American Fidelity leads Oklahoma firms for best workplace

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Jan 23, 2008 by Jerry Shottenkirk

Four major Oklahoma firms made Fortune magazine's Top 100 Places to Work List released Tuesday.

American Fidelity Assurance Co. of Oklahoma City was ranked No. 24 and topped all state companies.

Tulsa-based QuikTrip checked in at No. 28, and Oklahoma City- based energy companies Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy were listed as No. 48 and No. 61, respectively.

Fortune indicated that American Fidelity Assurance's Bill Cameron, grandson of the company's founder, "fosters an environment that leads employees to call this Oklahoma insurer their 'second family.'"

It was the fifth-straight year on the list for American Fidelity.

"Being an employer of choice is one of our strategic initiatives and has helped us create a unique company culture," said Cameron, American Fidelity's chief executive officer. "We appreciate the recognition of the hard work we do and the great contribution by our colleagues in making AFA a nationally recognized great place to work."

All of the companies listed were lauded in some fashion. In its tribute to QuikTrip, the magazine said, "Part-timers at this convenience store operator have an incentive to stick around: After a year they receive a bonus of $1.55 for every hour worked."

QuikTrip officials said it was the sixth-straight year the company received the honor.

"Having a prestigious magazine like Fortune name QuikTrip as one of the best companies in America to work for is something I will never tire of," said Chet Cadieux, president and chief executive of QuikTrip.

Larry Nichols, Devon Energy's chairman and chief executive officer, said there's company-wide pride in the award.

"Among all the resources that comprise Devon, we consider our people to be at the foundation of our strength," Nichols said. "Because of that, we strive to be an employer of choice, and we are gratified to be included on Fortune's prestigious list."

Fortune said, "Bonuses gush at Devon, the nation's largest independent oil and natural gas producer. Average bonus in 2006 was $21,332; the median was $9,000."

The magazine also was impressed with the way Chesapeake conducts it business.

"Co-founder Aubrey McClendon meets every new employee," the magazine indicated. "He OK'd an employee-proposed child-care center, but doubled its size and cut the fee in half."

McClendon, chairman and CEO of Chesapeake, said, "This award is a testament to our outstanding employees who make Chesapeake a leader in the energy industry and in the communities where we operate. We place a premium on creating a challenging and reward work environment where our employees can excel."

The rankings were based on an employee survey conducted by the San Francisco-based Great Place to Work Institute. Google was listed No. 1 on the list.