Michael Barlow, Chairman

Appointed to the Board July 1, 2009 to serve as Chairman until July 1, 2014

Mr. Barlow has a Bachelors degree from the University of Oklahoma with majors in management, marketing, finance and accounting.  He has a Masters degree from Oklahoma State University with majors in economics and education.
A former high school teacher, labor leader and school administrator, Mr. Barlow has operated an educational consulting firm known as Barlow Education Management Services for the past 24 years.  His firm, which he operates in partnership with his son Lou, provides management consulting services to school districts throughout Oklahoma.  While the firm provides a myriad of management services Mr. Barlow specializes in labor relations, collective bargaining and employee evaluation.

Mr. Barlow’s community service includes serving on boards for the: Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma City, Edmond Integris Hospital, Oklahoma Israel Exchange, and the Oklahoma Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Mr. Barlow has been married for 45 years to Anita and has two sons and four granddaughters.

Larry Gooch, Member

Appointed to Board October 2000, to serve until July 1, 2005. Re-appointed to the Board to serve until July 1, 2010.

Mr. Gooch has an Associates Degree from Oklahoma State University in   Municipal Fire Protection, and a Bachelor of Arts from Central State University, where he majored in Psychology with minors in Sociology and Biology.

He was employed for twenty-seven years with the Del City Fire Department, retiring as a Fire Captain, and served as a State Representative for the IAFF from 1989 – 2000; as President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Oklahoma for six years, and as Business Agent for AFSCME # 2406 in Oklahoma City.

Mr. Gooch is President Emeritus of the Professional Fire Fighters of Oklahoma AFL-CIO/CLC.

C. Max Speegle, Member

Appointed to Board October 2009, to serve until July 1, 2012.

Mr. Speegle has practiced law for over 35 years in the State of Oklahoma.  He received his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma and has a business degree from Oklahoma State University.  He has served for many years as General Counsel to Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, and has served as General Counsel to University of Central Oklahoma and Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma.  He is a former municipal judge and city attorney and served seven years as city manager of Edmond, OK.  He has been married for 42 years to Linda and they have three children and five grandchildren.