The Oklahoma 100’s top stories of 2021:
1. First American Museum to open Sept. 18
3. 4 things to expect when Omni OKC opens
4. OKC Museum of Art presents Painters of Pompeii
5. Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa to open locations in OKC
6. Need a job? Here are 3 jobs you can pursue right now
7. Dolese donates to Tulsa Tech
8. Fall foliage must-see trips in Oklahoma
9. What you need to know about the fast and furious Oklahoma housing market
It’s that time again for the Google Year in Search – here are a few takeaways for the business community.
• The world searched for “how to start a business” more than “how to get a job.”
• “How to ask for a raise” was the top searched “how to ask.”
• “Back-to-work bonus” was a trending search in October.
• Searches for “affirmations” reached an all-time high worldwide.
• The world searched “how to conserve,” “impact of climate change” and “sustainability” more than ever before.
• “How to maintain mental health” was searched more than ever before.
Read a month-by-month breakdown for 2021 Google searches here.
There is a new tax rule on the books that will affect millions of small business owners, independent contractors and freelancers. If you receive $600 or more this year from a digital payment service like Zelle, Venmo, PayPal or CashApp, they’ll report that amount to the IRS.
Not fun for SWFL musician Josh Kerwin who uses a virtual tip jar when performing. If you’re not good at keeping records, no worries. Your payment service will be doing the work for you.
So it’s a good idea to create separate accounts, both professional and personal … just for the Zelle of it.
The federal government recently revealed considerable changes to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), a set of cybersecurity standards intended to protect sensitive information in the defense contracting sector.
“With the announced CMMC 2.0 changes, we are optimistic about the long-term viability of the third-party assessments,” Guernsey Director of Cybersecurity Consulting Tim Fawcett said. “The new iteration shows the DoD’s commitment to supporting small and medium businesses.”
The CMMC 2.0 could be required as early as Q4 of 2022. Guernsey has created a free CMMC Gap Analysis Self-Assessment to help companies measure their current ability to comply with CMMC.
Whether you need to wrap up 2021 or plan ahead for 2022, The Oklahoma 100 has what you need. Now through the end of the year, The Oklahoma 100 is offering two holiday packages:
Buy four articles for placement in 2021 for $1,000
Let your audience know how you’re planning to finish out Q4 and start the year off right in 2022.
Buy 12 articles for placement in 2022 for $3,000
You will receive 12 articles to be placed in any of our 50 issues next year (January-December).
If you’re interested, email the editor for additional details.
If anything positive came out of 2020, it was the gentle reminder of what’s really important in life: family and loved ones. That may be why several large retailers are closing on Thanksgiving Day in 2021 – postponing Black Friday sales until, well, Friday – allowing their employees to enjoy a well-deserved break and spend the holiday at home.
The growing list includes big box stores like Walmart, Target and Best Buy, which have all notoriously drawn crowds of thrifty shoppers for their early Black Friday deals in years past.
Make sure to follow BlackFriday.com for updates and Black Friday hours.
Reagan Smith, an Oklahoma company that provides regulatory, land and environmental services to a variety of industries, is taking a moment to honor those who have served in our armed forces this Veterans Day, including those on staff.
“We have had many veteran and reservist employees in the past and had two individuals deploy while being employed at Reagan Smith,” said Reagan Smith CEO Monica Smith Griffin.
Today, and every day, the company honors one of its own, Patricia Smith – an Army veteran who served as an officer for four years in the late 60s and early 70s.
When it comes to dogs and the workforce, anything is paw-sible. The internet blew up recently after Roger Wade, CEO of BoxPark posed a question from one of his employees, asking for paw-ternity leave. Should his staff member get PTO to help his new fur baby settle in?
Thousands responded and while the majority (61%) felt it to be a sign of the apocalypse, some (39%) insisted it’s time for a “special event paid leave of absence.” In the end, Wade agreed to allow his staff member to work from home, a win-win for both.
Whether you need to wrap up 2021 or plan ahead for 2022, The Oklahoma 100 has what you need. Now through the end of the year, The Oklahoma 100 is offering two holiday packages:
Buy four articles for placement in 2021 for $1,000
Let your audience know how you’re planning to finish out Q4 and start the year off right in 2022.
Buy 12 articles for placement in 2022 for $3,000
You will receive 12 articles to be placed in any of our 50 issues next year (January-December).
If you’re interested, email editor@theoklahoma100.com for additional details.
Who knew there was software technology that helps cattle ranchers manage their herds right here in Oklahoma? Well, there is! Three local tech companies formed an alliance that benefits cattle ranchers and livestock producers statewide.
The Land Scout, AgBoost and Smartstock partnership provides a seamless, enhanced software platform that assists in ranch management, herd location, genetic testing, breeding and health monitoring.
Herds, water sources and ranch infrastructure are monitored in real-time, leading to faster response times, optimized crop rotation schedules and smarter herd breeding.
Ranchers can track herd performance for successful breeding programs that result in sustainable and productive herds.
The Sooner State has a new distinction: most medical cannabis patients per capita of any state.
The upside to Oklahoma’s market can be summed up in one word: opportunity. The industry welcomes aspiring entrepreneurs, enabling my family and I to grow our company, The Nirvana Group, into a vertically integrated operation with dispensaries, production facilities and brands.
While competition lowers prices and can present challenges to businesses, the changing landscape of a new industry means ample room for innovation. With recreational legalization imminent, we must maintain the freedoms that propelled our medical market, while advocating for quality control and equity.
The nation’s workforce is morphing into in-person, virtual and hybrid environment.
The Business Journals recently polled 2,404 people from Aug. 9-11 about returning to the office. More than half of companies said they would be OK with employees working from anywhere. Among small/medium/large businesses, 67/66/58 percent, respectively, say they will allow employees to work from any location they choose.
The survey also found 77 percent of employers have some employees in the office at least some of the time, with 35 percent saying everyone is back in the office full time and 42 percent of employers using a hybrid approach.
The First Americans Museum (FAM) will officially open its doors Sept. 18-19 for a Grand Opening Weekend celebration full of entertainment, cultural demonstrations and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Tickets are $5 per person per day and can be purchased exclusively through the museum’s website. Admission for FAM members and children under 3 is free. Due to expected large crowds, all tickets must be purchased in advance of opening weekend. In addition, Crooked Oak Public Schools is providing parking and shuttle services to and from the museum.
To view a complete list of Grand Opening Weekend entertainment, activities and dining options, visit famok.org.
Rose State College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Southeastern) have developed a partnership to create a path for students to complete their two-year Enterprise Development Associate in Arts with an Aviation Emphasis at Rose State and continue to Southeastern to complete a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management in the areas of Production & Operations, Safety or Business.
Alongside Gov. Stitt, the agreement signing was held on Aug. 10 at Tinker and the Primes in Midwest City.
The partnership between Rose State and Southeastern seeks to enhance the growth of Oklahoma’s aerospace industry by contributing to its workforce development needs.
During the pandemic, QR codes were a necessity for restaurants to keep menus touch-free for customers, share information easily and overall help keep business alive, but many types of businesses can benefit from using them:
• Provide customers with information faster and error-free — no website addresses to remember.
• Share a lot more information with a single click of a button.
• Ability to share information in ways that printed materials won’t allow, including audio and video, and make it interactive for customers to engage.
QR codes are easy to make and for free. Use the QR code above to make your own!
SendaRide is a transportation service that provides rides for those who need to be taken to medical appointments, dialysis treatments or may need delivery services for prescriptions, medical supplies or groceries.
As the company expands its Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro area operations, the need for drivers, known as Care Partners, increasingly grows.
Most jobs are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., but weekend jobs are available as well. Drivers must be 25 years old and have a four-door vehicle. To see a list of driver requirements and find more driver application information, visit their website.
With 756 million users worldwide, LinkedIn continues to grow and attract 25-34-year-olds, which represent 59.9% of the users.
If your company is looking to build visibility with potential employees and customers, you should take a closer look at your LinkedIn Company page.
Remember, your business page might be the first impression that someone has, so it is important to fill out your profile completely. Use imagery that is consistent with your website to enhance your customer’s trust in your brand. And, integrating your LinkedIn page with your social media scheduler will make it easier to manage posts.
Jeff Napoliello, AIA, has joined Guernsey as Senior Vice President, Director of Architecture and Engineering. Napoliello will lead new business opportunities, client relations and team processes for the Architecture and Engineering group.
“Jeff is a key enhancement to our executive team as we seek to sustain our long-standing reputation in the market while also leveraging our capabilities for new strategic growth,” Guernsey CEO Jared Stigge, JD, said.
Napoliello has more than 30 years of management experience solving complex business challenges and leveraging architecture, engineering and construction expertise that has led to sustained success by being a transparent and trusted communicator.
2021 Graduates are the next generation of job-seekers, and they are entering a world that is ruled by tech and driven by views of digital images and videos. To stand out to potential future employers as a master of these elements, applicants are submitting not just their standard emailed resume, but also their LinkedIn profile and a professional looking YouTube video introducing themselves and giving their elevator pitch.
Applicants who have gone the extra mile always stand out and we think this may become standard for tech-savvy graduates looking to grab a competitive edge for internships and first jobs.
Oklahoma Works identified a list of the state’s top critical occupations for 2020-2022. Here are a few of the top jobs that are currently in high demand and are anticipated to have further growth in Oklahoma:
• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
• Registered Nurses
• General and Operations Managers
• Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
• Accountants and Auditors
• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
• Welders, Cutters, Soldiers, and Braziers
• Medical Secretaries
• Insurance Sales Agents
• Sales Representatives, Services, All Other
The full list provides details on many more occupations, including median hourly wages, typical education levels for entry level positions and ecosystems.
Oklahoma’s aerospace industry gathered this month to hear from Former Congressman and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at Rose State College as part of the Center of Workforce Excellence in Aerospace and Cybersecurity. The presentation, “SOONER to Space,” focused on Mr. Bridenstine’s insight from his time as Former NASA Administrator along with his thoughts on America’s dependency on space, threats and opportunities in space and Oklahoma’s role.
The Oklahoma Center of Workforce Excellence in Aerospace and Cybersecurity, powered by Rose State College and Tulsa Community College, is focused on advancing discussions and increasing the workforce around all aspects of aerospace economic impacts.
Are you looking to launch your claim to fame on social media? Or maybe you just want an excuse to get out of the house and enjoy the nice summer weather. Making TikTok videos can help you do both, while also enhancing your digital media career.
Even if you may not realize it, creating TikTok videos can help you gain experience in video production. By learning the skills film pros use for video planning, storyboarding, production and editing, your chances of creating viral content and becoming a social media influencer increase.
Learn marketing best practices to grow your audience here.
Amazon continues to expand into new industries and broaden its technological capabilities. What started out as an online retailer has grown into an empire.
They are opening a hair salon in London that has augmented reality technology to see different hair colors. In an effort to compete with Wayfair, they’re launching a new furniture assembly service. Also, some of their retail locations are utilizing contactless payments that allow you to hover your hand over a reader device.
Amazon seems to be the king of disruption and innovation. What will they come up with next?
Read about Amazon in Oklahoma here.
The results of the 26th edition of The CMO Survey revealed an unsurprising trend: companies increasingly relied on digital marketing in the past year. Among the big takeaways:
• Digital marketing spending increased by an average of 11.5%, including 15.6% for B2B services.
• Nearly 50% of marketers can demonstrate the ROI of their marketing investment, an increase of almost 40% since the pandemic began over a year ago.
• Traditional advertising is down 5.3%.
• B2B marketers concluded “reputation marketing is king.”
For a deeper analysis of the survey — and a breakdown of how differentiation drives an organization’s marketing success — learn more here.
Fred Jones Family Foundation selected City Care as the 2020/2021 recipient of the Mary Eddy Jones Signature Gift. The $75,000 grant will aid City Care in welcoming guests who have experienced homelessness into its new Night Shelter.
City Care supports vulnerable populations by providing food for the hungry, relief for the hurting and space for restoration of life.
“We are pleased to honor the dedication and hard work of City Care. With this grant, they will shine a light on our city’s vulnerable populations and provide a helping hand,” Fred Jones Family Foundation President Kirk Hall said.
Earlier this month, Former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett was honored with the unveiling of “Mick Cornett Drive,” a street that connects Omni Oklahoma City Hotel and the new convention center.
“Congratulations to Mayor Cornett,” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said in a Facebook post. “From MAPS 3, to the arrival of professional sports, to his leadership on healthier living, to the way he represented us on the national stage, we are grateful for his amazing service to our city!”
Nicknamed “Mayor Mick,” Cornett is the longest-serving mayor of OKC and was honored to have a street dedicated after him.
Oklahomans seeking an in-depth understanding of the state’s growing real estate market have a new resource at their disposal. Oklahoma.RealEstate, a project of the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS® (OAR), brings timely and relevant information about Oklahoma’s real estate landscape to buyers, sellers, real estate professionals and other interested individuals.
Featuring helpful tips and information about consumer trends, Home Buyer Savings Accounts, essential real estate terminology and more, the new website represents OAR’s latest initiative to serve Oklahomans. As OAR celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2021, Oklahoma.RealEstate will help the association position the state’s real estate industry for long-term future growth.
In 2021, the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS® (OAR) is celebrating 100 years since its official charter from the National Association of Real Estate Boards.
OAR’s highlighted achievements since 1921 include a 1937 resolution calling for a “license law” to govern real estate professionals, celebrating the nation’s bicentennial by planting more than 1.5 million black walnut trees across Oklahoma in 1976 and winning the National Association of REALTORS® President’s Cup four out of the last five years.
OAR connects real estate professionals across the state by providing resources, maintaining ethical standards and giving REALTORS® a unified voice in shaping property rights.
The Association of Oklahoma General Contractors (AOGC) urges legislators to maintain funding for Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s 8-year construction work plan, despite funding from 2020’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act.
With the existence of the 8-year plan, ODOT has the only accountable and transparent financial plan in state government. This plan outlines how much money is spent in each county every year over an eight-year period. These plans are based on the safety of the public.
Transportation is the most used core function of Oklahoma’s state government. It provides jobs, puts money into our economy and provides an opportunity for our state.
The firm has offices in the United States, Africa and India and focuses on technology, biotechnology, rare earth minerals and special purpose acquisition companies.
VIKASA, founded in 2011 by Oklahoma City native Roshan Pujari, is an industry leader in investment advisory, investment banking and other financial services.
Former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett serves as senior advisor for the firm. Other notable individuals that also help advise the firm are Nathaniel Harding of Cortado Ventures and Meg Salyer of Accel Staffing.
For many of us, our 2020 plans and calendars were thrown out the window by March of last year. With 2020 firmly in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start looking ahead and planning for what 2021 might bring.
With this in mind, Rose State College is hosting a free, interactive webinar led by performance strategist and facilitator Linda Clark designed to give you an opportunity to examine your intentions in 2021 and walk away with a roadmap you can put to work immediately.
Up-Close and Connected: Stepping Forward with Courage is scheduled for Feb. 11 from 12-1 p.m. Register here.
In 2021, we’re offering new subscribers (or first-time purchasers) a “Buy One, Get One” special to welcome you to The Oklahoma 100, which features stories, news and ideas that shape our great state. Interested in learning more? Email our editor for details. Our bi-weekly newsletter is sent to more than 70,000 subscribers that you can be a part of!
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