2025 Governor’s Award Winners

2025 Award Winners

Export Champion Awards

CCK was founded in 1997 by three young partners motivated to build a new type of CPA firm. John Curzon, Terry Cumbey and Eric Kunkel took a big risk, leaving successful existing positions to form a new firm – one founded on the principle of “service.” The three established CCK, and in 2002, became members of the nationally recognized RSM US Network of exceptional accountancy practices.

In a world with growing tax complexities, CCK’s Founding Partners have had first-hand tax practice experience in international matters since the 1980’s. Because of this experience and our commitment to the RSM US Alliance, CCK has the ability to provide multinational compliance strategies and tax planning ideas, as well as dealing with client issues in country and world-wide. They have more than doubled their workforce in the past 10 years, and export their services to 45 different countries around the world.

Cornsilk Company is a consulting company helping nonprofits, tribes and both national and international governments sort through complex software and technology decisions by providing quality services and products either directly or through our wide network of associated firms. They export their Financial Management Consulting Services to the Federated States of Micronesia.

In 1973, KICKER’s Livin’ Loud legacy began as a two-man operation, hand-building professional-speaker systems in a narrow one-car garage. With very few resources and an intense love for music, company founder and current president Steve Irby invented the mobile-stereo enclosure market when he developed the Original KICKER, the first full frequency-range speaker box designed specifically for cars and trucks.

KICKER products are currently sold by approximately 1,200 authorized dealers in the United States, and export sales are managed through a network of distributors serving over 2,000 dealers in approximately 50 countries. Their latest new market is Greece.

Sawyer Manufacturing Company, founded in 1948 and based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a global leader in pipeline and welding equipment, known for innovation and excellence in manufacturing for over 75 years. Their products are primarily geared towards the oil and gas industry’s midstream sector, focusing on the efficient transport, storage, and distribution of resources. Sawyer equipment also supports critical infrastructure in wastewater treatment, sewer maintenance, and offshore operations, among others. The company now offers an extensive range of over 49 specialized pipeline and welding products, distributed both domestically and internationally through a network of distributors.

Sawyer has been exporting their goods and services since 1972 and are currently focused focused on the expansive Ras Laffan project in Qatar—currently the largest pipeline-related project globally–as well as the Pluto 2 expansion project in Karratha, Australia.

Vacuworx is the global leader in manufacturing in-field vacuum lifting equipment. The company manufactures, sells, rents and services vacuum lifting systems for the energy, construction, infrastructure, and utility industries. Vacuworx Lifting Systems handle all forms of pipe including steel, plastic, cast-iron, and concrete, as well as steel plate, steel piling, pre-case slabs, and concrete road barriers. Lifters can be attached to hydraulic excavators, backhoes, wheel or track type loaders, cranes, pipelayers, and forklifts. By using vacuum lifters, companies can work “Faster”, shorter loading and unloading cycles; “Safer”, fewer ground personnel reduces risk of accidents; and “Smarter”, more economical by reducing payroll and insurance costs.

Their primary Target Markets are the energy, construction, infrastructure, and utility industries. The Primary Countries we target are Canada, Mexico, all Central and South America, Australia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and the African continent. They are currently taking steps to increase their presence in South Asia and Central Asia, possibly even getting into Afghanistan later this year.

Governor's Award for Excellence in Exporting

Mercer Valve, founded in 1985 in Oklahoma City, is a mixed-mode manufacturer committed to providing high-quality, long-lasting pressure relief valves that distributors, manufacturers, and families can depend on every day. They take safety seriously and prioritize it in everything they do, from the engineering and production of the valves, to their service and repair. Their products are used in the oil & gas industry, petrochemicals, chemicals and heavy industry as well as food industry, energy and water management.

International markets are of increasing importance to Mercer Valve Co. Rapid growth in Australia and Canada have led Mercer Valve to open local subsidiaries and branches in those countries. Additionally, a large number of international clients are served directly from the United States, including clients in Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

PEPM Group, PLLC is a full-service engineering, including structural, mechanical, civil, electrical, and refrigeration, drafting, 3D modeling and project management company. In connection with the Company’s structural engineering business line, opportunities continue to present themselves with some of PEPM’s large continuing oil and gas segment customers for unique structural engineering design projects that will be put in service in various foreign jurisdictions. As PEPM and its reputation has grown with these customers, the opportunities for complex specialized international structural projects have increased rapidly.

The Company was formed and headquartered in Oklahoma and began business operations in 2015 as a single entrepreneurial minority woman owner-operated Professional Limited Liability Company. In March 2024 the Company had 2 employees in Oklahoma and now in March 2025 the Company has 6 Oklahoma employees and 21 employees overall in 3 total locations. PEPM focuses primarily on the designing of poultry, prepared foods, fresh meats and other food processing plants as well as work in the energy, oil and gas industry. Export markets include North and South America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.