Bespoke Tours: Ryan Fogle & Ride OKC
Between raising their toddler, Finn, and running two growing businesses, Ryan Fogle and his wife Ashley have their hands full. When the former is not working on historical preservation and urban design through his architecture firm, Goldy Architecture, he and Ashley are busy meeting the growing demand for bike tours in Oklahoma City with their company, Ride OKC.
High Style Meets Rising Star
When I met up with Maurice Johnson on a recent trip to New York City, the 28-year-old was in the midst of a somewhat busy day. Of course, as he’s a sports agent in the mecca of sports, finding a day that wasn’t hectic would have been nearly impossible. Especially for a young man who is still trying to earn his stripes.
Global Perspective: Erielle Reshef
Erielle Reshef is the nicest force of nature you’ll ever meet — in fact, you may already feel like you know her. Since 2017, she’s worked as a correspondent for ABC News, based in New York City with her husband Daniel and their young sons Mayr, six, and Mavryk, two.
Advice and Counsel: Dorothy Heim
Heim Law Firm in Edmond has been representing clients and helping provide, as its slogan says, “everyday justice” for nearly two decades. But its founder and namesake came close to never moving to central Oklahoma; in fact, she almost didn’t become a lawyer at all.
A Family ‘Found’
The Netflix documentary Found tells the beautiful, powerful, poignant story of three girls — Chloe Lipitz, Sadie Mangelsdorf and Lily Bolka — who discover they are cousins after taking 23andMe DNA tests.
The Plot Thickens - Lou Berney
On a December evening in 2018, OKC author Lou Berney saw a social media post praising his new book, November Road: “When people say they want to read a really good novel, the kind you just can’t put down, this is the kind of book they mean. Exceptional.”
The Man Behind the Alias - Donovan Farrow
Cybersecurity has become even more vital for businesses given recent world events, but many business owners don’t know where to begin. Meet Donovan Farrow, CEO of Alias — an Oklahoma-based company that focuses on bringing affordable cybersecurity to small and medium-sized businesses.
From A Tiny Town to Global Growth
A ripple in the matrix occurred in 1928 in Cherokee, Oklahoma, when Curtis Harold Guernsey Sr. founded a consulting engineering firm out of his garage, with a goal of providing civil engineering support to rural Oklahoma cities and towns.
Luke Leifeste’s Excellent Adventure
Luke Leifeste is feeling contemplative these days. A bona fide member of New York City’s elite creative class, this 20-something’s near non-stop hard work over the last decade has allowed him to cross a heady number of items off his bucket list in relatively rapid succession.
When Circ Came to Town: A Pilates Journey
As a former professional dancer and singer working in New York City, Carrie Kenneally was living her best life. It was playing out almost like a Broadway musical: Kenneally was running her own business in the heart of NYC and was heavily involved with the performing arts community where she had spent much of her life. It seemed to be everything she could ask for.
Bespoke Smokes: Ultimo and The Art of Hand-Rolled Cigars
Lucile Aurore Dupin, perhaps better known by her pen name George Sand, once said, “A cigar is the perfect complement to an elegant life.” The French novelist wrote this in the early 1800s, yet some two centuries later, the infatuation of a good cigar has not changed much. A proper stogie is often viewed as the manifestation of reaching a high level of success and living the good life.
Deanna Atkinson: CEO, Apiarist and Environmental Superhero
Meet Deanna Atkinson, environmental scientist and leader of Oklahoma Environmental Services (OES) for almost 20 years. Atkinson’s passion for a cleaner and safer world has been instrumental in Oklahoma Environmental Services’ continued growth and success.
Hochatown Distilling Company: Beautifully Balanced Oklahoma Bourbon
Out in the middle of Southeastern Oklahoma sits an oasis. That’s how Tommy McDaniel, co-owner of Hochatown Distilling Company (HDC), describes Hochatown, which is more than three hours from Dallas and four from Oklahoma City. With scenery like the Ouachita National Forest, Beavers Bend State Park, Cedar Bluff and Mountain Fork River all nearby, the area's natural beauty may rival locales like the Grand Canyon.
Dr. Castel Santana: Functional & Integrative Medicine
We recently chatted with Dr. Castel Santana, MD, known to his patients as Dr. Cas. He’s a board-certified family medicine doctor who has dedicated his career to creating healthy, happy communities, one patient at a time.
Of Learning and Leadership: Kati Hanna
Kati Hanna, partner at The Mettise Group, loves a good cabernet, a restorative three-day weekend and her family. She’s an avid traveler, a voracious reader and an executive coach whose 25+ year consulting career has been devoted to helping others succeed.
The Business of Balance: Smith & Pickel
An hour and a half into the marathon 2010 job interview Matt Thomas had with the venerable firm Smith & Pickel Construction, he looked at partners James Pickel and Sam Smith and said, calmly, “When you retire, I’ll buy you out.” It was bold—but also prescient.
A Race With No Finish Line
Robby Hagemann took the road less traveled to his current position as president and CEO of Boardman, Inc., an historic Oklahoma City-based metal fabrication business: He was a college soccer coach.
From Aspiration to Inspiration: Paris Lawson
Oprah Winfrey, Lisa Saunders, Soledad O’Brien and Robin Roberts are names that most news and sports fans should know. They are luminaries in journalism who have created impressive and distinguished careers. Their other common trait is that they were role models for young girls like Paris Lawson.
Lezel Safi: On Life, Law, and Hitting Her Stride
Watching Lezel Safi stride through the hushed, blue-chip dinner crowd at Broad-way 10 Bar & Chophouse in downtown Oklahoma City on the first truly hot day of the year was like watching a tiny, elegant tsunami wearing high heels and red lipstick.
The Life-Changing Nonprofit You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
How do we truly break the cycle of abuse and family violence? For Family Builders, the answer is clear, but difficult. To truly bring an end to physical abuse in families, treating the root of the problem is the priority.