August E-News
Class 39 Opening Retreat
Leadership Oklahoma Class 39 officially began their journey together August 13–15 with their Opening Retreat at St. Crispin’s.
The retreat marked the first time the entire class came together, providing an opportunity for classmates to get to know one another, build connections, and begin forming the relationships that will shape their experience throughout the year. The retreat’s goals included exploring personal leadership styles, understanding individual strengths, and establishing a foundation for the year ahead.
The weekend featured a variety of engaging sessions, including “How’s Oklahoma Working For You?” with Dick Pryor, The Art of Networking with David Woods (Class XII & Lifetime Member), and a leadership style assessment led by Brent Douglas.
Of course, no LOK Opening Retreat would be complete without the beloved and closely guarded St. Crispin’s Experience. Led by Bill Andoe (Class XIV) and Ken Busby (Class XVII), this special LOK tradition gave Class 39 an unforgettable experience and set the tone for the year ahead.
The class wrapped up Saturday with sessions on Oklahoma Budget 101 with Trey Caldwell (Class 34 & Lifetime Member) and "Oklahoma Trailblazers: Inspiring Leaders Who Shaped Our State" with Dr. Bob Blackburn, before gathering for lunch and looking ahead to their next class session.
A special Thank You to all of our donors & sponsors that made the weekend special!
We are excited to welcome
Class 39 to the Leadership Oklahoma family and look forward to following their journey as they deepen their understanding of our state, challenge one another, and grow together as Oklahoma leaders!
Class 39 Reflections
L. Patrice Bell
Owner & Principal Engineer
L. Bell Solutions
I knew from the moment I entered our orientation that this was a well-planned program. When I realized that we had human guides all the way to the gathering room, I knew. That's a small detail that will likely only be executed if you explicitly planned for it or if the people involved are just caring enough to all follow suit. Either reason was enough to get me excited for this journey.
Here’s to great plans and great people!
I enjoyed how thoughtful our first weekend was. The sessions were well-curated and deeply engaging. The showcase was one of my favorite parts of the weekend. One of my most recent soapboxes is about how I want to revive local talent shows. This experience has most certainly confirmed a new mission for me.
I’ve also been dedicating a lot of thought to how we can help people connect the dots.
Many people struggle to understand the day-to-day consequences of political decisions — especially if they don’t personally feel the impacts immediately. LOK has already begun connecting some of the dots that make up Oklahoma, and I can’t wait to see how we continue making connections.
Then, there’s the bigger question: What story Oklahoma is currently telling?
There were so many perspectives in our room, and still so many that are missing. How do we tell an honest, accurate story about our state while making decisions that build a history we're proud to teach to future generations?
If anyone can help us figure it out, it’s certainly Leadership Oklahoma.
Josh Cantwell
President & CEO
GRAND Mental Health
It is an honor to share my thoughts on LOK Class 39’s Opening Retreat. In the days leading to the retreat, I'll admit I was more than a little apprehensive about what to expect.
Between accepting a carpool invitation, sharing a room with a stranger, and bracing for 46 hours of continual social exertion, I was solidly outside of my comfort zone. As it turns out, my predictions for the retreat couldn’t have been more wrong.
I was touched by the “crispness” of the whole experience and the intentional structure of the weekend. The agenda and events were almost scientific in the way 50 virtual strangers were guided to a place of camaraderie and belonging. Every activity felt purposeful and strategically placed to do three things:
- Quickly develop and enhance genuine relationships between classmates;
- Create understanding and buy-in to LOK as a whole; and
- Foster a lasting commitment to make a positive impact on the great state of Oklahoma.
As I got to know my classmates and saw firsthand the precision and professionalism behind my first LOK weekend, I felt a steadily growing sense of pride (to be associated with LOK) and belonging to Class 39 (which will undoubtedly come to be known as the best class ever).
During the drive to St. Crispin’s, our carpool team jokingly came up with a safe word to be used if we needed to escape. During the drive home, we each declared that we had “drank the LOK Kool-Aid”.
Well done Jodi and team. Here’s to a spectacular 39th cohort!
Passing the Gavel
On June 8, 2026, Leadership Oklahoma’s Board of Directors gathered at the Marland Grand House in Ponca City to close out the 2025–2026 calendar year and celebrate another year of growth, service, and leadership.
We are incredibly grateful to Kathy Banks-Monroe (Class XXIX & Lifetime Member) for her service as the 2025–2026 Board Chair. Throughout her term, Kathy led with thoughtfulness, wisdom, and a deep commitment to Leadership Oklahoma. Her guidance, perspective, and willingness to share her expertise have made a lasting impact on our organization, and we are grateful for the time and energy she has given to LOK.
During the meeting, Kathy officially “passed the gavel” to Dr. Steve Smith (Class XXIII), who will serve as Leadership Oklahoma’s 2026–2027 Board Chair.
We are excited to welcome Steve into this role and look forward to the leadership, vision, and continued momentum he will bring to the organization. As we look ahead to another year, we are grateful for the dedication of our Board of Directors and the many LOK members who continue to invest their time, talents, and leadership in making Oklahoma a better place.
Please join us in thanking Kathy for her outstanding service and welcoming Steve as our new Board Chair!
Snapshots of Class 39 Welcome Reception &
LOK's 40th Anniversary
Leadership Oklahoma is proud to announce Farooq Karim (Class 30 & Lifetime Member) as the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Leadership Award!
Each year, LOK honors a member whose service, leadership, participation, and contributions have made a lasting impact on our organization. Farooq exemplifies that commitment, and we look forward to celebrating him with our LOK family.
Join us for the All Class Reunion & Distinguished Leadership Award Reception on September 10 from 5:30–7:00 p.m. at Okana Resort’s Sunset Ballroom. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and an evening of reconnecting with Leadership Oklahoma friends from across the state.
The reception kicks off Fall Forum weekend, making it the perfect opportunity to celebrate Farooq, reconnect with old friends, and welcome new ones into the LOK community.
Congratulations, Farooq! We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this well-deserved honor.
Upcoming Events:
Register today for two signature Leadership Oklahoma events at OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark in Oklahoma City!
All Class Reunion
September 10, 2026
Okana's Sunrise Conference Room
5:30 pm-7:00 pm
Reconnect with classmates, expand your network, and celebrate the Leadership Oklahoma community at our annual All Class Reunion. Whether you're catching up with lifelong friends or making new connections across class years, this evening promises great conversation, fellowship, and fun.
Fall Forum: Meet the Candidates
September 11, 2026
Okana's Sunset Conference Room
Registration & Breakfast: 8:30 am
Program Begins: 9:00 am
Stay informed and engaged as Leadership Oklahoma welcomes candidates from Oklahoma's major statewide races for our Fall Forum: Meet the Candidates. This unique event offers members the opportunity to hear directly from those seeking statewide public office, gain insight into the issues shaping our state's future, and better understand the perspectives of the individuals asking for your vote.
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