ED M O N D, O K LAH O MA
august 2014
VOL. 6 | NO. 8
INSIDE
2014
PUBLISHER Karan Ediger 405-341-2121 kediger@edmondsun.com MANAGING Lisa Shearer EDITOR 405-341-2121 lshearer@edmondsun.com
Betz Believes Leadership is the Key to Success
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MULTIMEDIA Carolyn Womack-Jenner SALES 405-341-2121 MANAGER cjenner@edmondsun.com
New Rotary District Governor Ready to do the Impossible
SALES TEAM Terri Bohanan Brittany Eddins Kaycee Wagner CONTRIBUTING Mike Crandall WRITERS Jim Denton Cyndy Hoenig Nick Massey Patty Miller Van Mitchell Tim Priebe Terri Schlichenmeyer Mark Schlachtenhaufen
University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz is a strong believer in leadership and that belief is being transferred to UCO students who are learning leadership skills each day that can be used both in and out of the classroom.
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Michelle Schaefer recently was named District Governor for Rotary District 5750 and becomes only the third woman to be named 5750’s district governor and the third Edmond resident to serve as district governor for a one-year term.
Lewis Writes the Book on Leadership
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David Lewis has spent a good part of his career helping others find employment or giving advice on how to advance their careers. Lewis, an Edmond resident and vice president of franchising with Express Employment Professionals, combined both those efforts into his book titled “The Emerging Leader: Eight Lessons for Life in Leadership.”
James Coburn Summit Aims to Keep Supply Chains Moving
Miss your Business Times? Call 341-2121 to get on our mailing list. Thanks! The Business Times is a monthly publication of The Edmond Sun devoted to business in the Edmond area. All rights reserved. Copyright © August 2014.
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Business and school leaders from across the metro area recently gathered at Francis Tuttle Center’s Rockwell campus to discuss ways to improve the supply chain in central Oklahoma.
Cover Photo by Karen Moore | Special to the Business Times August 2014 | The Business Times
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from our Publisher
It’s Time to Fight Back Against Identity Fraud
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o our readers: Everyone knows someone who has been affected by identity fraud. I recently attended the Edmond Chamber’s Women’s Network Breakfast and had the privilege of hearing Elaine Dodd, vice president of fraud prevention for the Oklahoma Bankers Association, give some simple, sound advice that can help against identity fraud. Dodd stated, “There are particular numbers that you should not be giving out. No one should be calling you for your bank account number. Your bank already knows this and is not going to call and ask for it. If someone does you should hang up.” Dodd also advises to be close with your Social Security card and not carry it around. Carry only a credit card, driver’s license and maybe a couple of checks when you go shopping. Also, remember that the items in your purse are a gold mine and it’s not just money. Don’t leave purses in grocery cart baskets or set them on the floor without looping a strap around your ankle. Never leave a purse or wallet unattended in a car. “Always be wary about contact that’s initiated by email,” Dodd warns. “Once you click on a link they can give you a virus that allows the fraudsters total access to your computer.” Dodd also shared that there’s something new happening. It’s becoming more common that someone claiming to be from Microsoft will call and say that they need to remote into your computer. Doing so gives the person access to your personal information and she advises to never let this happen.
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August 2014 | The Business Times
“Trust but verify,” Dodd said. “Your community bankers want to help. If something doesn’t seem right you need to talk to them about it.” For more information on fighting identity theft talk to your local community bank or Elaine Dodd at 405-424-5252 or elaine@ oba.com.
KARAN EDIGER is publisher of The Business Times of Edmond, The Edmond Sun and Community Connection.
Betz Believes Leadership is the Key to Success
Q& A with Photos by Karen Moore | Special to the Business Times
Don Betz By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times
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niversity of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz is a strong believer in leadership and that belief is being transferred to UCO students who are learning leadership skills each day that can be used both in and out of the classroom. Betz, who became UCO’s 20th president in 2011, said many of UCO’s academic programs include components of leadership skills including a Leadership Minor that students can earn. Betz said the Leadership Minor provides a comprehensive group of courses that will complement and enrich all academic programs. Students who have a Leadership Minor will have an added skill set to boost their marketability, while providing supplementary productivity and an increase in their ability to set and exceed workplace goals and objectives. “Embedded in many classes here are core pieces of leadership 6
August 2014 | The Business Times
development,” Betz said. “Of all the things that we have been doing one of things the students will take away is the desire for leadership experience. Students leave here with an amazing leadership experience.” Betz has enjoyed a distinguished career in higher education that spans more than 40 years, developing a reputation for teaching and encouraging students, and leadership development. He also is known for his diplomacy skills, developed through his international activities, most notably with the United Nations and its affiliated non-government organizations. Enhancing that reputation, he currently is serving a three-year term on the International Association of University Presidents executive committee and as chairman of its North American Council.
Betz was selected to attend the 2011 Fulbright-Hays Seminar for Presidents Scholar, held in Oman and Jordan. The purpose was to explore opportunities for future program development in the region with stakeholders on American college campuses. Becoming UCO’s president meant a special homecoming for Betz, who served as UCO’s provost and vice president of Academic Affairs from 1999-2005. Returning to UCO was coming back to a university where he had developed several initiatives and programs that had helped transform UCO into its stature today as one of the leading metropolitan universities in the nation. “I returned to an institution where I knew almost all the major players,” Betz said. “It was the culture of UCO that made it attractive enough for me to consider leaving Northeastern, which I loved, and the opportunities to build upon the accomplishments done by (former UCO President) Roger Webb and taking it to another level.” Betz said UCO has continued to blossom adding there are 95,000 living alumni with more than 75 percent of graduates living within 150 miles of UCO. “We are a regional university,” he said. “We remain focused on student learning and community prosperity. We believe the two are linked.” Betz currently serves as a member of the founding implementation committee for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ American Democracy Project and is chairman of Creative Oklahoma Inc. He is also a member of the Oklahoma Academy, Leadership Oklahoma and the Universities and Colleges President’s Climate Commitment. Prior to returning to UCO, he served as president of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah since July 2008.
Before that, he served as chancellor at the University of WisconsinRiver Falls from 2005 until his appointment at Northeastern, and as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Palmer College in Davenport, Iowa, from 1994-1999. In the 23 years prior, he fulfilled various capacities at Northeastern, including the vice president of University Relations, a professor of Political Science, as well as the executive director of the Educational Foundation and assistant to the president. From 1982 through 2003, Betz worked for and with the United Nations on Middle East issues. He founded and chaired the International Coordinating Committee on the Question of Palestine, an U.N.-affiliated non-governmental organization network pursuing peace in the Middle East based on U.N. resolutions. His extensive international experience includes service with the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester-at-Sea and Chapman College’s World Campus Afloat. His lifelong interest in global issues and his passion for promoting cross-cultural understanding has led him to more than 80 countries. August 2014 | The Business Times
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Q: You have talked about having a Presidents Leadership Council on campus. Why is there such an emphasis about leadership at UCO? A: Universities are one of the places in society where society can focus its interests on what is important. We are a place that cultivates people and develops people. We have feedback for 30 years from students who have been in the leadership program and I have never had a student in the leadership program come back and say what a waste of time this was. It is always about opportunities. The people I have met and the things that I have learned about myself. Q: How does leadership play a role in your work as president of UCO? A: This is a litmus test for me. We are unique. There is nothing like us. We devise programs where students not only learn what is happening now, but are prepared to learn as a lifestyle from this point forward. Q: How has your leadership skills changed through your career? A: Adaptation for me is a daily experience. What does not change are the values and the vision. You buy into the lifelong learning model. It is a never ending story.
He and his wife, Susanne, have two married children and one grandchild. Q: What are the qualities that make a good leader? A: I think it has a great deal to do with honesty, trustworthiness, competence, communication, a sense of vision and a strong sense of collaboration. It is someone who has a clear notion that it is a service opportunity. Q: What is your leadership style? A: It is interactive and optimistic and high energy with high expectations. My leadership style is based on building strong teams. It is the quality of the team that makes things possible. It is to elicit or draw out the best they have to serve the needs of our staff, faculty and students. Q: How did you learn your leadership skills? A: It is a combination of nature and nurture and things you learn along the way. You learn a great deal about leadership from those leadership styles you don’t embrace and that you find don’t embrace the needs of others. I have learned from family, teachers, coaches and figures in history and politics. 8
August 2014 | The Business Times
Q: How has the business community in and around the Edmond area responded to UCO’s leadership commitment? A: When we talk to business leaders about what are the key ingredients that they are looking for in new employees, they tell us about leadership skills. When we describe what we are doing they tell us that is exactly who they are looking for. Q: UCO is turning 125 in 2015. How is the university going recognize that milestone? A: We are going to be 125 years old next year and we are going to be putting on a year-long recognition and celebration of those 125 years. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to look back at the past, but also talk about the future, which is the dedication to the growth and development of the people in this region. Q: What is the best part about being president of UCO? A: It comes twice a year when I get to shake every student’s hands at graduation. It is the smile. There is something deeply satisfying about that. Q: If you could give one piece of advice to a graduate what would it be? A: Honesty and integrity trumps everything. It is your most precious virtue. Take care of each other as a community.
» C OME JU DGE
for Yourself.
GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill. Bring your clubs and come take on Judge hole number 1, voted the favorite hole on the Trail. Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining, firepits and guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course. With the Marriott’s 20,000 square feet of meeting space, 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses, business and pleasure can definitely interact in Prattville.
THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course September 18 to 24, 2014. The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Visit www.rtjgolf.com or call 800.949.4444 to learn more.
New Rotary District Governor Ready to do the Impossible By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times
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ichelle Schaefer recently was named District Governor for Rotary District 5750 and becomes only the third woman to be named 5750’s district governor and the third Edmond resident to serve as district governor for a one-year term. District 5750 encompasses 39 clubs in the northwest quadrant of Oklahoma. Rotary is the world’s largest service organization, with 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs throughout the world. Schaefer, who owns a Farmers Insurance agency in downtown Edmond, has been in Rotary for 14 years and served in a variety of positions at the local and district level. She said being selected the third female district governor has added significance. “It means a lot to me as a woman to be selected for this leadership role,” Schaefer said. “It is especially significant because this year marks the 25th anniversary of women being allowed in Rotary. It wasn’t until 1989 that women were allowed in because it was a men’s club. Nationally women make up about 30 percent of the clubs.” She said getting to become a business owner and a Rotary district governor almost didn’t happen. Schaefer was doing computer consulting and was scheduled in front of a computer at a window facing the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building at 9 a.m. April 19, 1995, but a request by a member of her church kept her in Edmond that morning. “I would have been hurt,” Schaefer said. “It was that close had I been there. I thought God is giving me a sign and the next week I met a Farmer’s recruiter.”
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August 2014 | The Business Times
Photos by Karen Moore | Special to the Business Times
Schaefer began her insurance business as a single, homeless mother of a 6-year-old while sleeping on her sister’s couch. She said those experiences helped shape her outlook on life. “This is a tough business to start in any situation because it is a commission business,” she said. “It made me know that nothing was impossible.” And that is how she charges ahead with her new Rotary duties — that nothing there is impossible. As part of her training, Schaefer attended governor-elect training in Denver, governor training in San Diego and the International Convention in Sydney, Australia. Also attending the international convention was Ron Burton, of Norman, who just finished serving a term as Rotary international president. Schaefer said she believes it won’t be much longer before a female is named as international president. “We have yet to have a woman international president but I really think that will happen in the next five to seven years,” she said. As part of her duties, Schaefer is visiting the 39 Rotary clubs in her district which has 2,000 Rotarians and giving speeches about the Rotary program and how to grow and improve it.
She said she is trying to find the right balance of serving the duties of district governor and as a full-time business owner. “Fortunately for me being in this business for 19 years I have an excellent staff and they are able to keep the business running for me when I am not here,” she said. Schaefer is a founding member of the Boulevard Rotary Club chartered in 2012. She was a member of the Rotary Club of Northwest Oklahoma City since 2000, where she served as president and was twice named its Member of the Year. She is a Sustaining Member, an eight-time Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Paul Harris Society. She also has served as District Trainer, Membership Chair and Assistant District Governor, was the 2010 GSE Team Leader to Italy and was named District Rotarian of the Year for 2011-12. Schaefer is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in journalism and advertising. She has stayed involved with Rotary for so long because it gives her an opportunity to help make a difference with others. “Rotary has given me an opportunity to give back,” she said. “Life has been good to me and I want to share that. This is an opportunity to make a difference.” August 2014 | The Business Times
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Lewis Writes the Book on Leadership By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times
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avid Lewis has spent a good part of his career helping others find employment or giving advice on how to advance their careers. Lewis, an Edmond resident and vice president of franchising with Express Employment Professionals, combined both those efforts into his book titled “The Emerging Leader: Eight Lessons for Life in Leadership.” The book first published in 2008 was recently released with a second edition. The first edition received a 4.7 out of 5 ranking on Amazon.com. Lewis said creating the book was a labor of love. “I had a lot of success at an early age in my industry and I was a little bit ahead of my peer group in terms of success and I found a lot of my peers looking to me for advice on how to get their career on the fast track,” Lewis said. “While that was nice, on the other side I was coaching people how to get jobs. I started building these basic tenants and basic themes about what tended to lead people to success. I captured that in this book.” “The Emerging Leader: Eight Lessons for Life in Leadership” is a best-selling book teaching unique lessons for advancing your career and developing personal skills as a business leader. The book has been endorsed by business and political leaders from across the United States as a guide for building a career with a foundation on ethics, problem solving and inter-generational communication. “We all work hard and we all want our careers to pay off as much as it can,” Lewis said. “Here (in the book) are the basic rules of engagement if you want to put your career on the fast track. This book is sort of a road map to get you there.” Named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the Staffing Industry” by Staffing Industry Analysts, Lewis broke into the staffing and recruiting business in college, followed by a season on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Today, he wears many hats including his current position for the $2.5 billion industry giant Express Employment Professionals; growing this 700-location organization with 400,000 employees at record pace. Express has grown to be ranked as the 12th largest staffing firm in the world. Money Magazine called Lewis a “high achiever” who is “on the fast track.” He has been cited by MSNBC, Wall Street Journal Inc., USA Today and Entrepreneur among many others. He was even 12
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featured in a documentary film produced by the Heritage Foundation. Lewis said he learned a lot of his leadership skills by watching others in leadership positions and learning what works and what doesn’t. “I had the good fortune to be thrust into some really amazing situations,” he said. “I was surrounded by some great leaders.” Lewis says in his book that people don’t become leaders overnight. “Leaders are not born, they are made,” he said. “People decide that they want to grow as a leader. You have to realize that you are good enough and you have everything that you need to be a leader and be successful.” Lewis has a love for public service. He has been appointed by both Democrat and Republican governors to serve as an adviser on workforce and economic development matters. He is a past nominee to the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and is a multi-year “40 under 40” award winner. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Nazarene University with graduate work underway at Columbia Business School and the London Business School. He lives in Edmond with his wife Jodi and sons, Bauer and Beckham. After writing the book, Lewis has spent time as a guest speaker promoting his book and leadership qualities.
Nominate your favorite
He said there is an art to finding the right balance of work and family time. “There’s a hierarchy of values where I allot my time,” he said. “You have to know yourself and know what is important and knowing how to say no.” Lewis said he is currently working on a second book that deals with luck in business. “We are looking at why some people are lucky and some are not,” he said. Lewis’ book is available online and at area bookstores. For more information, visit www.BookDavidLewis.com.
Who has the best looking yard in Edmond? We want to recognize a beautiful yard per week through the summer with the annual Yard of the Week award. The honor is presented by Edmond Beautiful and co-sponsored by The Edmond Sun, Home Depot, TLC Garden Centers and the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce. Winners receive a $50 gift card to Home Depot, a $50 gift card to TLC Garden Centers and a six-month free subscription to The Sun. The contest kicks off May 26 and ends Aug. 31. There will be 13 winners announced in The Sun’s Weekender edition each week. To nominate a beautiful yard, call 341-2808 and leave a message with the homeowner’s address.
Call the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce at 341-2808
August 2014 | The Business Times
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Summit Aims to Keep Supply Chains Moving By Van Mitchell | Special to The Business Times
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usiness and school leaders from across the metro area recently gathered at Francis Tuttle Center’s Rockwell campus to discuss ways to improve the supply chain in central Oklahoma. The Central Oklahoma Business to Business Summit was in response to a recent report created by the Small Business Administration discussing the supply chain issue. The event was hosted by Hickory Grounds Solutions, Central Oklahoma Regional Development and Supply Chain Visions. David Dixon, project manager with HGS and program moderator, said HGS teamed with Supply Chain Visions Inc., and were awarded three contracts through the SBA’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership. The intention of the IMCP initiative was to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing and help cultivate an environment for businesses to create well-paying manufacturing jobs in regions across the country. The HGS/SCV team conducted strategic supply chain analysis of disrupted or at-risk regional manufacturing communities, 14
August 2014 | The Business Times
launching three parallel efforts with the goal of restoring supply chains by aligning resources and increasing participation by small businesses in three locations in the U.S. Dixon said the three areas the team looked at was the southcentral region of Virginia, the Tri-Cities area of East Tennessee and the central region of Oklahoma, which suffers from a constant barrage of supply chain disrupting tornadoes that has caused a ripple effect within the oil industry’s supply chain. The term supply chain analysis is used to refer to the overall group of economic agents (a physical person such as a farmer, a trader or a consumer, as well as legal entities such as a business, an authority or a development organization) that contribute directly to the determination of a final product. Thus the chain encompasses the complete sequence of operations which, starting from the raw material, or an intermediate product, finishes downstream, after several stages of transformation or increases in value, at one or several final products to end at the level of the consumer. Dixon said as these regions looked to stabilize their
manufacturing industry and pushed to grow their economies. The team’s mapping methodology provided the necessary framework to grasp the underlying supply chain flows — and their interdependencies — in order to identify opportunity. “We wanted to map the flow of money in the economy,” Dixon said. “Central Oklahoma was one of the best areas to deal with. Everyone welcomed us with open arms.” Dixon said the team visited with about 160 Oklahoma manufacturers about what supplies they purchase and where they purchase them from to get a roadmap of how their supply chain works. Dixon said in discussions with the companies, transportation was a major issue. Jory Gromer is general manager of Green Bay Packing in Chickasha, which makes corrugated cardboard boxes. The company also has a plant in Tulsa and ships about 600 truckloads of boxes per month in addition to about six to nine rail car loads a day. Gromer said the biggest issue his company has is getting accurate quotes from trucking companies. “We have a dedicated carrier, but they (other trucking companies) do a horrible job of giving accurate rates,” he said. “There needs to be a better way of getting accurate rates.” Billy Guinn, regional manager of Armstrong Tool LLC of El Reno, said transportation costs also were very expensive, which
keeps some small manufacturers from being profitable. He said Armstrong Tool works with about 67 business vendors and Armstrong relies heavily on transportation. He said if Armstrong were to ever close, it would cause a disruption in the supply chain that so many companies rely on. “If we were to go out of business some of the businesses wouldn’t be affected, but several of them get several thousands of dollars a month from us,” Guinn said. The summit also included ideas for helping make the supply chain easier for manufacturers to deal with disruptions. One of the suggestions was a cross-scheduling transportation approach. For example, if one company didn’t have enough materials to fill a semi-truck trailer, then it could work with another firm who could help fill that load and help reduce costs for both firms. “This cross-scheduling approach is something that can be done to help lower the costs of smaller manufacturers,” Dixon said. “There are opportunities to help those non-energy companies. You don’t have to fill up a truck because you have others teaming with you. It is a collaborative approach.” Hickory Ground Solutions LLC is an SBA approved Native American owned small and disadvantaged business. Supply Chain Visions Inc., is a small business with a portfolio that includes HUBZone and Service Disabled Veteran Owned certified companies.
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2014 U.S. Senior Open
draws thousands for golf, business Photos by Karen Moore | Special to the Business Times
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ore than 110,000 attended the weeklong U.S. Senior Open championship at Oak Tree National. Many businesses sponsored tents and other venues at the golf course where Scotsman Colin Montgomerie took the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy after four days of competition in searing Oklahoma heat. World-renowned senior golfers came to Edmond for the event including Vijay Singh and Bernhard Langer. Oklahomans were treated to some of their favorite sons playing in the event, notably the Oak Tree Gang of Gil Morgan, Bob Tway, Willie Wood and Scott Verplank. The U.S. Senior Open is organized by the United States Golf Association.
Mike Reeves, Rick Bridwell, Cathy Blevins, Brandon Tarp and Brandon Ellis
Reese and Jeff Atkins 16
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Walter Mosley, Wilma Mosley, Deanna Veal and Mike Starcevich
Darren Helm and Renee and Carl Tipton, all of MIDCON
Mike and Melanie Harris of Clothes Mentor
Mark Milsap, publisher of The Norman Transcript, and his wife Melanie
Tiffany Murray and Mike Ellis
GROWING EDMOND
Photos PROVIDED | EDMOND AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Ribbon Cuttings Steffen and Farrow celebrates 40th anniversary
Steffen and Farrow Orthodontics recently had a ribbon cutting at its Edmond location, 1601 S. Boulevard, to celebrate its 40th anniversary. With 40 years serving Edmond, Oklahoma City and Western Oklahoma, Dr. Mike Steffan and Dr. Melissa Farrow are proud to be a premiere orthodontic provider. In their practice, they utilize progressive, innovative, cutting edge technology to make each office visit comfortable and convenient, producing exceptional results. The highly qualified and experienced staff at Steffen and Farrow Orthodontics is committed to provide each patient with the best possible care, resulting in the smile of a lifetime. For more information, call 341-2587 or visit www.steffenfarrow.com.Â
August 2014 | The Business Times
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business matters
JIM Denton L edger Lines
Don’t Be Surprised By the Individual Mandate
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ome might say that I’m a control freak because I just don’t like surprises. Not surprise birthday parties, surprise baby showers or shotgun weddings. I don’t like surprise IRS notices for sure, so no surprises please! Just so you won’t be surprised, you should know we already have passed the deadline for individuals and families to obtain health insurance coverage or be penalized on their tax returns. If you’re not covered by health insurance, the penalty is the greater of 1 percent of household income above the single filing threshold of $10,150 or $95 per person and $47.50 per child up to $285 per family. The penalty will be paid on your IRS form 1040. For example, if your yearly household income is $110,000 and you did not maintain coverage, the individual mandate penalty would be $998.50 ($110,000 - $10,150 = $99,850 x 1% = $998.50). Conversely, if your yearly household income is $20,000 and a family of four (two adults and two children), the penalty would be $285 ($95 x 2 = $190 + $47.50 x 2 = $285). The penalty increases to 2 percent of household income or $325 per person in 2015 and to 2.5 percent and $695 in 2016. If you missed the deadline, and you signed up to buy health insurance later, the penalty is prorated for the number of 18
August 2014 | The Business Times
months during the year that you were not covered. Even though the Marketplace is currently closed, open enrollment starts again in November, you still can purchase insurance on your own through employers and private insurance companies. There are some exceptions to the rules, such as: • You were uninsured for less than three months. • The lowest-priced insurance would cost more than 8 percent of your household income. • You don’t have to file a tax return because your income is too low. • You are a member of federally recognized tribe or are eligible for services through an Indian Health Service provider. • You are a member of a recognized health care sharing ministry. • You are a member of a recognized religious sect with religious objections to insurance including Social Security and Medicare. • You are incarcerated, and not awaiting the disposition of charges against you. • You are not lawfully present in the United States. Another tax item to consider is the credit that must be calculated for those who purchased their insurance in the
Marketplace. This credit is also known as the government subsidy. According to the IRS, you must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the credit. You are eligible for the credit if you: • Buy your health insurance through the Marketplace; • Are ineligible for insurance through an employer or government plan; • Are within certain income limits; • Do not file a Married Filing Separately tax return; and, • Cannot be claimed as a dependent by another person. Individuals who qualify for the credit can choose to get the credit now and have it sent directly to their insurance company or claim the full amount when they file their 2014 or 2015 tax returns. Recently, a panel of judges from a federal appeals court ruled that the IRS could not grant premium tax credits due to ambiguous wording in the original law. At this writing, the decision is under review. Nevertheless, don’t be surprised come filing time. Surprises are not fun. JIM DENTON is a CPA and a managing partner with Arledge & Associates P.C. in Edmond. He may be reached via email at jim@jmacpas.com.
business matters
Cyndy Hoenig S ocial Strategies
Building, Nurturing Relationships is a Sound Investment H ere are some tips for getting your relationships off the ground. Some of these ideas we learned in the first grade but as adults, we sometimes forget. • Face Time. You have to use social media in your communications plan, but nothing can replace Face Time. Get out of the office. The single best way to grow your business is to bring yourself to the client and not just wait for the phone to ring. Largely, people hire people. They don’t hire companies. People hire people they know, like and trust. It’s called cultivating relationships — in person. Sure, we do it online — Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and others. But, nothing takes the place of personal interaction. Take clients to lunch or coffee. Listen to what they want and learn how you can serve them. One on one, the ideas will flow. • Attend social engagements. Listen online to find them. Use tools like Twitter search and Facebook events to find what is happening in your community. Your local chambers also host several activities a week to network. • Give and Take. Offer something of value to those who are taking time to assist you, buy from you and network with you. I give Holiday gifts to each of my clients every year, and I hand deliver them. This small action will go very far in strengthening your relationship. • Image of Reliability. Whenever you make a promise or agree to a course of action, make sure you deliver, even if it is to drop off a brief thank you note. Persistence and reliability give you credibility. • Training. Whenever you pursue additional training in your profession or sign up for courses in your area of interest, you will meet new people to network and exchange information on new opportunities. 20
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• Look for opportunities to speak and teach. Offer yourself up to local Chambers. Join your local chapter of the National Speaking Association. • Don’t ignore existing clients. About 80 percent of your work will come from your current clients. Treat them well and visit their businesses. • Solicit feedback. Don’t assume your clients are satisfied. Ask them — in person. Personal conversations are always better than surveys, but any method is better than none at all. • Donate time. Stake out a leadership position at an association that can benefit from your participation. You’ll meet and help others — and you’ll be seen, and meet new people. Sustaining Relationships OK, now you’ve built some relationships. Relationships, like any other living thing, need care to keep them alive and healthy. So what do you do with them to keep them going? • Pay attention to people. Check in with people when you need to. This may take only a few minutes a week, but those few minutes can make the difference in helping your friend or co-worker remember the importance of the work you are doing together. • Communicate openly. People need to communicate. It’s a good idea to set aside some time just to talk about the way things are going. When people don’t have a chance to talk about important issues, misunderstandings can occur and tensions often build up. Communication is a discipline that has to be practiced regularly; it’s like taking vitamins or doing push-ups. • Appreciate each other. Everyone needs to be appreciated in order to keep relationships
going. If you notice that someone did a stellar job of collecting the necessary data for the committee, say so. If you enjoy working with someone, let them know. We are all human beings and appreciation helps us thrive. • Extend yourself. Go a little out of your way, at least once in a while. If your co-worker needs to spend some extra time with his daughter, you might tell him go home early and you’ll finish up the grant proposal. • Volunteer to do some work for their organization (if they are not already in yours). If you lend them a hand, they are likely to think well of you and give something back in return. • Challenge each other to do better. We all need a buddy to help us stretch ourselves beyond what we think we can do. We can also build stronger relationships by challenging our work partners to take on bigger challenges. Back each other when things get tough. • Loyalty is essential to keeping relationships healthy. We may not agree with a co-worker or friend, but we can stand by him or her when they are in a jam.
CYNDY HOENIG is a PR strategist who owns Pure PR in Oklahoma City. She is the author of “600 PR, Marketing and Social Media Tips,” which is available as a free download at http://pureprokc. com/600-diy-pr-tips. She also is the author of the recently released “PR Rock Star.” Email Cyndy at cyndyhoenig@ymail.com or call her at 405-245-4668 for more information.
August 2014 | The Business Times
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business matters
Nick Massey Astute Investor
Tinker Bell, Where Are You? I
n J.M. Barrie’s play “Peter Pan,” in order to save Peter Pan, Tinker Bell drank the poison. As the light grew fainter and her life is about to end, Peter Pan asked the boys and girls of the world to believe in fairies. “Where ever you are, if you believe, clap and she will hear you. Clap. Don’t let Tink die. Clap. Clap.” Did you clap? Oh come on! Of course you did.
“ Historically, the market has been a reflection of the strength and weaknesses of an economy and the underlying prosperity of its people. But it seems that the worse things get, the louder the pundits cheer and clap and the higher the markets go with no correlation to reality. Believing makes the light grow stronger.”
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August 2014 | The Business Times
Today we are asked to clap again and believe the fantasy that is the stock market. Historically, the market has been a reflection of the strength and weaknesses of an economy and the underlying prosperity of its people. But it seems that the worse things get, the louder the pundits cheer and clap and the higher the markets go with no correlation to reality. Believing makes the light grow stronger. So if GDP is not to our liking, simply take some numbers, health care for example, from one quarter and bolster another. Clap! Not comfortable with the unemployment numbers; simply discount millions of non-workers as retired. Clap! Clap! Manufacturing continuing to disintegrate: Simply give cars away like samples at a Sam’s Club. Clap! Clap! Clap! The president thwarted by the Supreme Court: Simply acknowledge some respect for their decision but do an end run around Congress anyway. Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! For a brief moment J. M. Barrie took us to a world of make believe, a world of pirates and Indians, lost boys and fairies. We discovered that a part of us should always keep the little boy or little girl inside
of us. We learned that if we truly believe, we could borrow a little fairy dust and fly straight on to Neverland. The fairy dust, or pixie dust as Disney later called it, continues to be sprinkled on the stock market. However, like Wendy, John and Michael who eventually grew up, in spite of fairy dust, so too will the stock market. Reality and fantasy will meet in a struggle that will end with the light being extinguished. Until then, ignore reality and keep clapping. It just may keep the markets alive for a little while longer. After all it worked for Tink. Thanks for reading. NICK MASSEY is a financial adviser and president of Householder Group Financial Advisors in Edmond. Massey can be reached at www.nickmassey.com. Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC.
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www.midcondata.com August 2014 | The Business Times
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Business matters
Mike Crandall Growth S olutions
There is No Magical Quick Fix E
very day there are people seeking some shortcut or magical quick fix to get better at something. It may be in their personal lives to lose weight, to lower cholesterol or have a better relationship. Or it may be in their professional lives to be a better manager, manage time better or sell more. Regardless of whether it is personal or professional there are people each day looking for this. Many of you, if not most, know there is no magical quick fix — if there was we all would have taken that pill or bought it many years ago. So why does this happen? Why do so many new fads catch on like wildfire to only go away almost as quickly? Somewhere in our subconscious we believe that there has to be a better, easier way to do it. To be fair occasionally there is, however, the vast majority of the time to get better requires hard work and most of all actually doing the work or applying the knowledge. Recently I was facilitating a meeting for the executive team of a fast-growing company where two of the team got into a disagreement about this topic. One of them shared how he recently had read a new book on accountability and how it had made a huge difference in his life. The other executive shared that could not be true because he read the same book 24
August 2014 | The Business Times
and it did nothing for him. This led to an interesting exchange between them before they realized that the difference was one of them had simply read the book while the other had used it to put together a ninemonth growth plan that he worked on daily as the book suggested. They both received the exact same information they just chose to use it differently. One executive did not get the magic quick fix he was hoping for and thus thought the book was not useful. The other executive did not think it was a magical quick fix, instead he followed the guidelines of the book and worked daily on the suggestions to make gradual improvement. Again, so why does this happen? It all has to do with emotion — our subconscious mind loves to be steered by our emotions. Even to the point where it will trick our logical side into believing that this is different. Think about exercise and weight loss — almost weekly there is some new machine, video series, pill or drink that will change our lives. It always sounds the same — “just do this/take this” and the pounds will melt away, even while you sleep. Our logical side knows it sounds too good to be true, however, the emotional/subconscious side says (typically silently) this is different than all of the other fad diet/weight loss things
I have bought before. And then we throw down our credit card and order it only to be disappointed — possibly again. The best way to break this is to admit to yourself that growth and change — whether personal or professional requires time and discomfort. Sometimes the discomfort is actually painful. Think about the burn after working out if you have not for some time. Also, remember that there is no magical quick fix. If there was we all would have taken that pill a long time ago. So let me ask: What do you struggle with in this? What change do you seek in your life that you need to admit to yourself the only way to make it happen is through hard work? If you are not sure — ask those close to you — what you learn likely will surprise you.
MIKE CRANDALL is an Edmond resident and the owner of Sandler Training in Oklahoma City. He can be reached via email at mike.crandall@sandler.com or by phone at 405-844-1700. For more information, go to online to www.customgrowth.sandler.com.
BUSINESS CALENDAR Edmond AMBUCS Noon Aug. 1 (Club meets every Friday) Cherokee Room in Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive Call June Cartwright at 405-820-9667 for more information Boulevard Rotary Club 6-7 p.m. Aug. 4 (Club meets every Monday) Louie’s Bar and Grill 1201 N.W. 178th St., Suite 101 For more information, http://facebook.com/ BoulevardRotary Centennial Kiwanis Club 6 p.m. Aug. 4 (Club meets every Monday) Italian Jim’s Restaurant 13 S. Broadway Edmond Summit Rotary Club 7 a.m. Aug. 5 (Meets every Tuesday) Mercy 2017 W. I35 Frontage Rd. For more information, call 405-CUEARLY Planning Commission 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5 (First and third Tuesday) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda Edmond Kiwanis Club Noon Aug. 6 (Club meets every Wednesday) Cherokee Room in Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive Edmond Rotary Club Noon Aug. 6 (Club meets every Wednesday) Mercy 2017 W. I35 Frontage Rd. For more information, facebook.com/ rotaryclubofedmond Edmond Exchange Club 7 a.m. Aug. 7 (Club meets every Thursday) Room 213 in the Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive For more information about the club, visit www.facebook.com/ EdmondMorningExchangeClub
REI Women’s Business Center Women’s Business Breakfast 8:15-10 a.m. Aug. 7 Kamp’s 1910 Café 10 N.E. 10th St., Oklahoma City Free parking at Kamp’s and also on Ninth Street. To register, go online to www.reiwbc.org
Oklahoma City American Marketing Association 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 14 (Second Thursday of the month) Will Rogers Theatre 4322 N. Western Ave., Oklahoma City, 73118 For more information, www.amaokc.org
Edmond Young Professionals Networking Event 5:30-7 p.m. Aug. 26 Upper Crust 1205 N.W. 178th St. RSVP required to mboswell@edmondchamber.com. Cost: Free.
Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Membership luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 7 Speaker: Robert Sommers Topic: Workforce Development Oak Tree Country Club 700 Country Club Drive RSVP required at www.edmondchamber. com: Cost is $25 for members, $30 for non-members
Edmond Economic Development Authority Board of Trustees 8:15 a.m. Aug. 19 (Third Tuesday) 825 E. Second St. Visit www.eeda.com; Call 340-0116
Edmond Noon Exchange Club Noon Aug. 27 (Fourth Wednesday of the month) Italian Jim’s Restaurant 13 S. Broadway To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/ edmondexchange
City Council 5:30 p.m. Aug. 11 (Second and fourth Mondays) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 12 Speaker: Brent Douglas of Giant Partners Topic: Growing Fast - 3 Key Factors for Success Edmond Chamber 825 S. Second St. RSVP at www.edmondchamber.com. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members Edmond Evening Lions Club 6 p.m. Aug. 12 (Club meets second and fourth Tuesday) Johnnie’s 33 E. 33rd St. For more information, call Bob Austin at 285-4980 Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Morning Mingle 8-9:30 a.m. Aug. 14 St. Mary’s Episcopal School 505 E. Covell Road No RSVP required and event is free for chamber members. *Member Rewards drawing at this event
Planning Commission 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19 (First and third Tuesday) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours 5:30-7 p.m. Aug. 19 Oklahoma Fidelity Bank 1127 E. Second St. No RSVP required for chamber members; cost free LaunchPad FT Discovery at Lunchtime seminar Noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 21 Speaker: Matthew Allen Topic: Creative Marketing Strategies Cost: Free. Call Launch Pad FT Business Incubator at 717-7730 to register
Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network Breakfast 7:30-9 a.m. Aug. 28 Speaker: 2013 Small Business of the Year Finalists Topic: Women Entrepreneurs Oklahoma Christian Gaylord University Center 2501 E. Memorial Road RSVP required at www.edmondchamber.com. Cost: $20 for members, $25 for non-members
TO ADD your business event to this free calendar, email the details to lshearer@edmondsun.com.
Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Auction 6:30 p.m. Cocktails; Dinner at 7 p.m. Aug. 22 UCO Nigh University Center 100 N. University Drive RSVP required at www.edmondchamber. com; Cost: $75 per person or $600 for table of 8. City Council 5:30 p.m. Aug. 25 (Second and fourth Monday) City Council Chambers 20 S. Littler Ave. Visit www.edmondok.com to find the agenda
August 2014 | The Business Times
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Business matters
Tim Priebe Webifiable
Four Search Engine Myths and How to Bust Them
I
f it’s important to you that people be able to find you online, then where you rank in searches is important. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. Many of those tips were true once, but haven’t worked for years. Others were never true. Let’s take a look at four myths about search engine rankings.
don’t have access to your website’s traffic information. Of course, the search engines know when someone clicks on your website in the results they show. But in general, increasing traffic to your website doesn’t impact your ranking. But often more traffic means more people sharing a link to your website. And links pointed to your site do have an impact on your ranking.
Descriptions & Keywords Are Important Back when search engines first debuted, they didn’t have the resources to scan entire web pages. Instead, they relied on special, hidden information. Two specific pieces of data they used were the meta description and meta keywords. However, by the mid 2000s, all signs indicated that those two things no longer had much impact. Then in 2009, both Google and Yahoo officially announced that meta keywords no longer impacted rankings. As for the meta description, it’s generally agreed that its effect on rankings is minimal, if it has any effect at all. However, search engines still will occasionally display it just below the title in the result, so it’s still a good idea to invest a little time in it.
You Only Have To Optimize Your Site Once Simply put, optimizing your site for search engines means setting it up the best way possible for them to scan. Years ago, when the Internet was more static because of the specialized knowledge needed, websites weren’t updated as often. As a result, one-time search engine optimization, or SEO, could have a long-lasting effect. That’s no longer the case. Now, that specialized knowledge isn’t required for simply updating the content on your site. And search engines have adjusted to that change, preferring sites that are being updated on a frequent, regular basis.
The More Traffic You Get, The Better Many believe the more traffic your website receives, the better you’ll rank. Actually, that doesn’t technically affect your ranking. In fact, by default, search engines
Ongoing Minor Tweaks To Your Site Are Enough In the early days of the Internet, the search engines only knew you were updating your website. They couldn’t tell to what
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extent, so even minor tweaks done on an ongoing basis helped. Search engines are much more sophisticated now. They know the difference between a minor tweak and a major addition. The sites that make significant ongoing additions to their content are now the ones that rank higher. What Works? What actually does work is creating content your website visitors will find useful, and publishing it on a regular basis. Whether you do that on your own or hire an online marketing company to help is up to you. But be sure to invest your time, money and other resources in highly useful content. Just like anywhere else, if you hear search engine promises that sound too good to be true, they probably are. TIM PRIEBE is a public speaker, the author of the book “The Beginner’s Guide To Facebook Timeline for Business” and the owner of T&S Web Design in Edmond. He can be reached by email at tim@tandsgo.com, by phone at 405-285-0348, or online at www.tandswebdesign.com.
NEW BUSINESS LISTINGS Following is a listing of newly filed businesses in the Edmond area with the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office:
Abee Properties LLC, 14927 Bristol Park, filed July 18 by Santiago Jose of the same address. Adams Land Resources LLC, 3800 Cactus Drive, filed July 15 by United States Corporation Agents Inc. of Oklahoma City. Aircam Media Services LLC, 6717 Ridgecrest Drive, filed July 14 by Registered Agents Inc. of Norman. Anthony James Hill dba Driving with a Smile, 1724 Victoria Drive, filed July 14 for trade name. Beads & Jewelry LLC, 3009 Wind Call Lane, filed July 14 by Praveen Mahashwari of Edmond. BJP Production LLC, 1925 S. Air Depot Blvd., filed July 16 by Charles Pankey of the same address. Black Sand Properties LLC, 1015 Chowning Ave., filed July 14 by GPHG Service Company LLC of Oklahoma City. Brice A. Taylor PLLC, 10075 Pine Ridge Road, filed July 15 by Brice Taylor of the same address. CRM Media Management LLC, 14105 N. Eastern Ave., No. 100, filed July 17 by John Bates of the same address. CW Real Estate Holdings LLC, 115 Deer Creek Road, filed July 17 by Buck Jordan of the same address. DIG II ID LLC, 15936 Korie, filed July 15 by Carlecus Blackwell of the same address. Erica Hollis, 4633 N.W. 158th St., filed July 18 for trade name. Ironclad Energy Services LLC, 937 N.W. 164th St., Suite 4, filed July 16 by Ironclad Energy Services LLC of the same address. JKM Recycling LLC, 3905 Creek Bank Road, filed July 15 by Michael Mohr of the same address. JMA LLC, 14140 Broadway Extension, Apt. 324, filed July 17 by Jared Anderson of the same address. Joyce Health and Wellness, APRN-CNP PLLC, 2609 Portofino Place, filed July 15 by Vicki Joyce of the same address.
K&C Spraying LLC, 815 E. Washington, Crescent, filed July 14 by Heather Counts of the same address. Keys for Hope, Professional Limited Liability Company, 1717 Whispering Creek Court, filed July 14 by Amara Reeves of the same address. KT Resources LLC, 1920 Longhorn Drive, filed July 16 by Kristian Tamayo of the same address. Kudos Creative LLC, 624 Blue Oak Way, filed July 15 by Ashleigh Bulson of the same address. Land With Vision LLC, 2952 Via Esperanza, filed July 14 by Rollin Nash of Oklahoma City. LLQ Land and Legal LLC, 2000 W. Danforth Road, Suite 130, filed July 16 by Lauren Quick of the same address. Mad Hatter Travel Company LLC, 3317 Buckhead Path, filed July 14 by Stephanie Boyd of the same address. MAM Rentals LLC, 1612 Saratoga Way, filed July 18 by Marilynn McAfee of the same address. Matteson Custom Homes LLC, 6700 Acorn Drive, filed July 14 by John Matteson of the same address. Melissa Marlow LLC, 1825 N.W. 146th Terrace, filed July 13 by Melissa Marlow of the same address. Nance Bookkeeping LLC, 4009 Sherwood Green Lane, filed July 14 by M’Kayla Nance of the same address. Off Broadway Marketplace LLC, 13 E. Fourth St., filed July 16 by Marci Hoffman of Edmond. Ogee Realty LLC, 2900 Berkley Drive, filed July 18 by Mark Olbert of the same address. Option Rental LLC, 6180 Boucher Drive, filed July 14 by Wiliam Koenig of the same address. REIG LLC, 6180 Boucher Drive, filed July 15 by Tracy Williams of the same address. Rhonda Dee Chaney, 7013 N. Spoon Terrace, filed July 16 for trade name. ROM Rentals LLC, 1612 Saratoga Way, filed July 18 by Ronald McAfee of the same address.
Royal Diamonds LLC, 2712 Chimney Hill Road, filed July 15 by Alex Putnam of the same address. SMV Real Properties LLC, 1575 N. Highway 74, Crescent, filed July 14 by Earl Valiquette of the same address. Sonbeam Realty LLC, 3126 S. Boulevard, No. 153, filed July 16 by Melissa Rich of the same address. Sweet Blessings Pastries LLC, 14508 Oakmond Road, filed July 18 by Sweet Blessings Pastries of the same address. T. Mitchell Enterprises LLC, 7300 N.E. 135th St., filed July 18 by Tawna Mitchell of the same address. Tiki Tan of Oklahoma LLC, 2108 S. Division, Suite C, Guthrie, filed July 18 by Dana Coffman of Guthrie. TRB Land Services LLC, 304 Brentwood Drive, filed July 14 by Travis Bolles of the same address. Trevor Stafford LLC, 1404 Carlton Way, filed July 17 by Roe Simmons of Edmond. Tri-Dat LLC, 2108 Trailwood Road, filed July 15 by United States Corporation Agents Inc. of Oklahoma City. Universal Enterprise Car Sales LLC, 17013 Crest Valley, filed July 17 for trade name. Universal Enterprise Car Sales LLC, 17013 Crest Valley, filed July 17 by Mahmoud Barakat of the same address. Wade Higgins Auto Group LLC, 17704 Prairie Sky Way, filed July 16 by Phillips Murrah P.C. of Oklahoma City. Will Do It All LLC, 5721 Lorie Lane, Guthrie, filed July 15 by Will Do It All LLC of the same address.
August 2014 | The Business Times
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Business Briefs Cole promoted at Arledge and Associates Ann M. Cole has been promoted to senior audit manager at Arledge and Associates PC, the Edmond accounting firm announced. A Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant, Cole previously served the firm’s clients as an audit manager. She will continue to work directly with clients in her new leadership role. “Ann’s background includes Ann M. Cole service with the state’s auditor and inspector as well as in private industry as a controller and chief financial officer,” said Jim Denton, the firm’s managing partner. “Having experienced the auditing process from both sides of the table gives Ann the qualifications and knowledge to help guide our audit team.” Cole received her master’s degree in accountancy from the University of Oklahoma in 1996 after earning her bachelor’s degree in accounting from OU in 1991. Arledge & Associates, PC is a recognized leader in the accounting industry offering practical solutions in the areas of tax planning, auditing, consulting, accounting advisory services and client accounting.
Blog ranks Edmond as fourth safest city in state A real estate blog has ranked Edmond as the fourth safest city in Oklahoma. The blog published by Movoto, an online real estate brokerage based in San Mateo, Calif., says it has been researching each state to determine which cities, towns and places are safer than the rest by way of an objective analysis. Movoto stated it listed the 10 safest places in Oklahoma to help relocating citizens quickly access relevant information such as the cost of living, the quality of schools and how safe the community is. The safest cities according to the list are, in order: Yukon, Mustang, Sapulpa, Edmond, Owasso, Guthrie, Broken Arrow, Elk City, Claremore and Guymon. Edmond Police Department spokeswoman Jenny Monroe said the agency prides itself on providing a high level of service. “Our officers and staff take this as a compliment,” she said. “We continuously strive to improve the level of service that we provide to the residents of our community.” Monroe said Edmond was the 28th safest city in the U.S. for cities above 75,000 in the FBI’s most recent Uniform Crime Reports, which are based on violent crimes. The UCR also ranks Edmond first among the largest and safest Top 10 cities in the state, and the city is among the Top 10 safest in property crimes, Monroe said. Movoto says it uses criteria that are not 100 percent scientific, and its goal is to spark a discussion about a city. It strives to make the rankings accurate, and tries to use authoritative sources including data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. 28
August 2014 | The Business Times
Allstate names Edmond owner as Agent of the Year As a business leader and involved citizen in the Edmond area, Allstate exclusive agent Larry Dumas Jr. has been designated an Oklahoma Exclusive Agent of the Year for his outstanding business performance and commitment to putting customers at the center of his agency’s work. “The Oklahoma Exclusive Agent of the Year designation goes beyond successful business results,” said Larry Dumas Jr. Jim Turner, regional sales leader for Allstate. “This honor also demonstrates Larry’s commitment to taking care of customers and helping them protect what matters most.” Dumas and his staff are dedicated to helping customers meet their protection and retirement needs while managing a successful small business. “It’s a tremendous honor to be named an Oklahoma Exclusive Agent of the Year,” Dumas said. “Our agency works hard to provide above and beyond service to the Edmond community, and we’re thankful for all the loyal customers who continually allow us to earn their business.” The agency is at 1800 S. Boulevard in Edmond and Dumas can be reached at 340-6500.
University of Central Oklahoma recognized as having a friendly work environment The Chronicle of Higher Education named the University of Central Oklahoma as one of the “2014 Great Colleges to Work For.” Central is the only higher education institution in the state recognized on the list and one of only a handful of institutions in the nation given the distinction of being named to the Honor Roll for being cited most often among all the recognition categories. Central joins Duke, Baylor and Notre Dame on the list of the 10 universities named to the large institution honor roll. University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz said the results of the survey reflect the spirit of teamwork, communication and high morale among Central’s faculty and staff. “Central’s inclusion on The Chronicle of Higher Education’s list as a “Great College to Work For” is a reflection of a university-wide commitment to a culture of learning, leading and serving,” Betz said. “Our talented faculty and staff are at the very core of Central’s mission — to prepare students to become productive, creative, ethical and engaged citizens and leaders — and so we strive to create a campus community where our faculty and staff can thrive.” Results were determined through a direct survey of faculty and staff at universities and colleges throughout the country. This is the sixth time in the past seven years the university has been named to the list, with past recognition in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The survey ranked colleges and universities in 12 categories. Central’s peer group in the poll included universities and colleges that have 10,000 or more students. Central has more than 2,900 full and part-time employees and is one of Edmond’s largest employers.
Business Book Review
by Terri Schlichenmeyer | The bookworm sez
“Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less” by Joseph McCormack
c.2014, Wiley $24/$29 Canada 234 pages, includes index
Joseph McCormack
F
ast, faster, fastest. That pretty much describes your workday. You hit the floor running every morning and, physically or mentally, you don’t stop moving until bedtime. Consequently, you’ve learned to deal with distractions, decisions, and details, you do it with less, and you do it now. You’re sure it’s the same with your clients so, in a business atmosphere that moves blink-fast, how do you capture and keep their attention? In “Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less” by Joseph McCormack, you’ll get the not-too-short answer. In the course of a day at work, your clients might get hundreds of emails, texts, and voice-mails. They’re inundated with information and the time allowed for sorting through it decreases every day. They’re time-starved, which means one thing: “If you can’t capture people’s attention and deliver your message with brevity,” McCormack says, “you’ll lose them.” Having too much information is stressful, as you might know, especially when one realizes that the stream of info isn’t going to stop. It’s natural, then, to start to mind-wander. Interruptions don’t help, and impatience follows quickly. The
antidote to this is brevity, which is a “stress release” for everyone involved. Before you start, though, there are “Seven Capital Sins” that can hinder your efforts to become brief and to focus. Avoid them, and use a basic approach to trimming your message with McCormack’s four steps: map it, tell it, talk it, and show it. Never go to a presentation unprepared. Write an outline so you know what needs saying, then learn to mind-map (visual outlining) and BRIEF Map as a guide for succinctness. Be “clear, concise, and compelling” through storytelling, rather through boring biz-speak. Remember that, like every good tale, you need a villain and a happy ending. Start controlled conversations to laserin on what’s important and stay on-point. Check in with your audience occasionally, to make sure they’re still paying attention. Learn to TALC Track, and cultivate good listening skills. Finally, avoid mind-numbing blah-blahblah by using visual material to get your point across. Make it interesting and “cut to the customer’s chase.” Then, don’t forget to express your gratitude, because it’s “not about you.” I have fewer than 150 words to tell you
what I think about “Brief.” In brief, it could have been shorter. Author Joseph McCormack practices what he preaches in this book, but sharp readers will find repetition and rather lengthy anecdotes. McCormack also says his methods are “immediately useful,” and while that’s true, I felt… well, information overload. And yet, this book will absolutely help anyone who motor-mouths through their workday or anyone who needs to learn that “a few minutes” may mean literally that. There’s no doubt in my mind that Big Talkers will read and understand how to get to the nitty-gritty with this book, and meeting-planners will have clearer calendars. The trick, I think, and what will help to counteract the overload, is to be counterintuitive. “Brief” may be just a couple hundred pages or so, but it’s not something you want to read fast. Terri Schlichenmeyer is a book reviewer in Wisconsin. She may be reached via email at bookwormsez@yahoo.com.
August 2014 | The Business Times
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LAST LOOK
special to The Business Times
Edmond Entrepreneurs Sleuth Their Way to Success By Tony Pennington | Special to The Business Times
T
The Escape Provides Puzzling Fun
ripadvisor.com led Andrew Gipson to an industrial complex outside of Dublin, Ireland, about a year ago. The recent University of Central Oklahoma graduate was in the midst of an extended stay in Australia and the United Kingdom when he walked through the doors of XIT Live Escape Adventure Game. According to Tripdadvisor, it was the top attraction in Ireland. He had to go. An hour later, Gipson, 24, exited the facility inspired. “I think I can do this,” he said, “and improve on it.” Once he returned to the United States, the Edmond resident followed through with his declaration, and with friend and business partner Jonathan Cox, 24, they opened The Escape OKC. Introduced to Oklahoma last month, The Escape, 912 N.W. 23rd St. in Oklahoma City, is billed as the state’s “first ever live action escape challenge.” There are similar challenges across the country in cities such as Dallas, San Francisco and Chicago that feature a zombie theme. The Escape strives to offer a truly unique adventure in this niche business. For a fee of $74.99, the brain teasing venue will lock a team of up to six members in one of two locked rooms and task them with escaping in under an hour. Within the rooms, either the “Four Brothers” or the “Forgotten Outpost,” Gipson and Cox have designed an interactive environment that 30
August 2014 | The Business Times
Andrew Gipson, of Edmond, recently opened a puzzle room attraction called The Escape in Oklahoma City.
if properly examined and manipulated will reveal the clues to unlocking the door. To be successful, Gipson advises team leaders to recruit individuals that are adept with numbers, proficient with word puzzles, equipped with heightened observational skills and the capacity to deal with the stress of a countdown timer. Mike Nowlin, of Yukon, recently attempted the Forgotten Outpost with his wife and four other family members. And according to his account, they gave the room a meticulous inspection but were still unable to beat the hour deadline. “Our room was named the Forgotten Outpost,” Nowlin 44, explained. “It took place during or around Word War II. It was our job to figure out the clues in the room to prevent a murder from taking place. There were clues and puzzles in the room along with a speaker that gave some audible clues. We basically tossed the room looking for clues and attempted to solve the puzzles.” Nowlin and his family may not have been part of the estimated 30 percent to solve the room, but they are part of the 80-90 percent who come close. And that was enough to hook one of his reluctant teammates. “We had six people in the room and all of us contributed to trying to solve the clues, which was great because originally I don’t think my nephew thought this was going to be any fun,” Nowlin said. “He
came out loving it — ready to do the next room.” Nowlin’s report matches the vision Gipson and Cox had for their enterprise. “We are selling an experience to people,” Gipson said. “We wanted to make it for everybody.” Gipson’s and Cox’s commitment to their customers and business has led to a growing and loyal fan base. It would be easy for Escape veterans to release spoilers about how to beat the rooms, but they won’t. “I did not want to give too much away for the room and spoil it for other customers,” Nowlin said. No one appreciates that more than Gipson. “We love that,” he said. “No one has any interest in spoiling the game.” That buzz and mutual respect have pushed The Escape to near booking capacity and an impressive Tripadvisor rating as the fourth best attraction in Oklahoma City. Future plans include two additional puzzle rooms at its current location and a possible expansion into Tulsa. Not bad for a business that stormed onto the Uptown 23rd scene a month ago. “The Escape has taken on momentum,” Gipson said. “We did not see it coming.” For more information on The Escape OKC, visit http://www.theescapeokc.com.
Located at the intersection of I-35 and Covell Road in Edmond, the Business Innovation Center provides a new, purpose-built environment in which Francis Tuttle can deliver programs and services to the Edmond area more efficiently and more comfortably.
The Center serves four main functions: • Customized Training Services • Career Development & Personal Enrichment
• Launch Pad FT Business Incubator • Center for Municipal Excellence
2824 Progressive Drive • Edmond, OK 73034 francistuttle.edu • 405.717.7799
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OUR WOMEN’S SERVICES ARE A LOT LIKE YOU
There is truly not a single word to describe all that women are and all that they do. And that’s a beautiful thing. At INTEGRIS Health Edmond, we celebrate every part of your life and every phase of your journey. That’s why we’ve committed such a large part of what we do to helping you get healthy now and stay healthy in the future. For new moms and moms-to-be, our ten-room Women’s Center has every amenity you expect from a leading hospital, like peaceful, warm surroundings and experienced, board-certified physicians and specialists. But there are also reassuring amenities you might not expect – the Level II Special Care Nursery, the electronic infant security system and automatic screening for congenital heart defects. And for the rest of your life, we are here for routine mammograms, surgical services, urology services, health screenings and all of the things that keep you feeling like the strong, gentle … beautiful woman that you are.
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