One year later, Chamber members share their experience of a historic 12 months

On March 6, 2020, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Tulsa. The next several weeks would be marked by restrictions on gatherings, mandated business closures and a pervasive sense of uncertainty. What many thought would be a weeks-long interruption in daily life quickly became a once-in-a-lifetime public health emergency and economic crisis.

One year later, uncertainty has been replaced by optimism. Newly confirmed cases and hospitalizations continue trending downward, vaccination rates are trending upward, and many economic indicators point to a recovery underway.

Throughout the crisis, the northeast Oklahoma business community has displayed unwavering courage in the face of adversity. Companies large and small have banded together, unified in the face of multiple challenges, to persevere.

In reflecting on the past 12 months, we asked several Chamber members to share their stories of resilience.

Kanati Strategies
Cheena Pazzo and Heather Griffin, company partners

As small business owners, we can relate firsthand to the challenges this pandemic continues to present. A hallmark of our business strategy is relationship building, and that has been a challenge in our virtual environment. Our team has diligently worked to adapt to our clients' needs, and we have leveraged our diverse backgrounds to broaden services from marketing communications to incorporate business development and tribal policy work.

A significant portion of our work lately has been focused on helping clients communicate internally and externally about their complex and constantly evolving COVID-19 response. However, we are happy to drive a few hours to snap a social media photo if that’s what our clients need.

Our team has also donated time to support other local businesses, entrepreneurs and charitable causes. Our resilience has been possible through adaptability, a solid work ethic and the power of teamwork. We remain willing to constantly reimagine our business and its possibilities to best serve our associates, clients and the community.

Kanati will continue to focus on working with clients to develop an effective message and ensure that message is heard by the right people. Whether it’s implementing a digital strategy, refining brands, navigating a crisis, raising public support for issues or devising a business strategy, we will continue to focus on helping clients reach their objectives.

Tulsa has proven its ability to thrive despite adversity. We have enjoyed the honor of working closely with the healthcare community, Native American tribes, municipalities and entrepreneurs throughout the pandemic and remain in awe of the sense of community that exists throughout northeast Oklahoma. The most satisfying experiences are these transformative moments that propel our community forward, and we are honored to be part of that effort.

Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa
Calvin Moore, president and CEO

2020 capped a dramatic, seven-year increase in strategic focus and funding for Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa (MOWMT) and was the best fundraising year in our 50-year history. We have tripled our revenue since 2017. Our 2017-22 strategic plan calls for a dramatic increase in volunteer recruitment and financial support to answer the growing demand for services, which will continue for the next 20-25 years, as the Baby Boom generation matures.

We changed the delivery model to reduce the number of daily/weekly face to face contacts our clients would experience – instituting a once-per-week frozen meal model. This allowed us to reduce the delivery team from about 2,000 volunteers to approximately 10 individuals. We also fully implemented the Mobile Meals app, providing near real-time information about meal delivery and client condition.

Volunteers made calls from their own homes to clients to make sure they were well. We expanded clients served to include COVID-positive, quarantined people, and families who did not have ability to get food for themselves, and provided meals to other nonprofits that had clients with food insecurity. We developed protocols to deliver bulk food to community partners to expand the amount of food available in the Tulsa area for people negatively impacted by COVID and the business shutdowns.

We expect to deliver another 800,000 meals in 2021. MOWMT is also working to achieve Goal 2025 – delivering more than one million meals throughout expanded service areas, providing greater coordination of care, and partnering with healthcare institutions, first responders, and the aging services network. 

Poverty, illness and social isolation have increased the need for home-delivered meals and support services. MOWMT is prepared to be a consistent resource for those who want to age in place.  

Party Pro Rents & Events
Stephanie Layson, owner

When the pandemic began, I only knew one motto: “move forward.” It was difficult releasing 80% of our workforce, and the remaining few worked tirelessly renting tents and other rental items essential to the healthcare industry. We have the hardest working and most dedicated staff around, and I am appreciative of their efforts to get through these tough times. 

Once Gov. Stitt opened the state back up to hold events, we called back more of the delivery and warehouse team, getting us back to 50% of the workforce. Due to COVID-19, there was fear of working again, but our team demonstrated resilience and moved forward to get the job done.

Tulsa is eager to be social, no doubt. I think that was proven with weddings and other social events that Party Pro Rents serviced in 2020. Our overall outlook is hopeful for 2021. The social, association and corporate market segments all seem to be recovering slowly. I project community events will not be what they were pre-COVID for another couple of years or, at least, until vaccinations have helped to eradicate this horrible disease.

I am glad to have 2020 in the rear-view mirror and am hopeful for a healthy business and family life this year. I had a granddaughter born in 2020, and I'm expecting two more grandchildren in 2021. I am looking beyond the needs of today's business hoping that future generations have the chance to experience the freedom of life like it once was.

Neosource
Bill Graif, president

Neosource experienced reduced sales. Aerospace has been like a lingering 9-11. However, being blessed with a diverse business portfolio has allowed us to retain full employment with no furloughs.  Our employees fully embraced CDC guidelines and eagerly participated in fabricating plastic shields donated to local agencies when there were none to be found last year.

We’ve really tried to help other members of the business community. It’s been a win-win to purchase product from our local businesses then donate them to John 3:16, the Tulsa Day Center or even to schools. That’s kept people employed locally while saving expenditures to those receiving those products.  Early on, our guys with company cards left really generous tips to struggling restaurants.

We are busy now and anticipate more machine purchases and hiring. We’re not large, so hiring is usually only in the range of one to two people. For Tulsa, there appears optimism, especially in the industries not greatly affected by the pandemic. There is a real schism between those affected and those hardly affected – a sad thing indeed. Neosource’s future appears optimistic, and the economy appears like it will continue to improve.

Ida Red
Angelene Ripley Wright, owner

This pandemic hit small businesses hard, and Ida Red was no exception. As we had city-mandated closures, I was forced to close one location and adapt to a new curbside business model at the other. I redefined my employee roles to focus on e-commerce. We have a team now focused solely on e-commerce and improving our internet presence, which was already in existence, but has now been expanded greatly.

We had to learn new safety protocols, adapt floor plans for social distancing, and hire much more strategically. We have had to adjust some of the product selection and act quickly to stay on certain trends – like face masks, puzzles, hand sanitizers and activities for families staying at home – in order to stay relevant and adaptable. I’m extremely proud of my team for the amount of flexibility they have shown and for rolling with the punches as they come.

The Tulsa community is so giving and so supportive. I am hopeful that we will come back strong and continue to have a bright future. We are so thankful and very dependent on our customers choosing to shop local with us for their gift needs! I’m really hoping that as we move into spring, we see more shoppers able to come visit us safely.

I’ve found a new sense of community in Tulsa with other business owners during this pandemic. It’s definitely been a bright light in so much darkness and uncertainty. The willingness to brainstorm together on how to encourage business, or even on cleaning and sanitizing procedures, has been so much help to me and others. There’s so much enthusiasm right now for being in this together, and I hope that feeling stays well past when the pandemic is over!

TODD Architecture Group
Whit Todd, principal

Many of our clients, like everyone else, have attempted to forecast the impact and longevity of the pandemic to plan the timing of their projects. When the original shutdown happened in March, we purchased laptops for the entire office and set up the ability for everyone to work remotely. This has allowed our staff the flexibility needed to continue working while navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic. We were able to use the latest software available to continue our very collaborative processes and make communication with each other as seamless as possible.

With more information about the virus now available, our staff is back in the office practicing social distancing and wearing masks. Most of our meetings with clients and contractors are being conducted remotely.

From March until the fall, it was evident that new projects were not being started at anywhere near the rate they were before the pandemic. However, [in late 2020] we’ve seen a significant increase in requests regarding new projects. We believe that once a high percentage of the population has been provided the vaccine, the restoration of the economy will follow.

The availability of some building products may be in short supply because of manufacturing shutdowns and interruptions in the overseas supply chain. We’ve already experienced some shortages of construction materials due to this. We are hopeful that consumer confidence rebounds quickly so that local retail businesses can regain any market share that might have been lost due to online purchasing.

We’ve seen great patience extended when difficulties have arisen due to the virus. Clients, contractors and vendors have all adapted to virtual meetings and made other creative adjustments needed to continue doing business in a safe manner. We’ve also noticed the region’s philanthropic foundations have shifted their focus to helping area nonprofits survive the impact of the shutdowns instead of helping with brick and mortar projects. The support of everyone in Tulsa’s business community during this crisis has been inspiring to experience.