Midlands Business Journal August 16, 2019 Vol. 45 No. 33 issue

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VOL. 45 NO. 33

Omaha National Insurance leverages workers’ comp for expansion plan

THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:

by Richard D. Brown

The 712 Initiative looks toward single family housing in next phase.

– Page 2

of an ion m t Woistinc D

Squires helps bring Omaha Performing Arts into all corners of the community.

– Page 3

ice

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Venue selection greatly contributes to overall spirit for holiday office parties.

– Page 28

The six partners who formed Omaha National Insurance — a provider of workers’ compensation insurance for small to mid-size business — is now planning on adding Illinois and Pennsylvania to its coverage area.

The partners began by marketing in California two years ago and last month started underwriting incidental exposure coverage in Nevada and Arizona.

Sales in Nebraska could begin by the end of this year.

“This will more than double our premiums written this year over what we did in 2018,” said President/CEO Reagan Pufall.

Pufall, a North Dakota native and University of North Dakota Law School graduate who brought his career specialty in workers’ compensation insurance to Omaha in 2000, presides over an 83-employee firm that is doubling its initial 12,000-squarefoot space in the Metropolitan Business Center in southwest Omaha. The company has added Continued on page 9.

President and CEO Reagan Pufall … Aiming to greatly build number of premiums written with expansion plan.

DLR Group extends global reach and doubles number of offices

by Becky McCarville

In the past four years, DLR Group, an architecture, interior design, engineering and building optimization firm founded in Omaha in 1966, has increased its operations from 710 employees in 15 offices to 1,200 design professionals in 30 locations worldwide.

“This growth has added new geographies, markets and a greater depth of design specialization

to our employee-owned firm,” said Principal and Central Region Leader Curtis Johnson, which includes the Omaha, Lincoln and DesMoines locations.

Some of DLR Group’s national offices in the 80- to 120-employee range include Omaha, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Cleveland. The smaller offices can have 12 to 20 to 30 employees. The firm’s sports, Continued on page 9.

From left, partners Mike Battershell, David Gilinsky and Kevin Gilinsky … Acquisitions and collaboration position longstanding promotional products company to withstand economic ups and downs, industry challenges.

Bergman Incentives diversifies, grows with Kansas City, Lincoln acquisitions

by Michelle Leach

Principal and Central Region Leader Curtis Johnson … Increasing global footprint by adding offices nationally and around the world.

Nebraska was barely 20 years old when Bergman Incentives got its start in Omaha, and its leadership is positioning the branding and promotional products business for growth with the recent acquisition of likeminded Lincoln and Kansas City organizations.

These acquisitions pave the way for an enhanced regional footprint and diversify the company to

resist inevitable ups and downs.

“The world is rapidly changing, and many owners are getting older and doing business succession plans, so there is a huge transfer of wealth,” said David Gilinsky, fifth-generation family leadership.

“We understand we don’t need to grow for growth’s sake. We want to grow for sales associates, and our strategy is to diversify our Continued on page 8.

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

The 712 Initiative looks toward single family housing in next phase

by Savannah Behrends

When working to improve the economic vitality of historic and up-and-coming hot spots in Council Bluffs, the 712 Initiative emphasizes a layered, collaborative approach.

The nonprofit was formed in 2016,

The 712 Initiative Phone: 712-396-2494 Address: 1228 S. Main Street, Council Bluffs, 51503 Founded: January 2016 through the merger of the Pottawattamie County Development Corporation, Live Well Council Bluffs, and Bluffs Downtown Service: increasing the economic vitality of Council Bluffs through programming and redevelopment Employees: 5 Website: 712initiative.org

bringing together the Pottawattamie County Development Corp., Live Well Council Bluffs, and Bluffs Downtown in an effort to follow a national model that works on community development and activating spaces to increase economic vitality.

“We aren’t able to recruit the tenant levels that we want without activating those spaces with programming such as a farmer’s market or a concert series,” said Chief Executive Director Sheryl Garst.

Garst noted that the parent organizations have been working toward a similar goal

Chief Executive Director Sheryl Garst … Nonprofit plans to switch gears from mixeduse redevelopments to single-family housing remodels and construction in next year. since 1998. In fact, the organization reports ments to the area as well as retail space. that between 1998-2018 it’s helped increase The development, which has increased valuations from $18 million to $68 million, in valuation by 671%, was made possible a 278% increase. by layering in private funds, tax increment It’s currently finishing up the 103 West financing, Iowa West Foundation funds and Broadway mixed-use development. The $6 public funds. million project with J Development will “Through our efforts in the 100 Block bring an additional 24 one-bedroom apart- of West Broadway, those are some of the

Business Minute

Paid Content

Michael Nelson Executive Vice President, Sales and Account Management, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Nebraska at Omaha.

How I got into the business: Started as an entry-level agent at Mutual of Omaha in Washington, D.C. First job: Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Biggest career break: Promotion to CEO of Coventry Health Care, Inc. The toughest part of the job: Helping employers control health care spending.

The best advice I have received: Focus on the business levers that drive success!

About my family: I have a beautiful family! My wife Kyle and our children

Connor, Christopher, Sarah and Emily.

Something else I’d like to accomplish: I would like to identify a post-retirement niche that would prove to be helpful to the community as well as inspiring for me personally.

Book I finished reading recently: “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind.”

Something about me not everyone knows: I’m addicted to boats and fishing.

How my business will change in the next decade: Health care will need to be a more collaborative venture — the traditional divisions of the physician, hospital and insurance companies need to change in order to deliver outcomes and costs that employers, government agencies and patients will demand: patients will expect more convenient access and transparency; the clinical and financial models will be required to show efficiency in patient outcomes and satisfaction; there will be more focus on addressing

the social determinants of health.

Mentor who has helped the most in my career: Michael Bahr. Mike was the COO at Coventry Healthcare and SVP at Aetna — An honest, direct supervisor with the ability to simplify complex challenges.

Outside interests: Family, travel, and larger boats.

Pet peeves: Bad manners.

Favorite vacation spot: There are so many fantastic places from which to choose, so I would say it is that last place where we took our annual family vacation: Vancouver and the San Juan Islands.

Other careers I would like to try: None.

Favorite cause or charity: Food banks and charities focused on women and children in crisis.

Favorite app: NOAA.gov, the app for offshore weather and water conditions around the country.

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

highest rents in town,” Garst said.

The money generated will help fuel other projects, like the $28 million mix-development project that’s in the hopper, as well as programming. Rolling into its fifth year, 712 Initiative will be pivoting from mixeduse developments to single-family housing.

“We have a higher renter versus home owner percentage in our community,” Garst said. “We are seeing deteriorating housing conditions and not much of a rehab culture.”

The Loess Hills and agriculture that surrounds Council Bluffs makes expansion difficult and infill extremely important for attracting and retaining a population.

Garst pointed to “skinny” disposable incomes, lack of rehab culture and the low profit margins for demolishing or remodeling single-family homes as major challenges for infill.

“There just isn’t the margins for private developers so that’s where we as a community development nonprofit need to step in with our community partners,” she said.

There has been land bank legislation introduced into the Iowa Legislature but in the meantime 712 is building capital through partnerships to attain foreclosed houses in its key areas — West End and the Riverfront.

712 will be using a $25,000 grant from the Iowa West Foundation to bring Rock the Block to Council Bluffs, in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs.

The program will work two-fold: helping beautify blighted areas while bringing together neighbors and volunteers. Bringing neighbors together is a key initiative for revitalizing a community.

In an effort to bring neighbors together, the 712 also launched its Block Continued on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal Established in 1975

Founded by Robert Hoig

ADMINISTRATION VP OF OPERATIONS, Andrea “Andee” Hoig

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

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

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

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-The Publisher.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

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Squires helps bring Omaha Performing Arts into all corners of the community Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of profiles featuring Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40 award winners — entrepreneurs, business owners, managers and professionals under 40 years of age.

by Dwain Hebda

As anyone who has recently taken in a performance at the Holland Performing Arts Center or the Orpheum Theater in Omaha will tell you, the impact of Omaha Performing Arts on the community is substantial. And for nearly 20 years Joan Squires has provided the visionary leadership guiding the sprawling organization.

“Before Omaha Performing Arts existed, we already had wonderful local arts institutions,” she said.

“But since we were formed and now have grown to be the largest arts institution in the state, I think the offerings have broadened tremendously.

“We have a very robust program that brings the best of Broadway, the top jazz artists, outstanding touring dance companies and so much more. The diversity of performance, of entertainment and arts options really is attracting a very broad base of attendees.”

A native of Pennsylvania, Squires holds a master’s degree in music and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Prior to landing in

Omaha in 2002, her career had taken her from the ranks of music education to leadership positions at the Phoenix Symphony and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, among others. At each stop, she balanced business acumen with a nose for artistic content.

“First of all, we are a business,” she said.

“Just because we have nonprofit status, just because we’re mission-driven and we rely on contributions to help meet our revenue goals and serve the community, the business aspects are incredibly important.

“Our mission is presenting the best arts for the community, but you’ve got to make sure you’re maintaining budgets, you’re meeting your goals, you’re selling tickets, you’re doing it in a fiscally responsible manner. And, you have to continue to adjust what you do every year, depending on some of the financial results and not just the artistic results.”

This philosophy is one driving force behind Omaha Performing Arts’ expansion of education engagement activities under Squires’ tenure. Making art and performance more available to youth and underserved populations not only enriches the community, it develops new generations of art consumers as well.

“We have a program for preschoolers to

Woman of Distinction

Proud Sponsors of the 2018 40 Under 40:

learn jazz and another that brings music into the classroom,” Squires said. “We’re in partnership with Seventy Five North in north Omaha and other locations.

We also have activities where artists will go into schools and teach various master classes and workshops.

“We have an arts access program providing free or reduced-price tickets to performances for underserved young people. There’s lots of opportunities for people who might not have ready access to art to experience that. It’s an important part of what we do.”

President Joan Squires … Aiming to engage all of Omaha Art also serves a community with arts and education opportunities. (Courtesy of practical purpose as a Omaha Performing Arts) magnet for attracting to our venues, we provide some of the best expenew residents and families to Omaha. riences you can find anywhere in the country. I “Once people come to a community the think people are surprised to find that when they question is, ‘What is there to do?’ They’re come to the city. That focus on quality of life looking for a variety of options,” Squires said. that, really, is the key as we talk about attracting “The arts really make a difference. You think and retaining a quality workforce.” of the communities that are often on the top of Among her many awards and designations, the list of places to live and often it’s because of Squires is a voting member for Broadway’s the arts communities. Workforce development is Tony Awards, a recipient of the Governor’s Arts what Omaha is really focused on and growing, Award, was named to the Ak-Sar-Ben Court of particularly downtown Omaha.

Honor and was named one of Musical America’s “You come to our performances, you come 30 Movers and Shapers for 2017.

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Property & Casualty

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

August 16, 2019

Losses from natural disasters, auto accidents converge with workers’ comp changes was championed by the Independent Inby Michelle Leach The fall-out of damage associated with surance Agents of Nebraska’s Legislative the series of wild weather events, and leg- Advisory Council — of which Luna is board islative changes associated with workers’ director — and IIAN legislative represencompensation coverage, are among those tative, Jim Cavanaugh; LB139 specifically topics floating to the top of watercooler requires clear information that a registered contractor carries workers’ compensation conversation.

Slated to become law by no later than insurance, is self-insured or “does not carry workers’ compensation insurAugust 31, LB 139 is designed to ance” as a sole proprietor with no improve workers’ compensation employees. legislation in Nebraska by amend“Every general contractor ing the registration act that applies who engages any subcontractor, to contractors in the construction both construction industry and industry, according to Michael A. not construction industry, ought Luna, president and founder of to discover that subcontractor’s Luna Insurance Services.

WC coverage,” Luna said. “If a “This was all spurred from subcontractor lacks WC coverrecent court cases regarding age, then the general contractor workers’ compensation claims ought to contractually require filed by sole proprietors working Struyk that subcontractor to purchase under contract for a general contractor,” he said. “Those cases have ruled in WC, or that contractor ought to include that favor of the subcontractor receiving benefits contractor under the general contractor’s and have rewarded them from the general WC coverage.”

It also is wise, Luna noted, for insurance contractor’s workers’ compensation insurance policy, which was never the intention agents to inform in writing all contractors of the general contractor when they hired the and subcontractors of the new requirement.

Lockton Cos. Nebraska Partner and Pressole-proprietor subcontractor. This law will help clarify if coverage is or isn’t in place ident Jack Struyk noted WC represents an for the subcontractor and will help close up exception in an environment of large losses (in 2017 and 2018), and a prolonged period a ‘loophole’ in the law.”

Over the past three-plus years, the bill of soft prices.

Michael A. Luna, president and founder of Luna Insurance Services.

“The market is now in a corrective state enced over the last couple years here from for most lines of business,” he said. “The hail and flooding, but also from the wildfires exception is workers’ compensation, which and hurricanes experienced across the councontinues to perform well for the industry. try,” he said.

Through the first quarter of 2019, we have Secondly, Wright noted companies with seen tightening of terms and conditions, large auto and truck fleets will experience capacity, and pricing for property, casualty, 10% to 25% increases in auto liability insurand directors and officers coverage. The ance premiums, as well as large increases in reinsurance markets are increasing prices.” umbrella insurance premiums.

For the second consecutive year, Struyk “This is the direct result of increased noted property losses in 2018 totaled around litigation and subsequent large monetary $100 billion — with property carriers posting settlements from auto accidents,” he said. combined ratios of 100%-plus.

“Some of the increase can be attributed to “With increases in the fourth quarter distracted driving and the cost of motor 2018, commercial property once again saw vehicle repairs. A good economy means the second largest premium increases behind more drivers on the road, possibly with less commercial auto,” he said. “While there is experience as well.” still available capacity, the market continues Of interest to some readers, according to to firm in 2019 with even clean accounts Wright, is an uptick in the cost for publicexperiencing rate increases.” ly-traded companies’ directors and officers Accounts with heavy catastrophic losses coverage. or exposures “will continue to experience And WC largely has leveled off after even more volatility in rates,” Struyk added. “several years of rapidly declining premiGallagher Area President Derek Wright ums,” he said. “We expect rates to start going said there are two major “stories” the firm back up in 2020 and for that momentum to is telling its clients now — starting with a continue for the next few years as medical dramatic worsening of the property insurance cost inflation continues to creep up; however, market, particularly among large commercial many employers will understand the need buildings in the last 60 days, stemming from to control the underlying factors, which are the lack of aforementioned capacity — avail- the frequency and severity of claims and the ability of insurance needed to meet demand. rising cost to ‘rehabilitate’ someone in our “This is due to massive losses experi- current health care system.”

Property & Casualty Insurance • Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

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Aging baby boomers, technology key focuses for independent insurance agents

by Jasmine Heimgartner insurance companies and have their unique Keeping a pulse on the industry, as strengths in meeting a customer’s need,” well as supporting local agents, are the In- McClelland said. “An independent agent dependent Insurance Agents of Nebraska, can find what is best for a specific custompart of a national organization er, not just one cookie cutter that and its local chapters. These is available. Because they are organizations not only advocate not an employee or exclusive for legislative changes, but they agent of one company, they are also provide education, networkindependent when it comes to ing and other opportunities to advocating for their customers help agents meet long-standing if they have a claim and feel challenges, as well as ensure the insurance company needs customers get the right fit for to take a look if it was denied their needs. or settled.”

“Our mission is to help our Like many other industries, member agencies, which are all the insurance industry is facing McClelland small business, succeed and be two new challenges: a retiring relevant in the digital world that we find workforce and technology. ourselves in,” said Carol McClelland, “As small businesses, agents are conCEO, Independent Insurance Agents of tinually dealing with evolving technology,” Nebraska. “We believe our main strength said Sandra Ryks, president, Independent is personal service and meeting customers’ Insurance Agents of Nebraska. “Telematics unique needs. We know from surveys that in vehicles has seen a big growth in marpeople want to have a real person to talk to kets, which somewhat monitors the way a and be their advocate if they have a claim. consumer drives. It is new and something Even though digital marketing and buying that we have to figure out what works best insurance over the internet is well-es- for each consumer. We try to help agents tablished, our system still has a bright keep up with the latest advances to help future because people still want to talk them run their businesses.” to a person.”

While keeping up with trends is imperAs trends move toward more person- ative, there still needs to be agents to dealized services, whether it be health care liver the personal service many consumers or banking, independent agents continue want. As the mass exodus of baby boomers to have a niche in the market. from the workforce has begun, getting the “Our members represent a number of next generation of insurance experts on

board has been a major focus.

“We have been working with colleges across the state to make graduating students, and even underclassmen, aware of the opportunities in the insurance industry in Nebraska, which is a big part of the state’s work,” McClelland said. “While the sky can be the limit in sales, there are many other opportunities to help people with insurance. In the independent agency system, they can go to work for a company with a range of career opportunities, such as underwriter, claims adjuster, IT specialist, accounting, marketing, etc. Many college students don’t realize the opportunities that are out there in the industry.”

As these organizations work to keep the industry balanced, they also understand potential challenges weather events can bring.

“This was the first year I had to submit a flood claim,” Ryks said. “Luckily, all mine that were flooded had flood insur-

ance, which can be an out-of-sight, outof-mind coverage. Unfortunately, when we have any catastrophic events or large storm damage, there may be rate increases.”

Regardless of the challenge, these organizations work to keep the industry alive and help customers protect what is important to them whether through legislative efforts — such as recent crop insurance and workers’ compensation benefits for independent contractors efforts — or professional development.

Throughout it all, members gain more personal benefits.

“The biggest benefit is the networking you can do with fellow agents,” Ryks said. “I have made lifelong friends in the industry by being part of it. It gives you a sense of pride, especially when you volunteer and help the causes we have out there. It has been very fulfilling being part of a grassroots organization to advocate our industry.”

Cyber insurance is imperative in today’s world

by Gabby Christensen

As more organizations lean on internet-based tools to do business, risks relating to information technology is on the rise, further illuminating the need for cyber insurance coverage.

Miles Weis, assistant vice president/ executive risk practice leader at Holmes Murphy, said cyber insurance, like any

insurance policy, provides an essential balance sheet protection for fortuitous losses.

“While this financial protection is critical to a well-rounded risk management program, I feel that one of the greatest values of a cyber insurance policy is the wealth of qualified professionals a wellplaced cyber insurance program unlocks,” Continued on next page.

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

• Property & Casualty Insurance

Cyber insurance is imperative in today’s world Continued from preceding page.

Weis said. “Cyber insurance policy holders gain access to pre-qualified, pre-negotiated professionals that stand ready to assist when the unfortunate time comes to call on their services. Without having this in place, a company is at the mercy of finding vendors in a time of chaos and likely accepting whatever rates they want to charge that given day.”

Weis said cyber insurance is one of the fastest evolving insurance coverage options available.

“With constantly changing exposures and losses the insurance carriers are Weis adapting their policies to provide protection for the new landscape of exposures,” Weis said. “And with additional carriers offering cyber insurance every year there is further capacity in the marketplace, which has kept the cyber insurance market very competitive, even with increasing losses.”

Over the last few years, Weis said cyber insurance has gone from being a reactive insurance product to becoming more of a proactive insurance product.

Patrick Mertz, president at Mertz Insurance, said cyber policies provide potential coverage in cases where the insured releases personally identifiable information, protected health information, or corporate

Todd Kinney, partner at Kutak Rock.

“Having the proper controls in place is a confidential information.

“This information isn’t required to be good start, but there isn’t a software product only in electronic format, and can often that can prevent an attack,” Mertz said. “A include hard-file information,” Mertz said. good cyber policy is the best protection, “Currently we are quoting the coverage to and at the price charged, an inexpensive more of our clients, because they have had solution.”

Since 2002, Mertz said security/data a scare and don’t want to pay the large costs breach notification laws have been in place associated with a cyberattack.”

Mertz said most business owners don’t in all 50 States in some shape or form.

“That notification expense can be hefty think they need it, or it won’t happen to them, or that they have the proper software — usually about $200 per person,” Mertz said. “So, if someone steals your laptop in place to prevent it.

with 1,000 personal records on it, you’ve just spent $200,000. A crippling expense for a small business that doesn’t have cyber coverage.”

Todd Kinney, partner at Kutak Rock, said cyber insurance is just as important as general liability and workers compensation.

“Cyber insurance gives business owners peace of mind, as well as financial advantages,” Kinney said.

Kinney said there’s a misconception that cyber coverage isn’t necessary, when in fact, it really is.

“People think this type of insurance is expensive, which isn’t the case,” Kinney said.

From his experience, Kinney said he’s noted that premium pay has easily Mertz been worth it many times over.

“When a security incident occurs and you already have a policy in place, it will only help in getting the ball rolling right away and get you on the road to solving your problem much faster,” Kinney said.

With this particular insurance, Kinney said it’s important to understand the business’ risks from a data security and privacy standpoint and craft the coverage around risks.

“There’s not a one size fits all with cyber insurance,” Kinney said. “If you make it part of a broader data security plan, you’ll be in much better shape when a security incident happens.”

Property & Casualty Insurance •

Rising costs challenge auto industry

by David Kubicek

Most auto insurance carriers have had to raise rates to balance their losses, which are due to several factors.

According to John Coffey, CEO of Cornsortio Group, the biggest factor is distracted driving, which has become a leading cause of accidents and deaths, rivaling drunk driving.

According to the National Safety Council, driving while texting causes 1.6 million accidents and almost 390,000 injuries in the U.S. every year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Coffey (NHTSA) found that 21% of U.S. drivers reported sending emails or text messages while on the road and 14% of all fatal crashes involved use of a cell phone.

Sophisticated trucking companies are using telematics — technology to identify driving habits like rapid acceleration, sharp turns and quick stops — to coach drivers into better driving habits, which will lead to fewer accidents and lower insurance costs.

“We’re also seeing the same trends in personal auto space,” Coffey said. “Many companies are implementing a distracted driving policy to reduce the number of accidents on company time using a phone.

In addition, many states have passed legislation regarding texting and driving and what is and is not allowed.”

Other factors that have led to industry losses are uninsured drivers, rising medical costs and increased cost of vehicle repairs.

The number of uninsured motorists has been increasing since a record low in 2010, and the ratio of vehicles driven without insurance can be as high as 1 in 5, depending on the state.

The cost of health care and prescription drugs has outpaced inflation significantly, and double digit increasWilberger es have impacted the cost of accidents.

What used to be a $500 bumper now is $3,500 because cameras, sensors and other technology embedded in the bumper is driving up repair costs.

Clyde Wilberger, senior vice president at Harry A. Koch Co., said insurance carriers have lost money on their auto portfolio for four years in a row.

“In 2019, we’ve seen rate increases ranging on the average from 6 to 12%,” he said. “There are several factors causing these changes including distracted driving, impaired driving, more autos on the road, and changes in litigation. Medical costs and the cost to repair an auto are all

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

increasing.”

Although rate increases are the biggest impact, insurers also are underwriting with stricter guidelines, such as including higher deductibles on vehicles with heavier gross vehicle weights (GVW), not allowing youthful drivers, and passing on accounts due to losses that they would have written in the past. Many companies are also pushing telematics/ GOS monitoring to help alert the owner of speeding, too fast acceleration, or excessive braking.

“One of the common issues I hear is [companies] aren’t able to find quality driving candidates,” Wilberger said. “With the unemployment rate being so low they are taking new hires that in the past they wouldn’t have allowed to drive a company-owned auto.”

One challenge facing the industry is determining how auto insurance will look

7

in a driverless car world.

“Some believe that a driverless car will be the responsibility of the manufacturer which may reduce the premiums for auto insurance,” Coffey said. “Since case law is so scarce at this point, no definitive pronouncements have been made on where the line starts and stops for owners of driverless vehicles.”

As more motorists are driving with state minimum insurance limits — in Nebraska it is $25,000 per individual and $50,000 per accident — or no insurance, there will be more claims for uninsured or underinsured drivers.

“Technology is driving innovation within the industry,” Coffey said. “There are many insuretech startups trying to address the challenges in the auto industry and how to utilize the driving data of individuals to price more closely to the actual risk.”

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Arts and entertainment industry booms in metro area

by Gabby Christensen

Arts and entertainment enthusiasts are in for a treat this season, as local organizations continue to expand programming.

Rachel Adams, chief curator and director of programs at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, said Bemis recently opened its summer exhibition Inner Ear Vision: Sound as Medium, which coincides with the implementation of its new Sound Art + Experimental Music Program.

“It’s a very exciting time, as we have scheduled several lectures and performances to garner further understanding and appreciation for the field of sound art,” Adams said.

As for trends in the industry, Adams said there has been a fair amount of artwork

Adams

Engdahl

dealing with the socio-political climate, both in the area, as well as the country at the moment.

“The artists and institutions that are confronting these everyday issues are

creating conversations that are greatly needed,” she said.

“A recent project that just opened is Undesign the Redline at The Union for Contemporary Art, responding to the effects of housing discrimination in north and south Squires Omaha.”

Without a doubt, Adams said it’s a great time to be interested in the arts in the metro area.

“From Benson First Fridays and Second Fridays on Vinton Street to festivals

Bergman Incentives diversifies, expands with Kansas City, Lincoln acquisitions Continued from page 1. had synergies.” business, and to make it more bulletproof The aforementioned industry organiso it’s not so subject to the whims of the zation, Facilisgroup, is made up of promoeconomy. We have a goal of expansion, and tional products distributors across the U.S. acquisition is one way to do it — with 62- or and Canada with a shared commonality: 65-year-old owners of small mom and pop- “They’re all very forward-thinking and very type shops who don’t have a plan in place.” progressive,” said Kevin Gilinsky.

Most recently, the business equipped “I would add that the corporate environto put a logo on most ment of our clients, in any type of product Bergman Incentives the last 20 years, has imaginable, head- Phone: 800-888-9542 grown with regional quartered out of 9411 Address: 9411 F St., Omaha 68127 offices and regional F St., acquired Lin- Services: branding, apparel decoradecision-making,” coln’s The Adwood tion, company stores and promotional Battershell said.

Co. In this vein, the products In a July press re- Founded: 1888 by Sol Bergman announcement refers lease, Adwood Presi- Website: www.bergmanincentives.com to Bergman Incendent Bill Weesner is tives’ ability to serve quoted as saying that Bergman Incentives’ a larger region, characterized by booming technological expertise and unique services startup and tech sector growth, and to serve will enhance the client experience. existing clients better.

“After more than 20 years in the busiBattershell indicated this consideration ness, I’m excited to have the support of was a further motivation for the Kansas the Bergman Incentives team to continue City office opening; in all, he said the team to provide stellar service for my clients,” added seven associates in K.C. and five in Weesner said.

Lincoln — for an approximate headcount “We talked to Bill and the team, proba- gain of 50%. bly, for two years, and they are a part of an David Gilinsky emphasized the overarassociation of likeminded business folks in ching strategy centers on deliberate moves. our industry that share a platform togeth“We’ve bitten off quite a bit this year,” er,” Bergman Incentives President Mike he said. “But we’re not on some tear where Battershell said. “He was doing business we add six companies in 18 months.” succession … and we determined that the Leadership further emphasized the imway they did business did align, and we portance of infusing the Omaha culture into

the other teams, an objective helped along by its previous experience with acquiring Art Wears Unlimited around five years ago.

“We have to be intentional,” Battershell said. “Change is hard for everyone, and we have to ensure — with the world moving so fast — that we bring everyone on the existing and new teams together, allowing them to get to know each other.”

David Gilinsky added that, since it’s not a business of patents, widgets and manufacturing, it’s important to bring people into the fold — aligning with the culture and what has made Bergman Incentives successful over the past century.

Bergman Incentives, has also been taking a page from some of its acquired company’s books, in that it’s also focused on business transition planning to ensure continuity, partly, with Battershell as the first non-family member partner.

“Traditionally, it’s been passed from generation to generation,” David Gilinsky said. “It’s important to recognize the talent in the business and to reward that talent.

“We have a good story to tell. And we’re making sure that we’re ensuring this business is not only surviving, but thriving into the future. We embrace change, and Mike’s 13 years my junior, so it’s important to have that energy and that different perspective outside of my age group or outside of the family to push the business to new heights.”

Just as technologies are being reinvented and reinvested, the same applies to personnel.

“We had someone retire in 2016 with almost 40 years’ experience in the business, and we want to do whatever we can to transfer that kind of knowledge,” Battershell said.

“We’re reinvesting and reinventing how people are learning and sharing that info, and how we are cross-training.”

As an early Facilisgroup adopter, Kevin Gilinsky further noted its early adoption of cloud-based platforms and, generally, collaboration among other distributors.

“People tend to get into silos and look at others as competitors,” he said. “But they encourage you to collaborate, knowing that a ‘rising tide lifts all ships,’ they have that attitude and we’ve benefited from that.”

Industrywide, Gilinsky further touched on the challenges of product compliance amid tariff- and supply chain-related issues.

“We have a rigorous process to become a preferred supplier,” he said.

like Omaha Under the Radar and Maha Music Festival to new public art initiatives supported by Amplify Arts, there are so many opportunities,” she said. “And many of these, including all programs and exhibitions at Bemis, are free and open for all ages to learn and enjoy.”

Kristyna Engdahl, director of communications at Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) said the organization is helping to oversee the Riverfront Revitalization Project, which upon reopening will serve as a source for all-ages entertainment.

According to Engdahl, the parks will all be highly programmed and amenity rich featuring several live music pavilions, interactive water features, children’s play areas and sports courts.

“We think this renovation will not only change the landscape of our city, but transform the public’s relationship with downtown Omaha,” she said.

Recently, Engdahl said her team has noticed a passion for philanthropy in the industry, as various performing artists have been offering donations to local organizations.

Additionally, Engdahl said artists are incorporating more interactive features in their shows, such as whiskey tasting or a dancing/bar area within the arena.

She said Poll Star recently announced that CHI Health Center Omaha ranked 25th in the country in arena ticket sales by the half-year mark.

“This is an accomplishment we’re very proud to share,” Engdahl said. “We also just announced that Chance the Rapper will be returning to our venue this fall, with even more exciting concert announcements to come.”

Joan Squires, president of Omaha Performing Arts, said the organization is gearing up for the arrival of Hamilton at the Orpheum Theatre this fall.

Along with that, Squires said Omaha Performing Arts has also been expanding its programs, including the summer series, Mammel Courtyard Concerts, which showcases more contemporary bands, attracting younger patrons.

Squires said Jazz on the Green at Midtown Crossing is still underway and will continue through mid-August.

Additionally, she said the Summer Sounds at Highlander series will also be presenting various concerts before fall.

“We are continuing to not only offer new events in the Orpheum Theater, but we are taking talented artists and performers into the community,” Squires said.

Lately, she’s noted that technology has been changing the landscape of the industry.

“There is so much more happening mobilly,” Squires said. “People have the ability to purchase tickets and check for shows. This means we are always working to upgrade our systems and improve the technology in our facility.”

Overall, Squires said fall is an important time for all of the arts and entertainment industry.

“Just as we are launching our next season, our colleagues are doing the same,” Squires said. “Our local institutions present a wonderful variety of performances. It’s a great opportunity for people to engage in entertaining and educational events and performances.”

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

9

DLR Group extends global reach and doubles number of offices Continued from page 1. civic, K-12 and market sector designers work on projects locally and across the country from the Omaha office.

“We believe that provides more local service to our clients with national resources,” he said, adding that experts are dispersed across the country.

Globally, the firm serves clients from its offices in Dubai, Nairobi and Shanghai.

DLR Group Phone: 402-393-4100 Address: 6457 Frances, Suite 200, Omaha 68106 Services: Employee-owned integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning and building optimization for new construction, renovation and adaptive reuse.

Founded: 1966 in Omaha by Irv Dana, Bill Larson and Jim Roubal Employees: 1,200 design professionals serving clients globally from 30 locations.

Goal: To be a highly-differentiated, deeply integrated global design leader.

Industry outlook: Demand for skilled designers, architects and engineers as well as skilled workers in the construction industry is fueling the war for talent.

Website: www.dlrgroup.com

“DLR Group services a diverse set of clients from offices throughout the United States, as well as in the UAE, Africa and China,” he said.

Core areas of design expertise include civic, corrections and detention, courts, energy, federal, health care, higher education, hospitality, K-12 education, multifamily housing, museums, performing arts, retail and mixed-use, sports and workplace.

While the firm is known locally for its K-12 education projects, DLR Group is currently designing or has recently completed work in Omaha and Lincoln in corrections, health care, higher education, hospitality, retail and mixed-use, sports and workplace sectors, he said.

Recently completed projects in Omaha include the Greater Omaha Chamber’s new office on the Conagra campus and Live On Nebraska’s new headquarters at 3867 Leavenworth St. DLR Group is currently working on Blackstone Hotel renovations, designs for RTG Medical’s new headquarters in Fremont, designs for the new Omaha Public Schools high school at 60th and L streets and a new high school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The sports group is working on projects at the University of Texas at Austin, Northern State University, and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff — all out of the Omaha office.

The three regional offices — Omaha, Lincoln and Des Moines — contribute about 12% to the firm’s total revenue, Johnson said.

DLR Group’s sustainable design focus is reinforced through tracking progress towards the goals of the AIA 2030 Challenge — to design new buildings, developments and renovations to be carbon-neutral by 2030 through sustainable building design, on-site renewable energy or purchasing off-site renewable energy, according to Architecture 2030. The firm was one of the initial signatories of the China Accord

in 2015 and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

“Because environmental stewardship is one of DLR Group’s core essential values, we will continue to be a passionate voice for the Architecture 2030 Challenge and sustainable design,” he said. “To meet the goals of the 2030 Challenge, our design teams focus not only on reducing energy use, but also advancing on-site energy production and developing tools and innovative systems to conserve and store energy on-site.”

While the firm doesn’t necessarily follow design trends, Johnson said that some of its members are becoming experts in mass timber design, a new type of construction material that uses heavy timber as a substitute for steel and has less environmental impact. One such project was the seven-story T3 office building in downtown Minneapolis, designed by DLR Group.

Technology has drastically changed the industry since Johnson first joined DLR Group in 1995. He said that virtual and augmented reality have staying power in the design field.

“When I first began working as an

architect, I was limited in who I could work with by distance or time. I would meet clients or collaborate with others by driving to where they were or calling them on a landline phone, and I would work on a computer that today is dwarfed by the power of my smartphone,” he said.

“In 2019, we can collaborate virtually and with ease with fellow designers across the world. There is still a need for integrated design teams to gather in a room to charrette, innovate and problem-solve, but we don’t absolutely need to be in the same office — or in an office at all — to produce work.”

Indeed, DLR Group’s Omaha office in Aksarben Village recently added hoteling workstations for DLR employees who come in from other offices — “nomads who don’t have a permanent desk” — and focus rooms so people can have quiet time if they need it.

The demand for talent in the design and construction industries is increasing, and it’s imperative to provide opportunities for the next generation, he said.

“A mobile generation of design professionals — both women and men — want

to pursue design careers that meet their personal expectations for fulfillment and work-life integration,” he said. “If we’re to recruit and retain the best talent, we must provide a work environment that ensures design is done on schedule and not focus solely on where or when it gets done.”

The integrated design firm, which also works on indoor environmental quality projects like daylighting, is using its own offices across the country to research the connection between work productivity and healthy work environments. Monitoring stations are set up to track indoor air quality in the two- to three-year study.

One of Johnson’s most memorable projects was when he worked on a school project in his hometown — a fun and stressful experience, he said.

“The people I work with have always been my favorite part of what I do,” he said. “Most of my career has been focused on K-12 design and I still get a great deal of job satisfaction when I see how proud students, parents and teachers are when they get into a new educational space we designed together.”

Omaha National Insurance leverages workers’ comp for expansion plan surprise so far is that everything has gone Continued from page 1.

22 new positions this summer and Pufall as well as we’ve planned and some better expects the build-out to meet the business’ than we hoped.”

For example, Pufall said any dollars needs for two years.

“We exceeded $30 million in premiums that might be lost for a few years with an in less than two years and we expect to hit underpriced product, due to the technology $50 million this year,” Pufall said. “We investment, can lead to a healthy and profcould be at $500 million in premiums and itable product as soon as possible.

In California, about 500 employa list of physicians ees in seven to eight Omaha National to deliver treatment years.”

Insurance Co. was built.

Pufall said his Phone: 844-761-8400 By combining two decades of expe- Services: workers compensation insurproprietary insurtech rience with workers’ ance for small and mid-size businesses software with handscompensation insur- Founded: 2016 by group of six local on writing and claims ance and the similar partners management, Omaha industry expertise of Employees: 83 National Insurance his partners in broad One-year goal: Hit $50 million in premihas achieved a low strokes has been im- ums. loss ratio. portant in launching Industry outlook: Workers’ compensation “Our loss ratio the company. market offers firm additional product/service for the 2018 accident “Our objective is areas for future growth. year is lower than to become a national Website: www.omahanational.com any of the 30 largworkers’ compenest comp carriers in sation insurer with all business written through indepen- California,” Pufall said. “We attribute that dent agents and brokers,” he said. “The to being better at controlling claim costs differentiator is our technology ap- while providing exceptional support to proach to gaining [industry] advantage workers with legitimate injuries.”

Pufall said the objective is to arrive at a through the development of proprietary fair settlement of claims early-on; Omaha software.”

By building on the more than 100 National Insurance’s success rate is more years of collective experience of the than 90% compared to the national average partners, he said 10 areas have been of about 65%.

Industries that tend to draw more t a rg e t e d a s c r u c i a l t o d i ff e r e n t i a ting Omaha National from its many workers’ compensation claims tend to be those such as food service and landscaping, competitors.

He lists a higher-than-industry aver- where there’s heavy use of the hands.

“Sometimes a company will just have age investment in software development, claims adjusting, utilization review, a run of bad luck with perhaps one or two medical bill review, medical network injuries per year with three employees utilization, data reporting, policy man- and that can cause workers’ comp premiagement, document management, research ums to go up by as much as 40% or even and compliance, and premium auditing as make it more difficult to buy,” Pufall said. “We will partner with the insurance examples.

“A particular emphasis is being placed agents to help the client address such on artificial intelligence that will produce a situation.”

Claims run from $200 for a nurse to good results for us,” he said. “Our biggest

flush out a foreign object from a worker’s eye to employees falling from significant heights. Cases of amputation of both legs from falls, and workers with diabetes, high blood pressure and other issues are more difficult to handle and costly.

In filling many of the new positions being created at Omaha National Insurance’s growing headquarters, Pufall said a more discriminating approach is taken when selecting among applicants.

He prefers those who are smart, of high character and can demonstrate thinking outside of the box.

“We never hire a person who has held a previous job in the workers’ comp industry,” he said.

One colleague of Pufall describes him as “someone who somehow makes workers’ comp insurance the most interesting thing you’ll hear about all day.”

Still, Pufall — a former vice president of claims for Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies — views the heavy investment being made by Omaha National Insurance in all facets of infrastructure that’s something crucial to the company’s future. It could venture into other categories of insurance products.

“We have a lot of options,” he said, noting that additional investment money will likely be needed.

Omaha National Group, the holding company, has three entities: Omaha National Insurance, an insurer; Omaha National Underwriters, a managing general agency; and Omaha National Employer Services, a payroll service provider.

The firm is partially capitalized by Agman, a multi-strategy investment firm that traces its roots to western Iowa in 1923.

Omaha National’s five-member board consists of Scott Silverman, founder/ CEO of Agman; Jeremy Smith, principal of Agman, Pufall, and Dennis Chookaszian and Geoff Banta, independent members.

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Preparation crucial for successful interview strategy

by David Kubicek

A job interview will not only help the interviewer get to know the applicant but it can also help the applicant get to know the company.

“Be professional, but be your authentic self,” said John Salow, a coach at Paradigm Coaching.

Before going in for the interview, learn as much as possible about the company by reviewing its website, searching through articles related to the firm and, if possible, scheduling short interviews CaReeRs with people you know who work for that company.

“Try to understand the company’s history, mission and vision, what industry it’s in and its competitors,” Salow said. “If you have the opportunity to interview someone that works there, ask them about the company culture, what some of the company’s biggest accomplishments have been over the last few years and some of their challenges.”

Michelle Perone, director of career and financial literacy programs at College of Saint Mary, advised applicants to plan what they will wear ahead in case the clothing doesn’t fit or you don’t have the apparel you’d like.

“Err on side of a suit unless you absolutely know you can dress business casual,” Perone said. “In general, neutral attire or an outfit that was put together well is always a safe choice.”

Salow suggested identifying examples from your work history that address the major responsibilities of the position, and prepare examples of how you’ve demonstrated experience dealing with particular job requirements.

Come up with some questions, based on the job requirements, that you think the interviewer will ask. Ask someone to role-play the interview with you so you can practice saying the responses out loud.

Map out and time your travel to the interview beforehand. Bring copies of your resume and a portfolio of your work if you have one.

“On the day of the interview, do your best to stay in a relaxed mindset,” Salow said.

“Take some deep breaths in the car before going in.”

Karla Keegan, market manager for Manpower, recommended preparing questions you would like to ask the interviewer about the firm’s philosophy, various aspects of the job and what the company requires of its employees and the position.

“Have answers prepared,” she said. “This will show you as being well organized and confident. Talk about your transferrable skills.

Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses.

For your weaknesses, talk about areas you’d like to improve on.”

Prepare a short concise answer for when you’re asked why you want the job. Give specific examples.

“Cover the bulletpoints,” Keegan said.

“What was the situation? What did you witness? How did you step in to handle the situation? What was the outcome?

“Always be courteous to every person you meet from the time you enter the door,” Perone said. “You never know if the interviewer will ask the person in the front office what

Correction

Randa Zalman has sold the company Canary & Coal. An article in the Aug. 9 Midlands Business Journal inadvertently misidentified her as the owner.

Karla Keegan, market manager at Manpower. their reaction was to the interviewee.” or too loose. When in doubt, ask others to Your handshake should not be too firm critique it.

“Interviewers are looking for people who are confident, motivated and driven,” Keegan said. “Double check your online profile — make sure you have a solid social media presence.”

If there’s a negative in your background, such as being terminated from a previous job, address it but make it short.

“Take accountability for your role in what happened,” Keegan said. “Talk about what you learned from it and what steps you’ve taken to make Perone sure it won’t happen again.”

“Be patient with the process,” Perone said.

“Follow up. Ask them when they’ll make a decision. Call or email them. Sometimes a thank-you note reminding the interviewer about some of the things [the two of you] talked about can sway the interviewer’s decision in your favor.”

What is a property survey and where can I get one?

by Dori Zinn

The amount of work required after making an offer on a home and actually moving in might be more than you think. For example, some homebuyers may need to get a property survey before they close on a new place.

Property surveys Real estate are done to determine or confirm land boundaries, such as the plot of land a home sits on, and identify other types of restrictions and conditions that apply to the legal description of a property.

Whether you’re buying a home or building an addition onto your property, you’re going to need a property survey. Let’s explore in more detail what it is and how to get one.

What is a property survey?

A property survey is all about defining what’s yours and what isn’t. Curtis Sumner, executive director of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), says they’re done for many different reasons.

“Property surveys are performed for a number of reasons,” Sumner says.

He adds that surveys are used to establish boundaries when new parcels of land are being developed, as well as to identify and confirm already established land boundaries.

For example, if you’re considering putting up a fence on your property, you’ll need to know where your property line ends — and where your neighbor’s begins. That’s what a property survey helps you determine.

If you’re looking to buy a home, you might be required to get a survey, depending on where you live. Many lenders and title companies require a copy of a survey to close on a home, but they’re not mandatory everywhere.

Where do I find my property’s survey?

If you’re buying a home, ask the seller to check with their lender and/or title company to see if there’s a property survey on file. The local tax assessor’s office may also have one.

If you’re already a homeowner and a survey was never provided to you, your local property records or engineering department may have one on file, but it’s probably older and could be outdated. While such dated

surveys are typically accurate on standard city lots, they can be wrong if you live on a former country parcel that’s been altered for suburban development. You can also check with neighbors to see where they got theirs.

What are the different types of property surveys?

Because there are many reasons to have a survey done, there are a few different types of surveys.

For example, land surveys are done to show the boundaries of a parcel of land. There are also topographic surveys, which show the plane as well as the elevation of land. If road improvements are requested, for instance, a topographic survey would be needed.

Other types of surveys include: -Monumentation surveys: These are done if you want to add a fence to your property.

-As-built surveys: Determine property lines but also where improvements can be made, like driveways and sidewalks.

-Mortgage surveys: Like as-built surveys, these show property boundaries for an entire property that will be mortgaged.

-Floodplain surveys: Show flood hazard areas.

If you’re requesting a property survey, be specific about why you need it. That way when you get an estimate for the work, it’s accurate in relation to what you need done.

Why are property surveys important?

While property surveys aren’t required everywhere, they are in many jurisdictions across the country. That’s because they detail how your property is defined in an official capacity. Rather than guessing where your property lines are, you have a document that makes it clear.

Emory Wooll, general manager of Title Partners of South Florida, says property surveys are required for lender title insurance policies.

“In order (for a title insurance policy to be issued), we need to know if there are any encroachments on the property prior to closing,” Wooll says. “They’re usually done before a home purchase, or, say, someone is putting a pool in or a fence.”

Wooll says cities or contractors will re-

quire a survey before permits can be pulled.

So if you’re hoping to build a pool in your backyard, you’ll need a recent survey completed. While there’s a chance you could use an old survey to pull permits, it’s not always guaranteed. In that case, you may want to get a new survey completed.

How much a property survey costs The cost of a property survey depends on what type of survey you need and the property’s size, location and history. A simple property boundary survey costs anywhere from $100 to $600, while a mortgage survey costs an average of $500, according to data from HomeAdvisor, which lists average costs for various types of property surveys.

The more complex a property’s features and records history, the more you’ll likely pay for a surveyor’s time.

If you’re buying a home and need a survey to establish property lines, determine whether a property is in a floodplain or because your lender requires one, you will pay for the survey.

How do I hire a property surveyor?

Searching for property surveyors in your area is one of the best ways to find companies to get the job done.

“There is a surveying society in each of the 50 states, all of which are affiliated with NSPS,” Sumner says. “Each of those societies has a website, which will typically include a ‘Find A Surveyor’ section.”

Don’t be afraid to ask your title company or lender for recommendations. This can help you find a trustworthy and reliable surveyor near you.

You should also take the time to question your potential surveyor. Talk about your needs beforehand to make sure they can fulfill the requirements. Check that the surveyor is licensed to practice in the state where the property is located, Sumner advises.

Be mindful of how much time it takes to complete a survey. Wooll says property surveys can usually be completed within a week, but it could take up to three, depending on the company.

Sumner says there’s no way to determine Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

11

A clean energy breakthrough could be buried deep beneath rural Utah

by Sammy Roth

If you know anything about solar and wind farms, you know they’re good at generating electricity when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, and not so good at other times. eneRgy Batteries can pick up the slack for a few hours. But they’re less useful when the sun and wind disappear for days at a time — a problem the Germans call “dunkelflaute,” meaning “dark doldrums.”

Those long stretches of still, cloudy days are one of the main obstacles standing in the way of renewable energy fully replacing SUPER CROSSWORD

fossil fuels.

For Los Angeles, salt may be a solution.

One hundred miles south of Salt Lake City, a giant mound of salt reaches thousands of feet down into the Earth. It’s thick, relatively pure and buried deep, making it one of the best resources of its kind in the American West.

Two companies want to tap the salt dome for compressed air energy storage, an old but rarely used technology that can store large amounts of power.

It would work like a giant battery. Hollow caverns carved out of the salt — each more than 1,000 feet from top to bottom and several SHOW HONOR

hundred feet wide — would be pumped full of air at high pressure, using energy generated by solar panels or wind turbines during times when the power isn’t needed. Like storing wind (or sun) in a bottle.

When the power is eventually needed, the tightly packed air would be released from the caverns, turning turbines on the way out to generate electricity.

The electricity would be ferried to Southern California through a 488-mile transmission line, built in the 1980s to transmit energy from Intermountain Power Plant, which is now the last coal-fired generating station serving California.

The coal plant is scheduled to shut down in 2025.

The salt dome’s proximity to Intermountain — they’re literally across the street from each other — is a lucky coincidence.

“It’s extraordinarily rare to have geology, transmission and a coal plant all sitting right next to each other,” said Jeff Meyer, president of Range Energy Storage Systems. “You ought to take advantage of this, because all the stars have lined up.”

It’s not all rosy: Compressed air storage technology requires the burning of natural gas, a planet-warming fossil fuel.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which hopes to tap the salt dome for energy storage, also plans to build a gas-fired power plant at Intermountain to help replace the coal facility. Clean energy advocates say the gas plant is unnecessary and incompatible with Mayor Eric Garcetti’s agenda to fight climate change.

Property survey Continued from preceding page. exactly how long it’ll take to complete a survey since there are so many variables to consider, including the quality and availability of property records, such as deeds.

Bottom line You might not need a property survey done before buying a home. In some cases, your lender or title company might require one, so make sure you’re prepared for the additional legwork and cost. Whether you’re closing on a home or planning a major addition, knowing your property’s precise boundary lines can help avoid costly headaches and disputes with neighbors later on. ©2019 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The 712 Initiative

Answers on page 12.

Continued from page 2.

Party Trailer.

“It’s been our Trojan horse,” Garst said. “It just takes a branded trailer, some tables, chairs and light games to get people to say ‘we use to have parties in the neighborhood all the time, why don’t we do that anymore?’”

It will also introduce “Doughnuts and DIY” through its Neighborhood Network program next year. The goal is to not only bring neighbors together, but to foster a rehab culture.

As the organization moves into its next phase Garst said the challenge will be finding a general contractor to partner and collaborate with for single-family home renovations and builds.

A new, old type of energy storage Compressed air energy storage has been used for decades, but only at two facilities in Germany and Alabama, built before solar and wind started creating challenges for power grid operators.

“This is a pretty simple concept,” said Bobby Bailie, director of business development for energy storage at the German industrial firm Siemens. “You’re pushing air into a cavern, storing that energy. And at times when you need it, you pull it back out.”

High-quality salt domes are relatively rare in the American West, although they’re common along the Gulf Coast, where many are used to store oil.

The Utah salt dome was discovered in the 1970s by drillers looking for oil and gas. It’s roughly three miles wide and a mile from top to bottom. It starts about 2,500 feet below the ground and stretches down to 7,500 feet — an ideal depth for pressurized caverns.

Two companies hope to tap the salt for energy storage.

One is Magnum Development, which is backed by the Houston-based private equity fund Haddington Ventures. Magnum has already built several hollow caverns in the salt dome by drilling wells, pumping in water to dissolve the salt, and pumping out the resulting brine. The caverns are used to store butane and propane.

The other company is Range Energy Storage Systems. It’s a partnership between North Carolina-based electricity giant Duke Energy, Sammons Enterprises of Dallas and American Transmission Co., whose headquarters is in Wisconsin.

Magnum and Range both submitted proposals to Southern California Public Power Authority, a consortium of public power agencies whose members include Los Angeles and 10 other cities. SCPPA officials are currently negotiating with one of the companies, although they won’t say which one.

Compressed air would provide the most value on an electric grid dominated by solar, wind and hydropower. Although lithium-ion batteries can store a few hours’ worth of energy — making them ideal for keeping the lights on at night, after the sun goes down — they’re far too expensive for banking large amounts of electricity for those rare occasions, typically during winter, when the sun and wind go into hiding for several days, grid experts say.

And that’s not likely to change, even as lithium-ion technology keeps getting cheaper.

“You’re never going to build enough batteries to get yourself through a week of low wind and sun, because you’re using those batteries once a year, but you’re paying full price for them,” said Matthias Fripp, an electrical engineering professor at the University of Hawaii. “They’re going to cost 365 times as much as those batteries you use every day.”

Hydrogen and heartache Magnum co-founder Rob Webster said the Utah salt dome can probably fit around 100 caverns, meaning it could be used by utilities across the West.

“This is very much a regional play,” Webster said. “It can really accelerate the transition to 100% renewables.”

Still, the technology has downsides.

For one thing, compressed air is limited by geography, meaning it probably won’t play a leading role in cleaning up the power Continued on next page.

12

• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

A clean energy breakthrough could be buried deep beneath rural Utah Continued from preceding page. grid nationally. Other energy-banking technologies could provide much larger amounts of long-duration storage if they achieve commercial viability.

Compressed air systems also require the burning of natural gas — a fossil fuel — to heat the air as it leaves a storage cavern, because its temperature would otherwise drop significantly as it expands.

Siemens’ Bailie, who has worked for both Magnum and Range, estimated a compressed air project in Utah would use about half the natural gas as a modern gas-fired power plant with the same capacity. But any natural gas could be a problem in the long run, since California law requires 100% of the state’s electricity to come from climate-friendly sources by 2045.

Officials at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power have “a little heartache” about the natural gas burned for compressed air storage, said Paul Schultz, the utility’s director of external energy resources. But they hope to eventually replace gas with hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel that can be produced by using renewable electricity to split water into its constituent elements, hydrogen and oxygen.

“The pathway to remove natural gas and use hydrogen is probably still 15, 20 years away,” Schultz said. “We’re just waiting for

the technology.”

In a best-case scenario, hydrogen could be stored in some of the salt caverns at Intermountain and used to fuel not only compressed air energy storage turbines, but also turbines at the gas-fired power plant Los Angeles plans to build at the site.

In a worst-case scenario, renewable hydrogen could remain prohibitively expensive, or be hindered by technical or safety constraints — and Los Angeles could be forced to stop running the $865-million gas plant in 2045, even as Angelenos are saddled with the vast majority of the facility’s costs.

Wind, sun and wires Salt and gas are just part of the story at Intermountain. Los Angeles officials say the infrastructure built decades ago for coal power could be repurposed as the center of a renewable energy hub, with solar and wind power charging the underground batteries at the salt dome.

The key is the 488-mile power line running from Utah to Southern California, known as the Southern Transmission System.

Energy companies are itching to build solar farms near Intermountain and send the electricity to California by way of the power line, which will have plenty of unused capacity once the coal plant shuts down. Several solar developers have proposed projects in the area, including L.A.-based 8minutenergy, the

German conglomerate BayWe, South Korea’s Hanwha Q Cells and EDF Renewable Energy, a San Diego-based subsidiary of the French electric utility EDF. Those projects could help sustain the economy of Utah’s Millard County after the coal generators shut down, said Ryan Evans, president of the Utah Solar Energy Association. Solar farms employ only a few people each once construction is finished. But the tax revenues could be significant.

“We have these wide open lands that get tons of sun exposure, but don’t have other uses,” Evans said.

Nearby Wyoming, meanwhile, has some of the strongest winds in the continental United States. Renewable electricity generated by those powerful gusts could also make its way to Southern California via the Intermountain transmission line.

The conservative billionaire Philip Anschutz is already angling to make that happen.

Anschutz, who owns Staples Center and the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, has spent more than $200 million permitting and beginning to build the country’s largest wind farm in Wyoming, along with a 730-mile power line to get the electricity to California.

His company has held discussions with L.A. about routing their power line through Intermountain, and sending some of the wind energy to California through the existing

Q&A: Modern wildfires pose new health risks for firefighters

by Barbara Feder Ostrov

As California’s wildfire season gets underway in earnest this month, new research underscores the risks that modern wildfires pose to firefighters’ long-term health.

Studies long have linked firefighters’ onthe-job exposure to chemicals and toxins in urban blazes with an WoRkplaCe increased risk of cancer. More recently, as urban-style development reaches into once remote stretches of California’s mountains and forests, wildfires are decimating not only vast swaths of forest but also whole communities of homes and businesses. That means firefighters are dealing with exposure to the intense heat produced by burning vegetation as well as fuels and carcinogens more common in urban fires.

And, wildfire crews typically aren’t equipped with the bulky protective gear urban firefighters wear.

A University of California, Berkeley study released in July underscores the potential risks: It found elevated levels of mercury and other toxins in the blood of firefighters who had battled the deadly Tubbs fire, which destroyed thousands of homes in Napa and Sonoma counties in 2017.

Tony Stefani, a retired San Francisco Fire Department captain, started the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation in 2006 to educate his colleagues about job-related cancers and promote early detection. After 27 years on the job, Stefani was diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma, a rare cancer of the urinary system, and successfully treated.

Stefani, 68, spoke with California Healthline about the cancer risks firefighters face and prevention options. (The interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

Q: What do we know about the link between firefighting and cancer?

A: We know there is a definitive link between cancer and firefighting. An import-

ant study is the 2010 study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health examining causes of death for more than 30,000 firefighters back to 1950. We’re considered to be a healthier group of people in the workforce — firefighters stay in shape and have good medical coverage. But the study found we had higher rates of multiple cancers, including oral, digestive, prostate and breast cancers. The study also linked the number of fires a firefighter fought with a higher risk of a cancer diagnosis.

Q: The UC Berkeley study found firefighters deployed to the Tubbs fire had higher levels of mercury in their blood than crews not deployed. (Mercury is a neurotoxin that can damage lungs, kidneys and other organs; it has not been linked definitively to cancer.) What do you hope comes from this kind of research?

A: What we want this study to bring about is change to better protect women and men fighting these wildfires. The firefighters from San Francisco and other jurisdictions had severe toxic chemical exposures. They were not suited up for residential fires. They were in lightweight wildfire gear. They did not wear self-contained breathing apparatus, which can weigh 30 to 40 pounds.

Q: How does your foundation work with firefighters?

A: The foundation provides free cancer screenings and free genomic testing if insurance won’t cover it. We pay for second opinions and medical transport costs — for example, if firefighters are sent to another state for clinical trials. We’ve also been involved in studies that show a direct correlation between cancer and the firefighting profession. We have no paid employees. Our money comes from firefighters.

Q: What changes would you recommend to protect firefighters? How well are government leaders responding?

A: The current San Francisco Fire Department administration is excellent and making a

lot of changes, including cultural change where firefighters are taking better care of themselves before and after fires.

Every firefighter should have a complete Continued on page 22.

488-mile system.

Anschutz Corp. executive Bill Miller described the Southern Transmission System as an “incredibly valuable and viable asset” — especially in an era when environmental regulations and public opposition have made it difficult and expensive to build long-distance wires.

“It cannot be left stranded when they get rid of that coal plant,” Miller said.

Keeping the band together Compressed air isn’t the only technology that might balance the variability of those solar and wind farms.

Grid managers could supplement sun and wind with resources that generate climate-friendly electricity around the clock, such as geothermal or nuclear power, or gas plants outfitted with carbon-capture technology. California could also work with other states to share more renewable energy across state lines, because it’s almost always sunny or windy somewhere in the West.

All those options face their own economic, technological or political hurdles. None of them will halt climate change on its own.

Neither will compressed air energy storage. But Los Angeles officials hope it’s part of the solution — and so do the Utah cities that partnered with L.A. to build the Intermountain coal plant.

“The fact that this is turning into an energy hub for next-generation energy technologies is very exciting for the Utah partners,” said John Ward, a spokesman for Utah’s Intermountain Power Agency. “They wanted to do whatever they could to keep the band together.” ©2019 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

13

This advertising CEO uses neuroscience to sell you stuff

by Ronald D. White

Jessica Hawthorne-Castro, 40, is chairwoman and chief executive of Hawthorne Direct, an 85-employee advertising agency that uses “neuromarketing” to generate a stronger and quicker response from consumers. This year, Hawthorne-Castro was the winner in the transformational MaRketing leader category of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards of Greater Los Angeles. Hawthorne Direct’s clients include Apple, Nissan, Spectrum Business, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and the U.S. Navy.

Rocket science Marketers have always tried to tap into consumers’ subconscious, Hawthorne-Castro said, but her company uses neuroscience to enhance campaigns so that they are more likely to resonate with the audience and employs detailed analytics to measure what is working.

“Neuroscience aims to go beyond figuring out what people want or like and dives into the underlying forces that shape consumer decision making,” Hawthorne-Castro said.

For instance, she said, neuroscience explains that testimontials work by exploiting humans’ need for social validation, and products and services that help consumers avoid a bad outcome are leveraged by humans’ “pessimism bias” that helped our ancestors survive.

Realistic approach The Philadelphia native grew up in Iowa and later became a fine arts major at UCLA, showing talent for painting and photography.

But it can be very hard to pay the bills with the usually uncertain income stream that comes with being an artist. “I was an artist, but I was also a realist, right? So, I thought ‘Well, I’m good, but I’m not great.’ Nor is it a really good career to go into,” she said.

Intern inspiration An internship during her UCLA days provided a better idea for a career. It happened when she was working for music video and film director Bille Woodruff. A member of his crew made an important suggestion. “He said, ‘Have you ever thought about becoming an agent?’ I had not. Of course when I heard that, then I started reading all about it. I knew artists so well, that representing them, whether they be actors, writers or directors, was actually just a natural fit,” Hawthorne-Castro said.

Prime time In 2001, she joined what is now known as William Morris Endeavor, remaining there through April 2007 as a television literary agent. “I represented writers, directors and producers for TV,” Hawthorne-Castro said, helping clients work on shows including “Lost,” various iterations of the “Law & Order” franchise, and “Entourage.” She was particularly fond of the latter because she had “lived that real-life story, because I had worked for Ari Emanuel as an assistant.”

Emanuel, said to be the real-life inspiration for “Entourage” character Ari Gold, is now the co-chief executive of William Morris Endeavor.

Find your mentor Some people hope to be discovered by higher-ranking employees who will advise and promote them. That’s way too iffy for Hawthorne-Castro. “You need to kind of self-select a mentor,” she said. “So, finding someone at partner level or management level, I think, is always critical: working hard, improving yourself and making their life easier so that they want to bring you up

the ranks.”

Unusual step Her next gig was with Hawthorne Direct, her father Tim’s company. It had been an infomercial pioneer when that advertising platform was wildly popular in the last century but was struggling in the digital age.

She was coming in to help but wasn’t sure it made sense because it involved a substantial pay cut. “No one just stops being an agent if you’re successful, right? No one. Maybe they do so more now, but, they certainly didn’t 10, 15 years ago, unless you were kicked out.”

Working with dad Hawthorne-Castro also wasn’t sure she would work well with the boss. “My father and I were fairly reluctant because we never thought we would work together,” she said. Hawthorne-Castro worked her way up through the company, from vice president of operations and client services to chief operating officer. She became the company’s chief executive in May 2014.

Disruptive “I just worked harder than everyone, just set the pace that no one had ever seen. And so it was a pretty natural. No one told me to take over the company or take on these roles,”

Hawthorne-Castro said. “Whatever I’m doing, whether it’s a board or organization, I just naturally kind of start kicking things over, seeing where the holes are and kind of organizing the troops.”

Know the biz “Working your way, seeing all aspects, is really important,” Hawthorne-Castro said, especially if the task involves a sharp change in direction. “I saw from the very beginning what was good, what was working and what needed to be improved. And there’s nothing that anyone can run by me, or get past me,” she said. “It definitely kind of gives you the bulletproof way of operating, that you know all aspects of it.”

New model In an advertising campaign for Home Advisor, Hawthorne-Castro’s company focused on the unanticipated problems that can suddenly happen around the home; “vignettes were used,” according to her company website’s case studies, “to create humorous problem/solution scenarios at multiple time lengths.” For Credit One, the idea was more psychological. Knowing that credit card customers hate giving out personal information, Hawthorne Direct “portrayed a world where

everyone asks for ‘too much information,’ and then shared a more private and secure credit card experience.”

Leadership style “I give people a lot of leeway,” Hawthorne-Castro said, “but I also expect a lot of out of them. So, there’s always going to be problems or things to improve, in anything — in life or in business — and that’s fine. So I’m always looking for how to do things better, but don’t just come with your complaints, come with your suggestion” on how things can be improved.

Personal Hawthorne-Castro has been married to husband James Castro for 17 years. Their son Braden, 7, “aspires to be a magician at the Magic Castle” in Hollywood. When she’s not working, she loves to travel. “Traveling is really, really one of probably my biggest passions,” she said. “I don’t get to do it quite as much as I would like to, especially since my son has been born. But I think I’ve been to all the continents, except for Antarctica, and 130 countries at this point.” ©2019 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How to mind your manners during interview lunch or dinner

by Jorie Goins

As workplace conventions become more relaxed, with T-shirts and Converse replacing suits, it may be tempting to consider judging someone’s table manners a relic of the past.

But, etiquette isn’t completely going the way of the office cubiHiRing cle, according to experts.

Though times have changed, and you might not lose a job offer for not knowing where the salad fork is, manners still matter.

According to Diane Gottsman, founder of the Protocol School of Texas, while it’s important to be on your best behavior, avoiding a faux pas shouldn’t be your sole focus when a hiring manager for a promising position invites you out for a meal or coffee.

“What they are noticing is your ability to put them at ease,” Gottsman said. “They can see how you handle an awkward moment. That’s what they’re looking for.”

According to Gottsman, managers read into a candidate’s behavior throughout the course of a meal. This helps them determine characteristics that may help or hurt the interviewee on the job.

Employers often start their observation of a candidate’s mealtime decorum as early as the discussion of what restaurant to choose. Brittany Hodak, an entrepreneur and speaker, shared the unique criteria she uses to determine if a candidate or client will be a good fit prior to breaking bread with them.

“One of my favorite things to do when we’re setting the meeting is to invite somebody to a quick-serve restaurant,” Hodak told Inc. in 2014. “If you invite somebody to meet you at a Chili’s, for instance, and they say, ‘Absolutely not, I would never go to a Chili’s,’ it’s an easy way to say, ‘You know what, this is probably going to be a very difficult person to work with.’ ” In an interview, Hodak noted that people who push back on a quick-serve style

restaurant are more likely to “argue about something that doesn’t need to be argued about — and it’s not necessarily because it’s a better idea, it’s just a different idea.”

Hodak, who has a shellfish allergy, also mentioned that people who reject franchise restaurants don’t take into account that their host may have dietary restrictions that trendy restaurants can’t accommodate.

“One of the great things about franchise chain restaurants is that they often have much stricter protocol around allergy preparation,” Hodak said.

Dietary limitations aside, mealtime interviews are also necessary for positions where interactions are likely to happen in casual settings.

“Leaders have to be able to talk to people of all stripes and they have to be able to carry a conversation. You many times will see that at a meal because it’s more casual and you’re not necessarily talking all business,” said C-suite consultant Heidi Pozzo.

Getting job candidates in a more natural situation allows employers to see things that a prospective employee may conceal during a traditional interview. SquareFoot CEO Jon Wasserstrum regularly conducts interviews over coffee and meals, noting that in a conference room conversation, interviewees will often put their best foot forward as opposed to their “real” foot.

“And that’s nice” Wasserstrum said, “But it’s not terribly helpful. You don’t work with the best version of somebody.”

At the restaurant, potential employers look at your interactions with the waitstaff as well as your consideration for them when selecting your meal.

Nick Kamboj, the CEO of Aston & James LLC., said a big red flag is “when the candidate does not understand the time commitment involved.” Kamboj said he takes note if an interviewee requests a time-consuming dish or orders dessert and coffee right after the entree.

“It simply demonstrates poor form and poor decision making when a candidate

decides to make the meeting more about the culinary dining experience than really for what the meeting is for, which is to assess their candidacy for the role.”

One tricky question is whether or not to order alcohol. According to Pozzo, if part of a candidate’s job is attending functions where alcohol is served, it makes sense to see how a person conducts themselves in the presence of drinks.

“I haven’t put a nix on it because that’s what people are going to do as a leader in the company. So you want to see how they behave when they are having a glass of wine or a cocktail or whatever,” Pozzo said.

Wasserstrum mirrors this line of thinking. “‘A drunk man’s words are a sober man’s thoughts’ – you’re not trying to get somebody liquored up to say something stupid, but surely after somebody has a glass of wine or a beer, they’re a little looser and they’re more likely to say what they’re really thinking.”

But according to Gottsman, an employer’s perception of you changes when you have a drink, whether or not you actually overdo it.

“You spill something on yourself with a glass of wine, you’re drunk. Without a glass of wine, you’re clumsy. And it’s much better to be clumsy,” Gottsman said, citing the “Imbibing Idiot Bias,” a study from the Journal of Consumer Psychology, which states that people who hold or consume alcohol are viewed as less intelligent.

In general, your behavior during the meal should reflect your confidence and good judgment, more than your immaculate knowledge of table settings or excellent taste in wine.

“You need to do your homework and be aware of what puts you in a position to stand out in a positive way,” Gottsman said.

And when all else fails, Hodak has one simple rule to fall back on: “Make sure you’re not being a jerk.”

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Tesla has a huge incentive to deploy self-driving tech. But is the world ready?

by Russ Mitchell

Elon Musk frames his company’s aggressive push into driverless car technology as a moral imperative.

Along with sustainable electric transportation, he views autonomy as a core element of Tesla Inc.’s “fundamental goodness.”

Humans will be freed of the tedium of driving, he told Wall Street last year. Millions teCHnology of lives will be saved.

There is another incentive for Musk to put driverless cars on the road, though. The day he does that, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of stored-up revenue become eligible for a trip straight to Tesla’s perpetually stressed bottom line.

All Tesla cars built since late 2016 are equipped with sensors and other hardware that allow them to function without a human driver at the wheel, according to the company. Since then, buyers of Tesla Models S, X, and 3 have been able to pay $3,000 to $6,000 to eventually get what Musk calls Full Self-Driving technology, or FSD. (The price will soon rise to $7,000.)

Tesla has sold approximately 500,000 cars over that period. The electric-vehicle website Electrek has estimated that 40% of customers choose the FSD option. Owners who haven’t can buy it when available, albeit at a higher price.

Tesla cars will just need new lines of computer code beamed into the car to go full robot when the software is ready, the company says. Musk is aiming to make that happen by the end of the year.

But is Tesla anywhere close to ready with fully driverless technology? And what would that even mean?

The answers concern many in the auto industry, and not just for reasons of competitiveness. Auto executives worry that premature deployment of driverless technology would result in crashes, injuries and deaths and rile up politicians and regulators. It could also damage public trust in the technology — which surveys show is already low — and set the field back by years, they fear.

On Tesla’s website, where FSD is offered for sale, the company says that automatic driving will be available on city streets by the end of the year. FSD will recognize stop signs and traffic lights, it says. And Musk is aiming to release a self-parking feature by the end of the year.

The technology, originally scheduled for a May release, would allow a car to drive itself around a parking lot, find an empty spot and park.

Tesla does not say how a car equipped with FSD might respond to a child crossing the street chasing a ball, or whether it would swerve over a double yellow line to avoid a bicyclist. It is “edge cases” such as these that Waymo — the autonomous-driving unit of Google parent Alphabet, and the acknowledged industry leader — and others say are taking them so much time to perfect.

Asked to provide a timeline for Tesla’s transition to totally driverless cars, a Tesla spokeswoman pointed to the Autopilot section of its website where the company discusses future use of Tesla cars without driver supervision. As for what Tesla means by “full” self-driving, she offered the following quote from a recent presentation

by Musk: “There’s three steps to self-driving. There’s being feature complete, then there’s being feature complete to the degree where we think that the person in the car does not need to pay attention. And then there’s being, at a reliability level, where we also convince regulators that that is true.”

The lack of clarity on FSD’s capabilities and timeline concerns the National Safety Council, a nonprofit health and safety advocacy group. “Most people don’t understand the technology that’s already in their cars,” said council Vice President Kelly Nantel. “It’s confusing to drivers.

When you call something Full Self-Driving or Autopilot (Tesla’s driver-assist technology) you give the impression that the vehicle has capabilities it doesn’t have.”

Moving the millions collected from FSD customers onto Tesla’s bottom line could be enough to ensure a profit in the fourth quarter, which Musk told stock analysts last month he’s “pretty confident” Tesla can do. That would

be huge for a company that is struggling to prove it’s not a perpetual money loser. Tesla hasn’t produced an annual profit since its founding in 2003. In the second quarter of this year, Tesla sold a record 95,000 cars but lost $389 million.

As of the second quarter, Tesla listed $1.18 billion in deferred revenue. The company doesn’t break out how much of that is for FSD. But if Electrek’s estimate is correct, then more than 200,000 car buyers have paid somewhere from $600 million to more than $1 billion for the option.

There are other advantages to flipping on the self-driving switch. Musk has said the “take rate” — the number of owners who will want the option — will jump when Full Self-Driving goes live.

Of course, Musk is known for his aggressive claims of actual and future Tesla technology. He boasted in April, for instance, that the company would have the first of a fleet of robotaxis on the road next year.

Some of the company’s claims have landed it in hot water. Consumer Reports found that a new Navigate feature that allowed unassisted lane changes “doesn’t work very well” and “could create potential safety risks.”

Bloomberg reported recently that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent Tesla a cease-and-desist letter in October focused on a Tesla website claim that its newest car, the Model 3, has “the lowest probability of injury of all cars the safety agency has tested.” The safety agency also alerted the Federal Trade Commission to Tesla’s claims.

In addition, the highway safety agency hit Tesla with subpoenas for information on several crashes involving Tesla’s Autopilot.

Musk’s own statements indicate Tesla’s Full Self-Drive technology remains in the early stages of development.

Just several months ago, in a conference call with stock analysts, Musk talked about the difficulty of programming a car to reliably read traffic lights. “It’s easy to recognize stop signs. Traffic lights and intersections will be the next really tricky one,” he said. That is one of the capabilities the company says are “coming later this year.”

In the same call, Musk said navigating multilevel parking lots at a shopping mall “with lots of traffic and pedestrians … is where things get real tricky.” But the Tesla website claims, “your parked car will come find you anywhere in a parking lot. Really.”

On Twitter in June, Musk said that “we’ve been work-

ing on curbs” and that “excessive shades of gray” are making concrete seams hard to identify.

Even Tesla’s instruction on current technology seems problematic. A few weeks ago, Tesla’s head of manufacturing, Jerome Guillen, said that the “No. 1” reason for owner visits to Tesla service centers is to learn “how to use Autopilot.” Musk himself has been shown several times driving with his hands off the wheel while using Autopilot — most famously in a “60 Minutes” segment last year — even though the Tesla driver’s handbook warns against that.

In the robotaxi fleet Musk envisions, Tesla owners would send the driverless cars out to pick up passengers Uber-style and make money on the side for themselves and for Tesla — so much money that Tesla cars would appreciate in value, Musk said, a claim that prompted widespread skepticism.

A big hurdle to any self-driving push is that driverless cars are not yet legal in most locations. Musk said regulations are so tough in Europe that he’s not even thinking of deploying there. Florida and Arizona, both with ultra-light regulations on driverless technology, are two likely locations for an initial rollout, although Tesla’s Autopilot has been involved in at least two fatal Florida crashes, and in Arizona an Uber driverless test car with an inattentive test driver hit and killed a woman walking her bicycle across the street.

Such cars are technically legal in California, but companies that deploy them must undergo a permit process more complicated and time-consuming than the requirements in more liberal self-drive states. Driverless cars are being tested in California but have not been commercially deployed or made available for sale.

Tesla’s aggressive stance flies in the face of the go-slower approach of all other major companies.

Waymo, Ford, General Motors’ Cruise and others have lengthened their development timelines and say that safe deployment of driverless cars is taking longer than expected.

In January, carmakers, technology companies, insurance firms, advocates for the elderly and disabled, safety groups, the association of state governors and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce formed a group called Partners for Automated Vehicle Education, or PAVE, to provide “clear, factual information to the public and policymakers” about driverless cars. Tesla and Uber were Continued on next page.

Sluggish housing market could add up to less remodeling business in 2020

by Jim Buchta

A contractor not returning your calls? Consider calling next year.

Remodelers are having one of their busiest summers ever, but that’s likely to change.

The annual gain in home-improvement spending is expected to fall by as much as half in many major real estate markets by the end of this year, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

Real estate That’s good news for homeowners with big projects on their lists, but it’s putting remodelers, handymen and their subcontractors on edge.

“If you’ve been in business more than two years you’re always worried about what next year will be like,” said John Sylvestre of Sylvestre Remodeling and Design in Richfield, Minn. “I’m a little more nervous about what’s going to happen next year.”

The biggest worry is slowing home sales, a leading indicator for home-improvement expenditures. Here’s why: Homeowners are much more willing to defer big projects than those making a move.

Sylvestre and other contractors say that when people remodel their current homes, they tend to tackle smaller projects and spend less than move-up buyers like Ray and Donna Bronson, who bought a house in Edina, Minn., last fall. The floor plan had a main-level master bedroom and bathroom that fit their needs perfectly, but they knew when they bought the house that they’d have to update

the 15-year-old kitchen.

What started out as a fairly defined project turned into a nearly whole-house remodel.

Because the house has an open floor plan, they quickly realized they couldn’t update the kitchen without giving the rest of the main level rooms a matching face-lift.

“The house has an overabundance of brown wood,” Ray Bronson said. “All of that got stripped out.”

They broadened the scope in other ways, including new bathroom fixtures, reconfiguring the laundry room and installing up-to-date audio equipment.

“Not too much is being left the same,” Bronson said.

The Bronsons wanted the job to be finished before they leave for warmer climes this fall, and they’d been burned on a previous remodeling project that took twice as long as expected. So they started interviewing three design-build firms in early January, hoping for a spring start.

“This wasn’t my first rodeo,” said Ray Bronson.

“Scheduling was a big factor.”

Their contractor, Ed Roskowinski, owner/general manager of Vujovich, said that since the recession, annual sales have been increasing about 5% to 10%, but he’s expecting a shift.

“I look at 2020 as maybe a challenging year, he said.

“I see the economy slowing a bit now, which will affect us in about six months.”

Roskowinski agrees there’s a correlation between demand for his services and home sales. So far this year, Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

15

Scholar digs into why people with generous unemployment benefits take longer to find work

by Jackie Crosby

Unemployment insurance is designed as a safety net for people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Economic studies show that when people are offered more generous unemployment benefits — such as a longer time horizon and higher payments — they take longer to find new jobs.

“The question is why?” said Connie Wanberg, a University of Minnesota professor and internationally known researcher in unemployment, job search and careers.

“I don’t see a lot of evidence of slackers. The U.S. has a lot of eMployMent checks and balances on people looking for work.”

Wanberg’s latest research, published in June in the Journal of Applied Psychology, offers nuanced results

Tesla has a huge incentive Continued from preceding page. not invited.

PAVE’s Twitter feed could be read as taking on Tesla, if not by name. “It is damaging to public discussion about advanced vehicle technologies — and potentially unsafe — to refer to vehicles now available for sale to the public using inaccurate terms,” PAVE tweeted in April. “This includes terms such as “fully automated,” “full self-driving,” “fully autonomous,” “auto pilot” or “driverless,” which can create an inaccurate impression of vehicle capabilities that can put drivers and other road users at risk.”

Bryant Walker Smith, a law professor at the University of South Carolina who specializes in autonomous driving, agrees.

“The technical definition of ‘full’ means I can get into this car, fall asleep, and (the car) can take me from downtown Manhattan to the mountains of Maine in the wintertime,” he said. “The concern … with language like ‘full self-driving’ is that people will be too confident in the technology” and the industry “will lose credibility and trust.”

The industry itself is at least partly to blame for the confusion, though. While PAVE is studying autonomous vehicle nomenclature with the aim of achieving greater clarity, there are no agreed-upon terms that define and describe the technology. The industry relies on a system of “levels,” from 1 to 5, with no automation on one end and total automation in all road conditions on the other.

Adaptive cruise control, for instance, is Level 2.

Designed by the Society of Automotive Engineers, that ranking methodology offers a rough guide for technologists but hasn’t proved a useful tool for general public understanding. It’s one reason why many people think a term like Autopilot means the car can drive itself. Tesla’s driver’s handbook makes clear it doesn’t.

At the same time, Tesla has not made clear what it means by Full Self-Driving. The term seems to imply Level 5 full driverless automation. But when asked for clarification, Tesla’s public relations department sent this quote from a recent Musk presentation on the subject: “We expect to be confident enough from our standpoint to say that we think people do not need to touch the wheel, look out of the window.”

Adding to the confusion, Musk told analysts in July that “we already have full self-driving capability on highways.”

After several high-profile crashes in which Autopilot might have been activated, however, Tesla issued statements saying the driver must pay attention at all times.

The lack of clarity extends as well to how Tesla is treating the FSD funds on its balance sheet. Tesla may have moved some deposit money off the balance sheet already. Its financial statements are opaque on the matter.

Tesla’s chief financial officer, Zach Kirkhorn, told stock analysts recently that FSD revenue will be recognized “upon the release of additional features.”

“Everybody’s waiting to see what Tesla does,” said Nantel at the National Safety Council. “Federal regulators will be watching.” ©2019 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

for policymakers.

Working with an international team, Wanberg compared how varying levels of unemployment benefits in the United States, Germany and the Netherlands affect the speed and quality of re-employment as well as the level of financial and psychological stress of job seekers.

The study is the first to apply psychological methods with economic models, Wanberg said, providing a bigger picture of the complexities of employment.

“People who perceive less time pressure don’t prioritize it as much,” said Wanberg, who teaches in the department of Work and Organizations in the Carlson School of Management.

“They have less financial strain so they didn’t spend as much time getting their résumé done quickly,” she added. “They didn’t submit job applications as quickly.

They weren’t networking as quickly.”

But this group also ended up with much stronger mental health and better quality jobs, something that economists studying macro-level data can’t tease out.

“People have more time to turn down jobs they don’t want or get jobs that are a better fit,” she said. “There’s more to it than income. Someone might care how far they have to drive to work.”

Based on surveys of more than 1,600 job seekers, the results held across all countries.

Job seekers who received comparatively less generous benefits got on top of the job search more quickly and found work.

But they also felt more time pressure, endured more financial strain and expressed a lower sense of well-being, the researchers found.

Among the three countries studied, the Netherlands has the most generous policy, providing 70% to 75% of gross earnings for a maximum of three years, depending on employment history.

Germany is in the middle, where individuals can collect at least 60% of net earnings (slightly more if there are dependent children) for up to a year.

In the United States, unemployment insurance is funded by a tax on employers. Those receiving benefits must be available and willing to work and they must prove that they’re making an effort to find a job.

Job seekers typically receive up to 26 weeks of benefits at about 50% of their previous average weekly wage.

Most states cap the payments.

In Minnesota, the maximum pay is about $717 per

week, according to the state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

Last year, with monthly unemployment ranging from 2.2% to 3.9%, about 142,300 Minnesotans received a payment, totaling about $791 million. That compares to about $2.8 billion spent in 2010, near the end of the effects of the last recession. There were more than 348,700 job seekers in the state that year.

“It’s important to question how much benefit unemployment insurance provides and to clearly understand what the pros and cons are of higher vs. lower levels,” Wanberg said.

“I wouldn’t want somebody to view this as saying, We provide too many benefits in the U.S. or we should cut them further,” she added. “When you take a closer look, the mental health benefits are pretty serious.”

Marsheela Outlaw, 62, lost her job on a Friday in midJune and by Monday she had found her way to a workforce center in Bloomington, Minn.

She quickly developed a plan: Work on her résumé, attend classes on interview skills, find a support network of other job seekers, apply for at least two jobs a week.

“Every now and then I do have a little anxiety,” said Outlaw, who had spent 18 years as an executive assistant at Regis Corp.

Last fall, she took a position with HealthEZ, and then the company laid her off within a year. Now, she’s dipping into her savings to make the $519 weekly unemployment checks last.

“I just want to make sure I get a job that fits,” she said, acknowledging she might have to earn less money.

“That’s why I’m not jumping at anything that comes along anymore. I’m trying to get to retirement.”

Tom Reese, a workforce development specialist who manages the CareerForce office in Bloomington, said many laid-off workers need help moving through the stages of grief.

The center’s classes, training and one-on-one counseling aim to help people deal with stress while also getting focused on landing a new job.

“It’s harsh but we say, ‘We don’t want to see you again,’ ” he said. “Don’t just grab the first thing. Don’t let stress get to the point where you’re not making good choices.” ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sluggish housing market could add up to less remodeling business in 2020 Continued from preceding page. home sales in the Twin Cities haven’t kept pace with 2018, mostly because of a shortage of listings that are affordable to first-time buyers and baby boomers. At the same time, the median price of those closings is at an all-time high, putting homeownership out of reach for a growing number of would-be buyers.

There’s another factor for a possible eConoMy slowdown, Roskowinski said. During election years, homeowners spend less on their home-improvement projects.

“Every four years you see a downtick (in sales) for about four months,” he said. “A lot of our clients are tied to the stock market, so they’re a little uncertain and will sit on their wallets and until the election is done.”

That’s not necessarily the case for much smaller companies that focus on more routine home maintenance and small remodeling projects. Mike Sitek, owner of Handyman Matters in Edina, said that in contrast to firms on larger projects, his company specializes in window and door replacements, deck repairs and other projects that can’t be put off indefinitely, no matter the economy. He now has more work than he can handle and said the calls keep coming. It’s now taking 30 to 45 days to bid a job, “There’s more work out there to do than you can imagine,” he said. “It’s a great business to be in, but people get upset that they have to wait.”

Sitek and other remodeling companies say their biggest challenge now is finding skilled workers and subcontrac-

tors. While many firms have a small pool of carpenters, most rely on shrinking pools of subcontractors.

“Our contractors are constantly telling me they have to turn away jobs because they don’t have the labor to do the jobs,” said Beatrice Owen, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). “There just aren’t enough employees.”

Harvard’s Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) says annual gains in homeowner expenditures for improvements and repairs across the nation are expected to shrink to just 0.4% by the second quarter of 2020. That’s compared with 6.3% now.

New data also show remodeling spending during recent years wasn’t nearly as robust as expected, so the Joint Center recently cut by more than half its projections for annual growth in remodeling spending in 2016 and 2017, now estimated at 5.4%.

“Declining home sales and homebuilding activity coupled with slower gains in permitting for improvement projects will put the brakes on remodeling growth over the coming year,” Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies, said in a statement. “However, if falling mortgage-interest rates continue to incentivize home sales, refinancing and ultimately remodeling activity, the slowdown may soften some.” ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

16

• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

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

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

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

Payment options are cash or check.

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

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

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

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HUDSON HOUNDS LLC Hudson Hounds 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 is 3570 S 203rd Cir, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The name, street and mailing address of the initial agent for service of process is Amen Business Law, L.L.C., 3420 Cape Charles Rd W, Lincoln, NE 68516.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: RUTH C. MCKINLEY, 13726 HARRISON PLAZA APT 412, OMAHA NE 68137-4174, you are hereby notified that on April 26, 2019, CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORP. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-9241, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $8,421.73, 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 16th day of September, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication July 26, 2019, final August 16, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DAYSHAPES, LLC The name of the Company is DayShapes, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 4724 Young Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68152. 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 24, 2019.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: CHLOE M. MCMANIS, 2805 South 126th Plaza #7, Omaha NE 68144, you are hereby notified that on June 13, 2019, Ford Motor Credit Company, LLC. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-13059, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $13,251.84, 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 16th day of September , 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication July 26, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: STEPHENIE SCHUMANN, 215 W. Meigs St Trlr 28, Valley NE 68064, you are hereby notified that on June 13, 2019, Credit Acceptance Corporation filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-13057, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $9,731.60, 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 7th day of October, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication August 16, 2019, final September 6, 2019

DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: BRADLEY S. BATTER, 2322 Ridgewood Ave, Omaha NE 68124, you are hereby notified that on June 13, 2019, FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY, LLC filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-13061, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $9,741.06, 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 16th day of September, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication July 26, 2019, final August 16, 2019 CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Oola Lifetime LLC, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska on 07/09/2019 with its designated office: 6405 N 157th St. Omaha, NE, 68116 Registered Agent: Registered Agents, Inc., 530 S. 13th St., Ste. #100, Lincoln, NE, 68508. General Nature of Business: Online retailer. The Business shall be Member-Managed.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 JOHN Q. BACHMAN, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is hereby given of incorporation of JKI Design, Inc. under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the Corporation is JKI Design, Inc. 2. The number of shares that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 10,000 shares of common stock.

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

4. The name and address of the incorporator is John Q. Bachman, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

5. The general nature of the business to be transacted by the Corporation is any and all lawful business for which a corporation may be incorporated in Nebraska.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF THRIVING FUTURES, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Thriving Futures, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is Thriving Futures, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 2036 N. 63rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68104, 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 August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION On August 2, 2019, Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of EMS BILLING SERVICES, INC., were filed in the following manner: The new name of this Corporation is: LLVJR, INC. First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 ROBERT E. BURNS, Attorney 11330 Q Street, Suite 220 Omaha, Nebraska 68137 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Drusyakshak, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Drusyakshak, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability Company is Drusyakshak, LLC. 2. The company's Initial agent for service of process is Andrew J. Matney. The Initial agent's address and the address of the Initial designated office of the Company is1316 Bellevue Boulevard North, Bellevue, NE 68005.

3. The general nature of the business to be transacted by the Company is to engage in and transact in any and all lawful business enterprises for which a Limited Liability Company may be organized under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, and specifically to engage in the ownership, renting, sale, and servicing of Kayaks; and all other related activities, and to own, hold and sell or assign any and all licenses necessary or advisable to conduct said business.

4. The Company commenced on July 31, 2019, and shall have a perpetual duration.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ODOO GAMES, LLC Notice is hereby given that Odoo Games, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with its designated office at 4010 N 104th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68134. It is organized to make commercial Virtual Reality Games. Its registered agent is Bakhodur Marupov and his office is located at 4010 N 104th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68134.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is given that AGUIRRE REAL ESTATE, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with the following registered agent and registered office: Irma Aguirre at 7711 L St. Ralston, NE 68127. The general nature of the Company's business is to engage in any lawful business permitted under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The company was organized on July 18, 2019, and it shall continue in perpetuity unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms of its operating agreement. In general, the Company's business is to be managed by its primary member Irma Aguirre in accordance with the Company's operating agreement.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019

BREASCH FINANCE & TAX CONSULTING INC. 4879 S 132nd Avenue Omaha, NE 68137 CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF WEST MAPLE VENTURES LLC A NEBRASKA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY 1. The name of the limited liability company is WEST MAPLE VENTURES LLC 2. The period of duration for WEST MAPLE VENTURES LLC is perpetual.

3. WEST MAPLE VENTURES LLC is organized for the purpose of conducting any and all business as permitted by the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. 4. The address of the initial designated office for WEST MAPLE VENTURES LLC in Nebraska is 6213 N 155th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68116.

5. The name and address of the registered agent for WEST MAPLE VENTURES LLC in Nebraska is Nicholas C McDonald, 6213 N 155th Street, Omaha NE 68116.

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

7. Nicholas C McDonald, organizer(s) of West Maple Ventures LLC has signed the Foregoing Certificate of Organization effective this 29th day of July, 2019.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019

DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: LEVI C CASILLAS MARCO, 2725 S 20th ST, Omaha NE 68108, you are hereby notified that on March 27, 2019, AMERICAN FAMILY MUTUAL INS. Co., S.I. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-6946, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $12,479.68, 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 30th day of September, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 30, 2019 Charles E. Dorwart, Attorney MASSIH LAW, LLC 226 N. 114th Street Omaha, NE 68154 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-1188 Estate of David Vollmer, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on August 5, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that Joyce Brown, 15625 S Street, Apt 209, Omaha, Nebraska 68135, was informally appointed by the Registrar as Personal Representative of the Estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before October 9, 2019 or be forever barred.

KELLY J. GOLDEN Clerk of the County Court First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019

JOHN E. NELSON, Attorney 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 640 Omaha, Nebraska 68124-2373 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-1168 Estate of Joan M. Varga, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on August 6, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Appointment of Personal Representative In Intestacy and that Theresa A. Swanson, whose address is 3611 Gertrude Street, Bellevue, NE 68147, was informally appointed by the registrar as Personal Representative of this estate.

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before October 9, 2019 or be forever barred.

KELLY J. GOLDEN Clerk of the County Court First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that USD SDL I, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 31, 2019, and the company is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the company are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore, and that the balance of any remaining assets are to be distributed to its Members. Zach Wiegert will wind up and liquidate the company’s business and affairs. If you have a claim against the company, please provide the following information with respect to your claim: 1) your name or the name of your entity; 2) the nature of your claim; 3) the amount of your claim; and 4) the date your claim arose. All claims shall be mailed to USD SDL I, LLC, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, NE 68122. A claim against the company is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that USD SDL II - Exemplar, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 31, 2019, and the company is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the company are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore, and that the balance of any remaining assets are to be distributed to its Members. Zach Wiegert will wind up and liquidate the company’s business and affairs. If you have a claim against the company, please provide the following information with respect to your claim: 1) your name or the name of your entity; 2) the nature of your claim; 3) the amount of your claim; and 4) the date your claim arose. All claims shall be mailed to USD SDL II - Exemplar, LLC, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, NE 68122. A claim against the company is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SUPER SCOOPER LLC Notice is hereby given that Super Scooper 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 17707 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118-3122. 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 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Cooperation Concepts LLC, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska on 07/19/2019 with its designated agent and office: Daniel Dube, 7803 S. 24th St, Suite 150, Bellevue NE 68147. General nature of business: toys & games. Business shall be member-managed.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: BROOKE A. VACANTI, 7705 Grace St, La Vista NE 68128, you are hereby notified that on April 11, 2019, American Family Mutual Ins. Co., filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-8045, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $9,117.50, 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 30th day of September, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 30, 2019 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is DATAGREE, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 17330 W Center Road, Suite 110-176, Omaha, NE, 68144. The registered agent is Julia K. Palzer and the Registered Agent's address is 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6, Omaha, NE 68154.

3. The general nature of the Company is software development contracting and consulting services and publishing and selling custom software applications.

4. The Company commenced on August 6, 2019 and shall have perpetual existence.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019

HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, Attorneys 13330 California Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the voluntary dissolution of THE ESTATES AT PRAIRIE RIDGE, LLC, as of March 30, 2017. Any person having a claim, whether known or unknown, against the Company is requested to present such claim in writing to the Company at the following address: c/o Curt Hofer, 16820 Frances Street, Suite 206, Omaha, NE 68130. The claim must be in writing, must be sent by mail to the address set forth above, and must set forth the name, address and telephone number of the claimant, a detailed description and amount of the claim, the date of occurrence of the claim and any tangible evidence to support the claim that is available to the claimant. Unless sooner barred by any other statute limiting actions, any claim against the Company is barred if an action to enforce the claim is not commenced within five years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 6135 O STREET CAR WASH, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 6135 O Street Car Wash, 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, 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Registered Agent of the Company is Christopher Erickson, 222 S. 15th Street, 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 FRANK X. HAVERKAMP P.C. LLO, Attorney 12929 West Dodge Road, Suite 201 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is hereby given that THE FARM: SENIOR DOG SANCTUARY, INC. was incorporated under the Nebraska Non-Profit Corporation Act. The Corporation is a public benefit corporation, under the Nebraska Non-Profit Corporation Act which purpose will be to administer and disburse funds related to the operation of a dog sanctuary. The registered agent is Frank X. Haverkamp and the registered office is located at 12829 West Dodge Road, Suite 201 Omaha, NE 68154. The affairs of the corporation are to be conducted by the Board of Directors and such officers as it may elect.

Frank X. Haverkamp, Incorporator First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Nelson Anesthesia Services, L.L.C., a Nebraska professional limited liability company, is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its registered office at 16610 Capitol Plaza, #6, Omaha, Nebraska 68118. The general nature of the business is to engage in and do any lawful business, other than banking or insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and for all other purposes authorized by law, to the extent as natural persons might or could do. The limited liability company was formed on July 26, 2019. Its affairs shall be conducted by the members pursuant to an Operating Agreement duly adopted by the company.

Emily J. Nelson, Organizer First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TROYER COMPANIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Troyer Companies, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 682 Serenity Pointe, Ashland, Nebraska 68003. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that 402 How, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 14625 Grand Ave, Omaha, NE 68116. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Li Law Group, 8424 W Center Rd Suite 108, Omaha, NE 68124.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION 1. The name of the Corporation is MAH Insurance, Inc. 2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares having a par value of $1.00 each.

3. The Registered Office of the Corporation is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, and the Registered Agent at such address is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O. 4. The corporate existence began on July 30, 2019, 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, Nebraska 68124.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019

17

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 REDSKY ARMS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that RedSky Arms, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 19910 Rees Street, Elkhorn Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., whose mailing address is 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on August 6, 2019.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 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 URBAN ABUNDANCE, INC. 1. The name of the Corporation is Urban Abundance, Inc. 2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 Shares having a par value of $1.00 each.

3. The Registered Office of the Corporation is: 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, and the Registered Agent at such address is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O. 4. The corporate existence began on August 12, 2019, when Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State.

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

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PETRA PARTNERS, LLC The name of the Company is Petra Partners, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 22318 Homestead Road, 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 August 8, 2019.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TURNER TRAIL APARTMENTS, LLC The name of the Company is Turner Trail Apartments, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 2125 South 114th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Adam Watson, 2125 South 114th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. This limited liability company commenced business on August 12, 2018.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 N O T I C E O F O R G A N I Z AT I O N O F O K C A D V E N T U R E HOSPITALITY, LLC The name of the Company is OKC Adventure Hospitality, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 9140 West Dodge Road #404, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: John Mountjoy, 9140 West Dodge Road #404, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

This limited liability company commenced business on August 12, 2018.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CFM ADVENTURE, LLC The name of the Company is CFM Adventure, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 9140 West Dodge Road #404, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: John Mountjoy, 9140 West Dodge Road #404, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. This limited liability company commenced business on August 12, 2018.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF ROOM FOR ROOTS, INC., A NEBRASKA NONPROFIT CORPORATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned have formed a corporation under the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation Act. The name of the corporation is ROOM FOR ROOTS, A NEBRASKA NONPROFIT CORPORATION, with a registered office at 17213 Sage Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68136, and the registered agent is BRIDGETT M. BELSKY. The general nature of the business is a public benefit corporation and shall have for its additional purpose providing for managing any benevolent, charitable, civic, educational, fraternal, athletic, patriotic, social and labor organization or society, as well as the making of donations to the public welfare or for charitable or educational purposes, and to perform services of every kind and nature whatsoever, which are not inconsistent with law. The corporation commenced June 20, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence.

The corporation will have members.

ANTHONY L. GROSS, Incorporator CATHERINE L. WHITE, Incorporator 3018 South 87th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

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

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 13027 Charles Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CITY CENTRE MUSIC VENUE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that City Centre Music Venue, 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, 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Registered Agent of the Company is Christopher Erickson, 222 S. 15th Street, 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ASTRO THEATRE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Astro Theatre, 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, 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Registered Agent of the Company is Christopher Erickson, 222 S. 15th Street, 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MCKSRS HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MCKSRS HOLDINGS, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18136 Mason St, Elkhorn, NE 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Srilakshmi Reddy, 18136 Mason St, Elkhorn, NE 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on July 29, 2019.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is given that MG PAINTING, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with the following registered agent and registered office: Marcelo Felipe Gallardo at 2705 H St. Omaha, NE 68107.

This LLC is a Partnership with Lucia Felipe as a new member with 15% ownership.The general nature of the Company's business is to engage in any lawful business permitted under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The company was organized on April 22, 2019, and it shall continue in perpetuity unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms of its operating agreement. In general, the Company's business is to be managed by its primary member Marco Felipe Gallardo in accordance with the Company's operating agreement.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 23, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION 1. The name of the Corporation is Zen Warrior, Inc. 2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares having a par value of $1.00 each.

3. The Registered Office of the Corporation is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, and the Registered Agent at such address is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O. 4. The corporate existence began on July 29, 2019, 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, Nebraska 68124.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, Attorneys 13330 California Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the voluntary dissolution of APEX RAINWOOD LLC, as of March 30, 2017. Any person having a claim, whether known or unknown, against the Company is requested to present such claim in writing to the Company at the following address: c/o Curt Hofer, 16820 Frances Street, Suite 206, Omaha, NE 68130. The claim must be in writing, must be sent by mail to the address set forth above, and must set forth the name, address and telephone number of the claimant, a detailed description and amount of the claim, the date of occurrence of the claim and any tangible evidence to support the claim that is available to the claimant. Unless sooner barred by any other statute limiting actions, any claim against the Company is barred if an action to enforce the claim is not commenced within five years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GCP II KEARNEY SENIOR LIVING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GCP II Kearney Senior Living, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. The Registered Agent of the Company is Zach Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, Attorneys 13330 California Street, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that HUTCHINSON CAPITAL LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska on July 30, 2019 (the “Company”). The Company has designated its registered agent as Steven Hutchinson, with registered office at 220 S. 31st Avenue, Apt. 3800, Omaha, NE 68131. The Company’s initial designated office is at 220 S. 31st Avenue, Apt. 3800, Omaha, NE 68131. The Company shall be governed by its members. The general nature of business is any lawful purpose.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019

HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, Attorneys 13330 California Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the voluntary dissolution of COPPER RIDGE, LLC, as of July 29, 2019. Any person having a claim, whether known or unknown, against the Company is requested to present such claim in writing to the Company at the following address: c/o Curt Hofer, 16820 Frances Street, Suite 206, Omaha, NE 68130. The claim must be in writing, must be sent by mail to the address set forth above, and must set forth the name, address and telephone number of the claimant, a detailed description and amount of the claim, the date of occurrence of the claim and any tangible evidence to support the claim that is available to the claimant.

Unless sooner barred by any other statute limiting actions, any claim against the Company is barred if an action to enforce the claim is not commenced within five years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 MATTHEW T. PAYNE, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF MERCHANTS CREDIT ADJUSTERS, INC. Notice is hereby given of Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Merchants Credit Adjusters, Inc. as follows: Article I of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended so that, as amended, said Article shall provide that the name of the Corporation shall be Clear Recovery, Inc. The Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State of Nebraska on July 1, 2019, with an effective date of August 1, 2019. In all other respects, the Articles of Incorporation remain unchanged.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 MATTHEW T. PAYNE, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF MANAGED ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, INC. Notice is hereby given of Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Managed Accounts Receivable, Inc. as follows: Article I of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended so that, as amended, said Article shall provide that the name of the Corporation shall be Clear Healthcare Solutions, Inc. The Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State of Nebraska on July 1, 2019, with an effective date of August 1, 2019.

In all other respects, the Articles of Incorporation remain unchanged.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GCP USD II, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on July 31, 2019, and the company is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the company are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore, and that the balance of any remaining assets are to be distributed to its Members. Zach Wiegert will wind up and liquidate the company’s business and affairs. If you have a claim against the company, please provide the following information with respect to your claim: 1) your name or the name of your entity; 2) the nature of your claim; 3) the amount of your claim; and 4) the date your claim arose. All claims shall be mailed to GCP USD II, LLC, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, NE 68122. A claim against the company is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019

DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: THOMAS MATTHEWS, 6204 Florence Blvd, Omaha NE 68110 and SHARON D. MATTHEWS, 6204 Florence Blvd, Omaha NE 68110, you both are hereby notified that on May 28, 2019, American Family Mutual Ins. Co., filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-11692, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $10,408.80, 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 23rd day of September, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 23, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: TIMOTHY J. WILSON, 110 South 49th Street Apt 304, OMAHA NE 68132, you are hereby notified that on March 26, 2019, CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-6812, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $5,239.64, 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 23rd day of September, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 23, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JAUNTY PEOPLE OF OMAHA LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Jaunty People of Omaha LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 11308 Pine Plaza, Omaha, NE 68144. The Registered Agent of the Company is David Fell at 11308 Pine Plaza, Omaha, NE 68144.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TMN REPORTING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that TMN Reporting, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 7602 Pacific Street, Suite LL101, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent of the Company is Tina M. Nelson, 17134 Patrick Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68116.

First publication August 2, 2019, final August 16, 2019 DEAN F. SUING, Attorney GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ACE TRADING COMPANY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has formed a limited liability company under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, as follows: The name of the company is Ace Trading Company, LLC. The address of the designated office is 6225 S. 42nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68107 and the initial registered agent is Nancy M. Rayno, 6225 S. 42nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107. The company is organized to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking and insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of Nebraska. The limited liability company commenced existence on the filing and recording of its Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of State on August 1, 2019, and shall have a perpetual period of duration from the date the Certificate of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State. Management of the Company shall be vested in an initial board of one manager who shall serve until successors are appointed or elected.

Nancy M. Rayno, Registered Agent First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019 HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, Attorneys 13330 California Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the voluntary dissolution of WOODLANDS CROSSING, LLC, as of July 29, 2019. Any person having a claim, whether known or unknown, against the Company is requested to present such claim in writing to the Company at the following address: c/o Curt Hofer, 16820 Frances Street, Suite 206, Omaha, NE 68130. The claim must be in writing, must be sent by mail to the address set forth above, and must set forth the name, address and telephone number of the claimant, a detailed description and amount of the claim, the date of occurrence of the claim and any tangible evidence to support the claim that is available to the claimant. Unless sooner barred by any other statute limiting actions, any claim against the Company is barred if an action to enforce the claim is not commenced within five years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication August 9, 2019, final August 23, 2019

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MLD PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MLD Properties, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 331 Village Pointe Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68118 and designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom P.C. a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication July 26, 2019, final August 9, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF VITALE COLIBRI, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Vitale Colibri, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 501 S. 11th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. 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 August 8, 2019.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TPHET VENTURES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that TPHET VENTURES, 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 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SCM SF 3509, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SCM SF 3509, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1303 South 72 Street, Suite 209, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Rd., Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SCM SIOUX FALLS MANAGERS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SCM SIOUX FALLS MANAGERS, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1303 South 72 Street, Suite 209, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Rd., Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF SCM SIOUX FALLS MANAGERS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of SCM Sioux Falls Managers, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended to change the name of the company to SCM SF 3509 GP, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on August 9, 2019.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CASEWORK COMPANY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Casework Company, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 2222 Leavenworth Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION On August 2, 2019, Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Heather Doll Counseling Services, P.C. were filed to change the principal office address to 2126 N. 117th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68164.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF O’MORAIN PAINTING, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that O’MORAIN PAINTING, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 3518 South 127th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. The registered agent is BRENNAN M. MORAN. The general nature of the business is to operate a general painting 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 painting 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 13, 2019, 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 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF American Association of Laser Hair Removal Physicians, Inc. Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska corporation named American Association of Laser Hair Removal Physicians, Inc. (the “Company”) was formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the Company is 17645 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Kristin Saxena, M.D. First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of LGSERVICES, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is LGSERVICES, LLC. Registered agent and office of LGSERVICES, LLC at 3315 N 16th Street, Omaha, NE 68110. Initial members: Luis Carlos Gallegos de la Rosa. General nature of the business is to transact any and all lawful business for which limited liability companies are allowed by statute. The LLC was organized on June 2019 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that 24/7 Laundry, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 1907 N. 85th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

The registered agent of the Company is Christopher G. Kober, 7508 N. 108th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68142. The Company was formed on August 9, 2019.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that 98 Properties, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 8419 N. 30th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68112. The registered agent of the Company is Caleb Dempsey, 8419 N. 30th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68112. The Company was formed on August 12, 2019.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that GKB, LLC, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with its designated office at 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The general nature of the business is to engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized. The limited liability company was formed on August 7, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Fun and Games Productions Name of Applicant: Tomato Technologies, Inc. Address: 7707 N 161st Street Bennington, NE 68007-5513 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: 09/28/2012 General nature of business: Graphic Design; joke/gag gifts; greeting cards, postcard, mailers, small gifts, apparel, cups/mugs, etc. emblazoned with original designs, phrases and artwork.

CURT SAFRANEK Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative August 16, 2019

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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 KK & BK, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that KK & BK, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 402, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Stephen Ward, whose mailing address is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 402, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on August 7, 2019.

First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 THOMAS H. PENKE, Attorney 12020 Shamrock Plaza, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-1237 Estate of MICHAEL P. HANNON, Deceased Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Formal Probate of Will of said Decedent, Determination of Heirs, and Appointment of Scott W. Hannon, whose address is 304 North 245th Circle, Waterloo, Nebraska 68069, as Person Representative has been filed and is set for hearing in the Douglas County Probate Court, 17th & Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska , in Courtroom #330 on the 1st day of October, 2019, at the hour of 9 o'clock, a.m.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), TERRY C MUHAMMAD You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 05/16/2019 on Case Number CI19-11760, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $522.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 09/30/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), SARAH L CROFT & JOHN LEHN You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 05/21/2019 on Case Number CI19-11764, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $215.16, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 09/30/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), KARI M REITAN You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 05/30/2019 on Case Number CI19-12490, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $605.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 09/30/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), SABRINA L KNIGHT You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 04/30/2019 on Case Number CI19-10199, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $660.01, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 09/30/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication August 16, 2019, final August 30, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Raka Name of Applicant: NMC Industrial Services LLC Address: 11002 Sapp Brothers Dr Omaha NE 68154 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: 05/15/92019 General nature of business: Heavy equipment service and rental NICHOLAS MIZAUR Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative August 16, 2019

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: EcoAir Heating and Cooling Name of Applicant: RS Mechanical, LLC Address: 21323 Walnut St. Elkhorn, NE 68022 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: July 30, 2019 General nature of business: Residential HVAC Services SETH J. MOEN Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative August 16, 2019

Side jobs bring stability for many military spouses

by Sandra J. Pennecke

For some military spouses, orders to Virginia may mean a job search, but the modern gig economy might mean they get employment more quickly and easily.

The buzz word refers to the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs.

Virginia is ranked No. 2 in the nation for gig economy jobs, according to FitSmallBusiness.com, an online resource for small businesses.

The report’s findings — which ranked all 50 states — were based on legal limitations, population, tourism, MilitaRy household income, income tax and the cost of health insurance.

Another report, sponsored by Wells Fargo and conducted online this spring by The Harris Poll, shows that military service members, their spouses and partners depend on the gig economy to supplement their household income.

The survey commissioned by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling — a nonprofit dedicated to improving people’s financial well-being — indicates that while military life presents a challenge to many when it comes to landing and maintaining private sector employment, the gig economy has helped to make a difference.

Inside Business interviewed three local military spouses who shared details about their career journeys and how side gigs have a huge impact on their work.

Nikki James Zellner worked a side hustle before she opened her own business earlier this year.

For Zellner, the creation of her virtual LLC, Where Content Connects, was a long time coming.

“I had worked almost a 16- to 18-year career in corporate media,” said Zellner whose background is in advertising, marketing and editorial development. “I had a very well-established, lucrative career prior to having children. We have kind of built this life around the fact that I have a professional identity that I want to continue to nurture.”

As Zellner worked her side gig, she realized the business she wanted to develop. Her boutique content consultancy helps women, solopreneurs and small teams organically tell their stories and connect with the right people.

Zellner credits The Milspo Project, a nonprofit that empowers and educates military spouses, entrepreneurs and leaders, with helping her move from her corporate job to her side gig to business ownership.

“That’s really when my eyes were opened that military spouses need something that’s theirs outside of being a mom and a spouse,” Zellner said. “The biggest struggles I hear from colleagues in the space is the constant relocation.”

Although Zellner, her military spouse and their two young children haven’t moved from the Hampton Roads area to date, she said there’s always that sense of wondering what the future will hold.

Many military families relocate every two to three years, and spouses are left with uncertainty.

“You don’t know if you’re going to be relocated to a state that’ll have viable employment for you,” Zellner said. “You don’t know if you’re going to have to change your licensing or go through the licensing process just to stay in a place for a year.”

She said remote work is a hot topic among military spouses because it enables them to start a job and then take it with them.

“I think the whole planet, at this point, is moving toward remote work as a viable option,” she said. “I think there’s certainly a huge set that’s still related to how do I find a 9-to-5 job as a military spouse or as a veteran, but there is a real niche out there for people who want to take the skills they have, start as a freelancer or on a side gig and turn that into an actual business.”

After a divorce from her first husband, Victoria Jameson became a single mom with two young children.

That’s when Jameson, who is now remarried to Davin Jameson, a Navy diver, decided she needed extra income on top of her full-time job.

Employed in the real estate industry both in administrative support and as a personal assistant since the age of 19, she decided to create a social media marketing business on the side.

She started Jameson Social a year and a half ago and offers a variety of services including real estate advice and event planning.

She still works 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for the Real Estate Information Network.

“It can be challenging on top of being a mom and then with my husband’s training schedule he deployed last year and he’s set to deploy again next year,” Jameson said. “I really love the thrill of having something that I created on my own. I never went to college — I’m all self-taught and self-learned.”

As an Army spouse, Erica McMannes moved 11 times in 17 years.

“So, any kind of traditional track of career growth or career path was definitely a challenge,” said McMannes who lives in Yorktown with her husband, Matt, a lieutenant colonel, and their two sons.

For the first 10 years she worked for the Army’s MWR program. But, then three back-to-back moves in three years followed and McMannes said it was a difficult period for her to have a job.

An 18-month stay in California introduced her to the startup space and Silicon Valley’s innovation hub.

“I started working for a veteran-owned startup out of San Francisco and that gave me the opportunity to continue to move,” she said.

Along the way, McMannes, who was working freelance and remotely, said she was asked to do things outside her skill set.

“But, I knew I had this global community of other highly skilled professional military spouses I could reach out to,” she said pointing out that the military spouse community has a 26% unemployment rate.

By developing pods of teams for one company, and then a second and a third, McMannes built a full-time career of her own.

She and fellow Army spouse Liza Rodewald started Instant Teams three years ago. Their business creates fully integrated remote teams – from a talent pool of military spouses with a variety of expertise including marketing, tech and customer service — for companies in just five days.

“That’s how I kind of ended up in that space transitioning from a pretty traditional career kind of forced into leading that gig lifestyle to give me that mobility and flexibility I needed every time we were moving around,” McMannes said. ©2019 The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

AI company Hypergiant to help consulting firm turn intellectual property into products

by Kara Carlson

A Texas-based artificial intelligence startup will work with technology consultant giant Booz Allen Hamilton to develop artificial intelligence products for the federal government and commercial companies.

The strategic relationship with Hypergiant Industries is designed to capitalize on the skill sets of both companies and develop Booz Allen’s intellectual property archive into new products. They’ll initially focus on health technology, fraud monitoring, predicting fake domain names and detecting malware. teCHnology “We believe it’ll help build a bridge between startups like (Hypergiant) and where they excel at commercialization of different A.I. technologies, and our experience in bringing those technologies to the government,” said Josh Elliot, director of artificial intelligence

at Booz Allen.

Hypergiant has employees in Dallas, Austin and Houston, and also Washington D.C. and Seattle. Ben Lamm, a Dallas-based serial entrepreneur, founded the company in February 2018 with the idea to use artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to solve a variety of problems. It has about 185 employees, with 28 in Dallas. Clients include commercial giants Shell and GE, and government clients such as NASA and Department of Homeland Security.

Booz Allen is a Virginia-based consulting firm with with over 26,000 employees and expertise in analytics, digital solutions, engineering and cybersecurity. It has commercial and government clients, including the Department of Defense and others in the intelligence community.

Lamm said the multiyear agreement includes shared revenue, Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

21

These are the biggest mistakes people make with Social Security

by James Royal

Navigating Social Security can be cumbersome, to say the least. Even basic questions such as when you should retire can come to take on an immense and sometimes desperate tone, as you try to make a decision that doesn’t screw up your retirement beyond repair.

Benefits Bankrate spoke with some experts to get their take on what some of the biggest mistakes are that you can make with Social Security. Here’s what you should try to avoid doing as you navigate Social Security’s labyrinth.

-Sticking to a one-size-fits-all strategy The biggest mistake people make is “they do a quick Google search and take information that is meant to be very much at the macro level, and thus not individualized,” says Daniel Milan, managing partner of Cornerstone Financial Services. Often they “fail to take into account their own household budget, financial needs and outside investment income.”

Since life situations can be different, it’s necessary to have a personalized approach that helps you optimize your retirement. And Social Security is not a “one-size-fits-all” experience.

Social Security is complex. While that’s partly by design to help as many people as possible, it still creates a lot of headaches for those nearing retirement. While many retirees have a straightforward experience, others need and can receive specialized aid from the program.

“There are so many different strategies that exist when it comes to collecting benefits and so many variables to consider that listening to advice painted with a broad brush can prove to be detrimental,” says Cory Bittner, co-founder and COO of Falcon Wealth Advisors.

“Creating a financial plan and understanding the inner workings of it should be a prerequisite before making the decision to file to collect benefits,” says Bittner. He suggests people look for a financial adviser who is a fiduciary and is experienced at planning for retirement.

-Misunderstanding how much money you’ll receive If you’ve been working and contributing to the Social Security fund, then you’ve likely received a statement of benefits, an estimate of what you might likely receive in the future. But that figure can be misleading in several ways, and you need to understand what’s driving the estimate.

“People see their statements, the dollar amount that is listed on the front, and assume that’s what they will start receiving monthly

whenever they begin filing for their benefits,” says Bittner.

“However, the amount reflected on the front page of a Social Security statement is typically the amount someone will receive if they wait until their full retirement age to begin collecting benefits, and it assumes they work until that age and contribute to Social Security,” he says.

So if you stop working immediately at the earliest age to collect your benefits and don’t wait, don’t expect the full amount. In addition, this dollar amount is pre-tax, so you’ll have to figure how much tax will be stripped from your monthly check before you actually receive it.

As you’re planning your retirement budget, you’ll need to carefully assess how much money will actually make its way into your pocket.

-Assuming Social Security will fully cover your expenses After a lifetime of working, many people assume that Social Security will meet their needs when they can no longer clock in. But unless your budget is minimal, that probably won’t be the case.

“The biggest mistake people make is thinking Social Security will be sufficient to retire on without also cutting one’s standard of living significantly,” says Ryan McMaken, economist and fellow at the Mises Institute, an economics think-tank.

“If they try to fund their entire retirement on Social Security, they’re going to quickly find they’ll need to downsize in terms of housing and also in transportation and entertainment,” he says.

“Social Security is only designed to replace about 40% of your income,” says Tony Drake, a CFP and founder of Drake & Associates. “Most people will need at least 80% of their pre-retirement income to maintain the lifestyle they want in retirement.”

And with all that free time in retirement, you may be inclined to increase your spending well beyond that 80% level, Drake suggests.

Healthcare is another expense that may consume a much larger portion of retirees’ budgets than they initially suspect.

So with the limited nature of Social Security, retirees who want to live large in their golden

years must make sure that they have other sources of income. Many workers turn to their company’s 401(k) plan, but many other attractive options exist to fund retirement.

-Not making extra preparations, as a woman For a variety of reasons women need to be extra prepared when planning for retirement.

Women typically earn less than men over their working careers, and studies have shown that women have longer lifespans on average compared to men, leaving many widows with substantial financial needs, for example.

“While Social Security benefits are neutral when it comes to gender, there are many factors that women need to consider with regard to their benefits,” says Mary Ann Ferreira, a certified financial planner at Viridian Advisors.

“Women who work outside the home typically miss an average of 11.5 years of employment due to childcare and care of elderly parents.” She also notes the substantial gender pay gap.

And those lower lifetime earnings carry on into retirement, with smaller retirement accounts and a lower Social Security payout.

She sees many women working longer and saving more in order to cope with the challenge.

“Many women are considering retiring at 70 rather than the full retirement age of 66 or 67. In doing so, they may boost their Social Security benefits by as much as 24 percent,” she says.

In addition to spousal support benefits that surviving spouses may receive, divorcees may also receive benefits.

“I find that women typically forget that they are eligible for divorced spousal and survivor benefits if they were married for over 10 years,” says John Foxworthy, director of financial planning at Foxworthy Wealth Advisors. “If they have been divorced for more than 2 years, the ex-spouse doesn’t even need to file in order to receive the divorced spouse benefit.”

Foxworthy says that the ex-spouse is not notified of the benefits election, so “there is no need to worry about a long lost ex-spouse finding out that you are taking benefits on their record.”

-Taking Social Security at the wrong time

by Wendy Lee

The number of people using mobile apps to discover and listen to podcasts increased 60% compared with January 2018, according to data released recently by Adobe Analytics. People ages 25 to 34, known as millennials, were a key driver of the growth, teCHnology with about one-third of millennial podcast listeners consuming at least five podcasts a week, Adobe said.

“There’s not only a massive trend towards adoption of podcasts, but the amount of podcasts per person is actually quite high,” said Colin Morris, director, product management with Adobe Analytics. “That shows there is a lot of opportunity.”

Adobe Analytics, which is part of San Josebased software company Adobe Inc., based its findings on a survey of about 1,000 U.S. adult podcast and audio book listeners and Comscore data. About half of the people surveyed said they listen to podcasts on their way to work or while they work. The most preferred type of podcast was comedy and humor (46%), followed by educational (28%), history (27%) and true crime or crime documentary (26%), according to Adobe Analytics.

The growth in the podcast industry has led to consolidation, as larger players seek to establish their dominance. Spotify said it planned to spend

Podcasts apps cut into fast lane. Thank millennials Podcasts, once a niche category, continue to surge in popularity thanks to millennials who are listening to audio programs on the go.

Firm turn intellectual property into products Continued from preceding page. though he declined to disclose further details.

The companies have worked together in the past. Lamm also has collaborated with Booz Allen on other projects outside of Hypergiant.

Because of this familiarity, and the company’s shared values and capabilities, the strategic partnership makes sense, Elliot said.

“We share similar ideas and insights … in terms of how this technology can be applied and how challenges can be overcome,” Elliot said.

The goal is to launch a product together by early 2020, Lamm said. It’s a fast pace for software, which can take years to develop, but he expects the shared intellectual property to accelerate the process.

“Our focus is building great products. That doesn’t happen overnight, so we have to make those investments together,” Lamm said. “The only reason that we’re able to do that is given the fact that we both have this treasure trove that

And the question that keeps soon-to-be retirees up at night: when should they take their benefits? That depends heavily on their unique situation, but one of the biggest blunders is even simpler – failing to calculate what the best option is.

“The biggest mistake that I see most regularly is when people elect their benefits without doing the math first,” says Foxworthy. “There really isn’t a ‘do-over’ when it comes to Social Security, and the vast majority of people are leaving money on the table.”

Foxworthy details a situation involving a married couple, both of whom turned 62 years old and were planning on filing for benefits immediately. “We ran an analysis and uncovered a strategy to elect benefits that will get them $221,000 more money over their lifetime,” he says. “That much money can have a significant impact on their retirement picture.”

Retirees who can go a few extra years without claiming their benefits can continue contributing to the program and increase their benefits at the same time.

“Claiming Social Security too soon is one of the most common mistakes we see,” says Drake.

“Although 62 is the earliest and most popular age to claim your benefits, your monthly check will be permanently reduced by about 25% or more.”

To get your full benefit, you have to wait until full retirement age, between 66 and 67, he says.

But there’s potential for more. “There’s an added benefit to waiting to claim after you hit full retirement age. Your benefit increases by as much as 8% each year until you reach age 70.”

Bottom line Because Social Security is so complex, it’s tough to navigate, maximize your benefits or even just figure out where to begin. Even if you don’t quite maximize your payouts, it’s beneficial to know the mistakes to avoid. Most notably, you’ll want to know how much money you’ll receive and develop personalized strategies – perhaps with a financial adviser – that best fit your needs. ©2019 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

we can start working off.”

The announcement comes as many technology companies remain wary of working with the federal government, especially on defense contracts. Lamm said he has his limits on what contracts he takes, including not working on weapon systems.

Partnering with the defense industry helps ensure future use of AI and other technology is thoughtful, responsible and safe, he said.

Lamm said the federal government is also changing its attitude toward new technology, and more government groups are actively looking to work with startups.

“I think the big black box scary federal government world is starting to change,” Lamm said. “I think that change is going to continually lead to more transparency, better ideas and safer communities.” ©2019 The Dallas Morning News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

as much as $500 million on podcast-related acquisitions this year. One of Spotify’s purchases was of L.A.-based podcasting firm Parcast, known for its true crime and mystery stories for about $56 million.

Recently, Philadelphia-based media and entertainment company Entercom Communications Corp. announced it acquired Brooklyn-based podcast producer Pineapple Street Media for $18 million and entered into an agreement to buy New York-based podcasting firm Cadence13.

“This is an amazing time for podcasting,” said Jenna Weiss-Berman, co-founder of Pineapple Street Media said in a statement regarding the acquisition. “This moment is unprecedented — the energy, the growth, the talent coming to the medium.”

Podcasts have historically made money through ads, but companies like Spotify are also hoping to make money through subscriptions.

Adobe Analytics said 60% of listeners look up products or services they hear about through a podcast ad, with nearly a quarter of them making a purchase. Adobe said a quarter of podcast listeners are willing to pay for a subscription to listen to programs ad-free. ©2019 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Why online retailers like Wayfair and Dormify are popping up at the mall

by Ellie Silverman

Megg Dillon, 36, has been wanting to redecorate her Santa Monica, Calif., apartment, so she appreciated physically seeing the items she usually browsed online.

“I do like that pineapple,” she said to her friend, referring to the fruit-shape cutting board inside home furnishings retailer Wayfair’s popup shop at the King of Prussia Retail Mall. “How cute is this?” Dillon said soon afterward, picking up Octopus bookends.

Her friend, Jenna Hunsberger, 36, of Collegeville, Pa., had her eye on a “Crazy Plant Lady” mug, snapping a picture on her phone to remember later.

Whether or not the two friends buy any of the items they saw, Radha Patel, Wayfair’s senior manager of experiential marketing, would view this interaction as a success.

“We wanted to give our customers the opportunity to touch and feel and experience our products and take it home the same day,” Patel said. “And if they don’t make a purchase, seeing the chairs, artwork, dishes, and rugs in person can give them that confidence and that ease to shop on our website.”

Retailers that started out selling online are increasingly opening physical locations, even as big-box stores struggle to get in-store business.

At the King of Prussia Mall, Dormify has a pop-up for the back-to-college shopping season, and Fabletics, the digital-native athletic clothing brand, recently opened a permanent store. Other online retailers with a physical presence at the King of Prussia Mall include Casper, Bonobos and Untuckit.

“We’re at the forefront of physical retail, so we see demands from just about everybody, and it’s really exciting to be working with all of these new concepts,” said Zachary Beloff, national director of business development for Simon Property Group, the owner of King of Prussia, one of the largest malls in the United States. “It’s a great way to excite the customer and give them what they want.”

The pop-up stores have different goals from more traditional retailers, said Barbara Kahn, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and author of “The

Shopping Revolution: How Successful Retailers Win Customers in an Era of Endless Disruption.”

Instead of simply evaluating sales per square foot, which defined success for stores in the past, Kahn said, companies are looking more holistically at revenue and profit. Digital-native retailers can now find spaces in malls to open more of a showroom and boost brand recognition.

“Online vs. off-line is the wrong way to think about it,” Kahn said, pointing out that shopping is more integrated than that. “You’re online looking at these cool new brands, you may go to the mall to see what it looks like in person.”

This seems to be a winning strategy, research shows. Web traffic increases in markets where companies also have a physical store, according to a 2018 study from the International Council of Shopping Centers. A more recent ICSC study, analyzing more than 41 million credit and debit card holder records, showed that when customer spending originates in a store, it’s usually followed by more purchases on that retailer’s website.

The data looked at spending within 15 days of a purchase and found that consumers would spend an average of $267 within that period if they started by shopping in-store, and $231 if the consumer first shopped online.

For digital-native brands, meaning retailers

this market. Wayfair has a 2% market share in the home furnishings industry, but analysts believe the retailer can take 10% of the market, according to an August investor note from Evercore ISI. Wayfair’s initial public offering was priced at $29 in October 2014 and had more than quadrupled to about $125 at the close Friday.

Online retailer Dormify’s pop-up at the King of Prussia Mall has been open since May 15 and will remain there until the end of the month. The 1,800-square-foot space fits about 300 items and operates as a showroom. Customers can walk in, preview the faux brick wallpaper, lamps, drawer carts, and posters set up like a dorm room would be, and then order in store for 15% discount and free shipping.

“Oh, this looks great, Rachel, perhaps you need this,” Lori Newman, 49, of Bethlehem, Pa., said to her 20-year-old daughter as she picked up a pillow that read, “Not a morning person.”

“It’s implied,” Rachel told her mom. The family was there, with Lori’s other two kids, Ben, 17, and Hannah, 21, to do some back-toschool shopping.

“Not that they really need anything,” Lori said. The trip to the mall, she said, was “just for the fun of it.” ©2019 The Philadelphia Inquirer Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The financial complications of getting married later in life

by Janet Kidd Stewart

Whether due to gray divorce or early widowhood, retirement planning increasingly needs to include a new partner. And often, it couldn’t come at a trickier time. finanCial Remarriage rates among those 55 and older increased by 15 percentage points between 1960 and 2013, according to Pew Research Center. And during the period from the mid1990s to early in this decade, the share of those who had married two or more times rose only for women over 50 and men over 60, Census Bureau data show.

For many older couples, these unions are taking place just as long-term pension decisions need to be made, Social Security checks are

Q&A: Modern wildfires pose new health risks for firefighters Continued from page 12. blood panel and urinalysis done every year (to look for) indicators of cancer. It’s not easy to get people into the doctor’s office, but if fire departments encourage that and have it covered by insurance, that would be great.

The equipment is changing, but not every department can afford new equipment. A lot of the personal protective equipment that firefighters wear is embedded with fire retardant chemicals that are themselves a problem. Even though firefighters are protected, some of these toxic chemicals can get into a firefighter’s skin.

Departments also have to look at how to better protect their firefighters (traveling to help) during wildfires, including limiting the time they’re in that environment. When these strike teams go out, they can work from 12 to 24 hours at a time, with a 24-hour rest period.

That’s a long time to be exposed. I know that departments will run themselves to the bare bones to help another department. That’s the nature of the brotherhood and sisterhood we live in.

Q: There was a time when firefighters saw protective equipment as burdensome or unnecessary. Do you see that culture changing?

A: When I entered the San Francisco Fire

that started online-only before opening brick and mortar stores, the study showed customers make 60% of purchases at the physical locations.

“These findings demonstrate that physical stores remain the core of the shopping experience,” the report said, “even if the appearance and function of store locations continue to evolve.”

The Wayfair pop-up is a 300-square-foot temporary space in Nordstrom Court, but the Boston-based company squeezed in more than 300 items. It will remain at the mall through October.

Some of the items include a $13.99 set of two solid copper martini glasses, $17.99 for two sloth tea infusers, $23.99 pineapple-scented candles, $27.99 colorful bowls, and $218.99 chairs.

Dillon ended up buying her friend a mortar and pestle set, but said she planned to check out more items she liked once she was back home.

“I am going to go online, I’m going to find these things, and I’m going to have it shipped to my house,” Dillon said.

Wayfair has seen its annual sales climb from $1.3 billion in 2014 to $6.8 billion last year. But at the same time, the company has struggled to remain profitable. The company ended last year with $504 million in losses, up from $245 million the year before.

Analysts and investors still see potential in

Department in 1974, it wasn’t mandatory to wear self-contained breathing apparatus.

You were fighting fires without any breathing apparatus. I thought I was in good shape and didn’t have to wear it. Which was false; even though I was in excellent condition, at 49 I was diagnosed with this cancer.

After the fire’s out and during the overhaul process — looking for hot spots, cleaning out every structure down to the studs — all that stuff was off-gassing, and firefighters were taking a beating.

There’s a new generation of firefighters, and they’re well aware of cancer risks and the downside of firefighting. Firefighters now wear that breathing apparatus. They also do gross decontamination after every fire. You’ll see a firefighter being hosed down and cleaned off.

They’ll change clothes and uniforms now.

We used the same turnout coats and pants until they turned into rags. It was about status; it showed you were working hard. It’s slowly eroding, that culture. There’s always going to be a few who still think they’re indestructible, but when they or a friend gets sick, it’s a completely different story. ©2019 Kaiser Health News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

starting and estate plans are being drawn up.

“Remarriage later in life comes with its own set of complications,” said Joshua Rubenstein, national head of the trusts and estates practice at law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman. While younger people may find it easier to broach the topic of a prenuptial agreement with a partner by presenting it as something they have to do to satisfy parents, that excuse is typically gone when partners reach their 50s, he said.

“It’s somewhat easier when you’re young to say, ‘Honey, I love you, but I have to do this,’ ” Rubenstein said. “When you’re getting married in your 50s or 60s, it’s all on you.”

Financial lives are also typically much more complex at later ages, though there can be a saving grace or two.

“Neither spouse at this point probably will make a case for including child support or alimony,” in agreements, said Rubenstein. “It can be a fairly short, simple prenup that basically says what each partner brings into the marriage remains theirs” if the marriage ends.

But blending financial lives is about more than just a prenup, so what else should couples be talking about before heading down the aisle?

Think of it in three phases, suggests John Vento, an accountant, financial planner and author of “Financial Independence: Getting to Point X.” When he first meets with engaged couples, he goes through each set of finances separately and then presents a combined net worth statement for the couple, as well as an income and expense statement showing each partner’s total income sources and monthly expenses. These are difficult numbers to get people to disclose, he acknowledges, but he urges couples to get it all on the table before the wedding to avoid nasty surprises later.

Use these numbers as the basis for how to split the common living expenses. Some couples, for example, split expenses according to income. So, if a wife makes 60% of the household income, she pays 60% of the joint expenses.

If both spouses own homes and they decide to rent out one and live together in the other, they should have a conversation about how that

will affect each partner’s finances. The spouse moving in may have no problem helping with reasonable expenses like utilities, but expecting someone to pay half the mortgage and property taxes will tend to generate expectations of building equity in the property.

“As you’re collecting this information you also have to be aware of what will change once the marriage begins. There may be alimony now that ends with a new marriage, so that needs to be accounted for,” Vento said.

Next, consider the tax and benefit consequences of remarriage, he said. A new marriage could affect financial aid and scholarship eligibility, tax credits and Social Security survivor benefits, so it’s imperative to lay out all those possibilities, he said.

“I hate to make marriage only a financial thing, but if it’s going to cost tens of thousands of dollars in lost credits or benefits, (delaying marriage) may be something the couple wants to consider,” he said.

Prepare a hypothetical joint return — or hire a tax adviser to do one — to see how combining financial lives will affect both partners, he suggests.

Finally, look at estate planning.

“This is where most older couples have the biggest concerns,” said Vento. Adult children worry about their inheritance and how the marriage may complicate healthcare directives and plans, both advisers said. Estate documents such as trusts or wills and healthcare directives can give all parties some comfort on those issues.

Long-term care issues, however, aren’t so easily resolved. State laws vary, but spouses generally are on the hook for nursing home care for their loved one, and must spend down most of their assets to qualify for Medicaid coverage.

There are situations where spouses have effectively fought this obligation through a longstanding prenup, Rubenstein said, but it’s critical to discuss this with a qualified attorney in your own state who is experienced in elder law. ©2019 Tribune Content Agency Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

Shopping/Mall Space Directory A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

23

Home Improvement/ Maintenance A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Topics may include:

Retail market overview • Retail remodeling trends • New technology Choosing the right location for retail space • Shopping center trends Selecting a real estate broker for business needs • Retail security

Home Improvement/Maintenance overview • Remodeling trends Financing home improvement projects • Outdoor living • Energy & water efficiency

Issue Date: August 23 • Ad Deadline: August 15

Issue Date: August 23 • Ad Deadline: August 15

Social Media/ Engineering Web Development

Lincoln area projects

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Topics may include:

Web Development overview • Optimizing websites • Search Engine Optimization Social media • Web/social media strategies • Business blogging basics

Engineering Overview • Greater Omaha, Sarpy and Council Bluffs area projects Lincoln area projects • STEM • WELL Building Certification Technology integration • Expanding role of today’s engineer

Issue Date: August 30 • Ad Deadline: August 22

Issue Date: August 30 • Ad Deadline: August 22

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

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

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IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

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REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

Coolgreens is bringing “Food That Feeds Your Life” to Omaha. Coolgreens has executed an area development agreement with Sanus Fieri, LLC to bring three Coolgreens locations to the Omaha area. The agreement anticipates that the first restaurant will open by the end of 2019. Serving salads, wraps, quinoa bowls, flatbreads and sandwiches with fresh ingredients prepared daily in each location, Coolgreens is guided by its commitment to integrity and good food. Dressings are made in-house daily and a variety of chef-driven menu items.

The Omaha City Council approved Avenue One, the $1.2 billion mixed-use development located on the southwest and southeast corners of 192nd Street and West Dodge Road.

Phase one completion of the infrastructure is expected in early 2020. Avenue One will transform approximately 50 city square blocks of farm ground into 800,000 square feet of office, corporate and medical space; 700,000 square feet of retail space; 215 hotel rooms, and 2,000 residential units. Avenue One will have 26 acres of green space, six miles of walking and biking trails, and seven acres of dedicated public plaza area.

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska has elected a new member to its board of directors, Laura Fender. Fender is SVP and controller at Mutual of Omaha, where she leads the preparation and reporting of financial information. A graduate of Creighton University, Fender is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants and is the Executive Sponsor of the Women in Leadership Employee Resource Group at Mutual of Omaha. She serves on the boards of Completely Kids, Mutual of Omaha Foundation and the Omaha chapter of Financial Executives International.

Carson appointed Aaron Schaben, executive vice president, and Teri Shepherd, chief operations officer, to co-presidents. Schaben will lead the firm’s business growth and development, overseeing Carson’s coaching and partnership offerings, as well as manage initiatives to support partner growth and engagement.

Shepherd will lead the firm’s institutional and retail-focused divisions, including operations, compliance, transformations, technology, communications and stakeholder development. In addition to assigning co-presidents, the organization announced that Alex Rodawig, Carson’s current vice president of executive business consulting, will lead Carson Wealth’s 100% owned offices, including the Omaha-based headquarters, and the Carson Wealth Division as managing director.

Common Fund of the Heartland is expanding its energy assistance program by adding two new partner agencies: Christian Outreach Program Elkhorn and Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership. These agencies provide services to previously underserved areas including Elkhorn and Western Douglas County. With the expansion, Omaha Public Power District and Metropolitan Utilities District customers living in the following counties will have access to the assistance program; Burt, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Johnson, Otoe, Pawnee, Pottawattamie, Richardson, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington.

Scooter’s Coffee launched its new mobile app where customers can earn three “Smiles” for every dollar spent, and once they reach 180 Smiles, they earn a free drink. All customers start in the Scooter Doodle status level, with perks that include a free drink on their birthday

and one surprise reward per month. After earning 500 Smiles, customers move into the Caramelicious status level with additional perks.

The app also includes a “Gift Store” where customers can gift various drink or food options or a digital gift card to friends and family.

Complete Nutrition is transitioning from a brick-and-mortar only business towards an e-commerce company. With 15 years of experience in the traditional retail environment, the decision was made in an effort to meet the growing demands of digital consumers. As part of the transition, Complete Nutrition sold 18 owned and operated retail locations in March 2019. While a number of franchised locations will remain open throughout the U.S., Complete Nutrition corporate operations will continue to support the franchise locations, and a new digital team based in Toronto, Ontario, will focus primarily on driving sales digitally via the newly re-launched website, CompleteNutrition.com Teri K. Geist, O.D., of Omaha, has been elected to serve on the American Optometric Association’s Board of Trustees. The AOA represents approximately 44,000 doctors of optometry and other eye care professionals. As trustee, Geist serves as liaison to the association’s Health Promotion Committee, Research and Information Resources Team, the Commission on Ophthalmic Standards and the Commission on Paraoptometric Certification. She is the Board of Trustees’ representative to affiliate associations in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah, as well as to the Arizona College of Optometry at Midwestern University, and the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.

Health care notes…

Omaha Medical Technology Pipeline — a joint effort among the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the Nebraska Business Development Center, Metropolitan Community College, and the Greater Omaha Chamber — was one of 26 organizations chosen to receive a $750,000 matching grant over three years through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s i6 Challenge program for 2019. Omaha Medical Technology Pipeline is a startup project being developed

by UNeTech, an institute designed to identify promising startup companies and help them become successful.

Immanuel received a “Nebraska’s Safest Companies” award from the National Safety Council, Nebraska. Just this past year, Immanuel’s safety program underwent big changes.

A new automated recurring work order system helped provide real-time reports and simplified processes for safety supplies and procedures across the organization’s 14 retirement living communities and three PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) centers. Additionally, several of the environmental service managers underwent 30 hours of Occupational Safety and Health Administration training.

Education notes…

Creighton University’s Master of Science in Health and Wellness Coaching program has received approval from the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching. Creighton’s program is one of only 18 academic-credit programs in the U.S. to receive this designation.

The online program focuses on prevention of chronic diseases, looking at lifestyle changes, including diet modification, exercise, stress and sleep. Currently, 56 students are enrolled in the program. Some are practicing health Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

25

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. professionals, looking to incorporate coaching into their current career.

For the second consecutive year, the University of Nebraska has been ranked among the top 100 universities in the world in earning U.S. patents to protect the innovative research and discoveries of its faculty. The ranking is part of a report from the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association. In the report, the University of Nebraska ranks No. 79 globally for the number of patents awarded to NU’s technology transfer offices — NUtech Ventures at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and UNeMed Corp. at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the

University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Activities of nonprofits…

The Salvation Army has been awarded a $200,201 grant from United Way of the Midlands to support behavioral health, material assistance, food, and housing programs in the Omaha metro and Council Bluffs. The grant will support local food pantries and feeding programs such as Winter Night Watch — which provides hot meals and winter outerwear to the homeless and near-homeless during the coldest months of the year — as well as residential housing programs. The funding will also support the Community Counseling Center — which offers trauma-informed counseling to those

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS Tuesday, Aug. 20 The Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Economic Outlook 2019 from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Nebraska Christian College. Registration and breakfast is from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. before speakers who will talk about: An update on the Sarpy County jail and mental health facility; Road construction updates; Continued growth of Gretna; and an update on Blueprint Nebraska. Registration is available online.

Wednesday, Aug. 21 The Heartland Women’s Network is hosting Mayor Jean Stothert, who will be speaking about women in leadership. The event is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Modern Work Suites & Studios and there will be a Q&A opportunity. Registration is available online.

Thursday, Aug. 22 ‘The Human Element’ - The 2019 HR Nebraska State SHRM Conference will host 500+ attendees, the majority of whom will include senior human resources professionals, supervisors, managers, and directors currently practicing in the human resources field. There is a one or two-day option to attend the conference. The conference will be submitted for PDCs from SHRM’s Professional Development Certification and recertification credit from HR Certification Institute. Registration is online.

HR Nebraska hosts the conference each year.

The Greater Omaha Chamber is hosting a Speed Networking Event from 4

p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Mark in Elkhorn. Speed Networking helps build connections. While the clock is counting down, attendees will be able to interact one-on-one with other professionals, gain valuable visibility, and market your company’s products and services. Registration is available online and costs $25 for members and $45 for non-members. Cost includes drinks and appetizers.

Friday, Aug. 23 The 2019 Be Worth It Conference will be held at the CHI Health Center. The all day conference will include breakout sessions on the topics of dominating new markets, business bankruptcy, negotiating business deals, succession planning and more. Attendees at the event will include business owners, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, lawyers, CPAs, Realtors, and financial planners. The keynote speaker will be Erin Brockovich, the force behind one of the largest direct-action lawsuits in the United States. Registration is available online.

The Greater Omaha Chamber’s REACH program has teamed up with the Entrepreneur’s Education Collaborative, the Nebraska Enterprise Fund, the Nebraska Business Development Center, the SBA and SCORE to provide the Small Business Series. This workshop will be at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will cover Health Benefit Solutions. Registration is available online.

who are homeless, low-income, or uninsured — and Wellspring, which helps men and women recover from the severely damaging effects of commercial sexual exploitation.

Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha received a donation of approximately $4,500 in Usborne book and toy sets from Jordan Kinderknecht. Kinderknecht raised roughly $3,000 to purchase the sets, with Usbourne matching those funds with a gift of their own.

Completely KIDS has launched an online fundraising campaign to raise $50,000 to purchase a new van. Completely KIDS currently has two passenger vans used for field trips, swimming lessons, transportation to and from Completely KIDS sites including homeless shelters, and more. Due to the growth of the agency an additional van is needed.

Arts and events…

Gate admissions are on sale for the 150th Nebraska State Fair from Aug. 23 through Sept. 2. Visitors can purchase gate passes for as low as $2 per admission through a variety of package deals. The Hometown Pass sells for $10 and includes five gate admissions, which are good from Aug. 26 through Aug. 29. The pass can be broken up between days or be used in a single outing for five people. The State Fair has also added a senior rate for patrons age 60 years and older. Seniors can attend any day of the Fair for $5.

Bellevue University will present “Women of Business,” an event designed to support and develop aspiring entrepreneurs, on Aug. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event features a panel of four women business owners from the Omaha metropolitan area: Diva Mejias, owner and President of DM Financial Services, Inc.; Sophia Jordan, owner of Black Bottom Biscotti;

Esther Mejia, founder and Creative Director of E Creative; and Ismara Gonzalez, owner of Isla Del Mar Restaurante. The event is open to the public and the cost is $15. Lunch is included in the registration. Attendees can register online.

The all-new Omaha Fire Fest will be held on Aug. 23 - 24 at Miller’s Landing on Omaha’s scenic riverfront. The festival will feature the Midwest regional and Nebraska State Championship Chili Cook-Off sanctioned by the International Chili Society. The Inaugural Omaha Fire Fest will bring a wide variety of fiery arts and performances. The Festival will include VIP Food Pairing Sessions, foods in the festival’s food court, beer and craft beer, wine and spirits gardens, KidZone, Marketplace Village and area bands.

On Aug. 24 the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum is hosting Flight Night. This is a ticketed event with interior airplane viewing, music, and a mixologist shaking up drinks from the 1940s. Experience the Museum after hours and enjoy an evening of mingling and learning about our aircraft. The bar is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and include access to the Museum and one drink voucher. Tickets are online.

Nebraska Brewing Company is changing the venue for its annual beer fest once more as well as its name. Sarpy County Fairgrounds will be the home for the all-new Great Nebraska Brew Bash. The festival is set to take place on Aug. 24. The event will feature traditional tastings, activities, an outdoor marketplace, and a food truck rally. Beer fest attendees will enjoy the traditional tasting experience alongside yard games, live music, and access to on-site camping. For the seventh consecutive year, the event will benefit the Gift of Sight charity.

26

• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

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Midlands Business

Journal • NOVEMBER 24, 2017 •

27

November 2 4 , 2 0 1 7

5055 Building at Bryan Health’s East Campus (Courtesy of Davis Design)

Unique Midlands

by Michelle Leach

Boys Town Clinic (Courtesy of Calvin L. Hinz Architects)

features, robust economy

Sandhills Publishing Cyber Center Rendering (Courtesy of Sinclair Hille)

result in multi-sector

Mixed use building rendering (Courtesy of Studio 951)

Private giving and an economy that any one industry isn’t may stays,” but the level be Midlands “mainand the sheer need of cross-sector activity Dundee harkening for talent to meet back to communities demand for services are newer-emerging in communities withthat sprung up on phenomenon for area firms. streetcar or bus lines.

“The architecture, He also speaks to engineering and construction industry lifestyle and the built a “balance in terms of Greater Omaha region is very strong in the the movement from environment”; consider at the moment,” and now “hybrids,” cubicles to open spaces said BCDM Principal conference rooms which combine smaller and and areas where Director John Sulliemployees can still have that sense of community van, who also isolated but also privacy Sarpy County’s highas needed. growth.

“We’re moving Further, Sullivan to that direction, notes strength “nearnot because it’s the trend ly across the board” but because it’s — from office the and right thing,” he said. institutional to private The architecture sectors such as reliPalandri and engineering gious projects which, side he said, is “unusual” of the construction and “won’t last forever.” industry was described “The economic development as “robust,” into and growth Smith of the metro-area the has been steady and and the diversification strong, Design Senior Associatefinal quarter by Davis of the area economy and Senior Architect — both of those Greg Smith. factors add up John Sullivan, principal to things happening in “Several projects and director at the metro, and that’sgood by Sullivan: “One of the designed recently BCDM Architects. necessarily true things that’s unique not about still in hopes of breaking are across the state, ground especially and Omaha is there is strong philanthropic environments, and a shift if you’re in an ag private support for in what people many of the large Downtown this fall and area and go into expect.” central or Lincoln projwestern Nebraska key projects.” ects are gaining inertia,” AO’s … and some of the he said. “The interior Palandri speaks to modities-driven com- Palandri Managing Principal Randall remodel market trying to attract areas,” J. nials and a has seen the uptick lifestyle shift, whereby millen- keep contractors is also strong and this will He also referenced he said. in growth that became noticeable busy during winter the many pockets the more urban centers around two years growth, from newer months.” of main steady Many large-scale ago re- perspective are in demand from a housing projects, such to Aksarben Village, areas such as Blackstone attributes in more recent months, which and offices that he generation speak to this Telegraph District’s Marilyn Moore as the at the stage where particularly to infill-type sion of that development are in-demand from extenSchool/YMCA, Hudl, Middle projects.

“There and Nelnet, have of the projects featured is occurring. Some opment,” is a lot more emphasis on redevel- perspective. He also speaks, a workplace to form; however, come not necessarily Smith said there he said. “What really here in this section to “vintage” or reflect another prominent still re“traditional” construction mains work in the drove it was, build-outs. He referenced materials but to, trend mentioned there was a pent-up demand for perhaps, more “traditional” work at Bryan Health’s market-rate neighborhoodapartments and in more walkable-type East Campus, the and community-building, new LES Operations of with areas Center, and such as Benson, Blackstone and Eustis Autobody at 98th Street projects for and Highway Continued on next page.

opportunities

Architecture — inside

NOVEMBER 24, 2017

THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:

THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS

Technology upgra

by Richard D. Brown

40

r 40 de Un

des keep Interstate

$2.00

VOL. 43 NO. 47

Printing competitive

Interstate Printing ha-based firm founded Co., an Omaby a German immigrant with a special interest in publishing ethnic newspapers, has used its family-owners hip as an anchor, placed strong equipment upgrades, emphasis on and maintained a comprehensive Green Arrow Junk list Co. aims to reduce has enabled it to growof services that household, landfill clutter. – Page of its commercial with the needs 2 printing clients, which are located throughout much of the country.

“For our 100 years we have maintained a low-key approach, which has enabled us to attract with jobs that we business clients can do a good job on,” said William F. Peter, a third generation family member who became president five years ago.

Business & Industrial “With each job we Parks/Leasing to say, ‘This came want to be able from us’ and that both our client and Persistence paves their customers way for The Union will be pleased with the for Contemporary Art’s results,” he community continued. impact.

– Page 3 Peter, who formerly practiced law full-time before Business & Industrial uncle Eugene Peter succeeding his Park/Leasing who retired from the business at age — inside 88 five years ago, From Continued on page left, Senior VP OCTOBER of Sales20, 8. reached its Jim2017 Mancuso centennial year THE BUSINESS with investments and President William NEWSPAPER Peter … in new tech.

The printing OF company GREATER OMAHA, has LINCOLN AND THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE: (Photo by MBJ / COUNCIL BLUFFS Becky McCarville) in 28

CTOBER 20, 2017 • Midlands Business

Journal

October 2 0 , 2 0 1 7

No slowdown in demand

by Michelle

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

as availability presents

ongoing challenges

More buildings may Leach be coming out of the economy with upside potential.” ground, but demand NAI NP Dodge also being constructed remains brisk. at “Demand for commercial described the leasing Associate Kyle Pelster Opportunities are Highway Crossing.”

Edney indicated this market as “very tight.” real estate loans is very strong,” is driving “At any given and landlords leasing available for tenants such as the said Stephanie Moline, aforementioned R&R. projects, executive vice president to them. time, there are around These challenges ing with First National of Enterprise Lend- 100 properties, Bank. “Commercial A; Edney recalled aren’t limited to Class give or and industrial loan how the Kellogg take, listed/available demand is growing, building at 10203 Crown at a much slower but in the Omaha/Council Point Ave. near pace.”

Fort Blair High Road She said some of had “multiple offers and Bluffs market,” couple of weeks.” in a he in late 2016 is being the capital investment said.

“Having said absorbed.

“There isn’t much “It would appear of that type of product that, finding out there, either,” is lagging the capital the anticipated revenue rect square the corhe said. expenditures,” Moline footage, He also spoke to said. location, rental tures, such as greater demand for certain fearates Growth of C&I loans, clear heights and larger dock doors — driven she said, remains and building layout about the same as can be very difficult.” by requirements a year companies such as “Agribusiness loans ago. as He referred to are up year over year and using third-partyAmazon are growing and commercial Moline providers. more construction real estate is up Edney “We’re also seeing in the last year over more year,” she said.

Pelster a lot of interest owner/user buildings year — with “We are finally seeing from investors that but some spec Generally, businesses are an increase in new in buildings as well. spec industrial space industrial properties,”looking to invest are optimistic about potential tax on the market “The new Facebook he said. “A lot reform. project will add after a slowdown in new spec projects again of that interest is coming from “This would cause new infrastructure past,” he said. “The outside of in the the Midwest.” some monies to along the Highway repatriated and improving increases in term be length, working capital corridor,” Pelster said. “This will break 50 rental rates and operating Edney referred to and money that can expenses continue ROI for new projects cap be and industrial parks way to steadily rise. as lower on the coasts, rates and one’s or additional investmentused for acquisitions area.” in that making Omaha “The rest of the market attractive as a secondary in equipment and/ or people,” she said. seems to be catch- to He said Thrasher ing up with the rental Chicago, New York or tertiary market and Freightliner more entrants into “There continues to be created rates we are or Denver. have of the new large new buildings Regarding “behind-the-scenes” construction projects.” seeing out from loan productionthe local market; both leaving vacancies in their for themselves, offices indusOMNE Partners previous locations.

Moline is encouraged and FinTechs.”

EVP Matt Edney Continued on page “Brook Valley continues Class A industrial by new market 30. entrants as: “People availability remains said to believe this is a vibrant in new industrial constructionbe the leader hard to find.” “really projects,” Pelster said. “The “And that type R&R Commerce of product is moving Park is pretty quick,” he said.

en es Womsin Bu

s

Women’s representation in leadership: Ripples adding up to a sea change?

– Page 4

Archrival updates 10-year-old Haymark et space, establishes Los Angeles presenc

by Michelle Leach e

in Omaha

Archrival’s renovated space as one space,” said Clint! RunLincoln ge, headquarters at 720 founder and the unique mix of O St. speaks to director. “We managing creative a mature wanted our space years old and counting firm — 20 be a little further to along the — and r 40 getic startup spirit de ener- chain … and at one point business that has resulted an ‘aspirational’ that was in campaigns with 40 Un Redbull, space, it became Motorola, and expansion Adidas, us and we outgrew with sister mature it. It’s more offices and teams of a business than in the space gon, and Los Angeles.Portland, Ore- felt like.”

Locally owned Aksarben “We’ve been here The Haymarket serves large demographicCinema for over 10 breathes with years, and wanted Archrival’s niche space amenities. to rethink the entire in youth culture– Page 2 Continued on page 10.

Lamp Rynearson

by Richard D. Brown

$2.00

competes with innov

VOL. 43 NO. 42

ative technology

Drone and innovative scanning technology is giving Lamp Rynearson, Omaha-based civil engineering, a 58-year-old landscape architecture, construction and surveying firm, administration a competitive advantage as it completes a wide range of private and public sector projects.

Nancy Pridal, a professional engineer and 20-year son employee who Lamp Rynearto president of the was promoted firm in August, stresses that leading President Nick with the use of Cusick latest technology … Equipment upon 30-plus yearsthe has enabled manufacturer of innovation employee-ow builds with soccer; tennis courtthe nedsafety company features to in volleyball, renovations increase its revenues to accommodat sports like pickleball. by more than e rising interest 100 percent over in the while the employee past 10 years e ye creased by 45 percent.count has inplo Em nefits “With the investment Be we’ve made, we want to Harness technology be viable in the to overcome

by Michellefuture capacity constraints, Leachwith the technology proattract businesson vided,” Depending pared to that,” said year-round where one Pridal “For President Nick looks said. across Bison’s we can scan Cusick, example, – Page divisions 6 and prod-a mound andwho its focus get indicated the uct lines, the Lincoln-based typographic was on other areas. “Even without in scanning manu-dataa and facturer’s growth stockpiles lot of direct we is up at least 5 to can get quantities.” marketing emphasis, 10 percent to 30 percent The purchase our furnishing business, of asite following second drone BRP, or amid dealer base was up Continued to 10 percent.”

President Nancy and ownership on5page 12.

Founder/Managing transitions, and Pridal … Leveraging Falling under a business unit Creative Director custom tech investments Communications redesign. trial job shop manufacturerindusClint! Runge with for variety of projects.

Amy Head of with focus on youth Filipi … Brand communicati IM“Bison overall, its SCORP’s holding (Photo by MBJ / ons firm flourishes culture. company umBecky McCarville) line, had an incredibleown product brella, wholly-owned year prior subsidiary and this last year Bison is joined bycomwas flat

by SNA Sports Michelle Leach Continued Jesse.

La Casa Pizzaria “Being on page is evolving 10. a family restaurant, with offerings on Nebraskan Michael wheels — its food our staff lives for interaction.”

Forsberg focuses truck — and via lens on Great Plains She indicated there technologies such conservation. is a balas online ordering, ancing act for the third-genera– Page 34 focused on customerwhile staying tion, family-owned service from and operated the family that restaurant, which has out its Neapolitan-st been dishing 4432 Leavenworthis still located at yle pizza for St. in Omaha — almost 75 years. the same location that reportedly “Technology plays caught on so well General Manager/Trea a part,” said Patane and his that Founder Joe family “ran out surer Nicole of Continued on page 18.

Bison makes gains as new gyms built amid popularity of sports like pickleba ll

HEALTH CARE

ACCOUNTING

ACCOUNTING

Hired

Hired

Hired

Brad Webb, D.O.

Alex Schneider

Weston Shepard

Spine Specialist

Associate

Associate

Lincoln Orthopaedic Center

Seim Johnson, LLP

Seim Johnson, LLP

Schneider graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a major in accounting and minors in economics and finance. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, Beta Alpha Psi and College of Business Administration Student Advisory Board. Schneider also volunteered with Girls on the Run and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant programs.

Shepard received his MBA and minor in coaching from Midland University.

He played men’s basketball for three years and was a student assistant coach for one year.

Shepard was a Campus Ministries leader and received the John R. Prauner award, 2019 Midlands Outstanding Business Student award and the 2019 Who’s Who award. He previously served two internships with Fremont Contract Carriers and one internship with Seim Johnson.

HEALTH CARE

ACCOUNTING

ACCOUNTING

Hired

Hired

Hired

Webb joins the expert surgeons at LOC specializing in disorders of the spine and general orthopedics/trauma. He completed a highly recognized spine fellowship at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan where he focused on spine trauma, spinal deformity, pediatric spine conditions, tumors of the spine, and degenerative spinal conditions. He strongly believes in providing compassionate patient-centered care.

La Casa Pizzaria dishes out more options to customers from online orders to food truck

Ashley Abel, property manager with Cushman Lund Co., for 1415 & Wakefield/ @ The Yard, demonstrates app during the IOTAS’ property grand opening event for the complex.

Smart-enabled apartme nt community delivers plug and play app to renters

by Becky McCarville

General Manager/Tre asurer Nicole — from food truck to website and menu Jesse … A heaping of “new” on service, Neapolitan-st updates — blends with focus yle pizza and pasta.

At the recent grand lifestyle. opening of 1415 @ The Yard The platform also apartment comprovides data plex at 14th and Cuming streets, to property managers so they can property manager Ashley Abel with monitor and control energy usage, Cushman & Wakefield/Lun rent units d Co., streamlinefaster through automation, logged onto the property labor costs and add dashboard value to launch the smart apartment app to properties. designed by Portland-based “It helps run the property IOTAS more (Internet of Things As a Service), efficiently,” Abel said, adding that demonstrating the she can control ease new tenant can control at which a ing, heating vacant units’ lightand air conditioning, automated technologyand integrate monitor maintenance to fit their issues as well Continued on page 39.

SAVE TIME, MONEY AND HASSLE WITH AN ANNUAL

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Spotlight@mbj.com

Ben Woodhead, D.O.

Taylor Gehring

Benjamin Vroman

Shoulder, Elbow, and Sports Surgeon

Associate

Associate

Seim Johnson, LLP

Seim Johnson, LLP

Lincoln Orthopaedic Center

Woodhead has a special interest in shoulder, elbow and sports surgery, having completed one of the most prestigious and competitive shoulder and elbow fellowships at the University of Washington, under the mentorship of world-renowned surgeon, Dr. Fredrick Matsen III. He also focuses on Total Shoulder and Reverse Total Shoulder replacements, the “Ream and Run” procedure, and complex revision shoulder surgery.

Gehring graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a major in accounting, minor in management and master‘s in professional accountancy. She received the Outstanding Student Organization Officer award and the Nebraska Alumni Association’s Roy and Catherine Yaley Student Leadership Award. Gehring was involved in the student enrollment organization, Nebraska Student Alumni Association, Beta Alpha Psi and the College of Business Clifton Strength’s Institute as a coach.

Vroman graduated with a major in accounting and finance with Cum Laude honors from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. He was a member of the Alpha Omega Delta fraternity and participated in chess, philosophy and programming clubs.

FINANCE

ACCOUNTING

BANKING

Promoted

Hired

Promoted

Nate Kruse

Emily Hunt

Sean Blocher

Managing Director

Associate

Business Banker II

Northwestern Mutual, Lincoln

Seim Johnson, LLP

Mutual of Omaha Bank

Northwestern Mutual, a leading financial security company, has promoted Nate Kruse to serve as managing director in Lincoln, Nebraska. He will be responsible for leading the office as well as continuing to provide specialized financial plans for clients. Kruse joined the company in 2009 and previously held various leadership roles, including field director and growth and development director.

Hunt received her major in business administration with concentrations in public accounting, finance and international business from Wayne State College. She was a member of Theta Phi Alpha sorority and Delta Sigma Pi. Hunt was previously employed at Dana F. Cole and Company for three years working in the audit, tax, payroll and bookkeeping areas.

In this role, Blocher is responsible for maintaining and expanding Mutual of Omaha Bank’s commercial client relationships. During nine years at Mutual of Omaha Bank, he has held various positions. Blocher graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Sarpy and serves on the Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation Board.

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

27

In the Spotlight Paid Content

ENGINEERING

REAL ESTATE

BUSINESS SERVICES

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

New Position

Hired

Hired

Promoted

Brian Howell, PE, CxA

Steve Gries, CCIM

Bruce Shedd

Christopher Bedient

Federal Program Manager

Associate Broker

Production Print Specialist

Partner

Farris Engineering

Howell joined Farris in 2015 as a mechanical engineer and demonstrated a passion for designing energy-efficient systems for the federal market. As a Veteran, Howell is familiar with the facilities and services required to support our servicemen and women. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architectural engineering from the University of Nebraska and is a member of the Nebraska Society of Healthcare Engineers and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning. Farris Engineering, an employee-owned provider of professional mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and other consulting engineering services, was established in 1967 in Omaha, Nebraska. The firm also has offices in Lincoln, Nebraska; Sidney, Nebraska; and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

ENGINEERING Promoted

Ryan Richard, PE Mechanical Department Manager Farris Engineering

In his new role, Richard will manage a staff of professional engineers, designers, and technicians and will facilitate efficient designs and the timely delivery of projects. In his 12 years with Farris, Richard has gained a wide range of project experience giving him key knowledge to ensure project goals are met. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nebraska and his master's degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University. He is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning and the International District Energy Association.

NAI NP Dodge

Gries provides a full-range of commercial real estate services but specializes in investment and multi-family sales. With more than 20 years of commercial real estate and investment experience in the Omaha market, Gries has worked as a broker, developer, property manager, mortgage originator and licensed securities broker. He is well known as the author of the biannual “Omaha Multi-Family Report,” which provides detailed data and analysis of multifamily real estate conditions in Omaha, Lincoln, Neb. and Des Moines, Iowa.

A native Omahan, Gries received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bellevue University. He holds the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member designation from the CCIM Institute and is a longtime member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Bishop Business

Shedd brings nearly 15 years of experience in the digital imaging industry where he worked with production print customers. He has worked his entire career in the Nebraska, Iowa commercial printing community.

He received a B.S. from Bellevue University and an A.S. from Metropolitan Community College.

Dave Bishop, President and CEO, said, “We are pleased to add Bruce, a seasoned veteran to our team of production professionals. Bruce brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that is unmatched in the area.” Bishop Business was founded in 1954 to provide business tools and personal, professional service. Today it specializes in output solutions including copiers, printers, wide format devices, production print and paperless business process automation software.

It currently has over 40 employees with offices in Lincoln and Omaha serving a local territory within 60 miles of these locations. Bishop Business is still family-owned and operated.

HBE Wealth Management LLC

Bedient joined the firm as a financial advisor in 2015.

Since that time, his leadership within HBE Wealth has evolved to include the oversight of all wealth management services for clients based on a holistic, all-encompassing investment approach.

As a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder and Certified Financial Planner professional, Bedient provides comprehensive and customized financial planning guidance that includes investment advising, retirement saving, estate planning, philanthropic giving, tax strategies, and other aspects unique to each client’s circumstances. For over 20 years, HBE Wealth Management has provided wealth management services for individuals, businesses, and retirement plans throughout Nebraska.

As a member of the BAM Alliance, the firm offers services that go beyond basic advice to incorporate all facets of their clients’ financial lives.

28

• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

August 16, 2019

Venue selection greatly contributes to overall spirit for holiday office parties

by Gabby Christensen well.”

The venue of a holiday office party She said it’s important to tour, trial often sets the tone for an event, which is and taste in order to imagine what guests why professional event planners say it’s will enjoy. critical that businesses carefully “Select a venue that provides consider all space options. the planning, setup, facility, food Without question, Katie and fun for all ages — so you can Hossner, event sales manager be the party hero,” Hossner said. at The Amazing Pizza Machine, “Also, remember to book far in said any company party first and advance to secure your date of foremost should be fun for evchoice.” eryone, including the committee Hossner said The Amazing assigned to plan the party.

Pizza Machine offers in-house “Choose the destination that event planning professionals, offers state of the art food and unlimited food and beverages, fun for all ages and interests in discounted group pricing and Hossner your group,” Hossner said. “But has space for up to 2,000 party also know that the right destination will guests. relieve most of the event day burdens, as Christal Swenson, director at Nuri

From left, Nuri Event Studio’s Alexis Jordan, event assistant, and Christal Swenson, director.

Event Studio, said businesses should cal- visual, overhead sound equipment and an culate their guest count and determine if overall open concept, customizable to any they prefer a restaurant setting or a private event.” venue.

Tracey Fricke, owner of Occasion “Many restaurants offer dining rooms Designed, said there are many aspects to to accommodate groups up to 50 people, consider when selecting a venue, including whereas, private venues can often accom- flexibility, size, acoustics, parking and fees modate 50 to 150 guests,” she said. or other charges.

According to Swenson, day of the It’s also important to determine which week and time frame are also an vendors are allowed, as well as important factor. decorating restrictions.

“As holiday schedules get Additionally, she said some busy for most business proplaces may include lighting as fessionals and their families, part of the rental, which can picking a day/time can be the always enhance the general détrickiest decision,” she said. cor while others have in-house “Depending on the time of the vendors you must use which party, type of food can be deterprovides some convenience. mined, whether it’s a heavy ap“We have many great local petizer spread or full dinner. As venue options,” Fricke said. most holiday office parties are a “Our museums are wonderful Fricke celebration, beverage packages options as are many event sites are also a consideration.” such as Omaha Design Center Sticking to a budget based on previous and The Empire Room, but there are other years is also extremely helpful, Swenson said. smaller choices as well such as Joslyn She said Nuri Event Studio is a private Castle, which can add a fun twist to the venue that can host up to 150 guests. overall feel of your event. Try to think “The space is intimate and modern, a outside the box and be open to new and downtown feel in west Omaha,” she said. different possibilities. Getting your guests “The beautiful features of the venue include into a new and unique space adds to the built in up-lighting, state-of-the art audio overall experience.”

Holiday Office Parties Guide •

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

From interactive coffee grinding stations, to lively 3D displays, parties defy norm

by Michelle Leach

Early bookings and an emphasis on experience speak to companies’ investment in employee morale and culture via the holiday office party.

If a checklist with designated assignments for each team member isn’t crafted yet, Fun Services owner Beth Raper suggests doing so now.

“This way it doesn’t get too overwhelming for one person,” she said. “The checklist should include all your major decisions like a venue, food and entertainment but can also include things like decorations, name tags, door prizes, or employee gifts. It’s always best to try to have everything planned a couple weeks before so you’re not stressing too much right before the event.”

Consider the cost of planning an event inhouse, according to House of R brother-sister duo, President and General Manager Vic Richards and Vice President and Creative Director Rachel Richards, who indicated that one might think he or she is saving money “doing things yourself,” but the time and money adds up.

Companies who plan events, they said, know the cost and energy that goes into hosting a party for staff. Furthermore, Vic Richards noted time required to plan a party takes away from the “day to day tasks of any business.”

Likewise, the Richards’ emphasize shopping around for venues to make sure everything is included in the price; a venue may sound like a “steal,” until one discovers lighting, tables, chairs and a bar aren’t included in the price.

Elite Events Rental Event Coordinator Tori Tetrick said as soon as one knows what they need: “They are free to start an invoice at any time.”

“It's a 25% non-refundable deposit to hold a reservation with us, but they can make changes to the invoice up until 14 days before the event,” she said. “Then, that 25% goes towards what they do end up with. There are no minimums or packages companies need to use for our items. They can come in here and get exactly what they want.”

As for a checklist for supplies, Tetrick likes to start from the ground up.

“For example, do they need chairs and tables? Then we can move on to linens, centerpieces, décor … It’s good to make guests feel special,” she said. “Something we have that could create this feeling is red carpet with

red velvet rope.”

Memorable features include balloon arches and balloon displays for pictures, according to Raper.

“We can also make 3D displays like Santa, a gingerbread man or even a nutcracker,” she said. “Another large trend that we are seeing is the ‘20’s’ theme. Since next year is 2020, we have lots of people requesting to recreate a 1920’s speakeasy.”

Rachel Richards said wooden accents and faux fur are huge décor pieces for the season.

“People tend to be moving away from the traditional ‘Christmas’-themed holiday parties to better accommodate everyone,” she said. “We are currently huge fans of wooden coffee tables accented with tabletop fireplaces, surrounded by comfortable lounge furniture and faux fur rugs. Adding throw blankets to guests’ seating is also a great way to add a pop of color and bring the cozy winter vibes inside. Replacing décor pieces with interactive elements is also becoming more and more popular.”

For instance, she suggests swapping in interactive photo opportunities, hands-on craft stations or fun, on-theme lounge furniture – instead of unneeded round tables and chairs.

Generally, Vic Richards said companies want parties that stand out from the norm; an investment in the experience that is not only engaging, but memorable. Along those lines, his sister/business partner said a holiday party doesn’t mean the theme needs to be all things holiday cheer.

“Change it up and have a different theme that isn’t holiday-related; for example, we have a corporate client who booked our ‘Havana Good Time’ experience package for their executive team’s holiday gathering,” she said. “This package includes a bright exotic color palette, traditional Cuban food, Cuban-inspired cocktails, a fresh cigar rolling station, a take-home Cuban coffee grinding station, live entertainment and a hidden Cuban speakeasy. Our ‘Under the Big Top’ package is also popular for the holiday season.”

Overall, Raper said people are “booking earlier and earlier each year,” validation that companies are investing back in their employees.

“Employee morale is very important in our community,” she said. “You can see that in the amount of time and effort spent on people’s holiday parties and other employee events.”

Incorporating charitable elements requires research, coordination

by David Kubicek

Incorporating charitable components into a holiday office party requires research and close coordination with the nonprofit organization.

“Understanding how your company can make the largest effort and listening to what the charitable organization needs will be the best first step in the right direction,” said Jaycee Stephens, event producer at planitomaha.

The most popular charitable events seem to be labor- or monetary-based efforts like facilitating bike builds or putting together donation bags for children and adults full of

items like toiletries or school supplies.

Direct giving is becoming increasingly popular at corporate events. Attendees can donate with minimal effort through direct text, online or through an e-invite.

“We’re also seeing clients taking on corporate social responsibility, like using more recycled products or going completely paperless,” Stephens said.

VGA Marketing and Development Specialist Laura Paulsen said that for the past few holiday seasons the firm’s staff has donated to a fund to support an annual Day of Continued on next page.

Beth Raper, owner of Fun Services.

29

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• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

• Holiday Office Parties Guide

Food stations remain a popular option for corporate holiday entertaining

by Dwain Hebda

There’s an old rule in corporate holiday entertaining: Feed your guests well and everything else falls into place. At one time, holiday parties meant providing a sit-down dinner for employees, perhaps followed by entertainment in very l a rg e c o m p a n i e s .

Times have certainly changed as food stations have largely replaced the traditional plated meal.

“We have seen a big trend with stations,” said Aileen Babayan, director of events and catering Glazebrook with Hilton Omaha.

“We have encouraged groups to offer a pre-set salad to get everyone in the room, seating for any announcements then create themed stations around the room to get everyone up and walking around.

“Clients are gearing towards more

mixed seating and long tables to encourage guests to interact with each other and create a more comfortable, less formal seating option.”

Babayan said the stations provide numerous other advantages, such as giving guests variety and cutting down on waste. With a little creativity, it can even lend a measure of entertainment value.

“Having an action station with a chef is always a crowd-pleaser,” she said. “Guests also really like a buildWilken y o u r- o w n s t a t i o n such as a s’mores station.”

Amanda Glazebrook, sales director of Scott Conference Center, said the more casual feel of food stations aligns well with any theme and fits today’s partygoer tastes, which are less formal than they Continued on next page.

Aileen Babayan, director of events and catering at Hilton Omaha.

Incorporating charitable elements requires research, coordination Continued from preceding page.

Giving, and the company matches employee contributions.

“On that day, our employees break out into teams, each covering an assigned area of [Omaha], to perform random acts of kindness,” she said.

These acts have included purchasing clothing accessories and personal items for donation to schools and shelters, taking donuts to police or fire Stephens stations, picking up someone’s grocery tab and making donations to some of the firm’s favorite nonprofits.

Clover Frederick, president of the Nebraska Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, said she has seen few examples of charitable events happening as

part of holiday office parties.

“Some companies choose to have a charitable event instead of a normal office party while others do both,” she said. “Of those that

Frederick Ohlman do both, some choose to incorporate them together and others have two separate events.”

Start by setting aside some financial resources and/or time during work hours.

Next, have employees decide which charity to support. Using a committee of employees

to narrow down and research opportunities, then letting all employees vote, will have greater buy-in than if the CEO mandates a charity.

“I recommend working with a local charity or the local chapter of a national charity,” Frederick said. “Also, steer clear of controversial causes if you want all employees to participate.”

Make a plan with the organization the firm is supporting. Work with representatives to provide a variety of ways that employees can participate. Make sure opportunities are during work hours for those employees who have difficulty participating because of child care or transportations burdens.

Dani Ohlman, director of volunteer engagement at United Way of the Midlands, said the organization is in contact with nonprofit agencies regularly and knows their urgent needs. “[By contacting us first] if your company holds a donation drive, the donations can

be utilized right away and/or possibly fill a need for the agency that is not being met during the holidays,” she said. “We can also coordinate a Good on the Go event for your company. Good on the Go events boost engagement, foster teamwork and build morale as employees work together to assemble kits for local agencies.”

Companies can choose from multiple types of kits, from hygiene kits to new mom and baby kits to literacy kits that contain new books for children. United Way takes care of the purchasing and transportation of the materials as well as event set up and execution.

All companies have to do is fund the project, provide the space and recruit volunteers who are ready to give back. United Way handles the kit delivery and event clean-up.

“Incorporating volunteer events during the holiday season is a great way to give your employees the opportunity to share their time, efforts and treasure with our neighbors in need to make their holidays brighter,” Ohlman said.

Holiday Office Parties Guide •

Midlands Business Journal • AUGUST 16, 2019 •

How to keep vacations from upending your team

by Liz Reyer

Q: I have a couple of teammates who do a lousy job of handing off their work before they take time off. It doesn’t matter if it’s a day or two weeks; they just head out. What can I do to make their time off go more smoothly?

-Arun, 43, business analyst A: If this is a patWoRkplaCe tern that you’ve just been letting go, it’s high time you take steps to know what to expect when they’re away.

The first thing to think about is your team dynamics. Is your boss heavily involved in managing the team’s work or are you self-directed?

In a boss-led group, start by going to your boss to state your needs for more clarity around vacation planning. You can do this without pointing fingers or could raise it as a discussion topic at a team meeting, again, without making it personal.

With any luck, your boss will step in to help manage the situation.

If you’re a more independent team (or your boss doesn’t come through), you could take a similar approach. However, in this case, you’d either raise the topic in a team meeting or one-on-one with your co-workers.

Keep your comments positive and focused on your needs. For example, “I want to provide the best possible coverage

Food stations remain a popular option Continued from preceding page. used to be.

“You want to make sure the menu fits within the overall aesthetic of the event. If the company is looking for a casual laidback feeling, a formal four-course sit-down dinner may not fit with that,” she said. “A variety of food stations encourages mingling for the entire evening.

“I’ve also seen many holiday parties having longer cocktail hours for up to two or three hours versus the customary one hour, then transitioning to a dinner with a shorter presentation.”

Glazebrook said whatever the setup, organizers need to make sure they’ve covered the bases for as many guests as possible.

“Dietary restrictions can become a handful if not thought of ahead of time,” she said. “Planning entrees that fit multiple dietary needs will help keep down the number of orders to track. Select an entrée that is already gluten-free or plan a vegetarian and vegan entrée that can fit both needs.

“Always speak with your venue’s catering team ahead of time to ensure entrees are available for those with a specific dietary restriction such as peanut, seafood, et cetera.”

Kaylin Wilken, director of marketing and sales for Attitude on Food, said while food stations can be more affordable, there are limits as to what can be provided within a certain dollar limit. Organizers should understand that cutting the food budget too close to the bone may result in inadequate catering and therefore, unhappy guests.

“Companies need to, first and foremost, set a realistic budget. If you aren’t sure, get a few proposals first and then figure out where you should be,” she said. “It’s also important to focus on your priorities and definitely keep in mind who your audience is and where your party is taking place.”

Again, food stations provide a wider versatility in this area than sit-down dinners which tend to have more rigid menus.

Wilken echoed the advice to create an event atmosphere to match the crowd, thus ensuring everyone will be able to kick back and have a good time.

“You can have a more casual feel and still get a beautiful buffet or stations, using nice disposable wares. All of which is more economical [than plated dinners],” she said.

“The important thing is, play to your crowd and keep the big picture in mind.”

while you’re away, so let’s plan out what will need to be done.” This will get a much better response than, “It drives me crazy when …”

However, if you’re really frustrated and annoyed, spend some time processing those feelings. Otherwise they could creep through and you’ll just seem insincere if you try to sound positive.

Keep in mind that if you’ve let a situation occur over and over without providing feedback, the other person may not even know that your needs are not being met. I’m wondering if this is a pattern for you and, if so, it’s one that could be having a negative impact in other aspects of your life.

Do your preparation. You probably have a sense of the things that could come your way, so lay out specific information you want about each project or task. Sit down together and get all this information ahead of time. This could be with your boss or just your colleague, depending on your team.

31

Also be sure to get names of contact people who could answer questions or provide support, especially for their longer out of office times.

This will help, but there will still be times when you haven’t gotten the information you need. Think about your options for handling them.

For example, do you take on more ownership than you need to, or make the situation more urgent than it really is?

Determine if the person who needs something can wait until your co-worker returns. Or look for other options to help them that will not cause you to neglect other responsibilities.

Do a debrief after your teammate returns, letting them know if there were issues that could have been avoided with better prep.

With preparation and planning, you’ll be better set up to avoid challenging surprises. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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32

• AUGUST 16, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

• Holiday Office Parties Guide

The Lincoln

AUGUST 2019

BUSINESS Vol. 22 No. 8 $2.00

Journal

Banking .......................Pages 4-6 Employee Benefits ......Pages 8-9

Alivation focuses on behavioral health, takes a collaborative approach.

Page 2

Wax Buffalo carves out niche in 70-plus boutiques, among select major brands.

Page 3

2

• AUGUST 2019 • The Lincoln Business Journal

Alivation focuses on behavioral health, takes a collaborative approach

by Savannah Behrends

As more health care providers add behavioral health consultants, Alivation aims to differentiate by focusing on behavioral health and research first with primary care and pharmaceuticals as an added benefit.

“A lot of our patients weren’t being treated [for their physical or metabolic issues] because they didn’t have a primary care physician,” said Trevor Bullock, CEO.

Alivation Phone: 402-476-6060 Address: 8550 Cuthills Circle, Lincoln 68526 Founded: Premier Psychiatric Group merged with Practice Specialists in 2017 to form Alivation Health.

Service: Focus on behavioral health with additional services like primary care options and pharmacy. Alivation Health is affiliated with Alivation Research.

Employees: 70-75 at Alivation Health; 4 at Alivation Research Industry outlook: As communities begin talking about behavioral health more the demand will increase. Finding and retaining certified professionals to meet demand will be a major challenge.

Website: alivation.com

“Having primary care and a pharmacy at our location has allowed us to collaborate to take care of our patients’ needs.”

Alivation, which formed after Premier Psychiatric Group and Practice Specialists merged in 2017, is seeing an average 50-60 new patients each week.

Not surprisingly its biggest obstacle has been finding enough behavioral health doctors to meet demand. An industry-wide shortage in health care providers, its status as a private practice as well as location are factors putting a damper on Alivation’s recruitment.

“I love the Midwest — I wouldn’t want to raise my family anywhere else — but a lot of residents coming out of training are looking at the coasts and it’s difficult to attract talent to the Midwest,” Bullock said.

While based in Lincoln, Nebraska, a state that is often referred to as a “fly-over state,” Alivation packs a punch when it comes to specialties and research in behavioral health.

For one, Alivation President, owner and founder, Dr. Walt Duffy, is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to work with children and adolescents as well as adults.

In 2000 the U.S. Bureau of Health Professional projected that in the year 2020

Banking ...............

Pages 4-6 Employee Benefits ................

Pages 8-9

just approved a ketamine treatment called Spravato for the market, but Alivation “has been doing ketamine treatments for the last four years.”

The Institute now has four staff members who work on anywhere between 12-16 1B Phase 4 studies at a time.

“That’s really beneficial to our patients because sometimes they can’t afford a medication but they might be a potential candidate for a research program,” Bullock said.

As the health care industry shifts to a value-based care system, Bullock noted that the behavioral health sector has been CEO Trevor Bullock …Leveraging a multi-disciplinary approach and a relationship with Alivation Research slow to follow. This comes largely from to attract talent at a time when there’s a shortage in providers. medical records platform, which makes the nature of behavioral health. there would need to be 12,624 child and “There’s still a lot of unknowns about adolescent psychiatrists just to maintain the collaboration more accessible.

“One of the big frustrations for provides what specifically you can measure to show level of services in 2000.

In 2018 ABPN recorded only 10,909 in a private setting outside of Alivation is better outcomes,” he said. “Ultimately pacertified professionals, 1,715 short of pro- that when they want to refer out to collabo- tients are coming to see us for the rest of their lives, it’s a lot different then going to jections from 2000 that didn’t account for rate it’s difficult,” Bullock said.

The research institute, called Aliva- get your sore throat taken care of.” the surge in behavioral health needs.

“Mental health is becoming more accept- tion Research, collaborates with Alivation able to talk about and I think that’s opened up Health, but is under its own entity.

The Lincoln Business Journal Established in 1996 With 20 years in the industry Duffy, who a door for those who have been struggling,” PUBLISHER & FOUNDER, Robert Hoig founded Alivation Research in 2003, has Bullock said.

ADMINISTRATION Another selling point is the collabora- built relationships with several organizations VP OF OPERATIONS, Andrea “Andee” Hoig tive approach Alivation uses between its looking to bring new drugs to the market or behavioral health unit, primary care unit and do research.

EDITORIAL For example, Bullock noted that the FDA pharmacy. All units use the same electronic EDITOR & VICE PRESIDENT OF NEWS,

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The Lincoln Business Journal • AUGUST 2019 •

3

Wax Buffalo carves out niche in 70-plus boutiques, among select major brands

by Michelle Leach

In around five years, Wax Buffalo has expanded its local footprint with a bricks and mortar store in the Haymarket, while expanding its national presence across more than 70 stores — including Whole Foods Market Midwest.

Wax Buffalo Address: 727 O St., Lincoln 68508 (flagship store) Services: pure soy candle company Goals: In 2020, tuck into brands such as CB2 and West Elm that align with their values.

Website: wax-buffalo.myshopify.com

Artistic Director and Founder Alicia Reisinger indicated that the pure soy candle company could have grown even faster.

“We’ve chosen to build the company that we have,” Reisinger said. “There have been companies that we’ve spoken with that are curious about investing, and more production-based opportunities, but that would change the way that our company works. We look at, ‘Does our growth still align with our brand purpose?’ People get excited that our candles are ethically made and natural, and we get a lot of emails all about our studio culture. The people who buy our candles like the way we’ve built our business.”

Carved from candle-making skills taught

by Reisinger’s beloved late grandmother, Wax Buffalo celebrated the grand opening of its 727 O St. flagship store this summer.

“We were just in my house for probably

Artistic Director and Founder Alicia Reisinger … Haymarket flagship store opening provides opportunities for candle-maker to test new products, connect with shoppers, and showcase other makers. the first couple of years, and we ‘destroyed’ our fragrance roll-ons, and “Waxy B Swag” in house — candles were everywhere,” she said. partnership with other makers like Apolis Wax Buffalo would eventually make its Market Bags or EarthenJoy ceramics. way to other stores, both being housed out “We are really big on collaboration and of shared boutique spaces and via partners love partnering to create a scent,” Reisinger such as Hutch in Omaha who sold Reisinger’s said, a reference to its partnership with a fares. At the time of this writing, products brewery. “It allows two companies to come included “classic” scents (such as “Sweet together to create something beautiful.”

Tobacco,” or “Into the Woods”) farmer’s marGenerally, she said the brand tends to ket scents (such as Grapefruit and Pineapple resonate with small, boutique-type stores, Sage), and goods like pure soy wax melts, though in the past year it’s had a presence in

Whole Foods’ Midwest region stores.

“That is really exciting and encouraging; it wasn’t necessarily scary to be in a big-box store when we’re sticking with our brand mantra,” Reisinger said. “Our goal for 2020 is to tuck into a store like CB2, West Elm or MadeWell.”

The “Buffalo” aspect of the brand further speaks to Reisinger’s roots in Kansas City, Illinois, and Nebraska. In fact, its “Midwest Love” and “Oh hey Nebraska!” collections feature candles in containers adorned with the outline of each state — Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Nebraska. Usually, these containers are adorned with an “X” — a “twist” on the amber apothecary bottles Reisinger came upon while doing documentary work for other brands in Europe. Reisinger also continues to maintain close relationships with Lincoln’s Archrival, where she worked as a brand agent recruiter.

“Our flagship store is right across the street from them,” she said.

The flagship affords many opportunities, not only for Wax Buffalo’s team, but for other female entrepreneurs and makers, as well as for community-building and networking.

“We can engage with shoppers on a daily basis and test out front to see if they love [products], and there are fun things they can only find in the shop,” Reisinger said. “We’re curating a bunch of brands from all over the country.”

For instance, there are salts from Portland, and West Coast makeup.

Reisinger also noted there is space for Continued on page 12.

4

• AUGUST 2019 • The Lincoln Business Journal

Banking August 2019

A section prepared by the staff of the Lincoln Business Journal

Real estate-driven financing among areas keeping banks busy

by Michelle Leach

Lincoln banking executives refer to a fair share of both “sunny spots,” such as commercial and residential real estate activity, and “dark clouds,” driven by the likes of an ag-based economy, which certainly hasn’t been helped by persistent wicked weather.

“The health of the economy appears to be very industry-specific and, therefore, regionalized in today’s environment,” said Midwest Bank Regional President Brad Koehn. “The agriculture industry continues to face challenges, as well as certain sectors within the manufacturing and retail industries. Conversely, most, if not all,

sectors of real estate remain strong and in high demand.”

With bank markets in the Lincoln metro and communities from Atkinson to Falls City, Great Western Bank’s exposure spans different economies in Nebraska, according Koehn to Lincoln Group President Tom Sonderegger.

“Generally-speaking, the Lincoln metro market remains strong with most

Lyon

businesses reporting favorable results for 2018 and the YTD period,” he said. “Commercial real estate activity continues to drive most of the growth, though we’ve seen some pull back in the demand for new multi-family and hospitality proj-

ects.”

The unusually harsh winter, spring flooding and exceptionally wet weather

statewide, Sonderegger added, has delayed, and in some cases prevented, spring planting for farmers.

“The traditional construction season was also pushed back due to weather,” he said. “We’re just now starting to see the cash flow cycle catch up for our contractor clients.”

Pinnacle Bank’s Marlin Lyon has had his finger on the pulse of the home real estate market as a mortgage lender since 1992.

“The real estate market is very active,” the vice president of mortgage lending/ private banking said. “There is a severe Continued on next page.

Banking •

The Lincoln Business Journal • AUGUST 2019 •

Nebraska banks strive to cater to customers digitally

by Gabby Christensen

As digital banking is on the rise, customer experience is truly enhancing, experts say.

Cory Mann, director of innovation and disruption at First National Bank of Omaha, said it’s important to create customer journeys that connect key experiences and life stages to banking services.

“Digital channels provide customers with a wealth of resources and tools to sup-

Real estate financing Continued from preceding page. lack of inventory to purchase. So, as soon as a home comes on the market, there is a lot of interest.”

As buyers outpace sellers, Lyon said if a home is “priced appropriately and in decent condition” it normally sells quickly.

“New construction is also popular for the same reason,” he said.

Accordingly, Lyon referred to a strong home loan market.

“Mortgage rates are low, unemployment is low … and underwriting rules are favorable,” he said.

When asked about the rates generally, Koehn noted all current indicators nationally and internationally suggest a sustained, low (and perhaps lower) interest rate environment for the foreseeable future.

“Overall, the banking industry is sound with strong capital positions and good earnings,” he said. “Loan demand remains strong, but funding sources (particularly deposits) have become more challenging and expensive.”

Sonderegger described the rate environment as a “challenge to manage.”

“Daily borrowing rates tied to the national indexes with a spread are currently higher than long-term fixed rates available in the market,” he said. “That’s highly unusual and a challenge to explain to clients — why they can fix a long-term rate a rate that’s potentially lower than their working capital lines.”

When one factors in the rush to raise rates on deposit products at the beginning of 2019, followed by the recent drop in the Fed funds rate, Sonderegger indicated banks are challenged to remain sufficiently competitive to attract deposits and loans while maintaining an acceptable interest rate margin.

“Most literature suggests it’s highly likely that we’ll see another Fed funds rate reduction in 2019, which will continue to put downward pressure on deposit rates for consumers,” he said. “Competition for qualified borrowers is high in all Nebraska markets, which has resulted in rates held lower than funding costs would dictate. I’d expect this to continue with the result being a positive environment for households and businesses to borrow.”

When asked about the implications for households and businesses, Sonderegger said the bank is talking to clients about long-term fixed interest rates and how they can benefit from consolidating existing balance and new credit needs into a single, long-term product that protects from future rate risk.

“It’s a great time to go have this discussion with your banker,” he said.

port their discovery of financial services achieve their financial goals and manage during these stages,” Mann said. “People their day-to-day spending.

“We continue to see steady growth in research their needs digitally and once they both digital and mobile comare informed they will either merce across the U.S.,” Mann continue to engage digitally or said. “While digital commerce seek out a bank branch to help spending continues on a gradthem complete their journey.” ual incline, the growth rate of Mann said banks are looking mobile payments at the pointto provide customers with the of-sale is increasing at an even ability to more easily sign up faster rate for the average confor products and services via sumer. The combination of digitals channels, too. retailers upgrading their POS to “Many banks are also resupport mobile transactions and thinking the traditional branch consumer confidence in this way experience to be highly inteBaier of transacting are contributing grated with the digital experience,” Mann said. “If a customer begins to these trends. We also continue to see a their experience online or in a mobile substantial increase in person-to-person app, their in-branch experience should be digital payments. People are continuing to aligned to and informed by their digital rely on services such as Venmo to move money to friends and family.” experience.”

With the increased demand for mobile According to Mann, banks are looking for ways to more proactively deliver in- banking services, Richard Baier, president/ formation to customers that can help them CEO at Nebraska Bankers Association,

5

said data security and privacy are a top priority for both banks and customers.

He said growth in mobile banking applications has also allowed some banks to begin offering card-less ATM withdrawals and services.

“As technology grows and evolves, new banking solutions will allow consumers to more easily open accounts, apply for loans, seek financial advice, manage investments and other financial services that have historically required visits to their local bank,” Baier said.

He said a growing trend for many Nebraska bankers is to take the bank to the customer as opposed to the more traditional model.

“An area of growth and opportunity that will continue to evolve is the collaboration we are beginning to see between the banking and fintech sectors, now referred to as ‘banktech,’” Baier said. “Many technology companies have begun to acknowledge and appreciate the intricacies of the financial industry, the need and purpose of regulation, robust security protocols, while Continued on next page.

6

• AUGUST 2019 • The Lincoln Business Journal • Banking

Banking legislation and regulation updates

by David Kubicek

Several regulations that impact the financial industry became effective over the past year. Here’s a rundown on some of them.

Most of the regulatory changes have resulted from implementation of provisions contained within S. 2155, the Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, passed in May 2018, according to Bob Hallstrom, general counsel for the Nebraska Bankers Association (NBA).

“S. 2155 provided much-needed regulatory relief for community banks, while maintaining vital consumer protections and effective regulatory supervision,” he said.

Cater to customers Continued from preceding page. bankers are embracing the critical need for technological innovation.”

Despite the growth in demand and utilization of mobile banking, Baier said initial research indicates that both millennials and Gen Z still like to know and have a personal relationship with their local banker.

“Consumers can expect banks of tomorrow to not only offer competitive technological solutions, but also to offer high touch services, which meet the needs of our native technology users,” Baier said.

“A significant number of banks are focused on taking their more advanced services to their customers.”

Provisions of S. 2155 that were either “While little federal banking legisself–effectuating or for which regulations lation has been adopted in the past year, have been adopted by federal banking the 2018 Farm Bill included important agencies include: providing commodity price protections “qualified mortgage” status for that will provide producers mortgage loans held in portfolio with greater certainty over the by depository institutions with next five years,” Hallstrom less than $10 billion in assets; said. “The new Farm Bill also easing appraisal requirements maintained a strong crop insurfor certain real estate loans ance program, increased USDA to facilitate mortgage loans guaranteed farm loan limits to in local rural communities; $1.75 million and exempted exempting most community hemp with limited quantities banks from the Volcker Rule of THC from the definition of — which restricted U.S. banks marijuana under the Controlled Hallstrom from making certain kinds of Substances Act, creating opspeculative investments that did not ben- portunities for new sources of revenue for efit their customers; expanding eligibility producers growing this alternative crop.” for the 18–month regulatory examination The Nebraska Legislature passed cycle to more community banks; creat- several laws that became effective ing a streamlined, short–form call report in 2019, according to Patricia Humfor the first and third quarter for certain licek Herstein, general counsel for the well–rated community banks; and exempt- Nebraska Department of Banking & ing “reciprocal deposits” from brokered Finance (NDBF). deposit rules.

Laws taking effect on Sept. 1 include: Additional regulatory changes stemLB 603, which amends section 8-157.01 ming from S. 2155 that are expected to of the Nebraska Banking Act to eliminate be finalized in the near future include ex- the requirement that an electronic switch empting some community bank residential must implement the same ATM usage fee loans from certain escrow requirements for all user financial institutions for essenand simplifying community bank capital tially the same service. requirements.

LB 121 changed provisions on limits of During the past year, the federal banking agencies also raised the appraisal exemption thresholds for commercial real estate loans from $250,000 to $500,000.

indebtedness relating to direct borrowing by cities and villages from financial institutions, including changing the maximum repayment period and raising the limit on total indebtedness by certain cities.

LB 145 authorizes an agent under a power of attorney (POA) granting authority with respect to financial institutions to execute such POAs as may be required and necessary to interact with the institution, under specified conditions.

LB 514 changed the criminal statute on bad checks to include checks written for child and spousal support.

LB 355 will amend various consumer finance laws under the jurisdiction of NDBF, such as money transmitters, installment sales, mortgage bankers and mortgage loan originators.

“State mortgage banking regulators are working with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to finalize the filing process, which statutorily becomes effective Nov. 24, 2019,” Herstein said. “Section 8 of the bill adopts a transitional licensing process required by federal law allowing federally-registered mortgage loan originators — generally financial institution employees and mortgage loan originators licensed by another state who meet specified standards to act as a mortgage loan originator for up to 120 days in Nebraska after becoming employed by a Nebraska-licensed mortgage banker.”

Lending continues to be strong, but changes may be on horizon

by Dwain Hebda

Bank executives report lending activity has been brisk in nearly every sector of the market, thanks to prolonged economic prosperity. However, opinion is split over how long this trend will continue.

“We’ve continued to see strong demand for residential construction and home lending, commercial construction and investment financing,” said David Shiffermiller, executive vice president of Cornhusker Bank. “Retail is struggling, not just locally, but regionally and nationally [as] the face of retail continues to change as online activity continues to expand.”

Shiffermiller Shiffermiller said the uncertain interest environment may be signaling the party’s about to break up.

“After years of government intervention, we are in the midst of a ‘normalization’ period, the full effects of which are yet to be seen,” he said. “How fast and how far the Federal Reserve continues to raise rates will have an impact on growth. This normalization has impacted the interest rate yields by flattening the curve as the short end of the curve is rising faster than the long end.”

Jon Rohlfs, senior vice president and head of lending at First State Bank & Trust Company in Fremont painted a different picture.

“The Fremont area has seen tremendous growth in the retail sector as well as new housing construction over the past 12-18 months,” he said. “In my opinion, lending in Fremont and Dodge County will continue to be strong for the next 12-18 months.

Rising interest rates have subsided and are even expected to decline by year-end. This will in turn spark more demand from small

Rohlfs

Arrigo

businesses looking to grow or homeowners and renters looking to upgrade.”

Rohlfs’ prediction is supported by several new local projects, signaling companies are primed for growth.

“Several new commercial and residential developments in the Fremont area have recently broken ground,” he said. “A few others are expected to start by year-end.

Manufacturing, construction and service industries will continue to add jobs.”

John Arrigo, executive vice president of commercial lending for Westgate Bank agreed, saying lending activity shows little Continued on next page.

The Lincoln Business Journal • AUGUST 2019 •

Demand for security services growing, say experts

by Dwain Hebda

As the world has become smaller and privacy comes at a premium, the job of protecting people and property is as challenging as it’s ever been, say security experts.

“The world is an unpredictable place.

Bad things happen every day that are out of our control,” said Cathy Ward, managing director of Lincoln American Electronics.

“At Lincoln American Electronics, we work hard to provide solutions that not only protect our clients but enable them to stay connected to what matters most.

“By empowering our clients to know what’s going on at their property and giving them the tools to simplify their life, we have found purpose.”

Ward said technology helps the company keep up with threat levels and give clients better, more precise control over

Changes on horizon Continued from preceding page. sign of slowing down.

“Businesses are borrowing for expansion opportunities created from a record period of economic growth, reduced regulation and favorable interest rates,” he said.

“Consecutive years of strong earnings have strengthened balance sheets, giving many businesses the confidence and capacity to take on some debt for new initiatives.”

Arrigo said he remains optimistic about the future, even Raun though economists are increasingly predicting a period of slowdown.

“I see interest rates staying low and a continuation of the trends in commercial real estate. The U.S. is in the longest economic expansion in history,” he said. “But you are starting to hear more economists talking of a recession in 2020 due to the global economic slowdown and the continued trade wars.”

Sam Raun, mortgage banker with NBC Bank in Lincoln, is also bullish on the future, particularly in the industrial and residential lending sectors.

“In the 2019 spring market, first-time buyers took particular advantage of the Homeownership Set-Aside Program, a down payment assistance grant offered annually through the Federal Home Loan Bank,” he said. “This program provided up to $5,000 for closing costs and down payment assistance for qualified buyers with moderate income. The program is anticipated to be available again in March of 2020.”

Getting prequalified and in a position to purchase dramatically assists buyers in the competitive first-time home buying market, Raun said.

“Online education classes help prepare the consumer for purchasing and meet requirements for several programs,” he said.

“Many of Lincoln’s affordable housing programs enable a consumer to purchase a home with less up-front funds, typically reduced mortgage interest rate and lower mortgage insurance costs.”

their operations thanks to smart locks, tection Systems last year to provide clients thermostats and lights, garage door control, with the Guardian Indoor Active Shooter video recording, house audio, irrigation Detection System to help address these and more. catastrophic events,” he said.

“Technology has advanced “The system was first created so much in the past 20 years,” by the U.S. military and utilizshe said. “We have seen the sees the world’s finest gunshot curity industry transition from identification software and pairs using plain old telephone lines it with infrared gunfire flash to the internet and now to secure detection to create the highest cellular connections that make performing, fully automatic and today’s security systems incredmost accurate gunshot detection ibly reliable. technology available today.”

“New, more secure encrypThe system detects gunfire tions have been developed that and immediately relays the shot Mitchell ensure safety. Smart devices location on a floor plan map. communicate over newly developed fre- Via text, email or other notification, the quencies, which have expanded the pos- shot is relayed to key personnel to help sibilities of how we can tie together the pinpoint the intruder’s location. Throener smart home with security.” said simulations at the company’s Lincoln Some of the technology is evolving headquarters worked without any human past the point of keeping people out of ar- interpretation or false alerts. eas to serving an integral role in emergency “[The system] can notify law enforcesituations. Dan Throener, vice president ment automatically and give them the of business development at Electronic location of the last shot fired,” he said.

Contracting Company, said active shooter “This, in turn, can significantly cut down situations are a prime example. the response time of authorities, which can “Our firm partnered with Shooter De- save lives when seconds count.”

7

Even in situations that rely on human security personnel, technology is helping these professionals be more efficient in their roles.

“Physical security, in principle, has always been relatively simple. Put trained people in the right places, give them direction, a good chain of command, and good reporting procedures,” said Heath Mitchell, chief operations officer with Signal 88 Security. “The advancement of technology has been the real game-changer. We are now able to GPS tag officers at any time and using our proprietary smartphone app, officers can report things as they are happening in real time with photos and videos.”

Mitchell said technology’s role in security matters is only going to grow in the years to come.

“If the last few years are any indication, I have no doubt that things like remote surveillance devices, wireless camera systems and GPS tagging will become prominent in our business as we grow and the demands of our clients grow as well,” he said.

“It’s remarkable how the landscape of the security industry has changed, but we look forward to the challenges and intend to meet all of them.”

What to do when everybody wants a say on your big project

by Liz Reyer

Q: I’ve been asked to do a project for a senior executive. The problem is that there are three people above me who are all trying to influence my deliverable. I feel like a pawn that they’re trying to use for their purposes. What do I do?

-DeAnn, 31, manager, communications A: Navigating dynamics like these is a skill you’ll need to be effective in Workplace almost any organization.

First of all, it’s very possible that people are trying to manipulate you for their own benefit.

The good thing is, since you’re aware of it, you’re far less likely to be an unwitting victim.

Moreover, you will be better able to manage the situation to your own advantage.

Let’s talk about how this all plays out and what you need to know.

As your first step, reflect on the motivations of the three “influencers.”

It’ll be revealing to understand why the project you’ve been asked to do is so interesting to them.

Also consider what success looks like to the executive who requested the project.

If you’re not sure about what they really want, go back and ask the right questions to be able to guide your work.

While you’re at it, look at the levels of competition among the four of them.

These will likely be more subtle, unspoken dynamics, but these insights will help you avoid pitfalls in your interactions.

Is your boss one of the three? If so, they should be looking out for you, and hopefully they are.

However, trust your intuition if you feel like they are also treating you like a pawn in their own power struggle.

On the other hand, if your boss is com-

pletely outside this situation, you need to change that. Let them know what’s going on and get their recommendations on how to handle it.

One of the most difficult aspects of your situation is that each of them is trying to co-opt you, and often there’s an aspect of secrecy that creates a lot of awkwardness.

You can try pulling back the curtains by sharing each stakeholder’s feedback.

For example, if Person B tells you to provide much more detail, you might note that Person A said that the executive strongly prefers a high-level overview.

Or you can ask each of them for opinions on specific aspects that they’re more knowledgeable about. They’ll feel validated but not be tripping over one another.

Transparency comes with some risks.

They may feel like you’re sharing information inappropriately. You’ll need to be

respectful and positive in your communications, and even then there may be some blowback.

Also reserve the right to thank people for their adviceand leave it at that.

If they aren’t your boss and you weren’t directed to work with them, you can pick and choose from what they suggest.

This isn’t always obvious, especially if they are higher up in the organization than you are.

In the end, you were chosen to do this project.

The executive sponsor had a reason for this, so you should have confidence in your own abilities, which in turn will discourage people who might want to intimidate or dominate. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

LBJ REPRINT ALERT Editor’s note: It has come to our attention that some out-of-state firms are being overly-aggressive in trying to sell reprints of stories published in the Lincoln Business Journal. These companies are not affiliated with LBJ. To order a reprint of a story in the Lincoln Business Journal, you may contact our office at 434-7752.

8

• AUGUST 2019 • The Lincoln Business Journal

A section prepared by the staff of the Lincoln Business Journal

Employee benefits remain concern to keep talent

by Gabby Christensen

In order to secure and retain top employees, professionals urge employers to take a look at current benefits being offered at their organizations.

Deborah Goodkin, managing director of savings plans at First National Bank of Omaha, said it’s incredibly important for employers to advocate for and support the best interests of their employees — and not solely for retainment purposes but also for morale, fostering stability and building community.

“By supporting your employees with a robust option to support their savings goals, like NEST@Work, employers are strengthening comradery and building a network of employees who see their colleagues and management as allies and partners,” Goodkin said. “This kind of company culture — one in which employees can thrive personally and professionally — is effective, efficient and, most importantly, sustainable.”

In keeping with building company culture by way of supporting employees, Goodkin said employers should also keep in mind that NEST@Work complements Nebraska’s newly signed Legislative Bill 610, which provides higher education savings incentives.

“What’s most impactful about providing employee benefits like NEST@Work and supporting efforts to save for higher education is that you are not only helping your em-

Goodkin Mandolfo ployees, you are truly supporting the growth of future generations of the workforce,” Goodkin said.

Mike Mandolfo, owner/benefits advisor at Strategic Benefits, said recent industry advancements help benefit advisers manage their client’s benefit packages more efficiently, while providing more options to reduce cost.

August 2019

“Industry resources that were traditionally reserved for larger businesses are now becoming more available for small and mid-sized employers,” Mandolfo said.

“These include online enrollment platforms, health plan customization and compliance Miller resources.”

Mandolfo said level-funded group health plans have also increased in popularity and are tailored for businesses employing less than 100 employees.

“Level-funded health plans offer increased cost savings, customization and can be a good alternative solution to ACA small group health plans,” Mandolfo said.

While 401(k) is the common “buzzword”

that most people recognize, depending on the size of the company and other factors, Kyle Miller, financial advisor at Securian Financial Services/Renaissance Financial Corporation, said there are additional retirement plan options that could save a company expense, such as a Simple IRAs or SEPs. “There are also other vehicles that a company can offer to help supplement a traditional 401(k) plan, such as cash balance plans and deferred compensation plans,” Miller said.

Miller said a typical plan will match 50% of employee contributions up to a threshold.

According to Miller, employers are also adding shorter eligibility periods, Roth deferral options, as well as accelerated vesting schedules.

“Many companies provide technology platforms that can make it easy and simple for people to keep up to date on their retirement plan progress with information such as to the minute balances, rates of returns and Continued on page 12.

break down into pre-tax and after-tax plans.

The most common benefit for-profit entities offer is the 401(k). Nonprofit organizations offer the 401(b), which is essentially identical to the 401(k). Many state and federal employees also participate in 401(b) plans.

In group plans, employers will often match from 3 to 6% of the employee’s contribution.

“The most popular plans we see today are defined contribution plans like Brauer 401(k) and 403(b),” said Reuben J. Brauer, vice president of financial planning at Callahan Financial Planning. “They’ve become most popular over the past 15 to 20 years because they place most of the burden for saving on the employee.”

Before that, pension plans were common, but not many of those are done today.

When pension plans needed additional resources to pay for the liabilities or pension payments to retired employees, the companies were required to contribute that excess, which boosted employers’ expenses — especially when many of the employers’ investments underperformed.

The average employer match is 3 to 4%, but many firms will match up to 6% to attract and retain good employees.

“Often they’ll list out the dollar match and describe tax benefits in their employment offer,” Brauer said.

G r e g V. C i s moski, a financial representative with DC Retirement Strategies, said the most popular plans for employers are 401(k), 403(b), and 457 Plans — which are offered by governmental and certain non-governCismoski mental employers — because they are usually the least costly to administer and offer the flexibility of allowing both the employer and the employee to contribute to the plan on the participant’s behalf. These plans allow the participants to make their contributions on either a pre-tax or after-tax basis.

“Some employers are making significant contributions to the participants’ accounts but use a vesting schedule to help reward and retain employees,” Cismoski said. “They may vest after several years using either a cliff vesting schedule, which gives the employee ownership of 100% of Continued on next page.

Retirement plans help attract and retain employees

by David Kubicek

Retirement plans, a key benefit in most retirement packages, play an important role in helping to recruit and retain good employees. They fit into two primary categories — group plans offered through the employer and individual plans — which

Employee Benefits •

The Lincoln Business Journal • AUGUST 2019 •

9

Social Security: Sign up for, and estimate Medicare costs LBJ SUBSCRIBERS

by Nicole Tiggemann

Affordable medical coverage is something everyone wants, especially as people age. Luckily, our nation has safeguards for workers as they get older. Millions of people rely on Medicare, and it can be part of your health insurance plan when you retire.

Medicare is available for people age 65 or older, as well as younger people who have received Social Security disability benefits Benefits for 24 months, and people with certain specific diseases. Two parts of Medicare are Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medicare Insurance). You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. Part B usually requires a monthly premium payment.

You can apply online for Medicare even if you are not ready to retire. Use our online

Retirement plans help

Continued from preceding page. the employer's contributions after a certain number of years or using a graded vesting schedule, which gives the employee ownership of a percentage of the employer’s contribution each year.”

Employers are also using non-qualified deferred compensation plans — of an excess/overflow plan to the 401(k) — to recruit, reward, and retain their key employees. These plans have great design flexibilities and much higher contribution limits.

Over the past few years retirement plans have improved in several ways, including compressed plan costs, greater cost transparency, addition of Roth or after-tax contributions, participant-directed accounts, addition of web-based sophisticated calculators and planners, continued improvement in variety of fund selection and more and better target date funds.

Offering a competitive retirement plan, specifically a Kais 401(k) or defined benefit plan, is key to recruiting and retaining employees, according to Jim Kais, senior vice president of retirement plans at Ameritas. “[According to a 2016 report] almost 20% of HR professionals indicated that they had altered their benefits package to retain employees, and of those, 33% had changed their retirement savings and planning,” he said. “According to the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), more and more companies also seem to be offering retirement benefits to their part time employees in order to retain top talent.”

Other trends that help employers with attracting and retaining employees include auto enrollment, focusing on financial wellness, and reemergence of multiple employer plans — which are plans maintained by two or more employers who are not related. Also, number of organizations offering Roth 401(k)s has increased from 41% in 2014 to 59% in 2018, Kais said.

application to sign up. It takes less than 10 minutes. In most cases, once your application is submitted electronically, you’re done. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if we need more information.

Otherwise, you’ll receive your Medicare card in the mail.

You can sign up for Medicare at www. socialsecurity.gov/benefits/medicare.

If you don’t sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment window that begins three months before the birthday that you reach age 65 and ends three months after that birthday, you’ll face a 10% increase in your Part B premiums for every year-long period you’re eligible for coverage but don’t enroll. You may not have to pay the penalty if you qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP).

If you are 65 or older and covered under a group health plan, either from your own or your spouse’s current employment, you may have a special enrollment period during

which you can sign up for Medicare Part B. This means that you may delay enrolling in Part B without having to wait for a general enrollment period and without paying the lifetime penalty for late enrollment. Additional rules and limits apply, so if you think a special enrollment period may apply to you, read our Medicare publication at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/, and visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at Medicare.gov for more information.

Health and drug costs not covered by Medicare can have a big impact on how much you spend each year. You can also estimate Medicare costs using an online tool at https://www.medicare.gov/oopc/.

Keeping your health care costs down allows you to use your retirement income on other things that you can enjoy. Social Security is here to help you plan a long and happy retirement at www.socialsecurity. gov. ©2019 Social Security Administration Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• AUGUST 2019 • The Lincoln Business Journal

MOVING FORWARD! UPCOMING SECTIONS IN THE LBJ

September

Transportation, Distribution & Warehousing

Insurance

Health & Wellness

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REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

Nebraska Recycling Council will receive $145,900 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for a “Feedlot Composting Planning Project.” The Nebraska Recycling Council and the Nebraska Business Development Center at the University of Nebraska at Kearney will test the viability of creating compost at feedlot sites for cropland use. The large quantities of organic wastes generated by animal feeding operations, when combined with yard and wood waste collected by municipalities, could provide valuable field-scale fertilizer that is better for soil and water health than manure alone, while reducing costs for municipalities, and providing a value-added product for feedlots and/or compost operations.

Lutz will be relocating its Lincoln office to the second floor of the new Olsson Building South on 115 Canopy Street in January of 2020. With nearly 8,500 square feet, it will triple its current office space.

It will reflect Lutz’s culture of innovation, drive and energy, including writable walls, a large training facility for client seminars, as well as open workstations for increased collaboration.

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services announced multiple leadership changes. Rich Cruickshank, previously warden at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, will become the new warden for the Omaha Correctional Center. Charlie West, who has 42 years of experience, will become warden of the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility. He was previously warden at CCC-L. Angela Folts-Oberle was named warden at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women in York.

Bellwether Wealth has registered Bellwether Advisors, LLC as a Registered Investment Advisor and has selected Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. as custodian of its accounts and assets. The transition to Schwab will cause no disruption to the processes or operations of Bellwether Wealth.

Software upgrades will be implemented, allowing for advisors full use of research services, trading software and the highest quality financial planning programs.

Darlene A. Starman, GRI, Realtor with Woods Bros Realty in Lincoln, was honored as the 2019 Nebraska Realtor of the Year. For the National Association of Realtors, Starman serves as the political coordinator for Senator Deb Fisher and is a member of the Realtor Party Member Involvement Committee. Starman is a past president of the Realtors Association of Lincoln. She is serving a six-year term as commissioner for the first district on the Nebraska Real Estate Commission and serves as a public member on the Nebraska Judicial Resources Commission.

Binary Net, LLC has acquired Lincoln Data Investments as a subsidiary, to be known as Lincoln Data Centers, to expand our existing data center offerings. Lincoln Data Centers is located in Lincoln’s Sharp Building. The original Binary Net data center is in the Federal Trust Building at 13th & N streets. This will be the second exclusive data center, in addition to the resources managed globally in various facilities around the country.

Binary Net was founded over 23 years ago.

Lincoln Electric System will receive

$20,200 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for its electric vehicle data collection project. LES began collecting data for its two-year study, focused on charging behaviors and the associated impact on our local grid, in November of 2018 and will conclude in 2020. The electric utility is working with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Engineering to investigate customers’ charging and driving behaviors in the Lincoln area.

The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the members of its new Leadership Nebraska Class. This year’s class is the 12th in the program’s history. Participants include: Wade Regier, David Verkler, Justin Suhr, Angie Lauritsen, Dustin Favinger, Justin Gould, Derek Rusher, Melissa Scott-Pandorf, Marsha Wilkerson, Misty Ahmic, Benjamin Baumfalk, Edward Boone, Jennifer Heaton, Peggy Reisher, Jarid Childears, Norine Howard-Domenge, Travis Flodine, Curtis Johnson, Deborah Neary, Heather Siebken, Paul Ternes, Steve Wobken, Rebecca Ries, Janell Anderson Ehrke, Jordan Colwell, Caitlin Jerabek, Barbara Fowler, Emma Stokely, Patrick Hanrahan, Mark Way. Chet Bennetts, Scot Blehm and LeaAnn Moore of Midlands Financial each earned membership in the Million Dollar Round Table. Moore is a nine-year qualifier of MDRT with eight years at Top of the Table and one year at Court of the Table distinction. Blehm is a seven-year qualifier of MDRT with two years being at the Court of Table distinction. Bennetts is a first year qualifier of MDRT and also qualified at the Court of Table distinction.

Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC, a HomeServices of America company, is launching residential mortgage operations with offices throughout Nebraska. The move continues the firm’s expansion in the Midwest region and adds to its 300+ offices serving the diverse financial needs of homebuyers — whether first-time buyers, or those trading up or downsizing. It will operate everywhere HomeServices Lending in Nebraska, used to. HomeServices Lending teams in Nebraska transitioned to Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC. Kevin G. Wailes, chief executive officer of Lincoln Electric System, received the Alan Richardson Statesmanship Award from the American Public Power Association. This award honors public power leaders who work to achieve consensus on national issues important to public power utilities. Aside from his work with LES, Wailes has been an active member of the APPA for more than 35 years. He has represented public power in cyber and physical security forums, national policy discussions, and mutual aid engagements.

He contributed significantly as an APPA board member and as co-chair of the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, an industry-government partnership.

Health care notes…

Lincoln’s Gateway Sertoma Club and Tabitha joined forces and welcomed golfers to play for a cause. The 17th annual golf event at Lincoln’s NuMark Golf Course raised a record-breaking $76,000 Continued on next page.

The Lincoln Business Journal • AUGUST 2019 •

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REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. to support Tabitha Meals on Wheels, which has served the Lincoln community for over 50 years. The donations from the outing will help provide 12,000 meals, safety checks and friendly visits to 500+ Lincoln neighbors who rely on this lifeline program to remain independent and safe in the comfort of their homes.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln are working to halt resistance to an antibiotic used to treat serious staph infections in humans. A growing challenge in the treatment of staph infections is that the bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics, including daptomycin. UNL researchers studied the metabolic changes that occur in the bacteria before and after the development of resistance. This information was used to develop a new treatment plan still using daptomycin, in combination with another drug already approved for use in humans.

Tabitha has named Francie Cable the Tabitha TEAMember of the Year. Cable is a patient care coordinator for Tabitha Hospice. She hires and supervises nurses and aides in Lancaster County ensuring clients and families receive exceptional hospice care services. She has been with Tabitha for over 17 years and has spent most of her career in the hospice field.

She is a registered nurse and has also maintained certification in hospice and palliative care for over 15 years.

The Community Health Endowment Board of Trustees approved grants totaling up to $184,981 for year one and $369,981 over three years. Grants were awarded to: Santee Sioux National Society of Care, $165,000 over three years; The Bay, $75,000 over three years; Leadership Lincoln, $45,000 over three years; Lincoln Parks & Recreation, up to $45,120 over one year; University of Nebraska-Lincoln, $28,861 over one year; Nebraska Sports Council, $10,000 over one year; and Junior Achievement of Lincoln, $1,000 over one year.

Education notes…

Doane University’s Board of Trustees passed a resolution to stop and end all future investments in fossil fuel companies.

After attending the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in Atlanta, Doane student Zach Renshaw was eager to cement Doane’s commitment to climate action by divesting the entire university from fossil fuels. The Climate Reality Campus Corps chapter members at Doane helped make this commitment. Members of the chapter were the first to introduce the divestment bill to the Board of Trustees, and then collected over 500 petition signatures in support, published an opinion editorial, as well as helped write and monitor the delivery of letters of encouragement to the board.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln researcher Angie Pannier has received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Pannier, a professor of biological systems engineering, was nominated for the award by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Her research lab is developing more than 10 projects related to biomaterials and gene delivery systems. Key research areas include DNA vaccines, tissue en-

gineering of developmental biology, and non-viral gene delivery systems for stem cell and medical device applications. She also received a 2017 National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award to develop novel methods that improve use of adult stem cells in gene therapy.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s James Schnable and Iowa State University colleagues are developing a Fitbit-like sensor to be worn by corn and other thick-stemmed crops. Funded by a Breakthrough Technologies award from the National Science Foundation, the researchers are measuring rates of sap flow in real time, actual fields and changing weather conditions. Because sap flow indicates how much water a plant is using vs. conserving, measuring it with minute-by-minute precision would help researchers better understand how crops are responding to drought conditions. That, in turn, would allow researchers to compare the drought resistance of different genetic lines with greater speed and accuracy, leading to more water-efficient hybrids.

Activities of nonprofits…

The Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska is hosting the kick off for its Educational Series on Aug. 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Rock ‘n’ Joes Coffee Bar. The series will be on the third Tuesday of each month and will feature a speaker in the field of Down Syndrome education, health care or research to present information for members. Registration to the event and membership as well as the schedule is online.

O.N.E. Coalition is hosting Husker Hero’s on Sept. 15 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. This is a time for individuals with disabilities and their families to hang out with first year athletes representing multiple Husker athletic programs. Participating organizations include: Autism Center of Nebraska/CAN Connections, Autism Family Network, The Arc of Lincoln, Autism Society of Nebraska, Down Syndrome Advocates in Action NE, Down Syndrome Association for Families of NE, Dreams Unlimited, Horses for Healing, Nebraska Spina Bifida, United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska, Wonderfully Made and Windsong Equitherpy.

The Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska is hosting a 26-session program called Building Blocks of Communication for children with Down Syndrome between the ages of 3-5. The program, which kicks off on Sept. 17, will be lead by graduate speech-language pathology clinicians and supervised by a language pathologist. The interactive group will incorporate speech, language, communication, play and social skills into each class.

Eastmont announced a $50 million renovation and expansion project at its O Street Campus, in partnership with Transforming Age. The project will add indoor and outdoor amenities and expand the campus featuring 43 new apartment homes and a connection between the existing towers. The expansion will add a 200-seat performing arts center with multifunctional seating and multiuse chapel.

A wellness center with indoor pool, hot tub, aerobics studio, and spa will also be added. Residents will also enjoy an added

bistro, outdoor meditation space, library, top-floor lounge, and landscaped courtyards. The redevelopment will bring 12 memory care suites to serve the growing needs of adults affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Arts and events…

The Lincoln Community Foundation Garden Performance Series will be held every Wednesday through Sept. 25 at noon at the Lincoln Community Foundation Garden at 1415 N Street in Lincoln.

This series brings free public concerts to hundreds of audience members each week so they can enjoy an afternoon of music in the sunshine. Dates and performers are: Aug. 21, The Midnight Wanderers; Aug. 28, The Shucks Brothers; Sept. 4, Swing Fever; Sept. 4, 2 Gals & A Guitar; Sept. 18, Jive Merchant; and Sept. 25, The TimsMen. Presented by Assurity, Hub & Soul is a new local music, craft beer, and local food event. Supporting sponsors include The Hub Café, Lincoln Parks Foundation, Lincoln Parks and Recreation, KZUM Radio, Eagle Printing and Sign, and Eleanor Creative. The band lineup is as follows: Aug. 22, Emily Bass and The Near Miracle; Aug. 29, Jarana; Sept. 5, The McGovern String Band; Sept. 12, A Ferocious Jungle Cat; and Sept. 19, Jack Hotel.

Learn how to hand build and sculpt using earthenware and polymer clay at a free workshop on Aug. 23 at 1247 S. 11 Street. This class, presented by the South of Downtown Community Development Organization, will result in a public wall installation and take home products. The free class includes all materials. Spanish speaking students encouraged. Registration is online.

Community Crops Feast on the Farm is taking place on Aug. 24 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Prairie Pines. The Feast on the Farm showcases the best of local foods, prepared by your favorite local chefs. As guests wander through the farm, they will enjoy a full dinner, while seeing how and where the food was grown. Guests must be

21 and older. Tickets are available online for $75.

The Remodelers Council of Lincoln is hosting its Scholarship Golf Tournament to benefit the Lincoln Home Builders Care Foundation on Aug. 23 starting at 10 a.m. at Holmes Golf Course. The tournament is 18-holes, four-person Texas scramble. This will be a handicapped event. Flights will be determined based on a nine-hole score randomly selected.

The fee is $65 per golfer, which includes golf, a cart, food, drink tickets and prices. Door prizes and flag prizes will be awarded.

MoMo Pizzeria & Ristorante is hosting Pooches on the Patio, a fundraiser for Dolly’s Legacy Animal Rescue, on Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a silent auction as well as awards for bestdressed pooch, a wine ring toss and a meet and greet with adoption dogs. All donors receive food and drinks.

The Happy Raven is hosting the monthly Science Cafe on Aug. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The topic is: Death Scene Insect Succession in Nebraska. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Forensic and Entomology Departments have conducted pig research the last two summers to observe how insect species visit the bodies of deceased pigs in different scenarios.

Knowing what insects are associated with which stage of decomposition can help law enforcement in the field determine post mortem interval and help in solving crimes.

The South of Downtown Community Development Organization is hosting a block party on Aug. 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 100 S. 13th Street in Lincoln. The block party is a chance for folks living in the area to meet their neighbors, eat free food provided by Lulu’s on N Street (vegetarian options available), listen to Regge band 23rd Vibration, play yard games and more. The music has been organized by JazzTime Smooth Radio and sponsored by Southeast Community College.

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS Tuesday, Aug. 20 The Lincoln Independent Business Association is hosting its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Graduate Hotel. This month’s Luncheon features guest speaker Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who will provide an update on the main priorities that the Nebraska Department of State is working on and how they will impact the local business community. Registration is available online.

Tuesday, Aug. 27 The Home Builders Association of Lincoln is hosting a Lead Paint Renovator Refresher from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. People who have taken the Initial Lead Renovator class and are not expired can take the renovator refresher. Participants must have to have a copy of their last certificate of training showing that they are not expired to be able to attend the class. The initial certificates are valid for five years, but some may have taken an online refresher and they were only valid for three years. The renovator refresher is designed to review the regulations relating to working with lead in pre-1978 homes

and update people that are already certified to any changes in the regulations. Please contact Andrea Wilkins at 402-423-4225 to take the class.

Tuesday, Sept. 10 The Lincoln Human Resource Management Association is hosting its September Program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Embassy Suites. The topic for this months program is Prescription Drug Abuse and will cover national and state trends, workplace impact, what to watch for, levels of care, and challenges. This program is certified for 1 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Registration is available online.

Tuesday, Sept. 17 SourceCon Local is hosting a Chapter Meetup from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at The Bay. SourceCon was created by sourcers and recruiters to provide knowledge sharing and insights about sourcing best practices.

SourceCon is a place for sharing tools, ideas, and ways for sourcers to improve their skills and knowledge. The goal of SourceCon is simply to inform, encourage, and empower.

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• AUGUST 2019 • The Lincoln Business Journal

Many have tried and failed to make vertical indoor farming work. This entrepreneur thinks he can do it

by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz

Leafy greens typically don’t get kids excited. So Jake Counne knew he’d grown something special in his indoor vertical farm when his children, aged 5 and 7, were snacking on fresh spinach “like it was a bag of chips.”

Other, more refined palates also have been impressed by agriculture Counne’s spicy wasabi arugula, tart red sorrel and horseradish-tinged red mizuna — all grown under the purple glow of LED lights in a windowless office in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood.

“The flavors coming out of these leaves were unbelievable,” said Steve Lombardo III, chairman of Gibsons Restaurant Group, one of Counne’s first customers. “We were talking about them like we were talking about fine wines.”

Counne, a real estate investor before his interest turned to agriculture, is launching Backyard Fresh Farms during a period of heightened consumer and investor interest in produce grown locally in controlled environments that are less subject to contamination, waste and unpredictable weather.

High costs have killed similar ventures.

But as he prepares for a significant expansion

Employee benefits Continued from page 8. allocation changes without having to wait for their quarterly statement to arrive,” Miller said. “There are also a multitude of projection tools that can assist people with an idea of how much to save per paycheck.”

Although the ACA’s individual mandate was eliminated in 2019, meaning individuals are no longer required to have health insurance, Miller said the employer mandate is still in place, requiring large employers to provide a certain percentage of full-time employees with minimum coverage.

“In 2019, large employers are defined as any business that employed a combination of 50 or more FTE employees during six months or more of 2018,” Miller said. “Even though small businesses aren’t legally required to offer health benefits to their employees, many do. Health is still the No.1 benefit employees want from their company.”

to bring his greens into stores, Counne said he believes his hydroponic farm has the technology to succeed where others have failed to make large-scale indoor vertical farming a profitable business.

“The key to what we’ve done here is being able to scale it to a point that not only can we grow it, we can grow it at an affordable price,” said Counne, 31.

Counne currently operates a pilot farm in a 250-square-foot space at The Plant, a food business incubator housed in a former meatpacking factory in the shadow of the old Union Stockyards. There, he is testing cameras and artificial intelligence software to improve the quality and quantity of produce grown, as well as robotics to reduce the amount of time workers spend climbing ladders to tend to plants. For example, an automated lift collects trays of ready plants and brings them to an assembly line of workers for harvest.

The process has reduced labor costs by 80% compared with a first-generation vertical farm, Counne said. Combined with lower energy costs from other efficiencies, and a farm-to-retailer model that cuts out the distributor, he said he can price his product to compete with high-quality organic greens grown in the field — which are typically priced at about $3 to $3.50 for a five-ounce package of lettuce, he said.

Counne is in discussions with landlords in Chicago and Calumet City, Ill., where he hopes to lease 35,000 square feet in which he says could yield 6 million pounds of produce a year, in towers stacked 21 feet high, with only six laborers. His long-term vision is to open 100-square-foot facilities near major metropolitan areas around the country.

“We wanted to treat this more like a manufacturing process rather than a farming process,” Counne said.

Growing produce in controlled environments, including greenhouses and indoor vertical farms, has gained steam as a sustainable solution to the food needs of a growing population because it uses less land and far less water than traditional farming and can be done year-round near cities, reducing the distance the food travels.

Food safety is another benefit. Controlled environments protect against contaminants from air, runoff or insects that can lead to

recalls in field-grown greens, such as the mass romaine recall last year after E. coli exposure sickened more than 40 people. In addition, such produce is pesticide-free, has a longer shelf life and tends to be high quality because growers can control the variables.

Commercial-scale production of indoorand greenhouse-grown produce has ramped up as growers gain capital and retail distribution, and as technological advancements make it more cost-effective.

More than $300 million in venture capital has been invested in greenhouses and indoor vertical farms during each of the last three years, up from $100 million in 2016, according to CleanTech Group, an industry market research and consulting firm based in San Francisco.

But the farms are expensive to set up and take a long time to expand, so many are unprofitable. In search of viable business models, some growers partner with distribution firms or grow produce inside of supermarkets themselves, said CleanTech associate Chris Sworder.

In Chicago, Gotham Greens grows lettuce and herbs in a 75,000-square-foot rooftop greenhouse in the Pullman neighborhood, while BrightFarms greens and MightyVine tomatoes grow in greenhouses in suburban Rochelle.

Indoor vertical farms, which take up a smaller footprint than greenhouses, don’t rely on sunlight and generally are more expensive to operate, are rarer in the Midwest. Most of the large operations — California-based Plenty, Ohio-based 80 Acres and Bowery and Aerofarms, both based in New Jersey — don’t sell their products in Chicago.

FarmedHere in suburban Bedford Park, Ill., was the world’s largest indoor vertical farm when it shuttered in 2017 because of high labor costs and inconsistent yields. Its co-founder and former chief operating officer, Steve Dennenberg, is on the board of advisors of Backyard Fresh Farms.

Dennenberg compared the technology his company had to “Gordon Gekko’s phone,” referring to the giant block of a 1980s cell phone carried by Michael Douglas’ character in “Wall Street.” Much has changed in just two years to make indoor farming commercially viable, and he believes Counne can make it profitable.

“Everybody has the artificial technology now, but Jake (Counne) has the robots,” said Dennenberg, who is working on a medical marijuana greenhouse in Michigan. “We had neither.”

Counne has nine patents pending for the software and hardware he is testing at his pilot space, where he has grown 100 different varieties of vegetables from bok choy to radishes.

Currently, six types of lettuce for a spring mix are stacked on a four-level tower, growing under the watchful eye of mounted cameras that lock into the center of each plant and watch for signs of stress twice per minute.

An algorithm analyzes the data the camera has gathered and prompts the environment — temperature, humidity, water nutrients, light intensity, carbon dioxide levels — to automatically adjust to optimize the plants’ healthy growth. A supervisor can watch on a monitor and is alerted when something is wrong.

“Instead of a human looking at the plant and trying to adjust parameters, it’s the plant

itself talking to the system, the plant itself becomes the sensor,” he said. “We like to call this plant-based intelligence.”

Counne has developed a roving camera that travels from level to level by itself, which cuts down on the need for multiple cameras, as well an automated lift system that collects trays of ready plants and brings them to an assembly line of workers, who are able to harvest in a fraction of the time it takes where workers must travel to the plants. The empty trays, traveling on a conveyer belt, continue through an automated sanitation tunnel before another robot transplants new plugs and another lift transfers the newly planted tray to the nursery.

Backyard Fresh Farms is one of six vertical farms operating in The Plant, which houses a variety of businesses including a brewery and a coffee roaster, but it is the most technologically advanced, said John Edel, founder of the incubator. Though several local indoor farms have failed as they tried to scale, Edel thinks technology and lighting have improved to the point where Counne can make it economically viable.

“Oh, I think it will work,” Edel said. “He has a lot of things figured out.”

Sergio Arroyo, a farm technician at Backyard Fresh Farms who used to work at an aquaponics greenhouse, said the efficiencies make a big difference. One worker can produce the same amount of lettuce in the 250-square-foot space as three people could in a 10,000-square-foot greenhouse, in the same amount of time, he said. And unlike greenhouses, which in summer could reach 115 degrees, causing plants to grow too fast, indoor farms can be controlled to a more precise degree, he said.

The high level of control allows Counne and his team of four to grow greens with distinct flavor profiles. For example, they have found that giving arugula more light than it needs makes it spicier.

Eventually Counne expects he can grow exclusive greens like red mizuna and red sorrel, currently available only to chefs, for food stores. He also hopes to create chef-sponsored Continued on page 15.

Wax Buffalo Continued from page 3. makers to rent out for a month or two, and its first Friday emporiums (slated to launch in September) showcase how to pour candles, or make cocktails — even matching the likes of jalapeno margarita candles with like-flavored cocktails. A partnership with Lincoln’s Saro Cider is also on the schedule.

“I feel like we’re seeing cool makers emerge from Austin, New York, and California, but we have some amazing makers that are not really highlighted as much,” Reisinger added. “We all put our heads down, work hard and hustle.”

As the company continues to hustle and highlight its craft and that of others, Reisinger also reflected on a significant motivation for the brand in the first place; when one of her children was born with a medical condition, she began researching the safety of household products, and she didn’t like what she found in conventional petroleum-based paraffin wax candles.

From there, she set out to create candles that were as natural and clean as their scents suggest.

The Lincoln Business Journal • AUGUST 2019 •

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Transportation, Distribution and Warehousing Topics may include: Transportation, Distribution & Warehousing Overview • Air travel • Trucking • Latest safety issues Warehouse/industrial space • Transportation planning, traffic engineering • Roadway design services A section prepared by the staff of the Lincoln Business Journal • Issue Date: September • Ad Deadline: September 12

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• AUGUST 2019 • The Lincoln Business Journal

The Lincoln Business Journal • AUGUST 2019 •

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Protecting against cybersecurity threats is vital to your business

by Gabby Christensen

Experts in the field say cybersecurity should always be taken seriously, especially as threats can happen internally or externally.

Alan D. Emshoff, chairman of the Nebraska Bankers Association, said cybersecurity threats can happen when there are vulnerabilities in network systems and devices due to the lack of oversight and system monitoring.

“Banks have the highest level of security among critical U.S. industries-including energy and telecommunications, and the most stringent regulatory requirements,” Emshoff said. “Banks use a combination of safeguards to protect customer information, such as employee training, employee accountability, strict privacy policies, rigorous security standards, encryption and fraud monitoring and detection software.”

Emshoff said protecting a consumer’s identity and money is a partnership between the bank and the customer.

Emshoff said he recommends monitoring accounts regularly and alerting the bank instantly if fraud is suspected.

Additionally, Emshoff said keeping software up-to-date is another important step.

“Banks and other financial service companies have made cybersecurity a top priority,” Emshoff said. “A customer’s trust is a bank’s most valuable asset. Bank

customers are protected against losses and when a customer reports an unauthorized transaction, the bank will take measures to recover the loss and protect the account.”

Emshoff Vilim Chris Vilim, president at CoreTech, said the most prevalent threat right now comes in the form of links and emails that attempt to convince end users to fill out forms and personal information.

Vilim said emails, website links or downloads can also initiate malware that can encrypt files on a computer.

“We recommend that businesses use multi-layer approaches to filtering email,” Vilim said. “They should also have good firewalls in place. It’s critical to have a good backup for data as you could potentially need to rely on it to recover from a security breach.”

Vilim said it’s important that small businesses partner with an organization

Many have tried and failed to make vertical indoor farming work. This entrepreneur thinks he can do it Continued from page 12. mixes that play with different flavors.

Bob Mariano, founder and former CEO of the Mariano’s grocery store chain, said Counne’s focus on cutting costs so he can sell the greens at a reasonable price will broaden the appeal of what he said is an “outstanding product.” He is also on the board of Backyard Fresh Farms.

“I’ve tasted a lot of food in my career — it’s difficult to explain,” Mariano said about sampling Counne’s greens. “It was so fresh, refreshing and tasty. It was very unusual.”

“People don’t eat enough greens because they don’t taste very good,” Mariano said.

“The process that he has creates such a fresh product that people have never had that taste in their mouth.”

Counne, who has mostly self-funded the seed money for his company and is in the process of raising $10 million, came to indoor farming through his interest in real estate.

A Miami native and orthodox Jew, he was living in Israel when he decided to move to Chicago in 2011 to help areas hit hard by the housing crash by buying homes people had lost to foreclosure, renovating them and renting them back to the community.

His company, Medallion Properties, now manages 600 units, mostly single-family homes on the South and West sides of Chicago.

Hoping to invest in commercial or industrial properties, Counne was touring the massive former Libby, McNeill and Libby canning plant in Blue Island when the property owner mentioned a potential tenant had considered opening a small vertical farm inside. Counne researched the idea and it struck him that vertical farms could be a productive

use for vacant old buildings in Chicago.

“That (Libby) building was the inspiration for everything we built,” Counne said.

“We want to take existing buildings and fit our technology into it.”

Though the goal is to sell in retail stores, Counne’s first step was to prove his product to discerning tastebuds in the restaurant scene.

At Gibsons Restaurant Group, which owns the classic Gold Coast steakhouse as well as Hugo’s Frog Bar, LuxeBar and Gibsons Italia, corporate executive chef Daniel Huebschmann said he was “blown away” by a test run of Backyard Fresh Farm’s lettuces. He left a bag of kale and romaine in his refrigerator for 10 days and it was still high quality at the end. Counne said his greens can last for a month without spoiling.

“To acquire a product of that quality, you have to order from somebody like Chef’s Garden,” said Huebschmann, referring to a specialty grower for professional chefs based in Ohio. “You pay crazy dollars to get the stuff shipped to you.”

Gibsons, which goes through some 30 to 40 cases of romaine a day, only buys such high-end produce for special events because it’s so expensive. The bulk of its lettuce travels some 2,000 miles to its doorstep from California’s Salinas Valley.

“If this can be scaled on a cost effective basis, it is a game changer for the industry, for sure,” said Lombardo, whose restaurants have been serving Backyard Fresh Farm’s microgreens, baby kale and mixed greens in its salads and garnishes for the past six months.

“Not just restaurants but the food industry.” ©2019 Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

that focuses on cybersecurity.

“If a breach involves compromised client financial or health care data, there can be severe financial harm done,” Vilim said. “This kind of incident could cause a business to lose clients and their reputation.”

To be safe, Vilim said it’s important to consider insurance policies that can cover cybersecurity threats.

“Ultimately, it Murray comes down to also having a disaster recovery plan in place so that if a breach does occur, it can be handled in the best way possible,” Vilim said.

Jessica Murray, tech IT account manager at Lutz, said a few causes of internal threats may be due to perceived injustice, retaliation, excessive privileges, a sense of entitlement or need for attention.

“These types of threats are generally carried out by insiders with malicious intent who have access to critical information,” Murray said. “In contrast, employees could unknowingly give away sensitive information by clicking on suspicious links, practicing poor web browsing habits, having easy to guess passwords, or leaving work devices unlocked or unattended.”

Murray said external threats are generated outside of the business by hackers, cybercriminals, viruses, malware, phishing scams and more.

“The best way to prevent security breaches is to educate your staff on how to spot threats and how to practice safe online habits,” Murray said. “Businesses that are not diligent about educating on and enforcing safe cyber practices are at a greater risk of suffering from data breaches. This may mean losing sensitive information, customers, employees, money and in worst cases, the company itself.”

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• AUGUST 2019 • The Lincoln Business Journal