Pelco Products Inc. named to the Quality Leadership 100

Pelco Products Inc. is proud to announce its inclusion in the Quality Leadership 100. The Edmond-based company is ranked 68th by Quality Magazine. More than 800 companies nationwide were surveyed, leaving an impressive top 100.

Also included on the list are such high-profile companies as John Deere & Co. in Waterloo, Iowa (15), Maytag Corp. in Benton Harbor, Mich. (21) and Honeywell International in Morristown, N.J. (92).

Pelco Products Inc. is one of three Oklahoma companies to make the list.



Edmond Medical Center hires new employees

Edmond Medical Center recently hired two new registered nurses, Roxanne Bunting and Wes Butler. Bunting and Butler will work in the Emergency Room.



AT&T;’s FamilyMap allows parents to receive alerts on children’s location

AT&T; recently announced a new tool offered to customers called FamilyMap. Through the tool’s schedule checks option, parents can receive alerts at specified times via text or e-mail. For example, parents could request a schedule check every weekday at 4 p.m. to check on their child’s location. In another scenario, parents of a teenager who drives could use the tool to check on their child’s location instead of calling or texting the teen, which might present a distraction while the teen is on the road.

Users can locate up to two phones on an account for a monthly subscription of $9.99, or up to five phones for $14.99 per month. Customers who sign up for the service will receive the first 30 days free. Standard data usage charges apply, and an unlimited data plan from AT&T; is recommended.



Pecan conference provides educational opportunities

Oklahoma pecan growers will have the opportunity to learn new things, view commercial exhibits and network with other growers when they attend the Oklahoma Pecan Growers’ Association’s 79th Annual Convention June 1-3 at the Cox Convention Center.

Registration is $60 for OPGA members and $70 for non-members and includes all educational programs and one published proceedings. Registration is due by May 8. Registration at the conference is an additional $15. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Renaissance Hotel. Room reservations must be made by May 1.

For more information, call 744-5409 or visit www.hortla.okstate.edu/pecan/opga/images/opgaconf.pdg.



Legacy Bank adds to its Customer Service Team

Legacy Bank’s motto is “Serious about service.” To continue that commitment Legacy announces a new team member to its Support Central location in Oklahoma City.

Jessica Mills recently was hired to serve as a call support specialist in the Support Central location.



Arvest partners with Visa to promote financial literacy

Arvest Bank and Visa have teamed up in a commitment to promote financial literacy to students, teachers, parents and people of all ages through the Web site, www.arvestmoneyskills.com.

The co-branded Web site is a resource for teachers and parents, where they can access teaching guides, presentations, student worksheets, quizzes and interactive materials to assist in the financial education process. Classroom materials are free and are tailored for young children through college/adult ages. The site is designed to help people develop and maintain better money management skills by providing access to financial education tools and resources.



MidFirst Bank to add banking center at Health Science Center

MidFirst Bank has entered into a 15-year lease agreement with the Oklahoma Blood Institute to open a banking center at OBI’s new corporate office building.

The three-story office building will be constructed at the northwest corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Northeast Eighth Street. At more than 45,000 square feet, the building will house the OBI blood donor center and the offices of MidFirst Bank on the first floor, OBI corporate offices on the second floor, and about 16,000 square feet of office space available for lease by Wiggin Properties on the third floor.



Hartzog Conger Cason & Neville names Ripley as Of Counsel

Hartzog Conger Cason & Neville is pleased to announce that Ronald L. Ripley has joined the firm as Of Counsel.

Prior to joining the firm, Ripley was senior vice president and general counsel of Dobson Communications Corp., a partner with Linn & Neville and a private practice attorney in Oklahoma City and Norman.

A graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Ripley is a member of the American and Oklahoma Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice before the Tenth and District of Columbia Circuit Courts of Appeals, the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. District Courts for Western Northern and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma, the Northern District of Texas, the District of Columbia and the Southern District of New York.

His practice will include business, securities and commercial law, corporate governance and litigation.



North American Group rebrands to INSURICA

North American Group, one of the nation’s leading privately held independent insurance agencies, is bringing each of its insurance management partners together to form INSURICA, the Insurance Management Network. The new brand recently was announced, setting a new positioning for the 50-year company and its unique, comprehensive plans, further emphasizing that we are “Specializing In You.”

As part of the rebranding campaign, 12 areas of specialization will be featured in new advertising and marketing efforts, as well as on the company’s brand new Web site, www.INSURICA.com.



New study shows beer industry contributes $1.3 billion to state

A new economic impact study shows that America’s beer industry, made up of brewers, beer importers, beer distributors, brewer suppliers and retailers, directly and indirectly contributes $1.3 billion annually to Oklahoma’s economy. The study, commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Beer Institute, also shows that the industry’s economic impact in Oklahoma includes 18,339 jobs — paying $460 million in wages — as well as $116 million in federal, state and local taxes.

According to the study, the beer industry directly employs 10,936 people in Oklahoma, paying them $239 million in wages. The 35 beer distributors in Oklahoma employ 1,097 people. Large and small brewers and beer importers employ about 139 people. Beer sales help support roughly 9,701 jobs at licensed retailers, which include supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, stadiums and other outlets.

The complete study, including state-by-state and congressional district breakdowns of economic contributions, is available at www.BeerServesAmerica.org.



Wireless company to fund thousands of teachers’ projects

U.S. Cellular announced its new Calling All Teachers campaign that will funnel $1 million into classroom materials and educational experiences for students. Between now and Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8, the wireless company and its 9,000 associates are encouraging teachers to post requests on DonorsChoose.org, a philanthropic Web site that helps public school teachers find money for classroom projects that exceed their limited budgets.



Kronfeld et al. start Plymouth Exploration

Tulsa-based Plymouth Exploration LLC (PEX) has been formed with a $50-million private-equity commitment from Kayne Anderson Energy Funds, and with funding from management. Plymouth is the latest venture of Plymouth Resources Inc., which has been operating since 1982 and serves many Edmond residents. It will focus on acquisition, exploration and development primarily in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas.

PEX’s founder and president is Ted Kronfeld. He also is president of Plymouth Resources. Alex Kronfeld is senior vice president. Joel Blake, formerly of Williams Cos., is vice president of exploration, and Jack Kueser, formerly of Newfield Exploration Co., is vice president of engineering. Kyle Hill, also formerly with Newfield, is controller.