Release: OK Policy announces that Executive Director David Blatt will be leaving later this year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TULSA, OK (March 25, 2019): Oklahoma Policy Institute announced today that David Blatt, its longtime Executive Director, will leave the organization later this year. Blatt intends to remain with the Tulsa-based think-tank through the transition process to a new Executive Director.

“We are extremely grateful to David for the great success he has had in building OK Policy into an organization that is widely recognized and respected for its quality, credibility, independence, and integrity,” said Don Millican, who serves as OK Policy’s Board Chair. “We have big shoes to fill, but we are also confident that our new leader will be taking over a strong, stable, and dynamic organization.”

Oklahoma Policy Institute was launched in 2008 and currently has a full-time staff of 16 and an annual $1.8 million budget raised through a combination of grant funding and individual donors. In addition to Blatt, the organization’s leadership team of Operations and Development Director Shiloh Kantz, Communications and Strategy Director Gene Perry, and Policy Director Carly Putnam have a combined 23 years of experience at OK Policy. The organization’s mission is to advance equitable and fiscally responsible policies that expand opportunity for all Oklahomans through independent research, analysis, and advocacy.

Blatt helped found OK Policy and initially served as Policy Director before taking over as Executive Director in 2010. Previously, David spent seven years as Public Policy Director of Community Action Project of Tulsa and three years as a fiscal analyst for the Oklahoma State Senate. A native of Canada, Blatt moved to Oklahoma in 1996 with his wife Patty Hipsher after completing a Ph.D. in Government from Cornell University.

“Leading OK Policy has been a tremendous privilege and pleasure, especially the chance to work with an amazing professional staff and a dedicated and supportive Board of Directors,” Blatt said. “I’m especially proud of the success the organization has had these past years in shifting the policy debate in Oklahoma towards a greater recognition of the need for fair and adequate funding of public services. Whatever I end up doing next, I know I’m going to miss OK Policy enormously, “Blatt said, “but I’m also very optimistic that the organization and its impact will continue to grow under a new leader.”

OK Policy has engaged Switchgear Search and Recruiting to lead the search for a new Executive Director. The job search will launch on Tuesday, April 2^nd and applications will be accepted until April 26th. The six-member search committee is co-chaired by past Board chair Ann-Clore Duncan and Board vice-president Felicia Collins Correia. The job announcement and instructions on how to apply will be posted at okpolicy.org. Inquiries about the position can be directed to Liz Brolick, Switchgear’s CEO, at 918-574-8750 or okpolicy@switchgearrecruiting.com The new Executive Director is expected to be in the position by early fall of this year.

The position profile and instructions on how to apply can be found at okpolicy.org/EDsearch. Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 26th.