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Alumni Career Conference

Alumni Career Conference

Learn from Experience. Lead with Purpose.

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About the Conference

Join us in celebrating the remarkable success and enduring legacy of the JCPenney Leadership Program at our annual Alumni Career Conference. This event stands as a testament to the program's status as a premier leadership program, having nurtured over 1,000 alumni who have risen to become influential leaders in their fields: Founders, CEOs, Executives, and more.

The JCPenney Leadership Program is renowned for its excellence and the significant impact of its alumni across various industries. The Alumni Career Conference is a cornerstone event that promotes networking, fellowship, and insightful discussions, offering unparalleled opportunities to connect with distinguished alumni and peers.

2026 Conference Details

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Excel with Intention

Avoiding Complacency & Building What's Next

Message from the Conference Director: Sydney Chapman

Hello,

My name is Sydney Chapman, and I am honored to serve as the Director of Alumni Relations for the JCPenney Leadership Program at the University of Oklahoma. It is my privilege to welcome you to our Annual Alumni Career Conference, a meaningful opportunity to bring together current associates and alumni to connect, learn, and grow from one another’s experiences.

The Alumni Career Conference is centered on preparing students for the transition from college into their professional careers by learning directly from those who have navigated that path before them. Through alumni panels and networking opportunities, this event creates a space for honest conversations, practical advice, and meaningful connections that extend beyond the classroom.

This year’s theme, “Excel with Intention: Avoiding Complacency and Building What’s Next,” reflects our belief that success is not simply about achievement, but about continuously growing with purpose. Whether through developing a strong personal brand, building meaningful workplace relationships, or adapting to an ever-changing professional landscape, intentional growth is what allows individuals to thrive long-term.

What makes this event especially impactful is the involvement of our alumni, who generously give their time to share their experiences, insights, and advice. Their willingness to invest in the next generation of leaders is what makes the JCPenney Leadership Program so unique. These conversations allow our associates to gain perspective, ask thoughtful questions, and begin shaping their own paths with greater confidence.

I hope you will join us on April 10 for the Alumni Career Conference and take advantage of the opportunity to learn from and connect with the incredible alumni who continue to support and strengthen this program.


Keynote Speaker

Becky Fields Wilson.

Becky Fields Wilson

Becky Fields Wilson is a banker, business owner, and executive coach. Becky’s career in banking has spanned over two decades with roles including commercial lending, private banking, chief lending officer, and President.
Currently she serves as Director of Private Banking at MidFirst Bank, the largest privately held bank in the U.S.
As founder of Positive on Purpose, a professional and personal development company, she helps high performing women in business create powerful strategies and systems so they can up-level their career,
income, and life. Her passion is to lead, coach, and inspire women to be all they were made to be. Becky is certified with the Life Coach School as a personal coach.
When Becky isn’t working, you can find her enjoying activities with her husband, 2 children and 2 grandchildren or spending time outdoors running or cycling. Becky is a highly involved Rotarian, which serves people locally and around the world. She also volunteers and advocates for Susan G Komen, a cause close to her heart.

Panelists

Wesley Anderson

Wesley Anderson

Wesley Anderson is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Price College of Business and associate with the JCPenney Leadership Program between 2003-2005.  He currently serves as Vice President overseeing all commercial lending with Valor Bank in Edmond, OK.  In his role, he focuses on structuring and financing commercial real estate transactions primarily within the state of Oklahoma. He is a husband and father of three and is passionate about investing in both his family and the next generation of leaders.   

Joe Cleary

Joe Cleary

Joe is a 2023 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a degree in Finance. After graduation, he moved to Texas and began his career at Texas Capital Bank as a Private Wealth Analyst, providing direct support to Senior Advisors. Subsequently, Joe returned to Tulsa and joined Mariner Wealth Advisors as an Associate Wealth Advisor. In this role, he was responsible for creating investment recommendations, crafting financial plans, and assisting Senior Advisors.

Joe is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and has been recognized as a NextGen Under 30 award recipient. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with friends, exercising, and exploring new restaurants.

Whitney Donley

Whitney Donley

Whitney Donley is currently the Assistant General Counsel – Upstream for Expand Energy Corporation in Oklahoma City. She oversees the attorneys advising Expand’s business units in Louisiana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, including transactions associated with those assets, and recently assumed a supervisory role over Government Affairs as well.  Prior to her current role, Whitney handled litigation for the company and managed the legal side of multiple business units.  Prior to joining Expand, Whitney worked for the law firm of Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey & Tippens. In her spare time, Whitney enjoys traveling with her husband and two boys.

Shane Fairchild

Shane Fairchild

Shane Fairchild is the Chief Financial Officer of Price Edwards & Company, the largest commercial real estate services firm in Oklahoma. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Shane earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma and became a CPA in 2016. He began his career at Ernst & Young, where he spent eight years developing his expertise in accounting, finance, and leadership before moving into his current role at Price Edwards. Shane is passionate about helping businesses grow, developing strong teams, and sharing practical career advice with the next generation of professionals.  

Shu Goto

Shu Goto

Shu Goto was born and raised in Brazil by Japanese parents. After high school, he spent 4 years working and studying in Japan.
While studying in Tokyo, a teacher (a graduate from UT Austin) encouraged him to attend college in the US, but he chose The University of Oklahoma over Texas.
Shu started at OU in the Fall of 1991, accepted by the JCPenney Leadership Center in 1993, and graduating with a degree in Marketing in May 1995.

Upon graduation, he moved to Cleveland, OH and started working for PPG Industries, a Pittsburgh-based coatings company.
He spent 30 years with the company, working in multiple business units in multiple locations, including assignments in England and Japan.
He completed his Executive MBA at Purdue University in 2006, under Dean Richard Cosier, coincidentally the same dean when he graduated from OU.
Shu retired in late 2025 and now lives in Indianapolis with his wife of 30 years, who he met at OU. They have 2 grown children.

Danielle Jenkins

Danielle Jenkins

Danielle Jenkins is a Certified Public Accountant and Director of Accounting at the Seth Wadley Auto Group, where she oversees financial operations and supports strategic growth. She began her career at Ernst & Young, building a strong foundation in audit, financial reporting, and compliance across multiple industries. Danielle holds both her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Master’s in Accounting from the University of Oklahoma, graduating summa cum laude.

Outside of her career, Danielle is a dedicated wife and proud mother to her two young children, Crew and Collins. She is passionate about being a working mom and finds fulfillment in balancing a successful career with raising her family.

Salma Morales

Salma Morales

Salma Morales was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma but her family originated from Monterrey, Mexico. She is a first-generation college graduate from the University of Oklahoma, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing, and holds a MBA from Oklahoma City University.

Morales began her marketing career at Cristo Rey OKC, bringing all efforts in-house while overseeing branding, campaigns, social media, and event strategy. She led major initiatives including a full website redesign, paid media campaigns, and the creation of the school’s mascot, while supporting admissions growth and community engagement.

She now serves as a Marketing Specialist at MidFirst Bank on the Account Management team, where she supports strategic marketing initiatives, manages projects from concept to execution, and ensures high-quality campaign delivery. She also serves as a Community Champion, leading volunteer efforts and supporting community engagement initiatives for the bank.

Morales was recognized as a 2023 NextGen Under 30 honoree and is a founding board member of Oklahoma City Latino Young Professionals. She is passionate about uplifting others and making a meaningful impact in her community.

Cody Quimby

Cody Quimby

Cody has more than a decade of experience in corporate and partnership taxation. He is dedicated to supporting businesses in strategic tax solutions for diverse industries, with a particular focus on energy and capital markets. He has worked closely with public corporations and private equity-backed enterprises on compliance, ASC 740 provisions, ensuring compliance with GAAP and SEC reporting requirements, and complex transactional matters.

Cody is an active member of the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), maintaining strong connections within the state’s accounting and business community. Cody received both a Master of Accountancy and Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Oklahoma. He holds dual CPA licensure in Oklahoma and Texas. 

Daniel Richter

Daniel Richter

My name is Daniel Richter, and I am a Pricing Analyst at CAE, where I support pricing and proposal work for government and defense-related programs. I began my career in business development at Spectrum, where I gained experience in client outreach and early-stage pipeline development in strategic markets.

I’m a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma and an alumnus of the JCPenney Leadership Program. While living in Dallas, I am looking to continue building my experience in finance and developing a strong foundation in my career.

Eva Sparks

Eva Sparks

I’m a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where I studied International Business and Supply Chain Management at the Price College of Business. After spending three years in the corporate world, I returned to my roots to run my family’s casual fine dining restaurant in Norman, Oklahoma. With over eight years of hands-on experience in the fine-dining industry (server, manager, bartender, and everything in between), I’ve come to deeply value teamwork, loyalty, and attention to detail. I thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure environments and bring a solutions-oriented mindset to every challenge. Off the clock, you’ll find me running trails, making homemade pasta, sipping Cab, or mentally planning my restaurant order before I even walk through the door.