Career Tech Champion Dee Sokolosky

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First Bank of Owasso bank president Dominic Sokolosky never questioned his career choice. He knew what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to become an attorney. But his true talent was in knowing how to get there -- and what opportunities to seize along the way.

The path he chose to "get there" makes Sokolosky one of Oklahoma's Career Tech Champions. Image of Dee Sokolosky

Career tech Champions are alumni of the system's programs or student organizations who have found success in a career and attribute much of that success to their career tech experience.

Sokolosky, who is known as "Dee," realized in the seventh grade that he wanted to be an attorney. Even at such a young age, he knew that his success would depend on more than just graduating from law school and passing the bar exam.

The late John Sokolosky, who is Dee's uncle, taught agricultural education and sponsored the career and technology student organization FFA for many years at Wilburton High School.

"It was through Uncle John, as well as my parents, that I was familiar with agricultural education," he said.

Sokolosky knew that a careful blend of education and organizational experiences would enhance his pursuit of success in his chosen field. Savvy career planning led him to enroll in agricultural education and to join FFA as a freshman at Owasso High School, and continuing through graduation in 1975.

The leadership skills he developed through agricultural education and FFA propelled him to serving the FFA organization as state secretary in 1975-76, as state president in 1976-77, and as national FFA vice president in 1977-78.

"Serving as a national officer afforded me the opportunity to travel all across the United States visiting numerous high schools and agricultural businesses," he said

Sokolosky credits his experiences in contests, trips, fairs, and conventions for his ability to develop relationships and build teamwork skills.

"Working together as a team to win a contest was a great experience," he said. "Through those activities, I also learned that you stand a greater chance of being successful if you learn to respect authority and learn to place greater emphasis on your responsibilities than on your rights."

Graduating from OSU in 1980 with a degree in business administration, minoring in economics and finance, Sokolosky moved on to the University of Oklahoma law school. In 1983, he was chosen the outstanding graduate.

Sokolosky practiced law with the firm of Baker & Hoster in Tulsa for fourteen years, and was primarily focused in the areas of banking, business, real estate and contract law.
"My occupational l training in agriculture was helpful in my representation of Farm Credit Services, formerly Federal Land Bank," he said.

That banking and finance connection, along with the formal schooling that educated him in those areas, lead Sokolosky to his current position as president of the First Bank of Owasso and the return to his home town where he now lives and works.

Image of Dee Sokolosky with his steer "Although the technical skills I learned in school are important, it was the co-curricular activities, such as FFA, that provided the experiences which have been the most valuable in my career choice....or any career choice," said Sokolosky.

Even with his extensive formal education, Sokolosky maintains that these are the skills that made the difference for him.

"The leadership and public speaking training has been the most valuable experience to me with my position as bank president and also as an elder in my church. I do a lot of teaching, speaking, and conducting seminars."

As Sokolosky considers the challenges facing today's students, he forecasts that one half of today's college freshmen will retire from a job that has not yet been invented.

"That is why skills such as public speaking, record keeping, organizational and administrative skills, leadership, and teamwork are so important. FFA provides those skills."

Ties with the career tech system run deep through the Sokolosky family. Sokolosky says he will continue the tradition of encouraging career tech education and involvement to students regardless of their eventual career goals because of the huge impact it has had on his life.

The blending of training and opportunities has worked well for him. He believes it would work for others, as well.

"Students should make an effort to know and understand more of the world around them than they have been exposed to at this point in their lives," he said.

"Students need to be involved in as many diverse and challenging experiences as possible," Sokolosky said. "Those are skills that can be developed through participating in organizations or programs, such as FFA."

posted 1/4/2001

Story by: Vicki Marton
Communications and Marketing
Email: vmart@okcareertech.org

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	First Bank of Owasso bank president Dominic Sokolosky never questioned his career choice. He knew what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to become an attorney. But his true talent was in knowing how to get there -- and what opportunities to seize along the way. The path he chose to "get there" makes Sokolosky one of Oklahoma's Career Tech Champions. Career tech Champions are alumni of the system's programs or student organizations who have found success in a career and attribute much of that success to their career tech experience. Sokolosky, who is known as "Dee," realized in the seventh grade that he wanted to be an attorney. Even at such a young age, he knew that his success would depend on more than just graduating from law school and passing the bar exam. The late John Sokolosky, who is Dee's uncle, taught agricultural education and sponsored the career and technology student organization FFA for many years at Wilburton High School. "It was through Uncle John, as well as my parents, that I was familiar with agricultural education," he said. Sokolosky knew that a careful blend of education and organizational experiences would enhance his pursuit of success in his chosen field. Savvy career planning led him to enroll in agricultural education and to join FFA as a freshman at Owasso High School, and continuing through graduation in 1975. The leadership skills he developed through agricultural education and FFA propelled him to serving the FFA organization as state secretary in 1975-76, as state president in 1976-77, and as national FFA vice president in 1977-78. "Serving as a national officer afforded me the opportunity to travel all across the United States visiting numerous high schools and agricultural businesses," he said Sokolosky credits his experiences in contests, trips, fairs, and conventions for his ability to develop relationships and build teamwork skills. "Working together as a team to win a contest was a great experience," he said. "Through those activities, I also learned that you stand a greater chance of being successful if you learn to respect authority and learn to place greater emphasis on your responsibilities than on your rights." Graduating from OSU in 1980 with a degree in business administration, minoring in economics and finance, Sokolosky moved on to the University of Oklahoma law school. In 1983, he was chosen the outstanding graduate. Sokolosky practiced law with the firm of Baker & Hoster in Tulsa for fourteen years, and was primarily focused in the areas of banking, business, real estate and contract law. "My occupational l training in agriculture was helpful in my representation of Farm Credit Services, formerly Federal Land Bank," he said. That banking and finance connection, along with the formal schooling that educated him in those areas, lead Sokolosky to his current position as president of the First Bank of Owasso and the return to his home town where he now lives and works. "Although the technical skills I learned in school are important, it was the co-curricular activities, such as FFA, that provided the experiences which have been the most valuable in my career choice....or any career choice," said Sokolosky. Even with his extensive formal education, Sokolosky maintains that these are the skills that made the difference for him. "The leadership and public speaking training has been the most valuable experience to me with my position as bank president and also as an elder in my church. I do a lot of teaching, speaking, and conducting seminars." As Sokolosky considers the challenges facing today's students, he forecasts that one half of today's college freshmen will retire from a job that has not yet been invented. "That is why skills such as public speaking, record keeping, organizational and administrative skills, leadership, and teamwork are so important. FFA provides those skills." Ties with the career tech system run deep through the Sokolosky family. Sokolosky says he will continue the tradition of encouraging career tech education and involvement to students regardless of their eventual career goals because of the huge impact it has had on his life. The blending of training and opportunities has worked well for him. He believes it would work for others, as well. "Students should make an effort to know and understand more of the world around them than they have been exposed to at this point in their lives," he said. "Students need to be involved in as many diverse and challenging experiences as possible," Sokolosky said. "Those are skills that can be developed through participating in organizations or programs, such as FFA."
	posted 1/4/2001	Story by: Vicki Marton Communications and Marketing Email: vmart@okcareertech.org