CEAT well represented at the 2025 Cowboy100 Honoree Gala

Friday, April 25, 2025

Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT marketing and Communications | 4057445831 | [email protected]

Hosted by the Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in conjunction with the Oklahoma State University Foundation, the Cowboy100 honored the top 73 OSU owned-or-led businesses at the fourth annual Honoree Gala on March 28.

The Cowboy100 is a celebration to acknowledge the business and leadership achievements of OSU graduates. It highlights the contribution of entrepreneurial graduates from across the university and their positive influence on OSU, its students and the nation.

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology was well represented with its alumni receiving awards and recognition.

"The 2025 Cowboy100 showcased another exceptional group of individuals and businesses, highlighting the remarkable talent and innovation within our OSU community,” said Chad Mills, director of the Riata Center. “The energy in the room was palpable, reflecting the passion and dedication of our 2025 honorees. As we look to the future, we are excited to see how the Cowboy100 program will continue to foster growth and success, driving forward the entrepreneurial spirit that defines us."

Two unique awards were presented at the gala. The Cowboy100 award is based on business growth over a three-year span from 2021-23. The Blazing10 award recognized top-line revenue. Independent accounting partner JTaylor calculated both important measures of success for each business.

The Riata Center is the go-to hub for innovation and entrepreneurship at OSU. Located inside the Spears School of Business, the Riata Center is the home to cutting-edge programs and resources designed to elevate and inspire the next generation of Cowboy innovators and trailblazers.

CEAT Alumni in the 2025 Cowboy100 class are:

LEAD Training
Starla Halcomb ’92, ’97, and ’07 - College of Education and Human Sciences
Brandon Halcomb ’97 – College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Elijah Halcomb '24 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

LEAD Training LLC is a Native American, economically disadvantaged, woman-owned small business delivering cutting-edge training that allows organizations and government agencies to grow in their missions and empowers team members to do their best work. The CEO has a Ph.D. in education and more than 30 years of experience in training, curriculum development, instructional design and education consulting. LEAD has facilitated over 55,000 hours of training to over 16,000 students in over 12 countries and all 50 states. The dedicated LEAD team delivers customized, research-based solutions that ensure performance improvement, save training dollars and align with our clients' goals.

Renovation & Construction Services
Mitch Myers ’95 and ’99 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and Spears School of Business
Grant Barron ’10 - Ferguson College of Agriculture

Renovation and Construction Services (RCS) has been a reliable Tulsa construction company since 2017. Integrity, quality, teamwork, safety and communication are their core values. That defines the foundation for which this company was founded. Their team is up for every job, managing projects with the skill and experience our clients have come to expect. They always stand behind their work, with customer satisfaction being their No. 1 priority.

Alegacy
Bob Nickles ’89 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Alegacy Group was formed in 2013 by Bob Nickles. During early meetings, the culture and intent of leaving “a legacy” with any new venture became apparent; thus Alegacy was born. Alegacy Equipment was created with the intent to become the premier independent gas compressor packager. In the first 10 years of Alegacy Equipment, the company has already sold over $2.1 billion, which equates to more than 2.5 million horsepower representing over 2,500 new compressor packages.

AAON
Stephen Wakefield ’99 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Founded in 1988, AAON is a leading producer of commercial HVAC systems. AAON engineers and manufactures semi-custom and custom HVAC equipment and has operations in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Longview, Texas, Kansas City, Missouri, and Redmond, Oregon.

Upside Interiors
Mitch Myers '95 and '99 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and Spears School of Business

Marica Richards, principal designer of Upside Interiors, is a highly accomplished design visionary whose signature style is crafted with textural finds, organic elements, performance-driven materials and functional beauty. Her fresh and vibrant take on trends with timeless design is her foundation. She has impeccable taste and extends a graceful manner throughout the client experience. Mitch Myers is the owner and CFO supporting Upside.

Phase 2
Heath Clinton '93 - College of Education and Human Sciences
Alison Grogan '06 and '08 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Matt Devane '05 – Spears School of Business
Justin Blackwelder '02 – Spears School of Business

Phase 2 is a custom software development company providing services in the design and development of web applications, mobile applications, enterprise-scale software solutions, and technology and process consulting. Phase 2 has been a trusted technology partner to large and innovative businesses in Oklahoma and across the country for 25 years. Inc. Best Workplace – 2021, 2022 and 2023. Phase 2 was named to the Inc. 5000 list as one of America's fastest-growing private companies in 2023.

Kimray
Thomas Hill III ’89 – College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Tom Hill ’71 – College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Kimray is a world-class manufacturer of control equipment for the upstream oil and gas industry. Kimray employs more than 800 people at its headquarters in Oklahoma City and 10 store locations around the United States. Kimray's mission is “Making a Difference in the Lives of Those We Serve.” By combining their efforts and working together, they can do more good, create more benefits and make a bigger difference than any of us could do alone.

Frugal Product Services
Rupesh Garg '02 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Frugal Testing is a leader in software testing solutions, specializing in innovative and cost-effective services that ensure software reliability and performance. Our offerings include automated, performance, security, metaverse, and AR/AV testing, all tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. We have successfully collaborated with organization such as Dubai Police, Dubai Airports and Emirates Airline, along with over 200 global clients.

Big Elk Energy Systems
Geoff Hager ’02 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Big Elk manufactures large-scale infrastructure equipment serving multiple industries including energy and aerospace. In 2018, Big Elk was listed as the fastest-growing manufacturer in America by Inc. Magazine. Headquartered in Tulsa with installations worldwide, Big Elk is home to the most talented and hardworking people in the manufacturing sector.

Thermal Specialties
Mitch Myers ’95 and ’99 – College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and Spears School of Business
Kent Charles ’95 and ’00 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and Spears School of Business 

Thermal Specialties is a family-owned custom manufacturer and service organization. They provide comprehensive solutions to meet their customers’ needs. From next-generation industrial furnace systems and heat-treating capabilities to refractory installation and repair and insulation materials, Thermal Specialties is the single-source provider for high-temperature thermal processing applications. Currently, Thermal Specialties operates in five regional locations including three in Oklahoma and two in Texas.

Glenn Partners
Briar Glenn ’02 – College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Patrick Glenn ’96 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Glenn | Partners, founded in 2014, combines the expertise and leadership of Briar Glenn, president, and Patrick Glenn, managing principal. Their primary focus has always been on education and creating next-generation environments that respond to the ever-changing demands of schools. Together, they are dedicated to our clients' success in the pursuit of innovative and forward-thinking educational facilities that represent a personalized design process that builds trust and long-lasting relationships.

Pipeline Equipment
Jack Lollis ’71 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Pipeline Equipment, Inc. was founded in 1995 in a small facility in northeastern Oklahoma. With two employees and two welding machines, they began building launchers and receivers for mostly local customers. From their modest beginnings, they have experienced significant growth in capacity, capability, and customer base. Today, Pipeline Equipment, Inc. has four divisions, over 100,000-square feet of state-of-the-art facilities, and a talented team of employees.

Air Hygiene International
Quinn Bierman ’92 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Air Hygiene is a professional service firm that provides mobile emission testing services for any company with emission sources like combustion engines/turbines, burners, and boilers, along with plants with chemical processes and manufacturing. Air Hygiene provides an easy-to-work-with-client experience from quote to final report. Their team thrives under challenging projects with deadlines, low limits, rush needs, and multi-sources to provide quality data on-site relating emissions to dollars.

Medefy Health
Matt Scovil ’04 and ’07 – Spears School of Business
Nathan Gilchrist ’08 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Medefy was founded to help everyday people navigate confusing, complex health care like an expert using the best tech, the best approach and the best employees on Earth. Medefy is a health care app that directly guides and navigates employees to make high-quality, low-cost, individualized care decisions in real time. The platform allows employees to take advantage of all the offerings of modern health benefits plans with live, human help and eliminate the common education gap between robust plans and members. Medefy provides powerful health benefits navigation and an on-the-go health care experience with real, human Care Guides that know the plan inside and out and provides real-time results in less than a minute.

Webco Industries
Jene Harmon ’90 - Spears School of Business
Dave Boyer ’84 – College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Randy Watson ’89 – College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Kyle Ingram '12 - Colle of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Webco Industries Inc. is a specialty manufacturer and value-added distributor of high-quality carbon, stainless steel, nickel alloy, and other metal specialty tubing products that are designed to industry and customer specifications. Webco's tubing products consist primarily of pressure tubing, including heat exchanger and boiler tubing products, automotive components, and other specialty tubing for use in consumer durable and capital goods. The company, founded in 1969, is headquartered in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Webco has five production facilities in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania and eight distribution/value-added facilities in Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois and Michigan, serving customers globally.

The Fervid Group
Abhijeet Narvekar ’00 – College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Dhimant Desai ’00 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

The FerVid Group has three verticals: 1, data management consulting providing O&G consulting, 2, geothermal project consulting, and 3, executive recruiting. The FerVid Group started with the executive recruiting arm with the creative idea of improving the traditional recruiting process using video technology. They used video interviews in 2010 when videos were not that popular. Today, they lead in the niche difficult to fill recruiting space.

Oak Properties
Duane Phillips '82 and '84 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Oak Properties LLC was founded by Duane Phillips in the summer of 1986. Initially, the company focused on constructing nursing homes and smaller commercial shopping centers, generating approximately $250,000 in revenue during its first year. Oak Properties operates on a "Design-Built" concept, serving as a designer, contractor, and project owner. Currently, the company manages and owns around $100 million in residential office, restaurant and mixed-use development.

Myers Property Investments
Mitch Myers ’95 and ’99 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and Spears School of Business

Myers Property Investments is a real estate investment business that owns and leases dozens of residential properties in Oklahoma, Texas and Maui, Hawaii.

Medical Billing Wholesalers
Vinod Sankaran ’03 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and
Spears School of Business

Medical Billing Wholesalers helps you transform your revenue cycle to give clinicians time to do what they do best - provide exceptional medical care. They reduce costs by over 40% and improve collections by over 20%. They help you achieve market-leading results by applying their expertise and technology. They work with physician practices, health systems, hospitals, health care facilities, leading EHR companies, SaaS and billing service vendors.

Evans Building Concepts
Chris Evans ’18 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Evans Building Concepts was started in 2006 on the premise of providing honest and quality construction services in the Oklahoma City community. Their objective is to create and maintain lasting relationships with their clients, subcontractors, and vendors. Evans has been successful in achieving this through our core values of accountability, communication and relationships.

Flexplan Administrators
Greg Holley ’96 - Spears School of Business
Mitch Myers ’95 and ’99 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and Spears School of Business

At FlexPlan Administrators, they provide a wide range of third-party administrative, consultation, and insurance brokerage services to private, public and government organizations and associations. They specialize in the administration of Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts & COBRA.

Ambler Associates, dba Ambler Architects
Joseph Evans '10 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Founded in 1981, Ambler Architects is a full-service architecture and interiors firm based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Since our founding, we have built a diverse portfolio of projects for both private and public clients. Our experience and expertise cover a wide range of project types, including health care, office and commercial, academic, civic, corporate, retail, interior renovation, historical rehabilitation, building expansions and new construction.

SGA Design Group
Chris Goble '86 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Travis Hager '01 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Virginia Hart '94 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

For 30 years, SGA Design Group has provided architectural services for a wide variety of companies across the United States. Our projects include retail rollouts, convenience/fueling, health and wellness facilities, restaurants, and more. We have gained knowledge and know-how every step of the way, and we bring this experience forward to every project we work on. Our goal is to bring clients all the benefits of our experienced staff and expansive network, tailored to their business's unique needs.

Retirement Investment Advisors
Randy Thurman '81 & '84 - College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology and Spears School of Business

Since 1991, Retirement Investment Advisors, Inc. has been the fee-only fiduciary that people seek when they need trusted CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals to help navigate the twists and turns of the retirement path. You have worked hard for your money. Now that you're focused on retirement, it's time to make sure it's working for you. Let us lead the way. We are committed to being a company worthy of helping people achieve financial security for life.

Click here for a full list of the top 100 Cowboy-led or Cowboy-owned businesses in 2025.