Each summer, Youth Leadership Oklahoma immerses high school students in a transformative, week-long journey across the state. For years now, I and a host of other local leaders speak to the students when they come through Tulsa. This quote came from an email I received from a student after she heard my talk in 2025.
“As the leader of the Tulsa World, Jason partnered with Tulsa Area United Way to execute ways to assist us in reaching new audiences strategically, creatively, and compassionately. I highly recommend him for you personally or your organization to help you with your media outreach, marketing and management in today’s (short) attention economy.”
– Alison Anthony, President and CEO of Tulsa Area United Way
“I believe Jason represents the professional trifecta of proven expertise, sound judgment, and integrity you can count on. He brings clarity, conscience, and deep respect for people into everything he does.”
– Dee Harris, Director of Open Culture Storytelling, Creative Commons
“Jason Collington will help change your work, and by extension, you. His passion is infectious. His ideas are innovative. His coaching is immediately impactful. Plug in with him — you and your KPIs — will be glad you did. You’ll have fun, too. He’s like the Mel Robbins of Oklahoma media, the friend you need to challenge you to be the best sustainable version of yourself for your team.”
– Seth Prince, University of Oklahoma Student Media Director and OU Daily Newsroom Adviser
“He creates a culture where success is expected and always celebrated. When you combine that with his unstoppable work ethic (I know it’s cliche to wonder when he sleeps, and yet here I am wondering it), you have a professional who is both mentor and friend. I have called upon Jason for help with a thousand different issues across a thousand different topics, and I always find him to be insightful, candid, supportive and above all else, solutions-oriented.”
– Barbara Allen, Founder of CollegeJournalism.org
“Spend 30 minutes with Jason, and you’ll come away with clarity, confidence and optimism about the road ahead. During nearly three decades as a journalist in Tulsa, he showed a knack for quickly assessing situations and devising smart, creative solutions to tell a story. In his new role, I have no doubt he can help individuals and organizations tell their stories and reach their potential.”
– Rick Thornton, Vice President of Content, DTN
“There is no one like Jason. Passionate. Supportive. Innovative. Smart. Teacher. Creative. Ambitious. Forward-thinking. I could go on all day. More than anything, Jason wants the people he’s working with to be successful and he gets no greater satisfaction than seeing his students or his staff do great things.”
– Patrick Prince, Holland Hall Media and Communications Editor
“He is driven by what’s next — by what could be. Always looking ahead, he brings clarity, honesty, and perspective to every conversation. Most importantly, he delivers with both humor and strategy.”
– Amanda Houk-Copley, Marketing and Events Director at Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
“Nobody has a better finger on the pulse of what’s happening – or going to happen – with media and marketing than Jason. If you are looking for someone with elite skills and vision, Jason is your man, with a unique ability to see outside the box and to challenge people to stretch beyond the norm, and like it, bettering them and their companies.”
– John Helsley, Director of Communications, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
“I work with nonprofit leaders all the time who could benefit from Jason’s perspective. He can help them sharpen their message, approach media with confidence, and think clearly during high-pressure moments. Not spin. Just smart, grounded guidance rooted in real experience and a great appreciation for nonprofits. Jason explains things clearly and helps people make better decisions without overcomplicating them.”
– Matthew Gleason, Grants & Marketing Communications Manager at Tulsa Area United Way
“Jason Collington is the catalyst every organization needs to break out of routine to reach higher results. Jason doesn’t just teach — he inspires. He makes you believe in your own potential and asks questions that challenge you to think in entirely new ways. That shift in mindset is truly transformational. I highly recommend working with Jason while you can. He’s the kind of talent organizations want to keep to themselves, and I have no doubt he’ll be scooped up for an in-house role. He’s simply too good to share.”
– Jenny Karn, Senior Director at Sports & Fitness Industry Association
“He knows how to navigate current challenges but also can help anyone take advantage of new opportunities. As importantly, he is a thoughtful, compassionate man. Meet Jason just once and you’ll want him as a trusted partner. No way can you go wrong with him by your side.”
“What sets Jason apart: He possesses a gimlet-eyed examination of situations and an encyclopedic ability to match solutions to problems. He has been instrumental in helping students reach the next level, directly mentoring several Hearst Award winners. As Editor of the Tulsa World, he maintained the highest standards of journalistic excellence and reporting. Jason doesn’t just edit stories; he develops winning solutions.”
“He understands that credibility is vital for our future, too, and has worked throughout his career to abide by ethical standards. He spoke numerous times to my university classes and conferences. He offered a unique perspective that shows his thoughtful mindset for the future. Students always rated him as one of the best they’ve heard.”
– Joe Hight, Endowed Chair of Journalism Ethics, University of Central Oklahoma
“He brings strategic clarity, creativity, and disciplined execution to everything he does, helping organizations connect authentically with the people they serve. Jason’s experience, integrity, and vision make him a tremendous asset to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits alike.”
– Jesse Guardiola, Director of Government Relations, Oklahoma State Department of Education
“What sets Jason apart is his combination of traditional media expertise with a sophisticated understanding of today’s digital landscape and his willingness to be a straight shooter. Jason doesn’t mince words. He’ll challenge you to think more strategically and critically about everything from messaging to business decisions to community engagement. I genuinely get smarter with every lunch with Jason. He doesn’t just understand what makes a story work—he understands how audiences consume information across platforms, how to build authentic connections, and how to help organizations and individuals communicate with clarity and purpose.”
– Kat Eller Murray, Founder and Principal of ROAM Communications
“Jason has a deep understanding of how newsrooms operate and the ethical dilemmas behind running one. He has a very strong instinct for balancing journalistic integrity with the realities of a fast-paced media landscape. Watching him lead through high-pressure moments showed me what strong leadership in media looks like.”
– Cassidy Martin, Communications Associate with the Oklahoma City Thunder
“I have witnessed firsthand Jason’s management style (collaborative), creativity, and unwavering commitment to client success, and I am confident every engagement all will continue to benefit from his outstanding results for all fortunate enough to work with Jason.”
– Matt Newman, Principal Managing Partner, New Era Advisors
“Every conversation I have with Jason, I walk away feeling heard, understood, and calm knowing I have a great plan moving forward. Whether it’s digital strategy or mentorship, Jason will always have your back.”
– Siandhara Bonnet, Team Lead at Ricoh
“Jason is a leader who takes a 360-degree view of the opportunities in a market, champions the people he leads and collaboratively charts a path to success.”
– Brian Indrelunas, Managing Editor for The Kim Komando Show
“I did my best work under Jason’s direction, and he knows how to get things moving.”
– Adam Wisneski, Partner and Chief Operations Officer at Hardpin
“Given his deep roots and understanding of the Tulsa region, I have no doubt someone will recognize his value and take advantage of his expertise.”
– Len LaCara, Strategic Analytics Manager for The Marshall Project
“He exemplified patience, understanding and a dedication to storytelling in ways I hadn’t seen before.”
– Jericka Handie, Chief of Staff for Prince Capital Management
“Jason’s ability to view the world from different angles, and find solutions and ways to monetize those solutions is impressive in its own right.”
– Chris Shelton, Director of Global Consulting at Podean
“I was a student of Jason’s at Oklahoma State University. Jason’s unorthodox teaching style was a breath of fresh air as he opened my eyes to what employers really want from a new face in the multi-media journalism industry.”
– Jon Shoalmire, Technical Writer and ShopFinder at Bizjet International
Jason Collington 