Table Of Content

Where there's a Williams, there's a way. A way to leverage our entrepreneurial heritage. And the creativity of Williams people. Quiet is part of our way, too. But sometimes word leaks out. I You've heard the one about the energy company threading fiber-optic network through unused pipelines. Creating the nation's fourth-largest optical broadband network. With the I most advanced optical technology. It's a classic. I Williams not only did it. We did it first. And we're doing it again -raising the industry high-water mark for creativity and performance with Williams Energy News Live - the first internet news p o dd esigned specifically for the energy indusuy. These are only two examples of the Williams way. Turning possibility into reality. Williams engages in a range of energy services, Opportunity into energy. from traditional to eBusiness. Clockwise, from upper left: The energy marketing and trading floor at Williams headquarters, Tulsa, Okla.; the Cove Point natural gas storage and port facility in Maryland; a webcast screen from Williams Energy News Live -the first-ever energy news portal; the Wyatt refined petroleum product terminals in Connecticut; offshore natural gas operations in Mobile Bay, near Coden, Ala.; and dehydration towers at Williams' Alaska refinery at North Pole. 1-800-WILLIAMS NYSE: WMB & WCG In today's constantly changing business environment, companies must seize every competitive advantage to be successful. Oklahoma's competitive edge is its workforce. Why? I Because Oklahomans take great pride in a job well done. They are dependable. Thq are productive. They are educated and innovative. Time and time again, CEO's tell us their Oklahoma workforce is far better than in similar plants across the country. Home-grown companies have always raved abou 1 their employees' great work ethic. Thanks to the Oklahoma worker, our growing companies are recognized leadm in. aerospace, automothre, telecommunications, technology manufacturing and businea! services. And more and more companies are locating here every day. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is proud ta be associated with the thouss1d of companies and the more than 1.5 million workers who call Oklahoma home. OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENOTP COMMERCE Buelneaa L~atlonl u#ln.e. and CammunltyDevelopm.nt * Intarnatlonal Trade For more informationvisit us LIVE at HTTP://CD.LOCATEOK.COM 800-588-5959 [email protected] WE'REBUILDING THE Phillips is known around the globe as internationally, and we're positioning our an innovator and technology leader. other business lines for profitable growth We're building on those strengths to through competitive joint ventures. provide value and opportunity to our With a solid financial foundation shareholders, customers, employees and and a strategic vision for our future, the communities in which we operate. we're taking advantage of significant We're focusing on the exploration and opportunities to profitably grow the new production of oil and gas through Phillips. That's why we're called strategic acquisitions in Alaska and THE PERFORMANCE COMPANY. . JANUARY FEBRUARY 2001 VOLUME 5 1 .NUMBER I T H E B U S I N E S S I S S U E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FEATURES When Opportunity Knocks A history of Oklahoma business. By Bob Blackburn Money Talks A rare interview with Oklahoma's wealthiest man. By Stefie Corcoran Pipe Dreams Williams stays ahead of the pack. By Holly Bailey Noble Causes TheNoble Foundation sets the pace for philanthropy.By Adam Buckley Cohen X Marks the Spot On the heels of baby boomers, Gen- Xers are carving a niche of their own. By Andrea Lopez Walker In Good Company Corporate culture: a portfolio By Louisa McCune Who You Gonna Call? Oklahoma's explosion of call centers. By Sheilah Bright Power Lunch Where CEOs make their deals. By Mimi Rippee Black Book Ninety-seven hot companies in the Oklahoma business world. By OKT staff Resources A briefing on the business state. By Andrea Lopez Walker Big Business The top 25 publicly traded companies in Oklahoma. D E P A R T M E N T S Contributors 6 From the Editor Change isgood. 10 8 Letters Craig Case, Peggy Worky 12,14 $ Market Place MidasTouch 16 Across the Range HOS~tocks, OficeSupply 18 q Weekends Bartlesyl'lle:A Company Town 32 Calendar BatBets 100 CONTENTS 1 5 Official Magazine of the T Od a y State of Oklahoma Since 1956 FRANK EATING, Governor When an article on Oklahoma history is in order, we often turn to Bob Blackburn, author of "When JOAN HEND~K~UN Opportunity Knocks" (page 36). Publisher Executive director of the Oklahoma LOUISA MCCUNE Editor in Chief Historical Society, this native Oklaho- man holds master's and doctoral STEVEN WALKER, WALKER CREATIVE, INC. Art Director degrees in history from OSU and has written twelve books on Oklahoma STEFFIE CORCORAN, Senior Editor AIMEEW INNEBERGER, Associate Editor history. On writing for the magazine, PRISCILLA MOHNKERN, Editorial Assistant ANDREA LOPEZ WALKER, Editorial Assistant Blackburn says, "As a historian SHELDON BEACH, Editorial Intern dedicated to the understanding of Contributing Editors Oklahoma history, I see Oklahoma BURKHARD BILGER, SHEILAH BRIGHT, Today as an important connection KELLY CROW, JOEL EVERETT, GORDON GRICE, ROBERT HENRY, YOUSEF KHANFAR, TOM LUKER, with thousands of people who have MAURA MCDERMOTT, I. D. MERRYWEATHER, W.K. STRATTON, MICHAEL WALLIS, pride and interest in our great state." AND NANCY WOODARD MELANIE BREEDEN, General Manager COLLEEN MclNTYRE, Production Manager IOklahoma City's Bruce Eagle is an WALT DISNEY,Advertising Director : ROGER JOHNSON, Account Erecutive f artistic jack-of-all-trades. In addition to his KIM RYAN, Account Fxecutive illustration of George Kaiser for "Money LISA BRECKENRIDGEA,ccountant Talks" (page 44), Eagle has done substan- . BECKY ISAAC,WceM anager . MELANIE HOLT, Ofice Assistant tial work in Hollywood, movie posters his specialty. Considered by his peers a Tourism and Recreation JANE JAYROE, Exenrtive Director versatile, chameleon-like artist, Eagle admits that his task in this issue was Tourism and Recreation Commission LT. GOV. MARY FALLIN, Chair difficult. Noting how few photographs of - ROBYN BATSON,STAN CLARK,IOEHARWOOD, Kaiser are available, Eagle says, "I had to go '. BOYD LEE, JOE MARTIN, JANIS RICKS, HAL SMITH, ROBERTWATSON . from three to four pictures. Luckily, one To contact Oklahoma Today staffby e-mail: was only a year old." Bruce Eagle is the [email protected] cousin of Cameron Eagle, who drew the [email protected] [email protected] illustration for William Bernhardt's "Why . .I Love Autumn" essay in the September- . Oklahoma Today, winner of the B 1999Folio Editorial Excellence Award 8 October 2000 issue of this magazine. IRMA Magazine of the Year, 1991,1993,1994,1996 1998 Wilbur Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oklahoma Today (ISSN 0030-1892) is published seven times a year: in January, February, March, May, July, September, and . November by the State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Tourism and . Recreation Department, 15 N. Robinson Suite 100, Oklahoma With a French mother who could whip City, OK 73102. POSTMASTER: Send address changesto Okla- up different international cuisines at a -. '' 7h3o1m5a2 .T Oodkalayh Comircau Claittyio And, Pv.eOrt. isBinogx S5a3le3s8 O4,f fOickel,a Ph.Oom. Ba oCxi t5y3,3O8K4, moment's notice, growing up was a Oklahoma City, OK 73152, (405) 521-2496 or (800) 777-1793. sub- - . scription prices: $16.95 per year in the U.S.; $26.95 per year out- smorgasbord of gastronomic enlighten- - side U.S. U.S. copyright 82001 by Oklahoma Today.Re duction ment for Mimi Rippee. "I tolerated just . in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. 0r%homa To- about everything, until my mother served tiger lilies one night during her Chinese phase," she says. "Thirty-five years later, I can still remember how bad they were." Rippee, a private cook, caterer, and recipe developer for Advance Food Company in Enid, says, "The best part about writing 'Power Lunch' [page 801was talking with others who are passionate about the dining experience-even if it is 'just' lunch." &45 I ,. 6 1 OKLAHOMA TODAY jANUARY I FEBRUARY 2001 CariugVans~o into familyday care homes and centerswhere CaringProgramforChildrenprovides freeprimary the need is sreatest and provide free immunizationsto and preventivehealth benefits to childrenwhose schoolchildren. Over 1,500 children have been served in familiescould not otherwiseafford it. The progmm Oklahoma City and Tulsa. has sewed 2,000Oklahoma childrensince 1996. Oklahoma LionsClubs) detection of slaucoma, Classof 65+isa service oppomesonlifedyleand have benefitted since hpalthto~omasenim. Theseseminan offer .aluablemformation on Internet,andseniorh m . Oklahoma men and women, 65and over, who serveas outstandingexamples Wiierscome fromall walks of life, fromAda to Freedom. For 60years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma has been fully committed to providing more than affordablehealth care to the people of this state. For example, we are a corporate participant in many community events, such as Heart Walk, United Way, Healthy Kids Challenge,Toys forTots, Hugh OtBrienYouth Foundation and junior Achievement. In addition, we encourageour 1,200associates to participate in the civic, professional, charitableand religious affairs of their area. Last year, they volunteered almost 24,000 hours of their time to these organizations. Working with other concerned companies, employees and organizations, we will all bring a better quality of life to our fellow citizens. presidentandCEO. Together,we are Oklahoma. Bluecross Blueshield Blue crossand BlueShleld of Oklahoma OFOklahoma A Mcmhr ofthe Blur Craarand BlueShlold Awdallon. aklaho~onof Indepndenl Blue Craarand Blur Shteld Plan, 02000,Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma @RegisteredMarks Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association