News

Oklahoma City — Creative Oklahoma announced today the addition of Dave Evans as Executive Director. Evans is an executive in the compressed natural gas field and a former Air Force Commander and officer. Founding Director Susan McCalmont will continue as President of the Board. 

“As Creative Oklahoma reached our ten-year mark as an organization, we took some time to assess where we are and how we can make a broader impact for the state in economic growth,” said Doug Eaton, Chairman of Creative Oklahoma. “Dave brings energy and perspective as an entrepreneur that we think will translate into exciting things happening across Oklahoma.”

Expansion programs currently being implemented include the Oklahoma Creative Communities program, providing creative problem solving support to eight communities throughout the state, and a new start-up collaboration and training space in downtown Oklahoma City, in partnership with Rose State College. Focus is also on the launch of the Oklahoma Innovation Network that provides resource mapping and connections for entrepreneurs and citizens with marketable ideas.  Creative Oklahoma will also be managing the new Oklahoma Venture Mentoring Program for entrepreneurs, a partnership program with MIT in Cambridge, MA.   The Oklahoma Venture Mentoring Program will be available to provide provide mentoring services for entrepreneurs beginning in March, 2017.

“I’m honored to be given the opportunity to lead this organization to the next level of success,” said Evans. “We know that creativity is the engine of economic growth and we are solidly positioned to support Oklahoma’s unique entrepreneurial spirit.”

With the expanded focus on entrepreneurship, new board members have joined the board and will provide additional expertise to guide the organization’s mission and goals. New members include:

• Judy Allen, Senior Executive Officer, Tribal Relations for the Choctaw Nation, Durant
• Cason Clagg, Software Developer, Ultimate Software, Norman
• Justin Hazzard, Director, Meridian Technology Center for Business Development, Stillwater
• Danny Kennedy, Founder, Wilshire Investment Group, OKC
• Noah Milligan, Area Assistant Vice President, IBC Bank, OKC
• Dr. Terry Neese, Founder, Terry Neese Personnel Services, OKC
• Dr. Douglas Price, Director, Global Learning & International Partnerships, Tulsa Community College, Tulsa
• Tim Rogers, Executive Director, Metropolitan Library System, OKC
• Art Serna, Executive Director, Teach for America, OKC
• Dirk Spiers, Founder, Spiers New Technologies, OKC
• Mark Stansberry, Chairman/Founder, The GTD Group, Edmond

With strategic counsel provided by national advisor Sir Ken Robinson, Creative Oklahoma became the first non-profit organization in the U.S. with a statewide strategy to encourage and support the development of creativity and innovation in the sectors of education, commerce, and culture. Creative Oklahoma served as a catalyst for the development of the National Creativity Network and is the only North American region member of the international Districts of Creativity Network.

“Economic competition is not between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It is between Oklahoma and the world,” said Susan McCalmont. “We are creating an ecosystem that will provide support to entrepreneurs anywhere in the state — from those living in the metros, to those working out of coffee shops or living in small towns. Oklahoma’s future is bright if we connect and engage citizens and their ideas with resources.”

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About Creative Oklahoma

Creative Oklahoma is a statewide non-profit organization advancing Oklahoma’s economy through projects and collaborative ventures that help develop a more entrepreneurial and vibrant economy and improved life quality for all Oklahomans. The mission is to develop, promote and celebrate Oklahoma’s creativity and innovation in education, commerce and culture. For more information, please visit www.creativeoklahoma.org