Gary and Fayrene Akin Honored for Service
Editor’s note: A large portion of this article came from a feature on Gary Akin in Greater Tulsa Reporter and the Owasso Rambler by Emily Ramsey in 2018. Additional information was provided by the Owasso Chamber of Commerce. Gary and Fayrene Akin were honored March 10 at a retirement celebration presented by the Owasso Chamber and Friends.
Gary Akin was officially hired as president of the Owasso Chamber of Commerce in the summer of 1995. Prior to that he worked for First Bank of Owasso for 19 years. While at the bank he was heavily involved with the Chamber, even serving as Chairman in 1992.
President Akin received his IOM from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute program in 2004. He has been very involved in OCCE (Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives) and is a well-respected leader throughout the state. He has led many board retreats, taught classes and mentored several other chamber leaders throughout his career.
He has served on the State Chamber Board of Directors and has been very involved with the OneVoice Regional Coalition since its inception. Locally, Akin has had a hand in several aspects of the Owasso Community. This includes OEF (Owasso Education Foundation), OEDA (Owasso Economic Development Authority), Owasso Character Council, and the Owasso Rotary Club. In 2015, he was recognized by the Character Council for the trait of Availability. In 2016, he received the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Award for Regional Excellence, for his active role in the OneVoice Coalition.
Fayrene Akin has been the office manager for the Owasso Chamber since 2000. Like her husband, she had a career in banking before taking time off to start a family. Eventually, she was asked to do some work for the chamber while going through staff turn-over and she’s been here ever since.
Fayrene handles all of the billing for the chamber. If it has to do with money, she’s your go-to person. She is also the one that keeps everything organized. She oversees most of the chamber’s events and coordinates volunteers for everything. Fayrene is also responsible for much of the work that goes in to the Lifestyle Owasso Magazine each year.
Fayrene and Gary have been married for 41 years. Together they have two children that graduated from Owasso Public Schools and went on to marry other Owasso graduates. All four of their “kids” are OSU alumni. Aaron and Laura have one daughter, Emily who is eight. Raina and Benjamin have a one-year-old son, Zachary. Gary and Fayrene are very proud grandparents.
Owasso Chamber of Commerce President Gary Akin is known throughout the community as a tireless, persistent advocate for business and industry in Owasso and northeastern Oklahoma.
Though Gary is not an Owasso native (he hails from Disney, Oklahoma), his more than four decades of representing Owasso, 24 years as chamber president, well illustrate his passion for the city.
Akin became involved with the chamber during his 19 years with First Bank of Owasso, starting in 1976. He served on the chamber’s board of directors for six years, serving as chairman in 1992.
“When the president position became available in 1995, I applied, confident that I could bring financial and community knowledge to the position,” Akin says.
Since taking his role, Akin says he has seen a tremendous population growth in Owasso and a redefined purpose of the chamber itself. He says, “Owasso has grown in city population from 13,300 in 1995 to currently over 36,000. Our 2018 estimated zip code population is 45,000. That growth has caused the chamber to widen its views and focus on a broad number of issues that impacts its businesses on both a macro and micro level. Representing our businesses on legislative initiatives, economic development, job creation, workforce development, regional partnerships, and state and federal legislation is imperative.”
Akin is a strong advocate of regionalism. He says, “To some, the success of Tulsa and our regional partner cities may not seem directly related to Owasso. To the contrary, for Owasso to be dynamic and vibrant, we must strive to develop a dynamic region.”
For that reason, the Owasso Chamber is actively involved in regional partnership activities when, in 2018, the Chamber, in conjunction with the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s annual Intercity Visit, joined over 100 other regional officials on a visit to Columbus, Ohio, to gain insights into that city’s success and best practices.
On a micro level, Akin is proud of the work that the chamber does to educate business leaders on current issues and trends. “I believe that we offer outstanding educational programming via our membership and legislative luncheon series, held inside the state-of-the-art facilities of Tulsa Tech Conference Center, in Owasso” Akin says, adding, “We endeavor to offer monthly programs featuring leaders of state and federal government, corporate officials, and community leaders with the hope that when our members leave that day, not only have they networked with other members, they have also learned valuable information.”
Additionally, Akin credits the collaborative efforts of the city government, school systems, economic development officials and chamber leadership as reason for Owasso’s continuous growth.
The Redbud District in downtown Owasso has seen a flurry of recent developments, with millions of private dollars being invested in residential and business expansion, including construction nearing completion of Seven6Main and Mowery Retail and Lofts.
“The Redbud District is creating an exciting spirit of community pride,” says Akin. “In a few years, people won’t recognize the downtown landscape; it will be vibrant and filled with various businesses and family activities.”
Among the chamber’s efforts to promote small businesses is its support of the Shop Small national program for the past five years. This year, Shop Small will take place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 24. “Small businesses are the economic engine of America,” Akin says.
Approximately 45 businesses will participate in this year’s promotion intended to increase sales for local businesses and promoting the concept of shopping small and shopping local.
To award local shoppers, there will be secret shoppers out and about on that day giving away prizes, notes Akin; also, shoppers who have visited the most local shops will have the opportunity to receive additional prizes.
Akin adds, “Our chamber is small, but very respected. We are led by an outstanding board of directors, complimented by hard working ambassadors, and run daily by a dedicated staff of three full time employees.
