Meet Brian Paschal: LTFF’s Managing Director

Place matters, and I can think of no better place than Tulsa. It is the perfect city to make change happen. Large enough to scale innovation, yet small enough to create lasting impact. In fact, the past ten years have seen tremendous development and growth showing what is possible, although it is understandably easy to lose sight of our progress when so many people are currently facing obstacles brought on by the pandemic.    

Tulsa has ebbed and flowed for over a century. It is the resilience of its people that pushes us forward. With the right investment, care, and attention, Tulsa is on the precipice of becoming the most vibrant version of itself -- the version that keeps the welcoming spirit of our people and strives to bring new voices, new creativity, and new ideas to build Tulsa for the next century. It is undeniable that this is the time to address issues of social unrest and injustice, which have always existed but have been more recently brought into sharp focus. Now, more than ever, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, big thinkers, and risk takers is paramount to ensuring Tulsa fulfills its potential.   

I am energized by the opportunity to serve as managing director of Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, where I will empower Tulsans to do just that.  

I moved back to my hometown a little more than a decade ago after spending 15 years in Los Angeles in the film industry. There, I learned the value of working with many creative minds toward a shared vision. Since being back in Tulsa, I centered my career around my passion for making it the best place to live. Most recently, I led the Foundation for Tulsa Schools where I aligned community, business, and philanthropy to help provide critical resources to thousands of students. Prior to that, I worked for the Tulsa Regional Chamber leading education and workforce development initiatives and running Tulsa’s Young Professionals. The LTFF managing director role is the culmination of all the best parts of my career where I will collaborate with creative people, share my love of Tulsa, and utilize my community and economic development skills. 

Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation’s mission of empowering Tulsans to achieve their goals by decreasing barriers associated with big ideas is inspiring. I recognize how fortunate I am to be joining this endeavor at this stage, as LTFF embarks on an ambitious ten-year strategic plan to further ignite entrepreneurial activity and serve as a national model for economic and community revitalization. I am emboldened to use my experiences and resources to be a part of it. I am excited to partner in strengthening Tulsa’s unique, global asset in Route 66 and harness the sense of wonder and possibility that the Mother Road promises.

As we emerge from these difficult and unprecedented times, bringing people together through shared experiences and community will be more important than it has ever been. I am eager to build on the momentum already created by the entrepreneurs, business owners, staff, and patrons who have made Mother Road Market, Kitchen 66, and the Shops at Mother Road Market such a success. 

“I am emboldened to use my experiences and resources to be a part of it. I am excited to partner in strengthening Tulsa’s unique, global asset in Route 66 and harness the sense of wonder and possibility that the Mother Road promises.”

I have no doubt that Tulsa’s best days lie ahead thanks to the entrepreneurs and small businesses that serve as the backbone of our community and the engine for its growth. It is the risk takers with big ideas who will ensure Tulsa lives up to its full potential. We must support them and make certain that we foster an equitable opportunity for all Tulsans to succeed and see their dreams become reality. 

I cannot wait to officially join the team in February, and I look forward to collaborating, innovating, and building a stronger Tulsa together.