Edmond Santa Fe High School

Local Advisor: Christy Flanigan

Leadership Voice: Guardian

Enneagram:  3

What is your favorite DECA memory?

• One of my most cherished DECA memories is when I walked across the stage at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, representing my home state of Oklahoma and waving our state flag amidst the presence of 22,000 high school students.

What are three words to describe you:

• Confident, Caring, and Diligent.

Why did you join DECA?

• I joined DECA going into my freshman year of highschool after hearing about the stock market game/competition that was available to members. Without hesitation, I signed up immediately, not knowing how instrumental DECA would be in shaping me into the leader I am today.

What are your future career goals?

• In my future endeavors, I envision pursuing a college education focused on business, embarking on boundless adventures while traveling the world, and ultimately venturing into entrepreneurship by establishing my own business.

Duties: It shall be the duty of the President to preside over all Executive Council meetings; to make all necessary committee appointments, including the designation of each committee chairperson; develop a program of work for the term in office; and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of DECA.

Contact: reedragaini@gmail.com

Edmond Santa Fe High School
Local Advisor: Christy Flanigan

Leadership Voice: Connector

Enneagram:  9

What is your favorite DECA memory?

• My favorite DECA memory has to be ICDC. Networking and meeting so many people with similar aspirations to mine really made me feel like I’m a part of something so important.

What are three words to describe you:

• I believe three words to describe me would be determined, courageous, and kind. My determination is what motivates me to keep pushing myself past my limits, I do my best to not be afraid to make mistakes, and I keep an empathetic and open mind for all.

Why did you join DECA?

• I joined DECA to fulfill my need for growth outside of the classroom. DECA has shaped me into a more confident and better person overall by providing me with so many learning opportunities.

What are your future career goals?

• Though I may not be exactly sure which career path I want to take, I know that DECA has shown me that there are truly so many to choose from. I want to explore as many career choices as I can before making a set decision, but I look forward to graduating high school and going to university!

Duties: It shall be the duty of the elected Vice President of Leadership to practice the “Emerging Leaders” element of the DECA Mission, including all non-competitive event career and leadership activities; and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of DECA.

Contact: sdkibria1@gmail.com

Edmond North High School
Local Advisor: Barbara Inselman

Leadership Voice: Guardian

Enneagram:  8

What is your favorite DECA memory?

• My favorite DECA memory so far has been ICDC 2022. I went to the Elevate Leadership Conference, and that is where I found my spark and passion to become more involved and help others. I loved getting to know people from all over the world and hearing what they have been able to accomplish through DECA. I also loved how close I became with my chapter at ICDC since we all did everything together and learned from one another.

What are three words to describe you:

• My friends describe me as compassionate, determined, and organized.

Why did you join DECA?

• My mom was the reason I joined DECA. She was a chapter officer at the same school that I go to, Edmond North, and thought that I would enjoy the organization and that it would be beneficial to my future, and she wasn’t wrong. Over the three years that I have been a member, I have become more involved and been able to take advantage of all of the amazing opportunities that DECA provides to their members.

What are your future career goals?

• In college, I plan to major in business management and receive a minor in Spanish. After college, my career goal is manage restaurants for 5 to 10 years to get hands-on experience in running a business. Then I want to have my own restaurant that I will be able to run from previous knowledge and experiences.

Duties: It shall be the duty of the elected Vice President of Career Development to practice the “Careers” element of the DECA Mission, including chapter participation preparation and performance in Competitive Events; and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of DECA.

Contact: peightonharak@gmail.com

Latta High School

Local Advisor: Stacy Oakley

Leadership Voice:  Creative

Enneagram:  5

What is your favorite DECA memory?

• Out of all my memories, one of my favorite ones is being at ICDC 2022. I loved competing in my competition in my event and exploring the city of Atlanta, Georgia, especially the Georgia Aquarium. The aquarium was filled with amazing animals like the beluga whales.

What are three words to describe you:

• Curious, caring, friendly

Why did you join DECA?

• I joined DECA because I was in a marketing class ran by my DECA Advisor. She strongly encouraged me to participate in a competitive event at CDC. I was unsure at the time whether it would be worth the effort, but I decided to do it nonetheless. I’m so glad I decided to because it has been the single most influential part of my highschool experience.

What are your future career goals?

• I want to become a therapist. Helping people with their mental health is something that I deeply care about and want to fulfill this through my career.

Duties: It shall be the duty of the elected Vice President of Hospitality to put into practice the “Hospitality” element of the DECA Mission. Responsible for connecting members to a welcome, value-filled, fun educational experience.

Contact: ricardocharqueno2006@gmail.com

Putnam City High School
Local Advisor: Melissa Lair

Leadership Voice:  Connector

Enneagram:  2

What is your favorite DECA memory? 

• My favorite DECA memory would have to be when I went to the Washington DC DECA power-trip, it’s where I met Virginia state officer Theo Villanueva. Theo encouraged to take the next step and run to be a state officer. So meeting Theo in the subway in DC will always be a core memory.

What are three words to describe you:

• I think the three words to describe me would be caring, ambitious, and resilient

Why did you join DECA? 

• I joined because two people I look up to kept encouraging me after I mentioned how I was interested in how business works, and they told me about all the opportunities DECA creates.

What are your future career goals? 

• My future career goal is to be an educator, specifically a DECA teacher. I want to be a role model to students just as my advisor was to me and many others.

Duties: It shall be the duty of the elected Vice President of Marketing to practice the “Marketing” element of the DECA Mission, including initial member recruitment, branding and promotions; and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of DECA.

Contact: nahilop06@gmail.com

Francis Tuttle Technology Center – Danforth Campus

Local Advisor: Abby Williams

Leadership Voice:  Nurturer

Enneagram:  1

What is your favorite DECA memory?

• My favorite DECA memory has to be from this year’s ICDC! Being a voting delegate was such an amazing experience, as well as getting the opportunity to talk to other like-minded people from around the world! I enjoyed getting to experience this with my wonderful team and getting the opportunity to grow closer thorough the process.

Three Words to Describe Me:

• Kind, Honest, and Dedicated. These are qualities I most aspire to exhibit!

Why did you join DECA? 

• I joined DECA to gain experience and learn skills regarding all things business, but I gained much more than that! I love being apart of the community OK DECA has built, a community that encouraged me to do things I previously wouldn’t have even considered. DECA has helped me become more confident in myself and unafraid to do hard things.

What are your future career goals?

• I hope to obtain a business degree in college and potentially take a career path oriented around finance. Doing DECA has definitely influenced this interest. It has allowed me to get a real taste of what different parts of the business world run like in real life, whether that is marketing, HR, finance, or any others ! I am also learning so much in the Entrepreneurship Academy at Francis Tuttle Technology  Center and hope to apply these skills in my career future!

Duties: It shall be the duty of the elected Vice President of Finance to practice the “Finance” element of the DECA Mission. Responsible for chapter budgeting, accounting and fund development efforts.

Contact: id1102324@student.francistuttle.edu

Edmond Santa Fe High School

Local Advisor: Christy Flanigan

Leadership Voice: Guardian

Enneagram:  3

What is your favorite DECA memory?

• One of my most cherished DECA memories is when I walked across the stage at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, representing my home state of Oklahoma and waving our state flag amidst the presence of 22,000 high school students.

What are three words to describe you:

• Confident, Caring, and Diligent.

Why did you join DECA?

• I joined DECA going into my freshman year of highschool after hearing about the stock market game/competition that was available to members. Without hesitation, I signed up immediately, not knowing how instrumental DECA would be in shaping me into the leader I am today.

What are your future career goals?

• In my future endeavors, I envision pursuing a college education focused on business, embarking on boundless adventures while traveling the world, and ultimately venturing into entrepreneurship by establishing my own business.

Duties: It shall be the duty of the President to preside over all Executive Council meetings; to make all necessary committee appointments, including the designation of each committee chairperson; develop a program of work for the term in office; and to be available, as necessary, in promoting the general welfare of DECA.

Contact: reedragaini@gmail.com

Prior to first being elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2016 and re-elected for a second term in 2018, Representative Rhonda Baker was a middle school English teacher who had spent nearly two decades in the profession at the middle school, high school, and collegiate level. In addition, she and her husband, Les, also an educator, are owners of a successful small irrigation business.

As a member of the House, she has developed a reputation as a strong and articulate advocate on education issues, serving as the chair of the House Common Education Committee and as a member of the House
Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education. She has been appointed as a member of Judiciary committee and the full Appropriations and Budget committee.

Representative Baker was recently presented with the Rising Star Award by the State Chamber of Commerce for her role as a legislative leader in the business community. She was one of 11 select legislators chosen from a pool of legislative applicants within the Southern region to attend the Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS). Additionally, she was one of two legislators chosen as an Early Learning Fellows from NCSL and considers it one of her greatest honors to have been appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Commission of the Status of Women.

Representative Baker is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a master’s degree in Education. She and her husband have three children.

House of Representatives, 56th Legislature to present

Katrina McDowell is the instructor of HPTC’s Marketing/Management program and the advisor of DECA at High Plains Technology Center.

She assisted the Oklahoma DECA with State Advisory Council this year, and from 2018-2021 she was the MBA Teachers Advisory Network representative and presented for the national conferences.

She worked alongside her HPTC DECA Chapter to earn the School-Based Enterprise Gold Certification Award. In addition to her helping DECA as much as she can, she is also very active in other CTSO organizations. She volunteers to judge for Oklahoma BPA and also helps the other CTSOs with many student work opportunities, service activities, fundraising.

Jay P. Jirous is a 1979 graduate of John Marshall High School.  While in High School Jay was very involved with DECA as President his Senior year which ultimately led him to his lifelong career of owning, operating and working with Sonic Drive-In in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.  Currently, Jay is a Director and/or corporate officer for over a dozen companies in Oklahoma and Texas, including his role as a Director of the MD and Barbara Jirous Foundation.  The MD and Barbara Jirous Foundation has been active in philanthropy across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico for decades and has provided countless scholarship opportunities for students across those states.

Website: https://www.sonicdrivein.com/

Oklahoma DECA would like to thank Mr. Jirous and the MD and Barbara Jirous Foundation for being a SILVER Sponsor of Oklahoma DECA.

To learn more about sponsorship and partner opportunities with Oklahoma DECA please visit our sponsor page. 

DECA Chapter:  Edmond Memorial High School (retired 2021)

Over 30 years of service to Oklahoma DECA. Kim has been instrumental in helping the organization continue to be successful by providing advice and her time to help in any way needed. She has always had large DECA chapters at Edmond Memorial and they have always been very involved and successful at State CDC. She has focused on community service with her chapter every year. 

From Kim’s Nominators:

It is a great pleasure to write this letter of support for Kim Walters. There is no doubt that she is most deserving of this award. Kim has given so many years to DECA and has been a strong leader in the organization. She has always been one that other advisors turn to for help and advice. The dedication she has shown to her students is second to none and so many of them have many amazing stories to share about all that they have learned from her. Kim has spent countless hours preparing in order to provide the best for her students. All of her students would say that not only does she help them learn marketing and management concepts, but she helps prepare them for life. They have lovingly called her “Walt” for years, and this just goes to show the relationship she has developed with her students over the years. In the classroom and through DECA, Kim provides many opportunities for her students to be successful and to learn how to take what they have learned into the real world. The Edmond Memorial DECA chapter is always very successful at Oklahoma State CDC every year. This is not solely because her students work to do their best in competition – it is also because of how she encourages and pushes them to be their best. It truly is a bit difficult to summarize all she has done to make an impact on all of those around her. Her impact is hard to quantify and the successes that have come from her efforts are immeasurable.

Through DECA, she has not only made an impact on her students but also their parents. Many of them have traveled alongside her to the Annual Edmond Memorial DECA New York Trip. She has been known to take around 80 students and parents at a time! She has even become a resource for National DECA when they plan their trips. She has mentored many other advisors that have desired to travel with students and has given so many helpful tips.

Kim and her DECA Chapters have always put their community first. Each year they also reach out to another community to spread joy through their Halloween Carnival. It is a free event for students in a lower socioeconomic area. She is not only helping those in need but she is teaching her students to do so as well.

As her fellow colleagues, we would like to nominate Kim Walters of Edmond Memorial High School, for the IMPACT Award. Oklahoma DECA will truly miss her as she retires this year and we feel this is a great opportunity for us all to recognize her achievements.

From her nomination:

I am honored to write this letter of recommendation in support of Carrie Miller for the DECA Impact Award for Advisor Recognition. I have known Carrie Miller in a professional manner for 15+ years. First at Tri County Tech in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and currently as the DECA Advisor at Mustang High School. Student organizations are a vital part of all Career Tech programs. They provide a variety of opportunities for students that will undoubtedly carry through to their adult lives. When the students are fortunate to have a dedicated and caring teacher, life-changing learning experiences naturally occur. Carrie Miller is that teacher! She goes above and beyond to create a community within the classroom, where her students can blossom and thrive. She creates engaging activities that help students understand the principles of marketing. She has provided students opportunities to travel to the DECA New York Experience, the Sports and Entertainment Marketing Conference, the DECA International Career Development Conference, and more. Many of these students have never traveled by plane before! These exciting, lifechanging student experiences are possible through the success of the award winning “’Stang Station” student-run store at Mustang High School. Another recent distinguished award includes being the only Oklahoma chapter to be awarded three Thrive Level Awards for Community Service Campaign, Ethical Leadership Campaign, and Promotional Campaign. Carrie and her students have received many, many successes and awards through the years. Carrie has proven to be a leader, representing Oklahoma DECA and Marketing teachers by presenting at local schools, the Oklahoma Career Tech Summer Summit, and at several national conferences for Tech Centers that Work. Carrie actively networks with other advisors, finding ways to support, connect, and collaborate. She is often called upon to share what she has developed to help others succeed, which she is happy to do. Every single day, Carrie models a positive, professional attitude and exudes excitement for the curriculum and planned activities. She represents what every DECA Advisor should strive to be. For these reasons, and many more, I am confident that Carrie Miller is very deserving of the Impact Award for Advisor of the Year.

Katrina McDowell is the instructor of HPTC’s Marketing/Management program and the advisor of DECA at High Plains Technology Center.

She assisted the Oklahoma DECA with State Advisory Council this year, and from 2018-2021 she was the MBA Teachers Advisory Network representative and presented for the national conferences.

She worked alongside her HPTC DECA Chapter to earn the School-Based Enterprise Gold Certification Award. In addition to her helping DECA as much as she can, she is also very active in other CTSO organizations. She volunteers to judge for Oklahoma BPA and also helps the other CTSOs with many student work opportunities, service activities, fundraising.

DECA Chapter:  Edmond Memorial High School (retired 2021)

Over 30 years of service to Oklahoma DECA. Kim has been instrumental in helping the organization continue to be successful by providing advice and her time to help in any way needed. She has always had large DECA chapters at Edmond Memorial and they have always been very involved and successful at State CDC. She has focused on community service with her chapter every year. 

From Kim’s Nominators:

It is a great pleasure to write this letter of support for Kim Walters. There is no doubt that she is most deserving of this award. Kim has given so many years to DECA and has been a strong leader in the organization. She has always been one that other advisors turn to for help and advice. The dedication she has shown to her students is second to none and so many of them have many amazing stories to share about all that they have learned from her. Kim has spent countless hours preparing in order to provide the best for her students. All of her students would say that not only does she help them learn marketing and management concepts, but she helps prepare them for life. They have lovingly called her “Walt” for years, and this just goes to show the relationship she has developed with her students over the years. In the classroom and through DECA, Kim provides many opportunities for her students to be successful and to learn how to take what they have learned into the real world. The Edmond Memorial DECA chapter is always very successful at Oklahoma State CDC every year. This is not solely because her students work to do their best in competition – it is also because of how she encourages and pushes them to be their best. It truly is a bit difficult to summarize all she has done to make an impact on all of those around her. Her impact is hard to quantify and the successes that have come from her efforts are immeasurable.

Through DECA, she has not only made an impact on her students but also their parents. Many of them have traveled alongside her to the Annual Edmond Memorial DECA New York Trip. She has been known to take around 80 students and parents at a time! She has even become a resource for National DECA when they plan their trips. She has mentored many other advisors that have desired to travel with students and has given so many helpful tips.

Kim and her DECA Chapters have always put their community first. Each year they also reach out to another community to spread joy through their Halloween Carnival. It is a free event for students in a lower socioeconomic area. She is not only helping those in need but she is teaching her students to do so as well.

As her fellow colleagues, we would like to nominate Kim Walters of Edmond Memorial High School, for the IMPACT Award. Oklahoma DECA will truly miss her as she retires this year and we feel this is a great opportunity for us all to recognize her achievements.

Paxton Cavin serves as the Oklahoma DECA Chartered Association Advisor. Since beginning this position in May 2019, Paxton has made it her mission to serve the members, advisors, volunteers, and partners of Oklahoma DECA with purpose and intention.

For questions or more information regarding Oklahoma DECA please contact Paxton Cavin at paxton.cavin@careertech.ok.gov or by phone at (405) 743-5473.