Kiamichi Tech has named Gordon Construction Co., Inc. as its 2026 Industry Partner, recognizing a longstanding partnership that continues to create opportunities for students and strengthen the workforce across southeast Oklahoma.

Gordon Construction was formally recognized as Kiamichi Tech’s 2026 Industry Partner at the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education’s Partners in Progress event, held April 28, 2026, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The annual event highlights outstanding partnerships between CareerTech and industry leaders across the state.

Since the inception of Kiamichi Tech’s Electrical Lineman Training Program at the Hugo Campus in 2022, Gordon Construction has played an active and engaged role in supporting student success. From the program’s first graduating class, when the company hired five of eight graduates, to today, Gordon Construction has remained a consistent employer and advocate for Kiamichi Tech students. The company now employs graduates from every cohort of the program and continues to offer internship opportunities.

“The success of our students depends on strong industry partnerships, and Gordon Construction’s support makes a measurable difference,” said Kiamichi Tech Superintendent Shelley Free. “Their long-term commitment ensures our students receive real-world, hands-on training that leads directly to meaningful careers locally, while strengthening the workforce and communities across our region.”

The Hugo Electrical Lineman Training Program was developed in response to a clear industry need. Theresa Martin of Gordon Construction emphasized the importance of offering local, hands-on training.

“The Hugo program filled a need in the industry,” Martin said. “Other degreed lineman programs are more focused on management, and the faster training options were often out of state. Kiamichi Tech offers training that goes straight from school to the field. We were losing potential workers to other states for training, so it was vital that this program happened.”

In 2024, Gordon Construction made a pivotal equipment donation to the Hugo campus, providing a digger truck and two bucket trucks essential to infrastructure and power line work. These pieces of equipment hold special significance, as they were the first purchased by owners Gordon and Terry Bird when they founded the company in 1983. At the time, local mines had shut down, and Terry Bird was determined to create strong, reliable employment opportunities for people in the community. More than four decades later, those same machines are now used to train the next generation of lineworkers and diesel technicians.

Those resources allow Kiamichi Tech students to gain hands-on, field-based experience, including training in hole-digging operations, which is a unique opportunity among similar programs in the state.

“The Electrical Lineman Training Program was developed in direct response to industry need, and the alignment between education and workforce demand has made the partnership especially impactful,” said Jimmy Malone, Electrical Lineman Program Instructor.

Gordon Construction has also supported workforce access by advocating for expanded Commercial Driver’s License opportunities for young workers. Through collaboration with Kiamichi Tech and a training partnership with Central Tech, the company helped address insurance barriers that often limit employment for workers under the age of 25. This effort has allowed more students to enter the workforce with the credentials needed to succeed.

The company’s support extends beyond the Hugo campus through internships, participation in Business and Education Councils, and the hiring of graduates from additional programs, including welding. Gordon Construction also actively promotes Kiamichi Tech programs and student success stories throughout the communities it serves.

Based in Stigler, Gordon Construction works with multiple rural electric cooperatives, expanding its reach and impact across southeast Oklahoma. The company offers competitive wages and encourages continued training, all in support of its mission to sustain and grow jobs in rural communities.

Photo (left to right): Skye McNiel, OkACTE Executive Director; April Williams, Kiamichi Tech – Stigler Campus Director; Chloe Savage, Kiamichi Tech Workforce & Economic Development Coordinator; Jacob Poole, Kiamichi Tech Director of Workforce & Economic Development; Kelly Grego, Kiamichi Tech Associate Superintendent; Senator Warren Hamilton; Jim Bob Dickson, Gordon Construction; Randy Martin, Gordon Construction; Theresa Martin, Gordon Construction; Shelley Free, Kiamichi Tech Superintendent; Brent Haken, Oklahoma CareerTech Director.