Starting a new four-year term, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum has made changes in his personal staff. Kathryn Junk and former City Councilor Anna America will join the Mayor’s Office. Junk will be the chief of staff to Bynum beginning Nov. 16 and America will serve as the chief of culture and recreation effective immediately.

Junk will be responsible for providing strategy and project management for Bynum’s Office.

Jack Blair, who served as chief of staff for the past four years in the Bynum administration, will become the Chief Operating Officer. Amy Brown will be the Chief Administrative Officer and Deputy Mayor of Tulsa.

Prior to joining the City of Tulsa, Junk held various roles at a Tulsa-based pipe distributor and from 2007 to 2010, worked for U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe in both a press and policy capacity. Junk is a Tulsa native and holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Tulsa and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from The University of Oklahoma.

America will remain the City’s Park and Recreation Director, but will also be responsible for the coordination with the BOK Center, Cox Convention Center, Gilcrease Museum, Greenwood Cultural Center, Performing Arts Center and River Parks.     America has been Tulsa Park and Recreation Director since August 2018. She was District 7 Tulsa City Councilor for four years. America holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from The University of Tulsa.

Bynum also announced Ashely Philippsen, who previously served as the deputy chief of community development and policy will continue her work as the deputy chief for inclusive economic growth with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.

Ashley will support economic development strategy.