August/September 2023

WHAT OKLAHOMA WOMEN EARN

THE FUTURE OF WORK

CHEF JEFF CHANCHALEUNE

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Sharina Perry

2023 Innovator Awards

Innovator of the Year: Sharina Perry

PRESIDENT & CEO Jordan Regas jordan.regas@405magazine.com

FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN Rod Whitson rod.whitson@405business.com

PUBLISHER Kendall Morgan Hammack kendall.morgan@405magazine.com

VICE PRESIDENT Kaley Regas kaley@hilltopmediagroup.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kayte Spillman kayte@405business.com

ART DIRECTOR Cadence Ramos cadence.ramos@405magazine.com

COPY EDITOR Evan Musil evan.musil@405magazine.com

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Meagan Matthews meagan@hilltopmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Charlie Neuenschwander, Logan Walcher

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Emily Grant

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Drew Smith drew.smith@405magazine.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Vanda Holland vanda@405business.com

DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Raylee Lewis raylee.lewis@405magazine.com

I Can’t Shut Up About It

WELCOME TO OUR 2023 Innovator Awards!

In this issue, we feature close to two dozen incredible Oklahoma companies pushing innovation forward for their industries and for our state (pg. 27). Their stories and their answers were so compelling, we’re running longer versions of our Q&As with them on our website. So, pop over to 405business.com after you read the issue to see even more great info from these innovative companies.

And, to me, none are more awe-inspiring than our 2023 Innovator of the Year, Sharina Perry (pg. 28). Her company, Utopia Plastix, is doing big things, poised to do nothing but continue its exponential growth. And, her incredibly kind, humble-but-strong demeanor draws you to her, making her success seem like it's for everybody.

We focus a good chunk of the rest of the issue highlighting successful women entrepreneurs from Ashley Quintana (pg. 24), who is half of the dynamic duo behind BridgeRev, to Hannah Schmitt (pg. 50) who runs the Treasury, a coworking space for women. And, we highlight 12 more amazing women entrepreneurs in our Notable section (pg. 53) and three more leaders who answer the question, “Why is it important to support women-owned businesses?” on pg. 52. That’s where I learned from Brena Jones Barwick, a woman entrepreneur as well as the state chair of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, that only 7% of venture capital is invested in women entrepreneurs. Let’s do better. Let’s start by understanding who these women are, at least. I hope we can help with that last part this issue.

It was inspiring to talk with so many powerful, intelligent women who are killing it in their respective games as we’ve worked to put together this issue. And speaking of amazing, inspiring women, I’m so pleased to introduce our new publisher to the magazine as well (pg.

10). Kendall Morgan Hammack brings an energy and a passion to our 405 family, and I know she’ll do great things. Welcome Kendall!

P.S. If you haven’t heard: 405 Business Magazine took home three national awards this summer from the Alliance of Area Business Publishers for Best Magazine, Silver; Best Feature Writing, Gold, and Best Overall Design, Silver. Wow! We are humbled and grateful for this recognition it helps us to know we are on the right path to providing our readers the content they want.

Kayte Spillman EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

"Public education offers the absolute best set of resources to every kid. OKCPS is so diverse. But when I say diverse, I don’t mean just ethnically. I mean skillsets, beliefs and life experiences. When we put a student in a diverse environment and then teach them and provide them with resources and opportunities, we are setting them up for success. Public schools take all kids, all the time. There are no barriers to access to a public school. We love them all, and we don’t judge."

"Oklahoma has amazing resources for companies like mine. I didn’t know anybody when I first arrived, but was automatically brought into the startup ecosystem where I met partners like OCAST, gener8tor, The Verge, i2E, Cortado and so many others. These organizations are actively working hard to develop and grow the ecosystem, which is exciting to see and to be a part of. Oklahoma also has what most innovation hubs don’t — low cost of living, lots of space, and affordable energy — not to mention a huge talent pool."

Dr. Sean McDaniel Oklahoma City Public Schools superintendent

Oliver Shafaat Sci-Lume Labs founder

While interviewing, we heard:

FILLING THE KNOWLEDGE GAP

Drew Bahner started working full-time at Expanded Solutions in 2005, with his brother Josh Bahner starting in 2008. When they took over company leadership from their parents in 2018, both Drew and Josh found they had a lot to learn.

Josh mentions: “One of our biggest weaknesses we identified was that we didn’t have any kind of corporate upbringing, so we didn’t know a lot about how things are done.” And Drew agrees, stating that he felt distanced from certain aspects of the work. “I went from the University of Michigan to working in a blue-collar environment, so I missed out on the corporate experience.”

After Drew discussed hurdles to growth with a loyal customer, he promptly recommended Vistage. That is when Drew first got in touch George Glover and learned about the peer advisory group he facilitates. The local collection of CEOs and business owners meet one day per month in person to process issues and opportunities. After a discussion with Josh, the brothers thought it might be the resource they needed to augment their professional skill set. Shortly after Drew joined George’s group, the value was clear. Soon Josh followed, joining another peer group led by George.

A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Drew and Josh have now been Vistage members for almost three years and both have come to rely on fellow executives for insights and advice. Drew also values the various learning structures Vistage offers.

“There’s a ton of educational opportunities, it’s not just about issue processing. We sometimes watch videos, we often have knowledgeable speakers, and we talk a lot about economic conditions. For me, that kind of broader view of the business world has provided a lot of perspective for us.”

The peer advisory group operates as more than a business organization, however. According to Josh, it’s more like a family. The trust that has developed has enabled him to open up and experience breakthrough moments with significant impact.

“When you talk these things out in front of other people, you discover things. I’ve got a great sounding board. It helps to have somebody that’s not in the organization to help you think about it in a different way.”

Drew finds many other aspects of his life positively affected by his participation with Vistage. “It’s a way to be a better boss, better business owner, better businessman, better husband and father. I’m more focused on where I need to be focused.”

Co-Owners of Expanded Solution

• Founded in 2002

• B2B manufacturer of fabricated metal products

• Offering applications for dozens of industries

Vistage is the world’s leading executive coaching organization for CEOs and senior executives. Today, more than 28,000 members in 26 countries rely on Vistage to help them outperform their competitors. George Glover has been a Vistage Chair since 2016 and currently leads four Vistage peer groups in the OKC Metro.

Learn more at vistage.com/chairs/george.glover and visit with George by calling 405.509.1873.

“When you talk these things out in front of other people, you discover things. I’ve got a great sounding board. It helps to have somebody that’s not in the organization to help you think about it in a different way.”

Drew & Josh Bahner

The City That Built Me

AS A LIFE-LONG resident of Oklahoma City, I’ve watched firsthand how this city has rapidly grown, experiencing a communal renaissance and becoming a crucible of beautiful cultures. This is not the same city it was 20, 10 or even five years ago — and we are not stopping! Our industries are growing, and our economy is diversifying in so many different, and exciting, ways.

These not-so-subtle changes are a reflection of the efforts that you have made. You are the driving force that makes this community so special, so unique, so truly … Oklahoman. From every small business to every large business and everything in between, the businesses of the 405 are the heartbeat to the energy currently being created.

I am thrilled to take on this new role as Publisher of 405 Business Magazine and have the opportunity to give back to the city that has been my whole life. I cannot wait to continue highlighting interesting businesses and trends in the OKC business community and beyond. My mission is for this publication to accurately reflect and illuminate your stories, Oklahoma City.

I was raised in the heart of Oklahoma City, I attended the University of Oklahoma and quickly after college, I took a traveling job to get out of Oklahoma — something most people my age have thought about at some point or another. The moral that the grass isn’t really greener on the other side proved wildly true. Every city I traveled to, every state whose border I crossed, all had unique and interesting charms, sure, but they were not OKC. Everywhere I went, I thought, “Well, in Oklahoma City ...” juxtaposing my current situation with, frankly, my home. It quickly dawned on me that instead of looking for something better outward, I wanted to be part of the change inward.

After a year of traveling, I knew Oklahoma City is where I’ve always belonged. I’ve settled back in and it genuinely is the best decision I’ve ever made. Along with two dogs and my husband (in that order), we know this is the greatest place to live. We are part of a community that is driving change in this state, a community that cares for one another, a community that has raised me, shaped me and made me the woman I am today. There is still work to be done, and my commitment to you, Oklahoma City, as Publisher of 405 Business Magazine, is to keep moving this city forward, however I can.

I look forward to growing alongside you and our beloved city!

Kendall Morgan Hammack PUBLISHER

My little family

One of my favorite wedding photos. Jennings and I got married this past May.

Our cute pups, Miss Honey and Winnie.

START UP

How We'll Work

Disruptions at the office and expectations of workers are changing Oklahoma's workforce. Oklahoma business leaders explain just how big the shift may be in the next few years. p.18

Identity Drives Innovation

Focus on three tips to create and leverage a clear, strong identity that will, in turn, push forward innovation at your company.

BY MATT STANSBERRY

INNOVATION IS NOT easy, but when we understand who we are, it becomes much simpler. I believe a company’s true identity is ultimately what drives effective innovation. And as fast as our world is changing, innovation is required for all of us.

First, let’s define “innovation” and “identity”: in•nov•a•tion: a new method, idea, product, etc. similar words: change, alteration, revolution, upheaval, transformation

i•den•ti•ty: the characteristics determining what a business is similar words: distinction, personality, uniqueness

Simply put, innovation is a new way of doing things in your business, and identity is what defines and differentiates your business. If you stop and think about it, this is an extremely powerful combination. Let’s just look at Apple as an example. Apple is known for having a great brand (i.e. a clear identity), and it is known as the leader in consumer technology (i.e. innovative products).

But Apple’s brand is not trying to please everyone. They know their audience, and it shapes their decisions around innovation. Do you remember the “I’m a Mac” ads from the mid 2000s? The ads show a man dressed in casual clothes (the Mac guy) and another man in a suit (the PC guy) to boldly let us know who they were making products for — and who they weren’t. This is why seemingly every product that Apple introduces is “on brand.” Identity drives innovation.

“When you speak to everyone, you speak to no one.” – Seth Godin

If you don’t know who you are or what you stand for, innovation is a guessing game. If you don’t know who your audience is or what problem you're trying to solve, innovation is lost. Too many companies are confused about innovation because they are confused

about their own identity. So how does an organization leverage their identity to be a better, more innovative company? Here are three ways:

1. Define: 88% of consumers say that authenticity is a key factor when deciding what brands they like and support (Stackla, 2021).

It starts with authentically defining or, in some cases, redefining your brand’s identity. Every company should put in the work to identify what makes them, them. Identity is about distinction, personality and uniqueness. It’s okay to stand out. In fact, you might be in trouble if you don’t. Pro tip: It’s di cult to perform surgery on yourself, so consider pulling in outside professional help to guide your organization through this process.

2. Commit: 68% of businesses say brand consistency has contributed to revenue growths of 10% or more (Lucidpress, 2021).

Once you have clearly defined your brand, it’s time to put it front and center both internally and externally — make it known to all your audiences. This helps create accountability and consistency, and it fosters focused innovation. Any new ideas, methods or products that do not align with your clearly stated identity need to be either modified or tossed, but there’s no room for “sort of on brand” — it either is “on brand” or it isn’t.

Pro tip: Consider how your commitments not only a ect your corporate brand but also your employer brand. Your ability to attract and retain talent is likely your biggest asset.

3. Emote: 77% of consumers prefer to buy from brands that share the same values as they do (Havas Group, 2019).

Where we spend our money is personal, and this isn’t just with B2C but B2B as well. Apple sells to our emotions. Apple’s vision is to make the best products on Earth and to leave the world better than we found it. Apple gives us all the technical information on their products, but when they are at their best, they lead with how their products are going to make you more creative and how they are going to change your life. Communicate with emotion.

Pro tip: Review your customer experience and journey through the lens of making it as easy and convenient as a conversation with a friend — friendships are personal.

So, before you dive headfirst into your next innovation efforts, make sure that your brand identity has been defined, that you are fully committed to it and you are communicating effectively with authentic, human emotion. In summary, be clear, be consistent and be yourself.

Matt Stansberry founder and CEO of Nominee Design, a strategic brand studio in OKC

What newsletter always gets clicked open?

I will always click on newsletters from the Oklahoma Film and Music Office. I’m always interested to see what is going on in the film community.

My Daily Media Diet

Vahid Farzaneh is the managing partner at both the homebuilding company his family created, Home Creations, and the marketing and advertising agency he created, Freestyle Creative. Here, he talks about TikTok and how quickly the marketing industry changes.

What podcast do we need to be listening to?

How I Built This with Guy Raz! As an entrepreneur, I like to hear about people's vision and creative processes to solve their problems. Each founder and leader interviewed allows me to tap into their mindset and learn how they were able to address pain points not only in their industry but also with a wider application as well.

Is there any other media you consume that we’ve missed?

I scroll through YouTube quite a bit. I have learned so much from different YouTube channels, from gardening and cooking to entertainment and businessrelated strategies.

What role does media literacy play in business?

The marketing industry changes so often and fast. I want to be leading the charge! Being a digital native has helped me and my agency, Freestyle Creative, to become successful. It has also helped me with keeping marketing strategies front and center for our customers at Home Creations.

What social accounts or platforms should we be following?

Besides Home Creations, Freestyle Creative and 405 Business Magazine, I like to follow OKCTalk and Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

What music should we add to our playlist right now?

How do you ensure you remain media literate?

Just make sure you’re on TikTok! Also being around a younger staff helps me stay in the loop with all the updates and latest trends in media.

Where do you get your news first?

I get most of my news online, mostly from social media posts from The Oklahoman and OKCTalk I tend to use Instagram for shorter clips, and for more in depth, I will go to the newspaper. I like the immediacy of social media as well as the ability to see what others are saying about a particular topic. I can get a better picture of the whole story that way.

What app do you open first in the morning?

I mostly look at Instagram or LinkedIn to begin my day. I look at LinkedIn for business development or recruitment opportunities and Instagram to get caught up on the latest marketing trends.

“Overload” by Life of Dillon. It just puts me in a good mood, and having a good mood helps me have a productive day!

What books are making you think?

The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber had a big impact on me during the start of my career. However, The Compound E ect by Darren Hardy is a book I reference the most. Back when I started Freestyle Creative, I was the one doing all of the work. The E-Myth was able to help me switch mindsets to being an entrepreneur rather than a video specialist. Instead of being the person working in the business, it taught me that I needed to be working on the business. The book gave me a better understanding of how to take my passion and skills from a hobby or side gig and turn it into an entire marketing firm.

“The marketing industry changes so often and fast. I want to be leading the charge! Being a digital native has helped me and my agency, Freestyle Creative, to become successful.”

WE ARE AN EARLY STAGE VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM INVESTING IN AMBITIOUS, GROWTH-DRIVEN COMPANIES, DEFINING A NEW GENERATION OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR THE MIDCONTINENT.

WHAT WE OFFER

It’s more than capital. We leverage our team’s deep experience as leaders and innovators to position our portfolio companies for accelerated growth. To date, Cortado Ventures has invested in 35 companies amounting to a total enterprise value of nearly $600 million.

INVESTMENT CRITERIA

FOUNDER LED

Entrepreneurs with innovative ideas that think outside-the-box

OKLAHOMA FOCUSED

Companies operating in sectors that are a natural fit for the Midcontinent

B2B TECH

Companies with disruptive technologies and B2B strategies

SECTOR FOCUSED

Insurtech, Biotech, Aerospace, Fintech, Energy Tech, Ag Tech

GROWTH MINDED

Young companies with a desire to grow fast

CAPITAL EFFICIENT

Companies that leverage tech to scale quickly

Day in the Life

Alba Weaver, OG&E Energy Corp. senior manager of local and community affairs, starts and ends her day with her fur babies, checks on her daughter busy with field work in Peru and works across multiple Oklahoma cities pushing forward economic development issues and community improvement projects.

5:45 a.m. Alarm goes off and I hit snooze once, twice — OK, three times. I am not a morning person; I need five more minutes.

7:30 a.m. Join an internal Teams meeting to discuss capacity and renewable energy requirements on several OG&E projects in the works.

9 a.m. Collaborate with the city manager, assistant city manager, public works director and community development director in Enid about their downtown lighting project and economic development strategy.

1 p.m. Grab a quick bite of lunch at Thai Kitchen — my favorite go-to is the spicy veggie pad thai.

2 p.m. Review and discuss agenda for a roundtable meeting with community affairs managers. My hardworking team of CAMS are based across Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas, and each member partners with businesses, local governments and social service agencies to grow our communities.

4 p.m. Drive to Leadership Oklahoma City’s office for a meeting with my good friends and partners Kim Wilmes, vice president of economic development programs at Greater Oklahoma City Chamber; Kenton Tsoodle, president and CEO of Alliance for Economic Development; Dan Straughan, executive director of Homeless Alliance; and Christy Idleman, economic development manager at OG&E, to plan LOKC’s Signature Class Economic Development Day. Dan and I had the distinct pleasure of leading LOKC’s Signature Classes 39 and 40.

5:45 p.m. Respond to a call from the hubby wanting to know what I would like for dinner and encouraging me to head home. Another call from Matthew: "How about dinner at VII Asian Bistro or Sala Thai?"

We decide to go with Vietnamese food for dinner this evening. We love Asian food, and we are fortunate to have awesome authentic Asian cuisine in OKC. If you have not visited the growing Asian District recently, I highly encourage it!

8:30 p.m. Home sweet home! Greet my three fur babies, Shelby, Barnaby and Willow, and Sofia’s cat Margot. Give them a treat, change, relax on the couch while enjoying the love from my four-legged babies while Matthew and I wait for the daughter to call.

6:15 a.m. I’m officially woken up by my fur babies, and I’m greeted by my hubby, Matthew, with a cup of coffee in hand. While still in bed, I check messages to see if the daughter unit, Sofia, who is doing field work and research abroad in Peru, has texted. I respond to a few emails and finally force myself to get out of bed.

8 a.m. Grab my to-go cup of coffee while talking to one of my team members about our company’s fan donations. Kiss the hubby goodbye, get in the car and turn on NPR and drive to Enid for a meeting with our partners and city leaders.

12 p.m. Back in Oklahoma City at Southeast High School where I am joined by local dignitaries for our first scholarship surprise announcement of the year. OG&E’s Positive Energy Scholarships are lifechanging as they offer up to $60,000 throughout a four-year period to help students pursue higher education.

3 p.m. Calls to the City of OKC City Manager Craig Freeman and City of Norman City Manager Darrel Pyle to discuss “Right Tree — Right Place” initiatives.

1:30 p.m. Quick call with Carl Geffken, city administrator for the City of Fort Smith, in Arkansas, about federal funding for port electrification project opportunities and to identify who I need to be talking to. Electrification of ports has a significant impact in the environmental and economic well-being of local communities. Electrification holds great potential to reduce final energy demand.

6:30 p.m. Gather my things, call my mom on my way out of the building and head out to meet Matthew for dinner at VII Asian Bistro.

5:15 p.m. Head back to the office to finish up a report, respond to a couple of missed calls. Respond to emails and finalize changes needed to a nondisclosure agreement prior to an upcoming visit with a company in Muskogee.

10 p.m. After an awesome conversation with the daughter about her experiences and research in Peru, I catch up on a bit of news and entertainment.

11 p.m. Check my calendar and review what my day will look like tomorrow. Check emails once more. Respond to a few and send a few.

11:45 p.m. Get ready for bed and finally make it into dreamland.

SEPTEMBER 2023

A 405 Business special stand-alone issue highlighting nearly 250 metro business leaders, who are working in the state’s largest industries and using their influence for good.

To align your brand with the top leaders and companies in Oklahoma business in this 2023 networking catalog, contact kendall.morgan@405magazine.com.

The Future of Work

Recent disruptions in workflow, thanks to the pandemic, and the shifting expectations of new employees entering the workforce will cause the future of Oklahoma’s work to look mightily different than it did just a few years ago. Oklahoma business leaders, from several diverse industries, discuss* the need to stay flexible, listen to employees and provide for the different needs of the changing workforce of the future.

When you think about workforce development and talent management, what are the top challenges you think about?

HUGHES: When I think about workforce development and talent, one of the biggest challenges I see within our company are areas like the inability to retain the talent that has come from within the community. I don't know that we've done the greatest job to paint the picture of the future as a place for them in this city. And so instead they see Dallas or Atlanta or other glamorous cities with communities that have a place for them rather than bringing opportunities to build here.

COPELAND: The nature of work continues to evolve so quickly that the roles of the future will be ones that we don't know anybody who's done it yet. And so we have to begin to build bridges now that create a nimble workforce across multiple industry verticals.

What are the costs today for not having enough of the right people?

LOMBARDO: What I have found to be the bigger challenge is meeting those right people's expectations where they are as this workforce continues to change the way it is. There's a reality about the changing workforce that's going on in the U.S. today as more Boomers continue

to retire and more Xers and Yers continue to come in. They have a different set of expectations. They have a different idea of what work is supposed to be. They have a different set of desires and entitlements and requests, and all those sorts of things that just require you to be able to meet all of those different employee needs across all those spectrums, and then you add in this whole “Do I have to come to the office?” conversation.

ADAMS: Those individuals who are 25 to 45 years old are looking for three things: They're looking for meaningful work. They're looking for fair compensation, and they're looking for flexibility. There may be some other options, but they're looking for those three things. We do have this exodus of workers who are more traditional and who need to be recognized by employers. I was looking at some data, and it looks like investment, training and professional development has shrunk tremendously over the last five years. While we are talking about artificial intelligence or disruptive technology, you need to be investing in your talent pool to make sure that not only that they're capable but that your company can exist 10 to 20 years from now. And while we’re talking about AI, 40% of the tasks that we as humans do will be automated by 2030. That's in seven years. Now, there are definitely jobs, but 40% of the

Maurianna Adams Chief Community Investment Officer, MetaFund

Lee Copeland Director of Talent and Business Growth, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber

activities and tasks that we do will be given to robots and AI tech. This will complement what we do, but it’s projected that 15% of our jobs globally will be replaced by technology. So we need to invest in them to make sure that we stay competitive and that we have the capability to exist in a market alongside technology.

When you think about the workforce of the future, what do you see? Take us down the road 10 years — what's different?

GREENHAW: I think in 10 years, you're going to look at someone in a job, and when you look back at their resume, you're not going to see this natural progression that we've always seen. You're going to see people who have worked in multiple industries in multiple kinds of companies and multiple roles. You're going to have to look for those transferable skills. I can't read a resume and just look for keywords. You have to really look for the things that you can translate to these other jobs.

COPELAND: I think one of the most significant advances that we'll have is also thinking about leadership and the compressed acceleration that we saw in terms of workforce during COVID. One of the fastest emerging themes I saw is the companies that were quickest to understand that employees are people with needs and they are as significant a focus as the customers and their bottom line. The more that you train your managers and leaders in the future to understand how to influence people, how to train and how to motivate behavior, that's where the workforce is going.

What are you doing to get more than your fair share of the talent? How are you winning the talent game?

KING: I think we realized early on that we did not want to get into a transactional relationship with our employees. We had a constant bidding war where people were coming up and offering them 50 cents more an hour, and we were losing. And so we made the hard shift in culture, and we said culture begins day one at our company. What does that mean? That means when you arrive, there's a gift basket waiting for you. That means that your email is already set up. You already have emails from all key employees in the company welcoming you before you arrive that day. We have an onboarding program that begins, and you're ready to go. There is no walk-around and wondering, “Who am I supposed to report to?”

How does purpose fit into the talent equation?

GREENHAW: We've always cared about purpose. But now it's a demand, and we know that we can't recruit people by telling them, “You're coming here to create value for institutional shareholders.” That doesn't translate. People don't get out of bed for that. So, when we reframe and when we empower people with a purpose that we're entrepreneurs spurring entrepreneurs, maybe they're not someone who's in a position to start a new business, but it's something that they want to support. Then when people come to work with us, they know that they're there helping this person who is starting

their mom-and-pop business, and they are getting it off the ground and partnering with them from day one. And that does give them a purpose because they're helping build the American Dream. And when you give people the purpose, that is leadership, no matter what position that they're in.

What have you learned about building a strong culture?

COPELAND: I would say the quick and easy way to think about it is this: Your culture is the predictable patterns of behaviors. It’s what the person who pulls you aside and says, “Let me tell you how it actually works around here.” That's the culture, right? So, it's being able to intentionally shift that conversation that happens and understanding what are the predictable patterns of behavior around authority and decision-making communication, conflict resolution — all those kinds of things. When you're shifting the conversation about the predictable patterns of behavior, you're actually addressing culture. So, if you're not thinking about those things, begin to shift your focus.

HUGHES: I think it just kind of speaks to this generational shift and constant questioning of why it has to be this way. And that’s where the leverage is now. The leverage was with the corporations. They could just say, “Sit here. Do this.” This generation is like, “No, I’ve got options.” The leaders of corporations and organizations really have to keep up with that and really understand we obviously know the values and the people, and as we get more and more opinionated workers, we really have to adapt.

COPELAND: I think the folks who have navigated the post-COVID process the easiest are the ones who trusted their employees and those who were willing to redefine how they measure what is productivity and then really listened to and understood that their employees were of high value. The ones who did have figured it out in a way that works for them. I don't think there's going to be a one-size-fits-all. What I've seen is that some of the adjustments have settled back into how the companies answer those questions. Do they trust their employees? How do they measure value, work and productivity? And are they listening?

*Questions and answers edited for length and clarity from a recent 405 Business panel discussion, The Future of Work, featuring Vince Lombardo, Heartland president; Cara Greenhaw, Heartland senior vice president; Andrew Payne, Standard Roofing owner; Jim King, Standard Roofing owner; Maurianna Adams, MetaFund chief community investment officer; Lee Copeland, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce director of talent and business growth; and Quintin Hughes, Northeast OKC Renaissance program director.

Quintin Hughes Program Director, Northeast OKC Renaissance

Vince Lombardo President, Heartland

Andrew Payne Owner, Standard Roofing

Cara Greenhaw SVP Human Resources, Heartland

Jim King Owner, Standard Roofing

SWEAT EQUITY

Building a Bridge

BridgeRev co-founder Ashley Quintana and co-founder Jake Fisher have built their digital marketing firm to be one of 40 top-tier HubSpot agencies in the world. p.24

Women’s Earnings in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, women earn almost 80% of what their male counterparts earn — or about $752 per week on average compared to the $942 a week for men, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data through 2020. However, the state is narrowing the gap. Oklahoma’s wage discrepancy is getting smaller — in 2019, women earned 76.5 percent of what men earned. And while Oklahoma women earn a bit less here compared to the rest of the nation, the discrepancy in pay is similar. Nationwide, women are earning 82%, or $891, of the $1,082 median for men.

women's earnings as a percentage of men's

Doubling Up by Narrowing Down

BridgeRev, a digital marketing agency, is on pace to reach the top tier of HubSpot agencies in the world this summer — one of only about 40 in the world and the only one in Oklahoma to do so.

BY KAYTE SPILLMAN | PHOTOS BY LOGAN WALCHER

BridgeRev found success in narrowing their focus to digital marketing and quickly narrowed further to helping clients with HubSpot, a CRM platform that provides sales, marketing and content management tools to companies.

“When we’d seen some success, we decided to look for something to market ourselves,” Quintana said. “And at that point, we stumbled quite literally onto digital marketing. And we tried out some things, and it worked really well for us. We sort of went back to school in the sense that we took the time to just learn everything we could.”

BridgeRev joined the HubSpot agency partner program in 2014, but Fisher said that during the last two to three years, the company has shifted its focus from other marketing work to HubSpot consulting primarily.

“We decided to go all in to just being HubSpot implementers and became a DevOps agency,” Quintana said. “That is essentially what we are today.”

Ashley Quintana works with Jake Fisher at BridgeRev's offices.

ASHLEY QUINTANA AND Jake Fisher started a Spanishlanguage marketing agency 11 years ago, but they wanted something else to set themselves apart.

Growth has been significant from there. Now, BridgeRev will become a top-tier HubSpot implementer agency this summer, which makes them one of only 40 companies in the world and the only company in Oklahoma to have such a status.

“We really wanted to focus on something that we were great at and continue to do it and be world-class at it,” Fisher said. “So, we have been able to really focus toward working on the technical side of being able to put together these essentially IT systems that incorporate marketing, sales, customer service processes, all the customer service data, and put it all in one place. It’s really one coherent, holistic system.

“We’re working very hard to be the best — maybe the best revenue ops agency on the HubSpot platform in the world.”

This narrowed, do-less-but-do-it-the-best strategy has worked.

“I think we’ve found that every time we’ve cut a little bit or, you know, decided to focus in and say, Do this, say no to that,’ it has worked for us every step of the way,” Quintana said.

Financially, it has produced significant growth for the company as well.

“In the last four years, our year-over-year gross revenue growth has been very significant, like high double digits,” Fisher said. “And we’ve had a few years where we’ve actually doubled up.”

Quintana said the growth in the partnership with HubSpot has had a learning curve with plenty of questions, but that explains how they’ll continue to grow as well.

“I think there's a lot of positives that come with knowing where you've been,” she said. “If you go from one job to the next and it's like, Oh, I learned how to do that skill. And now I can apply it here.’ Right? There's a big benefit to that. But I think people don't often talk enough about the benefit when you don't know, because when you don't know and you haven't been in those shoes before and you're trying to figure it out as you go, you actually end up having to start from your desired outcome and work your way backwards.

“And so, in that sense, you're inventing the process as you go, and you find a different way to get to that outcome. And so, we've often leveraged that and worked from the desired outcome backwards. And often you can get there faster. There's a better way to do it. There’s always room for improvement kind of thing.”

“We’re working very hard to be the best – maybe the best revenue ops agency on the HubSpot platform in the world.”

—Jake Fisher, co-founder of BridgeRev

BY KAYTE SPILLMAN PHOTOS BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

New ideas, new products and new ways to approach problems are what alter, advance and propel companies forward. In fact, 50% of the annual growth of the U.S. GDP is tied to new innovation, according to analysis by economists from the U.S. Chamber Foundation.

And that’s why 405 Business Magazine wanted to focus on the innovators working throughout Oklahoma to push our companies, products and thinking forward. Through a nomination process, the 405 Business editorial team selected the recipients of the 2023 Innovator Awards, highlighting CEOs, entrepreneurs and other business leaders driving innovation in Oklahoma.

We’re proud to present these innovative leaders and their companies, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.

UTOPIA REALIZED

Sharina Perry

Sharina Perry’s Utopia Plastix is now a global player in the sustainable plastic-alternative industry. Her plantbased plastic resin, which she first created in her kitchen in 2018, now is used in 100 products with national and international companies.

THE WORLD IS noticing Sharina Perry.

The International Association of Top Professionals named Perry its 2023 Inventor of the Year.

Forbes listed her as one of the Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2023. Woman’s Day Magazine named her an eco-hero. She spoke at a 2022 TEDx event.

And this Sept. 8, she will be featured on the Nasdaq billboard in New York City's Times Square.

The accolades go on and on. In fact, follow her on socials and just about every post mentions another honor or recognition, if it isn’t highlighting a potential partner or meeting with an S&P 500 client.

A woman like Perry could stand to brag about it. Nobody would blame her. After all, it was just in 2018 when she first created in her kitchen a plant-based straw that would lead to the development of the resin that could replace traditional plastics in manufacturing. And now she’s considered an industry leader and expert, with Utopia Plastix working with clients across the globe.

But bragging’s not Perry’s style. Instead, she exudes humbleness and gratefulness with every breath.

“At the end of the day, it's the value of the work that we do and the impact that has spearheaded important dialogue,” she said. “It's placed me in rooms where people are seeing sustainability in the way that we sought to educate about our environment, our society, our economy. And then to have our materials vetted. Now what we have on the horizon is even bigger than what we thought it could be, with brands that see the value in our materials, and they're willing to put their name on it. All of that is pretty powerful.”

“ IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT INNOVATION, YOU MUST FOCUS ON A SOLUTION. AND WE ARE ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM, BUT THE SOLUTION IS NOT JUST ABOUT BRINGING A PRODUCT TO THE MARKET.”

— Sharina Perry, Utopia Plastix founder

“Bigger” is definitely the economic forecast for Utopia. Perry said the scalability of her resin allows manufacturers to use the materials as drop-in replacements, which do not require manufactures to replace or retool existing equipment. This means clients can go from one product to many products easily.

“A year ago, a global manufacturer had interest in our materials, and fast forward one year later and they are not making one product made with Utopia plastic, it's shelves and shelves made with Utopia resin,” she said.

With sustainability needs increasing for companies, she said companies call on Utopia almost daily to learn more about its offerings. Now, more than 100 different products have been made out of Utopia’s resin.

“To date, we have not had to approach anyone to work with,” she said.

For a startup with no market awareness less than five years ago, that speaks volumes.

“It's a huge statement,” she said. “But if we're going to talk about innovation, you must focus on a solution. And we are addressing the problem, but the solution is not just about bringing a product to the market, because you will always have people with ideas or products. That’s our big story. Our focus was not on one product. It was on, ‘How do we address this by bringing the solution?ʼ”

The solution she brings to clients is providing the plant-based resin while encouraging clients to be the face of the sustainability they are promoting. The products are not branded as from Utopia; they are products made sustainably by the client.

“The client intentionally made the choice to pick sustainability, and the consumer is the hero,” she said. “We want it to be a solution, but we have to educate and bring awareness so that you can identify the problem, too, so that you understood what you were getting when you chose Utopia plastic. That's why a website isn't a selling website. It’s education.”

Perry is a bit shier these days about releasing revenue numbers or discussing specifics on size or growth, as she said releasing that information often leads to people wanting to be involved that do not have her focused, intentional company goals in mind. She said her company is on track to having a $1 billion valuation, however.

“Partners have asked us not to report (specific revenue numbers), and the reason is because, believe it or not, those numbers can impact how you are growing as an organization,” she said. “It caused a lot of people to reach out to us that were more centrally focused on the monetary side, which created more of a distraction. We know our solution puts us on the track to be a unicorn.

“But that’s not where we’re focused. But that’s going to happen. And soon.”

But, to be clear, Utopia Plastix current capacity can deliver millions of pounds of resin on a monthly basis, and the demand with strategic partners is to deliver billions on an annual basis in the coming years.

“We're seeing exponential growth in all opportunities, and what's on the horizon for us will be to establish ourselves as an industry leader in sustainable materials,” she said.

MANUFACTURING INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Kimray

Kimray’s new Gen 3 Liquid Level Controller is the company’s newest innovation, but the family-owned, Oklahoma Citybased company has operated since 1948 and celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Interview with Dustin Anderson, vice president of sales and marketing.

How is the Gen 3 Liquid Level Controller changing your industry? Precise liquid level control is key for energy producers. As oil and water separate inside a production vessel, they need a controller to signal the right time to send these resources downstream for the next processes. The Gen 3 uses Kimray’s patented pilot plug with a compact, versatile new design to do just that. It delivers accurate level control, even when the oil and water have similar specific gravities. It also provides versatility because it can be set up in many configurations and easily changed. This gives upstream operators a reliable solution they can easily customize to make their work more efficient.

Why is pursuing innovation important to a company's growth?

The energy industry has been around for well over 100 years, and it touches nearly every aspect of modern life. But it is constantly changing. The best operators are looking for standard solutions, but they also want partners who understand their problems and look for ways to make it easier, more efficient and safer to operate.

Other products pushing innovation forward at Kimray?

We are working on three areas that are ripe for innovation: zero-emission products, improving our working environment and incorporating robotics. One big goal energy producers have today is reducing their emissions and prioritizing sustainability. To help them meet this goal, all our new product designs focus on helping producers optimize production while reducing emissions with options like non-vent, outside air supply and electric power.

MANUFACTURING INNOVATOR FINALISTS:

Kratos Defense & Security Systems

AVPro, Inc.

BIOTECH INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Sci-Lume Labs

Founder Oliver Shafaat is working to make a biodegradable fiber for apparel.

Why are you so passionate about manufacturing biodegradable fibers? I love the science of it. I am a nerd through and through, and there is an incredible amount of science that goes into making something as seemingly trivial as apparel fibers. Just synthetic clothing has about 100 years of chemistry, physics and engineering behind those high-performance properties we take for granted — strength, elasticity, water resistance and so on. Speaking as a chemist, that’s all incredibly exciting stuff. Unfortunately, creating, distributing, using and disposing of these products comes at an enormously heavy environmental and social cost.

What is it like to push this concept into reality? Exhausting, daunting and fascinating all at the same time. This is my first time starting my own company, and it requires everything. The research, iterating on production, building the business: all of it to make something that’s never existed before, scale it and hopefully transform the world for the better. That’s a tall order. There is no safety net. But it’s honestly the greatest feeling to take an idea that came out of reading 1930s polymer chemistry papers at midnight and actually make fibers that I can see and touch. Physically manifesting this concept has been incredibly rewarding.

Why is innovation in the clothing industry and innovation in the biotech industry so important? Innovation in the apparel industry is important because it is such a massive industry. That means massive impact, from the hundreds of millions of tons of oil we use for synthetic fibers, to the land, water, pesticides and fertilizers we use to grow cotton. An article of clothing has an environmental impact throughout its entire lifecycle. Clothes are pollutive in their production, shed microfibers during normal use and wash cycles, and 85% of it ends up in landfills or incinerated — that’s about a garbage truck of apparel waste entering landfills per second. You can actually see a mountain of discarded clothes in the Atacama Desert from space now. We all need clothes. What we do not need is the entire planet to be covered in them. Something has to change.

What is the future for Sci-Lume Labs? Now and in five years? Currently, we are working to transition from lab-scale trials to making apparel yarns and textiles. It has been very exciting to scale up to this yarn production phase – a milestone for the science and the business. Yarns will enable us to partner with apparel brands, and begin developing textiles and garments. A core part of our growth strategy is constant evaluation of our environmental and social impact, at every stage of our product lifecycle.

AEROSPACE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Vigilant Aerospace

Vigilant Aerospace provides multisensor collision avoidance software for drones, with two licensed NASA patents allowing research and development directly with NASA. And, FlightHorizon won the national NASA Commercial Invention of the Year Award 2021.

Interview with Kraettli Epperson, Vigilant Aerospace Systems CEO.

How is Vigilant pushing innovation forward in the aerospace industry? We believe full autonomy is the future of the drone industry, and we focus on automatic collision avoidance to make safe autonomy possible.

We use smart algorithms to select avoidance maneuvers that are already approved by the FAA, and we try to adhere to industry technical standards in how we design our software to allow wide adoption without extensive modification.

We're also very focused on multisensor correlation to deduplicate aircraft tracks captured by multiple sensors simultaneously. This allows us to pull the various data sources into a single big-picture view of the airspace and is also required to enable fully automatic avoidance.

Vigilant recently won two contracts with the U.S. Air Force and has multiple pilot projects ongoing with U.S. military commands. Tell us more. We are also working on projects for commercial users like air taxi developers and droneport developers. We think of drones as flying robots, and they are robots that need to be safe to perform their duties. Just as generative AI is starting to have a big impact on the media, we think that flying robots will have a big impact on logistics and public safety, among many other sectors.

AEROSPACE INNOVATOR FINALISTS:

RPX Technologies

Dow Aero

REAL ESTATE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Wheeler Home

Why did Wheeler Home take such a different approach to homebuilding in OKC? We found that a missing element in OKC's increasingly suburban landscape is housing which is higher density, mixed-use and focused on people, not cars. In partnering with the Wheeler District, we were able to build the type of community that we would want to live in — homes designed for neighbors to get to know each other and commercial spaces that allow small businesses to flourish, with an infrastructure that offers public spaces, generous sidewalks, integrated bike paths and narrower, safer streets.

Our building aesthetic also stands out in the typical Oklahoma new construction landscape: three-story Scandinavian — inspired elevations, metal roofs, wood-clad windows that crank open, and Hardie siding painted in rich, vivid colors. The style is distinct from typical suburban architecture but more historic and nostalgic.

Wheeler Home focuses on higher-density, mixed-use housing, mostly missing from OKC’s suburban development. And it offers one of the few all-geothermal communities in Oklahoma. Interview with Josh Kitchen, Wheeler Home vice president.

How is Wheeler Home pushing innovation forward in urban planning? People often don't know that the Wheeler District’s design is based on New Urbanism principles, which are all about making intentional, well-thought-out and healthy communities that encourage people and businesses to flourish. The focus is on mixeduse spaces, high-density housing and walkable neighborhoods, among other concepts.

One of the most common questions about Wheeler District’s design is, “Why are the homes so close together?” The answer can be summed up in two words: walkable urbanism. The more compact the neighborhood, the more accessible the neighborhood amenities and sense of community. Walkable neighborhoods create a connected community.

How has Wheeler Home grown during the past few years? The first Wheeler residents moved in 2019 and by the end of 2023, we will have 200 individual residences across a range of housing product types: cottages, detached townhomes, flats, shop homes and classic Wheeler homes. Wheeler District's master plan anticipates at least 500 more single family residences over the span of the project.

Chisolm

STARTUP INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

JackBe Grocery

JackBe Grocery jumped into the grocery game in 2023, looking at it from the inside out. This pick-up-only, never-go-inside concept picked up speed quickly, opening a second location soon after its first.

Interview with Alex Ruhter, JackBe founder and CEO.

What supply chain or distribution changes did you have to think through to launch your business? Our model is built on the idea that most items purchased in a grocery store come from a small percentage of the variety available. So, for us it’s really all about efficiency. We want to take every area of our business model and make it as efficient as possible, and since customers are not allowed to enter our store, we want to do our best to provide just enough variety that it meets the various desires of people and yet reduces the overall/total number of items in our store. This creates a significantly greater supply chain for us, ideally reducing waste and spoilage and maximizing shelf life.

Why is it important to have innovation driving businesses, especially those like grocery stores that we all use? Innovation is what sets you apart. A good idea is simply a good idea; executing that idea is what makes all the difference. And when you’ve hit a felt need, the only way to maintain focus is to build a culture of innovation. This just means everything is on the table! We want all staff to know and view their contribution as, “What is it we can do to make this better? How can we improve?” It’s not a goal that we strive to achieve, it’s an attitude that we carry. That is what can set anyone apart from other businesses in their industry.

STARTUP INNOVATOR FINALISTS:

Janea Goodin, Big Ass Bag

Jonathan Yarbor, Nodecraft

ENTERPRISE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Heartland

Heartland, a global payment processing company, released a one-stop shop for its services about a year ago, which is primarily focused on helping retail clients conduct all payment business in one space. And, the company also utilizes its Entrepreneur Studio to connect, train and support budding entrepreneurs.

Interview with Chris Allen, Heartland senior vice president of marketing.

What’s been the reception to this new product? The amount of feedback that we've gotten has been really, really strong as it relates to, “I can do everything now in one place.” We've gotten really good feedback from our dealers. We've been able to put things in market and test them and then sort of improve them. I think we’ve got a lot more learning left to do, especially because the market and the demands have changed slightly since COVID. And there are restaurants and retail shops wanting to do new things, and we are trying to stay ahead of that and what that takes, but the reception has been very strong.

What do you perceive happening in the next 12 months?

I would say largely hardening the software to really work for our most core customers. I think instead of doing a peanut butter-spread approach, I would say over the next 12 months we’ll dive a little deeper into table service and counter service restaurants. And then definitely online ordering. Also e-commerce, that is one of the biggest demands in retail. So we’ll be going deeper into clothing, apparel, shoes, things like that.

What is Heartland’s Entrepreneur Studio?

From an enterprise perspective, something we've done is create this thing called the Entrepreneur Studio. We realized that not only should we provide products and services to our customers to help them run and grow a better business, but also we said, “You know what, we're going to get a podcast

with really the best and the brightest minds that would really resonate with our core customers and attract new customers.” Then at the same time, we provide coursework and training from those experts that can help new and emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners run and grow a better business. We actually try to give back by providing that type of content. We realized we haven't really told anybody just how connected to the entrepreneur community we really are. We're going to build programs to help everyone grow better businesses and get them not only to see more of the products that we have, but at the same time see the information, the expertise that we bring and why they should stick around.

ENTERPRISE INNOVATOR FINALISTS:

Prairie Surf Media

Tinker Air Force Base

Katy Boren has been the driving force behind the Innovation District since its founding in 2019, and she has spent the last four years advocating for innovative companies and innovators themselves.

“The reason it's been so successful is that companies and entrepreneurs and universities and scientists and researchers — everyone — were so willing to say ‘yes' and show support and be involved,” she said. “If you don't have those people and their ideas and their contributions to the innovation economy — if you don't have all of that coming together — it really won't be successful.”

The Brookings Institute noted in 2017 that Oklahoma City had the right ingredients to become an innovation hub, and Boren said OKC was an early adopter to harness innovation as a commodity.

“The Innovation District is kind of that center of gravity in a physical way with the development happening in the Innovation District so people know, in the city, in the state, even from other states, where to come plug in,” she said. “And then the programmatic aspects. We do so many events and programs that are intentionally designed to be an exchange of ideas and to put people together for collaboration.”

What’s the future of the Innovation District? I just see it really starting to compound on itself. All the work that's been done and the strategic moves that have been made in the collaboration so far to get us going. It just means it's going to continue with the same love and attention that we've given it so far. It will just continue to manifest itself to the things we all hope will happen.

It's easy to be an advocate for something that you really believe in. I love the people I work with, and I love all the industries that I work with, and just really the whole ecosystem. All the players are so invested and wonderful to work with. And so many of them get the vision. It makes it really exciting.

INNOVATION ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Katy Boren FORMER INNOVATION DISTRICT PRESIDENT AND CEO

REAL ESTATE INNOVATOR FINALISTS: Rick Rainey, i2e Erika Lucas, Stitchcrew

Dr. Mahmoud Khaimi, Dean McGee Eye Institute

Dr. Mahmoud Khaimi is the first surgeon in the United States to perform canaloplasty with an iTrack Advance after helping to first pioneer the surgery in 2013. The procedure reopens and re-establishes the eye's draining system to treat glaucoma. Interview with Dr. Mahmoud Khaimi.

You received FDA approval for the iTrack Advance last April, after more than a decade of work in this area. What was it like to see all that work end with such an advancement in the treatment of glaucoma? I can't believe it's happening. I'm so fortunate to be the one who this happened to. And then to be able to offer it to my patients, to see their outcomes and to see how it's revolutionized our clinics and patients. Everything from doctor to patient chair time — I mean, we don't have to baby patients anymore because it's much less invasive. And it's amazing, and then to have my colleagues adopt it and say very kind words; it's great. Sometimes it's overwhelming.

It's humbling also, because it's so big. At least for me, it makes me even that much more humble. On a spiritual note, too, it's like, my God, this is the human body, where everything is created by God. Here we are trying to crack this puzzle. It just kind of reasserts my spiritual faith.

How has this lessened patient recovery time? Back in the old days, anytime they needed to do something on the heart, they would have to crack the whole chest open, and that automatically meant a two-or-three-week hospital stay. Now, they can do the same thing, and you're walking out of the hospital the day of. That's kind of how it is in the eye world.

HEALTHCARE INNOVATOR FINALISTS:

Hearts for Hearing

Mercy Virtual Care

FINANCE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Cortado Ventures

Cortado Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, recently secured a $20 million investment from OCAST and now have $100 million in assets under management with 35 portfolio companies that now represent close to a billion dollars in enterprise value. The firm also helped launch The Verge, a nonprofit entrepreneurship hub, and in September, Cortado Ventures will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt, the largest venture capital conference.

Interview with Nathaniel Harding, Cortado Ventures managing partner.

Cortado Ventures' growth over a short few years equals 100 investors in two funds. How do you explain that rapid growth?

We have amazing investors that saw the vision. We have incredible entrepreneurs who are building disruptive companies in Oklahoma and in the region that are disrupting sectors that are long overdue.

How do you see that you’ve been innovative in this industry? Really being able to articulate what our mid-continent market is and what is our competitive advantage. We've built companies here and know the territory, and that's been a key to our success. It helps us have an edge that we can repeatedly scale.

What is The Verge OKC and why is it important to your growth? Oklahoma City really didn't have an answer to places like Austin that has the Capital Factory, or even Tulsa that has 36 Degrees North. There was no central home for various programs and entrepreneur-support organizations to work together like a one-stop-shop, no-wrong-door for all stages of entrepreneurs to come and get support. And the support can be different depending on what they do and what stage they're at, wherever they are in their entrepreneurial journey. So having a physical place where all that comes together was important.

TALENT & WORKFORCE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Francis Tuttle

AXIS Powered by Francis Tuttle and its entrepreneurial center serve as incubators for entrepreneurs and small business owners and collaborative workspaces with an entrepreneurship program to encourage and increase startups.

Interview with Alex Troxtell, Francis Tuttle content developer.

How do both of these programs push innovation forward in the area of workforce development? Overall, we believe that Francis Tuttle Technology Center and all of the CareerTech centers in Oklahoma are crucial to workforce development because this is where that workforce develops. People who come to Francis Tuttle learn skills that lead directly to a job, and the CareerTech model allows us to respond directly to the economic needs of our community. By encouraging entrepreneurship, we’re taking that next step to provide job training and think about what that job or business will look like five years down the road. Customers get to think about what they want that industry to look like or what society needs it to look like, and they then develop ideas of how to make it so.

What kind of success have you seen with these programs? All of our career training programs are consistently full, and some have wait lists. AXIS is also full, with a business preparing to graduate and another coming in right after. And the Entrepreneurship Program just hosted its second annual Pitch Night. Students presented their business ideas to judges, who then selected a winner. It’s a way for students to get realworld experience pitching their business idea to would-be investors.

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Lumata Health

Lumata Health is pushing innovative technologies forward to help end preventable blindness through $2 million in National Institute of Health funding during the last three years and a $4 million Series A funding round in 2022.

Interview with Matt Wills, Lumata Health co-founder and president.

How are you working to end preventable blindness in Oklahoma? Did you know that more than 90% of vision loss caused by chronic eye conditions can actually be prevented? It's a staggering statistic, but unfortunately, these conditions continue to be leading causes of blindness in the United States and around the world. One of the main reasons for this is the patients’ lack of adherence to recommended care. To address this large, rapidly growing problem, our highly-trained clinical staff are empowered with data-driven insights from over 500,000 unique patient records, custom technology and behavioral science tools that optimize the care management process.

Why is it important to focus on this particular problem now?

Vision loss from chronic eye conditions is expected to continue its rapid increase as the population ages, outpacing the capacity of eye care providers to offer the continuous support and daily management these diseases require. There are 93 million adults in the United States at risk for leading causes of blindness today. Preventing blindness from chronic eye conditions is of utmost importance due to the profound impact it has on individuals, their families and society as a whole. Vision loss not only affects a person's ability to perform daily activities but also significantly impacts their overall quality of life and independence. It can limit educational and employment opportunities, hinder social interactions and contribute to feelings of isolation and depression.

HOSPITALITY & DINING INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Harvey Bakery and Kitchen

Opened at the end of 2021, Harvey burst onto the hospitality scene and quickly seemed like it had always been a part of Oklahoma City.

Interview with founder Molly Grenier.

Why start Harvey? Our bakery dreams started many years ago, soon after we opened the Hall’s Pizza Kitchen in Midtown. We loved the sweets case at Hall’s — focusing on house-made desserts that weren’t an afterthought on our menu. With this growing interest, we expanded the Hall’s bakery menu quite a bit, including brunch cinnamon rolls, cheesecakes and special holiday desserts that you wouldn’t expect at just a pizza spot. But we knew our interest in this area exceeded what would fit within the Hall’s brand. When pastry chef Alyssa Ulrich joined our team with a similar vision for a new bakery in OKC, we became even more excited to seriously explore what this could look like.

How are you pushing innovation in your industry forward?

We’ve laughed a little at this question because we may be the opposite of innovative. We’re actually focused on getting back to what a restaurant should be — hospitality. In reviewing the quick service model of hospitality — order at the counter and find a table — we’ve asked ourselves what would elevate that experience? Hospitality is all about how you make people feel. Our greatest advantage, and how we do this is with our team. We empower our team members to take care of guests everyday — front of house to back of house.

How do you think Harvey differentiates itself from similar establishments? There are so many reasons to visit Harvey — coffee with a friend, breakfast, a place to get work done, a lunch spot, an afternoon cocktail spot, a place to grab dinner to take home and more. Our pastry chef creates world-class laminated pastries and you can see them being made up close as you walk throughout our space. We want our guests to see the process! Harvey is familiar and comfortable, while also expansive and striking. Our pastries, bread and food are excellent, but also warming and nostalgic. We bit off a lot — breakfast, lunch, pastries, bread, coffee, and it has paid off.

Molly Grenier and Elise Taylor, Harvey Bakery and Kitchen owners.

SOCIAL SECTOR INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Oklahoma City Zoological Trust

The OKC’s Zoo and its trust work closely to support Oklahoma’s oldest cultural attraction and its million-plus visitors each year, helping to execute the zoo’s master plan and major projects like newly opened Expedition Africa and upcoming Shore 2 Sea. Interview with Dr. Dwight Lawson, Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Gardens executive director and CEO.

Through this partnership, what is upcoming for the zoo? This summer, OKC Zoo guests from Oklahoma and beyond can journey to Africa with the opening of its most ambitious project in its history, Expedition Africa presented by Inasmuch Foundation. With fewer than one-tenth of 1% of all Americans ever visiting the African continent, the OKC Zoo has created an immersive experience that presents the wildlife of Africa in a way that inspires visitors to conserve them. This bold 12acre habitat expansion is designed to engage visitors into a space where they can discover the wildlife of Africa in an unforgettable way. Expedition Africa highlights a new, state-of-the-art giraffe barn that is now home to the zoo’s six giraffes. The enhanced space offers indoor viewing areas of the zoo’s giraffes year-round and feeding opportunities.

Following the opening of Expedition Africa, the OKC Zoo will begin construction on a new marine mammal habitat expansion, Shore 2 Sea. This premier animal habitat will be home to the zoo’s California sea lions, harbor seals and potentially other species. Shore 2 Sea will provide an expanded and enriched habitat for these coastal animals while creating an exciting opportunity for guests to enjoy them from a fresh perspective.

SOCIAL SECTOR INNOVATOR FINALISTS:

Christie Luther, R.I.S.E. Program Inc.

Brittany Carter-Thomas, Freedom City

TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

With nearing 18 years at Devon, Trey Lowe has risen up through the ranks to land as the energy company’s chief technology officer just a bit shy of two years ago. He’s seen the industry shift, and he’s helping Devon shift with it.

“We’ve been adaptable,” Lowe said. “And I think that we will continue to change. We’re excited about some new partnerships we’re working on now. We’re working with a lot of new startup companies, and we’re going to continue to evolve and adapt.”

What technological advancements do you see for the energy industry in the next five years? That's a good question. I'm really bad at predicting the future. But what I see now is definitely the continuing application of artificial intelligence. I think it is one of the biggest things that is happening in all industries right now and, for sure, in ours as well. I think that will continue to grow over time. We will also see continued growth in using technology in our field operations to help our field operators to become more effective — so that'll be everything from cameras to new sensors to allow field employees to always understand what's going on with their locations.

How does technology drive innovation? Technology drives a lot of our testing, and the most recent shift over the last four or five years is we've seen technology produce better applications, and those are the biggest shifts that are happening. The data that we have is richer than it has ever been, and so those companies that have collected a lot of the data — the data itself — is extremely valuable.

Devon is a major economic player in Oklahoma City. How does its role in the OKC economy impact its role in the community? We are trying to help grow and foster startups. I think it helps the city and us create new products but also helps create an increased hiring base that is more vibrant. The entrepreneurial community in Oklahoma City has grown, but it's still fledging and needs to grow more. We need to focus on supporting partnerships with specific organizations that help startups.

CTO INNOVATOR FINALISTS:

Chris Shilling, Chickasaw Nation Department of Commerce CTO

Ginny Webb, Love's Travel Stops CIO

CTO INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Trey Lowe

DEVON ENERGY CHIEF

LOGISTICS INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Stevens Trucking

Kenny Stevens started Stevens Trucking in 1979 with a single hotshot pickup truck that hauled oilfield tools in the Oklahoma oil patch. From there, Stevens Trucking has grown to more than 350 tractors and 1,600 trailers serving the automotive, consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, retail and other industries. Interview with Cole Stevens, Stevens Trucking chief strategy officer.

Why is it important to be nimble in the trucking industry? Trucking changes by the second, so being an agile company is honestly the key to success in our business. Many people don’t even realize this, but truckload freight actually trades futures like many other commodities do. So in a business that runs on other commodities (produce, fuel, consumer consumption, etc.), it is safe to say that the fastest company wins, as we like to repeat in our meetings.

How have the needs changed in the trucking industry? We feel that the trucking industry may be one of the fastest changing and innovating industries in the past decade. E-commerce solutions and last-mile delivery services, coupled with the vast digitalization of the entire industry, have driven rapid change over the past 10 years. In the truckload space, customers used to just want their freight within the same delivery day. Now they want it on-time down to the minute. It has been quite the whirlwind, but there hasn’t been a boring day at the office over the past five to 10 years, that’s for sure.

Is AI or remote driving part of your strategy? Absolutely. AI is a part of our strategy moving forward. We currently use AI to diagnose issues with downed equipment, to anticipate things like traffic changes and to help plan our drivers' best available hours of service to be able to work. Many people think that AI is something new, but it really is a driving machine behind lots of solutions that are already in place today.

LOGISTICS INNOVATOR FINALISTS:

Shane Kempton, Phase 2 CTO Hobby Lobby; Embark OKC

Continental Resources and Tom Lerum

Continental Resources, with Tom Lerum as the director of energy innovations, is working to increase sustainability and decrease its environmental impact with the development of the ECO-pad concept, among other efforts.

How is Continental Resources pushing innovation forward as a traditional energy company? Innovation has been at the heart of Continental Resources and our founder, Harold Hamm, since he started the company in 1967. We pride ourselves in having a culture of the possible, in which we continuously seek new and innovative ways to improve how we do business. In the past, this ethos led to us being pioneers in the development of horizontal drilling. It subsequently resulted in our development of the ECOpad concept, allowing us to further reduce the environmental footprint of our operations. Today, we continue to utilize innovation in the pursuit of increased efficiency and sustainability, allowing us to produce and provide energy that is cleaner and more abundant.

What does innovation mean in the energy industry? First, I cannot overemphasize the fundamental nature of energy and how our civilization is dependent on it. It is the foundation upon which our modern society is built, enabling industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, transportation, etc. There are three main pillars to consider and keep in balance with respect to energy: reliability, affordability and sustainability. When I think about innovation in the energy industry, I think about it as any incremental improvement to those three pillars. It is any advancement in technology, materials and processes that helps us provide energy to the world more reliably, more affordably and more sustainably.

EDUCATION INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Dr. Sean McDaniel

Dr. Sean McDaniel is not shy about speaking what’s on his mind, whether it's about dictating school policy or taking on controversial state education leaders — all with the goal of pushing OKCPS, Oklahoma’s largest school district, forward.

You've been a clear advocate for the role and strength of public schools. Why? Public schools don’t have qualifications in order to attend. We welcome everyone, no matter what. In public schools, we all work together to enrich one another's lives, and we do so by respecting one another and by balancing self interests with the interests of others. In public schools, we don't tell kids, "You're not good enough or smart enough or wealthy enough to attend here." To each of them we say, "Come on in. We have a seat for you." Advocacy is important because we know that over 90% of our families choose public schools for their kids. It is critical that the 90% population is heard and served well. The role and strength of public school, and more specifically, teachers, has been to prepare everyone else for life. Our support for our public schools and for our teachers is more important today than it ever has been.

How does innovation play a role in your position? To be successful with young people, we have to think more creatively than we ever have. We know that kids respond differently to different things, ideas and people. The good news is that teachers are the most creative humans on the planet, so we're in a good position. We just need more of them. Teachers have always been wonderful problem-solvers and routinely do more with less than anyone.

Public education has come under such scrutiny and also continued budget constraints. How do you find innovative ways to solve problems outside your control? In general, we pay attention to the things we have control over and innovate where there is space to do so. We can’t and don’t wait for something or someone to swoop in and fix us or solve our problems. We pay close attention to what we can solve on our own.

EDUCATION INNOVATOR FINALISTS:

Angela Grunewald, Edmond Public Schools superintendent

Jeanie Webb, Rose State College president

OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT

Financial Frontrunners

Leading the race, ahead of the competition and far in front of the rest of the field—these are the traits that define a frontrunner. The metro area is fortunate to host several financial institutions that are frontrunners in their field. In this section, we highlight select frontrunners and the work they’re doing to stay on the forefront of financial services.

Wymer Brownlee Wealth Strategies

AT WYMER BROWNLEE WEALTH STRATEGIES, we believe that financial success is not just about accumulating wealth – it’s about realizing your dreams and aspirations. With our comprehensive range of services and a dedicated team of experienced professionals, we are committed to helping you achieve your goals and live a purposeful life.

Unlike traditional firms, Wymer Brownlee takes a holistic approach to financial management. We understand wealth planning includes various aspects, such as taxes, accounting, business growth, and personal finances. That’s why we offer integrated services under one roof, including tax planning, wealth management, business consulting, and more.

Wymer Brownlee caters to individuals, families, and business owners at every stage of their financial

journey, including succession planning, business growth strategies and personalized CFO services. Through collaborative wealth team meetings and a deep understanding of your long-term goals, we can help you make informed decisions and confidently navigate your financial life.

“We have a lot of young leaders in our firm, and I’m excited to see their intelligence, work ethic and creativity carry our firm into the future, said CEO and Senior Wealth Advisor Kyle Brownlee.

As a local, independent firm with six offices across Oklahoma, we are deeply rooted in the communities we serve. We manage approximately $700M in assets, providing our clients with the expertise and resources of a large firm combined with the personalized attention of a local partner through our affiliation with our broker-dealer Avantax Wealth Management.

Wymer Brownlee Wealth Strategies remains

a trusted partner in providing comprehensive financial guidance. Our focus on holistic planning and client-centric approach empowers individuals, families, and businesses to achieve financial goals and secure a prosperous future.

Securities offered through Avantax Investment ServicesSM, Member FINRA,SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Avantax Advisory ServicesSM. Insurance services offered through an Avantax affiliated insurance agency.

(L to R - top to bottom) Linda Cooper, Kyle Brownlee, Stephen O’Neill, Aaron Waters, Matthew Wedel, Heather Haynes, Jena McNaughton, Kass McGrath, Chuck Lipps, Kendyl Reed, Neal Freeman, Keri Zeder, Andrew Barnes

Gardner Tanenbaum

“INNOVATION AND INGENUITY WILL NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE.” says Dick Tanenbaum, founder of Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings (GTH). “Our pioneer spirit, in many ways, defines us as a community.”

Blazing new trails in Oklahoma has been a hallmark of GTH since 1997. Partnering with his wife, Glenna, Dick Tanenbaum has developed nearly 50 projects with a cumulative value of more than $500-million.

“GTH has an impressive history but we never stop looking to the future,” Tanenbaum says. “Our Convergence Project in the city’s Innovation District will include an office tower, an upscale boutique hotel and restaurant, retail space, and even a medical facility. The MAPS 4 Innovation Hall will bring a confluence of education, expertise, and prosperity unlike any place in Oklahoma.”

GTH recently constructed Kroger’s Delivery Service Center, new to the Oklahoma City market. The grocery chain operates from a GTH-designed distribution facility near I-35 and Britton Road, Britton Commerce Park.

“Kroger is just one of several new businesses we’ve managed to bring to Britton Commerce Park,” says Tanenbaum. “It’s a 58-acre industrial development we just completed. We knew it would be a success when we started signing tenants before it was even finished. These are new industries coming to establish their businesses in Oklahoma. That’s exciting stuff.”

Providing Oklahomans with places to live, work, and shop is a passion for the entire Tanenbaum family. They all share a deep dedication to the community they serve.

“The financial health and success of Oklahoma City is always top-of-mind when we consider a project,” says Tanenbaum. “GTH is committed to leading future generations of Oklahomans to a world of affluence and opportunity.”

Kimberly D Photography

EXIT STRATEGY

Plating Perfection

Ma Der Lao Kitchen Chef Jeff Chanchaleune tilts his small offset spatula to plate his pork belly dish. p.56

What Inspires Hannah Schmitt?

Hannah Schmitt went to school to be a journalist, and her dream was to be a newspaper reporter forever. But she said she saw a movement of women into flexible work conditions and entrepreneurship, and she wanted to provide resources and support to them. So, five years ago, she founded The Treasury, a coworking space for women with events and programs designed to help them thrive.

What inspired you to start this career?

My biggest inspiration was really my desire to work on my own terms. Opening The Treasury gave me an opportunity to be a full-time mom and a full-time entrepreneur when everyone else was telling me I had to pick one or the other.

What inspires you right now?

The women at The Treasury. An unexpected perk of the community is that in being surrounded by other ambitious women who solve problems creatively and all do amazing work, there's no shortage of inspiration around the office.

What are your best tips for a work-life balance?

Preparation is key for me. Whether I'm heading into a work project or a family vacation or even maternity leave, I ask myself, "How do I want to feel at the end of this?" Then plan accordingly and stick to it. Everyone around you will always ask you to bend to their will, but you are the only one who gets to decide how you spend your time.

What's your best self-care advice?

For me personally, faith plays a big role in my life. I spent years thinking if I had a better morning routine or outsourced housework or went to therapy, I would feel more "put together" and less stressed. In the past couple years, I've realized my time with Jesus is the best thing I can do for myself, though. Spending time every day reading my Bible and praying reminds me to see myself the way God sees me and gives me the eternal perspective I need to get through life.

What kind of networking fills you up?

Even though I host networking events for a living, I don't find "networking" beneficial. A historical leader and Biblical example I look to often in relationship-building is Paul. In Philippians 2:20, he describes his friend Timothy as unlike anyone else he knows because he "takes a genuine interest in others." Networking can so often be viewed with a "what can this person do for me" perspective, and my hope is always just to take a genuine interest in others. Sometimes that yields some type of return in business, but that's never the end goal.

How do you recharge?

I've learned everyone has a different capacity and that it can change seasonally. In this season of my life with little kids at home, I need a lot of white space on my calendar to be my best self. I am most recharged when I am with my husband and my kids and I spend a lot of time working out, baking and reading. We also have a vacation rental in a really remote area in Texas, and I need regular trips out there to digitally detox and disconnect.

What are your best management tips to keep your team inspired?

In general, I think inspiration is overrated, and I'd never advocate someone wait to feel inspired to take action. But I do think that staying inspired relies heavily on rest. No one ever feels inspired when they're burned out.

How do you stay current in your industry or profession?

Constantly listening to the challenges of ambitious women. Data can be a valuable tool, but paying too close attention to business journals or how competitors operate can distract us from truly serving the community right in front of us.

What advice do you have for others who want to pursue your professional path?

For anyone who wants to be a community builder, my biggest advice would be to have a lot of grace with others. You don't need to be best friends with everyone, but you should absolutely be prepared to see the best in others, especially when they betray your trust or disappoint you. The health of your community will depend on your ability to grow thick skin but keep a soft heart.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were getting started?

That hearing "no" really doesn't mean anything. Know which opinions matter to you and be prepared to ignore the rest.

Is there anything else that fills you up or motivates you to be better?

My kids motivate me to be better in everything I do. I want to model that stewardship is important, and how we care for things and people matters.

Inside the Industry

DECEMBER / JANUARY 2024

Every December, 405 Business closes out the year with a look at top local businesses in a wide variety of industries. Our readers learn about the past, present and future of industry standouts as each continues to make their mark in the Oklahoma City marketplace.

We invite you to join us and showcase your company as an exclusive industry leader in the December issue of 405 Business.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about this issue and to discuss a comprehensive advertising plan that includes our other platforms, contact your 4O5 account executive or call 405.842.2266

Why is it important to support women-owned businesses?

Three leaders discuss why diversity in ownership matters and how we can support women-owned businesses.

REAGAN SMITH PRESIDENT AND CEO

Supporting and partnering with women-owned small businesses is crucial for growing Oklahoma’s economy and developing our workforce. As an Oklahoma woman-owned small business, we focus on maintaining our unique company culture by staying innovative and agile in order to offer cutting-edge customized services that align with our clients' goals. Oklahoma businesses like ours are able to support local charities by understanding the needs of the community while providing opportunities to women in a variety of STEM careers like biology, GIS, archaeology and natural resource management. By promoting women entrepreneurs, we encourage innovation, create more job opportunities and contribute to the success of state, federal and tribal projects in Oklahoma and beyond.

APR STATE CHAIR, STATE CHAIR OF THE OKLAHOMA COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

Many women launch their own business for a variety of reasons — salary or wage gaps, lack of upward mobility opportunities, financial independence, provide for her children. Regardless, it takes courage, sacrifices for her family and a strong belief in herself because there is a lack of access to capital for womenowned businesses. Only 7% of venture capital is invested in women entrepreneurs, and banks typically provide lower business loans to women. As state chair of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, we encourage Oklahomans to support womenowned businesses that largely rely on true grit to create their own economic opportunities and empowerment. These women are heroic role models for their children who see a woman creating her own future and financial independence.

PLAINS VENTURE INVESTMENT PRINCIPAL, I2E VENTURE ADVISOR

As an investment principal with Plains Ventures, my overarching perspective is that folks who are adept at identifying the problems that are truly worth solving will always win! Anytime the question of ‘Why are there not more (insert inherent characteristic here)owned businesses?’ pops up, we as a society need to consider our own efforts to support that group from the beginning. For example, efforts to grow women-owned businesses can start with increased support and accessibility for young girls (and anyone else interested!) in STEM and STEAM programs. These efforts start in the home and must be synergistic with grade school programming. We know for sure that innovations from folks across all walks of life have increased our quality of life as a society. In return, we must support true innovation wherever it is, otherwise, we all lose!

Brenda Jones Barwick

Monica Smith Griffin

Meredith Wilkerson

Female Entrepreneurs

In the United States, women own 42% of all businesses, employing 9.4 million people. However, often funding across all financial platforms lag behind proportionally for women-owned businesses. Here, the editorial staff of 405 Business present 12 women entrepreneurs who represent retail establishments, professional services, nonprofit endeavors, small businesses and so much more. Read about their success, their advice and how to support them. Then, go do it.

Methodology: The people selected are featured after being nominated by peers. Editors reviewed the nominations and made selections. Individuals submitted biography information and answered questions, which were used in the formation of the profiles shown. This is not a comprehensive list. It includes only those who were nominated and then selected after an editorial review. Nomination or submission does not guarantee coverage. To qualify, nominees must demonstrate leadership and excellence within their field and the topic discussed.

Erica Becker

Must Heart Dogs owner

Becker first started her business in 2016 in Wisconsin before relocating to Oklahoma.

“I love baking but never had anyone to bake for other than my pups,” Becker said. “So I decided to try my hand at creating and selling treats to spoil your pups.”

Now Becker has added dog sitting and dog fostering to her life, and her business has taken off.

“I'm surrounded by dogs all day, every day, and I couldn't be happier,” she said. “I've been getting recognized as the dog or dog treat lady around Norman more and more, and I am 100% tickled by it.”

Why support women entrepreneurs? I love supporting other women entrepreneurs. It's lovely to know a handful of women business owners who want your business to succeed as much as they want their own to succeed.

Keven Calonkey Carl

Mister Robert Fine Furniture and Design president

Carl’s parents started Mister Robert Fine Furniture and Design in 1958, and she was raised with the store. “They had three children under the age of 6, and they took a chance on themselves,” she said. “In those early years, my dad would deliver furniture after work hours, and my mother took me on design calls with her. This taught me traits required to be a successful entrepreneur: hard work, dedication and risk tolerance.”

Why is it important to support women entrepreneurs? Women make up about 51% of the population but only 42% of business owners. My father always gave my mother credit as a co-owner of the store and vital to its success. … As a woman in business, I want exactly the same thing that men in business want, a level playing field on which I can compete.

LaTeshia Dockery

The WERKshop OKC owner; Prepex co-owner Dockery started WERK in 2015, beginning as a audition prep company focusing on the high school, collegiate and pro auditions. In October 2019, she launched the sister concept WERK & UnWINEd for women 21 and up.

“Our focus is women’s empowerment, body positivity, health/wellness and confidence,” she said. “Our goal is to continue to provide Oklahoma City with creative dance experiences and concepts rooted in empowerment, positivity and unity.”

Why support women entrepreneurs? Supporting women entrepreneurs is important to the economy because we literally run the world. (Those aren’t just Beyoncé song lyrics). Our businesses allow us to lead happier lives by creating better work life balances and financial stability for ourselves and our families.”

Kelley Gann

Freestyle Creative president & CEO

Gann became an owner with founder Vahid Farzaneh in 2020.

“During my tenure, the company has successfully grown by over tenfold and has expanded into a full-service agency that consistently produces award-winning marketing campaigns,” she said. ”In 2020, I founded V&K Ventures with Vahid Farzaneh where we lend our support to the Oklahoma film industry by connecting filmmakers with potential investors and partner with films to provide strategic marketing services.”

Why pursue entrepreneurship? I know we can use the power of our work for good. We have a very ambitious vision for the future that revolves around advancing Oklahoma, elevating our creative community and growing this creative team that I love.

Valeria Loper

Little Lopers founder Loper’s business began because of her four daughters.

“Finding cute and affordable hair bows wasn’t easy,” she said. “When I started making them, I found it was very satisfying and therapeutic. We started making them for our girls, then friends started to ask for them. The response to them was amazing, and here we are today 5.5 years strong!”

Are there specific challenges because you are a woman entrepreneur? Women entrepreneurs can offer so much support as we travel down a lot of the similar roads. To know someone who has walked down the same path and been in the same trenches you are in is invaluable. What have you learned about being an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship can consume you. But it doesn’t have too, if there is love and support around.

Boom Town Creamery owner & founder Muir started Boom Town Creamery June 2022, but her entrepreneurship dreams started earlier.

“I think my first taste of entrepreneurship was in the fourth grade when I started charging girls on the playground to paint their nails,” she said.

Why pursue entrepreneurship? I don't know that there was ever another choice in my mind. I have always loved dreaming up big ideas and had a relentless drive to see them come to life.

Why support women entrepreneurs? One of my favorite quotes is, “Empowered women empower women.” I love seeing other women succeed and supporting them to their success. When there is diversity in founders, we see more ideas, unique perspectives and everyone benefits.

Angela Muir

RaeLuxe Aesthetics owner

Novak has been a solo esthetician for three and a half years.

“I am so blessed to have found my true passion of making others feel beautiful and confident in their skin,” she said.

Why support women entrepreneurs?

As women business owners, we must continue to support, encourage and uplift each other. As someone that attends networking events, it is not unnoticed that most attendees are men. I would love to see more women in the networking world. I have found true value in supporting other business owners in my area. I’m so blessed I live in a generation that is more approving and accepting of women in the business world. We can support one another, not just monetarily, but by referring to each other, sharing posts on social media, writing 5-star business reviews, and by simply bragging about our women business owner friends!

Studio J Performing Arts Center owner & director

Powell is going into her 19th year of owning Studio J Performing Arts Center.

Why support women entrepreneurs?

For me, it is important to support women entrepreneurs because women are uniquely talented at creating joyfilled communities, which allows us to build businesses while also creating spaces that are safe for others to explore their gifts and enjoy the process of developing skills.

What have you learned about being an entrepreneur? Ask for more, don't settle, and have faith! I think these three things are especially important for women entrepreneurs. Because we deeply value community, it is so helpful to have other women in our lives who will remind us that we are worth it and that we deserve to achieve our goals.

Von founded her company in 2016 with one employee to now approximately 75 people.

“Quintessa originated from a pressing need identified during my time working for a law firm in California,” she said. “… Since its inception, our company has proudly assisted hundreds of thousands of car accident victims and provided services to thousands of attorneys, delivering a comprehensive and scalable product.”

Are there specific challenges because you are a woman entrepreneur? While more women are starting their own businesses, they still encounter hurdles in securing the necessary funding to sustain and grow their ventures. Biases and stereotypes prevalent in the investment world limit funding opportunities for women, creating an unequal playing field. Addressing these issues is essential to enable women-run businesses to flourish and encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship.

Emily Woodside

While studying abroad, Warkentine noticed custom suits being made very affordably, not for women, only men. So, she create her custom clothier business

“I began thinking there had to be a better solution on the market and when I could not find it, I knew it was possible,” she said.

Why is it important to support women entrepreneurs? Representation is important, people being able to see someone they can relate to allows them to dream.

What have you learned about being an entrepreneur? Don’t listen to the doubters. Most people mean well but can’t see the vision you can. That isn’t their job, it’s yours. Don’t let their questions creep in and turn into doubt stopping you. Believe in your vision, put the work in and be patient.

Purity Day Spa president Woodside worked at an oil and gas company for eight years before starting Purity.

Why pursue entrepreneurship? Two reasons! I have a huge passion for health and wellness, and I wanted to provide an avenue for people to truly get some R&R and escape locally. 2) I wanted to have a flexible schedule after I had my first baby. I knew it definitely wouldn’t be less work, but I wanted to be able to work around my kids’ schedules!

What have you learned about being an entrepreneur? I have learned to rely on my team and delegate. I’m surrounded by incredible people and I have to trust my team so that I can work on business development. You cannot do it alone. Trust your team!

Cafe Kacao owner & chef Zelada immigrated from Guatemala with her three children in search of a better life. Eventually, she settled in Oklahoma and opened Café Kacao, a brunch spot celebrated for its fusion of American and Latin flavors. What have you learned about being an entrepreneur? In my industry, your reputation hinges on the quality of the last meal you serve. Throughout my journey as an entrepreneur, I've faced numerous skeptics and doubters. However, I've learned to trust my own instincts and maintain confidence in my decisions, even during challenging times when my business was struggling. Recognizing that failure is a part of the entrepreneurial path, I've embraced the mindset of resilience and self-belief, knowing that it is crucial for long-term success in my field.

Reagan Novak

Meredith Powell

Lauren Von Mingee Quintessa Marketing founder & CEO

Lauren Warkentine

William and Lauren founder & CEO

Veronica Zelada

From Laos With Love

James Beard finalist Jeff Chanchaleune keeps two tiny tools in his apron, using them for virtually everything as he cooks big flavors at Ma Der Lao Kitchen.

Jeff Chanchaleune — 2023 James Beard finalist, 2020 semifinalist and chef and owner of Ma Der Lao Kitchen — uses small offset spatulas and tweezers to make precise, intricate placements when plating food, to test dishes, flip food or just about anything else imaginable while preparing his nationally recognized cuisine.

“These are probably the most versatile,” he said. “I use this to flip. Or I use the spatula to scrap around the edge or kind of like a spoon if I’m tasting something. I can even use it to pop open lids.”

Chanchaleune is focused on bringing authentic Lao cuisine to Oklahoma City, something that quickly grabbed the attention of the food industry around the nation.

Ma Der made Bon Appetit's 50 Best New Restaurants in America and The New York Times Restaurant List, 50 Best

in America, both in 2022. And in 2023, he became a James Beard finalist.

The accolades were gratifying for this second generation Asian American who stayed true to serving customers authentic Lao dishes his mother made for him growing up. But the accolades also translated into increased business.

“Overnight, we went from losing money to finally profiting,” he said. “I would probably say at least 60% of our clientele are still new.”

And not only is Chanchaleune introducing a new cuisine to Oklahoma City, he’s helping preserve and propel Lao culture.

“People are coming here and it reminds them of their home and their family when they were growing up,” he said. “Above everything else, that is the most gratifying part of all of this.”

And speaking of family, the location of Ma Der is directly in front of where his parents first lived after they were married. The old duplex is now a parking lot, and Ma Der will turn 2 years old this September.

“I want to create something meaningful,” he said. “I want to help grow the city. You know, people always travel, and what do they do? They eat. And that can be so diverse.”

For the Distinguished Connoisseur

ZT Cigars - 2726 W. Britton Road | ZT Cigars by Mike - Edmond, OK

ZT Cigars of Yukon - Yukon Hills Shopping Center, Yukon, OK

FINDING TALENT IS OUR BUSINESS.

Our Specialized Recruiting Group helps you stay focused on business while we stay focused on actively seeking out the best candidates to fill your company’s needs. As part of the leading employment agency in Oklahoma, our dedicated and seasoned team of specialists has the experience and connections required to find talent at the highest levels of professional leadership and C-suite recruitment. Finding the right talent is a business, it’s our business.

Our recruiting and professional consulting areas include:

·

Accounting/Finance

· Information Technology

·

Engineering and Manufacturing

·

HR and Operations

·

Legal

·

Creative

· Non-Profit

· C-Suite

HIRE HIGHER

Bettye Taylor, CPSS

Regional Director

405.717.8382 – Bettye.Taylor@expresspros.com

6301 Waterford Boulevard, Suite 210 Oklahoma City, Ok. 73118

Expresspros.com\OKCSRG