Scott Dewald expands Oklahoma’s prosperity as President and Chief Executive Officer of REI Oklahoma. He is responsible for the mission-based non-profit’s programmatic operations - including its small business loan programs, affordable housing programs, and entrepreneurial guidance services. Since joining the organization in 2013, he has overseen the procurement of $736 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financing, $207 million in non-NMTC commercial transactions, and more than $790 million in housing loans. He has helped facilitate 10 various tribal development projects.
Mr. Dewald holds considerable capital raising experience. He helped attract $235.5 million in equity and leverage debt for previous federal NMTC allocations, as well as securing $14.3 million in grants and contributions for REI Oklahoma.
He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a BS in Ag Communications and has more than 30 years of experience in agriculture and economic business development, particularly in under-served rural Oklahoma. In addition to his role with REI Oklahoma, Scott also serves as President of REI Development Corp, President of REI New Markets Investment, LLC, and Chair of the REI Internal Loan Committee. Scott is a Past-President of the Oklahoma Society of Association Executives, Member of the Board of Directors of the Four-Star General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum, Member of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Business Roundtable, Member of the National New Markets Tax Credit Coalition Board of Directors, and Member of the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition to his background in business, Dewald is a Leadership Oklahoma graduate and an OSU Distinguished Alumni. Prior to joining REI Oklahoma, he spent 17 years as Executive Vice President and CFO of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA). There he worked with various state officials to negotiate and draft policies to increase profitability for cattle producers and improve the quality of life in low-income agricultural communities. He began his career as an agricultural loan officer with the Farm Credit System, where he underwrote and serviced a $45 million loan portfolio.
Along with his family in 2020, Mr. Dewald leveraged his business-startup expertise to repurpose an aging industrial building in Downtown Durant, OK into a craft brewery. With accommodations for events and gatherings, the brewery has become the go-to spot for fostering camaraderie and producing a stronger sense of community. This much-needed attraction for town visitors and community members has helped diversify the town’s beverage offerings.
