OkEq Board of Directors

We are pleased to bring the LGBT community a wide variety of services and programs to enhance your quality of life. We are always open to your input.

Executive Committee

Laura A. Belmonte, Ph.D. — President, Chair of Development
president@okeq.org

Raised in New York and Atlanta, Laura has lived in Tulsa since 1997. After graduating with honors from the University of Georgia, she earned a doctorate at the University of Virginia. She is currently an associate professor of American History at OSU. Her publications include Selling America: Propaganda, National Identity, and the Cold War and Speaking of America: Readings in U.S. History. Her latest research project examines U.S. foreign relations and AIDS. Following a two-year stint as First Vice-President, she became President of the Board in 2005. She is also director of the Tulsa LGBT History Project, convener of the city's Say No to Hate coalition and a member of the national PFLAG scholarship committee. Her interests include Buddhism, meditation, yoga, running, working out, golf, hiking, travel, and film.


Noah Millsap — First Vice-President

Born and raised in Houston, Noah arrived in Oklahoma in 2000 to attend Oklahoma State University on a Track & Cross Country scholarship. He was a Big XII Academic All-American through his junior year, until he moved to Brussels, Belgium to pursue an internship with a major business consultancy group. Noah returned to Oklahoma in 2004 to graduate from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in both Finance and International Business. Noah is presently a Revenue Controller for a subsidiary of one of the largest companies within the travel industry. He began his involvement with Oklahomans for Equality as a board intern from Tulsa Young Professionals (TYPros) and looks forward to giving the best of his abilities to the organization.


Kristopher Wilmes — Second Vice-President

Kris has lived in Tulsa the better part of his life, relocating from Missouri at the young age of two. Kris has a Marketing Degree from Northeastern State University, but was drawn to the profession of Human Resources directly out of college. He has over 10 years of HR experience at various companies in the Tulsa area, including: Olsten Staffing, MCI/WorldCom, and, for the last three years, at U.S. Cellular as an Associate Relations Manager. His professional focus is on Leadership Training and Development, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives, and Employee Relations.


Stephen W. Eberle — Secretary, Co-Chair of Facilities

Steve was born and raised in Albany, New York with three brothers, one sister and mother — his father died when he was four. He attended Catholic schools during elementary and high school. He graduated Texas A&M University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, the family business. From college he began a 16-year sales career with the Vaughan Seed Company. He moved to Tulsa and sold to greenhouse and garden center accounts in Kansas and Oklahoma. His career then shifted to animal protection, a lifelong passion, serving as Executive Director of the Washington County SPCA in Bartlesville for two years. He then did volunteer work in animal protection legislation and successful campaigns to outlaw cockfighting, bear wrestling and horse tripping in Oklahoma. He served as Director of Environmental Programs for the American Lung Association of Oklahoma for three years and began his training as an Environmental Consultant. He now provides environmental consulting and education to homes, schools and businesses on his own and through the University of Tulsa. Between careers, he has taught varied curricula from Kindergarten to college. He has worked for the past 30 years with nearly 50 different not-for-profits in Tulsa, primarily fundraising and serving on Boards. He resides near downtown Tulsa, attends Holy Family Cathedral, and has a strong group of longtime friends with a common goal of serving those in need.


Paul Allen — Treasurer, Chair of Finance
treasurer@okeq.org

A lifelong resident of Bixby, Oklahoma, Paul holds a BS from Oklahoma State University and an MS from Northeastern State University. Formerly employed as the Director of Business Services for a large medical group, he currently works as a Senior Healthcare Consultant for Hayes Management Consulting. Active in Council Oak Men’s Chorale for over six years, he currently serves on the Vocal Pride Foundation Board. Paul also has served as the Minister of Worship at MCC United in Tulsa. He is former member of the Pyramid Project and Field of Dreams Committees. Paul is the father of two children and enjoys participating in their many activities.


Paul Dorman — Assistant Treasurer

Paul Dorman graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Oral Roberts University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Additionally, he is a CPA and keeps his license current with continuing education every year. Paul has worked for Verizon Communications as an accountant and auditor for the Accounts Receivable Department. Further, Paul has served as the treasurer for small churches in the Tulsa metro area, including the Parish Church of St. Jerome and Ekklesia. He is looking forward to serving OkEq.


Chad Johnson, Ph.D. — Chair of Programming

Chad V. Johnson received his PhD in counseling psychology from Penn State. He received his Masters in school psychology from Trinity University and Bachelors in psychology from Texas A&M University. He has practiced psychology in the public school system, private practice, college counseling centers, and a VA hospital.

Currently, Chad is an Assistant Professor of Human Relations at the University of Oklahoma and a licensed psychologist (Iowa; Oklahoma pending). He teaches counseling theory and practice, group counseling, theoretical foundations of human relations, and ethics. He is also a Project Director in the Center of Applied Research in Nonprofit Organizations at OU. He has published research and writing in spiritual issues in counseling, group psychotherapy, and social justice. Current research projects include Community Based Participatory Research with urban Native Americans, body-oriented interventions for trauma, and religious abuse/oppression, sexual orientation, and several other studies in various stages of development.

Chad’s research and clinical interests include social justice (particularly human rights and LGBT issues), the interface of spirituality and psychology, group psychotherapy, and body-oriented and experiential psychotherapies.

Though originally from Katy, Texas, Chad has lived in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and most recently Iowa, working as a staff psychologist for Iowa State University’s counseling center. In this role, he practiced individual and group psychotherapy (specializing with LGBT and religious/spiritual clients) and supervised and trained psychology graduate students and interns. He also coordinated the group counseling program and consulted with the ISU athletic department and student-athletes.

Chad moved to Tulsa in the summer of 2006 to work for OU. He and his partner, Jennifer, have been married for 11 years and have two children, Jade (4) and Gabriel (1).


Michael Mills — Chair of Board Development and Governance

Michael is a native Tulsan and a graduate of Nathan Hale High School. He received his undergraduate degree in History from Oklahoma State University and his master’s degree in Human Relations from The University of Oklahoma. Michael has approximately 25 years of diverse experience in private industry and higher education. For the past 18 years, he has held a variety of administrative management positions at the University of Tulsa, encompassing the areas of academic support services and student services administration. Currently, he holds the position of Associate Dean of Students and Coordinator of University and Community Service. Michael has been an active volunteer and supporter of local community and social service agencies for many years. In addition to currently serving as a member of the OkEq Board of Directors, he has previously served on the boards of Youth Services of Tulsa and Tulsa C.A.R.E.S.


Jeremy Simmons — Chair of Advocacy

Jeremy grew up in Ramona, lived in Stillwater for a few years, and then moved to Tulsa in 1994. He began volunteering with TOHR’s HIV testing clinic in early 1996 and was hired for outreach work that summer. For the first several years, he worked on various outreach contracts that focused on HIV prevention for gay and bisexual men. This included testing and distributing condoms at the bars and facilitating groups like the weekly Coming Out Support Group. In 2001, he became the Clinic Coordinator, training new employees on HIV testing and ensuring the smooth operation of the clinic. Jeremy has also been active locally with the Human Rights Campaign and was President of the TU BLGTA. He is an HIV Instructor Trainer with the American Red Cross and member of the Oklahoma HIV Planning Committee.

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Board Members


Jennifer L. Flexner — At-Large
University of Tulsa, College of Law


Danna Forman — At-Large
U.S. Investigation Services


Kristi Freeman — Tulsa Pride 2008 Co-Chair
pride@okeq.org
Self-employed


Chaz Gaut — Chair of Public Relations and Marketing
Hospice of Green Country


Doug Hartson — Chair of Merchandising
Nielsens Exclusive Gifts


Richard Hurtig — At-Large
City of Tulsa


Vicki D. Jordan, J.D. — At-Large
University of Tulsa, College of Law


Adrian Rolle — At-Large
H.O.P.E. Testing Clinic


Matthew L. Warren — At-Large
University of Tulsa