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OC Alumna Patrice Douglas moves back into corporate world

Growing up just down the road, Oklahoma City native Patrice Douglas has become a familiar face to metropolitan locals.

Douglas, a member of Oklahoma Christian University’s 1983 graduating class, was elected the 32nd mayor of Edmond in 2009, running two consecutive terms. 

After graduating with a bachelor’s of science degree from Oklahoma Christian’s college of business, Douglas received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law which she instantly put into practice working in unison with her father’s construction company.

In the latter half of 2011, Douglas was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin to fill the vacated office of Commissioner Jeff Cloud on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC)—a regulatory committee which monitors oil and gas drilling, utilities and telephone companies. She was elected in 2012 without opposition to complete the vacated term. 

Douglas decided to give up her seat on the OCC in 2014. She aimed her sights higher, announcing a campaign for a U.S. House seat in Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District. Despite her efforts, Douglas fell short in the primary, losing to Steve Russell.

In an interview with the Journal Record, Douglas highlighted her political ideology and acknowledged the struggles of the small-business owner. 

“I believe Oklahoma small businesses won’t be able to start hiring again until Washington gets off their backs,” Douglas said. “We do not need the federal government to create jobs; we can create an atmosphere that encourages entrepreneurship and small business growth with a sensible tax system and little government interference.”

In 2015, Douglas was hired as president of emerging markets at Premiere Consulting Partners located in Tulsa, OK.

In an interview with the Tulsa World, Russell Brown, the chief executive officer of Premiere Consulting Partners, stated Douglas’ economical prowess has facilitated company-wide expansion.

“As a respected leader in our state and a long-time financial executive, Patrice has a proven track record of producing exceptional financial results and superior community service,” Brown said. “Her leadership style is committed to enhancing client relationships, developing aggressive growth strategies, and identifying strong service teams.”

In 2016, Douglas was asked to take the responsibilities of the chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, a public account dedicated to managing public lawsuits against tobacco companies. She declined the offer. 

Douglas has accumulated considerable experience in both community banking and energy resources during recent stints as the president of SpiritBank and the executive vice president of First Fidelity Bank. In both roles, Douglas focused on commercial transactions. Douglas now serves on the board of BankSNB, sitting on both the audit committee and the credit committee where she maintains a similar emphasis. 

Oklahoma Christian senior and business major Luke Ball stated Douglas’ unique career path redefines the conventional use of a business degree. 

“Douglas, in her time as mayor and in other aspects of her work, has taken the degree I plan to graduate with this spring and done more with it than I thought was possible,” Ball said. “She has shown what an Oklahoma Christian degree means, and I think that is something we all take for granted at times, even if we don’t necessarily realize it.”

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