Tommy Kramer has been a resident of Durant, Oklahoma for the past 18 years. His dedications to the
Economic Development efforts for the City of Durant have earned him international, national, and state
recognition. In 2002, the Oklahoma Economic Development Professionals Council (OEDC) nominated him as one of the top three Economic Development Professionals in the state of Oklahoma.

He was named 2002 Citizen of the Year by the Durant Kiwanis Club for "Outstanding Service" to the community.

In 2002, the Durant Economic Development Department was named "One of the Tope Ten Economic Development Groups for North America" by Site Selection Magazine.

In 2003, he was named the Oklahoma Economic Development Professionals Council (OEDC) "Oklahoma Economic Development Professional of the Year".

In 2003, he was named "Outstanding New Economic Developer of the Year" by the International Economic Development Council – Washington, D.C.

He received a Special Recognition Award at the 2003 Annual Durant Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet for his commitment and dedication to provide effective Economic Development activities for the City of Durant and Bryan County.

In 2005, he received a Special Recognition Award at the 12th Annual Bryan County Ag-Industry Exposition for "Outstanding Service in the Community".

Since he began as the first Economic Development Director for the City of Durant, he has been instrumental in the recruitment, development and retention of over $400,000,000 in business investments for Durant and the creation of over 5,000 new jobs! In the past four years, he has successfully recruited the two largest single business investments in the history of Durant and Bryan County. Cardinal Glass Industries has chosen Durant as the site to build their 4th Float Glass manufacturing facility. This facility was number 20 for Cardinal Glass Industries. The plant became fully operational in July of 2004. This was an investment of $122,000,000 and represents a workforce creation of 290 new jobs. The second largest single investment is the Durant Big Lots! Distribution Center. The 1.2 million square foot facility became operational in January 2004. This was an investment of over $80,000,000 in our community and represents a job creation of 350-500 new jobs.

Tommy is equally dedicated to the retention of existing businesses in Durant and the surrounding area. He is serving as a board member on the Durant Main Street Economic Restructuring Committee. In his tenure as Executive Director of the Durant Industrial Authority, he has worked as a liaison between the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the State of Oklahoma Career Tech program in acquiring funds for employee training and development programs. These programs are then executed either onsite for the company or at the Durant Kiamichi Area Technology Center campus.

Tommy received an Associates Degree from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Miami, OK; a Bachelor of Science Degree from Panhandle State University, Goodwell, OK; and a Master of Science Degree from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.

Tommy was a professor at Eastern Oklahoma State College for five years and later became the Plant Production Manager for Owens Country Sausage in Richardson, Texas for 10 years, and Vice-President of J.C. Potter Sausage Company of Durant for 10 years. In June 1998, he became the first full time Economic Development Director for the City of Durant.

Tommy Kramer is active in the Durant Chapter of Kiwanis, Durant Smart Start School Program and is on the Board of Directors for the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce. He is an active member of the Durant Main Street Economic Restructuring Committee for the past eight years. Tommy is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Southeastern Economic Development Council, the Oklahoma Economic Development Council, the Oklahoma Governor’s Economic Development Team, and the State Chamber of Oklahoma. At the First Baptist Church of Durant, he is a Deacon, Chairman of the Ushering Committee, and Church Trustee.

His wife, Barbara, has taught second grade at Washington Irving Elementary School in Durant for 24 years and his children are:

• Keith – of Tulsa.
• Chad, wife Lori – of Durant.
• Amy, 2001 graduate of Oklahoma State University – of Tulsa.
• Kim, 2004 graduate of Oklahoma State University – of Tulsa.
  
   

Visit Durant's ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE
Click Here