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Chelsi Hendrickson
Employer
Phillips 66
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management from Oklahoma State University
How Long Have You Lived in Ponca City?
11 Years
Spouse/ Partner
Thomas Hendrickson
Children
Hudson Hendrickson
How have you contributed to your current or previous employer’s or organization’s growth, innovation, or profitability?
Before working at Phillips 66, I was employed at Rick Scott Construction from 2014- 2021. Rick Scott Construction is commercial construction company that started in Ponca City and that is where the official headquarters are located. There is also another office in Tulsa. I started out as a Project Administrator in 2014 when I graduated college and worked my way up to Project Manager in 2017. During my time as Project Manager, I have been involved with several Ponca City Public Schools projects where the projects had to be completed during the summer months on a tight budget. These projects were for the betterment of the facilities at Ponca City Public Schools which in turn affects the community as well. All projects were completed in time for school and on budget. Some of these projects include, Visitors Football Locker Room Remodel, New Football Locker Room, Howell Fencing project, New Elevator for the High School, New Weight Room for Ponca City Public Schools, Baseball Field Improvements, New Sullins Stadium Press Box, and the new Ponca City Nutrition building remodel. There have also been some smaller remodel projects in there as well as other projects around the area.
When I started at Phillips 66 in 2021, I was part of the Turnaround Group as a contractor for the Ponca City Refinery. A turnaround is a planned period of extensive maintenance, renovation and capital investment, where an entire unit is taken offline so work can be carried out safely. A major part of my role was involved managing procurement of materials and execution of purchase orders for contractors. These tasks are crucial for any project, but especially turnarounds when you only have a certain number of days to complete the work. Well planned and executed turnarounds are important for a refinery to run reliably and safely, so being included in such a high-profile group was a challenge, but the challenge made it very rewarding.
In 2023, I was hired on as a full-time employee for Phillips 66 as a Project Cost Controller in the Capital group. The large part of this role includes maintaining budgets and forecasting costs for capital projects in the refinery. One of my biggest accomplishments in this role so far is introducing new processes in forecasting cost for projects and how we communicate these costs as a team. With change, there is always growing pains but for as challenging as it has been, it has also been very fulfilling. After being in this role for just under 2 years, with the help of my group and collaboration from our central group, we now have consistent monthly meetings to go over cost, software to help the transparency of budgets and costs, and better communication from the field to the office on what work is happening. I contribute my experience in Project Management to my work as a cost controller for the Ponca City Refinery, as I too once had to provide these updates and explain project schedule vs. cost, so I know what it entails. All of this has to led to better reporting for corporate, more informed decisions when deciding on new projects and more collaboration across the whole project team to ensure we are all on the same page.
How does your business contribute to the community?
My employer Phillips 66 contributes a great deal to the community with providing donations and/or volunteers for many nonprofits in the area. Not only have they been an investor for Ponca City Main Street since inception, but they also are major sponsors in fundraisers and events that are held. For example, for Ice on the Plaza, Phillips 66 provided a sponsorship of $25,000 for the rink. Phillips 66 also does a United Way campaign every year. Phillips 66 has been a top chamber member each year and hosts Business After Hours where people from other businesses and can together and socialize. This is a way to bring different people together in the community. Phillips 66 also does a scholarship program for dependents of employees. Employees are able to have their dependents apply the student's senior year and are judged based on academic achievement and financial need. The Ponca City Refinery also has a program called New Hire Network. Since it is a bigger company, we often get employees from outside the community/state. So this network is for new hires to become more involved in the community, providing volunteering and socializing opportunities.
What contributions have you made to community, civic, or charitable organizations?
Ponca City Main Street: Board Member from 2018-2021, Chair from 2021-2023, Past Chair, Board Member from 2023-2024. Throughout my time as a board member, chair and committee member, I have volunteered at each major event Ponca City Main Street have been involved in the planning. Upon becoming Chair, I helped navigate and lead our program through a time where Covid restrictions were being lifted so we could get back on track with fundraising, event planning, etc. During my first few months as Chair, I helped train the new Executive Board Director for Ponca City Main Street and I hired the new Assistant Board Director. Under my tenure, we produced new events and projects to help our program. These include Grand Casino Fundraiser in 2022, Social Media Takeover (this is where investors are able to take over Main Street's social media for a day to market and advertise for their business), and our large annual fundraiser Ice on the Plaza in 2022, which Ponca City Main Street worked hard on securing a grant from T-Mobile and executed fundraising efforts to bring the Glice Rink to our downtown. This created a six week-long event for Ponca City and surrounding communities, which will last for years and years, and be our major annual fundraiser for Ponca City Main Street.
City Arts: This non-profit organization is dedicated to enriching the cultural life in our community by promoting, teaching and nourishing the creating and appreciation of visual arts. Board member from 2018-2023. Board Chair from 2023- 2024. City Arts (previously Ponca City Arts Association) has held a premier annual Arts Festival every year since 1974. This fine art show brings in around 50 artists from all over to not only show their art and have the opportunity to be awarded in several different judged categories, but it is also a festival where they have the opportunity to sell their pieces. The festival also includes entertainment, food trucks, refreshments and a kid's area. This past year (2024) I was a Co-Chair for this festival. Pioneer Technology Foundation Board: The Foundation's goal is to remove the financial barrier that challenges so many individuals while pursuing their education by creating scholarships for qualified and deserving students who attend Pioneer Technology Center. I am the current Vice President for the board and have been a member since 2017. During this time, I have been involved in issuing several scholarships to students and planning our annual fundraiser which includes dinner and a roast, where we select a well-known member in the community and have them roasted by their peers of their choosing to make a fun, comedic experience with great food.
What trade or professional organizations have you been involved with?
Class of 2019 Leadership Ponca City program. This is a program put on by the Chamber of Commerce where members are selected through a committee. The objective is to develop a pool of committed well-informed leaders who will actively participate in the growth of the community by accepting leadership roles in civic, 6 charitable, or governmental organizations. PCSEA - This is a volunteer non-profit organization at the Phillips 66 Ponca City Refinery. They hold recreational events for employees and their families. For the past couple years, I have been involved in planning the annual P66 Children's Christmas Party where all kids of employees are invited for games, entertainment, refreshments, meeting Santa and gifts.
What honors, awards, or achievements have you received?
Ponca City Main Street Board Member of the Year - 2023
Leadership Ponca City graduate - 2019
Recognized at the AGC OK Banquet in 2019 for the work on the New Football Locker Room for PCPS.
What are your goals for your future in Ponca City?
While I am taking a short break, I plan to get back on Ponca City Main Street's board so I can continue to contribute to their goal of making downtown the heart of the community. I really want to grow within my company at Phillips 66 and become more involved with other non-profits as well. My family plans to stay in Ponca City long term. While I am not personally from Ponca City, it is our home, and I plan to do all that I can to contribute to the growth of our community as I have done the past 10 years with improving the community in the construction field and with my volunteering for several non-profits and organizations. Also, when my child gets old enough to be in school, I look forward to contributing my time and efforts to the school system.
What other information would you like others to know about yourself?
I am a full-time working mom whose husband also has a demanding job. The decisions I have made in my career have been a direct reflection of how important I view family and my time with them. While working and family takes up most of my time, I always find time to volunteer for the community. One of my favorite quotes says, "If serving is beneath you, leadership is beyond you" - Doug Thorpe.
I think it is very important to point out that any success that I have had wouldn’t be possible without the colleagues who I have been fortunate to work with and the people who support me every day. From a young age I was taught the importance of a strong work ethic from my parents, and they continue to be my biggest fans as I make my journey through life. My husband is one of the hardest working people I know, and he makes me want to strive to do better in all aspects. I am a work in progress, and the knowledge and lessons learned from people I have been able to work with and who support me daily, is a direct reflection of that progress.
Jenna Wells
Employer
Winterrowd Talley Architects
Education
Oklahoma State University, Bachelor of Science in Design, Housing & Merchandising: Interior Design, 2022. Minor in Art History.
How Long Have You Lived in Ponca City?
25 years (I left for college and came back)
Spouse/ Partner
Bienjamin Wells
How have you contributed to your current or previous employer’s or organization’s growth, innovation, or profitability?
I started working with Winterrowd Talley Architects on May 18th, 2022. At the time of my arrival, our firm had minimal social media/internet presence. I took the initiative to direct the Instagram and Facebook accounts, as well as completely rebuild the website to increase our firm’s visibility and reach more potential clients. To this day I still manage and update all three platforms. Our firm does not have a marketing department, therefore I consider myself our marketing department in addition to my required day-to-day design and architecture tasks. Additionally, I plan and facilitate office events, fairs, conventions, etc. Our firm began in 1996 (originally Lewis Associates Architects), and until I started working here, we did not offer Interior Design as a service. I was the first Interior Designer to be hired, therefore allowing our business to expand in a multiplicity of ways. We have since added another Interior Designer, and together we have found numerous ways to implement more efficient communication procedures with clients new to the process of hiring an architect or designer. We are now able to offer a broader range of design services to our community with this expansion.
How does your business contribute to the community?
As one of the only architects within a large radius, our firm takes pride in the ability to design any and every project that comes in our door. As a local architecture and design firm, we have the great opportunity to design the community where our employees and clients are growing their lives. We are the architects for Ponca City Public Schools, which has allowed us to play a key role in the expansion of our educational institutions and extracurricular facilities throughout the community. Additionally, we have completed projects for local higher-education institutions (including Pioneer Technology Center), the City of Ponca, a variety of residences, commercial spaces, religious groups and many more. We also pride ourselves on our capabilities of historical preservation. Ponca City is a very unique town with a rich history. We have aided in the restoration and repurpose of existing historical buildings and homes throughout Ponca City, but especially on our main street.
What contributions have you made to community, civic, or charitable organizations?
I have served as Secretary on the board of the Ponca City Federated Music Club since Fall of 2022. I joined this organization with a passion for music and minimal knowledge about the organization. I enjoy planning and performing for the various concerts we offer free to the public and plan on doing many more in the years to come! I also serve as President for Ponca Young Employees and have been a board member since Fall of 2022. I was Secretary since January 2024, and recently became President. This organization allows young professionals in Ponca City to network and learn more ways to be involved within our community. Once every month I attend the Community Development Committee which meets at our Chamber of Commerce. I enjoy participating in this committee because it allows me to share updates and happenings of our business, as well as hear what else is taking place in our community. I recently participated in and graduated from the Ponca City Leadership program in May of 2023. This was an eight-month program (beginning in August 2022), designed to shape you as an individual and greatly enhance your leadership skills specifically within Ponca City. This program encourages community involvement and provides a lasting connection with your fellow classmates. Additionally, I volunteer Wednesday evenings as a youth leader at St. Luke’s Church of the Nazarene. I recently began this position in January of 2025. I enjoy interacting with the youth in our wonderful community, and helping lead them toward a relationship with Christ.
What honors, awards, or achievements have you received?
Leadership Ponca City Graduate – 2023
Oklahoma AIA People’s Choice Award (Winterrowd Talley Architects) – 2023
Graduated Oklahoma State University in 2022 Summa Cum Laude
What are your goals for your future in Ponca City?
As a Ponca City native, I have seen the growth and decline of our community throughout the years. Since moving back to my hometown in 2022, I have enjoyed getting involved and seeing a completely different side of the place I grew up in. I would like to continue to find ways to commit myself to the growth of our town, especially in volunteering and working with non-profits. I would also like to see a larger variety of Ponca City citizens become involved in these local organizations. It seems an overlap exists with the same hard-working individuals volunteering for the majority of organizations and activities across our community, and I believe there needs to be greater diversity amongst these entities in order to increase involvement. I think I can better encourage this shift by promoting events and organizations throughout my age demographic. I plan to stay in Ponca City with my husband and family for the foreseeable future.
What other information would you like others to know about yourself?
I am currently the host of the digital “What’s Happening in Ponca City?” series for the Visit Ponca City Tourism Department. This is something I never expected myself to do, but it has really pushed me out of my comfort zone! I recently was a member of the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra (violin). I have since relinquished this activity due to the long drive. I have played the violin since age ten and played in the symphony orchestra at Oklahoma State University all four years. I try to find ways to continue and share my passion for music in and around Ponca City. I give violin lessons on Sundays and frequently travel to Oklahoma City or Tulsa to play weddings. I also enjoy playing tennis and pickleball in my free time, and my husband and I attend St. Luke’s Church of the Nazarene.
My husband and I recently purchased our first home. It is a historic home built in 1927 that we are completely restoring together. I have always dreamed of owning and remodeling my home (even better it’s in my hometown!) and I am so excited it’s finally happening. I look forward to the finished product, (hopefully in a year), so we can move in!
Christopher Radaker-James
Employer
NERA Food & Resource Center
Education
Bachelors from Belmont University in Nashville, TN
How Long Have You Lived in Ponca City?
6 years
Spouse/ Partner
Kyla Radaker-James
Children
Gabriel (14), Rosalee (7), Foster Baby (1)
How have you contributed to your current or previous employer’s or organization’s growth, innovation, or profitability?
My first year with NERA was 2023. Upon my arrival, we immediately removed many unnecessary barriers for potential clients. During my time with NERA, our list of clients has more than doubled. Despite the growing need, NERA has consistently supplied more than 2 weeks of groceries to all monthly shoppers and provided daily supplies to unhoused individuals. I have also implemented free workshops, classes, and resource fairs that directly benefit Oklahomans facing food insecurity. With the help of our Board of Directors, I have developed 3 full-time positions with job descriptions. I manage 3 new part-time positions through the TITLE V program for seniors reentering the workforce. NERA now guarantees professional growth for all full-time employees through conferences, seminars, and statewide resource center meetings.
I oversee delegation of tasks to more than 200 volunteers. I also supervise two Ponca City High School interns. Before I took the position as Executive Director, grant applications and tracking fell to volunteers or board members. In 2024 alone, I have brought in $163,244 in grant funding and applied for over 22 grants.
The last 2 years are the first consecutive years that NERA's revenue was greater than its expenditures since 2018. NERA is currently developing new systems to address homebound and transportation deficient neighbors in North Central Oklahoma. Partnerships with external organizations like the Oklahoma Mobility Management Program and Northern Oklahoma Youth Services are strengthening the organization's reach to communities outside of Ponca City. By the end of 2025, NERA will be the only Food and Resource Center in Oklahoma with an online preference database and remote shopping options.
I spread awareness about NERA through regular radio interviews, resource fairs, civic organization meetings, and chamber events. My social media management has increased our organization's visibility online, and our monthly views on Facebook are up by about 10,000 more per month since I became Executive Director.
During my time as the Executive Director of the Poncan Theatre from 2019 to 2023, I strengthened the nonprofit's connection to the community while quadrupling their list of volunteers for front of house operations. I maintained profitable business during the pandemic by offering affordable rental options and securing sponsorships for events. I obtained the Poncan's alcohol license, managed multiple fundraisers, maintained the 97-year-old landmark, and oversaw the installation of new chairs.
How does your business contribute to the community?
NERA's mission is to prevent food scarcity in North Central Oklahoma by providing nutritional and community resources. Our Food and Resource Center offers a dignified monthly shopping experience for qualifying residents of the 11 zip codes closest to Ponca City. Shoppers must live in a household with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Unhoused locals may benefit from NERA's Day Bag program. The Day bags supply enough consumable products to sustain life for 24 hours, and NERA hands out these supplies 4 days every week. NERA also partners with other organizations to supply nutrition workshops, cooking classes, gardening workshops, and resource fairs. Each of these events aim to reduce food insecurity by providing needed information, community connections, cookware, and ingredients. Additional hygiene products and voucher programs are available upon request. In 2024, NERA offered over 1.3 million meals to our community. Over 2,300 bags of daily supplies were distributed to unhoused locals. Neighbors were served over 28,000 times, and more than 2,500 first-time visitors walked away with food. Our volunteers provided almost 9,000 hours of community service to locals experiencing food insecurity. We also provided a livable wage to 4 full time employees.
What contributions have you made to community, civic, or charitable organizations?
Life Center - worship team member in 2024
Marland's Place Foster Family Services - Board member & strategic planning committee chair
Kay County Healthy Living Coalition member
Participant of the Kay County Strong Dads program
My wife and I are supporters of the quarterback club and tip off club.
Director, performer, and member with the Ponca City Playhouse.
What trade or professional organizations have you been involved with?
NERA is a registered and participating organization with the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce and Ponca City Main Street.
What honors, awards, or achievements have you received?
Most of my awards are from high school! NERA was recently selected as the Non-profit of the year with the Ponca City Chamber. I am a graduate of the 35th Ponca City Leadership Class. I also am a reverend after my graduation from Bloom Church's Leadership Institute in 2017.
What are your goals for your future in Ponca City?
My personal goal is to become a more powerful political advocate for children experiencing food insecurity in Oklahoma - particularly the area surrounding Ponca City. With NERA I hope to eliminate barriers to food access due to transportation and mobility issues.
What other information would you like others to know about yourself?
I am a foster father. My wife and I have provided homes to twelve children in foster care. We have adopted two children. We purchased a historic 120-year-old home near downtown Ponca City with the intention to restore it. We are beginning the process of applying to the national registry of historic places.
I have lived in eight states. My wife and I met, dated, broke up, and became engaged all while working together at a theater in Branson. I also spent a year performing at a theme park as a rockstar vampire, cowboy, and monk. I played a child alongside actual children in a professional theater while in my late twenties.
Kailye Anderson
Employer
First National Bank of Oklahoma
Education
Ponca City High School - University of Central Oklahoma
How Long Have You Lived in Ponca City?
I have lived in Ponca my whole life outside of my college years I spent in Edmond.
Spouse/ Partner
Case Jenkins
Children
Maya, my 2 year old goldendoodle
How have you contributed to your current or previous employer’s or organization’s growth, innovation, or profitability?
In my almost 5 years of working with FNBOK, there have been many opportunities to grow personally and grow the bank. One of my first major projects was creating a new debit card design. I went to work creating many design options from scratch and now the navy and silver FNBOK metal debit cards you see around town are something I'm very proud of! With metal cards you are usually talking about a credit card, but I think we're the only bank around that offers a metal debit card to our customers, also including the tap to pay technology. I believe this shows our dedication to advancement in technology. Another project was a complete redesign and rework of our bank website. With those two major items completed, the goal and rebranding has started to really see effects the last few years and months. Our team really works together to promote all improvements and products. I also create all the digital and print ads that you see for FNBOK. With this in mind, I try to create things that reflect the brand and create instant identity for us. Since being here I have launched the bank's social media pages, create all content for those and also organize company events. Really just trying to be as present as possible in the community while staying at the top of technology and safety in the industry is where my efforts go.
How does your business contribute to the community?
With being a community first bank, we truly place our efforts into building relationships in our area and staying connected. FNBOK is proud to support countless organizations with donations, sponsorships and even volunteers when needed. With the community first mindset and growth of Ponca City in mind, we also take action by having many employees spread out as members on local boards. Our team truly enjoys helping others and I believe you can feel that when you walk into the front doors right when you're greeted.
In 2023, with my extensive golf background on my side, I had the idea of creating an annual golf tournament fundraiser and in our first year we raised over $13,000 for a local organization and their needs for extreme renovation funds. This year our team worked hard and topped that with over $15,000 helping a completely different organization that will be using their funds to build more restrooms on their site that are also fully ADA compliant. We couldn't have done it without all of our great sponsors! Efforts like this have allowed us to greatly impact Ponca City organizations in a unique way, all while increasing unity within our bank employees. We have successfully hosted food drives, assisted with Friendship Feast, Stuff the Sleigh and so much more. Anything that helps those in need, supports a local school or club, customer satisfaction and Ponca City that is our goal. When you hear of FNBOK our desire is that you will feel that warm hug inside and know we're not just a bank but also a business that truly has your success and care in mind. We want you to walk in our doors, meet our staff and then feel what Ponca City really is about.
What contributions have you made to community, civic, or charitable organizations?
Cherokee Strip Golf Classic (Ladies Tournament organizer) : 2020-2022
Marland Grand Home (board member) : 2022-Feb. 2025
Community Health Foundation of Kay County (board member & fundraising committee) : 2022-current
PCPS Foundation : Oct 2024 - current
Ponca City Country Club (WGA member) 2020 – current
What trade or professional organizations have you been involved with?
Current Leadership Class 38 –
Leadership Ponca City is a program put on by the Ponca City Chamber. This outstanding program develops engaged professionals and community leaders by engulfing them into the trenches of Ponca City’s organizations as well as Oklahoma’s structure. You learn the ins and outs of our town as well as learning about issues that our town may face and how to potentially overcome them and make a difference in the community. After completing the program, the goal is to have a group of deeply informed leaders that can make a difference and walk away with incredible knowledge to use in their personal careers and pour efforts back into Ponca City. Every class has to decide on a group project and LPC38 has decided and worked hard on the brand new ‘Ponca Passport’. Follow @Poncapassport on Facebook for more details about this awesome exploring activity going on now in our town! We would love for you to participate!
What honors, awards, or achievements have you received?
Featured artist for 'The Wedding Pioneer' in 2020 for photography
Top 5 Finalist in 'The 405 Magazine' under category 'Best Area Wedding Photographers in 2023
Career advancement at FNBOK to Marketing Officer & Banking Officer
Photographing my first international wedding in Australia in 2020
What are your goals for your future in Ponca City?
I plan to continue deepening my personal and business relationships in Ponca City while advancing in my career in finance, marketing and digital design. My current plans are to continue learning where I can and growing my knowledge to fill in as many gaps as possible. A dream of mine has also been to grow my photography business more and this past year has been an amazing blessing when it comes to that. Pushing to grow my business to really perfect the high-end photography product I desire is definitely on the dream board. Being born and raised in PC, I am dedicated to the success and future of our town and what I can contribute to that!
What other information would you like others to know about yourself?
This year has marked 11 years of launching my photography business 'Kailye Anderson Photos'. I specialize in weddings, families, grads and branding across the U.S and have even made my way to Australia for a wedding in 2020. My approach to photography is to capture how the moment feels instead of making something stiff or posed. I try to go unnoticed and capture the details that normally aren't seen and really try to emphasize them. My portfolio is heavily filled with documentary style photography that enhances the color, landscape and emotion. I try to create photographs that are clean, a touch of warm and make you relive a moment in time. I also have a love for architecture photography so I can't wait for my dream trip to Europe to dabble in more of that. My aunt has played a special part in teaching me photography tricks along the way and being my sidekick at most weddings. Super thankful for her! I can't thank my clients enough that have trusted me to document their cherished times in life. Many of my greatest supporters are local Ponca City business owners and it's so nice to see businesses owners sharing all the love!
I’m also an avid and dedicated golfer that enjoys traveling and playing different golf courses all over. My previous work history is very golf heavy, and includes TopGolf OKC, Rose Creek Golf Club and my latest position as Assistant Golf Pro at Ponca City Country Club. My grandpa and dad taught me how to play and I can honestly say I’ve had some of the best teachers pouring into me from a very young age. Golf has gifted me an extensive list of things in life, from life skills, professional skills, to many relationships and so much more. I’ll be forever grateful my family took the time and invested in me. A fun fact, the best round I’ve ever had was shooting 2 under par while barefoot.
Samantha Goodno
Employer
Grand Mental Health
Education
Master of Counseling Psychology
How Long Have You Lived in Ponca City?
I have lived in Kay County since 2000.
Spouse/ Partner
Ty Goodno
Children
Hunter Goodno 7 and Holton Goodno 5
How have you contributed to your current or previous employer’s or organization’s growth, innovation, or profitability?
Growth: There are different types of growth that are all important to an agency but the first one that comes to mind is the growth of clientele. I have been the Operation Director for Kay County for 3 years. In the 3 years I have been the director we have been honored with several schools requesting our services. We had 3 embedded Behavioral Health Coaches in schools in Kay County in 2021 and now in 2024 we have 15 Behavioral Health Coaches in 15 different schools. For every new Behavioral Health Coach placed in a school, we get a return of 20 to 30 new children that enroll in our services. We have grown from 800 clients in 2021 to 1700 in 2024. This is a massive growth when we consider that every active client is required to be seen by our staff at least once a month. The next type of growth that I think about is the growth of awareness in the community and the reputation we hold. To build awareness of our services, I attend Health Fairs, Career Fairs, and any community event that I can attend and talk to the community members about our services. I have made it a priority to meet staff members at schools, DHS, the police chief, the detention center, medical centers, and the other agencies that I can partner with to provide awareness of our services and a person they can trust to talk to if they need assistance through the process. The last type of growth that I would like to mention is the growth of staff. I am proud to say that went from 107 staff members on 5/3/22 to 156 staff members on 12/5/23. We are able to provide 156 people in Kay County with jobs and that is a huge accomplishment in my mind. Innovation and Profitability: To make the screening process easier for people starting our services, I have had to implement changes to our paperwork process by creating a position that welcomes clients in the lobby, helps the client understand the paperwork they are signing, and assists them with signing up for Medicaid if they do not already have coverage. By helping the client sign up for insurance, we are able to make a profit on our services but we are also opening the door for clients to receive medical care and other needs.
How does your business contribute to the community?
Grand provides needed mental health services to adults and children in our community. Behavioral Health Coaches, Family Support Providers, Care Coordinators, Peer Recovery Support Specialists, Therapists, Infant Mental Health Providers, Medical Providers, Medication, PACT, Court Services, Assisted Outpatient Therapy, Oklahoma Families First Program, Employment Specialists, Housing Specialists are all provided to clients in Kay County. We believe in treating the entire person, from basic needs like housing, clothing, food, to employment, education, and finding healthcare.
What contributions have you made to community, civic, or charitable organizations?
Personally, I attended several community events this year and really enjoyed visiting with people and making sure they have a person to call if they have concerns or questions about our services. In 2024, I attended Party at the Palace, Marland's Place Cocktails for a Cause, the walk for Dearing House Advocacy Center, Phillip 66 Okies Event, Kanza Health Fair, Dearing House Fish Fry, The Purple Affair, spoke to our Ponca City Leadership Class, Goblins on Grand, the Christmas Parade, for the Back To School Event at Marland's Place we provided the community with 200 backpacks full of school supplies, and recently we provided 50 children with their Christmas Wishlist.
What trade or professional organizations have you been involved with?
In September 2024, I was voted on to be a member of the Kaw Nation Tribal Council. I am very proud of this accomplishment and look forward to helping my tribe make decisions that will help us for years to come. I also serve as Secretary on the Kanza Health Clinic's Health Board.
What honors, awards, or achievements have you received?
I received an award for Employee of the Year when I was employed at the Kanza Health Clinic during the covid epidemic.
What are your goals for your future in Ponca City?
I look forward to serving our community by continuing to provide mental health services for our residents. As a mental health provider, we are able to keep people from being homeless, help those that are homeless find housing, assist our clients to find food and basic needs, assist our schools with students needing our help, allowing our teachers to teach and for us to come in for the behaviors. The services that Grand Mental Health provides improves our community in every single aspect.
What other information would you like others to know about yourself?
I love to read, spend time with my family and practice a good work/life balance for myself and my family.
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