Shelley Arrott to Retire as Superintendent, Become Chamber CEO

Rich Cantillon, longtime CEO of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce, will retire at the end of February 2023. With that announcement, a new chief executive officer has been chosen to lead the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce.

Shelley Arrott, PCPS Superintendent has been chosen as the new Chamber CEO.

Pending Board of Education approval at the December 12 Board meeting, Arrott will be retiring at the end of this school year in May of 2023 after 39 years of being an Oklahoma Educator including 6 years as PCPS Superintendent.

Superintendent Arrott said, “It is a bittersweet moment as I have been offered an opportunity to make a positive impact for the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. The students, teachers, principals, staff, board members, parents and community of Ponca City are like my family. I had made the decision to retire at the end of this school year after 39 years in public education to focus on my own family, but I am a people person and I want to continue to make an impact on the community that I love. The position with the Chamber, pending the board’s approval of my retirement, will still allow me to advocate for our schools and community and keep me involved with Ponca City. I wanted to make this announcement today so my school family would hear it from me first. We have a great district and a great community. They are both very dear to my heart.”

“Shelley is an experienced and devoted servant of our community and loves Ponca City. We know Shelley will lead the chamber and support our businesses with compassion and professionalism,” said chamber chair Wendy Stobbe.

Tiffany Hermann, Chamber Vice President, will assume interim CEO tasks and responsibilities until Arrott is able to take over.

Arrott’s background includes directing strategic planning, professional development, multimillion-dollar budgets, and supervision of employees and students.

Arrott will begin the Chamber CEO position after the end of her school year in June of 2023.