BOARD MEMBERS & STAFF
Board of Directors
Gary W. Gerber, Ed.D., President was educated at Broken Arrow High School and Oklahoma State University where he earned degrees and certifications in psychology, educational psychology, and educational administration. He enjoyed a long career with Broken Arrow Public Schools, creating and building the special education program, then serving as Assistant Superintendent of Student Services. Later he was Assistant Superintendent of Operations as well as Superintendent of Schools. Following retirement in 2010, Gary was an independent consultant for ten years. While at BAPS, he was involved in the Vision 2025 planning effort and was appointed to the Downtown Revitalization committee which was a precursor to the Rose District planning committees. He was invited to join the Historical Society Board in 2000, where he served as president for the next nine years. He led the effort to secure city bond funds to build the 9000 square foot building in use today, and he also led a successful fund raising campaign for exhibit construction. Dr. Gerber was involved in every aspect of the current building’s construction and development, including design, while simultaneously leading the design and construction of the new BAPS Performing Arts Center. He was particularly thrilled to stand on the third floor of the museum in a hard hat, among the steel girders, and gaze over at the PAC which was in a similar state of construction. Dr. Gerber was named a Broken Arrow Great Graduate in 2003, and in 2008 he and wife Betty were Co-Citizens of the Year of the Chamber of Commerce.
Stephen Collins, Vice President, is a fifth generation Oklahoman whose family roots extend back to 1828 through his Cherokee heritage. He was educated at Union Public Schools, the Haskell Indian Nations University, and the University of Kansas. He is in management with Stellantis Financial Services and has worked in the auto finance industry for almost 20 years. He has a personal interest in Broken Arrow history and also enjoys volunteering for Habital for Humanity as well as the homeless. Another area where he has given back to the community is assisting fundraisers for Breast Cancer Awareness, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and the Broken Arrow Chamber. Stephen and his fiancee Ashlee love living in Broken Arrow, and he is a father of two boys.
Rachelle Harp, CPA, Treasurer, is a passionate advocate for cultural preservation and community engagement and is truly honored to contribute to this important mission. A Certified Public Accountant, Rachelle holds a Bachelor's in Accounting from NSU Broken Arrow and has over 10 years accounting experience. Rachelle brings a unique perspective to the Board, combining financial acumen with a deep appreciation for the cultural significance of our local history. Her expertise in financial management and strategic planning, coupled with her alma mater's roots in Broken Arrow will be invaluable in ensuring the museum's continued success and sustainability. She is particularly excited about the opportunity to work alongside fellow Board members and museum staff to expand educational programs, enhance exhibits, and foster greater community involvement. Together with the community, she hopes to celebrate and preserve the stories that make Broken Arrow such a special place to call home. In her free time, Rachelle enjoys spending time with her husband Clayton and their two dogs, Shelby and Daisy. Rachelle and Clayton share a passion for the outdoors and enjoy participating in triathlons. In joining the Museum Broken Arrow Board, Rachelle is eager to embark on this journey of discovery, learning, and service to ensure that future generations can continue to cherish and learn from our shared history. She feels gratitude for the warm welcome into this wonderful community.
Betty Gerber, Ed.D., Secretary, is a Muscogee Citizen. Her paternal third great grandparents removed from Broken Arrow Town and from Lochapoka Town, both in Alabama, to the current sites of Broken Arrow and Tulsa in 1828 and 1836. Educated at Broken Arrow Public Schools and Oklahoma State University, she holds a Doctorate in Educational Administration. She was a teacher and Assistant Principal at Broken Arrow High School. Retiring from education after 27 years, she served on this Board of Directors in 2006 as the Historical Society was planning to break ground for the current building. She eventually left the Board to become the Executive Director of the museum. She worked to complete the permanent exhibits in 2009, and retired again at the end of 2011. She served on the Muscogee Nation Museum and Cultural Center Committee, the Broken Arrow Convention and Visitors Bureau, and in Leadership Broken Arrow. She is a former docent at The Gilcrease Museum. She and husband Gary were the Broken Arrow 2008 “Citizens of the Year” for their work on the museum. Her daughter Jennifer is a speech pathologist with Broken Arrow Schools, and her son Gary lives in Denver. She has two grandchildren. She attends church at Haikey Chapel Methodist Church, enjoys genealogy and the history of the Indian Territory era. She is in the process of writing a book on that topic.
Ashley Donnell, Director, joined the board because she wanted to be more involved with and serve the community of Broken Arrow. She is the President at Allan Edwards, Inc. and a seasoned professional in the realm of Human Resources and Accounting, with her own successful bookkeeping venture. Armed with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Northeastern State University and an Associate's Degree in Business Administration from Tulsa Community College, Ashley's educational pursuits emphasize her commitment to excellence. Beyond her professional life, Ashley finds joy in kindred spirits and shared adventures. She and her husband, Jake, share a mutual zest for life, frequently immersing themselves in the vivacity of fairs and festivals, igniting their mutual passion for new experiences and cultural enrichment. Ashley has a passion for reading and is a self-proclaimed Harry Potter enthusiast. She also enjoys baking and is teaching herself how to create pastries from scratch.
Johnnie D. Parks, Director, is a lifelong Broken Arrow resident and a retired business owner, teacher, honorably discharged Army veteran and currently Broken Arrow’s City Councilman at large. Johnnie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, as well as a Master’s Degree in Education, receiving both from Oklahoma State University. He was the owner of Parks Plumbing in Broken Arrow from 1965 until 1995. He taught in the Oklahoma State prison system working for the Oklahoma State Career Tech out of their Stillwater office for 10 years. Johnnie finished out his professional teaching career as an instructor at Tri County Tech Center in Bartlesville, 2004 until 2017.
Johnnie is an Army veteran serving from 1969 with an honorable discharge in 1975. He was assigned to Company E of the Old Guard in Washington DC (President’s Honor Guard) with a White House Security Clearance. He has also served the Broken Arrow Community for over 42 years as a Councilman (1978 – 1993), Planning Commission (1995 – 2011) and currently Broken Arrow Councilman (2011 – present).
Johnnie and his wife Myrna are Broken Arrow High School graduates and have been married for 55 years. They have 3 sons, 2 grandsons and 1 granddaughter, all avid “sports kids”! Johnnie has served on the Broken Arrow Senior Center Board for 5 years and joined the History Museum Board in September 2022.
Bim Stephen Bruner, Director, is a lifelong Broken Arrow resident and graduated from Broken Arrow High School where he played multiple sports. He holds a degree in Police Science and also studied business administration. He is a former Tulsa Police Officer. He has a history of service to the community of Broken Arrow, having served as President of Broken Arrow Youth Baseball, football, soccer, and wrestling. He served on the Muscogee Creek Nation's National Council (legislative branch) for multiple terms and rose to serve as its leader, the Speaker. He also served as a youth Sunday school teacher at First United Methodist Church and at White Church. Today, he continues his public service as Chair of the Burnt Cabin water district and as a supporter of several nonprofits in the community. Steve is a father and grandfather, and he and his wife Kalyn love their German shepherds.
Brett Campbell, Ed.D., Director, is a former Provost at Tulsa Community College and in the 2024 Leadership Broken Arrow Class. Wanting be become more involved in the Broken Arrow Community, he chose to serve on the museum Board. No stranger to volunteering on nonprofit boards, Brett has served on the boards for the Oklahoma Aquarium, the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance, the Workforce Tulsa Executive Board, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Board. He also served as the Oklahoma Referee-in-Chief for USA Hockey. After retiring from higher education in 2018, Brett taught U.S. and Oklahoma history at Tulsa Honor Academy and then moved to the Union Freshman Academy as a Career Counselor. He also teaches Post Civil War History and 20th Century History as an adjunct professor at Tulsa Community College.
Marcella Burgess Giles, Esq., Director was born and raised on her grandmother’s allotment in south Broken Arrow. Three of her great-great grandparents settled in the Weer/Broken Arrow area in the 1830s. She loves the history of this area and also genealogy research. She graduated from Broken Arrow Schools and Oklahoma State University and taught school for nineteen years. She then attended Georgetown Law Center where she earned her juris doctorate degree. An enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe, she practiced federal Indian law in the public sector at the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, the Department of Justice, and the Office for Victim of Crimes. She was formerly Attorney General for the Seminole Nation and for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. She also served as Vice President on the board for the grassroots Indian non-profit association, Indian Land Working Group.
Marcella and her husband John raised their family in McLean, Virginia which is part of the Washington, D.C. metro area. She recently returned home to Broken Arrow and consults with tribes, tribal organizations, and individuals where she continues to help others. Her personal interests include travel and activities with her three sons and four grandchildren.
Daniel Blaho, Director, Born and raised in Broken Arrow, Daniel Blaho is a versatile professional with a strong foundation in marketing, branding, and design. Starting as a freelance graphic designer, he quickly evolved into a branding specialist and has held various roles including marketing manager, designer, online marketing specialist, head of marketing, and creative director. He founded his own marketing agency at 28 and recently launched a creative consultancy, Formwork. Committed to his community, Daniel actively engages with nonprofits and serves on various boards in the Tulsa area. He excels at transforming abstract ideas into tangible constructs, bringing a visionary perspective and strong technical knowledge to his work. Daniel's personal philosophy is to always remain a student to support and better his family and network.
Roger Love, Director is a lifelong resident of Broken Arrow who is passionate about our history and about giving back to the community he loves. He graduated from Broken Arrow High School and attended Tulsa Community College before having a long career at Ford Glass and later at FedEx Express. He has always looked for ways to help people and organizations that benefit the community. He credits his having that desire to Dr. Clarence Oliver who once told him to “make a difference.” He took it to heart. Roger was instrumental in the development of exhibits when Museum Broken Arrow was under construction. He found a way to move the large and beloved horse “Charlie" to the museum and contributed heavily to the Rooster Day exhibit. He continues to love the museum and what it offers the residents of the area. In addition to his work and involvement in the community, Roger rode bareback and rode bulls in rodeo competitions for twenty years. He also served as Youth Director in the Broken Arrow Roundup Club, and was in the Bill Pickett Association for ten years. Raising quarter horses and cattle occupies his time, along with his son Jason and two granddaughters who adore riding horses as much as he does.
Dr. Robert (Bob) Rosser, Director, The Robert Rosser family has lived in Broken Arrow continuously for over one hundred years. Bob Jr. graduated B.A.H.S. in 1959 followed by a B.S. in 1963 at O.S.U., an M.S. in 1965 at O.S.U., and a Ph.D. in 1969 at Virginia Tech. He was selected as a B.A.H.S. “Great Graduate” in 2013. After a career in the Animal Feed industry, he entered the real estate sales profession in which he is currently active. Bob is an active genealogist and family historian having served his family in leading a number of Rosser family reunions. He is also actively engaged with his graduating class of 1959. Bob and his wife Ann (B.A.H.S. 1961) were married in the old stone chapel at the BA First Baptist Church in 1963 and are current long time members of The Church at Battlecreek. Bob is the Bible Study leader for the Senior Adult Community Group. For the past 17 years, Bob and Ann have led and directed the ministry MissionKenya.org, a Christian teaching ministry for pastors and women in Kenya, East Africa. The Rosser’s have two children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Bob is also an active member of the Broken Arrow Toastmasters Club.
RobAnn Cloud, Director, is a Clinical Resource Nurse at the Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis. She is married to the love of her life, Cody, and has 3 wonderful children; Allie is 21, Andrew is 18, and Ben is 16. She has 4 dogs, 5 cats, a bearded dragon, numerous chickens, and some fish! Her daughter Allie has been working at the museum 6 years and it has become near and dear to her heart!
MUSEUM STAFF
Allie Cloud, Museum Associate has been an employee of The Museum BA since 2018. Prior to 2018, she volunteered at the museum for 4 1/2 years. She obtained her Associate's Degree of Arts in History in 2021. She is currently working toward a bachelor's in American History from Southern New Hampshire University She has a Dalmatian named Rosemary and a black cat named Sassafras. She would love to be able to travel back in time and be able to learn more about America.
Nancy Brian, Artifact Collections Manager, was born in the Midwest and grew up on the East Coast. Marriage brought her to Broken Arrow, where she has lived half her life and raised a son. Originally in a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology, she changed course and went after her life-long interests in libraries and museums. Nancy's last two placements have been at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and the Military History Center, and she is now at home at the Museum Broken Arrow.
Nancy plays flute, recorder, and pennywhistle with equal engagement and performs in a Renaissance early music ensemble and Irish group. Volunteer work has always been a family tradition to which she is faithful. Play time includes tennis, reading, and dog-petting. If there is a boat or plane nearby, she will freely crew.
Matthew Downing, Museum Associate, earned a B.A. degree in history at Rogers State College in Claremore and also an Associates degree in Arts at Tulsa Community College. His intern experience at the J. M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum in Claremore has proven useful as he engages with the MBA artifact collection. Matthew also works directly with visitors who rent our third floor or come in for a tour.
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