FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 14, 2011

TULSA—Chuck Mills was named the Governor’s Small Business Person of the Year at the Governor’s Conference on Small business today in Tulsa.

Mills is the third generation President of Mills Machine Company, an international custom manufacturer of earth drilling tools, bits and related accessories in Shawnee.

"Chuck Mills has unquestionable integrity and proven success as a small business owner in Oklahoma. He is one of a long list of dedicated small business men and women who are making investments and creating jobs in our state. This conference gives us an opportunity to honor their dedication to Oklahoma economic prosperity," said Gov. Mary Fallin.Mills was born in Shawnee in 1956, graduated from Shawnee High School in 1974 and the University of Central Oklahoma in 1979 with a BBA in Management. He is married to Karen W. Mills and they have two children, Britan and Kurstyn.

In addition to being a successful businessman, he has been and continues to be extremely active in his community and the state of Oklahoma. He currently serves on the East Central Workforce Investment Board, Shawnee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and helps represents Shawnee’s Sister City Council – Jinchang City, Gansu, China & Nikaho, Japan.

On the state level, he serves on the Executive Committee of the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development and co-chairs Oklahoma’s Workforce Youth Council. He is Vice Chairman of the Governor’s International Team and is a Speaker of the House appointee to the Oklahoma Small Business Regulatory Review Committee.

He serves on The State Chamber of Oklahoma’s Board of Directors, the Manufacturers Council and chairs The State Chamber’s International Committee. Additionally, he is a Leadership Council member of the National Federation of Independent Business. 

He also serves on the Governor’s Task Force on Comprehensive Tax Reform and served as the mayor of Shawnee from 2004-2008.

“I am extremely honored to be named the Governor’s Small Businessman of the Year. Small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy, and this conference shows that our political leaders recognize and appreciate the impact small businesses have on Oklahoma,” said Mills. “A vibrant small business sector will be critical to our state’s economic growth in the years ahead. We appreciate this opportunity to discuss issues that are important to the small business community and brainstorm ways we can grow our small businesses, creating more jobs and investment in Oklahoma.”

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