Oklahoma Magazine December 2018 by Oklahoma Magazine

DECEMBER 2018

THE BEST OF THE BEST 2019 VOTING BEGINS DEC. 1 AT OKMAG.COM

UNIQUE VINTAGE Tulsa developer John Snyder and his

plans for a new motorcycle museum

State of Religion Finding common threads between faiths

Special Report

2018 Great Companies

to Work For 174 companies in 19 industries

PEOPLE WITH STYLE LUXURY LIFESTYLES

Pricey hobbies and collectors' items to ogle

Features DECEMBER

2018 Oklahoma Magazine Vol. XXII, No. 12

78 The State of Religion

During this harshly divided time in American history, it’s easy to write off those different from us as ‘The Other’ – whether they differ in gender, race, political afﬁliation or creed. Religious leaders in Oklahoma, however, can ﬁnd similarities between one another.

84 Unique Vintage

Developer John Snyder’s afﬁnity for historic buildings and motorcycles results in a new museum in Tulsa’s East Village.

88 Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

Those with mountains of wealth – connoisseurs deluxe – engage in pricey hobbies and collect aircraft, cars, watches, clothes … you name it.

Great Companies To Work For

Oklahoma Magazine’s exclusive Great Companies To Work For listing for 2018 includes top-tier companies that positively impact Oklahoma’s economy and treat their employees like family, with excellent beneﬁts and incentives. Bottom line: Oklahoma’s best companies value their hard-working employees.

WANT SOME MORE? DECEMBER 2018

Visit us online. MORE ARTICLES

DECEMBER 2018

THE BEST OF THE BEST 2019 VOTING BEGINS DEC. 1 AT OKMAG.COM

Read expanded articles and stories that don’t appear in the print edition.

UNIQUE VINTAGE Tulsa developer John Snyder and his

plans for a new motorcycle museum

MORE PHOTOS

92 People with Style

We caught up with some of Oklahoma’s most fashionable folks to see how their fashion choices affect their day-to-day lives.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

State of Religion Finding common threads between faiths

Special Report

2018 Great Companies

to Work For 174 companies in 19 industries

PEOPLE WITH STYLE LUXURY LIFESTYLES

Pricey hobbies and collectors' items to ogle

ON THE COVER:

TULSA DEVELOPER JOHN SNYDER IS WORKING ON A NEW MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM SET TO OPEN IN 2019 IN TULSA’S EAST VILLAGE. PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

View expanded Scene, Style, Taste and Entertainment galleries.

MORE EVENTS

The online calendar includes more Oklahoma events.

Before you hear the heartbeat, we hear you

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Departments 11 State

Picking the perfect pine is a lovely family tradition, but plenty of hard work occurs on the farm before you arrive.

14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Development Performers Makers Religion Transportation Sports Hobbies Politics Insider

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

35 Life and Style

The holidays should be about spending time with friends and family ... and enjoying sweet treats, too.

36 40 42 44

Interiors Destinations Health Style Looking sharp at holiday

Scene

gatherings is a must. Glitz and glam it up.

97 Taste

Oso on Paseo, Humankind Hospitalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest adventure in OKC, specializes in Mexican dishes and drinks.

98 Local Flavor 100 Chef Chat 101 Taste Boxes

103 Where and When A new sculpture exhibition at the OKC Museum of Art features the strange and abstract.

104 In Tulsa/In OKC 110 Film and Cinema

112 Closing Thoughts

103

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

C A P T U R E , S H A R E # U T I C A S Q UA R E | U T I C A S Q UA R E . C O M

MERRY & BRIGHT

Tulsans know the most relaxing place to fi nd unique gifts is Utica Square. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become a holiday tradition not to be missed, with 700,000 gleaming lights, delicious cocoa, and charming storefront windows at every turn. Extended holiday hours give you plenty of time to shop and stroll. So, grab your loved ones, your shopping list, and make it a day to remember.

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Kate Bunce, Musica, ca. 1895–97. Oil on canvas, 40 3/16 x 30 3/16 x 1 3/4 in., Birmingham Museums Trust (1897P17). © Birmingham Museums Trust

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December is a time for holiday cheer, family reunions, ice skating, present-wrapping ... and our annual Great Companies To Work For feature, of course. This state is home to myriad companies that put their employees’ needs first. From paid time off for volunteering to excellent incentive programs and end-of-year bonuses, the companies in this list know how to retain and treat their employees. See the full list, plus a profile on Greg Love, the co-CEO of Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, on page 51. Amid the turmoil in America, it’s easy to view those different from us as “The Other” – whether it’s a dissimilar creed, political view, race or gender. We speak with religious leaders from mosques, churches, synagogues and temples around Oklahoma to find some common ground. The result? We aren’t that different after all. See their comments on page 78. Other can’t-miss pieces this month include our annual People With Style feature, where we talk to entertainers, restaurant owners and salesmen to see how their fashion affects their day-to-day lives (page 92). We also profile well-known Tulsa developer John Snyder and discuss his plans for a motorcycle museum coming in 2019 (page 84), and if you’d like to explore the hobbies of the ultra-rich, check out our Luxury Lifestyles feature on page 88. No matter what holiday you’re celebrating this month, I hope it’s a time of peace and reflection.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

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ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

Out on a Limb

Picking the perfect pine is a lovely family tradition, but plenty of hard work occurs on the farm before you arrive.

BILL AND PAULA JACOBS HAVE OWNED AND OPERATED OWASSO CHRISTMAS TREE AND BERRY FARM FOR OVER 40 YEARS. PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

ew images seem more festive this time of year than a family meandering through a ﬁeld full of tall pines, with cups of hot chocolate or cider in their hands, breathing in the crisp air and looking for the perfect tree for their living room. It doesn’t take much imagination to picture each of the trees festooned with garlands, twinkling lights and

ornaments aplenty. Even the work of cutting down a tree seems like part of the fun. However, that idyllic experience occurs only because of the labor-intensive efforts of those who run Christmas tree farms in a state known for its unpredictable seasons. “I’ve heard there is only one other crop that is more labor-intensive than Christmas trees, and that is growing grapes,” says Jean Collins-

Holdaway, who owns and operates All Pine Christmas Tree Farm in Yukon with her husband, Mike, and their family. She says they spend many hundreds of hours each year making sure their trees are ready for the season. Collins-Holdaway started her farm as a way to contribute to her retirement. She bought the land in 1984 and sold trees wholesale, but 24 years ago she purchased her current DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

The State

farm and sells to the public. Yuletide trees take five years to grow to an appropriate size. Each must be carefully pruned and cultivated to make it the perfect shape to stand tall in the buyer’s home. “It’s a lot of hands-on, high-maintenance TLC to get the tree,” says Bill Jacobs, of Owasso Christmas Tree and Berry Farm. Because of the development time, between 12,000 and 13,000 trees grow on his farm at all times. “We prune them twice per year, in May and August, mow every two to three weeks, and stake the trunks so they grow straight,” Jacobs says. “People don’t realize how much labor and time it takes to do all that – to get the tree big enough to sell and get it shaped right.” Jacobs and his wife, Paula, started their farm as a retirement project 38 years ago. They visited relatives in Missouri and saw farmers who started planting Christmas trees for an alternative income during the winter. “So we tried it … and it got out of hand,” he says with a laugh. The Jacobses grow mostly Virginia pine trees because that’s one of few varieties that can thrive in Oklahoma’s climate. Each tree must be irrigated due to heat and dry conditions in the summer. Other types of trees are shipped in from other parts of the country. John Knight of Sorghum Mill Christmas Tree and Blackberry Farm in Edmond is pragmatic about how he got into the business. “I read an article in a magazine about growing Christmas trees in arid climates and started growing Christmas trees the next year,” he says. Knight says a Christmas tree grower needs the ability to work hard outdoors in all seasons; knowledge of pruning techniques, pest avoidance, irrigation, fertilizers and soil composition; and a commitment to deliver a quality product. But it’s not all hard work – the festive atmosphere is a definite benefit of the job.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

“My husband, children, grandchildren and I grow the trees because it’s something we have pleasure in sharing with our customers,” Collins-Holdaway says. “Their happiness is very special to us.” The holiday season is hectic for farms, but customers tend to be in a good mood. Plus, there are many ways to make the selection process jubilant. Knight urges shoppers to allow plenty of time for the experience. “Take a cup of hot chocolate or cider and roam through the ﬁelds searching for the perfect tree while listening to Christmas music provided by our farm,” he says. “Make it an annual event for you and your family.” Many heartwarming stories come from the Christmas tree industry. Jacobs, with tears in his eyes, recalls when his family gave a tree to a woman down on her luck. The next year, she returned to their farm and let them know she was doing better and that she wanted to pay for a tree for someone else who couldn’t afford one. “It’s just a lot of pleasure to have all the kids come out and pick out their tree,” Jacobs says. “It’s a happy time. It is hard work, but fun. It’s a neat experience.” BONNIE RUCKER

ABOVE: SORGHUM MILL TREE FARM, EDMOND

PHOTO COURTESY SORGHUM MILL TREE FARM

BELOW: ALL PINE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, YUKON PHOTO COURTESY ALL PINE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

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The State D E V E LO P M E N T

Vanning Out in New Directions Two transportation systems with thousands of rural Oklahomans as passengers will use state grants to expand services.

A PASSENGER DISEMBARKS FROM THE KI BOIS AREA TRANSIT SYSTEM.

PHOTO COURTESY KI BOIS AREA TRANSIT SYSTEM

ecent grants from the state will help two transportation systems improve their services to thousands of rural Oklahomans. The Ki Bois Area Transit System, in eastern and southeastern Oklahoma, and the Central Oklahoma Community Transit System serve many passengers who are seniors, disabled, low-income or from homes with two wage earners, but only one working car. Both systems, which follow guidelines by the Americans with Disabilities Act, take people to work, college, medical appointments and even grocery shopping. The Ki Bois system used $1.45 million in grant money from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to order 20 minivans and 12 transit vans, with delivery in January. Some vehicles that will be replaced have 250,000 miles on them, director Charla Sloan says. KATS, as the locals call the nonproﬁt, serves a 9,858-square-mile area in Adair, Cherokee, Haskell, Hughes, Latimer, LeFlore, McIntosh, Okmulgee, Okfuskee, Pittsburg, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

“We take hundreds of people to work every day,” says Sloan, who has worked with KATS for 30 years and been its director since 1996. “We run around 236 vehicles about 5 million miles a year. It’s been rewarding. I have a lot of people call me and thank me for providing transportation for their parents when they can’t take off work.” Many clients live in small towns and need rides to Tulsa or Oklahoma City for medical care. Sloan notes that some drivers have even saved riders’ lives when they noticed regular passengers were not boarding and knew something was wrong. “A lot of the drivers get very close to their passengers,” she says. KATS has contracts with the Muscogee (Creek) and Cherokee tribes and state health agencies, so many passengers, including those on Medicaid, ride free. Others pay as little as $1 a ride. People with critical needs aren’t the only passengers, Sloan says. If people want rides to get their hair done, that’s ﬁne, too. “It’s open to anyone,” she says. “It’s expensive to own a car.” The central Oklahoma system operates in a similar fashion. Director Tina Lowery says she began as a driver

with many seniors as passengers. “That’s how I fell in love with transportation,” she says. “I loved listening to their stories and making them smile. And that’s how I want my drivers to be.” Lowery says $115,170 from recent state grants will go toward operations, driver salaries and fuel expenses. She has applied for two more state grants to buy ﬁve new vehicles. “We deﬁnitely need to grow,” she says. “Our ridership has shot up this year by more than 1,000.” The agency has 10 vehicles serving residents of Cleveland, Lincoln, Logan, Payne, Pottawatomie and Seminole counties and receives some funding from the cities of Shawnee and Seminole. Riders must call to make appointments; rates vary depending upon location, with many from $1 to $3. Shawnee has a growing retail sector, which means streets have become busy, so “people are deciding they would rather ride than take their own vehicles,” Lowery says. “My dreams are to expand the hours and days, and to have a backup driver if somebody calls in sick. And we only have one Saturday driver. We need another one.” KIMBERLY BURK

You can’t see the Sooner spirit, but you can feel it. It’s the spirit of unbridled optimism. It’s seeing potential where no one else does. It’s hope. A hope that overflows in the trailblazers, the changemakers. It pushes champions to be bigger, stronger, and faster. The Sooner spirit strives every day to break through, and it is the same spirit that believes in a little magic and a lot of passion – to change the world, to love each other, and to do it all as one.

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Throwing Her Voice Around OKC’s Darci Lynne Farmer, 14, hosts a TV special this month with her touring, nationally known ventriloquism act.

arci Lynne Farmer of Oklahoma City knows what it’s like to have a dream come true. “It felt really good to have almost a whole state rooting for me and supporting me,” says the 14-year-old ventriloquist, who felt the love from her fellow Oklahomans when she won the top prize on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2017. Now on a nationwide tour, Darci Lynne has had little time off since sailing through the competition during the 12th season of America’s Got Talent. Winners are determined by votes from the viewing audience and, according to the show’s website, Darci Lynne received the most votes ever for a ﬁnale. She also secured a place in the hearts of many of the show’s fans and Oklahomans alike. The story of how a then-12-year-old girl won a national talent search as a singing ventriloquist is as down-to-earth as the girl herself. Her family enjoyed watching the show together, so one day Darci Lynne had a thought. “What if I went on? That would be so much fun if I just kind of gave it a shot,” she says. As she progressed through the competition, the excitement drove her, although she says that with each round she thought she’d get voted off. But she didn’t – and she was completely surprised by her victory. “It was just a crazy experience, but it was so much fun,” she says. Darci Lynne has appeared on talk shows such as Ellen and Today. Her ventriloquism act, Darci Lynne and Friends

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Live, keeps adding sites and dates well into 2019. And she hosts Darci Lynne: My Hometown Christmas on Dec. 11 on NBC. “I’ve gotten to meet a lot of people and do a lot of fun things since winning,” she says. “So, it’s been really, really great.” Darci Lynne began performing early in life. Her mother wanted her to build self-confidence and overcome a touch of shyness, so Darci Lynne started competing in pageants. She recalls that at her first pageant, when she was 6, she was scared of the talent portion. However, after watching other girls compete and with encouragement from her mom, Darci Lynne decided she could do it. So she did a tap dance routine to “Singin’ in the Rain,” complete with yellow raincoat, and won. When she was 9, at another pageant, she met a girl who did ventriloquism, and immediately became interested in learning the technique. “I was just in awe of what she did,” she says. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, Mom, that is so cool. I really want to try that.’” Her parents were skeptical and even told her no when she first asked for a puppet. “They thought it would just be a passing fad,” says Darci Lynne, who kept practicing in her bathroom mirror. She says she finally got a puppet for her 10th birthday because she didn’t stop asking. By this point as a performer, Darci Lynne was singing, so, when she learned ventriloquism, she combined the two talents. The girl who used to be shy and selfconscious had become a full-fledged performer, and the road to America’s Got Talent was paved. Onstage, Darci Lynne is surrounded by a cast of characters (the “Friends” in her show) from her imagination, starting with that first puppet from her 10th birthday; she would become Katie, the slightly cheeky but lovable cowgirl. There’s also a diva rabbit named Petunia, a sarcastic old woman named Edna and a Motown mouse named Oscar. Darci Lynne says developing a puppet’s character is not quick. “Sometimes I have to sit down and think about it hard,” she says. “And then sometimes it just comes to me when I’m doing the randomest things, like brushing my teeth or fixing my hair or something like that. “They all kind of evolved; they’re all still evolving now. They gain new personalities; sometimes they lose some. It’s really a process. It doesn’t just take a week and you’re done; it takes a really long time.” As Darci Lynne has developed characters and achieved stardom in her young life, one might wonder if she’s changed. Perhaps she’s moved on from her Oklahoma roots. She disagrees. “I think I’m just the same person … just the same ol’ Darci.” BONNIE RUCKER

PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG PHOTOGRAPHY

The State

PERFORMERS

DARCI LYNNE FARMER WON AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GOT TALENT SEASON 12. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

DECEMBER 2018| WWW.OKMAG.COM

The State MAKERS

Don’t Mock the Brothers

peaking the truth, doing what’s right and respecting others are all part of the cowboy way … along with wearing a good pair of boots and owning a decent saddle. A Sand Springs tack and clothing shop keeps the cowboy way alive. The Mock Brothers Saddlery and Western Wear, commonly known as Mocks, has been family-owned and operated since siblings Claude, Albert and Archie started the business in 1941. It is still run by two brothers – Greg and Bret Mock produce the same quality saddles and leather items their relatives created more than 70 years ago. “I’m following in my dad’s and grandpa’s footsteps,” Bret Mock says. “It’s the way we were raised. Your word is your bond, and in today’s changing world that seems to be getting further away. We strive

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

to do everything like Grandpa and Uncle.” The brothers stay busy with custom orders, handmade from start to finish. Those looking to buy a Mocks saddle have to wait about a year. Mocks is also a full-service shop with high-quality boots, cinches, hand-tooled leather wallets, new and used saddles, Western clothing and custom leather tack. “We have used saddles by other makers – and some new – but most of our new ones are made-to-order, so they’re out the door when they’re finished,” Bret Mock says. “Greg also builds gun holsters, handmade belts and guitar straps.” Mocks has produced leather goods for professional rodeo riders and country music stars like Brooks and Dunn, so it’s no surprise that another high-profile customer is Pistol Pete, Oklahoma State Univer-

sity’s mascot. The Mock brothers have provided the iconic cowboy with chaps on and off for 10 years. “We have a good relationship with OSU,” Bret Mock says. “Every two or three years, they’ve asked us to make their chaps. We make them speciﬁc, so if there is a size difference from the guy before, they come in and we get measurements to make sure we get them the best ﬁt possible.” The brothers endorse the cowboy way and want the legacy of hard work, ranching, rodeo and family bonds to continue with the next generation. Bret Mock hopes that one day his sons, Ethan and Daniel, take over the business and carry on the traditions. “If they are interested in taking over, I’d want them to,” he says. “It doesn’t pay as much as some other jobs, but it’s the cowboy tradition.” ALAINA STEVENS

PHOTOS BY JOSH NEW

A family saddlery business has created quality leather goods for more than 70 years.

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The State

RELIGION

Liberal Teachings in a Red State

Tulsa’s Phillips Theological Seminary attracts a range of students as one of the most progressive in the United States.

ABOVE: THE CHALICE SYMBOLIZES COMMUNION WITHIN THE SEMINARY AND ITS AFFILIATION WITH THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST. RIGHT: PROTESTORS FROM THE SEMINARY MARCH AGAINST INEQUALITY.

PHOTOS COURTESY PHILLIPS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

klahoma’s wellknown conservative politics and religion aside, a small seminary in northeast Tulsa attracts ministerial candidates and clergy from all over the country because of its progressive ideas and teachings. Phillips Theological Seminary, once part of the defunct Phillips University in Enid, is a standalone institution headquartered in QuikTrip’s old home base. Students pursue master’s degrees in divinity in a range of subjects. The school’s affiliation is with the liberal-leaning Christian Church (also known as Disciples of Christ), but most students come from United Methodist, Universalist-Unitarian, Presbyterian and Baptist backgrounds. Phillips’ reputation as one of the most progressive seminaries in the United States is demonstrated by its history of flexibility in meeting students’ needs and its new offerings in online pastoral training. “We perceive ourselves as sojourners,” says Nancy Claire Pittman, interim president and the Stephen J. England associate professor of the practice of ministry. “We’re a progressive Christian seminary in that we are always looking for ways to show the justice and compassion of God and to be inclusive and welcoming. “We don’t reject scientific understanding or expressions of culture that lift up the humanity of human beings. And we’ve always been a school that could quickly change in

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

response to the needs of Oklahoma and the Midwest when situations and times change. “[Flexibility] has made us a strong community and one that is marked by both a sense of mission and a sense of understanding that seminary is not a building – it’s a place of learning and training for ministry, and we do the best we can wherever we are,” Pittman says. Phillips has primarily been known for educating people in their second careers, with 55 percent of students between ages 25 and 45 and with 45 percent at age 46 and above. However, more students are entering seminary right after or within a few years of college graduation than in previous eras. In spring 2017, 80 percent of Phillips graduates had jobs in the ministry upon graduation – almost

all of them in congregational pastorates. “Most of our students already have jobs in ministries, some as youth ministers, in small rural congregations all over the United States, some in staff positions of larger churches,” Pittman says. “About 75 percent are already serving as ministers in some capacity with the intention of continuing to serve in congregations. “And some feel called to more nontraditional paths – such as serving in nonproﬁts or social activism, for example. Over the past 25 years, we’ve learned to be nimble in ﬁnding ways to serve our students’ needs and goals, and we’re always looking for ways to proclaim the gospel in nontraditional ways.” Pittman says the seminary will continue the same mission of training leaders for churches and communities. Goals for the school include the development of a Center for Religion and Public Policy. Recent professorial additions include a New Testament scholar – Arthur Carter, Ph.D. – whose focus is on African-American church leadership in a program called Black Church Traditions and African American Faith Life. Another newcomer – Lisa Barnett, Ph.D. – teaches a course on Native American Religious Beliefs and Practices. TRACY LEGRAND

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The State

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

Traveling Green Scooters and bicycles for hire have popped up in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman and Stillwater.

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

ublic-private partnerships, as well as private vendors, continue to offer green options for getting around Oklahoma in the form of bicycles and scooters. Two scooter rental companies, Bird and Lime, recently appeared in Tulsa, and the city also launched its This Machine bicycle rental program July 27. Bird and Lime also dropped their products off not long ago in Oklahoma City, where the Spokies bike share was launched in 2012, and in Stillwater and in Norman, where scooters are quickly embraced on streets near college campuses. The rental companies, in some cases, put out their scooters unexpectedly, say city leaders, who scrambled to issue permits and draft ordinances. But most agree scooters fit well with plans to make it easier for people to get around dense areas, see the sights and depend less on automobiles. Nick Doctor, chief of community development in the Tulsa mayor’s office, says a new ordinance covers docked and dockless humanpowered and electric bicycles and scooters. Docked bikes and scooters must be parked in designated areas that usually have racks. Dockless means bikes and scooters can be left pretty much anywhere within a large area; users find them via tracking software. Private vendors are charged an annual repair

revocable limited license agreements, but the city is probably headed toward an ordinance. “We certainly are not against scooters, but we do want to make sure they are operating within the guidelines to protect the citizens,” she says. Tulsa and OKC continue to add bicycle lanes and keep up with technology. Riders use mobile phone apps to locate and unlock the dockless scooters and bikes and purchase minutes. “We have a new bike-pedestrian plan, Bikewalk OKC, that has speciﬁed areas preferred for bike routes,” Johnson says. “We plan to build more bike lanes.” Johnson hopes to add dockless bicycles. “The docked bike system is set up so you check out a bike and ride for 15 or 30 minutes,” she says. “You have to continue to check it back in, and you’re limited in time and distance by where the docks are. With the dockless system, you have as much ability, or maybe more, to move around as with the scooters.” This Machine, funded by the City of Tulsa, Saint Francis Health System, the Indian Nations Council of Governments and other sponsors, is part of Tulsa’s Go Plan, which includes sidewalk improvement, trail connections, supportive infrastructure and bike lanes. Tipton says at the This Machine launch party, a friend’s “mom wanted to try, who had not ridden a bicycle in over 40 years. He was re-teaching his mom, and pretty soon he was able to let go of the bike.” It was a heartwarming role reversal, she says. One morning downtown, some people asked Tipton how to check out the bicycles. “They were from South Africa, and friends had told them how great a city Tulsa was and suggested they rent bikes to see the downtown murals,” she says. “It made me proud.” KIMBERLY BURK

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

and maintenance fee (to pay for any curb or sign damage) and an infrastructure fee to help pay for bike lanes, sidewalks and trails. Doctor says he has ridden a scooter and “loved it. It was wonderful.” Alana Tipton of This Machine says bikesharing “encourages people to be more active and get out and see their city in … ways they haven’t seen it yet.” She adds that software on bicycles logs the carbon saved compared to using a vehicle. “Our estimated carbon offset is over 8,000 pounds since they were launched in late July,” she says. Gary Hamer, Tulsa’s capital planning and grants manager, says This Machine averages about 1,300 riders a month; Jeanne Smith, program manager for Spokies in OKC, says the company averages about 1,000 riders a month. Spokies stations are in and near downtown, and the bikes are heavily used on weekends and by visitors. One problem with dockless scooters is general ignorance of the rules, especially on where to ride. Laura Johnson, OKC’s assistant city manager, says scooters can be ridden on the street or in the bike lanes, but not on sidewalks. Bird and Lime were issued revocable permits in OKC while the city worked on an ordinance to cover dockless transportation. Doctor says Tulsa allows bicycles and scooters to be ridden on the street, in a bike lane or on the sidewalk. However, sidewalk use is prohibited in business districts, including downtown, Cherry Street and Brookside. Bicycle and scooter riders on sidewalks must give audible signals before overtaking pedestrians, according to the city ordinance. White front lights and red rear lights are required at night. Annahlyse Meyer, Norman’s chief communications ofﬁcer, says Bird and Lime began with

PHOTO COURTESY BIRD

PHOTO COURTESY LIME

NEW SCOOTER AND BIKE COMPANIES HAVE POPPED UP ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING TULSA’S THIS MACHINE, OKC’S SPOKIES AND NATIONAL SCOOTER COMPANIES BIRD AND LIME.

DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

The State

MASON FINE TAKES ON THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS IN FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. PHOTO BY RICK YEATTS COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS

SPORTS

A Fine Shade of Green

A quarterback from tiny Peggs in Northeastern Oklahoma is a star at the University of North Texas.

eggs native and Locust Grove High School graduate Mason Fine, a junior at the University of North Texas, has become one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Mean Green history. Fine’s strong play has been a big reason why UNT, in its third year with Muskogee native Seth Littrell as head coach, has played in consecutive bowl games. In September, the Eagles upset the University

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

of Arkansas in Fayetteville for their ﬁrst victory over a team from the powerful Southeastern Conference in 43 years. “I have a lot of pride in being an Okie,” Fine says. “Especially when you’re down in Texas, you’ve got to have that kind of pride. Football’s king down here, so I always want to outdo everyone, but I also have hometown pride. “I know I’m always representing my community, my parents and that last name. I know I always have eyes on me. I’m just trying to be the best person I can be.” In 2016, Fine started nine games and earned selection to Conference USA’s All-Freshman Team. In 2017, he took that success to another level by helping UNT win the C-USA West title and being named the conference’s top offensive player. Fine’s development has been great for Mean Green fans, but no one takes more pride in his progress than Littrell. “It’s been fun to watch because I never have truly believed in playing true freshman quarterbacks,” Littrell says. “It’s really not fair to them. But it was a situation where he wanted in there; he wanted to play. He took some lumps early, but our kids believed in him. His teammates around him … all believe in him.” Fine recalls the summer after his freshman year when his dad ran into Littrell at a grocery store near Tahlequah. “We’re both from up in that area,” Fine says. “We just have a lot in common with where we come from. We have that same personality, that same mindset. People from that area are just a bunch of hard-working, blue-collar people.” Fine says his Northeastern Oklahoma roots are testament to how he plays for the Denton school, an hour south of the Red River. “I don’t like saying I’ve changed because I’m the same person I was when I came from high school and I still play with that same chip on my shoulder,” he says. “I’m not the most social person in the world, so I need to go out and have fun with my teammates and just be more of a vocal leader. I think that’s more of how I’ve progressed – being more vocal.” Fine wants more successes, both for himself and his teammates. “There’s a lot of things we can build off from last year,” he says. “We had a successful year, but we didn’t achieve our goal: win our bowl game,” he says. “We’re just going to learn from that.” STEPHEN HUNT

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The State

HOBBIES

Not Just for Kids

PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES ARE WELCOME AT THIS TREE CLIMBING CLASS IN OKC LED BY KENTON PETERS. PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Recreational tree-climbing becomes a draw for OKC enthusiasts – some into their 50s, 60s and 70s.

enton Peters learned to Conley says he climbed trees in a less-safe climb a tree with ropes and manner to trim branches and put up Christmas a harness so he could safely lights, but he also wanted to take up the hobby. perform his job. Now he’s “I’ve got two teenagers that want to do it, sold on doing it just for fun. but I’ve got to figure it out first,” he says. “It’s exhilarating, being able to climb to Tom Zercher, 75, says he has wanted to a place you normally couldn’t,” says Peters, learn since stumbling across The Wild Trees, who teaches recreational tree-climbing for a book about people who pioneered climbing the Oklahoma City California’s redwoods. Parks and Recreation “It was absolutely “My wife will be very fun,” Department. “It’s fun Zercher says after happy that I do this making it to the top of and it’s safe. You are tied in, and the ropes are his rope. “I could have safely now.” not going to break. It’s a just dangled up there for great workout.” a while. I just might go buy the gear and do Peters mastered the technique when it was this again.” his job to trim trees at the Crystal Bridge John Borgert, 65, an elementary school art Conservatory at Myriad Botanical Gardens. teacher, got the itch after taking his 10-yearHe’s taught classes for about 10 years and old son to one of Peters’ classes. typically draws teenagers and 20-somethings. “Getting off the ground was a big learning But after an adults-only class was advercurve,” Borgert says. “Once you are in the tised in August water bills, more registrations air, you can’t use your other leg.” came from the bucket-list crowd. In addition to pulling with their arms, “I thought if I can play tennis, I can do climbers propel themselves, each with one this,” says 74-year-old Paul Gragg, who has leg placed in a foot loop, a separate rope ata pecan tree in his yard that he’s itching to tached to the main one. climb. “Trust your knots and relax,” Peters says After ascending to near the top of a 60to his four students as they start up the tree. foot elm in Will Rogers Gardens, where Ephraim Taylor, 31, of Broken Arrow, Peters works as a naturalist, Gragg adds: “I trims trees for a living; for fun, he enters am very glad I did this. It takes more energy International Society of Arboriculture compethan I had expected.” titions. This year he won the fast rope climb With knowledge from the class, Kevin by ascending 50 feet in 11 seconds. Taylor Conley, 52, plans to go home and practice his says competitors share new techniques, focus knots. The Blake’s hitch, the figure eight and on safety and learn aerial rescues. the overhand are essential to tree-climbing. “It’s a blast,” Taylor says of the competi“My wife will be very happy that I do this tions. “I’ve become a much better climber safely now,” Conley says. “She signed me up because of it.” for this.” KIMBERLY BURK

The State

POLITICS

‘How to Govern in a Diverse Society’

As OKC’s youngest chief executive since 1923, Mayor David Holt is changing the city’s leadership dynamic.

he country’s youngest mayor in a city with more than 500,000 people promotes diversity as the key to socioeconomic prosperity. He’s not a liberal from California. He’s not a Democrat from New York. He’s Oklahoma City-born-and-bred David Holt, whose term as head of municipal government enters its eighth month in December. “Quite frankly, we’ve been led by white males from northwest Oklahoma City for a long time,” says Holt, a 39-year-old who served two terms in the state Senate as a conservative Republican. “We need to break down walls and get out of our bubbles. Everybody needs to be at the leadership table.” Holt says he delights in OKC’s nonpartisan election policies “because I would not have been elected if I had been a ﬁrebrand ideologue. I got endorsements from Democrats and Republicans alike.” Holt won with 78.5 percent of the vote, the highest victory for a non-incumbent in OKC mayoral history. As the youngest mayor since 1923, he replaced 14-year veteran Mick Cornett, for whom Holt was chief of staff from 2006 to 2011. The son of a teacher and a social worker says embracing diversity comes not necessarily from his parents, but his own experiences. “In Washington, I was often the only person of my race on the subway, which is unusual for many white men,” he says. “I’ve lived in places where I’m the only white male. I lived for seven years in the District of Columbia, which has long been a minority-majority city.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

AS OKC’S YOUNGEST CHIEF EXECUTIVE SINCE 1923, MAYOR DAVID HOLT IS CHANGING THE CITY’S LEADERSHIP DYNAMIC. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

“It’s also the virtue of being younger. My Senate district [in northwest OKC] was already transitioning to what the rest of the city looks like by the time I left. In Oklahoma City as a whole, 60 percent of those under 18 years old are non-white. Because Oklahoma City is still largely segregated racially and economically, I felt as mayor that this is an issue I could get out ahead of.” Two steps – one symbolic, one strategic – illustrate Holt changing OKC’s leadership dynamic. In his office, he removed (and placed in another room) the photographs of previous mayors, all white men. He replaced them with portraits of 20 OKC children from all walks of life. “When I talk of diversity, I mean everything – racial, gender, age, geographic,” says Holt, the first member of the Osage tribe to become OKC mayor. In October, Holt rolled out the first of many appeals to OKC residents about what

to do after the Metropolitan Area Projects Plan 3 (known by locals as MAPS 3) is completed in 2020. He wants to know if they want to extend a penny sales tax for a fourth time and, if they do, what they want to improve next. “I want to keep an open mind and have people offer their ideas,” Holt says. “I know people want to see more of the projects spread around the city and address social issues. We want to see what everyone has to say. “I have tried to prove that there’s room in American politics for consensus. In Oklahoma City, our success in the past 20 years has been to set aside what divides us. We need to double down on what unites us. “I’m trying to set an example for the world on how to govern in a diverse society.” BRIAN WILSON

ONLINE EXTRA FOR AN ADDITIONAL ARTICLE ABOUT DAVID HOLT, GO TO OKMAG.COM.

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The State

INSIDER

A Band Roped into Success

“Every Labor Day, my cousin put on this two-day, round-robin, team-roping event, which was basically just a big redneck beer party and an excuse to rope,” Lester says. “He said, ‘Hey, man, why don’t The Great Divide, one of the first Red Dirt you come over and play at my groups to hit it big, celebrates its Labor Day ropin’?’ long-shot start with a 25-year “We said, ‘We only know about 12 songs, and 11 of ’em compilation album. are originals. We’re not planning on being a performing band.’ And he said, ‘That don’t matter. Come on over.’ “So we went over and played our 12 songs, and after we were done we were loading our one monitor in the truck when my cousin came up and said, ‘We passed the hat, and you made $78.’ We were all like, ‘You can make money doing this?’” He laughs, then says, “It had never occurred to us.” Perhaps it had something ith a brand-new, double-LP, to do with the way they began, but as those four men vinyl album – and accompanycoalesced into the Great Divide, they never went the acing digital download – called cepted route of getting country dancehall jobs by playing 25 Years of the Great Divide, covers of popular songs. From the beginning, they did a groundbreaking Oklahoma mostly their own music. band has officially kicked off the celebration of its silver “We got the privilege of playing the Wormy Dog, that anniversary. little upstairs bar in Stillwater,” McClure says. “It was And while there was some separation and even dorvery small, so we drew enough people to pack it out. We mancy along the way, the Great Divide has persevered just had a crowd, and that first crowd started following and built upon the reputation it started earning in the ’90s, us. That was way before radio started working for us. But when it became the first of the Stillwater-based Red Dirt you know, they [bar owners] don’t care what’s going on acts to sign a major-label deal. as long as they’ve got people there buying their beer. Not bad for a band that wasn’t even supposed to be a “Sometimes we would do like three originals, and if I band – at least, not in the beginning. sensed the crowd was wandering, we’d maybe do a little As drummer JJ Lester recalls it, all he and vocalistsomething they knew. And on more than one occasion, I’d guitarist Mike McClure originally wanted to do was sell say, ‘Here’s a new George Strait song’ – and play one of their songs to other people. our own,” he adds with a laugh. “I remember having a conversation with Mike, before As everything shook out, McClure emerged as the priScotte [Lester, JJ’s brother] and Kelley [Green] were even mary songwriter, lead singer and frontman for the Great in the picture, and our thought processes were, ‘Well, Divide. And while you can hear his songwriting evolve on we’re going to write songs, and then Garth [Brooks] or 25 Years of the Great Divide, it’s clear that he excelled at George Strait or somebody’s going to cut ’em, and we’ll it from the beginning. go get our paychecks once a month at the mailbox and The songwriter himself, however, doesn’t exactly save country music,’” he says with a chuckle. “That was agree. kind of our philosophy.” “I still believe in a lot of those songs,” he says, “but By the time Lester was approached by a cousin in Perry some of ’em look kind of sophomoric, or freshman-ish, to about playing a Labor Day gig in 1993, Scotte, on guitar, me. I mean, I was 19 when we started. That’s just where I and Green, on bass, had joined the loose-knit group. was at the time.” Then came their first gig. It’s likely his evaluation of his earlier writing is colored

GUITARIST MIKE MCCLURE MAKES UP ONE-FOURTH OF THE GREAT DIVIDE.

PHOTO BY CLAY BILLMAN

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

said narrowed my focus and got me into my own art.” Listening to the 21 tracks in order – including four new ones that end 25 Years of the Great Divide – you’re likely to be taken not only by how McClure’s songwriting matured, but by how the band grew tighter and more interesting. “Never Could” and “Pour Me a Vacation,” the mid“The odds of the four of chart country hits the had in 1998 as us coming together and group a major-label act, give it working out the way it way on the chronologidid is nothing short of a cally arranged discs to such poignant, personal miracle in my mind.” numbers as “Out of Here Tonight” and an exquisite new one called “Madmen “I was a huge, huge Guy Clark & Medicine.” fan. So I went up and introduced myself and got an autograph. It all adds up to a compelling “After the show, Larry said, four-sided portrait of a band that ‘You guys hang around. Guy has never stopped trying to better wants to pick a little.’ He’s got itself, even though the members an acoustic [guitar], and the bar’s have only been playing someclosed, and I’m sitting across from where between 10 and 20 shows him with the rest of the Great Diannually since reuniting in 2011. vide guys. We had our first album (McClure has fronted his own outout then. He plays ‘L.A. Freeway’ fit for well over a decade, which and ‘She Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere, often takes him out of the state She’s Just Leavin,’ and then he and even the country; over the hands the guitar to me and says, past two years, JJ Lester was kept ‘Play me your best song.’ I played away from his drums by two major it and didn’t say too much. Then shoulder surgeries.) he played some more and handed In August, however, the band it back to me, and I played this returned to Stillwater to play a song I was working on. And he 25th anniversary street party. puts a finger up to his head like it’s Lester admits he was “somewhat a gun, goes ‘Pkeeuw!’ and slumps surprised” by the massive turnout, over.” held outside the iconic Eskimo To McClure, the response from Joe’s. one of his all-time musical heroes “I’m always surprised,” says was devastating. But later, as he Lester, chuckling. “I’m surprised was leaving, Clark stopped him, that anyone’s ever bought a ticket gave him “a big bear hug” and told to see us play, to be honest with him, “You can write. But when you. It’s certainly something I nevyou start pulling out the [expletive er take for granted. I’m thankful deleted] that’s real, that affects for just even getting to do it in the you, it’ll affect other people.” beginning. The odds of the four of McClure remembers going back us coming together and it working behind the band’s hotel near the out the way it did is nothing short Fort Worth Stockyards to a little of a miracle in my mind. airstrip. “I’m always amazed that the “I just went down and sat on the crowds are good. I know we do runway and bawled my head off have some good fans, and that for the rest of the night,” he says. there are people that still enjoy the “But what he said changed my music. So, yeah, I’d say that I was life. I think when I was younger I somewhat surprised by the crowd was trying to write something that – and very thankful.” someone would like. I wanted to 25 Years of the Great Divide is appeal to people. I thought that’s available from the band’s website, how you did it. And I guess you tgdmusic.com. JOHN WOOLEY can do it that way, but what Guy by an encounter he had with one of America’s all-time great singersongwriters. As McClure remembers, it came after a gig the Great Divide played in Fort Worth. “Larry Joe Taylor was playing up the street, and we took a break and walked up there – and Guy Clark was in the crowd,” he says.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

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Life & Style

A M A P TO L I V I N G W E L L

Creating Cookie Traditions

The holidays should be about spending time with friends and family ... and enjoying sweet treats, too.

A PHOTO RISTM BY JOSH NEW • CH

S CO

ES OKI

M SY R TE COU

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ost of us have fond childhood memories of baking Christmas cookies. Mixing the batter, peering into the oven, waiting for the cookies to be done, that delicious smell throughout the house – and then the decorating! All of these cherished activities bring the holidays home for many people. That sense of nostalgia often sends people on a search for the perfect Christmas cookie recipe – one they can bake with their own kids not only this year, but for years to come, leading to a lifetime family tradition to be shared and passed down through generations. There is no shortage of cookie recipes; a quick internet search yields results for nearly every kind of holiday cookie imaginable. No matter what your skill level in the kitchen, you can find a cookie recipe that works for you, and for all the little bakers in your house. If baking and decorating cookies isn’t your thing, however, don’t despair. These days, finding beautifully crafted, homemade-delicious cookies available for purchase is simple. Gourmet cookies – like the ones featured here from Tulsa’s own Merritt’s Bakery – add an elegant touch to most holiday get-togethers. Whether you bake them yourself or place an order at a bakery, creating a delicious holiday cookie tradition is a fun and easy way to make wonderful memories with your loved ones.

DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Life & Style

LEFT: THE LIVING ROOM IS THE MAIN GATHERING PLACE FOR THE FAMILY, WITH AN OVERSIZED BLUE VELVET SOFA AT ITS CENTER. RIGHT: LAYERED RUGS AND SWIVEL CHAIRS THAT MOVE EASILY FROM THE FIREPLACE SETTING TO A SOFA OR OTTOMAN AREA MAKE THIS A PERFECT PLACE FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OCCASIONS. BOTTOM LEFT: A VARIETY OF CHANDELIERS AND LIGHT FIXTURES ARE UNUSUAL DESIGN INTERESTS, ESPECIALLY ONE IN THE DINING ROOM FASHIONED OF GOLD BRASS LEAVES.

INTERIORS

Updated Vintage

A Tulsa designer utilizes some original pieces from the home for a fresh look. By M.J. Van Deventer

Photos by Sarah Baker Photos

ometimes the biggest challenge for an interior designer is living up to client expectations. That was the mission for Tracy Huntington when a couple moved from Texas to Tulsa and wanted to work with her based upon her references, website and design portfolio. The home, in a historic neighborhood near Utica Square, needed an updated, fresh look. The homeowners “favored a mix of classic and modern, and they let me design what I thought would work best for this home,” Huntington says. The 4,500-square-foot home, built in the 1950s for a growing family, includes a large game room and 4½ bathrooms. “They wanted to blend traditional and contemporary touches,” Huntington says. “They trusted me to transform the rather dated house into a home … perfect for their family.” “Create a classic look with a few twists” was the mandate to Huntington. Various shades of blue topped the clients’ color chart. Throughout the home, Huntington used some soft blues, with darker tones in fabrics, upholstery, carpeting and accessories. This is particularly evident in the owner’s study, or coffee room, which is “drenched in blue,” Huntington says. “They like a clean, streamlined look, accented with these pops of color.”

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Life & Style

LEFT: THE KING-SIZED BED IN THE MASTER BEDROOM IS ACCENTED WITH COGNAC LEATHER BEDSIDE TABLES, HOSTING RALPH LAUREN DESIGNED LAMPS. BELOW: “THE BIGGEST DESIGN LEAP, WHICH ENDED UP BEING ONE OF OUR FAVORITE ROOMS, WAS THE STUDY. FOR AN ATTORNEY WHO WORKS AT HOME FROM TIME TO TIME, HIS READING ROOM NEEDED TO FEEL COZY AND FULL OF STYLE. WE STARTED BY CHOOSING THE BOLD CEILING WALLPAPER. FROM THERE, WE CREATED A CUSTOM BLUE SOFA IN THE SAME COLOR AS THE CEILING. BY ADDING LAYERED RUGS, MASCULINE TOUCHES SUCH AS THE FABRIC FOR THE DRAPES AND THE CUBE COFFEE TABLES IN HIGHLIGHTED GRAIN SWIRLS WITH BRASS ACCENTS; WE SUCCEEDED AND EVERYONE FELL IN LOVE,” SAYS HUNTINGTON.

In transforming this home, Huntington began with creamy white walls. She also removed some walls to create a smoother traffic flow throughout the living and entertaining areas. A medium stained wood floor complements the wall color. The living room is the central gathering place for the family. An oversized blue velvet sofa is accented with two large leather ottomans, providing ample seating for guests. A gallery wall of art is also a conversation piece. The formal draperies feature an elegant geometric print, framing the windows overlooking the back lawn. “Small spaces shouldn’t suffer for a lack of design,” Huntington says. “One painting can transform a room.” That is particularly true in the coffee room, where a painting of a horse dominates the decor. A custom-made television cabinet, accented with antique fretwork, is also a focal point in this room. The pleasing mix of artistic textures is a subtle design feature throughout the home, especially with the various chandeliers and light fixtures. One in the dining room is fashioned of brass leaves. This chandelier is an example of the owner’s desire to incorporate touches of nature – real or faux – throughout the decor. Huntington’s clients favor exquisite Schumacher and Scalamandre wallpapers, Hickory Chair furnishings, Benjamin Moore high-gloss paints and Currey and Company accessories, available only to the design trade. The dining room is a particularly interesting study in textures. The dark-stained mahogany table is flanked with custommade chairs, upholstered in full-grain cream

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

leather. One of Huntington’s favorite design themes is keeping existing furnishings or cabinets and giving them a fresh look with special paints or varnishes. That worked well in one bathroom. “We kept the existing vanity, painted it black and added a white marble top,” Huntington says. “The result is a classic yet highly functional look.” The master bedroom and bath are the crowning glories of this home. The king-sized bed is accented with cognac leather bedside tables, hosting Ralph Lauren-designed lamps. A Walker Zanger marble ﬂoor anchors the master bath and shower walls. The vanities complement the room’s updated decor. Each room reﬂects a distinct personality, accented throughout with those ribbons of blue, binding Huntington’s refreshing, updated look for this vintage home.

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Life & Style

D E S T I N AT I O N S

Yo, Hadrian – This Wall’s Not Rocky What was once ancient Rome’s northernmost boundary is a verdant, archaeologically rich hike from end to end.

ransport yourself to a viridescent destination that can enrich you physically and mentally. Hadrian’s Wall in the United Kingdom offers adventure and bonding, ideal for a themed trip or a graduation gift for parent and child to enjoy together. For those wanting a vacation that’s intrepid but not overly “touristy,” head to this remnant from the Roman Empire.

Climate and terrain

A common misconception is that Hadrian’s Wall borders Scotland and England, but it lies entirely within England, along a 73-mile stretch that was once the northernmost of ancient Rome’s reach. (Portions of the wall’s path do come within a half-mile of Scotland.) The provincial scenery is widely considered the least challenging of Britain’s trails, but the most interesting. The peak season to go is from April to October, before the drizzly winter months, when archaeologically sensitive areas can be damaged. Depending upon your ﬁtness, you can hike the length of the trail in a week or less.

Tours and lodging

Training

Various itineraries match the level of rigor you want, but rugged terrain is rare and a hiker encounters no major climbs. Signiﬁcant training is unnecessary for the self-guided tours. All you need is a backpack, especially if a tour company transports your luggage and sets up your lodging at bed-and-breakfasts. Guidebooks and the ofﬁcial Hadrian’s Wall Passport describe the historic sights.

Culinary delights are available at cafes, tearooms and pubs along the Hadrian’s Wall path. After rustic exploration, enjoy a proper English meal or refreshments at many establishments. Recommended are: Vallum Lodge, known for its homegrown produce and seasonal, fresh food; Chesters Roman Fort and Museum, an ancient battlement and bathhouse; Errington Arms, a coach house dating to the 1750s; and the Twice Brewed Inn, with verdant scenery in Hexham.

History

Culture and recreation

It took six years to build when the Emperor Hadrian commissioned the wall’s construc

tion in 122 to safeguard Roman settlements from barbarian attack … or to show off military dominance, depending upon the history. It’s also called the Roman Wall, Picts’ Wall and the Great Wall of England. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered the best preserved of ancient Rome’s frontier, with 2,000 years of history memorialized in turrets, crags, military barracks, castles and ancient pagan ritual grounds.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

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Contours Walking Holidays (contours.co.uk) • Newcastle City Tours (newcastlecitytours.co.uk) • Shepherds Walks Holidays (shepherdswalksholidays.co.uk) From central London, you can travel the 325 miles to Hadrian’s Wall by car, bus, train or plane. A reasonable pace for daily walking is 13 miles, which allows you to take photos of the ruins as well as of nearby pastures with horses and cows.

Dining

Brits and Scots have mastered the art of unplugging in a convivial way that welcomes

STONE PILLARS REMAIN STANDING AT HADRIAN’S WALL NEARLY 2,000 YEARS AFTER THEIR CONSTRUCTION. PHOTOS COURTESY ENGLISH HERITAGE

Americans into an environment of historic and agrarian beauty. A personal recommendation is to keep a journal on this adventure. In the summer, while your fellow Oklahomans endure heat and humidity, you can revel in the crisp, cool weather of the English countryside. Pack your cap, windbreaker and camera for an enriching experience. GINA MICHALOPULOS KINGSLEY

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Life & Style

H E A LT H

Beware Bri le Bones

Tests for osteopenia and osteoporosis help to determine your risk of fractures, which can limit mobility and well-being.

compression fracture.” he health of our bones plays a He says early treatment for osteopenia includes critical role in our ability to move weight-bearing exercises and limiting one’s intake our bodies, lift everyday items of carbonation, nicotine and caﬀeine. Vitamin D, and maintain our independence. calcium and vitamin K2 are added to a patient’s Threats to our mobility include diet, and, if the condition is severe, oral medications osteoporosis and a lesser-known condition called can help to limit bone deterioration. osteopenia. Kirkpatrick says osteoporosis has few symptoms, “Osteopenia is also known as low bone density,’” but one out of two women and one out of four men says Richard Kirkpatrick, an orthopedic surgeon age 50 and older develop an osteoporotic fracture. with Oklahoma Sports and Orthopedic Institute in “Fracture is often the first sign the disease Norman. “It’s sometimes considered a precursor to exists,” he says. “Symptoms occurring late in the osteoporosis, but it’s important to note that not all patients diagnosed with osteopenia will progress to disease include bone pain, loss of height, back pain due to spinal fractures and stooped posture or osteoporosis.” kyphosis.” Patients with osteoporosis have a high risk of He says the worst part of an osteoporotic fracfracturing a bone, while patients with osteopenia ture is disability. have varied levels of risk. “For many patients, “Oftentimes a [fracture they will never regain 100 assessment] score, which percent function,” Kirktakes into account the “Don’t take a patrick says. “They may patient’s personal and chance. Fracture lose the ability to drive, family history, is used to begets fracture. do their own hair or cook give us an estimation of a The likelihood of a their own meals. One of patient’s fracture risk when they have osteopenia,” subsequent fracture the most common causes of assisted living and Kirkpatrick says. “Evaluatis very high.” nursing home admissions ing bone health is most is osteoporotic fracture. commonly done using a Sometimes the best reaDXA, or dual-energy X-ray son to treat osteoporosis absorptiometry. The bone is to preserve physical independence.” mineral density scores from this easy, noninvaHe says nutrition and weight-bearing activity are sive test are compared to normal. Osteopenia is important to prevent or delay the onset of bone loss diagnosed when the DXA score is from minus-1 to and encourages people who experience a fracture minus-2.4. Osteoporosis is diagnosed when the to check their bone health. score is minus-2.5 or worse.” “Don’t take a chance. Fracture begets fracture,” Yogesh Mittal, an orthopedic surgeon at the Kirkpatrick says. “The likelihood of a subsequent Orthopaedic Center in Tulsa, says osteopenia usually has no symptoms, but people with the condition fracture is very high. Don’t wait until you have suffered three fractures before evaluating your bones. face challenges. Well-tolerated, bone-building medications can be “There are some activity restrictions to prevent used for just a couple of years to help regenerate injury that can alter recreational living,” he says. your skeleton and significantly reduce your fracture “Running and impact activity are generally diﬀicult risk. It’s important to initiate them before the most to enjoy for fear of injury, including stress fractures. disabling fractures occur.” There is also a fear that a traumatic episode could REBECCA FAST lead to a significant injury, such as a hip fracture or

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Life & Style

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Finding a job is one thing. Finding a place to work that empowers its employees and rewards them for the good work that they do – in both tangible and intangible ways – is an enviable goal. There are many qualities that contribute to what makes a company great to work for, but the 174 companies presented on our 2018 list share many of the top benefits and incentives that many workers are looking for. The more obvious perks, such as paid time off, insurance benefits, retirement packages, even company cars or endof-year bonuses, often provide a good indication of which companies value their employees the most, by the way that they reward the efforts of their workers. But beyond these more obvious offerings to employees lie more intangible, “soft” values that can move a company from being just “good” to being “great.” These values often tap in to a worker’s sense of purpose and need to contribute in some way to the world. Companies that encourage creativity, out-of-the-box thinking and problemsolving, and that consistently recognize their employees for a job well done typically have higher employee retention rates and happier workers, which in turn promotes greater productivity and higher levels of success for the entire company. The businesses profiled on the following pages consistently promote these values, which is why they are among the most successful companies in Oklahoma today. They represent not only the business sector of our state, but also the areas of manufacturing, health care, education, banking and finance, energy and many others. No matter what the company, however, or which industry it serves, you can be sure the employees who work there are happy, satisfied, and rising to their full potential.

DECEMBER 2018| WWW.OKMAG.COM

That Family Feeling Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores share Oklahoma values across the nation. By Tara Malone

the points that make our corporate culture unbreakable.” Love began his career with the company as an hourly employee during his high school summers. When he attended Trinity University in San Antonio, he served as an assistant manager at a Love’s. In addition, he shadowed other members of the Love’s corporation for three years, scoured the nation for new locations and worked with contractors on construction. In 1986, he joined Love’s central ofﬁces in Oklahoma City, where he has worked on his family’s vision for the past three decades. He is not the only family member to join the business; his brother and sister serve as co-chief executive ofﬁcer and vice president of communications, respectively. “There are now three generations

PHOTOS COURTESY LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS AND COUNTRY STORES

Turn the wheel down any Oklahoma highway and it won’t be long before you encounter the familiar heartthemed beacon that signiﬁes a Love’s Travel Stop. The fueling-convenience store empire, which spans 470 locations in 41 states, has humble, family roots. In 1964, Tom and Judy Love took a chance on an abandoned gas station in Watonga. Before long, the

couple opened additional stations in Guymon and Amarillo, Texas. The rest is history. While much has changed, co-CEO Greg Love, son of Tom and Judy, says one standard remains constant: a commitment to treating others like family. “At Love’s, we’re guided by core values that focus on putting our customers ﬁrst, exhibiting integrity in our day-to-day actions, demonstrating a strong work ethic, creating new opportunities through innovative thinking and perseverance in the pursuit of all opportunities,” he says. “Love’s is a privately owned company, which gives our employees additional resources and opportunities that may not otherwise be offered, such as serving the community in different capacities and a long list of beneﬁts. These are only a few of

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

of Love’s family members in our organization and everything we do stems from that close-knit bond my parents started more than 50 years ago,” Love says. Another commitment established by Tom and Judy Love is philanthropy. Since 1999, the company has raised more than $28 million for the families and children helped by the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Nearly $3.5 million of that was raised by Love’s employees during their 2018 in-store campaign. Love’s also supports educational endeavors. The company partners with the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools, KIPP schools, the Cristo Rey Catholic High School’s learning and work program and Teach for America-OKC. It helps to fund secondary education, including the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University and Langston University. “Whether it’s tutoring local students or volunteering at area food banks, giving is central to Love’s culture,” Love says. “Employees are provided opportunities to get involved and make a difference in their community, and encouraged to participate.” (As a side note, Love’s Loud City is the only section of Chesapeake Energy Arena that this writer can afford to sit in during Oklahoma City Thunder games – a philanthropy of its own sort.) While the company has traveled far from its modest beginnings, Love says that it won’t become static. “Love’s continues to grow its highway hospitality footprint with 40 new travel stop locations planned each year so we can serve more professional truck drivers and motorists in communities across the country,” he says. “Love’s will continue to grow its oil-change and preventive maintenance network for truck drivers with Speedco. “In addition, Love’s Hospitality will continue to expand its reach in the new year, adding convenient hotel locations for our customers to rest and recharge. Trillium, a member of the Love’s family of companies, will remain a leading developer of alternative fueling system design and continue to provide innovative energy solutions. “We also plan to continue to grow our community partnerships and philanthropic initiatives in Oklahoma and across the nation.” Whether you’re in Oklahoma or Ohio, West Virginia or Wyoming, if you spot that familiar heart on the side of the highway, stop in and say hello to Love’s ... because you’re part of the family.

GREG LOVE ACTS AS CO-CEO OF LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS AND COUNTRY STORES WITH HIS BROTHER, FRANK. PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

mortgages for Native Americans in Oklahoma and is one of the leading lenders throughout the country.

Bank of Oklahoma/BOK Financial Corp.

TULSA bokf.com With about 3,000 workers across the state, Bank of Oklahoma remains a top employer each year. Founded in 1908, the bank is the largest holding of BOK Financial Corp., which holds $30 billion in assets. Bank of Oklahoma is the state’s largest bank.

Communication Federal Credit Union

OKLAHOMA CITY comfedcu.com Communication Federal has 211 employees around the state and was named by Forbes magazine as one of Oklahoma’s best credit unions in 2018. Originally called Pioneer Bell, the credit union was founded in 1939 by Southwestern Bell employees.

First Fidelity Bank

OKLAHOMA CITY ﬀb.com First Fidelity has 29 branches and more than 400 employees across Oklahoma and Arizona. First Fidelity has become a leader with mobile phone payments, launched in 2012. First Fidelity began as the Bank of Norman in 1920.

MidFirst Bank

OKLAHOMA CITY midfirst.com In 2018, MidFirst, which also has a large presence in Tulsa, received J.D. Power’s highest ranking in the southwestern U.S. region for customer satisfaction and was rated No. 1 overall in the nation. MidFirst is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country.

Oklahoma Central Credit Union

BANKING AND FINANCE Arvest

ACCOUNTING AND INVESTING Charles Schwab

OKC AND TULSA schwab.com In 2018, Schwab was selected as one of Fortune magazine’s most-admired companies. Schwab has a deliberate, seven-step investment plan that’s individualized for each customer.

Eide Bailly

OKLAHOMA CITY eidebailly.com Recognizing that a fulfilling life is not just about earning a paycheck, Eide Bailly encourages staffers to invest in their community by offering eight hours of paid time off to spend supporting charitable organizations and causes.

HoganTaylor

TULSA hogantaylor.com In 2018, HoganTaylor absorbed the Little Rock firm of JPMS Cox to bring staﬀ numbers in the Tulsa and Arkansas oﬀices to more than 300. In 2017, the firm made Inside Public Accounting’s top 200 list.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

STATEWIDE arvest.com Arvest has branches in 43 cities and towns in Oklahoma. Arvest entered the Oklahoma market in 1987 with a 50 percent purchase of Security National Bank of Norman and has come a long way since its first location in Bentonville, Ark., was established in 1961.

Bank 2

OKLAHOMA CITY bank2online.com With assets of more than $135 million, Bank 2 is regularly cited as one of the top Native Americanowned businesses in North America. Bank 2, bought by the Chickasaw Nation in 2002, holds the most SAINT FRANCIS HEALTH SYSTEM

PHOTO COURTESY SAINT FRANCIS HEALTH SYSTEM

TULSA oklahomacentral.org Begun in 1942 with $628 in assets and 27 members, OCCU has grown to be the eighth-largest credit union in Oklahoma with more than 45,000 members, 132 employees and about $500 million in assets.

Oklahoma’s Credit Union

OKLAHOMA CITY okcu.org Opened in 1954, the credit union has 125 employees and 91 branches across the state with $500 million in assets. The institution is a partner in the Keep It Local OK campaign to promote businesses throughout the state.

RCB Bank

CLAREMORE rcbbank.com Rogers County Bank, founded during the Great Depression in 1936, has been an anchor in the Claremore economy since its inception. The bank switched to its initials in 1990 when it expanded into other counties, and it continues to grow with 52 branches, 698 employees and $2.79 billion in assets.

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54,441 members in seven central Oklahoma counties with its 194 employees and $704 million in assets.

Red Crown Credit Union

TULSA redcrown.org Red Crown was started in 1938 by a Stanolind Oil and Gas Co. employee collecting money in a shoebox in a desk drawer. That humble start has led to a company employing more than 50 people and serving more than 23,000 members with $195 million in assets.

Tinker Federal Credit Union

OKLAHOMA CITY tinkerfcu.org With $3.8 billion in assets, Tinker has been in business for 72 years and is the largest credit union in the state, with 30 branches across Oklahoma and 363,000 members. Workers at Vance Air Force Base in Enid joined the team in 1967, and more than 700 Oklahoma companies have followed.

COMMUNICATIONS AT&T Oklahoma

STATEWIDE att.com AT&T has more than 5,200 employees in Oklahoma and, as a successor to Southwestern Bell, has a 124-year history in the state. In 2018, it finished a three-year, $775 million upgrade of its wired and wireless networks in Oklahoma.

Cox Communications

OKC AND TULSA cox.com Cox has a heavy presence in the state’s two largest metropolitan areas and is a corporate sponsor of convention centers in both cities. Cox operates in 17 other states. Women in Cable Telecommunications and DiversityInc have recognized Cox for its inclusive workplace.

U.S. Cellular Customer Care Center

TULSA uscellular.com The Tulsa call center, one of four nationwide, employs about 450 customer service representatives and sales consultants. U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States.

CONSTRUCTION Cowen Construction MELTON TRUCK LINES

PHOTO COURTESY MELTON TRUCK LINES

True Sky Credit Union

OKLAHOMA CITY trueskycu.org True Sky, serving eight counties in central Oklahoma, began when eight Civil Aeronautics Administration members began the credit union in 1947. It has $586 million in assets, 50,982 members and 141 full-time employees.

TTCU

TULSA ttcu.com TTCU, formerly Tulsa Teachers Credit Union, began in 1934 during the Great Depression at the original Central High School as a way for teachers to get loans, which were diﬀicult to obtain at that time. It now has more than 120,000 members and assets of more than $1.7 billion. It is the second-largest credit union in Oklahoma.

TULSA cowenconstruction.com Begun near Shawnee in 1896, Cowen is a fourth-generation, family-owned company built on adaptability, quality and surpassing customer’s expectations. Its employees actively support nearly 30 nonprofits in Tulsa County.

Crossland

OKC AND TULSA crossland.com This conglomeration of companies has grown to more than 1,500 employees. It started in 1977 in the garage of founder Ivan “Red Iron” Crossland. The firm has its own heavy construction company (Crossland Heavy Contractors), in-house precast plan (Crossland Prefab) and development and holding company (Crossland Realty Group).

Tulsa Federal Credit Union

TULSA tulsafederalcu.org Tulsa Federal is big on community partnerships; it’s the primary sponsor of the annual Tulsa Run. The credit union began humbly in 1943 with a dozen members and $240 in assets. The community-chartered credit union now manages 192 full-time employees, 57,800 members and $767 million in assets.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

PHOTO COURTESY CHICKASAW NATION

Fleming Construction Group

TULSA flemingconstructiongroup.com Fleming has had an impact on non-residential buildings in Tulsa since 1946, with 90 percent of its customers having added another building to be constructed by Fleming. It leads the nation in the use of Butler MR-24(R) standing seam roof systems.

Flintco

TULSA flintco.com Flintco, which entered it second century this year, is an institutional and commercial contractor. Its origins trace to Tulsa Rig, Reel and Manufacturing Co., a drilling and pumping equipment supplier for the rapidly growing oil industry formed in 1908. C.W. Flint took full ownership of the company after World War I.

GE Johnson Construction

OKLAHOMA CITY gejohnson.com The Oklahoma City oﬀice is one of five in the employee-owned company and the only one east of the Rocky Mountains. Since 1967, GE Johnson has employed craftsmen, engineers, financial experts, facility managers, community leaders, architects and entrepreneurs. GE Johnson regularly appears in Engineer News-Record’s top 400 listing for contractors.

Home Creations

MOORE homecreations.com In addition to metropolitan Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Home Creations has a significant presence in Chickasha. Brothers Jalal and Mohammad Farzaneh began the home building business in 1981. Home Creations also supports dozens of nonprofits throughout the state.

Manhattan Construction Group

Weokie Federal Credit Union

TULSA weokie.org In 1969, employees of the Western Electric of Oklahoma phone company formed a credit union. It serves

CHICKASAW NATION

GLOBALHEALTH

PHOTO COURTESY GLOBALHEALTH

TULSA manhattanconstructiongroup.com Manhattan, the first company to incorporate in the brand-new state of Oklahoma in 1907, began in 1896 in Chandler (then in Oklahoma Territory). Some of Manhattan’s projects include Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. Reliant had the first retractable roof for an NFL team. Manhattan also built the dome over the Oklahoma capitol; the adjacent Oklahoma History Center; and the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington.

Thank you for trusting us with your healthcare. From the day Saint Francis Hospital opened in 1960, we have been committed to one mission: to extend the presence and healing ministry of Christ in all we do. His caring is the model for how we serve patients, families and each other in Tulsa and the surrounding areas. Over the decades, we have expanded and adapted to the growing needs of the region and to ongoing changes in the healthcare industry. Thank you to the physicians, nurses, employees and volunteers for their dedication to serving patients and for making the mission of Saint Francis a reality.

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kota and Montana. The Bakken is one of the premier oil and gas fields in the country. CEO Harold Hamm has directed the company since its inception in 1967.

Devon Energy

OKLAHOMA CITY devonenergy.com Devon was founded in 1971 by John Nichols, who, in 1950, created the first public oil and gas drilling fund registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Devon has about 3,000 employees.

EOG Resources

OKLAHOMA CITY eogresources.com EOG has grown by focusing on what are known as premium wells, which deliver solid returns even when crude oil and natural gas prices are low. In 1999, EOG dropped its aﬀiliation with Enron Oil & Gas Co. and changed its name.

Magellan Midstream Partners

PRIVATE JETS INC. HAS SIX BASES.

PHOTO COURTESY PRIVATE JETS INC.

Ever-growing Private Jets Inc. has a ‘Happy’ success story

Ross Group

Happy Wells chuckles dryly when discussing his early stewardship. “I had absolutely no vision when I bought the company [in 1995] because it was struggling,” he says. “We were just trying to survive for the first seven or eight years. We were paying our bills, but it was tough.” The turning point came in 2010, when Private Jets turned enough profit to expand. Eight years later, the transportation service has bases in Austin, San Antonio and Sugar Land, Texas, and St. Augustine and Naples, Florida. Its 50 employees run 20-24 aircraft, with plans to add about five more jets in 2019. Private Jets also broke ground last month on a 30,000-square-foot hangar at its headquarters at Wiley Post Airport in Bethany. “When you decide to get bigger, you can either borrow money or take your profit and plow it back it into the company,” Wells says. “We did the latter.” Wells stresses personal responsibility with his workers. “If something goes wrong, they are already working on how to keep it from happening again, even before I learn about it,” he says.

ENERGY

Fitting his name, the president of Oklahoma City-based Private Jets Inc. can tell an amusing story – especially since his company extends its reach throughout the country.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

TULSA withrossgroup.com Ross – an established general contractor emphasizing development, engineering, design and construction – has a strategic alliance with Westmoreland Builders for multi-site commercial and retail projects. From a kitchen table in the Catoosa home of Jesse and Ora Mae Ross in 1979, the company began as a carpentry and interior finishing firm.

Chesapeake Energy

OKLAHOMA CITY chk.com The company made a big move in October when it unexpectedly announced that it had acquired WildHorse Resource Development for $4 billion. Forbes magazine wrote that the move showed Chesapeake, after some turbulence through the years, was ready to grow again. CEO Doug Lawler called the deal a “pivot point” for the company.

ConocoPhillips

BARTLESVILLE conocophillips.com About 2,000 Phillips 66 employees can still call themselves Bartians, down from a high of 6,000, before Phillips merged with Conoco and moved its headquarters to Houston. ConocoPhillips is the world’s largest independent exploration and production company.

Continental Resources

OKLAHOMA CITY contres.com Continental, an independent oil and natural gas producer, is the largest leaseholder in the Bakken field of North Da-

TULSA magellanlp.com With an aggregate storage capacity of about 26 million barrels of oil, Magellan has access to 53 connected terminals and 27 independent terminals. Magellan owns the longest refined petroleum products pipeline system in the country (9,700 miles) and can tap in to nearly 50 percent of the nation’s refining capacity.

OGE Energy

OKLAHOMA CITY oge.com OGE, founded in 1902, is the parent company of Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E). It is the state’s oldest and largest investor-owned electric utility. Its power plants use natural gas, coal, wind and solar power and serve 830,000 customers in 276 municipalities across 30,000 square miles.

ONE Gas

TULSA onegas.com ONE Gas subsidiaries – Oklahoma Natural Gas, Kansas Gas Service and Texas Gas Service – serve more than 2 million customers in those states. ONE Gas has about 3,400 employees.

ONEOK

TULSA oneok.com Founded in 1906 as Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., an intrastate natural gas pipeline company, ONEOK now reaches across the country with 38,000 miles of integrated pipeline. The original ONG, along with other gas producers, spun oﬀ to become ONE Gas in 2014. RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT

PHOTO COUTESY RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT

Enviro Clean Cardinal/Cardinal Engineering SandRidge Energy

OKLAHOMA CITY sandridgeenergy.com SandRidge has focused its resources primarily in the Meramec formation in Major, Woodward and Garfield counties in Oklahoma (70,000 acres), along with the North Park basin in Jackson County, Colorado (125,000 acres).

SemGroup

TULSA semgroupcorp.com SemGroup owns, operates, develops and acquires midstream energy assets throughout North America and the United Kingdom. SemGroup employs about 1,300 people in its operations. Since successfully emerging from bankruptcy in 2009 as a publicly traded company, SemGroup focuses on manufacturing liquid asphalt; transporting and storing oil and natural gas; and gathering, processing and selling natural gas.

OKLAHOMA CITY enviro-cleancompanies.com Enviro Clean Cardinal is an environmental and civil engineering service firm along the Gulf Coast and throughout the Midwest. Enviro Clean’s executive team has decades of experience in many specialties, from air-quality practices to hydrogeology. Corporate sibling Cardinal, a civil engineering powerhouse, provides transportation design, land planning, utility study and design, and site development.

ST. JOHN HEALTH SYSTEM

PHOTO COURTESY ST. JOHN HEALTH SYSTEM

GH2 Architects

TULSA gh2.com With additional oﬀices in Oklahoma City and Mesa, Arizona, GH2 has completed more than 3,500 projects in 48 states and 13 countries since its founding in 1973. Its portfolio includes structures from schools and athletic venues to equine facilities and residences.

Guy Engineering Services

Williams Companies

TULSA co.williams.com Williams, founded just after Oklahoma statehood, owns and operates midstream gathering and processing assets, along with interstate natural gas pipelines. The Tulsa headquarters oversees an energy infrastructure that connects North America’s significant hydrocarbon resources to growing markets for natural gas and natural gas liquids.

ENGINEERING Advance Research Chemicals

CATOOSA fluoridearc.com Advance Research Chemicals, founded in 1987 by Dayal Meshri, has become one of the top specialty fluorine companies in the world. The company has more than 85 employees and utilizes 250,000 square feet of production area.

Crafton Tull

OKC AND TULSA craftontull.com Crafton Tull has more than 200 employees across its two oﬀices in Oklahoma and five in Arkansas. Crafton Tull, founded in 1963, is a civil engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, planning and surveying firm. NORMAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL

PHOTO BY MCNEESE FITZGERALD ASSOCIATES COURTESY NORMAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL

TULSA guyengr.com Guy Engineering designs roads for the state of Oklahoma, its municipalities and all 77 counties. It also provides bridge inspections, surveying and mapping services. Guy began as Willard Engineering, focusing on hydrology and hydraulics and contracting with the Tulsa District oﬀice of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

KKT Architects

TULSA kktarchitects.com KKT is a full-service architecture, interiors, structural and civil engineering firm that designs more than 3 million square feet of space a year. Andy Kinslow, who founded the firm in 1989, says, “At our firm, responsiveness means more than a fast answer or returned call. It means understanding what the client truly needs and delivering every time.”

Linde Engineering

TULSA linde-engineering.com The Tulsa oﬀice of this worldwide conglomerate is the headquarters for Linde’s North American engineering operations. It’s also a hub for Linde Global Procurement. More than 400 employees produce feasibility studies, process and mechanical designs, equipment and material purchases, fabrication and construction.

140 people in its five oﬀices. This year, it was No. 9 on Building Design and Construction’s list of top engineering and enterprise architecture firms.

ENTERTAINMENT Choctaw Casinos and Resorts

DURANT choctawcasinos.com Choctaw Casino and Resorts has eight venues around Oklahoma. The Durant location oﬀers 286 luxurious rooms, the Spa Tower, bowling, laser tag and a cinema. The Choctaw Grand Theater, also in Durant, hosts A-list performers like Reba McEntire and Foreigner.

Downstream Casino Resort

QUAPAW downstreamcasino.com The Downstream Casino Resort is an upscale, stateof-the-art casino whose look and feel are influenced by the rich history of the Quapaw culture. Stay at the Kappa Tower or Osotouy Tower hotels for luxurious relaxation, and enjoy fine dining at the Red Oak Steakhouse or five other eateries and bars.

FlyingTee

JENKS flyingteegolf.com On the north end of the RiverWalk Crossing, FlyingTee is a premier driving range in Tulsa County. It has restaurants and bars on each of its three stories, along with a large, outdoor patio on the ground level (in the shade during the summer; warm with portable heaters in the winter). Professional advisers also have personalized club fittings to help with each patron’s golf game.

Matrix

TULSA matrixae.com Right after the company’s title is its descriptor: “Architects, Engineers, Interior Designers, Planners.” This full-service design firm also has expertise in structural, mechanical and electrical engineering. Matrix is giving the Cox Business Center in Tulsa a complete internal face-lift and creating a brand-new entrance for the half-century-old building.

Wallace Engineering

OKC AND TULSA wallacesc.com The Oklahoma oﬀices are part of a national firm that is also present in Atlanta, Denver and Kansas City. Founded in 1981, Wallace employs more than

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

ARVEST BANK

PHOTO COURTESY ARVEST BANK

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Grand Casino and Resort

SHAWNEE grandresortok.com This is the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s premier gaming venue and resort, oﬀering Oklahoma’s only keno lounge, a luxury 14-story hotel tower and national caliber events, including musicians, comedians, sporting events and poker championships – all just a short drive east of Oklahoma City.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa

CATOOSA hardrockcasinotulsa.com This is Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s largest property, featuring a 456-room hotel, six restaurants, four clubs, meeting spaces, shopping and a golf course. Cherokee Nation Entertainment is Oklahoma’s fastest-growing entertainment company, which operates multiple casinos and retail establishments.

Oklahoma City Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY nba.com/thunder The NBA’s Thunder, Oklahoma’s only major professional sports team, has a symbiotic relationship with its adoring fans ... and employees (from superstar players to administrative staﬀers) recognize this deep connection. General manager Sam Presti has each new Thunder employee, be it a basketball All-Star or a support staﬀer, visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Osage Casino

PAWHUSKA AND TULSA osagecasinos.com The north Tulsa casino, with a multi-year upgrade and expansion, made a splash in 2018 with a new hotel and the Nine Brand Brewing Co. just a few minutes from downtown. There are also casinos in Pawhuska, Bartlesville, Hominy, Skiatook, Ponca City and Sand Springs.

River Spirit Casino Resort

TULSA riverspirittulsa.com The Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s shining star when it comes to night life, entertainment, dining, concerts and gaming, the River Spirit Casino Resort is where patrons can enjoy some of the largest gaming floors in Oklahoma, Jimmy Buﬀett’s Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant, and live music and other performances at Paradise Cove. River Spirit also celebrates inclusion and diverse perspectives, from

Central Liquor Co.

DEAN MCGEE EYE INSTITUTE

PHOTO COURTESY DEAN MCGEE EYE INSTITUTE

its employees to the design, artwork and architecture in the building.

SMG Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY smgworld.com SMG manages the Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. For a decade, SMG has made dozens of upgrades to the arena, which also hosts world-class concerts.

SMG Tulsa

TULSA smgworld.com SMG manages the BOK Center and the Cox Business Center. The former is the best concert venue in Oklahoma, while the latter boasts the largest ballroom in the state (30,000 square feet). SMG takes pride in each event, whether it’s a wedding party at Cox or a Paul McCartney concert at the BOK.

Topgolf

OKLAHOMA CITY topgolf.com Topgolf has more than 100 climate-controlled hitting bays, a full-service restaurant and bar, a rooftop terrace with a firepit and more than 200 high-definition TVs. Employees are encouraged to voice their opinions and embrace new ways to “wow” their guests.

FOOD INDUSTRY AND CONVENIENCE STORES

Ben E. Keith Foods

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

OKC AND TULSA ldfcompanies.com Founded by Larry D. Fleming in 1983, LDF markets, sells and distributes Coors, Miller and Boulevard beers, Red Bull energy drinks and a full range of other beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages in Kansas and Oklahoma.

QuikTrip

TULSA quiktrip.com Annually recognized by numerous sources as one of the top privately held companies in the United States, QuikTrip builds loyal employees by paying them well, helping them with collegiate tuition, oﬀering generous benefits and providing plenty of opportunities for advancement. Hundreds of administrative positions at the corporate campus are staﬀed by workers who began as store clerks.

THACKERVILLE winstarworldcasino.com Oklahoma’s largest casino resort, the Chickasaw Nation’s WinStar World Casino and Resort oﬀers a world of luxury and excitement – from the 600,000-square-foot gaming floor to the upscale restaurants such as Capisce Ristorante Italiano and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, and eight impressive, city-themed gaming plazas.

TULSA bama.com Bama remains a Marshall family aﬀair. Paul Marshall took a branch of his parents’ pie-selling business, which eventually became the giant plant on Route 66 near the University of Tulsa. He served as CEO from 1937 to 1984; daughter Paula Marshall has expanded the business to include sales to fast-food and casual-dining restaurants.

AIR COMFORT SOLUTIONS

LDF Sales and Distributing

WinStar World Casino and Resort

Bama (Pies) Companies

PHOTO COURTESY AIR COMFORT SOLUTIONS

OKLAHOMA CITY centralliquor.com Third-generation descendants of founder Zeak Naifeh own and operate a 238,000-square-foot facility. The 59-year-old company is the largest liquor wholesaler in Oklahoma with 9,000 lines of wines and spirits. It sells to around 500 liquor stores and 1,100 clubs across Oklahoma and in nearly every county.

EDMOND benekeith/food/locations/oklahoma Ben E. Keith’s Oklahoma division, also serving Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas, runs a 355,000-squarefoot facility across 88 acres. The warehouse contains

OKC THUNDER

PHOTO BY ZACH BEEKER COURTESY OKC THUNDER

QuikTrip, an $11 billion company, keeps growing each year and now has more than 20,000 workers and 700 stores across 11 states.

Reasor’s Foods

TAHLEQUAH reasors.com Larry Reasor began the first store in Tahlequah in 1967, and today, son Jeﬀ is the chairman and CEO; they both are known for hands-on leadership and empowering their employees. This Northeastern Oklahoma grocery chain, employee-owned since 2007, has 18 stores, one convenience store and nearly 2,700 workers.

Proud to Call Oklahoma Our Home In the past 35 years, Express has put millions of people to work throughout North America and South Africa through our more than 800 franchise locations. We deliver hope through employment with good jobs for good people, with support from our international headquarters in Oklahoma. We are proud to call Oklahoma our home.

ExpressPros.com

NABHOLZ CORP. HAS WON THE BID TO BUILD THE OKLAHOMA MUSEUM OF POPULAR CULTURE. PHOTO COURTESY NABHOLZ INC.

Richard J. Stephenson. It moved from the CityPlex Towers, owned by Oral Roberts University, in 2005 to its 195,845-square-foot hospital oﬀ East 81st Street in 2005.

Center for Orthopaedic Reconstruction and Excellence

JENKS corejenks.com As a satellite of Bristow Medical Center, the Jenks campus has six operating rooms, four procedure rooms, 25 in-patient beds, a physical therapy wing and a 24-hour emergency room. The team of five physicians has a vast array of expertise and specialties and puts the patient’s care and rehabilitation as top priority.

Dean McGee Eye Institute

OKLAHOMA CITY dmei.org Part of the OU Medicine consortium, Dean McGee has the only medical doctor residency program in ophthalmology in Oklahoma. Founded in 1975, it is also a national research facility.

Hillcrest HealthCare System

Inclusion and diversity drive Nabholz’s culture

Shane Fernandez, president of Nabholz Corp.’s southwest region, uses inclusion and diversity as cornerstones for success. “In our workforce, we have everyone from MBAs to craftsmen and women,” says Fernandez, who oversees Nabholz’s 116 employees in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. “You have to be inclusive to attract and retain quality employees. Plus, we have to look ahead to our next generation of leaders, those who will succeed people like me. We need diversity in management; we need women; we need many ethnicities.” Nabholz’s Tulsa team made a splash this year by landing the contract to build the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture in the Tulsa Arts District. Fernandez says the project’s importance extends “from the work site all the way to the boardroom. Everybody feels the pressure because of high expectations, but it’s exciting.” Fernandez says he came to Oklahoma “on a leap of faith” after taking time off in Hong Kong before college. “I learned from a guy over there about how good the architecture program is at the University of Oklahoma,” he says. “I went to OU sight unseen.” With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from OU, Fernandez has remained in state the last 23 years in Tulsa. Fernandez, son of a Danish mother and Spanish-Filipino father, has lived all over the world, shaping his personal and professional outlooks. “You learn about compassion, differing perspectives and caring about people,” he says.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

HEALTH CARE Advanced Orthopedics

TULSA advancedorthook.com Central States Orthopedics and Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center combined to make Advanced Orthopedics. The conglomerate treats all orthopedic problems, especially those involving sports injuries and other accidents.

AllianceHealth Deaconess Hospital

OKLAHOMA CITY myalliancehealth.com In addition to its 291-bed hospital, Deaconess operates 21 clinics with 45 providers across Greater Oklahoma City. The hospital is recognized for its care for cancer, cardiac, orthopedic, wound and rehabilitation patients. Founded in 1900 as the Home of Redeeming Love to help unwed mothers, Deaconess still runs its Open Arms Free Clinic.

Ascension/St. John Health System

TULSA healthcare.ascension.org Ascension is the largest Roman Catholic healthcare system in the country. St. John has been a medical mainstay in Tulsa for 92 years. The St. John system has more than 800 physicians and 7,000 employees, who are committed to holistic care and who advocate for a compassionate, just society promoted through actions and words.

TULSA hillcrest.com The Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center at Hillcrest has specialists in gynecological oncology, urogynecology, reproductive endocrinology, perinatology, neonatology, osteoporosis and breast surgery. Hillcrest is also the home of the Oklahoma Heart Institute, the region’s largest hospital dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Integris Baptist Medical Center

OKLAHOMA CITY baptist.integrisok.com Baptist is the flagship of the Integris Health Network, the largest nonprofit, Oklahoma-owned health-care system. One of the core values of the hospital and health system is wellness, so health-care providers emphasize go-beyond treatment of diseases and ailments and emphasize healthy lifestyles. “Love, Learn and Lead” is the system’s motto.

McBride Orthopedic Hospital

OKLAHOMA CITY mcboh.com This physician-owned speciality hospital has 75 acute-care beds, nine operating rooms and a 24hour emergency room.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America-Southwestern Regional Medical Center

TULSA cancercenter.com/southwestern The Tulsa campus of Cancer Treatment Centers of America cares for patients with breast, colorectal, head-neck, kidney, lung, pancreatic and/or prostate cancer. The Tulsa facility, opened in 1990, was the second of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, founded in 1988 by

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

PHOTO COURTESY THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

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Oklahoma State University Medical Center

GH2 ARCHITECTS

TULSA osumc.net Teaching residents is a primary function at OSU Medical Center, recognized for its wound care and hyperbaric clinic. In 2016, Saint Francis Health System took over management of the facility. OSU Medical Center is the nation’s largest osteopathic teaching facility, with 11 residency programs, 150 residents and nine fellowship programs.

PHOTO BY SUSAN RAINEY, YELLOW DOG DESIGN WORKS, COURTESY GH2 ARCHITECTS

Orthopaedic Center

Mercy Hospital

OKLAHOMA CITY mercy.net Mercy has been on the forefront of innovation; in 1960, the first open-heart surgery in Oklahoma was performed there. Mercy was the first health-care facility in Oklahoma to gain national certification for its comprehensive stroke center. Mercy was also an early adopter of a comprehensive, integrated electronic health records system.

Norman Regional Hospital

NORMAN normanregional.com Norman Regional, founded in 1946 to serve those who couldn’t make it to bigger hospitals in Oklahoma City, provided Norman with a hospital for the first time in three years after American Legion Memorial closed during World War II. It now anchors a healthcare system for much of south-central Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

OKLAHOMA CITY omrf.org Biomedical research runs OMRF, founded in 1946 on $2.25 million donated by medical professionals from all fields as well as farmers, ranchers and other average Oklahomans. OMRF develops treatments for arthritis, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, cancer, lupus and Alzheimer’s disease. A charitable trust has provided financial stability for more than 50 years.

HIGHER EDUCATION

OU Medicine

Cameron University

OKLAHOMA CITY oumedicine.com OU Medicine is a union of the University of Oklahoma Medical Center, OU Physicians, the OU Children’s Hospital, the OU Medical Center-Edmond and the OU College of Medicine. The consortium treats scores of diseases and conditions in adults and children, educates rising classes of physicians and conducts national research.

Saint Francis Health System

TULSA saintfrancis.com The Saint Francis Health System opened its newest branch this year, in Glenpool, with a 24-hour emergency room and a clinic. According to CEO and President Jake Henry Jr., five values drive Saint Francis: excellence, dignity, justice, integrity and stewardship. “Every person who comes through the emergency room or regular doors deserves dignity,” he says. “We also spend a lot of time in Oklahoma City lobbying for people are less fortunate. We hope to minimize the harm done to Medicaid cuts. We’re sensitive to these issues.”

MANHATTAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, A SUBSIDIARY OF MANHATTAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP PHOTO COURTESY MANHATTAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

St. Anthony Hospital

OKLAHOMA CITY saintsok.com The hospital has acted as a vital cog in the development of Midtown; its education center, cardiac emergency department, revamped Center for Behavioral Medicine and other new projects have brought increased commerce to that area of Oklahoma City.

Stephenson Cancer Center

OKLAHOMA CITY stephensoncancercenter.org As Oklahoma’s only Phase I clinical trials program, the University of Oklahoma’s Stephenson Cancer Center serves patients in all 77 counties. Stephenson provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer care for patients, along with research in basic, translational, clinical, behavioral and populations-based sciences.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

AMERICAN FIDELITY ASSURANCE

JENKS AND TULSA toctulsa.com The two locations treat orthopedic injuries and trauma from head to toe. Its staﬀ has 10 doctors and 10 physician assistants that help get patients back to normal as fast as possible.

PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN FIDELITY ASSURANCE

LAWTON cameron.edu Cameron promises that those achieving bachelor’s degrees will qualify to work anywhere in their respective disciplines. The Cameron Guarantee “provides additional education, at no expense to the graduate or employer, to baccalaureate graduates who enter the workforce and whose employers identify a deficiency in core employment areas in the graduate’s major field of study.”

Mid-America Christian University

OKLAHOMA CITY macu.edu Many attribute the enrollment growth and financial stability at Mid-America Christian University to John Fozard, the college’s president since 1999. The liberal-arts school has an issues-based curriculum that provides a creative, practical approach to all disciplines. Mid-America also appeals to nontraditional students with a heavy dose of evening and online classes.

Northeastern State University

TAHLEQUAH nsuok.edu A diverse population, a rich history shared with the Cherokee Nation and the beautiful, laid-back city of Tahlequah make Northeastern State a winner in the eyes of many. NSU is large enough to have 54 undergraduate and 24 graduate degree programs, but small enough that everyone seems to know each other.

Oklahoma Baptist University

SHAWNEE okbu.edu Founded in 1910 by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, the university sits on 226 acres. It oﬀers 10 bachelor’s degrees in 88 disciplines and five master’s degrees for its 2,093 students.

Oklahoma City Community College

OKLAHOMA CITY occc.edu Unlike many community colleges these days, which have separate campuses in diﬀerent parts of a metropolitan area, OCCC has kept just its one south Oklahoma City location since opening to 1,049 students in 1972. The formula has worked: more than 28,000 students attend myriad classes and programs in a dozen centers spread across 143 acres.

Oklahoma City University

OKLAHOMA CITY okcu.edu Martha Burger, a former energy industry executive, became president of OCU in July. She succeeded Robert Henry, who had served since 2010. OCU has survived moves of the campus (from Guthrie to Oklahoma City), economic booms and busts, and highs and lows of enrollment. The liberal-arts school perseveres, and that is seen in its faculty and students.

Oklahoma State University

STILLWATER okstate.edu OSU calls itself America’s Brightest Orange, with metaphorical fires fueled by academic passion and a reputation rivaling other major schools with orange as their primary color. As the university expands with campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee, it still inspires all its students and faculty to identify collectively as OSU Cowboys or Cowgirls.

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences TULSA health.okstate.edu The OSU Center announced in November an alliance with the Cherokee Nation to begin a college of medicine in Tahlequah to educate physicians for Indian Country and other rural areas. In Tulsa, the center has the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, one of the top programs in the country, as well as schools of health-care administration, forensic sciences, biomedical sciences, allied health and medical education.

Oral Roberts University

TULSA oru.edu For a school with 3,852 students, ORU’s appeal is geographically vast. Outside of Oklahoma, Golden Eagles by state are most likely to come from Texas, California, Florida and Colorado; plus, students matriculate from 90 foreign countries. ORU’s top major is ministry and leadership, and its missionary programs are among the best in the country.

Rogers State University

CLAREMORE rsu.edu As longtime state Sen. Stratton Taylor, now retired, says, “We wanted in on the deal.” Taylor authored legislation creating RSU in 1998 atop College Hill, where its previous incarnations (Eastern University Preparatory School, Oklahoma Military Academy and Claremore College) sat. RSU continues to grow and expand each year as a result.

Quality Legal Counsel Since 1896

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

DURANT se.edu Southeastern began as a normal school in 1909 to produce teachers. The college retains that mission, but its appeal has broadened. For instance, Southeastern, closer to the population behemoth of North Texas than to Oklahoma City or Tulsa, oﬀers out-of-state tuition waivers and transfer credits to students from across the Red River, 15 miles away.

Tulsa Community College

TULSA tulsacc.edu TCC’s Metro, Southeast, Northeast and West campuses are all fully equipped and can function as separate entities. However, TCC has an integrated curriculum, so a student can find a home at one campus or take some classes near home and others near work without missing a beat.

University of Central Oklahoma

EDMOND uco.edu UCO’s Vision 2020 lays out in detail what the university plans to become in the next few years. Key to this are creating a culture of collaboration and change, and redefining UCO as Oklahoma’s metropolitan university. Central is well on its way by emphasizing transformative learning among its students and faculty. T.D. WILLIAMSON

Doerner is honored to be recognized as one of 2018’s Great Companies To Work For.

PHOTO COURTESY T.D. WILLIAMSON

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DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

10/22/18 9:56 AM

REGENT BANK AND ITS 105 EMPLOYEES RECENTLY SURPASSED $600 MILLION IN ASSETS.

PHOTO COURTESY REGENT BANK

ray of programs typical of much larger universities. Its status in NCAA Division I, especially in football, is unique for an institution of its size. TU also manages the city-owned Gilcrease Museum. Academically, TU’s Undergraduate Research Challenge integrates its youngest students into advanced research.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT Express Employment Professionals

OKC AND TULSA expresspros.com Express is one of the leading staﬀing companies in the United States and Canada; it annually employs more than 540,000 people in 800 franchise locations across the globe. In Oklahoma City, nonexecutive employees received $2,000 bonuses at the end of 2017. The company was founded in 1983. The vision of the company is “to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people.”

HireCall

Regent Bank retains its small-town feel by design.

A business with an increased workforce of 31 percent this year alone has envious momentum. Regent Bank’s growth is deliberate, says President/CEO Sean Kouplen, who, with a partner and investors, bought the institution 10 years ago. Then, the bank had 43 employees, $72 million in assets and a building in Nowata. Now the headquarters is in Tulsa, with locations in Oklahoma City; Springfield, Missouri; and Nowata, where Regent began in 1898. “It’s intentional – the small-town feel,” Kouplen says. “You can grow a large institution and still feel small. Our markets operate autonomously. We’re like four banks, not one, because the best decisions are made closest to the client.” Regent and its 105 employees recently surpassed $600 million in assets. As Kouplen says, because “we’re family-oriented and share our life experiences daily,” they spent $600 per person on celebrations, including bonuses. “The employees pass that family feeling along to our clients,” he says. Kouplen despises bureaucracy and jokes that everyone at Regent knows it, so he lets supervisors make most of the decisions. This view comes from being stifled early in his banking career as a manager and being raised on his family’s ranch near Beggs. “On a farm, you become pretty self-sufficient and figure things out,” he says.

University of Oklahoma

NORMAN ou.edu Alumnus and major OU donor James Gallogly took over the presidency this year from David Boren, who served 24 years. He has restructured the administration and taken steps to close budget gaps. The former oil and chemical engineering company executive brings a business background to his position. He says his moves are intended to fund faculty pay raises and keep tuition stable.

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma

CHICKASHA usao.edu USAO’s core belief is to integrate knowledge from many disciplines for each of its students. That’s not unusual for a small, liberal-arts school. What makes USAO unique is that it’s also a public university (not private), one of a handful like it in the United States. Like most liberal-arts schools, USAO fosters closeness throughout the campus. President John Feaver calls USAO “an institution for the commonwealth of Oklahoma.” The town of Chickasha and the university operate closely together.

University of Tulsa

TULSA utulsa.edu TU, with 4,682 students, takes pride in oﬀering an ar-

TULSA hirecall.com HireCall provides temporary, temporary-to-hire and direct-hire placements in dozens of industries. Other services include background screening, skill- and job-fit testing, training, payroll and risk management. HireCall also prides itself on what it calls its “over-the-top, borderline-ridiculous customer service.” The company began as Premier Staﬀing in 1996.

Key Personnel

BARTLESVILLE AND TULSA keyjobs.com This Certified Woman Owned Company has six specialized divisions to place workers: administrative, financial, legal, technical, industrial and medical. Key oﬀers employment strategies to assist clients in their hiring needs. The company’s website oﬀers testimonials from client companies about the employees hired via Key Personnel.

Robert Half

OKC AND TULSA roberthalf.com The Tulsa and Oklahoma City oﬀices focus on placements for accounting, finance, technology and administrative positions, but Robert Half as a national company has a global reach in its placements. Robert Half even oﬀers clients a booklet called The Secrets of the Happiest Companies and Employees.

INSURANCE American Fidelity Assurance

OKLAHOMA CITY americanfidelity.com C.W. Cameron and son C.B. Cameron launched American Fidelity in 1960 as a spin-oﬀ of an insurance agency that the father started in Oklahoma City in 1930. Bill Cameron is now chairman and CEO. “I like the feeling that I am adding to the foundation that my grandfather and father built,” he says. FABRICUT

PHOTO COURTESY FABRICUT

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

TMA SYSTEMS

PHOTO COURTESY TMA SYSTEMS

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma

TULSA bcbsok.com Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the largest health insurer in Oklahoma. It began in 1940 as Group Hospital Services of Oklahoma, but quickly adopted the Blue Cross name and logo. The Blue Shield Companion Plan, initially known as Oklahoma Physician’s Services, began in 1945.

State Farm

STATEWIDE statefarm.com The nationwide company has scores of agents in Oklahoma. Founded in 1922, State Farm was ranked 33rd in the 2017 Fortune 500.

CommunityCare Oklahoma

TULSA ccok.com Saint Francis Hospital and St. John Medical Center created CommunityCare in 1993 as a joint venture, Tulsa’s first health maintenance organization. It has expanded significantly (with preferred-physician organization, a Medicare HMO and a Medicare supplemental plan) in its Tulsa and Oklahoma City oﬀices. It provides services to more than 500,000 people.

GlobalHealth

OKC AND TULSA globalhealth.com Serving federal, state, municipal and school employees, GlobalHealth represents more than 44,000 people in all 77 counties in Oklahoma. GlobalHealth has a comprehensive network of providers: 5,600 physicians and hospitals. The company has 224 employees in Oklahoma. With analytics, GlobalHealth says it reduces hospital admissions and re-admissions, emergency room visits and monthly medical costs.

LAW FIRMS Barkett Law Firm

TULSA barkettlaw.net Barkett is known for its 23477 KKT Architects.indd experienced attorneys who litigate medical malpractice claims against insurance companies, hospitals and manufacturers. Barkett represents injured customers and accident victims throughout Oklahoma and other states on referral.

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classes in family law, has written professional articles with Eileen Echols.

Foliart Huﬀ Ottaway & Bottom

OKLAHOMA CITY oklahomacounsel.com Foliart Huﬀ Ottaway & Bottom, since 1949, has tried civil cases in all Oklahoma federal and state courts. In addition to trial and appellate work, its attorneys provide consulting services to national, regional and local businesses, including health-care providers, product and pharmaceutical manufacturers, oil field service companies and insurers.

GableGotwals

full-service law firm, specializes in business, estate, labor-employment, construction and tax law, along with dispute resolution. Its attorneys, specializing in a variety of disciplines, often pool their resources for rapid responses required in a complicated business environment.

TULSA gablelaw.com GableGotwals, with 90 attorneys and Fortune 500 clients, is one of the largest law firms in the state. Founded in 1919, the firm is proud of its Oklahoma roots and foundations, but its reach is global. Also, GableGotwals has a long commitment to hiring female attorneys, many of whom lead company committees.

Calvert Law Firm

Hall Estill

OKLAHOMA CITY calvertlaw.com Calvert’s extensive experience in Oklahoma and nationwide has helped make it an industry leader in business and transactional law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation and appeals.

Crowe & Dunlevy

OKLAHOMA CITY crowedunlevy.com Crowe & Dunlevy, begun in 1902, dates to Oklahoma Territory days and became the first recognized law partnership the next year. It opened its Tulsa oﬀice in 1989. The firm established Diversity Scholars programs at colleges of law at the University of Oklahoma (in 2005) and the University of Tulsa (in 2012).

Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson

TULSA dsda.com Founded in 1896 in Indian Territory, DSDA was one of the first law firms in Oklahoma to hire a female attorney. It is up-front in stating in a down-to-earth nature: “We are not a cookie-cutter law firm.” Many DSDA attorneys have become judges, served in governmental capacities or accepted regional or national appointments.

Echols & Associates

OKLAHOMA CITY echolslawfirm.com Echols & Associates, formed in 1979 by David and Eileen Echols, is primarily engaged in contested, complex family law cases. During her professional career on the bench, Eileen Echols received recognition for her expertise, knowledge, opinions and skills as a special district judge in family law. David Echols, an adjunct professor of undergraduate and graduate

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

OKC AND TULSA hallestill.com Hall Estill’s practice extends locally, nationally and internationally. An Oklahoma-based full-service law firm, Hall Estill employs more than 150 lawyers and legal professionals in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Denver, Northwest Arkansas, Nashville and Portland, Oregon.

Hammons, Gowens, Hurst & Associates

OKLAHOMA CITY hammonslaw.com For four decades, this firm has focused for 40 years on employment law, from sexual harassment and disability discrimination to wrongful termination and violations of the Family Medical Leave Act. BAMA Founder Mark Hammons PHOTO COURTESY BAMA Sr. founded the Oklahoma Employment Lawyers Association, which conducts seminars and meetings for lawyers representing victims of discrimination.

Jones Gotcher

TULSA jonesgotcher.com Jones Gotcher, which opened its doors more than 50 years ago, has fostered three state Bar Association presidents, five Tulsa County Bar Association presidents and a member of the

UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA PHOTO BY YELLOW HAIR PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY USAO

American Bar Association’s board of governors. The firm’s support staﬀ has more than 200 years of experience in the legal field.

Latham Wagner Steele Lehman

TULSA lwsl-law.com Latham Wagner Steele Lehman covers everything from intellectual property to real estate. The firm, which goes by the initials LWSL as its brand, prides itself on another meaning for those letters: Lawyers Who Still Listen. LWSL, committed to diversity, also presents a yearly scholarship to a female or minority student at the University of Tulsa College of Law.

McIntyre Law

OKLAHOMA CITY oklahoma-law.com McIntyre primarily focuses on personal injury, medical malpractice and drug liability, and founder Noble McIntyre is president of the Oklahoma Association of Justice. The team consists of four attorneys and a support staﬀ of legal assistants, case investigators and interns. The website oﬀers a live chat option if you need counsel right away.

Tawwater Law Firm

OKLAHOMA CITY tawlaw.com Tawwater, for more than 38 years, has specialized in personal injury lawsuits, from insurance disputes and motor vehicle accidents to medical malpractice and product liability. Tawwater says it represents the people of Oklahoma and never big business, insurance companies or those who injure fellow Oklahomans.

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factures innovative oil field centralizers and stop collars. The focus is always on reducing risk and rig time. Centek’s one-piece, bow-spring centralizer is revolutionary because of its flexibility and strength, and is used around the world. Its simulation program helps to minimize or eliminate casing problems.

MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY

Dal-Tile Corp.

MUSKOGEE daltile.com Dal-Tile owns and operates numerous manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico, including the Muskogee plant, which produces porcelain floor tile. A subsidiary of Mohawk Industries, Dal-Tile is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of ceramic tile in the world, and employs more than 10,000 workers worldwide.

Acme Engineering and Manufacturing

MUSKOGEE acmefan.com Acme serves customers worldwide with air movement and control products. Acme’s engineering and production staﬀ uses the latest technology, rigorous quality control standards and latest techniques for research and design.

FLYINGTEE

PHOTO COURTESY FLYINGTEE

Advantage Controls

MUSKOGEE advantagecontrols.com This family-owned company specializes in watertreatment technology. Its product line includes a single high-tech cluster that monitors and controls cooling towers, boilers and waste systems. President and CEO Dan Morris says providing service is his No. 1 goal.

AG Equipment

BROKEN ARROW agequipmentcompany.com AG Equipment, founded in 1979 by H.G. Ash, is a privately owned company specializing in custom gascompressor packaging solutions. These compressor packages are built and shipped to oil and gas fields worldwide. AG has grown to 375 full-time employees, 600,000 square feet in work area and 78 assembly bays spread over 80 acres.

Air Assurance

BROKEN ARROW airassurance.com Founded in 1985 by Mike and Narissa Rampey, Air Assurance has received numerous industry accolades, including last year’s Energy Star Century Club award. The Rampeys’ son, David, is a co-owner.

Airco

GRAND LAKE, OKC AND TULSA aircoservice.com In addition to heating, air-conditioning and ventilation installation and repair, Airco also oﬀers a wide range of plumbing services and equipment. It is also the oﬀicial service provider for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

Delco Electric

Air Comfort Solutions

OKC AND TULSA aircomfortsolutions.net Air Comfort Solutions emphasizes eﬀiciency, from transportation to scheduling, and is a leading provider in heating, plumbing and air conditioning. The company stocks its trucks with a full assortment of supplies to lessen delays in a repair. It also prides itself for being on time to appointments and finishing a job quickly and completely.

PHOTO BY ADAM MURPHY COURTESY KKT ARCHITECTS

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

RCB BANK

PHOTO COURTESY RBC BANK

Alfa Laval ACE

BROKEN ARROW aircooledexchanges.com Alfa Laval, a Swedish company, expanded its operations in Broken Arrow in 2018 after acquiring ACE Air Cooled Exchangers in 2013. It provides custom-made cooling units for every part of the natural gas supply chain, be it upstream, midstream or downstream.

Boardman

OKLAHOMA CITY boardmaninc.com Since 1910, Boardman has provided myriad manufactured products: water well casings and buckets, hog feeders, stock tanks, cotton seed gins, oil mill equipment, fuel storage tanks, grease racks, smokestacks, breechings, culverts and tanks for trucks and trailers. From 1929 to 1996, it even made firetrucks. It’s the largest Oklahoma-based bridge builder, too.

CaptiveAire

MUSKOGEE captiveaire.com CaptiveAire is the nation’s leading manufacturer of commercial kitchen ventilation systems. CaptiveAire has more than 90 sales oﬀices in North America and six manufacturing plants, including the one in Muskogee. CaptiveAire’s clients include national chains, independent restaurants and other public and private institutions.

Centek KKT ARCHITECTS

OKLAHOMA CITY delcoelectric.com Among Delco Electric’s more notable projects have been OKC’s Whole Foods Market, Bass Pro Shop, Top Golf and Devon Boathouse. The family-owned electrical contractor has operated since 1979.

OKLAHOMA CITY centekgroup.com Centek designs, markets and manu-

Ditch Witch

PERRY ditchwitch.com Ditch Witch designs, builds and markets a complete line of directional drills, drill pipe, tooling for horizontal directional drilling, vacuum excavators, trenchers, sprockets, mini-skid steers and vibratory plows. The Perry powerhouse, known for its bright orange equipment since its founding in 1949, invented the underground utility construction industry.

Fabricut

TULSA fabricut.com Fabricut began when two men, both survivors of Nazi Germany, operated a drapery/slipcover store in New York, but had a dream of opening a wholesale fabric operation of their own. Harry Guterman and Joe Finer began Fabricut in Tulsa in 1954, and the company has now grown into a worldwide operation, oﬀering more than 58,000 fine choices in fabric and trimmings.

Goodyear Tire and Rubber

LAWTON goodyear.com The Lawton plant, which completed a recent expansion, is one of Goodyear’s largest, most eﬀicient facilities, and is the largest manufacturing plant in Oklahoma (nearly 3 million square feet of production equipment on a 550-acre site). Its 2,400 workers produce radial tires for passenger cars and light trucks for markets throughout the world.

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Pelco Products

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF OKLAHOMA

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Kimberly Clark

JENKS kimberly-clark.com Kimberly Clark produces familiar household brands, and the Jenks mill and plant produces two of the company’s billion-dollar brands: Cottonelle and Scott. They have 42,000 employees and operations in 35 countries; their leading brands are sold in more than 175 countries; and nearly one-quarter of the world’s population buys its products daily.

Kimray

OKLAHOMA CITY kimray.com Kimray increased its energy industry presence by partnering in 2018 with Flo-Tite Valves and Controls. Doing so has allowed Kimray to expand the number and types of valves it can supply by drawing midstream facilities (not just upstream locations) as customers.

Matrix Service – Fabrication Division

CATOOSA matrixservice.com Matrix provides construction, maintenance and fabrication to the energy, power and industrial markets across North America. One of only two heavy metal fabrication facilities in the United States, Catoosa’s plant has a high-achieving voluntary protection program that gives it recognized status from the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration.

Oilfield Pipe and Supply

DEWEY oilfieldpipe.com This company, operating for more than 33 years, also has facilities in Birmingham, Alabama, and Glen Allen, Virginia. It supplies any pipe needed in the energy industry, from steel casing to coil form, as well as piling pipe for water treatment plants. It has fabricated large steel-rolled and welded pipe since 1986.

CHOCTAW NATION

PHOTO COURTESY CHOCTAW NATION

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

EDMOND AND TULSA pelcoinc.com The Parduhn family founded the traﬀic-control company in 1985 and has run it ever since. It has more than 300 employees and oﬀers products and services ranging from signals and roadway lighting to decorative signs and camera mountings.

T.D. Williamson

TULSA tdwilliamson.com The company’s namesake started Petroleum Electric Co. in 1920 by supplying electrical equipment to the energy industry. The company, which took his name in 1933, expanded its line of pipeline products through the decades and had placed resources on all continents, except Antarctica, by 2007. It can solve virtually any pipeline problem or challenge, on- or oﬀ-shore.

Zeeco

BROKEN ARROW zeeco.com Zeeco operates more than 20 locations globally, including a large product research and test facility, four strategically located manufacturing facilities and more than 1,300 employees and agents. Zeeco designs, engineers and manufactures next-generation combustion equipment and advanced environmental systems, equipping critical components in refining, production and many other industries around the world.

MISCELLANEOUS Fine Airport Parking

TULSA fineairportparking.com Fine Airport Parking oﬀers short- and long-term parking, complimentary shuttle rides to the nearby Tulsa International Airport and car detailing and other car services. “We focus on integrity, security and customer service,” the family-owned company says.

Oklahoma State University Foundation

STILLWATER osugiving.com The major private fund-raising organization for the

ZEECO

PHOTO COURTESY ZEECO

school, the OSU Foundation provides scholarships, supports faculty and staﬀ and underwrites community programs.

REAL ESTATE Century 21

THROUGHOUT OKLAHOMA www.century21.com Century 21 employees are committed to the community, especially when it comes to Century 21’s longtime partnership with Easter Seals. More than $114 million has gone to the charity from company franchisees since 1979. The company also supports veterans who need help with employment, assimilation after deployment and home ownership.

Coldwell Banker

STATEWIDE www.coldwellbanker.com Coldwell Banker, founded in 1906, proclaims itself as “the oldest and most established real estate franchise system in North America.” The company and its agents have long embraced progressive technology and pushed Coldwell Banker to become the first national real estate brand with an iPad app, the first to augment its website for smartphones, the first to create an iPhone app for international listings, the first with an iPad app to integrate big data with home listings and the first to harness the power of video into listings, news and information.

Keller Williams Realty

STATEWIDE www.kw.com With its founding in 1983, Keller Williams is relatively new to the real-estate scene, but that hasn’t kept it from being one of the fastest-growing franchises in the country. Many of its agents embrace “the company’s emphasis on education, coaching, tech-

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Passion to Serve. We are proud to be consistently recognized as a top employer. At Regent Bank, we care deeply about our clients and employees. Our company is devoted to being the best place to work, showing our clients we care, and making a real, lasting impact on the communities we serve. It would be our honor to show you the Regent Bank difference and our sincere passion to serve. www.regent.bank/best-places-to-work

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vides a trustworthy, neutral platform to share and respond to reviews. Consumer Aﬀairs allows companies with specific brands to connect with their customers.

Paycom

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nology, culture and wealth-building opportunities that redefine their potential and take them to new heights,” according to the company.

McGraw Realtors

TULSA www.mcgrawrealtors.com Tulsa-based McGraw is the largest independent realestate company in Oklahoma and has been around for more than 70 years. The company believes that its success depends upon recruiting and retaining top-notch agents, who buy in to McGraw’s culture of excellence, ethics and high standards.

Stan Johnson Co.

TULSA www.stanjohnsonco.com Throughout its 30-plus-years history, the company’s mantra is “Going beyond.” Employees pick up on this. “By putting the interests of others in front of our own, we believe that opportunity flows from deep, long-lasting relationships based on mutual interest and respect,” the company says. The Stan Johnson workplace fosters professionalism, finding the right fit for each worker, integrity, building relationships and mentoring.

TECHNOLOGY Consumer Aﬀairs

TULSA consumeraffairs.com Consumer Affairs, based in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, has a large presence in Tulsa. Consumer Affairs helps clients make smart decisions based on unbiased feedback and research-driven information. It proTBS FACTORING SERVICE

PHOTO COURTESY TBS FACTORING SERVICE

OKLAHOMA CITY paycom.com Paycom celebrates its employees’ individuality and their successes with annual events just for them, including year-end parties, family-friendly fall and winter parties and National Payroll Week festivities. Paycom boasts numerous workplace awards, largely based on the impressive benefits that employees enjoy and the supportive culture Paycom oﬀers.

TMA Systems

TULSA tmasystems.com TMA, founded in 1988, has transformed organizations by providing the most technologically advanced maintenance management software available. One of the company’s core values and beliefs revolves around employees, who “are our most valuable resource,” an oﬀicial writes. “We empower them to reach their full potential by providing an environment that utilizes their skills, creativity and capabilities.”

TRANSPORTATION American Airlines – Maintenance Base

TULSA aa.com The world’s largest commercial airplane maintenance facility is not in Fort Worth, Texas, American’s home base, but at Tulsa International Airport. In 2018, the 3.3-million-square-foot facility, begun in 1946, took over repairs on many of the engines on Airbus jets in American’s fleet. Virtually every craft in the American Airlines fleet comes through Tulsa for service, maintenance or overhauling. American Airlines has more than 5,200 employees at the facility.

Melton Truck Lines

TULSA meltontruck.com Melton, in business since 1954, has had North America covered since 1980, when its rigs entered Mexico. It even has a sales oﬀice in Monterrey. Melton boasts more than 5,000 clients with a 98 percent on-time rate for pickups and deliveries. This leader in flatbed transportation matches 1,500 employees and their skills with the right job. For instance, one driver wanted to get out from behind the wheel, so the company used his experience and communication skills to set him up as a problem-solving dispatcher. “I moved all the way from Florida to work for this company,” he says. “That’s how good it is.”

Miller Truck Lines

TULSA millertl.com James and Bonnie Miller, along with sons Jim Don and Bobby, have run the trucking company since 1983. The company features refrigerated, dry van, tanker and flatbed trucks, along with a regional wrecker service. It has even hauled live sharks from Las Vegas to the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Omni Air Transport

TULSA flyomni.com Omni has a 30,000-square-foot hangar and administration facility near Tulsa International Airport. This charter aircraft and management services company flies more than 800 private trips annually. Pilots and crew have constructed Omni’s industry-recognized safety record. As a result, many of Omni’s clients have been around for most of the company’s 35 years.

TBS Factoring Service

OKLAHOMA CITY tbsfactoring.com The family-ownership group has worked with independent truckers for 50 years to keep their cash flowing. “We know trucking,” the company says. “We understand shrinking margins due to fluctuations in fuel costs, load rates and costly repairs.” The seasoned staﬀers dedicate themselves to helping their clients, who, in turn, stay loyal to TBS.

United Parcel Service

STATEWIDE ups.com UPS Store locations throughout Oklahoma provide package delivery, ground freight, health-care logistics, freight forwarding and contract logistics services. Founded in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, actively engaging in programs to support the communities where UPS employees live and work.

TRIBAL ENTERPRISE Cherokee Nation

CATOOSA cherokeenationbusiness.com Cherokee tourism has been recognized nationally and Principal Chief Bill John Baker won an award for his steadfast commitment to tribal hospitality. According to tribal oﬀicials, 65 percent of profits from the Nation’s businesses are turned straight back into those workplaces. The other 35 percent goes toward programs and services directly benefiting Cherokee citizens.

Chickasaw Nation

ADA chickasaw.net The Chickasaw Nation is a nation of businesses these days. It has a full production company making feature films, several radio stations and numerous publications. There’s also the Artesian Gallery and Studio in Sulphur and the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville. Chickasaw oﬀicials say this economically diverse base has allowed tribal businesses to grow, employees to prosper, programs and services to expand and the overall quality of life for the Nation to improve. Workers can find just about any kind of job, whether it’s in finance (Bank2 in Oklahoma City), journalism (the Chickasaw Press) or the performing arts (the McSwain Theatre in Ada).

OMNI AIR TRANSPORT

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Choctaw Nation

DURANT choctawnation.com Choctaw Chief Gary Batton says putting employees above himself (the opposite of the top-down model) has led to expanded services for the entire tribe. He has also made community health a priority for the tribe and its nearly 6,000 full-time employees, who, along with their dependents, receive free prescriptions, vaccinations and immunizations.

Citizen Potawatomi Nation

SHAWNEE potawatomi.org Among the businesses run by the tribe are the FireLake arena, bowling center, golf course, ballfields, design shop, pizza, fry bread-taco restaurant, discount food store, express grocery store, corner convenience store and travel plaza. As the largest employer in Pottawatomie County with 1,900 fulltime employees, the Nation has grown rapidly during the past decade.

Muscogee (Creek) Nation

OKMULGEE mcn-nsn.gov One of the Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preeminent enterprises is the Jenks RiverWalk, home to the three-story FlyingTee golf driving range, with a restaurant and bar on each level. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the only place where you can eat, drink and have fun; the RiverWalk has more than a dozen other eateries and shops.

Osage Nation

PAWHUSKA osagenation-nsn.gov The Osage Nation pours money it makes from min-

eral rights, production and gaming back into its citizens. Professional development, education incentives and other support services create loyalty among workers, whose wages help drive economies in many towns throughout Osage County. The tribe is the largest employer in Pawhuska.

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma

WEWOKA sno-nsn.gov In addition to casinos 23493 Citizen Pottawatomie Nation.indd in Seminole, Wewoka and Konawa, the Nation operates a softball complex, campgrounds and the 26-room Grisso Mansion, an ideal venue for weddings and other celebrations. Profits from these businesses go straight into dozens of programs and services provided to its citizens.

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The State of

Religion During this harshly divided time in American history, it’s easy to write off those different from us as ‘The Other’ – whether they differ in gender, race, political affiliation or creed. Religious leaders in Oklahoma, however, can find similarities between one another. Whether they follow Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Buddhism, there is common ground. We share some of their views about unity, peace and commonality.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Barbara Prose

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Executive minister, All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa What are unifying qualities of global religions? They describe and define an “essential human experience” as being inextricably part of all creation – of something tremendous and mysterious. Because this is true, we can better understand each other when we talk about our experiences, instead of discussing and debating our beliefs about those experiences. Our congregation is of many faiths and non-faiths. We come together in a promise to each other, to dwell together in peace and seek truth in love. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? All Souls gives our offering to nonprofits and causes every Sunday. We do this so more babies will have clean diapers, more children will have enough food and a good education, more people will get health care and more elders will have adequate housing. Without the people’s basic needs being met – without justice – there can only be inner peace, not peace on Earth. What do you want people to know about your religion? We affirm that we are all part of one human family and that we can love each other, beyond belief. We recognize and honor the dignity and worth of all people and live our faith every day of the week, doing the good works of this world with our hands and hearts. Love is the spirit of our church.

“Not to do any evil, to cultivate good deeds, to purify one’s mind: This is the teaching of the Buddha.” – Thich Quang Hien, Tam Bao Buddhist Temple, Tulsa

President abbot, Tam Bao Buddhist Temple, Tulsa What are unifying qualities of global religions? Religions commonly promote a moral code or ethical principles to guide individuals and communities. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? Peace on Earth means living in the present moment, being mindful of what you’re doing and doing your best to benefit you and others. What do you want people to know about your religion? Not to do any evil, to cultivate good deeds, to purify one’s mind: This is the teaching of the Buddha.

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Thich Quang Hien

DECEMBER 2018| WWW.OKMAG.COM

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

Keith M. Falk

Senior pastor, Peace Lutheran Church, Edmond What are unifying qualities of global religions? The reality of a strength, force, power … something outside of us and beyond us. Most religions also have a tendency to want individuals to improve in some way. How, why and what that improvement looks like is where they begin to differ. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? It does not mean that everyone will agree on all things at all times. However, it does mean that people would seek first to serve one another rather than their own interests and always strive to think and speak well of one another, even in the midst of disagreement. What do you want people to know about your religion? Christians are not good or better people than anyone else. Rather, Christians are people who trust that in Jesus Christ, the Son, God Incarnate, our sins are freely and fully forgiven. There is no wrong so heinous that God cannot forgive and no person so perfect that they do not need a savior.

“The word Islam means ‘peace.’ It encompasses inner peace, peace with others and peace in the hereafter.” – Imad Enchassi, Islamic Society of Greater OKC

Senior imam, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City What are unifying qualities of global religions? The manifestation of rituals into meaningful actions toward the service of fellow human beings. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? It starts with peace within us. It’s the feeling of contentment of a balanced society based upon justice for all of God’s creations. What do you want people to know about your religion? The word Islam means “peace.” It encompasses inner peace, peace with others and peace (salvation) in the hereafter.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

Imad Enchassi, Ph.D.

Michael Weinstein

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Senior rabbi, Temple Israel, Tulsa What are unifying qualities of global religions? Most religions carry a common set of ethical beliefs – a moral code, a spiritual guide to righteous living. While many religions have a doctrine through which a moral code is prescribed, our sages taught one universal concept foundational to righteous living: That which is hateful to you, do not do to another … all the rest is interpretation. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? Peace is an incredibly strong value within Jewish life. One such interpretation of an evening prayer from a modern prayer book reads as follows: “Let there be love and understanding among us/Let peace and friendship be our shelter from life’s storms/God, help us to walk with good companions/To live with hope in our hearts and eternity in our thoughts/That we may lie down in peace and rise up waiting to do your will.” What do you want people to know about your religion? Judaism is a religion of hope, valuing family, truth and the promise of a better world for the generations to come. In partnership with God, our theology teaches that each day is a new opportunity to make this world a little better for everyone. Judaism is a religion whose focus is on righteous acts of giving through that daily renewal of creation. The obligation is incumbent upon each and every one of us to repair the world, through act and deed, for our children’s children.

Tom Gray

President of the Oklahoma City stake, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints What are some unifying qualities of all global religions? Religion encourages members to search for their better selves. This unifying element can knit our hearts and actions together as we strive to develop God-like qualities, such as giving aid to the needy and lifting the downtrodden. As we show empathy, compassion and charity to our fellow human beings, we are serving God and are given the courage to stand against evil. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? Peace is often thought to be simply the absence of conflict, yet the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) is an inner calm and comfort God gives to those who follow Him. God’s promise is to provide solace in the midst of trials and to heal our hearts through the atonement of Jesus Christ. What do you want people to know about your religion? As God’s eternal spirit children, we believe that families can be together forever and not simply “until death do us part.” We are disciples of Jesus Christ and seek to follow His invitation to “Come follow Me.” This means that we strive to become more like Him every day, more compassionate, more loving and more able to forgive. DECEMBER 2018| WWW.OKMAG.COM

Anthony Scott

Senior pastor, First Baptist Church North Tulsa What are unifying qualities of global religions? The acknowledgment of someone greater than ourselves, along with the universal idea that we are all tied together and equal as human beings. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? It equates to a harmonious friendship with God, demonstrated by a natural love for all God’s people. What do you want people to know about your religion? I would say the unique element of Christianity I would most want to express is love for God, neighbor, self and even those who mistreat us.

“[Peace] is a harmonious friendship with God, demonstrated by a natural love for all God’s people.” PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

– Anthony Scott, First Baptist Church of North Tulsa

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

Rob Blakely

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Associate deacon, Saint Eugene Catholic Church, OKC What are unifying qualities of global religions? Because God gives to all people life and breath and all things, and as savior wills that all men be saved, He is never far from those that seek Him. Because of this truth, and because of God’s guiding hand, we all seek to bring an end to injustice, to bring peace and to bring people to a relationship with their creator that will give true meaning to their lives. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? When people finally see the face of God in each other and treat each other accordingly. There can be no “peace on Earth” without loving one another the way that God loves us. What do you want people to know about your religion? The Catholic Church is truly universal. Because we are a worldwide church, all cultures are represented. Each parish has its own culture, derived from the many varied cultures of its members, and everyone can find a home where they are comfortable and welcome within God’s family.

Amy Venable

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Minister of pastoral care, hospital visitation, homebound and care ministries, Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, Tulsa What are unifying qualities of global religions? I think of my friend John Wooley, who quoted his friend Barry Friedman as saying that even though he’s not a religious person, the idea of people styling their agendas for an hour a week to think about the greater good is really inspiring. All religions share in the emphasis on looking outside oneself for direction, caring for one’s fellow person and living life with humility. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? To wish that peace would be upon the Earth would be the wish for all war to cease. We dream of a world where people can move about their days feeling safe, and people would not be tempted to kill or to steal because everyone would have enough. In other words, everyone would have “shalom.” What do you want people to know about your religion? I tire of the preconception that religious people are sticks-in-the-mud who don’t enjoy life. I wish people would know that Christianity is not supposed to be a religion of judgment and condemnation of others, but rather a religion where we celebrate Christ’s presence in our lives and Christ’s love for us and desire that we live life abundantly.

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Sandhya Reddy

Chair, Hindu Temple of Greater Tulsa What are unifying qualities of global religions? All religions have the same core message: Be a decent human being and know there is a greater force than we can possibly imagine that guides us in our lives. Educate yourselves in different faiths and be willing to accept that the basic principles that guide us are the same – different languages of the same message. What does “peace on Earth” mean to you? “Peace within me, around me and in all beings.” This is possible when we all are grateful for all we are blessed with and accept people for their differences and know that the only constant in life is change. Knowing we are all created in the image of a supreme spirit teaches us to accept all. What do you want people to know about your religion? Hinduism, the oldest known religion, is democratic and accepting of all faiths. We aim to live life righteously, not to be judgmental and to know that all faiths are the same; no religion is superior to the others. The law of karma (consequences to one’s actions) applies to all; we are solely responsible for our actions ... hence the consequences. Living life on the path of dharma (righteousness) ends the cycle of life and death (reincarnation) to attain moksha [the state attained as a result of being released from the cycle of rebirth]. DECEMBER 2018| WWW.OKMAG.COM

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Unique

Vintage Developer John Snyder’s affinity for historic buildings and motorcycles results in a new museum in Tulsa’s East Village. By Kimberly Burk • Photos by Josh New

John Snyder racing motorcycles again means Tulsa will get a new tourist attraction. The Mayo Motocross Museum is set to open in mid-2019 at the former campus of NORDAM Aerospace Manufacturing in the East Village near downtown. The industrious Tulsa developer and his family bought the site in 2016. Snyder, 61, started collecting vintage motorcycles about a decade ago, and that was enjoyable enough. However, more than 40 years after going oﬀ to Texas A&M University and leaving his childhood hobby behind, Snyder took up vintage motocross racing. And now he’s really having a good time. About once a month, he attends a meet sponsored by the American Historic Motorcycle Racing Association. He’s usually on his 1972 Czech cycle or a German model long out of production because at those Saturday races everybody rides a motorcycle built before 1974. DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

“On Sundays, they race post-vintage, up to 1987,” says Snyder, adding that many of the men and women at the meets “are retired and have a bit of disposable income and have really nice historic motorcycles. It’s kind of like a big, fancy NASCAR event.” Male racers compete by age group, usually starting in their 40s, Snyder says, and there’s also a women’s event. At a race in Jefferson, Texas, Snyder marveled at a 90-year-old rider. Races are held on dirt one-mile ovals, on trails winding through trees and around rocks, cross country or on an open road. “They are really loud when they run,” Snyder says. “Just the sights and the sounds and the camaraderie of all these older people is something to be seen, no matter how old you are.” To Snyder, competition has a different meaning these days. He has not suffered any injuries and does not expect to. “I’m OK with getting second and third,” he says. “I don’t need to ride over my ability and get hurt. In these races, nobody needs to be a hero, and nobody needs to ride aggressively. It’s just a bunch of men and women out having a good time.” Snyder owns about 200 vintage bikes, and he began sharing them with a pop-up museum in the parking garage and the lobby of the Mayo Hotel, which his family bought and restored in 2001. He took 20 motorcycles to exhibit during the T and S National on Sept. 30 in Henryetta, a race produced by friends Trampas and Sherri Parker of Okmulgee. Trampas Parker, the first American to win two world motocross championships, was inducted into the American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame in 2007. Parker says he will place some of his cycles in Snyder’s museum, including the 1991 Honda 250cc off-road bike on which he won one of his world titles. Parker will also share with enthusiasts his first-ever motorcycle, a 1978 Honda MR50 that’s been restored. Parker started racing when he was 7 and was 10 when he won his first big trophy. His career took him to Italy for 20 years, but now he’s back in the United States and participates in events reflective of his Texas upbringing, such as riding a bull for his 51st birthday. “I stayed on for 7 seconds,” he says. In 2012, Parker entered a vintage race. “I went out and did it and had a blast and have been doing it ever since,” he says. In addition to what Parker will offer, Snyder says he has talked with “a few collectors of really nice and rare vintage motorcycles.” He wants to open the museum

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

with about 350 bikes. The museum, with free admission, and the 10.2-acre property will have a gift shop and a restaurant, Snyder says. “It will all be enclosed,” he says. “People can stop and park inside a gated area and have a meal or beer and look at the motorcycle museum. We will also have loft apartments and retail spaces. All of it will be themed around motorcycles.” The Snyder family has become known for projects with such vision. His youngest daughter, Shelby Hendrick, is president of Brickhugger, the family’s company, which converts historic buildings into residential, retail and hotel spaces.

“The Mayo Hotel was the first really big Brickhugger development,” Hendrick says. “We bought it in 2001 and started renovating in 2007. We purchase historic buildings, so all are historic tax-credit projects.” Hendrick was in college when the family started working on the Mayo Hotel, built in the 1920s. After the $44 million renovation, she says her sister Macy Amatucci started handling special events at the Mayo, which has 72 hotel rooms and 76 apartments, and manages the family’s three hotel properties. Snyder says his daughter Kellner Siegfried is raising her four children and not running any of the properties. “We purchased the Mayo just to keep it from being torn down,” Hendrick says. “People thought we were crazy, but with historic renovation you have to have a vision.” Snyder says he spent 30 years with Manhattan Construction – half of that as Oklahoma division president. About seven years ago, he started his own construction company and expanded the family’s development interests. His wife, Tori, is an attorney working for the business. “My dad does the construction and my mom is the business-management brains,” says Hendrick, adding that they came up with the Brickhugger name while

sitting around the dinner table. “We decided we were the kind of business that wants to save old businesses. We decided we were kind of like tree huggers for buildings.” The Mayo Hotel was “the place to stay” during the oil boom years, Hendrick says, and “J. Paul Getty lived there for some time. They did extended stays then.” The family resurrected that residential heritage. “We are the only hotel in Oklahoma that has residential apartments built in the hotel, which allows us to oﬀer the same amenities to residents that hotel guests could have,” Hendrick says. In August, the family opened the former Triangle Building in downtown Pawhuska as the 20-room Frontier Hotel. Hendrick says Brickhugger bought it about the same time as the Mayo Hotel purchase. The timing was perfect because Pawhuska has become a mecca for fans of Ree Drummond, star of the Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman. Hendrick says her family went to work on the building after noticing that people were staying at Tulsa hotels and traveling to Pawhuska to visit Drummond’s Pioneer Woman Mercantile. Other historic conversion projects by Brickhugger include the McFarlin Building, the Detroit Lofts, the Vandever Lofts and the Y Lofts Downtown, the last being an old YMCA converted into 79 residential units. “That property is really cool because we were able to fully utilize the original features in the building,” Hendrick says. Repurposing historic buildings, she says, “is a no-brainer. If you didn’t have these old buildings, you would have no history in your city. Tulsa is so important to our family.” Brickhugger has also expanded to Lubbock, Texas, where 25 lofts recently opened in the old federal courthouse. As for the conversion of the NORDAM site into the museum, Snyder says people traveling Route 66, many of whom are on motorcycles, caught wind of his collection and have stopped at the hotel to see some of the bikes. “I’m having a lot of fun, almost too much fun,” Snyder says. “If I had it my way, I’d be practicing on the motocross bike every day.” But first he has a museum to build, and he wants to semi-retire at 65 and spend more time with his grandchildren. That tally is six and growing ... because Macy is expecting twins. “This is my last big thing,” he says of the museum. “I’ve done enough. I’m good.”

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Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Those with mountains of wealth – connoisseurs deluxe – engage in pricey hobbies and collect aircraft, cars, watches, clothes … you name it. Then, when the time’s right, they jet to exotic locations. For those with millions of dollars to spend on hobbies, vacations and frivolities, even the sky’s not the limit. We look at some luxury lifestyles around the globe.

By Tracy LeGrand and Mary Willa Allen

Aston Martin DB5 Citation Hemisphere – Textron Aviation

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

PHOTO COURTESY SPACEX

PHOTO COURTESY TEXRON AVIATION

Space X

Bombardier

PHOTO COURTESY BOMBARDIER

Another avenue for off-Earth journeys is Eric Anderson’s Space Adventures (spaceadventures.com), which bills itself as “the company that organized the flights for the world’s first private space explorers.” Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic (virgingalactic. com) aims to begin civilian space travel by the end of 2019. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos plans to sell tickets for his Blue Origin flights next year, too. As interest is keen and money itself not enough to get a ticket off the planet, those interested should continue to research the possibilities because technology reveals opportunities almost daily.

Car and Aircraft Collection

High-Priced Hobbies

Racehorses, James Bond cars and space travel are extracurriculars that cost a pretty penny.

PHOTO BY DEAN SMITH COURTESY ASTON MARTIN

Aston Martin DB5

There are luxury cars ... and then there is the multimillion-dollar, limited-edition, British-manufactured Aston Martin DB5, made famous in the James Bond spy movies. High interest is shown by the $4.6 million auction price of the actual DB5 driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger. And in association with 007-film producers Eon Productions, an exclusive Aston Martin Goldfinger DB5 Silver Burch reproduction debuts in 2020. Those with a cool $3.5 million to spend on one of 25 reproductions can enjoy a straight-six-cylinder, 3,995cc engine with 282 horsepower, a top speed of 148 mph and the capacity to go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. Whether you’re a secret agent for Her Majesty or simply someone with megabucks to spend, the sporty Silver Burch comes with a rotating license plate and other Q-worthy spy gadgets.

Space Tourism

Bucket-list vacation spots include rocketing into the vast reaches of space … at least for those who can buy a ticket past the stratosphere for prices ranging from $250,000 to $200 million. Billionaire entrepreneurs have devoted vast resources for technology to coordinate with NASA and Soyuz programs as a means to get into the Earth’s orbit, fly around the moon or even go beyond. For space cowboy wannabes, there is Elon Musk’s SpaceX, a planet-orbiting ride-share dependent upon the continuing development of reusable rockets, according to spacex.com, where you can sign up for notifications as opportunities develop.

Like children collecting toy cars and assembling model airplanes, some adults with significant financial means make their transportation fantasies come true with collections of full-size versions of their dream machines. For these folks, it’s not about recognizable names like Mercedes-Benz or Jaguar. Connoisseurs’ passions extend to exclusivity, where transportation becomes art and moves collectors to add to their fleets of aircraft and other vehicles. In Oklahoma, an automotive aficionado can choose from among the latest top-of-the-line Audis, says John Hill, general manager at Audi Tulsa. The convertible, sporty R8 Spyder runs in the mid$200,000 range while the top-of-the-line Q8 High Performance sport-utility vehicle, depending on options, is in the low $100,000 range. Custom interior and exterior colors, specialized stitching and highly specific materials like wood grains can double and triple those prices in Audi’s exclusive program, which results in “a unique, custom-tailored model,” Hill says. “There are many oﬀ-palette choices to make it a truly individualized vehicle. The process takes four to five months as the custom cars are delivered from Europe.” Hill says the future of transportation is in electric vehicles, and this spring brings the debut of Audi’s first in that line: an SUV called e-Tron. “We are all on the cusp of an automotive paradigm shift similar to when aviation moved from propellers to jet,” he says. “The electric car – smooth, quiet and fast – is a leap in technology that will be unique to everyone, as we’ve all been driving internal combustion cars. For Audi, the 2019 debut will be the first of many electric models over the next several years.” Vehicle collectors come at all levels, and connoisseurs like to gather and show oﬀ their beauties at a variety of Oklahoma car clubs, including one of the largest in membership, the Route 66 Cruisers. Details are at route66cruisersok.org/oklahomacarclubs.htm. For aircraft lovers, simply owning a private plane is trumped by exclusive names of the most highpriced, high-class jets, such as the Cessna Citation Hemisphere with a 4,500-nautical-mile range or the Bombardier Global 7500, another ultra-long-range business craft, which costs $60.5 million new or between $52 million and $56 million used. Fractional DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

ownership makes sense for those who don’t want to commit to full ownership and the $8,600 per hour operating costs. Passengers fly up to 12 hours nonstop at a typical cruising speed of 564 mph, according to corporatejetinvestor.com.

Remington Park

From simply owning equines for pleasure riding or ranching to the intricacies of racing and owning Thoroughbreds and Arabians, horses are big business in Oklahoma. “There have been a few studies done recently that say more than 50,000 Oklahomans derive some, if not all, of their yearly income from horse racing,” says Dale Day, communications manager and announcer at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Other spots for watching live races and placing bets are Will Rogers Downs in Claremore and Fair Meadows in Tulsa. Remington Park also operates an oﬀ-track location in Oklahoma City at Thunder Roadhouse. Matt Vance, Remington Park’s vice president of operations, says racehorses can vary widely in price. “I would probably categorize the racehorse market similar to the car market,” he says. “You can basically find a horse or car cheap in the $1,000-$2,000 range,

PHOTO BY DUSTIN ORONA PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY REMINGTON PARK

Racehorses

and most of the time you’re getting what you paid for. But there are some famous Cinderella stories with racehorses in this category. The great John Henry was a $1,500 purchase and earned more than $7 million. “Then there are also multimillion-dollar stories, such as a horse named The Green Monkey. He was sold at auction for $16 million and couldn’t win one

race. He was royally bred and was an outstandinglooking individual … and was very fast in his early training days, but once he got on the track and had to look another horse in the eye, he became ‘pea hearted,’ as his trainer said.” Extreme cases aside, the average racing horse in Oklahoma costs from $5,000 to $75,000.

Deluxe Destinations

If you can drop some serious coin for a hotel room, try one of these ritzy destinations.

As a master on the slopes or a fan of frosty festivities, you can find what you’re looking for at this resort in the commune of Courchevel. Outdoor activities are seemingly endless. Apart from the world-class ski slopes (with deals on daily passes), visitors can enjoy snow rafting, snowmobiling, dog sledding, hang-gliding, helicopter rides, hiking, snowshoeing, skydiving and ice climbing. For those looking for a respite from the chill, Courchevel offers the largest Courchevel Ski Resort mountain “aquafun” center in Europe. The 82-foot heated pool boasts laand the Beckham family. goons, water slides, saunas and hydro-baths. Other For information, visit courchevel.com. indoor activities including bowling, rock climbing, a spa and a movie theater. Trisara – Phuket Courchevel is a group of villages rather than one Province, Thailand brick-and-mortar location. Accommodations can If you’re the sun-and-sand type, Trisara is right be found at a number of locations in the commune, up your alley. The resort, in a secluded cove in northincluding Courchevel 1850 (the most exclusive in the west Thailand, offers privacy and heavenly views on consortium), Le Praz, Village and Saint-Bon. Rooms the shores of the effervescent Andaman Sea. range from single beds (about $800) to chalets Self-described as “a garden in the third heaven,” sleeping 10 or more (several thousand dollars). this slice of nirvana has private pool villages and Courchevel 1850 has welcomed celebrities such as suites, pool residences and a state-of-the-art spa. Prince William and Kate Middleton, George Clooney,

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

PHOTO BY ALEXIS CORNU COURTESY COURCHEVEL TOURISM

Courchevel Ski Resort – Courchevel, France

Activities include private cruises, private cooking classes, an ultramodern gym and complimentary water sports, such as snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing and paddle-boarding. The beach is steps away for those looking to lounge. Food is no afterthought. Trisara chefs work with local farmers to create dishes with plenty of seafood options. They oﬀer Sunday brunch, private dining experiences and a stunning outdoor patio. Prices depend on the size of your party, room and dates of stay. The Ocean View Pool Junior Suite, with one double bed, is $2,020 a night. The sevenbedroom villa on a private headland is more than $12,000 a night. Visit trisara.com to book … or just look.

Taleon Imperial Hotel

PHOTO COURTESY SHARQ VILLAGE AND SPA

Sharq Village and Spa

PHOTO COURTESY THE TALEON IMPERIAL HOTEL

Trisara

PHOTO COURTESY TRISARA

Sharq Village and Spa – Doha, Qatar

Perhaps the best word to describe Sharq Village and Spa is lush. The hotel, in the country’s capital city, sits directly on Doha Bay, part of the Persian Gulf. Unlike most Western hotel concepts, Sharq resembles a village, with abundant greenery, fountains, pools and courtyards “reminiscent of a sheik’s palace,” according to the resort’s website. Visitors can choose between rooms that sleep two, suites for up to five and luxury villas sleeping 10. Accommodations showcase Arabic decor with stunning sea, pool and garden views, ample space and enviable bedding and bathroom amenities. Rates begin at about $235 but can go up to $6,800. The cuisine highlights Qatari, Lebanese, Persian and Asian delicacies. There are three restaurants, a poolside snack bar and an indoor lounge with desserts, teas and coﬀees. Spa treatments use a holistic approach inspired by Asian and Arabic traditions. To learn more, visit ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/ qatar/sharq-village.

Taleon Imperial Hotel – St. Petersburg, Russia

Ornate. Decadent. Opulent. Stepping inside the Taleon Imperial Hotel is like stepping back in time. This palace-like structure in Russia’s second city makes you feel like nobility. The hotel, with 89 rooms and four premium suites, evokes 18th-century aesthetics and boasts a personal butler, free high-speed WiFi, antique furnishings and a luxurious penthouse dubbed the Taleon Spa, where you can enjoy a salt room, a 72foot pool, massage and steam rooms, and a sauna. The Taleon Restaurant features authentic Russian cuisine and an extensive wine list, and the Victoria Restaurant offers beautiful views of the city. There are also an ostentatious lobby bar and a cozy coffee and pastry cafe. Every room in the hotel offers a unique design. “Superior Rooms” are 377-485 square feet and start at $187. The “Emperor Suite” is 2,500 square feet and runs about $3,850. Or you can try something in the middle, like the 485-square-foot “Superior Suite” for about $225 or the 1,200-square-foot “Eliseev Suite” at $936. To book, visit taleonimperialhotel.com. DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

People with

Style Want to nominate someone for inclusion in next year’s feature? Send your information to events@okmag.com.

See more outfits online at okmag.com/people-with-style-2018/.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Branjae

Entertainer, musical creator, artist Tulsa

How/when did you get interested in fashion? Since I was

old enough to dress my Barbies and baby dolls – around 4 years old. How would you describe your style? Expressive, creative, thrifty. How does your style reflect your personality? My style mimics my personality. I dress up my body according to how I feel day to day. How does fashion affect your day-to-day life? It makes me project outward what I’m feeling inside. It can also change my mood. What items in your closet can you not live without? Black combat boots – the dancing kind. Whose closet would you love to raid? Janelle Monae. A trend you hate right now is … I saw a woman wearing a scrunchie as a fashion statement. If you could live in a different fashion era, it would be … the 1950s. You own too many … satin and silk button-up women’s blouses. Many prints, many colors. Too many ... but I just can’t seem to let them go. On the weekends, you are wearing … mixed patterns, an “after 5” vintage dress with black boots. Anything that ﬂows – material, material and more material!

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

The clothes you choose to wear every day are what people first notice when you walk into a room. Whether you’re a fan of high-end, luxury labels, vintage frocks or flea market finds, whether you prefer to keep your color palette muted or as loud as can be, your sense of fashion defines your image. We caught up with some of Oklahoma’s most fashionable folks – entertainers, designers, restaurant owners – to pick their brains on how their fashion choices affect their day-to-day lives.

DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Philip Green Sales executive OKC

How/when did you get interested in fashion? I grew up showing

Morgan horses, and we wore long, flowing coats and tailored pants. When I was 11, I had a borrowed suit; it was actually a girl’s suit, so the fit on an 11-yearold boy wasn’t that great. But I remember when I got my first suit specifically tailored to me ... how well it fit, and how wonderful the fabric looked when I was on my horse. I think I really began to get interested in style, cut and fashion from that point forward.

mistake? Going to clubs when I

was younger, I bought a secondhand, white silk jacket. I made a necklace out of a gold medusa belt buckle, and I didn’t wear a shirt underneath it, wearing dark black sunglasses … in a club. It was pretty bad.

What is your biggest fashion “moment”? I tried modeling when I

was younger but panicked on the turns. I couldn’t walk conﬁdently ... I was awkward.

A trend you love right now is …

How does your style reflect your personality? It reﬂects what I

how casual business has become. Yes, I know there can be “too” casual, but it’s so nice to see everyone’s personal style versus seeing everyone in a suit and tie.

What is your biggest fashion

I’m seeing a lot of men’s pants tailored above the ankle. We all like a really cool sock, but let’s not take our pants in the style of capri pants again. That coupled with wide-brimmed hats ... just not for me.

desire, or work toward, rather than my personality. Fashion is easy to change – we have to work on ourselves over long periods of time. So I think it’s more of a representation of where I want to go with my personality and my life.

A trend you hate right now is …

Restaurant owner, marketing/social media specialist, artist OKC How does your style reflect your personality? I’m a pretty laid-back person. I have a 2-year-old, so I wear things that are easy and comfortable on a daily basis. I find pieces that fit my body correctly and get multiples in different patterns. I’m a creative person, so I’m not afraid to go outside the box or be unique. When traveling, I try to shop at stores we don’t have in Oklahoma and bring pieces home. What items in your closet can you not live without? My husband gave me a gold ID necklace with the letters of my son’s name, Scout. The other is a chain bracelet with an arrow that I bought for myself at Tiffany’s the first time I visited New York City. I’m not crazy into accessories, but both are dainty, elegant and meaningful to me. What is your biggest fashion mistake? I had been working on a big project that involved a lot of late nights. One morning, I looked down and I had on two completely different heels. I didn’t have time to run home to change, so I had to roll with it on a day full of meetings. Whose closet would you love to raid? Jackie O! A trend you love right now is … athleisurewear, ha! All moms out there know what I’m talking about. People don’t know if you did or didn’t work out that day. If you could live in a different fashion era, it would be … the ’60s. I love bob haircuts, mod dresses, high-neck shirts and tall boots. On the weekends, you are wearing … yoga pants and Birkenstocks. Hey, I’m being honest.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS

Emily Fiaccone

Timothy Wallace Custom pool designer Tulsa

How would you describe your style? My attorney usually says I look like I’ve just gotten off a boat – classy and relaxed. How does fashion affect your day-to-day life? I think it elevates my outlook on the day. What items in your closet can you not live without? My Swims shoes, jeans and bow ties. What is your biggest fashion mistake? Abercrombie and Fitch! A trend you love right now is … arm jewelry. A trend you hate right now is … space age pants. If you could live in a different fashion era, it would be … the 1700s – I love the pocket watch. You own too many … pairs of Swims shoes. On the weekends, you are wearing … whatever the occasion requires – plus a little twist.

Jessica Walker Horticulture ventilation sales Tulsa

How/when did you get interested in fashion? When I was 5 years

old, sitting in our home in Muskogee, staring at my mother’s Vogue magazine. I saw a Christian Dior spread with a beautiful model in the most perfect white knit sweater ... I was smitten. I had an opportunity in high school to work at Utopia Boutique, selling artistic and unique fashions. I learned so much about style and how to dress to express myself.

PHOTOS BY JOSH NEW

How would you describe your style?

Unpredictable, like my mood. At times, I like avant-garde and fashion-forward, but some days I may go for something trendy or even classic-conservative. It just depends on what strikes me in that moment.

What items in your closet can you not live without? My ﬂoral Vans and

my purple Christian Louboutins.

What is your biggest fashion mistake? Black hair. I was going

for dramatic, but it was mistaken for goth. I eventually gave in to my inner and outer blonde.

Whose closet would you love to raid? Dame Anna Wintour. Come

on, she has unlimited access to all things fashion. And my mother’s shoes ... if only I could bind my feet to ﬁt into her tiny size 7s.

If you could live in a different fashion era, it would be … the

Roaring ’20s. There was a transition of functionality into fashion – gorgeous clothes that offered movement to those that adorned them. The period represents a huge shift from the previous era’s fashion, but also a shift in a woman’s place in the world.

On the weekends, you are wearing … skinny jeans and currently a

loose top to accommodate my growing tummy. We’re pregnant!

DECEMBER 2018| WWW.OKMAG.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE PROFESSIONALS HOSPICE CARE We are spending time with my husband’s parents this holiday. His father suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and is quickly declining. I know it is taking a toll on my mother-inlaw. A friend suggested hospice. Can you explain the process? I am so sorry to hear about your father-in-law’s diagnosis. Hospice can be a great option to help him and your mother-in-law, as well as you and your husband. Hospice is a Medicare beneﬁt requiring that the patient have a life-limiting illness with a prognosis of six months or less. At Grace Hospice, we send one of our Admission Nurses to personally evaluate all patients and work with the doctor to certify the patient’s eligibility. Our Admissions Team is available 24/7 to further discuss the process and any concerns you may have. Please call us at (918) 744-7223. CAITLIN EVERSOLE

Caitlin Eversole Admissions Supervisor Grace Hospice of Oklahoma 6218 South Lewis, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.744.7223 www.gracehospice.com

INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL What should I do if I get into a car accident, at no fault of my own, and the other driver is uninsured? Uninsured motor vehicle insurance, or uninsured motorist insurance, helps pay your medical expenses, lost wages and related damages if you’re in an accident caused by a BRYAN SMITH driver who doesn’t have liability insurance. Motorists are legally required to have liability insurance in nearly every state in the U.S. – but that doesn’t stop some people from driving without it. And if you’re in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, they may not have the money to help pay your damages. If you have uninsured motorist insurance and are in an accident with a motorist who’s at fault and has no insurance, it’s your own insurance company that’ll help pay for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. If you or someone in your family is hurt in an auto accident, can you afford to pay for medical care, or be without an income during recovery? Uninsured motorist coverage may protect you from these potential hardships.

Bryan Smith State Farm 6770 South Sheridan Road, STE B, 918.481.7283 1410 East 11th Street, 918.794.0001 www.callbryansmith.com

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST My 3-year-old grandson was recently diagnosed with autism. What is the best type of therapy for him? The most effective therapy for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is ABA therapy (applied behavior analysis). Ask your pediatrician to refer your child to BRIANNA BERRY a local autism center like Soaring on M. ED, BCBA Hope that offers this therapy, which applies our understanding of how behavior works to real-life situations. The goal is to work with your child to increase positive behaviors like communication, peer play and social skills, and to decrease negative or unsafe behaviors like eloping, self-harm and explosive outbursts. With intensive therapy, our goal is long-term positive behavior change. As a Board Certiﬁed Behavior Analyst, I will ﬁrst complete a comprehensive assessment to determine the needs of your grandson and the family. Customized programs are then created and implemented with his autism care team and the family. In our programs, every child gets one-on-one therapy. We also offer many opportunities for building social skills and integrate art, exercise and music therapy to help him be happy, healthy and prepared to learn in school.

Brianna Berry, M. Ed, BCBA Soaring on Hope Pediatric Therapy and Autism Center 4908 S. Sheridan Rd. Tulsa, OK 74145 918.984.9153 www.sohkids.com

FINANCIAL ADVISOR Can the markets and economy maintain momentum? The primary fundamental factors that drive the stock market look favorable. The economy continues on a positive growth track, inflation levels remain modest and corporate profits continue to grow. But, the reality is that it is very difficult to know in advance when a DAVID KARIMIAN CFP®, CRPC® market drop will occur. Amid this economic backdrop, should you make changes to your portfolio? There is no set answer that applies to every investor. However, now is a good time to review your portfolio. Is it properly diversified to reflect the risk level you’re willing to accept? Is your investment mix appropriate, given the time you have to achieve your financial goals? Remember not to be overly influenced by headlines or daily market changes. If you want help crafting a financial plan, consider consulting a financial advisor.

David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC® Prime Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise 7712 S. Yale Ave. Suite 240 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2009 • David.x.Karimian@ampf.com www.primewealthmgmt.com

LEGAL SERVICES

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST This time of year, I want to look my best for the holidays, but between errands, shopping, relatives visiting and the kids out of school, I’m having a hard time justifying doing anything for myself.

What is a Notary Public and how do you become one? A Notary Public is an official witness to the identity of a person, whose function is to administer oaths, to serve as an impartial witness to the signing of documents, and to attest and certify by hand and official seal such documents. To be eligible to BRAD BEASLEY become a Notary Public, you must be 18 or older, a legal resident of the state of Oklahoma or a non-resident employed in Oklahoma, able to read and write English, and have no felony convictions. An application must be submitted to the Oklahoma Secretary of State. Upon acceptance, the Secretary of State will provide you with a notary commission certificate. You are required to purchase a four year, $1,000 notary bond, obtain a notary stamp and execute the Oath of Office and Loyalty Oath.

Bradley K. Beasley Boesche McDermott LLP 110 W. 7th St., Suite 900 Tulsa, OK 74119 918.858.1735 (Direct Dial) 918.583.1777 telephone 918.592.5809 facsimile

The holidays are a hectic time for all of us. At BA Med Spa, we understand busy schedules, and that’s why we created our 12 Days of Christmas. This gives our patients the opportunity to purchase services and products at heavily reduced prices to use now, or after the ﬁrst of the year when time is more readily available. If you can’t carve out time this season, reward yourself in the New Year! Some of this year’s features will include Botox, dermal ﬁllers, NovaThreads, Coolsculpting, permanent makeup, hormone therapy, laser services and more of your favorites! We have our best pricing of the year, just in time to face the holidays and ring in the New Year looking your best. Call us to learn more about our fantastic holiday offers. MALISSA SPACEK

Dr. James R. Campbell D.O. and Malissa Spacek, Founder BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center 510 N. Elm Place Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 918.872.9999 www.baweightspa.com Views expressed in the Professionals do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Co. or its affiliates.

Taste

F O O D, D R I N K A N D O T H E R P L E A S U R E S

Embrace the Bear Oso on Paseo, Humankind Hospitality’s newest adventure in OKC, specializes in Mexican dishes and drinks.

THE MONTEZUMA CONTAINS ORANGE JUICE, LEMON JUICE, DARK RUM, WHITE TEQUILA, SIMPLE SYRUP AND GRENADINE. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

here’s a big blue bear now standing on the namesake street of a trendy arts district in Oklahoma City. His name? Oso Paseo. Bolted to the pavement, this oso (Spanish for bear) is a geometric

sculpture staring into the front windows of the latest and greatest restaurant from Shaun Fiaccone of Humankind Hospitality Services. Oso on Paseo, which opened in late October, joins other popular restaurants and watering holes in the Paseo Arts District, like Picasso’s

and The Other Room. With Oso, Humankind has birthed the ﬁrst of fraternal twins; Frida’s, the next child, should arrive in the spring. The once bare corner on a tiny hill has been beautifully transformed by Jeremy Foraker’s Pueblo at Paseo project, and Oso is the anchor for this sun-bleached, white, multilevel space. Kindt Steven Myers, hospitality DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

LO C A L F L AV O R

ARDUINI’S – COOKING THE SICILIAN WAY “Duros will be handed out to everyone, much like chips and salsa in other places,” Parrot says. Notable among the street-style tacos are those filled with burnt ends of Kansas City brisket, pork belly, al pastor or deliciously marinated chicken. Vegans are not an afterthought; they’re actually a priority considering who frequents the arts district and the popularity of plantbased dining. Two standouts poke the bear: a taco featuring cauliflower, green olives and golden raisins, and another with grilled sweet potato, crispy kale and black beans. Both are magical and tie in perfectly with Oso’s salsas and toppings. In the bar, Jeffrey Alan Cole, the wine and spirits consultant, is excited about OSO being “as far as I know the only Mexicaninspired tiki cocktail program in the world.” Cole offers classic blends served in commissioned, handmade tiki cups. House specialties, also crafted by Cole for Oso, include the vallarta colada (a play on pina colada), served in a hollowed-out coconut, and the flavorful Oaxaca banana daiquiri with Paranubes rum. If you want a delicious and memorable time in OKC, consider the Paseo Arts District. Then look for the bear – Oso is guaranteed to deliver with a roar. SCOTTY IRANI

ABOVE: TACO OPTIONS AT OSO ARE ABUNDANT, INCLUDING SWEET POTATO, CHICKEN AND CAULIFLOWER PICADILLO. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS LEFT: OSO, SPANISH FOR BEAR, BOASTS ITS OWN BEAR MASCOT PEEKING IN THE WINDOW. PHOTO COURTESY OSO ON PASEO

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Order spaghetti at Arduini’s in south Tulsa and the owner, Judy Trout – nee Arduini – rolls a big ball of dough, carefully pounds it long and flat and slices it into thin strips with a mandoline. Then it goes in the pot. As for the sauce... “I’ve been making that since 8 a.m.,” she says. “I learned by watching my Sicilian grandma and great-grandma cook when I was a kid. I copied what they did … and if I did it wrong they’d yell at me. I never wrote the recipe down; I kept it in my head.” You can get lasagna, full of rich, cheesy flavor – that’s also from her grandmother. So is the chicken parmigiana, “except she made it with veal, and no one in the world could ever make it as good as hers, so I use chicken.” She grew up in upstate New York and came to Tulsa 25 years ago, around the time she met Dane Trout, now her husband. He plays guitar, and once a month he brings his band to play at the restaurant. The place is packed and sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll see his wife get on stage and sing. 5321 S. Sheridan Road; 918-271-5044; facebook.com/arduinis. BRIAN SCHWARTZ

PHOTOS COURTESY ARDUINI’S ITALIAN MARKET

Taste

director for Humankind, explains why this bear is perfect for Paseo. “Our partners have conceptualized this menu and restaurant as longtime patrons and stakeholders in this historic arts district,” he says. “We hold the highest esteem for our neighborhood and its nostalgia.” Oso is well-suited for Paseo, whose economic success parallels its resurgence as a walkable area boasting retail and art galleries. Chef Ryan Parrot, partner in Oso and culinary director for Humankind, and chef de cuisine Chris McKenna, the bear of a man wearing the golden toque in Oso’s kitchen, put their heads together and came up with dishes that any Mexican food lover would enjoy. “Chris and I started playing around with ideas,” Parrot says. “We were originally thinking tacos and some appetizers, but then ﬂavors started to develop so we thought, ‘Oh, vegan enchiladas. And we need to do nachos!’” Along with quesadillas, carne asada platters and a kids menu, there are also duros de harina, the wagon-wheel pasta street food. These fried, puffy balls of goodness are seasoned with Tajin.

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Taste

C H E F C H AT

Pu ing It All into the Bin

Raqaun Bennett mixes Caribbean, French and other cultural influences at a Brookside bistro.

hen you’re far from home, tiny memories become precious. “My whole house looks like a jungle,” says Raqaun Bennett, executive chef at Bin 35 in Tulsa’s Brookside. “There’s a lemon tree in the living room, elephant ears, anything that reminds me of the tropics.” Bennett grew up in Kingshill, a rural neighborhood in St. Croix, not far from the University of the Virgin Islands. “My mom’s my inspiration, and she’s a brilliant home cook,” Bennett says. “Our neighbors were like family, and we’d all gather for dinner in someone’s house. One was from Antigua, another from Puerto Rico. We’d swap recipes and learn each other’s food traditions. Every big event in Kingshill revolves around food.” At Bin 35, he re-creates his childhood food experiences. However, that doesn’t mean he cooks strictly Caribbean dishes. “What does ‘Caribbean dishes’ mean anyway?” he says. “We use the same techniques as any cook. We use mother sauces and mirepoix. We just use different ingredients because we use what is local.” Bennett is big on French cuisine. He uses classic sauces. A ﬁlet comes with espagnole sauce. Sometimes, it seems, he thinks in French. He uses the old French “brigade system” terms to refer to his co-workers: sous-chef … chef de partie. This may prompt you to think that his kitchen is a place of hierarchy and command. It’s not. Bennett guides you through a door into a world of shiny, well-used steel and cramped aisles. It’s like being on a submarine. The

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

chefs are big and bearded with head scarves. They’re happy to see him. “It’s crowded, and it should be stressful cooking here,” Bennett says, “but these guys are really good at keeping their cool. Everyone has input; the dessert guy gives advice about the entrees. We pick each other’s brains. I learn a lot from them and hopefully they learn a lot from me.” Heads nod enthusiastically at that. It’s like a Kingshill neighborhood kitchen. As for the customers... “I never use that word,” says Bennett, thinking of them the same way he regards his Kingshill neighbors. “They are guests.” Although his dishes are labor-intensive and meticulously designed, they are not meant to be works of art. “You’ve heard the phrase ‘too pretty to eat,’” he says. “I don’t cook like that. When I design a new dish, I try to visualize how it will look and taste to the guest. “It’s all about relating to the guest, building bridges, having something in common. Food is the best bridge. I want my food to give comfort.” And it does. That tender chicken and mushrooms in a savory white wine pan sauce; those long-simmered short ribs, bursting with ﬂavor and served with brown butter carrots and mashed potatoes; the perfectly cooked sea bass served in a rich, complex broth that takes 12 hours to make – all of them have one element in common. Once

you taste them, you cannot stop eating. In his spare time, Bennett likes “learning new ways to cook. I dabble in all genres – pastry, bread, garde manger, charcuterie, garnishes. I still can’t make a perfect sourdough bread, though.”

RAQAUN BENNETT GREW UP IN KINGSHILL, A RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD IN ST. CROIX, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. BIN 35’S FILET MIGNON COMES WITH FINGERLING POTATOES, ASPARAGUS, BEETS, SWEET POTATOES AND ESPAGNOLE SAUCE. PHOTOS BY JOSH NEW

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

LEARN TO MAKE CHEF BENNETT’S FILET MIGNON WITH ESPANOLE SAUCE AND ROASTED VEGETABLES AT OKMAG.COM

PASEO’S ON A ROLL

If you want a romantic or cozy setting for a night out, try Paseo Grill in Oklahoma City for a dimly lit haunt featuring American cuisine with some international twists. The dinner menu is vast, with items ranging from $15 to $44. Choose something familiar, like the Southwest spinach dip with a crab option, or try hummus, fried green beans or smoked salmon. Entrees include bass, trout and salmon, plus classics like strip steak, surf and turf, chicken farfalle and duck breast. Order a specialty cocktail, such as one called As Thyme Goes By, with Grey Goose La Poire, St. Germain, lime, lemongrass-thyme simple syrup and thyme. There’s also a variety of beers and wines. Conclude with creme brulee, cheesecake or bread pudding, and you’re all set for a lovely evening. paseogrill.com; 2909 Paseo, Oklahoma City; 405-601-1079.

PHOTOS COURTESY PASEO GRILL

R A N D O M F L AV O R S

TA S T Y T I P S

THE OVEREATING TRAP

Maintaining or losing weight during all the holiday festivities is next to impossible. However, focusing on portion sizes helps you to avoid overeating and keeps you satisfied … without the guilt. One strategy is to drink a glass or two of water before your big holiday meal or have a light snack. This slows you down and keeps you from scarfing. Continue drinking water throughout the meal. If possible, start with a broth-based soup or a light salad to avoid stuffing two or three dinner rolls in your mouth before the ham is served. If you have eyes bigger than your stomach, grab a smaller plate so you can still fill it up without overindulging. As for alcohol, we won’t tell you to abstain – we aren’t monsters. Instead, step away from the sugary cocktails and try a liquor neat or mix it with something with few or zero calories (like soda water, tonic or ice). The lack of sugar also helps if you’re prone to hangovers. You’re welcome. Above all, remember that it’s a time to be thankful and relax. If you want to eat the cheesecake, eat the cheesecake.

IN SEASON

WHAT’S FRESH THIS MONTH

You might think winter means you won’t get the freshest of any fruits and vegetables, but there’s plenty of in-season produce to sample in December, including unique products you wouldn’t think to try normally. Veggies to incorporate into your culinary creations include cabbage, beets, turnips, dark leafy greens, parsnips, radicchio and sweet potatoes. For the freshest fruits, try pomegranates, cranberries, apples, clementines and persimmons. DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Where & When

G R E AT T H I N G S TO D O I N O K L A H O M A

Art Comes ‘Off the Wall’ A new sculpture exhibition at the OKC Museum of Art features the strange and abstract.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COME ON DOWN, OKLAHOMA BY LISA HOKE; PHOTO BY JOSEPH MILLS. DIVIDED HEAD BY HENRY MOORE; PHOTO BY BRYAN COOK. INXIT BY ALFONSO OSSORIO; PHOTO BY JOSEPH MILLS. TORSO BY DAVID SMITH; PHOTO BY JOSEPH MILLS. EXERPTUNIS BY MARTIN JOHNSON. UNTITLED BY LIVIO SEGUSO; PHOTO BY JIM MEEKS. THE SEA, THE SEA BY ANNE TRUITT. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OKCMOA.

alling it unconventional might be an understatement. A new exhibition at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art features extraordinary pieces usually housed in its permanent sculpture collection. These abstract, expressionist art forms leave museumgoers inspired and invigorated. Off the Wall: One Hundred Years of Sculpture showcases more than 30 sculptures from the 20th and 21st centuries. The pieces move one’s

view literally off the wall, from paintings hung in the gallery to the three-dimensional artworks. These works are ﬁguratively off the wall, too, in that they feature unconventional subjects, shapes, colors and objects. Throughout the last century, European and American art – and sculpted works in particular – challenged the status quo; innovative techniques evolved. Boundaries between painted works and sculpted, three-dimensional art blurred. Today,

artistic materials used in sculpture run the gamut and are limited only by an artist’s imagination. The exhibition includes some of the most prestigious sculptors in the museum’s repertoire. Alexander Calder, once dubbed “America’s most beloved sculptor,” used innovative, motorized mobiles in his colorful and whimsical pieces. Filipino-American Alfonso Ossorio created sculptures from objects he found, including the well-known Congregations series. David Smith and Frank Stella both worked with metal in their abstract expressionist works. Smith welded metal from scratch to form stainlesssteel pieces sought after worldwide, and Stella painted sculptures that he created from aluminum and other materials. A monumental sculpture by Stella sits outside the National Gallery of Art in Washington. All the artists in the exhibit utilized surprising, unusual media in their works, from marbles and recycled paper to bronze and bones. For the ﬁrst time, these works have been combined into one show. The exhibit runs from Dec. 22 to May 12. For more information, go to okcmoa.com. CHRISTY PHILLIPPE

DECEMBER 2018 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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ALIGHT WITH HOLIDAY CHEER As the weather turns wintry and the clock counts down toward Christmas Eve, Oklahomans have many options to get into the holiday spirit. The Rhema Christmas Lights Extravaganza dazzles its visitors again with more than 2 million lights decorating the bible college’s campus through New Year’s Day from 5:30 to 11:30 nightly. Admission is free. See rhemalights.org for information. Another cherished Tulsa holiday tradition, Festival Nights, returns to Philbrook Museum through Dec. 31 with fun for the

entire family, including train rides, a LEGO village, live music and a visit from Santa. Go to philbrook.org for information. Tulsa Botanic Garden’s Garden of Lights promises cozy times through Jan. 6. Make s’mores over ﬁre pits, listen to holiday music and take in the lights strung throughout the garden from 5 to 10 nightly. See tulsabotanic.org for more. In Oklahoma City, Downtown in December and its premier attraction, the Devon Ice Rink, return for an eighth season at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. The skating rink is open every day through Jan. 27. The gardens host the festive Illuminations: A Northern Lights Experience inside the Crystal Bridge Conservatory from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday through Jan. 2. Visit oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com for information. In Seminole, the third annual Snowman Wonderland at Magnolia Park has added displays and a free tram service this year, while Lights on the Island at Wister Lake State Park outside of Poteau features a drivethrough display. Visit seminoleoklahoma.net and poteauchamber.com for information. PHOTO COURTESY RHEMA

Where & When

COMMUNIT Y

IN TULSA PERFORMANCES TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: HOME ALONE Dec. 1

TULSA PAC This beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams’ charming score performed live to scenes from the film. tulsasymphony.org

Dec. 14-15

SHERIDAN ROAD'S CHRISTMAS CABARET FINALE Dec. 13-14 TULSA PAC It's last call

BROKEN ARROW COMMUNITY THEATER PRESENTS: DAVID PHELPS

tulsapac.com

Baylor University, David Phelps is credited among today’s most spectacular voices.

for the Christmas Cabaret. Enjoy candlelight, nostalgia, a cappella carols and jazzy tunes in the elegant Westby Pavilion.

PHOTO BY DAVID LACKEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

Dec. 15

BROKEN ARROW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER A graduate of

of Doobie Brothers fame performs on his Season of Peace Holiday and Hits Tour.

Chris Isaak performs.

hardrockcasinotulsa.com

THE TEMPTATIONS Dec. 13 HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO The Temptations perform.

hardrockcasinotulsa.com

THIRD EYE BLIND Dec. 28 HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO The 1990s mega-

stars of Third Eye Blind return.

hardrockcasinotulsa.com

LITTLE BIG TOWN Dec. 13 RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT The country

TURNPIKE TROUBADORS Dec. 31

CAIN'S BALLROOM Ring in the New Year with a celebrated Cain's tradition – the Turnpike Troubadors.

stars of Little Big Town perform with Devin Dawson. riverspirittulsa.com

MICHAEL MCDONALD

cainsballroom.com

Dec. 20

ART

GODS, SAINTS AND MARTYRS: NORTHERN RENAISSANCE PRINTS Through Feb. 10

PHILBROOK For centuries,

sacred figures have provided artists in virtually all cultures with subject matter.

philbrook.org

Dec. 7-Jan. 20

THE EXPERIENCE Ongoing AHHA TULSA The Experience

Fronteriza is an incisive look at some of today’s most contentious topics: immigration, identity and the U.S-Mexican border.

ahhatulsa.org

AHHA TULSA Cultura

Ice hockey, with nonstop, hard-hitting, fullcontact action rivaling professional football, can be found regularly at the BOK Center with the Tulsa Oilers. The moves the players make on the ice – at full speed – are nothing

signaturesymphony.org

HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO Michael McDonald

CULTURA FRONTERIZA

Hit the Ice

Cherish the Ladies, a beloved Irish-American music group, celebrates Celtic traditions.

CONCERTS CHRIS ISAAK Dec. 8 HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO Music luminary

Summers is best known for long exposure photography featuring extreme color vibrance and highly reflective textures. tulsapac.com

short of incredible. For die-hard fans, Coach Rob Murray’s Ice Box has some of the most dynamic seats in Tulsa – mere inches from the player’s bench to experience all of the action as up close and personal as possible. Home games run Dec. 4, 22, 27 and 28. For a schedule and tickets, visit tulsaoilers. com or bokcenter.com.

TCC VANTREASE PACE

brokenarrowpac.com

DOUG SUMMERS: VIBRANT REFLECTIONS OF TULSA Dec. 4-27 TULSA PAC GALLERY Doug

SPORTS

SIGNATURE SYMPHONY PRESENTS: POPS III – CHRISTMAS IN TULSA

ahhtulsa.org

is an artist-driven, large-scale, fully immersive art installation that invites participants to explore a fantastical multimedia environment.

SPORTS UNIVERSITY OF TULSA MEN'S BASKETBALL GAMES Dec. 5, 8, 13 REYNOLDS CENTER Cheer

the Golden Hurricane against non-conference opponents. tulsahurricane.com

OU VS. USC MEN'S BASKETBALL Dec. 15 BOK CENTER The Sooners host the Southern California Trojans. bokcenter.com

UNIVERSITY OF TULSA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAMES Dec. 17, 20, 29 REYNOLDS CENTER See TU

take on non-conference foes. tulsahurricane.com

TULSA HOLIDAY WINTER CIRCUIT Dec. 28-31 EXPO SQUARE This has

been an American Quarter Horse Association- and Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association-approved event since 1980. exposquare.com

TULSA SHOOT-OUT Dec. 31-Jan. 5

TULSA EXPO SQUARE This is the largest micro sprint car racing event in the country.

exposquare.com

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105

Snag Your Sugarplum

TULSA FARM SHOW Dec. 6-8

EXPO SQUARE Oklahoma’s

largest indoor farm show (with over 400,000 square feet of exhibits) is a great opportunity to view the latest in agricultural and ranching equipment. exposquare.com

Whether you’ve never before attended a performance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker, or you’ve seen it a hundred times, you’ll be dazzled by this masterpiece, brought to life each year by the Tulsa and Oklahoma City ballets. The story of Clara and her magical Christmas Eve dream, which includes the Mouse King, the Nutcracker and a colorful cast of other characters, delights children of all ages. The Tulsa Ballet presents Marcello Angelini’s vision of this holiday favorite Dec. 8-9, 14-16 and 21-23 at the Tulsa PAC. In Oklahoma City, Devon Energy’s The Nutcracker runs Dec. 14-16 and 21-23 with accompaniment by the OKC Philharmonic and students from the OKC Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School. Visit tulsaballet.org and okcballet.org for schedules, tickets and information.

TULSA CHRISTMAS PARADE Dec. 8 DOWNTOWN TULSA

tulsachristmasparade.org

A black-tie dinner gives formal recognition, on behalf of the Tulsa County community, to internationally acclaimed authors. helmerichaward.org

JINGLE BELL RUN TULSA

Dec. 8

BOK CENTER The Arthritis

WINTERFEST Through Jan. 6 DOWNTOWN TULSA

Downtown is transformed into a festive wonderland during this annual holiday tradition.

Foundation's 5K and 1-mile runs are a fun way to get decked out and be festive while raising funds and awareness to cure America's No. 1 cause of disability.

jbr.org/tulsa

TOYS FOR TOTS TOY RUN Dec. 9

EXPO SQUARE Run and,

at the same time, help some children have a merry Christmas. exposquare.com

PERFORMANCES

OKC PHIL PRESENTS: POPS 2 – THE CHRISTMAS SHOW Dec. 1 CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL

performances and masterful interpretations, internationally renowned conductor Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan take the stage.

okcphil.org

LYRIC’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL Through Dec. 24 CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL Go on a magical

Bring the whole family as the OKC Philharmonic kick off the season with this stunning holiday celebration.

BACH COLLEGIUM JAPAN

past. Magical storytelling at its ﬁnest, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve promises spellbinding music and holiday cheer for all ages. Catch the presentation at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Dec. 5. For ticket prices and information, visit trans-siberian.com or chesapeakearena.com.

Dec. 4

ARMSTRONG AUDITORIUM

Famed for impeccable

journey with Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

CONCERTS MICHAEL MCDONALD

THIRD EYE BLIND Dec. 29 RIVERWIND CASINO Since

Dec. 21

RIVERWIND CASINO See

the Doobie Brothers frontman on his Holiday and Hits Tour.

riverwind.com

TICKET TO RIDE

FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM OF ART Before the

widespread availability of the automobile, artists experienced and explored the American West by train.

ou.edu/fjjma

VICTORIAN RADICALS: FROM THE PRERAPHAELITES TO THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT

Through Jan. 6

OKCMOA In the second

1997, San Francisco’s Third Eye Blind has recorded four bestselling albums and assembled a career retrospective.

riverwind.com

JASON BOLAND AND THE STRAGGLERS Dec. 29 TOWER THEATRE

Oklahoma's favorite country quartet returns.

towertheatreokc.com

ART

Through Dec. 30 PHOTO COURTESY JDPWORKS COURTESY BOK CENTER

armstrongauditorium.org

lyrictheatreokc.com

piercing blue eyes and standing 6-foot-6, Brett Young is impossible to miss as American Country Music's new male vocalist of the year.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

month the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture offers popular walking tours highlighting some of downtown Tulsa’s architectural treasures.

IN OKC

BRETT YOUNG Dec. 28 RIVERWIND CASINO With

106

TULSA FOUNDATION FOR ARCHITECTURE Each

CHARITABLE EVENTS PEGGY V. HELMERICH DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR AWARD GALA Dec. 7 TULSA CENTRAL LIBRARY

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA RETURNS

Dec. 8

tulsawinterfest.com

IN CONCERT

The dazzling sights and sounds of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra return to Oklahoma City with its winter tour, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. In this musical experience, a young runaway takes refuge in an abandoned theater on Christmas Eve and is visited by ghostly visions from the theater’s

SECOND SATURDAY ARCHITECTURE TOURS

tulsaarchitecture.org

Downtown has had an annual Christmas parade since 1926.

PHOTO COURTESY TULSA BALLET

Where & When

COMMUNITY

PERFORMANCE

half of the 19th century, three generations of young, rebellious artists and designers revolutionized the visual arts in Britain. okcmoa.com

HORSEPLAY Through July 14 NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM The museum’s Dickinson Research Center is home to more than 700,000 photographs, 44,000 books and, perhaps unexpectedly, at least 1,000 horses.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

Oklahomaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first medicinal cannabis clinic.

Tulsa Higher Care Clinic 3321 South Yale Avenue | 918.619.9393 www.TulsaHigherCareClinic.com | Facebook.com/OKLegalTHC

Where & When

SPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BARREL RACING FUTURITY Dec. 4-8

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAMES

exciting barrel racing.

LLOYD NOBLE CENTER

STATE FAIR PARK See statefairparkokc.com

Dec. 5, 9, 19

The Sooners take on non-conference opponents.

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA MEN’S BASKETBALL GAMES

soonersports.com

LLOYD NOBLE CENTER

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA Watch the state's

Dec. 4, 8, 18

See the Sooners host non-conference foes. soonersports.com

OKC THUNDER GAMES Dec. 10, 15, 17, 23, 31

only major professional sports team take on NBA foes.

chesapeakearea.com

COMMUNITY OKC TRAIN SHOW Dec. 1-2 STATE FAIR PARK See

RED EARTH TREE FEST

oklahomarailwaymuseum.org

This popular holiday tradition features 25 Christmas trees decorated with handmade ornaments. redearth.org

stunning model trains up close.

EAGLE WATCH Dec. 8 LAKE THUNDERBIRD STATE PARK Be sure to bring

your binoculars and dress appropriately to view these majestic creatures. travelok.com

PHOTO COURTESY DANGERZONE BULL RIDING AND FUTURITY

SPORTS

RIDE THE BULL Heart-pounding excitement comes to Claremore as the top 50 athletes in the DangerZone Bullriding tour battle it out

at the group’s futurity championships. This ﬁnal event of the year takes place New Year’s Eve at the Claremore Expo Center. Round 1 begins at noon with the championship round at 7 p.m. For tickets and information, visit travelok.com.

C U LT U R E

A New Year’s Powwow

The 18th annual New Year’s Eve Sobriety Powwow kicks off at the Muskogee Civic Center at 1 p.m. with traditional Native American ground dancing until 5 p.m., followed by gourd dancing, singing, games, rafﬂes and contests – until the countdown just before midnight to welcome in the new year. This alcohol-free, Native Americanfocused event showcases traditional music, drums, costumes and regalia, and provides a fun, safe environment for everyone. Admission is free. For information, go to visitmuskogee.com.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

OKLAHOMA HIGH PERFORMANCE EXPO

Dec. 29

STATE FAIR PARK Enjoy a day of auctions, shows and swap meets.

Through Jan. 4

RED EARTH ART CENTER

DEVON ICE RINK Through Jan. 27

MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS The Myriad Botanical Gardens transforms its seasonal plaza into an ice rink.

oklahomacitybotanicalgardens. com

statefairparkokc.com

CHARITABLE EVENTS SANDRIDGE SANTA RUN

COWBOY CHRISTMAS BALL

SANDRIDGE ENERGY This

NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM This event features

Dec. 8

festive 5K run is part of Downtown in December.

downtownindecember.com

Dec. 14

a bountiful home-cooked dinner buffet.

expresspros.com

AROUND THE STATE PERFORMANCES MIAMI LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS: A CHRISTMAS CAROL Through Dec. 2 COLEMAN THEATRE, MIAMI Get in the Christmas spirit with this classic tale. miamilittletheatre.com

SAPULPA COMMUNITY THEATER PRESENTS: YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS Dec. 7-9, 14-16 SAPULPA COMMUNITY THEATRE “Dear Editor,

is there a Santa Claus?” A question innocently asked by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon is answered. sapulpatheatre.org

JERRY SEINFELD Dec. 15 WINSTAR WORLD CASINO AND RESORT, THACKERVILLE It’s not

hyperbole – just come to see the most influential comedian

PHOTO COURTESY NEW YEAR’S EVE SOBRIETY POWWOW

in the last half-century.

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A BIG BAND CHRISTMAS Dec. 15

COLEMAN THEATRE, MIAMI

The Coleman Theatre and the Tulsa Praise Orchestra and Choir present A Big Band Christmas. colemantheatre.org

CHRISTMAS THE COWBOY WAY Dec. 22 COLEMAN THEATRE, MIAMI

Multi-Grammy Award winning Riders In The Sky perform. colemantheatre.org

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY Through Dec. 23

THE POLLARD THEATRE,

GUTHRIE This beloved American holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. thepollard.org

FOR MORE EVENTS IN TULSA, OKC AND AROUND THE STATE, HEAD TO OKMAG.COM.

Holiday Gift Guide

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Premier Popcorn

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918.949.6950 IdaRedGeneralStore.com

Richard Neel Home

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120 S. Main St., Broken Arrow 918.251.7827 StarJewelers.com

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3336 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa 208 N. Main St., Tulsa

Star Jewelers

Redeem this coupon for 20% off any jewelry item! Expires Dec. 25, 2018.

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BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center

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State-themed Melamine dinnerware and ornaments, plus LED matchless candles!

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12 Days of Christmas Sale: the lowest prices on your favorite products and procedures!

Call for your gift certificate today!

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Where & When FILM AND CINEMA

From Schmaltz to Satire Choose White Christmas, offerings by Disney and Clint Eastwood or an old spoof.

Around Town

Circle Cinema’s sing-along presentations of White Christmas run Dec. 14 through Christmas Eve. Here are three quick reasons to give it a watch: • The songs. Everyone knows the title song, but most of the tunes in the ﬁlm are hummable and entertaining, from the archly amusing “Sisters” to the sentimental but still moving “Count Your Blessings.” • The cast. Bing Crosby gets most of the at-

tention as Bob Wallace, but Danny Kaye as the sidekick and Rosemary Clooney as Crosby’s love interest steal the show. • The dancing. Kaye is brilliant and ﬂexible.

At Home

If you’re not in the mood for holiday fun, try some counterprogramming with the 1976 murder-mystery spoof Murder by Death, out this month in a new Blu-ray

from Shout! Factory. A clear inspiration for the later cult hit Clue (with which it shares cast member Eileen Brennan), Murder by Death is not as well known as that film, but it’s just as clever in undermining whodunit conventions. The eclectic cast portrays stereotypical detectives, including Peter Falk as a Sam Spade-type and James Coco as a fauxHercule Poirot. Truman Capote is host of the dinner party. The film ratchets up a witty screenplay by the recently deceased Neil Simon to the point of absurdity. The film has dated elements (especially Peter Sellers playing Sidney Wang, a Charlie Chan knockoff), but most of it remains fresh 42 years later.

In Theaters

Many ﬁlms are out, and most intriguing are two old standbys. Clint Eastwood, 88, enjoys casting himself in his movies, and The Mule continues that trend as he stars alongside Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne and Dianne Wiest. A ﬁlm about drug smuggling, The Mule is sure to be politically divisive but aesthetically impeccable. With reservation, there’s Mary Poppins Returns. Disney has been hit-or-miss with updates and remakes, and the presence of the dull Rob Marshall behind the camera is troubling, but the stellar cast, including Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Lin Manuel-Miranda and Emily Blunt as the magical nanny herself, makes one cautiously optimistic. ASHER GELZER-GOVATOS

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MARKETPLACE

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still think of John 3:16 Mission as a soup kitchen. To be sure, a key focus at John 3:16 is our effort to eradicate hunger. But more than that, John 3:16 Mission offers comprehensive, residential recovery opportunities for people trying to escape homelessness. We have activity on top of activity for persons who are a part of our residential program, or others who walk in off the streets celebrating the holidays with festive activities. Faith is a crucial part of what we do here, and the cornerstone of our faith is compassion. For those who ﬁnd themselves hungry, alone and lost during the holidays, we want to make sure they know they are cared for and loved.

… how to help.

Be your most generous. It’s exciting to see that as a nation, we are all doing just a little bit better from an economic standpoint. But for those experiencing poverty … their circumstances remain dire. The best thing you can do is simply be kindhearted and generous not only during the holidays, but throughout the entire year.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Steve Whitaker

he Rev. Steve Whitaker, president, CEO and senior pastor of John 3:16 Mission in Tulsa, makes sure those facing homelessness feel cared for during the holidays. Whitaker is a 10th-generation minister who has worked with the mission for nearly 30 years. We caught up with Whitaker and got his thoughts on …

… helping others during the holidays.

If we all lived in a Hallmark movie, everyone would certainly give of their time, talent and treasure to help others. The verdict may still be out on whether Hallmark movies are loved or hated, but that is one thing they deﬁnitely get right. During the

112

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018

holidays, the homeless will tell you that their No. 1 issue is loneliness. Hallmark movie or no, it’s important to do all we can to meet the real and emotional needs of people who are hurting and homeless.

… the mission’s activities.

It still amazes me how many people

I have so many memories that it is hard to choose just one. But if I were to share my favorite story, it would be about a time when I was sharing the story of the prodigal son during a chapel service. The prodigal son asks for his inheritance early and then proceeds to squander it. Later, he ﬁnds himself indebted and working a job feeding pigs. The son “came to himself” – realized the error of his ways – and went back home to be reconciled with his father. The story is an allegory of the relationship between God and man. My challenge to the congregation was to go home – reconcile with your heavenly father and everyone else for that matter – before you get to the pigpen. One of them did. He called me a few years ago and told me he had been home 10 years, sober, and taking care of his family.

... John 3:16’s bottom line.

Life transformation. Providing shelter matters; feeding matters; programs matter. But a changed life is our highest goal.

PHOTO BY TANNER JALBERT COURTESY JOHN 3:16 MISSION

… his experiences at the mission.

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