Outlook 2014: Business by Tulsa World

BIXBY

SAPULPA

OUTLOOK 2014 SPECIAL SECTION | SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2014

BROKEN ARROW

CATOOSA

Business on the rise: New opportunities abound for economic growth in Tulsa, its surrounding communities and the region GLENPOOL

TULSAWORLD.COM/OUTLOOK

BARTLESVILLE

JENKS

TULSA

OWASSO

SAND SPRINGS

CLAREMORE

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OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

OUTLOOK 2014

An aerial view of the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa is seen against the city skyline. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World file

Tulsa has lots to love

From economy to spiritual roots, region impresses

oving to Tulsa this past year to head up Tulsa World Media Co. has been a very rewarding experience these first months. Julie and I loved northwest Indiana and the people there, but we were excited to get the chance to move back to my home state after being gone since I was 19 years old. So how does Tulsa compare to northwest Indiana, which has a similar population size but is a suburb of Chicago? Very, very nicely! On the Business side, my biggest surprise was the Tulsa Regional Chamber. Man, it is impressive! In northwest Indiana we had several smaller chambers, and some had consolidated, but the regional thinking was a tough obstacle for them. Not here. Mike Neal and team have impressed me from the start and have truly embraced the regional concept helping to promote and celebrate all business and economic success regardless of the physical address. I hope the community and the business sector realize how unique and won-

INSIDE

derful it is to have such a dynamic chamber leadership team. The level of Philanthropy in our area can be summed up with only one word: Wow! This is a truly remarkable giving community. From the United Way to the Salvation Army to all the other wonderful helping organizations, Tulsans seem to open their hearts and pocketbooks to help those who are less fortunate. I quickly learned that each of these organizations has someone leading the way who has devoted themselves to these very noble causes. I am

BILL MASTERSON JR. Publisher, Tulsa World Media Co. particularly proud of the Tulsa World’s Neediest Families Fund during the Christmas season. Last year we set a record with more than $330,000 raised on behalf of the Salvation Army. This may surprise some of you, but I am really impressed with the way our Government works here. I trust that individuals who say our system is broken have lived here a long time and haven’t experienced the joy — or lack thereof — when nothing gets done. During my short time here,

Gov. Mary Fallin: Area is Tulsa Regional Chamber THE COMMUNITIES growing ............................... 4 president ........................... 18 Bartlesville ........................24 Mayor Dewey Bartlett: Aviation has deep roots Bixby, Broken Arrow....... 25 A vision for Tulsa .............. 4 in Tulsa area .....................20 Catoosa, Claremore ....... 26 Secret’s out on Tulsa .........5 Manufacturing strong in Glenpool, Jenks ............... 27 northeast Oklahoma...... 22 Owasso .............................28 10 things to know about Tulsa ......................................5 Energy key to area ..........24 Sand Springs, Sapulpa ...29

I have experienced the county and city spar over needed projects that require voter approval. I have seen a downtown group tussle with the City Council and other groups. Guess what? In every case people sat down and hammered out a solution that was best for the overall good of the citizens. My hat’s off to the leadership as it is not a lot of fun to be an elected official these days. To have them come together regardless of party, or city versus county, is a nice experience and something not all regions of the country can claim. I grew up in Lawton, Okla., so I am quite familiar with our proud Religious heritage. After all, we are correctly considered to be the buckle of the Bible belt. But did you know that there are more than 700 churches just in the Tulsa region? I have had a chance to meet some of the clergy, and they all have been gracious and very welcoming. I have been pleasantly surprised to see that freedom and

tradition continue to prosper here in our area. So what is it about Tulsa that I like? What’s there not to like? Our region has great schools, great business savvy, a tremendous spirit of philanthropy, a working government that will compromise for the common good of all and a vast array of spiritual choices. The Tulsa region is truly a remarkable area with nothing but great things ahead of it because of the great people who live here. Bill Masterson Jr. was named Tulsa World publisher in June. He is vice president of Southwest Region for BH Media Group, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. A native of Oklahoma, Masterson was publisher of Times Media Co. of Munster, Ind., and operating vice president of Lee Enterprises before joining BH Media Group. He was born in Lawton into a newspaper family. His father was circulation manager for The Oklahoman. His mother and stepfather live in Walters, a brother and his family live in Edmond, and a brother lives in Florida.

ONLINE

Read news about your community on sites dedicated to you. Let us know what’s going on in your community. Share stories and photos about you, your family, your neighborhood, your school or your work. It’s free at these sites: bartlesvilleworld.com bixbyworld.com brokenarrowworld.com catoosaworld.com claremoreworld.com

glenpoolworld.com jenks-world.com owassoworld.com sandspringsworld.com sapulpaworld.com

Read any story you missed in this week’s special Outlook 2014 section online, and check back next week for more stories on Tulsa and the surrounding communities. tulsaworld.com/outlook

About the section Tulsa and its surrounding communities are great places to do business. They all have something unique to offer, and today, the Tulsa World presents the business Outlook for our region. Our 30-page special section features government leaders and industry experts who offer their perspective. It also includes stories from reporters and correspondents as well as custom content from advertisers. Next Sunday, the Tulsa World will publish an Outlook special section that focuses on quality of life in the area.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

PSO: Powering Oklahoma With Energy for Living n

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Public Service Company of Oklahoma 212 E. Sixth St. Tulsa, Okla. 74119 888-216-3523 PSOklahoma.com

Courtesy of PSO

PSO’s Tulsa Power Station (left), with its illuminated marquee reflecting in the Arkansas River, has been a familiar landmark for generations of Tulsans. The 308-megawatt power plant, which is fueled by natural gas, is located on the river’s west bank south of downtown Tulsa. The current marquee was erected in 1955 to replace the original one that PSO built in 1927. Today’s sign is 336 feet long and 40 feet high. The sign was originally equipped with a mixture of 25watt and 40-watt incandescent bulbs — 3,850 in total. PSO replaced those with highly efficient 1-watt LEDs in April 2010. The marquee is operated on a timer.

Photo caption if desired.

lectricity is an essential part of life on which all of us depend in almost everything we do, whether at work or at home. Electricity powers all of the technological innovations that continue to reinvent our way of life. Understanding this, Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) works hard to deliver power safely, reliably and at a reasonable cost. Headquartered in Tulsa, PSO is a private, investor-owned subsidiary of American Electric Power Corporation. It is one the state’s largest electric utilities and has been pivotal in the growth and development of our communities and our state for more than 100 years. This major electric utility company serves a large portion of Oklahoma, making a significant contribution to the economic vitality of each community as well as the quality of life of its customers. Vital Statistics PSO serves approximately 540,000 customers in 232 towns and cities across 30,000 square miles in eastern and southwestern

“Our vision aligns with

the state’s Oklahoma-First Energy Plan, which is focused on positioning our state for the future by making greater use of Oklahoma resources, including natural gas, energy efficiency and wind. A key part of the plan also includes empowering our customers with the tools and information necessary to make betterinformed energy usage decisions.” — Stuart Solomon, PSO president and chief operating officer Oklahoma. Its customer base is approximately 27 percent of the total electricity customers in Oklahoma. PSO had retail electricity sales of nearly 18 million megawatt-hours in 2013, which represents approximately 30 percent of the total retail electricity sales in Oklahoma. The value of PSO’s total investment in Oklahoma is approximately $3.2 billion, including approximately $300 million of investment made in 2013. Competitive Prices and Excellent Reliability PSO’s total average prices are 14.8 percent below the state average and 34 percent below the national average. While the company works hard to deliver competitive prices, it also strives to provide highly reliable electric service. Standard industry measures of reliability show that PSO customers enjoy electric service that ranks among the most reliable anywhere. Employment and Earnings Impact on Oklahoma PSO employs nearly 1,500 people statewide in high-quality jobs, with a direct pay-

roll of approximately $130 million. PSO’s total employment impact in Oklahoma is 4,040 workers, with a total payroll impact of approximately $265 million Taxes and Fees Paid PSO pays more than $40 million annually in property taxes to the state and to municipalities, making PSO one of the largest property taxpayers in the state. The company also collects another $17 million in franchise payments that are paid to the communities it serves. Oklahoma-Purchased Goods and Services (2012) PSO purchased a total of $333.5 million in goods and services in Oklahoma in 2012. Additionally, PSO’s local supplier diversity contracts totaled $40.4 million, and Oklahoma-based business contracts totaled $25.4 million (278 contracts with 127 different suppliers). Commitment to Customers and Communities The growth and development of Oklahoma and its communities is a key priority and a long-standing commitment of PSO. The company’s economic development and community affairs professionals work handin-hand with local communities, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and regional economic development organizations to promote business opportunities to both prospective and existing businesses and industries. “We also believe we have a responsibility to provide leadership in our communities and to enhance quality of life through contributions to education, charitable organizations, and local economic development activities; and employee volunteerism,” said Stuart Solomon, PSO president and chief operating officer. Grants to education (pre-K through higher), charitable organizations and economic development entities in Oklahoma from PSO and the American Electric Power Foundation totaled more than $1.3 million combined in 2013. AEP Foundation grants in 2013 totaled $687,000 for the Foundation for Tulsa Public Schools, Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness, Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa and Tulsa’s Future Foundation, among others. PSO’s charitable contributions totaled nearly $576,000 in 2013.“Last year, we also provided more than $71,000 in mini-grants to community organizations for community economic development efforts,” Solomon said. A Powerful Future PSO is preparing for a future in which energy is produced and consumed more efficiently and cleanly in ways that provide customers greater information and control over their energy usage. “Our vision aligns with the state’s Oklahoma-First Energy Plan, which is focused on positioning our state for the future by making greater use of Oklahoma resources, including natural gas, energy efficiency and wind,” Solomon said.“A key part of the plan also includes empowering our customers with the tools and information necessary to make better-informed energy usage decisions.” Automated Metering PSO will bring the benefits of automated metering infrastructure (AMI) to all of its customers in a project slated to start in late 2014. AMI will provide customers more information about their individual energy usage on a nearly real-time basis as well as the ability

Courtesy of PSO

Terry McGee, manager of PSO’s Tulsa Power Station, presented a $250,000 check in October 2013 to Tulsa’s River Parks board members — Matt Meyer (center), executive director of the River Parks Authority, and Don Walker, River Parks Board chair — to help pay for repairs to the dam that forms Zink Lake on the Arkansas River. Seals on the dam’s gates leak, which results in low water levels. At times the water level goes below Tulsa Power Station’s intake, which prevents a constant, reliable source of water for the plant’s cooling towers. Aside from the operational benefit of a steady water level, the community will enjoy the visual enhancement and increased recreational opportunities Zink Lake will deliver, as originally intended. Total cost of the repair project is nearly $840,000. River Parks and Tulsa County are sharing the cost with PSO.

Courtesy of PSO

Today, PSO has 690 megawatts of wind energy under long-term contracts, an amount that will increase to 1,137 megawatts January 1, 2016 with the addition of long-term contracts with three new wind farms. That amount will grow to approximately 20 percent of PSO’s total energy at that time. PSO estimates the agreements will save customers $53 million in fuel costs in the first year, with annual savings growing over the 20-year length of the contracts. to use the information to make more knowledgeable choices about appliance operation and use of energy. Customer service also will be improved by the handling of many customer requests remotely. Power Forward Programs to Help Customers Save Energy and Money PSO is committed to giving customers every tool they need to better manage their family or business budget. “Through our Power Forward program we offer customers resources to reduce their electricity costs and also take advantage of incentives on energy-saving upgrades and services,” Solomon said. “For example, we offer businesses valuable incentives for reducing peak energy usage during summer months and for making qualifying efficiency upgrades. For residential customers, we offer incentives for energy-saving home improvements.”

More Oklahoma Wind Energy Today, PSO has 690 megawatts of wind energy under long-term contracts — an amount that will increase to 1,137 megawatts January 1, 2016 with the addition of long-term contracts with three new wind farms. That will amount to approximately 20 percent of PSO’s total energy at that time. PSO estimates the agreements will produce $53 million in fuel cost savings for customers in the first year, with annual savings growing over the 20-year length of the contracts. Proud to Serve You ”At PSO, we are proud of our long legacy of serving our customers, our communities and our state with safe, reliable and affordable electric service, as well our contributions to the economic vitality of our communities,” Solomon said. “PSO is 100 years strong and looking forward to the next 100 years of service to our great state!”

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OUTLOOK 2014

Growing Oklahoma Northeastern part of state is seeing more businesses and jobs

o one can deny the beauty and charm of northeast Oklahoma. From the Art Deco skyline in Tulsa to the rolling hills and beautiful scenery that make up the rest of the region, anyone passing through Green Country is sure to be struck by the area’s natural splendor. It’s not just the scenery that is impressive, either. Whether it is big-name bands in Tulsa’s music venues, the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore, or sailing at Grand Lake, both native Oklahomans and visitors can enjoy a wide variety of culture and entertainment. As governor, I can’t take credit for a beautiful sunset in Grove or a sold-out show at the BOK Center. But what I can do is try to build the best economic environment possible for families and businesses so that our state continues to grow and prosper. Attracting and retaining good jobs in Green Country is the best thing we can do to help our citizens to flourish. To do that, I have pursued an aggressive pro-growth agenda with our state legislators. For instance, we’ve worked hard to reduce cost-drivers for businesses by pursuing historic legal and workers compensation reforms. Now small-business owners can use their money to expand their businesses and create jobs rather than on legal fees. We’ve also worked to improve outcomes in public education, giving our children the tools they need to succeed in college and the workforce. And we’ve placed an emphasis on degree completion, because we know over 70 percent of the jobs created between now and 2020 will require either a college degree

“

MARY FALLIN Governor of Oklahoma or a professional certificate from one of Oklahoma’s great Career Technology centers. We’ve attacked government waste, consolidating duplicative agencies, boards and commissions and saving millions of taxpayer dollars. All of these reforms are working and helping to boost prosperity across the state. Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Oklahoma has fallen from 7 percent to just 5.4 percent. Oklahoma families are making more; per capita income growth has risen 6.3 percent, the secondhighest growth rate in the nation. And our fiscal house is once again in order; our Rainy Day Fund has gone from just $2.03 to more than half a billion dollars. Oklahoma is moving forward, and Green Country is helping to lead that charge. In the last three years, more than 200 businesses have either moved to northeast Oklahoma or expanded their opera-

In 2010, Mary Fallin became the first woman elected governor of Oklahoma. Courtesy

tions there. That amounts to more than $3.5 billion in investments and 17,100 new jobs since 2011. That kind of growth does not fly under the radar; in fact, it’s getting noticed by some of the biggest companies in the world. More than 115 Fortune 500 companies now have operations in Green Country, and Oklahoma-based companies like ONEOK, Williams and NORDAM are internationally known. Whether it’s major companies

with worldwide brand recognition, like Macy’s Inc. and Verizon, or homegrown mom-and-pop operations, business owners and investors are seeing northeast Oklahoma for what it is: a hot bed of economic opportunity. I spend several weekends a year at Grand Lake with my husband and our children. I love those trips. There is no better place to spend time with my family and enjoy our state’s natural beauty.

Oklahoma is moving forward, and Green Country is helping to lead that charge.”

But I’m also excited, every time I make the drive there, by what I see from the road: the “open” sign in the window of a new business; the construction equipment around a new office; and all the other signs of a thriving, growing community. Green Country has always been great. Every day it gets better, and that’s something we can all be proud of. Mary Fallin in 2010 was the first woman to be elected governor of Oklahoma. She currently serves as the chair of the National Governors Association. Fallin served two terms as a state representative before becoming Oklahoma’s first woman lieutenant governor in 1995. From 2006 to 2010, she served as a member of the U.S. House.

Opportunity overflowing

Employment, river development plans bright spot for city

’ve got a clear vision of Tulsa as I look into the future.

Workforce Our future is brimming with opportunity that is related to the fact that there are so many great jobs available in Tulsa, but not the trained workers to fill them. Too many of our young people are falling, annually, through the cracks. Not withstanding the hard work of our school systems and CareerTech, too many high school graduates are not left with enough choices by which to frame a career for themselves. I am working today with leaders from our local Oklahoma CareerTech system, Tulsa Public Schools, Spartan College, Tulsa Community College and major aviation-related employers to determine a way to put an aviation high school at Tulsa’s International Airport. I want those students to see a positive future for themselves — to see Tulsa’s signature aviation industry as a goal they can meet. Imagine going to school inside an aviation environment. Success each year guarantees a summer job, then an internship with major employers associated with aviation or aerospace. This educational pathway will meet the needs of our aviation industry with a skilled, trained and

DEWEY BARTLETT JR. Mayor of Tulsa trainable workforce that ensures their need to stay here. It will absolutely give a large segment of our youths in Tulsa hope they’ve not experienced before — hope for their future in Tulsa. Our energy-manufacturing segment is second only to Houston in producing energy-related jobs. With energy deeply seated in Tulsa’s DNA, there is every reason to believe that our expertise in all facets of energy will continue to spark interest from around the country to focus upon Tulsa. Once again Tulsa will be the place where energy deals and new ideas for energy are realized. This is our future — especially that of our children. An example of Tulsa’s attractiveness is our rapid growth in energyrelated trade shows and conferences. The numbers of participants are increasing exponentially. Hart Energy’s Developing Unconventionals/Mid-Continent (DUG) Conference is slated to double its attendance in its second year next month.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett calls developing the area along the Arkansas River “the most significant economic-development opportunity in Tulsa’s history.” JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World file

Tulsa’s Pipeline Expo has doubled attendance in each of its last four years since relocating to Tulsa’s fairgrounds.

The river This year when the Zink Dam repairs are completed, Tulsans will see the future of water in the river. They’ll see what it is like to enjoy and expect water in the river 24/7. We have 11 miles of the Arkansas River that flows through Tulsa. To the south, we will enjoy Margaritaville, where a 23-story high-rise

hotel will be constructed in just two years. To the north, construction has begun on our very own Central Park. We’ll know it as A Gathering Place. This park unfolds over 66 acres along the Arkansas and will certainly become a landmark for our community. It will increase property values, attract new constituencies and bolster local business. This project is an opportunity to turn Tulsa’s waterfront into a force for improving the city’s social, economic and environmental sustainability.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

It will be fascinating to watch the river’s development between the two “anchor tenants” on both sides of the Arkansas River. With the existing collaboration of our community and stakeholders, I see river development as the most significant economic development opportunity in Tulsa’s history. We are literally creating the foundation of our city’s “Second Century.” What binds the growth of our city together continues from its beginning. It is the public/private collaboration that created our airport, the first bridge across the Arkansas River and a water system that is the envy of other cities around the country. That model is our formula for our future. That entrepreneurial spirit has been the catalyst for prosperity and visionary leadership. It has served us well and, with God’s blessings, will continue doing so for the remainder of this century. Dewey Bartlett Jr. was elected Tulsa’s 39th mayor in 2009 and re-elected in 2013. His father was Oklahoma’s second Republican governor from 1967 to 1971 and a U.S. senator from 1973 to 1979. Bartlett Jr. attended Bishop Kelley High School and received a degree in accounting from Regis University and a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University. He is president of Keener Oil & Gas Co.

OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

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TULSA

Secret’s out about Tulsa as jobs flood in • Area attracts a variety of businesses with prime location and workforce.

Tulsa-area job announcement highlights in 2013 Company Macy’s River Spirit Casino Verizon West Corp. ABB Trase Miller Whirlpool

BY JOHN STANCAVAGE

World Business Columnist

For decades, Tulsa was something of a “best-kept secret” nationwide, but recent business attraction efforts are changing that. In the past several years, especially, Tulsa’s spot on the map has grown with the addition of large operations from companies such as Verizon, Capital One, Cimarex Energy, West Corp. and, most recently, Macy’s. Those businesses have provided new boosts to an economy that already regularly outperformed the nation, thanks to longtime strengths in energy and aerospace. “Tulsa didn’t have a negative image before, it just had no image at all,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “People who didn’t know Tulsa had no appreciation of what we had to offer here.” Thanks to the efforts of civic and government officials, though, the “secret” is out. Perhaps the most dramatic sign of Tulsa’s heightened visibility was the announcement in December by retail giant Macy’s Inc., that it plans

Type of business Retail distribution Gaming and entertainment Financial services Call center Natural gas measurement Reservation center Ranges/cooktop products

New jobs 1,500 800 500 300 265 250 150

Source: Tulsa Regional Chamber

to build a $170 million distribution center in northeast Tulsa County that will employ 1,500 full- and part-time workers, plus 1,000 seasonal associates. Tulsa beat out 150 other locations for the 1.3 million-square-foot, 90acre facility. Chamber officials estimate the center will generate an economic impact of $800 million over a 10-year period. “The things that attracted us the most to this site were a location that is central to many of our customers in the south and central states and the high quality of the workforce in the greater Tulsa area,” said Frank Julian, vice president of legislative affairs and tax counsel for Macy’s. Those two attributes — location and workforce — are typically the most important to many businesses looking at relocation, Neal said. In addition, Tulsa often is competitive when it comes to a low cost of doing business and favorable living expenses for workers, the

chamber CEO said. Other strong points include the renaissance of the central business district and growth as a convention and meeting destination. “In our downtown area, it seems we are adding businesses practically every day and new restaurants every week, as well as new housing and hotels,” Neal said. Becky Frank, a partner in the downtown Tulsa-based public relations firm Schnake Turnbo Frank, pointed to the impact of the BOK Center. The facility, which opened in 2008, has quickly earned a national reputation and has attracted acts such as Paul McCartney and the Eagles. “The BOK’s positive ranking among top live-music venues has helped put us on the map of cultural hot spots,” Frank said. The nearby ONEOK Field baseball stadium has become a popular destination, as well, along with the new Guthrie Green outdoor con-

cert venue and park, said Frank, who lives downtown herself. Area leaders say a lot of the success Tulsa is enjoying now can be traced back to the Vision 2025 incentives package passed by voters 10 years ago. That investment made possible many improvements, including the BOK Center. Along with special funding from area philanthropist George Kaiser and others, the downtown area began to take off again. Tulsa’s resurgence has perhaps brought the greatest attention to the city since it became known in its early history as “the Oil Capital of the World.” When the industry suffered a major downturn in the 1980s, however, Tulsa lost many of its longtime energy businesses to Houston. Local civic and government officials worked hard during the 1990s to help diversify Tulsa’s economy. The city made strides in telecommunications and manufacturing, and then in the next decade saw surges in customer service centers, aerospace and technology. Today, energy remains a vital force for the community. The industry makes up only 3.6 percent of all employment, but it is responsible for 8.4 percent of total wages. Aviation, which includes American Airlines’ largest maintenance base, as well as equipment firm NORDAM and several flight simulator firms, remains another key industry. Tulsa also has strengths in

ABOUT TULSA Population: 393,987, second-largest city in Oklahoma Largest employers:

• Saint Francis Health System, employment range 7,500 to 8,999; • Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club, 6,000 to 7,499; and • Tulsa Public Schools, 6,000 to 7,499. Median home price: $134,186, Tulsa MSA, for December 2013 Unemployment rate: 5.4 percent, December State unemployment rate: 5.4 percent, December National unemployment rate: 6.7 percent, December

advanced manufacturing and professional services. The chamber currently is working with a record 60 prospects, so more good news could be around the corner, said Justin McClaughlin, senior vice president of economic development. “I was in Dallas recently to talk to site consultants, and they’d all heard about Macy’s coming,” he said. “There aren’t that many announcements of that size every year, so when it happens in your town, it gives you great visibility across the entire United States.” John Stancavage 918 581-8314 john.stancavage@tulsaworld.com

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TULSA

Sources: Tulsa Regional Chamber, Green Country Marketing Association, Leadership Tulsa, Tulsa World archives

Audience members file into the BOK Center for a “Sesame Street Live” show in 2011. Tulsa World file

Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa has played host to seven major golf championships for men, including the U.S. Open three times (1958, 1977, 2001) and four PGA Championships (1970, 1982, 1994, 2007). It is the first course to host the PGA Championship four times. It also hosted the first U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in 1987.

Tulsa originally was named Tulasi, meaning “old town” in Creek by the Lochapoka Creek Indians.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World file

The BOK Center in downtown Tulsa finished 2013 ranked 13th in the United States and 34th in the world in Pollstar magazine’s “2013 Year End Top 200 Arena Venues” list based on ticket sales. During this period, the BOK Center reported 426,536 tickets sold. Last year, the BOK Center hosted 21 of the top 100 worldwide tours including Paul McCartney, Eagles, Maroon 5, Taylor Swift and Blake Shelton.

Tulsa has been called “The All-American City” because many national products are first tested in the market. If the product does well in Tulsa, it usually is a good indicator it will be successful elsewhere.

In 2013, Tulsa oilman and banker George Kaiser was ranked by Forbes magazine as the wealthiest man in Oklahoma and the 40th richest in the U.S. with a net worth of $10 billion. Kaiser has been one of Tulsa’s strongest philanthropic supporters.

Tulsa has established “Sister City” relationships with a number of international communities to foster trade, tourism and cultural exchange. Its official sister cities include: San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Beihai, China; Tiberias, Israel; Utsunomiya, Japan; Zelenograd, Russia; Celle, Germany; and Amiens, France.

ld file

Tulsa has one of the largest concentrations of Art Deco architecture in the United States. Only New York and Miami have more examples of the style.

a Wor

Tuls TON/

The Philcade Building is one of the many Art Deco treasures in downtown Tulsa. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World file

CLAN

Northeastern Oklahoma has the most diversified agricultural economy in the state. It also boasts more lakes than any other geographical area of Oklahoma, as well as more than half of Oklahoma’s registered state parks. More than 200 of the region’s lakes are man-made, and dozens of others are natural.

STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World file

JOHN

Cain’s Ballroom features a sign on the building that says it was built in 1924.

The Golden Driller, which greets visitors to Expo Square, is one of the largest free-standing statues in the world. The driller is 76 feet tall and weighs 43,500 pounds. It was originally built in 1953 for the International Petroleum Exposition. The statue was permanently installed in 1966.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

The historic Cain’s Ballroom in downtown Tulsa is known as the “Carnegie Hall of Western Swing.” For many years, it was the home of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.

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OUTLOOK 2014

River Spirit Casino Celebrates Five Years n

Muscogee (Creek) Nation builds on future through expansion

fter five successful years on the banks of the Arkansas River, Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s River Spirit Casino is making the transition from a local hotspot to a regional tourist destination. Since opening the doors on March 31, 2009, the leadership behind River Spirit Casino knew it would be destined to become a regional attraction. “Since day one, we have received phone calls on a daily basis of people trying to book a hotel room,” laughs Pat Crofts, chief executive officer of Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casinos. “In fact, we have records our reception staff has maintained for the past five years to prove it.” As it stands now, River Spirit Casino is a multi-million dollar casino featuring more than 300,000 square feet of gaming and related entertainment with over 2,600 electronic gaming machines, 14 live table games, 14 poker tables, four restaurants, two bars and a casino lounge with regular live music. Since its opening five years ago, River Spirit Casino has added an event center, new restaurants, a parking structure and continual upgrades to their gaming equipment. “We are always upgrading our gaming machines and offerings,” said Crofts. “We pride ourselves on top-tier entertainment by always having the newest and best state-ofthe-art games for our guests.” Set on the banks of the Arkansas River and 81st Street, River Spirit Casino currently employs 1,000 people and has played a large part in the economic development of the Tulsa region. In addition to the prominent economic impact for the region, River Spirit Casino is a large supporter of several civic and philanthropic causes. “The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is very supportive of the Tulsa community,” said Jerry Floyd, River Spirit Casino’s general manager. “They believe in being strong community partners and investing back into the community in which they live.” For instance, River Spirit Casino is a significant investor in two of the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s programs: Visit Tulsa, which markets the region to visitors, major meeting planners, and sporting events; and Tulsa’s Future, which is dedicated to economic development and markets the region for business relocation and expansion, workforce development, and job creation. River Spirit also supports other area Chamber of Commerce’s as well, including Jenks, Sand Springs, Bixby, Glenpool and Broken Arrow. Most recently, River Spirit Casino also secured naming rights of the world’s largest clearspan building at Tulsa County’s Expo Square. The Expo Center now known as River Spirit Expo. A mural celebrating the

history of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation sur- impact of $135 million. That has a big impact.” rounds the lobby with twenty cultural and As Phase II continues to progress, the RivFOR MORE INFORMATION: historical panels. er Spirit Casino leadership team anxiously River Spirit Casino awaits the completion of the new facilities 8330 Riverside Parkway Transforming River Spirit Casino Into a and the response they will receive from new Tulsa, Okla. 74136 Destination Location and returning customers. The casino remains 918-995-8518 In the travel industry, a destination location focused on its ultimate goal – to continually riverspirittulsa.com is a hotel or resort that guests seek out for improve amenities and services and the overits features and amenities, as opposed to its all experience for their guests. proximity to other attractions. In October 2013, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation broke ground on their most expansive project to date: River Spirit Casino Phase II. This $335 million dollar expansion will add a 26-story luxury hotel, convention and meeting space, a large pool deck and riverfront entertainment. This expansion also incorporates a well-known name in entertainment, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. The Margaritaville complex at River Spirit Casino includes a 45.000 square foot themed casino with over 800 new electronic gaming machines and 17 additional table games, a Margaritaville restaurant, bar and retail outlet, and many other amenities. The Margaritaville restaurant and bar will include two large outdoor decks overlooking the Arkansas River with seating for over 250 patrons. This has been a multi-year dream of the owners of River Spirit Casino, as they always planned to add a hotel and convention space. “This is a historic moment for the MuscoCourtesy photo gee (Creek) Nation,” Principal Chief George (From left) River Spirit Casino General Manager Jerry Floyd, Principal Chief Tiger, Muscogee (Creek) Nation said. “As a nation, we are proud that this significant invest- George Tiger Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Chief Executive Officer of Muscogee ment will fully establish Muscogee (Creek) (Creek) Nation Casinos Pat Crofts. Nation at the forefront of the leaders in the gaming, entertainment and hospitality industries around the globe.” In addition to hotel and meeting space, the expansion also includes a new showroom theater, expanding the capacity from its current 1,500 seats to more than to 2,500 seats and includes private VIP suites and lounge. This new venue will allow River Spirit Casino to offer even more prominent acts for its guests. The expansion project also includes additional food and beverage venues, including an upscale steakhouse, a new 24 hour restaurant and other specialty outlets. A new parking structure and a new grand entrance to the facility round out the expansion. This massive project should take approxiCourtesy photo mately 24 months to complete. “The economic impact of this two year (From left) Breaking ground on River Spirit Casino Phase II are Gayla Waller, construction project is projected to be Chair of the Oversight Committee and Chair of the Gaming Operations Authority around $305 million with over 1800 con- Board; Speaker Sam Alexander, Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s National Council; struction jobs,” Crofts said. “Once the project Second Speaker Robert Hufft, Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s National Council; is completed, we will add another 800 to 900 Second Chief Roger Barnett, Muscogee (Creek) Nation; General Manager Jerry full-time employees. According to the Tulsa Floyd; Principal Chief George Tiger; Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett; Chief Executive Regional Chamber (of Commerce), hiring that Officer of Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casinos Pat Crofts; Chief Executive Officer of many full time employees has a domino ef- Margaritaville John Cohlan; Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith; and Chris fect of supporting another 1,000 jobs in the Benge, Former Sr. Vice President of Government Affairs for the Tulsa Regional region, combined to be an annual economic Chamber (now Oklahoma Secretary of State).

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Sunday, March 2, 2014

Oklahoma Heart Institute Saves Lives

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Oklahoma Heart Institute’s state-of-the-art hybrid cardiac catheterization lab allows surgeons to utilize both a traditional lab and cardiac operating suite in the same room to perform advanced procedures.

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“Our faculty on staff can match the credentials of many universities,” says Dr. Wayne Leimbach, an interventional cardiology specialist and co-founder of Oklahoma Heart Institute.

Leimbach cites the recent case of a female patient in her 30s who was born with a condition in which the blood in her right lung drained into the wrong side of her heart, diluting the amount of oxygen in her bloodstream. The patient had a baffle sewn into her heart years earlier to correct the blood flow but had outgrown it. Blockages began occurring, and she experienced a 60 mmHg drop in blood pressure. “She couldn’t walk 10 feet without being out of breath,” Leimbach explains. Thanks to new cardio-mapping technology he was able to see her heart in 3-D and perform life-saving surgery without opening her chest. Instead, he inserted a catheter through her leg and proceeded up through the wall of her heart and two chambers where he used a balloon procedure to break open and stent the blockages. “She’s now walking at the mall,” Leimbach says. “We couldn’t have done this 10 years ago. She had been turned down at other places for surgery.” Another new procedure available at Oklahoma Heart Institute is for cardiac patients whose hearts skip beats or produce extra beats. “It’s like a car where the timing is totally off,” Leimbach says. “We can now find out electronically what’s causing this.” Thanks to a procedure known as ablation therapy, doctors can isolate the pathways causing these irregular beats. Oklahoma Heart Institute also has been utilizing revolutionary procedures to help patients who have only one blood vessel functioning that supplies the heart with blood. In the past, Leimbach says, there was no hope for these patients other than a heart transplant. Doctors couldn’t go through this vessel during surgery because it would cut off the heart’s single source of blood. Now, thanks to the development of a surgical device called the Impella catheter,

surgeons have what Leimbach calls a “mini heart pump.” The catheter is inserted through the patient’s leg and advanced to the heart through the aorta. The Impella catheter has a motorized spinning screw that creates a blood flow while blockages are being cleared from that single blood vessel. The device basically takes over the heart’s normal function of pumping blood during the surgery and then is removed. Another procedure now used at Oklahoma Heart Institute offers new hope for patients suffering from blood clots. In most cases, doctors prescribe blood thinning medications to treat the problem. In about half of those cases, Leimbach says, the clots don’t dissolve fast enough so the patients develop swollen legs for the rest of their lives. A new tool called a Trellis catheter allows surgeons to remove these clots by inflating tiny balloons on either side of a clot and vacuuming the clot away.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Oklahoma Heart Institute 1120 S. Utica Ave. Tulsa, Okla. 74104 918-592-0999 oklahomaheart.com

things for patients who need a heart valve replaced but are not candidates for open heart surgery due to other complications. TAVR allows surgeons to deliver and put in place a collapsible valve through a catheter and avoid a cardiopulmonary bypass. “Most patients go home three days after surgery,” Leimbach says. “It has radically changed things.” Oklahoma Heart Institute was so interested in bringing that procedure to Tulsa that Leimbach convinced one of the cardiologists at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Kamran Muhammad, to move to Tulsa and join OHI where he now performs the surgery. Clinical research will continue to remain at the forefront of the practice, which allows Oklahoma Heart Institute to provide the latest technology and care to its patients, often five to 10 years in advance of it becoming available to the general market. Leimbach says Oklahoma Heart Institute makes a practice of recruiting the best doctors elsewhere to bring their innovative work here. “Our faculty on staff can match the credentials of many universities,” Leimbach says. Having the best trained physicians on staff can also work in reverse, he admits, and make Oklahoma Heart Institute a target for other programs outside the region looking to recruit them. It’s just part of the way it works when you’re trying to provide the best cardiac care to residents of northeastern Oklahoma, Leimbach says.“That says a lot about our program.”

klahomans throughout Green Country have access to some of the most advanced and innovative cardiac By marrying new facilities procedures in the nation thanks to the high-quality care available at Oklahoma with new procedures, Oklahoma Heart Institute. Heart Institute’s physicians A highly-skilled team of cardiac physicians are dedicated to saving hearts and lives at the provide patients with complex flagship heart hospital on the campus of Hilltreatments normally performed crest Medical Center in midtown Tulsa. Oklahoma Heart Institute is the centeronly at major universities. piece of a network of cardiac care that has expanded over the past 25 years to become the Oklahoma Heart Institute also was the region’s largest and most advanced practice area’s first hospital to offer the Transcatheter dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure treatment of heart disease. for those living with diseased aortic valves Today, Oklahoma Heart Institute employs once considered inoperable. more than 40 cardiac specialists who see paLeimbach heard about the procedure betients in both midtown and south Tulsa, as ing done at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and well as in 14 surrounding communities. OklaColombia University in New York, so he and homa Heart Institute’s hospital opened in several physicians at Oklahoma Heart Insti2009 near 11th Street and Utica Avenue, and tute traveled to Columbia University to watch by 2012 its services had expanded to Hillcrest it being performed. Hospital South, Hillcrest Hospital Claremore The procedure has radically changed and Bailey Medical Center in Owasso. By marrying new facilities with new procedures, Oklahoma Heart Institute’s physicians provide patients with complex treatments normally performed only at major universities. Oklahoma Heart Institute has been recognized for introducing a number of medical firsts to the community. Dr. Wayne Leimbach, co-founder of Oklahoma Heart Institute, says cardiology is going through a renaissance thanks to new technology that permits surgical procedures unthinkable just a few years ago. “You used to watch people die,” Dr. Leimbach says about some of the more complicated cardiac cases. “Now you can do something for them.” Oftentimes these cases involve patients who had multiple heart surgeries in the past and are unable to withstand another invasive procedure that involves opening their chest again. New sophisticated tools allow surgeons to navigate through the blood vessels and heart in ways that make different surgeries possible. Leimbach points, for example, to a new 3-D mapping of the heart that allows him and others to see exactly where their catheter is when they are inside the chambers of the Courtesy photo heart. This is performed in Oklahoma Heart Oklahoma Heart Institute has been recognized for introducing a number of “medical firsts” to the community at this Institute’s state-of-the-art hybrid cardiac flagship heart hospital on the campus of Hillcrest Medical Center in midtown Tulsa. catheterization lab.

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Barry Epperley

maestro of the heart. Barry’s heart was beating irregularly and abnormally fast. As an orchestra conductor, he felt like his heart was a slow waltz being played in polka time. Thanks to the precision and expertise of Oklahoma Heart Institute, the irregularity is gone. And his heart is in perfect rhythm with life. To learn more about Barry’s life-changing experience at Oklahoma Heart Institute, visit OklahomaHeart.com.

Gift for the

Heart.

Give a Gift for the Heart. Our heart screening gift card allows you to give the gift of a series of simple screening tests by the trained experts at Oklahoma Heart Institute. Call 918.592.0999 for the nearest Oklahoma Heart Institute location.

OklahomaHeart.com | 918.592.0999 “Like” us on Facebook.

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OUTLOOK 2014

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma 1400 S. Boston Ave. Tulsa, Okla. 74119 918-551-3500 bcbsok.com

Photo by Kevin Armstrong Photo caption if desired.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma President Ted Haynes leads a work force of 1,100 employees in three offices, including the administrative headquarters in downtown Tulsa.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield ‘Here for All Oklahomans’ R

He says this includes people who are esidents in all 77 Oklahoma counties and every corner of the state have ac- employed, unemployed or retired. “Our purpose is to do everything in our cess to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma when it comes to finding health power to stand with our members in sickinsurance to protect themselves and their ness and in health,” Haynes says. families. The Tulsa-based company currently in- Innovative Approaches to Care sures 750,000 Oklahomans, providing them To accomplish that overall goal, Blue coverage for their ever-increasing health- Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is concare costs. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of tinually developing or participating in inOklahoma does not refer to these poli- novative programs to help meet those cyholders as “customers.” Instead, they’re needs, from encouraging preventive care called “members.” to dealing with catastrophic injuries. It’s an important distinction because One example is the Oklahoma Health Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is a Improvement Plan administered by the member-owned company. state. This initiative was launched in 2008 “We are concerned about our members, to improve the overall health of Oklahoma not about Wall Street,” says Blue Cross and residents. It targets three areas: preventing Blue Shield of Oklahoma President Ted smoking, reducing obesity and improving Haynes. “We’re not accountable to anybody children’s health. else but our members.” Haynes represents Blue Cross and Blue He says it’s nice not having to answer to Shield of Oklahoma as a member of the a group of stockholders at the end of each Oklahoma Health Improvement Planning fiscal quarter about team. His specific how much money the role is serving on “Our purpose is to do company has made the Public/Private investors. Haynes everything in our power to stand Partnerships Workprefers being able to with our members in sickness group subcommitkeep costs down and tee. and in health” reinvesting any monOne example of - Ted Haynes, Blue Cross Blue ey earned back into how the company Shield President the company. works with public It is, however, a organizations to imbig business. Last year, Blue Cross and Blue prove health is the Oklahoma Caring Van Shield of Oklahoma paid out $1.9 billion program, which administers thousands of in health claims for its members, covering lifesaving immunizations to Oklahoma chileverything from wellness visits at doctors’ dren each year through five mobile units. offices to life-saving surgeries. Two of the units are operated in the Tulsa Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma area in partnership with the Tulsa Health has been serving residents of the Sooner Department. The Caring Van program is a state for almost 75 years. It provides poli- flagship operation of the Oklahoma Carcies for three core segments of consumers: ing Foundation, a nonprofit that is admin• Group (plans purchased through em- istered in kind through Blue Cross and Blue ployers) Shield of Oklahoma. • Retail (plans obtained directly by indiBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma viduals and families) also participates in the Comprehensive • Government (plans that supplement Primary Care Initiative, a national pilot proMedicare for seniors). gram that works to improve care at the “We’re here for all Oklahomans,” Haynes point of service. The Tulsa area is one of says. “Whatever their needs are, we want to only seven markets nationwide selected to be there to serve them.” introduce this program, which encourages

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma donates millions of dollars each year to nonprofit organizations around the state who help provide health services. Youth At Heart received a grant in 2013 to help with its efforts in providing educational and recreational after-school and summer programs for Tulsa youth. (From left) Ted Haynes, BCBSOK President; Jocelyn McCarver, Youth at Heart Executive Director; and Janice Yancey, a Senior Manager with BCBSOK. collaboration with public and private insurers to strengthen the care provided by primary care physicians. The program focuses on spending more time in a primary care physician’s office to diagnose and provide early treatment of health needs so that patients require less hospital stays or visits to urgent care facilities or emergency rooms. The Tulsa area program covers 68 practices, nearly 300 physicians and approximately 140,000 Oklahomans. “It’s a new way to contract with physicians to pay attention to healthcare concerns,” Haynes says. “The expectation is that people will use it for things like colonoscopies and mammograms.” Early detection and early prevention always pay off in the end with lower medical costs and less invasive procedures being required to address physical needs. Not all medical needs, of course, can be predicted or prevented. When major illnesses, injuries or even death occurs, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is there to help its members and their loved ones through the physical and emotional struggles. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma operates a Seasons of Life program for handling these claims through specially trained employees who serve members with extra compassion during times of grief and loss. “It fits in well with our mission,” Haynes explains. “We don’t just sell insurance.”

Local Economic Impact Courtesy photo

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma employee Dianna Gorniak works with a member to understand her health-care options under the Affordable Care Act.

By being headquartered in Tulsa, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma also has an economic impact on the region. The company employs about 1,100 workers in three offices. The main administrative office is at 14th

Street and Boston Avenue in downtown Tulsa. That group includes lots of nurses on staff along with several physicians. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma relies on their medical advice in overseeing members’ care and case management. They authorize services when claims are made, determine medical necessities and work with people who have chronic conditions. The people who most members deal with by phone are located at 42nd Street and Memorial Drive. That’s where about 500 employees process claims, talk to providers and answer most members’ questions from all over the state. Haynes borrows a football sports metaphor to say that these employees accomplish the fundamentals of blocking and tackling when it comes to providing customer service. “If you don’t answer the phones and pay the claims well, then you’re not going to remain in business,” Haynes says. “We have very low turnover among our employees. They’re very committed, and they live our purpose every day.” Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma also has about 130 employees working in an Oklahoma City office. All employees are encouraged to take active roles in community service. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma has a Blue Corps program that tracks the hours its employees invest in volunteering. The company also provides incentives to help employees increase those hours each year. Haynes leads the way by serving on the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce and United Way boards of directors. He is scheduled to serve as chairman of the 2015 United Way campaign in Tulsa.

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OUTLOOK 2014

TU Business Students Succeed in Workplace I

n business, success is defined as achieving desired results. That principle is not only taught at the Collins College of Business at The University of Tulsa, but it’s experienced firsthand by the school’s graduates. For the Class of 2013, 95 percent of the undergraduate students were placed in jobs after earning their diplomas, and 99 percent of those who finished their graduate studies found employment. Part of that success has come from the College of Business starting its own Career Placement Center about five years ago. “The center has been very successful for students,” says Dr. Linda Nichols, associate dean of the college. “We really work with our students to place them.” Those statistics also haven’t been lost on others who measure the success of business programs nationwide. Bloomberg Businessweek rated TU’s college among the top undergraduate business schools in the U.S. in 2013. The Collins College of Business ranked: • 55th best among U.S. business schools, • 31st best among private business schools, • Sixth best in the Southwest, • Highest ranked business school in Oklahoma. Nichols adds that Bloomberg also ranked the college No. 1 among the top 100 business schools for the amount of financial aid provided to students. The Collins College of Business also recently was reaccredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - International. Nichols says it is the top accreditation any business school can attain. All of these recent accolades are exciting for the current faculty and students, but they merely indicate a continuing pattern of success at The University of Tulsa. The Collins College of Business boasts a proud history of turning out distinguished graduates who are prepared to accomplish great things in the professional world. The college’s alumni include: • Chet Cadieux, president and CEO of QuikTrip • Jeff Davis, CEO of U.S. Beef Corp. (the second-largest franchisee of Arby’s restaurants) • Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart • Marcia Macleod, senior vice president of WPX Energy • Chantal Veevaete, senior vice president of Phillips 66 • Eric Marshall, owner of Marshall Brewery • Binoy Agrawal, associate director of the Federal Trade Commission • Dax Craig, CEO and president of Valen Technologies Nichols says the college’s low student-tofaculty ratio plays an important part in helping graduates land jobs. The average class size is 19 students. “Professors really know students here,” Nichols says.“It’s a mentoring process. It helps them get connections in the business world.” Students in the Collins College of Business can focus their studies in a variety of majors, including accounting, management information systems, finance, operations management, economics, energy management, international business and languages, and marketing. The college also encompasses the School of Nursing as well as programs in athletic training and exercise and sports science. The college also offers some unique opportunities not always found at other schools. Nichols points to the International Business and Languages program, which allows students to get two degrees — one from the business college and another from the arts and sciences college. Students must take 27 hours of foreign language credits in French, German, Russian, Spanish or Chinese. Students in this program also must study abroad at least one semester while also taking all the core business courses and the international business classes. Nichols says the college’s goal is to get 25 percent of all its students to study abroad.

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Studio Blue is a unique learning laboratory for University of Tulsa business students that is equipped with the latest in technology to stimulate innovative ideas. That is in keeping with the college’s vision “to be an internationally recognized business school with a reputation for excellence in education and scholarship.” Nichols said faculty members try to internationalize the curriculum whenever they can. She, for example, is a certified public ac-

earning their undergraduate degree. Nichols says that means these students often don’t FOR MORE INFORMATION: have much work experience, so the curricuThe University of Tulsa lum is designed to provide many hands-on 800 S. Tucker Drive learning opportunities. Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104 One example is the consulting projects 918-631-2000 with local companies and organizations utulsa.edu such as Hilti, McElroy and the Bank of Oklahoma. MBA students are divided into teams and asked to solve real problems by framing ued at $3.5 million, Nichols says. It provides the issues and recommending step-by-step them the experience of working at an investsolutions. ment company. “The companies were extremely impressed Studio Blue is another successful resource with the outcomes,” Nichols says. for students. “There are only a very limited Students pursuing degrees in finance number of universities that have a classroom receive unique training opportunities like this,” Nichols says. — Dr. Linda Nichols, through the Williams Risk Management This creative think tank stimulates innoassociate dean of the Collins Center. This realistic laboratory for learn- vative ideas and offers students a chance to College of Business ing features stock ticker boards, extensive work on projects around the city for real orfinancial databases, Bloomberg terminals ganizations. Recently, for example, students countant who teaches accounting classes. and computers. in this program created a spokesperson for In her energy accounting class, she not only Finance students also can participate in the local zoo to use. Nichols says local resiteaches students about U.S. laws but interna- the Student Investment Fund where they dents will see this airing on televisions locally tional rules as well. manage real money. The fund currently is val- later this year. Unique study opportunities also exist in the graduate business programs, which Nichols directs. In the fall of 2012, TU began offering a master’s degree in energy business. It’s an online program for people who already are working in the energy industry who want to move into management. In the semester the program was launched, actual enrollment was almost three times more than initially anticipated. “It has just taken off,” Nichols says. “Every class is in energy.” The first group of students in this program will graduate in August. The college also seeks to meet the needs of students pursuing a Master in Business Administration degree, by offering night Courtesy photo classes for working professionals attending More than 95 percent of all business students who graduated from the Unischool part time. versity of Tulsa’s Collins College of Business in the Class of 2013 have found The college is finding more full-time stujobs. dents entering the MBA program right after

“Professors really know students here. It’s a mentoring process. It helps them get connections in the business world.”

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The University of Tulsa’s Collins College of Business offers degrees in business and health sciences and has been ranked among the best programs nationally and in Oklahoma.

OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

The University of Tulsa's Collins College of Business is a top 100 business school for both undergraduate (Bloomberg) and graduate programs (U.S. News). With nationally recognized majors such as energy management, finance, accounting and management information systems, Collins College of Business graduates are ready to make a difference on the job beginning on Day One. The school also offers highly regarded master's degrees in finance, accounting and energy business. And for working professionals seeking an MBA, Collins College of Business can tailor a flexible part-time program with ample scholarships available.

MEDIAN SALARY BY MAJOR

Marketing

Management

$40,000

$42,000

International Business

Accounting

Finance

MIS

Energy Management

$50,000

$52,000

$60,000

$62,500

$82,000

TU is a good value, too. More than 95 percent of business students find jobs or begin furthering their education within six months of graduation. Collins College of Business is providing a steady stream of highly qualified employees to companies that make a difference in our community and around the world. Beyond that, many of our graduates are leading well-known corporations and organizations to new levels of success.

To find out more about opportunities in the Collins College of Business, visit www.utulsa.edu/collins.

the university of

Collins College of Business TU is an EEO/AA institution.

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OUTLOOK 2014

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Tulsa Tech developed a customized safety training program for Air Hygiene employees, specifically with aerial lifts, electrical safety, OSHA guidelines and respiratory protection.

Tulsa Tech Ensures Region’s Workforce Remains Ready

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Tracker Marine Group, a division of Bass Pro Shops that manufactures several brands of fiberglass boats, utilized Tulsa Tech’s industry training to provide Composite Certification Training (CCT) to their production supervisors, team leaders and maintenance technicians.

inding a job isn’t as easy today as it once was even though plenty of employers are looking to hire. The problem often stems from a mismatch of the skills that companies want and what job candidates think they need to succeed. Nobody is better poised in our region to tackle this skills gap than Tulsa Tech. Whether it’s preparing future workers while they are still finishing high school or training adults with the technical competencies they need to be employed, Tulsa Tech offers a full range of opportunities to make that happen. “There are a number of employers who say they could add 100 employees tomorrow if they had job candidates with the skills they need,” says Tulsa Tech Superintendent and CEO Steve Tiger. “We can help the entire area with this investment of training for jobs. We are preparing a world-class workforce that is needed now more than ever.” Last year, Tulsa Tech served 60,000 students in its business and industry and continuing education programs throughout its six area campuses. Some of those students enrolled in a single one-hour class while about 5,000 students took classes full time. Half of them were high school students from 14 local school districts,

and half were adults looking to enhance their skills. More and more people are realizing that just going to college does not guarantee a graduate will find work in his or her field of study. The demands of new and emerging technology in nearly every industry are creating the need for continuing education well beyond those early adult years. “Technology has changed the game and has required individuals to get more technical training,” says Tiger. He points to something as simple as repairing a car. The skills your father or grandfather used to fix something in the engine no longer are enough because the car relies on computer programs to operate. That requires a more sophisticated level of training and equipment. The call from Washington, D.C., to the Capitol in Oklahoma City is for educators to help close this skills gap by aligning school curriculums with the workforce demands. An evolving curriculum Tulsa Tech began in 1965 as part of Tulsa Public Schools and is firmly established to provide the instruction needed, but administrators are adapting class offerings every year

to meet industry requests. “We develop programs at Tulsa Tech based on workforce needs by involving business and industry leaders in that process,” says Tiger. “All of this is done before we bring a new program idea before our board.” One example is the rapid growth in preengineering and bio-medical classes offered at Tulsa Tech. They served almost 1,000 students in these programs alone last year. Tiger said Tulsa Tech put together a pre-engineering program for high school students because so many engineering students were dropping out of college engineering programs. They are now helping prepare these students to be successful in college and achieve their goals of becoming professional engineers. That’s important to leaders in the engineering industry because so many current engineers are nearing retirement and need to be replaced. Tiger says Tulsa Tech’s goal is to introduce two to five new classes or programs each year. Classes and programs also get phased out when they are no longer necessary because newer technologies have demanded it. The market demand of business and industry drives these decisions rather than the desire of students, Tiger says. “We have really taken a business approach to the education environment.” Tulsa Tech began as an extension of high school programs but has expanded to include thousands of adult workers who enroll in classes both part- and full-time. Many of those adults are seeking professional certifications in everything from aviation and automotive technologies to welding and website design. “Certification is what we hang our hat on,” Tiger says. “We’re not a degree-granting institution, even though our full-time programs may feel like it.” Tulsa Tech also partners with specific companies in the Tulsa area to provide specialized training for their employees on site in the workplace or at one of Tulsa Tech’s campuses in areas such as safety or computer skills. That includes major employers such as Nordam, Spirit AeroSystems and American Airlines as well as small machine shops. “We can help grow an 8- to 10-employee operation to 20 to 50 employees through training,” Tiger says. Tulsa Tech’s programs also can be effective in recruiting new businesses to our region. A recent example is Macy’s, which announced last December that it will build a 1.3 millionsquare-foot distribution center in Owasso, creating up to 1,500 new full- and part-time jobs. Macy’s looked at 150 sites in four states before deciding to build here. Company officials cited the region’s high quality of workforce as one of the top factors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Tulsa Tech 918-828-5000 tulsatech.edu “We were part of the package of drawing them to Owasso,” Tiger says. He adds that Tulsa Tech is looking forward to providing specific training for Macy’s employees in everything from forklift operations to computer training. Tulsa Tech also offers classes to help entrepreneurs start their own businesses with classes in such areas as business planning, market research, sales, recordkeeping, insurance issues and cash flow forecasting. It’s all part of helping new businesses succeed.

“There are a number of employers who say they could add 100 employees tomorrow if they had job candidates with the skills they need. We can help the entire area with this investment of training for jobs.” -Steve Tiger, Tulsa Tech Superintendent and CEO Second to none in Oklahoma Tulsa-area residents can take pride in having these resources here in the region. Tulsa Tech is one of 29 career and technical school districts in a statewide system. Tulsa is the oldest and largest technology center in Oklahoma’s CareerTech System. Ninety percent of Tulsa Tech’s funding comes from local property taxes, and the other 10 percent is funded by the state. Tulsa Tech’s district covers all of Tulsa County and parts of several adjacent counties, encompassing 14 public school districts. Students in those school districts (including private and home-schooled students) can attend Tulsa Tech for free, while adults pay a small fee per course based on the number of hours they are enrolled. Local school districts provide bus transportation for high school students, and Tulsa Tech reimburses those costs. Tulsa Tech operates six campuses — Broken Arrow, Peoria, Memorial, Owasso, Riverside and Sand Springs — as well as administrative offices and a services center. All capital costs are funded ahead of time so the state does not incur any indebtedness. “The impact on citizens,” Tiger says, “is that it creates prosperous communities. We help get citizens work ready.”

OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

MAKE YOUR OWN PATH

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY SERVICES We create customized services, strategies and training programs critical for our clients to excel in business.

Tulsa Tech has been helping businesses and their workforce for over forty years. Through the combined efforts of our Business & Industry Services department and full-time/evening/weekend class offerings, we continue to play a key role in local and statewide economic development. •Customized Industry Training --Human Resources; Manufacturing; ISO & Quality; Environmental, Health & Safety •Adult & Career Development --Open enrollment business-related & part-time classes •Small Business Assistance --Business development & entrepreneurial services; Small business management/ self-employment training programs •Full-time Programs --Providing an on-going pipeline of technically competent, work-ready, new & incumbent employees. Open to high school students & adults.

For more information contact us at 918.828.5000 or visit our website at tulsatech.edu

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Sunday, March 2, 2014

Meet One of Tulsa’s Best-Kept Secrets

JOHN ZINK HAMWORTHY COMBUSTION 11920 East Apache Street Tulsa, Oklahoma 918.234.1800 johnzinkhamworthy.com

orldwide, people look to this Tulsabased company as an undisputed leader in the combustion and emissions control industry. They send their employees here to get the most comprehensive training available anywhere. They come here to see their equipment tested in part of the largest, most advanced combustion testing facilities in the world. But ask Tulsans about this global powerhouse in their backyard, and many couldn’t tell you a thing. John Zink Hamworthy Combustion flies a little below the radar here locally. It’s not in their corporate culture to brag. But, for more than 80 years, they’ve been quietly driving innovation in emissions-control and clean-air technologies. And while the company has made a big impact in plants and refineries and shipping docks across the globe, they’ve kept their Tulsa profile low. Unless, of course, you count the more than 700 people they employ at their world headquarters off Highway 169 on East Apache.

Keeping Industries Clean and Efficient Every day, John Zink Hamworthy Combustion emissions-control and clean-air systems are put to work in vital industries across the globe. These customers are the very backbone of industrial infrastructure, producing energy, chemicals and plastics around the world. And it’s often up to John Zink Hamworthy Combustion to help them heat vital processes, manage waste, destroy pollutants, recover valuable vapor and eliminate emissions. Here’s how they do it:

FLARE SYSTEMS: Proven in thousands of onshore and offshore facilities around the world, the company’s advanced flare design and clean flare technologies for upstream, downstream and biogas flare industries are known to minimize conventional flaring effects, such as smoke, noise, bright light and emissions. THERMAL OXIDATION: The company has more than 3,500 installed thermal oxidation systems globally, protecting the environment by destroying up to 99.9999% of a variety of hazardous industrial wastes. FLARE GAS RECOVERY: Flare

gas recovery systems from John Zink Hamworthy Combustion reduce normal flaring by nearly 100%. This near-zero flaring not only reduces emissions, the recovered flare gas can be recycled and reused as fuel or feedstock. VAPOR CONTROL: The company has more than 2,000 vapor combustion and vapor recovery installations worldwide. Their vapor control technologies are recognized as the “Best Demonstrated Technology” and the “Maximum Achievable Control Technology” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. PROCESS BURNERS: The

company offers a broad range of conventional low NOx and ultra-low NOx process burner systems that reduce pollution and maximize efficient heating performance for the ethylene, refining and reforming industries. BOILER BURNERS: Their customized boiler burners accommodate variable fuels,

emissions levels, boiler types and flame geometry for industrial steam generation, power generation and marine markets worldwide. BIOGAS: The company has

Headquartered in Tulsa, John Zink Hamworthy Combustion employs more than 1,600 people worldwide.

more than 700 biogas flare systems in operation helping customers meet the toughest environmental regulations. The ZULE® ultra-low emissions flare system delivers the highest destruction efficiency available with the lowest emissions.

Teaching the World… in Tulsa Thousands of professionals from all over the world travel to Tulsa to attend the acclaimed John Zink Institute. This educational program offers accredited, practical instruction from industry leaders on a variety of operating and safety subjects related to combustion. This is just one way the company actively shares its experience and expertise. In addition, The John Zink Hamworthy Combustion Handbook is an industry standard reference book and has been a top-seller in its category since 2006.

Worldwide office locations.

Investing In Innovation, Investing In Tulsa Continuous innovation is a vital part of the company’s success and position as an industry leader. As a result, they invest heavily in facilities and experts. One way the company advances is through acquisitions. Through the years, many recognized brands have joined the John Zink Hamworthy Combustion family. Locally, the company’s investment can be seen in the size of its Tulsa workforce and its one-of-a-kind

International Research and Development Test Center | Tulsa, Oklahoma

facility. The company’s three research and development test centers make up the largest and most advanced testing complex in the industry. The Tulsa center, however, is by far the largest and most comprehensive of the three (the others being in Luxembourg and Poole, England). This location is home to Ph.D. engineers and some of the most respected researchers in the industry.

While it may not be entirely accurate to call a company with such far-reaching global success a secret, it is fair to say many Tulsans don’t know how much they have to be proud of. And while John Zink Hamworthy Combustion is just one of many, many examples, it’s a good place to start discovering the people, technology, success and leadership our great city offers the world.

MARCH 29, 2014

CAREER FAIR We offer great benefits including medical, dental and life insurance, a pension plan, matching 401(k), vacation time, paid holidays and educational assistance. We also have state-of-the-art facilities that include an air-conditioned and heated manufacturing shop.

100+ POSITIONS AVAILABLE INCLUDING ENGINEERS, DESIGNERS, WELDERS, ASSEMBLERS AND MORE. Apply in person, or save time and apply online at johnzinkhamworthy.com/careers.

When: March 29, 9am to 2pm Where: 11920 East Apache Street, Tulsa, OK Except where prohibited by state law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test.

EOE. M/F/D/V

OUTLOOK 2014

ÂŠ2014 John Zink Company LLC. JOHN ZINK HAMWORTHY COMBUSTION is a trademark of John Zink Company LLC. JZ, KEU, KALDAIR and TODD are registered trademarks of John Zink Company LLC. HAMWORTHY COMBUSTION is a registered trademark of Hamworthy Combustion Engineering Ltd. COEN is a registered trademark of Coen Company, Inc. AIROIL-FLAREGAS is a trademark of Hamworthy Combustion Engineering Ltd. Except where prohibited by state law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

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OUTLOOK 2014

Tulsa region resurging

A shared vision makes it possible to move forward

ransformation is all around us. From the planned Gathering Place on the Arkansas River to a revitalized Brady Arts District to the growth and development in Broken Arrow’s Rose District and the Margaritaville expansion at River Spirit Casino, our region’s communities are experiencing transformation. The region — our region — is experiencing resurgence, the population is growing and becoming more diverse, unemployment remains low, and we are developing community assets with new attractions, restaurants, housing options, green spaces and more. Add to that new job announcements like 2013’s Macy’s distribution center and the Verizon financial services hub. Those who know me know I’m a Southerner. A transplant to Tulsa via two communities, Nashville, Tenn., and Monroe, La. And after 25 years in leadership roles at chambers of commerce, I have never been more excited about the growth and momentum of a community than I am right now in Tulsa. The Tulsa Regional Chamber’s 2014 chair, Wade Edmundson, CEO of Commerce Bank, Oklahoma, focused on four critical areas in his inaugural address in January: downtown development, river development, regional visioning and a regional brand. None of these areas can succeed without collaboration. Collaboration among regional partners has resulted in a successful pro-business legislative advocacy initiative called OneVoice. It has formed an economic development plan, Tulsa’s Future, which

MIKE NEAL President & CEO Tulsa Regional Chamber has assisted with the creation of more than 18,000 jobs since 2011. And collaboration has helped VisitTulsa, the convention and visitors bureau, to market the Tulsa region as a choice destination. But what is next? Anticipate continued downtown development. With nearly $1 billion in recently constructed and planned investment in the past five years alone, downtown Tulsa is the epitome of the transformation I’ve described. New housing, additional restaurants and new venues like AHHA perfectly complement long-standing offerings like Cain’s Ballroom and the PAC. When I see the changes happening in the region’s core — when I see crowds flock to Guthrie Green or people pour into the BOK Center — I know the best is yet to come. We will develop the Arkansas River. Last year, a group of 70 elected officials, business leaders and chamber staff visited Pittsburgh to study best practices. What was planned as a simple riverboat tour turned into an epiphany for our group as we stood shoulder to shoulder and saw the impact river development can have on a com-

A revitalized Brady Arts District is a prime example of the transformation occurring in the Tulsa metro area. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World file

munity. With the potential of wellplanned recreational, commercial, retail and eventual residential development along our river, the entire Tulsa region will benefit. Tulsans have considered for many years how best to “brand” our community. Who are we, exactly? Years of work have gone into a current initiative to brand the Tulsa region to attract young and skilled talent,

to draw visitors and to share our “best-kept secret” with the world. And finally, the Tulsa region is establishing a vision that will be the guiding light for regional economic development. A shared vision is critical to ensure our communities are moving in the same direction and growing as one unified region. And every Tulsan’s opinion counts. I encourage anyone in the region — those in Tulsa and those in our surrounding and quickly growing suburbs — to weigh in at upcoming “Best Thinking Forums” that will occur in 2014. Right now, today and every day in the near future, we are laying the groundwork for Tulsa’s future.

We have tremendous assets in this region; I call it the perfect marriage of old and new. This ongoing transformation of our community has created remarkable opportunity, and I am so pleased to call Tulsa my home. Mike Neal leads the chamber’s full-time professional staff in economic development, convention and visitor development, government affairs, small business and membership services. He served as president and CEO of Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce until 2006, and president and CEO of the Monroe, La., Chamber of Commerce for 12 years. Neal is heavily involved in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He is a 1980 accounting graduate from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

“Matrix Service Co. Celebrating Every Tulsan’s opinion counts. I encourage

anyone in the region — those in Tulsa and those in our surrounding and quickly growing suburbs — to weigh in ...”

30 Years of Quality, Excellence C elebrating its 30th anniversary this April, Matrix Service Co. and its subsidiaries has a reputation as a trusted and capable partner to its clients in North America. Headquartered in Tulsa, it is a leading, publicly-traded industrial construction and maintenance company (NASDAQ: MTRX) with close to $1 billion in annual revenues, more than 5,000 employees and regional offices across the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 1984 as a tank repair and maintenance company, today the Matrix Service Co. brands — which include Matrix Service, Matrix SME, Matrix NAC, Matrix PDM Engineering and Matrix Applied Technologies — provide engineering, fabrication, construction, repair and maintenance

Founded in 1984 as a tank repair and maintenance company, today the Matrix Service Co. brands — which include Matrix Service, Matrix SME, Matrix NAC, Matrix PDM Engineering and Matrix Applied Technologies — provide engineering, fabrication, construction, repair and maintenance services across market segments that include oil, gas and chemical, electrical infrastructure, storage solutions and industrial. services across market segments that include oil, gas and chemical, electrical infrastructure, storage solutions and industrial. The company’s talented employees are the heart of the organization and the key to its continued growth and success. Guiding all that it does as an employer and in business are the company’s core values, which are centered in unwavering commit-

ment to safety and a “zero incident” safety culture. Everyone at Matrix operates with the highest integrity, a focus on teamwork and positive relationships as well as a commitment to deliver the best at everything they do. And, they execute projects in a conscientious and environmentally responsible manner. As a company, Matrix Service Co. strives

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Matrix Service Co.

5100 E. Skelly Drive #700 Tulsa, Okla. 74135 918-838-8822 matrixservicecompany.com

to be a good corporate citizen both through financial contributions and volunteer efforts in the communities in which it operates. Some of the Tulsa area organizations that benefit from these contributions are The Tulsa Area United Way, Little Lighthouse, Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, American Heart Association, Tulsa Brookside Lion’s Club, Street School and The Hardesty Art Center. “We continue to deliver jobs reliably and meet production commitments at every stage of a project,” said John R. Hewitt, CEO of Matrix Service Co. “We are proud of our talented work force and are committed to hiring, developing and retaining high caliber employees to ensure we meet the needs of our valued clients.”

Since 1984, Matrix employees have earned our company a reputation for outstanding performance across North America. Through our family of companies, we are known for completing even the most demanding projects on time, to the highest quality standards, and above all, safely. In all the services we provide from maintenance and repair to fabrication and construction, the proof is in our performance.

30 YEARS. STRONG AND GROWING. PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

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Primeaux Expands to Meet Growing Demand for Kias

t’s difficult to keep up with the progress and excitement that Kia Motors brings. Just ask Henry Primeaux of Tulsa. He’s been involved in the automotive business for more than 40 years, selling various makes, but it wasn’t until 2006 that he truly discovered the Korean car manufacturer. David Moritz, Primeaux’s former partner, purchased two Kia dealerships in the Fort Worth, Texas area in the early 2000s. Moritz spoke so highly of the Kia product that it spurred Henry’s interest in a Kia dealership. Primeaux was invited by Kia Motors to go to Korea and see the products for himself. He returned to Oklahoma and purchased the Kia franchise in Tulsa.

He just finished a $2.8 million expansion of his Yale Avenue dealership, just south of Interstate 44. “We were selling vehicles faster than we could get them,” Primeaux says. “We’re selling 90 vehicles a month out of a hundred car inventory.” When Primeaux committed to build a new facility large enough to showcase seven cars instead of the tight quarters that housed only two new vehicles, Kia Motors promised to increase his inventory by 400 vehicles. In addition to the showroom, the service department has been expanded, making service more convenient. The upgraded service area also features a digital car wash so each time a Primeaux

Courtesy photo

Kia customer comes in for service, he can drive away with not only a finely tuned vehicle but a shiny finish as well. Primeaux says having a clean car is one of the top three things his customers said they wanted in a service department, and he was happy to deliver on their request. More people are taking notice of our new presence on Yale,” Primeaux says. “It’s going to be a showplace for a long time.” Primeaux says Kia built its reputation on great price, great value and a great warranty (10 years or 100,000 miles), but the manufacturer hasn’t stopped there. “They’re not sitting still,” Primeaux says. “We have rolled out seven

brand new or redesigned body styles in the last year and a half.” Kia has entered the luxury market with the introduction of the Cadenza and K900, creating a whole new corporate culture … another reason for a new facility. Primeaux is excited to be part of what’s happening with the Kia brand. “We’re looking to double our sales this year,” he says. The Korean automaker also likes what Primeaux is doing in Tulsa. Primeaux Kia has earned the Kia Dealer Excellence Program Award each year since its existence. The award recognizes Kia sales and customer satisfaction and is not easily attained. “They send an outside consultant

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Primeaux Kia 4747 S. Yale Ave. Tulsa, Okla. 74135 918-622-3160 primeauxkia.com

to grade us each year,” Primeaux explains. “It’s not just a buff up the showroom thing. You can’t just dazzle them.” The inspection involves a thorough review of every aspect of operating a dealership from sales to service. “We’ve won that every year it has been offered,” Primeaux says. “We’re proud of that. We couldn’t do that without our customers.”

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY AND SHOWROOM

New

With all the amenities you deserve!

WE WILL BEAT ANY KIA DEAL!

PRIMEAUX KIA

4747 S. Yale • 918-622-3160 • www.primeauxkia.com PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

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Sunday, March 2, 2014

OUTLOOK 2014

Legacy of aviation investment Early buy-in from oilmen put Tulsa on path toward aerospace

f you go back to Tulsa’s earliest aviation days, you wind up talking about the oilmen who founded our city. Early on, they had to travel long distances across Texas and Oklahoma to get to their job sites. They recognized the value of airplanes to their business earlier than many other businessmen did; airplanes burned a lot of fuel and cut down travel time, both of which were good for their business. So what did they do to promote their business? They invested. They signed the famous “stud horse note” that still hangs today at the Tulsa airport, where they personally guaranteed the dollars needed to build a modern airport; and in fact, the Tulsa Airport once held the record for the busiest airport in the world. And they invested in aviation companies like Spartan, which is still here in Tulsa and whose 90,000 graduates are all over the world today flying and maintaining aircraft. In the early 1940s, the oilmen asked their fellow Tulsa citizens to invest in aviation by passing what was then a large bond issue to buy the land and bring in the infrastructure to support what became the bomber plant. The bond issue passed, and that helped persuade the War Department to build the plant here. The Douglas Aircraft factory in Tulsa was one of the most productive of all the wartime aircraft plants, further cementing our reputation as airplane people. Some 22,000 Tulsans worked at the plant at the height of the war. There is plenty more great history, but to fast forward a bit,

MEREDITH SIEGFRIED Chief Executive Officer NORDAM these early and strong beginnings attracted and/or sparked an aerospace cluster with the likes of American Airlines, Rockwell International, NORDAM, OMNI, Boeing (which became Spirit) and BizJet/Lufthansa. They prosper due to our pro-aviation climate and trained people. And it all got started with the early oil pioneers — the likes of W.G. Skelly and Waite Phillips — needing to get quickly to dusty, out-of-the-way drilling and refining sites. They were pioneers and visionaries who not only built great oil companies but also turned Tulsa into a great aviation center along the way. The aviation legacy lives on in the 100-plus companies in the area that employ more than 30,000 people to provide services to the global aerospace industry. The Tulsa Regional Chamber reports that one job in aerospace supports 1.3 additional jobs across all sectors — with a total economic impact of $3.8 billion every year! The great news — our industry is on the verge of taking off again, thanks primarily to the amazing pace of technology, programming and material science. You see, although the tech industry has been booming, replac-

Tulsa has been committed to aviation from its early days and the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology is one example of the many businesses that have located here. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World file

ing itself every year, the basic mechanics of the aircraft and of air flight have not changed much since the Wright brothers created it. Stick and rudder, aerodynamics, they are all basically the same as they were 100 years ago. But thanks to the quantum leaps in computers, programming and materials, the beginnings of the aerospace boom is only in its infancy. What does that mean to us Tulsans? It means that the opportunity for businesses, entrepreneurs

and the curious kid is immense! Privately funded space flight, people building drones or flying cars out of their garages, robots — it might sound like science fiction, but it’s really similar to the beginnings of Microsoft and Apple. Right now business concepts and unheard-of models are in the experimental stage. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, said on “60 Minutes” that he plans to deliver packages via an “octocopter” within a few years. It may sound “Jetsons”-esque, but we are

getting closer to it by the day. What is my dream for Tulsa? To lasso some great ideas and turn them into reality; to put Tulsa on the map as the Aerospace Capital of the World. Meredith Siegfried has been the chief executive officer at The NORDAM Group Inc. since July 2011. She is responsible for all sales, marketing, manufacturing and repair operations worldwide. She has been the chief operating officer of the NORDAM Repair Group since January 2009.

Luxa Allows Businesses to Stay Focused on Core

wners of small and mid-size businesses often wear so many hats in their organizations that it’s difficult to avoid mistakes in certain administrative functions. Luxa Enterprises specializes in accounting, human resources, payroll and marketing services to help alleviate some of the headaches of running a business and allow those in charge to stay focused on their core mission. The Tulsa-based firm,

1 2 3 4 5

“Companies in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri have outsourced their accounting, payroll, human resources and marketing services to Luxa, although the primary audience is right here at home.” which began in 2006, employs a team of 14 professionals who have provided direction to small business owners as well as supported one of Forbes’ top 10 privately held companies. Luxa works with business owners

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

to align their company’s vision with the day-to-day operations. Companies in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri have outsourced their accounting, payroll, human resources and marketing services to Luxa, although the primary audience is right here at home. Luxa President Frauke Quiroga says more than 80 percent of Tulsa is comprised of small businesses. “They often fail,” she says, “because they do not always know about tax laws and other compliance regulations.” Luxa’s goal is to help these business owners stay on track. Quiroga says it’s common for small business owners to make similar mistakes. Here are just a few examples: • Not recording and posting transactions regularly, creating a mountain of bookkeeping work • Not filing sales or payroll taxes • Co-mingling business and personal expenses • Not knowing the difference between contractors and employees • Miscalculating state unemployment taxes While these tasks associated with doing business may not be why your company exists, they are important to keeping it viable. These things hold true for businesses that employ one person or dozens of workers. “Even a small, one-man shop is going to be forced

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Luxa Enterprises 5514 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 100 Tulsa, Okla. 74105 918-928-7288 luxa.us

to deal with the complexities of cash flow management and various tax filings,” Quiroga says. Luxa began as a privately held company to support a group of small companies owned by Tom and Ken Clifford of Clifford Power Systems. Quiroga joined the firm as a partner and has helped grow it from a single-service offering to a multi-faceted, full-service business. Despite her more than 20 years of experience in accounting, auditing and business leadership, Quiroga knows firsthand the value in reaching out to others for help. In 2011, Luxa entered the Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Competition and was named a first-round finalist. “It helped us refine what our business model should look like,” Quiroga says. “The Spirit Competition helped us to take our business to the next level.” That’s what Luxa now helps its clients do. “Our vision is to see these companies get to this level” where they can afford to hire their own professional personnel, Quiroga says. “We work ourselves out of a job.”

OUTLOOK 2014

Since 1922 Rich & Cartmill, Inc. has been dedicated to one simple mission: Provide the best insurance coverage possible at the least cost to our clients.

No matter what coverage you need: • Commercial • Personal • Life, Health or Long Term Care • Bonds... We can assist you.

•

Tulsa

Springfield, Missouri

2738 E. 51st St., Ste 400 Tulsa, OK 74105

4945 N. Towne Centre Dr. Ozark, MO 65721

Oklahoma City

Olathe, Kansas

1608 NW Expressway, Ste 100 OKC, OK 73118

13025 S Mur-Len Rd., Ste 200 Olathe, KS 66062

Owasso

Greeley, Colorado

125 South Main St. Owasso, OK 74055

918.743.8811

8213 W. 20th St. Greeley, CO 80634

www.rcins.com

Sunday, March 2, 2014

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Rich & Cartmill Has Protected Tulsans For More Than 90 Years

ich & Cartmill has been insuring residents of Tulsa for more than 90 years, whether it’s their homes, cars, boats, businesses, health or lives. “All of us spend our lifetimes accumulating assets, and what we do is protect those in the best possible way,” says Vaughn Graham, company President. “A lot of the things I.D. Rich and John Cartmill thought were important in 1922 are still important to all of us today.” The company began when two businessmen moved from Illinois to Tulsa to begin selling property insurance to new businesses, including those drilling for oil. The company has expanded to become one of the largest independent insurance firms in Oklahoma, selling both individual and corporate policies. Rich & Cartmill has remained firmly rooted in Tulsa and has added offices in surrounding cities and states, including Oklahoma City; Springfield, Mo.; Owasso; Greeley, Colo.; and Olathe, Kan. “There was a need to serve those communities,” Graham says. “We’re not interested in opening in places just for the sake of opening more offices. Our success is based on our personal relationships of agents and staff who provide the type of service our customers have come to enjoy.” Graham, who has worked in the insurance industry since 1974, cites several reasons why customers enjoy doing business with Rich & Cartmill.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Rich & Cartmill 2738 E. 51st St. Tulsa, Okla. 74105 918-743-8811 rcins.com

Photo by Kevin Armstrong

Vaughn Graham is President of Rich & Cartmill, a Trusted Choice, Independent Insurance Agency. First and foremost, the firm is comprised of independent insurance agents who are not beholden to a single insurance carrier. “We’re a Trusted Choice, Independent Agency,” Graham says. “We represent the best insurance companies.” That allows Rich & Cartmill’s 50-plus agents to customize each client’s portfolio. One carrier may provide the best coverage for home insurance, while another provider offers better coverage for insuring automobiles and right on down the line for health, disability and life. Graham says this tailored approach also allows Rich & Cartmill to better advocate for its customers when filing any claims. “We counsel them, standing beside them during the claims process,” he says. “We try to make that as easy a road as possible.”

Navigating that road has changed over the years, and Rich & Cartmill has adapted along the way. Some customers, for example, still do business the way it was done in 1922 where they come to the office and meet face to face. Others prefer handling matters electronically. About 75 percent of people now start their insurance research on the Internet before contacting an agent, Graham says. To meet that need, the national association of independent insurance agents and brokers created an online site called “Trusted Choice” where customers can begin their searches. “We try to utilize all the platforms that our customers want — from our long-term customers all the way to new young buyers,” Graham says. “We do business with our customers the way they want to do business.” Graham knows that insurance is something people need yet hope they never have to use because it often means tragedy or loss. “The satisfaction we get is to meet the expectations of our customers when their loss is concluded,” Graham says. “Doing that and seeing their positive reaction is what keeps us going. That’s why we do what we do.”

Spartan College of Aeronautics: Where Dreams Take Flight

Spartan education has launched many people into successful careers. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has graduated more than 90 thousand pilots, aviation maintenance technicians and students in the newer disciplines of avionics (aviation electronics), quality control and nondestructive testing. Today, the college offers proFOR MORE INFORMATION:

Spartan College of Aeronautics and Aviation 8820 E. Pine St. Tulsa, Okla. 74115 918-831-5217 Spartan.edu

fessional pilot training, aviation maintenance, avionics technology, nondestructive testing and quality control plus associate degrees in applied science and a Bachelor of Science degree in aviation technology management. Students have an opportunity to learn real-world, hands-on skills on Spartan’s Boeing 727, which was donated by FedEx last year. Spartan is one of the largest aviation colleges in the country with more than 247,000 square feet of training facilities located at two Tulsa airports, 19 airplanes for maintenance training and more than 40 airplanes for flight training.

Aviation Industry Growth According to the Federal Aviation Administration, new pilots and aviation maintenance technicians will be able to find hundreds of thousands of job openings in the next few years. Boeing predicts that the airline industry will need to hire more than 466,000 pilots as well as 600,000 aviation maintenance and avionics technicians over the next 20 years. Student Assistance Spartan student services helps students find and secure employment while attending the college and provides nationwide placement assistance after graduation. Spartan graduates

have found employment in the fields of aviation, oil and gas, automotive, wind energy, railway, manufacturing, medical equipment and many others sectors. Spartan and American Eagle have partnered to provide Spartan College aviation flight graduates a direct track to the regional and then major airlines. Graduates employed as flight instructors

are eligible to participate in the American Eagle Pilot program, which provides a direct track to an airline pilot career. Financial aid is available to those who qualify, as well as student employment opportunities, housing and graduate placement assistance. Spartan continues to be the pathway to an exciting and rewarding industry. Spartan is licensed by OBPVS.

WHERE DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT! In addition to being one of America’s largest, oldest and most prestigious flight colleges, Spartan offers training for several related technology careers: • Avionics • Quality Control • Nondestructive Testing • Aviation Maintenance.

www.spartan.edu 1-888-257-8866

Find us on Facebook! Licensed by OBPVS

•

Consumer information available at: www.spartan.edu/consumerinformation

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8820 E. Pine, Tulsa, OK 74115

OL 22

OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

OUTLOOK 2014

Manufacturing makes sense Education is vital to this growing economic sector LARRY MOCHA CEO, APSCO Inc.

anufacturing is big and important in the Tulsa area — and it’s growing! When you think about it, manufacturing has always been the mainstay of the United States economy, generating $1.8 trillion in GDP (12.2 percent of total U.S. GDP), according to the manufacturing.gov website. Here in Oklahoma, jobs in manufacturing have grown 11.1 percent from December 2009 through June 2013. We see this as just one indicator of a coming surge for U.S. manufacturing, and for Tulsa, specifically. Of course, as in many other cities, manufacturing is not always appreciated for its vital contribution to our economy. Part of that may be a perception issue, or that we need to do a better job of letting our untrained, unemployed workers know about the great opportunities that are available. But everywhere you look in our region, you can see the contributions made by manufacturing. For example, my company brought the manufacture of several of our parts back to Tulsa from factories in China. For us, the economics and the quality of those manufacturers has changed enough to make the machining of those parts domestically possible. To accomplish that,

Jon Gordon, a machinist for APSCO Inc., makes parts for pneumatic cylinders, controls and valves for the truck and auto market. Manufacturing jobs in Oklahoma grew more than 11 percent from December 2009 through June 2013. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World file

we had to purchase several new machines — but those machines are programmed and operated by local machinists, and we can now produce parts more economically here in Tulsa than we could have it done in China. Manufacturing those parts here

also gives us more control of our quality. Imagine what that would mean for Tulsa if other local manufacturers follow suit! Most of what needs to be done to bring those jobs back to Tulsa is being done. Now, Oklahoma is working

to prepare a workforce that can handle those jobs. Education is the answer, and K through 12, higher ed and our career tech system are the vehicles that can deliver that education. Oklahoma has one of the finest CareerTech systems in the United

States. Our higher education system, led by our “land grant” universities and our community colleges, is second to none. And we have capacity in all our area school systems to promote, to educate and to train our future workers. If we mandate that our children stay in school until they have completed high school (our high school dropout rate is more than 25 percent), we could approach full employment. As our region’s manufacturing community continues to grow, we’ll see an even greater need for a welltrained workforce. The good news is that all the important pieces are in place and we continue to work to let our young people know about the opportunities available to them. The math is simple — for every $1 our state spends in manufacturing, more than $1.50 is returned to the economy. That math benefits our young people as well, as the average annual salary for an Oklahoma manufacturing employee is $57,642. And manufacturing is ripe for employees of both genders and of all races. The core education that is needed is part of the STEM initiative already supported in Tulsa. Manufacturing and education are comparable in importance to our region — and both will yield great rewards if properly nurtured! Larry Mocha is CEO of APSCO Inc., a manufacturer of pneumatic cylinders and valves for the truck and auto equipment industry. APSCO has grown from $600,000 annual sales in 1984 to more than $10 million in 2013. He currently serves as chairman of Compsource Oklahoma, chairman of the Tulsa Community College Foundation and chairman of the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Manufacturing Council.

Tulsa’s Green Country Staffing Puts Residents to Work

ulsa’s Green Country Staffing has a simple goal: match people looking for jobs with companies looking to hire. It’s a successful formula that has been working well for 25 years. On any given day, Tulsa’s Green Country Staffing has 500 to 600 people placed in jobs in the greater Tulsa area, working primarily in industrial, administrative/clerical and hospitality industries. While those workers start as temporary employees, the goal is to move them into permanent positions. The job placement firm contracts with 95 companies in the area each week to find workers, although it will do business with more than 200 employers over the course of the year. Some of them may be looking for one person to fill a short-term

On any given day, Tulsa’s Green Country Staffing has 500 to 600 people placed in jobs in the greater Tulsa area, working primarily in industrial, administrative/clerical and hospitality roles. role, while others need several workers who they hope can remain on the payroll long after a specific project is completed. Company Founder and President Mike Kelly started the firm in 1989 and recalls that one of the first jobs for which he needed to find workers was filling bags of ice on a hot Fourth of July. That got it started, and the company has kept growing ever since. Last year, Kelly says, was the best year yet for Tulsa’s Green Country Staffing with more than $12 million in billings.

He’s proud, too, of operating with a lean staff of 16 employees who are focused on helping put applicants to work. Applicants looking for work do not pay any costs to land a job. They simply go online or come to the office near 71st Street and Garnett Road to fill out an application and see what jobs need to be filled. Applicants are required to have a face-to-face interview at the office as well as pass a background check and drug test. The process usually takes 20 to

40 minutes. Kelly says he approaches any applicant by asking himself, “Would I want this person working for me?” If so, then there’s a good chance they will be placed in a job, he says. Tulsa’s Green Country Staffing interviews about 200 applicants each week. “We like to think of ourselves as an extension of a client’s human resources department,” Kelly says. Companies employing the temporary workers can hire them permanently at any time, but many applicants work about 480 hours or three months in a job before they become eligible for that. Regardless of whether they work one day or three months, they are covered on the job by workmen’s compensation under

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Tulsa’s Green Country Staffing

6802 S. Garnett Road Broken Arrow, Okla. 74012 918-250-9660 greencountrystaffing.com state law. This trial period allows both the applicant and the hiring company time to see if the job is a good fit for both parties. Kelly says it’s always a great day when a company calls to let Tulsa’s Green Country Staffing know that a temporary worker is being hired permanantly. “That means,” Kelly says with a measure of satisfaction, “that we did our job.”

FIND YOUR NEW CAREER TODAY in one the the following categories! Industrial

Machinists Assemblers Mechanics Welders Logistics Warehousing Expeditors

General Labor Technicians Inspectors Production Forklift drivers Quality Control Aerospace CDL-A Drivers

Administrative/Clerical Executive Assistants Bookeepers Accounting Data Entry specialists Office Managers Collection specialists Receptionists Customer service

Hospitality Servers Chefs Dishwashers Event Services Concessions Food Prep

Visit us today online at www.GreenCountryStaffing.com or come in to 6802 South Garnett Road. • 918-250-9660

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OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

OL 23

TULSA

Daylight Donuts’ Business Recipe A Made-From-Scratch Success

hen local residents think about Daylight Donuts, they likely imagine walking into a storefront location near home and ordering a fresh-made delicious treat for breakfast. What they may not realize is that their purchases are keeping alive a Tulsa-born tradition that now spans six decades and stretches across 27 states from New York to Utah. It’s a 60-year-old business success story that the Tulsa region can take pride in. The company began in 1954 in Tulsa not as a donut shop but as a business venture by Tommy and Lucille Day. Their goal was to create a new kind of flour mix that donut makers could use to create a lighter texture and great flavor for their products. The couple produced their famous donut mix each morning and sold it to shops FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Daylight Donut Flour Co. 11707 E. 11th St. Tulsa, Okla. 74128 800-331-2245 daylightdonuts.com

in the afternoon. This also explains where the company got its name — not from the time of day that most people consume donuts but by combining the name of the founders (“Day”) with the secret to their recipe (a “light” texture). In 1960, the couple added two employees and moved into a 20,000-square-foot facility to process the increasing demand for their donut mix. The Days continued to grow the company until 1977 when they sold the epicurean enterprise to Jerry and Linda Hull. At that time, the company supplied 200 shops in various states with the secret recipe. One more key to the business is that Daylight Donut shop owners are not franchisees. They are licensees. Each shop bearing the Daylight Donuts name is independently owned and operated. Operators do not pay a franchise fee or any upfront licensing fees. Instead,they agree to purchase their ingredients from Daylight Donuts in exchange for the right to use the Daylight Donuts brand name and trademark. It has been a winning formula for entrepreneurs all over the nation, including John and Sheila

Daylight Donut Flour Co. operates from a 65,000square-foot manufacturing facility in east Tulsa where a fleet of trucks departs every Sunday night and Monday morning to deliver supplies to more than 900 donut shops across the nation. Bond, who opened three donut shops in southern Oklahoma. In the 1980s, John joined the Daylight Donut Flour Co. in Tulsa as a sales rep, eventually working his way to become chief operations officer in 1992. Ten years later, he and his wife bought the company from the Hulls. John and Sheila Bond’s son, Jason, now serves as vice president of the company. Daylight Donut Flour Co. operates from a 65,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on Route

Photo by Kevin Armstrong

Jason Bond is vice president of Daylight Donut Flour Co., which his parents bought in 2002 after owning and operating three donut shops in southern Oklahoma. 66 in east Tulsa where a fleet of trucks departs every Sunday night and Monday morning to deliver supplies to more than 900 donut shops across the nation. The facility in Tulsa receives soft wheat from Michigan and hard wheat from Kansas several times a week and then mixes that together with various ingredients in two-story-tall blenders to create 17 varieties of donut mix in 50-pound bags. The company also supplies shop owners with various toppings from coconut and chocolate to peanuts and sugary sprinkles. Oh, and don’t forget the fillings — from raspberries to vanilla cream. Beyond the mixes, Daylight Donuts provides everything from

1-800-331-2245

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restaurant equipment and display cases to paper cups and product bags. “We supply everything you need to operate a donut shop,” Jason Bond says. And what’s a great donut without a cup of coffee? Daylight Donuts started its own private coffee label in 2003 and sells that to shop owners as well. Not all of the company’s products, however, leave the warehouse by semi-trucks. Tulsa is home to the largest concentration of Daylight Donut shops in the nation. Each week, about 90 shop owners drive to the facility to pick up supplies for the 30 outlets in Tulsa and surrounding areas, not far from where it all began.

daylightdonuts.com

1954 Tommy and Lucille Day started their Daylight Donut Flour business in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They pro-

duced their famous light donut mix each morning and sold it to shops in the afternoon... most often from the trunk of their car.

1960 By the end of the fifth year, sales had increased so much that two additional employees had to be

hired and a 20,000 square foot facility was constructed.

1977

The Days retired, selling their company to Jerry and Linda Hull. The company consisted of 200 shops and a fleet of Daylight delivery trucks was soon added.

2002 John and Sheila Bond purchased the company from the

Hulls. The Bonds continue to offer new products and ideas created in the now 65,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

Today Now celebrating our 60th anniversary, Daylight Donut

Flour Company is on a record pace, with more than 900 Daylight Donuts retail outlets worldwide.

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OL 24

OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

BARTLESVILLE

Small businesses rise with resurgence • Bartlesville’s burgeoning downtown district is fed by a healthy economic climate.

ABOUT BARTLESVILLE Population: 36,245, 12th largest in

Oklahoma

Population change since 2000: 4.3

BY LAURA SUMMERS

percent increase

World Correspondent

Largest employers:

BARTLESVILLE — Kayla Wilson has a big smile on her face when she speaks of sales numbers doubling over the past year at the women’s clothing boutique she owns in downtown Bartlesville. After all, the first couple of years in a new business have a learning curve, and sometimes it takes awhile to settle into Bartlesville profits. But the bright blue awning of Lubella’s Boutique is drawing in a growing stream of customers who line up to buy lacy tunics, printed leggings TULSA and tantalizing drink mixes. Wilson’s success story shows the economic climate in Bartlesville is going well for businesses large and small these days. “There’s a lot of good, positive things going on in Bartlesville,” said Ann Gaines, Bartlesville Development Corp. director of business development. “Every indicator we use is positive right now.” Major corporations in town have been plenty busy over the past year keeping a thriving workforce working. Gaines regularly checks in with local companies through her job with the corporation, which oversees administration of the city’s ¼-cent economic development sales tax. The reports she has been receiving spell growth. “Siemens, ABB, Schlumberger, Superior are all very busy,” Gaines said. “Siemens has had a backlog of orders for a year. ABB has a backlog. The business climate is very good.” Many of the growing companies have ties to the energy industry. Schlumberger produces electrical submersible pumps, Siemens provides process

Kayla Wilson (right) helps customer Alicia Shelton in Lubella’s Boutique, her store in Bartlesville. Wilson’s success story shows the economic climate in Bartlesville is going well for businesses large and small these days. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

control instrumentation, and ABB designs and manufactures gas measurement products. The oil industry, of course, has been a backbone of Bartlesville’s economy since the boom days of the early 1900s. Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips — both tied to the early day Phillips Petroleum Co. — are the two largest employers in Bartlesville combining to provide more than 3,100 local jobs. Manufacturing and energy jobs saw growth in the past year locally. The Bartlesville Development Corp. aided in the creation of 377 new jobs, including positions at existing businesses ABB and Superior Companies, as well as companies that moved to the area, including Husky Portable Containers and Dilbeck Manufacturing. The corporate growth strengthens other businesses in town. Housing sales rose in the past year, with 805 homes sold in 2013 in Bartlesville compared to 763 sold in 2012. Public school enrollment grew by 120 students this year. Healthier paychecks mean more shoppers in local stores and more diners in area restaurants. This makes an ideal climate for growing small businesses like Wilson’s boutique, which moved

in 2013 to the storefront at 216 S.E. Frank Phillips Blvd. Bolstered by successful sales, Wilson doubled her inventory and focused on creating promotions to lure more customers downtown. Third Thursday — an evening downtown shopping promotion in which participating businesses offer special deals and prizes — was Wilson’s creation and has benefited her as well as others in the heart of town. Now she is chairing Downtown Bartlesville Inc.’s promotions committee to put even more creative ideas to work. “I think especially this year we have so much planned that it will really help bring even more people downtown,” Wilson said. Businesses of all sizes benefit from Bartlesville’s low cost of operations, quality workforce and community support from the government and the customers, according to Gaines. Educational support and training provided by Tri County Technology Center, Rogers State University and Oklahoma Wesleyan University are part of the keys to success for many local businesses that hire interns and graduates from the local school programs.

• Phillips 66 (1,600) • ConocoPhillips (1,500) • Bartlesville Public Schools (815) • Wal-Mart Distribution Center (800) • Jane Phillips Medical Center (800) Median home price: $114,563 Unemployment rate: 4.1 percent Did you know: Bartlesville’s downtown district has gained 33 businesses and 121 jobs over the past two years; Washington Park Mall in Bartlesville serves a 111,223 population base from the draw of customers to the area from neighboring cities and counties. History: Entrepreneurs have been drawn to Bartlesville since its days as an Indian Territory town, but it was oil that put the city on the map. The most famous oilman for Bartlesville is Frank Phillips — who founded Phillips Petroleum Co. Key contact information: Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, 201 S.W. Keeler Ave., 918-3368708, bartlesville.com; Bartlesville Development Corp., 918-3378086, 201 S.W. Keeler Ave., bdcok.org; Downtown Bartlesville Inc., 401 S.E. Dewey Ave. , 918214-8500

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Success built on oil

Industry shaped Tulsa’s economy and culture

he energy industry has played a vital role in the development of Tulsa since the early 20th century. Soon after the city’s incorporation, oil was discovered in northeast Oklahoma and as the booming energy industry powered Tulsa’s growth, the moniker “Oil Capital of the World” was bestowed upon the city. Today, the energy industry still thrives in Tulsa and makes a large contribution to the local economy, directly supporting approximately 10 percent of the jobs in the area. It should be noted that these are well-paying jobs with meaningful benefits. Additionally, some of the pioneers of the oil and gas business in the city have made a tremendous contribution to the cultural landscape of Tulsa. Among other Tulsa-based meaningful endowments, two worldclass museums, the Gilcrease Museum and the Philbrook Museum of Art, were endowed by families that found success in the oil fields around Tulsa. The current and historic importance of the energy industry in Tulsa makes the city a great place to locate and grow an energy company. I came to Tulsa in 1988 as an employee of an energy company and have subsequently founded four successful oil and gas companies, each of them based in Tulsa. My most recent company, Laredo Petroleum, was formed in 2006 and today has an enterprise value of approximately $5 billion with annual revenues approaching $750 million and a workforce of more than 300 employees. We work in

RANDY A. FOUTCH Chairman & CEO Laredo Petroleum concert with state and local leaders who recognize the benefits of being at the center of the energy industry and employ a common sense approach to making sure both the people of Tulsa and the companies based here mutually benefit. I had the opportunity to locate my companies many different places, but none of them could offer the same advantages as Tulsa. The foundation of success for all of my companies has been the employees. The citizens of Tulsa are acquainted with the oil and gas business and are well-educated, hard-working professionals who want to make a difference. Educational institutions, such as the University of Tulsa, offer petroleum engineering and energy management programs that are among the best in the nation and are preparing the next generation of energy industry leaders. We have been able to hire the best and brightest of the talented workforce in the area, and they have been instrumental in the success of all of my companies. We are also able to attract professionals to Tulsa based on the

An oil well at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve north of Pawhuska is one of many sights that show the Tulsa area’s deep roots in the energy industry. Tulsa World file

quality of life offered here. With great schools, extensive cultural offerings and minimal traffic issues, Tulsa offers many advantages that help to attract and retain the quality employees that are the lifeblood of any successful enterprise. The historic, symbiotic relationship between Tulsa and the energy industry continues today. The underlying strengths of

Tulsa make it a great place to base and grow an energy company. In turn, the successes of those same companies allow them to give back to the city, furthering its status as such an exceptional place to live. Laredo Petroleum is proud to call Tulsa home, and I look forward to a bright future for Laredo Petroleum, Tulsa and the area’s

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

energy industry. Randy Foutch has more than 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He serves on the board of directors of Helmerich & Payne Inc. He also serves on the board of directors of Cheniere Energy. He is also a member of the National Petroleum Council, America’s Natural Gas Alliance and the Advisory Council of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas, Austin.

OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

OL 25

BIXBY

Oklahoma’s ‘Garden Spot’ is blooming • Bixby’s growth and average per capita income of $36,257 has garnered upscale development.

ABOUT BIXBY 2012 population estimate: 22,580, 19th largest in Oklahoma

Population change since 2000: 69.3

BY STEPHANIE ANDRE

percent increase

World Correspondent

BIXBY — Once nicknamed the “The Garden Spot of Oklahoma” for its rich agriculture, Bixby has blossomed into one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. Upscale retail centers and luxury apartments continue to sprout up along Memorial Drive as commercial developers swarm to the area to capitalize on its exponential growth and affluent demographics. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bixby’s population has grown by 69 percent since 2000, making it the 19th largest city in the state. Bixby also has a per capita income of $36,257, which is the highest in the Tulsa metro area, and 51 percent higher than the state as a whole. The positive demographics have served as a strong selling point to potential business developers. One specific TULSA area that will see a signifiBixby cant amount of development this year is between 106th and 109th on Memorial Drive near north Bixby. The Vineyard on Memorial, a $10.5 million, 58,000-square-foot upscale retail center, is scheduled to open early this year. Tenants of the center will include two New Orleans-based restaurants: La Crepe Nanou, a French bistro and creperie, and The Wine Loft, an upscale wine bar and restaurant. Some other tenants in the process of finalizing leases include a dress store, a coffee shop and a bakery. Steve Walman, a partner of the South Tulsa Development Group, cited the positive demographics and the lack of shopping and fine dining options in the area as key factors in the development of the center. “There are currently several developments out

Largest employers

• Regal Plaza (600) • Bixby Public Schools (460) • Kimberly Clark (400)

Median home value (2008-2012): $185,700

Did you know: Sprouts Farmers

The Vineyard on Memorial, a $10.5 million, 58,000-square-foot upscale retail center, is scheduled to open early this year. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

there, but they don’t have a tenant mix that appeals to what is essentially the highest demographic profile in northeast Oklahoma and probably within the state,” Walman said. “The fast-food restaurants found the locations first, and all of them are doing extremely well. It is surprising that some of the full-service restaurants haven’t seen that if fast food can do those kinds of volumes with that demographic profile, then what is the potential of full service? I think it’s significant.” Another large project by the South Tulsa Development Group that is slated to open later this year is Children’s Learning Adventure, a $10 million state-of-the-art child-care and preschool complex. The 25,000-square-foot facility will be next to the Vineyard on Memorial. With a capacity of approximately 440 children, the center will be the largest child-care facility in Oklahoma. Aside from its large capacity, the center stands out from other local day-care centers because it offers amenities such as commercial grade kitchens for cooking classes and an art studio with a pottery kiln.

In addition to commercial development, Bixby has also attracted the attention of real estate developers. Two luxury apartment complexes, Marquis on Memorial at 146th Street South and Encore Memorial at 126th Street South, have both reported a high number of tenants. Encore Memorial is at 97 percent leasing capacity. It is highly likely that an apartment complex being touted as the most luxurious in the state will start construction this spring. The Chateau Villas complex will sit on 23 acres on the east side of 123rd Street South and Memorial Drive and will include 375 upscale units. Saltwater pools, 9-foot ceilings, and wood floors are among the several high-end amenities to be featured at the complex. Kevin Jordan, CEO of the Black Gold Group and the project developer, said Bixby is an ideal location for an apartment complex on such a grand scale. “Most of the new projects right now are successful. We feel like the market in this particular area is extremely good to absorb these and other projects in the planning stages.”

Market grocery store opened its first eastern Oklahoma location at 101st and Memorial Drive in 2013. The Bixby store achieved the second-highest sales opening in the firm’s history, barely missing the record itself. History: In the mid-20th century, Bixby was given the nickname “The Garden Spot of Oklahoma” because it was a major shipping center for produce. Even today, a few produce stores and several sod farms are still in operation. Key contacts: Bixby Metro Chamber of Commerce, 918-366-9445 or bixbychamber.com, or email events@bixbychamber.com to join its mailing list and receive updates on business news and events in the community.

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BROKEN ARROW

City attracting a lot of new business • Chief among the reasons are its easy accessibility and willingness to negotiate incentive deals.

ABOUT BROKEN ARROW Population: 102,019, fourth-largest in Oklahoma Population change since 2000: 36.3 percent increase

BY NOUR HABIB

World Staff Writer

BROKEN ARROW — Broken Arrow is a friendly place for business, whether that business is a major manufacturer that is one of the city’s largest employers or a local restaurant that’s taking a chance in an area still in the midst of revitalization. The city has shown a willingness in recent years to negotiate incentive deals with businesses large and small to keep them in town or lure them over, in an effort to keep the momentum going in the state’s fourthlargest city. Fo u r y e a r s ago, city officials approved Broken a $13 million TULSA Arrow tax-increment financing district to keep and create jobs at FlightSafety International, which manufactures flight-simulator machines, and to help revitalize downtown. That effort is paying off today, with FlightSafety remaining one of the city’s largest employers and the newly branded downtown Rose District — which is now at 90 percent occupancy — making a name for itself as an arts and entertainment district. Kinnee Tilly, senior vice president of the Broken Arrow Economic Development Corp., said the city has the third-largest cluster of manufacturers in the state: about 350. “Everything from the small, family-owned shop up to the large companies such as Baker Hughes and FlightSafety,” Tilly said. Many of companies are energy- and aviationrelated, Tilly said. “The reason that manufacturing is so important to our community is that it creates primary

Largest employers

FlightSafety International remains one of the largest employers in Broken Arrow four years after city officials approved a $13 million tax-increment financing district. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

jobs, which in turn support the creation of other jobs in Broken Arrow,” she said. On the retail end of Broken Arrow’s business growth, Chamber of Commerce President Wes Smithwick said there are a variety of factors, in addition to a high daytime population, that attracts retailers to the city. “Our market is ringed by a great circle of road infrastructure that makes it easy to get anywhere in Broken Arrow,” Smithwick said, citing the Broken Arrow Expressway, the Creek Turnpike and U.S. 169. There is activity at almost every interchange along the Broken Arrow South Loop of the Creek Turnpike, Smithwick said, and most of the areas can be reached in about 15 minutes from the Tulsa metro. Growth is a cycle, with jobs attracting people and a higher population attracting more retail,

officials said. Passing the 100,000 population mark — Broken Arrow is estimated to have about 105,000 residents now — has been a big boost for the city, landing it on more national lists. “Retailers and restaurants come to where the people are,” Smithwick said. With many families choosing to locate in Broken Arrow for the school system, Smithwick says the population is also comparatively young, with a median age in the mid-30s. There’s also plenty of space to continue to grow, with a fence line of 101 square miles. City officials have previously said that the ultimate build-out of the Broken Arrow population could reach 250,000. Nour Habib 918-581-8369 nour.habib@tulsaworld.com

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

• Broken Arrow Public Schools (2,090) • Wal-Mart Stores (900) • Northeastern State University (800) • FlightSafety (715) Median home price: $158,000 Unemployment rate: Broken Arrow — 5.3 percent; Oklahoma — 5.4 percent; national — 6.7 percent Did you know: Broken Arrow currently has more than a dozen sites throughout the city available for development, several of which will soon be anchored by big retailers, including Warren Theatres and Sprouts Farmers Market. History: The completion of the Broken Arrow Expressway in the 1960s was a big factor in the beginning of the city’s growth. Key contact information: Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce; 210 N. Main, Suite C; 918-251-1518;

brokenarrowchamber.com

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OL 26

Sunday, March 2, 2014

CATOOSA

OUTLOOK 2014

Port, casino make Catoosa a safe bet • With population continuing to boom, the new Catoosa Hills Shopping Center is on the way.

ABOUT CATOOSA Population: 7,151, 56th largest in

Oklahoma

Population change since 2000:

BY LENZY KREHBIEL-BURTON

31.5 percent increase

World Correspondent

CATOOSA — Barges and blackjack have opened the door for explosive growth in Catoosa. The Tulsa Port of Catoosa’s impact is directly felt in the Rogers County town, as it helped ignite a population boom that has been going on for four decades. Since the port opened in 1971, Catoosa has grown from a community of fewer than 1,000 residents to a population of 7,151 as of 2012, an increase of 637 percent. “We have 4,000 people working out here, so Catoosa is going to feel the spillover benefits,” Director Bob Portiss Catoosa said. “What they spend TULSA their money on is going to benefit Catoosa and help it grow.” The second farthest inland port in the United States, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa handled 2.7 million tons of barge cargo in 2013. More than 60 commercial and industrial businesses have offices at the facility. “Energy and agriculture drive our boats,” Portiss said. “What I’m seeing as far as the energy industry is concerned, they have to. We will continue to see strong volumes of cargo by barge due to its low-cost nature. “It costs more to do business today. If they can find a way to ship their products to market and if they can save a buck, they’re going to do it. We certainly offer a mode of transportation that you clearly can’t overlook.” Along with the port, continued expansion of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa has helped spur job creation in the community since it opened in 1993 as Cherokee Nation Bingo Out-

Largest employers:

• Tulsa Port of Catoosa (4,000) • Cherokee Nation (1,811)

Unemployment rate (October 2013): 4.4 percent

Did you know: The Tulsa Port of

Tulsa Port of Catoosa Director Bob Portiss points out that Catoosa benefits from the 4,000 people employed at the shipping and manufacturing complex. “What they spend their money on is going to benefit Catoosa and help it grow,” he said. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

post. The casino and the two corporate entities over it — Cherokee Nation Entertainment and Cherokee Nation Businesses — account for 1,811 jobs in Catoosa alone, more than 93 percent of Cherokee Nation Businesses’ positions in Rogers County. “It (the casino) has made it more lucrative to do business here,” Mayor Harold “Red” Staten said. “We have two new hotels, and they’re full almost every night. You have to have a reservation to get a room. You can’t just walk in the door any more.” Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that, despite the Great Recession, the total number of businesses based in Catoosa is 12 percent higher than it was 10 years ago when the casino added its first hotel tower and reopened the Cherokee Hills golf course. “Cherokee Nation Businesses started with the casinos, which generated money and expertise that allowed us to branch into other types of businesses,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief

CLAREMORE

Bill John Baker said. “A large part of our profit is invested back into those businesses, which helps us grow and create more jobs. Everything we do puts dollars directly back into local economies.” Catoosa’s growth has even caught the attention of Wal-Mart, which is building a store in Catoosa across 193rd East Avenue from the casino. Scheduled to open later this year, the store will be the anchor of the new Catoosa Hills Shopping Center. Construction on the shopping center has helped spur work on two more hotels, adding even more jobs to what has become Catoosa’s third-largest industry behind manufacturing and retail sales. “I think what it is when we look at Tulsa and its suburbs, we have several strong economic engines that we’re all benefitting from,” Portiss said. “On top of that, there’s a low cost of living compared to other parts of country. Still have the open areas, with all city amenities.”

Catoosa is the second farthest inland U.S. port, trailing only Minnesota’s Port of Duluth-Superior. History: Initially a Cherokee community, Catoosa benefited as the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad laid tracks into town in 1881, sparking its transformation into a cattle hub. Although agriculture remains significant, the town’s location on Route 66 led to further economic diversification in the 1940s and 1950s, thanks to travelers. Between the port, which opened in 1971, and the development and expansion of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Catoosa’s population grew from less than 1,000 in 1970 to more than 7,000 in 2012. Contact info: catoosachamber.org, 918-266-6042

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Claremore focusing on five key areas • It is working to improve in city planning, water, transportation, tourism and partnerships.

ABOUT CLAREMORE Population: 18,867, 25th largest in

Oklahoma

Population change since 2000: 18.9

BY RHETT MORGAN

percent increase

World Staff Writer

CLAREMORE — With last year’s implementation of Claremore 2020, the city knows where it wants to go. The question is how soon it can get there. “When I understood how important sales tax was for the community, that it’s the lifeblood, I was just very surprised that they didn’t have a bigger retail establishment,” said City Manager Jim Thomas, who came to Oklahoma in November after serving as a town administrator on the East Coast. “We really service about 55,000 people in our three-mile radius. I thought it was a great opportunity to come in and Claremore make a difference.” The 2020 initiative details ways to improve in five TULSA areas — city planning, water, transportation, tourism and partnerships — and lists immediate and longterm objectives. “The City Council has been focused like a laser beam on that specific plan,” Thomas said. Mayor Bill Flanagan said the city’s sales-tax revenues rose 2 percent over the previous year. But there is plenty of room for improvement. “There are times I feel guilty when I have to go over to Owasso to get a Chick-fil-A fix,” Thomas said. “I think the residents want to shop Claremore first. But they say we don’t have a Kohl’s. We don’t have a Target. We can’t buy a suit here. They want more dining opportunities and a variety of grocery stores. “They just want competition. They realize competition makes everybody sharper.”

Largest employers:

Baker Hughes employees walk past a pump at the company’s new $36 million Artificial Lift Research and Technology Center in Claremore. Baker Hughes opened the facility Feb. 20. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

Dell Davis, president of the Claremore Chamber of Commerce, said the city wants growth, but not at the expense of its small-town charm. “Our manufacturing is doing extremely well,” she said. “Our mom-and-pop shops are doing well. Where we’ve struggled is the big-box retail. The debate in town is do we want it or do we not want it. “Sometimes, when you get those big-box retailers, you lose your identity as a community.” Companies are making significant economic and industrial footprints in the city. Claremore sank $3.2 million in infrastructure for the new $40 million Baker Hughes Artificial Lift Research and Technology Center, which held a grand opening in February. St. John Clinic, a 23,000-square-foot urgent care facility, is in the works. In addition, three hotels valued at a total of $25 million to $30 million are scheduled to begin construction soon, Thomas said. Addressing water and transportation concerns should pave the way for more development. By December, the city wants to award a construction contract for a second water treatment plant.

Claremore is evaluating its water sources, treatment and distribution needs to meet demand at least for the next 25 years, he said. As for transportation, the municipality is working to ease traffic congestion that has plagued it for decades. Oklahoma highways 20, 66 and 88 serve Claremore, and two railways dissect it: the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific. About 50 trains pass through the center of Claremore each day, slowing traffic and emergency vehicle response times. To mitigate some of the problem, Claremore is studying an east-west realignment of Oklahoma 20 that will tie into Oklahoma 66, a plan Thomas wants to make happen by 2018. “That’s going to be critical,” he said. “That’s going to open up 1,000 acres of undevelopable property right now.” “Our goal is to make that connection and give people a safer more direct route getting east and west in Claremore.” Rhett Morgan 918-581-8395 rhett.morgan@tulsaworld.com

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• Baker Hughes (1,100) • Rogers State University (729) • Claremore Public Schools (600) Median home price: $112,300 Unemployment rate: N/A Did you know: The Belvidere Mansion, in Claremore, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Completed in 1907, it is a three-story Victorian whose main floor features an L-shaped foyer with Italian tile, marble wainscoting and pressed-tin walls and ceilings. History: When Oklahoma was still Indian Territory, two railways that dissected Claremore set the stage for its early growth in the late 1800s. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific Railroad serve the city to this day. Key contact information: Dell Davis, president, Claremore Chamber of Commerce, 918-341-2818 CLAREMOREWORLD.COM

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OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

OL 27

GLENPOOL

Glenpool having its own boom now • The Southwest Crossroads development is helping the city emerge.

ABOUT GLENPOOL Population: 12,301, 40th largest in Oklahoma Population change since 2000: 31 percent increase

BY BRITT GREENWOOD

Largest employers:

World Correspondent

GLENPOOL — No longer does the Glenpool Chamber of Commerce pride itself in being, “The town that made Tulsa famous,” as it once did. In 1905, the discovery of the Ida Glenn No. 1 oil well sparked Oklahoma’s oil boom, making the Glenn Pool a mecca of roughnecks, creating major pipelines and propelling Tulsa as “The oil capital of the world.” Eight years after passing its centennial, Glenpool is observing its own boom, reclaiming its worth as an emerging city in Oklahoma. The pinnacle of G l e n p o o l ’s TULSA growth is centered on Glenpool the Southwest Crossroads development. In 2008, WalMart built one of the largest stores in the state, and a growing number of businesses and tax dollars soon followed. Currently, 28 business are located in the development and attracting the attention of more major retail chains. “The real big burst as far as economic development concerning business came when Wal-Mart saw this as a perfect location for them,” Glenpool Chamber President Jennifer Cook said. “The natural location and how the highways (Creek Turnpike, Oklahoma 117 and U.S. 75) have been built and construction has been utilized has led a lot to the development of this area.” Another feature located in the Southwest Crossroads development is the Glenpool Conference Center, which also houses the

• Walmart (300) • Glenpool Public School (300) • Con-way Transportation (170) Median home price: $128,000 Unemployment rate: 5.1 percent (July 2013) Did you know: 45,000 vehicles drive through Glenpool a day on U.S. 75 History: In addition to putting Tulsa on the map,the discovery of the Glenn Pool launched the communities of Keifer, Jenks and Mounds Key contact information: Glenpool Chamber of Commerce: GlenpoolChamber.org GLENPOOLWORLD.COM

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Santa Fe Cattle Co. is one of the 28 businesses that are part of the Southwest Crossroads development in Glenpool. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

city offices and the Chamber of Commerce. In 2013, 223 events were held with an estimated visitor attendance of 33,600. The facility is available for banquets, meetings and conferences. With the Holiday Inn Express — construction completion due in April — and the Comfort Inn across U.S. 75, there is ample room to house visitors of multi-day events. Being a smaller community also provides businesses ample opportunity for quick reputation building. One business, Simple Simon’s, recently opened its flagship location in Southwest Crossroads in December and is already donating to Glenpool schools, the chamber and attending fundraising events. “They really are making a big splash,” Cook said. Coupled with the location of the highways and land, Glenpool is wide open for growth for not only retail but manufacturing. “Now is the time, because if businesses wait too long to build or relocate, the cost of land will increase.” She explained that an ample amount of industrial-zoned land is located directly off of

U.S. 75 and businesses can build exactly what they want from the ground up. The development of Tulsa Hills, seven miles north of Glenpool, is actually boosting business in Glenpool, said city spokeswoman Mandy Vavrinak. “The Tulsa Hills retail development and surrounding renewed residential and apartment development proved a market on the west side of the Arkansas River, along the 75 highway corridor — that many people were convinced just didn’t exist. Proving that market has helped attract retail, hospitality and professional service businesses to Glenpool over the past few years because more people were paying attention to our area of the metro,” Vavrinak said. Glenpool won’t duplicate Tulsa Hills stores but will gain their competition, according to Cook. Even with a Walmart presence, small business competitors such as Curtin Drug have been able to thrive. “We opened the store from scratch about

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glenpoolworld.com six years ago,” said pharmacist and owner Nick Curtin. “It was a growing community and looked like a good place to be ... we’ve grown steadily. We know our people who shop with us, and they know us. That gives us an edge over someplace like Walmart.” According to Nielsen Business-Facts, the 272 businesses in Glenpool employ 2,923 people and generate sales of $568.8 million annually with retail trade area reach of 104,167 people. The population sits around 12,301, but the population is expected to increase 6.08 percent over the next six years. The city’s population rose 25.98 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to the U.S. census.

JENKS

Bank’s HQ just part of Jenks’ growth • The new First Oklahoma Bank building marks a coming of age.

ABOUT JENKS Population: 16,924, 28th largest in Oklahoma

BY MICHAEL OVERALL

Population change since 2000: 77 percent increase Largest employers:

World Staff Writer

JENKS — Six-stories tall with a cupola and flag pole adding even more height, the new First Oklahoma Bank gives Jenks something it has never had before. A skyline. When it opens this summer, it will mark a coming of age for Jenks, a definitive end to its old reputation as a bedroom community for commuters who worked in Tulsa and just went home to sleep in Jenks. “It’s an around-the-clock community now,” said bank chairman and co-CEO Tom Bennett Jr. First Oklahoma Bank looked at several locations in the Tulsa area TULSA before deciding Jenks where to build its new headquarters. But in hindsight, Bennett said, the choice seems pretty obvious. “We see a lot of good things happening in Jenks,” he said. “It’s a growth area for sure.” Rising on the west side of the 91st Street bridge, the new building will have sweeping views of the Arkansas River. And as an anchor for downtown Jenks’ growing Village on Main, it will have plenty of nearby shops and restaurants for employers to enjoy at lunch and after work. “Customers, too,” Bennett added. “We wanted to be in an area that our customers would want to come to.” To make the trip a little easier, last October voters approved a bond issue for nearly $14 million to improve major streets across Jenks and spark even more development. With millions of additional dollars in state and federal funding, the projects will improve access to downtown from Elwood Avenue, the suburb’s major north-south thoroughfare. Another $7.5

• Jenks Public Schools (1,300) • Kimberly-Clark (400) Median house price: $187,000 Unemployment: 5.1 percent in Jenks, 5.6 percent in Oklahoma, 7.9 percent nationally Did you know: In 2007, Money Magazine’s ranked Jenks No. 43 in its “Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.,” making it the only city in Oklahoma to make the list. History: Opened in May 2003, the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks has become one of the top tourism destinations in the area with more than half a million visitors a year. Tom Bennett Jr. (left), chairman and co-CEO of First Oklahoma Bank, and Tom Bennett III, president and coCEO, stand in front of the bank’s under-construction headquarters in Jenks. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

million will build access roads off the Creek Turnpike between Elm Street and the Arkansas River. Hinting that big-name, big-box retailers have shown interest, officials hope it will draw investors to a proposed River District shopping area south of the turnpike. Throw in a low-crime rate and excellent schools and Jenks offers a great place to live and work, Bennett said. “What really drew us to Jenks was the education community,” he said. “The school system is such a focus, and it produces a great local spirit.” One of the area’s largest employers is the Kimberly-Clark paper mill and factory located on the Arkansas River between Jenks and Bixby. Daily, some 80 tractor-trailer loads worth of product roll out of Kimberly-Clark’s factory, ship-

ping bath tissue and paper towels to distribution centers and retailers throughout the country. The 1.8 million-square-foot factory, opened in 1990, sits on 342 acres and employs about 400. Once committed to building in Jenks, Bennett found one more reason to be pleased with the choice. “Everybody was very easy to work with,” he said, explaining that officials were always quick to resolve issues with permits, utilities and planning approval. “It’s a very business-friendly environment, and businesses are responding to that.” Michael Overall 918-581-8383 michael.overall@tulsaworld.com

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Key contact: jenkschamber. com

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OL 28

OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

OWASSO

Owasso is ideal spot for commerce • The city is close to two federal highways, as well as the Tulsa International Airport.

ABOUT OWASSO Population: 18,867, 13th largest in

Oklahoma

Population change since 2000: 70

BY RHETT MORGAN

percent increase

World Staff Writer

Largest employers:

OWASSO — In January, the city topped the $2 million mark in monthly sales tax revenues for the first time in its history. Which was cause for celebration, as well as some anxiety. “It raises concerns, too,” said Chelsea Levo, the city’s economic development director. “Growth continues. We’re Owasso not just growing north. We’re growing south. We’re growing east and west. TULSA “With this spread and economic and residential growth, we have to make sure our infrastructure is up to standard, and not just getting by but continuing our standard of excellence that we believe we have set for this community.” Surpassing those standards is one reason Owasso is considered a premier Tulsa-area location for business. In terms of economic development, 2013 proved to be a watershed year. The city extended a $500,000 incentive to help lure into its school district a $170 million Macy’s distribution center, which is scheduled to open in April 2015. A 136,000-square-foot Sam’s Club opened in October. Also, in August, students began their first semester at the new $38.5 million Tulsa Technology Center in Owasso. The city’s proximity to two federal highways (U.S. 169 and U.S. 75), as well as the Tulsa International Airport, make Owasso an ideal location for business. Two-thirds of the city’s retail sales come from nonresidents. Levo was hired six years ago with an objective to complement the municipality’s firm retail base by adding high-quality jobs.

The new $38.5 million Tulsa Technology Center campus in Owasso opened in August. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World file

But half a year later, the economy took a nosedive, and she had to turn her attention to boosting existing businesses with a “Buy Owasso” campaign. Things are looking up. The city’s largest retail center, Smith Farm Marketplace, which watched tenants drop out from 2009-12, no longer has any vacancies, Levo said. And Owasso’s January sales-tax check for nearly $2.1 million represented a 15.7 percent increase over the same month a year ago. “We’ve seen a lot of these what we call dark spots fill in, all around the community at all of retail shopping areas,” Levo said. “That is a positive. “Bringing in more sales tax means goes back into making sure we are keeping up with all of the things that we need, as far as good, safe roads;

good, safe infrastructure; and good safety services to keep our community strong and vibrant.” Levo said she believes solid development standards continue to help set Owasso apart when luring commerce. Being close to Cherokee Industrial Park and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, one of the largest inland ports in the country, benefits the city, as well. “It not only attracts development but attracts people to the community,” Levo said. “We know we’re going to see some spinoff from Macy’s. We hope the story helps add to our attractiveness. “I believe we can attract some primary jobs to this area. We still have land, and we definitely have a business-friendly environment.” Rhett Morgan 918-581-8395

• Owasso Public Schools (1,150) • Walmart Supercenter (550) • National Steak and Poultry (500) Median home price: $149,900 Unemployment rate: 4.1 percent (Nov. 2013), state 5.4 percent, nation 6.7 percent Did you know: The city has a public arts initiative called “Timmy and Cindy.” It began in the spring of 2004 as part of the city’s centennial celebration. The bronze castings, each displaying an active young boy and girl, have been purchased by individuals, families or organizations. History: The city’s proximity to the city of Tulsa and two federal highways, U.S. 169 and U.S. 75, have made Owasso an attractive destination and regional retail player. As Tulsa’s second-largest suburb, it likely will maintain that appeal. Key contact information: Chelsea Levo, Owasso economic development director, 918-376-1500.

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OUTLOOK 2014

Sunday, March 2, 2014

OL 29

SAND SPRINGS

Sand Springs growing by leaps, bounds • Vacancies are becoming scarce for the city’s RiverWest development and downtown.

Oklahoma

BY SHANNON MUCHMORE

9.4 percent increase

ABOUT SAND SPRINGS Population: 19,101, 24th largest in Population change since 2000:

World Staff Writer

SAND SPRINGS — City officials hope this is the year for the city-owned RiverWest development to take shape and become the destination it was always intended to be. In 2003, Tulsa County voters approved $14.5 million in Vision 2025 funds to buy 180 properties in the Keystone Corridor, of which RiverWest is a part. It’s bordered by the Sand Springs Expressway, Morrow Road, Main Street and Oklahoma 97 (Wilson Avenue). Many companies have been Sand approached Springs about locating in RiverWest, inTULSA cluding restaurants like TGI Fridays, Applebees and Chili’s. “We’ve had just about everybody you could think of come look at this property,” Mayor Mike Burdge said. In July, the City Council approved a conceptual site plan for a four-story hotel in the area. Burdge said utility companies will soon be doing work so infrastructure on the hotel can be started. Another retailer is planning to locate at RiverWest but hasn’t yet consented to being publicly named, he said. Burdge and other city officials have talked to residents about what they’d like to see at RiverWest. They want places to sit down and have a nice meal. When CVS Pharmacy decided to locate at RiverWest, the city agreed. The same for the hotel. Just east of RiverWest is the old power plant, where area architect Ken Alexander announced plans in 2010 to build a brewery and restaurant. Burdge thinks work on renovating the building

Largest employers:

Sand Springs Mayor Mike Burdge says residents want sit-down dining at RiverWest development, which will also include a hotel and other businesses. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

could begin in the fourth quarter of this year. The city has set aside money for some type of memorial to honor the neighborhood’s history. It was once a segregated black community that included Booker T. Washington High School. Mary Eubanks, president of the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, said business is growing in the city. Once one or two businesses decide to build, more people come to the area and more businesses start looking at locating in the area, she said. Storefronts are filling up and only two or three buildings downtown are vacant, she said. Sand Springs is a good place for a business to lay roots because of the high-performing schools, as well as the great housing and multiple locations to build a house, Eubanks said.

“I can get you the workforce that you’re needing,” she said. According to the city’s website, Sand Springs “is a culture that respects its rich history, but is laying the groundwork for a prosperous future. It’s a community that takes business, art, culture, health and education seriously, while embracing the importance of its industrial base.” Attractions that lure visitors to the city include the Keystone Ancient Forest, a 1,360-acre nature preserve where people can hike amid 500-yearold cedar and 300-year-old oak trees; and the Katy Trail biking/walking path, which runs eight miles from downtown Tulsa to Sand Springs. Shannon Muchmore 918-581-8378

• Sand Springs Public Schools (800) • Webco Industry (522) • Wal-Mart (375) Median home price: $117,400 Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent Compare this to state and nation Did you know: The RiverWest development currently has a CVS Pharmacy, IHOP, O’Reilly Auto Parts and a McDonalds. A hotel will soon be built there but the brand has not been announced. History: Oilman Charles Page founded the city in 1911. He built the still-standing power plant in the same year and that plant has been targeted for renovation at the end of this year to become a brewery and restaurant. Key contact information: Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, 918-245-3221

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SAPULPA

Sapulpa thrives on industry emphasis • Manufacturing plants have laid the foundation of the city’s economy.

ABOUT SAPULPA Population: 20,793, 21st largest in Oklahoma Population change since 2000: 8.5 percent increase Largest employers:

BY TERI BOWERS

World Correspondent

SAPULPA — “Sapulpa is an industrial city. We don’t run from it, we embrace it.” That declaration by Sapulpa Economic Development Director Ted Fisher is not an official slogan, but it sums up the business environment in the Creek County suburb of Tulsa. “Not all communities in the Tulsa metro want industry, particularly heavy industry — and we not only want it, we really go after it Steve Davis Sr. creates a shower of sparks as he cuts a steel beam at Bennett and provide incentives, and we’ve been very successful,” Fisher said. Steel in Sapulpa. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World “Our industry is very heavily energy-related; most companies have people in Sapulpa seemed more tech as a prime example of a something to do with oil and gas down to earth, more working- company with a sophisticated or chemical business.” class people, and I related myself workforce of engineers and techEven without the current strat- to them.” nicians. He says it would have egy, emphasis on industry has Bennett Steel has grown from been a loss to Oklahoma if a pobeen strong since four employ- tential move from Tulsa to Housstatehood with ees to more than ton had not been discovered and brick, pottery and 200. Bennett says diverted to the Gateway Indusglass manufacturwith ongoing sup- trial Park, south of Oklahoma 66 ing plants laying port from the near 61st West Avenue. the foundation of city, the compa“We were growing fast and Sapulpa’s econony has expanded needed space, and Sapulpa gave a TULSA my. and evolved into lot of support and made all the difSapulpa Dave Bennett, a modern, auto- ference in connecting all the dots founder and presimated facility in and finding the new location and dent of Bennett the Otis R. Rule ultimately staying in Oklahoma,” Steel Inc., relocatIndustrial Park said Lance Golwas, vice president ed from Okmulgee north of Interstate of Sulzer Chemtech. to Sapulpa in 1981 44 near West 96th “We have incredible personto be closer to customers in glass Street. nel and a great talent pool. Most manufacturing. The traditional definition of of our employees have been here “I went round and round on blue-collar work is also evolving 10 years or more,” Golwas said. this place two or three times, and to encompass higher skills, de- “People want to stay here and be I looked at other sites but chose grees and salaries, making techni- connected to the community, and here,” Bennett said. “I’m a fourth- cal industry even more attractive it’s a great place to raise a family.” generation iron worker; that’s to city business development. Asphalt & Fuel Supply moved what I started as, blue collar. The Fisher points to Sulzer Chem- into the same industrial park the

• T.D. Williamson (500) • Paragon Industries (450) • John Christner Trucking (500) Median home price: $102,200 (U.S. Census Bureau, owner-occupied 20082012) Unemployment rate: Sapulpa 5.1%, Oklahoma 5.0%, U.S. 7.0% (November 2013) Did you know: Sapulpa bills itself as Oklahoma’s most connected city because of five four-lane highway options, but the first transportation bragging rights came with the junction of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroads in the 1880s to easily transport walnut logs. History: That railroad connection was called Sapulpa Station in honor of Chief Sapulpa, the first permanent settler who befriended the railway workers. The railroad access became instrumental in Sapulpa’s growth after discovery of the Glenn Pool oil field in 1905, launching dynamic growth in oil and related industries. Key contact information: cityofsapulpa.net and sapulpachamber.com SAPULPAWORLD.COM

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sapulpaworld.com same time frame as Sulzer Chemtech for one of the same reasons — space. “There’s not a lot of area for development in the immediate Tulsa area, and Sapulpa was instrumental in helping us identify and secure a site,” said Matt Roberts, vice president of Asphalt & Fuel Supply. The company retains office space in Tulsa, but the Sapulpa asphalt terminal capitalizes on the city’s connectivity. Sapulpa has five four-lane interstate, state and local highways linking to Tulsa and the entire country.

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

“Our products are transported by tanker trucks all over the country, so it saves time and energy having such direct access to the highway and also the truck stop, it’s a terrific location in more ways than one,” Roberts said. Location is a commodity that has been in short supply, but Fisher says development of a 150-acre industrial park, in Sapulpa city limits, but Tulsa County, is set to launch a new wave of business growth. “We’ve sold three tracts already, before we put a blade in the ground,” Fisher said.

OL 30

Sunday, March 2, 2014

OUTLOOK 2014

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