Trait Thompson was named Project Manager of the State Capitol Restoration Project in July 2014 by Preston Doerflinger, Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. Prior to that, Trait served since 2010 as Legislative Director and Senior Policy Advisor to President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman in the Oklahoma Senate.
In addition to his experience in state government, Trait has worked in the business consulting, nonprofit, and telecommunications fields. He graduated from Oral Roberts University in 2000 with a degree in Finance and from Texas A&M University in 2007 with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. He is the chairman of the State Capitol Preservation Commission and a board member of Friends of the Capitol. He is also an adjunct professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Oklahoma. Trait’s wife, Sara, is a wedding planner and they have two young children. View the video from this meeting.
Chair of the Day, Amber Sharples
Amber Sharples (Executive Director- Oklahoma Arts Council) graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Art History. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Museum Collections Management and Care from The George Washington University. Sharples joined the Oklahoma Arts Council staff in 2006 as Visual Arts Director after working as Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator at the U.S.-Mexico Foundation for Culture in Mexico City. As Executive Director, Sharples works with the Oklahoma Arts Council board and staff to implement agency goals and objectives and responds to the needs of the state’s arts community through financial support, services and advocacy.
She serves on various boards of agencies, commissions and nonprofits, including: Capitol Preservation Commission; Arts Standards Committee; Friends of the Mansion; Mid-America Arts Alliance; Native American Cultural and Educational Authority; and the Governor’s Innovation Index Task Force.
November 11, 2014 Volume 103 No. 20