Dave Kollmann is president of the Central Region for Flintco, overseeing operations in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Arkansas. A 30+ year company veteran, Kollmann has helped lead landmark projects including the renovation of Boone Pickens Stadium and the Oklahoma Capitol dome addition while championing a culture centered on quality, leadership and employee development. We caught up with Kollmann and...
From the grand plateaus at Black Mesa State Park to the cascading waterfalls at Turner Falls, Oklahoma has the most ecosystem diversity per square mile in the nation. However, the state park system remains an underutilized public resource.
Oklahoma State Parks (OSP) director Richard Keithley hopes this will change.
“We would love to see increased usage from the people of the...
Bull rider Kip Huddleston long dreamed of one day finishing an 8-second ride on ol’ Poor Boy. Destiny finally put the young cowboy on the back of that terrifying red and white bull on its retirement day.
But that dream ride didn’t go as planned.
“He bucked me off and split me open,” Huddleston says, noting the bull’s handiwork above his...
Oklahoma food trucks are navigating a high stakes hustle, cashing in on low overhead and surging demand for gourmet-on-the-go.
Food truck sales nationwide are expected to explode to nearly $3 billion this year. And the average Oklahoma food truck is getting a $330,000 piece of the pie. But the lifestyle can resemble a reality show – free spirits, finicky trucks...
Sports tourism has recently generated $250+ million for Oklahoma, supporting businesses, creating jobs and uniting communities. Whether that tourism reels in international or out-of-state visitors, or welcomes grandparents watching their grandkids play, sports tourism is a win-win for the economy and for the health of all involved.
Government entities, nonprofits and businesses act as funding mechanisms for athletic venues and...
Oklahomans revel in sightings of the colorful songbirds and other smaller species that migrate through every spring and fall.
But the state’s position in the southern part of the Central Flyway also makes it a significant spot for waterfowl and gamebird protection and hunting, as some species spend the winter here.
Paxton Smith, migratory game bird biologist and Wetland Development Coordinator...
Tornado sirens are critical for outdoor awareness and safety – especially in a state dubbed ‘Tornado Alley.’ Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management's (ODEM) Public Affairs Director Keli Cain says each state location is responsible for operating sirens during weather events, plus maintenance of their individual sirens.
Richard Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS), says that...
Tails are wagging across Oklahoma as dog parks are becoming an increasingly important part of community design, offering safe, social spaces for both pets and their owners. From Oklahoma City to Tulsa and beyond, cities are investing in new and upgraded dog-friendly amenities, as more residents view pets as part of the family and seek outdoor gathering spaces that...
This state has a rich history in saddle making, dating back to the early 1900s. By the '20s and '30s, when horse-drawn transportation faded and the automobile transformed the nation, the need for harnesses waned, but the art of saddle making remained.
Saddle 101
For those who use saddles, selecting the right type is paramount, as this piece of equipment alone...
Every school day, crossing guards step into busy streets to protect students, parents and teachers alike. But behind every reflective vest and bright red stop sign is a person with a story about how they ended up directing traffic and keeping kids safe.
Becoming a crossing guard – and deciding how many guards are needed in a district – requires...
