Category: Guests (Page 5 of 11)

Anita Arnold
Executive Director, Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC), Inc.
Air Date, May 12, 2013

Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC), Incorporated began as an idea of Dr. John Smith who had moved to Oklahoma to accept a job with the Oklahoma Symphony. After the Symphony failed, Dr. Smith accepted a job at Langston University in the Music Department. During that period, he wrestled with the problem of African Americans expressing themselves about their identity. With the support of a friend, Alfred Cohran, Dr. Smith moved forward with the idea of using the arts as a means of self-expression.

Oklahoma City’s black community responded spontaneously and collectively to affirm itself in a constructive and creative manner. The organization was incorporated as a non-profit organization on April 28, 1971. BLAC, Inc. began with a music component, a literary component, a visual arts component and, finally a theater component. The arts burst forth in festivals, arts education programs, lectures, poetry readings, theater productions and presenting programs, traveling arts programs, and finally dance programs. The Northeast side of Oklahoma City was alive! News traveled fast and soon BLAC, Inc. was capturing headlines in all of the local papers.

BLAC, Inc. earned a reputation of excellence and commanded respect from the larger Oklahoma City and Oklahoma community. BLAC, Inc. earned the coveted Governor’s Arts Award for its theater work and national and international awards it received.

Since the beginning, the organization has always had service to the community as a priority. BLAC, Inc. is known for creating leading edge programs in arts education, in presenting and producing, recognition of legends, preserving African American history in Oklahoma City and in meeting the needs of the community. To this day, BLAC, Inc. continues to receive national recognition for programs of great value to the community.

Jonathan Cahn
Author of bestselling book
“The Harbinger: the Ancient Mystery that holds the secret of America’s Future”
Air Date, May 5, 2013

Jonathan Cahn is known for bringing out the deep mysteries and rich revelations of God’s word, as well as restoring the originally biblically Jewish context and flavor of the New Testament.  He leads Hope of the World, an outreach dedicated to spreading the word of God and the love of God to all who need, through television, radio, shortwave, and more, and through projects of compassion to the world’s poorest.  Jonathan also leads the Jerusalem Center (& Beth Israel) a worship center made up of Jew and Gentile, people of all nations – located in Wayne, New Jersey, outside New York City.

Hope of the World is an end-time ministry of Jew & Gentile committed to spreading the Gospel of salvation, His word, and His love to every tribe and tongue, fulfilling the biblical mandate of the Great Commission to the Jew, to the Gentile, to all unreached nations and peoples of the earth. It does this through broadcasting the Gospel worldwide, via short-wave and AM radio, broadcasting to an area spanning the major continents, also through the free distribution of Bibles overseas to those who have not. Hope of the World also ministers to strengthen believers in the richness and power of the Gospel through audio, DVDS, and printed media. The love of God is also spread through special ministries and missions of compassion to the poor and needy of the world, food to the hungry, medical supplies to the sick, the building of bamboo churches, water wells, the caring for orphans… All gifts, donations, and proceeds go to the Great Commission of spreading God’s love to the world. To contact us, for more information, audio lists and available resources, or to see how you can be a part of this end-time mission, visit us at www.hopeoftheworld.org.

The Jerusalem Center is one of the largest Messianic Worship centers in the world, a worship center made up of Jew and Gentile, and restoring the original Jewish roots of the Gospel from the Book of Acts.  The Jerusalem Center is made up of people of all nations, backgrounds, and denominations – and is located in Wayne, New Jersey, outside of New York City  CLICK HERE for the Jerusalem Center website.

Matt Ball
OK State Director, Americans for Prosperity
Air Date, April 28, 2013

Matt Ball joined AFP Oklahoma as its state director with 9 years of experience as a strategic communicator in Oklahoma politics. Matt has a proven track record of building winning coalitions through grassroots engagement and leading and managing effective political communications and marketing campaigns. As AFP State Director, Matt seeks to leverage the public policy environment for taxpayers through grassroots engagement by promoting free market principles and solutions, and ensuring that government is limited.

Prior to joining AFP, Matt served on U.S. Senator Tom Coburn’s staff for 8 years where he worked to expose wasteful Washington spending, promote the interests of the next generation of taxpayers, and serve as the Senator’s public liaison across the state of Oklahoma. Matt also served as a field staffer for Coburn’s initial 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, one of the most successful grassroots-centered campaigns in state history. During the 2012 election cycle, Matt worked to successfully re-elect multiple state legislative candidates who share his values of limited and accountable government, lower taxes, and fiscal responsibility.

Matt received his Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in Political Science in 2003. He also holds a graduate certificate in International Affairs from the George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. He will be completing his Master’s degree in Political Science in 2013 at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Ball lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with his wife, Audra, and two sons, Eli and Max.

Kerry Kisslinger
Vice- President/Marketing of ES Group, Inc.
Air Date April 14, 2013

ES Group, Inc.’s roots date back to 1982 and include some of the very first wind turbine installations in Kansas. The experience we gained with the older turbines has proven invaluable. Our technical staff includes recognized leaders in the fields of wind turbine aerodynamics, electronics, and structural dynamics and testing as well as engineering. We have demonstrated professional business capabilities with a proven track record of leadership in contracting, finance, manufacturing, and service support. All ES Wind Group’s wind turbines utilize practical design concepts incorporating proven features to provide cost-effective operation. From single-source applications to offset high cost energy, to multi-unit wind farms, ES Wind Group delivers.

Commitment to reliable economic systems, product improvement, new products, and customer protection makes ES Wind Group an industry leader. Our experience and expertise in dealing with financial institutions, utilities, and regulatory agencies provide credible support in project definition, engineering, permitting, and marketing. Our service teams, staffed by professionals, are available on a full-time basis to meet customer needs promptly and reliably.

We provide the experience and resources that make wind energy a highly profitable investment opportunity.

Benjamin Bennett
President, 29e, Inc.
Air Date April 7, 2013

Benjamin Bennett is the president of 29e, Inc., a small creative marketing firm based in Tulsa, Ok. The firm develops and implements marketing strategies for their clients via traditional print and digital mediums. Clients range from Oil & Gas, Political, Corporate, Entertainment to Sports/Sporting Goods.

Bennett, a Farmington Minnesota native, lived half his youth in Checotah, OK until graduation where he then went “back home” to Minneapolis to attend Music Tech (Now McNally Smith College of Music) to study music business and further his percussive studies. Upon completion, Bennett moved back to Oklahoma and attended Northeastern State University of Oklahoma and worked within the PR department. There he studied graphic design and began doing web development.

In early 2000, Bennett was hired by a Tulsa, Ok based Christian Ad Agency to work with the new web development team they created. Clients of the agency were Joyce Meyer, Hillsong, Etc. After a few years, Bennett began freelancing until he incorporated under the corporate name 29e.

Bennett is a single father of two beautiful children, an avid cyclist, lover of the outdoors as well as continues to play music occasionally.

Theresa Jenkins
Senior Executive Director of the Texas Chapter of The Recording Academy, Austin, Texas
Air Date March 10, 2013

The GRAMMY Foundation was founded in 1989 to cultivate the awareness, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music on American culture , from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of the future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities designed to engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The GRAMMY Foundation works in partnership year-round with The Recording Academy and its regional offices to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education, and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural legacy.

Shannon Rich
President and CEO of the Oklahoma Heritage Association/The Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City
Air Date March 3, 2013

Shannon L. Rich, fifth-generation Oklahoman, became president of the Oklahoma Heritage Association in November, 2004.

A crucial time for the Association, it needed to increase emphasis on marketing and expand programs and services. Rich also was placed in charge of directing its single-largest endeavor in the Association’s 80-year history – opening of the Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum.

Not from a traditional museum background, Shannon served as the opening director of sales and marketing and later became executive vice president with John Q. Hammons Hotels for the Renaissance Oklahoma City Hotel and Cox Business Services Center, as well as opening the Courtyard by Marriott in January 2004. In 2002 and 2003, she led the Renaissance team in achieving the coveted Marriott Global Financial Excellence Award. During her tenure, she was named to the top 5 percent of John Q. Hammons Hotels sales leaders and set pre-opening sales records for both Oklahoma City properties – the Renaissance and the Courtyard downtown.

She has continued striving for excellence with the Oklahoma Heritage Association as the Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum has been recognized with several prestigious awards. In five years the museum has been recognized as the Best New Attraction by Oklahoma State Department of Tourism and Recreation; Nickelodeon’s Best Parents Pick for Teens, Best Day Camp and Best Museum; Neil Horton Award for Excellence in Revitalizing Downtown; and Best New Attraction by Frontier Country Marketing Association, to name a few.
Rich was recognized in 2010 as one Oklahoma’s most admired CEOs, she is a three-time honoree and Circle of Excellence inductee for The Journal Record’s “50 Making a Difference” and a member of its inaugural class of Achievers under 40. In 2002, she served as delegate for the White House Conference on Women and also as a committee member for Governor Frank Keating’s Conference for Women. In addition, she received the Governor’s Commendation on Leadership in 2001.

Shannon’s civic and nonprofit affiliations have included volunteering for groups including Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Oklahoma Business Roundtable Arts Festival and co-chair of Septemberfest. She is past president of The Downtown Club of OKC, an active member of Rotary Club 29 and board member of Leadership Oklahoma City & Leadership Oklahoma, The Oklahoma Health Center Foundation, the State of Creativity and the OKC All Sports Association.

Rich is graduate of Oklahoma City University and she enjoys running, playing golf and spending time with her seven nieces and nephews.

Major General William Bowden
commander, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
Air Date Feb 17, 2013
Retired Sep. 1, 1989.   

Major General William P. Bowden is commander, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.

General Bowden was born in Swifton, Ark., in 1932, where he graduated from high school in 1950. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1954 with a bachelor of science degree. He has master’s degrees in business administration from The George Washington University and political science from Auburn (Ala.) University. His professional military education includes Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College.

After receiving his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Arkansas, General Bowden entered active duty in September 1954. He reported to Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas, for navigator training in October 1954, completed the course in October 1955 and immediately moved to Mather Air Force Base, Calif., for navigator-bombardier training. Upon graduation in March 1956, he was assigned to the 6th Bombardment Wing, Walker Air Force Base, N.M., as a B-36 bombardier until 1958. The wing then converted to B-52s and he remained there through July 1959.

His next assignment was at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., with the 4135th Strategic Wing as a standardization instructor navigator-bombardier. At that time the wing was involved in B-52 testing of the AGM-28 air-to-surface missile and the ADM-20 decoy missile. In 1962 General Bowden transferred to the Strategic Air Command Project Office at the Air Proving Ground Center, Eglin Air Force Base, to work air-to-surface missile testing, B-52 avionics development and conventional munitions test programs.

From July 1964 to June 1965 he attended the Air Command and Staff College and concurrently earned a master of science degree in business administration from The George Washington University cooperative education program on Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. After Air Command and Staff College he was assigned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., in avionics requirements. His program assignments included B-52 offensive avionics, KC-135 system modifications and RC-135 reconnaissance modifications.

In September 1969 he joined the B-52 Arc Light program at U-Tapoo Royal Thai Naval Airfield, Thailand, as an operations officer. While there he flew 44 combat missions. Upon his return to the United States in September 1970, General Bowden was assigned to the Directorate for Force Development, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He was a manager for fighter war readiness materiel logistics planning for conventional munitions. The programs he was involved with included the Maverick and laser-guided bombs.

He completed the Air War College in 1973 as a distinguished graduate. General Bowden also obtained a master’s degree in political science from Auburn University’s Maxwell Air Force Base campus. That led to a tour of duty as a faculty instructor and chief of the Curriculum Planning Division at the Air War College. He participated in implementing the change of the Air War College program of study from national-international affairs to one more oriented to air power applications.

From March 1976 to August 1978 the general was assigned to Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, first as the KC-135 system manager and, later, as the combined system manager for B-52s, A-7s and KC-135s. He was then assigned as director of materiel management. In this assignment General Bowden managed a number of engine improvement programs and several aircraft life extensions and modernization programs. One of these programs was the initiation of the air-launched cruise missile modification.

General Bowden was assigned as assistant deputy chief of staff, logistics operations, Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in April 1980. In April 1981 he returned to Air Force headquarters as deputy director for logistics plans and programs, and in September 1982 was named director for logistics plans and operations. General Bowden was again assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in March 1983 as Air Force Logistics Command’s deputy chief of staff for logistics operations. In July 1983 he became deputy chief of staff for materiel management, and in September 1984 was named chief of staff for Air Force Logistics Command. He assumed his present duties in December 1985.

The general is a master navigator and has 4,500 flying hours. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Commendation Medal. In September 1980 he was awarded the Air Force Association’s Thomas P. Gerrity Award for Logistics Management.

He was promoted to major general Aug. 1, 1983, with date of rank Aug. 1, 1979.

Woodrow W. Clark II MA³, PhD
Qualitative Economist
Air Date(s) January 20th & 27th, 2013

Dr. Clark, a long-time advocate for the environment and renewable energy, is an internationally recognized author, lecturer, public speaker and advisor specializing in sustainable communities. Dr. Clark was one of the contributing scientists to the work of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UNIPCC) which as an organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2007.

In 2004, he founded, and now manages, Clark Strategic Partners (CSP), an environmental and renewable energy consulting firm using his political-economic expertise in order to guide, advice and implements public and private clients worldwide – specifically on sustainable smart green communities of all kinds ranging from colleges and universities to shopping malls, office buildings and film studios.

Dr. Clarks’ five books and 50+ peer-reviewed articles reflect that concern for global sustainable communities. His last book is Global Energy Innovations (Praeger Press, November 2011) that concerns the “green industrial revolution” (GIR). He explains his work as being the solutions to climate change through public policy, science and technologies, economics and finance. Clark also teaches graduate courses in these areas throughout the USA and internationally. Currently, Clark is Academic Specialist, UCLA Provost Office and Cross-Disciplinary Scholars in Science and Technology.

Prior to launching CSP, Dr. Clark was Senior Advisor on Renewable Energy, Emerging Technologies, and Finance to California Governor Gray Davis from 2000-2003. Before that from 1999-2000, he was a Visiting Professor of Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship at Aalborg University, Denmark, where he was a Fulbright Fellow in 1994. Dr. Clark was the Manager of Strategic Planning for Technology Transfer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) for the University of California and U.S. Department of Energy, during the 1990s. In 1980, he founded a mass media company in San Francisco, CA, Clark Communications, specializing in the production and distribution of documentary and educational films focused on “social issues” such as “sexual harassment”, “health issues” and older workers along with other topics including books from dramatic current events.

Dr. Clark earned three masters degrees from different universities in Illinois and his Ph.D. at University of California, Berkeley. He lives with his wife, and their 4 year-old son in Southern California.

Board and Associations

Boards & Associations

• Nularis, Los Angeles, CA
• American Lung Association of California, Oakland, CA
• Solar Program for City of Santa Monica
• Fulbright Academy of Science and Technology (FAST), Cape Elizabeth, ME
• National Building Museum, Washington, DC.
• Research Associate, Minetta Institute, San Jose State University, California
• Altergy Corporation, Folsom, CA
• Green Advisor, Producers Guild of America
• Green Advisor, California Workforce Investment Board
• Vice Chair, Citizens Oversight Committee, Beverly Hills School Bond, $334 million (2008-present)Major Recent Affiliations
• Senior Fellow, Milken Institute, Santa Monica, CA
• Alumni Board Member, University of California, Berkeley
• Association of Strategic Planners, LA Chapter
• Hybrid Electric Transportation Program, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC.
• Advisory Board Member, Net Impact, San Francisco, CA
• Co-Director, “Six Country Reports on Environmentally Sound Technologies from Developed to Developing Countries”, Framework Convention for Climate Change, UN,
• California Defense Conversion Council / Base Closure Commission, Sacramento, CA

Academic Journals

• Associate Editor. Utility Policy Journal. Elsevier Press, London, UK.
• Associate Editor. Energy Policy Journal. Elsevier Press, Paris, FR

Recent Honors & Awards

Nobel Peace Prize, UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Oslo, Norway, (Dec 2007)

• Certification of Appreciation, WINMEC, UCLA (November 2009)
• Dolores Huerta Labor Institute, Pierce College, Los Angeles, CA (April 2009)
• Sagan National Colloquium Award and Speaker, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware (November 2008)
• Beverly Hills Green Team, Beverly Hills, CA (July 2008)
• ATHGO, UCLA (February, 2008)
• Certificate from Los Angeles City Council, Co-Winner of Nobel Peace Prize (February, 2008)
• California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Certificate, Co-Winner of Nobel Peace Prize (February, 2008)
• Todah Rabah, Hasdassah Southern California, Speaker, “Israel: the tiny green giant”, Los Angeles, CA (January 2008)

Alex Mills
President, Texas Alliance of Energy Producers
Air Date, January 13, 2013

Alex Mills became President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers in 2000, following the merger of the North Texas Oil & Gas Association (NTOGA) and the West Central Texas Oil & Gas Association (WeCTOGA). The Alliance is the largest state oil and gas associations in the nation with more than 3,000 members in 305 cities and 28 states.

Mills moved to Wichita Falls in 1994 as Executive Vice President of NTOGA, after living 8 years in Washington, D.C., where he served as Vice President of Marketing for the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the national organization for the independent oil and gas industry. He also served as Executive Vice President of the West Central Texas Oil & Gas Association in Abilene from 1981 to 1986.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Texas after serving in the U.S. Army Security Agency.

He worked as Managing Editor of The American Oil & Gas Reporter, and for several newspapers, television and radio stations in Texas. He authors a column concerning energy issues, which appears in the Fort Worth Business Press, San Angelo Standard Times, the Journal of North Texas, the Graham Leader, Wichita Falls Times Record News and the Midland Reporter Telegram.

Mills served as President of the University of North Texas Alumni Association in 1997 and 1998. Texas Governor Ann Richards appointed him to the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission in 1994 and Governor George W. Bush re-appointed him in 1995. He serves on the Board of the National Stripper Well Association and IPAA’s Wildcatters’ Political Action Committee. He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, the Texas Society of Association Executives, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Desk & Derrick Club, and he is a former high school football official.