Get to know us

Board of Directors

David Austin

Board President | ConocoPhillips

Michelle Gray

Member | Oklahoma Works

George Halkiades

Treasurer | Civic Leader & Community Mentor

John Jenkins, DMA

Member | Executive Director, Bartlesville Symphony (former)

Pablo Merlo

Member | ARG Concrete (owner)

Richard Mitchell

Member | Attorney-At-Law

Rev. Victor Paul

Retired, Greater FIrst Church

Mike Washington

Washington welding (owner)

Executive Director

Shavon Robles is a strategist, cultural architect, and nonprofit executive focused on building institutions that strengthen cities, preserve legacy, and create long term civic value. Born and raised in Bartlesville, her leadership of Westside Community Center reflects both personal history and disciplined strategic analysis.

Before stepping into her role as Executive Director, Shavon’s professional background spanned business development, marketing, investment firm operations, organizational restructuring, and nonprofit strategy. Her work has included managing budgets, overseeing new ventures, guiding rebrands, and navigating organizations through periods of transition. This experience shaped her approach to leadership: adaptive, data-informed, and grounded in long-range sustainability rather than sentiment.

When Shavon assumed leadership, the Westside Community Center was on the verge of closing its doors. Within her first year, she reopened operations, doubled membership, revived participation, and increased organizational revenue by more than 2,000%. She also helped launch a $2.5 million endowment effort initiated by Dennis

Seals Sr. and in partnership with the Bartlesville Community Foundation, securing more than $150k in pledges within the first forty-eight hours. Once fully funded, the endowment is designed to stabilize operations and secure the organization’s future for years to come.

Under Shavon’s leadership, Westside Community Center is transitioning into a full cultural and heritage center. This shift is not cosmetic. It is a strategic response to changing demographics, funding realities, and the need for durable community infrastructure. Cultural centers diversify revenue, broaden audiences, support tourism, and foster repeat engagement. In this model, culture is treated not as nostalgia, but as an economic and civic asset.

Shavon’s work centers on building social infrastructure across life stages. Youth programming focuses on workforce exposure, civic literacy, and oral history rather than duplicating existing services. Adult programming prioritizes belonging, connection, and retention through intentionally designed social spaces. Senior engagement honors elders as carriers of institutional knowledge while preserving stories that strengthen intergenerational trust.

A defining pillar of her work is oral history. Shavon views storytelling as a trust-building mechanism that helps long-time residents feel seen and newcomers find their place. These stories become educational tools, cultural exhibits, and connective tissue that strengthens civic identity and long-term investment.

In an era marked by polarization, Shavon is committed to fostering spaces rooted in mutual respect, thoughtful dialogue, and shared understanding. Her leadership reflects the belief that communities do not need uniformity to thrive, but they do require places where people can gather, listen, and belong.

Shavon holds a multidisciplinary background in psychology, organizational leadership, and financial restructuring. She is certified in Lean Six Sigma and Contract Negotiation.

She and her husband, Carlos, are devoted to building family-centered values and investing in work that strengthens foundations rooted in integrity, stewardship, and community connection.

To connect with Westside Community Center or explore partnership opportunities, contact director@wccbartlesville.org or schedule a meeting.