Midlands Business Journal August 6, 2021 Vol. 47 No. 32 issue

AUGUST 6, 2021

THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS

$2.00

VOL. 47 NO. 32

Jet Linx laser focused on additional planes, new terminal

THIS WEEK ’S ISSUE:

by Richard D. Brown

40 er d Un 40 In a year that stands out, planit inc.’s Zabrocki Dinan stands apart.

– Page 4

ia Av

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n

Private aviation accelerates amid seller’s market for aircraft, charter demand.

– Page 5

e& l rat rave o T p r Co isure e L

Back to “booming”? Travel industry gets boost in recovering environment. – Page 25

Jet Linx Aviation, a privately-owned global aviation company founded in Omaha 22 years ago, is constructing an exclusive 70,000 square-foot aero complex near Eppley which will feature a 60,000 square-foot hangar, plus a 10,000 square foot terminal.

This fall, the firm will open its 20th private terminal with a move into Florida with a Miami location. Additional private terminal locations in 2022 will target service growth on the West Coast.

“We set out (in 1999) to provide a more personalized approach to guaranteed private jet solutions,” President and CEO Jamie Walker told MBJ in a 2017 interview.

That philosophy that downplays flashiness instead has the Omaha-based Walker finding growth by focusing on offering his aircraft management, joint ownership and Jet Card membership services clients with what Continued on page 9.

Chief Commercial Officer Ron Silverman joins the team to develop, execute strategic growth initiatives. (Photo by Roger Humphries)

Select Van passes 60-year mark with new brand and name, builds capacity

by Michelle Leach

What started locally 60-plus years ago as a furniture moving company, Select Van Moving has grown to a fourth-generation family business boasting around 140 employees across four locations in three states. It’s very name represents a more recent evolution.

“When Select Van & Storage was created, the word ‘van’ was associated with household goods moving,” said Scott Riha, a relocation specialist

who has been with the business for 30 years. “And the word ‘storage’ made people think that we just ‘store’ and don’t move.”

Leadership with the long-distance, commercial moving and storage business headquartered at 8006 J St., first started to consider the change in name and brand at the beginning of the year.

“The pandemic plus winter time equals slow business for a moving Continued on page 9.

President Karine Sokpoh celebrates one-year anniversary, gears up for Pitch Black Competition. (Photo by Savannah Behrends)

Midlands African Chamber highlights local entrepreneurs, eliminates gaps

by Savannah Behrends

From left, Relocation Specialist Scott Riha and President Wink Smith continue company evolution in fourth generation of ownership.

(Photo by Monica Sempek)

Starting a business is hard enough, but what if you’ve lost your natural support system when immigrating to a new country? That’s where the Midlands African Chamber steps in, educating and supporting African-born and first-generation African American entrepreneurs.

Karine Sokpoh, founder and president, experienced this

challenge first hand when she emigrated from Togo in West Africa. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha she went to Creighton University where she received her law degree. She founded her own firm in 2011.

“When I started my firm there was no such thing as an African Chamber so I had to really struggle to find out how Continued on page 10.

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• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

Business Minute

Paid Content

Kelly Jourdan

Director of Agent Services & Managing Broker, Nebraska Realty Associations/Titles: REALTOR, Omaha Area Board of Realtors, Nebraska Realty Kindness Crew Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska Education: Cosmetology School 1999, Great Plains School of Real Estate 2005

How I got into the business: My stepdad needed help with his real estate business and talked me into getting my license when I was 25. At that time we were focusing on investing in rental homes.

Accomplishments or milestones: Salesperson’s license 2005, Broker’s license in 2015, recipient of the Renee Lampman Industry Service in 2019, Founding Member Nebraska Realty Kindness Crew, two- time past Chair of MLS User Group, Hope Center Mentor 2016-2020.

First job: Cashier at Baker’s Supermarket.

Biggest career break: I wouldn’t call it a break, but being hired on as an admin at Nebraska Realty (then DEEB Realty) is where it all started for me. I wanted to quit doing hair full-time so I could focus on being a rockstar in real estate. Being on the administrative side of things opened up other opportunities outside of buying & selling.

The toughest part of the job: Having tough conversations. Telling people things they don’t want to hear is always hard … and when it involves someone’s largest investment, it’s that much more intense.

The best advice I have received: Don’t try to be something you’re not because you’ll never keep it up. Just be yourself and be honest. Not everyone will like you, but that’s ok because you don’t have to like them either.

About my family: Married for 16 years to Derek. My parents & two sisters live on the West Coast now. I have three nieces & two nephews.

Something else I’d like to accomplish: I’d love to open my own business someday.

Mentor who has helped the most in my career: I’ve never been asked this question, and I’ve never really thought about it. I’ve never formally had a “mentor” but I think what a mentor does is demonstrate and act as a resource for knowledge & support. There’s definitely a person in my career that has done that, my boss Andy Alloway. When I first started working on the admin team almost 16 years ago, our filing cabinets were right outside of his office. Andy was the Managing Broker at the time and when I would go file I could hear him taking calls from agents & their

clients, as well as people stopping by his office to chat & get advice. I saw a side of this industry that I didn’t even know existed and knew that’s where I wanted to be. Today I still work with Andy daily and receive his support, encouragement and advice on a regular basis.

Outside interests: I’m a devoted Christian, I love baking & recently got into container gardening.

Favorite vacation spot: The mountains.

Other careers I would like to try: Baker.

Favorite cause or charity: Project Houseworks in Omaha. They help the elderly age in place by providing necessary maintenance to their homes.

Favorite app: Pinterest… I end every single day spacing out on Pinterest.

Interested in being featured in the Business Minute? Email news@mbj.com for more information.

Subscribe and pay online today at MBJ.com

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FOUNDER, Robert Hoig

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Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

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• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

Vice President, Meetings and Conventions Alycia Zabrocki Dinan helps lead event planning organization into new territory. (Photo by Monica Sempek)

In a year that stands out, planit inc.’s Zabrocki Dinan stands apart member of our team has their specific roles,

by Dwain Hebda If leaders are known not for the times they’re on time, on budget and everything plans go smoothly but in times of turmoil, is done to the client’s needs. That didn’t then 2020 announced Alycia Zabrocki change with COVID-19.

“It’s like with clients of different sizes: Dinan loud a clear. Zabrocki Dinan, vice president, meeting and conventions for We expect the same level of service from planit inc., provided steady leadership to our team whether it’s a 10-person reception staff and clients during a pandemic that shut or trade show up to a large multi-thoudown the company’s slate of live conven- sand-person event. The time or the workload that may be involved may be different, tions and events.

The extraordinary circumstances aside, but the overall work product and the quality said the Bellevue native, it was just busi- that we provide is still the highest level.”

The company didn’t rest on its launess as usual.

“Things still needed to happen because rels once it had adjusted to the all-online business isn’t stopping. Business is chang- format. In fact, it took a proactive role in ing, but it doesn’t mean it’s stopping,” she reimagining how trade shows and convensaid. “We transitioned, I would say, roughly tions would look and feel once restrictions were lifted. As a key component 75% of our business to a virtual of this effort, Zabrocki Dinan component or virtual program as helped planit inc. get a jump on opposed to being in person. But its competitors while maximizing there are always challenges to existing business. events and this was just a new “There’ll never technically be challenge we had to overcome.” a back to normal although I would Zabrocki Dinan’s cool-unsay we are getting closer to back der-fire leadership and probto normal,” she said. “One of the lem-solving approach helped her great things that did come out of team adjust to managing the new 2020 is the technology aspect of 2020 normal creatively. Not content to things. A lot of our conferences simply arrange mass Zoom calls, she inspired creative solutions that lent that in pre-COVID were all in person are now shifting to hybrid events. I think that additional touches to digital conventions.

“With a lot of our virtual events we took will probably stay around moving forward to Zoom or other platforms designed for because it really opens things up for atvirtual events and created meeting boxes, tendees.

“We did a conference in Vegas for mulwhich are specially curated gift boxes that go along with the conference agenda,” tiple years where they had roughly 2,000 she said. “That’s how we created a bit of attendees, pre-COVID. Then COVID hit attendee interaction and engagement. We and we opened up a virtual component were able to transition our services really and it ended up getting 26,000 attendee registrations, worldwide. We were able to nicely into the virtual world as a result.”

Zabrocki Dinan said client expectations do that because we have a great team who hadn’t changed, even though the format was were ready to jump in and learn what’s next, radically different. Nor were her expecta- learn the new tools and learn how to make tions of herself and her team of 15 who the most of the virtual world.”

Zabrocki Dinan graduated from Full manage client projects from coast-to-coast.

“As a vice president, I manage the Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, in entire scope of a project,” she said. “It’s 2012. She has dual degrees in sports marmy responsibility to make sure that every keting and media business.

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Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

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

August 6, 2021

Private aviation accelerates amid seller’s market for aircraft, charter demand The practice assists clients in making sure

by Michelle Leach they are leasing an aircraft, but are not charter Private aviation flies high as unique operators licensed under Part 135 of the FAA considerations continue to color the pandemrules, he said, in turn complying with “dry” ic-recovery environment. lease rules that dictate leasing only an aircraft “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, without crew. we are seeing an increase in private aircraft Arrangements such as “time-sharing” acquisitions,” said Jon Grob, McGrath North must also comply; for instance, it was discovshareholder and director who regularly works ered that a time-share arrangement within the aviation practice. “This to transport certain customers includes outright aircraft ownership didn’t abide by FAA rules. Had as well as fractional programs.” an accident occurred, Grob said Originally, aircraft values dethe client likely wouldn’t have inclined due to risks and the shutsurance coverage. They restricted down. the operation, while still using the “The more recent increased time-sharing arrangement. demand and tight ‘seller’s market’ Lastly, Grob referenced comhave resulted in a turnaround in pliance with applicable sales, used aircraft prices,” he said. “We property and income tax laws on are seeing price increases postaircraft purchases and leases, such COVID especially in the smaller Grob as the Nebraska Department of and mid-sized jet market.”

Revenue’s recent challenge of certain leasing The aviation practice, which reportedly arrangements. Transactions have been restructook off in 1979 and serves coast-to-coast tured, he noted, to minimize or address these clients, focuses on private aircraft purchases, risks, while “actively opposing Department sales, leasing, financing, and associated tax of Revenue’s challenges.” and structuring issues. For example, Grob A Full-Service Fixed Base Operator said McGrath North may advise a client pur(FBO) for Millard Airport, Oracle Aviation chasing an aircraft for business and leisure has reportedly continued to see rising demand purposes on all aspects of acquisition, and on in services from charter operations to drones. how to comply with FAA (Federal Aviation “Charter has continued to be really Association) and IRS rules. strong,” said General Manager Dave Poole.

Clients at present are most concerned “What we’ve seen are companies, or high-netabout mitigating risk. worth and medium-net-worth individuals that “For a buyer, the pre-purchase inspection can afford it are doing so, instead of getting process is of utmost importance,” he said. on an airplane with 150 strangers.”

The buyer should have “full opportunity” Owner-operators are flying more again, to inspect the aircraft, and should not lose the as restaurants, hotels and stores around the deposit if the results are unsatisfactory and country have reopened. Initially, Poole said they walk away from the transaction. owner-operators were hesitant to go to their “Sellers, on the other hand, want to limit second home or other places because “they the scope of an inspection and limit the ability couldn’t do social activities and the marinas of the buyer to walk away from the transacwere closed.” tion,” Grob said.

“At this point, it’s not back to 100% of Both buyers and sellers are advised on what it was, but thankfully it is trending back state and local tax impacts and compliance. toward normal,” he said.

FAA compliance represents the biggest strucPoole reinforced consumer behaviors turing-related concern. are not a reflection of airlines’ public safety “In recent months, the FAA has become and health efforts, as the recovery has been more aggressive in investigating so-called underway, middle seats formerly closed off ‘damp lease’ arrangements, where it appears on commercial airlines may now be available. aircraft operators may not be in compliance Flights are filling up. But charter clients may with FAA rules concerning the provision of have lingering concerns over exposures, esboth an aircraft and crew,” he said. pecially the new delta variant.

FAA rules allow for dry leases (Part 91) Risks are not just being mitigated on the and wet leases for charter operators providing airplane. Poole said owner-operators are also aircraft and crew (Part 135). Violating Part limiting risks associated with airline terminals 135 can result in major penalties and loss of or waiting to go through security. insurance coverage (catastrophic if accidents He indicated there are more opportunioccur).

Oracle Aviation General Manager Dave Poole. (Photo by Roger Humphries) ties in general aviation to take one’s car, for A nod to its growth, Poole announced that instance, directly to the aircraft area and to Oracle is opening a second location in Sioux avoid contact while boarding.

City, Iowa.

Pivoting to drone services, Poole noted “We will have all the services that we have within the FAA’s more progressive pilot areas, in Millard, and a flight training partnership exciting applications have included vaccine, with Morningside University that is similar to medication, and test result deliveries. what we do here with UNO,” he said.

“And the first actual live organ transplant “Siouxland,” Poole continued, is in the was delivered via drone from hospital to hos- Goldilocks zone, far enough away that busipital,” he said. ness isn’t cannibalized but close enough to be Additionally, he acknowledged FAA mutually-supportive locations. Groundbreakdrone programs that serve vast communities ing is slated for the next few months, with the closed to outsiders during COVID-19, such opening in 2022. as the Navajo Nation.

“It’s going to open up a whole new cor“We’re just really starting to see the tip of ridor for business travel between Sioux City the iceberg and the lessons learned from these and the Omaha area,” Poole said. pilot programs,” Poole said. “It will continue Nebraska Business Aviation Association to evolve into more regularized delivery of President Zach Thompson and Secretary products through a drone network.”

Jason Hartwig noted that, starting earlier Persistent supply chain and logistical this year, there were encouraging signs of issues have characterized the pandemic. So, a business aviation rebound; however, priefficiencies might be gained by leveraging vate business aircraft usage remains down, drones as a “last mile solution.” Benefits are with company flight departments that opvast; Poole referred to everything from less erate aircraft flying about half as much as stress on infrastructure to reduced traffic jams, pre-pandemic. and the positive environmental impact.

Thompson also draws a line between Last but not least, flight training was private business aircraft usage and charter described as “shockingly robust.” operations. While his FBO has been aver“We had our best year in flight training aging around a 40% decrease on this front, ever, with over 14,000 hours of instruction its business has been up due to a familiar in 2020,” he said. refrain of people choosing to fly private for Students range from career-changers to personal trips. those finally scratching that itch to fly — of As with the airlines, Hartwig noted busibenefit to an industry plagued by personnel ness aviation formerly experienced “record shortages (from pilots to aviation mechanics levels” of demand. and administrators).

“Everyone really hunkered down at the Poole noted most flight training crews onset, and then slowly started to ease back into have been called back to work from furlough; flying by implementing mitigation strategies many thought that wouldn’t happen for years.

Continued on page 8.

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• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

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• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal • Aviation

Availability of aviation careers, education in metro provide bright future for prospects

by Brooke Strickland

The travel industry — aviation specifically — has just come through one of the most unusual times in history.

The pandemic halted how many people use airlines for travel and business, which put significant strain on the aviation industry. Now, things are ramping back up again and aviation professionals are hopeful for a full recovery. Because of this, it is an ideal time Tarry for people to consider a career or education in the aviation field.

The job market in Nebraska is good for those in the aviation industry.

“As the airline industry and other segments of the broader aviation industry continue to recover in the wake of COVID, opportunities for employment will open up,” said Scott E. Tarry, director and professor at the Aviation Institute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “In short, this is a great time to either begin preparation for an aviation career or seek employment in an aviation career field.”

Lisa LaMantia, vice president of national services for Carver Aero, noted graduates are finding jobs primarily at airlines.

“After being cooped up during COVID, people want to go places, which means the airlines activity is increasing,” she said.

“There is a need for mechanics both in general aviation and the airlines.”

When it comes to specific places looking to hire, LaMantia said that Carver Aero is

LaMantia Monroe currently looking for charter pilots, line technicians, customer service assistance, avionics technicians, mechanics, and aircraft washers.

Tarry noted that companies like Southwest Airlines and other regional airlines are beginning to bolster hiring efforts again.

“Opportunities also exist with other key partners, such as Jet Linx Aviation, which is headquartered in Omaha and offers jet management services around the country,” he said. “Companies are also hiring graduates from our UAS (drone) program as they seek to leverage the power of those technologies to improve various aspects of their businesses. Airports and companies that offer services at airports are also hiring as air travel volumes return to normal.”

Jennifer Monroe, recruiting team leader for Duncan Aviation, said there is a great

need for skilled technical specialists.

“We are currently hiring for technicians with skills in airframe and engine maintenance as well as individuals with knowledge of electronics, woodworking and cabinetry, paint and finishes, structures testing, machining, etc. Virtually any aviation company is hiring right now,” she said.

As airlines and other commercial service airports begin to see more demand for air travel, those looking to find jobs in the aviation field will be able to do so more easily. Monroe recommended that recent aviation graduates look for internships and research companies that they might be interested in working for. She also said that making connections with people is important, too. “[Job seekers] should reach out to people they know who work for those companies, talk with the recruiting teams, and set up company tours to get a better idea of the employer’s company culture,” she said.

“They should also be sure to work with their school’s career placement center to develop the best possible resume and personal brand.”

LaMantia said that taking the time to connect with potential employers or others that may have leads is crucial.

“Start making calls and putting feelers out to different people in your aviation network to let them know you are approaching your flight hours or nearing completion of your course and that you will be looking for a job,” she said.

Last, job seekers should make sure that

they invest in themselves with quality education and plenty of training — the result will always pay off.

“Resist the temptation to take shortcuts in your training,” Tarry said. “Seek out opportunities that help you develop as an aviation professional. A successful career in aviation is built on a foundation of education and training that emphasizes safety and professionalism.”

Private aviation

Continued from page 5. such as wearing of masks and practicing social distancing,” he said.

Thompson expressed optimism in business aviation’s ability to continue to adapt to change, noting the likes of readily available sanitation programs and products such as a semi-permanent germ-resistant aircraft coating.

There remains the question, Hartwig said, of the role business aviation will play as the likes of virtual business meetings become more standard practice.

Leadership also referenced some advantages for the aviation community’s central location in the U.S., which helps to leverage its operations. Such aircraft also serve, they noted, as an “important productivity tool” by reaching markets efficiently.

Hartwig also noted how Nebraska is home to many major repair and overhaul companies that service business aircraft from across the country, a major contributor to the state’s economic impact.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

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Select Van passes 60-year mark with new brand and name; builds capacity Continued from page 1. company,” he said. “We had a lot of time to sit around and analyze things. And a lot of thought went into it for the leadership.”

A 32-year Select Van vet, Matt Schaefer, commercial sales manager, referred to the “main reason” for the name change: “We wanted to be able to associate ourselves directly with the brand as a moving company, and we thought that adding ‘moving’ to our name would make the most sense.”

In its June 1 announcement, President Wink Smith was quoted as saying “the time is right for our company to rebrand.”

It was also noted that “the rebranding reflects the core of our business and the evolution of our company.”

Wink Smith’s father, Jim Smith, incorporated the business in 1961. At the time, the company had switched to household moving and was an agent for what is now Mayflower. Reportedly, Select Van has gone on to employ both Wink and his

brother’s children and, now, grandchildren. in the grief and, in the good years, we tend It’s a familiar theme; Riha’s children, to reward our employees very well.” as well as Schaefer’s kids and his father, Since 1981, Select Van has employed have all been a part of the Select family. people at its Lincoln office. Locations in “My dad worked Kansas City, Missouhere under Wink and Select Van Moving Company ri and Des Moines his dad for 25 years,” Phone: 935-3700 (Omaha) followed in 1985 and said Josh MacCal- Address: 8006 J St., Omaha 68127 1986, respectively. lum, a relocation Services: local moves, long-distance “We don’t have specialist with 19 moves, commercial moves, employee to drive three hours years at the compa- relocation, military relocation, storage one way to do an ny. “Between me and Employees: around 140 companywide estimate when there my dad alone, we at the time of this writing are multiple people have 40 or 50 years Founded: 1961 by Jim Smith in key locations,” here.”

Riha said.

Website: www.SelectVan.com The ability to R i h a ’s h i s t o r y sustain through wars, recessions, agricul- with the business started right out of high ture crises and now a pandemic is not lost school. on the “patriarch” of the company “family.”

“It’s become an extended family to “We’ve always had conservative fi- me,” he said. “And, not only does Select nancing,” Wink Smith explained. “If we Van take care of the city around them, had a down year, we didn’t have to go into a they take care of their employees … it also massive amount of debt. And the staff have speaks volumes to the work ethic of the always pulled together … everyone shares Smiths’, and of keeping this place going

Jet Linx laser focused on additional planes, new terminal Continued from page 1. aviation experience and I am excited to Walker refers to as a “hyper-focus on de- have a role in enabling us to accelerate livering a best-in-class service experience” our national expansion,” said Silverman, to clients. who recently relocated to rural Louisville, The differentiating characteristic, Nebraska, about a 30-minute drive from Walker believes, is Jet Linx’s nationproviding localized Jet Linx Aviation al operations center services with termi- Phone: 402-991-8060 in Sterling Ridge at nals in nearly two Address: 13030 Pierce St., Suite 100, 13030 Pierce St. d o z e n c i t i e s , b u t Omaha 68144 Silverman tracwith an increasingly Services: private jet company es his early interest global reach. in the transportation Founded: 1999 by Denny Walker While plans are Employees: about 100 at Omaha nato his grandfather's being formulated to tional operations center New York state comupdate Jet Linx’s One-year goal: add 57 airplanes to muter bus line. One existing terminals national management fleet plus 289 Jet of his first responsiwhile also moving Card customers bilities to that busii n t o n e w m a r k e t Industry outlook: number of flyers is ness as a youth was areas, a very sig- increasing at a time when demand is dispatching buses. nificant challenge outpacing plane production “I watched what looms for the private Website: www.jetlinx.com grandpa did and how aviation industry: a he did it,” Silverman critical shortage of aircraft coupled with remembers. “I liken the experience to a lagging number of trained maintenance puzzles and being able to figure solutions and other personnel. out — I learned to think ahead and I was A year ago, Jet Linx accelerated its fascinated by the challenge.” strategic expansion in the New York, New Silverman, a 1884 business administraJersey and Connecticut tri-state region tion graduate of Montclair State College, with the acquisition of the aircraft and earlier aviation career included leadership charter businesses of Meridian, a full-ser- in business aviation firms such as XO and vice private aviation company headquar- its parent company, Vista Global. He also tered at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. served as senior vice president of owner Late last year Walker hired Jersey services and aircraft management sales shore native Ron Silverman, a 37-year for Executive Jet Management, a Net Jets transportation industry veteran, to come company, and in over three decades of to Omaha as Jet Linx’s newest executive experience worked with clients that inteam member. cluded the British royal family, Brad Pitt As Chief Commercial Officer — a and Angelina Jolie. newly-created position and one of the Much of Silverman’s time was devoted firm’s top four executives — Silverman is to establishing elevated standards of exresponsible for developing and executing cellence by maximizing client satisfaction Jet Linx’s strategic growth plan, expanding and retention and reducing service issues. its base of managed aircraft nationwide, Now based in Omaha with Jet Linx, leveraging relationships with vendors, and Silverman said there’s little vagueness enhancing service offerings to increase the about his chief responsibilities.

Jet Linx value proposition.

“July was one of the busiest months Silverman expects to be the linch pin in the history of our company,” he said. in accelerating Jet Linx’s national growth “My laser focus is adding more airplanes presence. to our fleet.”

“Jet Linx has refined the private Adding to the fleet is crucial to main-

taining its double-digit growth, Silverman said. Jet Linx currently has about 3,000 Jet Card customers but only 120 planes.

“Due to COVID-19 and other airline industry issues, people who can afford to fly privately but in the past haven’t now are seeking to fly privately,” he said.

“We need to add 57 airplanes to our management fleet which is needed to keep up with the 289 Jet Card customers we will be adding this year.”

A five- person sales team has been assembled and is charged with communicating the benefits of its Complete Aircraft Transaction program to ultra-high net worth customers. Under the program, Jet Linx helps customers find the right aircraft, operate and maintain the aircraft, and then sell it when the time comes.

CAT has more than 100 aircraft under management, including 37 aircraft types.

Silverman said more high-worth individuals are learning of Jet Linx’s Joint Ownership program, which offers full benefits of aircraft ownership for half the price.

The half ownership solution benefits new buyers looking to enter private jet ownership, but not yet ready for whole aircraft ownership as well as existing aircraft owners looking for a way to defray half of their ownership expenses without the hassles of do-it-yourself partnership agreements and management of the other party.

Jet Linx manages all aspects of the aircraft and the two owners remain independent of one another.

Silverman said Jet Linx is seeking planes built from 2000 to present. Prices vary from $3 to $5 million for a Cessna Citation and from $7 to $10 million for a Bombardier Challenger.

Jet Linx was founded in 1999 by Denny Walker, an Omaha entrepreneur who co-founded CardMember Publishing Corp., a consumer services direct marketing company that went public in 1996.

His son Jamie Walker started his career in New York City in sales and marketing, and joined the business in 2002 to help develop the firm on a national scale.

through turbulent times.

“It’s had its highs and its lows. The pandemic wasn’t easy on us. But, we’re looking forward to the future.”

While Schaefer noted there have been a number of driver retirements over the last five years, there have been programs put into place to build capacity and to build upon niches in the moving world.

“Mayflower put in a new program called ‘Snapmoves,’” he said. “We are able to ‘containerize’ at a competitive price to meet the smaller-move customer.”

Snapmoves are reportedly designed for apartment residents and seniors who may be downsizing; small moves might also include one-bedroom, small houses, dorm rooms or storage units.

Schaefer also noted that Select Van does do commercial/office moves, and some “final mile” services for everything from treadmill to bed set-ups.

“We do white glove delivery and then we have a do-it-yourself program where you can value ship,” he said. “We’ll park the trailer in front, load it up and take it wherever … and we store people’s household goods in our warehouse.”

Riha added that boxes are sold and plastic totes may be rented out, too.

“We just want to be there to help the consumer in all facets of the move,” he said. “I often find myself telling potential customers, ‘If you need to go out and get other bids, that keeps me honest. And I’m here to talk to you about those other bids.

I’ll tell you if it’s a legit moving bid that you can trust or a third-party broker mover out there to scam you.’”

Leadership noted they’ve “seen it all,” and have plenty of experience and observations to draw upon over six-plus decades.

While they emphasize timeless transparency, upfront pricing, and honesty, investments have been made in the likes of new trucks over the past four or five years.

“The technology of moving as a whole hasn’t changed much,” Schaefer said.

MacCallum did note that they were fortunate to offer the likes of virtual estimates pre-pandemic.

“That came in handy during the pandemic,” he said. “We didn’t have those services until two and a half or three years ago.”

Similar to Skype, he said the technology allowed the Select team to minimize contact and exposure while still being able to remain in touch with customers and do their jobs accurately.

Leadership also highlighted its support of community causes; for instance, resources have been used to store supplies for Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure, or to support Habitat for Humanity ReStores by donating roofing shingles and plywood.

Its trucks may be used to pick up toys for KVC locations. And, the company has sent drivers and equipment to areas in great need following natural disasters, such as flooding.

A BBB A+ Certified Accredited Business, Select Van is also licensed, bonded, insured and is equipped to offer both short and long-term storage in addition to its range of moving solutions.

10

• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

Midlands African Chamber highlights local entrepreneurs, eliminates gaps Continued from page 1. to go about doing certain things,” she said.

Luckily, she said, she joined the Nebraska Bar Association and learned of the Midlands Bar Association, which aims to benefit African American attorneys in Nebraska. “[The MBA] really helped me because I was able to connect with the members and they were really helpful,” she said.

The Midlands African Chamber will give African Americans and African immigrants the same opportunity, connecting through shared experiences, exchanging information, and developing a support group.

Since filing for incorporation last July, when COVID-19 restrictions where still in place, the Chamber has been working to develop programming and events.

Power Hour The first offering implemented was the monthly professional business development series, Power Hour, which launched on Nov. 19, 2020.

“We have someone come in and talk about the things that are affecting businesses,” Sokpoh said.

A wide swath of topics have been covered so far, including taxes, COVID-19 vaccines, budget tips, small business marketing and more.

Speakers have included: Terri Sanders, publisher of the Omaha Star; UNMC Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. H. Dele Davies; Dr. Dale Eesley, UNO director of the Center for Innovation, En-

trepreneurship and Franchising, and more.

Power Hour is scheduled for the third Thursday of each month and is free for members.

Pitch Black At the beginning of 2021 MAC announced its first business pitch competition, Pitch Black, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We wanted to have a pitch competition where we could give some funds to businesses that don’t necessarily have novel ideas, but have ideas for helping their business become successful,” Sokpoh said.

Guidelines stipulated that businesses must be less than three years old, which could mean a startup, and operating in Nebraska. However, the competition is not

limited to African immigrants and African Americans.

“We just want to make sure that one of the owners of an applying company identifies as a member of an ethnic minority,” she said. “We want to help lift up small, minority business owners.”

As a brand new organization and event, the 11-member board was worried about the kind of prizes they could offer winners.

To their surprise, Sokpoh said, the support for national and local companies has been phenomenal.

Prizes include not only cash investments but legal, marketing and accounting assistance.

Only five finalists will present at the live event on Aug. 28. Keynote speakers

will be Liberian immigrants Perteet and Fred Spencer, who own Chicago-based AYO Foods.

Future programming In line with helping bolster relationships, the next two initiatives in the planning stages include a mentoring program and networking hour.

By collaborating with other like-minded organizations and events, such as Afromaha and the Leadership Africa Summit, MAC is widening the net for potential participants. Membership costs are also minimal to reduce barriers.

“We also want to encourage our members to participate fully [in local government],” Sokpoh said. “We have been missing from the table for too long.”

As injuries run the gamut, area organizations offer specialized rehab

by Brooke Strickland

Whether it’s getting hurt on the job or being involved in a car accident, injuries can take a real toll on the body. For many people, undergoing physical therapy or rehabilitation is required to get them functioning at full capacity.

When the pandemic struck, many offices and workspaces temporarily shut down. Due to that, job-related injuries significantly decreased. However, as people have started returning to work, incidences of workplace injuries are back on the rise.

“Accidental injuries are a problem right now,” said Chris Cameron, director of occupational health at Makovicka Physical

Philanthropy & Charity

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Topics may include: State of philanthropy • Fundraising events Grantmaking • New ways of giving Transparency in where funds go

Issue Date: August 13 • Ad Deadline: August 5

Therapy. “With all companies hiring like crazy to meet production demands, there has been a rash of accidental injuries due to rushed training and having several new people on a job site at the same time.

“In addition, strain and overuse injuries due to people being off/inactive during

“Knowing prospective physical therapists’ strengths is important when making your decision.”

If possible, tour the facility in-person, too. This gives you a greater understanding about the team and their expertise, rather than just reading about it online.

Cameron Carbullido the pandemic. The increased inactivity caused weakness and bad habits, resulting in more strain and overuse injuries coming up as people have gotten back to work.”

A rise in specific injuries as well as chronic pain have been top areas for QLI Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Specialists.

“We have seen an increase in the number of spinal cord injury clients and the need for creative programming to allow these individuals to experience life in a real-world functional setting,” said Kristin Carbullido, director of clinical services for QLI. “Also, chronic pain has been recognized as a national epidemic and rehabilitation programs have been developed to help combat this issue affecting so many. There is a greater awareness and understanding of the complexities involved in chronic pain treatment.”

For people that may need to undergo injury rehabilitation, it might feel a bit overwhelming trying to decide where to start and who to pick to help you. Here are some tips to keep in mind. #1: Put clinical excellence first.

The clinic you choose should have great reviews and reputable health care professionals that are committed to continued education for themselves to better serve patients.

“Health care professionals should continue their education throughout their career, as there are always new techniques and research that change the way patients can and should be treated,” said Kris Johnk, regional manager for Athletico Physical Therapy.

Johnk Beran #2: Keep convenience and stability in mind.

Location and ease of scheduling are important — especially if you are experiencing pain and need to get a physical therapy plan rolling right away.

“Life doesn’t stop for injuries, so knowing what type of hours your physical therapy provider offers is important,” Johnk said.

“The sooner you can start physical therapy, the sooner you will get better.”

In addition, make sure you see the same therapist or therapist team every time. This allows them to get to know you and more effectively track your progress so they can provide more personalized care from start to finish. #3: Understand your care plan.

Physical therapy treatment plans range from patient to patient. Some are more involved, while others are less detailed. No matter what your situation is, ask questions and make sure you understand the details involved.

“When you meet with a therapist/clinician, the plan of care should make sense to you,” said Jennifer Beran, physical therapist at Premier Physical Therapy.

“Make sure you’re with someone who gives thorough education and explanation of the care.”

Injury rehabilitation services are incredibly helpful Beran necessary for thousands of people each day.

“The most effective rehabilitation incorporates one’s hopes, passions and goals to ensure rehab is purposeful, motivating and meaningful,” Carbullido said.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

11

Renters search for more space as COVID leaves them working at home

by David Lyons

Many renters are ramping up their searches for bigger places after COVID-19 forced them to work more than a year at home.

Although workers are gradually returning to their regular offices this summer, many are Real estate still being allowed to work at home full time or for portions of their workweeks.

Since the pandemic struck down the economy in March of last year, some are finding that temporary needs for extra space

are becoming permanent. Moreover, the allure of starting a new business from home has grown, creating a new reason for tenants to find more space.

“It does not surprise me that you see people renting bigger apartments,’' said Ken H. Johnson, a real estate economist and professor at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business. “lnstead of one bedroom, they go for two; instead of two they go for three.”

A 569-city survey of 21,000 renters by RentCafe, an apartment search website, found that one out of three renters nationally HIDDEN STAIRS

want to “upsize” their apartments for business reasons or family growth.

Both apply to Susana Gonzalez Perez and her family of five. They are gearing up for a move to South Florida this fall from Palo Alto, Calif. She is a researcher and university lecturer. Her husband, David, is an executive with a startup technology company. They have three daughters.

“I need a dedicated space for working from home,” she said. “Apart from this, it has been really hard to have three children at home during the pandemic, homeschooling. I hope that it is not going to happen again this year. But we have learnt that it is important for each of the girls to have their own space.”

Even with a rented four-bedroom home

in California, two of the girls shared a single bedroom. That’s because she and her husband “have a dedicated office at home shared by both of us. It is not a good arrangement because it is complicated to share when you have, for example, Zoom meetings.”

“That is exactly what we are looking for in South Florida — more space for everybody,” Gonzalez Perez said.

But the family won’t be buying a home when they arrive in Florida — homes are too pricey.

“We were renters in the Bay Area and we will continue to be here,” she said. “We have considered buying, but we think that the prices are too high for us right now, perhaps Continued on next page.

Gym memberships are growing again as vaccines roll out, but not everyone is rushing back to work out

by Denny Jacob

Answers on page 12.

Celeste Foley has been a regular presence at Life Time’s Schaumburg, Ill., athletic club for over 20 years.

The 54-year-old elementary school teacher takes group fitness classes like kickboxing and cycling, and when the facility closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked out from home as instructors Trends moved their classes online.

But Foley missed the sense of community in-person classes offer, and as soon as the club reopened, she went back and picked up right where she left off.

“It’s made a huge difference. I really missed it when I was gone,” Foley said. “I didn’t realize what a huge part of my life it is.”

Foley is one of many Chicagoans returning to in-person workouts after gyms across the city were hobbled by the COVID-19 pandemic. As vaccinations continue to roll out and with the mask mandate lifted, a number of gyms are seeing an influx of new and returning members — something they expect to continue in the coming months.

There were over 39,000 members throughout Chicago Athletic Clubs’ seven locations before the pandemic, according to owner Patrick Cunningham. Then “someone flipped the switch and we went down to 14,000 members.”

Things have improved at the club in recent months during the city’s phased reopening. Membership has grown by 2,400 since May, and now stands around 23,000.

Business was doing so well at Studio Three’s two locations in Chicago before the pandemic that it committed to a third location, which opened in February. While the gym saw a 70% to 80% drop in membership, CEO David Blitz said they’re now almost at pre-pandemic levels.

But not every gym is recovering so quickly.

Membership at River North Gym, located inside the Merchandise Mart building in Chicago, is 56% of what it was in 2019. With many people still working from home, owner Bernie Lecocq said corporate fitness facilities will be the slowest to rebound as they wait for companies to chart a return to the office.

About 85% of the gym’s clientele worked in the building before the pandemic.

River North Gym is emblematic of the larger issues the fitness industry is facing.

While many gyms made it through the pandemic, countless others didn’t. Seventeen

percent of the estimated 41,370 health clubs in the U.S. permanently closed by the end of 2020, according to a report from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association.

Consumers have adapted as well. Outdoor workouts became common during the pandemic as people looked for a reprieve from being cooped up all day. Interest in workout equipment also soared, with sales for everything from dumbbells to Pelotons climbing.

Home fitness equipment sales grew 84% in 2020, according to Matt Powell, vice president and senior industry adviser for the NPD Group, a market research company. And during the first part of this year, from January through May, sales climbed another 121%.

This trend may wane as the year goes on, but it presents a challenge for gyms as they work to rebuild their membership levels.

“Consumers who have a sunk cost in home fitness equipment are likely not going to rush back to gyms,” Powell said.

As a result of the changes in consumer habits and preferences, gyms are evolving to keep up with the times. Cunningham said Chicago Athletic Clubs will have a free on-demand library for members so they can still work out in case they’re stuck at home or traveling. Life Time launched a digital membership through an app that members can use for one-on-one training, small group training and nutrition coaching.

“Finding where the members want to be served and how they want to be served, it was a clarion call for us,” said Steve Larson, senior vice president for club operations at Life Time.

While the pandemic-induced closures were a financial challenge, they presented gyms an opportunity to make upgrades — such as adding new equipment or improving the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units — that would otherwise be tough to pull off during normal business operations.

At River North Gym, returning members will arrive to freshly painted walls and a new layout on the gym floor.

“When people come back, I wanted it to feel a little different, a little clean. When they came back, I didn’t want it to feel like the same old gym they had been at before,” Lecocq said. ©2021 Chicago Tribune.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

12

• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

Renters search for more space as COVID leaves them working at home Continued from preceding page. artificially high. I am not sure if it is just something that it is happening as people want bigger homes as they are spending more time there.”

Trending toward bigger spaces The family’s needs fit a profile identified by RentCafe, which sought to identify future housing needs as the nation’s businesses try to find a new normal for their work forces while the pandemic lingers.

“With our survey we wanted to understand just how big the need for extra space is, regardless of whether it’s used for home-office or for the family,” said Florentina Sarac, editor and researcher for RentCafé.

Besides finding that 35% of the renters interviewed want more space, it also found that 60% of studio tenants want an extra room, while 40% of renters living in a one-bedroom apartment want an upgrade.

“It’s becoming clear that, no matter the purpose, apartment space itself has become a much wanted ‘amenity’ and the (COVID-19) lockdown period may have brought that out more evidently than before,” she said.

The cost of moving around varies from city to city, according to the survey, which

used a weighted average that took into account all types of apartments, from studios to three-bedrooms. The value obtained is one that renters can expect to pay or save.

A rough cost of upgrading in Miami would be an additional $370 in monthly rent only, a spokesman said, regardless of the size apartment an individual is moving from. But a move from Miami to Coconut Creek and getting an extra bedroom would cost $255 more in rent.

In a number of South Florida cities, builders have started to adjust their projects to cover the needs of both growing families and heads of households who want to work from home.

Art Falcone, CEO and founder of the Falcone Group and Encore Capital Management, said The Rise in downtown Fort Lauderdale and The Rise at Plantation Walk in suburban Plantation contain hundreds of one- to three-bedroom apartments packed with luxury amenities such as gourmet kitchens, pool decks, cabanas and controlled access parking garages.

“We have seen quite a large pickup in rental activity in our inner cores of downtown Miami and downtown Fort Lauderdale in the last six months due to the number of people coming here from all

Fast internet everywhere could add $160 billion to US economy

by Craig Torres

The U.S. economy stands to gain $160 billion a year in extra output from a successful national high-speed internet plan that would boost labor productivity and allow more people to work from home, according to new research.

The study, which is based on survey data, attempts to Technology put precise numbers on one of the bigger unknowns in President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan: how much is universal broadband really worth?

“Moving to high-quality, fully reliable home internet service for all Americans would raise earnings-weighted labor productivity by an estimated 1.1% in the coming years,” economists Jose Maria Barrero, Nicholas Bloom and Steven Davis wrote in a paper released July 27.

“The implied output gains are $160 billion per year,” equivalent to about 0.7% of gross domestic product.The study’s authors describe an “abrupt, enormous” shift to remote work as a result of the pandemic, which they expect to settle with about 20% of the U.S. labor force persistently working from home. The share could be higher for so-called knowledge workers whose jobs are mostly done on computer networks anyway.

Slow productivity growth has been a major concern about the U.S. economy in recent years. Overall labor productivity was increasing at an average pace of around 1% in the decade before the pandemic, a historically low figure.

Davis, an economist at University of Chicago’s Booth School, said the biggest beneficiaries of the broadband plan are

likely to be middle-income workers. Those on lower wages are often in jobs that require on-site labor, while high earners already have fast and reliable internet.

Middle Class The research finds “few effects at the top end and fewer effects at the bottom end,” Davis said in an interview. “Evening out the earnings distribution in the short run is not one of our arguments.”

Biden’s plan aims to spread high-speed internet into corners of the country that don’t have a reliable service now. Senate negotiators are currently discussing a $65 billion investment in broadband investment, including the extension of monthly subsidies for low-income Americans, as part of a broader infrastructure bill.

More than 80% of respondents in the survey conducted by Davis and his colleagues said they had reliable internet quality, while around 16% reported moderate-to-poor or no connectivity.

One of the big differences with highspeed broadband is the ability to move beyond text and messaging to video conferencing.

“Our data also suggest that better home internet access increases the propensity to work from home,” the economists wrote.

“Universal access would, according to our estimate, raise the extent of WFH in the post-pandemic economy by about 0.7 of a percentage point,” they wrote, referring to work-from-home.

The paper was prepared for the Aspen Economic Strategy Group. ©2021 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

over the nation,” he said.

For extra sums depending on the size, independent work spaces are available at The Rise in Fort Lauderdale and are included for a planned sister project at the Miami World Center in Miami.

“We’ve been designing that way for quite some time now,” Falcone said.

Some fully employed people who have worked at home are starting new businesses there, said Siri Terjesen, an associate dean and professor of entrepreneurship at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business.

“They were getting their health insurance and other benefits, but they know how to manage and for one reason or another they can’t or don’t want to exercise that entrepreneurial spirit through their fulltime employment,” she said. “So they’re starting a business on the side” Those new enterprises may or may not be related to their main line of work: it could be flipping houses or selling things online.

Supplies dwindling Whatever their intentions, South Floridians now in the rental market had better hurry, industry experts say.

Carolina Gerdts, senior vice president of Miami-based Related ISG, said available homes and condos for rent are in thin supply from Palm Beach to Miami-Dade counties, with properties listed in each county for rent numbering in low double or triple digits.

“In Palm Beach right now active there are 35 rentals,” she said. “In Broward there’s 348. That’s nothing.”

Gerdts said people are angling toward

rental communities where there’s more space and a relative assurance that a complex won’t be sold, a move that could drive up rents under new owners.

Two and three-bedroom apartments are being snapped up all over the region, said Sasha Ezquerra, who with her partner Santiago Illia operates Apartment LeaseUp Experts in Fort Lauderdale.

Ezquerra said inbound migrants from New York think nothing of plunking down $3,500 a month for a three-bedroom as they can’t buy space anywhere near that size back home.

“For New Yorkers, $3,500 is joke for them,” she said. “In New York you can get a studio for $3,500. That number doesn’t intimidate them at all.”

Demand for three-bedrooms is even intensifying the suburbs, said Daryl Spradley, senior vice president of Charles Wayne Consulting Inc. in Maitland, a market intelligence firm with clients in Central and South Florida.

“Part of that demand is triggered by families with children who know where they want to buy a house, or they already have one under construction,” he said.

“Such a family will probably end up renting a three-bedroom and they’ll live there for a while, as their house is being constructed,” he added. “Another scenario is they’ll stay for a year, then buy a house in the neighborhood they want to live in, as that they don’t want their children to have to switch schools after a move.” ©2021 South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 • Legal notices LEGAL NOTICES 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 the Legal Department at legals@mbj.com. 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).

As a publisher and not a legal advisor we print notices exactly as they are submitted and therefor only comp reruns when the notice was rejected or messed up due to a MBJ error. All companies submitting notices are responsible for ensuring the content fits with the State’s requirements and are responsible for the cost of republishing the notice if it is rejected due to misinformation or missing information 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 noon on 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 the first week it runs.

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Kendra Hubbard, MS, LIMHP, LLC has been organized as a professional limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The Designated Office of the Company is 7121 A Street, Suite 202, Lincoln, Nebraska 68510. The Registered Agent of the Company is Kendra Hubbard, 7500 South Street, Unit 8, Lincoln, Nebraska 68506. The Company's members, managers and professional employees are licensed or otherwise legally authorized to practice professional mental health therapy and hypnotherapy in the State of Nebraska. The Company was formed on July 26, 2021.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

CROKER, HUCK, KASHER, DeWITT, ANDERSON & GONDERINGER, P.C. 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, NE 68124 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF THE FIVE FIFTY TWO CORPORATION Pursuant to § 21-2,185 et seq. of the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act, notice is hereby given that The Five Fifty Two Corporation, a Nebraska corporation, filed Articles of Dissolution with the Secretary of State on August 2, 2021. The corporation has no assets or known liabilities.

Ron Badley, President, shall wind up and liquidate its business and affairs.

If you have a claim against the Corporation, you should mail notice to Croker, Huck, Kasher, DeWitt, Anderson & Gonderinger, L.L.C., 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, and include the following information: name of claimant, amount of claim, goods or services covered by the claim, date claim originated, and supporting documentation (if available). Any claim against the corporation will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce said claim is commenced within three years of the date of this published notice.

THE FIVE FIFTY TWO CORPORATION By: RON BADLEY, President First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

WILLIAM N. BEERMAN, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF B WAXED INC Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of B Waxed Inc (the “Corporation”) have been amended in the following respects: Article I of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended so that, as amended, said Article shall provide as follows: ARTICLE I. NAME The name of the Corporation shall be ROBOPF, INC. The Articles of Amendment were filed with the Secretary of State of Nebraska on June 30, 2021. In all other respects, the Articles of Incorporation remain unchanged.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Heartland System Solutions, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Heartland System Solutions, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 313584 Stanford St, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. The Registered Agent of the Company is John J Dickson., 13584 Stanford St, Omaha, Nebraska 68144.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF STANSTECH, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Stanstech, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is Stanstech, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10817 Laramie Street, Papillion, Nebraska 68046, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: DEVON NEWBOLD You are hereby notified that on 03/02/21, the Plaintiff Credit Management Services, Inc., filed a Complaint in the COUNTY Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska, against you shown as Case Number CI21 3956. The object and prayer of which is a judgment in the amount of 612.42, 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 09/05/21 at the COUNTY court of DOUGLAS County, OMAHA Nebraska.

Megan L. Bischoff #25206 P.O. Box 1512 Grand Island, NE 68802 (308)398-3801 Attorney for Plaintiff First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION N.C. Medical Supply, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, with its initial designated office at 4992 Drexel, Omaha, Nebraska, 68117, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Limited Liability Company shall engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The registered agent is Edward F. Pohren at 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste. 400, Omaha, Nebraska, 68114. The perpetual existence commenced January 26, 2021. Its affairs are to be conducted by its Members pursuant to an Operating Agreement duly adopted by the Company.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

JUSTIN A. SHELDON, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OFAMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF MICHALSKI LAWN CARE LLC Notice is hereby given that MICHALSKI LAWN CARE LLC has amended its Certificate of Organization as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The amended notice of organization reflects the change of address from 2304 Campanile Road, Waterloo, NE 68009 to 2304 Campanile Road, Waterloo, NE 68069.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

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 LTC STAFFING SOLUTIONS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LTC Staffing Solutions, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Kenneth W. Klaasmeyer, 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on July 16, 2021.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

13

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF ZMB ENTERPRISES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ZMB Enterprises, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), filed a Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 15, 2021. The terms of the dissolution provide for the payment of liabilities of the Company and 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 the date on which the claim arose 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 July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION The Dahlman Apartments LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, with its initial designated office at 3814 Farnam, Suite 203, Omaha, Nebraska, 68131, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Limited Liability Company shall engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The registered agent is Matt Dwyer at 3814 Farnam, Suite 203, Omaha, Nebraska, 68131. The perpetual existence commenced July 12, 2021. Its affairs are to be conducted by its Manager pursuant to an Operating Agreement duly adopted by the Company.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

Darren Carlson, Attorney CARLSON & BLAKEMAN, LLP 2002 Douglas Street Omaha, NE 68102 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 5505 PROPERTIES, LLC Notice is hereby given that 5505 PROPERTIES, LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial designated office is 2002 Douglas Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Company’s initial registered agent in the State of Nebraska is: Darren Carlson, whose address is 2002 Douglas Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The purpose of the Company is to engage in any lawful business and activity, as may be mutually agreed upon by the Members from time to time, and which are not prohibited by the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The Company commenced with filing its Certificate of Organization on July13, 2021, and shall have a perpetual period of duration. The Company is a Member Managed Limited Liability Company Darren Carlson, Organizer First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BRICK TOWN CONSTRUCTION, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Brick Town Construction, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is Brick Town Construction, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

PATRICK M. FLOOD, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF MADONNA SCHOOL & COMMUNITYBASED SERVICES Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of Madonna School & Community-Based Services (the “Corporation”) have been amended and restated by the Directors as of July 2, 2021, and filed with the Secretary of State on July 15, 2021.

The Articles of Incorporation have been amended to generally provide as follows: 1. To clarify the power of the Board of Directors, and specify that certain powers are reserved to the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha.

2. To eliminate certain ex-officio positions on the Board of Directors.

3. To expand the number of officers and revise designations.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

14

• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

Legal notices LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MOOI SKIN, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Mooi Skin, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 4814 S. 157th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68135. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

SEAN D. MOYLAN, Attorney 1010 South 120th Street, Suite 320 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RENTAL 36, LLC The name of the Company is RENTAL 36, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company. The initial registered agent is Sean Moylan located at 1010 S. 120th Street, Suite #320, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The initial designated office of the Company is located at 621 N. 36th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131. This limited liability company commenced business on July 2, 2021.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Clout Enterprises I, Inc. has been incorporated under the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. The street address of the corporation's initial registered office is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska, and the name of the initial registered agent of the corporation at that office is David C. Nelson. The corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of Common Stock. The name and street address of the incorporator of the corporation are Gregory F. Schreiber, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

STEPHANIE M. SHARP, ATTORNEY VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska, 68118 Telephone 402-504-1300 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF VALENTI, LLC Notice is hereby given that VALENTI, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The address of the initial designated office of the company is 7974 Ponderosa Drive, Papillion, NE 68046. The agent for service of process for the Company is Cornelia Vremes located at 7974 Ponderosa Drive, Papillion, NE 68046.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

SEAN D. MOYLAN, Attorney Moylan Law, LLC 1010 South 120th Street, Suite 320 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is hereby given that Horst Dental, P.C., a Nebraska Corporation, is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated agent Sean D. Moylan and designated office at 1010 South 120th Street, Suite 320, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The purpose for which Horst Dental, P.C. has been established is to engage in the dental services business, and any and all lawful businesses for which a corporation may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. Perpetual existence commenced on July 16, 2021.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF ROY HOLDINGS – CCM LA VISTA, LLC Notice is hereby given that the Certificate of Organization of Roy Holdings – CCM La Vista, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended changing the name of the company to KCFrisco, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 13, 2021.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68144 In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska.

PR21-1142. Judge Marcuzzo THOMAS L. TIEFENTHALER IRREVOCABLE LIVING TRUST Established on February 26, 2021 by Thomas L. Tiefenthaler Amended and Restated on February 22, 2016 Thomas L. Tiefenthaler (DOD: 06-07-2020), Age: 75 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that on the 11 day of July, 2021 in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Intestacy of the Estate of Thomas L. Tiefenthaler and that the following was appointed as the Personal Representatives of this estate: Douglas W. Tiefenthaler, 1816 Ashwood Avenue, Papillion, NE 68133.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 330, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before September 28, 2021 or be forever barred.

KELLEY GOLDEN Clerk of the Douglas County Court First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

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 HIOB, LLC The name of the Company is HIOB, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is 1519 South 219th Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. 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 July 21, 2021.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

GEORGES D. APETY YOLE LAW PC, LLO 7930 Blondo Street, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68134 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF NEBRASKA DEVELOPMENTAL & BEHAVIORAL SERVICES, LLC Notice is hereby given that NEBRASKA DEVELOPMENTAL & BEHAVIORAL SERVICES, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with its designated office at 7930 Blondo Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68134. It is organized to transact any lawful business for which a Limited Liability Company may be organized under Nebraska laws and its duration is perpetual commencing from July 21, 2021. Its affairs are to be conducted by the managers Damilola J. Oluyole and Christopher C. Odigbo. Its registered agent is Damilola J. Oluyole and his office is located at 7930 Blondo Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68134.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

WAYNE S. RASMUSSEN, Attorney SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF KERSTEN FARMS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on July 21, 2021, KERSTEN FARMS, LLC was organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, with a designated office at 17909 Fairview Road, Gretna, Nebraska 68028. The Company’s initial agent for service of process is Ervin W. Kersten, whose address is 17909 Fairview Road, Gretna, Nebraska 68028.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

Robert J. Likes Likes Meyerson Hatch LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR21-974 Estate of John J. Synowicki, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on June 21, 2021, 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 Jane A. Davis, 12929 Margo 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. 330, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before September 28, 2021 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Crucero Properties II, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The 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 Kathryn A. Glissman, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite #300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

Matthew Wurstner, Attorney CARLSON & BLAKEMAN, LLP 2002 Douglas Street Omaha, NE 68102 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SEASONAL SOLUTIONS MANAGEMENT, LLC Notice is hereby given that SEASONAL SOLUTIONS MANAGEMENT, LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Company’s initial registered agent is Matthew Wurstner, whose address is 2002 Douglas Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The initial designated office is 2002 Douglas Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The purpose of the Company is to engage in any lawful business and such activity, as may be mutually agreed upon by the Members from time to time, and which is not prohibited by the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act. The Company is to be managed by its Members.

Matthew Wurstner, Organizer First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Ocerg Nagar, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 6123 Poppleton Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68106 and designating its registered agent as Joseph J Greco with its registered office at 6123 Poppleton Avenue, Omaha, NE 68106. The limited liability company commenced business on June 21, 2021.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

HOWARD KASLOW, Attorney ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION MANGO MAMMOTH 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 W. 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 Howard J. Kaslow, 8712 W. Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 11102 Blondo Street, Suite 103 Omaha, Nebraska 68164 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF NEMED1, 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 NEMED1, 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., 11102 Blondo Street, Suite 103, Omaha, NE 68164. The designated office is located at 11102 Blondo Street, Suite 103, Omaha, NE 68164.

John Taulborg, Organizer First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

KENDRA RINGENBERG, Attorney RINGENBERG & RATTNER LAW 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 204 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MANAWA CENTER CARWASH, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Manawa Center Carwash, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 222 S. 15th Street, Suite 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Registered Agent of the Company is Kendra Ringenberg, 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 204, Omaha, Nebraska 68154.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 • Legal notices LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES ANDREW J. HUBER, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF WINE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, INC. Notice is hereby given that a corporation has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the corporation is Wine Business Solutions, Inc. The corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on July 14, 2021 and shall have perpetual duration. The name and street address of the corporation’s initial registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and address of the incorporator is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Incorporator First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

SCOTT A. MEYERSON, Esq. LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HILLCREST MABLE ROSE, LLC Notice is hereby given that HILLCREST MABLE ROSE, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial designated office is 1902 Harlan Drive, Bellevue, NE 68005. The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial agent for service of process is 5601 S. 59th Street, Suite C, Lincoln, NE 68516 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Registered Agent Solutions, Inc. First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

SCOTT A. MEYERSON, Esq. LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JACKSON THREE LLC Notice is hereby given that JACKSON THREE LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial designated office is 514 South 13th Street, Omaha, NE 68102. The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial agent for service of process is 514 South 13th Street, Omaha, NE 68102 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Melanie Clark.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

MATTHEW T. PAYNE, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 3011 N. 45th ST, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of 3011 N. 45th ST, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is 3011 N. 45th ST, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 18319 Dupont Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Matthew T. Payne, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Sweat and Glow Wellness, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Sweat and Glow Wellness, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 4028 Vernon Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68111. The Registered Agent of the Company is Latoya Thomas., 4028 Vernon ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68111.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF etopia technologies, LLC Designated Office: 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 Initial Agent/Address For Service: Allan M. Ziebarth/1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

MATTHEW T. PAYNE, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 4483 ELLISON AVE, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of 4483 Ellison Ave, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is 4483 Ellison Ave, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 18319 Dupont Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Matthew T. Payne, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney JAKE T. HOULIHAN, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68144 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: BRIANA M. WATSON, 4415 N 60th Ave, Omaha NE 68104, you are hereby notified that on June 10, 2021, American Family Mutual Ins. Co. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI21-10326, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $4,745.00, 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 20 day of September, 2021, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 20, 2021

Notice of Organization of R-trips Construction, LLC Notice is hereby given that R-Trips Construction, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 12319 County Road P28, Blair, NE 68008. The Registered Agent of the Company is Linda M Dolinsky, 8007 N 31st St, Omaha, Nebraska 68112.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

N O T I C E O F A M E N D M E N T T O T H E A RT I C L E S O F INCORPORATION OF OMAHA SWING DANCE CLUB Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Omaha Swing Dance Club, a Nebraska nonprofit corporation, were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 6, 2021, to amend Article One, Section 1, changing the name of the corporation to Omaha West Coast Swing.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 11102 Blondo Street, Suite 103 Omaha, Nebraska 68164 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CASTINADO WEALTH STRATEGIES, 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 Castinado Wealth Strategies, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara MedberyPrchal, P.C., L.L.O., 11102 Blondo Street, Suite 103, Omaha, NE 68164.

The designated office is located at 919 N. 50th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68132.

Brock Castinado, Member First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION 1. The name of the Corporation is YIN YANG MEDICAL SERVICES, INC. 2. The Corporation is a for profit corporation.

3. The address of the registered office of the Corporation is 9818 S. 173rd Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 and the registered agent of the said Corporation is Carmen Lester.

4. The Dissolution of the Corporation was duly authorized by the Board of Directors on July 19, 2021.

5. The Dissolution of the Corporation will be effective upon the filing of Articles of Dissolution with the Secretary of State.

6. Jan Kleinhesselink, the President of the Corporation, will wind up the Corporation and liquidate its affairs.

7. Upon the dissolution of this Corporation, its assets shall be distributed to the Shareholder pro rata.

8. The assets of the corporation are: $14,379.40.

9. The Corporation has no liabilities.

Jan Kleinhesselink, President First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

15

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF BK FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 1. The name of the Corporation is BK Financial Services, Inc. 2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 Shares having a par value of $0.01 designated as common stock.

3. The Registered Office of the Corporation is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, NE 68124, and the Registered Agent at such address is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O. 4. The corporate existence began on July 23, 2021, when Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State.

5. The name and address of the Incorporator is: Brian L. Harr, 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 68124.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF 17904 STORAGE ROAD, LLC Notice is hereby given that the Certificate of Organization of 17904 Storage Road, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended changing the name of the company to 18735 F Street, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 23, 2021.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FLANAGAN POINTE HOLDINGS II, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Flanagan Pointe Holdings II, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is Flanagan Pointe Holdings II, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 17225 Clay Street, Bennington, Nebraska 68007, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BADER INVESTMENT GROUP II, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Bader Investment Group II, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is Bader Investment Group II, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 17225 Clay Street, Bennington, Nebraska 68007, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF MICHAEL’S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MICHAEL’S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 312 South 16th Street, #704, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The registered agent is MICHAEL PELLECHIA. The general nature of the business is to operate a general counseling services business, to own, operate and perform services of every kind and nature whatsoever, which are not inconsistent with law, which are necessary, suitable, proper, convenient or expedient to the operation of a general counseling services business. The authorized capital stock is $10,000.00, consisting of 10,000 shares of stock having a par value of $1.00 each, which stock shall be paid for wholly or partly by cash, by labor, by personal property and by real property. The corporation became a corporate body on July 18, 2021, and upon its Articles being filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 23, 2021, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the corporation are to be conducted by a Board of Directors, the number of directors to be provided in the ByLaws, and the officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and such other officers as shall be designated in the By-Laws.

ANTHONY L. GROSS, Incorporator CATHERINE L. WHITE, Incorporator 3018 South 87th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

16

• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

Legal notices LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: The Jaipur Name of Applicant: Everest Brew House, Inc. Address: 10922 Elm Street Omaha NE 68144 Applicant is a Corporation If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: December 1, 1992 General nature of business: Indian Restaurant RODNEY G. GNUSE Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative July 30, 2021

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 4810 SOUTH 15TH STREET, L.L.C. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 4810 SOUTH 15TH STREET, L.L.C., is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a designated and registered office at 4810 South 15th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107. The affairs of the company are to be conducted by the manager and registered officer, JOSE A. PEREZ. The Limited Liability Company is organized to transact any and all business, and perform services of every kind and nature whatsoever, which are not inconsistent with law. The Limited Liability Company commenced doing business on July 8, 2021, and filed Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 23, 2021, and shall have perpetual existence.

JOSE A. PEREZ, Organizational Member 4810 South 15th Street, Omaha, NE 68107 First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF KRAJICEK TRUCKING, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that KRAJICEK TRUCKING, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 5540 North 150th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The registered agent is TYLER E. KRAJICEK. The general nature of the business is to operate a general trucking business, to own, operate and perform services of every kind and nature whatsoever, which are not inconsistent with law, which are necessary, suitable, proper, convenient or expedient to the operation of a general trucking business. The authorized capital stock is $10,000.00, consisting of 10,000 shares of stock having a par value of $1.00 each, which stock shall be paid for wholly or partly by cash, by labor, by personal property and by real property. The corporation became a corporate body on July 9, 2021, and upon its Articles being filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 23, 2021, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the corporation are to be conducted by a Board of Directors, the number of directors to be provided in the By-Laws, and the officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and such other officers as shall be designated in the By-Laws.

ANTHONY L. GROSS, Incorporator CATHERINE L. WHITE, Incorporator 3018 South 87th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF ROY HOLDINGS – CCM GRETNA, LLC Notice is hereby given that the Certificate of Organization of Roy Holdings – CCM Gretna, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended changing the name of the company to KCMCKinney, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 13, 2021.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

JUDITH A. WELLS, Attorney 5062 South 108th Street, #246 Omaha, Nebraska 68137 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR21-1035 Estate of EMMA LOUISE BURNLEY, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on July 21, 2021 in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, Teresa L. Holmes, of 2108 Wirt Street, Omaha, Nebraska was appointed by the Court as Personal Representative of the Estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 330, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before September 28, 2021 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given of the organization of 3302 X Street, LLC, with its registered office address at 222 South 15th Street, #316, Omaha, Nebraska 68102 and the registered agent at that address being Russell J. Kreikemeier. The designated office location of the Company is 3302 X Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107. The purpose or purposes for which this Company is formed is to own, manage, lease, and deal with real property whether in this State or any other and to conduct all related activities thereto. The Company shall conduct the transactions of all or any lawful business or engagement in any commercial venture permitted by the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws. The initial capital of the Company has been contributed and evidence of membership in the Company will be issued by the Management Board. The Company commenced doing business on July 21, 2021, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company shall be conducted by a Management Board and such other Officers and Managers as may be provided for in the Operating Agreement of the Company.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), MARVIN D SUNDQUIST

DBA NO PAIN PROPANE LLC You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 02/24/2021 on Case Number CI21-4161, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $2,840.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 09/13/2021 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

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 BOBCAT BURROW LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Bobcat Burrow LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 2922 North 61st Street, Suite 1, 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 July 26, 2021.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

JUSTIN A. SHELDON, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ANDERSEN 1880 LEGACY FARMS LLC Notice is hereby given that ANDERSEN 1880 LEGACY FARMS LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The address of the initial designated office of the company is 12008 North 156th Avenue, Bennington, NE 68007. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

NICK R. TAYLOR, Attorney of FITZGERALD, SCHORR, BARMETTLER & BRENNAN, P.C., L.L.O. 200 Regency One, 10050 Regency Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3794 NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF Richard L. Bailey, Deceased.

Estate No. PR21-1202 Notice is hereby given that on July 26, 2021, 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 Scott E. Bailey, whose address is 3467 Nance Run, The Villages, Florida 32163 and Troy M. Bailey, whose address is 5009 North 135 Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68164, were informally appointed by the Registrar as co-Personal Representatives of the estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 330, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before September 28, 2021 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: TMI Cleaning Services Name of Applicant: Terri Beaugard Address: 5016 Whitmore Street NE 68152 Applicant is a Individual If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Date of first use of name in Nebraska: 8/2006 (expired 2016) - RenewalGeneral nature of business: A residential & commercial cleaning service company, with main focus on commercial cleaning TERRI BEAUGARD Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative July 30, 2021

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF ASTRO THEATRE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of Astro Theatre, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended to change the name of the Company to Astro Theater, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on June 26, 2021.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Discover Appraisal Services LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office of the Company is 7732 S 71st Street, La Vista, Nebraska 68128. The Registered Agent of the Company is Michelle R. Stephens, 7732 S 71st Street, La Vista, Nebraska 68128. The Company was formed on July 26, 2021.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

LINDSEY A. SCHULER, Attorney CROKER HUCK LAW FIRM 2120 S. 72ND STREET, SUITE 1200 OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CENTRAL RIDGE, LLC The name of the limited liability company is Central Ridge, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 1941 South 42nd Street, Suite 550, Omaha, NE 68105. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Croker, Huck, Kasher, DeWitt, Anderson & Gonderinger, LLC, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF MOREHOUSE LOGISTICS, INC. Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of Morehouse Logistics, Inc. have been amended and restated in their entirety as follow: Article 1 states the name of the Corporation as Morehouse Logistics, Inc. Article 2 states the purpose.

Article 3 states the number of shares the Corporation is authorized to issue as as 1,000 shares of common stock having a par value of $10.00 per share.

Article 4 states the Registered Office of the Corporation as 4010 Dahlman Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68107, and the Registered Agent as G. Curtis Morehouse.

Article 5 states the Corporation shall have perpetual existence.

Article 6 states the provisions relating to amending the Articles and Bylaws.

Article 7 states the provisions relating to director liability.

The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 26, 2021.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATIO OF WILLIAM L. GIER, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that WILLIAM L. GIER, LLC (the “Company” has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, for any lawful purpose. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 11603 S. 117th Street, Papillion, Nebraska 68046. The Registered Agent of the Company is William L. Gier, 11603 S. 117th Street, Papillion, Nebraska 68046.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 • Legal notices LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Newport House Name of Applicant: Immanuel Long Term Care Address: 1044 N 115th St. Suite 500 Omaha NE 68154 Applicant is a Other (specify) Non-profit Corporation If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: July 1, 2021 General nature of business: nursing facility ADAM KUENNING Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative August 6, 2021

SCOTT A. MEYERSON, Esq. LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF JACKSON THREE LLC Notice is hereby given that the Certificate of Organization of JACKSON THREE LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended as follows: the limited liability company has changed its name to Clark & Company, LLC. The Amended Certificate or Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 28, 2021.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PALMER FAMILY HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Palmer Family Holdings, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 9016 Harney Street, 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 August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GRANDVIEW RESIDENCES A, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Grandview Residences A, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 7180 North 122nd Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68142. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF GRANDVIEW APARTMENTS, LLC Notice is hereby given that the Certificate of Organization of Grandview Apartments, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended changing the name of the company to Grandview Residences, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on June 26, 2021.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OFAMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF RKMM LLC Notice is hereby given that RKMM LLC has amended its Certificate of Organization as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The amended notice of organization reflects the change of Name of Limited Liability Company from RKMM LLC to VW SERVICES LLC. First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF HIGH LIFE LOUNGE, LLC Notice is hereby given that the Certificate of Organization of High Life Lounge, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended changing the name of the company to High Life Gretna, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 12, 2021.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DAYBREAK, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Daybreak, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 7002 S. 131st Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68138. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68144 NOTICE OF CREDITORS ESTATE OF KENNETH LLYOD WOOD, Decedent Case No: PR21-1230 Date of Dealth: January 15, 2016 Notice is hereby given that on the 27 day of July, 2021 in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Intestacy of the Estate of Kenneth Llyod Wood and that the following surviving spouse was appointed as the Personal Representatives of this Estate: Pamela Wood 3043 Hickory Lane Mason, OH 45040 Creditors of the Estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 330, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before October 4, 2021 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

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 BROKEN A RANCH, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Broken A Ranch, 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 July 28, 2021.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF M&M’S HANDYMAN SERVICES OF WATERLOO, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that M&M’S HANDYMAN SERVICES OF WATERLOO, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 508 3rd Street, Waterloo, Nebraska 68069. The registered agent is MATTHEW T. WILSON. The general nature of the business is to operate a general handyman services business, to own, operate and perform services of every kind and nature whatsoever, which are not inconsistent with law, which are necessary, suitable, proper, convenient or expedient to the operation of a general handyman services business. The authorized capital stock is $10,000.00, consisting of 10,000 shares of stock having a par value of $1.00 each, which stock shall be paid for wholly or partly by cash, by labor, by personal property and by real property. The corporation became a corporate body on July 21, 2021, and upon its Articles being filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 28, 2021, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the corporation are to be conducted by a Board of Directors, the number of directors to be provided in the By-Laws, and the officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and such other officers as shall be designated in the By-Laws.

ANTHONY L. GROSS, Incorporator CATHERINE L. WHITE, Incorporator 3018 South 87th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

17

MATTHEW T. PAYNE, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PORTSMOUTH KID, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Portsmouth Kid, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is Portsmouth Kid, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 18319 Dupont Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Matthew T. Payne, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

MARK J. LAPUZZA, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ROSSO PROPERTIES, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Rosso Properties, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is Rosso Properties, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10725 Mockingbird Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68134.

3. 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 July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

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 BROKEN A FARM, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Broken A Farm, 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 July 28, 2021.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATIO OF METAL WORKS CORE & RECYCLING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that METAL WORKS CORE & RECYCLING, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, for any lawful purpose. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 224 Cedar Street, PO Box 167, Genoa, Nebraska 68640. The Registered Agent of the Company is Andy A. Kamm, 224 Cedar Street, PO Box 167, Genoa, Nebraska 68640.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

Notice of Organization of Down to Earth Counseling LLC Notice is hereby given that Down to Earth Counseling LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office address of the company is 11605 West Dodge Rd. Ste.4, Omaha, Ne 68154.

The registered agent of the company is Heather Hazel and this office is located at 11605 West Dodge Rd. Ste.4, Omaha, NE 68154.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SPECKMANN FAMILY LLC Designated Office: 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 Initial Agent/Address For Service: Allan M. Ziebarth/1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TOP5IVE JEWELRY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Top5ive Jewelry, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1860 Robertson Dr. Omaha, NE 68114. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Starla Hulett at 1860 Robertson Dr. Omaha, NE 68114. The limited liability company commenced business on June 11, 2021.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

18

• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

Legal notices LEGAL NOTICES LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF COORSILEE COMPANIES LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Coorsilee Companies LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1429 Grandview Ave. #17, Papillion, NE 68046. The registered agent of the Company is Jennifer Niemier, 1429 Grandview Ave. #17, Papillion, NE 68046.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FLATWATER PATRIOTS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Flatwater Patriots, 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 August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TARR FAMILY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Tarr Family, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1340 South 181st Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Sun & Sand LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, with its initial designated office at 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400, Attn: Shaun James, Omaha, NE 68114, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The registered agent is Shaun James, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400, Omaha, NE 68114. The Limited Liability Company shall engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The perpetual existence commenced July 29, 2021. Its affairs are to be conducted by its Members pursuant to an Operating Agreement duly adopted by the Company.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Deerfield Three LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, with its initial designated office at Attn: John Lund, 450 Regency Parkway, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68114, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The registered agent is Shaun M. James, Smith Slusky Law, 8712 West Dodge Road - Suite 400, Omaha, NE 68114. The Limited Liability Company shall engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be formed under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The perpetual existence commenced July 30, 2021. Its affairs are to be conducted by its Members pursuant to an Operating Agreement duly adopted by the Company.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

GEORGES D. APETY YOLE LAW PC, LLO 7930 Blondo Street, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68134 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PACOC, LLC Notice is hereby given that PACOC, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with its designated office at 1905 Harney Street, Suite 504, Omaha, NE 68102. It is organized to transact any lawful business for which a Limited Liability Company may be organized under Nebraska laws and its duration is perpetual commencing from August 2, 2021. Its affairs are to be conducted by the manager Christopher C. Odigbo. Its registered agent is Christopher C. Odigbo and his office is located at 1905 Harney Street, Suite 504, Omaha, NE 68102.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

JUSTIN A. SHELDON, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF INCONTRO INVESTMENTS LLC Notice is hereby given that INCONTRO INVESTMENTS LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The address of the initial designated office of the company is 6520 South 154th Street, Omaha, NE 68137. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

JUSTIN A. SHELDON, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BIARRITZ PROPERTIES LLC Notice is hereby given that BIARRITZ PROPERTIES LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The address of the initial designated office of the company is 711 North 58th Street, Omaha, NE 68132. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DRIVEN LAWN ESCAPES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Driven Lawn Escapes, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 13606 Valley Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 30, 2021, final August 13, 2021

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: NTT Security Name of Applicant: NTT Security (US) Inc. Address: 9420 Underwood Avenue, Omaha, NE 68114 Applicant is a Corporation If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Delaware Date of first use of name in Nebraska: August 1, 2016 General nature of business: IT Security Services DAVID STOKES Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative August 6, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BRUEGMAN FAMILY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Bruegman Family, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 11808 N. 172nd Circle, Bennington, Nebraska 68007. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Nebraska Recreational Soccer League Name of Applicant: Sarpy County Soccer Association Address: 1313 S 83rd ST Omaha NE 68124 Applicant is a Other (specify) Non-Profit Corp.

If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: July 20, 2021 General nature of business: Management and Operation of a Youth Soccer League DAVID P CLEMENTS Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative August 6, 2021

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION [RESTATED] Notice is hereby given that Clementine Creative LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office of the Company is 2527 South 10th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68108.

The Registered Agent of the Company is Thomas E. Whitmore, 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was Amended on August 2, 2021.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BADER INVESTMENT GROUP I, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Bader Investment Group I, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is Bader Investment Group I, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 17225 Clay Street, Bennington, Nebraska 68007, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 23, 2021, final August 6, 2021

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: VANTAGE AUTOMOTIVE Name of Applicant: VANTAGE FINANCE LLC Address: 4629 S 108TH STE A OMAHA NE 68137 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: DELAWARE Date of first use of name in Nebraska: 10/21/10 General nature of business: FINANCE AUTO DEALERS VEHICLES AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES WITHIN AUTO INDUSTRY KENT BUSHNELL Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative August 6, 2021

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF DOUGLAS HALBERT MEMORIAL AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC. Frank R. Vondra has incorporated Douglas Halbert Memorial Amateteur Radio Club, Inc., a public benefit nonprofit corpo­ration, with its registered office at 6625 South 91 Street, Omaha, NE 68127, having perpetual existence commencing with the filing of its articles of incorporation, and whose affairs are conducted by the board of directors and the usual corporate officers.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

JESSICA E. THOMAS, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 620 PIERCE, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of 620 Pierce, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is 620 Pierce, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Jessica E. Thomas, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF STANDARD HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Articles of Incorporation of Standard Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., a Nebraska corporation, have been amended and restated in their entirety and were duly filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 28, 2021. Included in the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation is an amendment to authorize the Corporation to issue 1,000,000 shares of common stock having a par value of $1.00 per share, all of which are in a class designated as voting common stock.

First publication August 6, 2021, final August 20, 2021

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

19

In prep for EV future, here’s what auto suppliers need to be doing

by Kalea Hall

The transition to electric vehicles will cost the auto industry billions and likely create more partnerships and mergers, but leaders of top Michigan-based suppliers consider the technology-driven evolution more opportunity than concerning disruption.

Auto Suppliers — including BorgWarner Inc., American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. and Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd. — have battled a pandemic that caused a months-long industry shutdown in the last year. They navigated supply constraints affecting production schedules, a labor shortage and economic uncertainty all while accelerating EV and future product development.

Like their automaker customers, they now are pursuing a dual strategy rooted in both the present and the future. They are focused on money-making internal combustion product lines while simultaneously developing products to woo the automakers trying to win over consumers with tech-heavy, eye-catching EVs. But suppliers, including those making parts predominantly for internal-combustion-powered vehicles, aren’t apprehensive about the transition. A big reason: even though automakers are investing billions themselves on this transition, they also aren’t nixing their bread and butter gas-powered products just yet.

“Because of the current North American OEM strategy, even at-risk suppliers have time to adapt between now and 2030 because nobody’s dropping anything,” said Warren Browne, an auto supplier consultant and former General Motors Co. executive who worked at the carmaker for 40 years.

Still, the Detroit Three and others in the last year have released EV targets that suppliers cannot ignore. GM has an all zero-emissions lineup “aspiration” of 2035 and says it will sell 1 million EVs globally by 2025. Ford Motor Co. expects its sales to be 40% electric globally by 2030. Stellantis NV says 100% of its U.S. lineup will have an EV option by 2029.

Foreign automakers also have released EV targets. Honda Motor Co., for example, says battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles will represent 100% of its vehicle sales by 2040.

“Clearly, the OEMs are telegraphing to the marketplace and to the supply community, their extended partners ... that they’re making a shift in their strategy from traditional ICE and hybrid engines to electrification,” American Axle CEO David Dauch said in an interview with The Detroit News.

“They’ve got lofty goals that are out there,” he said. “I think it’ll take them a little bit longer to implement just based on consumer acceptance, but they’re doing no different than what we need to do ... we need to be agnostic to the market.”

Prepare or ‘you’re going to be history’ Even as automakers make steep investments in EVs, sales of the vehicles still only claim about 2% of U.S. market share. By 2028, AutoForecast Solutions predicts EVs will account for 16% of the rich U.S. market.

Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, said the transition will take “a long time,” especially in the United States. Suppliers shouldn’t be concerned; they should be ready.

“Major manufacturers are already down this path making sure that the small manufacturers know that no matter what part you’re on, you have to be prepared to deal with an EV future,” he said. “And if you’re not prepared, you’re

The half-ton demonstration pickup truck that is used for testing the prototype electric drive motors at American Axle Advanced Technology Development Center, in Detroit, Michigan. (Clarence Tabb Jr./The Detroit News/TNS) a regular basis because this whole electrification going to be history.”

Like the automakers, suppliers also have pivot happened quicker,” he said.

American Axle hasn’t released a figure on to consider how policy surrounding electrification, incentives and charging infrastructure will how much it’s investing in electrification, but impact consumer adoption rates. In the United it has increased its research and development States, there’s not currently a federal EV sale spending on it.

“We always want to try to stay one or two mandate or goal in place, but some states like generations ahead of our competition so we’re California have introduced their own.

Meanwhile, the EV regulation leader, the already working on those next-generation prodEuropean Union, wants to phase out new inter- ucts,” Dauch said. “We’re working on trying to nal combustion vehicles by 2035. In China, the bring more optimized solutions to our customers world’s largest auto market, the government has with a value proposition.”

As far as what the future holds for American set targets for sales of new energy vehicles — including 5 million by 2025, which represents Axle’s internal combustion products: “Market about 20% of sales, said Michael Dunne, CEO forces, ultimately will dictate that,” Dauch said. of Hong Kong-based advisory firm ZoZo Go The market isn’t expected to shift overnight.

Still, suppliers like American Axle know they LLC. Suppliers agree they do not want to see a cannot sit around and wait for it to happen.

“What they need to do is figure out how mashup of rules that vary from state to state and that there needs to be infrastructure investment. to make this stuff cheaper and better than the President Joe Biden has proposed spending OEMs can do themselves,” said Sam Abuels$174 billion to “win” the electric vehicle mar- amid, principal research analyst leading Guideket, rolling out half a million charging stations house Insights.

Propulsion company BorgWarner in March nationwide by 2030, and increasing consumer incentives to buy — proposals that remain up 2021 revealed its “Charging Forward” plan to grow its EV revenue to about 45% of total for debate on Capitol Hill. revenue by 2030 from less than 3% today. Part ‘Accelerating’ EV efforts American Axle, known for driveline sys- of the plan includes disinvesting in part of the tems that carry the power of an internal com- internal combustion business.

BorgWarner aims to divest in $3 billion to bustion engine to the wheels, has been prepping for the EV transition for at least the last decade. $4 billion of annual revenue from ICE products A 2012 acquisition of the defunct Saab through 2025. It also plans to spend between Automobile AB gave the company “bookshelf $220 million and $225 million on its EV technology” that included electrified all-wheel- products and has a combined R&D and capital drive systems and electric drive units, Dauch spending plan for those products of $3 billion in the next five years. said.

To prep for the EV transition, Auburn By 2015, American Axle secured its first major EV program with Jaguar Cars Ltd. for the Hills-based BorgWarner has made several acI-Pace, the British automaker’s first all-electric quisitions. In 2015, the company acquired Remy production vehicle. The company also has International Inc., a manufacturer of electric moworked with Chinese automakers on EV pro- tors. And last year it acquired Delphi Technolgrams and supported GM’s Wuling joint venture ogies, a move that strengthened BorgWarner’s “electronics and power electronics products, EV programs in China.

It’s now working on a new program with an capabilities and scale, creating a leader in elecunnamed “high-performance luxury European trified propulsion systems,” the company said in OEM,” Dauch said. “There’ll be seven variants a press release detailing the acquisition.

“It’s a journey we’ve been on for a long coming off of that program that will launch over period of time,” BorgWarner Chief Strategy the next several years.

“Really what it comes down to is every Officer Paul Farrell said in an interview. “We OEM around the world right now is trying to un- are now at a point where it’s really starting to derstand their long-range product plans, making accelerate and we’re accelerating our efforts.”

BorgWarner, Farrell added, remains “comadjustments to their long-range product plans on

mitted to our customers and our combustion portfolio, but we also recognize that really the area for significant growth opportunities going forward is in that electrification space.”

Seeing a ‘bright future’ with opportunity Years ago, an industry driven by the need to meet fuel economy standards began the switch from hydraulic power steering to electronic power steering. The switch readied suppliers like Nexteer for the EV transition.

“Today, the majority of light vehicles in the world made that conversion over to EPS, electric power steering, so because of that conversion, we’re very well positioned now with the onset of more and more battery electric vehicles because the electric power steering system is pretty much a drop-in into those EVs,” said Robin Milavec, Nexteer chief technology officer and chief strategy officer.

On the driveline product side of its business, Nexteer has developed products tailored for EVs including new Halfshaft technologies that “enhance durability and efficiency while optimizing noise, vibration and harshness,” the supplier says.

Illinois-based supplier Flex-N-Gate Corp., a manufacturer of exterior body parts, lighting and interior components among other products, plans to get into the battery side of the business, too.

“We see some opportunities for Flex-NGate where we want to enter the powertrain side of it in the way of the potential energy storage side,” said Guido Benvenuto, vice president of engineering at Flex-N-Gate.

Flex-N-Gate plans to open a research center in Windsor that will focus on developing technology for battery cells and modules. The center will be operational next year.

“Our belief is, we want American energy independence, that’s our goal, and American companies servicing American customers with energy storage,” Benvenuto said.

Flex-N-Gate is moving to invest in battery development just as the automakers themselves are. GM and partner LG Energy Solution are planning multiple battery cell manufacturing plants in the U.S. to support GM’s EV plans.

Ford has partnered with SK Innovation to manufacture their own batteries, too.

The step to vertical integration is something suppliers also have to watch, Abuelsamid said: “What we’ve seen, particularly with motors and batteries, is the automakers are taking a more hands-on approach to production. They see electric motors and batteries as the necessary core competency of being an automaker going forward.”

Japanese supplier Denso Corp. also is offering electric motors, power electronics, and the company does advanced work in batteries, said Jim Harkins, Denso’s director of electrified systems engineering.

In 2017, Denso invested $1 billion in its Maryville, Tennessee, operation to adapt the plant for the electric future. Here, the company makes starters, alternators, instrument clusters, various automotive electronic products and inverters for hybrid vehicles.

“As you look to what the Detroit Three customers are doing there is this strong move toward electrification,” said Jon Callies, Denso’s North American electrification lead. “We see it as a very bright future and our role is a very critical role to play as we transition from some of the legacy products to the electrified products.” ©2021 www.detroitnews.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

Beekeepers turn hobby into a honey-maker

by Colleen Schrappen

A vegetable garden was first on Tom Millis’ to-do list when he bought his home in the St. Louis suburb of Des Peres a decade ago. Then he and his now-wife, Elsa Stuart, added native flowers to their 2-acre property.

Bees were next.

Entrepreneurs They’d help pollinate the plants and make a little honey, maybe even enough to give to friends.

Last summer, the couple harvested 1,600 pounds.

“What are we going to do with all this honey?” Stuart asked Millis.

They decided to form a bee corporation.

In October, the couple launched Millis Meadows, joining the ranks of hobbyists-turned-entrepreneurs whose fascination with the communal insects blossomed into side businesses selling hive products. In the United States, honeybees have bounced back since colony collapse disorder was identified in the mid-2000s, increasing awareness of the pollinators’ plight. Honey consumption has almost doubled over the past 50 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, even as the use of other caloric sweeteners has dropped.

Most backyard beekeepers start small after learning about the practice from a family member or on social media. Millis and Stuart, both veterinarians, dove into research on the invertebrates and converted their garage into a workspace before they added any flying tenants to their garden. At least six apiarist organizations in the region offer mentoring and workshops to help “newbees” establish colonies, mitigate setbacks and minimize the inevitable stings.

“You can’t just master it in a year,” said John Pashia of Affton. “There’s very much an art to the science.”

Pashia joined the Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association 15 years ago after a friend got him interested in the practice. At the time, about a dozen people were regulars at meetings.

Now the club claims hundreds of members.

“People are becoming more connected to nature and wanting to know where their food comes from,” Pashia said. “As a hobby, it’s extremely interesting. You’re overwhelmed by Mother Nature.”

Bee colonies are complex ecosystems, and their care requires time and money. Most backyard hives resemble a chest of drawers, with 10-inch-tall wooden boxes called “deeps” on the bottom and shallower “supers” stacked on top.

Inside are eight to 10 frames into which worker bees construct honeycomb. The hexagonal wax cells can hold eggs, pollen and nectar — which the workers dehydrate by fanning it with their translucent wings until it thickens into honey.

Honey is collected from the supers — a barrier called an excluder keeps the queen from laying eggs in them — usually in the summer or fall. Extracting equipment can cost thousands of dollars. The process takes days to complete.

Jeremy Idleman of Ballwin was prodded into beekeeping a few years ago by an uncle, after Idleman returned from an Army deployment to Iraq.

“I had some anger issues,” he said.

He learned that beekeeping had been recommended for World War I veterans to help them recover from shell shock.

“I found that I was much more calm when I was working the bees,” Idleman said. “There’s a lot of therapeutic qualities to them.”

The constant hum of the hive is soothing,

Beekeepers Tom Millis, right, and Elsa Stuart open one of the hives in their backyard apiary, called Millis Meadows, to do a weekly inspection in Des Peres, Missouri. (Sara Diggins/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS) like white noise. Success is measurable. Every he manages a “foster apiary” for the nonprofit’s couple of days, he checks on his growing brood. Bees for Bravery program applicants. He’s given He slides out the frames, each one heavy with away 20 hives this year and more than a dozen bees, and drips of nectar glisten in the sunlight. people are on the waiting list.

Idleman bottled 200 pounds of his own At harvest time, Idleman uses a hot knife to slice the caps off the comb, the wax falling honey last year. He sells it online, for $13 a jar, away in a long curl. A centrifuge spins the honey to help fund BeeFound.

Beyond clover out of the frames. It slides down the wall of the Like beer and olive oil, honey varieties have steel drum and out a spigot, like a golden ribbon.

“It all forces you to be present,” Idleman proliferated in recent years amid a growing apsaid. “I figured if it worked for me, it would preciation for flavor and style nuances. Clover is the most common of the more than 300 types work for others.”

In 2016, he formed BeeFound for veterans in the United States, which vary based on local and first responders with post-traumatic stress flowers.

Pat Jackson of Hazelwood, Mo., an all-day disorder. In addition to the five hives he keeps,

tea drinker, says she can taste the changing of the seasons when she stirs in her honey.

“In the spring, it’s a very delicate flavor,” she said. “Fall honey is a darker color. The flavor is deeper.”

Jackson gets her sweet fix from Tinker’s Bees and Pure Raw Honey, owned by Guy and Tracy Tinker of Florissant, Mo. “What the bees are foraging on makes the honey completely different,” said Guy Tinker, a computer technician.

The Tinkers started tending bees in 2014. In their second year, they collected enough honey to give to friends. By the fourth year, they were ready to form an LLC. They sell primarily online and at a few local shops.

Rob Kravitz of south St. Louis pops a teaspoon of Tinker’s each day with his dose of vitamins. “It helps me wake up in the morning,” he said.

Honey, which contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, enjoys a healthy reputation that eludes many other sweeteners. Its sugars have been partly broken down by bees, making them easier for some people to digest. Honey can work as a cough suppressant or a salve for wounds.

Many consumers swear by local honey as an allergy remedy, though clinical studies have not borne that out; the Mayo Clinic refers to it as a “sweet placebo.”

For Ann Shields of Des Peres, buying local honey is more about promoting environmental health, anyway.

“Those bees live happy lives, and it feels good for me to support that,” she said.

She uses Millis Meadows’ $8 wildflower honey in marinades for her barbecue, spread on toast and as a throat-soother when she strains her voice from teaching.

It’s delicious, and it’s easy, Shields said: “I get the benefit without the buzzing.” ©2021 STLtoday.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Can employers force workers to get vaccinated? Here’s what we know

by Maura Dolan

Los Angeles and a growing number of other government entities are taking a new stand in the fight against the coronavirus.

They are requiring employees to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing to show Law they are negative for the illness.

The move gets to the heart of an issue that both public and private employers have been grappling with: Can companies require workers to be vaccinated?

This is something that will surely be litigated in the courts in the coming months and years as more employers demand vaccinations.

California officials said Monday that state employees and healthcare workers would soon be required to show proof they’ve been vaccinated or undergo regular testing. New York City declared similar plans.

San Francisco and Pasadena, Calif., have also announced future vaccination requirements for their employees; both cities have hitched their requirements to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s granting full formal approval to at least one of the COVID-19 vaccines now under emergency authorization. The University of California system also announced last week it would require vaccines for all students, faculty and others for the fall term.

What are the legal issues?

Legal experts said many of the specific questions surrounding COVID-19 vaccination requirements are being hashed out in court.

Healthcare and child-care workers have frequently been required to have certain immunizations, but broader rules covering all employees have been less common in recent history, generally because people are expected to have been vaccinated against illnesses as children, said Lindsay Wiley, a professor at American University Washington College of Law. Wiley said those who have challenged COVID-19 rules have argued that government agencies cannot mandate a vaccination that has emergency authorization, rather than formal FDA approval, and that such rules violate individual rights or infringe on religious liberty.

What have courts said in the past?

Courts have previously upheld laws requiring compulsory vaccination: In 1905, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state laws that require vaccination against communicable diseases.

The case stemmed from a Massachusetts law that permitted city health boards to enforce mandatory, free vaccination requirements for adults over 21.

In a 7-2 decision, Justice John Marshall Harlan wrote that “the rights of the individual … may at times, under the pressure of great dangers, be subjected to such restraint, to be enforced by reasonable regulations, as the safety of the general public may demand.”

Although those questions are still being “actively litigated,” Wiley said, courts have not seemed very receptive to those arguments.

In New Mexico, a federal judge declined to immediately block a COVID-19 vaccination

requirement that covered firefighters, officers at detention centers and other workers in Doña Ana County while a legal challenge is pending.

How about special cases?

Richard W. Warren, a Detroit-based lawyer who represents employers throughout the country, said district judges in Texas and Indiana have recently rejected challenges to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations — one by a hospital, the other by a university.

“Not a single decision that I have seen treated the vaccine differently because it has only been conditionally approved,” Warren said.

Warren said exemptions must be made, however, for workers with disabilities or religious beliefs against vaccination, and employers can ask workers for notes from physicians or pastors to be excused from a requirement.

In May, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said federal law permits private employers to require that workers be vaccinated, as long as there are accommodations for disabilities and religious beliefs.

“Federal EEO laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19, so long as employers comply with the reasonable accommodation provisions of the ADA [Americans With Disabilities Act] and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other EEO considerations,” the commission said. ©2021 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

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• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

SECTIONS

IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

AUGUST 13

TECHNOLOGY

PHILANTHROPY & CHARITY AUGUST 20

BUSINESS SUCCESSION

LBJ LINCOLN GROWTH REPORT

To advertise your company’s products or services in one of our upcoming sections, contact our Director of Advertising Karla Steele - karla@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.

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

TS Bank has partnered with Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation and several other local companies to host REV, a small business pitch competition on October 19.

Entrepreneurs and business owners will have the opportunity to pitch to a panel of judges to win up to $10,000 to grow their business.

The application, which can be found online, is due by September 10. From the 2021 pool of applicants, five businesses will present at the live event.

Omaha Public Power District has selected nine Wärtsilä 18V50DF internal combustion engines to power OPPD’s new Standing Bear Lake Station, one of two gas plants that will serve as backup to the coming solar generation. Earlier this month, OPPD selected Siemens Energy to provide two SGT6-5000F combustion turbines to power Turtle Creek Station, a simple-cycle turbine facility.

Arts & events…

Opening August 7, The Durham Museum presents “Omaha Uncovered: Revealing History through Art and Story,” an exhibit focused on uncovering the vast and fascinating history of Omaha. The exhibition highlights methods of conservation. Over the course of the exhibition, art conservator Kenneth Bé from the Ford Conservation Center will periodically be “on exhibit” actively conserving a historic painting from 1905 entitled “Aerial View of Omaha” that once hung in the lobby of the Omaha Bee newspaper office.

The Unlikely Candidates, an indie rock band from Fort Worth, Texas, will be playing at the Holland Center on August 13 at 7 p.m.

Childhood friends Kyle Morris and Cole Male

formed the band in 2008. In 2013, it signed with Atlantic and released “Follow My Feet.”

In early 2016, they released “Your Love Could Start a War.” Blur Parties is hosting an all-day tailgate before, during, and after the Garth Brooks concert on August 14, from noon to 1 a.m. in Lot 7 of the Memorial Stadium parking lots.

The tailgate includes access in and out with various packages; visit Blur Parties Garth Tailgate to purchase packages. Tickets are open to the public, ages 21 and over. There will be mechanical bull rides, country dance lessons, bag toss competition, a country music DJ, a blind tasting competition, and various tailgate games and live stream of the concert, if available.

Singer, songwriter Melissa Etheridge, will perform at the Holland Center on August 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $54.50 and are available at TicketOmaha.com or by calling 402-345-0606. Etheridge’s critically acclaimed self-titled debut album was certified double platinum.

Last year, the Nebraska Health Network launched Community Relay to allow nonprofits to promote their services and connect with individuals in need. These services of support include categories such as housing, food, transit, education, childcare and more.

Community Relay is a free resource and includes over 155,000 listings available in 100 languages. NHN is hosting an informational webinar to promote Community Relay to area nonprofits and encourage them to claim their free profile. This event will be held on Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Interested participants can register online.

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS Tuesday, August 10 The Professional Insurance Agents of Nebraska and Iowa is hosting the webinar “Exposures That Prove Why ALL Employers Need EPL Coverage.” This course addresses many employment-related liability exposures faced by today’s employers: sexual harassment in the age of #MeToo, employee privacy concerns, discrimination claims, retaliation claims, wage and hour claims and more. Catherine Trischan will discuss methods used to identify and insure such employment-related exposures and what features to look for in an Employment Practices Liability policy. Registration is available for the event online. The webinar will run from noon to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, August 11 The 28th annual ICAN Women’s Leadership Conference has named this year’s theme IN SIGHT: Step Up. Stand Out. Stand Together and will explore what actionable steps women can take to visualize their aspirations, garner the necessary skills and exposure, and forge a path to achievement. Keynote speakers and topics are as follows: Kimberly Bryant, Black Girls Who Code: What 2040 Means to Me; Pat Mitchell, Dangerous Women, Paying it Forward; Tiffany Dufu, The Future of Women’s Leadership; Herminia Ibarra, The Spectrum of Sponsorship; Shadé Zahrai, Step Into Your Power, and more. Registration can be found online. The hybrid event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Nebraska State Bar Association is hosting an event on elder law from 2

p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hruska Law Center. Rachel Truhlesen of Truhlsen Elder Care Law will kick off the seminar with a presentation on “Taking Away the Car Keys.” A two-part presentation on hoarding disorders will be lead by Catherine Swiniarski and David M. Thompson from Elder Law of Omaha and Denise Craft of Craft Lifestyle Management. Registration is available online.

Thursday, August 12 The Professional Insurance Agents for Nebraska and Iowa is hosting a webinar on “Additional Insureds & Certificates: Issues, Answers and When to Say No” from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. This course will review the things to consider before issuing a certificate and discuss ways to avoid some of the common problems and errors. It will discuss additional insureds, reviewing some of the most commonly used endorsements. Lastly, it will look at requests frequently made of agents and discuss why some of these can create problems. Registration is available online.

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands has teamed up with Lutz for a webinar on how nonprofits can utilize key financial documents. Sam Addy and Katie Byrd will take participants through the basics of understanding and using financial statements in a nonprofit. In addition, they will provide ideas on utilizing the data to better evaluate the organization’s financials and focus on growth. Registration for the virtual event, which will run from noon to 1 p.m., is online.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

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• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

BUSINESS EDUCATION LINCOLN SUCCESSION OPPORTUNITIES GROWTH REPORT Lincoln Business Journal Pages

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include: Lincoln economic update • Real estate Education • Health care Construction • Banking

Issue Date: August 20 • Ad Deadline: August 12

RETAIL SPACE D I R E C T O R Y 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:

Overview: the current state of succession planning • Selling your business Building a talent development program to develop future leaders How to start and maintain a succession plan Family businesses and the nuances of succession

Issue Date: August 20 • Ad Deadline: August 12

Family Business

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Retail real estate update • Popular amenities in today’s shopping centers Leasing tips from real estate agents • Financing trends Property owners getting creative with vacancies

Family businesses overview • Strategic planning for the future of the company Important legal advice for small businesses • Transitioning to the next generation Family businesses reaching milestone years and their secrets to success Coaching and resources for businesses to stay relevant

Issue Date: August 27 • Ad Deadline: August 19

Issue Date: September 3 • Ad Deadline: August 26

To advertise your company’s products or services in one of our upcoming sections, contact our Director of Advertising at karla@mbj.com.

Corporate & Leisure Travel

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

25

August 6, 2021

Back to “booming”? Travel industry gets boost in recovering environment

by Michelle Leach

Has “cabin fever” translated over to renewed travel activity? You bet, note professionals representing different various niches within the travel industry.

“Leisure travel is absolutely experiencing a rebound following the pandemic challenges of the past 15 months,” said founder and CEO David Chait of Travefy, which provides management support to travel professionals. “Our usChait ers, who are leisure travel advisors, have seen a major uptick in bookings since February of this year.”

The combination of easing travel restrictions, coupled with the aforementioned “pent-up travel demand,” has led to a booking boom, according to Chait.

“For us, as a software provider for travel advisors, we too are seeing a correlated spike in new software subscriptions,” he said. “It’s worth noting, however, that these rebounds are highly geographic and specialty-dependent for advisors.”

By that, Chait noted many have not yet experienced the “post-pandemic wave.”

“For example, while domestic U.S. travel is booming and cruising has resumed, other parts of the world (like Australia) remain closed,” he said.

This environment is worlds apart from a year ago, when Chait said they were in definite “wait and see” mode.

“While we have never had a doubt that leisure travel would be back, the question on when has always been a factor of rules, vaccinations and comfort,” he said.

Persistent headwinds noted by Chait include COVID-19 variants and subsequent tightened restrictions, which further impacts comfort levels, coupled with the financial impact of a year without travel.

“Nevertheless, travel advisors are creative, resilient and intensely customer-focused,” Chait said. “They are survivors and will continue to power through and create incredible travel experiences.”

Travefy has adapted by focusing on how to best serve travel advisors during each step of the pandemic. For instance, when travel was shut down and agents weren’t in the planning process, Chait said Travefy worked with them to develop mar-

From right, Excited Inc. and Omaha Tour Co. co-owners JJ Bell, president, and Cindy Steffensmeier. (Photo by Monica Sempak) keting and communications tools — partly, didn’t rotate our seating plan on the coach. in preparation to build new business amid We are still asking customers to wear a the post-pandemic boom. mask when boarding and disembarking the Ryan Medinger noted that Allied Tour buses, but they don’t have to wear them & Travel developed a safe and secure on the bus.” travel policy.

Motorcoach technology, he added, “Early in the pandemic, we were offer- allows for complete exchange of fresh air ing full refunds up to the day of departure,” every 10 minutes. the director of sales and marketing said.

“Also, our buses with Arrow Stage “We are having all customers sign a state- Lines use an EPA-registered CURIS Dement that they have not had COVID-19 contamination System that kills 99.9999% symptoms prior to departure. Initially, we of germs,” Medinger said. “All our other

vendors have taken extra steps to provide a cleaner, healthier travel experience, and some require masks. Some National Parks, like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, require evidence that passengers are vaccinated or otherwise not infected.”

And, he added, many customers have volunteered that they are vaccinated.

“We estimate about 90%,” he said.

Demand, too, has been good so far.

“But not the same as pre-COVID numbers,” Medinger added. “Many do describe wanting to get out and go someplace, anyplace even. We expect 2022 to be closer to pre-COVID levels with bookings.”

As it relates to persistent challenges brought on by the pandemic, Medinger referenced employee shortages, as well as opportunities. It has been able to hire people who work out of their homes or in another city; they don’t have to be in the “home office.”

“We have a new phone system that allows us to be connected with our staff in four to five different cities, and to handle customer calls efficiently,” he said.

It is also poised to launch a new travel app for 2022, designed to electronically send out customers’ travel documents, let them share travel pictures with their group, see a map of their route, zoom in on the area they are visiting, and let the tour director send out group messages.

“Passengers will enjoy the convenience and extra information,” he said.

Excite Inc. and Omaha Tour Co. PresContinued on next page.

Vaccinations spurring demand for vacation travel

by Dwain Hebda

Travel experts in the Midlands say one byproduct of more people being vaccinated is, it’s resuscitating vacation travel in a big way. This not only has many travel agencies hopping, but is also making travel deals harder to find.

“The beginning of the year was pretty slow with some people traveling, taking advantage of good prices,” said Julie Imgrund, owner and agent of Bellevue Travel.

“The end of April, with so many people now vaccinated, business exploded.

“People have been cooped up for a long time and now are willing to pay higher prices, so it doesn’t really matter what deals we saw in early 2021, they are no longer around.”

Imgrund Bitsos Imgrund said compared to the opening months of the year, where most travelers were headed to Mexico, the boom period has opened up many more popular destinations.

“We booked a ton of Florida trips for this summer; Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica were very big for us as well,” she said. “Domestically, most people are doing their own road trips or close-in trips.

Other than Florida, we haven’t done much in the United States.

“I do have a couple of Alaskan cruises going next month that we booked as soon as it was announced they would go.”

Dora Bitsos, general manager of Your Travel Center, said the firm’s clientele were going even farther afield after a year of being cooped up.

“As destinations started to open up and arrival restrictions were lifted, we have booked a lot of Mexico and Dominican Continued on next page.

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• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal • Corporate & Leisure Travel

Corporate travel picking up as employees return to offices

by David Kubicek

As vaccination rates have increased substantially and employees have begun returning to offices, the demand for corporate travel is growing.

“Most people in travel are measuring what they’re seeing relative to the same month in 2019,” said Kevin O’Malley, North America CEO of Corporate Travel Management. “When the TSA quotes figures on how many people are going to airports, they quote relative to 2019 and 2020, but the normal year in most people’s minds was 2019.”

Hotels continue to see a big increase in their numbers relative to 2019. Hotels and car rentals were coming back more quickly than airline usage because more people were driving to destinations.

The first few months of this year saw small

Vacation travel

Continued from preceding page.

Republic for quick international getaways and for all-inclusives,” she said. “Domestically, Florida is popular for beaches and Disney family vacations.

“We are also booking Europe, ocean cruises and river cruises for fall 2021 and 2022 and beyond.”

Bitsos said as with before the pandemic, the more flexible and proactive a traveler is, the better deals they can usually find.

“Hawaii has had some great deals on airfare for off-peak travel dates,” she said. “We have seen an increase of Hawaii bookings now Cimino that they have lifted the PCR test requirements for arrival and in between islands. Airline ticket sales are certainly going up and booking in advance is key to getting best deals.”

Terry Cimino, owner of Destinations Travel Center in Omaha, said the rebound in his 2021 business has been more gradual.

“Things have been coming back, every month seems a little better than the previous one,” he said. “Traditionally, people use travel advisers for complicated trips. If they’re driving to Kansas City they just drive, they don’t call us. So, we really don’t have a whole picture of what’s going on with that aspect.

“Our internal media tells us that people are driving more than flying and they’re avoiding hotels. They’re staying with relatives if they can because it’s a lot cheaper, or they’re camping where they can be independent and away from everybody else.”

Cimino also noted that 85% of his clientele originates from outside of Omaha, which makes it difficult to gauge local trends. Among the clients they do serve, he sees things being planned farther out than usual.

“A lot of the bookings that canceled in 2020 are rebooking for 2022, not for 2021,” he said. “That’s because they’re complicated trips and they were afraid to put something together for 2021 because for the first six months of this year, the situation with 2021 was very clouded.

“This morning I’m working with somebody flying from Reno, Nevada, to a wedding in Chicago. They decided it’s okay to go with their 2-year-old. So, there’s still a lot of pent-up demand. It’s still there.”

increases in corporate travel relative to 2019, but in the past two to three months the numbers have ticked upward.

“The biggest trigger we’ve seen is that more and more corporations are bringing employees back to the office,” O’Malley said. “Once employees get more comfortable with being back in the traditional work environment, the next step for lots of people will be going back on the road. We expect a significant uptick in corporate travel O’Malley post Labor Day because there’s a real focus this summer on companies getting employees back into offices. The wildcard is the [COVID] variants. Everyone’s watching to see what happens.”

Airlines are still focused on making airline passengers feel safe. A federal mandate, in place into September, requires passengers to wear masks on airplanes at all times even if they’ve been vaccinated. Each passenger is given wet wipes to wipe down their areas, and food and drink is served in individual sealed containers.

“People in the travel ecosystem are very optimistic as they see the numbers coming

back,” O’Malley said. “Confidence is growing that the number of people traveling both on the corporate and leisure fronts will come back faster than people thought.”

Larger corporations are working on getting their people back into offices and figuring out what that will look like, according to Executive Travel CEO Paul Glenn. For instance, will it be a hybrid of in-office and virtual meetings? “[They] need to figure that out before they Glenn get back to whatever corporate travel will be,” Glenn said. “I’ve been on a handful of trips in the past couple of months, and it is a pleasant experience. Airports are busy. There’s a lot of people going through the airline and getting checked in with the TSA. I think there will be long-term pieces like that, which will be different from what it was pre-COVID. One thing that surprised me going through Chicago and Denver, many of the restaurants and shops are still not open. So even though the airports feel full, the experience is different because a lot of the services are not available. I believe that will continue for the next six or maybe even 12 months.”

American Airlines warns of fuel shortages at airports across the country

by Kyle Arnold

Some smaller airports across the country are running out of fuel for commercial jets, and American Airlines is warning pilots to prepare for the possibility of not being able to gas up at some stops.

Travel After Fresno Yosemite Airport in California reported some fuel shortages recently, Nevada’s Reno-Tahoe International Airport said that “many airports in the West are experiencing fuel shortages” and told customers to check with airlines before flying.

Recently American Airlines sent a memo to pilots warning them to prepare in case there isn’t fuel left for planes.

“All airlines are continuing to experience jet fuel delivery delays at several midsize to smaller airports due primarily to constrained jet fuel transportation logistics, including a shortage of truck drivers, a shortage of fuel trucks and in some select cases, pipeline allocations,” said the memo from American Airlines flight operations managing director John Dudley.

The memo, which was earlier reported by CNBC, said that the delivery delays started at “mostly western U.S. cities but are now being reported at American stations across the country.”

American Airlines said it is not experiencing any flight disruptions because of the fuel shortage, but the airline is encouraging pilots to conserve fuel when possible, such as using a single engine to taxi.

“We are aware of fuel supply issues at some airports, predominately across the western U.S., affecting a number of carriers,” American Airlines spokeswoman Whitney Zastrow said in a statement. “American is currently experiencing minimal operational impact due to fuel supply issues. Our team continues to work around the clock to monitor the situation and minimize the impact on our customers.”

American may also ask pilots to make stops to refuel or to ferry in extra fuel to ensure planes

have enough for their next takeoff.

DFW International Airport, the largest hub for Fort Worth-based American, is not facing any fuel supply issues, Zastrow said.

Large airports such as DFW have their own dedicated pipelines pumping in fuel.

But airports in places like Bozeman, Montana and Jackson Hole, Wyoming depend on truck drivers to transport fuel from terminals, said Patrick DeHaan, a senior analyst with GasBuddy.com.

“It’s a sign of the times that gasoline demand is surging and there isn’t enough truckers,” DeHaan said.

The trucker shortage first hit automotive gas stations, but now it’s trickled down to airports too, he said.

Airports and airlines occasionally report fuel shortages during extreme circumstances, such as refinery and pipeline shutdowns due to a hurricane threatening Florida or the Gulf Coast. There were some isolated airport fuel shortages due to the Colonial Pipeline shut down in May, and some American Airlines jets did have to make extra fueling stops.

In Nevada, state and federal lawmakers are investigating the possible fuel shortage, the Associated Press reported.

“To be clear, further failure to secure adequate fuel supplies is unacceptable,” said a letter from Nevada’s Gov. Steve Sisolak, U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei.

Recent wildfires in the western U.S. could also be partially responsible because of the demand from firefighting aircraft, the AP reported.

The gas supply issues aren’t likely to let up for two or three weeks when peak summer driving and airplane travel season tapers off, DeHaan said. ©2021 The Dallas Morning News.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Many officials predict that corporate travel won’t return to 2019 levels until 2023 or 2024.

American Airlines and United Airlines anticipate domestic travel could get back to 2019 numbers in the next 12 to 18 months.

“That’s very positive for an agency like ours because 80% of what we do is domestic corporate travel,” Glenn said.

Corporate travelers must understand that the experience is different now. They must understand the requirements.

“Many of us didn’t go through an airport and get on a plane for over a year,” Glenn said.

“There is still anxiety when people put on masks, especially if they live in a place like Nebraska where that hasn’t been a requirement for daily life for a month or two. Go with the flow. Understand that it’s different and that there’s some forward progress to make.”

Recovering environment Continued from preceding page. ident JJ Bell said they’re commonly asked about COVID-19 mitigation tactics, the types of hotels booked, and if it’ll be offering tours next year. It’s posted many answers on their website, but Bell also noted that, at the time of this writing, it’s requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (within three days) to board the bus for its tours. Additionally, he spoke to disinfection efforts, a flexible refund policy, and the monitoring of all local sights for safety guideline compliance.

“We are not currently requiring masks on board, but guests are more than welcome to wear them if they feel inclined,” he said. “We typically stay at the Hilton and Marriott Brands of hotels as well as Holiday Inn’s if they are updated and meet our standards. As far as tours for the next year, we typically keep the tours each year and add to our list as we are growing very quickly.”

Speaking of growth, he spoke to a “booming” fall for travel after a slow spring and an improved summer.

“Before the talk of the delta variant, bookings were extremely high,” Bell said. “We are still seeing high demand, just a lot more questions about COVID before joining us on tour. We expect to move through this wave of COVID and see demand spike again.”

He highlighted its Southwest Experience, which includes visits to national parks such as Zion and Bryce Canyon, Arches and Canyonlands; a 5-day New York City Christmas tour with lodging in Times Square, and Rockettes and Broadway show entertainment.

“Next year we are planning to offer food and wine of the islands of Greece, Christmas markets of Europe and many other new tours,” Bell said, adding that guests appreciate the “little things” like chocolate chip cookies and specially-selected scents.

Due to the breadth of his team’s tours, Excite has insight into corporate outings, which he described as “still pretty non-existent.”

“Most companies are offering a hybrid work-from-home schedule,” he said. “So, the offices are not quite full again. Once we see a full return to work, we expect to see an increase in corporate group travel.”

Team-building will be important, as Bell said corporate leadership will say engagement is down.

“Corporations can fix this by offering outings like half-day or day bus trips that get people laughing and talking to each other again,” he said.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

27

In the Spotlight Paid Content

BANKING

INSURANCE

Added

Promoted

Kenneth Wray Vice President, Residential Construction Lending First Westroads Bank

Chris J. Murphy, Chairman and CEO of First Westroads Bank, is pleased to announce the addition of Kenneth Wray as a Vice President in the Residential Construction Lending division.

Wray comes to First Westroads Bank with over 20 years of experience in varied facets of banking and finance including branch management, lending, and retail banking. His responsibilities will include working

directly with builders and customers to assist them with their construction needs.

Wray’s education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Creighton University and an MBA in Business from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

First Westroads Bank is a locally owned and managed, financially strong, community bank committed to exceeding customer expectations. Our promise is to help you and your business succeed with professional, knowledgeable, and experienced bankers.

Mason Perry Director of Sales and Marketing Omaha National Insurance Company

Omaha National Insurance Company has promoted Mason Perry to director of sales and marketing.

Perry was among the first employees to join Omaha National as a founding member of the sales and marketing team in 2017. “Mason has built an exceptional team over the past four years, which has been vital to the rapid growth and success of our business,” said Chris LaMantia, chief marketing officer at Omaha National. “In this expanded

role, we are confident that Mason will continue to build one of the finest sales and marketing programs in the industry.” Founded in 2016, Omaha National is one of the fastest-growing companies in Omaha, a city known for its strong insurance and financial services industries. In January 2021, the company surpassed $100 million of in-force premium.

HEALTH CARE Awarded

Sara Spanjer 40 Under 40 Recipient Staffing Industry Analysts

Staffing Industry Analysts’s 40 Under 40 list is out, and Fusion Medical Staffing’s chief clinical officer, Sara Spanjer is being recognized as a trailblazer in the field. Spanjer has been an integral part of Fusion since 2013, but has been fueling the medical industry for 15 years. She began her career as a registered nurse and then eventually transitioned into a medical staffing industry professional.

Currently, Spanjer provides leadership and oversight to five departments at

Fusion. She has led her team through changes that have decreased turnover and increased employee satisfaction as well as improving the department’s output. She says she has learned many lessons because of her experiences in healthcare, but there are two that stick out: having perspective and gratitude.

“When you work in patient care, you see many people face difficult diagnoses or medical challenges, often while dealing with so many other struggles in life. Seeing patients choose happiness and a positive attitude despite their circumstances is inspiring,” Spanjer said.

“When I would ask patients how they could stay so positive, the answer was almost always focused on all the good things they still had in their lives. They

always had so much they were grateful for, and they knew what really mattered in life wasn’t the material things our society tends to focus on.” SIA editors say the 40 under 40 list is not a ranking, but a recognition of professionals from companies operating in the US who stand out as industry leaders. Spanjer’s dedication to transform the industry and carry out Fusion’s core values of being humble, driven, and positive make her an ideal person to feature on the 40 Under 40 list.

• APRIL 26, 2019 ss Journal •

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In the Spotlig

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Andrew Schnoor Credit Analyst NEDCO

NEDCO is proud to announce the addition of Andrew Schnoor to the already-talented team. A graduate of Wayne State College, and Northeast Community College, Andy joins NEDCO as a credit analyst. With a background working in rural banks and accounting firms, Andrew’s hard work and dedication make him a perfect fit for the NEDCO organization. Scott Sailors, President of NEDCO, spoke

11

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Submit your company’s employee announcements to Spotlight@mbj.com

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• AUGUST 6, 2021 • Midlands Business Journal

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 6, 2021 •

29

Midlands African Chamber highlights local entrepreneurs, eliminates gaps

by Savannah Behrends

Starting a business is hard enough, but what if you’ve lost your natural support system when immigrating to a new country? That’s where the Midlands African Chamber steps in, educating and supporting African-born and first-generation African American entrepreneurs.

Karine Sokpoh, founder and president, experienced this challenge first hand when she emigrated from Togo in West Africa. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha she went to Creighton University where she received her law degree. She founded her own firm in 2011.

“When I started my firm there was no such thing as an African Chamber so I had to really struggle to find out how to go about doing certain things,” she said.

Luckily, she said, she joined the Nebraska Bar Association and learned of the Midlands Bar Association, which aims to benefit African American attorneys in Nebraska. “[The MBA] really helped me because I was able to connect with the members and they were really helpful,” she said.

The Midlands African Chamber will give African Americans and African immigrants the same opportunity, connecting through shared experiences, exchanging information, and developing a support group.

Since filing for incorporation last July, when

President Karine Sokpoh celebrates one-year anniversary, gears up for Pitch Black!

Competition. (Photo by Savannah Behrends) A wide swath of topics has been covered so COVID-19 restrictions where still in place, the Chamber has been working to develop program- far, including taxes, COVID-19 vaccines, budget tips, small business marketing and more. ming and events.

Speakers have included: Terri Sanders, Power hour The first offering implemented was the publisher of the Omaha Star; UNMC Senior monthly professional business development series, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. H. Dele Davies; Dr. Dale Eesley, UNO director of Power Hour, which launched on Nov. 19, 2020.

“We have someone come in and talk the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and about the things that are affecting businesses,” Franchising, and more.

Power Hour is scheduled for the third ThursSokpoh said.

Business Minute

Paid Content

Kelly Jourdan

Director of Agent Services & Managing Broker, Nebraska Realty Associations/Titles: REALTOR, Omaha Area Board of Realtors, Nebraska Realty Kindness Crew Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska Education: Cosmetology School 1999, Great Plains School of Real Estate 2005

How I got into the business: My stepdad needed help with his real estate business and talked me into getting my license when I was 25. At that time we were focusing on investing in rental homes.

Accomplishments or milestones: Salesperson’s license 2005, Broker’s license in 2015, recipient of the Renee Lampman Industry Service in 2019, Founding Member Nebraska Realty Kindness Crew, two- time past Chair of MLS User Group, Hope Center Mentor 2016-2020.

First job: Cashier at Baker’s Supermarket.

Biggest career break: I wouldn’t call it a break, but being hired on as an admin at Nebraska Realty (then DEEB Realty) is where it all started for me. I wanted to quit doing hair full-time so I could focus on being a rockstar in real estate. Being on the administrative side

of things opened up other opportunities outside of buying & selling.

The toughest part of the job: Having tough conversations. Telling people things they don’t want to hear is always hard … and when it involves someone’s largest investment, it’s that much more intense.

The best advice I have received: Don’t try to be something you’re not because you’ll never keep it up. Just be yourself and be honest. Not everyone will like you, but that’s ok because you don’t have to like them either.

About my family: Married for 16 years to Derek. My parents & two sisters live on the West Coast now. I have three nieces & two nephews.

Something else I’d like to accomplish: I’d love to open my own business someday.

Mentor who has helped the most in my career: I’ve never been asked this question, and I’ve never really thought about it. I’ve never formally had a “mentor” but I think what a mentor does is demonstrate and act as a resource for knowledge & support. There’s definitely a

person in my career that has done that, my boss Andy Alloway. When I first started working on the admin team almost 16 years ago, our filing cabinets were right outside of his office. Andy was the Managing Broker at the time and when I would go file I could hear him taking calls from agents & their clients, as well as people stopping by his office to chat & get advice. I saw a side of this industry that I didn’t even know existed and knew that’s where I wanted to be. Today I still work with Andy daily and receive his support, encouragement and advice on a regular basis.

Outside interests: I’m a devoted Christian, I love baking & recently got into container gardening.

Favorite vacation spot: The mountains.

Other careers I would like to try: Baker.

Favorite cause or charity: Project Houseworks in Omaha. They help the elderly age in place by providing necessary maintenance to their homes.

Favorite app: Pinterest… I end every single day spacing out on Pinterest.

Interested in being featured in the Business Minute? Email news@mbj.com for more information.

day of each month and is free for members.

PitchBlack At the beginning of 2021 MAC announced its first business pitch competition, Pitch Black, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We wanted to have a pitch competition where we could give some funds to businesses that don’t necessarily have novel ideas, but have ideas for helping their business become successful,” Sokpoh said.

Guidelines stipulated that businesses must be less than three years old, which could mean a startup, and operating in Nebraska. However, the competition is not limited to African immigrants and African Americans.

“We just want to make sure that one of the owners of an applying company identifies as a member of an ethnic minority,” she said. “We want to help lift up small, minority business owners.”

As a brand new organization and event, the 11-member board was worried about the kind of prizes they could offer winners. To their surprise, Sokpoh said, the support for national and local companies has been phenomenal.

Prizes include not only cash investments but legal, marketing and accounting assistance.

Only five finalists will present at the live event on Aug. 28. Keynote speakers will be Liberian immigrants Perteet and Fred Spencer, who own Chicago-based AYO Foods.

Future programming In line with helping bolster relationships, the next two initiatives in the planning stages include a mentoring program and networking hour.

By collaborating with other like-minded organizations and events, such as Afromaha and the Leadership Africa Summit, MAC is widening the net for potential participants. Membership costs are also minimal to reduce barriers.

“We also want to encourage our members to participate fully [in local government],” Sokpoh said. “We have been missing from the table for too long.”

Midlands Business Journal Established in 1975

FOUNDER, Robert Hoig

ADMINISTRATION PUBLISHER, Andrea “Andee” Hoig

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

ADVERTISING ADVERTISING CONSULTANT, Julie Whitehead OFFICE OFFICE ASSISTANT, Rosemary Gregurich (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 1308 S. 119th St., Omaha, NE 68144. Periodical postage paid at Omaha NE POSTMASTER; Send address changes to Midlands Business Journal, 1308 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.