Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate
, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on economic development
and cultural heritage
.
The second and current Secretary is Dave Lopez
, who was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin
on January 27, 2011.
issued an executive order merging the former positions of Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Tourism and Recreation into a single position. Previously, both positions had existed since 1986 when they were established by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986
.
. As of 2011, all Secretaries of Commerce and Tourism have served in that dual position.
and growth, protecting the State's heritage and history, providing unemployment benefits, promoting housing development, and overseeing workforce development programs.
As of fiscal year 2011
, the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism oversees 1883 full time employees and is responsible for an annual budget of $758 million.
also serves as the Commerce Department Director, he received the salary allowed for that position. As of 2010, the annual salary of that position is set at $112,500.
Secretary of Tourism and Recreation (1986–2003)
Secretary of Commerce and Tourism (2003–present)
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
and cultural heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
.
The second and current Secretary is Dave Lopez
Dave Lopez
Dave Lopez is an American telecommunications executive who is currently the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism under Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin. Governor Fallin named Lopez as Secretary on January 27, 2011.-Biography:...
, who was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
on January 27, 2011.
History
The position of Secretary of Commerce and Tourism was established in 2003 when Governor Brad HenryBrad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
issued an executive order merging the former positions of Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Tourism and Recreation into a single position. Previously, both positions had existed since 1986 when they were established by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986
Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986
The Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986 is an Oklahoma state law that requires the Governor of Oklahoma to organize the various departments, agencies, boards, commissions and other entities of the state's executive branch into a cabinet system.The Executive Branch Reform Act was signed into law by...
.
Dual Position
Oklahoma state law always for Cabinet Secretaries to serve concurrently as the head of a State agency in addition to their duties as a Cabinet Secretary. Historically, the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism has also served as the Director of the Oklahoma Department of CommerceOklahoma Department of Commerce
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism. The Department is responsible for the supporting local communities, stimulating growth of the existing businesses, attracting new business, and promoting the...
. As of 2011, all Secretaries of Commerce and Tourism have served in that dual position.
Responsibilities
The Secretary of Commerce and Tourism is responsible for promoting economic developmentEconomic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
and growth, protecting the State's heritage and history, providing unemployment benefits, promoting housing development, and overseeing workforce development programs.
As of fiscal year 2011
2011 Oklahoma state budget
The Oklahoma State Budget for Fiscal Year 2011, is a spending request by Governor Brad Henry to fund government operations for July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011. Governor Henry and legislative leader approved the budget in May 2010...
, the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism oversees 1883 full time employees and is responsible for an annual budget of $758 million.
Agencies Overseen
The Secretary of Commerce and Tourism oversees the following State entities:- Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development
- Capital Investment Board
- Department of CommerceOklahoma Department of CommerceThe Oklahoma Department of Commerce is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism. The Department is responsible for the supporting local communities, stimulating growth of the existing businesses, attracting new business, and promoting the...
- Department of LaborOklahoma Department of LaborThe Oklahoma Department of Labor is an agency of the government of Oklahoma that is headed by the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner, a statewide elected position...
- Department of Tourism and RecreationOklahoma Department of Tourism and RecreationThe Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism...
- Development Finance Authority
- Employment Security CommissionOklahoma Employment Security CommissionThe Oklahoma Employment Security Commission is an independent agency of the state of Oklahoma responsible for providing employment services to the citizens of Oklahoma. The Commission is part of a national network of employment service agencies and is funded by money from the United States...
- Housing Finance AgencyOklahoma housing finance agencyThe Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency is a non-profit organization which serves the people of Oklahoma by offering affordable housing resources, including loans and rent assistance. OHFA was created by an Executive Order by Governor of Oklahoma David L. Boren in 1975. OHFA is a public trust with the...
- Historical SocietyOklahoma Historical SocietyThe Oklahoma Historical Society is an agency of the government of Oklahoma dedicated to promotion and preservation of Oklahoma's history and its people by collecting, interpreting, and disseminating knowledge and artifacts of Oklahoma....
- Scenic Rivers Commission
Salary
The annual salary of the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism is set by law at $70,000. Despite this law, if the Secretary serves as the head of a state agency, the Secretary receives the higher of the two salaries. Since incumbent Cabinet Secretary Dave LopezDave Lopez
Dave Lopez is an American telecommunications executive who is currently the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism under Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin. Governor Fallin named Lopez as Secretary on January 27, 2011.-Biography:...
also serves as the Commerce Department Director, he received the salary allowed for that position. As of 2010, the annual salary of that position is set at $112,500.
List of Secretaries
Secretary of Commerce (1986–2003)| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Governor Governor of Oklahoma The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma... served under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Werries Dean Werries E. Dean Werries is an American business from Oklahoma. Werries is currently serving as a Director Emeritus for Sonic Drive-In. Werries previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce under Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating from 1995 to 1997... |
1995 | 1997 | Frank Keating Frank Keating Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999... |
| Ron Rosenfeld Ron Rosenfeld Ronald A. "Ron" Rosenfeld is an American politician and housing expert. Rosenfeld has previously served in numerous U.S. federal and Oklahoma state government positions relating to housing. He served as Chairman of the Federal Housing Finance Board and President of the Government National Mortgage... |
1997 | 1998 | |
| Howard Barnett, Jr. Howard Barnett, Jr. Howard G. Barnett, Jr. is an American businessman and politician from Oklahoma who is currently serving as the President of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa.... |
1998 | 1999 | |
| Russell M. Perry Russell M. Perry Russell M. Perry is an American businessman, banker, publisher and broadcast from Oklahoma. Perry served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce from 1999 to 2000, having been appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating. Perry was the first African American to hold that position. After being... |
2000 | 2001 | |
| Vacant | 2001 | 2003 |
Secretary of Tourism and Recreation (1986–2003)
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Governor Governor of Oklahoma The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma... served under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edward H. Cook Edward H. Cook Edward H. "Ed" Cook is an American businessman from Oklahoma. Cook has held numerous positions with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, that City's chamber of commerce, serving as that organization's president. After a return to the private sector, Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating appointed him... |
1995 | 1999 | Frank Keating Frank Keating Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999... |
| Jane Anne Jayroe Jane Anne Jayroe Jayne Anne Jayroe-Gamble is an American beauty queen from Laverne, Oklahoma, who was Miss America 1967 and Miss Oklahoma in 1966. Jayroe worked in the news industry for many years until Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating appointed her to serve as his Secretary of Tourism and Recreation in his... |
1999 | 2003 |
Secretary of Commerce and Tourism (2003–present)
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Governor Governor of Oklahoma The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma... served under |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kathy Taylor Kathy Taylor Kathryn L. Taylor was elected the 38th Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 4, 2006, in the city's largest voter turnout for a mayoral election. She defeated Republican incumbent Mayor Bill Lafortune to become Tulsa's second female mayor, after Susan Savage first filled the post in 1992... |
2003 | 2006 | Brad Henry Brad Henry Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002... |
| 2 | Natalie Shirley Natalie Shirley Natalie Shirley is an American lawyer and businesswomen from Oklahoma. Shirley previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism under Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry, having been in that position from 2007 to 2011. She was Governor Henry's second Secretary of Commerce and... |
February 14, 2007 | January 10, 2011 | |
| 3 | Dave Lopez Dave Lopez Dave Lopez is an American telecommunications executive who is currently the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism under Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin. Governor Fallin named Lopez as Secretary on January 27, 2011.-Biography:... |
January 27, 2011 | Present | Mary Fallin Mary Fallin Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011.... |