Business

In the past year, the Oklahoma Governor’s International Team welcomed visits from the British Ambassador, U.S. Trade and Development Director, Consul Generals from 10 nations and international journalists for the first time in 25 years.

There are many mistakes to be made when designing, but here are a few that may be less obvious.

If you want people to engage and talk with you, ask better questions. We all know that the answer to “How was your day?” will typically be “fine.” Ask a more open question.

In this video interview, new Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell reflects on his first moments in office and his priorities, as well as being appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt as secretary of tourism and branding. As an entrepreneur who built a global manufacturing company with his wife, Lisa, from their garage, Lt. Gov. Pinnell plans to bring his business principles to state government by using modernization to make government more customer-centered.

Gateway Mortgage Group experienced record growth in 2018 and continues to build momentum. Despite layoffs within the industry, Gateway expanded its national footprint and plans for additional growth. Gateway remains in the top tier of mortgage origination and servicing providers.

The Association of Oklahoma General Contractors (AOGC) elected Alma Pickle, a native Oklahoman and member of the Choctaw Nation, as its new president to lead the organization’s statewide members.

Recently, I had an employee tell me that her paycheck was not as important as the education we could provide her. As a business owner, you can’t afford to cut out employee development from your budget.

Reuters recently released their Journalism, Media and Technology Trends and Predictions 2019 report and found a fascinating figure – 75% of publishers think audio will become a more important part of their content and commercial strategies.

A new year is a new opportunity to freshen up the image of a brand, whether it be your company or yourself. It’s easy to get stuck in a creative rut. It’s tempting to go with what worked in the past and just stick with it.

If you’re a young professional, it’s likely that retirement is the last thing on your mind. With so many unknown factors in a lifetime, it is vital to start saving early for retirement.

The advertising arm of Google rebranded last year to make it easier for businesses to incorporate advertising platforms into their strategies.

Can we believe we are saying 2019 already? As Q4 is ending, communication specialists are preparing to implement their 2019 strategies – these must include the use of video on social media.

The Oklahoma Department of Labor (ODOL) encourages all small and private-sector businesses to start the new year off right by contacting OSHA Consultation Services, to ensure compliance with 2019 federal OSHA standards.

Shop with a purpose this holiday season with Couture Collective. As a socially conscious company, Couture Collective donates a percentage of proceeds to a different nonprofit in Oklahoma each month. The December beneficiary is Positive Tomorrows.

In the spirit of inspiring altruism, WalletHub ranked the most charitable states, comparing them across 14 key indicators, from volunteer rates, to share of income donated, to share of sheltered homeless. Oklahoma ranked #10 overall but as high as #5 in volunteering and service.

Parent Promise strives to empower and educate Oklahoma families to be great parents.

Don’t have extra dollars to give on Giving Tuesday? The Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma (DSACO) encourages the community to participate in Giving Tuesday through donations of time, skills, voice or goods.

Use your Facebook profile for good. Facebook is partnering with PayPal to match a total of up to $7 million in donations made on Facebook to eligible US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits on #GivingTuesday.

Everyone knows giving back not only helps others but makes that person or business feel good, too. But did you know that it is also good for your health?

Kesem at the University of Oklahoma, the only chapter in the state, provides year-round support to children who have been affected by a parent’s cancer.

Giving Tuesday is an annual campaign on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving created to inspire an international day of giving, just in time for the holiday season. Here are some ideas to participate without even opening your wallet:

The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) is an interfaith, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that exists to break cycles of incarceration through education, character development and work-readiness training. TEEM has served more than 15,000 participants over the past 30 years in the Oklahoma City community.

Volunteering can be a fun way to reconnect with your family throughout the year. Here are some tips for successful family projects.

At the 2018 Inc. 5000 Conference, Life is Good co-founder Bert Jacobs shared how a simple question inspired the $100 million company. Every evening at dinner, his mother asked: “Tell me something good that happened today.” Her focus on goodness sustained Bert, as well as his brother and fellow co-founder John, through a challenging home life.

You’re at the age where you start thinking more realistically when it comes to answering the “what do you want for Christmas?” question. Instead of saying “I don’t know,” say you’re looking to read more in 2019, and provide a list of titles that you’ve been eyeing for months. Whether you prefer reading a hardback, e-version or audiobook, adding reading to your daily routine is a great habit to form in 2019.

A midday gym session can be the best way to boost your energy levels during the workday. But the thought of redoing your hair or taking that second shower can be daunting.

Much has been written about the reasons for Oklahoma City’s renaissance. Residents frequently hear about the city’s past outstanding mayors, the non-partisan form of government, the 18-year tenure of City Manager Jim Couch, the Thunder and the transformative success of MAPS.

Dr. Dan T.D. Nguyen, a nationally renowned neuroradiologist, has moved his medical talents to Oklahoma and is breaking down the barriers of pain management.

Up to 40 percent of food grown, processed and transported in the United States is never eaten, yet 1 in 8 Americans – or 40 million people – suffers food insecurity. The average four-person family wastes $1,500 a year on food.

In the newly released book “The Next American City,” author and four-term Mayor Mick Cornett argues that midsized cities, such as Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, Charleston and Des Moines, produce outsized accomplishments.

With the end of the year coming near, it’s time to reflect and give thanks in an impactful way. Whether you’re acknowledging a coworker’s contribution to the team or thanking your family for making time for family dinners, here are a few ways to say thanks beyond just giving a gift:

It started with passion. Then the idea. Now you even have the whole business plan with all the details addressed. What you likely do not have is the money. A business pitch competition could possibly be just the thing to get your startup truly started.