50 Making a Difference profile: Elaine A. Lyons, South Oklahoma City

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Sep 26, 2008

Elaine Lyons considers her most significant professional accomplishment to be the restructuring and general leadership development required to stabilize the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.

As president and CEO of the chamber, Lyons said she has found that her greatest strength as a leader is that she knows how to properly delegate tasks and purposely develop other leaders.

Prior to joining the staff at the chamber, Lyons worked 15 years as an economic development coordinator for Oklahoma City Community College before accepting her current position with the chamber.

Lyons has an associate degree from Central Missouri State University and a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from the University of Central Oklahoma.

She is a member of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives as well as serves on the advisory board of the Moore Norman Technology Center Business Incubator.

Lyons serves on the advisory board of the Capitol Hill Main Street Program and leadership committee of Earlywine Park YMCA Council. She also volunteers her time with the community as an executive board member of the Women of the South and in various capacities with Arts Festival Oklahoma. In addition, she is a member of Leadership Oklahoma City Class XXIV.

"My personal philosophy that I have applied to my family, my volunteer efforts and my professional life is one of empowerment. Working with a large number of businesses, nonprofits and other community development organizations, I have discovered that the true strength of any of these organizations lies within developing the potential of its individuals. My personal strength as a leader encompasses this perspective and has allowed me to do more working with others than I could have ever accomplished on my own."

Lyons, a two-time honoree for The Journal Record's Fifty Making a Difference, is the past recipient of a Greenbriar YMCA Volunteer of the Year Award and Capitol Hill Main Street Program Executive Director Award. She received the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce's Chairman's Award in 2003.

"My most significant personal accomplishment besides raising my two children with my husband, Jeff, would be my role as volunteer fundraiser/coordinator. In this capacity, I have chaired the Women of the South Gala, which helps south Oklahoma City women attend college and better their lives. I have also had the privilege of helping to raise funds for the YMCA capital campaign as well as its Strong Kids program," she said. "By helping these worthy causes finance their projects, lives were changed and structures were established to continue the work."

About Elaine:

Birthplace: Kansas City, Mo.

Spouse: Jeff (electrical engineer, Federal Aviation Administration)

Children: Nolan, 16; and Sarah, 12

First job: Waitress

Dream job: "Haven't thought about a dream job - have too much fun and there is too much to do."

Pets: 18-year-old cat named Beamer

Hobbies: Scrapbooking and anything that lets her spend time with her children

Favorite type of food: Italian

Favorite type of music: "'70s and '80s rock and whatever my children make me listen to."

Favorite vacation spot: "Any place that my family and I can be together."