Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency Staff

The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) is a state agency in the legislative branch that assists the Oklahoma House and Senate. LOFT provides budgetary recommendations to the LOFT Oversight Committee for use in setting the funding of state government, higher education, and public schools. LOFT is charged with ensuring state agency programs are efficient, effective and transparent. The LOFT Oversight Committee includes seven Senators and seven Representatives with political parties represented in proportion to membership in each house of the legislature.

Mike Jackson, Executive Director

Mr. Jackson was named the first Executive Director for the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) in May 2020. Prior to this role, Jackson spent six years with the State Chamber of Oklahoma; the last three as its Executive Vice President. Previously, he represented Enid as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for five terms (10 years). During his final term in the House, Jackson held the leadership role of Speaker Pro Tempore, presiding over legislative sessions and serving as a voting member on all committees. During his time in the Legislature, Jackson helped with the development of rules and the enactment of meaningful reforms and improvements that have strengthened Oklahoma. Prior to serving in the Legislature, Jackson was the Northwest Field Representative for U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe and worked as a Public Information officer for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. He holds a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University and obtained professional certification from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management program.

Regina Birchum, Deputy Director

Ms. Birchum most recently helped to establish, launch and lead the Oklahoma City campus of the nationally renowned Cristo Rey Network of high schools. Prior to this, Birchum spent 15 years at the State Capitol in numerous roles involving public policy and communications, including serving five years as the Deputy Treasurer for Policy and Chief of Staff to the State Treasurer. While with the Treasury, she helped to launch a new publication for enhanced reporting of state financial data, was a member of a national policy working group to examine business incentives, assisted with putting the state’s checkbook online and implementation of a first-in-the-nation performance pay program for the office’s Unclaimed Property Division. During her prior 10 years working for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, she coordinated House Leadership’s policy initiative on government modernization, helping to implement reforms that led to improved transparency and accountability in state government. Birchum holds a B.A. in Mass Communication from Texas State University and has completed the Executive Leadership Development Program from the Stayer Center for Executive Education at the University of Notre Dame.

Zach Sumner, Senior Project Manager of Financial Operations and Change Management

Mr. Sumner joined LOFT after serving as the Chief Organizational Effectiveness Officer for Salt and Light Leadership Training, Inc., where he developed data-reporting capabilities, managed finances, conducted scenario-forecast budgeting, and developed processes for increased efficiency and improved outcomes. Previously, Sumner was an executive officer with the E Foundation. He is an active volunteer for the Organization Development Network, a current fellow with the Mine Fellowship in Social Innovation, a Board Member of the Institute of Management Accountants, and holds the following degrees: a M.S. in Organization Development from Pepperdine University, and a B.S. in both Accounting and Finance from the University of Central Oklahoma. Sumner has earned a Certificate in Municipal Leadership from Oklahoma City University, is a Certified Managerial Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner, is certified in Data Analytics and Visualization, and is studying toward his certification as a Public Accountant. He also has earned Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from the OCCC Professional Development Institute.

Shannon Rios, Senior Program Manager of Process Improvement

Dr. Rios brings to LOFT 13 years’ experience with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS), the last three of which she led the Office of Performance Outcomes and Accountability. Prior to that position, Mrs. Rios supported the Office of Planning, Research and Statistics in various roles. She is a three-time awardee of the Governor’s Commendation for Excellence. She was a Graduate Research Assistant and Instructor with the University of Oklahoma’s Department of Sociology and has also served as an Adjunct Professor for 18 years for Connors State College, Rose State College and Oklahoma City Community College. Dr. Rios holds a B.A. in both Criminology and History, an M.A. in Sociology, and a Ph.D. in Sociology, all from the University of Oklahoma. She has also obtained Black Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma from the University of Oklahoma’s LEAN Institute.

Tom Bogdanowicz, Economist

Mr. Bogdanowicz built a 15-year career with the Oklahoma Department of Management and Enterprise Services, where he became the first-ever Business Process Analyst for the organization. After five years of identifying process improvements, strategic planning, conducting ROI, NPV, and cost accounting analyses, he took on the role of Deputy Fleet Manager. In this position, he implemented policies for increased accountability, cost-effectiveness, and improved customer service. For his work in both of these roles, he has twice been awarded the State’s “Red Tape Reduction” award. Bogdanowicz has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Microeconomics at both Oklahoma City Community College and ITT Technical Institute. He holds a M.S. in Economics from the University of Economics in Poznan, Poland, an M.B.A. from Oklahoma Christian University and has completed the Executive Development Program for State Officials at Oklahoma State University.

Ryan Maren, Program Evaluator

Mr. Maren most recently served as a financial examiner and analyst for the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance in Wisconsin. In this role, he led examinations of companies, analyzed financial data, accounting reports and audit results, as well as identifying risk mitigation strategies. He previously worked as a financial advisor for a private insurance company and an operations manager for an appraisal firm. Maren is licensed in accident, health, and life insurance while holding certificates in Risk-Focused Examination and Financial Regulation. Maren holds a B.A. in Mass Communication and an M.B.A., both from the University of Central Oklahoma. He is also a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Brad Ward, Program Evaluator

After a distinguished 8-year career with the United States Army, Mr. Ward became an advocate for military veterans, first coordinating the VetHERO program for the University of Central Oklahoma and, most recently, serving as the Operations and Policy Analyst for the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs. In this role, he analyzed data on veteran issues, examined outcomes to key performance indicators, and generated the first report on the state impact of federal education benefits to veterans. Ward has twice been recognized with the “Oklahoma 30 under 30” award and has completed numerous leadership programs, including the American Enterprise Institute, the VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship in Washington, D.C., and Leadership Edmond. He earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice Policy and an M.P.A., both from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Frank Magness, Financial Analyst

Mr. Magness joined LOFT after spending six years as an independent contractor providing project management, financial analysis, consulting and title examination services, primarily for the energy industry. He provided in-depth risk assessments and quality control review. Previously, he spent eight years working as a Senior Credit Analyst for four different banks in Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado. In these roles, he analyzed multi-million-dollar portfolios, conducted credit and risk analysis, provided quality assurance for credit analysis, and ensured regulatory compliance. Magness holds a B.S. in Finance from Oklahoma State University and expects to complete his M.B.A. from the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2021. He also has the following certifications: from the Risk Management Association – Certificate of Continuing Education for Advanced Underwriting Techniques, Direct & Indirect Cash Flow Analysis, and Commercial Lending Basics; from the Western States School of Banking – Certificate of Continuing Education in Cash Flow Basic, Advanced Cash Flow Analysis, and Commercial Lending Cash Flow; from Udemy, Inc., the Complete SQL Bootcamp, from Basics to Advanced Concepts.

Katherine Grayson, Executive Assistant

Ms. Grayson most recently served as the Administrative Assistant and Event Coordinator for both the State Chamber of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Economic Development Council. During her five years with the Chamber and the Council, she coordinated meeting logistics, managed databases, maintained records and assisted in the planning and execution of numerous events. She also provided support to the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives. Previously, Grayson worked for Convergys Corporation as a Team Leader, where she honed her customer service skills.

2300 N Lincoln Blvd.
State Capitol Building - Room 107
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 768-3200
info@okloft.gov