Local leaders purchase Paragon assets, pledge to restart Oklahoma pipe manufacturing
Tulsa-connected executives have completed a purchase intended to keep a longtime Oklahoma steel pipe manufacturer alive. Integrated Utility Services announced it acquired substantially all assets of Paragon Industries for $40 million in a deal completed through Chapter 11 restructuring. The company said the move will allow production to resume and preserve manufacturing jobs in the state.
The Houston-based buyer is led by Tulsa natives Trinity Dawson and Dustin Ketchum. The company said the former Paragon business will operate going forward as Paragon Pipe Company LLC, and that it plans investments in the facility, workforce development, quality controls and other operational improvements while keeping manufacturing in Oklahoma.
“As someone who grew up in Oklahoma, this acquisition is deeply personal to me,” Dawson said. “Paragon has been a pillar in this community for decades, and our commitment is to honor that legacy. We care about the people, the jobs, and the long-term health of Oklahoma’s industrial economy – and we want to see this business thrive for generations to come.”
What the deal means locally
- Job preservation: Company statements emphasize keeping manufacturing operations in Oklahoma, which could help retain skilled labor in the region.
- Capital infusion: IUS says it will invest in workforce development and operational systems to resume and improve production.
- Market focus: The buyer plans to expand the customer base across utility, energy, pipeline and infrastructure sectors in North America.
The IUS announcement framed the purchase as preserving “a domestic steel pipe manufacturing platform” by providing capital and operational support to restart production. That matters in Tulsa and surrounding communities where industrial employers are a significant source of mid-skilled jobs and tax revenue.
Context and potential fallout
The sale follows Paragon’s Chapter 11 restructuring process and comes amid broader questions about manufacturing resilience and domestic supply chains that policymakers across Oklahoma have highlighted in recent years. While IUS has promised investments and job-focused initiatives, the timeline for restarting production and rehiring staff was not detailed in the announcement.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Buyer | Integrated Utility Services (IUS) |
| Leaders | Trinity Dawson and Dustin Ketchum (Tulsa natives) |
| Price | $40 million |
| New operating name | Paragon Pipe Company LLC |
Local officials and workers will be watching for follow-up announcements with specifics about hiring, production schedules and capital projects. For now, the purchase is being presented as a win for Oklahoma’s industrial base: a locally tied leadership team has secured assets and committed to maintaining manufacturing in the state.
As the company begins work to relaunch operations, its approach could be a bellwether for other restructuring cases in the region—testing whether outside capital with local leadership can stabilize legacy manufacturers and preserve jobs in Tulsa’s broader industrial economy.
