The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

MaryAnn Rodriguez graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Criminology from the University of Texas Permian Basin. She then obtained her Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University.

MaryAnn is now a criminal defense attorney in Oklahoma City. She worked at the Public Defender’s office for two years as an Intern.

Then, she worked for another attorney for one year after passing the bar exam and before starting her own company—Rodriguez Law Firm PLLC.

Rodriguez Law Firm PLLC has been in business for two years and is still growing. Ms. Rodriguez practices in the area of family law, criminal defense, and immigration law.

She is a strong supporter of Restorative Justice and education behind bars.

Mina Acquaye, Excell Home Care & Hospice

Mina Acquaye is the CEO of Excell Home Care & Hospice. She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma School of Nursing in 1982 and the University of Oklahoma in 1988 with a Masters Degree in Public Health Administration.

She started off her career as a Registered Nurse, later became the Nursing Quality Assurance Coordinator and the Director of the cancer program all at Southwest Medical Center.

In 1996 she founded Excell Home Care and later added the Hospice component in 2002. She currently has over ninety employees.

She is a Certified Home Care & Hospice Executive. She is currently serving on the Oklahoma City Community College Foundation board, is a member of Women of the South a philantropic women’s organization and is also a member of Rotary International.

Nancy Hyde, Hyde & Company CPA’s, P.C.

Nancy Hyde is President of Hyde & Company CPA’s, P.C. an accounting firm located in Oklahoma City established in 2002.

Nancy has extensive experience with individual and small business tax clients covering a variety of industries for over thirty years. She frequently represents and assists clients with the Internal Revenue Service examinations and other issues. Nancy’s specialties include individual and business tax and compensation planning, retirement plan design and administration.

Nancy’s prior experience as a court appointed trustee for individual and business debtors in bankruptcy included responsibility for management, protection and liquidation of assets. These duties require direct coordination with business owners, creditors, lending institutions, court employees and bankruptcy judges.

Nancy’s active involvement with the Oklahoma Society of CPAs reflects her current membership as a member of the Small Firms Committee. She previously served as the Oklahoma Society of CPAs President, past Chair of Nomination’s Committee and Committee on Taxation. She has also served as Chair of the Internal Revenue Service Liaison Subcommittee. Nancy was inducted to the Society’s Accounting Hall of Fame. She was honored for her innovative leadership of the Small Firms Committee with the OSCPA Presidents award in 2003. Nancy was a finalist in the 2003 Journal Record Woman of the Year “50 Making a Difference”. She is also a member and past president of the Oklahoma City Chapter of American Woman’s Society of CPAs and a current member of the Executive Women’s Forum.

Current activities with the American Institute of CPAs reflect Nancy’s active involvement as a past member of the Tax Executive Committee, the governing body for the AICPA Tax Division. She has also served as Past Chairman of the Tax Forms Committee and Member of Relations with IRS Committee, National Task Force on Restructuring the IRS, and Group of 100 Committee. Nancy received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma. Nancy is also a Certified Valuation Analyst.

Nancy is also a qualified expert witness in United States District Court for Western District of Oklahoma, District Court of Oklahoma County and District Court of Cleveland County, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, and United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Nancy has served the community as a member and Past President of Church of the Servant Foundation and Chaired the Finance Committee. She volunteers her time to speak to numerous business and non-profit organizations on income tax, business and management topics. She has hosted international college students from Japan, Thailand and Taiwan. In August, 2009 Nancy participated as an instructor in the Peace Through Business Program at Northwood University, Dallas, Texas. She also serves as a mentor to an Afghanistan Woman Business Owner. She is involved as a co-chair of the Peace Through Business Oklahoma City, Peace Pal Program. Nancy is committed to mentoring at the local, national and international levels.

Pam Guffey, Gold Star Graphics

Gold Star Graphics, a screen printing, embroidery, and promotional products family business was founded in 1987 by Pam Guffey and her husband, Stan Guffey. Gold Star creates custom t-shirts, bags, sweats, hats, as well as other products from ink pens to high-end golf accessories.

Gold Star began as a contract screen printing company and has grown substantially, acquiring a diverse customer base ranging from elementary schools, churches, and major universities, to global, corporate, and retail enterprises.

Customer satisfaction is the number one priority at Gold Star. She feels that purchasing apparel, accessories, and promotional items should be an enjoyable experience, free of pressure and free from stress. Her account representatives work closely with customers to help create the perfect product for their business. With 22 years of experience assisting customers with custom imprinted goods, Gold Star Graphics is a fundamental resource for business marketing needs.

In addition to her business acumen, Guffey is very active in her community and was recently elected to the Oklahoma State Board of PEO. A devoted member who is committed to the PEO sisterhood, Guffey is serving the organization as treasurer for the current year. She was appointed as chairperson for the Program for Continuing Education and Oklahoma Continuing Education, and was the representative on the 2009 State Convention Hostess Board, on which she served as treasurer. Additionally, she was the delegate to the International Convention in 2007. Guffey’s PEO heritage is long and rich, having had a grandmother and mother serve the same chapter, as well as numerous other family members.

As an active member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Guffey donates time and talent chairing the decorating committee. Pam and Stan are always willing to help with church functions in any way possible.

Married to Stan for 38 years, Guffey lives in Oklahoma City with her husband. They have two sons, Lance and Kyle. Lance works in the family business, while Kyle is an entrepreneur.

About Gold Star Graphics
Gold Star Graphics has greatly evolved from its beginnings as a contract screen printing company 22 years ago; to the company it is today. Still providing screen printing, Gold Star Graphics also provides embroidery and discharge custom imprinted services, as well as promotional products from insulated mugs, pens, and padfolios to belt buckles, tool sets, and golf gear.

Gold Star is located at 8812 S. Bryant, just south of I-240. Additional information about Gold Star is available at www.goldstarok.com.

Danielle Marie Rhodes

Danielle was born on November 26, 1992 in Oklahoma City. She has been attending ASTEC for six years.

Danielle’s favorite subjects are English and Math. She plans to pursue a career in Math or in the medical field at the University of Oklahoma, resulting in becoming an accountant or a Physician’s Assistant.

Danielle’s interests are reading, creative writing, running, and softball. She currently volunteers at Macklinburg Community Center and someday would like to open a community center. Danielle is an active member of her church’s multi-cultural club.

Danielle considers herself caring, intelligent, determined, and adventurous. She would like to be remembered for her accomplishments.

Ronda Mikles, Mikles’ Marketing & Management, Inc.

Ronda Mikles is the president of Mikles’ Marketing & Management, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in customer relations seminars, staff development workshops, sales and motivational conferences as well as retreats.

Her workshops have taken her all across the United States from San Francisco to Philadelphia, Chicago to Denver, as well as Washington, D.C. and Kodiak, Alaska.

She is past president of the Oklahoma City chapter of American Women in Radio & Television, has served as a judge at the National Commendation Awards in Washington, D.C. for outstanding radio and television programming nationwide, has been named by Oklahoma Baptist University as a recipient of its prestigious Profile in Excellence award, and is a past president of OBU’s Alumni Board of Directors.

Ronda was the General Sales Manager of the Oklahoma News Network for over five years and was named one of the top two sales managers of the year for Clear Channel Communications.

Linh Thi Thuy Hoang

Linh was born on November 8, 1991 in Vietnam to Minh Hoang and Xi Le. She has attended ASTEC for four years.

Linh’s favorite subject is Art, however she wants to pursue a career in the medical field. She eventually wants to start a charity medical clinic in Vietnam. Linh plans to attend the University of Oklahoma.

Linh is Senior Class President, Robotics Club President, President of Student Council, and volunteers for Strengthening Families. She is a member of Oklahoma Heritage Association Teen Board, Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, and Oklahoma City Youth Council. She also works part time at Old Navy.

Linh’s honors and awards include Superintendent’s Honor Roll, Principal’s Honor Roll, The Oklahoma Centennial Commission Poster Contest: Top Scholarship, Certificate of Achievement in the Geography Action, 1st Prize with Distinction in the Vietnamese Oral Contest, Junior Class Student of the Year and the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools Recipient STARS (Scholarship for Talented and Remarkable Students) Scholarship.

Halima was born September 1, 1993 in Oklahoma City to Connie Benhmida. Halima has attended ASTEC for five years.

Halima’s favorite subject is science and wants to pursue a career in general medicine and accounting. Her ultimate goal is to become a doctor and open her own free clinic. She also enjoys dance and music.

Halima is a member of the cheerleading team and enjoys dance and music. Halima has been on the Superintendent and Principal’s honor roll while attending ASTEC Charter High School. She placed third in the Oklahoma Christian University High School Competition for Mathematics.

When asked, “How do you want to be remembered?” she replied, “I want to make a positive impact on as many peoples’ lives as much as I can.”

Susanna Martinez

Susanna Martinez was born July 21, 1993 in Oklahoma City to Ernesto and Angelica Martinez. She has been attending ASTEC for six years.

The subject most interesting to Susanna is English. Susanna plans to attend college and major in accounting or a foreign language, as her long-term goals are to be an accountant or a language translator.

Susanna’s interests include drawing, singing, dancing and volunteering. Her hobbies include crocheting, reading, making jewelry and listening to music. Susana is a part of ASTEC’s Yearbook staff and the youth group at her church. Honors and awards Susanna has received are academic achievements and outstanding student recognitions in Mathematics, English and Spanish.

Susanna describes herself as responsible, trustworthy and kind. When asked, “How do you want to be remembered?” she replied, “I want to be remembered as a girl who tried her hardest to succeed in life and to be able to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Debra Murray, Blue Spring International, LLC

Debra Murray is the President and Managing Member of Blue Spring International, LLC. Ms. Murray has over 25 years of sales, consulting, and management experience in real estate, retail, and health and wellness. Ms. Murray’s primary focus in recent years has been in the restructuring of privately-owned companies after severe market impacts.

As an active member of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), Women’s Business Enterprises (WBE) Southwest, and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Ms. Murray works to further opportunities in the world of business for women. Because of her passion for empowering women, she has received numerous awards and public speaking invitations, both in the US and abroad. Ms. Murray is also dedicated to educating consumers on natural health and wellness.

To further her goals, she has been or currently is a member in good standing of several prominent trade organizations in the health and wellness industry. Ms. Murray is determined to take Blue Spring to the forefront of natural health and wellness. Her passion and dedication shine in everything she does, both personally and professionally. She uses her vision and leadership to motivate her team to take Blue Spring to The Platinum Standard