Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism

Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism
Great Seal of Oklahoma
Agency overview
Formed	February 1, 2003
Preceding agency	Secretary of Commerce Secretary of Tourism and Recreation
Headquarters	900 N Stiles Avenue Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Employees	1883 (FY2011)
Annual budget	$758 million (FY2011)
Minister responsible	Dave Lopez, Secretary of Commerce and Tourism
Child agencies	Oklahoma Department of Commerce Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation Oklahoma Department of Labor Oklahoma Employment Security Commission Oklahoma Historical Society
Website
Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism

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.

History

The position of Secretary of Commerce and Tourism was established in 2003 when Governor Brad Henry 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.

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 Commerce. 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 development 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.

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 Commerce
• Department of Labor
• Department of Tourism and Recreation
• Development Finance Authority
• Employment Security Commission
• Housing Finance Agency
• Historical Society
• Scenic Rivers Commission

Salary

The annual salary of the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism is set by law at $70,000.^[1] 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 Lopez 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 served under Dean Werries 1995 1997 Frank Keating Ron Rosenfeld 1997 1998 Howard Barnett, Jr. 1998 1999 Russell M. Perry 2000 2001 Vacant 2001 2003

Secretary of Tourism and Recreation (1986–2003) Name Took Office Left Office Governor served under Edward H. Cook 1995 1999 Frank Keating Jane Anne Jayroe 1999 2003

Secretary of Commerce and Tourism (2003–present)

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Governor served under
1	Kathy Taylor	2003	2006	Brad Henry
2	Natalie Shirley	February 14, 2007	January 10, 2011
3	Dave Lopez	January 27, 2011	Present	Mary Fallin

References

1. ^ Paragraph 3, Section 10.5, Title 74, Oklahoma Statutes

External links

• Secretary of Commerce and Tourism Dave Lopez official biography