Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People

Following graduation, Chuck joined
Mills Machine Company, working with his
father until David retired and Chuck bought
the stock in the company and became
president and CEO, a position he has held
for more than thirty-five years. Under
Chuck’s leadership, Mills Machine Company
became a multimillion dollar concern that
provides a full line of specialty earth boring
tools and accessories for water, mining,
construction, utility, and environmental
applications. Recognizing the emerging
opportunities in international commerce,
Chuck began to explore foreign markets
for Mills Machine Company products. The
company now exports an average twentyfive
percent of its products to an estimated
seventy international markets.
Chuck devotes considerable time to his
company, but he also invests a significant
amount of time to civic, community and
professional organizations. He focuses on
leadership positions in four areas including:
workforce development and education, global
trade, manufacturing and small business.
Chuck believes these are all vitally important
in the progress and development of Oklahoma.
Among his many state activities, Chuck is
currently the chairman for the State Chamber
of Oklahoma. He is a member of the executive
committee for the Governor’s Council for
Workforce and Economic Development;
co-chair of the OK Workforce Youth Council;
and a board member and past chairman of
the Governor’s International Team, an organization
dedicated to a stronger Oklahoma
through international trade development. In
addition, he is the chairman of the Oklahoma
District Export Council, trustee for the Port
Authority of the Greater Oklahoma City area,
vice chair of the Sauk Business Enterprise
Board for the Sac and Fox Nation and a leadership
council member for National Federation
of Independent Business.
In Shawnee, Chuck served as mayor
from 2004 to 2008, describing himself as a
business mayor for economic development.
Currently, he is a board member of the
East Central Workforce Investment Board,
Chairman of the St. Gregory’s University
Business Advisory Committee and a member
of the mayor’s advisory committee and the
Shawnee Chamber of Commerce.
Chuck has been widely recognized for his
contributions and achievements in personal,
professional and community venues, including:
the “Distinguished Alumni Award” from
the University of Central Oklahoma in 2012;
the Governor’s “Small Business Person of the
Year” award in 2011; the Oklahoma “Mayor of
the Year” award in 2008; and the Shawnee
“Citizen of the Year” award in 2006.
When asked about the source of his
“practical vision,” for doing what he does
each day, Chuck points to advice given to
him by his father, “Whatever you do, leave
things better than you found them.” In
addition, Chuck is guided by the personal
belief that because life is short we should
do everything possible to “make a difference”
while we can. As he puts it, “We should never
have regrets that we could have done more,
that we could have helped more people,
that we could have made a difference.”
Chuck is married to Karen W. Mills and
they have two daughters, Britan and Kurstyn.
Chuck Mills.
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