Public forums
The Bill W. Burgess, Jr. Business Research Center presents Business Forums throughout the course of each year. The forums address current issues of significant interest that impact upon the regional business community.
The Business Forums are typically held on campus in the CETES Conference Center. Admission is free and open to the public. Information advertising Business Forums is distributed across southwest Oklahoma in advance of each event and is posted on the University Calendar. Please check back frequently for information about upcoming Business Forums.
Recent Public Forums
Meet the Candidates: Election 2022
Date and Time: October 18, 2022, at 4 p.m.
Location: Mary Lou and W. Carey Johnson Auditorium in Ross Hall.
Meet the Candidates: Election 2022
Date and Time: October 12, 2002, at 4 p.m.
Location: Mary Lou and W. Carey Johnson Auditorium in Ross Hall.
Problems and Prospects of Renewable Energy
Date and Time: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Location: Mary Lou and W. Carey Johnson Auditorium in Ross Hall
The Impact of Supply Chain Issues on the Local Economy
Date and Time: 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 18, 2021
Location: Mary Lou and W. Carey Johnson Auditorium in Ross Hall.
Covid 19 and our community
Panelists: Barry Ezerski, Owner, Pam & Barry’s Team; Kevin Hime, Superintendent, Lawton Public Schools; Elizabeth Jones, CEO, Southwestern Medical Center; Dr. Edward Legako, Physician and Vice President, Board of Trustees, Comanche County Memorial Hospital; and Krista Ratliff, President/CEO, Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce.
Date: December 3, 2020
Propel: 2020 Capital Improvements Plan
Speaker: Michael Cleghorn, City Manager
Panelists: Stan Booker, Mayor
Brad Cooksey, LEDC President
Ross Hankings, Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman
Brenda Spencer-Ragland, President and CEO of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce
Date: Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Community Banking Forum
Speaker: Brett Leavell, Managing Examiner, Supervision and Risk Management, Oklahoma City Branch – Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Panelists: David Madigan, President and CEO, Arvest Bank
Dennis Vernon, CEO, Frazer Bank, Altus
Tara Deavours, Business Development Officer, BancFirst
Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Inside the Opioid Addiction Crisis
Speaker: Ryan Hampton, Former White House Staffer
Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Workplace Violence Prevention Forum
Speaker: Amy Morgan, Founder and Director of Academy Hour
Panelists: James T. Smith, Chief of Police, Lawton
Danny Ford, Chief of Police, Duncan
John DeBoard, Director of Public Safety, Cameron University
Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Battling Oklahoma Obesity
Speaker: Dr. Deana Hildebrand, Associate Professor and Associate Department Head, Department of Nutritional Sciences Oklahoma State University
Panelists: Dr. Ben Cooper, President, FitKids of Southwest Oklahoma
Brenda Spencer-Ragland, President/CEO, Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Rosemary Bellino, Physician, Internal Medicine
Brandie Combs, Regional Director, Oklahoma State Department of Health
Date: April 17, 2019
Marilyn Figueroa, Director, Comanche Nation Diabetes Program
Money Matters: College and Beyond
Speaker: Bridgette Nichols, Oklahoma Money Matters Outreach Specialist
Date: March 13, 2019
Meet The Candidates: Election 2018
Labor Commissioner Candidates: Brandt Dismukes, Fred Dorrell, and Leslie Osborn
Insurance Commissioner Candidate: Kimberly Fobbs
State Representative, District 62 Candidates: Larry Bush and Daniel Pae
District Judge, District 5, Office 1 Candidates: Emmit Tayloe and Jay Walker
District Attorney, District 5 Candidates: Fred C. Smith and Richard Tannery
Date: October 9, 2018
State Representative, District 65 Candidate: Toni Hasenbeck
State Corporation Commissioner Candidate: Ashley Nicole McCray
State Treasurer Candidate: Charles de Coune
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate: John Cox and Larry Huff
State Auditor and Inspector Candidate: John Yeutter
County Commissioner, District 1 Candidates: Charles Hale and Gail Turner
County Commissioner, District 3 Candidates: Alvin Cargill and Kerry Givens
Date: October 11, 2018
State of Medicare and Medicaid in the USA
Panelists: Michael Coulter, Health Insurance Specialist, Center for Medicare and Medicaid, Dallas Regional Office
Shari Kinney, DrPH, RN, CPH, Assistant Professor, Health Administration & Policy, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Jenny Breeden, Director of Education, Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative (OHAI SW)
Jonathon Small, President, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Dr. Rosemary Bellino, Physician, Internal Medicine
Date: March 14, 2018
Are We Forfeiting Global Economic Leadership?
Speaker: Dr. Mitchell Smith, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of International Studies, Professor of Department of International and Area Studies, University of Oklahoma
Panelists: Dr. Rebecca Cruise, Assistant Dean, College of International Studies.
Assistant Professor of International and Area Studies, University of Oklahoma
Date: November 2, 2017
How To Revitalize The Cities
Speaker: Dr. Charles Warnken, Associate Dean, Division of Regional & City Planning, College of Architecture, University of Oklahoma
Panelists: Fred L. Fitch, City of Lawton Mayor
Dr. Tom Thomas, President, Lawton-Fort Sill Economic Development Corporation
Richard Rogalski, Director, Lawton Enhancement Trust Authority
Dr. Rosemary Bellino, President, Lawton Beautiful, Inc.
Date: March 02, 2017
The Power of the Wind - Challenges and Prospects for Wind Energy in Oklahoma
Speaker: Dr. John Scott Greene, Professor, University of Oklahoma and Director of OWPI (Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative)
Panelists: Kylah McNabb, Energy Policy Advisor, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy & Environment
Russell Philpott, Lead Consultant, Precise Building Performance
Date: October 05, 2016
U.S and Oklahoma Economic Update: Oil Price Worries
Speaker: Megan Williams, Associate Economist and Manager, Oklahoma City Branch, Federal Reserve Bank
Panelists: Debra Welch, President and CEO, Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce
Chris Deal, President and CEO, Duncan Chamber of Commerce
Date: February 18, 2016
Dynamics of Labor Market and Job Opportunities - a State and Regional Perspective
Speaker: Lynn Gray, Chief Economist, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission
Panelists: Lyle Roggow, President, Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation
Debra Welch President and CEO, Lawton Fort Sill, Chamber of Commerce
Phil Kennedy Chairman, Lawton Fort Sill Economic Development Corporation
Date: October 28, 2015
Past Public Forums
Changing Dynamics of Energy: Looking Back to Go Forward
Speaker: Dana Murphy, Commissioner, Oklahoma Corporate Commissioner of Health and Secretary
Panelists: David Blatt, Director, Oklahoma Policy Institute
David J. Bond, Director of External Relations Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Inc.
J. Terry Snider, Vice-President of Production and Explorations, Co-owner of Perkins Energy Company, Duncan, OK
Date: September 24, 2013
What Makes the City Beautiful
Speaker: Fred L. Fitch, City of Lawton Mayor
Panelists: Gene Brown, City of Duncan Mayor
Dr. Rosemary Bellino, Lawton City Council Member, President of Lawton Beautiful Inc.
Bryan Long, City Manager of Lawton
Jay Burk, Chairman of Lawton Enhancement Trust Authority
Date: April 10, 2013
Oklahoma Weight War: Battling Obesity
Speaker: Dr. Terry L. Cline, Oklahoma Commissioner of Health and Secretary of Health and Human Services
Panelists: Dr. Ed Legako, Comanche County Memorial Hospital Board Member
Lori Cummins, Director of Community Relations, Comanche County Memorial Hospital
Steve Hyde, Southwestern Medical Center
Candace Benson, Dietician
Date: November 15, 2012
Challenges and Opportunities for the Indian Economy
Speaker: Dr. Amit Gupta, President of Fort-Sill National Bank
Panelists: Arun Tilak, Director, CETES, Cameron University
Dr. Ankur Nandedkar, Assistant Professor of Management, Cameron University
Date: September 4, 2012
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or PPACA
Speaker: Constance N. Johnson, Senator from State Democratic Party
Panelists: Matt Pinnell, Chair, Oklahoma State Republican Party
David Blatt, Director, Oklahoma Policy Institute
Wallace Collins, Chair, Oklahoma Democratic Party
Steve Hyde, Southwestern Medical Center
Toby Pedford, CEO, Legacy Wealth Strategies Group
Jonathan Small, Fiscal Policy Director, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Date: September 4, 2012
Current Issues in Banking in the State and the Nation
Speaker: John Davis, President of Fort-Sill National Bank
Panelists: William Wilson, Jr., Senior Vice-President, Bancfirst Lawton
Ron Martin, Executive Vice President and Loan Manager, Arvest Bank Southwest Oklahoma
Speaker: Michael Clingman, Director, Office of State Finance
Panelists: Fred L. Fitch, City of Lawton Mayor
Gene Brown, City of Duncan Mayor
Larry Mitchell, City of Lawton City Manager
Date: March 31, 2009
2010-2011 Oklahoma Budget: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Speaker: Michael Clingman, Director, Office of State Finance
Panelists: Fred L. Fitch, City of Lawton Mayor
Gene Brown, City of Duncan Mayor
Larry Mitchell, City of Lawton City Manager
Date: March 31, 2009
Healthcare Reform
Speaker: Kim Holland, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner
Panelists: Jeff Raymond, Executive Director, OKWatchdog
Wayne Rhode, Co-founder of Oklahomans for Health Care Reform
Dr. Brent Smith, Personal Care Physician, Lawton
Date: November 19, 2009
Continuing to Build Oklahoma's Economy in Times of Uncertainty
Speaker: Natalie Shirley, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism
Date: April 23, 2009
Economic Issues - 2008 Presidential Election
Speakers: Jed Green, State Campaign Director for Obama for America and Vice President of Membership for the Young Democrats of Oklahoma
Gary Jones, Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party
Date: October 22, 2008
The Housing Market Crisis and Its Fallout on the Local Economy
Speaker: Chad Wilkerson, Vice President and Branch Executive, Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas
Date: August 28, 2008
Budget: Deficit and Surplus
Speaker: Dr. Syed Ahmed, Cameron University
Date: 2007
Your Taxes in Lawton
Speaker: Tom Thomas
Date: December 6, 2006
Social Security Reform
Date: April 13, 2005
How to Start a Business: Make It a Reality
Speaker: SIFE, Cameron University
Date: February 25, 2004
Will this Year's Stock Market Recovery Persist?
Date: January 30, 2004
Is It Time to Get Back Into the Market?
Date: January 24, 2004
Charitable Giving Strategies
Speakers: Gary Miller, Cameron University
Court Newkirk, Lawton Ft. Sill Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Date: October 30, 2002
Marketing the Military: An Examination of Recruitment Slogans from "I Want You" to "An Army of One"
Speakers: Dr. Suzanne Clinton, Cameron University
Dr. Sylvia Miller, Cameron University
Date: April 24, 2002
The Economic Impact of the Recession on Southwest Oklahoma
Speakers: Dr. Syed Ahmed, Cameron University
Dr. Robert Yuyuenyongwatana, Cameron University
Date: March 12, 2002
Coping with Stock Market Disaster
Speaker: Dr. T.K. Bhattacharya, Cameron UniversityDate: January 29, 2002
Violence in the Workplace
Speakers: Dr. Sylvia Burgess, Cameron University
Dr. Suzanne Clinton, Cameron University
Dr. Doug Brady, Cameron University
Date: November 14, 2001
Internet Retailing Strategies
Speakers: Dr. Terrence Paridon, Cameron University
Date: October 24, 2001
The Economic Impact of September 11 Terrorist Attacks
Speakers: Dr. Syed Ahmed, Cameron University
Date: September 28, 2001
The Right to Work Law
Speakers: Dr. V. Sivarama Krishnan, Cameron University
Date: September 11, 2001
Budget Story: Surpluses, Deficits, and Balance
Date: September 22, 2000
The Economy of the Nineties: Who Gets Credit?
Speakers: Dr. V. Sivarama Krishnan, Cameron University
Dr. John Courington, Cameron University
Date: May 5, 2000
Oil: A New Crisis
Speakers: Dr. V. Sivarama Krishnan, Cameron University
Dinese Bode, Oklahoma Corporation Commission Commissioner
Date: April 14, 2000
Census 2000: Economic, Political, and Social Implications
Speakers: Dr. V. Sivarama Krishnan, Cameron University
Date: March 10, 2000
The Smart Economy Task Force for Lawton/Ft. Sill: Report
Speakers: Dr. Don Sullivan, Vice President, University Advancement, Cameron University
Date: February 18, 2000
Investments for the New Millennium
Date: January 21, 2000
