The City of Broken Arrow has promoted Charlie Bright as the new Engineering and Construction Director. Bright has been with the City of Broken Arrow since 2019.
Charlie Bright is the City of Broken Arrow's new Engineering and Construction Director.
The Broken Arrow native has worked for the city since 2019 as the Special Projects Division Manager. During his tenure, Bright has managed several high-profile projects including:
- The Brown Kimbrough Center for Arts, Innovation and Creativity
- The new Broken Arrow Senior Center
- The Broken Arrow Veteran's Center
- Fire Station #3
- Fire Station #7
- The Challenger Sports Complex
- The Mission 22 Memorial, and more
City Manager Michael Spurgeon announced Bright's promotion at the City Council Meeting on March 6.
"Charlie's accomplishments, dedication to duty, and enthusiasm are a testament to his ability to hit the ground running," Spurgeon said. "Furthermore, his overwhelming desire to take the Engineering and Construction Department to the next level sealed his promotion."
Bright graduated from Broken Arrow High School and the University of Oklahoma. He is dedicated to seeing the city continue to grow and develop.
"What excites me most about this position is that it is the future of Broken Arrow," Bright said. "For example, the corridor study for the Broken Arrow Expressway at Lynn Lane will make a massive difference for the city."
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is exploring ways to reduce traffic congestion at the Broken Arrow Expressway (SH-51) interchange at Elm Place and Lynn Lane. The corridor study is part of ODOT’s 8-year plan. Once complete, it will improve traffic flow and benefit pedestrian accessibility by improving the sidewalk and trail infrastructure.
Bright said, "We also have a study for the Adam's Creek Sanitary Sewer Basin, which could lead to a new wastewater treatment plant. We're also working on the infrastructure improvements for the Sunset Amphitheater, which will increase economic development out east."
His team is also involved in the preliminary discussions for a new City Hall, which will change how our city functions for decades.
"If you think about all those things being accomplished in the next 10-15 years, Broken Arrow is going to be a lot different than it is today," he said. "These projects will provide significant changes that I think are for the better and will improve the quality of life for everyone in Broken Arrow."
Before working at the City, Bright had more than 11 years of Project Managerial experience at Garver and The University of Oklahoma. However, working at the City of Broken Arrow is more than a job for Bright; it is home.
"I am a born and raised Broken Arrow kid," Bright said. "And I've played thousands of baseball games at Indian Springs Sports Complex and hundreds of basketball games in Central Park."
Now, he's achieved the role he has been working toward since he was a college undergrad.
"Many of the decisions I've made professionally before coming here were all geared towards eventually getting this job someday," Bright said. So yeah, I am excited to be here."
Bright and his wife Rachel have two daughters. "My family, my friends, everybody's here," Bright said.
"In Broken Arrow, we have many people giving a lot of support and an excellent team," Bright said. “I will help provide direction, and we'll significantly impact the community."
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