Melton Truck Lines, Summit ESP to hire under state Quality Jobs Program
BY KYLE ARNOLD World Staff Writer
Thursday, January 03, 2013
1/03/13 at 8:29 AM
Startup pump manufacturer Summit ESP LLC and established shipper Melton Truck Lines Inc. could add as many as 177 jobs after the Tulsa-based companies received the go-ahead to participate in the state's Quality Jobs Program in December.
The state Department of Commerce announced Wednesday that Summit ESP, an electric immersible pump manufacturer, could hire 72 people as it ramps up production. It said the Quality Jobs Program could net the company $2.45 million in payroll tax rebates during the next 10 years.
Summit ESP started producing electric submersible pumps just eight months ago, following a plan by CEO and President John Kenner, a longtime manufacturer from Houston.
Jill Endicott, director of accounting at Summit, said the company decided to locate its headquarters in Tulsa, at 835 W. 41st St., because of its proximity to so many major manufacturers and producers in the oil and natural gas industry.
"Several of the major players in the industry are really large companies, and they've lost sight of customer service," she said. "We're trying to come in and provide something that others aren't."
The Tulsa office and factory employs about 50 people.
Summit ESP also has facilities in Powell, Wyo., and Odessa, Texas. It has about 100 employees between the three locations, Endicott said.
She said the new positions would be a mix of administrative, sales and manufacturing positions.
Melton Truck Lines could add 105 jobs during the next decade, mostly truck drivers, mechanics and support staff, said Angela Buchanan, vice president of safety and human resources for the company.
Buchanan said Melton has been growing steadily in recent years as the demand for shipped goods increases. It employs about 1,250 people nationwide.
The Quality Jobs Program only covers employees based in Oklahoma, and Buchanan said Melton is seeking qualified people here.
"We do have to look in other states, too, because we just can't find enough people in Oklahoma," she said.
Melton was a member of the Quality Jobs Program as recently as 2002, when it received about $33,000 in rebates for hiring 22 people.
Melton Truck Lines could save as much as $2.38 million under the program, the Commerce Department said.
Four other Oklahoma companies qualified for the program in December: Centek Inc. and Empirical Loss Management from Oklahoma City, Forum U.S. Inc. from Guthrie and PharmcareOK of Durant Inc., which qualified under the state's Small Employer Quality Jobs Program.
December Quality Jobs enrollees
Summit ESP LLC
Location: Tulsa
Potential new jobs: 72
Potential payroll tax savings: $2,451,026
Melton Truck Lines Inc.
Location: Tulsa
Potential new jobs: 105
Potential payroll tax savings: $2,347,808
Centek Inc.
Location: Oklahoma City
Potential new jobs: 104
Potential payroll tax savings: $2,056,112
Forum U.S. Inc.
Location: Guthrie
Potential new jobs: 218
Potential payroll tax savings: $3,568,397
PharmcareOK of Durant Inc.*
Location: Durant
Potential new jobs: 62
Potential payroll tax savings: $571,952
*Small Employers Quality Jobs Program
Original Print Headline: Two Tulsa companies may add 177 jobs
Kyle Arnold 918-581-8380
kyle.arnold@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Melton Truck Lines Inc. could add as many as 177 jobs after the Tulsa-based companies received the go-ahead to participate in the state's Quality Jobs Program in December. Tulsa World file.
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