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• APRIL 16, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE Lincoln Business Journal Pages
A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
April 16, 2021
Supply chain disruption, rising costs top of mind in face of continued keen project activity by Michelle Leach
Construction activity in and around Lincoln is certainly not all “doom and gloom.” But the pandemic’s effects are throwing a wrench into the availability and cost of supplies despite a robust project pipeline. As Rick L. Wintermute, vice president of Kingery Construction Co. puts it, year-on-year (or pre-pandemic) activity remains relatively unchanged. “I believe this is due to the continued Felton low interest rates,” he said. “There continues to be numerous construction project opportunities.” The notable change, however, has to do with project costs; Wintermute indicated they are climbing due to rising materials costs. “There are two major, interrelated challenges that the construction industry is facing right now, both related to the pandemic. These are availability and the cost of materials,” he continued. “Materials are being delayed to the jobsites due to the supply chain being interrupted from workers contracting the virus and uncertainties of when materials will be available for final assembly of com-
Rick L. Wintermute, vice president of Kingery Construction Co. ponents destined for the project.” completion of the new Cattle Bank at 14th Steel and lumber prices, Wintermute Street and Old Cheney Road. He said they noted, have escalated significantly over the are currently renovating significant parts of last few months. the Lincoln Regional Center — an 18-month “The impact on new projects is yet to be project. seen,” he said. “Kingery Construction always advocates As it relates to aforementioned project for our clients and as such will bring unique opportunities, Wintermute highlighted its solutions to the challenges,” he added. “I
have seen some redesign in projects for social distancing and barriers to protect workers in the finished project.” It’s certainly no secret that the hospitality sector has sustained considerable challenges amid the pandemic. But it has not put a damper on plans for The Scarlet Hotel; according to an August 2020 University of Nebraska-Lincoln announcement, the 154-room Marriott Tribute property is being built at Nebraska Innovation CamGurnsey pus. The property at Transformation Drive and 21st Street will also feature a restaurant, coffee shop, sandwich shop, bar, and other high-end features. NIC leadership described the hotel as an “asset,” with amenities that will make the campus where companies, employees and the community want to be. It also represents part of the NIC’s mission; to foster partnerships with the private sector. “One unique feature of this hotel is how it has been designed to accommodate specialized instructional space and amenities,” said Ryan Felton, a UNL grad and project manager with McCarthy Building Cos., which broke ground on The Scarlet March 2020. “On the first level, 10,000 square feet of shell space is reserved for future buildout to be used by students at the University of Nebraska’s hospitality, tourism and restaurant management program, and could include an instructional kitchen, classrooms, a student lounge, a conference room and faculty offices.” With a slated fall completion, Felton said the firm recently finalized a highly-detailed mock-up of the hotel rooms, which helps to ensure they are meeting requirements and enables the team to address potential constructability issues early. “The combination of shifting schedules due to rough winter weather and timely procurement of materials due to COVID-related supply chain delays presented challenges that we had to work around,” Felton said, when asked about prominent challenges thus far. McCarthy was reportedly informed of the project by partners, Tetrad/Goldenrod Cos. and DLR Group in summer 2019. The boutique hotel represents its fifth Marriott-branded project. “We have worked with numerous hosContinued on next page.
LBJ Construction Update — inside APRIL 16, 2021
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK ’S ISSUE:
$2.00
VOL. 47 NO. 16
Omaha Hydromax headquarters targets data collection projects by Richard D. Brown
Ambius designs clean, beautiful environments for businesses. – Page 2
40 er d Un 40 Goodman takes community service beyond role at Omaha Community Foundation. – Page 4
& ty rsi ion e s Divnclu I
Omaha organizations working to build diverse, inclusive community. – Page 5
For Hydromax USA, an 18-yearold firm specializing in advanced water, wastewater and gas data collection, establishing operations in Omaha coupled with the designation as the firm’s U.S. headquarters wasn’t that tough of a strategic decision for CEO Jon A. Smith. “The Omaha, Lincoln and Papillion areas have been identified as localities where we can really expand our services,” said Smith, a retired 21-year U.S. Naval commander who cites the central geographic location of the 10-employee location opened at 14301 First National Bank Parkway. Hydromax USA has about 500 employees in operational facilities including Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles and Seattle — 30 states in total. From the Omaha office, Smith will oversee the operation of 19 Hydromax USA crews. He said technology used — including a partnership with Omaha-based Jelecos that leverages cloud technology has enabled Hydromax USA to open additional fleet offices in Pacific Northwest Continued on page 9.
CEO Jon A. Smith … Omaha headquarters serves growing need for infrastructure data collection. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
Travel & Transport grows global reach by teaming with Corporate Travel Management by Michelle Leach
In its roughly 75 years of operations, Omaha-born Travel and Transport evolved from a one-person operation to one of the largest travel management companies (TMCs) in the world’s largest travel market: North America. Now a member of the Corporate Travel Management family, its Omaha operations also represent the North American “home”
and tech hub for CTM, one of the largest travel management providers of its kind in Australia. Together they are the TMC to chase in the global, mid-market space. “CTM is considerably larger than T&T outside of the U.S.,” said Kevin O’Malley, chief executive officer, North America, of its presence particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Continued on page 9.
Co-owners Keighley Harrison, left, and Branda Blundell … Focusing on men’s grooming services sets the hair care camper apart.
Good Life Grooming takes men’s hair care services on the road, builds client base by Becky McCarville
Chief Executive Officer, North America Kevin O’Malley … Rebounds in leisure travel an encouraging sign for latter half of 2021 for North American hub of global travel management company.
When Keighley Harrison and Branda Blundell realized that the men’s hair care franchise they worked at wasn’t going to return to “normal” anytime soon because of COVID-19 in 2020, the two friends set out on an entrepreneurial adventure to start a mobile men’s grooming service out of a travel trailer.
After a Google search and a road trip to Iowa to find a used camper with a slide out, the pair got out the power tools, watched some YouTube tutorial videos, stripped the camper down to the studs and rebuilt it into a men’s hair haven. Through research they found out that in 2019, Nebraska leContinued on page 10.