President Brett Matherly called the meeting to order. Alan Grimes led the invocation. Rotarian of the Day, Scott Chapman, led the Club in the Pledge and the Four-Way Test.
Announcements
David Powell has a new grandbaby.
Ken Bohannon reminded us of the March 1st, performance of the OSU Symphony and Opera at the Goddard Center.
Peggy Maher shared the news that the University Center had received a grant from the Institute of Health to build walking trails around the University Center.
Marcus Cunningham will have Christine Berney, VP of Community Relations for the OKC Thunder as his speaker on March 13, 2019.
Speaker
ROD Scott Chapman introduced his speaker for the day. Burk Collins was raised around Bromide in a family with eleven brothers and sisters. He graduated from a class of thirteen and his hard work has brought him much success in his life.
Mr. Collins has developed over $8 billion of property over the last 49 years. He started his career developing warehouses, subdivisions, and shopping centers. He is now focused specifically on shopping centers. The centers are either grocery anchored or are power strips with the key being recognized anchor stores. His work has a tight time schedule with huge penalties if the properties are not available for the tenants as promised.
Mr. Collins develops properties in Texas and Oklahoma and he builds in large and in medium size markets like Ardmore and McAlester. The store chains have confidence that they will make a profit in the centers he builds.
Burk Collins has a significant investment in Ardmore with a completed shopping center on 12th street (Ardmore Commons) and another in the works (Market Street). He has revitalized the existing mall at Commerce and 12th (Shops at Ardmore) and the renovation of the mall located at Commerce and Grand will start soon. Mr. Collins said that Ardmore’s trade area was much larger than is currently being marketed. He said that people regularly come from all directions in a 50 mile radius around Ardmore and 400,000 people live within that area.
Guests
Jerry Boston, guest of Pete Keener
Drew Butler, guest of Kim Benedict
Kurt Stumpff, guest of Fred Chapman
Elise Stumpff, guest of Fred Chapman
Seth Coffey, guest of Fred Chapman
Sarah Fulton, guest
Diane Terry, guest
Ian Chapman, guest of Bill Chapman
Burk Collins, ROD speaker, guest of Scott Chapman
34 members and 9 guests for a total of 43 were present..
ROD Scott Chapman introduced his speaker for the day. Burk Collins was raised around Bromide in a family with eleven brothers and sisters. He graduated from a class of thirteen and his hard work has brought him much success in his life.