Chairman of the Board Chad Grinsteiner is pleased to announce that the ACEC OKLAHOMA Board of Directors has unanimously named Michael R. Thompson as President & CEO. Thompson will replace Jim Sullins who has served the Council for nearly 33 years in the same position.
“The ACEC OKLAHOMA Board of Directors is extremely excited to have Mike Thompson joining us as President and CEO,” said Grinsteiner. “Mike brings a terrific blend of political acumen, high energy, and innovative ideas to help us promote the business success of the consulting engineering industry in Oklahoma.”
“Special thanks to our Executive Search Committee for their time and great work under difficult circumstances,” Grinsteiner added. “We had a lot of interest in the position from a number of highly qualified candidates from across the United States, which is a testament to the increased profile and momentum ACEC OKLAHOMA has gained during Jim Sullins’ tenure. We thank Jim for his service to ACEC OKLAHOMA and wish he and his family the best on their next chapter in life.”
Thompson holds a bachelor degree from Oklahoma City University in Business Administration in Marketing, and a Master in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma.
He brings a wide and varied background to ACEC OKLAHOMA which began as a Field Representative for Congressman Ernest Istook. Thompson was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2004 where he served as Deputy Majority Whip, Chairman of the House Energy and Utility Regulation Committee, and Chairman of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee on Transportation.
Following his service in the Legislature, Thompson was the Deputy Commissioner of Government Relations and Public Affairs for the Oklahoma Insurance Department and the Director of Government and Public Affairs for BP America for Oklahoma and Kansas.
In 2019, he opened Thompson Consulting which assists clients with issues throughout Oklahoma providing comprehensive public policy management and advocacy services.
“I want to thank the Board for placing their confidence in me and this tremendous opportunity to transition our association into a new era of excellence. Jim has been a steady beacon of leadership for the past 33 years and his commitment to ACEC OKLAHOMA is renowned throughout ACEC nationwide. Over the next months, I look forward to his mentorship and collective wisdom to pursue the next chapter in our journey.”
“I’ve known Mike since his time in the Oklahoma House of Representatives,” said current President & CEO Jim Sullins. “We worked closely together on several issues important to the consulting engineering profession, and he has a great understanding of this profession and business. He is a highly respected lobbyist at the Oklahoma Capitol. Mike will be a great asset for ACEC OKLAHOMA both in our government advocacy program and with new ideas and energy he will bring to the Council to move ACEC OKLAHOMA to a bigger, better, and stronger future.”
Thompson resides in Oklahoma City with his wife Hayley and their two children.
Thompson will join ACEC OKLAHOMA immediately and will assume the President & CEO position on January 1, 2021.
