David Walters is President of Walters Power International. Mr. Walters served as the Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.
As Governor, David Walters presided over a $7 billion organization that employed 135,000 people. Governor Walters reduced by attrition the number of state government employees for the first time in the history of the State of Oklahoma, aggressively promoted economic development, achieving a 15-year record in job growth. Governor Walters successfully opposed all tax increases and yet oversaw a 30% increase in education funding by reallocating budget dollars. Walters passed the first capital improvements bond issue in Oklahoma in 25 years, which invested over $350 million dollars in the State’s infrastructure. He advanced the first workers compensation insurance reform in 15 years, causing substantial rate reductions. Governor Walters led trade delegations to eight nations during his term. Oklahoma’s international trade grew at twice the national average during his term in office.
At the conclusion of his term in office he entered the independent power industry. Walters has developed dozens of independent power projects. He has negotiated and signed agreements on projects in China, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Ecuador, Pakistan, India, the United Kingdom, Spain, Finland, France, Bulgaria, Poland and in several locations in the U.S. Since 1995, Walters has made over 200 international trips to 35 countries, traveling over 3,000,000 miles. In 2010 his work in Pakistan was recently featured in Forbes Magazine and in 2011 his role as a back channel negotiator with the Taliban for the pre-9/11 extradition of Osama Bin Laden was identified in Vanity Fair Magazine.
Walters is the owner of Walters Power International based in Oklahoma City. Walters Power International has ownership in a number of other companies including but not limited to Walters Power California, Walters Power United Kingdom, Texas Power Reserve, Pakistan Power Resources, Oklahoma Property Investors, and Cimarron Power Ventures. His companies are active in power project development, electrical generation equipment sales and leasing industry and consulting on power project development.
David Walters achieved a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and a Master in Business Administration from Harvard University. He and his wife Rhonda have three daughters and three grandchildren and make their home in Oklahoma City.
David Walters has been recognized for his political, business, community and philanthropic leadership by numerous state and national organizations.