Vince Orza
Dr. Vince Orza started his dynamic career by teaching distributive education — now called marketing education — at Del City High School, a result of CareerTech teacher training received at Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma. Orza went on to become a tenured professor of marketing at the University of Central Oklahoma and dean of the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University. Along the way, he enjoyed simultaneous careers as an award-winning television news anchor at KOCO-TV, the ABC affiliate in Oklahoma City, and as a respected advertising and marketing research consultant. His multifaceted career included the creation of Garfield's Restaurants and Eateries Inc. Under Orza’s 22-year leadership as chairman and CEO, Garfield's grew into a nationally recognized Oklahoma-based public company operating restaurants in 26 states from California to New York with annual revenues in excess of $100 million.
In November 2010, Orza was appointed president and CEO of KSBI Television in Oklahoma City with the express purpose of creating an innovative Oklahoma-focused television station. As CEO of KSBI, he has created multiple new daily and weekly programs, including two Monday-Friday live talk shows, a sports magazine, seasonal specials and several other programs. In May 2011, KSBI earned its first national Telly Award for "50 Years Behind the Microphone: A Salute to Bob Barry Sr."
Orza won the 1990 Oklahoma gubernatorial Republican primary and was defeated in the 2002 Democratic gubernatorial primary. He has been a contributing editor to several business textbooks, and he has written and presented numerous professional papers in marketing. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Oklahoma City University and a doctorate in education at the age of 25 from the University of Oklahoma. He also was granted an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in conjunction with his 2000 Oklahoma City University commencement address.
He has served as director or trustee for numerous civic and professional organizations, including the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, the St. Anthony Foundation, the Leukemia Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Orza also served as honorary chairman and master of ceremonies for the 1992-1995 cerebral palsy telethons.
Orza is the author of "When I Want Your Opinion, I’ll Tell It to You," a light-hearted, nostalgic look at growing up as a second-generation Italian American. He has been a keynote and motivational speaker for meetings and conventions across America. He has also discussed business and economic issues for audiences in China, Vietnam, Argentina, Colombia and the United Kingdom. Orza and his wife, Patti, and their two daughters have traveled to more than 80 nations on six continents.
Orza was inducted to the CareerTech Hall of Fame in 2011.
