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The
Hart of the Matter:
John Hart of Continental Resources and his Vision for Enid
Enid ♥ ’s Tennis Sweet Taste of Cakes Cakes by Diane
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Econtents
AUGUST 2010
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Fall Fitness Tips
Whether there are kids in the picture or not, September is a time when a lot of people do a mind-shift, putting the golf clubs, bikes and tennis rackets away for another year and establishing the habits and patterns that will shape their fall and winter schedules.
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The Hart of the Matter:
ETOWN COVER STORY
John Hart of Continental Resources and his Vision for Enid
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Sweet Taste of Cakes
Sometimes the best things in life ar e found slightly off the beaten path. This is the case with Cakes by Diane LLC.
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Enid ♥ s Tennis Members of Enid Tennis Association and other area tennis enthusiasts are glorying in Enid’s 22 tennis courts – 8 of them nearly brand ne w at Crosslin Park.
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E-Fluff: A Smile is Your Best Accessory Have you ever noticed how a smile can totally change y our look? It’s a cheap way to completely upgrade your appearance.
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A Quilt of Love
One might associate the United Methodist Women’s group and the Sparrows with doing good deeds to help others (or in the case of the S parrows, birds). Upon meeting a few members of each, I learned they not only do their par t to help, but they use their creativity and talent, and lots of fabric, needles and thr ead to get the job done.
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The Bond Issue
After years of analyzing Enid’s needs and months of planning with community members and outside experts, the City of Enid is eager to make the community dream of a revitalized downtown come true. 4
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August 2010 Volume 4, Number 4
Managing Director Editor-in-Chief Art Director Project Coordinator Etown Promotions Director
Frank Baker Cindy Allen Amber Curtis Lynne Benkendorf Cathy Nulph
Writers
Christy Northcutt Dave Kinnamon Megan Lynn Sutton Sara Hulse Molly Helm Trina Walker
Photographers
Muncy Photography The Grays MotoPhoto Cammeron Kaiser Rachel Hancock Bailey Photography Sean Farmer
Account Executives
Cathy Nulph Nicole Winfield
ON THE COVER John Hart Photo by Wess Gray
Several of those profiled in our recent “Tattoos and Taboos” article in Etown were upset with the tenor and specifics of the ar ticle. We are sorry. Etown strives to be a fun and informativ e read. We want it to be an upbeat and postive experience for everyone involved from reader to client to subjects.
SUGGESTIONS Do you have an idea for future stories for Etown? We’re always looking for good ideas of people and places to featur e. If you have a suggestion, give us a call at 580-548-8186 or e-mail fbaker@eaglemkt.com. Etown Magazine • P.O. Box 1192 • Enid, OK 73702-1192 • 580-548-8186 6
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Fall
Fitness Tips
By Christy Northcutt, owner of StrollerF it® powered by mommymuscle®
Whether there are kids in the picture or not , September is a time when a lot of people do a mind-shift, putting the golf clubs, bikes and tennis rackets away for another year and establishing the habits and patterns that will shape their fall and winter schedules. In fact, September is second only to January as a time when fitness springs to the top of the to-do list, with gyms and training facilities buzzing with activity and motivated new members. At the same time, family and business commitments seem to increase, and the days get shor ter and darker. Improved personal fitness is a lifestyle choice that will be made by a lot of people this fall, with the rate of success being determined by how prepared they are for the challenges. If you’ve been playing hard all summer and now are struggling to get enough fitness training into y our already busy schedule, don’t despair — there’s a lot that can be done to make it all wor k. Here are my top 3 tips to help y ou achieve the fitness results you’re after, without upsetting the delicate balance of y our family or costing you your job. Be accountable: Make an appointment and have a plan For more than 14 years now I’ve witnessed the comings and goings of independent gym users and personal training dev otees alike. One thing I’ve seen that has consistently produced success is when an exerciser makes fitness a priority by scheduling appointments to meet someone for their wor kouts. If hiring a trainer isn’t your style or doesn’t fit your budget, find a training partner that is ready to take their fitness as seriously as y ou are. Develop a great workout routine, schedule your sessions, keep them short and intense (30-minute workouts are outstanding) and be consistent. You’ll be amazed at the results. Be prepared: Pack your gym bag If you’re serious about fitting exercise into your schedule and seeing positive change in your fitness, you’re going to want to have your exercise gear with you at all times. If you get out of a meeting early or have an hour to kill while y our kid is in lessons,
you can do the quickie “Superman” change in the nearest phone booth or washroom and squeeze in a quick workout. If you don’t have your gear with you, you’ll end up gulping a latte and nib bling a 600-calorie scone or a cookie. M ake sure you have your exercise clothes, shoes, water bottle, healthy post-workout snack and your iPod for entertainment. Be efficient: Don’t waste time traveling or experimenting When it comes to fitness success, conv enience is everything. Since working out isn’t enjoyable for everyone, it’s pretty easy to find excuses to avoid it. If the gym is too far away, you won’t go. If your last workout was half-hearted and took two hours, you won’t see it as a good use of y our time. I can’t stress this one enough. Choose a gym close to wor k or home and quickly find a workout you enjoy. Stick with it and you’ll begin seeing the fitness results you want. Create good habits for the holiday season and the upcoming winter months. You’ll be 2 steps (and many wor kouts) ahead of the New Year’s Resolution-ers!
In health, Christy Northcutt
Nationally Certified AFAA Group Fitness Instructor StrollerFit® powered by mommymuscle® Owner & Instructor Restore the Core™ Certified Fitness Instructor Youth Fitness Certified Instructor Prenatal and Postpartum Fitness Specialist Questions? Email christy.northcutt@strollerfit.com Visit www.strollerfit.com/enid or call 580.484.2904 7
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By Dave Kinnamon Photos By Wess Gray
The
Hart of the Matter:
John Hart of Continental Resources and his V ision for Enid
John Hart cares – deeply and sincerely – about Enid. Hart wants Enid to develop into a “destination city,” the type of place people from other places seek out to live, work and raise their families. To become a destination city, Hart believes Enid must focus its efforts, resources and vision on raising the quality and reputation of its public schools and refurbishing its cosmetic appearance citywide, but particularly along its entry corridors (highways 81 and 412) and its downtown gateway. “The gateway looking into downtown Enid is something that can be significantly enhanced and improved,” said Hart, “to attract not only local businesses and people into it, but also to present a favorable gateway into the downtown corridor. It’s a photograph – when you’re looking into it, you’re framing it. A great city has great curb appeal.” Hart is senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of 8
Continental Resources, Inc., an Enidbased oil and natural gas exploration and production company which employs approximately 450 people, 250 of them at its Enid headquarters and other Enid locations. The company was founded in 1967 by Harold Hamm. Continental Resources, a publiclytraded company on the New York Stock Exchange, in 2009 listed assets of o ver $2.3 billion and currently has 170 million shares of common stock outstandingly valued, as of June 18, 2010, at $50.47 per share, for a total stock value of $8.579 billion. The company’s 2009 revenues were $626.2 million, mostly from oil and natural gas sales, and net income of about $71.3 million. Hart grew up in Chickasha, Okla., graduating from Chickasha High School in 1986. Hart graduated from Oklahoma State University in December 1991 with a Master of Science in Accounting (MAC). He’s a certified public accountant.
Hart believes top-flight public education is the linchpin to transforming Enid into a destination community. “Education is not a start-and-stop process. You must continue moving forward and funding initiatives. My wife and I are very focused on education. Education is the principal aspect that directly impacts people’s future success,” Hart said. Continental recruits top-flight engineers and professionals to come work for them, Hart noted, and the number one item those prospective professionals want to know about Enid is the quality of Enid’s public school system. “The quality of education is very important to our recruiting. We have prospective recruits who want to send their children to MIT and Ivy League schools,” Hart said. Pointing out Enid schools offer many Advanced Placement courses, Hart noted, “I think it’s great Enid has advanced educational opportunities.”
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Autry Technology Center of Enid also offers advanced math and science programs as well as many other enriched educational opportunities, Hart noted. “Autry Tech is a tremendous resource for the community,” he said. Hart’s commitment to the highestquality public education spurred Shawn Hime, Enid Schools superintendent, to invite Hart onto the facilities committee of the successful 2010 school bond issues. Hart was one of 35 members selected for the facilities committee, which toured the district’s schools and worked up a comprehensive list of district building needs prior to the packaging of the 2010 bond issues. The $99.45 million construction, technology and transportation bonds – encapsulated in two ballot propositions – passed with a 3 percent margin over the required 60 percent super majority required in many states, including Oklahoma, for school bond issues. Hime, with help from Hart and other Enid business leaders, successfully solicited around $3 million in private donations to Enid schools to supplement the bond measures. School officials claim this is the largest private donation to an Oklahoma public school system. Brian Hayden, vice president of People Services at Advance Food Company, served as chairman of the facilities committee. The facilities committee, working with a professional consulting firm hired by the school district, toured all district facilities while receiving input from
teachers and staff of all school buildings, Hayden said. The committee’s work took about a year. The committee then submitted a report to Hime for his use in developing the school bond proposals. “John played a key role. I don’t think we could have launched a successful campaign without his involvement,” said Hayden. “He and I worked closely together to raise money. You can’t hold a successful campaign without raising money.” The campaign money, Hayden clarified, was the money raised in priv ate donations to cover the expenses of promoting the bond issues, expenses like advertising, he said. Hart additionally played a role in securing the over $3 million in pledged private donations for school improvements. Continental Resources hosted many private meetings with local business leaders at their headquarters where Hime, Harold Hamm, Paul Allen (co-founder of Advance Food Company) and others made presentations to Enid area business owners and leaders and asked for their financial and public relations backing for the school bonds. “If you get a great education, you’re always going to be successful in life. Using a baseball player analogy, if you receive a great education, you’re always going to be a good hitter and get on base, even though you may not always hit the home run,” Hart said. The successful $99.45 million bond issues are a “good first step toward a long-term vision of great schools,” Hart
said, but these bonds also are “making up for 50 years of neglect,” he said, which is the last time Enid built a new school building. “If you don’t have quality facilities, you’re not going to retain and attract great teachers either. They won’t want to be there. Top teachers want modern facilities to teach in,” Hart said. John Hart is not just a highlyexperienced number cruncher, finance expert and businessman. Yes, he is all of those. And …
Hart is involved in Enid.
“I really like Enid. It has many opportunities to continue to grow and develop,” Hart said. Hart points to Oklahoma City’s successful MAPS I, II and III bond v otes which improved the city’s public education system and developed the Bricktown area of downtown, the river walk and the downtown convention center, he recalls. “The MAPS initiatives placed Oklahoma City into the position that when an NBA franchise was looking for a new home, Oklahoma City was prepared to take them. And they got them,” H art said. “On a smaller level, a version of MAPS could be implemented in Enid and used to improve its park system, add biking and running trails, improve playground equipment, improve the city’s infrastructure and its downtown gateway,” Hart said. The recent expansion and success of
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Enid’s YMCA shows Enid has the potential to be a “destination city,” he said. “Denny Price (YMCA) is a prime example of what Enid can do in other aspects of the community, like schools and parks,” Hart said. Hart also is one of the impr esarios behind the successful Great Land Run (5 and 10k runs), which held their first event under Continental sponsorship, two years ago. The Great Land Run had more than 600 runners in 2009 and raised over $160,000 in its first two years, money used to purchase Smart Board technology for Enid classrooms. Carl Recher, a leader in the Enid Running Club, applauds Hart’s involvement in the Great Land Run. “As part of the Enid Running Club, we had been sponsoring that r un for several years. John called and said he thought we should take it to the next level,” Recher remembers. “John is a very creative individual. He’s also very insightful and really has the community at heart, and he really works to make Enid a better community. I think John’s a very creative and competent community leader,” Recher said. Hart also came up with the idea of bringing the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma (City) to Enid, beginning about a year ago. “We thought instead of just providing the Lyric a grant, why don’t they bring the Lyric to Enid in a way that will benefit them economically but also Enid,” Hart said. With that in mind, Continental underwrites 100 percent of the Lyric’s expenses in bringing productions to Enid, and the Lyric and the Enid Symphony receive 100 percent of the economic benefit of the gate receipts. The next Lyric production in Enid will be “Renee Anderson Alive,” Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. Summarizing both Continental’s Lyric and Great Land Run sponsorship
initiatives, Hart said, “We want to be a destination where we bring people to our community to live, visit or perform here. We don’t want anyone to ask, ‘Where?’ when speaking of Enid. We want Enid to be top of mind and tip of tongue,” he said. Hart joined Continental Resources in November 2005 after having invested the initial 14 years of his business, finance and accounting career in public accounting, the last of which prior to joining Continental was as senior audit
manager with Ernst & Young LLP in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Hart is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association. At Continental, Hart is responsible for all aspects of the company’s finances, compliance measures – which are the monthly and quarterly financial statements – the Securities and Exchange Commission filings, the annual financial
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statements, and the audits and reviews. Hart also is responsible for projecting Continental’s financial future, its revenue, cash flow and debt levels – how much money Continental is going to need to fund its capital program, he said. “For example, in the past year, we’ve done two institutional bond offerings, meaning we sold bonds to companies like Fidelity, and large institutional investors. I also took an active role in the initial public offering (of Continental stock) that we had in 2007,” Hart said. “When I was hired, the company was looking for someone who had exper tise in the SEC area – not only in the compliance measures – but principally to assist in that process of taking the company public,” Hart said. Hart has around 80 Continental employees in his division, with responsibility for the company’s accounting function; Sarbanes-Oxley requirements, forecasting, planning and budgeting; working with lending institutions; and working with the company’s rating agencies (S&P and Moody’s). Hart is an experienced financial executive – with many years of public and commercial accounting experience under his belt – but Hart also envisages himself as a builder of sorts. Hart is motivated by and dedicated to building the company that employs him, building his community and building ideas into tangible products. “I don’t lay the bricks or hammer the nails. You start with something and you incubate it, you feed and nourish it throughout a process, and watch it grow. You do that corporately, within companies, within departments, or new business endeavors that we may be involved in,” Hart said. “Laura and I have owned three homes, and two of them we’ve built. You start with raw dirt, and you finish with a polished product” Hart said. His main goals in life are to be happy and to do right by his wife and children, he said. “From a CFO perspective, we’re looking to the future of the company and how we continue and evolve our company in a prudent, responsible way,” Hart said. Hart applies a similar philosophy to the raising of his three children. “I don’t want to wake up and hav e an 18-year-old who’s ill-prepared for life. I want to wake up and have smart, well-adjusted, successful 18-year-olds in life. I want them ready to move out into the world,” Hart said.
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Sweet Taste of Cakes Cakes by Diane
By Trina Walker Photos By Dawn Muncy, Muncy Photography
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ometimes the best things in life are found slightly of f the beaten path. This is the case with Cakes by Diane LLC. Thankfully Diane Mencke, owner, baker and cake decorator extraordinaire’ delivers because finding her is no easy task. Once you taste one of Diane’ s mouthwatering creations however you will be will ing to drive any distance. First, find Ames and head south deep into the sand hills and black jack trees. Once you are sure you’ve gone too far keep going. Along the way you will pass a mailbox with the name Mencke on it…don’t get too excited it still is two miles away. Yes, the mailbox is two miles from the house. Diane tells me that to have a mailbox you must be within a certain distance from the next one…they are two miles past that point.
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Diane started baking cakes in her own kitchen. She did not have visions of baking for weddings and anniversary celebrations. She just wanted to bake and decorate birthday cakes for her own children. Having tasted Diane’s cakes I must say that R oss and Jill are the luckiest kids alive! A chance conversation on the phone with a friend while up to her elbo ws in icing started it all. “I was talking on the phone while trying to decorate a bir thday cake and was having a heck of a time with the icing. As I complained to my friend about how much trouble I was having she suggested we take a cake decorating class. That sounded like fun so w e signed up,” said Diane. One class at Hobby Lobby turned into two, then three, and suddenly Diane found herself being known as the friend who was good at decorating cakes. There was no real plan at this point it just happened. When the daughter of a friend was getting married they asked Diane if she would make the cake. “I did not want to do it at all,” Diane said, “I was terrified of messing it up.” Diane hesitantly agreed to try to make the wedding cake if they could not find anyone else. “Apparently they were desperate to find someone to bake that cake because they asked again and I decided to giv e it a try,” she said. This wedding was Diane’s first job. She says it may have been a year after that before she did another wedding but slowly as one friend recommended Diane’s cakes to another, Cakes by Diane was born. When she made the decision to become an official business Diane realized she needed a cake kitchen. H er home kitchen had been overwhelmed with cake supplies and Diane says her family was ready to get their kitchen back so they could enjoy real meals again. Diane did her research and discovered that to be fully licensed b y the state and to be insured her cake kitchen had to have a separate 15
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entrance. Diane decided to put in a trailer next to her home and conv ert the inside into one large kitchen. Today Diane’s cake kitchen consists of a large pantry, prep area, and of course, a commercial convection oven perfect for baking multiple cakes at a time. “When I got the commercial mixer it made my old mixer look like a minime mixer,” laughs Diane. With the 20quart mixer Diane can prepare the batter for extra large wedding cakes in one batch instead of mixing multiple small batches. 16
Clients get two cake options at Cakes by Diane. The basic cake uses a mix and Diane adds extra ingredients depending on the cake requested. The premium cake is made completely fr om scratch. The icing choices range from flavored butter cream to fondant. According to Diane while fondant has become popular for the unique designs one can create, the cost is a bit mor e than many of her clients want to spend. “I can actually get my butter cr eam
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so smooth it looks like fondant,” says Diane. As I looked through pictures of past cakes many I assumed w ere fondant were actually an amazingly smooth butter cream. For some cakes Diane uses a combination of butter cream and fondant to create extra detail. Fillings are another option. Basic fillings are fruit flavored but the discerning client can choose from premium fillings of curd, mousse or cream. Undecided? Don’t worry. For $35 you can take advantage of Diane’s tasting package. Clients choose two cake flavors, two frostings and two fillings to sample. If they book with Cakes b y Diane the $35 tasting fee is cr edited back to their order. Through the years Diane’s most challenging cake was a six-layer wedding cake. The design was a solid white cake with intricate piping made to look like a different style of lace on each layer. Part of the challenge was the detailed icing…the other challenge was the size. “My husband Jeff had to help me carry it in. We tend to do everything exactly opposite of one another. If I go left he goes right so getting that cake moved and in one piece was a bit stressful,” said Diane. 17
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Despite their different working styles Diane gives Jeff credit for being a big help. “He has been wonderful helping me deliver and set up cakes,” she said. J eff has even helped to smooth out little bumps and flaws in the icing that occurred during the travel. Diane says wedding cakes are her favorite. She has created everything from elegant, classical cakes with floral touches to trendy cakes designed to match specific décor. Diane also makes cakes for bir thdays, retirement parties, anniversaries and graduations. Some cakes are whimsical in design while others ar e personalized. One particularly whimsical design was a multi tiered cow-themed cake. The bottom layer was a grassy field and the top layer was blue sky and clouds. Little cows were randomly placed to complete the design. Diane always is looking for a chal18
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lenge. Being willing to attempt any r equest, she often gets home fr om a client meeting and asks herself , “What was I thinking…there is no way I can do that!” B ut she always finds a way to make it happen. One particular groom’s cake provided a unique challenge. The couple wanted a replica of the calculator the gr oom had used through college. Diane found herself in Staples photographing calculators so her r eplica would match exactly. Diane spends many hours creating edible works of art. Why you may ask yourself does Diane put so much attention into the detail? Why does she work so hard to create something that will be enjo yed for such a shor t time? The answer is very simple…Diane just loves to make cakes. E
Check out Cakes by Diane online at http://web.me.com/dmencke/Site/Welcome.html 19
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Richie and Lydia Greer
Larry Kiner
Zac Kirksey
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Samantha Fink, Erin Rudolph, Michelle Thompson & Andrea Murphy
Tammy Grantz & James Neal
Oswald Santana
Cori & Dave Abel, Melvin & Andrea Davis
Monte Hunter, Catina Sundvall and Nathan Parry
The colors being displayed at DAMB
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In the Know... So That You May Know As a small business owner with a growing organization I am constantly challenged with staff retention. Is there some sort of magic formula for hanging onto staff? First, congratulate yourself!! In our economy it is to be commended that your business is healthy, profitability is up, and your customer base is growing. Pat yourself on the back for all the long hours, elbow grease and dedication it’ s taken you to get to this point. A growing organization requires the hiring and training of new employees. This means re-investing your hard ear ned profits and valuable time into building the company’s human capital. It has been calculated that employee turnover can cost an organization anywhere from $2,500.00 to $5,000.00 per loss. Can you afford such losses? They can be tremendously minimized with some forethought and careful planning. As a business owner – whether it’s a small start-up company or a large organization – you can realize a retur n on that employee investment using three basic steps to stabilize and retain your workforce.
Mission
First and foremost, employee retention starts at home. The most fundamental building block of any organization is its mission. Most often mission statements have two components: the goals for the organization and the goals for the employees. Spend time considering the tr uly important internal components of the business; ask yourself how you want to define your client experience, what characterizes a good reputation (you know it will precede you!), or how clearly your target market is defined? As you answer these or other questions you’ll see the purpose of your business start to unfold. Every business owner needs their employees standing behind them, cheering them and their co-workers on, promoting each other and supporting the organization. If a company is lacking a clear definition of purpose, it’s virtually impossible to get employee buy-in; few people will stand up when they don’t know what they’re standing up for or don’t value who they’re standing up with. At least half of our waking hours are spent at work; we need to like what
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we do, where we do it and respect who we do it for . Ask yourself what type of culture would you personally want to spend time in? Is your work environment built to be welcoming, challenging, rewarding, and motivating? There is no room for lip ser vice here, transparency should be the rule. What you put in your mission statement must be believed in and practiced from the top down. V ery simply, treat people how you want to be treated; retention star ts in our own back yards. Develop a mission statement you believe in and are willing to practice on a daily basis.
Hiring
So, your mission statement is established and you are prepared to put into practice your beliefs-excellent foundation!! Following that, the single most impor tant aspect to retaining quality employees can be found in the hiring process. Even when desperate for help, it will be destructive to your company to hire people who cannot ‘live’ the mission of your business. Compensation is NOT the leading cause of tur nover; it is management style and/or work environment. Ever y business owner can use the tools and resources available to identify and hire candidates that will thrive in and promote their business. There are three core components we have personally used and consulted with clients to implement, for a successful hiring process. They help determine how a candidate might ‘fit’ with individual businesses. We have shared our belief in the Kolbe A+ Index in past ar ticles so we won’t expand here. We have developed a white sheet with information about the three fold process. Contact us for a copy.
Culture
Congratulations!! You now have a mission statement to live by and you’ve got the right people in the right positions. So circling back to your question, how do you
keep those rock star employees? Matching the per fect person with the best job on the entire planet will not ensure a long lasting working relationship. The final key to successful retention is the culture of your work environment. Is it strong enough to not only maintain employees, but build their loyalty? Often the most vulnerable component seems to be the one business owners are willing to jeopardize; that of your internal culture. Have you walked in your team members shoes? Have you given thought to how you, as an employee, would like to be treated? What makes you thrive in a work environment might be different from other co-workers, so a well-built culture carefully addresses a variety of needs. Is it impor tant to have the freedom to share your ideas and have them really heard, heeded and respected? To be recognized for a job well done? To have an environment that supports personal and career growth? To work hard and have fun doing it? Retention goes beyond providing a comprehensive slate of benefits; rather it is the respect, recognition, and appreciation your staff receives in a tr uly meaningful manner. Moral to the story- business owners have complete control over building a work environment which promotes retention. Leadership and management styles evolve just as generations do. It’s the job of responsible business owners to utilize the latest practices in building the strongest internal workforce possible. Failing in one key component will have a domino effect and impact other areas; responsible hiring equals effective management, effective management equals a thriving work environment, a thriving work environment equals retention. Strong work cultures don’t happen by chance. Strong leaders build them. Employees are most apt to stay and flourish in an environment that encourages positive camaraderie and fosters good communication. You can set the stage for team success and longevity with employees with these culture builders.
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What Employees Love • Understanding the strategic objectives of the organization. • How things work, the big picture and where they fit. • Understanding the expectations of their manager. • Being listened to in a way that feels respected. • Being proud of the purpose of the organization. • A manager that is interested in them and helps them develop professionally. • Information about what is going on.
Aaron Brownlee, President
Nancy Sheid, Human Capital Director
What Employers Love
can’t, you’re probably right”. Motivation • When employees like what they do and the people they work along side, you have built-in reliable and sustainable productivity. Less down time • Stress contributes to health risks and is a productivity killer. Faster Learners • A workplace that fosters an inspiring culture allows employees to be open to learning new things, another productivity booster. Fewer mistakes • Mistakes will happen but employees will take responsibility, apologize and fix things. Fewer mistakes happen and employees positively learn from them. Better decision makers • Crisis mode can be minimized. The big picture will stay more in focus. A work culture that nar rows the short- term, here-and-now choices empowers employees to make better more informed decisions. This allows employees to prioritize work more accurately.
Relationships • Folks are more fun to be around and that means better relationships in the workplace. • This builds teamwork with colleagues. • The employee/manager relationship will be better. • Satisfied employees provide better service to your clients. • Employees will be a leading source of adver tising, recruiting, and success!! Creativity • Productivity is fed with new ideas and original thinking which carries over day to day. Problem fixers not complainers • Molehills look like mountains in an unhappy workplace. • Complaints not solutions suck up time when the culture is not strong. Energy • Energy equates to better efficiency. Optimism • Optimists are more successful and productive. Remember the saying, “Whether you believe you can or believe you
These building blocks are there for the taking, any organization can have them. Review what you have in place, recognize any ob stacles preventing you from becoming a premiere employer and challenge yourself to make those changes star ting immediately. Every day you’re not being the best you can takes its toll on your profitability , your bottom line, your success. Consider us a resource if you would like more infor mation on Kolbe in your work place or assistance with any type of human resource need.
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Do you have questions for Wymer Brownlee you would like to see in futur e articles? Submit them to fbaker@eaglemkt.com and w e’ll select a few to tackle in subsequent pieces.
Wymer Brownlee- Etown’s Preferred Financial Partner Follow us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/wymerbrownlee
www.wymerbrownlee.com
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HOMEMADE PIE, CAKES CATERING TRAYS SANDWICHES, FRUIT, ETC.
OPEN FOR BREAKFAST 7-11AM LUNCH 11-2PM Monday - Friday Every 4th Saturday is Fly-In Breakfast
1026 South 66th Street - Woodring Airport - Enid, OK - 580-234-9913
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Enid ♥ s Tennis
By Dave Kinnamon Photos by MotoPhoto
Members of Enid Tennis Association and other area tennis enthusiasts are glorying in Enid’s 22 tennis courts – eight of them nearly brand new at Crosslin Park. As part of a recent initiative, four new tennis courts also were constructed at Government Springs Park. The new-ish Crosslin Park tennis courts were made possible in large par t to the tenacious organizational efforts of Carolyn Nicholas, long-time member of the Enid Parks Board and of the Enid Tennis Association. “I grew up in Enid, and I used to play over at the Phillips University courts. It always baffled my mind you had to drive 20 minutes across Enid to get to a tennis court. The Government Springs Park courts were there, but kids couldn’t ride their bicycles because you had to get on a major four-lane highway to get to those facilities,” Nicholas said. The two tennis courts at Phillips University, now NOC-Enid, were widely used by the public from the ‘60s through the ‘80s, have become dilapidated and moribund through lack of maintenance and attention. Phillips University closed
in 1998 following bankruptcy. Nicholas served on the Enid Parks Board from 1999-2008. She had her main mission in her mind – to build more tennis courts and place them in a convenient, accessible location in Enid – upon first assuming her seat on the Enid Parks Board in 1999. “The first six years, we had three or four city managers and three or four mayors; I would get going on the pr oject and then I’d have to start from scratch again once a new administration came in,” Nicholas said. “First I had to learn the system, the politics of city government – parks always come at the bottom of the list because w e don’t have the revenues that larger cities have. Water, sewer and streets come first,” Nicholas recalled. The Enid Parks Board receives only $25,000 annually from the city’s budget, Nicholas said. “That’ll buy you a slide pretty much,” Nicholas said. Carolyn Nicholas’ tenacity paid off in November 2008 when the city of E nid dedicated eight brand new tennis courts
Mackenzie Zaloudek and Kathryn Dillingham
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Carolyn Nicholas
Dwayne Campbell
where there previously had been none at Crosslin Park on Purdue Ave., just west of Van Buren Ave. To get the $467,000 price tag raised for the Crosslin courts, Nicholas secured a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Tennis Association. She also raised other private funds and received money from the city. Nicholas’ employer, Envirotech, provided approximately $70,000 in kind by drawing up the architectural site plans which included all the site drainage for the Crosslin courts, she said. While a student at Enid High School, Nicholas played doubles with her sister, who’s a year older. Nicholas earned three varsity letters in tennis, graduating from Enid High School in 1980. She played
Dwayne Campbell and Carolyn Nicholas
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intramural tennis while a student at Oklahoma State University. The long-time Enid Tennis Association is bouncing right along. The club of tennis enthusiasts recently has initiated a push to increase the group’s membership, exposure and participation, said Dwayne Campbell, ETA treasurer. They currently have about 30 active weekly participants, who play a mixture of singles and doubles tennis on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. “It’s good, fun entertainment and exercise. Tennis is the only sport I’m involved in. People should come by and try it out; they’ll like it,” said Debbie Martin, a 10year member of the Enid Tennis Association. Though the ETA has been “revitalized,” Campbell said, the club wants more active participation. “My goal is to have enough people playing that we have to use the courts at Crosslin and the Government Springs courts for league play,” Campbell said. This fall, on Saturday, September 18, ETA President Jim Shaughnessy will put on free tennis clinics as part of “Tennis Across America.” The ETA embraces an interesting mixture of tennis folk. Glenn Harmon is 87 years old and has been playing tennis r egularly since 1936. For a time, Harmon recalled, he and his older brother, Gene Harmon, were the only people playing tennis in Enid. The brothers coached the
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Phillips University Haymakers tennis team in the early 1960s. Harmon has been playing against and with tennis partner Bruce Hess who’s in his 50s, for the past 15 y ears and counting. “I’ve been playing tennis since before Bruce was born,” Harmon said. Young players are involved in ETA, too. MacKenzie Zaloudek and Kathryn Dillingham this past spring won the Oklahoma Class 6A state championship for Enid High School’s varsity tennis team. The girls won the state championship in doubles tennis. Both girls ar e returned to the EHS tennis team for the 2010-2011 school year. Both girls participate in the ETA, they said. “If we can, we’d like to win the state championship again,” Zaloudek said. All players emphasized the ETA offers league play for all levels of tennis experience, from brand new beginner to highly experienced.
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Just before this edition of Etown went to print, longtime player and supporter of the Enid Tennis Association, Larry McClure passed away unexpectedly. We are saddened to lose a great friend of Enid tennis. He will be missed. - Frank Baker
Glenn Harmon and Bruce Hess
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Amanda Minton (from Pittsburg,Kansas) & Cindy Allen
Sally Whiteneck,Karen Vuranch & Kathi Box
Jessica Andrews, Darla Robbins & Cathy Nulph
Stephanie Hinkle, Krissy Watkins, Melony Lee & Kristie Buck
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Judy Winchester & Michelle Mears
Gary Brown & Ted Kachel
Lindy Chambers, Jessica Andrews, Cathy Nulph & John Chambers
Brock Nulph, Jake Williams, Shawn Hughs & Kyle Booker
Sylvan Reynolds, George Davis, & Dale Gillham
Jake Williams, Jason Parks, Chet Lytol, Brock Nulph, Josh Lytle, Shawn Hughs, Kyle Booker, Ryan Stephenson, Kevin Lytle and Nicole Litzau
Adam, Jeff & Andrew Eaton
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Dr. Melann Reid and Dr. Jason Reid, Mika Dick, Jeff Dick, T om Davis and April Davis
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Brooke Potter, Kevin Potter, Mindy Turley, Jennifer DeVaughn and Pepper DeVaughn
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Rick Caruthers, Club President and David North, Club General Manager
Thelma Horrall, Curt Horrall, Delores McClure, Barbara Meulpolder, the late Larry McClure and Stuart Meulpolder
Oakwood Country Club members celebrate the grand re-opening of the club after it’ s remodel.
Dr. Richard DeVaughn and Judy DeVaughn
Mike McCormick, Bill Elliott, Derek Gipson, Brian Murray, Bruce Simon, Terry Ratzlaff and Mark Dick
John Maxwell, Karen Maxwell, Dorothy Cochran and Brady Lee
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E-Fluff
A smile is your best accessory By Cathy Nulph, E-Fluff Extraordinaire Photos by Rachel Hancock
Good friends Caleah and Madison love to smile.
Have you ever noticed how a smile can totally change your look? It’s a cheap way to completely upgrade your appearance.
Linda, Taylor and Andrea James showing off their smiles
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No matter how you are feeling, put on a smile and light up the r oom. I love seeing the smile of a child who recently lost a tooth. Aren’t they always so proud of their toothless grin? I’m personally drawn to “happy people” who have contagious smiles that create the sensation of an instant bond. A smile not only gives you a warm glow, but it tightens up the wrinkles and double chin, instantly taking fiv e years off of your face! Classic red lipstick can really spice up your expression, just take care to avoid getting lipstick on the teeth. And just remember, we all have bad hair days, but no one ev er has a “bad smile” day. So smile at someone! They just might smile back.
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A furry friend brings a smile to Tyree Rapps’ face
Morgan Leon’s smile is her best summer accessory
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Scotty Billups practicing for the NBC Potato Race
David & Kim Whyburn
Dan Young, Josie Larson & Kate Morrison (Faith Farms)
Monty Taylor (P&K)
Jason Turnbow & Krista Reimer (RoseRock Bank)
Drew Ritchie, certified green builder and title sponsor of GreEnid
Brock & Nick Nulph
Brian Hacker
Amanda & Bobby Rankin
Will Melson & Trevor Rogers
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By Dave Kinnamon
A FRESH BEGINNING
FOR YOUR NEW NEIGHBOR
ATS STRIVES TO BRING NEW PROGRAMS TO ENID COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS CENTER
life.
You can give a man a fish, and feed him for a day . You can teach a man to fish, and feed him for his
In that same teaching/helping spirit, the counseling professionals at Associated Therapeutic Ser vices of Enid (ATS) are pioneering programs to offer counseling ser vices to offenders at Enid Community Cor rections Center (ECCC) to continue to provide therapeutic ser vices to inmates as they begin their transitions back into the mainstream. “ATS can come in and help with long-ter m behavioral change among the offenders after their release,” said Rebecca Livesay, licensed professional counselor and founder and director of Associated Therapeutic Services of Enid. Livesay and John Lipsey, assistant district supervisor of the Northwest District, recently wrote two grants to obtain funding for their joint programs. “Offenders face housing and employment issues – convicted felons are frequently denied both. It’ s stressful being incarcerated, but the real stress begins when they get home. If you haven’t changed the envi ronment they go back to, when the stress hits, the offender goes back to the old comfor t zone of drinking,” Lipsey said. Jim Clark, therapist at ATS stated, “ I have personally seen how a lack of getting the family/support system for an offender can be detrimental to the goal of no recidivism. I have a close friend whose dad was incarcerated for six months after his four th DUI. While he was in prison neither he nor his family/support system received any counseling to prepare them for his transition back into the family and community. Because of this and a co-dependency with his wife, he came back from his incarceration and started drinking again because his family/support system had not changed their thinking or behavior so when he go out he went back to what was comfor table, drinking with family and friends.” The ECCC is a transitional facility of the Oklahoma Depar tment of Corrections; the facility currently houses 99 offenders, all male, all low-risk felony offenders with exemplar y DOC disciplinary records. Around 70 percent of the ECCC residents are in the cor rectional system because of felony DUI records. All of the ECCC resi dents either work for Enid-area companies or par ticipate in area work projects, programs and/or public works projects, Lipsey said. The ECCC residents are preparing for life after incarceration. Some ECCC residents have even re-located their families to Enid and are helping to pay bills with the wages they’ve ear ned at their area employer. According to Lipsey, Advance Food Company has been a par ticularly supportive partner of ECCC’s as well as Hope Outreach. That transition is one of several areas where the A TS counselors can help the ECCC residents. ATS aims to
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provide the ECCC residents with continued treatment and continued resources while they’re at ECCC and after they leave the residential facility. “What we’re driving for is long-term behavioral change, and that affects our recidivism rate, which is people coming back in who’ve already been incarcerated,” Lipsey said. By teaching the offenders and their family/suppor t system new coping skills and a new way of thinking about/looking at their stressors and how their behavior(s) need(s) to change to the offender will be better equipped to transition back into society and not rever t back to his old habits that got him incarcerated in the first place. David Henneke, local attorney and Department of Corrections Board Member, finds that it is important to consider programing for offenders. Henneke stated, "Over 95% of the inmates will be released from prison at some time, and they will retur n to our communities.They will eventually be someone's neighbor. We need to help them become educated and/or learn a trade or skill, as well as help them overcome their alcohol and or drug habits." ATS proposes to offer a mentoring program, in par tnership with Hope Outreach and the Faith Far m. “Currently, our grant is pending. ECCC has worked for many years to get the mentoring program however the funding hasn’t been there,” Livesay stated. ATS’ cognitive behavioral programs, working with the offenders and their families. ATS will use wrap-around services in helping the offender clients and their families. Wrap-around services encompass the family as a whole, multiple issues, and focus on the family unit. The program will utilize mentors from local churches and ser vice organizations to walk along side the offender and his family/support group to help them successfully transition back into society . By walking along side the offender/support system the mentor can model for them how to act and react to stressors that will arise and how to cope with those stressors without rever ting back to alcohol. The mentors will also be able to help them create a budget and will answer any questions the offender or family/suppor t system may have about a smooth transition back into society. “We offer continued treatment and continued resources after the offender has left ECCC,” Livesay said. ATS therapists, like Megan Pearsall, have a passion for helping offenders over the shor t as well as long terms. “I got inspired to work with offenders. I grew up in a privileged family , but my god family had several offenders, and I saw the system fail them. I feel strongly ever yone deserves an advocate and a voice when they feel too tired or helpless to have their voice heard,” Megan said. When working with clients, Megan will sometimes utilize a counseling technique called “motivational interviewing.” “This is a positive way of helping people make their own changes. It’ s positive talking, helping them find the answers from within themselves,” Megan said. When the offender and his support system take ownership in their lives and come up with the best way for them to avoid falling back in to their “old way of doing/dealing with things” the more likely they are to incorporate the necessary changes and become contributing members of the local community . Again, the pioneering partnership between ATS and ECCC aims for long-term behavioral change among the offenders. “We can give them the tools and help them find a job. Let’ s say we find them a welding job, we can give them the boots and the hood and the material, but once they leave here and they’re dealing with those stressors, that’s where ATS and dealing with cognitive behavior come in for that long-term behavioral change,” Lipsey said. “The ATS partnership is really about helping DOC fill that niche of helping set our offenders up for success when they leave here. That’s our goal with ATS, and that benefits everybody,” Lipsey said.
For more information about treatment approaches and ATS programs, contact ATS at 580-242-4673.
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A Quilt of
Love
By Lauren Ennis Photos by Rachel Hancock
Kara Ormston, Lavonn McKnight, Gloria Cook and Mary Ridge
ne might associate the United O Methodist Women’s group and the
Sparrows with doing good deeds to help others (or in the case of the S parrows, birds). Upon meeting a few members of each, I learned they not only do their par t to help, but they use their creativity and talent, and lots of fabric, needles and thread, to get the job done. R ecently, Kara Ormston, granddaughter of a well-known former member of the First United Methodist Church, donated vintage-fabric Dresden Plate quilt blocks that had been found, partially sewn, in her grandmother’s estate. This former church member also happened to be a dear friend to many of the ladies in these groups, and from what I hear, a real crack up. Kara described some of her grandmother’s favorite acts, especially one in which she wore a tutu and black wig and colored her teeth in while singing, in her best “little girl ” voice, “All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth.” I also learned of one called “The Girdle,” which chronicled the fitting-room fiascos of its main character. Many of you may have seen this funny lady perform her dramatic readings, or at
least had the privilege of knowing her. If not, I’ll do my best to educate y ou on the life of Mary Kirton-Becker, and tell you how to get a hold of a special quilt she helped to create. Mary’s grandfather Jimmy Gwinn, made the run from Cameron, Kan., (now Manchester, Okla.) into Oklahoma on September 16, 1893, and staked claim to some land south of Helena. He built a home and brought his family, including Mary’s father, Roy, from Kansas to join him. Years later, Roy married Rosa Dunlap and soon Mary was born. Mary grew up in the Helena area and attended Phillips University in Enid. There she obtained a Bachelor of Oratory in the College of Drama, which she affectionately referred to as a “B.O. from P.U.” This is also where she met her future husband, Billy Kirton, with whom she eventually had two sons. After graduation, Mary taught school and then became the Director of Christian Education at the First United Methodist Church, where she worked for many years. Billy passed away, which Mary chronicled in her memoir, “A Crowd of Witnesses.“ She later married Gene
Becker and became stepmom to his two children. Mary’s passion for the arts not only included comedy and writing but quilting as well. She often made them for her grandchildren. It is fitting, then, that after M ary
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Kara Ormston
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Gloria Cook
passed away, her family donated her unfinished quilt to her church, a place she knew and loved; a place they knew would put the blocks in order and create the final masterpiece. That’s where the Sparrows come into play. Mary Ridge, a close friend of Mary’s and member of the Sparrows Quilting Group, completed the quilt top. It was passed on to Paula Santillan, a custom machine quilter, for quilting. Now Mary’s quilt can be yours. It currently is on display in the G reat Hall of the First United Methodist Church at 401 West Randolph Avenue. Bids can be placed with Sparrows chairman Gloria Cook at (580) 233-5780, or mdgjcook@sbcglobal.net. Bidding ends October 20. In addition to the quilt auction, a quilt show and luncheon will be held on September 18 during Cherokee Strip Day. The quilt viewing will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lunch being served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for admission to the sho w and $7 for the luncheon. They can be purchased in advance by calling Joy Robinson at (580)237-2532 or e-mailing joykrobin@enid.com. Sales from the quilt auction, show and luncheon benefit the United Methodist Women’s group missions. The group strives to help women and children in need, focusing on Enid and other areas of Oklahoma. Locally, the ladies donate money to the YWCA, Salvation Army, Children’s Bible School and youth projects within the church. They assist with Indian Missions in Eastern Oklahoma, at Cookston Hills, the Holsinger Home and the Circle of Care Project, which is a foster home that aims to keep siblings together when they hav e to be taken from their home. The Sparrows do their part as well, making quilts for every baby that is baptized in the church and creating community quilts, such as quilts for the Y and cancer quilts. The exhibit will showcase all types of quilts, including antiques from the ‘20s and ‘30s or before, hand quilted, applique, machine quilted, themed and many more. Anyone interested in entering their own quilt in the show should contact Diane Ford at dianeebutler@gmail.com. All quilts will be handled with the finest care. Head over to the First United Methodist Church on Cherokee Strip Day, September 18, to see and bid on Mary’s quilt, and catch a glimpse of many other works of art while there. E
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Karen Spain from JC Penney, Debbie Martin, Kathy Carpentar from JC Penney & Madison Martin before the Makeover
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Cathy Nulph, Debbie Martin & Madison Martin
Rhonda Koehn of HeartQuest Salon, Madison & Debbie Martin
Rhonda Koehn & Debbie Martin
Debbie Martin, Shanda Slater from The Buckle & Madison Martin
Jamie Davis from Rib Crib, Madison & Debbie Martin
Some of the goodies donated to the Martin Family
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Michelle Nightengale & Debbie Martin (Bare Escentuals Studio 22)
Madison Martin nominated her mom Debbie Martin for an Ambush Makeover. Much to her surprise- Madison also received a makeover. Thanks to all the great people that made this a very special Ambush makeover.
Kathy Carpentar from JC Penney
Debbie Martin (During Make-Up)
Below: Karen Spain from JC Penney, Debbie Martin, Kathy Carpentar from J.C. Penney’s & Madison Martin after the Makeover
Cathy Nulph HeartQuest Salon & Wig Studio Bare Escentuals, Michelle Nightengale JC Penney Soapweeds & Cactus Furniture Gallery Curttright Honda, Julie Braden with Avon & Homemade Gourmet PetSense Basket Kase The Buckle Oakwood Mall Chick-Fil-A Jeanette Ratliff Rib Crib Studio 22 Church of Christ Nicole Winfield Rachel Hancock If you know someone who deserves an Ambush Makeover email Cathy Nulph at cnulph@eaglemkt.com 41
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Taylor Wieden
Liz Shermack, Jackie Conrady, Gina Malaska, Stacie & Makenzie Jones
Josh and Nicole Winfield
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Jalynne Phillips
Andrea Paschen, Cammeron Kaiser, Taryn Roach, Laurie Lee & Kyle Kern
Debbie Vail and Dawn Shortnacy
Zackery Hundley
Maggie Selix, Lisa Bland-Selix
Freddie Hubbard and Dawn Cornelius
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Resources that meet your E xpectations, People who exceed them.
MEMBER F.D.I.C.
(580) 233-3512 • 3202 W. Owen K. Garriott • Enid
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Home Updates
BRINGING YOUR HOME INTO THE RIGHT DECADE Story By Eva Lightsey
Photos by Rachel Hancock
Thinking about making some improvements to your home? There are some inexpensive projects that can translate into a big retur n when it’s time to sell.
Jennifer Fugazzi, owner of
Paramount Homes Real Estate Co., recommends several small finishes that can help refresh the look of your home. “Buyers want a brand ne w house, but they don’t want it at a brand ne w house price,” Fugazzi said. “There are simple things that people can do to their homes to make them mor e appealing when it’s time to sell.”
For under $100 • Light, neutral paint can make small spaces seem brighter and mor e airy. If your ceilings are low, paint them white or ivory to make them seem higher. A fresh coat in white or cream can update old kitchen cabinets. Touching up trim with fresh paint or stain can bring a room together, creating a polished, finished look. A dd new hardware and your 1980s kitchen can seem much newer. • Replace old faucets, doorknobs, hinges, and drawer and cabinet pulls. • If your bathrooms have tubs but no showers, add one. Fugazzi said she has had several buyers walk away from a home because the bathrooms didn’t 44
have a showerhead. • New doors are another inexpensive way to give your home a facelift. Hollow-core doors are inexpensive and add life to an older home. D on’t forget the closets! The impression buyers get from the bedrooms should be welcoming and clean. Old closet doors with aging mirrors and cracked veneer can distract people from your home’s positive assets. • Check your light fixtures. If there
with the addition of a fe w cheap tables and posters. If there is a finished floor, attics can often be wonder ful playrooms for kids. If you’re short on room, sometimes you can even use a large closet or pantry as an office cubby. • Faux finishes also can add a special touch to your home. You can get paint to make your walls look like anything from marble to linen. There also are stains and paint made especially for concrete, something to consider if you’re thinking about adding space b y repurposing a basement, patio or garage. Many of these finishes can be tricky to do yourself. Make sure you have someone experienced who knows what they’re doing to help you.
For under $500 is an old fluorescent light in your kitchen, replace it. See if there are any other unwelcome blasts from the past lingering from the 1970s in your hallways and bathrooms, then switch them out with something more up-to-date. • Make the most of the space y ou have. Many basements can be turned into great teen recreational rooms,
• Consider adding crown molding to a room. It is an easy way to add elegance and panache. • Refinish your hardwood floors to cover any wear. In many older homes, carpet is covering hardwood floors. If your carpet is due for r eplacement, check the condition of the floor underneath. If the wood is in good condition, consider refinishing them rather
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than putting new carpet down. • Rethink your walls. Just because a wall is ther e doesn’t necessarily mean it has to stay ther e. You can make your home seem bigger by combining small rooms that chop up your kitchen, living and dining spaces into one or more open concept spaces. Tearing down a wall completely or just opening up a par tial wall is probably less expensive than you might think. Often you can just take out a set of upper cabinets in the kitchen and open the space behind them, cr eating a
bar area that could transition to the living or dining room. “I’m always telling people to open their kitchens if they can. If you have the ability and your structure will allow for it and you won’t lose every cabinet that you’ve got, do it,” Fugazzi said. “You will have just added value to the house and it’s selling value. Your house is going to sell faster than your neighbor’s house because it’s open and more appealing.” Whether your ideas are big or small, asking for advice from a local Realtor is a great way to organize your thoughts and complete the details of y our plan. They can direct you to resources you may not have thought of or show you examples of projects that might be similar to yours. It is important to know all the angles of a project and your real estate agent has lot of experience that can help!
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580-237-6200 225 W. Cherokee Ave. Brought to you by Paramount Homes Real Estate Co.
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Diana Smith-Padron & Rhonda Harlow
Carol Conley & Megan Passey
Cecilia Holle, Dr. Lisa Harringan & Hossein A. Dehdezi
Torry & Jason Turnbow
Ashley Voss
Greg & Elizabeth Diel
Kay Sanders
Jill Kennedy
Gregg Ross
Ashley Ewbank, Ryan Allen, Leslie & Kevin Klamm
Brittany Ross
Leslie Klamm & Fraser Hay
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Wade Patterson & Brad Waken
Cheri Ezzell,Gail Wynne,Bonnie Henderson & Lavon McKnight
Liz Price & Kathy Gabelsberg
Pat & Hugh Sage with John & Roberta Walsh
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Dianne Juhnke, Kate Jordan & Christy Northcutt
Patrick Anderson & Lisa Ruhl
Jim Grantz & Vickie Fox
Florelee Day & Cathy Wiles
Gerry Allen
Bill Shewey, April Danahy & Jon Blankenship
Ladies enjoying the appetizers
CC Costello
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Aimee Evans, Odie Evans, Mary Beth McKain, Kayla McKain, Michelle Adams and Renea McKain
Willa Jo Fowler, Bonnie Vculek, Lilly Evans and Ruth Ann Erdner
Karen Spain, Janelle Faulkner, Lindy Chambers, Lisa Bland-Selix, Cathy Nulph, Debbie Keegan, Robin Parnish, Jessica Andrew, and Teri West
Mathew Crandall & Dave Hill
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Tom Auerback, Warren Orre, Gary Rogers, Merle Helt
Baylee, Cassidy, Scott and Amber Fitzgerald
Teri West
Tom Nicholas, Misty Arnett, Jillian Nicholas, Mike Nicholas, Becky Pearce, Jamie Fournier & Dwayne Harvey
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Bob Dense, Sharon & David Trojan
Toni Decock, Kris Bundy & Paul Allen
Jim Zaloudek,Michael Carnuccio, & John Hanes
Bambi Spaulding, William Navarro, Caitlin Theilen,Carly Theilen, & Ben Krausse
Brandon Turnbow
Ryan Nall
Troy Ullom & Ava Shultz
Kelly Hartling & Stacie Caywood
Jason, Stacie & Haylie Caywood
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Gateway Enid:
Taking Care of Our Hometown By Molly Helm Photo by Dawn Muncy, Muncy Photography
Above: EHS Plainsmen looking for a home court.
Photo by Bailey Photography
After years of analyzing Enid’s needs and months of planning with community members and outside experts, the City of Enid is eager to make the community dream of a revitalized downtown come true. The decision comes down to the results of one day: August 24. The outcome of this work depends on voters and how they choose to cast their ballots for a $20 million bond issue. On that fourth Tuesday in August, Enid voters will be asked to decide whether Gateway Enid and the projects associated with it will become reality. Community supporters, sports enthusiasts, historians and parents are just some of the proponents for this project, which according to many, has been needed for a long time. “We have a historic opportunity to invest in our future by attracting new jobs and new entertainment,” said Martie Oyler, Enid resident and parent of three Enid High School Students. “Enid is uniquely positioned to capitalize on our current momentum and create something special. Gateway Enid can bring more people downtown, from entertainers and shop-
pers to corporate meetings and spor ts fans. This plan lays the foundation for decades of success for our city.” If the bond is approved by voters, the City of Enid is prepared to match funds with an additional $20 million. A new events center, renovation of Convention Hall/Mark Price Arena and the Cherokee Strip Conference Center, the beautification of downtown, a greenbelt connecting downtown to Owen K. Garriott and signage leading visitors to the area will be completed within three years. Even better, supporters say, is the fact that Gateway Enid extends a current tax, meaning the city’s tax rate will not increase. In fact, records show Gateway Enid will lower taxes from seven mils to five mils. Successes in communities like Woodward, Ardmore, Bartlesville, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and Midwest City showcase those who have recently invested in facilities with the purpose of impr oving the quality of life for r esidents, as well as attracting visitors. These communities exemplify the return on investments that is possible through revitalization efforts. 57
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Photo by Bailey Photography
Photo by Bailey Photography
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett joined the ranks of those supporting the bond issue when he spoke at an Enid Regional Development Alliance meeting in July. He told how Oklahoma City’s own series of voterpassed bond issues, known as MAPS, created thousands of jobs, brought in new business and kept Oklahoma City’s unemployment rate among the nation’s lowest. It also made downtown Oklahoma City a tourist destination. “Our MAPS initiatives have been a huge success for our residents, our businesses and our families,” Cornett said. “I know Enid is strong financially
so I would encourage its r esidents to invest in their city’s future. Oklahoma City shows that nothing beats investing in yourself.” A committee of Enid city staff and local citizens studied what projects were needed to grow Enid responsibly. The Gateway Enid Committee worked with consultants from Global Spectrum and Hunden Strategic Partners to determine the feasibility of the project. They say the $20 million in bond money and the $20 million in available city funding combine to make an impressive blueprint to improve downtown and
attract new entertainment. “We definitely studied Enid’s history and looked at where we wanted to go and how we could do it in a r esponsible way to taxpayers,” said Commissioner Don Rose. “I wish I could say that as a committee w e had a favorite aspect of this plan, but the truth is that each element complements the next. Each par t of Gateway Enid makes the next one str onger and more important to Enid’s future.” Rose said Gateway Enid honors Enid’s history by turning historic buildings – some unused – into r evenue drivers. The goal is to reflect the
-Members of the EHS teams who would have a new home in the renovated convention hall 58
Photo by Muncy Photography
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Preliminary 3D rendering of the proposed downtown enid renovation
charm of downtown buildings in the design of the new, more functional facilities. While historic Convention Hall/Mark Price Arena is well-loved, it sits vacant because of its deteriorating condition. In fact, taxpayers spend nearly $250,000 annually in maintenance costs. Enid officials decided that continuing to maintain an unusable Mark Price Arena was neither economically feasible nor responsible to taxpayers. Funds from the bond issue will turn Mark Price Arena into a flexible and multi-functional community facility available for many events. Improvements will make it available for Enid Public Schools activities, including basketball, wrestling, cheerleading and volleyball, as well as other uses. Local and regional sporting events and tournaments will take place at the improved building, which will benefit the local economy. Rose said that means out-of-area dollars will come to Enid as visitors shop and dine locally and stay here. “Enid can become the enter tainment hub for northwest Oklahoma,” Rose said. “These projects build upon our current infrastructure and strategically implement a series of impr ovement projects to increase business and deliver the best bang for the buck for our residents.” Rose pointed to low construction costs as one of the r easons he supports the bond issue. He said the nation’s current economic conditions have created low costs of which residents can take advantage. Because Enid is sound financially, Rose said, residents have
Photo by Bailey Photography
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3D Rendering of the current downtown enid
Gateway Enid hopes to fill empty downtown spaces like this one. Photo by Bailey Photography
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the opportunity to lock-in low rates. Locking in costs now will save the city tax dollars. He called the fact that tax rates will actually decrease a “win-win” for taxpayers. He pointed to a study that conservatively estimated a 5 percent annual revenue growth from Gateway Enid. “We’ve talked to leaders from other cities who became envious when w e told them that Gateway Enid would lower tax rates while increasing revenue at the same time,” Rose said. “It’s a homerun that we hope residents support.” One of the groups most vocal about supporting the bond issue is a gr oup not yet old enough to vote. Student athletes at Enid High School hope for positive results at the polls. "Right now, Plainsmen and Pacer teams play all over town and that is not the same as having a home cour t. A place for basketball, volleyball, wrestling and cheer would be gr eat," says Gabrielle Henson, an EHS cheerleader. "The cheerleaders would like to build up school and fan spirit for all
the sports." A former Plainsmen passionate for the cause is Brent Price, EHS basketball star and retired NBA player. "Anybody who has ever played team sports understands the importance of having a home court advantage. Playing on a home cour t gives an emotional benefit to the team," says P rice. "Enid has not had that, so they play as basically an 'away' team all y ear, which is unheard of for a 6A school. That is a big disadvantage for the players, the school and the community. Having a home court is about more than competition, though. Having a place to call home builds tradition and community pride for the whole town." Despite the optimism, backers of the bond issue convey when discussing the elements they support, none of the projects will come to Enid without a majority of yes votes on Aug. 24. “August 24 could become one of the most-important days in the histor y of Enid,” said Oyler. “I truly hope the community comes together and votes yes on that day.”
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Jordan Herrera & Nicole Reed
Kristian Murray, Harmony Guidry and Adam Jantz at N'Style
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Bailea Roundtree, Jara Lemmon and Lola Dewitt
Chad and Carissa Kent, owners of N'Style
Mary Chrisman, Lori Johnson, Maria W ashington, Betty Collingsworth, Vivian Smith, Mary Stam, Kim Mack, Lisa Gau, Tami Bittle, Lori Martin, Kim Harris, Angela Andrews and 62 Rhonda Maxwell of the Dexeus Oncology Team
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Renee Dexeus
Kaley Thornton and Heather Mcpherson
Dick Ewbank and "Big Daddy" Graham of Big Blue Dump Truck
The cancer survivors and families of survivors release their balloons after the first lap
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