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.”
