Boards & Committees

Deborah Moorad  serves as Oklahoma’s Secretary of Commerce, leveraging her expertise in business strategy and technology to drive growth and attract new ventures to the state. With extensive experience scaling innovative companies and navigating high-value acquisitions - she works closely with entrepreneurs, universities, and industry leaders to foster new company creation, drive technology commercialization, and ensure Oklahoma remains competitive in science and technology on a national scale.

Moorad has an enthusiasm and eye for detail that brings life to her work. Moorad's career exemplifies success with notable transactions in the biotechnology space. Her passion and drive are inspired by the love for her community and contributing to areas that make a difference.

As the founding CEO and owner of Jax XII Holdings, Moorad provides strategic guidance and leadership for innovators and companies. Moorad has led multiple companies through transformational growth. She previously served as CEO of Nature Technology Corporation (NTC), where she led the company through transformative growth. Under her leadership, NTC pioneered breakthrough gene therapy technologies that ultimately led to its acquisition by Aldevron, a Danaher Company. She also played a pivotal role in post-merger operations at Dentsply Sirona following its $14.5 billion merger, helping to integrate and expand the company’s global platform.

Outside of her official duties, Moorad remains actively engaged with emerging growth companies and continues to mentor founders at the intersection of science, technology, and economic development.

On January 14, 2019, Blayne Arthur was sworn in by Governor Kevin Stitt as the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture—the state’s first female to hold the position. She acts as Governor Stitt’s chief advisor on policy development and implementation related to agriculture, food and forestry, and holds the titles of Oklahoma Commissioner of Agriculture and the President of the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture.

Secretary Arthur grew up in Chickasha, Oklahoma, where her family raised horses, shorthorn cattle, wheat, alfalfa and soybeans. Arthur and her two sisters, Dr. Rosslyn Biggs and Chelsea Evans, were active in 4-H and FFA, focusing primarily on showing horses and shorthorn cattle — both statewide and nationally. Arthur’s mother, Dr. Peggy Clark, worked for the USDA as a veterinary medical officer. Her father, David Spencer, owns and operates Spencer Livestock, LLC., a family-oriented operation focusing on show horses and cattle, based out of Chickasha.

Upon graduating from Oklahoma State University in 2004, with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, Sec. Arthur took a role in small-business financing for Rural Enterprises, Inc. In 2009, the then-Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach hired her as the department’s social media coordinator. When Secretary Jim Reese was elected in 2011, he offered her the position as the Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, where she stayed from 2011 to 2016. In 2016, she served as the Executive Director for the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation until her appointment by Governor Stitt.

She is the 2016 Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Distinguished Service Award Recipient; remains active in Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Diamond Hats, American Quarter Horse Association, Oklahoma Beef Council, and Ponies of the Americas; and selected for multiple honors including Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program Class XV, a Journal Record 2011 Achievers Under 40 honoree, and the 2014 Oklahoma Agricultural Woman of the Year.

Secretary Arthur married Jerrod Arthur in 2006 and they have two children, Kelton and Kennedy, who both enjoy showing cattle and horses. The Arthur family lives east of Stillwater and raise show cattle for 4-H and FFA members.

Mita Bates is the principal in MAB Advisory LLC, an organization committed to economic and community improvement, strategic planning, and board development. Ms. Bates served as the President and CEO of the Ardmore Development Authority, Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, Ardmore Tourism Authority and Chamber of Commerce Foundation. She served the four organizations for 18 years beginning as the Senior Vice President of Operations the first part of her tenure. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Mita continued her professional education obtaining designations from the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organizational Management as well as Certified Chamber Executive. Under Mita’s leadership, economic development efforts in Southern Oklahoma resulted in major industrial projects choosing Ardmore, as well as significant capital investment by existing industry in Ardmore facilities, ensuring the continued success of the region.

A passionate advocate for the State, Mita has served on several statewide boards – The Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives, Oklahoma Society of Association Executives, Select Oklahoma, the State Chamber as well as the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. In addition to her statewide activities, she is involved in numerous local activities with a passion for education. Mita is a native Oklahoman, member of the Chickasaw Nation and is married with three children and 5 grandchildren.

Dr. Thomas Kupiec is CEO of ARL Bio Pharma and DNA Solutions. Dr. Kupiec received his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy. He currently serves on the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) Board of Directors, the National Safety Council Alcohol, Drugs and Impairment Division Board, The Foundation Board of Trustees at the University of Central Oklahoma, Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, and the National Advisory Board for the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. He has served as a graduate faculty member at the OU Health Sciences Center and has held teaching appointments at several universities. He has published numerous articles and abstracts in a variety of fields including pharmaceutical sciences, forensic sciences, and pharmacogenomics. Dr. Kupiec is often requested as a guest lecturer and a speaker at national and regional pharmaceutical conferences.

Dr. Kupiec’s vision of entrepreneurial research is manifested by his responsibilities at ARL Bio Pharma and DNA Solutions as a technical and business development leader in the pharmaceutical and forensic fields. Additionally, he provides consultation and expert witness testimony in the fields of forensic toxicology and pharmaceutical sciences including litigation, patent infringement, and medication errors. He has testified in over 100 cases in state and federal courts involving both civil and criminal issues, for prosecution as well as defense.

Colonel Daniel Marticello is the President and CEO of CymSTAR LLC.  CymSTAR, located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) established in 2003 to build, upgrade and maintain military training systems including flight simulators and maintenance procedure trainers.  Col. Marticello joined the company in the role of President and CEO in September 2018.

Prior to joining CymSTAR, Col. Marticello served for over 26 years in the US Air Force and retired in the grade of Colonel.  Prior to his military retirement, Col. Marticello served as the Air Force’s Program Manager for the new Air Force One (VC-25B) procurement and modification program.  He also led Air Force Materiel Command’s Simulators Division for three years where he led a team of 430 personnel executing a $1.9 billion budget across 52 training system programs. As an electrical and flight test engineer, he managed and executed flight test programs supporting the F-117 Nighthawk and the F-15 Eagle weapon systems.

Col. Marticello is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, the University of Colorado, the US Air Force Test Pilot School, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Col. Marticello served in Afghanistan as part of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A).  His military decorations include the Legion of Merit (1^st Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Bronze Star.