Forbes named these Oklahoma employers some of the best in the country: See the list

Published

1 year ago

August 29, 2024

Forbes named these Oklahoma employers some of the best in the country: See the list

With more people content to remain at their current jobs, Forbes recently released its 2024 Best Employers by State.

The media company partnered with Statista to survey more than 160,000 employees working for companies with at least 500 people in the United States.

Forbes listed 35 companies in Oklahoma with 19 headquartered in Oklahoma.

Here’s which companies in Oklahoma made the list:

No. 1: Chickasaw Nation Department of Commerce

CEO: Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby

Headquarters: Ada

Industry: Travel and leisure

Employees: 13,500

Year founded: 1983

No. 2: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

CEO: Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton

Headquarters: Tuskahoma

Industry: Government services

Employees: 12,000

Year founded: 1820

No. 3: American Electric Power

CEO: Benjamin G.S. Fowke

Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio

Industry: Utilities

Employees: 17,250

Year founded: 1906

No. 4: Oklahoma Heart Hospital

CEO: John R. Harvey

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

Industry: Health care and social services

Employees: N/A

Year founded: 2002

No. 5: Saint Francis Health System

CEO: Cliff Robertson

Headquarters: Tulsa

Industry: Health care and social services

Employees: 11,000

Year founded: 1960

No. 6: MidFirst Bank

CEO: Jeff Records

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

Industry: Banking and financial services

Employees: 3,268

Year founded: 1982

No. 7: Costco Wholesale

CEO: Roland M. Vachris

Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington

Industry: Retail and wholesale

Employees: 208,000

Year founded: 1983

No. 8: Oklahoma State University – Main campus

CEO: Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum

Headquarters: Stillwater

Industry: Education

Employees: 8,882

Year founded: 1890

No. 9: Dell Technologies

CEO: Michael Saul Dell

Headquarters: Round Rock, Texas

Industry: Semiconductors, electronics, electrical engineering

Employees: 42,560

Year founded: 1984

No. 10: Tyson Foods

CEO: Donnie D. King

Headquarters: Springdale, Arkansas

Industry: Food, soft beverages, alcohol and tobacco

Employees: 120,000

Year founded: 1935

No. 11: Stillwater Medical Center

CEO: Denise Webber

Headquarters: Stillwater

Industry: Health care and social services

Employees: 2,000

Year founded: 1916

No. 12: University of Oklahoma

CEO: University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr.

Headquarters: Norman

Industry: Education

Employees: 18,000

Year founded: 1890

No. 13: OGE Energy

CEO: Sean Trauschke

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

Industry: Utilities

Employees: 2,329

Year founded: 1902

No. 14: Cherokee Nation

CEO: Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskins Jr.

Headquarters: Tahlequah

Industry: Government services

Employees: 11,600

Year founded: 1839

No. 15: Target

CEO: Brian C. Cornell

Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Industry: Retail and wholesale

Employees: 415,000

Year founded: 1902

No. 16: Arvest Bank

CEO: Kevin Sabin

Headquarters: Lowell, Arkansas

Industry: Banking and financial services

Employees: 6,462

Year founded: 1961

No. 17: Cox Entertainment

CEO: Alex Taylor

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Industry: Telecommunications services, cable supplier

Employees: 50,000

Year founded: 1898

No. 18: Amazon

CEO: Andrew R. Jassy

Headquarters: Seattle, Washington

Industry: Retail and wholesale

Employees: 1,525,000

Year founded: 1994

No. 19: Oklahoma State University Medical Center

CEO: Johnny Stephens

Headquarters: Tulsa

Industry: Health care and social services

Employees: N/A

Year founded: 1972

No. 20: Whirlpool

CEO: Marc Robert Bitzer

Headquarters: Benton Harbor, Michigan

Industry: Semiconductors, electronics, electrical engineering

Employees: 18,880

Year founded: 1911

No. 21: Oklahoma Department of Human Services

CEO: Deborah Shropshire

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

Industry: Government services

Employees: 5,000

Year founded: 1936

No. 22: Sodexo

CEO: Sophie Clamens

Headquarters: Gaithersburg, Maryland

Industry: Business services and supplies

Employees: 435,159

Year founded: 1966

No. 23: U.S. Department of Defense

CEO: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III

Headquarters: Arlington County, Virginia

Industry: Government services

Employees: 3,400,000

Year founded: 1947

No. 24: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

CEO: U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough

Headquarters: Washington, District of Columbia

Industry: Government services

Employees: 400,000

Year founded: 1930

No. 25: Enterprise Mobility

CEO: Andrew C. Taylor

Headquarters: St. Louis, Missouri

Industry: Travel and leisure

Employees: 90,000

Year founded: 1957

No. 26: Oklahoma City Public Schools

CEO: Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Jamie Polk

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

Industry: Education

Employees: 4,285

Year founded: 1889

No. 27: Macy’s

CEO: Antony Spring

Headquarters: New York, New York

Industry: Retail and wholesale

Employees: 85,581

Year founded: 1858

No. 28: FedEx

CEO: Rajesh Subramaniam

Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee

Industry: Transportation and logistics

Employees: 600,000

Year founded: 1971

No. 29: One Gas

CEO: Robert S. McAnnally

Headquarters: Tulsa

Industry: Utilities

Employees: 3,900

Year founded: 2014

No. 30: AT&T

CEO: John T. Stankey

Headquarters: Dallas, Texas

Industry: Telecommunications services, cable supplier

Employees: 149,900

Year founded: 1876

No. 31: Hobby Lobby

CEO: David Green

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

Industry: Retail and wholesale

Employees: 43,000

Year founded: 1972

No. 32: Devon Energy

CEO: Richard E. Muncrief

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

Industry: Construction, chemicals, raw materials

Employees: 1,900

Year founded: 1971

No. 33: State of Oklahoma

CEO: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

Industry: Government services

Employees: 30,000

Year founded: 1907

No. 34: City of Oklahoma City

CEO: Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

Industry: Government services

Employees: 4,500

Year founded: 1889

No. 35: Norman Regional Health System

CEO: Richie Splitt

Headquarters: Norman

Industry: Health care and social services

Employees: 2,700

Year founded: 1946

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How to watch Oklahoma-Alabama in the College Football Playoff: TV/streaming info and more

Published

11 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Oklahoma-Alabama in the College Football Playoff: TV/streaming info and more

For the second time this year, we’ll see Oklahoma and Alabama face off in a pivotal showdown.

The Sooners (10-2) will host the Crimson Tide (10-3) for a College Football Playoff showdown Friday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The last time these teams faced off, Oklahoma came away with a 23-21 win over Alabama on the road.

Will Oklahoma once again topple Alabama? Here’s everything fans should know about Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP:

How to watch Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19

Where: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, Oklahoma)

TV: ABC/ESPN Streaming: ESPN app

A prime-time showdown

None of the four first-round College Football Playoff games overlap, but Alabama-Oklahoma really takes center stage.

With the other three games on Saturday, including Texas A&M-Miami, this game is the only one on Friday night and doesn’t overlap with any of Saturday’s NFL action like Tulane-Ole Miss and James Madison-Oregon do.

It shouldn’t be as cold as it has been lately in Norman, Okla., as early forecasts are expecting temperatures in the lower-50s and upper-40s on Friday. Combine that with a 7 p.m. kickoff that gives Oklahoma fans plenty of time to tailgate and get riled up for the game, and “The Palace on the Prairie” should be a sight to behold as it hosts its first CFP game.

Oklahoma-Alabama head-to-head

Oklahoma and Alabama have faced off eight times in the past. The Sooners lead the all-time series 5-2-1. As we mentioned above, Oklahoma won the latest matchup in the 2025 regular season.

Latest stories

— Can Oklahoma beat Alabama again in the CFP? History isn’t on its side

— Five storylines for Oklahoma-Alabama: A shot at revenge, turnover battle and more

— 10 things to know about Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables as Sooners head to CFP

— Brent Venables’ aggressive defense gives Oklahoma different look than past CFP teams

— Final College Football Playoff bracket: See where Texas Tech, A&M and Oklahoma landed

Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Children’s mental health facility reopens in Northeast Oklahoma

Published

23 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Children’s mental health facility reopens in Northeast Oklahoma

Moccasin Bend Ranch, a residential treatment program in Wyandotte, has reopened after a remodel, expanding access to specialized mental health services for children ages 5 to 12. Leaders say the program fills a critical gap in Oklahoma, where options for young children needing higher levels of care remain limited.

A unique approach for younger children

Moccasin Bend Ranch is a 28 bed psychiatric residential treatment facility set on 12 wooded acres. The unlocked campus is designed to give children access to outdoor play and nature, something leaders say is essential for younger patients.

“This setting allows our kids to act like kids,” said Christina Holum, interim chief executive officer at Willow Crest Hospital and Moccasin Bend Ranch. “Watching them play gives us a renewed sense of purpose. We are confident this change will lead to better outcomes and happier, healthier children.”

The ranch focuses exclusively on children, a distinction that sets it apart from many other programs across the state.

Why early treatment matters

Mental health leaders say many children referred to Moccasin Bend Ranch have already tried outpatient therapy and medication management without success. By the time families seek residential care, behaviors are often increasing in both frequency and intensity.

“If outpatient services are not working, families need somewhere to turn,” said Grant Linihan, vice president of business development for Vizion Health, which owns the facility. “If our program was not available, these, kids, where are they going to go to get treated?”

Linihan and Holum say early intervention can help children develop coping skills and emotional regulation before problems follow them into adolescence and adulthood.

Inside the treatment program

Children at Moccasin Bend Ranch receive a full schedule of therapeutic services, including individual therapy, family therapy and group sessions. The program also emphasizes recreational and expressive therapies to help children process trauma and build skills in a developmentally appropriate way.

Staff members work with families to plan for discharge, aiming to ensure continuity of care once a child returns home.

Making the holidays feel normal

For some children, the holiday season can be especially difficult. Leaders say the ranch makes a point to celebrate milestones and traditions, even while children are in treatment.

The facility hosts holiday meals, seasonal activities and visits from community volunteers, including a volunteer Santa. Children are also taken to see nearby holiday light displays.

“We try to get them to reshape their minds,” Linihan said. “Even though you’re with us, this is still going to be a joyous time for you.”

A broader mental health need in Oklahoma

Mental health providers say the need for pediatric services is tied to broader challenges across the state, including limited funding and access to care. They note that untreated mental health issues in childhood can contribute to long term struggles later in life.

“There will always be a need for this type of service for a certain group of children,” Holum said. “If they cannot get help early, their prognosis becomes much worse.”

How families can get help

Families who are concerned about a child’s mental health can contact Willow Crest Hospital or Moccasin Bend Ranch for a free phone intake. Staff members can help parents determine whether residential treatment is appropriate or if outpatient care may still be an option.

Willow Crest Hospital, also operated by Vizion Health, is a 50 bed acute inpatient psychiatric facility in Miami serving adolescents ages 9 to 17. Together, the programs serve families from across Oklahoma, including hundreds of children from Tulsa County each year.

For more information, families can call (918) 542-1836 to speak with an intake specialist. You can also find their website here.

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Former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops announces retirement

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops announces retirement

Bob Stoops’ coaching career appears to be over. For real, this time.

The former Oklahoma football coach, who led the Sooners to a national championship in 2000, said Monday he would be retiring from coaching. Stoops had spent the previous three years as coach of the the United Football League’s Arlington Renegades.

“After much thought and reflection, I’ve made the decision to retire from coaching and step away from the game of football,” Stoops said in a statement released by the UFL. “Coaching has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and closing this chapter comes with lots of gratitude. …Thank you for allowing me to be part of this incredible game for so many years.”

Stoops’ first and only head-coaching job at the Division I level came at Oklahoma. He took over ahead of the 1999 season and stayed through 2016. OU went 190-48 overall while only suffering three-or-more defeats in Big 12 play four times. The Sooners’ 2001 Orange Bowl win capped 13-0 season and gave Oklahoma its first national title since 1985.

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Stoops took over coaching Oklahoma after serving three years as Florida’s defensive coordinator. He retired from job at OU in June 2017, but lasted less than two calendar years as he was drawn to coaching the Dallas Renegades in the XFL.

The league folded in part because of the COVID pandemic before OU called on him again to serve as interim coach for the 2021 Alamo Bowl after Lincoln Riley left to coach Southern California. After that, he rejoind the Renegades, now rebranded as the Arlington Renegades in the UFL.

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