Midlands Business Journal April 5, 2019 Vol. 45 No. 14 issue

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

Banking

27

April 5, 2019

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Brisk lending environment makes for rosy times in local banking market

by Dwain Hebda

Banks across Nebraska are enjoying a run of prosperity that’s cut across all lending sectors and market areas. That’s the assessment from Dave Dannehl, board chairman for the Nebraska Bankers Association.

“Community banks in Nebraska are doing well, primarily due to strong loan

Dannehl Adams demand across the commercial, agriculture and housing sectors,” he said. “Interest rates have gone up steadily the past two years but have not deterred demand as they still hover near historic lows.”

Dannehl said loan volume would be even stronger if not for economic and market conditions curtailing markets from reaching their full potential.

“With agriculture in Nebraska entering its fourth year of stressed commodity prices,

Adrian Hernandez, senior vice president of lending at Dundee Bank. a good share of farmers and ranchers have is limited due to the number of quality conbeen experiencing break-even opportuni- tractors and construction workers available ties at best,” he said. “While construction across the state.” demand is high for much of Nebraska, the Clint Adams, Veridian Credit Union lid on future economic and lending growth branch manager, said the company’s high-

Reaanddit

touch lending process combined with the latest technology has contributed to the robust numbers.

“While more people are choosing online and mobile channels for their routine transactions, many still prefer the chance to meet face-to-face about larger financial decisions,” he said. “It’s important that we’re accessible and available in every way our members choose to interact with us.”

Adams said this philosophy is driving the company’s expansion strategy, mixing both virtual and brick-and-mortar access points.

Huston “We recently upgraded our mobile and online banking platforms, and our branch network is growing in the Omaha metro area,” he said. “In 2016, we announced plans to open 10 to 15 Veridian branches in the Omaha area within a decade; we’ve opened five of those branches so far.”

The range of banking opportunities in the market is so broad, it’s affording institutions the luxury of developing highly Continued on next page.

Reap!

Banking — inside THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS

APRIL 5, 2019

THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:

$2.00

VOL. 45 NO. 14

Owen Industries embraces automation and employee training

by Richard D. Brown

Council Bluffs-based Studio K-Fit centers on physical, mental wellbeing.

– Page 2

40 er d Un 40 Meyer follows passion to private equity, community service. – Page 3

n si nd ands e r T idl Ag e M h t

Harsh winter, historic flooding create uncertainty for Nebraska agriculture. – Page 5

Although the past few years have been challenging for many companies in the steel industry, Owen Industries, a Carter Lakebased group of five steel-related firms, has added 75 production positions in its MVS metals operation including the addition of a third shift last June.

President Tyler Owen said the ramped-up hiring — along with a somewhat innovative and community-responsive hiring/training model — positions the 134-year-old company with a 185,000 square foot facility on a 36-acre campus at 500 Avenue H to harness a greater share of business being directed by several AP1000 nuclear power projects in the southern U.S. as well as strengthening its role as a supplier to John Deere plants.

“The work we supplied to the AP1000 nuclear power projects in South Carolina and Georgia were, by far, the most monumental projects in the history of the company,” Owen said. “The work we do as a Continued on page 7.

From left, Tyler Owen, president of Owen Industries and GM of PVS Structures; Brent Pfeiffer, assistant GM, PVS Structures; and Keith Siebels, senior vice president of sales, Owen Industries and GM, PVS Metals … A ramp up in hiring is leading the manufacture to take on more business.

(Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)

Kirsch Transportation set to move to Old Market; expands service offerings

by Michelle Leach

Council Bluffs-based Kirsch Transportation Services got its start just five months shy of 9/11. Eighteen years on, the women-owned and family-operated shipper and carrier solutions provider employs around 60 people, is diversifying with its specialized heavy-weight and over-dimensional shipments department, and is eyeing a mid- to

late-summer relocation to Omaha’s Old Market.

“Cam and Matt Kirsch purchased a property back in 2018,” said Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Becker of its future headquarters site in the area of 11th and Douglas streets. ”We have been actively renovating and developing it into an office outfitted for an Continued on page 26.

Attorney Karine Sokpoh … Educating clients about changes in immigration law so they can be compliant and know their rights.

Sokpoh Law Group helping Omaha immigrants grow their businesses

by Becky McCarville

From left, CEO and co-founder Camilla Moore Kirsch and COO Jeremy Becker … Family logistics and freight services business distinguishes in fiercely competitive environment with certification; sustains employee, vendor, shipper relationships.

Attorney Karine Sokpoh has helped 424 people start, grow and protect their businesses since she founded her law firm, Sokpoh Law Group, in 2011. She is hiring additional staff and hopes to add another attorney by the end of the year.

“It gives me a lot of joy in what I do when I’m able to help some other immigrants — make

their dreams come true by helping them open their business, helping them grow their business, helping them protect their business by registering their trademarks,” Sokpoh said. “It’s very rewarding seeing that because of my own story.”

Sokpoh came to the United States from Togo, a West African nation, by herself at age 18 to attend the University of Continued on page 25.

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• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Council Bluffs-based Studio K-Fit centers on physical, mental well-being

by Gabby Christensen

Ten years after taking the leap to open her own fitness studio, Fusion Fitness, owner and founder Kristen Rock-Reid decided it was time to open a new chapter by rebranding to become Studio K-Fit earlier this year. The name better represented not only herself, but also her business model.

Studio K-Fit Phone: 712-309-2225 Address: 1751 Madison Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51503 (located inside Mall of the Bluffs) Service: fitness studio offering a variety of exercise classes, as well as outdoor bootcamp, to all ages Founded: 2009 Goal: To remain at current location and increase client base.

Website: https://kfitexperience.com

Rock-Reid said the name was inspired by the letter of her first name, “K”.

“I think this change will help show clients what this business means to me,” Rock-Reid said. “I put my all into my work and I think the name is very fitting now.”

The studio, located inside the Mall of the Bluffs in Council Bluffs, offers various classes centered on boxing, cycling, lifting, running and other exercises.

She also provides personal training options.

“Each class I offer is unique,” Rock-Reid said. “I never want my clients to get bored so I’m always finding new ways to mix things up. Oftentimes, I have specific themes and music for my classes, which I’ve found my groups really enjoy.”

Lately, Rock-Reid said she’s noticed that fitness in general has become a

Owner Kristen Rock-Reid … Incorporating a variety of fitness classes to boost client base. huge trend.

While she is currently the only employShe said she tries to incorporate all ee at Studio K-Fit, she does have a few of the new and popular elements into her steady volunteers who help with some of class structure. her business tasks.

Rock-Reid originally started out by Typically, Rock-Reid said she serves offering an outdoor bootcamp, which is middle-aged women and men. still available today.

Sometimes, she said socioeconomics In fact, the outdoor bootcamp is offered and local competition can be a challenge, year-round with participants traveling but despite that, she’s found loyal customto various locations across the Council ers who continue to choose Studio K-Fit. Bluffs area.

“Some of my clients have started

bringing their children with them to classes even,” she said. “I absolutely love that. I hope to keep my clients and their families for a very long time.”

Rock-Reid, who has worked in the fitness industry for 27 years now, said she wants her space to be a safe place for people.

“Studio K-Fit is an outlet for some,” she said. “Everyone has something going on in their life. I want the studio to be a place where clients can come in and let it all go, or bring it to the studio and face it in class and conquer it.”

Over the years, Rock-Reid said movement has been her therapy and she hopes to offer that same service to others.

“I know my clients,” Rock-Reid said.

“I know how to push them and help them.

I think my reputation sets me apart in this community. I’ve had great mentors and I not only know what I’m doing, but I love what I’m doing — that makes all the difference.”

She said one of the best feelings is helping her clients both physically and mentally.

“It’s their time to be themselves and have a good time,” Rock-Reid said. “I love helping to facilitate it.”

After a decade of running her business, she said her goal is to maintain and grow her clientele while remaining at her current location for as long as possible.

“Five to 10 years from now, I just want to still be doing this,” Rock-Reid said.

“Fitness and my business are so important to me. I eat, sleep and breathe it. As always, I’m going to continue to work hard for my clients as they move through their fitness journeys.”

Midlands Business Journal Established in 1975

The Midlands Business Journal's

Business Minute Name: Brian Timm.

Age: 49.

Title: Director of facilities.

Place of employment: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

Associations/ Titles: President, Aquarium and Zoo Facilities Association (AZFA).

Hometown: Arlington, Nebraska.

Education: University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1992.

Timm How I got into the business: I had a background in construction, facilities management and being around animals, so it seemed to be a good fit.

Accomplishments or milestones: Through hard work and dedication, I have advanced my career to where it is today.

First job: Family farm.

Biggest career break: Working for the world’s best zoo and aquarium.

The toughest part of the job: Keeping

PUBLISHER & FOUNDER, Robert Hoig

Brian Timm, director of facilities Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

the many aspects of the job working in concert toward a common goal.

The best advice I have received: If you do what you can with what you have, you will always be successful.

About my family: Kristine and I have been married for 25 years and have two children.

Kamryn attends Loyola University in Chicago, and Alek will be attending the University of North Carolina this fall.

Something else I’d like to accomplish: Retire early and travel with my family.

Book I finished reading recently: “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow.

Something about me not everyone knows: I attended kindergarten through eighth grade in a two-room schoolhouse with four people in my class.

How my business will change in the next decade: From a facilities management point of view, there will be continued focus

on sustainability and conservation and having the ability to adapt to a greater role as strategic partners, investors and consultants as the demands of technology and smart buildings will further exceed their capacity to be serviced in-house.

Mentor who has helped the most in my career: My dad.

Outside interests: Traveling, playing golf, anything involving historical significance.

Pet peeves: Being late, expired car tags.

Favorite vacation spot: Germany.

Other careers I would like to try: Architect.

Favorite movie: “Shawshank Redemption.”

Favorite cause or charity: Habitat for Humanity.

Favorite app: MLB At Bat. (Editor’s note: To nominate an interesting businessman or woman for the Business Minute, please e-mail information about the person to news@mbj.com.)

ADMINISTRATION VP OF OPERATIONS, Andrea “Andee” Hoig

EDITORIAL EDITOR & VICE PRESIDENT OF NEWS, Tiffany Brazda EDITORIAL ASSISTANT, Savannah Behrends STAFF WRITER, Becky McCarville

ADVERTISING ADVERTISING CONSULTANT, Catie Kirby ADVERTISING CONSULTANT, Julie Whitehead OFFICE OFFICE ASSISTANT, Rosemary Gregurich BOOKKEEPING/LEGAL NOTICES, Beth Grube

(402) 330-1760 Zane D. Randall (1925-2006) Co-founder LeAnne M. Iwan (1932-1986) First News Editor

The Midlands Business Journal (ISSN 0194-4525) is published weekly plus one by MBJ Inc. and is available for $2.00 per individual copy or $75 per year. Editorial offices are 1324 S. 119th St., Omaha, NE 68144. Periodical postage paid at Omaha NE POSTMASTER; Send address changes to Midlands Business Journal, 1324 S. 119th St., Omaha, NE 68144. All submissions to the Midlands Business Journal become the property of the Midlands Business Journal and will not be returned.

Written permission must be obtained from Midlands Business Journal and MBJ, Inc., to post any of our stories or other published materials on a website. Under no circumstances, because of spamming potential and other issues, will permission be granted to transmit our stories by email.

-The Publisher.

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

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Meyer follows passion to private equity, community service Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of profiles featuring Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40 award winners — entrepreneurs, business owners, managers and professionals under 40 years of age.

by Dwain Hebda

When Chase Meyer was preparing to leave for college, he asked his father what he should study. Knowing the field was in high demand, his father recommended actuarial science, a suggestion that made sense given the University of Nebraska’s nationally known program on the subject.

The younger Meyer gave it the old college try, but quickly found out the field wasn’t for him.

“By my sophomore year, I knew I didn’t want to be an actuary full time, because there wasn’t enough of the business side,” he said. “It was more stats and math than I ultimately wanted.”

Meyer, a Fremont native, wouldn’t discover his true calling in life, private equity, until he landed at Harvard Business School.

“I didn’t even know what private equity was,” he remembered. “I think what attracted me to the field was one, it's really challenging and it’s a fast-paced environment. But there’s also a lot of diversity of work. I’m always learning about new things, new industries, new teams.

“And I get to work with leaders of organizations to build better businesses, which ultimately results in job creation for economies throughout the U.S. So that was pretty exciting for me.”

Meyer landed at McCarthy Capital 10 years ago and quickly became a rising star in

the local industry. He is the youngest principal in the firm’s history and has sourced multiple transactions, which have a 40 percent internal rate of return (IRR). He was also recognized by M&A Advisor as one of the organization's 2018 Emerging Leaders, a national honor.

He’s been equally impactful serving in industry organizations and mentoring groups.

Among his positions are president of the board of the Nebraska Chapter of the Association of Corporate Growth, a business economic development organization, and the Young Alumni Advisory Board at the UNL College of Business.

But his most visible contribution away from work has come through his involvement with Completely Kids, an organization that seeks to break the cycle of poverty for children and families. As chairman of the board, Meyer is spearheading a $10 million capital campaign for a building expansion. This project will boost the number of children served by 292 percent and the number of families served by 475 percent.

“One of the things that they do a really good job of at Harvard is they instill in your mind that they don’t just bring people to school to be business leaders,” he said.

“You need to be a leader in your community, and that means giving back. I’ve always had a heart for kids and education — my father was a teacher early on in his career and my brother is a teacher — so I really had a heart for the Completely Kids mission.”

Meyer sees more similarities than differences among his professional and personal activities. Primarily, he said, in how each in its own way leads people down the path to realize their

McCarthy Capital Principal Chase Meyer … Focusing on both professional and volunteer activities to create rewarding career. full potential, be it as a business owner or as a me awake every morning. family looking for a better life for their children.

“I think ultimately it is because we are “As I go about my daily job, it helps me creating economic opportunities and jobs for realize that there’s more to life than just doing people throughout the U.S. I don't see that on a your typical day-to-day job,” Meyer said. “It day-to-day basis, then I go to Completely Kids helps me think through why I do what I do, you and that reminds me. There, I see at a micro know, what is it about private equity that gets level that hey, we’re helping employ people.”

Proud Sponsors of the 2018 40 Under 40:

4

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Area businesses offer assistance to flood victims

by Gabby Christensen

There’s no doubt that communities across Nebraska have been feeling the impact from the recent widespread flooding.

Despite the current obstacles, local businesses and organizations have been working to provide substantial assistance.

Renee Campbell, director of investor relations and corporate communications at Valmont, said the safety of employees remains a No. 1 priority.

“As flood waters started to surround our manufacturing facility in Valley on Clark the morning of Friday, March 15, we made the decision to pre-emptively close the site to ensure our employees were safe,” Campbell said.

“Fortunately, the majority of our buildings on site were not impacted and remained dry.”

The facility remained closed through Thursday and reopened on Friday.

Campbell said facilities in Columbus and West Point were also impacted but remained operational.

“One of the biggest initial challenges was the closure of many major roads and highways leading to and from our facilities,” Campbell said. “Fortunately, many of those roads have since re-opened, allowing

Hy-Vee teamed up with the Nebraska National Guard and Nebraska State Patrol to deliver supplies to Fremont. (Courtesy of Hy-Vee) our employees to return safely to work.”

“This has impacted some businesses in Campbell said Valmont has financially the way of helping to pay those working supported local relief organizations and or making sure that they would receive is supporting employees’ efforts to assist payment while the flooding recedes and with flood recovery. assessments take place.”

Garry Clark, executive director of the Clark said Fremont Beef, which was Greater Fremont Development Council, directly impacted, decided the business said the flooding has greatly affected would pay workers what they would lose businesses. in pay due to the flood.

“Workers were impacted by homes He said he saw similar examples of this being destroyed or evacuated,” Clark said. from Costco/Lincoln Premium Poultry and

other companies.

Clark also said businesses in all industries have worked to support the community and surrounding area.

“I think this experience will be a lengthy process, but seeing the will of the people, the collective support, leaves us all with the understanding that we are Fremont Strong, Nebraska Strong, and we will rebuild and be better,” Clark said.

Christina Gayman, director of public relations at HyVee, said while none of the stores have been directly affected by actual floodwaters, the company has certainly seen the impact.

“We are doing everything we can to Goes be good community partners and help those in need,” she said.

Working with the Nebraska State Patrol and the Nebraska National Guard, Hy-Vee organized a convoy of eight trucks filled with food, water and gas supplies to enter the flood-surrounded community of Fremont.

Hy-Vee also donated 108,804 bottles and 3,024 gallon jugs of water to the American Red Cross for distribution across the state.

Hy-Vee also held a supply drive in Lincoln with Channel 10/11, in which more than $27,000 was raised and three Hy-Vee semis were filled with cleaning supplies to Continued on page 21.

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Ag Trends

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

5

in the Midlands

April 5, 2019

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Harsh winter, historic flooding create uncertainty for Nebraska agriculture

by Jasmine Heimgartner

In early March, the outlook for agriculture in Nebraska was projected to have tight margins in both livestock and crop yields, tighter for some others, but there was a relatively positive outlook. That all changed within a few days of historic flooding that left an aftermath from which farmers and ranchers are still reeling.

“Almost all producers in the state will be negatively affected by this weather event, from relatively small effects to catastrophic where basically all their livestock and buildings are gone,” said Steve Nelson, president of the NeNelson braska Farm Bureau.

“My concern is that we have a lot of people facing tight margins before, and now they have some major losses to deal with. It’s just to be expected that some people will not be able to survive this. I hope I’m wrong, but that is a major concern.”

Prior to the flooding — which is estimated to have impacted approximately 75 percent of counties, many of which are part of a national disaster declaration — the agricultural industry was already facing some challenges. While the protein sector has been in expansion mode, an extremely harsh winter created its own uncertainty.

“Faced with one of the worst winters, performance was hampered,” said Tom Jensen, senior vice president, Correspondent and Agribusiness Banking, First National Bank. “The cost of operating a feedlot went up dramatically to protect the livestock. As these feed yards get back to normal conditions, they will have more expenses. There is a positive story to tell — beef demand is strong and robust.”

Throughout the past year, tariffs have been a source of frustration across sectors.

“Growers are dealing with a lot of uncertainty,” said Randy Wood, president of Global Agricultural Irrigation, Lindsay Corporation.

“Producers were still bouncing around at near breaking levels, even before the flood. Tariffs are affecting costs in what they buy as well as affecting their bottom line. It’s caused a lot of customers to take a wait-and-see attitude.”

The flooding only solidified the need for that attitude. Although the water levels are decreasing, its effects have left standing water, muddy conditions, erosion and debris. With

Randy Wood, president of Global Agricultural Irrigation at Lindsay Corporation. more rain projected for the spring, growers moving to ethanol or milk moving to a dairy, are still figuring out their spring plans while everything that needs to be moved is facing they focus on taking care of their families, difficulties.

“Agriculture is dependent on transportaanimals and the cleanup.

In addition to damaged fields, infrastruc- tion, and it can be critical long-term as any ture in some places was obliterated. Whether other factor,” Jensen said. “With the road moving livestock, transporting feed, corn situation, people have to travel extra miles

just to feed their animals, so there will be a lot of added time and cost. The rail industry is important in moving grain, and there has also been a major impact there.”

While the true impact may take years to be realized, especially for fields near riverbanks and those with eroded topsoil, there are some positives within the devastation.

The fact that growers are not yet ready for planting season offers a little leeway. Modern machinery allows for planting thousands of acres in days instead of weeks, possibly giving farmland time to dry out. Other technologies also can help offset costs down Jensen the road.

“Without a scientific-based tool, you might look at crop health and think it needs to be irrigated,” Wood said. “If it looks like it needs water, it’s often too late. We have a cloud-based irrigation tool that allows customers to determine when and how much to irrigate. It incorporates crop type and weather patterns to help make those decisions to help reduce risk and improve value.”

With all the unknowns, one thing has Continued on next page.

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• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Ag Trends in the Midlands

Agriculture lending challenges banks

by David Kubicek

With financial organizations and large software firms focusing on big ticket items like commercial lending and mortgages, agriculture is often left behind, but other mid-sized and smaller firms are stepping up.

“Being born in and living in Nebraska, you get to see firsthand the importance of the ag sector in the U.S.,” said Raymond “Jay” Garren, founder and president of Midwest Cloud Computing. “Ag represents a challenge because it’s a bit different. We write an integrated platform for borrowers and lenders so they’re looking at a single pane of glass. In the ag space, we listen to the farmers and base our solutions on what would help them be more productive.”

The firm specializes in a product that pulls data out of banking solutions on the larger bank’s site and makes it available to companies that do loan originations and score produce documents.

“For them to score it, it’s much better if they have the information out of the bank’s core banking solution,” Garren said.

Nora Turner, vice president and loan officer in Union Bank and Trust’s (UBT) agricultural lending division, said the biggest difference in getting ag credit approval — from other types of lending — is the way the more traditional producer is paid.

“It’s important to understand the way their income comes in based on different options of taking or deferring income so they are able to make projections and understand the income-producing assets that farmers and ranchers own and how the income potential is projected,” she said.

Nebraska agriculture Continued from preceding page. remained tried and true. Whether associated with farming or not — Nebraskans care.

“The amazing generosity and outpouring of people’s resources has been remarkable,” Nelson said. “There has been story after story of neighbor helping neighbor in these affected areas, as well as outpouring from all over.

People are resourceful and resilient, and they will do what they need to survive.”

The biggest trend in agriculture is the down cycle in commodity prices, which puts pressure on ag producers’ cash flow and their ability to service the debt they have.

“That’s the trend we’ve really been watching over the past several years and the pressure it’s putting on liquidity and the ability for operations to make m o n e y, ” T u r n e r Turner said. “[Ag producers] need to keep debt low or at levels that they can service comfortably so they have liquidity in their operations. That’s the key to success, and it’s also difficult to do.”

With a UMB working capital line of credit, customers can access funds that help them get through their day-to-day operating

needs, whether it’s accommodating market scheduling, funding expenses related to livestock and feed, or covering the costs of input for grain operations, according to Bill Watson, president of agribusiness at UMB Bank.

Equipment lending can help customers access the most up-to-date tools to improve efficiency and output.

“We finance a variety of equipment, including planting and harvesting equipment, general ground preparation and Watson maintenance tools, irrigation systems, and animal handling systems,” Watson said.

UMB’s agribusiness real estate financing can open doors to expansion by helping customers purchase production land, stateof-the-art livestock facilities, and shop/ maintenance facilities.

“We provide a custom business assessment that helps identify areas of improvement to reduce financial risk for our customers,” Watson said.

UMB’s treasury management solutions for managing lines of credit, receivables and payables helps its customers streamline their accounting goals, which in turn helps meet their overall financial goals.

UMB can help its customers build an estate plan that lays the foundation for their business’ success both currently and in the future, and the bank’s holistic private wealth management services are designed to give personal attention and comprehensive financial solutions tailored to its customers’ banking and credit management needs.

“We provide a level of thoughtful planning and advising for all of our ag customers, which means we get in the weeds with them and truly get to know their operations,” Watson said. “We’ve seen this hands-on approach result in a better ability to manage our customers’ long-term risk as well as day-to-day operations.”

“It’s not so much about the features — those should just come with it,” he said. “We always try to look at it from a customer perspective, and realize that this technology enables growers to make better decisions through collecting this data. I look at farming as a startup every year with a multitude of stakeholders — financial institutions, feed/chemical people, equipment Schofield dealers — who are invested and involved in the farming operation. Precision ag technology sets out to create a seamless transition of information between all of these entities by offering a simple decision-making tool for the operation.”

Additionally, Mecham said the data helps growers consider sustainability practices that can allow them to continue to farm in the future.

John Schofield, North America marketing coordinator at CLAAS of America, said some new technology in the farming industry includes precision farming, farming automation and telematics.

“As input costs and environmental concerns rise, farmers work to manage the amount of water, seed, fertilizer and chemicals they apply on different zones in their fields,” he said. “By closely monitoring soil conditions and yields in various parts of the field, they are able to precisely administer their various inputs in order to improve soil conditions where it makes sense and not waste inputs where the resulting increase in yields isn’t worth the investment.”

Schofield said the result of farming automation is a more efficient use of fuel, reduced time of operation, less grain loss, higher yields and easier operation.

With telematics, he said it’s all about sharing knowledge.

“All of the data being gathering on sensors and computer chips in today’s high-tech ag equipment can be accessed remotely on the Continued on page 10.

New ag equipment, technology allows for better efficiency

by Gabby Christensen

Growers across the region are utilizing various new equipment and technology trends to better their farming operation, according to industry experts.

Trevor Mecham, vice president of global technology strategy at Valley Irrigation, a Valmont Company, said tracking data through precision ag has been a Mecham huge trend lately.

“Utilizing precision ag technology has become as common as having Bluetooth in your vehicle,” he said. “This technology has shown great benefits and value to growers by helping to reduce input costs and increase yield.”

Mecham said it’s important for ag tech companies to understand that growers are looking for value when considering adopting a precision ag product.

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Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

7

Owen Industries embraces automation and employee training Continued from page 1. key supplier to John Deere continues to amaze me and we continue to maintain a level of excellence from parts to powder coating.”

The Slagger, a steel cutting table developed

by MVS in 1999 and made at its Sioux City, Iowa plant, has hit $80 million in sales and an employee celebration was recently held to celebrate the production of the 1,000th unit.

Owen Industries Phone: 712-347-5500 Address: 500 Avenue H, Carter Lake, Iowa 51510 Services: steel distribution, first-step steel processing, steel products, structural steel fabrication and enhanced powder coating Founded: 1885 as Paxton & Vierling Iron Works Employees: just under 500 One-year goal: Embrace automation to reduce overall labor demand in products and allow for streamlined and increased output.

Industry outlook: Best opportunities exist for the firms that continue to target automation, while successfully recruiting and training skilled workers.

Website: www.owenind.com

“Automation is the key,” Owen said, when discussing what’s being asked of steel producers and metal fabricators.

Owen, son of company CEO Robert Owen, said the family business is being buoyed by technology that is finally being produced that makes programming for small batch runs simple and effective.

“It will only improve, leading to large productivity gains in the industry,” he said.

“We believe that more automation will actually lead to a larger employee base, as more simple steps will be automated, leaving larger revenue opportunities for the complex scope.”

As the fourth generation Owen family member to be president of the company, the younger Owen said more than $50 million has been invested in Owen Industries facilities since 2014 and that the information technology area will continue to be emphasized, in large part given the level of interoperability that has been woven throughout the systems.

Keith Siebels, senior vice president of sales/ general manager of PVS Metals, said at least $6

In the PVS Metals building, Chit Htoo works on laser cutting. million has been invested in the past two years whereas 95 percent of our work is railroad with the purchase of new fiber and tube lasers related.” and waterjet and plasma cutting technology to Pfeiffer, who came to Owen Industries in cut any shape in a variety of materials. Addi- 2015, said PVS Structures differentiates itself tional customers in the ag and trailer industries by the skill set of employees attracted, plus a have been acquired in a service area that extends heavy investment in equipment that enables from North Dakota to Oklahoma. acceleration of bridge fabrication and construcA planned investment in 2020 will include tion projects. a higher (10,000 watt) laser, which can shave “Our equipment and skill set enable us cutting time by 5 to 7 percent. to put many parts of the project together on“We build about 7,500 different intricate ground and then drop it into place,” he said. parts,” Siebels said.

Siebels, a 24-year veteran of Owen InPhotos by MBJ / Becky McCarville dustries, said the work, which requires good Modules can weigh up to thousands of attention to quality, a keen sense of customer service and a focus on on-time delivery benefits pounds and be up to 150 feet long.

Tyler Owen, who assumed the president’s from several long-term employees with 33 to office in 2016, said a bold step was taken to up to 44 years experience.

Brent Pfeiffer, assistant general manager address the less than 3 percent unemployment and vice president of sales of PVS Structures, rate in the local market and the enhanced sooversees three verticals — structural steel phistication and precision of positions being fabrication for commercial office buildings in advertised.

What was rolled out was an “earn while Omaha and the region, fabrication for power and industrial customers including nuclear you learn” initiative in conjunction with the waste sites, and heavy structural projects pre- U.S. Department of Labor and Iowa Western Community College. Financial support comes dominantly for railroads.

“We do work for 10 railroads in the western from Owen Industries.

Via PVS Structures, a steel fabrication half of the nation,” he said. “Most of our competitors sell to DOTs or departments of roads company, a participant is hired full-time and

Devan Hall, laser operator.

receives a steady paycheck while completing a two-year nationally accredited DOL welder apprenticeship program.

Owen Industries Vice President of Human Resources Ron DeBord told Midlands Business Journal the program is Iowa’s first competency-based welding apprenticeship, which requires apprentices to demonstrate mastery of skills rather than just sitting through a predetermined number of classroom sessions.

DeBord said participants are allowed to move faster through topics they understand while tackling tougher subjects at a slower pace.

“These apprentices are doing an incredible job for us here at PVS Structural Fabrication,” he said. “They are now making more money in a career field that has tremendous job security — welding and fabrication.”

DeBord said testimonials from some of the program’s successful participants have been quite humbling. He gave MBJ a written testimonial from Brad, a 25-year-old with some experience in construction and a year of welding at the community college-level prior to joining the PVA-Structural Fabrication Welder Apprenticeship Program.

“There has been a big change in my skill level,” Brad wrote. “There are a lot of highly skilled welders here that were generally interested in teaching and helping me grow my skills.”

In the PVS-Structural Fabrication Welder Program, Josh — a former auto detailer and ag store employee who started the program at age 18 — wrote: “Since my hire date as an apprentice, I have grown tremendously with respect to my welding skills, especially now being able to read structural steel fabrication drawings and understanding the benefits of working on a team.”

One apprentice completed the two-year pilot program in 2018. Three more apprentices previously hired will finish the training program in October of this year. An additional three have been hired for the September 2019 class with a 2021 completion date.

“The main obstacle to our program is finding a good fit,” DeBord said.

A training coordinator was hired to identify the learning style of each apprentice.

Owen Industries is looking at expanding the program for additional company positions within its PVS-Metals Division, including laser operators and press break operators.

Nick Francis, left, and Juan Cardenas work on the press brake.

8

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

SECTIONS

IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

APRIL 12

TECHNOLOGY

APRIL 19

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

INVESTING IN RETIREMENT APRIL 26

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

U.S. Cellular announced the three winners of its second annual Black History Month Art Contest with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands. Club members created original pieces of artwork in recognition of influential African Americans. The winning artists were awarded the following prizes: April Boothe won $250 for first place on the Little Girl with Mrs. Obama in Eye creation; Emilio Avendeno picked up $150 for second place with a Martin Luther King drawing; and Janihya Liggins earned $100 for third place on the Bob Marley artwork.

Oxbow Animal Health has added new young formulas and larger sizes to its popular Garden Select line of small animal foods. The new young formulas include young rabbit, young guinea pig, and mouse & young rat.

In addition, Garden Select formulas will be available in larger and bulk sizes. Garden Select combines wholesome, enriching ingredients with select garden favorites to deliver complete and balanced nutrition for small pets.

Brad Dombrosky and Michele Stagemeyer, mortgage loan originators with First National Bank of Omaha, have passed the qualifying exams to earn the Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist designation granted by the CMPS Institute. The CMPS Institute is a national organization that certifies mortgage bankers and brokers to help borrowers choose the right mortgage strategies. The CMPS curriculum incorporates five essential skill sets including: Mortgage & Real Estate Taxation; Housing, Financial & Mortgage Markets; Cash Flow Planning; Real Estate Investment Planning; and Ethics and Compliance.

The Nebraska State Bar Foundation honored Gary Gotsdiner with the Lifetime Achievement Award, District Court Judge Mary Gilbride with the Legal Pioneer Award, and retired Administrative Judge and former Lancaster County Attorney Ron Lahners with the Distinguished Service Award. The new class of fellows are: Jeffrey Blumel, Max Burbach, Ronald Comes, Patrick Cooper, M. Douglas Deitchler, Robert Gonderinger, Michael Huffer, Jeffrey Jarecki, Bradley Kalkwarf, Jennifer Kulwicki, Hon. John Marsh, Michael Matukewicz, Richard Moberly, Edward Morse, Denise Myers, Hon. Michael Nelson, Justice Jonathan Papik, Hon. Holly J. Parsley, Hon. Michael Piccolo, Todd Richardson, Hon. Rick Schreiner, Lawrence Sheehan, Hon. Julie Smith, Hon. Michael Smith, Cathy Trent-Vilim, Janine Ucchino, Kelly Werts, Hon. Paul Wess. Hon. Horacio Wheelock and Melanie Whittamore-Mantzios.

Health care notes…

LEGAL PROFESSION To advertise your company’s products or services in one of our upcoming sections, contact one of our MBJ advertising representatives at (402) 330-1760 or at the email addresses below.

Julie Whitehead - Julie@mbj.com • Catie Kirby - ads@mbj.com Space and materials deadline is the Friday prior to the publication date.

You may email us your insertion orders directly, or fax them to us at (402) 758-9315. We will acknowledge receiving your instructions.

Women facing a breast cancer diagnosis may initially feel helpless. But a unique event at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Center aims to empower them to make informed and personal choices about their surgical options. BARE: Breast Awareness Reconstruction Event on April 17 at the Fred & Pamela Buffet Cancer Center will discuss lumpectomy, mastectomy and reconstruction with Nebraska Medicine surgeons. Women who attend will also meet face to face with cancer survivors. Nebraska Medicine is teaming up with Project Pink’d to offer the event for the second time. Women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer or those at high risk for developing breast cancer are encouraged to attend. Programming on support and coping will be available for family members and friends while patients meet with the survivors. Those who plan to attend should RSVP to Haley Armstrong at harmstrong@nebraskamed.com prior to April 8.

Education notes…

Robert Lewis, Ph.D., the Edward and Lida Robinson Professor of Cancer Research at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, has been honored as the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Scientist Laureate. Lewis’s research explores proteins that appear necessary for the viability, survival and growth of tumor cells, but that are dispensable for the growth and survival of normal cells. UNMC also awarded Mohammad Siahpush, Ph. D., College of Public Health, with the Research Leadership Award.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has honored the following with the Distinguished Scientist Award: David Dzewaltowski, Ph.D., College of Public Health; Corinne Hanson, Ph.D., College of Allied Health Professions; Javeed Iqbal, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Pete Iwen, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Donald Klepser, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy; Max Kurz, Ph.D., Munroe-Meyer Institute; Yulong Li, M.D., Ph.D., College of Medicine; Matthew Lunning, D.O., College of Medicine; Scot Ouellette, Ph.D., College of Medicine; and Tony Wilson, Ph.D., College of Medicine.

The University of Nebraska Medical School honored the following with New Investigator Award: Bin Duan, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Christine Eisenhauer, Ph.D., College of Nursing; Minglei Guo, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Guoku Hu, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Sukhwinder Kaur, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Sushil Kumar, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Caroline Ng, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Armen Petrosyan, Ph.D., College of Medicine; St. Patrick Reid, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Vinai Chittezham Thomas, Ph.D., College of Medicine; Saraswathi Viswanathan, Ph.D., College of Medicine; and Aaron Yoder, Ph.D., College of Public Health.

Mercy High School is sponsoring a prepaid plant sale that runs through April 16, culminating with a plant pickup on May 4. All proceeds will directly support the Negotiated Tuition Program, a tuition assistance program for students. Mercy students will be the sellers.

Ace Hardware will provide a variety of colorful annual bedding plants and hanging baskets for sale. Order your plants online or through a Mercy student.

Activities of nonprofits…

Completely Kids is hosting its Author Luncheon on April 10 at the Hilton Omaha, 1001 Cass Street, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The keynote speaker will be Jessica Lahey, a teacher, New York Times best-selling author and columnist. Her book, “The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed,” addresses “overparenting” based on her experiences as an educator and a mom. Visit completelykids. org or call 402-397-5809 for reservations and sponsorship opportunities. Patron tickets are $100; individual, $75.

United Way of the Midlands is hosting A Concert & Conversation with Peter Buffett at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Strauss Performing Arts Center on April 11.

Peter, son of investor Warren Buffett, currently serves as the co-president of the NoVo Foundation. He has an acclaimed career as an Emmy Award winning musician, composer, philanthropist and author. During the event, he will share stories about growing up in the Buffett family, his personal views on complex social issues and the important role of philanthropy.

He seeks to inspire business leaders, philanthropists and young people in attendance to become Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

9

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. further involved in their local communities and create lasting change.

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands will release its 2019 Nonprofit Econom-

ic Impact Report at its first annual Member Appreciation Celebration on April 16 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, 2201 Farnam St. in Omaha. The report from NAM, which compiles data on how much nonprofits

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS Tuesday, April 9 ICAN is hosting its fourth 7x7x7 event in Lincoln. Attendees will hear from seven local leaders speaking for seven minutes each on seven different topics relevant to business leadership and community action. Speakers include: Tony Goins, chief business optimizer, The Business Optimizer & Partners LLC; Miki Esposito, director of transportation and utilities, City of Lincoln; Bryan Seck, director of workforce development, Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, developer of the Prosper Lincoln Employment Skills Initiative; Kim Robak, partner, Mueller Robak LLC and former lieutenant governor; Dr. Steve Joel, superintendent, Lincoln Public Schools; Courtney Rodgers, VP of product management, Hudl; and Britt Ehlers, VP of development / general counsel, Arbor Day Foundation.

The Business Ethics Alliance is hosting its Spring Mind Candy Dialogue from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Temple Israel, 13111 Sterling Ridge Drive. This month’s session will focus on “Apologies in the Workplace, Making Amends and Restoring Trust.”

Dr. Bev Kracher will guide the discussion between panelists Van Deeb, CEO of Deeb Companies, Shonna Dorsey, senior business consultant at Mutual of Omaha, and Patricia Kearns, CEO of QLI. Registration is available online.

The Human Resource Association of the Midlands is hosting its April program from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Scott Conference Center, 6450 Pine St. in Omaha. The keynote speaker will be Tania Richard who is a equity, diversity, and inclusion consultant and owner of Improve Delivery: Improvisation Training for Professionals. The actress will lead participants through skill building exercises centered on navigating difficult conversations about race. Registration is available online.

The Omaha Downtown Improvement District is hosting a Downtown Resident Security Forum starting at 5:30 p.m. at the SoMa Gallery on 11th and Leavenworth streets. The ODID will be guiding a conversation with the Omaha Police Department and Lion’s Gate Security Solutions and will talk about trends and solutions for safety in the neighborhood. It was also discuss homelessness and resources available as well as a preview of the personal defense classes to be offered this summer.

Wednesday, April 10 Young Black & Influential, ShareOMAHA, Nonprofit Association of the Midlands and ThriVinci have teamed up to host a Board Diversity Round Table from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Cups Café, 1502 S. 10th St. Centering racial identities is important when creating and building effective boards here in the metro. The group will discuss board diversity, some initiatives on the horizon and what you can do to champion this conversation within your organization. There is no cost to attend but space is limited and guests are advised to register on Eventbrite.

The American Marketing Association Omaha Chapter is hosting its monthly meeting at SilverStone Group from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eric Wallace, marketing strategist & SEO analyst at JM Web Designs, will

present how to judge each channel of digital marketing, if it’s right for your company, and how JM thinks about marketing online now and 10 years from now. Registration is available online.

A workshop on Using Data Interpretation Sessions to Engage and Inform will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Community Engagement Center. The workshop will be presented by Natalie Scarpa and December Lange Treacy. This interactive workshop will go over the value and challenges of interactive data sessions, various data interpretation approaches, and how to plan an interactive data interpretation session. The cost to attend is $40 for general audience, $20 for students and an additional $10 for CEU’s.

Nearly 1000 foundation and concrete repair contractors from across North America will flock to Omaha’s CHI Health Center for Supportworks, Inc.’s third annual Redefine Conference, April 10–12. Supportworks designs, manufactures and supplies solutions for foundation and concrete repair, as well as coaching, software and resources to help its exclusive dealers grow and sustain their businesses. The conference includes: keynote addresses from author Patrick Lencioni and comedian Michael Jr.; the launch of new solutions for concrete and foundation repair; industry awards; in-depth training sessions spanning marketing, sales and customer care, installation and service, and back-office functions; and social events, wellness activities and team-building.

Thursday, April 11 The 4th Annual International Trade Conference will take place at Bellevue University’s John B. Muller Administrative Services Building from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The conference will include a panel discussion on global trade, a keynote address by Lindsay Corporation’s President of Agricultural Agriculture Randy Wood, a discussion on 2019 tariffs and trade policy’s and sanctions. A networking reception will follow the event.

Registration is online and the event is free to attend.

Arbor University and Goosmann Law Firm will present “YOU… The Brand” at the April program of EmpowHer Series at the Nuri Event Studio from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Presenters include Janet Orcutt, co-owner of SOAR Marketing, and Rachel Thompson, marketing director for Goosmann Law Firm.

Registration is available online.

Friday, April 12 A Time to Heal Cancer Foundation is hosting the 5th annual two-day Live Your Best Life Celebration and Conference at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha. The Celebration Luncheon, on April 12, is an opportunity to help support cancer survivors and care givers, with proceeds funding A Time to Heal’s free wellness recovery classes and programs. The keynote speaker will be cancer survivor and Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton. Breakout sessions will include immunology, creativity, exercise and more.

Continuing Education credits are available for health care professionals. Registration is available online.

contribute to the Nebraska economy, was developed by Category One Consulting and sponsored by the Harry A. Koch Company.

The Center for Public Affairs Research at UNO, home to the Nebraska State Data Center, reviewed and supports the report. The free Member Appreciation event, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., is open to anyone interested in networking with nonprofit professionals, but registration is required at nonprofitam.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Omaha has named Drew Collier the new chair of the board.

He is joined on Habitat Omaha’s Executive Committee by Vice-Chair Levi Scheppers, CEO, OrthoNebraska; Treasurer Rollie Johns, executive vice president & chief financial officer, CSG International; and Secretary George Achola, vice president & legal counsel, Burlington Capital Real Estate. New board of directors members are: Javier Fernandez, chief financial officer, OPPD; Dan Houghton, co-founder & EVP, Buildertrend; Ryan Iwansky, financial advisor, D.A. Davidson & Co.; Brian Miles, senior VP & chief compliance officer, Bridges Trust; and Angel Starks, chief experience officer and team lead for Team Locale, Nebraska Realty.

Arts and events…

Susan G. Komen Great Plains will host its fifth annual Pink Ribbon Affair on April 6 at the Hilton Omaha from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Guests will have a four-course food and wine pairing experience with live music from Michael Lyon, followed by a live auction and recognition of local professionals who support the local fight against breast cancer. Tony Caniglia, owner of 11-Worth Café; Steve Jackson with Douglas County Health Department; Bob Quartoroli with Dreamscape Homes; and Jason Tonjes with Bland & Associates will be honored as the

2019 Pink Tie Guys. Additional information and tickets can be purchased online.

Metropolitan Community College’s annual International Fair will bring entertainment from around the globe to the college on April 11 from 10 a.m.to 7:30 p.m. inside the Connector Building at the South Omaha Campus. The event is free and open to the public and will feature global displays, area organizations and a USCIS Naturalization Ceremony, which will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the Industrial Training Center at the South Omaha Campus, room 120.

The event is aimed toward giving attendees of all ages the opportunity to learn about different cultures. Musicians, dancers and performers will then take center stage throughout the day.

The Omaha premiere of “Out There,” a concept video album and live performance by art-pop psychedelic duo Princess (Alexis Gideon and Michael O’Neill) that explores the role men ought to be playing during the current cultural reckoning of misogyny, followed by a Q&A with Rachel Adams, chief curator and director of programs. The event will take place at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts on April 13 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Oprah Winfrey’s “all-time-favorite guest,” Dr. Tererai Trent, one of the world’s most recognized voices for education, equality and women’s empowerment, will be speaking at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on April 13 as part of The Leadership Africa Summit.

Trent’s motivation story of growing up in rural Zimbabwe to becoming an author and founder of Tererai Trent International has been shared across the globe, including the UN Global Compact Leader’s Summit. The Leadership Africa Summit is a one-of-kind conference that brings together a diverse group of young professionals, entrepreneurs and African leaders.

10

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Hiring professional help for temporary work gives businesses flexibility and options

by Lee Nelson

Anytime there is low unemployment, there is increased demand for temporary employees, said Kevin Semerad, field services at Command Center.

“Employers today need to be able to respond quickly to the opportunities presented to them,” he said. “Temporary employees can be a critical component to that, especially when employees are less readily available.”

Temporary employees have the ability to augment staffing needs during peak seasonality, projects and any other type of increased demand, he said.

“You must also consider the opportunity cost for business lost while ramping up your staff,” Semerad said. “Thinking longer term, if those employees and employers are determined to be a good fit for each other, there is typically a path to conversion, which is a great success story.”

Employers are always looking for those that can add value to their company. While the skills may change with time or by the scope of a project, those employees that are team players are willing to learn their business are always highly sought after, he said.

Tori Young, managing director at Client Resources Inc., said bringing in contract

New ag equipment Continued from page 6. farmer’s computer and other smart devices,” Schofield said. “The farmer’s dealer can also access that data remotely to help them diagnose problems and anticipate what repair parts they might need to bring to the field.”

Additionally, Schofield said low margins and high equipment costs are forcing many farmers to take a closer look at the ROI a certain piece of equipment provides.

Seth Scott, aftermarket manager at Platte Valley Equipment, said the connection to equipment through telematics is more important than ever as the industry heads to fully autonomous vehicles/equipment.

“The availability of skilled labor is impacting this trend and the need for autonomous vehicles/equipment,” he said. “When it’s autonomous, you’ll be able to need at least one less operator because you can program one vehicle and mirror those settings to another vehicle. It’ll be a game changer.”

Additionally, Scott said the accuracy of the data from the machines is real-time and consistent.

“It eliminates the human error involved when transferring data,” he said. “Before we were just analyzing agronomic data, but now we’re actually analyzing machine data within the operation. The machine data is able to tell us machine health, productivity, location and efficiency.”

As operations continue to grow in size, Scott said machine productivity and utilization is increased.

“If you know what a machine will accomplish in a day, you’ll know exactly how much work you can complete with that machine in any given timeframe,” he said. “With the changing weather patterns, the available time to be in a field is getting less predictable. By utilizing machine data, we can maximize the farmer’s efficiency to get as much done in the good weather days as possible.”

resources with specific expertise can create capacity for a team and can help a team meet a significant deadline or bring the expertise that an existing team may be lacking.

“The expertise may not be needed long term but needed to achieve something specific such as integrating a new software package or building new software that the existing team can maintain once it’s in production,” she said.

Young The beauty of bringing in contract resources for a defined period of time is that it allows a company to get all of the benefit from what the person or team of people can offer but not be obligated to these people once they’ve obtained what they need, Young said.

“IT development, project management and quality assurance testing roles are in constant demand as companies work to build

and maintain technology solutions that drive their businesses,” she said.

Pam Hickey, branch manager at Celebrity Staff, an affiliate of C&A Industries Inc., said many of the candidates that they work with come to them seeking permanent positions.

“As we talk with them, we uncover whether or not temporary opportunities would meet their short-term goals, which could be an Sandall eagerness to get back to work, the need to pay their bills, and/or a designer to keep their skills current,” she said. “We see temporary needs in administrative, legal and customer service positions.”

When it comes to temporary employees, employers are looking for people who are flexible, quick learners and can hit the ground running, she said.

“It is no secret the unemployment rate is

at an all-time low, which means it will likely take hiring managers longer to find the right match that it has in past years. This creates an opportunity to bring on temporary staff to assist with some or all of the responsibilities until the position is filled, Hickey said.

Riley Sandall, regional manager at Advance Services, Inc., is seeing an increased demand for staffing services from current clients utilizing the services on a greater scale and many more new clients signing up with them.

“The top reasons this is happening now is it’s getting more difficult to find qualified employees, and more companies are finding success utilizing staffing,” he said.

Utilizing temporary employees can allow companies to fill their need for employees but also allows them to trial employees before hiring them permanently, he said.

“The staffing industry attracts applications that are seeking many different things, but the number one reason someone applies with a staffing agency is that they are looking to further their lives in a positive way,” Sandall said.

Baby boomers struggle with handing down their businesses to family

by Marco Santana

Khanh Tran, owner of Saigon Market on in Orlando, has been slinging summer rolls, dessert-filled bread buns and jackfruit for more than 25 years.

It can be grueling work, with Tran spending hours on his feet moving merchandise and walking the floor helping customers.

So Tran, 47, says he’s ready Small Business to sell his business.

“I just think we are ready to exit,” said Tran, who expects to retire from the store in the next few years. “I have worked so hard.

I want the free time.”

According to a recent SunTrust study, just 31 percent of business owners plan to pass down their businesses to a family member within the next five years, a trend driven in part by a growing number of baby boomers approaching retirement age.

Tran had initially been part of the group hoping to turn over his business to his children.

But he said he will try to sell the business instead.

“Eventually, if they want to do this, great,” Tran said. “But it’s not that old traditional thought where they have to be here.”

Family transitions in businesses come with a special set of challenges and advantages, experts say.

For instance, deeply ingrained personal rivalries can sometimes get in the way.

“There are certainly times when you feel like you need to be a therapist,” said Kenn Gluckman, a business law specialist at Moran, Kidd, Lyons, Johnson & Garcia in downtown Orlando. “But it’s mostly trying to be honest and upfront and bring up uncomfortable issues.”

These can include deaths in the family, or what happens in disagreements between a sibling appointed the president and another who is in sales.

“The more planning they have had over time, the better the transition,” Gluckmann said. “If they are open and honest and good at communicating, it can be a fantastic op-

Saigon Market owner Khanh Tran will sell his company during the next couple of years after finding out that his sons do not want to go into the Orlando, Fla., family business, which Tran has owned more than 25 years. (Sarah Espedido/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) When Khanh Tran’s son, 21-year-old portunity.”

George Calfo, one of the leaders of Sun- Stetson University senior Arthur Tran, was Trust’s business transition advisory group, young, he says the prevailing thought was said discussion of how to pass on an enter- that he would one day take over his parents’ prise should be top of mind for all business store.

However, as he grew older, he was enowners.

“We have a growing population of people rolled in advanced classes at University High looking out over their work horizon, which School in Winter Park.

Now, Arthur Tran is pursuing a business five years ago seemed infinite,” said Calfo, who helped create the study of 500 business and music degree, with no plans to take over owners between the ages of 54 and 72 who the store.

“They realize how much work it is,” generate between $5 million and $250 million of annual revenue. “A growing group of them the younger Tran said of his parents. “They seems to be saying that there is an end near.” realized that … my brother (and I) have the That along with a perfect storm of eco- opportunity to go to college and have a difnomic optimism – including general con- ferent kind of successful career that will not fidence, sales growth, elevated valuations be as taxing on us.”

Arthur Tran has become something of a and readily available financing – has kept staple at the store on breaks from his studies Calfo busy.

“We get unsolicited outreach from people of business and music.

In return, he says the store has helped him (considering selling their business) at least Continued on next page. once a week,” he said.

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

11

How a Philly millennial couple paid off $150K in student loans, ahead of schedule

by Erin Arvedlund

When it came to paying for college, Celeste Hernandez Revelli wishes she could go back in time — and tell her younger self to avoid all those mistakes.

Revelli is now the director of financial planFinancial ning at eMoney Advisor in Radnor, Pa., and she creates interactive plans for financial advisers to help their clients avoid the errors she made.

Revelli grew up in Voorhees, N.J., the daughter of a nurse who emigrated from the SUPER CROSSWORD

Philippines. “My mom actually wanted a career in finance, but that wasn’t a traditional career path for women there,” Revelli said.

“So she became a nurse, and supported me and my brother and put us through college” in the United States.

To pay for college, her mother, a single parent trying to do the right thing, went to a local bank and took out a federal Parent Plus loan.

“What we didn’t know was how much it would cost down the road,” said Revelli, who graduated from Loyola University, a HALF WIT

private Jesuit college in Maryland, in 2008 with $90,000 in debt.

Looking back, Revelli, 32, would have done things very differently.

“I would have researched all the options for college instead of loans — such as grants, scholarships, and financial aid. Or perhaps I should have gone to a community college for two years. I would have looked much more closely at the costs ahead of time, calculated the loan repayment schedule. Now that’s what I do for financial advisers” at eMoney Advisor, she said.

When she met her husband, Tom Revelli, he had a balance of $60,000 in school loans from the Art Institute of Philadelphia.

Neither of their parents had college savings plans set up, and so “we had to figure out how to properly apply on our own, and we struggled with debt for years after,” she said. “Obviously, we would have made better choices about the schools we chose and the tuition we paid if we only knew more.”

In about a decade, the couple have almost entirely paid down their combined $150,000 in school loans. Tom, 37, has just a few monthly payments left, and in 2017, he and a partner opened Urban Village brewery in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties.

How did they do it?

“A lot of money that we would normally have been saving went toward paying down more debt each month,” Celeste explained.

She contacted her lenders and initially went on an income-based repayment plan. And after she started working, she put extra money toward her loans from a second job, which she kept until 2016.

She worked in financial services while also tending bar on nights and weekends.

“Now, every dollar that comes in to our household has a job,” she said.

She also got a higher-paying full-time job at eMoney Advisor.

“We both nearly tripled our incomes between then and now,” she added.

Prioritize Saving was key. “We knew we’d have to save to get married in 2017, and a week later

Baby boomers struggle

Answers on page 12.

Continued from preceding page. stay connected to his family’s culture. When it leaves the family, he is not sure how his parents will react.

“It will be bittersweet,” he said. “The store has been there my whole life. But I will be happy for my parents.”

Khanh Tran has not decided how he will sell the store. Initially, he says he will seek people from the community to see if there is any interest locally.

Saigon Marketplace has become something of a landmark in the Vietnamese neighborhood along Colonial Drive near Mills Avenue.

In 1991, Tran started the store as a 2,000-square-foot market. Since then, he has added a bakery and the store now covers 5,000 square feet.

“We have been here so long, and our customers love us,” he said. “It’ll be tough to leave. But let’s go a few more years, get rid of the store, then relax.” ©2019 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

the brewery opened,” she said.

“Tom and I just only recently started going on trips out of the country together.

Before, we would take road trips and other things like that, but I have always wanted to travel more and never really had the means or the time to do so since we prioritized work, helping out our families, the wedding, and the brewery,” Many millennials “think that they should be doing all these things right, like having a grand wedding, buying a house, and taking amazing trips, because it is what they see on social media, when in reality, to pay for these things on your own, it takes hard work,” she said. “For years, Tom and I both worked on weekends, many times with no days off. I would work at Buddakan or Landmark Americana (restaurants) after working my day job during the week, too. We missed family get-togethers and nights out with friends, but in the end we … knew that we wanted to be in a better place financially.”

—Savings as a percent of income may not be realistic — at first Instead of beating yourself up for not saving, “start with as little as you want — even $5 a month” to get in the habit, she said.

Another method is to consult with counseling companies, such as Student Loan Hero and PayForEd, which promotes less borrowing to start out, and budgeting apps such as EveryDollar.

“When we budget every dollar, I started using sealed envelopes for funds,” Revelli said. “For example, one envelope had student loans, one dedicated to vacation, rent, a new car, computer. Then I had a second job, so I did it in my bank account, or different accounts that allow you to name your goals.

I paid off my loans in eight years,” instead of the typical 10 or 20 years.

Her student-loan servicer, Navient “was just OK, but I definitely had to do all the reaching out to them. I never got a note that I paid off my loans. So I had to call them to make sure.”

—Parents, ask a financial adviser — before borrowing Consider tackling the student loan with a financial adviser before you borrow. Some may offer help, while others may have no experience, but you should at least request a road map.

Some “advisers aren’t used to this discussion, and, typically, they don’t have experience,” said Adam Holt, founder of Asset-Map.com, a software start-up for financial planners.

“I tell my clients that mortgaging their own retirement for kids to go to expensive schools isn’t a plan,” Holt said. “It’s not yielding clear results in terms of their kids making more money. I ask them, ‘Can you afford another $1,200-a-month loan payment on top of your mortgage, and your spouse not working? If they can’t, then they are ‘dis-saving’ for their own life.”

Also, sometimes paying for college instead of saving for retirement sets up a damaging future family dynamic.

“We walk parents through the scenario: You’re 65 and have to sell your house to fund your retirement. You do that because you paid for your kids’ college. If you ask the now-adult child, ‘Was it worth it?,’ the kid may say, ‘You shouldn’t have done that for me.’ Now the kids have to support Continued on next page.

12

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Astrology app set to disrupt ‘mystical services sector’

by Sam Dean

Any entity created on this planet comes into the world with a star chart, dominated by a sun sign, reflecting the motion of the spheres above at its moment of birth.

Facebook, for instance, is an Aquarius, while Google, Snap and Technology Netflix are all Virgos.

Microsoft and Twitter — both Aries. Amazon? Classic Cancer.

Sanctuary, a digital astrology start-up backed by $1.5 million in venture capital, made the considered decision to launch on Wednesday — the dawn of the new astrological year, when Pisces gives way to Aries in the astral cycle.

And with private equity veterans, celebrity astrologers and one of Snapchat’s earliest employees on board, its investors foresee fortunes.

There’s always been money to be made in cosmic guidance. The ancient king Croesus, who’s credited with inventing minted money itself, gave a 500-pound lump of gold to the oracle at Delphi as tribute for good forecasts.

Tycho Brahe, the Renaissance scientist whose observations of the stars laid the groundwork for Galileo’s breakthroughs, made his living as a royal astrologer.

More recently, the phone psychic network behind Miss Cleo raked in hundreds of millions of dollars in the ‘90s, and was fined by the Federal Trade Commission for unfair business practices. Astrology.com recently told Digiday its revenues are in the “low eight figures” and growing, based mostly on ad revenue.

In 2018, Americans spent $2.2 billion on “mystical services,” according to research firm IBISWorld. And the internet, especially social media, is awash in astrology. Influencers pose with crystals, memes about Mercury in retrograde (a supposedly inauspicious time of tumult) ripple across Instagram, and horoscopes have reemerged as a mainstay of women’s sites like the Cut, Bustle and Broadly.

“Astrology has been around for a very long time, and it really adapts to the vernacular that people are speaking,” said Aliza Kelly, Sanctu-

ary’s astrologer-in-residence and a horoscope writer for Cosmopolitan magazine.

“Today, the language is technology and memes and connectivity.”

The business models adapt too. Kelly leverages her media success and Instagram following to sell 60-minute phone readings for $149 a pop and is booked solid through early May. Steph Koyfman, an astrologer who runs the website the Daily Hunch as a side job (her main gig is at language-learning start-up Babbel), said the demand for an astrologer’s interpretive skills has stayed strong since she launched the site in 2015.

In response to the stream of private messages from followers who had urgent questions to ask, Koyfman said she updated her list of services at the beginning of the year: “I’m offering a $10 ‘Google can’t help me’ reading, if you just want to get a really short answer.”

The IBISWorld report found that the market was split among more than 88,000 separate businesses, most of which are run by solo practitioners like Kelly and Koyfman (and most of whom are women).

The team behind Sanctuary is betting on the idea that they can become a central platform to unify this fragmented market and cater to those customers willing to pay for instant astrological gratification.

“Investors get really excited about the size of the addressable market, the growth potential, the fact that it’s so fragmented, and that there’s no established or well-known brand,” said Ross Clark, Sanctuary’s chief executive.

The app itself is built around the experience of texting: After users download Sanctuary and enter their exact time and place of birth, they get access to the kind of free astrological content common across the web — a daily horoscope, and some background information on the more esoteric corners of the star chart, delivered in a chatty back-andforth format.

The business model hinges upon a monthly subscription fee. For $19.99, users can chat

with a live astrologer once a month for a 15-minute birth chart reading, during which they can ask for specific insights into their lives based on their star charts.

Right now, the company has 30 astrologers lined up for readings, who work as independent contractors, and a small back-office staff of five.

Even though customers aren’t guaranteed to speak to the same astrologer each time, the beta phase of Sanctuary convinced Clark that a strong corporate brand can make up for any decrease in personal affinity.

Like many who seek guidance from the cosmos, Sanctuary took some time to find its true path. It began as a project within the incubator of Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video Ventures.

David Birnbaum, then the operation’s president, had taken a look at the online astrology market at the turn of the century when he was working in private equity with Apax Partners.

“Back then, we actually looked at rolling up a bunch of astrology sites — these companies were very antiquated, very web 1.0, mostly marketplaces to connect consumers to shady-looking people,” Birnbaum said. “But I realized it was a massive market, and these companies were making fortunes.”

Ross Clark joined as a chief executive and started playing around with business models.

They tried out paid star chart readings on Facebook messenger and saw demand keep ticking up.

“Sixty percent of users came back at least once per week,” Clark said. “I was sort of blown away when I saw those results.”

Their seed round brought in money from the private equity firm Greycroft and Shari Redstone’s personal venture outfit, Advancit

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

How a Philly millennial couple paid off $150K Continued from preceding page. you financially. That’s the fallout I’m seeing,” Holt said.

Holt, 45, was accepted to Bucknell, with no scholarship money, and to Drexel on a full scholarship.

“But I wanted to row Division 1 crew at Rutgers. So my grandparents paid one quarter, each parent paid one quarter, and I paid a quarter. I paid by working full time for four years at the campus center information booth, and rowed crew.”

He then went to Drexel for an executive MBA, which “I paid for myself on my Amex card while I was working and making a salary. In 2003, I consolidated that debt and my Rutgers debt into one loan at 1.5 percent. I’m still carrying those student loans because the cost of that debt makes sense all day long” compared with investments, say, which can return 5 percent annually. His $14,000 balance is now down to $7,000.

—Know the true costs — not just the sticker price While the median tuition and fee price for full-time students attending private nonprofit four-year institutions in 2018 to 2019 totals $36,890, 11 percent of full-time students attend institutions with prices below $15,000.

And an additional 20 percent attend institutions charging $51,000 or more, according to the College Board’s latest Trends in Pricing.

Alex Bottom, cofounder of LoanBuddy. us, says government loan programs are “complicated and not centralized. So we’re working with CFPs, certified financial planners, to help their clients manage student loan debt.” The software start-up is also about to launch a direct-to-consumer version to help parents and students.

As for Revelli, she stresses some basics.

Even a tiny savings account will pay off in the long run, forming the habit now and auto-saving, or adding a company match, she said.

“Many millennials think they cannot save anything right now, and are focused on debt and living expenses, which is so understandable, as I was definitely not saving anything during my first year or two after college,” she said. “But pay yourself, too (into savings), along with everything else, and eventually with hard work and perseverance, you will end up earning more money, having less debt, and will have even more to save.” ©2019 The Philadelphia Inquirer Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Capital, and brought Kelly on board for astrological expertise.

And Chloe Drimal, who was Snapchat’s 14th employee and has gone on to start a company called Yoni Circle, which creates guided meditation-like experiences for women in Los Angeles, came on as the company’s West Coast advisor.

Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel recruited Drimal right out of college after she wrote an article praising the nascent disappearing message app for a Yale University newspaper. After a stint leading the company’s corporate group therapy program, known as Council, Drimal ran Snap’s ambitious Our Story product, which stitched together user videos from around the world into travel guides and breaking news reports.

“I was the girl at Snapchat that had sage on her desk and crystals,” Drimal said.

She sees Sanctuary as a way to democratize the desire to trade cash for cosmic reassurance.

“I met this one woman when I was 11 years old who told me I was a Sagittarius,” Drimal said. “I researched everything, I wanted to understand it, and I found an astrologer — it cost $100, $125, and that is on the lower end.

I had to save up.”

When asked whether they believe in the product they’re pushing, the entrepreneurs behind the company describe astrology as more of a spark for self-reflection, or social connection, than a manifestation of cosmic destiny.

“I believe in anything that provides people with meaning and optimism in their daily lives,” Birnbaum said. “For me, it might be going to my therapist on a weekly basis, which I do, for others it’s talking to astrologers.

“That said, I’m an Aquarius, so I’m always skeptical.” ©2019 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

13

Embrace the Madness: Employers go all in with basketball watch parties, pizza and office pools

by Robert Channick

When the NCAA men’s basketball tournament tipped off, millions of viewers at offices across the country began to huddle over their screens of choice, doing their level best to look busy while toggling between spreadsheets and the Michigan State — Bradley game.

Welcome to March Workplace Madness, an annual rite of spring, where businesses decry the billions of dollars in lost productivity as workers cheer on their picks and check their office pool instead of filing that overdue report.

But in an era of full employment and smart phone streaming, some employers are taking a different approach: Put the games on big screen TVs, serve up some pizza and embrace the Madness.

“Everybody is doing it — watching the games — and everybody is in a pool,” said Tom Gimbel, founder and CEO of LaSalle Network, a Chicago-based staffing and recruiting firm. “The more the boss tries to hide it, the more people want it.”

Gimbel’s firm was an early adopter. It hosts an annual March Madness office party on the first Friday of the tournament, inviting hundreds of clients and employees to don their favorite college sweatshirt and enjoy the games on 10 flat screen TVs, with a hot dog cart, kegs and other decidedly non-business amenities on hand.

The epiphany for Gimbel came about 10 years ago, when he learned to stop worrying about employees slacking off during the tournament.

“It hit me once, wait a minute — let’s go all in on this, let’s really enjoy it,” Gimbel said.

Integrated Project Management, a Burr Ridge consulting firm, has been hosting its own March Madness viewing party for six years. A conference room is converted into a sports bar on Friday, where a 70-inch TV usually reserved for Power Point presentations instead streams the games. Smaller TVs dot the room for alternative games.

Pizza and wings are served at lunchtime, and the conference room is usually packed with more than half of the firm’s 100 Chicago-area employees.

“We get a pretty big turnout for this,” said Amber Selman, 32, a project management consultant who has organized the March Madness viewing party since its inception.

Chicago is a hotbed of March Madness-related activity, with 84 percent of companies likely to participate, according to a recent survey by staffing firm Robert Half.

More than three in four senior managers in Chicago said bringing March Madness into the office boosted morale.

“The level of willingness to embrace these types of activities is going up every year,” said Marilyn Bird, the Chicago-based district president of Robert Half. “Chicago is a sports town.”

Celebrating March Madness instead of fighting it may be a long-term win for recruitment, but with more than 75 million employees spending 6.4 hours of work time watching basketball, it is projected to cost employers nearly $13.3 billion in lost productivity this year alone, according to Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Productivity is not the only item in the March Madness cost-benefit analysis,

however.

“It is an enormous cost, but at the end of the day, trying to ban March Madness activities from the workplace would cost employers far more in employee morale, camaraderie and culture, which is particularly important when the labor market is really tight and companies are fighting to retain and attract the best people,” said Andrew Challenger, the outplacement firm’s vice president.

With legalized sports betting coming to a number of states, watching the games could become even more of an office distraction — or perk, depending on how it’s viewed — in the years ahead.

This year, 47 million American adults are projected to bet $8.5 billion on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, according to a survey released Monday by the American Gaming Association. More than half of that action — $4.6 billion — will be placed in 149 million brackets, including office pools.

The other $3.9 billion of March Madness wagering funnels mostly through illegal channels such as bookies and offshore gambling sites, but legal sports betting is on the

rise after a Supreme Court ruling last year opened it up beyond Nevada to all states.

Bettors in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and a handful of other states will be able to wager legally on March Madness games this year, with Illinois among dozens of states that could be in the game by 2020.

If all 50 states allowed legal sports betting this year, total wagering on March Madness would nearly double, topping $15 billion, according to Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, a California-based research and consulting firm.

In some cases, employers, such as accounting firm BKD, run their own “non-gambling” office pool.

BKD, which has offices in Chicago and suburban Oakbrook Terrace, hosts a variety of March Madness-related activities, including TVs in the lunchroom tuned to the games, an ice cream party on Friday afternoon, and a Saturday viewing event catered by Portillo’s, when most of the firm’s accountants are in the office during tax season.

“We do activities for employees during this week to build morale and have some fun, especially during our busy season,” said Valerie LaMorte, human resources manager

at BKD in Chicago. “We’re an accounting firm so it’s a crazy time.”

On Monday, BKD also opened up its official company bracket to all employees. There is no entry fee, everybody participates, and employees are encouraged to follow along as the games play out.

The grand prize is a $25 gift certificate.

“It’s nothing significant — more the bragging rights,” LaMorte said.

Not all companies are so forward thinking. The NCAA created a “boss button” so that viewers streaming games could toggle to a faux spreadsheet when prying eyes got to close to their computer screen.

But the proliferation of smart phones makes streaming the games a relatively unobtrusive activity for any employee, and a bad bet for employers to try to suppress it.

“I think there’s just a can’t beat them, join them attitude, and a lot of companies are embracing the tournament in the workplace and I think that’s a really smart move,” Challenger said. ©2019 Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Even plumbers need software: How ServiceTitan became a billion-dollar startup

by Brian Jones

I’ve been a financial adviser since 2012.

Over the years, I’ve been asked questions ranging from predictable to surprising.

But one of the most surprising aspects of the job is when clients fail to ask major questions.

Financial Investors might choose to work with financial advisers that they know, like and trust.

Yet people often don’t actually know their financial adviser that well or the relationship the adviser has to the company they work for.

Here are three questions that aren’t asked nearly enough — and why they should be.

1. Are you a fiduciary? Sometimes? All the time?

The fiduciary standard “requires an adviser to act solely in the client’s best interest when offering personalized financial advice,” according to the Certified Financial Planning Board.

The majority of people assume the financial professional they are looking to hire or have hired is a fiduciary.

You may not know that the majority of financial advisers are not held to a fiduciary standard, but instead a lower “suitability standard.” The suitability standard requires a financial adviser to make sure the investment is “suitable” but not necessarily the best for you.

Imagine a scenario where your recommended investments aren’t the best but are “suitable” for your goals, and the financial adviser or company can make more revenue by offering them. This is an example of conflicts of interest dictating what investments you may be recommended.

Currently, a wide range of people can say they are financial advisers, but most are not a fiduciary all of the time. Many are legally product salespeople that represent financial products and whose job is to make their financial firm money. Some advisers are a fiduciary part of the time and a salesperson other times.

Unfortunately, in our current system, it’s not easy to figure out when they are a

fiduciary or a salesperson. If you are using an adviser now, ask them and see what they say. If you’re looking for a financial adviser that is required to do what’s best for you at all times, you can find one that works for a registered investment adviser (RIA).

2. What happens if you change companies?

When you enter into a relationship with a financial adviser, you likely are seeking something for the long haul. While that adviser may have every intention of staying with their current firm for decades, things change and people sometimes join other companies.

If your financial adviser changes firms, it may not be as simple as you’d think for you to transfer your accounts to follow them.

Many financial advisers have an agreement with their employer that they won’t solicit clients if they change companies.

Imagine you’ve been working with an adviser for 10 years and you’re very happy with them. You receive a letter or phone call telling you the adviser is no longer with the company. Your adviser can’t call you and tell you they are now at XYZ company and you can move your investments. Now you’d be reassigned to a new financial adviser and your 10-year relationship with the previous adviser would end.

At some companies, the financial adviser can take some basic information with them when they change companies. The “Broker Protocol” was established to allow advisers to take the name, address, phone number, email address and account title of the clients they personally serviced. Not all companies are part of the protocol. Your adviser may not be able to contact you if he or she changes companies.

3. How does your firm measure your performance as a financial adviser?

In general, success can be measured in a variety of ways for both personal goals and employment performance.

You may think that financial advisers are measured by their ability to give advice to their clients and have positive outcomes.

You would expect performance measures

to be centered on acquiring professional designations, education or client investment performance. Because the financial adviser is supposed to be in the business of giving financial advice, their performance measures should reflect that.

At most of the top financial firms across the country, performance is measured by the financial adviser’s ability to generate revenue for the firm as well as getting assets to transfer in.

Ask your financial adviser how their employment performance is measured by their firm. Are they measured on their ability to give client advice and help people or their ability to generate revenue for their company?

Putting it all together These three questions are important questions to ask a prospective financial adviser or your current one. You should understand if your adviser is acting in your best interests, sometimes or all the time.

When you receive these answers, you should have a good understanding of the employment relationship the adviser has and what that means for you. Knowing if your financial adviser is measured by their ability to help their clients or by their ability to generate revenue is key to understanding if they are going to be the right financial adviser for you. ©2019 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Incompetence, not collusion Sitting in the greenroom with me as we were about to go on air on one of the cable news shows a couple of months ago, a Trump supporter told me: “Linda, I saw the Trump campaign up close in 2016. They couldn’t have colluded their way out of a paper inda bag.” It was an odd defense— basically, incompetence—of havez the oft-repeated charge that the campaign had colluded with Russia during the presidential election. But at the time, it struck me as plausible, if not probable. It appears special counsel Robert Mueller agreed.

A week after Mueller submitted his report to the attorney general, we still don’t know exactly what is in its 300-or-more pages, but we do know that the special counsel concluded that the president and his campaign did not conspire with a foreign adversary to subvert the presidential election. This is a good thing, about which we should all breathe a sigh of relief. But that does not mean that the nearly two-year investigation was a waste of time and money, or that it was launched by a group of zealous partisans in the intelligence community to try to overturn the results of the election, as the president and his allies have charged.

Russia did indeed interfere in the 2016 election—and tries to interfere in our elections to this day. But that does not mean that Russian interference elected Donald Trump. I have always believed that Russia’s intentions were to sow chaos and doubt about the democratic process—and it succeeded wildly at doing just that. No doubt Vladimir Putin detested Hillary Clinton and saw Trump as a more malleable foe, but the real goal was to undermine the trust of the American people in their own system. Unfortunately, Putin’s objectives are furthered by those on the left and the right when one side claims widespread disenfranchisement and voter suppression, and the other complains of a deep state unaccountable to elections. Both complaints are wrong. Our electoral system may not be perfect, but apathy is a far greater problem than voter suppression; and bureaucracies and the administrative state notwithstanding, elections do have consequences.

It will be some time before we know more about Mueller’s findings—a matter of weeks, not months, according to the attorney general. The Democratic-controlled House may try to speed up the process through subpoenas or taking the issue to court, but we will see most, if not all, the substantive evidence investigators unearthed soon enough. It is hard to imagine that the president and his team will come off looking good when we see the final picture. We will learn just how many times Russians reached out to the campaign. We will find out if anyone put their loyalties to a particular candidate aside to pick up the phone and alert the authorities. We will get some insight into why so many Trump associates, according to their own admissions and guilty pleas, lied to investigators and Congress when asked about their interactions with Russian officials and emissaries.

It may all come down to stupidity and incompetence, as my Trump-supporting fellow pundit suggested, but it will serve as a warning sign to this and future campaigns. Beware of Russians (or any foreign government) bearing gifts.

Unfortunately, President Trump is a slow learner and he’s now on the attack, calling the investigation “treasonous” and promising to hunt down those who helped initiate it. Politics is a rough game, but the president, who has bullied his way through life, seems unprepared to take his lumps as they come. It is a sign of health, not weakness, that investigators looked into the president’s actions and those of his subordinates. It is hard to imagine that Republicans would have turned a blind eye if they had learned that former President Barrack Obama or operatives in his campaign held multiple secret meetings with Russian operatives in 2008, or that Hillary Clinton did so in 2016.

President Trump should let it go—and be thankful that Robert Mueller acted with honor and without partisanship.

Copyright 2019 Creators.com

L C

Rural America faces a housing cost crunch

by Tim Henderson

The problem of housing affordability, long a concern in popular big cities, has moved to rural America.

Nearly one-fourth of the nation’s most rural counties have seen a sizeable increase this decade in the number of households spending at least half their income on housing, a category the federal government calls “severely cost-burdened.”

Those counties, none with towns of more than 10,000 residents, have experienced housing cost Economy increases significant enough to force families to scrimp on other necessities.

Meanwhile, only two big-city counties — Bronx, N.Y., and Norfolk, Va. — fell into the same category. Both had two-point increases, according to a Stateline analysis of American Community Survey estimates from the U.S. Census. Stateline compared the early years of the Great Recession, 2006-2010, with the most recent economic recovery era, 2013-2017.

The share of severely cost-burdened households has fallen since the Great Recession in expensive destinations such as Cape Cod, Mass.; Key West, Fla.; San Francisco and Seattle. The share also has dipped slightly in Manhattan, N.Y., as the overall economy has recovered.

Losses of high-paying jobs have hit some rural regions, such as a cluster of coal-dependent counties in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, especially hard. Other places are struggling with affordable housing because new workers in economically revived areas are vying for rental housing, putting pressure on prices in a rental market with a limited supply.

“Sometimes all it takes is just one new (business) facility in one of these communities,” said Corianne Scally, a research associate who studies affordable housing at the

Urban Institute.

“All of a sudden you need more labor on hand to start up that plant, you’re stretching the ability of the rental housing base to accommodate new people and you see prices increase,” Scally said.

That’s the case in Irion County, Texas, population 1,516, where fracking and wind farms have been bringing new workers, said county clerk Shirley Miles. The county’s energy jobs tripled to 187 between 2010 and 2016, the latest federal data available, at average annual wages of more than $63,000.

Unemployment in the county dropped from 5.3 percent to 3.2 percent in that time, and typical monthly rents rose 44 percent to $858.

Another new wind farm is under construction now, and it’s already under contract to provide power to Mexico-based baker Grupo Bimbo and other customers. That’s bringing 300 temporary construction workers this year and a dozen more permanent jobs after the wind farm is operational.

“You think of these places like Irion County as ‘The Last Picture Show,’ all dusty and forgotten, and then you see that some of them are success stories. This isn’t all a dark story,” said Keith Wiley, senior research associate at the Housing Assistance Council in Washington, D.C., a nonprofit working to build more housing in rural communities.

Yet Irion County had one of the largest cost-burden increases, according to the Stateline analysis, with 13 percent of households severely cost-burdened in recent years, up from just 4 percent during the Great Recession.

There are similar situations in rural areas of Iowa and Georgia, where new meatpacking plants are stressing the Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

15

Midwest manufacturers business conditions best since August

by Dee DePass

Minnesota and other Midwest manufacturers enjoyed solid sales and production gains in March even as flooding affected nearly a quarter of surveyed factories, according to a widely watched economic-report issued recently by Creighton University.

Creighton’s nine-state Mid-America Business Conditions index rose to 58.2 in March from 57.9 in February amid increases in new orders and production. Minnesota’s monthly index fell to 53.0, down from 53.4 in February as hiring and inventory build ups continued, but at a slower pace.

March’s nine-state index signaled Economy the best business conditions for the region since August 2018. An index above 50 signals economic expansion. March marked the 28th consecutive month that the manufacturing conditions index remained above the critical “growth neutral” threshold.

Still, the upbeat report included notable caveats, name-

Rural America housing cost crunch Continued from preceding page. local rental market and driving up prices, Wiley said.

One reason for the slow-moving crisis in rural rental housing is that federal incentives to include affordable units have all but disappeared, and those remaining are quietly expiring, allowing landlords to freely charge more when demand rises, according to a 2018 study by the Housing Assistance Council. More than 2,000 rental properties left the federal program, mostly in the Midwest, between 2006 and 2016, according to the study, as landlords paid off the loans.

Norton, Va., a town at the heart of Appalachian coal country with a population of 3,936, saw its cost-burdened population soar to 22 percent from 12 percent in Stateline’s analysis, one of the largest increases.

In Norton, people have lost good jobs and are struggling to make a living in a town that’s a commercial and health care center for surrounding rural counties. The area is having its own local recession after prospering during the nation’s Great Recession, officials there said, before the fracking boom made natural gas cheaper than coal.

Median rent is unchanged at about $550 between 2010 and 2017, but household income dropped to about $27,000 from about $34,000.

“We never had a downturn here like other places. Our economic peak was probably around 2010,” said Norton City Manager Fred Ramey. “Then we lost a lot of coal jobs — probably a thousand in this area, and those were jobs paying $50,000 to $80,000, and the rest of the local economy was not able to absorb all those jobs.”

A similar thing is happening in Madison County, Idaho, 475 sprawling square miles of farmland and foothills with a population of about 40,000 people. The county seems an unlikely candidate to eclipse crowded hotspots such as Los Angeles and Key West in the number of residents struggling to pay rent. But 25 percent of Madison County households are severely cost-burdened, an increase of 6 percentage points, according to Stateline’s analysis.

That’s because Brigham Young University’s Idaho campus has expanded from a two-year to a four-year school, drawing thousands of new students from other states. Many of them are married with children, following a way of life common for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is affiliated with the school.

Eastern Idaho Public Health has expanded low-income family programs like immunizations and nutrition programs to serve the new residents.

“Technically we have an increase in poverty, but that’s just because when you’re a 19-year-old college student with a family you’re not bringing down the big bucks yet,” Taylor said. “It’s an exciting development for the community, and it’s also bringing good jobs for professors and other university employees.” ©2019 Stateline.org Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ly that 22 percent of survey respondents said they were negatively impacted by spring floods. Creighton’s March report also found that regional inventories, employment, imports, exports and confidence levels grew in March, but at a slower pace than in February.

“The regional economy continues to expand at a positive pace. However, as in recent months, international trade tension, tariffs and the global economic slowdown remain obstacles to even stronger growth,” said Ernie Goss, director of Creighton’s Economic Forecasting Group.

March’s overall confidence index, which tracks business optimism for the next six months, slid to still robust 57.2 from February’s 58.8.

The Creighton report tracks manufacturing activity across Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Monday’s regional report echoed results reported on the national level.

In a separate report, The Institute for Supply Management, said Monday that U.S. manufacturers reached an index of 55.3 in March, up from 54.2 the month before.

A rise in new orders, production and employment gains

moved the needle for the nation’s factories, even as raw material costs rose and inventories and supply delivery speeds slowed during the month. Import growth was flat while exports grew but “at marginal levels” during the month, said Timothy Fiore, chairman of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

The ISM survey of U.S. manufacturers revealed that supply managers are concerned about weather-related delays for supply deliveries and construction, the uncertainty of Brexit, finding enough skilled workers and slow downs starting to appear in some electronics and equipment markets.

But even with some concerns, 16 of 18 U.S. manufacturing industries grew during March, led by printing; textile mills; food, beverage and tobacco; petroleum/coal products; computer and electronic products and electrical equipment.

The Creighton and ISM reports land just weeks before manufacturers, such as 3M, Polaris Industries, and Ecolab are scheduled to release first quarter results. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How to sound more sure of yourself at work

by Liz Reyer

Q: I want to challenge myself to be less deferential in my work style. I know my ideas are good, yet I come off as tentative. The higher the position of the person I’m meeting, the more I ramble and sound unsure. What can I do?

-Amber, 33, analyst A: This pattern calls for both inner and outer work to resolve. On the inner side, how strong is your confidence?

Really. While you say you know your ideas are good, do you really own them deeply? When they are challenged, do you stand up for them or immeWorkplace diately concede?

There are other aspects of confidence. For example, do you really feel like you belong in the room? I wonder about this especially since you mention lower confidence around higher-ups. This isn’t unusual, as it can be intimidating, but it’s something to work on.

Take some time to do some confidence building. Use your self-knowledge to write down a list of your strengths.

Consider both professional skills and interpersonal characteristics.

Add to this list with feedback from others. Look at old performance reviews, comments you’ve received from friends and colleagues, and any other sources you may have. Create a “personal glory” file to keep these nice things on hand for the future, or for when you feel the need for reinforcement.

Your inner assurance can be further strengthened by some behavioral changes.

Check your vocal mannerisms. Particularly note if you have an upward inflection in your voice after sentences.

Save that for questions, and practice having your declarative statements end on a firm note. Make sure your pacing is calm; speeding through your sentences shouts nerves.

Look at your body language. Posture matters, and slumping, looking down or avoiding eye contact can signal low self-confidence.

You may tend to sound less assured if you’re taken by surprise. To avoid this, prepare thoroughly for your meetings. Of course you’ll want to be ready on topics related to the agenda. But go beyond that in your preparation.

If you’re leading the meeting or a specific topic, anticipate questions that may come up and have responses thought through. You’ll be more fluid in your reply if you’ve done a little initial thinking.

Also look at the invitee list. People are famous for sidebar conversations on other topics, so if you’re working with someone on another project, say, be ready if they should ask.

It’s always a good idea to have a proverbial “elevator

speech” about what you’re working on. Then, if you happen to be in a situation with a senior leader who is making conversation about your role, you’re ready.

Involve others in the discussion. You can transition in a variety of ways, getting input from someone who hasn’t spoken up yet, or recapping feedback from a colleague: “Ann, you were saying to me the other day …” This outward focus shows openness, awareness of others and leadership skill.

Notice tension in your body and consciously relax.

Unhunch your shoulders or unclench your fists. Take a few deep breaths and let the oxygen refresh you. Your mind and body will benefit.

Finally, remember you’re in your role because of your skills and contributions, and let your confidence grow. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Tech Q&A: Sometimes computer security can hurt you

by Steve Alexander

Security is a big concern for all of us, but mostly we worry about keeping intruders out — out of our computers, our phones and our internet connections.

What if the problem were reversed, and someone was trying to keep us out? As it turns out, they are.

In December, I was the victim of a “false positive” — the name for what happens when someone’s computer security software blocks something innocent instead of something harmful.

My “false positive” occurred when I used my credit card to buy a $7.45 children’s book (“Mister Technology Dog” by Margaret Wise Brown) from Fishpond.com. The firm, a New Zealand-based seller of books, electronics and more, ships to U.S. customers from a California distribution center.

When the book hadn’t arrived by February, I e-mailed the company’s customer-service team and was told, “We can confirm that your order was flagged by our fraud team and subsequently canceled in error.”

I was surprised because my credit card history is good.

Then I began thinking about how e-commerce security software might view me. If it could tap into databases of recent security Continued on page 22.

16

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES MBJ legal notice instructions The following are some guidelines to consider when posting legal notices with the Midlands Business Journal: 1. Submit a written notice in either Microsoft Word or as a PDF document to Beth Grube at legals@mbj.com, fax to 402-758-9315 or mail: 1324 S. 119th St. Omaha, NE 68144.

For trade names, submit a copy of approved (bar code in upper right hand corner) Application For Registration of Trade Name from the Secretary of State to the same email address. Please include your billing address and the desired duration you’d like your notice to run (trade names run for only one week).

2. You will receive a confirmation and price quote. Legal notices, except for trade names, are charged per line. The flat fee for a trade name is $50.

Payment options are cash or check.

3. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday for a notice to start publishing that Friday.

4. All costs include fees to file the notice with the Secretary of State and/or any appropriate courts.

5. You will receive a paid invoice copy and a courtesy proof of the notice the first week it runs and a copy of the affidavit filed with the courts the last week.

DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: CHERISH WHITEFACE, 6109 North 63rd ST, Omaha NE 68104, you are hereby notified that on December 26, 2018, AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE COMPANY S.I. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI18-26880, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $6,163.11, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 6th day of April, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication March 15, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: CEMONE R. MATTHEWS, 4912 Magnolia St, Omaha NE 68137, you are hereby notified that on November 29, 2018, CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI18-24777, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $8,960.47, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 6th day of April, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication March 15, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is THE ASCENSION CENTER, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 1907 Petersen Drive, Papillion, Nebraska 68046. The registered agent is Jeffrey T. Palzer and the Register Agent's address is 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6, Omaha, Nebraska 68154.

3. The general nature of the Company is Licensed Mental Health Specialist.

4. The Company commenced on February 13, 2019 and shall have perpetual existence.

5. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by Members, the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as the Members shall determine.

First publication March 15, 2019, final March 29, 2019 CHARLES E. DORWART, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-395 Estate of David R. Kistler, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on March 22, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 13519 Redwood Street, Omaha, NE 68138, was informally appointed by the Registrar as Personal Representative of the Estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before May 29, 2019 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Proforma, LLC has organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial designated office of the Company is 18406 W. Dodge Hills Plaza, #109, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022.

The initial registered office of the Company is 18406 W. Dodge Hills Plaza, #109, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022, and the name of the initial registered agent of the Company at such address is Carissa Castro. The purpose for which the Company is organized is to engage in any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Certificate of Organization was executed on the 15th day of February 2019.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SHARED STORY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Shared Story, LLC, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office address is 859 S 60 Street, Omaha, NE 68106, and the registered agent is Kelly Gering. The general nature of the business is conflict resolution consulting.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DYGITAL SCALE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Dygital Scale, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 5112 Decatur Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68104. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on March 12, 2019.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF STUDY INTERNATIONAL, LLC The name of the Company is Study International, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 13815 Burdette Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68164.

The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. This limited liability company commenced business on March 22, 2019.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 FREDERICK D. STEHLIK, Attorney GROSS & WELCH, P.C., L.L.O. 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CC KRIGLSTEIN, LLC a Nebraska Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given that CC KRIGLSTEIN, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its registered office located at 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The general nature of its business is to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking or insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Certificate of Organization was filed in the office of the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 14, 2019, the Company commenced business thereon, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the Managing Member.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 LAWRENCE F. HARR, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF DOMESTICATION OF TIER ONE INSURANCE COMPANY Notice is hereby given that a corporation that was formed under the laws of the State of Oklahoma has completed the domestication procedure to Nebraska, and that the name of the corporation is Tier One Insurance Company. The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation electing to be treated as a corporation under the Nebraska Model Corporation Act is on file with the Nebraska Secretary of State. The corporation is authorized to issue 300,000 shares of voting common stock. The name and street address of the corporation's registered agent and office ii Frank J. Barrett, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 SHANNON G. MCCOY, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MIA KAY COMPANY, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is MIA KAY COMPANY, LLC. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on February 26, 2019 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the manager as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication March 15, 2019, final March 29, 2019

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: ZACHARY EBERHARDT You are hereby notified that on 10/11/18, the Plaintiff Credit Management Services, Inc., filed a Complaint in the COUNTY Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska, against you shown as Case Number CI18 20854. The object and prayer of which is a judgment in the amount of 860.50, plus court costs, pre-judgment interest and attorney fees, if applicable.

The Complaint prays that judgment be entered against you. You are hereby notified that you must answer the Complaint on or before 04/28/19 at the COUNTY court of DOUGLAS County, OMAHA Nebraska.

Steven J. Morrison #24708 P.O. Box 1512 Grand Island, NE 68802 (308)398-3801 Attorney for Plaintiff First publication March 15, 2019, final March 29, 2019 ROBERT J. LIKES, Attorney LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-316 Estate of Rosemary Allen, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on March 11, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that Linda Dugan, 1186 Spring Valley Dr, Fort Calhoun, NE 68023, was informally appointed by the Registrar as Personal Representative of the Estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before May 15, 2019 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication March 15, 2019, final March 29, 2019 ROBERT J. LIKES, Attorney LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-306 Estate of Helen M. Hays, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on March 8, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that Donna J. Snowdon, 3105 South 117th Street, Omaha, NE 68044-4543, was informally appointed by the Registrar as Personal Representative of the Estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before May 15, 2019 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication March 15, 2019, final March 29, 2019 HALEY REAL ESTATE GROUP, LLC 10703 J Street, Suite 101 Omaha, NE 68127 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION FOR PARKWAY HC4, LLC A Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State for Parkway HC4, LLC (the “Company”) on December 6, 2018. The address of the Company’s designated office is 10703 J Street, Suite 101, Omaha, NE 68127. The name and address for the Company’s registered agent is Carl J. Troia, Jr., 10703 J Street, Suite 101, Omaha, NE 68127.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 WESLEY E. HAUPTMAN, Attorney 11605 Arbor Street, Suite 107 Omaha, Nebraska 68144 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF TNL NAILS, INC. NOTICE is hereby given that the undersigned has formed a corporation under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the corporation is TNL NAILS, INC. 2. The address of the initial registered office is 15254 California Street., Omaha, NE 68154 and the initial registered agent at that address is Amanda Thai.

3. The general nature of the business is to engage in the business providing nail and waxing services, and any other lawful activity allowable under the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. 4. The corporation shall consist of duly elected members and shall hold an annual meeting to transact the corporate business.

5. The corporation commenced existence on the 5th day of March, 2019a and shall have perpetual existence.

6. The affairs of the corporation shall be conducted by a Board of Directors, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and subordinate officers and agents as may be prescribed by the Bylaws, or appointed by the Board of Directors.

WESLEY E. HAUPTMAN, Incorporator First publication March 15, 2019, final March 29, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF REDESIGN PROS LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that REDESIGN PROS LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The registered agent of REDESIGN PROS LLC and office is Manuel Velasquez Villagran, 3339 Madison St, Omaha NE 68107.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SAMBK, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SAMBK, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF VRJAKA, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that VRJAKA, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GEN4 AG, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Gen4 Ag, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 9339 Road 108, Bridgeport, Nebraska 69336. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 69114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is READY 2 ROLL TRUCKING, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 5425 N. 107th Plaza, Unit 9, Omaha, NE 68134. The registered agent is Julia K. Palzer and the Register Agent's address is 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6, Omaha, NE 68154.

3. The general nature of the Company is general freight transportation.

4. The Company commenced on March 12, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence.

5. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by Members, the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as the Members shall determine.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 C R O K E R , H U C K , K A S H E R , D e W I T T, A N D E R S O N & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF CABECERAS, LLC Notice is hereby given that CABECERAS, LLC, was dissolved on March 18, 2019. Any persons having claims against CABECERAS, LLC should present them to Richard L. Anderson, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. Such claim against CABECERAS, LLC should include the amount, date and description of such items asked for in the claim. Any claim against CABECERAS, LLC is barred unless an action to enforce such claim is commenced within five (5) years after the third publication of this Notice.

Ann L. Hunter, Trustee of the Ann L. Hunter Trust Number Twenty-Six, Manager First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SUGAR CHIC DESIGN, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Sugar Chic Design, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 19406 Ruggles Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Christina Groteluschen, 19406 Ruggles Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022.

The limited liability company commenced business on March 13, 2019.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SCOOP DOGGY DOGG, LLC. Notice is hereby given that SCOOP DOGGY DOGG, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act. The address of the registered office of the company is 2609 Victoria Ave, PO BOX 907, Bellevue, NE 68005. The general nature of the business to be transacted by the company is any lawful business which may be carried on by limited liability companies organized under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act. The company commenced on March 13, 2019, and has perpetual duration. The manager of the company is Jason McGee. First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019

KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is TEAM - TOGETHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 7524 Sherman Drive, Omaha, NE 68134. The registered agent is Jeffrey T. Palzer and the Register Agent's address is 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6, Omaha, NE 68154.

3. The general nature of the Company is to provide specialized community-based developmental disabilities services - provide essential habilitation, training and support for Nebraskans with developmental disabilities so they can live, work and participate in the community.

4. The Company commenced on March 19, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence.

5. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by Members, the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as the Members shall determine.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF PARTIAL TERMINATION OF NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT This NOTICE OF PARTIAL TERMINATION OF NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT is hereby given in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. § 52-146.

1. Description of Property terminated from Notice of Commencement: Lots 27 and 28, and Outlot A, The Preserve, a subdivision, as surveyed, platted and recorded in Douglas County, Nebraska 2. a. The contracting owner is 228 Skyline, LLC. b. The address of the contracting owner is: 21008 Cumberland Drive, Suite 110, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. c. The interest of the contracting owner in the real estate is: Fee Simple.

3. The Notice of Commencement to which this Termination applies was recorded March 3, 2018, as Instrument No. 2018016622 in the records of the Register of Deeds of Douglas County, Nebraska.

4. The Notice of Commencement identified above shall be terminated as to the property described in Paragraph 1 above effective April 12, 2019.

5. Partial Termination of Notice of Commencement was recorded on March 12, 2019 as Instrument No. 2019016275 in the records of the Register of Deeds of Douglas County, Nebraska.

ALL LIEN CLAIMS FOR WHICH A NOTICE OF LIEN IS NOT RECORDED BY APRIL 12, 2019, MAY BE DEFEATED BY A TRANSFER OF THE REAL ESTATE. 228 SKYLINE, LLC, LLC By: William J. Douglas, Manager First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DEAN F. SUING, Attorney GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DV EMPIRE CONCRETE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has formed a limited liability company under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, as follows: The name of the company is DV Empire Concrete, LLC. The address of the designated office is 9056 N. HWS Cleveland Blvd., Bennington, NE 68007 and the initial registered agent is Dean F. Suing, 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The company is organized to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking and insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of Nebraska. The limited liability company commenced existence on the filing and recording of its Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of State on March 12, 2019, and shall have a perpetual period of duration from the date the Certificate of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State. Management of the Company shall be vested in an initial board of one manager who shall serve until successors are appointed or elected.

Dean F. Suing, Registered Agent First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Achiever BC, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 19, 2019. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the company are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore, and that the balance of any remaining assets are to be distributed to its Sole Member. The Manager of the Company will wind up and liquidate the company’s business and affairs. The Company has no assets as of the date hereof. If you have a claim against Achiever BC, LLC, please provide the following information with respect to your claim: (1) your name or the name of your entity; (2) the nature of your claim; (3) the amount of your claim; and (4) the date your claim arose. All claims shall be mailed to 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124.

A claim against Achiever BC, LLC is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019

17

PATRICK M. FLOOD, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ROWLEY CONSULTING, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Rowley Consulting, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is Rowley Consulting, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 4718 North 108th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68164, and the name and street address of the registered agent for service of process is Patrick M. Flood, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska, 68114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Hi-Fidelity LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Thomas J. Malicki, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 WAYNE S. RASMUSSEN, Attorney SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DISTRICT AT SPW, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 7, 2019, DISTRICT AT SPW, LLC was organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, with a designated office at 9929 Broadmoor Road, Omaha, NE 68114. The Company’s initial agent for service of process is Dean T. Hokanson, 9929 Broadmoor Road, Omaha, NE 68114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ONESON HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OneSon Holdings, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 126 North 248th Circle, Waterloo, Nebraska 68069. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SDD INVESTMENTS, LLC. Notice is hereby given that SDD INVESTMENTS, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act. The address of the registered office of the company is 1326 N 160th St, Omaha, NE 68118. The general nature of the business to be transacted by the company is any lawful business which may be carried on by limited liability companies organized under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act. The company commenced on March 14, 2019, and has perpetual duration. The manager of the company is Aaron Flaugh.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is D&D EXCAVATING, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 4907 South 42nd Street, Omaha, NE, 68107. The registered agent is Daniel Wolfe and the Registered Agent's address is 4907 South 42nd Street, Omaha, NE 68107.

3. The general nature of the Company is excavation of dirt for plumbing and fence construction.

4. The Company commenced on March 13, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence.

5. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by Members, the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as the Members shall determine.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF RIPPLE STUDIOS, LLC Notice is hereby given that Articles of Statement of Dissolution has been filed by RIPPLE STUDIOS, LLC, Omaha, Nebraska, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. Eldan Forest, President, is the person designated to wind up the company and liquidate its business and affairs. There are no assets or liabilities of the company.

Parties with claims against RIPPLE STUDIOS, LLC are directed to provide the following information in writing: (1) your name and/or the name of your entity; (2) the nature of your claim; (3) the amount of your claim; and (4) the date your claim arose. Please send the information to Eldan Forest, 2915 S. 112th Street, Omaha, NE 68144. All claims against the company will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce such claims is commenced within five (5) years after the publication date of the third required notice.

Eldan Forest, President First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019

18

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CASTLEMAN CONSULTING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Castleman Consulting, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 6631 S. 171st Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68135. The company commenced business on March 21, 2019, and its affairs are to be conducted by the manager Joshua J. Meyer.

The Registered Agent of the Company is Joshua J. Meyer, 6631 S. 171st Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68135.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), KEVIN ARMSTRONG & CATHLEEN ARMSTRONG You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 01/10/2019 on Case Number CI19-497, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $237.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 05/12/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 GNUSE & GREEN LAW OFFICES, P.C., Attorneys 11311 Chicago Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MOOSE TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS, L.L.C. A Nebraska Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given that Moose Transport Solutions, L.L.C., a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 16476 Vane Street, Bennington, NE 68007. The general nature of its business is to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Certificate of Organization was filed in the office of the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 20, 2019, the Company commenced business on that date and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the board of directors of the LLC’s sole member, Moose Transport, Inc. Rodney G. Gnuse, Organizer First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SYLVAN PEAK INVESTMENTS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Sylvan Peak Investments, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 9807 Ascot Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on March 22, 2019.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MRT MANAGEMENT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MRT Management, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C. a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

The Company was organized for the purpose of engaging in the transaction of any lawful business and the performance of any lawful activities that a limited liability company may engage in under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Company shall have perpetual existence unless dissolved in accordance with its Certificate of Organization, its Operating Agreement or the Limited Liability Company Act. Unless otherwise provided in the Company’s Operating Agreement, the affairs of the Company are to be managed by its managing member.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 MARK J. LAPUZZA, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF WAKELEY PLAZA CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION 1. The name of the Corporation is Wakeley Plaza Condominium Association.

2. The Corporation is a mutual benefit corporation.

3. The address of the registered office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name of the registered agent at that office is Mark J. LaPuzza.

4. The name and street address of each incorporator are as follows: P.J. Morgan, 7801 Wakeley Plaza, Omaha, NE 68114 Derick Lewin, 7801 Wakeley Plaza, Omaha, NE 68114 5. The Corporation will have members.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Gr4ss Co, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 6117 S. 140th Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The registered agent of the Company is Andrew Scarpa, 6117 S. 140th Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The Company was formed on March 25, 2019.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Corporate Name: Parland, P.C. Registered Agent: Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C., a limited liability organization Registered Office: 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 Authorized Number of Shares: 10,000 Incorporator: John Parra, 5050 L Street, Omaha, NE 68117 First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SOWER FARMLAND MANAGERS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Sower Farmland Managers, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1303 S. 72nd Street, Suite 209, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: MICHELLE L. WYATT, 3723 North 40th Street, OMAHA NE 68111, you are hereby notified that on February 14, 2019, CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-3796, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $4,503.98, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 20th day of May, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 19, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Johnson Homes & Remodeling LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Nicole Seckman Jilek, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 LEGACY DESIGN STRATEGIES 9859 South 168th Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is A & B’S LEGACY, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 9859 South 168th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68136.

3. The name of the initial agent for service of the Company at such address is Andrew C. Sigerson. The initial mailing address of the initial agent for service is Andrew C. Sigerson, P.C., L.L.O., 9859 South 168th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68136.

4. The purpose for which the company is organized is to engage in any and all business which is lawful under the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Nebraska.

5. The company commenced its existence on March 20, 2019, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual.

6. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Manager, Laura S. Beahm, 604 Patrick Circle, Gretna, NE 68028, in accordance with the company’s operating agreement.

Ross M. Berg Andrew C. Sigerson, P.C., L.L.O First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 Notice of Organization Cerberus Security Services Notice is hereby given that Cerberus Security Services, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial agent for service of process as Stephen Garcia, and with its initial designated office at 4621 N. 176th Street, Omaha, NE 68116.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019

ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF APOLLO BUILDING CORP. Apollo Building Corp., a Nebraska corporation, has been dissolved pursuant to the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. The corporation has collected its assets, disposed of its properties which were not distributed in kind to its shareholders, discharged or made provision for the discharge of its liabilities, distributed its remaining property among its shareholders according to their interests, and done every other act necessary to wind up and liquidate its business and affairs. Terrence J. Ficenec, President of the corporation, was the person who was responsible for winding up and liquidating the business and affairs of the corporation. The corporation has no remaining assets or liabilities.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Cavey & Associates, LLC Notice is hereby given that a limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is Cavey & Associates, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 6317 S. 120th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68137.

Scott Cavey, Member First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 2602 HARNEY ST, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 2602 Harney St, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 8750 Frederick Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Nova Home Worx, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 15822 Valley Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.

The registered agent of the Company is Leslie Guffey, 15822 Valley Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The Company was formed on March 27, 2019 First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DTC RELOAD, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that DTC Reload, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 400 S. Ridge Road, Fremont, Nebraska 68025. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 Notice of Organization Haley Rose Company Notice is hereby given that Haley Rose Company, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial agent for service of process as Haley Rogers, and with its initial designated office at 106 Merwood Street, Bellevue, NE 68005.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Dot Property Solutions, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with the following registered agent and registered office: Andrew P. McCormick, 7664 Shirley Street, Omaha, NE 68124. The general nature of the business to be transacted is any or all lawful business. The business commenced on March 8, 2019, and it shall continue in perpetuity.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LONG UNLIMITED, LLC The name of the Company is Long Unlimited, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. This limited liability company commenced business on March 28, 2019.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Rad Tek Medical LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 21216 Arbor Court, Elkhorn, NE 68022. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Timothy E Smith, 21216, Elkhorn, NE, 68022. The company is membermanaged. Nature of the Company is Medical Equipment and Devices.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is STEPHANIE A. KASPER 402INJECTOR, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 10030 O Street, Omaha, NE 68127. The registered agent is Stephanie A. Kasper and the Register Agent's address is 10030 O Street, Omaha, NE 68127.

3. The general nature of the Company is aesthetics.

4. The Company commenced on March 18, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence.

5. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by Members, the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as the Members shall determine.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DEAN F. SUING, Attorney GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HUMPHREY CONSTRUCTION, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has formed a limited liability company under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, as follows: The name of the company is Humphrey Construction, LLC. The address of the designated office is 9900 S. 252nd St., Lot 17AP, Waterloo, Nebraska, 68069 and the initial registered agent is Dean F. Suing, 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The company is organized to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking and insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of Nebraska. The limited liability company commenced existence on the filing and recording of its Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of State on March 12, 2019, and shall have a perpetual period of duration from the date the Certificate of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State. Management of the Company shall be vested in an initial board of one manager who shall serve until successors are appointed or elected.

Dean F. Suing, Registered Agent First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: ANNETTE LOPEZ, 2909 Dupont Street, Omaha NE 68105, you are hereby notified that on January 3, 2019, SHELTER MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-192, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $16,741.29, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 22nd day of April, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 12, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: SHEILA GORE, 627 S 36th Street, Omaha NE 68105 and ROBIN RAY JORDAN, 627 S 36th Street, Omaha NE 68105, you are hereby notified that on December 26, 2018, AMERICAN FAMILY MUTUAL INS. Co., S.I. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI18-26886, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $7,010.98, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 22nd day of April, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 12, 2019 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10th Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-341 Estate of PATRICIA L. DEMBOWSKI, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on March 15th, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent's estate and that GERALDINE M. GREER, whose address is 4403 Ridgeway Rd, Omaha, NE 68134, has been appointed as Personal Representative of this Estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before May 22nd, 2019 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019

AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), Kevin D Bratton You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 12/18/2018 on Case Number CI18-26632, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $356.9, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 05/05/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Fastlane Holdings, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 20, 2019, and the company is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the company are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore, and that the balance of any remaining assets are to be distributed to its Sole Member. Mark Hasebroock will wind up and liquidate the company’s business and affairs. If you have a claim against Fastlane Holdings, LLC, please provide the following information with respect to your claim: (1) your name or the name of your entity; (2) the nature of your claim; (3) the amount of your claim; and (4) the date your claim arose. All claims shall be mailed to 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. A claim against Fastlane Holdings, LLC is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION R & M Premises, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Andrew P. Deaver and Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is given that Emerald Light Photography, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with the following registered agent and registered office: Britnee Hoffner. Papillion, NE 68046 The general nature of the Company's business is to engage in any lawful business permitted under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The company was organized on January 22,2019, and it shall continue in perpetuity unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms of its operating agreement.

In general, the Company's business is to be managed by its primary member Britnee Hoffner in accordance with the Company's operating agreement.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SCOREBOARD, LLC The name of the Company is Scoreboard, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124.

This limited liability company commenced business on March 20, 2019.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDED CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF GERHEAUSER, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Gerheauser, LLC has changed its name to: Gutschow, LLC. The name change was accomplished by the filing of an Amended Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 18, 2019.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MYB2BCOACH, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MyB2BCoach, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 2014 S. 107th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 20, 2019.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019

19

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 5CK, LLC The name of the Company is 5CK, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124.

This limited liability company commenced business on March 8, 2019.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 3105 LEAVENWORTH STREET I LLC The name of the Company is 3105 Leavenworth Street I LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 12500 I Street, Suite 160, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: John Heine, 12500 I Street, Suite 160, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. This limited liability company commenced business on March 8, 2019.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 3105 LEAVENWORTH STREET II LLC The name of the Company is 3105 Leavenworth Street II LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 12500 I Street, Suite 160, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: John Heine, 12500 I Street, Suite 160, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. This limited liability company commenced business on March 8, 2019.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HARNEY STREET VENTURE, LLC The name of the Company is Harney Street Venture, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. This limited liability company commenced business on March 8, 2019.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 1208 LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 1208 LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on March 13, 2019.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF DOCULYNX, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that docuLynx, Inc., a Nebraska corporation (“Corporation”), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 12, 2019, and the Corporation is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the Corporation are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore. The Strong Oak Group, Inc., Liquidating Agent, of the Corporation, will wind up and liquidate the Corporation’s business and affairs. The Corporation has estimated available assets of $49,000 estimated liabilities of $715,000 as of the date hereof.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Chedel Properties, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with the following registered agent and registered office: Alec J. Chedel, 11824 Frances Street, Omaha, NE 68144. The general nature of the business to be transacted is any or all lawful business. The business commenced on March 12, 2019, and it shall continue in perpetuity.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF AKAJRV 314, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that AKAJRV 314, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 22, 2019, final April 5, 2019

20

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ACE DENTAL REMOVABLE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 15, 2019, Ace Dental Removable, LLC was organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, with a designated office at 8260 Hascall St., Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Company’s initial agent for service of process is Wayne S. Rasmussen, 8712 West Dodge Rd., Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Ben McClelland, LLC Notice is hereby given that a limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is Ben McClelland, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 9639 Sprague Street, Omaha, NE 68134.

Ben McClelland, Member First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Holman Properties, LLC Notice is hereby given that a limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is Holman Properties, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 1011 Skyline Drive, Elkhorn, NE 68022.

Christopher Holman, Member First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ACTON ACADEMY OMAHA, LLC Notice is hereby given that a limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is Acton Academy Omaha, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 2118 N. 162nd Ave, Omaha, NE 68116 Chris Benson, Member First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 PHILLIP A. BELIN, Attorney BELIN LAW FIRM, P.C., L.L.O. 12341 Westover Road Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT On March 21, 2019, The Uplifting Life, Inc. filed articles of amendment to its articles of incorporation. The articles changed the corporation's name to Vineset, Inc. First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DUTCH HALL RIFLES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Dutch Hall Rifles, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 7402 Dutch Hall Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Steven A. Bloemker, 7402 Dutch Hall Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68122.

The limited liability company commenced business on March 22, 2019.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 BARRY S. GROSSMAN, Attorney 1905 Harney St., Suite 600 Omaha, Nebraska 68102 LEGAL NOTICE In the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska TO: Manuel Diaz-Arroyo, whose whereabouts are unknown and upon whom personal service of summons cannot be had, defendant in said proceedings.

You are notified that on the 3rd day of January, 2019, Mirian Diaz, as Plaintiff, filed her complaint against you in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, Case No. CI 19-56, object and prayer of which complaint is to obtain a dissolution of your marriage on the grounds that the marriage is irretrievably broken, designation of property, and restoration of former name.

You are required to answer the said complaint on or before May 27, 2019 or said petition against you will be taken as true.

MIRIAN DIAZ, Plaintiff First publication April 5, 2019, final April 26, 2019

MARK J. LAPUZZA, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 13th Street TIF, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of 13th Street TIF, LLC.

1. The name of the limited liability company is 13th Street TIF, LLC.

2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 7801 Wakeley Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Mark J. LaPuzza, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION

Current Benefits, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Thomas J. Malicki, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LOUP HOLDINGS, LLC The name of the Company is Loup Holdings, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. This limited liability company commenced business on March 29, 2019.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF LEGACY COURT, LLC Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, the Certificate of Organization of LEGACY COURT, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”) has been amended to change the name of the Company to 9140 West Dodge, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nebraska on March 29, 2019.

In all other respects, the Certificate of Organization remains unchanged.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SAFETY FIRST FLOORING SOLUTIONS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Safety First Flooring Solutions, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 5103 Nicholas Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68132. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Martin C. Sheridan, 5103 Nicholas Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68132. The limited liability company commenced business on April 1, 2019.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TenFifteen Properties, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that TenFifteen Properties, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with it's designated office at 4206 Walnut St, Omaha, NE 68105. The Registered Agent of the Company is Legalinc Corporate Services Inc. 4611 South 96th St, Ste 111, Omaha, NE 68127.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 JOHN Q. BACHMAN, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF FALLING WATERS – PHASE II HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Notice is hereby given of the incorporation of Falling Waters – Phase II Homeowners Association under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the nonprofit Corporation is Falling Waters – Phase II Homeowners Association.

2. The Corporation is a mutual benefit corporation.

3. The name of the Corporation’s initial registered agent is John Q. Bachman and the address of the initial registered office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

4. The names and street addresses of the incorporators are:

Dennis Van Moorleghem, 7002 South 131st Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68138

Steven Janicek, 7002 South 131st Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68138 5. The Corporation will have members.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019

WILLIAM J. LINDSAY, JR., Attorney GROSS & WELCH, P.C., L.L.O. 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FMP FARMS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that FMP Farms, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska on March 22, 2019. Its designated office is located at 10906 Newport Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68164. Its initial registered agent for service of process is CorporAgent, Inc., with an address at 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1500, Omaha, Nebraska 68124.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 DAVID M. HOHMAN, Attorney FITZGERALD, SCHORR, BARMETTLER & BRENNAN, P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 10050 Regency Circle, 200 Regency One Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3794 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF LISA M. POWELL INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.

Notice is hereby given that Lisa M. Powell Insurance Agency, Inc., a Nebraska corporation (the “Corporation”), has been dissolved under the laws of the State of Nebraska effective as of March 28, 2019. The Corporation has collected all of its assets and will convey and dispose of those assets as may be necessary to pay, satisfy, discharge or provide for all liabilities and obligations of the Corporation. Any assets remaining after satisfaction of all liabilities and obligations of the Corporation will be transferred and distributed to the shareholders of the Corporation in cancellation and redemption of all shares of stock of the Corporation. At the time of the dissolution, the Corporation had no assets or liabilities, other than the expenses incurred in this dissolution. Lisa M. Powell, President and Treasurer of the Corporation, is responsible for winding up and liquidating the business and affairs of the Corporation. Any creditors or claimants of the Corporation shall present a detailed claim setting forth all relevant claim information and the amount of the claim in writing to the Corporation at the following address: Lisa M. Powell Insurance Agency, Inc., 16168 Emmet Circle, Omaha, NE 68116. Any claim against the Corporation shall be barred unless a proceeding to enforce such claim is commenced within three years after the publication of this notice.

Dated the 29th day of March, 2019.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 MYRONS J. KAPLAN, Attorney McGILL, GOTSDINER, WORKMAN & LEPP, P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 11404 West Dodge Road, Suite 500, First National Plaza Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2584 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 3905, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 3905, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 3850 South 149th Street, #108, Omaha, Nebraska 68144.

The general nature of the business is to engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The limited liability company was formed on March 20, 2019, and its duration is perpetual. Management of the Company shall be vested in its Managers.

First publication March 29, 2019, final April 12, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF ODY OPTOELECTRICAL, LLC ODY Optoelectrical, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has filed a Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State. The terms of the dissolution provide for the payment of liabilities of the company and the distribution of any remaining assets.

The Company requests that persons with claims against it present them in accordance with this notice. Any claimant shall describe the claim and mail the claim to the above address. A claim against the company will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced within five years after the publication of this notice.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Corporate Name: Heather Doll Counseling Services, P.C. Registered Agent: Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C. a limited liability organization Registered Office: 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 Authorized Number of Shares: 10,000 Incorporator: Heather Doll Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C. 17021 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Suite 201 Omaha, NE 68130 First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 3D CONCRETE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 3D Concrete, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 3941 X Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES BREASCH FINANCE & TAX CONSULTING INC. 4879 S 132nd Avenue Omaha, NE 68137 CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF RELIEF PLUMBING SERVICES LLC A NEBRASKA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY 1. The name of the limited liability company is RELIEF PLUMBING SERVICES LLC 2. The period of duration for RELIEF PLUMBING SERVICES LLC is perpetual.

3. RELIEF PLUMBING SERVICES LLC is organized for the purpose of conducting any and all business as permitted by the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. 4. The address of the initial designated office for RELIEF PLUMBING SERVICES LLC in Nebraska is 7607 N 29TH Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68112.

5. The name and address of the registered agent for RELIEF PLUMBING SERVICES LLC in Nebraska is Jacob Minturn, 7607 N 29th Street, Omaha NE 68112.

6. Additional provisions, not inconsistent with the law, for the regulation of the internal affairs of the limited liability company shall be provided for in the Operating Agreement.

7. Jacob Minturn, organizer(s) of RELIEF PLUMBING SERVICES LLC has signed the Foregoing Certificate of Organization effective this 22th day of March, 2019.

Jacob Minturn First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PORTRANE HOUSE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Portrane House, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 15660 California Street, Omaha, NE 68118. The Registered Agent of the Company is Adrian Blake, 15660 California Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68118.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF NON-PROFIT INCORPORATION 1. The name of the non-profit corporation is EVANGELIUM INSTITUTE, INC. 2. The registered office of the Corporation is 10828 Old Mill Road, Ste 6, Omaha, NE 68154. The registered agent at that office is Jeffrey T. Palzer.

3. The corporation is a public benefit corporation and the general nature of the corporation is religious formation.

4. The corporation commenced on March 28, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The name and address of the incorporator is Deacon Omar F. A. Gutierrez, 2307 S. 33rd St., Omaha, Nebraska 68105.

5. The corporation will not have members.

Jeffrey T. Palzer, Attorney at Law, Kellogg & Palzer, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 Phone: 402-333-9200 Fax: 402-333-0508 First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 ROBERT J. LIKES, Attorney LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-228 Estate of Richard I. George, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on March 27, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, Janice K. George, 611 Park Lane Drive, Omaha, NE 68104 was informally appointed Personal Representative of the estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before June 5, 2019 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Ascend Technology Group Name of Applicant: John Gerdes Address: 11003 I St, Omaha, NE 68137 Applicant is a Individual If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Date of first use of name in Nebraska: December 1, 2018 General nature of business: IT consulting and managed services JOHN GERDES Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative April 5, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: N Gold Name of Applicant: Nebraska Gold Softball, LLC Address: 3615 s 185th ave Omaha NE 68130 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: 09/01/2009 General nature of business: Softball Organization EDWARD J JARZOBSKI Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative April 5, 2019

STATE OF NEBRASKA PAROLE BOARD HEARINGS NOTICE A total of 148 cases will be heard by the Board in April, 2019. The following case(s) sentenced in Douglas County will be seen by the Board of Parole.

April 17, 2019 – 8:30 a.m. Community Correctional Center - Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska Koenig, Zachary 66415 Sexual Assault 1st Degree Muse, Teniko 69865 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug (2 counts), Robbery, Use Deadly Weap to Commit Fel Do, Antonio 87521 Robbery (2 counts) Stevens, Parrish 88541 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug April 18, 2019 – 9:30 a.m. Community Correctional Center - Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska Wilson, Donte 70501 Assault 2nd Degree, Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug, Unlawful Discharge of Firearm Gallagher, Robert 83745 Possession of Burglary Tools, Wardlow-Stubblefield, Amanda 95667 Forgery 2nd Degree (9 counts), Viol of Financial Trans Device (2 counts) April 22, 2019 – 8:30 a.m. Nebraska State Penitentiary, Lincoln, Nebraska Dvarro, James 66033 Sexual Assault of Child 1st Degree Jura, David 72236 Assault 1st Degree, Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/ Fug, Unlawful Discharge of Firearm Lindsey, Islands 75098 Robbery, Use Deadly Weap to Commit Fel Anderson, Anthony 81665 Robbery (2 counts) Coen, Richard 82189 Driving While intoxicated, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop Riley, Donald 82605 Tampering (2 counts) Lewis, Jermaine 82643 Escape, Possession of Defaced Firearm James, Alex 84739 Burglary (4 counts) Holmes, John 84762 Visl Depict Sexl Explicit Cond Marinovic, Scott 85951 Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disp Kellum, Romeius 85962 Burglary Schaub, Richard 86883 Robbery Lotts, David 87802 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I (2 counts) Cartmill, Cody 87475 Theft by Receiving Stolen Property April 24, 2019 – 9:30 a.m. Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, York, Nebraska Williams, Hanna 99139 Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disp, Viol of Financial Trans Device Webster, Margo 99427 Theft by Deception Wilhelmswanson, Krista 99800 Forgery 1st Degree (3 counts), Viol of Financial Trans Device April 29, 2019 – 9:30 a.m. Omaha Correctional Center, Omaha, Nebraska Monarrez, Stephen 73622 Operate Motor Veh/Avoid Arrest, Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug, Terroristic Threats, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop Patterson, Nathaniel 78335 Forgery 2nd Degree, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop (2 counts) Petry, Douglas 81482 Driving While Intoxicated Thomas, Adam 83943 Burglary, Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug, Poss/Receive Stolen Firearm Chumley, Daniel 84318 Burglary, Driving While Intoxicated Marshall, Adonis 85721 Poss/Receive Stolen Firearm Hurt, Robert 85991 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I (2 counts) Percy, Deangelo 86756 Sex Offender Reg Act Violation Garcia, Nicholas 88844 Child Abuse, Pos Cntrl Sub Except Marijuana, Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug Brummett, Michael 69945 Burglary (3 counts) Sund, Christian 87630 Assault 1st Degree April 30, 2019 – 9:30 a.m. Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, Tecumseh, Nebraska Lacroix, Taven 82174 Escape Lewis, Jamail 85398 Robbery Collins, Sean 82021 Forgery 2nd Degree, Operate Motor Veh/Avoid Arrest, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop, Theft by Unlwfl Taking or Disp, Viol of Financial Trans Device April 30, 2019 – 1:30 p.m. Lincoln Correctional Center, Lincoln, Nebraska Gafford, Anthony 52277 Murder 2nd Degree, Use Deadly Weap to Commit Fel Harbour, Quinderro 65896 Robbery (3 counts) Jackson, Kenneth 88935 Operate Motor Veh/Avoid Arrest, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop Thompson, Kavon 86554 Assault 2nd Degree Reath, Jack 88635 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I Rowan, Maleek 88559 Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Theft by Unlwfl Taking or Disp Looney, John 85928 Burglary, Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug ROSALYN COTTON, CHAIR NEBRASKA BOARD OF PAROLE April 5, 2019

21

AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), THODORE L SCHMITZ & CHRISTINA L SCHMITZ You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 01/01/2019 on Case Number CI19-1161, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $425.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 WESLEY E. HAUPTMAN, Attorney 17826 Monroe Street Omaha, Nebraska 68135 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-432 Estate of VERNON B. DEWILD, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on April 2, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that David B. DeWild, whose address is 1511 Stover Lane, Spirit Lake, IA 51360, was informally appointed by the Registrar as Personal Representative of the Estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before June 5, 2019 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FRACTIONALEXEC, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that FractionalExec, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 26501 Taylor Street, Valley, Nebraska 68064. The Registered Agent of the Company is Scott Mingus, 26501 Taylor Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68064.

First publication April 5, 2019, final April 19, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Parsons House, LLC Name of Applicant:Parsons House Senior Mgt., LLC Address: 14325 Eagle Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: 3/25/2019 General nature of business: Assisted living services M. TYLER JOHNSON Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative April 5, 2019

Area businesses offer assistance to flood victims Continued from page 6. be given to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.

“Hy-Vee is providing a $50,000 match to customer donations made at the checkout of our Nebraska and Council Bluffs stores through April 14,” Gayman said.

“The donation will go to the American Red Cross to assist with disaster-relief efforts.”

Talia Goes, communications coordinator at Nebraska Cattlemen, said cleanup has started in some areas, while others are continuing to battle water.

“Not only are towns impacted by the floods, but people have been displaced and stranded as the roads have been impacted to a point where they are no longer accessible via vehicle,” Goes said.

Goes said Nebraska Cattlemen has started a disaster relief fund.

Goes said 100 percent of all donations received will be distributed to Nebraska cattle producers affected by natural disasters, including recent wet weather events.

“Many other organizations have started funds and relief efforts of some sort,” Goes said. “Scouring social media you see them everywhere, individuals, businesses, whole communities coming together to provide assistance to the people in need. The light to this story is the absolute heroism we have seen from individuals.

Everyone is doing their part and pulling together to help one another, selflessly.”

22

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

We’re not prepared for the promise of artificial intelligence, experts warn

by Ethan Baron

Artificial intelligence will unleash changes humanity is not prepared for as the technology advances at an unprecedented pace, leading experts told an audience at the official opening recently of Stanford University’s new AI center.

At a day-long symTechnology posium accompanying the center’s launch, speakers from Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates to former Google AI chief Fei-Fei Li and a host of other leaders in the field laid out the promise of AI to transform life for the better or — if appropriate measures are not taken — for the worse.

The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, a cross-disciplinary research and teaching facility dedicated to the use of AI for global good, needs to educate government along with students, Gates said during his keynote speech.

“These AI technologies are completely done by universities and private companies, with the private companies being somewhat ahead,” Gates told the audience. “Hopefully things like your institute will bring in legislators and executive-branch people, maybe even a few judges, to get up to speed on these things because the pace and the global nature of it and the fact that it’s really outside of government hands does make it particularly challenging.”

Gates said AI can speed up scientific progress. “It’s a chance — whether it’s governance, education, health — to accelerate the advances in all the sciences,” Gates said.

Artificial intelligence is, essentially, algorithm-based software that can “see,” “hear” and “think” in ways that often mimic human processes, but faster and theoretically, more accurately. However, rapid advances in AI have sparked growing concern about the ethics of allowing algorithms to make decisions, the possibility that the technology will replace more jobs than it creates, and the potentially harmful results algorithms can produce when their input includes human bias.

“This is a unique time in history — we are part of the first generation to see this technology migrate form the lab to the real world at such a scale and speed,” institute co-director Li told the audience. But, she said, “intelligent machines have the potential to do harm.”

Possible pitfalls include job displacement, “algorithmic bias” that results from data infected by human prejudices, and threats to privacy and security.

“This is a technology with the potential to change history for all of us. The question is, ‘Can we have the good without the bad?’” she said.

That question remains to be answered, said Susan Athey, a professor of the economics of technology at the university’s business school. “If we knew all the answers we wouldn’t need to found the institute,” Athey said in an interview. “We’re trying to grapple with big questions that no discipline has monopoly over. What we want to do is make sure we get the greatest minds studying these questions.”

Those minds will come from Stanford schools and departments including computer science, medicine, law, economics, political science, biology, sociology and humanities.

The inter-disciplinary structure of the institute will allow researchers, students and instructors to explore the effects of AI on human life and the environment, symposium speakers said.

“AI should be inspired by human intelligence, but its development should be guided by its impact,” said university president Marc Tessier-Lavigne.

Because the facility is located at a university, students and faculty can create collaborations that “allow people to learn about AI while actually improving the social good,” they said.

Areas ripe for AI-boosted development include medicine, climate science, emergency response, governance and education, speakers said. The technology promises to augment human intelligence, helping doctors diagnose illness or helping teachers educate children, speakers said.

Still, AI in many ways falls far short of human intelligence, the symposium heard.

While the technology can be applied generally across many fields, its usefulness is, so far, very narrow.

“It does only one thing,” said Jeff Dean, Google’s head of AI. “How do we actually train systems that can do thousands of things, tens of thousands of things? How do we actually build much more general systems?”

Another leader in America’s AI field, MIT

that I should allow one to two working days for further updates. Further, I shouldn’t place a new order until I received confirmation from them.

That was two weeks ago. I still don’t know if my credit card will be accepted. If it isn’t, will that information go into someone’s financial database and affect me in the future?

Who’s at fault here? E-commerce security software everywhere that isn’t up to the task.

Experts say that, when in doubt, such software cancels a transaction. A 2017 study by the Merchant Risk Council, a trade association, says this happens in 2.6 percent of all online

orders because retailers have made their fraud detection software more restrictive (see tinyurl. com/yy9c9yc5).

Another expert estimates false positives cause more than $8 billion in lost sales annually for U.S. retailers (see tinyurl.com/ycso4ecl).

It’s unclear whether consumers can do anything about the problem of false positives. But something needs to change before that security software does real financial harm. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Tech Q&A: Sometimes computer security can hurt you

Continued from page 15. breaches, it might see that I had been peripherally involved in one. A few months ago, my bank replaced my debit card following a data breach at a coffee-shop company whose stores I frequent. Maybe the Fishpond.com security software had flagged the coffee-shop incident as a risk — for all it knew, a thief might have stolen all my charge cards, including the one I was using to buy “Mister Dog.” So maybe Fishpond.com was just being careful, and I should be impressed. Besides, Fishpond seemed willing to correct their mistake. They asked that I place a new book order, then e-mail customer service a copy of the new order number and “a scanned copy of a current utility bill with your name and address as proof of delivery address.”

I did that. Fishpond.com promptly e-mailed to say: “We will ask our fraud team to review it. If they are satisfied with the information supplied, you will be able to create a new order online.”

I heard nothing more, so in early March I e-mailed Fishpond again. I was told that my information had been passed on for review, and

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professor Erik Brynjolfsson, highlighted the potential prosperity the technology may deliver — if humans can keep up with the pace of change it creates.

“The first-order effect is tremendous growth in the economic pie, better health, ability to solve so many of our societal problems.

If we handle this right, the next 10 years, the next 20 years, should be, could be, the best couple of decades that humanity has ever seen,” Brynjolfsson said.

“The fact that there’s no economic law that everyone benefits means that we need to be proactive about thinking about how we make this shared prosperity. The challenge isn’t so much massive job loss, it’s more a matter of poor-quality jobs and uneven distribution.”

Currently, companies are focusing on using AI to perform certain tasks, and work based on such tasks is disappearing, Brynjolfsson said.

“The problem is that human skills, human institutions, business processes change much more slowly than technology does,” he said. “We’re not keeping up. That’s why this human-centered AI initiative is so important.

How can we adapt our economics, our laws, our societies? Otherwise, we’re going to be facing more of the unintended consequences.”

Fewer than a dozen companies are large and powerful enough to use AI broadly, and research is concentrated within a handful of countries, said Kate Crawford, co-director of the AI Now Institute at New York University.

“It’s really a small group of people who really have their hands on the levers of power,” Crawford said. “When we start to talk about what that looks like geopolitically, it actually starts to look very concerning.”

Keeping developers of AI accountable for what their technology does is a challenge so far unmet, said Tristan Harris, executive director of the Center for Humane Technology and the former design ethicist at Google. “If Google and Facebook are funding the majority of AI research, then that presents a lot of huge problems,” Harris said. “We need structural accountability.” ©2019 The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Worker asks: Must I use vacation day for weather-related closing?

by Carrie Mason-Draffen

DEAR CARRIE: A while ago, you answered an hourly employee’s question about whether he should be paid when the office closed because of a snowstorm.

You said the employer could require those nonexempt workers to use vacation time to cover that missed day of work, even though they missed it through no fault of their own. I Workplace am an exempt worker, and as such I can be contacted by my company at any time, even while I am on vacation. And I am expected to respond to the emails and calls as I can work remotely. I work in New York for a California-based company. Yet, when the office closes because of inclement weather, just like nonexempt employees, I am required to use vacation days to cover the lost time. Is it legal to treat exempt employees this way? — Snow Job DEAR SNOW: It doesn’t seem fair, but it sounds legal. Because of your exempt status, the company can legally ask you to work extra hours without paying you a cent more. Yet, it won’t cut you any slack when it shuts the office

for the day and makes you use your paid time off to cover a closing.

But here’s something your exempt status prevents the company from doing: It cannot dock your pay if it closes because of bad weather. It can dock your pay only if you miss a full day for personal reasons. So what is left? Your paid time off. Your employer can legally require you to use that time.

But it’s worth mentioning that even if all your paid time off has been used up for the year, your employer still can’t dock your pay to cover a closing.

When employers break any of the rules regarding employees who are exempt, that status is lost, putting the employer on the hook for overtime pay.

DEAR CARRIE: I am an employee of a large health care hospital affiliate on Long Island. I transitioned from X-ray to MRI over a year ago, but I have not been compensated for that promotion. I get a different story every time I bring the subject of the raise to management.

The salary increase should be anywhere from $5 to $10 or more an hour. What are my rights

regarding getting paid what I should be earning in the new job? Am I entitled to the raise retroactively for services already rendered? — What Raise?

DEAR WHAT: Some lawyers maintain that unless you are covered by an employment or union contract, you may not be able to force your employer to act. They say the law requires only minimum wage. But other laws that may come in to play are those that prohibit discrimination. So if two employees perform the same job, the differences in pay between them must be explained by years of service, skill level or some other nondiscriminatory reason.

So check to see if you have a contractual basis for pushing your company to honor the raise. And consider writing a letter to your supervisor to remind him or her that your promotion comes with a salary increase. Sometimes putting something in writing makes the point more forcefully. ©2019 Newsday Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

Technology A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

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Topics may include:

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Topics may include:

Technology overview • Optimizing business/website content for voice search More companies using customer relationship management (CRM) software • Updated cybersecurity Integrating digital practices into your office workspace can improve productivity Optimizing business/website content for voice search

Salute to Small Business overview • Hiring and retaining employees How the generational shift is impacting small business workplaces • Buying local Business startup assistance • The benefits challenge • Finding capital What business accelerators are seeking and doing

Issue Date: April 12 • Ad Deadline: April 4

Issue Date: April 19 • Ad Deadline: April 11

Investing for Legal Retirement Profession A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Investing for Retirement overview • Baby boomer retirement trends Retirement investing options for those without employer-sponsored retirement plan or pension program Home equity strategies • Post-retirement investing/wealth management • 401(k) and IRA trends

Legal Profession overview • Activities • Law school trends Women initiatives and leadership in the legal profession • Growing cybersecurity practices Trademark/patent trends • Paid parental leave • Rise of employee retaliation claims To grow business in competitive legal industry

Issue Date: April 19 • Ad Deadline: April 11

Issue Date: April 26 • Ad Deadline: April 18

To advertise your company’s products or services in one of our upcoming sections, contact one of our MBJ advertising representatives at (402) 330-1760 or at the email addresses below.

Julie Whitehead - Julie@mbj.com • Catie Kirby - ads@mbj.com

24

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Ervin & Smith names Welchert to director of finance, HR role

Ervin & Smith has added Brittany (Wozny) Welchert to the leadership team as director of finance and human resources.

We l c h e r t w i l l support Jennifer Kieffe over the next few months as Kieffe prepares for her upcoming retirement after 24 years with Ervin & Smith. Welchert graduated from the University of NebrasWelchert ka-Lincoln with her master’s degree in professional accountancy and is coming to Ervin & Smith following more than nine years as a certified public accountant (CPA) and auditor at Deloitte & Touche, LLP.

The Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer names Minton CEO

Mutual of Omaha selects Edwards for VP, actuary

Mutual of Omaha has promoted Jordan Edwards to vice president and actuary.

Edwards will lead a team that develops, maintains and governs all corporate projection models used in valuation, financial planning and capital management. Also, Edwards is leading a companywide project to install a new modeling Edwards framework for use throughout the company. Edwards joined Mutual of Omaha in 2011. Before assuming his current position, he served as financial actuarial director, a position he held since 2016. Edwards received a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University.

The Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer has appointed Anne M. Minton as CEO. Minton, currently chief operating officer, will succeed CEO Denise Fandel on May 1.

Minton has been part of the BOC since 1998, beginning as director of operations before being promoted to assistant executive director and associate executive director. She Minton was named COO in 2018. During her career with BOC, Minton led the search for and renovation of the national headquarters building in downtown Omaha and established 1415-The Meeting Space, the BOC’s downtown conference center. Additionally, she grew the staff to 19 full-time employees.

WoodmenLife promotes Stephenson to director, inforce management role

HGM Associates hires O’Reilly as business development lead

Ayars & Ayars selects Ehmke to lead business development

HGM Associates Inc. has added Matt O’Reilly to the team as business development director.

O’Reilly graduated from Winona State University with a bachelor’s degree in business/marketing and later received an MBA from the University of Dubuque. He brings 30 years of experience with customer relations in the utility and O’Reilly business industries, working with large industrial projects, economic development, acquisitions and community relations. His most recent experience was with Black Hills Energy.

WoodmenLife has appointed Kyle Lee Stephenson as its director of inforce management.

Stephenson has been with WoodmenLife since July 2008, starting as an actuarial analyst and progressing to actuary in April 2017.

He received a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science and mathematics from the Stephenson University of Central Missouri and has been a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries since 2013. He is also a member of the Academy of Actuaries and the American Fraternal Alliance.

Ayars & Ayars Inc. has selected Sean Ehmke to lead business development in the Omaha office.

Ehmke has more than 20 years of design-build experience in commercial and industrial construction with an emphasis in pre-engineered metal buildings and architectural precast. He has held a series of roles in sales, general Ehmke management, project management, CAD operator and estimating.

At Ayars & Ayars, Ehmke will be in charge of building and maintaining the Iowa and Nebraska customer base.

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

25

Sokpoh Law Group helping Omaha immigrants grow their businesses Continued from page 1.

Nebraska at Omaha. After she graduated from UNO, she met a lawyer who encouraged her to go into law. She applied to Creighton University School of Law and received a scholarship.

“I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer,” she said. “I think I knew since I was about 13 years old that that’s what I wanted to do. There wasn’t much opportunity for it for me in Togo.”

Upon receiving her juris doctor from Creighton, she worked for Koley Jessen and Lutheran Family Services before opening her own firm.

“To be able to go to school here and then getting to practice in law then opening my own firm — a lot of scary steps to say the least,” she said. “Being able to take that first step gives you a lot of confidence in your own abilities, and then helping others do the same thing is very rewarding.”

With major changes in immigration policy since January 2017, the bureaucratic process for naturalization and immigration takes twice as long, she said.

“Immigration processes were never

quick,” she said. “Naturalization applica- person to come work for their organization tions — awhile back they could process to law firms who have to delay filing until within six months or less in 2014/2015. every piece of documentation is ready.

Sokpoh also Now we are doing a Sokpoh Law Group helps establish year, easy.” nonprofits and has What’s more, she Phone: 402-858-2020 helped African ausaid applications can Address: 10730 Pacific St., Suite 247, Omathors with copyright now be denied with- ha 68114 issues. out warning, where- Services: immigration, intellectual property One such author a s p r e v i o u s l y t h e and business law is Marco LeRoc, government would Founded: 2011 by Karine Sokpoh who wrote “Actiissue a request for One-year goal: Currently hiring support staff vate Your Untapped evidence (RFE), giv- and looking to hire another attorney by the end Potential,” “Screw ing an applicant or of the year.

College Debt,” and business a chance to Industry outlook: Since 2016, immigration “Cash In With Your provide more infor- policies have changed, making the slow, comMoney.” mation and fix what plex process even more cumbersome.

He is also the might be wrong with Website: https://scolawgroup.com founder of Marco the application.

“Now they have a new guideline that LeRoc & Co., an organization that helps gives USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Im- millennials and immigrants grow financialmigration Services) full discretion to just ly and personally, as well as the League deny applications without first issuing for African Advancement, Inc., and the those requests for evidence (RFEs) or no- Leadership Africa Summit.

In addition to helping him establish tices of intent to deny,” she said.

These new guidelines have a ripple ef- his LLC, he said Sokpoh took the time to fect, whether for the businesses who need a understand his vision when helping him

What to do when you are rising in your company and not liking what you see

by Liz Reyer

Q: I’m struggling with a lack of confidence in my company’s executive staff bordering on cynicism. The higher I’ve gotten in my position, the more visibility I have into how and why decisions are made. I’m not sure what to do, or if any other company would be any different.

—Al, 41, vice Workplace president, sales A: It can definitely be eye-opening to understand all of the considerations that go into organizations’ decisions, even in the best of cases.

In your situation, perhaps you are seeing that your ideals clash with the reality of your company. This is worth reflecting upon.

For example, if decisions are being made that put profits over customer needs or even safety, this would be extremely disturbing.

Or if a company directive requires you or your sales force to lie or otherwise impinge on your ethics, you would be right to be alarmed.

However, things are seldom this unambiguous.

First, consider that the executive leadership team likely can’t tell you everything that would help you understand the true reasons behind all their decisions.

Confidentiality is a fact of life at those levels, and as you continue to gain more promotions, additional information will be shared.

You may find that you then can understand some rationales that simply didn’t make sense before.

There’s also a place for some humility.

You simply may not have quite enough background to grasp the complexity of the many factors that this team is managing.

Also keep in mind that your senior leaders are flawed humans, just like all of us.

While each undoubtedly has skills that got them to that level, they also have weaknesses. And sometimes they may have a bad day

or make mistakes, no matter how good their intentions may be. Your reservations may not simply be the reaction of an idealistic or naive young executive. There may, in fact, be veniality afoot.

The first question to confront is, how will you know if things are amiss? Sometimes those committing fraud or other criminal acts hide their tracks very well.

The next question is, what are you willing to do? Integrity would call for the whistleblower path.

If you intend to do this, plan ahead so that you are prepared for the risks and potential costs.

In the end, a likely cause is simple mediocrity. Your company may have a decent vision or product, but just not very skilled leadership. Your executives may be over their heads, and not be able to create plans

that truly lead to the vision. This is called fantasy and doesn’t end well in business.

Or you may have found that your firm’s reason for existence simply doesn’t inspire you, and maybe you are pinning the blame on management.

You then need to decide if you can be a difference maker in this situation.

If you stay with the company, identify ways that you can influence the firm within your current role and in future positions, if you should be promoted.

If you decide to look elsewhere, use this situation to plan questions you will ask and observations you will want to make to find an organization that better meets your expectations for leadership. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

rename his company.

Sokpoh is on the board of the Women’s Fund, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the League for African Advancement and Volunteer Lawyers Project. She is on some of the committees for the State Bar Association and is on the committee for the Common Fund of the Heartland, an organization that provides energy assistance for those in need.

“I like doing outreach in the African community — there are a lot of African immigrants here in Omaha,” she said.

“I like to do sessions to educate about changes in the law to make sure that people are aware of what’s changing, what to do to be compliant with these changes, and what they need to know about their rights.”

She said that Omaha has changed and grown since her arrival in July 2001 when there were no African grocery stores or restaurants. Now, she knows of at least six African stores and three restaurants, as well as makeup artists, wedding planners, authors, and nonprofits started by Africans that she’s helped create.

“It enriches the community when we see that,” she said. “People that are coming here have ideas, have hopes and they also have energy and want to work and be successful.”

Sokpoh met her husband, who is also from Togo, in Omaha and has two daughters, ages 12 and 2.

The Leadership Africa Summit, which takes place on Saturday, April 13 at UNO’s Strauss Performing Arts Center, attracts students, entrepreneurs, medical doctors, nurses and professionals who are immigrants or working with the African community.

LeRoc said he started the summit to help connect, empower and develop the African community, as well as “to promote cultural diversity among professionals and support initiatives and programs that contribute to the development and betterment of Africans.”

26

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Kirsch Transportation set to move to Old Market; adds additional services Continued from page 1. appealing logistics environment … The updates are being done as we speak. The original [building] was built in 1891.”

CEO Camilla “Cam” Moore Kirsch launched the business based at 25 Main Place with her son, President Matthew Kirsch.

“We had just opened on April 1, 2001,”

Kirsch Transportation Services Phone: 877-341-9611 Address: 25 Main Place, Suite 300, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503 Services: logistics and freight-related solutions for shippers and carriers Founded: 2001 by mother and son, Camilla and Matthew Kirsch Employees: around 60 Website: www.kirschtrans.com

Cam Kirsch recalled in February. “When you own your own business, you’ve just got to keep moving when bad things happen.”

From formidable origins for a well-established enterprise, let alone a fledgling business, Kirsch noted the company has always had an instinct to take on and overcome challenging conditions.

“We’re pretty fearless around here,” she said.

The nature of freight and logistics services businesses demands such fearlessness, as Becker described it as a “cutthroat” industry, partly, in terms of pricing.

PwC Global also described an industry that is “confronting immense change: digital transformation, new market entrants, changing customer expectations, and new evolving business models.”

“Four years ago, we made very large investment in transportation software,” Kirsch said.

Becker referred to updating technology to take the company to the “next level,” be it “reporting, giving more details to our customers, or just better metrics,” he said.

Becker emphasized that chasing down such beneficial technologies provides additional value to customers.

Earlier this year, Kirsch Transportation also evolved with the creation of its Heavy Haul and

Over-Dimensional department.

“The manager that heads up this division, Kent Sims, has been with Kirsch Transportation for almost as long as the company has been in business, along with having a long line of heavy weight and OD experience,” Becker said of the 15-year company veteran. “This, we feel, will be an addition and solid example to the value add that Kirsch lists among its service offerings.”

These specialized offerings refer to oversized and weighty shipments.

Over dimensional and heavy haul represents open deck services; according to company information, open deck freight is where Kirsch got its start and is the “primary outlet for our freight services.”

Open deck experience also spans flatbed, RGN (Removable Goose Neck), and step-deck.

Kirsch Transportation also distinguishes itself with National Women Business Owners Corporation certification.

“It was a year-long process to get everything

put together and for the planning of our strategy,” Kirsch said.

Becker said it’s a “full-fledged audit.”

“They’re auditing a lot of your background and making site visits in the first years of being certified,” he said.

Kirsch Transportation has benefited from certification for around the past nine years.

“Shippers want to have diverse vendors,” Kirsch said.

For instance, Becker referred to a government project whereby a certain percentage of vendors are required to be minority-, women-, or veteran-owned.

In this manner, leadership indicated the firm is able to set itself apart from the competition and compete for these projects.

Its clients span Canada and, predominantly, the lower 48 states; an enviable footprint built on consistency.

“From the very beginning, our main strengths have been building sustainable relationships with shippers, employees and vendors,” Kirsch said.

For instance, Kirsch estimates they’ve only lost a handful of employees in their 18-year history.

She speaks of an employee who bakes cakes for colleagues’ birthdays, and how they celebrate alongside employees during graduations and weddings.

“Historically in the transportation business, the turnover comes from drivers; however, because we’re a non-asset transportation company, our asset is our people. And because we take good care of our people, we don’t have turnover,” Becker said.

Now headed by fourth-generation (Matt) and fifth-generation (Cam) trucking industry leadership, Kirsch’s brothers are also in the trucking business.

The company reports Kirsch’s father and uncles provided invaluable industry knowledge, her mother taught proper bookkeeping, while her grandmother ensured everyone remained healthy and that the company conveyed a positive image.

Florida is again the US scam capital, and millennials are the prey

by Doreen Christensen

When it comes to scams, Florida is still No. 1, with millennials — not seniors — in the crosshairs, according to the latest fraud report from the Federal Trade Commission.

With nearly 3 million consumer complaints made to the agency in 2018, the Sunshine State ranked No. 1 for fraud and No. 4 for identity theft, according the latest FTC Trends Data Book, which compiles statistics from complaints made directly to the agency.

Of 1.4 million frauds reported to the agency, more than 210,000 consumers in Florida made complaints with losses of more than $84 million.

That’s up from $54.7 million in 2017. Georgia and Nevada rounded out the top three states reporting fraud per 100,000 in population.

Nationally, impostor scams, telephone/ mobile services and ship-at-home/catalog sales were the most prevalent frauds, the report showed. But in Florida, the top frauds were debt collection, identity theft and impostor scams.

The agency also tracks identity thefts in a separate category that includes credit card, bank and utility frauds.

Nationally, there were more than 444,000 complaints of this type of theft. Floridians made more than 38,000 reports, ranking No. 4. Georgia, Nevada and California were ahead of the Sunshine State, which ranked second last year.

Statistics, broken down by city and state, include aggregated complaints made to the FTC, state and federal law enforcement agencies, the Better Business Bureau, AARP Fraud Watch Network and Microsoft Cyber Crime Center, among others.

Eighteen Florida cities were among the 50 metropolitan areas ranked for fraud: Homosassa Springs was first (again), Jacksonville was third, Miami/Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach was 15 and Orlando came in at 19.

Consumers reported losing a total of $1.48 billion, a 38 percent increase over 2017. Median

losses were $375.

In a twist, tricksters were most successful scamming millennials. Forty-three percent of adults ages 20-29 reported being bilked out of an average of $400. About 15 percent of senior citizens in their 70s reported fraud, losing an average of $750. Those 80 and older lost the most, about $1,700.

Consumers mostly paid for frauds by wire transfer, but payments through gift cards increased a whopping 95 percent. The agency reminded consumers that the government will not ask consumers to wire money, and that it is illegal for telemarketers to ask you to pay by wire.

If you’ve been a victim, make a consumer complaint at ftc.gov/complaint. ©2019 Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

IT workers change jobs for higher salaries

by Marcia Heroux Pounds

Hiring remains strong in South Florida’s technology industry, with 91 percent of workers saying they would entertain a new job opportunity.

And why not, when it results in a big salary increase?

Fifty-eight percent cited higher compensation as the top reason for Careers jumping ship, according to a February survey of 1,572 IT workers and 100 IT managers in South Florida.

Other major reasons were work-life balance, company culture and lack of career path.

“The ones who job hop are getting paid the big dollars,” said Deborah Vazquez, CEO of ProTech Staffing, an IT staffing firm in Fort Lauderdale that conducts the annual survey of technology professionals.

Workers taking new jobs have seen 16 percent to 20 percent bumps in pay. “Some software engineers with high-demand skills were getting $20,000 more for making a move,” Vazquez said.

But those kind of pay hikes are happening less now as growth has begun to slow, she said.

Burning out at work? How to deal with the pile of pings, texts and emails Only 45 percent said they plan to increase their workforce in 2019 compared with 69 percent in 2018, according to the survey. Four

percent said they might decrease staff, compared with none last year.

Still, compared to many weaker industries, technology continues to pay top dollar.

IT professionals in demand include business analysts, software engineers, test engineers and any positions in IT security, Vazquez said.

Median IT salaries in South Florida range from $72,000 to $128,000 a year, according to the survey.

The data shows that employer loyalty isn’t necessarily rewarded. Salary increases slowed to an average of only 1 percent in 2018, according to the survey. In previous years, IT workers in South Florida were getting 4 percent to 6 percent increases, Vazquez said.

The best perk offered by an employer remained flextime/telecommuting at 39 percent, followed by additional vacation or open paid time off at 16 percent, according to IT workers surveyed.

In ProTech’s survey of IT managers, 78 percent said they’re worried about losing workers in this hotly competitive market. That’s an increase from 54 percent in 2018 who had those concerns.

For the complete survey, go to protechitjobs. com/2019. ©2019 Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

Banking A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

27

April 5, 2019

Brisk lending environment makes for rosy times in local banking market

by Dwain Hebda

Banks across Nebraska are enjoying a run of prosperity that’s cut across all lending sectors and market areas. That’s the assessment from Dave Dannehl, board chairman for the Nebraska Bankers Association.

“Community banks in Nebraska are doing well, primarily due to strong loan

Dannehl Adams demand across the commercial, agriculture and housing sectors,” he said. “Interest rates have gone up steadily the past two years but have not deterred demand as they still hover near historic lows.”

Dannehl said loan volume would be even stronger if not for economic and market conditions curtailing markets from reaching their full potential.

“With agriculture in Nebraska entering its fourth year of stressed commodity prices,

Adrian Hernandez, senior vice president of lending at Dundee Bank. a good share of farmers and ranchers have is limited due to the number of quality conbeen experiencing break-even opportuni- tractors and construction workers available ties at best,” he said. “While construction across the state.” demand is high for much of Nebraska, the Clint Adams, Veridian Credit Union lid on future economic and lending growth branch manager, said the company’s high-

touch lending process combined with the latest technology has contributed to the robust numbers.

“While more people are choosing online and mobile channels for their routine transactions, many still prefer the chance to meet face-to-face about larger financial decisions,” he said. “It’s important that we’re accessible and available in every way our members choose to interact with us.”

Adams said this philosophy is driving the company’s expansion strategy, mixing both virtual and brick-and-mortar access points.

Huston “We recently upgraded our mobile and online banking platforms, and our branch network is growing in the Omaha metro area,” he said. “In 2016, we announced plans to open 10 to 15 Veridian branches in the Omaha area within a decade; we’ve opened five of those branches so far.”

The range of banking opportunities in the market is so broad, it’s affording institutions the luxury of developing highly Continued on next page.

28

• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Banking in the Midlands

Banks work with small businesses, startups to generate economic growth

Wendy Boyd, commercial lender at United Republic Bank.

(Story at right)

Brisk lending makes for rosy times in market

Continued from preceding page. focused lending expertise in addition to regular lending practices.

“Our bank is really focused on Omaha’s inner core,” said Adrian Hernandez, senior vice president of lending for Dundee Bank. “We continue to see an interest in the redevelopment of Omaha’s urban core, and in that core you see mixed-use projects, a lot of apartments, and new and existing business leaders choosing to start or expand here.”

Hernandez said early development concepts such as Blackstone are seeping into other neighborhood centered developments, some of which he identified as areas of great interest for the future.

“One neighborhood that kind of stands out for me is Little Bohemia on south 13th Street,” he said. “There’s some new activity down there with new businesses and existing businesses expanding. That’s an older neighborhood that’s got great bones as far as a Main Street feel.”

by Gabby Christensen expedited cash flow,” she said.

According to area financial experts, a Boyd said this eventually leads into degreat working relationship between a financial veloping a lending relationship between the institution and a small business is essential small business and the financial institution. for a small business to grow and Along with deposit and lendsucceed. ing needs, the bank can also make Wendy Boyd, commercial the introductions to other key playlender at United Republic Bank, ers, such as an insurance agent, said a partnership between a finanaccountant, attorney and financial cial institution and a small business adviser to help position the small can first start out by the small busibusiness for uninterrupted future ness owner developing a deposit growth. relationship for opening their new When forming a partnership business checking account to hanbetween the small business owner dle day-to-day transactions. and the financial institution, Boyd “It can then lead into the bank said it has to be the right fit for Kamm helping set the small business up both of them. with a credit card processor to “Sound and secure businesses create a handle their electronic payment processing stable local economy,” she said. “With peramongst other cash management solutions sonalization expertise, a financial institution to help save the business time and provide Continued on next page.

Despite this optimism and the many projects already underway, there are signs that the runaway boom may be slowing down.

“We are beginning to see indicators of softening market conditions, such as the recent inversion of the three-month and 10-year Treasury rates,” said Tom Huston, executive vice president and CFO of Centris Federal Credit Union. “That has typically been a reliable predictor of future economic growth, or lack thereof, which impacts loan demand and deposit supply.”

Huston said the challenge for institutions going forward, his included, is to continue to reinvent themselves in how they deliver products and services.

“We are extremely excited about the investment we’ve made in both the digital and non-digital space for our members,” he said.

“The challenge for Centris, like others inside and outside of our industry, is continuing to transform products, services and delivery channels in a dynamic environment to exceed our members’ expectations.”

UMB.com/GrowSmart

Retool and grow.

Real growth takes time. And managing your financial needs in today’s complex economic conditions can be more challenging than ever.

You need real advice you can trust, and our record shows stable, consistent growth for more than a century through thick and thin. We thrive on helping you think big picture when it comes to building your business.

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Banking in the Midlands •

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

29

Use of emerging big data, analytics still in infancy in financial industry

by David Kubicek the organization.”

Large tech firms like Amazon and Apple The firm’s Anycore product extracts have been using big data to provide custom- customer portfolios and imports them into ers with an individualized experience for commercial loan origination systems. The some time, but the financial industry is just personalized data provides improved credit now taking baby steps in applying scoring and helps illustrate credit this type of data analysis. worthiness.

“Companies can take advan“Our PFS Portal product is tage of a customer by taking liban individualized product that erties with their data,” said Raytakes the customer data provided mond “Jay” Garren, founder and by the customer and presents president of Midwest Bankware a series of charts and graphs Solutions (MBS). “Bottom-line, which show a customer the debta customer’s data is always their to-income ratio, income levels data. An emerging advantage for of current and previous years, customers is the hosting opporand real-time what-if tools that tunities for their applications and allow the customer to modify Brandt data. One thing that gets lost by their spending habits graphicallarge software houses and service ly,” Garren said. “Our PFS Portal allows providers is that the best solutions are created customers to easily retrieve personal or by talking with your customer about what business information for any request for they want.”

Continued on next page.

MBS builds applications that are platform agnostic, meaning that they run equally well on many platforms, including Windows, Mac, iPad, Google Chrome and Firefox.

None of the software requires installation on the customer’s device.

“Our Data Universe product allows our financial customers to perform personal and dynamic views of their position based on location, peer group, region and financial institution,” Garren said. “It allows the financial institution to perform ‘what ifs’ based on dynamically changing key indicators. It can also be used to portray financial products and services and their performance within

Economic growth

Continued from preceding page. can move from a commoditized entity for a small business to an advisory partner who can help their business prosper. A win for a small business can turn into a win for the financial institution and the local community in which they all reside.”

Jim Kamm, senior vice president at First Westroads Bank, said one of the ways banks partner and assist startups and small businesses is by direct involvement of time and capital with local and state organizations.

For example, he said First Westroads Bank last year partnered with The Startup Collaborative, an on-demand accelerator and program of the Greater Omaha Chamber, which assists early stage tech startups.

In this particular instance, Kamm said the initial funding provided by the bank, in partnership with Chris and Betsy Murphy through their “Murphy Vision Funds,” will be matched on dollar-for-dollar basis by Invest Nebraska, a private-public venture development organization.

“Invest Nebraska then partners with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to assist startup entrepreneurs,” Kamm said. “The goal of all parties is to improve and increase access to capital for startups which, in turn, will spur innovation and economic growth both locally and throughout the state. Interested entrepreneurs earn their way to growth by becoming involved with the Collaborative where First Westroads employees volunteer their time and can offer their expertise to help make partner businesses successful.”

Raymond (Jay) Garren, founder and president at Midwest Bankware Solutions.

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• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Banking in the Midlands

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Innovation in financial sector leads to personalized service in the digital age

by Jasmine Heimgartner

People can still drive to the bank and speak to a teller or loan officer while enjoying a cup of coffee, but more people are embracing new ways of banking. As the world evolves into one that is digitalized, consumers expect most facets of their life to reflect that. The banking industry is no exception.

“When consumers can get almost anything delivered to their doorstep within two days without talking to a person, having to come to the bank to make a simple change or transfer money seems like a lot of work,” said Kate Stous, assistant vice president-Digital Experience & Strategy, Union Bank & Trust. “One of the challenges we face is that banking technolStous ogy has been around for a long time, and much of it was designed before the internet was widely used. It’s always a challenge to figure out how to work around that.”

With new technology seemingly always on the horizon, banks need to be up to the challenge to provide customers innovative and secure 24/7 solutions.

“The most important and time-consuming aspect of new product implementation is security,” said Bart Protzman, senior banking center manager, Core Bank. “Our customers have entrusted us with their money, and we have a responsibility to ensure whatever technology we roll out is secure and will not put any of their information at risk.”

These technologies often have the goal to put banking power in the consumers’ hands. From online banking tools and mobile apps, customers can access their accounts, transfer money internally and externally, and accept deposits with a few secure clicks without leaving home or even when traveling.

“I think the advantage digital tools offer

is shortening the time it takes to find out about things happening with your account,” Stous said. “Having a daily picture of what is going on with your account can provide peace of mind. It also helps them feel confident and more in-the-know when making purchasing decisions.”

Many banking and mobile apps provide card control options to freeze accounts, limit certain merchants or set monetary thresholds. Additionally, paying bills no longer requires sitting for hours amongst a

Protzman DeBoer pile of paper bills writing checks.

“A lot of people think this service is only for commercial monthly payments, however it is much more than that,” Protzman said. “A lot of our customers use this service to pay their lawn company or the neighbor who may shovel their driveway.

Bill Pay can really pay anyone for any service. It pays via electronic payment in some circumstances, but it can mail a physical check in other situations.”

Depositing physical checks can now be done via a mobile capture from anywhere.

ATMs are also becoming “smart.” Many scan images of the check, allowing banks a real-time view of the check for quicker access to the funds. Even when making the trip to the bank, time spent there can be cut in half thanks to interactive teller machines (ITMs).

“The addition of the ITMs has allowed the credit union to bring their two commitments of cutting-edge technology and a person-focused approach into a single transaction servicing avenue,” said Gail Continued on next page.

Industry’s use of big data analysis in infancy

Continued from preceding page. financial data.”

D3 Banking provides a digital banking platform to banks and credit unions, which in turn provide that capability to their customers.

“All institutions collect an immense amount of data from various channels,” said Senior Market Analyst Eric Brandt.

“What we’re seeing in the digital space is in its infancy phase. Our platform provides analytic and marketing capabilities. We’re seeing them take the amount of interactions to better segment their customers, then they can break those customers down deeper to provide a personalized offer. Institutions can better segment their customers than they ever could before.”

For example, if a bank gets high traffic on the first Friday of the month, it may not be the best time to make a credit card offer because the high traffic may indicate that their customers just got paid, and a credit

card may not be a top priority at that time.

However, if the bank knows the customers’ bank balances tend to be low at the end of the month, it might be a good time to offer a low interest credit card or a short-term loan.

“They can take it further and look at how you use the bank, how you interact with the banking app, and provide different services at different times as well,” Brandt said.

But he cautioned that the financial industry’s use of big data and analytics is in its infancy. Firms like Apple and Amazon are pushing the envelope when it comes to the personalized experience.

“Banks are just starting to get there,” Brandt said. “I think it will change quite a bit. It will change first among the biggest banks because they have the most money, but I think we’ll see more personalization than we’ve ever had before in the financial services industry because they have so much more information because of the digital channels.”

Banking in the Midlands •

Attracting and retaining top employees for banks and credit unions a priority

by Lee Nelson employee as they allow them to overcome With unemployment so low, most busi- issues related to commuting and travel to nesses, including the banking industry, need and from work, he said. new ways to attract and retain top talent.

“These flexible arrangements allow emPaul Olson, president of ployees to work, effectively from Arbor Bank, said the newest a much greater distance than ever strategies he has seen in the before, and they also allow us to marketplace to acquire talent accommodate a greater work/life predominantly revolves around balance with our families’ busy flexibility. schedules,” Olson said. “Flexi“For example, we are looking ble work arrangements are also hard at offering employees the beneficial to us as an employer, ability to work from home for as they allow us the benefit of various positions that have tradigreater efficiency as well as the tionally been done in the office,” ability to leverage technologies he said. “This allows us to align that we’ve been investing in for Olson more with our employees’ needs years.” outside of the office as well as In his opinion, retention is increasing our efficiency as a bank.” largely about culture, impact and opportuFlexible work arrangements benefit the Continued on next page.

Innovative banking

Continued from preceding page.

DeBoer, president and CEO of Cobalt Credit Union. “These machines provide a much higher level of service than an ATM or a drive-thru lane would.”

That personalized digital approach is also headed toward the virtual world.

“We know we have consumers/members all over the globe who need and want to be able to access their information without coming into a branch,” she said. “We know

too that many of these members would like to work with a live banker, but they would like to do this from the palm of their hand.

Well, now they can. We are introducing Universal Video Banking next month. This new technology will allow our members to speak with a live video banker ‘faceto-face’ digitally from the convenience of their computer or mobile device. Our Cobalt members will be able to visually see the person they are working with and have a conversation and assistance from them in real time.”

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

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• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Banking in the Midlands

Attracting, retaining top employees a priority

Jennifer Kramer, manager of talent acquisition and employment at American National Bank.

Continued from preceding page. with the bank that fulfills the needs and nities for growth. interests of both the bank and the trainee.

“We focus on building a culture where To date, Northwest has hired five people, employees are engaged, heard, recognized two of which have graduated and accepted and viewed as an integral part of the team jobs within the organization. It is anticiregardless of rank or role,” he said. pated that the third will graduate in April, John Bothof, regional bank Bothof said. president of Northwest Bank, “The program has been very said Northwest Bank designed successful and allows us to a management training program provide a good career path for about two years ago. the trainee along with provid“The program is designed ing succession for positions, as to hire talented individuals with others move to new positions, or interest in banking and have openings due to retirement of an preferably finance, business aging workforce, or in response management or banking and to the growth of the bank,” he finance degrees. The program said. is a 12-18 month commitment In order to retain good emBothof from the trainee to go through a ployees, taking the time to visit training program that allows the trainee to with them regarding their careers and see experience all areas within our organiza- if the bank can chart a path that would tion,” he said. best utilize their talent is something that The trainee, upon successful comple- Northwest Bank prefers to evaluate on a tion of the program, is guaranteed a job regular basis, Bothof said.

Jennifer Kramer, manager of talent acquisition and employment at American National Bank, said the bank offers benefits for employees who work 25 hours or more a week.

“Benefits offered are the same as any full-time employee and are effective the first of the month following hire date,” she said. “This allows employees who can’t work or don’t desire a full-time, 40-hour work schedule to provide benefit coverage for themselves and their families. Having extended part-time employees also allows the bank to have some flexibility in scheduling and allows employees to have the perk of having benefits.”

The bank also offers up to a 4 percent 401(k) match for their retirement fund, which is immediately vested. Everyone in the organization is aligned to a valuable compensation plan with additional earning potential directly tied to performance, Kramer said.

“We are a traditional bank, which handles most of our client interaction in person,” she said. “We strive to have a diverse and inclusive culture that encourages people to grow personally and professionally.”

Banking in the Midlands •

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

Analyzing your branches Creating the best customer experience Creating a consistent customer experience So much more than just a video teller

Kevin Munro, Omaha market president of Frontier Bank.

Declining loan rates bringing promise of affordability to consumers, businesses

by Gabby Christensen

Many financial experts agree: Rates are on the decline.

With mild inflation and a perceived slowdown in the U.S. economy, Tim Sullivan, executive vice president and chief lending officer at Mutual of Omaha Bank, said he expects rates to stay somewhat flat or potentially even move lower later this year.

“This is a good sign for businesses who are looking to borrow money for planned growth or acquisitions,” Sullivan said.

Despite the growth in the U.S. economy over the last few years, Sullivan said borrowing by businesses has been less robust and, as a result, banks have been very aggressive with lending terms and structures to try to bolster loan outstandings.

Rich Brown, national mortgage sales manager at Mutual of Omaha Bank, said residential rates have lowered since the first Sullivan of the year, causing a mini refinance opportunity for customers that locked in at higher rates last year.

“This is great for the local and national economy as it puts more disposable income in consumers’ pockets,” Brown said. “Firsttime homebuyer inventory continues to be a challenge, however mortgage programs to help first-time homebuyers are very robust today.”

So far, he said 2019 has seen a steady decline in interest rates.

“It’s hard to say if this will continue as the world economy seems weak and is helping treasury yields fall, causing mortgage rates to follow,” Brown said. “As rates fall, affordability for homeowners increases.

This will help a customer’s buying power, and should be another sellers’ market.”

Additionally, he said rates can change quickly so it’s important to have a lender do a mortgage checkup to see if there are ways

to save money.

Kevin Munro, Omaha market president at Frontier Bank, said it appears rising rates will likely level off.

“This is good news for borrowers who have variable rate loans,” he said. “Conversely, savers probably won’t see the increases in their savings rates the way they have the past two years. That said, banks have fairly strong loan growth and have had to price deposits competitively to fund this loan growth.”

According to Munro, the banking industry is quite strong today.

“Capital levels at banks are at an all-time high, credit quality is sound, and banks are profitable,” Munro said. “I don’t see this changing much based upon modest changes in interest rates. Based upon the industry’s overall strength, banks will remain competitive for loans and Brown deposits, which will ultimately positively impact consumers and commercial clients.”

Munro said it will be interesting to see the local economic impact of the recent flooding.

“Much will need to be rebuilt,” he said.

“While this might provide some economic stimulus in the region, it will create pressure in the skilled labor market which is already tight.”

Michael Howe, sales manager at Mutual 1st Federal Credit Union, said the harsh winter has slowed auto sales locally so he’s expecting a heavy spring buying season.

He said he’s also seen an increase in people wanting to purchase their vehicle off their lease, instead of trading up.

Howe said because of the recent flooding in Nebraska and Iowa, some lenders may have additional steps put in place to ensure Continued on next page.

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• APRIL 5, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Banking in the Midlands

Multi-factor authentication paramount for small business online banking

by Lee Nelson

Convenience has become commonplace in banking with mobile and online services.

But how can your business avoid fraud?

Denise Mainquist, founder of ITPAC Consulting in Lincoln, said small businesses should use multifactor authentication when logging into online banking, particularly if the business is handling origination ACH (such as payroll files) or wires.

“Banks should be able to offer commercial customers multifactor authentication,” she said. “Banks should also encourage commercial customers to use dual controls — one person sets up the file and a second

person sends it.”

Small businesses should ensure that each employee with access to online banking or mobile banking has their own unique login.

You should never share log-in credentials.

Banks will probably put a limit on the amount of mobile deposits, which is appropriate, she said.

“I would also verify whether the bank reviews all check images for mobile deposits,” Mainquist said. “There’s been a scam recently where a third-party types the name of the person the check is made out for in the endorsement. Banks that review every check image catch this.”

Declining rates offer affordability for consumers Continued from preceding page. the safety and soundness of the homes that have been affected by the flooding.

“This could range from re-inspection to requiring work to be completed and inspected prior to closing on the mortgage,” Howe said.

Outside of the flooding challenges, he

said there’s a shortage of housing inventory.

“Houses are being overbid, which increases the mortgage for the consumer, or the down payment required if the house is purchased above appraisal value,” Howe said. “Homebuyers need to come into the market expecting competition and with solid savings.”

If someone believes they have been a victim of online/mobile banking fraud, they should contact the bank immediately, she said.

“The bank needs to look at the situation and figure out if they have a weakness,” Mainquist said. “The bank also needs to report the issue, and it may be liable for part of the loss if it’s on their end.”

However, most fraud issues are the result of insecure practices by the customer, such as using the same password on all their websites and being careless with passwords/account information, she said.

Mainquist The best advice to stay safe, said Jake Gibson, chief security office and chief compliance officer at LightEdge, is training, training and more training.

“Teach your employees to recognize phishing attempts, and create a two-step verification plan for all major online transactions/money transfers,” he said. “Always validate via out-of-band communication channels prior to completing any money transfers or gift card purchases. Dual control with separation of duties is critical.”

You can also make sure your email system flags external emails, so your employees know they didn’t originate from the inside.

This helps thwart phishing attempts and fraudulent transfer requests, Gibson said.

He would argue that remote-deposit capture and mobile capture have increased

risk of fraud.

“By removing the human relationship between the bank and the customer, there are new avenues for intentional or accidental fraud,” he said. “Just like other forms of digital transactions, it is best to keep up with new and emerging threats. Combining technology solutions to help detect fraud, such as dual-deposits with training and awareness for employees, are crucial to combating would-be thieves.”

Chris Korte, who works in cash management at Five Points Bank, said technology continues to evolve, which Gibson makes finding a balance between simplicity and security increasingly more important.

“Biometrics, the use of fingerprints or facial recognitions for logging in, is becoming prevalent for devices,” she said.

Her tips for businesses to avoid fraud with online and mobile banking include safeguarding your passwords and PINs, checking accounts on a frequent basis, and setting up notifications on activity that would be outside your business’ normal range.

“Protecting your computer and phone is vital in protecting not only your banking information but also your business details,” she said. “Antivirus software/anti-spam/ firewalls that are updated on a regular basis can provide layers of security.”

Banking in the Midlands •

Midlands Business Journal • APRIL 5, 2019 •

Foreclosure rates haven’t been this low

by Adrian D. Garcia

National foreclosure rates continued their recovery in 2018 from their peak during the Great Recession.

Foreclosure filings were reported on one out of every 215 homes last year. That’s down markedly compared with the filings on roughly one in 47 homes in 2010. Last year’s rate is the lowest since at least 2005.

Financial The 2018 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report shows the national foreclosure rate has been falling steadily for the last eight years, reaching a 13-yearlow of 0.47 percent in 2018.

However, the foreclosure picture can look different at the state level.

Almost a third of states saw the number of foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — against homes climb last year, according to the report from ATTOM Data Solutions.

“Plummeting foreclosure completions combined with consistently falling foreclosure timelines in 2018 provide evidence that most of the distress from the last housing crisis has now been cleaned up,” says Todd Teta, chief product officer for ATTOM. But some evidence of distress was gradually returning to the housing market in 2018, Teta says.

The states with the highest foreclosure rates were clustered in mostly in the Northeast.

New Jersey has had the highest rate since 2015 and had 1.33 percent of housing units with foreclosure filings last year.

Delaware had 0.96 percent; Maryland 0.86 percent; Illinois 0.74 percent and Connecticut 0.72 percent.

North Dakota was among the places where foreclosure rates increased from 2017 to 2018. But the Roughrider State’s real estate economy remains strong comparatively.

North Dakota had the lowest rate of housing units with foreclosure filings last year (0.06 percent). South Dakota had 0.07 percent; Montana 0.11 percent and West Virginia 0.12.

Alaska’s economy has been struggling in recent years after oil prices dipped in 2014, but the state’s real estate market has proved fairly resilient, according to Terry Fields, assistant professor at the College of Business and Public Policy within the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The data from ATTOM shows homeowners in The Last Frontier may be starting to feel the pressure. A total of 1,145 properties were in the process of foreclosure in 2018 — up from 614 in 2017.

The foreclosure rate in Alaska grew the fastest of all 50 states, rising from 0.20 percent in 2017 to 0.37 percent last year, according to ATTOM. While local economists are keeping an eye on Alaska’s real estate market, foreclosures are still significantly below the levels they were during the Great Recession and previous bust periods in Alaska, Fields says. ©2019 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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