Catherine O'Connor

Biography: Ms. O’Connor is the Founder of the Coalign Group, providing expertise in real estate development and specializing in navigating complex financing structures, entitlements and municipal processes. Coalign also provides services to municipalities to develop economic development and redevelopment policies and strategies, streamline the delivery of economic development services and implement incentive programs. Prior to founding the Coalign Group, Cathy served as President of the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, a non-profit corporation designed to coordinate public participation in economic development projects. In her role as President of the Alliance, Cathy has been instrumental in furthering development throughout Oklahoma City and promoting job creation. She led the efforts to create the NE Renaissance Urban Renewal Area and Tax Increment Finance district that resulted in the development of a new grocery store to serve northeast Oklahoma City. She has led the efforts to develop several key projects including the Omni Convention Center Hotel to complement the new MAPS 3 Convention Center, redevelopment of the Skirvin Hotel, the GE Global Energy Research Facility and several projects at Tinker Air Force Base. She also led the team that developed and implemented the Small Business Continuity Program in response to the COVID 19 pandemic to help support small businesses in Oklahoma City. Ms. O’Connor is active in a variety of community organizations and currently serves on the board of directors of the Economic Club of Oklahoma, Integris Health System, The State Fair of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma County Historical Society and The Foundation for the Oklahoma City Public Schools. Ms. O’Connor is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City and Leadership Oklahoma. Cathy received the Dean A. McGee Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 and received the Stanley Draper Award for Community Excellence in 2009 from the Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership. She was named the Journal Record’s Oklahoma Woman of the Year in 2009. She is a member of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers.