Though recent years have seen a positive and much-needed push for diversity in the workplace, the construction industry has a long way to go. It takes a true change maker, backed by the right attitude and experience, to truly make a difference when it comes to leveling the playing field. Kayla Palmer, the award-winning President & Co-Founder of Palmer Construction and Marine Company, is on a path to being that change maker. Kayla was still in her senior year in college when she co-founded Palmer Construction & Marine Company alongside her husband Luke Palmer (Project Manager) and father-in-law Paul Palmer (Vice President). “The company was founded as a family-driven mission to serve our community and address a clear need for safer, higher-quality infrastructure,” Kayla says.
“We saw firsthand the gaps in both the heavy civil and maritime industries and made a commitment—together as a family—to step in with heart, dedication, and integrity. What began as a desire to help our own family and those around us has grown into a company rooted in purpose: delivering construction solutions that prioritize quality, safety, and long-term impact. Our journey is built on the belief that when you lead with commitment and care, you can help build a better future for everyone.” The Cherokee-owned small business specializes in the infrastructure and marine industries, serving federal, state, tribal, and private markets. Rich with experience in civil construction as a General Contractor, it has self-performed reparation works to crane tracks and car bodies, bridge barring assemblies, welding and H-pile, tugboat maintenance and repair, dirt work and concrete, and bridge demolition. The list goes on and continues to grow in tandem with the company.
While Kayla has experienced hardship in the industry as a young Cherokee woman, she ultimately sees her position as an advantage. “Being a double minority is undoubtedly challenging,” she says.
“Whether you’re navigating those unique hardships as a minority, as a young entrepreneur, or simply starting a new business, you’ll encounter obstacles. These challenges are part of the journey regardless of your background or experience. What matters is how you face them – leveraging your unique perspective and determination to overcome doubt and pave your own way to success. There’s not a lot of women-owned companies in construction. We’re unique, we’re different, we’re providing a different perspective. I’ve definitely faced people in the industry who are not used to a woman my age coming into pre-work meetings or bidding on projects. But it’s okay to be a change maker. It’s okay to be different.” Palmer has become widely respected as a woman-owned company and has won multiple awards for its significant contributions to the construction and marine sectors. “We received the Woman-Owned Business of the Year 2024 by Cherokee Nation TERO,” Kayla says. The award celebrates Native-owned businesses for their cultural leadership and community impact, while supporting a wider effort to promote economic growth and cultural preservation. Kayla has also been awarded on an individual level for her efforts in the industry, winning the Young Entrepreneur Award in 2025 from the Oklahoma Small Business Administration, and the Rising Star Award in 2024 from the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center. She was further recognized when she became one of ten women accepted into the University of Tulsa’s Cherokee AcceleratHER Fellowship, which is designed to accelerate the growth of venture-scalable business led by Cherokee women. As part of the program, for which over 200 women-owned companies applied, Kayla reflected on her experience in the industry as a young Cherokee woman. “The most powerful thing you can do as a woman entrepreneur is to trust your own vision and voice. You will face challenges – whether it is being in a male-dominated industry or dealing with doubts from others – but remember your unique perspective is your greatest strength. Always stand up for what you believe in, even when it feels like you’re the only one in the room. Your passion and vision will carry you through the tough moments.”
Since it was established in 2021, Palmer Construction has been busy building its name and working on high-profile jobs, many of them for Tribal Governments. It has completed over 150 projects in that time, all of which were completed on time, within budget and to the highest of standards.
Whatever the project, it is Palmer Construction’s mission to give 110% every time. “In early 2024, the company repaired, reskinned, sandblasted and repainted a large fleet of barges. “There were around fifty to eighty in total that we repaired,” Kayla says of one of the company’s largest contracts to date. “Some were major, some were minor.” Another of Palmer’s high-profile projects was Bridge 22 over Little Pryor Creek. “We managed a team of subcontractors on this project. We also self-performed many key components of the project, such as laying aggregate base for the roadway, dirt work, laying sodd under the bridge, setting rip rap, siting the steel and poured concrete for drilled shafts, shoulder work, and two driveways.” Kayla says. “We built a three-span bridge and laid about a quarter mile of roadway down. There was a bridge there previously that we had to tear down first.”
More recently, Palmer has started work on a Softball Field in Adair County. “This job includes demolition, new construction of a field, lighting, utility works, and concrete works. They just put a concession stand in and had us tie in all the utilities. We’re a general contractor, so we had our subs do that while we self-performed the earthworks side of it and provided project management and coordination.” Palmer’s highly-experienced team of project managers ensures seamless coordination as they oversee every detail, while its Quality Control Management (QCM) certification ensures every project meets the highest standards of excellence and compliance. “We did some maintenance on barges throughout that time too where it was more on call, as well as a lot of excavation and earthworks, and clearing and grubbing demolition on the bridge job. We just won a job for another tribe, the Inkana Bridge project out in Sulfur, which is a pedestrian bridge rehabilitation.” Palmer Construction is also out in the market for a potential large barge job, which, Kayla says, “we are very, very confident about.”
It is this confidence in Palmer’s capabilities that has led the company to where it is today, and that will carry it forward to where it wants to be. “We’re trying to decide the best way for us to grow and scale our business,” Kayla says. “The company offers diverse heavy civil and specialized marine construction services, positioning itself to capitalize on infrastructure investments across various sectors. We are actively pursuing the purchase of land by the water to expand our maritime operations, with the long-term goal of becoming a leading ship and barge builder in Oklahoma. At the same time, Palmer aims to establish itself as a major general contractor in the heavy civil market, with expertise in Bridge building and critical infrastructure, and a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, safer infrastructure that serves communities for generations. We want to be doing heavy civil projects on a larger scale, and to build our crews and our inventory.” But for Palmer Construction, providing heavy civil construction services to the community is only part of the story.
“The company offers diverse heavy civil and specialized marine construction services, positioning itself to capitalize on infrastructure investments across various sectors.”
Palmer Construction’s three pillars—Innovation in Infrastructure, Experience & Excellence, and Community & Legacy—tell a story of a company that is a force for positive and lasting change, and one that exists for reasons far beyond commercial growth and economic gain. What the company ultimately wants, with Kayla at the forefront leading the way, is to promote equal opportunity and provide high-quality job prospects for women, men, and people of all ethnic backgrounds. “We are committed to driving business growth while making a meaningful impact on the community,” Kayla says. “As a woman and Cherokee-owned enterprise, Palmer is deeply focused on creating high-quality job opportunities that promote equal opportunities, ensuring both women and men from any ethnic background have pathways to meaningful, well-paying careers. In addition to workforce development, the company collaborates with tribal partners and engages with state, county, and federal markets to support community initiatives and infrastructure projects.” At its core, Palmer Construction is in the business of helping people. By its very nature as a builder of bridges, the company plays a vital role in connecting the communities it serves and improving the experience of future generations through infrastructure that stands the test of time. As it expands it remains dedicated to inclusive growth, long-term social impact, and in the company’s own words, Building the Future One Vision at a Time.
