Grow With Us

This episode of Grow With Us features Parker D. Wayne, Executive Director of Oklahoma Fashion Alliance. Parker and Evan discuss their experiences being LGBTQ+ in Oklahoma, Parker’s journey in founding the Oklahoma Fashion Alliance, and creating your own lane in fashion. If you are interested in looking at our open career opportunities, don’t forget to check out our career website: https://talent.i...

This episode of Grow With Us features Miguel Da Corte, Assistant Professor of Spanish at Tulsa Community College, and Chris Chumana, Academic Support Specialist at Tulsa Community College. Evan, Miguel, and Chris discuss the importance and discipline behind language acquisition, how it can bring us as a community together, and the different ontological implications of existing in multiple language...

This episode of Grow With Us features Scott Carr and Megan Shepherd from the Flywheel team. Flywheel is the organizing team behind two huge Tulsa events that highlight either the local food and alcohol scene in the region or the live music experience. Evan talks with Scott and Megan about the process of bringing these events to life, their importance to the city, and why Tulsa should have events l...

This episode of Grow With Us features Amber Sharp, CEO of ClaimRev. ClaimRev is a native woman-owned medical claims clearinghouse founded and situated here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Amber and Evan discuss their Indigenous identities in entrepreneurship, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma, and the Native American Woman Entrepreneurship Accelerator. Wado Amber!  If you are interested...

This episode of Grow With Us features Morgan Ipanema, an Attorney with Framework Law Group. Framework Law Group is a legal services firm targeting creative entrepreneurs and startups with affordable rates. Morgan and Evan talk about her experience navigating law school and subsequently starting her career in the legal field, and how Tulsa was a strong place to start. If you are interested in looki...

This episode of Grow With Us features Dr. Lindsey Smith, Professor of English and the Director of the Center for Poets and Writers at OSU-Tulsa. Evan and Lindsey discuss her roots in Tulsa and her boomerang experience back home, public creative workshops hosted by the Center for Poets and Writers happening this spring, and Tulsa Lit Fest’s return on April 18-21, 2024. If you are interested in look...

This episode of Grow With Us features Leander Howard II, Chief Marketing Officer at WriteSea. Leander and Evan chat about his entrepreneurial journey to joining the WriteSea team, moving a company to Tulsa for venture capital funding, and how they are expanding their reach in Tulsa through partnerships with local institutions like Tulsa Community College. If you are interested in looking at our op...

This episode of Grow With Us features Aaron Smith, Employer Development Coordinator at Cane Careers (at the time of this recording), and now the Employer Development Representative at Atlas School. Aaron and Evan talk TU’s Cane Careers office, the Job Placement Guarantee at the University of Tulsa, and how students and employers can be proactive in their search for opportunities.  If you are...

This episode of Grow With Us Features Robby Hedrick, Director of Transition Services at the Coffee Bunker Tulsa. Robby and I talk more about the Coffee Bunker Tulsa, the veteran experience more broadly, and how Tulsa + The Coffee Bunker aims to connect veterans to essential resources like professional guidance for education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Check out the Coffee Bunker on Social M...

This episode of Grow With Us features LaTonya Pratt, Head of Talent Solutions at inTulsa. We discuss the mission of inTulsa, upcoming events like Living on Tulsa Time, our Candidate readiness events, and how candidates can show up as their full authentic selves in interviews and in the workplace. Do you want an all-expenses paid trip to Tulsa? Check out the application for Living on Tulsa Time: Li...

This episode of Grow With Us features Laziz Askarov, Co-Founder of Relance and participant in the Builders + Backers program. Laziz and Evan discuss their collective experiences in Builders and Backers and New U programs. They also reflect on their interactions within the Tulsa artistic community, and we explore Laziz’s work in connecting artists to support services that can amplify their impact a...

This episode of Grow With Us features Lydia Jeong, Content Strategist for New U and the Founder/CEO of Lydsworks and Fugue Media. Lydia and Evan discuss Lydia’s experience creating an impactful brand with the New U program, the experiences that helped prepare her for being an entrepreneur, and discovering the many facets of a brand’s identity. This is a great episode for early career folks! If you...

This episode of Grow With Us features Gina Noble and Katie Burgess, who represent the Oklahoma State University-Tulsa Campus’ Department of Professional Studies. Gina, Katie, and Evan discuss the degree pathways in organizational leadership, certified nursing assistants, and public safety. We also discuss the importance of companies investing in their employees' continued education through tuition...

This episode of Grow With Us features Brian Eckberg, member of the Tulsa Two Spirit Group. Brian and Evan chat about how Indigenous people seek community in an urban setting like Tulsa, and how the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center can play a significant role in community building through programming for LGBTQIA+ individuals. We also talk about the impact and aftermath of a fantastic opportunity to...

This episode of Grow With Us features Chris VanDenhende, Chief Marketing Officer at Icon XR Studios. Chris and Evan discuss how a return to Tulsa unlocked almost a second life for Chris that involves impactful LGBTQIA+ programming centered around art and expression and a career in technology catalyzed by the Holberton School for Software Engineering. Chris shares how he navigated these big moves a...

This episode of Grow With Us features Curcio Smith, Experience Manager at Campus Tulsa. Curcio and Evan discuss the work of Campus Tulsa in connecting college students to internship opportunities in Tulsa. Campus Tulsa recently launched a sponsorship model that will allow companies to support the programming of Campus Tulsa during the summer months. Campus Tulsa provides accessible short-term hous...

This episode of Grow With Us features Jabraan Pasha, the Tulsa Market Medical Director for Juno Medical. Jabraan and Evan discuss the newly opened Juno Medical Clinic in the heart of the Greenwood District. Juno is the modern doctor’s office: Primary Care, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Same-Day Care & more. If you are interested in looking at our open career opportunities, don’t forget to check...

This episode of Grow With Us features Marcela Swenson, the executive director of Tulsa Responds. Tulsa Responds is an amazing resource for Tulsans that provides hands-on assistance for families who are eligible to apply for programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Internet Subsidies. Additionally, Tulsa Responds includes IRS-certified tax preparers who offer free tax preparation with the Volunteer I...

This episode of Grow With Us features Janessa Mondestin, Head of Talent Strategy at inTulsa. Janessa and Evan discuss Janessa’s Talent Advisory work at inTulsa, the Predictive Index as a behavioral and personality assessment tool for team collaboration, and Janessa’s involvement with DEI-focused organizations in the Tulsa community.  If you are interested in looking at our open career opportu...

This episode of Grow With Us features Darbee Rich, teacher at the DeKalb Independent School District and Team Lead for the Lisa’s House consulting group of the Campus Tulsa Impact Academy. Darbee and Evan discuss Darbee’s previous experience as an Impact Academy intern and this summer’s opportunity to lead a student group through the same experience she had last summer. Darbee led the team of stud...

This episode of Grow With Us features Daniel Jackson, a rising senior at the University of Oklahoma and Team Lead for the J’Parlé consulting group of the Campus Tulsa Impact Academy. Daniel is pursuing a Film & Media Studies major with a minor in Arts Management & Entrepreneurship. Daniel and Evan discuss Daniel’s previous experience as an Impact Academy intern and this summer’s opportunit...

This episode of Grow With Us features Luisa Krug, the Executive Director of Tulsas’s Global District. Luisa is dedicated civil servant to the city of Tulsa having served organizations like the Tulsa Health Department and the Tulsa Planning Office, and now, Luisa leads the Tulsa Global District whose mission is to serve all East Tulsa residents, entrepreneurs and small business owners by fostering...

This episode of Grow With Us features Trey Thaxton, the Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of Goldmill Co. Trey is a long-time Tulsan with a passion for uplifting and highlighting the legacy of Black Wall Street. Trey launched Goldmill Co. a multi-disciplined creative consultancy based in Tulsa, OK. We work in tandem with our clients to realize and deliver high quality production on ide...

This episode of Grow With Us features Ellen Hughes, Director of Data Strategy and Analytics at City Year Tulsa. Ellen is a dedicated educational and data advocate for students through her work at City Year where she creates data infrastructures and projects that create indicators for student outcomes. In this episode, Ellen and Evan discuss her journey to Tulsa’s non-profit sector, three projects...

This episode of Grow With Us features Kyra Carby, Community Engagement Manager for the Gathering Place, Lowdown, and Guthrie Green. Kyra is a Black and Mvskoke educator, chef, and community organizer whose work is centered in the communities where she was raised and still lives to ensure access to resources for all ranging from green spaces to food insecurities and healthy eating to access to high...