OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – The Oklahoma Workforce Commission hired the state’s first ever workforce CEO. She will coordinate workforce development activities across the state in an effort to continuously grow Oklahoma’s workforce.
Workforce Commission members announced Kyla Guyette as the CEO on Tuesday. The selection was made from a field of 90 candidates who were considered for the position. The field was narrowed down to three top candidates who were each interviewed in person. The search for a new CEO lasted about two months.
“The Oklahoma Workforce Commission is coordinating important initiatives to drive our workforce forward, and Kyla is the right person to lead the team,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt. “She’ll help us deliver on our commitment to creating opportunities for Oklahomans and ensuring businesses have the skilled workers they need to succeed. We have incredible momentum right now, and to make sure we stay the most business-friendly state in the nation, we have to build a workforce ready to power Oklahoma’s future. I’m looking forward to working with Kyla.”
Guyette will lead efforts to coordinate workforce development activities statewide, ensuring alignment with industry needs and creating robust opportunities for job seekers. Her work will directly support the goals outlined for the Workforce Commission by fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, educational institutions, and community organizations to address Oklahoma’s workforce challenges effectively.
“I am grateful for the leadership of the House, Senate and Governor Stitt, to make workforce a priority for Oklahoma. Their forward-leaning vision to do something new and innovative will not only provide qualified workers for Oklahoma businesses and businesses seeking to move to Oklahoma, but will also create jobs and prosperity for Oklahoma families. Hiring Kyla is just the beginning of great things to come for our state,” Tim Pehrson, Commission Chair.
Much of Guyette’s career has been focused on workforce development. She was the founding president of Workforce Mid-South, Inc. and served as the executive director of the Greater Memphis Local Workforce Development Board. Through those roles, she oversaw workforce development funding and initiatives in Western Tennessee’s four-county area.
“Kyla Guyette has the background, experience and knowledge to help us as we continue to transform the way we do business in Oklahoma,” said Senate Pro Tem-elect Lonnie Paxton. “The Oklahoma Workforce Commission will be instrumental in creating a robust workforce to meet our needs as we continue to grow and bring business to the state. We also believe by better aligning public and private entities to create a comprehensive workforce strategy, it will help existing companies recruit, attract and retain a qualified workforce. I am excited to keep our momentum going and look forward to continuing our work on this issue.”
Guyette also held leadership positions at ResCare Workforce Services and Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance. Her most recent positions include CEO of The Work Lab and director of strategic partnerships at KRA Corporation.
She has the needed experience to serve as Oklahoma’s workforce CEO, said Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker-elect Kyle Hilbert.
“We know workforce is a critical issue in every corner of our state and we must invest in ourselves to produce better outcomes for our students and our state’s employers,” Hilbert said. “I want to thank the Commission for hiring someone with such extensive experience who can bring an outside perspective as we seek to improve our state’s workforce and position Oklahoma as a state who has the best workforce in the nation.”
Senate Bill 621, written by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, established the Oklahoma Workforce Commission when it was signed into law in June 2023.
The Workforce Commission works to coordinate the state’s workforce efforts. Their objective is to streamline workforce processes into a more efficient and effective system that will grow the economy and produce greater numbers of skilled workers. Hiring a CEO to coordinate workforce development strategies and initiatives was a primary Workforce Commission goal.
“The Oklahoma Workforce Commission was created to meet the needs of in-demand industries and grow our economy, while ensuring Oklahomans are equipped with the necessary skillset to be successful in these jobs,” Pugh said. “Since I have been in the Senate, one of my main priorities has been to enhance career readiness and connect education to industry so Oklahoma can remain competitive in a modern and rapidly changing economy. I was proud to author this legislation that aims to work toward this goal. I am excited about the announcement of the hiring of Kyla as CEO, and I look forward to working together to improve our state now and for future generations.”
SB 621 was born from research which revealed a workforce deficiency in Oklahoma. A State Chamber of Oklahoma and Business Roundtable joint survey found that 60 percent of Oklahoma’s business community said workforce shortages were the number one threat to business growth and expansion. Chad Warmington, president and CEO of The State Chamber of Oklahoma, and The State Chamber Research Foundation provided Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislators research data which showed that Oklahoma was 36,000 workers deficient in filling available jobs.
It was determined that a new, focused workforce management system was needed to grow the state’s workforce and fill the thousands upon thousands of available jobs.
“Developing a trained and knowledgeable workforce is one of the most pressing issues facing Oklahoma. I’m excited to see the Oklahoma Workforce Commission take this step of hiring a CEO with more than 20 years of experience in this pressing area,” Pugh said. “I know this will advance our goal of closing our workforce gap, benefitting everyday Oklahomans seeking better jobs as well as employers and move our Great State forward to a Stronger Future for our Children, Families and Communities.”
The Workforce Commission is composed of nine members, each a representative from Oklahoma’s private business sector. It has been meeting since January, gathering information from state officials and leaders across the state’s industrial sectors. The Commission will rely on that information when creating workforce development strategies and administer and oversee funding allocated by the legislature for workforce development initiatives. The commission can contract with outside parties to achieve its goals.
