Wednesday, June 4, 2008
- Trish Frazier
A familiar face from the Oklahoma
City media community has joined the OPEA staff as Director of
Communications. Mark Beutler, a radio personality, reporter, anchor
and 
producer
brings 25 years of experience in print and broadcast media to OPEA. In
addition to his years in television and radio, Beutler served as Public
Information Manager and Video Production Specialist for the Department
of Transportation.
“Mark brings a wealth of experience to OPEA’s Communications
Division and is a great addition to the staff,” said OPEA Executive
Director Sterling Zearley. “He hit the ground running, working
communications for our Red Shirt Rally on his second day on the job.”
Through the years Beutler has worked for the Daily Oklahoman, all three major television stations in Oklahoma City and serves as a free-lance writer for the Oklahoma Gazette. OPEA members may be familiar with his work on 96.1-FM KXY as “Mark After Dark” in the evenings.
“After working at ODOT for seven years, I recognize the plight of
state employees,” Beutler said. “Often we are over-worked,
under-staffed and have become very resourceful at doing more with
less. Through my work I hope to show all state employees the benefits
of a strong association. Oklahoma has about 35-thousand employees, but
only a fraction belongs to OPEA. If we all join together, we can make
quite a showing.
“OPEA has been around a long time, and I must say I am very
fortunate to be coming on board now,” Mark added. “We have a talented,
professional staff and most of us have been state employees. Together
we can work to improve the quality of state employment for everyone.”