Workforce Development office is coming home

State entity to rejoin Department of Commerce in 2020

The administrative entity of the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development is making an organizational move back to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development Sean Kouplen said the move will take effect Jan. 1. The administrative entity was under the umbrella of Oklahoma State University — Oklahoma City since former Gov. Mary Fallin was in office, Kouplen said. The group will maintain its office space at OSU-OKC.

“Workforce development is a critical component of our economy and the future success of Oklahomans,” Gov. Kevin Stitt said. “By joining the Department of Commerce and the Office of Workforce Development, we are moving in that direction, and I'm confident we will see positive results as these teams work together to strengthen workforce development in our state.”

Kouplen said he and the governor have a shared passion for developing the workforce.

“It was clear to both of us that the No. 1 impediment to economic development is the Oklahoma workforce,” Kouplen said. “It's such a big deal.”

This is not the first time the Office of Workforce Development has been a part of the Department of Commerce.

“They were in the Department of Commerce before (OSU-OKC),” Kouplen said. “And now they will be back with (the Department of) Commerce.”

The move from the

Department of Commerce occurred when a former secretary of commerce and

workforce development moved over to take on a similar role in education, Kouplen said.

“There are a lot of states with the OOWD in education, but I think it's much better in commerce,” Kouplen said.

The move was

announced at the same time as the hiring of Don Morris, who has already started as the office's executive director.

Morris has human resources experience leading healthcare systems in Lawton, Wichita and Tulsa. He recently

retired as division head of human resources for the Hillcrest Healthcare System in Tulsa.

“I am so excited about Don's leadership as we establish Oklahoma as the premier workforce development state in the country,” Kouplen said.