Economic Development

Connor Martin graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 2015. During his first two years at Northwestern, Martin played basketball and football while completing his education. With his junior year approaching, he decided to step away from sports and start thinking long term. With added free time, he wanted to earn money, knowing already that he wanted to start something of his own instead of work for someone. He started mowing yards for a few families, which then grew to multiple yards to maintain, and Martin hired his roommates to help keep up with the workload. Five years later, Peak Environment is a thriving business in Alva, Oklahoma. What started as a small job during college turned into a business post-graduation with a fleet of trucks, trailers, mowers, weed-eaters, edgers and other landscaping items.

Being an entrepreneur was something Martin always knew was within him, and attending Northwestern helped him commit to that decision.

"Northwestern encourages students to strive to be the best and to believe in whatever you set out to do," Martin said. "That is the mindset I maintain and try to apply daily."

Matthew Bixler, Alva native and founder of American Iron Sports LLC, recently graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University's Business Incubator Program with assistance from NWOSU’s Center for Business Development and the campus’ Small Business Development Center. Headquartered now in Ponca City with a workforce of more than 90 employees, the company manufactures baseball pitching machines as well as designs and builds baseball complexes across the nation.