Sean Griffin – Chair, Mayor Taylor's Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

Sean Griffin is nationally recognized as one of the leading graphic facilitators working with clients in a variety of industries particularly those focused on a Performance Culture. He is an Internet pioneer founding one of the first interactive agencies and Web Company’s broadcasting classic television shows online. 

As a corporate and social entrepreneur, Sean has been involved in the founding and co-founding of numerous for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. He is a motivational speaker and author of the What Box? series of books along with the creativity column of the same name.

Learn more about Sean at http://www.seangriffin.com

Jeff Horvath - Vice Chair, Mayor Taylor's Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

Jeff Horvath works both nationally and internationally assisting people achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.  With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience, he is dedicated to helping others succeed with their ventures while maintaining balance in their lives.  He has also helped organizations across America and around the world develop their entrepreneurial communities through organic growth and leveraging of their community resources.  Jeff serves on several local and national boards as well as a judge for national, state and local business plan competitions.

To learn more about Jeff and FastTrac visit http://www.fasttrac.org

Bill Lohrey

Bill Lohrey holds a degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University and a Juris doctorate from the University of Texas.  His professional expertise covers a wide range including manufacturing, oil and gas, and tax-exempt organizations.  He is a member of AICPA and OSCPA, and is a Certified Financial Planner.  Bill is currently a partner in the accounting firm, Lohrey and Associates PLLC, which was selected by the National Publication “CPA News” as one of the top 50 CPA firms in the United States.

In the past, Bill has instructed as an adjunct professor of accounting at the University of Tulsa and Tulsa Community College.  He now concentrates his energies on the Fast Trac program, which educates entrepreneurs on the running of small businesses

Under Bill’s guidance, Lohrey & Associates, was recognized by Oklahoma Governor David Walters as the Small Business Financial Advocate of the year and was selected by Small Business Administration as regional Small Business Financial Advocate of the year for the Southwestern United States.

Learn more about Bill at http://www.lohrey.com

Dan Roberts

Dan Roberts currently owns and serves as the President of Premier Staffing, a regional staffing and human resource service provider.  He is also President of Trak-1 Technology, a national web-based background screening solution firm.  Mr. Roberts first began his career as an entrepreneur in New York City over twenty years ago where he worked as a mergers and acquisitions specialist. He later moved to Tampa, FL where he continued his work as evidenced by his purchasing over 100 individual companies which he re-structured and then sold to the highest bidder. 

Nearly 12 years ago, Roberts decided to grow some roots in his home town of Tulsa, OK by opening the doors of Premier Staffing.  He has grown the business into a well-known regional staffing, executive recruiting, payroll and human resource service provider that cares for companies in an eight state region. 

Learn more about Dan and Trak-1 at http://www.trak-1.com

Elliot Nelson

Elliot Nelson grew up in Tulsa, went to Union High School, and was an English major at the University of Notre Dame.  From there, he came home to Tulsa and opened McNellie’s Pub in 2004.  Nelson has gone on to open The Continental, The Colony, The Tiny Lounge, El Guapo’s Cantina, and will be opening our McNellie’s in Oklahoma City within the next two months. 

He serves on Tulsa’s Economic Development Commission and the Comprehensive Plan oversight committee.

Learn more about Elliot and his restaurant empire at http://www.mcnellies.com

Greg Forrest

Greg Forrest, XETA Technologies’ President and COO since July 2005 was named CEO on June 8, 2007. Before joining XETA, Forrest founded and operated several fast-growing companies in the clothing, commercial interior and telecommunications industries, including Bluejack Systems LLC. Following XETA’s acquisition of Bluejack in 2004, he served as director of sales for XETA’s Seattle branch. He attended the University of Washington.

Learn more about Greg and XETA at http://www.xeta.com

Isabell Estes

Isabell Estes is the owner of The Entrepreneur’s Source in Tulsa, Oklahoma, an international network of business ownership coaches who work with individuals and companies considering franchising as a career alternative or a method of expansion. A self-described advocate for self-sufficiency and business ownership, she started The Entrepreneur’s Source in Tulsa in order to assist others in what she did for herself. Other community efforts include volunteering as a counselor for SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) and serving as an assistant troop leader for Girl Scouts.  She is also a Past President for Leadership Tulsa.

Learn more about Isabell and The Entrepreneur’s Source at http://www.theesource.com

Larry Wofford

Larry E. Wofford is the Davis D. Bovaird Chair of Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Tulsa. He is also the owner and President of Route 66 Harley-Davidson and the 5 & Diner restaurant.  Route 66 Harley-Davidson was honored as the 2006 Grand Prize winner in the Dealernews magazine Top 100 Competition. 

He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Tulsa, a master’s degree in Liberal Studies specializing in cognitive psychology and the philosophy of science from the University of Oklahoma, and a Ph.D. in finance and real estate from the University of Texas at Austin.  He is a graduate of the School of Mortgage Banking at Northwestern University and a certified urban planner, holding the AICP designation from the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Larry Wofford is a Fellow of the Homer Hoyt Advanced Studies Institute.  He has served on the advisory board for the Master of Architecture in Urban Design program at the University of Oklahoma.  He served on the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission until July, 2007.  He recently served on the Steering Committee for the update of the Tulsa Comprehensive Plan.  In addition, he has served on committees and boards of business, charitable, and professional entities.

Learn more about Larry and the University of Tulsa at http://www.utulsa.edu

Marilyn Ihloff

Marilyn Ihloff, founder and president of Ihloff Salons and Day Spas, opened her business in 1980.  Using a home equity loan, talent and sound business acumen, Marilyn established a business recognized in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2005 by Salon Today as one of the 200 fastest growing salons in the nation. Since 1980, the operation has indeed grown steadily. Ihloff Salon and Day Spa currently has two Tulsa locations, Utica Square and South Memorial. In February 2007, Ihloff expanded past the Oklahoma borders to open a salon in Kansas City. Ihloff is currently preparing to open the newest location in Norman, OK and is finalizing plans to open an Aveda Insitute in Tulsa.

In 2007, Ihloff was awarded the Small Business Person of the Year from the Tulsa Metro Chamber, and went on to win the award for the state in 2008. This April, Ihloff will represent the state of Oklahoma at the national Small Business Association competition.

Learn more about Marilyn and Ihloff Salon and Day Spa at http://www.ihloffspa.com

Penni Leigh Graham

Penni Leigh Graham, founder of Graham Enterprises, has helped entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals to develop a road map for personal career satisfaction, advancement and growth, improve leadership and communication skills, and achieve business goals.  Her professional life took her on an amazing journey that lasted over 20 years and included over a dozen progressively challenging assignments in multiple businesses and educational system in multiple cities. Penni has written and received over 13 million dollars in grants for innovation over the last ten years.

Prior to Graham Enterprises, she has served as Associate Dean for Business and Information Technology and Director of Corporate Learning Continuing Education for Tulsa Community College, there she developed new, successful programs for Tulsa business community; helping small and large businesses implement innovative approaches to learning, marketing and branding.

Rose Washington Rentie

As executive director of Tulsa Economic Development Corporation (TEDC), Rose Washington Rentie is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing activities that support the organization’s mission of “growing the economy, one small business at a time”.  In partnership with a variety of stakeholders, TEDC uses public and private resources to “provide progressive lending to promising businesses” that impact the economy in a positive and sustainable way.  One of Rose’s primary responsibilities is to ensure that all businesses are given an equal opportunity to secure financing. Rose joined TEDC in December 2001.  Prior to her arrival in Tulsa, she spent eight years with the University of Southern California (Los Angeles) Division of External Relations as well as several years in higher education and banking in Mississippi. 

Rose holds a BBA in Finance and an MBA from Mississippi State University and Mississippi College, respectively.  She also studied statistics at Jackson State University and non-profit management at the University of Southern California.

Learn more about Rose and the TEDC at http://www.tulsaedc.com

Ted Cundiff

Ted is President of SpiritBank Metro Markets and the SpiritBank Business Resource Center. His other activities include Senior Commercial Lender along with business development. His education includes an M.B.A 1999 from Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University, 1991 Major: Marketing Minor: Management. With over 12 years in the banking industry, Ted’s diverse experience includes bank management, commercial lending, business development, mortgage origination, and collections.

In 2007, Cundiff was awarded the Financial Service Champion of the Year from the Tulsa Metro Chamber, and went on to win the award for the state in 2008.

When not running the Business Resource Center you can find Ted water skiing, snow skiing, traveling, remodeling and real estate investing.

Learn more about Ted and SpiritBank at http://www.spiritbankbrc.com