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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Author and Emmy-nominated TV producer Rick Brinkley delivered a powerful message to the Regional Summit at Northeastern State University Tuesday afternoon.

The summit continues today on the NSU campus in Tahlequah as political, community, business and tribal leaders from a seven-county area gather to unify strategic planning for the region. Tahlequah is one hour south and west of Tontitown, and among the initiatives being discussed are better ways to collaborate with northwest Arkansas.

Brinkley, now president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Oklahoma, told the large crowd in attendance the work they are doing to better position the area for success will create immeasurable ripple benefits.

"You have no idea what you are doing," Brinkley said. "And I don't mean that in a negative way. You simply can't understand how what you are doing to improve your communities will benefit the lives of others."

Brinkley produced the "Sally Jessy Raphael" show in New York, authored "Communicate To Win," and has been an annual judging consultant for the Miss America pageant since 2004.

The conference's theme, "Giving Voice to Our Region: Leaders Crossing Borders to Build the Economy and our Communities," is intended to set the tone for regional asset and liability mapping, collaborative development and new strategic partnerships.

Among the assets validated so far are the region's central location in the United States, much of its infrastructure, unique commercial players, natural beauty, distinct culture and low cost of living and labor.

The event drew large corporate participation and sponsorships including the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Arvest Bank, AT&T, Sodexo, the 10th District of the Federal Reserve Bank, Cherokee Nation Enterprises, Ozark Electric, Lake Region Electric Cooperative and others.

Additional information about the Regional Summit is available via www.nsuok.edu.

The seven-county area includes Mayes, Delaware, Cherokee, Muskogee, Wagoner, Sequoyah and Adair counties. The last two border Benton and Washington counties in Arkansas.

Wednesday's primary speakers are scheduled to include:

• Bryan Gonterman, president of AT&T Oklahoma facilitates a panel of federal, tribal and state legislators; and
• Jay Hannah, executive vice president of Financial Services for BancFirst Corp.

Additional breakout workshop sessions on Wednesday will be facilitated by:

• Deidre Myers, director of research and economic analysis for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce;
• Ray Murphy, director of the Oklahoma Rural Development Center at NSU;
• Mike Eisensmith, economic development director of the Northern Maine Development Commission;
• Ryan McMullen, state director of USDA Rural Development-Oklahoma;
• Rhonda Clemmons, executive director of the Zoe Institute;
• Steve Shepelwich, Oklahoma Senior Community Affairs Advisor with the Federal Reserve; and
• Darin Gray, CEO of Gray Matters LLC, which publishes the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.

Hannah, the executive from BancFirst Corp. and conference's emcee, will facilitate the closing "Moving Forward" presentation today.

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