Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board hires new executive manager

(Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has a new executive director.
The Oklahoman reports that the five-member board voted this week to hire Steve Bickley. He’s replacing former executive director DeLynn Fudge who retired in June.
Board Chairman Robert Gilliland says that Bickley has worked in executive management for over 20 years, but has no criminal justice experience. Bickley was recently an executive at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., which was built by the owners of Oklahoma City-based arts and craft chain Hobby Lobby.
Gilliland says that Bickley will help manage a flood of commutation requests. There has been a spike in applications since certain drug and property crimes were downgraded to misdemeanors instead of felonies.
He says that Bickley will also implement recent administrative parole legislation.