News Release
| PRESTON L. DOERFLINGER Director and Secretary of Finance and Revenue |
 |
MARY FALLIN Governor |
Sept. 29, 2011
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
RON JENKINS
Public Information Officer
Oklahoma Office of State Finance
(405) 521-3267
Doerflinger Announces Changes Under Consolidation Law
OKLAHOMA CITY — Preston Doerflinger, director of the Office of State Finance, on Thursday announced several changes in his expanded agency as it moves to implement provisions of a consolidation law designed to streamline state government.
"We're moving with deliberate speed under a tight timeframe to bring about changes under House Bill 2140 to comply with the wishes of Gov. Mary Fallin and the legislative leadership to bring about efficiencies that will save taxpayer money and improve the administrative functions of the state," Doerflinger said.
Under the legislation, 4 agencies were folded into the OSF — the Department of Central Services, the Office of Personnel Management, the Employees Benefits Council and the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board.
Doerflinger, who also serves as finance and revenue secretary in Governor Fallin's cabinet, made the following announcements:
- Lucinda Meltabarger will serve as administrator of the Office of Personnel Management after the retirement of longtime OPM Director Oscar Jackson on Nov. 1. Meltabarger has broad experience in personnel management, most recently as Human Resources Director at the OSF.
- John Morrison will become interim administrator of the Department of Central Services, effective with the resignation of DCS Director John Richard on Oct. 1. Morrison has been head of the DCS' Constructions and Properties Division.
- Jimmy Trotter will serve as interim administrator of the Employees Benefits Council with the resignation of EBC Executive Director Phillip Kraft, effective Sept. 30. Trotter has been the administrator of benefits and contracts at the agency
Doerflinger said Frank Wilson remains as administrator of the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board.
Meltabarger, the incoming OPM administrator, holds a master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma City University.
She has already begun working with Jackson to ensure a smooth transition. Jackson is retiring after four decades of service with the state.
"He has ushered our state workforce through many times of change and provided years of outstanding service and commitment," Doerflinger said.
House Bill 2140 took effect on Aug. 26, but Doerflinger and his senior management team began working on the consolidation effort several weeks before that.
Carol McFarland, a certified public accountant and certified governmental financial manager, became Transition Project Manager at the end of June and has been conducting series of meetings with officials of the affected agencies.
McFarland came to the OSF from the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, where she was performance and reporting manager.
She said the goal of the consolidation effort is to create a "FAST" agency—"flatter, agile, streamlined and technology-enabled."
The OSF has been charged with making a report to the Legislature by Dec. 31, 2011, on efficiencies and savings gained by the consolidation.
"There will be some flattening of the agencies involved, but it is too soon to tell to what degree," Doerflinger said. "We are doing all we can to keep the employees informed and make the transition as seamless as possible."
Related Information:
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Last Modified on 09/29/2011