Theme: Resilience

Obstacles, struggles, and setbacks are an inevitable part of life. While we may get knocked down by personal, physical, or even global hardships, it's the resilience to get back up that matters. The power to bounce back and fight with resilience is what characterizes you. How do you thrive amidst adversity?

Constitution Hall in the Nigh University Center
2nd Street and Garland Godfrey Drive
c/o 100 North University Avenue
Edmond, Oklahoma, 73034
United States

Bryan Mitschell

Professional Sound Technologist/Songwriter

Bryan Mitschell is a professional sound technologist and Oklahoma City songwriter. A classically trained percussionist, Bryan has sat behind a drum set for numerous performing groups spanning from traditional country to aggressive punk rock. He also serves as a Coordinator for the Nashville Songwriters Association International in the Oklahoma City Chapter. Bryan actively writes commercial music intended for major label and indie artists alike, work for which he has received many accolades from multiple songwriter associations. Leveraging music to provide community service to under-privileged or disenfranchised social groups is one of Bryan’s passions and priorities, and through a grant from the University of Central Oklahoma that he is collaborating on titled “Quiet Kismet – Songs and Stories of Surviving Homelessness”, he has been writing music with service goals in mind.

Jason Eliot

Assistant Professor

Jason Eliot is an Assistant Professor in the Management Department at the University of Central Oklahoma. He teaches classes in the MBA program on Business Ethics and Building Effective Teams. He teaches undergraduate classes in Business Ethics, the Human Resource Management and Leadership. He also serves as the co-director of the UCO College of Business Leadership Development Program – 2B Leaders. Finally, Jason is a faculty sponsor for the College of Business Study Tour to London, Belfast, and Dublin. His published research involves resilience and servant leadership. Prior to joining UCO, Jason was the Chief Experience and Talent Officer and Vice-President of Human Resource for INTEGRIS Health, Inc., the largest provider of health care and the second largest private employer in the state of Oklahoma. In that role, Jason had strategic and operational responsibilities for all HR and community benefit initiatives as well as the coordination of all customer experience efforts.

Justin Brown

Director of Oklahoma Department of Human Services

In June 2019 Governor J. Kevin Stitt appointed Justin B. Brown as Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the state’s largest agency by workforce. In March 2020,Governor Stitt further appointed Brown to the position of Cabinet Secretary of Oklahoma Human Services. As CEO of a regional senior housing company prior to these appointments, Brown built a deep experience in organizational leadership, finance, and strategic planning & execution. With this experience, Brown is well suited to build a vision based on a customer first mentality, motivating the team to execute on a vision of serving the State of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens. As a strong relationship builder, Brown was uniquely qualified to position the Department of Human Services as a collaborative agency that engages with partners across the state to serve together.

Katie Kinder

Author/School Teacher

Katie Kinder, author of Untold Teaching Truths, has been an educator since 2006. She believes that life is fun, and learning should most definitely be fun. Hook your students, embed music, gamification, the family classroom, and relevant content. A teacher of the year, top five district finalist, OKC Rotary Teacher of the Month, and a top 100 educator in Oklahoma on Twitter, Katie has learned a trick or two in the classroom, so come on in, and have some fun, and hook your students from day one!

Kelly Meerbott

Leadership Coach

Kelly Meerbott is a respected thought leader, author, facilitator, TEDx speaker, and leadership coach to successful leaders. Early in her corporate career, Kelly found her calling to coaching and training while working for a Fortune 500 company. Kelly Meerbott earned a B.A. in English literature from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and has completed post-graduate work in emotional intelligence from Case Western Reserve University, modern psychology from Princeton University, leadership development from the University of Pennsylvania and holds multiple trauma certifications from the Arizona Trauma Institute. In her spare time, Kelly launched a virtual group for women and people who identify as women called "Transforming Your Internal Narrative: From Burnt out to Bliss." She is releasing a 28-day self-guided journal by the same name and will publish her first book in the winter of 2022.

Lorrie "Hellcat" Bamford

Lawyer/Life Coach

Lorrie Hellcat Bamford, and yes, Hellcat is her legal middle name, was born and raised 1 of 11 children in Dallas, Texas. Lorrie overcame her circumstances of adversity - learning, over time, to use her moments of resilience to build confidence and hope. Hellcat is a professional speaker, lawyer, certified life/smoking cessation coach, and Podcaster. Lorrie’s mission is to love, learn, and be a passionate advocate for hope and confidence. Hellcat’s Hope Podcast has been downloaded over 7,000 times and has listeners all over the world. Her message of confidence and hope, one thought at a time, will both motivate and inspire you to live above and beyond whatever circumstances life may throw your way and use your own inner Hellcat to do great things. Learn more about Hellcat at www.whatthehellcat.com.

Paul "Jake" Watson

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity President

Paul “Jake” Watson is a student in his third year here at the University of Central Oklahoma. He is a fall 2019 initiate of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and currently has the privilege of serving as the President of the organization. Outside of UCO, Jake is a strength coach and a nationally ranked powerlifting competitor, with two American national records in his respective division. In his life, as both as a student and as a man, he continually strives to find ways to create a lasting, impactful change in the community in which he lives, and in the lives of the individuals that surround him.

Sharina Perry

Founder/Inventor of Utopia Plastix

Sharina’s current professional corporate roles revolve around her Utopia Model owned and operated companies. These include CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Utopia Genetics, LLC; CEO Eden Grow, LLC, Managing Partner Utopia Solutions, LLC; and Managing Partner Utopia Wellness, LLC. Sharina is the Founder/Inventor of Utopia Plastix, a patented plastic alternative formulated into compounded plant- based resins using agricultural crops. Sharina is also the creator and developer of the Utopia Model, a sustainable eco-system business model. Utopia's compounded plant resin allows manufacturers to use their current equipment as they produce the sustainable, alternative plastic products that the world is demanding. Sharina is known for her strategic business structure and keen ability to effectively execute. Viewed broadly as an out of the box thinker and innovator. She has challenged herself to shatter glass ceilings and continues to excel in every endeavor she takes on.

Wayne Stein

Professor of English

Dr. Wayne Stein is a professor of English and teaches Kung Fu Cinema, Cyberpunk Cinema, and Asian American Literature. With 26 years at UCO, he has written books, presented papers, and won various teaching awards. He is the advisor to the UCO Budo Society, the samurai club.