Thank you for trusting us with your healthcare.
2017
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.
saintfrancis.com
Features DECEMBER
2017 Oklahoma Magazine Vol. XXI, No. 12
45 Great Companies to Work For
Oklahoma Magazine’s 2017 picks prove that satisfied employees know management cares for their well-being. This year’s Great Companies include those who offer great employee programs and excellent incentives – and demonstrate they value their employees every day.
72
People with Style
Some Oklahomans go above and beyond to use the power of fashion to make a statement.
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Visit us online. MORE ARTICLES
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December 2017
68 Luxury Lifestyles
What does one buy when money is no object? For the wealthy, a growing trend is to go classic. Vintage luxury – classics the movie stars of old made popular generations ago – are all the rage again today.
2
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
SPECIAL REPORT
2017
Great
Luxury Lifestyles The Classics
COMPANIES to Work For featuring QuikTrip’s Chet Cadieux
People with Style
Read expanded articles and stories that don’t appear in the print edition. ON THE COVER: CHET CADIEUX, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF QUIKTRIP, SAYS HIS EMPLOYEES ARE “INCREDIBLE.” QUIKTRIP IS ONE OF OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE’S 2017 GREAT COMPANIES TO WORK FOR. PHOTO BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER
MORE PHOTOS
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Departments
ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA
11 State 14 16 17 18 20
Culture Business People Business II Community
22 24
Sports Insider
Looking for person-to-person bonds, Tulsans under 30 enjoy the relationships fostered through swing dancing.
27 Life and Style 28 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
Interiors Designer Lance
Cheney helps a long-term client with refurbishing a 10th-floor flat overlooking the Arkansas River.
20
City Life Health Destinations FYI Style Holiday parties abound
in December – make sure you’re looking your merry best.
Accessories Scene
28
81 Taste 82 84 85
40
Celebrations and Caesar salads have made Celebrity Restaurant a perfect yuletide dining spot for 50 years.
Local Flavor Chef Chat Random Flavors
89 Where and When 90 94 95
OKC Philharmonic’s Christmas show welcomes families year after year.
In Tulsa/In OKC Film and Cinema Spotlight: Red Ribbon Gala
96 Closing Thoughts
4
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
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You’ve come to the right place to meet some great Oklahomans, such as Chef Loretta Oden, who wants to introduce you to Native American cuisine, on page 84; the most decorated American Olympic gymnast in history, Shannon Miller, on page 22; and George Nigh, Oklahoma’s longest-serving governor and lieutenant governor, on page 17. You’ll also find some exciting restaurants to try on pages 81 and 82, and the latest fashion trends (party dresses, of course) on page 40. You can even dream about the lifestyles of wealthy hobbyists in our Luxury Lifestyles section on page 68. But you’ll also find some important information on Oklahoma companies in this month’s issue. Our Great Companies to Work For special section, beginning on page 45, highlights the companies in Oklahoma that employees say are the best to work for with the best workplace culture, benefits and opportunities. But no matter what you’re looking for – fashion, fine cuisine, luxurious vacations or fascinating history – Oklahoma Magazine’s December issue will surely satisfy your cravings. And speaking of cravings, we forgot to tell you that the beautiful sashimi dish on the cover of the November issue was Local Scene provided by in the raw, an award-winning eatery with locations Dishes from around the world Responsible in Brookside, south Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Oklahoma City. +Super pet November 2017
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
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Swing dancing has a rich history in Tulsa. The style of dance originally gained popularity in the 1920s as a way to make connections with others during a time of racial segregation. This month, we meet with Jamin Jackson, co-founder of Tulsa-based Oklahoma Swing Syndicate and Vintage Swing Movement. We learn about the roots of this jazz-influenced dance form, how swing dancing can help connect divided people and communities, and see some of the best dancers strut their stuff. WEB-EXCLUSIVE VIDEO STICK AROUND AND WATCH ALL OF OUR WEB-EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS AT OKMAG.COM/WEB.
2017
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ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA
Yuletide Carols
Community carolers sing so others can smile and feel the spirit of Christmas.
T THE FORT GIBSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INVITES A GROUP TO CAROL AT ITS DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND PARADE EACH YEAR. PHOTO BY CHESLEY OXENDINE
is the season to be merry and sing a little tune. Energetic and joyful songs like “Deck the Halls,” “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and “Jingle Bells” can be heard around the world and here in the great state of Oklahoma – starting almost as soon as Halloween is over. Christmas caroling is a tradition that has been passed down through the ages and its participants are as diverse as its songs. Carolers range
from children to adults and include groups from schools, churches and even veterans. Caroling can bring people together, and encourage everyone to get into the Christmas spirit.
Veterans who carol
Employees at the Veterans Affairs’ Muskogee Regional Benefit Office have conveyed merriment to hospitalized veterans for the last 15 years, says Jacob Nichols, senior staff assistant.
A week or two before Christmas, carolers visit the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee and sing a variety of carols for the veterans and their families. “Our employees, many of which are either veterans or the family members of a veteran, take great pleasure in the opportunity to bring a little holiday cheer to our veterans,” Nichols says. The carolers walk through the medical center as they croon holiday favorites, so all patients, staff and DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
11
The State visitors can enjoy the music. The group may sing a couple of songs in the main lobby, then stroll through the in-patient wards, he says. “I can’t answer for the patients, but I think they appreciate those who take time out of their day just to bring them some cheer while they are healing,” says Nita McClellan, chief of voluntary service at the medical center. “It seems to brighten everyone’s day and help veterans take their minds off being in the hospital.”
Community caroling
VA officials aren’t the only ones bringing cheer to the public this season. The Fort Gibson Chamber of Commerce and citizens of the community work together for the town’s annual tree lighting ceremony and kick off for “Shop Fort Gibson First,” organizers say. “We love to have carolers each year, and rely on members of the community to volunteer, from the high school choir, ladies groups and church groups,” says Jessica Fowler, executive director of the Fort Gibson Chamber of Commerce. This year, the lighting of the Christmas tree event features carolers from the First Baptist Church. “It’s always a fun time, and caroling really gets everyone feeling the Christmas spirit,” Fowler adds. “It’s great when the crowd starts singing along.” Fort Gibson also has a Christmas parade and activities for families Dec. 4.
12
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
Ozzie’s caroling choir
While caroling for some is about community and cheer, one group sings to honor the man who inspired them as teenagers. From 1950 to1972, the director of choral activities and the concert choir at Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City was Albert Clarence “Ozzie” Ossenkop. He motivated his students through music – so much so that a group of alumni formed Ozzie’s Capitol Hill Alumni Choir. “Ozzie was just one of those guys who cared for and mentored and inspired a lot of kids,” says Randy Parsons, director of the choir. “We all have a love of singing and of Ozzie.” The ages of the 30-member group vary, but the one thing they all have in common
is that Ossenkop directed them during either the ’50s, ’60s or early ’70s. Decades later, Ossenkop still inspires his students through music. To further honor their mentor, the choir only sings songs that they sang in high school choir. “Some of our best memories are when we would sing as a choir at Christmas time,” Parsons says. “We’d do the program at the school and we’d be invited to sing at various activities. It was thrilling to get to do that. We loved to sing at Christmas time for the various groups.” Parsons says the alumni start the program off with the song “Sleigh Ride” and end it with “Gloria in excelsis Deo.” Other songs they include are “Jingle Bells,” “Christmas is Meant for Children,” and “Carol of the Bells.” The group didn’t officially form until about two years ago when Sam Chesnut called fellow Capitol Hill alumni Randy Parsons and Rick Fisher. Thanks to reunion lists and social media, they reached out to many choir alumni. The last time many of the members saw or sang with Ossenkop was when he was living at a senior living facility more than seven years ago. It was during the holiday season, so they sang many beloved Christmas carols with their mentor. Ossenkop died in 2011, and to honor his memory, the group begins caroling season at that same facility each year. ALAINA STEVENS
ABOVE: EMPLOYEES FROM THE MUSKOGEE REGIONAL BENEFIT OFFICE CAROL AT THE VA HOSPITAL IN MUSKOGEE.
PHOTO COURTESY MUSKOGEE REGIONAL BENEFIT OFFICE
BELOW: MEMBERS OF THE CAPITOL HILL ALUMNI CHOIR PERFORM AT AN OKLAHOMA CITY SENIOR LIVING CENTER.
PHOTO COURTESY CAPITOL HILL ALUMNI CHOIR
The State
C U LT U R E
Trending Toward the Tiny An emerging market is slowly finding a micro-home in the Sooner state.
T
RIGHT: THE MARKET FOR TINY HOMES IS TAKING OFF IN OKLAHOMA DUE TO THEIR CONVENIENCE AND AFFORDABILITY. BELOW: “IT IS A MISTAKE TO ASSUME BECAUSE SOMEONE PAID LESS FOR THEIR HOUSE THEY HAVE LESS PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP,” SAYS MICHELLE WUNDER OF OKC TINY HOMES. PHOTOS COURTESY OKC TINY HOMES
14
iny homes, the newest trend in residential ownership, blend the benefits of apartment living with a singlefamily dwelling. TV home design networks have jumped quickly on the idea by showcasing the myriad buyers in the market for these scaleddown houses. In Oklahoma, however, prospective owners have been a bit slower to embrace the trend, says Andrea Moore, owner of Town and Country RV Park and Housing in Marlow. “The market is just now taking off in our area,” Moore says. “We are seeing people buying tiny homes for their elderly parents and for vacation homes, like lake and hunting cabins.” In metropolitan areas, tiny home communities are a soonto-be reality, says Michelle Wunder, owner of Tiny Homes of Oklahoma, based in Oklahoma City. However, zoning constraints have challenged the market there. “In our state, tiny homes fall under what is called a towable vehicle,” Wunder says. “Zoning restrictions limit where people can live in tiny homes full time right now.” However, micro-housing proponents are working to find a place in the state. Developer Blair Humphreys, in partnership with Wunder, has a vision to incorporate tiny homes into a modern housing development in OKC’s Wheeler District. “With a price point of less than half the average of a new home in Oklahoma, people want the convenience
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
of tiny living in an urban setting,” Wunder says. There is another free-form community in the works in north OKC, Wunder says, but the neighborhood faces opposition. “Some people are worried about what tiny homes will do to traditional home values,” Wunder says. “But tiny homes are not like a run-down mobile home. It is a mistake to assume because someone paid less for their house they have less pride of ownership. People who buy a tiny home are committed to this lifestyle and, since the homes are easy to maintain, owners can take better care of their home.” Beyond affordability, the next key selling factors for tiny home living are versatility and mobility. They’re literally houses on wheels, after all. “You really can hook up your house and move it with your life,” Wunder says. “I can have [my show home] hooked up in 15 minutes.” While traveling with a tiny home is an option, Moore and Wunder both agree it’s not as easy as a traditional
travel trailer. “A tiny home is much heavier than an RV,” Moore says. “It can be costly to transport.” Tiny homes find their niche, however, in the ability to slash the costs of living. “The minimal square footage means less to clean, and homeowners get to reduce their electric bills, insurance rates and property taxes,” Wunder says. That reduction of cost comes with a few restrictions – mainly in the form of space. “It will definitely be an adjustment to get use to the minimal space,” Moore says. “You have to be more organized and creative with your storage.” But Wunder enjoys the challenge when designing tiny homes for her customers, crafting custom cabinetry and outside-of-the-box solutions for each one. “I am fascinated by tiny homes,” Wunder admits. “We utilize every square inch available.” LINDSAY CUOMO
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W E ’R E I N TH I S TOGE TH E R
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The State BUSINESS
The Full-Service Treatment
Defying the convenience store model for gas stations, Reeder’s and Andrews go above and beyond for customers.
T
ABOVE: TOM GOODSON, WITH REEDER’S IN TULSA, WORKS UNDER THE HOOD OF A CUSTOMER’S CAR. PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL
BELOW: A CUSTOMER AT ANDREWS PHILLIPS 66 IN NORMAN GETS THE “OLD SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.”
PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS
16
om Goodson heads to the fillin’ station every weekday morning just like he has done for the past 43 years … unless a country music star asks him to make a house call. Goodson acts like it’s no big deal … just one of about 215,000 vehicles he’s repaired or maintained while working at Reeder’s, a Tulsa institution and one of just a few full-service gas stations remaining in Oklahoma. “Yeah, I’ve gone to Roy Clark’s home and worked on his car,” he says. “He’s one of my regulars.” Those regulars include grandchildren of folks who came to the station at East 21st Street and South Lewis Avenue when a 14-year-old Goodson was pumping gas. “I used to ride my bike here everyday until I could drive,” says Goodson, a certified mechanic since 1979. “It’s amazing to see how life changes for everyone. I can’t go anywhere in town without running into a customer.” Personal relationships drive a full-service station, whether it’s Reeder’s (in the same spot since 1964) or Andrews Phillips 66 in Norman. Up to 95
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
their college-age children get their percent of their customers are repeat vehicles checked out before going on business. road trips. “It’s peace of mind,” says Nick “We have kids who live out of Williamson, who manages the service state and go to OU [University of station at West Lindsey Street and Oklahoma] come by before they head South Berry Road, six blocks from home for the holidays, because their the University of Oklahoma. “We parents don’t want them breaking give them the old-school experience. down on the road,” Williamson says. We fill their tanks, air up their tires “A lot of college kids don’t know and check their fluid levels under how to check their tires the hood. I’m on or fluids, so we do it a first-name basis for them.” with every one of Goodson, who my clients.” missed some work reBoth Goodson cently because of kneeand Williamson Until the 1973 oil embargo replacement surgery, emphasize that trust (by the Organization of knows that he doesn’t keeps people comArab Petroleum Exporting want to give it up. ing back. If a car is Countries) caused a “I’m not old enough fine, neither will try rapid jump in gasoline to retire; I’m just 58,” to sell something prices, full-service gas he says. “I had enough extra, like a hose, stations were the norm sitting around after a fan belt or an oil in the United States. To the knee surgery and change. cut labor costs and keep I don’t like it. I gotta “We’re not going the price per gallon in move around.” to tell them anycheck, oil companies And he speaks humthing that doesn’t quickly increased the bly about his decades need to be done number of self-service at Reeder’s and his immediately,” Wilstations. Convenience loyal clients. liamson says. stores selling gas also “While I was off, I Goodson agrees: evolved and they became had customers come by “If you’re not the new normal … except my house to check on honest, that’ll run in Oregon and New me,” he says. “What people off.” Jersey, where, by law, else can you say about Parents fre“gas jockeys” still run the that?” quenting both pumps. BRIAN WILSON stations insist that
ONCE THE NORM
GEORGE NIGH’S RECORDS
After George Nigh became the first Oklahoma governor to be re-elected, Frank Keating and Brad Henry followed suit; Gov. Henry Bellmon had two non-consecutive terms. But Nigh is the longest-serving governor because he had two abbreviated terms (nine days in 1963 and five days in 1979) when J. Howard Edmondson and David Boren resigned so they could take U.S. Senate seats early and gain bits of seniority. Nigh was the longest-serving lieutenant governor, 1959-1979, because Oklahoma’s constitution allows unlimited terms for that position. A governor couldn’t run for re-election until 1970, when David Hall defeated incumbent Dewey Bartlett. In 1974, Hall lost a primary to David Boren, who, instead of running for re-election as governor in 1978, was elected to the U.S. Senate. That allowed Nigh to run for governor for the first time; he was re-elected in 1982.
PEOPLE
Nigh Time for a Solution
F
George Nigh advises against drawing lines in the sand when it comes to gaining consensus.
rom Oklahoma’s longest-serving governor and lieutenant governor – the elder statesman of Sooner politics – comes a straightforward solution to the state’s continual budget crises: Don’t draw lines. At 90, George Nigh says he always tried to remember that tactic while in elected office, 1951-1987. He had success because he is the only gubernatorial candidate to carry all 77 counties – not just once, but twice. And he’s a Democrat in highly conservative Oklahoma. “The problem is drawing a line in the sand too early,” he says. “If you say, ‘My opponents won’t agree to this or I won’t agree to that,’ then you don’t allow yourself to have a conversation. It’s a tough decision. I’d like to get rid of the word compromise and insert the word consensus, because compromise often means someone has given in. Consensus is an easy word to use.” In 1950, Nigh was a fresh graduate from East Central State College in Ada and a new Oklahoma history teacher at McAlester High School when he became, at 23, the youngest person elected to the state House. (Elise Hall broke the record; she was 21 when sworn into office in 2011.) Nigh remains passionate about education because “I want to be around these young adults.” With annual treks to Boys State and Girls State, Nigh retains the zeal of a dedi-
cated teacher. He iterates his line-drawing metaphor when discussing Oklahoma’s exodus of experienced educators because of low pay and large class sizes. “How do you increase taxes to pay for education?” he asks. “Politicians are fearful to raise taxes that the public won’t like. If you draw a line on taxes, then you can’t raise teacher salaries and reduce class sizes. Hold off drawing too many lines.” Nigh says consensus (that word again) is committing to robust funding of public education. “You shouldn’t have to move out of state to be successful,” says Nigh, evoking the names of famous Oklahomans. “That’s what I tell young people. Tom Stafford literally went to the moon and back. Tell Garth Brooks. Tell Toby Keith. Tell Carrie Underwood. Tell them that they can’t do it from here.” Nigh cites himself, too. “In ninth grade, our Oklahoma history teacher had us write down what we wanted to do,” he says. “I wanted to be governor. I have nothing against public service. The only way to become governor is to offer yourself. We need young people to run for public office and encourage public service.” BRIAN WILSON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE READ MORE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE NIGH @ OKMAG.COM.
GEORGE NIGH TRAVELS AROUND THE STATE TO GIVE MORE THAN 100 SPEECHES A YEAR – FOR FREE. PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL
DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
17
The State
You can get a shave and a haircut, not for two bits (that 1899 song was long ago), but for prices competitive with chains like Supercuts. The service is personal … the verbal sniping fierce. “Yeah, we get after each other pretty regular,” says Jeff Hurst, who has come in for a flattop every 10 days for decades. “I’ve been trying for years to get him to have a customer loyalty card.” Hurst, of nearby Haskell, has “known Johnny since he was a boy. He was an ornery kid … still is,” he says with a laugh. “Seriously, he does a great job. I’d go somewhere else if he didn’t. And if I cheated on him, he’d know about it.” Snelson says his shop “is a gathering place – a lot of people shooting the bull. Everyone knows each other. It’s a lot of repeat business. It’s a camaraderie thing. You get to hang out with your friends.” And as much as he The innocuous barber pole has divided likes throwing out barbs, people in hairstyling. The pole, with Snelson has a great fondmedieval origins, has long been used ness for his youngest by licensed barbers. However, many customers. stylists not licensed to use razors feel “I got kids whose they should be able to hang a barber pole fathers I gave their first outside their businesses. Johnny Snelson haircuts to,” Snelson says. of Coweta is firmly on the barbers’ side: “And if they’re squirmy, “It’s a matter of nostalgia, pride and I just talk to ’em. It’s neat professionalism,” he says. to see them grow up, especially when they used to fight you in the chair.” His advice for parents is straightforward: “Just let me handle them. The mamas who coddle them are the worst. The kids’ll settle down if you just let ’em.” Meanwhile, jokes continue, even with the youngsters, albeit toned down a bit. “It’s always fun to tell a little boy how his daddy used to cry whenever he had his hair cut,” Snelson says. Then the adult chirping returns. “You know, there ain’t any secrets about Johnny that you could print in your magazine,” Hurst says. “What happens here in the barbershop stays in the barbershop, just like in Vegas.”
POLES OF CONTENTION
BUSINESS II
Cu ing Hair, Cu ing Up
Johnny’s in Coweta and other small-town barbershops across Oklahoma trim hefty egos with razor-sharp humor.
T
JOHNNY SNELSON, GIVING A CUSTOMER A TRIM, GREW UP IN THE BARBERSHOP THAT HIS UNCLE RAN AND THAT HE NOW OWNS. SNELSON’S FATHER WAS BORN IN THE BUILDING WHEN IT WAS A DOCTOR’S OFFICE. PHOTOS BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL
18
he owner’s greeting when you enter is consistent – “Hey! How ya doin’?” The phone salutation when you call is simple – “Barbershop.” And the sharpness of the joking, ribbing and pranking is undying, whether it’s at Johnny Snelson’s place in Coweta or hundreds of small-town barbershops across Oklahoma. Johnny’s Barber Shop is an old-fashioned one-seater on the main drag downtown. For Snelson, the edifice is essential to his history. His uncle, Gary Snelson, began the barbershop in 1974 and retired in 2002. Johnny Snelson got his barber’s license and took over the business in 1998. “My great-grandfather built this building in 1950 as an office for Dr. Jerry Nelms before my uncle bought it. My daddy was born in this building,” says Snelson, 38. “I would hang out here as a kid as much as my dad would let me. It is a barbershop after all.”
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
BRIAN WILSON
OUR EMPLOYEES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE 2017
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The State COMMUNIT Y
Ballroom Connections
Looking for person-to-person bonds, Tulsans under 30 enjoy the relationships fostered through swing dancing.
W
hile social media and the internet may create communities behind the screen, some people find that encounters on the dance floor are more satisfying than those restricted to cyberspace. Across the state, dance classes have risen in popularity, and “We find that people Gina Bradford of Tulsa’s really want to Vintage Swing get back to those Movement says this increase encounters that swing dance is great in enrollment reflects a remedy at facilitating.” for disconnection from one-on-one interactions. She narrows that focus to participants under 30. “They are looking for ways to connect with others,” she says. “We find that people really want to get back to those encounters that swing dance is great at facilitating.” SWING DANCING IS A GREAT Vintage Swing Movement (VSM) WAY TO CREATE FACE-TOFACE INTERACTIONS. partners with The Oklahoma Swing PHOTO BY ASHLEE DUNCAN COURTESY Syndicate (TOSS) to encourage and VINTAGE SWING MOVEMENT
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
educate individuals with an interest in swing dancing. TOSS coordinates dances and lessons from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturdays at the Southminster Presbyterian Church Community Center, 3500 S. Peoria Ave. VSM founded dance chapters at the University of Tulsa and Tulsa Community College, and these organizations have combined dances Thursday nights during the academic year. VSM and TOSS also host an annual, nationwide event in which dancers come to Tulsa for a weekend of workshops and lessons. Bradford defines her swing dance organization as a movement because she understands that dance has the ability to change culture. Having grown up with an awareness of the Tulsa Race Riot, Bradford says one of her goals is to connect individuals of different socioeconomic, linguistic and racial backgrounds. “We want to help Tulsa create a new image where we do our part as [representatives of] swing dance to find greater unity,” she says. Swing dances were heavily influenced by jazz, and the form began to develop during the 1920s when racial segregation was prevalent. Because dance expresses universal emotions, it
can unite communities where cultural tensions exist. “Although we cannot have answers to all of the ills of the past or the challenges we deal with today, we know that swing has that same power today,” Bradford says. Connecting with other people through social media may have some value, but the recent rise in popularity of dances like the Lindy Hop, which requires partners to hop, step, kick, spin and keep time together, reveals a deficit in physical interaction among millennials. Such connections can be found in dance halls or classes. Classes are taught in a variety of locations across Tulsa. The First United Methodist Church Youth and Family Center at 10 E. 11th St. hosts classes on Progressive Lindy Hop from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Chimera, a popular downtown coffee house, holds swing dances at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. On second Fridays from April through October, classes for beginners and experienced dancers take place on the Guthrie Green from 6:30 to 9 p.m. BRANDI GENTRY
WEB EXTRA: LEARN MORE ABOUT SWING DANCE WITH VSM’S JAMIN JACKSON AT OKMAG.COM/WEB.
OU - Oklahoma’s Leader in Excellence
• For the first time in history, the University of Oklahoma has been ranked among the top 50 public universities in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. In its 2018 Best Colleges rankings, OU is ranked among the best national universities as No. 97 overall – up from No. 111 in 2017 – and as No. 41 among public institutions. OU’s petroleum engineering program has been ranked in the top 3 among specialties at engineering schools whose highest degree is a doctorate, and OU’s Michael F. Price College of Business has been ranked among the top 43 best business programs at a public institution. • For the second year in a row, OU has achieved an all-time record freshman-to-sophomore retention rate of 92.1 percent, ranking OU among the top universities in the nation. OU is one of only 30 public institutions in the nation currently reporting retention rates of 92 percent or higher. • For the second time in history, OU ranks No. 1 in the nation in enrollment of freshman National Merit Scholars.
• OU was recently awarded the prestigious Davis Cup for the fourth consecutive year in recognition of its record-setting enrollment of United World College international freshmen. OU is the only public university to ever be awarded the Davis Cup. • OU is the only university in the nation, public or private, whose students have won Goldwater, Mitchell, Truman, Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright and National Security Education Program scholarships in the same year. • OU has produced 29 Rhodes Scholars; no other university in Oklahoma has had more than three. • OU has become one of the first public universities in the country to build residential colleges for upperclassmen and women, patterned on those at Yale, Oxford, Harvard and Cambridge in England. The living/learning communities will become the cornerstone of the undergraduate experience. • OU’s Bizzell Memorial Library has been chosen as one of Architectural Digest’s 18 most stunning libraries around the world.
The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo
- The Pride of Oklahoma
The State
SPORTS
Beyond the Gold
Olympic champion Shannon Miller has achieved other goals with her company, which promotes women’s health and wellness.
PHOTO BY RENEE PARENTEAU
W
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
hat follows wild success at a young age is often a challenge for many athletes and celebrities. For Shannon Miller, the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast in history, her time spent training for the games was just the beginning of a positive and fulfilling career. Miller, inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame last month, won three bronze medals and two silver medals at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and earned two gold medals in 1996 in Atlanta as part of the
Magnificent Seven team – all before retiring as a gymnast by age 19. Miller stays connected to the sport as a TV analyst and commentator, public speaker and founder of Shannon Miller Lifestyle, which promotes health and wellness, especially for women. But it wasn’t gymnastics that inspired Miller’s passion for the company; it was her experiences returning to college after retiring from the sport. “There wasn’t that same sense of structure that I was used to, and then, on top of that, you lose your gymnastics family overnight,” Miller says. “You’re thrown into an alien world, and
PHOTO BY LILIANE HAKIM
PHOTO BY DAVE BLACK
PHOTO BY MEMORY JADE
SHANNON MILLER RETIRED FROM GYNMASTICS BY AGE 19 AFTER WINNING SEVEN MEDALS; SHE REMAINS THE MOST DECORATED GYMNAST IN OLYMPIC HISTORY.
PHOTO BY LILIANE HAKIM
FAR LEFT: MILLER STAYS CONNECTED TO THE SPORT OF GYMNASTICS AS A COMMENTATOR AND ANALYST. SHE ALSO RUNS A FITNESS LINE, SALTO.
PHOTO COURTESY SHANNON MILLER
BELOW: MILLER STANDS IN FRONT OF HER STATUE AT THE SHANNON MILLER PARK IN EDMOND.
PHOTO COURTESY SHANNON MILLER
LEFT: MILLER USED HER CANCER DIAGNOSIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK PUBLICLY AND ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH.
since I was very shy, I’d just do my homework, watch TV and eat. Lo and behold, a few months later I had gained four dress sizes.” Miller was determined to develop a new balance and routine for herself to stay healthy. In the process of learning about health and wellness outside Olympic training, Miller noticed that many women in her life took care of children and other family members but neglected their own health. “I wanted to form a company that was devoted to helping women make their health a priority and feel good about that,” she says. “It’s taken on a life of its own, but it’s a passion that I started developing many years
before the official launch of the company in 2010.” Shortly after the company began, Miller’s life turned upside down once more when she was
“Getting that competitive approach back really helped me, and it gave me the courage I needed.” diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Miller pursued aggressive chemotherapy and says creating a plan of action helped her develop the right mindset to beat the disease.
PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS
ABOVE: MILLER SAYS HER CHILDREN KEEP HER DOWN TO EARTH BECAUSE “THEY DON’T CARE HOW MANY MEDALS MAMA HAS.”
“Getting that competitive approach back really helped me, and it gave me the courage I needed,” she says. Reticent while growing up, Miller threw herself into public speaking just “as I would a new beam routine.” Even after her cancer diagnosis, she stayed in the public eye and spoke openly about her health. “This idea of going out and talking about my ovaries on the national stage was not exactly in my life plan,” Miller says. “But for me to use any kind of platform, I have to talk about things that I’m passionate about, like women’s health; this felt like a positive step.” Now cancer-free, Miller
remains as busy as ever, with her Florida-based company, and her family, which includes two children. She says being a mother is one of the proudest accomplishments in her life. “My kids are such a blessing, and they keep things down to earth because they don’t care how many gold medals mama has,” Miller says. Looking back, Miller attributes much of her success to her upbringing and time spent in Edmond. “I feel so thankful that I grew up in Oklahoma – the community and the way they supported me, win or lose,” she says. “We’re that community that rallies no matter what, through the good times and bad.” MEGAN MORGAN
DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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The State
INSIDER
Trucking in Memorabilia
Jim Halsey, manager of the Oak Ridge Boys for 44 years, has plenty of gold records … and even some presidential shoes.
O
ABOVE: COUNTRY MUSIC IMPRESARIO JIM HALSEY HAS COLLECTED MEMORABILIA FOR MORE THAN 44 YEARS. RIGHT: HALSEY SAYS THIS LITTLE TRUCK REPRESENTS THE “HEART AND SOUL OF THE OAK RIDGE BOYS.” PHOTOS BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER
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ut of the plethora of show-biz memorabilia displayed inside Jim Halsey’s seven-room office suite, the Tulsa-based country-music impresario has plucked, on this day, a retro-looking toy truck festooned with a miniature Christmas wreath. As he talks about how “trucks are part of country music, of being together, of being with family, of farming and ranching,” it becomes clear that the little, red vehicle is a symbol for a lot of things in Halsey’s life – including his 44-year stint as manager of the venerable country act the Oak Ridge Boys. It was Halsey who, back in the 1970s, engineered the Oaks’ transition from a straight-ahead, Southern-gospel quartet to a mainstream, country-music recording and touring act. And it’s Halsey who continues to guide their careers nearly four and a half decades later. The truck as a symbol extends to the cover of the Oaks’ latest disc, Celebrate Christmas, which prominently pictures the full-sized version of the miniature replica on Halsey’s desk. “Kathy Harris, the Oak Ridge Boys’ marketing manager, found this,” says Halsey, picking up the customized toy. “I don’t know where. We sent them out to several executives we work with, and they really went over well.” Halsey used the little truck he acquired as a prop for the Christmas card photo taken of him and his wife, artist Minisa Crumbo. Even in a photograph, he says, it drew attention. “People just love the picture and the ambiance of the truck,” he says. “I think that’s because it really does represent the heart and soul of the Oak Ridge Boys.” That heart and soul is represented by Celebrate Christmas, available nationwide in Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, as well as at the usual brick-and-mortar stores and online. It’s not only the quartet’s latest recorded effort (and seventh yuletide disc), but the most recent indication of how vital the holiday has been to the group and its long run as a country-music attraction. “One of the important things we’ve done since 1990 is our Christmas tours,” Halsey says. “Before we started
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
doing the tours themselves, there would be big corporations that would have events, private parties for their employees, and they’d ask us to do some Christmas songs. It was always such a good feeling when the guys did that. And during the Christmas season, we would always add two or three [seasonal] songs [to the regular concerts]. “But then, in the early ’80s, we started doing an actual Christmas show with Kenny Rogers, and we did that for eight or nine years. Sometimes Dottie West was on with us; sometimes it was someone else. The last Christmas tour we did with Kenny, in 1989, Garth Brooks opened. “Finally, we just said, ‘It’s getting to the point that we could fill up our own itinerary with our own Christmas tour.’And that’s what we did. We started in 1990, so this would be, what, our 27th one, this year? They’re so successful. They’re all sold out. We have the traditional Christmas songs, and the fun songs, too, and we have special sets designed that we change each year. “One year we did a porch and a big fireplace, all that stuff. It’s a fun tour, not only for the audience but for the guys themselves. They put their heart and soul into it. A lot of the songs they do are songs they sang when they were kids, so it’s a warm and fuzzy feeling, the whole tour.” Halsey’s office walls bear further evidence of the ongoing relationship he and the Oaks have with Christmas. There’s a big, signed poster promoting a major holiday tour that took place some years ago, as well as a gold record presented to Halsey for the Oak Ridge Boys’ 1982 LP Christmas, their first holiday album, which yielded the Top Five country hit “Thank God for Kids.” Gold records, signifying sales of more than 500,000 units, as well as platinum records, indicating sales of more than a million, are given to artists – “and, usually as a courtesy, their managers,” by the Recording Industry Association of America, an organization that, among other things, represents the intellectual property and First Amendment rights of artists and record labels, Halsey says. The 159 other gold and platinum discs on Halsey’s wall, representing a variety of albums and artists, bear witness to his remarkable 68-year career as artist manager, booking agent and promoter. “Those are really the centerpiece of my collection,” he says. “Those aren’t anything I went out and bought. They were given to us in recognition of the artists we represented, in appreciation for the work. There’s a big one out there from RIAA that’s quite an unusual piece. It represents the sale of 41 million records by the Oak Ridge Boys. That’s something people stop and look at.”
It’s far from the only thing. A visit to the Halsey Company offices also takes you by displays filled with one-of-a-kind items, including the Grammy that Roy Clark won in 1982 (Best Country Instrumental Performance for “Alabama Jubilee”), the jacket Lee Greenwood wore when he sang “God Bless the U.S.A.” in the White House, and, perhaps the most unusual, a pair of shoes that once belonged to former President George H.W. Bush. “Those came from [Oak Ridge Boy] Duane Allen, who was riding on Air Force One with President Bush,” Halsey says. “President Bush said, ‘Those are interesting boots you have on. What are they?’ Duane said, ‘Lizard,’ or something, and the president said, ‘Well, let me try those on. They look like my size.’ Now, this is the president. “So he put them on, and they fit. And he said, ‘Here. I’ll trade you,’ and gave Duane his shoes. They actually belong to Duane, but they’ll probably stay in the collection for people to see.” The idea of people not only seeing that collection, but also benefiting from it in other ways, has been on Halsey’s mind a lot these days. Astounding as it may seem to visitors, the hundreds of posters, gold and platinum discs, signed guitars and other show-business artifacts only represent a minuscule portion of the memorabilia Halsey’s collected through his life and career, with some of the rest of it displayed in places like the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee, the Kansas Celebrity Hall of Fame in Independence and the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. Then there are his 60 four-drawer file cabinets “full of proposals, propositions, contracts, how-to’s, critiques and advertising materials.” Those contain, he adds, “tons of press clippings and files that go back to 1949, when I started as a promoter. I have over 30,000 contracts in those files, from Merle Haggard to Dwight Yoakam to Tammy Wynette and Reba McEntire. In that scope of time, we’ve represented over 100 artists, 28 of whom are in the Country Music Hall of Fame. “What I’m looking for is someone to acquire all of this, someone who recognizes its value and how it can be most appropriately used. We want to find somebody who can really use this and utilize it to the max. If someone had it as a tourist attraction, it would be entertaining. It would be inspirational. But more than anything, it would be educational. I think that’s its greatest purpose. So we are looking for a proper home for all of it. “Maybe I would still be associated with it in some way,” concludes the octogenarian. “But my hands are really full with the Oak Ridge Boys.” JOHN WOOLEY
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Life & Style
A M A P TO L I V I N G W E L L
A Family Affair with Flair With their third generation, the Rathbones continue to provide festive Christmas decorations of all kinds.
PHOTO BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER. DECOR COURTESY RATHBONE’S FLAIR FLOWERS.
P
erhaps the best part of the holiday season is the feeling of joy that accompanies decorating the home or office with ample red and green. The space suddenly feels more alive – and so do you. Take one step into Rathbone’s Flair Flowers in Jenks this month and feel that joy. Christmas trees, string upon string of twinkling lights, hundreds of ornaments and fragrant flowers welcome you. Owner Matt Rathbone says this abundance of holiday decor is all he’s ever known. His grandfather, E.V. Rathbone, opened the first Rathbone’s (then a Ben Franklin store) back in the ’40s, and each generation has expanded and improved on the services offered, which include floral arrangements, gift baskets, personalized gifts and custom-designed Christmas decor. Matt Rathbone took over the business in 1995 with his wife, Becky. “Christmas has always been a big part of my life, growing up in the store with literally hundreds of Christmas trees that my parents decorated every year for the stores, along with thousands of ornaments and decorations,” he says. “I couldn’t help but love the season.” MARY WILLA ALLEN
DECEMBER 2017| WWW.OKMAG.COM
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Life & Style
LEFT: SLIDING GLASS DOORS IN EACH AREA OF THE HOME ENTER ONTO THE BALCONIES, WHICH FACE NORTH AND WEST. BELOW: THE SPACIOUS LIVING AREA IS HIGHLIGHTED WITH THE OWNER’S COLLECTION OF LITHOGRAPHS BY FAMOUS ARTIST MARC CHAGALL.
INTERIORS
High-Rise Asian Influence
Designer Lance Cheney helps a long-term client with refurbishing a tony, 10th-floor flat overlooking the Arkansas River. By M. J. Van Deventer Photography by Scott Johnson, Hawks Photography
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hen Tulsa interior designer Lance Cheney talks about a stellar apartment at 2300 Riverside Drive, his praise reflects the exquisite taste of its owner, a gracious hostess, a collector of Asian furnishings and a connoisseur of modern art with a flair for dramatic interiors. A design collaboration with Cheney began five years ago when the client moved from Oklahoma City to Tulsa. “She and her daughter came into Richard Neel Interiors every week for several years and noticed our design style had changed – that something different was going on here after our namesake designer retired and moved to Santa Fe,” Cheney says. “They were here every Saturday. One day, she said, ‘I need new fabric for my dining room chairs. Would you help? I can’t make up my mind.’” These were dining room chairs with a history. At one time, 2300 Riverside had a restaurant featuring noted chefs, great dining and entertaining. These chairs lived in that dining room as witnesses to upscale social occasions and elegant dinners. “She had the foresight to buy eight of them,” Cheney says. “The mid-century style was wonderful, but they were all painted radiator gold, making them quite undesirable.” Cheney painted the chairs a vibrant blue and added blue-andwhite Asian porcelains as accents on the glass dining table. “The chairs popped,” says Cheney, who, since that project, has
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
DECEMBER 2017| WWW.OKMAG.COM
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Life & Style ABOVE: THE BATHROOM IN THE RIVERSIDE CONDO IS SLEEK, ALMOST SPARSE, IN DESIGN. RIGHT: THE GLASS TOP DINING ROOM TABLE IS FLANKED BY THE BAMBOO CHAIRS DESIGNER LANCE CHENEY PAINTED A DRAMATIC BLUE. IMMEDIATELY BELOW: AN ASIAN THEME IS EVIDENT IN THE MASTER SUITE. AN ANTIQUE COROMANDEL SCREEN SERVES AS A BACKDROP FOR THE BED. BOTTOM LEFT: TOUCHES OF ASIAN INFLUENCE CREATE A JUXTAPOSITION WITH MODERN STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES IN THE CONDO’S KITCHEN. BOTTOM RIGHT: AN ORIGINAL WORK OF ART BY JOAN MIRO GRACES THE WALL OF THIS AREA OF THE LIVING ROOM.
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
refreshed, re-upholstered and refurbished his client’s atelier for entertaining in high style. The high-rise was built in the 1960s and became a landmark on Riverside Drive. Five years ago, Cheney’s client bought a pricey 10th-floor apartment that had been completely redesigned with an open concept, replacing original rooms Cheney described as “rabbit warrens.” Three bedrooms became one large master suite, concrete floors replaced wood or parquet, and the kitchen took on an open style with upper glass cabinets. The major rooms have access onto two terraces: a west balcony offering spectacular views of the meandering Arkansas River and a north balcony with an ever-changing portrait of downtown. “The apartment has a distinctive Asian influence,” Cheney says. “She has a lot of Asian furnishings.” Her bedroom is a creative testimony to her love for the design heritage of eastern culture. A coromandel screen and a redlacquer bed are signature pieces. Two Japanese chests serve as nightstands. A cloisonné chest adds another historic design note. A study adjacent to the master bedroom reveals the client’s love for mixing cultures and art periods. “She has an old masters-style painting and a very modern painting hanging opposite each other on facing walls,” Cheney says. Other decorative accents include a herezstyle rug, a custom-made console and an unusual bronze-elephant table. The piece de resistance in her art collection is a 30-piece set of lithographs by Marc Chagall (1887-1985), a Russian-born artist known for his fanciful, brilliantly colored canvases. The pieces are from Chagall’s 1960s Bible-inspired series and grace two separate walls. “Her incentive for refreshing the apartment was to redo everything – to make it bright and modern,” says Cheney, who took many of his design cues from her comment, “We need to pump up the rest of the house.” Cheney used as a backdrop a neutral, soft beige that he calls a “linen ground.” He added the punch his client wanted – a vervain fabric featuring a palette of hot pink, purple and orange. With her addition of Persian carpets and throw rugs throughout the apartment, the visuals are exciting. The final effect is “beautifully stunning,” Cheney says. “I wasn’t sure I could achieve this with her apartment. I spent the first part of my design career devoted to antiques and styles complementing historical eras. But this was a delight. The juxtaposition of modern and antiques gave me a new feeling for modern.”
2017
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Life & Style
FUN FACTS POPULATION 31,465
CIT Y LIFE
A Place of Circumstance Shawnee is a haven for high-tech manufacturing, hamburgers, higher education and humanity.
F
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, WHOSE NICKNAME IS THE BISON, HAS THESE SCULPTURES ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF CAMPUS. PHOTO COURTESY SHAWNEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
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ood, circumstance, geography, education and culture explain why people are drawn to Shawnee, be it in 1927 or just last month. Ninety years ago, Joseph Macsas, newly arrived from the East Coast, hopped off a train in what he thought was Bristow to help his brother run a burger joint. He quickly realized his mistake, but Macsas stayed in the Pottawatomie County seat and opened a branch of the eatery. Hamburger King has remained an icon ever since. Postcards of the simple white building have been found in Oregon and Maine. Customers still place their orders from phones at each table. And the family – third-generation siblings Michael Macsas and Cindy Macsas Hardin, and some of their children – still runs the place. Hamburger King, Van’s Pig Stand (1930) and Benton’s Cafe (1960) comprise a triumvirate attracting foodies statewide. The other end of the time and technology spectrum shows the state-of-the-art, 25,000-square-foot expansion of Georg Fischer Central Plastics. The new addition expands the production floor, upgrades robotics and houses a research and development facility for people throughout the Americas and Europe. “On any day, you can hear German, Spanish, French and many other languages,” says Tim Berg, executive director of the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation. “Shaw-
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
nee is all about location, especially with Interstate 40. Some people joke that we’re the last civilized town on I-40 between Oklahoma City and Fort Smith [Arkansas].” Emily Lutz, of Visit Shawnee, moved to the city after spending most of her life in Texas and New York. “You can find pretty much anything you want because we have a lot of retail,” she says. “You have a rural lifestyle, but you can go into Oklahoma City for the ballet or see a Thunder game in just 45 minutes. I love that way of life. It’s affordable. It’s pretty. It’s quiet.” Also part of Shawnee’s charm is how its people help each other. For instance, Shawnee Mall devotes itself to children with autism and special needs during “Sensitive Santa” by eliminating music, bright lights and other harsh stimuli – scheduled for 9-11 a.m. Dec. 3 this year. “A lady brought her 20-year-old son last year and it was the first time in his life that he was able to visit Santa,” says Mindy Palmer, the mall’s marketing director. “Kids aren’t rushed through. They can sit with Santa for 5-6 minutes if they want. People from Kansas and Arkansas drive here for this.”
TUTU Deciphered from hieroglyphics on her sarcophagus, the name of the only Egyptian mummy in Oklahoma; the remains of this high-status woman, who died about 332 B.C., are at the MabeeGerrer Museum of Art at St. Gregory’s University. SONIC America’s Drive-In began when Troy N. Smith Sr. installed a radio call-in system at his Shawnee business in 1959. CASTELLATED DEPOT A 60-foot turret makes the Santa Fe depot, built in 1902, look like a castle. ASTRONAUT AND ACTOR Leroy Gordon “Gordo” Cooper, one of the Mercury Seven, born in 1927; Brad Pitt, heartthrob, born in 1963. OBU Oklahoma Baptist University began classes in 1911 in Shawnee’s convention hall and First Baptist Church’s basement; the campus opened in 1915. FEELING LUCKY? Five casinos call Shawnee home.
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Life & Style H E A LT H
The Perils of Winter
Beware and be prepared as the cold weather hits.
O
klahomans experience generally mild winters, but we’re no stranger to sudden snowfalls, paralyzing ice storms and frigid temperatures. Before braving the outdoors, take note of cold weather threats.
Heart Conditions
“The classic example [for heart attacks], as seen on many movies, is the person shoveling the snow and subsequently gripping their chest and falling to the ground,” says Alisa Cross, a trauma surgeon at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City. “Although those events are dramatized for entertainment purposes, the heart does have to work harder in cold weather.” Cold weather causes arteries to constrict so a person can conserve heat, which makes the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body. “In addition, the oxygen supply to the heart is not as balanced as in warmer weather,” Cross says. “Strenuous activity increases the oxygen needed by the heart and makes the heart work harder to supply all of the tissues with oxygen-rich blood.” Overexertion by a person with an existing heart disease could lead to chest pain and heart attack.
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
Frosty Air
For individuals with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, cold air can cause distress. “The biggest problem with cold air breathing is it can be an irritant to the lungs and airways, leading to inflammation and narrowing of the airways from bronchospasm, a tightening of the airways,” says G. Aaron Hightower, a family medicine physician with St. John Clinic in Bartlesville. “Cold air is similar to any other irritant – such as smoke, environmental allergies, fumes – in that when the lungs and airways come in contact with the irritant, the lungs try to protect themselves by limiting the irritant [bronchospasm] and sending immune cells to the site of irritation [inflammation].” Cross recommends wearing a scarf over your nose and mouth to warm the air you breathe and suggests taking airway medications proactively, limiting time outdoors and recognizing the signs of labored breathing, such as wheezing, worsening cough and shortness of breath.
Frostbite
“Frostbite is the resulting damage to body tissue after a freezing injury,” Hightower says. “Early warning signs prior to tissue damage have been referred to as ‘frostnip,’ which includes redness, numbness, tingling and pain.” Commonly affected are body parts farthest from the heart, such as fingers, toes, ears and nose. Complications can range from persistent numbness and tingling, blood clots and ongoing pain to the need for surgical removal of tissue and/or digits.
Hypothermia
Beginning symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, slurred speech and confusion,
followed by drowsiness, loss of consciousness and potential death, Cross says. “The most vulnerable populations are at risk, including the elderly,” she says. “Accidental hypothermia can occur from residing in poorly heated homes or being exposed to the environment. Most people with hypothermia, especially as it progresses, are not aware of the problem because they get increasingly confused.” Treatment for mild hypothermia, which is the most common form, includes getting the person out of the cold environment, removing moist clothing and passive rewarming by dry blankets, clothing and hats. REBECCA FAST
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Join us for Breakfast with Saint Nick Saturday, December 9 Register by phone or online
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Life & Style
D E S T I N AT I O N S
The Heart of Chile’s Lake District Puerto Montt, in the Los Lagos region, is the gateway to glacial lakes, national parks and volcanic landscapes.
T TOP: THE CONGUILLIO NATIONAL PARK PROVIDES MANY SPOTS FOR MEDITATIVE MOMENTS.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOURISMO CHILE
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all and narrow like a loblolly pine, Chile stretches for more than 2,650 miles along South America’s Pacific coast and averages a width of 109 miles – and a good part of that is occupied by the formidable Andes Mountains. Most Chileans live in the country’s fertile Central Valley, a ribbon of land anchored by the capital, Santiago. South of the Central Valley’s vineyards, in the Los Lagos region, is Puerto Montt – the gateway to the country’s glacial lakes, national parks and striking volcanic landscapes. The port is also home to a more than 100-year-old German settlement as well as indigenous Mapuche communities. Adventure travelers often base themselves here when planning treks to Isle Chiloe and Patagonia. Even a short visit, however, provides a fascinating look into Chile’s diverse cultures and offers a taste of the country’s stunning scenery.
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
Angelmo Market
Famous for its laid-back ambiance, the market offers crafts carved from alerce trees, Mapuche jewelry and wearable art created from horsehair, woolen goods, ceramics … and fish. Angelmo is a working fish market where boats come in with their daily catch for purchase on the spot or via one of the area’s many restaurants, some built on stilts over the water. Known as Chile’s Lake District due to its dozen large lakes carved by glaciers and dozens more smaller lakes, Los Lagos has some of the country’s richest freshwater fishing. At nearby salmon farms, young freshwater fish are placed in large metal tanks and trucked to nearby ports, where they
undergo a metamorphosis, allowing them to survive as adults in salt water. Savvy shoppers should also check out the Fundacion Artesanias de Chile, a nonprofit foundation featuring a melting pot of crafts from more than 2,000 Chilean artisans. Many Mapuche groups are represented, as well as creators of home goods such as carved, wooden bowls and wonderful, one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
Horse country
TOP: A KAYAKER SKIMS ALONG THE PLACID WATERS OF LAKE LLANQUIHUE. ABOVE: A COUPLE ENJOYS A HOT TUB AT TERMAS DEL RINCON.
Chileans love their mounts – riding stables abound and rodeos are everywhere. Huasos (horsemen) wear flat-brimmed, flat-top sombreros to protect against the sun and frequent patches of rain. All wear colored ponchos to identify their ranches. Champion rodeo riders in Chile are revered like sports stars in other countries.
Lakes and falls
Eat, shop and play in nearby Puerto Varas on beautiful Lake Llanquihue, Chile’s second largest. The German influence is readily seen in the town’s architecture and gardens as you stroll the waterfront, punctuated by spectacular views of Osorno and Mount Calbuco, perpetually snow-capped ancient volcanoes. In addition to summertime beaches and bathing resorts, outdoor attractions lie a few miles away: the Petrohue River and Lake Todos los Santos, where whitewater rafting, zip-lining, salmon fishing and hiking within Vicente Perez Rosales National Park are the order of the day. Also in the park, the Saltos de Petrohue (or Petrohue Falls) is a snow-fed waterfall surrounded by lush woodlands, complete with paths. Be on the lookout for torrent ducks, powerful swimmers and divers that brave the rapids with their chicks. Sixteen miles north of Puerto Varas, also on Lake Llanquihue, is the charming town of Frutillar, known for crystal clear water, black sand beaches, German-style wooden buildings and cuisine, and plethora of culture, highlighted by the town’s love of classical music. TOP: KAYAKS GLIDE PAST GLACIERS AT LAGO GREY. ABOVE: THE FALLS AT OJOS DEL CABURGUA ARE 15 MILES EAST OF PUCON. LEFT: HUILO HUILO IS PRIME HORSE COUNTRY IN THE LAKE DISTRICT.
Getting there
Drive to Puerto Montt on the Pan-American Highway; fly into Santiago; or make sure it’s a stop on your cruise ship itinerary. CHUCK MAI
DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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Life & Style
F YI
On the Yule Tree’s Origins
decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.” When Roman Emperor Constantine decriminalized Christianity in 313, the religion began to spread throughout Europe. These early Christians adopted and incorporated many pagan rituals (fertility rites of the European pagans decorated evergreen trees, spring were converted into Easter bunnies symbols of spring and life, in their homes and eggs) and the Christmas tree evolved from those winter solstice celebrations. long before Christianity. Martin Luther is often credited with n evergreen, its color adding candles to a Christmas tree in the symbolizing hope, is cut 1500s, but the first documented lighting of and brought inside a home a yuletide evergreen wasn’t until 1660 in warmed by a fire. Joyous Germany. people deck the tree with The Moravians are believed to be the bright, shiny, sparkling ornaments – a brilfirst to bring the Christmas tree to the liant contrast to the cold, possibly snowy United States in the early 1800s, according conditions outside in the dead of winter. to Mental Floss. The yule tree took awhile But this isn’t yuletide and that’s not a to catch on in our country because of the Christmas tree. It’s the winter solstice and heavy reach of the Puritans (in England and pagans of Europe, long before Christianity America) 200 years before. Lord Protector has reached them, literally and figuratively Oliver Cromwell called the Christmas tree bring a bit of spring and life (large and and other yuletide celebrations “heathen green) into their dwellings during the traditions,” and New England leader Willongest, darkest night of liam Bradford did his best to the year. eliminate “pagan mockery.” Ancient druids The Puritans’ influence throughout the decreased as Irish, German British Isles and and Scandinavian imminorthern Europe grants spread across the adorned their housUnited States in the 19th Santa Claus has a cones and temples with century. Queen Victoria voluted, conflated origin. pine, spruce and fir openly celebrated ChristAccording to Christian to evoke everlasting mas and all its traditions, Ratsch and Claudia life. Scandinavians and Americans of the day, Muller-Eberling in their believed Balder, their often trying to imitate (and Pagan Christmas, the jolly sun god, even out-do) the Victorians, old elf’s name came from favored evhopped on the Christmas tree Sinterklaas, whose feast ergreens as bandwagon. They haven’t day, as patron saint of special plants. jumped off. sailors and merchants, “Early RoAmericans, Oklahomans was the day before that mans marked included, frequently light of Saint Nicholas, the the solstice public Christmas trees the fourth-century Turkish with a feast evening of Thanksgiving; bishop known for his called Saturnalia Bricktown in Oklahoma City generosity to children in honor of Saturn, and Utica Square in Tulsa and poor people. Early the god of agriculture,” did just that. Others wait a legends of Saint Nicholas according to Hislittle bit and don’t put up include his pagan sidetory.com. “The Romans their trees until this month. kick, Ruprecht. knew that the solstice But almost all who do “In the end, [Santa] is meant that soon farms have their evergreens lit, a compromise figure and orchards tinseled and bedazzled by between Catholic, Proteswould be green Dec. 21, the winter solstice, tant and pre-Christian and fruitful. a holy, spiritual time for beliefs,” anthropologist To mark the pagans. Rudiger Vossen writes. occasion, they
A
A SANTA BRIEFING
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
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Life & Style
ST YLE
Party Picks
Holiday celebrations abound in December – make sure you look your merry best. Whether it’s glitter, velvet, sequins or gold, we’ve got you covered this season.
TRINA TURK BLACK AND GOLD FLORAL DRESS, $378, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
AIDAN MATTOX PINK MULTICOLORED SEQUIN DRESS, $395, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
HALSTON HERITAGE RED OFF-THE-SHOULDER DRESS, $425, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
BURGANDY VELOUR DINNER JACKET, $495; STENSTROMS SHIRT, $235; SAND SCARF, $175; STENSTROMS POCKET SQUARE, $65, TRAVERS MAHAN
HALSTON HERITAGE BLACK CHAMBRAY DRESS, $445, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
ALBERTO CORDUROY JEANS, $225, TRAVERS MAHAN
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
PHOTOS BY NATALIE GREEN
JOSEPH RIBKOFF BLACK AND TAN DRESS, $234, DONNA’S FASHIONS
TRINA TURK GOLD COCKTAIL DRESS, $328, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
SAND TURTLENECK, $195; NAVY VELOUR DINNER JACKET, $495, TRAVERS MAHAN
KAREN KANE CRUSHED VELVET TEAL DRESS, $128, DONNA’S FASHIONS
ALICE AND OLIVIA SEQUIN BLAZER, $595; ALICE AND OLIVIA OFFWHITE PEARL RUFFLE BLOUSE, $440, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
BRAX FIVE-POCKET PANTS, $200, TRAVERS MAHAN
PELLO BELLO FLUFFY FEATHER RED FEVER JACKET, $248, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE LAUNDRY BY SHELLI SEGAL BLACK SEQUINED COCKTAIL DRESS, $265, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
ALICE AND OLIVIA LEATHER SKIRT, $498, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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Life & Style
ACCESSORIES
Go Glitzy
JIMMY CHOO LANG GLITTER SANDALS, $850, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Nothing says ‘festive’ quite like a pop of sparkle in your holiday ensembles.
DONNA’S BRUSHED GOLD HOOPS, $36, DONNA’S FASHIONS
DONNA’S TRIANGLE GOLD AND OLIVE EARRINGS, $36, DONNA’S FASHIONS SUSAN SHAW GOLD AND EMERALD NECKLACE, $82, DONNA’S FASHIONS
MANOLO BLAHNIK HANGISI SATIN FLATS; $955; SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
MANOLO BLAHNIK HANGISI SATIN PUMPS, $965, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
JIMMY CHOO MARVEL CRYSTAL-EMBELLISHED PUMPS, $950, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
MANOLO BLAHNIK HANGISI SATIN PUMPS, $965, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
JIMMY CHOO CRYSTALEMBELLISHED PUMPS, $950, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
JIMMY CHOO LANG GLITTER SANDALS, $850, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
MOLLY PHILLIPS EMELIA DRUZY EARRINGS, $134, DONNA’S FASHIONS
MOLLY PHILLIPS SASHA NECKLACE, $116, DONNA’S FASHIONS
JIMMY CHOO ROMY GLITTER POINT TOE PUMPS, $625, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
MATTE GOLD RECTANGLE BANGLE; $54; DONNA’S FASHIONS
TORY BURCH DARCY EMBELLISHED CLUTCH, $598, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
DONNA’S TRIANGLE DANGLE EARRINGS, $30, DONNA’S FASHIONS
REBECCA MINKOFF CHAMPAGNE CLUTCH, $95, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
REBECCA MINKOFF BLACK TEXTURED CLUTCH, $95, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
REBECCA MINKOFF BLACK EMBROIDERED CLUTCH, $125, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
MILLY GOLD TEXTURED CLUTCH, $255, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
REBECCA MINKOFF JAMIE HEART CROSSBODY, $195, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
MILLY CLUTCH, $295, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
BLACK AND SILVER CUFF, $78, DONNA’S FASHIONS SUSAN SHAW TASSEL EARRINGS, $32, DONNA’S FASHIONS MOLLY PHILLIPS SILVER TASSEL EARRINGS, $72, DONNA’S FASHIONS
DONNA’S GOLD OVAL HOOPS, $24, DONNA’S FASHIONS
PHOTOS BY NATALIE GREEN
REBECCA MINKOFF OPAL IRIDESCENT CLUTCH, $95, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
DONNA’S SMALL OVAL AND PAVE DIAMOND DANGLE EARRINGS, $24, DONNA’S FASHIONS
Life & Style
SCENE
Ginger Kollmann, Suzanne Kneale; AWARE Luncheon, Alzheimer’s Association, Tulsa
Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook & Kimberly Schlapman; William K. Warren Jr. & Suzanne Warren; Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild & Philip Sweet; 10th Painted Pony Ball, The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis, Tulsa
Jeff & Connie Cope, Capt. Mark Kelly, Jill & Bob Thomas; Capt. Mark Kelly speaking event, Tulsa Town Hall, Tulsa
Chip Carter, Mark Beffort, Jodi Lewis, Tom O’Keefe, Frank Franzese; Lt. Governor’s Young Professionals Conference, OKC
Ted Streuli, Shaun Witt, Janetta Cravens; Members Meeting, Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, OKC Joey DeGiusti, Lindsey Fry, Meghan Thomason, Ryan Henneke; Bingo for Babies, Infant Crisis Services, OKC Darcey & Joe Moran, Larry Guthrie; Friends of the Medallion donor trip, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, OKC
Jean Ann Hankins, Candace Nees, BJ Weintraub, Naomi Keitt; McDazzle Fun Ball, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Tulsa
Jane Thompson, Vicki Richards, Lana Lopez, Nancy Moore; AWARE Luncheon, Alzheimer’s Association, OKC RaLayna Kennedy, Carolyn Stager, Darcie Henderson; Go Red for Women Circle of Red Mingle, American Heart Association, OKC
Tom Anthony, Bob & Nancy Anthony, Patty Anthony, Betsy & Bob Thorpe; Starlight Ball, Children’s Hospital Foundation, OKC
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
John Dowdell, Jeanette & Terry Kern; Giving Spirits, Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa
Oklahoma Magazine presents: 2017
GREAT COMPANIES TO WORK FOR 2017 ‘Great’ companies know satisfied employees mean satisfied customers.
Wherever a company is in Oklahoma, whatever a company does, one measurement remains equally important across the board – the happiness of the employees. Ann Mulcahy, former CEO of the Xerox Corporation, once said: “Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability.” Oklahoma Magazine’s 2017 Great Companies to Work For have proven that satisfied employees know that management cares about their well-being, building a strong quality of life for employees and the communities where they live and work. DECEMBER 2017| WWW.OKMAG.COM
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2017
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
EMPLOYEES
FIRST
PHOTO BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER
QuikTrip’s Chairman and CEO says his workers are ‘incredible.’
ulsa-owned QuikTrip is a juggernaut of success. Since its creation in 1958, the company has expanded to more than 700 stores in 11 states and is valued at more than $11 billion because of razor-sharp business savvy, smart investments and fortuitous expansions. However, Chairman and CEO Chet Cadieux boils down QT’s achievements to one factor: employees. “Our employees are simply incredible,” Cadieux says. “I couldn’t possibly be prouder of them and sincerely feel so lucky to get to work with them every day.” QuikTrip has consistently been named as one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes magazine
– recognition for the emphasis the company puts on employee happiness and well-being. “Really, since the inception of QuikTrip in 1958, we have always believed our employees deserved to be well paid while having great benefits and providing the opportunity to grow and succeed,” Cadieux says. “QuikTrip is a big family, with over 22,000 employees who work really, really hard every day. We make sure their efforts are rewarded and that they are taken care of.” Store manager Bruce Froman echoes Cadieux. “QuikTrip’s purpose, simply put, is to provide opportunity for employees to grow and succeed,” he says. Froman, making a career change at age 37, started as a night assistant for QuikTrip and quickly realized
it was the best company he’d ever worked for. His QT journey is not unique. “Most of the employees in upperlevel management or in the executive level started at a QuikTrip store as a part-time clerk or entry-level manager,” he says. “The amount of pride and respect the employees have is unmatched in any other setting I’ve seen or worked in. “Perhaps it stems from QuikTrip starting right here in Tulsa over 50 years ago. Or maybe it’s from how well QuikTrip takes care of us and our customers. The company invests heavily in its employees; naturally that makes us want to invest in them.” Froman praises the hands-on approach of Cadieux as instrumental in encouraging that investment. DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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2017
“Chet Cadieux makes a point to be present in the lives of his employees,” Froman says. “Never have I met an executive, much less a CEO, who treats everyone like family. I, along with everyone else, always look forward to the yearly meetings where he talks to us about all the progress and changes QuikTrip has made and will make. With the way we continue to adapt and grow, we’re here to stay, and I’m glad to be a part of it all.” he company doesn’t just focus on caring for its employees. QuikTrip is also famous for its philanthropy and community support, with 5 percent of the company’s net profits going to charity, as well as countless endeavors throughout the year for charitable causes. While Froman acknowledges the excellent traditional benefits that employees receive, he says the company’s commitment to others is what sets it apart as an exceptional place of employment. “Along with great pay, QuikTrip is also known for its great health care, paid sick days, personal days, vacation, PTO benefits, and even referral bonuses for helping others become a part of the QuikTrip team,” Froman says. “But what I think makes QuikTrip truly remarkable is how much we give back, not only to the employees, but to the community as well. “Every store is also a SafePlace, which is a community program for at-risk youth. We are also a large donor to United Way and Folds of Honor. Every year we send a store manager to work for United Way for a few months to help with fundraising and awareness. To my knowledge, most of the employees donate to United Way weekly, which QuikTrip then matches equally. We also host a charity golf tournament and participate in several community parades every year.” Cadieux is optimistic that the corporate culture he’s helped to foster pays off in multiple ways for QuikTrip’s employees. “Oh my goodness, I hope that they get a lot out of it,” he says. “At a minimum, they are going to come away with a great work ethic and a drive to be successful. But I’d like to think that they also develop an appreciation for how the key to success is to be on a great team that looks after one another.”
FOUNDED IN TULSA IN 1958, QUIKTRIP NOW HAS MORE THAN 700 STORES IN 11 STATES. WITH MORE THAN 22,000 EMPLOYEES AND EXCELLENT EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS, QUIKTRIP IS ONE OF OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE’S GREAT COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN 2017. PHOTOS COURTESY QUIKTRIP
“QuikTrip is a company where you don’t just learn how to treat customers; you learn how to care for people.”
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
As QuikTrip continues to expand its territory – plans are in the works to open stores in Austin and San Antonio soon – the focus remains on growing the company team in every sense. “QuikTrip prides itself in its five core values: ‘Be the Best,’ ‘Do the Right Thing,’ ‘Focus Long Term,’ ‘Never Be Satisfied,’ and ‘Do What’s Right for QuikTrip,’” Froman says.
“Aside from instilling these, we learn and continually develop our teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills, work quickly and concisely, and build up each other’s confidence. QuikTrip is a company where you don’t just learn how to treat customers; you learn how to care for people.” TARA MALONE
2017
Reaching New Heights Our team is driving for a stronger tomorrow. Succeeding in today’s energy landscape requires innovation, continuous improvement and the desire to embrace change. As a growth-oriented midstream company, we are committed to retaining and attracting top talent, developing leaders and rewarding performance. Learn more at semgroupcorp.com
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2017
Follow The Bells to Bring Holiday Joy. Donate to any Salvation Army Red Kettle on December 15 and funds raised will be matched up to $5,000. Visit www.salarmytulsa.org for more information.
800.234.6181 | www.bankofoklahoma.com
Š 2017 Bank of Oklahoma, a division of BOKF, NA. Member FDIC.
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DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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2017
ACCOUNTING Eide Bailly
GREAT COMPANIES
TO WORK FOR 2017
Businesses who value their employees the most make our exclusive list. Oklahoma Magazine’s Great Companies to Work For list encompasses every industry in Oklahoma, from accounting to entertainment to manufacturing, but only those companies who have a proven record of employee satisfaction made the cut.
OKC eidebailly.com Eide Bailly’s approach to employee satisfaction is one modern professionals can appreciate. Recognizing that a fulfilling life is not just about earning a paycheck, Eide Bailly also encourages staff to invest in the community by offering eight hours of paid time off to spend supporting charitable organizations and causes they’re passionate about.
HoganTaylor
TULSA HoganTaylor.com One of the largest public accounting firms in the Oklahoma and Arkansas region, HoganTaylor has also been recognized nationally as a top firm to work for in the past. HoganTaylor has more than 200 employees, with nearly 100 Certified Public Accountants and 29 partners.
BANKING AND FINANCE Arvest
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
SEE THE FULL LIST OF GREAT COMPANIES TO WORK
FOR ONLINE AT OKMAG.COM/GREATCOMPANIES2017. Oklahoma City Thunder
STATEWIDE arvest.com Arvest has come a long way since its first location in Bentonville, Arkansas, opened in 1961. Arvest entered the Oklahoma market in 1987 with a 50 percent purchase of Security National Bank of Norman; it has had multifold growth and serves 26 cities and towns in the Sooner State.
PHOTO COURTESY OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Bank2
OKC bank2online.com Bank2, bought by the Chickasaw Nation in 2002, holds the most mortgages for Native Americans in Oklahoma and is one of the leading lenders throughout the country. With assets of more than $100 million, Bank2 is regularly cited as one of the top Native American-owned businesses in North America.
Bank of Oklahoma/BOK Financial Corp.
TULSA bokf.com Bank of Oklahoma is the state’s largest bank and its profits and growth make it a Wall Street favorite. With nearly 3,000 employees 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.
First Fidelity Bank
OKC ffb.com First Fidelity has been a leader with mobile phone payments, launched in 2012. First Fidelity began as the Bank of Norman in 1920. The Symcox family bought it in 1952; it is owned by chairman Bill Cameron, his sister Lynda Cameron, CEO and President Lee Symcox and his wife, Executive Vice President Suzanne Symcox.
MidFirst Bank
OKC midfirst.com MidFirst, which also has a large presence in Tulsa, is as committed to sustainability as it is to its customers. It reduces paper and water use in many ways. MidFirst is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country; it serves a half-million customers nationwide.
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
Red Crown Federal Credit Union
TULSA redcrown.org Red Crown Federal Credit Union knows the value of employees in building a great company to work for; it was started in 1938 by an employee of Stanolind Oil & Gas Company using a shoe box in a desk drawer. That employee’s innovative approach has led to a company employing more than 50 people and serving more than 22,000 members.
Regent Bank
NOWATA bankregent.com Founded more than 116 years ago, Regent Bank’s mission is to serve “our clients to help them achieve their dreams.” Regent Bank relies on its employees to do just that by giving employees the opportunity to develop their own client relation strategies such as, “My bankers treat me like family and I am excited to come back.”
Tinker Federal Credit Union
also impacts the lives of Oklahomans, such as the 2,414 students mentored by AT&T employees through Aspire Mentoring Academy in 2015 or the more than 130,000 hours of personal time given by AT&T employees and retirees to community outreach activities in 2014.
U.S. Cellular Customer Care Center
TULSA uscellular.com Employees of U.S. Cellular, the fifth-largest fullservice wireless carrier in the United States, say the company provides ample room for advancement, great benefits and competitive pay. The Tulsa call center, one of four nationwide, employs nearly 460 customer service representatives and telesales wireless consultants.
CONSTRUCTION Cowen Construction
OKC tinkerfcu.org Tinker has been in business for more than 70 years and is the largest credit union in the state, with 31 branches across Oklahoma and 332,000 members. Workers at Vance Air Force Base in Enid joined the team in 1967, and more than 700 central Oklahoma companies have followed.
TULSA cowenconstruction.com Cowen Construction, in business for more than 116 years, is a company built on the tenets of adaptability, quality and surpassing customer’s expectations. Cowen Construction has garnered many local, regional and national awards with its staff of nearly 100, who provide a unique, team-based approach to managing every aspect of every project.
True Sky Credit Union
Crossland
OKC trueskycu.org Serving eight counties in central Oklahoma, True Sky began when eight Civil Aeronautics Administration members began the credit union in 1947. It changed its name to the FAA Credit Union in the 1950s, when the Federal Aviation Agency emerged. That lasted until last year, when the name switched to True Sky.
TTCU Federal Credit Union
TULSA ttcu.com TTCU is the second-largest credit union in Oklahoma. It 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 then. It now has more than 120,000 members and assets of more than $1.7 billion.
Tulsa Federal Credit Union
TULSA tulsafederalcu.org Tulsa Federal Credit Union began humbly in 1943 with a dozen members and $240 in assets. The communitychartered credit union now manages more than 63,000 members and $690 million in assets. It serves Tulsa, Osage, Pawnee, Creek, Okmulgee, Wagoner and Rogers counties. TFCU also gives back to the community by playing host to the annual Tulsa Run for 40 years. This year’s run raised more than $40,000 for charities and schools when more than 7,000 runners gathered in downtown Tulsa.
COMMUNICATIONS AT&T Oklahoma
STATEWIDE att.com AT&T Oklahoma employees take pride in their careers with the company, which has employed Oklahomans for more than 123 years. The company
TULSA/OKC crossland.com Started in 1977 in the garage of founder Ivan “Red Iron” Cross, this conglomeration of companies has grown to more than 1,500 employees. It has its own heavy construction company (Crossland Heavy Contractors), in-house precast plan (Crossland Prefab) and development and holding company (Crossland Realty Group).
Fleming Construction Group
TULSA flemingconstructiongroup.com Since 1946, Fleming Construction Group has een dedicated to innovation – not only of building systems, but also of contracting methods and field practices. For their clients, the company says, buildings are more than structures, they are investments, the company says. “They are dreams placed into reality. They are commitents, and we’re only as good as our ability to deliver on those commitments.”
Flintco
TULSA flintco.com Flintco, which will turn 100 in 2018, 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 in 1908. C.W. Flint took full ownership of the company after World War I.
GE Johnson Construction
OKC gejohnson.com An employee-owned company, GE Johnson Construction is part of the GE Johnson Holding Company, along with GE Johnson Site Services, Schmueser & Associates and HW Houston Construction. Since 1967, GE Johnson employs craftsmen, engineers, financial experts, facility managers, community leaders and architects to bring integrity and ingenuity to every project.
Statistics The greatest number of Oklahomans are employed in the health care industry, followed by retail trade, manufacturing, and accommodation and food services.
OKLAHOMA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
6.3 %
age 16 and over about
Number of Oklahomans
OVER AGE 75 STILL WORKING about
17,155
Number of Oklahomans
AGES 16-19 WORKING
83,000
Oklahomans working
OUTSIDE THEIR HOME COUNTIES
22.8 % 10 %
Oklahomans CARPOOLING TO WORK about
AVERAGE TRAVEL TIME TO WORK
21 18.4 % 4.5 %
for Oklahomans
minutes
drive less than 10 minutes
drive more than an hour
(Sources: 2015 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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2017
ConocoPhillips
BARTLESVILLE conocophillips.com More than 1,000 Phillips 66 employees can still call themselves Bartians, down from a high in 6,000, before Phillips merged with Conoco and moved its headquarters to Houston. ConocoPhillips is the world’s largest independent exploration and production company. A commitment to safety, operating excellence and environmental stewardship guide its operations.
Continental Resources
Manhattan Construction
TULSA manhattanconstructiongroup.com Manhattan was the first company to incorporate in the brand new state of Oklahoma in 1907. This isn’t surprising since Manhattan began in 1896 in Chandler (then in Oklahoma Territory) by Laurence H. Rooney. Manhattan has built highly complex facilities across the United States, including 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, which hosts more than 3 million people per year.
Nabholz Construction
TULSA nabholz.com Nabholz is not just a construction company – it is a community-building conglomerate with diverse services and specialty divisions providing expertise in: thought leadership, civil services, energy conservation and sustainability, industrial and environmental services and construction management. Nabholz is the winner of the national Association of General Contractor’s “Build
Volunteerism BRINGS EMPLOYEES SATISFACTION Many, if not most, of the companies on this year’s Great Companies to Work For list encourage and fund their employees’ passionate efforts to make a difference in their communities. From AT&T’s Aspire Mentoring Academy, which allows employees to mentor thousands of schoolchildren each year, to Whirlpool, whose employees partner with United Way and Habitat for Humanity, employers find that employees who give back to their communities are more satisfied.
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OKC contres.com Continental, an independent oil and natural gas producer, is the largest leaseholder in the Bakken field of North Dakota Matrix Service Company PHOTO COURTESY MATRIX SERVICE COMPANY and Montana. The Bakken is one of the premier oil and gas fields in the country. The company turned 50 this year, and CEO America Award” – an honor awarded to the contractor Harold Hamm has directed it the entire time. of the best project in America and is widely accepted as the highest achievement in the industry. “At the core, Nabholz believes growing our people is as important Devon Energy as growing our business. Being a responsible employer OKC devonenergy.com and community partner drives every business decision.” Devon focuses many projects offshore in the United States and Canada, but this independent producer ENERGY has also doubled its onshore production in North America since 2011. Devon was founded in 1971 by John Nichols who, in 1950, created the first public oil Chesapeake Energy and gas drilling fund registered with the Securities OKC chk.com and Exchange Commission. Chesapeake develops its onshore, geographically diverse base of unconventional oil and natural gas assets. It focuses on the Powder River Basin EOG Resources (Wyoming), Utica Shale (Ohio), Marcellus Shale OKC eogresources.com (Pennsylvania), Haynesville Shale (Louisiana) and In 1999, EOG dropped its affiliation with Enron Oil and Eagle Ford Shale (Texas). The company also owns Gas Co. and changed its name. EOG has grown businesses that market oil and natural gas, and remarkably by focusing on what are known as pregather and compress natural gas. mium wells, which deliver solid returns even when crude oil is $40 per barrel and natural gas is $2.50 per cubic foot.
Magellan Midstream Partners
TULSA magellanlp.com Magellan owns the longest refined petroleum products pipeline system in the country (9,700 miles) and can tap into nearly 50 percent of the nation’s refining capacity. With an aggregate storage capacity of about 26 million barrels of oil, Magellan has access to 53 connected terminals and 27 independent terminals.
OGE Energy
OKC 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.
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ONE Gas
TULSA onegas.com ONE Gas subsidiaries – Oklahoma Natural Gas, Kansas Gas Service and Texas Gas Service – are part of an evolving industry with changes that yield exciting opportunities. Customers trust ONE Gas to provide a safe, reliable source of natural gas, and they value that trust that is earned by the employees who strive to make it their business to satisfy customers.
ONEOK
TULSA oneok.com Founded in 1906 as Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., an intrastate natural gas pipeline company, ONEOK reaches across the country, especially with its energy services operation, which focuses on marketing natural gas. The original ONG, along with other gas producers, spun off to become ONE Gas in 2014.
SandRidge Energy
OKC sandridgeenergy.com SandRidge emerged from bankruptcy in October 2016 following the death of co-founder Aubrey McClendon six months earlier. SandRidge has focused its resources primarily in the Meramec formation in
‘Employee empowerment’ isn’t just a trendy phrase
The Saylor Foundation says “many businesses … looking to improve employee productivity and their overall performance believe that empowering employees will help them achieve this organizational goal.” Empowering employees is being recognized as an important part of management that means improved productivity, satisfaction, collaboration and quality of work. For example, several on our Great Companies to Work For list cite empowerment as a main segment of their employee programs, including Regent Bank, which allowed its employees to collaborate and come up with a company approach to customer service, and Red Crown Credit Union, which started in 1938 because an employee of Stanolind Oil & Gas Company used a shoe box in a desk drawer to “bank” employees’ funds.
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 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. SemGroup owns, operates, develops and acquires midstream energy assets throughout North America and the United Kingdom. SemGroup employs more than 1,100 people in its operations. SemGroup is led by CEO Carlin Conner, who has more than 24 years of experience in the energy industry. One of SemGroup’s major acquisitions in 2017 was the Houston Fuel Oil Terminal Co., one of the largest oil terminals in the United States.
T.D. Williamson
TULSA tdwilliamson.com Founded in 1920, T.D. Williamson is the world’s most recognized name in pipeline equipment and services. With nearly 2,000 employees, TDW delivers safe integrity solutions globally for onshore and offshore applications, including hot tapping and plugging, pipeline cleaning, geometry and MFL inspection, pigging, and non-tethered plugging pig technology services. Employees at TDW enable the company to deliver exceptional customer value. That’s why the company’s commitment to employees is equally as important as its commitment to safety, quality and community.
Williams Companies
TULSA co.williams.com 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. Founded in 1908, just after Oklahoma statehood, Williams owns and operates midstream gathering and processing assets, along with interstate natural gas pipelines.
ENGINEERING Crafton Tull
TULSA/OKC craftontull.com Crafton Tull is a civil engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, planning and surveying firm focused on outstanding client service. Crafton Tull employs more than 200 professionals who deliver quality services to clients across the country. With two offices in Oklahoma and five in Arkansas, Crafton Tull has been an industry leader for more than 50 years.
Enviro Clean Cardinal/Cardinal Engineering
OKC 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.
Linde Engineering North America
TULSA linde-engineering.com Linde Engineering North America in Tulsa is a subsidiary of the Linde Engineering Division, and is operational headquarters for administrative and operational services in North America. The Tulsa location provides technology, engineering, procurement and construction services to companies specializing in gas processing, refining, petrochemicals and deep cryogenics.
Wallace Engineering
TULSA/OKC wallacesc.com Wallace Engineering’s offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City were nominated as great places to work, but the company as a whole says it operates as a series of separate offices. Instead, each office is a part of the whole, bringing together the cream of the crop in engineers, technicians and support personnel in the structural and civil engineering industry.
ENTERTAINMENT Choctaw Casinos and Resorts
DURANT choctawcasinos.com With eight Choctaw Casinos and Resorts in Oklahoma, patrons can find an exciting nightlife close to home. For example, the Durant location offers 286 luxurious rooms, the Spa Tower, bowling, laser tag and a cinema, and you’ll find delicious dining and top entertainment whichever casino you decide to visit.
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 quality eateries and bars.
FlyingTee
JENKS flyingteegolf.com On the north end of the RiverWalk Crossing, Flying
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THANK YOU FOR SELECTING US AS ONE OF OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE’S 2017 GREAT COMPANIES TO WORK FOR Thank you for naming Manhattan Construction Group a great company to work for!
ECHOLS AND ASSOCIATES OKLAHOMA'S TOP RATED MATRIMONIAL LAWYERS
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THANK YOU FOR SELECTING US AS ONE OF OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE’S 2017 GREAT COMPANIES TO WORK FOR
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renowned live performers, and the River Lounge for local musicians to entertain. Enjoy a getaway at the luxurious hotel, and enjoy dining at several popular dining venues on the casino floor.
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.
WinStar World Casino and Resort
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, citythemed gaming plazas.
FOOD INDUSTRY Bama (Pies) Companies
each new Thunder employee, be it a basketball All-Star or a support staffer, visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
TULSA bama.com Bama remains a Marshall family affair. Paul Marshall started a branch of his parents’ Texas pie-selling business that 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.
Osage Casino
Central Liquor
River Spirit Casino Resort
LDF Sales and Distributing
River Spirit Casino Tulsa PHOTO COURTESY RIVER SPIRIT CASINO
Tee is a premier driving range in Tulsa County. It has restaurants and bars on each of its three stories, along with a ground-level large, outdoor patio (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.
Grand Casino and Resort
SHAWNEE grandresortok.com The Grand Casino Hotel and Resort 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 The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s largest property, featuring a 456-room hotel, six restaurants, four clubs, meeting spaces, shopping and a championship golf course. Cherokee Nation Entertainment is Oklahoma’s fastest growing entertainment company, which operates multiple casinos and retail establishments.
Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC 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
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TULSA osagecasinos.com Since 2002, Osage Casino has opened seven locations featuring the best in gaming, hospitality, dining and entertainment experiences: Tulsa, Pawhuska, Bartlesville, Hominy, Skiatook, Ponca City and Sand Springs. Osage Casinos offer a hopping nightlife with everything from luxurious hotel suites to rocking live concerts and fine dining. 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 all can enjoy the largest gaming floors in Oklahoma, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant, and the hottest in live music and other performances at Paradise Cove. The River Spirit Casino Resort prides itself on a culture that celebrates diversity and diverse perspectives. Employees enjoy an effective work/life balance that includes efforts to support whatever their passions are to create positive impacts in their communities.
Riverwind Casino
NORMAN riverwind.com Riverwind’s lavish 219,000-square-foot casino offers more than 2,800 electronic games, a wide selection of classic and high-stakes game tables, an off-track horse betting area, the Showplace Theater for
OKC centralliquor.com Third-generation descendents of founder Zeak Naifeh own and operate Central Liquor’s 238,000-square-foot facility. The 58-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. TULSA/OKC ldfcompanies.com Founded by Larry D. Fleming in 1983, LDF Sales and Distributing is an aggressive, high-performance and fast-growing company. 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. It’s committed to success and long-term profitability by consistently exceeding customer expectations.
Reasor’s Foods
TAHLEQUAH reasors.com Larry Reasor began his family’s first store in Tahlequah in 1967 and son Jeff is the chairman and CEO; they both are known for their 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.
OKLAHOMA BORN. OKLAHOMA BASED.
If you’re there, we’re there. Founded in Oklahoma in the early 1980’s, companies across North America and beyond trust us for their energy and industrial infrastructure. At Matrix, our employees are committed to the industry and proud to be invested in the future of Oklahoma.
866 367 6879 matrixservicecompany.com
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HEALTH CARE AllianceHealth Deaconess Hospital
OKC 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.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Southwestern Regional Medical Center
TULSA cancercenter.com/southwestern The Tulsa campus of Cancer Treatment Centers of America cares for patients with breast, colorectal, headneck, kidney, lung, pancreatic or prostate cancer. The facility, opened in 1990, was the second of the Cancer Treat Centers of America, founded in 1988 by Richard J. Stephenson. It moved from the CityPlex Towers, owned by Oral Roberts University, to its 195,845-square-foot hospital off East 81st Street in 2005. Cancer Treatment Centers of America operate under Stephenson’s commitment to its trademarked Mother Standard, which reflects how employees would want their mothers, fathers, brothers or sisters treated if they had cancer.
Hillcrest HealthCare System
TULSA hillcrest.com Hillcrest’s Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center has specialists in gynecological oncology, uro-gynecology, 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
OKC 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 healthcare providers go beyond treatment of diseases and ailments and emphasize healthy lifestyles. “Love, Learn and Lead” is the system’s motto.
Saint Francis Health System PHOTO COURTESY SAINT FRANCIS HEALTH SYSTEM
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Mercy Hospital
OKC 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 a 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 State University Medical Center
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.
OU Medicine
STATEWIDE oumedicine.com OU Medicine’s mission is leading health care – and always leading with honesty and integrity. Its vision: “ ... to be the premiere enterprise for advancing health care, medical education and research for the community, state and region.” Through the combined efforts of OU Medical Center, OU Physicians, The Children’s Hospital, OU Medical Center Edmond and OU College of Medicine, they strive to improve the lives of all people. Caring for patients must be at the center of all they do, and they magnify that effectiveness through teamwork, open and effective communication, and respect among colleagues and co-workers.
St. Anthony Hospital
OKC saintsok.com The hospital, with its $220 million expansion and renovation in 2003, 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 in that area of Oklahoma City.
St. John Health System
TULSA/OKC stjohnhealthsystem.com St. John has had significant milestones the past two years. This year marked 100 years since the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother paid $16,000 for land that would eventually become the 8.75-acre campus at East 21st Street and Utica Avenue. Because of several setbacks, the hospital didn’t open for another nine years, so St. John celebrated its 90th birthday in 2016. Physicians and staff are committed to holistic care and advocates for a compassionate, just society through actions and words. They are also united in their devotion to service for the poor, reverence, respect and compassion for the dignity and diversity of life, integrity, wisdom, creativity, and dedication.
Saint Francis Health System
TULSA saintfrancis.com According to CEO and President Jake Henry Jr., five values drive Saint Francis: excellence, dignity, justice, integrity and stewardship. “You have to do it every day in spirit,” he says. “Every person who comes through the emergency room or regular doors deserves dignity. We also spend a lot of time in Oklahoma City lobbying for people who are less fortunate. We hope to minimize the harm done to Medicaid cuts. We’re sensitive to these issues.” Saint Francis has 1,000 beds at its Yale Avenue campus and 1,600 beds system-wide. “We make the very best use of our resources,” Henry says. “We’re conservative in approach and we preach managing through the hard times.”
Stephenson Cancer Center
OKC 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 in a coordinated, compassionate manner. It combines patient care with innovative research in basic, translational, clinical, behavioral and populations-based sciences.
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Tulsa Bone and Joint
TULSA tulsaboneandjoint.com In addition to housing 34 physicians, Tulsa Bone and Joint’s Tulsa campus has an orthopedic urgent care center, physical therapy center, a spine center and an outpatient surgery center. Satellite campuses are in Owasso, Bartlesville and Stillwater.
HEAT AND AIR SERVICE
Relax Hour Cancer Treatment Centers of America PHOTO COURTESY CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA
core employment areas in the graduate’s major field of study.”
Air Assurance
TULSA airassurance.com Air Assurance provides exceptional service in residential and commercial air conditioning, heating, geothermal service and installation, and plumbing. Air Assurance considers its employees to be its best asset by offering exceptional customer service with true integrity.
Airco Service
TULSA aircoservice.com The largest family-owned and operated residential and commercial HVAC, electric and plumbing company in Northeastern Oklahoma, Airco Service employs professionals with excellent customer service and workmanship skills. Airco, established in 1961, offers free estimates on product replacements, and zero-percent financing on repair and replacement, with approved credit.
Air Comfort Solutions
TULSA/OKC aircomfortsolutions.net Air Comfort Solutions offers heating, plumbing and air conditioning services with teams of friendly, knowledgeable professionals. Those workers are experts in both residential and commercial services, such as energy-saving preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, air conditioning repair and installation, and heater repair and installation.
HIGHER EDUCATION Cameron University 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
Mid-America Christian University
OKC 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 OBU, ranked No. 2 among private schools by Great Value Colleges, is a small, liberal-arts university 45 minutes east of Oklahoma City. OBU students have the choice of 87 areas of study, the opportunity to work and study abroad, and the chance to engage faculty mentors. All of this occurs in a “supportive, Christian community; one that’s dedicated to the highest intellectual and ethical standards,” the college says.
Oklahoma is certainly known for its wide-open spaces and sprawling cities – Oklahoma City is ranked 8th in the world for its 606-square-mile metropolis. So Oklahomans also know the horror, or the pleasure for a select few, of the daily commute. More than 22 percent of Oklahomans don’t even work in the same county they live in, and the average travel time to work is 21 minutes. Nearly 5 percent of commuters actually drive more than an hour to get to work. But don’t despair, commuting doesn’t have to cause stress, obesity and lower job satisfaction, according to Harvard Business Review. Instead, consider using the time to shift your mindset – turning your mind away from your role as parent, caregiver or partner and toward your role as a multi-tasking superstar. The Harvard Business Review surveyed 229 commuters, and the ones who reported they planned their day while heading to work, also said they were better able to handle long commutes. Think about your day ahead. What tasks do you have set for the day? Who will you be meeting with, and what message will you be needing to share with that person? Act out the meeting (that you, of course, need to be very successful) inside your head. Or act it out loud. Chances are no one will know you’re talking to yourself anyway if you’re commuting the most common way Oklahomans do – by private car. On your way home, begin unwinding. What better way to arrive at home after a long day but relaxed and ready to embrace your family, your partner or your (very happy to see you) dog? Do some breathing exercises; sing along to cheesy ‘80s love songs; listen to a book on tape – just don’t get too relaxed, yet – you still have to keep your eyes on the road.
Oklahoma City Community College
OKC occc.edu Unlike many community colleges these days with separate campuses in different parts of a metropolitan area, OCCC has kept its 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
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students. OCU will undergo another transition in 2018, when Robert Henry, president since 2010, retires.
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 wants all students and faculty to identify collectively as OSU Cowboys or Cowgirls.
Oral Roberts University
TULSA oru.edu For a school with 3,800 students, ORU’s appeal is geographically vast. Outside of Oklahomans, the most likely Golden Eagles by state 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 long-time 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.
Oklahoma City MAKES TOP 25 LIST According to Glassdoor.com, Oklahoma City ranks 15th out of the top 25 best cities for jobs in 2017. The list is compiled by ranking U.S. metropolitan areas based on three factors equally: how easy it is to get a job (hiring opportunities), how affordable it is to live there, and how satisfied employees are working there. Oklahoma City scored a 4.1 out of 5 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania topped the list at 4.4), with 43,898 job openings, a median base salary of $36,000, and a job satisfaction rating of 3.4 out of 5.
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 and much centralization, 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 wants to become in the next few years. Key to this is 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.
University of Oklahoma
NORMAN ou.edu The University of Oklahoma has big shoes to fill because President David Boren will retire at the end of the spring semester in 2018. Using his experiences as a Rhodes scholar, Oklahoma governor and U.S. senator, Boren transformed OU into the nation’s leader in attracting National Merit Scholarship winners. The number of endowed professorships increased from 100 to 564 in his 24-year tenure as president, the second-longest in school history. Boren raised the university’s academic profile to equal that of its storied athletic department; 31 major programs and $2 billion in construction projects have been added since Boren took the helm in 1994.
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 usual 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.” That word, commonwealth, pervades the campus, faculty, staff and students. In addition, Chickasha has a down-home, small-town feel, even though Oklahoma City is only 45 minutes away. The town and the university operate closely together.
University of Tulsa
TULSA utulsa.edu The University of Tulsa, with 4,500 students, takes pride in offering an array 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 SERVICES American Checked
TULSA americanchecked.com As a nationally accredited background screening
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service, American Checked has developed software that helps to differentiate the types of red marks that can appear on someone’s history. This woman/ native-owned company has some well-known clients, such as the U.S. Forest Service, the City of Tulsa, Hickory Farms and the Cherokee Nation.
Express Employment Professionals
OKC expresspros.com Focusing on a determination to do business differently since its founding in 1983, Express Employment Professionals has a culture of caring — from the international headquarters in Oklahoma City to every local office. Express Employment Professionals employed a record 510,000 people in 2016 through its nearly 800 franchise locations worldwide.
HireCall
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
TULSA/BARTLESVILLE keyjobs.com Key has six specialized divisions to place workers: administrative, financial, legal, technical, industrial and medical. This Certified Woman Owned Company has provided job placement for everyone from entry-level workers to experienced professionals. Key focuses on contract, direct-hire and temporary-to-hire placements. Key Personnel says it takes the time to screen applicants for specific jobs that fit the personalities of its client companies. It offers employment strategies to assist clients in their hiring needs. The company’s website offers many testimonials from client companies about the employees hired via Key Personnel.
ProRecruiters
TULSA prorecruiters.com ProRecruiters has made its mark, even though it began in 2008. Its business model is centered around its values: a balance of working effectively and efficiently; engagement of clients with potential candidates for hire; accountability and ownership of its recommendations; professional behavior at all times; and creative, intelligent use of resources.
Robert Half
TULSA/OKC 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 also offers clients a booklet called The Secrets of the Happiest Companies and Employees.
INSURANCE American Fidelity Assurance
OKC americanfidelity.com C.W. Cameron and son C.B. Cameron launched American Fidelity in 1960 as a spinoff 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.
Blue Cross and 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.
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 a 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 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. Through its innovative, predictive analytics, GlobalHealth says it has reduced hospital readmissions by 22 percent, emergency room visits and admissions by 18 percent, and per-member monthly medical costs by 16 percent. In October, GlobalHealth was the only Oklahoma HMO to receive a rating of 3 (out of 5) from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. “We are driven by our passion to deliver the best health-care coverage in the industry,” CEO Scott Vaughn says.
LAW FIRMS The Barkett Law Firm
TULSA barkettlaw.net Often taking on challenging cases and achieving results others thought were beyond reach, Barkett is well-known for the significant experience its attorneys have in litigating medical malpractice claims against insurance companies, hospitals and manufacturers. Barkett represents injured customers and accident victims statewide and other states on referral.
Barrow & Grimm
TULSA barrowgrimm.com Barrow & Grimm, a 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. It has combined with Boesche McDermott LLP to provide an array of services.
Calvert Law Firm
OKC calvertlaw.com Calvert’s extensive experience serving clients in Oklahoma and nationally has helped make it an industry leader in business and transactional, merg-
ers and acquisitions, litigation and appeals. Calvert works to ensure that its clients across the country receive the same personal attention and responsive service as its local clients, the company says.
Conner & Winters
TULSA cwlaw.com Conner & Winters was founded in 1933 and also has offices in Oklahoma City, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Northwest Arkansas and Washington. With more than 100 attorneys, Conner & Winters is recognized as one of the top full-service firms in the region. Attorneys represent a variety of industry categories.
Crowe & Dunlevy
OKC crowedunlevy.com Crowe & Dunlevy, founded 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 upfront 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
OKC 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 classes in family law, has authored many professional articles with Eileen Echols. The firm tries to avoid litigation because of the personal, emotional issues associated with family law cases, but will go to trial to protect a client’s interests with finesse, sensitivity and strength.
Foliart Huff Ottaway & Bottom
OKC oklahomacounsel.com Foliart Huff Ottaway & Bottom, since 1949, has prepared and tried civil cases in all Oklahoma federal and state courts. In addition to trial and appeallate 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.
Highest Paying Jobs in Oklahoma MEDIAN SALARIES BY INDUSTRY
$77,810
Management
$72,290
Architecture/Engineering
$63,450 Technology
$62,260 Legal
$57,470
Business/Financial Operations
$53,120 Health Care
$40,700
Maintenance/Repair
Lowest Paying Jobs in Oklahoma MEDIAN SALARIES BY INDUSTRY
$18,890
Food Preparation and Serving
$21,600 Cleaning
$24,290 Sales
$25,240
Health Care Support
$28,570
Farming, Fishing, Forestry
$35,040
Protective Services
$37,460 Education
GableGotwals
TULSA gablelaw.com GableGotwals, with 90 attorneys and Fortune 500 clients, is one of the largest law firms in the state. Founded in 1919, it 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. DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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Hall Estill
TULSA/OKC hallestill.com Hall Estill’s practice draws on the knowledge of skilled attorneys, focuses on client needs and represents clients 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.
Hammons, Gowens, Hurst & Associates
OKC hammonslaw.com 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. Founder Mark Hammons 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 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 This law 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.
Tawwater Law Firm
OKC tawlaw.com Tawwater, for more than 37 years, has specialized in personal injury lawsuits, from insurance disputes and motor vehicle accidents to medical malpractice
Melton Truck Lines PHOTO COURTESY MELTON TRUCK LINES
and product liability. Tawwater says it represents the people of Oklahoma and never big business, insurance companies or those who injure fellow Oklahomans.
MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
being a premier gas compressor packager. Its ability to maintain an excellent reputation and to continue to grow and prosper is directly related to the enthusiasm, hard work, and loyalty of the members of the AG team.
Alfa Laval
MUSKOGEE acmefan.com Acme employs state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and a well-trained, experienced workforce to serve customers worldwide with highquality air movement and control products. Acme’s engineering and production staff sets the standard for quality by using the latest technology, rigorous quality control standards and latest techniques for research and design.
BROKEN ARROW alfalaval.com Alfa Laval, a Swedish company, recently announced an expansion of its operations in Broken Arrow. Alfa Laval acquired the 18-acre ACE Air Cooled Exchangers company in 2013, and it “provides unmatched cooling performance for the entire oil, gas and power supply chain, specifically in the gas compression and gas processing markets, offering robust, rugged and efficient cooling solutions that earn our customers’ confidence time and time again,” the company says.
Advantage Controls
Boardman
Acme Engineering
MUSKOGEE advantagecontrols.com Advantage Controls is well-known for its dedication to its team members. For example, the company names an annual Spirit Award winner, chosen from a list of the last 12 MVP winners (the award formerly known there as employee of the month). Dustin Frazier is this year’s winner, and receives an all-expense paid trip to the destination of his choice. The Spirit Award winner exemplifies the company’s driving philosophy of applying the Golden Rule to all activities. This family-owned company specializes in water-treatment technology. Its product line includes a single high-tech cluster that monitors and controls cooling towers, boilers and waste systems.
AG Equipment
BROKEN ARROW agequipmentcompany.com AG Equipment, founded in 1979 by H.G. Ash, is a privately owned company specializing in custom gas compressor packaging solutions. These compressor packages are built and shipped to oil and gas fields worldwide. Starting out with a few employees and one assembly bay, AG has grown to 375 full-time employees, 600,000 square feet and 78 assembly bays spread-out over 80 acres. AG takes pride in
OKC 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, smoke stacks, breechings, culverts, and tanks for trucks and trailers. From 1929 to 1996, it even made fire engines. It’s the largest Oklahoma-based bridge builder, too.
CaptiveAire
MUSKOGEE captiveaire.com CaptiveAire, the nation’s leading manufacturer of commercial kitchen ventilation systems, is known for its quickest and most reliable lead times in the industry. 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
OKC centekgroup.com Centek designs, markets and manufactures 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.
Dal-Tile Corporation
MUSKOGEE daltile.com Dal-Tile owns and operates numerous manufacturing facilities, located 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.
Delco Electric
OKC delcoelectric.com Among Delco Electric’s more notable projects have been OKC’s Whole Foods Market, Bass Pro Shop, Topgolf and Devon Boathouse. A family-owned electrical contractor since 1979, Delco prides itself on its professionalism, safe work practices, service
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and reliability, all of which have fueled employee commitment and financial strength.
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. “We bleed orange because the majority of our employees, past and present, have brought to their jobs the grit, work ethic and pride of ownership that comes from growing up in rural America,” an official writes.
Fabricut
TULSA fabricut.com One of the largest, most progressive distributors of decorative fabrics in the world, 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 is one of Goodyear’s largest, most efficient facilities and the largest manufacturing plant in Oklahoma (about 2.85 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.
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
OKC kimray.com Kimray, an oil field equipment manufacturer, bounced back from layoffs in 2016 and buyouts in 2015 to begin hiring again in 2017 as the price of crude oil rose. Some previous employees have made their way back to the company, which is trying to diversify into natural gas.
Matrix Service Company
CATOOSA matrixservice.com Matrix is a values-centric employer that safely designs, builds and maintains critical infrastructure in the energy and industrial markets that provide electricity, fuel and products to improve quality of life for people around the world. “At Matrix Service Company, we provide a fast-paced, reward-driven environment where people work together with a sense of purpose and a dedication to delivering the best. Our people are our strength and together we
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are building a great company,” the company says. Together, we positively impact the communities where we live and work by volunteering, fundraising, mentoring and raising awareness for countless organizations.
2017
Pelco Products Inc.
EDMOND pelcoinc. Pelco is a manufacturing company known for being committed to a positive corporate culture – encouraging a “helping hand attitude” and community involvement through its employees. A familyowned company, Pelco houses seasoned engineers and those newer to the workforce for a combined experience in engineering of more than 400 years.
CAREERS.CHOCTAWNATION.COM
Zeeco
BROKEN ARROW zeeco.com Zeeco operates more 22961 Choctaw Nation.indd 1 than 20 locations 2017 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 comJOIN OUR TEAM ponents in the refining, production, and many We hire creative people who offer solutions that lead other industries around industry standards in pipeline services. Why work for TDW: the world.
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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 provides
· Training and development opportunities · Commitment to communities, health, safety and the environment tdwilliamson.com/company/careers
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deployment and home ownership.
Coldwell Banker
STATEWIDE coldwellbanker.com Coldwell Banker has long embraced progressive technology and became the first national real estate brand with an iPad application, the first to augment its website for smart phones, the first to create an iPhone app for international listings and the first with an iPad app to integrate big data with home listings.
Keller Williams Realty
a trustworthy, neutral platform to share and respond to reviews. Consumer Affairs allows companies with specific brands to connect with their customers.
Fine Airport Parking
TULSA fineairportparking.com Fine Airport Parking offers short- and long-term parking, complimentary shuttle rides to the nearby Tulsa International Airport, as well as car detailing and other car services. Fine Airport Parking is a family-owned company, which prides itself on always putting its customers first. “That is why we focus on integrity, security, customer service,” the company says.
Who owns BUSINESSES IN OKLAHOMA? 327,229 All firms
174,395
Men-owned firms
105,168
Women-owned firms
64,875
Minority-owned firms
OKC loves.com Founded in 1964 as the Musket Corp. by Tom and Judy Love, this family-owned company has about 430 locations in 41 states. Love’s is a prime sponsor of various professional sports, with NASCAR driver Landon Cassill one of its most visible athletes. Love’s also backs, among others, the OKC Thunder, OKC Dodgers and OKC Energy.
QuikTrip
TULSA quiktrip.com Privately held and founded in 1958, QT has grown to an $11 billion company with more than 700 stores in 11 states. Those revenues place QuikTrip high on the Forbes listing of largest privately held companies.
REAL ESTATE
36,273
Century 21
Veteran-owned firms
273,491
Nonveteran-owned firms (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012)
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249,027
Nonminority-owned firms
STATEWIDE kw.com With its founding in Love’s Travel Shops and Country Stores 1983, Keller Williams is PHOTO COURTESY LOVE’S TRAVEL SHOPS AND COUNTRY STORES relatively new to the realestate scene, but that hasn’t kept it from being one of the fastest growing KKT Architects Inc. franchises in the country. One of its core tenets is TULSA kktarchitects.com/ “Win-Win … or no deal” because it wants all parties KKT Architects Inc. is recognized as a great place satisfied with the sales process. to work by its more than 50 employees. KKT is a full-service architecture, interiors, structural and civil engineering firm dedicated to putting the needs McGraw Realtors TULSA mcgrawrealtors.com of clients first and providing responsive solutions Tulsa-based McGraw, which serves all of Green as a matter of course. From new construction to Country with its seven offices, is the largest renovations, KKT designs more than 3 million square independent real-estate company in Oklahoma feet of space a year. Andy Kinslow, who founded and has been around for more than 70 years. The the firm in 1989, says, “At our firm, responsiveness company believes that its success depends upon means more than a fast answer or returned call. It recruiting and retaining top-notch agents, who buy means understanding what the client truly needs into McGraw’s culture of excellence, ethics and high and delivering every time.” standards.
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
STATEWIDE century21.com 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
Stan Johnson
Company
TULSA stanjohnsonco.com The Stan Johnson workplace fosters professionalism, finding the right fit for each worker, integrity, building relationships and mentoring. Throughout its history, the company’s mantra is “Going beyond.” “By putting the interests of others in front of our own, opportunity flows from deep, long-lasting relationships based on mutual interest and respect,” the company says.
TRANSPORTATION American Airlines
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. 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.
John Christner Trucking
SAPULPA johnchristner.com With a fleet of more than 800 trucks, John Christner
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Trucking is a family-owned business with a simple philosophy. “Not only do we offer a workplace that fosters and thrives on communication and teamwork; we also have an ongoing commitment to strive for excellence in our day-to-day work in order to provide the best quality service to all we serve.”
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 Monterey. Melton boasts more than 5,000 clients with a 98 percent on-time rate for pickups and deliveries. This leader in flat-bed 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 Since 1983, Miller Truck Lines has gained the respect that makes it an industry leader in supply chain logistics, timeliness and truckload dedicated freight. Miller’s services include refrigerated, dry van, tanker, flatbed and a regional wrecker service. Its Tulsa location has more than 26 acres, allowing it to load and store materials and deliver them at a later date.
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 34 years.
TBS Factoring Service
OKC 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.” Seasoned staffers dedicate themselves to helping their clients who, in turn, stay loyal to TBS.
United Parcel Service
STATEWIDE ups.com UPS is a global leader in logistics and delivery services. Today, more than 2,900 UPS employees work in almost 65 facilities. UPS Store locations statewide provide package delivery, ground freight, healthcare 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.
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United Parcel Service PHOTO COURTESY UNITED PARCEL SERVICE
TRIBAL ENTERPRISES
harvest 130,000 pounds of pecans, and its latest prize – the Choctaw Country Market.
Cherokee Nation Businesses
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Chickasaw Nation
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
CATOOSA www.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 plowed straight back into those workplaces. The other 35 percent goes toward programs and services directly benefiting Cherokee citizens. 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 performing arts (the McSwain Theatre in Ada).
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. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma‘s portfolio includes 20 gaming sites, two resorts (plus a third under construction), six hotels, a KOA RV park, six restaurant franchises including two Chili’s, a multi-million dollar printing company, 14 travel plazas plus two under construction, 12 ranches and farms encompassing 65,000 acres where they manage 2,100 cattle and
SHAWNEE potawatomi.org Among the businesses run by the tribe are the FireLake arena, bowling center, golf course, ball fields, 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. OKMULGEE mcn-nsn.gov One of the Nation’s preeminent enterprises is Jenks’s RiverWalk Crossing, home to the three-story Flying Tee golf driving range, with a restaurant and bar on each level. But that’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 mineral 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 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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Luxury CLASSIC
For more Luxury Lifestyle, including jewelry, watches and private planes, visit us online at okmag.com/web.
VINTAGE AUTOS
Richard Sevenoaks peddles emotions and memories … ones with four wheels, curves and open air. Sevenoaks runs Leake Auto Auction in Tulsa, and many buyers with discretionary income seek bygone luxury cars, especially so-called Retro-Mods. These classic vehicles are updated with modern brakes, engines and electronics. While $75,000 may seem like a steep price to pay for a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, it comes with a fuel-injected V-8 engine, power steering, disc brakes and
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Discretionary income can underwrite s o me i mpre s si ve p o s s e s si o n s an d adventures. A growing trend is to go classic – whether old or new – from a vintage Rolex watch like Sean Connery wore as the ever-dapper agent 007 (you can have your own 1946 Rolex Oyster Chronographe for $25,500) to a modern $400,000 Rolls-Royce Drophead like David Beckham’s. Classic, understated luxury is the new collectible.
a killer sound system. “The Retro-Mod is the hot portion of the market right now,” Sevenoaks says. “You get, essentially, a brand new car with a cool body. For instance, old drum brakes could cause you to drift at high speeds, so new technology is a lot safer.” Sevenoaks has been with Leake for 45 of the company’s 53 years and married founder Jimmy Leake’s daughter, Nancy Leake, who “grew up around all these great old cars,” he says. Throughout the years, Cadillacs have
always sold well, especially to collectors. Such demand is why that ruby red 1941 Caddy convertible runs $45,000. “It’s that big, ol’ heavy iron from Detroit that people like,” Sevenoaks says. “If you were driving a Cadillac in the ’40s, ’50s or ’60s, you were the big baller because everyone wanted one. So the children and grandchildren of those Caddy owners look back and want what the old man had or wanted.” Sevenoaks stresses that it’s not just men who come around wanting these vintage
CHRIS-CRAFT BOATS
Classic lines, luxurious materials and refined beauty make Chris-Craft a quality choice for well-to-do boating enthusiasts. “For 142 years, we’ve been building boats one way: by hand,” the company says. “From beautifully sculpted hardware made from custom-fabricated stainless steel to carefully selected and meticulously applied teak, we design and craft every detail that you see and touch. There is nothing brash or overdone. Nothing trendy or frivolous. Just classic lines and elegant touches that contribute to their beauty, as well as their overall form and function.” Even previously owned Chris-Craft boats command premium prices; there’s a 2015 Corsair for sale in Oklahoma for $399,000. Brent Howard of Howard’s Classic Boats on Grand Lake restores collectible Chris-Craft
boats for enthusiasts across the country. He knows quality when he sees it. “Chris-Craft was known for innovation and high quality,” Howard says. “During the early era, suppliers graded mahogany wood as Chris-Craft as the best, then one, two or three. In the late ’50s and early ’60s, Chris-Craft moved to fiberglass, steel and aluminum, and continues to this day with high quality boats.” Howard says antique and classic ChrisCrafts are in high demand for many reasons. “The name is still revered, ” he says. “On
the water, they are a head turner from new boats costing 10 times as much, and I like owning a piece of history.” Howard is refurbishing a 1947 Chris-Craft Cruiser for himself – 36 feet long with ChrisCraft’s classic, clean lines. “It’s my favorite restoration. I love the lines,” Howard says. “We are restoring every inch of the boat: re-powering, teak decks, electronics behind original gauges, updated galley.” He is also adding creature comforts such as air conditioning, custom-built furniture and music, he says. “The boat will be better than new and a lot less invested than $800,000 to $900,000 for a new Chris-Craft,” Howard says. For more information, go to chriscraft.com.
ABOVE: THE FIRST CHRISCRAFT BRENT HOWARD RESTORED IS NOW VALUED AT ABOUT $100,000, HE SAYS. PHOTO COURTESY BRENT HOWARD
CHRIS-CRAFT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE CLASSIC, LUXURIOUS BOATS TODAY. PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS-CRAFT
luxury cars. “If a wife or daughter comes along, she’s as much of a motorhead as the guy,” he says. “She’s as much into it as he is. “A restored classic vehicle like this is an emotional buy, but it’s in your garage and you can take it out on Saturdays, turn up the radio and have a hell of a good time.” Leake has auctions twice a year in Dallas, and once annually in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles. Go to leakecar.com to find an illustrated brochure of all the company’s listings.
THIS 1958 CORVETTE COMES WITH A FUEL-INJECTED V-8 ENGINE AND POWER STEERING. PHOTO COURTESY LEAKE AUTO AUCTION
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VACATIONS
When one thinks of a luxurious French holiday, Courchevel in the Alps or Cannes on the Mediterranean might be the places to rent a high-end maison. But if you want to really get away – as in half a world away – and have the full-blown classic French treatment, there’s Cheval Blanc Randheli, 45 luxury villas amid the Maldives’ Noonu Atoll, 400 miles off the
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southeastern tip of India. Cheval Blanc excels in pampering, with properties on St. Barthelemy in the West Indies and in Courchevel. But Randheli may be Cheval Blanc’s crown jewel, 9,500 miles from Oklahoma. This premier white horse (the translation for cheval blanc) even has its own sea plane made especially for getting visitors around the
atoll and right up to the villas … but only after they’ve put on their sporty new espadrilles, courtesy of the maison. Listed prices range from $2,300 per night (and that includes breakfast) for a onebedroom, 240-square-meter water villa on traditional stilts to $8,200 per night (again, avec petit dejeuner) for a two-bedroom, 300-square-meter island villa with tropical
PHOTOS COURTESY CHEVAL BLANC RANDHELI
gardens and a private beach. The price for the top-of-the-line owner’s villa is not listed by Cheval Blanc. One has to apply with the company for a rental before getting close to learning the rate; however, various reports put it at around $50,000 a night. What you get for that is a four-bedroom, two-story, 1,000-square-meter master suite
on a private island; a substantial private guest villa; a “well-being” spa with a double-treatment room, an outdoor terrace and a yoga master; 24-hour access to the Azimut 98 Leonardo, the maison’s fully staffed, 30-meter yacht; and 24-hour access to a dedicated dhoni on which one can sail to the main island for the maison’s five exquisite restaurants and three classy bars.
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People with Style
Some Oklahomans go above and beyond to use the power of fashion to make a statement.
PHOTO BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER
Ashley Althage, Tulsa OCCUPATION: Stay-at-home mother, personal trainer HOW DOES DRESSING WELL AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE? I love to use my clothing to express myself. As a mom, I find it can be easy to put yourself on the back burner, so I feel like my clothing is a simple and easy way to express myself. Dressing well gives me confidence and makes me feel good, which in turn makes me a happier mom and wife. WHAT ITEMS CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT? My accessories. You can take a very simple outfit and add some fun accessories and totally dress it up or add a fun pop to your outfit. With the right purse, jewelry and shoes, you can conquer any look. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FASHION MOMENT? This is actually quite funny. It was my one minute of fame while in New York for fashion week. As I was leaving the Calvin Klein runway show, a photographer ran up to me and started shooting pics and asking me what I was wearing. All of the sudden, I was surrounded by cameras. They clearly had me mistaken for someone else – but it was so much fun, I took right to the part and started posing for pictures and answering all their questions. But my family quickly brought me back to reality and started to give me a hard time for my picture posing. They will never let me live this one down. WHOSE CLOSET WOULD YOU LOVE TO RAID? Chrissy Teigan’s. I love everything about her style and think I would die over all her amazing clothes and accessories. A TREND YOU HATE RIGHT NOW IS … chokers. They just aren’t for me. I think they cut off the neck line and just don’t add much to an outfit. DECEMBER 2017| WWW.OKMAG.COM
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Roderick Stephens,
PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS
OKC
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OCCUPATION: Respiratory therapist, blogger HOW/WHEN DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN FASHION? At the age of 16, after reading Vogue magazine over the summer break. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Signature, and not a product of its environment. WHAT ITEMS CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT? My personalized Christian Louboutin shoes that he signed/graffitied on with my name on them. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FASHION MISTAKE? Turtleneck shirts. My mother loves them on me, so I wear them only for her. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FASHION MOMENT? Oklahoma Magazine’s People with Style and my new blog. WHOSE CLOSET WOULD YOU LOVE TO RAID? Lenny Kravitz’s, because his style is bold and from different eras. A TREND YOU LOVE RIGHT NOW IS … the street wear look because it displays a very quick style. A TREND YOU HATE RIGHT NOW IS … the sheer/lace look; it’s too revealing and leaves nothing to the imagination. ON THE WEEKENDS, ONE CAN FIND YOU WEARING ... the latest designer fashion from head to toe … or scrubs from working at the hospital.
OCCUPATION: Insurance agent HOW/WHEN DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN FASHION? When I met my wife. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? My style is “sporty posh.” HOW DOES YOUR STYLE REFLECT YOUR PERSONALITY? The sporty style comes from being a former University of Oklahoma football player, and the posh is a new style I have been introduced to and really like. HOW DOES DRESSING WELL AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE? It gives me confidence and credibility in the insurance and financial service industry. WHAT ITEMS CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT? My pair of gray AG jeans and my Cole Haan ZeroGrand shoes. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FASHION MISTAKE? My wife would say my wide-leg jeans or my old, white tennis shoes. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FASHION MOMENT? Wearing my white Robert Talbott dinner jacket the day I got married. Thank you, Travers Mahan! WHOSE CLOSET WOULD YOU LOVE TO RAID? NFL player Eric Decker. A TREND YOU LOVE RIGHT NOW IS … athleisure wear. ON THE WEEKENDS, ONE CAN FIND YOU WEARING … my Cole Haans and a quarter-zip sweater.
PHOTO BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER
Matt McCoy, Tulsa
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OCCUPATION: Three-time bestselling author, voice-over artist for Disney Channel, CMT and HGTV HOW/WHEN DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN FASHION? I was fat as a kid, and I got teased a lot. I learned early on that black was slimming. My first internship in college was for Warner Bros., and Los Angeles – particularly Dolce and Gabbana at the time – changed the way I look at clothing. I realized that what you have on can be just as expressive and indicative of personality as what you say. HOW DOES YOUR STYLE REFLECT YOUR PERSONALITY? I’m traditional at heart – that’s my inner Capricorn – but I also consider myself a forward thinker and someone who doesn’t think inside the box. Overall, I’m simplistic, yet stylish, and I like to mix and match. I don’t think style has to be expensive; you just have to be confident in what you wear, and make sure it’s not wearing you. HOW DOES DRESSING WELL AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE? Whether we realize it or not, what we wear tells a subliminal story, and we can use how we dress to tilt the scales in our favor. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FASHION MOMENT? A few years ago, I was invited to the Louis Vuitton/ GQ Men of the Year celebration at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The presentation was fantastic, and it’s the only time I’ve ever seen synchronized swimmers used simply as “ambiance.” IF YOU COULD LIVE IN A DIFFERENT FASHION ERA, IT WOULD BE ... the Gatsby era. Part of me was born an old man wearing a tweed jacket with elbow patches and houndstooth pants.
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PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS
Jarrad Hewett, OKC
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
Margaret Pitts, OKC OCCUPATION: Blogger, pre-dental student, lab technician HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? A modern girl’s style – with a touch of dramatics. I love to mix classic styles and cuts with bold and dramatic pieces. HOW DOES DRESSING WELL AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE? A well put together outfit not only lets me express my personal style … it also lets me showcase the best version of myself. Plus, if everything fails and my day is a complete disaster, I can at least say, “My outfit was on point.” WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FASHION MOMENT? When I purchased my very first designer bag. I spent six months working
overtime to afford it. And that moment, when the sales assistant handed me the shopping bag, was the most memorable moment in my life. WHOSE CLOSET WOULD YOU LOVE TO RAID? Olivia Palermo’s. If I could, I would live in her closet. A TREND YOU HATE RIGHT NOW IS … seethrough plastic booties and boots. ON THE WEEKENDS, ONE CAN FIND YOU WEARING … something over the top. I have a really busy work week where I have to run back and forth between school and work, so my clothes tend to be on the practical side. But weekends are my time to shine.
Betsy King, OKC I love and throw on over everything. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FASHION MISTAKE? Oh my … where to start? I’m sure there have been many – most likely involving acid-washed jeans and crop tops. Wait, those are back, right? IF YOU COULD LIVE IN A DIFFERENT FASHION ERA, IT WOULD BE … the 1940s. Oh, I love that time in fashion … women donning hats and gloves with figure-flattering dresses and coiffed hair … fox stoles and car coats. I have some incredible home video of my grandmother at that time. She always looked so elegant and polished. There’s something to be said for a time in fashion when we left things to the imagination, you know?
PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS
PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS
OCCUPATION: Owner of Betsy King: A Shoe Boutique HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? I’m pretty quirky by nature, which translates to my overall style. Some days I’m eclectic, some more traditional. Just depends on the weather. Ha! HOW DOES DRESSING WELL AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE? I’m in the fashion industry, so I dress to inspire my clients … perhaps show them a look they wouldn’t have thought of. Dressing for the day is an opportunity to be creative and artistic as well. Fashion is my art. WHAT ITEMS CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT? You probably think I’m going with shoes, but … I have a fitted tuxedo blazer that
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PHOTO BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER
Shanese Slaton, Tulsa OCCUPATION: Project manager HOW/WHEN DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN FASHION? My mother, grandmother and great aunt are all strong, confident, fashionable women who encouraged me to find my own voice and style at a very young age. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Classic and simple with a touch of whimsy. I don’t believe in taking myself or my possessions too seriously. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FASHION MISTAKE? My first job out of college was at a Fortune 500 company. As I was walking from the parking garage to the tower one morning, I must have seen 50 people. A woman came up from behind me and said my skirt, although buttoned at the top, was unzipped a solid 6 inches. I’m sure a few people got a view and a good laugh that morning. WHOSE CLOSET WOULD YOU LOVE TO RAID? Oliva Pope’s. IF YOU COULD LIVE IN A DIFFERENT FASHION ERA, IT WOULD BE … the 1950s with women like Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot and Marilyn Monroe defining the crisp and practical daytime looks and glamorous opulence at night.
PHOTO BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER
Mollie Craft, Tulsa
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OCCUPATION: I don’t get a paycheck but I feel like I have many jobs. HOW/WHEN DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN FASHION? My mom exudes style, plus I’m an only child, so I think I was so enamored by her that I paid attention as far back as I can remember. I took a little break in my 30s to have five babies, and it was a scary decade where I felt like Jabba the Hutt. I learned to focus on accessories – jewelry, shoes and handbags always fit! HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Black. Sometimes edgy. Sometimes classic. I like to throw in some accessory that makes a statement. I have an unhealthy obsession with glitter, so it’s safe to say there is always something sparkling or shiny. Oh, and red lipstick. HOW DOES DRESSING WELL AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE? I wake up early everyday and get dressed. I feel so much more productive, happy and focused. You will never see me in yoga pants unless I am doing yoga, which you will never see either! WHOSE CLOSET WOULD YOU LOVE TO RAID? Kris Jenner for her Birkin bags, Ashley Longshore, and of course, Madonna. A TREND YOU LOVE RIGHT NOW IS … gender fluidity and sparkles. IF YOU COULD LIVE IN A DIFFERENT FASHION ERA, IT WOULD BE … I would be Marie Antoinette! Minus the chopping block, and add air conditioning and deodorant. I OWN TOO MANY … handbags and kids. Ha ha.
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THE PROFESSIONALS INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL How do I fireproof my feast this holiday season? Before you bake, broil, grill, sear or fry, remember these tips for fireproofing your feasts: Have someone on cooking duty at all times, and never leave cooking equipment unattended. Divert traffic away from the kitchen RUSS IDEN by putting snacks, games and toys in another room. Only use grills outdoors. Just like with driving, avoid cooking if you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol. Keep flammable materials away from heat sources. Smother grease fires with a metal lid or baking soda. Never use water and make sure to turn off the heat first. If a fire starts in the oven, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed. Have a functioning fire extinguisher handy for emergencies. Call 911 for help if a fire occurs. Play it safe this season to make sure your home, family, and friends are protected. If you have questions about fires and insurance, call a AAA agent near you.
Russ Iden AAA Oklahoma 918.748.1034 800.222.2582, x1034 russ.iden@aaaok.org
HOSPICE CARE My mother’s Alzheimer’s disease recently took a turn for the worse, and I want to discuss hospice care with my dad. Can you explain the process? The first step is meeting with a medical professional who can determine if she qualifies for hospice care. Medicare regulations require that a person AVA HANCOCK must have a life-limiting illness and a prognosis of six months or less left to live, and two physicians must make this determination and certify it in writing. If your mother does qualify for hospice care, you can decide as a family whether or not to use her hospice benefit. At Grace Hospice, we provide care during the course of the disease, and provide support to the family throughout and for a 13-month period of bereavement. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 918.744.7223.
Ava Hancock Grace Hospice of Oklahoma 6400 South Lewis, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.744.7223 www.gracehospice.com Views expressed in the Professionals do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Co. or its affiliates.
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
PERSONAL TRAINER Why can’t I shed this weight? 1. Poor nutrition. No matter how hard you train, you can’t lose those pounds without proper nutrition. You must stop skipping meals, yo-yo dieting and eating processed foods. Also stop the intake of caffeine, cola and corn. Refined foods, white rice, alcohol, processed and JOHN JACKSON pasteurized foods serve to make you fatter. 2. Overtraining. There are detrimental aspects of traditional cardio training. Too much will create a hormonal environment that is not conducive to building muscle or weight loss. Also, if you are nutritionally depleted you will only drain your body more by exercising with no energy source. 3. Health and function. Make sure you have been assessed by a health professional who can properly assess adrenal, thyroid, sleep and digestive dysfunction. 4. Limits. It’s important to stress the body differently at all cost, but remember to listen to your body. 5. Balance. You must balance nutrition and smart exercise to eliminate fat. Also it is important to appreciate the body you are given.
John Jackson, Personal Trainer St. John Siegfried Health Club 1819 E. 19th St., Tulsa, OK 74104 918.902.4028 jljackson70@hotmail.com
How can I get a jump on 2017 tax savings? If you participate in a retirement plan through your employer, consider maximizing pre-tax contributions to the extent you can afford it. If you own your home, interest payments you make on your mortgage loan as well as property taxes may be DAVID KARIMIAN CFP®, CRPC® deducted from your income (if you itemize the deductions). For college related savings, look into Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) accounts, Uniforms Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) accounts, tax-exempt savings bonds and 529 plans. Job-related moving expenses are a possibility, if you seek a position in the same field of work. And finally: An energy tax credit is available for the cost of installing solar electric and water heating property in your primary or secondary residence.
David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC® Prime Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise 7712 S. Yale Ave. Suite 240 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2003 • 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.
A contractor has filed a lien against my home. Can I have the lien released while preserving any defenses without having to pay the entire amount to the lien claimant? Yes. 42 O.S. §147.1 of the Oklahoma Statutes allows you to post cash or a bond equal to 125% of the BRAD BEASLEY amount of the lien with the county clerk. If cash is posted, the lien is released immediately. If a bond is posted, the lien claimant has 10 days to object. Absent a valid objection, the lien will be released. The bond or cash stands in place of the lien, and foreclosure of the claim against the cash or bond must be pursued by the lien claimant in the same manner as in foreclosure of a lien. During the foreclosure process you may assert any defenses/objections to the claim.
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, and everyone is under time constraints. 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 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! Whether you want to diffuse crows feet, restore volume or just refresh your skin with a lunchtime peel, 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 at 918.872.9999 or visit us at www.baweightspa.com 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 500 S. Elm Place Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 918.872.9999 www.baweightspa.com DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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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
A Holiday Haunt That Lives
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THE LUXURIOUSLY APPOINTED DINING ROOM AT CELEBRITY RESTAURANT IS DECKED OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
PHOTO BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER
Parties, Christmas celebrations and Caesar salads have made Celebrity Restaurant a perfect yuletide dining spot for 50 years.
n the middle of a dark, windswept night of early winter, the corner of 31st Street and Yale Avenue in Tulsa is as deserted as the badlands of Montana. You might see a bartender straggling home or perhaps a sleepy-eyed baker trudging to work. There’s a doughnut shop, whose sign signals that it was built as a burger joint in the early 1960s, and next to it is a windowless, gray, nondescript, mysterious building from the same era. Press your ear to the door and, at 4 a.m., when it should be deserted, you hear loud, excited laughter. If you’re superstitious, you feel a chill – it must be ghosts of parties past.
Fifty years ago, the elegant rooms within were the haunt and watering hole of the creme de la creme of Tulsa society. But what you see today is a large band of people – the Celebrity Restaurant’s staff – stringing Christmas lights, garlands and festoons. “We try to cover every little inch,” says Paula Osko, daughter of Mike Samara, the genial man who knows everyone in Tulsa and has been the owner and guiding spirit of Celebrity Restaurant for a half-century. “My dad always loved Christmas and children, and about 25 years ago he started the lights,” Osko says. “It takes two weeks for our people to put them up, and they work all through the night. There are fun
areas, upside-down trees over the piano, a photo place and a nutcracker 6 feet tall. People reserve a year in advance just to have dinner here when the lights are up.” It’s a safe bet that those dinner guests order Caesar salad, Celebrity’s specialty. A cart with a huge wooden bowl is wheeled to your table. In the old days, Samara himself would prepare your salad. (“I’ve done thousands,” he says.) He’s 93 and doesn’t come by the restaurant as often as before. Chances are, your salad is made by a nononsense woman by the name of Gloria. “Here’s salt and pepper,” she says while sprinkling seasonings into the bowl. “Here’s garlic and anchovy and yellow mustard; that’s how we start. Now I’ll juice a lemon, DECEMBER 2017| WWW.OKMAG.COM
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“Oh, when you said there’d be cake for my birthday, I didn’t know you meant a whole cake,” says a lady who, while old enough to remember Celebrity’s early days, is as excited as a 10-yearold child. Austin tells her, “Now one candle is for the past, one for the present and one for the future.” “Oh, I have a lot more past than future,” the woman says with a laugh. “Ah, your past was glorious,” says Austin, talking as much to Celebrity Restaurant as to her, “and who knows what the future may bring?” BRIAN SCHWARTZ
BELOW: CELEBRITY RESTAURANT IS RENOWNED FOR ITS SUCCULENT FRIED CHICKEN DINNER WITH CORN ON THE COB AND A PERFECTLY BAKED POTATO. BOTTOM: SPARKLING LIGHTS AND HOLIDAY RIBBONS ADORN THE DINING ROOM AT THE CELEBRITY RESTAURANT. PHOTOS BY LUKE OPPENHEIMER
LO C A L F L AV O R
SAVORY PIES, THE ‘SISTER’ WAY Stone Sisters Pizza Bar in OKC is heaven for those wanting organic and gluten-free options.
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n the old Borden Ice Cream Parlor on Broadway in Oklahoma City, Stone Sisters Pizza Bar isn’t reinventing the “pizza wheel” but, instead, grabbing hold of the oven peel and promoting a healthier, non-genetically modified, organic, local-as-possible way of doing pizza. They’re nailing it. The sprouted spelt crust – one of the many wonderful elements that makes it the “Sister” way of enjoying pizza – is crisp and delicious … not only easy for people with gluten sensitivities, but flavor-deep for those without. And before you ask – yes, the Sisters have flour pizza crust, too. At the helm of Stone Sisters’ kitchen and menu is Chef Cally Johnson of Mutt’s Hotdogs and Big Truck Taco fame; she adds unique, mouthwatering ingredients to pies like grass-fed pepperoni, cracklin’ chicken skin and Caciocavera cheese from Lovera’s in Krebs, just outside McAlester. SCOTTY IRANI
CHECK IT OUT SEE THE SISTERS’ WEBSITE FOR FREE PIZZA AND HOW THEY HELP OKLAHOMA TEACHERS AT
STONESISTERSPIZZABAR.COM.
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PHOTOS COURTESY THE FAULKNER GROUP
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whip in the eggs” – her deft hands, a blur, make it all look easy – “now there’s Worcestershire, salad oil, and that’s the dressing.” Impressed by her skill, you might ask, “Are you a relative?” “Oh no,” she says, “but I’ve been here 12 years, so I almost feel like one.” You believe it when you taste her salad. And don’t try to make it yourself; we’ve left out a few crucial steps to preserve a secret kept for decades. If you get steak or a South African lobster tail, you can order after the salad, but, if you want Celebrity’s renowned fried chicken, you’d better order early because each plate is made to order in a venerable cast-iron skillet. As often as not, the bartender, named Austin, takes your order. Like a good barkeep, he knows when to talk and when to be silent. He’s been here 12 years, too. “I started as a busser, and after years of that I became maitre d’ for eight years,” he says. “And then, finally, a waiter’s spot opened up, and that’s a rare chance because the old waiters never leave. Not ever. So I grabbed it.” A big birthday cake with three candles is carried over to a nearby table.
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Corn Dance Cafe then began its 10-year run. “I knew I wanted to do Native American cuisine,” Oden says. “I developed a great supply chain of purveyors: bison from Colorado and beautiful quail that I would marinate in achiote paste and root beer, then smoke over sassafras wood.” Since creating a permanent residence in Oklahoma City, Oden C H E F C H AT travels extensively, lectures, teaches, consults and cooks for special events. She also works with tribes on health issues relating to the loss of traditional food and preparation. Recently, she’s helped filmmaker and vintner Francis Ford Loretta Barrett Oden devotes herself to educating people about Coppola, who purchased the Geyser Peak Winery the wondrous array of food prepared by Native Americans. in Sonoma County and re-branded it as the Virginia Dare Winery. woman had its challenges. oretta Barrett Oden wants (Virginia Dare was the first English child born “So I leased the old Maria Isabel’s, and to educate you about Native in America.) when I got in there the place was just a pit,” American cuisine. She wants to “Francis developed a Native American introduce you to the wonders of she says. “We had to figure out a way to restaurant at the winery called Werowocomoco retro-fit this place and make it work. But the the “three sisters” – corn, beans to tie into the colonial theme,” Oden says. “He powers-that-be had other plans.” and squash – and help you understand that received some backlash on social media from Greasing palms and the good ol’ boy way of there are 567 recognized tribes in the United Indian country, and even a scathing editorial doing business with a woman were not Oden’s States, with cuisines varying from region to from the San Francisco Chronicle, namely for ways of opening the restaurant. Jumping region. the focus on fry bread. So he reached out to over more hurdles than necessary, she felt an Fascinating life experiences encompass this me to help with the menu for three weeks and inspector was using her gender against her. Shawnee-born chef, educator and member smooth out some of the rough patches with the “It was the day of our opening, Christmas of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. When the native community.” topic revolves around food and tribes’ cookery, Eve, and the building inspector was not going Oden spends many passionate hours reto sign off on the permit,” says Oden, addlooking past the fry bread and understanding searching the spice routes and silk roads of the ing that, after he made a few sexist remarks, the roots of our nation’s First People is at the Americas and how they influenced food, life she “snatched the forefront. clipboard out of the “The Potawatomi people originated in the his hands, jumped Michigan and Great Lakes region, so our in the car and did a cuisine was lake fish, deer, wild rice, nuts and wheelie in the middle berries,” says Oden, emphaszing how native of the street. Then I cuisine captures the wondrous array of flavors went to the fire stafrom Mother Earth. “If you are the Coast Saltion, marched into the ish people of Washington and Oregon, you’re fire chief’s office and eating fiddlehead fern and salmon.” slammed the clipboard The Corn Dance Cafe in Santa Fe, New onto his desk. Mexico – the restaurant Loretta ran from 1993 “He said, ‘Uh-huh to 2003 – was a turning point in her life and … you’re the lady on a chance for new beginnings in a new state at West Water Street.’ age 50. Along with her son Clay, Oden set out Signed off on it right to make something of a 150-year-old adobe there, and we were compound that needed new life. But being the open.” newcomer in town, a Native American and a
It’s Not Just Fry Bread
84
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS
L
PHOTO COURTESY SWEETS ON THE SIDE
SCOTTY IRANI
ACHIOTE MARINATED QUAIL Preparation: 1 hour Cook: 30 minutes Serves: Four (two birds per person)
INGREDIENTS 3/4 cup 8 oz. 1/4 cup 1 tsp. 1 tsp. 1 tbsp. 1 tsp. Sprinkle 1/4 cup 1 tsp. 1/4 cup 8
Achiote paste Birch beer or root beer Cider or seasoned rice wine vinegar Cumin seed, toasted and ground Coriander seed, toasted and ground Mexican oregano Kosher or sea salt Pepper Honey Smoke oil or Wright’s liquid smoke Olive oil Whole quail (bobwhite preferred or European style, partially boned)
Whisk all ingredients together, except the quail, for a marinade.
BEHOLD THE BARREL
If you’re on the hunt for your newest lunch and dinner spot in the Tulsa metro, mosey down to Main Street Broken Arrow and behold Franklin’s Pork and Barrel. Locally sourced with a seasonal menu, Franklin’s offers the freshest ingredients around with a wide variety of options for meat lovers. Try the southwest charcuterie board or pulled pork wontons to start, then indulge in smoked prime rib or meatloaf sliders as a main dish. Bonus: Every month offers a new appetizer, burger, salad and drink special. 203 S. Main St., Broken Arrow; franklinspork.com.
ALL HAIL THE COOKIE Sweets on the Side specializes in artfully prepared, hand-painted custom cookies for every occasion. Run by mother of two Lan McCabe, Sweets on the Side was first a hobby, then became a full-time business once McCabe realized her broad appeal. If you’re looking to provide an artful treat for a baby shower, wedding or casual gettogether, this is just the place to call for cookies (almost) too good to eat. Although there’s no brick and mortar establishment, visit sweetsonthesideokc.com to browse and order your treats.
PHOTO COURTESY FRANKLIN’S PORK AND BARREL
and medicine for indigenous people. “The majority of familiar food around the world had its start in the Americas and with indigenous people,” Oden says. “Chocolate, vanilla, tomatoes, potatoes, varieties of squash – can you imagine European cuisine, so celebrated in the culinary world, without chocolate and vanilla? My goal is making a small attempt at correcting history through food and telling stories about Native American food.” Oden can be reached via email at shedreams2@me.com or on Facebook.
R A N D O M F L AV O R S
STREET FOOD GALORE
Elevated street food is the name of the game at Guyute’s in Oklahoma City’s Uptown 23rd District. Open until 1:30 a.m. daily, this spot is perfect for a late-night bite with laid-back digs. Enjoy a vast array of fare like hummus, poutine, biscuits, pizza, burgers and other pub grub from owners Wayne Perotka and Jarrod Friedel, who have a passion for keeping things local. 730 N.W. 23 St., Oklahoma City; guyutes.com.
Marinate quail for at least one hour. Grill over hot coals, in a grill pan or in an oven pre-heated to 450-500 degrees. Put birds breast side up on the grill or in a roasting pan just large enough to accommodate them.
Serve birds hot, warm or at room temperature. Note: These are small, delicate birds and will dry out quickly. Properly cooked, the birds will have a bit of pink inside. If using a meat thermometer, 150 degrees in either the leg or breast is perfect.
PHOTO COURTESY GUYUTE’S
Baste with marinade after 10 minutes of cooking, then continue to cook until done (about 10 more minutes).
DECEMBER 2017 | 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
Yuletide Meets Broadway
OKC Philharmonic’s Christmas show welcomes families year after year.
I
A CHORUS LINE OF DANCING SANTAS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AT THIS HOLIDAY SHOW.
PHOTO BY MUTZ PHOTOGRAPHY
f you’re ready to take your very merry holidays up a notch, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic has just the thing. The Christmas Show, running at the Civic Center Music Hall through Dec. 2, brings Christmas to life with its Broadway-style revue. Elizabeth Stanley (from the Great White Way’s On the Town and The Bridges of Madison County) headlines the show alongside the talented Philharmonic Pops Chorale and the ubiquitous Santa Claus. Also featured
is a sacred music interlude, which “brings the meaning of the season full circle,” says Susan Webb, marketing director. Webb says, for all involved at the Philharmonic, that setting up for the show each year is almost as fun as performing it. “We at the OKC Phil enjoy the preparation for The Christmas Show, as it kicks off the season with beautiful music set in a magical theatrical experience that includes twinkling lights, beautiful costumes, excellent singers and dancers and adorable children,”
she says. “Joel Levine [music director], the musicians and staff feel like Christmas elves, bringing the most magical experience possible to our community.” The show shines in its assortment of performances – from fully staged and choreographed dance numbers and highly skilled singing to unique renditions of everyone’s favorite holiday tunes. It’s a brilliant way to kick off the season with a bang – and many families have attended for years. “My favorite part is watching the audience grow and bring their families, from grandmother and father to grown children and even school-age children, year after year,” Webb says. “It has become the ‘not to miss’ Christmas experience over the past 26 years. The momentum is fantastic, and it keeps growing more every year.” Visit okcphil.org for tickets and more information. MARY WILLA ALLEN
DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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Where & When
IN TULSA PERFORMANCES FRANK CALIENDO Dec. 1 RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT Comedian,
actor and impressionist Frank Caliendo has made people laugh his entire life. riverspirittulsa.com
PEPPA PIG LIVE! PEPPA PIG’S SURPRISE Dec. 1 BRADY THEATER The
Tony Awards and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, Beautiful is a must-see. celebrityattractions.com
BROWN BAG IT: TULSA FESTIVAL RINGERS Dec. 6 TULSA PAC Presented by
PAC Trust, the Brown Bag It series continues in December with the Festival Ringers.
popular British animated series Peppa Pig comes to life in this exciting stage show.
tulsapac.com
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
the fun of Sesame Street as it comes to life like never before.
bradytheater.com Dec. 2
HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO See the Tony
Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the electrifying true story of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.
hardrockcasinotulsa.com
TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS FEATURING JEFF SHADLEY AND TULSA ORATORIO Dec. 2-3 LORTON PERFORMANCE CENTER This night of diverse,
classical and jazzy collections features acclaimed trumpeter Jeff Shadley. tulsasymphony.org
CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS PRESENTS: BEAUTIFUL, THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Through Dec. 3 TULSA PAC Winner of two
SESAME STREET LIVE! LET’S PARTY! Dec. 6 EXPO SQUARE Experience exposquare.com
AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS: A CHRISTMAS CAROL Dec. 8-10, 13-17, 19-23
TULSA PAC Robert Odle
and Richard Averill’s musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novella about the joy of giving has been a Tulsa tradition for more than 40 years. tulsapac.com
SIGNATURE SYMPHONY PRESENTS: POPS CHRISTMAS IN TULSA WITH BARRY EPPERLEY Dec. 9 TCC VAN TREASE PACE Signature Symphony welcomes Barry Epperley, founder of the symphony and artistic director and conductor for 35 years, back to the podium. signaturesymphony.org
SPORTS
OILERS GIVE BACK Take a break from hoops and touchdowns this month to watch the Tulsa Oilers at the BOK Center. The team has five home games: Dec. 15-16, 27 and 29-30. If you’re looking to get into the spirit of giving, the Oilers offer ample opportunity.
TULSA BALLET WITH TULSA SYMPHONY: THE NUTCRACKER Dec. 9-23 TULSA PAC Share in the
magic with this remarkable production that mixes the visuals of a Broadway show with the heartwarming story of a fairytale Christmas.
tulsaballet.org
CHRISTMAS WITH THE ANNIE MOSES BAND Dec. 10 BROKEN ARROW PAC
Experience the beauty of the Christmas season with the Annie Moses Band as the acclaimed classical
crossover ensemble performs stunning arrangements. brokenarrowpac.com
SHERIDAN ROAD PRESENTS: CHRISTMAS CABARET Dec. 21-22 TULSA PAC Sheridan Road’s
holiday celebration features candlelight, nostalgia, a cappella carols and swinging Christmas tunes. tulsapac.com
CHAD PRATHER Dec. 30 COX BUSINESS CENTER
Comedian and motivational speaker Chad Prather speaks his mind. bokcenter.com
CONCERTS AMY GRANT AND MICHAEL W. SMITH Dec. 1 BOK CENTER Multi-platinum Grammy winners Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith co-bill their popular Christmas tour.
bokcenter.com
JOHN MORELAND Dec. 1 CAIN’S BALLROOM See
PHOENIX AND COLD WAR KIDS Dec. 4 CAIN’S BALLROOM See
Phoenix, a French electronic pop band from Versailles, along with indie rockers the Cold War Kids. cainsballroom.com
whose five-decade career has garnered thousands of fans worldwide, brings his Classics and Christmas Tour to Assembly Hall. bokcenter.com
CODY JOHNSON Dec. 9 EXPO SQUARE Enjoy exposquare.com
ELI YOUNG BAND Dec. 14 CAIN’S BALLROOM The Eli
Young Band performs with opener Hunter Hutchinson. cainsballroom.com
LEANN RIMES Dec. 15 RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT Country star LeAnn
Rimes, on tour, combines beloved classics and Christmas songs. riverspirittulsa.com
OLD DOMINION Dec. 16
BRADY ARTS DISTRICT
This year-round, monthly event features all of the galleries, studios, museums and part-time galleries of various shops opening their doors.
bradytheater.com
thebradyartsdistrict.com
violinist from Gilbert, Arizona, Lindsey Stirling has entered a futuristic world of electronic big beats and animation.
SIR SLY, WALK THE MOON AND DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL Dec. 6 BRADY THEATER See
FOUR ELEMENTS Dec. 1-21 LIVING ARTS OF TULSA
RIVERFIELD ROCKS Dec. 2 CAIN’S BALLROOM
bradytheater.com
Riverfield Rocks, from Tulsa’s Riverfield Country Day School, is a unique, progressive band program. cainsballroom.com
several musical acts combine forces in one exciting night.
Participants in this exhibition include evolutionary biologists and biomedical scientists at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Health Sciences. livingarts.org
TOMMY EMMANUEL Dec. 9 COX BUSINESS CENTER Tommy Emmanuel,
The Dec. 15 game features the Unifirst Blanket Drive, where patrons can “bring new blankets that will be donated to those in need,” says John Peterson, vice president of communications. Dec. 16 has a Teddy Bear Toss, when fans who bring new teddy bears can throw them on the ice after the Oilers score their first goal, says Peterson, adding, “We’ll donate those to underprivileged children.” Fans can also take part in the Paint the Ice event after the Dec. 27 game, with the team playing on that colored, frozen sheet Dec. 29 and 30. For tickets and times, visit tulsaoilers.com.
from over four decades of barn-burning chart hits, joyous sing-a-longs and hard-driving deep cuts. riverspirittulsa.com
THE TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS Dec. 30-31 CAIN’S BALLROOM The
Turnpike Troubadours ring in the new year.
ART FIRST FRIDAY ART CRAWL
LINDSEY STIRLING Dec. 2 BOK CENTER An acclaimed
bokcenter.com
STYX Dec. 28 RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT Styx draws
cainsballroom.com
Dec. 5
at Indiana University in 1996, Straight No Chaser is a popular a capella group.
riverspirittulsa.com
21 SAVAGE Dec. 21
acoustic guitar player and singer John Moreland in concert with guest Aaron Lee Tasjan. cainsballroom.com
BRADY THEATER Originating
of Old Dominion on their Meat and Candy Tour.
CAIN’S BALLROOM 21 Savage is on his Numb the Pain Tour. cainsballroom.com
the tunes of Cody Johnson.
Dec. 1
STRAIGHT NO CHASER
RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT See the members
MEMBERS ONLY: THE STATE OF CRAFT Dec. 1-Jan. 21 108 CONTEMPORARY This exhibition features Oklahoma artists and a juried survey of their work.
108contemporary.org
WE ARE ALL TARGETS Dec. 1-Jan. 21
AHHA TULSA See the Arts and Humanities Council’s newest exhibition.
ahhatulsa.org
CELEBRATING THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF DAVID HALPERN Through Dec. 31 GILCREASE David Halpern’s work has been inspired by his love of nature and the American landscape. gilcrease.org
CREATING THE MODERN SOUTHWEST Through Dec. 31 GILCREASE A crossroads
of cultures and languages for centuries, the region from western Texas to southern California contains the oldest continually inhabited communities in the United States. gilcrease.org
AFTER REMOVAL: REBUILDING THE CHEROKEE NATION Through Jan. 21
GILCREASE This exhibition tells the story of the Cherokee Nation in the 19th century through the stark contrasts of the human experience. gilcrease.org
GAME ON! Through Feb. 4 PHILBROOK DOWNTOWN
PAC GALLERY See the work of this Brazilian native. tulsapac.com
In the fast-paced, video-centric world of professional sports, Philbrook curators Catherine Whitney and Sienna Brown invite visitors to take a seat on the sidelines. philbrook.org
SECOND SATURDAYS
Through May 6
F. THOMPSON PRESENTS: MODERN MUSINGS Dec. 2-28
Dec. 9
PHILBROOK The second Saturday of each month has free art activities, tours and scavenger hunts. philbrook.org
THE ESSENCE OF PLACE:
MUSEUM CONFIDENTIAL
PHILBROOK This groundbreaking exhibition turns the museum inside out by revealing practices, archives, stories and an unprecedented number of never-before-seen works of art. philbrook.org
SPORTS MUSTACHE DASH 5K Dec. 2 MOHAWK PARK The race
benefits the American Cancer Society. runsignup.com/race/
PHOTO BY TEEJAY CRAWFORD
ok/tulsa/mustachedashacs
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
UNIVERSITY OF TULSA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAMES Dec. 5, 22 REYNOLDS CENTER See
the Golden Hurricane host Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Arkansas State. tulsahurricane.com
UNIVERSITY OF TULSA MEN’S BASKETBALL GAMES Dec. 14, 16, 28 REYNOLDS CENTER Enjoy a
night of hoops as TU continues its season. tulsahurricane.com
TULSA OILERS GAMES Dec. 15-16, 27, 29-30
BOK CENTER The Oilers
entertain East Coast Hockey League foes. bokcenter.com
TULSA SHOOTOUT Dec. 26-31
TULSA HOLIDAY WINTER CIRCUIT Dec. 28-31 EXPO SQUARE Enjoy this all-ages welcome
equestrian extravaganza.
tulsaholidaycircuit.com
WORLD’S RICHEST CALF ROPING Dec. 31-Jan. 1 EXPO SQUARE Enjoy
professional calf roping and barrel racing at this New Year’s blowout. johnsonsportline.com
COMMUNITY RIVER LIGHTS Dec. 2-31 RIVER WEST FESTIVAL PARK Enjoy dazzling lights.
Market is a one-stop holiday shopping extravaganza with merchandise from more than 100 vendors. jltulsa.org
TULSA PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET: HOLIDAY EDITION Dec. 2-3 THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 1 Immerse yourself in
AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB AGILITY TRIAL Dec. 8-10 EXPO SQUARE See dogs
TULSA FLEA MARKET
1926, the parade has entertained thousands as it winds through historic streets.
riverparks.org
punk rock culture in the holiday edition of the Tulsa Punk Rock Flea Market. travelok.com Dec. 2, 16, 23, 30
EXPO SQUARE This
family-owned and -operated flea market offers a unique, enjoyable shopping experience.
tulsafleamarket.net
FOOD TRUCK WEDNESDAYS Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27
GUTHRIE GREEN Grab
some tasty eats by the lawn. guthriegreen.com
TRAVERS MAHAN 20-20-20 OPEN HOUSE Dec. 7 TRAVERS MAHAN To
celebrate 20 wonderful years at The Plaza, Travers and Laurie Mahan are hosting a special Open House Celebration.
traversmahanapparel.com
compete in a set of challenges.
tulsadogs.com
TULSA CHRISTMAS PARADE Dec. 9 DOWNTOWN TULSA Since tulsachristmasparade.org
SECOND SATURDAY ARCHITECTURE TOUR Dec. 9
633 S. BOSTON AVE. Join local architects for their monthly architectural walking tour. tulsaarchitecture.org LIGHTS ON THE HILL Through Dec. 24
CHANDLER PARK Don’t miss magical moments as all of the park lights up to commemorate the holiday season. facebook.
com/chandlerparktulsa
FESTIVAL 2017 PHILBROOK MUSEUM OF ART The museum comes alive
brokenarrowchamber.com
RHEMA CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
TULSA FARM SHOW Dec. 7-9 EXPO SQUARE The
RHEMA BIBLE CHURCH
Tulsa Farm Show is a great opportunity to view all the latest in agricultural and ranching equipment.
tulsafarmshow.com
TULSA HOLIDAY MARKET Dec 8-10
EXPO SQUARE Holiday
with festive holiday events, decor and thousands of lights.
philbrook.org
Through Jan. 1
Walk through this annual dazzling outdoor display.
rhemabiblechurch.com
WINTERFEST Through Jan. 7 DOWNTOWN TULSA This
seasonal celebration gives everyone a chance to enjoy skating beneath the skyline. tulsawinterfest.com
CHARITABLE EVENTS 2017 PEGGY V. HELMERICH DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR AWARD DINNER Dec. 1 CENTRAL LIBRARY This
black-tie affair celebrates a distinguished body of literature and letters. tulsalibrary.org
JINGLE BELL RUN Dec. 9 BOK CENTER The Arthritis Foundation’s annual run is a
fun way to get moving and raise funds and awareness to cure America’s No. 1 cause of disability. arthitis.org
and Christmas cheer abound.
Christmas in Tulsa runs at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-9 at Tulsa Community College’s Van Trease PACE. Visit signaturesymphony.org for tickets.
FA M I LY / K I D S
Up Shops, Bricktown Tree Lighting Festival presented by Sonic, annual Lights On Broadway event and Devon’s Saturdays with Santa,” says Riley Cole, events coordinator at the Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership. There are a handful of new events this year, including the Santa Fe Open House on Dec. 9. Guests can interact with 1930s characters, sip on hot cocoa and explore the newly renovated Santa Fe train station. Patrons can enjoy Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at the Civic Center Music Hall at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26. For a full listing of events, visit downtownindecember.com. Arvest Winterfest, Tulsa’s holiday celebration, commemorates 10 years inside and outside the BOK Center this year. Enjoy the ice rink, Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 10, and holiday shows, including Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith on Dec. 1 at the BOK Center and Tommy Emmanuel on Dec. 9 at the Cox Business Center. Visit tulsawinterfest.com for details.
FEEL THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT Ice rinks, pop-up shops, tree lightings and Santa sightings can only mean … it’s Christmas time. The OKC and Tulsa metro areas have a plethora of holiday-themed activities to get you in a merry mood. Downtown in December, Oklahoma City’s November-January holiday extravaganza, continues its traditions through Jan. 28. “Of course, there’s the crowd favorites, which include Devon Ice Rink, Holiday Pop-
naughty evening includes live entertainment, cash bar and light hors d’oeuvres. okeq.gov
PERFORMANCES
spotlightproductionsokc.com
Celebrating more than 25 years of holiday traditions, Signature Symphony’s Christmas in Tulsa 2017 show ushers in a familiar face. “Signature Symphony … welcomes Barry Epperley, founder of Signature Symphony and artistic director and conductor for 35 years, back to the Signature podium this year,” says Andres Franco, music director. Epperley leads a show that includes a bevy of tunes, instruments and musicians. “This year, the performance includes three violin soloists performing a bravura arrangement of ‘We Three Kings.’ The Signature Chorale and Sheridan Road, a vocal jazz ensemble, joins the orchestra to inspire a night of Christmas cheer as we continue our tradition of singing in the holiday season,” Franco says. Especially magical is the audience participation portion of the evening. “Our favorite part of Christmas in Tulsa is when the audience joins with the orchestra and Signature Chorale to sing everyone’s favorite holiday songs such as ‘White Christmas,’” Franco says. “It really is a magical moment when more than 1,600 voices become one to celebrate the season.”
NINTH ANNUAL FALALALALA BALL Dec. 16 DENNIS R. NEILL EQUALITY CENTER This nice and
IN OKC SPOTLIGHT PRODUCTIONS PRESENT: A CELTIC CHRISTMAS Dec. 1 THE GATE CHURCH Music
Christmas in Tulsa
Through Dec. 31
BROKEN ARROW WINE WALK Dec. 7 ROSE DISTRICT Explore
the Rose District while sipping on craft cocktails and wine.
PERFORMANCE
PHOTO BY SEAN CAPSHAW
Shootout is the largest event for micro-sprint racing in the country. tulsashootout.com
OKC PHIL PRESENTS: POP 2, THE CHRISTMAS SHOW Through Dec. 2 CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL This annual holiday extravaganza returns with
PHOTO COURTESY DOWNTOWN IN DECEMBER
EXPO SQUARE The Tulsa
DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
91
Where & When
ARENA Marvel fans assemble
okcphil.org
chesapeakearena.com
CANTERBURY VOICES PRESENT: HANDEL’S MESSIAH Dec. 3 CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES Dec. 29 CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL
Canterbury Voices takes you to a place where few choral groups can go. okcciviccenter.com
PHOTO COURTESY CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA
MARIA BAMFORD Dec. 3
CHESAPEAKE RULES DECEMBER Chesapeake Energy Arena bustles in December with a slew of games for the OKC Thunder, high-profile concerts and comic book performances. The NBA team pushes full steam ahead this month with 11 home games. Highlights include the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 3, Houston Rockets on Christmas Day and Dallas Mavericks on New Year’s Eve. Mega-star Lady Gaga embarked on her Joanne World Tour back in August and stops at Chesapeake on Dec. 9. After the commercial success of her documen-
tary, Five Foot Two, which premiered on Netflix in late September, Gaga sings new tunes from Joanne and her other beloved hits, such as “Born This Way” and “Poker Face.” Comic book fans can flock to Chesapeake from Dec. 14 to 17 for Marvel Universe Live! The stage show follows Spider-Man, the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and Doctor Strange as they work against the clock to defeat Loki. For a full schedule and tickets, visit chesapeakearena.com.
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
OKC BALLET AND THE OKC PHILHARMONIC PRESENT: THE NUTCRACKER Dec. 9-19 CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL The Nutcracker is OKC’s
MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE! AGE OF HEROES Dec. 14-17 CHESAPEAKE ENERGY
Celebrating 30 years of stirring virtual adventure and memorable soundtracks, The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses brings the Zelda franchise to life. okcciviccenter.com
LYRIC THEATRE PRESENTS: A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Through Dec. 24
LYRIC AT THE PLAZA This holiday tradition returns with Lyric’s production of the Charles Dickens classic with a stunning set and sparkling costumes. lyrictheatreokc.com OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS: MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS Dec. 26
CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL
This Chip Davis production has been an American holiday tradition for over 30 years. okcbroadway.com
MUSEUM Come for an
afternoon of holiday music, candy canes, Santa and lots of fun.
Dec. 3
DIAMOND BALLROOM
americanbanjomuseum.com
Enjoy this rap-rock combo band. diamondballroom.net
WHITECHAPEL Dec. 12 DIAMOND BALLROOM
BOBBY BONES AND THE RAGING IDIOTS Dec. 8 DIAMOND BALLROOM
See the band on its Decade of Defilement Tour.
diamondballroom.net
What began as friends playing silly tunes on local TV and radio became a musical comedy group.
EXILE Dec. 15 TOWER THEATRE The
individuals in Exile bring their own character, preferences, quirks and interests into the studio and onstage. exile.biz
diamondballroom.net
NEAL MCCOY Dec. 8 RIVERWIND CASINO, NORMAN Neal McCoy has
LADY GAGA Dec. 9 CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA See the mega-star on her Joanne World Tour.
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Dec. 10 CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA Over the past 20-plus
years, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has become a critically acclaimed, multi-platinum musical powerhouse.
chesapeakearena.com
CANDY CANE CHRISTMAS CONCERT Dec. 10 AMERICAN BANJO
FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Dec. 1 PASEO DISTRICT Art
CHRISTMAS AT THE ELMS JRB ART AT THE ELMS Each December, JRB closes out the year with a small works
riverwind.com
MANDY HARVEY Dec. 20 TOWER THEATRE Hough
Ear Institute, the Jasco Giving Hope Foundation and Kimray present Mandy Harvey. towertheatreokc.com
CASEY DONAHEW Dec. 22 DIAMOND BALLROOM
Casey Donahew returns to Oklahoma with guest Read Southall. diamondballroom.net
ART opening receptions showcase the new work of the gallery/ studio owners or the work of guest artists. thepaseo.org
Dec. 1-31
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND Dec. 16 RIVERWIND CASINO, NORMAN More than two
decades into a recording career that began when he was 16, Kenny Wayne Shepherd has built a powerful reputation as a visionary recording artist.
chesapeakearena.com
PHOTO COURTESY MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM OF ART
for this action-packed battle to defend the universe from evil.
CONCERTS HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD
released 15 studio albums on various labels and 34 singles to country radio. riverwind.com
Saints and Sinners
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towertheatreokc.com
okcballet.org
ART
“The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future,” Oscar Wilde says in A Woman of No Importance. These fascinating concepts of persecution and redemption are explored in Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s newest exhibition, Saints and Sinners II. The show, a continuation of 2016’s Saints and Sinners, explores canonized saints and their journeys, lifestyles, temptations, struggles and triumphs. The exhibition, at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, showcases prints spanning the 16th-20th centuries. Featured artists include Sebald Beham, Lucas Van Leyden, Johann Jacob Frey, Michel Van Lochem and Nicholas Le Sueur. The show opens Dec. 16 and runs until Jan. 28. Visit mgmoa.org for details.
TOWER THEATRE Maria Bamford stars in the semi-autobiographical Netflix comedy series Lady Dynamite, lauded as revelatory by Entertainment Weekly.
favorite holiday tradition and the perfect first ballet for children or adults.
CONCERT
Broadway’s Elizabeth Stanley, the Philharmonic Pops Chorale, the Mistletoes and Santa Claus.
show by various artists.
jrbartgallery.com
RAY HARRYHAUSEN: MYTHICAL MENAGERIE Through Dec. 3
SCIENCE MUSEUM OKLAHOMA Mythical
monsters, skeleton warriors and Greek gods have invaded the smART Space art galleries as part of this exhibit. sciencemuseumok.org
features ceramics, embroidery and encaustics from various artists. dnagalleries.com
ARTNOW Dec. 15-Jan. 19 OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER ArtNow is an
annual exhibition of Oklahomabased contemporary artists. oklahomacontemporary.org
DISTINGUISHED VISITING ARTIST: ROBERT TAYLOR
Through Dec. 30
FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM
MASTER STROKES Through Jan. 21
OKCMOA Traveling outside
of Great Britain for the first time, this exhibition presents some of the most important works from the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection of Dutch and Flemish drawings.
okcmoa.com
CARTOONS AND COMICS: THE EARLY ART OF TOM RYAN Through April 1 NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM Dating from
1936 to 1945, these small drawings provide a snapshot of Tom Ryan’s high school and Coast Guard years.
OF ART This self-taught artist is known for using symbols and manipulating bodily proportions as representations of human connections to the earth. ou.edu/fjjma
THE ART OF OKLAHOMA
EXPLORE EVOLUTION
OKC MOA The Art of
Through Jan. 1
SAM NOBLE MUSEUM
Explore the evolution of life and learn about all of Earth’s organisms.
nationalcowboymuseum.org
Through Sept. 2
Oklahoma celebrates the museum’s diverse collection of art created by or about Oklahomans. okcmoa.com
samnoblemuseum.ou.edu
AS LONG AS GRASS GROWS
SMALL WORKS, GREAT WONDERS Through Jan. 7 NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM Small Works, Great
EDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM
Wonders features a fusion of traditional and contemporary paintings and sculptures.
nationalcowboymuseum.org
Ongoing
Indian removal from the eastern United States began in earnest in the 1830s and continued until the 1870s. The exhibit depicts the struggles and triumphs. edmondhistory.org
SPORTS OKC THUNDER HOME GAMES Dec. 1, 3, 5, 11, 18, 20,
22, 25, 27, 29, 31
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA Enjoy the state’s only
major professional sports team.
chespeakearena.com
NRHA FUTURITY Through Dec. 2
STATE FAIR PARK The most
prestigious reining event in the world takes place in Oklahoma City. okstatefair.com
OKC BLUE HOME GAMES
Dec. 1, 2, 5, 13, 16, 19
COX CONVENTION CENTER The Blue is the
state’s only NBA G League team and an extension of the Thunder. oklahomacity. gleague.nba.com
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAMES Dec. 3, 9, 16, 28 LLOYD NOBLE CENTER, NORMAN See the Sooners
host three non-conference teams before finishing 2017 against Texas. soonersports.com
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA MEN’S BASKETBALL GAMES Dec. 4, 19, 22 LLOYD NOBLE CENTER, NORMAN The Sooner men’s
basketball team continues its season with three home games. soonersports.com
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BARREL RACING FUTURITY
okctrainshow.com
FESTIVE FRIDAYS AT THE GARDEN Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS Join us each
SATURDAYS WITH SANTA Dec. 2, 9, 16 MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS Families can
Christmas Parade with Santa. stockyardscity.org
entertainment.
jwswapmeet.com
normanchristmasparade.com
horses beginning at 5 p.m.
made into a Christmas tree ornament. travelok.com
YOGA IN THE GARDENS
EAGLE WATCH Dec. 9 LAKE THUNDERBIRD STATE PARK, NORMAN See
NORTH POLE ADVENTURE
Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26
MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS This is an all-levels class led by Lisa Woodward from This Land Yoga.
2ND FRIDAY NORMAN ART WALK Dec. 8 WALKER ARTS DISTRICT
thepaseo.org
COWBOY CHRISTMAS WITH SANTA Dec. 2 HISTORIC STOCKYARDS CITY Come for the Cowboy
If you’re looking for New Year’s Eve plans, ring in 2018 with Daryl Hall and John Oates. With iconic hits like “You Make My Dreams,” “Maneater” and “Rich Girl,” this Philadelphia duo starts your year off right. The show begins at 8 p.m. For a full schedule of events, visit winstarworldcasino.com.
the top barrel racers in the country face off at the world championship. bfaworld.com
STATE FAIR PARK See
OKLAHOMA CITY TRAIN SHOW Dec. 2-3 STATE FAIR PARK Enjoy
oklahomacitybotanicalgardens. com
Winstar World Casino is the place to be this month with a diverse lineup of events including an electrifying magic show, a Celtic performance and a throw-back rock concert. Enjoy the fascinating world of stage magic Dec. 8 when Penn and Teller visit Thackerville. The pair got their start back in the ’70s, but hit it big in the mid-’80s with their Emmy-winning PBS special Penn and Teller Go Public. In recent years, the duo has published several books, headlined in Las Vegas and toured across the nation. The show begins at 8 p.m. Hailing from Ireland, Celtic Thunder travels across the pond for an energetic, theatrical musical performance at 7 p.m. Dec. 16. Unlike other concerts, this group’s shows include information on Celtic mythology and highly choreographed numbers.
oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com
HOLIDAYS ON PASEO Dec. 1 PASEO DISTRICT During
Friday for holiday festivities in the Park House Event Center.
Winning at Winstar
Dec. 5-9
COMMUNITY First Friday, enjoy holidaythemed art, treats and music.
COMMUNIT Y
PHOTO COURTESY WINSTAR WORLD CASINO AND RESORT
CERAMICS + EMBROIDERY + ENCAUSTICS Dec. 7-Jan. 7 DNA GALLERIES The show
the show’s 41st anniversary.
enjoy food trucks, free admission to the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory and entertainment.
oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com
MOTORCYCLE SWAP MEET Dec. 3 STATE FAIR PARK Enjoy
the Motorcycle Swap Meet with plenty of exhibitors, concessions and
This free celebration of arts and creativity is held monthly downtown.
migrating eagles in their natural habitat for an event you won’t forget. travelok.com
SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY EXPO Dec. 9-10 BILTMORE HOTEL Enjoy
metaphysical subjects and conversations at this annual expo. facebook.com/OPERAok
2ndfridaynorman.com
CHRISTMAS TRAIN
CASCADE GAMING EVENT
OKLAHOMA RAILWAY MUSEUM Ride with
Dec. 8-10
COX CONVENTION CENTER
This festival of magic features a main event with thousands of dollars in cash prizes. coxconventioncenter.com
GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP Dec. 9 MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS Learn about
Dec. 9, 16-17
Santa and Mrs. Claus, sing carols, hear a reading of Christmas stories and have hot chocolate and cookies.
oklahomarailwaymuseum.org
HOLIDAY RIVER PARADE
Through Dec. 23
NORTHWEST 10TH STREET AND HUDSON AVENUE See pop-up shops galore to help get you in the holiday spirit. okcpopups.com
PLAZA BEER WALK Dec. 27 PLAZA DISTRICT Sip on tasty brews and explore.
plazadistrict.org
OPENING NIGHT Dec. 31 DOWNTOWN OKC Since
1987, Opening Night has been the place for families and friends to enjoy the performing arts and “open” the New Year in the spirit of community.
flavorful ginger root, then hunt for it in the conservatory.
was created in 2004 to open the Oklahoma River for the season. okcparade.com
SALVATION ARMY CENTRAL OKLAHOMA COMMAND The
NORMAN MAIN STREET CHRISTMAS PARADE Dec. 9 DOWNTOWN NORMAN
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT WORKSHOP Dec. 23 13101 ALAMEDA DRIVE, NORMAN Bring pine
“Christmas In Lights” features bands, floats and
cones, acorns, seed pods or anything that can be
This event has 18 Christmas trees with handmade ornaments from various Native American tribes. redearth.org
EDMOND OUTDOOR ICE RINK Through Jan. 7 MITCH PARK The
park transforms into a winter wonderland.
edmondoutdooricerink.com
DOWNTOWN IN DECEMBER Through Jan. 28
DOWNTOWN OKC Presented
by Devon, this is a series of holiday events and attractions in the city center. downtownindecember.com
CHARITABLE EVENTS
ANGEL TREE PROGRAM
oklahomacitybotanicalgadens.com
RED EARTH ART CENTER
artscouncilokc.com
Dec. 17
REGATTA PARK The event
RED EARTH TREEFEST
Through Jan. 5
December
SALVATION ARMY CENTRAL OKLAHOMA COMMAND
Angel Tree ensures no child is forgotten during Christmas by giving families in need gifts and food.
salvationarmyokcac.org
salvationarmyokcac.org
RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN December
The red kettle makes its appearance during the holidays to help the Salvation Army raise funds for its year-round programs and services.
A NIGHT FOR AFRICA Dec. 2 ARCHDIOCESE OF OKLAHOMA CITY Light the
DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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Where & When
Future Choir, a children’s group from Kenya, is a cross-cultural exchange of song, dance, cuisine and story-telling to benefit the Maisha Project. maishaproject.org
WOMEN WHO CARE SHARE LUNCHEON Dec. 6 NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM The event raises funds to support YWCA programs and services benefiting victims of domestic violence. ywcaokc.com
SANTA’S ART WORKSHOP Dec. 9
EDMOND FINE ARTS INSTITUTE This 45-minute
workshop includes an unique
holiday art activity, cookies and hot cocoa, story time with Mrs. Claus and a photo with Santa. edmondfinearts.com
SANTA RUN Dec. 9 DOWNTOWN OKC As part
of Downtown in December, the SandRidge Santa Run includes a 5K race, a one-mile fun run and a free kids’ dash.
downtownokc.com
NUTCRACKER TEA Dec. 16 CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL
Enjoy wondrous treats and meet your favorite characters from The Nutcracker as the Kingdom of Sweets come to life for this special annual event benefiting OKC Ballet.
okcballet.org
FILM AND CINEMA
Nostalgia to Oddities
AROUND THE STATE PERFORMANCES
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Dec. 1
CHOCTAW CASINO AND RESORT, DURANT See
the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the electrifying true story of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. choctawcasinos.com
DUNCAN LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS: SKETCHES OF CHRISTMAS Dec. 1-2, 8-9 SIMMONS CENTER THEATRE, DUNCAN Start
the holiday season off with a performance at Duncan Little Theatre. duncanlittletheatre.com
CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK CENTER PRESENTS: SESAME STREET LIVE! PARTY TIME! Dec. 2 CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK CENTER, ENID Experience
the fun of Sesame Street as it comes to life like never before.
cnbccenter.com
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Through Dec. 2
GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH, BARTLESVILLE
Watch as this hilarious classic reveals a couple’s struggles as they attempt to put on a church Christmas pageant. cmonstage.com
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER Dec. 7
CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK CENTER, ENID This year
marks the 33rd anniversary of the Christmas Tour and release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas. cnbccenter.com
PENN AND TELLER Dec. 8 WINSTAR WORLD CASINO AND RESORT, THACKERVILLE For more
than 40 years, Penn and Teller have defied labels by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own comedic niche. winstarworldcasino.com
GABRIEL IGLESIAS Dec. 9 FIRST COUNCIL CASINO, NEWKIRK Iglesias is one
of America’s most successful stand-up comedians.
firstcouncilcasinohotel.com
CHRISTMAS WITH MARK LOWRY Dec. 14 CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK CENTER, ENID Don’t miss
this family Christmas event filled with laughter and praise.
cnbcenter.com
JERRY SEINFELD Dec. 15 WINSTAR WORLD CASINO AND RESORT, THACKERVILLE Don’t miss
the chance to see iconic comedian Jerry Seinfeld. winstarworldcasino.com
CELTIC THUNDER Dec. 16 WINSTAR WORLD CASINO AND RESORT, THACKERVILLE Join us in
welcoming Celtic Thunder. winstarworldcasino.com
THE POLLARD THEATRE PRESENTS: A TERRITORIAL CHRISTMAS CAROL Through Dec. 23
120 W. HARRISON AVE., GUTHRIE This Pollard
Theatre original, in its 30th year, always delights enthusiastic Oklahoma audiences. thepollard.org
MUSICAL THEATER SHOWCASE Dec. 18 ROSE STATE COLLEGE HUDIBURG EVENT CENTER, MIDWEST CITY See the students of Rose State College perform. rose.edu
FOR MORE EVENTS IN TULSA, OKC AND AROUND THE STATE, HEAD TO OKMAG.COM.
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
December has something to suit every aficionado, from White Christmas and Star Wars to Election and some off-beat gems.
Around Town
Apparently it’s my new holiday tradition – two years running now – to recommend that you make your own holiday tradition out of Circle Cinema’s showings of White Christmas. Why? One of the great holiday films, White Christmas is best seen on a large screen (for the dancing), with an engaged audience (for the sing-a-longs), and with plenty of cheer in the air – here provided at select screenings by a live organist. Start your winter break off right with a showing; it runs Dec. 15-24.
At Home
Alexander Payne has made seven films in a 20-year career, not exactly a blistering pace. What he lacks in speed, however, he makes up for with fastidious filmmaking; his scripts are always polished and his directing style revels in subtle touches. This month, Criterion Collection releases a new DVD edition of his masterpiece, the acidic 1999 satire Election. Adapted from Tom Perotta’s novel, the story is a loose retelling of the 1992 presidential election, transferring the action to a student council race in an Omaha, Nebraska, high school. Filled with sly jabs at national politics, the film mines most of its many laughs from its attention to personal detail. Sad sack teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) tries his best to stop the election of suck-up Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon in her breakout role), but life keeps getting in the way. Broderick’s manic desperation
plays well against Witherspoon’s perky, gogetter attitude, and the cast is nicely filled out, especially by an extremely funny Chris Klein as Flick’s dimwitted opponent.
In Theaters
The big event this month is, of course, Star Wars: The Last Jedi – but you knew that already. As excited as I am to see what new director Rian Johnson can do with the hallowed property, in this space I want to highlight two films also worth your time. It’s a good month for Payne; not only is Election back on DVD, but his seventh feature film, Downsizing, hits theaters. In some ways, this looks like a big departure for Payne – his films are largely realist, but Downsizing dabbles in science fiction, telling the story of a family drawn to new technologies that can shrink people to pocket size. Still, the underlying thrust appears to be classic Payne as he skewers society while navigating family politics. Meanwhile, actor/director James Franco contributes one of the oddest offerings of the year in The Disaster Artist, a film about the making of another film, Tommy Wiseau’s infamous The Room. Beloved by bad film buffs everywhere, The Room is one of the strangest, most inexplicable films to ever make it onto the midnight circuit. Casting himself as the ineffable Wiseau, Franco appears to have had a lot of fun with the film, which should transfer over to those watching from the seats. ASHER GELZER-GOVATOS
SPOTLIGHT
Red Ribbon Gala In 2018, the 21st annual fundraiser by Tulsa CARES strives to shift perspectives on HIV/AIDS diagnoses.
S
cheduled for March 3 at the Cox Business Center, the 21st annual Red Ribbon Gala will focus on redirecting perspectives about HIV/ AIDS, organizers say. The premier fundraising event focuses on “Shift” – what event co-chairs Betsy and Gerry Jackson encourage among Tulsa County’s population when it comes to perception, awareness and compassion. Gerry Jackson says perspectives have already changed drastically since the Red Ribbon Gala’s inception in 1998. “HIV/AIDS was not at the forefront of local philanthropy in the early to mid-’90s,” he says. “It took many dedicated volunteers and staff to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and to educate the community about the realities and the need for compassion and support services.” But the work is not complete. “There is still a stigma attached, and we want people to change, or shift, their viewpoint,” Betsy Jackson says. The black tie event features an interactive exhibit gallery, cocktails, dinner, a live auction and dancing. And, Betsy Jackson says, “the numbers of guests and donors seem to increase each year.” The special evening is glitzy and entertaining, but the end game is to raise funds for the nonprofit, which helps to fund research and resources for people with HIV/AIDS and to transform social fears and misunderstandings into an educated empathy for those needing help. Proceeds from the gala, which exceeded the $750,000 goal in 2017 by 14 percent, will provide practical services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their loved ones. The goal for the 2018 gala is $1 million. CEO Kate Neary says Tulsa CARES and its annual Red Ribbon Gala have played an important role in HIV/AIDS response over the past two decades. “Tulsa CARES has provided a compas-
sionate response to the HIV epidemic as HIV infection has evolved from a fatal illness to a chronically managed disease,” Neary says. “Within the framework of the HIV treatment cascade, we play a critical role in improving the lives of Oklahomans living with HIV/AIDS by offering a one-stop shop for social services.” Some of those services include care co-
ordination, mental health services, nutrition assistance, housing assistance, educational workshops and counseling for those living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers. Visit tulsacares.org to learn more about the programs, the Red Ribbon Gala and other ways you can help the cause. BRANDI GENTRY
GERRY AND BETSY JACKSON ARE THE CO-CHAIRS OF TULSA CARES’ 2018 RED RIBBON GALA. PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL
RED RIBBON GALA 6 P.M. MARCH 3
COX BUSINESS CENTER, TULSA BENEFITS TULSA CARES FOR TICKETS, VISIT REDRIBBONGALA.ORG
DECEMBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM
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C LO S I N G T H O U G H T S
Leigh Goodson
L
eigh Goodson became the fourth president in the 47-year history of Tulsa Community College (Oklahoma’s largest) in May 2014. We caught up with Goodson and got her thoughts on …
… community colleges’ importance.
Nearly half of all enrolled college students are at community colleges, which are the gateway to higher education and provide access to anyone who seeks to better themselves and their lives through education. Community colleges quickly pivot to serve the changing needs of the community and are uniquely positioned to develop the workforce for a thriving economy.
… recent accomplishments.
… consolidations.
TCC is one college but has four main campuses. Before restructuring, we may have had four different ways of doing things. A specific course may have varied between campuses. While teaching methods will always vary, the learning outcomes of a course should be consistent. This is important when advancing into the next course and transferring to a university. An additional outcome has been stronger collegial connections. Faculty members love sharing what they have learned. The same goes for student affairs. We had one dean on each campus running student activities. Now, our Student Government Association has become a One College SGA. They present a shared voice as
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2017
opposed to four sets of issues being brought to administration.
… TCC’s overlooked benefits.
You know the popular six degrees of separation? With TCC, it is first or second degree of separation. I always ask when I am with a group of people, “How many of you have taken a class at TCC?” Without fail, about half of the audience will raise their hand. Then when you ask if a family member attended TCC, almost always, the rest of the hands in the room are raised. TCC has touched nearly every family in this community.
… setting up students for fouryear degrees.
Our students perform very well once they
transfer, and universities want our students in their classes. We are the largest transfer institution for many universities, including Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University and Rogers State University. We know how critical it is that our students perform after they leave TCC, both at the university and in the workplace.
… being a proud Tulsan.
My family moved to Tulsa in 1977. I was 9 years old and attended Robert B. Grove Elementary. Over the last 40 years, our family has grown roots. My husband (a native Tulsan) and I care about our city. We raised our children here. I went into this role knowing my passion was tied to this community and helping people to succeed and contribute to their families and the economy.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TCC
Shortly after I became president, TCC was selected for the Pathways Project, a national initiative funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This was a multiyear project with a vast amount of work. The faculty, along with the academic and student affairs teams, stepped up. For example, the Pathways Project called for us to map each academic program so students know what to take each semester and how exactly to sequence their courses. The Pathways Project set a Fall 2018 deadline for the mapping. TCC’s faculty and staff finished a year early.
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