OKPOLICY.ORG
The Oklahoma Policy Institute has announced three new members joining its Board of Directors: Kelsey Karper, Co-founder and Director of Logistical Creativity at Factory Obscura; Rodger T. Kerr, President and CEO of Altus Chamber of Commerce; and Roger Knak, CEO of Fairview Regional Medical Center.
Karper is an Oklahoma City-based curator, artist, and project manager, and she was a co-founded for the Factory Obscura art collaborative in Oklahoma City. As a curator, Karper focuses on projects that build community and create new opportunities for artists. She previously served as Associate Director of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, and she works as an independent project manager, helping organizations with research and planning.
Kerr has served as the President and CEO of the Altus Chamber of Commerce since 2018. Before joining the chamber, he served nearly 27 years with the Southwest Technology Center, including more than six years as its Chief Operating Officer. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, and he also earned a Master of Business Administration from Baker College and a Master of Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Knak has served as the CEO of Fairview Regional Medical Center for 16 years. Knak started his medical career after working as a professional firefighter paramedic and then rose through the profession to hospital management. He was named the Rural Health Leader of the Year in 2017 by the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma. Before joining Fairview Regional Medical Center, he served as CEO of Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas, where he previously served as its Director of Emergency Services and Chief Operating Officer. He earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from the University of the State of New York and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management and a Master of Business Administration, both from Friends University.
The three new board members were approved during OK Policy’s Board of Directors meeting in December. During that meeting, the organization recognized the service of four longtime board members who were leaving the board, including Ann-Clore Duncan, Dr. John Feaver, and Ken Ferguson, who were rotating off the board; and Dr. Holbrook Lawson, who stepped away from the board to pursue other opportunities.
“The transition of board members is always a bittersweet time, as we are grateful for the many years of service from those who have served on our board but also excited to welcome new board volunteers,” said OK Policy Board Chair Dr. Joe Siano. “Our newest members will be bringing a wealth of experience and perspective from the arts, health care, economic development, education, rural issues, and more. Their insights will further strengthen and diversify our board’s work to support non-partisan policy analysis and advocacy to move Oklahoma forward.”
OK Policy is an independent nonprofit that seeks to advance equitable and fiscally responsible policies that expand opportunity for all Oklahomans through nonpartisan research, analysis, and advocacy. The organization is governed by a board of directors that includes Chair Dr. Joseph Siano, Vice Chair Erika Lucas, Treasurer Charles Garrett, Secretary Jeff Berrong, Kara Berst, Susan Bynum, Beverly K. Carmichael, Caroline Guerra Wolf, Ashley Harris Philippsen, Dr. John Schumann, and Rebecca Thompson.
