04-19-24 Most Powerful Young Pros

OKC’s MOST POWERFUL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

MPYP

From Page 1

Baker is a sixth-generation Oklahoman who graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelors degree in public relations. Baker was recognized by the Oklahoma Education Association for his advocacy in mental health, disability concerns and LGBTQ+ issues.

Baker also received the Clara Luper Department of African and African-American Studies Leadership Award.

Formerly the special assistant to OKC Mayor David Holt, Baker served as the liaison to the LGBTQ+ community for the Mayor’s Office.

Baker is a board member of the Regional Food Bank and chairman of the Oklahoma City Black Chamber of

Commerce.

He serves as the regional chairman of public policy commission for the Civic Leader Program for the US Air Force and space Corps.

“I want to lend my time and energy to my community,” Baker has said. “I feel driven to do it.”

Travis Mason, at No. 2, is a quiet, but effective leader, championing many of the same causes as his father Steve Mason.

He is on the executive board of the Boy Scouts Last Frontier Council and Positive Tomorrows. Mason is a past president of the Downtown Club of Oklahoma City and the Executive Board and Finance Committee of Allied Arts, as well as a past board member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Oklahoma City.

A graduate of Casady School, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Rice University where he also played football.

BancFirst Insurance Senior VP Adam Rainbolt ranked No. 3 in this year’s poll. Rainbolt inherits his leadership characteristic from the best — he is the son and grandson of Most Powerful Oklahomans David and Gene Rainbolt.

Rainbolt earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Oklahoma City University. He formerly worked as a community relations representative for SandRidge Energy and as a legislative correspondent for Sen. James Inhofe in Washington, DC.

He also serves on the board of the Regional Food Bank. Clay Taylor and Oklaho-

ma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III tied for fourth in the survey.

Taylor is a graduate of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Taylor is the principal lobbyist of Taylor Capital Group. The son of community leaders Clayton and Marnie Taylor, the president and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, he grew up with a commitment to involvement.

Taylor serves on the boards of Infant Crisis Services and the Men’s Dinner Club, as well as being a member of Rotary Club No. 29.

In a tie for the No. 5 rank on the 2024 Most Powerful Young Professionals list is Lingo Construction Project Manager Collins Peck and top-5 newcomer Phi Nguyen,

the chief operating officer for Downtown OKC, Inc.

Peck serves on the board of Allied Arts and is a past president of the Downtown Club and works with Oklahoma Contemporary.

Peck is also the past secretary of the Regional Food Bank Board of Directors.

A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, he holds an undergraduate degree in construction science.

Phi Nguyen graduated in 2003 from PC West and earned a bachelor of science with a double major in accounting and finance from OU. She is the COO of the Downtown OKC, Inc.

She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and Arts Council OKC. She is also the chairman of the Regional Food Bank Board of Directors.

The write-ins:

For more rankings, see Pages 9 & 10.

22 (Tie). MOLLIE

McCURDY Community Volunteer

Those we polled also suggested the following be included on our ballot of the Most Powerful Young Professionals: Aaron Wilder, Adam Luck, Alexandra Towler Bliss, Allie Shinn, Allison Bally, Aly Cunningham, Amy Warne, Andrea Benjamin, Arturo Alonso, Ashleigh Sorrell Rose, Ashley Fitzpatrick, Ashley Robinson, Austin Klososky, Austin Voss, Bridgette Zorn, Carri Hicks, Chelsea Banks, Christina Beatty, Courtney Mankin, Curran Fudge, Cyndi Munson, David Box and Dr. Preston Cook.

Also, Elizabeth Larios, Emily Allan Williams, Emily Comisar, Erika Warren, Francie Love Koop, Gabrielle Butler, Graham Bennett, Jeff Seymour, Jenny Nguyen, Jordan Mayes, Judge Natalie Mai, Justin Brannon, Kailyn Hall, Kelley Gann, Kelsey Kayser, Kim Vanbebber, Lauren Warkentine, Lauren Mingee, Madison Horn, Maggie Murdoch Nichols, Marie Casimir, Maurianna Adams and Meagan Law. Also, Megan Gelmers, Mekala Littleton, Michael Hart, Misha Goli, Natalie Simon, Natalie Evans, Nicole Poole, Nikki Nice, Norman Markland, Pam Newby, Sam Wargin-Grimaldo, Samuel Marshall, Sara Honegger, Sarah Rogers, Scott Marsh, Shalondra Harrison, Shane Hampton, Stephen Higginbotham, Tyler Tokarcysk,Tyler Bolton and Zach Mason.

BENNETT

Four tie for top position in Readers Choice

It was a four-way tie for first place in our Most Powerful Young Professionals’ Readers Choice Poll.

We printed the Readers Choice ballot in our April 5 edition.

Margaret Creighton, Lauren Ottaway Johnson, Paige Williams Shepherd and Becky Taylor all had the same number of votes for No. 1.

For second place, it was a three way tie between Travis Mason, Kate Richard and Lacy Swope.

Denise Duong and Bailey Gordon tied for third.

Brianne Webb is tops in MPYP Facebook voting

We also posted the ballot on our Facebook page and Brianne Webb was the overwhelming winner.

Shannon Lockwood and Margaret Creighton

50

From Page 1

meant that I would be sitting at the media table. It always made me so excited — because maybe, just maybe, I would get to sit with Rose Lane!!

Rose was an absolute celebrity to me. EVERYONE knew her and she knew everyone. She even knew Vicki Gourley, who I thought of as one of Joan Gilmore’s fancy friends and someone who was so far out of my league that I would almost certainly never be important enough to meet her.

So, imagine how it felt years down the line to see myself ranked as No. 1 on OKC FRIDAY’s first-ever list of OKC’s Most Powerful Young Professionals! And to see my name at the top of the list the next year. And again, the next year.

I think Rose finally pulled my name off the ballot because she realized how old I’d gotten. I also must acknowledge that in 2022, I was #1 on the YP list and #50 on the list of Most Powerful Women. I suspect that I’m the only person in OKC Friday’s 50 years of publishing to be ranked at the top of one of their lists and the bottom of one of the others in the same year!! A dubious distinction, indeed.

But on a serious note, seeing my name at the top of a list in a publication led two women who I’ve admired so much for so long was an affirming moment for me. Not only had I met Vicki Gourley, but I had proven myself to her and she saw fit to include my name on a ballot that allowed her

incredibly valuable readers to consider me. Now I didn’t just get to sit with Rose Lane at a media table here and there anymore, she knew me and trusted me enough to count the ballots and allow my name to be at the top of her inaugural list. The visibility that I received as the result of my inclusion on the OKC’s Most Powerful Young Professionals list boosted my career and I

tied for second with Kristi Steinberg and Sonny Wilkinson both the in the third place position. Others gathering votes were Taylor Fudge, Chase Kirby and Keely White, among others.

know that it’s part of how I got on the community’s radar screen enough to eventually become president and CEO of Allied Arts.

I have looked up to the women leaders of OKC FRIDAY for almost two decades and am so grateful for the support that they’ve shown me over all these years. I still think of Vicki as one of Joan’s celebrity friends. And while Rose and I

don’t sit at the media table together anymore, I probably see her out and about at arts community events at least three times every week.

Thanks to you both, and to OKC FRIDAY, for everything you do to encourage individuals like me and to support the community.

THEATRE/MUSIC

April 26­27

• Harry Potter Concert

The Harry Potter film series is one of those once­in­a­lifetime cultural phenomena that continues to delight millions of fans around the world. This concert will feature a live symphony orchestra performing every note from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at the Civic Center. Audiences will be able to relive the magic of the film in high­definition on a 40­foot screen while hearing the orchestra perform John Williams' unforgettable score. Go to okcciviccenter.com for tickets.

May 2­4

• Contemporary Dance Contemporary dance fans and those new to the performing arts alike will enjoy three evening performances of RED, a reimagining of the classic fairy tale (and survival story) Little Red Riding Hood each evening starting at 7 pm, May 2­4. There will be a post­show reception following Thursday’s opening night, a post­show conversation with the performers Friday evening and a free dance workshop Saturday afternoon. The performances and workshop are funded in part by OK Let’s Dance, an initiative of

April 20 • Earth Day Events

OKC Beautiful’s second annual Earth Fest is April 20, 11 am ­ 4 pm at the Love’s Travel Stop Stage and Lawn at Scissortail Park. The free community event is a celebration of Earth Day and will include live music, classes, nearly 50 vendors, giveaways, a kid’s activity area and more. Learn more about the event at okcbeautiful.com/earth­fest.

the Kirkpatrick Family Fund. Make reservations at oklahomacontemporary.org.

May 3­4

• Bernadette Peters

The legendary Bernadette Peters is coming to Oklahoma City, bringing her sparkling song and personality to the OKCPHIL. See An Evening with Bernadette Peters at the Civic Center. Visit okcciviccenter.com for tickets and details.

FUNDRAISERS

May 10 • American Tourist American Tourist is Upward Transitions’ annual fundraising event supporting its programs to serve Central Oklahoma. Each year, over 300 guests head to a new “destination” from 6:30 – 11 pm. This year is New Orleans. The evening will include live jazz music performed by Justin Echols and his band, dancing, delicious Cajun food and a cash bar at the OKC Farmers Public Market. There will be live and silent auctions, wine

and jewelry pulls and a raffle – all to raise money for families in need. To purchase tickets and sponsorships, go to upwardtransitions.org.

THIS WEEKEND

April 19­21 • RENT

One of the longestrunning and most successful Broadway shows ever, “Rent,” will close out Oklahoma City University’s musical theater season with performances April 19­21. A cast of 27 and an on­stage band will present a fresh look of the award­winning rock opera. The musical is at 7:30 pm April 19 and 20, with a 2 pm April 21 matinee, on OCU’s historic Kirkpatrick stage, 2501 N. Blackwelder. Tickets ($15­$30) are available by calling 405­2085227 or going to okcu.edu/tickets. Guthrie will present a free director’s talk 30 minutes before curtain of each performance.

OKC THUNDER

Playoffs Round 1 April 21 • Home

Send calendar events to jennifer@okcfriday.com

Paycom Center Events/Shows: AJR ­ May 4

Nicki Minaj ­ May 13

Zach Bryan ­ May 17 & 18

Janet Jackson ­ July 26

Olivia Rodrigo ­ July 27

Luke Bryan ­ Aug. 22

Zoo Amphitheater:

Ice Cube ­ Aug. 2

Blues Traveler ­ Aug. 3

80s Night ­ Aug. 24

Cake ­ Sept. 8

Civic Center Music Hall:

Harry Potter In Concert ­ Apr. 26­27

Bernadette Peters ­ May 3­4

OKC Ballet Shorts ­ May 10­12

Film Festival Season

The Tonkawa Film Festival roars back to life this weekend, bringing short films and filmmakers from across the country to one of Oklahoma’s most unique and popular film festivals. Tonkawa offers a tightly curated selection of outstanding short films, great hotel rooms for all filmmakers, and a filmmaker parade that brings out the entire community, making it a perfect destination for filmmakers looking to experience middle America.

The festival was founded five years ago by Tonkawa native and current New Yorker James Oxford, the year his mother, Margie Oxford, was President of the local Chamber of Commerce. They knew that to be successful they would need to partner with local businesses and schools to engage the entire community. Now in year five, they have more than fifty local and statewide sponsors and offer screenings at Northern Oklahoma College, guest rooms at Tonkawa Hotel & Casino, a BBQ at the mayor’s house, and a community wide parade featuring local bands, cheerleaders, filmmaker floats, fire trucks, and a western shootout. This year, the parade also includes world renowned hoop dancer Eric Michael Hernandez and the 1917 Packard from the movie Killers of the

Flower Moon

This is my third trip to the Tonkawa Film Festival. I screened Send Me Wings there in 2021 and won Best Family Short with Amelia’s Prayer in 2023. This year, I will show my latest science fiction short film Odd Sense and the virtual reality experience I created for St. Luke’s Methodist Church called Resurrection VR Odd Sense screens Friday at 5:30 pm in Wilkin Hall on the Northern Oklahoma College campus. Resurrection VR will be available throughout the weekend in the Wilkin Hall lobby. Additional festival screenings take place Friday at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6:30 pm.

Tonkawa is one of many fabulous film festivals coming up this spring. Below are a few more highlights.

The Red Dirt Film Festival celebrates its 11th year in Stillwater this weekend. Founded by Stillwater native Damon Blalack, Red Dirt offers a great slate of films and engages the visiting filmmakers to teach classes at Stillwater High School, share best practices on film panels, and explore Stillwater with

Mamma Mia! ­ May 21­26

Mary Poppins ­ June 25­30

Jersey Boys ­ July 9­14

Cinderella ­ July 30­Aug. 4

Tower Theatre:

Adam Ant ­ April 23

Cannons ­ May 4

My So Called Band ­ May 10

parties at Modella Art Gallery and the worldfamous Eskimo Joe’s. The Wide Open Experimental Film Festival is coming to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art next weekend. Wide Open is founded, curated, and managed by the film department at Oklahoma City University under the leadership of Festival Director Billy Palumbo, a visiting professor of experimental film at OCU. The short films are divided into five screenings: Friday, April 26, at 6:00 pm & 8:00 pm, Saturday, April 27, 6:00 pm & 8:00 pm, and Sunday, April 28, at 1:00 pm.

Finally, the Bare Bones Film Festival returns to Muskogee May 2-5 to celebrate its 25th year as Oklahoma’s longest running film festival. Festival Directors Sharon Ray and Oscar Ray launched the festival to bring filmmakers to that part of the state and to offer a platform for very low budget films. After a quarter century, Bare Bones is still one of the best festivals for launching new Oklahoma talent.

Be sure to check out these local festivals this spring. It’s the perfect way to prepare for Oklahoma’s largest film festival this summer, the Oscar-qualifying, industry leading deadCenter Film Festival, June 6 -9. Sponsorships available now at deadcenterfilm.org. See you there.

Jim Breuer ­ June 8

Other Events/Shows/Awards:

Angels & Friends ­ April 24

Festival of the Arts ­ April 25­28

Splendor In the Gardens ­ May 16

deadCenter Film Festival ­ June 6­9

Broadway Bash! ­ June 7

Heroes Ball ­ July 27

Sip and Stroll returns to OKC Zoo

Warm nights, cool cocktails and wildlife from around the world come together at OKC Zoo’s annual event series Sip and Stroll, presented by COOP Ale Works.

Now in its fifth year, Sip and Stroll is expanding to six evenings in May and June and moving to Friday nights. The adults-only evening event series gives guests the opportunity to enjoy the Zoo and the newly opened Expedition Africa habitat while sipping on a wide variety of COOP beers, signature cocktails and other beverages available at five full bars placed throughout the Zoo.

The 2024 Sip and Stroll dates are

May 10, 17 and 24 and June 14, 21 and 28. The June 21 event will celebrate PRIDE. Doors open at 6 pm with each event ending at 10 pm.

General admission for the event is $22 ($17 for ZOOfriends members) and $2 of every ticket sold will benefit one of the Zoo’s conservation initiatives, the Texas Horned Lizard Headstart Conservation Program. Entry to the event includes access to an Asian elephant presentation, the Children’s Zoo barnyard, the Endangered Species Carousel and more.

This year’s event will highlight five zones throughout the Zoo, each with its own animal experiences, beverages and food inspired by

wildlife and wild places. Food and beverage packages are available for pre-order as a lower rate than during the event at okczoo.org/our-events. Guests are encouraged to plan ahead.

“This year we’re pleased that a portion of every ticket sold will benefit Texas horned lizards, which were once common in central Oklahoma, but have seen a sharp population decline because of habitat and sustenance loss,” said Dr. Rebecca Snyder, OKC Zoo’s Senior Director of Conservation, Education, and Science.

As native grasslands in central Oklahoma have yielded to roads,

suburbs, cropland and non-native pastures, the population of Texas horned lizards has plummeted. As a result, they are considered a species of special concern by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Sip and Stroll tickets are nonrefundable and non-transferable. This event will occur rain or shine. Guests must be 21 years or older to enter this event, no guest under the age of 21 will be allowed entry. To purchase tickets or learn more visit okczoo.org/sipandstroll.

Stay connected with the Zoo on  Facebook, X, Instagram, Linktree  and TikTok.

o JANELLE ARCHER

Sr. B2b Mktg. Mgr., CoreLogic

o BRITTANY ATTAWAY

Strategic Comm., Sr. Mgr., Public Strat.

o J.D. BAKER

Chairman-elect, Black Chamber

o JOY BARESEL

Pres., Real Estate Advisor, Engel & Völkers

o ANGELA BEATTY

Chief Programs Officer, YWCA of OKC

o ARILLA BROADUS

Catering Dir./Mgr., Running Wild Cater.

o BRIAN BUSEY

CEO, Delaware Resources

o PHILIP BUSEY JR.

President, Delaware Resources

o ANDRE CALDWELL

Senior Counsel, Mobility, Boeing

o JEFFREY CARTMELL

Exec. Dir., Depart. of Juvenile Affairs

o GRAHAM COLTON

Musician, Partner, Social Order

o JAMES COOPER

OKC Councilman, Ward 2

o CASEY CORNETT

CMO, Partner, Flight

o MAREK CORNETT

Owner, Alaine Digital

o TERRANCE CRAFT

Administrative Coord., OKCYP

o MARGARET CREIGHTON

CEO, Positive Tomorrows

o DUSTY DVORACEK College Football Analyst, ESPN

o TIM DOTY

Vice President, Loves Travel Stops

o PERRIN DUNCAN

Special Proj. Mgr., Arnall Family Found.

o DENISE DUONG Artist/Muralist, Little D Gallery

o KELLI DUPUY

Dir. of Develop., Special Care

o DARCI LYNNE FARMER

Ventriliquist, ‘America’s Got Talent’ winner

o TAYLOR FUDGE

Manag. Partner, Claims Mgmt. Resources

o BAILEY GORDON

Founder., Bailey Gordon Consulting

o ALEX GRAY Manag. Partner, American Global Strategies

o ELIZABETH GRAY

Exec. Dir, Civic Center Foundation

o JONATHAN HAMPTON

Associate, Infinity Capital Partners

o JoBETH HAMON

OKC Councilwoman, Ward 6

o TANNER HANSTEIN

President, Ozarka Water & Coffee

o DAVID HARDY

President/CEO, Prism Bank

o MANDY HEAPS

Exec. Director, OK Zoological Society

o SHEENA KARAMI HOLLANDER

Internatl. Spokesperson, Express Internatl.

o ALANA HOUSE

Assist. Dean for Student Services, OCU Law

o DAVIS HUDIBURG

OMRF Ambassador

o CAROLINE IKARD

AVP/Oper., Tech., American Fidelity

o GABE IKARD

Oklahoma Breakdown Podcast Host

o KYLE IMPSON

Tribal Government Liaison, AETNA

o MARK IVY

Financial Development, NewView

o LAUREN OTTAWAY JOHNSON

Associate, Crowe & Dunlevy

o RACHEL JOHNSON

Executive Director, Jewish Feder.

o TOMMIE JOHNSON III

o

Oklahoma County Sheriff

ALEX KAISER

VP, JP Morgan Private Bank

o CHASE KERBY

Talent Buyer, Wheeler District

o KELLY KERWIN

Artistic Director, OKC Rep

o TAYLOR KETCHUM

Vice President, Jones PR

o LINDSAY LAIRD

VP Philan. Services, OKCCF

o SKYE LATIMER

Senior Analyst, Writer, AETNA

o AMANDA KIRKPATRICK LAWLER

Owner, Metro Mark Realtors

o RACHAEL LEONHART

Exec. Dir., Plaza District Assoc.

o SETH LEWIS

Festival Director, Arts Council OKC

o RYAN JOLICOEUR-NYE

Artistic Director, OKC Ballet

o CHRISTOPHER LLOYD

CEO, Partner, Flight

o SHANNON LOCKWOOD

Mgr., Employee Giving, Allied Arts

o RACHEL MANN

AVP, Mktg., Customer Exper., Amer. Fidel.

o TRAVIS MASON

Director, Cushman and Wakefield

o JACK McCLENDON

CEO, Siena Natural Resources

o MOLLIE BENNETT McCURDY

Community Volunteer

o KINDT STEVEN MYERS

VP, Humankind Hospitality

o CONSTANZIA NIZZA

Chief of Staff, Juvenile Affairs

o PHI NGUYEN

COO, Downtown OKC

o ABIGAIL OGLE News Anchor, KOCO TV

o ANDREW OUSLEY

Funeral Director, Hahn-Cook

o ALLY GLAVAS

President, Candor PR

o ALLISON PARKER

Dir., Develop., Commun., Infant Crisis

o SHANE PATE

City Manager, Nichols Hills

o COLLINS PECK

Project Manager, Lingo Construct.

o CASSI PETERS

Regional Political Dir., DLCC

o ALYX PICARD

Executive Director, PC Schools Found.

o SHANNON PRESTI

Coord. Teen Leader. Initiatives, YMCA

o WHITNEY RAINBOLT

Principal Broker, Medallion Group

o ADAM RAINBOLT Sr. VP, BancFirst Insurance Services

o ANNA RANEY

Head of Development, NextThought

o KATE RICHARD CEO, Warwick Investment Group

o LEAH ROPER

Found. Partner, Center for Employ. Law

o ERIK SALAZAR

Manager,

Class of 2024 has many talents; their accomplishments need to be celebrated

By Rose Lane Editor

This week we celebrate the accomplishments of our 2024 class of Most Powerful Young Professionals.

We choose the names for our ballot with suggestions from community leaders and write-in candidates from years past. We mail the ballot to community and busi-

ness leaders, as well as those young people we have included.

These Young Professionals are amazing! They work in corporations, nonprofits, financial institutions, construction companies, county law enforement and many more.

One is even an international spokesperson for a global company.

Some have grown

their own successful companies from the bottom up.

They run foundations and even a city.

They are attorneys and realtors. They work in development for universities, the arts and organzations that are doing important medical research.

Some are juggling young families with work and other respon-

Dear Wise Elder: I know good nutrition is important at age 85, but most of the time I don’t feel hungry for anything other than a bowl of cereal or ice cream. My wife is tired of cooking after all these years, but this is not her fault.

Dear Not Hungry: Stop living by your feelings since doing what you’ve always done is not working. 1) Eat by the clock for breakfast and a noon meal. 2) Focus on small portions of foods high in protein and vitamins. 3) Change the environment by eating with

sibilities.

All the while these Most Powerful Young Professionals are giving back to their community by volunteering with nonprofits, their churches and other organizations.

Some of those included on the ballot learned the imporance of community service from their parents, who are also very steeped in

friends. 4) On Wednesdays, take your wife to Mr Gatti’s Pizza for a great salad bar with unlimited slices of pizza at a special senior price. 5) Make new friends. Introduce yourself to another couple and invite them to eat with you. These are opportunities to nourish your body and your soul. Eating together with a new friend helps reduce blood pressure and cognitive decline. This is the POWER OF COMMUNITY. — Courtesy VillagesOKC www.VillagesOKC.org (405) 990 6637

You can have your ad here! $20 a week. Call (405) 755-3311 for details.

Oklahoma City. Others have a natural drive to do so.

But, these Young Professionals are our future and it is important to boost them up and encourage them.

Every city, every organization, every church and all sectors need young people. Oklahoma City is fortunate to have such a great group!

23 (Tie). SHANNON LOCKWOOD Employee Giving, Allied Arts

23 (Tie). KINDT MYERS Vice President Humankind Hospitality

24 (Tie). MANDY HEAPS Executive Director Oklahoma Zoological Society

24 (Tie). JENNIFER THURMAN Sr. Prog., Kirkpatrick Fund

24 (Tie). SONNY WILKINSON Sr. Philanthropy Dir. OMRF

25 (Tie). JOHN SYMCOX Director/Innovation First Fidelity Bank

25 (Tie). SHANE PATE City Manager City of Nichols Hills 26 (Tie). CASEY CORNETT CMO, Partner Flight

26 (Tie). RYAN JOLICOEUR-NYE Artistic Dir., OKC Ballet

TOYS ARTini

Allied Arts is gearing up for signature event

Allied Arts is gearing up for ARTini, the annual martini tasting event and art auction that raises critical funds for the arts.

Toys ARTini is set for May 4, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. This year’s event, presented by Paycom and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, is to be Oklahoma City’s largest martini competition and art auction, bringing together local restaurants, entertainment and artists for a dynamic evening benefiting the arts in our community.

Each year, ARTini helps Allied Arts fund programs that touch the lives of more than one million people, including dynamic community performances and events, plus valuable arts experiences for children, veterans and the elderly, many in underserved areas. Allied Arts helps their partner organizations offer free or reducedprice events and provide innovative arts education across the state, enabling more members of our communities to experience the arts.

Along with sampling custom toy-inspired martinis from several of Oklahoma City’s most popular restaurants, guests can also bid on one-of-a-kind art by local artists and participate in the silent auction for a chance to win unique experiences, local excursions, fine jewelry and more.Tickets are on sale at ARTiniOKC.com.

ARTini tickets are $125 per person and must be purchased in advance. Guests must be at least 21 and display a valid ID to enter the event.

Amanda is not just a leader, she’s a trailblazer

Meet Amanda Kirkpatrick-Lawler, the heart and soul behind Metro Mark Real Estate.

Since 2014, she's rocked the real estate world with unwavering dedication and passion. Her story is one of beating the odds, constantly learning and making genuine connections. In 2019, she leveled up to a broker's license and by 2020, she was steering the ship at Metro Mark as the majority owner and managing broker.

Amanda’s not just about the numbers game; she believes real success comes through people and the relationships you build. A top-producing agent and industry-recognized professional, she’s all about pushing

herself and her agents to be their best and ensuring they're ready to handle anything that comes their way, especially with all the big changes hitting the real estate scene, like the NAR lawsuit settlement. Thanks to Amanda's forward-thinking and

detailed planning, the agents at Metro Mark are more than ready for any changes to come. At Metro Mark, agents have the resources they need and are prepared for any foreseeable shifts within the industry.

They stand ready to maintain their exceptional service standards for clients and continue their growth path, all while prioritizing the core value that underpins everything they do—putting people first.

Amanda Kirkpatrick-Lawler is not just a leader, she's a trailblazer. She has a unique ability to transform obstacles into stepping stones, a testament to her resilience and determination.

As a mentor, she val-

ues each team member, fostering a culture of growth and development. Her visionary approach is always one step ahead, as evidenced by the recent development of the Metro Mark Land Division!

For Amanda, service and leadership are not just professional roles, they're a way of life. Those fortunate enough to know her will attest to this. She strives to instill her passion for people and service in her three young boys, leading by example daily.

When she's not immersed in her work, Amanda enjoys time with her family, friends, and serving the community through various philanthropic organizations.

AMANDA KIRKPATRICK-LAWLER

Literary Voices hosts three authors, including James Patterson

This year’s Literary Voices, benefiting the Metropolitan Library System, was three events.

On Sunday, NPR contributor and New York Times Bestselling author Kwame Alexander at Frederick Douglass High School.

On Tuesday, THE James Patterson spoke to Rose State College. All attendees received a copy of his new book, The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians. He was interviewed by Roberta Fields.

Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan was interviewed by Jaqueline Sit during the Literary Voices dinner on Thursday at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.

Mary Blankenship Pointer was the co-chairman and Amanda Commesser was the chairman of the event committee.

Judy Smith was the recipient of the Lee B. Brawner Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lee Bollinger received the award posthumously.

Literary Voices Cochairman Mary Blankenship Pointer, author James Patterson and Chairman Amanda Commesser during a VIP reception at Rose State college. Pattersn was interviewed by Roberta Fields.

Above: Jaqueline Sit interviews Kevin Swan. At right: Roberta Fields with Penny McCaleb.

Above: Debbie South with a large cut-out of Dolly Parton. Proceeds from the event helped support Parton’s Imagination Library for the Metropolitan Library System. At left: President of the Library Endowment Trust Larry Davis with his wife Ronna. - Photos by Rose Lane

Family, role models, experiences empower today’s young leaders

By Rose Lane Editor

Members of this year’s class of Most Powerful Young Professionals say they feel empowered to serve their community from family members, role models and personal experiences.

Claims Management Resources Managing Partner

Taylor Fudge said his father, Chip, taught his children about community service at a very young age.

“One of the earliest memories is that dad would pull us out of school and we would volunteer for the Arts Festival,” Taylor said. “At the time, I hated it, but looking back, it’s some of my fondest memories.”

His alma mater, Bishop McGuinness, also requires its students to perform a set amount of community service hours.

“Looking back, that’s how you get people involved in the community,” Taylor said.

Service was a core part of Bailey Gordon, founder of Bailey Gordon Consulting’s upbringing. Her mother worked as their church’s secretary so she said she and her brother spent a lot of time there.

“My church had a feeding ministry where various organizations and churches volunteered to cook and serve meals to those in need within the community,” Bailey said. “During the summer, I would volunteer in the kitchen with whatever they needed, whether it was rolling silverware, wiping tables down or putting bread on the plate.

“My mom kept me involved in programs rooted in service, from Girls Scouts delivering meals to seniors every thanksgiving to National Junior Honor

Society collecting canned goods for local pantries to Phi Delta Kappa’s Xinos and Kudos program for Black high school students giving our time to community events,” Bailey said.

“I learned early on the importance of being connected to community and giving back to it.”

Cushman and Wakefield Director Travis Mason credits his “incredible parents,” Kym Mason and Steve Mason for his success and that of his two siblings.

“My parents did a really good job of raising us,” Travis said. “They made sure we never wanted for anything. They did a really good job of making us aware of what was going on around us.”

Kym and Steve put an emphasis on seeing that their children grew up to be “good citizens” and “good neighbors,” Travis said.

While Collins Pack, Lingo Construction project manager, is following in his role model, James Pickel’s footsteps in terms of community involvement, his

devotion to giving back started with his family, who engrained in him a level of service.

“We went to church every single Sunday,” he said.

Saturdays were “manna” day when the church would serve food to the less fortunate.

“When it was my family’s time to help run the meal, the whole family went,” Collins said. “As I look back, I am really glad my parents made me do that.”

Black Chamber of Commerce

Chairman J.D. Baker said his late grandmother is really his role model.

“It’s hard for me to talk about her in any context short of ‘best friend,’” J.D. said. “I was her ‘running buddy,’ where she went, I was there with her.”

His grandmother always found ways to help people and engage in the community. She would take flowers to nursing homes and visit people in the hospital.

“She was always helping

See EMPOWER, Page C2

Above: Most Powerful Young Professionals No. 2 Collins Peck and his wife Rachel at Chocolate Decadence, a fundraiser for Automobile Alley, hosted by Downtown OKC.

Below: Positive Tomorrows President and CEO Margaret Creighton and retired President and CEO Susan Agel in the Susan Agel Family Room at the school. They were photographed during the organization’s Cork and Canvas event.

Carl and Susan Edwards, Frank and Cathy Keating and Kym and Travis Mason at the OMRF President’s Christmas party hosted by President Dr. Andrew Weyrich.

NSO to host Good Samaritan Awards

Join NSO on Thursday, April 25, at 12 p.m., for the 2024 Good Samaritan Awards! Tune in as we recognize several outstanding individuals who have dedicated their lives to improving the Oklahoma City community. The event will be available publicly via live stream at nsookc.org/LiveGSA.

This annual event also serves as a vital fundraiser for NSO’s life-changing programs and services. Without the support of so many generous individuals, NSO could not fulfill its mission of transforming lives, and encouraging independence through safe, healthy homes, dental care and nutrition.

And thanks to three generous donors, if you give NOW your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $60,000! So don’t wait – there is no better time to make your impact!

Donations can be made online at nsookc.org/give, by texting NSO to 243-725 or by mail to 431 SW 11th St. OKC, OK 73109.

The 2024 NSO Good Samaritan honorees are Kevin and Lisa Putt and Kathy Williams.

EMPOWER

From Page 1

others and empowering people,” J.D. said.

Lindsay Laird, the vice president of philanthropic services for the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, was raised by a single father on a very limited income.

“I was actually the recipient of a lot of informal support from my friends’ parents, schoolteachers and neighbors,” she said. “As I got older, I realized just how many

Kevin and Lisa Putt are recognized for decades of causes they’ve embraced to improve the lives of people in their community. From animal welfare to infant children and from college students to Christian church leadership, the Putts are known for giving 100 percent of themselves to significant causes across the community and state.

Kathy Williams has served dozens of nonprofit organizations, as a volunteer, board member, officer, committee member, and event leader for more than four decades. Currently, this servant leader actively serves on ten nonprofit boards that range from civic affairs to social services and from education to healthcare.

The 2024 Sam Bowman Legacy Award honoree is Angela Monson.

Angela Monson has served in a leadership capacity on many levels in various sectors of society, including government, social services, education, civil rights, criminal justice, healthcare, nonprofits, and journalism. She currently serves as the Outreach & Legislative Director for the Oklahoma Policy Institute

people had looked out for me when I was young and I truly believe it changed my trajectory.

“I think my experience as someone whose life could have been very different had it not been for the generosity of others, gives me a strong sense of empathy and compassion for those who are struggling.”

Positive Tomorrows president and CEO Margaret Creighton said the OKC community is eager to step up.

She loves being around the kids at the school for homeless

children and seeing them grow and achieve the littlest but most significant things. There are many groups of volunteers which come through at Positive Tomorrows and Creighton said she loves witnessing the impact they have on the children and their families.

“This is a community as a whole and we just need to show up for our community,” Creighton said. “They will tell you that their favorite part is you showing up for them just by helping out in whatever ways that you can.”

OMRF’s Sonny Wilkinson: Connecting donors with science

In college, Sonny Wilkinson dreamed of becoming a pharmacist. There was just one snag. “I love science,” he said, “but I don’t understand it.”

At the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, where he’s senior director of philanthropy and planned giving, he’s found a way to support science without having to don a lab coat. “What I’m good at is connecting people and building relationships, and that’s exactly what I do at OMRF.”

At OMRF, his role is to cultivate major donations, with a focus on estate gifts. “Sonny just gets things done,” said Penny Voss, OMRF’s vice president of philanthropy and community relations. “No matter the situation, I know Sonny will handle it.”

One real-world example: While driving to Alva for an OMRF event, Wilkinson noticed President Andrew Weyrich’s vehicle pulled over on Interstate 35. Wilkinson stopped and handed his car keys to Weyrich, who otherwise would have missed a speaking engagement. Then Wilkinson changed Weyrich’s tire and

chauffeured his wife and son to Alva.

“Sonny is practical, he’s a great listener and he understands the historical context that might be important to a potential donor,” said OMRF Director Paul Schulte of Kingfisher, an estate attorney with whom Wilkinson frequently consults. “And he’s curious – his questions get to the heart of the matter.”

That last trait comes in handy when Wilkinson leads prospective donors on a tour. He’s just as likely as his guests to ask a scientist for specific details.

“Where else but at OMRF can you learn about such amazing science?” he said.

Maybe he understands a little more about science than he’s letting on.

OKC Zoo’s Expedition Africa now open!

At first glance, conservation and change might seem diametrically opposed. One means keeping things the same; the other means moving forward. But the two can live in harmony and the proof is evident at the Oklahoma City Zoo’s newly opened Expedition Africa, presented by Inasmuch Foundation.

Born from the Zoo’s 2018 strategic plan, Expedition Africa is the largest and most ambitious expansion in its 122-year history. The massive 12-acre project in the heart of the Zoo is a dream come true for animal lovers with new habitats, building renovations, and amenities to enhance the already world-class experience.

Expedition Africa includes a number of features that guests are raving about. The state-of-the-art giraffe barn, home to the Zoo’s giraffes, connects guests to these beloved animals through giraffe feedings opportunities and year-round viewing, regardless of the weather. The savanna overlook attached to the barn allows the herd to mingle with Nile lechwe, ostriches, and Common eland.

With the addition of the Love’s Pachyderm Building, a reimagining of the midcentury modern home for elephants, rhinoceroses, and hippopotamuses, the Zoo adds a spacious new events space as well as habitats for a variety of African species, including naked mole rats, dwarf mongooses, African lungfish, and more. The Pachyderm also showcases both the Zoo’s history and its future, with exhibits on recycling,

conservation, and species survival.

Outside there’s even a new play area for kids, the Pachyderm Heights Adventure Tower, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oklahoma, with a rock-climbing wall for a great view of the surrounding habitats, and a slide for a

speedy escape.

And all of it is thanks to generous donors from around the world, including the people of Oklahoma City, who voted in a 1/8th-of-a-cent sales tax in 1990. There's never been a better time to explore the Oklahoma City Zoo. We’ll see you soon.

SONNY WILKINSON

TRACK ROUNDUP

Chargers sweep titles at Route 66 Classic

Boasting five different individual gold medalists, the Heritage Hall boys and girls track teams captured titles last weekend at the Route 66 Classic in Chandler.

Demarion Dean collected two gold medals. Dean won the 400 meters in 50.81 seconds and followed it up with another victory in the 800 in 1:59.

Addy Washington also picked up a pair of event titles for the Charger girls.

The junior triumphed in the 100meter hurdles in 17.71 seconds and the long jump with a winning leap of 16 feet, 3 inches.

Three other Charger boys captured gold medals at Chandler.

George Robley won the 200 meters in 24.02 seconds and Will Blalock took the 3200 meters in 10:31.

Zavier Freeman rounded out the trio with a gold medal in the discus with a winning throw of 142-9 and teammate Crawford Brown finished second at 137-4.

In addition, the Chargers won the 400-, 800- and 3200-meter relays and took second in the 1600 relay.

Meanwhile, four Charger girls placed third or better in five different events.

Zeffie Ellenberg led the way with a runnerup finish in the 3200 meters and fourth in the high jump.

Sloane Travis earned a silver medal in the 1600, while Coral Grimmett was third in the 3200 and fifth in the high jump.

The Charger girls also won the 400 relay, took second in the 3200 relay and third in both the 800 and 1600 relays. This Friday, Heritage Hall competes at the Carl Albert Invitational in Midwest City.

KNIGHTS TRIO WIN GOLD AT CHISHOLM

Two Crossings Christian athletes earned gold medals as the girls finished seventh and the boys were ninth at the Chisholm Inviational in Enid. Savanna Meek

cruised to a sweep in the hurdles events for the Knight girls.

Meek won the 100meter hurdles by under two seconds in 15.16 seconds and the 300 hurdles by four seconds in 48.60 seconds.

Nate Rouse helped give Crossings Christian a second gold medal in the 300 hurdles with a half-second win in 41.59 seconds.

Clara Bebee escaped with a victory by a mere five inches in the long jump with a winning leap of 15 feet, 11.75 inches. She also finished fourth in the 100 meters.

Carlie Little picked up a silver medal in the shot put with a runnerup throw of 32-8.

Three others finished inside the top 5, as Zac Roberson took fourth in the 3200 meters, Grayson Swaim was fifth in the 100 meters and Grace State placed fifth in the 100 hurdles.

IRISH SHOW WELL AT ADA

More than a dozen McGuinness athletes

TENNIS ROUNDUP

placed fifth or better at the Dorse Reirdan Invitational in Ada.

Andrew Elder paced the Irish with a runnerup finish in the high jump and a third-place effort in both the 110 and 300 hurdles.

Alessandra Grella and Andrew Black finished third in the 3200 meters and Oliver Gumerson was fifth in the event.

Kinsley Brown grabbed third in the 100 hurdles with Kennedy Brown in fifth. Anna Willis took fourth in the 300 hurdles, and Kendall Brown was fifth.

In the field events, Conner Grey and Nick House placed third in the long jump and shot put, respectively.

Zach Tawwater finished fourth in the discus, while Kennedy Brown and Emelia Chambers went fourth and fifth in the pole vault for McGuinness.

In addtion, three others placed fifth, including Laura White in the long jump.

Story continued at OKCFRIDAY.com.

Chargers collect Union team title

Capturing victories in six of nine divisions, Heritage Hall picked up a 6-3 victory against Cascia Hall to claim the Tulsa Union team tournament title last weekend.

Both girls and boys teams play as one unit, including four boys matches, four girls matches and one mixed doubles match.

The Charger girls swept both singles matches as Jasmine Crain won in No. 1 singles and Avery Shouse was victorious in No. 2 singles.

Max Blasdel also collected a singles win for the Charger boys.

Owen Fellrath and Charlie Zeiders took the No. 1 doubles match, as did Duke Brim and Emerson Ritenour in No. 2 doubles.

Grey Ferguson and Ellie Nasr finished off the tournament with a win in mixed doubles.

The Chargers also beat host Tulsa Union, 7-2, in the semifinals and opened with an 8-1 win against Ponca City.

IRISH SWEEP HARDING PREP

Both McGuinness squads cruised to a dual win against Harding Charter Prep last week.

T.J. Shanahan and Julie Abbott rolled to straight-set victories in No. 1 singles.

Julien Vann took care of his No. 2 singles match, but Chelsea Le suffered a 3-set loss.

The Irish swept No. 1 doubles with victories from Carl Amaya/Noah Dell’Osso and Lauren Potter/Jenny Do, and No. 2 doubles with Joseph Dickerson/Hunter Hayes and Chelsea Le/Kate Thomas.

GOLF ROUNDUP BASEBALL ROUNDUP

Girls’ regional tourneys set for Wednesday

Four Fridayland girls golf teams embark on their journey toward a potential state championship as they compete in regional tournament this Wednesday, while four others participated in a regional qualifying tournament on Tuesday.

Deer Creek and PC North play in Class 6A, with the Antlers staying closer to home in a West regional at River Oaks in northeast OKC and the Panthers travel to Ponca City Country Club.

Top-seed McGuinness competes in a 5A West regional, with Fridayland rival John Marshall, at Prairie West in Weatherford.

Meanwhile, Heritage Hall, Casady, Crossings Christian and Mount St. Mary took part in a 3A qualifying tournament last Tuesday at Twin Oaks.

Qualifying teams advance to the regional tournament at Arrowhead State Park near McAlester.

State tournaments for all classes are set for April 29-30, including 6A at Stillwater Country Club, 5A at Muskogee Golf Club and 3A at Lincoln Park East.

IRISH GIRLS 2ND AT REGIONAL PREVIEW

With all four players placing in the top 15, the McGuinness girls finished second at the Class 5A West Regional Preview tournament last Monday.

REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS

Abbie Justiz carded a 75 in cool, blustery conditions at Prairie West in Weatherford to tie for second place in the individual standings.

Taylor French fired an 83 to place eighth, followed by Grace McDaniel tied for 10th with an 89 and Briana Rivera was a shot back of McDaniel in 12th position.

ANTLER BOYS RUNNER-UP AT DC INV.

The host Antlers boasted all five players in the top 25 as they grabbed second place at the Deer Creek Invitational.

Cohen Lorenzen, Hudson Linsenmeyer and Liam Hulbert posted identical rounds of 79 at Rose Creek in OKC to tie for sixth place. Boston Harris carded an 81 in a tie for 17th, and Deacon Caldwell shot 83 to share 21st.

ANTLER GIRLS 8TH AT MUSTANG INV.

The Deer Creek girls had a pair of players in the top 25 on the way to an eighth-place finish at the Mustang Invitational.

Lana Bowen shot an 82 at Surrey Hills in Yukon for sixth place, while teammate Chelsea Powell carded 91 for 22nd place.

Also on Monday, the Casady boys finished 12th at the Jenks Invitational as Jack Lee shot a

team-best round of 80 at Cedar Ridge in Broken Arrow for 33rd place.

OTHER RESULTS

Charger girls grab Hennessey crown: Posting their best score of the season, the Heritage Hall girls cruised to the Hennessey Invitational title. Gabrielle Gross carded a 78 at Turkey Creek to win the individual crown by four strokes, as all five players finished in the top 25. Carter Burch shot 87 for fifth place, while Reygann Jones tied for seventh with an 89, Lilli Stanley took 14th and Leah Smith tied for 15th place.

Irish boys claim Choctaw title: McGuinness’ Ben Jones fired a 74 at Choctaw Creek to claim the individual championship and lead the Irish to the team crown as well. Teammate Ryan McClanahan finished three shots back in a tie for second and Aiden Lozano was eighth with an 83.

Irish girls take 3rd at Del City: The McGuinness girls placed third at the Del City Invitational. Abbie Justiz carded a 76 at Trosper Park in sixth place and Taylor French tied for seventh with 81.

Antlers take down Ed. North

Plating three runs in the top of the eighth inning, the Deer Creek baseball team escaped with a 7-4 extra-inning victory at Edmond North last Monday.

Ashton Hartwig enjoyed a big day, going 4-for-5 with three doubles and drove in two runs for the Antlers (16-13). Five others boasted at least two hits each.

Jake Ervin belted a triple and drove in two runs, while Connor Atkinson collected an RBI double.

Pitcher Rex Dahlgren allowed just a hit and struck out three over 2 1/3 inning for the win.

Deer Creek hosts Westmoore this Friday at 5 p.m. and Yukon on Monday.

EAGLES

HOLD OFF RIVERSIDE

Jumping out to an early lead, Harding Charter Prep held off a late rally and came away with a 6-3 win at Riverside on Monday.

Four Eagles collected hits, led by Xavier Sarkey with a single and two RBIs.

Cameron Crabb and Marshall Godwin drove in runs, and Justin Wright scored.

Pitcher Bryan Mercer allowed three runs on six hits and struck out six over five innings for the victory.

The Eagles (6-12) visit Pauls Valley this Friday in a doubleheader.

CHARGERS ROUT COMMUNITY CHR.

Heritage Hall

cruised to a 16-1 triumph over Community Christian, behind a pair

SOCCER ROUNDUP

Chargers sweep Bethany, Ardmore

Continuing its strong season, the Heritage Hall boys soccer teams cruised to a pair of shutout victories last week as the regular season comes to a close.

On Thursday, the Chargers (7-1) rolled to a 6-0 win at Bethany.

Noah Ragozzino netted three goals and two assists, while David Griffin and Tucker Austin added a goal and assist each.

To open the week, Heritage Hall posted a 10-0 triumph over Ardmore.

Alex Alspaugh and Thad Butler scored two goals each, and Caysen Argo added a goal and four assists.

The Chargers visit Chickasha this Friday and Casady on Tuesday.

EAGLES GET PAST ELK CITY IN OVERTIME

It took an extra session but the Harding Charter Prep boys pre-

of home runs by Andrick Golden and Julius Ejike-Charles.

Golden blasted a 3run home run in the first inning, and EjikeCharles provided a 2run shot for the Chargers (19-2).

Carson Beam batted 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Whit Thomas belted a double and drove in two more runs.

Ejike-Charles also picked up the pitching victory, sriking out 10 and allowing a run on three hits in five innings.

Heritage Hall hosts Mount St. Mary this Saturday and travels to Tuttle on Monday.

ROCKETS SHUT OUT PRAGUE

Erupting for 12 hits, Mount St. Mary rolled to an 8-0 win over Prague last Monday.

Story continued at OKCFRIDAY.com.

vailed 2-1 against Elk City last Thursday.

Julion Ponce netted a pair of goals and Evan Castellanos had an assist for the Eagles (5-5).

The Eagle girls (3-7) got two goals from Laken LeForce in a 4-2 loss to the Elks.

Both teams also suffered shutout losses at Weatherford.

Harding Prep hosted Newcastle last Thursday in the season finale.

ROCKET GIRLS FALL AT COMMUNITY CHR.

The Mount St. Mary girls split a pair of games last week, including a 3-2 loss to Community Christian and a 9-0 victory at Alva.

Josie Peterson and Georgia Ahlert scored goals against Community Christian for the Rockets (6-3).

The duo also netted two goals each against the Goldbugs and Emma Floyd added a goal and two assists.

Mount St. Mary travels to Casady this Friday.

Christ the King Parish celebrates 75 Years

In 1947, Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness saw the need for a new Catholic Parish in the developing northwest area of OKC.

Vacant property was purchased at Elmhurst Avenue and Dorset Drive for the new church, and Fr. Charles Buswell, then assistant pastor of Our Lady's Cathedral, was named the first pastor of Christ the King Parish.

On Passion Sunday 1949, Bishop McGuinness broke ground for the building of four classrooms and multipurpose room, which could serve as a temporary chapel. The school opened in the fall of 1949 with 72 students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Benedictine Sisters from Guthrie staffed the small school, with Sr. Mary Paul, O.S.B., serving as the first principal. There were 125 families registered at Christ the King.

Christ the King Parish celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2024, with 525 students enrolled in preschool through eighth grade and more than 5,500 registered parishioners. Under the direction of Pastor Rev. Rex Arnold, Parochial Vicar Rev. Prabhakar Kalivela and Principal Dr. Jenny Richard, there is a place for everyone at Christ the King.

Christ the King Parishchurch and school - is observing its Jubilee Anniversary in many ways throughout the year. In April, parishioners served six local agencies on CK Service Saturday. Nationally renowned concert organist, Todd Wilson of the Cleveland Institute of Music, performed in concert for the community at large. Catholic speaker Sheri Wohlfert is to share her humor and wisdom on timely topics in a series of presentations to enhance our

church, school and home experiences. A Legacy Mass and Reception are to be held in June to honor founding families and parishioners who’ve called Christ the King home for 50 years or longer.

CK School holds the 9th Annual CK Run in the fall, as well as an Alumni Gathering in November. On Saturday, Nov. 16, a 75th Anniversary Gala will be held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Christ the King Sunday on Nov. 24th caps the year of celebration.

Christ the King Catholic Church in Oklahoma City is a faith community dedicated to helping each person develop a relationship with Christ in His Church, forming disciples, serving others and proclaiming the Good News. If you would like to learn more about Christ the King Church or School, please visit ckokc.org.

Heritage Hall Chargers keep a busy spring schedule

Johnson

HALL HAPPENINGS

On Monday, April 8, Chargers in grades 4-12 gathered around the campus to view the solar eclipse. In Lower School, third graders visited the Science Museum of Oklahoma to explore the study of

constellations and combustions on Wednesday, April 10.

The Upper School hosted the Explore Fair on Wednesday to exhibit and celebrate the hard work of each Explore Week group.

Booths were set up across the Reynolds Common to showcase all of the unique learning opportunities that took place during Explore Week in early March. Story continued at okcfriday.com.

Nonprofits help bring crime rates down

Criminal justice reform has had a great impact in Oklahoma City and across our state. Efforts, including decriminalizing nonviolent drug crimes, clean slate legislation, and increasing the funding for programs and important services to help people involved in the criminal legal system have all produced good outcomes.

The number of people at the Oklahoma County Detention Center has declined by nearly half from 2,414 on July 1, 2015, to 1,270 on March 25, 2024.

The number of people sent to the Department of Corrections from Oklahoma County is significantly lower and crime rates continue to decrease in Oklahoma.

There are a lot of factors contributing to these positive outcomes. Community efforts and non-profit organizations bring resources and provide life-stabilizing services to system-impacted individuals, and we must continue to support and uplift their work. By doing so, the entire community wins.

For instance, LiveFree OKC, the first organization of its kind in Oklahoma, focuses on community violence intervention and is hosting a peace conference this September. The Oklahoma County Diversion Hub has helped thousands of individuals navigate the criminal legal system and get access to the basic, supportive services they need to

get back on track. Oklahoma County’s Warrant Clearing events have cleared hundreds of warrants. Of the individuals who have had their court dates reset through this event, all of them have appeared and continue to work through the court process.

These organizations and their work have measurable impact on the community, but there is still a long road ahead. The possibility to reshape our future is on the horizon and needs continuous support and encouragement to fully come to fruition.

Given the progress we’ve already made, it’s important that we recognize and foster efforts that will continue to have an impact.

From left: Antoinette Jones, Jess Eddy, Jeanettea Traylor, Perrin Duncan, Brandon Banks, Jabee Williams, Pastor Michael McBride, Ka’Shez Coursey and Archange Antoine.

Homelessness is a solvable problem

By Clay Moss Key to Home Board Chair

It's easy to look at OKC and other metropolitan cities with everincreasing populations of panhandlers and tent camps and draw the conclusion that a city's growth is tied to a rise in homelessness. We see homelessness increasing in our own growing community - along the revitalized river, under bridges and along medians - but Oklahoma City is poised to become a national leader in changing homelessness as we know it today.

I will admit, I was once skeptical that homeless people could be helped. I doubted some's desire for help and I wasn’t sure our beloved city could deliver system-wide change. Over the past year, the Key to Home Partnership has made me a firm believer. Through Key to Home, led by the City of OKC, I've

had the opportunity to work alongside the city's network of nearly 50 homeless response partners, business leaders, elected officials and those who have experienced homelessness themselves. It is clear Oklahoma City has a shared commitment to do it differently and better. This is the Oklahoma Standard.

In addition to housing solutions that nonprofits have offered for years, we recognized a need to specifically address the growing population of chronically unsheltered people. Through Key to Home, we've created a new Direct to Housing path which rapidly moves people from sleeping outside into housing and provides critical case management support to provide stability through the transition.

See KEY, Page B11

Express Employment Professionals’ third-best sales year signals strong market

Notching the third-best year for sales in the staffing company’s more than 40-year history, Express Employment Professionals saw revenues of $4.1 billion in 2023, employing 492,000 associates at 862 franchise locations across the globe.

Franchise expansion consisted of awarding 51 franchise development agreements, including locations in Ohio, Alabama, Texas, Maryland and South Africa.

“With the surge in demand for top talent over the past few years, Express franchise owners and their staff have risen to the occasion, propelling us to record-setting numbers once again,” Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller said. “We are not only meeting but exceeding the needs of our clients, and I am humbled by the trust they have placed in us.”

Express earned several recognitions throughout 2023, including designations on the following lists:

• Entrepreneur: Franchise 500 List and Best in Category for the 12th consecutive year, Franchise 500 Hall of Fame, Fastest Growing Franchises, Top Global Franchises, Top Franchises for less than $150,000, Best 150

Franchises for Multi-Unit Owners and Top Franchises for Veterans

• Forbes: America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms and America’s Best Temp Staffing Firms

• Staffing Industry Analysts: FifthLargest U.S. Staffing Firm, SecondLargest U.S. Industrial Staffing Firm, Third-Largest U.S. Office/Clerical Staffing Firm, Largest U.S. Direct Hire Firms, Top 50 Providers of Direct Hire Services Globally and 13th-Largest Global Staffing Firm

• Franchise Business Review: Top Franchise Culture, Top RecessionProof Franchises, Most Innovative Franchises and Most Profitable Franchises

Express is also proud to announce the rebranding of its healthcare staffing entity, now known as Express Healthcare Staffing.

“As we navigate this year’s opportunistic market conditions, our commitment remains unwavering: to bridge the gap between exceptional companies and quality job seekers,” Stoller said. “Together, we continue to set new standards in the industry, and I am excited for the future as we build upon this foundation of success.”

SWOSU continues to make strides supporting Oklahoma’s aerospace and defense workforce needs

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford continues to help Oklahoma address workforce needs for the state’s second-largest industry.

In the past year, the university has increased the number of majors and graduates in its aerospace and defense-related programs by more than 10%. In addition to the growth, nearly every graduate of its aerospace and defense programs immediately enters the industry’s workforce.

SWOSU launched its aerospace and defense workforce initiative in 2022 backed by Oklahoma Citybased global aerospace defense contractor Delaware Resource Group of Oklahoma LLC (DRG).

DRG was founded by Phil G. Busey Sr. in 2002 and has been run by his two sons since last year. DRG President Philip Busey Jr. and CEO Brian Busey both received their undergraduate degrees from SWOSU.

“We applaud the university leadership for taking the critical steps in addressing Oklahoma’s workforce needs,” Philip Busey Jr. said. “The biggest hurdle for industry growth

right now is the workforce availability and the workforce pipeline.

SWOSU has pivoted to support industry and is proving to be vital in ensuring the industry continues to grow. They are leading the charge among regional universities in Oklahoma.”

SWOSU’s academic programs related to the aerospace and defense industry include accredited programs in Applied Engineering Management and Manufacturing Engineering Technology. Degrees in Engineering Technology, Engineering Physics and Computer Sciences also help students pursue careers in the aerospace and defense industry. SWOSU is no stranger to the aerospace and defense industry. The university prides itself of its rich history producing successful alumni who have served at NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and with the U.S. Armed Forces. Several SWOSU alumni are also making an impact in the industry through leading aerospace and defense corporations such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

DRG is regarded as one of the prominent industry leaders head-

KEY

From Page B10

quartered in Oklahoma. DRG is a leading global training service contractor and total training systems integrator providing services and support all over the world. Thou-

Our goal is to house 500 chronic, unsheltered individuals by the end of 2025. Since the initiative launched in September 2023, we have housed 126 people and we’re just getting started. Of the individuals we’ve approached, 97% have accepted housing, and of those who did, less than 1% have returned to homelessness after being housed. This success clearly

sands of service men and women around the world count on DRG to provide critical training and logistics services for many of today’s modern military programs and aircraft.

demonstrates that the desire for help is there, and with appropriate resources, thoughtful planning and a dedicated community, homelessness IS solvable. The City of OKC has stepped up tremendously to lead this effort. The nonprofits serving this community are doing incredible work with the additional resources provided to them. Our philanthropic community has pushed us to new heights of what success should

look like. Business leaders are stepping up, and individuals have donated their hard-earned money to this extraordinary effort.

Each of us has a role to play – what will yours be? If you’re not sure how you can help but you want to be involved, I’d love to talk to you. You can reach me directly at cmoss@hall-capital.com, learn more at keytohomeokc.org, and donate today at cfok.org/keytohome.

Writer Clay Moss with his family, Whitney and Mitchell Moss.

DRG President Philip Busey Jr. and Dr. Chad Kinder, vice president for strategic partnerships at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, attend "AERO Oklahoma" Aviation, Aerospace & Defense Awareness Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol on April 3.

Flight defies gravity yet again

For the sixth consecutive year, Flight has outpaced its aggressive growth goals while delivering award-winning results for clients in Oklahoma and beyond. The Bricktown-based marketing firm is led by visionary partners Christopher Lloyd and Casey Cornett.

As a full-service agency, Flight delivers highly strategic, stunningly creative marketing solutions. The firm specializes in films, commercials, branding identities, websites, design, marketing strategy and media execution.

Over the past year, Flight’s film team has crisscrossed the state shooting videos for OU Health, Chickasaw Country, Dobson Fiber and other highprofile clients. The results were visually breathtaking, but as CEO Lloyd points out, it’s business results that matter most.

“In the old days, you could churn out a TV campaign and call it good,” Lloyd mused. “These aren’t the old days. Our clients demand tangible business results, and we give it to them with analytics to back it up.”

In addition to campaigns for bigname clients, Flight works extensively

with nonprofits. In the last year, the agency has completed film, design, branding and web projects for numerous community partners in Oklahoma, including Lyric Theatre, deadCenter Film Festival, OU Foundation, Infant Crisis Services, Redbud Classic, Cleats for Kids and many more.

For President Casey Cornett, it’s about delivering on Flight’s core values. “We talk a lot about championing others and elevating our community. We’re committed to acting on those promises. And we’re even more passionate about serving causes that uplift Oklahoma and its people,” said Cornett.

Flight unveiled an all-new website in March of this year. For Lloyd, the new site is the ultimate expression of the rapidly growing regional agency. “This site is a visual representation of the growth, experience, passion and wisdom that embody Flight at this moment in time. It encapsulates the incredible talents of our team and points the way to a brighter future — for our clients and for us.” Readers can check out the site at flight.agency.

Pat Rooney is honored

The

long-time supporter

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For more photos, see Page C4.

Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America honored

Pat Rooney with

E.C.

lian Distinguished Citizen Award. From left: Last Frontier Council CEO Jeff Woolsey, Life Scout Lia Fasching, Eagle Scout Isabelle Miller, Pat Rooney, Council President Ellen Fleming and event Chairman Bob Ross. Rooney is the executive chairman and controlling shareholder of First National Bank.

Above: Rooney family, from left, Patterson Rooney, Patrick Rooney, Matt Rooney, Katie Rooney, Marianne Rooney, Pat Rooney, Gillian Rooney and Turner Rooney. Scout Masters Bob Taylor and Carly Wilson.

Jenny and Josh Adel with Rumble, who had been busy testing the Pinewood Derby track.

David and Susie Bennett support the mission of the Boy Scouts.

Shower fetes Kate and Dillon

A wedding shower for Kate Benear and Dillon Choate took place in the home of Dana and Matt Price. The wedding is set for May 25. Family members, from left: Terri and Troy Benear, Kate Benear, Dillon Choate and Scott and Alix Shad.

Above: Party hosts, from lef, Jessica Bevers, Kelly McLain, Patti Lane, Tracy Mee, Kelly Gentry and Julie Hall. At left: Other party hosts include, from left, Melinda Cox, Dana Price, Suzie Dougherty, Libby Denner, Caroline Hendee and Anne Henderson. Hosts not pictured: Terri Cummings, Jill Dobbins, Aimee Harlow, Camilla Ostrowe and Lana Raupe.

Casady School is steeped in mission

While the landscape of education has evolved with new understandings of the brain and how we create durable and engaging learning, Casady School commits to providing a foundation of excellence for all students, instilling them with the educational and social skills to triumph in their future endeavors.

The school, along with our Casady Community, reflects a partnership highlighting Casady’s commitment to continuously improving its students' experiences and maintaining educational excellence to develop community and global leaders much like the Young Professionals we celebrate in today’s edition.

Everything the school does is rooted through the lens of its mission. From pedagogy to curriculum design to initiatives, faculty support professional development, and master campus planning, Casady creates traditional, yet forward-thinking, learning environments for students and faculty to ensure the school has the best resources in place so faculty may teach to the top of each child and carry the mission forward. A vibrant school is a combination of its people, places, and programs.

“The faculty has been the foundation and hallmark of the Casady experience throughout its 76 years. The founders sought individuals with personal professional qualifications of integrity, exceptional character, and intellectual strength. The national recognition Casady receives today is built upon this treasure of talent,” said Head of School Nathan L. Sheldon.

These individuals nurture Casady students and encourage their growth in mind, body, and spirit. The very best educational institutions are in a cycle of continuous improvement, constantly moving toward greater relevance for the next generation of students they serve; all this while keeping a constant, vigilant eye to traditions and what they mean to the institution.

Casady students find balance learning the value of working together inside and outside the classroom.

They find their own personal purpose that gives them joy they share with the world. At Casady, we paint a portrait — a portrait of a community, a portrait of a life, a portrait of a graduate.

Casady School graduates toss their hats in the air following their ceremony.

Pat Rooney is honored

At the Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen dinner when Pat Rooney was honored are, from left: Front row: Caroline Snodgrass, Jacquelyn and Patrick Wood, Clay and Emma Tucker and Erin and Sam Denyer; standing, Chase Snodgrass and Mike Turpen. Chase and Sam are Eagle Scouts.

Above: Ann Felton and Randy McDaniel. Below: Carey Joullian and Bob Ross. At left: Jamie and Clay Farha.

- Photos by Rose Lane

TFCU’s Samantha Strealy loves building relationships

Samantha Strealy joined Tinker Federal Credit Union’s (TFCU) business development team in 2020.

As a business development officer, Strealy works with TFCU business partners in northwest Oklahoma City, Edmond, Stillwater and Enid. Additionally, Strealy serves as the community outreach chair on the Downtown Edmond Business Board and graduated from Leadership Edmond in 2023. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Oklahoma City University.

“My favorite part of my job is meeting new people and growing relationships in my communities,” said Strealy. “I love telling people about TFCU and our financial education workshops. Working with our partners is rewarding and

makes me feel like I am making a difference.”

TFCU’s mission is to help its members achieve their goals and realize their dreams. As a not-forprofit, member-owned financial institution, TFCU returns profits to its members through financial education, higher dividends on shares, lower interest on loans, low or no fees on service and more.

TFCU has kept its members’ money safe and secure for 78 years.

Founded on March 20, 1946, TFCU is Oklahoma’s largest credit union with over 460,000 members and more than $6 billion in assets. TFCU serves members at 32 branches across Oklahoma, with locations in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Norman, Ada, Enid, Norman, Shawnee, Stillwater and Tulsa.

MPYP embody spirit, innovation

By Mark Stonecipher Councilman OKC, Ward 8

There is no doubt the work by those nominated and named for Oklahoma City’s 50 Most Powerful Young Professionals Under 50 for 2024 has been instrumental in the city’s growth and success.

This recognition goes beyond celebrating individual achievements; it honors the integral role these young leaders play in the broader narrative of our city’s growth and success. This distinguished group embodies the spirit and innovation reaching across various areas, from bold entrepreneurs transforming local businesses to educators who are creating a bright future for our students.

As we recognize these influential figures, we also embrace the ambitious future they are helping to build — a future where our community’s goals are exceeded, and our collective aspirations are realized.

MARK STONECIPHER Councilman, Ward 8

Gala benefits school faculty

Heritage Hall’s bi-annual Heart of Gold gala benefits the school’s exceptional faculty. In keeping with the event’s theme of Tropicana Nights, the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club was transformed into an island-inspired venue. Lance McDaniel ’88 served as emcee, as guests arrived in Caribbean apparel for dinner and a live auction. Later in the evening, guests were invited to Stay Gold, with dancing and live music by the band Hook. From left: Whitney Randall, Lauren Brownrigg, Heather Busey, Ashlee Waller, Mindy Bryant and Sarah Farris ’09.

Heart of Gold Chair Andrea Miller welcomes guests. Eric and Lauren Roth at the gala.

CHF presents research grant

Representatives of the Children’s Health Foundation on the Oklahoma Capitol steps during the Eclipse AND Diabetes Advocacy Day led by Sen. Carri Hicks — a fitting background for a $500,000 presentation. Children’s Health Foundation presents a research grant to Dr. Jeanie Tryggestad and OU Pediatrics Diabetes research team.

From left: Hon. Jeff Hickman, CHF Board of Advocates co-chairman; Kathy McCracken, CHF executive director; Dr. Jeanie Tryggestad, pediatrics diabetes researcher; Mike Dattolo, CHF Corporate Board chairman; Sawyer Hicks, 10-years-old, diabetes. champion; and Sen. Carri Hicks, diabetes advocate.

Kelly Willis on the way to the University of Alabama Blackburn Institute

Kelly Willis of Oklahoma City was selected as a member of The University of Alabama Blackburn Institute's class of 2024. Only 50 students are chosen through a highly competitive process to be part of the 2024 Blackburn class.

The Blackburn Institute is a leadership development and civic engagement program specifically focused on improving the state of Alabama. Through its work with students, alumni (Fellows), and Advisory Board members, the institute develops a network of leaders who have a

clear understanding of the state's challenges. Selected students participate in a common new student curriculum of activities and events, after which they continue their involvement as returning students for their remaining time at the Capstone.

Upon graduation, participants earn recognition as Blackburn Fellows and begin their work through professional and civic involvement in their home communities and throughout the state, both individually and through the Fellows Involvement Network

(FIN). Supported by an Advisory Board of established leaders committed to the state of Alabama, the Blackburn Institute promotes change through an intergenerational network that learns from the past, takes action in the present, and plans for the future.

Straughan retires, Mueller to take Homeless Alliance reins

Dan Straughan has retired as executive director of the Homeless Alliance after 20 years.

Julie Porter Scott, chairman of the Board, said, “We are incredibly grateful for Dan’s visionary leadership and service as the founder and executive director of the Homeless Alliance. Over the last 20 years, Dan has helped bring the community together to create a more collaborative, compassionate and rational system of care for our neighbors experiencing homelessness.”

Scott also said that Straughan’s replacement had already been chosen by the board. The organization’s current Associate Executive Director Meghan Mueller takes over for Straughan and oversees the organization’s mission of rallying the community to end homelessness. Since starting as an intern in 2013, Mueller has been promoted to positions of increasing responsibility and managed the execution of the Homeless Alliance’s main housing programs, support services and partnerships.

Mueller expressed her excitement to continue to impact Oklahoma City’s unhoused neighbors, saying, “I have learned an immeasurable amount over the last 11 years of working with Dan and our incredible team at the Homeless Alliance. I believe this role will continue my life’s work of improving life for all Oklahomans, especially those who have found themselves on the fringes of society.”

During his time at the Homeless Alliance, Straughan helped build the community’s capacity to better care for Oklahomans experiencing homelessness while developing strong partnerships with other agencies, local gov-

ernment, community groups, faith groups and businesses.

Today, the WestTown Homeless Resource Campus covers a city block that includes Oklahoma City’s only low barrier Day Shelter, a resource center with comprehensive services available for those experiencing homelessness and those at-risk of homelessness and housing for chronically homeless individuals and veterans.

The newest feature of the campus is Oklahoma City’s first permanent winter shelter, which opened in November 2023 with space to hold up to 300 individuals and their pets. Straughan also oversaw the creation of Curbside Chronicle, Oklahoma’s only street magazine, and helped it grow to its current suite including Curbside Flowers, Sasquatch Shaved Ice and Curbside Apparel.

Aside from leading Homeless Alliance, Dan served as president of the Governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness (GICH) and president of the United Way of Central Oklahoma Agency Directors Association.

“Dan and my work together at United Way convinced us that he was the perfect choice to turn a fledgling nonprofit into a vital force in our community,” Robert Spinks, former CEO of the United Way of Central Oklahoma, said.

“The Homeless Alliance is now a force to be reckoned with thanks to his leadership.”

Dan also serves as a member of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council, the Sisu Youth Services board, the Key to Home Partnership Board and the Leadership Oklahoma City board.

STRAUGHAN MUELLER

April Bowman, Samantha Fiscus, Frank Merrick and Tricia Everest at a reception honoring Neighborhood Service Organization’s 2024 Good Samaritan Award honorees. The awards ceremony is set for noon, Thursday, April 25. It is to be broadcast at nsookc.org/LiveGSA.

- Photos by Fran Kozakowski

Above: John and Kathy Williams. Kathy is the recipient of a Good Samaritan Award. Below: Laura Gutierrez and J. Don Harris.

At right: Lisa Putt, Good Samaritan Award Honoree, and Stacey Ninness, Neighborhood Services Organization president and CEO. Kevin Putt is also a Good Samaritan Award winner. Angela Monson is the recipient of the Sam Bowman Legacy Award.