Business and People Notes February 2021

Montereau retirement community in Tulsa announces Saunya Moore as its new chief financial officer.
Moore brings more than two decades of extensive financial and operational knowledge to Montereau. With her background and experience in healthcare, she has developed a holistic approach to decision-making that considers not just the bottom-line, but also the operational aspects of how decisions will impact the overall health of an organization.
Moore sums up her holistic philosophy by saying, “In order to positively impact an organization, it is important to look beyond the numbers and take client and employee satisfaction into account. Ultimately, the result is a stronger organization, better able to support those the organization serves.”
Moore comes to Montereau from Morton Comprehensive Health Services, one of the largest not-for-profit community health centers in the state, where she served as CFO and Vice President of Administration and Finance. In that role, she was charged with overseeing the organization’s financial planning, budgeting, accounting and business operations. During her tenure, she identified key financial and operational strategies that resulted in substantial cost savings, increased revenue generation and operational refinements for the organization. She also implemented programs to enhance employee satisfaction that positively impacted employee retention and recruitment efforts.
Moore is a Certified Public Accountant who holds a Master of Business Administration (Health Care Emphasis) and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Oklahoma State University.
She feels a deep commitment to the Tulsa community and volunteers her time accordingly. Currently, she serves as a Board Member for Youth Services of Tulsa, as well as a member of several other committees, including MyHealth and the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce OneVoice Task Force in Healthcare and Human Resources.
Founded in 2003 by The William K. Warren Foundation, Montereau was designed for Tulsa seniors to continue to live an active lifestyle that represents their values, spirit and style. The community has earned a reputation for raising the bar for Life Plan communities, formerly Continuing Care Retirement Communities.
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum has named Jack Neely as his chief of capital investment.
Neely will work on the advancement of the city’s capital improvements program and community development initiatives.
Most of the largest City of Tulsa projects are funded through the capital improvement program, with voter-approved sales taxes and general obligation bonds providing hundreds of millions of dollars for transportation improvements including streets, bridges and transit; maintenance and improvements to parks and other City facilities, and purchases of equipment for the police and fire departments and other needs.
“I first came to know Jack through his years of service on the Utility Authority and have long been grateful that a brilliant businessman with such keen financial acumen is willing to give of his time and talent to the City,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “We have so many opportunities to make smart investments today that will benefit Tulsans for generations to come, and I am excited to have Jack’s help in making sure we make the most of them.”
Neely will continue to advance the voter approved Vision Tulsa economic development capital improvements package from 2016.
Projects currently in progress include the BMX National Headquarters in the Historic Greenwood District, Zink Dam modifications in the Arkansas River, the Route 66 Village Train Depot and Gilcrease Museum. A second Improve Our Tulsa package was approved by Tulsa voters in 2019, with work currently beginning through bond funding, with sales taxes to support more projects beginning in July 2021.
“I’m honored to join Mayor Bynum’s team as we work together to make Tulsa an even better community,” Neely said. “Tulsans have approved extensive capital improvements in recent years and I look forward to working with the talented City team to deliver these projects efficiently and responsibly.”
For the past 30 years, Neely has worked at Ballard Management managing investments, small businesses and the accounting, tax and legal relationships for business offices. For the past 18 years, Neely has also served on the City’s Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority (TMUA), which is the public trust organization that helps manage, construct, and maintain Tulsa’s water works and sanitary sewer systems. Neely will continue his service with TMUA.
Neely has been heavily involved in the Tulsa community for years and has served on various boards such as Leadership Tulsa, Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa Metropolitan Planning Commission, the Parent-Child Center of Tulsa and most recently served as a Trustee for the University of Tulsa. Neely has also been engaged with his alma mater, Duke University and served on the Nasher Museum Board of Advisors and Trinity Board of Advisors.
Neely holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Duke University and is currently on the board of directors for Arvest Bank.
Nadia Yakshin, former Assistant Branch Manager, was promoted to Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President of the Downtown Broken Arrow/Rose District Branch at AVB Bank, located at 322 South Main Street. As Branch Manager, Yakshin plays an integral role in the day-to-day operations of the branch. Her responsibilities include supervision of branch retail staff and oversite of branch operations.
Ben Dejene, senior vice president and retail banking director, said of Yakshin’s promotion, “I have been incredibly impressed with Nadia’s professional development since joining AVB in 2012. She has served as a teller, lead teller, personal banker, assistant branch manager and now assumes the branch manager position.” Dejene continued, “She plays a key role in AVB’s culture of serving, connecting and succeeding with our customers and community. We are thrilled to promote her to the position of assistant vice president and branch manager.”
Yakshin grew up in Russia and Ukraine and is trilingual in Russian, Ukrainian and English. She and her husband, Yuri, have been married for eight years and have six children.
Yakshin noted about her promotion, “I am excited for the opportunity to continue to grow and develop at AVB Bank.” Yakshin continued, “AVB is a family bank in every aspect, and I am proud to be a part of the AVB Bank family.”
Emily Chambers, an interior designer with Reed Architecture and Interiors, has received her National Council for Interior Design Qualification Certification.
Chambers joined the Reed Architecture staff in May 2017. She completed her NCIDQ testing in the fall of 2020.
“My time and experience here at Reed proved invaluable on my certification journey,” said Chambers. “I was fortunate enough to have the support of a great team.”
Chambers is one of two NCIDQ interior designers on Reed Architecture’s staff. Nicollette West, who also received her certification last year, joined the firm this month.
“Interiors is a vital part of our design process,” said Reed Architecture principal and founder David Reed, “and Emily is very talented and a key part of our team. I am so proud of her accomplishments and so happy to have her on our team.”
Reed Architecture is a full-service architecture and interior design firm with extensive experience in athletic, education, civic, commercial, and religious designs. To learn more about this Sapulpa, OK, firm, visit reed-architects.com.