Business Matters - Spring 2017

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INSIDE JJ Main Street Muskogee ready to energize community JJ Exciting changes coming to Fort Gibson JJ Leaders who make a difference in our community

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SPRING 2017 On the Cover

Contents

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Destination Downtown Developments make Depot District buzz with excitement.

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Under Construction

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Giving Back

Development continues in urban renewal area.

Shining the light on those who make a difference in our community.

S t a f f p h o t o b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

A sign of the times hints at all sorts of shopping, business and entertainment opportunities in downtown Muskogee.

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Growing Main Street

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Cultivating Success

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A gateway to Muskogee

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Fort Gibson takes pride in EPIC community

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Port buoyant about future

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Muskogee area business profiles

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Program combines historic preservation with economic stimulation.

Meet the class of Leadership Muskogee XXIII. The Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce seeks out leaders to serve the community.

Intersection of U.S. 69 and Shawnee considered to have ‘best’ retail potential.

Meeting allows Fort Gibson residents’ voices to be heard.

Port of Muskogee officials look toward future projects.

Get to know local businesses.

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Business Matters magazine is published by the Muskogee Phoenix.

Contents of the magazine are by the Muskogee Phoenix. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior consent of the Muskogee Phoenix.

Business Matters A division of Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. P.O. Box 1968 Muskogee, OK 74402 (918) 684-2888 Copyright 2017 Email photo or article submission queries to news@muskogeephoenix.com.

PUBLISHER John Newby EDITORS Ed Choate, Elizabeth Ridenour ADVERTISING Stephanie Elswick, Sales Manager Angela Jackson Jessica Fowler Erin Shriver Therese Lewis Debbie Sherwood Kristina Hight LAYOUT AND DESIGN Josh Cagle CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D. E. Smoot Mark Hughes Travis Sloat Wendy Burton Mike Elswick CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Cathy Spaulding Mark Hughes Travis Sloat Mike Elswick

New magazine puts spotlight on business

By John A. Newby P u b l is h e r , T h e M u s k o g e e P h o e nix

Welcome to our first edition of “Business Matters” — a new publication of the Muskogee Phoenix. This twice yearly business magazine is dedicated and devoted to discussing the ins and outs of businesses in our community as well as the future prospects for our area.

It is no secret that a vibrant business community is essential to not only the growth of a community, but the simple survival of a community.

To be more direct, while manufacturing and higher paying business entities provide many of the jobs within a community, keeping those employees satisfied with local business options is what is needed to actually grow your community — otherwise those high-paying jobs leave at 5 p.m., taking what could be the local payroll with them.

When you look at successful communities around the country, the fact is that most aren’t successful by simply having all the national major chains in town. In fact, more and more are saying that all those national chains without a vibrant local business base only spells long-term problems for those communities. Simply put, national chains do a great job of extracting dollars from Main Street and moving them to Wall Street.

Few move to a community because they are stockpiled with national chains. PeoSPRING 2017

ple move their families to a community based on the character of the community, the people, the local business climate, the uniqueness and the local flavor. All of which are found in those locally owned and operated businesses.

At the end of the day, having a strong local base, a strong and vibrant downtown in addition to the normal national chains can spell success at all levels. When communities figure out how to attract and maintain all three of the above, that is a community that will see population growth and vibrancy.

It is the purpose of this magazine to shine light on our local business community. Additionally, and maybe even more importantly, it is here to recognize many of the unsung and even some of the sung business heroes among us. There are so many members of our community who give back, so many that contribute in so many ways to helping us become a better city, region and world.

We hope that you enjoy this magazine.

If you know of any unsung heroes in our communities, please bring them to our attention and, who knows, maybe they will be in the spotlight in a future edition of “Business Matters.”

John A. Newby Publisher, The Muskogee Phoenix BUSINESS MATTERS

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Fort Business

S MALL T OWN , I N P ROGRESS !

Fort Gibson Oldest Town in

Oklahoma

• Shop & Dine in Fort Gibson • Car Show - June 10, 2017 • Corn Festival - June 23 & 24, 2017 6

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Gibson is Good!

• Fort Gibson Historical Site • Smoking’ the Fort - October 2017 • National Cemetery/Laying Of The Wreaths December SPRING 2017

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Developments make Depot District buzz with excitement

By D.E. Smoot P h o e nix S t a f f W ri t e r

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Destination downtown

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here’s a buzz of excitement in the Depot District, an area in “Almost everybody who downtown Muskogee where walks through our doors patrons can catch a play, hear live music asks about the little buildand retrace local history.

That buzz has grown along with the ings across the street and popularity of live entertainment every comments about how cool it Thursday night on the Frisco Depot would be to have a little wine stage at the Oklahoma Music Hall of bar or a place to do someFame.

Muskogee Little Theatre’s new facility thing before or after they atbolstered hopes that the Depot District tend the theater.” will become an arts and entertainment hub in the heart of the city. how cool it would be to have a little “Almost everybody who walks through our doors asks about the little buildings wine bar or a place to do something across the street and comments about before or after they attend the theater,”

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MLT Executive Director Coni Wetz said. “Everybody wants to know what else is going to be here.”

Wetz said she would like to see a restaurant where people could get a bite to eat before — or after — they see a performance at the new theater. An eatery could be a draw, she said, for those who head to the Depot District to hear live music at OMHOF’s home base or visit Three Rivers Museum, both of which are across the street.

Another idea that is getting some traction and expected to become a reality is an outdoor gathering place on the eastern edge of the Depot District. The planning and design phase for the green

Destination Downtown

S t a f f P h o t o s b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: The Midland Valley Railroad Depot, built in 1916, houses the Three Rivers Museum. It is one of the anchors of Muskogee’s Depot District.

Left: Food trucks have become a regular feature on Thursdays in the Depot District.

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Destination Downtown

Above: Autographed guitars of all types line the walls of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

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Destination Downtown S t a f f P h o t o s b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Left: Enter a diverse world of music at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. The hall, located in the old Frisco Depot, features memorabilia from country, pop, classical, jazz, rock, gospel and other genres.

space is wrapping up now, and efforts are under way to secure the funding needed to implement both.

“Anything you can do to get more people down here is a good thing,” said Wetz, who serves as a member of a steering committee that focuses on Depot District development. “I think the green space they are looking at is a great way to do that.”

City Manager Mike Miller said green

“Green spaces give people a place to congregate, have events and hang out downtown outdoors.” spaces are key elements often seen in other cities where downtown revitalization has been a primary focus. He said the city already owns much of the property needed for the green space envisioned for the Depot District, which will make it easier to move the project forward.

“Green spaces give people a place to congregate, have events and hang out downtown outdoors,” Miller said. “We have great places — and we are getting more great places — to hang out indoors, and the green space will complement those.”

When the project was proposed a year ago, Muskogee Area Arts Council Treasurer Wren Stratton said it was “ab-

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Destination Downtown

S t a f f p h o t o b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: A visitor studies exhibits at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. The museum features memorabilia from such greats as Merle Haggard, Patti Page, Vince Gill, Wanda Jackson and Carrie Underwood.

solutely imperative” that all stakeholders come together in order to make the park-like green space become a reality.

She, like others, said the green space has the potential to tip “this Depot District into retail development” and “create revenue.”

Miller agreed and said development plans within the Depot District are part of a larger effort to revitalize downtown Muskogee. That effort, he said, includes 14

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partnering with private developers who want to invest in the city’s central business district.

“What we want to do is help with the downtown transformation,” Miller said, noting the large number of people who work in downtown Muskogee. “That green space will link the Katy District and Depot District ... and give those people who work downtown something to do when they are not at work.”

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Miller said a grant awarded by the City of Muskogee Foundation was used to pay for planning and design work associated with the Depot District green space. The city plans to apply for another grant to help fund the implementation of that plan once the scope and costs of the project have been determined.

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskogeephoenix.com.

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Development continues in urban renewal area

By D.E. Smoot P h o e nix S t a f f W ri t e r

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Under Construction

S ta f f P h oto s by C at h y S pa u l d ing

Left: Three Rivers Plaza was the first commercial project to take shape after an urban renewal plan was adopted in 2014.

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evelopment continues to move forward within an urban renewal project area in northwest Muskogee, with occupancy of a shopping center completed in 2016 nearing capacity and the opening of a new steakhouse on the horizon.

“The word is out that Muskogee is a good place to locate some retail right now, and that is good news for us,” City Manager Mike Miller said. “Figuring out the best way to do it that is right for the city. That is what we are doing right now.”

Miller said prospective developers have shown a lot of interest in the urban renewal project area, which was identified in 2011 as having the potential to meet statutory criteria and have an immediate economic impact. The area is bounded by Chicago and 11th streets on the east and west and Shawnee Bypass and Talladega Street on the north and south.

Commissioners with the Muskogee Urban Renewal Authority in March inked 18

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a deal with Franklin Land Associates, a limited liability company with ties to GBT Realty Corp. in Brentwood, Tenn., that provides for the sale of 15.4 acres at a cost of nearly $4.01 million, or $5.97 a square foot. It includes an option to buy an adjacent 9.07-acre tract for $2.7 million, or $6.83 a

“With urban renewal, we are doing what we need to do to keep people here — and attract others from outside Muskogee — to spend their money locally.” square foot.

In addition to the land deal, commissioners authorized continued negotiations of a development agreement with Orion Realty Advisors, a Sapulpa-based limited liability company brokering a deal known only as Project Sunshine. That agreement would

Under Construction

Above: Vacant stores at the Three Rivers Plaza are filling up with tenants. City Manager Mike Miller says Muskogee is a “good place to locate retail right now.”

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Under Construction

S ta f f p h oto s by C at h y S pa u l d ing

Right: Dick’s Sporting Goods was the first major store to open in Three Rivers Plaza.

be worth $150,000 to Orion if it brings Project Sunshine to fruition.

Ward IV Councilor Marlon Coleman said the city’s urban renewal efforts are important to the commercial development along the West Shawnee Bypass corridor. Urban renewal, he said, removes the blight that overtook the project area and promotes its “great potential for retail development.”

“The word is out that Muskogee is a good place to locate some retail right now, and that is good news for us.”

“We lose so many dollars every day to places like Broken Arrow and Tulsa,” Coleman said. “With urban renewal, we are doing what we need to do to keep people here — and attract others from outside Muskogee — to spend their money locally.”

Three Rivers Plaza was the first commercial project to take shape after the requisite

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Under Construction

Above: Work continues on the site of Colton’s Steak House & Grill. The 9,000-square-foot restaurant is expected to open this summer.

Below: A road grader passes what soon will be Colton’s Steak House & Grill on Shawnee Bypass, another addition to Muskogee’s growing restaurant row.

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Under Construction

P h o e nix S t a f f p h o t o b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: A work crew blades Fifth Street south of Shawnee Bypass.

Muskogee’s urban renewal program helps improve conditions to bring business to Muskogee.

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studies were completed and an urban renewal plan adopted in 2014. A proposal for the development of a market-rate apartment complex was approved simultaneously, but various delays stalled construction.

“They are anxious to move forward — they are in a holding pattern — and we are ready to get them moving,” Miller said about RECO Development Group’s planned apartment project.

“They are working to get their financing ..., (and) that is a process that puts the timeline a little bit beyond the developer’s control.”

RECO reportedly is attempting to secure financing through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That component is expected to

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be completed and construction begun

by June, with completion of the first phase from six months to a year later depending upon the weather and other variables.

“My hope is that once they near completion of the first phase, they will see enough demand to jump right in and start the second,” Miller said of what initially was proposed as a 200 garden-style apartments in a 10-unit complex. The proposal approved by urban renewal commissioners boasted amenities that included a fitness center, cyber cafe, family areas, walking paths, barbecue stations and a resort-style pool.

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskogeephoenix.com.

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Giving back Shining the light on those who make a difference in our community

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Those who give back

Ong passionate about Muskogee’s potential

By Wendy Burton P h o e nix C o rr e sp o n d e n t

Ann Barker Ong is a well-known community advocate who has given of her time selflessly for many years. But she doesn’t think it’s selfless at all.

“I do it because I am selfish and prideful. I want my town to be the best it can be,” she said. “I want the people in my town to be the best they can be. I want my neighbors to have a good job and the comforts of a modern society.”

She also wants her neighbors’ children to have healthy food, safe homes and safe play areas.

She wants them to be bright and creative, Ong said.

“I want them to solve the energy crisis, the health care crisis, the global warming debate and the myriad of other social and political problems that plague us,” she said.

Ong, who moved to Muskogee in 1979 and became a “quite active” community advocate in about 2000, said she has now lived in Muskogee longer than anyplace else.

“And at some point, and I can’t say exactly when, I became an Okie,” she said. “Both Oklahoma and Kentucky share the spot in my heart that is marked home.”

Ong serves and supports many organizations in the community, perhaps most notably Action in Muskogee (AIM), in which she is a co-chair and has been a participant

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since its inception several years ago. In addition, she is on the Muskogee Little Theatre Board of Directors, and was on the building committee which helped bring the new theater to fruition.

Ong also serves on the Board of Directors for the Muskogee Area Arts Council and is on the Airport Board.

She is a member of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, Three Rivers Museum and Five Civilized Tribes Museum, as well.

Arts, and the promotion of such, are certainly a passion of hers, but so are many other contemporary issues, she said.

“I envision a Muskogee in which everyone has a full and appropriate education, opportunities to engage in meaningful and rewarding work, opportunities to enjoy and participate in the arts, and everyone feels safe and accepted,” Ong said.

Ong remembers her participation in the Vision Committee with the Greater Area Muskogee Chamber of Commerce as particularly inspiring her development into a community advocate. The Vision Committee is where the inspiration for Action in Muskogee came from, she said.

“With a little guidance from Jim Eaton, the chair, we discuss issues

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Ann Barker Ong facing the community. It’s a sort of think tank,” Ong said. “The topics are varied; the conversation is civil.

The opinions and ideas run the gamut from genius to laughable, but almost everyone is fully engaged and thinking about what we can do to make Muskogee a highly desirable place to live.”

And Muskogee is making progress in the right direction, she said.

“But the road is long and the map is unclear,” Ong said. “Still, there are many reasons for hope and for optimism.”

Ong said some issues are deep-rooted and generational, but Bridges Out of Poverty is making a difference.

In spite of meager resources, she said, local school administrators and teachers “do amazing things that most people who have not recently been in one of our schools would know or imagine. And Muskogee has an excellent school system.”

Ong said the Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr. Community Center provides assistance and inspiration to adults and children alike. And the City of Muskogee Foundation continues to make considered decisions to support Muskogee’s growth and development in big and small ways.

“My dream and fervent hope is that we eliminate the root causes of poverty in our community,” Ong said. “As long as most of our citizens are too poor and undereducated to thrive on their own, we are doing something wrong, and we cannot thrive as a community.

I believe we have the power to change this.”

Ong said the community needs to work in the school system and other community organizations to help, not only young people, but whole families to appreciate the value of education, work, self-respect and responsibility.

“We must be consistent, persistent, and wide-reaching in our efforts,” she said.

Those who give back

Lucht supports his community in a variety of ways

By Mike Elswick P h o e nix C o rr e sp o n d e n t

Dylan Lucht has no trouble keeping busy in the community he returned to by choice after a career that saw him traveling around the world.

Lucht has served on the board of Court Appointed Special Advocates for two years. He is involved with the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and has served on chamber committees.

For the past three years he has served on the Lake Area United Way allocations committee. He and others visit with agencies receiving United Way funds and make recommendations back to the board.

He recently rolled off that United Way committee and now serves on the board.

“It’s a great group of people who support the United Way,” he said.

“It’s amazing how they all come together and improve each year.”

This summer, Lucht will complete a year serving as president of the Muskogee Rotary Club after serving on the club’s board. When his year as club president is up he will serve as president of the Rotary Foundation.

“We have a very active club with about 92 members,” he said. “It is a very strong group with a lot of amazing projects they do.”

One of the pleasures of serving in leadership with Rotary has been that the club’s members live the “service above self ” motto and step

up to make projects happen.

One of the newest Rotary projects is the “Dinner Anywhere in the World” raffle that will benefit local students by providing scholarships at Bacone College, Connors State College and Northeastern State University. A portion of the funds will assist the Rotary International program to eradicate polio worldwide.

The raffle tickets are $100 each with only 200 tickets sold, he said.

The grand prize is dinner for two anywhere in the world — a prize valued at about $4,000. The drawing will be held June 1.

Party In the Park fundraiser, a golf tournament, and helping provide meals to the Gospel Rescue Mission are a part of local Rotary projects.

Lucht said his return to his hometown area has been a rewarding move.

“I grew up here and graduated from high school in Fort Gibson,” Lucht said.

Like many young people, he was hooked on the lure of venturing out into the larger world and took a position in the telecommunications industry working with the installation, instrumentation and troubleshooting for cellular phone towers.

“The traveling got to be hard after 14 years,” Lucht said.

He was based in Cincinnati, but his job did not allow much time at

Dylan Lucht home with a growing family. He returned to Muskogee in 2008 and got into the insurance business in Tulsa before eventually joining his father, Darrell Lucht, as a partner in the insurance business.

“This is a business that I saw my dad enjoyed,” Lucht said. “He’s 71 and still likes to come to work every day.”

After getting his insurance career into gear it wasn’t long before he felt the tug to get involved and give back to the community.

“If you live here you need to be able to give back,” Lucht said. “This community is what we make it.”

He is the father to a 12-year-old daughter, 17-year-old son, and a teen stepson. One reason Lucht said he is involved is to help develop future opportunities that will allow young people like his kids the opportunity to make a living in Muskogee and have the quality of life they enjoy without having to go elsewhere.

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want to do everything I can to help lay the framework that will help keep our youth here with opportunities,” he said. “Muskogee has a huge opportunity here.”

He said getting the right people together will make things happen.

Toward that end he recently has gotten involved in Main Street Muskogee and its Main Street revitalization program. He serves as second vice president for Main Street Muskogee.

“Muskogee has a lot of big dreams, but we’ve struggled in a lot of ways,” he said. “The build-up along Shawnee corridor is great” with the franchise restaurants and big box retailers.

“But that has taken a lot of wind out of the downtown progression,” Lucht said.

The group is working to get downtown businesses more involved and engaged.

“We have a lot of challenges, but I’m very excited about the opportunities,” he said.

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Those who give back

Former mayor gives back in variety of ways

By Mike Elswick P h o e nix C o rr e sp o n d e n t

Whether it is enhancing the local arts community, heading up city government, helping to fight breast cancer or lending aid to hurricane evacuees from Louisiana, Wren Stratton has been on the front lines.

She served on the Muskogee City Council from 2002 through 2008 and was mayor for the last two years on the council.

“I’m not the type to just sit at home,” Stratton said.

Her tenure on the city government leadership team provided ample opportunity to serve.

“We had a lot going on then,” she said.

The ice storm of 2007 crippled the city for weeks with power outages and related issues that required Muskogee leaders to spring into action to help residents forced from their homes.

But there were other vital issues to be mulled over with details to be worked out.

“In a period of two years we dealt with the ice storm of 2007, leased the hospital in the largest lease deal in the history of the city, and

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established the City of Muskogee Foundation,” she said.

The two pivotal events of leasing the former city hospital and creating the foundation continue to positively influence the city through a variety of grants awarded by the foundation.

Somewhere in that time frame the city manager of 22 years resigned, she said. After Hurricane Katrina sent New Orleans-area residents fleeing in 2005, Stratton helped out with those who ended up at nearby Camp Gruber.

“They basically came here with nothing except the clothes they were wearing,” she said.

That meant a need for food, water, clothing and personal items.

“The first things they needed were water and new underwear,” Stratton said. “This community was so generous. It was awesome, and we all got it done with all kinds of volunteers.”

A part of her sense of duty to give back to the community she loves comes from her mother, the late Ruth Box. Together, the two women helped

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Wren Stratton found and kick off the Muskogee Arts Council.

“We made a lot of calls and got others involved,” Stratton said.

“We felt the city needed a general arts group to support dance, theater, ballet, mural and other projects.”

One of the groups Stratton is best known for is one she co-founded with the late Cassandra Gaines — Women Who Care. Both founders were breast cancer survivors who knew the emotional roller coaster women travel when they are given the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Women Who Care provides funds for area women to have mammograms and provides support in a variety of other ways.

Women Who Care provides vouchers to area women who cannot afford a mammogram so they can go to either Landmark Cancer Center or EASTAR Health System at no charge to them.

Hundreds of women have received assistance from Women Who

Care over the years. Stratton said in an average year between 75 and 100 women are provided a way to get life-saving mammograms done at no cost.

When not volunteering, Stratton is on the teaching staff at Indian Capital Technology Center instructing future nurses. She feels Muskogee is headed in a good direction.

“Our current mayor is doing a good job of leveraging our assets,” she said.

Stratton said she feels it is important for everyone to get involved in helping improve Muskogee’s quality of life.

Among the projects Stratton is involved in is the group tasked with revitalizing Muskogee’s historic downtown.

“Downtown is the heart of the city, and we need to pay attention to it,” she said. “We’re also a super diverse community, and we need to leverage that diversity as a strength.”

Those who give back

Smith shares passion for helping kids in need

By Mike Elswick P h o e nix C o rr e sp o n d e n t If it has to do with the annual Muskogee Exchange Club’s Chili & B-B-Q Cook-off, Robert Smith is probably not too far removed from the action. ”My pride and joy is being associated with the Muskogee Exchange Club,” Smith said.

He initially got involved when working for Dick Morris at Advantage Controls for eight years.

The mission of the national Exchange Club organization is Americanism, child abuse prevention and children’s charities. Those issues, especially child abuse prevention, are near and dear to Smith.

Funds raised from the cook-off and other club activities go directly to aid local children through annual contributions to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Kids’ Space, Muskogee Education Foundation and the Shoe and Coat Fund.

The Shoe and Coat Fund works behind the scenes with local school counselors to identify youngsters who may not have family resources to provide them with basics like shoes to wear or coats, gloves and hat to help keep them warm in winter.

“That’s a program that doesn’t get much publicity, but it really touches the heart,” Smith said.

This year’s Exchange Club Chili & B-B-Q Cook-off will be April 7 and 8 with a full slate of activities scheduled.

While the cooking competition takes center stage, the Azalea Festival Parade, live entertainment and a variety of children’s activities will

help round out the two days. Smith said the Muskogee Civic Center Market Square serves as the cook-off location.

The club’s other major annual event is the River Rumba Regatta — a cardboard boat race.

“It’s very popular among families, and it’s a fascinating concept,” Smith said.

The regatta provides opportunities for families, offices and civic clubs to join forces in creating cardboard boats that will hopefully float.

Exchange Club members also help out in other civic and community endeavors like G Fest, he said.

“Our mission is to support and raise money for organizations that support our main mission of child abuse prevention,” Smith said.

Having the cook-off in April, which is national Childhood Abuse Prevention Month, and which coincides with Muskogee’s Azalea Festival — makes the event take on even more importance.

The cook-off is normally the second weekend of April to help kickoff the Azalea Festival and related activities like a parade, car show, powwow and other events.

“They all work together to make a really impactful event tourism-wise and retail-wise for downtown,” Smith said.

The economic impact has been estimated at more than $1 million a year with spending at hotels, restaurants and retail establishments.

“That is very important to the city,” he said. The club directly donates

Robert Smith $50,000 or more annually to designated local organizations with those funds coming from the cook off and other Exchange Club events.

Over the 33 years the cook-off has been going on the club has contributed more than $1 million to local nonprofit groups that benefit youngsters, Smith said.

“This cook-off is substantial for this community,” he said.

It has gained a strong base of community support from sponsors and people getting involved to volunteer.

“There are literally hundreds of volunteers that help,” Smith said. “It’s something that has grown and has such a reputation that people want to get involved and be a part of it.”

Smith has been serving as chairman of the cook-off for about eight years, and he sees the investment of hours of work and planning as time well spent.

“We usually have about 100 cook teams,” he said. “We have people who fly in with teams from Florida, New York, Colorado, Missouri, Texas, Iowa and Arizona.”

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When not involved with the cook-off and other Exchange Club activities, Smith can be found dealing with financial reports and audits.

Smith has been working with Omni Valve since 2012 where he serves as chief financial officer. He graduated from Northeastern State University in 2012 with a degree in accounting and went to work for a Muskogee CPA firm where he did tax accounting.

He is married to the former Becky Odom of Muskogee, and the couple have two children. His other activities include being part of the praise and worship team at church, bicycling and being involved in youth activities, like Cub Scouts, with the couple’s children.

Looking toward the future, Smith said he sees the Exchange Club and the events it supports having even more of a positive impact.

“We all in the Exchange Club share the passion that we want to do more because we can do more,” he said. “It’s all about effort, and we have the same passion, the same heart and the same desire to grow what we’re doing.”

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Those who give back

Clowning around brings loads of satisfaction to Morris

By Mike Elswick P h o e nix C o rr e sp o n d e n t

The smiles on the faces of hundreds of Muskogee-area youngsters over the decades is enough reward to keep Hi-Bi the Clown, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny coming back year after year.

Muskogee businessman Dick Morris has taken on the persona of Hi-Bi and donned the costumes of the Easter Bunny and Santa to the delights of generations of local youngsters.

“I’ve been doing Hi-Bi the Clown for 43 years,” Morris said.

A friend got him involved in clowning, and through the Bedouin Shrine Temple and other civic and community connections he has been volunteering his time to bring smiles and laughs to kids ever since.

“He dressed me up as a clown in 1973 and when I walked into a room it was like a religious experience — it was like I knew that’s where I should be, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Morris said of his first clown experience. He remembers times like when he was dressed as Santa for an event and a young girl whispered in his ear.

“She said ‘Santa, I love you,’” he said.

It was that kind of feedback that money can’t buy. He has been in dozens of Christmas parades and probably visited thousands of

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young children in their classrooms passing out free circus tickets while joking and carrying on with students.

“One of the things I do every year is Special Olympics, and I love that,” Morris said. “With Special Olympics kids, when you make a friend you have a friend for life.”

When he is not following his passion of entertaining children, Morris has kept busy in the business world. He was born at home in South Dakota in 1939 and lived a life that took many turns before he arrived in Muskogee.

“My dad was a traveling salesman.

I went to 13 different schools between kindergarten to 12th grade,” Morris said.

He joined the Navy in 1957 where he went to electronics school. Upon discharge he sold encyclopedias, vacuum cleaners and worked for Western Auto in Kansas City. His years with the Dun and Bradstreet firm took him to several locations and eventually to Tulsa.

At Dun and Bradstreet he was going to be required to take a transfer out of Oklahoma, and that set him on the course that led to Muskogee.

Morris wasn’t ready to continue up the corporate career ladder.

Instead, he took a job in Musk-

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Dick Morris ogee as sales manager for a pump and control company. In 1976, he opened Morr Controls operating from his garage.

“That first year we had total sales of $28,000,” he said.

But 13 years later, the company had $8 million in sales and 125 employees. Since then, he has sold companies, retired, started new companies and expanded in a variety of ways.

Muskogee-based Advantage Controls serves as the parent company Morris is involved in with other firms such as Advantage Terrafab, Muskogee Powder Coating, Water Plus Parts, My Tech Reports, Truck Lungs and Advantage International all being aided by his business, electronics and management expertise.

In addition to his volunteering with Bedouin Shrine Temple where he served as potentate in 1997, his civic duties form a long list.

Morris is a past member and

former president of the Muskogee Exchange Club, past Red Cross board member, past board of director member for the Muskogee Education Foundation and served on the board of directors for the local United Way. He also found time to serve on the board and as president of the Muskogee School Board for more than 10 years and as chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

He has donated his time to the Elks Lodge, Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce, Muskogee Country Club, Muskogee Rotary Club and Bacone College Board. He also is a past vice chairman of the Greater Muskogee Development Corporation.

“I’ve been pretty lucky,” Morris said of his life and career. “Muskogee is a good place to live and do business, and my theory has been to live by the Golden Rule. You can’t go wrong by treating other people the way you’d want to be treated.”

Those who give back

Hamby’s community involvement spans decades

By Mike Elswick P h o e nix C o rr e sp o n d e n t

Darrell Hamby is bullish on Muskogee.

That becomes clear as he discusses what he loves about his hometown and why he has a passion to give back through a variety of volunteer endeavors that have transcended decades.

“All my roots are here,” he said.

“I’ve just always felt the need to give back.”

The lifetime resident and longtime business owner says he is proud to give back his time to the community that has meant so much to him and his family.

When not on the showroom floor of Hamby TV and Appliance with son and partner Tom Hamby, Darrell might be found in the board room at EASTAR Health System helping provide input to ensure the Muskogee area retains top quality health care as the system moves to new ownership.

Hamby has been on the board of Muskogee Regional Medical Center and later on the EASTAR board as vice chairman for 10 years. He was originally appointed

by Muskogee’s mayor to serve on the health system board.

As EASTAR prepares for the transition by Tulsa-based St. Francis Hospital, Hamby is chairman of the board during the critical

period.

“Being acquired by St. Francis is a very positive move for the community for a number of reasons,” he said. “It has been rated one of the best hospitals for a number of years — this is a big feather in our cap that will allow us to rely on their many resources.”

He expects the transition to St. Francis to be completed in about six months. Through his work with the health system over the years, Hamby has see the impact volunteers have on the community.

“At EASTAR we have 175 volunteers who provide all kinds of services,” he said. “If we had to hire people to perform those services we simply probably could not afford to pay them. Volunteerism is vital.”

The health system’s board is made up of physicians and lay people from the community who together make up a diverse group providing input on guiding policy, investment and ensuring community needs are met.

Over the years, Hamby was deeply involved in the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce where he served on the board of directors for 12 years. He served as chairman.

His chamber involvement also included service on the organiza-

Darrell Hamby tion’s retail promotions committee.

“I’ve been a longtime advocate of buying local,” he said.

Serving on the retail promotions committee allowed him the opportunity to convey the importance of local residents buying locally.

Hamby also has served, or is serving, on the boards of the City of Muskogee Foundation, Muskogee Little Theatre and other groups.

“The Foundation has made a world of difference here,” Hamby said.

The City of Muskogee Foundation was started when the city leased hospital operations to Capella and used the proceeds to establish the nonprofit foundation.

“I believe that if our citizens don’t come together and work together our city will shrink and die,” he said.

Looking toward the future, Hamby said he is optimistic Muskogee will remain and capitalize on the momentum being made in the areas of advancing the arts and entertainment, revitalizing downSPRING 2017

town and luring new business and industry to provide jobs.

“I see us continuing to grow slowly,” Hamby said.

He expects most of that job growth to be from smaller to medium-sized plants locating here. ”We really need to concentrate on marketing Muskogee,” he said.

With existing attractions like the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and year-round events slated at The Castle of Muskogee combined with other activities like the Azalea Festival and holiday Garden of Lights, the city has gained statewide and regional exposure it can capitalize on even more.

Other assets like the USS Batfish and the community’s farmers’ market also enhance quality of life in Muskogee while luring visitors to the city, he said.

“I have to give credit to all the thousands of people who volunteer here,” Hamby said. “That really makes a difference.”

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Those who give back

Boydstun helps make Muskogee a good place to visit and live

By Mike Elswick P h o e nix C o rr e sp o n d e n t Luring more visitors to the Muskogee area is one S.F. “Max” Boydstun’s community priorities.

Over the years the senior vice president of the local branch of Mabrey Bank has seen the positive impact tourism has and can have on the community. Perhaps it is his musical roots as a blues singer that first opened his eyes to the potential ways tourism dollars can benefit Muskogee.

“I’ve been a musician nearly all my life,” Boydstun said. “I halfway jokingly tell people that’s how I got through college without having to do any real work, by playing in bands.”

He grew up in the county south of Muskogee and went to high school in Warner.

“I guess I have a little gypsy in me because I’ve done some wandering around,” Boydstun said.

He got started down the banking career path while in high school working nights, and he worked in the field during his college years in the Oklahoma City area.

He moved back to Muskogee, and then it was on to Tahlequah for seven years.

“Tahlequah is probably where I first started getting involved in chamber work, tourism work and community involvement,” he said.

He then moved to Texas where he volunteered in chamber work and tourism development. From Texas, his next career stop was in Eureka

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Springs, Ark. “It was there that I say I got my Ph.D. in tourism,” Boydstun said.

“That was really their only industry.”

He moved back to Muskogee in 1998.

“I’m very happy to be back and have no plans to leave again. I think I got the gypsy worked out of me,” Boydstun said.

However, he still likes to travel and enjoys getting out on the open road to take in scenic areas of the region with his wife on a motorcycle.

“That has been one of my later life passions,” he said of riding.

If Boydstun and his wife enjoyed the scenic rides in the countryside around Muskogee he thought others might, too, so he joined forces with the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce to help brand that niche of local tourism.

“With the help of Sue Harris and Treasure McKenzie, who were with the chamber back then, we started to work on trying to get people to perceive Muskogee as the motorcycle riding capital of Oklahoma.”

That push resulted in a Muskogee-centric brochure titled the “Motorcycle Ride Guide” with several mapped-out routes visiting cyclists could take while using Muskogee as the base for hotel night stays, dining and entertainment.

“The reward is in the journey” the promotional piece read with tour loops having names like the “Moonshine Run,” “Mountain Waters Tour,”

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Max Boydstun the “Outlaw Tour” and “Sunset Tour” — highlighting Fort Gibson Lake “voted the best place to watch a sunset” in the region. ”The cool part about tourism is that if you can figure out how to sell what you’ve already got you don’t have to spend a lot of money on infrastructure,” he said. “So, what do we have? We’ve got lakes, rivers, scenic roads and historic things all over the region.”

That was the premise of the cycle ride guide. In fitting with his love of music and promoting tourism, Boydstun has served terms on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

“I’ve rolled off the board, but I still volunteer for them,” he said. “I’ll work events and help keep people hydrated at events like G Fest in the 100-degree weather conditions — that was brutal.”

But tourism has not been the only focus of Boydstun’s volunteer efforts.

He has served several times on the Lake Area United Way allocations committee, on the Muskogee

Medical Foundation board, the city’s Expo Center Task Force, the AIM (Action in Muskogee) board and most recently on the board of Main Street Muskogee Inc. Boydstun said he is excited about the potential the Main Street program has for revitalizing the city’s historic business center.

“It will take some time, but the community is going to see some differences over the next few years in what downtown looks like,” he said.

Boydstun said he also is encouraged about the city’s future with some of the young leadership that is getting involved in making Muskogee better.

“I really think it all starts with the quality of life and working to make Muskogee a place where people want to live and where our young people can stay here and not feel they need to move off to have the quality of life they want,” he said. “If you make your community a place people want to visit it will also be a place people want to live.”

Those who give back

Boyattia shares compassion, passion for community

By Mike Elswick P h o e nix C o rr e sp o n d e n t Perline Boyattia feels strongly the community’s younger generation needs all the positive reinforcement they can get.

“We all have a stake in this community,” Boyattia said when asked why she continues to be involved and volunteers in a variety of endeavors.

“We need to help give the ‘I can do attitude’ to young people today and give them all the positive reinforcement and affirmation we can.”

After marrying her high school sweetheart, Ralph Emerson Boyattia, the young couple took off to explore the larger world as her husband headed down a 20-year career path in the military. They returned to their Muskogee roots when he retired from the Air Force in 1991 and he took over as pastor at the city’s New Jerusalem Baptist Church.

Boyattia has worked and retired from several careers, including working for AT&T as a human resources director. She also served a five-year stint as human resources director at Green Country Behavioral Health.

When Ralph died in 2012, Perline took over the pastor’s job carrying on a love of serving others. She left that position in December 2014.

“That is, I retired again,” she said, laughing.

But she has not retired from community service and applying her desire to help others.

Despite tragic losses of her daughter, who died of swine flu at age 24, and the death of her husband, Boyattia continues to give back to her community.

She continues to be active at her church and serves as pastor emeritus.

When John Tyler Hammons was Muskogee’s mayor, she was appointed to the city’s street advisory board.

“The infrastructure in Muskogee over the years has deteriorated, and we looked at that,” she said.

With prioritization suggestions from the committee and guidance from city staff, the board was able to secure funding in addition to what the city’s annual budget provided to upgrade some of the streets needing the most work, Boyattia said.

“With those extra funds from the City of Muskogee Foundation we were able to secure funding to add to what the city normally allocates to street improvements, so we were able to do some improvements on some of the main thoroughfares here in Muskogee,” she said.

“While not everyone will agree, I think the city has done a really good job of maintaining the streets over the years given the budgets they’ve had,” she said.

“That was the first voluntary board I served on for the city,” Boyattia said.

Since then, she has gone on to serve on the Muskogee Facilities Board, where she served as chairwoman.

“I’m a former member of the Salvation Army board,” she said of one of the civic activities she rolled off in December.

“I got to ring the bell for the Salvation Army, and I liked that,” Boyattia said.

She also volunteered to prepare and serve meals for the local operations of the Salvation Army.

“The Salvation Army is very worthwhile,” she said. “They deal with a lot of kids and they deal with a lot of things that many of our residents just don’t want to deal with.”

Perline Boyattia Boyattia also serves on the Martin Luther King Trustee Authority. That group provides support and guidance for the city’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.

“I got to be in on the meetings and the groundbreaking for the new facility,” Boyattia said. “I’ll tell you, there’s nothing like dealing with and helping kids.”

She said that new facility is a source of pride for her and the community.

“The real reward is knowing that the kids have a place to go in the evenings and after school with education-based training,” Boyattia said.

“It’s not just a baby-sitting environment, there are certified teachers on staff with lots of tutoring going on and help with homework.”

Seeing the positive impact the new MLK facility is having after completing its first year of existence has been a source of pride for Boyattia.

“They have a summer program and the night hoops along with field trips and other activities,” she said.

“So many of the kids come from backgrounds where they don’t have SPRING 2017

the resources to enjoy a lot of the things you and I enjoy.”

For the City of Muskogee Foundation she has served on the education and empowerment committee.

One of her passions for more than 30 years has been in mentoring young women to provide them with tips and information on how to succeed as they grow into adulthood.

Behind the scenes Boyattia also has provided many youngsters with scholarship funds for their first semester of college to help provide them a leg-up on exploring career opportunities.

Boyattia also serves as the community representative on the editorial board for the Muskogee Phoenix.

She feels blessed with the opportunities the community has provided her to give back in her latter years.

“In your earlier life you do things because you have to — that’s called work,” Boyattia said. “In your later life you want to make a difference.

You see the need and try to meet the need. Compassion sees and compassion does.”

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Those who give back

Lezama learned growing up to give no matter how much you have

By Mark Hughes P h o e nix S t a f f W ri t e r

P h o e nix S t a f f P h o t o b y Mark Hughes

Victor Lezama, owner of PC Landing Zone, a computer repair store, paints a wall at his new location. “I loved the feeling, the closeness, everybody helping everybody, everyone being nice and being treated nicely in the stores,” Lezama said as to why he brought his business to Muskogee.

Victor Lezama Victor Lezama knows what it’s like to be poor. He was the youngest of six siblings in a family of eight. His father had a fifth-grade education, and his mother didn’t speak English well. They had little while he was growing up, but the little they had was appreciated.

“Dad always told us, ‘No matter how much or little you have, you always have something to give somebody else,’” Lezama said. “He always gave and gave.”

At times they had to take food stamps, but his father did his best to get them off government assistance as quickly as possible.

Lezama had “zero ties” to Muskogee until he met his future wife,

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Rachel, who worked at Arrowhead Mall, marrying her in 2001. After he retired from the Army in 2011, they ended up in Broken Arrow, but he really wanted to open in Muskogee.

“I loved the feeling, the closeness, everybody helping everybody, everyone being nice and being treated nicely in the stores,” Lezama said.

While he could have made more money in Broken Arrow, “Something in my gut told me to open in Muskogee.” So, in 2013 he opened his computer repair store, PC Landing Zone, in downtown.

Lezama spent the first year just sitting back, watching and learning

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from the community. During that time Lezama fell in love with the city. He loves the atmosphere, the downtown historic buildings and the fact that the people are so friendly.

So Lezama decided it was time to get involved. During 2014, he sponsored “giveaways” from his office “just to see big smiles on faces.” Two days before Christmas, he gave five employees $200 in $20 bills to give away to strangers at Wal-Mart.

“The response was amazing,” Lezama said.

Some people accepted the money, but others rejected it, saying to give it to someone else who needs it.

“That meant the world to us and it meant that the community was not just about taking — I just loved that,” he said.

After that, Lezama started giving more.

“It’s not about taking. It’s about giving back to the same community who supports you and your business. I live that,” he said.

He said that when people give back to the community, “I know that the good deed will be paid off down the road, because that’s the type of people we’re helping out.”

Reach Mark Hughes at (918) 6842908 or mhughes@muskogeephoenix.com.

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Growing Main Street Program combines historic preservation with economic stimulation

By D.E. Smoot P h o e nix S t a f f W ri t e r

M

ain Street Muskogee entered the new year assembling a new — and expanded — governing board, the members of which moved quickly “to mobilize and excite the entire community” about downtown revitalization.

Main Street Muskogee’s general mission statement identified by the nonprofit corporation remains consistent with state and federal Main Street programs. But directors of the rebranded downtown advocacy group see Main Street Muskogee’s overarching mission — and the objectives that have been set — more expansively.

Main Street Muskogee evolved from a former program that was formed in 2008 after

the city was accepted into the Oklahoma Main Street Program, which is administered through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The program is designed to restore “the core assets” of communities across the state by “combining historic preservation and downtown revitalization efforts with powerful economic stimulation.”

“We not only want to revitalize, encourage and assist in growing downtown Muskogee, we also want to assure those who locate or start a business in the downtown area will have the marketing, branding and business tools they need to survive,” board Chairman John Newby said. “That means we need to build our Main Street Muskogee organization in such a way SPRING 2017

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Growing Main Street S t a f f p h o t o b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Recent improvements on the historic buildings that house Hoopes Hardware and Pinon Creek Trading Co., are part of ongoing improvements on the part of South Main Street known as the Katy District

as to not only encourage new downtown businesses, but let them relocate with the knowledge that we are all in this together, and our success is their success and vice versa.”

Newby, who came to Muskogee in November 2015 after being named publisher of the Muskogee Phoenix, said he has learned since then — through conversations with others about the city’s future — that there is a lack of confidence.

He hopes Main Street Muskogee can drive the cultural

“Muskogee can’t afford to fail — without this needed change, in today’s rapidly changing world, we risk irrelevance.” change needed to shift residents away from that negativity in collective thought.

“One of my favorite quotes is by Gen. (Eric) Shinseki, who said, ‘If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less,’” Newby said, quoting the retired U.S. Army general who served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “Muskogee can’t afford to fail — without this needed change, in today’s rapidly changing world, we risk irrelevance.”

To avoid that outcome, Main Street Muskogee reconstituted its governing

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Growing Main Street

board, adding more than 20 directors who represent a broad cross-section of the community: young, experienced, men and women with diverse ethnic backgrounds. Since the first of the year, directors have “reached out to the community in various ways to measure what they felt was important.”

“That allowed us to start with quite an expansive list of dozens of potential objectives or projects,” Newby said. “We are now narrowing our focus

“That allowed us to start with quite an expansive list of dozens of potential objectives or projects.”

S ta f f p h oto s by C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: Main Street Muskogee uses a program that is designed to restore “the core assets” of communities across the state by “combining historic preservation and downtown revitalization efforts with powerful economic stimulation.”

The Surety Building at Third Street and West Broadway is an example of using a historical building for a new purpose.

Left: The Surety Building at Third Street and West Broadway has been renovated and serves as apartments.

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to those items we can tackle in 2017 — we are looking at 17 projects that we can help facilitate this year.”

Newby emphasized Main Street Muskogee’s role as a facilitator, noting downtown revitalization is a community initiative that will be achieved only through stakeholder collaboration. Toward that end, directors have been tasked with enlisting the help of three to five residents and one service organization to serve on each of the organization’s five committees.

Main Street Muskogee’s rebranding and reorganization comes as the University of Oklahoma’s Institute for Qual-

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Growing Main Street

S t a f f p h o t o s b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: Shoppers walk in front of businesses located in the Severs Block Building on Broadway.

Below: Shop owners along South Main Street spruced up their store fronts to entice customers.

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Growing Main Street

Above: The Severs Block Building has been renovated to include businesses on the street level and loft-style apartments on the second floor.

ity Communities assembles a master development plan for the city’s central business district. Newby predicts that process will produce “many outstanding ideas,” and he expects other good ideas will float to the surface as a result of other collaborations.

“I have learned over many years, ideas are really a dime a dozen — the rubber meets the road when we can pull from all those ideas and piece together a comprehensive plan that we can move forward rapidly,” Newby said. “Main Street Muskogee finds itself in a unique position: Somewhere near the crossroads of all of these great ideas we can play a large part in making or merging many of the plans and suggestions into an aggressive

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and obtainable plan of attack in a short period of time.”

Newby said while there is a sense of self-doubt, he has “been amazed at the willingness” of many individuals and organizations “to work together and make this dream become a reality.” The will to succeed, he said, is the first thing that is needed, and that “element is in place.”

“The second and more difficult is that of herding the cats, so to speak, onto the same platform so we can all board the same train together,” Newby said. “I believe we will do that, and I also believe that our community will rally ‘round the cause and succeed.”

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskogeephoenix.com.

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Cultivating Leadership class of XXIII to serve greater Muskogee community Leadership Muskogee is a community leadership development program of the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce. The program is designed to inform, motivate and increase the awareness of each participant through interaction with community decision makers

during monthly seminars. Graduates from the nine-month program re-enter the community with enhanced leadership skills necessary to work effectively toward the continued growth and development of Muskogee. Leadership Muskogee offers eight monthly sessions.

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Cultivating success Q: Your favorite business quote: A: “If you’re passionate about your work, it makes the

people around you want to be involved, too.”

- Wanda Sykes.

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “Leaders in Gear” by Rhett Laubach.

Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: Never be a counterfeit version of yourself!

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: take into consideration everything you learn, at every

single employment opportunity you have encountered, as a positive. If you are going to engage in a trade, be the absolute best at your task. Never consider your time invested as a waste. We can only learn from our experiences.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: Muskogee is on the threshold of being an amazing hub for new business endeavors, neighborhood renewal and recreational development. as a citizen, the true foundation of Muskogee, come together to achieve a collaborative focus on growth, promote ‘community’ in their everyday activities; where they live, work, and play...then it is only a matter of time before #mymuskogee will be youR Muskogee, too!

Q&A

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TAMMY MICHELLE JOSEY B I O G R A P h Y tammy is the Quality assurance Supervisor at Muskogee Power Plant/oklahoma Gas and electric Company. during her 14 years at oG&e, she has performed in the Payroll and human Resources functions. In addition to her Qa role , she serves as lead for volunteerism in the oG&e/Muskogee Service area.

Prior to oG&e, tammy served as the drug Court Program coordinator for Muskogee County, worked at Coburn optical in the Marketing and human Resources departments, spent six years supporting the efforts of the city of Muskogee during her careers at Greater Muskogee development Corporation and the Greater Muskogee area Chamber of Commerce as the membership director. tammy also is a dedicated volunteer, as she is determined to reach out to others in any capacity. She is a devoted advocate of the united Way where she serves on the lake area united Way in 2014. In addition, she has served on the board of directors for habitat for humanity and is a volunteer for Junior achievement of oklahoma. tammy has a bachelor of General Studies degree, with emphasis in business and organizational leadership and development from Northeastern State university.

If you ask tammy where the heartbeat of her life is, she will express the love and devotion she has for her family and friends. her daughters, erielle and abbye, along with their spouses and her grandsons, Sawyer and owen, are the foundation of her bliss!

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Cultivating success

Carie Singleton Q: Your favorite business quote: A: Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.

B I O G R A P h Y

— Henry Ford

Q: Your favorite business book: A: by Chance or by design? the Story of Premier designs, Inc. and founders andy & Joan horner by andy horner

Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: Never give up on something you’re passionate

about. The path to success will at times be difficult, but it’s always worth it.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: even if you’re faced with adversity, keep pushing on. Stay determined and focused on your goal and never give up.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: With the great leadership we have, as well as the

changes being made to help develop our great city, I see Muskogee as a thriving and successful community 10 years from now.

Carie Singleton is the accounts Payable accountant & energy analyst for Connors State College. born and raised in Muskogee, she’s a 1998 graduate of Muskogee high School and a 2004 graduate of Northeastern State university where she earned her bachelor of arts in Psychology.

Carie is a wife and mother of two amazing children who attend Sadler arts academy, a magnet school within the Muskogee Public School district.

She’s been a member of Immanuel baptist Church for 25 years and currently serves on various committees and teaches the 4- and-5-year-olds Sunday School class.

Q&A Q: Your favorite business quote: A: The Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

- Luke 6:30, The Bible.

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “The Toyota Way.” Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: If God shuts a door, stop banging on it and trust that whatever is behind it is not meant for you.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: treat your customers and employees right, go the extra mile, and invest in the community. Seek God’s direction and if he is in it, you cannot fail.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: I believe Muskogee will become an attractive community

to those that do not. a lot of work is being done to build up the businesses and attractions that Muskogee has to offer, and that is needed. We must also build up the infrastructure, housing, employment and salary base if we are to sustain the businesses that are here to go hand-in-hand. When all that comes together, and I believe it will, there are no limits to Muskogee’s growth potential. I especially see a rebirth of the downtown district as being a vital piece to Muskogee’s growth. to me, our mall represents where Muskogee is today (lots of potential). as the mall goes, so goes the city. We are on a precipice and if we can revitalize the mall and the downtown district, it will take Muskogee to the next level. People will want to shop local, go to the movies and cultural events; entertainment and dining can be had right here in Muskogee.

Work must also continue on changing the perception that people have of Muskogee. We need to continue walking the walk and talking the talk about the positive things that are going on and change the mindset about our community. as we continue that campaign (love the #mymuskogee), I believe Muskogee will be known throughout the state as a prime destination for whatever you are looking for.

CINDY ANDERSON B I O G R A P h Y

Cindy anderson hails from Miami, oklahoma, and moved to the Muskogee area in 2012.

She attended Northeast technology Center in afton, receiving a certificate in Business and also attended Neo a&M College in Miami, oklahoma.

She has worked in the dental field as an assistant and office support personnel for 20-plus years and received several certificates related to that field; she worked at Neo a&M College from 2009 until 2012 as administrative assistant for the vice president for academic affairs and the VP for Student affairs.

She has worked as the executive assistant to the president at Connors since 2012. anderson has three sons and is active in her church and went to ecuador in 2015 where she was a part of the medical mission team. they plan to go to africa with their church to do mission work in 2017.

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JENNIFER COTNER B I O G R A P h Y Q: Your favorite business quote: A: I really don’t have one.

• Assistant branch manager at Firstar Bank Muskogee eastside branch.

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “Who Moved My Cheese?”

• Over 15 years of banking experience.

• Currently serving second term as president of

Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: Whatever your job or career is, give it your all.

the Muskogee Noon lions Club.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: Whatever your job or career is, give it your all.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: In 10 years I see Muskogee with some great growth in new restaurants, shops, and industries.

• Graduate of Northeastern State University with Bachelor of Science in health Care administration.

• Recently graduated from Oklahoma Bankers Association Consumer lending School.

• Married to Matt Cotner for 14.5 years with one son, Wyatt, who is 7 and one daughter, Jayden, who is 5.

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Cultivating success Q: Your favorite business quote: A: “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!”

AMY ROBERTS B I O G R A P h Y

— Henry Ford.

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson, M.D. Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: a wise colleague once told me as I sought direction in

a new position, “Never get too high and never get too low.” though this encouragement was offered to me as it pertained to the road that lay ahead as a personal banker, I’ve found that it has been helpful to remind myself of this in all facets of life.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: the best business advice I can offer is simple: stay organized, stay genuine and be consistent.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: Within this next decade, I expect to see the gap bridged between Muskogee’s reputation and what it is actually like to live in this wonderful city.

a kansas native, I moved to Muskogee with my husband in 2007 as he pursued a degree through bacone College on a basketball scholarship.

Within weeks of settling on oklahoma soil, I was able to continue my career in banking after being hired on with armstrong bank. the following year, my husband and I welcomed our daughter dionna Kay. Today, I continue to enjoy my role at Armstrong Bank as a personal banker.

In my free time, I enjoy watching my daughter box, playing with our dogs kansas and Charlie, and spending time outdoors with my family.

We have greatly enjoyed becoming a part of this wonderful community that almost a decade later, we can now consider home.

Q&A Q: Your favorite business quote: A: “Years ago my mother used to say to me, she’d say, ‘In

this world, elwood, you must be’ - she always called me elwood - ‘In this world elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. you may quote me.”

- Jimmy Stewart in “Harvey.”

JOAN McWILLIAMS B I O G R A P h Y

Joan McWilliams, lCSW is a medical social worker at the Jack C. Montgomery Va Medical Center.

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “Hardwiring Excellence.”

Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: always be nice to everyone. you never know who will be your boss someday.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: It’s all about relationships.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: In 10 years, I see Muskogee as a thriving small town, continuing to help each other and build a brighter future.

In her 17-year career, Joan has worked in several facets of social work, including mental health, geriatrics, hospice and hospital practice. through every phase of her career, Joan has had a passion for peer support and professional self-care, including assisting her husband, an emergency medical technician, in developing and managing a nationally recognized peer support program at Muskogee County emergency Medical Service for the past 10 years.

Joan places a high priority on professional growth and is a 2012 graduate of the Va’s leadership development Institute.

She also enjoys education and has been a presenter at numerous state and national conferences, and is a trained meeting facilitator and mentor within the VaMC. Joan is an active member of her church, Timothy Baptist, and enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.

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Q: Your favorite business quote.

A: “Whether you think you can or

whether you think you can’t, you’re right.”

— Henry Ford.

Q: Your favorite business book.

A: “Awaken the Giant Within” by Tony Robbins.

DUSTIN FRAZIER

Q: The best business advice you ever received.

A: “A person who never made a mis-

Q & A

take never tried anything new.”

— Einstein.

Muskogee as a thriving business community.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others.

A: Never give up.

Michael has lived his entire life in Muskogee. he was a graduate of hilldale high School in 1998.

he has worked for the Muskogee Police department for 15 years where he currently holds the rank of captain.

he then earned an associate degree in General Studies from Connors State College before completing his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern State university.

he is assigned to the Investigations division of the Muskogee Police department. he has also been a member of the Muskogee Police department Special operations team for 13 years.

Q: Your favorite business quote.

A: “I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.”

Q: Your favorite business book.

A: “EntreLeadership” by Dave Ram-

you ever received.

A:

I was riding with my uncle dick one day. he points to the car in front of us as he mashed on the accelerator. He said “ The secret to beating your competition is to start racing them before they know there’s a race.”

Q: The best business advice

Q: Best business advice you would offer others.

A: Learn to say no, if it doesn’t fit

Q: Your favorite business quote: A: “The way to get started is to quit

Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: “No matter what you do in life, be

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “The Effective Executive” by Peter

Q: Best business advice you would offer others: A: “No matter what you do in life, be

sey.

talking and begin doing.”

— Walt Disney.

f. drucker.

the best at it.” by my grandfather Sam asbill.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years?

A: If all plans come together, I see

Michael Crawford B I O G R A P h Y he is married to his wife, heather, for almost six years. they have one child, Camryn, and she will be 2-years-old in april. they are members of the Muskogee Church of Christ.

ANDY MORRIS Q & A what you do.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years?

A: I see Muskogee as an industrial

manufacturing leader in eastern oklahoma.

JASON ASBILL Q & A Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: Hopefully, back to being a major player in oklahoma for small business and industry.

the best at it.”

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Cultivating success Q: Your favorite business quote: A: “It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see.”

DARLA BENNETT B I O G R A P h Y

— Henry David Thoreau.

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “Understanding Management” by Daft & Marcic.

Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: Epictetus said “We have two ears and one mouth so

that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” I have learned that clear communication is an invaluable tool for growing business. Multiple of my colleagues throughout varied industries have attributed their success, at least partially, to great communication.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: Set specific, quantifiable goals. Always have a plan. you don’t have to stick to it strictly, but it will help you stay on course.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: the future of Muskogee will include a sharp increase

in activities downtown, the continuation and improvement upon current working programs and events, and, hopefully, innovative approaches to overcoming obstacles. I expect more retail development and for Muskogee to continue in its role as a regional hub for outlying rural areas.

darla bennett is a native-born okie with a passion for community service and advocacy.

She works as economic development coordinator for the city of Muskogee and currently serves on 23 boards and committees.

“I believe being a part of the Leadership Class is a unique opportunity to further develop communication, leadership, and networking skills to the benefit of the multiple organizations I am part of,” Bennett said.

‘Quality of life’ initiatives and transportation equity, safety and design projects are of particular interest to her.

When she isn’t working or volunteering, she enjoys cycling, traveling, reading, and being outdoors. In addition, bennett is a full-time student.

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LAURA HAZEN Q: Your favorite business quote: A: “If serving is below you, leadership is beyond you.”

B I O G R A P h Y

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “The One Minute Manager” by Keith Blanchard.

Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: trust your gut, your instincts are rarely wrong.

Q: Best business advice you would offer others: A: opportunity can look a lot like hard work. Show up, dive in and stay at it.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: We will see Muskogee continue to grow and thrive as

an attractive and viable option for new businesses and residents. I’d love to see more community involvement with local programs and organizations, with more people working on solutions, taking pride in their town, and “being the change they wish to see.” I believe that Muskogee is moving in a positive direction and there are a lot great people who have contributed to that momentum, but in order to get there it is going to be every citizen’s responsibility to try and make Muskogee the best that it can be.

laura hazen is the new program manager for Neighbors building Neighborhoods and The Nonprofit Resource Center in Muskogee.

NbN’s mission is to improve the quality of life in eastern oklahoma through education, organizational support, and coalition building.

The Nonprofit Resource Center side provides services, training, and resources to help nonprofits meet community needs. Laura received her Bachelor of Business administration from Northeastern State university and went on to work for the Muskogee Civic Center and Connors State College.

She took on her role at NbN in august 2016 overseeing the dream team youth programs at the Mlk Community Center, americorps VIStas, Community treasures summer camp, and substance abuse prevention programs, among others. having attended NSu on a dance scholarship, her hobbies include being an instructor at Showbiz dance Productions for the past 10 years, and working as a contract choreographer for various stage productions.

Laura believes that she has benefited both personally and professionally from the joys, challenges and diversity that accompany working in the nonprofit sector. She currently resides in fort Gibson with her husband and their two sons.

Q&A Q: Your favorite business quote:

A:

My favorite quote is not necessarily a business quote, but more of a life quote. And it is “You only have but one life to live”.

Russell Sain B I O G R A P h Y

Q: Your favorite business book:

A:

“How to Win Friends and Influence People.”

Q: The best business advice you ever received:

A:

When I was younger, I was a real hard charger. I was doing a deal with an older guy, and he told some of your best business decisions you make “will be to not do a deal.” Since then, I always pause before I pull the trigger on a deal.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others:

A:

Most people suffer from analysis paralysis. they never get going and definitely never start a business. So I would say “JUST DO IT” which is kind of funny considering my answer to the last question. I have never had a problem with getting started.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years:

A:

I am extremely excited about the future of Muskogee. there is a huge amount of excitement and energy pushing Muskogee to attract new development and to redevelop downtown.

I sell commercial real estate and every month I go to the commercial broker’s luncheon in tulsa or oklahoma City. My colleagues at the meeting always ask me what new is happening in Muskogee. I believe people from small towns are their own worst enemies. If we combine confidence and work hard, Muskogee can develop into an even more wonderful place to live. My wife and I are fully buying in to this vision. We have purchased a beautiful historical home in historical founders Place.

Russell Sain is quick to tell everyone that he is a native okie. born in tulsa, he was abducted and taken by his parents to atlanta at the age of 2, then, escaped and returned home to oklahoma in 2010. he is thrilled to be back and has become immersed in the community in both Muskogee and tahlequah. a commercial real estate agent with many years of construction and renovation experience, Russell is very involved in efforts to revitalize both the commercial and residential areas of Muskogee. he is a 2016 graduate of leadership tahlequah and is very excited to be a member of the 2017 class of leadership Muskogee. he has been married to his high school sweetheart, Camille, for 26 years, and they have two daughters, abbi, 25 and Catie, 18.

The entire family enjoys horseback riding, reading, dancing, music and movies.

Russell and Camille enjoy exploring Oklahoma by motorcycle when their schedule permits.

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Cultivating success Q: Your favorite business quote:

A:

“If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.”

— Gen. Eric Shins eki

Q: Your favorite business book:

A:

I have two. “Re-Imagine” by Tom Peters and “First, Break all the Rules” by Marcus buckingham.

John Newby B I O G R A P h Y

Q: The best business advice you ever received:

after 10 years as a weather forecaster in the united States air force, John began his media career with the omaha World-herald in the Sales & Marketing department. after six months, he advanced to oversee all the outside and inside circulation sales activities leading to the oWh experiencing all-time highs in circulation.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others:

as new opportunities presented themselves, John moved into several director roles in ogden, utah, and Moline, Illinois, that ultimately led to a publisher role in ottawa, Illinois. one common denominator at each stop along his career was that each stop experienced their all-time highs while under John’s leadership. In ottawa, Illinois, he used marketing and branding experiences to drive robust economic development of the various communities that he served. among his greatest accomplishments was the re-branding of the entire region by trademarking and branding the region as ‘Starved Rock Country’ building upon the name recognition of a nearby state park.

A:

A:

two pieces come to mind that are equally important. first, I was raised to always, despite any situation, remain true to yourself and don’t compromise your honesty, integrity and values. that is so true in the business world in which we live today. Secondly, I was told that if you are willing to not only think outside of the box, but to live outside of the box being innovative and creative, that you will always be able to find success one way or another.

While I would certainly not hesitate to provide others with the same advice above given to me, I would offer one piece of additional advice. don’t be afraid to go against the grain or tide. usually, if the masses are headed in that direction, something is wrong and you need to reconsider your options.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years:

A:

The term “strike while the iron is hot” comes to mind. Muskogee is at a critical crossroads. Seldom does a community have multiple opportunities to reinvent themselves. We are on the precipice of one of those opportunities right now. What we do in the next 1-3 years may well determine Muskogee’s future for generations to come. I have never seen a community more ripe and willing for change than Muskogee. We must capitalize on this opportunity before the flames die out. If we grasp the opportunity before us, Muskogee will grow with a vibrant downtown, a growing business base and higher paying jobs. It is ours for taking!

John was recruited by CNHI to join their team here in Muskogee in December of 2015. He has hit the ground running with new products, structural changes and much more. John is involved with the new Main Street Muskogee Inc., organization as its board chair. he is involved with the Rotary Club of Muskogee among other community projects. While most of John’s educational background revolves around business, marketing and branding, he is also a graduate of the kellogg Media Management Center. he recently completed his two-year term as the board president of the International News-Media association (INMa) and now serves as the past president. additionally, John is the founder of the 360 Media alliance, a media group dedicated to innovation, culture change and creativity within the media industry.

John‘s real joy comes from his family. He is married to Kathy and they have nine wonderful children scattered around the country along with 23 grandchildren. that being the case, he is forced to love travel.

D.J. Thompson B I O G R A P h Y D.J. Thompson is the president and chief executive officer for the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce and tourism. d.J. assumed her role at the Chamber in June of 2016 after leaving the City of Muskogee Foundation as the chief operations officer and Foundation manager, a position she held for four years. D.J. has worked for various nonprofits in Oklahoma for over 22 years. d.J. was previously the executive director for the oklahoma Council on economic education, a statewide organization that promotes economic and financial literacy. She also served as the vice president of Community Investment for united Way of Central oklahoma where she worked for 10 years. D.J. served as a professional trainer for the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits teaching the Standards for Excellence – a nationally accepted program that teaches best practices in ethics and accountability for nonprofits, and also has extensive experience in consulting and working with agencies on implementing outcome based measurements. her additional experiences include working for organizations that served aging adults and the mentally ill, as well as teaching high school World history and coaching basketball. d.J. is a graduate of the university of Central oklahoma, where she earned a bachelor of arts in Social Studies education. d.J. currently serves on the boards of directors for eaStaR health System, is an advisory board Member for Main Street Muskogee and the oklahoma Music hall of fame, and is a member of the oklahoma a&M board of Regents Presidential Search Committee for Connors State College. She is a graduate of leadership oklahoma City’s Class XXIV, and a current member of leadership Muskogee Class XXIII, is a 2007 recipient of the okCbusiness forty under 40 award, and has served on the boards of the Junior league of oklahoma City and the oklahoma Jump$tart Coalition, among others. She has been married to her husband Patrick for over 20 years, and has two daughters, lauren, 28, and Regan, 19.

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Jessica Buddrus Q: Your favorite business quote: A: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather a man of value.”

B I O G R A P h Y

— Albert Einstein.

Q: Your favorite business book: A: Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, Md, fICS Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: at the end of the day, integrity is all you have, don’t lose it. — My dad.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: Never give up on yourself. Ideas you can give up on,

jobs you can give up on, but never give up on yourself.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: In 10 years I think Muskogee will have greatly expand-

ed its local small business community as well as the big box store environment. this will hopefully give rise to better housing, better school systems and a growing community that will have the advantage of the beautiful natural resources in and around Muskogee, such as honor heights Park.

Jessica grew up in tulsa, where she lives now with her amazing 7-yearold son, Jaxon.

Jessica took a position in february of 2016 at acme engineering to help grow the horticultural market.

She is also spearheading the company’s Search engine optimization efforts.

Jessica is involved with the Greater Muskogee Manufacturing alliance.

She has enjoyed getting more involved in the Muskogee community through leadership Muskogee as well as GMMa. She currently leads her son’s Cub Scout troop for the spring. Jessica is an avid runner and completed her second half-marathon at the Route 66 Marathon this past November.

In her free time, she enjoys travel, gourmet cooking, gardening and water skiing on beautiful Grand lake.

Q&A TyJuan Walker Q: Your favorite business quote: A: “Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.”

B I O G R A P h Y

- Albert Einstein.

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyoasaki.

Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: understand yourself and learn from failure, because

My name is tyJaun Walker and I was born and raised in Muskogee. I personally enjoy everything in life, but if I truly had to choose my passion it would be a really good workout. I currently have two places of employment.

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: use your time wisely and learn what you can, do what

one is at advantage Controls in Muskogee where I have been there two years, and the other is NfI Industries, where I have been for 10 years. And I must say both jobs have truly been an absolute blessing.

even those successful have failed at least once.

you can do, and always be better than yesterday.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: this can depend on the values we teach our young,

while inheriting the values taught to the old and wise.

In 10 years, I hope to see Muskogee expand not just in small business, but also in a variety of attractions that will continue to attract visitors from all over the world.

Muskogee alone is just Muskogee, but the people in Muskogee are the ones who make it great, and that’s something that can only be described as extraordinary!

one thing that is a great aspiration of mine is the future. Its something that no one can predict, and very few prepare for while working together. While learning from not just our past, but others’ past experiences as well and integrating everything we learn to make each day better than yesterday.

So many things in this world is increasing. I only hope that we work so hard to build that those after us continue the legacy of growing and becoming a better tomorrow.

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TAMMY (MERRIMAN) TRACY B I O G R A P h Y Q: Your favorite business quote: A: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t— your right.”

- Henry Ford.

Q: Your favorite business book: A: “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” by Marshall Goldsmith.

Q: The best business advice you ever received: A: “Don’t burn any bridges — it’s a long swim back.”

Q: The best business advice you would offer others: A: Never say never.

Q: Where do you see Muskogee in 10 years: A: a growing leader in industrial and manufacturing em-

ployment while maintaining a “hometown feel” that will attract visitors and new residents to our community.

born and raised in a small town in east texas, my family moved to oklahoma in 1983. after graduating from Putnam City North high School in 1984 my family relocated to Muskogee. In 2008, I began my career with the city of Muskogee in the Office of City Clerk and in July of 2010, moved to the position of revenue manager of the Revenue division.

In 2012, I decided to return to school and in december of 2015, graduated from Connors State College. It seemed a natural progression to continue my studies at Northeastern State University majoring in their Organizational Leadership Program.

I plan to graduate in december of 2018. Juggling a full-time career, school, and family has been quite a challenge; however, the rewards have made the journey worthwhile.

In March I will assume the role of city clerk, filling the vacancy of Pam Bates, who is retiring. I am very excited about this new chapter in my life and the opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Muskogee. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my partner eric, son austin, dogs lucy and Max, gardening, scrapbooking, reading, sewing, and cooking.

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“A gateway to Muskogee”

Intersection of U.S. 69 and Shawnee considered to have ‘best’ retail potential

By D.E. Smoot P h o e nix S t a f f W ri t e r

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S t a f f p h o t o s b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: Motorists queue at the intersection of U.S. 69 and Shawnee Bypass, an area city officials and private property owners hope to see developed commercially as the northwest gateway to Muskogee.

A

high-volume intersection in northwest Muskogee is considered by some as “one of the best in the state” for retail development.

City officials and private stakeholders have been working the past few years to see the intersection at U.S. 69 and Shawnee Bypass realizes its full potential. They expect to see development proposals start landing on their desks after distributing a second round of requests to prospects.

Requests for proposals sent out last year yielded no results, but City Manager Mike Miller said that was not because there is no interest among prospective 62

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‘The important thing to understand about that property is that it has been sitting there undeveloped for 50 years, and it’s been marketable for only 90 days.” developers. There were other factors at play that now have been addressed, so Miller is optimistic the requests sent out the first of this year will bear some fruit.

Some prospective developers solicited for proposals reportedly were hesitant about submitting a response, because SPRING 2017

they had no committed tenants. Miller said it would be best to delay any deal until one can be struck with “a developer who is ready to build — we don’t want to sell that land to somebody who is going to sit on it.”

“The important thing to understand about that property is that it has been sitting there undeveloped for 50 years, and it’s been marketable for only 90 days,” Miller said. “You can look around town and see some property ... that has been on the market longer than that — we think this will move very fast in comparison to a lot of those parcels.”

Miller said a system was put in place that will allow for “better follow-up”

A gateway to Muskogee

Above: A QuikTrip travel plaza stands as a testament to a partnership between the city and county formed to spur development of four corners at the intersection of U.S. 69 and Shawnee Bypass.

Left: The driver of a tractortrailer rig prepares to enter traffic on a well-traveled highway through Muskogee.

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A gateway to Muskogee

S t a f f p h o t o b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: Motorists navigate the parking lot of a QuikTrip travel plaza built at a major intersection in northwest Muskogee.

“When people arrive here with the designated contacts in Muskogee they need to for the prospective developsee a city that is on the rise, ers to whom requests were not one that has remained sent. Additionally, no deadstagnant,” Coleman said, reflines were set for the suberencing a master developmission of responses to the ment plan that second round envisions reof requests, “When people artail, restaurants which Miller said would rive here in Musk- and residential be considered ogee they need to see components.

“Developing on a firsta city that is on the those corners come, firstserved basis. rise, not one that has will give that Ward IV remained stagnant.” area the facelift it needs to be Councilor more inviting Marlon to visitors as they arrive in Coleman said developing our city.” the intersection is a “very Rickey Hayes of Retail Atimportant piece” of the city’s economic development tractions has said the QuikTrip travel plaza built at that efforts. He said the interlocation validates the viabilsection serves as a gateway ity of that intersection for to Muskogee, “almost like a commercial development. welcome center.”

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A gateway to Muskogee

That validation is based upon transportation officials that the Tulsa-based company’s granted rights of way in exmarket analysis that includes change for access to those traffic flows and consumer parcels. A co-development demand. agreement was hammered out Building upon the comwith private property owners, pletion of their deal with who control about 80 percent QuikTrip, city officials foof the 68 acres available for cused their attention on the development at the northwest remaining gateway. three corners.

“If everyThe city paid “If everything in thing in that $3.20 a square that plan happens, we plan happens, foot in 2015 will be very happy.” we will be very for 29.3 acres happy,” Miller of land located said about the on the remainmaster plan, which envisions ing three of corners, which a mix of commercial develthe county had acquired opment that includes retail, through eminent domain restaurants, offices along in the mid-1950s for a state with some type of residential transportation project that space. “But we also will be never materialized. happy if it develops in a difThe city hired a firm to ferent way.” develop a master plan to Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) guide development of the 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskremaining three corners and worked out a deal with state ogeephoenix.com.

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Fort Gibson takes pride in

Meeting allows residents voices to be heard

By Travis Sloat P h o e nix C o rr e sp o n d e n t

T

he next year in Fort Gibson is going to be pretty EPIC, according to town leaders.

Everyone’s Participation Inspires Change (EPIC), a community volunteer organization facilitated by Lisa Wade Berry, was formed in the summer of 2016 to give residents of Fort Gibson a chance to voice their concerns, as well as their visions.

Berry said a survey sent into the community revealed those living in Fort Gibson were “extremely proud” of the town.

“There’s a lot of excitement there. We have strong support for our school system, and EPIC will give us a chance to have more in-depth conversations as a community.”

“That really significant,” Berry said.

“There’s a lot of excitement there. We have strong support for our school system, and SPRING 2017

EPIC will give us a chance to have more in-depth conversations as a community.”

The latest EPIC meeting was March 21, at the community center in Fort Gibson.

The meeting allowed volunteers to spit into committees based on their areas of interest and expertise.

The surveys identified myriad opportunities for the town’s beautification and restoration, and also developmental changes, Berry said.

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E.P.I.C. community

S p e ci a l p h o t o b y Tr a vis S l o at

Rudi Rayas and Geraldo Torres work on the new water plant in Fort Gibson. Mayor Myra Cookson said the new facility would produce better water pressure and quality.

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E.P.I.C. community

said. “There are so many people that want to be involved and volunteer, but folks are sometimes unsure of how to engage. They’d basically like one resource for consistent and reliable communication so they can be an active part. Also, with the strong support of the school system, it was brought to our attention that in the after-school hours, we have some opportunities to create and expand youth programs to support our young people.”

Sue Godwin, the director of the Fort Gibson Chamber of Commerce, said EPIC is one of many exciting things happening in the future of the

“One area of improvement mentioned was community communication...” town.

“There are a lot of things happening already,” Godwin said. “We have Urban Station in downtown that is set to open on March 18, and that will be the largest restaurant in Fort Gibson. It will also be a retail store. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are beginning work on community gardens. The town has also provided funding for two signs, and they’re big ones, 19-feet-tall. They’re rock and built like the fort. They’ll go out on the highway and let people know where we are.”

Godwin also said the town is working on way-finding signage throughout Fort Gibson, and a group of runners are looking at a series of trails that SPRING 2017

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S p e ci a l p h o t o s b y Tr a vis S l o at

Alicia Boswell and Lori Boatright, proprietors of the new Urban Station in downtown Fort Gibson, busily prepare the combination restaurant and market for its opening in mid-March.

Right: The dining room of the Urban Station is well-lit and spacious. Sue Godwin, director of the Fort Gibson Chamber of Commerce, said it would be the largest restaurant in Fort Gibson when it opened.

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E.P.I.C. community

would connect some of the historical parts of Fort Gibson to the natural resources.

Myra Cookson, the mayor of Fort Gibson, said one of the biggest projects underway right now concerned the town’s water supply.

“First and foremost for the board of trustees is the new water plant,” Cookson said. “It’s under construction right now.

It’s going to increase capacity and provide us with newer lines. In the long run, concerning infrastructure, I think it will help get more businesses in town. We’ll have better water pressure and better water quality.

“Businesses are growing,” Cookson continued. “That’s a positive for us. Tim Smith will be joining the board of trustees in April, and I’m anxious to see how the new board will work. Things are excellent right now, we play well off each other.”

Cookson also addressed the upcoming construction by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation on U.S. 62.

“There are three things happening,” she said. “There have been too many accidents along that highway, so they are going to create a J-turn at Two Mile Road. Motorists will no longer be able to cross the highway there. They’ll have to drive east or west and make a U-turn. Willey Road right now sits at a bad angle, and so they are also going to curve it to make it perpendicular to Highway 62. Finally, they’re going to work on Highway 10, and instead of having it empty onto Highway 62, it will now link up with Georgetown Road, and a new intersection will be built with a stoplight.”

Construction is expected to take two years, Cookson said, and will also include a reduced speed limit of 55 miles per hour from Fort Gibson to Muskogee when it is completed.

“It’s not the city doing the speed change,” Cookson said. “It’s ODOT. I think this is going to be good though. I’m praying it will decrease some of the acci-

dents we’ve had. We certainly don’t need anymore.”

All three town leaders described the changes happening in Fort Gibson as “exciting.”

“Fort Gibson is such a fantastic community,” Berry said. “Hearing and seeing community members come together to make it a better place to live, to go to school and to visit has been incredibly inspiring. As we bring more people to the table and roll our shirt sleeves up, I have a lot of excitement for the next two decades in Fort Gibson.”

Godwin echoed Berry’s sentiments.

“Everyone is working really closely to try and move us in the same direction,” she said. “We’re getting new memberships at the chamber, people are deciding it’s something they want to do. We want to hone in on what we think will make the biggest impact on Fort Gibson.”

Above: Construction along U.S. 62 is expected to fix several accident-prone areas and includes the installation of J-turns on Two Mile Road, curving Willey Road so it’s perpendicular to U.S. 62, and the closing of Oklahoma 10’s outlet onto U.S. 62, seen here. The estimated project time is two years.

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Port Buoyant about Future Officials look toward future projects

By D.E. Smoot P h o e nix S t a f f W ri t e r

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Port buoyant about future

S t a f f p h o t o s C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: An overhead crane transports steel coils at a Port of Muskogee facility, where the material arrives, is cut, and then shipped to a pipe-manufacturing plant.

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A

spring of optimism appears to be bubbling up at the Port of Muskogee, where some of its major shippers have navigated a sluggish economy during the past couple of years in the oil and gas sector.

Some of that optimism comes from the prospect of rising oil and gas prices based upon a promise among oil-producing nations to cut production. Perhaps even more importantly is the upward trend that has been seen for the past few months in the weekly rig count.

“Don’t look at the price, look at the rig count,” Port Director Scott Robinson said.

“The rig count is how you perceive where the industry

is heading — it may not be what the price is today, but where industry insiders think the trend is heading.”

Rig counts began a slow but steady ascent in October and began to make even greater headway after an agreement to cap production was struck among OPEC nations in late November. Robinson said local manufacturers that rely on the port’s transportation services “are very much aligned with the oil and gas sector,” and he has seen some positive signs with those companies, which deal primarily with steel pipe production.

“You can see that optimism around the state ... we haven’t seen in some time,” Robinson said. “The state will turn on

Port buoyant about future

Left: An overhead crane towers above a section of the Port of Muskogee’s railroad system and adjacent to a docking area, where materials are prepared for shipping, receiving or use.

Below: A forklift operator positions steel coils in rows alongside a section of railroad track at the Port of Muskogee.

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S t a f f p h o t o s b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: A sign advertises the availability of industrial sites at the Port of Muskogee, which offers multi-modal transportation options that include water, rail, highway and air.

Service . . .

With A Smile!

that increased activity, and we will get to a better place than where we are right now and have been for a while.”

To prepare for the anticipated increase in shipping activity at the port, Robinson said

“The rig count is how you perceive where the industry is heading — it may not be what the price is today, but where industry insiders think the trend is heading.” steps are being taken to move forward with a rail project that will provide access to six-axle locomotives. The project would lengthen the arc of the railroad track where it enters the port’s marshaling yard

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Port buoyant about future

Above: A boat speeds past a tugboat and barge docked at the Port of Muskogee along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.

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from the north.

In addition to providing access to six-axle locomotives, which have become the industry standard, the $11.58 infrastructure project would increase safety and efficiency for the port’s rail services.

Rail access to the port now is limited to four-axle locomotives due the short arc of the approach.

Robinson has described ongoing efforts to improve rail access into the facility as “an extremely important part of our growth strategy.” Engineering for the rail project has been completed, and securing the funds needed to move forward is the next step.

“That is something we have got to do — the state has an interest because of the value of our port to transportation in Oklahoma,” Robinson

S t a f f p h o t o s b y C at h y S pa u l d ing

Above: A tugboat positions a barge alongside the docks at the Port of Muskogee, which is located on the McClellanKerr Arkansas River Navigation System.

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said, noting the project may be undertaken in stages, with the curvature portion coming first. “We have missed ... at least two projects that didn’t materialize, and one of the obstacles was the curvature doesn’t allow six-axle locomotives to come into the port — that is a huge drawback.”

Robinson said he is working with state transportation officials and Union Pacific to find a funding solution that will allow the curvature project to move forward. He said a planned expansion of the rail yard can be delayed, but six-axle locomotive access is a priority project he plans to pursue.

Port officials also have continued to acquire land for industrial development at offsite locations, primarily south of the city. While there are

Port buoyant about future

tracts up to 50 acres available at the port, Robinson said some of the prospects looking at Muskogee as a place to do business need 160-acre parcels.

“That is one reason we stepped out and bought land south of town, and we continue to buy land south of town,” Robinson said. “We are still a buyer, and ultimately we would like to put together a major industrial area — Dal-Tile validated our beliefs about that area being a proper location for expansion in Muskogee, and we are still committed to that.”

Robinson said designs are in place for infrastructure at those locations, and soil and subsurface analyses have been performed. Funding sources have been identified to complete the infrastructure that

might be needed for any project that might materialize.

“It’s a variety of funding, but it’s all identified,” Robinson said. “When we tell a prospect that if this is the infrastructure they need, we can tell them with confidence that infrastructure will be in place before they need it — we have been saying that for a while, and we are confident when we say it.”

Robinson said he predicts improvement during the next 12 to 18 months both in traffic at the Port of Muskogee and interest in expansion projects among existing manufacturers. He also said recruiting opportunities for new industries are looking up for the near term.

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskAbove: A tugboat pulls away from the docks at the Port of ogeephoenix.com.

Muskogee.

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Area Business

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Business profiles

Profile

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Lakeland Grocery Dal-Tile

Phone: 918.683.4043 Website: www.DalTile.com | www.DalTileCareers.com

About us:

dal-tIle is the largest ceramic tile manufacturer in the united States and one of the largest tile manufacturers in the world. dal-tile distributes and markets high-quality ceramic tile and natural stone products through company-owned sales service centers, independent distributors and home centers.

We produce floor tiles ranging from 12 x 12 to 24 x 24 in an automated facility staffed by 400 team members that safely and efficiently produce quality ceramic porcelain tile in Muskogee. dal-tile is the largest producer of ceramic porcelain tile in North america following under the umbrella of Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of flooring products.

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Phone: 918.683.6284 Facebook: @LakelandGrocery

About us:

We are a locally owned grocery store located on the east side of Muskogee in the lakeland Shopping Center offering a full line of grocery and meat items to serve our customers’ needs. by shopping at lakeland Grocery you will have access to special buys not available anywhere else in Muskogee due to our ability to purchase merchandise from several different suppliers that other stores don’t use. Additionally, we have a Meat department that’s top of the line in freshness and quality. best prices anywhere and custom cuts for free! although the low prices would be a great reason, there’s more...at Lakeland Grocery, you are not just a statistic to a corporation headquartered in another state, you are someone to us and we recognize that.

Business profiles

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Sooner Management Consultants Inc.

Sadler Paper Company Phone: 918.683.5666 Open to Public: M-F 8-5

Phone: 918.485.8885 Website: smcincusa.com

About us:

About us:

Sooner Management Consultants Inc. is a property management company for affordable housing.

We provide rental apartments for fixed- or low-income households.

The public can benefit from us by being able to rent nice, affordable housing for families and seniors.

Choose us because Sooner Management Consultants, Inc. cares about the people they serve.

Sadler Paper Company is a local, family owned business that has served our community since 1961.

We are a wholesale distributor providing a full line of paper, janitorial, and food service disposable products for business and individuals alike. time is a valuable asset, and shopping with us provides you with a wide variety of products in one location that can be conveniently delivered right to your business. by choosing Sadler Paper Company, you are supporting a company that prides itself on its service to our community. We believe buying local strengthens our economy, creates jobs, and provides a unique place to live.

Supporting each other makes a stronger community, and we thank you for shopping with us and look forward to serving you in the future.

Edward Jones

Profile

Profile

Website: www.edwardjones.com

About us:

edward Jones financial adviser Greg Gaither believes it is important to invest his time to understand you and your financial goals. Dreaming up the ideal retirement is your job, but helping you get there is his. He works closely with you, your certified public accountant, attorney, and other professional to determine the most appropriate financial strategy for you and your family. he believes in a personalized approach to investing for his clients and understands that goals, circumstances, and priorities are unique for each individual.

He began his Edward Jones career in 1984 as a financial adviser in Van buren and fort Smith, ark. he relocated with edward Jones to Muskogee in 1988. he became a limited partner with edward Jones in 1989, and was named a principal with the firm in 2002. He was a regional leader for edward Jones from 1997 to 2007.

Gaither is committed to meeting his clients face to face and building strong relationships. Relationships are key to providing clients with quality financial guidance. Financial planning can be an intimidating endeavor, and Gaither is dedicated to helping his clients successfully maneuver the process of planning, managing, and investing their finances.

The Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce Phone: 918.682.2401 Website: www.visitmuskogee.com

About us:

the Greater Muskogee area Chamber of Commerce was incorporated in 1922 and serves Muskogee businesses as a 501©6, nonprofit organization. The governing and policy making responsibilities of the Chamber are solely vested in its board of directors. the Chamber promotes business and community growth and is supported by membership and partnership investments and revenue-generating events that stay true to our mission of: SeRVING as a voice and resource for business. foSteRING partnerships and community prosperity.

CultIVatING economic growth.

In addition, the Chamber’s tourism program promotes the community by highlighting Muskogee’s attractions, venues, food, culture, and other events and activities that bring thousands of visitors to Muskogee every year.

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Business profiles

Profile

Golden Rule Industries of Muskogee, Inc.

City of Muskogee Foundation

Phone: 918.682.6500 Website: goldenrulejobs.org

Phone: 918.577.6562 Website: www.cityofmuskogeefoundation.org

About us:

GRI is a provider of vocational opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. We provide training and coaching for adults who work in retail, logistics, janitorial and craftsmanship at our Golden Rule Candlery.

Golden Rule was founded in 1953 by community leaders who saw a need to provide a chance for a better quality of life to people with disabilities. their vision was to offer employment training, rehabilitation, and opportunities for personal growth. Today our most important mission is to help adults with disabilities achieve the fullest physical, mental, moral, emotional, social and financial growth of which they are capable. the opportunities we, and our business partners, provide help these adults gain greater self-esteem, satisfaction, achievement and success, all the while becoming highly reliable employees.

Profile

ASA Auctions

Phone: 918.869.8351 Website: asaauctions.com

About us:

aSa auctions is a full-service auction company located in Muskogee. Read more about us on the website. (asaauctions.com) We are a family business that handles all of your marketing or liquidation needs from the first meeting to the actual day everything happens, auction day. you will benefit from using our auction company that started in 1983, by having the benefit of many years of experience as well as state and national networking connections. I would like to visit with you to see how the auction method of marketing could benefit you.

Thank you for visiting, Arlyn Imel

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About us:

the City of Muskogee foundation is a public charity created with the focus of education, arts, culture, community revitalization and beautification, social services, health care, economic development, infrastructure, housing, recreation and the quality of life for the residents of the City of Muskogee and surrounding areas. the City of Muskogee foundation provides grants to nonprofits located within the City of Muskogee to make a real difference for the citizens of Muskogee.

The citizens of Muskogee will benefit from the City of Muskogee foundation through the great work our nonprofit community provides that the Foundation has funded.

Business profiles

Georgia-Pacific Muskogee Mill

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Phone: 918.683.7671 Website: www.gp.com

About us:

Georgia-Pacific’s Muskogee mill has called the Muskogee community home since 1976. our team members proudly make tissue, towel and napkin products our customers want and need every day in both retail and away-from-home markets. These products include Sparkle® towels, Compact® tissue, enMotion® towels and dixie ultra® napkins. as the largest private employer in the city of Muskogee, we employ more than 800 people and create approximately 2,000 additional jobs. Our team members actively engage in our community through efforts like lake area united Way, habitat for humanity, River Rumba, Muskogee exchange Club annual Chili and b-b-Q Cookoff, and others. our company also invests in our community through support of the Muskogee Swim & fitness Center, love-hatbox Sports Complex, honor Heights Butterfly Papilion, Muskogee Little Theatre, GP scholarship grants at local colleges, GP bucket brigade Grants for local fire units and other efforts. We’re proud to call the Muskogee community home.

Advantage Controls

Website: www.advantagecontrols.com

About us:

advantage is a family-owned, family of businesses.

We operate as advantage Controls, specializing in cutting-edge control systems for water treatment, advantage terrafab, a full-service metal fabrication shop specializing in structural steel manufacturing for the construction industry, as well as oeM parts for other manufacturers, and Muskogee Powder Coating, a commercial surface finishing company. our company has been recognized as one of oklahoma’s top Workplaces for the past three years. this award is based on a survey of our team members, benchmarking us against some of oklahoma’s top companies. though our business is complex, our operating principles are not. We conduct our business by the Golden Rule. We are seriously committed to the well-being of our team members, our customers, our suppliers, and our community.

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