D. Gregory Main was appointed by the St. Gregory’s University Board of Directors to become the 15th president of the state’s oldest institution and officially began his duties on July 1, 2011. He comes to SGU after a two-year stint as president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation where he was responsible for executing the governor’s economic recovery and diversification strategy.
From 2003 to 2008, Main served as president and CEO of i2E, Inc. of Oklahoma City, a technology commercialization company focused on assisting entrepreneurial start-up businesses. From 1998 to 2002, he was a general partner with Chisholm Private Capital Partners, a $66 million venture capital firm in Oklahoma City, and beginning in 1994, a partner in Intersouth Partners of Research Triangle, N.C.
Main was appointed Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce in 1991, serving as the state’s chief economic development officer. He designed and implemented initiatives including the award-winning Oklahoma Quality Jobs program and Quality Jobs Investment Act. In addition, he was instrumental in establishing the Alliance for Manufacturing and the launch of the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board Venture Investing program.
Main began his economic development career in 1970 as executive director and chief planner for the six-county, non-profit Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission (CUPPAD) in Escanaba, Mich. He joined the Michigan Department of Commerce as director of the Upper Peninsula office in 1983. From 1985 to 1990, his duties as director of the manufacturing development group included responsibility for marketing Michigan as a location for manufacturing investment. In that capacity, he directed State of Michigan offices in Brussels, Tokyo, Toronto and Lagos, Nigeria. Main was deputy director of economic development in 1991 when he relocated to Oklahoma.
Main graduated summa cum laude from Michigan State University in 1970 with a degree in urban planning. He has extensive training and post-graduate studies in general management, marketing management, business and real estate finance, sales and quality management. He is past chairman and president of the Oklahoma Venture Forum, Science Museum of Oklahoma board member, Oklahoma Academy executive committee member, and Creative Oklahoma board member.
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