Q&A: Lindsay Vidrine on shaping Oklahoma City’s story

As Oklahoma City continues to gain national attention, how the city tells its story is becoming just as important as the story itself.

Lindsay Vidrine, who recently stepped into the role of chief marketing officer for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, brings years of experience promoting the city through her previous role as senior vice president of destination marketing for Visit OKC. As the Chamber’s first chief marketing officer, she’s focused on elevating how Oklahoma City shows up across audiences — from visitors to businesses to residents.

We spoke with Vidrine about her new role, the city’s momentum and what comes next.

Q: You previously led destination marketing for Visit OKC. How did that role shape your perspective on Oklahoma City’s story?

A: We are telling Oklahoma City’s story every day to visitors, meeting planners and event organizers. In that role, I needed to be able to clearly articulate what’s interesting and unique about Oklahoma City, as well as showcasing our event venue, hotel and attraction assets. This role introduced me to dynamic people and partners in every corner of our city who are wonderful ambassadors for our destination and have shaped my perspective as our community continues to grow and evolve.

Q: Now stepping into the chief marketing officer role, how does your focus expand?

A: It’s about making sure we’re telling a unified Oklahoma City message across all of our stakeholder groups. We have great things happening across economic development, tourism, talent and more, but how do we amplify that in a way that gives people a clear sense of who we are before they even get here?

Q: What are your top priorities as you step into this role?

A: In the short-term, a big focus is internal alignment — how we collaborate as a team, refine our processes and shape our culture. The OKC Chamber has a strong legacy of leading initiatives that serve as a catalyst for the city, and we’re now applying that same mindset internally to elevate our organization for the future. Externally, my focus is on engaging with the community and our partners in meaningful ways. I see a clear opportunity to better connect efforts across stakeholders — strengthening not just the Chamber, but the city as a whole.

Q: How do you approach telling Oklahoma City’s story to different audiences?

A: At its core, Oklahoma City’s story is about our diverse people, our shared values and the only-in-OKC experiences that make us unique. The details may shift depending on the audience, whether it’s infrastructure, venues or workforce, but I often hear themes of resiliency, friendliness and our collaborative spirit. I’m excited about the community brand work that’s underway to help us further articulate OKC’s story.

Q: How does closer alignment between tourism marketing and the Chamber’s broader efforts strengthen how the city is positioned?

A: It allows us to weave Oklahoma City’s story through everything we do. That includes not just our organization, but our partnerships with the city, major employers and our sports teams. We all play a role in telling that story, and this structure helps ensure we’re moving in the same direction with the right tools and messaging.

Q: Oklahoma City continues to see strong national attention. What role does marketing play in sustaining that momentum?

A: Those national stories don’t just happen. There’s a lot of intentional work behind the scenes to build media relationships, develop interesting story angles and make sure people understand the growth happening here and why it matters. That’s a big part of how we continue to shape perceptions.

Q: Where is Oklahoma City getting it right in telling its story — and where is there still room to grow?

A: MAPS is a great example of something people understand and can talk about. It demonstrates the power of working together and believing in ourselves even when faced with hardships.

At the same time, I think we sometimes get in our own way. People who have moved here more recently or come as visitors see the city’s momentum and are really excited about it. Longtime residents don’t always recognize how much has changed. There’s an opportunity for all of us to better understand and share the story of who we are today.

Q: What does success look like for you and your team over the next year?

A: We have a really passionate team that cares deeply about Oklahoma City. In the near term, we’re working through a lot of transition, but once we get through that, I think the sky’s the limit. Success looks like launching a locally loved community brand, strengthening how we work together and continuing to increase awareness of OKC on a national and global stage.

Q: What excites you most about this next chapter?

A: There’s a lot of energy around this moment – both within our organization and within our city. We’re building something that hasn’t existed before, and while that can feel overwhelming at times, it’s also incredibly exciting. The work we’re doing is creating real opportunities for our team and for the city, and that’s what keeps me energized.