Jackie Shane Woolbright
It could be said that Shane Woolbright stopped in Oklahoma for 30 years on his way from Arkansas to New Mexico. And Oklahoma cities and towns have been the beneficiaries of that sojourn. Shane was born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Since retiring earlier this year, he has moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He received his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Arkansas in 1978, while working for the City of Jenks. In addition to the numerous municipal government accomplishments, Shane has also served as Chair of the Audubon Society of Central Oklahoma, president of his neighborhood association, and as a member of numerous environmental groups.
He retired in January 2013 after 30 years as Executive Director/General Manager of the Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma (MESO) which serves 63 Oklahoma municipal power systems, two-state power agencies, and 10 cities in surrounding states.
Served previously as Assistant to the City Manager of Jenks (3 years) and then as a Circuit Rider City Manager in northwest central Oklahoma (4 years).
He worked with other statewide municipal trade associations to establish federally recognized electric utility worker certification programs. He was recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor for the development of the MESO Apprentice Program which provides training for public power systems in four surrounding states.
In 2012 he was selected by the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority to receive a special Service Award in recognition of his contributions to public power and for his efforts in the initial set up of OMPA and support over the years. He served as a Board Member for the American Public Power Association (1994-97); and on the APPA Political Action Committee [POWERPAC] (1984-2012), and the Grand River Dam Authority (2004), and from 1994-97 as Chairman of an American Public Power Association Advisory Committee on legislation and regulations. He provided the leadership to establish the Municipal Gas Systems of Oklahoma organization which now provides training for 50 city or town gas systems in the state.