State CareerTech director officially takes over post

Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Brent Haken began official duties last week.

Haken was named to the position in November by the Oklahoma State Board of Career and Technology Education. He is the ninth director in ODCTE’s history.

“I am honored to begin serving the state of Oklahoma in meeting the educational, training and workforce development needs of our state,” Haken said. “Oklahoma has the nation’s premier system for career and technical education due to a foundation laid by passionate and dedicated Oklahomans. As an educator and a product of the Oklahoma CareerTech System, I understand the opportunity we have in unlocking the state’s potential for meeting the workforce needs of Oklahoma businesses and providing pathways to rewarding careers for Oklahoma students. Empowering people through education moves Oklahoma forward.”

Lee Denney, who has been serving as the CareerTech interim state director since February 2022, will remain at Oklahoma CareerTech as interim chief of staff.

“Brent Haken is a leader with vision and innovative ideas,” Denney said. “He will be able to lead Oklahoma CareerTech forward as we continue to provide skilled workers for Oklahoma industries.”

Haken comes to Oklahoma CareerTech from Morrison Public Schools, where he served as superintendent since 2019.

He began his educational career teaching agricultural education in Wellston and Stillwater before moving to Morrison, where he became elementary assistant principal and special education director in July 2015 and high school principal in July 2016. He also served as testing coordinator.

Haken received the 2022 Superin- tendents Chairman’s Award from the Oklahoma Youth Expo and was the Oklahoma Association of Superintendents District 4 Superintendent of the Year for 2022. He is a member of the Oklahoma State Professional Education Council and the Cooperative Council for Secondary Administrators. scanners and tools so you will always know they are using the latest in vehicle technology.

He has been a member of the Oklahoma Career Technology Master Teacher Committee, the National Association of Agricultural Educators and the Association of Career Technical Educators and served on the board and as vice president of the Oklahoma Agricultural Education Teachers Association.

Haken earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Central Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University.

“Edmond is home!” says Sheryl. “We love the families that trust us with generations of cars. It is a very supportive community.” serves as Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage. “The record breaking $10.1 billion that Oklahoma’s tourism industry generated in 2021 was invested right back into local communities, making a huge impact on businesses and schools. When we invest in tourism, it pays off every time.”

Sheryl and Joe hope to keep the business in the family for years to come. They have recently brought one of their sons on board and youngest daughter to help in the office. Sheryl’s mom also fills in occasionally.

Autoworks Japanese Car Specialist is located at 200 W. 1st Street in Downtown Edmond. For more information on this locally owned, family business call 405-348-6522 or visit www.autoworksedmond.com.

As the pandemic dramatically altered travel demand, OTRD pivoted quickly, becoming one of the first states to run pandemic-focused marketing campaigns promoting outdoor recreation and travel. This swift marketing strategy enabled Oklahoma’s travel industry to rebound in record time.

“Travelers from all over the world flock to Oklahoma, and the recordbreaking numbers are proof that our state has something incredibly special to offer,” said OTRD Executive Director, Shelley Zumwalt. “I am proud of the tremendous efforts of this agency, and I look forward to starting 2023 strong, with new efforts and initiatives to continue growing Oklahoma’s tourism industry.”

The #OKHereWeGO pandemic-response advertising campaign, launched in May 2020, generated more than $50 million in statewide hotel lodging revenue in 2021. With an investment of $748,430 from the state, the campaign yielded a 50:1 return on investment. The campaign also drove 235,000-plus users to TravelOK.com and inspired over 29,000 park visits.

In August 2020, the department launched the Oklahoma Route 66 Passport, a program that allows travelers to collect stamps as they explore Oklahoma’s 400+ miles of the Mother Road. More than 1.2 million unique visitor trips along Route 66 in Oklahoma have been inspired by the first edition, with over 100 travelers, domestic and international, completing all 66 passport stops.

Oklahoma’s recovery in travel compared to 2019 (i.e., 86.6%) outpaces the country’s recovery in overall domestic travel (82.2%).

While in-state visitation increased in 2021, out-of-state travelers still represent a higher proportion of visitation to Oklahoma.