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.

The Hertz Corporation

Jason is a CPA and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He is currently employed as a Senior Accounting Director for the Hertz Rental Car Corporation, where he leads the North American accounting function and is also responsible for the organization’s SOX controls globally. Previously he worked at KPMG LLP in the audit practice  and  has also worked in consulting and the energy industry.

In 2019 Jason graduated from the United Way of Central Oklahoma Board Serve Program, which led him to his position on the board of Areawide and the chair of the development committee. In addition to his role with Areawide, Jason has served as a community volunteer with United Way for several years in the allocation subcommittee process and also has served as a mentor through the Steed School of Accounting at the University of Oklahoma, where he helps business students prepare for their professional life.

Jason lives in The Village with his wife Stephanie, daughter Maren, and dog Winston. He enjoys riding his bike at Lake Hefner, grilling, reading, watching the Sooners win and listening to podcasts.

Funds For Learning LLC

Kyle is General Counsel at Funds For Learning LLC, a nationwide consulting and web services firm specializing in the federal E-rate program. Kyle is responsible for all of the firm’s legal matters and provides strategic guidance, consultation, and legal and business advice to executive staff. He establishes internal company policies, manages the firm’s multi-state operations, and ensures the firm remains compliant with state and federal law.
Kyle also works directly with clients, including school districts, government agencies, and corporate clients, on regulatory matters and compliance issues. He advances policy on behalf of the company and advocates for the company and its clients before the Federal Communications Commission.
Kyle holds a B.A. in Economics from Oklahoma State University (2011) and earned his J.D. from the Oklahoma City University School of Law (2014).
Kyle actively participates in a number of civic organizations and professional groups. He is a member of both the Oklahoma and Washington, DC Bar Associations and the E-rate Management Professionals Association.
In addition to his role on the Areawide Board of Directors, Kyle supports local Oklahoma communities through his service with various nonprofit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. He also serves as a community volunteer with The Birthday Party Project, a Dallas, Texas based nonprofit that celebrates birthdays for children experiencing homelessness.
Kyle and his fiancé, Jessie Kierl, reside in Oklahoma City with their dog Willis.

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.