words by Evie Klopp Holzer & Kristen Grace | Photography by Shevaun Williams
Venue: The BAUMBERHOF | Styling by Petra Simpson | Wardrobe from Bella Rose Bridal | Hair and makeup by Britt & Meghanne with MarloHaus | Accessories from BC Clark
There is one purpose behind 405 Magazine’s HER Awards: to celebrate the remarkable and dynamic female leaders in the 405 who work tirelessly to affect positive change and enhance our community. The recipients of the 2025 HER Awards were nominated by their peers for making a profound impact on our city and others, and for leading the way.
Debi Martin | Woman of the Year
Humbly and happily working behind the scenes, Debi Martin has been a reliable public servant of the City of Oklahoma City for more than 50 years. As the City Council Chief of Staff, she provides anyone phoning her office with not only a listening ear, but also viable solutions. She is the ultimate connector, with a wealth of knowledge and a wide network that she doesn’t hesitate to use. She “literally keeps the City going,” said her friend Kim Funk. >>Read More.
Phi Nguyen | Community Visionary
When Phi Nguyen embarked on her career in public accounting, she knew where she wanted to end up: anywhere but Oklahoma. She was so confident about this direction that on her first day in the Leadership Oklahoma LOYAL Program, when she was asked where she envisioned herself in a year, she proudly proclaimed, “In one year, I won’t be living here anymore.” And then, just as the LOYAL (Linking Oklahoma’s Young Adult Leaders) program is designed to do for its participants, she realized Oklahoma City could offer a fulfilling future. >>Read More.
Rachael Gannon | Industry Leader
Rachael Gannon has faced extraordinary odds: navigating single motherhood while building a career in an industry where she’s notably in the minority. Women hold only 14% of executive positions in STEM, according to Statista. In August of this year, she was promoted from Executive Vice President of Product and Development to Chief Automation Officer of Paycom, a publicly traded OKC-based company with thousands of employees that is projected to reach $2 billion in revenue this year. >>Read More.
Tabatha Carr | Catalyst
Naturopath doctor Tabatha Carr prepared her first batch of chocolate on her kitchen stove. While she knew it was delicious, she never imagined she would one day be selling it in 20 states at 150 Whole Foods Market stores. Carr’s Good Girl Chocolate is certainly “good” in many aspects—as it is tasty, bean-to-bar, certified organic chocolate, free from dairy, gluten, soy and preservatives. It is also a product of Carr’s amazing health journey and passion to serve others. >>Read More.
Madison Mélon-McLawhorn | Rising Star
When Madison Melon-McLawhorn graduated in 2015 and left Oklahoma for Georgetown Law in Washington, D.C., she wasn’t sure that she would come back to her home state. But in law school, she participated in an alternative track that focused on the criminal justice system. As she learned about the injustices that those in systemic poverty face, she became inspired to come back to Oklahoma after law school and serve the community where she grew up. >>Read More.
Gio Green | Humanitarian
Eighteen months. That’s all the time Gio Green was granted with her baby Jack before he passed away in April 2024. However, through her, his legacy lives on. Green is the founder of Jack’s Friends Foundation and Little Lighthouse Oklahoma City—both organizations prompted by Green’s journey into motherhood and navigating care for a child with special needs. >>Read More
