After 23 years of providing leadership and vision for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), Dr. David Brown announced at today’s board meeting his retirement as chairman and as a member of the board of trustees, effective immediately.

The board has unanimously elected Larry Parman to succeed Dr. Brown as chairman.

“Dr. Brown is the heart and soul of this organization,” OCPA President Jonathan Small said. “More than 20 years ago, he envisioned an organization that was capable of pointing Oklahoma on a prosperous and free path. His passion for individual empowerment and free markets, along with his unwavering leadership, has been the key to OCPA’s success.”

In 1993, the founders, led by Dr. Brown, started OCPA with the vision of affecting Oklahoma’s public policy in ways similar to think tanks at the national level. This vision has helped lead to multiple income tax cuts, public employee pension reform, workers’ compensation reform, and making Oklahoma a right-to-work state.

“When OCPA was founded, we hoped to create an organization that could successfully promote ideas with meaningful positive impacts on the lives of Oklahomans,” Dr. Brown said. “I am proud to say that OCPA has remained true to this mission and stayed steadfast in its principles. Today, I am looking to the next generation of leaders to carry on the work.”

In addition to serving as a Trustee of OCPA, Parman has served as Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and Oklahoma Secretary of State. He is also on the board of the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce.

“While we are sad to see Dr. Brown retire as chairman, we are thankful for his many years of leadership and are committed to carrying on his legacy,” Parman said. “Dr. Brown always speaks of making Oklahoma better. There are many opportunities to make that happen and OCPA will continue to lead with policy ideas that will create a better and more prosperous future for our state and its people.”