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Our Team

Leadership

Matt Pinnell
Matt Pinnell
Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development

Matt Pinnell 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.

Hopper Smith, Brigadier General, ARNG (Ret.)
Hopper Smith, Brigadier General, ARNG (Ret.)
Interim Executive Director of Commerce

General Smith has more than 35 years of military and civilian executive experience for the State of Oklahoma and other entities. He also serves Commerce as the State Director of Aerospace and Defense.

Site Selection + Business Expansion

Jennifer Springer
Jennifer Springer
Director, Business Development
Amy Walton - Deputy Director, Business Development
Amy Walton
Deputy Director, Business Development

Business Recruitment

Vicki Angell
Vicki Angell
Economic Development Specialist​
Jason Baffrey
Jason Baffrey
Automotive Project Manager
Akiva Israel
Akiva Israel
Energy Project Manager
Joshua Mayo
Joshua Mayo
Automotive Project Manager
Martin Roberts
Martin Roberts
Incentive Specialist
Wes Seaman
Wesley Seaman
Energy Project Manager
Jay Shidler
Jay Shidler
Advanced Technology and High Growth Start-Ups Project Manager
Sarah Short
Sarah Short
International Relations and Foreign Direct Investment Coordinator
Christopher Suttle
Christopher Suttle
Project Manager
Sierra Simpson
Sierra Simpson
Agriculture Recruiter

Aerospace + Defense and ACES Program

Hopper Smith, Brigadier General, ARNG (Ret.)
Hopper Smith, Brigadier General, ARNG (Ret.)
State Director, Aerospace and Defense
Leshia Pearson
Leshia Pearson
Deputy Director, Aerospace & Defense
Brent Wright
Brent Wright, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.)
Strategic Advisor, Aerospace & Defense
Rob Wilcox
Rob Wilcox
Business Recruiter, Aerospace & Defense
Allen Mitchell
Allen Mitchell
Program Manager, Aerospace & Defense
Brooke Edwards
Brooke Edwards
Program Coordinator, Aerospace & Defense

Oklahoma Film + Music Office

Jeanette Stanton - Director, Oklahoma Film + Music Office
Jeanette Stanton
Director of OF+MO
Tava Sofsky
Tava Maloy Sofsky
Director of OF+MO

Regional Development Team

Jared Cooper - Director of Rural Services
Jared Cooper
Director of Rural Services & Central Region
Steven Bratcher
Steven Bratcher
Southwest Region
Charlotte Howe
Charlotte Howe
Northeast Region
Lisa Smith
Lisa Smith
Rural Resources Coordinator
Ray Little
Director, Business Retention & Expansion/ Central Region
Ray Little
brandy McIntyre

Legislative

Evan Brown - Director, Legislative Affairs
Evan Brown
Director, Legislative Affairs

Marketing + Media Relations

Becky Samples
Becky Samples
Director, Marketing & Communications

Chief of Staff & General Counsel

Thomas Grossnicklaus - Chief of Staff & General Counsel
Thomas Grossnicklaus
Chief of Staff & General Counsel

Marketing + Media Relations

Amy Blackburn
Director, Marketing & Communications

Your Small Business + Startup Team

Ken Talley
Ken Talley
Small and Minority Business Specialist
Cathy Curtis
Cathy Curtis
Small Business Incubators / Women-owned Business Certifications

International Trade + Exporting

Nicole Boyles
Nicole Boyles
State Director, International Trade and Exports
Sarah Short
Sarah Short
International Relations and Foreign Direct Investment Coordinator
Christy Busch
Christy Busch
International Protocol Officer
Kathy Gain
Kathy Gain
STEP Grant Program Manager

Main Street

Buffy Hughes
Buffy Hughes
State Main Street Director

Research

Jon Chiappe
Jon Chiappe
Director, Research & Economic Analysis Services

Community Development

Marshall Vogts
Marshall Vogts
Director, Community Development

International Relations

Christy Busch
Christy Busch
International Protocol Officer
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