Governor appoints Lamirand to OCAST governing board

Governor Brad Henry has appointed W. Hershel Lamirand III, president and chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation, to serve on the Oklahoma Science and Technology and Research and Development Board. The board is the governing body for the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST).

Lamirand’s term of appointment will end June 30, 2013.

“Hershel Lamirand has demonstrated his leadership skills and visionary qualities, the very qualities we need to position Oklahoma for success in research and development. His contributions on the OCAST governing board will serve our citizens far into the future as we continue development of our technology-based economic development efforts,” said Governor Henry.

The foundation executive began his career as an investment professional later to serve as a consultant to the Oklahoma Legislature, documenting the difference between committee staffing and the legislative council. He then worked for the Oklahoma Health Systems Agency, assuming responsibility for local and statewide health planning and development. Lamirand joined the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 1981 as the first executive director of development. He became president and CEO of the health center foundation in 1991.
Lamirand is vice chair of the Oklahoma County Home Finance Authority, chair of the executive committee, Oklahoma Community Service Commission; a former board member of Points of Light Foundation and a founding board member of Leadership USA and Volunteer Center of Central Oklahoma, and founding member of Leadership Oklahoma and Leadership Oklahoma City.

In addition to his varied duties with Leadership Oklahoma City and Leadership Oklahoma, Lamirand is past president of the National Association for Community Leadership. He is co-founder of the Youth Leadership Exchange, Oklahoma City, and has served many years on the board of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, including serving as co-chair of the Festival of the Arts.

As chair of the American Association of State Service Commissions, Lamirand presented a paper at Cambridge University, UK, on the role of volunteers in community service. He serves on the National Grantmakers Forum on community service and volunteering. His other service includes participation in mayoral and legislative task forces on mass transportation, water and land use, health education and regional planning, as well as the governor’s committee on inter-local cooperation, health planning and criminal justice. He attended the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University and holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing.