Tulsa Development Authority

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 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 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 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.

Jennifer was educated at the University of Notre Dame, from which she received both her Bachelor of Architecture and her Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism degrees. Before founding J Griffin Design, she obtained her professional training while working in the offices of several renowned firms, among them Porphyrios Associates in London, Hartman-Cox Architects in Washington, D.C., and Hart Howerton in New York. During her time at these firms, she was instrumental in the design of a number of noteworthy architectural projects including the addition to the Ivy Club at Princeton University, the renovation of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, and the renovation of the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown. In addition, Jennifer has extensive urban design and planning experience, and has developed master plans for places such as Skaneateles, NY; Gowanus, NY; Las Catalinas, Costa Rica; and the seven-county Metropolitan Region of Chicago. Jennifer also has experience working closely with local communities, as she has both led and participated in various public design charrettes throughout the United States.

Jennifer has served on the faculty of the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, where she has taught urban and architectural design courses at both the graduate and undergraduate level while conducting research on the relationship between the built environment and human flourishing.

Kian Kamas – Executive Director
kkamas@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 596-7696

Kian serves as Executive Director for the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity, and previously as the Chief of Economic Development under Mayor G.T. Bynum and the City of Tulsa. In this role, she is responsible for directly managing a team that focuses on managing and developing tools and programs crucial to successful economic development, and supporting existing industry, new businesses, and developers seeking to invest in Tulsa. In addition to this, she is responsible for oversight of the Development Services Department. She is currently at the forefront of innovation in organizational strategy for economic development. Prior to joining the Mayor’s team in August 2017, Kamas served as Vice President of Economic Development for the Tulsa Regional Chamber, where she led new business attraction efforts for the region. She holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma, a Master’s in Comparative Public Policy from the University of Edinburgh and completed the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute program. She spends her free time chasing her toddler son Leith around, hunting vintage furniture with her husband, and eating at her favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants (or at least she did in a pre-COVID world). She currently serves as a board member for Tulsa Honor Academy and previously served as a board member and Chair of the Tulsa Health Department.

Michelle Barnett – Senior Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development
mbarnett@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 596-7457

Michelle Barnett is a Professional Engineer and Certified Economic Development Finance Professional. From an initial start in process engineering, she continued her career in Operations Management and as co-owner of a residential construction firm. At TAEO and previously with the City of Tulsa, she leads a team dedicated to business attraction, retention and expansion for a range of businesses, from local startups to multi-nationals. Her team is also responsible for permitting, infrastructure and inspection coordination, land development, and inter-agency workforce efforts. She currently serves on the board for Crossover Community Impact, a nonprofit dedicated to improving health, education, and economic mobility in North Tulsa. 

Mike Dickerson – Controller
mdickerson@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 576-5568

Mike Dickerson serves as TAEO’s Controller and brings with him nearly two decades of successful municipal experience in a broad range of areas. He actively supports the development and monitoring of all financial aspects of the Tulsa Authority of Economic Opportunity and is a firm believer in the power of leveraging data to support and guide impactful initiatives.

Kristin Maun – Director of Housing Development & Incentives
kmaun@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 576-5569

Kristin is a native Tulsan who returned home after practicing law in Kansas to work on the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy. She is passionate about housing policy and working with partners to create quality, affordable housing opportunities for all Tulsans. 

Nia James – Director of Real Estate & Asset Management
njames@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 576-5565

Nia is the Director of Real Estate and Asset Management, where she is responsible for the administration, supervision, and coordination of the management of real property assets for TAEO. In this role, Nia manages and oversees leasing and service agreements, while providing land management, acquisition, and disposition services. Prior to joining TAEO, Nia had over 12 years’ experience managing commercial office and industrial properties where financial forecasts, property inspections and leasing duties were essential to the success of the assets. Nia holds an Oklahoma Real Estate license, designated as a Real Property Administrator (RPA), as well as a LEED Green Associate. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and young daughter. 

Spencer Mitchell – Director of Economic Incentives
smitchell@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 576-5561

Spencer has lived in Tulsa for the past 10 years and truly believes it is a world-class city. He is passionate about using research and data analytics to solve difficult problems within the City of Tulsa. Spencer obtained his B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Oklahoma State University and worked for the City of Tulsa for the past three years. In his spare time, Spencer enjoys cycling with family and friends, hiking, and spending time with his two dogs.

Wyatt Donnelly-Landolt – Director of Small Business & Entrepreneurship
wdonnelly@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 576-5577

Wyatt joined the City of Tulsa after moving from San Francisco and is thrilled to focus on supporting local entrepreneurs and small business owners. Previously, he served as the Economic Development Finance Manager for the Port of San Francisco, where he led the public finance efforts on two mixed-use developments of new neighborhoods along the waterfront. Wyatt has also worked as the Chief of Staff to a San Francisco Supervisor, budget analyst in the New York Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, and a policy and budget analyst for the San Francisco City Administrator. He started his career with Teach for America in Oklahoma City, where he taught physics at Douglass High School and met his wife. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors, urban hikes with his dog, and reading books of all types.  

Demauri Myers – Neighborhood Revitalization Manager
demauri@tulsadevelopmentauthority.org | 

Demauri is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma and his previous experiences include three years in the automotive industry and one year in Information Technology. Demauri holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Economics & Finance from Langston University, and a Master of Business Administration degree in Leadership & Organizational Development from Oklahoma Christian University.

Ashley Chaney – Business Liaison Services Manager
achaney@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 576-5527

Ashley Chaney is the Business Liaison Services Manager with TAEO where she facilitates good working relationships between the TAEO, the City of Tulsa, and the developer community. With nearly a decade of experience with the City and having held positions in both Engineering and Development Services, Ashley can help navigate customers through the permitting process and address potential roadblocks in the development process. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and a Master of Business Administration. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Rachel Strassberger – Office Manager & SBE Administrator
rstrassberger@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 576-5681

Rachel is the Office Manager & SBE Administrator. She has worked for the City for close to 9 years, working in Development Services, Human Rights and City Council before joining Economic Development in 2019. She grew up in midtown Tulsa going through the Spanish Immersion program and continuing Spanish courses through college. Prior to joining the City. she worked in manufacturing, legal and nonprofit entities honing her administrative and event planning skills. She enjoys taking her niece and nephews to local museums and parks, introducing them to the cool places she grew up with. Pre-Covid, she attended concerts at Cain’s and BOK Center and meeting friends at the local breweries and restaurants. 

Iesha Youngblood-Blakely – Executive Assistant & Board Secretary
iyoungblood@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 596-1883

Iesha Youngblood-Blakely is an Executive Assistant and Board Secretary for TAEO. Working for the City for the last 7 years has been a great experience starting in Engineering Services, then Asset Management before arriving in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. Iesha has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Langston University. She is married with four wonderful kids and enjoys spending time with her family on vacation. While working with the City, she became the Secretary for the Tulsa Parking Authority, Economic Development Commission, and Tulsa Industrial Authority. Iesha has always been intrigued by economic development, and it’s been a very exciting and educational opportunity working on the TAEO team.

Austin Britt – Economic Development Specialist
abritt@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 576-5402

Austin is from Central Virginia and moved to Tulsa in 2019 after receiving his Bachelor’s of Arts in Public Policy from the College of William & Mary. He has previous experience working in rural economic development and planning organizations, as well as internships with the Bank of America and the YMCA of Greater Richmond. In his free time he enjoys working on his golf game, exploring the depths of terribly obscure music, fiddling with Ableton, and convincing his friends that living in Tulsa is far greater than Washington D.C. 

Simone Downs – Community Development Specialist
sdowns@cityoftulsa.org | (918) 576-5566

Simone moved to Tulsa in 2020 after earning a degree in Public Policy. Back home on the east coast, her work focused on increasing access to food, justice, and education. She is excited to now be working towards expanding access to housing for all Tulsans.

A member of the Hartley Law Firm, Hartley has been an attorney since 1977 after earning his Juris Doctor the same year from the University of Oklahoma. His wide experience includes civil, trial, appellate and federal practice, real property, corporation, taxation, eminent domain, commercial, probate, criminal defense, criminal prosecution and estate planning law. He also holds a bachelor’s of business administration from Oklahoma State University.