The Research Institute for Economic Development (RIED), a non-partisan organization founded in 1997 that promotes economic growth through the evaluation of business, job and economic growth issues considered annually by the Oklahoma Legislature, today named four state business and civic leaders to its board of directors.
The new board members are:
Mark Funke – President and CEO for Southwest Bancorp, Inc. and its two financial subsidiaries, Stillwater National Bank and Trust Company and Bank of Kansas
Ted Haynes – President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
Marc Maun – Chairman and CEO of Bank of Oklahoma – OKC, a division of BOK Financial
Gary Pierson – Chief Operating Officer of The Oklahoma Publishing Company
RIED also announced the resignation of co-founding member Gerald Gamble, President of the Gerald Gamble Company, after 15 years of service.
Greg Love, RIED Board Chairman and President of Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores said, “Our entire board of directors extends a heartfelt thank you to Gerald Gamble for his 15 years of service to RIED. He co-founded our organization and is one of the primary reasons we have been so effective in executing our mission over the course of his tenure.”
“It is a tremendous privilege for RIED to add four extremely gifted business leaders to our board, and more specifically, four individuals who understand what it takes to build successful businesses in today’s competitive business world, and how important it is for the public and private sectors to work together to provide economic growth opportunities across Oklahoma.”
Susan Winchester, RIED President said, “I am looking forward to working with each of these individuals during the upcoming legislative session and beyond. Their business, civic and leadership credentials are top notch, and more importantly, they understand Oklahoma’s business climate and what it takes to grow an economy.”
