Garver’s roots run deep in Oklahoma. By investing in quality infrastructure projects and the communities we serve over the past three decades, our firm is a growing and thriving Oklahoma business. Garver has created opportunities for Oklahomans like me to work, raise a family, and put down roots of my own in our great state."
- Brent Schneids, Garver
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Inspiring by example: Leading the next generation of engineers through hands-on learning with OFBO Chairman Jimmy Sparks
At Open for Business Oklahoma (OFBO), our members are more than just industry leaders working to keep us safe every day; they’re also champions for the communities where they live and work.
Join Our Day at the Capitol on April 9
Ready to take action and advocate for innovative solutions for Oklahoma’s infrastructure needs? Join your fellow Open For Business Oklahoma (OFBO) members on Wednesday, April 9, at our annual Day at the Capitol.
Member Profile: Diving Into Water Engineering with
Garver’s Mary Elizabeth Mach, PE
Mary Elizabeth Mach, PE recalls much of her childhood spent in and around water—swimming in lakes, exploring streams and adventuring in rivers. It was her appreciation for the natural world that inspired Mach to pursue a career ensuring communities have access to clean, affordable water.
Design Your Future: National Engineers Week is Feb. 16-22
Engineers have designed and brought to life the world around us, from the runways our planes use to the bridges we drive over on daily commutes. These outstanding professionals deserve meaningful recognition for the contributions they make to our daily lives. Enter: National Engineers Week.
Member Profile: Parkhill’s Jonathan Heusel on Shaping the Next Generation
of Engineers
Jonathan Heusel, PE, CNU-A, arrived at Lubbock Christian University uncertain of his future career path. It was his roommate—a civil engineering student— who inspired him to pursue civil engineering, ultimately shaping Heusel’s nearly three-decade career working on a variety of projects across Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.
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Don’t Miss Out: Renew Your Membership by Dec. 31
Legislative session is right around the corner, and we want you to be ready. Renew your Open for Business Oklahoma (OFBO) membership dues by Dec. 31 so you don’t miss out on the access and consistent advocacy afforded to members that has protected our members’ businesses. We look forward to seeing you in 2025.
Introducing DeShawn Heusel as OFBO Secretary
DeShawn Heusel, lead client advisor at Halff, was recently elected as Open For Business Oklahoma’s (OFBO) secretary.
"I am pleased to serve in OFBO's secretary role as we prepare for the upcoming legislative session. OFBO remains committed to furthering the organization's purpose: representing companies serving our state with Oklahoma personnel and resources in construction and engineering sectors even though our firms are headquartered elsewhere," said DeShawn. "Participating in this role gives me a different vantage point."
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Member Profile: How Garver’s Matthew Ranck is Championing the Future of the Aviation and Aerospace Industry
Matthew Ranck is an Oklahoman through and through. Born and raised in Oklahoma City—where he works as Garver’s Oklahoma Aviation Leader—he and his wife of nearly 25 years chose to stay and raise their three children in Choctaw rather than relocate elsewhere. “This is home,” he said, “And I’d like to see it thriving for decades to come.”
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Your OFBO FAQs Answered
Since 2020, Open for Business Oklahoma (OFBO) has been dedicated to protecting the business-friendly environment that led our members to Oklahoma.
New to OFBO? We have answers to your questions.
Free for members: Introducing the Open for Business Oklahoma Job Board
Are you a civil engineer ready to advance your career in Oklahoma? Or maybe you’re an engineering firm looking for qualified candidates passionate about improving our state? Look no further: we’re here to help connect talent with opportunities through the newly-launched Open for Business Oklahoma (OFBO) Job Board.
Member Profile: Freese and Nichols’ Brandon Huxford On How Physics Intersects with Transportation Engineering
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Freese and Nichols’ Brandon Huxford, P.E. likes to say he stumbled into engineering. After realizing his initial pre-med undergraduate path wasn’t serving him, he followed his love of science and math and pursued an engineering physics degree at Abilene Christian University.
Member Profile: Garver’s Jenny Sallee shares her perspective on Oklahoma’s Roadways, Local Impact and Embracing Employee Culture
For Garver Oklahoma Roadway Team Leader Jenny Sallee, PE, transportation engineering is about so much more than moving people down the road. “It’s not just putting the pavement down. There are so many more details that go into it—from good geometry, clear signing and striping to determining how water crosses the road without flooding—that are crucial for safety.”
Unearthing Excellence: Insight Into
Geotechnical Engineering with Terracon’s Scott Randle, P.E.
Terracon’s Scott Randle recognizes that, as a geotechnical engineer, much of what his team does goes unseen by the public.
“What we do is unique because it’s all behind the scenes. While you see the structure as the finished product, you don’t see all the work that went on beneath the surface,” said Terracon Senior Principal Scott Randle, P.E.
Crossing the Red River:
Texas Engineer's Move to Oklahoma Sparks Success at Kimley-Horn
As an Oklahoma transplant, James Bryan spends most weekends with his wife, Lisa, and two young sons, Briggs and Brooks, exploring everything their state has to offer. Even after five years, his family is constantly discovering new ways to enjoy their home base.
“Oklahoma feels like home now,” said Bryan. “We’re making a wonderful life here.”
Member profile: What it’s like working at Benham, an Oklahoma Top Workplace
As a lifelong Oklahoman, Adam West is committed to giving back to the state that raised him. It’s what sparked his pursuit of a lifelong career in designing infrastructure to improve the quality of life of Oklahomans for generations to come.
Celebrating National Engineers Week:
Feb. 18 — Feb. 24
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Every year during the third week of February, Open for Business Oklahoma (OFBO) members celebrate the innovations and achievements of the engineering industry by observing National Engineers Week. Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1951, the annual event is dedicated to acknowledging the big dreams and bold ideas engineers bring to the table.
Halff employees champion local volunteer efforts, impact Oklahoma youth in need
Halff stands out as a leader in engineering but commitment to community goes beyond project planning. The firm’s Halff Community Initiative (HCI) is a nonprofit branch with charitable initiatives across the country and throughout the year; dedicated fundraisers take place each fall in the communities where the company’s employees work and live.
Member profile: Mike Patterson honored on 2023 55 Over 55 Inspiring Oklahomans list
Recognizing individuals who make a difference and positively impact local quality of life is the title mission of a new honor, 55 Over 55 Inspiring Oklahomans. Open for Business Oklahoma member Mike Patterson, HTNB vice president and National Department of Transportation practice consultant, was recently announced as a winning nominee for the 2023 list.
Serving El Reno for years to come: Freese and Nichols leads new roundabout project
Providing safe and effective solutions for optimal public use are an integral part of cities’ vital infrastructure. Freese and Nichols will break ground on a new roundabout this spring for the City of El Reno at the town’s main intersection of Route 66 and Highway 81. The firm won the project and officially started a related traffic study in 2016.
Functional beauty for years to come: Freese and Nichols oversees beloved Edmond park project
September’s end saw the opening of Edmond’s Stephenson Park, a much-anticipated project Freese and Nichols has led since its planning phases in 2021. Crowds gathered Sept. 29 to experience its new playground equipment, chase monarch butterflies and reminisce about the role the greenscape has occupied in the hearts and minds of families, with new amenities and hope for the sunny days of other childhoods yet to be lived.
Google Maps. ( n.d.). [Alice Robertson Junior High School, Muskogee]. Retrieved Sept. 14, 2023, from
Lessons in legacy: Local engineering firm preserves historic school
The impact engineers have on their community is felt far and wide, often behind the scenes, from utilities management to construction and renovation. When a long-serving school building in the Muskogee community was ready for a major overhaul, Olsson’s engineering team was prepared to lead the project to better serve local students.
Halff Recognized as Top 150 Global Design Firm
For the first time in company history, Halff, an award-winning, employee-owned, diverse and multidiscipline professional engineering and architecture firm, was ranked as a Top 150 Global Design Firm by the Engineering News-Record.
Halff Opens Second Oklahoma Office in Norman
NORMAN, Okla. — Halff, an award-winning, employee-owned, diverse and multidiscipline professional engineering and architecture firm, has opened its second Oklahoma office with a location in Norman.
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Legislative advocacy, peer support: Become an Open for Business Oklahoma Member
At Open for Business Oklahoma (OFBO), we are committed to furthering business-friendly policies through legislative advocacy. Our members live and work in Oklahoma for companies headquartered in other states.
Full STEAM ahead: Finish summer with science, engineering, art and math activities to inspire Oklahoma’s next generation of professionals
Open for Business Oklahoma (OFBO) members are dedicated to the communities where they work and live. From providing essential services to volunteering at community nonprofits, people helping people happens in diverse ways. Engineers keep critical infrastructure working in our towns and cities, from water treatment and electricity to bridge and highway safety, often behind the scenes.
Full STEAM Ahead: How Jacobs is turning today’s students into tomorrow’s problem-solving professionals
Each day, Jacobs talented team of approximately 60,000 professionals seeks innovative solutions for every sector, from traffic safety to climate response. Each effort is united with a single goal: to solve the world’s most critical problems. True to their forward-thinking approach, they’ve included students in the process.
Garver Gives: Engineering firm celebrates 30 years of service by donating $30,000 to benefit Oklahoma nonprofits
Garver is nationally known for professionalism, generosity and community involvement. With more than 1,000 employees at 47 offices in 17 states, its reach can be felt far and wide. That commitment to community has recently taken on new challenges in Oklahoma.
The firm is celebrating 30 years since opening its first office in Oklahoma by donating $30,000 in 30 days to local nonprofits.
Could Stephenson Park in Edmond reopen this summer?
Stephenson Park in Edmond, long known as the city’s “rocketship” park due to its eye-catching spacecraft-themed slide, will soon once again be available for the public to enjoy. The park’s renovation is underway with Oklahoma City firm Freese and Nichols.
“We expect the park to be open for public use by early summer,” said Bill Begley, marketing and public relations manager for the City of Edmond. “There will be some parts that won’t be complete until this fall.”
Garver recognized as WTS Employer of the Year, outstanding organization for the advancement of professional women
March’s status as International Women’s Month comes to fulfillment in diverse ways, one of which is female leadership in the workplace. WTS, an international organization originally named Women’s Transportation Seminar, is dedicated to the advancement of women’s careers in the transportation industry. The group’s Oklahoma chapter recently named Garver as Employer of the Year in recognition of the company’s outstanding contributions and support of women and minorities.
Olsson’s designs engineer student success at Tulsa Community College
How does engineering prepare Oklahoma’s students for tomorrow’s success?
In some instances, it’s a matter of spaces.
Creating spaces that matter by eliminating the need for rows of counters and the hassle of long lines was the goal of the engineering and design work recently completed by Olsson at three Tulsa Community College student success centers.
Self-driving vehicles addressed at January transportation infrastructure meeting in nation’s capital
When will most vehicles on the nation’s roads and highways be of the self-driving variety?
We’re probably much closer to that being the case than you think, says Mike Patterson, vice president and Department of Transportation national practice consultant at HNTB in Oklahoma City.
Kimley-Horn employees contribute to community through work and volunteerism
Holiday cheer may sometimes go over the river and through the woods, but it’s centered in Oklahoma City for Kimley-Horn’s regional office. TheNorth Carolina-based planning and design consulting firm has expanded to more than 100 locations in the U.S. and Canada, including an Oklahoma City office with more than 30 employees. A Tulsa branch is also set to open in 2023.
Freese and Nichols to lead renovation effort at Edmond’s Stephenson Park
Projects of all sizes contribute to livable communities. Vital infrastructure is the result of intentional design, from utilities to planned greenspaces, with civil engineers involved at every phase. Freese and Nichols, Inc., a member of Open for Business Oklahoma, will lead the renovation of Stephenson Park, Edmond’s oldest city park, best known for its beloved rocketship slide.
The public will enjoy a new playground, an expanded pavilion, curated landscaping, better food truck access, level sidewalks and improved lighting. A parking lot with 50 spaces is also planned as an overflow area for downtown Edmond as the community continues to grow. See more project details from Freese and Nichols’ summary.
Professional opportunities, personal commitment: Outside investment bolsters local careers, benefits the public
Lucas Reed, licensed professional engineer, knows the value of working close to home. His role as senior technical manager at Atkins has given the University of Oklahoma graduate the opportunity to stay in his home state, which in turn benefits from engineering expertise as more professionals continue to share their skills instead of relocating.
Making communities better: Jimmy Sparks shares industry outlook centered in helping Oklahoma thrive
Jimmy Sparks knows the value of having companies like Olsson close to home. A civil engineer and regional leader for the engineering and design firm’s Oklahoma City office, Sparks is an Oklahoma State University graduate who describes himself as “a lifelong Oklahoman.” His commitment to leading projects for Olsson is also evident in the ways he gives back to local students.
Local firm helps Oklahomans with local services, charitable initiatives
Good corporate neighbors provide essential public services, create
job opportunities for professionals and contribute to the community. Their reach goes far beyond regional headquarters or a local office building. It extends to customers, families and the towns they
call home.
Garver is an engineering, architectural and environmental services firm with more than 38 offices and 1,000 employees in 15 states. Nearly 100 employees live in Oklahoma, with offices in Tulsa and Norman, as well as an Oklahoma City office that opened in 2019.
Lochner Provides for Native Oklahoman
“I’ve had a career of public service. Employment with Lochner has allowed me to continue serving Oklahoma, with the heart of a servant” - Troy Travis, professional engineer
Troy Travis was looking for an opportunity after retirement to continue serving the business community in Oklahoma City.
Licensed professional engineers find career development opportunities through NSPE’s Emerging Leaders Program
Networking opportunities and career development are the purpose of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), along with raising public awareness about the role of licensed professional engineers. The only national organization committed to addressing engineers’ concerns across all branches of the field, its members live and work throughout the country.
Paving the way: How firms like
CP&Y make Oklahoma better
Roads and bridges, buildings and municipal systems: the work engineers do behind the scenes keeps Oklahomans safe. Ensuring public safety and planning for the future is the unwritten part of their job description.
David Neuhauser, vice president of engineering and architectural consulting firm CP&Y, oversees project management, including roadway reconstruction and bridge replacement.
Halff Recognized as Top 10 Workplaces in the USA for 2022
Halff is a unique, multi-disciplined, regional consulting firm in the Southwest that provides full-service engineering, architecture and related services. Halff is committed to continually investing in employees, fostering a culture of collaboration and delivering unwavering high-quality results for clients and is proud to announce they have been selected as one of the Top Workplaces in the USA for 2022, ranking #10.
Oklahoma's engineers help ensure public safety where they work and live
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The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the role essential workers, including medical professionals, public servants and even grocery employees, play in our everyday lives. Less noticed might be the importance of licensed professional engineers in making sure the vital systems in our communities continue operating even during crises.
Garver: Firm helps Oklahomans with local services, charitable initiatives
Good corporate neighbors provide essential public services, create job opportunities for professionals and contribute to the community. Their reach goes far beyond corporate headquarters or a local office building.It extends to customers, families and the towns they call home.
Garver is an engineering, architectural and environmental services firm with more than 30 offices and 700 employees in 13 states.
Hatley named NSPE
National President
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Tricia Hatley, vice president and principal at Freese and Nichols, will be installed as president of the National Society of Professional Engineers on Saturday, Aug. 1.
Hatley has been a member of NSPE, engineering’s largest professional group, since graduating from Oklahoma State University with a
bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in1993.
“Working together is something engineers understand, as our project work is accomplished through teams,” Hatley said. “I’m excited about the year ahead, as we work together with our state societies to create a world where the public can be confident that the engineering decisions impacting their lives are made by qualified and ethically accountable professionals.”
Kimley-Horn Gives Back
Moving to Oklahoma was more than an opportunity for Garrett Putman to further his career at Kimley-Horn. Since relocating from Texas four years ago, he has found lifelong friends and a connection to a community that he says is unlike any other.
“I absolutely love Oklahoma. The people are friendly and have
welcomed me as one of their own,” said Putman. “Working for Kimley-Horn in Oklahoma City has provided me the opportunity to find lifelong friendships and become connected to a really great community.”
New ODOT Memorial Foundation helps families of fallen transportation workers
The deaths of James Dawkins in 1931 and Rickie Nichols Jr. in 2018 connect a group of 61 people who gave their lives in service to the state while keeping highways and interstates safe and open to the public.
These transportation workers lost their lives to a distracted driver while flagging traffic through a work zone or keeping highway rights-of-way clean and clear. Some lost their lives while in their vehicles well away from the highway like Tim Vandiver in 2012. Others were struck while surveying for future highway projects like Donald Killian in 1970 or checking bridge integrity during a flood like John E. Botts in 1973.
Upcoming Meetings
Meetings are for members only. Please reach out to constable@pricelang.com if you are a member and have not received meeting information.