Oklahoma
Here’s how to nominate an Oklahoma business for The Oklahoman’s 2024 Top Workplaces award
It’s no secret that a cut-throat work environment hurts people and productivity, and a positive workplace helps both — as well as customer relations and the bottom line.
Are you lucky to work in a good place? Or know of one?
Actually, luck has little to do with it. It takes work, engagement and mutual trust. The Oklahoman wants to honor top workplaces in the state. Help us recognize business leaders and organizations that excel in both work and workforce. Anyone can nominate a company, including business leadership, employees or even customers.
Businesses have to change, and change again, to survive, especially in the age of artificial intelligence and real potential tension among different kinds of people. But not every company has a culture that stands out, let alone one worth bragging about.
Top Workplaces will highlight some of the best things happening in Oklahoma business. This is our 12th year of doing the program here at The Oklahoman.
Which companies stand out? Which companies are the best places to work? Which companies exhibit bold leadership?
If you know of an Oklahoma business that fits these kinds of descriptions, consider nominating it for our annual Top Workplaces award. If you work for a great company, we want to know about it. Tell us why it is so great. Let us help share your story with others.
More: These 5 companies made The Oklahoman’s Top Workplaces for more than a decade
Organizations with 35 or more employees in Oklahoma are eligible to participate. They can be public, private, nonprofit or government organizations. The nomination deadline is July 12. The Oklahoman will feature the winners in December.To nominate an employer or for more information on the awards, go to www.oklahoman.com/nominate or call 405-708-6151. There is no cost to participate.
To qualify as an Oklahoma Top Workplace, employees evaluate their workplace using a short 24-question survey that takes about five minutes to complete.
The Oklahoman is partnering with Philadelphia-based Energage, the employee research and culture technology firm, to determine Oklahoma’s Top Workplaces, based solely on employee survey feedback.
Energage conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 65 markets nationwide and surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in the past year.
“Top Workplaces awards are a celebration of good news,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “They exemplify the significance of a people-first workplace experience, reminding us that employees are the heart of any thriving organization.
Plenty of workplaces do great work even facing great challenges. Tell us about them. Help us show who is worthy of Top Workplaces recognition.
Another offensive lineman from Oklahoma’s heralded 2024 group of freshman has decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Third-year sophomore tackle Isaiah Autry-Dent announced Monday on social media that he’ll be entering the portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
“I’m truly grateful for the incredible, life-changing experience I’ve had at the University of Oklahoma,” he wrote. “The dedication of the staff, the camaraderie with my teammates, and the unwavering support from the fans have made this journey unforgettable. I’ve learned lessons on and off the field that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I’m thankful for every moment, every challenge and every triumph along the way.”
Dent added that he’s “given it a great deal of thought and prayed for guidance” but intends to leave OU with 3-4 years of eligibility remaining and is “excited about exploring new opportunities to continue growing as a player and as a person.”
After much prayer and family talks, I’ll enter the transfer portal on January 2 with three years of eligibility left. Thank you #SoonerNation pic.twitter.com/AM15EMHlHV
— Isaiah R Autry-Dent (@Isaiah_Zay73) December 22, 2025
Dent was one of five offensive linemen signed in the 2024 class, and he’s the third one to leave, joining Eugene Brooks and Josh Aisosa. After just two seasons, only Eddy Pierre-Louis and Daniel Akinkunmi remain.
Dent was listed at 304 pounds as a true freshman but in July checked in at 317 pounds — the biggest overall weight gain of any offensive player, which was a reflection of his hard work and dedication as the OU offensive line made an offseason mandate to get bigger and stronger.
Last spring, senior center Troy Everett was asked to assess Dent’s progress following his freshman season.
“Isaiah works hard,” Everett said. “Isaiah’s going to be great. Isaiah, right now, he’s just got to get comfortable when he’s out there, but that goes for every young guy.”
Read More Transfer Portal News
OU Transfer Portal Tracker
Oklahoma LB to Enter Portal
What Positions Must Oklahoma Address in the Portal?
Dent played in just one game — against Maine — and logged just 26 snaps on offense and nine snaps on special teams during the 2024 season, then didn’t get on the field at all in 2025.
The former 3-star prospect from Fulton, MS, is a second cousin to former OU running back Marcus Dupree. His mother, Pashen Dent-Autry, was a two-time national champion basketball player for Tennessee legend Pat Summitt.
Autry was a consensus 3-star prospect coming out as a high school All-American at Itawamba Agricultural High School, where he was a 6-foot-7, 300-pound standout.
Autry picked the Sooners over Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Ole Miss, among others, and could have plenty of options.
Sometimes, all that matters is getting in.
Then, anything can happen.
The postseason is unique in that way, no matter the sport. It can have a cleansing effect, providing a clean slate.
Maybe that’s what is happening with Alabama. I stand by my column the weekend the College Football Playoff pairings were announced, that Notre Dame deserved a spot over the Crimson Tide, that how a team finishes should matter. Alabama hadn’t been very good to close the regular season. It nearly lost to mediocre SEC opponents South Carolina, LSU and Auburn, fell to Oklahoma and was crushed by Georgia in the SEC championship game.
Insurance affordability is becoming a growing concern for Oklahoma families as premiums rise across health, homeowners and auto coverage, with little action from Congress to slow the increases.
Lawmakers and policy advocates say insurance costs are rising faster than many households can afford, forcing families to choose between keeping coverage, accepting higher deductibles or dropping insurance altogether.
Health insurance premiums remain a particular concern as Oklahoma continues to rank near the bottom nationally for overall health outcomes, increasing the stakes for families who rely on consistent coverage.
Frustration with federal inaction
During recent discussions on Your Vote Counts, state leaders expressed frustration that Congress left Washington for the holiday recess without advancing legislation aimed at stabilizing insurance markets or easing premium increases.
Federal officials had previously discussed proposals to offset rising costs, including direct payments to consumers, but no agreement was reached before the recess.
Rising costs across all coverage types
Rising costs are not limited to health coverage. Homeowners and auto insurance premiums have also climbed sharply, driven by inflation, higher repair costs and an increase in insurance claims nationwide.
Some lawmakers fear the cumulative impact could push more Oklahomans out of the insurance market entirely, particularly younger adults who may choose to go without coverage.
Watch part 2 of Your Vote Counts in the player below
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