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About Building All Children

Equipping Tulsa Families. Empowering Every Child.
“Let us rise up and build” Nehemiah 2:18

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At Building All Children®, we believe every child is uniquely created by God, with a purpose, a personality, and a path.

But when a child struggles with development, learning, behavior, or social/emotional skills, it can leave families feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to turn.

That’s why we exist.

Since 2014, our mission has been to assess, resource, and empower children and their families by focusing on each child’s individual development and learning style. We partner with the community, churches and schools, across the Tulsa metro area to provide no-cost support that removes barriers and opens doors for every child to thrive.

Our Mission

To assess, resource, and empower children and their families to build each child’s development and individual learning style.

Our Vision

That every family is equipped and empowered to improve each child’s development physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

“And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” so they strengthened their hands for the good work.”– Nehemiah 2:18

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We Believe That…

  • Every child is uniquely designed by God.

  • Families are the foundation of a child’s growth.

  • Early intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s future.

  • Empowered parents raise confident kids.

  • Support should be accessible to all, regardless of income or background.

We are guided by the words in Nehemiah 2:18: “Let us rise up and build.”

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Hear Kendra’s personal story and the heart behind Building All Children

Meet Our Founder

Kendra Morgan, M.S., CCPS

Founder & Executive Director Certified Child & Parenting SpeciALIST

With more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education and a heart for families, Kendra founded Building All Children® in 2014 to give parents a trusted place to turn for answers and hope. She holds a Master’s in Early Childhood Education and is a Certified Biblical Counselor. Her passion is empowering parents and equipping children with tools to thrive.

Our Team

Our multidisciplinary team includes early childhood specialists, academic tutors, speech and language experts, resource coordinators, and community educators. Every team member shares a deep commitment to supporting Tulsa families with compassion, professionalism, and faith.

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    Melissa Cole

    Director of Operations and Intake Care Coordinator

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    Gayla Cox

    Director of Partnerships & Play (Buildville® Play & BUILDgroups®)

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    Ande Arbuckle M. S., CCPS

    Lead Clinician - Certified Child & Parenting Specialist

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    Melissa Morrow M.S., CDS

    Child Development Specialist

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    Julie Wallace, M.Ed. CDS

    Child Development Specialist

  • Jennifer Nottingham, M.Ed., CDS

    Child Development Specialist

  • Jordan White, M.S., CDS

    Child Development Specialist

  • Becky Williamson

    Resource Coordinator & Intake Assistant

  • Mary Beth Smith

    Leader of Play & BUILDgroups®

  • Ashton Spittka

    Design & Media Specialist

  • Kelly Wells

    Play Assistant

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    Jean Evans

    Coordinator & Reading Specialist Building All Readers®

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    Cathy Burdick

    Reading Specialist - Building All Readers®

  • A smiling woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing a floral blouse standing outdoors with autumn trees in the background.

    Katy Fulda

    Reading Specialist - Building All Readers®

  • A woman with blonde hair smiling, wearing a blue top and matching blue earrings, indoors with a wood-paneled background.

    Kristy Hamilton

    Reading Specialist - Building All Readers®

  • Jennifer Starr

    Reading Specialist - Building All Readers®

  • Gina Hewett

    Reading Specialist - Building All Readers®

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    Danielle Nelson

    Play & BUILDgroups®

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    Piper Messimore

    Director of Human Resources

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    Amanda Collins

    Volunteer Coordinator

Our Board of Directors

Our board brings leadership experience from a wide range of fields—finance, ministry, education, healthcare, and nonprofit development.

Chris Jacobsen: Chairman

  • Chris Jacobsen is President and CEO of Oak Ridge Natural Resources. He is responsible for business development and oversight of acquisitions, financial reporting, and exploitation and development of producing and undeveloped oil and gas assets. Prior to Oak Ridge Natural Resources, Mr. Jacobsen was President and CEO of Premier Natural Resources and has held other executive management roles at Vintage Petroleum, KCS Energy and Medallion Production in Tulsa for the past 20 years. Before relocating to Tulsa, he was Senior Vice President for 12 years at Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., a Texas-based oil and gas consulting firm that provides a complete range of professional reservoir engineering, geophysical and geological services to the worldwide petroleum industry.

    Mr. Jacobsen began his career in the oil and gas industry in 1977 with Exxon Company USA where he held various reservoir and facilities engineering and supervision positions. Mr. Jacobsen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Rose Human Institute of Technology in 1977 with a minor in economics.  He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

    In addition to his professional career, Chris has served in various capacities in the community including Mayor Pro Tem/City Councilman of Sachse, TX (Dallas County) and Member of the Dallas County Mobility Coalition for Thoroughfare Development in the Dallas Metroplex, as an adult leader and Executive Committee Member for the Tulsa Council of Boy Scouts of America, as Junior Achievement Counselor and the University of Tulsa’s Petroleum Engineering Industry Advisory Board.

Trey Cooper, CFP, AIF: Director & Senior Wealth Advisor with Mariner Wealth Advisors

  • As a director and senior wealth advisor, Trey focuses on developing solutions for individuals, foundations, and corporate retirement plans.

    Prior to Mariner Wealth Advisors, Trey was a senior vice president of Adams Hall Wealth Advisors.  He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, is a Certified Financial Planner professional and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary designee.

    Trey has served on the boards of Meals on Wheels of Tulsa, and the Tulsa Air and Space Museum.  He is a graduate of Leadership Tulsa Class 42, the G2 Leadership Institute and was named to Oklahoma Magazine’s list of 40 under 40 in 2015.  He is also a Kansas City Barbeque Society Certified BBQ Judge. 

    Trey and his wife, Jamie, have been married 15 years and have two children. 

Ryan Morgan

  • Ryan has a heart to serve the Lord, and a strong passion for children to have success in learning. For several years he has coached youth soccer, youth basketball and volunteers many hours at his church teaching Kindergarteners. He volunteers during his lunch time tutoring young children in math and helping them learn. Ryan is a mechanical engineer for a company in the Tulsa area. He considers it a privilege to be part of the Building All Children Board.

Janell Carter: Speech Language Pathologist, M.S. CCC-SLP

  • Janell is a Speech Language Pathologist, carrying her national certification. She earned her degree at the University of Tulsa and upon graduation, immediately began working for Tulsa Public Schools. Janell took time to be a mother to three before returning to work at Therapy Works, a pediatric clinic offering occupation, physical, speech and feeding therapy. She is currently a Speech Language Pathologist at Jenks Public Schools, serving 3 and 4-year old’s. Her passion for helping others, especially those who cannot help themselves, has led her to Building All Children. She is prayerful that the skills, dedication and resources God has equipped her with will be a blessing to ALL children and families using these services. She believes that early intervention is a critical component to assisting children in being successful in the classroom. Janell and her husband, Ryan, have been married for 25 years and have three wonderful children. The Carters are greatly involved at Asbury UMC and are excited for the partnership to come with Building All Children.

Cassie Mock: Partner at 1522 Financial

  • Cassie Mock grew up on a wheat farm in South Central Kansas. She attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Political Science. Cassie spent a year after graduation working for FHSU Admissions Office recruiting students in Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado. 

    Cassie attended The University of Tulsa College of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate. She started her career in civil litigation where she focused on complex litigation for a large healthcare system. In 2022, Cassie and her husband, Philip, opened 1522 Financial, a wealth management and financial planning firm. Her focus is using her legal background to navigate the numerous regulations that govern registered investment advisors. 

    In her spare time, Cassie enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, singing on her church’s worship team, gardening and volunteering at her childrens’ school.

Tamara Noel: Owner of Luxe Furniture & Design and Partner with Luxe Real Estate Team with McGraw Realtors

  • Tamara Noel is owner of Luxe Furniture & Design, a full-service interior design studio and furniture showroom based in Tulsa, and partner with the Luxe Real Estate Team with McGraw Realtors. She holds degrees in Marketing and Human Resources Management from the University of Oklahoma, and previously worked on the trading floor at ONEOK Energy Services before venturing into local business ownership. Tamara was recognized as one of the Business Journal Record’s Under 40 Achievers in 2019 for her business and philanthropic efforts.

    Tamara believes strongly in building and giving back to the Tulsa community and has served on board and executive positions with Project Orphans, CampFire USA Green Country Council, and the Gamma Phi Beta Tulsa Alumnae Chapter. She is passionate about children and celebrating each child’s unique development and has been involved with Building All Children in different capacities since 2016, focusing mostly on fundraising.

    Tamara and her husband, Chris, are parents to two sweet young boys, Palmer and Pearson. As a family, they enjoy traveling, playing sports, and playing outdoors.

Dr. Don Hamilton

  • Dr. Don Hamilton retired from medical practice in 2021 after serving families in the Tulsa area as a pediatrician for 35 years. For the final 10 years of his career, he specialized in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, providing care for children with special needs. Since his retirement, Dr. Hamilton continues to support children and families by serving on the Building All Children Board of Directors and volunteering time as needed to provide education, resources, and consultation.

    Dr. Hamilton resides in Bixby with his wife of 47 years, Debbie. They have a deep personal connection to the privilege and challenges of adoption; all seven of their grandchildren are adopted, including their youngest granddaughter who joined the family from India in 2024. Spending quality time with their three adult children and grandchildren in Missouri and Florida is a wonderful blessing.

    Active members of Asbury Church, Don and Debbie are deeply rooted in their church community and service opportunities. In his retirement, Dr. Hamilton enjoys exploring the wonders of the night sky as a member of the Astronomy Club of Tulsa. He also spreads joy locally with his certified therapy dog, Baxter, visiting area schools and attending community events.

Alycia Pennington

  • Alycia Pennington currently works at Union Public Schools and is the Principal of Rosa Parks Early Childhood Education Center.  She has been in Education for 23 years. She and her wonderful husband, Scott, have been married for 28 years and have 4 children.  She has served in her church in many different capacities, from working in the children’s and youth departments, being on committees and leading Women’s ministry.

  • McKenzie, a proud Tulsa native, embodies the spirit of service, commitment, and community. With a degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa, she has carved out a successful career as a Reservoir Engineer, contributing her expertise to the energy sector. 

    In addition to her professional pursuits, McKenzie is a devoted wife and mother of two children. Their shared interests include spending quality time with family and friends, staying active, and actively participating in church and school activities. As a family unit, the Bender’s are a testament to the values of community, engagement, and a shared commitment to making Tulsa a better place for all families. 

    McKenzie’s passion for children’s development extends beyond her own family. She is committed to ensuring every child can be the best version of themselves and educating parents on the resources available to further develop their child’s unique potential. McKenzie believes strongly in giving back to the Tulsa community and has served on the board of the Brain Injury Recovery Foundation. She is looking forward to working alongside BAC to empower the families of Tulsa to improve each child’s development physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. 

McKenzie Bender 

Greg Shaw

  • Greg has 31 years of construction experience and has delivered over $1 Billion Dollars of Construction spending in his career. He has successfully built privately and publicly funded projects, both union and nonunion projects alike. Those projects vary from Hospitals, Elementary and Early Childhood Development Schools, 18,000 seat Arenas, Federally Funded Health Clinics, Casinos, Heavy Civil Highway Projects, Grocery Stores, Libraries, and Utility Infrastructure Projects. Greg is a transplant from Boston, MA , and has lived in Tulsa since 2004. He worked for Manhattan Construction Group for 15 years, and worked for the Muscogee Creek Nation Casinos as Operations Manager of all Casinos and Properties for 5 years. In 2020 Greg became an entrepreneur by starting his own business Beantown Enterprises LLC. Beantown Enterprises is a Program Management firm with over $100 million dollars of projects under management and construction. Greg Shaw has three sons Gabriel, Graham, and Harrison Shaw. 

In Memoriam

We honor and remember those who have faithfully served and helped shape our mission.

Dr. William L. (“Hess”) Hester: Pastor Emeritus of Southern Hills Baptist Church in Tulsa