Commissioners Bios
Edward Hilliary, Jr. is CO-CEO of Hilliary. An Oklahoma native, he has held numerous executive roles in the company, dating back to 1993. Since then, Hilliary has grown from a single operating company with 15 employees to more than 20 operating companies with 150 direct employees and another 50 indirect. Edward has led the company’s workforce transformation to a professional staff utilizing industry standards with continuing education focused on maintaining the highest level of service. He spearheaded plant and strategic analysis evaluations of pre/post purchase details during the acquisitions of both Oklahoma Western Telephone Company and Southwest Oklahoma Telephone Company. Combined those companies serve more 10,000 customers across approximately 2,500 square miles of rural Oklahoma. Additionally, Edward led the purchase analyses of Electra Telephone Company, Tatum
Telephone Company as well as Border to Border in Texas and Priarieburg Telephone Company in Iowa. Collectively they serve approximately 3,500 customers in rural communities. Edward also led buildouts and upgrades attached to numerous loans and grants totaling more than $100 million from the USDA. He is involved with the Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association, the National Cable Television Cooperative, and serves on the board of directors for INCOMPAS. In 2021, Edward was appointed to the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education board by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Eddie is also involved in his community, Elgin, Oklahoma. Among other entities, he is a member of Elgin’s Planning Commission and serves on the board of Holy City of the Wichitas. Each year Holy City celebrates the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior by hosting Oklahoma’s oldest Easter pageant.
Michael Graves serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Garver, a multidisciplined engineering firm. Before being named COO, Graves served as the Central Region Director for the firm’s Water Services Team for many years, spending his days working to secure his home state’s infrastructure future. Prior to joining Garver, he served Oklahoma for 10 years through field engineering and environmental operations – with a hand in hundreds of the state’s water infrastructure projects.
With more than 30 years of Oklahoma engineering consulting experience, Michael has pioneered common sense implementation and promotion of water supply infrastructure through volunteer efforts, education programs, and speaking engagements. In partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Graves worked to pass regulations to improve the sustainability of Oklahoma’s vital water supplies and was awarded the WateReuse Association’s National Advocacy Award in 2018. Graves leads Garver’s company-wide operations and supports Garver’s revenue generating business functions and corporate support teams. Graves’ sights are set on the future of the engineering industry to ensure that communities receive the crucial infrastructure needed to thrive. Graves also oversees Garver’s nationwide recruiting operations. Since Graves took on the role of COO in 2019, the firm has doubled in size – growing from 600 to more than 1,200 employees. From engineering services spanning water, transportation, aviation, and more to corporate support teams ranging from human resources to marketing and finance, his expansive role in leading Garver’s recruitment efforts allows him to provide a national perspective on recruiting a diverse workforce that spans the country.
Graves routinely communicates to Garver’s stockholders that the number one risk to Garver’s continued company growth is the lack of access to qualified talent. Committed to helping his industry and Oklahoma produce engineering graduates to meet current and future demands, Graves is a dedicated member of a wide variety of professional and local organizations. Graves has served on the University of Oklahoma School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science Advisory Board since 2011 and is currently Board Chairman. In this role, he provides first-hand industry guidance to assist with curriculum development and help ensure graduates are workforce ready. He also serves as an advisory council member and helps the university recruit, retain, and place engineering students in the Oklahoma workforce. Graves currently serves as an advisory council member for the State of Oklahoma’s Extended Peer Science Advisory Network (EPSCoR) and is on the Council of Advisors for the State of Chamber of Oklahoma, serving on the organization’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Graves has also contributed as a member of the Water Environment Federation, the WateReuse Association, the Oklahoma Water Environment Association, Oklahoma Water Pollution Control Association, and the Oklahoma Congress of Mayors Water Advisory Committee
Jeff Anderson is Senior Director of Engineering (Mobility, Surveillance and Bombers) in Oklahoma City for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. He holds a Master of Science in System Architecture and Engineering from the University of Southern California, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
A small business owner and entrepreneur in several ventures predominately in the health care industry. Other industries include oil and gas, manufacturing, construction, retail and service. He holds a BA in Letters with a minor in Economics, a JD and an MBA all from the University of Oklahoma. Raised on a farm outside of Tuttle, he continues to be involved in the family business. Dirk serves his community in various ways including current President of the Norman Public Schools Board of Education, past State Board Chair for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma and the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center Board of Advisors. He and his wife, Stephanie, reside in Norman with their three children who attend Norman Public Schools.
Owner/Operations Manager at Gilbert and Sons Trucking and an Insurance agent at Gilbert Insurance Agency in Tecumseh, OK. He also operates a cow/calf operation with registered Limousin cattle and a commercial herd of Limousin crossbreds. He is also Co-Owner of Crossing Hearts Ranch, an agri-tourism venue as an added value to their cattle operation. He has been involved in Agriculture all of his life. Randy graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1978 and then attended Oklahoma State University and graduated in 1983 with a B.S. in Agriculture Education. Randy began his career as an Ag-Ed/FFA Instructor in Lawton, OK for 5 years. In 1988 he returned to Tecumseh to run the family trucking business. He has been involved in business management for over 35 years. He has also devoted countless resources and volunteer hours to promote agriculture youth. Randy has served on several boards and understands how they function. He serves on the Oklahoma Youth Expo Executive Board of Directors, Shawnee Industrial Authority, State Board of Career and Technology Education for 20 years, Past Chairman of the Oklahoma FFA Foundation, President of the Southwest American Livestock Foundation and has been Chairman both of the Shawnee and Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce. He is the Chair of the International Finals Youth Rodeo, one of the world’s largest payout youth rodeos. He has served on the committee of the Pottawatomie County Youth Livestock Show for over 35 years. He is currently serving on First United Bank Board of Directors. Randy was instrumental in the development of the Business Park north of Tecumseh on Highway 177. He is a lifetime member of the Oklahoma Limousin Breeders Association, Lifetime member of the FFA Alumni Association and Lifetime member of the Oklahoma State University Alumni. He is a member of the Oklahoma Cattleman’s Association and the Sirloin Club of Oklahoma. He is a member of the American Farmers & Ranchers Insurance Association. Randy has received recognition on several levels for his involvement in promoting agriculture and youth in the state of Oklahoma and beyond. Most recently selected as the Oklahoma Career Tech 2023 Bob Funk Advocate of Excellence, Honoree for the Sirloin Club of Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Youth Expo, Oklahoma Governor’s Award for Outstanding Public Service in Agriculture, Tecumseh Chamber Business Person of the Year, Oklahoma Limousin Breeders Association Family of the Year, Sirloin Club of Oklahoma President’s Award, Oklahoma FFA VIP Award Recipient, Honorary American, State and Chapter FFA Degree Recipient, Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Friend of the Youth Award and National Association Agriculture Education Outstanding Cooperation Award, Oklahoma Agricultural Education Teacher Association Outstanding Cooperation Award and too many others to name. Randy is very passionate about Oklahoma and his local community and the opportunities for growth in rural Oklahoma. Randy and Suzanne have two daughters, Annie Jo and Dustie, Son-In-Law Jordan and three wonderful grandchildren, Taycie, Legend and Bryar.
Jack Sherry is Owner and Broker at Jack Sherry Real Estate and Investments. He attended Oklahoma State University, Seminole State College, and obtained his bachelor’s from Southern Nazarene University. Sherry serves as Chair of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, in addition to serving as an advisory director to the First National Bank in Holdenville, President of the Hughes County Farm Bureau, and Chairman of the Holdenville Hospital Board. He served as a Trustee to the Seminole State College Educational Foundation prior to his appointment as a State Regent, and has served on the Oklahoma Lottery Commission Board, Holdenville Public School Board of Education, the Holdenville Chamber of Commerce, Holdenville Lions Club, Oklahoma Southeast and Young Farmers of America, the FSA State Board, Hughes County Cattleman’s Association, and the Hughes County Fair Board.
Andy Vanaman, president of Premier Steel Services since 2004, has a bachelor’s in science with a background in math and architectural drafting and design from Phillips University. Working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at the State of Oklahoma led him into multiple environments of both training and employment throughout Northeastern Oklahoma serving clients for over two years. The private sector kept calling and a career path change back towards manufacturing an eight-year Career Path led him into Operations Management and traveling internationally for Gaffey Overhead Cranes. In 2004 Andy accepted the assignment of the assets of a failed steel fabricator and has led Premier Steel Services as President for the past 22 Years growing the facility and company through innovation of building processes and technology.
Maurice is a retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant with 33 years of aviation experience as a CH-46E Crew Chief/Mechanic, and Maintenance Chief, serving two tours at HMX-1 Presidential Helicopter Squadron, supporting global Presidential Support operations. He served two combat tours with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161, as a CH-46E Crew Chief at Al Taqaddum Air Base in Iraq, conducting Casualty Evacuation missions in support of our Marines, Soldiers, Airmen & Sailors. After retirement in 2015, Maurice was the Program Manager for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Air Vehicle and Propulsion Modifications, Retrofits, and Upgrade War Room in Arlington, Virginia. Responsible for forecasting and planning engineering change proposals, modification execution and resource allocation for the F-35 Global Enterprise.
Maurice started Ready 3 in 2021, while attending the inaugural Executive MBA program for Aerospace and Defense at OU’s Price College of Business. Ready 3 currently supports the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, Rolls Royce Continuous Process Improvement activities, Marine Corps Supply Digital Warehousing Transformation, Naval Air Systems Command Engineering and Air Force Special Operations Command, Pilot and Aircrew Training. Ready 3 steadfastly supports the Gerrity Chapter of the Air and Space Force Association, named the 2022 Local and State Community Partner of the Year, supporting our servicemembers from Tinker and the State of Oklahoma.
He has earned a Master of Business Administration in Aerospace & Defense from the University of Oklahoma, Price College of Business and servers as the Policy Chair for the Oklahoma Defense Industry Association.
