Leadership

Jim Hopper comes to the Area Wide Aging Agency as CEO, having served most recently as CEO of the Jesus House, a small non-profit in Oklahoma City with a vision for feeding the homeless each day and helping men and women obtain hope by recovering and maintaining their sobriety, working toward gainful employment, and stable housing. Prior to the Jesus House, Jim served as President of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association for eighteen years. Throughout his career in association management and non-profit work, Jim has had the opportunity to help small businesses survive and become successful through advocacy, providing help and services to association members, and by working to help those in need of a helping hand to reconnect with friends and family at the Jesus House.
Jim brings a wealth of experience in helping others and is excited to begin this work at the Area Wide Aging Agency to advocate for older Americans who need help with services that will allow them to maintain their independence and stay in their homes as long as possible.

Assistant General Counsel
Tinker Federal Credit Union

Christie Porter is Assistant General Counsel at Tinker Federal Credit Union. She is responsible for the oversight of TFCU’s compliance program, including implementation of new regulatory requirements and monitoring of TFCU’s adherence to state and federal financial regulatory requirements.

She has a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor, Law, from Oklahoma City University.

Christie is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and serves on the Financial Institutions & Commercial Law and Labor & Employment Law Sections. Christie holds certifications in compliance and bank secrecy act through the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NCCO and NCBSO), serves on the Cornerstone Credit Union League Compliance Council Executive Committee and is a member of the Credit Union National Association’s Compliance & Risk Council. Christie also serves on the board of Areawide Aging Agency, a nonprofit agency dedicated to maintaining and advancing the dignity and independence of older adults in our community.

Christie has more than thirty years’ experience in the financial industry and has worked in operations, human resources, legal, and compliance.

Medley Equipment Company

Christopher Cowden is Director of Operations for Medley Equipment Company, bringing a background in strategic planning, organizational efficiency, and mission-driven communication. He previously served as Marketing Director for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, where he supported community outreach efforts and strengthened service-focused programs across the region. A graduate of Oklahoma City University and a lifelong resident of Oklahoma City, Christopher is deeply invested in the city’s continued growth and the well-being of its residents.

Christopher is passionate about thoughtful marketing, effective operational systems, and work that strengthens community support networks. His commitment to Areawide Aging Agency stems from a belief that older Oklahomans deserve dignity, independence, and equitable access to resources—core elements of the agency’s mission to help seniors maintain the highest quality of life possible. He is honored to contribute his professional perspective to a board dedicated to such meaningful work.

Outside of his professional roles, Christopher takes pride in Oklahoma City’s ongoing progress and remains actively engaged in efforts that contribute to a stronger, more connected community.

Derryberry & Naifeh, LLP

Pete G. Serrata III is a seasoned attorney practicing in the areas of insurance coverage, commercial litigation, appeals, administrative law and mediation. Pete has been practicing with the Oklahoma City law firm of Derryberry & Naifeh, LLP since 2006. Pete graduated first in his law school class after serving in the U.S. Army for eight years as a counterintelligence agent. Pete is the president-elect of the Downtown Oklahoma City Exchange Club, a master in the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Inn of Court and currently chairs the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Law Schools Committee.

Pete’s time in the military and passion for community service and social justice have given him a deep commitment to ensuring that aging Oklahomans receive the respect, care and access to legal resources and assistance that they deserve. Pete strongly believes that the strength and vibrancy of our community came from the hard work and dedication of the men and women who proceeded us and now deserve our respect, compassion and service as they age.