OCCC to HONOR ALUMNI
Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) will honor eight college alumni in a ceremony set for Thursday, Nov. 13. The selected men and women will be added to an already distinguished group as the annual Alumni Hall of Fame event is held on the OCCC campus beginning at 6:30 p.m.
An attorney, physician, business executive, company owner, junior high teacher and college admissions and policy compliance coordinator – these and more all started their education on the campus of OCCC. The 2012 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees are:
CHAD ALEXANDER
President, Alexander Companies
Chad Alexander is president of Alexander Companies, a government relations and public policy consulting service specializing in the development of political and legislative strategy and public relations. He is also President of Government Relations and a contract lobbyist for Capitol Insight, where he provides legislative issue management and public relations advice. He is also Senior Partner and Campaign Consultant for Majority Designs, a political consulting firm, and holds the position of Director of Government Relations for CMA Strategies.
Chad earned his AA degree from OCCC in 1995 and continued his studies at the University of Central Oklahoma where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1998.
From 2001-2003, Chad served as Chairman and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican Party – the youngest person to ever serve in that capacity for either major party.
He was a member of Leadership Oklahoma Class-25 and was recently named to the Journal Record “Achievers Under Forty” list.
TRACEY BEWLEY
Department Manager, MTM Recognition; Artist
Tracey Bewley received an Associate’s Degree in Art & Design from OCCC in 1992 and continued her education at Oklahoma City University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Currently she is the manager of the Custom Design Department at MTM Recognition (formerly Midwest Trophy) where she oversees the design of many high profile awards.
Tracey and her husband Rick created Urban Art, a gallery and collection of art studios, including Art Fusion Studio where they collaborate on many types of large commission art projects.
Tracey has created works in media as varied as painting, sculpting, photography, stained glass, and fused glass and has won numerous awards for her artwork. Her pieces have been placed locally in such spaces as the Iguana Lounge, Samis Education Center, Allied Arts offices, and Sonic headquarters. She has placed entries in many juried and invitational art exhibitions as well as local festivals throughout the area.
MARY BRESE
Math Department Head, Brink Jr. High School
Mary Brese is a teacher and head of the Math Department at Brink Jr. High School in Moore, OK. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Mathematics from OCCC in 1996 and was honored with the Academic All-Star Award while a student here. In 1999, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education - Mathematics, graduating with distinctions from OU.
Mary was named “Teacher of the Year” at Brinks Jr. High for the 2011-12 school year and was recognized as one of the Top Five Teachers in her district. Mary is a veteran of the Texas Instruments Leadership Training Program and is a certified T³ Regional Instructor. She is a member of the National Education Association, the Parent-Teacher-Student Association, the Oklahoma Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Mary is also a licensed cosmetologist, a licensed cosmetology instructor, and is owner of the Beyond Classic salon in Moore.
MICHAEL BROOKS-JIMENEZ
Attorney, Michael Brooks-Jimenez, PC
A native of South Oklahoma City, Michael Brooks-Jimenez owns and operates a general law practice focusing on immigration, criminal defense, workers compensation and personal injury. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he earned a B.A. in political science in 1992. He received his juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 1995. Michael has twice attended OCCC, taking classes to learn and master the Spanish language.
Michael has a deep commitment to the Latino community and has received numerous awards for his work. He received the Paragon Award from Leadership Oklahoma City, was named the Latino Youth Mentor of the Year by the Latino Community Development Agency, and was also honored as the LCDA’s Board Member of the Year in 2003. The Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber named his company Outstanding Business of the Year in 2010. Michael was named one of the “40 Under 40” by OKC Business in 2005, and he was presented the Journal Record’s Leadership in Law Award earlier this year.
DR. KENNETH HAMBY
Physician, Pawnee Indian Clinic
Dr. Kenneth Hamby is currently the Indian Health Service Medical Officer and Family Physician at the Pawnee Indian Health Clinic in Pawnee, Oklahoma where he serves patients of all Native American cultures.
A 1983 graduate of Capitol Hill High School, Dr. Hamby attended OCCC first in 1987, then again from 2000-2002, earning his Associate’s Degree in Biology. He studied in the pre-med program at the University of Central Oklahoma before earning his D.O. degree from A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri in 2006.
He has served as a Master Sergeant in the Air National Guard, as a U.S. Army EMT medic, and is a veteran of Desert Storm. He is a former longtime U.S. Postal Service letter carrier and a former youth instructor and football coach.
TENEKA HOLLEY
Vice President, Serenity Properties
Tenecka Holley is Vice-president and Senior Project Manager for Serenity Properties, Inc., a real estate investment company. She also owns and operates Brown & Holley Tax & Budgeting Consultants, Inc., a business that provides tax preparation for individuals and small businesses, as well as financial consulting for personal wealth and real estate investments. A licensed real estate agent, Tenecka has acquired and/or sold over $2 million in personal real estate investments.
In October 2011, Tenecka started the “T Holley Walk Again Campaign,” devoted to not only helping her younger brother who was seriously injured in an accident, but also to raising awareness of the needs of spinal cord injury patients with a particular focus on advanced physical therapy and adult stem cell therapies.
DR. TOM JONES
President, City Rescue Mission
Dr. Tom Jones is the President of City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City, the state of Oklahoma’s largest homeless shelter which also operates the state’s largest free drug and alcohol recovery program. He is the creator of the “Bridge to Life Recovery Program,” the state’s largest free drug and alcohol recovery program which is now also used in drug and alcohol treatment centers across America.
Dr. Jones earned his first degree, an AA in Psychology, at OCCC in 1985. He received a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies from Southern Nazarene University and went on to earn a Master’s of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University and a Ph.D in Practical Ministry from Heritage University and Seminary in Kissimmee, Florida.
He is Chairman of the Oklahoma Interagency Council on Homelessness, serves on the Community Relations Board for the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City, and is on the Board of Directors for the Dream Center in Los Angeles, California.
BRANDEE MORGAN
Coordinator of Admissions and Policy Compliance
After previously serving as Secretary to the Dean of Admissions, Admissions and Records Assistant, and Admissions Advisor, Brandee Morgan has recently been promoted to the position of Coordinator of Admissions and Policy Compliance at OCCC. In that capacity, she maintains and supports the consistent application of state and federal policies while making decisions regarding residency, admissions, and international issues. Brandee works to make sure that students understand policies and procedures so that the process of their admission to the college is as seamless as possible. She has also served as a Success in College and Life adjunct instructor since 2007.
Brandee holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Rose State College, an Associate’s Degree in Spanish from Oklahoma City Community College, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Southern Nazarene University. She is presently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration at SNU.
2012 Honorary Alumni Hall of Fame
Also being inducted as an Honorary Alumni Hall of Fame recipient is Marvin York, Former President of the Oklahoma State Senate and Pro Tempore.
MARVIN YORK
Former President and Pro Tempore of Oklahoma Senate
From 1968-1986, Marvin York represented the people of South Oklahoma City in first the Oklahoma House of Representatives and then the Senate, rising to the position of President and Pro Tempore in 1981. During his time as an elected official at the State Capitol, Mr. York was known for his aggressive support of tax reform, transportation projects, pari-mutuel racing, open meetings, and education funding.
After earning a degree in Education from Northeastern State University, Mr. York worked for several years as a high school teacher before pursuing and earning his juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University’s College of Law in 1963. He practiced general law for the rest of his working career, including many years as a partner in firms which bore his name.
Among other distinctions, Marvin York has been previously honored as the Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce; named National Legislator of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars; heralded as a Distinguished Alumnus of Oklahoma City University College of Law and a Distinguished Graduate of Northeastern State University; awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award by the Higher Education Alumni Association Council; and received into the Order of the Brown Hat by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Mr. York’s efforts played a key role in the birth of the South Oklahoma City Junior College, the original moniker of Oklahoma City Community College.
The Alumni Hall of Fame is a prestigious annual award that recognizes a select group of OCCC graduates, showcasing their career and civic accomplishments over the years. Hear their stories at the 2012 banquet held in the College Union on the campus of OCCC, 7777 South May Avenue. For ticket information, please call the OCCC Foundation at (405) 682-7591.
