Posts by TEDC Staff Writer

Scotland-born Kris Morrison owns and runs ITFA Taekwon-Do Oklahoma in Broken Arrow, where students of all ages can take part in learning the empowering Korean martial art and self-discipline practice of Taekwon-Do. His new, state-of-the-art, spacious facility is now open to serve the community, thanks to an infusion of SBA-backed funding from TEDC Creative Capital.

Located at 18th and Boston in downtown Tulsa, Tails & Ales is a welcoming modern place to enjoy time with your dog. With a beautiful space to let dogs play and socialize while owners do the same with a beer or coffee in hand, owner Mark Gorman has a thriving startup. His idea for serving pet owners and helping people make friends is a dream come true through the financial and business support of community-minded TEDC Creative Capital.

With a passion for creating beautiful artwork, championing Tulsa’s Art Deco history, and bringing the magic of playful discovery to children (and adults) of all ages, William Franklin, owner and resident artist of Decopolis on Route 66, appreciates the value of marrying what he loves with running a profitable business.

Launching into a new business is every entrepreneur’s dream—and cake-making Tiers of Joy owners Yvonne and Daryll Porter are no different.

If someone had told Claudette Wallace that she would one day open her own business in the heart of midtown Tulsa, she wouldn’t have believed it. As the owner of Maintain You Spa, located in the Southroads Shopping Center, Claudette loves pursuing her entrepreneurial journey with the help of mentors and financing through TEDC Creative Capital. But it wasn’t always that way. Growing up, she didn’t have a concept of what work really meant. She had to learn it through determination and faith.

For Esther Wright, owner of Hilo de Amor, every business has a heart. For her, that’s a heart to help others—especially the people of Oaxaca, Mexico, where she was raised. By promoting Oaxacan culture and traditions to people all over the world through original handmade products, including their signature tote bags, Hilo de Amor is able to help makers in one of the poorest states in Mexico prosper. The business is thriving and making a difference—with a helping hand of financing and education available through TEDC Creative Capital.

Carlos Lopez, owner of restaurants Dos Bandidos and District Burger, knows the value of finding the right niche in the food industry. His dream to expand his business and serve delicious, locally sourced burgers has led him to a successful launch in Broken Arrow—with the help of nontraditional funding through TEDC Creative Capital.

Jennifer Jones knows what it’s like to grow a small business in spite of the unexpected. As President and CEO of Seed Technologies, a software development and online marketing firm, she has experienced the roller-coaster ride involved in building up a company.