Biography for 2008 Officers

Joanna Dixon:
Joanna Dixon is a transplanted Okie by way of Queens, New York and Lima, Peru (South America). She started her oil and gas career at Kaiser-Francis Oil Company in 1988, when she joined the company as a Lease Records Analyst responsible for shut-in maintenance and payments.

While at Kaiser, Joanna developed an interest in databases and computer technology—an interest that eventually led to a career change to the Information Technology (I.T.) field. In 1993, Joanna went to work for Memorex Telex Corporation.

During her tenure at Memorex, she served as a Customer Service Engineer providing technical support to customers on computer software and hardware problems. In 1996, after the company declared bankruptcy, she accepted a position at the WorldCom facility in Owasso. At WorldCom, she held various positions in network administration and desktop support until the company outsourced its I.T. department to Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

Joanna continued her career at EDS as a Unix System Administrator until 2002 when the “.com” bubble burst. That same year, she returned to oil and gas, and to Kaiser-Francis, where she currently serves in a dual capacity as a Lease Analyst / Project Coordinator. As a Lease Analyst, she is responsible for all aspects of lease maintenance for areas in Oklahoma and Texas. As a Project Coordinator, she employs technology-based solutions to tackle projects assigned by management.

Besides her love for anything challenging, Joanna is also passionate about learning. This passion has led her to the University of Oklahoma/Tulsa, where she is currently pursing a Master’s degree in Organizational Dynamics.

Joanna is a graduate of Leadership Tulsa and a former director of The League of Women Voter’s of Metropolitan Tulsa and the Tulsa Association of Lease and Title Analysts. She is married to a wonderful guy, Chris, who works for Samson Resources, and has a daughter, Mallory, both of whom she adores.

Lorrelyn Fox:
I am a relatively new face in the Oil & Gas Industry having worked as a Lease Analyst for a little over a year. I am currently employed by Cimarex Energy Co. I am an Oklahoma Native, but am somewhat new to Tulsa. I attended Oklahoma State University, but due to self reservations I have yet to graduate. I plan to complete my education in Tulsa. I have found this business very fascinating and I am eager to learn & experience the multiple facets of the Oil & Gas Industry.

Mary Ickes:
Mary was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is currently employed with Laredo Petroleum, Inc, as a Senior Lease Analyst where she oversees the operations of the Lease Records Department. Mary has extensive experience in acquisitions and data conversions. She started her career in the Oil and Gas industry with Samson Resources Company as a file clerk. After taking Land classes she was promoted to Lease Records Tech and quickly promoted to Lease Analyst. She was with Samson for 14 years. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Tulsa Association of Lease and Title Analysts. She has been a member of both the local and national chapter for over ten years.

Cheryl Knight:
Cheryl is currently employed with Panther Energy Company, LLC as Land Tech and previously employed with St. Mary Land & Exploration Company for 5 years as Lease Analyst for the Tulsa regional office.

Previous to her employment with St. Mary, Cheryl worked in the Real Estate industry working foreclosures in the Tulsa and surrounding market area.  She has a degree from Tulsa Community College and is looking forward to continuing her education with a Business Degree.

She is the mother of four children and two beautiful granddaughters.  Her oldest son who is a Marine currently based in San Diego, CA, scheduled to become a Veteran in July 2008.

Amber Brewster:
Amber came to the Trust Division of Bank of Oklahoma as Senior Title Analyst in April, 2001. In late 2001, she was promoted to Oil & Gas Administrator. In 2002, Amber was appointed Officer in the Trust department, and in 2004 she was appointed Assistant Vice President and currently manages over 6,000 oil and gas properties for numerous trust relationships.

Amber has extensive Oil & Gas Title experience gained by working as Document Specialist on projects for Williams Communications, Inc., as Title Agent for ScissorTail Energy and as an independent Title Research Agent in Illinois, Oklahoma and Kansas for various companies.

Amber is a member of TALTA and previously held position as 1st Vice President during 2004-2005 term, a member of National Royalty Owners Association, Oklahoma Royalty Owners Association and is currently working towards her Certified Mineral Manager designation. Amber attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, and is a Tulsa native.

E. Lynne Mills:
Currently employed as a Lease Records Analyst for Petrohawk Energy Corporation.
Started in the oil and gas industry with Home Stake Oil & Gas Company, as Executive Secretary to its President and COB, as well as Land Secretary to its Director of Land in 1998.

After HSO&G sold went to work at KCS Resources, Inc. in May 2001 as a Land Assistant in the Land Department. In 2003 moved into the Land Administration Department as Lease Records Clerk, and in March 2006 was promoted to Lease Records Analyst.

Member of NALTA and TALTA.

Shelia Sellers:
Shelia was born a Navy brat in ElCentro, California while her parents were both serving duty in the Navy. Then in 1948 her family moved back to Sand Springs, where Shelia’s grandfather was one of the original Home kids that Charles Page started the Sand Springs Orphanage with.

Shelia married Darrell Sellers her Junior year in High School and has raised two sons.
Her oldest son died of AIDS in 1991 & her youngest son is a supervisor of Outside Operated Revenue at Samson. Shelia is the proud grandmother of 3, the oldest of which is in her second year at OSU.

Shelia has more than 40 years of land experience with 30 of those in Oil & Gas.
She began her career as a manual map cartographer at Mid-Continent Map and later worked for the Tulsa County Assessors Office and Amerada Hess Corp in that same capacity. While at Amerada she was promoted to Supervisor over manual Drafting. After Amerada left for Houston in 1994, Shelia went back to school to learn computers.
In 1995 she accepted a job as a Geo-Tech at Kahan & Assoc working for the head Geologist. There she managed their lease inventory, gage reports, MMS and other regulatory reporting, and often went out to the field with the Geologist to the well sites.
A few years later, Shelia made a career change to work for her family doctor, and close friend, as the Regulatory Coordinator over the Drug Research Study Department at AMMH. In that position, she managed all paperwork between the patients, the Institutional Review Boards, the Drug Companies, and the FDA for more than 75 ongoing research studies every year. At AMMH, she received a letter of recommendation from one of the Drug studies and the Doctor’s office for her superior organizational skills.

In 2001, when her Doctor friend retired to Florida, Shelia returned to Oil and Gas working at KFOC as a Lease Records Assistant where she is still today. At KFOC, she is responsible for lease set up, maintenance and reporting; rental payment assistance to the rental analyst, 1099’s, and supervision of temps.

Shelia has a home-based business called Magnolia House under which she utilizes a variety of her talents to create and do many different projects for people. Just this past year she was busy planning her husband’s 45th High School Class Reunion, which was held in July. In her role as events coordinator, she created and still maintains a class database, directed all event details from catering to entertainment, and served as tour guide and historian to class members from out of town.

In her spare time, Shelia continues to do a lot of volunteer work, much of it with many of the local AIDS organizations here in the Tulsa area. Shelia & Darrell love to travel and continue to spend their holidays in Florida with friends.

Marilyn “Jan” Clifton:
I was born and raised in Claremore, OK. I have been employed with Kaiser-Francis Oil Company for 14 years. I started in the mailroom and quickly moved to Revenue Accounting. I went from Revenue Secretary to Clerk to Accountant in 2 years. I was an Accountant for seven plus years before I changed departments and move to Property Records.

I have been in my current position of a Lease Analyst for the last 3 years. I have really enjoyed learning the Oil & Gas business from the various positions I have had.
I have two wonderful children. My son, Brett, is a freshman at OSU University and my daughter, Amanda, is a senior in High School.

I have been a member of TALTA for 3 years.

Rachel McKenna:
Rachel graduated from the University of Tulsa, with a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences. She double majored in Communication and Political Science, was an active member of Delta Delta Delta, and served as President of her sorority her junior to senior year. She graduated Magna Cum Laude May, 2004. Upon graduation, Rachel worked as an Account Executive for Clear Channel Communications, where she sold radio advertising for three major radio stations in the Tulsa area.

After a year in sales, Rachel decided to leave the advertising world to work as an office manager for a small engineering firm. She was responsible for the business operations at Vision Controls Company where she was responsible for managing 5 employees, monitoring and handling the finances of the company, invoicing and managing payroll. She worked for VCC just under 2 years when a close friend to Rachel informed her of a contract position for an oil & gas firm. Rachel interviewed with the organization and was brought on as a contract employee to handle lease maintenance and records for Associated Resources, Inc. She worked for both Vision Controls Company & Associated Resources, Inc. After seven months, Rachel was offered a full time position with ARI.

She works for ARI as a landman, where she is responsible for lease acquisitions and title maintenance. She has gained experience in title leasing in five counties throughout Oklahoma. She thoroughly enjoys her work, and has an interest in several fields within the oil & gas industry. Rachel is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Dynamics, with an emphasis in project management at The University of Oklahoma. She is a member of TAPL, Tulsa Young Professionals & serves on the Board of Directors for Delta Delta Delta’s Alumni Organization.

Robert R. McElhattan:
Bob joined the United States Air Force in 1964 after high school. After serving 4 years in the Air Force, Bob was employed with Cities Service Oil Company in 1968. While working with Cities Service, Bob attended the University of Tulsa. Bob was promoted to Supervisor of Payroll and Benefits and was transferred to the Denver office upon graduation from TU in 1973.

While in Denver, Bob became interested in Land work and was transferred back to Tulsa in 1976 as a Lease Analyst. He worked as a Lease Analyst until 1979, when he transferred to the Division Order Department.

Bob moved from Cities Service to Clyde Petroleum in February 1982 as Senior Land Analyst where he worked until April 1983. He was offered a position with Amerada Hess as Senior Division Analyst in 1983. In 1986 he was promoted to Division Order Supervisor until 1989 and worked as a Senior Division Analyst with Amerada until September 1994, when Amerada moved to Houston. During his employment at Amerada Hess, Bob joined the United States Navy Reserves in 1985 and served 16 years.

Bob worked various contract positions until August 1995. At this time he joined Williams Production Company LLC as Senior Division Analyst and is currently Lease Analyst where he is still employed. Bob served as a Director with Sooner Association of Division Order Analysts and serve as the Secretary of same organization and is currently 2nd V.P. of SADOA. He has served as President of TALTA for one term.