CLUB EXECUTIVES
President
Chad Wilkerson
Senior Vice President and Oklahoma City Branch Executive
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Chad Wilkerson serves as Oklahoma City Branch Executive and Senior Vice President of Community Development for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Wilkerson has been with the Federal Reserve since 1998, starting in Kansas City’s research department. He was appointed OKC branch executive in 2006 and senior vice president in 2022.
As Oklahoma City branch executive, Wilkerson serves as the Bank’s lead officer and regional economist in Oklahoma. He recruits and works closely with the OKC branch board of directors and is responsible for briefing the Kansas City Fed’s president, a member of the Federal Open Market Committee, on economic trends in the state. His team conducts research and surveys on key regional issues such as energy, manufacturing, and migration.
As senior vice president of community development, Wilkerson supports a team located across the Kansas City Fed’s seven-state region who work to understand and help address issues affecting the ability of underserved communities and small businesses to access credit. The team’s focus areas include financial resiliency, affordable housing, community investments, workforce development, rural development, and digital inclusion.
Wilkerson holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago, as well as a master’s degree from Southwestern Seminary and bachelor’s degree from William Jewell College. He serves on the boards of the Economic Club of Oklahoma, the United Way of Central Oklahoma, and OKC City Rescue Mission. He lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, with his wife and children.
1st Vice President
Cathy O’Connor
President/Founder
COalign Group
Cathy is Founder and President of COalign Group. Cathy has been instrumental in furthering development throughout Oklahoma City and promoting job creation. She led the efforts to create the NE Renaissance Urban Renewal Area and Tax Increment Finance district that resulted in the development of a new grocery store to serve northeast Oklahoma City. She led efforts to develop several key projects including the Omni Convention Center Hotel to complement the new MAPS 3 Convention Center, the redevelopment of the Skirvin Hotel, the GE Global Energy Research Facility and several projects at Tinker Air Force Base. She also led the team that developed and implemented the Small Business Continuity Program in response to the COVID 19 pandemic to help support small businesses in Oklahoma City.
Cathy is active in a variety of organizations and currently serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Central Oklahoma, Commercial Real Estate Women of Oklahoma City, Historic Preservation Inc., The Foundation for the Oklahoma City Public Schools and Economic Club.
A graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City (XVIII) and Leadership Oklahoma (XX), she was named the Journal Record’s Oklahoma Woman of the Year in 2009, received the Stanley Draper Award for Community Excellence from Downtown Oklahoma City, and a Byliner Award for Economic Development from the Association of Women in Communications.
She is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers.
2nd Vice President
Rusty LaForge
EVP, General Counsel
Stride Bank, N.A.
Rusty serves as EVP and General Counsel for Stride Bank, N.A., based in Oklahoma. Rusty has helped lead Stride Bank’s tremendous growth in recent years, including highly specialized payment solutions for innovative technology companies throughout the country including Lyft, Doordash, and Chime, among others.
Rusty’s prior experience includes having served as EVP and General Counsel for Oklahoma-based companies including Mammoth Energy Services, Inc. (ticker: TUSK) and before that Southwest Bancorp, Inc. (ticker: OKSB) (parent of the former Stillwater National Bank), where he also served as Director of Investor Relations. Before OKSB, Rusty served as Director of Investor Relations for Guaranty Financial Group, Inc. (ticker: GFG) headquartered in Texas. Rusty began his law practice as an associate with the law firm Bracewell in Texas, and after returning to Oklahoma served as a Shareholder at the law firm McAfee & Taft. While in law school, he served as a Carl Albert Executive Fellow with the Oklahoma Department of Securities. Prior to law school, Rusty served as Director of Finance for the Office of Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating.
Rusty is actively involved in civic and leadership activities including currently serving on the Planning Commission for the City of Oklahoma City and the Parks Subcommittee of the Oklahoma City MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board, and previously served on the Boards of the OKC Public Schools Foundation, the Urban League of Greater OKC, the Girls Scouts of Western Oklahoma, the Board of Governors of the OSU Foundation, and the Advisory Board of the OSU School of Accounting. He also previously served on the MAPS 3 Citizens Advisory Board representing Oklahoma City’s Ward 8 until 2012.
Rusty has a B.S. degree in accounting from OSU, and his law degree from OU. A native of Chickasha, Rusty has been married to Mandy, also an OSU graduate, for over 20 years, and they have two daughters.
Treasurer
Kelly Sachs
CEO
BE Capital
In 2019, Kelly formed BE Capital (BEC), a consulting and real estate investment firm. With thirty years of banking experience, Kelly retired as Market President with Commerce Bank in Oklahoma City, having previously served as EVP/ Manager of Middle Market Banking.
Prior to joining Commerce Bank, Kelly was a senior banker with JP Morgan Chase Bank She has spent her entire banking career in Oklahoma starting in 1989 at Bank of Oklahoma in Tulsa; for Bank of America and its predecessors, and for Local Oklahoma Bank.
Kelly is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting and Bachelor’s of Arts in Communications. She also earned an MBA from Oklahoma City University, graduating with Highest Honors.
As an active member of the Oklahoma City business community, she serves as an advisory board member of the Oklahoma City University Meinders School of Business, is a board member of the Greater Central Oklahoma United Way, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and the Greater Oklahoma City Jewish Federation.
Additionally, Kelly and her family also actively support the Oklahoma City Ronald McDonald House Charity.
Secretary
Valerie Thompson
President/CEO
Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City
In the affiliate’s 70+ year history, since 1999, Valerie has served as the second female President/CEO for the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City. She provides strong leadership and ambition for the Urban League, working to further its mission to assist African Americans, other minorities and the poor achieve social and economic equality.
She is a passionate advocate for issues affecting the underserved by serving on local and national boards such as the Governor’s Workforce and Education Council, OKC Metropolitan Area Public Schools Trust, the MAPS 3 Seniors Health and Wellness Committee, OKC Adventure District, Potts Family Foundation, the Oklahoma Academy, OKC Quality Schools, First Tee of Metropolitan Oklahoma City, and the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation Board.
Valerie received a Doctorate in Political Science and an MBA from the University of Oklahoma. She also has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University. She is an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University’s School of Social Work, and her research and professional interests remain on nonprofit strategic planning and program evaluation.
Valerie and her husband, Warren, have one daughter, Maya Rae who attends OSU.
Director
Jon Cargill
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Hobby Lobby
Director
Jim English
Vice-Chairman
Lopez Foods and Dorada Foods
Jim English is Vice-Chairman of Lopez Foods and Dorada Foods and serves as Secretary/Treasurer on both of their Boards of Directors. In his 27 years with the companies, he previously served as President, COO and CFO.
Jim serves on the boards of United Way of Central Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and the Economic Club of Oklahoma and is a member of the OKC Downtown Rotary Club and the Fortune Club.
He graduated from the University of Texas and received an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Jim and his wife Vicki have one adult son, Davis, an energy investment banker in Houston.
Director
Ellen Fleming
SVP/Regional Executive - Institutional Wealth Group
Bank of Oklahoma
With over forty-five years of experience in financial services for institutions and businesses, Ellen has been an officer of Bank of Oklahoma since 1980, and today manages client service teams in OKC, TX, NM, AZ, CO and KC.
A graduate of Oklahoma State, Ellen is a life member and former director of the OSU Alumni Association, and is a long-time member of the OSU Board of Governors, previously serving two terms as a trustee of the OSU Foundation. She completed her Master’s at the University of Central Oklahoma.
A recipient of the Rotary Club’s Rotarian of the Year, Ellen is past president and treasurer of the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City, having served on the board for ten years, and also chairing the club’s foundation. She currently serves on the executive committees of the Last Frontier Council of Boy Scouts and the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma.
A graduate of Leadership Oklahoma and Leadership Oklahoma City, she previously served as president of the Alumni Association. A Woodward native, Ellen and husband Tim have 2 sons and 2 grandsons.
Director
Tony LoPresto
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Griffin Communications, LLC
Tony is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Griffin Communications, LLC. Griffin is based in Oklahoma City and has served Oklahoma communities for more than 55 years. Griffin offers a well-rounded platform of media outlets, focused on television, radio, outdoor advertising and digital advertising. Additionally, Griffin has an investment team focused on media, real estate and oil and gas.
Tony graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA in 2001 and 2012 respectively. Tony is a Certified Public Accountant.
Prior to his current position at Griffin he served as an Audit Manager in the KPMG-Oklahoma City practice from 2001 to 2007 and as the Director of Finance of Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, Inc., from 2007 to 2018.
Tony currently serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association. Tony has been involved in several civic activities including board service in Oklahoma City at The Christmas Connection, Boy Scouts – Last Frontier Council, The Employment and Education Ministry, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Oklahoma City Arts Council and the Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits. In addition to the Alumni Association, Tony also currently serves on the Boards of the Oklahoma State University School of Accounting. Additionally, Tony serves on the Board of Governors for the Oklahoma State University Foundation.
Tony is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City’s LOYAL program. Tony is also a Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association and is a member of Rotary Club 29.
Tony is married to Lexi, they live in Nichols Hills and are proud parents to Harper and Anderson.
Director
Richard Parry
President and Chief Investment Officer
Tom Johnson Investment Management
Richard is the President and Chief Investment Officer with Tom Johnson Investment Management, LLC in Oklahoma City. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Colorado with an emphasis in International Business, and his MBA from Oklahoma City University.
He is a CFA charter holder, past adjunct professor for Oklahoma City University, past president of the Oklahoma Society of Financial Analysts, and is an alumnus of Leadership Oklahoma City (VIII).
Currently, he serves on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City University, Rotary Club 29, Economic Club of Oklahoma and is a member of the Fortune Club.
He and his wife Gayle have two children; Kristi Pointer who works for Myriad Genetics in Oklahoma City, and Michael Parry who works for Trinity Private Equity Group in Dallas.
Director
Steve Slawson
Slawson Companies
Vice President of Operations
Steve Slawson, vice president of operations for Slawson Companies, graduated from Duke University with a double major in mechanical engineering and economics. He worked for Gulf Oil and a consulting firm before going to work for Slawson Companies in 1983, working as a reservoir engineer and operations manager before assuming his current role. Steve and his wife, Linda, a former Mrs. Oklahoma, are the parents of three children. A resident of Oklahoma City, Steve has served on several state boards and commissions and helped raise funds for Head Start and Alzheimer’s research.
Immediate Past President
Tipton Burch
President/CEO
Security Bancshares Corporation
Tip has thirty-eight years of experience in the banking industry. Prior to forming Security Bancshares, Tip served in various management positions over a twenty-five year career with JPMorgan Chase Bank.
Tip has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma Christian University and a Master’s in Finance from the University of Central Oklahoma.
In addition to serving as an officer of the Economic Club of Oklahoma, Tip’s community involvement has included board positions with Oklahoma Christian University, the Tulsa Chapter of the American Red Cross, the YMCA and the Community Action Project in Tulsa.
Corporate Secretary Emeritus
Carlos E. Johnson, Ed.D., CPA
Executive Director Development
David Capital Partners & BankOnITUSA
With 60 years of experience in the financial services industry, Carlos operated as a management consultant for BKD CPAs & Advisors as a resource to the Oklahoma partners, management team and staff for over 8 years.
Carlos serves on both local and national boards including, the Oklahoma Board of Accountancy, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, the Academic Experience, Oklahoma Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. He donates his time to community and civic affiliations such as Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma Zoological Society, the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits and CASA.
He holds a Master of Science and Doctorate (Ed.D.) from Oklahoma State University and is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma (Class IX). He was recognized as a member of the “100 for 100 Years” outstanding graduates and named to the 2015 Hall of Fame by the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University.
Young Professional Advisory Director
Stephen Brown
Assistant Vice President
BOK Financial Services
PAST PRESIDENTS
1955 Hardin W. Masters
1956 Howard J. Bozarth
1957 Richard W. Camp
1958 Charles B. Stewart
1959 Grady D. Harris, Jr.
1960 Mather M. Eakes
1961 William M. Murray
1962 M.G. McCool
1963 John Kilpatrick, Jr.
1964 George H.C. Green, Jr.
1965 W.F. Pralle
1966 Herbert L. Branan
1967 John H. Miller
1968 A. Francis Porta
1969 Louis F. Danforth
1970 Monte H. Goldman
1971 Thomas W. Utterback
1972 C.B. Cameron
1973 Alex P. Aven
1974 John W. Nichols
1975 Edgar R. Oppenheim
1976 John M. Mee
1977 John N. Booth
1978 James V. Baker, Jr.
1979 Gordon D. Williams
1980 Dan Hogan, III
1981 Sidney P. Upsher
1982 C. Randolph Everest
1983 Leo M. Rodgers, Jr.
1984 Edward H. Cook
1985 Leslie L. Ming
1986 James Harlow, Jr.
1987 William B. Cleary
1988 J. Larry Nichols
1989 Bob Anthony
1990 Frank McPherson
1991 Wayne Von Feldt
1992 Bill Swisher
1993 Harrison Levy, Jr.
1994 George J. Records
1995 John Linehan
1996 Ray Potts
1997 James R. Daniel
1998 Patrick J. Ryan
1999 Rocky L. Duckworth
2000 Douglas R. Cummings
2001 Luke R. Corbett
2002 Kenneth K. Mcllhaney
2003 Joseph M. Fleckinger
2004 John P. McMillin
2005 Paul Odom, III
2006 Carlos E. Johnson
2007 Duke Ligon
2008 Tom Legan
2009 Nancy Anthony
2010 Steven Agee
2011 Lt. General Richard Burpee
2012 Patrick Rooney
2013 Lee Symcox
2014 William Shdeed
2015 Jacque Fiegel
2016 Tony Shinn
2017 Doug Stussi
2018 James Couch
2019 Nicholas Harroz, III
2020 Robert H. Clements
2021 Rhonda Hooper
2022 Tip Burch