2018 Oklahoma Creativity Ambassadors Gala

BJ Thomas owns one of the most distinctive voices in American pop music-a reassuringly masculine timbre conveyed with a smattering of unique embellishments that represent a distillation of the most influential genres in pop culture. With over multiple million records sold, BJ’s vocal versatility is as apparent today as it was when he recorded his first hit in 1967, “I’m so Lonesome I Could Cry”. Since the mid-1960s, BJ Thomas has become one of the most recognized and respected voices of the American musical landscape. He has impacted many areas of popular music with 15 Top 40 pop hits, 10 Top 40 country hits, 5 Grammys, 2 Dove awards and 15 Gold and Platinum Records. He is the only artist to successfully move to the top of three music genres not as a crossover and also have crossover success.

University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz life’s mission is to help students learn. Throughout his distinguished career of more than 47 years in higher education, Dr. Betz maintains a reputation of unmatched energy and enthusiasm for teaching and encouraging our future leaders. He is currently serving a three-year term on the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) executive committee and chairs its North
American Council.

As a student of political science, philosophy and international studies, and a lifelong global issues interest, Dr. Betz is well known for his diplomacy skills and work on international issues, most notably with the United
Nations.

President Betz took his post as the 20th president of the University of Central Oklahoma in August of 2011, but is no stranger to the university. He previously served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs from
1999-2005. Between then and now he served as Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and President of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

Dr. Betz is active in many professional and civic organizations. He has received numerous accolades – most recently being inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

Prior to becoming Principal Chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Enoch Kelly Haney served in both the Oklahoma Senate as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He was the first full-blood Native American to serve in either house of the Oklahoma Legislature.

Haney is an internationally recognized artist. In 1976, The Five Civilized Tribes Museum declared him a Master Artist. Most notably, he created “The Guardian,” a 22-foot bronze sculpture which adorns the Oklahoma State Capitol dome. Modeled after Haney’s own relatives, “The Guardian” took 10 months to complete, weighs 4,000 pounds, and was erected on June 7, 2002.

Kelly Haney produced and hosted his own weekly television program. He also narrated and worked as a consultant for the Seminole series of the Discovery Channel’s 1993 television documentary series, “How the West was Lost.” He currently resides in Norman, Oklahoma where he continues to create his beautiful artwork in his Norman studio.

As an active leader in the community of Oklahoma City as well as the state of Oklahoma, Lou C. Kerr has committed her time and expertise to organizations which correspond with her beliefs and expectations. As President and Chair of The Kerr Foundation, she evaluates and allocates funds to non-profit organizations, programs and institutions which enrich opportunities for all Oklahomans with an emphasis on the young.

Lou has given many years of local and national public service and sits on the Board of Directors of several organizations. As an advocate for education, Lou spends time focusing on programs that serve to educate and stimulate the minds of others. She has received numerous awards for her duty and service to the community.

Lou continues to look to new opportunities and issues that will enable her to expand her knowledge base and personal experience while continuing to give back unselfishly to what she believes in most; people and the community.

Richard Sias is a former director of Mustang Fuel Corp., a diversified energy company in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, former owner of Joullian Vineyards LTD, in Carmel Valley, California, managing director of Bint LLC, a family enterprise involved in real estate and energy, and serves as President of the Ad Astra Foundation, an Oklahoma non-profit dedicated to the support of the arts in Oklahoma.

He and his late wife, Jeannette, have one daughter, Alice Sias Pippin, a son-in-law, Phil Pippin and three grandsons, all whom reside in Oklahoma City. Richard holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Oklahoma City University and in 2002 was inducted in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Originally from Oklahoma City, Wade moved to the United Kingdom in 1999 following completion of a Bachelors in Architecture from the University of Oklahoma in 1996.

Wade is an architect and Associate Director of London based Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and has completed a series of high profile projects including Horseferry House, the global headquarters for the fashion house Burberry, the Stirling Prize shortlisted Angel Building and Google’s DeepMind headquarters.

Fascinated with the ongoing regeneration of Oklahoma City, Wade established AHMM’s Oklahoma City office in 2008 and has completed several ambitious projects including Level and Mosaic Urban Apartments, The Plow Building, The AEP Fitness Center / Oklahoma City Ballet, Bob Moore Auto Group Headquarters, Jesus Saves, The OkSea Project and Squirrel Park.

In addition to his project work, Wade is active in wider architectural discussions including being a frequent lecturer, teacher and as a design advisor for the UK Design Council and London Borough of Wandsworth.

Wade lives in London with his wife Diana Osman and son Maximilian Philip Scaramucci.