STILLWATER, Okla. — Leadership Oklahoma Class XXVI participants will conclude a three-day education and workshop development session in Stillwater at noon Saturday.

The class members have been staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites, which is owned and operated by Class III Leadership Oklahoma graduate  Joe Martin, while attending educational sessions and experiencing Stillwater’s hospitality, Stillwater Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Cristy Morrison said. Morrison is a Leadership Oklahoma Class XV graduate.

She and Oklahoma State University Center for Innovation and Economic Development President Joe Alexander co-chaired the local committee that put together the bid for the workshop and developed the sessions.

The Leadership Oklahoma program awarded the Education and Workforce Development Session to Stillwater based on that bid.  

“A bid is submitted to Leadership Oklahoma annually for the honor of hosting the upcoming class in Stillwater,” Morrison said.

“The classes are made up of decision-makers from across the state who have the ability to ensure future groups host retreats, conferences, meetings or special events in our community.”

Leadership Oklahoma Class XXVI participants arrived in Stillwater Thursday afternoon and will complete the session at noon Saturday.

Local members of Class XXVI are John Killam, president, Stan Clark Cos. and Jamie Payne, assistant vice president and chief human relations officer, Oklahoma State University.

The foundation of Leadership Oklahoma is the class program, an educational, issues-oriented, 10-month experience. Monthly sessions are held in communities throughout the state.  

Each year Oklahoma leaders who represent a wide geographic base and diverse backgrounds and vocations are selected to participate. Individually, they must demonstrate a dedication to Oklahoma’s progress and the ability to exercise leadership in recognizing and resolving issues of statewide significance.  

“We bring in the leader of each statewide educational sector to participate in the session.  It’s not often one has the opportunity to interact one-on-one with these decision makers in a single setting,” Alexander said.

Each class is exposed to the many social and environmental complexities of the state in order to stimulate inquiry, analysis and independent development of solutions for the public good.  

Class members meet and talk with Oklahoma’s leaders and explore the state’s opportunities, needs and resources.

Based on the interaction and respect developed during the class year, a living network is formed — a network capable of identifying, evaluating and implementing project of value to the people of Oklahoma.  

To learn more about Leadership Oklahoma, visit www.leadership-oklahoma.com