EDMOND — Appliance rebate program begins April 22

The Oklahoma Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program will begin April 22, in conjunction with Earth Day. Only appliances bought on or after April 22 will be eligible for the rebate. To qualify, appliances must have the ENERGY STAR designation and old appliances must be removed from the property and properly disposed of. Oklahoma residential consumers will be eligible for rebates in Oklahoma, and there is a maximum of one rebate per appliance and two rebates per household. More Information: http://okcommerce.gov/appliances.



U.S. Cellular expands 3G mobile broadband in Oklahoma

U.S. Cellular this week announced the completion of its expansion of 3G Mobile Broadband for customers in Oklahoma, Wichita Falls, Texas and Joplin, Mo. The network upgrade brings DSL-like service and capabilities to all of U.S. Cellular’s customers in those areas through Evolution-Data Optimized technology, commonly referred to as 3G, which allows customers to access data on their cell phones 10 times faster than before and at no additional cost.  

With 3G speeds, browsing the Web on a smartphone will be similar to the experience on a computer, with Web pages opening faster and the added capability to send and receive large e-mail attachments. Downloads with average speeds of 768 Kbps take less time, and picture and video messages are delivered more quickly. Uploads have an average speed of 200 Kbps. The difference is like going from dial-up to DSL on your desktop.

In addition to faster Internet access on the phone, customers can visit their U.S. Cellular retail store to purchase wireless modems that bring 3G speed to their laptops, ensuring they have options to stay connected while traveling around the U.S. or just across town.



Local woman introduces ‘Where Fun Meets Finance’ program

Victoria Woods, chief investment adviser for Edmond-based ChappelWood Financial Services, will give financial advice to High Seas cruise guests on the Atlantic Ocean.

Woods, author of “It’s All About the $Money, Honey!” and a financial contributor for the Today show, combined her love of cruising, guest speaking and sharing her financial knowledge to create the Where Fun Meets Finance program.

In business since 1988, Edmond-based ChappelWood Financial Services provides quality services and solutions such as financial planning, estate planning and insurance services.



UCO offers workshop on character traits through seminar series

Continuing its “Being Accountable to Lead” seminar series, the University of Central Oklahoma’s Center for Professional and Distance Education and Central Rural Electric Cooperative will present “Character Counts: Power and Sprit” from 2-4 p.m. March 11 at the CREC Training Center at 3304 S. Boomer Road in Stillwater.

Renee’ Warning, associate professor of management at Central, will lead the seminar focused on taking a more positive approach to thinking about management principles from a different and more constructive mindset.

“Character goes right to the heart of what makes us better people. Most any situation can be resolved using the right character traits,” Warning said.

“Employing ethical behaviors such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship in your everyday life will lead to better treatment of your family, your neighbors and your co-workers, and will make a difference in your business and community.”

Future seminars will be led by other Central faculty and staff including Darian De Bolt, and retired Central faculty member Lon Dehnert.

“The seminar series is beneficial to anyone who would like to develop their leadership skills and abilities regardless of what organization they work for or what position they hold,” said Kati Schmidt, CPDE’s director of Professional Education.

The seminar is offered through LeadershipSource, developed by CREC to build leadership in organizations and individuals. Each seminar costs $75 to attend, which includes instruction and materials.

For more information or to attend, register online at www.leadershipsource.coop or contact Central’s CPDE at 974-2420 or profed@uco.edu.



Love’s continues its support of Children’s Hospital Foundation

Love’s Travel Stop and Country Stores continues to show some love for Oklahoma’s Children with a recent donation of $50,000.

Children’s Hospital Foundation helps improve pediatric research, education and clinical care for Oklahoma’s children. Children from every county in Oklahoma are served by our children’s hospital with more than 100,000 patient visits annually. All funds raised through Children’s Hospital Foundation will stay in Oklahoma so children will have access to exceptional pediatric specialists within the state.

“With so many children depending on our children’s hospital for care, it’s important to us to support Children’s Hospital Foundation,” said Jenny Love Meyer, Love’s director of communications. “Our store locations nationwide contribute to children’s hospitals in their areas. But none are more important to us than Children’s Hospital Foundation. Oklahoma is our home, so it’s heartening to know that they have highly qualified pediatric specialists available for children.”

Since 2001, Love’s has actively supported Children’s Miracle Network, an affiliate of Children’s Hospital Foundation by raising money during their national campaign in September. The 48 stores in our area raise money doing car washes, cookouts, dunk tanks, concerts and poker runs while selling paper hearts and footballs at all the stores. To date, Love’s has raised and donated more than $520,000 for children’s health.



Wildlife Department employment exam scheduled

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will have an open employment exam March 26 at Rose State College.

Working for the Department is an extremely rewarding experience, said Mikki Gutierrez, human resources administrator for the Wildlife Department.

Taking the test is the first step in the hiring process for individuals seeking positions as game wardens, biologists, fish hatchery assistant managers or technicians with the department.

The standardized employment exam is set for 10 a.m. in the Tom Steed Development Center. The exam is free, and participants must have photo identification upon check-in. Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the examination room after 10 a.m.

The department looks for the best wildlife conservation employees available, and we want those who are interested to begin getting involved, Gutierrez said. This test is the first step for most positions at the Wildlife Department.

Specific job and education requirements for department positions as well as suggested study material for the exams are listed on the department’s official Web site at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/jobs.htm.

Individuals may take the exam once in a 12-month period. Test scores are valid for 12 months from the test date, and top scorers will be invited to submit an employment application. When a job opening becomes available, selected applicants from the test register will be scheduled for an interview. For more information, call the Wildlife Department’s Human Resources office at 521-4640.

                                  

OCU Meinders School of Business plans Women’s Leadership Panel

Oklahoma City University’s Meinders School of Business will have a panel discussion March 25 about women in leadership featuring executive panelists from Teleflora, Coppermark Bank, Love’s, Sonic and others.

The Meinders School of Business has partnered with the Senior Executive Women’s Networking Group, Chesapeake Energy and the Executive Resource Center for the event, scheduled from 8-11 a.m. in the Gardner Conference Room at the business school, at N.W. 27th Street and McKinley Avenue.

Martha Burger, senior vice president of human and corporate resources for Chesapeake Energy, will moderate the discussion titled “Women in Leadership: Rise and Shine Powerhouse Panel Discussion.” Topics include balancing work and family, cultural awareness, generation differences and the glass ceiling and femininity.

Panelists are Danielle Ezell, Teleflora; Celine Ferguson, Coppermark Bank; Jenny Love Meyer, Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores; Stephany Wade Tate, Chickasaw Nation Industries; Cristina McQuistion, OG&E; Jan Peery, YWCA; Claudia San Pedro, Sonic; Jacque Fiegel, Coppermark Bank; Shannon Rich, Oklahoma Heritage Association and the Gaylord-Pickens Museum; Sarah Mason Sears, S Design; Cindy Baker, GH Guernsey and Company; Joyce Reed, Griffin Communications; and Nancy Robertson, Sonic.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are $50 each. Sponsorships are available, including a $500 contributor sponsorship, a $1,000 associate sponsorship or a $1,500 key sponsorship. The sponsorships will create a scholarship fund for OCU students to attend the event, and two students will be added to each sponsored table.

For more information, call Melissa Cory at 208-5540, e-mail her at mcory@okcu.edu or visit www.okcu.edu/business.