My co-author, good friend, and University of Oklahoma Architecture Professor, Marjorie P. Callahan and I explored the stories of four prominent Oklahoma City (OKC) leaders to include Oklahoma City Councilwoman, Meg Salyer , Oklahoma Historical Society Director, Dr. Bob Blackburn, Oklahoma City Boathouse District Executive Director, Mike Knopp, and businessman Johnson Hightower.

To order, check out our author spotlight page at: 
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/reisweber_callahan
(eBook, Hardcover, and Paperback versions available)

THE INSPIRATION FOR OUR BOOK:
Marjorie and I brainstormed about how to inspire her mostly creative architecture students as to the importance of leadership in their careers.  Her fifth year students' "Leadership in Practice" class begged for a resource that fused the creative process of design and fundamentals of leader development.  We noted the world class architectural venues in our own backyard....and speculated there had to be intriguing leadership stories behind each one. We had to reel her students in with beautiful architecture and good stories and slyly slip in the leadership lesson via subliminal messages!  Ok, not so subliminal, but we knew good stories create great frameworks for association, learning, and long term memory....and our stories were intriguing.  After all, who would expect an Olympic rowing and kayaking training venue in Oklahoma City?...or what I affectionately refer to as "Little Big Town".

Devon Boathouse, Oklahoma City Boathouse District

Finish Line Tower, Oklahoma City Boathouse District

How about a $46M Smithsonian quality museum co-designed by the same architecture firm responsible for the National Air and Space Museum in D.C.?

Oklahoma History Center front entrance

Oklahoma History Center, rear view

The emergence of a hip and trendy mid-town area from a sagging, neglected urban corridor?

Automobile Alley intersection, Oklahoma City, OK

Or a legacy downtown office building from the early 20th Century that survived the ravages of urban renewal and the economic busts of the 1980's and 90's?

The Hightower Building, downtown Oklahoma City, OK

After interviewing each leader we were excited! Their stories illustrated many of  the traits of the Transformational Leader: a cluster of traits often exhibited by leaders in highly successful organizations:

1. Being a Role Model
2. Communicating an Inspiring Vision
3. Fostering the Creative Process
4. Encouraging Each Leader

Each story also contained these other essential elements to Transformational Leadership: trust, relationships, and the development of subordinates.

NOTE TO EVERYONE:  These leader traits can be observed, learned, and fine-tuned by everyone, not just the charismatic, the extroverted, or the overly ambitious. Don’t be caught without your saddlebag folks, these Oklahoma leadership stories will demonstrate how to refine old skills and lasso up new ones.  After learning about these Oklahoma standouts, you’ll be able to take charge of your own Leader Development Trail Ride and get ready to forge your own leadership legacy. Time to saddle up, Partner!