Oklahomans of the Year

To ensure any effort succeeds, a leader must emerge to pioneer the way. Someone intelligent and driven, but also kind, charismatic and trustworthy. Oklahoma has a multitude of such leaders – people who are passionate about our state and those within it. They are transforming Oklahoma through their work, whether it’s in healthcare, government leadership, law, education, tribal affairs or community development. We shine a spotlight on eight of these innovators, those who truly deserve the title of Oklahoman of the Year.

By Kimberly Burk, Gretchen Eichenberg & Tracy LeGrand

Deputy Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation

The Cherokee Nation’s new $18 million residential drug treatment facility is scheduled to open in late 2025. But if Deputy Chief Bryan Warner has his way, it will not open until it’s properly staffed. 

The 17,000-square-foot space, currently under construction in Tahlequah, will fulfill its mission only if the right people are running it, Warner says, and the tribe has created a $5 million endowment to get people certified in behavioral health and substance abuse disorders.

“I’m a very human-centered individual,” Warner says. “I care about what happens to the individual.”

Modern facilities are great, Warner says, and multi-million dollar projects are going up across the reservation. But to fight substance abuse and mental health disorders, he says, “we need to make sure we are building state-of-the-art people. We want to spend less time treating diseases and more time building dreams.”

When decisions are made about the wellbeing of tribal citizens, Warner says, “we take principles to the boardroom.” Warner is guided by his oath of office. He first became deputy chief in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023. When he took that oath, Warner swore that he would “do everything within his power to promote the culture, heritage and traditions of the Cherokee Nation.” And all of that, he says, has its roots in preserving the Cherokee language.

“It is the heart and soul of who we are as a people,” he says. “Losing the language would lose a vital part of our history.”

In a nation with more than 468,000 citizens, only about 1,500 first-language speakers remain. The tribe’s investment in language-learning programs and facilities is sweeping. For children, there’s an elementary immersion school, with ground recently broken on a middle school. And adults are paid to spend two years in a program where they study the language, all day, every day.

Warner, a native of Sallisaw, is a former science teacher for whom all facets of education are a priority. Nearly 7,000 Cherokee citizens are studying with the help of undergraduate scholarships, and childhood development centers are being built or refurbished across eastern Oklahoma. 

When it comes to serving the needs of the Cherokee citizens, Warner and Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. answer their telephones, Warner says.

“The citizens can access their chiefs and tribal councilors pretty easily,” says Warner, “and they do it daily.”

One result of those calls was a realization that cancer is a significant burden for the Nation, Warner says, which led to a partnership with the University of Oklahoma’s Stephenson Cancer Center. Tribal investment will bolster the center’s research efforts and allow for expansion into eastern Oklahoma.

Warner mentions one of his proudest achievements is getting to know Hoskin when the Principal Chief was secretary of state, and learning just how well the two work together. Warner says they have made great strides in language revitalization.

“We have to save our language,” he says. “But better than that, we have to use it. I am extremely proud of those efforts.”

– KB

Richard P. Lofgren, MD, MPH, FACP, has been a physician, a researcher, a medical school faculty member and a health system administrator, but he’s always had the same goal.

“To build a better healthcare system,” he says. “We have a healthcare delivery system that’s incredibly clumsy.”

He aims to fix that. In 2022, Lofgren became the inaugural president and chief executive officer of OU Health, a unified academic health system of hospitals, clinics and centers of excellence.

“It’s one of the responsibilities of our academic health system to work on those issues,” he continues. “How can we make our care more accessible? When you are sick, you don’t want to focus on bureaucracy.”

Lofgren says he wants OU Health to be the destination of choice for people who have complex, life-altering problems. Improved healthcare delivery “is a significant need in our state,” he says. “We rank near the bottom in nearly every healthcare measure.”

Lifesaving and life-altering services need to be available to everyone in the state, regardless of geography and finances, he believes. 

“The backbone of care in our state is delivered by our rural and regional hospitals,” he says. “Any care that can occur locally should occur locally.”

To make those goals a reality, Lofgren needs the right people. One of his proudest achievements so far is “assembling what I think is an outstanding leadership team. This is probably the most effective team I’ve had the opportunity to work with.” 

Cancer care has always been a target area at OU Health.

“Our goal is to eliminate the scourge of cancer, and the best place to do that is with early detection and prevention,” he says. “We are doing mobile screening for lung cancer. We are looking at the northeastern part of Oklahoma, where almost none of the population participates in cutting-edge clinical trials. We need clinical trials.”

Another area of pride, Lofgren says, is “what we’ve been able to do in terms of our cultural transformation: how we work and how we treat people.”  In 2024, OU Health was named one of the nation’s top 150 places to work by Beckers, a healthcare publication. 

“We focus on each team member’s career path,” he says. “When you come to OU Health, we want you to know there is a career for you here.”

Looking ahead, Lofgren says the future of healthcare will be helped by artificial intelligence and a continued understanding of the human genome. 

“I’m fairly confident that healthcare will be much more customized to the individual needs of the patients. We are starting to see that in cancer, where we see actual genetic defects of cancer cells,” he mentions.

However, in the midst of all the technology upgrades, Lofgren has a message for his trainees.

“I remind them that technology is really cool,” he says, “but healthcare is still a very human endeavor.” 

– KB

Lieutenant Governor, Chickasaw Nation

The path to success is built on teamwork and small, deliberate steps toward economic development and diversification. That’s the philosophy of Chris Anoatubby, Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, who has served the tribe and advocated for its people for 30 years.

“I have been fortunate enough to witness firsthand how ideas can become reality,” Anoatubby says. “Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby first took office in 1987 with a plan to move toward financial independence, which could lead to self-funding of programs and services, and we could expand and improve them for the benefit of the Chickasaw people.”

A pharmacist by profession, Anoatubby takes a strong stance on healthcare and education. During his tenure thus far, Anoatubby has seen great strides in these sectors; the tribe opened the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center and Chickasaw Cultural Center in 2010, and last year, the Nation invested $32+ million in higher education grants and scholarships. 

“We have partnerships with several state colleges and universities which aid us in offering resources and opportunities for Chickasaw students to connect with our culture and ensure our students are on a path to educational and personal success,” he says. 

Last year, $422,648 was allocated to 49 public schools to serve the needs of Johnson-O’Malley eligible students. This federally funded program provides supplemental educational assistance to Native American students attending public schools. The tribe’s Child Care Assistance program also served more than 732 families, providing childcare to 1,393 children.

Increasing access to quality healthcare for the Chickasaw people is one of Anoatubby’s top priorities.

“Our mission is to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people,” he says. “We have been able to directly define the scope of our care, as well, and look at strategies that include preventative and holistic healthcare.”

Efforts in that industry have been rewarded; in November, the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health earned the Malcolm Baldrige Award for Quality and Performance Excellence.

Continuing on the current trajectory to greater sustainability, as well as maintaining and building relationships, are Anoatubby’s areas of focus for the future.

“Through continued investments in diverse and innovative business strategies, as well as infrastructure and resources, we will continue to expand and enhance the programs and services we are able to offer the Chickasaw people,” Anoatubby says. “We will continue to look for opportunities to work together with other organizations throughout our communities.”

Anoatubby’s plan? Persist in building upon the wins and continuing to invest in the people he serves. He’s quick to share the credit for this year’s many successes. 

“All those small steps that accumulate in a journey have been carried out by people who believed in what we were doing and had the knowledge and skill to move those ideas forward,” he says. “I am proud to be a part of that.”

– GE

Superintendent, Tulsa Public Schools

Dec. 11, 2024, marked a major milestone for Ebony Johnson, Ed.D.: the one-year anniversary of her appointment as superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools. Her loved ones helped make it the perfect day.

“I went home after work and dinner was already fixed, and that was a great thing,” she says. “I was able to relax and just enjoy my family.”

     Johnson laughs easily, and there’s joy in her voice when she talks about big life moments. The personal and the professional are often closely linked; with a son about to graduate college and a daughter finishing up high school, Johnson’s goals as a parent are in sync with her goals for the district: overcome barriers to academic achievement and graduate students who are ready to continue their studies and launch careers.

Mental health, she says, is one barrier. Johnson has seen an escalation in need since launching her career as a TPS classroom teacher in 1999. Adverse childhood experiences interrupt learning, “and traumatic experiences show up at anyone’s doorstep, not just our economically disadvantaged students,” she says. “We are a district that understands that for academic excellence, we have to take care of the whole child.” 

TPS has a three-tier system for helping such students: provide a safe and caring classroom, offer specialized support in areas such as coping skills and decision-making, and connect to community mental health counselors when needed.  

Another issue Johnson and her team have zeroed in on absenteeism.

“We partnered with the mayor’s office for the Attend to Win campaign,” she says. “We put out surveys asking families to tell us how we can do better.”

One roadblock TPS and the city has worked to address is simply getting students to school safely. Kids have missed class after encountering stray dogs or being afraid to cross hazardous streets to get to the bus stop, she mentions. Attendance this year is 2% better than last year, and 8% better than two years ago. 

Peering into the future, Johnson has a goal for TPS “to be considered an exemplary district in the nation. We want to stand out among other urban districts.” Her wish is also for a district with outstanding student performance and high graduation rates, and one that will serve all populations of students “in the most optimal way.” Goals for 2025 include a high rate of completion of college financial aid applications and earlier completion of the Oklahoma’s Promise application – as soon as freshman year. 

Teachers, Johnson says, also need nurturing. 

“There are 42,000 teachers in the state of Oklahoma, and each and every one deserves a quality work experience where they can be proud of the lives they are changing every day in the classroom,” she says. “We have monthly round-tables, where we ask them what we can do to help.” 

– KB

Oklahoma State University provost and senior vice president Jeanette Mendez, Ph.D., has her finger on the pulse of what makes a college degree accessible for Oklahomans, and for students from around the country. Why? She is a first generation college graduate herself. 

“I really do believe it’s my identity,” Mendez says of this designation. “It helps me remember what so many of our students are going through.” 

About 30% of students at OSU are first gen college students, Mendez adds.

“I feel deeply about our land grant mission and providing an education to all and providing that access and affordability,” Mendez says. “I think it’s because I benefited from that myself. If I didn’t have the programs, if I didn’t have the scholarships, if I didn’t have the mentors, I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today.”

To that end, Mendez has worked with administrators and regents to keep costs in check and also identify funding where it benefits student programs.

“We put out a pretty ambitious strategy when president [Kayse] Shrum came into office,” she says. “We want to keep our costs low within the Big 12; we don’t want our students to accumulate a ton of debt. So we set some benchmarks of where we’d like to be, and we haven’t had tuition increases over the last few years.”

But Mendez acknowledges that keeping costs down indefinitely is a challenge.

“We have leaned into a lot of fundraising, expanding our scholarship opportunities, requesting certain programs from the legislature as well,” Mendez says. “It’s kind of a team effort. It’s taking all of us to get there. We’ve had really good partners with our foundation, our donors and with the legislature so that we can prioritize access and affordability.”

Another partnership Mendez values is that with K-12 schools, exposing students to how a college education can help them achieve success and personal fulfillment.

“We’re trying to put workers into the workforce and build the economy,” she says, “by showing kids and showing parents the kind of opportunities that exist after high school. Engineering is a great example. Women in STEM is something that we’re passionate about. We’re really trying to show students that there are no boundaries. There is a path for you.” 

Retention and graduation rates are current areas of focus, Mendez says, and she’s attacking that with an overhaul of the university’s advising system to help students turn their passions into professions.

“There’s this sense of belonging and cohesiveness and that everyone really wants everyone to succeed,” she says. “And it just feels like home.”

– GE

Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma

As Oklahoma prepares to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road in 2026, Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell is leading the Route 66 Centennial Commission to shine a light on a state he truly loves – and spends each day celebrating. 

Pinnell, dubbed Oklahoma’s ‘chief marketer,’ is also well-known for his passion in regard to increasing in-state tourism. In a partnership with the Oklahoma Departments of Commerce and Tourism and Recreation, Pinnell helped to curate the Live in OK campaign. Efforts included an updated website, liveinokla.com, with the friendly suggestion to ‘live the flyover life’ and ‘see why Oklahoma makes sense.’

“The point that I make when I’m speaking to groups or promoting the state is how blessed Oklahoma is in natural tourism advantages,” he says. “Because if we can get them to the state to see, we sell well, and we can lean into our history, as that is the front door to economic development.

2023 was the best on record to date for economic impact in tourism, he says.  He attributes it in part to the film, television and music industries in the state and plans to increase the entertainment industry rebate that currently attracts big time productions. 

“Our goal is to not just sustain but continue to up our game and attract even more visitors to the state next year,” he says.  

Alongside tourism efforts, Pinnell, who is the president of the State Senate, is equally dedicated to those already living here. In 2024, the Oklahoma legislature invested funds into the Department of Career and Technology Education; Pinnell says this allows career tech centers “to provide more openings for working adults, and kids to get certificates to address the skills gap we have in this country. This means Oklahoma can leapfrog other states because our career tech system is better. We have this infrastructure across the state, most locally funded, which is a unique advantage.”   

When looking ahead, Oklahoma will continue to grow in terms of workforce development and tourism, Pinnell says.  The sky is, quite literally, the limit.

“Oklahoma will continue to further establish itself as an aerospace state,” says Pinnell. “Aerospace is one of the state’s fastest growing industries, along with defense industry contract work. This brings high paying jobs for our kids and grandkids right here inside the state.”

As chairman of the Route 66 Centennial Commission, Pinnell oversees all planning and committees, which includes the distribution of community grants to revitalize main streets along Route 66, alongside spiffing up roadside attractions and creating new ones, too. 

 “It’s not about just blowing out candles on a birthday cake; it is a celebration of revitalizing the 400-plus miles of Route 66 road in Oklahoma and in all the work we’re doing between now and the celebration,” he says. 

To see what’s already been planned and what’s in the works for the centennial celebration, visit route66-centennial.com. 

– TL

Founder and CEO, Quintessa Marketing

Empowering people to succeed and cultivating an environment of opportunity is what fuels the work of Lauren Von, founder and CEO of Quintessa Marketing based in OKC. 

“You have to wake up every day and know that you’re doing something that has more impact than just for you and your family,” Von says. “When you know your purpose is for something so much greater than you, it motivates you and pushes you forward.”

That’s how she took her company – a retainer service for personal injury attorneys and law firms – from one representative in a 350-square-foot office to 175 employees who fill two and a half floors of a building in just eight years. While working for another company in the same industry, Von realized that leads were not converting to cases – and she knew why.

“They were paying [their reps] minimum wage,” Von says. “It didn’t make sense to me to pay someone minimum wage to handle a possible $1,000,000 case. I thought if I could pay my reps more and incentivize them to sign the right types of leads, they would be able to make more money and sign more cases.”

She was right. And as her profits climbed, Von says she felt led to bring others along the journey through “irrational generosity,” a phrase she heard at church. 

One who wants to talk the talk and walk the walk, Von now donates 50% of her company’s profits annually to help others achieve success. Through this Give 50 initiative, Von is currently partnering with the OU Foundation to help first generation college students attend the Price School of Business. She has pledged $6 million over the next five years.

“Sometimes students need an extra $2,000 a year to help them get through,” she says. “I didn’t get to finish my degree, so knowing I can help someone else prevent that … it’s really exciting.”

Von has also committed $1 million to Infant Crisis Services, an organization that provides essentials like formula and diapers to struggling Oklahomans.

“To me, it’s just amazing that we get to do this,” Von says. “A lot of people want to leave the world a better place when they pass away, but I want to see it be a better place as we’re building and growing now.”

Von, who also speaks professionally on the topic of personal empowerment, encourages people to work hard and find their purpose.

“When you can tie it to that purpose,” she says, “you’re unstoppable.”

– GE

Chief Program Officer, George Kaiser Family Foundation

Jeff Stava has an unwavering drive to help create and operate world-class public spaces including Gathering Place, Guthrie Green, The Bob Dylan Center and the Woody Guthrie Center. The Tulsa native’s passion for downtown revitalization, economic development and neighborhood improvement projects is, after all, homegrown. 

“Rooted in the mission of equal opportunity for all children, our civic efforts in place-making, arts, beautification, economic development and talent recruitment aim to build a city that offers accessible opportunities for every Tulsan,” says Stava, whose other leadership titles include chief operating officer for Tulsa Community Foundation and executive director of Gathering Place. “By creating spaces and initiatives that unite and inspire, we strive to enrich the community’s cultural vibrancy and ensure a sustainable, flourishing future for generations to come. 

“From welcoming over 10 million visitors to the Gathering Place since its opening to hosting a combined 30,000 annual visitors at the Bob Dylan Center and the Woody Guthrie Center, I’m proud of our team’s contributions to Tulsa’s growth as a thriving cultural destination.”

While Stava was thrilled at Gathering Place’s designation as USA Today’s Best City Park of 2024, the work isn’t over on Riverside Drive. Major updates to the beautification projects include Williams Crossing Bridge, the new 1,400-foot pedestrian and biking bridge connecting Gathering Place, the Tulsa River Parks trails and west Tulsa neighborhoods, Stava says. 

The New York Times recently recognized Tulsa as one of the top U.S. cities for its design-forward civic infrastructure, spotlighting the crossing as a symbol of the city’s innovative spirit. Continued improvements are afoot, and in early 2025, Gathering Place will complete its final riverfront element – Lakeview Lawn and Rocky Point Overlook.

“Together with Williams Crossing and the new river amenities, Tulsa is poised to offer a dynamic, rich riverfront experience for the first time in its history,” Stava says. “The City’s investment in the Zink Dam and recreational water flume further enhances the riverfront experience, allowing Tulsans to fully engage with the river like never before. Activities such as kayaking and paddle-boating in Zink Lake, combined with walking and biking access along the pedestrian bridge, have made the area a vibrant destination for recreation and community connection.”

Looking ahead a few decades, Stava foresees ongoing civic leadership from GKFF and the continuation of the mission to enhance northeastern Oklahoma.

“We are investing in a vibrant and inclusive Tulsa – one that boasts a thriving arts scene, inviting public spaces, new businesses and diverse talent,” he says. “These efforts will uplift the local economy, creating a more prosperous future for Tulsa’s children and families. By continuing to invest in initiatives that empower all Tulsans, we can ensure a stronger future for everyone.”

– TL