Whitney Anderson, as the Co-founder and Executive Director of The Dragonfly Home, spearheads a pioneering nonprofit focused on providing life-saving services for victim-survivors of human trafficking in central Oklahoma. Her deep dive into this critical cause began during her pursuit of her MBA, where her studies in international business unveiled the harrowing reality of modern-day slavery. In 2012, her volunteer work with survivors internationally provided firsthand encounters with their astounding courage and resilience. Understanding the pivotal need for specialized care in their recovery, Whitney underwent a profound career shift from corporate America to fervently establish life-saving services for trafficking survivors in Oklahoma.
Recognized for her unwavering dedication, Whitney received the Oklahoma Human Trafficking Task Force 2021 award for Outstanding Contribution to the Fight against Human Trafficking. Her impactful efforts also led to her being honored among The Journal Record’s Fifty Making a Difference in 2019. Recently appointed to the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advisory Board, Whitney continues to amplify her advocacy.
Craig Williams is a Chief Agent with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and currently oversees the Marijuana Enforcement Teams and the Human Trafficking section. He has previously supervised training, operations, enforcement groups, and professional standards. Williams attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, as a Parson’s Scholar, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice in 1996. He also completed a Master’s degree in education leadership from Southeastern. Williams’ interest in law enforcement began with an internship at the Durant Police Department. Williams then spent 10 years working for the Ardmore Police Department before accepting a position with OBN. He has worked in a variety of assignments ranging from patrol, special response team leader, detective, narcotics investigator, and field training officer. He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certification from the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. Williams is a Past President of the Association of Oklahoma Narcotic Enforcers. He instructs on a variety of topics including use of force, firearms, clandestine laboratory investigation, officer safety, and human trafficking. Williams is active in several professional associations including the Association of Oklahoma Narcotic Enforcers, the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, and the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police.
Abraham Schenk is currently a Special Agent assigned to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In this position, Special Agent Schenk is responsible for investigating general federal crimes; including financial, commercial fraud, intellectual property rights, alien smuggling, counter proliferations, document and benefit fraud, and narcotics smuggling, but specializes in child exploitation and human trafficking. In addition, Special Agent Schenk is a member of the Oklahoma Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Oklahoma Human Trafficking Task Force and serves as the HSI Victim/Witness Coordinator for the Oklahoma City area of operations.
Special Agent Schenk has thirteen years of law enforcement experience and twenty years of active duty service in the U.S. Navy. During his Navy career, Special Agent Schenk served as a Naval Aircrewman and Airborne Communications Supervisor for Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons Four, a Navy Recruiter assigned to Navy Recruiting District New York; Assistant Program Manager for Naval Aviation Systems Command; the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Strike Group Communications Leading Chief and Communications Security (COMSEC) Manager; and the Leading Chief for the Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two Intelligence Department. After retiring from the Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, Special Agent Schenk began his federal service as the Eastern Region COMSEC Manager for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), overseeing the COMSEC requirements and inspections for thirteen federalized international airports. In 2011, Special Agent Schenk began his law enforcement career with HSI as a Criminal Investigator assigned to HSI El Paso and transferred to HSI Oklahoma City in 2016.
Special Agent Schenk holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration/Management Studies from Excelsior College in Albany, New York.
Moderator and Chair of the Day
AJ Griffin
With strong Oklahoma roots and a professional background in business, education, politics and nonprofit work, AJ Griffin brings to Potts Family Foundation tremendous insight into some of the most challenging issues facing Oklahoma families today.
A life-long Oklahoman, AJ grew up on a family farm in Adair. The child of educators, she holds degrees from Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a doctoral candidate at Baylor University studying Learning and Organizational Change.
AJ spent six years in the Oklahoma State Senate and passed landmark legislation for children including mandating insurance coverage for autism treatments, improving the foster care and juvenile justice systems, and focusing on health care access for all Oklahomans. She was the recipient of numerous awards for her work as a legislator including the Kate Barnard Child Advocate of the Year award.