Downtown OKC chief takes position at American Fidelity

By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

American Fidelity Assurance Co. announced Wednesday they are hiring Dave Lopez to lead the company's charitable foundation.
Lopez, who has led Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. for the past three years, will be succeeded by Brett Hamm, a former aide to Mayors Kirk Humphreys and Mick Cornett.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, American Fidelity officials said Lopez will continue philanthropic endeavors by the former president, the late John Rex. The business and community leader was active in children's causes until his death in April.

"We are excited that Dave Lopez will continue to build our community initiatives since he knows our company and our state so well," said Bill Cameron, chairman and chief executive officer of American Fidelity.

"The focus of our foundation will continue to be on supporting educational initiatives like those identified by the late John Rex. With Dave Lopez able to build on the work begun by John Rex, and to grow other philanthropic endeavors, we are confident we will continue to make a positive difference in our hometown and beyond."

Lopez has been a board member of American Fidelity's board of directors for the past nine years. He previously worked 22 years at Southwestern Bell Communications, now AT&T, including stints as president of the company's SBC division and later its Texas division.

At Downtown Oklahoma City Inc., Lopez oversaw the expansion of Downtown in December festivities, the revamp of the organization's Web site, increased marketing and start of renovations to the Conncourse underground pedestrian tunnels.

His replacement, Hamm, was hired as a mayor's aide by Humphreys in 2003 after serving on the staff of former U.S. Sen. Don Nickles and working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He left the mayor's office in 2005, and briefly served earlier this year as executive vice president and senior partner at Saxum Strategic Communications.

"The progress of our downtown is being recognized nationally and even internationally, but we're even more excited about what our community's teamwork can produce in the future," said Clayton I. Bennett, chairman of Downtown Oklahoma City Inc.'s board of directors. "We expect that the public-private partnerships that Dave helped strengthen will only grow because of Brett's outstanding skill sets in government and in business."

Incoming Downtown Oklahoma City chairman Burns Hargis said Hamm's experience with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also was a consideration in his hiring. Hargis said the board selected Hamm without conducting a search for Lopez's replacement.

"Dave Lopez has done a fabulous job," Hargis said. "Brett just needs to keep the momentum going and pursue every opportunity to make downtown better."

Hamm, an independent business consultant, takes control of Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. amidst a flurry of new housing and hotel construction. He said his previous experience includes working with former Mayor Humphreys on implementation of MAPS for Kids and securing redevelopment of the Skirvin hotel.

He said challenges ahead include redevelopment of the First National Center and Kerr-McGee Tower, and continued downtown housing development.

"Downtown Oklahoma City has truly achieved a new level of success and recognition under Dave's leadership," Hamm said. "Our immediate task will be to continue the track record of success that he and the team at Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. have created. Although he's moving on to a new opportunity, we look forward to Dave's continued involvement in what has become Oklahoma City's renaissance."