NEWSROOM

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 24, 2011) – Creative Oklahoma has announced the appointment of Dr. Don Betz, as Chairman of the Board, and Susan McCalmont, as President.

Dr. Betz, president of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, has served for 2 years on the board of Creative Oklahoma and has been involved in Oklahoma’s international role as a member of the Districts of Creativity Network.  Don has been recognized as a distinguished education leader in the state of Oklahoma previously serving at Northeastern State University in various capacities including Vice President of University Relations and as Provost at the University of Central Oklahoma.  Don has received numerous national and international accolades for his work and is the incoming chair of the National American Council of the International Association of University Presidents.

Susan McCalmont, who recently retired after 19 years as Executive Director of the Kirkpatrick Foundation, has served as a founding member of the Creative Oklahoma board since 2006.  Along with Burns Hargis and John McCarroll, she was instrumental in the establishment of Creative Oklahoma as a statewide nonprofit organization designed to increase Oklahoma’s creativity and innovation in education, commerce, and culture.  She also provided leadership in establishing Oklahoma A+ Schools and the DaVinci Institute, both of which encourage creativity in educational institutions within Oklahoma’s K-20 system.  As President, Susan will be providing day-to-day leadership for the organization.

“Susan has been an integral part of Creative Oklahoma since its inception and we are very excited to have her as President.  She embodies the spirit of what the organization has set to accomplish and she will make sure it happens,” said former Board Chairman Ken Fergeson.

Since its inception five years ago, Creative Oklahoma has significantly contributed to Oklahoma’s national and international positive perception change as “The State of Creativity” through strategic media initiatives; a national public television film series on creativity; selection of Oklahoma as the only North American District of Creativity, and one of 14 in the International DC Network based in Belgium; establishment of the National Creativity Network based in Oklahoma; and hosting last fall the Creativity World Forum in Oklahoma City which brought over 2600 conference attendees from 38 states and 18 countries to Oklahoma.

Formed in 2006, Creative Oklahoma, Inc. (COI) is a statewide non-profit organization that promotes creativity and innovation in commerce, culture, and education. The goal is to transform the state of Oklahoma through initiatives which lead to a more entrepreneurial and vibrant economy along with a better quality of life for its citizens. Through this organization, Oklahoma has become a “District of Creativity”, which is an international network of 14 regions of the world that have been working together to foster the exchange of best practices and experiences in business, culture and education. Creative Oklahoma has established the State of Creativity Awards that award recognitions and grants to Oklahoma students and non-profit institutions encouraging creativity and innovation. Creative Oklahoma also organizes educational symposia, webinars, workshops, and forums on creativity and innovation for students and the general public. Creative Oklahoma will host Out of the Box: Oklahoma’s Creativity Forum 2011 on November 1,2011. For more information please visit stateofcreativity.com.

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