Things you may not know about list-makers
Large businesses
Ben E. Keith Co.
Following a large donation to a collegiate partner, a newly discovered species of bat was named after the company's founder, Ben E. Keith — the Benkeith short-tailed bat (Carollia benkeithi).
Capital One Financial Corp.
In 2021, Capital One Financial Corps. launched Capital One Insights Center, which combines Capital One research and partnerships to produce insights that advance equity and inclusion. It is fueled by a $200 million, 5-year commitment to catalyze economic growth in low- and moderate-income communities and close gaps in equity and opportunity.
Webco Industries
Every year, Webco ships enough metal tubing to circle the globe – twice.
Panda Restaurant Group
Panda Restaurant Group originated as a fine-dining restaurant, Panda Inn, in 1973 and opened the first Panda Express in the Glendale Galleria in 1983.
Paycom Software Inc.
Paycom has consistently been named a Top Workplace, and in 2020, Paycom made its fourth consecutive appearance on FORTUNE magazine’s 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
Raising Cane’s was originally going to be named “Sockeye’s Chicken Fingers” after the salmon that the company founder, Todd Graves, fished for in Alaska to raise money for his restaurant concept. A friend encouraged Graves to name the restaurant after his dog, a yellow lab named Raising Cane.
Gateway Mortgage Group
Gateway Mortgage Group has recently been recognized as an eight-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 List (America's Fastest-Growing Cos.) and has been selected as a Top Workplace by The Oklahoman in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Express Employment International
In 2019, Express Employment International was named the No. 1 staffing franchise in America for the eighth year by Entrepreneur Magazine and ranked among the Top 100 companies on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list.
Red Rock Behavioral Health Services
In 2018, Red Rock Behavioral Health Services was named Mental Health Agency of the Year.
Oklahoma Health Care Authority
As a part of Public Service Recognition Week and in celebration of Star Wars Day (May the 4th), senior leaders made the rounds handing out snacks in Star Wars costumes.
Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma
E.K. Gaylord, the publisher of Oklahoma’s largest newspaper (The Oklahoman), had the idea to start a Goodwill in Oklahoma in 1936.
Yukon Public Schools
Yukon Public Schools have the only college campus on a high school site in the state of Oklahoma.
Stevens Trucking Co.
Stevens Trucking is a family-owned-and-operated business. As the business has grown, a family member has stepped up to take on each core aspect of the business.
FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center
The FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center hosts quarterly center-wide virtual town halls to share information about the work being done across the facility.
Cooper Auto Group
Cooper Auto Group was started by Claude Cooper, whose first franchise was the Yukon Oldsmobile dealership. He purchased it from the local funeral home director, who had performed funerals and sold cars out of the same building. Claude's son, Jackie Cooper, took over running the Oldsmobile dealership after Claude had a heat stroke while working on a customer’s car in the hot Oklahoma sun. At 21 years old, Jackie Cooper was the youngest new car dealer ever recognized by a major auto company.
Midsized businesses
Central Technology Center
Central Technology Center was the first truck driver training facility in Oklahoma to be certified by the Professional Truck Driving Institute.
TVC Pro-Driver
TVC Pro-Driver has helped more than 500,000 truck drivers stay out of court and on the road working.
Meridian Technology Center
More than 90% of Meridian students continue on to further education or employment.
Standley Systems LLC
Standley Systems has been in business for 88 years and started out servicing and selling typewriters.
LifeShare Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma Inc.
LifeShare has celebrated six consecutive record-breaking years. In 2019, LifeShare broke its previous record and coordinated the donation of lifesaving organs from 197 donors, whose generous gifts saved 516 lives.
Great Plains Bank
During the depression of the 1930s, when the infamous "bank holiday" was called by President Roosevelt, Great Plains Bank (then known as the First State Bank and Trust Co. of Hollis) was given permission to remain open, which it did. It is one of a few banks in the country to claim this privilege.
GableGotwals
GableGotwals is remote-optional, so it gave out packets of lemonade that had a note that said “ATTITUDE: When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade! Thanks for enduring through these challenging times.”
TBS Factoring Service
In 2017, TBS launched a weekly talk show on Facebook Live, called the “Truck Boss Show,” focusing on segments within the transportation industry. Over the past two years, the show has been refined both in studio and out and now conducts field reports from several states as the hosts dive into issues facing independent drivers. The team hosts the show live from events throughout the year such as the Mid-America Trucking Show, the Great American Trucking Show and Big Rig races across the country. Currently, it has about 100,000 weekly subscribers and growing.
Atrium Hospitality
Atrium Hospitality is a leading hotel and asset management company headquartered at Deerfield Point in Alpharetta, Georgia, overseeing a portfolio of hotels licensed primarily through the Marriott, Hilton and Intercontinental brand families.
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services saved the state of Oklahoma $15.5 million in jail costs by diverting 40,000 felony defenders.
Small businesses
DNI
The Delaware Nation's aboriginal name is “Lenape” or “Lenni-Lenape,” also known as “the Grandfathers.” The Delaware Nation is the oldest known nation in the northern hemisphere, originally inhabiting the eastern seaboard or North America. Lenape was the first indigenous nation to sign a treaty with the United States of America (Sept. 17, 1778, 7 Statute 13; Brotherton Reservation). Delaware Nation Industries and Delaware Nation Investments are 100% tribally owned.
PaceButler Corp.
PaceButler Corp. was formed in 1987 and originally began in the computer business.
Accenture
The company planned to build 10 new innovation hubs in key cities, invest $1.4 billion in training to ensure its people have leading-edge capabilities and create 15,000 highly skilled new jobs by 2020.
CGI
CGI’s Member Satisfaction Assessment Program allows its employees to interact with managers and review CGI via an online survey. The results help form action plans that address employee sentiment.
Cornerstone Home Lending Inc.
Cornerstone Home Lending Inc. has saved more than 311,000 sheets of paper since 2019 with its LoanFly® innovation.
MacArthur Associated Consultants
MacArthur Associated Consultants has successfully completed more than 2,000 projects, and each project is customized to meet the client's unique needs.
Homeless Alliance
Homeless Alliance served 8,619 people through its programs, including housing, street outreach, shelter and low-barrier employment.
Russell-Murray Hospice Inc.
Russell-Murray Hospice Inc. provides care to terminally ill patients whether they have a payment source or not.
Valiant Artificial Lift Solutions
The company displays safety slogans authored by employees throughout its facility.
C. L. Boyd Co. Inc.
C. L. Boyd Company Inc. rewards employees who celebrate their five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and even 40th work anniversaries.
Chickasaw Community Bank
Chickasaw Community Bank sent employees to help clean mud out of homes after hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. Employees have also traveled to Uganda to help drill water wells with Water4.
CMSWillowbrook Inc.
CMSWillowbrook Inc. is proud to have completed more than 1,300 successful projects across Oklahoma. Clients include city, state and county governments, universities, K-12 schools, commercial developments, multi-family housing, hospitals, medical office buildings and industrial facilities.
Brainerd Chemical Co. Inc.
Brainerd Chemical Company Inc. is the largest producer of peracetic acid in the U.S.
Liberty Dental Plan
Liberty Dental Plan Corp. was founded in January 2002, making 2022 its 20th year serving its members, providers, and government and health plan clients.
EOG Resources
EOG is one of 22 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Houston. EOG was named a Top Workplace in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City and New Mexico in 2020.
BKD CPAs & Advisors
BKD CPAs & Advisors created a firmwide initiative to emphasize and strengthen diversity, initially focusing on attracting, retaining and developing women leaders for the sustainable growth of BKD, which includes a sponsor/protege program, quarterly progress reports, firmwide conference, monthly alerts and office-wide training.
Valiant Residential
Valiant Residential has grown from 20 employees in 2014 to 240 and will continue to grow that number each month. It planned to reach 400 employees in 2020.
Cookshack Inc.
Cookshack Inc. celebrated its 60th anniversary on April 29.
Communication Solutions
Communication Solutions started off selling pagers for Cingular in a shopping mall in Hurst, Texas.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Things you may not know about list-makers
