The Norman Economic Development Coalition welcomes three new members to the organization’s board of directors this summer. “These new members bring extensive knowledge of economic development, business management, higher education, career technology education, and city governance,” says Maureen Hammond, interim president of the Norman Economic Development Coalition. “Their expertise will support our mission to help Norman businesses and bring economic growth and new opportunities to Norman.”

Eric Conrad has more than 20 years of operations and business management experience and serves as the vice president of operations at the University of Oklahoma. Conrad has managed facilities and operations at Fortune 500 companies and at Brigham Young University and his business expertise has helped develop and sustain companies in nearly all 50 states. Conrad holds a Bachelor of Science in Facilities Management from Brigham Young University and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University.

Norman’s own City Manager, Darrel Pyle, currently manages nearly 900 city employees and a budget of $265 million and brings extensive knowledge of local government to NEDC. Pyle graduated from Fresno State University with a bachelor’s degree in science and a Master of Science in Business Administration and Accounting. Pyle’s career has centered around city finance and management, serving most recently as the city manager of Hanford, California before coming to Norman.

The newly appointed superintendent of the Moore Norman Technology Center, Brian Ruttman, brings nearly two decades of career tech education experience. Before joining Moore Norman Technology Center, Ruttman served as associate superintendent of business and operational systems at Metro Technology Center in Oklahoma City. Ruttman earned a bachelor’s in business administration and management from Oklahoma City University and a Master of Education degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Norman Economic Development Coalition has a 10-member board of directors, with experience and knowledge ranging across finance, education, governance, law, business, and mass communication. The coalition was founded in 1996 as a collaboration among the University of Oklahoma, the City of Norman, Moore Norman Technology Center, and the Sooner Centurions, a committee of the Norman Chamber of Commerce. To learn more visit selectnorman.com.