Meet Kathy - Public Servant

Governor's Cabinet
After his 2002 election victory, Governor Brad Henry launched a search for the right person to lead economic development efforts for the State of Oklahoma. He was looking for someone with a national and international business background, innovative ideas and boundless energy.

Double Duty
Henry appointed Kathy Taylor as Oklahoma's Secretary of Commerce and Tourism in February of 2003 and immediately tasked Taylor with "double-duty". She would lead two state agencies, which had previously been divided between two cabinet secretaries. Henry also gave Taylor oversight of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to provide better collaboration between economic and workforce development activities. Read more.

Triple Duty
In accepting the Governor's appointments, Taylor was eventually to be granted oversight of three state agencies; and a 34% budget cut. To cut costs and improve efficiency, she convened the agency employees, formed a management team and restructured the organizations to work together. This streamlining process mandated performance measures and reduced costly duplication.

The results were not only leaner and more efficient government, but also created a new paradigm of collaboration. The result of Taylor's reorganization provided a new forum for collaboration, which created increased responsiveness and services to the public and to those seeking to do business in Oklahoma, with an emphasis on better retaining and serving existing Oklahoma businesses.

Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development
Taylor's brand of collaborative leadership brought together the leading experts in Oklahoma business, workforce development and economic development into a statewide forum convened through the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development. By bridging the divide between these groups, fostering an ongoing dialogue and enabling action-based initiatives, the Council continues to collaborate and create the workforce Oklahoma businesses need to succeed.

EDGE (Economic Development Generating Excellence)
Taylor and State Regents Chancellor Paul Risser chaired Governor Henry's initiative designed to improve Oklahoma's competitive edge and close the deals that would bring more "wealth-creating jobs to the state. The initiative involved convening community leaders across the state at an unprecedented level to create a comprehensive action plan. As a result, Oklahomans that had previously shared the same vertical space and worked in similar industries- were sharing ideas and working in collaboration to make Oklahoma's economy stronger than ever.

Opportunity Fund
The organic nature of the EDGE process and the relationships forged from it are continuing to net ongoing change in Oklahoma's economic climate. One recent example is the utilization of $10 million from the Opportunity Fund for Tulsa's growing aerospace industry. Read the Tulsa World story.

Technology advancements
Taylor recognized that to boost Oklahoma's small business economy and gain a competitive edge in the national and international marketplace, the "front door" of Oklahoma must go high-tech. She launched a complete design, content and interactive overhaul of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce website to serve as a resource to small and large businesses, community development efforts, workforce development, and industry site selection processes. This award-winning site, found at http://www.okcommerce.gov, has become a "one-stop-shop" for businesses, communities and industry clusters such as Oklahoma's vital aerospace industry. It continues to serve as a real-time resource for news, information and opportunities for businesses around the state and in the international trade community.

Another high-tech Taylor initiative changed the paradigm of how the State of Oklahoma was to be marketed to businesses nationally and internationally. Taylor knew that site selection committees of major corporations likely had never seen or experienced Oklahoma or had perceptions that were inaccurate. Through the use of innovative, multi-media electronic presentations, positive perceptions were created, linking potential businesses to considering the State saw an Oklahoma that was business friendly, tech-savvy and progressive.

Taylor's Tenure
During her tenure as Commerce Secretary and Oklahoma's Small Business Advocate, Taylor led efforts to recruit new businesses, trouble-shoot barriers to small business growth, provide support programs to existing businesses, assist with international trade and export and advocate for business-friendly economic incentives.

New benchmarks were achieved for business development, tourism and a more efficient, strategic and high-tech way to operate. Her leadership and expertise gained Oklahoma a more prominent role that continues to grow in the national and international business community.