Gulf Breeze, Florida
A retired teacher and coach, Tom now serves as chairman of the Tom S. & Marye Kate Aldridge Charitable and Educational Trust, guiding its four pillars: education, faith-based autism initiatives, humanitarian aid, and child enrichment. Through the Trust and his personal philanthropy, Tom supports students and programs at the OU Price College of Business, the University of Central Oklahoma, Rogers State University, and Oklahoma State University. He invests in literacy through libraries and community partners and backs Home Integration Inc. and veteran support initiatives. He champions scholarships with the Santa Rosa County Education Foundation’s Take Stock in Children, helps provide camps and care for children with life-threatening medical conditions through the Cavett Kids Foundation, and advances fundraising for schools and community organizations, especially physical education, art, and music across Northwest Florida. His collaborative giving includes partnerships with the Donna Nigh Foundation, HBC Champions Foundation, and the Tony Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral. A private pilot, former marathoner, free diver, fisherman, and avid reader and storyteller, he is above all a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who counts his family as his greatest joy.
Estes Park, Colorado
Jeff is the founder and principal of Summit Finance & Accounting LLC, a CFO practice focused on providing fractional and interim financial strategy support and meeting the accounting services needs of nonprofit organizations. He is the former VP-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of YMCA of the Rockies. He was previously the EVP & CFO of United Way of Tarrant County and SVP & CFO at Goodwill Industries of Dallas. He spent much of his career in Corporate Finance and Retail Management, including roles as EVP-GMM and EVP-P&A at JCPenney, Inc., SVP-P&A at Chico’s FAS, Inc., VP-Finance at Express, Inc., and Director of FP&A at Limited Brands, Inc.
Jeff is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, an executive member of Financial Executives International, and a council member with Gerson Lehrman Group. He earned his CPA from the State of Ohio, and his education includes a BBA in Finance from the OU Price College of Business and an MBA from Texas A&M University. In their free time, Jeff and his wife Liz enjoy traveling as well as outdoor adventures, sports, and spending time with their family.
Jeff is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, an executive member of Financial Executives International, and a council member with Gerson Lehrman Group. He earned his CPA from the State of Ohio, and his education includes a BBA in Finance from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Texas A&M University. In their free time, Jeff and his wife Liz enjoy travel, outdoor adventure, sports, and spending time with their family.
Irving, Texas
Greg graduated from the OU Price College of Business in 1987 with degrees in Business Management and Computer Science. He had a nearly 30-year career with Accenture, a professional services firm helping companies with strategy, technology, and operations. Greg was promoted to Partner in 2000. Before retiring as Managing Director, Greg served as Chief Operating Officer for “Taleris,” an aviation analytics joint venture between GE Aviation and Accenture. Greg and his wife, Nicole, now own and operate a residential real estate brokerage in Dallas. The business has been voted "Best of Big D” by D Magazine every year since 2014, with Greg serving as Chief Executive Officer.
In addition to his work in real estate, Greg is currently serving as the CEO Executive Advisor to Lean Kloud, a startup specializing in cloud computing analytics.
Greg and Nicole have two daughters. Rocky graduated in May from the University of Texas with a degree in Radio-Television-Film, while Dani, a spirited member of the OU RUF/NEKS, is in her Junior year at OU, majoring in Business/MIS.
With their daughters attending rival schools and Nicole having graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, their household is truly divided on opposite sides of the Red River. Greg’s only response? “BOOMER!”
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Bill and Veretta Christiansen are proud University of Oklahoma graduates - Bill with a BBA in Marketing and Veretta with a degree in French. After graduation, Veretta taught French and English while Bill served in the United States Marine Corps. In 1972, they moved to Tulsa, where Bill founded Christiansen Aviation, Inc. Veretta continued teaching in Tulsa before pausing to raise their two sons, then returned to the classroom, serving more than 30 years in the Jenks and Union school systems. Bill led Christiansen Aviation’s growth and sold 50% of the company in 2022. Today, both sons work in the family business at Riverside Airport.
Southlake, Texas
Toby and Leslie Cotton are both graduates of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. They have twin daughters who are currently at the University of Oklahoma. Toby is the Chief Operating Officer at Whitley Penn, a large regional full-service accounting firm with a national client base headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Allen, Texas
Michael is a native of Oklahoma City and a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School. He earned a BBA in Finance from the OU Price College of Business in 1974 and an MBA from Southern Methodist University in 1978. Over a 34-year banking career, Michael held increasingly senior roles, including President of Georgia Bank Operations at Bank of America, where he managed 4,000 employees across four hundred branches, and later served as President of Community Development Banking at the corporate office in Charlotte, North Carolina. After retiring from Bank of America, he joined KeyBank as President of the Rocky Mountain Region and concluded his career as President of Small Business Banking in Cleveland, Ohio. Michael has served on nonprofit boards and mentored banking executives throughout his career. He is a member of OU’s Quarter Century Club and is dedicated to supporting OU students, especially those in the OU Price School of Business. He credits OU and the business school for providing the foundation for his successful career.
Julia is a seasoned and retired environmental attorney licensed in Oklahoma, Texas, and Georgia. She earned her law degree from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Before law, she worked in education and administration. While in law school, Julia served on the Oklahoma Law Review and interned in Congress. Her legal career spans major energy companies, including Southern Company, Fina, Inc. (successor TotalEnergies) and Kerr-McGee Corporation (acquired by Anadarko Petroleum in 2006), where she worked on environmental public policy and litigation efforts. Julia is deeply committed to mentorship and leadership, having chaired the Mentoring Committee for the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women’s Leadership Board. She holds certificates from Emory University and The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and actively volunteers in professional and community organizations. Julia and Michael have two children, Michael Jr. and Ashlie.
Norman, Oklahoma
Jay Kahn is the Senior Assistant Vice President for Advancement & Campaigns at The University of Oklahoma Foundation. In this role, Jay is responsible for providing leadership to the $2B Lead On Campaign and multiple Advancement functions. He holds Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and Six Sigma designations, as well as advanced degrees in Business Administration and Higher Education Administration. Jay resides in Norman, OK, with his wife, Laura, and sons Jack and Henry.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Brian Letzkus is a University of Oklahoma graduate who built a successful career in technology and leadership, ultimately serving as Chief Information Officer at Williams before retiring in 2025. He now focuses on advising emerging leaders, speaking on organizational culture, and mentoring professionals in the tech space. Brian remains an engaged OU supporter and credits his time at the university as the foundation for his career and leadership philosophy.
Fort Worth, Texas
Jon McCartney is Executive Vice President of Land and General Counsel of Double Eagle Energy Holdings IV/V LLC. Mr. McCartney has been with Double Eagle since 2013 and previously served as Senior Vice President of Land and Legal of Double Eagle I-III LLC. He graduated from the OU Price College of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with an honors distinction. He holds his JD from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and graduated cum laude.
Jon was recognized among the 2023 Oil and Gas Investor’s “Forty under 40” honorees. He is a member of the Texas Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, Fort Worth Association of Petroleum Landmen, Fort Worth Wildcatters. He serves as Board Member for CASA of Tarrant County and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.
Shannon McCartney currently serves as Director of the McCartney Family Foundation. She graduated from the OU Price College of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and International Business and a minor in Spanish. She spent over a decade in sales and sales management, working in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, where she was recognized with awards, including “Rookie of the Year”, “Impact Award Winner”, “Top Team Winner”, and “Market Sales Trainer.” She was also selected to serve on the Women’s Leadership Advisory Board. Shannon and Jon live in Fort Worth with their three children.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bob McIntosh is an OU Price College of Business alumnus whose life reflects his belief that “you reap what you sow.” Raised in Tulsa, Bob first became aware of the University of Oklahoma through its high-performing football program led by legendary coach Bud Wilkinson. As a student, Bob immersed himself in campus life as a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance, followed by an MBA, both from Price College of Business. He supported his education through part-time work and an $800 Lew Wentz Scholarship that required 200 hours of service to the university.
Grateful for the access and affordability that shaped his future, Bob has built a financially disciplined life grounded in “all things in moderation.” Today, he is paying forward the opportunities he received by establishing endowed scholarships for ambitious graduate students at OU, just as previous generations did for him. Through his philanthropy, Bob not only eases the financial burden of advanced study but also encourages scholarship recipients to remember the University of Oklahoma in their own charitable giving and estate planning, continuing a legacy of generosity for future generations of Sooners.
Arcadia, Oklahoma
Leo Mingee is the Chief Marketing Officer of Quintessa Marketing, where he co-leads alongside wife and founder Lauren Von Mingee in scaling the company to a $100M+ industry leader. Known for his strategic vision and steady leadership, Leo has helped position Quintessa as a disruptor in the legal marketing space while ensuring its mission stays rooted in impact. He is deeply committed to philanthropy, mentorship, and fostering a culture of excellence that extends beyond the company into the communities it serves.
Lauren Von Mingee is the CEO and founder of Quintessa Marketing, a $100M legal marketing company disrupting traditional industries with innovation and impact. A mom of five and philanthropist, Lauren gives away 50% of profits and, alongside her husband Leo, established the largest scholarship endowment in OU history for first-generation business students.
Her leadership has been recognized globally, earning honors such as the 2025 Global Recognition Award, 2025 Most Admired CEO (The Journal Record), 2024 Woman of the Year (The Journal Record), and The Journal Record’s prestigious Beacon Award. She is also a Platinum Winner – Outstanding Female Executive / CEO at the 2025 TITAN Women in Business Awards, a Gold Winner at the 2024 TITAN Women in Business Awards, and a Bronze Stevie Award® Winner for Best Entrepreneur in Advertising, Marketing & Business Services. Since COVID, Lauren has given away more than $10 million, including a $6 million transformational gift to launch the Mingee-Von First-Generation Business Scholars Fund at the University of Oklahoma. Recognized for her bold leadership, disruptive innovation, and irrational generosity, Lauren inspires audiences worldwide to disrupt fearlessly, lead boldly, and give without limits.
Together, the Mingees champion “irrational generosity” — giving away 50% of Quintessa’s profits and establishing a $6M endowment for first-generation business students at the University of Oklahoma. Leo’s commitment to innovation and purpose has helped foster a culture that drives both results and recognition, including Quintessa being named a DotCom Magazine Impact Company of the Year.
Plano, Texas
Aria graduated from the OU Price College of Business with a degree in Finance and a minor in Iranian Studies. With a focus on translating investment into measurable U.S. job creation, he finances and manages commercial real estate projects across the capital stack and helps international investors navigate residency-by-investment pathways. Currently with EB-5 Healthcare, Aria partners with project sponsors and global investors to structure and issue compliant EB-5 offerings, coordinate diligence, and drive job creation across the U.S. Aria also plays an active role in the EB-5 industry and local education policy. Within Invest in the USA (IIUSA), the EB-5 industry’s nonprofit trade association, he serves on the Membership & Investor Market Development Committee, recommending new programming and providing input on investor-market research to support responsible, job-creating investments. He also serves on the Frisco ISD District Advisory Council and Foundation scholarship committees, collaborating with administrators and community stakeholders on Title II/IV priorities and expanding student opportunity through targeted, donor-supported awards
Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
Kent E. Phillips grew up in Oklahoma City with three older sisters and an older brother. He earned his BBA from the OU Price College of Business in 1973 and an MBA from The University of Texas in 1975. He began his career at Hadson Ohio Oil Company, serving as manager of the Land Department as well as investor relations. In 1978, he launched an independent career in oil and gas exploration and production. He remains active today through his company, Far West Energy, LLC, with operations in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Kent is the proud father of three children and five grandchildren. He married Kathy Pendarvis in 2023. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys golf, quail hunting with his two bird dogs, and flyfishing.
Bentonville, Arkansas
Brooke Spenser is an accomplished business leader with over a decade of experience spanning corporate strategy, finance, and innovation across the energy and retail industries. Her career reflects a steady progression from financial analysis and investment governance to enterprise strategy and large-scale transformational leadership. Brooke has held key strategic and operational roles at global organizations, where she has led cross-functional teams, guided complex portfolios, and advanced initiatives that integrate digital, physical, and sustainable business models.
Brooke graduated from the OU Price College of Business with a BBA in Finance and Human Resources. She remains deeply connected to the OU community, supporting programs that prepare future business leaders. She is also an advocate for women in finance, mentoring emerging professionals, and contributing to initiatives that expand opportunities for women in leadership and technical fields.
Brooke holds an MBA from Indiana University and serves as a professor in the University of Arkansas Executive MBA program, where she teaches Strategy and Human-Centered Innovation.
Clayton, Missouri
Mary Sumner is a Professor at the OU Price College of Business. Prior to this, she was a Professor of MIS at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Business and on the faculty at New York University. She is a Senior Scholar within the Association for Information Systems (AIS) and the Academic Lead for the Society for Information Management (SIM). Her teaching and research interests include enterprise systems implementation, project management, business data analysis, the management of information technology, and health informatics. She has written seven textbooks and over 50 professional articles. Her practical experience includes being Chief Information Officer and Board member of a technology solutions business.
Owasso, Oklahoma
Patrick is the General Counsel of Black Bay Partners, LLC, a New Orleans-based lower-middle market private equity firm with over $800 million of assets under management. Before joining Black Bay, Patrick served as General Counsel of Piñon Midstream, a former Black Bay portfolio company, until its successful sale to Enterprise Products Partners L.P. Prior to Piñon, Patrick worked in various legal roles of increasing responsibility at Ovintiv Inc.; Ascent Resources, LLC; Permian Resources, LLC; and American Energy Partners, LP. Over the course of his career, Patrick has supported the funding and deployment of over $15B of debt and equity capital, the restructuring of multiple private entities, the negotiation of complex commercial contracts, and the compliance of multiple public/private entities with applicable securities laws. Patrick graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Juris Doctor (with honors), MBA, and BBA in Finance (summa cum laude).
Austin, Texas
Andrew Wright graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BS in Petroleum Engineering (2017) and an MBA (2018). Andrew worked in upstream oil and gas for a few years before returning to school. He is currently in his last year of law school at the University of Michigan and is joining Latham and Watkins in the Washington, D.C. office in the fall of 2026.
