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Our Staff

Meet the Downtown Tulsa Partnership team!

Brian Kurtz
President & CEO

From trips with his grandma to the original Kaufman’s department store during the holidays to taking the bus to work with his dad in Downtown Pittsburgh, Brian has always had a special affinity for downtowns. While he will always love the view from the tops of the tallest buildings in any place, the street level — the intersection of people and place in the most planned, yet random environment — is where the magic and activity happen. He loves food, from cooking at home with his family and friends to trying Tulsa’s newest and mainstay restaurants. But what he loves most about food is its ability bring people together around a table to share time and stories with one another. Brian’s been working to enhance downtowns and urban areas for more than 15 years and has the fortune of leading a passionate team working toward a Downtown Tulsa that is welcoming and thriving for all.

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Debra Edwards
Office & Finance Administrator

Debra appreciates the simplicity of life, good food, friends, and family. She spends her spare time crafting projects for others, sewing, and reviving old furniture to give it new life. She is learning to navigate through the correct ways of staining and painting projects (YouTube makes it look so much easier). In the midst of storms, celebrating with her six grandchildren makes life brighter each day, and their joy fills her heart. She’s looking forward to learning woodworking and building her first table.

Daniel Jackson
Tulsa Service Year Fellow, Community Engagement

Daniel has always loved implementing ideas, whether big or small. Originally from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, he has had the opportunity to join the DTP team through the Tulsa Service Year program, which places recent college graduates at local nonprofit organizations. In his free time, Daniel enjoys watching the latest hit films and television shows, maintaining his love for the entertainment industry. Daniel also loves outdoor adventures and traveling. His next personal goal is to advance his Spanish skills from conversational to bilingual. 

Emily Scott
Director of Planning & Vitality

Emily’s an adventurer — evident through her mosaic job history, including traveling sales, a childbirth assistant, accounting, and owning her own food cart. Her travels and military family upbringing keep her rooted in her passion of Urban Planning, where Emily loves working to support the places and spaces we call home. Her career in planning includes a focus on neighborhood revitalization, housing, and community development, and she is passionate about the ways city systems can unlock economic opportunity and feed the entrepreneurial spirit. In her free time, she digs into her own business ideas, works on her home with her partner, Jess, and cuddles with her spoiled-rotten dog, Churchill.

Jacob Gatlin
Operations Manager

Jacob loves the outdoors and tries to be in nature as much as possible, from hiking, fishing, and exploring, to sitting on his porch admiring the pasture. Jacob was raised on a farm in Meeker, Oklahoma, so his lifelong goal is to have a ranch one day. He cherishes his four children, who are his passion and "the footprints he will leave behind." Jacob's friends describe him first as a father who has always been there for his kids and also a person who would do anything for his friends. His 10 years of manufacturing experience led him to Downtown Tulsa Partnership, and he is grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of such a great program to help an even greater city. 

Carley Gibson
Outreach Coordinator

Carley is a dedicated and compassionate individual with a strong passion for supporting those struggling with mental health and addiction. Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she plans to continue her education with a master’s degree in Social Work. As a mother of four — three boys and a baby girl — Carley balances her family life with her commitment to professional growth. Known for her positive attitude and uplifting energy, Carley is described as the life of the party. She is deeply motivated to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

Cassandra Williams
Marketing & Events Coordinator

Cassie thrives on creativity and fun inside and outside of work. She loves getting friends together for a good themed party, and is a playful aunt to 11 nieces and nephews. Her artistic talents shine through in her love for crochet, sewing, painting, and drawing. Evenings are spent with her husband, Carson, and their two dogs, Bennie and Roscoe, enjoying long walks and spoiling them with love. Carson and Cassie met at the University of Oklahoma and share a goal of walking 100 miles together by 2025.