Oklahoma Magazine April 2019

ORGANIZED TRANSFORMATION

THE STEPS TO AN EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE HOME RENOVATION

HEADIN’ DOWNTOWN

EXPLORE THE HUBS OF LEISURE IN OKLAHOMA’S URBAN CORES APRIL 2019

Young, innovative professionals brighten the state’s future

New advances offer new options in urology.

Thanks to recent advancements in technology and medications, urology patients now have new options for treatment. Warren Clinic urologist Dr. Joshua Vicena describes one of those new treatments as “a pacemaker for the bladder,” which can help regulate bladder leakage and frequency. And he says new laser surgery and imaging technology helps patients recover from urologic procedures faster and easier. “It’s important for people to know that help for these conditions is available,” Dr. Vicena said.

“Saint Francis provides patients with access to the latest advancements, a multitude of physician specialists and a wonderful staff to care for patients and their families.”

For more information or to find a Warren Clinic primary care physician, specialist or urgent care location, please visit warrenclinic.com or call 918-488-6688.

Joshua Z. Vicena, D.O. UROLOGY

SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL | THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT SAINT FRANCIS | WARREN CLINIC | HEART HOSPITAL AT SAINT FRANCIS | SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL SOUTH | LAUREATE PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC AND HOSPITAL SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL MUSKOGEE | SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL VINITA | SAINT FRANCIS BROKEN ARROW | SAINT FRANCIS CANCER CENTER | SAINT FRANCIS HOME CARE COMPANIES | SAINT FRANCIS GLENPOOL

YOU ALWAYS PLANNED ON BUILDING YOUR DREAM HOME. (You just didn’t plan on it needing so many bedrooms.)

Some expenses in life you know are coming.

Others come out of nowhere. That’s why planning helps you enjoy all that life has to offer without worrying about everything else life throws your way. Let us help you plan for the unexpected.

Financial Insights and Guidance | Mortgage and Lending | Retirement www.bankofoklahoma.com © 2019 Bank of Oklahoma, a division of BOKF, NA. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender

.

Features APRIL

2019 Oklahoma Magazine Vol. XXIII, No. 4

50 40 Under 40

The professionals honored in Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2019 exemplify leadership, both at the office and in the community. These are Oklahoma’s mavericks – innovators who go the extra mile, disrupt the status quo, push to improve the state and guide others by unwavering and fierce example. The future looks bright for Oklahoma – and it’s thanks in part to these game-changers.

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

76

Headin’ Downtown

Spend the day or night in the downtowns of Tulsa and Oklahoma City for delectable food, handcrafted drinks and vibrant entertainment. Explore various districts, admire the architecture, take in the views and enjoy the hubs of leisure in Oklahoma’s urban cores.

2

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

ORGANIZED TRANSFORMATION

THE STEPS TO AN EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE HOME RENOVATION

Visit us online.

MORE ARTICLES

HEADIN’ DOWNTOWN

EXPLORE THE HUBS OF LEISURE IN OKLAHOMA’S URBAN CORES APRIL 2019

Whether you’re re-doing a small guest bath or tearing your home down to the studs, renovating your dwelling can be an overwhelming process – fraught with questions and a hemorrhage of money. Oklahoma experts ensure you get the most out of remodeling – within budget, sanity intact.

WANT SOME MORE? APRIL 2019

72 Organized Transformation

Read expanded articles and stories that don’t appear in the print edition.

ON THE COVER:

Young, innovative professionals brighten the state’s future

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE’S 40 UNDER 40 CLASS OF 2019 INCLUDES SOME OF THE STATE’S TOP YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN A WIDE ARRAY OF OCCUPATIONS.

MORE PHOTOS

View expanded Scene, Style, Taste and Entertainment galleries.

MORE EVENTS

The online calendar includes more Oklahoma events.

Before you hear the heartbeat, we hear you

Ascension St. John care teams listen to you as a woman and an expecting mom. We take the time to understand the care you need, including any special care. Then, together we create a care plan that’s right for you, your baby, and your family.

Visit stjohntulsababy.com

Š Ascension 2019. All rights reserved.

Departments

11 State 14 16 17 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

The ancient art of falconry gives an Oklahoma native hands-on experience with birds of prey.

Artists Makers Sports People Business Clubs Justice History Nonprofit Insider

11

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

33 Life and Style 38 40 42 44 46 48

Interiors A new Edmond residence blends open, country, modern and transitional styles.

Destinations Outside the Metro Health FYI Style Add saturated hues to your

wardrobe this spring and summer.

Scene

83 Taste 84 86 87

46

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

34

34

The new Pub W features local brews on tap, creative cocktails and fanciful grub in South Tulsa.

Local Flavor Chef Chat Tasty Tidbits

89 Where and When 90 94

The OKC Museum of Art debuts a world-class acquisition, a gallery expansion and rarely seen works.

In Tulsa/In OKC Film and Cinema

96 Closing Thoughts

4

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

83

89

NOW ACCEPTING PRIMARY CARE PATIENTS IN TULSA

Unhurried visits

Dr. Nierenberg and Dr. Laughlin are accepting new patients in their MDVIP-affiliated Tulsa practices. Members benefit from a comprehensive, annual wellness program plus conveniences not typically available in other primary care practices. Call 918.228.3664 to schedule a meeting with Dr. Laughlin or Dr. Nierenberg and learn about all the benefits of personalized healthcare.

Same/next-day appointments

24/7 physician reachability

DAVID NIERENBERG, MD

BRENT LAUGHLIN, MD

2000 SOUTH WHEELING AVENUE SUITE 700 TULSA, OK 74104

2000 SOUTH WHEELING AVENUE SUITE 700 TULSA, OK 74104

INTERNAL MEDICINE

mdvip.com/DavidNierenbergMD

FAMILY MEDICINE

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OKLAHOMA

COMING IN SEPTEMBER

OKLAHOMA™

FACES FACES of of

PRESIDENT AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

OKLAHOMA

DANIEL SCHUMAN

PUBLISHER AND FOUNDER VIDA K . SCHUMAN

MANAGING EDITOR

MARY WILLA ALLEN

SENIOR EDITOR BRIAN WILSON

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

JOHN WOOLEY, TARA MALONE

GRAPHICS MANAGER

FACES FACES of of MARK ALLEN

GRAPHIC DESIGNER GARRET T GREEN

OFFICE/ADVERTISING ASSISTANT OLIVIA LYONS

Tulsa

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tulsa

NATALIE GREEN, BRENT FUCHS, NATHAN HARMON, JOSH NEW, SCOTT MILLER, DAN MORGAN, DAVID COBB, SCOTT JOHNSON

CONTACT US

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Oklahoma Magazine is published monthly by Schuman Publishing Company P.O. Box 14204 • Tulsa, OK 74159-1204 918.744.6205 • FAX: 918.748.5772 mail@okmag.com

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Subscriptions are $18 for 12 issues.

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Copyright © 2019 by Schuman Publishing Company.

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Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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Reproduction, copying, or redistribution without the express written permission of Schuman Publishing Company is strictly prohibited.

All requests for permission and reprints must be made in writing to Oklahoma Magazine, c/o Reprint Services, P.O. Box 14204, Tulsa, OK 741591204. Advertising claims and the views expressed in the magazine by writers or artists do not necessarily represent those of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Company, or its affiliates.

ELITE. UNIQUE. THE FACE OF OKLAHOMA. BE BE BE

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Don’t miss out on your chance to be the unique face of your field.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

440 0 UNDER

OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA 2/9/19 1:16 PM

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Member

LET TER FROM THE EDITOR Happy April, Oklahoma Magazine readers! One of the most anticipated issues of the year is here, and we’re excited to share it with you.

Our 40 Under 40 Class of 2019 boasts entrepreneurs, lawyers, medical professionals and pretty much everyone in between. These game-changers lead by example and aren’t afraid to disrupt the status quo with ideas that improve our state. Enjoy the stories of these mavericks with photos and fast facts, starting on page 50. Don’t miss bonus videos, photos and other content online.

Now that the weather welcomes outdoor activity, it’s the perfect time to explore the ever-evolving downtowns of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. We offer you a spattering of trendy restaurants, watering holes and general entertainment options in our Headin’ Downtown feature on page 76. While it’s by no means a comprehensive list, it’s certainly a good start to kick off your adventures. Check off some of your must-visit downtown spots with our handy dandy guide.

If you haven’t gotten started on your spring cleaning, our remodeling and renovation feature, Organized Transformation, can certainly help. With tips from expert home builders and remodelers, you can tackle that small or massive renovation project, under budget and over the moon. See it all on page 72.

Our State section teems with inspiring stories, including a Tulsa nonprofit helping incarcerated women find their voices (page 28), an Oklahoma-native falconer who hunts with birds of prey (page 11), and some great orchards and berry farms to visit during your next weekend trip (page 20). Even more fun can be found in our Life and Style, Taste, and Where and When sections.

As always, send any inquiries to me at events@okmag.com.

THE VOTES ARE IN! CHECK OUT THE JULY ISSUE TO SEE THE BEST OF THE BEST OKLAHOMA FOR 2019. #OKMAGTBOB OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES: ADVERTISING@OKMAG.COM 918.744.6205

8

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

S TAY CONNECTED

Mary Willa Allen Managing Editor

OK

What’s HOT at

OKMAG.COM COMING IN APRIL

Want to learn more about our 40 Under 40 Class of 2019?

Visit okmag.com to see videos of our honorees, including Julius Hughes (above), as they answer some of the questions we couldn’t fit into the print edition. Enjoy!

tbsfactoring.com| 800-207-7661 CONGRATULATIONS HAILEY BENTON-THOMAS Chief Operating Officer

We join Oklahoma Magazine in congratulating all of the young leaders recognized as this year’s “40 Under 40” recipients.

One of the country’s top doctors. Leading the charge against lung cancer right here in Oklahoma.

Named 2018 Top Doctor by Castle Connolly Dr. Daniel Nader, Director of the Lung Center at CTCA® in Tulsa, has been recognized by Castle Connolly as one of America’s Top Doctors in pulmonary medicine for the last eight years.

Since 1991, Dr. Nader and his team at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® in Tulsa have been dedicated to building a comprehensive Lung Center to fight this complex disease. With access to cutting-edge technologies, advanced treatments and supportive therapies, our experts specialize in personalized lung cancer care—helping our patients fight cancer.

888-568-1571 | cancercenter.com/tulsa A Network Provider For

© 2018 IPB

State

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

Training Feathered Dragons

The ancient art of falconry gives an Oklahoma native hands-on experience with birds of prey.

F

LAUREN MCGOUGH WORKS WITH ILL OR WOUNDED EAGLES TO HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO HUNT AGAIN. PHOTO COURTESY LAUREN MCGOUGH

alconry is often thought of as the extinct hobby of medieval knights, yet hunting with birds of prey thrives in the state.

Lauren McGough, an Oklahoma City native and a licensed, practicing falconer since age 14, describes the sport as a sort of destiny.

“As a kid, I was always fascinated by birds of prey – eagles in particular – and longed to interact with them,” she says. “To me, they were these incredible, feathered dragons.”

Starting out, McGough says watching them in the

wild was too removed, and she wasn’t sure how to nurture her interest.

“I had no idea [falconry] was something that could even be practiced today,” says McGough, who stumbled across a book about falconry in her local library and was immediately captivated. “I knew I had to do it. I had to be a falconer.”

She wrote the book’s author, Steve Bodio, a letter, and “he wrote me back,” she says. “He was in the middle of a trip to Mongolia then. He was one of the first western falconers to go there to experience APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

11

The State

Mongolian eagle hunting off horseback, and he sparked my interest in that spectacular niche of falconry that I would later pursue as a Fulbright scholar.

“I hit the ground running, finding a wonderful mentor and master falconer in Oklahoma named Robert Rainey. He helped me trap my first red-tailed hawk in 2001, and I never looked back.”

Falcons, hawks, eagles and owls are essential elements of Oklahoma wildlife. The competent falconer takes care to follow sound conservation principles in the pursuit of the sport, which is highly regulated in the state.

“Prospective falconers have to find a mentor, pass a written test on raptor husbandry and falconry techniques and build a state-inspected mews – also called an aviary – for any raptors that will be kept in order to obtain a permit to be a practicing falconer,” McGough says.

“They are not pets.”

Falconry is both a sport and an art, the social anthropologist says.

“Several things make it lean towards an art,” McGough says. “Your task as a falconer is to convince a wild bird of prey, through your own ingenuity, to be your hunting partner. A falcon, hawk or eagle doesn’t need you, or particularly want to be around you, so it takes a lot of patience and nuance to cultivate a positive relationship with a raptor.

“The hunting aspect gives it qualities of a sport. At the end of the day, you aim to have a heavy game bag, a rabbit or a duck or a pheasant for example, that you can use to feed both your hawk and yourself.”

Although her first hunting partner was a falcon, McGough says her passion has morphed into helping ill or wounded eagles get their hunting mojo back.

“The last 13 years, I’ve focused on flying eagles, which is probably the most maledominated niche within the wider practice of falconry,” McGough says. “But even there it is changing – I’ve been mentoring another woman who is training and hunting with her first golden eagle.”

McGough, who describes herself as “fairy nomadic,” still considers OKC her homebase.

She recently finished up her doctorate at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland and is spending this year writing a book about eagles.

“Once it’s sold and published,” she says, “I’m not sure what the future has in store.”

Whether male or female, all falconers share a common awe, McGough says.

“It doesn’t matter our gender, profession, socioeconomic background … we are all equally enthralled with watching a bird of prey fly in pursuit of game.”

SHARON MCBRIDE

FOR A BONUS PHOTO GALLERY, VISIT OKMAG.COM/

MCGOUGH

12

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

MCGOUGH TRAVELS ACROSS THE GLOBE AS A FALCONER, FROM SCOTLAND TO MONGOLIA AND BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. PHOTOS COURTESY LAUREN MCGOUGH

KITCHEN | BATH Oklahoma City 501 NE 122nd Street, Suite C 405.752.0142 Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm Saturday, 8am-12pm expressionshomegallery.com

Discover Excellence.

APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

13

The State ARTISTS

Back to Aartvark

An Oklahoman returns to his first passion of graphic design after decades in the heat-exchange industry.

I

ABOVE: HAND-LETTERING SIGNS IS ONE OF WHITFIELD’S FAVORITE DUTIES AT AARTVARK GRAPHIC DESIGN. RIGHT: ALONG WITH LOGO DESIGN, WHITFIELD ALSO ENJOYS PAINTING. PHOTOS COURTESY KEITH WHITFIELD

FOR BONUS IMAGES OF WHITFIELD’S WORK, VISIT

OKMAG.COM/WHITFIELD

14

t was the coveted purse of a newborn fowl that first drew Keith Whitfield to the art world.

“Only in Oklahoma,” says Whitfield, who owns and operates Aartvark Graphic Design in Owasso with his wife, Dana. “I’ve been drawing since I can remember.

I won a drawing contest in first grade – the prize was a live baby chick.”

As a graphic artist, Whitfield designs logos, hand-lettered signs, banners, T-shirts, brochures and flyers. He also illustrates and paints.

Whitfield says throughout his formative years he steadily drew and painted, and at one point in high school became interested in typography and sign painting.

“After high school, I attended and graduated from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology’s commercial art and graphic design program in Okmulgee,” he says. “After OSUIT, I was co-owner of a design company [Aartvark Graphx] for a short time with another graduate of the program, James McCullough, who is the dean at OSUIT’s School of Visual Communications.”

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

Whitfield’s path to the art world wasn’t straight. After owning his own business and working for a sign company in the ’80s, Whitfield joined the team of Hughes Anderson Heat Exchangers in 1988 and worked there for nearly three decades.

“While there, I helped develop their [computer-assisted design] system, as well as developing several [personal computer] applications,” he says. “All the while, I continued to paint, draw and design on the side. I eventually became a certified welding inspector, overseeing welding testing and writing welding procedures.

“But after 28 years in an unrelated field, I’ve gotten back to the thing I love. In 2017, I got the opportunity to work from home illustrating a technical manual related to the construction of pressure vessels. I’ve been working full time from home since.”

Aartvark Graphic Design is

named as a throwback to Whitfield’s first company and, he jokes, because he “wanted to be sure we’re listed first in the phone book. People rarely use a phone book these days, but I wanted an eye-catching brand that I could use in all kinds of situations. The ‘aartvark’ is also a great conversation starter.”

Whitfield is proud of the work both Dana and he have done the past two years in the digital realm, but his first love is classic lettering.

“We are one of the few places that can offer ‘old school’ sign painting services,” he says. “I love types and fonts and can still hand-letter with the best of ’em.”

His local claim to fame is the logo for Owasso’s Redbud District; he’s also created digital assets for several Oklahoma-based companies, including a bakery, several property groups and a manufacturing company. Whitfield says his inspiration for these designs comes from a variety of sources.

“I look at websites of other graphic designers and artists, internet searches, books … sometimes just sitting at my desk with a blank piece of paper and a pencil,” he says.

He also has advice for anyone wanting to get into the business of creating and selling art.

“I would point them to OSUIT,” he says. “The [visual communications] program has produced some amazing artists over the years. Their faculty is comprised of people who have years of experience in the graphic design field, and the facility is second to none ... in my opinion.”

SHARON MCBRIDE

The State

MAKERS

Pulling the Strings Tulsan Sarah Sullivan creates textile goods and paintings infused with her Oklahoma roots.

B

SARAH SULLIVAN OF SULLYSTRING WORKS OUT OF HER APARTMENT TO MAKE TAPESTRIES, PILLOWS AND OTHER HOME GOODS. PHOTOS BY JOSH NEW

16

e it cotton, wool or paint, the art from Sullystring has bright colors and eyecatching patterns and begs the observer to touch it – or cuddle, in the case of soft pillows. The story behind this Tulsa brand – the woman who runs the show – is even more compelling and inviting than the soft textiles and friendly murals themselves.

Sullystring is Sarah Sullivan – a weaver, painter and artist who creates and sells handwoven textile goods and paintings, and designs and paints murals. Sullivan says her earliest memories involve creating art.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated with color and pattern,” she says. “I knew as a kid that I would always be doing something visually creative.”

At the time, she didn’t think she’d make her living as an independent artist. That seemed, as she describes, “a luxury and a long shot.” But a desire to design wallpaper and fabric led her to study textile design at the University of Kansas. While the ink dried on her bachelor of fine arts degree, she did what only a true weaving enthusiast would do and bought a four-harness floor loom.

“I didn’t intend to make it a full-time gig originally, but I soon realized it was an advantage to have this weird instrument that not many people had,” she says.

Sullivan’s talent isn’t confined to the fiber arts. She paints and has created several murals, including at the Gathering Place and Mother Road Market, both in Tulsa.

She also sells paintings and textiles on her website, sullystring.com.

Sullivan, a native Tulsan with a strong sense of who she is as an artist, distinguishes herself by using idiosyncratic colors and patterns. She also doesn’t take herself

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

too seriously, as evidenced by her list of inspirations on the website: “pasta noodles, children’s books and reinterpreting memories of geometry class.”

“I love studying unexpected color relationships and how they make a person feel,” Sullivan says.

Her Oklahoma roots have also influenced her art.

“I grew up studying the Native American textiles at Gilcrease [Museum] and Woolaroc, and while my work doesn’t have the same symbolism, the influence is certainly in my brain,” she says.

Sullivan is an artist and a businesswoman, stating that she enjoys all parts of running Sullystring. Her favorite work is making clients’ wild, out-of-the-box ideas come alive – be it paintings in their homes or using unexpected mediums. Sullivan has a keen eye for how her art affects customers.

“As an artist, my main goal is to always make work that feels like an extension of myself,” she says. “I only make work that I would happily keep in my own house.

I think if the maker is passionate about the work, then it makes it even more attractive to the customer. They can feel that energy.”

BONNIE RUCKER

Heat(ed) Ice Cream Cravings

SPORTS

Edmond product Josh Richardson, an emerging NBA star with Miami, loves going to Braum’s when he’s in OKC or Dallas.

A

OKLAHOMAN JOSH RICHARDSON HAS UPPED HIS GAME WITH THE MIAMI HEAT. PHOTOS BY ISSAC BALDIZON/ NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES

nytime Edmond native Josh Richardson returns to this part of the country during the NBA season, the fourth-year Miami Heat player always stops at a specific Oklahoma City-based chain.

“I love Braum’s,” he says after a morning shoot-around before a game in Dallas. “Anytime [I’m in] Oklahoma or Texas, I try to go to Braum’s.”

Richardson, Miami’s second-round pick in the 2015 draft, has averaged about 17.5 points per game (a career best) this season, along with about 4 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1 steal per game.

Erik Spoelstra, the Heat’s longtime head coach, chalks up Richardson’s marked improvement to hard work.

“Every year he’s gotten better,” Spoelstra says. “He put in a terrific summer of work, really dedicated time to build up his body, to have a bigger workload on both ends of the court and then a ton of player development. He’s been very dedicated.”

Richardson’s evolution as a reliable NBA player comes after four years at the University of Tennessee, where he earned first-team, AllSoutheast Conference honors in 2015 and was a two-time selection to the league’s all-defensive team.

The 6-foot-6 shooting guard has acclimated to living and playing in south Florida but also likes discussing the Sooner State. He says he misses Edmond and “just how relaxed it is, how carefree you can be there.

“I take a lot of pride in being an Okie,” Richardson says. “Anytime I get to talk to someone about it, especially being as far away from home as I am, it’s a subject people want to know what it’s like. And I enjoy talking about it.”

Terrance Ferguson (Oklahoma City Thunder), Blake Griffin (Detroit Pistons), Ekpe Udoh (Utah Jazz) and Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks) and Richardson are the only Oklahoma natives playing in the NBA. Richardson has a strong bond with Udoh, who also attended Santa Fe High School in Edmond.

“He was like six or seven years before me,” Richardson says. “Me and Ekpe keep in touch pretty well and I know Blake [Griffin] a little bit. Ekpe has always been a mentor for me, ever since I was in ninth grade. We’ve always had a good dialogue.”

The affable Richardson says he knows how much he’s changed as a professional.

“I’ve just matured a lot,” he says. “I’ve always been a mature guy, I’ve always been even-keeled, but my approach to basketball has changed.”

Richardson’s maturation is evident to Spoelstra and the rest of the Heat organization, so Miami has asked more from Richardson, who, at 25, is considered a veteran.

With an uptick in responsibility, he has calmly handled pressure.

“I don’t have individual goals for him, but I want him to focus on being a dominant two-way player, which he’s capable of,” Spoelstra says.

STEPHEN HUNT

APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

17

The State

PEOPLE

At the Corner of Hope and Reality Despite a traumatic injury, motivational speaker Emeka Nnaka inspires young people to shift perspectives and take charge.

I

EMEKA NNAKA WORKS AT YOUTH SERVICES OF TULSA. PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

18

f you live in Tulsa, you may have seen Emeka Nnaka, a motivational speaker and advocate for those with physical challenges. The Georgia native and Tulsa transplant (he attended Oral Roberts University) seems to pop up everywhere, and his larger-than-life personality and stature make him difficult to miss.

Wherever he is, he’s usually right in the middle of the action – sharing his thoughts, an endearing smile and a few laughs with those around him.

Nnaka uses these abilities – and a master’s degree in human relations with a focus in clinical mentalhealth counseling – to inspire people. As a youth specialist at Youth Services of Tulsa, he covers topics like emotion management and instilling the importance of education and lifelong learning. His passion is helping young people improve their points of view.

“Maintaining proper perspective can give them power in their lives,” Nnaka says. “When we change the way we look at things, the things that we look at change. A kid’s future can change if he can change the way he is looking at his present circumstances. It becomes some-

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

thing that helps versus something that hurts.”

Nnaka knows about shifting perspectives. During a semi-pro football game in 2009, at age 21, Nnaka sustained a spinal cord injury that radically changed the trajectory of his life. Paralyzed from the chest down, he has instant credibility with young audiences when he discusses change.

“This is not something that I’m just teaching because I heard it. I live this thing. I live it every single day,” he says. “There are days that I don’t have willpower and I have to generate it to get to these goals.

Some people speak a message; I live one.”

Nnaka, who appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in November, believes in hope … but not just the ephemeral feeling that might come to mind. He can define it. Thanks to the Hope Research Center at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, where he did his graduate work,

Nnaka and others can research, measure and work to increase hope in individuals who obviously need some. According to Nnaka, the basic components of hope are attainable goals, pathways to reach those goals, and the personal willpower or grit to achieve them.

Nnaka, practicing what he preaches, has goals this year that include expanding his public speaking and individual and small-group coaching, and continuing to work toward his counseling license. A book with a late 2019 release is in the works, too.

“Being able to impact the lives of others and helping people realize that they are stronger than what they think … gives my life a lot of purpose and meaning and it gives my accident a lot of meaning and purpose,” he says. “I now live a full life and I live with no regrets and with passion.”

BONNIE RUCKER

Dr. Blane Snodgrass with

and

Congratulate

Brandon Miller on being recognized as one of Oklahoma Magazine’s

40 Under 40

to Brittni McGill, MSN, RN, CCRN, Chief Nursing Officer at Norman Regional Health System, for being selected one of Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40!

Brittni goes above and beyond to make sure patients and team members feel at home and loved throughout Norman Regional Health System. We’re proud to have her on our team!

Congratulations, Brittni!

2020tulsa.com | vizavance.org 23639 Twenty Twenty Eyecare/Vizavance.indd 1

2/25/19 23613 4:08 PM Norman Regional Hospital.indd 1

2/21/19 8:58 AM

Your Success Is Our Business.

With 35 companies, Cherokee Nation Businesses blends its heritage of ingenuity with modern business experience to deliver service and solutions that produce results for its customers.

777 W. Cherokee St. l Catoosa, OK 74015 918.384.7474 l cherokeenationbusinesses.com

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APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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The State

BUSINESS

Eager for a Berry Good Harvest Fruit farms and orchards educate youth, help the farm-to-table movement and provide succulent treats to Oklahomans.

N

orman Asher loves everything about blackberry season, but a few parts stand out more

ABOVE: VISITORS TO WIND DRIFT ORCHARDS NEAR HARRAH CAN PURCHASE RIPE PEACHES AND NECTARINES DURING THE HARVEST SEASON. PHOTO COURTESY WIND DRIFT ORCHARDS

RIGHT: PLUCK A VARIETY OF BERRIES FOR YOURSELF AT MEADOW BLACKBERRY FARM IN SAPULPA.

PHOTO COURTESY MEADOW BLACKBERRY FARM

20

than others.

He gets a big kick out of seeing the purple-stained faces and clothing of children who can’t resist sampling what they pluck: ripe berries from the bushes at Meadow Blackberry Farm.

He’s also happy when he meets customers new to picking their own berries, because he gets to teach them about the various stages of ripeness. And he never tires of the cobbler that his wife, Pat, makes from some of the 2,000 blackberry plants at the business they founded in 2013 on Pat’s family land on the eastern edge of Sapulpa.

Norman is a retired corporate pilot and Pat worked in the oil and natural gas industry. They settled on a domesticated variety of the fruit after noticing that wild blackberries grew well on the 40 acres that once was home to the Hager Fancy Fowl Farm and Zoo, specializing in pigeons and peacocks and owned by Pat’s father.

Kent Livesay, of Livesay Orchards near Porter, also enjoys

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

the teaching end of the business, especially in the fall, when kids on school trips visit their apple orchard and pumpkin patch.

“Some of the kids wouldn’t know where it comes from otherwise,” he says. “We have a chance to show them the different stages of growth, from blooms to pumpkins ready to harvest.”

The Livesays nurture about 10,000 peach and apple trees on land that has been in their family since 1966. The pickyour-own season starts in late June or early July, Livesay says, but customers should call 918-483-2102 to find out what fruit is available and when. The orchard also sells alreadypicked fruit.

Jessica Sharp, communications director for Wind Drift Orchards near Harrah, also stressed the im-

portance of calling ahead, checking Facebook or visiting winddriftorchards.com.

“It’s an agriculture business that is Mother Nature-dependent,” says Sharp, adding that on some days, Wind Drift sells all its peaches and nectarines ripe enough for harvest.

People who visit orchards get a one-two punch of great-tasting fruit and a pleasant outdoor experience, Sharp says.

“It’s exciting for kids to know that food does not come from a grocery store,” she says. “It’s a trend to buy local and support local businesses.”

Wind Drift’s two orchards have a combined 14,000 trees, whose fruit ripen in sequence from early June to late August.

“This is a year-round operation in order to provide 90 days of fruit,” Sharp says.

Customers can pick their own or buy harvested fruit, and prices vary every season.

Regular hours at Wind Drift are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Customers should call 405-4546618 for availability and the opening day of the summer season.

Opening day at Meadow Blackberry Farms depends on the weather, the Ashers say, with hours from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

The customer phone number is 918630-1987.

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21

The State CLUBS

Forging Ahead from Antiquity

An association of blacksmiths teaches Oklahomans about a craft developed 3,500 years ago.

THE SALTFORK CRAFTSMEN ARTIST BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION HOLDS DEMONSTRATIONS, WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS FOR NOVICES AND EXPERTS. PHOTOS COURTESY SALTFORK CRAFTSMEN

22

B

ooks, videos and lectures on blacksmithing can only go so far. Those practicing this ancient, sophisticated, highly technical craft say you have to learn by doing.

“Don’t be shy; get involved,” says Byron Doner, an officer with the Saltfork Craftsmen Artist Blacksmith Association. “You sure will learn faster.”

The nonprofit educational organization, which promotes this fiery mixture of art and trade, has monthly meetings and workshops throughout the state.

“The group was formed in 1996 by a small group of enthusiasts who wanted to get together to learn more and keep the craft alive,” says Russell Bartling, editor of

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

the association’s newsletter.

The group has had nearly 700 members, with a stable membership level of around 400.

Blacksmiths are some of the world’s oldest artisans; the craft developed 3,500 years ago in what is now Syria.

“We basically get metal hot and manipulate it to different shapes, which are usually limited only by imagination and skill level,” Bartling says. “I first became interested in taking my forging skills to a higher level after attending my first Saltfork Annual Conference.

“It was there that I saw a nationally well-known blacksmith, Bob Patrick, move metal in ways that seemed magical to me. To say I was inspired was an understatement.

That really was what lit the fire for me to pursue more education and practice.”

Doner says participation is key.

“I found that I learned a lot more from watching someone forging in person than I had from watching the videos I’d rented,” he says. “One thing I’d like to say about going to these meetings is don’t be like I was. I’d gather my stuff and go to the meetings but would usually get there after everyone was already forging.”

The Saltfork Conference, held

each fall, is a great way to get a first-hand demonstration from some of the best blacksmiths in the world, Bartling says.

“We usually have two different demonstrators over a weekend and then follow that with the chance to attend workshops with those demonstrators after the conference,” he says. “It is a great way to make quantum leaps in forging skills and is just plain fun.”

The association also hosts workshops in Tulsa and Elk City. Visit saltforkcraftsmen.org for a schedule.

“For the folks that want to start forging, I say go to all the meetings you can,” Doner says. “Also, I tell newbies to watch everyone because they might just do something that you have heard wasn’t possible.”

Bartling agrees.

“Many of us have worked with metal all our lives, since we were very young,” he says. “Often, that involved heating metal and working it on a very basic level to repair farm equipment, vehicles, make stair rails, et cetera.

“However, once you really catch the blacksmithing bug, a whole new world opens up and you realize that it would take more than one lifetime to fully develop all skills to take this craft to its highest levels.”

SHARON MCBRIDE

The State

JUSTICE

Mission: Exoneration The Oklahoma Innocence Project works countless hours – for free – to reverse wrongful convictions.

W THE NIGHT OF INNOCENCE FUNDRAISER AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF LAW INCLUDED GUEST SPEAKERS PERRY LOTT (LEFT) AND DE’MARCHOE CARPENTER, BOTH ASSISTED BY THE OKLAHOMA INNOCENCE PROJECT. PHOTO COURTESY THE OKLAHOMA INNOCENCE PROJECT

24

rongful convictions are not easy to overturn, even when the defense has DNA evidence on its side.

Five to seven years is a typical timetable for working toward exoneration, says Vicki Behenna, executive director of the Oklahoma Innocence Project, which tries to reverse wrongful convictions in the state.

“We call it the innocence movement,” says Behenna, who spent 25 years as a federal prosecutor. “It has

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

gained traction over the past five years. People are beginning to be educated and understand there are innocent people in prison.”

Founded in 2011, the Oklahoma Innocence Project is affiliated with the Oklahoma City University School of Law and receives private donations. Students enrolled in the project’s clinic classes are assigned cases, and the nonprofit relies on about 160 volunteers, including practicing attorneys and laboratory specialists. Undergraduate and law school students from the University of Oklahoma also help.

“Since it opened, we’ve had over 1,500 requests for assistance,” says Behenna, adding that as of February, “we have 460 pending review and four in active litigation.”

Some students, such as Gunner Briscoe, choose the law school because of the clinic.

“After learning about how people who don’t have a lot of money get screwed in the justice system, I felt called to help them,” says the Bixby native, a second-year law student.

Briscoe’s assignments include researching courthouse and police records; he is assigned to two murder

THE INNOCENT MAN

2016, after the actual murderers of 19-year-old Karen Summers confessed to the drive-by shooting … 22 years later. The Oklahoma Innocence Project helped to exonerate both Carpenter and Malcolm Scott. Carpenter, who volunteers for the project, is writing his autobiography, Buried Alive.

The Oklahoma Innocence Project charges no fees. To volunteer, go to okinnocence. com or call 405-208-6161.

ABOVE: THE INNOCENT MAN SIX-PART SERIES FOLLOWS TWO MURDER CASES THAT OCCURED IN ADA IN THE ‘80S. PHOTO COURTESY NETFLIX

BELOW: JUST MINUTES AFTER EXONERATION, MALCOLM SCOTT (MIDDLE) WALKS OUT OF THE COURTROOM WITH HIS OKLAHOMA INNOCENCE PROJECT ATTORNEYS CHRISTINA GREEN (LEFT) AND JOSH LEE (RIGHT).

PHOTO COURTESY THE OKLAHOMA INNOCENCE PROJECT

KIMBERLY BURK

PHOTO COURTESY NETFLIX

cases. Law students like Briscoe take courses in evidence and criminal procedure before enrolling in the clinic classes and may continue to work as volunteers afterward.

Andrea Miller, a clinical adjunct professor for the project and a part-time professor at OCU, says public awareness of wrongful convictions is relatively recent.

“Until the Innocence Project opened, nobody was focusing exclusively on this work in Oklahoma,” she says. “And until 25 years ago, people in general weren’t talking about the possibility of there being innocent people in prison. DNA evidence started exposing weaknesses in eyewitness testimony and in other areas of forensic evidence that weren’t so reliable.”

Various factors lead to wrongful convictions, with one being what Behenna calls junk science.

“In the 1970s and ’80s, we thought hair analysis was good science,” she says. “We’ve since discovered it’s not.”

Another weak corroboration tool is eyewitness testimony, which Behenna calls “very fallible. It is difficult to make cross-racial identification. And when a person is going through a traumatic event, it’s tough to remember details accurately.”

Perhaps most befuddling in the process is a false confession.

“Some segments of the population, such as people with low IQs or who have submissive personalities, will confess to a crime they did not commit,” Behenna says.

Other variables include prosecutorial misconduct (intentional or inadvertent) and ineffective defense counsel.

De’Marchoe Carpenter, 42, is a prime example of the darkness of a wrongful conviction and the diligent light of the Oklahoma Innocence Project to expose it.

Carpenter walked out of prison in

Two Ada murder cases are profiled in the Netflix documentary The Innocent Man, a six-part series based in part on the 2006 book by John Grisham.

Debra Sue Carter was found raped and murdered in her apartment Dec. 8, 1982, and Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson were convicted in 1988. Eleven years later, with help from the Innocence Project, they were exonerated based on DNA evidence. Glenn Glore was later convicted based on a semen sample.

The other slaying occurred when Denice Haraway disappeared from her job at a convenience store in 1984; her remains were found in 1986. Karl Fontenot and Tommy Ward were convicted in her death, but details in their confessions did not match the evidence, leading to suspicion of a coerced confession.

They both recanted but remain in prison with life sentences.

Norman attorney Mark Barrett says he and other lawyers have worked diligently on the Ward case.

“I’ve been very aware of the case for a long time and had substantial reason to question whether the right people had been convicted,” Barrett says. “There is a post-conviction action pending in Pontotoc County, and discovery should be completed by the end of April. I anticipate there will be additional paperwork filed after the conclusion of discovery.”

Barrett was the lead attorney for Williamson when he was released and worked on the civil action that followed.

Fontenot, who lost a state appeal in 2015, is represented by Arkansas attorney Tiffany Murphy. She was part of the Oklahoma Innocence Project as a law student.

APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

25

The State

HISTORY

A Convoluted Past

With the 130th anniversary of the Land Rush of 1889, Oklahomans explore its impact on Native American sovereignty.

ABOVE: A FAMILY CROSSES INTO OKLAHOMA DURING THE 1889 LAND RUN. BELOW: TENTS, HORSES AND WAGONS INVADE OKLAHOMA CITY JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER THE GREAT LAND RUSH OF 1889. FROM TENT CITY, THE TOWN GREW INTO OKLAHOMA’S MOST POPULOUS COMMUNITY.

PHOTOS COURTESY OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY/THE GATEWAY TO OKLAHOMA HISTORY

26

G

enerations of Oklahoma school children dress in prairie duds every spring to commemorate the Land Rush of 1889 … from the perspective of non-Native American settlers.

But with the 130th anniversary of the April 22 opening of Unassigned Lands in Indian Territory, historians

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

examine long-term impacts of that and other historical developments affecting tribal sovereignty.

“People focus on the Land Run,” says Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. “I disagree with that concentration because it’s critical to understand that the Land Run was just one event out of several, and not even the most important when it comes to considering the sovereignty of Indian Nations.”

Native rights eroded before and during the Civil War; those losses amplified with treaties during Reconstruction. The Land Rush of 1889 was part of a sequence of federal seizures of Native lands and forcing tribes from all over the country to Indian Territory, Blackburn says. By the 1870s, government-sanctioned treaties were ignored and acts of Congress,

upheld by the Supreme Court, abolished most Native American sovereignty.

Jay Hannah, who has served as secretary of the Cherokee Nation and in other leadership roles, says the 39 recognized tribes in Oklahoma have at least that many different perspectives regarding the Land Rush of 1889 and other events regarding Native Americanheld land. Hannah sees improvement in the past half-century; he credits economic strides taken by tribes and federal policy changes (through executive actions by President Richard Nixon) as reasons why Natives have increasing self-determination now.

“Today, the Cherokee Nation is a real place, under our fourth written constitution,” says Hannah, executive vice president of financial services at BancFirst. “In 1999, I was honored to chair the constitution, and it contained many governmental structural levels [legislative, executive and judicial]. We’ve made amazing communal triumphs in the establishment of schools, seminaries and higher education as well as business enterprise.

“There is reason to have hope for the future. Reformation of our government is a big and ongoing accomplishment, and I’ve lived to see some big changes, not just economically or in gaming, but in a wide variety of enterprises that generate revenues … to help provide health care, education and welfare for our citizens. As one example, the Cherokee Nation is advancing $5 million to 14 counties of school districts, so the Nation is pioneering a pathway, saying we are good neighbors and not just for Indian kids.”

As for those children and their yearly Land Run enactments …

“There is a great deal of sensitivity on this subject,” Hannah says.

“I’m a centrist when it comes to looking at history, and there were contributing decisions on both sides of the ledger when it comes to looking at what caused Oklahoma to come into existence. When we see people critical of celebrating the Land Run, I’d say it’s not a simple story to tell, and there isn’t one right or wrong answer.”

SUSANNA MAXWELL

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The State NONPROFIT

Restorative Power of Words By giving them a chance to write creatively, Poetic Justice delivers hope to Oklahoma’s incarcerated women.

I

POETIC JUSTICE HOSTS WRITING CLASSES FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN. PHOTOS BY HANS KLEINSCHMIDT

28

n 2017, then-Gov. Mary Fallin addressed an audience in Washington about what she called Oklahoma’s “dubious honor.”

For decades, the state has led the nation in female incarceration by staggering numbers. That year, 151 per every 100,000 women in the state were in prison – many for drug-related crimes. As the incarceration rate has ballooned in recent years and more women receive lengthy sentences for nonviolent offenses, many female inmates struggle to hold on to hope.

Five years ago, a University of Oklahoma graduate student doing research stumbled upon the work of OU Professor Emeritus Susan Sharp regarding the state’s system of female incarceration.

“The more I read about Oklahoma’s high rate of incarceration of women, the more I wanted to do

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

something,” says Ellen Stackable, executive director of Poetic Justice, a nonprofit she helped to establish.

“As a writing teacher, I knew the power of writing to change lives, so I started searching for a way to teach writing to incarcerated women.”

Soon after, Stackable and Claire Collins, a Tulsa performance artist and poet, started Poetic Justice classes at the Tulsa jail.

Poetic Justice, a “restorative writing” workshop lasting 6-8 weeks, focuses as much on hope as it does on composing. Hanna Al-Jibouri, the nonprofit’s president and volunteer coordinator and once one of Stackable’s high school students, describes a typical session.

“Class time is about two hours long,” Al-Jibouri says. “Class begins with an icebreaker question.

We then have students create their own ground rules for the class to

follow. From there, we do a guided meditation; this allows women to relax after whatever kind of a day they may have had.

“We typically then read some exemplar poems … written by incarcerated women from previous Poetic Justice classes and discuss these together. From there, the women create a word palette, similar to a painter’s palette, where we come up with a brainstorm of potential words that may fit into our night’s poetry prompt.

“Finally, it is time to write, and surprisingly, this only lasts about 15 minutes out of the entire class. We end class by sharing poetry.”

Al-Jibouri says sharing is optional, but most women choose to do so.

“Our chant is how we close class, repeating three times: ‘I have a voice, I have hope and I have the power to change.’”

Class exercises range from learning and writing in traditional poetic forms, such as haiku and odes, to closure letters and planning for life outside prison.

“We call these restorative writing workshops because the actual act of writing only takes up less than 25 percent of class time,” Al-Jibouri says. “We do so much to build com-

WOMEN’S WORDS Below is a sampling of works from participants in Poetic Justice.

The Shame of Not Being Able to Read

Living in a world of darkness with flutters of light through the cracks.

Knowledge seems to come so easy to everyone else.

For me it’s like trying to grasp at it.

I suck at it. I can never hold on.

Like sand it slides through my fingers.

I wake up everyday and try to pick it back up, and form it into something tangible that I can understand.

I feel not all the way whole.

There’s a piece of me missing.

Like a puzzle I’m trying to gather up; all the parts are there, I’m just struggling to connect the dots.

– V.H.

Dear Younger Me,

munication skills, to restore hope, to supply them with access to senses they are deprived from.

“Our classes do so much more than just provide a space to write. We often see women coming in saying that our classroom space is the only time while in jail or prison they feel they are listened to or heard. Many other programs provide a space where they can learn new information, but they are often talked at in those classrooms rather than given a chance to create their own rules and really take pride and ownership over the space.

“The idea of choice is huge for someone in prison or jail because it is something they do not get any other time of their day.”

For her role in founding Poetic Justice, Stackable was named a CNN Hero in 2018, but she quickly points out that she is not the hero of the story.

“I felt from the beginning that the true heroes of Poetic Justice are the incarcerated women we see every week in our classes,” Stackable says. “They have the courage to dig deep into their lives, and, through writing, begin to find wholeness and begin to change.”

According to the group’s website, poeticjustice.org, more than 1,750 incarcerated women have participated in the program.

Classes are held at the Tulsa County Jail, Mabel Bassett Correctional Center, Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, Turley Correctional Center and Kate Bernard Correctional Center.

There will come a time in your life when you think that life isn’t fair and you want to quit. Don’t do it.

It gets better.

There will be a time in your life when you think the bad people in your life won’t go away. Don’t do it.

It gets better.

There comes a time in your life when you fall deeply in love, but the love of your life doesn’t feel the same.

Please don’t do it.

It does get better.

There comes a time in your life when you break, and you think that your life isn’t worth living. Please don’t do it.

It really does get better.

There comes a time in your life when you are urged to slow down and are eventually forced to stop. Find the glue and piece yourself back together. Spend time finding yourself, and then thank God that you didn’t do it, because it did get better.

Because you got better.

– M.G.

Bag Lady

I call myself a bag lady I have a lot of luggage that’s so full it’s bursting at the seams.

I guess you could call me a hoarder.

One item I carry is something I’ve had for years; it’s called guilt.

I’ve tried to get rid of it, but it’s hard to part with.

Tried to have a garage sale, but no one would take it off my hands.

Even lowered the price; still no takers.

Then I felt guilty for trying to make my guilt someone else’s.

So I still have it.

Next, I have contentment.

I carry that a lot, but always misplace it or forget it somewhere.

I always miss it when I do. I can feel chaos when it’s gone.

I panic; my world folds in on itself, and that’s when I drop my bag and my anxiety falls out, along with tampons, cigs, and all my other important personal items.

I scoop all of these things up quickly before they’re noticed and see all of the other forgotten things that have fallen to the bottom.

Sitting in there beside old gum and mints, cookie crumbs, and tobacco bits are the things I thought I lost: love, hope, faith, independence, and - lo and behold that damn contentment.

- A.W.

Hell is Repetition

The sun rises.

Hope greets me.

Late for med line.

Ms. irritates me.

Exhausted, please don’t yell in my ear.

Excuse me, I was next in line my dear.

To my bunk, dreaming of bacon and eggs.

In line again, forgot my ID, Please, Ms., you know it’s me!

Standing in line, it’s killing my feet.

Here we go – Lather, rinse, repeat.

- C.B.

TARA MALONE

APRIL 2019| WWW.OKMAG.COM

29

The State

more than simply a musical style.

As emcee, I watched from the side of the stage as this alchemy occurred, multiplied and built to a frenzy, and, as it all happened, I found myself asking why. What was, and is, it about Leon that moves people to something INSIDER beyond devotion – to kinship, maybe, or at times, something near worship?

In these parts, certainly, there’s a proprietary element involved. Just as the Beatles belong to Liverpool, the Beach Boys to Southern California and Bruce Springsteen to New Leon Russell’s legacy, full of near-religious fervor, Jersey, Leon belongs to embodies a special time of stardust in the early 1970s.

Oklahoma – and especially to Tulsa. In each couple of months case, the artist is not only a symbol ago in this space, I for a place, but also for a specific wrote about a thenfeeling during a certain time within upcoming event at that place. The word for it is zeitgeist.

Tulsa’s Will Rogers And the zeitgeist Leon represents is High School auditorium, honoring Tulsa in the early 1970s. the musical legacy of one of its most It wasn’t a long stretch, but it was famous alumni, Leon Russell. a magical one. It began, more or The tribute concert included the less, when Leon assumed the role dedication of the refurbished Baldwin of ringmaster with Joe Cocker and piano that Russell played in the ’50s that hopelessly piebald collection for the amusement of his high school of rockers known as Mad Dogs & peers during their lunch breaks.

Englishmen, and continued as he and Producer Dick Risk, one of Rushis Shelter People became one of the sell’s classmates, had invited rock world’s top touring acts. Along the star Elton John, in Tulsa to do his way, he wrote and recorded the great own show that evening, to drop by hits “Tightrope,” “This Masquerade,” the afternoon presentation because “Superstar” and “A Song for You,” Sir Elton had been an early admirer and became co-owner of Shelter of Leon and responsible for a career Records – with offices and a studio resuscitation in the later years of in Tulsa – giving many great artists, Leon’s life. including himself, a recording home.

Although he gave his own tribute It’s not that Leon hadn’t made his to Leon at his evening concert, Elton musical mark before that. It’s simply John did not show up that afternoon. that it was neither as publicly visible However, Leon did. in the ’60s nor as closely identified On that day, his imperishable rock with Tulsa. Then, he was working in ’n’ roll spirit soared from a top-notch a far more behind-the-scenes capacity group whose members ranged from as an arranger, songwriter and session first-generation rock ’n’ rollers and musician, well-known in the industry classmates (Johnny Williams, Bobby but not outside of it.

Taylor), through friends from his Although his contributions went a golden hippie-boy era (Ann Bell, long way toward defining the sound David Teegarden), into the next of Southern California pop music generation of sidemen and collaboraduring that decade, the record buyer tors (Brandon Holder, Brian Lee). and Top 40 radio listener never really PAUL BENJAMAN LED THE The sold-out house responded with FESTIVITIES AT THE TRIBUTE knew he or she was hearing Russell CONCERT, REPLETE WITH near-religious fervor, reminding us playing on big hits by the likes of the RUSSELL’S SIGNATURE TOP HAT once again that the gospel influence Byrds, the Beach Boys, the Ronettes, AND “HOLY TRINITY” SHIRT. PHOTO BY PHIL CLARKIN in Russell’s work embodied much Jan and Dean and many more. Espe-

The Tulsa Zeitgeist

A

30

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

cially tuned-in music fans might’ve recognized his name as songwriter on several numbers from hitmakers Gary Lewis and the Playboys, but there would’ve been no reason for them to have known that Leon was intimately involved with that group by doing everything from arranging songs to stocking the band with firstclass Tulsa expats like guitarist Tom Tripplehorn, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Karstein.

An objective observer would note Leon Russell’s time of true rock-star incandescence was brief – really, only those few years in the ’70s. And while he continued to tour, perform and record, he was never again the draw he’d been then. I remember a conversation I had in the ’90s with Russell friend and historian Steve Todoroff, who’d gauged majorpublisher interest in a Leon biography – without success. An executive at Hyperion Press pithily summed up the situation: “Leon is timeless, but he’s not timely.”

That brings us back around to the why of Leon’s great and lasting fame in these parts. I don’t know, but I can hazard a guess – it has something to do with turning the Okie stereotype on its ear.

In the generation preceding Leon’s, an exodus of Oklahomans fled the horrors of the Dust Bowl to California, where they chased what too often turned out to be an uncapturable will o’ the wisp. Rightly or wrongly, the hard-luck, hardscrabble Okies and their desperate journeys became the faces of our state to much of the world.

About a quarter-century later, Leon made that same trek. But he came back. And when he did, he had the will o’ the wisp with him, packed in rock ’n’ roll stardust. In a reversal of the Okie migration, music-industry people from the West Coast – and just about everywhere else – came to Oklahoma and turned Tulsa into an international rock-music crossroads.

It was a brief, shining moment, but all the more precious for its brevity.

I was overseas for Uncle Sam in the early ’70s, so I didn’t really understand this until some years later when I watched a VHS copy of the 1971 documentary Mad Dogs & Englishmen. Chronicling the tour of the same name, it’s remarkable in a number of ways, not the least of which is how Leon absolutely takes over the

proceedings without even trying. Cocker is the star of the tour; Leon is the undisputed focal point of the movie. And Tulsa itself emerges as a major character, offering the viewer a cornucopia of unusual sights and fascinating people (den mother Emily Smith, among many others). The aura of mystique that surrounds Leon radiates to the other cast members and glows from the city itself, imbuing the movie with a mythology that hints at arcane secrets and forbidden pleasures – all somehow connected irrevocably with Tulsa.

Leon was pretty much a mythological figure then, head of a pantheon, bestowing favors, advice and dispensation as he sprinkled his cosmic dust over the lives of those in his orbit. While overseas, I remember reading a Rolling Stone letter from a Tulsa reader relating with an unfettered sense of wonder how he’d seen Leon and his wife, Mary, pull up next to him in their Rolls Royce at Pennington’s Drive-In. Years later, when I went to work for the Tulsa World as an entertainment writer, scores of folks told me of memorable, if brief, encounters with Russell in their lives. These included a singer-

songwriter who, based on a comment from Leon, began performing under a monicker that was his own name spelled backwards.

Had Leon left and not come back, who knows what his Oklahoma legacy would have been? But just as he telegraphed in his 1971 recording “Home Sweet Oklahoma” (and later, perhaps, in his 1975 Will O’ the Wisp album), he did return – an Okie back in his own sweet land and moving through the throngs around him like a magical hippie archetype.

He’d come back, he was a raging success, and he was ours.

That’s why Leon Russell’s ghost is pervasive around here. Back from California, he brought a sizable chunk of the Promised Land with him, setting it out in his hometown, where it became a lodestone for rockers and camp followers from all over. And while he ultimately left again, those few white-hot Tulsa years, in which you might see George Harrison walking down the street to Russell’s Church Studio or Eric Clapton jamming in a bar with a local group, will always be – at least for a certain demographic – the golden era, when Leon was home.

JOHN WOOLEY

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Life & Style

A M A P TO L I V I N G W E L L

A Warm Welcome

An Edmond kitchen mixes country and contemporary for an inviting dwelling space.

PHOTO BY CALEB COLLINS, NESTED TOURS

C

risp. Creative. Compelling.

That’s the first impression guests have of this kitchen that mixes modern with country to create a welcoming spirit for casual family dinners and formal entertaining.

An on-trend, all-white palette, accented with a touch of gray in the center island and soft brown in the flooring, pleases the senses. Architecturally, the kitchen blends rectangles, squares and arches.

Small, square-framed windows, strategically located above the central working and storage spaces, provide added light in the kitchen and adjoining patio. The center

island serves as a work station and seating area. Its barn door corner motif enhances the country farmhouse theme, as do the casual bar stools.

High ceilings with recessed lighting add to the kitchen’s ambiance. Large pendant lights over the center island illuminate the distinct architectural features of this thoroughly modern kitchen.

Arched doorways leading to the butler’s pantry and adjacent laundry area soften the kitchen’s angular lines.

A tour of the rest of this well-designed home comes with after-dinner coffee and dessert in the nearby living area.

M.J. VAN DEVENTER

APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

33

Life & Style INTERIORS

Invitation to Sophistication

A new Edmond residence blends open, country, modern and transitional styles.

T

By M.J. Van Deventer

he exterior of a new Edmond residence has an upscale, sophisticated design, which is “exactly what the homeowners wanted,” says Andrew French, owner of French Construction Co. That’s definitely the first impression the homeowners wanted to make … but step across the threshold into the large entry and there’s a warm, comfortable, inviting aura.

The entry sets the stage for the open

34

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

design plan featured throughout the home.

“From the entry, you can see all the way through the home to the back area,” says French, whose firm is also in Edmond.

Tammy Trotter, interior designer with Silex Interiors, defines the home as a mix of modern, country and transitional designs. The airy atmosphere provides a comfortable flow from the entry/dining area into the neighboring great room and on to the spacious kitchen.

Like many homes built today, the color palette is subdued. Pale grays and whites are accented by the natural shades of hand-scraped wood floors. Furnishings seldom shout; instead, they blend gracefully into this quiet, restful color scheme.

The great room adds to the design flair. With a vaulted ceiling and an unusual chandelier, this area is a favorite gathering place for the family to host friends in a casual fashion.

It’s “a great home for entertaining,” Trotter says.

ABOVE: A FEW STEPS AWAY FROM THE ENTRY, GUESTS FIND THE MAIN LIVING AREA WITH A MUTED COLOR SCHEME. LEFT TO RIGHT: THE SHELTERED BACK PATIO REVEALS A WELLMANICURED LANDSCAPE THAT INCLUDES A GREENBELT FOR A LAWN AND A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE SKY. THE GUEST BEDROOMS AND ADJOINING BATHS FEATURE QUIET HUES OF COLOR. PHOTOS BY CALEB COLLINS, NESTED TOURS

APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

35

Life & Style

Interesting textures in beige and brown fabrics are accented with pillows and accessories in warm shades of blue and orange.

“These add to the overall appeal of the home,” Trotter says.

“The chandelier, accented with Edison light bulbs, adds interest to the vaulted ceiling.”

With the kitchen and a small dining area adjacent to the great room, and easy visual access to the main dining area, traffic flow is never an issue during parties.

The country farmhouse aesthetic is particularly evident in the kitchen. A barn door theme accents the ends of the large center island, along with the Shaker-style cabinets.

A steel-gray island, featuring a quartz counter top, is central to the functionality and pleasure of the kitchen, which is rounded out with a herringbone backsplash and dramatic pendant lights.

A pleasant surprise behind the kitchen is a butler’s pantry, which the architect designed for easy, efficient service to all entertainment areas.

The master bedroom suite is an oasis of comfort and relaxation. The pale-gray color scheme continues here, but the focal point is the unusual recessed ceiling treatment in dark gray with an impressive chandelier. Furnishings feature what Trotter defines as “something old and something new.” A distressed hutch with mirrors adds to the design balance.

A his-and-hers design is apparent in the master bath. The showpiece is a free-standing tub, enhanced by a wall (designed

by Trotter) of natural stacked stone in a pleasing mix of beige, gray and arctic white. The vanities are fashioned of marble.

Overnight guests are treated royally in their private quarters.

The connecting guest room and bath reflect the home’s hushed color theme. A spacious media room is also a favorite place for guests.

A small office is a quiet getaway for handling business and social correspondence.

For total relaxation, the back patio offers a grand view of a greenbelt walking trail that winds its way through this exclusive residential area. It’s a perfect place for this family to begin and end the day.

TOP TO BOTTOM: THE ULTRA-MODERN KITCHEN BOASTS WIDE OPEN SPACES WITH ROOM FOR FOOD PREPARATION AND A SMALL DINING AREA. SPECIAL LIGHTING FOR THE “HIS AND HERS” AREAS MAKES THIS MASTER BATH A SPECIAL RETREAT FOR THE HOMEOWNERS. CALMING HUES AND AN EYE-CATCHING LIGHTING PIECE DEFINE THE MASTER BEDROOM.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

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Life & Style

D E S T I N AT I O N S

A Mild Place in Arctic Harshness Norway’s rugged Lofoten Islands aren’t too cold, aren’t too hot and have a warm, welcoming attitude.

T

he Lofoten Islands – beautiful, untamed and north of the Arctic Circle in the tempestuous waters of the Norwegian Sea – bely their location as grateful beneficiaries of the Gulf Stream.

The outcropping off Norway’s northwest coast enjoys mild winter and summer temperatures of 34 degrees and 54 degrees, respectively. While not Tahiti hot, it’s warmer than most places on the globe at that latitude – a warmth reflected by the islanders in the gracious hospitality they extend to visitors.

The archipelago’s primary industries are fishing (cod and haddock), along with art and tourism. Cod is king, as evidenced each winter by copious wooden racks on which the fish are allowed to cure naturally in the sun. Cod, by the way, is listed as stockfish on most restaurant menus; it’s the prime ingredient in many outstanding dishes.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

Outdoor enthusiasts gravitate to the great variety of hiking trails on Lofoten’s four main islands, which lie so closely together that they resemble a mountain range. The jagged, snow-capped peaks reach 4,150 feet, with steep rock faces.

At sea level, numerous inlets and deep fjords await the sea kayaker. Or you can board a rigid inflatable or bigger boat for wildlife tours of fin, humpback, sperm and killer whales, white-tailed sea eagles, puffins, fulmars and rare greater and lesser storm petrels.

Glorious beaches – yes, in Norway – shine in the summer because the white sands and turquoise waters are accompanied by 24 hours of daylight. (Light sleepers should pack an eye mask.)

Between September and April, the night skies stage incredible shows of spiraling blue, green and red Northern Lights.

THE HIDDEN GEM THAT IS NORWAY’S LOFOTEN ISLANDS OFFERS MODERATE TEMPERATURES, BREATHTAKING VIEWS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES GALORE. PHOTOS COURTESY INNOVATION NORWAY

The Cities

Svolvaer, on the southern coast of Austvagoy, is Lofoten’s principal town and serves as a good starting point for your island adventure. The harbor is home to a variety of restaurants, bars, shops and art galleries.

The unusual Lofoten War Museum features

startling World War II artifacts, including Nazi Christmas decorations and drawings of Disney’s Seven Dwarfs … purportedly sketched by Adolph Hitler.

Also on Austvagoy, the small fishing village of Kabelvag is big on attractions. Vagan Church, yellow and cross-shaped, seats 1,200 and is the largest wooden building in northern Norway. At the Lofoten Aquarium, learn about local marine life like skrei, a species of cod that migrates from the Barents Sea to Lofoten each winter to spawn. Stay for the daily feeding of seals and otters.

Ten miles north of Svolvaer is Trollfjord, an intriguing, small fjord accessible by excursion boat through the narrow straits of Raftsundet. Standing guard over the fjord are towering mountains, whose walls rise directly out of the sea. In summer, catch a bus to Stokmarknes and marvel as cruise ships navigate the half-mile-wide passage.

While there, visit the Hurtigruten Museum for a look behind the scenes of the venerable cruise line.

The Views

On the island of Moskenesoya, the fishing village of Reine is widely regarded as the most beautiful in Norway thanks to its vibrant red, yellow and white structures, a remarkable fjord, mountain vistas and wonderful vantage points to see the Moskstraumen, a maelstrom thought to be one of the most powerful in the world.

Stay at the Lofoten Arctic Hotel Skata on the waterfront in Henningsvaer, just southwest of Svolvaer, in a building that was once a fishing dock. Kick back and relax as you take in the sights: nearby islands, boat traffic and the bridge to the village.

For something different, book a night in one of Lofoten’s trademark red fishing huts.

Many hang high above the water and provide impressive outlooks and convenient base camps for your island explorations.

CHUCK MAI

APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

39

Life & Style

FUN FACTS POPULATION 801

OUTSIDE THE METRO

Straight Down the Middle The Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in Cheyenne comes with controversy, and Kevin Mohr knows how to handle it.

H

SNOW HAS FALLEN AT THE WASHITA BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

PHOTO COURTESY WASHITA BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

ONLINE EXTRA FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT CHEYENNE, GO TO

OKMAG.COM/CHEYENNE

40

e digs for information so he can quote from and cite primary texts.

He interviews as many as people possible to give a full telling of an event.

He offers a complete, balanced, objective presentation of many voices and documents.

Kevin Mohr is not a journalist or investigator, but he certainly acts like one as the chief of interpretation at the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in Cheyenne – one of three National Parks Service facilities in Oklahoma.

A primary reason that Mohr delivers information right down the middle is George Armstrong Custer, one of the most polarizing figures in U.S. military history. His surprise, nighttime attack on Chief Black Kettle’s village is considered by Custer aficionados as a textbook cavalry maneuver and battle; Native people see it as a massacre and part of a government-sanctioned genocide in the 1800s.

“We get a lot of people who visit just for Custer,” Mohr says. “They’re either Custer buffs or Custer haters.”

Even the name of the facility stirs controversy, although Mohr points out that National Parks Service employees can’t simply change it to something neutral.

After meetings the past few years with members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Mohr wrote and began distributing a site bulletin to visitors. The two-page, legalsized handout, released in October, explains

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

that the park was formed under the American Battlefield Protection Act of 1966, so the disputed word battlefield had to be in the facility’s title. Visitors are also reminded that “the public can petition Congress to change the name,” Mohr says.

Mohr’s bulletin, called “Battle, Massacre, or Clash of Cultures,” shows distinct views of what happened Nov. 27, 1868 – the official 7th Cavalry version of the attack; the oral histories passed along by survivors’ descendants; and the larger context of raids, counter-raids, skirmishes and cut-throat tension.

The number of dead Cheyenne varies.

Custer estimated 103 while Native stories count 60. The 7th Cavalry also took 53 women and children captive and shot Black Kettle and his wife, Medicine Woman, in the back as they fled.

The bulletin ends by asking visitors, “What would you name the park or label the event?”

“The battle/massacre controversy has always come up,” Mohr says. “That’s the most common question we get, especially from tribal members. We created this site bulletin and let people decide for themselves.

“It was me saying, ‘We have to do something.’

Our job is to do the detective work and find the sources and resources. We tell all sides.”

BRIAN WILSON

CHEYENNE’S CHARM “It’s a quaint town,” says Kevin Mohr of the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site. “You get to know everyone and … there’s plenty of stuff to do.” Tom Smeltzer, district ranger for the Black Kettle National Grassland, says: “It’s a good place to raise kids.”

ON THE PLAINS Throughout the year, the Black Kettle National Grassland draws “about 5,000 hunters from all across the country,” says Smeltzer, adding that Rio Grande turkey, bobwhite quail and whitetailed deer generate the biggest seasons.

The grassland, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, is spread across 31,300 acres with three small lakes and primitive camping areas.

ONE OF THREE The National Parks Service operates the Washita historic site and the Chickasaw National Recreation Area near Sulphur.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial has an affiliation with the parks service.

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Life & Style

H E A LT H

A Pain in the …

… wrist, hand, foot or ankle can have a number of origins and treatments.

We look at five common afflictions.

I

njuries and damage to our extremities can make everyday life painful … at times insufferable. Three Oklahoma orthopedists describe common problems that people have with their wrists, hands, feet and ankles, and weigh in on treatments and solutions.

Wrist Sprains

Clayton Nelson, an orthopedic surgeon with the Oklahoma Sports Orthopedic Institute in central Oklahoma, says sprains occur when the wrist is flexed or extended beyond its normal position to cause injury to the ligaments.

“Being evaluated by your doctor and having X-rays taken are important to make sure there are no broken bones, dislocated joints or evidence of a full ligament tear,” he says. “Treatment generally consists of resting the injured wrist and using splints until symptoms improve. It can also be beneficial to use ice and anti-inflammatories to help with the swelling and pain.”

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This affliction is caused by the compression of the median nerve at the point where it travels through the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway on the palm side of the wrist. Symptoms include numbness and tingling in the fingers.

Brian Chalkin, an orthopedic surgeon with the Orthopaedic Center of Tulsa, says while various treatments exist, most specialists recommend a splint to rest the wrist at night during sleep.

“This has a 50-percent success rate in treating the problem,” he says. “Ultimately, if conservative treatment fails, then surgical release of the carpal tunnel is recommended.”

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

Hand Tendinitis

“Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of the tendon and is most commonly caused by an overuse injury,” Nelson says.

Any repetitive activity can cause overuse and result in the inflammation or thickening of the tendons, causing pain, swelling and restricted ranges of motion in the wrist and hand.

Tendinitis is typically addressed without surgery.

Nelson says the most important treatment factor is limiting or eliminating the activity causing the condition.

“Modifying the work place environment or altering athletic techniques to reduce repetitive motions can help improve the swelling and pain experienced with tendinitis,” he says.

Other treatment options include anti-inflammatory medications, wearing braces or splints, and physical therapy.

Foot Stress Fractures

“Bones are living tissue and they can bend and deform under stress – if the bone bends too much or too forcefully, it will break or ‘fracture,’” says Bryan Hawkins, an orthopedic surgeon with Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma in Tulsa. “Treatment is simple. The foot is protected, often with a supportive shoe or removable boot, and comfortable activities are allowed, but repetitive, weight-bearing activities are stopped. Non-weight-bearing activities are permitted if they don’t cause undue pain.”

Arthritis in Hands and Ankles

“Treatment options for arthritis of the hands range from physiotherapy, specialized custom splints, topical or oral medications, anti-rheumatologic medications, and, as a last resort, surgical reconstructions or fusions of various joints,” Chalkin says. “Often times, there is no reason to suffer, and advanced treatments can offer patients great promise.”

Initial treatment of arthritis in the ankle includes medication and modifying activities to manage pain, Hawkins says. If the pain is too severe, surgical options include ankle fusion or ankle joint replacement. Fusion may sound limiting, but he says people can do many activities and walking appears normal in the majority of patients.

Ankle joint replacements preserve the motion of the ankle, but Hawkins says additional surgery may be needed because the replaced joint lasts 10-12 years. Additionally, activity is limited on ankle replacements because of the small size, as huge stresses are placed on the joint.

REBECCA FAST

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APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Life & Style

F YI

Go With the Flow

PHOTOS COURTESY OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Oklahoma boasts the most human-made lakes in the country.

N

early 500 years ago, philosopher Francis Bacon penned a notable phrase about finding alternatives.

And it could apply – with a twist – to landlocked Oklahoma.

“If the Hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill,” the English statesman wrote in his famous collection, Essays. That take-charge approach is apropos to the Sooner State, home to the most human-made lakes in the country.

A perfect storm of factors explains why Oklahoma has more than 200 constructed lakes, nearly ranging from A to Z (Altus to Yahola). That number may seem odd given the state’s historical identity with drought and zero natural lakes of significant size.

After the devastation of the Dust Bowl, the state seemed to say, “If the Water will not come to Oklahoma, Oklahoma will bring the water to it.”

The lakes are a product of powerful politicians; ideal topography to dam numerous rivers, creeks and streams; federal funding of flood-control projects; and a cultural will to supply drinking water and irrigation to as many people as possible.

Earl Groves, recently retired after 10 years as chief of operations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Tulsa district, says the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System is a perfect example of all the variables coming together to make water readily available to millions of people.

Oilman Robert S. Kerr (governor and thrice-elected U.S. senator) and Carl Albert (longtime U.S. representative and one-time Speaker of the House) used their clout to make the navigation system a reality.

“Many lakes are connected to and affected by that system,” says Groves, who spent 43 years with the corps.

“It was the largest corps civil works project at the time. It created the most inland port in the country [Catoosa].

“Kerr and Albert had the foresight

BELOW AND MIDDLE: THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DAMMED THE ILLINOIS RIVER TO BUILD TENKILLER FERRY LAKE BETWEEN 1947 AND 1952.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

to make it good for everyone – municipal water supplies, agricultural irrigation, fish and wildlife, recreation and flood control.

“The planning began in the 1950s and, one after another, lakes came online before the navigation system went live on June 1, 1971. That’s the jewel in the crown.”

Before that massive project, national flood-control money funded many other Oklahoma lakes. Sites for dams were relatively easy to locate because, as Groves notes, the state has only two primary watersheds – the Arkansas and Red rivers. Rolling hills and plains created natural horizontal funnels throughout the state.

“You can’t dam a river in the wrong place,” Groves says.

“It’s not politically smart. There was a joke among politicians that there was a race to see who had the most lakes, but that never happened.”

In the dry western part of the state, human-made reservoirs collect rain that forms over the Rocky Mountains and dumps in Kansas and Oklahoma.

In the relatively wet eastern part of the state, lakes prevent routine flooding. For example, Bixby and Tulsa’s Brookside became inundated whenever the swollen Arkansas River leaped its banks. Keystone Lake severely curtailed the number of floods.

A prosperous byproduct of all these human-made lakes is outdoor activity.

“It was not an original intention to have tourism and recreation,” Groves says. “It’s now a multi-billion-dollar industry. These lakes have propelled our tourism, which is the No. 3 industry in the state.”

BRIAN WILSON

IMMEDIATELY ABOVE: ROBBERS CAVE STATE PARK NEAR WILBURTON, CREATED IN THE 1930S, HAS THREE LAKES MADE FROM DAMMING FOURCHE MALINE CREEK.

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Life & Style

SCENE

David Morton, David & Jenny Chansolme, the Rev. Rick Stansberry; Bishop McGuinness Auction, Bishop McGuinness, OKC

Jason McMahon, Trey & Kelly Karlovich, Sara McMahon; GLOW Gala, Global Gardens, Tulsa

Sam Presti, Polly Nichols, Shannon Presti; Juliette Low Leadership Society Luncheon, Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, OKC

Linda Slawson, Amy Cottrell; Juliette Low Leadership Society Luncheon, Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma, OKC

Donna & Robert McCampbell; Wine in the Wild, ZooFriends, OKC

Alison Anthony, Deborah Gist, Mark Wilson; Street Party, Street School, Tulsa

Ivy Pierce, Miki Farris, Becky Taylor; Boots and Ball Gowns Gala, Infant Crisis Services, OKC

Judy Kishner, Dave & Susie Hentschel; Heart of Henry, Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless

Mike Lodes, Gina Lodes, Andy Kinslow, Russ Kirkpatrick; President’s Council Dinner, Tulsa Opera

Jordan Cook, Ben Klaus; Taste of OKC, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, OKC

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

Dazsa Carter, Tena Slaughter, Tianna Rogers, Michelle Boykin; Winter Wonderland Dance, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, OKC

Andres Franco, Leigh B. Goodson, Barry Epperley; 40th Anniversary Concert, Signature Symphony, Tulsa

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Well deserved.

Congratulations Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, for being recognized as a member of the 2019 Oklahoma Magazine class of “40 Under 40.”

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440 0 UNDER

™

The professionals honored in Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2019 exemplify leadership, both at the office and in the community. These are Oklahoma’s mavericks – innovators who go the extra mile, disrupt the status quo, push to improve the state and guide others by unwavering and fierce example. These leaders run the gambit of professions – from an entrepreneur, nurse and professor to doctors, lawyers and company presidents. The future looks bright for Oklahoma – and it’s thanks in part to these game-changers. We celebrate them here.

By Mary Willa Allen

What’s a trend that you just don’t understand?

40 Under 40 honorees are unranked and presented in no particular order.

Anything involving the banning of carbohydrates.

– Alexis Smith Washington, Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY HONOREES.

ALEXIS SMITH WASHINGTON FOR BONUS VIDEOS of our 40 Under 40 honorees, visit

OKMAG.COM/40UNDER402019.

If you know leaders who fit the bill as 40 Under 40 honorees, tell us about them. Visit okmag.com/nominate40under40 to get started.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

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Stillwater Assistant professor of management, Spears School of Business, Oklahoma State University Alexis Smith Washington wears many hats – she is an undergraduate professor of diversity and inclusion and human resource management; she is a researcher with academic peers; and she is a collaborator with her colleagues at OSU. Although she interacts with a wide array of people, one group sticks out. “I hold a special place in my heart for the undergraduates, who are at a pivotal point in their lives,” she says. “Along with our wonderful staff, we professors are entrusted with helping them to develop the tools they’ll need as they transition to adulthood. I love watching their journey.” Outside the classroom, Washington dedicates more energy to this group by “giving time on evenings and weekends to attend student events, mentor student groups and give back to the kinds of student organizations that shaped my life.” Washington, who earned tenure last year, loves to spend off-the-clock time with her children. “I find that developing them into fully formed adults is my most pleasurable activity,” she says.

MICHAEL FEAMSTER

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Tulsa Project executive, Nabholz Construction Corp.

Michael Feamster ensures the success of his Nabholz projects by providing support to his teams, interacting with clients and engaging in the communities where the company builds. “I love establishing longtime, meaningful relationships,” he says. “Heavy commercial construction provides the opportunity to solve problems and create cohesive, winning cultures. Partnership in vision and execution – construction is awesome.” If he weren’t a project executive, his interests would vary; he says he would be involved with international law or “a coffee roaster or fighter,” as he is well-versed in mixed martial arts. Volunteering, which Feamster calls “humbling and encouraging,” is an important part of his life; he spends time at his church, Habitat for Humanity and the The Prince’s Trust, among others. Feamster speaks Spanish fluently and has lived in Spain and the United Kingdom. He is married with three kids, with a fourth due this year. He looks forward to Tulsa’s developments, including the USA BMX headquarters and the Oklahoma Pop Culture Museum, both of which he’s involved with through Nabholz.

KATY TIPTON BATTIEST

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Tulsa Information technology applications supervisor, ONE Gas Katy Tipton Battiest manages a team of business analysts and developers overseeing a variety of IT applications. Her goal is to “provide the highest value possible to our customers,” she says. Her interest in technology stems from her grandfather, an aeronautical engineer whom Battiest describes as “a tinkerer who could fix anything.” She finds success in being “willing to do what others are not and going the extra step than what is expected.”

Her passion for tech stretches beyond the office as she was named the president of Oklahoma Women in Technology; she calls the appointment “a true honor to be able to guide the vision of an organization that is truly making a difference in our state and in the tech industry.” She also spends time volunteering for Route 66 Pet Rescue, Habitat for Humanity and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, checking out local theater productions, and being outdoors with her husband and dogs. Never an idler, Battiest fosters hobbies at home with a die-cutting machine and “learning computerized design so that I can expand my skills and have the ability to create more, from logos to websites and more.”

What new development or piece of technology are you passionate about?

Real-time language translation – being able to communicate with people from anywhere in the world. Whether it is here at home or while traveling, this will eliminate major barriers and allow us to learn from each other’s cultures and experiences.

– Katy Tipton Battiest, ONE Gas

JEREMY FOON

TIMOTHY HICKS

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Tulsa Otolaryngologist, Eastern Oklahoma ENT Jeremy Foon’s job as an otolaryngologist, which he describes as “a fancy way of saying I’m an ear, nose, throat doctor,” keeps him busy between the clinic and operating rooms at Eastern Oklahoma ENT. From ear infections to cancer resections, Foon loves the job because of the “immediate impact I can have on people’s lives.” In medical school, Foon knew he wanted to be a surgeon, but still aimed for a well-rounded life. “I didn’t want to be married to the hospital and spend all my time there,” he says. “ENT provides a great middle ground.

I get to take care of patients but still be home for dinner most nights with my wife and our three children.” Outside work, Foon likes biking, woodwork, exploring Tulsa with his family and volunteering at soup kitchens, mission trips, urban farms and his church. He believes that “being both thoughtful and deliberate when it comes to major life decisions” is the key to his success, and if he weren’t a surgeon, he’d be a mailman. “They are extremely organized, make people happy by delivering mail and can wear shorts to work.”

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Glenpool Chief operating officer, MCN Medical Center and Physical Rehabilitation Center – Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health Timothy Hicks manages two health-care facilities for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation; designs and implements business strategies; sets comprehensive goals for growth; assists the tribe’s secretary of health; manages relationships with vendors; and establishes policies that promote the tribe’s culture and vision. “I love working for the community that I was born and raised in,” he says. “It makes me proud to know that our hospital is increasing the quality of life within our community and providing top-notch health care to our citizens.” It’s been a good year for Hicks; he received his Master of Business Administration and helped to lower emergency room wait times at the facilities he manages by 54.8 percent.

Hicks says not checking off everything in his daily planner often keeps him up at night, but golf is a great stress reliever. “It also allows me to keep my competitive passion – I hate to lose,” he says. Hicks volunteers at the Glenpool Chamber of Commerce and sits on the health advisory boards for Northeastern State University and the Central Technology Center. He and his wife are also avid Criminal Minds fans. “You could say we’re both qualified to be detectives at this point,” he says.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Life is 10 percent of things that actually happen to you and 90 percent of how you react to them. Sit back, breathe and think before you react.

– Timothy Hicks, Muscogee (Creek ) Nation Department of Health

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CAROLYN BERG

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What are you looking forward to?

My forties. My twenties were crazy and my thirties allowed me to discover myself.

My forties will be for me to enjoy who that person is.

– Brandon Miller, Vizavance

BRANDON MILLER

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Tulsa Vice president of financial development, Vizavance Brandon Miller works in the financial wing of Vizavance, a nonprofit whose focus lies on advancing children’s education through better eyesight and vision. Miller makes those goals a reality through fundraisers, writing grants and building relationships with donors and foundations. “I love that at my job, a day never repeats itself,” he says. “It is constantly evolving and very socially based. I am a people person and I thrive on interaction with others.” After college, Miller spent more than eight years in health-care marketing and sales before landing in the nonprofit sector, where he feels he’s making a difference in society.

“Knowing that the work I do allows us to impact over 325,000 children in our state every year makes all of the hard work worth it,” he says. Tulsa CARES and Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless are two of various nonprofits Miller supports in his free time; he also plays in a kickball league, enjoys photography and spends time at Grand Lake.

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Bixby Hand surgeon, Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma Putting people’s lives back together is the name of the game for Carolyn Berg, a hand and upper extremity surgeon with Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma. Her favorite part of the job is the surgery.

“I get to take injured or degenerative structures and guide the body’s amazing capacity to heal,” she says. Healing is the highlight of the gig; Berg enjoys “helping [to] restore hands and bring back function and livelihood to a person’s life.” Berg is an avid road, gravel and mountain biker and has channeled that passion into volunteering. “I most recently helped rebuild some of the local hiking/biking trails in our community,” she says. Along with that, Berg spends time as a medical missionary and a volunteer at various women’s shelters around town. She also loves travel, the outdoors, photography and the magical world of a certain boy wizard. “I’m a huge Harry Potter fan,” she says. “My surgical scrub hat is Harry Potter-themed.”

What’s a trend that you just don’t understand?

YouTube challenges where people hurt themselves.

– Carolyn Berg, Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma

What are you looking forward to?

The Dallas Cowboys winning the Super Bowl.

– James Sanchez, Regent Bank

JAMES SANCHEZ

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Tulsa Managing director – Hispanic banking division, Regent Bank For James Sanchez, his job means “helping Tulsa’s thriving Hispanic business community learn how to get the cash they need to expand, buy equipment or purchase commercial real estate.” With all communication in Spanish, Sanchez helps with every part of banking – from earning the best interest on deposits to procuring major loans. “I love that my job allows me to serve my clients,” Sanchez says. “I love being in a work environment where everyone charges the same vision – it makes you feel like you’re surrounded by family.” Sanchez doesn’t just help the community on the clock; after work, he volunteers for the Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Minority Business Council and the Hispanic Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Oklahoma, among others. Sanchez says his success comes from balancing work and life and the support of his wife and three sons, with whom he enjoys playing Fortnite or “anything that involves me being with them.” He also boasts a musical talent involving an odd instrument. “I have a marimba that once in a while I get to play.”

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LIZ ROHRBACKER

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Tulsa Principal and interior designer, KKT Architects Liz Rohrbacker is passionate about education, and her role at KKT Architects allows her to foster that devotion by designing and renovating schools around Oklahoma.

Along with working closely to ensure the client’s vision, Rohrbacker must consider the physical, mental and emotional needs of everyone who uses the space. “Most people think interior designers only pick the paint and decorate, but we are responsible for code compliance regarding life safety, ensuring that the space is accessible and inclusive and creating beautiful, functional, durable, effective environments,” she says. Rohrbacker loves KTT’s environment because it allows people to follow their passions, leading to goals being met. “My greatest achievement at KKT is helping build up our education department,” Rohrbacker says. Off the clock, Rohrbacker gets inspiration from her children. “They are the most creative and imaginative people I know,” she says.

“It is fascinating to watch them tear off on a mission to save one of their stuffed animals from monsters, or create a brand new game, or just break out in a spontaneous dance party/karaoke session.”

What are you currently reading?

I jumped on the bandwagon after the Marie Kondo Netflix special came out and bought a copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I just started it, but we will see if it transforms my life.

– Liz Rohrbacker, KKT Architects

HAILEY BENTON-THOMAS

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Edmond Chief operating officer/general counsel, TBS Factoring Service TBS Factoring Service, which provides financial solutions to small businesses, is helmed in part by Hailey Benton-Thomas, who supports her team by identifying efficiencies and maintaining an employees-first focus.

This respect for and willingness to help her workers makes Benton-Thomas an ideal leader. “I am privileged to spend my days brainstorming with brilliant people about new ways to improve the services we provide in support of small business,” she says. “I never planned to seek out operations as a career, but my passion is to help people reach their potential and help businesses maximize theirs, so it is a perfect fit.” Although Benton-Thomas does a lot to mold the leaders of tomorrow, she’s the first to shy away from claiming their victories as her own. “I take no credit for their success; they worked hard for it,” she says. “But I absolutely love to see them shine.” Since moving to Oklahoma five years ago, Benton-Thomas enjoys exploring the state with her family, which includes a 1-year-old son. Always one to keep busy, she volunteers at Capitol Hill High School and the Central Oklahoma Humane Society. “I am a driven, type-A personality that could quickly drive my family nuts,” she jokes, “so channeling that energy into volunteer work might also be key to the happiness of those around me as well.”

MARILYN SURBER

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Bixby Employee services manager, Melton Truck Lines At Melton, Marilyn Surber covers a lot of bases, from human resources and corporate communications to social media, military recruiting and leading the road-training program. A self-described extrovert, Surber says “building relationships with internal and external customers” is the best part of her job. She’s also quick to credit her many team members, and her proudest moments at work are when “someone on my team succeeds.” In her off time, Surber relaxes with her family and supports the Tulsa Area United Way, Salvation Army, Reading Partners and Tulsa Workforce. Claiming grit as the secret to her success, Surber thinks she’d win the award for being “Most Likely to Sell Ice to Eskimos.” Her favorite advice is from Dr. Seuss: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

If you won a ‘Superlative Award,’ it would be “Most likely to…”

Be found seated on the floor at a party, petting the dog.

– Hailey Benton-Thomas, TBS Factoring Service

JOHN KRENGER

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OKC Vice president of energy banking, Bank of Oklahoma John Krenger knew he enjoyed financial analysis at a young age – and the passion stuck. “My favorite class in high school was economics, so I knew I wanted to pursue an economics or finance degree in college,” he says. At Bank of Oklahoma, Krenger spends his time “selling financial products to upstream and midstream energy companies headquartered in Oklahoma,” and splits the day between financial analysis and communicating with his clients – a happy medium. Although Krenger has found meteoric success at work, his family comes first; he says his best experience this past year was “finding out that we’re expecting our second baby girl” with his wife. Krenger enjoys football, time spent with family, walking his two huskies and volunteering with Allied Arts, the Wes Welker Foundation and the United Way of Central Oklahoma. Krenger says the volunteer opportunity that stuck with him the most was coaching the Bishop McGuinness junior high football team. “It taught me great lessons on how to be a leader that is motivating, understanding and fair,” he says.

Tell us something interesting or fun we didn’t ask about.

I am the oldest of four boys, while my wife comes from a family of three girls ... and we will have two girls this year. So the wife wins again!

– John Krenger, Bank of Oklahoma

MARY ELIZABETH MACH

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Norman Water team leader, Garver Mary Elizabeth Mach’s passion in life is water, and she fosters it every day as the water team leader at Garver, an engineering, planning, architectural and environmental services firm. Her role consists of teaming with community partners to “identify and solve their water and wastewater challenges with the ultimate goal of protecting our most precious natural resource – clean, safe water.” She relishes that her work positively impacts the lives of individuals she works with and the need to work as a team to change the world for the better. Mach knows the heavy weight placed on her shoulders, and feels proud when her clients put their trust in her. “Communities dedicate a lot of resources to improving and maintaining their water supplies, and it’s a huge responsibility,” she says. Mach volunteers her time with What’s the best advice Food and Shelter, the Oklahoma State University biosystems advisory board and Suit Up. you’ve ever received and given?

She’s an avid half-marathon runner and cook. Her proudest accomplishment is a successful Received: It is more important to chase meaning than to avoid discomfort. work-life balance. “Like many other professions, it can sometimes be tough to intertwine Given: If you are 99 percent right, there is 1 percent worth apologizing for. success with a quality home life,” she says. “I think I’m most proud of an ability to be a good – Mary Elizabeth Mach, Garver mom, while also advancing in a STEM field that still lacks female leaders.”

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BRYAN SMITH

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Tulsa Entrepreneur As a business owner, father of three, author and entrepreneur, Bryan Smith wears a number of hats. “Leading my three kids is my No. 1 job and my favorite,” he says. Smith is also a State Farm insurance agent, and when he’s not doing that, you can find him “trying to get my message out that people will always try to tell you what you are or aren’t capable of based upon their own talents, abilities and vision.” Smith gives a lot of credit to the teams at his companies for his success and says “getting to help them build, influence and work to help them reach their goals is much more fulfilling than anything I could ever do alone.” Smith spends his time helping Tulsa nonprofits, including Tulsa Pop Kids, Soldier’s Wish and Little Lighthouse. “I don’t think anything has affected my life more than serving other people,” he says. “When I began, I wanted to see if I could make a difference in someone’s day, but it ended up making a difference in my life.” Although he’s a multi-tasker, he still has an unrealized goal. “I have always dreamed of being a singer/songwriter,” he says. “Watching Bradley Cooper kill it in A Star is Born reinvigorated this dream.”

What’s a trend that you just don’t understand?

Everyone alive wearing yoga pants.

– Bryan Smith, Entrepreneur

ANTHONY HENDRICKS

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OKC Attorney, Crowe & Dunlevy; cybersecurity policy fellow, New America Anthony Hendricks knows exactly how to help his clients with a wide array of issues, whether they’re cybersecurity, criminal, banking regulatory, internal investigation or environmental compliance. A lifelong problemsolver, Hendricks enjoys helping people fix their looming legal issues. “When people call lawyers, they are often nervous and stressed,” he says. “It brings me a lot of joy to be able to help ease that burden.” The bug for law came early – in elementary school – when Hendricks read a book about Thurgood Marshall. “Since that day,” he says, “I knew I was going to be a lawyer.” Over his career, Hendricks has enjoyed many highlights, but his first pro bono case sticks out as a favorite. “I helped a formerly homeless naval veteran deal with a family law case,” he says. “It was not a big case, but to see how thankful she was after we finished the case … showed me how the law could help improve people’s lives.” Outside work, Hendricks is passionate about helping people with the Health Alliance for the Uninsured.

What’s the secret to your success?

Hard work and working as if my career depended on it.

– Jason Schafer, Manhattan Construction

JASON SCHAFER

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Bixby Construction superintendent, Manhattan Construction Co. As a senior superintendent at Manhattan Construction, Jason Schafer manages the construction of projects around Oklahoma from start to finish.

Between scheduling contractors, coordinating schedules and updating clients, Schafer is busy from dawn to dusk. His favorite part of the job, he says, is “being outside and helping manage people who are working on the project. Because it is face to face, you naturally become more personable with employees, clients and vendors.” He loves grand openings and “seeing the look on everyone’s face when they walk into a new building for the first time.” Outside work, Schafer spends a lot of time volunteering, especially with the Ronald McDonald House, which helped Schafer and his daughter after she was born with a congenital heart disorder. “They are an amazing organization,” says Schafer, adding that the best part of the last year was his daughter’s positive heart exam.

BRITTNEY WYCOFF

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Edmond Assurance principal, HoganTaylor Brittney Wycoff loves to learn anything new, and her job at HoganTaylor keeps her on her toes. “I love that no two days are the same,” she says. “And I love that I get to spend my days with amazing clients and colleagues.” From audits to other attestation services for companies and organizations, Wycoff is continually intrigued by her job.

“Whether it’s learning how to implement a new accounting standard, learning about a new client or industry, learning new technology, I’m constantly learning,” she says. With all that acquisition of knowledge, days can get stressful, but Wycoff has the remedy. “For me, a trip to Office Depot or the office supply section of Target is the perfect way to relieve stress,” she says. “Somehow, a new pen, pencil, folder or pad of paper completely relaxes me. Is that normal? I might be a little obsessed with office supplies.” Wycoff serves as board president-elect and treasurer for Parent Promise, which helps to prevent the neglect and abuse of Oklahoma’s children through parent education and support. She also volunteers through her church. “I’m just fortunate to be able to play a small part,” she says. If she’s not volunteering, working or on the hunt for office supplies, Wycoff binge-watches reality television. “Big Brother is my favorite. I’ve watched every season but one,” she says.

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chols and Associates would like to congratulate Kyle L. Endicott, Associate Attorney, for being selected as one of Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2019.

Kyle represents the bright future of Echols and Associates. His broad experience and talent in the preparation and presentation of family law cases is of the highest order. He is courageous and zealous in his representation of those going through the difficult and challenging litigation of family law issues. Clients have confidence in Kyle that he is aggressively pursuing the best result for them. This knowledge brings comfort and relief to clients, who appreciate that they are receiving the best representation possible.

Kyle is not only a knowledgeable and compassionate attorney; he is remarkable in all that he does in his life including being an excellent father and devoted husband. All the attorneys and employees that he works with every day appreciate his strong conviction and attention to detail. Echols and Associates is very privileged to have Kyle as part of the firm.

9925 South Pennsylvania Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73159

www.echolslawfirm.com (405) 691-2648

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What are you reading?

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Follow your heart when it comes to leading people.

Manage by what is fair and be consistent in that fairness. Put others’ needs before your own.

– Alicson Scott, Chickasaw Nation

ALICSON SCOTT

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Roff Executive officer – patient resources, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health Alicson Scott is the patient’s advocate for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health. She coordinates events, tours and celebrations for the tribe; oversees the operations of Chikasha House; and manages hospitality services and customer relations at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, among other duties. Her favorite part of the job is “seeing the mission of the Chickasaw Nation – to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people – being met every day. Working in my role, I am able to see how the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health meets the mission. It is what drives the Chickasaw Nation. It is our standard, and I get to see how our employees do that every day.” A proud Chickasaw, Scott loves her culture’s core values – so much so that she has worked for the Nation for nearly 20 years. “Seeing the growth from when I began to now has been amazing,” she says. Scott leads with empathy and finds that being flexible and consistently fair with people leads to a successful environment for everyone. Outside work, Scott works as the children’s minister at her church. “The kids who attend … are very loving, and seeing them grow in their relationship with God is very rewarding.” Scott is a mother, an avid OKC Thunder fan and a gardener.

LEE TIMMONS

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Bixby Director of human resources, Cowen Construction Lee Timmons works every day to make sure the employees at Cowen Construction feel seen, heard and appreciated. From recruiting and training to ensuring the company keeps in line with employment regulations and handling benefits packages, Timmons does it all but is quick to point out that it’s a team effort. “Together, we get to improve how our employees experience their careers with Cowen, and in turn, how others experience Cowen through our team members.” Timmons is passionate about helping people reach their full potentials, and to reach that objective, she’s implementing a new professional development program at Cowen. “We are working with our team members to help them develop their skills to achieve their goals,” she says. “We are not just aiding the development of their professional skills, but also the involvement in our industry and community.” Timmons is a family-centric person and enjoys the creativity her husband and children instill in her life. “I feel this only encourages my desire to think outside the box, develop new ideas and create processes to help our team,” she says. She spends her free time volunteering with Bixby Public Schools, Bridge the Gap and Global Gardens.

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The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

– Steve Pearson, T.D. Williamson

STEVE PEARSON

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Tulsa Total Rewards programs senior manager, T.D. Williamson Steve Pearson works to improve T.D. Williamson by designing and managing the Total Rewards programs of the future, while also leading a team of experts in benefits, human resource management system and compensation. “I love that what I do directly impacts our employees and the experience they have at work every day,” Pearson says. “What I love even more is I have leadership that allows us to dream big. My goal is to not just impact TDW, but to be a part of the team that trailblazes how Total Rewards and the entire employee experience should be approached within organizations across the world.” Pearson is proud of the environment that he and others have cultivated at TDW, which relies heavily on “knowing I have that trust of my leadership, both from a creative and analytical perspective, when designing programs.” An advocate for not taking yourself too seriously, Pearson can’t imagine a specific profession he’d have outside TDW. “I just want to be a cultivator that has fun at work – the profession itself is less important,” he says. “No doubt it would be something nerdy and dorky with other people that like to laugh at themselves and have fun.” Outside the job, Pearson, who describes himself as “freakishly tall,” enjoys sports like basketball and tennis, along with spending time with his family and “trying to convince my boys that their dad is hilarious.”

What’s the secret to your success?

Some might call it being stubborn, but I like to say it’s single-minded focus!

– Lee Timmons, Cowen Construction

CONGRATULATIONS

TO OUR SR. DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, MARTIN MADEWELL, FOR BEING SELECTED AS ONE OF OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE’S 40 UNDER 40!

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KYLE L. ENDICOTT

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Edmond Attorney, Echols & Associates Whether it’s custody disputes, adoption, divorce or other juvenile matters, Kyle L. Endicott acts as an advocate for his clients and children caught in the middle. “I love to figure out the puzzle of a case and how I can advocate for the best result for my client,” he says. “It’s also very rewarding when you see families come together in something like an adoption. The law is a fascinating field of study and intellectually challenging, and I firmly believe that everyone deserves the right to have at least one person by their side in a legal dispute.” Outside the office, Endicott is passionate about advocating for children “marginalized or caught in the crossfire of domestic situations.” He spends time at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and his church. His favorite stress relievers include outdoor sports (such as mountain climbing and snow skiing), building furniture, cooking and spending time with his children. “I’m always looking forward to seeing my kids at the end of the day,” he says. “They’re still young enough to greet me at the door each day I get home.” Endicott believes he’s the most likely person in a situation to remain calm and the best advice he can give is to “stop caring what everyone thinks of you.” The best advice he has received is a bit different – “Marry a woman smarter than yourself,” he says.

ISSAM ALAWIN

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Tulsa Oncologist, Cancer Treatment Centers of America Issam Alawin tackles cancer head-on each day as a medical oncologist for Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa. His working hours are filled with taking care of adult patients, creating treatment plans and implementing them. Although his career can be taxing, Alawin finds the light in life. “The thing I love the most is when I am able to give a cancer patient good news,” he says.

“I love to see the tears of happiness, or the smile of joy, the excitement when the patient’s hair starts growing back after it fell out in chemotherapy. I love to see the hope in their eyes while fighting this disease.” Alawin believes “being a good listener” helps him immensely in medicine, in cancer treatment specifically. A native of Jordan, Alawin moved to the United States in 2010 to join the graduate medical education program at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He, his wife and their two daughters moved to Tulsa in May so he could join CTCA. When asked what Alawin is looking forward to, the answer is simple: “A cancer cure.”

What’s a trend that you just don’t understand?

Socks with sandals.

– Claire Elizabeth Gish, Laureate Eating Disorder Program

CLAIRE ELIZABETH GISH

Tell us something interesting or fun we didn’t ask about.

I love the Fourth of July just as much at 39 as I did when I was 10 years old.

– Kyle L. Endicott, Echols & Associates

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Tulsa Registered dietitian and manager of nutrition therapy, Laureate Eating Disorder Program, Saint Francis Health System Mixing science, food and relationships, Claire Gish manages the nutrition department at the Laureate Eating Disorder Program. Along with overseeing dietitians and culinary staff, Gish works with a full caseload of patients. “I assist them in achieving medical stabilization, as well as challenging their maladaptive behaviors around food, negative food beliefs and rules, cooking and grocery shopping skills, and body image concerns,” she says. She also lectures frequently on nutritional rehabilitation. Gish enjoys being part of her patients’ physical and mental healing processes. “Food plays such an intricate role in relationship and community, so through the treatment process, these individuals literally are learning to taste life again,” she says. “It is such a blessing to witness an oftentimes lost, scared and hopeless individual come to life again through nutrition.” Gish serves on the board of the Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association and believes “balance and self-care” are the keys to a successful life and career. A Dallas native and Tulsa enthusiast, Gish loves spending time “trying new restaurants, coffee shops and exploring new attractions in Tulsa” with her husband.

Congratulations

Timothy Hicks from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health and Secretary of Health Shawn Terry on your nomination to Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40

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Congratulations!

Rachel Henderson and all 40 Under 40 Honorees We’re proud of TFCU Business Development Representative Rachel Henderson, who was named one of Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40.

Thank you for everything you do for Tinker Federal Credit Union and the communities we serve.

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RACHEL HENDERSON

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Yukon Business development representative, Tinker Federal Credit Union Rachel Henderson has a full plate – from assisting Tinker Federal Credit Union’s clients in realizing their financial goals to increasing community awareness of the credit union and providing top-notch service to her team and customers.

Henderson loves Tinker Federal’s focus on improving the community and the variety of situations she encounters. “One day I might be in back-to-back meetings with community partners, finding ways that I can support their team, and the next day I might be walking in a parade handing out candy, or presenting a sponsorship check at a local basketball game,” she says. Outside work, Henderson enjoys sporting clays, volunteering with Pets and People Humane Society in Yukon and spending time with her mother, who was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. “She has been living with me full time since she was diagnosed,” Henderson says. “I think my greatest achievement at work would be my ability to balance caring for her full time while still successfully doing my job.” Henderson finds success in her ability to laugh at herself. “I think sometimes, when we take ourselves too seriously, we can lose sight of the big picture and all the progress that has been made,” she says.

Tell us something interesting or fun we didn’t ask about.

Me and my family are hosting a 16-year-old foreign exchange student from Spain. I appreciate diversity and cultural differences, and I consider this opportunity a “full circle” moment, since I lived and studied abroad in Spain during my time at the University of Oklahoma.

– Lauren Cusick, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma

If you weren’t in your current profession, what would you be doing?

Fulfilling my second grade dream of becoming President of the United States or an elementary school educator.

– Rachel Henderson, Tinker Federal Credit Union

BRITTNI MCGILL

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Norman Chief nursing officer, Norman Regional Health System Brittni McGill oversees and guides all parts of clinical care as the chief nursing officer at the Norman Regional Health System. She enjoys the fastpaced nature of the work and handling new scenarios each day. “The profession of nursing gives the ability to visually see the difference you’re making,” she says. McGill spreads her passion for positively impacting others by volunteering with the American College of Healthcare Executive Board, the Virtue Center Board and the American Heart Association. Highly organized and an advocate for perseverance, McGill says if she weren’t in her present job, she’d be an event planner. In her off time, McGill enjoys spending time with friends and family, and says if she won a superlative award, it would be “Most Likely to Decorate for Every Holiday.”

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LAUREN CUSICK

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Verdigris Public relations unit manager, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma In her role with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Lauren Cusick works with senior leadership; creates and implements communication strategies and ad campaigns; manages media relations, social media and a team of employees; and acts as an expert for tribal/Native American-specific content. “It keeps me on my toes and makes things interesting,” she says. “I get to work on a lot of different projects and that keeps me motivated and engaged.” Apart from the dynamic tempo of her job, she loves working for a company that “consistently focuses on our members and keeps them at the forefront of our work.” As a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Cusick enjoys giving back to tribal youth by volunteering at camps at the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa and serving on its Native American Community Committee. “I want to be … a positive voice of encouragement that pushes them to achieve their goals and dreams,” she says. She also spends time with Youth Services of Tulsa and serves on the editorial board of the Cherokee Phoenix. Cusick is a fan of sports and a “proud soccer/basketball/ baseball mom,” she says. “I am a huge University of Oklahoma fan and enjoy singing ‘Boomer Sooner’ at any/all sporting events I can attend.”

What’s your favorite stress reliever after a day of work?

Amazon!

– Brittni McGill, Norman Regional Health System

Congratulations, Amber Edwards & Tim Roberts.

Cherokee Nation Businesses celebrates each of you being named one of Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40.

777 W. Cherokee St. l Catoosa, OK 74015 918.384.7474 l cherokeenationbusinesses.com

Businesses

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www.aook.com

Congratulations, Issam Alawin, MD

For being honored as one of this year’s 40 Under 40.

Congratulations!

©2019 IPB

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Carolyn M. Berg, MD Young Professionals Class of 2019

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JULIUS HUGHES

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Tulsa Information technology director – architecture, Matrix Service Co. Julius Hughes develops and executes an enterprise-wide IT application and infrastructure architecture strategy. “My role is to act as a trusted adviser, building and maintaining relationships with our business leaders to develop a clear understanding of their business needs, then setting a clear vision while motivating employees through the execution process,” he says. He loves collaborating with colleagues across the company and “the ever-changing dynamic of technology,” he says. “There’s an excitement and sense of accomplishment to be able to contribute in driving technological innovation.” Hughes believes a singular phrase drives his work ethic: “There has to be a better way.” He says, “Technology was a great outlet for me to apply this way of thinking, given that technology is all about making humans faster, smarter, safer, and ultimately enabling us to do things better than they would be able to do otherwise.” Outside Matrix Service Co., Hughes is passionate about philanthropy. Along with Night Light Tulsa, 501Tech and the Tulsa Area United Way, Hughes dedicates time to the Tulsa Boys’ Home. “I found myself being changed by the stories of struggles and triumphs by these young men,” he says. His other interests include spending time with family, restoring his 1986 Chevrolet SS Monte Carlo and hiking – he and his wife climbed Mount Liamuiga on St. Kitts.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

If you are in the position to help someone, do it!

– Amber Edwards, Cherokee Nation Businesses

AMBER EDWARDS

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Tulsa Executive assistant to the CEO and executive vice president, Cherokee Nation Businesses A self-described gatekeeper, Amber Edwards is the right-hand woman to the highest-ranking personnel at Cherokee Nation Businesses. She serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external contacts on all matters affecting the CEO and acts as the liaison for the board of directors, tribal council and Cherokee Nation administration. “I like the versatility of my position and our company,” she says. “Cherokee Nation Businesses covers areas … such as federal contracting, engineering and manufacturing, technology, construction services, management and consulting and, of course, our entertainment and gaming businesses.” She is proud in “knowing the impact that our company has on the citizens of Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma through our economic impact.” After receiving a collegiate scholarship from the Cherokee Nation, helping her graduate debt free, Edwards “wanted to, in a way, pay them back for the assistance I received. Becoming an executive assistant was a natural career choice for me – I love being part of something bigger than myself but I don’t particularly enjoy the spotlight.” A mother of three, Edwards enjoys OKC Thunder games, volunteering at her church and managing youth soccer teams.

Oklahoma Magazine asks the 40 Under 40 honorees ...

If you won a ‘Superlative Award,’ it would be ‘Most likely to…’

Win a Grammy for lip syncing.

– Julius Hughes, Matrix Service Co.

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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM?

23%

8%

32% 35%

2%

CONGRATULATIONS, CLAIRE GISH.

Saint Francis Health System is proud to congratulate Claire Gish, Manager of Nutrition for Laureate Eating Disorders Program, on being named among Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40.

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40 UNDER 40

CONGRATULATIONS ANTHONY CAVALLO 2019 AWARD RECIPIENT Choctaw Casinos & Resorts Congratulates Anthony Cavallo, Senior Director of Gaming Marketing & Analytics

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KELLEY GANN

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What’s the secret to your success?

Norman President, Freestyle Creative Hard work, helping others and pushing myself outside my comfort zone.

Freestyle Creative, a full-service marketing agency, – Kelley Gann, Freestyle Creative helps clients with strategy, advertising, web development, video production, public relations, branding and graphic design … and Kelley Gann oversees all of it. What started as a CEO and president in 2014 has grown to a team of 12 and morphed from a company producing independent films to a full-service agency. “I was drawn to my profession because I’m a strong balance of both right brain and left brain,” Gann says. “This industry values my strengths on both the analytical and creative sides.” There’s a lot to love about her job, but Gann says her primary motivations are “my amazing team, my clients and seeing the community that I love grow and thrive. I get to lead a fantastic team that continually strives to make a positive impact in the community through our work.”

Her passion for advertising shines outside the job as she serves as the president of the American Advertising Federation of Oklahoma City. She spends time volunteering with the Oklahoma City Cancer Society and, as a member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, loves to act.

Tell us something interesting or fun we didn’t ask about.

When I was a child, I had six wisdom teeth and one extra tooth in the middle (like Tom Cruise). My mother told me it was my “dinosaur chipping tooth” to make me feel better.

– Robert J. Wittrock, St. John Clinic

ROBERT J. WITTROCK

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Tulsa Pediatrician, St. John Clinic Robert J. Wittrock works every day with families to help children grow into healthy adults. His favorite part of the job is easy to declare. “I get to play with kids all day,” he says. “Seriously though, it’s fun to be able to help children and their families.

When they are sick, I will recommend treatments to help them get better. During well visits, I get to watch them grow and develop while giving advice and answering any questions that may come up.” An avid science enthusiast and reader, Wittrock says he’d be a professional student if not a doctor. “I would want to learn everything,” he says.

Outside work, Wittrock keeps busy, most often at KOTV Channel 6, where he has a pediatrics segment “to promote health and awareness for medical issues relating to children.” He and his wife enjoy playing racquetball (“terribly,” he adds), exploring Tulsa’s culinary and musical scene, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends. “Don’t knock it till you try it; it’s really fun,” he says. Often ribbed for his youthful appearance, Wittrock says he would win the superlative award for “Most Likely to Trick Someone Into Thinking I’m in the 20 Under 20 Group rather than 40 Under 40.”

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ERIN LEWIS

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Norman Manager of brand marketing, Oklahoma City Thunder Erin Lewis calls what she does “wonderfully complicated” with roles ranging from “architect to matchmaker to data geek to storyteller. Being a brand strategist allows me to use a diverse form of research, resources and strategies to uncover the truths about brands and products and their relationship to people’s lives.” Although she’s worked in marketing for several years, she finds that the Thunder is “unexplainably special – a brand that connects with people in such a deep and meaningful way.” After working with the Thunder for 2½ years, Lewis is proud of this season’s launch of the team’s new uniform and community programming, both of which pay tribute to Oklahoma’s Native Americans.

Programming includes Thunder youth basketball clinics with tribes across the state and coding classes with elementary students identified through Oklahoma City Public Schools’ Native American student services. Apart from her job, Lewis is passionate about mentoring youth. “I have mentored the same young woman since she was in the fourth grade. She’s now a sophomore in college,” Lewis says. “She’s quick to tell you the impact I’ve made on her life, but it’s been just as impactful for me.”

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

It’s always clear in hindsight when you should have taken a vacation.

– Erin Lewis, Oklahoma City Thunder

Congratulations Congratulations Katy Battiest...

BRIAN BUSEY

...on being selected as one of Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 under 40. It’s employees like you whose commitment and leadership move us toward a better tomorrow.

from the employees worldwide of

A better tomorrow starts today www.ONEGas.com

Congratulations Lee Timmons

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on your nomination to Oklahoma Magazine’s 40 Under 40.

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Oklahoma Magazine asks the 40 Under 40 honorees ...

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ARE YOU A CAT OR A DOG PERSON?

18%

70%

12%

Tell us something interesting or fun we didn’t ask about.

I once got to spend time consulting for a casino in Panama City, Panama.

– Anthony Cavallo, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Division of Commerce

ANTHONY CAVALLO

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Durant Senior director of gaming marketing and analytics, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Division of Commerce Anthony Cavallo oversees the database marketing team and the market analytics team at the Choctaw Nation, along with coordinating with other regional marketing directors pertaining to gaming marketing and analytics. “My favorite part of the job is problem-solving and the continuous improvement process,” he says.

“We gather and analyze a large amount of data. I enjoy analyzing that information and utilizing it to implement strategies to improve our overall performance.”

Although he planned to go into retail, his father helped to change his trajectory in college after getting him a job at a casino. “My career took off from there,” he says. “I view the casino industry as extremely interesting because we operate several businesses in one – gaming operations, retail operations, food and beverage venues, marketing firms.” Cavallo gives credit to his team and mentors who came before him, and works to pay it forward by “developing an environment where team members can grow and build upon their skills and their contribution to the overall operation.”

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What’s a trend that you just don’t understand?

Snapchat – I’m not sure if this is even a trend or not; I just don’t understand it.

– Rhett Stover, OSU Medicine

RHETT STOVER

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CHAD HANSON

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Owasso Chief executive officer, Oklahoma State University Medicine Rhett Stover serves as the chief operating officer at OSU Medicine, a clinically integrated network providing health-care services to patients across metropolitan Tulsa, northeast Oklahoma and beyond.

When it comes to leadership, Stover finds success by taking on a servant’s role. “I believe that if you want to lead well, you must serve well,” he says. “The physicians, nurses and staff that comprise OSU Medicine work tirelessly for the greatest good of our patients.” Although he planned a career in optometry, Stover got some advice from his father that he took to heart. “He didn’t think I’d survive organic chemistry and calculus,” Stover says.

“Not that he didn’t believe I could do it – more that he knew the gifts and talents I had could be used in other ways within the health-care field.” Stover and his wife volunteer for Project Hope Worldwide, Arubah Community Clinic and the American Cancer Society. He enjoys exploring Oklahoma lakes, the Chicago Cubs, writing and taking his kids to their various athletic activities, which he calls “Uber Sports, the non-profit version.”

Tulsa Physician, The Orthopaedic Center Chad Hanson, a surgeon focusing on musculoskeletal ailments, works with patients from consultations and planned or emergency surgery to physical therapy and injections. “I perform anything from arthroscopic hip surgery to robotic knee surgery,” he says. “After surgery, we continue to monitor the patient and help them achieve their desired goals.”

His favorite part of the job is taking away a person’s pain and increasing quality of life. “It can really change someone as a person to no longer have to live with daily pain,” he says.

Outside surgery, Hanson teaches residents at Oklahoma State University, with a focus on orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.

Sports play a major role in Hanson’s life, as well; he volunteers with Bristow High School’s football team, the Tulsa Oilers and Saint Francis Tulsa Tough. He plays in a basketball league, lifts weights and plays fantasy football. (“Two time league champion,” he adds.) He also enjoys barbecuing. “My ribs and brisket are on point, but the chicken still needs a little work,” he says. “The worst part about this hobby is the extra 20 pounds it’s given me.”

What’s the best thing that happened to you in the last year?

I paid off my student loans!

– Chad Hanson, The Orthopaedic Center

Crowe & Dunlevy Congratulates Oklahoma Magazine 40 Under 40 Honoree Anthony Hendricks

Karen Weidner, R.N. Kristen Rice, M.D. Tracy O’Malley, L.E.

Advanced skin treatments and cosmetic dermatology.

We commend Anthony Hendricks on this distinguished recognition.

As an invaluable member of multiple firm practices and a dedicated community advocate for those in need, we look forward to Anthony’s bright future.

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THE VOTES ARE IN! CHECK OUT THE JULY ISSUE TO SEE THE BEST OF OKLAHOMA THE BEST FOR 2019.

2/22/19 4:01 PM

Congratulations to JASON SCHAFER SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT and all of the 2019 40 Under 40 Honorees.

OKLAHOMA #OKMAGTBOB OKLAHOMA FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES: ADVERTISING@OKMAG.COM 918.744.6205

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JORDAN KLINGLER

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OKC Attorney, McIntyre Law As a personal injury trial attorney, Jordan Klingler represents individuals who have been harmed or wronged by others’ negligence. From working on claims to litigation and even trials, Klingler works hard to advocate for her clients and get them what they deserve. “Since my clients are often at their lowest point due to injuries that often result in financial uncertainty, it is very rewarding to be able to work for them to get them fair compensation,” she says. “At the close of a case, there is nothing better than seeing the relief my client has and the smiles knowing that they can move forward. Growing and learning as a lawyer has and does bring me great personal satisfaction.”

Klingler takes her legal expertise outside the courtroom by volunteering with Lawyers Fighting Hunger and writing a legal column about pets (and donating her fee to local shelters). She also spends time with the Regional Food Bank and OK Foster Wishes. The last year has been a milestone for Klingler, who became a partner at McIntyre Law. Outside work, she participates in OrangeTheory and Cycle Bar and loves spending time with friends and family.

What keeps you up at night?

Missing a deadline.

– Jordan Klingler, McIntyre Law

TIM ROBERTS

If you weren’t in your current profession, what would you be doing?

I would probably be working elsewhere at Cherokee [Nation Businesses], maybe back in finance where I started in 2006. Or maybe any job I could get at a brewery where I would probably work for free samples, if it was someplace like American Solera.

– Tim Roberts, Cherokee Nation Businesses

LINDSAY WHITE

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Tulsa Senior strategy adviser to the president, Tulsa Community College Lindsay White oversees the administrative operations in the president’s office at TCC, provides vision and oversight for various parts of the college and its boards, and serves as the chair of TCC’s institutional effectiveness council and integrated planning committee. “I love being surrounded by people who believe in our purpose,” she says. “I also love organizational behavior and I enjoy applying academic theory to real-life situations to solve complex problems.” Before joining TCC, White had defining experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer. “It really solidified my understanding of how factors beyond one’s control can dictate life circumstances,” she says. “One of the brightest people I have every known lived in a dwelling with a dirt floor and no running water.” White has lived and worked on four continents, with visits to Antarctica and North Korea. Never a fan of idleness, White spends her free time running, working on a doctorate, spending time with her kids and cooking. “In general, I love Asian food and flavors,” she says.

“Honestly, I am much better at cooking foods from other countries than America.”

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Tulsa Vice president – international business, Cherokee Nation Businesses Tim Roberts is all about taking commerce global as he heads up the Cherokee Nation Businesses’ strategic initiative to expand its federal contracting practice overseas by managing 150 professionals working in more than 25 countries. “My job is to lead our team as we continue to prove to our federal government customers that we can execute projects and programs at a high level, anywhere in the world,” he says. Roberts says the Cherokee Nation’s determination and work ethic are unmatched. “The federal government now comes to the Cherokee with some of their toughest problems because they know we will take them on as our own and find a solution,” he says. “We adapt, overcome and refuse to fail.” From putting the Nation’s talent on display around the world to positively impacting the U.S. economy, Roberts says he has a “dream job.” In his free time, Roberts volunteers with the Tulsa Humane Society and the Research Institute for Compassionate Economics, which produces “critical research that will drive better outcomes for impoverished families throughout rural India.” Roberts enjoys the outdoors, spending time with his family and hanging out at Tulsa’s ever-growing list of breweries.

“There’s never been a better time to live in Tulsa, and I feel like there’s plenty to do around town,” he says.

What are you reading?

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell.

I love pop psychology and science, though I will admit that I spend more time now listening to books in the car than reading them.

– Lindsay White, Tulsa Community College

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CONGRATULATIONS BRITTNEY WYCOFF We join Oklahoma Magazine in saluting our colleague Brittney Wycoff and all of the other young leaders recognized as this year’s “40 Under 40” honorees.

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What’s the best thing that happened to you in the last year?

Taking my family to Disney World and getting an after-midnight pass to the Magic Kingdom!

– Martin Madewell, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tulsa

MARTIN MADEWELL

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Collinsville Senior director of marketing, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa As the overseer of marketing and entertainment at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa, Martin Madewell doesn’t shy away from the challenge. “In a hyper-competitive gaming and entertainment market, we must find ways to hold and gain market share,” he says. “This means [we must] be creative, think differently, take risks and differentiate our product.” As a long-time lover of music, Madewell appreciates his job’s perks. “I get to market one of the most recognizable music brands in the world,” he says. “Hard Rock is all things music.

Our mission is to create authentic experiences that rock – delivering those experiences is fun.” Madewell’s interest in the hospitality industry started young as he traveled frequently with his family, and the enthusiasm bloomed when he became a blackjack dealer in college. Now, he finds it rewarding to help others get their feet in the door. “I’ve had the opportunity to help develop and groom leaders in our organization,” he says. “In some cases, these individuals may not have seen their full potential. Seeing them be promoted and better themselves professionally and personally makes me proud.” Madewell volunteers at Read Across America and enjoys spending time with his wife and children. The best advice Madewell ever received, which he calls a lesson in humility, is that “the smartest guy in the room won’t have to tell everyone that he is.”

BRIAN BUSEY

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Edmond President and chief operating officer, Delaware Resource Group of Oklahoma Brian Busey helms the ship at Delaware Resource Group, a global aerospace defense contractor. Along with overseeing the company, managing contracts and communicating with partners and clients, Busey works to ensure the company continues to grow. “With operations around the globe, I have a host of daily items that need attention in order to support our team members in each of our locations that are training and/or supporting our customers,” he says. Busey became involved in the global aerospace defense industry thanks to his father, who offered him a job at Delaware as a human-resources representative right out of college. “Forty-eight hours later, I was headed down I-40 East, back to Oklahoma City with all of my belongings,” he says.

“I left Weatherford on a Thursday, started work the next Monday.

The rest is history.” Philanthropy is a major part of Delaware; the company founded a charity called El Sistema Oklahoma, an “after-school program in the Oklahoma City public schools, where children are bused to an after-school location and learn to play instruments. The program now has over 200 children,” he says. Busey stays on-brand outside the office by collecting model airplanes. “Over 25 and counting,” he says.

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Edmond Executive vice president and chief physician executive, INTEGRIS Health Tommy Ibrahim, M.D., leads the INTEGRIS physician and medical staff. He makes the major decisions regarding the strategic direction for clinical services throughout the health system, including clinical excellence, quality and patient safety objectives.

“I love the magnified impact a group of committed leaders can have on the health of the community,” he says. “I am inspired every day by the people and the physicians of INTEGRIS who bring energy and passion to our work and deep-rooted focus on the patients and families we are privileged to serve.” After a negative health-care experience as a teenager, Ibrahim decided medicine was his future. “Coming from a long line of business and engineering ancestry, the nonconformist in me opted to go in a completely different direction,” he says. Patients are at the core of Ibrahim’s passion; he says that when patients reach out to thank him, it “always grounds me and connects us to our purpose.” Ibrahim is a fanatic of the outdoors, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids. He volunteers at his church, serves on several community boards and is passionate about those affected by autism.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

Tell us something interesting or fun we didn’t ask about.

I snuck out of school once to go sky diving and told my parents about it a year later. – Tommy Ibrahim, INTEGRIS

COMING IN JUNE Congrats to our very own Dr. Hanson!

Oklahoma Magazine’s 2019

40 under 40 Dr. Hanson specializes in arthroscopic shoulder surgery, hip and knee surgery, ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, UCL reconstruction, fracture care, arthroplasty, and general orthopaedic care. He currently works with Bristow Pirate Football, Tulsa Oilers Hockey and the orthopaedic residents at OSU. We’re proud but not surprised!

Hillcrest Medical Center Campus 1809 E. 13th St., Tulsa, OK 74104 918-301-3133 | toctulsa.com

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Top Doctors The leading physicians in their fields, brought to you by Castle connolly.

2/21/19 8:50 AM

CONGRATULATIONS

MICHAEL FEAMSTER 2019 CLASS

40 Under 40 Thank you for serving our clients and building your community.

Advertising opportunities available. Contact advertising@okmag.com 918.744.6205

OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA

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ORGANIZED TRANSFORMATION

By M.J. Van Deventer

Whether you’re re-doing a small guest bath or tearing your home down to the studs, renovating your dwelling can be an overwhelming process – fraught with questions and a hemorrhage of money. Oklahoma experts ensure you get the most out of remodeling – within budget, sanity intact.

REMODELING

THIS MASTER CLOSET RENOVATION BY JUDY LITTRELL OF THAYER DESIGNS PROVIDES ALL THE AMENITIES FOR FASHIONABLE DRESSING.

PHOTO BY SCOTT JOHNSON, HAWKS PHOTOGRAPHY

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, renovation, renewal … whatever R-word you use to describe transforming any area of your home, the process is not easy.

In Stillwater, I turned a shabby, L-shaped back porch into an inviting office. In a more contemporary home, I took a barren rear garden and added a spacious new living/entertaining area, including a full bathroom, an office and a wet bar in the living area. While residing in an Oklahoma City suburb, I saw, in a magazine, a horizontal garden room overlooking the landscape – I just had to build it. I embellished the magazine’s inspiration by adding a small garden room at one end of the space, then building an adjacent deck and updating a guest bathroom.

Those three renovations were inspired by envy, but they were also exciting learning experiences.

Two other remodeling projects, however, were the result of necessity. A shower pan leak forced a refreshing new master bath design.

A hot water tank leak, which spread under the foundation’s floor into a small breakfast room, prompted new floors and a new coat of wall paint. Projects spurred by necessity are much less fun than those inspired by coveting the look of a room in a photograph.

Three professionals in the design/building business – architect Kurt Barron, construction veteran Kent Hoffman and TileStone Distributors owner Jeff Johnson – offer advice for any remodeling/renovation adventure – whether it’s just because or due to circumstances outside your control.

GETTING STARTED After the initial euphoria of deciding to renovate, get a clear idea of what you want. Peruse design magazines and websites, collect dozens of paint sample charts, look at fabrics for draperies and accessories, scout for new furnishings or antique pieces, and, for overachievers, visit builders’ show homes to collect inspiration.

When you’re certain what you want to achieve with the renovation, consult an interior designer and/or a builder/construction specialist. If the project is small, Barron suggests starting with an interior designer.

“They usually charge by the hour and that will be more economical,” he says.

“YOU WILL SAVE TIME KNOWING, IN ADVANCE, WHAT YOUR BUDGET IS FOR FLOORING AND TILE MATERIALS,” SAYS JEFF JOHNSON OF TILESTONE DISTRIBUTORS.

PHOTOS COURTESY VISIONS TILE AND STONE

THIS BATHROOM OVERHAUL BY TRACY HUNTINGTON INCLUDES A GEOMETRIC WALLPAPER, LIGHTING ACCESSORIES AND AN OVAL MIRROR FOR DESIGN INTEREST.

PHOTO BY SARAH BAKER PHOTOS

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BUDGETS AND SURPRISE COSTS

After you have a vision, consider your budget – how much you can safely spend, whether you need to borrow money and, if so, the interest rate and length of the loan. Many construction projects can easily exceed anticipated spending due to myriad variables.

You have to ask whether you can handle the surprises your contractor may find as the project progresses. A budget can only be accurate when the final design and building materials are chosen, and it’s not good to skimp on those materials.

Choose the best in your price range … or regret it later.

“The budget the homeowner creates is as important as the quality we produce,” Barron says. “We provide clients with a four-page itemized breakdown of the job, so homeowners know where they are spending their money. I handle their money like it’s my own. Getting a set of construction documents before the work begins is essential.”

Hoffman, who works with historic residences in gated communities in Oklahoma City, is realistic about woes that arise during construction, especially in a vintage home.

“We might open a wall and discover termites,” he says. “We might encounter foundation issues, inadequate wiring, plumbing or electrical power for your project. The bathroom drains may not be the proper size. The water supply may be insufficient for your design. A remodeling budget is much harder to accurately predict for an older home.”

Barron has found that the landscaping can also pose problems, especially if it needs leveling or blocks back entrances to the home.

“A good remodeling contractor alerts the homeowner to this problem before construction begins,” the Tulsan says.

Johnson, also of Tulsa, echoes the importance of having a budget before choosing materials.

“You will save time knowing, in advance, what your budget is for flooring and tile materials,” he says. “Typically, master baths have a higher budget than secondary and guest bathrooms. When remodeling, the cost to tear out existing materials isn’t really hidden, but you need to allow for that in your budget. Also, when selecting new material, make sure your contractor is aware of the thickness of the materials you are choosing.”

Johnson also addresses a complication most homeowners fear: a lull in progress. Delays can become a nasty word during a renovation.

“Weather is always a force beyond anyone’s control,” Johnson says. “Delays in receiving materials also can slow progress. These delays can be caused by stock issues, import or customs delays, or breakage. The rule of thumb in remodeling and construction is order early.”

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TRACY HUNTINGTON UTILIZED WALKER ZANGER MARBLE FLOORS TO ANCHOR THE MASTER BATH AND SHOWER WALLS. THE NEW VANITIES COMPLEMENT THE ROOM’S UPDATED DECOR. PHOTO BY SARAH BAKER PHOTOS

THIS AIRY OFFICE SPACE OVERHAUL WAS CREATED BY JEFF LA RUE OF LA RUE HOMES AND DEBBIE LA RUE OF ZOLLER-LA RUE DESIGNS. PHOTO BY SCOTT JOHNSON, HAWKS PHOTOGRAPHY

A GUEST BATH IN A JEFF AND DEBBIE LA RUE CREATION FEATURES AN EYE-CATCHING SINK AND GOLD ACCENTS. PHOTO BY SCOTT JOHNSON, HAWKS PHOTOGRAPHY

A LIVING ROOM RENOVATION BY LYNN KNIGHT JESSE FEATURES A FIREPLACE WALL COVERED WITH METALLIC COPPER AND BRONZE TILES FOR A STRIKING NEW LOOK. RIGHT: BY COVERING THE REFRIGERATOR TO RESEMBLE A WOOD CABINET, THE KITCHEN IN THIS LYNN KNIGHT JESSE RENOVATION HAS MORE SPACE AND AN OPEN FEELING. PHOTOS BY PRESTON POWER

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

TRACY HUNTINGTON ADDED VISUAL INTEREST TO THIS TULSA REMODEL

BY STACKING PICTURE FRAMES IN AN ASYMMETRICAL DESIGN.

The experts stress the importance of using extreme caution when selecting a contractor. They advise asking your contractor for references. Visit with the contractor’s previous clients, or, even better, current clients.

Inspect some of the contractor’s current work, if possible.

Questions to ask the contractor and the contractor’s references are daunting, but important:

PHOTO BY SARAH BAKER PHOTOS

• Does the contractor run a neat job site?

• Do the workers show up every day?

• Did/Does the client see progress every day?

• Does the contractor have a good credit rating?

• Can you get a good • •

reference on the contractor’s fiscal practices from a bank?

Is the contractor paying bills properly and on time?

Are subcontractors, such as electricians, carpenters and plumbers, licensed?

JUDY LITTRELL OF THAYER DESIGNS CREATED A BACKYARD ESCAPE IN THIS TULSA HOME, REPLETE WITH A CABANA AREA.

If you get negative answers to any of these questions, you should find a different contractor.

“If your contractor is not qualified, then the subcontractors probably won’t be qualified for your job either,” Hoffman says.

“The contractor must have qualified workers. When everybody on the job site is skilled and professional, a remodel will work out extremely well. That’s the bottom line.”

PHOTO BY SCOTT JOHNSON, HAWKS PHOTOGRAPHY

BUYER BEWARE

Horror stories abound about con artists who come to the door and promise to repair everything from broken windows and shattered shutters to leaky roofs and foundation cracks. In these situations, the trio of professionals simply says, “Buyer beware.” Be smart with your renovation project.

“Don’t get excited just because someone says they can do your project,” Barron says. “We have a lot of guys driving around in old pickups claim-

ing to be building contractors. And never give a building contractor – even if he’s been vetted – a lump sum to begin the project.”

In Barron’s eyes, remodeling is a pay-as-yougo job.

One last consideration, especially if you give the front of your home a facelift, is the garden’s appearance. Landscaping the front or back of your home should complement your renewal project. That should be part of the significant first impression your restoration achieves.

But how to do that is another story.

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OKC Bike Rentals PHOTO COURTESY OKLAHOMA CITY SPOKIES

Guthrie Green PHOTO BY SHANE BROWN

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

Woody Guthrie Center PHOTO COURTESY WOODY GUTHRIE CENTER

Headin’

By Tara Malone in OKC and Tracy LeGrand in Tulsa

Spend the day – or night – in

the downtowns of Tulsa and Oklahoma City for delectable food, handcrafted drinks and vibrant entertainment. Explore various districts, admire the architecture, take in the views and enjoy the hubs of leisure in Oklahoma’s urban cores.

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OKC Grub

Vast Nestled at the top of the 50-story Devon Tower, Vast offers fine dining and an exquisite panorama of the city. vastokc.com Patrono Patrono is a fantastic place to nab sophisticated yet affordable Italian fare before a show at the Civic Center Music Hall. patronookc.com Kitchen 324 Another feather in the cap of the Good Egg Dining Group, Kitchen 324 is a favorite for creative breakfasts, locally roasted coffee and elegant American dinners. kitchen324.com

Scissortail Park

PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF OKC

Packard’s This joint, in the old Packard automobile showroom, offers new American cuisine and imaginative cocktails in the heart of downtown. packardsokc.com Nonesuch Recently called America’s Best New Restaurant by Bon Appétit magazine, this 20-seat eatery provides unique, 10-course tasting menus by appointment only. nonesuchokc.com

OKC Streetcar

Ludivine Ludivine is the OKC byword for classic, local haute cuisine with a seasonal rotating menu, themed cocktails and an intimate setting. ludivineokc.com

PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF OKC

Flint

PHOTO COURTESY FLINT

The Jones Assembly If you’ve ever wondered where you can indulge watching national music acts while eating a funnel cake ice cream sandwich, fantasize no more. thejonesassembly.com

Flint A linchpin of the historic Colcord Hotel, Flint takes dining to the next level with stylish dishes and arguably the best patio downtown. flintokc.com Barrios Named after a beloved family who helped build the success of the

Good Egg Dining Group, Barrios features fresh takes on traditional Mexican fare in a casual neighborhood environment. barriosmexicanokc.com

Tamashii Ramen House Tamashii led the OKC ramen revolution with its authentic Japanese offerings; don’t miss the spicy ramen with ground pork or the mochi ice cream. tamashiiokc.com The Manhattan This staple is a favorite for after-work drinks and bites with downtown workers. themanhattanokc.com

Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse Since 2000, this upscale steakhouse, named for the baseball Hall of Famer from Commerce, has been a go-to for those looking for a classic dining experience in Bricktown. mickeymantlesteakhouse.com Mary Eddy’s In the flashy 21c Museum and Hotel (formerly the Ford Motor Co. assembly plant), Mary Eddy’s has tasty takes on new American cuisine in a vibrant setting. maryeddysokc.com

Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum PHOTO COURTESY OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM

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Bricktown

Myriad Botanical Gardens

Twisted Spike Brewery This is an excellent place

PHOTO BY CARL SHORTT COURTESY MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS

to grab a growler of vanilla coffee porter or blood orange IPA while stuck for the train. twistedspike.com

OKC sites

Myriad Botanical Gardens Enjoy botanical

hood with more than 60 classic, free-to-play arcade games to enjoy as you toss one back. flashbackretropub.com

Sidecar Barley and Wine Bar This

OKC Pubs

The Yard This pet-friendly, open-air beer

garden has covered seating, local food vendors and activities for the whole family. theyardokc.com

O Bar Have a drink at one of the best rooftop bars in OKC and enjoy local jazz; on Wednesday, select wines are $5 a glass. obarokc.com

JJ’s Alley This beloved local institution has live music every night, as well as a full bar and late-night bites. visitokc.com/listings/jjs-alley-bricktownpub/1067 Bricktown Brewery This rowdy, energetic joint is where you can meet friends for a pint of local suds, like the Single-String Stout or Wiley’s One-Eyed Wheat. bricktownbrewery.com Flashback Retropub Channel your child-

O Bar

PHOTO COURTESY COURY HOSPITALITY

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

classy locale in Automobile Alley specializes in wine and beer while also offering scotch and small plates. sidecarbarleyandwine.com

wonders, cross the famous Crystal Bridge, laugh and cry at Shakespeare in the Park, or try your hand at gardening classes at this park. oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com

Scissortail Park It’s not too soon to get excited about this 70-acre urban wonderland, set to open phase I this fall. scissortailpark.org Michael Murphy’s Dueling Piano Bar Head to Bricktown to catch piano

TapWerks Enjoy 212 taps and more than 100 bottled beers in this classic Bricktown pub. tapwerks.com

Bleu Garten This oasis of flavor

in the heart of downtown has a casual environment in which to enjoy the many food trucks the city has to offer. bleugarten.com

Bar Arbolada Opened by local-

boy-made-good-in-Los Angeles Dustin Lancaster, Bar Arbolada brings simple West Coast elegance to central OKC. facebook.com/bararbolada

Skinny Slim’s This classic sports

Riversport Adventures PHOTO BY GEORGIA READ

pub has a comfy atmosphere, plenty of brews and all the games on the tube. facebook.com/ SkinnySlimsOkc

Oklahoma City Thunder PHOTO COURTESY OKC THUNDER PHOTOS

performers taking audience requests and engaging in verbal friendly fire, along with a selection of cocktails and wine. murphyspianobar.com

Burn Co. Barbecue PHOTO COURTESY BURN CO.

Chesapeake Energy Arena Catch some of the most popular music acts in the nation or watch the best NBA team* in the Western Conference dominate the boards (*in our opinion). chesapeakearena.com OKC Dodgers Baseball If basketball is not your love, grab a hot dog and catch a baseball game at the home of the OKC Dodgers. okcballparkevents. com

Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum On the site of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, this memorial commemorates the spirits of those who died, those who lived and how OKC survived and has flourished since then. oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org

Oklahoma City Museum of Art Home to some of the most famous Dale Chihuly collections in the United States, current and upcoming exhibitions include the photographic legacy of Ansel Adams and works by Impressionist titans Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. okcmoa.com Red Earth Art Center Explore rotating exhibits of both contemporary and traditional Native American creations. redearth.org American Banjo Museum This quirky, beloved museum holds fascinating secrets and exhibits, including one featuring Kermit the Frog’s banjo and the life of Muppets creator Jim Henson. americanbanjomuseum.com

Riversport Adventures Enjoy white-

water rafting, kayaking and tubing in the Oklahoma River. riversportokc.org

Tulsa Grub

Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano Three decades of tradition go into this eatery’s decadent Mediterranean cuisine, seafood and steaks. tiamotulsa.com

Jinya Ramen Bar Jinya starts with the star of stock broths and an array of Japanese-style ingredients for a memorable dining experience. jinya-ramenbar.com El Guapo’s Cantina El Guapo’s features Tex

Yokozuna Yokozuna beckons Asian fusion

Mex food, bar creations and Tulsa’s only rooftop cantina with views of downtown. elguaposcantina.com

Juniper Award-winning, farm-to-table Juniper

Amelia’s Amelia’s is an intriguing addition to the first-rate restaurant scene with creatively constructed, wood-fired cuisine. amelias.us

lovers to this Blue Dome District gem with the motto “noodles, sushi, happiness.” yokozunasushi.com

emphasizes creative, modern cuisine that changes with the seasons. junipertulsa.com

Sisserou’s Caribbean Restaurant Sisserou’s has a colorful atmosphere,

replete with the cuisine of the island of Dominica, with European and American influences. sisserousrestaurant.com

Tavolo The Deco District is home to an authentic taste of Italy with Tavolo, complete with handmade pastas and seasonal, chef-inspired dishes. tavolotulsa.com

McNellie’s Pub This brewery-style, IrishAmerican bar has classic pub grub, more than 350 beers and special tastings. mcnellies.com Dilly Diner For fresh, made-from-scratch

breads, pastries, pies and house-cured meats, visit Dilly Diner, with its all-day breakfasts and fully stocked bar. dillydiner.com

Bull in the Alley This stealthy, hard-to-find steakhouse and cocktail bar is the stop for stylish, New American cuisine with live music most evenings. bullinthealley.com

Billy’s on the Square

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Duet Reservations are not required, but they are suggested for Tulsa’s only traditional jazz club and restaurant. It’s in the historic Archer Building. duetjazz.com

Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano PHOTO COURTESY TI AMO

Tulsa Drillers

PHOTO COURTESY RICH CRIMI/TULSA DRILLERS

Laffa Medi-Eastern Restaurant and Bar Laffa offers a large, exotic

menu with meaty and vegetarian fare in an upscale, lush environment. laffatulsa.com

Andolini’s Sliced Andolini’s Sliced uses traditional Italian ovens to create authentic Naples, Roman and New York styles of pizza. andopizza.com Glacier Bean to Bar This is a wonderland of edible chocolate art, caramels, toffee, coffees and build-a-box gifts. glacierbeantobar. flywheelsites.com Topeca Coffee With brews sold worldwide,

Hodges Bend Hodges Bend is an old-school,

jazz-era, New Orleans-inspired cocktail bar and coffee shop with frequent live music and a memorable food-truck menu. hodges-bend.com

Topeca Coffee is in the historic Philcade Building with baristas serving pastries and coffee every day. topecacoffee.com

Valkyrie With a bold flair, this destination bar

Foolish Things Coffee For almost a

Saturn Room Founded on laid-back hospital-

decade, the multi-roaster shop has featured a changing menu of house-made syrups and fine coffee selections. foolishthingscoffee.com

Doubleshot Coffee This shop takes coffee to a beloved craft level with curated, fresh-roasted beans. doubleshotcoffee.com

Burn Co. Barbecue Worth the wait in line,

playfully serves serious drinks, including a connoisseur’s selection of bourbon. valkyrietulsa.com ity, Saturn exudes a Caribbean spirit with handcrafted cocktails and a tiki flair. saturnroom.com

MixCo This award-winning speakeasy is steps away from the BOK Center with the kitchen usually open until 2 a.m. and the bar hopping with spirits, wines and beer. mixcotulsa.com

Ike’s Chili House Founded in 1908, this Tulsa

The Max Retropub Travel back in time at this hip watering hole, Tulsa’s only 1980s- and ’90s-motif arcade bar for live music, pub grub and frequent theme events. facebook.com/TheMaxRetropub

Wanda J’s Next Generation For five

Vodka Bar offers live music, DJ-spun tunes, outdoor games and theme events, such as Pajama Onesies Night. icvodkabar.com

Burn is known for award-winning, uniquely flavored, house-cured meats, which are also available from a to-go market. burnbbq.com icon uses the same chili recipe today as that served to stars of yesteryear, such as Will Rogers. It also has burgers, fries and sandwiches. ikeschilius.com

generations, this family-owned joint in the Greenwood District has featured southern and soul food favorites, including greens, fried cabbage, sweet potatoes, catfish and fried chicken. wandajs.com

Deco Deli In the historic Atlas Life Building, Deco Deli has gourmet grilled sandwiches, salads, smoothies, desserts, handmade chips and grab-andgo items. facebook.com/DecoDeliTulsa Billy’s on the Square Since 1984, Billy’s on the Square has been a stop for great eats, including its famous charburger. Its food is also at the BOK Center concessions court. billysonthesquare.com

Inner Circle Vodka Bar Inner Circle

Open Container On the second floor of the Boxyard in the Blue Dome District, Open Container has bar food classics, creative cocktails and a great view of downtown. facebook.com/opencontainertulsa

Tulsa sites

Henry Zarrow Center for Art and Education A branch of Gilcrease Museum,

the Zarrow Center presents exhibitions created by the University of Tulsa’s School of Art. gilcrease.org/ zarrow

The Districts The Blue Dome, Arena, Tulsa Arts, Cathedral, East Village, Greenwood and Deco districts can be explored on foot or by riding rentable bicycles and scooters. Customized tours are available. The free Old Urban Downtown Trolley is another way to get around Friday and Saturday evenings. downtowntulsaok.com/downtown-districts

Vintage Wine Bar Known for supporting boutique wineries around the globe, Vintage Wine Bar has a cozy, throw-back vibe with plenty of wines to sip. winebartulsa.com

Albert G’s Barbecue Albert G’s Barbecue started slow-smoking meats in 1992 and hasn’t stopped. Every item is made from scratch daily for lunch, dinner or carry-out. albertgs.com

Tulsa pubs

Cellar Dweller Literally in a basement, this

speakeasy has a low-key, intimate atmosphere complete with softly glowing red lights. downtowntulsaok.com/listing/cellar-dweller

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Glacier Bean to Bar FILE PHOTO

Dust Bowl Lanes and Bar PHOTO BY JEREMY CHARLES COURTESY DUST BOWL

Woody Guthrie Center This interactive

Brady Theater Rich in history – and some

Philbrook Downtown The world-

BOK Center The Bank of Oklahoma Center seats nearly 20,000 for indoor sports, concerts and other events. bokcenter.com

museum, dedicated to the Okemah-born American folk songwriter and social activist, has special exhibits on other musicians with similar worldviews. woodyguthriecenter.org

renowned Philbrook Museum of Art has a downtown satellite with a focus on contemporary and Native American art. philbrook.org

Ahha Ahha is home to three floors of galleries,

artist studios open to the public, the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa and a shop with handmade items by local artists. ahhatulsa.org

Guthrie Green Food trucks gather at Guthrie Green, an urban garden and performance space in the Arts District with free performances, patios, seating, a splash pad, a pavilion, shady expanses and acres of lawn. guthriegreen.com

say haunted – the Brady Theater opened in 1914. Due to controversies surrounding the Brady name, it’s to become the Tulsa Theater this year. bradytheater. com

Center of the Universe This acoustic anomaly is fun with a group, so everyone can experience the strange sounds that echo inside the small concrete-and-brick circle. 1 S. Boston Ave. First Friday Art Crawl

PHOTOS BY ERIK CAMPOS

Drillers Baseball Cheer the Tulsa Drillers

at ONEOK Field and enjoy abundant food choices, a gift shop, craft beer and post game fireworks. milb. com/tulsa

Tulsa PAC Take in a show at the Performing Architectural Tours Architecture tours

are a popular way to take in downtown’s many structural wonders. Explore downtown, the tunnels underneath it, various murals and stories of Tulsa’s past. tulsaarchitecture.org and toursoftulsa.com

First Friday Art Crawl On the first Friday of each month, the Arts District encourages visitors to explore its venues – art galleries, creative dining, cocktails and shopping. It’s perfect for a date on one of many patios. thetulsaartsdistrict.org/first-friday-art-crawl

Arts Center or simply visit its acclaimed public art exhibitions. The venue features shows from Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Symphony and Celebrity Attractions. tulsapac.com

Dust Bowl Lanes and Bar This is the place for a nostalgic vibe, tasty bar food, cocktails and several lanes of bowling. dustbowllounge.com/ locations/tulsa Cain’s Ballroom On the National Register of

Historic Places, the Cain’s is on many a music-lover’s bucket list. cainsballroom.com

Architectural Tours

PHOTO COURTESY TULSA FOUNDATION FOR ARCHITECTURE

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE PROFESSIONALS FINANCIAL ADVISOR

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

What are some innovative ways to boost the impact of my charitable giving?

If philanthropy is part of your financial strategy, consider methods of giving that go beyond traditional monetary donations. First, gift highly appreciated stocks or other assets. If you hold stocks or other investments for more DAVID KARIMIAN CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® than one year that have gained value, you may consider liquidating the asset to make a charitable donation. Second, establish a charitable trust. Trusts can help you manage highly appreciated assets in a more tax-efficient manner while, in some cases, allowing you to split assets among charitable and non-charitable beneficiaries. Finally, maximize donations through your employer, and/or make a charitable individual retirement account (IRA) donation. As you consider these and other gifting strategies, consult with your financial advisor and tax advisor. These professionals can help you evaluate the choices to ensure the gifts you make are most effective for your goals and consistent with your overall financial plan.

David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® Prime Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial 7712 S. Yale Ave. Suite 240 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2009 • David.x.Karimian@ampf.com www.primewealthmgmt.com

Why does the cost of Botox differ so greatly from place to place?

Each medical facility that provides Botox determines its set price on a variety of factors. One of the biggest determining factors for BA Med Spa is our expansive buying power.

Allergan is the maker of Botox, MALISSA SPACEK and we are the largest account in Oklahoma – and one of the top 500 accounts in the country. As such, we are able to provide exceptional products and services at affordable prices. We have always prided ourselves in our ability to help people look and feel their best on a budget. This is also why we always reconstitute our Botox at the highest level of concentration set by the American Association of Plastic Surgeons. To find out more or to RSVP for our upcoming open-house event on May 2, call 918-872-9999.

Dr. James R. Campbell D.O. and Malissa Spacek, Founder BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center 510 N. Elm Place Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 918.872.9999 www.baweightspa.com

HOSPICE CARE

BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST We are interested in beginning ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy, what does the process look like?

First, we would like you to tour our 36,000-square-foot facility so your can see our specialized therapy rooms and meet our team. Once we receive your BRIANNA BERRY child’s insurance information, we check M. ED, BCBA benefits to ensure your child has ABA coverage. SOH accepts most private health insurance. We also need a copy of your child’s most recent autism diagnosis and a referral from his/her doctor for ABA services. Once we receive these, we request a comprehensive assessment from the insurance company, which consists of both an indirect assessment with the caregivers and a direct assessment with the child in the clinic. After the assessment is complete, the board certified behavior analyst writes an individualized treatment and behavior plan for your child and gives a recommendation of how many hours of ABA your child needs.

Brianna Berry, M. Ed, BCBA Soaring on Hope Pediatric Therapy and Autism Center 4908 S. Sheridan Rd. Tulsa, OK 74145 918.984.9153 www.sohkids.com

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CAITLIN EVERSOLE

My grandfather has Parkinson’s Disease and is quickly declining. We met as a family with his doctor to discuss the best options for him and for my grandmother.

The doctor recommended we look at hospice care, but my grandmother is distraught. She feels like hospice means we have given up on my grandfather. Any advice or insight you can share?

Your grandmother is not alone in her concern. We hear this often from family members when a doctor recommends hospice care and it is understandable that your grandmother feels that way. Let me put your mind at ease. When a patient receives hospice care, it improves his or her quality of life as well as the family’s. Our first goal would be to provide comfort to your grandfather, which will help alleviate his pain and stress. The extra hands-on help will bring relief to your grandmother as well. We always have spiritual and emotional support available anytime she needs it. For answers to all your questions, please feel free to call us at 918-744-7223 or visit www.gracehospice.com.

Caitlin Eversole Admissions Supervisor Grace Hospice of Oklahoma 6218 South Lewis, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.744.7223 www.gracehospice.com

LEGAL SERVICES What impact do Oklahoma’s new medical marijuana laws have on employment and rights of employers and employees?

Much of the impact remains untested. It is anticipated that the 2019 legislative session will address some of the open questions. Under the current law, an employer may not BRAD BEASLEY fire, refuse to hire or impose penalizing conditions of employment on an employee because he or she has a medical marijuana card. However, the new law provides a limited exception if the employer would imminently lose a monetary or licensing related benefit under federal law or regulations. Oklahoma remains an “employment at will” state; employees can be hired and fired at will for any reason or for no reason, but not for the wrong reason (because of race, national origin, having a medical marijuana card, etc.). Before taking action, specific issues should be addressed with an attorney.

Bradley K. Beasley Boesche McDermott LLP 110 W. 7th St., Suite 900 Tulsa, OK 74119 918.858.1735 (Direct Dial) 918.583.1777 telephone 918.592.5809 facsimile

INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL What kind of insurance coverage should I retain for my valuables? Will my home owner’s policy be enough?

Typically, there are limits to the coverage you will automatically have for jewelry, guns and other valuables on a standard home owner’s policy. In most cases, you BRYAN SMITH will need a rider or a separate policy to get more comprehensive coverage for certain items. Typically these types of policies are very affordable with a $0 deductible. Never hesitate to visit callbryansmith.com for more information.

Bryan Smith State Farm 6770 South Sheridan Road, STE B, 918.481.7283 1410 East 11th Street, 918.794.0001 www.callbryansmith.com Views expressed in the Professionals do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Co. or its affiliates.

Taste

F O O D, D R I N K A N D O T H E R P L E A S U R E S

Your Next Neighborhood Spot

The new Pub W features local brews on tap, creative cocktails and fanciful grub in South Tulsa.

B

THE MOROCCAN SALMON IS HERB-MARINATED AND COMES WITH FETA CREAM SAUCE AND GREEK SALAD. PHOTOS BY JOSH NEW

urly and amiable, in a checked shirt and jeans, he looks like the kind of cowboy ladies love.

“I was 13 when I started work at my father’s restaurant,” Kent Kistler says. “My brother Brandon and I have been doing it ever since – except for the years Brandon was the lead singer of a heavy metal band.

We washed dishes, then we moved to waiting tables and bartending. About 20 years ago, we met Hal Smith.”

So there the brothers were, some time in 2012, shooting around ideas with the well-known restaurateur in his office, and one of them – history does not know which – asked something along the lines of: “Why can’t you find a friendly neighborhood bar that serves really good, creative

cocktails and local craft beer?”

Pub W was conceived.

Now, almost seven years later, a visitor to the southwest corner of Yale Avenue and East 61st Street in Tulsa finds a large, modern row of buildings where just empty space existed a year before. Through a glass door and you’re in the Pub W Tulsa, opened in late February and co-owned by the Kistlers and Smith.

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vegetable pan, then deglazes that pan with Anthem IPA and puts everything in a giant pot, where it’s simmered for four hours or more.

As the dinner hour approaches, the back tables fill up, and it’s a diverse crowd. At one, a party of six comprises weary but content men in windbreakers bearing an oil company logo. Two tables down, four younger women, maybe from a nearby office building, enjoy burgers and mixed drinks. Nearby is an all-age group (it’s a family friendly bar), with moms, dads and a bunch of toddlers playing video games on tablets.

“Every day we’re throwing a party,” says Ory Fagan, the general manager. “You don’t invite customers to a party. You invite your friends and family, and we want our guests to feel that way. We’re not just a bar. We’re the neighborhood spot. If you want a family dinner, girls’ or guys’ night out, drinks with friends, just about anything, we’re your bar.”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

PHOTO COURTESY MILLER GRILL

Taste

(There are two locations in OKC and one in Norman.)

The Tulsa room is large; its ceiling is far above you, but it feels curiously welcoming. Perhaps it’s the happy voices of all the people seated at the bar – big and packed.

Large, burnished copper pipes carry beer from the ceiling to the taps. And through those pipes flow some of the finest beer in the city.

A brewing renaissance has occurred the past two years in Tulsa – breweries have sprung up like mushrooms in the deserted industrial corridor east of downtown. Some have become world famous, many of their beers are hard to find, and almost all of them can be found at Pub W. The beers on tap include local legends like American Solera, Heirloom, Marshall, Cabin Boys and Prairie Artisan Ales.

Complementing the beer is a fine list of creative cocktails invented by beverage manager Rachel Custer (“like the general,” she says). A bleak, chilly day can be enlivened by the Abominable Snowman, featuring Bulleit bourbon, allspice dram, vanilla, egg white and a burning cinnamon stick.

“If you’re wanting something wintry, spicy and delicious,” says Custer, “this drink will fill you up, warm you up and make you feel good inside.”

And there’s the food.

“We didn’t want fancy food,” Kent Kistler says. “We wanted something unique and fun, with everything made in-house. We have pigs in a blanket like your grandma makes … except that grandma probably didn’t use a beer cheese sauce. It’s fun to have a beer and a pig in a blanket.”

Along comes the entrees. Kistler is particularly proud of the beer-braised pork shoulder.

“That took a long time to develop. We must have tried a dozen versions,” says Kistler, describing how his crew cooks vegetables, sears the pork shoulder in the

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TOP TO BOTTOM: LARGE, BURNISHED COPPER PIPES AT PUB W CARRY BEER FROM THE CEILING TO THE TAPS, AND THE BAR IS BATHED IN A CHEERY GREEN HUE. THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN COMES WITH BULLEIT BOURBON, VANILLA-SPICED SIMPLE SYRUP, HALF AND HALF, EGG WHITE AND A SMOKED CINNAMON STICK.

LO C A L F L AV O R

YUKON YUM

The Miller Grill, just west of Oklahoma City in Yukon, offers fried cheese sticks, burgers and Oklahoma’s classic chicken fried steak. Named for Yukon High’s mascot, the joint also features over-the-top portions, from scratch and in an environment that defines easy dining.

Owner Jason McCormack – formerly of OKC’s Irma’s Burger Shack and popular burger chain Smashburger – is passionate about The Miller Grill and dedicated to using local

ingredients when possible, all while employing some of the friendliest staff around. Great food and great service – the smart way to run a restaurant.

From breakfast favorites like classic, off-the-grill “fry-ups,” loaded omelets, chicken and waffles, and biscuits and gravy, to lunch and dinner options like burgers, grilled chicken entrees, tacos and desserts, The Miller Grill has you covered.

Follow the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram, then head west to try it yourself. 326 Elm Ave., Yukon; 405-265-2775.

SCOTTY IRANI

Celebrating our

TULSA 918.949.4440 1542 E. 15TH ST.

56th Year

Reserve an evening of “World Class” Caesar Salad with Steak, Lobster, Chicken or Fish.

OWASSO 918.401.4343 201 S. Main

Friday & Saturday night featuring Mark Bryan.

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in culinary school, working under someone and gaining that hands-on, tactile experience – earning those “kitchen stripes” – are keys to any chef’s success.

“My extensive C H E F C H AT background in restaurants was a major hindrance moving forward,” says Dake, referring to a sense of over-qualification and distrust from businesses thinking Allison Dake of Brown Egg Bakery made a career change that her intent was 21 years in … and the risk paid off. to take over. “I was working as a manager at a steakhouse in Tulsa, hen chef and I literally cold-called every cake Allison designer in the area I could find. Out Dake of of the blue, I received a call from Brown Egg a family friend, and she mentioned Bakery that there was someone looking to in Oklahoma City veered off her hire in Edmond. We met, I quit my 21-year run in fine dining to focus job and I quickly relocated, workon baking and cake design, this mistress of confection took her goals ing with that cake designer for five years.” into her own hands.

When a local restaurant group The first hurdle to overcome was approached Dake to join its staff finding an apprenticeship with a as a pastry consultant to multiple seasoned baker.

“It took me … years to find some- locations, she jumped at the chance.

Brown Egg Bakery was created, one to allow me to work with them and, through Dake’s experience in in regard to wedding and special occasion cakes,” Dake says. “We are the hospitality industry and creativa very selective and secretive bunch, ity, Brown Egg has become one of the most sought-after boutique cake us cake designers.” designers/bakeries in Oklahoma.

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86

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

signed to be different, to push the boundaries on custom flavors, cake design and desserts with a twist. It’s all totally intentional, and it takes an insane amount of time,” Dake says with a laugh.

She and her crew handle everything from start to finish – creating dessert menus, consultations with brides and clients, the actual baking, delivery and set up. With wedding season (typically March-October) in full swing, Dake and Brown Egg look forward to recent trends.

“Big statement cakes are back,” Dake says with delight. “And I’m so excited. I’m talking six- (and more) tier wedding cakes, need-a-ladder, focal-point-of-the-room kind of cakes.”

As brides turn away from multiple wedding cakes and focus more on one large cake, the whimsical, sculpted groom’s cake remains hot, as well as Brown Egg’s famous, custom dessert bars and macaron towers.

The end of wedding season doesn’t spell vacation time for Dake. With a strong reputation and an adaptability to any situation, she jumps back into traditional baking.

Working corporate events, holiday parties and seasonal promotions – keep an eye on her New Year’s Eve gift box – and teaching workshops keep her busy as she highlights pastries, candies and sweet-tooth indulgences that only this powerhouse can deliver.

“For me, the holidays are busier than wedding season,” she says.

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Veteran chef Jason Kendrick Vaughan has worked in a lot of places but says he’s never “felt at home as I do in Rabbit Hole.” He’ll make you feel at home, too.

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G R E AT T H I N G S TO D O I N O K L A H O M A

Star Power

The OKC Museum of Art debuts a world-class acquisition, a gallery expansion and rarely seen works.

R KEHINDE WILEY (AMERICAN, B. 1977).

JACOB DE GRAEFF, 2018. OIL ON CANVAS. OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART. MUSEUM PURCHASE WITH FUNDS FROM THE CAROLYN A. HILL COLLECTIONS ENDOWMENT AND THE PAULINE MORRISON LEDBETTER COLLECTIONS ENDOWMENT, 2018.103. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND ROBERTS PROJECTS, LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA. PHOTO: JEAN-PAUL TORNO, COURTESY OF SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM © KEHINDE WILEY.

eopening the second-floor galleries of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art is exciting, but the headline, no doubt, is the museum’s recent acquisition of Kehinde Wiley’s new, large-scale portrait, Jacob de Graeff, from the artist’s St. Louis exhibition.

“Jacob de Graeff not only adds an important work by one of the most exciting contemporary artists creating today, but also builds on the legacy of Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic, an exhibition the museum hosted in 2017,” says Becky Weintz, the museum’s director of marketing and

communications. “A New Republic temporarily provided a different perspective to our visitors, and it was important to us that we acquire one of Mr. Wiley’s works in order to make that change a permanent part of the museum.”

Jacob de Graeff anchors a new portrait gallery featuring art by Anthony van Dyck, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and George Bellows. A second section of portraits explores America’s colonial period with the museum’s George Washington painting and rarely seen works from John Singleton Copley.

“This exhibition features many of the highlights of our collection, but

also showcases works that have not been on view in some time,” Weintz says. “We also encourage everyone to stop by our Wells Fargo Portrait Corner to draw your own self-portrait after being inspired by the portraits in our galleries.”

Other second-floor galleries focus on a variety of subjects, such as still lifes, scenes of urban life, landscapes, seascapes, and paintings of animals, the human form and nudes. Featured artists include Georgia O’Keeffe, Stuart Davis, Gustave Courbet, Karen LaMonte, Alice Neel and Andy Goldsworthy.

For more information, visit okcmoa.com.

APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

89

READY FOR AN EXCITING APRIL? READ ON FOR OUR TOP CHOICES THIS MONTH.

A spring lineup of classic symphonic melodies, along with some out-of-the-box presentations, beckons music lovers.

Signature Symphony’s Pops 5 – Tulsa Sings! is April 5-6 with the latest rendition of its popular vocal contest, this time focused on the works of composer Leonard Bernstein and director/choreographer Jerome Robbins.

On April 20, Signature Symphony is back with Classics 5 – Mahler’s Resurrection, which presents Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. in the VanTrease PACE at Tulsa Community College’s Southeast Campus.

The OKC Philharmonic’s presentation of Classics 6 – Fantastic Contrasts begins at 8 p.m. April 6 at the Civic Center Music Hall and juxtaposes George Gershwin’s jazzy rhapsodies with vibrant statements from Dmitri Shostakovich.

The Tulsa Symphony has the fifth part of its classic series – Symphonic Dances by Sergei Rachmaninoff – and welcomes acclaimed English conductor Matthew Halls on April 13 at the Tulsa PAC. Chamber Music Tulsa presents the Carpe Diem String Quartet on April 26-28 at the Ahha Hardesty Center and the Tulsa PAC. For tickets, visit signaturesymphony.org, okcphil.org, tulsasymphony.org and chambermusictulsa.org, respectively.

2

PHOTO BY STEVEN CHRISTY COURTESY OKC ENERGY FC

1

IN TULSA

PERFORMANCES

WORLD STAGE COMPANY PRESENTS: AMERICAN DREAMS April 4-7 Tulsa PAC

Comprising 18 monologues divided into six segments, this play uses the voices of ordinary people to convey a sense of what America and its people are, both in truth and in fantasy. tulsapac.com

BROKEN ARROW COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS: STEEL MAGNOLIAS April 5-14 Broken Arrow Community Playhouse This story is

set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are anybody have their hair done.

bacptheatre.com

THEATRE TULSA PRESENTS: THE WEDDING

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PHOTO BY TAPESTRY PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOY NEEL

Where & When

SPRING SYMPHONIES

SPORTS

SPRING GAMES ABOUND

Baseball is back. The OKC Dodgers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, celebrate with fireworks at their home opener April 4 against San Antonio; the series continues through April 8.

Other games this month at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark are April 16-18 against Omaha, April 19-22 against Iowa and April 29-30 vs. Round Rock.

The Tulsa Drillers, the Dodgers’ Double-A team, have their home-opening series April 4-7 against Arkansas at ONEOK Field. Other home games this month are April 8-10 against Springfield and April 18-20 against Arkansas (again.) Visit milb.com/ oklahoma-city and milb.com/tulsa for information.

The United Soccer League’s OKC Energy FC kicks off home matches at 7:30 p.m.

April 6 at Taft Stadium against the Portland Timbers. Play continues April 20 against Orange County SC. The Tulsa Roughnecks play the Colorado Switchbacks on April 24 at ONEOK Field. On April 27, the Roughnecks host the Energy for an in-state battle.

Get tickets at energyfc.com and roughnecksfc.com.

TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: FRIDAYS IN THE LOFT CHAMBER MUSIC IV April 26 Fly

PRESENTS: SASSY MAMAS

Catoosa See this iconic group

tulsasymphony.org

Sassy Mamas by Celeste Buford is a hilarious comedy about three black "cougars" looking for love. facebook.

com/theatrenorthtulsa

hardrockcasinotulsa.com GLADYS KNIGHT April 11 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Catoosa Gladys Knight, the

Loft Enjoy symphonic music in an intimate environment.

SINGER April

5-May 14 Tulsa PAC Take trip back to the

‘80s for the story of Robbie, an aspiring rock star and down-on-his-luck wedding singer. theatretulsa.org

SOUTH ASIAN PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION PRESENTS: MEGHADOOTAM – THE CLOUD MESSENGER April 27

CONCERTS

a ballet based on the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa's epic work, Meghaduta.

The Brown Bag It Series is a free concert series offered the first Wednesday of each month. tulsapac.com

Tulsa PAC Meghadootam is

OKLAHOMA PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS: TRIAL

BY JURY April 13 Tulsa

facebook.com/sapaftulsa

is anchored by Gilbert and Sullivan's hilarious Trial by Jury with a slight tech twist: iPhone vs. Android. tulsapac.com

Tulsa PAC This American

CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA PRESENTS: CARPE DIEM STRING QUARTET April 28

PAC This four-part program

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS PRESENTS: WAITRESS

April 16-May 21 Tulsa PAC

Waitress tells the story of Jenna, who dreams of a

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

way out of her small town and loveless marriage. celebrityattractions.com

April 28-May 5 Tulsa PAC

quartet takes a "seize the music" approach to performance by reinvigorating the concert experience with boundary-breaking programs.

tulsapac.com

THEATRE NORTH

CYNTHIA SIMMONS TRIO: JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH April 3 Tulsa PAC

HOZIER April 3 Brady

Theater Hozier returns to

music after a five-year hiatus.

perform.

empress of soul, returns.

hardrockcasinotulsa.com

CARNIVALE ICONE, FEATURING SNOOP DOGG, NELLY AND CHROMEO

April 12 BOK Center Enjoy a

dynamic show complete with acrobats, stilt walkers, fire breathers and contortionists.

bokcenter.com

DIANA ROSS April 13 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Catoosa One of the world's

bradytheater.com

most revered vocalists, Diana Ross, hits the stage.

April 4 Cain's Ballroom The

BELL BIV DEVOE April 13

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

hardrockcasinotulsa.com

indie quintet Death Cab for Cutie performs.

Osage Casino Bell Biv Devoe performs. osagecasinos.com

THE BEACH BOYS April 5 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino,

Sander van Dijck (aka San

cainsballroom.com

SAN HOLO April 19 Cain's Ballroom Dutch producer

PHOTO COURTESY CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA

IN CONCERT

BETH LIPMAN: ACCIDENTAL VESTIGES April 5-May 26 108

Contemporary Excess and

history come together in Beth Lipman’s astonishing glass work. 108contemporary.org

MITOCHROMA April 5-May 26

Ahha Tulsa Krista Jo Mustain and Sarah Sullivan transform the interior of the gallery into a celebration of electric color. ahhatulsa.org

PHOTO COURTESY OKC BROADWAY

RICHARD BARLOW Through May 19 Philbrook Downtown

Acclaimed artist Richard Barlow creates monumental, temporary and site-specific drawings of the natural world with chalk on blackboard paint.

PHOTO BY PHILICIA ENDELMAN COURTESY CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS

Peggy Weil’s video 88 Cores (From -1 Meter to -3051 Meters), the viewer experiences a descent into the Arctic ice sheet and back through time.

philbrook.org

MAKING MODERN AMERICA Through May 26 Philbrook Museum This exhibition offers

audiences a fresh perspective on Tulsa’s founding while sparking conversations about energy, the environment and humans' irreversible impact upon it. philbrook.org

PULITZER PRIZE PHOTOGRAPHS Through July

14 Gilcrease Museum Pulitzer

Prize Photographs, from the Newseum in Washington, brings history to life with the most comprehensive collection of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs ever assembled. gilcrease.org

SHARON LOUDEN Through

Holo) blurs the line between electronic-dance music genres in the pursuit of creative freedom. cainsballroom.com

SPEAKERS

SPACE AND CYBERSPACE

PHOTO COURTESY OSU BUSINESS FORUMS

PHOTO COURTESY TULSA TOWN HALL

HIPPO CAMPUS April 20

4

International intrigue is the focus of Catch Me If You Can, the Oklahoma State University-Tulsa Business Forum featuring cybersecurity expert and best-selling author Frank Abegnale. The event begins at 10 a.m. April 10 at the Tulsa PAC. For details, visit business.okstate.edu/cepd.

Known as the Indiana Jones in Space, Sarah Parcak is a pioneer in satellite imagery that identifies undiscovered archaeological sites worldwide. She is the featured speaker for Tulsa Town Hall at its After Dark event at Cascia Hall on April 11 and its luncheon April 12 at the Tulsa PAC. For details, visit tulsatownhall.com.

Cain's Ballroom Formed in 2013, before the band members graduated from performing arts high school, Hippo Campus found success after a series of talked-about performances at the South

By Southwest music festival. cainsballroom.com

MELISSA ETHERIDGE

April 25 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Catoosa Melissa Etheridge is

Nov. 3 Philbrook Multimedia artist Sharon Louden creates site-specific installations fostering interaction between the art, the space and the viewer. philbrook.org

AMERICANS ALL! Ongoing Gilcrease Museum Americans

All!, drawn from Gilcrease's permanent collection, showcases the many positive contributions immigrants have made, and continue to make, to American life and culture.

gilcrease.org

THE EXPERIENCE Ongoing

on her The Medicine Show Tour.

Ahha Tulsa The Experience is an artist-driven, large-scale, fully immersive installation that invites participants to explore a fantastical multimedia environment. ahhatulsa.org

performs with Jess Glynne.

SPORTS

ART

UNIVERSITY OF TULSA SOFTBALL April 3, 5-7, 18-20,

hardrockcasinotulsa.com LEON BRIDGES April 30 Brady Theater Leon Bridges

bradytheater.com

FIRST FRIDAY ART CRAWL

April 5 Tulsa Arts District This

year-round, monthly event features works from galleries, artists, studios and museums. thetulsaartsdistrict.org

NEW GENRE FESTIVAL

April 5-6 Living Arts of Tulsa Featuring local artists,

performances, a video lab and archive installation, the New Genre Festival is a can’t-miss for art enthusiasts. livingarts.org

firefighters and police officers go head-to-head in the ring to raise money for Oklahoma Firefighters Burn Camp and Special Olympics Oklahoma.

bokcenter.com

CANNABIS INDUSTRIAL MARKETPLACE OKLAHOMA EXPO April 3-4 Expo

Through May 19 Philbrook In

Celebrity Attractions presents Waitress, the musical tale of a small-town pie maker, April 16-21 at the Tulsa PAC with evening and matinee shows.

Visit celebrityattractions.com for tickets.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the iconic Beatles album Abbey Road, OKC Broadway presents Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles on April 26-27 at the Civic Center Music Hall. Visit okcbroadway.com for tickets.

roughnecksfc.com SMOKE AND GUNS April 27 BOK Center Oklahoma

Through May 19 Philbrook Downtown Joel Daniel Phillips

PEGGY WEIL: 88 CORES

EMPOWERED WOMEN AND BEATLEMANIA

Roughnecks settle into the regular season with matches against the Colorado Switchbacks and OKC Energy.

COMMUNITY

chooses images charged with history. The physical and emotional labor needed to create his graphite drawings is part of what pulls the viewer into the work. philbrook.org

PERFORMANCE

ROUGHNECKS SOCCER

April 24, 27 ONEOK Field The

philbrook.org

JOEL DANIEL PHILLIPS

3

autocross events with help from a wide array of experts.

neoklascca.org

26-28 Collins Family Softball Complex See the Hurricane compete. tulsahurricane.com DRILLERS BASEBALL April 4-10, 18-20 ONEOK Field The

season kicks off with games against Arkansas and Springfield. milb.com

OILERS HOCKEY April 5-7

BOK Center See the Oilers round out the season in the East Coast Hockey League. bokcenter.com

NEOKLA AUTOCROSS April 13-14 Expo Square Enjoy

Square Visit Oklahoma’s first

industrial cannabis exposition.

exposquare.com

BANDS AND BLOOMS April 4-18 Tulsa Botanic Garden Unwind with an

evening in the garden.

Experience vibrant colors and intoxicating fragrances as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses blossom.

tulsabotanic.org

TULSA FLEA MARKET April

6, 13, 20, 27 Expo Square Find hidden gems from all around the city. exposquare.com

COLOR RUN April 6 River West Festival Park Wear all

white and enjoy a coloful run along the Arkansas River.

thecolorrun.com

KENDALL WHITTIER ART FESTIVAL April 11-13 Kendall

Whittier District The Kendall Whittier district comes alive with local art vendors, gallery shows, food trucks, live music and kids’ activities. visitkendallwhittier.com

TULSA ROOTS GLOBAL BASH April 12-13 Guthrie

Green The Wailers headline

this free swirl of sights, sounds, smells and tastes from around the world. okrootsmusic.org

TULSA INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW April 12-14 Expo Square See vehicles of every make and model.

thetulsaautoshow.com

SECOND SATURDAY ARCHITECTURE TOURS

April 13 Tulsa Foundation for Architecture Each month,

the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture offers popular walking tours highlighting some of downtown’s architectural treasures. tulsaarchitecture.org

FULL MOON NATURE HIKE April 19 Tulsa Botanic Garden

Take a self-guided night hike to experience the sights and sounds along a nature trail through native prairie and forest. tulsabotanic.org

OK, SO... PRESENTS: TULSA'S BEST STORYTELLER FINALS

April 20 Tulsa PAC Hear

top-notch storytellers at this annual competition.

oksotulsa.com

TULSA BOTANIC BLOOMS

Through April 21 Tulsa Botanic Gardens Enjoy the start of

spring at this peaceful park.

tulsabotanic.org

SPRING AND OUTDOOR LIVING EXPO April 26-28

Expo Square Enjoy everything from tiny-home towns to daily prizes and free gifts. exposquare.com

APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

91

5

FREE MUSIC MECCA Thousands of music lovers flock to the Norman Music Festival for an actionpacked weekend downtown. The lineup includes national acts, including Beach Fossils, Black Milk With Band Nat Turner, and Soccer Mommy. The April 25-27 event has art vendors and children’s activities.

CHARITABLE EVENTS TBH WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SPRING LUNCHEON April 4 Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center This

fun-filled afternoon benefiting Tulsa Boys' Home includes sumptuous fare, entertainment, a silent auction and door prizes. tulsaboyshome.org

EIGHTH ANNUAL OYSTERS AND ALE April 4 Greenwood Cultural Center Consume freshly shucked oysters as far as the eye can see – paired with finely crafted beer or ale from local breweries – to benefit the critical, honored work of Hospice of Green Country.

hospiceofgreencountry.org/ oystersandale ROCK THE HOUSE April 6 Cox Business Center Raise

money and enjoy a night of dinner and dancing at Habitat for Humanity's annual event.

tulsahabitat.com

92

6

GARDEN PARTY April 12 A

New Leaf’s Greenhouse, Broken Arrow A New Leaf’s signature

FLY AWAY April is National Kite Month, and

IN OKC

PERFORMANCES

spring gala recognizes excellence and achievements of clients and supporters with dinner, drinks, live music, live and silent auctions, and a short program. anewleaf.org

Armstrong Auditorium, Edmond

Tulsa Botanic Garden This

armstrongauditorium.org

CANADIAN BRASS April 2

BOTANICAL! April 26-28

The Canadian Brass continues its nearly half-century legacy with fresh faces and brilliant music-making.

culinary affair benefits the Tulsa Botanic Garden.

LYRIC THEATRE PRESENTS: BRIGHT STAR April

TATAS AND TINIS April 26

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell comes this sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the 1920s and '40s American south. lyrictheatreokc.com

tulsabotanic.org

Agora Event Center This

cocktail party includes small bites, live music and a premium auction to benefit Oklahoma Project Woman and Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center. oklahomaprojectwoman.org

OKLAHOMA NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE AWARDS

April 27 Southern Hills Country Club This annual event

honors outstanding nonprofits throughout the state for their work to improve their communities and change lives.

oknp.org

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

7

FA M I LY / K I D S

PHOTO COURTESY KITES OVER ENID

The OKC Ballet debuts Visionaries: A Triple Bill at the Civic Center Music Hall with a focus on Robert Joffrey’s Pas de Deesses, George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments and the choreography of Cayetano Soto Ramirez. Performances are at 8 p.m. April 19 and 2 and 8 p.m.

April 20. Visit okcballet.org for tickets.

Tulsa Ballet presents TBII: Next Generation, a showcase of promising young dancers and choreographers from around the world.

Shows on April 26 and 28 take place at 7:30 and 2:30 p.m., respectively, at Tulsa Ballet; the April 27 performance is at 7:30 p.m. at the Zarrow Performance Studio. Visit tulsaballet.org for tickets.

PHOTO BY NATHAN POPPE

MUSIC

PHOTO BY GEORGIA READ

PERCHANCE TO DANCE

PHOTO COURTESY OKC BALLET

Where & When

DANCE

3-28 Lyric at the Plaza From

CITYREP THEATRE PRESENTS: THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME April 4-7 Civic Center Music Hall Christopher's detective

work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a journey that turns his world upside-down.

okcciviccenter.com

AMERICAN GIRL LIVE

April 9 Civic Center Music

Hall American Girl Live is a

premiere stage production featuring original songs.

okcciviccenter.com

CANTERBURY VOICES PRESENTS: CARMINA BURANA April 13 Civic

Center Music Hall You’ve heard the music, such as “O Fortuna," used in movies and on television. Now hear it in person with Canterbury’s ensemble of singers.

okcciviccenter.com

OKC BALLET PRESENTS: VISIONARIES – A TRIPLE BILL April 19-20 Civic Center

Music Hall This night of dance

features Pas de Deesses; The Four Temperaments; and a Cayetano Soto Ramirez world premiere. okcballet.org

OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS: RAIN – A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES

April 26-27 Civic Center Music Hall In celebration of the

anniversary of Abbey Road, Rain brings the greatest hits of this epic recording to life, in addition to early Beatles favorites. okcciviccenter.com

enthusiasts gather for Kites Over Enid on April 27-28. Vendors and kite sellers, along with with children events, races and food, make the day fun for the entire family from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at 1201 W. Willow Road. Visit visitenid.org/ visitors/kitesoverenid for details.

CELTIC WOMAN: ANCIENT

LAND TOUR April 28 Civic Center Music Hall Ancient Land is the next chapter of Celtic Woman's extraordinary musical journey. okcciviccenter.com

CONCERTS KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND April 5 Riverwind

Casino, Norman The

Louisiana-born axeman and songsmith has sold millions of albums while shining a light on the rich blues of the past and forging his own modern path.

riverwind.com

BRONZE RADIO RETURN April 5 The Jones Assembly

See the band with Wildermiss. thejonesassembly.com

BROTHERS OSBORNE

April 9 The Jones Assembly

The country duo performs.

FOREIGNER April 19

Riverwind Casino, Norman

With 10 multi-platinum albums and 16 Top 30 hits, Foreigner is hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world. riverwind.com

LANCO April 20 Riverwind

Casino, Norman Multi-

platinum band Lanco is at the top of its game as members reveal the story behind its record-breaking debut album.

riverwind.com

OF MONTREAL April 21

Tower Theatre Of Montreal's

style has changed recently to a mixture of electronica, funk, glam and afrobeat music influenced by Prince and David Bowie. towertheatreokc.com

PLAIN WHITE T'S April 25

Tower Theatre This American pop punk band hails from Chicago. towertheatreokc.com

ALAN JACKSON April 12

ART

country star Alan Jackson with guest William Michael Morgan.

District More than 80 artists

thejonesassembly.com

Chesapeake Energy Arena See chesapeakearena.com

FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK April 5 Paseo Arts

and more than 25 businesses,

COMPETITION

CANOES, PADDLES AND WATER, OH MY!

PHOTO COURTESY THE MEDIEVAL FAIR

8

COMMUNIT Y

FROM KNIGHTS TO MARATHONS The Medieval Fair of Norman is one of Oklahoma’s largest weekend events.

Family friendly since 1977, the April 5-7 all within walking distance, stay open late the first Friday of every month. thepaseo.org

ABBEY STIGLETS, NATALIE MILLER AND TRISHA THOMPSON ADAMS SHOW

April 11-May 5 DNA Galleries

See these three OKC artists at this exhibit. dnagalleries.com

ANCIENT. MASSIVE. WILD. THE BISON EXHIBIT.

Through May 12 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Whether painted on

a teepee or an artist’s canvas, minted on a nickel or seen grazing in Yellowstone National Park, the image of the bison conjures deep loyalties to the North American landscape.

nationalcowboymuseum.org COWBOYS IN KHAKI Through May 12 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Men

and women from across the American West played critical roles — both “Over There” and on the homefront — in helping the Allies win World War I.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

OFF THE WALL: 100 YEARS

OF SCULPTURE Through

May 12 OKCMOA This exhibit features more than 30 sculptures from the museum’s permanent collection.

okcmoa.com

ANSEL ADAMS AND THE PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE WEST Through May 26 OKCMOA In 1916, 14-year-old

Ansel Adams began to capture the beauty of the American West. His subsequent body of work – 40,000-plus photographs – influenced the practice of countless photographers. okcmoa.com

HORSEPLAY Through July 14 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

The museum’s Dickinson Research Center is home to more than 700,000 photographs, 44,000 books and (perhaps unexpectedly) at least 1,000 horses.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

FROM THE GOLDEN AGE TO THE MOVING IMAGE: THE CHANGING FACE OF THE PERMANENT COLLECTON

Watch the American Canoe Association Sprint and Slalom National Team Trials at OKC RiverSport Adventures on April 12-14.

Athletes from across the country compete on the Oklahoma River.

Visit riversportokc.org for details.

9

fair brims with exhibits, arts, crafts, food, games and seven stages with entertainers. The free event is at Reaves Park.

Visit medievalfair.org for details.

The OKC Memorial Marathon celebrates life with more than 25,000 runners and walkers gathering April 29 to remember those who died in (and honor those who survived) the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

For details, visit okcmarathon.com.

Visitors from across the nation come to Muskogee’s Honor Heights Park throughout April for the annual Azalea Festival. The 132-acre oasis features 30,000 flowering shrubs, a butterfly sanctuary and photo opportunities. Go to visitmuskogee.com.

Ongoing OKCMOA The OKC

Museum of Art re-opens its second-floor galleries with a new presentation of its permanent collection.

Headlining this reinstallation is the museum’s latest acquisition, Kehinde Wiley’s monumental new portrait Jacob de Graeff. okcmoa.com

SPORTS OKC THUNDER BASKETBALL April 2,

5, 9 Chesapeake Energy Arena Watch the state's only

major professional sports team take on NBA foes.

chesapeakearena.com

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA BASEBALL April 2, 5-7, 9-10 L. Dale Mitchell Park, Norman

Enjoy OU games as the season progresses. soonersports.com

OKLAHOMA QUARTER HORSE SPRING SHOW April 3-7 State Fair Park Stunning

quarter horses and their riders compete at the spring show.

statefairparkokc.com

OKC DODGERS BASEBALL

April 4-8, 16-22, 29-30 Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark

See the OKC Dodgers take on San Antonio, Omaha, Iowa and Round Rock. milb.com

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SOFTBALL April 5-7 OU

WORLD FINALS April

WALKING TOUR April

the heart-pounding sport of equestrian barrel racing.

Expand your knowledge of Oklahoma plants and find inspiration for your own garden with this free educational event. myriadgardens.org

25-28 State Fair Park Enjoy

betterbarrelraces.com

OSSAA SLOW-PITCH STATE

CHAMPIONSHIPS April 30-May 1 USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex See the best

slow-pitch softball teams in the state compete. teamusa.org/ USA-Softball

COMMUNITY YOGA TUESDAYS April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Myriad Botanical Gardens Each participant should bring a yoga mat and water to this all-levels class.

myriadgardens.org

OKLAHOMA CITY FARM SHOW April 4-6 State Fair Park Visit the city's

premier spring argricultural and ranching event.

oklahomacityfarmshow.com

nativecrossroads.org

MEDIEVAL FAIR April

5-7 Reaves Park, Norman One

of the state’s largest weekend events, the living history fair is one of only a few free medieval fairs in the nation.

medievalfair.org

PILATES AND MIMOSAS

April 6, 13 RiverSport Adventures OKC Professional

instructors guide you through hour-long classes. riversportokc.org

TURKISH FESTIVAL April 6

Raindrop Turkish House This

annual festival has activities for the entire family. travelok.com

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY AT THE CAPITOL April 10

Oklahoma State Capitol Gather

with other Oklahomans to learn about autism and how you can help the Oklahoma Autism Center. autismcenterok.org

OKLAHOMA SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL April 12-13 Tower

Theatre The Oklahoma

Songwriters Festival serves as an invaluable opportunity for local songwriters, musicians and music fans.

oklahomasongerwritersfestival. com

SOUTHWEST STREET ROD NATIONALS April 12-14 State

Fair Park See all types of street

rods at this national exhibition.

nsra-usa.com

April 23-28 Bicentennial Park

artscouncilokc.com

zoofriends.org/events

19TH ANNUAL OKLAHOMA CITY MEMORIAL MARATHON April 28

Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum This

inspirational marathon was created to memorialize and honor those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever as a result of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. okcmarathon.com

AROUND THE STATE PERFORMANCES POLLARD THEATRE PRESENTS: BEEHIVE – THE '60S MUSICAL April 12-May

4 The Pollard Theatre, Guthrie

Beehive is the ultimate celebration of 1960s female empowerment. thepollard.org

MIAMI LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS: ROUTE 66 REVUE April 25-28 Miami

Little Theatre Beginning

with the sounds of 1950s Chicago and traveling along the "Main Street of America" to the California coast with the surf music of the 1960s, this musical revue features 34 of the greatest "Rock ‘n’ Road" hits of the 20th century.

miamilittletheatre.com

CONCERTS CASEY DONAHEW AND THE

normanmusicfestival.com

TESLA April 6 Choctaw

the American Quarter Horse Association in welcoming expert riders from around the region. statefairparkokc.com

festival hits a milestone by adding an outdoor stage.

OKC MEMORIAL MARATHON HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPO April 26-27 Cox Convention Center More than 60 exhibitors

features competitors of all ages from across the country.

attend this exposition, presented by OU Medicine and the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

BETTER BARREL RACES

GARDENS MONTHLY

riversportokc.org

Oklahoma City Zoo and

JOSH ABBOTT BAND April 5 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant See two powerhouse

NORMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Adventures This event

fighters and enjoy live music, an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, a raffle and an inspiring survivor fashion show to benefit Tenaciously Teal. tteal.org

April 25-27 Main Street, Norman This free downtown

AQHA LEVEL ONE CENTRAL CHAMPIONSHIP April

AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION SPRINT AND SLALOM NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS April 12-14 RiverSport

CARE PACKS AND

COCKTAILS April 12 The Criterion Support cancer

highlights feature films, documentaries, animations and short films that consider how indigenous people and communities shape the future.

This is an annual downtown celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts, and brings a variety of talented artists together.

10-14 State Fair Park Join

Bricktown Events Center At this premier black-tie fundraiser, enjoy cocktails, dinner, a live auction, dancing and a special performance by Oklahoma City Ballet dancers. okcballet.org

Botanical Gardens Safari Soiree celebrates the community’s support of the Oklahoma City Zoo's conservation efforts to help save plants and animals in Oklahoma and across four continents.

FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

6, 20 Taft Stadium The Energy take Portland and Orange County in United Soccer League action. energyfc.com

BALLET BALL April 6 Chevy

SAFARI SOIREE April 26

Noble Museum of Natural History, Norman This festival

Softball Complex, Norman See

ENERGY FC SOCCER April

CHARITABLE EVENTS

NATIVE CROSSROADS FILM FESTIVAL April 4-6 Sam

soonersports.com

the Sooners host Baylor.

27 Myriad Botanical Gardens

coxconventioncenter.com

performances on the same stage. choctawcasinos.com

Casino and Resort, Durant See

rocker quartet Tesla perform.

choctawcasinos.com

RICK SPRINGFIELD April 6

Grand Casino Hotel and Resort, Shawnee 1980s crooner

Rick Springfield performs.

grandresortok.com

GLADYS KNIGHT April 12 WinStar World Casino and

APRIL 2019 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

93

Where & When

Resort, Thackerville The

Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, performs. winstar.com

WHITESNAKE April 13

Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant The English band

has performed since 1978. choctawcasinos.com

FOREIGNER April 20

and barrel racers along with roping events, steer wrestling and lady steer undecorating competitions. travelok.com

GREEN COUNTRY CLASSIC RANCH RODEO AND TRADE SHOW April 26-27 Claremore Expo Center Sixteen teams

Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant Foreigner takes the

from across Oklahoma compete in an exciting rodeo. visitclaremore.org

choctawcasinos.com

COMMUNITY

April 20 Grand Casino Hotel and Resort, Shawnee See

AZALEA FESTIVAL April 1-30 Honor Heights Park, Muskogee This stunning

Choctaw Grand Theater.

PURPLE REIGN: THE PRINCE TRIBUTE SHOW

this dazzling tribute to Prince. grandresortok.com

SAWYER BROWN April 25

Central National Bank Center, Enid See these country

crooners perform. cnbcenter.com

ART 101 RANCH COLLECTORS' WESTERN ART/ MEMORABILIA SHOW April 12-13 Good Buy Shoppe, Blackwell Round up your

posse and head to this expo.

travelok.com

STILLWATER ARTS FESTIVAL April 19-20 Main

Street Stillwater Enjoy local

artists and performers at this festival. artstillwater.us

MEN OF STEEL, WOMEN OF WONDER Through April 22

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark.

Don’t miss the first major exhibition to examine art world responses to Superman and Wonder Woman. Discover what it means to fight for truth, justice and the American way.

132-acre oasis atop a hill overlooking the city hosts the Azalea Festival each spring. visitmuskogee.com

SENIOR GAMES April

2 Simmons Center, Duncan If

you're over 50 and wish to remain active, visit the Senior Games for friendly competition. simmonscenter.

com

MONTMARTE CHALK ART FESTIVAL April 4 University

of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha The

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma hosts Montmartre, its annual, judged sidewalk chalk art festival, in conjunction with the USAO Scholastic Meet and Droverstock Music Festival. usao.edu/events/

spring-triad-montmartre-2019

notable, annual literary events. travelok.com

BISON BISON FILM FESTIVAL April 5-6 City

Central, Ponca City Enjoy this student film competition.

family-friendly event highlights the process and completion of several murals in a festival atmosphere. visitmiamiok.com

LAND RUN BEER FEST April

DAVID LEVINTHAL – BARBIE AND BASEBALL Through

Aug. 1 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark. American

photographer David Levinthal has photographed small toys and collectibles in lifelike portrayals for the past five decades. crystalbridges.org

SPORTS OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY BASEBALL

April 2, 5-7, 16, 18-20, 23 Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, Stillwater

See the Cowboys take on Big 12 Conference foes.

okstate.com

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY SOFTBALL

bisonbisonfilmfestival.org

13 Central National Bank Center, Enid Come have a

drink with some of Oklahoma's finest brewers. cnbcenter.com

OSU FLYING AGGIES FLY-IN AND CAR SHOW April 13 Stillwater Regional Airport Enjoy static

aircraft displays, car shows, airplane rides, booths and concessions. flyingaggies.com

BEAVERS BEND KAYAK

CLASSIC April 13 Broken Bow Lake Grasshopper Ramp Kayak, race and enjoy

beautiful Broken Bow Lake. The winner receives $5,000 in cash. beaversbendkayakclassic.com

CIMARRON TERRITORIAL CELEBRATION AND COW CHIP THROWING CONTEST April 13-20 Beaver

County Fairgrounds, Beaver This is the 50th annual

spring weather by watching the Cowgirls. okstate.com

world championship Cow Chip Throwing Contest. At the celebration, enjoy a host of activities commemorating the pioneers of the Panhandle. beaverchamber.

National Bank Center, Enid See the Flying Aces take on the Wichita Force. cnbcenter.com

89ERS DAY CELEBRATION April

April 5-7, 16, 26-28 Cowgirl Stadium, Stillwater Enjoy the

OKLAHOMA FLYING ACES FOOTBALL April 6 Central

BEGGS OPEN RODEO April 20 Beggs Rodeo Roundup Club Watch bronc riders

com/

16-20 Downtown Guthrie The

annual 89er Days Celebration commemorates the Land Run of 1889. 89erdays.com

FOR MORE EVENTS IN TULSA, OKC AND AROUND THE STATE, HEAD TO OKMAG.COM.

94

‘At Least It’s An Ethos’

As The Dude abides, Fassler Hall in Tulsa and The Dust Bowl in OKC team up for an annual celebration of The Big Lebowski.

SCISSORTAIL CREATIVE

WRITING FESTIVAL April 4-6 East Central University, Ada This is one of the state's

crystalbridges.org

MURAL FEST 66 April 27 Downtown Miami This

FILM AND CINEMA

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

Around Town

Modern fandom is wonderful. The ease of communication and organization afforded by the internet make it possible for fans of cult films to put together regular events that connect them with other enthusiasts.

The Big Lebowski is something of an odd choice for cult film status – it’s the rare “midnight film” that’s actually good and stands on its own without a cheering crowd.

Neglected on its release in 1998, it is as one of the best films from the Coen brothers, but that hasn’t stopped rabid fans from creating a whole world around the meandering exploits of The Dude (Jeff Bridges), Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) and various other bizarre, hilarious characters.

Tulsa’s Fassler Hall and The Dust Bowl in OKC team up to host the second annual “gathering of Lebowski fans” at The Dude Abides celebration April 27. Festivities include a trivia contest; the chance for couples to get married or renew their vows; a costume contest (get some friends together and go as German nihilists); and half-price bowling at The Dust Bowl, in case you want to channel your inner Jesus Quintana.

At Home

Jackie Chan has been an entertainment icon for so long that it’s hard to remember before the Rush Hours of the world to a time when he was a fresh-faced, Hong Kong martial artist, a lean breath of fresh air in a world of action films dominated by musclebound Europeans like Jean-Claude Van Damme.

This month, Criterion returns you to those days with a restored re-release of Police Story and Police Story 2, which first introduced Chan to America. Chan dazzles as rogue cop Ka-Kui, bringing energy and humor to the part. If these two action classics aren’t enough, the release also features stunt reels of Chan’s gravity-defying moves, plus an essay by Nick Pinkerton, one of today’s best film critics.

In Theaters

Pixar aside, American animation studios have long existed in the shadow of Studio Ghibli and struggle to produce films a fraction as interesting or mature as the Japanese animation giant. In the past decade, however, Laika Studio pushed to become the premier American animation studio, turning out thoughtful, beautiful stop motion films like The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings.

Laika’s newest film, released this month, looks like it pushes its unique aesthetic into new territory. Missing Link, about a sasquatch who sets off to find his long-lost family, seems a tad sillier than Laika’s usual fare (Coraline and Kubo in particular). But the studio should avoid the low-hanging fruit of other children’s movies (looking at you, Minions), and the voices (of Zach Galifianakis, Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana and Stephen Fry) should bring crack comic timing. This should be a film that parents can enjoy alongside their children.

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

Maureen Heffernan

M

aureen Heffernan is CEO/president of both the Myriad Gardens Foundation and the Scissortail Park Foundation. The park, planned for 70 acres, is set to open phase I this year. The Ohio native has worked in horticulture for decades, with stints in Maine, Virginia, Alaska and Europe.

We caught up with Heffernan and got her thoughts on …

It is being built in two phases. The 35-acre Upper Park will be completed this year, with a grand opening planned for late fall. The Upper Park will have a cafe, stage and great lawn, lake and boathouse, a seasonal roller rink, large interactive fountain, picnic pavilions near a food truck area, a dog park and extensive gardens with nearly 1,000 new trees that, over time, will create a beautiful, leafy retreat in the heart of the city. The 35-acre Lower Park will open in 2021 or 2022 and will have soccer fields, a basketball court and pickle ball, along with extensive native plant and grass plantings and a smaller outdoor amphitheater and Garden Cafe. The park adds a stunning new green space to the downtown area … and serves to provide a powerful economic development catalyst for the near south side of downtown.

… her duties.

Our role now is to work to be fully prepared to take on the management and operations once construction is completed. The Scissortail Park Foundation must also raise private funds … to ensure the park has optimal funding so it’s well maintained and safe, and has a year-round variety of events and programs. We are also tasked with raising earned revenues through various park commissions and events, which will include a cafe, concert series, paddleboat and bike rentals, roller skating and rentals for individuals or companies.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | APRIL 2019

… her workload.

Working on a start-up organization is definitely all-consuming in addition to the day-to-day management of Myriad Gardens, which is a 24/7/365 operation … as will be Scissortail Park. There is never enough time, so I spend about 75 percent of my time on the gardens and 80 percent on Scissortail. Somehow it balances. I have incredibly talented staff and boards that are a joy to work with.

… Tulsa’s Gathering Place.

Tony Moore, the executive director at Gathering Place, invited us to visit just prior to their grand opening last year. To say the least, it was extremely remarkable in its layers of creativity and quality of design everywhere you looked.

I feel Gathering Place can’t be compared to

other parks, as it is truly unique and in its own category. From a design perspective, I would say that Gathering Place is like a city in a park while Scissortail Park is a park in a city. Gathering Place’s built features – from lodges to extensive play equipment – seem to have more density of features on their acreage than Scissortail Park. Scissortail Park is more in the tradition of a grand urban park, like New York’s Central Park, with an extensive lawn, lake, walking promenades, fountains and gardens. To have Gathering Place and Scissortail Park opening in back-to-back years is a remarkable demonstration of Oklahoma City and Tulsa going all-in on investing in happiness for its citizens and visitors. The lifeenhancing power of urban green spaces cannot be underestimated.

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

… Scissortail Park.

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