Conference Speakers

Mike Beckham, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Simple Modern

Shivani Kim, Investment Analyst at Atento Capital - Moderator

Shivani, originally from Norman, earned her bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Oklahoma. During her time at OU, she was involved in various campus organizations, serving as a Judicial Board Member for the university’s Panhellenic Association, an Associate for the JCPenney Leadership Program, President within the Integrated Business Core Program, and Student Analyst for the Michael F. Price Student Investment Fund.

Upon graduating in 2022, Shivani embarked on a career path in venture capital, initially joining one of Atento Capital’s portfolio companies as a market strategist the following summer. That fall, she transitioned to Atento's investments team, focusing primarily on Pre-Seed and Seed stage investments. While identifying promising opportunities for the fund, Shivani has developed a keen interest in women’s healthcare and education technology startups.

During her time at Atento, Shivani enjoys fostering talent and innovation through her previous role as the Investment-Lead for the University Fellows Program. She has co-led the program in both 2023 and 2024, overseeing its growth and impact while facilitating the program’s annual University Pitch Competition. Doing so, to providing a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas.

Looking ahead, Shivani is set to transition to Atento’s Platform team as an Investment Analyst. In this role, she will focus on enhancing the fund’s diversifying portfolio, leveraging her expertise and insights gained from her experience in early-stage investments.

Nikiel Kim, Investment Associate at Atento Capital - Panelist

Nikiel leads healthcare investments for Atento Capital, the early-stage venture capital arm of the George Kaiser Family Foundation. The foundation is focused on eradicating the cycle of intergenerational poverty and catalyzing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Tulsa, OK.

He studied Finance and Economics at the Price College of Business and was involved as a Board Fellow for the Norman Public School Foundation for the JCPenney Leadership Program, Price College of Business Student Ambassador, IBC, MFP Student Investment Fund, I-CCEW, and Academic Assistant for Dean Gregg Garn.

Austin Kipp, Director of Finance at Stealth Biotech - Panelist

Austin Kipp received his BBA in Management Information Systems from the University of Oklahoma in 2014. He began his career as an IT Systems Engineer at HBK Capital, a hedge fund headquartered in Dallas. After a year in IT, he decided to pivot his career to finance, joining the healthcare investment banking group of Credit Suisse in New York where he worked on mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets transactions, including the IPOs of Lantheus, Ra Pharma, and Medpace.

After his banking experience, Austin joined Thomas H. Lee Partners (THL), a private equity firm in Boston. There, he was responsible for the evaluation of investments in healthcare and consumer retail companies as well as monitoring and support for several of the firm’s portfolio companies. He also worked on the investment activity of THL’s special purpose acquisition company, culminating in a $1.74B merger with Agiliti Health, a medical equipment solutions provider.

In 2019, Austin began pursuing an MBA at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2020, he took a leave of absence to co-found a financial modeling software startup, which ultimately shut down after three years. In 2023, Austin joined as the Head of Finance for Dispatch Biotherapeutics, a preclinical biotechnology company developing cell therapies for solid tumors. Austin lives in Philadelphia with his wife, also an OU alum (’15).

Jonathan Gibson, Founder & President of Fortress Trucking - Panelist

Jonathan Gibson is an entrepreneur and investor in Edmond, Oklahoma. Having recently launched a trucking business based out of Edmond in March 2024, he has spent the initial phase of his career since graduating from the OU in the M&A sector, most recently working as an associate at an Orange County-based middle-market private equity firm. During that time, he closed 5 transactions and worked as part of the governance team for half of the firm’s portfolio, where he worked with portfolio company leadership to set and work on strategy, drive growth and monitor performance.

Jonathan began his career working in business valuation at EY in Dallas, Texas, where he worked with a range of clients to value businesses and their assets for both financial reporting and tax purposes.

Jonathan graduated from OU with BBA (Finance and Accounting majors) and MAcc degrees. Jonathan is also a licensed CPA and an alumnus of the JCPenney Leadership Program..

Stephanie Robertson, Commission Analyst at LTK - Moderator

Stephanie Robertson is a 2016 graduate of the Price College of Business, holding a BBA in Energy Management. Following graduation she worked for Shell Oil as a Contracts Representative in Houston, TX. She has since shifted into a career in influencer marketing as a Senior Commission & Analytics Analyst for LTK, formerly RewardStyle, located in Dallas, TX. In her current role, she assists with ensuring content creators are being accurately compensated for their branded content by providing analytic support.

During her time at OU, she was a Price Ambassador, a member of the JCPenney Leadership Program and the Energy Management Student Association.

Stephanie currently resides in Dallas, TX where you can find her working remotely from anywhere with wifi, reading a new book, practicing yoga, taking a trip, or spending time with her friends & family.

Robby Riggs, Chief Consulting Officer & Co-Founder of the Bridge Consulting - Panelist

Robby Riggs is a dynamic speaker, award-winning author, and successful entrepreneur with experience driving strategic transformation initiatives at companies ranging from start-up to Fortune 100. Robby is the co-founder of The Bridge, a global Strategy & Technology Consulting firm. He is the co-author of the gold medal winning book, Counter Mentor Leadership: How to Unlock the Potential of the 4-Generation Workplace (Nicholas Brealey, January 2018), an entertaining, and sometimes irreverent, look at how real leadership works in today’s chaotic workplace. He is passionate about teaching and is very involved at Syracuse University as an adjunct professor. Robby holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Boston University with a focus on Leadership and Organizational Transformation and graduated from the University of Oklahoma.

J.C. Fischer, Associate Partner at McKinsey & Co. - Panelist

J.C. is an Associate Partner in the Dallas office of McKinsey, which he joined full-time in 2018. He works on solving public sector operations problems with a focus on procurement and industrial base challenges and the U.S. Department of Defense. J.C. is also a member of the McKinsey Negotiations Institute, where he teaches executive courses on negotiations and advises clients on strategy.

Before joining McKinsey, J.C. spent the bulk of his career in sports, spanning roles from a graduate assistant coach of the men’s basketball team at Stanford to working on front office and team culture with an NBA team to the collective bargaining negotiations team at MLB.

J.C. earned his JD from Stanford Law School and his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business after obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Oklahoma.

He is married to Andi Fischer (also an OU alum and member of the McKinsey Dallas office), and has one son, newborn Cato. J.C. loves to shoot hoops and play pickup ball, golfs every weekend (often with Andi!), and cooks often, especially after building an outdoor kitchen and smoker setup for their home.

Rebecca Miller, Chief Executive Officer & Founder of WEThrive Marketing - Panelist

Rebecca Miller stands out as a seasoned marketer with over 20 years of experience in the restaurant and retail industries, where she has specialized in franchising and demonstrated a keen ability for strategic marketing. In 2022, she founded WE Thrive Marketing, a firm that offers a broad spectrum of services, including Fractional CMO roles, consulting, and comprehensive support in reaching specific brand goals. Before establishing WE Thrive, Rebecca began her career at JCPenney before serving in a variety of significant roles such as CMO at Smoothie King Franchises, Senior Vice President of Marketing at On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, and Director of Brand Marketing at Pizza Hut, Inc.

As a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business, Rebecca is not only an engaged alumnus, actively participating in the school's Leadership Program and serving as a guest lecturer for over fifteen years, but she is also an avid golfer. Her journey reflects a dedication to professional development and excellence in the marketing field.

Gregg Coldiron, Vice President of Global Producer Relations & Sales Excellence at Cigna Healthcare

As Vice President, Producer Relations & Commercial Excellence for Global Health Benefits within Cigna Healthcare, Gregg develops global well-being strategies and programs to support global producers and clients.

Supporting the international businesses within Cigna Healthcare since 2005, Gregg most recently served as the New Business Manager where he produced strategic and consultative selling and cross-selling, and managed producer relations.

Gregg completed his Master of Science Administration in International / Global Studies from Central Michigan University and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Oklahoma.ts.

Mansi Patel, Investment Analyst at Cortado Ventures

Wesley Anderson, Vice President at Valor Bank

Wesley Anderson is a senior vice president in commercial real estate lending with Valor Bank in Edmond, Okla. Mr. Anderson has held a position in commercial lending for 16 years beginning in 2007 with Bank of Oklahoma in their ATC training program in Tulsa, Okla. Mr. Anderson currently manages a commercial real estate portfolio of $75MM+ and oversees the business development for the bank primarily in the Oklahoma City market.  

Outside of his daily responsibilities, Mr. Anderson served on numerous local boards including Urban Land Institute and Cavett Kids. In his spare time outside of work and with family, Mr. Anderson runs a small business that designs and fabricates high-end signage displayed at professional golf tournaments in the Midwest. Wesley currently resides in Edmond, Okla., with his wife of 14 years, Dr. Serena Anderson, and their three children.

Wesley graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2005 with a B.B.A in Finance. He is also an alumnus of the JCPenney Leadership Program.

Shane Fairchild, Chief Accounting Officer at Price Edwards and Co.

Shane Fairchild joined Price Edwards and Company as Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) in October 2023, bringing a strong background in public accounting where he worked in a variety of accounting roles for EY. He's a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of Oklahoma and holds memberships with the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Shane earned his BBA/MAcc degree in Accounting from the University of Oklahoma, giving him a solid foundation in financial principles.

Beyond his professional career, Shane is passionate about sharing his knowledge. He has served as a course facilitator for various accounting seminars and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Oklahoma Price College of Business, where he has taught the Accounting Information Systems course to aspiring students in previous years.

Bob Keenan, Chief Compliance and Risk Officer at Lutz

Robert Keenan graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1988 with a Bachelor of Finance.

He obtained his Masters In Public Administration from Drake University in 1997 and currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska with his wife (a Nebraska fan).

Three of his four daughters have also graduated from OU!

Ryan Jones, Consumer Card Manager at bp

Ryan Jones manages bp’s propriety consumer card programs including the BPme Rewards Visa® credit card. He leads a team responsible for marketing, consumer experience, product roadmap, P&L management, and execution of bp’s US card programs. In previous bp roles, Jones launched loyalty partnerships, led customer marketing communications, and scheduled refinery products (NGLs).

Jones is a 2019 graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. While at OU, he held leadership positions in the JCPenney Leadership Program, CAC Executive Committee, Kappa Sigma, Price Ambassadors, University Sing, and Sooner Scandals. He currently resides in Chicago, IL and enjoys being walking distance to Wrigley Field.

Ryan Hamilton, Senior Financial Specialist at Devon Energy

Ryan Hamilton is a Financial Specialist at Devon Energy directly supporting Devon’s Southeast New Mexico Asset and Operations. Before his current role Ryan served in various capacities within the Devon accounting organization.

Ryan started his career at Deloitte & Touche in the Dallas Assurance practice serving mostly public clients in the Theatre and beverage industries.

Ryan graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2005 with a Bachelors and Masters in Accountancy, and a Finance degree. Ryan is a CPA and a member of the AICPA.

Parker Dooly, Senior Vice President of Corporate Banking at BOK Financial

Parker Dooly is a JPMorgan Chase executive director and commercial banker overseeing western Oklahoma and south-central Kansas. Starting as a summer analyst, his roles have spanned financial analysis and risk management. Dooly leads resource coordination for client needs in areas like credit and capital markets, and oversees the bank's recruiting at the University of Oklahoma. He serves on the advisory board for the Price College of Business's JCPenney Leadership Program, among other community roles, and holds leadership positions within his church. Parker graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a focus on Finance and International Business and is a CFA charterholder. He lives in Edmond, OK, with his family.

Christy Rhea, First Vice President at CBRE

Christy Thelen Rhea is a First Vice President in CBRE’s Dallas office, where she is regarded as a highly accomplished commercial real estate professional specializing in office tenant representation.

Her diverse skillset allows her to serve her clients throughout all stages of the real estate process, which include lease negotiation, market research, economic analysis, problem-solving, business development, client management and marketing. Her well-rounded skill set enables her to provide comprehensive solutions and exceptional service to her clients.

Prior to joining CBRE in 2023, Christy specialized in the office asset class in Dallas as a Vice President on JLL’s Dallas office tenant representation team and represented a 4 million sq. ft. portfolio of office assets for Cushman & Wakefield’s office agency leasing team.

Alex Frankenfeld, Special Opportunities & Corporate Development Associate at ORIX

Alex Frankenfeld is an Associate in the Corporate Development and Strategic Opportunities business at ORIX Corporation USA, responsible for evaluating potential strategic transactions. He is also responsible for drafting and presenting internal memos and recommendations to the firm’s investment committee. Mr. Frankenfeld joined the firm in 2022 and is based in Dallas.

Mr. Frankenfeld has over five years of experience in investor relations, valuation, and strategic analysis. Prior to his current role, he worked in finance and strategy at Interstate Batteries where he was responsible for modeling business strategy. Prior to Interstate Batteries, Mr. Frankenfeld served as a Valuation Analyst at Ernst & Young, where he performed strategic valuations and analyses for various public and private corporations, and as an Investor Relations Analyst at Stronghold Resources Partners, where he was responsible for building and maintaining pitchbooks and supplemental materials for investors.

Mr. Frankenfeld holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Oklahoma where he was named an Outstanding Finance Senior by the Dean and Faculty

Amelia Abernathy, Former Michelin Manager and Current OU Instructor

Amelia Abernathy is an instructor in the Division of Marketing and Supply Chain Management. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management and international business. After graduation, she moved to Greenville, South Carolina, to work for Michelin North America in the company’s Supply Chain/Logistics Department. During her time with Michelin, she had multiple roles in Logistics Engineering, Supply Chain Project Management and Operational Steering. While in South Carolina, she completed an MBA at the University of South Carolina.  

Scott Henthorne, Account Manager at Microsoft

Scott Henthorne is a Customer Success Account Manager for Microsoft working with Health & Life Sciences organizations. In this role, Scott helps customers transform their business with cloud and AI solutions. More specifically, he is responsible for ensuring customers are successful using the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Scott began working at Microsoft as a Technical Account Manager where he was responsible for technical migrations and Unified Services.

Scott graduated from OU with a BBA in Management Information Systems and is also an alumnus of the JCPenney Leadership Program.