2012 Dec Oklahoma Magazine

DECEMBER 2012

December 2012

Great COMPANIES to work for Special S pecial R Report eport

30 30

featuring an exclusive interview with T. Boone Pickens

DAYS

PHOTOS dec 12 cover .indd 15

People With Style 11/15/12 4:49 PM

HappyHolidays!

Enjoy the convenient extended holiday hours

and magical holiday scenery at Utica Square, Tulsa’s finest collection of shops and restaurants. To learn more, please visit us at www.UticaSquare.com.

Utica Square gift certificates available at Commerce Bank.

December 012 Master Magazine.indd cvr2

Utica at Twenty First

11/9/12 3:51 PM

GIVE THE GIFT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC. Bank of Oklahoma is proud to sponsor The Salvation Army Toy Drive for thirteen years in a row.

Share in the joy and magic of the holiday season by donating a new unwrapped toy for children ages 6 months to 13 years at any Bank of Oklahoma banking center location.

Text JOY BOK to 85944 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army.

Long live the gift of holiday magic!

Š 2012 Bank of Oklahoma, a division of BOKF, NA. Member FDIC.

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VOL. XVI, NO. 12

FEATURES

59

Great Companies To Work For

94

30 Days 30 Photos Mike Jones and Kyle Golding had a vision: 30 photos in 30 days. The duo would commission 30 of the state’s best photographers to photograph 30 people, places and events that defined Oklahoma in 2012, subjects that were curated by internet voting, all in 30 days. The result is 30 unique visions of our state that capture a moment of this year.

SPECIAL SECTIONS

82

BRENT FUCHS

December 2 0 1 2 O K L A H O M A M A G A Z I N E

Having survived the worst to date of the national crisis and in the midst of an energy renaissance, Oklahoma is poised for a healthy economic future. Diversification of the state economy is an integral component of that prognosis. This comprehensive special report takes a look at that diversity through the lens of a survey of Oklahoma’s 2012 Great Companies To Work For and spotlights a number of fields where the state is rich in good employers offering excellent career opportunities. Additionally, senior editor Michael W. Sasser profiles two very different titans of industry – SandRidge’s Tom Ward and BP Capital’s T. Boone Pickens – to discuss success and business. Writer Brian Patrick explores business successes built on serving the larger community.

People With Style Chris Hill decides what his wardrobe theme will be each season, then hits the thrift stores to make that theme come to life. Julie Martin loves to wear designer clothes and Louboutin shoes, but her favorite accessory is her Kiehl’s lip balm. A self-described ultimate geek in high school, Dr. Anu Bajaj now enjoys dressing in stylish clothing procured from local shops, as well as colorful saris that reflect her Indian heritage. Style takes many shapes and forms ms in our annual feature that showcases some of the most beautiful and unique in the state.

102 Senior Facilities

OKMAG.COM Want some more? Visit us online.

DECEMBER 2012

Great COMPANIES to work for Special Sp Special pecia ecial a Re Report Report

30 30

featuring an exclusive interview with T. Boone Pickens

DAYS

PHOTOS

2

People With Style

ON THE COVER: THE “2012 GREAT COMPANIES TO WORK FOR INCLUDES AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BUSINESS GURU T. BOONE PICKENS. PHOTO BY DAN SELLERS.

M O R E G R E AT A R T I C L E S : Read expanded articles and stories that don’t appear in the print edition.

M O R E P H O T O S : View expanded Scene, Fashion, Taste andd Entertainment galleries.

M O R E E V E N T S : The online calendar of events includes even more great Oklahoma events.

Get Oklahoma

On The Go!

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER

TULSA’S 2012 C0NSUMER CHOICE AWARD WINNER

TULSA, THANKS TO YOU, ST. JOHN MEDICAL CENTER IS A NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION CONSUMER CHOICE AWARD WINNER FOR 2012. We rank first in every category: Best Doctors, Best Nurses, Best Reputation and Best Overall Quality. We’re honored to treat every patient with compassion and every medical need with excellence. Simply put, we’re committed to you. And knowing that you’re just as committed to us makes our jobs even more fulfilling. From all of us at St. John Medical Center, thank you.

2012

St. John is honored to be selected as a Great Company to Work For by Oklahoma Magazine.

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Contents

DEPARTMENTS The State

11

14 Issues & Ideas 16 People

When Shirley Hammer bought her father’s construction business after Oklahoma City’s great energy collapse of the early ‘80s, the odds were stacked against the company’s future success. Three decades later, Hammer is still at the helm, providing much needed construction services to the state’s oil and gas industry.

18 20 22 24 26 30

Culture The Talk The Insider Scene Spotlight Oklahoma Business

38

Life

35

42

36 Home Trends 38 Living Spaces Interior designer Jennifer Welch and her husband, Jason, renovated a 1930s bungalow in tony Nichols Hills. The standard exterior façade of the 3,000-square-foot home masks the vibrant colors and unique art and furniture that are featured throughout. With an eye for pattern and the unusual, the couple has created a home that is at once an eyepopping and livable space for its family.

42 48 50 54

107

Style Trendspotting Your Health Destinations

Taste

What can improve the dining experience at Oklahoma City’s hottest new restaurant? How about if that restaurant is located on the top floor of the Devon Tower, the state’s tallest building? Delicious food and drink paired with the best view in the city makes Vast a must-visit for any occasion.

16 107

110 What We’re Eating 112 In The Kitchen

115

Entertainment

The visual wonderment of a Cirque du Soleil show goes unmatched until the next production comes to town. Dralion, Cirque’s 12th touring production, visits both the BOK Center and Cheseapeake Arena, bringing the interpretational performance of East meeting West, complete with the acrobatics and feats that audiences have come to expect from the most breath-taking show on earth.

116 Calendar of Events 126 Music 128 In Person 4

115

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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2012

Leadership to build a better future.

In 1960 Natalie and William K. Warren, Sr., envisioned a hospital that would forever change healthcare in the Tulsa area. Today, Saint Francis Health System realizes that vision through medical excellence, innovation, leadership and a strong Catholic heritage. With construction underway on the new 150-bed Trauma Emergency Center and patient tower, Saint Francis continues to expand healthcare services to meet the needs of the community. Saint Francis remains committed to meeting not only the healthcare demands of today, but also those of future generations.

Saint Francis Health System | 918-494-2200 | www.saintfrancis.com

SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL | THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT SAINT FRANCIS | WARREN CLINIC | HEART HOSPITAL AT SAINT FRANCIS | SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL SOUTH | LAUREATE PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC AND HOSPITAL | SAINT FRANCIS BROKEN ARROW

December 012 Master Magazine.indd 5

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Models & Muses Max Weber and the Figure

Nov 4, 2012 – Feb 3, 2013

OKLAHOMA PRESIDENT AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DANIEL SCHUMAN PUBLISHER AND FOUNDER VIDA K. SCHUMAN EDITOR THOM GOLDEN SENIOR EDITOR MICHAEL W. SASSER ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAMI MATTOX

This exhibition, originated

by Philbrook, traces Max Weber’s trailblazing contributions to American modernism through the medium of figure painting.

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS CHRIS SUTTON JOHN WOOLEY EDITORIAL ASSISTANT KAREN SHADE GRAPHICS MANAGER MARK ALLEN GRAPHICS ASSISTANT MORGAN WELCH CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS NATALIE GREEN, BRENT FUCHS, CHRIS HUMPHREY, NATHAN HARMON, JEREMY CHARLES, DAN MORGAN, SCOTT MILLER, MARK TORRANCE, HEATH SHARP, JENNIFER PITTS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AUDRA O’NEAL ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER JASMINE MEJIA INTERN JOHN PARSONS, NATHAN PORTER

Max Weber The Dance, 1912 (detail) Pastel on paper Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA, Courtesy Debra Force Fine Art, New York

CONTACT US ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: ADVERTISING@OKMAG.COM EVENTS AND CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS: EVENTS@OKMAG.COM QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT CONTENT: EDITOR@OKMAG.COM ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: MAIL@OKMAG.COM

Oklahoma Magazine presents

Oklahoma Magazine is published monthly by Schuman Publishing Company P.O. Box 14204 • Tulsa, OK 74159-1204 918.744.6205 • FAX: 918.748.5772 mail@okmag.com www.okmag.com Subscriptions are $18 for 12 issues.

Mail checks to Oklahoma Magazine P.O. Box 14204 Tulsa, OK 74159-1204 Copyright © 2012 by Schuman Publishing Company.

Oklahoma Wedding, The Best of the Best, 40 Under 40, Single in the City and Oklahomans of the Year are registered trademarks of Schuman Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

All requests for permission and reprints must be made in writing to Oklahoma Magazine, c/o Reprint Services, P.O. Box 14204, Tulsa, OK 74159-1204. Advertising claims and the views expressed in the magazine by writers or artists do not necessarily represent those of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Company, or its affiliates.

2012

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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More than150 categories representing the best of Oklahoma

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Unless you’ve been sequestered on a desert island for the past few months, and for some that may seem an enviable position, you know that employment is a hot topic of public and political discourse, playing a huge role in the 2012 elections. The efforts of Oklahoma companies to grow in the face of trying economic times was one reason Oklahoma Magazine chose to focus on employment in our inaugural “Great Companies To Work For� special report last year. For our second edition, we’ve expanded to include even more companies that work to provide a diversified state economy that boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in country. These are companies that are simultaneously investing in their employees and in their communities to create the sound footing that has helped our state weather recent financial storms. The report also includes an overview of some of the key sectors that make up the Oklahoma jobs market and terrific interviews with two very different energy moguls, T. Boone Pickens and SandRidge Energy’s Tom Ward. We also take a look at businesses whose missions put the greater good above the bottom line. All together, our report paints a picture that gives insight into why Oklahoma’s economy has widely been noted as one for others to watch – and in which to invest.

We also continue what has become a December tradition: “People With Style.�

While Oklahoma may not be thought of as a bastion of fashion, this feature proves time and time again that we do indeed have legions of well-dressed citizens, and, in typical Okie fashion, they’re expressing a sense of style all our own.

We’re also pleased to present “30 Days 30 Photos,� the brainchild of Oklahoma City creatives Mike Jones and Kyle Golding. The duo set out to capture 30 images from many of the state’s top photographers and create a collection that summarizes a year in the life of the Sooner State.

Thom Golden Editor

Voting begins January 1 2013

Internet voting for Tulsa and Oklahoma City The Best of the Best awards will begin on January 1.

Visit www.okmag.com for rules and online ballots.

8

Contributors

Each year our readers voice their opinions for our annual The Best of the Best issue. From burgers to banks, bike shops to EUXQFK WKH\ WHOO XV ZKR¡V doing a good job, and ZKR¡V GRLQJ WKH EHVW

As part of “Great Companies To Work For� (p.

58), senior editor Michael W. Sasser crossed the Red River for a face-to-face with energy guru and business icon T. Boone Pickens (“The Plan Man,� p. 60). “Boone has a reputation for no nonsense in addition to being one of the biggest names in the overall business world for decades,� Sasser says. “He’s also 84, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Instead of a cantankerous octogenarian, Boone instead presented as a gracious, curious gentleman with a quick mind and an incomparable grasp of business and economics. Instead of a tense operation, Boone’s very sweet dog roamed the offices with employees who seemed more like family than the calculating financial wizards one might imagine. Boone clearly has many years left in him, and the smart money is on him continuing to make money for his various causes, and

to make people think smarter about the nation’s energy future, too.�

M.J. Van Deventer has written about interior design for more than 40 years.

She is the author of six books on interior design, including three on Country French with Tulsa designer Charles Faudree. She is a former writer with the Tulsa World, Tulsa Tribune, The Oklahoman and the Fort Worth Star Telegram and the former editor-in-chief of Oklahoma Lifestyle magazine. In addition to being a writer and editor, she has taught writing at Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma. Van Deventer chatted with Oklahoma City interior designer Jennifer Welch for a profile of Welch’s home (“Bold Is Better,� p. 40). This is Van Deventer’s second assignment for Oklahoma Magazine.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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2012

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The State ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

Volunteers dress in Victorianera clothing in anticipation of The Territorial Christmas Celebration in Guthrie.

All Aglow Small towns across Oklahoma take holiday decorations to the extreme.

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS.

A

lthough some people dread the first sight of Christmas decorations in local stores, many small towns across Oklahoma are thinking about Christmas year-round.

Towns such as Guthrie, Woodward and Chickasha spend months preparing, with thousands of dollars and volunteer hours going into transforming the towns into a full Christmas experience.

“The Territorial Christmas Celebration is the biggest event of the year for our town,” says Lucy Swanson of the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce. “Our downtown merchants, in particular, feel that it is the biggest money maker of the year.”

Guthrie, which was once the territorial capital of the state of Oklahoma, began its annual celebration in the late 1980s when locals began wearing Victorian-era clothing and strolling through the downtown area or working in local shops, many choosing to create “living Christmas cards” in their windows.

“Guthrie was in the midst of a renaissance of sorts at the time, as the beauty and history contained in the lovely Victorian buildings downtown had been rediscovered and restored,” Swanson says. “It

was perfect timing and a perfect idea to promote our beautiful little town, ‘The Williamsburg of the West’.”

This year, Guthrie expects thousands of visitors not just from Oklahoma but from around the world to visit their town to enjoy the festivities and participate in the Victorian Walks, enjoying more decorations and living Christmas cards than ever before.

“This year we will have improved decorations, more windows, added venues, and the Sweet Adeline Choir will be performing, as well as school choirs from across the state,” Swanson says. “One of the cool things about the whole thing is that anyone can jump in and participate. All you need is an outfit and you are in.”

Woodward, which is celebrating its 17th year of decorating in 2012, each year creates Crystal Christmas in Crystal Beaches Park. Though the event had humble beginnings, taking more than a year to plan the first time, the event has grown consistently year to year says Steve Jones, the chairman for this year’s event.

“The amount of lights has easily tripled and we have changed from strands of clear bulbs to the LED lights and rope lighting,” he says. There are now also animated displays, colored lights, a commuDECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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The State

nity choir and a live nativity.”

This year’s display will include “trees in different colors, more snowflakes and a fireworks display,” says Jones. The walkways will be lined with candy canes and the animated tunnel will have another color added to it, as well.

“I have helped on a lot of projects in the Woodward community, but Crystal Christmas is my favorite,” Jones says. “It brings an entire community out to volunteer and provides entertainment for all ages. Between the Kiwanis Train, Santa, the live Nativity, the Community Choir in the park, the opening night fireworks and all the lights it is 6 weeks of fun filled events.”

Volunteers spend more than 3,000 hours on the event each year, Jones says, between decorating and maintaining the event nightly. It takes around 10 weeks to set up, runs for 6 weeks and takes 6 weeks to tear down.

“The drive through the park is approximately 1 mile long,” Jones says. “We decorate the drive from entrance to exit, the Elks Rodeo grandstand, the Woodward Travelers baseball grandstand, the Crystal Beach water park, the interior of the park, the Crystal Beach Lake and bridge.”

Overall the event will draw more than

35,000 visitors to Woodward during its 6-week run.

The Festival of Lights, which has inspired many other small towns including Woodward, began 20 years ago in Chickasha, says Mark Millsap, director of marketing for the event.

“This is the most positive thing that the City of Chickasha does for tourism and economic development,” Millsap says. “We want to be proud of our city.”

This year’s addition to the 2012 display will be an animated light show set to music, Millsap says. Nearly 1,200 volunteers dedicate their time to install the more than 3.5 million lights that adorn Shannon Springs Park from Nov. 22 to New Year’s Eve. Millsap says he expects more than 300,000 visitors will make their way through the park this season.

The event, which supports itself entirely through funds raised through tour fees and donations, uses the funds to improve displays and the park itself each year. Over the last 20 years, more than $280,000 in improvements have been made to the Shannon Springs Park through funds raised by the Festival of Lights.

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The State

ISSUES & IDEAS

Just Say No Oklahoma lawmakers add drug testing to public assistance applications.

S

14

Sen. David Holt (R-Oklahoma City) is the co-author of HB 2388, which, in some cases, requires drug-testing to receive government assistance.

ultimately omitted from the bill’s final version. “The reason that the original bill had it in there was because it was borrowed from other states,” Holt says, adding that testing will be financed at no new cost to taxpayers.

While similar measures in other states have been met with legal challenges, Kiesel says his organization is not pursuing measures to block HB 2388’s implementation. “We’re going to keep a close eye on the way it’s administered.” He notes that ACLU Oklahoma will pay special attention regarding the measure’s application in relation to the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits unreasonable search and seizure.

Kiesel adds that ACLU Oklahoma’s non-challenge doesn’t necessarily mean the organization is content with the bill. “What was ultimately passed was disappointing from the standpoint that (the legislature) felt (it) had to pass legislation for a problem that doesn’t exist.”

BRIAN PATRICK

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS.

ome Oklahomans seeking state-funded financial assistance may have at least one more hoop to jump through.

With Gov. Mary Fallin’s signing of House Bill 2388, the Sooner State became one of at least 28 states this year alone to approve or consider legislation mandating drug testing as a requirement for receiving funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The law requires that all adult applicants for state financial assistance undergo screening for illegal usage of controlled substances.

“This issue received national attention over the last couple of years,” says State Sen. David Holt (R-Oklahoma City), HB 2388 co-author.

The controversial measure has been viewed by some as a common-sense approach to guaranteeing that public funds are not used to help an addict finance a drug habit. However, the bill’s detractors see it as an unnecessary added stigma on a sector of society that some say has been stigmatized enough.

“I think laws such as this are a result of false stereotypes across the board,” says Ryan Kiesel, executive director of ACLU Oklahoma.

Despite such legislation enjoying increasing nationwide momentum, Kiesel sees the motivation to implement such laws as nothing more than a manufactured problem, pointing to Florida as an example. “The actual percentage of the population (seeking assistance) that tested positive was lower than the assumed rate in the public at large,” he says.

HB 2388 mandates that drug screening will happen at the time of application. Additional screening methods, including clinical interviews, may also be used to establish what the bill calls a “reasonable expectation of certainty.” A refusal to test will result in a denial of TANF benefits. “That is a dramatic change in Oklahoma policy,” says Holt.

A positive test, however, does not permanently disqualify an applicant from receiving TANF benefits. Applicants testing positive for illegal drugs will be given a list of substance abuse treatment programs, and may be approved for TANF benefits one year after initial denial. The one-year waiting period may be reduced to six months for applicants who successfully complete an approved treatment program. A second positive test translates to a denial of benefits for three years. Holt believes the measure can serve as motivation for drug users to reconsider their habits. “There’s more of an incentive to get clean when you’re not going to get cash benefits.”

Holt says the final bill was drastically changed from its early versions. “It ended up we did not require chemical tests of all applicants,” he explains.

The final version does not require drug testing for cases in which minor children will be the sole benefit recipients, or for parents under age 18.

A particularly controversial provision in the legislation’s early drafts requiring applicants to pay out-of-pocket for the testing was OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Hammering Away Shirley Hammer has spent more than 20 years guiding her father’s legacy.

S

In July 1988, Jack penned a sale, and he hirley Hammer, president and his daughter shook hands on it. and owner of Norman-based Hammer was now in charge of the Hammer Construction, is no company during one of the worst times for stranger to boom and bust in the energy sector in Oklahoma history and the Oklahoma energy industry. beyond assisting her father, she had no expeHammer Construction started in 1958 rience in the construction and energy field. when Shirley’s father Jack Hammer – a man with a name made for the construction Shirley Hammer stands in front of a industry – two of his fresh frack water pit in Geary, Okla. uncles and several laborers began selling roustabout and construction services to Oklahoma oil companies.

The company still primarily serves the energy industry to this day.

Shirley Hammer came into ownership of the business as the state was reeling from the 1982 Penn Square Bank crash, which precipitated Oklahoma’s most recent energy bust.

She had come on board to help in some of her father’s oil drilling ventures when he told her he was unable to continue running the company he built due to his failing health.

“I remember clearly the day my “I was so naive and green and I bought father told me he could not continue,” Hamthis business on a heartstring,” Hammer mer says. “I told him I wanted to continue says. “I didn’t realize what depths the indusand him being the father he was, he thought try was in at that time. Had I known I might I needed to pay for it so I would take care not have bought the business.” of it.”

16

Working in a field that is seen by many, including Hammer’s father at times, as a man’s domain has never been a challenge for the founder’s daughter.

“I have never thought of it as a field dominated by men,” Hammer says. “I made a choice 25 years ago to continue the family business, and I have faced many challenges, but none that are gender related.”

In fact, the hardest challenge the company has overcome is a familiar one to Hammer – an ailing economy.

“I think (the Penn Square Bank crash) taught me a lot about survival,” Hammer says. “It taught me not to give up.”

At the height of the 2009 financial crisis, many companies were feeling the squeeze, and Hammer’s jobs in the state dried up.

Hammer Construction employed nearly 300 people at the time of the 2009 financial crisis. It now employs fewer than 200.

Hammer, however, managed to stay afloat by downsizing, selling off equipment and aggressively pursuing out-of-state work in West Virginia and Pennsylvania to keep equipment in use and the employees busy. Since 2010, the company has had more work in Oklahoma and today primarily operates in this state, Kansas and Texas.

Though Hammer Construction has been through ups and downs, Shirley Hammer plans to keep the future of the business in the family.

“I am proud to say the legacy and future for Hammer Construction continues with my son, Taylor Jennings, as manager of CNG fleet conversions, and son-in-law, Robby Moore as vice president of operations.”

MORGAN BROWNE

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS.

The State

PEOPLE

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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2012

In addition to TU’s internationally known McDougall School of Petroleum Engineering, the university offers highly regarded programs in energy law and energy management. TU’s Collins College of Business is among the nation’s top 50 business schools, and the TU College of Law is ranked in the top 100 law schools in the country.

Jeffrey McDougall

For petroleum and mechanical engineers, the university dedicated a new building in October — Stephenson Hall — which offers state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

We are thankful to generous benefactors such as Jeffrey McDougall and Charles and Peggy Stephenson who allow TU to offer such an incredible academic experience.

Charles and Peggy Stephenson

TU is a top 50 private institution. ;< PZ HU ,,6 (( PUZ[P[\[PVU

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The State

C U LT U R E

Downtown’s Up-AndComers The Downtown Club of Oklahoma City includes the city’s young and ambitious.

B

uilding a career, finding a partner, starting a family and building a life keep the 25-to-40-year-old set fairly occupied. Time is tight, and getting involved or networking outside of activities that are generally related to these ends is often difficult, even for the most ambitious.

Ten years ago, though, a group of ambitious young profession-

18

als working in downtown Oklahoma City recruited their peers from different industries and companies and got together for lunch. The idea was to connect young professionals in Oklahoma City, find out what issues were affecting the community and, they hoped, to inform one another and impact the future of Oklahoma City. The group would become the Downtown Club of Oklahoma City.

“Our goal was to pull together the potential leaders of Oklahoma City,” says Brad Knowles, president of Downtown Club of Oklahoma City and owner of RBK Capitol.

Knowles has been a member of the group since it began and has seen it grow to the club’s capped membership of 75.

“We aren’t trying to be exclusive, but we don’t want to be so big that people can’t know each other,” says Knowles.

The group also tries to mirror in its membership the business landscape of Oklahoma City by limiting the number of members from each industry and company.

This casts a web of connections across the city that affords the club the opportunity to bring in an impressive lineup of guests to speak at their monthly meeting.

It didn’t hurt that among the founders of the organization were well-connected young professionals who were part of powerful political families in the city.

“They had better access to high-profile speakers than a guy like me,” says Ainslie Stanford, president-elect of Downtown Club of OKC. “I saw it as a way to immediately connect with a lot of the visible young leaders in Oklahoma City and it has definitely served that purpose,” says Stanford, who is originally from Tulsa.

Jodana Borden, the vice president of resource development at the United Way, was accepted into one of the club’s few vacancies this spring through the requisite application process.

“I learn more about issues facing our community and get an awareness of things going on that I might not otherwise have known about,” she says.

To her, membership in the organization is not only to inform and better herself, but also to take back to work and the people she works with everyday the knowledge and connections that she has gained through her involvement.

The purpose she says is “to be a better leader with that knowledge.”

And for a demographic that is decidedly busy, one lunch a month is a comfortable commitment.

“We figured that even the busiest person could carve out one lunch a month to participate,” says Knowles.

LINDSEY JOHNSON

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS.

Brad Knowles is president of Downtown Club of Oklahoma City.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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The State

OM: What do you consider to have been your “big break?”

JK: When my partner Stephanie and I decided to make a short film to promote our first collection, we weren’t in any stores and we weren’t in a showroom yet. We launched the film online, and it started getting picked up by a lot of fashion blogs and websites.

Within an hour we were getting calls from department stores like Barneys New York and Browns London. The response was beyond anything we could have imagined and it really proved to us the possibilities of using film and the internet to create a brand.

Another big break came recently when supermodel Kate Moss was photographed by the papparazzi wearing one of our fur coats.

OM: What was the genesis of Co? JK: When we started Co, my partner Stephanie and I were actually both working in film. Stephanie had grown up in fashion – her father owned a showroom and her mother was a designer – and we would often talk about doing something together. We were between projects in 2010, and that’s when we decided to experiment with making a few samples. We called the brand Co because in film we would always joke about being “co-producers,” “co-writers,” etc. For us, the word Co really symbolized our partnership in whatever we were doing.

T H E TA L K

Multimedia Style Justin Kern draws on several creative influences for a fashion endeavor.

Oklahoma-born Justin Kern began his career as a model, working with photographers such as Steven Meisel, Patrick Demarchelier and Mario Testino – later working as an assistant for Testino – before moving to L.A. to pursue film. He and business partner, film producer Stephanie Danan, have partnered on Co, a line of luxury fashion essentials designed to be timeless and easy to wear.

Oklahoma Magazine: Growing up in Oklahoma, did you envision a career in the creative arts – design, filmmaking – and when did you first develop those passions?

Justin Kern: I was always attracted to movies, books, and storytelling in general. Design wasn’t something I was very conscious of growing up, but with two older sisters I had to spend a lot of time being dragged through department stores and waiting outside of dressing rooms. Ralph Lauren was probably the first brand that really made me take notice. It wasn’t just clothing; it was an entire world. The stores felt like movie sets with all their props and staging. The cinematic quality of his work stayed with me and is still a big influence in how we combine fashion and film with Co. 20

OM: What are your ambitions for Co? JK: Right now our goal is to continue to grow the brand by adding great stores, expanding internationally, and eventually adding e-commerce. After four seasons, we’re now carried in more than 20 countries, including 30 stores across Asia, which has become an enormously important market. In the coming seasons we will hopefully be expanding from two collections a year to four. And I would love to start doing menswear.

MICHAEL W. SASSER

Images from the Co Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 collections.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CO.

Justin Kern has partnered with Stephanie Danan to create a luxury fashion line.

OM: What was your mission/vision in the development of Co’s collections?

JK: Because Stephanie worked as a film producer for 15 years, we wanted to create a brand aimed at creative professionals like her.

These are women who love fashion, want to express themselves in what they wear, but still have to be taken seriously in the workplace. We try and avoid falling too much into trend and instead focus on classic shapes and luxury fabrics. We are currently focused on bringing in more design elements, and upping the sophistication and femininity, while still maintaining the practicality of a great basic.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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TO OUR DEDICATED THUNDER EMPLOYEES Thank you for your unwavering commitment to building a ďŹ rst-class, professional sports organization. Your energy, talent and enthusiasm are valued and appreciated.

Clayton I. Bennett | Chairman, Oklahoma City Thunder

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The State

THE INSIDER

Holiday Bonus

The sounds of Christmas are now a regular presence in October, November.

E

ven for grownups, the holiday season brings a time of wonder. You might wonder, for instance, what fool would decide that it’d be a good idea for a radio station to switch to an all-Christmas music format at the end of October.

More than once, during a long career in radio, Tulsa’s Steve Clem has been responsible for exactly that. But he’s hardly a fool, although he’s been called that – and worse – for starting the Yuletide-tune blitz almost two months before the first gift under the tree gets unwrapped.

“In Salt Lake City, where Christmas music is huge, my station and a competing station went head-to-head, and our station started (all-holiday music) on Halloween,” he recalls with a smile. “We did that as a stunt; everybody notices when you start playing Christmas music on Halloween.”

Although, he adds, some of the notice was not particularly flattering.

“I got a lot of emails along the lines of, ‘Are you out of your mind?’ My favorite one said, ‘Congratulations. You’ve managed to ruin three holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.’

“People were incensed. They were saying they’d never listen to the station again. Then, the ratings came out, and we were on top. That’s because when they were ready for Christmas music, ours was the 22

station they thought of.”

Currently the operations director for Tulsa’s National Public Radio affiliate KWGS (89.5 FM), Clem started his radio career as an announcer and deejay in 1973 at Duncan’s KRHD. He’s made his living on the airwaves ever since. Sometimes, his primary job has been that of a consultant, programming a variety of radio stations.

Other times, he’s been a full-time member of a particular station’s staff, consulting others on the side. That’s his situation now, as he continues working with a couple of other stations in addition to his work for KWGS. In 2000, Clem was program director of Oklahoma City’s KQSR, an adult-contemporary station. That year, he says, was really when intensive Christmas programming took off around the country – and he was right in the middle of it.

“Before then, the normal thing a station did when the holidays got close was start filtering in a Christmas song or two between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve,” he explains. “Typically, the continuous Christmas music would start about 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve and run until about noon on Christmas day. But around 2000, the success of KESZ in Phoenix – which had been playing all-Christmas music between Thanksgiving and Christmas for a few years – really started circulating around Clear Channel, which owned the station.

“KQSR was a Clear Channel station, too, and all us (program directors) were talking about what we should do for the holiday season,” he adds. “One of the consultants said we ought to look at playing all-Christmas music between Thanksgiving and Christmas, because every year the Phoenix station had done it, their ratings had gone up during the month of December. So we started doing it at KQSR, and we became the No. 1 station in Oklahoma in December.

We had never been No. 1 before.”

The next year, of course, saw the 9/11 terrorist attacks shake America’s foundations, and, says Clem, the executives at Clear Channel Communications mandated that several of their stations go to continual holiday music beginning the day after Thanksgiving, with the idea that the old familiar songs would work as a kind of

PHOTO BY HEATH SHARP.

Steve Clem is operations director for 89.5 KWGS.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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soothing aural balm for the nation.

“A lot of people said then that the all-Christmas format was a 9/11 phenomenon,” Clem remembers, “that it was effective because the country was hurting, and people were nostalgic and pining for a different time. But I knew better. I’d done it in 2000.”

He was right. Eleven years later, the idea of continuous holiday programming in the weeks leading up to Christmas shows no signs of fading away.

“These days, every company, every station, knows about the effectiveness of all-Christmas music,” says Clem. “Sometimes there are three or four stations in one market that are doing it – and it’s done for one reason only. There are very few things that can be done on a radio station that will get immediate results in the ratings. Christmas music draws people to your station like a magnet. It’s only for that holiday period, but if you do it right, it’ll really increase your listenership.”

As one of the programmers known nationally for his work with the all-Christmas format, Clem has programmed as many as a dozen stations a year. And his experience has taught him some secrets about the efficacy of holiday-music bombardment.

“Christmas music doesn’t work in every format, but it’s a magic bullet for adult-contemporary, which is kind of another term for soft rock,” he says. “That’s music that appeals to the 35-plus demographic.

It’s an easy fit, because soft rock and Christmas music sound a lot alike. But because it became so popular at adult-contemporary, other stations wanted to see how it would work for them. So you might hear it at country stations, pop stations, oldies stations.

“The thing is,” he adds, “the further away, format-wise, you are from adult-contemporary, from that 35-plus audience, the less chance it’ll work.”

But even if the station plays soft rock the rest of the year, holiday success isn’t guaranteed. Just as important, Clem believes, are the songs themselves.

“The format has its own rules,” he explains. “For one thing, it’s song-oriented rather than artist-oriented, so you can play multiple versions of songs that people really love. Sure, Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ and Burl Ives’ ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’ are the ones you’ll hear every three hours or so, but you can play other people’s versions as well. And songs like ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Sleigh Ride’ aren’t really identified with a certain artist, so you can play several versions of those, too.

“The songs that really make it are what I call the home runs of Christmas music. Those are the hit Christmas songs from the past 50 years, songs that the baby-boomers grew up with, the songs that evoke the feeling of the holidays, as opposed to newer Christmas compositions, for example, that don’t have the same home-run appeal.”

Many of the former, not surprisingly, come from the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Golden-era rock ‘n’ roll numbers like “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree,” “The Chipmunk Song,” and “Jingle Bell Rock” remain staples of any holiday-music playlist. But, despite the fact that it’s a great 1958 rocker from a legendary performer, Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” won’t be heard much on the stations Clem programs.

“It doesn’t do well, probably because it didn’t get the airplay those others did back then,” he says. “It just doesn’t quite touch that emotional button for people.”

The same goes, he adds, for one of the most infamous of them all, Elmo & Patsy’s “Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer,” which hit the upper reaches of the pop charts twice in the early ‘80s.

“A lot of Christmas stations won’t even touch it,” Clem says, smiling again. “They won’t. It’s a polarizing song, and they’d rather play something that isn’t.”

JOHN WOOLEY DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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The State

SCENE

Sheila and Ted Haynes, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Terry Cline recently gathered to honor individuals and organizations making a positive impact on health in Oklahoma at the Champions Of Health Gala, which raises funds for the Oklahoma Caring Foundation.

David and Jane Thompson and Beverly and Mark Funke took part in an evening of art at OPUS VII Party WOW, sponsored by Allied Arts of Oklahoma City.

Dusty and Katy Boren and Tyler and Darin Dent sampled beer and took in the art at ARTonTAP, a fundraiser for the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.

Ed and Jay Lawson and Roxana and Robert Lorton enjoyed the induction ceremony for the 2012 Tulsa Hall of Fame.

Suzanne Warren and William K. Warren, Jr. attended this year’s Painted Pony Ball, which raises funds for The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis.

24

Terrie Neely, P.S. Gordon and Sandy Gordon attended ZipperQ, a fundraiser that benefits research of the rare condition known as “Stone Man Disease.”

Four Tulsa women were honored by the Eastern Oklahoma chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. From left are honorees Mary Shaw, Elizabeth Frame Ellison (representing the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation), Tish Stuart and (front) Sydney Wyre.

Charles Stephenson, Jody Williams, John Williams and Peggy Stephenson were on-hand for the dedication of the new Stephenson Hall at The University of Tulsa.

Stan and Irene Burnstein and Gerry and David Bernstein enjoyed Thoroughly Modern Miller, the annual gala benefiting The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art.

Kathy and Jake Henry Jr. enjoyed the annual Painted Pony Ball.

Lynn Frazier Goldberg, Cecile Baird and Ken Busby attended ARTworks reception at Holland Hall.

Yusuf Dundar, Sanjay Meshri, Dr.Dayal Meshri, Julie Meshri and Mahvash Khosrowyar celebrated Sanjay Meshri’s award by The Institute of Interfaith Dialog.

Michael Barkley, Ronnie Dunn and Cathey Barkley kicked up their heels at this year’s Painted Pony Ball.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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The State

SPOTLIGHT

Fashion A Cure Hundreds of women and men gathered at Southern Hills Country Club for the 10th annual Fashion A Cure, a luncheon featuring runway looks from renowned fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo. Patrons of the evening event also enjoyed a live and silent auction. Fashion A Cure raises funds for Oklahoma Project Woman, an organization that provides financial help for women without health insurance to obtain mammograms.

Mary Shaw, Carmen Marc Valvo, Vida Schuman and Deb Krumme.

Kim Osgood, Mary Tolbert, Cindy Field and Cindy Allen.

Reda Shary, Mary Gladd and Dolores Abraham.

26

Rita Singer, Diane Gawey-Riley, Mary Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien and Tamra Sheehan.

Carmen Marc Valvo, Marge Armstrong and Richard Koenig.

Theda Werthen, Martha Dickman and Guylene Dooman.

Bethany Barton, Christy Barnes and Paige Miller.

Jackie Poe and Peggy Stephenson.

Models from Linda Layman Agency wore designs by Valvo.

Kathy Butler, Sheila Buck, Alexa Laur and Linda Robinson.

Liz Austin, Deb Krumme and Georgenia VanTuyl.

Maria Stevenson, Anne Marshall and Mandy Leemhuis.

Emily Cary and Michelle Owens.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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The State

SPOTLIGHT Fashion A Cure 2012 Evening Event

Carmen Marc Valvo, Janet McGehee and Bryan Close.

Marla and Steve Bradshaw.

Isaac Rocha and Tamra Sheehan.

Jack and April Moore and Julie and John Nickel.

Rhonda Howerton, Karen Larsen and Becky Martin.

28

Rick and Marge Armstrong and Anne Bogie.

Wendy Whelan, Teri Jennings, Elena Roman and Denise Gueder.

Robert and Debbie Zoller, Deb and Robert Krumme and Melanie and Brent Blackstock.

Todd Neuman, Georgenia Van Tuyl, Carmen Marc Valvo and Richard Koenig.

Raj Basu, Rebekah Tennis and Daniel and Vida Schuman.

Nancy Van Doren and Blake Loveless.

Mary Ann Doran, Phil Long, Suzanne Warren and Nancy Meinig.

Frank and Mary Shaw and Mell and Larry Littlefield.

Robin McEver, Rodger Coday and Emily Cary.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Character ~ Creativity ~ Community ENERGY TO POWER THE FUTURE Our people make the difference www.chaparralenergy.com

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The State

OKLAHOMA BUSINESS

Get Reel Film production companies find green pastures in Oklahoma.

W

hile no one will mistake Oklahoma for Hollywood, the state does figure into the movie industry. Most recently August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, was largely filmed in Osage and Washington counties.

While August certainly accentuated Oklahoma’s potential as a location, there are several film production companies based locally that routinely use Oklahoma locations and Oklahoma talent.

One such company is Zenawood Entertainment, LLC, based out of Zena, Okla. Joshua and Matthew Miller, brothers, started the business in 2010.

“Oklahoma is a good location for inde30

pendent filmmakers for a variety of reasons,” says Joshua Miller. “Depending on where you choose to shoot, this state can be very diverse.”

Support from the state is another key factor.

One such encouragement comes in the form of a financial incentive for filmmakers, says Jill Simpson, the director of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office.

“The Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program offers filmmakers a 35 percent cash rebate on taxable transactions made in the state attributable to their production,” says Simpson.

Zenawood has benefitted from the rebate program in the past, for example on one of its recent films, called The Cook which is currently in post production.

The Cook, as described by Miller, is a “horror pop dressed as a psychedelic, slasher flick.”

The story line follows a young TV actor who holds a memorial party for his deceased sister in a small town when, unbeknownst to the gathered friends, a cultist drug lord becomes bent on making the group pay for their “sins.”

The film definitely delves into the dark side of human nature as the drug lord extracts his penance from the group.

This is the kind of film the filmmaker hopes to focus on.

“Zenawood is a Disney of darkness building a magic kingdom of demonic gods, psychopathic killers and paranormal oddities,” says Miller. “We are the carnival of fear spreading our special plague of psychedelic nightmares across the world. Our disease is spreading, slowly turning you and your loved ones into an entertained horde of Zenawood zombies.”

However, the kind of movies being made by independent filmmakers is as diverse as the Oklahoma landscape.

For example, another independent filmmaker, Tracy Trost of Tulsa’s Trost Moving Pictures, focuses his projects exclusively around faith and family.

Trost also praises the rebate program.

PHOTO BY HEATH SHARP.

Independent filmmaker Tracy Trost of Trost Moving Pictures believes making movies in Oklahoma is mutually beneficial.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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The of

Power

Reputation

A reputation is a powerful thing. Strength of experience, PIZL _WZS IVL KWUUQ\UMV\ \W KTQMV\[ [WTQLQĂ&#x2026;M[ W]Z[

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December 012 Master Magazine.indd 31

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October 27, 2012 – February 3, 2013 Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, 2008. Jim Richardson/National Geographic Stock, ID # 1191501

OPEN TUES. – SUN. Q 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. Q 918-596-2700 Q GILCREASE.UTULSA.EDU 1400 N. GILCREASE MUSEUM ROAD Q TULSA, OK Q TU IS AN EEO/AA INSTITUTION.

This exhibition was organized by the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in collaboration with the National Geographic Society and Museums West, presented

by The Mays Family Foundation.

“Since we try to focus on using local talent, we get to take advantage of the rebate,” says Trost. “We have been able to recoup an average of 29 percent of our budget.

“Many think this is money that we get back and stick in our pockets,” adds Trost. “The opposite is true. It allows me to increase the quality of production and create a higher quality project for a smaller budget. Any money we receive back goes into the project and subsequently goes to hire more local crew and talent which helps the base of film business in the local area.”

Most recently, Trost completed A Christmas Snow starring Catherine Mary Stewart. In fall 2010, his company filmed The Lamp starring Jason London and Lou Gossett Jr. Supporting cast was filled by local actors.

Trost says Oklahoma is a great location to film because of the three hardest things to find in filmmaking – location, crew and equipment.

“In Oklahoma you can find desert, forest, modern city, old city, contemporary and traditional architecture,” says Trost. “Tulsa and Oklahoma City are filled with high-quality, experienced crew as well.

“As the industry is growing more and more, people are getting into the business and the base continues to grow,” adds Trost. “Tulsa and Oklahoma City have great supply houses that have everything from grip gear to electric and camera equipment. There are also several great postproduction houses and music writing and recording houses in Oklahoma. You can make a high-quality, complete feature film from start to finish here.”

However, the business landscape for movie making in Oklahoma might be in jeopardy, says Simpson. The rebate program is scheduled to sunset in 2014.

“Unless the State Legislature votes to extend that sunset date during upcoming sessions, the program will come to an end in about 18 months,” Simpson says. “If that happens, the film industry growth we have experienced in recent years will come to an abrupt halt.”

Simpson says Oklahoma gets a notable return on its rebate investment and, with an annual cap of $5 million, the rebate is a comparatively small incentive.

However, historically, for every dollar the State of Oklahoma is paying out in rebate money to the films that qualify, productions are spending close to $3, she says.

For example, Simpson says, August: Osage County is projecting Oklahoma expenditures at $14.96 million. They will be receiving a projected $5.5 million in rebate.

“When you then consider the economic multiplier of 2.53, which was the result of an economic impact study done in 2011 by Oklahoma City University’s Meinders School of Business, the impact of the original $14.96 million grows to just under $38 million,” says Simpson.

“Jobs are being created and new dollars are being infused into our economy. The film industry diversifies Oklahoma’s economy.”

According to Simpson, without the rebate program, films will not come to Oklahoma. Currently, 46 states offer film incentives.

“Had it not been for our incentives program,” says Simpson, “August: Osage County would have undoubtedly been filmed elsewhere.”

Brent Ryan Green, with Toy Gun Films, an independent film production company based out of Oklahoma City, says the rebate program is essential.

“Without the incentive it is nearly impossible,” says Green. “The rebate is so important in productions not taking direct advantage of the rebate, too. For example I shot a short here last week that I would not have had we not been pre-approved for the rebate for next year’s feature.”

For now, movie-making in Oklahoma won’t be fading into the proverbial sunset.

“There is definitely a future for film in Oklahoma,” says Trost. “I consider myself a very fortunate man. To be able to do the projects and work with the people we have in such a short time is amazing.

SHARON MCBRIDE

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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HONORED TO BE ONE OF O K L A H O M A â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S B E S T.

With more than 315,000 citizens and 8,900 employees, the Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe in the United States and one of the largest employers in northeast Oklahoma. Through the Cherokee Nation and its wide variety of businesses, the tribe creates jobs in high potential industries and partners with business leaders to learn from the best. This spirit of innovation and excellence is bringing about a better quality of life for this and future generations of Cherokee people.

We are honored to be one of the best W places to work in Oklahoma. It is a tribute p tto Cherokee people and the great ttraditions passed to us by our ancestors.

Bill John Baker B Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation P

2012

www.cherokee.org

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Oklahoma Magazine presents

the ultimate wedding planning experience

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Life

PHOTO BY HEATH SHARP. SPECIAL THANKS TO BARBEE COOKIES, FARRELL FAMILY BREAD AND PANCHO ANAYA MEXICAN BAKERY.

THE BEST OF LIVING WELL

Get By With A Little Help The holiday season can be extremely stressful. Take some shortcuts.

B

uying and wrapping gifts. Planning a meal for 50 of your closest family members. Attending umpteen Christmas parties. Taking in productions of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol on top of your children’s pageants. Who has time for the holidays anymore? Instead of actually celebrating the season, we rush around, madly, readying everything to celebrate. At the end, we’re out of gas, we have no energy left, nothing to give, not even a forced smile.

Baking is also a ubiquitous part of the holiday season. But don’t let the stress and anxiety ruin this task that can be so enjoyable. Baking cookies, cakes, breads and other pastry to give as gifts is a practice as old as the hills, but if you’re too pressed for time to turn on the oven, turn to those who can help. Many local bakeries offer delicious options for any holiday occasion. Take a little help from those who are more than willing to offer it.

JAMI MATTOX

DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Life

Windows are an essential tool in keeping a home energy efficient.

HOME TRENDS

Efficiency With Style Cutting-edge technology allows homeowners to bring more of the outside in without skyrocketing energy bills.

W

Manufacturing, Inc. in Oklahoma City.

In addition, energy performance ratings from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) provide statistics that help in purchasing windows based on their potential for gaining and losing heat, as well as transmitting sunlight. The NFRC uses a uniform, independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of doors, skylights and windows. The organization’s website offers a convenient way to research a specific window’s energy properties that also allows consumers to compare products.

Also, the Energy Star designation indicates products that meet certain energy performance criteria. And since the performance varies by climate, product recommendations are given for four climate zones. Most of Oklahoma, except for parts of the Panhandle, fall into the heating and cooling zone of South/Central.

Because most of the window is glass, the type and quality of the glazing has the biggest effect on energy efficiency. “We consistently test new glass technologies to continue to improve our windows’ performance,” says Lane. Look for double and triple insulated glass. Inert gas, such as argon or krypton gas, added between the panes also improves thermal performance. Also, low-emissivity (low-e) coatings on the glass have been designed to allow for high solar gain, moderate solar gain, or low solar gain.

Finally, Claxton cautions consumers to beware of bargain windows that can often be poor quality with the manufacturers long gone when, years later, maintenance issues often occur. “Research each company’s warranty,” warns Claxton, and look for policies on ownership transfer details, guarantees against failure of the window’s glass, frame and sash as well as replacement stipulations.

THERMAL WINDOWS

hether building a new house or looking to renovate, the choice of windows has several important components beyond the design and style for homeowners to consider. In the Midwest, double hung windows continue to be the most popular style. Both sashes can be opened for ventilation, plus they tilt in for easy cleaning. But new technologies in energy efficiency, construction style and even safety add important options. And in today’s economy, what about price?

“We continually see homeowners make decisions based on value instead of price,” says Dennis M. Lane, president and CEO of Thermal Windows, Inc., a Tulsa-based window and door manufacturer.

Although there are no current tax incentives for purchasing energy efficient windows, most homeowners are paying attention to options that can reduce their energy bills. “Surprisingly, what we haven’t seen are homeowners wanting to reduce the size of their windows,” says Lane. “We know that a wall is more energy efficient than a large expanse of glass, but so far homeowners are not willing to sacrifice the amount of natural light coming into their home.”

And that is why ongoing improvements in window technology continue to be important for manufacturers and consumers. Luckily, there are several resources for consumers to research during their decision making process. The American Architectural Manufacturing Association (AAMA) provides air infiltration, water infiltration and structural testing. “We recommend homeowners make sure any window they are considering has been AAMA tested,” says Brett Claxton, division manager and local partner for Champion Window

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Life

A vintage Union Jack rug anchors this colorful living area that features egg-shaped chairs and vibrant art.

A European-inspired kitchen features an Ann Sacks cut marble wall.

L I V I N G S PA C E S

Bold Is Better A traditional exterior masks dramatic design surprises.

Photography by David Cobb he updated exterior of a completely renovated home in Nichols Hills gives little clue to the design drama guests encounter when they cross the threshold of this updated 1930s bungalow.

The 3,000-square-foot home of Jennifer and Jason Welch is bursting with splashes of color – in paintings by Oklahoma artists, photographs, upholstery, decorative pillows and carpets.

The living room introduces the color scheme for the home – turquoise, shades of brown and gray, all against a stark white backdrop. A turquoise and white vintage rug anchors the living room furnishings, reflecting the pattern of the British Union Jack flag.

“Why not do the British or American flag in unusual colors that spark the palette and please the eye?” Jennifer Welch asks playfully.

“I like everything solid with big pops of color,” she notes.

Pattern is reserved for exquisite draperies in luxurious fabrics.

Texture abounds in paintings, rugs, chests or chair coverings styled of cowhide, dyed cream or soft gray. Cowhide accessories are Welch’s tools for bringing an Oklahoma motif into any design scheme.

The living room also announces the home’s multi-level theme: a step up into the dining room, another into the kitchen, a step down into the family room, white steps leading to the upstairs haven for sons Dylan, 9 and Roman, 6.

“You surely don’t want to go up there,” she laughs.

T

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Life Not afraid of mixing fabrics and textures, Welch’s dining area features a chevron rug and chairs upholstered in gold crocodile leather.

A vaulted ceiling family room looks out upon the backyard, which includes a pool and landscaping that was designed by Welch.

Honed Asher Grey marble Although Welch doesn’t cook, the sleek

by Ann Sacks covers the European-inspired kitchen offers the best in countertops, floor and contemporary design – a Miele coffee/espresso shower in the master bath. maker brews her stout morning coffee; a gourmet range/microwave is equally as efficient.

The horizontal kitchen features a long counter area flanked by bar stools. The design star is the Ann Sachs cut marble wall in an intricate black, gray and white geometric pattern. Twin chandeliers cast an industrial glow above the prep counter.

Welch’s penchant for transforming utility spaces is seen in the master bathroom. The horizontal striped beige and white marble floor runs dramatically up the shower wall. Herself an interior designer, Welch designed a pull-out counter drawer to hide her husband’s toiletries while keeping them at his fingertips, a neatness trick she uses for other clients.

Throughout the home, lighting commands A statement fabric headboard notice. Welch shuns traditional brass or crystal and colorful chevron window chandeliers so common in homes of this vintage. treatments serve as focal points in the master bedroom.

Instead, she opts for lighting that draws inspiration from industrial materials. Best example: The living room fixture of charcoal gray chain mail, camouflaging a brass fixture.

A high, vaulted ceiling features massive twin globes that enhance the comfortable personality of the family room. From this area, the family enjoys a view of the back lawn, with its yearround pool, hot tub, fireplace and seating area.

By Welch’s design, this area is evident when entering the home.

Having been a designer for 15 years, Welch’s forte now is drapery and lighting, although she finds all aspects of design exciting.

“I’m not afraid to mix fabrics, textures and colors,” she says.

The home’s best example of that design flair is seen in the dining room chairs by Philippe Stark.

Covered in gold crocodile leather, the chairs are supported by Lucite “ghost” legs. Jennifer adds trendy Lucite touches with all periods of furnishand traveling to interesting locales where Welch draws inspiration ings. for design projects, and Jason finds ample subjects for his blackFor Welch’s family, this is a perfect home that adapts to their busy and-white photography career. lifestyle, including their sons’ schools, their love for walking, biking M.J. VAN DEVENTER

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Life

STYLE

Fest Dressed

Celebrate the holiday soiree season in a look that suits your style.

Photography by Scott Miller

Teri Jon black velvet gown, $585; Miu Miu black stiletto sandals with Lucite heels, $990; Lorren Bell crystal minaudière, $1,145; Pono crystal cuff, $675; Jose & Maria Barrera crystal earrings, $275; Balliets. Jimmy Choo silver clutch, $1,195, Saks Fifth Avenue.

T R True Religion li i bl black k lleather h pants, $$750; 0 P Parker k black bl k beaded tank, $308; BCBGMAXAZRIA grayy wool jacket, h, $250; Jimmy $298; Tory Burch red patent leather clutch, mps, $550; Alexis Choo black and silver glitter peep-toe pumps, Bittar black lucite, crystal, hematite and pyrite necklace, ue. $245, and earrings, $185; Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Life Erin red shift dress with sequin sleeves, $295, Rope. Jimmy Choo gold glitter peep-toe wedges, $595, Saks Fifth Avenue. Ted Baker magenta snakeskin print clutch, $199, LibertĂŠ. Chanel vintage brass necklace with tigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye pendant and stations; $1,680, On A Whim. Marilyn Schiff gold and amber crystal stretch bracelet, $85; Jose & Maria Barrera gold and amber crystal earrings, $275; Balliets.

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Haute Hippie black beaded skirt with feathers, $495; Haute Hippie black and gold peacock feather lace shorts, $225; Joie white sleeveless blouse, $228; Alice + Olivia black blazer, $368; Hammett black woven leather clutch, $325; Chanel vintage brass necklace, $1,140, and earrings, $660; Trina Turk gold and acrylic cuff, $80, and ring, $95; On A Whim.

Valentino black suede ruffled booties, $945; Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Life Peter Cohen white silk tunic, $650, and tank, $450; Strenesse brown silk pants, $460; Stuart Weitzman brown satin peep-toe pumps, $335; Wendy Brigode gold pearl and citrine necklace, $1,475; Abersons. Michael Kors leopard print ponyhair clutch, $895; Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Sue Wang champagne beaded mini-dress, $595; Judith Leiber Deco cuff, $695, bangles, $375 each, and ring, $395; Judith Leiber gold and crystal “icicle” earrings, $350; Liberté. Jimmy Choo gold leather handbag, $950; Stuart Weitzman champagne satin pumps with beaded heel, $450; Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Life

Trendspotting

iPad Must-Have These days,

g gadget accessories are just as important aas your own. You may not leave the house w without your baubles, sunglasses and lilightweight scarf, but you also aren’t le leaving without your cell phone and iPad in their appropriate coverings. Erin C Condren creates the most fashionable iP iPad folios I’ve ever seen. The prints, ppatterns and colors are spot-on, and they instantly transform your ddevice from plain and simple to perfectly chic. www. erincondren.com.

A round-up of things that you cannot live without.

Get G Glam I’m all about getting in the

holiday spirit, especially when it comes to dress and accessorizing. This is the dressing tim of year to get sparkly, add extime tr tra adornments to an ensemble and really go glam. Kendra Scott’s Faye necklace helps do just that. It is such a statement piece that would look absoess lutely stunning with a party dress hrow or fabulous blouse and skirt. Throw ady to this necklace on and you’re ready com celebrate. www.kendrascott.com

For A Night N Out O

I’ve aboout lipstick always felt strongly about com mpleting a look. lo ook. I may or gloss completing for my night be dressed and ready for doon’t feel trulyy ready if I out, but I don’t t last bit of o makeup don’t have this never loved heavy, heaavy, matte on. I’ve never cam me across lipsticks, soo when I came sheer lipsticks inn the most NARS sheer co olors, I couldn’t coulddn’t have fabulous colors, The eir sheer been more excited. Their lightweight that lipsticks aree so lightweight evven feel like you’re you don’t even anyything at all. all. I wearing anything loove especially love this bold redd F color way, Flaww ww. menco. www. narscosmettics. narscosmetics. com

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like a hand-written letter. As m muc much as I email inceslove good old snail mail. santly, I still love Stationery is on one of those things I’l ever be able to I don’t think I’ll m have too muc much of. Orange Art Sta Stationery, specifically thh Brookfield Colthe l le lection, I absolutely a adore.

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Rest On Your Laurel Holiday time calls for lots of cooking and eating. I think it’s just fine to splurge this time of year, but I do love to hear about small things you can do to make these couple months full of eating just a bit healthier. Prepara’s Roasting Laurel is a heatresistant silicone roasting aid that keeps whatever you’re cooking out of the unhealthy fats in the pan. It bends into whatever shape you’d like it. Healthy, safe and helps make your meal that much more delicious. www.prepara.com

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The Julep Maven program is such a clever concept, or those like me who are nail polish obsessed. After taking especially for a simple, funn quiz to ur style discover your profile, you pick ulep your first Julep Maven box with at leastt two polishess and other ducts beauty products chosen for you. uctory This introductory Maven box will come with $40 rgeous, worth of gorgeous, ng and long-wearing ail colors toxin-free nail along with cuttingedge mani and pedi products. www.julep. com

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Life Y O U R H E A LT H

A Weighty Issue Ignoring the scale can be risky business.

T

he topic of weight and weight gain can be a sensitive subject for most everyone. No one wants to discuss particulars and admit the scale keeps going up. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 66 percent of Oklahoma adults are overweight, and more than 30 percent are obese – making Oklahoma the sixth worst state in the nation for adult obesity rates.

Now, more than ever, is the time to start talking about the serious health risks

associated with increased weight. weightt. If you’ve been ignoring the warnings of your healthcare provider, start listening. And if your doctor isn’t making your weight a priority, it may be time to take charge or find someone new, because it could save your life.

Dr. Mary Ann Bauman, medical director for Women’s Health and Community Relations at INTEGRIS Health in Oklahoma City, readily admits that discussing her patient’s weight can be a delicate issue, but she believes in taking a direct approach.

“Weight is a part of the vital signs I check during patient appointments.

Our office has an automatic Body Mass Index indicator so we can quickly and easily assess whether or not a patient is overweight,” she says. “Patients are often surprised to learn that they are obese.”

A person’s BMI is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height and provides an indicator of body fatness. For adults age 18 and over, a BMI above 25 is considered overweight, while a BMI above 30 is considered obese. Only in the past 50

decade has BMI become a part of checking a patient’s vital signs.

Bauman uses the BMI indicator to determine what her patient’s weight needs to be and then works with them to form a plan on how they can achieve their weight loss goals.

“Not every patient wants to talk about their weight, and some do get angry and don’t want to discuss it,” she says. “But as a doctor, I believe it’s my responsibility to make them aware, especially since being overweight leads to so many health problems high blood ppressure,, high including hig g cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes. Many

women also don’t realize that it’ss a risk factor for breast cancer.”

Dr. Susie Willard with the Wellness Clinic Family Health and We W llness Clini nc in Tulsa says that since BMI has become a required vital sign, it’s easier to talk with patients.

“I now discuss it along with a patient’s blood pressure, heart rate and so on,” she says. “There’s an art to medicine, and over time, you practice and develop effective ways to talk with your patients.”

However, she also believes it’s important to be a positive example.

“Physicians need to be a model to their patients,” Willard explains. healthy “If you’re trying to be heal lth t y yourself, it’s easier to talk to your patients about their lifestyle.”

A recent study by the medical journal Obesity found that physicians who were overweight or obese were less likely to bring up the subject of weight loss with their patients.

“I believe physicians are obligated to address and discuss their patient’s

weight,” says Bauman. “How can they not be worried about it? If your doctor isn’t concerned, you might need to consider a new physician.”

In her practice, Willard strives to educate her patients on the many chronic diseases linked to obesity.

“Oklahomans are used to weather forecasts and hearing about how the weather conditions are ‘just right’ for a storm. It’s the same way with obesity,” she says. “The conditions are just right for a perfect storm of health problems.”

The serious health issues associated with

obesity include cholesterol, high cholester e ol, type 2 diabetes, hi hhigh gh bloodd ppressure, ressure, metabolic sy syndrome, heart disease, e stroke, cancer and more.

However, r the silver lining to this ominous cloud is that people can dramatically dr ramaticcally reduce their risks through diet and exercise.

Bauman Baum man explains that many don’t patients don n’t realize how much eating they are eat th ting and how the pounds ccan ca n slowly add up.

“Studies have shown that overweight over erweight people underestimate their caloric intake by 50 percent and overestimate their exercise by percent,” 50 per e cent,” she says. “I call it the ‘weight ‘w weight creep.’ By eating only an can additional 100 calories a day, you ca year.” ggain ga in up to 10 extra pounds in a year patients Bauman an suggests that her patient bbegin be gin by writing down everything they y eeat at and drink for at least two weeks. This helps them understand consumhow many calories they are consum programs ing. She also recommends program people like Weight Watchers that help peop

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Life

learn how to eat differently and how to make better, healthier food choices. She doesn’t believe in diet pills or quick fixes, but rather a healthy diet with regular exercise.

“People say they don’t exercise because they haven’t found an activity that they like to do, but I tell them they don’t have to like it, you just have to do it. Every day we do things we don’t like to do because they need to be done or they’re the right thing to do,” explains Bauman. “We give ourselves too many reasons not to exercise and lose weight, and by doing so, we sabotage ourselves.”

Willard regularly shares a success story of her patient, Jenny, who has lost more than 100 pounds. She has Jenny’s “before” and “after” photos hanging in her office to serve as an inspiration for others.

“I tell people the only difference between the two photos is how much she moved and what she put in her mouth,” says Willard.

“A simple step that everyone can take is to make a decision to move more and eat less.”

Bauman explains that too often people have the habit of thinking their stomach needs to be full all of the time. Instead, she says when a craving hits, people should try drinking water or taking a walk – they will soon find that the hunger pains have subsided.

“It’s not about depriving yourself,” she adds. “It’s about learning why you do what you do and then changing those behaviors and habits. I had a patient who lost 40 pounds because she learned that it was okay to feel hungry.”

Bauman is also quick to point out that to make progress, you can’t beat yourself up or give up everyy time you make a poor food choice or skip exercise.

“Don’t beratee yourself. It isn’tt about shame. It’s ’s really about being ng consistent,” she says.

“Exercise will help to raise your metabolic bolic rate so you will use your calories more ore efficiently, but unless you are trainingg for hours every day, y, you still need too cut calories. I always ys tell people that I recognize cognize that losing weight iss not going to be easy, but losing ing even one pound a week can an make a big difference. In a year, you will have lost 52 pounds.” unds.”

NOT JUST FOR ADULTS As our nation’s childhood obesity rate continues to rise – more than tripling in the past 30 years – the medical community is offering its resources to help children become healthier and calling on parents to take part.

Within the state, OU Children’s Physicians recently opened the Pediatric Exercising and Eating Responsibility Clinic (PEER) focused specifically on childhood fitness and healthy eating habits.

Dr. Ashley Weedn, PEER Medical Director and OU Children’s Physicians pediatrician, believes without intervention at the clinical level, “we risk losing part of a generation to a host of health problems linked to obesity.”

“National studies indicate that nearly 30 percent of preschool-aged children are already overweight; 12 percent of these children are obese,” said Weedn. “Children with excess weight in early childhood have an increased risk of being obese as an adult; therefore, being aware of your child’s weight status at an early age is important.”

Weedn adds that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends body mass index (BMI) screenings for all children beginning at age two, and that with this screening parents and doctors have an opportunity to talk about appropriate weight gain and establishing healthy behaviors early in life.

When helping a child adopt a healthier lifestyle, the key to success is making it a family affair. According to Weedn, having obese parents greatly increases the risk of obesityy for the child.

“While obesity can be a sensitive topic for some parents, the importance of addressing family perceptions of weight and behaviors leading to unhealthy weight are the first steps to health promotion for the child and family,” she says.

That’s why the PEER clinic takes a family-based approach. The recommendations for the child apply to the entire family. And just like adults, the causes of childhood obesity are diverse.

“While there are multiple factors involved in excess weight gain, the most common underlying causes of obesity are related to behaviors, including overeating, eating unhealthy foods, drinking too much sugar and lack of physical activity,” said Weedn. “As a result of these behaviors, we are seeing a number of medical conditions in obese youth, once only seen in adults. Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and liver problems are just a few of the conditions that are now commonly diagnosed in severely obese children.”

Fighting this epidemic on a national scale, the AAP has also adopted the “5210” campaign to help promote healthy behaviors for children and teenagers. The recommendations are for the whole family and include: 5: Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily for the entire family.

2: Decrease screen time (TV, computer, video games, etc.) to less than two hours per day.

1: Encourage physical activity, at least one hour of activity daily for children teenagers. and tee Eliminate or limit sugar-sweetened 0: El beverages (juice, soda, sports drinks). beverag Weedn also suggests the following tips Wee parents: for pare • Br Breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of life, which helps decrease the mo risk of being overweight in childhood. ris • Eat Ea breakfast daily, and avoid skipping meals. me Strive to eat meals as a family, and • St limit fast food to once a week. lim Monitor portion sizes.

• M Avoid using food as a reward or • Av punishment. pu Eat slower; if finished with first • Ea serving, wait 20 minutes, eat a nonse starchy vegetable or meat if still sta hungry; wait another 20 minutes and hu eat a non-starchy vegetable or sugarea free popsicle. – RF fre

REBECCA FAST AST

52

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December 012 Master Magazine.indd 52

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Life

Destin and a string of nearby communities offer tranquil beaches, unique natural environments and a multitude of adventures geared to tourists.

AT A G L A N C E

D E S T I N AT I O N S : W E E K E N D I T I N E R A R Y

Jewel of the Emerald Coast Destin offers you the best of Florida’s northwest coast.

A

rriving as early as possible on Friday evening in Destin, there’s no reason to wander far from your accommodations. Instead, grab a drink and find a comfortable place to enjoy the night ocean air and the sound of water moving onshore. You’ll want a good night’s sleep before an active weekend around the Emerald Coast, the beautiful coastal region of the Florida panhandle.

Saturday morning after breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to enjoy the main attraction – the beach and seaside. You have options as to how best to enjoy your surroundings. The pristine, sugar-white sand beaches of Henderson Beach State Park are a good place to start. In addition to 6,000 feet of natural scenic shoreline abutting blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, there are nature trails, a playground and picnicking areas.

Crystal Sands Beach is another popular and very beautiful waterfront site for swimming or sunbathing. Given the ubiquitous nature 54

Access: Destin is served by Northwest Florida Regional Airport. It is also a relatively easy 800-850 mile drive from most parts of Oklahoma – or 14-15 hours.

Population: Approx. 13,000 Climate: Destin enjoys generally mild seasons with usually temperate winters and warm summers tempered by sea breezes.

Summer through early fall are high seasons for rain and for possibly severe tropical weather.

Main Attractions: White sandy beaches and clear and gentle blue-green water are the main appeal to this part of Florida.

So too are the beachfront hotels, resorts, parks, watersport purveyors, attractions and dining venues that serve those visitors.

Flyhigh Parasail (where you can also enjoy a powerboat ride or balloon excursion). As evening sets in, stroll HarborWalk Marina or Destin Harbor Boardwalk. Consider dinner near either of those sites, or perhaps at Cuvee Bistro for French and Italian with an emphasis on good seafood; McGuire’s Irish Pub for a more festive environment (and great steaks); or romantic Louisiana Lagniappe. A brief stroll after dinner is a great way to end your evening.

Sunday presents plenty of opportunities to expand your experience in Destin – or to return to the beach and just relax. As alter-

of the waterfront in Destin, though, you will have your choice of scenic beach locales.

Somewhere in there, you will need a break for lunch, which can be as easy as a simple eatery near the beach or something more memorable. Consider Vin’tij Wine Boutique and its revolving wine selections and light, eclectic bistro menu. Sarah K’s Gourmet is also likely to be memoA bridge spanning clear Gulf waters carries visitors to the resort community of Destin. rable. After lunch, return to the beach or consider enjoying the environment in another fashion.

Check out the wildlife at Gator Beach or fly high over the surf with

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TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT

UNIQUE SHOPPING Lucinda’s

Start your next shopping spree right here in n the River City. From major retailers to local boutiques, we’ve got an eye for fashion.

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Life

HOT PICKS

A number of outfitters offer deep sea fishing excursions out of Destin Harbor.

Visit: Among the other beach communities near Destin, Seaside (www.seasidefl. com) might be worth the trip. As setting of The Truman Show, it can be alternately charming and downright creepy, depending on one’s perspective.

Learn: If you get enough sand and surf quickly, consider a gourmet cooking class at Kitchenique (www.kitchenique.com) at City Market at Destiny – or just shop its fine gourmet goods.

Kids: Fat Daddy’s Arcade (www.fatdaddysarcadedestin.com) is the most popular place in the area for kids of all ages when they need a break from the beach – and when parents need a break from the kids.

S TAY I N S T Y L E

Henderson Park Inn

Seaside, Fla. VISIT FLORIDA

natives, there is deep-sea fishing from out of Destin Harbor, plenty of golf options, Go Karts, bumper rides and mini-golf at The Track Family Recreation Center, or Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park. The Destin History & Fishing Museum offers insight into a locale of which by now you are probably fond. In the late Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park afternoon, revisit your is a popular Destin attraction. preferred location for sightseeing and relaxation before dinner near your accommodations or at the restaurant that had come in as second Henderson Park Inn offers true hospitalchoice when making plans on the previous ity in a scenic setting far enough from evening. The sun and surf will likely prompt Destin’s “strip” but also still within easy a relaxing later evening looking out over the range of fine dining and attractions. The beach and enjoying the view one last time bed and breakfast welcomes guests with a before bed, and the inevitable return to the bottle of wine and flowers on arrival and real world in the morning. the pampering continues throughout one’s entire stay. Personalized service accentuates

the pampering, as does a charming terrace overlooking the white-sand beaches of the Emerald Coast. All-inclusive and adults only helps keep the focus on quiet reflection and romance. www.hendersonparkinn.com The Wingate by Wyndham has a broader array of amenities than many of its peers, including a business center, free wifi and fitness center for those seeking to maintain work or personal routines. It is off the water, but beaches are just minutes away and the courteous staff tends nicely to visitors. Big Kahunas Water Park is nearby, as is Henderson Beach State Park. www.wingatehotels. com Hidden Dunes Beach & Tennis Resort elevates a visit to the Emerald Coast with its lush 27-acre setting, fitness center, swimming pool and, of course, tennis courts. The onsite tennis center features six Rubico, clay courts, USPTA trained professionals and great activities and events. From wellmanicured grounds and water features to tram service to the beach just minutes away, virtually every detail here has been well thought-out. www.hiddendunes.com MICHAEL W. SASSER

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PROUD OF OUR BRAND—PROUD OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO BUILD IT. ©2012 The Charles Machine Works, Inc.

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Great 2012

COMPANIES to work for 2012 Great

COMPANIES To Work For

RING OF HONOR Chesapeake Energy Corporation Oklahoma City Oil and Natural Gas Production Employees: 7,932 www.chk.com

Devon Energy Oklahoma City Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Employees: 1,800 www.devonenergy.com

Williams Companies Tulsa Natural Gas Exploration, Production, Transportation Employees: 950 www.williams.com

ONEOK Inc. Tulsa Diversified Energy Employees: 2,495 www.oneok.com

American Fidelity Assurance Company Oklahoma City Insurance Employees: 1,017 www.afadvantage.com

QuikTrip

Tulsa Gas Stations, Convenience Stores Employees: 1,995 www.quiktrip.com

Bank of Oklahoma Tulsa Banking, Financial Services Employees: 2,900 www.bankofoklahoma.com

NORDAM Tulsa Aerospace Employees: 1,773 www.nordam.com

Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Professional Sports Employees: 151 fulltime/218 part-time www.nba.com/thunder/

TD Williamson

Tulsa Pipeline and Piping Systems Maintenance and Repair Solutions Employees: 526 www.tdwilliamson.com

f participation in Oklahoma Magazine’s 2012 Great Companies To Work For is any indication of economic vibrancy, then this year appears to have been a better one than 2011, when we debuted this annual special report.

Over the course of the year, we received far more applications, nominations and references about potential terrific employers than we did last year. That’s reflected in the content of the pages ahead, featuring more companies in more diverse fields than last year.

This year, we once again present a look at some of the best companies in the state for whom to work. Once again we found that one formula for evaluation simply would not work in a state where a couple of economic sectors dominate the roster of large, generous employers, and we’ve made some additions to our content to represent that.

In addition to our Spotlights, which have a look at great employers within certain specific employment areas (healthcare, energy, law firms, etc.), this year we inaugurate our first entrants into the Great Companies Ring of Honor. Ring of Honor members are sizable companies with lengthy histories of being great companies to work for, and which seem unlikely to face any major changes affecting that status. It’s a Hall of Fame, as it were, of Oklahoma employers. We’ll revisit Ring members every other year to consider making any changes, and new members can be inaugurated in any subsequent edition of Great Companies To Work For. Determination of all participating companies was made via online application and panel review, in addition to consulting leading business interests and organizations in the state, and reviewing similar studies conducted that included Oklahoma employers. We make no claim of a comprehensive study with Great Companies To Work For. There are countless companies who could qualify.

Ours is an attempt to honor just a few, and maybe help direct Oklahomans seeking employment to green pastures of the working world.

In addition to structural changes to the Great Companies components, this year we feature personal discussions with two very different and very engaging business leaders – BP Capital’s T. Boone Pickens and SandRidge Energy’s Tom Ward. We also take a look at the softer – and often forgotten – side of the business world in a story about those who have built successful commercial enterprises on providing real, community-driven needs.

Part information, part inspiration and all business, 2012 Great Companies To Work For is bolder and more diverse than the 2011 incarnation, which was one of Oklahoma Magazine’s best received special reports ever.

We’d like to thank all of the companies that participated and who thought enough of employee relations to seek us out for inclusion. It’s because of this year’s healthier participation that there is reason to be optimistic about employment in Oklahoma in the years ahead.

We’re very proud of our featured employers, and we feel the entire state should be, too. Until next year. – Michael W. Sasser DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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2012

Pickens give a talk on OSU’s campus.

The Plan Man has always had plans, for himself and the nation.

s

Thomas Boone (“T. Boone”) Pickens remembers, there was a time when the man with the plan for North American energy independence didn’t even have a plan for his own immediate future.

Admittedly, though, that was a long time ago.

“It was February 1949 and my dad was standing with me in front of my fraternity house in Stillwater,” Pickens recalls. “He said ‘Your mom and I are concerned that your plan is not our plan.’ I thought I knew where he was headed. He said, ‘Your mom and I have a plan for you to get out of college in June 1951. I’m not sure you’re on the same schedule.’ I said, ‘Probably not.’ So he tells me, ‘A fool with a plan can beat a genius with no plan. I’m concerned we have a son with no plan. You get into school and you get out in 1951.’

“So then he slapped me on the arm, said, ‘I love you son,’ got in

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his car and drove off,” Pickens continues. “I’ll tell you what, that was at turn of semester. A week later I had a plan. I got into geology and graduated in June 1951.”

Until that moment, Pickens might not have had a plan, but what he did have was a tough legacy hewn from the rough country of Depression-era Oklahoma and a history that already seemed to auger no-nonsense, hard work-driven success. It all started with that plan.

Has Pickens had plans ever since?

“Damn right,” he says.

The Making of the Man It took all of nine months for Pickens to distinguish himself from those previously born in his hometown of Holdenville, Oklahoma.

And those months were in-utero. It was May 1928, and as Pickens’

PHOTOS COURTESY OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

A

T. Boone Pickens

By Michael W. Sasser

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Pickens sends the “pistols firing” signal at an OSU football game.

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mom was about to give birth, doctors declared there were complications and that they could only save Grace Pickens or her unborn child. Pickens’ dad, Thomas Sr., a petroleum landman, refused to accept those as the only choices. So, instead he prompted a doctor to study a couple of text pages on Caesarean section deliveries. What followed was both the successful birth of Pickens, the survival of his mother and the first C-section ever performed at Holdenville Hospital.

The United States into which he was born was on the precipice of its greatest economic collapse to date, and Pickens grew up a child of the Depression – although he didn’t see things that way at the time.

“People consistently have asked me what it was like living in the Great DepresPickens grew up sion,” Pickens says. “I didn’t have anything in Depression-era to compare it to. As far as I was concerned Holdenville, Okla. it was good. It was simple, but it was good.

We lived in a small town of 5,000 people.

My grandmother and aunt lived next door to me and my aunt was my school teacher.

“I grew up having a job, which couldn’t have worked out better for me – it sustained me moving forward,” Pickens adds. “I think there are a lot of young people who are the same way and can be propelled by their work ethic. There is a very good work ethic in Oklahoma.”

Honor, honesty and the dignity that comes with work were key elements of Pickens’ upbringing. His business acumen developed early as he transformed a 28-customer newspaper route into a 125-paper operation by acquiring other deliverers’ routes. Integrity was driven home when, on one occasion, he found and returned a newspaper client’s lost wallet and accepted a $1 reward for the effort. When he returned home, his family insisted he return the dollar.

“Sonny, take the dollar back,” Pickens’ grandmother told him.

“We’re not going to get a reward for being honest.”

Pickens was 16 when his father, who worked then for Phillips Petroleum, was transferred to Amarillo. He completed high school there, and then spent one year at Texas A&M University before transferring to Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University).

It was in Stillwater that the senior and junior Pickens had their fateful conversation about planning. It was also there that in 1951, T. Boone Pickens earned his degree in geology and graduated.

Then it was time for the next stage in Pickens’ plan.

The Entrepreneur Rises Pickens worked for Phillips for three years before borrowing $2,500 and, with two investors, forming an oil and gas firm called Petroleum Exploration Inc., which focused on domestic oil and gas opportunities. Later he would form Altair Oil & Gas Co., and then Mesa Petroleum, which he took public in 1964. Pickens led the company to the apex of the independent oil and gas sector.

“When you start a company like I did, you start on a shoestring – you’re not going to do a lot of planning, like where you’re going to be in 10 years,” Pickens says. “You don’t know where you’re going to be in 10 months. You think in pretty short terms. After you’ve established something, you know you’re now going to be successful, then you can start planning for 10-20 years out. Then when you start hiring 62

people, they know they’re going to have a job and be successful and going to stay a long time.”

As he progressed to national and international prominence, Pickens revolutionized an approach that today is considered an intrinsic component of business. He decried the focus of so many on taking small, prudent steps and instead championed bold moves to maximize shareholder value.

It was hardly the only way that Pickens became a transformative, if not revolutionary, figure in American business. In the 1980s he challenged the major oil companies and business in general to dramatically restructure to meet changing times. An epic bid by Mesa and an investment group for Gulf Oil was a shot across the bow, and eventually the reforms he proposed did come to the oil industry.

Around the same time, Pickens emphasized physical fitness at Mesa and – well ahead of today’s fitness craze – the company was named “The Most Physically Fit Company in America” in 1985.

Pickens also helped open up new international markets and brought attention to U.S. investment abroad and to antiquated market models overseas.

Through ups and downs, successes and not, criticism and acclaim, Pickens says that his values never changed. To an extent, he says he figures they never could change.

“I don’t think you have to struggle to maintain your values – they’re part of you,” he says. “It’s how you operate, not something you have to think about. Now are there some sorry guys I did business with? Yes – once!” ickens says the keys to success are a good education, work ethic and “maybe getting lucky every once in a while.

“It seems like when you’re working hard, things happen,” Pickens continues. “It’s like in football. When you’re working hard you have a lot better chance of recovering a fumble.”

He admits to having lost a few in addition to the numerous challenges he’s overcome.

“Nobody wins them all,” Pickens says. “The guys that hit the most home runs also strike out the most. I like to go for the fences. Sure, I’m going to strike out, but I am going to hit some home runs, too. I could talk all day about strikeouts, but I don’t tend to focus on those.”

Pickens left Mesa in December 1996, but that barely impacted his profile or the respect he commanded. His imprint in other areas became more notable as well. Pickens is a noted environmentalist and outdoorsman who preserves his own massive tracts of ranch land and helped protect underground water reserves in Texas. He supports environmental, medical and youth-at-risk charities and endeavors – and makes it very clear in person that this is not just obligatory checkwriting support. To date, he is responsible for more than $1 billion in targeted giving, with the total increasing regularly. He founded the United Shareholders Association (USA) to help reform the unbalanced relationship between shareholders and management.

In Oklahoma, of course, Pickens is often viewed as an influential factor in the ascent of Oklahoma State University, where his name graces a stadium and other campus sites. He has given more than $500 million to his alma mater, split almost evenly between athletics and academics. His passion for OSU is legendary, and his explanation

PHOTO COURTESY BP CAPITAL.

2012

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well represents his life’s themes.

“I got a good education there,” Pickens explains. “But at the same time, I’m very competitive; I don’t like to lose. I hated to see OSU as the second large school in the state. OSU is where the guys who come from small towns like I did go to. The University of Oklahoma seemed to be where the people from Tulsa and Oklahoma City went.

“We had a long way to go to become competitive in some areas,” he continues. “OSU excelled in some already, without a lot of money, just from hard work and good leadership. I thought if they were going to compete, they should do so at a higher level. So I decided to give them money and to follow the money to see that it was used wisely. I feel like I’ve got my money’s worth. But I am not through giving to OSU.” Tomes could be written on Pickens’ interests and accomplishments.

However, outside of the business world and a grateful campus in Stillwater, Pickens might be best known for something other than a personal or business plan. A few years ago, he introduced a little plan that, countless supporters believe, would lead to energy independence for North America and leave the country free from the threat of distant oil barons and petroczars.

The Pickens Plan For America

dropped to $2, wind just won’t work,” Pickens says. “You price energy on the margins, which is natural gas. When natural gas is cheap, it makes it very difficult for wind and solar.” ickens says that he believes former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney had a plan in place – America’s first energy plan – and that it would have worked. He says also was asked to speak to President Barack Obama, spent an hour and half explaining energy and energy markets, but walked away unimpressed.

“He doesn’t understand markets,” Pickens says. “If the White House understood that the economic recovery will be on the back of cheap energy…but the Obama Administration never figured that out. The Administration doesn’t like energy companies. And here we have the cheapest energy in the world? What does he want? He can’t even tell you because he doesn’t understand how it works. The President has a disdain for the industry. He thinks he can solve energy problems with renewables – wind and solar. We all know the wind doesn’t blow all the time and the sun doesn’t shine every day. You always have to have a base load for power generation, which is coal or natural gas.”

Pickens was bullish on a potential Romney Administration, but remains nevertheless optimistic about the nation’s energy status. Yes, gasoline prices will continue to rise along with other energy prices. However, that profitability will then open up economically viable alternate sources.

Oklahoma – a state clearly still close to Pickens’ heart – is poised to be an important player in the nation’s energy future.

“I think the oil industry has an incredible future and Oklahoma is right in the middle of it,” Pickens says. “Ten years ago, I made speeches to schools, and I couldn’t make statements like I can today – that (students) have long and successful careers ahead of you if you’re willing to work hard.”

“The guys that hit the most home runs also strike out the most. I like to go for the fences.

Sure, I’m going to strike out but I am going to hit some home runs, too. I could talk all day about strikeouts, but I don’t tend to focus on those.”

On July 8, 2008, Pickens announced The Pickens Plan, which proposed reducing dependence on OPEC oil by, among other things, creating a “wind corridor” in the Great Plains and also emphasizing natural gas. Although criticized because of his own investments in natural gas and wind technology, the plan has engendered support from many business and political leaders on both sides of the ideological aisle.

While the plan has not been adopted federally, it is still a plan – and that’s something, considering that no United States president has ever presented an energy plan. That’s something Pickens laments when he ponders the state of energy today.

“The only energy plan was for cheap gasoline, and because the nation had that, there has never been an energy plan,” Pickens says.

According to Pickens, any energy plan would start with understanding the nation’s portfolio of energy resources – a portfolio that is much larger and practical than many might know or want to admit.

“We could be off of Middle East oil very quickly and diminish the power of OPEC,” Pickens says. By converting the nation’s eight million strong 18-wheeler fleet to natural gas, the U.S. could cut three million barrels of oil a day from the 20 million barrels utilized nationwide daily.

“Only four (million) of those 20 million barrels come from OPEC, and only half of that four comes through the Strait of Hormuz,” Pickens says. “Converting 18-wheelers to natural gas alone could eliminate our need for oil from the Middle East.”

There are numerous other components of the elaborate plan, but Pickens says that until the price of natural gas rises, developing the wind power aspect of a plan for energy independence simply won’t happen.

“You could do wind deals when natural gas is at $6, but when it’s

Life Lessons and Legacy T. Boone Pickens is still working hard. At 84, he presides over BP Capital Management from its Dallas office, and fierce intellect still smolders in his eyes. He has many other interests, as well. He says he still has things to accomplish.

“I want to make more money and be generous with it – give it away,” he says. “I’ve got my estate pretty well set, but we’re drilling up in Kansas, and I want to see that developed. There are still some things in medical research … we’re looking at a very big deal that might or might not happen.

“I don’t believe you make your children rich,” he continues. “I’m not going to make my kids rich people. I’ll help them if they want. I’ll show them how.”

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Mutually Beneficial

“The more people we can serve and the deeper we can serve them, the more we succeed,” says Jim Stovall, founder of Tulsa-based Narrative Television Network, or NTN. Despite his organization’s primary purpose of providing movie and television access to the visually impaired and their families, NTN programming has enjoyed a broad acceptance in the non-visually impaired community as well.

His motivation for establishing NTN came from personal experience. “My initial interest in narrative television came from losing my own sight and being frustrated with not being able to enjoy television and movies,” Stovall says. “The biggest challenge I faced in the early going was serving 13 million blind and visually impaired people who had never been served by the TV or movie industry. It took a lot of education both to our consumers as well as to the industry.”

A former national champion Olympic weightlifter and successful investment broker, Stovall took the lessons learned from his past successes and plugged them into his current business incarnation and believes that opportunity comes

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Sometimes, the love of a geographical community and a yearning to see a formerly-glorious part of a city restored to its one-time majesty can be sufficient inspiration to dive head-long into the business world. Case in point: Amanda and Dylan Bradway of Oklahoma City’s DNA Galleries.

For Amanda Bradway, the romantic ideals of youth called her back to the scene of high school innocence. “The inspiration for the store was two-fold,” she says. “I worked downtown during my last two years of high school and thought it was sad to see the beautiful old buildings abandoned, or just used for storage. I pictured Oklahoma City as it could be and decided I wanted to stay here after high school and build something on the blank slate of our downtown area, if we could.”

1,100 1,100

Hiring Hiringinin2013 2012

Employees Employees(OK) (OK)

Tulsa Tulsa Manufacturing Manufacturing Yes Yes

AAON is is engaged engaged in in the the engineering, engineering, manufacturing, manufacturing, AAON marketing marketing and and sale sale of of air air conditioning conditioning and and heating heating equipment consisting consisting of of standard, standard, semi-custom semi-custom and and equipment custom custom rooftop rooftop units, units, chillers, chillers, packaged packaged mechanimechanical cal rooms, rooms, air air handling handling units, units, make-up make-up air air units, units, heat heat recovery recovery units, units, condensing condensing units units and and coils. coils. Since Since the the founding founding of of AAON AAON in in 1988, 1988, AAON AAON has has maintained maintained aa commitment commitment to to design, design, development, development, manufacturing manufacturing and delivery of heating and delivery of heating and and cooling cooling products products to to perform perform beyond beyond all all expectations expectations and and demonstrate demonstrate the the value value of of AAON AAON to to its its customers. customers.

Share Share the the Wealth Wealth Every Every quarter, quarter, 10 10 percent percent of of the the pre-tax pre-tax profi profits ts are are distributed distributed equally equally among among all all personnel personnel to to provide provide aa rereward ward for for maintaining maintaining corporate corporate profi profitability. tability. To To ensure ensure stock stock ownership ownership by by all all employees, employees, 50 50 percent percent of of all all employee contributions to their 401(k) plan are employee contributions to their 401(k) plan are matched matched by by the the company company up up to to nine nine percent percent of of compensation, compensation, and AAON contributes an additional and AAON contributes an additional 1.5 1.5 percent percent of of each each employee’s employee’s pre-tax pre-tax earnings earnings to to the the 401(k) 401(k) plan. plan. All All company company contributions contributions are are used used to to purchase purchase company company stock stock on on the the open open market, market, and and these these shares shares of of AAON AAON stock can be later sold to the company and retired stock can be later sold to the company and retired ifif participants participants diversify diversify their their holdings. holdings. The The 401(k) 401(k) program program encourages employee longevity through encourages employee longevity through aa six-year six-year benefi benefitt vesting vesting structure. structure.

ARINC Aerospace Dylan and Amanda Bradway own DNA Galleries, located in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District.

Oklahoma City Aerospace and Defense 300

Hiring in 2013

Sight for the Blind

Art and the City

AAON AAON

(OK)

There is one basic fact about commerce – it’s all about making money. Success, in the business world, is typically linked to profit. The hard fact is that if a business spends more money than it takes in, the business closes.

But it’s the success element that muddies that clear commercial aim. The definition of success varies widely. It is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Where one business owner defines success by the length of his private yacht, another may define success by the amount of money he can contribute to a worthy cause.

It’s a rare breed that opens a business with the primary goal of contributing to the growth and success of a community or organization.

But for those who take the headlong plunge into the community-oriented business world, the approach is the only approach that makes sense. In a culture in which business success has been increasingly belittled, marginalized and even demonized, some might lose sight of the fact that private industry created the treatments that combat breast cancer, the technology that empowers the disabled with opportunity and provides the tools most people use every day.

Oklahoma has many entrepreneurs whose efforts, and definitions of success, have made the world a better place.

in the wake of any perceived tragedy. “I’m a big believer in the fact that the only thing you must do to have a great idea is to go through your daily routine, wait for something bad to happen and ask the magic question, ‘How could I have avoided that?’”

The willingness to ask questions for the benefit of oneself and for others plays a central role in Stovall’s business approach, as well. “The only thing you need to have a great business concept is to ask one more question: ‘How can I help other people avoid that?’”

Ultimately, Stovall says, true success in the business world is more about the giving than the receiving. “The only true long-term success in business comes from serving others. There is really very little difference between the two.

Serving others equals success.”

Employees

Business B i is often about more than the bottom line.

Great COMPANIES To Work For A Sample Of

Yes

ARINC Aerospace is a global provider of aircraft integration, modification, maintenance, logistics and sustainment solutions. Its mission is to provide high quality, independent and cost-effective engineering services, solutions and products to the aerospace industry.

Committed to Oklahoma City

BRENT FUCHS

2012

As a company that was built around the airline industry, ARINC has maintained its presence since 1929. ARINC Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary, is headquartered in Oklahoma City and has operations near Tinker Air Force Base and Will Rogers World International Airport – it is committed to Oklahoma City, the workforce and future growth in Oklahoma. Employees are the biggest asset, and having a solid team is important to its success.

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BRIAN PATRICK

CO PE

Claremore

NC

Hiring in 2013

(OK)

2,000+

ME

Yes

CH

Baker Hughes is a leading supplier of oilfield services, products, technology and systems to the worldwide oil and natural gas industry. By being the service company that best anticipates, understands and exceeds customers’ expectations, Baker Hughes advances reservoir performance. The company’s 58,000-plus employees work in more than 80 countries in geomarket teams that help customers find, evaluate, drill, produce, transport and process hydrocarbon resources. Baker Hughes’ technology centers in the world’s leading energy markets are pushing the boundaries to overcome progressively more complex challenges.

ST P OK TE AC RT ND

Giving back Baker Hughes embraces innovation, collaboration, new ideas and continuous learning. As customers continue to move into more hostile geologic environments, they demand products with higher strength, higher temperature tolerance and greater corrosion resistance.

They also want increased operational capability and effectiveness. And they want the same high reliability that’s always been core to Baker Hughes. Recently, Baker Hughes has made dramatic advances in materials science in response to these needs. New materials have made their way into commercial products that are proving highly successful in the marketplace while capturing industry notice. Employees get an opportunity to help develop tomorrow’s technology today.

The Bama Companies, Inc. Tulsa

Focus, Focus, Focus Given the unique nature of businesses designed to contribute to the greater good, fighting the battle between dollar and soul can be a daunting task. The two seemingly contradictory aspects of making money and making a difference are the key difference between social awareness and bank account bloating.

Stovall’s approach is sound advice to anyone considering making a business out of their devotion to social causes. “My advice to anyone trying to get started is to constantly remember, it’s not about you,” he says. “It’s about the people you serve. If you focus on yourself or on money, you will inevitably fail. If you focus on those you serve, you will get everything out of life – both personally and professionally – that you want.”

W

Oilfield Services Employees

Following a tried and true path, Falk says Shop Good started modestly. “We started in 2009 with the concept of t-shirts, designing and printing them ourselves, in order to use them as a platform to communicate and inform. After a few months and lots of t-shirt sales, we opened for regular business hours in a small, shared space in the Plaza District.”

The new venue prompted an inventory expansion to include products made by nonprofit organizations, with the purpose of benefitting those organizations. “The community here in Oklahoma City responded with such enthusiasm to that,” Falk says.

With the move to a remodeled 1920s-era home in Automobile Alley in August 2010, Shop Good expanded its selection into a broader range of items while clinging to its social awareness. “Shop Good is now filled with a wide selection made either by hand or by socially responsible companies from Austin, Texas, to Ethiopia.”

Ultimately, Falk hopes Shop Good affords its clientele with an easy way to contribute to the world at large. “We want our customers to have the opportunity to create change in their community and around the world with their everyday purchases, so we’re working toward expanding our offerings without losing the personal touches and mom-and-pop experience that makes our customers feel at home.”

AR

Baker Hughes

Commercial Baking 960

Hiring in 2013

There are times when the realities of a pressurecooker world are sufficient inspiration to take an already-intrinsic passion for making the world a better place, and putting a tangible element to it.

That’s where Audrey Falk comes in. Owner of Oklahoma City’s Shop Good, Falk, and her husband Justin, open their doors each day for the simple reason of doing the world at least a little bit of good. “We both feel passionate about living generously and responsibly, helping those in need, and being good citizens,” she says. “Our customer is someone who shares those values and who gets excited about partnering with us in giving back by making a purchase.”

Shop Good, Falk says, was born out of frustration with the constraints of managing budgets and business realities for outside interests. “As creative people, we were constantly frustrated by consistently tiny budgets, limited audiences and uncomfortably narrow vision.

So we started talking between ourselves, and then with friends who were inspired about how we could integrate community development with commerce in a way that wouldn’t cheapen causes in the name of profit, but that would provide a sustainable means to educate, raise awareness and make a difference through supply and demand. And that’s how Shop Good was born.”

A Sample Of

(OK)

Just for the Greater Good

0

Great COMPANIES To Work For

Jim Stovall is founder of Narrative Television Network.

Employees

Her love of Oklahoma City’s downtown, combined with a love of d and a eye for the best of Oklahoma City’s local art scene, has proven a C harmonious combo. “We tired of hearing all the artists say there were no opportunities in our state,” Bradway says. “We decided we needed to stay and come up with something to generate opportunities for artists.”

So began an exercise in community stewardship and civic involvement. With the firm intent of having DNA Galleries serve as a strong stone in the Plaza District’s foundation, the Bradways understood the importance of individual contribution to an area’s leadership apparatus.

“When we started out, we sat at endless meetings trying to figure out how we would shape the district into something. We just didn’t know what it would really turn into,” she says.

The civic-mindedness that defined DNA Galleries’ genesis has carried over into the present tense, with the Bradways’ venture playing a key role in the life of both the Plaza District and the Oklahoma City arts scene. “We sponsor and have volunteered at many Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition events, and the newly created Oklahoma Artist Network,” Bradway says.

But ultimately, DNA Galleries exists for the artists featured there. “I want to see artists quit their day jobs and pursue their dreams full time,” she says.

HEATH SHARP

2012

Yes

Since the 1960s, Bama has been an innovator of wholesale bakery products that cater to the needs of the largest and most well-known restaurant chains on the planet. Today, the company supplies innovative culinary and product development services and custom-made, oven-ready products to customers in more than 20 countries.

Investing in its assets Bama focuses on improving the length and quality of life of their team members and their families. Programs include a free onsite health clinic, fitness centers, wellness programming and chronic condition management, allowing Bama to invest in the respected company’s number one asset: its team members.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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LA CO WY

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It’s about the clients you’ve helped and the problems you’ve solved.

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Of course, the attorneys of GableGotwals are proud each time we

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

are named to a prestigious listing of those who are recognized

Best Lawyers In America

for exceptional work. But we gain the most satisfaction from the partnerships we have with many of the outstanding companies that do business in Oklahoma and throughout the country. Our mission is to help our clients successfully resolve issues and achieve their goals by recognizing and realizing opportunities. But just in case you’re interested, here is the latest list of national recognitions we

GableGotwals... Solving problems and managing opportunities.

·

OKLAHOMA CITY

December 012 Master Magazine.indd 67

Go-To Law Firms for Fortune 500 Top Rated Lawyers AV Preeminent Chambers USA Benchmark Litigation Recommended Firm and Star

have received.

TULSA

Oklahoma Super Lawyers

·

Best Places to Work in Oklahoma

www.gablelaw.com

11/14/12 5:14 PM

Oklahoma Okl h City

Hiring in 2013

Employees

(OK)

Consulting Services 86

Yes

Cardinal Engineering is a consulting firm providing environmental, engineering, surveying and GIS services.

Supporting social responsibility and healthy employees Through the employee-run Cardinal Social Responsibility Program (CSR) employees may request that Cardinal donate money to a nonprofit organization of their choosing. The stipulation is that Cardinal employees must be directly and actively involved with the organization for which they are requesting funds.

This has encouraged Cardinal employees to be more active in the community and resulted in a wide diversity of charitable donations of time and money. Cardinal values healthy employees and provides 100 percent company paid health, dental and vision family coverage and quarterly monetary health incentives for employees reaching self-set goals.

Lawton

Construction

Tire Manufacturing

Yes

Started as a blacksmithing shop in 1902 and now the manufacturer of Ditch Witch products, The Charles Machine Works, Inc. remains a leader in the industry it essentially created. Still based in Perry, the company designs and manufactures a wide variety of high-quality underground construction equipment: trenchers, vibratory plows, backhoes, electronic guidance and locating tools, horizontal directional drilling systems, drill pipe, downhole tools, vacuum excavation systems, excavator-tool carriers and compact tool carriers. All of these products are recognized around the world for their advanced design, rugged construction, long-term durability, ease of use, and reliability.

Family Pride A good company is more than just the sum of its products. The Ditch Witch organization is understandably proud of the many innovative products it’s contributed to the underground construction industry, but it reserves the full force of pride for the thousands of employees, past and present, who have made these products possible. The employees don’t just work at the factory – they own it, along with the family that founded it. They share more than a place to collect a paycheck, a mission statement, and a strong work ethic. They share a bloodline.

Employees

1,300

Approx. 2,800

Hiring in 2013

Perry (OK)

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Hiring in 2013

Cardinal En Engineering

The Charles Machine Works, Inc. (Ditch Witch)

(OK)

A Sample Of

Employees

Great COM C COMPANIES To Wo Work For

2012

Yes

Goodyear’s Lawton plant manufactures radial passenger and light truck tires.

Pillar of the community Oklahoma’s largest two cities have scores of corporate citizens to support community initiatives. But in Lawton, Goodyear – the city’s largest employer, second only to Fort Sill – has stepped in to fill that void consistently over the past 30 years with holiday programs for area children and support of numerous charities and community events, including having raised $750,000 for the Lawton United Way last year. The plant’s employees are equally looked after with an on-site medical center, a recreation association to plan events and even on-site college courses for associates. The plant is the largest manufacturing employer in the state.

Great

COMPANIES Spotlight: ENERGY Energy is the sector that drives much of the Oklahoma economy.

Oklahoma has undergone an unprecedented diversification of its economy over the past couple of decades, expanding well beyond its traditional healthy sectors of energy and agriculture.

But the nation is also in the midst of an energy renaissance driven by technologies that enable drillers to reach deposits of oil and natural gas long thought to be out of reach. The result is a resurgence in the prominence of domestic energy production with Oklahoma in the middle

Chaparral Energy Employees in OK: 780 Hiring: Hiring in the fields of accounting and finance, IT, air quality, construction, drilling safety, division orders, engineering, enhanced oil recovery, field services, geology, human resources, lease records and production. www.chaparralenergy.com

ConocoPhillips Employees in OK: 1,733 Hiring: ConocoPhillips is hiring employees company-wide to fill business and tech68

of renewed activity. Despite the advent of other aspects of the state economy, energy continues to be the undeniable driver of Oklahoma’s economy. Furthermore, Oklahoma’s energy companies are among the best in the state in terms of employment statistics, benefits and working environments.

While some energy companies are household names, others are less high exposure. They still, however, represent some of the very best companies at which to work – and in today’s energy renaissance, they’re usually hiring.

nical roles, whether at the university or experienced-professional level. Candidates are welcome from outside the industry and from within for roles such as geologists, geophysicists and engineers. www.conocophillips.com

New Dominion LLC Employees in OK: 84 Hiring: New Dominion employs accountants, attorneys, division order specialists, electricians, environmental, health, safety and security specialists, executive and legal assistants, geologists, geology technicians, infrastructure and property management

specialists, inventory control specialists, IT professionals, landmen and lease records analysts, well completion specialists, well production workers and more. www.newdominion.net

SandRidge Energy Employees in OK: 793 Hiring: SandRidge employs individuals in engineering, geology, land, as well as accountants, IT professionals, environmental, health and safety and people in field operations. www.sandridgeenergy.com MICHAEL W. SASSER AND SCOTT COOPER

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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2012

CREEK NATION CASINOS

THE FUN PLACE TO WORK!

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DUCK CREEK

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Successful candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a gaming license issued by the Office of Public Gaming. A background investigation is required. Native-American preference is a policy and practice in recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention.

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2012

Great

COMPANIES Spotlight: SOVEREIGN

NATIONS

Soverei nation businesses are Sovereign spurring rural economies. spur

PHOTO COURTESY MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION.

The Muscogee Creek Nation was the first tribe to own a hospital and has its own college, the College of the Muscogee Nation. When Tiger began working with the Muscogee Creek Nation in the 70s, With millions of dollars dollar in profits, tens of thousands of jobs and an they only employed a few hundred people, now that number has reaching far into the billions, the business endeaveconomic impact reach risen to nearly 4,500, says Tiger. ors of the sovereign nations in Oklahoma are integral to the growth “We are now more like a big corporation,” explains Tiger. of the state. Operating in a wide variety of industries, tribal busiIn terms of profitability, these sovereign nation businesses are nesses collectively are one of the largest employers in Oklahoma, if quite similar to mainstream corporate businesses. They differ, not the largest, says George Tiger, principal chief of the Muscogee however, in mission, says Joseph Tillman, a division leader with the Creek Nation.

Osage Nation, who has a long professional history in private busi“Tribal nations are growing, making a large impact on the Oklaness. homa economy,” says Tiger. “It is something that Indian people take “Private businesses tend to focus on individual gain,” says Tillman. a lot of pride in.”

“We focus on the group gain of the Osage Nation and its people.”

The Cherokee Nation’s business endeavors posted revenues Jon Davidson, senior director of Hospitality Services for Hard totaling more than $700 million in the 2012 fiscal year and employs Rock Casino in Tulsa, which is owned by the Cherokee Nation, nearly 9,000 people. A recent study by Oklahoma City University agrees. Similar to Tillman, Davidson spent the majority of his proshowed that the Chickasaw Nation alone had an economic impact fessional career working for privately owned hotels. of $2.4 billion in Oklahoma in 2011 and is responsible for creating “Working in the private sector you are very much driven by the approximately 16,000 jobs in the state. standard benchmarks of “All of the money we make goes back to the Chickasaw profitability – for owners people for things like housing, daycare, head start programs, job and investors,” explains training, clothing and scholarships,” explains Vicky Gold, office Davidson. “While profitmanager for the Chickasaw Times. ability is still a significant The unique aspect of these numbers is that the economic benchmark, I am working to growth and jobs are largely located in rural Oklahoma, providhelp fund an amazing array ing opportunities to small communities across our state. The of programs and services Osage Nation currently employs approximately 1,000 persons in for, literally, a nation.” positions ranging from general clerical, executive, professional Each nation takes pride skilled to semi-skilled, non-skilled and service personnel. The in not only contributing Osage Nation is the largest employer in Osage county, just like to Native Americans but many of the other Nations in their respective counties. to all Oklahomans, as In 2010, the Choctaw Nation enterprises sustained 14,138 well. jobs, some indirectly, in the state of Oklahoma and directly em“We want people to know ployed 8,472 employees generating over $260 million in payroll we share communities,” income. promises Tiger. “When we George Tiger, principal chief of the Muscogee “All of this income spills right back into our communities,” succeed the State of OklaCreek Nation. confirms Lana Sleeper, public relations and marketing director homa does as well.” for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Cherokee Nation Total Employees: 9,000 Industries: Aerospace and defense, manufacturing, environmental, construction, information technology, telecommunications, casinos, horse track, hotels, convenience stores and retail shops.

Employee Benefits: A comprehensive package including paid leave, medical, retirement and tuition reimbursement for full time employees.

Choctaw Nation Total Employees: 8,000+ Industries: Gaming, travel plazas, manufacturing and supplies for the federal government and branches of armed services, and contracts with federal government to provide medical care to branches of armed services overseas.

70

Employee Benefits: A comprehensive package including paid leave, medical at no cost to the employee, retirement, and tuition reimbursement for full time employees; additionally, a training program for employee advancement.

Chickasaw Nation Total employees: 12,000 Industries: Tourism, entertainment, manufacturing, medical technology, medical services, government contracting, banking and communication.

Employee Benefits: A comprehensive package including paid leave, medical, retirement and tuition reimbursement for full time and some part time employees. Also feature an Individual Advancement Plan with financial incentives.

Muscogee Creek Nation Total Employees: 4,500 Industries: Gaming, oil and gas Employee Benefits: A comprehensive package including paid leave, medical, retirement and education opportunities.

Osage Nation Total Employees: 1,000 Industries: Retail shops, Okmulgee Country Club, casinos, travel plaza, convenience stores, medical and defense and other agencies Employee Benefits: A comprehensive package including paid leave, medical including critical and cancer care, and retirement.

Also offers perks like roadside assistance.

LINDSAY CUOMO

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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valuing healthy, creative and community-minded employees

Corporate Headquarters 1015 N Broadway, Suite 300 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-842-1066 1RUPDQ 2I¿FH 3226 Bart Conner Drive Norman, OK 73072 405-579-0655 7XOVD 2I¿FH 7136 S Yale Ave, Suite 120 Tulsa, OK 74136 918-895-9766

:RRGZDUG 2I¿FH 2220 Oklahoma, Suite 201 Woodward, OK 73801 580-254-3514

2012

www.cardinalengineers.com

An Employee Owned Company

One of Oklahoma’s great companies to work for.

The Best Place to Work and Shop DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

December 012 Master Magazine.indd 71

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Great

COMPANIES Spotlight:

HEALTH CARE

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Oklahoma City

Hiring in 2013

(OK)

Energy Sector Manufacturing Employees

671

Yes

Kimray is an Oklahoma-based manufacturer of control valves and related equipment for oil- and gas-producing companies worldwide.

Charity begins at work Each year, Kimray donates to flagship organizations that support arts, youth, community, health, education and ministry. Kimray also matches employee contributions to charitable nonprofit organizations up to $2,500 per employee per calendar year. Kimray believes its greatest asset is its employees. For that reason, the company offers first-class benefits and pay. Employees enjoy a paid vacation day on their birthday, tuition reimbursement and access to an onsite wellness coordinator.

Principal Technologies, Inc. Oklahoma City satisfaction and encourages an atmosphere of teamwork and collaboration.

“We recognize that the need for high-quality care continues to grow, and we must meet that challenge,” says Paul Sund, OU Physicians director of marketing.

To address current workforce shortages – the need for registered nurses, in particular – hospitals are working closely with educational institutions.

“We are proactive in our staffing needs,” says Kevin Gross, chief executive officer of Hillcrest Health care System. “We’ve partnered with local nursing and vocational schools to identify future gaps in the health industry to ensure there are new generations of students trained for these professions.”

Hillcrest Health care System employs 5,200 and according to Gross, supports a culture geared toward “creating an engaged workforce.”

Looking ahead, both health care employers and employees will have high expectations – merging exceptional work and quality care with competitive pay, benefits and personal job satisfaction. REBECCA FAST

Professional Recruiting Firm 80 fulltime/5 part-time

Hiring in 2013

The health care industry’s history of steady job growth is estimated to keep climbing, with the creation of 5.6 million new jobs by 2020, according to a recent study. For Oklahoma’s medical sector, that means an expected workforce shortage and a growing challenge for Oklahoma hospitals to hire and retain the best applicants for the job.

To attract top candidates, Oklahoma’s leading health care employers are offering competitive pay and benefit packages, opportunities for career advancement, education aid and additional benefits such as medical spending accounts, onsite childcare, adoption assistance and more.

“Our goal is to attract and retain a skilled work force that closely mirrors the composition of the communities we serve,” says Maurie DeWitt, system administrative director for INTEGRIS Health, the state’s largest Oklahoma-owned health system, employing more than 8,500 employees. She emphasizes a recruitment process that “involves creating a high-contact approach with a personal touch.”

In addition to on-site childcare services, facilities like the Saint Francis Health System now offer comprehensive adoption assistance.

Eligible Saint Francis employees can receive up to $8,000 for the process.

“There are 7,900 employees working in this Catholic health care system,” says Amy B. Adams, executive director of human resources at Saint Francis. She believes they’re drawn to the hospital’s faith-based mission and that competitive offerings help attract compassionate medical professionals.

Beyond financial compensation, hospitals are working to foster workplace excellence and develop close-knit internal communities.

St. John Health System – with more than 6,700 employees – concentrates on providing a workplace where employees feel welcome, respected and fulfilled.

“We have a rigorous recruiting process that includes pre-employment screening tools to ensure candidates are likely to be a good match with St. John core values,” says Page Bachman, corporate vice president of St. John Health System.

Kimray, Inc. Bachman adds that employees need to be proud of where they work. St. John Medical Center received Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2010, placing it among the top six percent of hospitals in the country, and is recognized among the top hospitals by US News and World Report.

“We feel we are leading the way in medicine, and this motivates all of us to perform at our best,” says Bachman.

OU Physicians, the largest physicians group in the state with 712 employees, places a high priority on employee and physician

(OK)

Oklahoma’s healt health care industry employs the best aand prepares for state’s future medical needs.

Great COMPANIES To Work For A Sample Of

Employees

2012

Yes

Principal Technologies is a professional recruiting firm in Oklahoma City. The niche fields of IT, accounting, human resources and engineering require a specialized approach, and it aligns companies and candidates for a perfect fit. Principal Technologies’ top-tier service grows careers and improves businesses. Its extensive network of quality corporations and elite candidates enables the company to make long-term job matches.

Its priority is getting it right the first time, and Principal Technologies is proud to say its bulls-eye model has been hitting the mark since 1998.

Changing Others’ Lives The environment is one of collaboration, mutual respect and camaraderie. Because of a value placed on work environment, Principal Technologies’ entire team puts its best foot forward to maintain the right atmosphere. It strives to always encourage and support each other. The best part of working at Principal Technologies is that it has an impact. It’s extremely rewarding to see and be a part of people’s lives changing for the better. The company encourages candidates and serves as counselors in the job search process.

When candidates are aligned with the right company, it’s gratifying to see them move toward a better future.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Great

2012

COMPANIES Spotlight:

CONSTRUCTION

Cons Construction keeps Oklahomans employed eeven through rough economic times.

The construction indus industry has been changed over time by technology, technolog the economy and environment, but one thing remains: It is practically outsource-proof.

“They are not going to take our buildings and build them out of country and bring them back,” says John Priest, president of Crossland Construction. “There’s large job security.”

You have to have boots on the ground.

Presumably those are the boots of nearly 150 Oklahomans that would cycle through a typical construction project during the course of its build. Additionally, with aging buildings and growing industries, the opportunities for construction in Oklahoma seem to have no end in sight.

“Construction is a huge part of our economy,” says Mark O’Rear of Manhattan Construction. He adds that construction is forecast to be a $2.6 billion industry in Oklahoma for 2012.

“Hospitals are continuing to update and remodel, as well as schools and higher education campuses,” says Dave Kollmann, president of Flintco.

Steady growth of the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma has also kept construction companies busy. Perhaps most notably, downtown Oklahoma City’s new and tallest addition, Devon Tower.

A $1 billion project like Devon Tower is a once-in-a-lifetime project, says Kollmann.

Construction companies tend to be very diversified across market sectors. This allows them to quickly react to ups and downs across the economy, which is imperative for an industry so reliant on the growth of other industries to fuel business.

“We have made some significant strategic shifts into several business sectors– health care, power, automotive and oil and gas in particular,” says Steve Olson, group president of Boldt Construction. “These sectors are strong and may even get stronger with the election behind us.”

Recession Impacts Typical projects, like construction of a new

74

school building, average $10 to 15 million.

And spending on public buildings like schools through passage of bond issues has kept the construction industry building in Oklahoma through the economic downturn.

“I feel like we’ve reached bottom, and we are starting to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And that light is not a train coming at us, it is actually daylight,” says Kollmann.

He adds the success of the construction industry from 2005 to 2008 was like Mount Everest’s peak. There was more work than the construction market infrastructure could handle. While this seems like a good problem to have, if you need 20 painters and there are only 10, you also have a dilemma, he says.

He expects a slow recovery for the industry to pre-recession levels, which he says is healthy.

“Level is the new up. That is the new definition. We are up under our new definition,” says Kollmann.

If the construction industry can predict the fiscal future, it does seem to be looking up all around.

“The projected growth for next year in the sectors that we work in is eight percent,” says Olson.

“The retail piece has started to pick up and that seems promising,” says Leslie Goode, director of marketing and business development at Timberlake Construction.

O’Rear is seeing more private money coming to the table. Manhattan Construc-

tion will transform the Osler Building in Oklahoma City into a luxury hotel for Ambassador Hotels.

“Money is as cheap now to get as it has ever been. That is great for building and building projects when the cost of money is so low,” says Kollmann.

Ripple Effect Not only does the general economy impact construction, renovation or construction of a new building sends a ripple through the larger construction industry.

“The architects seem to be a lot busier. Certainly if they are drawing, we are building,” says Goode.

Once architects and engineers design a project, construction management companies get shovels in the ground. They coordinate 25 to 30 sub-contracting firms that complete the skilled labor required to turn drawings into brick and mortar.

“Subcontractors are the life blood of our industry,” says Cassie Reese, director of corporate relations at Crossland Construction.

Manhattan Construction, for example, is set to begin work on a $28 million, threeyear, multiphase systems training facility for the FAA. They will coordinate the work of hundreds of skilled tradesmen and laborers that will do the plumbing, carpentry, electricity and drywall.

Innovation Creates New Opportunities While much of this work has remained unchanged for generations, technology has streamlined and sped up the process. It has also created positions in the industry that did not exist even a few years ago.

Building Image Modeling (BIM), through which an entire structure can be built on a computer screen to see how it looks, functions and fits in with its surroundings has created a new set of positions says O’Rear.

Sustainability has been another area of construction to see expansion.

“It’s not just a fad anymore. It’s the way we do business,” says Kollmann. “We have a sustainability director right now. We didn’t have that five years ago.” LINDSEY JOHNSON

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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WHERE

DREAMS ďŹ nd

DIRECTION. >> Tahlequah, Muskogee and Broken Arrow campuses >> Online, blended and traditional class options >> Student, greek life and 10 varsity sports >> More than 50 undergraduate and 30 graduate degrees

1-800-722-9614 www.Go2NSU.com

DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Great

2012

COMPANIES Spotlight:

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Marina Metevelis went to work in a factory in Kansas during World War II against her mother’s wishes.

“She didn’t want me working with a bunch of men,” Metevelis recalls. “But my dad told her I wouldn’t be, because all the men were off fighting the war.”

It was only one small step in Metevelis’s career, but one the real-life Rosie the Riveter has recounted to countless enthralled students during her career in education. After working in the Tulsa Public School system, she was hired

by Tulsa Community College in 1970. At age 90, the feisty Metevelis is still there.

“I love the diversity of TCC,” she says. “I have contact with all kinds of different people.”

These days Metevelis is director of the TCC Heritage Center, and she shows no inclination to retire.

“I guess I’ll be here forever,” she laughs. “I have 42 years of history to inventory for the heritage center museum, and every time I think about staying home, they tell me, ‘We still need you!”

That sense of belonging is part of what

Tulsa Community College 2,000-2,500 employees “It’s wonderful to get up in the morning and know you’re making a difference in peoples’ lives,” says Tulsa Community College Director of Marketing Communications Susie Brown. “TCC is a great place because it’s embedded in and responsive to its community. We make an investment in peoples’ lives and get to watch them go out and perform on a professional level. They share themselves with the surrounding communities.”

makes a career at a major university so enriching.

“OSU is a great place to work due to the type of folks who are attracted to a land grant university. The environment is very friendly, engaging, and one which is full of energy due to the outstanding and varied students who choose to attend here. OSU President Burns Hargis has a vision for this institution and the focus on ethical leadership is just what is needed in training our future leaders,” says Kent Sampson, director of campus life and associate director of the student union.

And while Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma might get the majority of exposure when it comes to Oklahoma’s colleges, smaller schools offer an abundance of attractive alternatives for potential employees.

“The thing that sets us apart is our size,” says David Hamby, director of public relations at Rogers State University. “We offer a very personal environment for students to work closely with faculty and staff.”

Here are some of the state’s other colleges and universities, with employment figures provided by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to reflect both full and part-time employees.

PHOTO COURTESY THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA.

The state’s institutions of higher education offer uniquely fulfilling careers.

Northeastern State University 1,000-1,250 employees The small-town feel and scenic setting of Tahlequah’s campus is a major attraction to employees. With campuses in Broken Arrow and Muskogee, the opportunities at NSU continue to grow.

“This is where I got my undergraduate degree, and it’s just nice to be home,” says Dana Eversole, professor of mass communication. “But number one is my students. It’s wonderful to see them go out after they leave here and be successful.”

Oklahoma City University 1,000-1,250 employees OCU offers its employees the opportunity to be a part of an institution with its pulse on a thriving city that shares its growth with the surrounding community.

“Oklahoma City is becoming a worldclass city, and OCU, as well, is expanding outward,” says Kevin Windholz, vice president of enrollment management.

“You honestly feel like you’re part of a renaissance here.”

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Oral Roberts University 750-1,000 employees Another Tulsa school, the Christian university offers employees a small school atmosphere and opportunity for spiritual and professional growth.

“On the heels of the largest freshman class in 10 years, ORU is an exciting place to work. Employees are deeply committed to building leaders who will impact their world,” says Senior Director for University Relations and Communications Jeremy Burton.

The University of Tulsa

University of Science and Arts

1,000-1,200 employees The sense of family at TU is a common thread among its employees. Located near downtown Tulsa, TU enjoys a special relationship with the city.

“Being at a smaller school, we get to know the students quite well,” says Earl Johnson, associate vice president for enrollment and student services. “You know their dreams and passions, and to see their opportunities come to fruition is extremely rewarding.”

192 employees The Chickasha university is engrained in the city and the relationship between school and community provides a sense of purpose to employees.

“What people really want to know is that what they do is appreciated,” says Randy Talley, director of media relations. “We have an administration that encourages creativity and are complimentary of the faculty and staff.” REGAN HENSON

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Great

COMPANIES Spotlight: EMPLOYMENT Good firms help Oklahomans find great companies to work for.

Fortunately, Oklahomans are served by a number of excellent employment agencies and recruiting firms that work in a variety of fields helping match employees with positions that meet their needs and expertise. These firms help Oklahomans’ dreams come true and they attract employees who enjoy serving their communities and empowering those dreams. That ambition to help others makes for purposeful environments at these firms, as well as great employers in their own rights.

In today’s fast paced environment, those seeking employment can’t rely on the same job-searching methods as they could in years past. When information on job openings and career opportunities can be universally disseminated in seconds, it can take a team of informed professionals just to keep track of possibilities.

Great COMPANIES To Work For

Key Personnel Tulsa, Bartlesville Key takes pride in helping place key people

Tulsa

775

Hiring in 2013

Employees

(OK)

International Automobile Rentals Yes

Driven by the mission, “Value Every Time,” the company’s brands, Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental, serve value-conscious travelers in more than 80 countries by providing budget-friendly rental cars. Dollar and Thrifty have approximately 1,575 corporate and franchised locations worldwide, including approximately 600 in the United States and Canada. The company maintains a strong presence in domestic leisure travel in virtually all of the top U.S. and Canadian airport markets.

Employee loyalty In its toughest times, Dollar Thrifty found its strongest support in its own employees, who one prominent business observer in Oklahoma credited for the company’s notable turnaround.

Employees

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group

(OK)

A Sample Of

Tulsa An Oklahoma original founded by two Tulsa natives five years ago, PT Pros specializes in helping place degreed professionals in part-time positions that also allow for time for family. www.parttimepros.com MICHAEL W. SASSER

Melton Truck Line

Quibids

Tulsa

Oklahoma City

Transportation

eCommerce and Retail

215 staff and 1,000 drivers, 50 of which physically live in OK

Yes

Melton Truck Lines is one of the nation’s leading flatbed trucking companies with a large and growing fleet of modern, safe, and well-maintained equipment. The company is uniquely 100 percent air-ride, providing shippers with consistent, on-time transportation service.

Always Looking To Improve The commitment to making Melton a fun, safe, familyoriented environment, coupled with its commitment to the community, has provided an edge in an industry where competition is fierce. Melton offers a generous compensation package that includes comprehensive benefits, competitive pay and profit sharing. Melton provides VIP health care with onsite and near-site clinics, a personal health pro to help families maneuver through the complicated health care world and a concierge service called Lifeworks that provides a toolkit of personal and professional resources. Melton continues to look for new ways to keep its edge and uphold the long-standing tradition of employee success.

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Hiring in 2013

Tulsa Premier Staffing serves core businesses in the Oklahoma economy by offering placement and hiring services for clerical, light industrial, medical, legal, professional and manufacturing opportunities to companies throughout northeastern Oklahoma. www.premier-staff.com

Part-Time Pros

(OK)

Premier Staffing

Offices located statewide Express Employment Professionals has Oklahoma covered like no one else, with locations all over Oklahoma. For more than 25 years, the company has met the human resource needs of mid-size companies in Oklahoma and around the world, and the career needs of countless job-seekers with a host of services for both parties. www.expresspros.com

in key positions, leading to mutual success and satisfaction. Key is large enough to handle large projects but small enough to give the personal attention to detail needed to guarantee success – and it’s worked for more than 34 years. www.keyjobs.com

Employees

Oklahoma City, Tulsa With more than half a century’s experience and 350 locations worldwide, Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm and a recognized industry leader. www.rhi.com

Express Employment Professionals

Hiring in 2013

Robert Half International

FIRMS

Yes

QuiBids is an online entertainment retail auction site that operates on a pay-to-participate business model.

At QuiBids, customers bid on popular consumer products for the opportunity to win the item for a great deal. Should they not get a great deal, they can always utilize the “Buy Now” and get the item at retail, minus the cost of their bids. No one ever has to walk away empty-handed.

Happy Employees = Productive Employees QuiBids is all about fun. Not only is it a fun and entertaining place to shop for its customers, it’s a fun work environment, too. QuiBids cares for its employees by providing a great atmosphere to work in, which includes a game room set with a Ping-Pong table, Friday get-togethers, no dress code, massages, paid time for community service, employee trainings for professional development, discounted gym memberships and much more. QuiBids is truly a new tech leader in the community, always striving for excellence in all that is does.

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2012

His Own Terms

By Michael W. Sasser

SandRidge CEO Tom Ward didn’t follow anyone else’s map to success and contentment.

The

way Tom L. Ward sees it, he would be just as happy today if he had never left his hometown of Seiling, Oklahoma. Remote western Oklahoma was a great place to grow up.

“I have great memories of working with my father and brother, and mom was always there,” says the soft-spoken Ward. “It was a great opportunity to play sports, which I loved. It was a small school, so it afforded me the opportunity. My wife is from Wenoka. I never anticipated leaving. If we had never left, if I had just gone to work in a plant following high school, then we would have had a great life. It’s 78

a fabulous place to be.”

While at times it seemed unlikely Ward would get too far from his roots, he, indeed, did. Far enough that today he’s regarded as one of Oklahoma’s energy industry giants – and, of course, energy giants in Oklahoma enjoy the same lofty epithet on the world stage.

But that seemed like an unlikely career arc then for Ward, now chairman and CEO of SandRidge Energy, Inc. “I didn’t anticipate college,” Ward says. “When I didn’t get into college for football, I really thought that was it.”

Ward had worked his senior year with his uncle in local oil fields, and it’s possible destiny might not have taken him farther from home

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Great COMPANIES To Work For A Sample Of

Reasor’s Foods Tahlequah

3,000

Hiring in 2013

Employees

(OK)

Retail-Grocery Store Yes

Reasor’s was founded more than 49 years ago in Tahlequah. It was family-owned until 2007, when Reasor’s became an employee-owned company. Today, Reasor’s has 17 grocery stores and two convenience stores. The company employs nearly 3,000 people in northeastern Oklahoma. Supermarket News ranks the company No. 34 on its Top 50 Small Chains and Independents in the U.S. for 2011.

Employee Assets At Reasor’s, people are the greatest asset. The company is always looking for new ways to reward hard work and dedication. It offers a very competitive benefits package to assist employees today and to help them plan for tomorrow: great pay, employee discount program, promoting from within, medical benefits, paid time off, personal wellness program, service awards, flexible spending account, employee assistance program, company paid life insurance, supplemental life insurance, supplemental personal accident insurance, short-term disability benefits, employee stock ownership plan and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Stanfield & O’Dell Tulsa

42

Hiring in 2013

Consulting And CPA Firm (OK)

the oil-rich Permian Basin and Gulf of Mexico.

The company owns 225,000 acres of leasehold primarily in the Central Basin Platform of the Texas Permian Basin, where approximately 7,350 potential future drilling locations have been identified. If production continues on the current pace for the Mississippian, the company predicts that 100,000 jobs will be added in Oklahoma and Kansas over the next three to five years (not just with SandRidge, but in the play overall).

Financial success is not the only – or even the primary – means by which Ward defines himself or the company culture at SandRidge.

“We like for employees to have a level of contentment in life brought by having a stable home life and by helping others that then permits them to focus on projects,” Ward says.

SandRidge is widely acclaimed for its charitable and community involvement – particularly when it comes to the disenfranchised, abused or educationally challenged youth. Ward and his son, Trent, co-founded White Fields, Inc., a home for severely abused and neglected boys, in 2000. Under Ward’s direction, SandRidge also provides employment opportunities for felons returning to society, in addition to numerous other efforts.

As an employer, Ward says he sees the company’s role as facilitating: helping people achieve their goals. “It can be fulfillment from achievement and from helping others – and then the third leg of the stool is taking that into home life.”

These days those things are also more in focus to Ward personally.

“I’m getting old,” he says. “Over time I’ve felt more contentment from helping others. I don’t have to be dependent on if something works at the office for contentment.”

Ward doesn’t just espouse his philosophy; he lives it. One Christmas Eve, he read in the Wall Street Journal about an Egyptian Coptic Christian, previously an engineer, who was washing dishes in New York City after effectively being run out of his country in the recent rash of ethnic cleansing. Quietly, without fanfare and without issuing a press release about it, Ward brought the man to Oklahoma City where today he is living and a valuable member of the SandRidge family.

“That person will be with us for a long time and be a terrific employee,” Ward says.

“That’s the kind of person we love to have at SandRidge.”

There’s no denying that Ward has traveled far and wide since the days of his 40-student graduating class. But when listening to him discuss those things that are important to him personally and as SandRidge Energy’s leader, another fact emerges. You can take the man out of dusty western Oklahoma, but you can’t take the values and work ethic of his home out of Tom Ward.

Employees

than that. However, he’d met his future bride in high school, and when she moved to attend the University of Oklahoma, the die was cast.

His experience in the oil fields prompted his interest, and with OU’s degree options in the field, it was an easy decision for Ward to head off to the state’s largest university.

College was not thrill-a-minute, either.

“It was drudgery,” Ward recalls. “I was working all the time. I didn’t take one extra class. I worked at a local horse farm. I had no fun in college, got through in three-and-a-half years and took the last three hours by correspondence.”

Ward graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Petroleum Land Management. It was a good time to enter the field professionally, Ward recalls. “You could get a job anywhere.”

Ward again gravitated toward western Oklahoma and worked extensively in the Wenoka area, quickly becoming familiar with prominent business leaders and energy interests. But the infamous July 1982 failure of Penn Square Bank sent shockwaves through the oil and gas industry, driving many to ruin and others out of the sector completely.

“It was a difficult summer of 1982,” Ward says.

But Ward had launched his first business venture with the assistance of friends and persevered through one of the worst periods in Oklahoma economic history. By 1983, he had an office in Clinton and by 1984 he had one in Oklahoma City. In ’83 he also first met Aubrey McClendon.

“We were the only two, post-Penn Square Bank, who were aggressively buying leases and wells, so in short order we were partnering,” Ward says. “From 1983 to 1989 we dug a ton of wells.”

In ’89, Ward co-founded Chesapeake Energy with McClendon, and the years that followed are legendary in energy history. Chesapeake grew to be an energy giant, propelling both men to the forefront of the industry and Ward to a position that seemed as far removed from his hometown as possible.

But despite the success, the humble Ward’s values and focus remained unchanged.

“It reached a time when I evaluated how content I was as a person and what I could continue to do,” he says. “I decided I couldn’t keep it up.”

Ward says he always enjoyed the hands-on approach to business, and he is driven by the excitement of creating value for shareholders and the teamwork element of working with employees and colleagues. He decided to continue pursuing those interests when he left Chesapeake and founded SandRidge Energy in 2006.

Success – on Ward’s terms – followed. SandRidge Energy is the primary developer of the Mississippian Oil Play, with valuable assets in

Yes

Stanfield & O’Dell, P.C., is a leading, full-service consulting and CPA firm that enables businesses, notfor-profits and families to become more successful. The firm’s dedication to clients’ success is the reason its very first client is still among those the company serves today.

Rocking Charitable Causes Stanfield & O’Dell believes in investing and fostering relationships with employees, clients and the community through core values of life balance, integrity, vision, excellence, and teamwork, which team members fondly refer to as LIVET. The firm’s commitment to community service is demonstrated in its encouragement and support of its team members to serve and be leaders in the community. Team members of the firm currently serve on 15 not-for-profit boards. Stanfield & O’Dell encourages team members to challenge themselves both personally and professionally by creating an environment in which all are respected, valued and nurtured.

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Great COMPANIES To Work For A Sample Of

GableGotwals attorneys meet to discuss a case.

Samson

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SARAH SZABO

Hiring in 2013

(OK)

Employees

Giving back Samson supports a litany of community causes, including United Way, American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels and numerous others. Samson’s support also includes a variety of local drives and projects.

SMG Tulsa Tulsa Arena and Convention Center Management Hiring in 2013

Though courtroom dramas on TV typically follow small, core groups of characters trying cases by themselves like superheroes, the fact is that law firms are much more collaborative affairs. As a result, to work in a firm is to work with support, with many firms dedicated to helping their hires advance ever-upward – and it’s this support that makes these law firms great companies to work for in Oklahoma.

Most firms, like the Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman–based Crowe & Dunlevy, offer a strong emphasis on mentoring new hires with the anticipation that they’ll stay with the firm for their whole careers, with aims to have its hires always set on a professional trajectory toward ultimately becoming shareholders. It clearly has an effect: Of more than 120 attorneys, 80 of Crowe and Dunlevy’s hires are listed in the national Best Lawyers in America network.

“There are people who have been here for 35 years,” says Melissa Bogle, manager of development at the firm GableGotwals.

“People come here for their first job, and stay until it’s their last job. There’s incredible tenure here.”

The firm, with offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, is an example of a much more intimate and tight-knit group than the layman may expect of a typical firm, with a total employee roster of 146 – a number that includes ownership-stake shareholders, of-counsel attorneys, associates and paralegals.

“The shareholders are the owners of the company, and of-counsel are typically attorneys who are experienced, but for whatever reason are not owners,” explains Bogle. “They may be at the end of their

career and looking towards retirement, or have quite a bit of legal experience but be new to the company, and so haven’t reached shareholder status yet. And the associates are the young attorneys.”

Larger firms in Oklahoma, such as Hall Estill, which employs 120 attorneys, in addition to 120 more as paralegals and support staff, maintain a similar atmosphere while spread across the country, with offices in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Washington D.C., and Fayetteville. Different administrative duties are spread across the offices, but each city branch shoulders a portion of the overall client work.

“We’re large for Oklahoma, and midsize nationally,” describes Lari Gulley, the Tulsa-based director of business development for Hall Estill.

The day-to-day operations at the typical law firm, large or small, are split among the client-to-attorney work, the technical work of the paralegal staff, who assist associates with ongoing cases, and administrative functions done by office workers whose jobs are to keep the whole operation afloat.

Gulley describes her firm as “a pretty flat organization” when compared to corporate structure, with shareholders who own the company and elect a board of directors, and the associates, paralegals, managers, of-counsel and legal secretaries working in tandem on the tier below.

But the size of the firm is hardly the only indicator of quality. Take, for instance, Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson – another firm with Tulsa, Norman and Oklahoma City offices that employs 43 attorneys total, including partners, of counsel and associates, 18 of whom have been officially recognized by Best Lawyers in America.

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Yes

SMG Tulsa is proud to manage BOK Center and Tulsa Convention Center. SMG also provides award-winning food and beverage operations through in-house catering company, Savor, for both venues.

Rocking Charitable Causes It’s an honor to work for a company that puts such a strong emphasis on being an excellent corporate partner within the community. SMG Rocks is the charitable arm of SMG Tulsa that was specifically created to support local charitable organizations and allow employees the opportunity to give back to the community as a part of their job. In 2012, SMG has donated more than $10,000 in supplies to various Tulsa charities.

Continental Resources Oklahoma City Oil and Gas Exploration And Production approx. 500

Hiring in 2013

Popular wisdom says being a lawyer can be harsh work, but for these firms, it’s worth it.

FIRMS

(OK)

COMPANIES Spotlight: LAW

Yes

Founded in 1971, Samson is one of the largest privately held producers of natural gas in the United States. Samson is a leader in horizontal drilling and completion methodologies utilizing sound engineering technologies.

It operates more than 4,000 oil and gas wells and holds interest in more than 11,000 additional producing properties.

Employees

Great

650

(OK)

GableGotwals attorneys meet to discuss a case.

Oil And Natural Gas Production

Employees

HEATH SHARP

Tulsa

PHOTO BY HEATH SHARP.

2012

Yes

Continental Resources is a Top 10 petroleum liquids producer in the United States. In October 2012, the company announced a new five-year plan to triple production and proved reserves by year-end 2017. The company’s growth plan is based on developing its industry-leading leasehold in the nation’s premier oil play, the Bakken of North Dakota and Montana, as well as its position in the SCOOP and Northwest Cana plays of Oklahoma.

MICHAEL W. SASSER

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P W S eople

ith

By Jami Mattox

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tyle

When Oklahoma City entertainment mogul and entrepreneur David Box was in second grade, at his mother’s behest, he entered a fashion show and won.

“I didn’t do anything to win,” he recalls. “We just went shopping. I’ve learned over the years that it isn’t the cost of the garment that makes an item cool. Price doesn’t equal style.”

Box learned a valuable lesson. An expensive garment or accessory may not necessarily be stylish, but sometimes it is; on the flip side, a second-hand steal can turn a vanilla outfit into something fashion-forward.

The 13 individuals in the following pages represent these principles. From high-end to vintage, casual to couture, they represent style in Oklahoma. For some, like wardrobe stylist Chris Hill, style is a matter of vocation. For others, like art gallery owner Royce Myers, they are expected to “dress the part.” And still for others, like medical student Julie Martin, fashion is a way to express herself outside of scrubs and the classroom.

From monkey fur jackets to neon yellow pants, sexy red booties and vintage Stetson hats – not to mention black diamond necklaces and Louboutins aplenty – these people with style represent the best of fashion in Oklahoma.

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Christina Fallin Business consultant, Oklahoma City Wearing: Vintage monkey fur jacket, Urban Outfitters skirt, Topshop tights, custom Natacha Marro healless pumps, military-issue beret; (previous page: Virgin Mary with Switchblades t-shirt, Zara fringe skirt, vintage red glitter platform heels)

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most? I have a fondness for

BRENT FUCHS

women who have fun with fashion and do not take themselves too seriously. I also appreciate people who inhabit and wear their clothes, rather than their clothes wearing them. Daphne Guinness, the late Isabella Blow and Anna Dello Russo are women that I find relatable.

What is your favorite article of clothing? My monkey fur jacket ranks pretty high on my favorites list due to the fact that it is so rare and looks like a jacket of human hair.

What is your favorite accessory? My archivalesque collection of silver that I wear every day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; each piece on my fingers and wrists are from three generations of grandmothers, my travels and gifts for momentous occasions.

Do you prefer to dress up or dress down? I err on the side of dressing up in order to be less approachable, but it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always work.

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Keith Meeks, MD

Physician/Entrepreneur, Tulsa Wearing: John Varvatos white long-sleeve t-shirt, Diesel jeans; Lucchese alligator boots and David Yurman black diamond necklace

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most?

David Beckham exhibits a distinctive and eclectic style that has truly set the tone for men’s fashion.

What is your favorite article of clothing? My black Diesel jacket What designers/stores do you admire most? John Varvatos’ clothing has a creative spirit and intrinsic edge that gives style with little effort.

What song best describes your fashion sense or sense of style?

“City of Blinding Lights” by U2

What is your favorite accessory? My

NeMar Noulles

boots.

Do you prefer to dress up or dress down? Dress down. I am a very casual person and would rather keep it simple.

HEATH SHARP

HEATH SHARP

Omega Seamaster Ploprof Timepiece

When you want to look great with little effort, what’s your go-to outfit? Jeans with a white v-neck and

Chef, Tulsa

Wearing: Black Luca Luca dress with Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet red booties and BlairB Design necklaces

What was your first fashion moment? I think it was my senior prom – that was in the ‘60s, and I wore a really fabulous pair of lace bell-bottoms and a beautiful matching blouse. I had very long hair, and it was done up, and I felt so cool walking into the venue. There were all typical prom dresses, and then me! Loved it.

What is your favorite article of clothing? That’s tough – one article would be a Ghost burgundy shearling jacket that was a runway piece. Ghost never put the jacket into production, and the New York rep, who was a friend, gave me the piece. Another favorite is a long, black leather mermaid skirt that I got in London.

Which designers do you admire most? Iceberg, Dior, Velvet, Yves Saint Laurent, Missoni and Moschino.

I love to see clothing that makes a dare – even a subtle dare, as long as you can look at the item, tell it has some imagination and that you feel like you want to touch it.

What song best describes your fashion sense or sense of style? “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones.

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Chris Hill Wardrobe stylist, Tulsa Wearing: Vintage denim jacket, printed harem pants, rabbit fur shawl, vintage Stetson cowboy hat and Luxx Jewelz jewelry

HEATH SHARP/ SPECIAL THANKS TO CAIN’S BALLROOM.

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most? Kanye West’s fashion style is very experimental. He’s always looking to try something different and outside of the box. I think experimental is exciting.

It helps you to be open minded to a variety of styles.

What was your first fashion moment? When I was 14 years old I was obsessed with TRL on MTV. I could not wait to get home to see what clothes the celebrities had on. I remember telling myself that I am going to dress like that. That summer I saved all of my money and bought myself an entire wardrobe for the school year.

What song best describes your fashion sense or sense of style? “Change Clothes” by Jay-Z. What is your favorite accessory? My hats and vintage turquoise rings.

When you want to look great with little effort, what’s your go-to outfit? My skinny black harem pants, knee-high brown leather cowboy boots, an oversized, long-sleeve jean shirt with a rabbit fur shawl and my vintage Stetson cowboy hat. Its simple, it represents my personality, and all of the articles of clothing tell a story.

Plastic surgeon, Oklahoma City Wearing: Lengha by Prash, an Indian designer based in Dallas What was your first fashion moment? In high school, I tell everyone that I was the ultimate geek – long hair in a ponytail, unplucked eyebrows and braces. I don’t think that I became aware of a sense of style until I was well into my 30s. That was when I finished residency and could no longer wear scrubs to work every day.

What is your favorite article of clothing? A Pashmina shawl – I have many in different colors, all of them from India. I like them because I tend to get cold in air-conditioned buildings, and they keep me warm and stylish.

What designers/stores do you admire most? When I shop, I try to stay as local as much as possible. I think that Oklahoma City has a lot to offer, and despite what people may say, is a very fashion savvy place. I love to shop at Consortium, Balliet’s, Liberté and Heirloom Shoe.

What song best describes your fashion sense or sense of style? “Soul Meets Body” by Death Cab for Cutie is a great song and inspires me when I’m getting ready.

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Anu Bajaj, MD

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Julie Martin Medical student at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tulsa Wearing: (left) Patterson Kincaid leather skirt, Joie tank top, Rebecca Minkoff blazer, Christian Louboutin pumps; (top) J. Crew sweater, Patterson Kincaid leather skirt, Valentino booties; (bottom) Parker sequin blazer, 7 for all Mankind black leather pants, Theory tank top

HEATH SHARP

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most? My grandmother is my style icon. She lived through the Depression and still managed to dress with style even though times were tough. She continues to look seemingly elegant and graceful to this day.

What is your favorite article of clothing? My denim button-down shirt. I wear it with everything.

What stores do you frequent? J. Crew is probably the store where I shop the most right now. I admire its great work clothes and everyday clothes that are still cute and affordable.

Plus, they give a discount for medical students!

What is your favorite accessory? Kiehlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lip balm.

Do you prefer to dress up or dress down? I prefer to dress down. After a long day at work, there is nothing better than putting on sweat pants and slippers. It always puts me in a good mood.

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Joshua Powell, MD Ophthalmologist in private practice, Oklahoma City Wearing: ACNE corduroy blazer, Charles Tyrwhitt white oxford button down, Gany by Michael Bastian dyed denim jeans by, Adidas Samba shoes What was your first fashion moment? In the fifth grade I wore a Don Johnson-style pastel blazer with a t-shirt. Not my proudest moment, but the first time I really thought about what I was wearing instead of just picking it up off the floor that morning.

What is your favorite article of clothing? I have a Burberry Prorsum topcoat that I rarely get to wear in Oklahoma because it’s seldom cold enough to need it.

What designers/stores do you admire most? I love Spencer Stone because it always feels like a well-curated collection of timeless, classy menswear. Mr. Ooley’s is, of course, a perennial favorite for high quality fashion. I shop a lot online to get ideas and inspiration.

What is your favorite accessory? Jewelry, in wretched excess.

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When you want to look great with little effort, what’s your go-to outfit? Dark denim, fitted t-shirt, black patent shoes and no socks.

Do you prefer to dress up or dress down? I dress. I rarely think about whether I’m dressed up or down, but instead I want to be comfortable and a big part of that for me is feeling like I look put-together, relaxed, and in control of my destiny.

Kim Henry Executive director, Sarkeys Foundation, Edmond Wearing: Temperley London metallic foil jersey gown, Judith Leiber earrings

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most? Audrey Hepburn was always very simple and very classic. I love the styles of the ‘50s and very early ‘60s. I love all the styles Doris Day wore in Pillow Talk.

What is your favorite article of clothing? My black flat riding boots. I wear them all the time.

What designers do you admire most? My favorite shoe designer is Jimmy Choo. His shoes fit me the best.

Love them.

to wear black, and it’s always my go to color for just about anything.

When you want to look great with little effort, what’s your go-to outfit? Black skinny jeans, cashmere sweater or long silk shirt with my black flat riding boots.

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What song best describes your fashion sense or sense of style? “Back in Black” (by AC/DC). I love

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Royce Myers Owner of Royce Myers Art Ltd Gallery, Tulsa Wearing: (left) William Derrevere sterling silver and lapis bolo, silver concho belt, Express dress shirt, Marc Ecko vest, Murano black jacket, 7 For All Mankind jeans and Lucchese boots; (top) vintage bucksin jacket, vintage belt with Navajo buckle, Diesel jeans, Native American knee high boots with feather and bead embellishment

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most? My grandfather Lancaster always wore a freshly ironed white western shirt with pearl snap buttons, blue jeans, western boots and belt topped off with a white straw hat in the spring and summer and a felt Stetson in the fall and winter. It is a classic look.

What was your first fashion moment? I saved for months in high school to buy a white corduroy suit with big bell-bottoms, a silk Nik Nik shirt and blue platform shoes. The ‘70s were fun and the clothes were just ugly!

What is your favorite article of clothing? A vintage leather jacket

HEATH SHARP

I’ve had for 30 years.

What song best describes your fashion sense or sense of style?

“Sunglasses At Night” by Corey Hart.

What is your favorite accessory?

Native American jewelry and belt buckles.

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David Box Owner of Box Talent, Box Real Estate, The Greens Country Club, Box Ventures; Oklahoma City Wearing: Wrangler denim shirt and jeans

BRENT FUCHS

BRENT FUCHS

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most? It may sound cliché, but George Clooney. He doesn’t try too hard, yet it works. His style isn’t forced, it just is.

What was your first fashion moment? When I was in second grade, I was entered into a fashion show. I didn’t do anything to win; we just went shopping. I’ve learned over the years that it isn’t the cost of the garment that makes an item cool. Price doesn’t equal style.

What is your favorite article of clothing? My Wrangler denim shirt. I’ve had it for 10 years, and it’s still my favorite.

What is your favorite accessory? A pair of black Mercedes Del Rio Boots and/or a silver star belt buckle. I never get compliments on the buckle, but I like it. I’m not positive anyone else does; in fact, I’m starting to think they don’t.

When you want to look great with little effort, what’s your go-to outfit? Blue jeans, denim shirt, cowboy boots and a black belt.

John Cary Finance student at The University of Tulsa and individual securities trader, Tulsa Wearing: Ermenegildo Zegna suit, Burberry shirt, Louis Vuitton tie, vintage boots

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most? My father, as he has always dressed tastefully.

What is your favorite article of clothing? I’m always looking for a vintage or ageless pair of nice cowboy boots.

Which designers do you admire most? Burberry separates and Ermenegildo Zegna suits always fit me well.

What is your favorite accessory? Without a question, ties; I enjoy collecting ties, especially when traveling.

boots. It takes no effort whatsoever.

Do you prefer to dress up or dress down? Up. I spent my youth in khaki pants and navy blazers as a school uniform. Now, I prefer a well-cut gray suit.

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HEATH SHARP

When you want to look great with little effort, what’s your go-to outfit? Diesel jeans, a Vince t-shirt and cowboy

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Marquay Baul Vice President, Arvest Private Bank, Tulsa Wearing: Ralph Lauren tuxedo, Thomas Pink French cuff shirt, Ralph Lauren Black silk tie, Mezlan oxfords

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most? My sense of style comes from a variety of

HEATH SHARP SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SUMMIT CLUB.

influences, as far back as being a little boy looking at photos of my grandfather and his professional and conservative style, to observing my father’s sense of fashion with his business and casual attire.

What was your first fashion moment? When I was in a Youth Leadership event at the church I grew up in. I wore my first tuxedo.

What is your favorite article of clothing? A sports jacket.

I find it to be a very versatile additional to my wardrobe. It allows me to dress up or down, casual or business casual.

What is your favorite accessory? A pocket square and/ or a tie. Since I wear a suit or sports jacket five days out of the week, I find it to be a nice accessory to add individuality and uniqueness to any jacket or suit combination.

When you want to look great with little effort, what’s your go-to outfit? My gray knit sports jacket from Banana Republic’s Heritage line with my dark denim jeans from Express and cordovan Hugo Boss dress shoes.

Do you prefer to dress up or dress down? I prefer to dress up. Anyone who knows me certainly knows my affinity for suits.

Teri Pierce Marketing and education specialist, Valir Health, Oklahoma City Wearing: Blue Rain shorts and beige blouse, Tom Ford black leather jacket, J. Crew cheetah scarf and Christian Louboutin pumps

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose style you admire most? Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Onassis. Their classic and timeless styles translate and look modern today.

Classic with a modern twist is the best way to describe me.

What was your first fashion moment? The first time I put on a pair of high heel shoes! I knew from that moment on, my love of shoes, fashion and bright lipstick would carry me through.

What is your favorite article of clothing? My Chanel scarf. I can wear it with a t-shirt and jeans, with my favorite sweater or a suit. It’s the most versatile piece I have. I might consider it the love of my life.

What designers and stores do you admire most? Chanel, of course – how can you not? – as well as Neiman Marcus and Christian Louboutin.

What is your favorite accessory? As small as it sounds, my Michael Kors watch.

a unique neckline, paired with jeans, killer shoes and a piece of statement jewelry.

SEE MORE ONLINE

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BRENT FUCHS

When you want to look great with little effort, what’s your go-to outfit? A classic white shirt, preferably one with

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30 30 DAYS

PHOTOS

30 Oklahoma photographers capture images that represent the state in 2012.

Paralympic Athletes, Jeremy Charles

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Two men, one idea. Thirty things, 30 photos, 30 days t and 30 photographers.

That’s the concept behind 30 Days 30 Photos, a project devised

by Mike Jones, hi y r t y Da owner and creative director at Scissortail Creative, and Kyle Golding, chief strategic idealist of The Golding Group.

30 Days 30 Photos follows the success of 5 Commercials 5 Days, a public service project that created five commercials in five days for five Oklahoma City nonprofit organizations.

The project resulted in more than $50,000 worth of services donated and netted Scissortail Creative the national 2011 Communitas Award for excellence in community service and social responsibility. y rt

The mission of 30 Days 30 Photos is to define Oklahoma in 30 days with 30 unique photos by 30 Oklahoma photographers.

“In September, we asked the community a simple question: ‘What exciting and important changes are happening in Oklahoma this year?’ The community responded with a wide variety of ideas, from people and places to events and businesses,” says Jones. “From

Kyle Golding and Mike Jones, creators of 30 Days 30 Photos.

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS.

that response we generated a list of 50. The following week we allowed the community to vote on those items and their importance to Oklahoma. After thousands of votes, we ended up with a list of 30 items, people, places, ideas, companies and experiences that define 2012 in Oklahoma.”

List in hand, the duo sought out 30 of Oklahoma’s top photographers to capture an image that would illustrate each item on the list. “We sought out 30 of Oklahoma’s best photographers, from those who have just started their career to seasoned commercial photographers to artists who use the camera as their paint brush and Oklahoma as their canvas,” says Jones.

Oklahoma Magazine is proud to present 30 Days 30 Photos. Thirty perspectives through 30 lenses reflecting on one year in Oklahoma.

– Jami Mattox

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Norman Arts District, Beth Hobson

Classen Curve, Oklahoma City, Ann Sherman

Brady Arts District, Tulsa, Scott Miller

Plaza District, Oklahoma City, Candi Coffman

Oklahoma City National Memorial, Randy Alvarado

Jabee, Aaron Snow

The Womb, Oklahoma City, JD Merryweather

Devon Tower, Oklahoma City, Holly Baumann

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Admiral Twin Theatre, Tulsa, Nathan Harmon

Deep Deuce, Oklahoma City, Michael Lowe

Guthrie Green, Tulsa, Heath Sharp

OU Football, Stacey West

Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City, Christian Traina

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COOP Ale Works, Samantha Lamb

Shop Good, Oklahoma City, Stevie Simpson

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The Spy, Todd Scott Ballje

Dwelling Spaces, Oklahoma City, Anna Lee

Blue Dome District, Tulsa, John Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor

Boathouse District, Oklahoma City, Rick Buchanan

Drought, Eric Lyons

Keep It Local, Oklahoma City, Randy Coleman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Jeremy Charles

Lauren Zuniga, Brett Deering

Midtown/9th Street/Automobile Alley, Oklahoma City, Eric Lyons

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HN8, Oklahoma City, Staff

Sky Dance Bridge, Oklahoma City, Bryce Bandy

ACM@UCO, Oklahoma City, Christian Traina

OSU Football, Brent Fuchs

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Film Row, Oklahoma City, Carli Wentworth

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Special Advertising Section

the professionals SKIN HEALTH & AGE MANAGEMENT What’s new at SkinMedic?

I recently had the opportunity to train and become a certified Arque-Derma Artistic Restoration Lift Practitioner.

Formerly known as Injectable Thread Lift, the procedure is a patented vector injecting technique that uses less product to achieve more significant Sharon Smithson, and lasting results. This technique also BSRN significantly extends the use of dermal fillers to achieve longer lasting results.

Clients that I’ve used this technique on love the results because it provides a more natural look. Also, there is a more significant immediate improvement over the traditional injection techniques. Injecting dermal fillers properly is both a science and art and requires extensive training and years of experience before one is considered an “expert.” When looking for an injector, be sure to ask how many years of experience he/she has, how many patients they inject on a daily and weekly basis, and how long they have been injecting. If you have any questions or would like a complimentary consultation, please call SkinMedic at 918.587.7546.

Sharon Smithson, BSRN Advanced Skin Therapy Practitioner Certified Botox & Dermal Filler Injector SkinMedic 1727 S. Cheyenne Ave. Tulsa, OK 74119 918.587.7546 www.skinmedic.com

PHD LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR

How does internet porn addiction affect relationships?

Pornography plays a huge part in divorce today due to the advent of the internet. For adults, online porn is often about the chase, which is time-consuming, and comes at the expense of career, family, social life and health. Searching Courtney Linsen- for the image or video that is going to meyer-O’Brien, provide short-term gratification and PhD, LPC, MHR alleviate anxiety becomes an obsession.

Comfort and satisfaction is found in knowing it’s there, and it provides a sense of control. The biggest problem is that there is a physiologically addictive nature to porn. People build up a tolerance and need more and more stimulation to achieve the same high. The big difference between substance addiction and sex addiction is that the treatment goal is not abstinence; the goal is healthy sexuality. This is an intimacy disorder as well as an addiction.

The availability of Internet porn has increased the prevalence of sex addiction behaviors, especially in young people, who live in a more highly sexualized culture than existed 10-15 years ago. Many parents don’t use parental controls on their computers; in today’s technical world, is similar to letting children play in the medicine cabinet. The danger creates a distorted view of what sex is and its place in a relationship.

Courtney Linsenmeyer-O’Brien, PhD, LPC, MHR 1723 E. 15th St., Suite 250 Tulsa, OK 74104 918.639.0570 www.drcourtneyobrien.com drobrien@drcourtneyobrien.com

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ATTORNEY AT LAW

HOSPICE CARE

My disabled wife receives Social Security Disability benefits. Can my disabled son receive any benefits through social security?

With the holiday season in full swing, we are facing our first Christmas without my mother. I am trying to keep my own family’s traditions going but having trouble getting into the spirit. I miss my mom. Can you offer any advice?

Yes. You should apply for Disabled Adult Child benefits for your son, through your local Social Security Administration office. A disabled Esther M. Sanders child is eligible to receive money through Social Security when a parent, grandparent or other qualified person is disabled, if both the child and the adult are disabled before the child turns 22 years old. Your son may not be approved simply upon submission of his application; and a hearing may be required. If your son is denied his benefits, you should contact an attorney for assistance with the appeal process.

Attorney at Law Sanders & Associates, P.C. 1015 S. Detroit Ave. Tulsa, OK 74120 918.745.2000 Telephone 918.745.0575 Facsimile 800.745.2006 Toll Free

Ava Hancock

The first holiday, especially one that revolves around family, is tough after you have lost someone you love. The most important thing is to accept your feelings and acknowledge that what you are experiencing is normal. Secondly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Share your feelings with your family and perhaps let others take over some of the responsibilities so you have time to grieve. A good support group can help as well. We have ongoing loss support groups at Grace Hospice twice a week. Please feel free to contact us any time at 918.744.7223.

Ava Hancock Executive Director Grace Hospice of Oklahoma 6400 South Lewis, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.744.7223 www.gracehospice.com

INSURANCE

VETERINARIAN

We are shopping for a new home. How will our homeowners insurance rate impact our ability to get a home loan?

We are looking to adopt a pet for our kids as a Christmas present.

What are some things to consider before we adopt?

Many components are included in the home loan approval process. Lenders look carefully at the ratio of your income versus your debt and monthly Dirk Hunter payment obligations. Since homeowners rates can vary drastically from one carrier to another, it is a good idea to compare rates with several carriers. Saving money on your homeowners insurance can make the difference in qualifying or not qualifying for a loan in some instances. Don't forget to put the same effort into comparing insurance coverage that you put into shopping for your home. We advise our customers to review at least three competitive quotes before making a final decision. Your agent can work closely with your mortgage broker or bank to ensure your coverage meets all lender requirements.

Getting a new pet means committing the next several years to taking care and nurturing the animal. This decision should be made with careful Dr. Rodney Robards consideration of your lifestyle and expectations. Cats can be independent animals and entertain themselves. Dogs need a good exercise every day. Pets with short fur require virtually no grooming, and it’s easier to find ticks and fleas. Pets with a long coat will need to be groomed regularly, which can become time consuming and expensive. If anyone suffers from allergies in your home, you will want to adopt a hypoallergenic dog or a Sphynx hairless cat. You will want to avoid breeds that have short tempers, as they can become aggressive around children.

Dirk Hunter The Insurance Crew 420 S. Main St., Suite 205 Tulsa, OK 74103 918.794.0777 www.theinsurancecrew.com dirk@theinsurancecrew.com

Rodney Robards, DVM Southern Hills Veterinary Hospital 2242 E. 56th Pl. Tulsa, OK 74105 918.747.1311 www.southernhillsvet.com Views expressed in the Professionals do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Co. or its affiliates.

11/9/12 4:54 PM

Special Advertising Section

To be included in the Professionals, call 918.744.6205.

LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

Is seasonal depression real, and what can be done to treat it?

How much does the average American gain during the holidays?

I believe you are referring to seasonal affective disorder, and yes, it is real.

The limbic system is the part of the brain responsible for regulating emotions, as well as other things, through the delivery of signals via Amy Kesner, PhD, neurotransmitters. There are many factors that can affect neurotransmitter LPC, LADC activity, including nutrition, exercise and light. During winter months, when days are shorter, we experience less exposure to natural light. There are many treatments for seasonal affective disorder, but probably most common is the use of artificial light.

If symptoms last beyond the winter season, or do not seem to improve over time, you may need to see your doctor to determine a need for medication and therapy.

As always, if symptoms are severe, contact a physician immediately.

Amy Kesner All Things Psychological 5500 S. Lewis, Suite 5505 Tulsa, OK 74105 918.691.2226 www.allthingspsychological.com dramykesner@gmail.com

PR & MARKETING CONSULTANT What are some of the new trends in communications?

Infographics can make a significant impact in your marketing goals. In today’s work environment, we have become used to absorbing large amounts of information visually. Consequently, we’ve become a little lazy reading text and copy. Your audience would rather Jessica Dyer look at a photograph or a graphic illustration that represents your concept immediately. Used correctly, a smart, colorful infographic can convey your message in all of your communication materials, whether for a brochure, case study or product launch. When using an infographic, remember to keep it simple and clean. Resist the urge to inundate your client and audience with too much information and too many visuals. Keep words and graphics simple for stronger appeal. You can’t make a chart for everything, but a good infographic can sell almost anything.

Jessica Dyer Emerge Marketing & PR 11063-D S. Memorial Dr. #445 918.925.9945 Jdyer@emergempr.com www.facebook.com/EmergePR

On average, Americans gain 5 to 9 pounds during the holidays. Developing ways to avoid holiday weight gain may be extremely important for preventing obesity and the diseases asMalissa Spacek sociated with it. According to Dr. Jack Yanovski’s “Study of Holiday Weight Gain” this is due to the three subseasons within the holiday season. First there is the “preseason” (late October through mid-November) the time when people gain only a small about of weight. Then during the “holiday” (mid-November through mid-January) people put on the most weight, on average about five pounds. Lastly there is the “post-holiday” (mid-January through late February) in which people tend to lose less than 1/2 of one pound of what they may have gained. This scenario can be avoided by taking cognitive control of what you are putting into your mouth and keeping a food diary. As always, we encourage anyone with weight loss concerns or medical aesthetic needs to call our professional staff for more information and complimentary consultations.

Dr. James R. Campbell D.O. and Malissa Spacek, Managing Partner BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center 500 South Elm Place Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 918.872.9999 www.baweightspa.com

PHYSICAL THERAPY I wake up with right hand numbness, usually in the small finger and ring finger. Could occupational therapy help this condition?

What you are describing could be symptoms associated with Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. This condition is Shelly Walentiny, more noticeable in the mornings upon OTR/L, CHT waking due to sleeping positions with the elbow in a bent position. The nerve that innervates the muscles and sensation of the small finger and ring finger runs along the inside of the elbow.

Over time with your daily activities which probably include heavy lifting or repetitive gripping the nerve becomes irritated and rubs on the bone of the inside of the elbow. As the soft tissue around the nerve swells pressure is placed on the ulnar nerve. Occupational therapy can assist you in treating the symptoms associated with Cubital Tunnel Syndrome with specific exercises and nerve glides, anti-inflammatory modalities, splinting and instruction on ergonomic changes in order to protect the upper extremity. In this case evaluation from a physician could also be indicated.

Shelly Walentiny, OTR/L, CHT Excel Therapy Specialists 918.398.7400 www.exceltherapyok.com

COSMETIC & IMPLANT DENTISTRY In your professional opinion, do you think implant supported dentures are better than a traditional set?

Yes I do, and here is why functionally.

When you lose teeth, you lose bone.

The bone will never return. It is important to note that over 50 percent of your Dr. Chris Ward bone loss occurs the first year after D.D.S. extractions. Bone loss causes many problems with a traditional set of dentures, your denture has nothing to hold on to, no ridge.

After a while you almost have no choice but have implants, just to have the dentures grasp onto something. I have patients that can chew and function better on their own gums than an ill-fitting denture. The ultimate purpose for implant-supported denture is to preserve bone where you have tooth loss, and give you force of chewing that will allow you to chew more like your natural teeth. No adhesives, or sticky creams. You may have a horseshoe shape denture so you don’t have so much in your palate loosing taste and flavor in what you eat. You have many choices when it comes to implant supported dentures, simple mini implants, several titanium screws with attachments and o-rings system, or a implant/bar scenario. You can bypass dentures all together and have implant supported bridges also as an option.

Chris Ward, D.D.S. 12814 E 101st Pl N, Suite 101 Owasso, OK 74055 918.274.4466 www.ChrisWardDDS.com

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE Do you have any cleaning tips for holiday parties?

When it comes to the holidays, cleaning your home can get lost on your busy to-do list. Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to keep your home clean for all of your holiday parties. If you don’t have a lot of time to clean the entire house, start with the main Amy Bates areas of your home. Your guests will probably gather in the family room, dining room and kitchen. Touch up each of these areas prior to their arrival. Don’t forget to pay close attention to the guest bedroom and restrooms. These places are crucial because they are high traffic areas during family gatherings. As an added bonus, you will enjoy the party much more with a cleaner home.

Amy Bates Merry Maids 5656 S. Mingo Road Tulsa, OK 74146 918.250.7318 www.merrymaids.com DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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SENIOR FACILITIES

Assessing Your Options More choices mean more compatible care for seniors, but a wider variety of decisions to make.

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mericaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s older adults have more options today than ever before. With life expectancy increasing and people living healthy, active lives into what once was considered old age, more are able to live independently in their own homes for longer. Still, housing options and the means of financing this stage of life are a key concern. The marketplace has responded with a range of possibilities catering to specific needs of seniors and seniors themselves are creating situations to fit their lifestyles.

In-home Options: Clearly, most would prefer to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible. A number of services are available to older adults, which may make this more feasible for

a longer period of time. These range from housekeeping and daily living assistance to skilled health care. Older adults may also choose to share a home where household tasks can be divided and roommates are available for social interaction. There are even situations where a group of seniors share a large home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; kind of like The Golden Girls.

Still others may opt to move in with their children or another family member if living entirely independently becomes difficult.

Retirement Living: For adults that are independent with no debilitating health or mobility issues, a retirement community is a popular option. These communities take on many shapes and sizes, but most provide a separate home with full amenities while offering dining services, housekeeping, fitness centers and opportunities

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Grace Hospice helps you embrace every moment.

We provide expert medical care and counseling services to our patients including: Nursing services 24 hours/7 days a week Medications related to the terminal illness I Pain and symptom management I Emotional, spiritual and bereavement counseling I Family support services for friends and family I I

If you are dealing with loss during the holiday season, Grace Hospice provides free support groups twice a week. Call 918-744-7223 for more information.

1IPOF t 5oll FrFF t XXX.gracehospice.com Not affiliated with Grace Living Centers.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Your Plan Humana Doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ofďŹ ce visits and hospital coverage Prescription drug coverage Convenient mail-order delivery of prescriptions Fitness program â&#x20AC;&#x201C; gym membership at no additional cost

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SENIOR FACILITIES for social interaction. Because these facilities vary widely, the associated costs also vary. In most instances, residents pay rent and other services are paid for according to a structured cost schedule. According to AARP, public subsidies are available to reduce housing costs at some facilities, but these often have long waiting lists.

Assisted Living: A common option for adults who don’t need skilled nursing care, but aren’t able to live independently, assisted living offers help as needed with things such as bathing and dressing, cooking and housekeeping. These facilities generally strive to allow residents to remain as independent as their situation allows. They often offer social activities and transportation as well as 24-hour supervision and some medical services. Cost for these facilities can vary widely depending on the types of housing offered and the services needed by the resident. Public assistance typically does not cover assisted living, though some services may be eligible for Medicaid.

Nursing Homes: This option is for individuals who require skilled nursing care or around-the-clock medical supervision. Meals, personal care and social activities are also provided. Most offer private and semi-

private room options. According to AARP, residents may qualify for Medicare after hospitalization, and Medicaid may offer coverage for some residents.

Continuing Care Communities: One of the newer senior living options, these facilities seek to offer a full spectrum of care tailored to residents’ changing needs. Residents typically move in to an independent living apartment, but may choose an assisted living unit when needed. A nursing unit is available when skilled nursing and extensive medical supervision is needed. This may be one of the more expensive options, often requiring an entrance fee and monthly fees. Public assistance will not cover many continuing care services, though Medicare and Medicaid may cover nursing care in certified facilities.

While diversification of senior living options ultimately provides for care that is more specialized to senior’s needs and allows the senior to live independently, or more independently, for longer, it also means there are many more options to evaluate to find the right situation for you or your loved one. Financing these options is also a major concern. AARP’s website provides an excellent resource for those assessing senior living options. Articles outline many of the choices with specific advice for evaluating and selecting a facility.

Other resources include your local Area Agency on Aging and various nonprofit senior services organizations.

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Taste

FOOD, DRINK, AND OTHER PLEASURES Seared Ahi Tuna Carpaccio is served with roasted pickled harts of palm and smoked tomato vinaigrette.

High-class Tastes PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS.

When it comes to exploring new culinary horizons, Vast reaches for the stars.

S

oaring more than 725 feet above Oklahoma City’s Downtown Business District, Vast is giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “haute cuisine.” Perched on the 49th and 50th floors of the Devon Tower, Oklahoma City’s most recent addition to the skyline, the new restaurant offers intrepid diners breathtaking perspectives of sky and cityscape – but geography alone is not the only way in which Vast is achieving new heights.

Vice President of Culinary Operations Andrew Black describes Vast as much more than a restaurant; it is, he says, “a destination,

where guests come to experience the most unique dining in the city, yet in a very relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere.”

“Vast is a restaurant that can compete in any restaurant-driven city around the country,” adds Executive Chef Patrick Williams. “However, it is very affordable and unassuming, unlike other restaurants of its caliber. The ultimate goal at Vast is to create an everlasting experience created by our service, our product, and our venue’s uniqueness.”

The solidly booked tables seem to attest to Vast’s popularity in a city that is quickly becoming a rising star on America’s culinary map. Diners are flocking to the restaurant for a global spin on fine DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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TARA MALONE

Owner Capp Crowder has brought his successful barbecue business to Tulsa.

Capp’s isn’t fancy. It has knotty pine walls, lots of framed sports memorabilia and a collegiate ambiance; after all, TU, where owner Capp Crowder once played football, is just down the block. But fancy is the last thing you’d want a barbecue joint to be. What you do want is what you’ll find at Capp’s: hearty food and a hearty welcome. Capp’s offers variety heretofore unheard of in barbecue places. Sure, you’ll find the usual standbys, including tasty, tender brisket that’s been lovingly smoked for 14 hours, and sides highlighted by a tangy, vibrant coleslaw and okra fried golden-brown. But there’s also fried catfish, crunchy and fresh, good enough to rival any you’ll find in Tulsa. Impossibly huge baked potatoes, seasoned with barbecue rub, are piled high with cheese, sour cream and a choice of meat. Sandwiches are stars here, including the Cappwich, a soft bun heaped with juicy brisket, bologna and hot links. Or, if you want more traditional barbecue fare, order a whole rack of ribs, which come to the table glowing like burnished mahogany. 2604 E. 11th St., Tulsa. www.cappsbbq.com – Brian Schwartz

HEATH SHARP

CAPP’S BBQ

American cuisine. The chefs describe the philosophy behind their new menu as “our interpretation of world-known dishes using ingredients from around the world and various cooking techniques, thus creating a different taste in flavors and textures.” Some of the most popular menu items include the free-form ravioli, seared tuna, quail, nori-crusted ribeye steak, roasted dourade royale and ancho-rubbed New York strip. Dessert selections are just as decadent, from the chocolate-passion fruit ice cream to banana fried pies with Darjeeling-cardamom gelato.

“The concept came about because we wanted to reach out for different flavors, cooking techniques and diverse cooking styles from around the world,” Black says. “We allowed the diversity in our team’s background not only in ethnicity, but in levels of experience, to flourish and create our concept.”

Diners wishing to eschew the main rooms on the 50th floor have the option of treating themselves to the private dining experience available one story below. Black says the attention to detail in the décor, paired with the unique views and special level of service, come together to create an utterly unique experience for diners brave enough to eat in the clouds. 333 W. Sheridan Ave., Oklahoma City. www.vastokc.com

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THE BUZZ

F AV E S

GABRIELLA’S ITALIAN GRILL A warming, wood-fired oven, red-checkered tablecloths and a large variety of wine – stepping into Gabriella’s is like stepping into the kitchen of the Italian grandmother you never had. The expansive menu at Gabriella’s can be overwhelming; but stick with it, order what sounds best, and you won’t be disappointed. A variety of fresh-made pastas, wood-fired dishes and pizzas are all tempting, as are the luscious, hearty soups and crisp salads. A chef’s favorite, the Rib Eye Fiorentina, is a juicy cut Cioppino is served of steak rubbed with with crusty bread for dipping.

Italian spices, grilled to order and served with green beans and red potatoes. Diners may choose their steak from Gabriella’s Italian market. Hearty seafood fare, including Cioppino Stew and Shrimp fra Diava, are fresh and served in bold sauces.

1226 E. 63rd St., Oklahoma City. www. gabriellasokc.com – Jami Mattox HEATH SHARP

Taste

Vast’s location atop Oklahoma’s tallest building affords great views of downtown Oklahoma City.

What do you want to eat?

Check out our online restaurant guide at www.okmag.com

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Tiny cranberries play a big part in holiday meals. Although those tart, ruby red berries fit perfectly into the season’s color scheme because of their vibrant red hue, they aren’t just for the holidays.

Full of antioxidants and other disease-fighting properties, this superfood should be part of our diets year round.

Cranberries contain special antioxidant compounds called proanthocyanidins, or PACs, that help prevent harmful bacteria from adhering to cells in the body, particularly in the stomach, mouth and bladder. While it has not been proven that cranberry juice can treat an active infection, it is helpful in preventing not only bladder infections, but also stomach ulcers and dental diseases.

Because they are so rich in antioxidants, cranberries have been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers, including breast, lung, prostate and colon cancer as well as other chronic conditions.

Cranberries are also a good source of vitamins C and K, plus phosphorus and fiber. Another notable health benefit includes lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) while raising the good (HDL).

Keeping cholesterol in check can also lessen the risk of heart attacks or strokes.

So go ahead and enjoy cranberries this holiday season and in the year to come. Your body will thank you. – Jill Meredith

W H AT W E ’ R E E AT I N G

HEATH SHARP

Taste

S I M P LY H E A LT H Y

High Tea Nibbles Cafe Pretty petits fours, crustless finger sandwiches and other fancy-schmancy accouterment are traditionally served at high tea, a ceremony that for years has been as synonymous with British culture as the Union Jack and “Keep Calm And Carry On.” Nibbles, a Tulsa eatery, offers its own

version of high tea each day. Fresh-baked scones with clotted cream, tea sandwiches, desserts and quiche accompany the tea, served in delicate cups with saucers. The perfect outing for a children’s party, a mother-daughter date or some adult time, Nibbles’ tea is a great excuse to don the fanciest frocks and indulge in an afternoon tradition. 8313 S. Memorial Dr., Tulsa. www.grandeuraffaires.com

Cupcakes C Cuppies & Joe C

1 (12 oz.) bag fresh cranberries 1 tbsp. minced purple onion 2 serrano peppers, seeded and minced 1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro 1/3 c. agave or honey 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice Grated zest of 1 large orange Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped.

Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

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N to the vibrant wrapping paper on a gift and Next the jolly laugh of Old Saint Nick, baked treats are the most ubiquitous symbol of Christmas.

Pies are always nice, as are cookies and sweet breads. Ribbon candy, peanut brittle, those little gummy slices of sugar crusted orange, sure. But what about the cake, of late? What says, “Happy holidays” more than a delicious, individual sized cake? That, of course, is Cuppies & Joe’s bread and butter. Sweet, complexly flavorful cupcakes made in a wide variety of flavors provide myriad opportunities to spread holiday cheer. Drop by to order cupcakes individually or by the dozen. Or, if you need a break from all that holiday shopping, enjoy a cupcake and a steaming cup of coffee to bring a little relaxation to the holidays. 727 NW 23rd St., Oklahoma City. www.cuppiesandjoe.com

BRENT FUCHS

Cranberry erry Salsa

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Great COMPANIES tto o work work for for Special S Spe Sp p pe pecia ecia ciia ial al Repo R Report epo epo por orrtt

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Christina Fallin Business consultant, Oklahoma City Wearing: Vintage monkey fur jacket, Urban Outfifitters tters skirt, Topshop tights, custom Natacha Marro healhe ealless pumps, military-issue beret; (previous page: Virgin Mary with Switchblades t-shirt, Zara fringe frinnge skirt, vintage red glitter platform heels)

Is there a fashion icon or someone whose who ose style you admire most? I have a fondnesss for women who have fun with fashion and do not take take themselves too seriously. I also appreciate people peoople who inhabit and wear their clothes, rather thann their clothes wearing them. them Daphne Guinness, Guinness the late laate Isabella Blow and Anna Dello Russo are women women that I find relatable.

What is your favorite article of clothing? clothing g? My favorites monkey fur jacket ranks pretty high on my favo rites like list due to the fact that it is so rare and looks lik ke a jacket of human hair.

What is your favorite accessory? My archivalarchivalesque collection of silver that I wear every dayy – three each piece on my fingers and wrists are from th hree generations of grandmothers, my travels and ggifts ifts for momentous occasions.

Do you prefer to dress up or dress down down? n? I err on the side of dressing up in order to be less approachable, but it doesn’t always work.

DAYS

BRENT FUCHS

PHOTOS

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Taste IN THE KITCHEN

A Gift of the Season

One of the most storied gifts in Christian history gives ice cream a very special flavor.

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been popularized by a woman named Trygve Harris. Her scoops draw Omanis and foreigners alike. While you can get lost in wisps of frankincense ice cream any time of year, I’d highly recommend serving generous bowls during this holiday season, when the crunch of snow and pine surrounds you and your heart is filled with the holiday spirit.

SASHA MARTIN

Sasha Martin is cooking one meal for every country in the world. Her picky husband and baby girl are along for the ride. Join the adventure for recipes, reviews and more at www.globaltableadventure.com.

FRANKINCENSE ICE CREAM 2 1/2 c. milk 1 1/2 c. heavy cream 10-15 drops 100 percent pure frankincense oil (boswellia sacra), available at health food stores 1 c. sugar, divided in half 3 egg yolks First, whip three egg yolks with a 1/2-cup of sugar until pale yellow and thickened. Meanwhile, heat up

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the milk, cream and remaining sugar in a medium pot.

Slide off the stove right before it reaches a bubble and whisk the hot liquid, a little at a time, into the egg mixture. Return to medium-low heat and cook until thickened and the velvety mixture coats the back of a spoon. Whisk in the frankincense drops to taste, and strain. The oil will want to separate, so move quickly to incorporate it. Chill the mixture in an ice bath or overnight in the refrigerator. Churn in an ice cream maker, according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Editor’s note: Frankincense is eaten sprinkled on ice cream, cooked into pastries or chewed like gum and consumed for medicinal purposes throughout much of southwest Asia and northeast Africa. However, it is not approved for human consumption in the U.S. If you do decide to give it a try, you should only use 100 percent pure boswellia sacra essential oil. Alternately, you could flavor this ice cream with other spices that evoke the season, such as cinnamon, clove, juniper or ginger.

PHOTO BY SASHA MARTIN.

ver since I was a little girl, poised with wonder under the glittering Christmas tree, frankincense has captivated me. My brain could never quite grasp what on earth frankincense was or why it was so special, but that didn’t stop me from dreaming of the magical era when a gift of frankincense was as beloved as gold. In fact, the mystery only made it seem more special.

Then, thundering in from the far reaches of Oman, on the Arabian Sea, comes frankincense ice cream – a glorious mystery in itself. Each nibble is creamy and sweet. Thanks to the frankincense oil lurking within, the ice cream has an alluring bite of pine, sweet ginger, orange zest and foggy twilight smiles. The unusual and seductive flavor compelled me to look further into this wondrous ingredient. It turns out frankincense is resin, a.k.a. dried sap, from the boswellia tree. The highest quality flows creamy white and is called luban, meaning “milk,” although the color can vary from soft yellow to rich amber or even luminous green. It just depends on the season.

While you can find ice cream with sprinkles of frankincense resin on it all over Oman, the ice cream I offer today seems to have

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Entertainment G R E AT T H I N G S T O D O I N O K L A H O M A

Oh, The Spectacle PHOTO COURTESY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL.

Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion visits Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

S

o much of Cirque du Soleil’s appeal rests on the synthesis of multiple disciplines, seemingly disparate styles and variant philosophies. That’s how you end up with Dralion, a show as well as a creature bringing together the ends of the earth in a display of artistry and acrobatics.

As part of Cirque’s ever-expanding repertory of circus presentations, Dralion is the 12th touring production to feature performers doing everything from juggling to aerial dance to tumbling feats. Here, a creature that is part dragon, representative of the East, and part lion, representative of the West (Dralion), stands for the fusion of circus styles that includes clowns sharing a stage with Chinese acrobatic arts that have been honed over 3,000 years.

Traditions of thought are also at play as the four elements of nature

are embodied, as humans from the ends of the globe in the parade of spectacle that is characteristic of the Cirque brand. And spectacle is why audiences will go to Dralion – for the tense action and wonderment of watching logic and sometimes death defying stunts always done beautifully and magically. As always, you never know what will happen next, which is a promise we hope Cirque will always be able to keep. How is that for a holiday surprise?

Dralion plays Tulsa’s BOK Center from Dec. 12-16. There will be seven shows scheduled there before it moves to the Chesapeake Energy Arena for another seven performances Dec. 19-23 in Oklahoma City.

Tickets for the Tulsa shows are $37-$147 and are available online at www.bokcenter.com. OKC show tickets are $35-$145, available at www.chesapeakearena.com.

KAREN SHADE DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Entertainment

PERFORMANCES

IN CONCERT

SPORTS

FAMILY

Calendar

ART

CHARITABLE EVENTS

COMMUNITY

boy & Western Heritage Museum complete with buffet dinner, live entertainment, activities and a visit from Santa. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

Sweet Honey in the Rock: Celebrating the Holydays Dec. 15 The renowned a capella group returns to Tulsa with a show at the Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center in a presentation of Choregus Productions filled with sacred music of the church and holiday favorites. www.choregus.org

Christmas at the Movies with Signature Symphony Dec. 16 Memorable songs from favorite holiday movies with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Jimmy Stewart and more get the live treatment at Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center. www.thepacba.com

Sister’s Christmas Catechism

Dec. 18 The good Sister is back at the head of class with the story of the Nativity as only Sister can tell it at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall. www.okcciviccenter.com

Third Tuesday Jazz

Dec. 18 Gilcrease Museum brings jazz to the halls with Chuck and Sandy Gardner. www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu

Jim Brickman at Midwest City Dec. 19 Songwriter Jim Brickman plays holiday favorites during his annual holiday tour, On a Winter’s Night, which stops at the Rose State Performing Arts Theatre in Midwest City. www.myticketoffice.com

PERFORMANCES Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Just like building a snowman, holiday decorating and baking cookies, taking in a performance of The Nutcracker is one of those activities on the holiday checklist many of us look forward to every year. With so many groups, from schools to professional companies, scheduling renditions of the classic story, the Mabee Center in Tulsa has brought back the Moscow Ballet to present its 20th annual U.S. tour of soldiers, mice and fairy princesses under the Christmas tree on Dec. 4. From the land of Tchaikovsky, the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker features the sparkle of elaborate sets, sumptuous costumes, silk puppetry and an attention to lavishness making this vision of the Nutcracker Prince especially rich in tradition and beautiful to watch. Tickets are $33-$76, available at the Mabee Center box office and online at www.mabeecenter.com.

Performances Tulsa Symphony: Yellow

Dec. 1 The Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Ron Spigelman perform music of the next color in the season’s spectrum with the score to the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz played live as the movie is shown at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www.tulsasymphony.org

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Dec. 4 The 20th anniversary production features new thrills, a Christmas tree growing to seven stories, silk puppets and all the lavishness and elegance of a classic ballet at the Mabee Center. www.mabeecenter.com Dec. 5 Bring a lunch to the final Brown Bag It noon concert at the Westby Pavilion at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www.tulsapactrust.org

Santas are back for the joyous holiday musical revue starring Michele Ragusa (Broadway’s Young Frankenstein) at Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall. www.okcphilharmonic.org

Side by Side

A Christmas Carol

Dec. 2 Tulsa Symphony and the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus perform choral and instrumental Christmas music with local high school musicians and singers for the holidays at Tulsa Performing Arts Center’s Chapman Music Hall. www.tulsapac.com

Baroque Christmas

Dec. 2 Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Magnificat get the sweeping treatment they deserve in a presentation of the Canterbury Choral Society at Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall. Reception follows in the lobby. www.canterburyokc.com

12 Gifts of Christmas

Dec. 2 Hear the stories and music of Christmas with Steven Curtis Chapman, Laura Story and many more at the Mabee Center. www. mabeecenter.com

Christmas with the Choral Society

Dec. 2 Joined by the Bartlesville High School Choir, the Choral Society presents an afternoon of carols and majestic holiday music at the Bartlesville Community Center. www.bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com

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Dec. 6-23 American Theatre Company’s holiday favorite is back for a 35th year with Charles Dickens’ memorable characters in a musical production at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www.tulsapac.com

A Song of Winter Dec. 7-8 Ebenezer Screech Owl learns the meaning of Christmas in American Indian Theatre Company’s take on the Charles Dickens’ story at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www.tulsapac.com A Charlie Brown Christmas

Dec. 7-9 Join Playhouse Tulsa in this stage musical based on the Peanuts comic holiday favorite at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www.playhousetheatretulsa.com

The Nutcracker

Dec. 7-9 Ballet Arkansas presents the world’s favorite ballet, featuring Tchaikovsky’s magical score performed by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at the Robinson Center Music Hall in Little Rock, Ark. www.arkansassymphony.org

OKC Ballet: The Nutcracker

Dec. 7-16 The fantasy and spectacle of choreography, music and pre-

Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s Creole Christmas Dec. 20 Experience the holiday season New Orleans-style with the renowned Preservation Hall Jazz Band appearing at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Ark. www.waltonartscenter.org

Pollard Theatre: A Territorial Christmas Carol Thru Dec. 23 Guthrie’s historic theater sets Charles Dickens’ story of holiday spirit during the Oklahoma Land Run in an ongoing tradition. www.thepollard.org

Lyric’s A Christmas Carol

Thru Dec. 29 The story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the Christmas spirit(s) is told in Lyric Theatre’s lively production, presented by Devon Energy, at Lyric at the Plaza. www.lyrictheatreokc.com

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Dec. 29-30 The multi-platinum recording group brings good cheer and music to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center for a special concert of holiday sounds. www.tulsapac.com

In Concert

Tulsa Festival Ringers

Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol Dec. 6-23 This creative, often comedic twist of the Charles Dickens story presented by Oklahoma City Theatre Company will be at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall. www.okctheatrecompany.org

Chesapeake Energy’s OKC Philharmonic Pops Christmas Show Thru Dec. 1 The dancing

Chesapeake Energy’s OKC Philharmonic Pops Christmas Show at the OKC Center Music Hall

Batman Live Dec. 19-23 The Dark Knight swoops into the BOK Center transformed into Gotham City for eight live performances featuring favorite villains and sidekicks in an action-packed event with plenty of stage magic. www.bokcenter.com

John Fullbright and Alicia Witt

Dec.

1 Blue Door. www.bluedoorokc.com

Casey Donahew Band

Dec. 1 Cain’s Ball-

room. www.cainsballroom.com

Reba McIntyre

Dec. 1 Hard Rock Tulsa Hotel & Casino. www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Jamey Johnson

Dec. 1 Lucky Star Casino, Con-

cho. www.zooamp.com sentation come together in this classic rendering Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall. www.okcballet.com

Kinky Friedman

Cirque du Soleil: Dralion

Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers Dec. 3 Osage Casino. www.osagecasinos.com The Mountain Goats Dec. 3 Cain’s Ballroom.

Dec. 12-16, Dec. 1923 Chinese acrobatic arts and Eastern philosophy are the inspiration for this amazing production of physical feats and beauty joining East with West in the signature attractions. Dec. 12-16 at the BOK Center, Dec. 19-23 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. www.bokcenter.com, www.chesapeakearean.com

Dec. 2 Blue Door. www.

bluedoorokc.com

www.cainsballroom.com

Old Crow Medicine Show

Dec. 3 Diamond

Ballroom. www.diamondballroom.net

Kinky Friedman

Dec. 3 The Hanukkah Tour 2012 at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. www.myticketoffice.com

The Eight: Reindeer Monologues Dec. 13-23 A scandal plagues the season with accusations of sexual harassment flying around the North Pole in the dark humored play presented by Theatre Pops at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www.tulsapac.com

room. www.cainsballroom.com

Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas Ball Dec. 14 The cowboy singer holds

Ballroom. www.cainsballroom.com

Seth Glier Dec. 5 Blue Door. www.bluedoorokc.com Ghostland Observatory Dec. 5 Cain’s BallOld Crow Medicine Show

Dec. 6 Cain’s

his 18th anniversary holiday show at the National Cow-

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Dec. 6 BOK Cen-

ter. www.bokcenter.com

Wreck the Halls Concert Dec. 6 Chevelle, 10 Years, Aranda at the Diamond Ballroom. www. diamondballroom.net of Montreal Dec. 6 ACM@UCO Performance Lab. www.ticketstorm.com Brian Regan Dec. 6 Stand-up comedy at Rose State Performing Arts Center, Midwest City. www. myticketoffice.com Eric Church Dec. 7 BOK Center. www.bokcenter.com Under the Streetlamp Dec. 7 Firelake Grand Casino, Shawnee. www.firelakegrand.com

Brian Regan Dec. 7 Stand-up comedy at the Mabee Center. www.mabeecenter.com Trans-Siberian Orchestra Dec. 8 Chesapeake Energy Arena. www.chesapeakearena.com Josh Abbott Band

Dec. 8 Diamond Ballroom.

www.diamondballroom.net

Steve Forbert

Dec. 8 All Soul Acoustic Coffeehouse. www.allsoulcoffeehouse.com

Tribute to Woody Guthrie

Dec. 9 Blue Door.

www.bluedoorokc.com

Bryan Adams

Dec. 10 Brady Theater. www.

bradytheater.com

Ugly Christmas Sweater Concert Dec. 13 Silversun Pickups, Metric, Passion Pit and Shiny Toy Guns at Brady Theater. www.bradytheater.com Brian Setzer Orchestra Dec. 13 Hard Rock Tulsa Hotel & Casino. www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com Ian Moore Dec. 14 Blue Door. www.bluedoorokc.com Michael Bolton Dec. 14 River Spirit Casino Event Center. www.riverspirittulsa.com

The Red Dirt Rangers

Dec. 15 Cain’s Ball-

room. www.cainsballroom.com

Ghostland Observatory at Cain’s Ballroom

ART Hardesty Arts Center opening After months of watching a brick shell transform into space for creative play, the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa’s Hardesty Arts Center is about to open and become the Brady Arts District’s newest jewel. The grand opening weekend event is scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Dec. 16. Building tours will be offered along with live entertainment and activities everyone in the family can enjoy. Concept/OK, the first exhibition on display at the center, also opens and is presented by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. The new biennial feature exhibition presents a survey of contemporary art in Oklahoma and by Oklahomans. Approximately 40 artists are represented in multiple media, informing a fresh perspective of local, state and regional art to resonate with the new surroundings and purpose of the center: To make the arts and all its expression and benefits more accessible for youth and adults. For more, go online to www.ahct.org.

Oral Roberts University Women’s Basketball www.orugoldeneagles.com

Colt Ford

v. Evangel Dec. 5

Ellis Paul Dec. 16 Blue Door. www.bluedoorokc.com Rodney Carrington Dec. 29-30 Firelake Grand

University of Oklahoma Men’s Basketball www.soonersports.com

Dec. 15 Diamond Ballroom. www. diamondballroom.net

Casino, Shawnee. www.firelakegrand.com

Randy Rogers Band

Dec. 31 Cain’s Ballroom.

www.cainsballroom.com

Brady New Year’s Eve Party

Dec. 31 Brady

Theater. www.bradytheater.com

Sports OKC Thunder

www.nba.com/thunder

v. L.A. Lakers Dec. 7 v. Indiana Dec. 9 v. New Orleans Dec. 12 v. Sacramento Dec. 14 v. San Antonio Dec. 17 v. Dallas Dec. 27 v. Phoenix Dec. 31

Oklahoma State University Men’s Basketball www.okstate.com v. South Florida Dec. 5 v. Missouri State Dec. 8 v. Central Arkansas Dec. 16 v. UT Arlington Dec. 19 v. Tennessee Tech Dec. 22 v. Gonzaga Dec. 31

Oklahoma State University Women’s Basketball www.okstate.com v. Texas Southern Dec. 1 v. Stephen F. Austin Dec. 6 v. Vermont Dec. 16

Oral Roberts University Men’s Basketball www.orugoldeneagles.com v. Tulsa Dec. 22

v. Stephen F. Austin Dec. 18 v. Ohio Dec. 29 v. Texas A&M Corpus Christi Dec. 31

University of Oklahoma Women’s Basketball www.soonersports.com v. Marist Dec. 2 v. North Texas Dec. 6 v. Vanderbilt Dec. 16 v. UC Riverside Dec. 20 v. Cal State Northridge Dec. 29

University of Tulsa Men’s Basketball www.tulsahurricane.com v. Missouri State Dec. 5 v. TCU Dec. 8

University of Tulsa Women’s Basketball www.tulsahurricane.com v. Colorado State Dec. 8

Tulsa Oilers

www.tulsaoilers.com v. Arizona Dec. 2 v. Missouri Dec. 4 v. Bloomington Dec. 8 v. Texas Dec. 26 v. Quad City Dec. 28 v. Missouri Dec. 29

OKC Barons

www.okcbarons.com

v. Peoria Dec. 11 v. San Antonio Dec. 14-15 v. Texas Dec. 21-22 v. San Antonio Dec. 28 v. Texas Dec. 31

BFA World Championships

Dec. 4-8 The Barrel Futurities of America’s 27th annual barrel racing event will be held in the Jim Norick Arena at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www.barrelfuturitiesofamerica.com

ACRA American Finals Rodeo Dec. 7-9 The American Cowboys Rodeo Association ropes and rides its way to the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square for big competition and excitement. www.acrarodeo.com Athletes First Basketball Classic

Dec. 14-15 High school teams meet on the court at Jim Norick Arena at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www.athletesfirst.com

offers A Bird’s Perspective for children participating in the art exploration program. www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu

A Christmas Carol

Thru Dec. 9 The Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and Oklahoma City University Theatre co-production highlights all the fun, chills and tender moments of the story about cold, lonely Scrooge and the Christmas spirit. www.okchildrenstheatre.com

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Thru Dec. 9 The town’s bullies, the Herdman kids, land the lead roles in this year’s Christmas pageant. Find out what gives and what happens with Clark Youth Theatre at the Henthorne Performing Arts Center. 918.746.5065

Tulsa Shootout

Dec. 28 The days are cold, but the engines are running hot at the QuikTrip Center at Expo Square for this big race event for midget and micro sprint cars (a precursor to January’s Chili Bowl) at Expo Square’s QuikTrip Center that also includes a tradeshow. www.tulsashootout.com

Family Saturdays for Kids

Dec. 1 The National Cowboy & Western Hall of Fame booth will provide free entertainment and activities. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

A Christmas Story

Thru Dec. 1 Nine-year-old Ralphie is angst-ridden over want of a Red Ryder BB gun, but he gets a lot more in this seasonal favorite presented at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center by Encore!

Theatre Arts. www.encoretulsa.com

The Nutcracker

Dec. 1-2 The South Tulsa Children’s Ballet presents it annual holiday performance at the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education at the Tulsa Community College Southeast Campus. www.tulsacc.edu

ACRA American Finals at Expo Square

Funday Sunday Dec. 16 Families spend an afternoon of fun at open art stations at Gilcrease Museum with different activities. www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu Family Free Sunday

Dec. 16 Join the fun at Price Tower Arts Center in Bartlesville, where families learn about the arts together with activities and fun. www.pricetower.org

Junie B in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells Thru Dec. 16 Oklahoma Children’s Theatre pres-

Kids Dig Books

ents Christmas with the irrepressible character of the Junie B. Jones books when she draws her “enemy’s” name for a Secret Santa gift. www.okchildrenstheatre.com

Holiday Happening

Art Adventures Ongoing Children 3-5 experience art every Tuesday morning at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman, with special guests. Go online for schedules and other information. www.ou.edu/fjjma

Dec. 6 Imagine Yourself at the next story hour event for children ages 3-6 and their caregivers at Gilcrease Museum. www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu Dec. 6 Families are invited to the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the University of Oklahoma for holiday fun among the mammoths and dinosaurs that includes music, crafts and storytelling. www.snomnh.ou.edu

Mini Masters

Dec. 7, 13-14, 20, Gilcrease Museum

Second Saturdays Ongoing Families enjoy the Philbrook Museum of Art and participate in art activities for free on the second Saturday of every month. www.philbrook.org

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Entertainment

Prominent Figures of the West from the T.B. Walker Collection of Portraits by Henry H. Cross Thru March 31 This selection of portraits of Native American leaders, U.S. generals, trappers and guides by Cross display key figures of the artist’s day and their influence on culture. www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu

Pablo Picasso’s Woman in the Studio Thru August 2013 The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman has the Picasso masterpiece from 1956 on loan from the St. Louis Art Museum. Also look for the work to be displayed along with Picasso pieces from the FJJMA permanent collection. www.ou.edu/fjjma

Americana Collection Ongoing National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Dickinson Research Center. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org Scissortail Gallery

Ongoing Fritz White, Clark Kelley Price, Jim Gilmore, Linda Besse and Jim Smith are just a few of the artists with works on display. www.scissortailart.com

FAMILY Holiday activities for children There’s no shortage of things to do with the children and family this month as venues offer many activities that everyone can enjoy. You can’t go wrong with a parade, and the month has several big ones, including the Cowboy Christmas Parade (Dec. 1) in Oklahoma City’s historic Stockyards City District and the 2012 Tulsa Christmas Parade and Tulsa Holiday Parade of Lights, both taking place Dec. 8 in Tulsa. Colorful lights are on everywhere (see calendar listings) inviting everyone to enjoy glowing silhouettes of reindeer, holly and other outlines of the season.

You’ll find much of that along with ice-skating, music and a host of other attractions at two big festivals running through the holidays. Downtown in December is located in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown and runs through Dec. 31. You’ll find plenty of hot chocolate at the BOK Center and WinterFest. Whether you’re taking in special holiday shows like Junie B in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells from Oklahoma Children’s Theatre (through Dec. 16) and Playhouse Tulsa’s A Charlie Brown Christmas, enjoying the sounds (Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas Ball on Dec. 14) or decking the halls in prehistoric fashion (Holiday Happening at the Sam Oklahoma Museum of Natural History on Dec. 6), make sure its time shared with all. See the “Family” listing and more in the calendar for details on these events.

Tiny Tuesdays and Drop-in Art

Ongoing Guest artists at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Education Center help families with young children create together and understand the museum artworks the third Tuesday of each month through May. Drop-in Art is open Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. www.okcmoa.com

Art The Art of Phill Cooper Dec. 1-30 Tulsa Performing Arts Center gallery. www.tulsapac.com Marco Sassone: Architecture and Nature Thru Dec. 2 Price Tower Art Center exhibits large-scale pieces by the renowned Tuscan-born artist on the themes of nature and urban landscapes in modern expressionism. www.pricetower.org

Christmas at the Elms Dec. 7-29 JRB Art at the Elms Gallery holds it annual exhibit and holiday gift sale in its gallery with a special opening reception set for the first day in the Paseo District. www.jrbartgallery.com Caution: Wet Paint!

Dec. 8-31 Lovetts Gallery brings works of art for exhibition from Camille Engle and Natalie Featherston to the forefront with an artist reception and demonstration on the opening day. www. lovettsgallery.com

Concept/OK: Art in Oklahoma

The James T. Bialac Native American Art Collection: Selected Works Thru Dec. 30 University of Oklahoma’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art opens two new exhibits of work from one of the most important private collections of Native American art in the country. Gifted to the university, the collection of James T. Bialac of Arizona features work collected across 50 years and from all over the U.S. www.ou.edu/fjjma

Indigenous Aesthetics: Selections from the James T. Bialac Native American Art Collection Thru Dec. 30 The second of two new exhibits of the University of Oklahoma’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art showcases pieces from its new Bialac Native American Art Collection highlighting themes of place, ritual, ceremony, metaphors and identity. www.ou.edu/fjjma

E.CO

Thru Jan. 5 Artspace at Untitled presents in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture of Spain, the SpainUSA Foundation and the Embassy of Spain this exhibit of photographic essays on the subject of the environment. www.artspaceatuntitled.org

Dancers & Deities

Thru Jan. 6 The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History exhibits a selection of Kachina figures from the James T. Bialac Native American Art Collection to demonstrate the mastery of Hopi and Zuni Pueblo artists and the role they played in cosmology and spiritual life in the Southwest. www.snomnh.ou.edu

Dec. 16 Works by 41 artists in the region are part of debut exhibition at the new Hardesty Arts Center, headquarters of the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa, opening to the public. The exhibit presented by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition displays work seeking to represent art making in Oklahoma in an ambitious competition. www.ovac-ok.org

American Moderns, 1910-1960: From O’Keeffe to Rockwell Thru Jan. 6 Fifty-seven

Small Works 2012 Thru Dec. 24 The annual exhibit at the M.A. Doran Gallery features paintings, sculpture, American crafts and holiday ornaments. www. madorangallery.com

14th Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Show Thru Jan. 6 The National Cowboy and

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artworks from the Brooklyn Museum collection go on display at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art exhibiting the myriad approaches to style, subject and matter from artists including Stuart Davis, Milton Avery, Alie Nadelman and others. www.okcmoa.com

Western Heritage Museum displays the fine craftsmanship of silversmithing, saddlemaking and other crafts of

cowboy culture. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

Small Works, Great Wonders

Thru Jan. 6 Join the reception and fundraiser event on opening night that is all about small works of art by big artists, some of whom were featured in the annual Prix de West show, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

National Geographic: Greatest Photographs of the American West Thru Jan. 6 This collection of iconic Western images by National Geographic going back more than a century go on exhibit at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

Roy Lichtenstein: American Identity Thru Jan. 13 Twenty prints by the artist of American pop culture demonstrative of his iconic comic bookthemed works go on exhibit at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. www.jewishmuseum.net

Geometrix: Geometry in Art Thru Jan. 14 A new exhibition at Science Museum Oklahoma in collaboration with Satellite Galleries brings a collection of work from six Oklahoma artists Bryan Boone, Dan Garrett, Klint Schor, Noel Torrey, Eric Wright and David Bizzaro exhibiting geometry and mathematics as artists see and use it. www.sciencemuseumok.org National Geographic: Greatest Photographs of the American West Thru Feb. 3 A collection of iconic Western images by National Geographic going back more than a century go on exhibit at Gilcrease Museum. www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu

Models & Muses: Max Weber and the Figure Thru Feb. 3 Philbrook Museum of Art brings works by the early cubist, who was an important artist in bridging America to the avant-garde and modern art through cubism, to exhibit. www.philbrook.org

Ugly Christmas Sweater Concert with Silversun Pickups at Brady Theater

First FFriday Fi id G Gallery ll W Walk lk Ongoing The galleries of OKC’s Paseo Arts District welcome all each month. www.thepaseo.com 2nd Friday Circuit Art Ongoing A monthly celebration of arts in Norman. www.2ndfridaynorman.com Weekends On Us

Ongoing Free admission to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum the first full weekend of every month. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

Charitable Events LOOK Holiday Supper

Dec. 2 Join LOOK Musical Theatre for its 29th annual dinner event with a sneak peak at the company’s 2013 summer season of shows at the Lorton Performing Arts Center at the University of Tulsa. www.looktheatre.org

Night of Hospitality Dec. 6 Hospitality House of Tulsa kicks-off its end-of-year fund drive with its big distribution of waiting room survival kit bags to Tulsa hospital waiting rooms for families unexpectedly caught in a hospital emergency. The drive continues through Jan. 3. www.tulsahospitalityhouse.org Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Dinner Dec. 7 The Tulsa Library Trust hosts its annual black-tie dinner to honor academic, activist, critic, poet and writer Wendell Berry at Central Library. www.tulsalibrary.org

Tulsa Jingle Bell Run/Walk Dec. 8 Santa Claus, a few hundred elves and their dogs take to the streets of Tulsa beginning from Tulsa Community College’s Metro Campus in downtown to run for the Arthritis Foundation. www.arthritis.org/oklahoma RSVP Annual Dinner

Dec. 13 The Retired Seniors Volunteer Program awards volunteers at the annual event and dinner. www.rsvptulsa.org

Community Cowboy Christmas Parade

Dec. 1 The season dresses up in its Western best for the annual parade in Oklahoma City’s historic Stockyards City District. www.stockyardscity.org

2012 NRHA Futurity

Thru Dec. 1 The National Reining Horse Association holds its popular competition at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www.nrhafuturity.com

Oklahoma City Train Show Dec. 1-2 Miniature train hobbyists wait all year for this annual event of demonstrations, vendors and more at the Travel & Transportation Building at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www. okctrainshow.com Grand American Arms Show Dec. 1-2 Expo Square QuikTrip Center. www.exposquare.com

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A recent study by Georgetown University found the number of jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree has increased by 2.2 million since 2008, while those requiring a high school diploma or less have decreased by 5.8 million. OSU-Tulsa has programs and resources to help you earn a bachelor’s degree and find greater job security.

Enrolling now. Spring semester begins Jan. 7.

Downtown Tulsa 918-594-8000

Find Something for Everyone on Your List!

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150th Anniversary Battle of Prairie Grove Re-enactment Dec. 1-2 Recognized nationally as one of America’s most intact Civil War battlefields, Arkansas’ Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park hosts a re-enactment of the original battle fought in 1862. Events include camp tours, military drills, cooking, spinning and other demonstrations. www. arkansasstateparks.com/prairiegrovebattlefield

AKC Fall Agility Trials Thru Dec. 2 The Tulsa Dog Training Club hold its fall show of AKC champion athletes working the courses and show rings at Expo Square’s Super Duty Arena. www.tulsadogs.com Bethlehem Walk Thru Dec. 2 Christview Christian Church presents its annual living Nativity program. www.christview.org Christkindlmarkt 2012 Thru Dec. 2 Celebrate Christmas the German way with traditional holiday dishes, a crafts markets, hot chocolate, hot apple cider and games for children at the German-American Society of Tulsa Center. www.gastulsa.org Territorial Christmas Celebration Dec. 6 Oklahoma City’s Harn Homestead Museum takes you back to Indian Territory for Christmas with carolers, treats, 1880s holiday décor and Santa Claus. www. harnhomestead.com Tulsa Farm Show

Dec. 6-8 Event will be held in the QuikTrip Center at Expo Square. www.exposquare.com

Boys Ranch Town Drive-Thru Christmas Pageant Dec. 7-9 This Edmond attraction presents a living Nativity featuring children of staff at the ranch town playing the roles and animals, costumes and sets in a tradition that goes back to 1971. www.obhc.org

Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar

Dec. 8 The family-friendly fair at Oklahoma State Fair Park will feature entertainers and activities for children in addition to having a selection of vendors with handmade wares and projects that are all about creativity. www. deluxeok.net

2012 Tulsa Christmas Parade Dec. 8 Families turn out for South Tulsa’s annual parade that features Santa and all the classic images of Christmas at Tulsa Hills Shopping Center. 918.583.2345 Tulsa Holiday Parade of Lights Dec. 8 Celebrate the season with Tulsa’s long-standing tradition featuring marching bands, glowing floats, giant balloons and much more in the downtown Tulsa tradition. 918.5851201

CHARITABLE EVENTS 2012 Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Wendell Berry stands as one of the most decorated American authors today. The Tulsa Library Trust has added yet another honor to his list: the prolific writer of fiction, poetry and essays is recipient of the next Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award. Berry will receive the award at the black-tie dinner on Dec. 7 at Tulsa City-County Library’s Central Library. The Kentucky author will also give a free public presentation at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 8. Berry has won the T.S. Eliot Award, Thomas Merton Award, a National Humanities Medal and the Poets’ Prize in addition to the Guggenheim Fellowship and Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship. One of his best known works, 2004’s Hannah Coulter, embodies many of the themes Berry worked into his fiction and poetry and that mirrored his activism against the industrialization of agriculture. Berry will speak at the events, both taking place at Central Library. For tickets to the Dec. 7 gala, go to www.helmerichaward.org. with live theater at the Pollard Theatre, historic home tours and Victorian Walk evenings, carolers, trolley rides and other old-fashioned fun. www.thepollard.org

Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights

Thru Dec. 23 The holiday lights are on at Woolaroc Ranch Museum & Wildlife Preserve in Bartlesville, where guests can stroll or ride wagons to see the festively decorated grounds, enjoy the entertainment and meet Santa. www.woolaroc.org

ATC’s A Christmas Carol at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center

R.K. R K Gun G Show Sh

Dec. 8-9 Travel & Transportation Building at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www.okstatefair.com

Yuletide Tree Celebration

Thru Dec. 8 Visit the World Organization of China Painters Museum, OKC, to see an exciting exhibit of decorated trees that will be sold in a silent auction along with a gingerbread village collection, sale of ornaments by porcelain artists, pictures with Santa and more. www.wocporg.com

Philbrook Festival of Trees

Thru Dec. 9 Philbrook Museum of Art brings art to the holidays with a display and sale of original holiday items plus tours of the decorated museum and other special events. www.philbrook.org

The Alliday Show

Dec. 15 The third annual arts and crafts fair celebrates all things handmade and local with free admission at the Expo Square Ford Truck Exhibit Hall. www.allidayeveryday.com

Civil War Arkansas, 1861-1865

Dec. 17Jan. 31 Created by the Arkansas Humanities Council, this new exhibit at the Delta Cultural Center in HelenaWest Helena, Ark., explores the Civil War battles and sites of impact in Arkansas. www.deltaculturalcenter. com

The Christmas Train

Thru Dec. 22 All aboard the steam train for Dry Gulch, U.S.A., and this holiday favorite that pulls into the Old West with shops, dining, wagon rides and St. Nick, too, northeast of Pryor. www. christmastrain.com,

Guthrie Territorial Christmas Celebration Thru Dec. 23 Visit historic downtown Guthrie

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Holiday Lights on the Hill Thru Dec. 25 Chandler Park in Tulsa sets the holiday tone with a lights display and activities. www.chandlerparklights.com Tulsa Holiday Winter Circuit

Dec. 28-31 The holiday reining horse competition will be at the Ford Truck Arena at Expo Square. www. tulsaholidaycircuit.com

Native American gourd dancing and championship powwow dancing (including fancy dance, jingle dress and more) through midnight at the Tulsa Convention Center. 918.639.7999

The Party! New Year’s Eve Ball Drop Dec. 31 Indoors or out, the fun goes on with a lighted ball drop, fireworks display, music and more Times Square-style street party festivities at the Blue Dome District in downtown Tulsa. www. newyearsevetulsa.com

New Year’s Eve Bash Dec.31 Ring in the New Year at Oaklawn Racing & Gaming in Hot Springs, Ark. The event includes drink specials, giveaways, cash prizes and more. www.oaklawn.com

FireLake Grand New Year’s Celebration Dec. 31 The Shawnee casino lights up the night with fireworks to welcome in 2013 with music, great food and drinks and special attractions. www. grandshawnee.com

Opening Night Dec. 31 Downtown Oklahoma City throws the party of the year on New Year’s Eve once more with great music performances, dancing, theater, fireworks and activities for this family-friendly attraction. www.artscouncilokc.com NYE Olive Drop 2013 Dec. 31 Live music, dancing, party favors, appetizers and more lead up to the big toast at midnight at Bartlesville’s Price Tower Arts Center. www.pricetower.org New Year’s Eve Sobriety Powwow Dec. 31 This all day event includes traditional

Ongoing Support group taking place every Monday at Grace Hospice. www.gracehospice.com

Walking Tour: Blanchard Springs Caverns Ongoing Wednesdays through Sundays, 9:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. One-hour guided walking tour through the upper level of Blanchard Springs Caverns in Little Rock, Ark. 501.975.7230. www.blanchardcavetours.com

International Gymnastics Hall of Fame Ongoing Celebrate the athletic and artistic elements of the sport while honoring its most accomplished athletes at Science Museum Oklahoma. www. sciencemuseumoklahoma.org Ongoing Revealing the amazing science that allows us to travel beyond the confines of earth. www.sciencemuseumoklahoma.org

Walking Tour

Ongoing Take a walking tour of historic downtown Tulsa. www.tulsahistory.org

Gilcrease Films Ongoing See various films throughout the month. www.gilcrease.org

Garden of Lights Thru Dec. 31 Honor Heights Park in Muskogee glows with Christmas lights and festivities. www.muskogeeonline.org Thru Dec. 31 The massive collection of holiday inflatables is just part of the wintry attractions in Muskogee. www.okcastle.com

Grieving the Loss of a Spouse

Destination Space

Downtown in December Thru Dec. 31 OKC’s Bricktown becomes a wonderland of holiday lights, decorations and activity with snow tubing, outdoor ice skating and more. www.downtownindecember.com

Christmas Kingdom at the Castle

and fun. www.expressice.com/edmondok

OKCMOA Films

Ongoing OKC Museum of Art.

www.okcmoa.com

of Montreal at the ACM@UCO Performance Lab

Rhema Christmas Lights Thru Jan. 1 Rhema Bible Church invites all to the expansive lights and music spectacular in Broken Arrow. www.rhemabiblechurch.com Chesapeake Energy Holiday Lights Display Thru Jan. 5 Northwest Oklahoma City brightens with holiday cheer at the lights display the main Chesapeake Energy campus. www.travelok.com

Winterfest Thru Jan. 6 Join friends in the chill with the warmth of the holiday season that includes carriage rides, outdoor ice skating, thousands of lights, twinkling trees, hot concessions and more outside of the BOK Center. www.bokcenter.com Holiday Ice Skating in Edmond Thru Jan. 6 Lace up your skates at the Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink at Festival Marketplace and enjoy the Christmas lights

Philbrook Museum Films

Ongoing See

various films. www.philbrook.org

Planetarium Shows Ongoing Science Museum Oklahoma. www.sciencemuseumoklahoma.org

To see more events happening around Oklahoma, go to

WWW.OKMAG.COM. Submissions to the calendar must be received two months in advance for consideration.

Add events online at WWW.OKMAG.COM/CALENDAR or e-mail to events@okmag.com.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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The Most Wonderful

Time Of The Year It’s the holidays! Time for jingle bells, awkward family get togethers… and lists! Think about it. Lists are everywhere during the holidays! What do kids scribble down and send to Santa? A wish list! And not to be outdone, Santa’s got his own list of who’s been naughty or nice. He even checks it twice!

We make lists because they make life easier. And now there’s a new TV show all about lists that we made… just for you! It’s called The List, and it keeps you caught up and clued in with what’s happening around the world… and right where you live. The best part? It’s all told through – you guessed it – lists!

You can watch The List weeknights at 6:30 on 2 Works for You, but you don’t have to wait! Here’s a list of some of the great events we’re covering this December!

1. Last year pop-up shops made their debut downtown, and they’re still the best place to find unique gifts for that special someone. Bison and Bear and Made have found their permanent home at 5th and Boston, and Made will be opening a second store in the Pearl District along with The Creative Room – a studio home for artists and a place for people to take workshops and DIY classes.

2. Tulsa does Christmas big, especially when it comes to lights! If you want to kick Christmas off right, grab your sweetheart and some hot cocoa and head down to Utica Square for a romantic evening stroll through twinkling lights and festive holiday displays. Looking for more? How about the Ultimate Light Display at Rhema Bible in Broken Arrow? Last year they had millions of lights on display!

3. If lights aren’t really your thing, maybe a parade is what you need to kick off the holidays! Tulsa and the surrounding communities have plenty to choose from. There’s the Tulsa Hills Christmas Parade and the Tulsa Holiday Parade, both on Saturday, December 8th (and we’re pretty sure they’re in Tulsa!)

Watch The List with Shack Shackelford, weeknights at 6:30 on 2 Works for You

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Holiday Marketplace Cynthia Eckhardt

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Holiday Marketplace

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Open Late ’til 8 on Thursdays in December Holiday Open House and Special Savings, Thurs.-Sat., Dec. 6-8 Portraits with Santa, Sat., 10-2!

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for details!

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Holiday Marketplace

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Give a Gift Subscription for the Holidays!

Subscribe Today!

Just $18 for 12 issues Mail your check to:

Oklahoma Magazine P.O. Box 14204 Tulsa, OK 74159-1204 (Please include mailing address)

OR subscribe online at www.okmag.com

DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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FRESH MUSIC

MUSIC

Riot Girls

Young and eager, Skating Polly takes the Oklahoma music scene by storm.

A

t 12 and 17 years old, it’s kind of impossible not to notice the ages of Skating Polly members Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse. With this duo, however, it is vital to note that it isn’t their ages that define what makes them one of the most unique bands on the local circuit.

What sets them apart is a wonderfully punk, riot-girl enthusiasm infused with a genuine appreciation and grasp of what makes the art of music so incredible at its core.

That, and they just flat-out rock.

“I remember being 6 and singing the White Stripes. I’d always try to talk to my friends at school about all of this music that I loved and they wouldn’t know what I was talking about,” Mayo says.

“We never thought we’d get to start playing shows. We were happy just playing for our parents in the backyard.”

With a mentor like Exene Cervenka, of the iconic punk band X, in their corner, Skating Polly is fast accumulating an impressive pro126

fessional network and an artillery of shows opening for headlining bands such as indie favorite Band of Horses and noise enigma Deerhoof.

The duo recently signed with SQE records to release its first LP, Lost Wonderfuls, in March, and are anticipating adding South

by Southwest (SXSW) to a repertoire that already includes two Norman Music Festival appearances.

Mayo and Bighorse admit that they get a lot of attention because of their young ages, but don’t mistake them for adorable.

Girls who reference Kurt Cobain, Bikini Kill and Sid Vicious are not to be confused with their Justin Bieber and Katy Perryloving counterparts.

As thoughtful in lyrics as they are aggressive in performance and delivery, Skating Polly’s music continues to evolve through practice and experience – and that’s what is going to keep them on the map.

“Hopefully, people like our music and they don’t just think we’re cutesy, because we’re not trying to be cutesy. We try to be real and stay true to our hearts,” Mayo explains.

“Our biggest inspirations are musicians who have been around for forever. They got in the business when they were young, and they never stopped. It doesn’t matter if they’re making $5,000 a year or $5 million a year. They keep making art, they keep writing and they never give up. That’s what we’re going to do. We want to be like them.”

MEIKA YATES HINES

Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox – With Mars’ domination of pop music and culture over the past two years, it may seem hard to believe this is only the “Grenade” and “Just The Way You Are” singer’s sophomore album. The artist, who got his start impersonating Elvis and Michael Jackson and writing for other singers, promises an album spotlighting varying musical styles produced by Mark Ronson and Diplo, among others. The lead single “Locked Out Of Heaven” recalls The Police and Michael Jackson all at once, leaving us anxious to hear more.

Alicia Keys, Girl On Fire – The sassy title for Keys’ first album in three years signifies a new attitude and, as she calls it, a new world for the artist after her marriage to producer Swizz Beatz and the birth of her first child. Keys has also pulled out all the stops, collaborating with Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Frank Ocean, Babyface and even presenting a duet with Maxwell in her heavily anticipated fifth studio album.

Ke$ha, Warrior – After years of struggling to find the right fit in the music industry, Ke$ha’s career exploded in 2010 with a string of Top 10 hits and collaborations with the biggest stars of the day. The enigmatic artist, who churns out seemingly juvenile party anthems while obviously possessing a sophisticated understanding of her art form and its legacy, stays true to form with a sophomore effort inspired by Iggy Pop’s The Idiot. Pop makes a cameo on the album, which features work from .fun, will.i.am and Oklahoma’s own Wayne Coyne.

Olly Murs, Right Place Right Time – Murs rose to fame after placing second in the 2009 season of Britain’s The X Factor. The cheeky pop sensation has racked up a string of hits and sold more than four million records, yet he hasn’t had much success this side of the pond. That may be about to change. A U.S. release of his single “Heart Skips A Beat,” gained the attention of DJs earlier this year, and his third studio album clearly has American audiences in mind with a debut single featuring Flo Rida.

PHOTO BY DAVID MAYO.

Entertainment

Skating Polly members Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Holiday Gift Guide The UPS Store Whether you need to send a package, print documents, open a mailbox, move your home or office, or ship something big – we’ve got you cove eredd. d. 16 1611 611 S. S Utica Ave.. 91 918.749.2405.

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Pictured “Cozy Christmas Pug Ornament,” $20, and “Cozy Christmas Kitty,” $16.

Large selection stocked at Southern Agriculture, 71st & Sheridan, 918.488.1993, and online at www. southernagriculture.com

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IN PERSON

The Christmas Spirit Gerald Wills is best known as Santa Claus. The 59-year-old has portrayed the jolly old elf for nearly three decades. In addition to serving as Santa Claus in various Christmas parades, he poses for Christmas ads and holiday cards and performs at parties and for many children each year. He’s had offers to perform in Los Angeles and even Japan during Christmastime, but he’s always stayed in Oklahoma. He says he would miss the children he gets to see each year.

AS TOLD TO JAMI MATTOX

128

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS.

I

had a gentleman supervisor ask me in 1983 to play Santa. I had just got out of the service, and I said sure because we had a lot of young families at work. I painted my beard white, and I thought it turned out pretty good. Then all of a sudden my beard and hair started turning white. It was kind of like the (character of Tim Allen) in The Santa Clause.

It became a natural thing. I got to doing it for people I work for and work with. It just spread word-of-mouth. Eventually I picked up an agent. I don’t have a contract, they just take care of me and I take care of them. I’m my own manager. Every year seems to get more and more intense.

When Gov. Frank Keating was in office, I would light the tree at the State Capitol. Once the governor called my home. I answered the phone and he said, “This is Gov. Keating,” and I always had guys from work playing pranks on me, so I thought it was one of them. I said, “Yeah, and this is Santa Claus,” and he said, “Just the guy I’m looking for,” and I hung up on him. The phone rang again, and when I answered he said, “Don’t hang up, this is really the governor.”

I have a lady in Edmond that always plays up Christmas for her children, and she hires me to come to the house to deliver presents. One year, the family had went to Maui for vacation, and the then-5-year-old boy, Justin, had left his favorite Beanie Baby on the beach. His mother had easily found a replacement, so she gave it to me, sprinkled with sand, to give to him on Christmas. When I came by to deliver the Beanie Baby, that little boy had a runaway. He was bawling, and he said, “Thank you Santa, that is so cool.” Just little things like that that inspire me to do more. I go out of the way to make sure that kids stay kids as long as they can.

Every person I see when I’m dressed up has a smile on his or her face. They can’t keep from smiling when they see Santa. When Santa comes in the room, everyone smiles.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2012

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Unwrap Your Entertainment This holiday season take your Cox entertainment with you. Search the Cox Advanced TV guide and schedule your DVR on-the-go with the Cox Mobile Connect App. Watch your favorite TV shows on your iPad® with Cox TV Connect. Then, check out the best in movies and premium television with HBO GO®, MAX GO®, STARZ® Play, and more. You can even keep the kids busy or entertain your inner child with Cartoon Network App. It’s all at your fingertips.

918-286-3429 Available to residential customers in Cox service areas. Some channels not available in all areas. Cox TV Online requirements: Minimum connection of 3 Mbps required for HD viewing on laptop. Requires a subscription to Cox TV Essential. Select titles not available in HD. Additional limitations may apply. Mobile availability varies by type of mobile device. STARZ Play requires a subscription to STARZ. Encore Play and Epix require a subscription to the Cox Movie Pak. HBOGo requires a subscription to HBO. Max Go requires a subscription to Cinemax. A subscription to Cox TV Essential is required to receive content from TBS, TruTV, TNT, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and CNN. Epix, STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, HBOGO, MAXGO, TBS, trutv, TNT, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and CNN are authenticated services included with your subscription through participating cable, satellite and telco television providers.. iPhone, iPad and Mac are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Other conditions may apply. © 2012 Cox Communications, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

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Introducing the new 2013 LS and all-new LS F SPORT. Driven to make a statement with sleek, bold, confident styling. Driven to exhilarate with the F SPORT’s driver-adjustable sport-tuned air suspension, Brembo® front brakes,1 and eight-speed transmission with race-inspired paddle shifters. Driven to inspire with available technology like the Lexus Enform App® Suite2 featuring Pandora,® OpenTable® and Bing,™ and the available Climate Concierge that balances steering wheel, seat and air temperatures perfectly. The new 2013 LS and all-new LS F SPORT. Driven to never go quietly.

#LexusLS

L E XU S .CO M

Visit Your Local Lexus Dealer 1. High-friction brakes require periodic inspection and measurement as outlined in the Warranty and Services Guide. The pads and rotors are expected to experience greater wear than conventional brakes. Pad life may be less than 20,000 miles, and brake rotor life may be less than 50,000 miles depending on driving conditions. 2. Always drive safely, obey traffic laws & focus on the road while driving. Apps/services vary by phone/carrier; functionality depends on many factors.

Select apps use large amounts of data, you are responsible for charges. Apps/services are subject to change. Apps identified by ™ or ® are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. For enrollment, cost and more details, see lexus.com/enform. ©2012 Lexus.

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