OBR ANNUAL MEETING RECAP

The Oklahoma Business Roundtable gathered members and partners on June 4 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa for its FY26 Annual Meeting — a half-day program covering leadership transitions, economic development updates, and a timely conversation on healthcare.

Leadership Transition Steve Hahn, President of AT&T's Midwest Region, was elected incoming Chairman. The FY27 board slate was approved, welcoming new directors Ryan Plotkin (U.S Aluminum), Bond Payne (Citizen Capital), Katie Altshuler (Hamm Institute for American Energy), and Jennifer Hankins (Tulsa Innovation Labs). Outgoing directors Jeff Davis, Leigh Goodson (Tulsa Community College), and Kimbra Scott (Port Muskogee) were recognized for their service.

Economic Development Update Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell and John Budd, CEO of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, provided updates on the state's economic development pipeline and Oklahoma's growing national and international profile. The meeting also marked Lt. Governor Pinnell's final OBR appearance in his role as Lt. Governor — Oklahoma is better for his service.

Healthcare Panel The program's centerpiece was a panel discussion on healthcare as an economic issue — not just a public health one. Moderated by OBR President & CEO Mark Funke, the panel featured Tim Pehrson (INTEGRIS Health), Stephania Grober (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma), Jay Johnson (DRH Health), and Jeff Johnston (Hillcrest Healthcare System).

Key topics included:

• The cost-shift from underfunded government programs onto employer-sponsored insurance — and what that means for businesses managing benefits costs

• The rural hospital crisis, with some facilities 95% dependent on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements that fall below the cost of care

• Oklahoma's second-highest-in-the-nation uninsured rate and its ripple effects on covered employees and employers

• The three reforms — Medicaid expansion, value-based payments, and enhanced provider payments — that helped move Oklahoma from 47th to 45th in national health rankings, and the risk those gains could be reversed by federal policy changes

• A direct call to business leaders to engage on healthcare policy, with panelists emphasizing that business community advocacy has a measurable impact on outcomes

To watch the full meeting, click HERE.