Leadership
Chad Mariska
Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development
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.
Brent Kisling
Executive Director of Commerce
Brent Kisling 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.
Site Selection + Business Expansion
Business Recruitment
Jay Shidler
Advanced Technology and High Growth Start-Ups Project Manager
Sarah Short
International Relations and Foreign Direct Investment Coordinator
Aerospace + Defense and ACES Program
Hopper Smith, Brigadier General, ARNG (Ret.)
State Director of Aerospace and Defense
Brent Wright, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.)
Strategic Advisor for Aerospace & Defense
Brent Wright, Brigadier General, USAF (Ret.)
Strategic Advisor for Aerospace & Defense
Oklahoma Film + Music Office
Regional Development Team
Jared Cooper
Director of Rural Services/ Northeast Region & Central Region
Ray Little
Director, Business Retention & Expansion/ Central Region
Legislative
Marketing + Media Relations
Chief of Staff & General Counsel
Thomas Grossnicklaus
Chief of Staff & General Counsel
Marketing + Media Relations
Your Small Business + Startup Team
Cathy Curtis
Small Business Incubators / Women-owned Business Certifications
International Trade + Exporting
Nicole Boyles
State Director, International Trade and Exports
Sarah Short
International Relations and Foreign Direct Investment Coordinator
Main Street
Research
Community Development
International Relations
