Tulsa Regional Chamber CEO Mike Neal Awarded by International Economic Group

Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, was awarded Fellow Member status from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The honor was presented at a recognition dinner on Monday, Oct. 4, during the IEDC Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
“On behalf of the IEDC board of directors and Honorary Awards Committee, congratulations to Mike Neal,” said 2021 IEDC Board Chair and President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara Tom Kucharski. “His outstanding achievements, hard work and dedicated service to the profession goes above and beyond to improve the quality of life for others.”
Fellow Member (FM) status is conferred upon active IEDC members who have attained unusual stature in the field of economic development and closely related disciplines. Unusual stature is defined as significant contributions to the profession through service to the council and/or academic endeavors directly related to the practice of economic development. A fellow holds the classification as long as membership in the council is maintained. 
“I am beyond honored to be named a Fellow Member by IEDC,” said Neal in accepting the award. “I have been so fortunate to work alongside many excellent economic development professionals during the past three decades, and I have learned from each and every one of them. Recognition like this from IEDC is more than I could have dreamt of as a young man, and I want to say thank you to my colleagues and mentors through the years for their support and encouragement.”
Neal is in his 16th year as president and chief executive officer of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. The American Chamber of Commerce Executives named the then Tulsa Metro Chamber as the Nation’s Best Chamber for a record three consecutive years of eligibility, being named the National Chamber of the Year in 2010, 2008 and 2005. In 2018, the Chamber was again a finalist for the award, and in 2020 was named the nation’s best chamber for a record fourth time.
Tulsa People magazine named Neal the 2011 Tulsan of the Year, calling him “Mr. Tulsa” for his limitless energy, can-do optimism and tireless efforts toward making Tulsa a better place. Southern Business and Development in 2011 recognized Neal as one of the Top 10 Economic Developers in the South. The Southern Economic Development Council named Neal an Honorary Life Member (HLM) in 2012. In 2010 he was named the Chamber Executive of the Year by the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives, and the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Executives named him their Chamber Executive of the Year in 1998 and 2000.
Under his leadership, the Tulsa Regional Chamber is the only chamber in America to earn four accreditations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s highest recognition, five-star accreditation; IEDC’s prestigious Accredited Economic Development Organization distinction; Destination International’s Destination Marketing Accreditation; and an Accredited Film Commission by the Association of Film Commissioners International. 
In 2019, the Chamber achieved the third of five increasingly rigorous levels within the Oklahoma Quality Foundation (OQF) framework, which is based on Malcolm Baldrige criteria. The Chamber previously achieved level one within the OQF framework in 2013, and level two in 2015. In 2015, the Chamber also received the American Society of Association Executives’ Summit Award.
Neal leads the Chamber’s full-time professional staff of 50 in the areas of regional economic development, convention and visitor development, government affairs, education, workforce development, small business, sports, young professionals, downtown and river development, political action, and membership services, while managing a $15.5 million budget. Neal led the creation of the Tulsa Regional Chamber Coalition and their OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda, which are celebrating their 14th anniversaries this year.
An active member of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), Neal has earned several professional designations, including Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) and Certified Community Developer (CCD). He received the prestigious Chairman’s Award, the highest national award given by ACCE. Neal was a long-time member of the ACCE Board of Directors and is a past chairman of the ACCE Benefits Trust Retirement Program, a member of the Metro Cities Council, Economic & Community Development Committee and past chairman of the CCE Certification Commission. He is a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership and Aspen Institute.