ADA, Okla. - East Central University (ECU) announces the appointment of Mike Cantrell as campaign co-chair for the ECU Forward capital campaign.
ECU Forward is a comprehensive $36.3 million capital campaign dedicated to advancing ECU’s future. This initiative will enhance the ECU campus, strengthen academic programs and ensure that ECU students will continue to be provided with life-changing educational opportunities at an affordable cost.
Cantrell received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from ECU in 1972.
“East Central University has played a pivotal role in my life,” said Cantrell. “I met my wife of 54 years there, and I was fortunate to learn from numerous professors in various fields who not only prepared me for a successful career but also for a meaningful life.”
Cantrell has had a distinguished career in the oil and gas industry, known for his innovative problem-solving and strategic leadership. As President of Pivotal Strategic Solutions LLC since 2018, he has provided business and government affairs solutions that have influenced policy, optimized operations and driven strategic decisions within the energy sector.
His extensive experience includes serving as Chairman of Postwood Energy since 2016 and leading Cantrell Investments LLC, an oil and gas investment company, since 2000. Over a 25-year period, he also built and led Oklahoma Basic Economy Corporation, significantly impacting oil and gas exploration and production in Oklahoma.
Throughout his career, Cantrell has been instrumental in advocating for legislative changes benefiting the oil and gas industry, including tax breaks for marginal wells and important regulatory reforms. He has held leadership roles in several industry organizations such as the National Stripper Well Association and the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association, where he championed studies and initiatives to promote the value of small-scale producers.
Cantrell also served as Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Continental Resources Inc., where he built the department from the ground up. He later co-founded the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance, a bipartisan coalition representing major oil and gas producing states. Under his leadership, the alliance successfully advanced national energy policy and strengthened relationships across both sides of the political aisle.
In addition to his business accomplishments, Cantrell has been deeply involved in civic and community efforts, including founding the Ada City School Foundation and serving on various boards that foster educational and economic development in Ada and beyond.
He is a private pilot, certified scuba diver and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ada. He and his wife, Linda Maisano Cantrell, have two children and six grandchildren.
“I’m honored to be part of the current capital campaign, which is vital to the future of this great university,” Cantrell concluded.
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