Meet Our Team

Growing up in Chicago, I was obsessed with Fisher-Price cars. After my parents would tuck me into bed, I would sneak out from under my covers, grab the cars & people, and invent stories of intrigue and drama in the lives of these characters. This playful proclivity toward imagining how citizens thrive and interact blossomed into a passion for building civic environments with people at the core.

I crafted my own major at University of Michigan (Metropolitan Strategic Development), bore witness to the effects of unreliable transit, educational inequity, healthcare disparity, and housing issues on my students as a middle school Teach For America teacher in Tulsa, and built a vibrant talent ecosystem and neighborhood in Tulsa’s Arts District during my 5+ years at the George Kaiser Family Foundation. As the founding Board Chair of 36 Degrees North, Tulsa’s basecamp for entrepreneurs, I was able to strategically meld the need for entrepreneurship and talent initiatives with the nuts, bolts and bricks of the built environment.

After 7 years in town, I made the difficult decision to leave Tulsa to pursue a master’s degree in Learning & Organizational Change at Northwestern University. I researched workplace leadership and studied talent, culture, org design and org effectiveness. I worked on Culture Transformation at General Motors in Detroit and then launched the Talent Development function at Tempus, a rapidly growing health tech data company in Chicago using artificial intelligence to cure cancer, depression and other diseases.

You could take me out of Tulsa but you couldn’t take the Tulsa spirit out of me. I boomeranged back to Tulsa in 2020 with my partner Joe to blend my expertise in Talent Strategy with a citywide, Atento-driven mission to build unbelievably successful organizations within a well-connected network. At my core, I care deeply about creating warm, accessible organizations and civic ecosystems that facilitate growth and development. Tulsa welcomed me with open arms when I moved here in 2010 and I am incredibly honored to welcome countless others to the magic of Tulsa.

I was born in Shawnee, OK and spent most of my childhood living in Edmond. Having both my grandparents in Tulsa, and my parents born and raised in Tulsa, it was only a matter of time before my family moved back. I was excited to move here the summer before my sophomore year of high school. I knew I didn't want to go too far for college, so I chose OSU Tulsa, where I got a bachelor's degree in business. It was there I realized that whatever I did, I wanted to work with and help people. While in college, I worked at a local restaurant where I met my husband, Josh. We married and started our family, now of 4 (and two dogs). We love raising our daughters in Tulsa. It's a wonderful place to raise a family, and has only gotten better over time. We take advantage of the music scene, amazing local parks and restaurants as often as we can!

As I began my career, I knew I wanted to work somewhere I could learn, grow and become an expert. I knew the Helmerich name from seeing it at parks, buildings, etc. With the help of some connections, I interviewed at Helmerich & Payne and landed in HR, working in Recruiting. That was over 10 years ago!  My work introduces me to people who have done amazing things every day and there is nothing more satisfying than having a part in connecting someone to their dream job. I have a passion for helping people, understanding an organization's culture and trying to find the right fit; All with a deep focus on developing long lasting relationships. I have industry experience in oil & gas, financial services, and technology. Having worked in both corporate and staffing environments I know how to craft an amazing candidate experience and long term relationship while also executing with speed and efficiency.

I was hopeful there was a way to blend my professional life with something I can be passionate about. I feel like I really found that blend at Atento Capital. Growing up in Tulsa, I have seen lots of changes over the years. I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of that change and on the front lines being a voice telling the story to job seekers. Being a part of a team that has a direct impact on the community is what gets me up every day excited about work. As a Talent Partner, I am passionate about our mission for job creation in Tulsa, helping people land their dream job, and ultimately helping the city to continue to become more vibrant and inclusive.

I grew up in the town of Greenburgh, NY, about 30 minutes north of New York City, where I enjoyed the unique experience of growing up in a diverse area with access to a good education and extracurricular activities. Some of my favorite experiences during my childhood include playing sports, playing chess, building computers, and being a Boy Scout. During that time, I came to value kindness, empathy, determination, and respect.

I graduated from the City University of New York (CUNY) Lehman College with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems. This degree has supported me in building on my personal tech experience to create a career in the IT field.

What brought me to joining the team at inTulsa is its mission and the positive impact that it has on Tulsa.

Among my favorite things about living here in Tulsa are the people and the River Parks Trail—where people can run, walk, bike and spend time outdoors. Coming here has made it possible for me to enjoy a change in my lifestyle, as well as the opportunity to positively impact the community where I now live.

I grew up an hour outside of Houston, Texas, on an exotic animal ranch. Although I grew up in the country, I never identified with the country lifestyle. Instead, I wanted to live closer to the city. Growing up, I was lucky to have a supportive family that emphasized the importance of education and my involvement in extracurriculars. 

My high school graduating class included only 12 people, so I had the opportunity to play every sport offered by the school. There were times I felt like I was in over my head while trying to juggle all the different teams’ schedules. However, my parents always made sure to emphasize the fact that I had made a commitment and I needed to follow through. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance and commitment to my word. I also realized the importance of teamwork and the responsibility that you have to your team. It enabled me to find within myself the ability to manage busy schedules and prioritize school-work throughout the stress. At the end of the season, I was always glad I stuck it out and didn’t give up in the moments that seemed hard.

After high school, I went on to receive a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Texas A&M. When I started my educational journey, I had no clue what I wanted to do. Psychology attracted me because I was fascinated by people’s mental processes and interactions. It’s helped me understand that people come to different conclusions based on their own personal experiences. Knowing this has allowed me to live a life of empathy and compassion, as well as inspired me to make a career out of helping others.

Kindness and empathy are values that I hold most dear. I believe every person deserves to be treated with respect and given space to explore who they are. I try to see the positive in each individual, even when their behavior might reflect otherwise. 

Right after my husband and I were married in 2018, we decided on a whim that we would move to Tulsa. We soon found that we had fallen in love with the city, and now we’re trying to convince our family and friends to move here. Tulsa surprised us with its thriving business community and everything else the city has to offer. After we arrived, I knew I wanted to be involved in the Tulsa community doing meaningful work. Having a background in HR and recruiting, I arrived at inTulsa Talent and could not be more excited to be working with this group of people. I love being able to help Tulsans find career opportunities that align with their core values and allow them to create the life they want.

Since moving to Tulsa, my husband and I have made more friends than we’ve ever had anywhere else. The people are extremely friendly, and they all share a love for their city. I love the big city feel you get from downtown Tulsa’s architecture, cocktail bars, and excellent food options. Almost every weekend, you will find us downtown with our dogs at one of the many Tulsa breweries, cycling the riverside trails, or exploring the Gathering Place.

I was born in Tahlequah, OK, and I am an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. At age 9, my mom, brother, and I moved to Tulsa where I experienced what an urban city had to offer, and quickly grew to love Tulsa. During my time at Booker T. Washington High School, I grew into recognizing my cultural identity more intently, and I became aware of how being Indigenous in Oklahoma creates a unique lived experience. Through my tribe’s college preparation summer program, I was introduced to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. At Dartmouth, I pursued courses in Native American Studies that allowed me to study Contemporary Native Art in Santa Fe, NM and to conduct undergraduate research on the incarceration of Indigenous women in Oklahoma. During undergrad, I was able to co-chair the 46th Annual Dartmouth Powwow, job-shadow at the W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah, and intern for two non-profit education companies that created opportunities for underrepresented populations. I finished my undergraduate degree in Native American Studies with French and Sociology minors amidst the global pandemic, but on the upside, I was able to return to a place I am glad to call home: Tulsa. Being back home was not in my plans at the beginning of the year; however, I am now passionately recruiting my friends and loved ones to experience Tulsa as the city that I grew to love. 

When I’m not fawning over my hometown, I love to play video games. Video games offer a chance to explore a new world, and they can really push the boundaries for traditional story telling. Some of the biggest life lessons I have learned came from video games. I also am an avid podcast listener. From true crime to current events to weird news stories, there is so much to be learned, and I love that someone I don’t know personally can still feel like a friend through podcasting. I love them so much that I have my own podcast forthcoming in 2021. When I’m not gaming or listening to a podcast, I am looking for ways to stay connected with my Indigenous folks from college and ways to meet new people in Oklahoma with similar experiences to my own. 

Reacquainting myself with Tulsa after four transformative years has been interesting to say the least. Tulsa is still the same city I knew and loved, but now, there seem to be more people who love it just as much as I do. Young folks of all backgrounds are drawn to this city for opportunities, and Tulsa has created fantastic opportunities for these talented individuals. That is the difference that inTulsa makes. Coming back to Tulsa, I was unsure of how I could forge my own path during a global pandemic, and inTulsa gave me the opportunity to connect to the bigger picture in Tulsa. Starting as an Atentern at Atento Capital in August, I quickly learned the process of entrepreneurial development and saw the impact that diversifying the access to capital can have on creating an inclusive ecosystem. I am taking that experience with me to the inTulsa team as we take on big problems with creative solutions to create a better future for our city. If you know me, you know that I am passionate about my Indigenous identity and serving my community, and I am actively positioning myself to create more opportunities for underrepresented and marginalized identities. 

I immigrated to Tulsa at a young age where I spent most of my time falling in love with the city and the people who inhabit it. I later moved to Israel to enlist in the IDF and spent about 5 years living abroad. All the times I was away, I knew I'd end up moving back and begin my professional career in Tulsa. Currently, I'm in a project management course at Foundry College and will begin the Electrical Engineering program here at the University of Tulsa. My interests are related to anything technology and how to use technology to make this world a better place. Working at inTulsa has given me the tools to understand the business side of operations and understand the efforts that are being made to progress the economic development in the city I love.

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. It’s a borough full of life and culture – a place where the world is at your fingertips. I loved the sense of community and the energy that electrified the city through its neighborhoods. But most of all, I loved the different people and cultures that I grew up with. I experienced what true community means. I learned how we're all connected and that we have to work together to succeed. My school and my parents' church would hold different outreaches to benefit those in the community who were less fortunate. I remember how so many people and businesses in the community would pitch in to help. Through this I learned that true success comes from helping others succeed.

I deeply value equity, exposure, and opportunity. Equity is one of my core values. I believe that all people are on the same playing field and should be treated as such no matter their background or differences. Exposure is crucial for growth and allows people to see beyond their circumstances to see what is possible. I also believe every person should have access to the same opportunities as their neighbor. 

I graduated from Oral Roberts University with a degree in Business Management. The skills I learned there have allowed me to put my values into practice and make them profitable. The knowledge base that I gained has helped me put theory into practice to benefit organizations and people. I am truly grateful for my time at Oral Roberts University. 

I have found success working for some of the biggest companies in the world but I was unfulfilled. What inTulsa is doing for Tulsa and its people resonated with me profoundly. I felt compelled to join this amazing organization. I turned down so many opportunities to work for inTulsa because I saw the fulfillment. I love this work because I can use my knowledge and skills to impact the entire city for the better. I get to focus on impacting lives and not just making money.

My favorite thing about Tulsa is that it reminds me of Brooklyn. I know that is a lofty statement, but it's true. When clients ask why Tulsa will be the new Brooklyn, I say because it's a place with endless opportunities with the future at your fingertips. I love living in Tulsa because it is full of life and culture. Most importantly, Tulsa has a strong sense of community. Everyone wishes they were in Brooklyn 10-15 years ago. In 10-15 years people will feel the same way about Tulsa. I want to make sure no one misses out!

I was born and raised in Stillwater, OK. Stillwater is a relatively small town, and I was fortunate to grow up with a strong community of close friends and family. The community had a perfect balance of promoting healthy competition while maintaining support among everyone there. Growing up in Stillwater, I learned how important a strong and supportive community can be to reaching goals. On a broader scale, I see many of those same attributes occurring with the work of inTulsa, where the community gathers around entrepreneurs and startups and encourages them to succeed, grow, and expand.

I had the benefit of attending a wonderful public school that happened to have a very diverse student population. Through that experience, I became aware of how the circumstances of one's birth can be a predictor of outcomes in life. I believe this early experience shaped many of my values and career choices. In particular, I wanted to research and implement programs that invest in education and workforce development programs to enable economic mobility for underserved populations.  

I graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2008 with a degree in economics. After graduating, I decided I wanted to learn better how to apply these skills to solve public problems, so I enrolled in the Masters of Public Administration program at the University of Missouri. Through this program, I became interested in public policies and research to improve educational and labor market outcomes for vulnerable populations. This education shaped my understanding of the connections between community resources, education, and a healthy and vibrant economy. 

Before joining inTulsa, I primarily worked in academia. During that time, my focus was to write and facilitate scholarly research and the published journal articles. While this work certainly has value, it often felt disconnected from the people and communities we studied. What I love most about inTulsa is that my work has the potential to have a direct impact on my community and the educational and labor market outcomes for the people of Tulsa.

I recently moved to Tulsa with my wife Laura and our two children Max (6) and Ella (1). While I grew up in the area and would often travel into Tulsa for high school sports, it has been amazing to watch Tulsa grow and evolve over the years. There is so much creative energy and enthusiasm for the city. Tulsa has a uniquely collaborative environment where entrepreneurs are supported and encouraged by a robust philanthropic sector. I'm excited to be back in my home state and to contribute to this fantastic city. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Tulsa! 

I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but spent my childhood in California. My family and I returned to north Tulsa during my adolescence and stayed until I graduated high school. I love the culture, the smells, and the people of north Tulsa. Tulsa is home to me and I love that the city is large but has the friendliness of a small town. I also admire that it has the opportunities and amenities of a large city.

I am number four of twelve children. However, I am the oldest girl of the bunch. Growing up I always loved to hang out with my older brothers. The majority of my family lives in Tulsa so returning was an easy transition. My father was a kick boxer and our days consisted of working out and playing in the boxing gym. I have so many great memories and continue to make more!

My family means the world to me. Because I have such a large family, we have birthday parties and graduations often. This gives us plenty of time to laugh and make memories. 

I am currently attending SNU as a doctoral candidate in their Ed.D program. I received my Bachelors of Family Science and Gerontology as well as my MBA at SNU. I was a late bloomer in receiving my bachelor's degree. I was a teen mother of two and went straight to work after high school. Over time I was able to work and attend school while raising my children. My goal was to not become another statistic. I wanted to show my children and myself that faith and hard work pay off. Having my husband and four children there to celebrate my SNU graduations was surreal. 

I started recruiting over ten years ago. I was working at a bank and we often needed new talent, but rarely had time to look through applicants. On slow days I would go through the applicants and decide who had interview potential. I would often try to recruit customers who I knew had recently lost their jobs. I was the unofficial recruiter. When I left the bank, I realized that helping others find jobs was my favorite part of that job. I quickly set my eyes on finding a role that would allow me to recruit full time. I started recruiting which led me to human resources and I’ve done a blend of that for the last ten years. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to work for an organization that was mission-based. Then I found inTulsa! I never thought I would find a role that allowed me to put people first, provide candidates resources, and boost Tulsa's economic wealth but I found all of those things and more with inTulsa!

I first experienced Tulsa in 2011, performing on the national tour of a Broadway musical. Little did I know, nearly a decade later I would plant roots here with a strong urge to better my new community, which was on an exciting, upward trajectory.

Born and raised in Rochester, NY, I have always loved to tell stories and weave narratives: turning ideas into tangible, meaningful moments while furthering my understanding of the people and characters who play central roles. Such a vocation has left me with an eclectic background to date. 

In my first career as a professional actor, I literally told stories to audiences nightly in 49 of 50 US states, 9 European countries (plus Israel) where I not only had the opportunity to play center stage, but also found success behind the scenes in various administrative roles, exposing me to the business half of “show business”. As my acting career came to a close, I transitioned to the competitive, fast-paced and dynamic NYC residential real estate industry; brokering transactions between clients and customers which required an understanding of the unique stories on both sides of a deal to craft an amenable deal structure for all. 

In an effort to round out my knowledge of business, I completed my MBA at Columbia University. Through my studies I became fascinated by entrepreneurs, each who have their own strong and inspiring stories informing how and why they so tenaciously pursue their efforts in bringing ideas and companies to fruition. No two narratives or stories were the same and often the stark differences led to equally successful outcomes.

With my partner, Cody (a 918-native), Tulsa was the natural place to settle post graduate school. Now, as I work on cutting edge, talent-driven, economic development initiatives, I’m ecstatic to help guide new companies to Tulsa, supporting them in their diverse missions and efforts by directly connecting them to local stakeholders, partnerships and talented Tulsans looking for new exciting opportunities. I remain excited about the work we are doing for many reasons, but primarily because of the profound story of Tulsa to date and the chance to be an integral part of shaping the next chapter.

I grew up just outside of Tulsa, by Lake Keystone. I loved being 15 minutes away from Tulsa and 5 minutes away from the lake. I have so many fabulous memories of summer lake time. My parents influenced my early life – my father was a USPS mail carrier in Tulsa and had a walking route every day through rain, sleet, or snow... it’s not just a tagline! His work ethic was immeasurable, and he did it all for the love of his family.  

As I grew up, I realized that I was very lucky to have a safe home with working parents that many people around the world and in my own hometown did not have. This was eye-opening for me and truly defined my drive to live my life as a "giver". I try as often as possible to give my time, talent, and attention, to mentor, uplift, and share what I can with others.

After graduating from high school, I went to Texas for my undergraduate degree. I loved it but couldn't wait to get back to Tulsa. I got married and worked for five years before deciding to elevate my professional potential and apply to the University of Tulsa for graduate school.  My first daughter was only five weeks old when I was accepted to TU as a graduate assistant and full-time graduate student. While in graduate school, I had another daughter. Even though I had a growing family, my educational goals were critical to our future, which inspired me to keep going.  Earning my MBA, all while raising my family and nurturing a young marriage, profoundly affected me.  

Life is tough, and our goals are big, but with support, love, guidance, and resources, anything can be accomplished. This is what Talent inTulsa offers to others, and I am proud to use my experiences to help others reach their goals!

Some of my favorite things about Tulsa are the vibe, the friendliness, the community, and the ease of getting around - you can get anywhere in Tulsa within 15 minutes!  I love that I can contribute and give back to Tulsa. In some big cities like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, I feel like it is hard for an individual to be seen, but that is not the case in Tulsa.  When an opportunity arises, and you as an individual lean into it, great things can happen!

I grew up in a small town just north of Seattle and I look back on my childhood with fondness. My father was a professor at the University of Washington and for my whole life commuted so we could have a country life. When I was five I told him I wanted a sheep and the next day we went out and bought 3, which was the beginning of our “Hobby” farm. That’s how he rolled. You dream it and we do it. We never made any money but I learned a ton about life and caring for others. This was the beginning of many animals and people that we would bring home to help along their path. Having grown up in a small town my father wanted me to get out and experience the world. I went to Los Angeles and spent the next 20 years there learning about many different cultures and traveling the world.

My professional career started after I graduated with a dual degree in Engineering and Liberal Arts from Harvey Mudd and Scripps College. I set out to prove myself in corporate America. My first job was at the Boeing C-17 plant making a military transport. It was an amazing job. I got to experience a tactical descent over the ocean during a test flight, work on infrared night vision landing technology, and conceptualize future innovations as part of their R&D team. But soon I found my strength was not building the airplane but leading and organizing technologists who could. Lacking any business skills, I went to USC to get my MBA and balance out my knowledge between technology and business. This opened doors to program management and catapulted me into the world of consulting. I leapt from building airplanes to helping improve the delivery of healthcare. For a little more than 10 years I spent embedded in our country’s healthcare system driving hospitals and payers execution on complex initiatives for transformations, technology implementations, and operational improvement. With all these transitions at the core was helping people execute on complex, charged transformations that needed strong leadership. When my husband and I were ready to start a family, I felt torn in the desire to continue to pursue my career and the desire to be a mother. I worked for probably the world’s most caring organization at the time, Point B, which gave me the opportunity to be an internal recruiter. Unknowingly at the time, this would be the next 5 years of my life as I focused on transforming our own operations to scale hiring to meet rapid growth.

When I met Atento it felt as though these past three careers in technology, consulting, and talent acquisition were all preparing me for this opportunity. For the last 10 years, I’ve watched the city of Tulsa change as I visited family here during the holidays. The investment in the people and programs have put Tulsa in a perfect position to truly be an amazing place to live and work. Atento acts as an integrator of all the pieces people and companies need to flourish here. It’s rare to see such a strong collaboration, sense of community, desire to help, and the strength in resources and talent to execute. I keep pinching myself each day as I work with great people all extremely passionate about having an impact that is laser-focused on this great city. It was my dream job and I am dedicated to working hard to support the Tulsan workforce development.

Patrick Hosford is a Kansas City native who comes to Tulsa after living in New York City for the past decade, with a career spanning 3 city agencies, 3 municipal governments and 2 prestigious fellowships.

An urbanist by trade, Patrick has garnered multi-disciplinary experiences in city government working for New York’s largest workforce development program at the Parks Department and spearheading environmental justice research on New York and New Jersey’s combined sewage systems. Afterwards, Patrick served as a Scholarly Fellow at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), supporting New York’s Public Markets real estate development program before transitioning to the CyberNYC initiative — a $30 million cyber security workforce development initiative. Notably, while at the NYCEDC, Patrick co-led a childcare working group that created the organization’s first childcare initiative, The Childcare Innovation Lab, addressing the economic ramifications of inequitable access to affordable care. 

During the pandemic, Patrick worked remotely as a project coordinator in Erie, Pennsylvania, planning the city’s first urban design studio, and in New York’s nonprofit consulting arena. 

Patrick is thrilled to be back in Middle America, adding to a homegrown and forward-thinking initiative like inTulsa. Tulsa is an electric city that lives up to its Boomtown origins and is well positioned as a veritable frontier for the 21st century, forging the next era of jobs, businesses and community.

Outside the office, Patrick spends his time digitizing jazz vinyl and collecting/flipping vintage furniture. 

Patrick holds two degrees and a minor from Hunter College, CUNY, in Urban Studies, Public Policy: Specialization in Municipal Policy, and Economics.

I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. From a young age, I have loved to perform and followed my creative passions here to Tulsa. When I was 13, my mother took me to audition for the Cincinnati School of Creative and Performing Arts. I had never interviewed or auditioned before, and I didn’t have much formal training, but I took the stage and hoped my passion and character would shine through. It turns out they thought I was pretty good! I then had the incredible opportunity to become part of a community of diverse and interesting people, each of whom was following their dreams of careers in the creative arts. It was inspiring for me, and from that early age, I knew I would always be sure to keep creativity in my life.

I first came to Tulsa to study at Oral Roberts University, but I quickly felt the call of the performing and creative arts. During my time dancing and in theater, I had developed a love for makeup. If you ask my mother, it started even before then with an infatuation for small makeup kits. Through makeup, I discovered the incredible creative community in Tulsa and started my own business doing makeup for weddings, artists, and performers here in town. As a small business owner, I decided to pursue my MBA to learn more about building my business and brand. I now have my own brand and clothing line called Worthy Girl, dedicated to empowering women worldwide.

Receiving my MBA helped me continue to develop my own business and also introduced me to the world of recruiting. I love having the chance to talk with candidates about their dreams and passions and helping them achieve them. I always tell them how welcoming Tulsa has been and how much I love the community that exists here. I’ve experienced firsthand the incredible support for startups, business, and talent in this town, and can’t wait to help you discover it as well!

I grew up in Sherman, Texas, about an hour north of Dallas and right on the Oklahoma border. I am one of four kids – I'm a triplet and have a 15 month younger brother - and was always very close to my siblings. We loved to put on shows, create art, and play outside in our neighborhood. My grandma was a lifetime member of the community theater in Sherman, and that’s actually where my parents met. I grew up being in and working on shows at the theater and loved the community aspect. That’s also one of the things I love about Tulsa; the community here is so strong and supportive of one another.   

I’ve spent the past nine years of my career in education administration working on external partnership management, project management, and operationalizing new programs and structures. For the past four years, I was on the talent team, working on special initiatives to improve employee engagement and experience. In that role, I discovered a passion for working with people to find new experiences that help them grow personally and professionally. 

What I love most about working in the talent space is helping connect people to opportunities that will lead to them achieving their goals. I enjoy talking to people and hearing their stories and am fascinated by learning what makes people tick and their unique approaches to their careers. I'm so excited to have a great city like Tulsa to share with newcomers and to have a chance to find new and exciting opportunities to share with people who are already here. I love working at Talent inTulsa because it truly speaks to my passion for community, justice, open-mindedness, kindness, and helping others.

Tulsa is an incredible city to work and live in. I love being a part of a welcoming, active community with great and exciting things happening. Talent inTulsa is helping the city grow in so many ways, and it’s been incredible to see the impact it has had in such a short time. It’s amazing to be connected with people willing to try bold things and seeing the investment in people and innovative ideas come to life. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Tulsa.

I grew up in Kampala, Uganda. As a young boy, I aspired to travel and see the amazing things out there in the world. One of the things I loved most growing up in a small town was having that tight-knit community that made my early childhood so fun. My siblings and I knew everyone within a 10-mile radius. 

I attended one of the best high schools in my country, which offered an international education. This gave me a better education along with study abroad opportunities, leadership opportunities, and exchange programs. From that, I became interested in different cultures and dreamed of living abroad.

At eighteen, I left home to go to university in north India in a beautiful city called Chandigarh, Punjab. It was my first time not being within miles of my family. I developed resilience and a strong sense of responsibility while in India and led the African Students Association first as the general secretary and later got elected as the President. I graduated top of my class in 3 years with a degree in accounting. I was a valedictorian and got to speak at my graduation, a very proud moment for me.

I came to Tulsa to attend Oral Roberts and earn my MBA. In my studies, I gained a lot of people, business management, and entrepreneurial skills. I became interested in social entrepreneurship, which is one of the many reasons I enjoy working with Talent inTulsa to bring economic development to Tulsa.

Talent inTulsa is at the center of social and economic positive change in Tulsa. They are building an inclusive Tulsa, bringing incredible talent and companies to Tulsa. Helping people and companies as they move to Tulsa is what I love most about my work. Witnessing companies move to town, seeing them grow, and helping others find their dream jobs in Tulsa-based companies is such a fantastic experience.

One of my favorite things about Tulsa is the amount of community. Most recently, I have been so impressed with how the community here has come together to rebuild Black Wall Street and support the black community in Tulsa. I have lived in Tulsa for about 2-3 years now, and I have witnessed so much growth, much venture capital activity, and increased attention to what is happening here. I can’t wait to see what’s next! 

When I was 15 years old, my family moved from Erie, Pennsylvania to Tulsa. At the time, I was so nervous about such a big move to a new, completely unfamiliar state, but Tulsa quickly became home to me.  I got to enjoy my sophomore, junior and senior high school at Union High School, and I have such great memories of going to Big Splash, the Tulsa State Fair, Admiral Twin, concerts, and just hanging out.  It was also here in Tulsa where I met my husband, who is from Guadalajara, Mexico, where we started our family, and where my friends and family are.

I have seen Tulsa grow and change in so many amazing ways, and I love to get out and experience all that the city offers – great food, parks, music, and museums – there is always something fun to do! With my love of exploring and trying new things comes a passion for travel too. From my first trip out of the country at 14 years old, I was absolutely hooked! I have been to some incredible places and enjoy experiencing the culture and cuisine of new destinations.

This love of travel led me to an incredible career as a Travel Advisor at World Travel Service for nearly 12 years, where I was fortunate enough to help people plan dream vacations all over the world. I enjoyed getting to know people and learning what excited them about travel. It was a joy to guide them through the planning process, tailoring their travel plans based on their needs and wishes, and ultimately, helping them discover once-in-a-lifetime experiences in new destinations.

After my time as a Travel Advisor, I worked as a Service Coordinator at a Native American/woman-owned business. It provided me an incredible opportunity to learn a new industry while still being able to help customers through effective communication and empathy across a broad range of industries.

That passion for helping people has stuck with me and led me to Talent inTulsa, where I am so excited to be a part of the team and to help connect exceptional talent to great employment opportunities here in Tulsa.  I am thrilled to support the recruiting team in our mission to create a top-notch candidate experience, match people to their dream jobs, and contribute to Tulsa’s continued growth as a diverse and inclusive city.