Governor Fallin announced today that Oklahoma Secretary of State Larry V. Parman will be appointed the director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) and become the governor’s secretary of commerce on Nov. 1. Both positions require Senate confirmation.
On the governor’s Cabinet, Parman is succeeding Dave Lopez, who stepped down as state commerce secretary in August to assume the position of interim superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools.
Parman will replace Vaughn Clark at ODOC. Clark has been acting executive director since September 2013.
Parman will step down from his current position as secretary of state on Nov.1.
Parman said he was excited for the opportunity to pursue economic development opportunities in Oklahoma.
“Governor Fallin has outlined an aggressive agenda to promote job growth and investment in the state of Oklahoma,” said Parman. “I am looking forward to using all the tools available to the Department of Commerce to help attract and retain businesses and create more opportunities for our citizens.”
In his new role, Parman will oversee the day-to-day operations at ODOC and will act as a liaison to the governor. He will also continue in his current role as a senior policy advisor to the governor.
As secretary of state, Parman focused on improving the services offered by his agency, emphasizing a “client-first” philosophy. He initiated programs to improve online and off-line service and productivity for agency clients, including a complete re-design of the agency’s online presence and a plan to launch a new “concierge service.” The concierge program will improve services when visiting the Secretary of State’s offices and allow for timelier same-day filing of online registrations.
Fallin praised Parman’s track record in both business and public service.
“Larry is a skilled manager and an experienced businessman,” said Fallin. “He knows how to manage an agency, deliver better services, and ensure that every dollar of taxpayer money is being put to good use. He also understands the business world, and will be able to work with our partners in the private sector to improve on our business climate and help bring more and better jobs to Oklahoma. I know he will be an excellent leader at the Department of Commerce and continue to be a great asset for the state of Oklahoma.”
Prior to being named secretary of state, Parman served as the CEO of Parman & Easterday, an Oklahoma City estate planning, elder law and business planning firm that has served over 4,000 clients throughout the Midwest. He has also been a partner in Notch It Up Strategies LLC, a firm that offers marketing and executive development programs to business owners and C-level executives.
Parman also previously served as President of The Hawthorn Group, a public affairs firm in Alexandria, Virginia and President and CEO of Trencor, Incorporated, an Oklahoma-based financial holding firm. He is the author or co-author of multiple books on estate planning, financial planning and business, including Above the Fray: Leading Yourself, Your Business and Others During Turbulent Times.
Parman has served on the board of directors for a variety of civic and business related institutions, including the Oklahoma Council on Economic Development, the Research Institute for Economic Development and Junior Achievement of Oklahoma City, where he also served as chairman of the board for two terms. He is a current member of the Oklahoma and Missouri Bar Associations and the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.
Parman also served as a captain in the U.S. Army. He received an honorable discharge in 1978.
Parman received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
He and his wife, Darlene, have two children.
