CLASS OF 2016 Visit okc.biz to see the full Forty Under 40 presentation
Congratulations katie tiegreen proud you are a part of our team!
Forty Under 40
A
s the Forty Under 40 Class of 2016 was assembled, we learned a number of remarkable things about the honorees. It was exciting to discover their depth of commitment to living in Oklahoma City and their positive feelings about the community. Many have old-fashioned reasons for deciding to live in Oklahoma City, such as family values, friendliness and its strong sense of community. Others are drawn to its emerging urbanism, dynamic growth and
opportunity. Each of them in their own way make a difference and move OKC in a positive direction. Their dreams and aspirations bode well for the future of our city. There’s hardy commitment to fostering the arts, supporting transportation enhancements and building businesses that add vibrancy to our urban mosaic. Oklahoma Gazette is pleased to introduce to our readers 40 citizens who make Oklahoma City a great place to live.
CL ASS OF 2016
index Sarah Adams-Cornell.......... 14 Aimee Ahpeatone.................. 3
www.okc.biz
Tiffany Astl.............................15 Miguel A. Baez......................13 Bryan Bagby........................... 5 Regina J. Banks.....................13 Gabriel Bird............................. 7 Kayla Bonewell...................... 11 Kamisha D. Busby................ 10 741 NORTH PHILLIPS AVENUE | 405.239.3900
Jenna Byrnes.......................... 8 Graham Colton....................... 7 Christian C. Cox..................... 6 John W. Davenport............. 10 Bobbie Earles......................... 5 Jessica Farling........................ 9 Jack Fowler............................. 8 Jeremy P. Gardner................. 9 Jared Garner........................... 8 Nathaniel Goodwin...............13 Joshua Harlow...................... 10 Jason R. Henderson.............. 8 Chad Hodges.......................... 6 Corey Horsch.......................... 6 Elizabeth Isaac....................... 6 Sara Kaplan........................... 14 John Krenger.......................... 9 Shannon M. Lavicky............ 14 Justin Lawrence................... 10 Blake Lawrence...................... 5 Aurora Lora............................. 4 Reji M. Pappy........................ 14 Ted Perry................................15 Ashley E. Garcia Quintana..... 4 Anataya Rucker...................... 3 Brittni Shull............................. 5 Jenny Rodgers Stewart........ 9 Katie Tiegreen ...................... 11 Melissa Vincent.....................13 Kevin Watson.........................12 Lyndi Zavy ............................12
2
2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0 | O KC . B I Z
sponsors
Aimee Ahpeatone
age
38
Owner, Mosaic Mental Health; partner, Sweet Sixteenth LLC; co-owner Well Beauty Nail Studio Aimee Ahpeatone is a real estate developer, nail studio owner, consultant and counselor. She owns multiple companies and is a partner in Sweet Sixteenth LLC, which is responsible for much of the development in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District. Her company, Mosaic Mental Health, is owned entirely by women, as is her Plaza District nail salon, Well Beauty Nail Studio. She is committed to making the world a better place and is pursuing that goal from several directions. “I’ve spent 10 years of my life committed to working with victims of trauma,” Ahpeatone said. “I have worked mostly with children and teens of physical and sexual assault. I have spent time other countries, helping improve the status of mental health and equality among the sexes. My company advocates for those who have a limited voice by providing mental health services to a variety of disenfranchised folks, including survivors of trauma, children and folks in the LGBTQ community.” Mosaic Mental Health provides counseling for children, adults, couples, families and groups, and services can be provided in the patient’s home, school, office or at Mosaic’s Oklahoma City offices. Ahpeatone and her co-owners and fellow counselors Miranda Bergman and LaDonna White can treat issues like substance abuse, depression, trauma and anxiety.
Anataya Rucker offers hope in the face of despair through her work with elderly, physically and mentally disabled people currently living in institutionalized settings, yet hoping to regain some independence. As she meets each patient, someone very special is always in the back of her mind. “My grandfather is an 86-year-old disabled veteran, and despite health challenges, he still remains in his home with aid from family and home health agencies. The thought of losing more of his independence than he already has is very difficult for him to understand,” Rucker said. Rucker works as clinical nurse supervisor for Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA)’s Money Follows the Person (MFP)-Living Choice program. “I love my job. I thoroughly review assessments and medical documentation to identify individuals who can be served on the Living Choice program based on the services we can provide,” she said. Rucker also is pursuing a dual degree in a family nurse practitioner (FNP) doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program. “My goals will consist of providing preventive measures for families and maintaining optimal health for those dealing with acute and chronic health issues,” she said, “with the objective of offering services to all mankind, regardless of economic, gender, socioeconomic or ethnic backgrounds.”
Anataya Rucker
age
31
Clinical nurse supervisor, Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA)’s Money Follows the Person (MFP)-Living Choice
O kC . B I Z | 2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0
3
Forty Under 40 Ashley E. Garcia Quintana
age
26
Chief of operations, Bridges Strategies
Ashley Quintana has a mantra, which she first heard in elementary school in Harlingen, Texas — “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow” — that she relates to in a profound way. “The past is my teacher; I learn from it. My Latina heritage, my God, my amazing counselors and professors, my parents and my brother and sisters have shaped me,” she said. “The present is a blank canvas, where I paint every day. ... The future is what I look forward to. In my mind, a successful life is found when you balance the three: past, present and future.” She’s a fierce businesswoman, and the two-year-old company she co-founded with a partner and a $10,000 investment, Bridges Strategies, is a multicultural success story. Quintana constantly gives back and serves others for very personal reasons. “I was born to an immigrant family in Harlingen, Texas. Spanish is my first language; I started learning English in kindergarten in Oklahoma City,” Quintana said. “I am the first in my family to graduate college with an undergraduate and graduate degree.” She donates to Oklahoma City Police Athletic League, led the development and execution of a bilingual voter registration campaign and every year, she travels to Mexico with donations for children living in poverty.
“When I was a first-year teacher in Houston, I decided that my dream was to become an urban school district superintendent by the age of 40,” she said. “For the last 16 years, I have been very open about the fact that this was my dream and that my career has been devoted to achieving that goal.” On July 1, it happened. It’s without a doubt a huge achievement, but it’s not the only impressive item on her vitae. She was the subject of a book written by Teach for America, Ms. Lora’s Story. She also founded a school, Tubman Middle School/Harriet Tubman Leadership Academy for Young Women, in 2005 in Portland. Lora holds a master’s degree in education policy and management from Harvard University, another master’s degree in education with principal certification from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from University of Texas at Austin. “So far, my experience as superintendent has been better than I even imagined. I love this city. I love my job. I love the my employees and students and feel so supported by so many community partners who are stepping up to help our school district during difficult budget times,” she said.
Aurora Lora Superintendent, Oklahoma City Public Schools
4
2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0 | O KC . B I Z
age
39
Forty Under 40 Brittni Shull
In a typical day at the office, Blake Lawrence’s activities include constant communication with partners and clients, cooperative work on large-scale transactions involving multiple interested parties and representing clients spanning small and medium businesses, indigent people and financial institutions. When he’s not at the office, he is devoted to nonprofit work. “I have made serving on nonprofit boards a priority and have had the great pleasure to work with some terrific organizations doing fantastic good for the Oklahoma City community. From arts nonprofits to an educational camp for elementary school students, helping others from all walks of life and covering a myriad of different interests has been extremely rewarding,” Lawrence said. “Additionally, with two small children, I try and be the best father I can be and keep up with all of their activities! With some luck, they will grow up wanting to make a difference in their own communities in their own ways.” His service includes holding board positions with Canterbury Voices (formerly Canterbury Choral Society); Oklahoma Hall of Fame Second Century Board; Freedom School OKC, which operates an intensive reading camp for underprivileged Oklahoma City youth each summer; and YMCA Youth and Government Advisory Board. He also is a member of Leadership Oklahoma City’s Linking Oklahoma City’s Young Adult Leaders (LOYAL) Class VIII.
Blake Lawrence
age
29
Account director, Koch Communications
age
30
Attorney, Hall Estill Attorneys at Law
In her tenure with Koch Communications, Shull has seen the company double in size, moving from a converted house in Midtown to the entire fifth floor of a Bricktown office building, and that excites her. “I’ve helped the company grow while mentoring new employees who are experiencing the first steps in their careers,” she said. Mentoring is important to Shull, thanks in part to the mentors who supported her as she began her transformation from student to professional. As Shull’s career progresses, she also takes time to sharpen her skills. “I’m reading a book called The Human Brand: How We Relate to People, Products, and Companies by Chris Malone and Susan Fiske. It’s all about ensuring marketing is human and building relationships will always be valuable. There are plenty of real-world examples and situations analyzed throughout the book, which I love. It’s a loaner from one of my coworkers.” Volunteer work is important to Shull, who is dedicated to serving Arts Council Oklahoma City. She was a founding member of its Artisans young leadership group, which she became chairperson of in 2015. “I’ve always been so enthralled with stories 30-plus-year Festival of the Arts volunteers share with me about how far this city has come,” she added.
Bryan Bagby
age
30
Director, Paycom service department Within her first eight months at Oklahoma City marketing firm Insight Creative Group (ICG), Bobbie Earles quickly worked her way up through a handful of positions before becoming executive director. “As executive director, I manage all aspects of the operations of ICG on behalf of the ownership team. I am active on all ICG client accounts, responsible for all financial operations and the ‘team captain’ to all employees,” she said. “As executive director, I get to grow our team on a personal level — not only working with someone on being better at what they do from 8 to 5, but on being more purposeful within all sectors of their lives, being more positive and always working with the attitude of serving others and having a big impact, both through our work and who we are as people.” Part of her confidence comes from the talented creative team at ICG. “In areas that I am weak, I have a team of directors and senior staff that I completely trust to lead with expertise and do excellent work,” she said. “I have trusted confidants that tell me when I’m on the right track (or when I’m not!), and we work together on creative solutions for our clients as well as internally at ICG.”
Bobbie Earles Executive director, Insight Creative Group
age
33
Bryan Bagby manages more than 350 employees in the Paycom Service Department and attributes a lot of his success as a professional to his parents. “On the professional side, I’ve always looked up to my father and the impact he’s had on the lives of my siblings and me. … That example has impacted me in a way that’s allowed me to see the blessings my company has provided me,” he said. That’s not to say that the pressure doesn’t get to him sometimes. “In early 2010, prior to my one-year anniversary with Paycom, our CEO wanted a better understanding of what the day-to-day lives of our payroll specialists looked like,” he said. Bagby found himself being shadowed and enjoying lots of one-on-one time with the big boss. “I could have easily folded under the pressure of our CEO spending six straight hours with me,” Bagby said, “but instead, I took it as a learning experience and an opportunity to get to know our founder.” Bagby and his wife focus a great deal on making the world a better place, whether through his involvement with his kids’ little league sports or through sponsoring a child to attend camp through Cavett Kids Foundation. The pair also recently founded Bagby Family Foundation, which will create scholarships for Tuttle students looking to attend college.
O kC . B I Z | 2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0
5
Forty Under 40
Forty Under 40
Chad Hodges is a man who creates and embraces professional and personal growth, though the line between the two can seem blurred. He created and owns DNA Designs, Inc., a commercial painting business he founded four years ago. “I employ over 40 dedicated and talented painters and drywall finishers,” Hodges said. “Each day, we have the opportunity to work for amazing general contractors, business owners and residents. As a small business owner, I feel like each day is a significant achievement and look forward to what the future holds.” His side gigs in the Oklahoma cycling community are where his creative contribution to society takes place. He manages DNA Racing, an Oklahoma Citybased cycling team that he helped form in 2009. He also manages domestic elite cycling team Team Arapahoe Resources and is Oklahoma City Pro-Am Classic’s founder and race director. The race celebrated its fifth year in 2016. Additionally, Hodges is race director for the Wheeler Criterium weeknight riding festival, with weekly rides in spring and summer. Food trucks, spectators, cyclists and now the Wheeler Ferris Wheel combine to give these events a unique Oklahoma City flavor.
Chad Hodges
Corey Horsch
age
38
Corey Horsch is a long-term planner with a penchant for investing, which was discovered by a mentor during his internship. He has also enjoyed a career that people twice his age would be right to envy. In the mid-2000s, he was vice president of Credit Suisse; before that, he lived in New York City and worked in the gaming, lodging, beverage and tobacco industries. Stints at Luther King Capital Management in Fort Worth and Surveyor Capital in Dallas followed. These days, he works at the headquarters of America’s favorite drive-in, Sonic Corp., and he tries to make the world a better place in a very direct way. “The first way I try to contribute to improving the community and the world is to be the best father, husband, son, friend and coworker I can be,” he said. “The biggest opportunity I have is to positively impact the people I am lucky enough to interact with every day.” He’s also a dedicated mentor. “Providing kids with role models outside of parents and teachers (as important as those are!) offers another opportunity for them to make a connection or get introduced to a new viewpoint, new skill or new style of leadership,” Horsch said.
Elizabeth Isaac Christian Cox’s list of awards is impressive both for its number and its variety. There’s the Chesapeake Presidential Scholar designation at Oklahoma City University, and there’s also the Bob Mills Rebranding Competition winner. His business interests are equally far-ranging. He’s employed by Oklahoma City University, where he works as a marketing manager. He’s also Uptown 23rd’s marketing director. Through his own company, Modern Influence, he provides marketing and social media management to industries including clothing, phone repair and food. His Oklahoma City University gig involves creating and managing Google, Facebook and LinkedIn campaigns, along with copywriting, script writing, video shoots and advertising campaigns. As marketing manager for Uptown 23rd, Cox said it’s his privilege to act as Uptown’s voice, help coordinate events and maintain their positive and community-based brand. “We’ve introduced initiatives to foster the well-being of the community, such as new bike racks to promote riding to the district ... or the summertime farmers markets to grant people access to fully organic and healthier food options,” he said. “We are passionate about making Uptown 23rd a place to not only enjoy time with friends and family, but also to feel inspired and motivated to live better lifestyles in our rapidly growing city.”
Marketing manager, Oklahoma City University; marketing director, Uptown 23rd; owner Modern Influence 6
2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0 | O KC . B I Z
38
Vice president of investor relations and treasurer, Sonic Corp.
Owner, DNA Designs, Inc.; team manager and founder, DNA Racing and Team Arapahoe Resources; founder and race director, Oklahoma City Pro-Am Classic; event director, Wheeler Criterium
Christian C. Cox
age
age
33
Registered patent attorney, Dunlap Codding
age
25
Elizabeth Isaac has taken a decidedly untraditional path to success. She’s a patent, trademark and copyright attorney at Dunlap Codding, and after graduating law school and while working full-time as an attorney, Isaac returned to undergraduate school to further her education in biological sciences in order to sit for the United States Patent and Trademark Office bar exam. “While working and serving as board chair of IgniteOKC, I studied for and passed the patent bar,” Isaac said. “I am the only attorney in my office thus far to have completed this nontraditional route. Fortunately, I work for a law firm committed to its attorneys’ growth and serving the community.” For Isaac, her career and her community are very much intertwined. “Dunlap Codding shows strong dedication to the arts in Oklahoma City, and the people here are made of the same fiber that’s sewn in me,” Isaac said. “It’s a unique fiber of creatives and dreamers and doers.” The philosophies of Isaac and Dunlap Codding work well together. The firm offers its space to nonprofit organizations for free and sponsors events throughout the year. “Spreading good news about OKC makes our community a better place,” Isaac said. “Spreading goods news period makes the world a better place.”
Gabriel Bird
age
33
Dentist, Gabriel Bird DDS
Perhaps it’s fitting that Gabriel Bird, a man whose philosophy is to work from small to big, taking care of the little things, putting relationships, patient care and personal integrity first, would have on his reading list a book of similar bent called Unseen City: The Majesty of Pigeons, the Discreet Charm of Snails & Other Wonders of the Urban Wilderness. As he explains, it’s clear that his dedication to being the best he can be in as many small ways as possible has led him to great success. “I strive to be the best version of me I can be and empower those around me to do the same,” Bird said. “On an individual level, I can make my home a pleasant place that offers wellbeing for me and my family. On a personal level, I can be a loving father, faithful husband, loyal friend and generally decent person. “Professionally, I structured my dental practice to put patient care first. I stay small by design; I won’t overbook my schedule in order to devote all of my attention and energy to the person in my chair. I listen to them and treat to the individual as opposed to the profit margin. I don’t answer to a corporate office; I answer to my patients.”
Graham Colton has recently reinvented himself again. After a major label career, lots of television appearances and being pigeonholed as a singersongwriter, he has gone through a metamorphosis. It started when he left Oklahoma City and continued upon his return. “I love my city,” Colton said. “I hope to lend a creative voice and support all the amazingly talented people furthering Oklahoma City’s renaissance.” Now, Colton is stretching his wings and taking chances. He’s in real estate. He’s developing technological innovations for musicians and venues. And he’s following in his grandfather’s footsteps, stepping boldly into the philanthropic scene in Oklahoma. What Colton is most proud of, though, is his work with nonprofits. He has recently been named to the board of directors of Allied Arts. His grandparents, the late Jackie Cooper and his grandmother Barbara, founded Red Tie Night, which benefits the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund. “I’m very proud of the work that the Oklahoma AIDS Care fund does,” he said. “This is still a horrible disease, and we cannot take our foot off the gas pedal yet. Younger people need to be brave and talk about HIV and AIDS. It’s still got a lot of taboo about it.”
Graham Colton
age
35
Singer, songwriter and entrepreneur
O kC . B I Z | 2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0
7
Forty Under 40 Oklahoma City resident Jack Fowler grew up in Wewoka and Seminole and worked on a cattle ranch after he graduated from Oklahoma State University. Today, he is a prolific producer of projects in an array of media and endeavors to “leave a trail of art in [his] wake.” This month, he received the Paseo Arts Association’s Emerging Artist Award. This Jack of many trades is also a dedicated volunteer, although he’s charmingly modest about it. “I do stuff like volunteer and coach baseball and donate work to charities, but I think everybody does stuff like that,” he said. His latest project is coming to a wall near you. Bricktown Octopus is a 200-foot-long, 25-foot-high mural that will cover the back side of Chevy Bricktown Events Center. Fowler also is a freelance writer and Oklahoma Gazette editorial cartoonist. Readers voted him Best Visual Artist in the Gazette’s 2016 Best of OKC reader poll. He’s passionate about art. “I feel driven to make art every day and try as hard as I can to fling it far and wide,” he said. “I guess I don’t know if I’m making the world a better place, but I’m damn sure making it more colorful.”
Jack Fowler
Jason R. Henderson
age
39
Jason Henderson began working for Mako Surgical in 2011. Mako Surgical was a national leader in robotic joint replacement procedures at the time. Two years later, it was purchased by Stryker Corporation, and Henderson’s career flourished. “I now manage and helped grow a multimillion-dollar area that continues to drive new business each year,” he said. “Through our integration, I have piloted a robotic joint replacement virtual site right here in Oklahoma City for surgeons all around the world to observe. I have successfully launched two products for the company. … Our largest ever will be released to the general public in 2017.” When it comes to civic engagement, Henderson is active in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma. He serves on its board and co-chaired its 2016 Taste of OKC fundraiser. He served on Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Walk for Wishes committee in 2013, is a member of Leadership Oklahoma City’s Linking Oklahoma City’s Young Adult Leaders (LOYAL) Class XI and helps with the Waurika Public Schools Foundation. “I love Oklahoma and want others to love it as much as I do. … I believe that if we all do our part, then society will change for the better and we will have great passion for making the community a better place.”
Jenna Byrnes In 2012, Jared Garner decided to make a big change. “Prior to owning Garner Insurance, I worked as an assistant store manager at Lowe’s, with no insurance experience … after about five years, I decided I was ready for a big change,” Garner said. Garner started his insurance career as a producer at another agency. Two years later, he decided to go out on his own. “Within a five-year time frame, I went from no insurance experience to owning and operating a successful, thriving agency with two employees and another producer,” he said. Without two key mentors in his life, he wouldn’t have been able to do it. “The first would be my old company commander, Capt. Bible. When I was in Iraq as a young private, he taught me to be strongminded and to work through the tough situations. He taught me to think through the scenario before just diving in,” he said. “The second is my father-inlaw, Jim Adair. He taught me that business doesn’t always have to be hard and that it can also be fun. … I have worked hard to make my business successful, but without his confidence, I do not believe I could have made it to this point.”
Owner/Agent, Garner Insurance
8
2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0 | O KC . B I Z
30
Makoplasty Product Specialist Manager for OK, AR, MO, KS; Senior Clinical Launch Specialist, Stryker-MAKO Surgical Corporation
Artist, writer, editorial cartoonist and radio show host
Jared Garner
age
age
35
Senior vice president, Oklahoma City Dodgers
age
33
If you’ve been to a baseball game at Oklahoma City’s Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, you’ve seen Jenna Byrnes in action. As senior vice president of the Oklahoma City Dodgers, her role includes overseeing ticket sales, special events and internal leadership and training initiatives. She loves her work. “I am fortunate enough to work for an organization that makes it our mission to positively impact the quality of life in the community,” Byrnes said. “The OKC Dodgers put an emphasis on quality family entertainment, and we are passionate about helping our fans create lasting memories at the ballpark.” Byrnes’ most significant business achievement has been helping transform the underperforming team she met in 2011 into one of only three Minor League Baseball teams that have increased attendance the past five seasons. About two years ago, Byrnes played an instrumental role in identifying the need for and creating the Oklahoma City Dodgers Baseball Foundation. “The role a sports team can play in raising awareness of causes is a good one,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed being involved in the creation of this foundation as a way to further enhance the baseball team’s lasting imprint on this community.”
Jessica Farling
Jenny Rodgers Stewart was diagnosed with cancer when she was 13 years old. She went from a typical young teen concerned with sleepovers, sports and friends to fighting for her life. She felt like nobody understood what she was going through. “Everything changed the moment Cavett Kids Foundation came into my life,” Stewart said. “I attended Camp Cavett and finally found other kids who understood what I was going through, and I wasn’t alone anymore.” Her experience put her on her path. Stewart is dedicated to helping others through her work with nonprofit organizations. Through her work with youths, Stewart has learned to cherish the little things. She learned how to laugh and that life is too short to not have impromptu dance parties. An eight-year stint as executive director for Cavett Kids Foundation gave Stewart the opportunity to test her wings. Under her direction, the organization increased its fundraising by an incredible 415 percent and its membership by $1,300 percent. And the number of children served increased from 200 per year to more than 12,000. As Stewart looks to the future, she finds herself inspired daily by a favorite quote from Helen Keller: “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”
Jenny Rodgers Stewart
age
31
Director of public engagement, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
age
32
Nonprofit professional
Jessica Farling’s career with Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art began when she was a student at the University of Oklahoma. “In 2010, when I began working at FJJMA as a part-time employee, I set out to get my fellow OU peers excited about the art museum,” she said. “Then, in September 2014, I was promoted to director of public engagement, which has allowed me to think more broadly about all audiences of our museum. As part of that, I was tasked with the museum’s membership program. For the past 18 months, I have been working to foster excitement for the museum within our current core of members while looking for ways to get new people engaged with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.” Farling is eager to innovate but rejects the notion that traditions should be scrapped. A student program she launched in 2010, Art Museum Ambassadors, is still going strong. On the flip side, she opted to draw on the heritage of the museum when tasked with its annual membership party, now called the Silver Soiree. “Coming back to Oklahoma in 2009 was the best thing I could have done for my family and my career … I have learned so much from this community, and I am looking for ways to give back,” she said.
John Krenger
age
29
Vice president of energy financial services, Bank of Oklahoma Jeremy Gardner has been involved with some of Oklahoma City’s most recognizable projects and is on track to create many more. He helped form Gardner Architects in 2015 and before that was a director at Butzer Gardner Architects, where he worked on projects like SkyDance Pedestrian Bridge, Norman’s 104 Loft, The Oklahoman’s downtown digs and Mayfair Apartments in Midtown. Gardner has served as an invited architecture critic at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. His interest lies in bringing found objects and old buildings back to life. “Our practice contributes but a small fraction of our community’s built environment. We hope that what we have the opportunity to contribute in such a way that it adds value for our clients and adds value to the context in which we are working,” Gardner said. “We try to achieve this through a timeless approach to design, which is sensible as well as thought-provoking and relevant. We get to serve as the lens through which these objectives get projected to the community, be it a single family residence, a reimagined historic structure, a condo project downtown or a food pantry.”
Jeremy P. Gardner Principal/Owner, Gardner Architects
age
38
This young banker has his share of impressive achievements under his belt, many of which have come in the last two years, a trying time for the energy industry. While some other lenders have had to stop lending to the energy industry altogether because the losses in their energy lending portfolios were so great, Krenger has written no losses within his portfolio and does not expect to. “I have been fortunate enough, which speaks to the strength of Bank of Oklahoma, to grow my oil and gas loan commitments by $80 million over the past 18 months, which has allowed companies to operate as usual in challenging times,” Krenger said. “We made good decisions through the boom times … and have been good and trusted partners to our customers during these leaner times.” His commitment to the community runs as deep as his commitment to his clients. His love of football guides his civic engagement, and he serves as the volunteer head football coach for Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School’s seventh- and eighth-grade junior high teams, which he has done for six years. Krenger and his wife and also have been supporters of the United Way of Central Oklahoma and Allied Arts. “We do our best to support those foundations, as they have a huge impact for our community here in Oklahoma City,” he said.
O kC . B I Z | 2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0
9
Forty Under 40
Forty Under 40 Justin Lawrence
John Davenport directs the Oklahoma City market for Service Corporation International’s (SCI) Dignity Memorial company. SCI is the nation’s largest funeral and cemetery designer. He manages some 200 employees and generates about $20 million per year in revenue in the metro area while serving about 3,000 bereaved families a year in Oklahoma City alone. “We are here for families on some of the worst days of their lives. We are here to make things as easy as possible after the loss of a loved one,” Davenport said. “I lead the team in Oklahoma serving our community. Each quarter, our team volunteers multiple hours at the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank and our associates are involved in countless community events — from Rotary to Chamber activities or school boards to athletic leagues, our associates are there. I have a firm belief that we can do more each day and push all of our associates to be part of multiple groups.” In April, Davenport completed a two-year volunteer commitment. He was selected by the Norman Chamber of Commerce to co-chair a group of area high school sophomores in a program called Tomorrow’s Leaders. For 10 Saturdays, the group performed service projects around Norman, such as volunteering at Norman Music Festival or at a senior living center.
John W. Davenport
age
32
Owner, Oklahoma Shirt Company
Justin Lawrence’s philosophy is as practical as it is poignant. “I think making the world a better place starts at home, and as a husband and a dad, my number one priority is my family,” he said. “When I’m not loving my kids, I’m spending my time with my second family, the family we’ve built at Oklahoma Shirt Company, united in our love of this great state and building lasting relationships with our fellow Oklahomans and standing alongside other local businesses. We take so much pride in our community, which has given us so much, and we love giving back as much as we can to the people of Oklahoma.” His successful company began humbly enough as a way for Lawrence to support his family while he was in medical school. “In four short years, we have grown from a small operation slinging shirts out of my garage into an organization that has a tight-knit team of 12 employees, occupies a city block in downtown Oklahoma City and generates over $2.5 million per year in sales,” he said. His company’s Shirt of the Month club now counts more than 9,000 members across the country. age
33
Oklahoma City market director, Dignity Memorial, part of Service Corporation International
Kamisha D. Busby
Senior vice president, Jones Public Relations
10
2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0 | O KC . B I Z
34
Project coordinator, Central Oklahoma Healthy Start Initiative
Since Joshua Harlow arrived at Jones Public Relations in 2009, the company has grown exponentially, going from four employees to a staff more than 15 in offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Much of that growth is due to one of Harlow’s initiatives, the company’s burgeoning public affairs program. “[It’s] a practice I started from scratch six years ago with no relationships in Oklahoma and have built to be the preeminent public affairs firm in our state,” Harlow said. He also is a member of the MAPS 3 advisory committee on Trails and Sidewalks, the communications committee for St. Paul’s Cathedral and volunteers for the National Down Syndrome Society on its national communications committee. Another one of Harlow’s passions is the belief that every person is capable of changing things for the better. His upbringing shaped his altruistic worldview and his impressive work ethic. “Growing up, my parents owned restaurants, and I worked the family business a lot as a teenager and even before. I washed dishes alongside a man who had Down Syndrome, who my parents gave a job to because no one else would,” Harlow said. “My parents taught me that if you treat people with respect and work hard, you can go far in this world.”
Joshua Harlow
age
age
32
Kamisha Busby’s dedication to serving those who need it most developed early in her career. “I started my professional career as a nurse, caring for others within my community in a hospital setting as well as home visitations,” Busby said. “It was there that I saw there was a greater need for the people I served, more than just providing physical support. Returning to school to complete my bachelor’s degree aided in my development to advocate for change in the healthcare system.” In 2014, Busby was honored with the Indian Health Service GPRA (Government Performance and Results Act) Provider Champion award for her women’s health service to the American Indian community. She now provides a direct link to the urban community. “The community I serve has significantly greater health disparities than other races, specifically in infant mortality,” she said. “It is through this platform that I can best influence change and encourage other professionals around me as well as the community to advocate for change. I have been selected as a subcommittee chair of the Infant Mortality Alliance, a community-driven, grassroots effort addressing the disparities that impact infant mortality. I hope to be a catalyst for a larger transformation in the reduction in health care disparities while improving the access for all to quality healthcare regardless of social and financial status.”
Katie Tiegreen
age
29
Director of catering, Embassy Suites OKC Downtown Medical Center and founder, Work Hard. Love Harder Katie Tiegreen’s journey to success is a snapshot of what’s best about America. She was an underdog, a single mother of two young boys with very little help. She worked 80 hours a week to support her small family, taking on two full-time jobs. “In the fall of 2012 … I decided to leave Arkansas and head to Kansas City to accept a supervisor position at a hotel,” Tiegreen said. “The day before I was to leave, the director of sales from the Hampton Inn/ Holiday Inn called me.” They wanted to give her a chance as a catering sales manager, her first salaried position. By 2014, she had moved to Tulsa to take a director of sales position. She moved to Oklahoma City in 2015, where she is proud to have purchased a home and has enrolled her oldest son in private school. She also runs Work Hard. Love Harder to help single mothers and give them hope. “I was continuously told that I could never succeed as a single parent of two,” she said. “I want other single mothers to know that there is hope for their dreams, for their children’s dreams and that there are people that believe in them and will support them day in and day out: Work Hard. Love Harder.”
We are p rou d to have you on ou r te am.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication!
100 n Classen Blvd | oKC (405) 272- 0821 | youngBrosinC.Com
The weekend after the tragic June 12 nightclub shooting in Orlando, Rev. Kayla Bonewell put on her clergy collar and visited LGBTQ establishments in Oklahoma City. Bonewell is a pastor at two churches in one location, each with unique missions, that serve the Oklahoma City community. Church of the Open Arms feeds more than 300 families each month with its onsite client-choice Friday food pantry. It also offers an onsite shelter and a clothing closet for youth experiencing homelessness via the Sisu Youth nonprofit, and the church supports #BlackLivesMatter, #WaterIsLife and the green/environmental justice movements. “Both churches help to create alternative family to invite, include and empower those who have been cast out in our culture,” Bonewell said. “[My goal is] to empower communities, through experiences of the Divine, to lead lives of deep meaning while cultivating health, peace and beauty in our world.” Cathedral of Hope donates school supplies and winter clothing to Wilson Elementary School, sends volunteers to Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and supports The Winds House, which provides housing to people in our community who are living with HIV and AIDS. “I am humbled to be able to provide ongoing spiritual support and education while reclaiming the radical teachings of Jesus for the progressive Christian community,” she said.
Kayla Bonewell
age
37
Pastor, Cathedral of Hope UCC Oklahoma City and Church of the Open Arms United Church of Christ
O kC . B I Z | 2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0
11
Forty Under 40 Kevin Watson
age
34
Director of outpatient psychiatry clinic, OU Physicians; assistant professor and associate residency program director, University of Oklahoma department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; landlord; teddy bear deliverer Sarah Adams Cornell
We are so very proud of the great things you have achieved and the difference you have made to people’s lives along the way. Congratulations on this great honor -Mom and Dad
Helping people live authentic lives is Kevin Watson’s way of making the world a better place. “As a psychiatrist, I get the honor of helping patients work towards this goal. I am proud that I have been able to achieve this goal to a large degree in my own life,” Watson said. “As a gay man, I struggled with being who others or society thought I should be, but on the other side of that, now more able to stand independently in my own truth and identity, the struggle was definitely worth it.” He has always been a driven achiever, winning honors and awards during his medical school and undergraduate years, including earning a chief resident appreciation honor and Distinguished Psychiatry Graduate Award. His lecture and presentation titles include Gender Cognition in Transgender Children. His most significant (and possibly most delightful) creative contribution to the community is giving teddy bears to nursing home residents during the holidays. “For the past several years, my partner and I bought over 1,000 teddy bears and drove around town, spreading holiday cheer,” he said. “The look on residents’ faces is priceless.”
Lyndi Zavy’s career in human resources is all about serving others, as are her volunteer activities. Zavy volunteers for Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Leadership Council and as part of the board of Central Oklahoma Humane Society. She also has been a human resources committee member for The Homeless Alliance. “I was raised with an understanding that I was born on third base; advantages like a supportive family and opportunities for education made it easy for me to make it to home plate,” Zavy said. “That understanding fuels my desire to give back and help others succeed. … I started working with Central Oklahoma Humane Society two years ago because I wanted to adopt every dog I saw on the street but decided that my efforts in a boardroom would be more impactful than breaking city ordinances with a house full of animals.” Her biggest professional achievement so far happened about a year ago. She created and launched OU Leadership Council, an eight-month program that brings campus leaders together monthly. “I get to replicate it across all three campuses this year,” Zavy said.
Lyndi Zavy Director, human resources and assistant director, Learning & Organizational Development at the University of Oklahoma 12
2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0 | O KC . B I Z
age
32
With several startups under her belt, Melissa Vincent is focused on making the technology environment better for women entrepreneurs. She has worked hard to build her companies, the first of which, 9Tribe, should break $2 million in revenue this year. It’s a boutique software development firm designed to solve some of the problems she encountered in her time working for other startups. She also cofounded Locked In Sports, which helps young athletes have equal access to customized training specific to the sport they play in so the distribution of elite training becomes more egalitarian. Vincent believes that if we can help other women share their experiences and mentor them, we can create a community of strong, successful female entrepreneurs. “Software development and technology based startups are not incredibly friendly environments for female entrepreneurs,” she said. “Nationally, only 28 percent of startups are women-owned. However, a study in 2015 showed that female CEOs outperform male peers three to one in the S&P 500. … The National Women’s Business Council published a report that showed that men start their businesses with six times as much capital as women do.”
Melissa Vincent
Nathaniel Goodwin
age
39
At Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, Nathaniel Goodwin works with faculty and staff to develop advisement strategies targeted to student needs as he generates increased awareness of campus resources and programs. His said most significant business achievement, though, was opening up a modeling business this year. Nate G’s Training and his Nate G’s Modeling Boot Camps focus on training new models to become professionals. “For decades, I have seen many models come into the industry and get burned out because there are so any scams that are involved with the term ‘modeling’ in Oklahoma,” Goodwin said. Goodwin’s parents and sister are his key role models because they taught him the value of hard work. “My dad instilled in me the ability to adjust to changes and never take anyone or anything for granted. … My mom is a gregarious person and is the woman who I got my personality from,” he said. “My sister is very ambitious and is very candid about her feelings.” He also volunteers as a Wishmaker for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, reads to elementary school students via World Experiences Foundation and models in children’s charity fashion shows.
Regina J. Banks Cpl. Miguel Baez’s favorite quote neatly sums up the way he approaches his life: “It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.” This version of Baez’s philosophy is borrowed from Albert Einstein, but it could have just as easily come from his father. “With a determination and drive to create a better life, he took a chance and moved away into a bigger city,” Baez said. “He went on to become one of the highest ranking engineers at DuPont.” As a firefighter, Baez is realizing a dream of his own. “Being raised in Tampico, Mexico, it was always a dream of mine to have a career in which I could make a difference in someone’s life,” he said about becoming a firefighter. Each day, Baez reports to a job where he responds to individuals of all walks of life, ages, races and religions who are facing some of their hardest moments. “They don’t call my station when things are good; only when things are terribly wrong,” Baez said. “I make it my duty to stay positive, encouraging and helpful.” When he’s off duty, he spends his time volunteering with organizations and schools, promoting safety and sharing his story.
Corporal, Oklahoma City Fire Department
32
Academic advisor, Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma City; owner, Nate G’s Training LLC
CEO, 9Tribe and cofounder, Locked In Sports
Miguel A. Baez
age
age
36
President, Arjaybi’s Concepts; board chairwoman, IgniteOKC
age
37
Regina Banks is the proud founder of a small business dedicated to helping other small businesses through graphic and web design, print and promotional products. Her team of six creatives plans to change the world one small-business brand at a time. Through two programs, Reach4Work and On the Job Training, Arjaybi’s Concepts provides internships and work for women who might otherwise remain unemployed. She serves as board chairwoman of IgniteOKC, is a member of Leadership Oklahoma’s LOYAL Class XI and serves on the Oklahoma City Community College Digital Media Design advisory board. She volunteers for Junior Achievement teaching entrepreneurship classes, for Heritage Hall school’s parent association and People’s Church. “IgniteOKC serves as a platform for thought leaders and innovators to share their passions and spark change in others,” Banks said. “These same companies and ideas … are shaping our city today.” Banks is also adamant that girls should not be left out of STEM activities. To that end, she holds STEM workshops and loves watching girls’ eyes light up as they explore computer coding. “I picked up coding skills as an adult. I find it fascinating and many times feel like a magician with a keyboard as a wand,” she said.
O kC . B I Z | 2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0
13
Forty Under 40
Forty Under 40 Sarah Adams-Cornell
Twice a month, Reji Pappy drives four hours to serve patients in rural Oklahoma who otherwise would not have access to a cardiologist. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and serves as a part of the leadership team at St. Anthony Hospital, which will soon launch a relatively new cardiac procedure that allows patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve disease to have the aortic valve replaced through a nonsurgical approach. Pappy’s story began when his parents came to the United States from India in the 1970s. “Due to the financial and social challenges that my dad faced as a new immigrant, he was not able to pursue his goal of becoming a physician,” Pappy said. “I attribute my becoming a physician to the qualities instilled in me by my parents: outstanding work ethic, perseverance, honesty and spirituality.” He has always valued the importance of making civic contributions, doing medical research while completing his internal medicine residency, cardiology fellowship and advanced interventional cardiology fellowships. He also serves as a council member for the Oklahoma Chapter of the American College of Cardiology.
Reji M. Pappy
age
38
Native American activist; board member, Live Indigenous OK; co-creator, Matriarch, Inc.
age
37
Medical doctor and interventional cardiologist, St. Anthony Hospital
Sarah Adams-Cornell is a member of the Choctaw Nation. She and her daughters have learned the Choctaw language, songs, dances, beadwork and history to help preserve and celebrate their heritage. She was a recipient of the Greater Oklahoma City chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America’s 2015 Oklahoma Human Rights Award. She’s also professionally dedicated to advocating for Native American education, rights and culture. “As Native people, we think long-term. When making decisions, we think about how it will impact our relatives in seven generations,” Adams-Cornell said. “This way of living and being has very much impacted every aspect of who I am. … Seeing pain and need in my community also drives the work I do.” Adams-Cornell recently served as activist-inresidence at the University of Oklahoma. She hosts the Matriarch program on the Success Native Style Radio Network and serves on the boards of Live Indigenous OK and Not Your Mascot. She also serves on Oklahoma City Public Schools’ Native American Student Services Parent Committee. “Many Native women have come together in my community to educate and advocate for our people and especially our children,” she said. “I am proud to work alongside these Native women.”
Shannon M. Lavicky
age
28
Private equities accountant, Hall Capital
Sara Kaplan is a geologist by education, works for the City of Norman as a retail marketing coordinator during business hours and co-owns foodie haven Native Roots Market with her husband. She also is an instructor in geology for Independent and Distance Learning and the proud mother of a kindergartner, Stella, whom she says is her most significant creative contribution. “My job is not something where I am out saving lives, but I try to help people whenever I can,” she said. “I think in today’s environment, we are exposed to so much negativity, a kind word and giving attitude can go a long way.” She also has served on the Children’s House Montessori School Parent Teacher Organization since 2014 and was copresident for the 2015-16 school year. She is president of Urban Neighbors downtown neighborhood association and has been a member since 2012. She also serves on Norman Arts Council’s Norman Public Arts Board. “I try each day, both in my personal and professional life, to look at issues from all perspectives and understand other people’s viewpoints,” she said.
Sara Kaplan Retail marketing coordinator, City of Norman; co-owner, Native Roots Market
14
2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0 | O KC . B I Z
age
36
Shannon Lavicky is a tax accountant at Hall Capital, a private investment company dealing in private equity, real estate, automotive and oil and gas. On a daily basis, she prepares the financials and tax returns for a majority of the firm’s entities and particular family members. “After working in public accounting for three and a half years, I became the youngest accountant by a large gap to start working privately for the Hall family,” she said. She said the Hall family has been important in shaping her career. “Seeing their drive to constantly bring new and exciting investments and opportunities to Oklahoma City and other parts of our nation makes me realize that we have not only the obligation, but the honor of helping our community’s economy and culture with the talents and assets given to us,” she said. She also founded a nonprofit, Senior Step Companions. “We are partnered with Epworth Villa, a retirement community located in north Oklahoma City,” she said. “Our volunteers are paired with seniors who have lost their loved ones or have out-of-state family. A volunteer can weekly or biweekly go into the facilities and walk with the elderly.”
Ted Perry
age
34
Private banking associate, The Private Bank at Bank of Oklahoma
Private banking is a tough industry, but Ted Perry has dealt with far tougher. A West Point graduate who holds a master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University, Perry is also a captain in the United States Army and served two tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. “There, I was the lead artillery officer in a 158person team providing mechanized infantry support,” he said. He counts among his accomplishments planning, assessing and leading more than 500 combat patrols in a volatile area in east Baghdad, where he embraced leadership opportunities and performed the duties of executive officer and company commander in combat on numerous occasions. “In my personal and professional life, I always strive to be a servant leader in helping the lives of others,” Perry said. “Whether it is in aiding an individual or family with their financial dreams and needs, coaching kids in athletics, tutoring students or growing nonprofit organizations, I give my time and myself genuinely with no strings attached.” In 2014, Perry helped create the Sunbeam Family Services Young Professionals Board, which drafted guidelines, policies and bylaws, and the group now shapes the future of Oklahoma City’s oldest nonprofit.
Congratulations Kevin Watson, M.D. Voted a member of the 2016 Class of Forty Under 40 Dr. Watson, a board-certified psychiatrist and native Oklahoman, is one of 660 OU Physicians super stars. He is medical director of the outpatient psychiatry clinic and is an assistant professor for the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He earned his medical and undergraduate degrees from OU.
Way to go, Dr. Watson!
The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo
Tiffany Astl’s passions are art and design. She is proud that through her hard work and unparalleled customer service, she has earned the trust of many of Oklahoma City’s most respected designers and contractors. Young Brothers is a specialty tile showroom offering custom fabrication and installation of natural stone. “The business owners trust and value my opinions and are allowing me to help implement a new layout for showcasing our products,” Astl said. Astl works hard, and if she could step back in time to chat with her 20-year-old self, she would share a favorite motivational quote: “Be around the lightbringers, the magicmakers, the world shifters, the game shakers. They challenge you, break you open, uplift and expand you. They don’t let you play small with your life. These heartbeats are your people. These people are your tribe.” Her volunteer work includes service to her church, Habitat for Humanity, City Rescue Mission’s Mission of Hope Banquet, the 2016 Design Appétit event to benefit Homeless Alliance, WestFest and Uptown 23rd Farmers Market. She said she gives back to her community as often as possible.
Tiffany Astl
age
31
Director of operations, Young Brothers, Inc.
O kC . B I Z | 2 0 1 6 f o r t y u n d e r 4 0
15
.
.