2024 Executive Board
Want to get in touch? Email VPFinance@tdokc.org for any inquiries.
| Board Advisor Susan Donnelly | Susan Donnelly, M.Ed. PHR, a strategic and visionary leader with over 20 years of experience as a leader in business and organizational development and is personally invested in advancing the workforce in Oklahoma through talent and organizational development. Serving on the Central Oklahoma Board has provided wonderful friendships, connections and opportunities. Currently, she serves as the Workforce Director at the State of Oklahoma Department of Health, she excels in creating a thriving organizational culture by investing in leadership development, coaching and supporting employees. Susan's expertise in leadership development, accountability, performance improvement, change and conflict management, and employee experience has made her a sought-after speaker. Her dedication to making a positive impact is evident through her active involvement on workforce and talent development boards in Oklahoma. With a commitment to helping organizations succeed, Susan brings real-world experience and a unique approach to tackling business challenges. Susan actively contributes to multiple workforce and talent development boards, dedicated to advancing the great state of Oklahoma. Through her involvement and contributions, Susan strives to make a positive impact and help the community thrive. |
| Past President Brandi Williams | Brandi is a dedicated and passionate Learning and Development professional with a strong commitment to helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential. Throughout her career, Brandi has worked with diverse industries, including government agencies, professional sports, and higher education institutions. Brandi has been an active member of ATD since 2019 and served on the board in previous roles such as Administrative Assistant, President-Elect and President. As the current President, she believes the Central Oklahoma Chapter offers so many amazing benefits to the individuals and organizations around Oklahoma, not only in talent development but in a variety of other topics that are important to professional development. |
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President
Emily Gise | Emily Gise is a dynamic Master Connector and Development Professional known for her dedication to creating enriching and inclusive solutions. As the Program Director for the "Grow with Oklahoma" program, she pioneered the first state-led partnership with Grow with Google. Emily's impressive track record includes building strong relationships with State Agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and nonprofits. She excels in training, leadership development, and stakeholder management. Emily is an advocate for equity and access to educational opportunities, and her work earned her recognition as a Next Gen Under 30 Winner and other prestigious awards. With a Bachelor's in Psychology and certifications in Project Management, Lean Six Sigma, and ATD Adult Facilitation, she brings a wealth of expertise. Currently, Emily serves as the President-Elect of the Association of Talent Development, Central Oklahoma Chapter, and she is actively involved as a Board Chair for Oklahoma's Summer Summit Workforce Development event series and a board member for St. Jude's Evening of Hope. Her leadership contributed to a record-breaking fundraising achievement of over half a million dollars last year. |
| President - Elect Madi Dyer | Madi has 10+ years of experience in high performance organizational development and helps to support her clients in achieving their most important talent development goals. She joined ATD Central Oklahoma Chapter in 2020, served as the VP of Marketing in 2021 and in 2022 began volunteering as the VP of Strategic Engagement. She enjoys volunteering for ATD, reading, painting, and learning languages. She is the mother of two boys, and has been married to her husband Kyle since 2014. |
| VP of Programming Keith Varner | Keith Varner is the Manager of Learning & Development at Love’s Travel Stops. Prior to Love’s, Keith was a Senior Human Resource Manager with the Cintas Corporation, and he spent 30 years in the US Army retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2018. Keith’s background in Human Resources, Recruiting, Operations, and Training serves him well in his current role, where he leads an L&D department focused on providing exceptional, engaging, and efficient training to Love’s 38,000 employees in over 650 locations nationwide. Keith holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a master’s degree in Military History from American Military University, He is a graduate of the CLO Accelerator Course, is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources, and a Certified Workplace Coach. |
| VP of Membership Tenysha Haynes | Tenysha Haynes specializes in organizational and leadership development, diversity, equity & inclusion, and transformational learning. During her 17 years with the state of Oklahoma, Tenysha has transformed job skills training programs, and leadership development programs and created an organizational development service designed to develop whole teams. She is passionate about helping others be their best self, plants, and her family. My ATD membership has reignited my passion for talent development! Having a community that I can learn from, share resources, and get encouragement to reach higher has been invaluable to me personally and professionally. |
 | VP of Marketing and Communications
Sydney Forsee |
Sydney Forsee has almost a decade of experience in media and broadcast production. She currently oversees the Distanced Learning Livestream for Public Strategies’ brand— Work Ready Oklahoma. Previously, Sydney focused on community engagement and participant recruitment for Work Ready, but now leverages her media background to deliver engaging curriculum to participants across the program’s growing 23 sites. With several years in learning and development, she has produced and presented many instructional webinars using adult learning models to enhance client retention and satisfaction. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma. Sydney’s involvement in ATD stems from her continued interest in adult learning and workforce development. When she is not working or serving as this year’s VP of Communication & Marketing, Sydney is reading, cooking, spending time with her cats, or exploring OKC’s newest restaurants. |
| VP of Technology Chrystal Hedges | Chrystal is an individual contributor and Manager of Instructional Design at Office of Management and Enterprise Services where she serves over 32,000 state employees in their learning needs. She is passionate and highly driven to create high-quality, purposeful learning solutions. She has 8+ years of formal and informal experience in instructional design, 10+ years of experience leading others and projects and 16+ years facilitating webinars, courses, programs and more. Chrystal values her ATD membership because it provides her the opportunities to connect with other talent development professionals, share ideas and resources and fill her own bucket up with inspiration and creativity! Chrystal enjoys reading, sketch noting, hiking, and glamping with her family! |
