Each June, OKC City Lifestyle features several outstanding gentlemen whose influence extends beyond their profession into our community.
GENARO ARRíAGA
Owner, Renaissance Cast Stone
& Co-founder, Dando Frutos (“Giving Fruit”)
Hometown: Oklahoma City
Bio & Career Highlights
Genaro Arríaga is the owner of Renaissance Cast Stone, Arriagas Properties and Arriagas Auto Center in Oklahoma City. Renaissance Cast Stone specializes in custom indoor/outdoor architectural cast stone.
Co-founder, Dando Frutos (“Giving Fruit”) foundation (DandoFrutosOKC.org)
Community Service
Dando Frutos came about as a result of a comment made in December 2020 by a friend regarding a person in need of assistance (referred to him by a priest). The brothers visited the man, who had been paralyzed following a car accident and was unable to work to support his family. That visit led to many more by Genaro and his wife.
Inspired by this intervention, the brothers launched Dando Frutos to identify and help others. Disappointed by an initial lack of support, Genaro sought the help of their Bible study group, and several members agreed to help with caretaking responsibilities and fundraising efforts. Three years into the effort, the organization has succeeded in helping others, but continues to seek help to raise more funds.
“It is a good thing to give back to the community, not only because it gives you a purpose and a challenge to wrestle with, but also because it helps me realize every day how blessed I am,” Genaro says. Genaro, a catechist at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, added, “Every day the world is presenting us with many choices to make, but the correct choice is to always choose God and you will never lose, but always win.”
Favorite Quote: “With God all things are possible!” - Matthew 19:26
JOSEPH R. CASTIGLIONE
University of Oklahoma Vice President and Director of Athletics
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Bio & Career Highlights
Joseph “Joe” R. Castiglione began his tenure as University of Oklahoma vice president and director of athletics in 1998.
As head of the OU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Joe oversees 21 varsity sports programs (nearly 600 student-athletes) that compete at the NCAA Division I level and helps drive the department’s mission of creating Sooner MAGIC. OU's athletics programs have combined for 43 all-time NCAA team championships, with 24 of those coming under Joe and with 17 earned since the start of the 2012-13 academic year.
Men's gymnastics paces the university's sports programs with 12 national team titles, followed by football (7), softball (7), wrestling (7), women's gymnastics (6), baseball (2) and men's golf (2). Living up to its “Inspiring Champions Today, Preparing Leaders for Tomorrow” mantra, OU Athletics also boasts a track record of excellence outside of athletics competition. Student-athletes have registered a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each of the past 24 semesters.
OU will officially join the Southeastern Conference on July 1.
Community Involvement
Joe is involved in a variety of community initiatives, most notably the United Way, OU Food Pantry, and Food and Shelter.
Top 3 Honors & Awards
- Longest-tenured athletics director among all Football Bowl Subdivision schools, the highest level of college football in the country
- Six-time national athletics director of the year
- Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame inductee (2018)
Favorite Quote: “Many people beat the odds, but few try to change them.” – Unknown
DON HILDEBRAND
Owner, Don Hildebrand Home Designs
Hometown: Luther (moved to Edmond in 1965)
Bio & Career Highlights
Don Hildebrand earned his associate degree in drafting and design from Oklahoma State University-OKC. He started designing homes in 1974 with Fillmore Design Group.
In 1995, he founded Don Hildebrand Home Designs (DonHildebrandHomeDesigns.com), a visionary architectural firm renowned for its innovative approach to residential design. With a commitment to blending functionality with aesthetics, the firm specializes in creating bespoke homes that reflect the unique personalities and lifestyles of their clients.
From modern masterpieces to timeless classics, Don Hildebrand Home Designs delivers exceptional craftsmanship and unparalleled quality in every project.
Community Service
- involved in the Edmond Soccer Club for many years, serving as president in 1996-1997; he started the tournaments that are still being played.
- board of deacons and elders at his church
Favorite quotes: “Form follows function” and “Form and Function are one.” – former ascribed to architect Louis H. Sullivan, the latter to Frank Lloyd Wright
DWIGHT LAWSON
Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Gardens Executive Director/CEO
Hometown: With a father in the military, the family lived in multiple locations.
Bio & Career Highlights
This spring, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden’s executive director/CEO, Dwight Lawson, is celebrating a decade of leadership at Oklahoma’s oldest and most popular cultural attraction (OKCZoo.org), with over 1 million visitors annually.
Dwight has led dozens of the zoo’s award-winning capital improvement projects, which connect Oklahomans with wildlife and nature in bold new ways. Most recently, the zoo celebrated the completion of Expedition Africa, its most ambitious expansion ever.
Community/Professional Development:
Dwight is a founding member and vice president of the Turtle Survival Alliance, as well as a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, IUCN African Amphibian Specialist Group, Conservation Breeding Specialist Group and the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.
He also is a member of the Downtown OKC Rotary Club, a graduate of Leadership OKC and President of the Oklahoma City Adventure District.
Top 3 Honors & Awards:
- Sister Cities International Oklahoma City’s Global Vision Humanitarian Award (2024), for his work connecting Oklahomans with the world’s vanishing wildlife and wild places to spur conservation action
- 405 Magazine Business’s Social Sector’s Innovator of the Year award (2023)
- Hometown Hero Award (2022), awarded by the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau to the OKC Zoo
Favorite famous quote: “Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” - Albert Einstein