Celebrating the Oklahoma Women's Coalition

At the January 2011 board meeting of the Oklahoma Women's Coalition, we took time to review all the things we have accomplished since our founding in the fall of 2008. Ergo - a celebration cake!

Sylvia Mahaffey of Putman City Schools Honored

Oklahoma's Sylvia Mahaffey, who teaches eighth-grade math at Capps Middle School (Putman City School District), is one of  only five teachers nationwide named as a 2010 Symetra Top Teacher. That's something to crow about, Oklahoma!

Census Bureau Reports Women-Owned Firms Numbered 7.8 Million in 2007, Generated Receipts of $1.2 Trillion

A December 7, 2010 U.S. Census Bureau press release notes that:

"In 2007, women owned 7.8 million businesses and accounted for 28.7 percent of all businesses nationwide, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Survey of Business Owners. These firms generated $1.2 trillion in receipts, about 3.9 percent of all business receipts nationwide. (See Table 1 [Excel].)
Businesses owned equally by men and women numbered 4.6 million firms (17.0 percent of all businesses) and generated $1.3 trillion in receipts (4.2 percent of all receipts)."

See also: Women-Owned Businesses (U.S. Census blog)

Eight To Be Inducted into Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame on April 7

The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women will induct eight women into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame during ceremonies at 3 p.m. on April 7 in the Oklahoma History Center.

2011 inductees are Dr. Laura Boyd, Norman; Chloe L. Brown, Tulsa; Joy D. Culbreath, Durant; Marcia J. Mitchell and Kathryn L. Taylor, both of Tulsa; Ardina J. Moore of Miami; Dr. Cynthia S. Ross, Lawton; and Helen Harrod Thompson of Ardmore. Ninety-six women have been previously inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame. A complete list of previous inductees can be found at: http://women.library.okstate.edu/hof.

14 Women Honored As Oklahoma's Most-admired CEOs

The Journal Record will host their second annual "Oklahoma’s Most-admired CEOs" event on February 17, 2011 at National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Thirty-three business and nonprofit leaders from across Oklahoma will be honored and an overall winner will be announced in each of eight categories. The honorees will also be profiled in The Journal Record's "Oklahoma’s Most-admired CEOs" magazine that is published on Feb. 18.

Among the 33 business and nonprofit leaders selected by an industry panel from dozens of nominations are the following fourteen remarkable Oklahoma women:

* Cathryn Hibbs, Deaconess Hospital
* Lynn Flinn, The Rowland Group
* Shirley Hammer, Hammer Construction Inc
* Karen Black, A Karen Black Company
* Teresa Moisant, Moisant Promotional Products
* Bliss Morris, First Financial Network
* Nancy Anthony, Oklahoma City Community Foundation
* Anne Masters, Pioneer Library System
* Robyn Sunday-Allen, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic
* Dianna Bonfiglio, Prevent Blindness Oklahoma
* Sharla Hall Owens, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma
* Julie Knutson, Oklahoma Academy
* Jan Peery, YWCA Oklahoma City
* Valerie Thompson, Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City Inc.

Reservations for the banquet can be made by contacting Lesley Martin at(405) 278-2820 or lesley.martin@journalrecord.com. Individual tickets are $100 and tables for 10 are $1,000.

Source: The Journal Record/Dolan Media - http://www.dolanmedia.com/view.cfm?recID=659640

The Oklahoman's "Extraordinary Women of 2010"

The Oklahoman had a lovely article Sunday on  "The Oklahoman's Extraordinary Women" of 2010. They honored 6 Oklahoma women - all of them pretty remarkable judging by their bios. You can read the article on each of them by clicking on their name.The honorees for 2010 are Governor-Elect Mary Fallin, Dr. Georgianne Snowden, Shouna Olson, Doris Row, Terri Smith, and Shirley Harris.

Rose Pearson Starts Up Switchblade Skate Company in OKC

Rose Pearson, aka "Switchblade Rosie" with the Oklahoma City Roller Derby team, has started a store that targets roller derby participants. Oklahoma City has three roller derby teams. Oklahoma has 10 teams. And there are many more all across Oklahoma. At the Switchblade Skate Company (2132 SW 74th Street in Oklahoma City) you can buy quad (4-wheeled) skates, elbow pads, helmets, etc.... for women and men. You can follow the store on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/eS9QvD. Watch for a website which is coming soon! Read more at http://bit.ly/gu8ExC.

Noma Gurich Is Oklahoma's Next Supreme Court Justice

Hurray.

Governor Brad Henry has named Judge Noma Gurich to serve on the Oklahoma State Supreme Court.

Gurich will succeed Justice Marion Opala who died in late 2010. She is only the THIRD woman ever appointed to the state supreme court!

You can read more about the appointment by clicking here. 

Reinhardt-Keever New Executive Service Corps CEO

Donna Reinhardt-Keeve, former CEO of Allied Arts of Oklahoma City, is becoming CEO of the Executive Service Corps of Central Oklahoma  (ESCCO). This organization of about 60 professionals (many of them retired), volunteer their talents to nonprofits, governments and schools. Bless her and all who work with ESCCO!

Betty Boyd Remembered

Tulsa native Betty Boyd, one of Oklahoma's pioneer TV personalities and former a state legislator, died today at the age of 86. Boyd served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1990 to 2000 (Democrat - District 23/east Tulsa County). Boyd co-authored the bill creating the Oklahoma State University-Tulsa campus, advocated reading programs in early grades and expanded school teacher and administrator training. As a breast cancer survivor, her legislative agenda also included health issues. According to the Tulsa World, "While serving in the House, Betty Boyd was the oldest member, the only great-grandmother and one of only a few women to chair more than one committee." You can read the full Tulsa World article about Betty Boyd by clicking here.

Oklahoma Women We Lost in 2010

Some really remarkable Oklahoma women died in 2010. First to come to mind are Hannah Atkins and Wilma Mankiller - both amazing women - one African American and the other Native American. We also lost actress Rue McClanahan. Who else can you think of? Leave a comment and let us know!

Marion Paden Elected to Lead OKC Downtown Rotary

Congratulations to Marion Paden on being elected the 2011 Vice President of the third largest Rotary club in the world (the OKC Downtown Rotary Club). This means that, in 2012, she will become only the second woman to serve as president of this prestigious organization. (Meg Salyer was the first female president of this 540 member club in 2003.) Dr. Paden is Executive Vice President of Oklahoma City Community College.