ABOUT US
The Oklahoma Society for Culture Appreciation (OS4CA) was founded with the following missions:
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Promote Culture and the Arts within the State of Oklahoma through managed events, logistic support, and financial grants.
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Promote Oklahoma Art and Culture to communities outside the state.
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Bring together divergent cultures and build community utilizing The Arts and realization of our own commonality as humans.
Oklahoma Society for Culture Appreciation, Inc is a registered 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization.
Donations are Tax Deductible to Extent Allowed by Law.
EIN: 85-3846414
Who we are
Founded in 2020, the Oklahoma Society for Culture Appreciation seeks to fulfill its mission with a philosophy of Promoting Education and Community Through Entertainment.
We are driven by a vision of cultural celebration that is not imported, but homegrown & fueled by local talent, business engagement, and meaningful partnerships. Our events are not only designed to entertain, but to educate, empower, and connect the people of Oklahoma and beyond.
What sets us apart is our commitment to excellence, our dedication to cultural literacy, and our belief that collaboration is stronger than competition. We aim to create programming that highlights the rich diversity within our communities while supporting the artists, educators, and organizations that call this state home.
We are a collective of individuals united by a passion for culture and a shared goal: to build inclusive, engaging, and educational experiences; to administer charitable grants and programming; and to form strong, long-lasting partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions. Together, we’re working to cultivate a landscape where culture thrives; not just through who we bring in, but through who we lift up.
Founded By: Melinda West, Shailaja Marion, Zachary Murphy
What WE do
We are a community focused non-profit, and the simplest way to understand it is as a collection of programs, each built for a specific purpose and all pulling in the same direction. Some are designed for the neighborhood around you, some for the people who love a particular kind of culture, and some for the donors, charities, and partners who make the rest possible. What they share is a reason to exist beyond themselves.
The programs closest to everyday life live together in LINC|UP, our family of community building programs. They exist to connect people with what is already around them: where to find local resources and government services, what is happening this weekend, which neighborhood businesses and creators deserve a visit, where to learn something new, and how to see their own heritage and stories reflected back to them. Our educational programs, volunteer programs, donor & charity programs, and partner networks sit beside them, each serving the mission without being tied to any single neighborhood.
Our events programs include, TOKYO, OK - a Japanese & Anime Celebration, HEROIC - a Comic & Pop Culture Convention, CRASHLANDED - a literacy convention focused on sci-fi, RED EARTH MOSAIC - Oklahoma's Own Arts & Culture Festival, and OK, PRESS START - a gaming convention of all kinds. Each carry their own mission within ours, and none of them exists to turn a profit. They are cultural, educational, and experiential programming, where fans, artists, and curious first-timers learn from one another and spend a few days belonging to something.
Our range shapes how we operate. We can scale from a gathering of ten to an event of twenty thousand, and we are as comfortable with one as with the other. A school, business, group of artists, city agency, or community that wants a cultural experience of its own can bring us an idea at any size, and we have the experience in building and maintaining partnerships with every kind of organization to help carry it out. Please, Come to an event, explore a program, support our work, or join us.
The Board
Officers
Melinda West
Chairperson of the Board
Shailaja (Shai) Marion
Treasurer of the Board
Chairperson Pro Tempore of the Board
Zachary (Zac) Murphy
Vice-Chairperson of the Board
Community Relations Officer of the Board
Eric Hammons
Secretary of the Board
Otto Schenck
Sergeant-At-Arms of the Board
Matthew (Minty) Jackson
Acting Personnel Officer of the Board
Deputy Officers
Roger (Rog) Smith
Deputy Treasurer of the Board
*Vacant*
Deputy Personnel Officer of the Board
Benjamin (Ben) Ekhoff
Deputy Secretary of the Board
Tara Bennett
Deputy Community Relations Officer of the Board
Peter Adolphsen
Deputy Sergeant-At-Arms of the Board
Uriah Davis
Deputy Community Relations Officer of the Board
Voting Members
Stephen Piveral
Seat 1
Kristie Wofford
Seat 2
Heather Humphrey
Seat 3
Lizette Ojeda
Seat 4
Brandon Miles
Seat 5
Chris Perez
Seat 6
CEO, Warguts E-Sports
Crystal Finch
Seat 7
Mavis Wallace
Seat 8
*vacant*
Seat 9
*vacant*
Seat 10
Advisors to the Board
Brandi Summers, Volunteer - OS4CA
Mileena Summers, Volunteer - OS4CA
Ariel Scholten-Horry, Partner, CMO - Neat Media House
Past Members of the Board
Jessica Hays*
Bran Canup*
Michael Simmons
Eric Wise*
Chelsey Gay*
Bill Scott^
Harmony McDaniel
Shannon Walsh^
Brian Barger^
Lori Hill^
James Ochoa^
Kaitlyn Arnold
Danielle Haller*
Heather Ball*
Mary Cervantes
Jessica Clay
Blake Ridgway^
Chip Knight^
Beka Schenck
Heather Alden*
* denotes service as an Officer of the Board
^ denotes service as an Advisor to the Board Only
Organizational Leadership
CABINET
Communications & Technology
Zac Murphy
Director
Tara Bennett
Assistant Director
Ashten Notz
Personal Assistant
Operations
Melinda West
Director,
President of OS4CA
Eric Hammons
Assistant Director,
Vice-President of OS4CA
*Vacant*
Personal Assistant
Finance
Shai Marion
Director
*vacant*
Assistant Director
Ricki Vasquez
Personal Assistant
Logistics
Peter Adolphsen
Director
Wolfy Simmons
Assistant Director
Rex Templeton
Personal Assistant
Programming & Guests
Melinda West
Director
Otto Schenck
Assistant Director
Sarah Galbreath
Assistant Director
*vacant*
Personal Assistant
Staff Coordination
*Vacant*
Assistant Director
Minty Jackson
Acting Director
*vacant*
Personal Assistant
DEPARTMENT HEADS
Communications & Technology
Serenity Lennox
Head of Accessibilities
Attendee Services
Kate Wolfinger
Head of Information Services
Attendee Services
Jessy Clay
Head of VIP Services
Attendee Services
Uriah Davis
Head of Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Kari Adams
Head of Partners
Community Engagement
Ben Ekhoff
Head of Charity
Community Engagement
Blake Ridgway
Head of Information Technology
I.T.
I.T.
Samuel Rose
Head of Audio/Visual Operations
Birdy Boudreaux
Head of Public Relations Operations
PR OPerations
Crystal Finch
Head of Merchandise Creation
PR OPerations
Stephen Piveral
Head of Creative Arts
PR OPerations
Gabby McBride
Head of Social Media
PR OPerations
Staff Coordination
Ashten Notz
Head of Personal Assistants
Staff Services
Ethan McGowan & Jay Newman
Co-Heads of Staff Hospitality
Staff Services
Finance
Rog Smith
Head of Shopping Bazaar Operations
Crystal Finch
Head of Merchandise Sales
*vacant*
Head of Registration
Internal Sales
Internal Sales
Internal Sales
Logistics
Elizabeth Garcia
Head of Traffic Control
Jon Banks
Head of Access Control
Wolfy Simmons
Head of Facilities
Safty
Safty
Safty
Kai Seaton
Head of Logistics Operations
Logistics OPerations
Programming & Guests
Kristie Wofford
Head of Gaming - Tabletop & Specialty
Brandon Miles
Head of Contests
Beka Schenck
Head of Cosplay
Programming
Programming
Programming
Ben Ekhoff
Head of Main Events
Programming
Mak Demuth
Head of Panels & Workshops
Programming
Lisa Rowland
Head of Guest Relations - Cosplayers
Guest Relations
Kaitlyn Arnold
Head of Guest Relations - Performers & Artists
Guest Relations
DONATE TO OS4CA
Donations allow us to continue producing additional educational programming & Events.
Current Donations will be applied to: 2027 Event & Community Volunteers
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Amount
$5
$10
$15
Other