Our Team

As Managing Director, Lyndsey oversees fundraising efforts and operations to ensure the mission of Soldier’s Wish is fulfilled and program services are increased each year. She manages all day-to-day tasks and is charged with leading Soldier’s Wish and growing the mission.

Lyndsey earned her Series 7 license and spent six years in the finance industry helping clients in over 200 households achieve their retirement goals. She spent two years in human resources working with candidates and corporations to make the right match for finance and accounting positions. After working with several nonprofit clients, Lyndsey found her true passion in the nonprofit world helping those individuals who need it most.

Lyndsey has worked in the nonprofit sector for the past five years. She joined Soldier’s Wish in 2019 as the first full-time employee and quickly built a team of staff and volunteers who are passionate about helping veterans and military families. She transitioned the organization to a fully remote operation, reduced overhead, and diversified fundraising efforts to sustain the organization through a pandemic. She created the Soldier’s Wish Honor Tree program to raise funds for Christmas wishes for veterans and military families, created new merchandise, and increased donor engagement and veteran outreach through digital programs. Lyndsey organized the first in-house fundraising events, including the organization’s first-ever virtual event, and worked with Subway to grant over $100k in wishes across three states in the southeast region. She has established key partnerships with foundations and other VSOs across the nation, making more resources available to broaden the organization’s reach both geographically and in the number of lives impacted. During her time, the organization has expanded outreach into new states and new military bases, with the goal of expanding the Soldier’s Wish mission into all 50 states and U.S. Territories by 2025.

Lyndsey lives with her husband Chase Tyler and her two dogs Heidi and Griff in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When they’re not working or spending time with their families, they enjoy traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands where they occasionally manage a boutique hotel.

Adam Baker is President of the Banking Group for Stride Bank, a $2 Billion asset-sized bank with offices throughout Oklahoma and in Salt Lake City. He oversees the Bank’s commercial and fintech lending, credit, mortgage, and wealth management groups.  Prior to joining Stride in 2008, Adam managed the credit department for a $1.2B asset-sized bank located in Chicago, IL. From 2000 to 2003, he was the regional credit analyst for US Bank’s correspondent lending department based in Kansas City, MO.  Adam earned a Bachelor of Arts in Letters from the University of Oklahoma and later an MBA in finance and accounting from American University in Washington, DC.

Adam lives in Tulsa, OK with his wife Elissa, a son, a daughter, and dog Charlie. He enjoys hunting, skiing, travel, history, the Oklahoma Sooners, and playing clawhammer banjo. Adam has served on the Soldier’s Wish board since 2013.

Josh is the General Contractor, Owner/Vice President of Red Dog Construction, LLC, which is a leader in design build, and general contracting in the commercial retail, office, restaurant, medical, education, and industrial sectors. He has successfully managed over $60 Million in projects in his 16-year career and has consistently met clients’ goals in a wide variety of construction projects.

Josh passionately volunteers his time and energy to several organizations in the community. He has led several projects for Soldier’s Wish recipients, including wheelchair ramps and home remodels. He also general contracted the rehabilitation of the American Legion Post One building in Tulsa, OK. Josh also serves on the Oklahoma Board of Education Technology Trust Board. He was the Founder of the Tulsa Christmas Parade and the Jenks Youth Flag Football League, and he coaches little league baseball.

Josh is married to Gini McFarland and they have two children, Presley and Parker. Josh has served on the Soldier’s Wish board since 2018.

Mark Tedford is the owner and CEO of Tedford Insurance with their corporate office located in Jenks, Oklahoma.

Mark received his bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern University and worked part-time at the agency as he earned his MBA from the University of Tulsa. He specializes in the Energy and Industrial industry.

Mark is passionate about protecting the dreams of his clients and understands what is at stake for a business owner. Tedford Insurance was founded in 1978. Tedford Insurance was the recipient of the 2016 DREAM BIG Blue Ribbon Small Business Award, and Mark was personally awarded the Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma “2018 Agent of the Year”. He was selected for this prestigious award by his peers in the industry. Most recently, Tedford Insurance was the recipient of the 2022 Family-Owned Business Award presented by the Tulsa Regional Chamber and the Tulsa Small Business Connection.

Mark has a passion for giving back to the communities that have richly fueled the growth of his family’s business throughout the decades. Mark has served on the Soldier’s Wish board Since 2017. Mark currently serves on the Tulsa Christmas Parade Board, Tulsa Regional Chamber Board of Directors, Triad Bank Board of Directors, and serves on the board for the PMI Green Country HOA.

Mark has always recognized the importance of politics. However, it wasn’t until this year that he had the opportunity to run for Oklahoma House Representative for District #69.  Mark will begin his two-year term in February 2023.

Mark is married to Kristin Tedford, and they have four children, Lauren, Landon, Lathan, and Lanning.

James is an attorney at Ezzell & Shepherd PLLC in Enid, Oklahoma. He has been practicing law for more than 15 years.

James earned a Bachelor of Arts in Letters from the University of Oklahoma in 1998 and later an MBA from the Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma. He obtained his Juris Doctorate in 2003 from Oklahoma City University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity and a merit scholarship recipient. He was admitted to practice law in the State of Oklahoma the same year. After being admitted to the bar in 2003, James worked in Oklahoma City for three years before returning to Enid in 2006.

James Shepherd has had the pleasure to serve on numerous boards of local organizations, including the Board of Directors for the Enid Chamber of Commerce, Hospice Circle of Love, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, the Grand National Quail Club, and Oakwood Country Club.

James lives in Enid, OK with his wife Molly, and their four children. James has served on the Soldier’s Wish since 2019.

Kevin is the owner of Barracuda Staffing, Barracuda Consulting, and Red River Payroll and has built the companies on the principles of building relationships on every level.

Kevin’s main objective, whether it is with his clients, applicants or staff, is to put people in the right position to succeed. The staffing company under his direction has had substantial growth year over year and has been twice recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America. Kevin is motivated to perform no more than his best and feels he is here to serve the community. He is an active member on the boards of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Soldier’s Wish, and the Tulsa Christmas Parade.

Kevin lives in Tulsa, OK with his wife Sandy, and their two children. They enjoy watching their children compete in sports and in life, and they aspire to see the world. Kevin has served on the Soldier’s Wish board since 2018.

Known to his friends as, Joe, Donald Watt is the retired owner of Joe Watt Auto Sales Inc, and has more than 35 years of purchasing, sales, and marketing experience in the automotive industry. After working for several new car dealerships and winning many excellence awards, Joe successfully opened his own car dealership in Oklahoma 25 years ago. What started as a small used car dealership open to the public, evolved into a large dealership specifically marketing law enforcement vehicles all over the United States.

Joe moved to South Florida in 2013, and he continues to maintain strong ties to Oklahoma. He has participated in granting wishes in the South Florida area and has distributed Soldier’s Wish materials at VFWs and during ceremonies at memorial parks. Joe has served on the Soldier’s Wish board since its inception in 2013.

Clay Bartels is an American Airlines First Officer and is on the Board of Directors for Soldier’s Wish, a Tulsa-based non-profit with the mission to identify and provide for the unmet needs of active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.  Clay is a recently retired Air Force Colonel with 25 years of service primarily as a fighter pilot.

He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996 and has flown as an evaluator and instructor pilot in the T-6A, F-15C, and F-22A with over 2,300 total fighter hours including combat time in Operations Southern and Northern Watch. Col Bartels has held various deployed staff and command positions including operations in the Middle East against ISIS and as an Air Advisor in Iraq.  He holds a Master of Strategic Studies, a Master of Military Arts and Science, and a Master of Business Administration.

Clay is happily married to his wife Mandy, and has three children: Sadie, Seth, and Mattie.