Forty Under 40: Steve Cox
by January 1, 2013 12:00 am 466 views
A year after graduating from John Brown University in 2004 with a communications degree, Steve Cox entered a trainee program with Arvest Bank. He worked his way into the asset management division, just as the recession arrived.
“Tough time to be a client advisor,” he recalled.
With that, Cox shifted gears and applied for an economic development job at the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce in 2011.
A graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute, he has since helped bring 850 jobs to Rogers, playing a key role in bringing businesses including Cabela’s and Fresh Market to the area.
He was also heavily involved in recruiting the Serco facility to Rogers.
“People have strong opinions about Serco, and it can be a political [issue],” he said. “My opinion is that several hundred families will get a Christmas this year because they’ll have a job now.”
Cox grew up in Virginia but spent his teen years with his parents — who were missionaries — in the Philippines.
He and his wife are foster parents who’ve had nine placements in the last year. Recently, they adopted an 18-year-old son.
Cox, a certified scuba diver, volunteers for several nonprofits including Havenwood and the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County.