Oklahoma Business Roundtable Announces Retirement of Donald Paulsen as President – Board Names J. Blake Wade Successor
Donald Paulsen
The Oklahoma Business Roundtable has announced that Oklahoma business leader Donald D. Paulsen, is retiring as president, a position he has held since the organization’s founding in 1991.
The Roundtable’s executive committee has named J. Blake Wade, former executive director of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission as president. He will assume full-time duties July 1, 2009.
“Don Paulsen has been a dedicated leader of Oklahoma’s successful economic development efforts,” said Al Dearmon, Roundtable chairman.
Blake Wade
“During his career, he has worn many hats – serving as a very successful corporate executive, helping incubate the state’s science and technology program, serving as commerce secretary and leading the Roundtable, our state’s primary economic development support organization, said Al Dearmon, Roundtable chairman.
“We would like to thank Don for his many outstanding contributions to the Roundtable during the past 18 years and respect his decision to retire,” he added.
The 127-member Oklahoma Business Roundtable serves as the state’s primary economic development support organization.
Paulsen, former president of Oklahoma City-based Fife Corporation, has been active in Oklahoma’s public sector economic development efforts for three decades. He served as secretary of commerce and executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce secretary during Governor Henry Bellmon’s administration (1987-1991). He earlier chaired the state’s initial Council of Science and Technology, the forerunner to the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). Paulsen is also past president of the Executive Service Corp of Oklahoma (ESCOO).
“The Oklahoma Business Roundtable is one of Oklahoma’s most important organizations and I am proud of our accomplishments over the years in building Oklahoma’s economy, Paulsen said.
Incoming Roundtable president J. Blake Wade is no stranger to the Oklahoma business community, having recently served as director of the Oklahoma Capitol Complex and Centennial Commemoration Commission, a position he held since 1999.
Wade was responsible for overseeing preparations for Oklahoma’s centennial commemoration of statehood in 2007. Key accomplishments included completion of the Capitol Dome, the Centennial Plaza of Oklahomans and production of the “Emmy” award winning Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular held on November 16, 2007.
Centennial projects numbered in the thousands and included restoration of historic properties, preservation programs and activities, conferences, lectures, public art that captures the diversity of the Oklahoma experience and spirit, tourism attractions; parades, events, ceremonies and commemorations.
Prior to joining the Centennial Commission, Blake served nine years as executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Regarding the new position Wade said, “I am excited about supporting the Governor’s economic development programs that help create business investment and jobs in Oklahoma.”
A Lawton native, Wade graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in journalism. He served 20 years in the U.S. Army, starting as a second lieutenant and retiring as a major. His specialty was communications between the Army and Air Force and between the Army and Navy. Wade served as aide de camp for a U.S. Army general who commanded the Signal Brigade in Vietnam. While in the military he received two Bronze Stars, three Vietnam Service Medals, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
Wade has participated actively in community organizations over the years through serving on the board of directors of the Jim Thorpe Association and Hall of Fame, Harn Homestead, Red Earth, Metro Alliance, Oklahoma Cultural Coalition, Petroleum Club, Oklahoma Heritage Association and the State Fair Board. He is the recipient of the 2008 Administrator of the year Award by the Oklahoma Chapter American Society for Public Administration.