Who We Are
April Mason
Executive Director
Hey! My name is April Mason and I’m the executive director of HYPE. I am a born and raised Henryettan and proud graduate of Henryetta High School.
Like most HHS seniors, I dreamt of getting out of Henryetta, exploring the world, and living life outside the black and gold bubble. I did just that for a long time.
I have been afforded many opportunities to gain some pretty spectacular experience. I’ve worked in print and broadcast media, non profit leadership, and even for the Tulsa Drillers baseball team. I'm currently serving as executive leadership for Tulsa Mayfest, Tulsa Oktoberfest, and multiple music festivals in the Tulsa area. Locally, I am a member of the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce and I am also on the Henryetta Labor Day committee.
Life called me back home to Henryetta a little over 5 years ago and it has been the biggest blessing. I love being part of this tight knit community. I love running into old classmates at the store (yes, really!) and I love fitting my former teachers for glasses at the Henryetta Eye Center where I am currently employed as an optician.
I have been watching close friends do amazing things with Tulsa Young Professionals, attended some of their events, and gotten acquainted with their structure. I’ve also enjoyed watching Okmulgee Young Professionals grow into their own.
I’ve been wishing for someone to start something similar in Henryetta for a long time, and one day, it all just clicked. “Why not me? Why not now?” So here we are!
My goal is to create not just an organization, but a living, breathing, constantly evolving organism inclusive of all people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints who are on fire for our community and always looking for new and innovative ways to support and nurture our young professionals and entrepreneurs while helping our great city while we’re at it.
Let’s get HYPE’d for Henryetta!
Michelle Genova
Associate Director
Hi! My name is Michelle Genova and I’m the Associate Director of HYPE. I recently moved to Henryetta from Northern California with my family and I am super excited to get involved in, and meet my new community.
I work remote for Morrison as a Bookkeeping and Support Services provider supporting organizations primarily in the food and agriculture industry with their bookkeeping and grant administration needs. I earned my BA in Anthropology and minor in Criminal Justice from California State University, Chico, and my AS in Accounting from Butte Community College. I’ve been a lifelong Rotarian, having served since high school. I previously helped reboot Rotaract as a community program for young professionals. Traditionally a college level program, we worked to transform the club into a community-based program to provide wider access to the programs and benefits Rotary International offers. In that role, I held both a board member position and the role of Program Director for three years. In my previous Rotary club I held several roles including Team Captain and Youth Division Chair and am a past member of the Chico Young Professionals Organization and the Butte County Young Farmers & Ranchers. I’ve also served several non-profit organizations with their fundraising events which include packet pick up for The Jesus Center’s annual Run For Food, organizing over 5,000 runners to support programs for the unhoused; and Auction Chair for An Evening with Catalyst gala which raised over $150,000 to support Catalyst Domestic Violence Services.
In addition to HYPE, I am a member of the Henryetta Rotary Club, the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce, and serve on the Henryetta Labor Day Planning Committee.
As you can tell, I truly love to serve my community and I look forward to meeting others who wish to do the same. I can’t wait to meet you!