Esteemed entrepreneurs; OSU, Riata Center celebrate Cowboy100 4-Peats
Monday, June 9, 2025
Media Contact: Stephen Howard | Director of Marketing & Communications | 405.744.4363 | stephen.howard@okstate.edu
For the last four years, Oklahoma State University business leaders have gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of their ventures with the Cowboy family.
The Cowboy100 highlights the growth and success of Cowboy-owned or operated businesses worldwide. Hundreds of companies have entered to participate in the competitive event, but a select few have made it all four years.
To qualify, companies must have been in business for five years or more, have verifiable revenues of $100,000+ in the three years prior, be Cowboy-owned or led and operate and act with high integrity in a manner consistent with the values and image of the university.
For these business leaders, the Cowboy100 is an opportunity to connect to their roots, remembering where they started and how far they’ve come. The event also inspires current students, allowing them to see what’s possible because of the legacy set before them.
That’s just how John Alberts, attorney and owner of Bedlam Law, feels.
“When I look around the room, I realize 40 years ago, I was just a kid who showed up to Oklahoma State with a dream,” Alberts said. “My dream was no different from the other people sitting in the room at the Cowboy100, and now we are living our dreams. I believe Cowboy100 is a tribute to a great university and the alumni who make it great.
“There is no one individual who makes us Oklahoma State; it is the collective body of all that have gone before us and all that will follow that make us Oklahoma State.”
Engage Magazine interviewed a few of these successful business leaders.
What does the Cowboy100 mean to you?
“What I love most about Cowboy100 is that it recognizes businesses and people from every industry. There’s a bra store being honored next to an investment company and a pie-by-the-slice shop. We all have such vastly different businesses, but we all have one thing in common: we are OSU graduates running and growing successful businesses. It’s the common thread that connects us all, and it’s such an honor to be recognized along with so many other amazing businesses.”
– Melissa Wiles, owner, Whisper Intimate Apparel
What do you enjoy most about the work that you do?
“The reason I went to law school was to be able to help others. Bedlam Law allows us to work with families during some of their most vulnerable moments. We can help people with what appears to be a desperate situation, make sense of it and give them some direction. This work is done through family law cases, including divorce, child custody and other high-conflict cases.
However, Bedlam has another rewarding area of practice. We do estate planning, wills, trusts and probate. Here, we deal with people fortunate enough to have accumulated some wealth over their lifetimes. They are looking to pass it on, leaving a legacy to their family, friends, community, churches and, yes, Oklahoma State. Working with people to help them think about what the future might look like after they are gone is very fulfilling.”
– John Alberts, founder, Bedlam Law
What does it mean to celebrate this accomplishment with the Cowboy family?
“It’s an honor to have been selected four times in a row. I love my history with Oklahoma State and definitely am a proud graduate. Never in a million years would I think I would have been selected for one award, let alone four. I don’t even truly know what to say. I am extremely grateful to be recognized. As a small business owner, you just put your head down and grind it out. Getting recognized gives you a boost of energy that really drives me forward. I am just super grateful to be selected and represent my alma mater.”
– Lisa Riley, owner, Pinot’s Palette
What advice would you give to OSU’s young aspiring business leaders?
“Your reputation and relationships will be the key to your success and finding joy in your work. So, in everything you do, look to enhance your reputation and as you work with people you like, stay in touch with them. Look to see how you can add value to others. If you do that consistently, people will reciprocate and help you when you need it.”
– Justin Bell, president, Credera
“I have three pieces of advice for OSU’s future generation of business leaders.
1. Work your tail off as much as possible early in your career. If you can make discomfort your comfort zone and work a bit harder than your peers, it will set a trajectory for your career and pay dividends in the long run.
2. Taking calculated risks will pay off over time. I strongly encourage relying on the wisdom of a mentor to help differentiate between reckless and calculated risks early in your career.
3. Never be intimidated by anyone. Your education is as good or better than what you would gain anywhere else in the world. I have seen smart and powerful people with Ivy League or similar educations turn to me and other OSU graduates for solutions to problems. If it happens to me, it will happen to you. Embrace it.”
– Darton Zink, president and CEO, Zeeco
Story by: Avery Russell | Engage@Spears magazine
Photos by: Adam Luther