Tamazul, in Oklahoma City’s chic Classen Curve. Andrew Black, vice president of culinary operations at Williams & Associates Hospitality and executive chef of Flint, Vast, Vast Events and Colcord Catering, garnered second place in this year’s survey. Jonathon Stranger, one half of the popular duo of chefs that operate the kitchens of Ludivine, a farm-to-table concept restaurant in Oklahoma City, comes in third this year.
Francis Health System, as the top CEO. Henry has been at the helm of Saint Francis since 2002, and under his tutelage, the hospital has seen major growth, including expansion of key departments and the opening of new facilities. Billionaire philanthropist George Kaiser, CEO of GBK Corp., also earns recognition for his leadership over several companies, including KaiserFrancis Oil Company and BOK Financial Corp. Paula Marshall is the CEO of The Bama Companies and rounds out our top three Best CEOs. Marshall started A great work environment starts at the top. Leadership from scratch at her family’s company by filling racks is key in having happy and productive employees. This with pie shells at the company’s manufacturing plant. year, our readers chose Jake Henry Jr., CEO of Saint He may be just a small-town boy at heart, but billionaire Harold Hamm has created one of the most successful Jake henry Jr., Best CeO NATALIE GREEN energy companies in the country, Continental Resources. Since being elected president and CEO of Devon Energy, John Richels has overseen major growth in the company, including the completion of the now-iconic Devon Tower, which towers over an evergrowing downtown Oklahoma City. OU Medical Center’s Cole Eslyn, who recently retired from the post, rounds out our top three Best CEOs in the Oklahoma City area. AS CEO, Eslyn oversaw Oklahoma’s largest hospital and the only Trauma One center in the state.
CeO
Company to Work For Plenty of things make a company the best to work for. It could be terrific benefits, use of the company gym, even casual Fridays. Williams Companies receives the top nod for its dedication to employees in terms of insurance and tuition assistance, paid time off and commitment to diversity. With employees at dozens of locations in at least 10 states, QuikTrip offers great BOk Center, Best local icon/ landmark COURTESY BOK CENTER
86
Oklahoma Magazine | JULY 2013
incentives for employees, including promotions, bonuses and tuition reimbursement; no wonder they’re tops with our Tulsa readers. ONEOK, a leader in the diversified energy industry, provides a comprehensive benefit package to employees, including 401(k) matching and the relocation packages. Cherokee Nation Businesses employs more than 6,000, with special emphasis on creating jobs for Cherokees. Saint Francis Health System’s focus is on making its patients well, and that philosophy spills over to its employees, as well. Saint Francis employees have a full benefits package as well as access to the facility’s award winning gym, Saint Francis Health Zone. Manhattan Construction provides its employees excellent comprehensive benefits package as well as bonuses and 401(k) matching. Though Chesapeake Energy has undergone a change in CEO this year, the work climate for the energy company’s more than 12,000 employees has not changed. Employees still enjoy access to several on-campus restaurants, a full benefits package, gym and a community garden. Competitive salaries and benefits packages are a hallmark of SandRidge Energy. Continental Resources’ relatively new relocation of its headquarters to Oklahoma City has provided a much larger hiring pool for this expanding energy company. OU Medicine believes in the basic tenets of professionalism, caring, communication, quality and innovation in its workplace, which is why top-tier health care professionals opt for careers at the hospital. The Chickasaw Nation ties for third with OU Medicine as Best Company To Work For. The nation provides employment and employment programs for thousands of individuals committed to improving the quality of life for Chickasaw people.
local icon/landmark Just the mention of these people, places and landmarks conjures up greatness in Okies. In Tulsa, the BOK Center earns the nod as top landmark in the area, and it’s no surprise. Similarly, ONEOK Field, home of the Tulsa Drillers, has transformed the Greenwood District into the place to be during baseball season. The stadium fills with baseball enthusiasts happily chomping on their peanuts and Crackerjacks. And how could readers forget about the man that started it all, the Tulsa Golden Driller? They can’t, of course, which is why he rounds out the top three in Best Local Icons.