Jonathan Wish

Member/Conklin, Gilpin, Wertz

I’ve recently come to a realization about myself that the people I hold with the highest respect are those who inspire me to be a better person. Business success, incredible athletic ability, or a sharp mind are great, but the ability to have compassion for people is the most important quality I see in people.

With that said, the work done at Counseling & Recovery Services had a tremendous appeal to me. I actually had no intention of joining a board at the time, but when I approached Executive Director Bryan Blankenship about volunteer opportunities, a position was open, and I joined in December 2016, and I am thrilled to be a part of the organization and help out in whatever ways I can.

I currently work for Conklin, Gilpin & Wertz. Previously I worked as an audit supervisor for Stanfield & O’Dell and briefly before that, for the State Auditor. I work with all types of clients, from businesses to governments to Christian ministries, but I most enjoy working in the nonprofit sector. As someone who is not native to Tulsa, I am blown away by the amount of support the community has for these organizations.

Along with serving on the Counseling & Recovery Services Board of Directors’ Finance and Community Relations and Resource Development committees, I have also served on the Young Professionals Board for Emergency Infant Services, where we developed a new annual fundraising event and manage the City Wide Baby Shower. This summer, I am also currently planning a new fundraising event involving a 5K run.

I lived in Arkansas from birth until graduating from the University of Arkansas, and I have been in the Tulsa area ever since. I’ve been married seven years. My wife is a yoga instructor and teaches several places around town. I stay involved in fitness through strength training, yoga, and sports when I can.

For the past few years, I’ve been a part of the Hex House cast, where I play a butcher. My wife and I went to an audition almost as a joke, and since then many of the cast members are almost family to us. Taking a job scaring people until well after midnight was not something I expected to do in my 30s, but October has become one of the busiest and most fun months of the year.