Staff - OPEA

Dixie Jackson

OPEA Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, legal advocacy

Dixie currently serves as the Employee/Legal Advocate Coordinator at the Oklahoma Public Employees Association (OPEA), a role where she fervently champions OPEA members within agencies and the Civil Service Division of Oklahoma Human Capital Management. With a rich background, she has excelled as Director of Risk Management and Security at Griffin Memorial Hospital and holds accolades as State President of OPEA, including service on the Board of Directors. Notably, she’s a recipient of OPEA’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Her academic journey earned her an associate degree in emergency management from Oklahoma Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. Dixie is a certified mediator recognized by the State of Oklahoma Supreme Court. Her unyielding pursuit of knowledge is evident through continuous education, particularly in human resources, FMLA, and government employment rules & policy.

Residing in Noble, Oklahoma, Dixie’s community involvement extends to her church and local civic groups. Treasured moments are those spent with her grandchildren, Shepard and Shenandoah. She loves attending OU football games, relishing movies, and playing board/card games.

Candice Scarpitti McDonald

Membership Director

Candice Steele McDonald is the Director of Membership for the Association. She has worked for OPEA for 15 years. As Director of Membership, Candice helps with recruitment and retention of OPEA members including conducting membership meetings and helping active members become more involved in the Association. She also handles a lot of the bookkeeping for OPEA.

Candice is an Oklahoma native, who was raised in Krebs. After graduating from McAlester High School, she attended The University of Oklahoma obtaining a Bachelor of Psychology. Before OPEA, she was employed with Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services in child welfare. As an OPEA member during that time, Candice worked to ensure privatization in child welfare was minimized. She has testified in front of the legislature regarding several issues including privatization, compensation, and retirement benefits. Candice has completed the Nonprofit Management Certification Program from the Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits.

Candice is a proud, loud Italian whose heritage runs deep. In what little spare time she has, she enjoys cheering on the Sooners, watching trashy reality tv, sipping on a nice glass of red wine, and spending time with her close-knit family. Candice and her husband, Brandon, live in Antlers with her three beautiful daughters, Amerie, Adalie, and Emmalign, their 2 dogs, Duke and Ace, and their cat, Merlin. Candice is involved in several organizations local to Antlers including the Pushmataha County Coalition, St. Agnes Alter Society, Pushmataha County PARB, and 111Project.

Chelsea Smith

Co-Executive Director and Legal Council

Chelsea Celsor Smith practices in the areas of commercial law, governmental ethics, constitutional law, administrative law and employment law. She formerly served as General Counsel to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She currently serves as contract General Counsel for agencies, associations and companies.

Chelsea has been recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers; Labor and Employment Law, Litigation-Labor, and Employment Law. She is appointed to serve as an Associate Member of the Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners, serves as Vice-President of the Leedey Education Foundation, Treasurer of the Leedey Clinic and is a board member of the Leedey Chamber and State Chamber Council of Advisors. She lives in western Oklahoma with her husband, twins and several animals, including a pet zebra.

Chelsea C. Smith
www.celsorsmithconsulting.com