Innovation News

Q1. What have you been doing the last few years at Tulsa Innovation Labs?

I'll never forget sitting in a community center in North Tulsa when a nonprofit leader pulled me aside and said, "You know, TIL used to feel like this thing happening to our community. Now it feels like you're actually with us." That moment crystallized what the past few years have been about for me. As Manager of Community Relationships, I've served as a bridge, connecting TIL's programs and innovations to community leaders, nonprofits, STEM organizations, and K-12 partners in classrooms, community centers, and neighborhoods across Tulsa. My job was equal parts relationship-builder and strategist: developing partnerships, yes, but more importantly, making sure our work showed up authentically,  not just in presentations, but in conversations and in communities that needed to see themselves reflected in what we do. It was deeply relational work, and I'm proud that we didn't just build programs; we built trust.

Q2. What will you be doing in your new role?

In my new role as Manager of Workforce & Talent, I'll be working within TIL's Workforce Intermediary; an employer-led backbone organization that connects employers, training providers, education institutions, community partners, and funders around a shared workforce strategy. Think of it as being a translator and a connector. I'll be listening to what employers in advanced manufacturing, autonomous systems, and energy technology are telling us they need, specific skills, hiring projections, competencies and then working with our ecosystem partners to turn those insights into real programs, investments, and career pathways. I'll also be tracking the outcomes that matter: placement rates, wage progression, retention. And I'll be building out the reporting systems that give us real-time visibility into whether what we're doing is working. It's strategic, it's data-driven, and it's all in service of making sure our workforce ecosystem is responsive and effective.

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Q3. How will your work in this role align with TIL's vision for both workers and employers in the region?

TIL's vision has always been about unlocking economic opportunity for all and the Workforce Intermediary is one of the most direct expressions of that vision in action. Here's what I love about this role: I'm not picking a side. On the employer side, my work ensures that companies have access to talent that's prepared for the roles they need to fill, so they can grow, innovate, and stay competitive. On the worker side, it means that career pathways are visible, accessible, and lead to real opportunities for economic mobility not dead ends. What excites me is that I'm helping to build the infrastructure that makes the whole system work better for everyone. When a single parent in Tulsa can see a clear path from a training program to a $60K job in advanced manufacturing, and when an employer can fill a critical role with someone who's ready on day one — that's the vision becoming reality.

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Q4. What excites you the most about this new challenge?

Honestly, the scale of the impact. In my previous role, I spent years cultivating relationships and building trust within communities, and that work was deeply meaningful. But this role gives me the opportunity to take that relational foundation and connect it to systemic change. The idea that the data we gather, the partnerships we broker, and the programs we help redesign could directly shape someone's career trajectory or help an employer find the talent they need to scale, that's what gets me up in the morning. I'm also excited to stretch myself. This role pushes me into workforce systems thinking, data analysis, and program strategy in ways I haven't experienced before. And I've always believed that growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone. I'm ready to learn, and I'm ready to build something that lasts.

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