Somerlyn Cothran
President/CEO

Cothran has a distinctive background in organizational development, fundraising, and management. Having begun her career in the legislative office of former U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins (R-OK), Cothran has served as a public relations specialist for Linsco Private Ledger, a chain manager for Merle Norman Cosmetics, and an organizational development consultant to chapters of the American Red Cross.

Since founding Cothran Development Strategies just over nine years ago, she has developed and managed several political fundraising efforts, corporations, non-profits, and political action committees, while engaging in outreach activities that ensured their continued financial success. Cothran has put a team of experts together to enable CDS to service each aspect of a client's communications needs, whether it be in the political arena or on the corporate battlefield. She has been a campaign fundraising consultant to several Oklahoma officeholders including Corporation Commissioners Denise Bode, Jeff Cloud, and Bob Anthony along with U.S. Congressman Ernest Istook and U.S. Senator Tom Coburn as well as numerous state legislators. Under her leadership, CDS was named the Oklahoma Finance Director for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee- outraising any other Republican presidential candidate in Oklahoma by a 3 to 1 margin.

She earned her bachelors degree in Organizational Communication from the University of Tulsa and a Masters Degree in Human Relations and Organizational Development from the University of Oklahoma. She is also an accredited administrator of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®), a personality instrument used to train employees and managers in team building and leadership.

Cothran was named a 2005 Rising Star in Politcs by Campaigns and Elections magazine and has been an active leader in promoting women in business. She serves on the boards of the Harold Hamm Oklahoma Diabetes Center, The Ada City School Foundation, The Salvation Army, Children's Advocacy Centers of Oklahoma, OK Maverick PAC and Leadership Oklahoma. Most recently, she was a 2009 Oklahoma "Woman of the Year" nominee. 

Melissa Shaw
Senior Vice President-Development & Trade Association Management

Shaw has over 12 years of experience in marketing, customer service and public relations. As VP at Cothran Development Strategies she works directly with clients and donors on a daily basis to raise funds, maintain databases, and direct major client activities and events. She is also responsible for the oversight and administration of all CDS's organization management clients.

Shaw has a degree in Marketing and International Business from Oklahoma State University.

Angela Fisher
Vice President- Public Relations 

As well as her expertise in image consulting, writing, strategic planning, and promotional campaigns, Fisher has extensive experience in national broadcast media placement including placing individuals on The Today Show, The Early Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, the BBC and CNBC.  She has also landed stories for clients in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Advertising Age, Ad/Media Week, Business Week, Fast Company and Entertainment Weekly.  She has hands-on experience in crisis management, having served as the Director of Communications for the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Weather Channel.  Earlier in her career, she worked for The Fragrance Foundation and Lou Hammond & Associates in New York, representing clients such as Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Auberge du Soleil. 

Fisher graduated Magna Cum Laude from Auburn University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Public Relations.

Jamie Drawbaugh
Vice President-Client Development

Drawbaugh works directly with clients on a daily basis to maintain databases, assure all aspects of each client's coorespondence and internal communications are current and keeps daily events running smoothly. She also assumes financial reporting and administration duties for various political and corporate clients and provides administrative services for all management clients.

Lynnette Martin
Fundraising and Event Coordinator

Jordan Brooks
Administrative Assistant

Casidy McAlester
Executive Assistant

Jake Cantrell
Web Design