Citizens

Payne is Founder and Executive Chairman of Citizen Capital, a global investment firm headquartered in Oklahoma City.​ From 2020-2022, Payne served as Chief of Staff to Governor Kevin Stitt where he led the state’s strategy for economic development, infrastructure, and foreign investment in Oklahoma. ​ Payne co-founded Heritage Trust Company in 1998 and devoted the first 22 years of his career to the trust, wealth management and fiduciary management business. From 2005-2016 he served as Chairman of Heritage Trust Company as the company grew to $3B in AUM. ​ In 2016, Heritage merged with Argent Financial Group and Payne was named Vice Chairman for Corporate Development. Over the next 5 years, Argent grew from $13B to $35B in assets under administration, becoming the largest fiduciary wealth management firm in the South.​ Payne’s passion for economic development is reflected in his entrepreneurial endeavors, public service and community engagement.

Gray is the Chief Executive Officer of American Global Strategies LLC, an international strategic advisory firm. His wide-ranging practice includes the defense, aerospace, maritime, and technology sectors.​ He most recently served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff of the White House National Security Council (NSC), where he directed the daily operations of the National Security Advisor’s immediate office, as well as the budget, personnel, and security functions of the NSC.​ Previously, he served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President for the Defense Industrial Base at the National Economic Council (NEC), the principal Executive Office of the President (EOP) official responsible for matters impacting the defense and manufacturing industrial base, and as the first-ever Director for Oceania and Indo-Pacific Security at the NSC.​Gray concurrently serves as a Strategic Counselor to Ballard Partners, a nationally-recognized government and public affairs firm, and sits on the Advisory Board of Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD).​ His writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, National Review, Newsweek, The National Interest, The Hill, The Weekly Standard, Naval War College Review, Strategic Studies Quarterly, and the Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute. Gray has also appeared on television and radio programs in the U.S., Taiwan, Japan, India, South Korea, and Australia. He is currently writing a book on U.S. strategy in the Pacific Islands.​ He is a graduate of the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University (B.A. International Affairs) and attended Oklahoma State University.

Funk currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning and Corporate Development at Express Employment Professionals in Oklahoma City, and has previously served as Vice President of Sales. He is the owner and president of Prodigal LLC., an Oklahoma sports, entertainment, special events production and marketing company that currently operates Oklahoma City Energy FC, and consults and manages Professional Bull Riders (PBR) teams. His deeply rooted passion for sports and entertainment drives him to continue finding new opportunities in Oklahoma City to showcase the community by promoting and managing cutting edge sports. Funk led the charge for the addition of the Multi-Purpose Outdoor Events Venue included in the Oklahoma City MAPS 4 Process. He is actively involved in community efforts within the state of Oklahoma, including Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics Oklahoma, Autism Oklahoma, Sexual Assault Awareness month with the Oklahoma Attorney General Office and PALS (Police Athletic League Sports). Funk currently serves as Vice Chair of WorkForce & Education with the Greater OKC Chamber of Commerce and sits on both the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in international business.

Cope is Chief Executive Officer of Flywheel Energy. Prior to forming Flywheel Energy, he led SCOOP / STACK production and completion operations for Continental Resources as the Vice President of Southern Region Production. Cope began his tenure at Continental in business development, eventually leading the function as a Vice President. At Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse Securities, he held investment banking roles, providing strategic and capital markets advisory to clients across the energy industry. A graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School, he began his career as an officer with the 10th Mountain Division. Ultimately attaining the rank of Captain, his military service includes combat troop leadership in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Cope earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Radford University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He is currently serving as a member of the IPAA Board of Directors.

Blalock currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Arcadia Capital, LLC. He previously served as Chief Legal Officer on the executive management team at American Energy Partners, LP, and was a partner in the Oklahoma City law firm Commercial Law Group, P.C., concentrating on corporate and business transactions involving oil and gas, real estate, commercial lending, and venture capital. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University and a Juris Doctorate from The University of Oklahoma College of Law. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Heritage Hall School, the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association, the Board of Governors of the Oklahoma State University Foundation, and the Board of Trustees of the Edmond Economic Development Authority.