Echo

OKC for Soccer Welcomes Founding Members of Advisory Committee  📣 This diverse panel of 33 local civic, business, sports, and cultural leaders will drive efforts to shape the future of professional soccer in Oklahoma City. OKC for Soccer | OKC es Fútbol, the dynamic initiative to reimagine professional soccer in Oklahoma City, today announced the founding members of the OKC for Soccer Committee. This diverse group of leaders will help build a world-class professional soccer club with women’s and men’s teams that accurately reflects the vibrant Oklahoma City of today. The OKC for Soccer Committee’s collection of civic, business, sports, and cultural leaders from across the community aligns with OKC for Soccer’s goal to ensure that all of Oklahoma City is represented in the development of the club. “We have been blown away by the enthusiasm and groundswell of support surrounding professional soccer in Oklahoma City, especially the prospect of adding a women’s team,” said Court Jeske, Partner, Sports & Entertainment, at Echo, majority investor in the OKC for Soccer initiative. “As we continue to reimagine the future of soccer in our city, we are thrilled to have advisors joining us from key corners of our region. Their wide-ranging perspective and unique insights will be critical to shaping a vision that is truly representative of our community.” Founding members of the committee are listed in alphabetical order: Governor Bill Anoatubby, Donna Bartley Mike Beckham Nathan P Cao David Castillo Zac Craig Mackenzie Dilbeck Robert Funk Jr. Steve Hahn Karen Hancock Jorge Hernandez Brent Hubbard Court Jeske Sean Jones Christian Kanady Tim McLaughlin Fred Mendoza Matthew Mercer Mark Moore Shani Nealy Ransome Oliver Salvador Ontiveros Edurne Pineda Matt Pinnell Dr. Jamie Polk Adam Rainbolt Bill Raynor Sarah Roberts Mautra Staley Jones, Ed.D. Suzie Symcox Sean Trauschke Stan Wagnon Additional members will be announced in the coming weeks.

Following a national search, the board of the Oklahoma City Innovation District has named local economic developer Jeff Seymour as the organization’s new president and CEO. The Innovation District is at a critical juncture, with the MAPS 4-funded Innovation Hall and the related Convergence Development set to open early next year. More on this: https://bit.ly/3YgHUya

We at Wheeler Bio, Inc. are excited to announce the appointment of industry veteran Patrick Lucy to the team as the new Chief Executive Officer! With an extensive track record of success, Patrick brings over 32 years of diverse experience in the biotechnology industry to Wheeler as we enter the next phase of growth. Building on the vision laid by Jesse McCool and the founding team, Patrick brings a fresh perspective and expertise to Wheeler that will allow us to continue to provide high-quality CMC and CGMP manufacturing services to our clients while growing with their needs. Please join us in welcoming Patrick to the Wheeler team!

We are excited to share our new segment 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬! These insights will share the collective wisdom and perspectives of our #OUAlumni. These insights will cover industry trends, career advice, challenges and solutions, and how the University of Oklahoma helped them achieve their goals. For our first 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, meet Court Jeske, President of Echo Soccer. 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮! 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. - I have the great privilege of leading the professional soccer movement in Oklahoma City. Specifically, I get to work with my partners at Echo, a multi-strategy investment firm founded by fellow OU alumnus Christian Kanady. We have acquired a men's professional soccer franchise that will compete in the United Soccer League (USL). The future home of that club, and a TBD women's club we are exploring, will be the beautiful new downtown OKC stadium project that will break ground in 2025. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝗨 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿? - University of Oklahoma - Price College of Business combined with my OU Athletic Department experience, were a great combo to hit the ground running in the sports business world, and at the time, I was thinking college athletics. Ultimately, it took a study abroad experience to get me switched on to the idea of the international business of sports. Regardless of the specific sport or level, unless you are an elite athlete, the sports world requires a business acumen and diligence to create long term relationships that can take you far. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀? - Be curious, read and immerse yourself in whatever trade you are going into. Also, try not to be limited by geography or what options you have today – think about opportunities that can be a bridge to where you want to be. I had always wanted to work in international sports, and Major League Soccer (MLS) gave me the chance to lead their international business group and deal with titans of industry such as FIFA, English Premier League Clubs, Mexican Soccer, etc. However, I would have never been qualified for the role at MLS without the experience I received from four years spent at USA Rugby negotiating and running smaller international events in the U.S. and around the globe.

We are excited to share our new segment 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬! These insights will share the collective wisdom and perspectives of our #OUAlumni. These insights will cover industry trends, career advice, challenges and solutions, and how the University of Oklahoma helped them achieve their goals. For our first 𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, meet Court Jeske, President of Echo Soccer. 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮! 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. - I have the great privilege of leading the professional soccer movement in Oklahoma City. Specifically, I get to work with my partners at Echo, a multi-strategy investment firm founded by fellow OU alumnus Christian Kanady. We have acquired a men's professional soccer franchise that will compete in the United Soccer League (USL). The future home of that club, and a TBD women's club we are exploring, will be the beautiful new downtown OKC stadium project that will break ground in 2025. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗢𝗨 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿? - University of Oklahoma - Price College of Business combined with my OU Athletic Department experience, were a great combo to hit the ground running in the sports business world, and at the time, I was thinking college athletics. Ultimately, it took a study abroad experience to get me switched on to the idea of the international business of sports. Regardless of the specific sport or level, unless you are an elite athlete, the sports world requires a business acumen and diligence to create long term relationships that can take you far. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀? - Be curious, read and immerse yourself in whatever trade you are going into. Also, try not to be limited by geography or what options you have today – think about opportunities that can be a bridge to where you want to be. I had always wanted to work in international sports, and Major League Soccer (MLS) gave me the chance to lead their international business group and deal with titans of industry such as FIFA, English Premier League Clubs, Mexican Soccer, etc. However, I would have never been qualified for the role at MLS without the experience I received from four years spent at USA Rugby negotiating and running smaller international events in the U.S. and around the globe.