June 2020
 

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Website
 

Can Do
Will Do

In This Issue
  1. President's Letter
  2. June Chapter Meeting
  3. May Virtual Meeting Highlights
  4. Meeting Feedback
  5. BCDP Winners
  6. Announcements
  7. Tech Tip
  8. June Birthdays and Firm Anniversaries
  9. Board Members/Contact Information

President's Letter

Greetings Tulsa Chapter!

This has been an introspective time for me. In fact, serving as Chapter President this year started that for me.

To start off, I want to thank my board and advisors for staying engaged during this time. All have been so committed and responsive, and no one would know we have not been meeting in person. I would also like to thank Felicia for giving us inspiration each month as I know she is very busy with her corporate duties. Finally, I would like to thank the membership for staying engaged. It has been too long since seeing all of you in person. I especially miss Teri Edmondson and her invocations. Teri, you always have me hanging onto your every word.
This month’s Connect will highlight the BCDP Scholarship Program. Once again, I am amazed at the poise and caliber of scholarship applicants and this year was no different. I would like to thank Heather Stephen for her leadership and directing EWISP, Jennifer Dixon for directing ASIST, and the mentors for helping guide the applicants through the process. I would also like to thank Roberta Montgomery for being the go-to for all things related to BCDP! Our Chapter was once again blessed with receiving the scholarship grant in the amount of $10,000 from The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation!

June’s meeting will again be a Zoom meeting. Please be sure to read the meeting information completely and notice what looks to be a pot holder (complement of Dana Nichols). Our creative Programs Chair, Susan Miller, came up with the idea of a Pandemic Cookbook! It will be fun to archive this for our Chapter. Please take the time to submit your recipe(s). Please mark your calendars to join in on this month’s Zoom call.

This week, we received news that LCAM will be held virtually. I would encourage you to participate as this is a special time to celebrate Felicia. Felicia has done an amazing job sharing her energy, enthusiasm, and inspiration during these challenging times.

I am optimistic we will be able to meet in person in July. As a reminder, July is a business meeting. Please plan to attend. This will be a time of celebration!

Thank you and remain safe.

Respectfully and with my highest regards,

Trish

June Chapter Meeting

Thursday, June 11, 2020
5:55 pm - Join Meeting
6:00 pm - Meeting Begins

Location

Connect remotely on Zoom!
Zoom Personal Meeting ID: 793 538 1968

How to connect on a laptop:  Go to  https://zoom.us/join and type in the Personal Meeting ID 793 538 1968.  Follow the prompts to either download the Zoom laptop application or join through your browser.  A prompt should pop up to connect you to audio.

How to connect on an iPhone:  Download the Zoom App, open the app, click join meeting and type in the Personal Meeting ID 793 538 1968. A prompt should pop up to connect you to audio.

How to connect on an Android/Samsung Phone:  Download the Zoom App, open the app, click join meeting and type in the Personal Meeting ID 793 538 1968. A prompt should pop up to connect you to audio.


Dress
Business, business casual, sweats, shorts or PJ's

Cost
Free

Please RSVP by Friday, June 5.  You can RSVP by clicking the button below.  If you are unable attend, please let us know why.

Please mail checks payable to EWI of Tulsa to:

 
Tamara Conner
ONEOK, Inc.
P.O. Box 871
Tulsa, OK 74102
RSVP to our Next Chapter Meeting!
May Virtual Monthly Meeting Highlights
Adding a little fun to our virtual meetings with door prizes!
Comments on Meeting:
  • The meeting was very organized and had great participation by all EWI members. Trish Richey did an excellent job with the meeting structure and added fun to the event with "surprise" door prizes.
  • I enjoy seeing everyone on-line, but it's just not the same as a live meeting. The energy is just different. Not bad, just different. The door prizes were a great idea!
  • Having an agenda was a good idea and having time for discussion is also good. Also the door prizes was fun!
Would you join a meeting again?:
  • The EWI Chapter Meeting displayed a professional image and marked the milestone of a new beginning.
Was technology an issue?:
  • Technology did not appear to be an issue with any of the participants.

BCDP Winners!

2020 EWISP Winners
  1. Marian Nguyen - 1st Place-Bishop Kelley High School-$8,000 Scholarship + Application will be entered into EWI Corporate Scholarship Program
  2. Claire Levesque - 2nd Place-Wagoner High School-$5,000
  3. Nuami Lam Tung - 3rd Place-Jenks High School-$4,000
  4. Anahi Serna - 4th Place-Will Rogers High School-$4,000
Marian Nguyen is a seventeen-year-old senior attending Bishop Kelley High School.  She plans to attend Harvard in the fall, majoring in molecular and cellular biology.

Marian is bilingual, fluent in both English and Vietnamese and currently studying Spanish, Korean, and Russian. Passionate about music, she enjoys playing the piano, guitar, and ukulele in her free time. She spends countless hours painting or working on photorealistic graphite portraiture. Her favorite literary genres range from YA fantasy to classic literature.
Claire Levesque was born in Stillwater and raised in Wagoner, Oklahoma. She is one of Wagoner High School’s 2020 valedictorians and her drive to succeed doesn’t stop
there. This fall, Claire will attend Columbia University, an Ivy League school in New
York City, New York. She plans on majoring in Neuroscience and participate in research that will discover new things about the human brain.

Some of Claire’s interests include playing flute and conducting for the Wagoner High
School Band and pottery at Waterworks Art Studio. She is an avid reader and enjoys
spreading her love of learning by volunteering at Brighter Futures, an enrichment center for elementary school children. She also volunteers with other organizations in her community such as Downtown Wagoner and the Wagoner Rotary Club.
Nuami Lam Tung is the daughter of Ngura and Lami Lam Tung. With her passion for community, she plans to major in International Community Development at Oral Roberts University. She also leads a Multicultural Club as a president. She is a member of Key Club, NHS, Trojan Link and AVID.

Nuami dedicates her time volunteering at the Pearl House, John 3:16, Food Bank, Feed the Children, and FEMC. Representing Jenks, Nuami received the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and Anytown Leadership Alumni. She is also a UN youth delegate for Oklahoma. She’s thankful to the UN for the opportunities that brought her to a school like Jenks.

Nuami inspires and empowers others while pursuing her dream of celebrating diversity at Jenks. She feels beyond blessed to be able to represent the Burmese student population in the Mr. and Ms. JHS program for the first time and was recently named Miss JHS of 2020. To Nuami, being in America and having access to great education is a privilege not everyone gets, where your vision is not just a fading dream but can become a reality.
My name is Anahi Serna. I am going to attend The University of Tulsa to double major in Finance and Accounting. What drew me to TU is how it was close to home and to my high school (Will Rogers HS). Since we moved to Tulsa in 2011, I was instantly attracted to the campus they have there. When I was in cross country in high school, we ran at the TU campus and I loved it even more. I love to give back. Which is also one of the reasons why I am staying in Tulsa. I got the opportunity to help out with the soccer team, which I have been a part of since 8th grade. I also really enjoy giving back.

I want to create a program at my high school that helps students pursue their post-secondary dreams. In my high school, there really is not a program that helps them; therefore, I want to create one in which they will get help applying to colleges, having college visits, writing essays, and applying for scholarships. My school means a lot to me. There were many teachers that helped me get out of my comfort zone and become a better version of myself. Not a lot of students receive that help, and I want to be that person for them.
2020 EWISP Judges
Honorable Deborah Browers Barnes
Jenee Day - DVIS
Cheri Parnian-Retired Teacher - Jenks Public Schools
2020 ASIST Winners
  1. Bethany Niman-1st Place-$2,000 Scholarship + Application will be entered into EWI Corporate Scholarship Program
  2. Brandi Williams-$2,000
  3. Tammi Reed-Barnett-$2,000
Bethany Niman returned to college after working for fifteen years in the field of accounting and management and actually made the decision to attend TCC the same day she earned her GED. Like so many of our students, she balances her home and work life along with her academics. Bethany co-owns Modern Paint and Body in Jenks, OK, a body shop that caters to families in need of reasonably priced auto body repairs while also striving to hire, train, and promote technicians who are deaf or hard of hearing.

During her time at TCC, Bethany immersed herself in a holistic student experience by excelling academically, but also developing her leadership skills through campus organizations and community involvement. She has held the office of President in both the TRIO Student Association and Active Minds at TCC, as well as Vice President of the Alpha Zeta Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Additionally, she has been honored with many prestigious awards since beginning her journey at TCC, including the title of a 2019 George and Donna Nigh Scholar, a TrueBlue Leader for the past two years, and the All-Oklahoma Academic Team Scholarship winner.

Most recently, Bethany spearheaded, planned, and executed the event, Stomp Out Stigma, to bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention resources. The event featured a showing of The Ripple Effect documentary and a panel discussion with mental health professionals and suicide survivors. Bethany’s goal was to show others that they are not alone and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. As a result of her efforts, this program was able to reach over 100 of her fellow classmates and their families.

Following graduation from TCC, Bethany transferred to Northeastern State University where she is continuing her education to earn a Ph. D. in Psychology with a focus on Deaf and Hard of Hearing to help her in pursing her passion to help others. Bethany is supported and encouraged to keep reaching for her goals by her husband of 15 years, Terry, and her ten-year old son, Damien.
My name is Brandi Williams and I am a student currently attending the TCC’s School of Nursing. I am a mom to my beloved 10 year old son, a new wife to my wonderful husband and a dog mom to our 3 energetic puppy dogs. I currently work as a Home Health Aide and a Nurse Extern for Hillcrest Hospital.

I am excited to say that this fall I will be beginning my final semester of Nursing School at TCC and I couldn’t be more ready! The last three and a half years have been quite the adventure. I began school in fall of 2016 as a single mom looking for a change and a rewarding career. It has not been an easy journey for my family or me, but it has been exceedingly rewarding!

Through perseverance I have been able to show my son what it means to work hard for the things that you want to achieve in life. I have been able to pursue my dream of being a nurse. I have been able to write down so many accomplishments over the last few years that I never thought I would be able to achieve!

This December, because of all of the support from my husband, my son, my family, and my friends, I will get to walk across that stage in my white scrubs to be pinned and begin my journey as Brandi Williams, RN. I am so thankful for EWI Tulsa for supporting me through my adventures over the last few years and for playing such a crucial part in my education journey!
Tammi Reed-Barnett is a non-traditional college student that is working to become a better version of herself. On July 1st , she celebrates 4 years of sobriety. Tammi is very proud and humbled to have had this chance to begin anew. Tammi has been married for 16 years and has two boys. She currently is unemployed due to the pandemic but has spent the past four years meeting new people serving in local cafés/diners.

Tammi loves God, her family, gardening, fishing, and spending as much time helping others as possible. Tammi has been in college for one year and has no intention on stopping until she gets exactly where she is supposed to be, helping others gain sobriety. Tammi is a chair holder in Phi Theta Kappa, TRIO student, member in the National Honors Society, True Blue Lead recipient, and was on the Principle Honor Roll each semester.

She is grateful for the EWI Scholarship. Tammi vows to commit herself completely into this investment that you have given her for her education.
2020 ASIST Judges
Dr. Gene Callahan
Sarah Grounds - The City Lights Foundation of Oklahoma
Valerie Simmons - Walgreens
A special thank you to
Mr. John Hamill for his continued support and participation in our EWISP Program.
 
The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation for it’s continued support of EWI of Tulsa’s Scholarship Program.

All of the EWISP and ASIST judges who participated this year.

Our EWISP Mentors for their willingness to participate in this year’s program.

Announcements

Dear EWI Friends,

       Thank you sweet friends for all of the cards, emails, phone calls, texts and virtual hugs following the passing of my Dad.  Your prayers, support and love have been very comforting.

       Dad had a long and fulfilling life and I was truly blessed to have a loving and nurturing father who guided me in so many ways.  I miss him so much, but fond memories will remain in my heart forever.

Love,
Roberta Montgomery
For a suggested $10 donation, Debbie invites you to play Virtual Bunco and support the fight to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia.
You can also visit her fundraising page here!

Please contact Debbie Burton by emailing her here with any questions!
Please send any announcements you would like to share in the Connect to Samantha Schultz by emailing her at seschultz19@gmail.com
June EWI Birthdays

Representatives
June 3 - Mary Morrow - Sustaining
June 6 - Kelli Gernandt - Arvest Bank
June 10 - Debra Coughlan - Sustaining
June 11 - Patty Furhman - Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills
June 15 - Lisa Stansill - T.C. Blair & Associates
June 20 - Jodee Brown - Maidpro


 Executives
June 3 - Scott Burnett - Burnett, Inc.
June 7 - Tyler Jones - Moody's Jewelry
June 20 - Jody Davis - Accent Moving, Storage & Logistics/Mayflower
June 27 - James Cunningham, Hyatt Regency Tulsa
June 30 - Mark Fried - Alzheimer's Association


June Firm Anniversaries

Firm Anniversaries
1992 - World Travel Service
2018 - Corporate Realty Advisors, LLC
Tech Tip!
Save Bandwidth by Reducing Video Quality
 
Notice your video freezing or stuttering on calls? Turning off HD video calling (or setting your video stream to 360p) will use less data and reduce the strain on your network. Zoom, Google Meet (formerly Hangouts) and other popular services have the option—usually in settings. Really pressed for bandwidth? Turn off video or join via telephone.
2019-2020 Officers & Directors

President
Trish Richey, Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
trish.richey@hpinc.com
918-588-5140

Vice President/President-Elect
Reta Hallam, LDKerns Contractors
rhallam@ldkerns.com
918-299-9797

Secretary
Lori Heerlyn, T.D. Williamson
lori.heerlyn@tdwilliamson.com
918-447-5085

Treasurer
Tamara Conner, ONEOK, Inc.
tamara.conner@oneok.com
918-588-7902

Sergeant-at-Arms
Dana Nichols, Cimarex Energy
dnichols@cimarex.com
918-585-1100

B/C/DP
Heather Stephen, Arvest Bank
hstephen@arvest.com
918-631-1018

Membership (Recruitment)
Tinesa Siebert, Montereau 
tsiebert@montereau.net
918-491-5229

Membership (Retention)
Crystal Black, One Digital
cblack@onedigital.com
918-497-1170

Programs
Susan Miller, Warren Professional Building Corp
slmiller2@saintfrancis.com
918-481-7953

Communication
Samantha Schultz, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
seschultz19@gmail.com
414-587-2205

Advisors
Lisa Stansill, RB American
lisastansill1955@gmail.com
918-630-6149

Roberta Montgomery, Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
roberta.montgomery@hpinc.com
918-588-5202

Janis Cohlmia, Tropical Plant Design
janis@tropicalplantdesign.com
918-622-3400

Judy Russell, ONEOK, Inc.
jrussell@oneok.com
918-588-7931
Our Vision
To enhance professional growth and development within a diverse group of women while empowering them to make a difference as they inspire others.

 
Our Mission
EWI brings together key individuals from diverse businesses for the purpose of:
  • Promoting member firms;
  • Enhancing personal and profession development, and,
  • Encouraging community involvement
     
Our Values
Integrity | Excellence | Respect | Collaboration
Follow us on Instagram!  Search for ewitulsa in the app on your phone to find us!
Find our new Facebook page by clicking here!
Be sure to give it a "like" to see updates on your Facebook news feed!


We also have a Facebook group where you can show us your photos from our last meeting, let us know what's going on in your life and with your companies, and if you have any big events coming up!  Share them here!
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Website