Red Earth Staff
Eric Oesch, Deputy Director / Director of Communications
Eric was named Deputy Director for Red Earth, Inc. after returning to the organization in May 2006. He previously worked for Red Earth, Inc. from 1993- 1999. He is responsible for promoting Red Earth programs to larger audiences through feature articles, news coverage, relationships with school districts and educational associations, and other museums. His work is crucial to the success of the project in expanding audiences, and sustaining the funding and revenue streams. His work at Red Earth has resulted in significant coverage of Red Earth Festival and programs nationally and internationally. Red Earth was the recipient 1995 Redbud award for Outstanding Public Relations Campaign, 1996 Redbud award for Outstanding Marketing Campaign, 1997 Redbud Award for Outstanding Event, 2007 Redbud Merit Award for Outstanding Event, and 2007 Redbud Merit Award for Outstanding Marketing Campaign. Eric has a Bachelor of Arts from University of Central Oklahoma in Journalism Public Relations. His work has been published in numerous publications including Southwest Art, Native Peoples, Dallas Morning News, Kansas City Star, and The Oklahoman.
Christy Alcox, Development Director
calcox@redearth.org
Christy Alcox, Director of Development, rejoined the Red Earth staff in October of 2008. Having most recently served as the Finance and Development Officer for the Oklahoma Heritage Association, Alcox has over 25 years of not-for-profit management experience. Ms. Alcox will work to build and maintain strong local, state and national partnerships working with individual and corporate donors. Ms. Alcox will also coordinate annual fundraising events and campaigns.Ms. Alcox has been associated with the organization in a variety of capacities. As one of the first volunteers for the Red Earth Festival, she served as the Festival Director and Executive Director of Red Earth. She also served as Executive Director of Friends of the Mansion and Chief of Staff to First Lady Cathy Keating. An active community volunteer, Ms. Alcox assists in a number of projects and serves on the board of the Oklahoma Travel Industry of America and Frontier Country Marketing Association.
Erin Merryweather, Director of Programs
Erin is a member of the Choctaw Nation. She joined the Red Earth staff in March 2008 and serves as Director of Programs. Merryweather has over fifteen years of experience working in programming and special event planning for non-profits and was previously associated with Red Earth as a staff member as well as a volunteer Festival Chairman. She oversees Museum, Special Event and Educational programs for the organization. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Oklahoma Christian University. Ms. Merryweather is a member of the Oklahoma State Arts Council, Leadership Arts Class of 2009. She most recently participated in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, curatorial certification program and the National Institute for Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums training program.
Jacquelyn Smola, Gallery Assistant
Jackie joined the Red Earth staff in May 2010 and serves as Gallery Assistant working in the retail gallery at the Red Earth Museum. She is an accomplished actress, having been featured in numerous professional and community theater organizations in the Oklahoma City area. She has more than 10 years background working in the legal field, where she was the law librarian for major law firms. She is also involved in her community of Piedmont, OK where she served as a school board member for Piedmont Public Schools and with other organizations. She has been a civic volunteer for the City of Piedmont serving as legislative liason for the Piedmont Public School District, and as a member of the Piedmont Preservation Society.
Lily Shangreaux, Museum Assistant
Lily is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. She was named Museum Assistant in July 2010 and will assist in maintaining the Red Earth art collection and archives. She is a graduate of Princeton University where she obtained her BA. She has previously worked for the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM and Indian Center, Inc in Lincoln, NE. She and her husband Dan Bigbee are owners of BIG Productions in Edmond, OK.
