Michael Dennis named new Tag Agent in Durant

By Joey McWilliams

The Oklahoma Tax Commission has named Michael Dennis to be the next Tag Agent in Durant.

Dennis said he wants to focus on processing efficiency and serving people.

A 2004 graduate of Antlers High School, Dennis moved to Durant to attend college at Southeastern. He graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Dennis was in the military for five years, serving in the Army as an air defense artillery officer, and stepped out of the service with the rank of captain. His last job with the Army was with the Military Entrance Processing Station in Oklahoma City.

“We basically take civilians that are coming in to be soldiers, process them medically, do paperwork and hopefully are able to swear them in at the end of the day,” Dennis said. “There was a whole bunch of time efficiency used and we worked on how to improve each step and make it better and faster. That was what I was tasked to do by my commanding officer.

“It was kind of one of those things that I got to be passionate about because we got to be really good at it. We were really good at processing them and I believe we cut times by 40 percent.”

Dennis said it was that previous experience, along with other civilian jobs, that added up to looking into this position.

“At MEPS, our big job focus was on efficiency and processing people in and though – waiting times and things like that. That is what initially got me into it and basically it’s a way to use my skill set for processing efficiency.

“But also, I had done some contracting work in real estate with title work, so I was pretty familiar with that, as well. It was combination of both those things that I saw an opportunity for and I thought I’d throw in my hat.”

Dennis has been living again in Durant since 2014. He worked for a short time at VGT and has recently been helping his wife Beth, one of the owners of Elements Art Center, with her business while pursuing another degree in computer science.

He and Beth have two children, Daniel and Kira.

“My focus is going to be on serving the people of Durant and making sure the process they go through is the most efficient,” Dennis said. “I’m going to look at quality, I’m going to look at time and I’m also going to look at customer service. Those are the three main factors.

“And when I take on something, I know it’s the process of doing something the best you can possibly do. As far as what I can do to make it a quality experience for people, that’s what I’m going to be shooting for.”

Dennis will start his position soon. The location for the new office has not yet been determined.