The government director of a state company that helps science and know-how startups resigned immediately on the finish of February, someday after being summoned to a gathering with the state commerce secretary and the state’s chief working officer.
Jennifer McGrail, who headed the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology for nearly 4 years, didn’t present any particulars about her departure in a resignation letter obtained below the Open Records Act. The board that oversees OCAST appointed Commerce Secretary Deb Moorad as interim director at a particular assembly on March 2.
In December, the OCAST governing board accredited virtually $8.7 million in grants, offering early-stage funding for 21 corporations in biotechnology, aerospace and power. But for the primary time, the board gave conditional approval to 4 of these start-up corporations. Final approval was as much as Moorad, the chair of the Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development Board. That change within the conditional approval course of was not debated or introduced at earlier board conferences.
OCAST’s Industry Innovation program offers aggressive grants of $10,000 to $500,000 to Oklahoma start-up corporations creating know-how improvements.
David Ostrowe, Oklahoma’s chief working officer, stated he wasn’t pleased with the route of current grants made by OCAST. He stated he made that clear to McGrail in earlier conversations and in a December e mail. Ostrowe declined to remark in regards to the specifics of her resignation, saying it was a personnel matter.
“Her board made a decision to go in a different direction,” Ostrowe stated Monday.
Ostrowe, who served in Gov. Kevin Stitt’s first time period and returned to state authorities final 12 months, stated he had gone by means of earlier OCAST grantees and located a few of the company’s follow-up on returns on funding to be “loosey goosey.”
In a Dec. 3 e mail, Ostrowe requested McGrail to offer a complete standing and accounting of current OCAST grant awards.
“I’ll be blunt: I’m concerned that some portion of this portfolio may involve misuse of funds or outright fraud,” wrote Ostrowe, who has no formal oversight of OCAST. “I want an honest assessment of how much exposure we have and which awards, if any, need immediate attention.”
McGrail didn’t return a request for remark. It’s unclear if she signed a nondisclosure settlement as a part of her separation from the company.
In a Feb. 27 e mail, McGrail advised Ostrowe and Moorad she was choosing one in every of two choices introduced to her throughout a gathering the day gone by.
“In order to preserve the opportunity to seek severance under the terms outlined, I have attached my letter of resignation to this email, consistent with the 8:00 AM deadline provided,” McGrail wrote.
Stitt picked Moorad to be secretary of commerce in February 2025. He then named her as chair of the OCAST governing board in July. Among the situations the board placed on her as OCAST interim government director on the March 2 particular assembly was that she not pursue the job on a everlasting foundation and she or he not draw a wage from OCAST. Moorad is main the board seek for a brand new government director.
Stitt has 4 appointments, plus his science and innovation secretary, on the nine-person OCAST governing board. Leaders of the House and Senate every have two appointments.
Moorad couldn’t be reached for touch upon Monday.
McGrail’s resignation was a shock to many within the Legislature. She introduced the company’s finances at a Jan. 7 Senate listening to. McGrail stated OCAST helps flip concepts into corporations that keep in Oklahoma.
“OCAST is not a typical education agency,” McGrail stated on the finances listening to. “We’re not a typical economic development agency. And we’re no longer an agency that exists primarily to support academic research to grow new industries. We truly are an agency that exists at the intersection of all three of those things. That is what makes us different. We help create innovation in all 77 counties in Oklahoma.”
Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, chairman of the House oversight committee on commerce and financial improvement, stated the OCAST board’s change to permit conditional approvals of grants by one particular person involved him.
“I believe it is important that OCAST continue to have a robust system of approvals with multiple checks and balances so that we, the people of Oklahoma, can have confidence in their approval process,” Hill stated.
Stillwater-based Weaver Labs was among the many corporations that obtained a grant in December. Chief Executive Officer Marten Hillen stated the corporate developed a course of to raised take away so-called ceaselessly chemical substances, or PFAS, from consuming water. Weaver Labs acquired a $485,000 grant over two years within the newest OCAST Industry Innovation funding cycle. More than 120 corporations utilized for the grants.
Hillen stated he was impressed by OCAST’s responsiveness to questions all through the grant software course of. He stated the company makes use of exterior evaluators to rank grant candidates, who’ve to offer matching funds from any non-state sources on their very own.
“It allows us to get that stamp of approval,” Hillen stated. “If I can demonstrate high-value technology that benefits not only the state, the country and ultimately the world, I am in a much better position to grow both the company and our impact. This is like a flywheel for us.”
In her Feb. 27 resignation letter, McGrail stated she was happy with the workforce at OCAST.
“In a remarkably short period of time, this group of public servants fundamentally transformed the agency’s trajectory,” McGrail wrote. “We increased appropriations and strengthened confidence in our outcomes through transparency and measurable performance.”
McGrail stated the company’s solely progress in personnel got here from grant-covered positions that coated their very own prices.
“We did not raise overhead,” she wrote. “We did not expand bureaucracy. We expanded impact. At the same time, the team maintained rigorous accountability. Every program was administered within statutory authority. Every dollar was tracked. Independent audits confirmed strong internal controls and compliance.”
Paul Monies has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2017 and covers state businesses and public well being. Contact him at (571) 319-3289 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @pmonies.
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