Editor's note: This edition of Inside OklaOMMA is extensive, but the information it contains is crucial as we continue to grow and become our own agency.
There’s a saying out there about how culture eats strategy for breakfast.
I think about this quote often, and it reminds me to prioritize the goals we set as an agency. It’s fair to say that I have high expectations of all OMMA staff to reach new heights and blaze new trails. But I'm reminded to focus as much on our work culture as on the strategies we need to reach those new heights and blaze those new trails. One important area is psychological safety. In the most recent OMMA Town Hall, I asked you to bring forth your good ideas. My goal is to ensure that you feel safe sharing those ideas — it's important that you know you bring value to OMMA and can share your ideas with your supervisors without fear of their reaction or fear of being seen as “out of your lane.” As far as I’m concerned, there are no lanes when it comes to innovation, so think big.
A couple of inspiring examples have come to light recently — one of your colleagues asked to start doing some lunch and learns for staff to educate us on therapeutic uses for cannabis and the science behind the endocannabinoid system, among other important topics. I approved her request, and we will all have the opportunity to learn new things because she felt safe asking for support on this project. Another example is one of your colleagues who has gone out of her way to make things happen for OMMA, even when doors are shut in her face and she is told “no” by people at other agencies. The grit and determination exemplified by so many of our colleagues every day benefit us all. My hope is that you feel encouraged to share your big ideas and take initiative to make things happen. If not, all this strategizing and planning can only take us so far.
And this month, I’d like to give a shout-out to the Licensing team — they’ve been under pressures that I never fully grasped until recently. From statutory changes to new licensing software, they never give up and have continued to persevere through adversity. Please make sure to let them know you appreciate them next time you see one of your colleagues from commercial or patient licensing in the hallway or break room.
Finally, let’s wrap up this month’s message with a friendly competition. The person with the best answer to the questions below as chosen by a panel of randomly selected OMMA employees will be announced in the next newsletter and win a $50 gas card:
If you add up all the licensed grow facilities in Oklahoma and the various amount of cannabis they each grow, how much cannabis (in pounds) do you think is being grown in Oklahoma? Do you think there is a big enough market to support the legal purchase of all this cannabis? If so, please explain why. If not, what do you think are some solutions?
With gratitude,
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Adria G. Berry
Executive Director
Leadership
Leadership welcomed Angie Woodrow as OMMA’s Chief Operations Officer and Joshua Maxey as OMMA’s Chief Financial Officer. You can learn more about them in the feature story below. And be sure to check out OMMA’s new organizational chart on SharePoint and the new organizational chart by functional area!
Communications
If you have a communications need, such as a website or form update, presentation review or request, mass email, social media post or something else related to communications, please fill out the communications request form. You can also use this form to have us review and approve documents or presentations you've already put together that include the OMMA logo.
Soon, the contact page on our website will use a contact form instead of listing out various email addresses. To see a sneak peek of the new contact page, click this link.
With this impending change comes a shift in the way OMMA has historically communicated with the public via email. As we work to improve consistent communications efforts across all departments, we plan to begin auto-forwarding some OMMA-wide inboxes (e.g., OMMACompliance@ok.gov, OMMALabs@ok.gov, OMMAPatients@ok.gov, OMMAGrower@ok.gov, etc.) to a centralized group of communicators next month. There is still more planning and preparation needed before this plan takes root, so please be on the lookout for more information soon, especially if you have access to an OMMA inbox.
Compliance
Do you have a question about a compliance issue? Use the OMMA Compliance Inspector Questions SmartSheet. Provide as much information as you can on the form, and include your email address at the bottom to get a response. A Compliance team member will get back to you with accurate information.
Human Resources
On Aug. 15, the state is implementing Workday@OK to replace PeopleSoft. That means if you enjoy payday, time off work, etc., you’ll need to get ready to use Workday@OK! To that end, virtual Workday@OK training is available to all state employees and managers from now through mid-August. All employees need to attend one 30-minute employee self-service training. In addition to the self-service training, employees who directly supervise someone will need to attend one 45-minute manager self-service session. Please refer to this message to sign up for Workday@OK training. Email brightpath@omes.ok.gov with any questions or accommodations!
Legal
Jake Painter joined the Legal team as an Assistant General Counsel. His many years of experience practicing law include work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Please drop by the legal suite on the 4th floor of the Connors Building to meet Jake when you have the chance!
Operations
With COVID cases creeping up across Oklahoma, it’s important to remember that if you are exposed or test positive, please contact Toni LoVecchio, and she will provide guidance on what to do.
Transition Team
We are continuing to plan and prepare for Nov. 1 when we become our own state agency. We have hired a Chief Technology Officer and will soon hire an IT Project Manager to assist with all agency technology needs. We have also confirmed the new email address domain will switch from @health.ok.gov to @omma.ok.gov. Lastly, we anticipate being able to send out OMMA offer letters in September. We will keep you informed as we make more progress toward this transition.
Veterans Roundtable
OMMA’s Nyomi Barrick-Wommack has been working diligently to continue the Veterans Roundtable. Although still in the planning process, she met with several veteran licensees and veteran advocates this month to discuss the best way to conduct these meetings. More to come soon!
If you would like to volunteer to participate or provide input toward the success of the Veterans Roundtable, please email Nyomi directly. All staff can volunteer, and we especially welcome our OMMA employees who have served or continue to serve our nation. Since the roundtable will be held during work hours, you will need approval from your supervisor to attend, but you can account for those hours within your regularly scheduled workday.
OMMA ED Conference
As you may have heard, OMMA will host our first-ever conference Jan. 18-19, 2023, in Oklahoma City! OMMA ED will be a two-day educational conference for the cannabis community focusing on licensing, legal, compliance and administrative topics. The event will host dozens of speakers from the community, as well as roughly 750 attendees.
We are asking OMMA employees to volunteer their time to help us make this conference a success. To organize and prepare for the conference, we have established volunteer committees. Volunteers will serve on one committee and work with that team through the event’s execution.
What’s the time commitment?
--Leading up to the conference, volunteers will attend one to two committee meetings a month which will last 30-60 minutes each.
--At the conference, volunteer shifts will be three to five hours and include the opportunity to attend a session or two of your choice.
What will I be doing?
Information about each committee and resulting responsibilities are included below.
Registration Committee
Pre-Conference Responsibilities:
--Logistical planning for guest registration
Day-of Responsibilities:
--Ensuring all needed supplies are present and available each morning
--Setting up and tearing down the registration area
--Assisting with the packet pickup process throughout the day
Sessions Committee
Pre-Conference Responsibilities:
--Researching key figures in the cannabis community for potential speakers
--Researching relevant questions for panel discussions that address the current cannabis community needs
Day-of Responsibilities:
--Assisting OMMA staff and speakers during breakout sessions
Guest Relations Committee
Pre-Conference Responsibilities:
--Familiarizing yourself with knowledge of the event, venue and event timeline
--Prepare attendee survey that will be sent out immediately following the conference
Day-of Responsibilities:
--Assisting attendees with navigating their way around the conference
Event Support Committee
Pre-Conference Responsibilities:
--Logistical planning for conference setup and teardown
Day-of Responsibilities:
--Assisting with the event setup opening morning and teardown closing day
--Installing and removing conference and directional signage
--Assisting other committees with set-up and tear-down duties if needed
Since volunteer activities will be held during work hours, you will need approval from your supervisor, but you can account for those hours within your regularly scheduled workday. Spots are limited, so if you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out this form. If you have questions, you can email Gilbert Magdaleno, OMMA Event Coordinator.
Angie Woodrow, Chief Operations Officer
Angie, your previous job was at the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, and prior to that, you held multiple roles at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. What did you learn from your time working at law enforcement agencies, and what does that mean for your role at a regulatory agency?
I learned so much during my time at OSBI and OBN. Other than learning about how state government works, I also learned about law enforcement in Oklahoma. Both agencies do so much more than just investigate crimes and arrest criminals. OSBI and OBN also perform regulatory functions — handgun licensing (OSBI) and registration (OBN), so I have experience supporting those programs. I know that I’ll use those experiences to help me make informed decisions in this role.
I know you haven’t been at OMMA very long, but what has impressed you the most so far?
I am most impressed by everyone’s kindness and willingness to work! I inherited an incredible team — a team that is kind and supportive. I began my career with the State of Oklahoma in 2008. I was hired as a Statistical Research Specialist for the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center. Less than a year later, our agency was consolidated into OSBI. I worked for OSBI as Research Director until 2018, and then I moved to OBN where I served as Research Director and then Chief of Staff. I say all of that to say this: You all are special! This is a very special place, and this is a very special time. If you’re like me and have worked in state government for a while, then you know what I mean. We have a unique opportunity to actually build a new state agency.
What’s the biggest task you're taking on in your first 90 days?
My biggest task is the same as every OMMA employee — our transition to a stand-alone agency. What an exciting time!
Who is a leader (past or present) that inspires you? Why?
I’m inspired by many leaders, but Stan Florence (former OSBI Director) is a very inspiring leader. He led with integrity and treated people with such kindness and compassion. I’m also inspired (or impressed) by former Texas Gov. Ann Richards. She served as the first elected female governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995. She was a firecracker — so witty and so smart! I don’t agree with everything she did as governor, but she definitely had the heart of a public servant.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I’ve had a lot of great career advice over the years, but for some reason, I keep going back to: “Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.” It’s simple, and it sums up most days!
Favorite:
Quote: My favorite quote is Man in the Arena by Theodore Roosevelt, but Brené Brown has a modern version that I also love: “If you’re not in the arena also getting your butt kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.”
Book: The Untethered Soul
Movie: Riding in Cars with Boys
TV Show: Ozark
Band/Musician: Any music from the 1970s (Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Pink Floyd, Waylon Jennings) and hip-hop from the late 1990s/early 2000s.
Food: Peanut butter
Sport and Team: Football and OU Sooners
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Joshua, you’ve had an extensive career in state government — from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to the state House of Representatives and the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission. What did you learn from those positions, and what does that mean for your role at OMMA?
From my time at the state, I think the most important things I’ve learned are how to accept the reality/gravity of the situation I am in and then how to adapt to it. I’ve had the unique experience of jumping from one kind of extreme event to another. Working for the House had its moments, but when I plinko-ed my way to ABLE, I had just enough time to get settled before voters approved an overhaul to the state constitution and modernized state liquor laws. Shortly thereafter, I oversaw the implementation of an entirely new licensing system, which took about 16 months to implement. And now here with OMMA, I have quantum leapt into yet another instance of an agency going through historic changes and on such a short timescale. That being said, I’m excited to have the opportunity to help create/define/establish my own little corner of an agency in its infancy. I kind of find comfort in the chaos now.
I know you haven’t been at OMMA very long, but what has impressed you the most so far?
At OMMA, I’m really impressed with the drive of the employees. Not to be too hokey, but everyone I’ve met so far has a laser-like focus/understanding of their respective areas. And they’re all really nice! That makes all the difference.
What’s the biggest task you're taking on in your first 90 days?
I think that with all of the changes happening here at OMMA — and with respect to my role on this team — the biggest task I have in the first 90 days, and probably for the remainder of my days here, is to just make sure I don’t let you guys down. While I’m blazing my trail alongside everyone here, please know that you can come to me with any questions, concerns, criticisms, etc. I work for you as much as I work with you. Please don’t hesitate to let me know how I can better assist you.
Who is a leader (past or present) that inspires you? Why?
Genghis Khan or Jimi Hendrix because they both made reality bend to their will. I don’t necessarily agree with all of their methods or outcomes, but I think with regard to their ability to change the global climate on one hand or change the course of how we rock on the other, it’s very impressive to me.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
“Be nice. It’s a job. It’s nothing personal.” Received from Dalton in the movie Roadhouse. Classic!
Favorite:
Quote: “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” — Hunter S. Thompson
Book: Wind Up Bird Chronicle
Movie: The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
TV Show: Futurama
Band/Musician: The Smashing Pumpkins (Pre-Zwan)
Food: Tacos
Sport and Team: Curling and Team Canada
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Reddit AMA
The next OMMA AMA is July 29 from noon-1 p.m., and the topic is . Join us then!
Workday@OK Launch
Just a reminder that Workday@OK launches on Aug. 15.
A few members of OMMA's Commercial Licensing team.
It’s fair to say that patience, diligence and flexibility are important attributes for everyone working at OMMA. But for the folks in Commercial Licensing, these qualities are particularly paramount.
Just ask Ray Rieger, Commercial Licensing Lead, and Jeremiah Ames, Business Licensing Assistant Manager. With the help of the 11-person Commercial Licensing team, they keep things running smoothly in a constantly changing environment.
“There’s not really a ‘typical day,’ but we always start by trying to solve the most immediate, pressing needs first,” Jeremiah said. “Aside from answering questions from commercial licensees and applicants, we also have to solve issues in Thentia and keep up with the ever-changing regulatory landscape.”
As of July 6, there were 12,105 commercial medical marijuana businesses in Oklahoma, according to OMMA’s latest licensing data. The first step each of those business owners took in opening up shop was submitting a commercial license application, which takes an incredible amount of effort for OMMA to process.
“On an average week, I’d say we look at 500 commercial applications and approve around 200, give or take,” Jeremiah said. “And depending on the complexity of the application itself, each review could take anywhere between one and three hours — or more.”
Those numbers are on the rise as the mortarium on commercial licenses takes effect Aug. 1. “As of July 26, we’ve got around 1,000 applications in the queue to be reviewed, and it’s likely that number will continue to climb as the deadline draws near,” Ray said.
But even with this increase, the team remains undaunted and committed to quality customer service. “A big part of our job is to help people understand what it takes to get a business license,” Jeremiah said. “OMMA’s leadership prioritizes customer service, and we are going to continue working with the community to meet those needs.”
As OMMA works toward becoming our own state agency, the Commercial Licensing team continues to help lay a strong foundation for OMMA’s future.
“When business applications are processed properly, it makes things easier and safer for other departments and the citizens we serve,” said Stacey Henderson, OMMA’s Assistant Director of Licensing. “I’m so proud of this group and all they do for Oklahomans.”
View new hires, promotions, birthdays and work anniversaries on OMMA’s SharePoint!
 Mary Ann Roberts, General Counsel: 30 years of service to the State of Oklahoma!
 Stephany Lively, Executive Assistant: 10 years of service to the State of Oklahoma!
 Kyle Kluding, Lab Compliance Inspector: 5 years of service to the State of Oklahoma!
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