Board of Commissioners
Steve Mitchell
Chairman
Mr. Mitchell is the Chief Executive officer and has been a managing director at Argonaut Private Equity for more than 10 years, executing over $2 billion of direct investments during that time. Founded in 2002, Argonaut Private Equity is a Tulsa-based private equity firm that manages investments across multiple asset classes with over $3 billion of capital deployed in direct investments. With over 50 direct investments, Mr. Mitchell has fostered in direct investments. With over 50 direct investments, Mr. Mitchell has fostered an ongoing network of global relationships to discover and partner with best-in-class management teams, applying his experience and strengths to deliver solutions, generate value and propel growth. Under Mr. Mitchell’s leadership, Argonaut looks to share resources, executive ideas, best practices and key relationships between investments to create synergistic opportunities across the following industries: energy, manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, industrials, real estate and infrastructure. Prior to Argonaut, Mr. Mitchell was a Principal at both Radical Incubation and 2929 Entertainment, where he led acquisitions primarily focused on media, sports and entertainment sectors on behalf of Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner. He previously was a corporate attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher specializing in mergers and acquisitions. A Tulsa native, Mr. Mitchell is a graduate of Baylor University and the University of San Diego School of Law. Mr. Mitchell is a member of Tulsa based First United Methodist Church and is also on the civic boards of Philbrook Musuem of Art and the Tulsa Development Authority. Mr Mitchell has three kids: Jake, Olivia and Henry.
Ashley Harris Philippsen
Vice Chairwoman
Ashley is the Deputy Chief of Community Development & Policy at the City of Tulsa. Ashley’s focus at the City is to ensure people – centered community wealth building and driving efforts surrounding Historic Greenwood and the Tulsa Race Massacre. Current efforts include leading historical context work with the 1921 Graves Investigation, supporting the work of the Bloomberg Public Art Challenge: Greenwood Art Project, chairing a committee on the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission and leading master planning in North Tulsa. She previously served as Executive Director of Met Cares, a non profit working to significantly transform north Tulsa student academic and social outcomes through cultivating excellent schools, launching initiatives to increase civic engagement and build socio – political power, and leading community – designed economic development efforts.
Ashley started her career as a 2007 Teach for America corps member in Houston at YES Prep Public Schools. She was a founding administrator at YES Prep Brays Oaks Campus in 2009. Ashley relocated to Tulsa in 2012 to serve as Managing Director of Teacher Leadership Development with Teach for America – Oklahoma. In 2015, Ashley joined leadership Tulsa to design and launch social innovation and adaptive leadership programs.
Ashely has a BA in letters from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Human Relations with an emphasis on Organizational Dynamics and Social Justice, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, She serves on the Greater Tulsa African American Affairs Commission and is the President of the Tulsa Area Human Resources Association.
Carl Bracy
Commissioner
Carl E. Bracy, Past Chairman was appointed to the TDA Board in 2002. Mr. Bracy holds a BS Degree in Business/Accounting from the University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff and the CLU designation from The American College of Financial Services. Mr. Bracy enjoyed a 40 plus years career across the United States with State Farm Insurance Companies, moving to Tulsa in 1989. He served in Executive Leadership positions as the Chief Financial Officer of Two Regions, a Multi-state Division Head for Property/Fire & Casualty Underwriting and Claims, Small Business, and Diversity and Inclusion Operations, until his retirement in 2012. He has served and currently sits on the Board of Directors for a variety of business, educational and community organizations in and outside of the Tulsa area, and has received numerous awards and recognitions for his business achievements and community service.
Thomas Boxley
Commissioner
Thomas Boxley is a native Tulsan and a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School. He attended Jackson State University pursuing undergraduate studies, and completed undergraduate studies at Langston University. Mr. Boxley continued postgraduate studies earning a Masters from the University of Oklahoma. He has held various positions during his professional career in both public and private sectors, in both Oklahoma and Mississippi. Mr. Boxley is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma Class XXVI and a founding member of the Institute for Developing Communities; an Oklahoma based non-profit organization with a mission to establish and enhance the social, economic, and government fabric of underserved communities. Mr. Thomas also volunteers his time serving on various boards and commissions. He currently serves on the Greater Tulsa Area African American Affairs Commission and the Tulsa Development Authority. Thomas considers his most meaningful roles in life that he plays in his family is husband, father and grandfather.