Story by City of Stillwater

The City of Stillwater is pleased to announce the hiring of Becky Taylor as chief civic innovation officer and Brady Moore as chief performance innovation officer.

According to City Manager Norman McNickle, Stillwater City Council expressed a desire for a stronger focus on innovation, research and engagement, which led to the creation of two new positions. “The chief civic innovation officer will look outward and focus on where we are as a community and where we need to go; while, the chief performance innovation officer is tasked with looking inward at our organization and seeking to improve effectiveness and efficiency within city services and programs,” he explained.

The Innovation Team will work closely with department directors to identify problems, research possible alternatives, propose solutions, ensure goals are accomplished and communicate initiatives at a variety of levels. The goal is to enhance ties at local, state and national levels and facilitate focus groups and task forces to engage citizens and obtain citizen input.  

“Becky and Brady  have impressive track records and backgrounds. We are pleased to fill both of these positions with hometown talent,” McNickle said.  

Taylor, who recently served as executive director of Our Daily Bread, earned her Bachelor of Arts in sociology and master’s in public health from Oklahoma State University. She is widely published in her area of expertise. At Our Daily Bread, she executed three disaster relief protocols, including the 2018 Teacher Walkout, the 2019 Government Shutdown and the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Taylor said, “I am beyond excited to join the City of Stillwater in this new role. As seen through my work at Our Daily Bread, I have a strong desire to build a more just, equitable, and innovative community for all of our neighbors, and this role provides me an opportunity to be involved in this important work while surrounded by an exceptional team.”

Moore is an entrepreneur and served as the product innovator for J.B. Camera Designs in Stillwater. He earned a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering and management from OSU. He created the concept for a high-end outdoor retail store and grew the yearly sales to $1 million and built the community staple “Summit” Brand.  

Moore said, “As a business leader in this community for the last 17 years, I’m excited to be a part of this new Innovation Team and to begin collaborating with the city’s employees and citizens to find creative solutions to keep Stillwater moving forward. ”

McNickle said, “The new team will allow the City to focus on enhancing its strategic plan, engaging our public and improving how we do business.”

Moore will start his new position Oct. 22, and Taylor starts Nov. 19.