Steve Mason

Expertise

Since 1989, Steve has been the owner or board chair behind Oklahoma City projects that ran across business, government, and nonprofit lines. He owned an engineering firm until its sale, redeveloped at-risk historic buildings, chaired the state committee overseeing the Capitol restoration, and led site selection and construction for a Girl Scout camp. He lets each employee choose the goal behind a company incentive, and he keeps small retail tenants in buildings where bars would pay higher rent. He says, "You gotta do some social investing."

Industry

Steve's work spans civil and environmental engineering, historic building redevelopment, and nonprofit and public boards in Oklahoma City. He owned and led Cardinal Engineering for 25 years, a civil engineering, environmental engineering, and surveying firm that employed 92 people. He now owns Mason Realty Investors, which manages 38 historic buildings.

Specialties

• Leading a founder-owned firm through its sale
• Redeveloping at-risk historic buildings with small-business tenants
• Chairing oversight of a publicly funded restoration
• Leading site selection and construction for a nonprofit facility
• Retaining younger employees against larger recruiting competitors

Career history