405 Business 2022 - June/July

THE METRO’S TOP LAWYERS SKYDANCE BREWING COMPANY THE GREENLY’S WATER4

THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF BLACK-OWNED

STATE OF

BUSINESSES IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

BLACKOWNED BUSINESS

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Features

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State of Black-owned business

Top Attorneys

More than a dozen Black-owned business leaders discuss the trials and triumphs of Black-owned businesses in Oklahoma City.

The peer-reviewed list of the 405’s attorneys and practices.

Departments

J U N E /J U LY 2 02 2

START UP 14 Insight Why diversity matters.

16 My Daily Media Diet with Coin Creative co-founder Erick Worrell.

18 Ask the Mentor Fight for the highest possible good.

20 The Future of …

OKC’s 1,000 new refugees from Afghanistan.

SW EAT E QU ITY 24 Small Business Skydance Brewing Company on how representation matters.

26 Giving Back Water4 brings water to millions.

20 24

28 How I Did It Okola-homa Soda spreads through the metro.

E X IT STRATE GY 66 Downtime Marty Hepp and his solar car.

68 On Topic Why is OKC’s growing diverse makeup important for the city’s future success?

70 Linked In Networking events across the 405.

72 Out of Office Prairie Surf Media co-CEO Rachel Cannon.

Volume 1 Issue 4 On the Cover Dr. Quintin Hughes, Northeast OKC Renaissance founder and board member. Photo by Charlie Neuenschwander.

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VOLUME 1 • NUMBER 4

PRESIDENT & CEO

Jordan Regas

jordan.regas@405magazine.com PUBLISHER

Rod Whitson

rod.whitson@405business.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kayte Spillman

kayte@405business.com ART DIRECTOR

Christopher Lee

christopher.lee@405magazine.com SENIOR WRITER

Greg Horton

greg.horton@405magazine.com

Honoring the individuals, not-for-profits and companies who are making significant contributions to the greater social good in our region.

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Meagan Matthews

meagan@hilltopmediagroup.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Lillian Meador

ads@405magazine.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kristen Grace, Evie Klopp Holzer CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Charlie Neuenschwander, Logan Walcher CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS

405 Business magazine is presenting the inaugural launch of The Purpose and Impact Awards. The program honors professionals and organizations who are building a better, stronger community for all.

405 Business will reveal the winners at an event on October 4th and in the October/November issue of

Marcus Eakers, Lillian Meador EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

Cynthia Whitaker-Attalla

cynthia.whitakerhill@405magazine.com DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Drew Smith

drew.smith@405magazine.com

the magazine.Don’t miss this opportunity to nominate

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

purpose-led individuals in the metro.

terry.bechtold@405magazine.com

Terry Bechtold

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL JULY 1, 2022

Vanda Holland

vanda@405business.com

> 405BUSINESS.COM

Volume 1 / Number 4, 405 Business Magazine (periodicals 21350) is published bi-monthly, six times a year, by Hilltop Media Group, 1613 North Broadway Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73103. Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK and additional mailing offices.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

First, Listen GE T T I N G A STO RY right needs to start with an earnest desire to listen.

It also must come with a pretty big dose of humility that you’re not an expert on anything except yourself and your experiences.

Since launching the magazine late last year, the editorial team knew we wanted to talk about Black-owned businesses in a substantial, meaningful and thorough way. But, we also carried with us a duty and a desire to write about it accurately and honestly.

To do so, we needed to step back and let others who are experts speak their stories. We aren’t the experts, and we needed to let those that are the authorities have their voices ring out the loudest on these pages.

To that end, I’m so thankful first to J.D. Baker, who wrote a portion of our cover story about the history of Black-owned businesses in Oklahoma City (pg. 38). His piece is an anchor to understand the rest of the stories. And, I’m grateful to the guiding expertise of Joanne Davis, Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce executive director, Dr. Quintin Hughes, our cover star and founder of Northeast OKC Renaissance, and so many others who help shape our understanding of this vibrant, vital and rising business community in Oklahoma City. I’m also thankful for Sharina Perry, Mike Lyles, Stephen and Staci Nelson, Krystal Yoseph and Curt, James and Christopher Foster who allowed us to tell their stories as Black entrepreneurs. Their stories were an inspiration to me, and I hope they will be to you as well. I mean, Sharina Perry re-invented how we will look at plastics forever. You heard it here first.

We’ve surrounded this cover feature with some other great stories too: Water4 has provided

While interviewing, we heard:

Jabee Williams Emmy-award winning rapper and business owner “All we’ve ever wanted was access to resources and to be included in the decisionmaking processes that affect our communities.”

almost two million people living in sub-Saharan Africa with clean drinking water through 7,800 water projects . I am in awe of that kind of dedication to doing good. And we profile Jacob Keyes and Skydance Brewing Company, which is Oklahoma’s only Native-American-owned craft brewery (pg. 24).

He is spreading his indigenous culture and showing us just how much representation matters.

This issue is full of stories of those succeeding and working to make their communities better. And I can promise you that if goal is to tell those stories, we’ve found the best place to start is by listening.

Kayte Spillman EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Brad Bandy The Spero Project co-founder “I think a healthy city remakes itself to include the wholeness of all its residents – all that they offer to the collective and all that they need from it to be safe and secure.”

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S TA RT UP Put Up a Good Fight Jeremie Kubicek discusses the importance of fighting for the good of all people, and how that guiding principle ultimately is how to build trust. p.18

INSIGHT MY DAILY MEDIA DIET ASK THE MENTOR THE FUTURE OF

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INSIGHT

S TA RT U P

Here are a few ideas I believe can help us shift our thinking when it comes to building better teams – teams with more diversity in race/ethnicity, gender and age, but also different backgrounds, thoughts, perspectives and ideas: Take inventory.

The best place to start is assessing your organization – what are you doing well? What could use improvement and what opportunities exist to better serve your current team and attract prospective talent?

•

• • •

Be willing to change.

It can seem counterintuitive to surround ourselves with outside, differing or varying opinions, but it’s where the best and most innovative ideas thrive.

•

Diverse Teams Make Smarter Teams Cultivating diversity in leadership pushes businesses towards innovation. Don’t know where to start inside your business?

Be willing, seek input and don’t wait – start making changes now.

BY MATT STANSBERRY

teams are better: Better for our businesses and better for our communities. In order to effectively build more diverse teams, we must be intentional.

Here’s proof: S I M P LY P U T, D I V E R S E

• • • • •

Your business is 35 percent more likely to have above average financial returns with diversity in management positions.* Companies with more women were more likely to introduce radical new innovations into the market over a two-year period.** Organizations with at least one female board member yielded higher returns on equity and higher net income growth than those that did not have any women on the board.*** Businesses run by culturally diverse leadership teams were more likely to develop new products than those with homogenous leadership.* Diverse teams are more likely to constantly reexamine facts and remain objective.*

•

Start training initiatives to educate your team on diversity, equity and inclusion terms and efforts your organization is taking. Share milestones.

Get key leaders on board. The C-suite has to buy in for meaningful, lasting change to take effect.

Don’t wait. Start now.

You don’t have to have all the answers. So, begin by asking: What can we start doing now to make our organization more attractive and welcoming to a broader, more diverse audience?

• • • • •

Seek input from various age groups, genders and ethnicities to better understand needs.

Connect with your community, and support Black-owned and minority-owned businesses.

Begin observing national holidays and notable dates important to others – even before these individuals join your team.

Set goals and measure progress.

Lastly, don’t burden diverse teammates with educating you on best practices. Help welcome them into a well-informed and inclusive environment.

We all want our teams to be better. As business leaders, we must take diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplaces seriously. When we do, we become more accurate, better informed, more understanding, better equipped, more innovative, and more relevant – making our businesses and communities better.

Matt Stansberry is the founder, CEO and partner at Nominee, a branding consultancy. * according to 2016 Harvard Business Review article ** according to statistical models in Innovation: Management, Policy & Practice. ***according to a Credit Suisse global analysis of 2,400 companies.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Matt Stansberry, Nominee founder.

Evaluate current policies, job descriptions, procedures and handbooks to ensure they are inclusive. This could be a number of things from paid time off to paid parental leave.

Revisit your purpose, vision, mission and values to ensure they align with diversity, equity and inclusion best practices.

Identify and acknowledge the perspectives missing from your team.

Review your brand and marketing messages and images and make adjustments.

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M Y D A I LY M E D I A D I E T

S TA RT U P

What podcast do we need to be listening to?

The Bad Podcast. It’s an advertising and communications podcast that interviews some of the top creative minds in the business from across the globe. Don’t worry: They haven’t asked me to do it.

My Daily Media Diet Erick Worrell is the co-founder and principal at Coin Creative, an agency specializing in copywriting and brand strategy. Here, he dives in to make sure we’re following the right people, listening to the best music and being inspired by the right authors.

Where do you get your news first?

“Hey Google, play the news,” starts my sequence of NPR’s top-of-the-hour newscast, then the What a Day podcast, and if I have time left, The Daily podcast. I typically check in on the New York Times between meetings or throughout the day.

What social accounts should we be following? @washapig on Twitter. This brand is actually a card game that draws a prompt each day and posts it, inviting creatives to chime in with their quick ideas. Always fun. @AishaAnnHakim on Twitter is a fantastic creative in Austin who always has great insights, advice and an open door for questions. @rga is an agency in New York that always has great content. On Twitter, it’s usually funny and interesting. On Instagram, it’s profane (but inspiringly so) advice. @VikkiRossWrites on Twitter is a copywriter and creative consultant in London. Outstanding work and great insights. @RorySutherland on Twitter is the vice chair for Ogilvy in the UK. He’s one of my favorite authors and a brilliant creative thinker.

What music should we add to our playlist right now?

Gang of Youths is one of Australia’s biggest bands right now, playing stadium shows across the UK. Their new album “Angel in Realtime” just came out and it’s spectacular. Lawrence is an unbelievably talented brother/sister group. The brother has this smooth Michael McDonald voice that’s just butter, and his sister is this absolute powerhouse vocalist. Insanely catchy tunes. Lake Street Dive and The Lone Bellow aren’t new by any means, but

What books are making you think?

I always go back to Junior by Thomas Kemeny. All the books on creativity tend to be written by senior people at the end of their creative journey – after they’ve already made it – but this one looks at being a junior creative from the eyes of someone making his way through the middle of the pack right now. Kemeny wrote a tremendous book that’ll make anyone a better writer. My go-to for anyone wanting to think more creatively, though – whether they’re in this business or not (creative thinking is always valuable regardless of your profession!) – is Alchemy by Rory Sutherland. It’s brilliant.

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

If you need comfort food on YouTube, I recommend Jelle’s Marble Runs and long video walking tours of cities around the world.

industries and with our audiences, and how best to draw a contrast that helps us be successful.

Awareness of self can’t be achieved without awareness of others.

What app do you open first in the morning?

“Task Mode” me needs to be in a different headspace than “Creative Mode” me, so I need to get my head right before going into each day. Boring as it is, the first app I open each day is probably Outlook, to check meeting times, agendas, dress, etc.

What newsletter always gets clicked open?

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Their newsletter is well-written, engaging, tells great stories, has practical advice and isn’t afraid to stand up for science, or common sense, in a state whose leaders don’t typically embrace either.

most people haven’t heard of them.

The former is one of the best pop/ jazz/R&B bands I’ve ever listened to, and the latter is an Americana trio with gut-wrenching harmonies and incredible writing. And I’m always going to tell you to give John Mayer another shot. He’s one of the greatest living guitarists, and he’s an incredible songwriter.

What role does media literacy play in business?

The same role it plays in life: We have to understand the context of the world around us, where we fit (or stand out) in our

How do you ensure you remain media literate?

The key to great creativity, great leadership and informed decisions is the same: Surround yourself with eclectic, authentic, well-intentioned people who are diverse in their experiences, backgrounds, influences, sources and world views.

Encourage their engagement, welcome their feedback and be willing to learn at every turn.

SPONSORED

Stop Trying!

By Mike Crandall – Sandler Training – “Professional Growth Solutions” How would you feel on your wedding day if during the vows instead of hearing “I do” you heard “I’ll try” from your spouse to be? What about if, when flying, the pilot said we are “going to try” and land safely instead of “we are going” to land safely? If you are like more than 99% of the population it would make you feel extremely uncomfortable to hear either of these things. Now let me ask – how often do you use “try” in your life, or how often do you accept it from others.

Frequently we say things like “I’ll try to make it,” “I’ll try to call,” or “I’ll try to do better.” When was the last time you said one of these things? Most of us use these words far too frequently – why do you suppose that is? Now let me ask when you hear someone say “I’ll try to make it” how likely is it that they will actually make it? When they say “I’ll try to call” how likely are they to call? Do you take them seriously? Do you believe them? Or are you like the majority of the population that knows inside they will most likely not make it, or not call. Many times I have seen situation where the person who uses “try” becomes the target of many jokes and they are usually not aware of it.

Let’s flip the situation – if you do not take others seriously when they say “try” to you – what do you think happens when you say it to others? As a consultant, coach, trainer and speaker I frequently hear things from people before they work with us, or in the early stages of our engagement, say things like this – “I’ll try to be a better leader,” “I’ll try to communicate with my team better,” “I’ll try to sell more,” “I’ll try to prospect more,” or “I’ll try to close this sale.” In each of these examples we can say the person is not taking the outcome seriously.

What we find is that if the situation, event, or outcome is important we do not use the word “try.” Could you imagine someone saying I am “going to try” and love my kids? How about I am “going to try” and breathe? Of course not – these things are important enough that the word “try” would not be used. Consequently the person would be taken seriously when they spoke. When we work with clients one of the first things we do is help them start changing their behaviors to eliminate the word “try” from their vocabulary. As they grow and begin to do this, amazing things happen in their lives – professionally and personally.

MIKE CRANDALL lives in Edmond, OK. He is a Consultant, Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and Author focused on the Subconscious Psychology of Human Interaction and Motivation. His firm specializes in Sales, Management, and Leadership Development for Proactive Business Growth. Mike is based in Oklahoma and serves Visionary Clients across the United States.

He can be reached at Mike.Crandall@CGSOK.com or at (405) 844-1700.

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If you are still reading you read this article – you did not “try” to read it, you actually read it. For those who are not still reading they did not read it – they did not “try” to read it, they simply did not read it. Either way the word “try” was not part of the equation. There is a very wise figure, most of us know, named Yoda (from the Star Wars movies) he has an extremely famous quote – “Do, or do not. There is no try.” What can you accomplish if you eliminate “try” from your vocabulary? How much more seriously will people take you? How much more efficient will you be with your time?

Do not “try” to eliminate “try” from your vocabulary – either do or do not!

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S TA RT U P

ASK THE MENTOR

Fight for the Highest Possible Good Jeremie Kubicek started his career looking for whom he wanted to work with – not where he wanted to work. This approach landed the fully Czechoslovakian kid at a company focused on selling hair care products to Black women. The lessons he’d learned still shape him today.

had the privilege of joining an amazing local company, Jack’s Merchandising. Kent Humphreys, the CEO, and Lance Humphreys, his son, remain the best leaders for whom I have ever worked. They were liberators — freedom fighters for so many people around the United States.

I had just moved back from Moscow, where a group of graduates from OBU banded together to help start the Moscow Economic School. Companies in the mid-90s didn’t know what to do with internationally minded young 20-somethings, and so I struggled to find the career that matched my aspirations.

It was at that point that my dad spoke gold over me. He said, “Son, in your 20s, it’s not what you do, but who you work for that matters.” That is how I made it Jack’s — I wanted to work for the Humphreys. I didn’t really care what they did.

This is where it gets humorous: Jack’s was one the largest merchandising suppliers of African American hair care suppliers in the nation. I am full-on Czechoslovakian. As soon as I joined, I began the process of understanding the products, which would take me on a journey of understanding the customer, mostly African American women.

My mentor and dear friend, Lance Humphreys, challenged me to learn. To do that, I needed to spend time in stores and beauty salons to fully understand who our market was. From Philadelphia to Houston and Los Angeles to Milwaukee, I began meeting, observing and -- most importantly -- asking questions. That is when I began to learn about the difficulties of leading families inside urban centers, why Black women spend twice as much on hair care products, and the male/female dynamics of culture.

I spoke at a number of conferences and customer events (HEB, Fred Meyer, Kroger, etc.) on the trends of African American hair care in the United States. I even began to use the products (Let’s Jam hair pudding, for those wondering) and eventually ended up starting an African American hair care dot com business called Ethnic Source, which was the first dot com focused on ethnic women. I met some amazing people and IN 1996, I

When you fight for the highest possible good of all people, then they will know that you are for them, not against them. They will feel the love you have for them, and walls will drop as influence rises and trust will be established. Trust is the currency of business and relationship. We simply need more of it. still have lasting connections. In fact, it has helped me relate to the current cultural discussions and communicate to others who may not understand fully because of their upbringing or race. And I think they have learned a lot from me too.

Here is the truth that I have lived by: When you fight for the highest possible good of all people, then they will know that you are for them, not against them. They will feel the love you have for them, and walls will drop as influence rises and trust will be established. Trust is the currency of business and relationship. We simply need more of it.

I started on a journey to find the people I wanted to work for, and I ended that season valuing people at levels I never knew were possible.

Take some time to learn. Listen to others and appreciate the perspective of life that they have.

Jeremie Kubicek is the author of four books about leadership, and he is the executive chairman of the OKC-based GIANT Worldwide, a leadership company training companies and their employees.

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20

THE FUTURE OF

The Future of OKC’s Afghan Refugees In just nine months, Oklahoma City has become home to 1,000 Afghan refugees, part of the 95,000 total Afghan refugees who fled to the United States after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021. Brad Bandy, director of community development and one of the founders of The Spero Project, a nonprofit organization that assists resettled refugees, discusses the possible economic impact of the refugees, how this resettlement mirrors the Vietnamese refugees OKC saw in 1975 and what resources are needed moving forward to help this community prosper.

BY K AYTE SPILLMAN

More than 1,000 Afghan refugees have arrived in Oklahoma City through the Catholic Charities-OKC resettlement program since September 2021. Obviously, this is a dramatic increase, but how does this compare to typical years?

Since the onset of the official refugee resettlement program in the United States, our nation has welcomed an average of about 95,000 refugees. Typically, Oklahoma receives about 2-3% of that national average, based on our percentage of the national population. It’s important to note that traditional resettlement has continued. And after a drastic decline in resettlement in recent years, the United States is on track to increase resettlement to its historic numbers through the traditional resettlement program in addition to those arriving through the Afghan Placement Assistance program of resettlement.

Catholic Charities is the only federally authorized resettlement agency in Oklahoma, but how does The Spero Project work with the refugees, and what kind of resources do you both provide?

Yes, Catholic Charities is the only resettlement agency in Oklahoma City, and they have been working diligently to receive evacuees and provide services upon arrival. This includes securing housing and food, accessing social services, employment placement and much more to ensure successful long-term resettlement.

S TA RT U P

Following the arrival of our Afghan neighbors in particular, Spero added over 25 English classes to meet the level and geographic needs of the community, we are adding after school programming to apartment sites where groups of families are living, and created a transitional education program to serve the academic needs of students living in temporary housing while their long-term housing is secured. The Spero staff team also focuses on helping neighbors feel secure by acting as “cultural brokers” (a term we learned from Mary Pipher) and advocates, partnering with families as they learn to interface with medical, social, employment and schooling systems in the United States.

In five or 10 years, what do you foresee possibly happening with this group of people as they become established in Oklahoma?

We believe that a city is an iterative process.

Those who live in it might feel like it’s ‘ours’ to offer ‘them.’ But a city is always remaking itself, always becoming ‘all of ours’ again and again as new neighbors become part of the ‘our.’ I think a healthy city remakes itself to include the wholeness of all its residents – all that they offer to the collective and all that they need from it to be safe and secure. I hope that within five to 10 years, our city has been remade to include the incredible character our new neighbors bring with them – the hospitality, the depth of community, and the generosity. And I hope our city has expanded to offer all the resources and networks and opportunities that help make Oklahoma City a place of true belonging. It’s important to say clearly that I don’t intend to romanticize forcible displacement. Even though I truly value every bit of life I get to share with my new neighbors, I wish so much that my friends were able to live a safe and peaceful life in their home country. A way in which I hope we show respect to the sacrifice our neighbors have made is to learn from them and remake a city that’s better for having welcomed this community well.

In 1975, Oklahoma City became home to many Vietnamese refugees, who fled Vietnam following the fall of Saigon. Today’s Asian District flourishes thanks to many of these original refugees and new immigrants who came because of the success they saw.

How did this initial influx of Vietnamese refugees help change the economic landscape of Oklahoma City?

The Vietnamese community has had tremendous cultural and economic impact on Oklahoma City and continues to help shape our community. In addition to so many other valuable

contributions, the creation of a thriving Asian District has driven significant economic growth and tourism. I think it’s a real demonstration of a community-focused culture, of resourcing each other, of commitment to family, and of incredible work ethic. And, similar to what we see so consistently in any resettled community, it’s humbling to hear stories of parents who sacrificed so much to ensure their children and grandchildren have an opportunity for strong futures.

From your work with the Afghan refugees now calling Oklahoma City home, what kind of new businesses or entrepreneurship endeavors could be possible from the efforts of collaborations of these new residents?

Our new neighbors bring such a wide array of backgrounds, interests and skills with them. I know I’ll continue to be inspired and impressed by all the creative avenues to entrepreneurship we see coming from this community for years to come. Some of the goals I’ve already heard about are related to restaurants/catering, mechanics, art, fashion and more.

What services or opportunities do these refugees need to begin to flourish in Oklahoma City now?

Our neighbors are thriving in places where they have access to relational networks, not just programs and services. Employers who are willing to take a few extra steps to recruit and onboard new neighbors make an incredible difference in the trajectory of a family. So do caring educators, landlords offering fair prices for quality housing and so many more parts of the city that can work together to make the city a place of belonging.

Unlike those who arrive through traditional resettlement, Afghan neighbors arrived with a temporary status that offers no pathway to citizenship. ... As it stands now, every individual of any age must apply for asylum or SIV status, neither of which historically offers a high rate of approval. So, two main resources are needed. One is to advocate for the Afghan Adjustment Act which would allow for all evacuees a pathway to permanent residence without asylum or SIV applications. … The second is for legal professionals to offer their time to the OKC Afghan Legal Network, led by an incredible group of immigration attorneys. …

Volunteer attorneys will receive training and support as they partner with neighbors.

We encourage attorneys who could volunteer toward this end to check out okcaln.org. We are so grateful for this network and all they are doing for new neighbors!

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We believe that a city is an iterative process.

Those who live in it might feel like it’s ‘ours’ to offer ‘them.’ But a city is always remaking itself, always becoming ‘all of ours’ again and again as new neighbors become part of the ‘our.’

Brad Bandy The Spero Project co-founder

DESIGN Your single source expert for facility development.

BUILD

LEASE 405.843.6656 MILLERARCH.COM

FINANCE

S W EAT EQU ITY Okolahoma Okola-homa Soda, recently recognized by the Oklahoma Restaurant Association as “Most Innovation Exhibit” at a Made In Oklahoma trade show, is now expanding its product line to grocery stores across the metro. p.28

SMALL BUSINESS 24 GIVING BACK 26 HOW I DID IT 28

24

SMALL BUSINESS

Jake Keyes, Skydance Brewing Company founder and CEO, stands inside his brewing facility in Oklahoma City.

Representation Matters Skydance Brewing Company founder Jacob Keyes started Oklahoma’s only Native-American-owned craft brewery to spread his indigenous culture and help build community.

With new beers launched every week named for different parts of his Native American roots, he’s doing just that.

BY EVIE KLOPP HOLZER PHOTOS BY LOGAN WALCHER

has more on tap than different brews.

In addition to an ever-rotating beer selection (they launch a new one every Friday), founder and CEO Jacob Keyes said he is crafting a positive representation and voice for Native Americans.

“We go all in on the Native stuff,” said Keyes, a citizen of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. “The reason for that: I grew up really poor. I never thought starting a business was possible for someone like me, and I never saw anyone like me doing it. So, what this taught me is seeing someone like you plays a big role in your ability to have the mindset that’s needed in order to start whatever business it is you want to start.”

Keyes is quick to share his success story of founding Oklahoma City’s first native brewery with Native American youth and students in entrepreneurship.

At Skydance, all but one of the investors are Native American, and bylaws require at least 51 percent of the business to be owned by natives.

To prompt meaningful conversations with customers, Skydance beers are named after components of native heritage. White Cloud wheat beer pays homage to Keyes’ great-great-great-great grandfather, Chief White Cloud of the Iowa Tribe. Sovereign Nation imperial stout references how each tribe operates within their own sovereign nation, each with a uniquely different culture. Keyes points out there is not just one Native American culture that defines all tribes.

“Through our branding, we’re able to tell our own story,” he said. “If we don’t tell our story, other people are going to do it, and they’re going to do it wrong – through a mascot or something that isn’t how we want to be portrayed.

SKY DANCE BREWI NG COMPANY

S W EAT EQ UITY

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“I never thought starting a business was possible for someone like me, and I never saw anyone like me doing it. So, what this taught me is seeing someone like you plays a big role in your ability to have the mindset that’s needed in order to start whatever business it is you want to start.”

— Jacob Keyes

Top: Three offerings from Skydance Brewing Company. Middle: The company’s brewing facility in Oklahoma City.

Bottom: The facility includes an area and patio open to the public where patrons sample available beers and wines.

My grandpa used to say, ‘You’re either at the table or on the menu.’ I’d rather be at the table, making a difference, telling our story.”

Fancy Dance, the brewery’s flagship IPA, is named for a powwow dance style. Of all the various beer styles, the hops-forward, hazy IPA is Skydance’s specialty. Each Friday a new beer is released. Ninety percent of them are IPAs. “My passion is the IPAs,” he said. “That’s what I like. That’s what I enjoy. So, I knew that those beers would turn out the best, because that’s what I’m reading and studying in my off time.”

Keyes said Skydance doesn’t simply switch out the hops when crafting new IPAs. “We completely approach it as a whole new beer, playing around with different grains to make it lighter, darker, sweeter,” he said. “I’m not just doing it for the customer either. I’m also learning what combinations I like best together.”

On a warm, sunny weekend, Keyes said customers will pack the patio to try the latest IPA or another Skydance creation. For the non-beer drinkers, the taproom features a local cider from OK Cider Co. as well as several good (“not boxed”) wines.

“We’re trying to create not just beer but also a great place to come hang out,” Keyes said.

People often bring their dogs and kids, with food trucks showing up most Fridays and Saturdays, encouraging the crowd to linger.

Skydance’s branding says, “Our indigenous culture has taught us the importance of community.”

Looking around and listening to the conversations, it seems a community is brewing here.

26

GIVING BACK

Water4 the World

BY KRISTEN GRACE

owner, took a trip to China in 2005 that changed his life, his business and eventually millions of people in communities throughout Africa.

In a village in China, he and friends put in solar pumps and built a water tank on the hill, so the village had running water for the first time in 5,000 years. Women no longer had to carry water for great distances, and little girls had the sanitation they needed to go to school.

“My wife Terri and I decided that maybe this was the reason that we own a wholesale pump supply company; we could leverage this and help people around the world,” said Richard, standing near a pump they had crafted, in part, from one of Leonardo da Vinci’s designs.

“We went to a conference, Water in Emerging Nations, in San Antonio and presented what we had done in China, then heard a presentation on how to drill a well in the Amazon for $50 with very simplistic equipment,” he said. “We went to our fab shop at Pumps of Oklahoma, built the equipment, and the well that we dug still works to this day. We started thinking, if we could show people how to manually drill wells in Africa, maybe they could start their own businesses.

“We are always trying to come at this from a business, humanitarian and Christian angle.”

Water4 off icially began as a nonprof it in July 2008.

“We researched,” he said. “The average cost to build a well was $10,000. We found ways to do it RI CH AR D G R EENLY, PU MPS O K

Above: Children in Ghana experience safe water from a community hand pump backed by Water4 professional maintenance in February 2022.

Left: Elizabeth Tawiah, A NUMA vendor in Ghana holds a clear, clean glass of NUMA water from her kiosk, also last February.

Bottom: Water4 staff members celebrate the opening of a new NUMA Kiosk in Wassa East, Ghana last December alongside members of the 4Ward Development team and leaders of other Water4 enterprises.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Richard and Terri Greenly have led PumpsOK, a water pump wholesaler, for 30 years, but 14 years ago this July, the couple realized their pumps could change the world. Their nonprofit Water4 now has built water wells for use by millions of people in rural areas around the globe.

S W EAT EQ UITY

Above: A Malawian woman uses a community hand pump, having the convenience of clean water close to her home. Water4 installed this hand pump in 2019.

“We want them to have the dignity that comes with work.”

— Terri Greenly

for $1,000. We also took that year to train people in those countries to drill their own water wells.”

The next few years were full of traveling to different countries installing water wells.

“After five years, we had been to 40 countries drilling wells,” he said. “When we went back, women were back to hauling water out of their creeks again because many of their wells had broken. We thought, if we have to maintain every well, what we’re doing will collapse on itself. There are thousands of wells – how can we maintain them?

“Charity works the same way every time – let me give you a well. Then it breaks and there is no revenue for fixing it. If there is no plan to maintain the wells, nothing changes or every well is a liability.

We wanted to change how it worked.”

The next step was to make the wells they were drilling more sustainable.

“These are the poorest people on earth,” he said, pointing to maps and photos of people they have worked with. “They survive on subsistence farming, making about two dollars a day. But if we could loan a farmer enough money for a well and

27

a solar irrigation pump, and then he could irrigate his crops, he could make more money and would possibly want to take care of his well. We helped a village – 50 farmers – in Zambia with starting a farming co-op. We provided a loan with enough money to maintain the well, fertilizers and information about crop rotation. There was 100 percent repayment on the loan within a year.”

Their second plan was a water utility. Could the poorest people on the planet pay for their own water?

“Would they want to pay three-to-five cents a day to pay for the upkeep of their own wells? With this money, we could pay 10 people to work full-time maintaining the wells,” he said.

“The villagers were enthusiastic about it. Because of the wells and water utilities, two million people in rural areas have water for the first time ever.”

The work of the nonprofit is not only to provide water to those in need, but to provide jobs and sustainability to entire regions.

“We want them to have the dignity that comes with work,” Terri said. “Six or seven hundred people now have jobs. They are helping their region emerge. Now that there is water, there are more crops, jobs making food, bricks, soap and other small manufacturing jobs. This is creating generational change — there are three to five hours a day where women aren’t hauling water and they can now use those hours to create.”

28

HOW I DID IT

The company offers four flavors of soda, including a cherry vanilla spice flavor inspired by Dr. Pepper.

Okola-homa Owned The Occhipinti family took a year to create the flavors found in their new soda line, Okola-homa Soda, and are now expanding to grocery stores across the metro after the Oklahoma Restaurant Association named the company the Most Innovative Exhibit at a Made In Oklahoma trade show.

BY KRISTEN GRACE | PHOTOS BY LOGAN WALCHER

with a dad joke.

The Occhipinti family have always been close.

John and Cynthia, their twin sons, Everett and wife Sierra, and Garrett and wife Andrea, have always enjoyed spending time together.

At a family picnic in 2017, John said to his sons, “As much Dr. Pepper as you drink, you ought to start your own soda company.”

They laughed and the picnic went on, but the idea took hold.

“The following week, we did some research,” John said. “Turns out, no one was making soda here in Oklahoma, and there was a huge market and demand, thanks to my sons.”

I T A LL BEGAN

In addition, OKC Soda Co. is also in the market, making Okola-homa now one of two soda companies in Oklahoma.

John Occhipinti came from the corporate world.

“I’ve done brand-building and placing products,” he said. “But I was so excited at the thought of going into business with my family. It would give us an excuse to see one another every day.”

In 2018, Okola-homa Soda became incorporated. The family kept developing their business idea, but not much changed until the pandemic hit.

“During the pandemic, we were often standing around the kitchen counter, dreaming together

as a family,” he said. “That’s when we had time to work on the product.”

In their warehouse, shelves of jewel-toned soda bottles glisten in the afternoon light.

“We hired a company to create flavors with us,” he said. “We worked as a family for almost a year, sending samples back and forth, to create these flavors. We have seen over the last nine months — the customer feedback on social media, the emails, the raves and our customer following. It’s clear that the time we spent has been worth it.”

Okola-homa has four flavors of soda — root beer, cream soda, Kola, and Mr. Twister. Mr. Twister is named after Everett and Garrett, to honor their

S W EAT EQ UITY

Top: Everett and Sierra Occhipinti, with their son, Noah, and John, Cynthia and Garrett Occhipinti at the company’s manufacturing facility.

Middle: A few bottle of root beer after final production.

Bottom: John Occhipinti discusses the process with Sierra Occhipinti.

“I’ve done brandbuilding and placing products. But I was so excited at the thought of going into business with my family. It would give us an excuse to see one another every day.”

— John Occhipinti

storm-chasing hobby, and their previous love for Dr. Pepper.

“It’s not Dr. Pepper,” John said. “It’s a cherry vanilla spice. It’s gained quite a following.”

In addition to the individually crafted flavors, the company also chose to bottle the soda in glass bottles instead of aluminum cans.

“You put fine wine in glass, not aluminum cans,” he said. “We worked so hard on this product, and I want people to see it. Everyone is doing canning now. We found a bottling line that was no longer in use and we made some modifications. State-of the-art bottling line. Automated, and the only one of its kind in Oklahoma that we are aware of.”

Okola-homa Soda built a few hundred cases of their sodas last May and joined the Made in Oklahoma Foundation. At the MIO trade show at the Fairgrounds, the Occhipintis quickly sold out of everything they brought. The Oklahoma Restaurant Association awarded them the Most Innovative Exhibit Award.

“Eight days later we had sold all 300 cases,” he said.

The Occhipinti family has stepped up production of their sodas, and they are expanding sales into many grocery stores and businesses across the metro. And, it’s all because of an off-the-cuff dad joke just a few years.

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PROMOTION

Bob Funk Announces Rebranding Express Oklahoma Responding to Recruiting Demand Express -Responding to Professional Professional Recruiting Demand Through 50 years in the staffing industry, Express Employment Professionals International Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Bob Funk has always put people first.

That was not only his business practice, but it was his personal mission to serve by finding jobs for as many people as possible, and through the decades, Funk and Express have seen enormous success.

Since he established Express in 1983, the company has achieved exponential growth because of Funk’s drive to help people and because of his ability to recognize the evolving needs of Express’ clients.

And today, Funk is still responding to changes in the industry. Years ago, he recognized the growing demand for professional staffing services, and now, that need is greater than ever as more companies are competing for the best managers and professional talent.

Many companies have already found worthy allies at Express’ 53 franchise offices in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas.

That’s because Funk and his team have been connecting financial managers, engineers, IT specialists, executive directors, CEOs, accountants, and other key professionals with quality companies for nearly two decades.

“The best companies need the best talent to ensure they’re successful and filling those positions can be the most difficult challenge hiring managers face,” Funk said. “Professional staffing has been a unique part of our business for years, and due to the incredible demand for those services, we have rebranded our professional staffing division as the Specialized Recruiting Group. This team, based in Oklahoma City, is led by Bettye Taylor, an award-winning veteran in the field.”

Taylor has been with Express for 18 years, and, for more than a decade, she and her team have been achieving double-digit, yearover-year growth in the professional recruiting market. Soon, Express will become Oklahoma’s top source for professional staffing, Funk said.

Taylor and her team of seasoned pros are successful at

what they do because they serve client companies and candidates as consultants, providing quality counsel and consistent communication. That’s what clients and candidates need most, he said.

“We could not be more grateful for the work Taylor has done to connect our clients with quality professionals through the years,” Funk said. “Her leadership of our new Specialized Recruiting Group will further extend our ability to help a growing list of clients find the best professionals amid a challenging recruiting environment.”

“I believe you’re only as successful as the last person you help in your life.”

Bob Funk

Founder/Executive Chairman of the Board

PROMOTION

Q&A with Bettye Taylor, Specialized Recruiting Group Regional Director

Can you explain what the Specialized Recruiting Group division is all about?

The Specialized Recruiting Group division is the service line dedicated to helping clients find professional-level employees that require a specific skill set, degree or certification. We provide clients access to candidates who cannot be reached through traditional methods of recruitment.

What is unique about recruiting for professional jobs?

Each search is unique. Specialized Recruiting Group facilitates a tailored approach to each individual client company by providing a customized search strategy that will fulfill their specific contract or direct hire need.

How many people do you help place in professional jobs each year? Are you seeing this number increase?

Professional level staffing is more relevant now than ever. A large majority of Baby Boomer staff are close to retirement age so filling those vacancies is crucial. Additionally, the Great Resignation has created more needs within client companies at the professional level. So, we have and should continue to see an increase on the amount of people we are able to help. The length of a search for a professional level candidate is much longer and relational rather than transactional causing numbers to vary somewhat. However on average, we place up to 300 in a year in Direct Hire and Contract to Hire roles.

What are some past successes you’ve seen with professional recruiting services?

We have a proven history of servicing clients with their C-Suite level needs, having helped multiple clients find their CEOs, Directors, CFO and Vice Presidents. This approach is unique to each client and is executed over a specified amount of time according to a pre-determined timeline of expectations and their fulfillment. Additionally, we assist leadership on these high-end roles by providing insight to market trends that help them put data into perspective with actual context that pertains to their local market. This is critical to executive level placement as these roles are directly responsible for the execution of strategy throughout their respective organizations. Additionally, we’ve built a reputation in the non-profit sector by filling multiple Executive Director, CEO and CFO roles. As a result, we have been referred to additional opportunities within this sector. We have also been highly successful in filling Vice President roles in the Engineering and Manufacturing sector. This also extends to Plant Managers who are responsible for the overall operation of manufacturing plants.

PROMOTION

Can you explain the different divisions of Express and how they can help different business sectors?

The service lines of Express include Light Industrial, Administrative and Professional level staffing. Together, Express and Specialized Recruiting Group are able to provide a full vertical service model to clients which prevents them from having to use multiple agencies for talent sourcing.

What do employers need to know about what you do?

The most important thing that I can say is that we really LISTEN. I see what we do as a privilege and a mission to help companies thrive by providing quality talent and you can only do that if you truly listen. This is about the long-term relationship, not the quick transaction.

What do potential new employees need to know about Specialized Recruiting Group’s professional recruiting services?

We are finding career opportunities for professional level candidates while seeking unique skill sets for our client’s specific needs. Therefore, each need is specifically tailored to both our clients and candidates. The process of seeking a career opportunity can be and often is stressful for a candidate.

Many find themselves unsure of how to adequately present their skill sets and discouragement sets in from applying to multiple jobs online that often times fall into the “black hole of applications” where they never hear back.

We have direct access to the decision makers where we are able to present attributes that might not be seen on a resume.

Is there anything else you’d like people to understand about the Specialized Recruiting Group?

Our team is tenured, and our leaders have all been here between 8-18 years.

You can count on our consistency and commitment to this community and to our clients. In a nutshell, we rock!

Bettye Taylor, CPSS Regional Director 405.717.8382 | bettye.taylor@expresspros.com

expresspros.com/HQSRG

PROMOTION

What is Specialized Recruiting Group?

The Specialized Recruiting Group is a new name for the same group of dedicated employment recruiting partners Oklahoma has known for more than 15 years. In fact, Forbes 2021 just named the Specialized Recruiting Group as one of America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms.

Specialized Recruiting Group offers an individualized approach to professional placement that focuses on recruiting and professional consulting at the highest levels of business leadership and C-suite positions in these specific areas:

• • • •

Accounting & Finance Engineering and Manufacturing Creative Professionals Information Technology

• • • •

Human Resources and Operations Legal Non-Profit C-Suite

Accounting & Finance:

Engineering & Manufacturing:

Creative:

Content Writers, Graphic Designers, Marketing, Promotion, Advertising, Communications, Motion Graphics, Copy Writers, Social Media Management, Web Design, UI/UX, Chief Marketing Officer

Programmers, Developers, Help Desk, CIO/CTO,System Administration, Network Administration, Technical Support, Desktop Support, Business Analyst, Project Management, Network Architect, Cyber Security, Data Warehousing, Technical Writers

Human Resources/Operations:

Legal:

Non-Profit:

C-Suite:

Accounting Clerks, A/R, A/P, Bookkeepers, Staff Accountant, Senior Accountant, Payroll, Accounting Managers, CPA, Financial Analyst, Tax Accountant, Internal Auditors, Finance Managers, Controller, Cost Accountant, Chief Financial Officers.

VP of HR, HR Manager, HR Specialist, HR Specialists, Recruiters, Compliance, Compensation, Benefits Administration, HRIS Specialist, Office Administrators, Executive Assistants supporting the C-Suite

Specialized CNC Machinists/Programmers, Production Manager, Logistics and Transportation, Distribution, Warehouse Manager, Plant Manager, Buyer, Shipping and Receiving Specialists, Quality Managers, Process Improvement, Engineering Managers, Mechanical/Electrical/Manufacturing/Civil/Structural Engineers, Auto-cad Designers, Engineering Managers, Maintenance Managers and Technicians, Plant and Operations Managers. VP of Engineering and Manufacturing

Paralegals, Legal Administrators, Legal Assistants

Case Managers, Executive Directors, Grant Writers, Case Investigators, Navigators, CEO

Information Technology:

CEO, CIO, CFO, CMO, COO

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Dr. Quintin Hughes, Northeast OKC Renaissance founder and board member.

BY J.D. BAKER, GREG HORTON AND KAYTE SPILLMAN | PHOTOS BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER | ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARCUS EAKERS

STATE OF BLACKOWNED

oughly three million Black-owned businesses contribute more than $200 billion to the U.S. economy annually, employing more than a million people, according to the U.S. Joint Economic Committee.

But let’s drill down: In Oklahoma City, the Brookings Institute lists out 569 Black-owned businesses, which accounts for 2 percent of employer businesses in our city.

However, if Black-owned businesses were equivalent to the Black population of Oklahoma City, we’d see about 12.4 percent of businesses owned by Black Oklahoma City residents. That means we’d need 3,559 more Black businesses to have a proportionate amount.

In this feature, we start the conversation about what disparities exist, what longtime barriers are still in place and what growth and success look like for Black-owned businesses in OKC’s future. Joanne Davis, Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce executive director, walks through some of the access issues she encounters when working alongside Black entrepreneurs. Jabee Williams, Emmyaward winning rapper and owner of Eastside Pizza House, discusses the challenges and successes he sees as both an entertainer and business owner. J.D. Baker, who worked for years with Mayor David Holt and now is with the venture-capital firm Cortado Ventures, tells the history of Black-owned businesses in Oklahoma City. And finally, we tell the stories of eight different OKC business leaders, who outline their triumphs as well as their trials as Black-owned business owners in a town when 98 percent of all the businesses are not Black-owned.

that’s not true,” she said. “Hospitality provides a good life, and now we’re faced with an entire generation of skilled trades retiring with no one to take their places.”

Maurianna Adams, the executive director of Progress OKC, also said its integral to show young people all that is available to them.

“We have to move the needle for underserved businesses in the Black community, and I don’t mean just the northeast side,” she said. “Northeast OKC is not synonymous with Black-owned businesses; they are scattered throughout the city. We have to show young people the full spectrum of what’s available, and then help them see themselves in those positions: science, tech, politics, health care and aerospace.”

The themes that emerge when talking to Black business and community leaders involve this kind of aspirational language: kids and young would-be entrepreneurs seeing themselves in roles they may not be able to see without someone broadening the opportunity horizon. The lack of aspirational thinking bedevils many whose calling it is to serve the larger community, including Joanne Davis, executive director of the Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce.

“Kids in other communities grow up with parents and grandparents who speak the language of business: banking, finance, insurance, contracts, interest, marketing – all the vocabulary associated with doing business or being in business,” she said.

“It is a language the Black community often has not learned, and it’s based on access.”

Access here refers not just to being in the room where deals are made or growing up in a home or neighborhood surrounded by professionals, entrepreneurs and skilled tradespeople. It also refers to the ways in which Black would-be entrepreneurs have had to scrap and overcome obstacles absent in white communities to get access to capital, investors, real estate and opportunities, she said.

“Eastpoint is the first new retail development on the northeast side in my lifetime,” Pennington said, “and it’s important to remember they approached 25 banks and were told no before they got a yes.”

CONTINUED ON PG. 41

“Kids in other communities grow up with parents and grandparents who speak the language of business: banking, finance, insurance, contracts, interest, marketing – all the vocabulary associated with doing business or being in business. It is a language the Black community often has not learned, and it’s based on access.”

Joanne Davis EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

JOANNE DAVIS: PHOTO PROVIDED

R

DR. QUINTIN HUGHES IS A FOUNDING MEMBER

of Northeast OKC Renaissance – a program of the Alliance for Economic Development – originally an ad hoc group of community stakeholders who were collectively to represent the voices of NEOKC residents and businesses, while advocating for “ethical development.” It’s a term Hughes uses to describe development that keeps housing, safety, wellness and education, while preserving African American culture and art.

Hughes is board president of NEOKCR, and in that capacity, he and the organization advocate for current residents are benefactors and participants in the redevelopment of their own neighborhoods. To facilitate that, developers have to embrace a slower growth model, one that is contrary to gentrification-style development.

“Ideally, northeast OKC would be connected to new development like the Innovation District and downtown OKC,” Hughes said. “We’d like to see Oklahoma City advance with more diversity and more diversity in wealth. We’d like to see Black-owned businesses as stakeholders in development, and assist them to reach the stratosphere. It’s an aspirational growth model, and NEOKCR, along with other entities, can help the resource poor reach those goals.”

Chaya Pennington is an educator and food service veteran; she’s also the co-owner of Kindred Spirits, Northeast Oklahoma City’s newest bar and cultural hub. As part of her work as an educator, she takes students to Vast for a meal, and it’s not just for the good food or the literal view. The students are there for the metaphorical view, or better stated, the aspirational view.

“I lean on professional connections to create opportunities for students,” she said. “It’s one thing to offer a class; it’s quite another for them to see themselves as culinary professionals. It’s about exposure and not limiting their options to fast food or chain restaurants. They don’t have to choose McDonald’s or Chili’s.”

Pennington also has partnered with Omni Hotel and OKC Convention Center for post-class employment opportunities for her students.

“We’ve spent the past 30 years telling kids that the only path to success went through college, and

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Kindred Spirits co-founder Chaya Pennington.

OKC’S BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS LEGACY J.D. Baker, platform manager at Cortado Ventures, writes about the history of Black-owned businesses starting with the legendary Deep Deuce business district followed by urban renewal and the renaissance now under way in Northeast OKC.

“THE PRICE WE PAY TO EXIST IN THE

state of Oklahoma is too great,” wrote one of Oklahoma’s most notable Black businessmen, Roscoe Dunjee, editor of The Black Dispatch.

As editor of the Oklahoma City-based The Black Dispatch, Dunjee used his newspaper as the leading voice for Black Oklahomans and civil rights in this state beginning in 1912. For 40 years, Dunjee wrote provocative, truth-telling stories to inform Black readership and represent their voice. In many ways, he also used his money to support other Black civic and business ventures to advance equal rights.

Dunjee served as president of the National Negro Business League, and he was a member of the NAACP national board. He also took keen interest in supporting youth organizations including the YMCA, 4-H clubs and the Elks.

A progressive of his time, from his printing press in Deep Deuce, he inspired and found admiration from a generation of leaders including Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Oklahoma State Senator E. Melvin Porter, educator and activist Clara Luper, and publisher Russell Perry, who currently owns the largest circulated Black news publication in the state, The Black Chronicle.

Dunjee’s quote is written on the wall of the newly opened Eastside Pizza House, owned by Emmy Award-winning entrepreneur, activist and rapper Jabee Williams.

On a regular day, you can drive along Northeast 23rd Street and find Black businesses including the Eastpoint development, which consists of food establishments like the pizza place, a bar, bookstore, construction company, fitness center and more. While the redevelopment seeks to spur more commerce along the historical corridor, the variety and concentration of businesses is reminiscent of the early days in Oklahoma City’s history in Deep Deuce, the historic

Black community which had seen much of its heyday from the 1920s until integration and urban renewal in the 1960s through 80s.

D E E P DE U C E Deep Deuce, along Northeast Second Street, also known as “Deep Second,” was the home to many great Black residents of Oklahoma City, including author Ralph Ellison and musicians like Oklahoma City Blue Devils, Jimmy Rushing and Charlie Christian. The community was composed of Black Oklahomans who had traveled from across the United States, seeking new opportunities through the land runs and open territory. Many had heard the call from leaders like Edward P. McCabe, who had aspired for an “All-Black” state. Even before this, Freedmen lived in Indian Territory, mostly those who were (or descendants of ) formerly enslaved persons by the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole tribes.

Deep Deuce was also the birthplace of many great entrepreneurs and businesses that served the community’s needs. Segregation laws and ordinances enforced by state and city leaders kept generations of Black Oklahomans in neighborhoods that did not extend past Northeast Second Street. These restrictions later expanded to Fourth, and later Eighth and so on. The confinement of living in Deep Deuce allowed for opportunities for the Black residents to start, grow and patronize each other’s businesses, churches and their homes.

The National Register of Historic Places entry for the Littlepage Building (built in 1924), which was home to several restaurants and the Littlepage Hotel, stated that the Deep Deuce community in the 1930s was also home to “seven restaurants, two

drugstores, three billiard parlors, two undertakers, five barbershops, three real estate offices, cleaners, a theater [Aldridge], two taxi companies, two shoe repair shops, a shoeshine parlor, a lawyer’s office, eight physicians, five dentists, two life insurance offices, a watchmaker, two tailors, a dancehall [Slaughter], beauty parlor, two clothing stores, a grocer and a newsstand.”

Even a quick scan of the Negro City Directory, formerly published by the Oklahoma City Negro Chamber of Commerce, gives a good insight into the vast breadth of Black entrepreneurship within central Oklahoma. Some of the businesses from the 1940s still exist under the same name, including McKay-Davis Funeral Home and Rolfe Funeral Home. Jewel Theatre also existed on Northeast Fourth Street and, with recent efforts, has an opportunity for a revival in its original building. Although many of the Deep Deuce businesses are now closed, some of their existing structures still stand.

Today, the legacy of Black entrepreneurship from Oklahoma City’s Deep Deuce and Tulsa’s Greenwood District remains strong in the state.

There has been more focus on reviving and rebuilding the glory of Greenwood, which was destroyed by the 1921 massacre and later urban renewal in the 1980s. Similarly, Oklahoma City’s Black community had much of its identity stolen and destroyed through urban renewal. Community-led organizations continue to make efforts to further open opportunity, education and the advance of Black and minority entrepreneurship within central Oklahoma. City leadership, including Mayor David Holt and Councilwoman Nikki Nice, have made concerted efforts to invest money and resources in supporting entrepreneurship among minority communities.

Oklahoma’s Black entrepreneurs have a solid foundation and a host of giants on whose shoulders they stand. Although the journey has and continues to be faced with strife, Black commerce is emerging stronger than ever. A close glance at the large trash can at the Eastpoint development, an onlooker can

“The price we pay to exist in the State of Oklahoma is too great,” wrote one of Oklahoma’s most notable Black businessmen, Roscoe Dunjee.

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read, “One yet many,” inscribed in chalk on the green receptacle. For Black business owners, following in the tradition of Black commerce, each one recognizes their success is intrinsically tied to each other as a new renaissance begins.

SOM E N OT E A B L E B LAC K ENTR E PR E N E UR IA L PION E E R S O F O K C Zelia Page Breaux was the first woman president of the Oklahoma Association of Negro Teachers, and she was a well-known music educator who taught Rushing, Christian and Ralph Ellison, who considered her a second mother. While teaching at Douglass High School, her choirs and bands had a significant impact on music, influencing greats like Duke Ellington and Noble Sissle. As the co-owner of the Aldridge Theatre, she hosted many wellknown jazz and blues musicians who performed and visited Deep Deuce including Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Count Basie’s band.

Sidney Lyons owned rental houses and commercial property, including a block of business buildings in Deep Deuce, among other places. The brother of Ruby Lyons, Sidney is best known for starting his East India Toilet Goods and Manufacturing Company that was adjacent to his self-built home, now known as the Lyons-Luster Mansion, which still stands on the southeast corner of NE Third and Central Ave. The company sold products, including hair care products, to African Americans coast to coast. His home is currently owned by the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority, which is undergoing a community engagement process with Open Design Collective to envision the future for the historic property.

Walter and Frances Edwards Ever wonder where Edwards Park in Northeast OKC got its name?

Edward McCabe

Dr. G.E. Finley

Dr. W.H. Slaughter and W.H. Slaughter Jr.

Zelia Page Breaux

Walter and Frances Edwards were OKC’s most impactful Black developers. They purchased 33 acres in Northeast OKC in 1937 and sold homes in the area to local Black residents, effectively killing segregation and opening more home opportunities for their community. They also built Edwards Memorial Hospital in 1948, a three-story, 105-bed hospital completely owned and operated

by Black people, a first for a Black community in the South.

Gravelly Eugene Finley Dr. Slaughter’s son-in-law, Dr. Gravelly Eugene Finley, Sr. began his medical practice in Deep Deuce in the 1930s.

The Finley building stood where the Aloft Hotel stands today at the southwest corner of Walnut and Second. Dr. Finley practiced for more than six decades. The bridge

that connects Deep Deuce and Bricktown was dedicated in his honor in 2005 after being redeveloped.

Dr. W.H. Slaughter was the first Black physician in the city. As a philanthropist, doctor and developer, he was a giant for the Deep Deuce community. The famous Slaughter’s Hall was the home to his physician’s practice and the dance hall that was frequented by famous jazz musicians.

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A BLACK-PRINT FOR SUCCESS

J O A N N E D AV I S S E R V E S A S T H E

J.D. Baker talks with Joanne Davis, Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce executive director, as she outlines several resources Black entrepreneurs can tap into when starting a business.

executive director for the Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce. Prior to this role, she worked more than 35 years for the U.S. Air Force and spent nearly a decade as the Director of Small Business for the Air Force Sustainment Center, headquartered at Tinker Air Force Base, focusing on helping small businesses access Air Force contracts and bids.

In other words, she has experience working with and helping businesses succeed.

Davis’s goal in her role at the chamber is to forge relationships that will ensure an avenue to increase business development within the Black-owned business community, help sustain the viability of current businesses and to ensure that these entrepreneurs are aware of opportunities available as this city continues to grow and expand.

As an expert who has helped many small businesses gain access to government contracts, we asked Davis to provide a blueprint – or “Blackprint” – for how to start a successful Black business.

Many of these answers are applicable for all small and microbusinesses: First, the reality is that there is no finite way to success for Black-owned businesses. And here’s why: One, success is dependent upon the industry, and secondly, the events of the economic situation of our country, states and cities play a pivotal impact. And finally, the ever-present shadow of racism inclusive of what is real and what is perceived colors every part of a Blackowned business.

However, the one thing anyone entering into this creative space of entrepreneurship must realize is that preparation is and will be the key to success. The more prepared you are financially and the more educated you are on the ways of business, the more your likelihood of staying afloat for more than the average 2-3 years for Black-owned businesses.

While money, and lack thereof, is the main reason for failure, it is really a lack of knowledge of how the systems surrounding business ownership really work. Contemplating moving a dream and a vision into a profit-making business is a long-term relationship that teeters on failure if you are unaware of the enumerable pitfalls that will arise. This is reality for a small business whether you are Black, Hispanic, Asian, white or any other box that society wants you to choose.

It is scary unless you weaponize yourself with knowledge.

Here’s some tangible ways to increase knowledge to gain access: • Begin with business classes, and don’t stop after just the ones that say how to register your business.

• Take classes with real information that can arm you with knowledge that moves from the books to methodologies that will help you succeed.

• Check the Metro Techs and community colleges and be ready to take book knowledge to street knowledge.

This gives you a peek of the multiple things you must touch on your way to successful business ownership.

• If this is not an optimum choice, start talking with business owners you know and some you don’t. Most are willing to share their successes and their failures. Let them tell you how they learned by doing and how much that cost them in time and money.

• When structuring your budget -- this should be one of your first steps -- include the cost of things about which you have little or no knowledge. It’s called outsourcing of services. You may need to hire a business manager or a marketing or technology expert.

• You should – you must – hire an accountant. Accountants are necessary

CONTINUED FROM PG. 36

That kind of number is surprising to white entrepreneurs with tailored business plans, family investors and a network of professional connections. Yet it’s the reality for many Black-owned businesses that would like to access capital for expansion, start-up costs, equipment, etc.

Pennington ran headf irst into the issue when she was the last Black business owner in Deep Deuce, a traditionally and historically Black neighborhood. In 2015, she was priced out of Urban Roots – a restaurant and venue that served as a cultural hub – when the building sold and she was told that in order to make the deal work, the new owner would have to raise rent. Watching rent increase to the unpayable point because of a deal in which business owners had no voice is a disconcerting and disheartening place to be, and it’s further compounded when there are no viable options to continue to operate.

Greg Jones is a board member of Northeast OKC Renaissance and a business advisor for the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center, an organization funded by the Small Business Administration and local partners. His primary role is as an advisor to minority business owners, where he helps with everything “soup to nuts,” including startup, training, marketing, sales, expansion, research, financing, government contracting,

etc. In terms of what his clients are facing, he said three major hurdles exist, based on financing and education (i.e., lifelong learning): access to capital, strategic planning for marketing, sales, etc., and guidance through expansion or growth.

“The goal is to give them tools to succeed, including business training,” Jones said. “In many communities, businesses are inherited. By the time a young person is ready to take the reins, they’ve learned the language and they’re surrounded by a team of family and business connections who understand the business and can help in multiple ways. First generation business owners don’t have these resources.”

Acquiring capital is, according to Jones, the No. 1 obstacle for Black-owned businesses. Much of the training focuses on credit, credit scores, business plans – all the tools that help when it comes time to approach a bank, most of which are unwilling to lend money to Black-owned startups or businesses in expansion/growth mode.

“After 20 years in the market, I know many people who can help, so our one-on-one sessions involved customizing an approach that draws on those resources,” Jones said.

He’s overtaxed, though. He said he sees five-to-six clients per day, and each session can easily run 90 minutes. His caseload is more than 100 clients. Even with a network

to keep you on track with the IRS and to help you legally garner appropriate and applicable taxable deductions.

Accountants should be your best business friend. This is a key relationship and point in the necessary financial documentation needed to apply for funds/grants, etc.

• Never ever enter into any negotiations without experts and without doing your own necessary research regarding cost of equipment or leases.

• Find a bank you can trust. Where you put your money is where you need to develop a relationship. It is through This will be the financial institution that can help guide you on how to gain capital for your business and how to borrow funds for expensive items related to your business with less interest than what credit cards mandate.

Chaya Pennington and Quintin Hughes, both partners at Kindred Spirits.

of other business advisors, the numbers are exhausting, and because there have been no systemic solution in place to offset systemic obstacle, he said nearly every client starts at a point of informational deficiency.

“There is a noticeable excitement at the beginning of the process,” Jones said, “but too often that turns to weariness when clients encounter reality, when two to three months becomes a year, and they ask ‘How many banks do we have to approach?’”

Hughes is convinced that the new Henrietta B. Foster Minority Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center will offer some hope and opportunities.

“The center will offer an opportunity to advance communities of color in Oklahoma City in ways that contribute to the advancement of the whole city,” Hughes said. “We need to identify the high-gross potential minority-owned businesses and create an infrastructure to support them. I think the Foster Center will be critical in that endeavor.”

Davis said assessing the state of Black-owned businesses is difficult, though, because to do it properly would require adequate financing that is unavailable.

“Who will track it? How?” she said.

“The best we can do right now is get an LLC list from the Secretary of State, but that doesn’t tell us everything we need to know.”

Currently, according to Davis, the majority of Black-owned businesses are still on the service, not supply, side.

“We’ve always had the service side,” she said, “going all the way back to so-called domestic work, but we don’t have enough supply side businesses yet. There are definite gaps, especially in manufacturing, skilled trades and tech.”

Davis said the goal for all is to help the community expand vision and opportunities.

“Black business owners start with a dream, just like everyone else. They might can fry a delicious chicken wing, but they need skills and information to know how to open a chicken joint, from credit to financial documentation – all that accessbased vocabulary that turns a dream into a reality.”

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Q&A WITH EASTSIDE PIZZA HOUSE’S JABEE WILLIAMS

Jonathan Blake “Jabee” Williams is an Oklahoma City native, raised on the east side. His hip-hop career began in earnest after the death of his brother in 2001, and his discography now includes five albums. In 2022, Williams took on another challenge, this time as the owner of Eastside Pizza House in the award-winning Eastpoint development at Northeast 23rd Street and Rhode Island Avenue.

We talked to him about the challenges of moving from entertainer to small business owner, and the impact of white developers and new residents on historically Black neighborhoods and business districts. As part of the planning for this issue, our editorial team sat down with Williams and other community leaders to gather input to help guide our coverage. These questions emerged from that meeting.

How does an influx of new non-Black neighbors impact the neighborhoods that have been traditionally black?

The biggest impacts are tricky to define because they change the dynamics of a neighborhood or community. At a minimum, they make residents cautious about what’s happening and where the neighborhood is headed. It’s a precursor of displacement so often, and so they naturally wonder if they’ll have to move. A more problematic impact is that white people move here from the suburbs – in advance of or during gentrification – and they don’t understand the way the neighborhood works; they’re not used to the same things.

I’ve had friends get the cops called on them because they were playing their music outside or there were too many cars out front or people

“All we’ve ever wanted was access to resources and to be included in the decision-making processes that affect our communities.”

gathered on a porch. Those things have always happened in our neighborhoods, but people who move here from the suburbs want things to be the way they are in Mustang or Yukon or Edmond.

Related to that, talk a little about white saviorism in the context of white developers and Black entrepreneurs or long-term, familyowned Black businesses.

A friend told me years ago that whatever they do for us without us is what they do to us. Just because a white developer has worked successfully in other parts of the city doesn’t mean they will do well on the east side. Their success also leads them to believe they understand what we need or how things work better than we do. That attitude can be triggering to generations of Black people who have been told what’s best for us, where we should live, how we should raise our kids and where we can go to school. This feels like the same thing that developers do when they show up to tell us what we need, as if we don’t know what we need. It’s dehumanizing for a person to act as if they know better than we do.

What has your experience been in terms of moving from the entertainment industry to hospitality? Is one more accepting of Black entrepreneurship than the other? What are the challenges in both?

Entertainment is much more accepting because I’m a Black man doing hip hop, so of course that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. As the owner of Eastside, I’ve already had people ask if I went to school to learn to make pizza or if I was just the face of the operation, as if some white owner hired me to provide a face for his business.

There’s the other aspect too where many people don’t like my stance on social justice issues, and that affects the way they view my business – the positions are considered normal for music, though. At the same time, other restaurant owners – Black and white – have been quick to support and encourage me, give me good advice, help however they’ve been able.

The similarities between music and real estate development are hard to miss. Label owners and

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executives know nothing about rap culture or street culture, but they still want to tell you everything about your music and how it should be.

Developers take much the same attitude in that they didn’t grow up here, but they’re comfortable telling us how things are based on what they think they know.

You can’t develop over here without considering the neighborhood. Too many try to pimp Black culture, trading on our legacy and history.

But if a woman who looks like Clara Luper walks in, she can’t afford to eat there or book a party for her girlfriends there. They are building spaces that are inaccessible to the neighborhood, and that feels like the start of gentrification. Eastside is built on the legacy and history of the neighborhood, and Black people work here. And they can afford to eat here, and we also give back to our community.

Over against the assumptions you talked about in the meeting, talk about how the Black community can and does care for its own spaces, public art and businesses.

When we started the With Love Project, people said, “You can’t put murals on the east side.

They’ll be covered in gang graffiti.” The assumption behind that is that we don’t want nice things.

Recently, I saw a post of a white couple jogging down Lottie, and there were all kinds of comments, but several said something to the effect of “you should be glad your neighborhood is getting fixed up,” as if we did this to ourselves, or as if the presence of two white joggers means the neighborhood is improving. We didn’t do this to ourselves; it was done to us. We love our community and its spaces, and we have taken care of the murals, Kindred Spirits, Homeland, and there is more coming. All we’ve ever wanted was access to resources and to be included in the decision-making processes that affect our communities. My grandmother worked in her flowerbed every weekend until she couldn’t anymore. I walked over there many Sundays and helped pull weeds. She lived on the east side until she died, and she was proud of her garden and flowerbeds, and that is who the east side is.

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SETTING THE RIGHT EXAMPLE

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“You have to provide the best customer service possible, do what you say you are going to do and be on time. That’s the

Mike Lyles spent his first career in the United States Air Force, making such a name for himself that he then spent an entire next career building the multimillion-dollar Leader Communications.

When Mike Lyles was better known as Senior Master Sergeant Lyles, he had built a 22-year career with the United States Air Force, capping off his military career by consolidating high-frequency global communications networks from 35 stations to, ultimately, 13 stations, saving the government $300-$400 million.

With results like that, when Lyles retired, the Air Force wasn’t ready to let him go. Instead, he transitioned immediately into contract work for them.

“I retired on Friday, and I came back to the same office and the same chair on Monday,” Lyles said.

That was Feb. 1, 1999, and it was also the start of his new company, Leader Communications Inc., which first began at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California, also where Lyles was born. Pretty soon after, opportunity brought the business to Oklahoma and Tinker Air Force Base, and Lyles has grown the company exponentially since.

key to success no matter your background, gender, race or religion. Be a good person.”

“The state of Oklahoma has been great to me,” he said. “We got a first contract, and it grew from me to about nine people. I opened up an office here, and I started hiring people here that had different skill sets. We did information technology; we won a contract out of the FFA that we were doing financial services and administrative services, and we were growing pretty fast.”

That growth led to a company now with 205 employees spread across 18 states, and growth of annual sales of $500,000 in 1999 to around $20 million last year. Now, the company has contracts with the Air Force, Army, FFA, Homeland Security and the IRS. “It is really humbling some days,” he said. “You look around and realize that not only time went fast but the projects did too. It’s like one long career because I spent 22 years in the Air Force, and I never planned on starting a business. That opportunity was just there at the last minute.”

He said his 40-plus years of experience in both the military and as an entrepreneur means he can give back to others trying to make successful careers for themselves.

“I’ve been able to set a good example of what Black-owned businesses can accomplish,” Lyles said. “I’m mentoring a company now, and we meet every two weeks. And we go over all types of things — some of that is how Black companies persevere and be successful.

You have to provide the best customer service possible, do what you say you are going to do and be on time. That’s the key to success no matter your background, gender, race or religion. Be a good person.”

“Setting a good example is the best thing I can do,” he said.

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ACTIVISTS WITH AN APP Five years ago, after watching coverage of several police-involved shootings, Curt Foster knew he had to do something to try to curb the increasingly hostile – and too often violent – interactions between police officers and citizens.

“I had police officers who were friends of mine, so I knew that not all police officers were bad,” he said. “But at the same time, officers were making bad decisions.”

The trend has been clear: The Washington Post started compiling a database of every fatal police-involved shooting since Jan. 1, 2015. Since then, the Post has recorded more than 5,000 fatal police shootings, with police killing Black Americans at more than twice as high a rate as white Americans.

From that, Curt – and now with James and Christopher Foster – are working to create an app that compiles profiles of citizens and police officers alike to get real-time reviews and biographical information for use during police interactions. Their company, BlueJay Partners, is close to finalizing

The Foster family is working to develop an app with the goal of improving interactions between police and the Black citizens they encounter.

the app, along with partnerships with Oklahoma City-area police stations, to roll out the program in Oklahoma City soon.

“We thought, ‘What do they need to lower their anxiety when a police officer approaches the car?” Curt said. “I gathered it was just communication – on both sides. Police officers didn’t have any information about the people they pull over.

They are walking up pretty much blind to who they pull over. Cops have anxiety because they don’t know what to expect, and users have the same anxiety-spiking experience.”

James said BlueJay Partners wants to be part of the solution to lower tension between police officers and the Black community.

“We want to broker the humanization between the normal citizen and police,” he said. “And we want to let people see there are really good cops out there and help cops get a true profile and not a racial profile of who they were seeing.”

He said the app will provide lifesaving, personalizing information about the citizen who the police officer is approaching and it will provide a conduct and compliance rating of previous interactions the police officer has had with members of the public.

“When you are driving late at night and you see those red and blue lights,” he said. “You pull over and, with the app, you will receive a push notification to your phone with information like why you are getting pulled over and you’ll see his picture and humanized information about him. And he’ll receive the same kind of information on you.”

For the partners, the app represents being active to produce change and better race relations in this country.

“You see all these things on TV, and you say there has got to be something that can be done about that,” Christopher said. “Be a part of that change and not just a hashtag. It will be the same thing until someone actually takes the action. Building this platform has satisfied my inner need to try to provide a solution for what’s going on.”

The app is in beta testing and should be ready for the public in July 2022. The rollout will start in Oklahoma City, with plans to take it to other cities soon after.

“We want to evolve the narrative of the current climate between the police and public,” Christopher said. “And we want to change the whole thing that parents have to raise their kids that if they are pulled over by the police it could be their last day.”

BEAUTIFUL IN ANY LANGUAGE Krystal Yoseph honored her father and their heritage in the name of her public relations firm she began in 2018.

Krystal Yoseph is the daughter of an East African immigrant, who grew up in Oklahoma City and was raised in the Black Baptist faith of her mother.

In 2018, she started her own public relations firm, Konjo. The name, a word from her father’s Ethiopian language of Amharic, comes full circle for her as it is a nod to her father and her upbringing.

“Konjo means beautiful in my dad’s language,” she said. “I’m half Ethiopian, and I have so much pride in my background. I came up with the business name because I knew I was really going to do this. But it’s pride not for clout-sake, but it is more that I want people to have pride in me.”

She said she pulled on the experience she gained when previously working in D.C. for eight years and then from working with Tracey Zeek at Bumbershoot PR for three years prior to starting Konjo.

“Tracey gave me my entry into Oklahoma City,” she said. “I learned so much from her and really

gleaned what a business can look like and how it can be an extension of you.”

But, the first few years were a lot of hard work building her niche in OKC’s crowded public relations community, she said.

“Running a business is no joke,” she said. “And this wasn’t always my dream. My dream was a steady paycheck and health care. The first year was incredibly hard. The structure starting out the first year was incredibly difficult and very eye opening.”

Yoseph made it through 2018 and 2019. Then the pandemic hit.

“I had just hit my stride,” she said. “The first quarter was looking pretty strong. I was working with restaurants; things were looking really good. But the first thing that’s going to go, in my experience, is PR and marketing.”

She said she started working from home as the pandemic raged, and then national news events surrounding George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests changed her reality yet again.

“All of a sudden, we were finding out people didn’t like Black people,” she said, with sarcasm.

“It was a really scary time for me with businesses dropping out and this influx of people checking on you because you are their Black friend, which isn’t as helpful as you might think.”

Now, Yoseph said, her business is growing and thriving, as businesses work to bounce back from the pandemic as well. She said she wants to give back and grow the understanding around Blackowned businesses.

“I think we are more welcoming across Oklahoma City as a Black-owned entity, but I think that there is still a little bit where people have to be a little more unafraid you might be the only white person there,” she said. “There are going to be those moments, but people in the Black-owned community are so welcoming, you are going to be treated just as well as anyone else.

“Incremental strides are important, but in order to move forward and prepare for the growth that is coming for those in the Black-owned or womenowned business community, we have to ask a lot of questions honestly and earnestly. And intentions will show through a lot of times.”

DISCOVERING UTOPIA

Sharina Perry wanted to reinvent petroleum-based plastics using sustainable, renewable materials.

Now, just four years later, Utopia Plastix is on track to be a billiondollar company, built around the plant-based resin she invented.

As a little girl, Sharina Perry would draw her vision of what she thought a utopia would be like.

In her utopia, problems were always solved. Resources were plentiful and pain didn’t exist. She said she’d draw her version of this perfect world to help make sense of the real world.

“I didn’t understand disparity as a pre-teen,” she said. “In my world, everyone got along. It was utopia. Everyone could eat. Every time I heard about a world problem, we could solve it in my utopia. And, we always solved it God’s way. Utopia was my Biblical understanding of escaping in this world.”

Perry said this mindset of how to solve problems – using the resources God gave this earth – stayed with her through the rest of her life. And, while eating lunch one day at an OKC eatery, she realized she wanted to work to provide solutions just like she’d always drawn out in her version of utopia.

“I was at McNellie’s, and I got a paper straw and it broke down in my drink,” she said. “And I thought, ‘This can’t be a solution.’ It was a true ‘aha moment.’ It was that moment that everything I’ve walked through in life and ultimately seen and learned was for.”

Inspired by the need to replace petroleum-based plastics but knowing that paper replacements weren’t the answer, she set out to reinvent how plastic is made.

And, spoiler: She absolutely did.

“Very few people get to reinvent plastic,” Perry said.

After seeing some success in her kitchen in 2018 creating a straw using materials like beeswax and paraffin, she knew she could create a plastic replacement made out of natural materials.

She then started working on creating a polymer from plant-based materials. And after trials and errors, in February 2020, she discovered a formula that worked to create a plant-based plastic alternative resin that could be used to manufacture products in all plastic applications.

She went to market with her polymer and quickly inked her first contract in October 2020 for $100,000 a month. Utopia Plastix had arrived on the scene.

Two quick years and one pandemic later and Utopia Plastix is on the forefront of the alternative plastic market with more than $400 million

in yearly revenue. And, the company is on the trajectory to be a multi-billion company, with a current nine-figure deal in the works for this year.

“I was always seeing through this process God’s hand because there is no way by human design this was going to work out,” she said.

Now, the Utopia model is circular as the company works with farmers, processors, manufacturers, distributors and consumers across the country helping to create sustainable economies for many different sectors.

“We don’t create problems as much as we try to solve them,” she said. “We try to look for solutions in holistic ways.”

For Perry, the little girl who drew her own utopia now gets to create a real-life version, solving a global problem with God-given resources.

“I get to wake up and know I’m doing good,” she said. “I get to imagine if we did it God’s way.

It’s not just about a product. The story is bigger.

God is using Utopia Plastix because it had to be something big enough to grab the attention of the world.”

“We don’t create problems as much as we try to solve them. We try to look for solutions in holistic ways.”

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“IN AWE” OF THE JOURNEY When Staci and Stephen Nelson made the decision to become entrepreneurs, it was after a lot of years of struggle and heartbreak.

“The first 11 years of our marriage we had 17 miscarriages and spent thousands of dollars on in vitro,” Staci said.

Then came 2011. The pair were in the process of adopting when Staci became pregnant.

“We got pregnant and then we adopted a 3-yearold at the same time,” Stephen said. “It takes 11 months to adopt and nine months to conceive.

And then, when we were at the courthouse adopting our son and holding our newborn, the judge wheeled his chair around to show us two more babies, our son’s siblings. So, that very day we left with two more.”

The Nelsons grew from a family of two to a family of six almost overnight.

“Once we had the quads, if you will, it made zero sense to have my wife keep working,” Stephen said.

Stephen and Staci Nelson spent more than a decade trying to have children. Now a decade removed from those struggles, they have six children and an ever-growing, full-service event and creative business.

“You are just working to pay for daycare.”

Out of that necessity, a business was born.

The pair now run Stephen and Staci Everything Creative LLC, a full-service creative agency that coordinates every aspect of an event from catering and rental needs to videography and photography.

It’s a one-stop shop.

Staci started on her own while Stephen worked during the first year, but Stephen quickly realized the company had the potential to fill a void in the marketplace.

“In 2011, we accidently made $75,000 with this as a side hustle,” Stephen said. “And a lightbulb went off.”

That was 10 years ago, and now the company serves clients like Flourish OKC, Hobby Lobby Legacy House, Quail Creek Country Club, and Oklahoma City Country Club, as well as mayors around the state.

“We’ve been plowing and plowing and plowing,

“It’s been a beautiful maturation of the past 10 years. But, the opportunities are slim.

And we, as people of color, don’t truly get these same opportunities easily.”

and now we can finally pick our heads up and look at this space we are creating,” he said.

Stephen said being a Black-owned business owner comes with lack of access to established networks that come easier to non-minority groups.

“It’s been a beautiful maturation of the past 10 years,” he said. “But, the opportunities are slim.

And we, as people of color, don’t truly get these same opportunities easily. Where it took us 10 years, it may take a person who is Caucasian just a phone call. We see the networking that’s done, and it’s like their life is planned for them. We do not get those opportunities, and it is just now that we are getting those opportunities. We go to their homes now and we do those events, but it took us 10 years to get there.”

He said because of investment from others like Joanne Davis, OKC Black Chamber of Commerce executive director, and Gene Hopper of the Mettise Group, they were able to build the knowledge base and networking circle to help gain the audience they needed to grow.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” he said.

For the Nelsons, whose family is now Mya, 14, Stephen Marcus, 14, Ethan, 11, Aden, 10, Braxton, 7 and the baby Naomi, whom they’ve dubbed “the final prophecy,” they say their story is one of God’s blessing and guidance.

“I am in awe of God because I prayed for certain things and this is something we prayed for,” Staci said. “And to see it flourish the way it has – I am in awe.”

52

TOP AT TO R N EYS 2 0 2 2

Your Guide to Local Attorneys and Practices WHEN YOU NEED AN ATTORNEY, YOU WANT SOMEONE WITH a strong reputation and a proven track record. The annual Top Attorneys list provides the names of the 405 area’s attorneys recommended by their colleagues. DataJoe Research conducted an extensive peer-review survey asking established local attorneys to name top practitioners in their particular fields. The 2022 list contains over 250 top attorneys listed alphabetically and sectioned by specialty area.

53

T O P AT T O R N E Y S 2022 Summary. To create the list, the magazine contracted DataJoe Research to facilitate an online peer-voting process

ADOPTION LAW Robyn B. Hopkins Hopkins Law & Associates PC Piedmont 405-373-4792

Holly R. Iker

Melanie Wilson Rughani Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-235-7714

Jay P. Walters

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5517

and Internet research process. DataJoe Research is a soft-

BIC Legal PLLC Norman 405-568-3828

ware and research company specializing in data collection

Amy Pepper

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5717

Rachel Stoddard Morris

ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION

and verification, and conducts various nominations across the United States on behalf of publishers. To create the list, DataJoe Research facilitated an online peer-voting process. We paired this with an Internet research process to identify success characteristics. DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had, at time of re-

OU College of Law Norman 405-325-4699

Stoddard Morris PLLC Edmond 405-509-6455

Shannon Taylor

view, a current, active license status with the appropriate

Shannon D Taylor Law Oklahoma City 405-602-8446

state regulatory board. If we were not able to find evidence

Meredith A. Tipton

of a lawyer's current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that lawyer was excluded from the list. In addition, we checked available public sources to identify lawyers disciplined for an infraction by the state regulatory board. These entities were excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied result to the magazine for its final review and adjustments.

Final note. We recognize that there are many good lawyers who are not shown in this representative list. This is only a sampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the region. Inclusion in the list is based on the opinions of responding lawyers in the region. We take time and energy to ensure fair voting, although we understand that the results of this survey nomination and Internet research campaign are not objective metrics. We certainly do not discount the fact that many, many good and effective lawyers

Blaney Tipton Hiersche & Odom Oklahoma City 405-235-8445

Melisa L. Van Meter

Van Meter Law Office PC Norman 405-329-2233

Denielle Williams Chaney

Chaney Law Firm PLLC Edmond 405-595-1751

Jennifer Yowell

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

D. Kent Meyers

APPELLATE LAW

great care in assembling content for this list. DataJoe does

Catherine L. Campbell

complete or accurate. DataJoe does not assume, and hereby

Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-606-4788

disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage

Melissa Hedrick

cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from DataJoe.

Questions? For research/methodology questions, contact the research team at surveys@datajoe.com.

Hedrick Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-361-7844

Kristin McAdams

Hester Schem Dionisio & Didier Edmond 405-705-5900

Clyde A. Muchmore

Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-235-7734

J. Robert Kalsu Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-239-6622

Allison C. McGrew McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2262

Will E. van Egmond Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-239-5415

BANKING AND FINANCIAL J. Dillon Curran

Chris Deason

Celeste J. England

Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-239-6643

Deason Law Oklahoma City 405-496-9268

The Law Office Of Celeste J England Oklahoma City 405-767-9907

William D. Greenwood

Greenwood Mediation Edmond 405-642-0181

Joe M. Hampton

Tomlinson McKinstry PC Oklahoma City 405-702-4346

Catherine Holland Petersen

Bryan N. B. King

Lytle Soulé & Felty PC Oklahoma City 405-235-7471

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5711

ANTITRUST LAW

Disclaimers. DataJoe uses best practices, and exercises

or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other

Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis Tulsa 918-629-7555

Kevyn Gray Mattax

may not appear on the list.

caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors

Thomas M. Askew

Adoption Attorney Jennifer Yowell Oklahoma City 405-615-5150

Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-235-7729

not warrant that the data contained within the list are

Bryan J. Wells

Jason C. Hasty

Kevyn Gray Mattax Attorney/Mediator Oklahoma City 405-943-1965

PHM Law Group PC Norman 405-329-3307

ATTORNEYS FOR NON PROFITS Sharon Wigdor Byers

Oklahoma Guardian Ad Litem Institute Edmond 405-888-5449

James W. Larimore

John W. Mee, III Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson Oklahoma City 405-848-9100

Brock Z. Pittman

Christensen Law Group PLLC Oklahoma City 405-232-2020

Richard P. Propester

Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-235-7784

Justin L. Pybas

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5711

Todd Taylor

Taylor & Strubhar PLLC Oklahoma City 405-470-6649

William H. Whitehill, Jr

Lytle Soulé & Felty PC Oklahoma City 405-235-7471

William H. Hoch Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-239-6692

Clayton D. Ketter Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-606-4792

Scott P. Kirtley

Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis Oklahoma City 405-843-9909

Stephen J. Moriarty

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Craig M. Regens

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-568-3313

Michael J. Rose Michael J Rose PC Oklahoma City 405-605-3757

G. Blaine Schwabe, III

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5589

B. David Sisson

Law Offices of B David Sisson Norman 405-447-2521

Bryson J. Williams Munson & McMillin Edmond 405-513-7707

BUSINESS LAW

BANKRUPTCY AND WORKOUT

Ryan J. Duffy

Larry G. Ball

Bradley K. Donnell

Daniel V. Carsey

McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2308

Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2313

Jack Gilchrist

Matthew D. Craig

McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2358

B. Gore Gaines

Jacquelyn L Dill

AVIATION

Maria E. Gonzalez

Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis Oklahoma City 405-843-9909

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2826

Gilchrist Aviation Law PC Oklahoma City 405-252-8811

George M. Emerson

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5711 Rising Stars

Elaine M. Dowling Dowling Law Office Oklahoma City 405-842-8005

Graft & Walraven Oklahoma City 405-253-6444

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Travis E. Harrison Ward & Glass LLP Norman 405-253-4031

Arthur F. Hoge, III Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson Oklahoma City 405-848-9100 LEGACY

James K. Larimore Durbin Larimore & Bialick PC Oklahoma City 405-235-9584

T O P AT T O R N E Y S 2 0 2 2 54

Jordan LePage

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6988

Joe C. Lewallen, Jr. McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2370

E. Parker Lowe

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6803

Bryan R. Lynch Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2310 Rising Stars

Evan A. McCormick Craig E Brown PC Oklahoma City 405-840-5151

Armand Paliotta

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-996-3320

John D. Robertson Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-996-3312

Armando J. Rosell Rosell Law Group Oklahoma City 405-702-0888

Thomas R. Russell Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-996-3316

Charles E. Geister, III Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-996-3356

Bradley A. Gungoll Gungoll Jackson Box & Devoll PC Oklahoma City 405-272-4710

Clayton T. Hasbrook

Hasbrook & Hasbrook Oklahoma City 405-235-1551

Patrick Lane

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6977

William Billy M. Lewis Goodwin & Lewis Oklahoma City 405-900-5700

Mark R. McPhail

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Russell L Mulinix Mulinix Eddy Ewert & McKenzie PLLC Oklahoma City 405-232-3800

Kelly Lynn Offutt Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2806 Rising Stars

Sara E. Potts

McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2301

Doerner Saunders Daniel & Anderson LLP Oklahoma City 405-319-3507

Roger A. Stong

Jacob Rowe

Joshua D. Smith

Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-239-6614

Fulmer Sill Law Oklahoma City 405-509-6300

Grant P. Scowden

CIVIL LAW LITIGATION Mitchell D. Blackburn

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5740

Eric L. Combs

Lytle Soulé & Felty PC Oklahoma City 405-235-7471

Seth A. Day Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2869

Ryan Dean

DeWitt Paruolo & Meek Attorneys Oklahoma City 405-705-3600

David B. Donchin Durbin Larimore & Bialick PC Oklahoma City 405-235-9584

Kelsey Dulin Dulin Law Firm Edmond 405-513-8555

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6967 RISING STARS

Danny K. Shadid

Danny Shadid Attorney at Law Oklahoma City 405-810-9999

Amy M. Stipe

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5512

Chad C. Taylor

Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis Oklahoma City 405-843-9909

John M. Thompson Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-235-7774

Paulina Thompson Miller Johnson Jones Antonisse & White Oklahoma City 405-896-4388

Ronald R. Tracy Munson & McMillin Edmond 405-513-7707

Thomas Weatherford

Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson Oklahoma City 405-848-9100

Joe E. White, Jr. White & Weddle PC Oklahoma City 405-858-8899

CIVIL LAW TRANSACTIONAL Charles C. Callaway, Jr.

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Paul B. Cason Rosell Law Group Oklahoma City 405-702-0888

Monica J. Hoenshell

Calvert Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-607-3074

Dawn M. Rahme Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-606-4770

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION Johnny R. Blassingame Rudnicki PLLC Oklahoma City 405-445-7422

Matthew W. Brockman

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Jennifer K. Christian

Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-552-2490

George S. Corbyn, Jr.

Corbyn Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-239-7055

E. Talitha Ebrite

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5500

David A. Elder

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Lysbeth Liz George

Liz George and Associates Oklahoma City 405-689-5502

Jared D. Giddens

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5721

Joshua C. Greenhaw

Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson Oklahoma City 405-848-9100

Justin T. Hiersche

Blaney Tipton Hiersche & Odom Oklahoma City 405-235-8445

Craig E. Brown Craig E Brown PC Oklahoma City 405-840-5151

Douglas J. Shelton

Ed Blau

C. Eric Shephard

John P. Cannon

Henry D. Hoss

Crystal A. Johnson

CONSUMER DEBT

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5711

John Jake M. Krattiger

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-568-3301

Fred A. Leibrock Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-235-4100

Ryan Leonard

Edinger Leonard & Blakley PLLC Oklahoma City 405-367-0555

Nick Merkley

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-568-3311

Kiran A. Phansalkar

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5711 LEGACY

Anton Rupert Rupert Steiner & Morgan PLLC Oklahoma City 405-607-1495

Geren Steiner Rupert Steiner & Morgan PLLC Oklahoma City 405-607-1496

Terry W. Tippens

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621 LEGACY

Phillip Whaley

Ryan Whaley Attorneys Oklahoma City 405-239-6040

Candace Williams Lisle Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-606-4713

Thomas G. Wolfe Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-552-2401

CONSTRUCTION Alan W. Bardell Hayes Magrini & Gatewood Oklahoma City 405-235-9922

Behenna Goerke Krahl and Meyer Oklahoma City 405-232-3800

Shelton & Walkley Law Group Oklahoma City 405-605-8800

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2245

W. Brett Behenna

M. Kathi Rawls Rawls Gahlot PLLC Moore 405-912-3225

Dani L. Schinzing Robinson Hoover & Fudge PLLC Oklahoma City 405-232-6464

CORPORATE COUNSEL Robert A. Nance

Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis Oklahoma City 405-843-9909 LEGACY

CORPORATE FINANCE MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Joshua L. Edwards Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-606-4739

John H. Edwards

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Lawn B. Gardner

Christensen Law Group PLLC Oklahoma City 405-232-2020

Danae V. Grace

Blau Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-2528

Joi E. Miskel

Laura Neal

John W. Coyle, III

Dustin S. Phillips

LEGACY

J. Patrick Quillian

Coyle Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-1988 Coyle Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-1988

Clay Curtis

Clay Curtis Law Oklahoma City 405-250-6769

Casey Davis

Davis Law Group Oklahoma City 405-232-6357

Jacquelyn Leslie Ford Jacqui Ford Law Oklahoma City 405-604-3200

Robert D. Gifford Gifford Law PLLC Oklahoma City 405-810-5406

Michelle L. Greene William H Block, Inc. Oklahoma City 405-848-5400

David Hamel

Hamel Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-254-2141

Gary James Gary J James & Associates Oklahoma City 405-521-9900 LEGACY

Carter Jennings

Evan King

Porter Hedges LLP Oklahoma City 405-254-5725

Evan King Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-655-8529

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Donald C. Macarthy

The Law Offices Of Adam R Banner Oklahoma City 405-778-4800

Mendros & Stout Law Oklahoma City 405-605-8639

J. W. Billy Coyle, IV

C. Ray Lees

Adam R. Banner

Jaye Mendros

The Law Office Of Joi E Miskel Oklahoma City 405-840-7783

McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-270-6017

Scott M Anderson Attorney at Law Oklahoma City 405-236-2221

Martino Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-639-3083

Cannon Law PLLC Edmond 405-657-2323

Carter Jennings Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-659-7221

Scott M. Anderson

John F. Martino

Donald Macarthy Law Oklahoma City 405-673-1097

Mack K. Martin Martin Law Office Oklahoma City 405-236-8888

Amber B. Martin Martin Law Office Oklahoma City 405-236-8888

Warhawk Legal Oklahoma City 405-429-3023 Phillips & Associates Oklahoma City ?405-418-8888 J Patrick Quillian PC Oklahoma City 405-896-9768

Peter L. Scimeca

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Zack Simmons Swain Law Group Norman 405-546-1292

Angela Singleton Singleton Defense Oklahoma City 405-510-0345

Matt Swain

Swain Law Group Norman 405-546-1292

Frank A. Urbanic

The Urbanic Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-633-3420

Gary W. Wood

Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis Oklahoma City 405-843-9909

ELDER LAW Stephanie Alleman Alleman Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-252-0472

Lee M. Holmes Holmes Holmes & Neisent PLLC Oklahoma City 405-235-8455

Terrell Monks Oklahoma Estate Attorneys PLLC Midwest City 405-880-8960

Sarah Stewart

Solid Serenity Legal Solutions Bethany 405-548-5763

Dan Woska

Woska Law Firm PLLC Edmond 405-657-2271 LEGACY

T O P AT T O R N E Y S 2 0 2 2 55

ENERGY OIL AND GAS Zachary T. Ball

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6801

Dale E Cottingham GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5513

Melissa R. Gardner Oklahoma City 405-606-4782

William J. Houser Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6812

Lewis T. LeNaire

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-568-3303

Caron Loffland

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6970

Laura J. Long McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2372

Lucas J. Munson Munson & McMillin Edmond 405-513-7707

Leo J. Portman

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-568-3305

Leah T. Rudnicki Rudnicki PLLC Oklahoma City 405-445-7422

Niles E. Stuck Niles Stuck PLLC Edmond 405-358-7819

Rachel Talasaz

Jodi H. Childers Cannon Law PLLC Edmond 405-657-2323

Kara Rose Didier

Hester Schem Dionisio & Didier Edmond 405-705-5900

Monica A. Dionisio Hester Schem Dionisio & Didier Edmond 405-705-5900

Lindsey W. Andrews

Law Office of Lindsey W Andrews Oklahoma City 405-760-5855

Lorenzo Banks

Banks Gillett & Gillett PLLC Edmond 405-607-4800

Glenn Brown

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6994

Michael L. Mullins

Michael D. O’Neal

Williams Box Forshee & Bullard PC Oklahoma City 405-232-0080

Jama Pecore

John Michael Williams

Christina GelonaHendricks

Hayley Potts

Gelona-Hendricks Law PLLC Edmond 405-863-7575

Matthew R. Gile Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2327

Leslie D. GileErwin Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2892

Nichole Gillett

Banks Gillett & Gillett PLLC Edmond 405-607-4800

Amber M. Godfrey WhitbeckBennett Oklahoma City 405-655-5733

Erick W. Harris Cannon Law PLLC Edmond 405-657-2323

Jon L. Hester

Abritton Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-601-7034

McGill and Rodgers Edmond 405-285-8048

LEGACY

Henry + Dow Trial Lawyers Oklahoma City 405-605-0681

Allyson Dow

Paul Trimble

Tamra Albritton

LeAnne McGill

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5567

Elizabeth Scott

Holly Hefton

FAMILY LAW

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Robert G. McCampbell

Mullins Mullins Sexton & Reaves PC Oklahoma City 405-235-2335

Talasaz & Finkbeiner PLLC Bethany 405-896-0516 Trimble Law Group PLLC Oklahoma City 405-594-7100

Laura McConnellCorbyn

Holly Hefton Law PC Oklahoma City 405-312-3366 Hester Schem Dionisio & Didier Edmond 405-705-5900 LEGACY

Steven M. Holden Holden Law Office Oklahoma City 405-232-2694

Rita Jencks

Jencks Law Firm PLLC Edmond 405-285-2882

Nicholle Jones Edwards Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-552-2441

Kelli D. Kelso

Kelso Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-317-6560

Kristy Loyall Fogg Law Firm El Reno 405-262-3502

PHM Law Group PC Norman 405-329-3307 The Potts Law Office Oklahoma City 405-236-2221

Ashley L. Powell

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Ashley D. Rahill

Rahill Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-286-9619

Courtney L. Schamel

Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-234-3248

Williams Box Forshee & Bullard PC Oklahoma City 405-232-0080

HEALTH CARE LAW

Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-606-4735

Lindsey Vanhooser Sherwood Sherwood Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-849-9288

Sajani Ann Zachariah

Mazaheri Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-645-6022

GENERAL PRACTICE Joe Vorndran Stuart & Clover Shawnee 405-275-0700

GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE Anil V. Gollahalli OU College of Law Norman 405-325-4699

Robert Ray Jones, Jr. Lytle Soulé & Felty PC Oklahoma City 405-235-7471

Michael C. Felty

Lytle Soulé & Felty PC Oklahoma City 405-235-7471

Simone Fulmer Gaus Fulmer Sill Law Oklahoma City 405-509-6300

Robert S. Lafferrandre

Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green LLP Oklahoma City 405-826-2262

Janet S. Dumont

Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis Oklahoma City 405-843-9909

Terra Lord Parten

Molly E. Tipton

Mansell Engel & Cole Oklahoma City 405-212-5921

Lane R. Neal

McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2217

Roe Simmons

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6804

Mark A. Engel

Elizabeth L. Dalton

Eric S. Fisher

Chris Smith

Mansell Engel & Cole Oklahoma City 405-212-5921

Lance Leffel

The Law Office Of Courtney Lee PLLC Oklahoma City 405-400-9066 Simmons & Associates Oklahoma City 855-973-8877

Kenneth G. Cole

Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-235-7719 McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2324

Karen S. Rieger Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-235-7788

Patricia A. Rogers McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-235-9621

Linda G. Scoggins

Doerner Saunders Daniel & Anderson LLP Oklahoma City 405-319-3510

IMMIGRATION LAW Michelle L. Edstrom Edstrom Law Office Oklahoma City 405-401-1213

Krishan Patel

Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-606-4762

Kelli J. Stump

Kelli J Stump PLLC Oklahoma City 405-217-4550

INSURANCE Greg A. Castro

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5582 Durbin Larimore & Bialick PC Oklahoma City 405-235-9584

Thomas Paruolo

DeWitt Paruolo & Meek Attorneys Oklahoma City 405-705-3600

Leasa M. Stewart

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5594

Doug Terry

Doug Terry Law Edmond 405-463-6362

Kathryn D. Terry Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-552-2452

Jace T. White

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-568-3306

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Sasha L. Beling McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-270-6011

Cody J. Cooper Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-552-2405

Bryan A. Fuller Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2822

Kelly Kress

Tomlinson McKinstry PC Oklahoma City 405-606-3360

Tyler J. Mantooth Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2303

Randall K. McCarthy

Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2300

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

Joshua C. Stockton Stockton Talbert PLLC Oklahoma City 405-225-1200

Laura Talbert

Stockton Talbert PLLC Oklahoma City 405-225-1200

Ellen A. Adams

Elaine R. Turner

Lauren Barghols Hanna

Paula M. Williams

Elizabeth Bowersox

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5520

Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-606-4732

McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-270-6019

Rachel Bussett

Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2804

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-568-3302

Robert D. Hoisington

BLG PLLC Oklahoma City 405-605-8073

Foliart Huff Ottaway & Bottom Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-4633

Andre’ B. Caldwell

Naureen Hubbard

Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC Oklahoma City 405-546-3774

Sweet Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-601-9400

Chelsea Celsor Smith

Foliart Huff Ottaway & Bottom Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-4633

Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2304

Casey T. Delaney

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Melvin C. Hall

Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis Oklahoma City 405-843-9909

Paige Hoster Good McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2340

Scott Kiplinger

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-568-3317

Glen D. Huff

John Roger Hurt

Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green LLP Oklahoma City 405-552-5220

David K. McPhail

Foliart Huff Ottaway & Bottom Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-4633

Neel K Natarajan Walters Stanley & Natarajan LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-3800

Randall L. Sewell

Byrona J. Maule

Wiggins Sewell & Ogletree Oklahoma City 405-232-1211

Katherine Mazaheri

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PLAINTIFF

Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-552-2453

Mazaheri Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-645-6022

Cara Nicklas

McAlister McAlister & Nicklas PLLC Edmond 405-359-0701

Leah Roper

Center for Employment Law Oklahoma City 405-252-1180

Kristin M. Simpsen McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2395

Shea Bracken Maples Nix & Diesselhorst Edmond 405-478-3737

David Bruner

Whiting & Bruner PLLC Oklahoma City 405-525-6671

Derek K. Burch Burch George & Germany PC Oklahoma City 405-239-7711

Ben Butts

Butts & Marrs Lawyers Oklahoma City 405-608-0098

T O P AT T O R N E Y S 2 0 2 2 56

Steven E. Clark Clark & Associates Oklahoma City 405-235-8488

Jacob D. Diesselhorst Maples Nix & Diesselhorst Edmond 405-478-3737

Danielle P. Fielding

Martin + Fielding Oklahoma City 405-673-2377

Woodrow K. Glass Ward & Glass LLP Norman 405-253-4031

Spencer B. Housley

Tiffany K. Peterson Munson & McMillin Edmond 405-513-7707

Rob F. Robertson

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5558

Heather R. Rohlmeier

Hall Estill Oklahoma City 405-553-2843

Jake Sandlin

Neighbors Law Firm Norman 405-928-0091

Seda Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-759-0678

Glendell D. Nix

Mark K. Stonecipher

Whiting & Bruner PLLC Oklahoma City 405-525-6671

OIL AND GAS B.J. Bergner

Munson & McMillin Edmond 405-513-7707

Timothy C. Dowd Elias Books Brown & Nelson PC Oklahoma City 405-232-3722

Kraettli Q. Epperson

Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson Oklahoma City 405-848-9100

Matthew K. Felty

Lytle Soulé & Felty PC Oklahoma City 405-235-7471

James D. Kallstrom

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Eric R. King

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

PERSONAL INJURY Blake Beeler Carr & Carr Oklahoma City 405-691-1600

James J. Biscone

Johnson & Biscone PA Oklahoma City 405-232-6490

Michael Burrage Whitten Burrage Oklahoma City 405-516-7800

Susan Carns Curtiss

Carns Curtiss Law PLLC Oklahoma City 405-525-0337

Ryan Y. Cunningham

Cunningham & Mears Oklahoma City 405-232-1212

Nicholas Farha Farha Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-471-2224

Matthew Frisby Gary J James & Associates Oklahoma City 405-521-9900

D. Sharon Gentry

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Riggs Abney Neal Turpen Orbison & Lewis Oklahoma City 405-843-9909

Vijay Madduri

Kelly A. George

Munson & McMillin Broken Arrow 918-994-7831

Kevin Hill

Fulmer Sill Law Oklahoma City 405-509-6300

Roberto Seda

Michael Whiting

Laird Hammons Laird Oklahoma City 405-703-4567

Raymond S. Rudnicki

Brent L. Neighbors

Slama Legal Group Oklahoma City 405-609-1600

Jason M. Hicks

Colbert Cooper Hill Oklahoma City 405-203-8293

Elias Books Brown & Nelson PC Oklahoma City 405-232-3722

Jo Lynn Slama

DeWitt Paruolo & Meek Attorneys Oklahoma City 405-705-3600

Elias Books Brown & Nelson PC Oklahoma City 405-232-3722

Housley Injury Law Oklahoma City 405-601-4017

Maples Nix & Diesselhorst Edmond 405-478-3737

Benjamin Grubb

Burch George & Germany PC Oklahoma City 405-239-7711

Chad W. P. Kelliher

Dakota C. Low The Law Office Of Dakota Low Oklahoma City 405-601-8899

Ashley Manning Manning Law Firm Edmond 405-454-4135

Jonathan R. Ortwein

Laird Hammons Laird Oklahoma City 405-703-4567

Austin S. Pieratt Pieratt Law PLLC Oklahoma City 405-551-5109

Andrea Rust Fulmer Sill Law Oklahoma City 405-509-6300

Geoffrey Tabor Ward & Glass LLP Norman 405-253-4031

David W. Van Meter

Van Meter Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-228-4949

Sabre N. Weathers Whitefeather Law Group PLLC Yukon 405-470-0682

Reggie Whitten Whitten Burrage Oklahoma City 405-516-7800

PRODUCT LIABILITY Jeffrey A. Curran

GableGotwals Counsel Oklahoma City 405-235-5537

Amy Sherry Fischer

Foliart Huff Ottaway & Bottom Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-4633

Cary E. Hiltgen

Hiltgen & Brewer PC Oklahoma City 405-445-5432

Larry D. Ottaway

Foliart Huff Ottaway & Bottom Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-4633

PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE NON MEDICAL DEFENSE Justin Meek

DeWitt Paruolo & Meek Attorneys Oklahoma City 405-705-3600

REAL ESTATE Benjamin K. Davis Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

John W. Funk

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5710

Sally Garrison

The Mortgage Law Firm Oklahoma City 619-465-8200

John J. Griffin, III

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-996-3308

Sally A. Hasenfratz Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-552-2431

Kari Hoffhines Crowe & Dunlevy Oklahoma City 405-235-7709

Richard D..

Johnson

McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2204

Rhonda J. McLean Munson & McMillin Edmond 405-513-7707

Michael J. McMillin Munson & McMillin Edmond 405-513-7707

Myrna Schack Latham McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2278

Ryan Schaller

Gossen and Schaller PLLC Edmond 405-267-9921

Maris Skinner Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson Oklahoma City 405-848-9100

T. Scott Spradling Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

SECURITIES LAW William B. Federman Federman & Sherwood Oklahoma City 405-235-1560

Stephanie Moser Goins

Stacey D. Spivey

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6979

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-996-3365

Steven K. Mullins

John D. Weaver

Irwin H. Steinhorn

Lytle Soulé & Felty PC Oklahoma City 405-235-7471

Jeanette C. Timmons

WILLS

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5750

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5745

TAX LAW Len Cason

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Jesse C. Chapel

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Grady R. Conrad Klingenberg & Associates PC Oklahoma City 405-236-1985

Richard D. Craig McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2349

Steven C. Davis

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-996-3330

Valerie Devol

Devol & Associates Edmond 405-225-2300

Matthew B. Hickey McAfee & Taft Oklahoma City 405-552-2264

David J. Looby

Conner & Winters LLP Oklahoma City 405-272-5733

Rachel Mathew

Polston Tax Resolution & Accounting Oklahoma City 405-602-1818

H. Craig Pitts

Rubenstein and Pitts PLLC Edmond 405-340-1900

Amanda M. Swain

Swain Trusts & Estates Oklahoma City 405-701-0798

TRIBAL LAW Klint A. Cowan

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Victoria Holland Devol & Associates Edmond 405-225-2300

Evans & Davis Edmond 405-286-2335

Jennifer L. Wright Paul W. Dudman

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621 Legacy

Ball Morse Lowe PLLC Norman 405-701-6968

WORKER’S COMPENSATION

Garrett A. Eller

Emily Biscone

Dawn D. Hallman

M. Dan Caldwell

Eller Legal Planning LLC Edmond 405-254-7526 Hallman & Associates PC Norman 405-447-9455

Sara K. Hawkins

Johnson & Biscone PA Oklahoma City 405-232-6490 Caldwell Funck Thompson & Hanner PC Oklahoma City 405-232-1456

Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson Oklahoma City 405-848-9100

Michael D. Carter

Chantelle Hickman

Milly Daniels

Cheryl Husmann

Michael A. Fagan

Cody Jones

Kristi Bynum Funck

Alleman Law Firm PLLC Oklahoma City 405-252-0472 Husmann Law Edmond 405-285-1548

McAlister McAlister & Nicklas PLLC Edmond 405-359-0701

J. Leslie LaReau

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Keith D. Magill

Magill & Magill PLLC Oklahoma City 405-509-5291

Mitchell D. McCuistian

Evans & Davis Edmond 405-286-2335

Christin V. Mugg Mugg Winston Edmond 405-705-2900

Andrea Painter Painter Law PLLC Oklahoma City 405-338-7689

Ashley Ray

McAlister McAlister & Nicklas PLLC Edmond 405-359-0701

Amy J. Sine

Hartzog Conger Cason LLP Oklahoma City 405-235-7000

Phillips Murrah PC Oklahoma City 405-606-4715 Milly Daniels Law Oklahoma City 405-768-2570

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Caldwell Funck Thompson & Hanner PC Oklahoma City 405-232-1456

Preston G. Hanner

Caldwell Funck Thompson & Hanner PC Oklahoma City 405-232-1456

Jacob P. Jean

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Harry J. Trey Kouri, III

Harry J Trey Kouri Attorney At Law Oklahoma City 405-630-4129

Heather A. Lehman Fagan

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

Blaine Nice

Fellers Snider Law Firm Oklahoma City 405-232-0621

J. Tyler Worten

Hornbeek Vitali & Braun Oklahoma City 405-236-8600

PROMOTION

Attorney Profiles 2 0 2 2 Life’s most difficult situations often require the expertise of an experienced lawyer. From real estate to family turmoil, the legal professionals on the following pages can give you the guidance you need, when you need it most.

ATTORNEY PROFILES

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION & CIVIL LITIGATION Front: T. Scott Spradling, James D. Kallstrom, John J. “Jay” Griffin Back: John H. Edwards, Steven C. Davis, Jesse C. Chapel, Len Cason, John D. Robertson, Armand Paliotta, Benjamin K. Davis, Tom R. Russell

Hartzog Conger Cason TOP ATTORNEYS 2022

stablished in 1978, Hartzog Conger Cason began as a three-person firm but has steadily grown over the years by focusing on hiring attorneys with both impressive academic credentials and valuable practical experience. Together with a strong commitment to excellence, service and creativity, the firm has built a reputation as one of the most prestigious in Oklahoma.

“Over the past four decades, our firm has grown to be home to more than 35 lawyers, all embodying the core principles of the

firm – unwavering commitment to service, unmatched strategies established through focused teams of top experts and unambiguous personal communication with our clients,” said Len Cason.

The firm represents a wide variety of clients across a broad range of specializations. From individuals and families to notfor-profit organizations and commercial enterprises, the firm’s clientele has come to rely upon Hartzog Conger Cason’s expertise, knowledge and resources to consistently produce successful results.

201 ROBERT S KERR AVE STE 1600, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73102 | 405.235.7000 | HARTZOGLAW.COM 58

PROMOTION

TAX LAW & ESTATE PLANNING

TRANSACTIONAL LAW, OIL & GAS, REAL ESTATE

Back: Stacey D. Spivey, Steven C. Davis, Jesse C. Chapel, Amy J. Sine, J. Leslie LaReau, Front: Len Cason

Front: Matthew W. Brockman, Ashley L. Powell Back: Mark R. McPhail, David A. Elder, Charles E. Geister III

FAMILY LAW

The firm provides services locally and nationally in estate planning, income tax, litigation, oil and gas law, corporate law, real estate, business transactions and family law.

“We continually strive to focus on results for our clients as opposed to the number of hours we can bill,” said Cason. “Our clientele has come to expect the tireless work ethic and the sophisticated blend of knowledge and creativity from our lawyers, whatever the issues.”

The firm’s attorneys are regularly recognized by the legal industry’s leading publications as among the best in their respective practice areas. As a percentage of total attorneys, the firm consistently ranks among the leaders in the state of Oklahoma in the number of attorneys recognized by the Best Lawyers, Chambers USA and Super Lawyers.

The firm has a reputation and history of serving the community and has partnered with numerous organizations to make the 405 metro and the state of Oklahoma a better place.

Left: Ashley L. Powell Right: Laura McConnell-Corbyn

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ATTORNEY PROFILES

Riggs Abney TOP ATTORNEYS 2022

ounded in 1972 by four graduates from The University of Tulsa College of Law, Riggs Abney is one of Oklahoma’s oldest and largest law firms.

Riggs, Abney, Neal & Turpen merged with the firm Robinson, Lewis, Orbison, Smith and Coyle in 1994 to become Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis. Today, the firm is known simply as Riggs Abney and has offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Colorado and a team of approximately 85 attorneys who provide broad based legal counsel and representation in all aspects of law.

Riggs Abney provides comprehensive legal services to clients in Oklahoma, Colorado and beyond with impeccable expertise.

From plaintiff cases to complex trials and litigation, the attorneys provide effective legal counsel with excellence, integrity and compassion.

“We’ve followed a clear principle that has served us well for 50 years,” said Riggs Abney president Kristopher Koepsel. “We are passionate advocates for our clients and our communities. Whether through legal representation, serving in public office or improving our community, we thrive in the service of others.”

At the very core of the firm’s ethos is that call to public service. Through the firm, attorneys and staff are involved in numerous charitable, service and civic organizations.

It is this commitment to public service that gives Riggs Abney its singular identity.

Riggs Abney attorneys have served in the Oklahoma State Legislature, Oklahoma Attorney General’s office, and on multiple state boards, trusts and commissions. Additionally, the firm’s attorneys are involved 60

Chad Taylor, Sharon Gentry, Jan Dumont, Robert Nance, George Emerson, Kristopher Koepsel and Gary Wood

with more than 60 nonprofit organizations throughout Oklahoma and Colorado.

“Our dedication to public service is equaled only by our dedication to clients,” said Kristopher Koepsel. “The cause of the client is the cause of the Riggs Abney attorney, and each client, regardless of size or the nature of the needed service, has our extensive knowledge, competence and experience at their disposal.”

2022 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Riggs Abney and its five decades of experi-

ence providing thoughtful guidance and legal expertise to clients throughout a multitude of diverse practice areas. Its commitment to employees and communities is unparalleled and the firm is dedicated to bringing access to justice for its clients and their organizations ΩΩzzz– regardless of size, industry or legal issue.

The firm’s range of clients include Fortune 100 companies, national associations, state agency boards, privately owned com-

PROMOTION

panies and individuals. Its areas of expertise include appellate law, banking & finance, civil litigation, estate planning, government law, healthcare, medical malpractice, energy law, tax law and workers compensation.

Additionally, Riggs Abney is a LegalShield affiliate, representing individuals, families, small businesses and commercial drivers across Oklahoma and Colorado through an on-demand network of established attorneys. More than 80,000 LegalShield members depend on Riggs Abney for

representation in all areas of the law.

Riggs Abney has been highly ranked by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in areas including Employment Law – Individuals, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Government Relations Practice.

Riggs Abney attorneys have also recently been honored on the lists of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Super Lawyers, Journal Record’s 50 Making a Difference, and Journal Record’s Most Admired CEOs.

528 N.W. 12TH STREET OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73103-2407 405.843.9909 RIGGSABNEY.COM

ATTORNEY PROFILES

PROMOTION

62

Gilchrist Aviation Law TOP ATTORNEYS 2022

or more than 30 years, attorney Jack Gilchrist has focused his career on aviation transactions, representing clients from all areas of the industry with regard to every current structure of aircraft and aircraft engine transaction.

As founder of Gilchrist Aviation Law, he counsels clients around the world in aircraft transactions, including many major air carriers, aircraft and engine leasing companies, air cargo companies, corporations, banks and other lending institutions, as well as aircraft brokers, dealers and manufacturers.

“Unlike most law firms, GAL exclusively practices aviation law,” Gilchrist said.

“We have provided counsel on virtually every structure of aircraft transactions, operating around the world. Our practice provides counsel to owners of single engine hobby aircraft all the way to some of the largest airlines in the world.”

Gilchrist frequently assists clients in structuring transactions and working with pertinent documents with respect to their recordability with the Federal Aviation Administration, Aircraft Records Branch, in Oklahoma City, and the registration of international interests under the Cape Town Convention, Aviation Protocol. He regularly serves as special FAA and International Registry counsel to other law firms and companies in aviation matters.

He is the author of numerous articles regarding aviation title and registration law and has served as a lecturer for the American

Bar Association, the Transportation Lawyers Association, International Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association.

Clients frequently praise GAL for their timeliness and accuracy.

“We treat every transaction, no matter how simple, with the attention it deserves,” Gilchrist said. “Our attorneys

make themselves available to clients around the world, regardless of time differences or schedules.”

Gilchrist earned a degree from Dallas Theological Seminary before attending OU Law. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren and is an avid outdoorsman.

1200 NW 63RD ST SUITE 4000, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73116 | 405.252.8888 | GILCHRISTAVIATION.COM

ATTORNEY PROFILES

PROMOTION

63

Conner & Winters TOP ATTORNEYS 2022

onner & Winters has diligently pursued a primary objective for more than 80 years: to provide clients with the very best legal services. With almost 100 attorneys in offices throughout the central United States and Washington, D.C., the firm is one of the leading, full-service business and litigation law firms in the region.

The firm’s diversity of practice and quality of work is directly attributable to the individual and collective talents of its attorneys and staff, from recent graduates to seasoned attorneys with 50 years of experience.

“Throughout our history, we have attracted exceptional graduates from nationally prominent law schools as well as important regional and state law schools,”

said Jared Giddens, Chairman of the firm.

“The firm fosters an open environment, where attorneys at all levels of their careers are comfortable sharing ideas and working together. This teamwork approach allows us to better focus on our clients’ business needs while always maintaining unparalleled professional integrity.”

Clients of the firm span a wide variety of industries — from multinational corporations to local businesses, individuals and entrepreneurs. The breadth and depth of the firm’s practice areas added to the attorneys’ collective experience and expertise ensure that clients receive cost-effective, outstanding legal services.

“We have earned our distinguished reputation by consistently providing superior

legal services to our clients,” said Jared Giddens. “Our attorneys are focused on being both responsive and effective.”

Conner & Winters has been recognized consistently by Best Lawyers, Chambers and Super Lawyers. The firm’s attorneys have been recognized with the Hispanic National Bar Association’s prestigious 2022 “Top Lawyers Under 40” Award and the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section’s award for the “Groundbreaking Family Law Case of 2021.”

The firm supports diversity initiatives and nonprofits in the community, including Connecting Women, OKC and Tulsa Pride Festivals, Leadership Oklahoma, Afghan Refugee Pro Bono assistance, Iron Gate and Ronald McDonald House.

211 N ROBINSON AVE STE 1700, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73102 | 405.272.5711 | CWLAW.COM

ATTORNEY PROFILES

Klingenberg, Conrad & Associates he law firm of Klingenberg, Conrad & Associates in conjunction with the accounting firm of Kenneth W. Klingenberg, C.P.A., P.C. work together to serve the diverse needs of their clients in the 405 metro and throughout the state of Oklahoma. The combination of attorneys and CPAs allows the firms to bring substantial legal, accounting and business knowledge to bear for clients.

Attorney Grady R. Conrad has consistently been named one of the top in his field by professional organizations, including being listed as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2020 and 2021, 40 Under 40 by Oklahoma Magazine in 2021, and Top 10 Under 40 in 2021 and 2022 by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. He is an active member and past president of the Downtown Exchange Club of Oklahoma City.

This powerful combination of legal and financial expertise helps clients with issues ranging from civil litigation to tax matters, as well as providing litigation support to other attorneys and law firms as financial experts.

405.236.1985 | KENKLING.COM 330 NW 13TH ST, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73103

Stories Informing Tomorrow SUBSCRIBE TO THE MORNING RUSH EMAIL TODAY 405BUSINESS.COM/NEWSLETTERS

PROMOTION

E X I T S T R ATEGY

CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

The Golden Age Rachel Cannon’s office highlights both her decades-long career as an actress and producer but also the mood and future of Prairie Surf Media, which she co-founded. p.72

DOWNTIME ON TOPIC LINKED IN OUT OF OFFICE

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EXI T S TR ATE GY

The Car That Covid Built Marty Hepp used his decades of engineering experience and some downtime during the pandemic to build his own solar-powered car.

BY KRISTEN GRACE

picked up new hobbies during the Coronavirus pandemic – baking bread, beginning a yoga practice or training for a marathon – Marty Hepp, engineering CEO of CEC Infrastructure Solutions, decided to build his own solar car.

Hepp, who has a long-time passion of restoring old Porsches in his free time as well as rebuilding and modifying bicycles, fell deep into the pastime of building his own solar car during 2020 when the world shut down.

“I tried to build every component possible,” he said. “It was an interesting challenge.”

And he said it’s like he’s living out a classic Disney film and he’s Dick Van Dyke.

“My favorite movie as a child was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” he said. “The professor disappearing into his workshop every day and eventually appearing with his miraculous motorcar. It was a dream come true for me to be able to live that out.”

In the aftermath of the pandemic, the inspiration of stories like Marty Hepp’s show that a little time away from the world can give the needed space to create our dreams. It allowed Hepp to slow down from his fast-paced engineering career that he’s been busting through for the last almost four decades.

“I graduated from OU with a civil engineering degree 38 years ago,” he said. “And got a job with a mom-and-pop shop, a small engineering company based out of Oklahoma City called Cobb Engineering Company.

W H I LE M A NY PEO PL E

Top: Marty Hepp stands with his finished solar car.

‘I worked there until 1991 and was named the president of myself and three others,” he said, with a laugh. “Through the ‘90s I was able to establish myself as a transportation engineer and landed some big jobs. I became a partner in ’97, and started growing the company, diversifying, adding a lot of different services. In December of 2012, Jim and Laverna Cobb sold the company to me and three junior partners. Around the same time, we expanded our services again, and added MEP — mechanical, electrical and plumbing. And then I

bought out the founder in 2013. We continued to grow. I now act as chairman of the board, and I have transitioned a lot of my leadership to 10 other leaders of the company.”

For the kid that loved imaginative Disney movies, his career – and current passion – make complete sense.

“Looking back at my childhood, it’s no surprise that I became an engineer,” he said. “I always loved building things, putting motors in cars and working on old motorcycles.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Bottom: Hepp, who tried to build every component possible, works on the car during the pandemic.

2916 Astoria Wy Suite #100, Edmond, OK 73034 (405) 285-5042 ceoklahoma.com

Providing great patient care is our primary goal. From the moment you enter our practice we want you to feel like a member of the family.

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Victoria J. Ball, DDS, MSD

Our advanced technology provides many advantages to our patients, including a more accurate diagnosis, less painful and quicker procedures.

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It is with profound sadness that we mark the passing of our Founder and dear friend, Jack Golsen. After founding LSB Industries in 1968, Jack served as the company’s President, CEO, Chairman of the Board, Executive Chairman and Chairman Emeritus.

A kind and generous man, who was always willing to lend his expertise, Jack served as a director of the United Way of Oklahoma and as a Trustee of Oklahoma City University, as well as numerous other corporate boards. In 1972, he was recognized nationally as the person who prevented a widespread collapse of the Wall Street investment banking industry and in 1996, Jack was inducted into the Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor as one of Oklahoma’s leading industrialists.

Our hearts are with the Golsen family during this difficult time.

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ON TOPIC

Why is OKC’s growing diverse makeup important for the city’s future success?

Shalynne Jackson

Dr. Talia Carroll

Dr. Valerie Thompson

C H I E F I N C LU S I O N & D I V E R S I T Y O F F I C E R CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY

VICE P RE SID E N T FO R D IV E RSITY A N D IN CLU SIO N AT O K L A H O M A C ITY U N IV E RSITY

P RE SID E N T A N D C E O URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY, INC.

Similar to organizational diversity, our city can only benefit from having a more diverse population if we champion inclusion and equity for all. Often times, people think it’s enough to welcome others of diverse backgrounds, which is frequently described as providing a seat at the table.

Oklahoma City is flourishing. One of the contributing factors is the increase of diverse representation of businesses and organizations, opportunities and the people who occupy leadership roles across all sectors.

It is new ideas, differing perspectives and openness to growth that will contribute to our future success.

According to recent census data, Oklahoma City is the sixth-fastest growing city among the 25 largest cities in the United States. Oklahoma City’s future lies not just in fueling a diverse economy to bring businesses and people to our city but in navigating the challenges of sustaining our growth. For more than 75 years, the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City has been at the forefront of empowering communities to thrive in Oklahoma City’s diverse economy. Over the last 25 years, Oklahoma City has learned that investing in human capital and their quality of life has a real economic impact.

Toward that end, diverse neighborhoods and communities create opportunities for residents to have healthy interactions with people different from themselves. From improved health to enhanced economic growth, we must continue to champion the growth of small and minority businesses and diverse neighborhoods to keep us on a path from good to great.

What is a seat at the table if you don’t have a voice? It’s important that we are doing all that we can to ensure diverse communities are heard, valued, respected and empowered – not tolerated. By empowering diverse communities to prosper, OKC will benefit from a more innovative, collaborative, connected city, driving human mobility and economic growth. What does empowering diverse communities look like? It means advancing equitable education, healthcare, employment, housing and even access to quality food, to name a few. When we all take responsibility for our own cultural competence, we better understand the role we play in ensuring equity for all. If we all lean in, we all win.

Our success as a city also hinges on the perceived and real opportunities for current residents and those who are considering moving to Oklahoma City. We have the opportunity to contribute to OKC’s success by asking ourselves, “How am I positively contributing to diversity, access, inclusion, equity, and belonging,” as a means to attract and retain the greatest talent? Our innovative and creative practices rest on our ability to expand our perspectives and work collaboratively toward the goal of celebrating and honoring the lived experiences of everyone. Our community connections will be enriched as a result, and our positive influence felt in Oklahoma and beyond.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY LILLIAN MEADOR

Three diversity-focused leaders explain why diversity will only strengthen the Oklahoma City landscape.

Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology

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LINKED IN

Paycom gives $30,000 to Water4

Amy Cook Fisher, Paycom director of new client setup, presents Matt Hangen, president and CEO of Water4, the check for $30,000.

Paycom recently gave $30,000 to Water4, the Oklahoma City-based international nonprofit dedicated to eradicating the world’s water crisis through local, missional businesses.

Paycom’s gift will directly support general funding used for water projects where it is most needed. Since 2008, Water4 has completed more than 7,800 water projects and impacted more than 1.87 million individuals in sub-Saharan Africa through safe water.

“With this gift, Paycom is embodying their values by investing in an innovative solution to serve their global community,” said Matt Hangen, president and CEO of Water4.

The donations come as part of Paycom’s ongoing giving campaign, an opportunity for employees to donate to a variety of local and national causes.

“It is a privilege to provide this donation to Water4 and support its mission in eradicating a global water crisis,” said Amy Cook Fisher, , Paycom director of new client setup.

Hough Ear Institute licensed a novel hearing-loss treatment, which a local team of Hough scientists developed, to Boehringer Ingelheim, an international pharmaceutical firm.

The drug was codeveloped by OKC-based Autigen, a subsidiary of Otologic. Dr. Elaine Hamm is president of both.

“Our drug works to combat hearing loss caused by a loss of cells in the cochlea called ‘inner hair cells.’” Hamm said. “Previously, once you lost those, they wouldn’t grow back. Our drug causes them to grow back.”

Boehringer Ingelheim intends to take the drug through the testing process with the aim of bringing it to market. In preclinical models, the scientific team led by Drs. Xiaoping Du, Matthew West and Richard Kopke has regenerated these sensory hair cells.

Dr. Matt West, Hough Eat Institute chief operating officer, evaluates therapeutic effects in damaged cochlear tissues at Hough Ear Institute.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Hough Ear Institute licenses hearing loss treatment

1800 NW 122nd St. • Oklahoma City, OK 73120 • 405.749.3004

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE HERITAGEHALL.COM

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From the Hollywood Hills producer, co-CEO and founding partner of Prairie Surf Media, recently redesigned her office at the headquarters of the global production company she started inside the former Myriad Convention Center, which today overlooks the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

With the help from designer Jenn Whitekiller, and pieces from Mid Bin’s Adam Bradshaw and Remodern’s Joe Jeldy,

Cannon created an office that serves as both an ode to her 20-plus-year career as an actress with more than 80 network television credits and a mood piece for the future of Prairie Surf Media.

“August’s corner,” as she calls it, is filled with her soon-to-be-6-year-old favorite things for when he wants to “work with mommy.”

Above: Cannon’s office includes a piano that had a former life being played by the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel as it belonged to the Myriad Convention Center and was used for performances and concerts. “My little boy and my husband play on it now,” she said. Behind it, her wall holds magazine covers of iconic women, photos of moviestar collegues and actors and actresses she finds inspriational.

“These are the legends that came before us,” she said.

Left: Cannon’s desk sits in front of 16 photo stills from episodes during her 80 network television credits including shows like Mad Men, The Big Bang Theory, Fresh off the Boat and many others. To the right of her desk sits “August corner.”

CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

RACHEL CANNON, ACTRESS,