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Business Is Good In Blackwell For Enthusiastic Entrepreneur

BLACKWELL, Okla. − “You may not believe this, but totaling that 1995 Blazer was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Dale Oard said, adjusting his Kay County Farm Bureau cap as he smiled, dimples showing in both cheeks.

“I’d been on Social Security disability for five years – told everybody I was retired – but I’m bipolar and was having a lot of problems. I’d been doing a little drinking when I had that wreck, which landed me in the hospital up in Wichita for three or four weeks.”

A thorough medical assessment at the hospital led to a change in Oard’s medication. The new drug, Seroquel, treats depressive and manic episodes by regulating the balance of chemicals in the brain. Another medication helps control the urge to drink.

“Instead of my mind bouncing around like a BB in a box car, I got where I could focus,” Oard said. “And I knew it was time to do something other than sitting around all day reading the newspaper and watching TV.”

Oard said the epiphany that led to his new business, All Star Advertising and Promotions came at a garage sale. He spotted a novelty item there so ingenious that he refuses to talk about it because it’s not yet copyrighted.

“When I saw it, a little light went off in my head,” Oard said. “You know that guy who came up with the pet rock? All he had was a rock and a damn good marketing idea. I figure I’m next.”

Oard’s research showed that south of Wichita, north of Oklahoma City and west of Tulsa the market was “wide open” for laser engraved awards and personalized items. His next step was contacting the state employment agency for Oklahomans with disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation in the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).

Vocational Rehabilitation Technician Christy Baugh encouraged Oard and introduced him to Program Manager Terri Miller. Miller completed a vocational evaluation and helped Oard tweak his business plan to “check for potholes that might trip him up and sabotage an otherwise excellent business venture,” Oard said.

His Enid-based vocational rehabilitation counselor, Stacey Birchfield, provided career counseling and guidance. As part of Oard’s employment plan, Birchfield paid for business start-up expenses, including a laptop computer, office equipment, materials for engraving, utilities, bookkeeping and phone book advertising.

“Dale’s good about staying with his counseling and on his meds,” Birchfield said. “He recognizes the trigger signs related to his disability. He’s got the energy and creativity to go all the way.”

Tammy Mosley, Oard’s girlfriend of 10 years and business associate, called out from the home-based office next to the living room, “Hey Dale, could you please come take a look at this for a minute?”

Oard’s high-dollar laser engraver, the LaserPro Spirit GX, dominates what had once been their master bedroom. Looking much like an overgrown desktop scanner, it has a 38” X 24” working surface with gates that drop down to slide longer materials through the machine. The lid opens for placement of a variety of materials from a single sheet of paper to wood, leather, aluminum, glass or Plexiglas. Today, they are working with plastic.

Using a laptop computer to set up the pattern, Mosley had carefully focused the infrared laser beam in order to melt a tiny line of holes across the middle of the prototype goggles. The special order she was working with came from a Ponca City librarian turned inventor who intends to patent the concept for viewing 3-D movies.

Oard and Mosley examined plastic residue left behind on the backside of the goggles. Another laser engraving company had refused the job, but Oard and Mosley like a challenge.

“Try putting a little masking tape over the surface,” Oard suggested. Mosley applied the tape with better results. The creative pair also discovered that the household product Pledge dissipates the focused energy, allowing the laser to cut some materials more smoothly without melting the product.

Oard purchased the laser engraver, added dedicated electrical service to handle the new equipment’s power requirements and enlarged the front door to get the scanner through it with funds from a low-interest Access to Telework Fund loan.

Stillwater-based Oklahoma ABLE Tech operates the loan program in partnership with BancFirst and the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation to increase access to computers and adaptive equipment so Oklahomans with disabilities can work from home.

Oard makes the monthly loan payments using his Social Security disability benefits through a return to work program, Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). The program lets people with disabilities set aside money to pay for items or services needed to achieve an approved employment goal.

His ultimate goal, Oard said, “is to get off disability benefits and be a self-sufficient taxpayer.”

Shelby Sanders, the Loan Coordinator for ABLE Tech was excited about the opportunity to work with Dale because he had done so much work to prepare for the Access to Telework Fund loan. “When I told Dale he would need a business plan, an approved Social Security PASS Plan, and the BancFirst Credit Application completed, he said ‘sure,’” Shelby stated. “Dale worked really hard to put all the pieces together. One of the last activities that had to be done was a conference call with his DRS Counselor to make sure everything was in place. Dale’s energy made it all happen.”

“You can look at the fact that I’m bipolar as either a blessing or a curse. It’s been both to me,” Dale Oard said. “When you are depressed and can’t get out of bed, that’s a curse. When you’re walking on the clouds and think you’re invincible, it’s still kind of a curse, but….”

“Dale?” Tammy called. “You’re gonna love how this turned out. Come see!”

Standing to signal the end of the interview, Dale held out his hand to shake.
“Enthusiasm is contagious,” he said. “Let’s start an epidemic!

Last year, DRS’ divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Visual Services helped 2,210 Oklahomans with disabilities start new jobs. As a result, they reduced their need for social services and disability benefits, and paid taxes on $29.8 million in earnings. The divisions also provided vocational rehabilitation and employment services to 18,221 individuals who are preparing to achieve their own career goals.

Oklahoma ABLE Tech promotes the availability of assistive technology devices and services for people with disabilities. Assistive technology allows people with disabilities to function independently in recreation, education, employment, and daily living activities. In addition to the Access to Telework Fund that Dale was able to access, ABLE Tech operates assistive technology device demonstration labs, short-term equipment loans, promotes the reuse of assistive technology through internet exchange and a low interest bank loan to purchase assistive technology.

For more information, visit DRS Online at www.okdrs.gov  or contact the nearest Vocational Rehabilitation or Visual Service office by phoning 1-800-487-4042. Contact Oklahoma ABLE Tech at 1-800-257-1705 or www.ok.gov/abletech/. Both phones are accessible by telecommunications equipment for the deaf.

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