Southwest Technology Center is continuing our New Faces. Same Mission. series by introducing another new member of the Southwest Tech family. Meet Stephen Gable, Business Development Coordinator, who brings more than 23 years of experience helping people find opportunities, build skills, and create better futures.
For Gable, joining Southwest Tech feels like a natural continuation of work that has shaped much of his career.
“I love seeing someone succeed, and the numerous stops on that path prepared me to help people reach their best self,” Gable said.
Gable spent 23 years with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, where he worked to connect job seekers with employers, strengthen the community, and operate programs designed to improve quality of life throughout the area. He has also worked with an organization helping individuals secure funding to further their education, expand their skills, and earn certifications and degrees. He holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology.
Now, as Business Development Coordinator at Southwest Tech, Gable has another opportunity to connect people with the resources they need to succeed while helping strengthen the communities Southwest Tech serves.
“There are just so many avenues we have to make our community stronger, safer, healthier, smarter, and simply a better place to live,” Gable said. “We enrich lives at SWTC, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
His connection to Southwest Tech is also personal. Both of Gable's children attended Southwest Tech, and he credits their experiences here with helping prepare them for their futures.
Originally from Granite, Oklahoma, Gable spent part of his formative years in San Diego, California, before returning to the place he calls home. His roots in Southwest Oklahoma, combined with decades spent helping individuals and employers throughout the area, give him a unique understanding of the people and communities he now serves through Southwest Tech.
And there is much more to Stephen than his professional background.
He is a trained archaeologist who was once very close to working on his first archaeological dig before meeting his wife and choosing a different path. Outside of work, he enjoys trail running, restoring vintage cast iron cookware, reading, attending theater performances with his wife, and collecting versions of A Christmas Carol. In fact, he says he has the largest video collection of A Christmas Carol in the hemisphere.
Through all of his experiences, one principle continues to guide the way Gable approaches his work and the people around him.
“I try to remember that in life, I will have many responsibilities. Compassion must remain one of them.”
That commitment to people is at the heart of what Southwest Tech strives to accomplish every day. With more than two decades of experience helping individuals connect with opportunities and improve their lives, Gable brings experience, compassion, and a strong commitment to Southwest Oklahoma to his new role.
We are excited to see the relationships he builds, the opportunities he helps create, and the difference he will make for the businesses and communities we serve.
Welcome to the Southwest Tech family, Stephen!