Fresh out of high school, Ke’Arah wasn’t sure what her path was. She had worked in retail and knew she enjoyed working with others, but not necessarily for others, and college wasn’t something she wanted to immediately pursue.     Her mother, Tina, gave Ke’Arah her first camera at 16 and she soon discovered a passion for photography. With her creativity sparked, after she graduated high school, Ke’Arah started taking photos and posting them to her Instagram account, Faith & Photos (_faith.n.photos_). Ke’Arah had always loved fashion and styling and used that to create thoughtfully staged photoshoots.   Through social … Continue reading →

Special moments with those we love can sometimes spark inspiration for a business idea. Just ask Laryssa, owner of Buddy’s Breakfast Cookies who created a business based on her dad’s health-conscious cookie recipe.   Laryssa has wonderful memories of baking with her dad when she was growing up and enjoyed watching him bake with her own kids over the years.   The kids called him Buddy instead of Grandpa or Pop. He called them ‘buddy’ too.   To better understand Laryssa, we asked her about her career prior to Buddy’s Breakfast Cookies. She shared she has a varied background. She … Continue reading →

After 15 years of a successful career in IT, Melena decided it was time for a change.   Melena has always been drawn to the healthcare world. She wanted to better care for herself and her family in a more natural and holistic way.   She left IT and took a job at a local chiropractic practice where she worked as the receptionist and scheduler. Her eyes were opened, and everything changed when the owner took her to an industry conference.   At 38, Melena decided to return to school to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.   Not only … Continue reading →

Oklahoma native Meredith Hamrick found herself at a crossroads when she turned 40.   After working in technology sales at various companies for 13 years and her family’s company for 10, she found that she might not be able to go as far as she wanted working for others. This birthday milestone had Meredith questioning where she would go from here.   Meredith has always enjoyed helping others and empowering them to reach their potential. From earning a degree in organizational communication to leading teams and managing stores to helping her family’s company grow, she has always prioritized putting people … Continue reading →

Katie Holland is the owner of Katie’s Pies and More, which sits at the intersection of Oklahoma City and Nicoma Park.   When asked about how she found her passion for baking, Katie shared she was working in a restaurant, and they needed a baker. She took on the task.   More than nine-years ago, she decided to go out on her own.   She worked out of her home for several years focusing on pies. Katie took great pleasure in people talking about how her pies tasted like the ones their grandmothers made.   She eventually added brownies and … Continue reading →

CELEBRATING THOSE WHO DREAM BIG: OKLAHOMA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED REI Oklahoma’s Dream BIG Oklahoma winners of the Dr. Fern Green-Bowling Diamond Award, Dream Big Award and the coveted Vision Award have been announced.   (OKLAHOMA CITY, September 13, 2023) – REI Oklahoma, an economic development nonprofit serving all 77 counties, has announced the winners of their top three awards to be celebrated at the annual Dream BIG Oklahoma event on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at the Grand Casino Resort in Shawnee, Oklahoma.   Dream BIG is a statewide event hosted by REI Oklahoma to showcase the ‘best of the best’ … Continue reading →

 NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THREE AWARDS GIVEN AT DREAM BIG OKLAHOMA REI Oklahoma’s Dream BIG Oklahoma event has opened nominations for the event’s top three awards: Dr. Fern Green-Bowling Diamond Award, Dream Big Award, and the coveted Vision Award.   (OKLAHOMA CITY, June 6, 2023) – REI Oklahoma, an economic development nonprofit serving all 77 counties, has announced that nominations are now open for the top three awards at their annual Dream BIG Oklahoma event. Nominations will be accepted through June 30, 2023. Winners for all Dream BIG Oklahoma awards are celebrated at the annual event scheduled for Tuesday, October … Continue reading →

Peggy’s smile lights up the room when she says she has always wanted to own a restaurant. As a young girl, she even asked her (now late) father to help her start one.   “My daddy said it wouldn’t be a good investment because I would just give all the food away,” said Peggy. Well, her father was half-right on his initial assessment. She is now the proud owner of She Shed Bistro and is growing her business. Their tagline is “Little place with a big taste.”   Peggy’s journey to being a small business owner is a bit unconventional, … Continue reading →

Ken and Kim Isaac are no strangers to being small business owners.   They take pride in caring for their customers and meeting their needs, as well as being part of what drives Oklahoma’s economy. However, in the 20th year of operating their IT business, they realized with all the changes in the industry with the addition of iPads, tablets, smartphones, and the like, they needed to identify a new business venture.   Then it happened. While attending a pre-surgery orientation in 2016, Ken had an epiphany. He noticed that many of the other attendees had branded drink tumblers. Being … Continue reading →

REI Oklahoma Receives Grant to Support Single Mother and Single Women Business Owners REI Oklahoma and its Women’s Business Center receives a $10,000 grant to launch a scholarship and microgrant initiative to help elevate single mother and single women businesses owners in Oklahoma.   (OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 27, 2022) – REI Oklahoma, an economic development nonprofit, was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Oklahoma. The purpose of this grant is to help propel the launch or growth of small businesses that are majority-owned by single mother or single women households through their Women’s Business Center. REI … Continue reading →