News

Oklahoma City, OK – The board of directors for Creative Oklahoma is pleased to announce the election of its new slate of Officers for fiscal year 2024-2025. The officers include:

Chairman: Cindy Friedemann | Public Strategies
As the Director of Strategic Engagement and Workforce Systems at Public Strategies, Cindy leads teams that design and implement innovative solutions to address the needs of diverse stakeholders in the public and private sectors. With over 12 years of executive experience in various industries, Cindy has a proven track record of creating and executing strategic plans, developing and managing partnerships, and facilitating product and market growth.

Vice-Chair: Lance McDaniel | McDaniel Entertainment
Lance McDaniel is CEO of McDaniel Entertainment, the former Executive Director of the deadCenter Film Festival, and an award-winning filmmaker who has worked on 21 feature films, including Oscar winner Million Dollar Baby.

Secretary and Chair Elect: Justin Hazzard | OSU Foundation
Justin Hazzard is the Assistant Vice President of Corporate Engagement at Oklahoma State University Foundation, where he leads the efforts to secure and steward corporate engagement that supports the innovation and research missions of OSU. He has over 15 years of experience in business development, entrepreneurship, international trade, and an MBA in International Business from Grenoble Ecole de Management.

Treasurer: Mike Knopp | Riversport Foundation
With a passion for rowing and paddling, Mike Knopp, the founder of the Riversport Foundation, has a vision for bringing national and international sports to the Oklahoma River. For 25 years, Mike has been the driving force for leadership in developing the Oklahoma City rowing and paddling community, the Boathouse District, national and international sporting events, and ultimately, the master plan development of the Oklahoma River.

These dedicated individuals, along with the long-standing board members, will serve their roles through June 2025. Their leadership and expertise will play a pivotal role in guiding Creative Oklahoma’s mission to foster innovation and creative thinking throughout the state.

The board also benefits from the continued service of Past Chair Jane Jenkins, alongside other esteemed members: Bart Conner, Chip Oppenheim, Jay Shanker, Jonna Kirschner, Ken Busby, Mark Parker, Robyn Elliott and Tommy Yi.

About Creative Oklahoma

Creative Oklahoma is a statewide nonprofit organization, established in 2006, with a mission to cultivate and champion creative thinking in Oklahoma. The organization promotes creativity in education, commerce, and culture through various programs and events, aimed at inspiring innovation and advancing opportunities for all Oklahomans. For more information, visit www.creativeoklahoma.org.