Our Team
Our team of highly qualified staff is passionate about Oklahoma. We love to see our communities thrive and specialize in supporting business and community development opportunities.

Brent is the Executive Director of Commerce. He has an extensive background in economic development. Before taking on his leadership role at Commerce, Brent was Executive Director of the Enid Regional Development Alliance for nearly 10 years.
Brent Kisling
Executive Director of Commerce

Chad Mariska is Oklahoma’s 12th Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development and the president of Mariska Family Holdings, a diversified investment company, and trustee of Mariska Family Foundation, a private charitable trust. As Secretary, Chad oversees the economic, community and workforce development efforts for our state.
Chad Mariska
Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development

As Director of Business Development, Jennifer leads the team of professional economic development, incentives and in-state business specialists. Under her leadership, Jennifer and her team work to bring new jobs and investment to the state and provide support and services to existing Oklahoma businesses.
Jennifer Springer
Director, Business Development

Christopher Suttle
Economic Development Specialist

Hopper is the State Director of Aerospace & Defense. He brings more than 35 years of military and civilian executive experience in multiple professional domains. In his role, he oversees the growth and diversification of Oklahoma’s aerospace businesses and executes strategic development of the state’s defense industry.
Hopper Smith, Brigadier General, ARNG (Ret.)
State Director of Aerospace & Defense

Leshia Pearson
Deputy Director, Oklahoma ACES

Martin Roberts
Incentive Specialist

A member of our Global Recruiting Team, Sarah is an International Relations and Foreign Direct Investment Coordinator. She focuses on international relations and trade, foreign direct investment and global economic development. She works to grow relationships between Oklahoma and other nations in order to increase FDI opportunities in the state.
Sarah Short
International Relations and Foreign Direct Investment Coordinator

Jason Baffrey
Automotive Project Manager

Brent Wright, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.)
Strategic Advisor for Aerospace & Defense
Press + Media Inquires
Press releases and media contact.
Public Notices