ODW24AA – Growing and Strengthening Your Association

Shelley quickly identifies problems and issues and then works collaboratively and creatively to solve them. She excels at hard conversations and messy, complicated situations. She displays a commitment not only to the task at hand but also to the principles of sound data, equity, and inclusion that drive positive change within organizations and communities.

Shelley spent her early career with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce doing economic research and building the state’s first Business Intelligence Program. In 1999, she led one of the US’s first entrepreneurship programs for the Edmond Economic Development Authority. There, she assisted start-ups and existing small businesses with strategy development, traditional and non-traditional financing, and general hand-holding. She also staffed two angel investor groups whose investments spanned multiple industries.

In 2004, Shelley continued her work with entrepreneurs by leading the Business & Entrepreneurial Services program at Francis Tuttle Technology Center. Over eight years there, she worked with hundreds of companies.

 
In 2010, Shelley made her way to Tulsa to lead economic development efforts at the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority, where she created peer-to-peer networks, collaborated with city leaders and elected officials, worked on legislative efforts, and ensured local companies were thriving.

In 2012, Shelley moved to Workforce Tulsa, where she was the fourth Executive Director in six years and turned around the struggling organization via intentional board development, consensus building, and collaboration with hundreds of partners, rebuilding processes and structures, relocating the organization’s largest office to improve customer service, rebuilding the staff, ensuring state and federal compliance, and building a positive presence in the community via media relations. She also worked collaboratively with chambers and statewide organizations to create business-friendly policy and legislation, including criminal justice reform, and launch the organization’s first legislative agenda.
 
In 2019, Shelley launched the Tulsa office of The Mettise Group, an Oklahoma City consulting firm. In 2021, she launched Cadamy Business Consulting.
 
Shelley earned a BA in art history, cum laude, followed by a Masters of Regional and City Planning, with an Economic Development emphasis, from the University of Oklahoma.
 
Shelley has graduated from Leadership Tulsa, Leadership Oklahoma City, and multiple other leadership programs. She has received multiple awards for her business and community involvement, including YWCA Tulsa’s Woman of the Year and the Journal Record’s “50 Women Making a Difference.” She is a foster/adoptive parent of three and Mimi to one strong-willed Generation Alpha child.