Derrick Baptist an Up and Comer at Cox
By AMBER NEVILLE
Contributing Writer
TALENTED TYPRO: Derrick Baptist, manager of recruiting and diversity for Cox Communications, is a Holland Hall and University of Tulsa graduate. He majored in international business and Spanish at TU.
DANIEL C. CAMERON for GTR Newspapers
In November 2008, the Tulsa Young Professionals hosted a very special event called “D2: Diversity & Dialogue,” and Derrick Baptist was the one of the roundtable event’s chosen moderators. It is easy to understand why he was selected for the position upon first impression.
Baptist stands at over six feet tall and is well postured with a slim and athletic build and is well spoken and educated.
He grew up as a preacher’s kid or “P.K.,” as he calls himself, at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church on North Cincinnati Avenue in Tulsa where his mother was the preacher. Baptist went on to attend Holland Hall School, an Episcopal college preparatory school focusing on humanities, sciences, arts and technology. Upon graduation, he accepted a scholarship to attend Oral Roberts University but transferred to the University of Tulsa where he dual-majored in International Business and Spanish.
Born in Panama, Baptist was raised by his grandmother until the age of two. His adoptive parents, Rev. Gail and Dr. James Keeney-Mulligan, later brought him up.
He has lived in Panama, Germany and the United States and has traveled to various other places, where he has heard and seen an abundance of culture and diversity. Baptist speaks both English and Spanish fluently with an understanding of German and French. His multilingual skills are an asset in his career.
Baptist is the Manager of Recruiting and Diversity at Cox Communications in Tulsa. As the Manager of R & D at Cox Communications, his primary role is to attract and retain talented professionals at his company.
Baptist appreciates the company’s continuous efforts to diversify itself as an organization. In 2008 alone, Cox Communications was awarded number six out of 50 for being one of the Most Diverse Corporate Cultures in the United States, according to DiversityInc. This ranking is up from number 25 in 2007.
Baptist appreciates how hard Cox works to be connected to its community through various efforts. One program is the Cox Connects Foundation, offered by Cox to its employees. Employees fund the foundation with Cox matching funds annually. In 2008, the Tulsa offices raised over $950,000 to help fund various community programs such as high school scholarships and the Innovation in Education Program, which funds classroom and school-wide technological programs to enhance student imagination and ingenuity.
The Cox Connects Foundation also gives back to employees of Cox through the Cox Cares Employee Program. The program offers short-term financial assistance to Cox employees who have encountered financial hardships beyond their control, such as a house fires, accidents or family illnesses. The Cox Connects Foundation offers the various programs as an immediate and tangible way for their people to give back.
Baptist says he loves Tulsa. He says of his company and his community, “Tulsa offers a variety of diversity…I’ve had the opportunity to visit almost every state in the country and live overseas… there is no other place I prefer to live than Tulsa.”
Where else can you find Baptist in Tulsa? “Attending the arts. I am very excited about the opening of ‘Wicked’ later this year at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center!”
Baptist’s involvement with the Tulsa Young Professionals began in 2006 when his friend and co-worker, Elizabeth King, current Public Affairs Manager for Cox, suggested he would enjoy the organization. Today, Baptist is an active member of the TYPros Diversity Crew, following his passion for Tulsa and the educational efforts the crew serves in the community.
For more information on Cox Communications and the Cox Connects Foundation, please contact Elizabeth King, Cox Public Affairs Manager, at (918) 286-4546.
Editor’s Note: Tulsa-area leadership has been working hard over the past few years to keep young professional talent in the region. One organization that has been very effective in keeping young talent in the region is Tulsa Young Professionals, known by its acronym “TYPros.” This is the second of the GTR Newspapers monthly series spotlighting young Tulsa leadership, many of whom are or will be members of TYPros. Greater Tulsa is fortunate to have young talent contributing to its betterment.
About TYPros
The Tulsa Young Professionals, or “TYPros,” is a group of diverse young professionals, whose typical ages range from 21- 40, working together to showcase Tulsa as a cool place to live, work and play. The mission of TYPros is to retain and attract young talent, while focusing on fostering the next generation of leadership. Membership is free. TYPros provides its members with opportunities to get in front of and build relationships with local community and business leaders. For more information or to become a member, visit www.typros.org.
Updated 02-25-2009
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