Sherry Roberts brings nearly 30 years experience to “Decade of the Woman” National Steering Committee. Much of that experience has been with the State of Oklahoma in the Department of Commerce and now the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). Currently Sherry is Client Services Manager for “OCAST” and oversees the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer program which includes counseling new clients on how to utilize the federal programs that fit their research and development needs. She continues to develop new initiatives for federal funding of OCAST outreach efforts & programs.
Like many of us serving on the Steering Committee, Sherry has moved up the ranks and began her ascent by engaging as an owner and operator of small businesses in Oklahoma City and Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Sherry has attended Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma City Community College. She is currently completing her curriculum for Certified Public Management and is a TQM Quality Coach. In addition to a more formal education process, Sherry has engaged in the following continuing education opportunities:
– Oklahoma Finance Curriculum Certification, 1990
– Oklahoma Total Quality Management (TQM)
Program, Quality Coach for State of Oklahoma; Leadership and Communication Skills for Women, National Seminars Group, Shawnee Mission, KS; Tom Peters “In Search of Excellence,” Career Track Continuing Education Seminar, Boulder, CO; Lou Tice “Investment in Excellence,” Pacific Institute, Seattle, WA. She has worked in many organizations and received a number of honors in her lengthy service, including the following:
Co-Coordinator of Governor’s Conference on Small Business, 1987 to 1993. Member, Governor’s Committee on Small Business Development, 1987 to 1994; Publication awards for “A Guide for Small Business”, Editions 1, 2 and 3; Oklahoma Department of Commerce Employee of the Month, November, 1992, and October, 1993; Commendation for Outstanding Service during the National Governor’s Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1993, and the Oklahoma Heritage Celebration, 1993. State of Oklahoma Commendations, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1992; Shinning Star award for Oklahoma Chapter – Society of Government Planners (SGMP), March 2007, April 2009; Planner of the Year Award for 2009. Executive Women’s International (EWI) member since 2007, served on Publications, Women’s Scholarship Awards and Ways and Means committees.
Over the past several years, Sherry has pursued her career while battling women’s greatest nightmare – breast cancer. She is a role model for others as she endured surgery & treatment while not “missing a step” personally or professionally. Recently, she was declared to be “cancer free”. Let us declare that she shall remain so for years to come!
We are honored to have Sherry Roberts as part of the Decade of the Woman National Steering Committee representing Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where we will be recognizing & honoring women who have shown amazing courage in the face of insurmountable odds; women of excellence in various aspects of life & those awesome women who are “go-givers”* at heart who we know to be “unsung heroines”.
*From the book of the same title by Bob Burg & John David Mann – “The Go-Giver”.