Author Archives: gurustu

Tom Seth Smith, President & CEO, Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) was recognized for 20 years of success and service at the December Board of Directors meeting. When Smith took the helm of the organization in 1989, it was known as Rural Enterprises Incorporated. Seven years later when REI services became statewide, the name was changed to reflect the expanded service area. Over Smith’s 20-years of service, the organization’s funding has increased by 250 percent. A lot of other things also changed under Smith’s leadership. REI introduced its equipment, microloan and Intermediary Relending Program. That was followed by the … Continue reading →

With the help of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) and First United Bank & Trust, Durant, what was once Jiffy Mart is now the new and expanded Push ‘Em Station on Highway 70 which is double the size of the old Jiffy Mart that Donny Simmons operated since 1984. The store is situated roughly 5 miles from Durant and 5 miles from Lake Texhoma. Simmons had purchased the 33-acre property adjacent to Jiffy Mart 10 years ago in anticipation of the two-lane highway becoming a four-lane highway. He put Noah’s Ark Car Wash on the property for starters but … Continue reading →

The small rural southeast Oklahoma town of Bennington is the home of a new business. Rick’s Airboats located into the community’s business incubator to manufacture airboats. Business owners are Rick and Clanton Raney and Bryon and Misty Underwood. According to the business owners, airboats are becoming very popular for recreational purposes and especially appealing to bow fishing enthusiasts, striper guides and any type of river guide services. Bryon said his father-in-law bought a used airboat and the family enjoyed it so much that they decided to build one. After researching the market, cost of goods and the competition, they determined … Continue reading →

Katherine E. Faison has joined Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) as a loan officer at REI’s Oklahoma City office. Faison will be working with Oklahoma entrepreneurs providing the business financing services of REI including lending programs of the U. S. Small Business Administration and other lending and business assistance programs administered by the organization. She will assist start-up as well as expanding and growing businesses. Faison will be available to meet with lenders about potential projects and with business owners offering credit analysis and loan classification to provide the best avenue for the capital needed. Her previous work history … Continue reading →

DURANT – The Women’s Business Center (WBC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, a Durant-based economic development organization, has scheduled its Annual Women’s Biz Symposium to be held Thursday, October 29, 2009 at the Ardmore Convention Center, Keynote speaker for the event is Sally Baskey, one of the most compelling speakers on the platform today. Have you ever had the feeling that your life is out of control? Life is full of experiences that make us happy, sad, frustrated, mad…..and sometimes can put us “over the edge.” We learn as we get older that we have little control over our circumstances … Continue reading →

Hutchinson Joins REI as Incubator-Foreign Trade Zone Program Manager Will Hutchinson, a Southeastern Oklahoma State University alumni, has joined the staff of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) as Program Manager of the organization’s business incubator and Foreign Trade Zone programs. Hutchinson brings 9 years of experience from his previous position with Texas Instruments as a Product Development Engineer and Project Manager with an additional 8 years of industrial electronics experience with Pilkington automotive glass manufacturing. He has extensive experience in electronics and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) as well as a practitioner in Lean Six-Sigma. In his … Continue reading →

Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (Inc.) announces Jennifer R. Edwards as Women’s Business Center Assistant at its Oklahoma City location. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, Edwards holds a BA in Journalism/Public Relations with a Minor in Sociology. Her diversified professional experience includes serving the Sarkeys Foundation as executive assistant and Project Woman Coalition, Inc., as public relations associate. Edwards is also an Adjunct Professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, OU. In 2006, REI was the recipient of a U. S. Small Business Administration award to facilitate the expansion of its WBC services. Today, WBC … Continue reading →

Entrepreneurs young and old alike are encouraged to enter the New Product and Process Fair to be held December 12, 2009 on the campus of Moore Norman Technology Center, 13301 S. Penn Avenue, Oklahoma City. The application deadline is November 20. Official rules and regulations are available in an easy-to-navigate format at www.newproductsfair.com. Founded by former Congressman Wes Watkins over 20 years ago, the Fair is an excellent way for schools and institutions of higher education to encourage their students to think out of the box, ignite their creativity and showcase their entrepreneurial talent. It will also be an opportunity … Continue reading →

Laugh Out Loud is southwest Oklahoma’s newest entertainment center and when you go there, that’s exactly what you will do because it is loaded with fun, food and wholesome family entertainment. The entertainment center was brought to fruition through the partnership of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) and Arvest Bank, Lawton, OK. Investors utilized the SBA 504 program for purchase of real estate, renovation, equipment and other start-up needs. “This is a great addition to the Lawton community and we were very pleased to partner with Arvest Bank and the investors to help bring such an innovative family-fun center … Continue reading →

Three area businesses were among recipients of awards during Oklahoma Minority Enterprise Development Week. The award recipients participated in a celebration of the success held at the Metro Technology Center, Oklahoma City. The event was coordinated by the Native American Business Enterprise Center (NABEC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI). Farris Electric, LLC, Durant, was awarded the “Minority Sub-Contractor of the Year”. This company began as home-based businesses in 2000 but today, Farris Electric, LLC employs 27 people. Chris and Pam Farris started with a core business in electrical contracting but recently added the HVAC component to the business … Continue reading →