2015 Issue 1

2015 ISSUE 1 Develop, Innovate, Prosper

STEM Education: A Focus for Oklahoma Institutions Bringing more women into the technology sector

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Today’s jobs often require students to master skills and training far beyond what previous generations have faced. Oklahoma’s education system is working to ensure that the talent pipeline remains strong to meet both current and future employment needs.

Oklahoma’s Higher Education and CareerTech systems encompass an array of educational opportunities for students preparing to enter the workforce. The programs offered through these institutions work to fill a continued demand for highly qualified industry professionals in various sectors.

One example of how these institutions are helping to meet workforce demands is Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and their annual “Women in Technology” event. Launched four years ago, the event is targeted at high school students, high school counselors and adult students and raises awareness

about the expansive career opportunities available in STEM fields.

“We have seen an increase in attendance from rural areas,” said Dr. Ina Agnew, OSUIT. “Previously, students came independently. Now, schools are bringing kids in on buses. Counselors are trying to find a way to show young women that they can do more and have more career prospects by getting them to take a serious look at STEM careers.”

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IN THIS ISSUE Economic Indicators

Business News

Community News

Workforce News

Main Street News

State of Mind p. 2

Environmental Cleanup Money Available for Brownfield Sites p. 3

RSVP Connects Seniors with Volunteer Opportunities p. 4

Meet Our Staff: Jeane Burruss p. 6

“Chopped” Winner Opens Restaurant in Idabel, Okla. p. 5

Upcoming Events 24th Annual Women’s Business Leadership Conference p. 7

Oklahoma State of Success

Economic Indicators: State of Mind

Photo Courtesy of OSU- OKC

“You have to have talent. You have to have to have people who know IT, cooling infrastructure and power infrastructure … The career tech infrastructure in Oklahoma is robust and works well. The state can tune the workforce to the needs of industry through the framework of its career tech schools.” — Mike Wooten, Operations Manager, Google Inc.

More than 11,000 middle and high school students are enrolled in CareerTech Project Lead the Way curriculum, including courses like pre-engineering, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, and many more.

20,000

28

%

#2

Oklahoma boasts some of the most highly regarded IT security programs in the nation

Oklahoma students trained annually by the FAA

#4

Increase in Oklahoma students graduating with STEM degrees from 2008 to 2013

Home to the nation’s first UAS-focused degree program

Photo Courtesy OU Credit Robert H. Taylor

Best States for Recent Grads Forbes, July 2014

740,000+

Photo Courtesy of Oklahoma CareerTech

Tulsa has the Nation’s 4th-Largest gain in degree attainment . The number of Tulsa-area residents who received degrees from local institutions increased 15.9 percent between 2010 and 2013 More than 740,000 enrolled in 89 public and private colleges, universities and technology centers.

Photo Courtesy of OSU Institute of Technology

STEM Education: A Focus for Oklahoma

Business News

Continued from page 1

Dr. Agnew says that one of the biggest hindrances to To ensure that the event made an impact, OSUIT brought students choosing a STEM education path is fear of the in successful women from the energy sector to provide math or science involved. female role models to these students and show them that “Counselors are trying to find a way to “They think it’s too hard, and opportunities are everywhere. they often don’t understand show young women that they can do The panelists spoke to attendees more and have more career prospects the field and how those skills about experiences and how their fit in,” she said. “We often by getting them to take a serious look companies are looking to hire see that students simply at STEM careers.” more women into the field. have a misunderstanding - Dr. Ina Agnew, OSUIT of what these jobs are and “Don’t roll your eyes at things what they look like day-toor careers you don’t think you’d day. Manufacturing jobs like because you never know,” said Diana Frazier, aren’t necessarily back-breaking, dirty work. Employees president of the Women’s Energy Network North Texas work at computers and with robotics, using complex Chapter. “Oil and gas companies need every type of technology. Students and parents don’t always employee, not just those working in the field. They need understand that.” accountants, marketing and branding experts, people who can maintain websites and office managers.”

To find out more about OSUIT and its programs, visit OSUIT.edu

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP MONEY AVAILABLE For the environmental cleanup of eligible Brownfield sites.

What you need to know: 1. Brownfield cleanup grants are meant to finance shovel-ready brownfield cleanup projects, encourage redevelopment and create local jobs in communities across the state.

2. Grant Applicants must be an eligible local government, tribe or non-profit organization.

3. Loan Applicants can be a private entity, local government, tribe or non-profit organization.

Low-interest loans and subgrant funding is available for cleanup of hazardous substance such as: • Abatement of asbestos and lead-based paint • Former industrial sites with soil contaminated with hazardous substances • Railroad depots, spurs, and roundhouses • Any eligible Brownfield site that is contaminated with hazardous substances

Application Deadline: February 28, 2015. For more information about Brownsfield Cleanup Grants, contact Heather Mallory at heather.mallory@deq.ok.gov or visit: http://tinyurl.com/m73qykn

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Community Development News

RSVP Connects Older Adults with Volunteer Opportunities Provide-A-Ride celebrates 20 years of helping seniors RSVP of Central Oklahoma, a non-profit United Way of Central Oklahoma partner agency, connects older adults with meaningful and rewarding volunteer opportunities. RSVP volunteers, age 55 and older, enrich our community by serving other non-profit agencies in various capacities: they deliver hot meals and stock food pantries; they lend an ear and a helping a hand. RSVP senior volunteers can be found building ramps for other seniors and building solid foundations within families.

“I used to have a hard time finding volunteer opportunities. Trying to do all the homework to make sure each opportunity was a good fit for us, and finding agencies that truly needed our help was too timeconsuming. RSVP is now my home hub for volunteer opportunities. I love how easy they make it for us to find the right places where we can make a difference,” states Kim Sanders, RSVP volunteer.

Kim and Paul Sanders, RSVP volunteers

Provide-A-Ride drivers choose how often or infrequently they drive; they can drive once every couple of weeks or once every day – it is their choice. Drivers also choose what geographic areas they serve; they can Kim and Paul Sanders have drive within their ‘comfort been volunteering together zone’, or travel throughout “I live by myself in my own home, but, through RSVP for more than Oklahoma County, Mustang thankfully, I’m not alone. Because of seven years. “I feel like we can and Yukon. Volunteering as my friends, family and RSVP Providedo more for others now that we a Provide-A-Ride driver is A-Ride, I have everything I need to are retired, compared to when very flexible and rewarding. It we were both working. Now is continue to live a happy, independent allows older adults to continue the perfect time for us to give to live a life full of purpose and healthy life.” back, but we are finding out that and meaning. Volunteers and - Mildred, a Provide-A-Ride client we are getting back so much clients alike gain so much from more through volunteering,” Kim the experience because of the said. special bonds formed between them through lively conversation and companionship, A growing sector within RSVP of Central Oklahoma is which evolve during each excursion. the Provide-A-Ride program. Provide-A-Ride volunteers offer free medical transportation to individuals age 60 RSVP Provide-A-Ride recently celebrated 20 years of and older. The program provides arm-through-arm helping senior adults overcome transportation barriers. assistance and safely delivers them back home.

Throughout those years, Provide-A-Ride volunteers donated 129,582 service hours, driving 3,517,020 miles Mildred, a Provide-A-Ride client, states, “I live by to provide care and support for Oklahoma’s aging myself in my own home, but, thankfully, I’m not alone. population.

Because of my friends, family and RSVP Provide-A-Ride, I have everything I need to continue to live a happy, For more information about RSVP of Central Oklahoma, independent and healthy life.” call 605-3110. To become a volunteer driver or register as a Provide-A-Ride client, call 605-3106.

Safety is a top priority within the Provide-A-Ride program.

RSVP takes these steps to keep clients and volunteers RSVP of Central Oklahoma, Inc. is a part of the safe while participating in the program.

Corporation for National Service and a proud United Way of Central Oklahoma partner agency.

“Chopped” Winner Opens Restaurant in Idabel

Main Street News

Chef Tabb Singleton perks up Idabel’s Main Street Tabb Singleton, former executive sous chef of NOLA in the French Quarter of New Orleans and winner of Food Network shows “Chopped” and “Deep Fried Masters,” has brought his master kitchen back to his hometown of Idabel, Okla., with Singleton’s Southern Kitchen.

Singleton says his eight years at NOLA was invaluable in helping him learn how to run a restaurant. He received extensive training with Food Network star Emeril Lagasse, experience which helped prepare him by learning proper French techniques and, above all, the need to season everything.

Singleton says Lagasse often said he would season the forks and knives if he could.

While he was working under Lagasse, Singleton decided to enter the Food Network’s “Chopped” competition.

His experience at NOLA and his Idabel roots helped him when one of the competition’s “surprise ingredients,” lamb fries, showed up in his options. The fried Oklahoma delicacy gave him an edge at the judges’ table since he had experience cooking them.

“Sometimes we have fundraising calf fry dinners at our local schools. I know the basis of how to cook them,” Singleton said. “With the time frame, I figured I’d just put a lot of seasoning in the coating and fry them.”

Singleton has taken some of his winnings and invested them back into Idabel’s Main Street where he runs Singleton’s Southern Kitchen. The restaurant is run out of the same facility as the Main Street Café and Bakery.

“I was just going to do a pop-up restaurant,” Singleton said, “but we had such a big turn-out we decided to do a regular dinner service out of here.”

Main Street Bakery & Café is run by Walter Hefner, who purchased what was then a dusty, defunct loan company – literally two walls and part of a roof before he renovated the space. Several hundred thousand dollars and lots of time later, the Main Street Bakery & Café opened its doors in January, 2012. The Main Street Bakery &

Chef Tabb Singleton, former executive sous chef at NOLA, at the location for Singleton’s Southern Kitchen in Idabel

Café creates an array of beautiful cakes and desserts.

The café also has a regular list of lunch offerings and a variety of specials served daily.

Singleton happily joined Walter, his wife Tracy Hefner and Claire Lehr as a partner in 2013, and launched Singleton’s Southern Kitchen.

The restaurant space receives both locals and out-oftowners, day and night. Singleton’s menu is seasonal and filled with ingredients that are both exciting and outside-of-the-box for Southeastern Oklahoma but that still appeal to every Oklahoman.

Singleton works with local farms like Hamel Farms, Ferguson Farms, and Honey Bear Ranch and puts together dishes like: • Fried pork chop with wild mushroom gravy • Grilled duck flat bread with duck confit, fried egg, middle mountain dairy goat cheese and wild arugula • Roasted Pumpkin Risotto with gulf shrimp, sweet peas and lobster broth His classics like Oklahoma Calf Fries and 12-hour smoked pulled pork are also popular menu items.

Both Singleton’s Southern Kitchen and the Main Street Bakery & Café are bright stars in the town of Idabel.

State Unemployment Rates:

In November, Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate improved to 4.4 percent with a drop of one-tenth of a percentage point over the month. The U.S. unemployment rate held steady at 5.8 percent. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 1.1 http://bit.ly/1xEEO5D percentage points.

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Oklahoma State of Success

Meet Our Staff

Jeane Burruss is the Workforce System Project Director for the Workforce Solutions Division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Her primary responsibility is to support the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development.

The Governor’s Council has been charged by the Governor to design a workforce development system that creates wealth-generating opportunities for the citizens of Oklahoma. Jeane also serves as lead support staff to the Workforce System Oversight Committee responsible for the governance and design of the “Oklahoma Works” workforce system. This includes convening key partners and relationship building as well as designing a workforce system.

She is also helps to oversee Oklahoma’s Certified Work Ready Communities Project which is an innovative program that encourages communities to link workforce and economic development.

Talent pools aligned to industry needs that support an economic strategy create a powerful economic tool that will increase the wealth of its citizens and community. By utilizing Oklahoma’s Career Ready Certificate, communities will be able to document to economic development entities the work readiness of their citizens. This is a project which jointly belongs to Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Community Development Division and Workforce Development Division.

“Jeane is vital to the success of Commerce’s workforce development goals for 2015,” Deidre Myers, Deputy Secretary For Workforce Development continued, “She brings to the team expansive expertise in federal programming, a vastly respected reputation with our system partners, and a positive, high energy presence to our team.”

Jeane Burruss, Project Director, Workforce Services Division for Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

Phone: 405-815-5256 Email: Jeane_Burruss@ okcommerce.gov

Jeane also serves as the support staff for the State Workforce Youth Council a committee of the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development. The council is comprised of public and private sector executives from all levels including who are dedicated to creating a workforce strategy that coordinates with the state’s economic goals of building wealth for all Oklahomans focusing on statewide youth initiatives.

FOR NEW PIONEER SUBMISSIONS AND STORY IDEAS CONTACT:

NEW PIONEER A product of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce

EDITOR:

Kimberly Hickerson Project Manager - Communications 900 N. Stiles Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405) 815-5240 kimberly_hickerson@OKcommerce.gov

Kimberly Hickerson, Project Manager

CONTRIBUTORS:

Stefanie Appleton, Lisa Davenport, Alisha Grayson

PHOTO CREDITS:

Robert H. Taylor, Jeremy Zeller, Oklahoma CareerTech, OSU School of Technology, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City

facebook.com/OKcommerce @OKcommerce OKcommerce.gov issuu.com/newpioneerOK

Upcoming Events & Important Dates TED ALLEN/DAVID WALKER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

OSU BUSINESS FORUMS: MOIRA FORBES, PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER FORBES WOMAN

SPONSORED BY THE OKLAHOMA WEATHERIZATON HOUSING ADVISORY COUNCIL Request for application packets may be made to:

Oklahoma City, Wednesday, March 11, 2015 12-1:30 p.m.

Cox Business Convention Center

Ted Allen/David Walker Scholarship ATTN: John Jones KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 727 Stigler, OK 74462 For more information call: 918-867-3325

Tulsa, Thursday, March 12, 2015 12-1:30 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Hotel For more information and a list of upcoming OSU Business Forum speakers visit: http://bit.ly/1DBAPde

Scholarship Deadline: Jan. 16, 2015

24TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S BUSINESS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2015 5:30pm Hyatt Regency Hotel, Tulsa Learn more about moving toward your career goals, developing yourself and others, and enhancing your leadership skills from expert women leaders.

To make your reservations for the 24th Annual Women’s Business Leadership Conference visit:

http://tinyurl.com/p9on5qm STATE OFFICES CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF THE FOLLOWING STATE HOLIDAYS: Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Secretary of Commerce Larry Parman Steps Down Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Larry V. Parman recently announced plans to step down at the end of 2014. Parman has served as both Secretary of Commerce and Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) since October of 2013. Prior to his service at ODOC, Parman served as Oklahoma’s Secretary of State.

Governor Mary Fallin praised Parman’s service and his commitment to moving Oklahoma forward.

“Larry Parman worked tirelessly in both his Cabinet-level positions for the people of Oklahoma,” said Fallin. “As secretary of state, he helped streamline operations within the agency, saving taxpayer dollars and implementing a ‘client-first’ philosophy to better serve Oklahoma businesses and individuals.”

“When he took the reins at ODOC, I asked him to find creative ways to use his agency to help lift our state out of the recession and create jobs. His leadership at the Department of Commerce helped to bring in thousands of new jobs from internationally known companies like Boeing and Macy’s. The work he and his team did on behalf of Oklahoma businesses has also helped to create a better economic environment for the whole state. I wish him the best on his return to the private sector.”

In his resignation letter, Parman thanked Fallin for the opportunity to serve, calling it “an honor and a privilege.”

Deputy Director Don Hackler will serve as ODOC interim director.

Prior to being named Secretary of State, Parman served as the CEO of Parman & Easterday, an Oklahoma City estate planning, elder law and business planning firm that has served over 4,000 clients throughout the Midwest. He has also been a partner in Notch It Up Strategies LLC, a firm that offers marketing and executive development programs to business owners and C-level executives.

Parman also previously served as President of The Hawthorn Group, a public affairs firm in Alexandria, Virginia and President and CEO of Trencor, Incorporated, an Oklahoma-based financial holding firm. He is the author or co-author of multiple books on estate planning, financial planning and business, including “Above the Fray: Leading Yourself, Your Business and Others During Turbulent Times.”

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Note: E-subscribers receive the newsletter monthly in addition to educational opportunities and special announcements. Print subscribers will receive every other issue and do not receive special notifications.

To assure you receive all announcements and updates, please sign up for the electronic subscription at

OKcommerce.gov/subscribe or contact: Kimberly Hickerson Project Manager - Communications 900 N. Stiles Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405) 815-5240 kimberly_hickerson@OKcommerce.gov

2015 Great American Cleanup™ REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN Kick-Off Event: The Great American Cleanup™ March 1, 2015 Metro Tech, Springlake Campus, OKC Keep Oklahoma Beautiful wants to help you clean up your community this spring. Groups and organizations who register for the Great American Cleanup™ will be eligible to apply for GAC grants and receive FREE supplies, including trash bags.

Register today to receive your free supplies and access to a wealth of project ideas, tips and tricks!

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Annual TrashOFF will again be the signature event in the 2015 GAC.The date for the TrashOFF is April 11, 2015.

Register online http://tinyurl.com/pu2vvzt