All participants are strongly advised to register in advance to provide a quicker, more efficient log-in experience. Beginning July 8, online registration requires you to fill out your personal information for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education to enter into its new data storage system. After you complete your information for ODCTE, you will continue on to the OkACTE website to verify your personal information with OkACTE. From there, you will proceed with registration and membership options. The online registration/membership is located on a secured site. When registering, please be sure to print your paid receipt. This will help facilitate your log-in process.
Raylynn Thompson – Indian Capital Technology Center and HOSA
Biomed program is just what this future doctor ordered.
THEN: A voracious learner who said she ran out of classes to take by the time she was a sophomore in high school. Raylynn Thompson had completed pre-AP biology and the introductory Project Lead The Way courses at Muskogee High School. When she heard about Indian Capital Technology Center’s biomedical academy, she knew it was a perfect fit. She enrolled as a high school junior in order to take the advanced classes she needed to reach her medical career goals.
Raylynn worked long, hard hours to complete the biomed program. She even found time to serve as chapter president of HOSA, the CareerTech student organization for future
health professionals. Her efforts earned her the designation of Stern Award Recipient Valedictorian of her high school class, with a weighted GPA of 4.7. When she graduated from MHS, Raylynn had already earned 31 college credits.
She attributes much of her success to Indian Capital, which helped her
Gain acceptance into 65 universities.
Receive multiple full-ride scholarships.
Develop classroom skills that allow her to better understand college coursework.
The academy provided Raylynn with a knowledge base that allows her to better grasp concepts in her college biology and calculus courses.
“Since I was exposed to it early on,” she said, “I understand it better, easier and faster.”
NOW: Raylynn accepted a full-ride scholarship at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, where she enrolled as a sophomore biology major with a concentration on medicine. She said that although the curriculum is challenging, she finds herself assisting classmates who are further along in their education.
She plans to graduate from ASU in three years. She then plans to go to medical school to become a neonatologist, a pediatrician who specializes in the care of newborn infants.
“CareerTech students begin with the end in mind, so they don’t undervalue the work they’re doing.”
Registration is open for the 2020 ICBS Show, an annual event that offers businesses help working with state and federal government agencies. This year’s summit will be Aug. 18-20.
The networking and business opportunity event will be online via www.icbsshow.com this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. Registration is available at www.icbsshow.com/register for $35 and covers all three days of the event.
Training sessions include federal regulatory and legal changes, the Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification and General Service Administration Federal Supply Schedules. Other topics include the Integrated Award Environment and Small Business Administration program changes, such as the Women-Owned Small Business and HUBZone programs. Business matching, connecting businesses with potential partners in government, will take place Aug. 19-20.
The Oklahoma Procurement Technical Assistance Center Division of CareerTech and Tribal Government Institute are presenting the show, which has taken place annually since 2006.
“We have retained much of the successful format of ICBS as we moved it virtual this year,” said Carter Merkle, program manager of OkPTAC. “We have a similar lineup of briefings, and we are excited to offer a virtual matchmaking that appears to be as good for our participants as our popular in-person event each year.
“What we haven’t tackled this year is a virtual exhibit hall and sponsorships, which could be something developed in the future, but we hope to bring people together in person next year, possibly with enhancements using the virtual meeting skills we are learning this year.”
The ICBS Show is online only to avoid spreading COVID-19 while also continuing to help businesses and individuals network, learn and meet potential new customers. The virtual platform may also result in new matchmaking participants by removing barriers such as travel costs. Early interest has been strong among personnel from several government agencies, Merkle said.
For more information, contact Merkle at 405-612-7386 or carter.merkle@careertech.ok.gov.
TGI is a Native American PTAC providing counseling and other services to tribal enterprises and native-owned companies in the Southern Plains and Eastern Oklahoma regions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. For more info on TGI, go to www.tgiok.com.
Procurement technical assistance centers are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency.
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources, and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 58 campuses, 394 K-12 school districts, 16 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult basic education service providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education, and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.
Tech Center helped Enid men cook up a plan for their new business.
THEN: Two backyard grill masters with an idea for a new business. Eldon Campbell and
Tyler Tate thought Enid, Oklahoma, needed a place where fellow grillers could go for all their meat and grilling needs. They entered their business idea in Autry Technology Center’s Cherokee Strip Business Model Competition in 2014. It was apparently a pretty good idea, because the men won $10,500 and services from Autry Tech.
Tate said the competition helped them prepare for the next steps in their entrepreneurship. He said the contest helped them get organized enough to:
Buy equipment and hire an architect.
Move into the Strate Center to continue to develop their business idea.
Develop the correct plans to provide to potential investors when they pitched their idea.
NOW: Campbell and Tate are the proud owners of T&C Meats, a retail meat market in Enid. They moved into their own facility in 2017 and carry a wide variety of specialty meats, cheeses, hand-crafted sausages and bratwurst, seasonings and more. T&C makes their own snack sticks and jerky. They also provide specialized barbecue and dry-aged steaks
“Autry Technology Center is an unbelievable resource people need to take advantage of.”
Tyler Tate, business owner
Nontraditional is becoming a tradition for female diesel services technician.
THEN: A soft-spoken woman whose goal was to provide a better life for her and her family. Leisha Mahseet wanted a career that could do help her do that, and she wasn’t afraid of hard work. Leisha didn’t set out to break any stereotypes; she just wanted to make a decent living. She enrolled in Caddo Kiowa Technology Center’s diesel services tech program, and once she started the hands-on training, she said, she loved it. At CKTC, Leisha
Earned ASE student certifications in engines, brakes, steering and suspension and electrical.
Maintained excellent grades, positioning herself at the top of her class.
Served as a strong role model for her classmates as well as for women considering nontraditional careers.
Her instructor said Leisha is a natural leader.
“She’s a perfect example of someone who breaks traditions and promotes equity in a male-dominated industry,” Allan Leatherbury said.
Breaking traditions is nothing new for Leisha. She was the first female employee to work at the top of the wind turbines for the Blue Canyon Wind Farm near Apache.
NOW: Leisha completed the diesel services tech program and went on to earn her commercial driver’s license through CKTC’s truck driver training program.
“I feel this is just the beginning for Leisha,” said Leatherbury. “She’s done quite well in the program, and I expect she will be even more successful in the field.”
Evelyn Morales – Metro Technology Centers and SkillsUSA
THEN: The daughter of immigrants, Evelyn Morales said she wanted to demonstrate the true meaning of serving and protecting her community.
“I want to make a difference in the way justice is served,” she said.
The Northwest Classen High School junior enrolled in the law enforcement education program at Metro Technology Centers and joined SkillsUSA’s Crime Scene Investigation program. There, Morales learned how to find and lift fingerprints and solve crimes.
Morales said the Metro Tech program
Helped her develop better communication skills.
Allowed her to earn her unarmed security license and CPR certification.
Taught her leadership skills.
Those leadership skills have come in handy in her job at Chick-Fil-A, where she said she was recently promoted to team leader.
The multi-talented high school student was also chosen to sing the national anthem at the opening ceremony of SkillsUSA’s national conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
NOW: Morales plans to finish high school this year, but her goals to serve and protect are just getting started. After graduation she plans to go to college and work as a detention officer. From there, she would like to work for the Oklahoma City Police Department, be a patrol officer and work in the K-9 unit.
“Power should not mean corruption,” she said. “As a Latina woman, I want to use strength and humility as a law enforcer.”
“I have matured during the CareerTech experience and learned to look at life in a more passionate way.”
Amanda London and Trinity Roe, 2020 practical nursing graduates from Pontotoc Technology Center in Ada, placed first in their category in HOSA International Leadership Conference competition with a service project to promote community awareness of meningitis.
Their project began with a presentation and expanded to include maroon ribbons, a video and a Facebook page. They placed second in state competition before advance to the international competition.
working with state and federal government agencies. This year’s summit will be Aug. 18-20.
family. Leisha Mahseet wanted a career that could do help her do that, and she wasn’t afraid of hard work. Leisha didn’t set out to break any stereotypes; she just wanted to make a decent living. She enrolled in 
true meaning of serving and protecting her community.