OKLAHOMA CITY – United Way of Central Oklahoma has named Bill and Sherri Lance as co-chairs for the 2019 fundraising campaign. This husband-wife team will lead all campaign efforts for United Way of Central Oklahoma when the campaign kicks off later this year.

Bill Lance is the Secretary of Commerce for the Chickasaw Nation and is responsible for the management of all commercial business enterprises of the Chickasaw Nation. Bill oversees approximately 7,000 employees and more than 60 gaming, hospitality, retail, media, manufacturing, and tourism related businesses. In addition to his role as Secretary of the Commerce Department, Bill also serves on the board of directors for several other businesses owned by the Chickasaw Nation, including: Global Gaming Solutions, LLC; Sovereign Native Holdco, LLC and related subsidiaries; and Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc. Bill serves as a Chickasaw Nation delegate on the Executive Committee of the American Gaming Association (AGA), National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA), and the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (ITC). He also serves as a regent of the University of Arts and Sciences of Oklahoma (USAO) in Chickasha, and he is a member of the Board of Trustees for both the University of Oklahoma Foundation and the Chickasaw Foundation. He also serves on BancFirst Board of Directors, and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce Advisory Council. Prior to his current role, Bill served as Administrator of the Chickasaw Nation Health System, where he oversaw the historic construction of the 370,000 square foot Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, located in Ada, Oklahoma. Bill received a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Oklahoma, College of Public Health, Bachelor of Science degree from East Central University, and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is also a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma class XXV.

Sherri Lance is President and Managing Partner of Gaming Capital Group. Gaming Capital Group is a direct, flexible source of capital for the gaming industry. GCG has provided nearly $900 million of capital for equipment financing since 2006, including casino and hotel projects, and has an install base of over 17,000 electronic gaming devices. Prior to joining GCG in 2012, Sherri worked for the Chickasaw Nation, serving as the Chief of Staff for the Chickasaw Nation Division of Commerce from 2006 – 2012. Sherri has served on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Association for Problem and Compulsive Gaming since 2009. She received a Master of Business Administration degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, a Master of Human Relations degree focusing on organizational change and development from the University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from East Central University. Bill and Sherri enjoy spending time with their three children and a granddaughter.

“We are so excited to have this dynamic duo leading our campaign efforts later this year” said Debby Hampton, President & CEO of United Way of Central Oklahoma. “Leading a fundraising campaign is not an easy job, which is why we’re very happy to add the energy that Sherri and Bill have to our organization and the fresh ideas that they’ll bring to the table” said Hampton.

Bill and Sherri Lance will take over for outgoing Campaign Chair, Sean Trauschke, who helped United Way surpass its $17 million goal for the 2018 campaign. The couple will lead a team of other volunteers, known as the Campaign Cabinet, who will be responsible for fundraising efforts and meeting next year’s goal.

The annual fundraising campaign officially kicks off in the fall, and includes the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s campaign, the State Charitable Campaign, and the Heart of the City Campaign.

About United Way

United Way of Central Oklahoma researches human needs within the communities of central Oklahoma and directs resources to accountable health and human services agencies to meet those needs by improving the health, safety, education and economic well-being of its most vulnerable citizens. For more information about United Way of Central Oklahoma, please visit www.unitedwayokc.org or call (405) 236-8441.