Leadership Rogers County embarked on a captivating journey to the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City. During their visit, participants immersed themselves in a guided tour of the magnificent capitol, marveling at its exquisite artwork, sculptures, and architectural splendor. They delved into the rich history of the building, gaining insight into the remarkable individuals who shaped its legacy.
After the tour, the group engaged in insightful discussions with Oklahoma legislators regarding pressing issues and ongoing debates within the capitol. Among the legislators were Ally Seifried, Rusty Cornwell, Mark Lepak, Terry O’Donnell, Tom Gann, Michael Bergstrom, and Blake Stephens. 
After insightful discussion with the state legislators, the group was honored to be introduced to the House of Representatives by local Representative Mark Lepak. This concluded the afternoon at the Capitol for the LRC group. 
The day was far from over as the LRC group proceeded to the Oklahoma History Museum. There, they embarked on a guided tour, immersing themselves in the exhibits and actively engaging with the rich tapestry of Oklahoma's history, posing questions and gaining deeper insights.
The Leadership Rogers County Class of 2024 concluded their enriching day at the Oklahoma Museum of History. Reflecting on their experiences, they journeyed back to Rogers County, eagerly sharing the knowledge and insights they had gained during their enlightening visit.

For information on how you can apply for the Leadership Rogers County Class of 2025, please visit LeadershipRogersCounty.org.
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​What do hearing, healing, and Halcyon have to do with one another? These are just a few of the fascinating topics discussed during Health Day: the December session theme for the team with Leadership Rogers County.
 
In fitting fashion, we began the day at the Rogers County Health Department. We received an in-depth summary of all the services they offer to the community. It was very interesting to learn about the department’s holistic approach to health and wellness in the region: the parks and trails, fitness programs, women, infant, and children’s services, all the way to restaurant inspections and audiology appointments. And in light of the fact that many residents have to drive to neighboring communities to receive hearing tests, our Health Department is providing an incredible service.
 
After the Health Department, we visited with representatives from Grand Mental Health. Discovering the great need for mental and behavioral health support in our schools and workplaces was truly moving. It was good to see that Grand is positioning in the community to help meet the needs that can seem so overwhelming at times.
 
Our next focus was on physical health. Listening to the owner of 6:19 Nutrition and how important it is for us to take care our bodies through the foods we eat and liquids we drink was inspirational to say the least. And then, our tour through the Claremore Recreation Center even further cemented our belief in Rogers County’s desire to see the community thrive through nutrition and exercise.
 
We ended our day with the Northeast Oklahoma Cancer Institute. And what an enlightening close to our day it was. It was shared with us that the Institute had recently acquired a Halcyon Radiation Treatment machine that helps to treat certain cancers with much greater accuracy over less time. Additionally, this machine is one of only two available to patients in the entire state! What a blessing to see the dogged determination of healthcare providers right here in Claremore to offer state-of-the-art healing technology to our residents! It was clear after today that Rogers County’s desire to serve community residents through hearing, healing, and Halcyon services is absolutely second-to-none. We are so grateful to live here.
 
Leadership Rogers County is a nine-month program designed to expand the knowledge and relationships of already engaged community and business leaders.  If you would like to be considered for an upcoming class, visit leadershiprogerscounty.org.

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Fox 23 anchor Clay Loney (front, second from left) visited the Leadership Rogers County Class of 2021 to discuss sincerity, connecting with oneself, and how to be a good listener. 
The March meeting of Leadership Rogers County began at the Claremore Museum of History (MOH), which was recently given The Best Regional Museum of Oklahoma award. The beautiful museum was once home to the Will Rogers Library. The MOH has several different exhibits that display the many marvels and achievements produced by the town of Claremore. In the museum, you can learn about the growth of Claremore, as well as learn about some recognizable people from Claremore such as: Lynn Riggs, an author, poet, playwright and screenwriter; Patti Page, a singer of pop and country music and occasional actress; Stuart Roosa, who was an Apollo 14 astronaut, and so many more. The mission of the MOH is “to create engaging experiences that celebrate history, connect community, and inspire creativity” and that is exactly what they are doing! They are going to be planting moon trees and building a space-themed playground to honor Stuart Roosa. The MOH is now offering memberships and by being a member, you will be invited to members-only events and see behind the scenes of the exhibits. The MOH is now also available to rent as an event venue! To find out more about the MOH and its upcoming events, please visit their website at https://claremoremoh.org/
Next, the LRC group traveled to Northeast Tech's Claremore campus to hear from Fox 23 anchor Clay Loney. Clay is an upbeat journalist with an amazing attitude. When first addressing the group, he said the one word he wanted the class to walk away with a new appreciation of, was sincerity. Clay talked about the meaning of the word and its origins. He discussed the many ways on how to tell when someone was truly being sincere and when they really did not have an interest. Some of the key points discussed were connecting to yourself and listening to understand what people are saying, to be genuinely interested.
After lunch, the LRC group met up at the Claremore Expo Center. The tour there was led by Tanya Andrews, the CTOS director. The expo center is the largest event-driven business northeast of Tulsa all the way to Missouri. The expo’s mission is to “drive economic impact for Claremore and Rogers County.” The expo works with the state tourism office to promote our community and Oklahoma as a whole. They attend tourism shows all over the country to spread the word about Claremore. The tourism industry took a hard hit from COVID-19. Local hotels went from a 70% occupancy to a 30% occupancy. The expo is trying to turn that around by bringing more events to Claremore. They are making the Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo a destination event by investing more than $30,000 in marketing. The AKC Dog Show event should bring in an estimated half a million dollars to tourism in Claremore. Be on the lookout for events such as the Cowboys 4Kids golf tournament, RSU sporting events, the Memorial Day parade, the Claremore Home and Garden Show, and many more. To learn more about the Claremore Expo Center and upcoming events, please visit their website at Claremore CVB, OK | Official Website (visitclaremore.org)
To end the day, the LRC group went to visit the Rogers State University television and radio stations. There, the group was able to explore the production room that is currently undergoing a remodel. The class had fun learning about the new tech board switcher and all the new things the production team can do with it.
RSU Radio 91.3 is run completely by students, and is on the air 24/7. RSU radio is now streaming online and has a worldwide reach, one of the first in Oklahoma. They are run by CDS, they have a full vinyl show, and they have even started doing podcasts. They also have a drive to be more involved in the community by doing Santa Cash, playing Christmas music for the drive-thru parade, and many more events. The communications program has been in place at the college for more than 40 years and offers many services to our community as a no-commercial station. Stop by to see them at their booth during the Rogers County Art Crawl.
For information on how you can apply for the Leadership Rogers County Class of 2022, please visit LeadershipRogersCounty.org.

Despite COVID19’s impact on schools, the Leadership Rogers County class of 2021 was able to tour multiple educational facilities on Wednesday, November 4. The class started their day at Claremore Public Schools, where Superintendent Brian Frazier gave some history of the Claremore school district and followed with information on projects that the school has on the horizon. Attendees were able to tour Claremont Elementary School, where the highlight was placed on the Innovation STEM lab, one of many located within each elementary school in the Claremore Public Schools district. The Leadership class was also treated to a bus tour that highlighted other campuses in the district and exciting new projects that are under construction.

The next stop was Sequoyah High School, where attendees were welcomed by Superintendent Terry Saul. Proud of his employees and students, Saul was quick to brag about how the school was able to pivot during the pandemic shutdown. Sequoyah Schools were able to broadcast live classes by partnering with RSU TV, allowing students easy access to education. The Leadership class then toured several classrooms at Sequoyah High School, including Family and Consumer Sciences and the Ag Building.

From there, attendees made their way to the Northeast Tech Claremore campus. Superintendent Roger Crutchfield spoke to the group about all the areas that are served by Northeast Tech, from full-time high school students to adult students to business and industry. Claremore Campus Director, Liberty Shere, shared with the group about new programs coming to the Claremore campus, then took the Leadership class on a tour of several classrooms, including the EAST classroom, the CNC machining shop, and the health careers lab.

To end the day, the Leadership class was welcomed at RSU by Dr. Robert Goltra, Vice President for Student Affairs. Dr. Goltra explained everything that is covered under the umbrella of student affairs and placed a strong emphasis on the community relationships that have been built between RSU and the communities served. Vice President for Development of the RSU Foundation, Steve Valencia, explained how the 501c3 organization has helped to award numerous scholarships to students, as well as fund the Hillcat Heroes program, which provided money to students in need during COVID19. Finally, RSU President Larry Rice gave a history of RSU, as well as current enrollment numbers on campus. Rice is proud of how the school has responded to the pandemic, stating that RSU “remained open due to masks, prayer, and good luck.”

The key takeaway from the day is best summed up with a quote from Claremore Public School Superintendent Brian Frasier, who said, “Education is a great equalizer. It levels the playing field for everybody and evokes options for all of us.”
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For more information regarding Leadership Rogers County, please visit leadershiprogerscounty.org.

The Leadership Rogers County Class of 2021 met recently for Health Day. The group heard from Eric Eaton, Director of Operations at Hillcrest Hospital in Claremore, along with George Valliere, CEO at the Indian Hospital in Claremore.   
The overwhelming amount of information provided by both gentlemen gave the LRC Class a much better understanding of the steps each location is taking to not only administer and care for coronavirus patients during this pandemic, but what they are doing to protect the staff and patients using strict disinfecting standards. 
The class traveled to the Northeastern Oklahoma Cancer Institute right here in Claremore where they were awed by the information received in regards to the state-of-the-art Varian Halcyon radiation machine.    
Did you know that the Varian Halcyon radiation machine at this very facility was number 19 off the production line and the first one off the line in use outside of an academic institution? This machine is incredible and has provided amazing results for our local residents. 
The class learned that the goal of the parent company of Northeastern Oklahoma Cancer Institute, Radiation Business Solutions, is to focus on providing quality care for cancer patients in rural settings. Research has shown that patients respond much better to treatment when they are able to receive it close to home. The precision and accuracy that this machine provides has significantly reduced treatment times, which allows patients to spend much less time receiving the treatment, and more time recuperating at home.   
The class also had a fun leadership activity presented by Megan Edwards of Northeast Tech. She had the class go through a stack of “Motivation” cards in which they had to narrow down the top five things that motivated them to be great leaders and/or great employees. It was interesting to hear everyone’s top five and how even those that had similar results, their varying perspectives, job roles and experiences contributed to vastly different reasons behind why they chose those motivators. 
All in all, it was a very informative day in which the class was able to listen to local health leaders talk about the amazing efforts going on in this community that perhaps we do not see on a day to day basis. Great things are happening in Rogers County! 
For more information about enrollment in Leadership Rogers County, please contact Executive Director Ashley May at [email protected]. Visit leadershiprogerscounty.org for more information.

It was Quality of Life Day for the 2021 class of Leadership Rogers County. The class toured and met with multiple Claremore area nonprofits to gain knowledge and an understanding of needs that need to be met.  

The 2021 class toured Light of Hope, CASA of Northeast Oklahoma, and the Claremore Animal Shelter. Leadership Rogers County's own Layla Freeman invited the class to start the day at Light of Hope. Nancy Phelps, the Executive Director and Layla Freeman, founder of Light of Hope, gave the group a tour of the new building and spoke about the different programs the organization offers. Light of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit assisting individuals that face addiction and other life struggles.  Resource Assistance, Community Awareness, and Encouragement Support Groups are a small portion of what Light of Hope does for the community. Groups are open to anyone, and they invite individuals, family, and friends facing the struggle of addiction or any life difficulty. "I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share Light of Hope, and all of our services and programming, with Leadership Rogers County. We believe that collaboration, partnership, and unity are the keys to building a better community. Light of Hope helps educate, bring awareness through prevention, and assist in life recovery. We cannot do this alone. Together, along with our partners and community, we are "Helping People See the Hope," stated Layla Freeman. 

The next stop on the quality of life tour was the City of Claremore's Animal Shelter. Animal Control Supervisor Jean Hurst led the discussion about the importance of the animal shelter. The animal shelter does all things animal-related within the city limits of Claremore. Supervisor Jean Hurst said she is incredibly proud of the animal shelter's classification as a "no-kill" shelter for dogs. The class saw the animals' humane conditions and how they are housed as they wait for their forever homes through adoptions. Supervisor Hurst said, "Our facilities are cleaned and sanitized seven days a week, even on holidays." 

During the day, the last stop was the nonprofit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Northeast Oklahoma. Executive Director Angela Henderson spoke to the valuable work the numerous volunteers do when it comes to children that have been abused and navigating the judicial process. The volunteers are direct links to the judicial process and advocate for the children during the judicial process. The volunteers are the eyes and ears for the Court when it comes to the children's welfare. Executive Director Henderson told the group that the organization's greatest need is the need for volunteers to help the many children in need of services.

To kick off the annual Leadership Rogers County Education Day, the Leadership class started their day at Legacy Christian School. The class was able to attend the Rise and Shine Chapel Service where students prayed, worshiped, and gave an offering. The word of the week was Courage. Legacy students were then given examples of ways they can show courage. The Leadership class learned about the school’s service project for the Month: Operation Christmas Child. Many Leadership Rogers County class members took a box to help the school meet their goal of 75 boxes. After the Rise and Shine service, the Leadership class was taken on a tour by Legacy Christian School Principal Jill Hendrickson.
The next stop for the Leadership class was Justus-Tiawah’s North Campus. The class was welcomed by Superintendent Ed Crum. Here the class learned that the school has been around since 1889 and is the only K-8 school in the Claremore School District. Justus-Tiawah also offers Pre-K classes for students. With enrollment around 560 students, Justus-Tiawah offers a unique learning experience that prepares them for the future. Their vision for students is to be academically sound and prepared for what’s to come. After a tour of the North Campus, the Leadership Class made their way to Northeast Tech’s Pryor Campus.
At Northeast Tech, the Leadership class was able to sit down and speak with Superintendent Roger Crutchfield. Northeast Tech is mainly known for their classes offered to high school and post-secondary students, but they also have a wide variety of adult classes. They are proud to offer an LPN program where students can bridge to an RN associate degree. While on campus, the class was able to tour the Visual Communications, Welding, and Diesel Mechanic Departments. Students are offered on the job training and able to earn certifications upon graduation. The class was also able to see the plans for the new Cosmetology Department that is currently being built.
To end their day, Leadership Rogers County was welcomed at RSU. Here the class was able to visit the famous RSU golden dome and see the beautiful views of Claremore. The class was able to hear from RSU Professor Dr. Brian Andrews regarding his current archeological digs he is working on. Many of his students earn college credits while assisting him on digs. The Leadership class was then taken on a bus tour of RSU with stops at their Nursing and Esports Departments. RSU will soon become the second college in the US to offer a degree in Esports. After their tour, the Leadership class was able to hear from RSU President Larry Rice and learn about the history of RSU. Starting as a military academy, RSU is now an accredited four-year university governed by the University of Oklahoma.
For more information regarding Leadership Rogers County, please visit our website at leadershiprogerscounty.org.

 
The go-getting, highflying, powerhouse group known as Leadership Rogers County 2019 (LRC’19), spent their March session exploring a slice of the Media and Tourism realm within Claremore and Rogers County.  The LRC’19 group—an assemblage of positive thinkers, networkers, and pathfinders—had the opportunity to crawl inside the brains and tunnel beneath the façade (literally) of establishments such as Hard Rock Tulsa, moreClaremore, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, and the Claremore Museum of History.
The day kicked off at downtown’s North Block Common with Barby Myers, CEO/President of the Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce.  And while one might presume that the Chamber of Commerce only acts as a voice for area businesses, it is involved with much more!  According to Myers, “It’s important to have a balance of being a community partner and doing what needs to be done for business.”  Whether it means putting on events such as the Gridiron or partnering up with the city, schools, non-profits, or any aspect of the community, the Chamber is there to be relevant in Claremore.  Regarding tourism specifically, some of the factions that the Chamber is involved with include Visit Claremore, Claremore Main Street, and all of Claremore’s exceptional museums.  

Next on the agenda was Ashley May to speak about moreClaremore, for whom she serves as Media Director.  May gave a brief history of the media outlet’s beginnings, which involved Amy Gordon, owner and founder of moreClaremore, “wanting to create a place, like a website, where everyone in town could find out everything going on in town,” said May.  Enter Gordon’s brother and cofounder, Robert Melton, and the website was born.  From the outset, the product of moreClaremore has been pure, relentless optimism.  “We always say, be great, be helpful, and everything we do is positive,” said May.  A source for news, a comprehensive community calendar, a business directory, and much more, moreClaremore’s success has spawned groups and events such as the Claremore Collective and the West Bend Block Party. 
Once warm and dry within the confines of North Block Common, LRC’19 then journeyed through drizzly rain a few blocks east to the former Will Rogers Library building that now houses the Claremore Museum of History (MoH).  Upon the first step inside the group was greeted by a booming, “Hello there!” from a beaming Andy Couch, Executive Director/Curator of the museum.  Couch, who is also an LRC’19 member, immediately tasked everyone with a scavenger hunt for facts, which turned out to be one of his crafty ploys designed to make his fellow LRC’19 members experience various exhibits of the museum.  With a relatively small footprint that sees 4000-5000 visitors per year, the MoH packs a punch.  It preserves the history—including original artifacts—from some of Claremore’s greatest such as, Lynn Riggs, Patti Page, Stuart Roosa, and now Andy Payne!  Like a prideful father, Couch boasted, “The Claremore Museum of History is Oklahoma’s greatest secret!” 

A quick trip back across town led the LRC’19 gang to the famous Will Rogers Memorial Museum.  Joined by Executive Director, Tad Jones, and Will Rogers impersonator, Andy Hogan.  The world-class memorial museum is the ultimate tribute to Will, the Great American Cowboy Philosopher.  While one can spend days/weeks touring the place, the LRC’19 trip was rather brisk, but not without a major highlight:  a trip into the mausoleum!  Carefully, the group made its way down the steps into the underground tomb where Will, his wife, Betty, and three of their four children are interred.  Some members also got a sneak peek into a backroom vault, which contained some of Will’s personal items including the overnight bag that he had with him on his final flight in Alaska. The Memorial has been a part of Rogers County for over 80 years and is, perhaps, the mecca of the flourishing tourism operation in Museum City.
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The final trip of the day was to Hard Rock Tulsa.  A vast, gleaming hotel/casino featuring nine restaurants, a golf course, a major concert venue, and much more—one would likely be hiding under a rock if he/she didn’t know about this place.  Led by a very knowledgeable Sr. Sales Manager, Marke Burroughs, the LRC’19 bunch toured the sprawling casino, including the newest wing that includes the Track 5 dance hall that is part of a 65,000-square-foot expansion.  Burroughs ended the tour with a lengthy Q&A in one of their luxurious hotel rooms.  Once the group was sufficiently informed, Hard Rock Tulsa provided a delicious lunch for all. 
Leadership Rogers County is a program designed to develop talent and broaden perspectives. Whether you are a present or future community leader, want to build your networking circle, or just have fun learning about your city, the LRC program provides you with practical information concerning community problems and issues.  Apply today at www.leadershiprogerscounty.org.
 
 For more information about the locations visited, check out the following websites:

• Will Rogers Memorial Museum:  www.willrogers.com
• Claremore Museum of History: claremoreMoH.org
• Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce: claremore.org
• Hard Rock Tulsa: https://www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com/

 
 
 
 
     

Leadership Rogers County spent the day touring Tulsa’s Port of Catoosa and two manufacturing facilities, Steel and Pipe Supply located at the Port of Catoosa, and Pryer Aerospace located in the Claremore Industrial Park. The group also received insight from a panel of local Economic Development experts: John Feary, Executive Director, Claremore Industrial & Economic Development Authority; Jill Ferenc, City Planner, City of Claremore; and Jessica Jackson, Executive Director, Claremore Main Street.

The day began with an overview of Tulsa’s Port of Catoosa provided by Sheila Shook. Shook stated, “The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System is a 445 river mile system running from Catoosa to the Mississippi River.” Further, Shook told Leadership Rogers County, “Catoosa is 420 feet high in elevation than the Mississippi River.” Locks and dams are needed for barges to navigate. The locks and dams act as elevators to raise or lower vessels. Shook told the group, “There are 18 locks on the navigational system with five in Oklahoma and 13 in Arkansas.” The Port provides an efficient way to ship raw materials, such as rolls of steel, to Oklahoma, which are then transported to manufacturing facilities to create finished goods. The Tulsa Port also provides a way for grains to be shipped to and from Oklahoma.


Leadership Rogers County toured Steel and Pipe Supply, where Kelly Marsh explained how rolls of steel shipped on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation system are processed for manufactures in the area. Marsh stated, “The large rolls of steel are unrolled and cut to the dimensions each specific manufacturer needs.”  The steel is stacked on pallets and trucked to various manufacturers in the area.

Leadership Rogers County was treated to lunch with three local economic development experts. John Feary stated, “Many jobs have been added in the Claremore Industrial Park over the last few years. Motor Sports of Tulsa is the most recent addition, who projects adding 100 new jobs over the next year.” Motor Sports of Tulsa is licensed to manufacture aerospace parts, which provides some diversity in the manufacturing sector of our local economy.

John Feary discussed the new Country Club Road initiative. “The new road will open up land for development opportunities,” said John Feary. Jill Ferenc talked about the Plaza area and Opportunity Zones. Jill stated, “Real estate investors are still interested in the Plaza and the Plaza is now in the Opportunity Zone.” Opportunity Zones are part of the 2016 Tax Reform. Jill told the group, “Opportunity Zones create a tax incentive for developers to invest capital in a particular area.” Claremore’s Opportunity Zone includes the downtown. Jessica Jackson stated, “The Main Street Program provides grants to help with redevelopment of historic main streets.”

Following lunch, Leadership Rogers County toured Pryer Aerospace with Douglas Brehm, Director of Safety & Production Readiness. Brehm stated, “Pryer has experienced significant growth and plans to expand in the near future.” Pryer Aerospace has two locations, one in Tulsa with about 100 em
ployees and the Claremore Industrial Park location with 30 employees. Brehm said, “Pryer has several large contracts and needs work ready employees to meet the demand.”

Leadership Rogers County learned the local economy is strong and diverse. Rogers County has opportunities for employment in manufacturing. Retail continues to grow. The opening of Country Club Road and Highway 20 expansion will open up additional economic growth opportunities. Tulsa’s Port of Catoosa is a great asset for Rogers County and all of Northeastern Oklahoma with the ability to ship products and raw material all over the world.
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For more information about Leadership Rogers County, please click HERE! ​