Media Contact: Terry Tush | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2703 | terry.tush@okstate.edu

Two Spears School of Business seniors — Kimberly Burns and Kyla Ellis Woodbridge — have been named 2022-2023 Outstanding Seniors by the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association.

Burns is an international business major from Pilot Point, Texas, and Woodbridge is a hospitality and tourism management major from Edmond, Oklahoma. The OSU Alumni Association Student Awards Selection Committee met with 47 Seniors of Significance selected in the fall of 2022 (eight of which were Spears Business students), and chose 21 as this year’s Outstanding Seniors.

The Outstanding Senior award recognizes seniors who show excellence through academic achievement; campus and community involvement; athletic or extracurricular honors or awards; scholarships, and work ethic during their time at OSU.

While at OSU, Burns served as president of OSU Marketing Club and external relations coordinator for Spears Ambassadors. She was a member of the Business Student Council and Class IX scholar and mentor for McKnight Scholars. Burns also served as a teaching assistant for Spears faculty Jerry Rackley and Maribeth Kuzmeski. Her community involvement includes Habitat for Humanity, Stillwater Humane Society, Salvation Army, Our Daily Bread and Payne County Youth Services.

Burns was recognized as a 2022 Senior of Significance and OSU Marketing Club Member of the Year. She also was a Top 10 Freshman, Spears School of Business Lead Rider and Top 15 OSU Homecoming Royalty.

“The Cowboy family is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” Burns said. “I am eternally grateful for the advisor, professors, peers and friends that have turned into family over the last four years.”

After graduation, Burns will be actively pursuing her MBA with a Graduate Assistant Scholarship.

Ellis Woodbridge served as vice president and merchandise chair for Business Student Council and inaugural state president for Oklahoma Collegiate DECA. She also served as president of OSU DECA. Ellis Woodbridge was public relations and marketing chair for Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society and wine manager for Distinguished Chef Series.

Her community involvement includes Our Daily Bread, Business Student Council food drive and being a welcome desk greeter at Edmond Faith Bible Church. She also was a leadership workshop presenter at Oklahoma DECA and volunteered as a humanitarian aid with Serve Hope Honduras.

Ellis Woodbridge was recognized as a 2022 Senior of Significance and received the Richard L. Tourtellotte Family Entrepreneurship Scholarship. She won the 2022 OSU Business Plan competition as well as the 2022 and 2023 Pitch and Business Plan competitions at the Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She also placed first at the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference and was the recipient of the Oklahoma Collegiate DECA Vision Award.

“At OSU, I was encouraged to dream big,” Ellis Woodbridge said. “With the mentorship and support of so many professors and friends, I am now ready to make those dreams a reality.”

After graduation Ellis Woodbridge will be starting her own company, Events Unboxed, which delivers high quality, pre-themed and packaged parties directly to the customer’s door.

A private reception honoring the Outstanding Seniors will be April 6 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center in Stillwater. For more information about the OSU Alumni Association’s student award program, visit the website.

Made in America Policies and New Technical Standards Support the Future of the Electric Vehicle Charging Industry, Public and Private Actions Accelerate Buildout of National Network and Catalyze Manufacturing Boom

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced its latest set of actions aimed at creating a convenient, reliable and Made-in-America electric vehicle (EV) charging network so that the great American road trip can be electrified. These steps will help the United States meet President Biden’s ambitious goals to confront the climate crisis, by building a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers along America’s highways and in our communities and have EVs make up at least 50% of new car sales by 2030, all while advancing an industrial strategy to continue to build-out the domestic EV and EV charging industry. The path to net-zero emissions by 2050 is creating good-paying manufacturing and installation jobs on the way.

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $7.5 billion in EV charging, $10 billion in clean transportation, and over $7 billion in EV battery components, critical minerals, and materials. These flagship programs complement the Inflation Reduction Act’s landmark support for advanced batteries and new and expanded tax credits for purchases of EVs and to support installations of charging infrastructure, as well as dozens of other federal initiatives designed to drive domestic manufacturing and build a national network of EV charging. The result is that the future of American transportation is on track to be cleaner, safer, more affordable, and more reliable than ever before. Today’s announcements are a further demonstration of the President’s successful industrial strategy, ensuring that the clean energy transition is powered by American manufacturing and good-paying union jobs.

Because of President Biden’s leadership and record federal investment, EV sales have tripled and the number of publicly available charging ports has grown by at least 40% since he took office. There are now more than three million EVs on the road and over 130,000 public chargers across the country. Further accelerating the buildout of a convenient, reliable charging network is critically important to make electric vehicle charging a seamless experience. Today, companies including Tesla, General Motors, EVgo, Pilot, Hertz and bp, among others, are announcing new commitments to expand their networks by thousands of public charging ports in the next two years, using private funds to complement federal dollars and putting the nation’s EV charging goals even closer within reach.

Today’s actions include:

These announcements build on the well over $100 billion that the private sector has invested in electric vehicle, battery, and EV charging manufacturing in the United States to date. Today’s announcements are evidence of the President’s successful industrial strategy, ensuring that federal funds are attracting private investment to ensure the clean energy transition is powered by American manufacturing and good-paying union jobs. Combined with investments in battery manufacturing and tax credits for electric vehicle purchases and charging infrastructure driven by the Inflation Reduction Act, these programs are key to achieving the Administration’s climate goals.

ACCESSIBLE, RELIABLE, CONVENIENT, USER-FRIENDLY EV CHARGING NETWORKTo ensure ready access to charging and spur good manufacturing jobs at home, President Biden has publicly committed to building out a convenient, reliable, and user-friendly national network of 500,000 EV chargers by 2030. In support of this vision, the Department of Transportation announced the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program (NEVI), a $5 billion initiative to create a coast-to-coast network of electric vehicle chargers focused on major highways that support the majority of long-distance trips. This national network will give drivers confidence they can always find a place to charge, jump start private investment in charging infrastructure and electric vehicles, and support the President’s goal of at least 50% of vehicle sales to be electric by 2030.

Today, FHWA, with support from the Joint Office, unveiled new national standards for federally funded EV chargers, including NEVI-funded chargers. All 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico are participating in the NEVI program and initial investments will electrify over 75,000 miles of the national highway system. These standards will direct federal dollars to build out a national EV charging network that is user-friendly, reliable, and accessible so that charging is as easy as filling up at a gas station. Until now, there were no comprehensive standards for the installation, operation, or maintenance of EV charging stations, and disparities exist among EV charging stations in key areas, such as connector types, payment methods, data privacy, speed and power of chargers, reliability, and the overall user experience. A recent survey of EV users reported frustration with chargers that are too slow, too crowded, or that just don’t work. Under FHWA’s new standards, we are fixing this. The standards will ensure that:

The standards will also help to ensure that these historic investments in EV charging create good-paying jobs and that EV chargers are well-serviced by requiring strong workforce standards such as Registered Apprenticeships and the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP). Through the White House Talent Pipeline Challenge, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has certified 20,000 electricians through EVITP.

Together, the standards will ensure that chargers operated by different networks operate similarly and provide the traveling public with a predictable EV charging experience – no matter what car you drive or what state you charge in.

ACCELERATING THE BUILDOUT OF EV CHARGING NETWORKSThe Biden-Harris Administration’s actions on EVs have spurred network operators to accelerate the buildout of coast-to-coast EV charging networks. Public dollars will supplement private investment by filling gaps, serving rural and hard to reach locations, and building capacity in communities. Announcements being spotlighted today will add more than 100,000 public chargers available for all EVs, and include:

AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE FUTURE THAT IS MADE IN AMERICAThe Build America, Buy America implementation plan for EV charging equipment reflects the success of the Biden-Harris Administration at spurring new domestic investments in the manufacture of EV fast-charging equipment. The rapidly-expanding industry is ramping up production to make high-quality, Buy America compliant chargers, creating good jobs and helping the Unites States strengthen its leadership in clean energy manufacturing. That strategy will ensure that electric vehicle chargers purchased through the NEVI program will be assembled in the United States, effective immediately, and fully compliant with Build America, Buy America requirements for manufactured products by July 1, 2024 to support investments in the supply chain consistent with an aggressive expansion of domestic manufacturing.

Today’s announcement is a tool to promote domestic production. The Build America, Buy America requirements for EV charging equipment will help revitalize our manufacturing base. The phased approach to these requirements will incentivize companies to invest in domestic production of EV charging components, positioning U.S. workers and businesses to compete and lead globally while providing a transition period for companies to onshore their supply chains. In order to meet the requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act, domestic manufacturing is ramping up aggressively. The Office of Management and Budget’s new Made in America Office is working with agency experts, labor and industry to implement industrial strategy by incentivizing greater U.S. manufacturing in key sectors.

Federal agencies and states are standing up processes to implement and track Made in America requirements to ensure that federally-funded infrastructure projects use American-made iron, steel, construction materials, and manufactured products. Our success in creating an EV charging equipment industry nearly from scratch demonstrates what Made in America policies can do to build a manufacturing base.

MANUFACTURING BOOMThe Biden economic agenda has ignited a manufacturing boom. Made in America requirements have already sent a strong signal to the market that federal dollars will be spent on products that are produced and sourced in the United States – and industry has responded. Since the President took office, companies have announced more than $100 billion in manufacturing investments for EVs, batteries and chargers.

A recent report found that private sector investment in EVs and related infrastructure in the United States is now surpassing China and other nations for the first time. Three years ago, there was little American footprint in the advanced EV charging industry. Now, producers are making investments to establish new headquarters, facilities, or production lines to build the next generation of EV chargers in the United States. For six of these companies, these investments represent their first U.S. manufacturing footprint.

Investments include:

Other companies and networks are working to ensure EV chargers are well-maintained:

For more information on these announcements visit driveelectric.gov. See here for amore comprehensive list of investments in EV charging in the United States.

###

PILOT POINT — Pilot Point’s population could skyrocket from just over 5,000 to nearly 72,000 within the next two decades.

Founded in the mid-1800s, Denton County’s oldest city has a distinct small-town feel — Pilot Point’s streets are decorated with quaint colonial-style homes and historic architecture. But with so many developers proposing new residential projects, that could soon change.

A look at Pilot Point in images

[1/8] Houses under construction at the Mobberly Farms development in Pilot Point.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

[2/8] Cars drive past the Mobberly Farms development in Pilot Point on Aug. 12.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

[3/8] Houses under construction at Mobberly Farms.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

[4/8] A water tower bears the name of Pilot Point's high school football team.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

[5/8] A truck drives along FM 1385 in Pilot Point.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

[7/8] A mural welcomes people to Pilot Point.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

[8/8] Downtown Pilot Point has quaint mom-and-pop stores.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

[1/8] Houses under construction at the Mobberly Farms development in Pilot Point.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

Prolific homebuilders such as Arlington-based D.R. Horton and M/I Homes are expected to build 600 homes in Pilot Point this year, more than five times the number built in 2021. Another 15 residential developments are in the permit or proposal process, said director of development services John Taylor.

But the number of proposed developments increases “almost daily,” city manager Britt Lusk said — even city officials say they don’t know just how much the city is going to grow.

“The large majority of people have said ‘we’re growing, we don’t have a choice,’” Lusk said. “So let’s make sure that if we’re going to grow, let’s do it responsibly.”

Just a few miles west of the city’s main street lies Lake Ray Roberts State Park, and horse farms and trails can be found throughout the city. Developers are attracted to the city’s quiet beauty and history, Lusk said.

Local developer Lisa Brown agrees. She thinks Pilot Point is uniquely poised for growth because of its small-town charm.

Pilot Point also houses Western Son Vodka distillery, one of the city’s largest employers, in what was once a women’s undergarment factory. The company had outgrown its space in Carrollton and moved in 2016 to take advantage of space in Pilot Point, said senior marketing director Erin King.

For businesses like Western Son, development could create a larger labor pool to hire workers. New residents could also mean more shoppers for local business, ensuring that city residents don’t have to travel to Denton or Frisco for entertainment and food.

“People want small-town charm, but they also want conveniences,” King said.

Most of Pilot Point’s retail offerings are mom-and-pop stores. But as developments finish construction, city officials expect that to change — commercial developers have approached the city asking about growth, Lusk said.

Lynda Tarsetti moved to Denton from New York City in 2007, looking for a quieter, cheaper place to live. In 2010, she found her ideal lifestyle in Pilot Point. She’s hoping for more amenities in the area that allow residents like her to stay local for entertainment, instead of driving to Denton.

Some residents say they’re keeping an eye on the growth plans.

Wendy Turner has worked as director of the Pilot Point library for eight years and has overseen the city’s museum for over a year. She works with longtime residents to preserve city history.

“We have a very strong group of people who like being a small town with a lot of history,” Turner said. “So it’s important that the city maintains that while encouraging growth.”

Taylor is confident Pilot Point will keep its character. The city plans to preserve the historic homes and architecture near downtown while approving more master-planned developments closer to Dallas North Tollway.

“That charm just doesn’t go away,” King said. “It’s rooted in your blood.”

PILOT POINT AT A GLANCE

Population: 4,457, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Location: 61 miles north of downtown Dallas

Racial demographics: 61% white, 32% Hispanic and 4% Black, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Median household income: $61,520, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Median existing home sale price: $280,000, according to city estimates

Median new construction sale price: $307,389, according to Residential Strategies

Annual single-family home starts: 227 through second-quarter 2022, according to Residential Strategies

School district: Pilot Point ISD

Master-planned communities: One of Pilot Point’s several upcoming communities includes M/I Homes’ Mobberly Farms, which is underway with 190 of 1,986 planned homes already built near the intersection FM428 and the Dallas North Tollway. Developer D.R. Horton is also planning Windrose, a 377-home community just north of downtown and next to Route 377.

Festivals: Pilot Point is home to an annual Bonnie & Clyde Days Festival, held in its historic town square. The festival commemorates Warner Bros.’ 1967 shooting of the famous bank robbery scene in the film Bonnie and Clyde.

History lesson: Pilot Point is Denton County’s oldest city. The city was home to the highest point of ground between Texarkana and Forth Worth, “pointing the way” for travelers and cattle drivers, according to the city website.

Meet the next North Texas boomtowns

As Dallas-Fort Worth grows, smaller cities in every direction are attracting the attention of builders and new residents. Here are some of the ones to watch.

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client Fab Weld Steel, Inc. to Pilot Point Steel, LLC. The transaction closed December 2, 2022.

“The acquisition of FWS provides Dakota Holdings with significant fabrication capabilities in the Southeast”

Tweet this

Fab Weld Steel (FWS), located in Randolph, Alabama, provides structural steel fabrication, metal deck, and bar joist services. The Company specializes in commercial and municipal works for shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, grocery stores, hospitals, and grocery stores. FWS’ success is due to its well-known name and reputation, built from a strong work ethic, great results, and excellent customer service.

Located in Pilot Point, Texas, Pilot Point Steel is a subsidiary of Dakota Holdings II, LLC of Dallas, Texas.

Generational Equity Executive Managing Director of M&A – Central Region, Michael Goss, Senior M&A Advisor, Sam Sumner, with the support of Vice President, M&A, Lance Thomasson successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director, Doug Morrow established the original relationship with FWS.

"The acquisition of FWS provides Dakota Holdings with significant fabrication capabilities in the Southeast,” said Sumner.

About Generational Equity

Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America.

With more than 350 professionals located throughout 16 offices in North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their six-step approach features strategic and tactical growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management.

The M&A Advisor named the company Investment Banking Firm of the Year three years in a row, Valuation Firm of the Year in 2020, and North American Investment Bank of the Year in 2022 as well as Consulting Firm of the Year. The Global M&A Network named Generational USA Investment Bank of the Year in 2023. For more information visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room.

Being told how other players are bigger and taller him is information Asten Kirby practically disregards. The senior receiver/safety for Pilot Point figures he is on equal footing with his toughest opponent, because it’s himself.

Kirby has put together an impressive finishing act for his high school career this fall. He has 62 receptions for 1,015 yards and 16 touchdowns. He leads area Class 4A/Others players in receiving yards and shares the touchdown lead with Lincoln’s Jamel Hardy, who has verbally committed to UTSA.

Kirby often gives up height and size to his opponents because he is 5-foot-10 and weighs 150 pounds. Perhaps even more remarkable, Kirby has rebounded from a left ankle injury that forced him to miss the majority of last season.

The injury may have been a blessing in disguise for Kirby after he had 13 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns last season. Pilot Point (3-6, 2-3 in District 4-3A-I) will host Brock (5-4, 5-0) in a District 7-3A-I game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Pilot Point’s Massey Stadium. The game was moved from Friday because probable inclement weather.

“When I was hurt I wanted to do anything to make my game better,” Kirby said. “I think my ankle is better than it was before. I was being competitive with myself.”

The injury happened during a 65-24 win at Bowie on Oct. 1, 2021, forcing him to miss out on a 7-4 campaign, including a playoff appearance. Pilot Point coach Kyle Peacock said the injury was severe enough that rods were put in Kirby’s ankle. Kirby recovered rapidly, helping Pilot Point’s boys 4 X 400-meter relay team qualify for the Class 3A Region II track and field meet in April.

“Asten is the kind of person you wish to have around because of his determination,” Peacock said. “Most people could not come back that soon to compete after having surgery to put rods in their ankles.”

Kirby started playing football when he was in the first grade. He said in the fourth grade he started having confidence playing receiver.

Kirby said in those grade-school years he would hear about supposedly being at a disadvantage.

“They might be bigger than me, but I don’t think they’re more athletic,” Kirby said.

Peacock said Kirby’s work in 7-on-7 football this past summer improved his overall skills, especially with a strong first step and a natural ability to create separation.

Kirby has five games this season with over 100 yards receiving and enters the Brock game with five contests of at least two touchdown receptions a game. Kirby said his best game was getting eight receptions for 235 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-28 loss to Boyd on Oct. 21, with Kirby crediting quarterback Wyatt Smith for accurate passes to make his job easier.

Peacock said Kirby is at his best when coming with up with possession of the ball is in question during mid-flight.

“It’s a combination of what he does,” Peacock said. “He puts his body in the right position and he has a vertical jump taller players wish they had. Most of it’s the mindset. The majority of the time on a 50-50 ball he has the determination that he will get it.”

Kirby has also made 43 tackles playing safety this season. He is coming off a huge defensive game in a 32-6 win over Peaster over Friday in which he had an interception, caused a fumble and blocked a field-goal attempt, in addition to six tackles.

Kirby said he hopes to play receiver at the collegiate level.

Unfortunately for Kirby, the Brock game could be his last for Pilot Point. In order for Pilot Point to make the playoffs Peaster (2-7, 1-4) must beat Boyd (4-5, 2-3). Kirby said he has received recruiting interest from Hardin-Simmons, but is willing to try any college football opportunity. Kirby said if college football doesn’t work out he is uncertain about attending as a student only and may consider a career as a welder.

Kirby said if the twilight of his football career is near he is happy with how things turned out this season, overcoming supposedly bigger and better opposition.

“When it comes to catching passes, size doesn’t matter,” Kirby said. “It’s how much you want it.”

Related:2022 Week 11 Dallas-area high school football playoff scenarios: Who’s in, who’s out?Related:Dallas-area football stat leaders (Nov. 2): See the top performers in each classification