Professional Q&A

Driven by service, Erin Engelke has spent much of her career in the nonprofit sector. After moving her family to Edmond more than 25 years ago, she’s worked tirelessly to bring hope to other families in the metro, especially in her current role as executive director of Calm Waters, Central Oklahoma’s grief center.

Justin DeMoss has lived in cities across the country, but Edmond takes the top spot as his favorite. Not only did he move his family here, but he also recently opened a business here. After many years of experience in fundraising, he decided to support people in his own way—helping them get better sleep as the owner of Factory Direct Mattress Edmond.

Darrell Davis chose to call Edmond home more than 30 years ago and has been involved in the city for more than 25 years. His commitment to the community led him to a ten-year term on the city council and eventually to being elected mayor in May 2021. Hear more about why he loves Edmond and his advice for learning from others.

George Glover serves as a Vistage Chair for Vistage Worldwide, using his business expertise and experience to coach Edmond CEOs and share his wisdom and knowledge. For 20 years, he traveled around the world, taking on new roles and challenges before settling down in Edmond with his wife and kids.

Edmond resident Koshia Silver, MBA, is Marketing Director at SigniFI Elite Advisor Brands. She has experience at Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma, and her passion lies in helping companies grow through marketing efforts.

Judi Startzman has served as the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma since October 2021 and has lived in Edmond since the early 2000s. She has 25 years of experience in marketing strategy and execution, but her most important role is being a mom.

Janet Yowell is the executive director of Edmond Economic Development Authority and has been in Edmond for more than three decades. Yowell is truly passionate about developing business opportunities and assisting in the growth of the Edmond community through her work at the EEDA and beyond.

Sherry Jordan has served as the Edmond Chamber CEO for six years after working her way up from being a part-time employee in 2004. Her community involvement beyond the Chamber has brought her recognition from across the state and furthered the goals of the organization. She is passionate about helping businesses grow and has a firm belief that anyone can be successful if they put their mind to it.

Austin Fugitt is a lifelong Edmond resident and serves as a corporate controller at MIDCON, overseeing accounting, financial, real estate, and human resources functions. Fugitt is a licensed CPA and previously worked at a public accounting firm for more than seven years. His love for his community and family has brought him new opportunities and helped him continue to grow both personally and professionally.

Thomas Small has lived and worked in the Edmond area for nearly 40 years. He has a notable career in architecture including the founding of two local architectural firms and decades of experience on large-scale projects like the Oklahoma City National Memorial Center. Hear from Thomas about his journey to find his dream career, his appreciation for the Edmond community, and his advice for other professionals.