Brien Thorstenberg is the Senior Vice President for Economic Development for the Tulsa Regional Chamber.  In this capacity, he leads a professional team of economic development professionals to direct the economic development effort for the Tulsa region.  Brien’s career with the Tulsa Regional Chamber began in May 2013 when he was named the Vice President of Economic Development.  In this role, he was responsible for the business attraction and retention division of the economic development department.

Brien's career in economic development began with 4 years of experience in manufacturing extension with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and the Ardmore Development Authority.  He was promoted to Vice President of Development of the Ardmore Development Authority where he served for 9 years.

Brien also served as Director of Business and Economic Development for the Muskogee City/County Port Authority from February 2012 to May 2013.  In this role, Brien directed the economic development efforts for the City and County of Muskogee.  At the Tulsa Regional Chamber, Brien led the recruiting effort for the Macy’s Order Fulfillment Center which announced in December 2013.  Macy’s will open a 1.3 million square foot facility in the spring of 2015 employing 1500 full time and part time employees, with an additional 1500 seasonal employees. 

Brien received a B.S. in Business Administration with a double major in Management and Economics from Oklahoma State University.  He also received an M.B.A. from Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a concentration in Management, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.  He has also received his Certified Economic Developer Certification (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council.  In his role as an economic development practitioner, Brien has served on numerous economic development related boards including the Chair of the Oklahoma Economic Development Council, the Chair Elect of the Tulsa Area Partnership, President of the Oklahoma Southeast (a regional economic development coalition), Executive Committee of the Oklahoma Governor’s Economic Development Marketing Team and the Southern Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board.

Brien and his wife Glenna are both natives of Ponca City, OK.  They live in Bixby with their two daughters, Lauren (12) and Alison (9).