Episode 6 - OKC Mayor Holt talks $1B NBA Arena

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In this episode of The Connection podcast, co-hosts Marshall Macomber and Mary Scott Nabers welcome Mayor David Holt of Oklahoma City as their guest. Mayor Holt provides insights into the leadership and development initiatives driving Oklahoma City's growth. H  

The conversation highlights a major upcoming project: the construction of a new arena, which Mayor Holt describes as a critical endeavor for maintaining Oklahoma City's status as a big-league city. He discusses the challenges and strategies involved in securing public support for such a significant investment, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and framing the project as an investment rather than a tax burden. 

Episode 6 covers the intersection of government leadership, infrastructure development and community engagement in fostering urban growth and economic vitality. 

Meet the expert co-hosts: 

Marshall Macomber is a visionary executive with a unique blend of business development, political strategy, communications, and public sector experience. He is founder and president of ThinkP3, a DC-based consulting and lobbying firm promoting innovative infrastructure solutions and alternative delivery models such as public-private partnerships (P3s). He played a key role in the 2021 infrastructure bill, initiating a vital USDOT program for state DOTs. Macomber is also a former Chief of Staff to Congressman Mike Rogers and holds an MBA from Georgetown University. A member of George Washington University’s ESG & Infrastructure Steering Group and other boards, he is a frequent speaker, panelist and moderator at industry events.  A driving passion for growing public transit, building walkable and equitable cities, decarbonizing America’s energy grid, and improving railroad infrastructure and operations gets him up in the morning and keeps him up at night. 
 

Mary Scott Nabers is President/CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI). A recognized expert regarding P3s, she is the author of Collaboration Nation – How Public-Private Ventures Are Revolutionizing the Business of Government & Inside the Infrastructure Revolution – A Roadmap for Rebuilding America. Her articles have been published by media outlets, including Forbes, CNBC, The Hill, & POLITICO.  Mary was the President and General Manager of two media firms. In government, she served as the Commissioner representing Business at the Texas Employment Commission where she was a high-profile, proactive business advocate who founded The Texas Business Council. Then, Commissioner Nabers moved to the Texas Railroad Commission, the state’s regulatory agency for the oil and gas industry, which at the time regulated approximately $65 billion of the state’s economy annually. 

 

Meet the expert guest: 

 

Mayor David Holt served as chief of staff to the OKC mayor from 2006 to 2010 before becoming a state senator from 2010 to 2018. Elected as OKC's first Native American mayor in 2018, he was reelected in 2022 with the highest votes since 1959. Holt's national influence is seen through his roles in the U.S. Conference of Mayors, where he currently serves as first vice president and is set to become the first Native American president in 2025-2026. He has actively contributed to national initiatives, including his involvement as the national co-chair for passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. Within the Conference, he holds key positions such as vice-chair of the International Affairs Committee and co-chair of the Task Force on Electric Vehicles.