The Bartlesville Community Foundation board is pleased to announce the hiring of Mike Wilt as the organization’s new Executive Director.
“We are pleased to bring Mike Wilt on as the Foundations’ new Executive Director and are confident that with his leadership the BCF will continue to thrive. We are also sincerely grateful to Laura Jensen for her leadership during the transition and are enthusiastic about the Foundation’s future with Mike and Laura on our team.” – Mark Headley, BCF Board Chair
Wilt served eleven years as the Executive Director for the Bluestem Medical Foundation at Jane Phillips Medical Center. During that time, he also supervised public relations, marketing, and government affairs for the hospital. Prior to his tenure at Jane Phillips Medical Center, he served ten years as a state representative in the Oklahoma Legislature after being elected in 1996.
On October 15thWilt will join the Bartlesville Community Foundation team led in interim by Laura Jensen, Director of Affiliates and Community Outreach. The Foundation board appointed Jensen to this role after CEO Shawn Crawford accepted employment with the Tulsa Library Trust. Mike also joins Finance and Accounting Manager, Anne Swearingin who has been with the Foundation seven years and Jina Woods, Office Support Specialist who came on staff in August.
“I’m excited to welcome Mike to the BCF team. The Foundation has come a long way and I’m confident that together we can amplify the BCF’s momentum and local leadership” says Jensen.
In the last five years, the Foundation has grown six-fold closing out the 2017 fiscal year with nearly $12 million in assets and $1.4 million in local impact. As a collection of endowed funds, the Foundation exists to ensure the charitable organizations that are so important to the success of this community continue to flourish for years to come. Furthermore, the Foundation is a vehicle for people of any means to reach their philanthropic goals. By acting as common ground for all donors, corporations and nonprofits the Foundation can provide charitable administrative, investment, and grant making support for everyone.
An active member of the Bartlesville community for nearly 30 years, Wilt currently is involved with The Salvation Army, K-Life, and the Chamber of Commerce and frequently serves as master of ceremonies for many special events. In 2015, he was appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin to serve as a member of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to represent such an outstanding organization,” Wilt said. “The BCF has a wonderful mission with a very talented staff and passionate board members. I look forward to working together for the betterment of Bartlesville”
Wilt’s wife, Sherri, is president/CEO of the Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. They have been married for 33 years and are the proud parents of two daughters and one grand-daughter. Miranda and her husband, U.S. Army E6 Staff Sergeant Kyle Shelts, live in Copperas Cove, Texas with their 14-month-old daughter, Addilynne. A second grand-daughter is due in November. Olivia is a senior at Bartlesville High School. She plans to attend Oklahoma State University next fall.
