Equality Indicators Summit

As Economic Development Director for the City of Tulsa, Persley serves as the lead facilitator between the city government and economic development partners such as the Tulsa Regional Chamber and the Tulsa Authority of Economic Opportunity (Partner Tulsa) to ensure the City of Tulsa’s economic goals are aligned and achieved.
Mr. Persley formerly served as Commissioner at the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (KCED). Prior to serving as Commissioner, Erran served as the Executive Director, International Affairs and Business Development at KCED. In this role he designed, developed, and implemented the strategy for attracting and retaining foreign direct investment (FDI) to Kentucky. Additionally, he provided assistance, support, and guidance to new and existing businesses in Kentucky and promoted Kentucky in international markets.
Prior to this appointment, Persley served as the Senior Economic Development Advisor for Kanava International and the Foreign Direct Investment Advisor/Consultant for the U.S. Department of Commerce/SelectUSA under Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. Erran also served as the senior vice president for Africa at Chemonics International Inc., one of the most technically diverse companies in the trade development industry.
Persley began his career as an intern at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of International Major Projects (OIMP) during the George H. Bush Sr. administration in 1990. In 1994, Persley served in the Clinton Administration under Secretary Ronald H. Brown as the international trade specialist in charge of the Japanese Official Development Assistance program at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he assisted American companies in their efforts to bid for the $11 billion in projects financed by the Japanese government in developing countries.
Persley holds dual Master in Business Administration degrees from Georgetown University and the ESADE School of Business in Barcelona, Spain. His undergraduate coursework was in Political Science at Howard University.

Joshua is the Financial Empowerment Program Assistant for the City of Tulsa’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE). Joshua is responsible for providing monthly reports detailing the OFE’s work to the City of Tulsa’s financial empowerment stakeholder group. He is also responsible for quarterly reports to the Mayor and City Council. He is a 2023 graduate from the University of Oklahoma.

Rachel Griffin is the Data & Strategic Operations Director of Madison Strategies Group (MSG), a Tulsa-based nonprofit focused on advancing economic mobility by connecting underserved Tulsans with no-cost education and career opportunities in high-demand sectors. With over a decade of experience in workforce development, Rachel leverages her operational and data expertise to maximize impact and efficiency. Driven by a commitment to equal access to education, Rachel uses a data-driven approach to spur innovation and build strategic partnerships to create meaningful change and facilitate educational attainment to improve the quality of life for underserved communities.

As chief executive officer of Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, Rose Washington-Jones is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing strategies that support the organization’s role as a catalyst leader in local economic growth. TEDC enlightens people, enables small businesses, and helps develop communities in partnership with various stakeholders. The organization uses public and private resources to encourage business start-up and expansion through its Creative Capital brand. TEDC reaches over 500 entrepreneurs and small businesses annually through workshops, development services, and loans ranging from $500 to $10 million. Inclusive economic development is paramount in TEDC’s mission.
Under Rose’s leadership, TEDC has become a highly regarded partner in many economic development initiatives. With broad experience creating strategic alliances in diverse communities, she is known to be resourceful, creative, and solutions-driven. Five special projects have given TEDC expanded capacity for measurable, sustainable impact: construction of a new 18,000 sq. ft. grocery store in a food desert; construction and operation of a 17,000 sq. ft. retail center in north Tulsa; acquisition of a building in downtown Tulsa providing space for business incubation; redevelopment of a historic building to create north Tulsa’s first business resource center; and leader of OCAST’s Oklahoma Lending Partnership Program funded by the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative serving businesses across the State.
Before joining TEDC, Rose enjoyed a successful community and government relations career at the University of Southern California and several years in banking and higher education in Mississippi. She holds a BBA in Finance from Mississippi State University and an MBA from Mississippi College. Rose’s crowning achievement is as a mom to Mariah Rentie, BS/MHR University of Oklahoma (OU), and Morris Rentie III, a senior at the OU Price College of Business. She is married to Marvin E. Jones, Jr., a fantastic golf partner, coach, and caddy.

Ashley Harris Philippsen is the Executive Director at ImpactTulsa, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring over 100,000 Tulsa youth are on a path toward economic mobility by 2030. Her career spans over 15 years, and no matter the role, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to cross-sector collaboration to shift power, resources, practices and policies so more people have access and opportunities for choice-filled futures. Recognized as one of the Obama Foundation’s MBK Alliance Model Communities, her work at ImpactTulsa stands out for its evidence-based success and transformative community impact.
Previously, Ashley served in the Mayor’s Office of Tulsa, spearheading inclusive urban planning and Tulsa Race Massacre initiatives that engaged community voices in policy making. Her efforts in these roles have made significant contributions to local policy and have been instrumental in providing a model for inclusive governance and decision-making.
Ashley’s insights are rooted in a deep analysis of historical contexts and contemporary issues, while working to push against our current understanding of what’s possible to co-develop systems where everyone thrives.
With an ardent interest in history and literature, Ashley brings a nuanced understanding of cultural dynamics to her work, informing her approach to community development and educational advocacy. Her insights are rooted in a deep analysis of historical contexts and contemporary issues, while working to push against our current understanding of what’s possible to co-develop systems where everyone thrives.

Paul Davis is the Executive Director at City Year Tulsa, an organization that is committed to advancing educational equity by partnering with schools to ensure student success. In his role at City Year, Paul sees the impact that decisions made at the policy and school leadership levels have on students in the schools on a day-to-day basis. He works closely with leadership in the public school system to better understand their vision and collaborate on how decisions impact students at the school level. Because of his work, Paul has key areas of expertise in systems change and public policy as they impact complex engrained systems and the people they serve, such as building coalitions of support for school reform.

Dr. Kathy Dodd joined Tulsa Public Schools in January 2023 as the district’s Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, leading the district’s efforts to utilize a student outcome focused governance model to improve student achievement. In May 2024, Dr. Dodd was named Deputy Superintendent, providing leadership to the district’s 71 schools as well as the school leadership, school operations, organizational learning, athletics, and family, community, and youth partnership departments. Prior to coming to the district, Dr. Dodd served as Chief Innovation Officer and Deputy Superintendent for the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). In that role, she oversaw the Offices of Innovation, Federal Programs, Health and Wellness, Safety and Security, and Family Engagement to provide critical post-pandemic support to the state’s 540 school districts. Dr. Dodd has also served as the Regional Vice President for Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a national STEM education non-profit, as well as the Associate Superintendent of Union Public Schools in Tulsa, OK. In addition to being a teacher, state science specialist, district curriculum director, and data/assessment administrator, she is the co-author of two curricula from the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB), Fossils to Fuel and PetroActive, designed to teach the science behind Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry.
Dr. Dodd holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Oklahoma State University as well as a master’s degree in educational administration and a Ph.D. in educational foundations from the University of Oklahoma.

Olivia is a devoted advocate for education and the Tulsa community. She brings more than three decades of experience in teaching, school administration, development, and civic engagement to her new role. Olivia attended Tulsa Public Schools throughout her entire childhood. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Tulsa. Currently, Olivia is pursuing her PhD at the University of Tulsa in English Language and Literature with an emphasis on American literature. Olivia is fully committed to championing students, teachers, parents, and volunteers in the meaningful work of literacy for all children in Tulsa and the surrounding region. She envisions a dynamic future for Reading Partners Tulsa and looks forward to nurturing data-driven growth and collaborative partnerships in the service of students’ literacy and a life-long love of learning.

After graduating from Oklahoma State University, Amber began her career in education teaching middle school Science in Phoenix, Arizona, with Teach For America. She earned her Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Arizona State University in 2009, and moved to her home state to be a part of the founding Teach For America-Tulsa team.
Over the past 15 years, Amber has worked alongside corps members, alumni, and the Oklahoma community. She has spent most of her career supporting novice teachers and has led some major statewide projects including designing the region’s certification programming and the Oklahoma’s Regional Institute. In her current role as the VP, Statewide Initiatives, she gets to do what she loves- advocating for Oklahoma by recruiting even more talent to this region and collaborating with educators.
Amber and her husband, Josh, have two children. Outside of work, Amber enjoys spending time with her family. She loves to be outside, competition, and she loves to laugh!

Karen Tilkin joined CAP Tulsa in 2008 and was named chief operating officer in 2009. In October 2019, Karen became Executive Director/CEO. Under Karen’s leadership, CAP Tulsa was named “Best Non Profit to Work For” by the Non-Profit Times for seven consecutive years, earning the top spot in 2021. CAP Tulsa continues to receive an annual MOSAIC Award for Top Inclusive Workplace Culture from the Tulsa Regional Chamber. Karen was named a Woman of Distinction by Tulsa Business & Legal News in 2016 and nominated for Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO by The Journal Record in 2021. In 2024 she received the Madam President Award from the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa.
Prior to joining CAP, Karen spent 17 years at The Bama Companies, Inc., in a variety of leadership roles in both the U.S. and Beijing, China. Early in her tenure at Bama, she launched Beijing Bama Food Manufacturing Co., producing apple pies for the first McDonald’s that opened in China in 1992. Before joining Bama, Karen spent five years in international banking with Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company in New York, Taipei, and Hong Kong. Kiely holds an MBA from Oklahoma State University and a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational and Community Leadership from the University of Oklahoma.
Karen serves as Treasurer on the Board of Housing Solutions, Inc. She is a member of the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s MOSAIC Advisory Council, the Healthy Brain and Child Development Community Advisory Board, and the Tulsa Area United Way’s Women United. Karen is a frequent guest columnist for the Tulsa World, writing about issues related to early childhood education. Her free time is spent reading, traveling, exercising at the Tandy Y, and enjoying Tulsa’s rich cultural life.

Sabine Brown joined the Oklahoma Policy Institute as a Housing Senior Policy Analyst in January 2022. She previously worked at OK Policy from January 2018 until September 2020 as the Outreach and Legislative Director, and received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. Sabine also earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Health Science from the University of Oklahoma and was a physician assistant prior to discovering policy work. Sabine serves as a voting member of the Interagency Council on Homelessness of Oklahoma and the Chair of the Oklahoma Coalition for Affordable Housing Government Affairs committee. She grew up in Germany but has called Oklahoma home since 1998.

Ginny Hensley, APR, serves as Tulsa Housing Authority’s Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs, and is also the 2024 Chair of A Way Home for Tulsa, Tulsa’s homelessness Continuum of Care. In her role at THA Ginny manages all external communications including media relations, social media, digital communications and more. She also oversees THA’s public affairs strategies, building and maintaining positive relationships with local, state and national legislators to increase affordable housing and its funding sources. She serves on the boards of Leadership Tulsa, Amplify Tulsa and Tulsa Route 66 Main Street.

Vicki is a native Tulsan with over 14 years experience in affordable and workforce housing development and financial stack creation. Currently, she is the President for Boomtown Development Company, a nonprofit supporting entity of Green Country Habitat for Humanity. Vicki holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law and is a certified Housing Development Financial Professional.

Rachel Runfola has been with Oklahoma Veterans United, formerly known as the Community Service Council, since February 2014. Rachel served as Interim CEO from April 2023 until April 2024 when she was instated as the permanent CEO. Prior to that she served as the Director of Veteran Programs and oversaw the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) Program, Staff Sergeant Parker Fox Grant to Prevent Veteran Suicide, the Oklahoma Veteran Alliance (OKVA) and its initiatives. The SSVF program is funded through a Department of Veterans Affairs grant and concentrates on housing low income veterans and their families experiencing homelessness. SSVF expanded in September 2022 transitioning the Goodwill of Central Oklahoma SSVF grant to Community Service Council. Our coverage area now includes 56 counties across Oklahoma to include Oklahoma City and Lawton. The Community Service Council was also awarded the Staff Sergeant Parker Fox grant in September 2022. This is also a VA grant focusing on connecting veterans experiencing suicidal ideation or depression to VA therapeutic services and local social supports. As a veteran networking group, the Oklahoma Veteran Alliance focuses on ensuring veterans have access to resources and services whether they are transitioning from active duty or incarceration. Additionally, OKVA was instrumental in developing a web-based resource program called VALOR to assist veterans in finding resources and services through a web interface much like Google Maps.
Prior to working with Community Service Council, Rachel spent over 25 years in the telecommunications industry working for American Airlines, Sabre Inc., Wiltel Communications, Level3 and United Airlines (EDS) as a telecommunication engineer and manager centering on technology development to improve services and drive cost reductions through vendor and product management.
Rachel was raised in Port Townsend, WA and served in the U.S. Air Force for 6 years earning two Meritorious Service Medals and an Achievement Medal. She was selected as an Employee of the Year while employed with Sabre, Inc. Rachel has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Leadership from Bartlesville Wesleyan University, is an avid runner completing 20 marathons, a Level 1 CrossFit instructor, and has two children and four grandchildren.

Mark Smith joined Housing Solutions as CEO in April of 2024, bringing 10 years of experience in housing-based services with a focus on serving low-to-moderate income households, survivors of natural disasters, and people experiencing homelessness. Founded in 2020, Housing Solutions is the lead agency for Tulsa’s homeless services and housing system, known as a Continuum of Care, A Way Home for Tulsa. As the lead agency, Housing Solutions is responsible for compiling and executing on the community’s 5-year Strategic Plan to address homelessness, overseeing the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for the state of Oklahoma, and working with nonprofit, faith-based, and government partners to improve and expand services and housing opportunities.

Beth Svetlic is a dedicated and compassionate Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who serves as the Assistant Executive Director at Youth Services of Tulsa (YST). With a career spanning over two decades, Beth has been unwavering in her commitment to supporting adolescents, families, and transitional-aged youth. Her passion lies in creating systemic change within the realms of mental health, criminal justice, and housing. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Beth has deep roots in her community and proudly calls Tulsa home with her spouse and three children.

Janey is the Community Investments Manager at Tulsa Area United Way. Previously, as Program Manager at the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), she led an innovative Education and Training pilot program supporting individuals returning from incarceration. She also spearheaded a partnership with ProsperOK to establish the Education and Training Pathways Collective (ETPC), a coalition aimed at creating equitable access to education and skills training for those impacted by the criminal legal system. Janey holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Missouri.

Margaret Black is a Licensed Professional Counselor and LPC- Supervisor in the state of Oklahoma. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR and achieved her Masters in Community Counseling at The University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. She gained her supervision hours working with children and families at NorthCare Certified Community Behavioral Health Center in Oklahoma City. She has worked for DVIS since 2017. She began her work at the organization as the Program Coordinator of Transitional Housing. While there she gained an integral understanding of the barriers to housing survivors of violence face and how revolutionary safe and stable housing can be to a survivor’s healing journey. Since 2022, Margaret has been at the helm of clinical programming at DVIS. Margaret is a trainer on Dialectical Behavior Therapy, oversees the implementation of DVIS’ Abusive Partner Intervention Programs and is tasked with caring for clinical and non-clinical staff alike. Margaret is a mother of two (twins!) and deeply invested in creating a more equitable Tulsa.

Sarah Beilke serves as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Child Advocacy Network (CAN) in Tulsa, OK and brings over 20 years of dedicated experience in supporting children and families through a multidisciplinary approach. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree from Drury University and a Masters in Social Work from NYU. She has worked across various sectors, including medical, legal, mental health, and child welfare, making a significant impact on the lives of those in the community. She is a passionate advocate for the well-being of children and families and has made this a priority in her professional and personal life. Sarah is married and a proud parent of three children, which fuels her commitment to creating a better future for the next generation. In her free time, Sarah enjoys scuba diving and spending time by the water, embracing the tranquility and adventure it offers.

Tracey Lyall has been the CEO of DVIS in Tulsa, Oklahoma for 17 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Tulsa, as well as a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Oklahoma and is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW). Tracey brings over 25 years of supervisory and management experience in addition to years of direct service and advocacy for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. In 2013, along with the board of directors, she led the organization’s $24 million capital campaign to build a new shelter, transitional housing and counseling office for DVIS. Tracey has worked in the areas of poverty, domestic violence, crisis intervention and mental health throughout her career.
Tracey is a member of the Mayor’s Commission on Domestic Violence and Tulsa Executive Exchange. She is a graduate of Leadership Tulsa Class 43 and was recognized in 2008 as one of Tulsa’s Young Professionals in Oklahoma Magazine’s 40-Under-40. She was named a Williams’ Women of Inspiration nominee in 2014 and 2015, a 2016 recipient of the YWCA and Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women – Woman of the Year Pinnacle Award and recipient of the 2016 Dr. Margaret Hudson Award and a 2017 Journal Record, Woman of The Year.
Tracey is a life-long Tulsa native and is married to Jim Lyall. Tracey and Jim share mutual career interests in human services, which provides a regular opportunity for them to give focus and support to each other. She enjoys spending time with Jim and their two daughters, ages 10 and 7 years.

Colleen McCarty is an attorney and life-long Oklahoman. In 2017, McCarty went back to the University of Tulsa College of Law to attend law school (JD ‘20). She served as an Articles Submission Editor on the Tulsa Law Review. Her law review note, “When Voters’ Intent Backfires,” was published in the Spring 2020 Issue. While in law school, McCarty co-published a piece in the Federal Sentencing Reporter titled, “Oklahoma’s State Question 780: Reform & Resistance.” Since becoming licensed to practice law in Oklahoma, she has served as Policy Counsel and Deputy Director of Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform. In Spring of 2022, McCarty worked with Appleseed Foundation Executive Director, Benet Magnuson, to open Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, where she now serves as Executive Director. She has worked across both sides of the aisle in the Oklahoma legislature on criminal justice policy, and was instrumental in passing medical parole reform in 2020 (SB 320). McCarty assisted in formulating a proposal for a felony classification & sentencing system, as introduced in SB 1646 (2022) and later in HB 1792 (2023). McCarty has been one of the key advocates pushing for survivor justice reform, which materialized in the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act, SB 1835 (2024)—a measure that passed the Oklahoma Senate 46-0 and the Oklahoma House 86-4.
She is admitted to practice in Oklahoma District Court, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

A 1984 graduate of Memorial High School, and later business graduate of Tulsa Community College, Vyncent Madden grew up here in Tulsa. Vynce primarily lived with his grandmother, but he did a lot of his growing up on the streets of tulsa. From a young age, he learned that he was not wanted by the mother and father who brought him into this world. This painful reality led him to find acceptance elsewhere, getting caught up in the gang world as a teenager.
Taking the risks that are expected as a gang member. Vynce wove in and out of legal involvement and custody. After his last term at age 30, he started working full time at Midwestern Manufacturing. As someone who deeply values hard work, having this opportunity led him to a turning point. Eight years later, at age 38, he said goodbye to gang life altogether. Despite restructuring his lifestyle, Vynce can still relate to young people who are going through what he went through. He uses his experiences to candidly relate to youth in the community through his full time job and several volunteer roles. In his professional life, Vynce serves as a re-entry case manager with Youth Services of Tulsa, where he has worked since 2010. As a case manager, he meets monthly with youth who are in custody around the state as juvenile delinquents and youthful offenders. He works with them on problem-solving and decision-making skills so they can complete their programs successfully. After discharging from custody, youth continue meeting with Vyne for six to eight months, during which time Vynce connects the youth and their families with the support and resources they need to remain successful in the community.
In his free time, Vynce volunteers as a mentor with 100 Black Men, an organization that mentors teenagers who do not have a father in the home and even helps connect them with scholarships for college. Vynce is an avid horseback rider and opens up his ranch to offer therapeutic horseback riding lessons for youth in the community. Vynce also makes himself available to help youth at the adolescent emergency shelter at Youth Services of Tulsa who are going through difficult times. Vynce is skilled at deescalating young people and teaches them through his actions, the strength is being in control of their emotions and actions.
Vynce acts as a consistent male figure in the lives of many youth in need. Vynce says his favorite thing about doing youth work is listening to the youth. He says, “You learn more from them and can help them better if you just listen instead of offering advice. It’s not always what they say, but it’s about reading between the lines of what they don’t say.” Through listening and being present and consistent, Vynce is able to act as a father, uncle, cousin, or whatever future the family is needing.

Major Mark Ohnesorge currently serves as the Training Director for the Tulsa Police Department. He joined TPD in 2008 and has spent time in all patrol divisions as well as Detective Division, the Academy, and the Special Investigations Division. Until recently, Major Ohnesorge also served as the Incident Management Team Commander for TPD and has been involved in most of the large-scale Tulsa Police responses over the last several years. Before his promotion to Major, Mark served as the Assistant Training Director over recruiting and hiring, overseeing an overhaul of the recruiting program in 2022 and 2023. Major Ohnesorge has a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Oklahoma and is a commissioner on the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic/Latinx Affairs Commission. Major Ohnesorge has been a guest speaker at numerous Mental Health and Law Enforcement collaboratives and professional conferences, and continually works to forge community relationships with the department. In his off time, Major Ohnesorge spends time with his wife, Maggie, and his six kids.

Captain Shellie Seibert left her career as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) to join the Tulsa Police Department in 1999. She was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2015. She is currently assigned to the Special Operations Division. As a Captain, she has served as a shift commander in patrol, the Special Investigations Division, and as a community policing strategist for the Chief of Police. She is the Mental Health Coordinator for TPD. She has worked closely with community partners to create mental health co-response teams such as the Community Response Team (CRT) and the Integrated Response Team (IRT). Capt. Seibert holds a master’s degree in counseling from Oral Roberts University. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy #270 and the Senior Management Institute for Police #78.

Deputy Chief Mark Wollmershauser Jr. has served on the Tulsa Police Department for 19 years. In his current role as Deputy Chief of Operations, he oversees all three patrol divisions in the City of Tulsa, and the Special Operations Division. Some of his previous assignments have included Patrol, Gangs, and Narcotics. He has also served as an Assistant Division Commander in the Special Investigations Division, the Division Commander of the Mingo Valley Division, and as the Training Director for TPD. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, including several Chiefs Awards and two from the FBI for investigations. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Oklahoma State University.

Marcia Bruno-Todd is a leader in Oklahoma working to support and grow new and emerging leaders and broaden involvement within communities. Her work is driven by the need for growing who is at the table, with an eye toward diversity of cultures, industries, and beliefs. Working and creating connections across private, public, and nonprofit sectors, she breaks down silos and creates spaces for community leaders to design innovative solutions that advance equity, inclusivity and strengthen democracy. As the Executive Director of Leadership Tulsa, Marcia has worked diligently to create pathways and encourage participation in leadership opportunities for all voices across Tulsa, Oklahoma. Marcia accelerates change by aligning a wide range of leaders with a shared vision for deep and genuine community participation at all levels of community and government. Her efforts inspire a new generation of changemakers who are focused on a vision for a world with equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

Dr. Dart has served five local health departments in three states during his 44-year career in public health. Currently, he is the Executive Director of the Tulsa City/County Health Department (THD), a local public health agency of 340 team members serving a county of over 670,000 residents. Dr. Dart serves in a leadership role as a member of several National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) work committees and is a NACCHO Past-President and former Board member. He is a Board member of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and chairs their Accreditation Review & IDEA Committee. He is a Year 15 graduate of the National Public Health Leadership Institute. His team was co-winner of the Martha Katz Award for best project. He was honored to be named the 2022 winner of NACCHO’s Mo Mullet Lifetime of Service award. He has received an appointment as a Visiting Associate Professor at the Oklahoma University Hudson College of Public Health and serves on the board of directors at the Child Advocacy Network, Family & Children’s Services, MyHealth Health Information Exchange, Morton Comprehensive Health Services, and is on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Caring Foundation board of advisors, the Impact Tulsa Leadership Council, The Tulsa Regional Chamber Board of Advisors, and the Schweitzer Fellowship advisory board. He received his BS in Biology from Drury University in 1977, his MS in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University in 1989, and his Ph.D. in Health Services, specializing in community health from Walden University in 2005.

Omare Jimmerson is an advocate, a community educator, a program creator, a mentor, and a leader. Omare is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative, and was previously the Deputy Director of Parks, Culture and Recreation at the City of Tulsa, where she ensured Tulsans were best served by various systems including education, healthcare and social services through the pandemic. Omare is the Co-Founder and previous Program Director of Strong Tomorrows, a school-based initiative for expectant and parenting students that provides guidance, support, and information. Omare is also on a number of nonprofit boards in Tulsa that focus on education. Omare is proud of her Nigerian heritage being the first generation born in the States. As executive director of the Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative, she works to ensure every woman is treated with dignity, respect and most of all as a human. By bringing doula care to Black and Brown women, her organization gives them back the power to advocate for their care. Doula care is not just for the “haves.”

M. Susan Savage is a native Tulsan who was elected Tulsa’s first woman mayor in 1992. Her unprecedented tenure of service as mayor ended in 2002, after which Savage was appointed as Oklahoma’s Secretary of State by Governor Brad Henry from 2003 until January of 2011. Savage has been recognized for her decades of leadership, management expertise and policy work. She currently serves as the CEO for Morton Comprehensive Health Services, the oldest community health center system in Oklahoma.
Savage has been recognized locally, statewide, and nationally for her effectiveness in delivering public services, human relations, environmental stewardship, economic expansion, and community revitalization. Her leadership and management expertise as Tulsa’s mayor produced a decade of job growth, neighborhood revitalization and community livability, financial stability, public safety enhancements and environmental initiatives. As mayor, Savage appointed more women and minorities to city boards, authorities, and commissions than at any other time in Tulsa’s history; she sponsored community-wide prayer services and blood drives in partnership with Tulsa’s interfaith community following the Murrah bombing and 9/11 tragedies. Savage was Tulsa’s first mayor to publicly apologize on behalf of the community at the 75th and 80th commemorations for Tulsa’s 1921 Race Massacre. Savage was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the President’s Council on Sustainable Development and to the National Recreation Lakes Commission. She was one of eight US mayors selected by the Aspen Institute to join French and German mayors to discuss the impact of globalization on cities including topics such as immigration, homelessness, health, social services, and economic development. Savage was recognized by Newsweek Magazine as one of the nation’s “25 Mayors to Watch” for her leadership in addressing air and water quality issues.
Savage served as the city’s and state’s chief diplomat for international relations, worked to advance initiatives from early childhood to health care policy, and as Secretary of State served as a member of Governor Henry’s cabinet with broad policy and executive duties at the federal, state, and local levels. Her service includes decades of appointments to community and civic boards. She lectures and speaks across the state and nationally.
Among the dozens of awards received by Savage, she has been honored by the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice for her leadership promoting diversity, tolerance, and freedom. She has received Honorary Doctorates from Oklahoma City University and her alma mater, Arcadia University. She has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame for City and Town Officials, Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, and has received the Peace & Dialogue award for government service from the Institute of Interfaith Dialogue.
Savage currently resides in Tulsa where, as the CEO of Morton Health services, she manages a system of six community clinics with a $27 million budget providing community-based family health care to thousands of Oklahomans. She is privileged to work with the dedicated staff at Morton as they deliver high quality and accessible health services to promote community wellness and healing. Morton was a key resource during the COVID crisis for testing and vaccines, especially to homeless and underserved Tulsans. Morton uniquely operates a primary care clinic for the homeless; is a patient centered medical home fostering continuity of care; and operates a regional transportation system.

Zack Stoycoff is the founding executive director of Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, a nonprofit that leads policy and community change to end untreated mental illness and addiction in Oklahoma. He and his team of policy and public health experts advise state and local officials, treatment systems, schools, and other partners in developing data-driven, evidence-based solutions to behavioral health challenges faced by communities across the state.
At Healthy Minds, Zack leads collaborations that have drawn millions of dollars into the state for new and enhanced treatment services and helped pass some of the nation’s strongest state legislation expanding access to behavioral health care. His work has advanced solutions for many of the most pressing needs in behavioral health, including the youth mental health crisis, health insurance parity, and clinical workforce shortages.
Zack has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and 15 years of professional experience influencing public policy. He was previously vice president of government affairs for the Tulsa Regional Chamber, where he advocated for state policy priorities around health insurance, education, and criminal justice reform. He has a background in journalism, including covering state and local government issues for the Tulsa World and several other newspapers.

Dr. Rebecca Hubbard currently serves as the Chief Mental Health Officer for the City of Tulsa. In this role, she brings a mental health lens to the City’s work and facilitates increased collaboration between the many entities engaging individuals and families who may be experiencing a mental health need. She holds a master’s degree in professional counseling and a doctorate in human science, with a focus on human development and family science. She is a licensed professional counselor and a certified family life educator. Dr. Hubbard is dedicated to improving mental health for Tulsans by improving how systems engage with individuals and families facing mental health challenges.

Kathryn Aung (she/her) graduated from the University of Tulsa with a B.A. in Political Science and English. She now works for the City of Tulsa and is the Chair of the Tulsa Voter Coalition. The Tulsa Voter Coalition is a new, non-partisan collective effort of trusted local organizations who focus on voter and civic engagement in Tulsa. By bringing these organizations together, we amplify impact, expand audiences, share resources, and have a collective impact on election awareness and voter turnout in our community. The Coalition’s mission is to empower an inclusive and informed local electorate by registering, educating, and activating Tulsa voters, with an emphasis on historically low-turnout precincts and demographics.

Julie is passionate about serving her community and providing support for people to live their best lives. She has served as the Chief Executive Officer for YWCA Tulsa since 2017, joining the team after having worked in the non-profit field for nearly 10 years in development and as the Associate Director for Up With Trees. Prior to Up With Trees, she worked at the American Cancer Society where she managed events across the state to raise funds in the fight against cancer. She was member of Leadership Tulsa Class 54, as well as the Tulsa Area United Way NexTulsa Class 4. She has served as Co-Chair for the Non-Profit Sector of the 2021 Tulsa Area United Way Campaign, and also currently serves on the Leadership Team for her church, Faith United Methodist. She is also a mother of two young girls, and is passionate about creating diverse and empowered spaces for all people.

Lisa Kelly is the Chief Executive Officer of The Arc of Oklahoma, a position she has held since 2019. With over two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, Lisa is dedicated to advocating for and protecting the human rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Under her leadership, The Arc of Oklahoma has expanded its programs, strengthened its advocacy efforts, and increased its community impact. Prior to her current role, Lisa held leadership positions at Ability Resources and Mental Health Association Oklahoma, both Tulsa Area United Way agencies.
Lisa’s personal experience as a caregiver for her adult daughter with multiple disabilities has profoundly shaped her commitment to the mission of The Arc. The Arc of Oklahoma is a member of a national network of over 600 chapters dedicated to promoting the full inclusion and well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout their lifetimes.

Scott started his public transportation career in 1996 as a Fixed Route Bus Operator in Las Vegas Nevada. From there, he worked his way up through the private sector over the years. His first General Manager role was in 2009 for a Para Transit location. He has been a General Manager for over 15 years for both small and larger locations all over the USA. This includes managing Para Transit, Fixed Route, School Bus and University Shuttle operations. Currently, Scott has been the General Manager/CEO for MTTA in Tulsa, Oklahoma since February 2022.

Rodrigo Rojas is Community Development Director for the City of Tulsa leading efforts in the areas of neighborhood revitalization, housing, and small business. Prior to his current role, Rojas was appointed by Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum to Deputy Chief of Staff in 2021. He served in Mayor Bynum’s administration with a focus on community development, public engagement, and strategic partnerships. Rojas has served in several leadership roles at Teach For America, La Semana Spanish-English Newspaper, and was part of the founding team at Gathering Place where he led all community-based strategies, communications, and outreach efforts for the international award-winning Park. Rojas is also the founder of Festival Americas, a free multicultural festival that celebrates Tulsa’s Hispanic and Latino community and inspires the next generation of leaders through college scholarships. Rojas was born in Argentina and raised in Tulsa. He is a graduate from the University of Arkansas and currently serves on several community boards, authorities, and commissions.

Marcela Swenson is a Colorado native, a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and the Executive Director of Tulsa Responds. She moved to Tulsa with her family in January of 2020 and began Tulsa Responds that April to help Tulsans access federal programs related to the pandemic.
The Tulsa Responds team helped more than 800 local businesses receive $200 million in emergency SBA loans and grants, and assisted over 2800 Tulsa households receive free internet through the Affordable Connectivity Plan. Presently, Tulsa Responds provides households with access to free tax filing services, free financial empowerment counseling, and one-on-one enrollment assistance in SoonerCare, SNAP, and Healthcare Marketplace plans.