Tulsa 66ers Announce Local Investors
Published on March 29, 2006 under NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
TULSA, Okla., March 29, 2006 - Local business leaders Jono Helmerich, Mitchell and Amber Garrett, Melvin Gilliam, Todd White, Mitch and Adam Adwon, Robert Watson, Jon Kantor, Mark Bonney and Jeff Potts have become investors in the Tulsa 66ers, announced today by Southwest Basketball, LLC, principal owner David Kahn. This announcement also marks the one-year anniversary of the date when Mayor Bill LaFortune and Commissioner Robert Dick joined Kahn and NBA Development League President Phil Evans to announce the arrival of the 66ers to Tulsa.
"Jono, Mitchell, Melvin, Todd, Mitch, Robert, Jon, Mark and Jeff typify the diversity and vibrancy of the Tulsa business community," said Kahn. "This is a dynamic city that welcomes new ideas and new businesses. They will help our team immediately."
"We are extremely pleased to have successful business leaders aligned with our team," said team president Joe Berry. "Early in this process we recognized the importance of maintaining a local tie to the community with active ownership participation for our fan base. This announcement only affirms our commitment to this great community."
Announced by NBA Commissioner David Stern on March 21, 2005, Southwest Basketball, LLC was awarded teams in Albuquerque (N.M.), Tulsa (Okla.), Austin and Fort Worth (Texas). Led by Kahn, a former Indiana Pacers general manager, Southwest Basketball, LLC has provided NBA minor league basketball to the Southwest region for the first time.
Helmerich's involvement with the Tulsa 66ers is a natural extension of his interest in Tulsa's growth and development since he began his career in the area. Helmerich currently serves as the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Solutions, Inc., Tulsa. Prior to his position at SSI, Helmerich served as president of MidFirst Bank - Tulsa.
Helmerich is also involved in a number of civic organizations, including Family and Children's Services, where he is a past president, a board member and past chairman of a successful $8.1 million capital campaign. He is also the past chairman of the capital campaign for Monte Cassino School, a successful $8.4 million effort; past president and a board member of the Tulsa Opera; former president and board member of the Tulsa City and County Library Trust Board; board member of the Thomas Gilcrease Museum, and chairman of the Tulsa County Friends of the Fairgrounds Foundation.
"I'm thrilled to be a part of the NBA D-League and the Tulsa 66ers," said Helmerich. "As a long-time NBA fan and season-ticket holder, I have always enjoyed the game of basketball with my family and friends."
Mitchell Garrett currently works as a business manager and attorney for his family law firm, Garrett Law Office in Tulsa. He is joined there by his wife, Amber, who also is an attorney.
Garrett was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Worldwide Technical Resources. Garrett brought a diverse background to the founding of the company with experience in the private sector, government and the military. Prior to creating Worldwide Technical Resources, Garrett built and managed a consulting territory from North Carolina to Maryland for Comms People (Glotel-PLC).
Garrett has earned his stripes in the political arena, working as Special Assistant to the Co-Executive Director of the 53rd Presidential Inaugural Committee and as a National Advance Team Member of the Clinton-Gore 1996 General Committee. He has also been deeply involved with volunteer work for the American Red Cross.
"To keep Tulsa Vision 2025 going, Tulsans need to be reinvesting in Tulsa," said Garrett. "This is a unique opportunity for me and my family to show other Tulsa families why Tulsa is great. We have NBA basketball right here and this is a great opportunity from a revenue-building standpoint for the city and good for the future growth of Tulsa."
Brothers Mitch and Adam Adwon are engaged in investments with an emphasis on commercial real estate and manufacturing. In addition, Adam is a real estate appraiser with Green Country Appraisal Services. He is a former commissioner of the Tulsa Development Authority and former Trustee of the Tulsa Parking Authority. Mitch is president of Adwon Properties, Inc. Among his civic involvements, he is a director of the Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority and Indian Nations Council of Boy Scouts.
As vice president and director of community reinvestment, Melvin Gilliam oversees compliance with the federal Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) in each Oklahoma community MidFirst Bank serves. He is specifically responsible for addressing the needs of the Tulsa community in the areas of home mortgages, small business loans and community development loans, with special emphasis placed on promoting the availability of credit and other banking services to underserved neighborhoods. In addition to his daily responsibilities, Gilliam also serves on the MidFirst Bank Advisory Board of Directors. Gilliam also is the Immediate Past Board Chairman of the Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League, executive board member of the Hutcherson Family YMCA, National Conference for Community and Justice board member, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club Advisory board member and advisory board member of Home Ownership Tulsa.
Robert Watson is the general manager of the Doubletree Hotel Downtown in Tulsa. Previously, Watson served as general manager for the Doubletree at Warren Place, also in Tulsa. Watson has a 25-year background in hotel management at major properties in Tulsa and Dallas. Watson has been a member of the Tulsa Vision 2025 Leadership Team, 2005 chairman of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce Resource Campaign, a member of the Economic Development Commission board of directors, Minority Economic Development Council board member, Oklahoma State College of Human Environmental Sciences board member, chairman of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and a Tulsa County board member.
Todd White grew up in Tulsa and is an avid sports fan and athlete. He is currently the sales manager for Educational Development Corporation in Tulsa, home of Usborne Books. White is also on the board for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Jon Kantor, a long-time Tulsa business leader, is an entrepreneur who has been most involved in the oil and gas industry. He has also had significant involvement with real estate in the Tulsa area.
Jeff Potts is a candidate for the State House of Representatives of Muskogee, District No. 14. A former member of the state legislature, Potts is also the Muskogee County Democratic Chair and a successful attorney for his law firm of Potts & Jones. Potts is the author of the educational reform bill No. 1017 for the House of Representatives and involved in numerous political and civic endeavors in Oklahoma, along with his wife, Khristy.
Mark Bonney is a federal trustee for the Federal Eastern District and also a successful attorney.
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