Our People

Ronita Wade serves as the Interim Chief Executive Officer for PartnerTulsa. She brings over 16 years of experience working in finance, economic development and entrepreneurship. Ronita started her career with MainStay Investments in New York before transitioning into development, including as project manager at the United Nations Democracy Fund. She is passionate about aligning teams and stakeholders with organizational strategy while navigating a world of consistent change. Prior to PartnerTulsa, Ronita worked at the fintech company, NerdWallet. Ronita received a B.A. in International Politics and Economics from NYU, and a MSc. in Globalization and Economic Development from the University of Manchester.

Mike Dickerson serves as the SVP, Incentives and Municipal Relations of PartnerTulsa, setting the organization’s financial policy and actively participating in setting its strategic direction by ensuring financial resources are available for short- and long-term priorities and objectives. Prior to this role, he served as the City of Tulsa’s Sr. Economist in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and a variety of other positions during his 18 years with the City of Tulsa. Mike is passionate about data and creating policies that are equitable, sustainable, and just.

Gary Hamer currently serves as the Interim Operating Officer for PartnerTulsa, overseeing key outreach and capacity building initiatives within PartnerTulsa's Community Development team. Prior to joining PartnerTulsa, he served as the City of Tulsa's Capital Planning and Grants Manager where he was responsible for the City's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the oversite of the administration of the City’s annual Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement funds. He has served in a number of capacities during his 25 years in local government including transportation planning, zoning and subdivision administration, and project management. He is committed to researching and implementing best practices, is fascinated by Legacy Cities, and believes strongly in the advocacy for equity.

With a decade of experience at the City of Tulsa, including roles as Senior Accountant and Accounting Manager, Linn brings exceptional expertise and dedication to her new role. Driven by her passion for Tulsa’s transformation and growth, Linn is committed to leveraging financial insights that will help propel PartnerTulsa’s mission of creating a thriving and inclusive community for all Tulsans. Her leadership will play a pivotal role in aligning our financial strategies with the city’s dynamic future.

Iesha Youngblood-Blakely serves as the Executive Assistant and Board Secretary of PartnerTulsa, supporting the overall operations of the organization and the Tulsa Development Authority through the professional management and support of the Executive Director, Board of Trustees, and Board of Commissioners. Prior to this role, Iesha served as the Senior Administrative Assistant for the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Board Secretary for the Economic Development Commission, Tulsa Parking Authority, and Tulsa Industrial Authority. Before her work in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Iesha spent four years in various roles including an Administrative Assistant for Asset Management and Engineering Services at the City of Tulsa.

Ericka Rivers serves as the Office Assistant/Accounting Clerk of PartnerTulsa, aiding the Executive Assistant in the overall operations of the organization. Prior to this role Ericka spent 20 years in the manufacturing industry as an Accounts Payable Clerk, Payroll Accountant and Compensation & Benefits Manager.

Michelle Barnett serves as the Senior Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development for PartnerTulsa, leading a team of professionals working on small business and entrepreneurship, business attraction, retention and expansion, and workforce development. Prior to this role, she served as Mayor G.T. Bynum's Deputy Chief of Economic Development. Before her work at the City, Michelle spent over ten years in operations management with Tulsa engineering firms. Michelle is energized by connecting people to work they love, helping businesses grow, and empowering communities to achieve economic resilience. She believes in PartnerTulsa’s mission to create jobs that increase individual economic mobility for all Tulsans.

Jonathan Sanders serves as the Senior Economic Development Manager at PartnerTulsa. His focus is on developing and leading economic development strategies related to primary job growth, business attraction, and retention to increase economic opportunity in Tulsa, OK. His background in corporate sales and real estate has provided a solid foundation for his expansion into the economic development space. Jonathan views Tulsa as an up-and-coming city with limitless potential and is very passionate about contributing to the exponential growth that has attracted many young professionals, such as himself, to the region. The work being done at PartnerTulsa is very inspirational, and Jonathan is proud to be a part of these efforts that will help catalyze Tulsa’s future as a world class city.

Jonah Toay joins PartnerTulsa as a Small Business and Entrepreneurship Fellow as a part of the Tulsa Service Year Program where he will implement projects to spur new business growth in Tulsa. Prior to this role he served as a Voter Engagement Analyst at Grit For Democracy where he worked to increase the number of young voters in Oklahoma by holding fundraisers and organizing social media campaigns. Jonah is passionate about making his hometown a more equitable place by empowering individuals to make positive change in their community with help from municipal services and challenging long held assumptions about how to grow a city for the betterment of all its citizens.

With an impressive track record of leadership and innovation, Jacob brings a wealth of experience to our team. As the former Executive Director at Modus and COO at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, he spearheaded initiatives that boosted operational efficiency and made a meaningful impact.

Gretchen Mudoga serves as the Grants Administration Manager at PartnerTulsa. Prior to this role, she was the Neighborhood Revitalization Director at Growing Together, spent 10 years as Housing Operations Director for the Tulsa Housing Authority, and 10 years in various roles throughout the City of Tulsa. Gretchen has called North Tulsa home for nearly 30 years, and is passionate about creating equitable housing opportunities for her community. She believes in the importance of being a catalyst for residential growth and leaving behind a continued legacy of building generational wealth through homeownership.

A native Tulsan, Vickie has spent the majority of her professional career working in Tulsa. As the SVP, Real Estate and Finance for PartnerTulsa, Vickie leads a team of professionals working on housing issues, development incentives, real estate and asset management. Prior to this role, she spent 15 years in the nonprofit arena doing affordable housing development, both owner-occupied and rental, and 14 years in higher education administration. Vickie received both her BS and JD from The University of Tulsa and is a big Golden Hurricane supporter. When not working, Vickie can often be found on nearby trails with her dog and her camera.

Nia serves as the Director of Real Estate and Asset Management for PartnerTulsa, managing existing public assets, real estate, and resources to ensure they provide maximum economic impact and generate sustainable revenues to support organizational operations. Prior to this role, Nia spent over 13 years working at international commercial real estate firms managing commercial and industrial properties. Nia is excited about helping to achieve PartnerTulsa’s mission to make Tulsa an extraordinary city for all its citizens. She works to remain abreast of current real estate industry trends and how they can support Tulsa’s advancement toward shared prosperity and racial equity.

Ashley Chaney serves as the Senior Real Estate Project Manager for PartnerTulsa, removing barriers to growth for local businesses and developers. Prior to this role she served as the Development Services Liaison in the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, and prior to that as the Infrastructure Development Coordinator in the City of Tulsa's Development Services Department. With nearly 10 years’ experience working for the City of Tulsa, Ashley has a passion for improving business’ experience working with the City of Tulsa and streamlining the permitting process.

Karyn joins the Partner Tulsa team with more than two decades of outstanding housing and development experience. With experience in both the private and non-profit sectors across three states, she brings a uniquely deep perspective. She is passionate about housing in all its forms, and in the special role housing plays in community creation, stabilization, and growth.

Billy joins PartnerTulsa as the Real Estate and Assets Project Manager, serving as a member of AmeriCorps. During his term, he will assist with property disposition and evaluate sites for potential development projects. Prior to this role, Billy worked in operations management and managed a large staff for a local event venue. While relatively new to Real Estate, Billy has long had a passion for Real Estate and Economic Development. He enjoys keeping up to date on the newest developments coming to Tulsa. Billy is excited at the opportunity to make a positive impact in his hometown.