2023 Honorees
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Alicia Andrews is the Chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party serving her second term.
Before becoming involved in politics, Andrews was a licensed REALTOR™. She is driven by a desire to “do something” to make a difference in the world. Her life motto is: "Everyone should have access to the ballot box, be educated when they get there, and have confidence that their vote will count." Andrews has been featured on and in CNN, FoxNews, BBC, and the New York Times among others outlets. Following graduation from the University of Oklahoma and a corporate career that focused on organizational design and customer service, Andrews consulted with small business start-ups. This is the experience that she draws upon in her work as the chair. In addition to her political work, Andrews serves on the board of the American Theatre Company and enjoys traveling with her family. |
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Libby Billings is the owner of Elote Cafe & Catering, The Vault and Roppongi. Billings is a Tulsa native, Booker T Washington hornet, OSU IT Culinary School graduate and a Girl Scout leader.
Billings opened Elote in 2008 with five employees and a $30,000 SBA business loan. Since then, Billings has opened two more restaurants, added 70 employees and recently purchased Elote’s building, becoming the only female, independent property owner in downtown Tulsa. She has been credited with the revitalization of the Deco District after forming and residing as President of the Deco District neighborhood association for its first five years. In addition to her focus on urban revitalization, Billings leads Tulsa's restaurant industry with her commitment to sustainability. Billings has no investors and is proud to be a role model for other women and girls who want to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Photo: Michelle Pollard, Tulsa People |
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Cassia Carr is a civically-minded wife, mom, attorney and amateur opera singer! Born and raised in Tulsa, OK, Carr studied business and Spanish at local colleges - Tulsa Community College and Oral Roberts University.
She began her career as a District Sales Leader at PepsiCo, leading a team of 25 salespersons in the Frito-Lay division. Later, she attended law school at the University of Tulsa College of Law and practiced bankruptcy, corporate governance and litigation at two local law firms before joining the in-house legal team at the Williams Companies, Inc., a publicly-traded midstream company in Tulsa. Throughout her career, she volunteered countless hours on boards and commissions for the Mayor of Tulsa, GT Bynum, which led to his offer for her to join his team as Deputy Mayor of Tulsa. Carr enjoys hanging out with her husband Joel, their daughters Georgia and Charlotte, their dog Peaches, and a host of family and friends. Carr is also an Ironman triathlete. |
A Tulsan by choice, Councilor Lori Decter Wright has called Tulsa home for 15 years, including 12 years in southeast Tulsa’s District 7. She has has represented District 7 on the Tulsa City Council since December 2018. In 2022, Councilor Decter Wright served as Chair of the Council and was elected to a third term in November.
In addition to her duties as an elected municipal official, Decter Wright serves as the Executive Director of Kendall Whittier Incorporated (KWI), a community-based nonprofit organization focused on food insecurity in Tulsa's historic Kendall Whittier, The Pearl, and Crutchfield neighborhoods. Prior to joining the staff at Kendall Whittier Incorporated, she served as Director of Education and Membership for Sweet Adelines International, a nonprofit association for women founded in Tulsa in 1948.
Prior to choosing Tulsa as the place to settle down and raise a family, Decter Wright and her husband were professional opera singers based in Silicon Valley. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees in vocal performance at San Jose State University under the tutelage of Irene Dalis and David Rohrbaugh. Decter Wright is an award-winning singer and has performed with world-class opera companies and symphonies across the United States and overseas. Tulsa's own excellent cultural offerings were a major factor in the Wrights choosing to build their lives here rather than in another city in the region. In recent years, Decter Wright has returned to the stage avocationally, directing local musical theatre productions, performing in a variety of venues around town, and singing the National Anthem for local events. She also currently serves as a trustee for the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and is member of the board for Tulsa Opera, leading their Community Engagement and Outreach committee.
In addition to her duties as an elected municipal official, Decter Wright serves as the Executive Director of Kendall Whittier Incorporated (KWI), a community-based nonprofit organization focused on food insecurity in Tulsa's historic Kendall Whittier, The Pearl, and Crutchfield neighborhoods. Prior to joining the staff at Kendall Whittier Incorporated, she served as Director of Education and Membership for Sweet Adelines International, a nonprofit association for women founded in Tulsa in 1948.
Prior to choosing Tulsa as the place to settle down and raise a family, Decter Wright and her husband were professional opera singers based in Silicon Valley. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees in vocal performance at San Jose State University under the tutelage of Irene Dalis and David Rohrbaugh. Decter Wright is an award-winning singer and has performed with world-class opera companies and symphonies across the United States and overseas. Tulsa's own excellent cultural offerings were a major factor in the Wrights choosing to build their lives here rather than in another city in the region. In recent years, Decter Wright has returned to the stage avocationally, directing local musical theatre productions, performing in a variety of venues around town, and singing the National Anthem for local events. She also currently serves as a trustee for the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and is member of the board for Tulsa Opera, leading their Community Engagement and Outreach committee.
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Heather Duvall serves as Executive Director of Amplify Youth Health Collective guiding the strategic direction of the organization. Previously, Duvall served as Director of Programs at Amplify where she built community relationships and established sexual health education in Tulsa area schools.
For over 20 years, she has advocated for educational opportunities and united diverse groups toward a shared vision to achieve a long-term positive impact on youth sexual health and ensure all young people are valued in our communities. Duvall was raised in rural Oklahoma and has a master's degree in Communication from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University. Amplify Youth Health Collective is the collective impact, capacity-building organization leading the movement to advance youth sexual health and well-being in Tulsa, OK. |
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Ginnie Graham has been a journalist with the Tulsa World since 1994. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master of public administration degree from the University of Oklahoma. She is a fifth-generation Oklahoman, spending her childhood in Grove and graduating high school in Perry.
In September 2021, she was named the Tulsa World’s editorials editor, which oversees the Opinion section – the first woman to hold that position. She has been a full-time columnist since 2012 and moved to the editorial department in 2018. Graham’s columns are a mix of personal, political and cultural commentary and features. Among her past journalism honors are the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award from the Society of Newspaper Columnists, four sweepstakes and several first place awards from the Associated Press Oklahoma chapter and two Reporter-of-the-Year awards from the Great Plains Journalism Awards. Graham oversaw the newspaper’s summer intern program for 15 years and is a member of the OU Student Publications Board. |
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Dr. Crystal Hernandez is the administrator of two psychiatric hospitals and a forensic step-down unit under the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as well as a national disabilities expert and advocate. Dr. Hernandez is a board member of the Arc of Oklahoma, A Way Home for Tulsa, and the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma.
She serves on Federal boards and is a Project Advisory Member for the State of the States on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Hernandez is the founder and host of a Federally supported podcast on Tribal Disabilities and serves as a Tribal advisor many in Indian Country. She fills her days with a life of service to others, writing pro-bono grants and providing organizational development support to nonprofits. Dr. Hernandez is a mother of three and seeks to leave a positive and lasting impact on those around her. |
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Teresa Meinders Burkett is a partner in the healthcare practice group of Conner & Winters, LLP. A native of Okarche and a graduate of Norman High School, she worked through law school as a cardiac care nurse and now represents a wide variety of healthcare providers in her law practice.
Burkett serves as the Chairman of the City of Tulsa Parks Board and the Gilcrease Board of Trustees and as an Animal Welfare Commissioner in Tulsa. She also serves as a trustee for the Tulsa Community College Foundation, and on the boards of directors of The Nature Conservancy, The Oklahoma Academy, and Housing Solutions of Tulsa. She is a member of Leadership Oklahoma, Class XVIII. Burkett and her husband Robert enjoy hiking in the Ozarks with their two dogs, California wine tasting trips, and canoeing the Buffalo National River. |
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M. Susan Savage is a native Tulsan elected in 1992 as Tulsa’s first woman mayor. Her unprecedented tenure ended in 2002. Savage was appointed as Oklahoma’s Secretary of State by Governor Brad Henry in 2003 until 2011. She currently serves as the CEO for Morton Comprehensive Health Services, the oldest community health center system in Oklahoma.
As mayor, Savage produced a decade of job growth, neighborhood revitalization, financial stability, public safety enhancements and environmental initiatives. Savage appointed more women and minorities to city boards, authorities, and commissions than any other time in Tulsa’s history. Savage publicly apologized to victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre at the 75th and 80th commemorations. As the city’s and state’s chief diplomat, Savage worked to advance initiatives from early childhood to health policy to international relations. As Secretary of State, Savage served as a member of Governor Henry’s cabinet with policy and executive duties at the federal, state, and local levels. |
Janees Taylor began serving as the treasurer of the Cherokee Nation in 2021 after Chief Hoskin nominated her and she was unanimously confirmed by the tribal council.
Taylor graduated with a degree in accounting from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. She went on to pass the CPA exam and began a career in the private sector. In 2013 Janees was elected to the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council where she represented Cherokees in Southern Rogers and Mayes counties for 2 terms.
While on the Tribal Council, Taylor chaired the Executive and Finance committee, working closely with the Cherokee Nation office of financial resources and the CFO of Cherokee Nation Business monitoring the tribe’s financial position and leading the yearly budget hearings. She also served as the Secretary of the Tribal Council from 2018 to 2021.
Taylor served on Chief Hoskin’s Special commission for the protection of Cherokee Nation Sovereignty established to prepare the Cherokee Nation for historic changes resulting from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in McGirt.
During her time on the tribal council, Taylor was an advisory member of the Cherokee Nation Housing Authority board of commissioners, served on the Claremore Indian Hospital Board of directors and was one of Cherokee Nation’s representatives on the Inter Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes.
Community engagement for Taylor include serving on the Mayes County Post Adjudication Review Board, RSU Foundation Board and the RSU Business Board. Taylor has also been involved with numerous political campaigns and enjoys seeing democracy in action leading to change for the better.
Taylor is mother of two daughters and lives in Pryor, OK with her husband Brent.
Taylor graduated with a degree in accounting from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. She went on to pass the CPA exam and began a career in the private sector. In 2013 Janees was elected to the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council where she represented Cherokees in Southern Rogers and Mayes counties for 2 terms.
While on the Tribal Council, Taylor chaired the Executive and Finance committee, working closely with the Cherokee Nation office of financial resources and the CFO of Cherokee Nation Business monitoring the tribe’s financial position and leading the yearly budget hearings. She also served as the Secretary of the Tribal Council from 2018 to 2021.
Taylor served on Chief Hoskin’s Special commission for the protection of Cherokee Nation Sovereignty established to prepare the Cherokee Nation for historic changes resulting from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in McGirt.
During her time on the tribal council, Taylor was an advisory member of the Cherokee Nation Housing Authority board of commissioners, served on the Claremore Indian Hospital Board of directors and was one of Cherokee Nation’s representatives on the Inter Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes.
Community engagement for Taylor include serving on the Mayes County Post Adjudication Review Board, RSU Foundation Board and the RSU Business Board. Taylor has also been involved with numerous political campaigns and enjoys seeing democracy in action leading to change for the better.
Taylor is mother of two daughters and lives in Pryor, OK with her husband Brent.