Deby Snodgrass
Deby Snodgrass currently serves as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism in addition to her duties as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Snodgrass previously served as Secretary of Tourism and Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation. During her four year tenure at the tourism department, the economic impact of the tourism industry in Oklahoma grew from $6.2 billion to $7.5 billion, despite substantial cuts in the agency’s appropriated budget. In 2012, Snodgrass was awarded the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs’ Sheer Vision Award for her efforts to “right size” state government and, in 2014, she received the Byliner Award for Public Service from the Association of Women in Communication.
As Secretary of Commerce and Tourism, Snodgrass is responsible for 32 state agencies, boards and commissions in addition to her duties as Executive Director. She serves on the Oklahoma Industrial Finance Authority, Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development Board, Oklahoma Development Finance Authority, Executive Bond Oversight Commission, Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development and the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority. Additionally, she has been appointed by Governor Fallin to the Oklahoma Standards Setting Steering Committee and the Oklahoma Compensation and Unclassified Positions Review Board. Snodgrass also serves as an ex-officio board member of Allied Arts, State Chamber of Oklahoma Board of Directors and the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority.
Prior to her public service, Snodgrass served as Senior Director of Public Affairs for Chesapeake Energy (NYSE CHK). In that role, she developed and executed strategic political and public policy initiatives, managed both state and federal political action committees and monitored federal, state and local issues. Previous to her tenure at CHK, Snodgrass was a founding partner of the public policy and research firm, Cole Hargrave Snodgrass and Associates.
Snodgrass’ commitment to community service is also well-documented. In 2013, she served as Chair of the State Charitable Campaign for United Way of Central Oklahoma and, in 2012, as the Fund Coordinator for the Oklahoma National Guard Camp Gruber Chapel. She was also a founding member of the Board of Directors for Friends of the Mansion, Inc., inaugural Chair of Septemberfest and a former co-chair of "Opening Night," Oklahoma City's annual New Year's Eve celebration. She served eight years on Oklahoma's Capitol Preservation Commission and is a former board member for the Arts Council of Oklahoma City.
