all of the organization’s work.

A key part of that effort is the development of a community-wide brand designed to reflect the full Oklahoma City experience. The goal is to move beyond sector-specific messaging and create a clearer, more consistent story that resonates with residents, visitors and businesses alike.

That work is supported by a broader shift to a place-led approach, aligning efforts across the organization around shared priorities such as community vitality, economic growth, workforce and brand visibility. By connecting teams and initiatives under those common goals, the Chamber is helping ensure the region’s many efforts reinforce one another.

The overall focus is on creating clarity across Oklahoma City’s many voices. By aligning brands and storytelling under a single framework, the Chamber is positioning the region with a stronger, more cohesive identity that reflects how people experience and choose Oklahoma City.

The next phase in the community brand process includes a resident survey to be launched in June.