The Pinnacle Awards recognizes women who are exemplary leaders in the Tulsa community, who have served as role models, and whose contributions have made a long-lasting impact.
Women can be nominated in one of the following categories:
Arts & Humanities
Recognizes the achievement and leadership of women whose contributions in arts, culture, and heritage inspire and benefit our community.
Health & Wellness
Recognizes successful and community-focused leadership in health and wellness fields. This award will honor those that improve community health outcomes, address health inequities, or lead in any major research field that connects community to better health habits.
Corporate Business
Recognizes leaders in the professional or business sector who are role models in their careers and community involvement. Also recognizes leaders in the skilled trades, industry, or service sector whose achievements have broken down barriers and inspired positive change.
Entrepreneur
Recognizes impactful and successful women entrepreneurs and small business owners. Leadership and impact are core tenants of this award. This award will honor those that innovate, create, and change our communities for the better.
Community Service
Recognizes influential community builders and leaders in the public sector whose professional or volunteer leadership and contributions help create a community in which everyone can thrive.
Education
Recognizes exceptional educators in schools, institutions, or community programs who are role models in their profession and community involvement, leading and inspiring positive change.
Rising Star
Recognizes a young woman under 40 who is making significant contributions to her school, community and/or work place. She demonstrates maturity, innovation, and leadership and inspires others to follow her example.
Corporate Champion
Recognizes a business in Tulsa, Oklahoma that is exemplary for developing women as leaders, creating an inclusive work environment, and has dedicated resources to ensure a safe and equitable workplace for all.
Individual Nomination Form
Nominations accepted September 15 – October 15, 2023.
Pinnacle Awards 2024 - Individual Nomination Form
Past Award Winners [view]
Corporate Champion Nomination Form
Nominations accepted September 15 – October 15, 2023.
Pinnacle Awards 2024 - Corporate Champion
Past Award Winners [view]
1. Contact Information Nominator/Advocate
Jane/Joe Doe
name@gmail.com
123 Main St.
Tulsa, OK 12345
(918) 123-4567
Employer: YWCA Tulsa
2. Contact Information Nominee
Johnna Hayes
name@gmail.com
123 Main St.
Tulsa, OK 12345
(918) 123-4567
Employer: Self-Employed
3. Please select Nomination Category
Entrepreneur
4. Age Range of Nominee
41-60
5. Nominees Race/Ethnicity
White
6. Degrees Earned (College, Masters, Doctorate, Other)
She has a G.E.D.
7. Work Experience (Include Current Title and Company and Past Positions)
Co-owner 3 Sirens Restaurant Group, which is three Bramble Breakfast and Bars, Bird and Bottle, Hole Mole, Shaky Jake’s and more to come.
Johnna started out as a hostess in local food industry and has devoted her career to it. She worked everywhere from Crow Creek, Sonoma, Stone Horse, Tall Grass and more along the way, learning from proven industry leaders and building relationships with numerous patrons that became regulars.
About five years ago, investor Debra Zinke tapped Johnna to operate restaurants as a co-owner in the newly formed 3 Sirens Restaurant Group. Today Johnna oversees operations of a restaurant business that has grown to include five concepts with more in development.
8. Volunteer Experience (List all positions held and organizations served)
Johnna is often sponsoring local nonprofit fundraisers and hosting clothing drives, water bottle drives, etc.
She takes part in Restaurant Week benefitting Oklahoma Food Bank every year and serves a spokesperson.
9. How has your nominee impacted the Tulsa Community?
As a restaurant owner, she employs over 150 people across the metro. She relishes the opportunity to be a leader and mentor and help employees grow from starting as hosts to helping manage her businesses. She currently has female managers running all her restaurants, which is extremely rare in the restaurant industry. She also encourages her employees to pursue their dreams even if that means leaving her company.
As a leader in the restaurant industry, she has often spoke up for the industry during COVID-19 and her role as a female business owner in numerous media appearances. She also has leveraged her relationship with the media to promote coat drives during historic winter freezes and worked with many local service agencies to distribute the coats, as well as hundreds of water bottles during record summer heat.
In February 2022 when Burnco BBQ restaurant burned down, Johnna spearheaded a fundraising effort that raised over $20,000 for employees of Burn Co and neighboring FarmBar because she saw the importance of helping fellow restaurant industry workers. https://www.gofundme.com/f/johnna-hayes
10. Can you share an example of when the nominee has shown courage in the face of adversity? – Optional
She’s a restaurant owner who has survived the COVID-19 pandemic and a continued supply chain shortage as well as inflation. She had to shut down her restaurants and lay off all her employees and then was able to hire them all back and more. She could have quit and changed industries, but instead stepped back up to the plate and started swinging for the fences. It was inspirational to witness.
11. List any Press/Recognition/Articles/Awards received (add website link if available)? – Optional
https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/dining/watch-now-shaky-jakes-serves-up-solid-burgers-franks-and-drinks/article_5d1c1c68-fed3-11ec-abbb-e78c68b5a0bc.html
https://www.tulsapeople.com/table-talk/ba-bramble-becomes-burger-joint-shaky-jakes-at-night/article_cc604a24-f7ba-11ec-bdb5-2b7508a19f45.html
https://okmag.com/blog/to-jim-love-johnna/
https://www.fox23.com/news/local/local-business-encouraging-community-support-small-businesses/MULVWIWIEFBVJI36KVREAENSDQ/
https://www.tulsapeople.com/table-talk/time-to-dine-16th-annual-restaurant-week-returns-sept-9/article_e30fbf96-288b-11ed-a6f0-c32129d59298.html
https://www.newson6.com/story/61e0b9312bed6c0c0db7938e/coowner-of-tulsa-restaurant-works-to-provide-employees-mental-health-support
https://www.newson6.com/story/6025bf1f198ee0166928e789/tulsa-restaurant-gives-out-bottles-of-bubbly-in-exchange-for-blankets-clothes-for-homeless
https://www.tulsapeople.com/city-desk/tulsan-of-the-year-essential-workers/article_0ef67228-4b8c-11eb-90b4-93a06ef0ea78.html
https://podcasts.apple.com/tt/podcast/3-03-order-up-johnna-hayes/id1419753902?i=1000448575112
https://www.tulsapeople.com/multimedia/podcast/running-restaurants-during-a-pandemic—johnna-hayes-3-sirens-restaurant-group/article_b8eb0fba-0b61-11ec-a5a0-57caa918f722.html
1. Contact Information Nominator/Advocate
Jane/Joe Doe
name@gmail.com
123 Main St.
Tulsa, OK 12345
(918) 123-4567
Employer: YWCA Tulsa
2. Name of Company
Ultimate Performance Volleyball Club
3. Company Contact Information
Jane/Joe Doe
name@gmail.com
(918) 123-4567
4. Has this Company signed the City of Tulsa Pay Equity pledge (Yes/No)?
Yes
5. What are the qualities and traits that make the nominee a Corporate Champion for women in the workplace?
The Ultimate Performance Volleyball Club serves nearly 500 girls and young women under the age of 18 in Tulsa, teaching volleyball and life skills and mentoring them on a pathway in life filled with possibility.
UPVBC has achieved a 100% high school graduation rate, with nearly 85% of their members enrolling in college or university, many of whom earn scholarships in athletics and/or academics. In the first 3-years of the business, UPVBC adopted a financially responsible business model, and grew its member base from 30 girls to nearly 300. Now in its 6th year of operations, UPVBC has increased its team of coaches, mentors, a facility, and has grown the business significantly to include expansion to multiple sports facilities in Tulsa.
A unique area of UPVBC’s business is its leadership model for female coaches. Entrepreneurship is encouraged, empowerment is a main focus. Coaches are given flexibility with scheduling to allow for child and home care to remain a priority. Equal pay for coaches based on experience and merit, regardless of gender or race, has been UPVBC’s policy from day one.
And, the girls and young women of UPVBC can see all around them how other women achieve success in life in many areas. Girls who play sport are proven to achieve high target goals in business, education, arts & music, etc. Growing up surrounded by positive female role models, providing guidance and support to them is perhaps the beat environment for their development.
UPVBC amplifies the individual and team success stories of these girls, young women and the adult women who nurture and support their physical, mental, and emotional growth.
6. Describe the ways in which the company creates equity, engages women in leadership, and provides opportunities for women to grow within the company.
UPVBC is a female owned & operated business that employs other women at every level of the organizational chart. The Founder, Missy McCaw-Frette, is an entrepreneur who has actively contributed to leadership in the Tulsa business community, and has made contributions of time, resources, and energy towards giving back to the Tulsa community through community service and charitable fundraising endeavors. McCaw-Frette was the volleyball first high school National All-American from Tulsa, and the State of Oklahoma. She attended the University of Southern California on an athletics scholarship becoming the first player from Tulsa to do so. She graduated and returned to Tulsa where she has remained involved in private business while maintaining her involvement in Tulsa’s volleyball community.
When Missy and her husband, David, started UPVBC with tbeir daughter, Emma, in mind. Emma’s experience in the club helped her define who she wanted to be. Now a sophomore at Ole Miss, Emma frequently returns home to coach, mentor other players in the club and has developed an extended network of contacts through the UPVBC community. Her teammates have enjoyed the aame benefit of being surrounded by positive female role models they see firsthand start as players, springboard to an opportunity for education and return to take on leadership roles in the club, coach teams themselves, and become empowered to pursue other personal and business interests that lead to successful and productive lives.
7. Does the Company/Nominee have women in Leadership positions? (women owned, women in C-Suite or Executive leadership, Board leadership)
UPVBC is a woman-owned business. The founder/club director, administrator, assistant club director, and majority of Board members including the Chair, advisors/consultants, and coaches are female.
Volunteer leadership includes many females, typically parents of the players who are also career businesswomen in many industries, including but not limited to, finance, marketing, executive management, hospitality and sales.
8. Is the Company/Nominee supportive of working parents and caregivers and do they have policies that enforce this culture?
UPVBC maintains flexible schedules for its coaching and administrative staff, enabling them to manage their private lives and sustain family activities and care of both children and elderly relatives.
Missy experienced a family emergency a few years ago as her Mother suffered a series of mild heart attacks. She experienced firsthand the benefits of establishing such a supportive and flexible work environment.
Missy’s expertise in finance, insurance, and executive recruitment has enabled her to establish clear and transparent policies to protect the kids in her care while at the same time creating opportunities for UPVBC to be a family-friendly business that prioritizes the importance of time spent together while enjoying the love of sport.
Nominations Open – September15, 2023
Nominations Close – October 15, 2023
Winners Notified – November 2023
Winners Announced – December 2023
What if I don’t know the answer to a question on the nomination form?
Ask the woman or company you are nominating. Most nominees are happy to hear you are thinking of them and won’t mind answering a question! A complete form with detailed answers will help our selection panel in making the best choice. The selection panel is only able to score a candidate based on what is included on the nomination form, so do your best to answer all questions fully.
Can I nominate someone for more than one category?
Yes, you may nominate a woman for more than one category, but you will have to submit a nomination form for each category you would like to nominate them for. We encourage you to consider where they are the best fit and will be the most competitive.
Can I edit or add to my nomination form once it has been submitted?
Unfortunately, once your nomination has been submitted you will not be able to access the nomination form again. We encourage you to draft your nomination in a word document and then copy and paste into our form so that you have the time to make changes before you submit.
Does nominating someone more than one time increase their chances of winning?
No, this will not influence a nominee’s chances of being selected.
Can I nominate someone who has won an award in a past year?
If a woman has already been recognized in a past year we will not consider them again, even if they are nominated in a different category. You can refer to our past winners list if you don’t know if they have received an award.
How are award winners selected?
Each year a selection panel comprised of members of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, YWCA Board of Directors, and past award winners reads and scores each nominee. Nominees applications are not discussed amongst the committee prior to or during scoring. The selection panel does not see who has made the nomination. They are asked not to do any additional research or use any prior knowledge of the applicant when scoring. They are only scoring based on what has been submitted in the nomination form.
When will I hear who has been selected?
Pinnacle Awards winners will be announced in a press release in November 2022. After the winners are announced we will contact all nominees to let them know they were nominated.
Any other questions?
Contact our Development Manager, Kyle Rutledge, at krutledge@ywcatulsa.org or (918) 858-2372.