Business and People Notes
Tulsa has filled several open positions at the Center and Cox Business Center.
John Dodd was named director of operations for both the Center and Cox Business Center in Tulsa. Dodd most recently served as Director of Event Services for Tulsa. Dodd came to Tulsa in 2008 after spending four years as an Event Coordinator at the -managed Ford Center (now Chesapeake Energy Arena) and Cox Business Services Convention Center (now Cox Convention Center) both located in Oklahoma City. His responsibilities as director of operations include overseeing the day-to-day operations of both venues, maintaining the facilities, overseeing event operations, managing building and event security, and managing all construction projects.
Trudy Sweeten has been promoted to director of event services for the Center and Cox Business Center. Sweeten joined the Tulsa team as an event manager in 2008 prior to the opening of the Center. Prior to coming to Tulsa, she spent four years at the Ford Center and Cox Business Services Convention Center in Oklahoma City, first in the food and beverage department and then as an event coordinator. Her responsibilities in her new role include the successful execution and service of events at the Center and Cox Business Center.
Brian Smith has been promoted to special events manager for Tulsa. Smith joined Tulsa in July 2012 as the Special Events Coordinator. He also interned at the Center in 2011. As special events manager, Smith will develop, coordinate and manage all Tulsa special events including ONEOK Outdoor Concert Series, OK ! Children’s Expo, Dodgebrawl, Rock ‘n Rib Festival and Arvest Winterfest.
The Oklahoma Restaurant Association () held its Annual Meeting Feb. 4 at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club.
Over 200 restaurant owners, operators, chefs and managers attended the event, during which members heard the latest news on issues pertinent to the foodservice industry. The meeting included culinary excellence awards, which honors outstanding foodservice professionals and businesses for their commitment to the association and Oklahoma’s foodservice industry.
Tulsa award recipients included Café Ole, Polo Grill and Full Moon Café for the Restaurant Hall of Fame Award. Kathy Bondy of The French Hen won Membership Recruiter of the Year.
Tulsa’s Up With Trees announces the selection of its new executive director, Gail Ederer. Ederer, who calls Tulsa home, has spent the last 17 years in Oklahoma City serving as the executive director of the statewide nonprofit Keep Oklahoma Beautiful.
“We are excited to bring Gail onto the team,” says Shane Fernandez, president. “She has years of successful nonprofit management experience and a history of collaboration with many of the Up With Trees board and affiliated urban forestry groups in the state.”
Ederer, who attended first grade through college in Tulsa, is feeling very much at home, not only in the city but at Up With Trees. “This is truly a dream job for me,” she says. “I have watched the growth of the program since its beginnings and have admired its goals, its purpose, and its dedicated founders and staff. To be back home and to be playing a role in the growth and perpetuation of Up With Trees is an honor and more than gratifying.”
Gail’s two daughters live in Tulsa: Ayn Grubb, curriculum coordinator for Tulsa Public Schools, and Susan Collins, senior tax accountant for Schusterman Family Interests. Son-in-law Sean Grubb, Graphics, and a brilliant sixth grader, Emma Grubb, round out the family.
Up with Trees is a 501© (3) nonprofit organization founded in Tulsa 30 years ago by Sid Patterson, former Streets Commissioner. His dream to re-tree Tulsa is becoming more of a reality with every year that passes. The group’s board, volunteers and staff work diligently to support the goals of planting, preserving and promoting Tulsa’s urban forest.
Jim Pacula, president of Manufacturing Services & Innovations, , has been elected president of the Gatesway Foundation Board of Trustees for 2014.
Board officers serving with Pacula are Dr. Fredrick Artis, Tulsa Community College, vice president; David Parrish, Parrish Realtors, treasurer; and Debbie Ruggles, Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority, secretary. Joe Cook, Hope Church, is past president.
Newly elected board members are Scott Bosen, Metropolitan Tulsa Trust Authority; Larry Langford, City of Owasso; Darren L. Whitson and Tracy Farkas, Williams; Nick Presson, Valley National Bank; and Gary Cawood, .
Gatesway is a Broken Arrow-based not-for-profit organization that provides residential and vocational services for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Pacula has been a trustee for four years and was board vice president last year.
He has also served on the Employment for Individuals Committee and chaired the Gatesway Celebrity Golf Classic Committee.
Chinowth & Cohen welcomes agents to its South Tulsa, Bartlesville and Sand Springs offices.
Joe Tran joins the south Tulsa office. His background is in Information Technology, and he holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Information Systems from the University of Tulsa.
Tran was born in Saigon, Vietnam, but has lived in Tulsa most of his life. He speaks English and Vietnamese.
He is married and has two children.
Amos Radlinger recently joined Chinowth & Cohen’s Bartlesville office. Prior to his real estate career he was an Apprentice Carpenter, Legal Assistant and has worked in customer service. He’s very active in his community and has served as Director for the “Run the Ville,” a 10K race to raise money for a local non profit interdenominational youth ministry.
He says he chose Chinowth & Cohen because of the encouragement and mentorship offered from C&C realtors.
When not working, Amos enjoys fly fishing and “junking,” locating hard to find items from auctions, estate sales and even “junk” piles.
Amos earned his B.S. in Youth Ministry from Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
Michael Gilliland joins the Bartlesville office. He is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran. Before his career in real estate, he was the president and co-owner of an insurance catastrophe claims business. He also worked in the military aviation weapons industry.
Michael is married and has two children, Zachary and Taylor.
Tulsa named Angie Boswell 2013 Employee of the Year. Boswell serves as Senior Catering Manager for SAVOR, SMG’s food and beverage division.
Boswell was recognized for her dedication to making sure clients receive the highest level of customer service when planning events at the Cox Business Center and Center and for taking on additional job responsibilities including establishing a floral décor department within SAVOR.
“After the Cox Business Center Tulsa Ballroom had been opened for almost a year, Angie realized what a great opportunity floral decor could be both for and for the clients. She took it upon herself to use her natural talent for creating centerpieces and created a floral department,” says Kelly Ortiz, SAVOR director of food and beverage.
In addition to creating a floral department, Boswell was recognized for her dedication to the position and always having a positive attitude while working long hours and numerous events.
The Employee of the Year is voted on by an internal committee of coworkers.
Updated 02-25-2014
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