Empowering Independence

Episode 23: When business and care collide with Brian Banks

Marilyn and co-host Amy talk with Brian Banks about his heart for business and people.
Brian Banks is an entrepreneur at heart. His experience has spanned healthcare, leadership, service, and distribution. Brian has led a third-generation family business, new business start-ups, and has participated in industry consolidations and acquisitions. 
Currently, he owns and operates strategic companies which provide Home Health Care, Personal Care and Hospice Care to an aging population (www.providencehcare.com). 
As a college student, Brian was awakened to the idea of using business as a platform for ministry and influence. Because he has been deeply impacted by faithful mentors who invested in him, one of his passions is mentoring young leaders and helping them on their journey, both professionally and personally. 
Recently Brian co-founded Cultivate (www.cultivate.city), a faith based venture accelerator for Oklahoma City, helping leaders understand that no city can become great unless everyone thrives. Through Cultivate, Brian regularly coaches entrepreneurs leading redemptive business ventures. 
He holds a BBA from the University of Oklahoma, MBA from Oklahoma City University and currently serves on the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development for the state of Oklahoma as well as several other boards. Brian and his wife Vickey love every minute with their 6 grandchildren.
Providence Home Care

Episode 22: Reflections of a General with General Ben T. Robinson

Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Brigadier General Ben T. Robinson about his tenure as an Air Force General.
 
In 2019, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Ben T. Robinson as the Oklahoma Secretary of Military and Veteran Affairs.  In this position, Ben was responsible to the Governor for the successful execution of the Governor’s policy and guidance to state veteran agencies and support of Oklahoma’s military installations and the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Committee.  Ben served in this position from April, 2019 until January, 2022.
Prior to his Cabinet position, Ben was the founder, owner and president of Sentry One LLC, an aerospace consulting company.  Sentry One LLC had clients in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.  Prior to founding Sentry One, Ben was a Boeing Executive, Program Manager, Director of Boeing Aerospace Operations, and the Site Executive of Boeing site in Oklahoma City, OK.  His efforts at Boeing lead to the growth of the Oklahoma City Site from 500 to over 4000.  While at Boeing, Ben founded the Oklahoma Education and Industry Partnership which mentored STEM teachers from across Oklahoma. Ben is a guest lecturer on leadership in high schools, career technical centers and universities across the state. 
Ben retired as an Air Force Brigadier General in 2002. His nearly 34 years of active-duty service includes combat operations in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army.  Ben commanded two flying wings, two flying groups and a space center.  He was a director on the USAF Air Staff and the Vice Commander of Eighth Air Force.  He held a command pilot rating with nearly 5,000 flying hours in a variety of fixed and rotary wing aircraft with over 150 combat missions. 
Ben earned his bachelor's degree in Industrial Management from Eastern New Mexico University and a master's degree in Industrial Management from Central Michigan University.  In addition, he completed a one year course of study with MIT as an International Relations Fellow.  
Ben sits on a variety of boards such as New View Oklahoma, Atec, Inc, Project Lead the Way, the National Science Foundation, the Oklahoma Baptist University Engineering Board , the Dale K. Graham Veteran Foundation, VillagesOKC and the USO
Ben and his wife Linda reside in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They are active members of the Crossings Christian Church.  They have four children, ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
 
To find out more about VillagesOKC go to www.villagesokc.org
 

Episode 21: Serving, and continuing to honor those who served with Gary Banz

This is the second episode dedicated to veterans as we approach Veterans Day Nov 11, 2024.
Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with Gary Banz about his service, as well as what he has done as a veteran to honor other veterans.
Gary Banz completed his 28-year public educator career at Midwest City High School in 1998.  He was a teacher/coach in the Putnam City school district from 1970 to 1982 and at Ada High School from 1982 to 1985. 
Banz served 12 years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing east Midwest City, Nicoma Park, Choctaw, and southeast Oklahoma county.  As a legislator, he held several leadership positions including majority whip and chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs, House Rules, and House Ethics Committees.
Banz served in the US Army from 1968 to 1970 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1970.  He served in the US Army Reserve from 1982 to 1990 and was awarded the Army Achievement Medal in 1985. 
Gary was co-founder and executive director of Oklahoma Honor Flights (OHF) from 2009 to 2016.  Serving as flight commander on 24 flights, he and volunteers of OHF took 2,055 veterans from 226 Oklahoma communities to Washington, DC to see their memorials courtesy of generous Oklahomans contributing $2.5 million.  That effort led to the publishing of the documentary “Journey to Honor” in 2016 and a book he authored in 2017 entitled Just in Time.  
He is a lifetime member of Leadership Oklahoma from Class XVII.  Oklahoma Boys’ Basketball Coaches Association inducted Banz into their Hall of Fame in 2014.  Southern Nazarene University recognized Banz with the “Patriot in Kingdom Service” award in June 2017.  In 2019 the Oklahoma Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) honored Banz with their prestigious Medal of Honor.
Banz graduated from Southern Nazarene University in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree and earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1973.  He is married to wife Linda and they have three children and six grandchildren

Episode 20: Life as a woman in the military with Lucy Schoals

This is the first of 3 episodes dedicated to Veterans, as Veterans Day Nov 11th 2024 approaches.
Marilyn and co-host Dana talk with veteran Lucy Schoals about how she came to be in the military, what it was like for a woman and what she learned while serving.
 
Chief Master Sergeant Lucy “Marshall” Shoals served as the Recruiting & Retention Superintendent for Head Quarters (HQ), Oklahoma Air National Guard and she holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma.  She served in the Army National Guard from 1979 – 1981 where she served as a Photojournalist.  Chief Shoals joined the Air National Guard in 1982 as a Financial Services Specialist.  Later she moved to personnel as the Personnel Superintendent and conducted programs to recruit personnel to satisfy the requirements of the Air National Guard.  She later held the position of Minority Officer Recruiter, where she recruited minority pilots and navigators nationwide for the Air National Guard.  As a Recruiter Chief Shoals conducted seminars and spoke to thousands of students.  The emphasis of the seminars:  Education, Life Choices, Character and Belief in one’s self.  In September 2000, Chief Shoals retired from the full time work force.  In addition to the Bachelors degree, Chief Shoals also holds an Associate degree in Liberal Arts and an Associate degree in Human Resource Management.  
Shortly after retirement from the Air National Guard, Chief Shoals was appointed to the Department of Veteran Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, where she served for three years.  This committee is charged with providing advice to the Secretary of Veteran Affairs and the Congress of the United States on the needs and concerns of women veterans with respect to the administration of veteran’s benefits and services.  Chief Shoals is now enjoying retirement, again. 

Epidsode 19: A Professional in the aging field becomes a caregiver with Julie Davis

Marilyn and co-host Dana have a conversation with Julie Davis about how she had experience in the aging field and suddenly had real life experience with her father's diagnosis.
As a firm believer in the power of belonging and healthy living, Julie has long been a champion for the lifestyle todays older adults are looking for. 
Julie has spent over 25 years as an advocate for older adults. Her career began at the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, where she served for 11 years, in the Health and Wellness arena as well as a Membership Director. This emphasis on total wellness provided an excellent foundation for promoting healthy lifestyles and aging well. These relationships also allowed for insight into the needs and values of older adults and their families.
In 2008, Julie was asked to join an upscale Independent Living community in Plano, TX as their Activities Director. This industry change allowed Julie to utilize her event planning talents and program knowledge to create exceptional lifestyle experiences for the residents. These events and programs soon became a primary driver for Marketing and directly impacted the success of the sales team. Julie was promoted to Marketing Associate, as a result. 
In 2014, Julie took a leap of faith and left her family and friends, in Texas, for a position as Marketing Director for Concordia. This step has proven to be one of the most rewarding experiences both personally and professionally. 
Engaging and empowering others is Julie’s wheel house. By connecting with older adults and their families Julie has produced an environment for trust and respect and that has allowed for occupancy growth.  
Julie is viewed as an industry thought leader cultivating a team of trusted professionals, she has positioned Concordia as a respected resource in the NWOKC area.
 
Concordia Senior Living

Episode 18: Busting the myths of life with low vision with Mark Ivy

Co-hosts Marilyn and Amy talk with Mark Ivy about his journey with low vision and how life isn't over when you lose your vision.
Mark Ivy was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, where he served as an intern for Senator James Lankford’s office during his senior year. He currently works for NewView Oklahoma as their Financial Development Manager  and Public Policy Advocate. 
Since losing his eyesight, Mark has continued to play adaptive sports for the blind and visually impaired and has trained at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs. Mark lives in Oklahoma City with his beautiful wife, Alyssa, their four year old daughter Evelyn June, and two goldendoodles named Emmitt and Gus. He is a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan and loves making people laugh….which is ironic because his wife doesn’t think he’s very funny.
NewView Oklahoma

Episode 17: A fresh look at your healthcare with Dr. Kevin White

Co-hosts Marilyn and Amy talk with Dr. Kevin White about a new and fresh approach to your healthcare. 
 
Dr. White is focused on the applied science of longevity and wellness. His goal is for patients to live long, live better, optimize performance, and increase lifespan while improving healthspan and enriching cognition, and physical and emotional health. 
 
This occurs by delaying the onset of chronic disease. Simply stated, Dr. White helps you be the best version of yourself.  Dr. White is a traditionally trained physician. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, he went on to complete residency training in emergency medicine & trauma at Washington University in St. Louis, then completed board certification. 
 
After many years in Emergency Medicine, Dr. White saw an opportunity to further help patients through a more proactive approach, so he obtained extensive fellowship training in integrative and functional medicine, nutrition, and age management.
Prime Health Associates

Episode 16: The GIFT workshop: What you need to know with Marilyn Olson and Dana Bellows

Host Amy Shirola talks with Marilyn Olson and Dana Bellows about The GIFT Workshop highlighting the importance of being prepared for a crisis or life transition and how this workshop can make that a smoother process for everyone involved.
 
 
For more information on The GIFT Workshop or to register https://villagesokc.helpfulvillage.com/pages/10042-gift-homepage

Episode 15: Living the life you want with Dawn Hopkins

Co-hosts Marilyn and Amy talk with Dawn Hopkins about her unique life experiences and how she lives without fear, doing the things she loves!
 
Dawn Hopkins is the President of Oklahoma City Town Hall for the 2023-2024 season.  She and her husband moved here from Scottsdale, Arizona, 6 years ago.  While in Arizona, Dawn ran the Sonoran Speakers Club for 11 years, bringing nationally known speakers to the Scottsdale area. Dawn is a graduate of the University of New Mexico.  She also has been published.  Her book, "Parthur, the Story of an Orphaned Bobcat," is her own true story of raising a four week old bobcat kitten and returning him to the wild. 
 
For more information and tickets to OKC Town Hall https://okctownhall.org/
 
If you'd like to connect with Dawn, Marilyn, or Amy contact VillagesOKC at 405-990-6637 or info@villagesokc.org
www.villagesokc.org
 

Episode 14: Creating a pet rescue, rescued me with Kay Stout

Marilyn and Co-host Amy talk with Kay Stout about how her life was affected by tragedy and how she worked through it by creating a pet rescue.
Kay Stout's experience includes her current work in animal-rescue consulting, as a public speaker/radio personality and as a writer/researcher/blogger.
Her nonprofit management experience includes Stout's service as the executive director of Second Chance Animal Sanctuary ("Dogs of Lexington" documentary created during her tenure featuring rescue dog, Sarge, a therapy dog for Norman Veterans Center).
She also served as the first executive director of the Peaceful Animal Adoption Shelter (PAAS, pronounced PAWS) in Vinita, Oklahoma, where she founded the animal shelter's innovative "PAAS Ride-to-Rescue Program" and she and her team transformed the shelter into a rescue hub for pets. The out-of-state transport and adoption program eventually saved 6,700 Oklahoma dogs after PAAS partnered with a Colorado nonprofit rescue, Dumb Friends League. PAAS also joined forces with the Humane Society of the United States’ "Pets for Life" program and 5,000 pets were spayed and neutered and received the "HSUS Campsite Award" for outstanding program implementation.
A longtime civic and community volunteer, Stout is currently a member of Common Bonds, a collective group of Animal welfare organizations, where she's a member of the Executive Board and Spay/Neuter Board.  She's also a member of Villages OKC - a plan not a place. 
Stout was honored with the “Sales & Marketing Executives International, Inc. Ken Arbuckle Fellow Award in 2004 for her work as the liaison with the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion staff for its annual awards dinner at the mansion. She was also honored with the "Thanks Badge" by the Girl Scouts in honor of her exceptional and measurable impact on meeting the council's goals.