RACHEL STEWART

from Ponca City Monthly March 2023

Noel Melendez

Tucked away in the industrial sector of First Street, south of Grand Avenue and downtown, lies a largely nondescript building, KR Automation. Relatively new to the community, they are a facility that refurbishes factory parts and equipment for resale to facilities that need those parts. While most of those parts affect factories outside Ponca City and Kay County, the Stewarts, specifically, Rachel Stewart, pour that love right back into the community, all in a love of Ponca City.

Rachel operates KR Automation with her husband, Kyle. It started in humble beginnings in their home, located in Osage County.

“My husband and I started KR Automation in September of 2012 out of our spare room,” she said.

“We moved into our small garage, finally rented a small shop and have grown into two locations of over 40,000 square feet, and currently employ nine people,” she said.

While Kyle operates the physical side of the company, hunting the parts they eventually sell to the industrial community, she runs the finances, the money behind the business, along with a side project, running more than 10 rental properties in Kay and Osage counties, known as KR Investment Properties, LLC.

Her biggest business venture is KR Automation. Started after a business initiative in her own family, today, they approach factories and other industrial facilities that are closing, and buy parts to refurbish for facilities that can use them.

Whether operating a business in Ponca City, or being from the community, it is in their blood to support their local community.

“My husband and I were both born in Ponca City and have lived here all our lives, so supporting the community we live in, and the place our children live, is very important to us,” she said.

Together, they are instrumental in supporting the community.

“We have been long-time supporters of the Ponca City Main Street Program, as well as being a sponsor for their recent project, ‘Ice on the Plaza,’” she said. “We are top sponsors for our local City Arts organization. We annually donate to Marland’s Place, The Opportunity Center, Survivors Resource Network and the Humane Society.”

Rachel has immersed herself into community involvement. That includes Main Street, as previously mentioned, where she was placed on a committee to help make events happen.

“I have been a Promotions committee member for Ponca City Main Street since 2010, helping organize around five events a year,” she said. “I was co-chair of this committee for approximately three years.”

“During my tenure as board member and president, I was involved in most all of the events and functions of the organization,” she said.

During Rachel’s time with the Marland Estate Foundation, she also helped with the Marland Gala. As chairperson of the Marland Gala in 2018, they raised record-breaking funds.

“This event raised over $50,000, and was the highest-attended gala to date,” she said. “The proceeds of this fundraising event went directly to the Marland Estate Foundation, whose purpose is to revitalize the Marland Mansion grounds and estate.”

She was also on the United Way Board for about a year, serving on the Allocations committee.

“During this time, I visited with local nonprofit organizations who received funding from United Way and helped ensure they were receiving adequate amounts and are fulfilling their obligations to receive said monies,” she said.

Additionally, she completed Leadership Ponca City in 2010 and the Citizen’s Police Academy in 2016. She also completed the Fire Academy Program in 2016.

“Attending these programs not only allowed me to be further educated on our city, local and state governments, and city departments, it allowed me to become a bigger advocate for the community,” she said.

All-in-all, she is happy play a part in advocating for her community, whether through her family business or simply believing in a small town.

“I was approached by the editor of our local magazine to write an article in the magazine, and have been writing that for around two and a half years,” she said. “I was also approached to host a local video segment, called ‘What’s Happening in Ponca City,’ sponsored by Ponca City Tourism. I collect all events that are happening locally, write a script and film monthly!”

LIZ GREENE: 580-763-4887