Fikes Engineering Moves from Business Incubator to Own Facility

May 31, 2015

By Rachel Snyder The Duncan Banner

Mark Fikes, left, of Fikes Engineering and Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation President Lyle Roggow. Fikes’ company is moving from the foundation’s business incubator into his own facility in Marlow.

Now five years after its establishment, Mark Fikes is moving his engineering firm, Fikes Engineering, from the Duncan Center for Business Development to his own facility in Marlow.

Fikes rented an office in the Duncan Center for Business Development in September 2010. The space is the Duncan Area Economic Foundation’s business incubator.

He was previously employed by international oilfield service company Halliburton to design, construct and operate stimulation vessels used in offshore drilling.

Since leaving Halliburton in 2010, Fikes’ goal has been to expand his business and eventually move into his own facility.

“Moving into Duncan’s business incubator was extremely beneficial when I was getting started. It allowed me flexibility to drop and add office space as my company grew and, at times, reduced due to the downturn in the oil industry,” Fikes said. “I didn’t have as many initial costs to invest in, such as copy machines, meeting space or office furniture ... but, one of the bests parts of being in the incubator was having other startups and (DAEDF President Lyle Roggow) to go to for advice.”

He said he was excited to expand his business by buying the facility in Marlow.

Roggow said he’s happy to see the business succeed.

“Mark is doing what all start ups that come into our facility are supposed to do,” he said. “They get established, use the resources provided and then are at the point where they need their own space. This opens up room for new startups to take advantage of the facility.”

Incubator Manager Nicole Punneo said starting a business in an incubator like Duncan’s can be beneficial.

“Because Fikes Engineering started operations in a certified business incubator, for the past five years, his company has received a state income tax abatement and is eligible to continue receiving this incentive for another five years,” Punneo said.

For more information about the business incubator,  contact Punneo.