Sullivan Family Lectureship to feature Congressman Dan Boren

by SOUTHEASTERN PUBLIC INFORMATION
February 12, 2009

DURANT, Okla. -- United States Congressman Dan Boren will be the guest speaker at the Sullivan Family Lectureship at Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Wednesday, February 18. The event will begin at 11 a.m. in the University Ballroom.

The lectureship was established in 1999 by businessman Reggie Sullivan in honor of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wise Sullivan. Reggie Sullivan is a 1974 graduate of Southeastern.

The purpose of the lecture is to bring leaders in business and public service to Southeastern's campus to speak to students and the community about national economic and legislative issues.

Elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives at age 29, Boren became one of the youngest state legislators to serve in 2002. Tapped for his leadership ability, he was selected by his Democratic colleagues to be Caucus Chairman -- making him the first freshman state lawmaker to ever receive this honor.

As a member of the Oklahoma House leadership team, Boren fought to bring jobs and economic opportunities to his district. Working hand in hand with Governor Brad Henry, he helped to protect economic assistance for Oklahoma's rural communities by saving the Rural Economic Action Plan from devastating budget cuts. He also fought to improve rural schools by co-authoring legislation that infused much-needed dollars into Oklahoma's schools without raising taxes.

In 2004, Boren was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District. Upon election, he obtained a seat on the House Armed Services Committee -- a rare appointment for a freshman member of Congress. He also serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, an influential panel which provides Congress with oversight into Indian affairs and public lands.

As a strong advocate for rural communities, Boren's top priorities are job creation, improving education and rural health care, and making Oklahoma's small business environment more conducive to growth.

Prior to public office, Boren served as the President and CEO of the Seminole State College Educational Foundation. He has also served as a senior aide at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and worked on the staff of former U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins. He is also involved in numerous organizations and is an avid outdoorsman and hunter.

Boren earned his B.S. in Economics and went on to obtain an M.B.A. at the University of Oklahoma. He and his sister Carrie were born to former Oklahoma Governor and U.S. Senator David Boren and the late Janna L. Robbins. His grandfather, Lyle H. Boren, represented southeastern Oklahomans in the U.S. Congress from 1937-47. He and his wife Andrea, and their daughter Janna reside in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Reggie Sullivan, Chairman and CEO of three corporations operating in Oklahoma and Texas, began his professional career upon graduating from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

After functioning in a number or roles for Wise Sullivan Construction Company, Inc., from 1974-78, Sullivan served the organization as President and CEO from 1978-88.

In 1988, he formed Interstate Contracting Corporation, a heavy highway contractor, building highways and bridges in Oklahoma and Texas. During peak construction season, Interstate employs more than 200 people with contracts in process totaling $100 million.

In 1994, Sullivan purchased Overland Corporation, an asphalt paving company operating in Oklahoma and Texas. Employing about 100 people, Overland specializes in heavy civil and highway construction.

Sullivan was the owner of Cornerstone Products since its inception in 1985-2005. Cornerstone was the largest private employer in Durant and Bryan County, specializing in plastic injection molding, assembling and packaging of plastic projects. The payroll for Cornerstone's 400 employees exceeded $12 million.

Active in civic affairs, Sullivan has served as a board member of the United Way, Durant Chamber of Commerce, and the Oklahoma Municipal Contractors Association. He has also served as President of the Oklahoma Municipal Contractors Association and as a member of Citizens Commission on Higher Education.

He has been a full-time resident of Plano, Texas, since 2000. He is a founding member of Star Children's Charity in Plano, as well as an active supporter of Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) of Collin County.

Sullivan and his wife Carolyn have three children, Lionel, Corsica, and Ryan, and grandchild Cadence. He is an avid sportsman, licensed pilot, and enjoys golfing, water and snow skiing, scuba diving, upland bird hunting and fly fishing.