May means Mother's Day, but it's also a time to honor the Power of Women. Many women in Oklahoma City metro area go above and beyond in business, nonprofit and arts every day, and we've chosen four to honor this month.
1. Jenna Morey
A proven nonprofit professional in leading programs that promote positive social and economic development, Jenna was named the Executive Director for ReMerge of Oklahoma County in June 2020. Prior to joining ReMerge, she served as the Vice President of Workforce Development for Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma. Morey has also led statewide efforts to expand apprenticeship and work-based learning opportunities under the Office of Workforce Development and spent nearly a decade working abroad with international nonprofits.
ReMerge is a pre-trial diversion program that serves mothers of minor children who are facing non-violent felony charges in Oklahoma County. ReMerge participants are high- risk, high-need, meaning that without substantial treatment and support, they are unlikely to break the cycles of incarceration, addiction, and poverty.
A ReMerge mother is also eligible to have her charges dismissed following graduation, removing a substantial barrier to the rest of her life.
"Being entrusted to lead ReMerge as it embarks on its second decade has certainly been my most significant professional accomplishment to date. Leading our team to create the right conditions for justice-involved mothers to change the trajectory of their lives is an honor and gives so much purpose to my life. It is the hardest and most meaningful work I have ever done," Morey said. "Each day, I wake up feeling grateful to bear witness to the transformation that happens here, inspired to develop creative solutions, and driven to give my best self to our participants, team, and community."
Recently, Jenna was selected by Gov. Kevin Stitt to serve on the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development, the state workforce development board under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Its purpose is to guide the development of a comprehensive and coordinated workforce development system for the state and monitor its operation.
Throughout her career, Jenna has found great purpose in driving policies and programs that help others seize opportunities and reach their full potential. Jenna holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma and a Masters of International Affairs from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.
"When I set off to work abroad a year-long assignment in Indonesia in 2008, I had no idea I would be gone from the United States for many years to follow. But life has a way of surprising us! I not only lived in several places, but was also privileged to travel around the world," she said.
"I had some awe-inspiring experiences, some frightening experiences, and lots of time on buses, trains, airplanes, and the occasional camel. Through it all, I learned to trust my ability to take care of myself, build relationships, and bloom wherever I was planted. That confidence developed as a result of a kaleidoscope of experiences, but I love knowing that I could most likely land anywhere and figure out a way forward."
2. Lisa O'Connor Kraft, President of Copper Bear Consulting
Lisa O’Connor Kraft, President of Copper Bear Consulting LLC (copperbear.org), founded her company in 2006 to do tribal development consulting and federal grant writing and construction project management.
Before creating Copper Bear Consulting, Lisa was a member of the Board of Directors for the First National Bank and Trust of Shawnee and was Citizen Potawatomi Nation District 11 Legislator (Oklahoma at large). She is also a Mabee Gerrer Museum of Art Board of Trustee and has awarded over $23 million for Oklahoma Indian Nations over last 10 years.
In her role at Copper Bear Consulting, Lisa writes large federal grants to build buildings, businesses, and infrastructure in Oklahoma Indian Country. In the last 10 years, while being a full-time active mother, she has written for and had her clients awarded over $23 million in federal construction and program grants.
“That is an impact in Indian lives that makes my heart soar. I can take a concept planned around a table discussion, write it into a feasible plan and get it funded,” she said. “Then by following federal guidelines, policy, and regulations, I can help build sustainable businesses where lives will be saved and homes where families will have a new life or safe drinking water.”
Writing so many grants for her own Tribe, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and helping negotiate for her tribal Nation’s sovereignty as an equal government with the federal government may be what many think would be her crowning professional achievements. But the truth is, her most significant professional accomplishment is growing CPN’s tribal land base by 1000s of acres by converting title from fee simple to trust.
“That means I helped process the land back to reservation or the same federal protections it did before the Land Runs. This gives our tribal government planning options to develop our natural resources and plan to sustain our ways for many generations to come,” Lisa said.
Mentoring is also a big part of Lisa’s life. Her grandmother, Treva, shaped her into the determined and optimistic woman she is today, and other professional mentors taught her the skills to negotiate and learn to close deals.
“My most impactful mentor came into my life when I was 28. Chairman John Barrett of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation took a chance on a new college graduate and taught me to be fearless in negotiating for the greater good of the business, but in this case, for the greater good of the 35,000 tribal members of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation,” Lisa said.
Lisa is the the mother of a soon to be 18-year-old son who is itching to join the Army and become a combat medic. Her son is also determined and optimistic, like his great-grandmother Treva, but LIsa was told by professionals that his dyslexia would cause him not to learn past fifth grade math and fourth grade reading.
“My son was the happiest kid until he began being bullied in the second grade and by fifth had become very depressed. With the right educators at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and his sheer will, he taught himself how to read and trick his mind into remembering formulas,” Lisa said. “He now leads his cadets in ROTC and is making As in English and Cs in Algebra. Through his hardships, we learned that faith, personal endurance, and the love of family and friends can move mountains and restore happiness.”
Lisa is now seeking the highest office in her tribal elected leadership, Tribal Chairman.
“I will be running against a male incumbent my parent’s age who has been in his position of power for almost 40 years or since I was in middle school,” she said. “I am determined to bring a multi-generational approach to the planning and future delivery of services to our tribal citizens that provide for their general welfare, all 35,000 members. I am humbled that others have faith that I can lead us to a brighter future.”
3. Debby Hampton, United Way of Central Oklahoma
Debby Hampton joined the United Way of Central Oklahoma as president and chief executive officer in 2010. During Debby’s tenure at United Way, over $221 million has been raised to support disaster relief and programs of nonprofit partner agencies providing health and human services in Central Oklahoma.
Prior to her appointment at United Way of Central Oklahoma, Debby served as president and chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits for four years. Debby spent 16 years with the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma, serving the latter four years as chief executive officer.
“During my tenure at American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma, I was involved in many disaster responses, including the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, the May 3 Tornadoes in 1999 and September 11 in 2001,” she said. “With each disaster, I knew I was helping those who were struggling in its wake, but the connections I made with many of the people who were directly impacted are what I carry with me. Their strength and resilience inspire me every day.”
Debby believes in United Way’s work. Without a doubt, Debby knows that without United Way, hundreds of local programs would not receive critical funding, and in turn not have the resources to serve clients.
“During my tenure at United Way of Central Oklahoma, more than $221 million has been raised to support disaster relief and programs of nonprofit Partner Agencies providing health and human services in Central Oklahoma, impacting more than 800,000 Oklahomans annually,” Debby said. “Without this support, hundreds of local programs would go without the critical funding needed to serve our community’s most vulnerable individuals.”
A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Debby has completed course work at Harvard Business School as well as a year-long curriculum of United Way Worldwide’s Executive Leadership Program. Debby serves on the United Way Worldwide US Membership Accountability Committee and the United Way Worldwide National Presidents’ Roundtable.
“I believe in service to others before self – something I’ve seen as a benefit in myself and in others ever since my father encouraged me to donate to his office’s United Way campaign as a young girl. It has driven my determination to volunteer my time and pursue a career path where helping others is a constant and consistent mission,” she said.
A leader in the community, Debby currently serves on the boards of: Leadership Oklahoma City, The Alliance of Economic Development of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Nonprofit Council, and the Oklahoma City University Advisory Committee for the Nonprofit Leadership Program. She is a proud alum of Leadership Oklahoma, Leadership Oklahoma City and Leadership Tulsa’s Executive Series.
Debby is an active member of Rotary Club 29 and Committee of One Hundred. She was recognized as a Byliner Honoree by the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Association of Women in Communications, and she received the 2013 Community Service Award from the Conference of Churches. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame honored Debby as the 2015 recipient of the Lee Allan Smith Oklahoma Legacy Award. She received the 2016 Distinguished Leadership Award from Leadership Oklahoma City and the 2016 Compassionate Citizen of the Year Award from Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled, Inc. In December of 2019, Debby was named Oklahoma Cityan of the Year by OKC Friday Newspaper.
“Early on, my parents taught me the importance of giving back. It’s a lesson I passionately shared with my two sons, Christopher and Jonathan, as they were growing up, as well as my husband of 34 years, Michael. In return, my family has taught me to live every day appreciating and loving others,” Debby said.