Board of Directors

With the people of Eastern Shawnee Companies around the nation, our leadership is committed to serving its stakeholders. Like generations of leaders before them, they understand that by creating fewer obstacles and limits, will help people to move forward and upward.

Our Board

Audrey Gardner – Chair

Audrey received a BS in Political Science from Portland State University, a Juris Doctorate from Willamette University College of Law, and a Master of Laws in International Indigenous and American Indian Law from the University of Tulsa. Audrey is an enrolled member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and currently serves as their In-house counsel. Audrey also serves on the Board of Directors for the People’s Bank of Seneca, as Chair of the Eastern Shawnee Tribal Enterprises Board of Directors, as Chair for the Woodlands Management Board of Directors, and as an Advisor on the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s Family Violence Prevention Board. In her free time, Audrey enjoys spending time with her children, traveling, cooking, and being outdoors with her dogs.

Josh Johnston

Josh is a Private Banker at MidFirst Bank in Tulsa, OK, specializing in tailored financial solutions for high-net-worth individuals and businesses. His expertise includes commercial real estate transactions, jumbo mortgages, and custom home construction financing.

Before transitioning to banking, Josh spent a decade in the restaurant and hospitality industry as a multi-unit director. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Prior to joining the Eastern Shawnee Companies board, Josh served for three years on the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s election board.

Chris Tayrien

Chris is a graduate of Missouri State University and an enrolled member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. He has spent 25 years in the Kansas City Metro area, playing a key role in growing two companies from startup to over $10 million in annual revenue.

Now leveraging that experience in his own company, TanTyTum Contractors, Chris works with local and federal government entities, achieving over 700% growth in the past three years. He is preparing for retirement by mentoring his children to take over daily operations.

Chris has been married for over 37 years and enjoys spending time with his three children and seven grandchildren.

Robert Bluejacket

Robert is a U.S. Veteran who is an enrolled member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. He received BA degrees in both History and Political Science and a Juris Doctorate from the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law. Robert purchased United Systems of Arkansas, Inc., in 2019 and oversees all daily activities of the company.

Skylar Wallace

Skylar has worked in the lending space for over 15 years. Most recently, he has been focused exclusively as a mortgage lender building out a team called the Level Up Lenders. Over the past 4 years, Level Up has grown to a team of 23 employees with 8 loan officers and have funded over 2,000 units. 2024 will finally be the year they cross the 1,000-unit mark for the first time in a single year.

In addition to that, Skylar founded a coaching platform called Level Up Guides where he coaches his methodology to other loan officers that are interested in building real businesses within the mortgage industry. He focuses on team building, process improvement, and scale.

Personally, Skylar is married and has 2 boys. In addition to serving on the Eastern Shawnee Companies Board of Directors, he also serves on boards for the local chamber of commerce. He holds an EMBA from the Walton College at the University of Arkansas, and still actively volunteers time consulting and judging with the entrepreneur program in the business school.