“If you are not prepared to put the team first, turn around.”

This is one of a few slogans that adorn the walls of Talon Commercial Services, Tulsa, Okla. It is a saying that Bowie Skaggs, president, project manager and estimator of the company’s drywall division, ranks as one of his greatest life lessons. For Skaggs, being part of a team and working with others instead of trying to do everything alone did not come easy.

“I grew up in a poor Indian home in Oklahoma. It took closing my first business and a lot of lessons along the way to get where I am,” Skaggs says.

Skaggs is one of the founding members of Talon Commercial Services, an eight-year-old, Native-owned, T.E.R.O-certified company that has turned over its first-year profits fivefold. For Skaggs, the greatest of all the successes are taking care of his family and knowing that he is part of a team of owners who contribute to his community and the betterment of the Talon employees and their families.

My Way

Skaggs started working in construction when he was 17, sweeping floors, running material at a jobsite and doing whatever else he was told. He eventually worked his way to foreman of a drywall company, managing projects for 12 years.

“Working in the field helped me a lot because I learned every job out there. You acquire so much knowledge in the field,” Skaggs says.

Skaggs looked beyond what he observed or was taught, and began educating himself about certain tasks, like estimating. As a foreman, he had nothing to do with estimating, but he was curious about other project phases. He reviewed the company’s templates and began creating pretend bids so he could better understand the process.

This basis gave him the courage to start his own business, which operated for about three years. The company took on commercial framing and drywall projects in the Tulsa area, with the 2007 market crash impacting the business, making it difficult to secure jobs. When Skaggs’ dad, Ricky, passed away in 2010, Skaggs took it as a sign to close the company.

“I was so burned-out and didn’t sleep much for about two years because I was doing everything,” Skaggs says. “My biggest problem was delegating. I was the receptionist, payroll, estimating and everything in between. I was trying to be involved in everything because I did not trust anyone else to do it. I knew it was time to stop when my dad died. I had nothing left in me to run a company.”

Despite the setback, Skaggs took his experience to work as a superintendent for a general contractor for five years. At this company, he worked on larger commercial projects like remodeling a local courthouse and juvenile detention center.

“Being with a general contractor and seeing how all the trades come together under one supervision was another level of experience for me,” Skaggs says.

In the midst of growing his career, Skaggs was balancing his family life, particularly as a wrestling coach for his son, Hunter. Wrestling played an important role in teaching Skaggs focus and discipline, and he wanted the same for his son.

At a wrestling match, Skaggs reunited with Jeremy Turner, a contractor like Skaggs with a son who also wrestled. A friendship and construction comradery developed, where Turner recruited Skaggs to join him to take over a drywall division at a company where Turner worked. Skaggs grew the company’s drywall business from $2 million per year to about $7 million. This team approach and confidence got the men thinking about starting their own business. The two grouped together with Lance Turley, Jason Swarer and Jason Jenkins to be the five original owners.

Turner says, “Starting a business with Bowie was something that didn't need any thought. Bowie and I had worked in the field together throughout the years, with him being a framer and me being a painter. Bowie is a person that has always taken pride in everything he does, especially his work. When starting a business with someone, you better choose the right partner or its chances for failure are extremely high. You want a person who is knowledgeable and a problem-solver, and has a very good work ethic and backbone. Those are just a few of the many great traits that Bowie has to offer.

“Talon’s team is like no other construction company in this industry. Talon is different because we have, and will always, put the team first. We as owners focus on being leaders and setting a good example for all our employees to be better at home, at work and at life in general.”

Team Approach

With the backing of a local investor, the group started Talon Commercial Services in January 2017. The company started out at about $4 million of work the first year and began recruiting skilled employees. These efforts created a business that does about $25 million per year and is one of the largest specialty commercial construction companies in the Tulsa area.

The drywall division—made up of Skaggs, Hunter and Swarer—is responsible for $8-12 million of profit. The company has about 125 employees, and 30 people are dedicated to the drywall crew. The drywall side takes on larger commercial jobs, completing about 20-30 projects per year, and the company in all works on about 250 projects a year. The Tulsa market has been strong since the company started, allowing the company to grow every year.

Talon Commercial Services has five divisions: Drywall; EIFS/Stucco/Stone/Plaster; Flooring; Painting; and Doors and hardware. Each division is overseen by a team member who takes ownership of the market division that they supervise.

When questions come up, Skaggs has other leaders with 20-plus years of experience to rely on. He adds, “They are all excellent guys and are team players. I have never seen a company that can have this many divisions and leaders in one office without people clashing.”

The trick for Talon is to stay team-focused. For instance, not all drywall companies consider the paint contractor that comes into a job after them. Skaggs laughs saying, “You can’t just finish a job and say this is going to impact the painter. Because we are the painter. We had to get a team mentality going from the top down, so the office and field guys recognized that we are all in this together. Beyond our company, we want to help out and be respectful of every trade that contributes to the success of job.”

Talon Commercial Services relies on L&W Supply, Broken Arrow, Okla., for its materials. When Skaggs was working with his first company, Tony Pilkington, sales representative with L&W Supply, and Antony Eby, project estimator with L&W Supply, were in the field stocking metal framing and sheet rock for his jobs.

Skaggs adds about Pilkington, who handles the Talon account, “And now I see Tony doing well for his family and contributing to the company. I enjoy seeing the talent of everyone that I work with, including the distributors.”

For the drywall division, the crew turns to USG materials for ceiling tiles and grids. Products from MBA Building Supplies, ClarkDietrich, MBI Rolls and Flex-Ability Concepts are used regularly. For mud, Talon uses Freeman Products and is proud to support a local company.

Recruit, Retain, Race

Recruiting and retaining workers is something Talon Commercial Services prides itself on. Skaggs reports a labor shortage does not exist at the company because it has a reputation for treating employees fairly; they have the luck of hand-picking employees with others wanting to join the company. Taking care of this group brings Skaggs the greatest pride, knowing his hard work plays a role in supporting hundreds of area families.

Skaggs says he cares about each employee more than anything in the business. That level of care comes across in his generosity, even when employees leave.

“One of our superintendents recently left to go to the GC side,” Skaggs explains. “We talked several times about how to get him to stay because we value what he brought to the company. But in the end, I don’t want to stop someone from following their dreams, so I wish him well.”

Giving back to the community also plays a role in the company’s successful reputation by sponsoring clubs, wrestling teams, a small car race team and various children’s organizations. The owners also believe in supporting others in construction, helping subcontractors start their own businesses. The Talon team recognizes they are successful in part because a community investor believed in them, so they try to live by the same philosophy to assist others following their dreams and trying to be prosperous. They look at these investments as an extension of making the Talon team stronger.

Facing Challenges and Future Goals

When issues or challenges arise, Skaggs believes Talon co-workers get through them because they can lean on the team’s experience. In all the trials, Skaggs tends to discover the most interesting aspects of his day. He has found a way of going from struggling with the day-to-day battles to enjoying creating a balance between his office and field time. He admits part of this comes with age as he becomes one of the older guys at a jobsite. At 46 years old, his 29 years of construction experience—grouped with the other leaders’ past work—counts for a lot.

Skaggs says, “The knowledge in the office will shock you. I trust them because their knowledge is unmatched. I had a delegating and trust problem with my past company, but I am blown away by the capabilities of this team and don’t have that problem anymore.”

Several sons (Gavin Turley, Jett Swarer, Ricky Turner, Tyler Hall and Hunter Skaggs) are learning the ropes from their dads and others in the business. A company goal is for the next generation of family and team members who have joined Talon to gain experience in the field before they transition to the office.

“It’s very important to be in the field before being in the office,” Skaggs says. “You have to learn what it feels like whether it’s 15 or 110 degrees outside, and you have to get a job done. Every owner at Talon has been in the field, and I think that is why we can operate at such a high level.”

The biggest piece of advice passed to Hunter is to never look at the clock because a leader never measures how long something takes to get done; a leader gets the job done.

Skaggs adds, “Construction takes a lot of hard work and dedication. If you are watching the clock for quitting time or worrying about something that has to be done, stop and just get it done. A clock watcher will not be successful.”

Hunter says he has always admired his dad’s work ethic and every lesson along the way. Hunter adds, “The greatest lessons he’s ever taught me is mental toughness and how to face adversity and overcome obstacles.”

Skaggs’ focus for the future leads him to admit he wants to see the Talon name rolling strong when he’s on his death bed. By then, the next leader might be Sutton, Skaggs' granddaughter who has stolen his heart.

“When Hunter and his wife, Kaetlin, were having a baby, I really wanted a boy to carry on the family name,” Skaggs says. “I have completely changed my mind because that little girl has entirely stolen my heart. I see her basically every other day and am amazed by her.” Grandchild number two is expected in August.

To his employees and family members, Skaggs has much to pass on to them before even contemplating retirement, including the importance of accepting life’s lessons, working hard and comradery.

Skaggs says, “The hard times really helped me set up and be successful in this company. I grew up really poor. When Sarah, my wife, and I first met, I didn’t have running water for two years. I bathed in a creek. I was so focused on doing things my way and taking care of myself. I learned through experience, and maybe the hard way, how to do everything. This was all a stepping stone to what I was destined to do, in picking good partners in life and business, and staying focused on a team and hard work.”

Project Spotlight: Salina Health Center

Location: Salina, Okla.
Feature: Curved soffits, walls and light coves
Framing Contractor: Talon Commercial Services
Distributor: L&W Supply
Curved Framing Manufacturer: Flex-Ability Concepts
Architect: Childers Architects
Completion Date: Summer 2025

The Cherokee Nation is getting an expanded health center with the construction of the 106,000-square-foot, two-story, $35 million facility.

The center includes a wellness center with cardio and strength training rooms and group fitness classes, physical therapy services and an outdoor half-mile walking trail. Primary care patients can be seen in 12 exam rooms with a two-lane drive-thru pharmacy. The center also has 12 dental chair spaces, expanded optometry, a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes with an outdoor roof terrace, conference rooms, labs, WIC, radiology and helipad.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement after the May 2023 groundbreaking, “Building this new, two-story health center in Salina completes our work to have all new or expanded health centers for our citizens across the reservation. In my State of the Nation, I also promised to find other opportunities across the reservation to make physical wellness programs available. And here is Salina, we achieve that promise for more public health and wellness options for our people.”

Creating a meaningful space that flows for the Salina residents came at the direction of Childers Architects by adding several curved spaces to the exterior and interior design. Curves greet people in the exterior walls and expand into the lobby, continuing in the walls, soffits and light coves of various areas.

The curves were created with about 500-600 pieces of Flex-Ability Concepts products, including: Flex-C Trac 1/2-inch 20 gauge, 3 5/8-inch 20 gauge, 6-inch 20 gauge, 6-inch 18 gauge and 6-inch 16 gauge, as well as Flex-C Angle 20 gauge.

Bowie Skaggs, president, project manager and estimator of the Talon Commercial Services Drywall Division, started using bendable tracks approximately 15 years ago.

“It’s a game-changer in the radius world for sure and I love it,” Skaggs says. “A track that can be curved to a specific radius is so much smoother than having to fix it with sheet rock and mud. You also don’t have to cut a [flexilble track] like you do with other tracks depending on tightness of the curve.”

Skaggs says installation is easy for his drywall team after the radius is laid out. He believes creating the proper radius is the most detail-orientated part of the install.

“Getting the radius right initially is so important because a curve can look bad really fast if not done right,” Skaggs adds. “We are detail-orientated, and I demand quality. General contractors know our expectations and that we have the right guys at a job to get it done.”

At Salina Health Center, everything is on par to be an amazing facility and memorable job.

“The construction management team and crews have done a phenomenal job with this phased project,” Skaggs says. “They are pulling together so many trades, with one following another, and progress is going great.”