Alumni spotlighted in 'Oklahoma Magazine' 40 under 40

Office of Communications & Marketing |Northeastern State University
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Readers of the April issue of Oklahoma Magazine were treated with the pictures and bios of two Northeastern State University grads as part of the annual 40 Under 40 tribute.

This is yet another example of how NSU does more than simply equip its students to build a career; they are also encouraged to enrich their communities with their intelligence and leadership.

Epitomizing the NSU mission are Amber Egnor Martin, senior business development manager for the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, and Treasure McKenzie, president and CEO of the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce.

Martin earned her bachelor's degree in mass communication from NSU in 1998. Her responsibilities include the recruitment of businesses from beyond Oklahoma and the United States.

"Essentially, I have the opportunity to talk with business executives and other people about what a great city and state I live in," she said.

Since graduating from NSU, Martin has spent much of her time with chambers of commerce. She has worked for the Vinita Area Chamber of Commerce, the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

While at NSU, Martin was active with the Northeastern Activities Board and The Northeastern student newspaper. She was also a charter member of the NSU chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.

Martin said her instructors and advisers at NSU never wavered in their dedication to students.

"My mass communication instructors were great teachers," she said. "They also worked to create as many opportunities as possible. They encouraged us to seek out internships that proved invaluable. It all combined to create a strong foundation for my career."

McKenzie, 36, graduated from NSU in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in meetings and destinations management. In her capacity with the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce, she oversees the daily operations of the chamber office and markets Muskogee as a destination.

"I love the wonderful community that is Muskogee," McKenzie said. "I also love my job because in 14 years, no two days have ever been alike. We get to come up with creative ways to accomplish different goals and we have a great team with which to meet any challenge."

While attending NSU, McKenzie was president of the student alumni association, now called RiverHawks FAN. Her internship at NSU-Muskogee led to full-time employment as a conference coordinator, which resulted in frequent contact with the Muskogee Chamber and her recruitment.

"Every day, I use the skills I learned while earning my degree, whether they involve conventions or tourism or public relations," she said. "I attended NSU to learn how to do the very job I'm doing, and I feel very lucky to be able to do that."

McKenzie said the faculty at NSU played an indispensable role in her professional development, and continues to do so today.

"I still consider Kin Thompson (assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management) as a role model," she said. "He remains very active in the tourism industry at the state level, so we are still in touch and I consult him on a regular basis."