A $1 million grant from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce State Energy Office will benefit three technology centers that are replacing aging heat, ventilation and air conditioning systems with "green" technology.

Northeast Technology Center, Pryor; Great Plains Technology Center, Frederick; and Caddo Kiowa Technology Center, Fort Cobb, will share the $1 million received through the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grant monies will be supplemented with local funding to retrofit aging HVAC systems on each campus with ground source (geothermal) heat pump systems.

"The objective is to become more efficient and reduce energy demand and consumption of Oklahoma’s technology centers by replacing the least efficient existing HVAC systems with energy-efficient ground source heat pumps," said Jim Bullington, the assistant state program manager for CareerTech Trade and Industrial Education.

In order to prepare technicians to install, service, and repair ground source heat pumps, the CareerTech system is also ramping up training in existing HVAC programs statewide, Bullington said.

Most CareerTech HVAC instructors have been trained in GSHP technology and are certified installers. Manufacturers are donating or offering discounted equipment to technology centers to allow students to train on the latest models.

"We hope to increase the number of skilled ground source heat pump technicians focusing on potential unemployed and underemployed Oklahomans," Bullington said. "The impact to the state will be significant energy savings from the installation of highly efficient ground source heat pumps in homes and businesses."

Ground source heat pump technology, often referred to as geothermal or earth-coupled heat pumps, take advantage of the relatively constant temperature of the earth to reduce heating and cooling costs.

Conventional air-to-air systems must reject or absorb heat from the outside air to cool or heat a structure.

When the load on the structure is highest, outside temperatures are also typically high, and vice versa. Much less "heat pumping" energy is used by absorbing or rejecting heat from the building to the earth.

"While conventional systems were struggling this summer to pump heat from 78 degree buildings into 100-plus degree outside air, ground source heat pumps were pumping heat into the ground at perhaps 80 degrees," Bullington said.

"The life expectancy of a conventional HVAC system is about 20 years," Bullington said. "The earth-coupling component of a ground source system is warranted for 50 years. While the ground loop system adds an up-front expense that conventional systems do not, this is more than offset by the savings in energy and annual maintenance costs. In addition, future replacement of the mechanical equipment does not require the replacement of the ground loop.

"This technology has been available for more than 30 years but has been relatively slow to become popular due to the initial cost of drilling or trenching to install the ground loop systems. Rebates offered by utility companies and co-ops have helped but a 30 percent federal tax credit has helped sales and installation of these systems to soar."

For more information visit www.okcareertech.org/ti/CM/GSHP

In comments at the recent Federal Reserve Economic Forum in Oklahoma, George A. Kahn provided a sobering assessment of the national and international economy, a picture somewhat offsetting robust and strongly positive analysis of trends in Oklahoma from Chad Wilkerson (another Fed economist) and several state officials.

Reviewing the history of recent years, he noted the Great Recession was preceded by easy access to credit and low savings rates. Then came the collapse of equity prices in housing and the worse economic crisis since the Great Depression.

The current sluggish uptick in activity is “not a typical recovery,” Kahn said. Economic growth and some modest national improvements have not produced a recovery in labor markets, for example.

The Vice President and Economist based at the Kansas City branch of the Federal Reserve detailed how the housing sector has never truly regained pre-Recession strengths, and that many households are still trying to rebuild balance sheets.

This year, significant supply disruptions came after the Japanese tsunami, along with the U.S. “debt ceiling debacle,” and subsequent lowering of the U.S. credit rating by Standard & Poors.

Despite challenges, Kahn and other economists anticipate moderate growth in the coming year. Still, consumers are hesitant and confidence is low. Another stimulus jolt in spending from Washington is unlikely.

Kahn nonetheless reflected the American economy is resilient, and there is pent-up demand for production and labor, and demand for goods and services. Credit is available, exports are improving, and business sectors outside housing are better.

In masterful understatement, Kahn at one point reflected, in his speech before Oklahoma City business and financial leaders at the downtown Petroleum Club, “Putting all these factors together in a forecast is quite challenging.”

Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.9 percent in the third quarter, and could reach 2.1 percent in the fourth quarter. Growth of 2 ½ percent is expected next year, but there will probably be little change in the national unemployment rate. It now stands at 9.1 percent, and is unlikely to be better than 8.7 percent by next fall.

Among potential tripwires for the economy, the “European sovereign debt crisis” is perhaps most notable. Large banks in the United States are exposed, through trade, to Europe’s problems. If a full-blown debt crisis unfolds there, and exports decline, major stress could follow on both sides of the Atlantic.

Kahn noted that European nations are not in agreement as to how to counter problems in their region. Kahn carefully observed, “Inadequate response cannot be ruled out.”

Back in the States, if unemployment benefits are not extended, economic stress will increase, Kahn believes. He noted, “Domestic political bickering could call into question whether the U.S. will stay on track.”

In the near-term comes the Congressional “Super Committee” deadline of November 23 deadline, for recommending debt reduction. The Congressional deadline for action is December 23.

Kahn noted fragility is fed by concerns over inflation in energy, food and commodity prices. Inflationary factors in recent months have been a source of concern for business planners, yet that “should be temporary,” Kahn said.

Kahn believes policy at the Fed helped stabilize the economy and set a stage for recovery, but economic growth is considerably weaker than expected. New Fed actions should keep pressure on for low long-term interest rates.

However, Kahn said, “Monetary policy alone cannot take all the actions necessary. Policy makers must do their part.” Kahn stood by a projection of moderate growth for 2012.

Things will be fine, unless they’re not. 

Just in time for National Boss Day this October 17, new research from OfficeTeam indicates few workers today are angling for the top spot. More than three-quarters (76 percent) of employees polled said they have no interest in having their manager’s position. In addition, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) believe they couldn’t do a better job than their boss.  

The survey of workers was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 431 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments.   

Workers were asked, “Would you like to have your manager’s job?” Their responses:
No      76%
Yes      21%
Don’t know/no answer  3%

Workers also were asked, “Do you think you could do a better job than your boss?” Their responses:
No      65%
Yes      28%
Don’t know/no answer  7%

The survey also revealed that more workers between the ages of 18 and 34 wanted their manager’s position (35 percent) than those in other age groups.

“Many aspects of management involve making difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions, and not everyone is comfortable in this role,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Being a strong individual contributor does not necessarily equate to being an effective leader. The most successful bosses excel at motivating others to achieve great results.”

OfficeTeam identifies seven traits potential leaders possess:

1.  Integrity. The best managers foster trust among employees by placing ethics first.
2.  Sound judgment. Top supervisors can be counted on to make tough decisions based on logic and rationale.  
3.  Diplomacy. Handling challenging situations with tact and discretion is a must. Effective managers don’t take all the credit for results — they consistently acknowledge individual and team contributions.
4.  Adaptability. It’s essential that leaders be able to think on their feet. They should be innovative while also encouraging team members to develop creative solutions.
5.  Strong communication. To motivate and guide employees, influential managers freely share their vision with others.
6.  Good listening skills. Successful bosses realize they don’t have all the answers and seek input from colleagues.  
7.  Influence. Great managers build strong networks within the organization to gain support for their ideas.

OfficeTeam is the nation’s leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 315 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.  

National Boss Day, observed on October 16, is a time when employees give thanks and recognition to their bosses. It will be celebrated on Monday, October 17, this year because the holiday falls on a Sunday.

State Sen. Rick Brinkley is under personal attack after sharing his concerns about predatory lenders who affiliate themselves with small Oklahoma-based tribes.  A group called The Native American Fair Commerce Coalition (NAFCC) has staged an aggressive public relations blitz attacking Brinkley.  He recently spoke out against predatory lending practices in an investigative news story by CBS News and the Center for Public Integrity (CPI).  

“I know it isn’t just me—this so-called ‘fair commerce coalition’ is prepared to go after anyone who tries to expose these lenders by labeling critics as being opposed to tribal sovereignty,” said Brinkley, R-Owasso.  “This group is trying to deflect the conversation away from the facts of what they are doing and change the conversation to be about tribal sovereignty.  They want to attack the messenger instead of dealing with the issues that have generated over 2,000 consumer complaints and a CBS News investigation.”

The CBS Evening News featured a cancer victim who borrowed $250 from an online company called 500 Fast Cash to keep his electricity from being turned off.  The borrower thought he could pay the loan off for $325, but ended up paying $700 before he closed out his accounts.  Nevertheless, the victim told CBS he continued to be harassed by the company, which is one of seven online lending businesses owned by the Miami and Modoc tribes.    According to the investigation, the interest rate he was charged was 476 percent, but some people are charged rates as high as 1800 percent.  In addition there are company policies which don’t stop the fees even after the consumer has paid the amount due on the loan.  

“This doesn’t just hurt the poor—it hurts local businesses, too.  If someone is paying $1,100 for a $200 loan, that other $900 is not being spent in businesses in their communities and that hurts our economy.  We all pay the price for these unethical business practices,” noted Brinkley.

Brinkley said there are hundreds of tribally-owned businesses in Oklahoma which will never generate a single consumer complaint, because they are run openly and ethically—but said that is not the case with online businesses like those investigated by CPI and CBS.

“Nearly 30 percent of the complaints filed by US consumers against pay day lenders are filed against 7 pay day lenders in Miami, Oklahoma, which has a population of about 12,000,” explained Brinkley.  “That would be a red flag for anyone.  Traditional pay day lenders in no way generate complaints of that magnitude—in fact most in Oklahoma have never had a single complaint filed against them.”

Brinkley also refuted claims by the Fair Commerce Coalition that he didn’t understand the pay day lending industry.  He was interviewed for the CBS investigation as part of his job as an employee of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Eastern Oklahoma, a non-profit organization which seeks to build trust between businesses and consumers.

“It is interesting that they chose to attack me personally as a Senator rather than deal with the basis of the consumer complaints and the CBS investigation.  These personal attacks are just a way to deflect the conversation away from the truth,” Brinkley said.    

To view the investigative report by CBS and the Center for Public Integrity, click here. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced that Oklahoma will be one of 47 states to receive an award through the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program.  

The STEP grant is a pilot project authorized by the Federal Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 to help create jobs by increasing the number of small businesses exporting to foreign countries and to raise the value of exports for small businesses currently exporting.  

“The STEP grant is in line with Oklahoma’s push to grow and expand our state’s economy through international trade,” said Erika Lucas, director, international trade and investment, Oklahoma Department of Commerce.  “In today’s global economy, it’s critical that Oklahoma companies have the necessary tools and support to take advantage of global opportunities.  This program will give them the edge to succeed in global markets.”  

Funding from the STEP grant will support participation in foreign trade missions, foreign market sales trips, translating websites into foreign languages, designing international marketing tools, trade show exhibitions, training, workshops and other critical export initiative.  

Small businesses interested in assistance through the STEP grant can contact the Global Business Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce at (405) 815-5213, or visit www.okcommerce.gov.