Insights@Meridian with Governor Kevin Stitt | September 30

Meridian is bringing together ambassadors and senior private sector leaders for this program featuring Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt focused on the role of the states in diplomacy and economic development. Moderated by Rina Shah, Founder, Rilax Strategies, this discussion will focus on how Oklahoma is fostering economic development and international investment through innovation. Oklahoma plays a key role as a global leader in energy production, specifically in the oil and natural gas industry and in the global transition to cleaner fuel sources by being pioneers in renewable energy and alternative fuels. Governor Stitt will discuss his response to the pandemic and the changing demographic, historical and political landscape of Oklahoma. Governor Stitt became the 28th governor of Oklahoma in 2019 and is an entrepreneur and businessman. 

The program will open at 8:30 AM for a networking and breakfast reception followed by a moderated conversation with Governor Stitt from 9:00 - 10:00 AM. Register HERE. 

Governor J. Kevin Stitt

Governor Kevin Stitt is leading Oklahoma with a vision to become Top Ten in job growth, infrastructure, education and more.

He is an entrepreneur who founded Gateway in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2000. Starting with only $1,000 and a computer, he grew Gateway into a nationwide mortgage company operating in more than 40 states and servicing more than $20 billion in residential mortgages. In 2018, he led Gateway through a merger and established Gateway First Bank, which today is one of Oklahoma’s 10 largest banks by assets with over $2 billion in assets, 160 mortgage centers across the U.S., and more than 1,700 employees.

Oklahomans spoke in record numbers that they wanted Stitt to use his business acumen to transform the state. In 2018, he received more votes than any gubernatorial candidate in state history in his first bid for elected office of any kind.

Governor Stitt has taken a groundbreaking approach to his administration by appointing the most female cabinet secretaries in state history and tapping expert advisors from the private sector, including the first chief operating officer in state history.

He is committed to delivering taxpayers more for their money, and his fiscally conservative leadership helped the state build its largest savings account in history, which proved to be prophetic in the face of an oil and gas downturn.

Stitt is a fourth-generation Oklahoman and a graduate of Oklahoma State University. He and his wife, Sarah, have been married for 23 years and they have six children.