Teresa Knox
{{Short description|American preservationist, philanthropist, and media producer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Teresa Knox
| image=Knox in Tulsa.jpg
| birth_place = Tulsa, Oklahoma
| alma_mater = Oral Roberts University
| website = https://www.schoolofhardknox.com/
}}
Teresa Knox is an American businesswoman, historic preservationist, developer, and entertainment producer. She is the founder and former CEO of Community Care College, Clary Sage College, and Oklahoma Technical College which were started in 1995. She converted the colleges from a for-profit corporation to a public charity in 2015. In 2016, she bought and restored the recording studio, The Church Studio. A historic preservationist, Knox purchased and restored the Harwelden Mansion. Knox owns multiple commercial properties and has created a neighborhood called Studio Row. Knox produces the YouTube channel for The Church Studio which includes the shows Church Studio Legends and the Legacy Concert Series.
Early life and business career
Knox was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She graduated with an MBA from Oral Roberts University.{{Cite web |title=Teresa Knox |url=https://www.tulsahistory.org/halloffame/teresa-knox/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Tulsa Historical Society & Museum |language=en-US}} In high school, Knox worked for Sonic Drive-In for three years. Knox started her professional career as a dental assistant at age 18 years.{{cn|date=February 2025}} After that, she had the idea of opening a dental assisting school, Community Care College, which Knox founded in 1995. the licensed and accredited institution of higher learning expanded later to include Clary Sage College{{Cite web |title=History - Clary Sage College |url=https://clarysagecollege.com/about/history/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Clary Sage College |language=en-US}} and Oklahoma Technical College.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://oklahomatechnicalcollege.com/about/history/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Oklahoma Technical College |language=en-US}} After 20 years after its inception, Knox converted the colleges from a for-profit organization to a nonprofit organization in 2015.{{Cite web |title=Strong Women Making a Difference |url=https://citylifestyle.com/articles/women-movers-and-shakers |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=citylifestyle.com}}{{Cite web |last=Fain |first=Paul |title=For-Profit in Tulsa Goes Nonprofit |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/07/02/profit-tulsa-goes-nonprofit |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Inside Higher Ed |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=World |first=Samuel Hardiman Tulsa |date=2016-10-26 |title=Formerly for-profit Community HigherEd adapting to nonprofit landscape |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/business/formerly-for-profit-community-highered-adapting-to-nonprofit-landscape/article_33661729-ede8-59a6-af31-08287ed75948.html |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}} This unusual move was among the few nationwide approved by the United States Department of Education. The Colleges were acquired by a nonprofit founded by Knox, Community HigherEd, and she stepped down as CEO on December 31, 2015.{{Cite web |last=Brus |first=Brian |date=2015-07-06 |title=Innovators: Community Care College |url=https://journalrecord.com/2015/07/06/innovators-community-care-college-nonprofit/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |language=en-US}}
Preservation
In 2016, Knox purchased a recording studio, The Church Studio, which was once owned by Tulsa native musician Leon Russell during the 1970s. In 2017, The Church Studio's building was added to the National Register of Historic Places of Tulsa County, Oklahoma. It took over five years to restore the property, which is now open as a recording studio, tourist attraction, music museum, and audio engineering school. Knox is CEO.{{Cite web |title=10 Recording Studio Tours That Take Fans Behind The Music {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/10-recording-studio-tours-that-go-behind-the-music |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=grammy.com}}{{Cite web |title=Leon Russell's legacy lives on at Tulsa's Church Studio |url=https://www.kcbx.org/podcast/journeys-of-discovery-with-tom-wilmer/2023-10-25/leon-russells-legacy-lives-on-at-tulsas-church-studio |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=KCBX |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Griffin |title=Native Tulsan Brings Church Studio Back To Life |url=https://www.newson6.com/story/621ff2e0fc1736018a484264/native-tulsan-brings-church-studio-back-to-life |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.newson6.com |language=en}} She has worked on developing the neighborhood "Studio Row" surrounding the studio.{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Griffin |title=Grammy Winner Opens Space On Tulsa's 'Studio Row' |url=https://www.newson6.com/story/5e35f6292f69d76f6202a09a/grammy-winner-opens-space-on-tulsas-studio-row |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.newson6.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-15 |title=STUDIO ROW: The Church Studio owner investing $3.5M to revitalize area in Tulsa |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/studio-row-the-church-studio-owner-investing-3-5m-to-revitalize-area-in-tulsa |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa |language=en}}
For The Church Studio, Knox has interviewed Kenny Loggins, Rita Coolidge, John Ford Coley, Jimmy Webb, Wes Studi, Mike Campbell (musician), Taj Mahal (musician), Gary Busey, Graham Russell, Tommy Emmanuel, Freda Payne, Willis Alan Ramsey, Bill Champlin, George Thorogood, David Teegarden, Jamie Oldaker and Claudia Lennear to name a few.
Knox has produced films, including Man in Bronze and Mural of Space and Time, which was part of the Sundance Film Festival at Circle Cinema.{{Cite web |last=staff |first=Ashley Ellis, KTUL |date=2020-12-04 |title=Circle Cinema to host part of 2021 Sundance Film Festival |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/circle-cinema-sundance-12-04-2020 |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=KTUL |language=en}}
In 2017, Knox was named Tulsan of the Year by the Tulsa World.{{Cite web |last=Smith|first=Michael |date=December 21, 2017 |title=Tulsans of the Year: Teresa Knox brings new life to Church Studio |url=https://tulsaworld.com/tulsans-of-the-year-teresa-knox-brings-new-life-to-church-studio/article_13960e78-4736-5a75-a5f3-d46a36ec24bb.html |access-date=November 9, 2024 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}
In May 2018, Knox purchased and restored the historic property, Harwelden Mansion, a 1923 built, 15,000 square-foot Collegiate Gothic-Tudor styled mansion.{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Megan |date=2018-05-18 |title=Community leaders come together to preserve Harwelden Mansion |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/community-leaders-come-together-to-preserve-harwelden-mansion |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=KTUL |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=World |first=James D. Watts Jr Tulsa |date=2018-12-09 |title=Teresa Knox details her plans for new Harwelden, Church Studio |url=https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/teresa-knox-details-her-plans-for-new-harwelden-church-studio/article_c995f167-d317-5504-9c1f-c999fa17bfef.html |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2019-11-23 |title=New owner of Harwelden Mansion also renovating Leon Russell's Church Studio |url=https://www.fox23.com/news/new-owner-of-harwelden-mansion-also-renovating-leon-russells-church-studio/article_8cbdb9dd-d39d-5fbf-aaef-5bd9bfad1708.html |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.fox23.com |language=en}} The property is situated on one full city block, is located in the historic neighborhood of Maple Ridge, Tulsa and is minutes from the Gathering Place (Tulsa park).{{Cite web |date=2024-04-17 |title=BEST PARK: Gathering Place recognized by USA TODAY again |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/best-park-gathering-place-recognized-by-usa-today |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa |language=en}} Harwelden Mansion is a boutique hotel and event center.{{Cite web |last=Claney |first=Kyle |date=2023-01-13 |title=Discover Oklahoma explores the extravagant Harwelden Mansion and its history |url=https://m.ktul.com/living-oklahoma/segments/discover-oklahoma-explores-the-extravagant-harwelden-mansion-and-its-history |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=KTUL |language=en}} The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places of Tulsa County, Oklahoma in 1978.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
In 2023, Knox founded the annual music festival, Carney Fest.{{Cite web |last=McDonnell |first=Brandy |title=Tulsa's Carney Fest to celebrate legacy of Leon Russell with music and more: What to know |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/2024/04/25/heartbreaker-mike-campbell-to-headline-tulsas-carney-fest-what-to-know/73445743007/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}} Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum declared April 15, 2023, "Teresa Knox Day."{{Cite web |last=World |first=Jimmie Tramel Tulsa |date=2023-04-17 |title=Church Studio owner Teresa Knox honored at inaugural Carney Fest |url=https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/music/church-studio-owner-teresa-knox-honored-at-inaugural-carney-fest/article_81d4ce36-dd55-11ed-af72-efee816c82d8.html |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}
In 2025, Taj Mahal thanked Knox during his acceptance speech for Best Traditional Blues Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite news |last1=Trammel |first1=Jimmie |title=Taj Mahal's 'Swingin' Live at the Church in Tulsa' wins Grammy Award |url=https://tulsaworld.com/life-entertainment/local/music/taj-mahals-swingin-live-at-the-church-in-tulsa-wins-grammy-award/article_696a0a38-e1a8-11ef-ad1c-53961733946e.html |access-date=February 23, 2025 |work=Tulsa World |date=February 3, 2025 |language=en}}
Personal life
Knox and her husband, Ivan Acosta, were married in 1998. They have three children and live in Tulsa.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Grace |date=2023-08-31 |title=New chapter: Crow Creek home seamlessly blends heritage and passion of owners Teresa Knox and Ivan Acosta |url=https://www.tulsapeople.com/tulsa-people/home-fall-2023/new-chapter-crow-creek-home-seamlessly-blends-heritage-and-passion-of-owners-teresa-knox-and/article_28ab6bec-4382-11ee-8e9d-bb90d4fb3664.html |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=TulsaPeople Magazine |language=en}}