Biz Buzz

Winner, Winner. The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Oklahoma recently named Tulsa Vision Builders as a 2010 Excellence in Construction Award winner for their renovation and construction project at the Tulsa Convention Center. Tulsa Vision Builders was honored at the Excellence in Construction Awards Banquet in October at the Greenwood Cultural Center. SMG Tulsa, the City of Tulsa and Matrix, Inc. were recognized as part of the project team.

Tulsa Vision Builders won the Excellence in Construction Award for a renovation over $10 million. The ABC award publicly recognizes quality and innovation in merit shop construction and honors all members of the team including contractor, owner and architect/engineer.

The Tulsa Convention Center is located in downtown Tulsa at 7th and Houston. For more information and photos of the newly renovated facility and new Tulsa Ballroom, visit tulsaconvention.com.

Doing Good. YOU NEED WE FEED announces the launch of their grass roots, community based organization to feed the hungry throughout the Tulsa area. This is not just an effort during the holiday season, but an ongoing mission to utilize unused food from area restaurants and Tulsa citizens to donate food to the hungry and the homeless.

The owners of YOU BUY WE FLY established YOU NEED WE FEED as a way to get the most out of their 24/7 delivery service and to give back to the community. When asked how this idea came about, co-owner Justin Orcutt said, "It seemed like a common sense extension of our business but in a way that would help us give back to our community. We are the fourth-hungriest state in the nation. That's unacceptable." "We are in the process of organizing food drives at a few Tulsa schools and plan to grow into a city wide effort to reduce hunger. It does not have to be confined to the help of area restaurants. Everyone has something in their pantry that has been there forever and they will never use. We are happy to put that food where it will matter the most."

YOU NEED WE FEED is also delivering food to the John 3:16 Mission and The Dream Center in Tulsa. They are asking the public to contact them and they will pick up and deliver food items on a scheduled basis. There is no fee and it is not limited to the homeless shelters, but to anyone in need.

The owners of YOU BUY WE FLY began their 24/7 delivery service just over four months ago and are grateful for the support of the community that has overwhelmingly supported their new business as well as their new endeavor to feed the hungry.

Reporter

Join the Cause

Tulsa residents can join walkers across the country in taking steps in the fight against childhood cancer by participating in the national Give thanks. Walk. presented by Don Thornton Cadillac to be held Saturday, Nov. 20 at Woodland Hills Mall with registration starting at 8:00 a.m. and the walk beginning at 8:45. The Tulsa event is one of more than 60 Give thanks. Walk. events held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

While registration is free, participants are encouraged to ask friends and families to sponsor them with a donation to St. Jude. All registrants who raise a minimum of $35 will receive an official Give thanks. Walk. T-shirt.

"The Give thanks. Walk. is a great opportunity for Oklahomans to start off the Thanksgiving holiday healthy by participating in our event that benefits St. Jude and thousands of children who are battling cancer and other deadly diseases," said Mandy Ward, Event Marketing Manager.

This national event helps kick off the seventh annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, which encourages consumers to "Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not." National sponsors for the Give thanks. Walk. are New York & Company, Brooks Brothers, Window World, AutoTrader.com and Breitling. Our presenting sponsor is Don Thornton Cadillac. Local sponsors for the event include KJRH Channel 2, KVOO, KIZS, Tele Producciones, Woodland Hill Mall, ESA, ORU Cheer Team, Panera, and the Holland Hall Band.

For more information about the Give thanks. Walk. and to register, visit givethankswalk.org.

Lineup Set

The ORU Mabee Center will be filled with excited fans to see a vast array of musical talent as 106.9 K-Hits produces its annual Jingle Ball concert. This year's line-up includes Top 40 chart topping group The Far East Movement, Grammy award winner Natasha Bedingfield, 2010 newcomer of the year Mike Posner, Tulsa's own hometown heroes Hanson, Shontelle, Kaci Battaglia and Stars Go Dim.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Nov. 6 at 10am at the Mabee Center Box office or on-line at mabeecenter.com. All seating is reserved and tickets are $35. Doors open at 6:30 and concert will start at 7:30. This is an ALL AGE concert and the Mabee Center offers a safe friendly environment for the production of this event. Last years Jingle Ball starring Justin Bieber was a sellout and a concert for all to remember.

Admiral Twin Update

Following several fundraising events that raised over $33,000 for the rebuilding of the Admiral Twin Drive-In, a wide-range of new measures are being enacted to make sure all options are covered.

This will include proposals to several corporate entities that could develop situations of partnership into a grander Drive-In concept. Also being designed is a couple of outreach programs to persons within the movie industry whose names and resources could be utilized to fund the rebuilding. It is also possible that all the concepts on the table would be incorporated into a single viable solution.

Since much of the dealings will be to targeted companies and individuals, details of the proposals will remain private while they are being designed and presented. Any progress will be announced as it is appropriate.

All forms of action are being engaged to obtain a reasonable plan for rebuilding. However, time is a factor as the debt service on the property, as well as on-going expenses, demand that all potential situations be considered now. This includes the placement of the property on the market for potential sale should all other measures fail.

Hearing Is Believing

While Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) consider enacting rules to prevent wireless customers from experiencing "bill shock," U.S. Cellular recently expanded its industry-leading position to further protect its customers against unexpected overage charges on their monthly bills.

As part of an array of new industry-leading programs called The Belief Project, U.S. Cellular has introduced Overage Cap and Overage Forgiveness. Available on its new Belief Plans, Overage Cap prevents voice overage charges from exceeding $50 for a National Single Line plan or $150 for a Family plan. With Overage Forgiveness, customers on Belief Plans can even save up enough reward points to eliminate overage charges they may occasionally incur.

The new services complement U.S. Cellular's Overage Protection program launched last year. More than 3 million customers already have signed up to receive text message alerts when they reach 75 percent of their voice or text package and again at 100 percent usage. Since all customers receive free incoming calls, text and picture messages, there is no charge for the alerts.

"We've noticed that many consumers are frustrated with unexpected overage charges on their bills," said Mary N. Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular. "We love finding new ways to delight our customers and make their lives easier. Our programs work together so our customers don't need to worry about excessive overage charges."

Launched Oct. 1, The Belief Project recognizes customer loyalty with freedom from continuous contracts, an attractive rewards program, earlier phone upgrades at promotional prices and simplified national rate plans. The offerings also include the industry's only phone replacement program, and offer customers savings of up to 5 percent on their monthly bills for setting up auto pay and paperless billing.

For more information about The Belief Project, visit uscellular.com.