A non-traditional environment for the non-traditional business start up.

Bootstrapping since the beginning, the Collaboratorium, an entrepreneurial accelerator in downtown Tulsa, has officially opened the doors and is currently accepting applications for participants. Sustainable Tulsa is the founding sponsor for the The Collaboratorium, in partnership with Kanbar Properties who are providing the office space at 111 W. 5th Street in downtown Tulsa.

The current tenants include: Grocio.com, the 2008 Mayor’s Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award winner, Hollywood Fitness Repair and Ping.fm.com

Entrepreneurs will be provided with office space at a discounted price, shared conference rooms, coaching opportunities, connections to entrepreneurial networks, along with access to the types of resources that encourage entrepreneurial actions and long-term success.

Numerous donations from the Tulsa community have been contributed to The Collaboratorium, including Internet and phone service from Garrett Law, office furniture from Up With Trees, L&M Office Furniture and the University of Tulsa.

With a focus on the non-traditional, “Tulsa Unique” entrepreneurs the Collaboratorium is looking for entrepreneurs with any level of business experience that possess a business model with potential. The goal of the Collaboratorium’s is to help accelerate the growth and quality of entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses.

The Collaboratorium is modeled upon the evolution of incubators and practices of Silicon Valley. The current move to entrepreneurial resource centers will accelerate and proactively improve Tulsa’s entrepreneurial success rate. Its focus is to grow entrepreneurs and businesses that make Tulsa a unique and exceptional place to live, work and play.
For more information, visit www.tulsacollab.com

Green was the theme. Biodegradable utensils and napkins. Recycled bottle centerpieces, dresses made from romance book covers and a coffee filter skirt.

On Thursday, April 16, 2009 Ihloff Salon and Day Spa hosted ReFresh Tulsa, a benefit for three local, green organizations – Sustainable Tulsa, The Mayor’s Green Team and Up With Trees.

The evening included a silent auction, hair and fashion show, local restaurants and artistis and the opportunity to learn more about other local, green organizations and businesses.

Over 20 green-friendly organizations and businesses participated in the event, including Gentle Earth Recycling, Global Gardens, Mother Nature Needs You. Harvest Solar Energy, Total Pilates, Natural Awakening Magazine, Nightingale Theater, Recycling Revolution, Sun City Solar, Sustainable Tulsa, The M.E.T, Tulsa BioFuels, Tulsa Community Garden Association, Tulsa Master Recyclers Association and Up With Trees.

In the spirit of sustainability and keeping it local, restaurants from around the Tulsa area shared tastes from their menus. Local restaurants included: Baxter’s Interurban, Elote, Joe Momma’s, Luna Bread, Dilly Deli and Oscar’s Gastro Pub.

The hair and fashion show capped the evening showcasing the styles of the Ihloff creative team and the fashions from local retailers, including Dolce Vita, Dwelling Spaces, Little Black Dress, Louis and Cluck and Ra$berry Grunt. The finale of the fashion show featured the recycled fashions created by the Ihloff Creative team.

2009 ReFresh Tulsa Sponsors included: Benham Group, Bixby Rotary Club, Elder Paint and Wallpaper South, HR Business Links, Sebis International, LLC, LandMark Resources, I&GN Resources, Inc, McFarland Davies Architects, Quality Remodeling and Construction, Inc., The M.E.T and TulsaPeople.

Everywhere you look, a new kind of energy is emerging from the Tulsa business community. On Thursday, April 2, the 3rd annual Mayor’s Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award business model competition, sponsored by SpiritBank kicked off at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

The evening celebrated with the past year’s winners including, SeekingSitters and Grocio.com. They shared their stories of growth over the past year, and how the Spirit Award has continued to support and encourage their businesses.

On June 4, 2009 the top 25 Executive Summaries will be announced and invited to their submit their full business plan. The business plans will be reviewed, and each business will have seven minutes to pitch their business model idea to the panel of Spirit Award judges on July 8 – 9, 2009.

The top 12 will be announced Thursday, July 16, and will have the opportunity to be “coached” by local business professionals on areas that they improve their pitch techniques and business plans. The top 12 will have five minutes to pitch their idea on September 12 with hopes of making it to the final seven.

The seven finalists will be announced on Sunday, September 20, 2009. For the final time, the finalists will work with the coaches to before prepare for their last pitch, which is only two minutes, to the panel of judges.

The winners of the Spirit Award will be announced during Global Entrepreneurship Week on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. SpiritBank will present checks to the winners: $30,000 for first place, $5,000 for second place and $2,500 for third place.

So what are you waiting for Tulsa? Unleash your Big Idea!

The call to entries are open, business executive summaries can be submitted to the website, www.tulsaspiritaward.com until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2009.

Need more reasons to enter the 2009 Mayor Taylor’s Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award? Check out the top ten list at www.tulsabusiness.com

Going “green” is no longer a growing trend in communities, but has become a way of living. Many organizations in the Tulsa community have been working to improve and encourage our city to be a more sustainable, green place to live. Sustainable Tulsa is one of the organizations making a difference throughout the Tulsa area. Read the rest of this entry »

According to Wikipedia, “An entrepreneur is a person who undertakes and operates a new enterprise or venture and assumes some accountability for the inherent risks.”

In Oklahoma, entrepreneurs make up the fastest-growing business segment. The long-term economic vitality of Tulsa depends on entrepreneurs and individuals who have the drive to take a risk and the desire to be innovative and grow their business in our city. Read the rest of this entry »

The Ihloff Salon and Day Spa rocked the runway with looks from the many eras of Rock and Roll, ranging from Elvis to Guns N’ Roses. On Thursday October 16, 2008 at the Tulsa Convention Center, Ihloff raised over $53,000 dollars at their annual hair and fashion show, The Ihloff Fall Collection: Paper. Rock. Scissors. A Tribute to Rock. The sponsorship proceeds from the evening benefited Resonance Center for Women, Tulsa’s premier non-profit support center for women and their families. Read the rest of this entry »

He never seems to have a bad day. He will make you smile every time you see him. He always forgives and is easily bribed. He loves to go on long walks. He’s the perfect boy.

Meet Henry H.L .Griffin, the Atmos office dog. He came into our life in late May when he journeyed his way to the Bergman – Griffin home on Grand Lake during the Memorial Day rainstorm. He was a scared little guy but relentless in his mission to find a home. Lucky for him, he came upon the perfect people to help him accomplish that mission. Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the Atmos Strategic Communications website.

Kudos to Shark Media and Just the Web for all their hard work and help in creating and designing the website.

We believe our AtmosBlog is going to be a great addition and tool for our clients and community to keep up with the many interworkings of the office and Tulsa. From time to time, we might even give you a little insight into the fabulous world of public relations and communications

Stay tuned, folks…there is much more to come.