OKCYP Insider: The 50 Most Influential Young Professionals of Oklahoma City

CONTENTS THE TOP 2 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

04 CONSTANZIA NIZZA Through years of hard work and civic leadership, Constanzia has worked hard. And now, she's not only influential but grateful.

06 ABIGAIL OGLE She's Oklahoma City's Most Seen Young Professional. Abigail is not only a news anchor, she's a powerhouse and community leader.

10

08

EXCLUSIVE!

THE 2022 HORIZONS: TEN YEAR REUNION

SOPHIE FOX

18 DEALING WITH HEAD TRASH How do you deal with the negative voices in your head that holds you back from greater success?

22 YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR A look back at the past winners of our highest honor at the Horizons.

40 JASON HACKETT

08 ABIGAIL OGLE

25 INTERVIEW WITH LT. GOVERNOR PINNELL A candid interview with the Lt. Governor about the growth of Oklahoma City in the next ten years.

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OF OKLAHOMA CITY

By Inisder Magazine Editors The Oklahoma Young Professionals (OKCYP) have released its Most Influential Young Professionals of Oklahoma City list yearly since 2018.

This year, 469 young professionals were nominated for this year’s ballot. After a wide public vote, the Top 50 Most Influential Young Professionals were selected.

OKCYP puts together a list of Oklahoma City's Most Influential Young Professionals each year. The chosen individuals are young leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs, from the CEOs of freshly minted startups to committed employees helping established companies to thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace.

The list is ranked by community leaders in Oklahoma City.

The organization highlights young professionals creating game-changing technologies, business strategies, products, and services that will shape the next generation of business and grow jobs and commerce in Oklahoma City's economy..

The list features OKC Friday's Most Powerful Young Professionals: J.D. Baker, Terrance Craft, Bailey Perkins, and Sache Primeaux-Shaw.

Taelor Connell, Eliud Villarreal, and Donovan Farrow made the 2021 Most Influential Young Professionals of OKC list appear again this year.

Other notable young professionals featured on this list include Jason Hackett, Sharina Perry, Erin Engelke, Ashley Warlick, Victor Castillo, and Seth Lewis.

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Taelor Connell Eliud Villarreal Neil Tate Bradley Kirouac Tiffany johnson Shanna garrett arilla broadus rhett schuman corian england justin smith michele walker ryan miller Aslan Maleki Breanna Branch Ally Clark Tonisha Jones Blake Bullard aaron phillips constanzia nizza john lee chris reed Rob Hoffman Armando Perez Ryan Smith houston Johnson Ryan Fast cole smith ryan skeffington danielle campbell victor castillo sean rose jordan edwards Benjamin gottsch Sophie fox trey Lewis erik richison dalton savage austin carroll join at OKCYP.com Jacqueline hirlinger Briza Ibanez Jared Goins Preston Cook Zack Hutson Christian Cody Brittany Cook Brett Alcorn Zachary Benedict Ashley Hurney kaylee vaughn colby parsons brett alcorn danielle campbell tyler morris

Young Leaders.

Young visionaries.

Named amongst greatness.

#1

THE UNSUNG HERO In my first official meeting with Constanzia about joining OJA, I was impressed by her confidence and her clear goals. One thing that stuck with me was she said, “I want to help you!” I called my husband after that meeting and told him what she said, and he immediately said, “Let her!” And Constanzia has helped me immensely since joining OJA. On a professional level, she is my biggest support, sounding board, and task master. She has pushed agency-wide goals forward to the benefit of our staff and youth. On a personal level, I enjoy the time we spend together, and I am inspired by her every day.

I do joke that spending so much time with her means that I have adopted some of her speech patterns like adding, “Sir!” or “Ma’am!” when relaying a story. Unfortunately for her, the extra time with me means she now uses colorful language more often! “Stealing” (with permission) Constanzia from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) will remain one of my biggest accomplishments at OJA.

#1 - MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

Constanzia Nizza is ranked Oklahoma City's Most Influential Young Professional.

Constanzia’s passion for volunteering in the community through the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), Habitat for Humanity, and Bridges of Norman is inspiring. Her commitment to learning, growing, and networking is evident in her participation with the OKC Young Professionals and her recent graduation from the Oklahoma City Police Department’s Citizens Academy.

On behalf of everyone at OJA, our partners, youth, and Constanzia’s friends, family, and fans, I say it is no surprise that Constanzia was named OKC’s MOST Influential Young Professional. We are so proud and grateful to know her, to learn from her, and to benefit from all that she does to improve herself, the city of Oklahoma City, and the state of Oklahoma. We know that her future is even brighter than today’s accomplishment.

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"Truly honored because it provides a unique opportunity to continue to serve and inform my fellow Oklahomans. And perhaps, reach more viewers with the news important to them." #2 Abigail Ogle KOCO TV

#3 Terrance Craft Crafty Communications

#4 Sophie Fox Women In Wheels

#5 J.D. Baker Cortado Ventures

#6 Rep. Cyndi Munson OK House of Representatives

#7 Jared Goins Jared Goins Insurance Agency

#8 Eliud Villarreal Exotic Motorsports of OK

#9 Erin Engelke Calm Waters

#10 Bailey Perkins Oklahoma Regional Food Bank

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS #2-10

by Arilla Broadus

Sophie Fox makes her first appearance on the Most Influential Young Professionals List. Abigail Ogle moves up a spot to #2 on this year's list. She was ranked #3 on last year's list, and this is her second appearance on our list.

Terrance Craft, J.D. Baker, Representative Munson, Eliud Villarreal, Jared Goins, Erin Engelke, and Bailey Perkins make their grand return after appearing on our 2021 list. Baker was our 2021 Most Influential Young Professional. Only four members of OKCYP make this year's Top 10 list - Constanzia Nizza, Sophie Fox, Jared Goins, and Eliud Villarreal.

TOP 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS #11-22

#11 Bradley Kirouac Coop Ale Works

#12 Nikki Nice Vice - Mayor, Oklahoma City

#13 Aslan Maleki Cardinal Financial

#14 William Blake Vesta Foundation Solutions

#15 Donovan Farrow Alias Infosec

#16 Dr. Brittany & Preston Cook Native Chiropractic

#17 Arilla Broadus Running Wild Catering

#18 Anthony Hernandez Rivera Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General

#19 Taelor Connell Polston Tax

#20 Allison Parker Infant Crisis

#21 Corian England First Liberty Bank

#22 Blake Bullard OSSO Sports & Social

Eliud Villarreal 2022 Chairman

TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

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YOUNG PROFESSIONALS' BIGGEST NIGHT

HORIZONS THE

HOSTED BY

HOSTED BY

OCTOBER 13TH | AT 7:30 PM | WILL ROGERS THEATRE

Blue is the new gold.

TEN YEAR REUNION THE STORY BEHIND THE THEME Find out how this year's theme was chosen from co-host, Eliud Villarreal.

Our annual event, The Horizons, will take place on October 13th at the Will Rogers Theatre at 7:30 pm.

So please mark your calendars and save the date right now!

This year marks ten years of OKCYP. So this year's Horizon Awards will celebrate the incredible growth of OKCYP and feature some familiar faces from years past.

Who could forget when Lori Harless won YoungProfessional of the Year for the second year in a row and is still the only member to have won the award twice? Or when Terrance Craft finally received his first nomination for a Horizon Award in 2020 and tearfully took home Young Professional of the Year.

The Horizons is all about creating memorable moments for deserving young professionals.

The Awards also recognize young professionals in Oklahoma City for their excellence in leadership, development, and community impact. It's no wonder this event has become young professionals' biggest night, as there has been an average of 220 young professionals in attendance for the past four years.

The nominees for this year's awards will be announced on July 6th at 10:00 am during a live broadcast on our social media channels.

There'll be special appearances from Terrance Craft, Tiffany Johnson, Anderson Harrison III, and many more of your favorite young professionals from this past decade.

Tickets go on sale on July 6th.

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS #23-#30

#23 Chris Reed First Bethany & Bank Trust

#24 Andrew Lemon Alias Infosec

#25 Mike Hearne This is Oklahoma

#26 Neil Tate Cavett Kids Foundation

#27 Jason Hackett KOCO

#28 Armando Perez Great Plains Bank

#29 Christian Cody Zack's Investments

#30 Victor Castillo Gateway First Bank

TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

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THE SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR I have had the privilege to work with the founder/inventor of Utopia Plastix, Sharina Perry for several years. “Brilliant” does not begin to explain her approach to business. She gets things done. She is an out-of-the-box thinker. She quickly removes barriers most would consider being problems.

Her thoughts are perpetually in solution mode.

She is kind and considerate, and her tenacious disposition toward her spiritual compass, family, business, and those she calls friends is unwavering.

When you hear her speak of her journey, she most always directs her audience back to her core value. The God that comforts her, reassures her and empowers her to keep moving forward, despite any preconceived biases that often stifle our communities. “I’m watching God” is often the proclamation about her many successes. Sharina is always erudite and well-informed. She has a vast number of academic, business, and civic accomplishments. She strives toward excellence.

Her sustainable ecosystem business model is proven by credentials earned from one of the most prestigious learning institutions in Europe.

However, she never leads a conversation with those accomplishments.

TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Sharina Perry is ranked one of Oklahoma City's Most Influential Young Professionals.

Sharina’s realm of influence and her network are extensive and broad. Literally, on a global scale, she conducts business all over the world. If you are her “friend” it is sincere and without strings.

She often uses her connections to create equitable opportunities for others with nothing expected in return.

She allows people to use her thoughts and expressions as their own for the greater good. Let me in conclusion be clear about what I have come to know about Sharina. She embodies the adage of “Lead, follow, or get out of the way”. Her least favorite thing is idle talk. When she gives you a nugget it’s your responsibility to cultivate it.

Sharina Perry has tapped into her inner power and knows herself better than most. Her holistic vision of life in balance is a quality of greatness.

She is one to watch. It has been a pleasure to work with someone of her caliber. I am a better human as a result.

This is Sharina's first appearance on our Most Influential list.

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS #31-#38

#31 Aaron Phillips AP Technology

#32 Michele Walker CORE GROUP

#33 Sean Rose Victim's Impact Panel

#34 Casey Tutor Brix Realty Group

#35 Tommie Johnson Oklahoma County Sheriff

#37 Mickey Dollens OK House of Representatives

TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

#36 Justin Smith BancFirst

#38 Sharina Perry Utopia Plastix

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS #39-#45

#39 Kyle Impson Chickasaw Nation

#40 Shanna Garrett Sold By Shanna

#41 Blake Shelton KW Realty

#42 Ashley Warlick Polston Tax

#43 Alexxander Pfeiffer Wyatt Poindexter

#44 Adam Soltani CAIR

#45 Sache Primeaux-Shaw Oklahoma Democratic Party

TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

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YOUNG PROFESSIONALS' BIGGEST NIGHT

HORIZONS THE

HONOREE

OCTOBER 13TH | AT 7:30 PM | WILL ROGERS THEATRE

Triple Crown Winner

THE 2022

HORIZONS

There's Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Awards, Album of the Year at the Grammys, Best Picture at the Oscars, and Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards. At the OKC Young Professionals' Horizon Awards, our most significant award of the night is Young Professional of the Year.

This award is given to a member who has become the exemplar of what it means to be an outstanding young professional in all aspects of their lives.

LORI HARLESS 2016-2017 Lori Harless became the first recipient of this award in 2016. She became the first person to win this award twice when she took home the honor again in 2017, and she remains the only person in history to win this award twice.

BRENT BROWN 2018 Brent won this coveted award in 2018 in a competitive category that included other nominees like Shana Lewis, Alisha Gardner, Bailey Perkins, and Lee Briggs. Brent remains the only insurance professional to win this award.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR A LOOK BACK AT PAST WINNERS

TIFFANY JOHNSON 2019 Tiffany Johnson received her first nomination in this category. If you ask her, she will tell you that she didn't think she would win. Tiffany was the first to win this award, along with another one on the same night. Previously, all YP of the Year winners had only won one award during the event.

TERRANCE CRAFT 2020 Many were surprised to learn that Terrance has never been nominated for the organization's top honor, like ever. He eventually just thought he would never have a chance at the award. All that changed in 2020 when he not only received his first nomination but won the award! He also won Young Business Owner of the Year. Terrance made history by winning in every category he was nominated in.

TAELOR CONNELL 2021 Taelor won her first Horizon Award in 2020 for Best New Young Professional. In one of the night's most significant moments, she took home Young Professional of the Year at the 2021 Horizons. She would win the award over long-time nominees such as Blake Bullard and Eliud Villarreal. Taelor made history as she became the only member to win Best New Young Professional and Young Professional of the Year. She is eligible to receive the rare Mayor Holt's Triple Crown Award.

TWO-TIME WINNER: LORI HARLESS

REALTOR ®. VETERAN.

PROUDLY SERVING YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS.

OFFICE: 405-948-7500 | MOBILE: 405-808-7030 EMAIL: BZTUBBS@GMAIL.COM

THE PROUD VETERAN I closed on a home with Benjamin Tubbs and the VA Home Team OKC, and the whole experience has just been excellent.

As a Marine Corps Veteran, I knew I was in good hands when I found out Ben is a Marine Veteran as well. Not only is he an expert on the VA Home Buying process from a real estate perspective, but he provided me insight from his experience using the VA Home Loan.

Ben is a straight shooter, and you can absolutely trust him. He really does care to help veterans, and probably really anybody looking to buy a home. This was my first home, and I made sure Ben knew that. During the process, several things happened that showed me Ben was really in for helping me find the right home.

First and foremost, the housing market is definitely a seller's market. I had to repeatedly compete with multiple offers, but Ben kept a positive attitude and never gave up!

The first home I viewed Ben took me through the house and pointed out things like wall cracks, damage, old HVAC systems, roof blisters, etc.

Things that I didn’t even think about.

TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Benjamin Tubbs is ranked one of Oklahoma City's Most Influential Young Professionals.

He could have just gone with my natural WANTS, but he showed me what I needed to learn in order to find an ideal home that wasn’t going to give me buyer’s remorse in the future. Ben has a gift to gab in the best way possible to make your offer competitive.

He’s impressionable, and he knows the market well enough to know what to expect from other buyers. Ben will often use this skill to determine the best strategy forward for writing the offer.

Ben is trustworthy, good at what he does, took great care of me, and definitely deserves your business as well. Ben is also making a huge difference with local veteran organizations by donating a portion of his earnings to these charities. Ben’s compassion and dedication is the hallmark of a Professional.

This is Benjamin's first appearance on our Most Influential list.

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THE MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS #46-#50

#46 Kaleigh Lopez OSSO Sports & Social

#50 Sam Marshall First United Bank

#47 Benjamin Tubbs VA Home Team

#48 Seth Lewis Arts Council OKC

#49 Ryan Dunn Ryan Dunn Realty

THE HUMBLE LEADER I know of no occupation, of no quote, and of no influencer greater than the ethical, profitable entrepreneur who intentionally continually mentors others. Will Blake lives this every day with and through VESTA Foundation Solutions.

Brainstorm the words/phrases with me that you think might identify a highly successful center of influence: profitable, steady sustained growth, shares what works with others, involved in the betterment of our community and others, continually improving systems, full transparency, interested in the success/the goals/attainments of team members, committed to continual learning for EVERYONE around them, ethical, hardworking, never worries about personally getting credit, caring, dedicated to studying to provide the highest quality service possible, always sharing, always mentoring and encouraging others, knows their numbers in every area of business and willingly explains why it is important.

I have just described Will Blake. Adjectives may appear subjective, but let’s look at the actual endeavors: Flint – A continual active member of this premier business TIPS club OSHBA – Taught courses for the Oklahoma Home Builders.

TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

William Blake is ranked one of Oklahoma City's Most Influential Young Professionals.

The Guild – Founding member of The Guild, an entrepreneur mastermind group and OKC metro-vetted trade group Traction – Eight-week shared book review with 8 other businesses Team Training – Weekly training with specially built pages and open to the public Training/teaching others: OSHBA, A to Z Inspections, The Guild Writing – Regular column in The City Sentinel sharing his systems and advice Construction Camp – Will Blake has led the charge for a full year to the OSU-OKC Construction Camp for 7th and 8th graders held May 23 – May 27 this year The most important quote in my life came from Earl Nightingale. Paraphrased it is: Five years from today, you will be like the people that you run with!

There is no one I’d rather run with than Will Blake.

This is William's first appearance on our Most Influential list.

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THE SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR When I think about whom I would consider the most influential young professional, Jared Goins is the first to come to mind. In my profession, I work with young professionals every day.

Often young professionals are uneasy about entering their profession and even more afraid of what their success will look like. None of the young professionals I have worked with before Jared are as driven to succeed, organized, or as disciplined as he strives to be. Today it is crucial that young adults have positive and influential role models. Young professionals such as Jared instill that hard work leads to success in young adults.

Jared has shown excellence in his profession by perfecting his industry knowledge and communicating that knowledge in a way clients understand. He gives solutions to problems and offers advice in areas clients are not familiar with. In a world driven by older professionals with certain expectations, this trait alone is extremely impressive.

Often young professionals shy away from and feel uncomfortable around those considered superiors or those with more experience in their profession.

TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Jared Goins is ranked one of Oklahoma City's Most Influential Young Professionals.

Jared instead has embraced the fact that he not only has the knowledge but the skill of excellent communication and he runs with it. I for one feel this is an extremely important professional attribute.

Managing one business as a young professional is extremely difficult. However, Jared never lets fear get in his way. Through all these business ventures and building an impressive professional image, he also maintains marriage and a beautiful home. His family remains at the top of his priorities. This proves he has excellent time management skills and manages to continue to devote his time to areas that need attention.

Not only is Jared an influential young professional to other young professionals, but to all professionals. All professionals could learn immensely from his professional excellence. His drive to succeed lacks in no area. His will to take his profession to the next level is so profound he will continue to succeed and raise the bar wherever it may take him.

This is Jared's second appearance on our Most Influential list.

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Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, in a candid interview, shared with us his thoughts on a growing Oklahoma City.

THE NEXT TEN YEARS INTERVIEW INTERVIEW WITH WITH LT. LT. GOVERNOR GOVERNOR MATT MATT PINNELL PINNELL What will Oklahoma City look like in the next ten years?

“Over the next ten years, Oklahoma City is primed to become one of the top fifteen biggest cities in America. The reason for the growth we’ve seen and will see is because of the diversification of the economy and Oklahoma City investing in itself. The MAPS program has been one of the most successful incentive programs in the country. It’s a model nationally. And Oklahoma City has worked hard to diversify its economy.

Thousands of people will move inside of Oklahoma City in the next ten years because of it.”

What industries in Oklahoma City will emerge in the next ten years?

“Our aerospace industry will probably become the number one industry as it might overcome even our energy industry in the state in the next ten years. It’s number 2 in the state right now. And as secretary of tourism, I am watching the tourism industry very closely, and OKC is a tourism destination. It truly is a ‘choose all of the above kind of tourism town. Oklahoma did a record $9.6 billion in direct spending related to tourism and had 21.5 million visitors in 2018, which was a 7.3 percent growth since 2017. Tourism creates an extremely valuable sales tax revenue for Oklahoma City. It’s an industry that is critical for the success of Oklahoma City.”

TOP 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

What do you think of the current status of workforce development in Oklahoma City?

“Workforce development is always a top priority.

When we talk to a company wanting to relocate, they want to know about our workforce development program and our public education systems. Our colleges and Career and Technology Centers play a big part in workforce development.

These schools train young Oklahomans to meet the demands of our workforce. We need to be absolutely tenacious about cultivating partnerships between institutions of secondary education and post-secondary education, and we need to be investing a proper amount of dollars into those classrooms and creating a teacher pipeline so that as teachers phase out and retire, we have a good pipeline to replace them. If we don’t do those things, then luring a large company with thousands of employees proves to be more difficult.”

OKCYP is celebrating ten years this year. Do you have anything you'd like to share?

“Oklahoma City Young Professionals has been a catalyst for OKC’s up-and-coming business leaders for a decade. Young professionals are the future of our state, and I am confident that this hardworking and passionate group will make a great impact on Oklahoma.”

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A B O U T

OKC YOUNG PROFESSIONALS The Oklahoma City Young Professionals are a group of young professionals who are seeking to gain better insight in connecting with their peers, developing their skills, and most importantly, positively impacting their community around them.

THE REAL ESTATE MOGUL HONEST.

Ryan Dunn is ranked one of Oklahoma City's Most Influential Young Professionals.

TRUSTED. ETHICAL. SKILLED. Servicing The Greater Oklahoma City and metro area.

RYAN DUNN REALTOR ® REALTOR ®

MOBILE: 405-305-1065 | EMAIL: RYANAUSTINDUNN@GMAIL.COM