This is Oklahoma

This is Ends Of The Earth with Todd Vinson

Something a little different for you today. I sat down with friend and founder of Eote Coffee Mr Todd Vinson for his podcast called "Ends of The Earth" produced in partnership with SALLT. One of my previous guests David Skidmoore is the Creative Director over at SALLT so if you haven listened to that one yet that should be next on your list to learn about what SALLT is and does in OKC. 

This episode was a blast, not very often do I get to sit with Todd and talk about life. Especially on my side of the microphone being the host. Well this time I was the guest and I wanted to share the experience with you and show you a little bit of who I am and where I come from. 

Head over and check out Todds podcast, he's doing amazing things and sharing amazing stories. Of course try his coffee if you haven't, thats a given! @eotecoffee

Thanks for listening and as always leave a review and subscribe to our channels

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This is Matt Brown

On this episode I sat with Matt Brown. Matt's family business Red Rock Distribution Company has been distributing fuel around Oklahoma for the past 75 years. This is one of those Oklahoma generational businesses that reminds you who we are as Oklahoman's.

Company History

"In 1937, Barney Brown, Sr. and his two sons opened a single gasoline station in Oklahoma City at SW 10th & Walker. With gasoline selling for $0.12 - $0.14 a gallon, the small family business began selling and distributing motor fuel in the Oklahoma City metro area. From the original Pepper’s Refinery on S. High Street, Brown & Sons Oil Company started by delivering fuel to commercial customers like Lee Way Motor Freight. At the end of WWII, Barney Brown Sr. and his two sons, moved their office to the Oklahoma City Stockyards, where they worked hard to service vehicles and grow their commercial bobtail delivery service.

By 1957, the Brown’s had acquired another distributorship, Red Rock, from the first Conoco jobber in the state, Ed Klein. After the acquisition, the Brown’s formally changed the name of the new company to Red Rock Distributing Company, Inc. As the family business grew, other companies were purchased, and assimilated into a company that not only sold gasoline and diesel, but lubricants, lawn mowers, coolers, and auto parts.

In 1969, Barney’s son, Steve, joined the business and by 1975 Steve had developed a convenience store concept called, Save-A-Stop. After three generations, the company had grown from operating a single service station, to operating 25 convenience stores in the metro Oklahoma City area. Their transportation business had also grown from a single 308-gallon bobtail truck, to several 9,500-gallon transport vehicles. And if you ask Barney Brown, Jr. the secret to their success, he won’t hesitate to tell you, “We have a family that values integrity.”

Integrity is just one of the words that has been used to describe this unique family and the their business. According to Steve, “This company was founded on several principles we still follow today. First, we live up to the deals we make. Second, we service our customers with honesty and integrity. Third, we are always ready and willing to adapt our business plan when the business environment changes. And finally, we treat our customers like family.”

In 2001, Steve’s son Matt returned to Oklahoma City, and became a fourth generation marketer at Red Rock. Together, Steve and Matt have continued to expand and grow the core parts of the business. “I am so excited to see Matt come back and work with his Dad. You know there aren’t many companies that can say they have had four generations of experience in a single business. It makes me very proud to see them carrying on our family's legacy with such great success and integrity, “ Barney said. Before returning to Oklahoma City, Matt spent 5 years working for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville and San Antonio, TX.

Over the years, the Browns have been involved with many professional and civic organizations. Organizations like The Oklahoma Trucking Association, The Oklahoma Grocers Association, The Petroleum Marketers Association of America, and from its inception, the Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers Association, (OPMA-OACS). In addition, both Steve and Matt volunteer within the community and serve on several non-profit boards. Steve said, “In an ever changing business and cultural climate, it is important to support other businesses within our industry and give our time and expertise to help improve the community in which we live. Participating in trade organizations gives us the opportunity to address concerns and solve problems by talking with business people who share the same goals. Serving our community by volunteering our time and resources helps to improve the lives of our customers and employees. Both Matt and myself have always felt a strong desire to give back to the communities we work and live within. We hope to make a difference by setting a good example for our employees, customers, and suppliers. We hope that they see our commitment to improving the lives of others and will follow our lead.”

For more than 75 years, Red Rock Distributing Company has continued to grow its transportation and wholesale fuel distributing business. With the sale of the Save-A-Stop convenience store chain in 1997, Red Rock decided to invest more in their core wholesale fuel business by becoming a leading supplier of high-octane racing fuels for many tracks and racers in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. With a fleet of 17 transports and 2 bobtail trucks that service locations all over Oklahoma, they now sell wholesale branded fuel from Shell, Conoco, Phillips 66, Valero, Shamrock and Sinclair as well as unbranded fuel from some 12 additional suppliers. In this new era of business, that seems to love high-tech companies with high-dollar office space and limited life expectancy, Red Rock Distributing Company has proven that a few basic principals, shared by an entire family, is all it takes to build, grow, and sustain a business and community for future generations."

 For more information go to www.redrockdist.com

Follow Matt @mbrownokc 

This episode is presented by The Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma's Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them on social media @oklahomahof and online at www.oklahomahof.com

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This is Visit Edmond: National Travel & Tourism Week

On this episode I sat with Sherry Jordan, president and CEO of Edmond Chamber https://www.edmondchamber.com/the-chamber/staff/ Janet Yowell, executive director of Edmond Economic Development Authority https://www.eeda.com/contact/ Jennifer Seaton, director of Visit Edmond https://visitedmondok.com/contact.php

Join us in celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week with Edmond.  

As restrictions begin to lift, Edmond is ready to welcome you back to our hotels, restaurants and attractions. Your first getaway can be a staycation or short drive to Edmond.

More info: https://conta.cc/3f9Y2ZL

Edmond Cycling Trail map: http://www.edmondok.com/418/Trails

Follow Visit Edmond on social media @visitedmond #visitedmond 

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This is David Skidmore

On this episode I sat with David Skidmore, he is the Creative Director for SALLT. David is at the helm of leading their forthcoming podcast network, video design, magazine, music, and digital space. He is an inspirational speaker who hoists sails and starts fires. David is known for his humorous delivery and passionate communication style. For over a decade, David is a sought-after communicator for events ranging from small gatherings in the mountains to crowds of thousands.

David is a storyteller, vision shaper, and connector. He is the founder of LeaderGrowth, Lion Leader, and The Clarity Workshop where he helps people clarify their vision to create the life they want. David also coaches speakers professionally. He holds a degree from Oklahoma Christian University. David is one of the organizers of TEDxOklahomaCity. 

We sat for over an hour talking life, leadership and Tim Grover. Such a great interview, one of the most unique ones I've done because for the middle third of the podcast David started asking me questions which I loved. Very rarely do I get to share my thoughts on topics and this conversation was for sure more of a chat about life than an interview and story tell about my guest. Follow David on social and see the change he's making. @thedavidskidmore www.davidskidmore.org and check out SALLT www.sallt.com 

Presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them on social media @oklahomahof and online for more information at www.oklahomahof.com

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This is Garrett Diel - Oklahoma Golf #009

On this episode of @thisisoklahomagolf I sat with Head Pro of Gaillardia Country Club, Garrett Diel. I used to work for Garrett at OKC Golf and Country Club a few years ago while he was an assistant. Garrett grew up in Enid, really small school class. He played every sport as a kid and came to golf relatively late at the age of 12. With no golfers in the family he'd go play with his friend and friends Dad out in Enid. 

Most pros you talk to love the game and want to work in golf because of that. Garrett loved the business aspect to golf. He put the clubs down for two years while studying at OSU but when UCO's PGM program became an option to go to university and learn all you needed to learn about being a pro and running a business he jumped at it. 

Garrett worked in the cart barn at OKCG&CC during his time at UCO, he'd go on internships every summer at courses around the country. When he graduated Tim took him on at OKC. 

Garrett took a Job at Belmar GC in Norman owned by Toby Keith where he worked for 3 years as his first Head Pro position before getting the job at Gaillardia where he's been for just over a year. 

Thanks for listening and follow us @thisisoklahomagolf for more news, reviews and stories on Oklahoma Golf. 

Stay safe.

This is Matt Holder

On this episode I sat with friend Matt Holder. Matt and I first met when I started real estate back in 2015. He was my first business coach when I started at Keller Williams Elite.

Matt is from SW OKC, grew up in Moore, graduated from South Moore High School. He worked in real estate his junior year at a new construction development owned by his best friends family. Matt didn’t want to be in real estate, he wanted to be a doctor.  Matt’s whole family had ties to real estate, his mom sold homes, his dad sold building materials and his grandfather built homes. So it was written on the wall that real estate was in his future.

As soon as he turned 18 he took his real estate test and became a realtor. Since 2013 Matt has worked in the industry, coaching clients, learning from leaders and building his business and others. Matt has failed more times than most will ever fail in their lifetimes but that's one of the keys to his success. 

He's recently left a great job to chase his own dreams of being a small business coach and helping others win in their fields. Every time I sit with Matt I learn something and this was no different. Enjoy the gems in this episode, if you're a small business owner and need guidance. Matt is your man. Follow him here @mattholderr

Thanks for listening, watching on youtube and supporting @thisisoklahoma 

 

This is Amy Downs - Hope is a Verb

On this episode I interviewed Amy Downs. Amy survived the OKC Bombing on April 19, 1995.

"Amy shouldn’t even be here. Seven years into her job at what we now know as Allegiance Credit Union, a bomb exploded in her building, killing 168 people, including 18 of her 33 co-workers. Amy fell three stories and was buried alive for over six hours.

Today, Amy is now President and an award-winning CEO. Rather than being taken down by that catastrophe, Allegiance Credit Union grew by 400% and is consistently voted a Best Place to Work in Oklahoma. This year, Amy was recognized by the Oklahoma Journal Record as a “Most Admired CEO.”

Drawing on her new book about these experiences, called “Hope Is A Verb,” Amy is excited to share with you what she has learned about how you can respond to this crisis we find ourselves in — and how to actually have your organization come out of it even stronger."

Presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma's Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them on social media @oklahomahof and online for more information at www.oklahomahof.com

 

BUY AMY'S BOOK HERE

https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Verb-Journey-Impossible-Transformation-ebook/dp/B085N234DW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3M4Q2J34S2RWS&dchild=1&keywords=hope+is+a+verb&qid=1587386609&sprefix=HOPE+IS+A+VER%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1

 

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This is Nick Chafey

This episode was recorded in February of this year before any of the covid19 complications. Thank you for understanding that some of the events we talk about in this episode have been rescheduled or postponed.

On this episode I sat with college friend Nick Chafey to share his testimony in memory of his mother Rona Linn Kuehner-Chafey who passed in the OKC Bombing. Nick grew up in the Bethany area. His whole family lives in Bethany so naturally he wanted to attend SNU, which is where we met.

Ever since I’ve known Nick he’s always wanted to play soccer. He played for SNU and then after changing his major he was ineligible to play. However, he still got his soccer fix when we played some intramural indoor soccer.

Nick reached out to me a few months back and asked if he could share his testimony and his mom’s memory to our listeners. He was four in 1995 when his mom passed. His recollection of that day is as any four year old would be. He doesn’t have many memories of his mom; all his memories are learned memories, stories from others about his mom, what she was like and who she was. His older sister was 14 at the time. Her memory of the experience is completely different as well as his Dad or friends who knew his mom. 

So Nick remembers his mom and the whole experience differently to those of his family. With the 25-year anniversary this was a very special moment and I am extremely grateful to have a platform like This is Oklahoma to share Nicks story to you today.

In loving memory of his mother Rona Linn Kuehner-Chafey and those who lost their lives on April 19,1995.

Presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma's Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them on social media @oklahomahof and online www.oklahomahof.com

This is Simas Gumuliauskas

On this episode I sat with Simas Gumuliauskas. Myself and Simas both graduated from Southern Nazarene University. Simas is from Lithuania, he came to the states in 2002 as a foreign exchange student to a small town near Houston called Willis, Texas. His father found a company that helped place foreign exchange students so Simas flew to New York for a few days and then was places in Willis Texas.

As a junior in high school, can you imagine flying halfway around the world? Not being able to speak much English and not being able to go home until the year was over. Simas had his eyes set on graduating high school and going to university in the states. Simas continued his basketball for the high school winning the district championship for that high school.

Simas injured his knee at the end of this junior year so he didn’t play much his senior year. I’m no basketball nerd but Simas explains that his European basketball style is no match for the up paced physicality of basketball in the states.

 Simas finished high school in Willis and wanted to go to Texas A&M, he studied at bling college with the hope to transfer his credits into Texas A&M. After his one year at Bling College he didn’t go to A&M because of the added expenses for an out of country students he couldn’t afford to go. So he went back to his friends from Willis who had ties to SNU and made the transfer up to Bethany Oklahoma.

Simas first love is basketball; it’s the most popular sport in Lithuania. Sadly some injury left him on the sideline his senior year so there was no chance of him playing for SNU. However, he could still run. So he was offered a track scholarship and ran track for SNU.

Simas worked hard at SNU, got his degree and his MBA and during the financial crisis of 2008/09 he was offered a position at Devon Energy he worked in a treasury group there for three years and then moved to chaparral energy in long term planning in the corporate development group for about three more years. Simas is very intelligent, he won’t say this himself but he is. He really enjoyed his time at Chaparral energy because he was able to branch out more across the board instead of being stuck in his specialty at Devon.

After years in corporate America advising at Devon Energy Simas turned to Real Estate when they had their first child for Simas to have flexibility to take care of his first child Ivy. Simas’s is wife Amy is a pediatrician so it made sense for her to continue working and for Simas to work just not as much.

Simas and Amy are about to have their third child. We wish them all the best for their future and look forward to catching up with them in the future.

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online www.thisisoklahoma.media

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This is Oklahoma Golf #008 - Fake tickets at The Masters

On this episode I sit down with two golf mates Jason Smith and Jeremy Lamb. They've been to the Masters twice and have some amazing stories, Once with their mates and the second time with their Dads. Plus some other hilarious childhood golfing moments and Jason best round ever at Golf Club of Edmond. 

Follow us @thisisoklahomagolf