Description

Hear from local a higher education panel on workforce D\development and the current workforce pipeline. This panel is made up of Chris Benge, Director of Workforce Partnerships at OSU, and Randy Craven, Executive Director of Student Affairs at Tulsa Tech. 

Chris Benge, OSU

Chris Benge has spent his career serving the people of Oklahoma. As Vice President of Operations and Director of Workforce Partnerships, he is part of the leadership effort to provide access to technical training opportunities that lead to good paying jobs for Oklahoma citizens. He previously served as Oklahoma Secretary of State under Governor Mary Fallin, and later Secretary of Native American Affairs and the governor’s Chief of Staff. A former Speaker of the Oklahoma State House of Representatives, Benge spent 12 years in the House, including three as chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Benge specializes in public policy and government relations and has been an advisor to Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, senior vice president of government affairs at the Tulsa Regional Chamber and executive director of rural and tribal health policy at OSU Center for Health Sciences. He is a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation and earned his bachelor’s degree at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa.

Randy Craven, Tulsa Tech

Randy Craven serves as Executive Director of Student Affairs and Partner School Relations for Tulsa Tech. Previously, Randy served as Director of Tulsa Tech’s Peoria Campus (2015-2024). Originally from Owasso, Randy attended Northeastern State University where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He began his career in education as a Teacher and Coach for Union Public Schools (1995–1999). Randy has served as Assistant Principal at Ponca City (1999-2000) and Union High Schools (2000-2003). In 2003, he accepted a position as Principal of Coweta High School, a position he held for five years. Randy has also served as Director of Indian Capital Technology Center’s Muskogee Campus (2008-2011), Executive Director of Secondary Education for Broken Arrow Public Schools (2011-2014) and Assistant Director of Student Services for Tulsa Tech (2014-2015). In addition to the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education, Randy is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Minorities in Career and Technology Education, Cooperative Council of School Administrators, and a graduate of Leadership Tulsa Class 65, TechCAP Class 3, and Tulsa Tech Destination Class 26. Randy’s greatest source of pride is being the father of two outstanding young men – Tyler (wife, Ashlynn) and Seth Craven, and grandfather to Cal Craven. 

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