The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

Oklahoma woman selected for prestigious national business award

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – JUNE 8, 2010 – Oklahoma City businesswoman, Terry Neese, will be honored at the 2010 National Association of Women Business Owners’ conference on June 10 in Washington, DC, with the Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award.

Historically, the award recognizes a woman business owner who has made a significant contribution to the status and visibility of women-owned firms and to the empowerment of women entrepreneurs both nationally and internationally.

NAWBO leaders describe Neese as the perfect fit for the award for her blended entrepreneurial zeal and a sense of stepping up to do what is right for the greater good.

“Terry is the epitome of a business leader who has dedicated her professional career on the bedrock belief that when women are able to participate equally and fully in business, greater economic stability and peace ensues,” states the NAWBO Web site.

Neese, a serial entrepreneur, has been in business for more than 30 years, and most recently founded the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, a 501c3 that aims to empower women worldwide economically, socially and politically. With its PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program, the Institute provides long-term business and leadership training to women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda.

Neese, past national president of NAWBO, considers this award to be an ultimate honor, since Rudd personally inspired her to go beyond business and get involved in public policy.

“Gillian Rudd was my mentor,” Neese said. “Her work on the HR5050 legislation is what first broke the glass ceiling for women in business in the ’80s. Without her work, I truly can’t say I’d be where I am today.”

Paola-Marie Alvarez de Bennett, Alvarez de Bennett Law, P.C.

Attorney Paola-Marie Alvarez de Bennett founded Alvarez de Bennett Law, P.C. in 2009 after working for a prominent Oklahoma City law firm for two years. Paola-Marie was born in Mexico City, D.F., to her U.S. citizen mother and her Mexican citizen father. At a young age, her family came to the United States where she grew up in Gallup, New Mexico and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Paola-Marie obtained her Bachelors from Oral Roberts University and then decided to attend law school where she felt that she could help people and make a difference in her community. As a law student at the University of Oklahoma, Paola-Marie dedicated herself to several advocacy programs such as Students for Access to Justice Program (University of Oklahoma), Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (Toledo, Ohio), and Corporation for Enterprise Development (Washington D.C.).

Now operating her own law firm. Paola-Marie especially enjoys working on immigration law cases and international adoptions where she helps people come to the United States and take part in the American Dream like her family did.

She also serves in the Oklahoma City community as a:

♦ Volunteer attorney for Trinity Legal Clinic (nonprofit that provides access to legal services for clients who could not otherwise afford hiring their own attorney)
♦ Bi-lingual Tutor for the Whiz Kids program of Oklahoma City (program that provides tutoring for elementary students)
♦ Board Member for Metro Tech Foundation (providing financial assistance to students that could not otherwise afford an education at Metro Tech)
♦ Member of the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Her favorite book is “Banker to the Poor” written by Dr. Muhammad Yunus which has impacted small business owners around the world by showing that a little assistance, training, and mentorship can make a world of difference in teaching others to become self-sufficient.

Paola-Marie lives in Oklahoma City with her husband who serves in the U.S. Air Force.

Dr. Freda Deskin, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the award-winning Advanced Science and Technology Education (ASTEC) Charter School in Oklahoma City. ASTEC serves more than 900 inner-city middle and high school students. Ninety-eight percent of ASTEC graduates go on to college.

Freda Deskin is a nationally recognized educational consultant, known for her expertise in innovative, multidisciplinary curriculum and instruction. She has been a leader and pioneer in education for more than 35 years and has taught at the pre-collegiate and collegiate level and served as a university dean. Dr. Deskin founded several well-known educational programs in Oklahoma. In addition to Oklahoma’s first “start up” charter school in 2000, she established the “Oklahoma Odyssey of the Mind,” an international program that teaches and rewards creative problem solving, in 1978. In 1985, Deskin was selected as a finalist in NASA’s “Teacher in Space” project, becoming one of only 100 individuals in the world with the official title of “U.S. Space Ambassador.” The following year she began the International Aerospace Academy, a pre-collegiate summer camp and the Oklahoma Aerospace Academy and Outreach programs. Deskin established the first “ropes courses” at both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University. In 2007, Deskin co-founded For Youth Initiatives, a foundation that focuses on dropout prevention in Oklahoma. Under Dr. Deskin’s leadership, these programs have received awards and reached tens of thousands of children and adults.

A host of education and business leaders have recognized Dr. Deskin with awards and citations for her contributions. Deskin is listed in Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in the World, Outstanding Women in American and 2000 Notable Women in the US, and the 2002 International Who’s Who of Professional Educators. She was named the 1996 “Woman of the Year” by the Redlands Council of the Girl Scouts, was awarded the 1996 Frank G. Brewer Award for the Southwest Region for outstanding contributions in aerospace education and was inducted into “Women in Aerospace” in 2007. Dr. Deskin was named one of “50 Making a Difference” by the Journal Record in 2006 and 2008 and received the prestigious “By-liner Award” by Women in Communication. She has been honored by more organizations than can be mentioned, including the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America and the National Institute of Architects. She has served on many national committees and “think tanks” for organizations such as the Brooking Institute in Washington, DC. She has developed programs, curriculum guides and books for numerous national educational organizations such as the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, NASA, Disney’s EPCOT Center and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

Freda Deskin is a member of the National and State “Women President’s Organization” (WPO). International Women’s Forum and serves on the State Individual’s with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Advisory Panel. She is a board member of Red Earth and chair of their education committee. Deskin is president of For Youth Initiative (FYI). She is a graduate of Leadership Norman and Leadership Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education will honor Dr. Deskin with their “Career Achievement Award” in spring of 2010.

Rep. Sue Tibbs (R-Tulsa)

Born and raised in Tulsa

Attended Tulsa Junior College

Married to Milton Tibbs for 55 years, has two daughters, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren

Before becoming a state representative Sue worked in the insurance field as an audit analyst, underwriter and supervisor. Before that she was a Coordinator/Counselor for a Tulsa senior job training and placement program

She has been a House member from 2001 – present where she Chairs the Public Safety Committee and serves on the A & B Subcommittee for Human Services and the General Government Committee

Sue has been appointed to: Energy & Technology Committee, The Energy Council and Alzheimer’s Research Advisory Council

Jan Hill opened her first salon “My Sister’s Scissors” in 1982 and changed the name to “Eden Salon” in 1994 for a fresh new approach to the salon business.

Her goals were to provide great jobs with advanced education and opportunities. Oklahoma’s first authentic day spa, Eden Salon & Spa was created in 2000 and another followed in 2006.

Jan has been in the beauty business for 37 years both as a published stylist and owner of 3 multiple award winning salons. Jan’s vision for Eden Salon & Spa is to create a business that is on the forefront of fashion and wellness. Jan has developed a team of professional staff devoted to outstanding service and commitment to learning and growing in their careers.

Lauren Lago was born May 22, 1991 in Oklahoma City to Lynna Lago. She has attended ASTEC for seven years.

The subject most interesting to Lauren is English. She would like to major in theater at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Lauren’s interests include theater, movies and books. Her hobbies include writing, spending time with her friends and listening to music. Lauren is a part of Student Council and yearbook.

Lauren describes herself as creative, outgoing and compassionate. When asked, “How do you want to be remembered?” she replied, “I want to be remembered as someone who never gave up and someone who helped those in need.”

Lauren has received a scholarship from the Dallas Christian College.

Brushy Creek BBQ Products, LLC is an Oklahoma based company that has successfully combined the creative talents of the owner Johnece Handley-Thompson with the southern charm of a time gone by.

About the owner: I Johnece Handley-Thompson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma but moved to Richmond, California with my parents when I was a year old. I lived in the Bay Area until the age of 21 and decided to move back to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I find Tulsa to be a small but charming city to raise a family but I still consider the Bay Area home and I go back to visit every chance I get. Growing up in a State like California afforded me privileges that I don’t think I would have received in many other States. Looking back I found my teachers to be very creative, thinking out of the box and encouraging us to do the same. I was exposed to a very diverse culture which was fostered in school as well and resulted in a melting pot of cultures more willing to accept differences than to belittle them.

My home life was very much Southern. Both of my parents were born and raised in Oklahoma. My dad was from Inola, OK and my mother was from Chouteau, OK the Brushy Creek area (the two towns were about 3 or 4 miles apart). A lot of my family still live in both towns. My mother was a stay at home mom so we had home cooked meals every day. She was and still is a great cook even though my sisters and I didn’t really appreciate it back then. Any way looking back on my childhood I can reflect back to how my company Brushy Creek BBQ Products, LLC was created. I was able to combine my creative West Coast education with my Southern roots which when combined equals a line of great products that take you back to times gone by. I named my company from the area that my family originated from Brushy Creek in Chouteau, OK. I come from a back ground of GREAT cooks so to honor them all and to honor our Brushy Creek Community as a whole thus the name Brushy Creek BBQ Products, LLC “the flavor that brings food and folks together.”

About the products: We currently have BBQ sauce with three different heat levels Mild (no heat) Hint of Heat and Fire they come in 16oz jars and 64oz jugs(half gallon). We also a have BBQ rub that is great on beef, pork and chicken and a hamburger seasoning that is great for any ground meat including ground beef, pork, chicken or turkey. All of our products are lower in sodium yet high in flavor! Our products are mainly sold as fundraiser to schools, churches and any other organization looking for fundraising ideas. We also sell our products through our website.

Jenny Findley, Subway Restaurants

An Ada, Oklahoma native and former Miss Chickasaw I am the Vice President of Y.N.Y. Enterprises, DBA Subway. My husband Timothy and I currently have four Subway restaurants 2 in South Oklahoma City and 2 in Purcell.

Every year I host a toy drive for the foster children of McClain County. Involved in the development of a summer reading program for teens with the Pioneer Library System where Subway was a sponsor. Provide scholarships for graduating seniors of Lexington High School and for the Oklahoma Children’s Baptist Home.

Last summer had the privilege of participating in a Health Fair at the LCDA where I put together a slide show of nutrition and healthy snacks for low income families and did instruction of exercises that were safe for children to do while home alone.

We have four children three boys and one girl. Active member of Women of the South, a board member of Club services for the South OKC Rotary, a member of South OKC Chamber of Commerce, and the Tri-City Gun Club.

I am very passionate about working with young women promoting education to combat teen pregnancy. In my spare time I enjoy reading, riding motorcycles, and fishing with my family.

Kyra Ashley Cochran

Kyra Cochran was born on April 30, 1993 in Oklahoma City to Shane Cochran. She has attended ASTEC for six years.

Kyra is interested in music, history and the ministry. She plans to attend Oklahoma Baptist University with a major in music and a minor in ministry. She will be the first in her family to attend college.

Kyra is a member of ASTEC Student Council and is a junior class officer. She attends Youth Leadership Exchange Leadership Skill Training and enjoys organizing events and public speaking. Kyra received achievement awards in geometry, and scored “Advanced” on the Biology End of Instruction exam. She has already earned college credit by scoring a 3 on her Advanced Placement European exam.

Kyra considers herself as kind, generous, outgoing, and a hard worker. She is also very excited to be a part of this program.

Kim Neese, Terry Neese Personnel Services

Kim Neese is owner/president of Terry Neese Personnel Services. Since joining the firm in 1998, revenue has increased by more than 75 percent. The firm is a recipient of the 2006 and 2007 Oklahoma City Chamber Top Metro 50.

The company was established in 1975 by her mother, Terry Neese. Kim oversees all company staff and operations. She is actively in-tune to labor issues specific to the Oklahoma market, and works with local and national companies, as well as, government agencies.

Kim is a survivor of the Oklahoma City Murrah Bombing, as she was working in the Oklahoma Water Resources Board just north of the Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. She was a team member of the initial planning for the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

She is on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma State Chamber, is a member of the Women’s Presidents Organization, the National Association of Women Business Owners, Women Impacting Public Policy, Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma Staffing Association, Francis Tuttle Advisory Board, Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) Committee and the Oklahoma City Downtown Rotary Club,

Active with causes of March of Dimes, the Salvation Army, American Heart Association, various political campaigns, and served as Co-Chair of the Oklahoma City Sports Headliner Banquet for several years and is a volunteer for the Canadian Valley Football Club.

She is married to Buddy Belt and is the mother of two daughters, Emily and Erin who attend Yukon Public Schools.

Kim Neese is a native Oklahoman, with Cherokee ancestry. She received a bachelor of arts in public administration from the University of Central Oklahoma.