Business and People Notes
Tulsa has announced that John Dodd and Kelly Ortiz have received nominations by industry trade publication Venues Today for the 2014 Generation Next Award. The annual award honors young leaders who make a difference in sports, music, conventions, family shows and festivals who are 35 or younger.
“Both John and Kelly are incredibly deserving of the recognition they have received from Venues Today. We are lucky to have such dedicated and talented people as part of the Tulsa team,” says Jeff Nickler, general manager of the Center and Cox Business Center.
Dodd, who serves as director of operations for the Center and Cox Business Center, was nominated for his role in the success of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. Dodd served as the conduit between the Tulsa Regional Chamber and B.A.S.S. to coordinate the second highest attendance in the event’s history. Dodd was also recognized for overseeing the back-to-back sold out Paul McCartney shows at the Center last May as part of the venue’s fifth anniversary concert series.
Ortiz was recognized for setting a standard of excellence in backstage catering as SAVOR Director of Food and Beverage. SAVOR is the food and beverage division of . Winners are voted on by Venues Today subscribers and through social media. Five winners will be chosen from the field of 30 nominees including a Readers’ Choice and Social Butterfly award recipient. Venues Today is a monthly international trade publication that covers the business side of entertainment and sports, particularly as it relates to venues.
also announces the hiring of Riley Longacre as special events coordinator and Liz Carson as executive assistant – Cox Business Center.
Longacre is a 2013 graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication. Prior to graduating, she served as the Public Relations Assistant at Stan Clark Companies, where she worked on marketing and events for Eskimo Joe’s. Her previous experience also includes working as an Assistant Account Executive for Brothers and Company in Tulsa.
As special events coordinator, Longacre will assist in all aspects of creating, planning and executing Tulsa special events including Dodgebrawl, Rock ‘n Rib Festival and Arvest Winterfest.
Carson previously served as office manager/scheduler for Congressman John Sullivan. Prior to that position, she spent 12 years as a probation and parole officer with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
As Executive Assistant, Carson will provide administrative and operational support for the Cox Business Center.
Ted Cundiff, Bank president and , has announced that Kevin Highland has joined Mortgage Center and been named the president for the mortgage division. Highland will serve on Bank’s management team.
Highland has more than 30 years of management experience in sales, real estate, consumer finance and portfolio servicing. Highland made his move to after serving as vice president for The Exchange Bank, where he was responsible for secondary mortgage financing, as well as serving for the past 15 years as president of Great Plains Mortgage Company, Inc.
A graduate of Iowa State University, Highland holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. Highland and his wife, Karen, reside in Owasso.
Joining Highland at Mortgage Center are three loan originators: Tommy Gann, Gary Laughinghouse and Katherine Grammer.
The Oral Roberts University Board of Trustees unanimously elected Robert Hoskins to board chair. Hoskins is stepping into this role that was filled by Mart Green since the new board was founded six years ago. Green will remain on the board as vice chair.
Hoskins is currently president and of OneHope, a global ministry committed to engaging every child in the world with God’s Word. OneHope has already reached more than a billion children in more than 140 nations and in 100+ languages.
Hoskins earned his B.A. from Vanguard University and is an ordained general appointed missionary of the Assemblies of God. He is the recipient of John Maxwell’s Equip Leadership Award and recognized by Charisma magazine as one of the emerging leaders of the church of tomorrow.
The American Heart Association announces Brandy Flewellen as executive director of the American Heart Association office in Tulsa. In her role, she will be responsible for planning, management and implementation of education and fundraising campaigns.
Flewellen has been with the American Heart Association for seven years, beginning as the Go Red For Women director before being promoted to senior Heart Walk director. Under her leadership, the Go Red For Women campaign experienced rapid growth and the Tulsa Heart Walk fundraising grew from $500,000 to $1.2 million.
Flewellen says she continues to see great opportunity to continue to grow the Tulsa Heart Walk and build on the successes of the Tulsa Heart Ball and Go Red For Women campaigns, adding that her vision includes building the organization’s volunteer base, growing the Tulsa Workplace Giving campaign and continuing to grow the Tulsa market revenue through each campaign.
Former Tulsa Executive Director Melissa Ramirez has been named senior vice president of the American Heart Association.
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin has appointed Robin Flint Ballenger to the Tulsa Community College Board of Regents.
Ballenger is currently the chairman of Flint Resources Company, , and president of the Flint Family Foundation. She was officially sworn in at the board of regents meeting in March.
“It is a wonderful honor to have a chance to serve as a regent of Tulsa Community College. I believe is a major asset for Green Country, and I am eager to serve its students and to support its mission,” Ballenger says.
Ballenger is a Tulsa native and Holland Hall graduate. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College and holds two masters degrees, one from Occidental College in Los Angeles in urban studies and one from the University of Southern California in gerontology.
She is the third generation of the Flint family to lead Flintco, a diverse, national construction company with offices in seven cities, until its sale in January 2013. She served as chair of the board of Flintco, , and its subsidiaries.
Camp Fire Green Country has hired Claire A. Johnson as community relations director. Before coming to Camp Fire, she served as an artist in residence, teaching theatre classes to junior high and high school students at Central High School.
“We are delighted to have Claire on our Camp Fire management team,” says Bobbie Henderson, executive director and . “Claire’s creativity combined with her previous professional experiences provide an important contribution to our work in this community.”
Camp Fire Green Country is a nonprofit organization and partner agency of the Tulsa Area United Way.
The Tulsa Press Club, a members-only professional organization, has announced its 2014 leadership. Nicole Burgin, media relations specialist for Tulsa Community College, succeeds Mercedes Millberry Fowler, community affairs representative for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, as president of the Tulsa Press Club’s Board of Directors for 2014. Other officers include Vice President Tom Gilbert, Tulsa World; Secretary Annell Dornblaser, Walsh Branding; and Treasurer Michael Overall, Tulsa World.
Members of the Tulsa Press Club include journalists, public relations professionals, marketing and communications professionals, lawyers, small business owners, corporate and nonprofit executives, downtown enthusiasts, and Tulsa newsmakers. “Membership is open to anyone and offers numerous benefits, including networking and educational events that support journalism and the mission of the Tulsa Press Club. Plus, the club provides a place for news conferences, business meetings, lunch and after-work drinks,” says Burgin.
Updated 04-29-2014
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