Since its formation in 2017, Shawnee Forward has made a name for itself as a unifying force in the region’s business and economic development landscape. Created through the merger of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation, the organization has taken an ambitious, collaborative approach to enhancing regional prosperity.
“Since the merger, our core mission is that ‘we enhance regional economic growth,’” says Crystal Romanyszyn, President and CEO. “While Shawnee is in our name, we support businesses throughout our county.” Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma is a region poised for growth as development from Oklahoma City moves eastward, and Shawnee Forward supports this growth by bridging the gaps between business needs, education, infrastructure, and public policy.
One of Shawnee Forward’s greatest strengths is its ability to meet businesses where they are. Whether helping startups navigate their first year or assisting manufacturers with upskilling their workforce, the organization provides a wide range of support tailored to each sector and scale.
Romanyszyn describes the work as highly variable, based on the day and the client: “One day a week we may be working with our manufacturers and talking about workforce development… another day of the week, that might look like doing marketing plans and connecting entrepreneurs with the Small Business Development Center,” she shares.
For small business owners, who are often wearing multiple hats, this kind of personalized support can be transformative. Shawnee Forward offers educational sessions, mentorship, and access to professional services that many startups would otherwise go without. Workshops on artificial intelligence and digital tools help local entrepreneurs streamline their operations and stay competitive. “Our small business owners oftentimes are working in their business day-to-day rather than on their business,” Romanyszyn tells us. “Providing them with some resources to make their business more efficient and productive day-to-day is essential.”
In contrast, larger employers may benefit from more specialized peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing opportunities, so Shawnee Forward facilitates conversations through councils and roundtables designed to match needs with resources. The Technology Council, for example, brings together IT professionals to discuss cybersecurity, automation, and system upgrades in a trusted peer environment.
Another area where Shawnee Forward excels is in cultivating the next generation of leaders. Through programs like Leadership Shawnee, a nine-month experience designed to equip professionals with civic awareness and leadership skills, the organization builds a more connected and invested business community.
Director of Operations Daniel Johnson notes that these long-term initiatives create ripple effects far beyond the classroom: “There’s a lot of different programming and planning that goes into it,” he says. “Every day looks completely different.”
Youth retention is also a high priority for the organization. Many small and mid-sized cities struggle with “brain drain,” the departure of college graduates and young professionals to larger urban centers. Shawnee Forward is fighting that trend through a creative program called Shared Plates, Shared Futures, wherein local businesses host college students for informal dinners and conversations.
“It’s a really simple concept,” says Romanyszyn. “In our first year, we were able to have 40 young professionals participate and that very first night, we saw an engineering student get placed into a business locally.” By fostering authentic connections between students and professionals, the program helps young talent envision a future in Shawnee. It’s a low-cost, high-impact effort that speaks to Shawnee Forward’s agility and inventiveness.
In 2025, Shawnee Forward achieved a major milestone by formalizing a tri-party agreement with the City of Shawnee and Pottawatomie County, a move that Romanyszyn sees as transformational for the region. “For the first time, Pottawatomie County has stepped forward to not only join the conversation but also to invest financially in economic development. The new agreement builds on Shawnee Forward’s established partnership with the City of Shawnee, bringing the county into the fold. With this added support, the initiative can expand its reach and impact—without altering the core deliverables already in place.”
Key deliverables include marketing the region to prospective businesses, tracking economic development metrics, and creating a more seamless experience for companies looking to launch or expand in the area. These aren’t new services, but the scale, funding, and collaboration behind them have shifted dramatically.
“The message that it sends to site selectors and potential businesses is huge,” says Romanyszyn. “To know that all elected officials, whether from the city or the county, are aligned in wanting to attract new business and making that path to open a business here a lot easier is tremendous.”
The effects are already visible. In the case of Project Aetna, a national retailer considering Shawnee for expansion, the alignment between city and county government allowed officials to quickly assemble an incentive package and approve a signage variance. “This is a collaborative effort by both the city and the county,” says Romanyszyn. “We’re removing obstacles along the way.”
It’s the kind of cohesion that inspires investor confidence and reassures local businesses that leadership is not merely engaged but unified.
Beyond traditional economic development, Shawnee Forward is also exploring innovative ways to improve quality of life and support the workforce. One such initiative is Care to Grow, a newly launched childcare grant program aimed at addressing one of the most pressing issues facing working families.
“We know that childcare is an issue across the country, and in Pottawatomie County particularly,” Romanyszyn explains. “We only have childcare slots for 35 percent of children five and under.”
Care to Grow allows employers to offer funding to employers to provide assistance to employees for childcare expenses, a benefit that can improve retention rates, reduce turnover, improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and increase productivity. It’s a unique, employer-driven solution to a national problem.
“To our knowledge, Care to Grow is not a program that exists anywhere, certainly in Oklahoma,” Romanyszyn says. “We’re always looking for ways to support the businesses that exist, as well as offering innovative solutions for new investment in our community.”
That drive to think outside the box has become a defining trait of Shawnee Forward. Whether launching new mentorship programs, building leadership pipelines, or partnering with local tribes, the organization continuously adapts to meet emerging needs. Looking ahead, Shawnee Forward’s leadership sees opportunity in continued growth—not just in size, but in influence and inclusivity. “I do believe that with the tri-party agreement, we will work toward expanding to have other partners aligned, because the bigger the voice we have, the greater the impact we’ll be able to have,” says Romanyszyn.
This includes strengthening relationships with tribal partners like the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, whose economic development initiatives and industrial park are integral to the regional economy. “The partnerships with all the tribes in our area will continue to grow and become stronger,” says Johnson.
With an expansion of Interstate 40 and increased investment interest coming from Oklahoma City’s metropolitan region, Shawnee Forward is preparing for a surge in both demand and opportunity. The key, Romanyszyn emphasizes, is staying responsive. “What I know is that we’ll be working on the elements that are relevant for our community and that are needed by our businesses,” she says. “Change is inevitable; leading the way is paramount for our organization.”
Indeed, Shawnee Forward’s success doesn’t come from adhering to a rigid model; it comes from listening, adapting, and leading with purpose. As an economic development partner, the organization blends big-picture thinking with boots-on-the-ground support.
Whether it’s helping a new business launch, connecting young professionals to job opportunities, offering a grant for childcare, or supporting manufacturers with workforce planning, Shawnee Forward proves that economic growth is not just about attracting new business; it’s about supporting the people and companies already rooted in the community.
“We want our current businesses and potential businesses who are looking to invest in new communities to know that Pottawatomie County, the City of Shawnee, and Shawnee Forward are looking for innovative ways to support business,” says Romanyszyn.
With a clear mission, collaborative leadership, and a focus on the future, Shawnee Forward is doing more than moving the region forward; it is making sure everyone has a seat at the table.
