How the companies ranked LARGE (350-PLUS EMPLOYEES) Rank
Company
Founded
Ownership
Sector
Locations
Employees
1
EPIC Charter Schools
2011
Nonprofit
Education — primary/secondary school
5
925
2
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
1946
Private
Biomedical research
1
425
3
Paycom
1998
Public
Payroll and HR technology
3
1906
4
Ben E. Keith Company
1906
Private
Wholesale foodservice distribution
1
490
5
EncompassHealth - Home Health & Hospice
1998
Private
Home health care services
21
366
6
Yukon Public Schools
1901
Government
Public education
1
965
7
St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center
1915
Public
Hospitals
1
502
8
Dell EMC
1984
Private
Information technology
1
1559
9
CACI International Inc
1962
Public
Defense contractor
1
479
10
Edmond Public Schools District Office
1922
Government
Public school district
1
2881
11
Putnam City Schools
1914
Public
Education
1
2048
12
Mustang Public Schools
1902
Public
Primary/secondary school
1
1534
13
Duncan Regional Hospital
1977
Nonprofit
Health care
1
1038
14
OnCue Marketing LLC
1966
Private
Convenience store/gas station
68
965
15
SSM Health
1898
Nonprofit
Health center
1
3777
16
Southwestern Medical Center
1907
Parent company
Hospitals
1
614
17
Valir Health
2000
Private
Post accute care rehabilitation, hospice and PT
1
562
18
Locke Supply Co
1955
Private
Wholesale distribution and sales
38
729
19
US Cellular
1983
Public
Wireless communication
1
676
20
Carter Healthcare
1989
Private
Home health care services
21
372
MIDSIZE (125-349 EMPLOYEES) Rank
Company
Founded
Ownership
Sector
Locations
Employees
1
Melton Truck Lines Inc
1954
Private
Distribution, logistics and freight
1
285
2
Meridian Technology Center
1973
Public
Education
1
127
3
Tapstone Energy
2013
Private
Oil and gas exploration
3
149
4
Central Technology Center
1970
Government
Education
2
187
5
Express Employment Professionals
1983
Private
Staffing
1
289
6
TBS Factoring Service
2004
Private
Financial services and insurance
1
213
7
CEC
1966
Private
Engineering
5
175
8
OCOM
2002
Partnership
Hospitals
6
265
9
SONIC Drive-In
1953
Public
Quick service restaurant (QSR)
1
342
10
Great Plains National Bank
1907
Private
Community bank
20
297
11
City of Mustang
1969
Government
Local government
1
191
12
Bob Mills Furniture
1971
Private
Furniture, home furnishings and accessories
2
189
13
Science Museum Oklahoma
1958
Nonprofit
Museum
1
201
14
Santa Fe South Schools Inc.
2001
Nonprofit
Education — primary/secondary school
9
268
15
Moore Norman Technology Center
1972
Public
Technology center
2
242
16
Standley Systems LLC
1934
Private
Office equipment sales, leasing and services
10
152
17
Panda Restaurant Group
1973
Private
Restaurant
25
335
18
Gateway Mortgage Group LLC
2000
Private
Financial services
10
312
19
BKD CPAs & Advisors
1923
Partnership
Public accounting
3
125
20
NAICO
1987
Private
Commercial insurance carrier
2
236
Locations
Employees
SMALL (FEWER THAN 125 EMPLOYEES) Rank
Company
Founded
Ownership
Sector
1
The First State Bank
1902
Private
Community commercial bank
3
55
2
Aviation Training Consulting LLC
2001
Private
Federal government
2
40
3
Homes by Taber
2000
Public
Integrated development, construction, and management
1
69
4
Corterra Energy LLC
2016
Private
Upstream oil and gas exploration and production
2
38
5
Cornerstone Home Lending
1988
Private
Mortgage
4
99
6
OptionOne Pharmacy
2011
Private
Alternate-site infusion company and specialty pharma
1
68
7
Valiant Artificial Lift Solutions
2016
Private
Petroleum, gas and petroleum products
4
68
8
PPOk (Pharmacy Providers of Oklahoma)
1985
Private
Pharmacy — technology
1
90
9
Robert Half
1948
Public
Staffing
2
41
10
Eastern Okla. County Technology Center
1982
Government
Education and training
1
78
11
FTC Transportation Inc.
1986
Parent company
Transportation/trucking
1
37
12
CL Boyd Company Inc.
1913
Private
John Deere construction equipment dealership
3
89
13
MacArthur Associated Consultants
1976
Private
Civil engineering
2
35
14
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
1980
Nonprofit
Human and social services
2
114
15
Air Assurance Company
1985
Private
Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing
1
97
16
Addison Group
1999
Private
Professional services
2
60
17
Bank2
2002
Private
Community bank
1
92
18
Kevo Properties
2010
Private
Agents/brokers
4
112
19
World Travel Service LLC
1958
Private
Travel/vacations
1
42
20
PHILLIPS MURRAH P.C.
1986
Partnership
Law
2
115
21
Crafton Tull
1963
Private
Civil engineering and surveying
2
52
22
PaceButler Corporation
1987
Private
Buyers of used cellphones
1
71
23
Oklahoma Arthritis Center
2000
Private
Rheumatology center
1
87
24
Saxum
2003
Private
Integrated marketing communications
2
47
25
Western Plains Youth and Family Services
1978
Nonprofit
Nonprofit
4
64
26
Cookshack Inc.
1962
Private
Electrical equipment, appliances and components
1
41
27
Timberlake Construction
1976
Private
Commercial construction
1
44
28
ScottRice
1920
Private
Furniture, home furnishings and accessories
2
72
29
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
1957
Government
State government
2
103
30
Malarkey Roofing Products
1956
Private
Building products
1
101
31
Noria Corporation
1998
Private
Engineering consulting and training
1
46
32
Star Building Systems
1927
Public
Building products
1
94
33
IMMY
1979
Private
Diagnostics, imaging and laboratories
1
67
34
Centek Inc.
2012
Private
Petroleum, gas and petroleum products
1
57
35
EOG Resources
1985
Public
Oil and gas exploration and production/extraction
2
83
36
Baer & Timberlake P.C.
1986
Private
Law
2
46
37
Kirkpatrick Bank
1970
Private
Commercial bank
5
104
38
Stan Johnson Company
1986
Private
Commercial real estate brokerage firm
1
76
39
Ditch Witch of Oklahoma
1976
Private
Construction equipment
2
59
40
Wireless Vision
2004
Partnership
Wireless
10
64
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
3
Is your workplace culture where it needs to be? By Doug Claffey CEO, Energage
T
op Workplaces outperform average organizations on many levels, but one key distinction stands out: Leaders of Top Workplaces see the competitive advantage of creating a workplace culture where employees are highly engaged. And they make culture a strategic priority, day in and day out. Every organization has a culture. Some are intentional, some accidental. Companies that claim culture is a priority but don’t back it up are just fooling themselves. Failing to focus on culture is how leaders lose their jobs and how companies cease to exist.
Doug Claffey
In fact, culture is the only remaining sustainable competitive advantage. Great business strategies can be copied, but culture cannot. When an organization’s culture fails, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes public and costly. Nationwide, less than a third of employees are truly engaged at work. But it’s a different story at Top Workplaces. Of
the 47,000 organizations Energage has surveyed in more than a decade, Top Workplaces achieve almost double the engagement rate. Companies that score in the top 10 percent on our surveys see engagement levels above 85 percent. Of the 114 companies surveyed in Oklahoma this year for the Top Workplaces program, 14 had engagement rates of 75 percent or higher. Recognition and bragging rights aside, employee engagement translates into stronger retention, higher productivity and better performance. Employee engagement is the outcome of a healthy workplace culture. In today’s business environment, culture distin-
guishes the world’s most valuable companies. It’s where value is created or destroyed. Leaders at Top Workplaces are intentional about defining and forging a unique culture that directly supports specific business goals. Not that all cultures are the same. Even among Top Workplaces, some thrive on high energy and fun, while others benefit from quiet intensity. So ask yourself: • What defines your workplace culture? • How do you know? • Are you happy with it? • Is it helping or hindering your business objectives? Whenever I ask leaders these questions, the
St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center employee comment: “I am continually challenged and encouraged.” [PHOTO PROVIDED]
answers spur terrific discussions. The challenge is understanding how to measure culture and how to change it. The most tangible measure of culture is employee engagement. Great workplace cultures flourish when a team of talented people share an organization’s values and embrace its objectives. We look at these key factors in engagement: • As an employee, do you feel you are giving your best? • Do you want to stay? • Would you recommend the organization to others? Strong cultures become self-sustaining: They attract like-minded people who will thrive in that environment. That’s why Top Workplaces can be picky about whom they
bring onboard, whereas other organizations have to pay more money to keep people. Creating a great workplace culture requires raising the level of trust and connection among employees so they commit their best every day. Top Workplaces do this, and they do it consistently well. So when leaders at aspiring organizations ask me how they, too, can capture this advantage, my answer is this: Get intentional about workplace culture. Doug Claffey is the CEO of Energage, a Philadelphiabased research and consulting firm that surveyed more than 2.5 million employees at more than 6,000 organizations in 2017. Energage is the research partner for Top Workplaces.
Robert Half volunteers employee comment: “I have been given the tools to succeed and always have leadership to turn to.” [PHOTO PROVIDED]
4
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP LARGE EMPLOYER
At EPIC Charter Schools, ‘It’s about people helping people’ By Paula Burkes Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com
A
t Regina Bell’s first Sooner tailgate party this year, her friends were eager to know how she liked her new job with EPIC Charter Schools. “Before I could say a word, my husband swooped in and answered for me. “It’s great. She’s fun. She’s a new woman,” Bell said. Bell, who taught 12 years in Texas public schools and 17 years in Oklahoma, most recently as an elementary music teacher in Norman, can’t rave enough about her new employer and this, her 30th, year. “The support is amazing,” said Bell, 51. “The superintendent and founders know me by name, and there’s no cattiness like there is at brick-andmortar schools. I just have to focus on teaching and doing the best I can with my kids.” EPIC grabbed the No. 1 spot among large employers on this year’s Top Workplaces list — up from No. 3 last year, the first year it applied. With enrollment growing at 40 percent yearover-year, employment at the 7-year-old school has jumped to 925, and now includes 32 principals and some 800 certified Oklahoma teachers who provide free, individualized education for 22,000 pre-K through 12th grade public school students, throughout all 77 counties, through a blended learning model that pairs
All EPIC Charter Schools teachers are fully certified Oklahoma teachers. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Among the approximately 925 employees of EPIC Charter Schools are, in foreground from left, Special Education Principal Lealon Taylor, Superintendent David Chaney and founder Ben Harris; and background from left, Human Resources Director Shawna Salkil, Assistant Superintendent Shelly Hickman and teacher Regina Bell. [PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN]
ABOUT EPIC At EPIC Charter Schools, workplace fun includes new teacher potlucks, an annual Halloween costume and chili cook-off contests, Christmas parties, employee karaoke and AMC movie nights for employees. Principals and teachers are organized in geographic “tribes,” which gather for retreats and training. One tribe dubbed itself “The Hive” because its teachers are busy bees.
digital curriculum with regular, one-on-one teaching. Think one-room schoolhouse meets online instruction. With performance pay bonuses of up to 40 percent, EPIC teachers’ annual salaries average more than $63,000, Assistant Superintendent Shelly Hickman said. But the biggest workplace satisfaction, for Bell anyway, isn’t the bonus pay, but being able to provide individualized
instruction — which she believes is missing from traditional school setting. She carries a roster of about 30 students across Norman, Moore and Shawnee, and meets one-on-one with each, typically every other week at area libraries. She’ll be their teacher through graduation. “It’s neat to know the kids and understand their situations,” Bell said. She has several students who plan to go to college.
One girl has two children and just wants to finish high school. And four middle school boys all were bullied at their previous schools and sometimes meet with Bell as a group. She and her high school seniors text or email daily. “More than anything, the kids learn time management, which they can carry on to college and life,” she said. ‘It’s so refreshing’ Bell networks with other EPIC teachers for help with calculus and other subjects. Online and in-person help and review sessions also are available. “The leadership cares about us and wants us to succeed,” EPIC special education principal Lealon Taylor said of the school’s
EPIC Charter Schools serves children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
administrators. Shawna Salkil left a job with a law firm to be EPIC’s human resources director. “This work drives me,” Salkil said. “I like that I’m making a difference with a futuristic, cutting-edge organization. “Of all the places I’ve worked, EPIC is the most receptive to new ideas. They don’t get stuck in, ‘We’ve always done it that way.’ It’s so refreshing.” Embracing new ideas toward gains in learning is a key principle on which EPIC was built, say founders Ben Harris and David Chaney, businessmen who formerly worked together for an online education company.
“We try to attract the best people: those teachers who were there at 6:30 a.m. and stayed until 7 at night, when they worked at a school building,” Harris said. “More than anything else, EPIC is about people — people helping people.” Chaney serves as EPIC’s superintendent. “We’re here to serve families. We never turn away, or suspend, a kid; we don’t have to with our model,” he said. “We believe in a network of support; that education takes a village that includes teachers and parents. We sincerely mean it when we tell new employees that joining EPIC means you have gained an additional family.”
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
5
TOP MIDSIZE EMPLOYER
Melton Truck Lines reclaims No. 1 spot among midsize employers RECLAIMING THE TOP
By Paula Burkes Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com
Melton this year reclaimed the No. 1 spot among midsize employers on The Oklahoman’s Top Workplaces lists. The company was runner-up last year, but champion the first two years it entered — 2015 and 2016.
T
ULSA — When Bradley Bournes moved from Tennessee to take a job with Melton Truck Lines, he knew no Melton workers or anyone who lived in or remotely near Tulsa. But ask Bournes, 28, why he hired on with Melton, and he’s quick to answer “the people.” While he was waiting for his interview, three employees— whom he later learned were vice presidents— walked by him, and all three stopped to ask if he needed anything, he said. Melton CEO Bob Peterson also stopped to introduce himself and say “hey,” he said. Bournes was more than impressed. He’d never met the president of the trucking company where he worked two and half years back home in Cookeville. And the three other companies with which he’d interviewed, in Fayetteville and Tulsa, weren’t nearly as welcoming as Melton, he said. Fast forward five years and Bournes is quick to tout his company’s benefits— from quarterly bonuses, and raises and promotions (his salary has increased $15,000 since he started) to Melton’s nofee, on-site health clinic and dental office and free on-site gym. But it’s still the people who keep him there, he said. “It feels like a big family,” said Bournes, now a warranty and outside
Melton Truck Lines employees Katy Walden and Bradley Bournes lunch at the company’s on-site cafeteria. They, like other married couples at Melton, met on the job. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Melton Truck Lines employee Lizzy Olstroem works out during her lunch hour at Melton’s on-site gym. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
repair supervisor, “especially, mostly, for me (as a native Tennessean). The majority of my friends are here,” he said. Bournes met his fiance at Melton when he, four
years ago, inadvertently sent an email, meant for the Kenworth truck manufacturer, to another “kw” address: inside sales rep Katy Walden. The couple met face-to-face
not long afterward, when they joined co-workers for happy hour after work. There are some eight other couples at Melton who met on the job, Bournes said. “I think it’s part of what makes us, and speaks to our culture,” he said. Bournes and Walden now have lunch dates about twice a week in Melton’s on-site cafeteria, where entrees average $6 (his favorite is the turkey burger.) Bournes said his sweetie also is happy he gets regular haircuts; clips are offered on-site every Monday. Melton this year reclaimed the No. 1 spot among midsize employ-
ers on The Oklahoman’s Top Workplaces lists. The company was runner-up last year, but champion the first two years it entered — 2015 and 2016. Employee services manager Marilyn Surber said a key initiative the company adopted this past summer was a year-found casual dress code, including jeans and shorts, unless employees are hosting outside customers or holding special meetings. “We’re hiring more millennials,” Surber said, “but everyone is really excited about the casual dress code; it’s a big deal.” Surber said Melton takes seriously feedback from the Top Workplaces
surveys it receives. As a response, Melton soon will sweeten the paid time off benefit for employees with five or more years service and introduce a new recognition program for employees with 10 years’ service, she said. Surber said Melton also is considering adding an on-site day care, and provided an ad hoc day care for employees’ children during the state’s twoweek teacher walkout last spring. Former human resources intern and new hire Lizzy Olstroem, 23, is expecting great things. In her new position as safety specialist, she will oversee technology on Melton trucks including analyzing data to assess drivers who may need to be coached. “In my past jobs, including as catering director for a fast food company, I had to follow a lot of rules and regulations,” Olstroem said. “But at Melton, they say, ‘Here’s what needs to be done, do it in the way you feel is best, and if it turns out wrong, we’ll talk about it. “I love the independence.”
6
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP SMALL EMPOYER
The First State Bank employees praise family-oriented, respectful environment By Paula Burkes Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com
N
ear the end of Aubree Williams’ interview for her marketing job at The First State Bank, either Chairmanand CEO David Durrett or President and Chief Financial OfficerChris Turner asked her this least-expected question: “Were you named after the song ‘Aubrey’ by Bread?” Williams said she was and, to her surprise, the bank owners and she soon were singing the song’s lyrics. The easy camaraderie is among the many reasons she still loves her job six years later, Williams said. Founded in 1902, the community commercial bank is Oklahoma’s oldest active state-chartered bank. Today, it has three branches: in Oklahoma City at 3030 Northwest Expressway, Midwest City and Canute, with a mortgage presence in Tulsa. Durrett and Turner bought the bank in 2009 and have helped grow it from 13 employees to 56 and from $20 million in assets to $320 million. “We knew we needed to attract good talent and make employees feel vested,” Turner said of the bank’s rich benefits. Perks include 100-percent paid employee health, dental, basic life and short-term disability insurance; annual holiday bonuses and salary increases; paid company training and advance-
From left, Christopher Turner, Britni Tull, David Durrett, Kayla Botkin and McKenna Henry pose Nov. 8 for a photo at The First State Bank in Oklahoma City. [PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN]
The First State Bank employees host a birthday party at Positive Tomorrows, Oklahoma’s only school for homeless kids. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
ment opportunities; a 90-percent paid family Gold’s Gym membership;
free employee and family counseling services; a lavish Christmas din-
ner and dance party at a local country club; and up to 40 hours of paid
time off a year to support causes about which employees are passionate. One employee works as a volunteer firefighter in Rush Springs, another is a trained volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for abused or neglected children and corporately, the bank supports A Chance to Change counseling nonprofit, Positive Tomorrows elementary school for homeless children and WingsOK special needs community. But it’s the intangible benefits— like an opendoor policy— about which employees are most happy. “If there’s an issue, we encourage employees to go directory to the party involved versus through the ranks,” Turner said.
“It’s more efficient that way." Durrett agreed. “We have a good time and care about the people working for us," he said. "It’s like family, and that’s the way we wanted it to be." Lori Elms, director of operations can attest to that. When she had to go on doctor-ordered bed rest before her fraternal twin daughters were born five years ago, Elms got the owners’ OK to work from home, she said, and still take off three months for maternity leave after her girls arrived. Meanwhile, human resources director Faith Fields said she was sold on the job when Durrett and Turner were “100 percent transparent on every aspect of the bank’s finances. I felt they had nothing to hide and The First State Bank was somewhere where the management has integrity,” Fields said. The bank’s oldest and newest employees agree that it’s a great place to work. Canute branch manager and cashier Jan Kamphaus, 63, has worked for the bank since she was 19. “It’s still a family-oriented place, and I couldn’t ask for better bosses,” Kamphaus said. “They respect me and value my opinion." Teller McKenna Henry started working for the bank in August. “All the people here have been really good at welcoming me and making sure that I know what I’m doing," she said.
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
7
BEST OF THE REST — LARGE EMPLOYERS NO. 2: OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION No. 2 last year, OMRF is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human disease. OMRF scientists focus on such critical research areas as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. OMRF every month holds a “First Thirstday,” where employees may gather for free food, beverages and camaraderie over trivia, a band or another themed event, and a courtyard spring fling with food trucks and a raffle. Employee comment: I feel a sense of satisfaction and purpose in the work that I do. I am so thankful we have an employee cafeteria on site that serves healthy options! I am also very thankful for the employee gym. These extra incentives make this workplace stand out from the rest!
employee, 50 years of age or older) including 100 percent vesting after five years. Employees can’t contribute to either plan. Employee comment: “I feel valued and I feel my family is valued. My boss is amazing and I feel like he genuinely cares about me both as an employee and my life outside of work. He is flexible and trusts me to do my job without micromanaging. All of the managers that I have dealt with are down to earth and friendly. They don’t act as if they are superior. I have the upmost respect for management here.” NO. 5: ENCOMPASS HEALTH
Paycom employees celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
NO. 3: PAYCOM A past winner and No. 5 last year, Paycom provides innovative, cloudbased human capital management technology to help employers manage the complete employment life cycle, from recruitment to retirement. The software is based on a core system of records maintained within a single database. Benefits include health insurance for only $1 per pay period, free longterm disability, free $25,000 life insurance policies, a free, on-site gym and an employee cafeteria that features $4 lunches catered daily
Warehouse supervisors pose in the Ben E. Keith warehouse. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
from area restaurants. NO. 4: BEN E. KEITH Another past winner (as a midsized employer) and consistent top per-
former, Ben E. Keith is a wholesale distributor of food service products, including dry, refrigerated and frozen food products, paper goods, chemicals, equipment
and small wares. The company also fully funds a retirement plan and a profit-sharing plan. The retirement plan transfers to an employee’s individual retirement account
upon retirement after vesting (100 percent in seven years). The profitsharing plan provides a monthly stipend upon retirement after meeting requirements (10 year
The first top employer in the Top Workplaces contests, Encompass is one of the largest Medicare certified home health, and hospice services providers in the nation. With more than 277 branch offices across the United States, Encompass provides skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and additional services to some 150,000 patients. Along with rich traditional benefits, employees are awarded points for exemplary performance and conduct that can be redeemed for all types of merchandise and/or services. The Encompass Cares Foundation provides financial resources to employees to go on medical mission trips, and to assist if there is an employee hardship, and scholarships for employees, their children and grandchildren. Employee comment: “Encompass cares about patients and employees. We have high standards here, and do things appropriately, with regular, internal audits.”
8
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
BEST OF THE REST — MIDSIZE EMPLOYERS
Express Professionals’ risk group goes all out for Halloween. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Meridian Technology Center employees salute Oklahoma’s skilled workforce. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
NO. 2: MERIDIAN TECHNOLOGY CENTER No. 1 last year, Stillwater-based Meridian Technology Center serves students from 10 area high schools: Agra, Carney, Glencoe, Guthrie, Morrison, Mulhall-Orlando, Pawnee, Perkins-Tryon, Perry and Stillwater. A variety of course offerings make career education possible for students from all walks of life: Career Training, Professional and Personal Interest, Online Classes and Business Solutions. Meridian Technology Center provides fulltime employees with paid contributions to the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System based on the employee’s salary. Perks include free use of an on-site gym and an on-site cafeteria staffed by the center’s culinary students. Employee comment: “I am given opportunities to grow and learn and also to contribute. We are a team that invests in people; our students, our staff and our community. I love being a part of that!”
NO. 3: TAPSTONE ENERGY Tapstone Energy, based in Bricktown with three field offices, is a growthoriented, independent oil and natural gas company focused on the development and production of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Its core development area is in the NW STACK play in the Anadarko Basin. Tapstone has a large, contiguous acreage position in the NW Stack that is characterized by significant operational control, multiple stacked benches and an extensive inventory of horizontal drilling locations that are expected to offer attractive
single-well rates of return. Italsoownsinterestsinlegacy producing oil and natural gas properties in various fields in the Anadarko Basin with long-lived reserves, predictable production profiles and limited capital expenditure. In addition to rich health insurance and retirement plans, Tapstone provides a fitness reimbursement for gym memberships up to $300 per year per employee, and adoption assistance which includes reimbursement of up to $7,500 per eligible adoption and four weeks of paid leave for the female employee. Additionally, Tapstone offers up to a maximum of 25 days of paid time off to employees per year depending on the employees length of service.
Employee comment: “I have the independence and support to do my job to the best of my ability. My work requires me to work across departments on a regular basis and the people I work with are focused on working together as a team and are motivated to improve things for the betterment of Tapstone. My department and function is new, and I feel that my customers engage the department and that we are valued.” NO. 4: CENTRAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER Central Technology Center,basedinDrumright and part of the Oklahoma CareerTech system, provides technical education leading to individual suc-
cess and elevates the workforce through economic development collaborations. Training includes an array of safety classes with an emphasis on tailoring curriculum to meet the needs of each specific industry. Benefits start with the atmosphere and culture of the organization that can been seen and felt through the attitudes of the staff. In addition to paid time off, Central Tech employees are part of the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System, receive staff paid health insurance, have the opportunity to invest in a 403(b), cafeteria plan, flex spending account, and if qualified, may take advantage of an educational reimbursement policy. Employee comment: “It
is a good group of individuals that treat and care for each other as family. All Central Tech staff always strive to bring or provide the very best to our students. We have respect and compassion for each other, whether it is work or personnel. We are a tight knit group that care for each other. The work environment is extremely pleasant and positive.” NO. 5: EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS Oklahoma City-based Express Employment Professionals is a leading staffing provider in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, supported by nearly 300 employees at its international headquarters in Oklahoma City. Express franchises help job seekers find work and help businesses find qualified employees, requiring the latest technology, equipment, payroll services, sales support, and marketing campaigns, among other services. Express Employment Professionals International Headquarters covers 50 percent to 100 percent of the cost for employee medical, dental and vision coverage, and offers many other benefit options including voluntary life, disability, flexible spending accounts, and company matched 401(k).
Employees also enjoy generous paid time off and employee discounts. In June 2014, Express joined the Free Market Medical Association and partnered with the Surgery Center of Oklahoma to provide employees with free surgical benefits. It expanded its list of premier providers in 2015, offering even more high quality health care options at a fraction of the cost to employees. Express also boasts a robust wellness program that includes a full onsite workout room, fun eventssuch as the Health Express Challenge and Weight Watchers At Work, as well as wellness screenings, flu shots and mammograms on-site everyyear.In2017,Express added two other employee benefits: free annual body scans and reimbursement of child care expenses up to $5,000 per eligible child. Employee comment: “I am part of something greater than merely earning a paycheck. Our responsibilities at HQ lessen the back-office responsibilities of offices so they may focus on building and maintaining client relationships so people of their community may be employed. It’s a great feeling to know that my job has a positive impact to people who are involved in the Express communities.”
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
9
BEST OF THE REST — SMALL EMPLOYERS
Corterra Energy CEO Valerie Mitchell poses with Holdenville firefighters after making a corporate donation toward the town’s annual July Fourth fireworks celebration that the fire department spearheads. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Aviation Training Consulting employees last year opted to attend a Thunder basketball game over having a traditional company Christmas party. From left are Mike Brooks, Troy Harter and Terry Frabott. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
NO. 2: AVIATION TRAINING CONSULTING Last year’s top small employer, Altus-based Aviation Training Consulting has training contracts for every plane in the Air Force AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) planes at Tinker, the B-52 Bomber in Shreveport and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, and more. The company provides many perks for its employees, including matching 401(k) contributions and 100 percent paid health insurance premiums for its workers; 75 percent for dependents. Employee comment: “I am allowed to work from home, and everyone is so kind and understanding.” NO. 3: HOMES BY TABER Homes by Taber was formed in 2000 by Taber LeBlanc and his wife, Julie. Julie’s father was a well-known developer and homebuilder (John Alexander) who helped Taber get his start in the industry. Homes by Taber grew from starting three homes in metro Oklahoma City in 2000 to starting 375 homes in 2017. The builder focuses on A+ locations with highly-rated school districts including in Norman, Edmond and Choctaw. The company takes great pride in giving back
to the community as a company with more than 900 hours and roughly $100,000 given back to the community last year. Employee comment: “I am allowed to make my own decisions concerning processes within my department, and those decisions are supported by management.” NO. 4: CORTERRA ENERGY LLC Tulsa-based Corterra Energy LLC is an exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of oil and gas resources in the MidContinent region. Ben-
efits include competitive salaries; annual bonus opportunities; four weeks to six weeks vacation and 11 paid holidays; medical, dental and vision insurance; short- and longterm disability coverage; flexible work hours and casual dress code. Said CEO Valerie Mitchell, “Our team is a group of motivated, focused and hardworking talent that have dedicated their careers to Oklahoma. We’ve put our company’s roots down in one of the best places to live, work and operate.” Employee comment: “I get to advance my skills and create new processes.”
NO. 5: CORNERSTONE HOME LENDING A past No. 1 small employer, Cornerstone Home Lending Inc. is a full-service residential mortgage banker based
in Houston. Cornerstone promotes a happy workplace in a variety of ways. The company periodically provides a Building Champions Life Plan Coaching session to employees. Through-
out the year, it holds a number of fun annual events to show appreciation for its employees, such as a Halloween costume contest, holiday luncheon and a talent show featuring entertainment provided by employees. Cornerstone also pays for 91 percent of employee basic medical coverage, 100 percent of basic life and accidental death and 100 percent long-term disability; matches 50 percent of employees’ first 2 percent contribution to their 401(k) plans; and after a year of employment, gives employees two weeks of vacation pay and nine days of sick pay. A “Cornerstone Cares” program, funded by employees, provides monetary assistance to fellow employees in need.
10
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
LEADERSHIP AWARD — LARGE COMPANIES Q & A W I T H DAV I D C H A N E Y
EPIC Charter Schools encourages community involvement for students, staff Q: How do you reward employees for good outcomes and good behavior? A: At EPIC Charter Schools, we use a performance pay model that rewards employees for producing quality outcomes for the families we serve. Treating our faculty and staff as professionals while maintaining high standards and expectations is a key principle at EPIC. We also make a focused organizational effort and take great pride in celebrating and rewarding the effort, dedication and quality work of our team. Q: Do you offer time off for employees to volunteer? David Chaney, superintendent of EPIC Charter Schools
A: As a public charter school with stu-
dents and staff in all 77 counties in our state, we encourage our students, families, faculty and staff to be involved in their local communities. It is our goal to have a positive impact in every community we live in and serve. The majority of our staff are on a flexible work schedule that allows them to customize their daily schedule to meet the needs of each family we serve as well as be active in their local communities. Q: Do you offer flexibility for your employees to succeed? A: At EPIC Charter Schools we believe in
constant development and improvement for our organization as a whole and for our employees individually. As we have experienced tremendous growth over the last several years, we always look to promote from within first and offer our employees the opportunity to advance
both professionally and personally. We also invest heavily in professional and leadership development opportunities for our employees. We have a department dedicated to continuous professional development. We also have a targeted leadership development program in partnership with one of the top leadership training organizations in the country for both continuing development for experienced leadership and what we call our emerging leaders program for new and prospective future leaders. All employees at EPIC who supervise others receive consistent leadership development training throughout the year. At EPIC, we say often public school can be different. We also believe leadership can be different and should be the focal point of any successful organization. PAULA BURKES, BUSINESS WRITER
Timberlake Construction employee appreciation day. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Standley Systems employees give back to the community. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Wireless Vision employee comment: “There’s no added stress and the work environment is fun and exciting! The teamwork here is best I’ve seen in a long time.” [PHOTO PROVIDED]
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
11
LEADERSHIP AWARD — MIDSIZE COMPANIES Q&A WITH BILL H. STOLLER
Express rewards team members with bonuses, awards Q: How do you reward employees for good outcomes and good behavior? A: We reward employees in a variety
of ways. Bonuses, companywide celebrations for reaching new milestones, incentives for reaching goals, gift cards and quarterly profit-sharing. We also think it is important to give awards. We receive nominations from our franchisees for ACE Awards that recognize a headquarters employee for above and beyond service. Internally, we nominate team members for the Everyday Hero Award which recognizes daily commitment and above and beyond dedication
to their specific role at Express.
organizations.
Q: Do you offer time off for employees to volunteer? A: We’re a service center to our franchi-
Q: Do you offer flexibility for your employees to succeed?
sees and we have a promise and commitment for headquarters team to always be available during business hours to serve their needs. We do find ways to support the community. The Express Speakers Bureau is composed of headquarters employees who are subject matter experts and excellent presenters who are available to speak on a variety of topics. They offer their services at no charge during business hours to speak to nonprofits and charitable organizations, schools, Chamber of Commerce events and professional
A: The vice president of each department
is provided the opportunity to offer flexible work schedules in their department. This works best and ensures that our service is available throughout the day to take care of our franchisees and at the same time, provides employees the flexibility to run errands and make appointments during business hours that must be done during standard working hours. PAULA BURKES, BUSINESS WRITER
Bill H. Stoller, founder and CEO of Express Employment Professionals
LEADERSHIP AWARD — SMALL COMPANIES Q & A W I T H R O B E R T C OX
ATC lets employees put family first Q: How do you reward employees for good outcomes and good behavior? A: As a leader, I have worked hard to cre-
Robert Cox, CEO of Aviation Training Consulting LLC
ate an environment where employees feel they are valued and have a voice. As a leader, I am always there to encourage and cheer our employees on as they succeed. But what is unique about our culture is when we see someone fail, we ask how we can help and what we can do better. Each person's failures are a result of
a breakdown somewhere in the communication or education of that employee. Q: Do you offer time off for employees to volunteer? A: We encourage our employees to find
somewhere to volunteer. Many of our employees are involved with different nonprofits and we look to support the nonprofits they are passionate about. Q: Do you offer flexibility for your employees to succeed?
Ben E. Keith’s transportation group gather for the company’s annual Truck Roadeo. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
A: ATC is really like a family. We find
employees who are given time off to spend time with family, attend their kids soccer games, and take care of sick loved ones are more willing to be back at work giving 100 percent. We don’t want our employees to miss the little or big moments of their life and our request of them is to complete their work and give their projects 100 percent. PAULA BURKES, BUSINESS WRITER
12
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
How the rankings were determined By Bob Helbig Energage
On the road to success, organizations need to know where they are. That’s the motivation behind the annual Top Workplaces survey, which gives employees the chance to rate their workplace. “Becoming a Top Workplace isn’t something organizations can buy,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of Energage. “It’s an achievement organizations have to work for.” For the sixth year, The Oklahoman has partnered with Philadelphia-based Energage, the employee
research and culture technology firm, to determine Oklahoma’s Top Workplaces based solely on employee survey feedback. Starting in June, The Oklahoman welcomed anyone to nominate companies as Top Workplaces. In all, 817 employers in the state were invited to take the employee survey. Any employer was eligible, as long as it had at least 35 employees in Oklahoma. Employers could be public, private, nonprofit or governmental. There is no cost to enter the Top Workplaces program. In all, 114 organizations
agreed to take the survey. Combined, they employ 39,101 people in the state. Of those employees who received questionnaires, 24,196 responded, either on paper or online. For 2018, 80 Oklahoma employers scored well enough to earn recognition on the Top Workplaces list. The employee survey gathers responses on 24 factors covering seven areas, including organizational health factors that measure how well employees are working together toward a common cause: • Alignment — where the company is headed, its
BKD Enid employees participate in CPA Day of Service. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
values, cooperation • Effectiveness — doing things well, sharing different viewpoints, encouraging new ideas • Connection — employees feel appreciated, their work is meaningful • My Manager — cares about concerns, helps employees learn and grow In addition, the survey asks employees about other factors: • Employee Engagement — motivation, retention and referral • Leader — confidence in company leadership • The Basics — pay, benefits, flexibility, training, expectations
Statements relating to “Connection” and “Alignment” are consistently judged most important to employees, while statements about pay and benefits rate least important for workplace satisfaction. Smaller employers tend to score higher than midsize employers, and midsize employers tend to score higher than large employers. Employers are ranked among groups of similar size to most accurately compare results. Within those size groupings, companies are ranked, and those that score high enough are recognized as Top Work-
places. Energage also determines special award winners based on standout scores on specific areas of the survey. Why aren’t some companies on the list? Perhaps they chose not to participate or did not score high enough based on the survey results. To ensure organizations are accurately administering the survey, Energage runs statistical tests to look for questionable results. Sometimes, it disqualifies employers based on those tests. To participate in the 2019 program, go to www.oklahoman.com/ nominate.
Saxum employees celebrate the opening of their new headquarters at 621 N Robinson Ave. in The Heritage. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
13
4 small employers score biggest improvements By Paula Burkes Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com
Among companies of all sizes named Top Workplaces this year, four small employers— FTC Transportation, Cookshack, Aviation Training Consulting and Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma— shone in making the biggest improvements that Oklahoma employees say are most important. Oklahoma City-based FTC— which jumped from No. 40 to No. 11 on the small-employer list— scaled 32 percent in the category, “I believe this company is going in the right direction.” “We work each year to continually improve over the last, and we have an incredible team of employees that make it possible,” said Emory Mills, director of safety and driver administration. Ponca City’s Cookshack— which makes ovens, grills and broilers— attributes its 32 percent climb in “It’s
Oklahoma City-based FTC Transportation scaled 32 percent in the category, “I believe this company is going in the right direction,” which helped move it from No. 40 to No. 11 on the small-employer list. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Cookshack employees raised enough funds through an on-site bake sale to buy snacks and games for The Ponca City Nursing Home & Rehab down the street. The volunteer effort was part of the company’s Cookshack Cares program. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
easier to do my job well” to intentional changes in hiring and firing. “Over the past year, we have looked at each job and determined the type of person that fits that job best.” Cookshack President Stuart Powell said. “Then, when we hire new employees, we really look at their personality profile to determine if they would be a good fit for the position.
Cookshack terminated some employees who didn’t fit the company’s culture. “They may have worked hard and did a good job, but some were complainers and others created drama,” Powell said. Meanwhile, in the layoff, Cookshack allowed team members who would step up to fill vacant supervisory roles they didn’t really want
“If they are not, we slow down our hiring process and find someone that does fit. ... and we end up with team members who are much happier doing their jobs.” Powell said Cookshack also looked to the profiles to lay off team members, which it had to do when business slowed this past year. Human Resources Specialist Robbie Powell said
move into preferred jobs in drafting, assistant and technical services. “The latter, Tony Marlar, led Cookshack to an OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) exemplary certification, held by only 17 Oklahoma companies, and I’ve noticed that he seems a lot less stressed and smiles more,” Robbie Powell said. Altus- and Edmond-
based Aviation Training Consulting— last year’s No. 1 small employer and No. 2 this year— improved 18 percent in “I feel well-informed about important decisions.” “Last year was a big year for ATC,” said Carly McDavid, marketing and public relations manager. “We added an entirely new office in Edmond, and we went through the usual growing pains that come with those changes. We kept our commitments to our employees and clients the same as always: doing what’s right. “We continued to educate and lead our employees and they became more comfortable with better understanding of the company as a whole.” No. 14-ranked Regional Food Bank rose 18 percent in “I feel well-informed about important decisions.” The nonprofit, which employs 114, made last year’s top 20 list of midsized companies with 125 to 349 employees.
11 mainstays, 19 newcomers make list By Paula Burkes Business Writer pburkes@oklahoman.com
Eleven Oklahoma companies have made the list every year of the six years that The Oklahoman's Top Workplaces contest has existed. Meanwhile, 19 companies made the list for the first time this year. Newcomers claimed four of the 20 spots on the large company list,
including CACI International Inc., Putnam City Schools, Duncan Regional Hospital and SSM Health. Among the 20 midsize winners were six newcomers, including No. 3-ranked Tapstone Energy, Sonic Drive-In, Great Plains National Bank, City of Mustang, Moore-Norman Technology Center and Panda Restaurant Group. Of the 40 small
companies designated as Top Workplaces, nine were first-timers. Those included Homes by Taber, Tulsa-based Corterra Energy LLC, FTC Transportation, CL Boyd Company Inc., World Travel Service LLC, Crafton Tull, PaceButler Corp., Timberlake Construction and Baer & Timberlake P.C. Meanwhile, veteran winners took five of the 20 spots for large companies, including Okla-
homa Medical Research Foundation, Paycom, Ben E. Keith Co., Southwestern Medical Center and Valir Health. On the list of 20 midsize employers, BKD CPAs & Advisors has prevailed every year. Among the 40 small employers, five have made the list all six years: Bank2, Oklahoma Arthritis Center, Saxum, Oklahoma Water Resources Board and EOG Resources.
Employees of Ben E. Keith’s fleet maintenance department gather for a truck stop safety dinner. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
14
I
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
LOVE MY JOB BECAUSE...
Air Assurance Co. “I am appreciated for doing my best.”
been given the tools to achieve the goals I set.” Kirkpatrick Bank “I feel appreciated, I receive positive feedback, my co-workers are great and the customers are great.”
Aviation Training Consulting “I am given ample resources and the flexibility to plan and execute my duties in the manner I determine is best for the company. “
Locke Supply Co. “I feel like I have room to grow and help the company be successful. Then there is always new things to learn.”
Baer & Timberlake PC “I am able to grow as a person and see my errors, I am allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, I am able to attend to personal affairs is need be without feeling restricted. There are several mentors at my job to learn from.”
Melton Truck Lines Inc. “I have been with Melton going on 40 years now. I would not work anywhere else, they have always made me feel like family and always there in my time of need.”
Bank2 “I feel appreciated with every thing I do. My manager always lets me know when I am exceeding the expectations, and I am always welcomed with open arms.”
Meridian Technology Center “I am treated professionally and continually encouraged to be my best.” Moore Norman Technology Center “I get to help others succeed — strong sense of purpose — flexibility — support for continued lifelong learning.”
Ben E. Keith Co. “Everyday is a new challenge, allows me to test my skills daily and have fun while I’m at it.” BKD CPAs & Advisors “It pushes me further than I thought I could go otherwise.” Bob Mills Furniture “Everyone’s input is welcome, there is opportunity for growth and advancement. I have the ability to better myself and job skills through enrichment programs offered. People are wonderful to work with, and it’s truly a fun environment.”
Ben E. Keith employees participate in Race for the Cure. [PHOTO PROVIDED] Central Technology Center “I feel appreciated.”
“I am able to use my skills and talents.”
gives me an opportunity to do things outside the norm.”
City of Mustang “I work for a remarkable person who encourages me and allows me the freedom to do my job.”
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center “I get to help students and faculty achieve success both academically and professionally.”
Gateway Mortgage Group LLC “My leadership supports me and develops me professionally.”
CL Boyd Co. Inc. “I am trusted to do it.”
CACI International Inc. “Even though I’m working an entry level position, I’m respected as though I’m senior staff.”
Cookshack Inc. “Diversity of duties & opportunities & my co-workers & supervisor are awesome.”
Carter Healthcare “I am allow to use my education, training, talents and abilities in the workplace to make positive differences in people’s lives.”
Corterra Energy LLC “I’m a part of something important. I’m doing things I’ve not done before, great atmosphere, great people.”
CEC “I have the freedom to tailor the position to meet my working style, but at the same time feel respected enough to make decisions regarding the contract process.”
Crafton Tull “I bring clients’ ideas to life.” Dell EMC “Great work/life balance.” Duncan Regional Hospital
Edmond Public Schools District Office “I get help children meet their full potential.”
Great Plains National Bank “I have a fantastic boss who supports, challenges and encourages me, and an outstanding team of co-workers.”
EPIC Charter Schools “I can adjust my teaching to each individual student. I can work individually with the students to work on their gaps. Flexible in schedules with myself and students.”
Homes by Taber “I get the chance to make a large sum of money without a college degree. Not many places can you make the paycheck I make without one.”
Express Employment Professionals “I get to work with great people, and because I’ve been given the tools and opportunity to become an expert in my field.”
IMMY “It involves so many different facets of the company. My job is a little different each day and requires me to think on my toes.”
FTC Transportation Inc. “I can express my concerns and thoughts, and they listen to me. It
Kevo Properties “I am in control of my success, income and hours worked AND have
Mustang Public Schools “I am backed by my other teachers and administrators.” NAICO “It is fun and exciting to work with knowledgeable and exciting people in a great atmosphere.” OCOM “I go home everyday knowing I made a difference as part of the team.” Oklahoma Arthritis Center “Of the people I work with, the administration that helps us when we need it, the providers, whom listen to concerns or questions we may have, and the patients we get to take care of daily.” Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation “Science is the priority, not bureaucracy.” Oklahoma Water Resources Board “My boss lets me do my job without hovering and trusts me to get the job done.”
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
15
INTERESTING FACTS Bank2 employees are involved in Habitat for Humanity, the Rescue Mission and The Refuge. Bank2 has sent employees to help clean mud out of homes after hurricane Sandy smashed into the East Coast. Employees also have traveled to Uganda to help drill water wells with Water4. Ben E. Keith Co. has been in business since 1906, starting out as a produce distributor. During Prohibition the company delivered Anheuser-Busch nonalcoholic product and eventually developed into one of the largest AB distributors in Texas. Centek Inc. has initiated a recycling program with a goal of zero waste to landfill. Central Technology Center is the only school to achieve Gold Star School status since inception in 1990. Dell Technologies serves 98 percent of Fortune 500 companies served by Dell Technologies Three community hospitals merged in 1977 to become Duncan Regional Hospital. The hospital'slogo includes a red triangle, which represents the three hospitals. EPIC Charter Schools is the largest charter school in Oklahoma and the fifth-largest public school system in the state. During the Depression of the 1930s, when the infamous "bank holiday" was called by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Great Plains National Bank (then known as the First State Bank and Trust Co. of Hollis) was one of the few banks nationwide given permission to remain open. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board has facilitated more than $3.2 billion in financial assistance to cities, towns and rural water districts for water and wastewater improvements while saving those groups more than $1 billion over conventional financing options. Founded in 1907, Southwestern Medical Center is the oldest hospital in the Lawton area. SSM Health's St. Anthony Hospital was founded 120 years ago as the first hospital in Oklahoma Territory.
Stan Johnson Co. employees volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Centek employee welcomes an employee appreciation treat. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Phillips Murrah employee comment: “It is financially, personally, and professionally fulfilling.� [PHOTO PROVIDED]
16
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
WINNER PROFILES Addison Group specializes in the contract and direct hire placement of finance and accounting, information technology, administrative and human resources, health care, and engineering professionals. Broken Arrow-based Air Assurance offers commercial and residential heating, cooling, ventilation and plumbing repair, service and replacement. Air Assurance provides comfort, indoor environmental solutions and plumbing service throughout the Tulsa metro area. Altus-based Aviation Training Consulting has training contracts for every plane in the Air Force AWACS fleet at Tinker Air Force Base, the B-52 bomber in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. The company also provides aviation engineering services. Oklahoma City-based Baer & Timberlake PC specializes in real estate, corporate matters, mortgages, contracts, curative title actions and title insurance underwriting issues. Clients predominantly includes banks, mortgage lenders and service providers. Oklahoma City-based Bank2 is a community bank owned by the Chickasaw Nation. The full-service bank offers several different checking and savings accounts to meet customers’ unique personal and business needs. Texas-based Ben E. Keith Foods has a major distribution center in Oklahoma. The company provides wholesale distribution of food service products. Ben E. Keith is a broadline distributor, meaning it distributes dry, refrigerated and frozen food products, paper goods, chemicals, equipment and small wares. BKD CPAs & Advisors and its subsidiaries offer a variety of services in accounting, audit and assurance, tax, risk management, technology, corporate finance, forensic and valuation services and wealth management to a wide range of industries, including health care, manufacturing, distribution, financial services, construction and real estate, as well as government entities, higher education institutions and not-for-profit organizations. Bob Mills Furniture is a retail furniture store specializing in home furnishings and mattress sales. With the help of our inhouse designer and professional sales team, customers can create their dream home. Bob Mills also features Sleep Spa, home of the Bed Match system, which profiles customers' backs to help them find the right mattress for them. CACI
International
Inc.
provides information services in support of national security missions and government transformation for intelligence, defense and federal civilian customers. CACI has about 18,600 employees worldwide. Carter Healthcare is a health care provider focused on delivering home health, hospice, athome medical equipment and pharmacy services to thousands of clients in the comfort of their homes. Oklahoma Citybased CEC is a privately
The Corporate Challenge team of TBS Factoring. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Valir Health employee comment: “I am a big part in making a real difference in somebody’s life.” [PHOTO PROVIDED]
held engineering firm, serving public entities and private developers. The company specializes in transportation design and planning, mechanical, electrical, structural and civil engineering, power delivery design and inspection, surveying and mapping services, construction management and supervision, materials testing, airport planning and design, environmental services, and bridge design and inspections. Centek designs, markets and manufactures oil-field centralizers and stop collars and began operations in Oklahoma City in 2012. When drilling oil and gas wells, it is vitally important to ensure that no contamination of groundwater occurs through good zonal isolation of the casing string. Centek’s products provide the best centralization in the industry resulting in an excellent cement sheath in the borehole, helping to protect the environment and optimize well production. Drumright-based Central Technology Center, part of the Oklahoma CareerTech system,
provides technical education. Central Tech achieved 93 percent placement for students entering the workforce or continuing their education. Of those in the workforce, 87 percent of working graduates are employed in jobs related to their career major. Last year, CTC had more than 25,000 enrollments and provided customized business and industry training to 400 companies. About 17 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, the City of Mustang is home to about 20,000 people. Established in 1913, CL Boyd Co. Inc. is an Oklahoma City-based construction equipment dealership and an official John Deere dealer. Ponca City-based Cookshack Inc. manufactures stainless steel smoker ovens, grills, char broilers and pizza ovens. Established in 1962, the company has about 40 employees. Cornerstone Home Lending Inc. is a full-service resi-
dential mortgage banker based in Houston with more than 80 offices in 18 states. Cornerstone
loan officers have an average tenure of more than 12 years and have been trained to tailor a loan program to suit each individual customer’s financial needs. Tulsa-based Corterra Energy LLC is an explo-
ration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas resources in the MidContinent region. Crafton Tull is an Oklahoma City-based firm that specializes in civil engineering, surveying, architecture, landscape architecture and planning. The company has more than 200 employees in seven offices in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Dell EMC provides services that include cloud marketplace, data protection, data analytics and artificial intelligence to empower countries, communities, customers and people everywhere to use technology. Ditch Witch of Oklahoma is a full-service construction equipment dealership servicing all underground construction and utility equipment needs. The firm offers Ditch Witch service, an extensive line of parts and a wide variety of used and rental equipment. From the joining of three community hospitals, Duncan Regional Hospital has become a nationally recognized health care institution. Duncan Regional is a full-service hospital, delivering emergency, acute inpatient and outpatient care. Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center serves
about 600 students per
year in the communities of eastern Oklahoma County. To better benefit the business and industry sector, the technology center's Business and Industry Development Center continues to offer customized training and services. Edmond
Public
Schools
serves more than 25,000 students and has 11 Blue Ribbon Schools, the most of any district in the state. All three high schools have been recognized as among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and The Washington Post. EncompassHealth is one of the largest Medicare certified home health and hospice services providers in the country. With more than 277 branch offices throughout the United States, Encompass provides skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and additional services to more than 150,000 patients. Houston-based EOG Resources Inc. is one of the largest independent crude oil and natural gas companies in the United States. EOG strives to maintain the lowest possible operating cost structure that is consistent with prudent and safe operations. The company focuses on integrating technolSEE PROFILES, 17
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
TOP WORKPLACES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
17
WINNER PROFILES PROFILES Continued from 16
ogy such as 3-D seismic, core analysis and microseismic to develop proprietary petro-physical models. Founded in 2011, EPIC Charter School is Oklahoma’s largest public charter school with about 20,000 students and 925 employees. It enrolls students year-round in all 77 Oklahoma counties and provides a free, state-accredited, individualized education for each student through a blended learning model that pairs digital curriculum with regular, oneon-one instruction by a fully certified Oklahoma teacher. Express Employment Professionals is a leading staff-
ing provider in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, supported by nearly 300 employees at its international headquarters in Oklahoma City. Founded in 1983, Express employs more than 540,000 people across more than 800 franchise locations worldwide, with a longterm goal to put 1 million people to work annually. Oklahoma City-based FTC Transportation is the core carrier for Feed the Children. Employees work with those in need, personally putting boxes of food and personal care items into the hands of those who need it most. FTC Trucking also works with third-party customers and brokers to haul general commodities nationwide. Thirdparty freight is used for backhauls and in between Feed the Children loads.
Sonic’s supply chain team enjoys some slushies. [PHOTO PROVIDED] Gateway Mortgage Group is an end-to-end mortgage banking firm that specializes in mortgage origination, loan servicing and correspondent lending. Founded in 2000, the company maintains two corporate locations with headquarters in Jenks and an operations facility in Irving, Texas. Gateway conducts business in 41 states and employs more than 1,200 people throughout 164 offices. Great Plains National Bank is a local community bank providing modern, convenient services, with a little western Oklahoma charm. The bank offers both consumer and commercial products. Oklahoma City-based Homes by Taber is a custom homebuilder with about 70 Oklahoma employees. IMMY, based in Norman, has the goal of dras-
tically reducing mortality caused by infectious diseases through increased use of affordable diagnostics. Kevo Properties, based in Oklahoma City, is an organization that trains its employees to run successful businesses in the real estate industry. Kirkpatrick Bank, based in Edmond, is a business bank serving Oklahoma and Colorado. Chartered in 1970, the bank was acquired by the Kirkpatrick Family in 1988. Community partnership is an essential premise in the Kirkpatrick family and a value encouraged by them as part of the Bank’s strategy for growth and development. Oklahoma City-based Locke Supply Co. distributes plumbing, electrical, heat and air supplies primarily to licensed contractors.
MacArthur Associated Consultants is an Edmond-
based civil engineering firm with 35 employees at two Oklahoma offices. Malarkey Roofing Products
is an Oregon-based roofing manufacturer. The company has more than 100 employees in Oklahoma. Melton Truck Lines is an over-the-road flatbed transportation company, providing transportation services for the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Tulsa-based company has more than 1,600 employees nationwide, including about 285 in Oklahoma. Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater is part of
a network of 29 career technology centers across the state. Since 1975, Meridian has been training individuals for
success in the workplace. The Meridian Technology Center district covers parts of Lincoln, Logan, Noble, Pawnee and Payne counties, encompassing more than 900 square miles. Moore Norman Technology Center provides career and
technology education to adults and high school students. Mustang Public Schools is a rapidly growing, premier district with a student centered mission. National American Insurance Co. (NAICO) offers auto-
mobile, general liability, property, inland marine, umbrella and workers' compensation insurance. The company also offers a wide range of coverage that can be tailored to meet the needs of virtually any business. Tulsa’s Noria Corp., an
engineering, consulting and training company, helps other businesses enable reliability through better lubrication processes. Over the past 19 years, Noria has helped organizations manage and monitor lubricants for maintaining optimum reliability and safety. The Oklahoma Citybased Oklahoma Center for
Orthopaedic and Multi-Specialty Surgery (OCOM) pro-
vides inpatient and outpatient services. Founded in 2000, Oklahoma Arthritis Center specializes in patients with arthritis and related conditions such as lupus, fibromyalgia and osteoporosis. OAC stresses the importance of quality patient care by using technology, innovation and leadership to provide the best service, educaSEE PROFILES, 18
18
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
TOP WORKPLACES
THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
WINNER PROFILES ter is an acute hospital in Enid that employs more than 500 people.
PROFILES Continued from 17
Stan Johnson Co. is a commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firms that focuses on single-tenant net lease transactions involving retail, office, industrial, medical and saleleaseback properties.
tion and care possible. The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human disease. OMRF scientists focus on such critical research areas as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Standley Systems LLC was founded in 1934 as the Fred Standley Typewriter Co. in Chickasha. The company now offers technology services, including things like IT and printing solutions.
The mission of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board is to protect and enhance the quality of life for Oklahomans by managing and improving the state’s water resources to ensure clean and reliable water supplies, a strong economy, and a safe and healthy environment. As the state’s water agency, the agency aims to resolve Oklahoma’s increasingly complex water issues through leadership, innovation and sound science.
Star Building Systems was founded in 1927 and is a manufacturer of custom-designed metal building systems for commercial, industrial, institutional and agricultural use.
Putnam City Schools employee comment: “I am encouraging students to become kind and hardworking for their future.” [PHOTO PROVIDED]
OnCue is a growing innovator in the Oklahoma convenience store market. The business is designed to be more than the average gas station, with services and products that surpass expectations while providing the ultimate customer experience. OnCue has embraced compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative domestic fuel. OptionOne Pharmacy is a medical infusion provider delivering alternative-site, out-ofhospital therapies directly to patients. Run by a team of health care professionals focused on individualized attention, OptionOne Pharmacy ensures that its patients consistently have dependable access to life-enhancing infusions in their own continuum of care. PaceButler Corp. buys, sells and recycles used cellphones. The company has more than 70 employees in Oklahoma. Panda Restaurant Group, parent company of Panda Express, Panda Inn, and Hibachi-San. The California-based company is family-owned with about 2,000 locations worldwide and more than 35,000 employees.In Oklahoma, the company has 335 employees at 25 locations.
Tapstone Bricktown-based Energy is a growth-oriented,
independent oil and natural gas company focused on the development and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Tapstone has 149 employees and three field offices. TBS Factoring Service provides simple and flexible financial solutions for small businesses. The First State Bank was founded in 1902. The bank has fullservice branches in Oklahoma City, Midwest City and Canute, with a mortgage presence in Tulsa. Timberlake Construction provides pre-construction, general contracting and construction management services. The company has 44 Oklahoma employees.
U.S. Cellular employees man a trade show booth. [PHOTO PROVIDED]
Edmond-based Providers of Oklahoma
Pharmacy
provides RxSelect Third Party Contracting Services, Central Payment, Claims Reconciliation, RxLinc Claims Transmission, Contract Compliance Monitoring, MAC Evaluations, RxProtect Audit Services and Buying Group Programs for more than 3,800 pharmacies nationwide. Putnam City Public Schools is the
fifth-largest school district in Oklahoma and has more than 2,000 employees.
Oklahoma City-based Paycom Software provides cloud-based human capital management that businesses need to manage the employment cycle from recruitment to retirement. The company has more than 1,900 Oklahoma employees.
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit organization, is a member of the Feeding America network of Food Banks and is the largest hunger-relief charity in the state, providing enough food to feed more than 136,000 hungry Oklahomans every week, 37 percent of whom are children.
Phillips Murrah PC has grown from a four-lawyer startup into one of the largest fullservice law firms in Oklahoma. The firm, located in the heart of Oklahoma City's business district, provides a comprehensive line of business and litigation solutions.
Robert Half is the world’s first and largest staffing firm, with 325 staffing locations worldwide. Robert Half helps companies solve their staffing needs in the fields of accounting and finance, technology, administrative, legal, creative and marketing.
Santa Fe South Schools Inc.is a fully accredited public charter school district serving students from pre-k through 12th grades. Operational since 2001, Santa Fe South Schools serves students from the Oklahoma City school district attendance area. Saxum is a full-service inte-
grated marketing communications agency with offerings in advertising, public relations and digital areas of expertise. The firm offers a specialized energy communications practice while also serving other industries including health care, consumer and philanthropy among others. Science Museum Oklahoma, located in Oklahoma City, is a private, nonprofit, educational and cultural resource center with a mission of enriching people's lives by revealing the wonder and relevance of science. Scott Rice works with clients
to plan, furnish and manage interior spaces utilizing architecture, furniture, technology products and an array of valueadded services. The company provides space solutions for corporate, education and
health care organizations. Sonic Drive-in is a chain of more than 3,600 restaurants in 45 states. With its headquarters along the canal in Bricktown, the company last year had systemwide sales of $4.5 billion. Southwestern Medical Center is a full-service, 199-bed hospital in Lawton that provides emergency room, medical, surgical, OB/GYN, neurosciences, behavioral health, imaging, laboratory, outpatient and inpatient surgery, physical and sports medicine and rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient wound care, sleep studies and stroke and cardiac care services. SSM Health is the parent company of St. Anthony Hospitalin Oklahoma City. Founded in 1898, the facility is a 773-bed private, not for profit, tertiary care hospital and regional referral center. St. Anthony Hospital includes SSM Health Bone & Joint Hospital at St. Anthony, an orthopedic specialty hospital, and SSM Health St. Anthony South, a hospital dedicated to behavioral health services. St. Mary's Regional Medical Cen-
U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and innovations designed to elevate the customer experience.
Oklahoma City-based Valiant Artificial Lift Solutions provides pumps, motors, seals, drives and other services and products to support oil and natural gas wells. Valir Health is a comprehensive health care organization specializing in a full range of medical services. Western Plains Youth and Family Services in Woodward is a coun-
seling center that provides case management, out-of-home and outpatient alcohol, drug and mental health treatment. Michigan-based Wireless Vision is the largest T-Mobile branded partner in the country. It has 64 employees at 10 Oklahoma locations. Tulsa-based World Travel Service LLC provides travel service for business and individual travelers. The company has 42 Oklahoma employees. Yukon Public Schools serves nearly 8,900 students with about 965 employees.
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
19T
20T
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018
THE OKLAHOMAN
NEWSOK.COM