19th Street Magazine June 2023

Trevor Laffoon - trevor@kref.com

Perry Spencer - perry@kref.com

SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND LEGACY

OCCC President

Dr. Mautra Staley Jones shares insight into past, present and future

Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, president of Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), has had a good year, one of many in her amazing life. Her name may be familiar as the recipient of local honors covered in recent newspaper and magazine articles with headlines outlining her status as Woman of the Year according to The Journal Record, Perry Publishing and Broadcasting and With Love OKC.

She has also been named Oklahoma’s Remarkable Woman by KFOR and inducted into the Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame. These distinctions follow a consistent legacy of personal and professional success highlighting her commitment to community.

Dr. Jones, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, the University of Phoenix and Vanderbilt University, made history in March 2022 when she became the first woman and first person of color to be inaugurated as OCCC’s president. She is also the state’s first African American female to serve as president of any institution of higher education that is not a historically black college and university (HBCU).

The move comes alongside board directorship for a diverse range of organizations, from BancFirst to Oklahoma Philharmonic Society and the Civic Center Foundation and a number of civic organizations like Rotary and Visionary Women of Oklahoma. Governors Kevin Stitt and Mary Fallin previously recognized her excellence as well. She was appointed board director for the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, commissioner for the Oklahoma Merit Protection Commission and as an Oklahoma Standards steering committee member.

Even as the spotlight continues to illuminate her outstanding accomplishments, hometown lights shine brightly for Dr. Jones, who is originally from Ardmore. While her schedule of obligations to career, philanthropy and family is undeniably full, she recognizes the value in pausing to consider a fulfillment of childhood dreams and the next generation in a line of people who effect positive change where they work and live.

“It is a wonderful thing to be honored for walking in your purpose. I hope my achievements, recognitions and honors will inspire others to dream big, to work hard, to make sacrifices and to trust God’s and perfect plan for your life,” said Dr. Jones. “It gives me joy to set an example for my children and the students I serve. I always believe that when you’re on this path and being of service, there are people walking alongside you and helping you make a difference. I am careful to honor those on this journey with me, including my husband, children, grandma, the OCCC team and our community.”

Dr. Jones is a proud wife and mother of three, which gives her a real-world vantage point for the perspective as a woman of influence. She was named Oklahoma Mother of the Year in 2021 by American Mothers, Inc.

“I have seen a lot and I’m able to serve professionally and civically with a spirit of servant leadership,’” she

explained. “I see myself as a builder. I love bringing people together to help them accomplish their dreams and goals. It comes full circle for me to serve people from all walks of life and it’s a challenge I embrace through vast and varied experiences of my own. I will continue to build on the rich legacy built before me to ensure OCCC thrives and that we are the choice for higher education.”

Now in its 50th year, OCCC is Oklahoma’s fourth largest university in the state, with more than 17,000 students and 60 degree programs.

“My intent is to make known the five tenets that guide my work at OCCC and continue to advance and strengthen vision: First, building a culture of philanthropy, second building a positive people culture where our faculty, staff and other key stakeholders can thrive, third, to strengthen our academic programs and fourth, to be great partners to the workforce with enhanced offerings in response to what the market needs right now, fifth, to enhance our brand. We don’t want to be Oklahoma’s best kept secret. We want to remove barriers to success and see people thrive,” said Dr. Jones.

OCCC’s future is centered on a growth mindset that Dr. Jones shares. Founders’ Day will be celebrated with an inaugural event, the Rosewood Gala, on Sept. 21 to benefit current students.

“When you focus on making a difference, you can’t go wrong,” said Dr. Jones. “Education impacts lives for generations to come. What greater joy than to do that and to know that we in the higher ed space empower our students to go and accomplish anything they set their minds to. It is a heavy lift but a labor of love.

“Education does open so many doors of opportunity. I see it walked out every single day in the lives of the students we serve.” – 19SM

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COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTERS

Moore Schools Expand Post-Graduate Opportunities

Moore Public Schools recently finished construction on one of three College and Career Readiness Centers. The centers will be located on each high school campus and will be easily available to students. Southmoore High School’s facility is the first to be completed, and the centers at Moore and Westmoore High School are expected to be completed this fall.

The College and Career Readiness Centers, funded by a bond issue approved by voters in 2021, are designed to provide students with hands-on, project-based learning opportunities. Amenities such as hi-tech, spacious classrooms and common areas, all set in a college-like environment, are meant to serve as an introduction to a variety of post-graduate pathways, said Jimmy Martin, director of federal programs for the district.

Martin shared that the centers will not only help prepare students for life after high school but also serve as an important resource for the state’s workforce needs.

“The centers will house concurrent enrollment classes and many of the district’s Career Tech courses that offer real-life practice and are a great way to explore career opportunities,” explained Martin.

Southmoore principal Chealsi Conley said the centers are a physical illustration of the district’s commitment “to truly prepare students for their next chapter,” she said.

“We have so many different pathways and now we have the space and personnel to make our job a whole lot easier when offering these types of programs,” she explained.

The courses will be driven by student interest as well as market and labor force needs. Martin pointed to drone technology as an example.

“So many industries use drones now,” he said. “This fall, (MPS) will offer aviation courses including remote pilot and aircraft maintenance courses.”

Students will be able to earn beginner-level aviation credentials while still in high school.

Since aviation is Oklahoma’s second largest industry, programs like the one MPS is starting will help students explore and obtain high-paying, in-demand jobs.

Students will also be able to obtain essential interpersonal skills while working in customer-service areas. Each of the centers will have a technology bar where students and staff can get help with computer issues from high school students working toward becoming Dell-certified repair technicians.

Inspired by a successful program at Westmoore High School, each of the centers will also house a coffee bar that will be staffed by students with special needs.

“Special needs students will be able to see first-hand how a small business runs and gain useful life skills,” Martin said.

The centers will be a hub for post-graduate preparations and Martin said that the career specialists at each high school are an important resource to help students navigate the diverse opportunities available. Parents and students can learn more about Career Tech courses and career counseling opportunities at mooreschools.com/domain/27. – 19SM

10 Years After the Storm MOORE REMEMBRANCE

Representatives from the City of Moore, Moore Public Schools and Norman Regional Health System gathered with members of the community to remember the May 20, 2013 tornado, the 25 victims who lost their lives and the courageous actions of the community on that day. Speakers highlighted the resiliency of those affected and the strength of the Moore community.

Gov. Kevin Stitt proclaimed May 20, 2023 as Moore Remembrance Day.

BY: CHRIS PLANK

In a short amount of time, Alex Storako has become an important and integral part of the Oklahoma Sooner softball pursuit of a 3-peat. The first-year Sooner has already had a storied and illustrious career at Michigan, and now is a key part of the Sooner defense. Her path to Oklahoma and the immediate embrace from teammates and fans has magnified just how special Alex Storako truly is.

THE BEGINNING

Storako grew up in Frankfort, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago. Sports, specifically baseball, were a regular part of Storako’s life from her earliest memories.

“My dad coached high school baseball when I was born,” Storako said of her baseball-loving family. “Since I was a baby, I was around baseball. I didn’t watch cartoons. I was put in front of SportsCenter, so I fell in love with baseball. I’m a huge Cubs fan. We could talk for hours on end about baseball and the Cubs and Chicago sports in general. “

With her love of baseball, softball became a natural fit. But Illinois is not necessarily a hotbed for college softball talent. Despite a legendary high school career, big offers were not rolling in for the Frankfort product. Storako was named to the 2018 MaxPreps All-American First Team and was a two-time Illinois All-State FirstTeam selection, boasting a career record of 70-19 with 918 strikeouts finishing with a 21-2 record with a 0.76 ERA and 255 strikeouts as a senior in 2018.

Entering her junior season of high school, Storako was uncommitted on where she would play college softball. She received some offers — mostly from smaller schools such as DePaul, where she initially committed during her sophomore year.

But Storako knew there was more out there, a bigger opportunity. Storako opened back up her re

cruitment and remained uncommitted into her senior year. She joined an elite travel ball team, Sparks Premier 18U, and on the larger travel ball stage, she continued her success.

Finally, the bigger offers started to roll in… including Michigan.

“Going into that year uncommitted, I had the mindset of just enjoying the moment,” Storako said. “I tried to play to my potential and have fun, and that led to me performing really well and getting a lot of looks from a lot of places.”

Storako had bet on herself, and it paid off.

“I don’t come from a big softball area like California or Texas,” Storako said. “It’s exciting to prove a lot of people wrong. My family is big on blue collar so being able to work hard and watch it all pay off has been really special, being able to perform and show my dad hours on the bucket in high school really paid off.”

HISTORY IN ANN ARBOR

The marriage between Storako and Michigan was an instant success and Storako played a major role for the Wolverines from day one.

“My first collegiate start was against (then-No. 7) Arizona,” Storako recalled. “The most memorable thing about that game was when I gave up my first collegiate home run to Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza, who’s now an Olympian… It was just like, ‘Well, welcome to the big leagues.’”

As time progressed, Storako established her place in Michigan softball history as an elite pitcher through the three complete seasons across her four years in Ann Arbor. She was a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten, NFCA Great Lakes region recipient and the unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year as a junior in 2021. During her incredible junior season, Storako set the program’s single-game record with 22 strikeouts in a win at Michigan State. The outing headlined her nation-leading strikeout-per-seven-innings average of 12.9 and magnified her necessary role in the Wolverines’ second regular season Big Ten title of her career.

Storako had to carry most of the workload. In her four years in Ann Arbor, Storako pitched 563 2/3 innings. During her final season at Michigan, Storako appeared in 38 games — 29 of which she started in the circle. In 200.1 innings pitched, she struck out 300 batters and finished with a 25-8 record. In addition to her heavy workload in 2022, she pitched 142 1/3 innings as a true freshman and 146 as a junior. Last year, her ERA rose from 1.05 to 1.71.

With her final season of eligibility, Storako decided it was time for a change of scenery.

OKLAHOMA BOUND

When Storako entered her name in the transfer portal, the first call came from a 405-area code. Despite having just finished off a Super Regional win over UCF, Patty Gasso had made it a priority to let Storako know she was wanted in Norman.

Storako had teased a “multi-city” tour to determine where she wanted to play her final season in college, but after one trip to Oklahoma, her decision was made.

“I surprised myself, even my parents on my recruiting visit when I didn’t go anywhere else,” Storako said. “I was prepared to take my fair share of trips to other places to check them out. But I’ve always been impulsive, even in my recruiting process in high school. I knew it in my gut, this was it.”

Despite having the type of attention in the portal that she had not received out of high school, Storako didn’t need the process to drag on any longer. She was sold on Norman, she was sold on Oklahoma.

“Coming here, looking at the campus, it had a smalltown feel. One of my best friends grew up in a small town similar to Norman. My getaway from the city was going to her house,” Storako said.

Storako’s decision and how quickly it came surprised everyone, including her family and Gasso.

“I surprised them when I committed and the fact that it was such a gut decision,” Storako said. “I didn’t see myself anywhere else. I remember telling my parents I didn’t think Oklahoma would call and I didn’t know if I wanted to visit. But my mom told me to do it to say that I did it... then I came here and realized this was it. This was the place for me.”

THE PERFECT FIT

Storako is one of four transfer portal additions to the Sooner roster. Despite joining a roster that has already had a tremendous amount of success, Storako has excelled, but it was still a process to find her voice in the locker room.

“The transition was hard. I was a big leader at Michigan,” Storako said. “Coming here and trying to figure out when I can speak up and when I shouldn’t speak up, but also knowing and being able to trust one another… a lot of that was me figuring out how this system functions here. You’ve gotta tip your cap to Coach and the culture that she’s built.”

In addition to the small-town feel of Norman and the winning culture that first attracted Storako to the program, her teammates have embraced her as a part of its Championship level roster.

“When you’re able to buy in, trust each other and have fun not just on but off the field as well, being able to hang out in the backyard and play volleyball in the super competitive way we do or maybe it’s UNO, everything you do turns into a different kind of competition, you buy into the system and know they are quite literally doing every little thing to give us the best chances at being the best,” Storako said. “When you have that core group, and you trust in that, you can’t really say anything else. You don’t really doubt anything. When you have no doubt in yourself and your teammates, you can let it all go and play free and that is one of my favorite parts about playing here at Oklahoma.”

Storako has not only embraced and accepted the Championship mindset, but she has also become a key figure in the Sooners 2023 run. It seems as if she gets better every single time she steps into the circle.

“She is a young woman who’s got it together,” Gasso said. “Something has really clicked in her, and she gravitated to it. Whether is on or off the field, thinking about her future and preparing for what her dreams are, she is really put together in that way.”

A LOADED STAFF

Historically, softball has not been a sport that features a pitching staff. For the most part, it was one pitcher throwing most of the innings. The massive numbers of innings pitched wore on Storako at Michigan, and now at Oklahoma, she has a true staff to help lighten the load.

“Previously, I was throwing three games in a weekend,” Storako said, “So being able to throw a little bit less is really exciting for my physical health and my arm as a whole.”

Gasso has been consistent in adding arms through the portal to bolster the Sooner pitching staff since the 2016 postseason. That season Paige Parker did it all. She started 36 games and completed 32 of them. She threw nearly 60 percent of the team’s innings that year, and in total pitched in 69 of the team’s 76 innings in the postseason. The end result was a National Championship, but it was something that Gasso never wanted to put a pitcher through again.

Names like Paige Lowary, G Juarez, Shannon Saile, Hope Trautwein and now Alex Storako have been key in Oklahoma’s staff development.

“Hopefully the days of leaning on Paige Parker are over forever for this program,” Gasso said. “Because I hit a point where I was so uncomfortable with what we were doing with her physically, that I promised myself we were never gonna do that again.”

The staff has meshed and excelled this season, and the willingness of Storako to accept a different role is a major reason why. It’s also a role that is new to many on the staff including aces Nicole May and Jordy Bahl.

“It’s really hard to have this many really good pitchers and they all get along,” Storako said. “That’s special about our staff. We’re watching film, we’re making jokes... but we’re also asking all the right questions. When you understand each other that is really, really special.”

The group is tight and works well together. They’ve gone as far as adding nicknames to the group.

“Fire and Ice... Joe (Jordy Bahl) and (Nicole) May. Spice... which is me. Dice which is Deal. SJ is everything nice.” Storako said. “It’s really fun and being so supportive and that is really helping us propel through each lineup.”

Storako has an incredible future in front of her, both on and off the field. Storako was the first overall pick in the WPF draft and was the first-ever selection of the OKC Spark. Off the field, Storako envisions a future working in the front office of a professional sports team and has secured an internship with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The future looks bright for Storako. Her passion for softball and the Sooners have made it even brighter.

“I have so much passion for the game. It’s been my entire life,” Storako said. “When you dive into the game within the game, that’s why I love pitching - the competition between you and the batter. Win each battle and get 21 outs. When I’m able to provide that kind of energy to my team and give that spark, I love being that outlet.”– BSM

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SAFETY FIRST

Center Offers Training for Businesses to Enhance Workplaces

Greg Waddle gets to visit a variety of workplaces and enjoys learning about the companies’ services and operations. In turn, Waddle also gets to share some valuable information - ways to enhance safety in that business’ work environment.

Waddle is the safety and environmental consultant with Moore Norman Technology Center. He works with industries and small businesses sharing his expertise in state and federal safety requirements, equipment training and development of safety plans.

Waddle, who works on the center’s workforce economic development team, said he values the role he gets to play in assisting businesses with safety training, plans and processes.

“I enjoy helping to provide safe workplaces,” said Waddle, who has worked at the technology center for 26 years.

Waddle said statistics show that 88 percent of workplace injuries are caused by unsafe acts, which can happen if an employee isn’t properly trained on equipment; 10 percent of workplace injuries are caused by unsafe working conditions such as defective equipment, and 2 percent of workplace injuries are caused by acts of nature, such as tornadoes.

“MNTC’s role is to assist employers, employees, labor unions, professional groups and other organizations to ensure workers’ safety and health through

proactive education and intervention,” Waddle said. “The programs are designed to teach employers and employees to recognize and control work hazards and prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities.”

The center can provide training at a company’s site or in the center’s multi-purpose safety-training lab that offers hands-on training in such areas as confined space entry, asbestos abatement and fall protection. Other training programs available through the center include ladder safety, forklift operations and safety, hazardous materials training, back injury prevention and fire extinguisher training.

Waddle said businesses with an effective safety program can experience lower occupational safety and health injuries and illnesses, lower workers’ compensation costs, direct and indirect cost savings, reductions in operating costs and property loss and improvements in labor relations and productivity.

Waddle said one of the rewards of his job is meeting employees from small businesses to large industries, learning more about the business and working with staff on safety plans, processes and improvements. “You build great relationships with people,” he said. “I enjoy helping them create a safe workplace.”

For more information about the center’s safety training and programs, visit mntc.edu.– 19SM

BY: SHARLA

A FOCUS ON SAFETY

June is National Safety Month. The initiative is meant to raise awareness about leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths at work and at home, and efforts to create safer work and home environments.

The following are some workplace safety tips from Indeed.com, an online job board.

• Always use tools, equipment and machinery properly.

• Report any unsafe conditions.

• Wear all necessary safety gear.

• Keep your workplace clear of clutter.

• Practice good posture when sitting or lifting.

• Be aware of your surroundings to help avoid workplace injuries.

• Stay updated on new safety procedures

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WHOLE HEALTH

Norman Regional Breaks Ground on a New Behavioral Wellness Center

This May, Norman Regional Health System broke ground on the Behavioral Health Center at Porter Health Village. The complex is part of the Inspire Health plan meant to realign the overall physical structure of the system to better align with patient needs.

The free-standing, 48-bed facility will house both in-patient and outpatient services.

“This 48-bed facility prioritizes mental health for this region,” said President and CEO Richie Splitt. “It is sure to promote a stronger, more resilient community and state.”

According to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Oklahoma has some of the highest prevalence of mental illness. An estimated 950,000 adults in the state need mental health services and yet most are not receiving care. In fact, data from 2020 shows nearly 90% of adults and 55% of kids 17 and under with mental illness in Cleveland County went untreated.

“Mental health is an integral part of your overall physical health, and especially post-COVID and with our economic stresses, we don’t have enough care available in our communities,” said Dr. Farhan Jawed, the medical director and chief of staff for Norman Regional’s behavioral health services.

Dr. Jawed specializes in psychiatry and behavioral health and has worked at Norman Regional for 13 years.

“The leadership at Norman Regional has always considered mental health a priority,” he shared, as a key reason why he chose to join the health system. “They know that without providing adequate mental health care you are not providing comprehensive health care.”

Splitt said that “the health and well-being of our communities is critical to our state’s success.”

“By opening this new facility, Norman Regional is extending its legacy of providing exceptional mental health care,” Splitt added.

Jawed said that physical and mental diagnoses are often linked.

“Mental health is connected to medical health. You cannot separate the two,” he explained. “For example, people dealing with stroke tend to have very high levels of depression. The mind and body must be treated together.”

Jawed and his staff often say that Norman Regional’s behavioral health services are the “best kept secret in Cleveland County.”

“Most people know about Griffin, but not our facilities,” he shared. “Our facility is a very friendly environment. We want people to feel comfortable and welcome here.”

He pointed to staff tenure as another valuable asset.

“The reason for our success is our committed professionals. They take a personal interest in taking care of their patients,” he said.

The new center will feature spacious rooms, modern architecture and outdoor spaces which will enhance the variety of services offered such as support groups, yoga and even craft therapies.

“Typically, the darkest, dingiest corner goes to mental health but not at Norman Regional,” Jawed said. “There is a stigma (surrounding mental health) and that comes from people’s experiences. We want to break that, so people are comfortable asking for help.

“We need to understand that mental health is like any other medical issue. And here, you are going to get all the services you need in a clean, welcoming place.”– BSM

Dr. Farhan Jawed, medical director and chief of staff of Norman Regional’s behavioral health services

DEVELOPING TOMORROW'S LEADERS

VETERAN OF THE MONTH: ROY PARKER

Roy Parker served his country in two wars and in two branches of the military.

Born in June of 1936, in a little white house in Seminole County, Georgia on the Chattahoochee River, and raised on a farm with his dad, mom and older brother, his family grew peanuts, cotton and corn as their main money crops. Parker remembers the various farm animals and said it was real “Huckleberry Finn stuff.”

Parker’s dad served in World War II, working as a millwright in shipyards setting and aligning heavy equipment.

After graduating high school, Parker ventured out to downtown Houston where serendipitously he saw a placard that said “YOU.”

“It was a Coast Guard poster pointing right at me,” he remembered.

On October 18, 1954, he began his military career and, while in the Coast Guard, his job was to maintain and operate engines and accessories. But Parker was seriously injured in an explosion.

“I was on a weather station,” Parker remembers. “A heavy-duty air compressor blew. It blew all my clothes off except my right pant leg and my right sleeve.”

After the explosion, concerned that Parker could have internal injuries, the Coast Guard personnel radioed for help. The Air Force picked him up. A day later, he landed on the docks in Bermuda and was taken to the Air Force hospital for treatment.

“I was in the hospital for a week where I was able to observe the differences between the Coast Guard and the Air Force,” Roy said. “The differences in training, discipline and other aspects enticed me to join the Air Force.”

After serving in the Coast Guard for four and a half years, at the end of his tour in 1959, Parker was honorably discharged. A month later, he joined the Air Force working on mobile and stationary generators to produce electric power.

One of the most important jobs in the Air Force consisted of building power plants and he supervised the plant for the Atlas Missile. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Parker remembered standing at a window watching as the missile was raised and loaded. “It was exciting when they raised that thing up,” he said. “It was like something being

raised out of a coffin, but this missile was 85 feet long and had a nuke and a warhead on it.”

After the crisis, the Atlas Missile was phased out and the program discontinued.

On August 31, 1975, Parker retired from the Air Force after a total of 21 years of service in the military that included both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

With his family in tow, Parker moved to Midwest City while his kids grew up. He worked for the City of Midwest City as a water plant manager before retiring at the age of 55. He and his wife were married for 54 years when she passed away in 2010. Parker has eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

He moved to the Norman Veterans Center in Norman after an undiagnosed spinal cord issue left him paralyzed on his right side.

“Whatever the problem is, I still have it, but at least I can walk even though it is limited,” he said.

In October 2022, Parker was invited to be a guest on the Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight to visit Washington D.C.

“We were treated like dignitaries,” Parker said. “It is a life changing trip.”

The group tours each military branch of service memorial and each war monument. From there, they are escorted to the Arlington National Cemetery where they are VIP guests at the changing of the guard ceremony. They then fly back to Oklahoma the same day and are welcomed back with a celebration.

“There is a huge ‘Welcome Home’ celebration for them at the airport,” said Candice Mcintire, the recreation program manager at the Norman Veterans Center. “People have signs, there’s a band… It is designed to be the ‘Welcome Home’ that the Vietnam soldiers didn’t get when they came home from the war.”

Parker believes everybody has an obligation to serve their country in some form.

“It doesn’t have to be in a military uniform, just things like being a good citizen - that means a lot too,” he said. – 19SM

ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS COME WITH

If you look at a situation through the eyes of gratitude, something powerful happens. Problems become easier to solve. Challenges reveal opportunities. And you begin to see the possibility in almost anything. For over 100 years, the Armstrong Bank family has truly appreciated serving up financial guidance and accounts to the people of this community. We’re grateful for our customers, for the work we do, and for the privilege of supporting our neighbors. Gratitude helps us do so much more for you.