UPWARD TRANSITIONS NAMES SIMON BRIGHT AS NEW BOARD PRESIDENT
OKLAHOMA CITY – McAfee & Taft attorney, Simon Bright, has been named as Upward Transitions’ Board of Directors President for the 100-year-old organization’s fiscal year 2026, beginning July 1, 2025.
As Board President, Bright brings considerable expertise to the governance of Upward Transitions. His background encompasses a broad range of complex business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, entity formation, and real estate acquisition, development, sales and financing.
On January 1, 2025, Bright was elected as a shareholder of McAfee & Taft where he practices law as a corporate attorney representing clients in business transactions and real estate matters ranging from the sales of downtown skyscrapers and acquisitions of major industrial properties. He also regularly represents clients in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures of division lines or entire businesses. Bright is included in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch and Oklahoma Super Lawyers’ list of “Oklahoma Rising Stars.”
A graduate of The University of Oklahoma College of Law, Bright began practicing law in 2017. Prior to embarking on a legal career, Bright worked as petroleum landman for an Oklahoma-based oil and gas exploration company.
Upward Transitions serves families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or stranded by providing case management and stabilizing resources to help meet basic social needs. Their mission is to prevent generational poverty through community collaboration, emergency relief and empowerment, therefore inspiring hope with our neighbors experiencing housing instability.
“I believe the board made an excellent choice,” said Periann Pulliam, CEO of Upward Transitions. “As we move forward into the next 100 years, Upward Transitions will need to maintain its strong leadership to navigate exciting and changing times and stay firm in its mission to assist and empower the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Outgoing board president, Brandon Kemp, a labor and employment attorney with Ogletree Deakins, will remain on as the board’s past president and will continue to participate in leadership and decision-making.
Said Kemp, “I am thrilled that the Board has elected Simon Bright as the next President of the Upward Transitions Board of Directors. As the longtime chair of Upward Transitions’ Performance & Quality Improvement Committee, Simon has extensive knowledge of Upward Transitions’ operations. Simon is passionate about the organization, and he is a thoughtful leader. Upward Transitions is in good hands.”
For information about Upward Transitions and its programs and services, visit www.upwardtransitions.org, or contact Conna Dewart, Development and Public Relations Manager at 405-232-5507 or cdewart@upwardtransitions.org.
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