Link to the livestream: 11:55am
REMINDER: Everyone attending our Tuesday luncheon will be asked to wear a mask, except when eating. Masks will be available at registration.
In keeping with Rotary’s mission of service above self, we strongly recommend that only those members and guests that are vaccinated attend our in-person meetings.
11-23-2021
Sharina Perry was born and raised in a diverse community in Hobbs, New Mexico. She and her family moved to Oklahoma when her father received a job transfer in the oil and gas industry.
Sharina is the mother of three amazingly brilliant and spirited children.
Sharina’s current professional corporate roles revolve around her Utopia Model owned and operated companies. All formed to strategically launch her vision for creating and developing sustainable solutions across global platforms. These include; CEO Utopia Genetics, LLC; CEO Eden Grow, LLC,; Managing Partner Utopia Solutions, LLC; and Managing Partner Utopia Wellness,
LLC.
Sharina is the Founder/Inventor of Utopia Plastix and Creator/Developer of The Utopia Model.
Sharina is known for her strategic business structure and keen ability to effectively execute. Viewed broadly as an out of the box thinker and innovator. She has challenged herself to shatter glass ceilings and continues to excel in every endeavor she takes on.
As a teenager, Sharina experienced her first introduction to strategic business by shadowing Chuck Thompson, the president of Republic Bank, as a student in the Tomorrow’s Leaders Program.
Sharina’s formal education includes studies in Communication, English and Political Science.
At the age of 26, Sharina fast tracked the first company she was the Director of Operations for from 25 sales a week to 400 sales a week within two months. Two months afterward she lead them to becoming the largest retailer of satellite systems in the nation. Three years later, Sharina started her own company with a 30k investment. It was repaid in 2 months and ended the year with
gross revenue of over 2.5 million. She went on to become the only African American female owned company in the industry and was in the Top 5 MDU/FTG providers and a Top 10 Public/Private provider. She launched her business into large corporate and government contracting. Her first bulk client was the University of Oklahoma and her first government contract was Ft Sill Military
Base. Sharina was the first to introduce the concept of suite type services (cable, internet, phone, etc) to the largest MDU property management company in the state of California.
Once starting her own company just shy of 20 years ago, Sharina briefly mentored under Zig Ziglar. Sharina holds a significant number of certifications in business structure, strategy and development. Sharina believes a hands on approach and example make for the most effective leaders. Being highly result driven and not guided by title, position or status, Sharina sees this approach as a major reason she is so effective.
A key focus for Sharina the past 6 years has been economic development for minority and small business owners. Sharina continues to work with major clients on strategic plans to “shift” at the key timing their industry demands it. With the events of 2020, her strategies have helped small business owners not only survive, but also experience increased revenue streams and opportunity.
Sharina serves on the Oklahoma Governors Minority Business Council. She is one of twenty minorities selected by the Governor and Secretary of Commerce to represent the interest of minority business in Oklahoma. Sharina also serves on the Board of Black Women Business Owners of America.
Known in the community for her intentional thoughts, her podcast, “Intentional Perspective with Sharina Perry” is an authentic conversation intended to elevate the thinking and vibration of the community. This podcast is broadcast in multiple cities via Stream by PPBC owned and operated by the Perry Publishing and Broadcasting Network.
The profound success of what Sharina has created is demonstrated in the results. Her health and wellness product line, Utopia Wellness was the first to pass pharmaceutical testing in Japan with hemp as a key ingredient. She holds a patent for a plant-based bio-composite resin as an alternative to traditional plastic. These advancements have positioned her Utopia Companies to be a
global leader in sustainability, carbon reduction and agriculture science. She created the Utopia Model which includes farming, processing, manufacturing and distribution. She recently purchased a processing facility in Kentucky and took over operations of a grow facility in North Carolina. These decisions not only put people back to work but have created jobs.
Last year Sharina was nominated for the Oklahoma 2020 Woman of the Year- 50 Making a Difference. Expect to see national coverage of her story and her innovative Utopia Model.
Jeanette Nance
Jeanette Nance holds a degree in political science with emphasis on public administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is the Executive Director of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, (KOB) a statewide non-profit, which empowers Oklahomans to preserve and enhance the state’s natural beauty through seasonal programs and in cooperation with Keep America Beautiful. Jeanette has also served the state of Oklahoma as the Director of Constituent Services for Governor Brad Henry, in External Affairs at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, as a Deputy Court Clerk for the Oklahoma Supreme Court, as a Legal Assistant at the Office of the State Attorney General as well as Assistant Director/Professional Standards Secretary for the OKC Realtor Association. Jeanette serves on the Board of the Oklahoma-American Society of Public Administration, the UCO MPA Advisory Council, board of directors for the Oklahoma Recycling Association, Oklahoma Green Schools, and the Oklahoma ScienceFest Steering Committee. Jeanette is a member of the OKC Downtown Rotary, where she serves as the New Member Committee, Chair. Jeanette has been in Rotary since January, 2017. Jeanette has accompanied her church infrastructure mission team to Tanzania, Africa, six times since 2011.
Jeanette has received the Association of Oklahoma Conservation Districts, President’s Award, for her roll as their liaison with Governor Henry’s office. Jeanette has also received the NextGen organization’s Oklahoma Founders Award, for her roll in growing and enhancing Oklahoma’s next generation of professionals through mentorships, internships, and education programs and the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Society of Public Administrator’s Distinguished Public Service award, for her public service to the State of Oklahoma. She has been featured in an article recognizing her as a distinguished alumni, for Urban Central a University of Central magazine publication and in the Journal Record, It’s a Living column.
Jeanette speaks all over the state at KOB projects, workshops and in cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality at Oklahoma Clean Communities Ceremonies. She has moderated panel discussions at the Keep America Beautiful (KAB) National Conference, in addition to serving on the KAB State Leader Council, KAB Great American Clean-Up Advisory Committee and the KAB National Awards Committee. She has traveled to several states to attend and speak at conferences for Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, Keep America Beautiful, the Department of Environmental Quality and the National Governor’s Association.