Ken Busby

Ken Busby is the Cultural Czar of Northeast Oklahoma. He also serves as Executive Director & CEO of the Route 66 Alliance, a nonprofit organization founded by Michael Wallis and headquartered in Tulsa, dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and enhancement of historic Route 66 - past, present, and future. Previously, he served as Executive Director & CEO of the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa for twelve years.

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Busby is past chair of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission and was appointed by the Governor to the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission in 2020. He also serves on the Events and Celebrations Working Group of the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. He is immediate past president of the Oklahoma Museums Association and serves on the executive committees of the Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust, and the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. Busby is also a proud member of the Friends of OETA board of directors.

 

Busby is a sought-after speaker and emcee, and in 2022 he was named to the inaugural class of 55 Over 55 Inspiring Oklahomans. In 2026, Busby is being awarded the Oklahoma Museums Association's highest honor, the Service to the Profession Award, and he's being inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame.

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A native of Tulsa, Busby holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and French from the University of Tulsa. He has a Master of Arts degree in journalism from Indiana University at Bloomington. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Busby is also a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma Class XVII.

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In addition to his work promoting Route 66, Busby is also a strategic consultant for nonprofit organizations in the areas of board development, staff engagement, strategic planning, and fundraising.