“You have a debt to your country.” That was the directive given to Mike Flower by his father when he graduated from high school five decades ago during the Vietnam War.

Flower took the advice seriously and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he was picked for a specialized program to operate nuclear propulsion plants aboard submarines and surface ships.

His six-year service ended with a great appreciation for the technical skills he acquired and a desire to pursue an engineering degree and start his own business.

After graduating from the University of Colorado, Flower founded MDM, an energy services company that has evolved from nuclear operations support to helping energy infrastructure companies like Williams expand their operations.

MDM is among about 15 percent of Williams’ suppliers certified as diverse. They include small businesses and companies owned by women, minorities, military veterans and other underutilized groups.

Because Flower left the military with hearing loss, MDM is certified as a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Business.

MDM employs more than 300 people and offers services in landowner relations, public affairs, regulatory matters and construction inspection and management.

The firm has worked with landowners along several expansion projects for Williams, including the now-in-service Regional Energy Access project, where Williams had 100 percent success acquiring rights from landowners.

“The quality of our work matters and our reputation stands,” Flower said in a visit to Tulsa to meet with Williams teams. “We have the expertise to create a good neighbor environment and positive impression with landowners.”

Flower said his military service allowed him to experience the world outside his small Colorado hometown and instilled in him confidence and an enduring commitment to reliability, adaptability and problem solving.

Williams employee JW DePriest said military veterans add value to the workforce.

“I think it’s wonderful that Williams not only supports the hiring of veterans, but also prioritizes collaboration with veteran-owned and veteran-friendly businesses,” said DePriest, who leads our Veterans Employee Resource Group. “Highlighting these relationships help strengthen the understanding of how veterans’ diverse skills and experiences add value to an organization through their leadership, innovation and problem-solving skills.”

You can learn more about Williams diverse supplier commitment on our Diversity and Inclusion site.