Shelley Cadamy is a native Oklahoman who lived in Oklahoma City for decades before relocating to Tulsa in 2011. She loves both cities and has clients in each.

Shelley graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Art History, Cum Laude, and a Master’s in Regional & City Planning, with an emphasis in Economic Development. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University.

Shortly after graduating, she became an Economic Research Specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, where she contributed to the creation of economic development tax incentives, created economic impact statements for proposed projects, and supported the recruiting arm of the agency.

Within two years, she was promoted to the newly created Business Intelligence Officer position, where she created the Business Intelligence program for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. This was in the mid 1990s, so the program was groundbreaking. She created Target Industries for the state and prospect methodology for the state’s business recruiting effort.

In 1999, Shelley became the Director of EdmondHQ for the Edmond Economic Development Authority, an affluent suburb of Oklahoma City, and led the development and launch of the state’s first entrepreneurship program within an economic development organization. She worked with business owners and CEOs to get funded, create strategy, and execute that strategy. She grew Edmond’s knowledge-based economy by 25% annually.

In 2003, she took the position of Business & Entrepreneurial Services Coordinator at Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City. She reinvigorated the existing program and grew the client base by 25%+ each year. She provided intensive consulting services, including strategic planning and execution, coaching, and capital acquisition to entrepreneurs, small business owners, and non-profit executives and boards of directors. She also created workshops and seminars for small business owners and was frequently interviewed by the media for her business expertise.

In 2011, Shelley became the Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority, responsible for economic development for the 4th largest city in Oklahoma, with the 3rd highest concentration of manufacturers in the state. Shelley was responsible for retaining existing companies and helping them grow and create jobs and wealth for the community as well as launching and recruitment of new companies. She guided the retail study that resulted in substantial retail growth over several years, including much-needed downtown revitalization.

In 2012, Shelley took the helm of what was then the Workforce Tulsa, a workforce board, and the lead workforce agency for the Tulsa metro area. Shelley was the fourth Executive Director in six years for the troubled organization and executed a full turnaround over the next seven years. She worked with employers and training/education partners to create customized workforce development solutions, including apprenticeships and customized training and was recognized by the US Department of Labor for creating the first WIOA-funded apprenticeship collaboration between a union and a workforce board in the US. She rebuilt relationships with partners across the community, including ·         elected officials, community-based organizations, private industry, and economic development organizations. She managed multiple contractors within a complicated, bureaucratic environment that involved compliance with federal, state, and local policies and laws. She shepherded 35+ board members through the first strategic planning process in the organization’s history. Finally, she created the organization’s first Legislative Agenda, built on collaborations with the Tulsa Regional Chamber, the University of Tulsa Law School, and Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform.

In 2019, she launched the Tulsa office of the Oklahoma City-based Mettise Group, a business consulting firm. And, in 2011, she left the firm to launch her own firm, Cadamy Business Consulting.

Shelley is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City, Leadership Tulsa, Leadership Edmond, Leadership Broken Arrow, and many other leadership programs.

Shelley has received the following awards:

• The Journal Record Woman of the Year Circle of Excellence (2009, 2022 & 2024) (for women who have received the award three times)

• Tulsa Shock Women of Admiration (2012)

• Congressional Angel of Adoption Award for Oklahoma.

• The Journal Record 40 Under 40 (2004)

• The OKCBiz 40 Under 40

Shelley has served as a volunteer for the following community organizations.

• Oklahoma Mental Health Association, Advocacy Committee Member;

• Grissom Elementary Foundation, Member;

• Phoenix Rising Alternative School Foundation, Member;

• Tulsa Mayor’s Economic Development Commission, Commissioner;

• Fine Arts Institute of Edmond, Board Member;

• Edmond Historical Society, President;

• Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy, Advisory Board Member;

• Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League, Board Member;

• Gatesway Foundation, Board Member;

• Oklahoma Assets, Board Member;

• Oklahoma Business Incubator Association, Board Member;

• West Oklahoma City Rotary Club, past Member and Paul Harris Fellow;

• Northwest Oklahoma City Chamber, past Board Member;

• Oklahoma County Post-Adjudication Review Board, President