Office of Governor Brad Henry
State of Oklahoma
State Capitol – Oklahoma City OK 73105
405-521-2342         

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 3, 2006

          Gov. Henry Names Commerce Department Interim Director

Oklahoma City -- Gov. Brad Henry today named Amy Polonchek as interim
director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Polonchek, the agency’s chief administrative officer, will succeed Kathryn L. Taylor, who resigned from the post in January.

In her current role, Polonchek is charged with administrative and support
functions for the department, including finance, research, policy and
economic analysis.

Gov. Henry said Polonchek is an ideal choice to serve as interim director
of the state agency charged with economic development efforts.

“Amy has the experience and expertise to lead the Department of Commerce and its mission to further economic growth in Oklahoma,” the Governor said.

“In both her work at the state agency and in the private sector, Amy has
demonstrated a mastery of the realities in today’s fiercely competitive
economic landscape. She has a tough act to follow in Kathy Taylor, who did
so much for Oklahoma’s economic momentum, but I am confident in Amy’s
abilities and talents.”

Polonchek said she is excited about the challenges ahead.

"I appreciate Governor Henry's confidence in the customer-focused team at
the Department of Commerce,” she said. “We will continue to work with our partners to help keep Oklahoma businesses and communities prosperous and competitive. I look forward to building on our successes and moving this state forward."

The Governor also praised the Commerce Department’s chief operating
officer, Tom O’Neill.

“I am grateful to Tom’s tremendous dedication and hard work. His leadership role at Commerce remains integral to much of our state’s
economic successes.”

Prior to Polonchek’s work with the Commerce Department, she was the
principal of Polonchek Consulting Group, Inc., which specialized in
management and policy analysis for public- and private-sector clients.

She has also served as executive director of the Oklahoma Institute,
project manager for TekSystems, and served on the management team of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

Polonchek received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Michigan State
University and a master’s degree in economics from Oklahoma State
University.

She is married and has three children.