Each June, Cleveland County City Lifestyle/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”)
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
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
JOHN OTTO, D.M.V.
Medical Director, University Animal Hospital
Brief Bio & Career Highlights:
After earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University, John Otto founded University Animal Hospital in 1995. The practice focuses on small-animal medicine, with client service as a priority.
Community/Professional Development
John Otto has volunteered his time and services with various animal rescue groups since 1991, including the Norman and OKC animal shelters, Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association spay/neuter program, Second Chance Animal Rescue, Central Humane Society, and Spay First.
He founded Friends for Folks and established the nonprofit at Lexington Assessment and Reception Correctional Facility in 1990; it was expanded to Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in 2014. The prison dog program helps offenders, dogs and the community by providing training to shelter pets for adoption. He produced the Emmy-nominated documentary “The Dogs of Lexington” in 2013 and the follow-up documentary “Bassett Tales,” which premiered on OETA on July 30, 2015.
With his son Payton, John co-wrote a children’s book—a true story that shows the positive influence of prison dog programs—called Marvin’s Shining Star (viewable on YouTube), in 2013. They also co-authored two other books: Sarge, the Veteran’s Best Friend (2018) and Marvin’s Gift (2020).
He has been a member of the Norman Kiwanis Club and Norman Kiwanis Foundation since 1990 and is active in several other organizations, including Special Olympics.
Top 3 Honors/Awards:
- American Red Cross Hero Award – Presented for his work with treating and finding homes for pets displaced and injured during the Oklahoma City May 3, 1999, tornadoes.
- Oklahoma Humane Society’s Human Hero Award (2014)
- Veterinarian of the Year (2022)
Favorite Quote: “Leave it better than you found it.” – attributed (paraphrased) to Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts.
DAVID A. SURRATT
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Distinguished Lecturer, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education
The University of Oklahoma
Brief Bio & Career Highlights
As the son of a retired Air Force master sergeant from Wetumka and a mother from South Korea, David’s early years were spent in California, South Korea and Colorado before the family moved to Oklahoma, where he spent most of his formative years growing up in his hometown of Tulsa as a fourth-generation Oklahoman.
David holds a doctorate in higher education administration from George Washington University and is also an OU alumnus (bachelor's degree in English literature and master’s degree in human relations).
As vice president and dean of students, David leads the OU Division of Student Affairs, which is responsible for learning that takes place outside of the classroom. David and his team in Student Affairs serve as mentors, providing invaluable support to navigate life's multifaceted pressures and challenges.
Community/Professional Development
David is active in several national professional associations within higher education and was recently named a Diamond Honoree from the American College Personnel Association for his contributions to higher education.
He is a board member for the Norman Regional Health Foundation, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He and his wife are passionate about giving back, with a focus on enhancing educational access, supporting the arts and promoting public health.
Favorite Quotes:
“Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” - Muhammad Ali
Richard Zielinski (“Dr. Z”)
Artistic and Music Director, Norman Philharmonic
Brief Bio & Career Highlights
Raised in Wisconsin, Richard Zielinski attended college on a football and track scholarship before receiving degrees in music from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Illinois.
He has enjoyed a rewarding career that includes serving as music educator for 40 years, including 15 years as director of choral activities at OU, music and artistic director of the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria, and working with Norman community leaders to create a professional chamber orchestra for the city of Norman.
The inaugural performance of the Norman Philharmonic was held in January 2012, with “Dr. Z” at the helm, with a commissioned work— a symphony titled “Forward” and the “Norman Anthem”— by Grammy-Award winning composer Libby Larsen. Since then, the Norman PHIL has broadened its scope to include a professional vocal ensemble, the Zielinski Singers, while producing 13 seasons of performances, including two free educational concerts each season for 2,000 elementary school students attending the Norman Public Schools and other area schools.
Community/Professional Development
“My faith, family, friends, teachers, coaches and mentors have all played an important role in my life, which inspires me to help lift others,” he says. “Giving back to the place you call home will enrich your life, familiarize you with your community, and connect you to people and ideas that will positively impact your perspective for the rest of your life.”
Richard has served for 15 years as director of music ministry at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church and also serves on the Oklahoma Arts Institute Choral Advisory Board. He has performed in United Way Celebrity Sing fundraising events and enjoys working with his wife to deliver Meals on Wheels.
Favorite Quote: “Perfection is not attainable, but if you chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” - Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers head coach