Teresa Knox
Teresa Knox (born January 31, 1969) is an American businesswoman, serial entrepreneur, real estate developer, music producer, music promotor, and historic building preservationist. Knox was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is the founder and former CEO of Community Care College, Clary Sage College, and Oklahoma Technical College in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew the institution from a single program to one of the largest career colleges in America offering 46 academic programs leading to an associate's degree. [1]
In 2018, she bought an old church that was converted to a recording studio by Leon Russell in the 1970s. The Church Studio had been neglected for many years. The Church Studio is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She is also the current owner of Harwelden, a 1923 built historic mansion.[2] She is the former chairperson of Knox Laboratory Services, which she sold in 2005. [3]
Knox has formed three mission-driven nonprofits: Community HigherEd Institute, Heritage Society of Tulsa and The Church Studio Music Foundation.[2]
Career [edit]
Knox graduated with a MBA from Oral Roberts University.[2]
She started her professional career as a dental assistant after attending Bryman Institute in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After that, she had an idea of opening a dental assisting school, Community Care College, which she founded in 1995.[4] Later, she also founded two branch campuses Clary Sage College and Oklahoma Technical College.[5] After 20 years, she converted the three campus college system from a for-profit organization to nonprofit organization in 2015. [6]The Colleges were acquired by 501(c)(3) public charity Community HigherEd and it was confirmed that Knox would step down as the CEO on December 31, 2015. [7]
She is the founder of Knox Laboratory Services, a drug and alcohol testing laboratory, which she sold in 2005. Knox Laboratory Services was acquired by Tomo Drug Testing out of Springfield Missouri in 2019.[8]
In 2016, Knox and her husband Ivan Acosta bought a former church built in 1915. It later became The Church Studio, which was once owned by Tulsa native musician Leon Russell during the 1970s. In 2017 under Knox’s leadership, The Church Studio's building was added to the National Register of Historic Places of Tulsa County, Oklahoma.[9]The Church Studio operates as a recording studio, music venue, tourist attraction, home to the Church Studio archive, and an audio engineering school. [10]The studio is both analog and digital and has NEVE 8068 console once owned by Daniel Lanois. Commissioned by Knox, there is a life-sized bronze sculpture of Russell located at the entrance.[11]
In May 2018, Knox purchased Harwelden, a 1923 built, 15,000 square-foot English Tudor and Collegiate Gothic styled mansion. The historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places of Tulsa County, Oklahoma in 1978.[9]Knox developed a self-sustaining business model for the Harwelden as an event center, wedding venue and bed and breakfast. The Harwelden also offers programming such as daily historic tours and English afternoon tea and is operated by the nonprofit, Heritage Society of Tulsa and is an example of 1920’s prosperity when Tulsa, Oklahoma was Oil Capital of the World.[9]
Personal life[edit]
Knox is married to Ivan Acosta, from Puerto Rico, and they have three children Ronnie, Lilliana, and Annabel. They live in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the Brookside neighborhood.[4]
Awards[edit]
Teresa is a two-time recipient of Tulsa Economic Development Corp’s “Small Business of the Year” and is a recipient of the Newsmaker Award from Association for Women in Communications. She was 2017 Tulsan of the Year and a Crystal Star recipient for Entrepreneurial Success. Her businesses have been recognized for “Best Places to Work in Oklahoma,” the President's "National Community Service Honor Roll,” Music City Awards, A-List and Best in the World lists.[4]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Looking to the Future | Value News Articles". Value News. 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 11804469. "TulsaPeople May 2019". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
- ↑ Writer, LAURIE WINSLOW World Staff. "Knox Laboratory up to the test". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "About – School of Hard Knox". Retrieved 2021-10-27.
- ↑ "History | Community Care College | Teresa Knox | CCC". Community Care College. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
- ↑ Writer, LAURIE WINSLOW World Business. "Community Care College converting to a nonprofit college". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
- ↑ "Strong Women Making a Difference". citylifestyle.com. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
- ↑ "About – School of Hard Knox". Retrieved 2021-10-28.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 11804469. "TulsaPeople May 2019". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
- ↑ "Spiritual Reawakening | Preview 918". www.preview918.com. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
- ↑ "Leon Russell Bronze Sculpture". The Church Studio. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
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