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The people shaping what’s next for Oklahoma City. — including Tahnee Francis, Samantha Wolf, Shanna Yeargain and more. Influence grows where leadership, service and community take root. Presented by Oklahoma City Young Professionals

Rooted here. Influencing what’s next.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2026 Most Influential Young Professionals

Meet the Most Influential Young Professional of Oklahoma City

Meet the second ranked Most Influential Young Professional of Oklahoma City

Meet the Most Influential Young Professionals of Oklahoma City

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The Spirit of Oklahoma

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2026

MOST INFLUENTIAL

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

ROOTED IN INFLUENCE

The 2026 Most Influential Young Professionals of Oklahoma City Influence isn’t defined by a title, a corner office or the size of someone’s network. It is measured by what takes root because someone chose to lead.

The result is more than a list of names.

Across Oklahoma City, young professionals are building businesses, strengthening organizations, creating opportunities, serving their communities and opening doors for the people coming behind them. Their impact can be seen in boardrooms and classrooms, nonprofits and neighborhoods, emerging industries and established institutions. Together, they represent a generation of leaders helping shape what Oklahoma City becomes next.

Throughout these pages, you’ll meet professionals from across industries and backgrounds whose paths to influence look remarkably different. Some are entrepreneurs building organizations from the ground up. Others are transforming established companies, serving their communities, mentoring future leaders or using their platforms to create opportunities far beyond themselves.

Each year, Oklahoma City Young Professionals recognizes the Most Influential Young Professionals of Oklahoma City—individuals whose leadership, professional accomplishments, community involvement and commitment to others have distinguished them among their peers. What makes this year’s ranking particularly meaningful is who determined it.

It is a reflection of peer-recognized influence—leaders recognizing leaders.

Yet they share something important: their influence extends beyond their individual success. They are rooted in purpose. Rooted in service. Rooted in the belief that leadership carries a responsibility to leave something stronger behind. This is the 2026 Most Influential Young Professionals of Oklahoma City.

The 2026 rankings were determined by the 2026 Horizons Honoree Class, placing the decision in the hands of fellow professionals and community leaders being recognized for their own contributions to Oklahoma City. These honorees voted to identify the individuals among their peers whose leadership and influence stood out most.

ROOTED HERE. INFLUENCING WHAT’S NEXT. 5

ROOTED IN TRUST For Shanna Yeargain, influence begins with something that can’t be bought, manufactured or measured by a title: trust. For Shanna Yeargain, being recognized as one of Oklahoma City’s most influential young professionals is meaningful because of what the recognition represents. “So humbling but also so exciting to be nominated,” she says. “It’s a reminder that the work I do does not go unnoticed.” Now recognized as the #1 Most Influential Young Professional of Oklahoma City, Yeargain sees the distinction as a reflection of something she has spent years intentionally building: relationships. “It represents the relationships I’ve built, the trust I have earned, and the commitment I have made to OKCYP.” That word—trust—appears repeatedly when Yeargain describes her career, her leadership philosophy and even the people who have influenced her most. As a Real Estate Expert with Copper Creek, Yeargain works in an industry built around some of the biggest financial and personal decisions people make. Buying or selling a home can be exciting, but it can also be complicated and overwhelming. For Yeargain, influence comes from helping people understand those decisions rather than simply telling them what to do.

Shanna Yeargain

Real Estate Expert, Copper Creek R E A L E S TAT E

“Influence today isn’t about titles or numbers, it’s about trust,” she says. “It’s the ability to educate, empower, and create clarity in an often overwhelming space.” That belief has made education an important part of her professional approach. Yeargain creates content that breaks down what buying and selling real estate actually involves, giving people information they can use to become more confident participants in the process. “True influence means people not only listen to you, but feel more confident making decisions because of you.”

EDUCATION OVER SELF-PROMOTION That approach also shapes the advice Yeargain gives to professionals trying to establish themselves. Her first recommendation is simple: show up consistently. Even when it isn’t glamorous. “Build real relationships, not just networks,” she says. “And don’t underestimate the power of sharing what you know.” In an environment where professionals are constantly encouraged to promote themselves, Yeargain believes providing useful knowledge can be far more powerful. “Education builds authority and trust faster than self-promotion ever will.” Her involvement extends beyond individual clients. Yeargain actively supports local events, collaborates with small businesses and contributes to initiatives that strengthen the community and local economy. Her career has also expanded into another part of the homeownership process. She recently stepped into an additional role as a production manager for Mosaic Mortgage, broadening her experience beyond real estate and into mortgage production.

It is a move that closely aligns with the impact she hopes to make in Oklahoma City over the next several years. Yeargain wants to help make homeownership more accessible and less intimidating. She hopes to expand her educational reach, strengthen partnerships with local professionals and contribute to a community of homeowners who feel more informed and empowered. She also wants to help elevate the standard of communication and service within Oklahoma City’s mortgage industry. GROWING THROUGH CHANGE Yeargain’s professional growth has taken place alongside one of the most important parts of her life: motherhood. She identifies balancing career growth with motherhood as one of the most defining challenges of her journey. Rather than diminishing her ambition, the experience has changed the way she approaches it.

That lesson connects directly to another principle Yeargain emphasizes: adaptability. “Most importantly, stay adaptable,” she advises. “The people who grow are the ones willing to learn, pivot, and keep going.” It is an approach that leaves room for a career to evolve, priorities to change and new opportunities to emerge without losing sight of the larger purpose.

“It’s required me to become more intentional with my time, more disciplined in my work, and more focused on what truly moves the needle.” ROOTED IN THE EXAMPLE OF OTHERS When asked who has influenced her own career, Yeargain doesn’t point to a celebrity entrepreneur or nationally recognized executive.

That makes her definition of influence especially fitting.

She points to her friends.

It isn’t about titles.

“I am so inspired by my close friends who lead with both confidence and integrity,” she says. Watching them build businesses around trust, consistency and service has shaped how she approaches her own work. Those same qualities now define the influence Yeargain hopes to have on others. Her vision is not centered solely on selling more homes or advancing professionally. It is about making a complicated process easier to understand, helping people make decisions with confidence, strengthening relationships across Oklahoma City and continuing to grow without losing the values that built her career.

It isn’t about numbers. And it isn’t simply about being known. For Shanna Yeargain, influence is what happens when knowledge creates confidence, consistency creates credibility and relationships create trust. And that kind of influence has the ability to take root long after a transaction is complete. “True influence means people not only listen to you, but feel more confident making decisions because of you.”

BY THE NUMBERS

#1 2026 Most Influential Young Professional of Oklahoma City

Selected through voting by the 2026 Horizons Honoree Class

ROOTED IN COURAGE Tahnee Francis built her own lane—and learned that influence is what remains after people experience what you created.

Tahnee Francis CEO, Naija Wife Kitchen R E S TA U R A N T

For Tahnee Francis, recognition in Oklahoma City carries the feeling of a homecoming. Francis was born in Oklahoma City but moved to Dallas when she was 11 years old. Less than five years ago, she returned. Today, as CEO of Naija Wife Kitchen and the #2 Most Influential Young Professional of Oklahoma City, she views recognition from her peers as confirmation of a journey that has included accomplishment, uncertainty, resilience and rediscovery. “This nomination means so much to me,” Francis says. “I see it as an affirmation of my accomplishments and hard work after so much self doubt.” And because her story began here, the recognition carries another meaning. “This nomination is a warm welcome home.” BUILDING AN UNCONVENTIONAL PATH Francis’ list of accomplishments spans food, publishing, community service, pageantry and cultural education. She was named a 2025 James Beard Best Chef: Southwest semifinalist and was selected as a featured chef cooking at the 2026 James Beard Awards. She is a two-time published author and has served as an official caterer for the University of Oklahoma football team since 2024. Her pageantry experience includes Mrs. Garland United States of America 2020, Mrs. New Mexico United States of America 2021 and Mrs. Black Oklahoma International Ambassador 2022, where she finished as second runner-up. Yet Francis’ story becomes even more compelling when considering that she says she didn’t learn to cook until she was 30. Her career is evidence of the philosophy she now shares with others: there does not have to be an existing lane for the thing you are called to build. “If there is no lane that you fit in,” she says, “create one for yourself and drive it as fiercely as possible.”

INFLUENCE AS CULTURE Francis defines influence through what remains. “Influence in today’s world simply means lasting impact and impression,” she says. “Influence is consistency. Influence in itself is a culture.” Her work outside of the kitchen illustrates that philosophy. Through her #eatlocalokc social media series, Francis regularly highlights local restaurants and encourages her audience to support Oklahoma City’s food community. She has cooked, served and conducted demonstrations for local Girl Scout troops while teaching participants about Nigerian cuisine and culture.

She has served as a scholarship pageant judge for organizations including Delta Sorority and universities including UCO and OCU. And when SNAP benefits were temporarily shut down, Francis coordinated with local restaurants, cooked and helped serve more than 1,000 meals. Her platform, in other words, has become a way to amplify more than her own business. Her advice reflects that mindset. “Never focus on who is not supporting your mission,” Francis says. “Always spend your energy on those who are.” That lesson was not learned easily.

REFUSING TO SHRINK Francis identifies harassment as one of the most difficult challenges in her leadership journey. As an American woman cooking Nigerian food, she says she has faced criticism from people who did not believe she should be doing what she was doing. She describes being stalked online and bullied in person. “They wanted to shame me to quit,” she says. For a period, she says it almost worked. The mental toll of defending herself and her business caused her to second-guess what she was building.

“With a complete mindset change, it helped me become more confident instead of second guessing myself and shrinking into silence,” she says. “I’ve learned to live and lead out loud with humility and assurance.” That resilience extends beyond business. Francis says she nearly lost her life in the hospital 10 years ago and lives with a debilitating chronic illness. Those experiences have shaped what she hopes her success communicates to others.

Eventually, Francis changed the way she responded. While she says the behavior still happens, though less frequently, she has learned to handle it differently. CREATING PROOF THAT POSSIBILITY EXISTS Over the next several years, Francis wants her story to reach people who are struggling to imagine what comes next.

figure business and retire early.

“I hope to inspire everyone to just do it,” she says.

“He reminds me that there are no excuses,” she says. “Hard work and determination wins.”

She wants people to see the woman who didn’t learn to cook until 30. The woman who survived a lifethreatening hospitalization. The woman living with chronic illness who continued building anyway. “I want my success to impact those who are hanging on to hope but can’t see the light,” she says. “I want them to know that it is closer than they realize.” The foundation beneath that determination is deeply personal. Francis first credits her children because of the way they “root for their mama.” Then she points to her father. She describes him as an uneducated man from an underserved Oklahoma City community who never graduated high school, yet went on to own a six-

Francis remembers witnessing his work ethic every day.

Those lessons now live in the business, community work and example Francis is building for the next generation. Her influence is found in food, but it reaches beyond it. It is in culture shared. Restaurants supported. Meals served. Obstacles survived. And people encouraged to keep moving even when they cannot yet see where the road ends. For Tahnee Francis, influence is consistency—and the courage to create your own lane when one does not already exist. “I’ve learned to live and lead out loud with humility and assurance.”

#3 ROOTED IN RESILIENCE Samantha Wolf’s story is a reminder that sometimes the defining moment isn’t succeeding the first time— it’s deciding that failure will not have the final word.

Samantha Wolf Defense Attorney, Gilson Daub L AW

Samantha Wolf’s definition of influence has little to do with professional titles. “To me, influence means being the kind of person others are proud to know and learn from,” she says. “It’s not defined by a title, but by the example you set and the impact you have on those around you.” For Wolf, that definition is personal. Her career includes academic achievement, professional recognition, leadership and service. But it also includes disappointment, uncertainty and one of the most difficult experiences of her professional journey: taking the Uniform Bar Examination three times before earning the result she had worked toward. Together, those experiences have shaped the kind of attorney, educator and leader Wolf wants to become.

BUILDING A CAREER IN L AW Wolf currently serves as a Defense Attorney with Gilson Daub. Her educational journey began at Carl Albert State College, where she earned an associate degree in prelaw criminal justice in 2017. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in criminology from Oklahoma Baptist University in 2019 before earning her Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2022, along with a Certificate in Health Law. Her professional recognition includes being named an Oklahoma NextGen Under 30 honoree for Law in 2024 and an Oklahoma NextGen Under 30 honoree for Higher Education in 2025. She served on the 2024 OKCYP Nominating Committee and serves as 2026 OKCYP Treasurer. Wolf was also invited to serve as the 2025 IHS Graduation Honor Banquet Alumni Speaker and was named Gilson Daub’s Q1 Attorney of the Quarter in 2024. She holds active bar licensure in Oklahoma, the Choctaw Nation and the Cherokee Nation. But the road to licensure tested her in ways a résumé cannot fully capture.

TWO POINTS When Oklahoma transitioned to the Uniform Bar Examination, Wolf did not pass on her first attempt.

She wanted to be licensed and build the legal career she had worked toward.

The timing made the setback particularly difficult. She had recently started a position contingent upon becoming licensed.

So she tried a third time.

She stayed on, continued working full time, operated a small business and prepared to take the examination again. The second attempt brought another setback. This time, she missed the passing score by two points. “That moment was devastating,” Wolf says. She was confronting career uncertainty, the financial strain associated with bar preparation and doubts about whether she could continue putting herself through the process. But Wolf knew what she wanted.

Wolf approached the examination with renewed discipline and focus. She passed—and earned a score high enough to transfer to every UBE jurisdiction. The experience permanently shaped the way she approaches leadership. “It taught me resilience under pressure, how to move forward after setbacks, and the importance of showing up consistently even when the outcome is uncertain.” It also gave deeper meaning to a philosophy Wolf already carries with her: The worst they can do is say no. “A ‘no’ builds resilience; a ‘yes’ can change your trajectory,” she says. “Either way, you grow.”

BECOMING THE PERSON SHE ONCE NEEDED Wolf’s definition of influence is ultimately forwardlooking. “I aim to become the person I once needed— someone whose actions inspire confidence, growth, and forward movement in others.” That mission is increasingly reflected in how she sees her future in Oklahoma City. Over the next five years, Wolf hopes to mentor and support the next generation of professionals, particularly young attorneys and students entering the legal field. Through her work as an attorney and adjunct professor, she wants to help bridge the gap between

education and practice by offering practical guidance, real-world insight and encouragement to people navigating the beginning of their careers. She also wants to intentionally facilitate meaningful professional and personal connections. Wolf moved to Oklahoma City for law school and understands firsthand how important it is to find a community that supports both professional growth and a sense of belonging. Her goal is to help create those opportunities for others—building a network that is collaborative, supportive and driven.

TH E PEOPLE WHO SHAPED HER Wolf credits both personal and professional influences for shaping her leadership. Her mother has been a constant source of inspiration. Wolf watched her build a nursing career from the ground up, beginning as a student when Wolf was young and eventually advancing into leadership roles. From her mother, Wolf learned hard work, resilience and the importance of consistently showing up. Professionally, she credits Tim Reese, her first supervisor after law school, with having a profound impact on her development as an attorney. Reese taught her the fundamentals of workers’ compensation law, but also demonstrated how to practice with integrity—advocating effectively for clients while maintaining respectful relationships

with opposing counsel. Together, those influences helped define the professional Wolf strives to become. And she continues to measure that growth through one question: Would the younger version of me be proud of who I am today? For Samantha Wolf, influence is not perfection. It is becoming the person who keeps going, remains willing to take the risk and then reaches back to help someone else move forward. “Be fearless, stay driven, and trust that the doors meant for you will open when you have the courage to knock.”

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

Lauren Hill

Producer • United Insurance & Risk Management

LE AD I N G WI TH O PTI M I SM

INSURANCE

Lauren Hill sees influence in the everyday moments that shape how people experience a workplace, a business and a community. As a producer with United Insurance & Risk Management, Hill has built confidence by continually learning the industry and developing the expertise needed to advise clients with clarity. That commitment to growth is rooted in an earlier chapter of life. Becoming a mother at a young age pushed Hill to step into unfamiliar responsibilities, moving from server to bartender to manager while developing the customerservice and people skills that now distinguish a career in insurance. Hill also serves on the OKCYP Board and volunteers with St. John the Baptist and St. Elizabeth’s. The goal for the years ahead is broader than individual success: create opportunities, mentor others and contribute to a collaborative Oklahoma City. Hill’s philosophy remains refreshingly simple—bring a positive outlook, keep learning and leave people better than you found them.

Katelyn Gleason-Dockery

Development Manager • Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

CONN EC TI O N AS SERVI CE

NON-PROFIT

Katelyn Gleason-Dockery has made community involvement a defining thread of a career in nonprofit development. At the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Gleason-Dockery works in a field built around service, but the commitment extends well beyond a professional title. Leadership roles have included the Young Professionals Board at Sunbeam Family Services, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, Young Non-Profit Professionals and Moore Involved. Gleason-Dockery has also volunteered with Serve Moore during tornado recovery and community rebuilding and has participated in leadership programs across the metro, including Leadership Norman, Leadership Moore and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Leadership Class. For Gleason-Dockery, influence begins with authentic connection. Trust grows when people bring a genuine presence to relationships and remain willing to learn. That perspective turns networking into something more meaningful than exchanging contacts: it becomes a way to connect people, strengthen organizations and help an entire community move forward together.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

Joshua Walters

Owner/Producer • Joshua Walters - Safeguard Insurance

E ARN I N G TH E TR U ST

INSURANCE (FINANCIAL)

Joshua Walters approaches influence as something earned, not assumed. The owner and producer behind Safeguard Insurance has learned that professional credibility grows through action: getting outside a comfort zone, meeting people, making the call when motivation is low and consistently demonstrating value. A graduate of the 2024 OKCYP Young Professionals Leadership Program, Walters credits one of the most important lessons in leadership to learning how to earn respect rather than demand it. That distinction now shapes the kind of insurance professional Walters wants to become. The long-term goal is straightforward—to be the person clients and colleagues instinctively trust when an insurance question or need arises. Walters credits TK Hendrickson with providing the push to enter insurance and sales and with supplying tools that helped establish the career. In a profession built on relationships and confidence, Walters is focused on becoming a trusted resource through persistence, service and the willingness to keep showing up.

Benjamin Tubbs

Founder and CEO • VA Home Team OKC

S ERVI CE AS A STA N DA R D

R E A L E S TAT E

Benjamin Tubbs measures influence through responsibility. A former United States Marine and founder of VA Home Team OKC, Tubbs has built a real estate career around serving military families and creating a standard others can trust. The team has closed more than 500 homes and $150 million in volume, while Tubbs has earned national and local recognition for production and leadership. Service remains central to the work: more than $250,000 has been donated to veteran-focused organizations. Tubbs’ leadership was shaped early by instability, independence before age 16 and demanding military roles that reinforced discipline and accountability. Those experiences now inform the way Tubbs develops a growing team and approaches clients. The next chapter includes expanding support for veterans and active-duty families, advocating for better access to earned benefits and developing leaders inside the organization. For Tubbs, visibility is not influence. Consistency, integrity and being dependable when it matters most are.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

Brenna Noble

Sales and Marketing Coordinator • Essential Offices

CURI O U S B Y D ESI G N

SHARED OFFICE SPACE

Brenna Noble has turned curiosity into a community-building strategy. At Essential Offices, Noble created a monthly panel series that brings together authors, nonprofit leaders, small-business owners, artists and fundraisers to discuss issues shaping Oklahoma City. Outside the office, Noble founded Humans Meeting Humans, helped develop OKCYP’s first referral group and has supported local organizations through grants, systems, education and event work. An earlier career in federal grant writing and project management helped secure more than $47 million across 30-plus programs, adding another dimension to a remarkably varied professional toolkit. Noble once viewed an unconventional path as something to fear; now, the ability to pivot is an advantage. A therapist’s advice to enter opportunities with curiosity helped reshape that perspective. The result is a leadership style centered on connection, experimentation and sharing resources freely. Noble’s next goal is simple in concept but expansive in reach: connect more of the people doing transformative work across Oklahoma City.

Cate Decker

Team Lead, Ticket Sales • OKC Thunder

OPE N I N G DOO R S

SALES

Cate Decker arrived in Oklahoma City in 2020 with a goal of building a career in sports and making an impact beyond the job itself. Six years later, Decker has been promoted five times with the Oklahoma City Thunder, leads and coaches a team of four and has earned a place in the organization’s Million Dollar Club for three consecutive years. Decker also helped coordinate the inaugural Women in Business Summit, an initiative that has grown to more than 700 women leaders, and has contributed to programs focused on employee recognition, career development and the fan experience. Working in a male-dominated industry has required Decker to tune out external noise and remain focused on personal goals and values. That experience now informs the way Decker coaches others. The next chapter is about continuing to grow inside the Thunder organization while expanding opportunities for emerging leaders. For Decker, influence means bringing people together—and opening doors once inside.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

Danielle Wodka

Group Sales Manager • OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

BUIL T TH R O U G H CO N N ECTI O N

H O S P I TA L I T Y

Danielle Wodka believes relationships drive results. As group sales manager at OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark, Wodka is helping introduce one of Oklahoma City’s newest hospitality destinations to meeting planners, conferences and organizations. The work builds on a career recognized with Oklahoma’s 2025 Meeting Professional of the Year honor, a 2026 RISE Award finalist distinction and a Certified Faith-Based Meeting Planner credential. Wodka’s leadership developed through a challenge familiar to many emerging professionals: learning to lead through influence before having formal authority. Building credibility across teams required more than producing results; it required listening carefully, anticipating needs and aligning people around a shared goal. That experience created a collaborative, trust-driven leadership style. Looking ahead, Wodka wants to help position Oklahoma City as a premier national destination for meetings and tourism. The philosophy behind that ambition is practical: being seen may create an introduction, but being useful, reliable and prepared is what sustains influence.

Shamiah Evans

Lead Wealth Advisor • Oklahoma Financial Center

WEALTH WI TH PU R PO SE

FINANCIAL PLANNING/WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Shamiah Evans has built a career around helping people approach wealth with intention. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and lead wealth advisor at Oklahoma Financial Center, Evans combines a finance background with experience in real estate and insurance to provide strategic, personalized guidance. Leadership extends well beyond financial planning. Evans has served as Treasurer and Secretary of Oklahoma City Young Professionals, completed TEAM South through the South Oklahoma City Chamber and received an Excellence in Leadership Award in 2024 before being named among OKCYP’s Top 50 Young Professionals in 2025. Community service is equally central to the profile. Evans serves as a Mentor Leader with Cocoa Initiative, a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters, a volunteer with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and an active servant leader through church. Across each role, the common thread is investment—helping people build stronger financial futures while also investing time, mentorship and leadership into the community around them.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#10

Stefani Heller

Community Relations Coordinator • First Med Urgent Care

CREATI N G SPACE FO R OTH ER S

HEALTHCARE

Stefani Heller has built a career around connecting people, resources and ideas. As community relations coordinator for First Med Urgent Care—and previously community relations director for Oklahoma County—Heller has worked at the intersection of service, access and community building. That work extends into Oklahoma City’s creative community through Heller Music Group and Women in the Studio, along with leadership and event roles spanning arts, civic and nonprofit organizations. The path was not linear. Leaving law school forced Heller to trust an instinct that a more creative, community-centered career was the right fit. Later, leaving a workplace whose culture no longer aligned with personal values reinforced another lesson: how people feel inside an organization matters as much as the mission on paper. Heller now leads with that understanding, creating environments where people can grow. The next five years are focused on strengthening connections across healthcare, the arts and community initiatives while expanding opportunities for local creatives.

#10

Jordan Miller

CEO & Founder • Generation Why

IMPACT OVER I N FLU EN CE

NON- PROFIT

Jordan Miller prefers a different measure than influence: impact. As founder and CEO of Generation Why, Miller has helped grow an idea started by a group of college students into an organization that has reached nearly half a million young people over eight years. Generation Why now impacts approximately 12,000 students annually through a traveling team, operates a mentorship site and supports young adults moving from transitional living toward sustainable housing and greater stability. The organization was featured in Forbes in 2024 and has also provided hundreds of families with free school supplies. Miller’s leadership philosophy is concise—see a need and fill it. The future vision includes after-school creative arts programming in underserved communities and stronger pathways connecting students with employment and mentorship. Family remains the highest accomplishment, while Miller credits both parents with modeling hard work, love and faith. The mission continues to be bigger than visibility: help people discover purpose and build a life around it.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#11

Brittany Wong-Ellis

Group Sales Manager • OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark

T URN I N G D I FFER EN CE I N TO A DVA N TAG E Brittany Wong-Ellis has learned to treat difference as a professional advantage. A senior staff software engineer at NAVEX, Wong-Ellis has led more than 10 large-scale migrations to Power BI, helping companies make data-driven decisions that have saved millions of dollars. The path into technology was a second career, and early years brought intense imposter syndrome. Experience changed that internal narrative. After leading major analytics initiatives across large organizations, Wong-Ellis now approaches the work with confidence in both technical skill and perspective. As a Black woman and first-generation American, WongEllis recognizes that a different life experience can surface ideas others in the room may overlook. That insight has become part of a leadership style that encourages speaking up, proposing new approaches and continually investing in knowledge. The next goal extends that philosophy to the next generation: build a mentorship program for minority high school students in STEM and provide scholarships that expand access to college.

#12

Anamayan Narendran Attorney • Hall Booth Smith, P.C.

CREDI B I LI TY TH R O U G H CO N SI STEN CY

LEGAL

Anamayan Narendran has built a young legal career around preparation, trust and disciplined growth. An attorney with Hall Booth Smith, Narendran has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Insurance Law and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, named to The Journal Record’s Power List for Young Legal Professionals and honored with the Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. The accomplishments are grounded in a journey that began as a first-generation college and law student navigating law school during the COVID-19 pandemic in a new state without an established network. That experience reinforced the value of mentorship, adaptability and asking the right questions. Narendran defines influence as the ability to earn trust and create meaningful impact through consistent action. Looking ahead, the goal is to deepen involvement in organizations focused on mentorship, education and public service while continuing to deliver high-quality legal work and leave Oklahoma City’s professional community stronger than before.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#13

Miriam Ortega

Director of Alumni Enagagment • Oklahoma City University

LE AD I N G WI TH A R M S STR ETCH ED O U T

E D U C AT I O N

Miriam Ortega has spent much of a career creating space for other people to be seen. As director of alumni engagement at Oklahoma City University, Ortega brings that same instinct to a broader record of service across education, youth development, the arts and cultural initiatives. Board and leadership roles have included C.I.E.L.O. at the OU Stephenson Cancer Center, OKCLYP, the Oklahoma Zoological Society and the Dove Science Academy Schools Foundation. Ortega has also helped expand education access in South Oklahoma City, launch a free educational cancer conference and support long-term youth film education. Recognition, however, has required a different kind of growth: learning to receive. Ortega describes influence as leading with arms stretched out—one reaching toward what comes next and the other bringing someone along. That image captures a career built around mentorship and access. The next five years remain rooted in Oklahoma City, with continued work across youth development, arts and cultural infrastructure.

#14

Andres Gonzalez

Sales Consultant Custom Home Builder • Two Structures Homes

PURPO SE TH R O U G H SERVI CE

R E A L E S TAT E

Andres Gonzalez found professional purpose after a period of uncertainty. A former collegiate baseball player at Mid-America Christian University, Gonzalez earned an MBA while balancing athletics and professional responsibilities, then eventually found a career in homebuilding and real estate. At Two Structures Homes, Gonzalez works with families pursuing homeownership while advocating for affordable housing and first-time buyer education. The opportunity, provided by Jay Evans, changed the direction of a career that had previously felt unsettled. Gonzalez now views leadership through service: use knowledge to educate, encourage and elevate the people around you. Faith is central to that philosophy, as is a belief that success should be measured by the impact created for others. Looking ahead, Gonzalez hopes to expand opportunities for affordable homeownership while investing in young people through mentorship and encouragement. Family and a fiancée remain the grounding force behind the work, reinforcing a commitment to lead with optimism, values and service.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#15

Ashley Simpson

Executive Director • Cavett Kids Foundation

LE AD I N G WI TH LOVE

NON-PROFIT

Ashley Simpson has spent 14 years turning compassion into infrastructure for children and families facing serious illness. As executive director of the Cavett Kids Foundation, Simpson has helped expand programming, grow the organization’s reach and lead revenue beyond the $1 million mark for the first time in its history. Earlier milestones included growing the Diversionary Play Program to reach more than 15,000 children annually and setting a single-year service record of more than 21,000 children. Simpson’s leadership has also been tested through seasons of operating as the foundation’s only employee, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic with a medically fragile population and rebuilding teams when stability mattered most. Those experiences reinforced a philosophy captured in a simple personal prayer: “Lead with love.” Simpson wants Cavett Kids to become a household name across Oklahoma—not for recognition alone, but so every family facing a life-threatening diagnosis knows where to find support, belonging and hope.

#16

Kaitlyn Weldon

Coordinator, Social Media & Internal Communications • Rose State College

S HAP I N G WH AT CO M ES N EXT

MARKETING / HIGHER E D U C AT I O N

Kaitlyn Weldon sees influence as the ability to shift outcomes for the better. At Rose State College, Weldon works at the intersection of marketing, communication and higher education while maintaining a strong commitment to Oklahoma history and civic service. Recognition has included COWGIRL Magazine’s 30 Under 30, NextGen Under 30 Oklahoma in Higher Education, the OKCYP Founder’s Award and graduation from the OKCYP Young Professionals Leadership Program. In 2026, Weldon was appointed to the Oklahoma Historical Society board, adding a new platform for preserving and sharing the state’s story. The leadership philosophy is grounded in curiosity: ask questions, seek out situations that teach something new and be generous with knowledge once it is gained. Weldon believes challenges are inevitable; the response is what distinguishes a leader. Looking ahead, the goal is to help the next generation of Oklahomans through higher education while amplifying the importance of preserving the history that shaped the state.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#17

Alexandra Coleman-Young District Director • Last Frontier Council - Scouting America

S HOWI N G U P WI TH PU R PO SE

NONPROFIT

Alexandra Coleman-Young has built a leadership career around relationships, resilience and the belief that influence is measured by how people feel after an interaction. As district director with the Last Frontier Council of Scouting America, Coleman-Young has earned organizational honors including Relationship Builder, Intrepid Spirit and Rookie of the Year while completing multiple leadership-development programs. The work is demanding, and the path has required navigating significant health challenges that can make simply showing up an accomplishment. Rather than allowing those challenges to define the work, ColemanYoung has spent years building systems of support and learning how to bring the strongest possible self to each responsibility. That experience has sharpened a belief that leadership is not just about who you know, but how consistently you encourage, connect and support people. Whether through Scouting or broader community involvement, Coleman-Young intends to keep contributing wherever an opportunity exists to strengthen Oklahoma City and the people who call it home.

#18

Ben Ball

Financial Advisor • Northwestern Mutual

AMBITI O N WI TH PATI EN C E

FINANCE

Ben Ball has learned that meaningful growth requires both ambition and patience. As a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual, Ball has built a career around trust, consistency and helping people make confident decisions about the future. Community service has played an equally important role in that development, particularly through the Children’s Health Foundation, where Ball has served in leadership with the organization’s young professionals board after earlier involvement with a collegiate fundraising effort at Oklahoma City University. The challenge has been learning not to measure progress only by speed. Ball describes a natural instinct to move quickly, take on more and expect immediate results, but experience has shown that durable relationships and opportunities often develop over time. That lesson now shapes a broader vision for Oklahoma City. As the city continues to evolve, Ball wants to build meaningful connections, create opportunities and contribute to growth that strengthens the community. Influence, in Ball’s view, is earned when people know they can rely on you.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#19

Cody Hajek

CEO • CrossFit Never Broken

T HE N EVER B R O K EN M I N D SET

HEALTH/FITNESS

Cody Hajek has spent a career refining what leadership looks like in practice. As CEO of CrossFit Never Broken, Hajek has helped inspire fellow entrepreneurs to launch businesses while using fitness and community events as platforms for service. The leadership style has changed significantly since military service. Hajek describes an earlier approach as direct and uncompromising, but experience revealed that people respond differently to coaching, accountability and motivation. Learning to adapt communication without lowering standards became a defining leadership lesson. That evolution now informs the culture behind the “Never Broken Mindset”—an approach centered on resilience, personal growth and the belief that difficult circumstances do not have to dictate the outcome. Over the next five years, Hajek hopes to acquire an existing CrossFit gym as a second location and expand the reach of that philosophy. The goal is bigger than fitness alone: create an environment where discipline, community and stronger habits help people change what they believe is possible.

#20

Cameron Wilson

Founder / Owner • TTM Restaurant Group, L.L.C.

T RUST B U I LT OVER TI M E

H O S P I TA L I T Y

Cameron Wilson has built entrepreneurship around a simple principle: trust compounds. As founder and owner of TTM Restaurant Group, Wilson has paired business growth with sustained involvement in Oklahoma City’s entrepreneurial and civic community. Service includes helping organize 1 Million Cups OKC, serving on the Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s Second Century Board and participating in multiple area chambers of commerce. The most important leadership shift, however, happened inside the business. Wilson had to learn to step back, stop carrying every responsibility personally and trust a team to lead. Empowering others strengthened the organization’s culture and created room for growth. That lesson now shapes a larger ambition for the next five years: strengthen Oklahoma City’s small-business and entrepreneurial ecosystem by creating jobs, developing leaders and building environments where people can succeed. Wilson defines influence through consistency—doing what you say, showing up for people and building credibility one interaction at a time. The result is leadership designed to outlast any single venture.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#21

David Ortiz

Vice President • Legacy and Succession

BUILDI N G B EYO N D TH E B U SI N ESS

FINANCIAL SERVICES

David Ortiz works at the intersection of business ownership, financial planning and what comes next. As vice president of Legacy and Succession, Ortiz helps business owners think beyond day-to-day operations toward succession, opportunity and generational wealth. That mission is reflected in the Oklahoma Exit Planning Society, which Ortiz founded, along with service on the Financial Planning Association of Central Oklahoma board and involvement with the Oklahoma City Estate Planning Council and Oklahoma Municipal Contractors Association. The path has included a humbling entrepreneurial chapter. An attempt to build a business independently did not unfold as expected, forcing Ortiz to confront pride, redefine failure and become more receptive to guidance. The experience strengthened a leadership philosophy centered on creative problem-solving and authentic credibility. Looking ahead, Ortiz wants to help owners transition out of businesses in ways that preserve opportunity for employees while strengthening family wealth. For Ortiz, influence begins when expertise is used to solve difficult problems—and create options that did not exist before.

#22

Jerrell Mure

Financial Advisor • MassMutual

CONFI D EN C E EA R N ED TH R O U G H EXPER I EN C E Jerrell Mure entered financial services directly from graduate school with a strong academic foundation in mathematics—and a persistent question about whether clients would value advice from someone so young. Nearly a decade later, that early imposter syndrome has been replaced by experience. Mure has built a six-figure business, served hundreds of clients and earned a broad set of financial-services licenses, including Series 6, 63, 65 and 7 credentials. The journey has shaped a nuanced view of influence. In an environment saturated with information and conflicting financial advice, Mure sees influence as something developed over time through credibility, education and the ability to help people make sense of complex choices. The next five years are focused on building a larger financialplanning practice while extending financial education beyond individual client relationships. Mure envisions creating a platform where more people can access clear, comfortable conversations about money—and develop the confidence to make decisions that support long-term financial well-being.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#23

Kency Duarte Owner • Arledge

DE VE LO PI N G PEO PLE, N OT J U ST R ESU LTS

ACCOUNTING

Kency Duarte has built leadership around the idea that professional growth should create opportunities for other people to grow, too. As an owner at Arledge, Duarte works with clients across multiple sectors while helping guide teams, improve internal operations and develop emerging leaders inside the firm. Community involvement includes service on the board of The Care Center, extending that commitment to organizations supporting Oklahoma families and children. Duarte defines influence through consistency, trust and the cumulative effect of how a leader communicates and shows up over time. One of the most important lessons has been learning to balance approachability with decisiveness. Early instincts leaned toward accommodation; leadership required becoming comfortable setting expectations, making difficult calls and communicating clearly without losing empathy. Looking ahead, Duarte wants to continue strengthening both the firm and Oklahoma City’s broader business community through mentorship, client relationships and leadership development. The measure of success is not simply personal advancement, but how many people are better equipped to lead because of the opportunity.

#24

Josh Kardatzke

President • Electrical Solutions of Oklahoma, Inc.

BE T T I N G O N G R OWTH

CONSTRUCTION

Josh Kardatzke represents a part of Oklahoma City’s young professional community that is sometimes overlooked: the skilled trades. As president of Electrical Solutions of Oklahoma, Kardatzke has helped lead a company recognized as a 2025 Top Workplaces in Oklahoma honoree while serving on boards for the South Oklahoma City Chamber, Del City Chamber and AGC Construction Leadership Council. The current role followed a significant career pivot. After helping a large auto-body organization grow from two to 36 locations, Kardatzke entered the electrical industry in 2023 without a background in the trade. Starting over required humility, rapid learning and the confidence to contribute while earning credibility from experienced professionals. That experience reinforced a willingness to bet on growth before feeling completely ready. Over the next five years, Kardatzke wants Electrical Solutions to help deliver lasting projects across Oklahoma City while developing leaders inside the company. Building the city matters—but building people alongside it matters just as much.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#25

Gabriel Phong Ngo

Associate Attorney • Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

INFLU EN C E AS STEWA R D SH I P

L AW

Gabriel Phong Ngo views influence as stewardship: the responsibility to use time, talent, relationships and opportunity in service of something beyond personal advancement. An associate attorney with Steptoe & Johnson, Ngo practices family law, guiding clients through divorce, child support, guardianships and other deeply personal matters. The work has already included successfully litigating a contested guardianship that removed a child from an unsafe home. Ngo’s academic record includes graduating in the top 10 of the law school class, induction into the Order of the Coif and earlier graduation summa cum laude from the University of Oklahoma. As a first-generation law student, Ngo often navigated unfamiliar territory without close examples to follow, an experience that strengthened self-direction and resilience. That background now fuels a commitment to mentorship. Over the next five years, Ngo hopes to become a trusted advocate while creating clearer pathways for students and young professionals who may lack traditional access to professional networks, guidance and opportunity.

#26

Dylan Jarvis

Commercial Lending • Great Plains Bank

LIS T E N FI R ST, SO LVE SECO N D

BANKING

Dylan Jarvis has built a career around a lesson learned the hard way: success requires structure as much as ambition. Early in a sales career at Enterprise Fleet Management, the freedom of managing an independent schedule created challenges with distraction, motivation and performance. Jarvis responded by calling top performers and studying the habits behind consistent results. The lessons—plan ahead, protect high-value time and approach sales as problem-solving— changed the trajectory of the career. Today, Jarvis works in commercial lending at Great Plains Bank and has earned repeated sales and operational recognition while mentoring younger professionals and serving as treasurer for the HALO Project Young Professionals Board. Jarvis defines influence as a combination of goodness and expertise: credibility matters most when people also trust the person delivering it. In Oklahoma City, Jarvis hopes to continue helping businesses and individuals access the capital needed to grow. The guiding principle remains consultative: listen carefully, identify the real problem and create value from there.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#27

Chris Bouziden

Managing Partner • Milestone Valuation

LE AD I N G B Y EXA M PLE

R E A L E S TAT E APPRAISAL

#28

Chris Bouziden believes influence loses its power when words and actions do not match. As managing partner of Milestone Valuation, Bouziden has built a leadership philosophy around modeling the same standards expected from colleagues and peers. That perspective was shaped through a career that included multiple changes. Bouziden found success in previous roles but recognized that comfort was not the same as fulfillment. Choosing uncertainty over familiarity eventually opened the door to business ownership and reinforced the value of taking thoughtful risks. Community involvement includes volunteering at Scissortail Park and the Myriad Botanical Gardens, giving time back to the city that has become home. Bouziden also sees the most meaningful long-term influence much closer to home: raising three young children with a wife and hoping kindness and leadership carry into the next generation. A former manager, Larry Patrick, provided an early example of patient leadership and initiative—lessons Bouziden continues to carry into business ownership today.

Victor Jose Cantu

VP, Relationship Manager • MidFirst Bank

T RUST WI TH O U T TH E TI TLE

BANKING

Victor Jose Cantu began a banking career as a teller and advanced through branch management into commercial lending, eventually becoming a vice president and relationship manager covering multiple markets. The progression includes an MBA, sales-production recognition and leadership roles with Oklahoma City nonprofit organizations. Cantu’s definition of influence reflects that journey: title and tenure matter less than whether people seek your counsel, trust your judgment and want you in the room when decisions are being made. Personal adversity has sharpened that perspective. Losing a parent young, rebuilding after difficult relationships and learning to manage health challenges required resilience that never appears on a résumé but deeply shapes leadership. Cantu now wants to participate in Oklahoma City’s next chapter of growth while ensuring opportunity reaches people who have long called the city home. The model comes from Cantu’s mother, whose determination moved a family from poverty to stability and demonstrated that influence begins with persistence, responsibility and the example set every day.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#29

Mikha Slone

Associate • Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

T HE CO U R AG E TO STA R T OVER

L AW

Mikha Slone knows that professional momentum sometimes requires beginning again. An associate with Steptoe & Johnson, Slone graduated cum laude from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, earned multiple academic honors and has published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal. Slone also serves in leadership with the Military Spouse J.D. Network and the American Bar Association. The defining challenge has been repeated relocation as a military spouse—from Baton Rouge to Enid and eventually Oklahoma City—each move requiring a new professional network, community and support system. Rather than treating those transitions as interruptions, Slone learned to approach change with resilience, curiosity and intentional relationshipbuilding. That experience shapes a definition of influence centered on earning trust through quality work and using professional standing to help others advance. Over the next five years, Slone hopes to continue growing as an attorney while mentoring emerging professionals and strengthening Oklahoma City through service. The goal is not simply to rebuild a network, but to create one that opens doors for others.

#30

Dylan Branstetter

Vice President • Total Demolition Services, llc

BUILDI N G WH AT L ASTS

CONSTRUCTION

Dylan Branstetter has learned that leadership is measured not only by what gets built at work, but by what remains strong at home. As vice president of Total Demolition Services, Branstetter has taken on leadership within the construction industry, including service with the AGC Specialty Contractors Committee Construction Leadership Council. The most defining challenge has been learning to balance professional responsibility with being present for a wife and three sons. Early in the journey, work could easily consume the available time; experience changed the definition of success. Branstetter now leads with greater intentionality, recognizing that achievement carries little value if the people closest to a leader receive what is left over. That lesson was modeled by Branstetter’s father, who built a successful company from the ground up while continuing to show up for school, sports and family milestones. Over the next five years, Branstetter hopes to strengthen Oklahoma City through lasting relationships, meaningful projects and opportunities that help others move forward.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#31

Dillon Bellamy

District Engineer • Spinnaker Oilfield Services

BUIL D I N G TH E N EXT N ETWO R K

OIL & GAS

#32

Dillon Bellamy has focused much of a professional life on making the early-career journey less isolating for the people coming next. A district engineer with Spinnaker Oilfield Services, Bellamy has devoted significant volunteer energy to young professionals and college students through the Society of Petroleum Engineers, including leadership as Young Professionals Chair. The mission grew from firsthand experience with how difficult it can be to build a network and find mentors at the beginning of a career. Bellamy’s own resilience was tested after losing a job five years into professional life, a setback that forced a reassessment of identity, direction and opportunity. Rather than retreat, Bellamy continued building connections and found renewed purpose in helping others navigate similar uncertainty. Oklahoma City is home, and the long-term vision is a city where talented young professionals see reasons to stay, contribute and grow. Bellamy credits industry leaders—especially Byron Cottingham—with demonstrating how thoughtful leadership can create a ripple effect across an entire professional community.

Ben Osborn

Commercial Banker • Arvest

SAY YES TO TH E O PPO R TU N I TY

BANKING

Ben Osborn did not begin college with a clear career map. After changing majors seven times, leaving school and entering the workforce, Osborn eventually realized that a different future would require a deliberate reset. The decision to return for an MBA came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when classes, networking and relationship-building had to be navigated through screens. That uncertainty ultimately became part of a career in commercial banking with Arvest and a growing commitment to Oklahoma City. Osborn has served for three years on the Flight for Futures Young Professionals Board and joined the American Cancer Society Cattle Baron’s Ball Committee. The leadership philosophy is rooted in openness: join organizations that genuinely interest you and say yes to opportunities before knowing exactly where each one will lead. Looking ahead, Osborn is especially interested in the continued development of downtown Oklahoma City and the possibilities surrounding the new arena. A small-businessowner father remains the model for meeting challenges with contagious tenacity.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

#33

Peter Shadid

Attorney - Of Counsel • Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

A LIFE’ S WO R K

L AW

Peter Shadid understands influence as something earned slowly, through hundreds of decisions that rarely attract attention. An Of Counsel attorney with Steptoe & Johnson, Shadid previously served as an Oklahoma County assistant district attorney, trying more than 20 jury cases to verdict and handling appellate matters before the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. The transition into private practice broadened the definition of leadership. Where prosecution demanded decisive action under pressure, private practice reinforced the importance of judgment, listening and understanding what is truly best for the person relying on counsel. Shadid’s professional foundation reaches back to grandfather Charles Albert Shadid, whose 70-year legal career first made law feel like a life’s work. Parents, wife Lauren and children have further shaped the standard. Looking ahead, Shadid wants to build a strong practice while mentoring younger professionals and investing in Oklahoma City institutions. The ultimate measure is not personal accomplishment, but how many people move forward because help was offered.

#34

Josh Desmond

Associate • Steptoe-Johnson PLLC

T RUST TH E PR OC ESS

LEGAL

Josh Desmond defines influence through character, decision-making and the example a person leaves in everyday interactions. An associate with Steptoe & Johnson, Desmond pairs legal work with community service as a board member for Arise Single Moms Ministry, a volunteer with Hot Dogs for the Homeless and community cleanups, and a youth sports coach. The leadership philosophy has been shaped by learning to listen more carefully, ask better questions and accept that growth does not require having every answer. Desmond describes resilience and perseverance as close companions—qualities strengthened by community rather than isolation. Two mentors helped form that outlook: a high school basketball coach who taught trust in the process over the result, and a church advisor who reinforced the value of listening, fairness and character. As Oklahoma City grows, Desmond hopes to contribute through service, homeless outreach, civic beautification and future leadership opportunities. The aim is simple: step into each role with grace, kindness and a willingness to serve.

MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | 2026

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Most Influential Young Professionals 2026