Midlands Business Journal February 28, 2020 Vol. 46 No. 9 issue

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• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Young Professionals

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal • February 28, 2020

Organizations, communities strive to support the next generation of leadership

by Michelle Leach

Recruiting and keeping next-generation talent has far-ranging implications for organizations and the region.

“In Omaha right now, we are seeing many positions in high demand that would be appealing to young professionals, particularly because of the growth potential, ability to specialize and career options,” said Robert Half Omaha Branch Manager Nuria Archer.

She listed accounting and finance positions (public accountant, credit analyst), and administrative/ customer service/HR positions (customer service representative, Archer administrative assistant).

“What many of these roles have in common is that they allow a young professional to see multiple facets of an organization,” Archer said.

“They can learn a lot about the company quickly, and decide the career path that’s right for them.”

Citing a Robert Half survey, Archer said Generation Z respondents ranked career advancement opportunities (95%), a manager they can learn from (93%) and professional development and training (91%) as the top factors they

Robby Renshaw, human resources associate at Lutz Talent. look for in an employer. parency and a high level of responsibility,” she Lutz Human Resources Specialist Robby said. “This isn’t anything new in the recruiting Renshaw noted young professionals are gen- industry, but there’s a lot more emphasis on erally considering positions where they gain a some of these factors. It doesn’t hurt to have strong understanding of company culture. some fun at work and have some open, honest “We’ve found that they’re seeking flexible conversations while you’re at it.” work hours, a well-defined career path, transAs an ongoing process, Renshaw said Lutz

Reaanddit

is investing in understanding recruiting-related trends.

“One of our main approaches is being involved at local universities; everything from career fairs to presenting to classes,” she said. “We like to stay connected to our future incoming young professionals. We’re finding opportunities to interact directly with the younger generation to understand what it is they’re seeking for in a career. We realize the importance of being flexible, and that attracting young professionals is not a ‘onesize-fits-all’ approach.

We’re trying to customize the experience for each candidate, and make it meaningful.”

Spiehs Via Jeff Spiehs’ work with the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Young Professionals Council and across various committees, the community relations manager has noticed themes among what YPs value in careers.

“There is a feeling that the career or job must have a social impact, and be connected to a community — that could be a place, a certain age cohort, a particular issue or a certain segment of the population,” he said. “The skillset is really interesting; there is a lot of creative problem-solving.”

For instance, one may solve a problem through a product, computer program, or design in a built environment.

“And more young people today are designing their careers in a way that caters to their lifestyle,” he said. “They want flexible work hours, and that displays a level of trust between the employer and the employee. Then there could be ‘everyday things,’ like good benefits — health benefits, or contributions to a retirement account — or things like a ‘bike-friendly’ [workplace].

Not every young person I know is looking for a startup that has a ping-pong table and a slide.

It’s not for everyone.”

Collaborative relationships with decision-makers and supervisors and work assignments that are designed to align with career goals are also valued.

The desire for access to leaders and mentors, even informal relationships with retired executives, was underscored during a Chamber survey (in 2015; updated in 2017) that found black YPs felt “disconnected” to the community, and a “lack of access” was noted “pretty much Continued on next page.

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Young Professionals — inside FEBRUARY 28, 2020

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VOL. 46 NO. 9

Kubat Pharmacy opens mobility, rehabilitative equipment division

THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:

by Richard D. Brown

40 er d Un 40 International influences informed Kruger’s career at Iowa Western Community College.

– Page 3

ess sin es u a B ag ah al P OmJourn

Still Poppin Gourmet Popcorn offers fun flavors, launches fundraising program.

– Page 7

d We

din

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Weddings to be bolder, more intimate in 2020. – Page 25

Family-owned Kubat Pharmacy, a south Omaha staple for 85 years, which has been steadily increasing its presence in the sale and leasing of rehabilitative products such as wheelchairs and other home health care aids, is seeking to become more of a regional player with the recent opening of Kubat Mobility Center, a seven-employee venture in 4,000 square feet with a spacious showroom, repair center and other specialized areas at 4920 Center St. “Although we had been servicing rehab from our central warehouse, we knew (a separate) mobility center would be a convenient location for our customers where they can have their mobility equipment serviced or be fitted for a customized wheelchair in a stateof-the-art facility,” said President Matt Kubat.

Matt Kubat who is joined in operating the multi-location pharmacy-based business with his brother Mike Kubat, said the one constant in Kubat Pharmacy’s longevity has Continued on page 9.

From left, Rehab Director Greg Atkins and Mobility Specialist Rick West … Expanding reach with mobility division.

(Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)

Omaha Car Care rebranding effort drives positive results

by Becky McCarville

Since rebranding from House of Mufflers & Brakes to Omaha Car Care in 2016, the 50-year-old family-owned auto repair shop has had a 26% growth spurt that owner Rick Bettger attributes to a strategy of building customer relationships, measuring data and its new brand.

“The new brand has really accomplished what we set out

for, which is to bring in that customer who maybe just got off of warranty and is used to going to the dealer — and we’re trying to convince them that we’re the better option,” he said.

The company’s origins go back to 1970 when Rick Bettger’s dad, Ron Bettger, and partner Gene Moberg founded House of Mufflers. The partners amicably Continued on page 9.

President Veronica Anderson … Cultivating the success of the construction industry starts with supporting members, associations.

NAWIC Omaha builds on membership record high with outreach initiatives

by Savannah Behrends

Owner Rick Bettger at the 132nd and West Dodge Road location … Longtime independent auto repair shop focuses on building relationships, targets higher-end customer base.

With Women in Construction week right around the corner, the Omaha chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction has all hands on deck.

The chapter, founded in 1966, is experiencing a membership high, driven by both members and the companies they work for.

“We have a broad membership where it’s general contractors, sub contractors, estimators,

accountants, etc.,” said Omaha NAWIC President Veronica Anderson.

Anderson is a 25-year NAWIC member who works for Kelly’s Carpet Omaha as a commercial estimator. Fifty-five other women, two of whom also work at Kelly’s Carpet, join her.

“In the last five-to-seven years we’ve got more industry support from companies saying Continued on page 8.

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• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Beer and community is recipe for success at Pint Nine Brewing Co.

by Gabby Christensen

customers. Yes, we put in a lot of hours.

But, we absolutely love what we do. We have many regulars who make our job a lot of fun. Hands down, our favorite piece of the business is watching our customers enjoy our beer and continue to visit us.”

The goal is to produce great beer while building brand awareness and loyalty.

What started out as a beer brewing hobby transformed into a business opportunity for owner/founder Jimi Watson, who opened Pint Nine Brewing Co. with one mission in mind: serve up great beer while giving back to the community.

It all began with a beer kit, which was gifted to Watson by his wife, Lea Watson, in 2005.

A few years later in 2009, he graduated from the Master Brewers Certificate Program at University of California, Davis, and started working as a head brewer at various local breweries.

Finally, after years of planning and preparing, Watson opened Pint Nine in June of 2017.

Today, the business offers 16 different beers on tap, as well as various ciders and wine. The taproom also sells snacks, and partners with food trucks every Wednesday through Saturday night.

Located in Papillion, the brewery pulls customers from throughout the community.

Additionally, Lea Watson, director of business development, said the brewery is often viewed as a destination spot, which generates a lot of interest from out of town.

Pint Nine Brewing Co. Phone: 402-359-1418 Address: 10411 Portal Rd. Suite 104, Papillion, Nebraska 68128 Service: local brewery and taproom Employees: 11 Founded: June 2017 Goal: to increase brand awareness across the state Website: https://pintninebrewing.com

Owner Jimi Watson … The brewery is attracting customers throughout Greater Omaha area. fact, Visit Omaha offers a special package initiative, the brewery works to support to out-of-town guests, in which they can local organizations by donating a portion of sales to different charities each month.

The business also strives to work closely with other small businesses. Recently, Pint Nine partnered with coffee roaster A Hill of Beans to produce a coffee beer called ‘Oso Café’ Coffee Brown.

This style of beer is trending, which is why the brew quickly became one of the most popular choices at Pint Nine.

“We started out by offering it seasonally, but because it was such a huge hit with our customers we now offer it year-round,” she said. “It’s pretty unique because it’s not the typical porter or stout, it’s a brown ale.”

She said a new beer will be hitting the taproom this spring, too, which is inspired by the very popular hazy, England IPA style beer.

In the beginning, the brewery started out as a keg-only business, but has since launched a line of cans that can now be purchased at various grocery stores.

The business has also grown to offer beer in parts of western Iowa, as well.

Over the years, Watson said the biggest Director of Business Development Lea Watson.

“The brewing industry brings a lot of buy a beer and then get a second beer for hurdle has been keeping up with demand.

“It’s a good struggle to have, though,” visitors to Nebraska, which helps boost just a penny.” the local economy,” Lea Watson said. “In Through its “Pints for a Purpose” Lea Watson said. “We love serving our

“When people think of great beer, we want Pint Nine to pop into their heads,” she said. “We feel fortunate to be part of the beer culture in Nebraska and we look forward to cementing our name throughout the state.”

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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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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Denny Hynek mills grain for a stout beer.

Flaked oats are added to give beer body and mouth feel.

-The Publisher.

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

3

International influences informed Kruger’s career at Iowa Western Community College

by Dwain Hebda

Dr. Jenny Kruger, academic dean of communication and fine arts with Iowa Western Community College, learned early what a multi-faceted thing art and culture was. In all, Kruger lived in 10 states and four countries growing up, an experience she found to be invaluable to her life as a teacher.

“From a very young age, I was exposed to a lot of different cultures, a lot of different ways of living,” she said. “Coming into education, it definitely made me very open-minded and very much aware of diversity and differences but also similarities between people. Especially at the community college level where we have such a diverse population, being able to connect with people from all different backgrounds and experiences has been very important.”

Kruger said she’s always demonstrated a love and aptitude for art, a passion that surfaced at the age of 5 and continued all the way to college.

“My parents exposed me to a lot of arts and culture growing up. We were always going to the

symphony, the art museum and the theatre. The arts were a part of my life from a very young age,” she said.

Between earning her undergraduate and master’s degrees, she spent a year in Barcelona on a Fulbright art scholarship. It was an idyllic setup for producing her work, but also turned out to be an exercise in self-discovery for her professional future.

“They gave me a studio and I had all the time in the world to paint,” she said. “But that’s when I felt like something was missing. It felt maybe a little bit selfish, to just pursue art. I wanted to be able to give back and also share that love of art and experience with other people.”

Upon finishing her Master of Fine Arts, Kruger dove into teaching, mainly at the collegiate level. The Iowa Western position is her first in an administrative capacity.

“I would say that I had a fairly smooth transition [from the classroom],” she said. “It was definitely a leap of faith; I didn’t know if I would enjoy administration, but my gut told me that I had the right skills and that it would be

2019

Proud Sponsors of the 2019 40 Under 40:

Dr. Jenny Kruger, academic dean of communication and fine arts … Helping shape IWCC fine arts programming at administrative level. a good fit and it absolutely has been. I actually dents’ academic experience even if the student think I am better suited for administration than is not going to major in that area.

“Marching band and choir, for example, the classroom, although I enjoyed both.”

Though just in her fourth year, Kruger can have large ensembles of students who aren’t point to some important accomplishments. She necessarily going to pursue music professionaldeveloped Iowa Western’s first Madrigal Feast ly. But it gives them a sense of community and and she’s been instrumental in updating the Art helps make connections that are going to keep and Media Studies curriculum, creating four them at college and see them through to the end. new programs in social media, graphic design, They are programs that help fuel their soul, in a way, and keeps them going.” song writing and rap production.

A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Kruger “At the community college level, it’s very important for our students to be employable has a doctorate from the University of the Cumlater, so we have to make sure that new academic berlands. In addition to her work at the college, programs that we’re creating give them a new Kruger continues to produce and show her art. pathway to employment,” she said. “But in the Her work can be seen in three galleries in Kansas arts, some of our programs are supportive of stu- City, Lincoln and West Des Moines.

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• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Young Professionals

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal • February 28, 2020

Organizations, communities strive to support the next generation of leadership

by Michelle Leach

Recruiting and keeping next-generation talent has far-ranging implications for organizations and the region.

“In Omaha right now, we are seeing many positions in high demand that would be appealing to young professionals, particularly because of the growth potential, ability to specialize and career options,” said Robert Half Omaha Branch Manager Nuria Archer.

She listed accounting and finance positions (public accountant, credit analyst), and administrative/ customer service/HR positions (customer service representative, Archer administrative assistant).

“What many of these roles have in common is that they allow a young professional to see multiple facets of an organization,” Archer said.

“They can learn a lot about the company quickly, and decide the career path that’s right for them.”

Citing a Robert Half survey, Archer said Generation Z respondents ranked career advancement opportunities (95%), a manager they can learn from (93%) and professional development and training (91%) as the top factors they

Robby Renshaw, human resources associate at Lutz Talent. look for in an employer. parency and a high level of responsibility,” she Lutz Human Resources Specialist Robby said. “This isn’t anything new in the recruiting Renshaw noted young professionals are gen- industry, but there’s a lot more emphasis on erally considering positions where they gain a some of these factors. It doesn’t hurt to have strong understanding of company culture. some fun at work and have some open, honest “We’ve found that they’re seeking flexible conversations while you’re at it.” work hours, a well-defined career path, transAs an ongoing process, Renshaw said Lutz

is investing in understanding recruiting-related trends.

“One of our main approaches is being involved at local universities; everything from career fairs to presenting to classes,” she said. “We like to stay connected to our future incoming young professionals. We’re finding opportunities to interact directly with the younger generation to understand what it is they’re seeking for in a career. We realize the importance of being flexible, and that attracting young professionals is not a ‘onesize-fits-all’ approach.

We’re trying to customize the experience for each candidate, and make it meaningful.”

Spiehs Via Jeff Spiehs’ work with the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Young Professionals Council and across various committees, the community relations manager has noticed themes among what YPs value in careers.

“There is a feeling that the career or job must have a social impact, and be connected to a community — that could be a place, a certain age cohort, a particular issue or a certain segment of the population,” he said. “The skillset is really interesting; there is a lot of creative problem-solving.”

For instance, one may solve a problem through a product, computer program, or design in a built environment.

“And more young people today are designing their careers in a way that caters to their lifestyle,” he said. “They want flexible work hours, and that displays a level of trust between the employer and the employee. Then there could be ‘everyday things,’ like good benefits — health benefits, or contributions to a retirement account — or things like a ‘bike-friendly’ [workplace].

Not every young person I know is looking for a startup that has a ping-pong table and a slide.

It’s not for everyone.”

Collaborative relationships with decision-makers and supervisors and work assignments that are designed to align with career goals are also valued.

The desire for access to leaders and mentors, even informal relationships with retired executives, was underscored during a Chamber survey (in 2015; updated in 2017) that found black YPs felt “disconnected” to the community, and a “lack of access” was noted “pretty much Continued on next page.

Young Professionals •

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

Work/life balance is critical for employees’ health

by Gabby Christensen

Balancing work and life isn’t always easy, but young professionals say advocating for workplace benefits that promote balance can make it easier to tackle busy work schedules and make time for leisure, too.

Kelsey Haswell, lean improvement specialist at Methodist Health System and chair of the Greater Omaha YP Council, said many times benefits are intangible.

“As a young professional, I have found McNamara a work culture that is a strong fit to my personal mission, leadership who support my development both within my company and out in the community, and teammates who support my personal well-being,” Haswell said. “Without this level of support, it would be difficult to be an authentic leader and successful professional striving to balance all

The next generation Continued from preceding page. across the board,” Spiehs said.

“As more young people are aware of that study and these efforts, they’re asking their employer, ‘What are we doing?’ That sometimes means, ‘How might we become members of the Chamber and get extra resources and capacity-building?’” he said.

Archer said that, to hire, manage and nurture Generation Z on the job, employers need to know the following: Be prepared to talk about money, face-to-face interaction is key, offer frequent feedback, and have a plan for professional growth.

Ask the next generation what they want, Renshaw said and, while YP trends are important, remember it’s an individualized experience.

“Continue to enhance branding, utilize technology/social media, communicate your organization’s benefits/perks, and stay up-todate on recruiting trends,” she said. “Consider targeting young professionals before they enter the workforce and spend time on [a college] campus.”

Don’t be afraid to communicate why your company is better; they want to know why they should choose you, she said.

As a regional Council of Governments, MAPA’s “open and honest dialogue,” takes a long-term view of the workforce, low unemployment (and pronounced underemployment), Spiehs said.

“We need to really be attracting businesses,” he said. “Our office was a part of those conversations about, ‘How do we enhance transportation?

How do we design and support neighborhoods that are walkable and have a wide variety of amenities?’”

Spiehs indicated diverse perspectives that reflect the community must be heard to creatively solve problems.

“There is another issue that is beyond solely the control of the employer and the business community — access to affordable housing,” he said. “This is really impacting young people in their careers who live in an apartment and want to purchase a house, but there is a lack of affordable options that are close to where they may work.”

Homes within a price point of around $140,000 to $200,000 are only on the market for about four days.

Kerri Palmesano, president of Junior League of Omaha. of my priorities.” as a young professional, but she said it’s also Not only is it important to prioritize leisure important to prioritize growth.

5

“Life is far too short to not prioritize what matters most in your life, and you will be a better professional by taking care of your well-being,” Haswell said.

Mindy Kidney, chair of the Omaha Area Board of Realtors Young Professionals Network, said choosing to work at a company that offers systems and support is becoming more attractive to independent contractors.

“It’s important that we are protective of the times we make ourselves available to our clients and leave time for family, friends and taking care of our whole person through faith, activity or community service,” Kidney said. “I encourage independent contractors to set expectations with their clients of times they can expect to reach them, the typical timeframe of their responses as well as letting them know if there are days they are off.”

She said it’s also important to remember that while it can be tempting to work with anyone who reaches out, it’s not always the right decision.

“Trust your gut and refer it out, if needed,” Kidney said. “Save yourself unnecessary stress so you can be the best version of yourself to your Continued on page 8.

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• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Young Professionals

Community service opportunities abound for young professionals

by Dwain Hebda

Young professionals have their choice of ways to get involved in Omaha, from the arts to community service to supporting a great cause. All of which provide chances for leadership development and networking.

“Young Patrons Circle offers arts and culture opportunities to young professionals who live and work in our community,” said Melissa Godoy, development projects coordinator for Omaha Performing Arts. “It’s a group for performing arts Godoy lovers and cultural philanthropists, ages 21 to 45, who connect with fellow young professionals and our organization.”

The group provides events each year that engage members with Omaha Performing Arts programs including exclusive behindthe-scenes experiences, meet and greets with artists, networking and volunteer opportunities and more. “[Members] have extremely busy schedules and are in high demand with family, friends, hobbies and other volunteer opportunities,” Godoy said. “Therefore, we offer unique opportunities through events at various times of the day including over the lunch hour, after work and on weekends.”

Shelby Rust, development manager for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, said that the group’s young professionals arm, Tomorrow’s Leaders, seeks ways to engage mem-

bers in supporting a worthy cause. The group offers events and programming for members and non-members alike.

“We encourage anyone to attend one of our 10-plus events throughout the year, ranging from professional development opportunities and workshops, social and networking, a CWS tailgate, yoga in the park and more,” she said.

For an annual contribution of $65, Tomorrow’s Leaders offers other exclusive benefits, such as sand volleyball, discounted tickets to CF FoundaRust tion fundraisers and Tomorrow’s Leaders swag.

“Our council is always looking for ways to give back to the cystic fibrosis community by fundraising and/or volunteering at one of our many CF Foundation events,” Rust said.

“Our group has a truly fun dynamic.”

Broad-based community service is available through Omaha Jaycees. The group empowers young professionals in a number of events and service opportunities, said Nathan Jones, president.

“We balance our events to provide opportunities in the following areas: professional growth, general leadership, organizational foundations, fundraising, event planning, philanthropy, and of course, having fun,” he said. “We make it as easy as possible for people to partake in the majority of our events by eliminating any barriers to entry, including cost.

Jones said a primary focus of the Omaha Jaycees is putting members to work according to their interests and abilities. In this way, all members contribute to the success of the club and its activities.

“Every single person provides unique value and life experience. Our goal is to allow a platform for individuals to have the choice for seeking out opportunities that align with their strengths and/or challenge them by taking on their areas of growth potential,”

he said.

The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Omaha is another group that provides an array of activities to meet a wide cross section of member interests.

“Our calendar is comprised of networking happy hours, professional development workshops, an annual trivia night and an annual service project to support a local nonprofit,” said Sara Eliason, YNPNGO board chairman. “All our events are open to the public, sometimes with a small fee involved.”

Eliason said the variety of programming not only helps reach as many interests as possible, but also reflects the diversity of the YNPNGO board and membership.

“Our chapter of YNPN was started by a group of young professionals that wanted to connect with others working in the nonprofit sector and have opportunities to grow their leadership skills,” she said. “We’ve been an organization in Omaha for over five years with programming that is continually changing to better fit the needs of our ever-growing membership.

by David Kubicek

said advancing may require that you go into management.

“Talk to people in your company who can help you,” she said. “Many companies are willing to help you advance and even change careers if you tell them what you’d like and

Lowe said that long before you are ready to transition jobs or careers, you should consider self-assessment tests such as Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, or CliftonStrengths to help you identify skills, strengths, and weaknesses.

Surround yourself with key mentors comprised of friends, family, and professional colleagues. Cultivate and maintain excellent professional referral relationships in your local and/or national community.

Maintain a professional online presence by setting up profiles in whatever social media Beethe forums are used in your industry. Delete any online forums, photos, videos, or statements that you would not want to share with your grandmother, your boss, or a judge.

Your physical presence is just as important as your online presence.

“Whether we like it or not, we are always marketing ourselves at professional events, recreational events, and the grocery store,” Lowe said. “Any time you leave your home or office, be willing to meet people and have a genuine interest for others.

“Most important, be strategic: know your target audience, join relevant groups, events, and boards, keep metrics as to what results in professional connections, Be prepared to share who you are, your skills and how you can assist.

Set clear goals and expectations. People will know you over time. Great work is the best marketer.”

Before you transition, acknowledge the cost, whether that’s time, stress, title, money, or colleague relationships, and weigh that cost against the benefit of transition. Error-proof your resume, prepare for the interview, and ask questions.

“When you get your offer, employ the experts, if necessary, to help you negotiate,” Lowe said. “Don’t settle for anything below your bottom line. Finally, end well at your present job, and do what you can to leave on professional terms.”

Growth should be reason for career change A career change should be based on a desire to grow, not on unhappiness with your job.

“Honestly assess whether you’ve outgrown your current position or whether you have a fixable problem,” said Aimee L. Lowe, an attorney with Lowe Legal Group. “If honest self-evaluation reveals you’ve reached the top but you’re not done growing, it’s likely time to consider a career change.”

Revela President Andrea C. Fredrickson

Lowe Fredrickson ask for help.”

One way to market yourself is to volunteer for special projects or help others outside of your department or company.

“Show them what you can and are willing to do,” Fredrickson said. “Find ways to be in front of people who can help you. Join groups, clubs, associations. Get to know people and expand your network. People don’t always pay attention to what you say, but they watch what you do. Tell people what you’re looking to do or try. Be brief when you explain.” “[When planning a career change] write out your goal or mission as this helps clearly define your path,” said Terra Beethe, a career coach at Bellevue University. “Also, define expectations and nurture relationships at work. Act like a leader and put on your problem-solver hat.”

Think about your interests and skills — take a career assessment if you’re not sure. To explore alternative career options, ask questions of family, friends and colleagues who may be working in that profession.

“Shadow or volunteer to work alongside someone who works in a career [you’re] interested in,” Beethe said. “Update [your] skills by taking a class or pursuing a degree or industry certification. Utilize LinkedIn. Make sure your profile matches your resume, then have it scored on resumeworded.com and update based on the feedback. Connect with anyone you know and start having conversations.”

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

Owner Orlanda Whitfield … With grandmother’s recipe in hand, the popcorn shop has expanded reach in the Omaha community.

Still Poppin Gourmet Popcorn offers fun flavors, launches fundraising program

by Gabby Christensen

While foot traffic has been a challenge, Whitfield said she has worked around it by hosting various pop-ups.

Because of this, the business has served customers from across the city, including many from west Omaha and Bellevue.

Still Poppin was even stationed at the 2019 NCAA Men’s College World Series, which also helped to further promote the business.

Whitfield, who follows flavor trends closely, is constantly looking for unique ways to serve customers — whether it be through holiday themed popcorn or specially ordered mix-ins.

She also has a goal to open a second location that houses a kitchen, which would give her the ability to do more speciality orders on the spot.

In four years, Whitfield said the business has significantly increased its customer base and launched a website that has allowed product to be efficiently shipped.

Additionally, she has established a fundraising program that allows teams or organizations to sell the popcorn, receiving 50% of the profit.

In the future, she has plans to expand the fundraising program and potentially offer additional products.

“It’s extremely important to give back to the community and build those relationships,” Whitfield said.

The Omaha Mix flavor, caramel popcorn smothered in chedThe community dar cheese. has certainly returned and cheddar buffalo ranch. the favor, as loyal customers continually support The shop, which is located in the Fair Deal the business.

Village MarketPlace near 24th and Burdette Recently, Still Poppin was the recipient of streets, is in a storage container that has been a $10,000 first-place prize via The Community refurbished into a storefront.

CONNECT, a collaboration of Catholic ChariFor now, she employs one part-time staff ties, Omaha Economic Development Corporamember on location, while she and her family tion, Mutual of Omaha and Mutual of Omaha make all of the product at No More Empty Pots, Bank, which aims to support entrepreneurs and a local commercial kitchen. economic growth in Omaha.

Orlanda Whitfield has worn many hats over the years, including adjunct professor, businesswoman, mother of two and most recently chef/ owner of Still Poppin Gourmet Popcorn, which she founded in 2016.

For Whitfield, popcorn has always held a special place in her heart, as she learned the skill of popcorn-making from her late grandmother when she was just 11 years old.

In fact, she still uses her grandmother’s caramel popcorn recipe today, now known as the “Omaha Mix,” which consists of caramel popcorn smothered in cheese.

The process by which the caramel is made is unique, as it’s oven-baked.

But caramel isn’t the only flavor the business pops — the store sells over 50 different flavors, including kettle corn, cookies ‘n cream

7

The moment was especially sentimental, moment, but she was definitely there in spirit,” as Whitfield’s grandmother was in attendance. she said. “Plus, it was just another chance to pay “It was the best motribute to her.” ment,” she said. “My Still Poppin Gourmet Popcorn When all is said grandma was able to Phone: 402-502-9684 and done, Whitfield see that everything she Address: 2118 N 24th St 108, Omaha said she feels proud poured into me has been 68110 to carry on her grandpoured into this busi- Founded: 2016 mother’s legacy and ness, which has resulted Service: gourmet popcorn shop serving hopes to continue to in success.” branch out, making up a variety of flavors for the Omaha I n D e c e m b e r, community new connections along Whitfield competed in Employees: 1 (part-time) the way. another competition, Goal: to expand fundraising program, “I’m so passionate which was hosted by offer additional products about my business and No More Empty Pots. Website: https://stillpoppin402.com I absolutely love this Once again, she took community,” she said. home the prize — this time, a $2,000 check.

“When I hear people say there is no support for “Unfortunately, my grandmother had passed small business, I have to disagree. My customers a week prior so she wasn’t there to witness that are always there, like family.”

8

• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

NAWIC Omaha builds on membership record high with outreach initiatives Continued from page 1. they want to support women in these associations and they’re pushing their women to join,” she said.

NAWIC Omaha Service: Provides women in construction related fields with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service and more.

Goals: Fund a scholarship endowment for all University of Nebraska Universities; Develop partnerships with other industry associations; Develop partnership with local high schools for a CAD Design Drafting program.

Website: www.naiwicomaha.com

The annual Women in Construction Week, running from March 1-7, is a national effort focused on celebrating women in the field and encouraging industry companies to do the same. The weeklong event includes networking, education and more.

Building up the community NAWIC Omaha’s leadership team of nine believes that the longevity of its mission to support women in construction must also include partnerships with other industry associations.

“I want us to support each other as well as other associations because we’re all there to support and cultivate a strong

Work/life balance

Continued from page 5. clients who love and respect you.”

As an attorney that has worked for the government and as corporate in-house prior to joining a law firm, Kate McNamara, president of the Academy of Young Professionals in Omaha and shareholder at Fraser Stryker PC LLO, said a sought-after workplace benefit is a flexible schedule.

“Most attorneys recognize that our profession is not a 9-to-5 job and there are weeks where we need to work 100 hours, and weeks where we can take a little breather,” McNamara said. “Having the flexibility to work a little less during those ‘less crazy’ times is a huge benefit to help restore mental health and promote work/ life balance.”

She said one way to foster this balance is to take time off when given the chance.

“Also, by setting daily goals for yourself, and getting those things done, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and will feel less guilty about taking the time to relax,” McNamara said.

As a teacher, Kerri Palmesano, president of the Junior League of Omaha, said one of the greatest benefits is a full coverage health care plan.

She said other attractive benefits include flexible scheduling and employers understanding life-changing events.

“Workplaces with gyms and day care are also conducive to a healthy work/life balance,” Palmesano said. “Not all workplaces are able to provide those attractive amenities; however, I think the most important benefits are having passion for the work you do, a sense of belonging to the company you work for, knowing you have opportunity to grow and feeling like a valued employee. When you feel those things, you enjoy work. You then have the positive energy to meet friends and family, go on new adventures, start new hobbies and make time for giving back to the community.”

construction industry,” Anderson said.

The group is currently looking at how to partner with CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) and ABC (Associates Builders and Contractors), among others.

It has also made an effort to extend invitations to women in construction who live in Council Bluffs whose closest Iowa chapter is in Des Moines.

Building connections As part of an effort to make new members feel welcome and veteran members feel engaged, leadership decided to assign each member to one of the five board members.

“That’s a big deal when you’re coming into a new group and you don’t know anybody, at least you know that one person or that group,” Anderson said.

Anderson said she felt intimidated when she came to her first meeting, and that was back when there was less than 20 members.

The chapter also introduced a hospitality committee to help engagement. One new initiative includes a monthly pop-up lunch hosted by a surprise committee member who sends out an e-mail invitation with a time, date and place. “[At lunch] they don’t talk about women in construction, they just get to know

each other because sometimes there’s not Building the future enough time for networking at meetings,” NAWIC Omaha is invested in setting Anderson said. the industry up for a successful future.

Meetings, typIts annual Block ically held on the Kids Event, this Women in Construction Week second Thursday year held on Jan. 25, March 1- Cultivating Growth NAWIC Family of every month, challenges 100 kids Event at Mulhall’s Nursery include a variety between grades K-6 of educational opto build something March 3- Construction Equipment Lunch & portunities such as related to the indusLearn for NAWIC Members speakers, industry try using interlockMarch 4- MCC Simulator and Breakfast for expert panels and ing blocks, a small NAWIC Members job site tours. rock, string, foil, For example, and poster board in March 5- Speed Networking for i n M a y N AW I C one hour. Projects Construction Connections Omaha is hosting were judged by 32 March 6- Jump into NAWIC Family Fun a construction edindustry experts Event ucation course and from the commuin June members nity.

March 7- Women’s Defense & Self Safe will tour the Olym“[Industry exAwareness NAWIC Event pic Swim Trials perts] want to supMore details on WIC week events can be pool construction port this because found online at www.naiwicomaha.com at the CHI Health we’re reaching kids Center. and a young age and The chapter is also affiliated with the showing them that this career can be fun,” NAWIC Education Foundation, which Anderson said. grants members access to additional edIn addition to Block Kids the group ucational courses, such as construction is also working on setting up a CAD debookkeeping technician and construction sign drafting program with high school document technician, among others. students.

5G tech is changing the way businesses operate

by Gabby Christensen

Communication professionals agree that 5G (5th generation), the latest generation of wireless technology, will dramatically impact various industries across the board.

Heidi Flato, public relations manager at Verizon, said 5G will usher in the fourth industrial revolution, paving the way for unprecedented innovations that will reshape the world with its massive bandwidth and greater opportunities for connectivity.

“Autonomous cars, smart communities, the industrial internet of things (IoT), immersive education will all rely on 5G,” Flato said. “5G’s blazing network speeds and low latency will spark unprecedented advancements in health care, transportation, safety, education and other areas that we can’t even think of right now. It will enable innovations that help cut congestion by monitoring and controlling traffic lights; alerting drivers of traffic delays; and providing smart parking solutions that identify available spaces.”

Additionally, she said these innovations will help smart cities manage energy and control carbon emissions by monitoring buildings’ HVAC and lighting systems; reduce unnecessary use and provide timely maintenance.

“With 5G, these innovations will also improve water and power management by providing utility companies with analytics on supply and demand or system waste,” Flato said. “The first 5G cities will also be seen as business and technology hot spots.

Cities on the cutting edge of technology attract business to those areas and create jobs.”

As with all wireless networks, Calli Hite, senior public affairs manager at Cox, said the strength of 5G depends on the strength of its wired network.

“This also means carriers want the best, fastest broadband, too,” Hite said.

“In the dozens of markets we serve across the nation, Cox connects more than 80%

Hite Fiene of the wireless towers for wired, data backhaul via our broadband network. As the frequency and size of wireless transmissions continue to grow, those wireline connections will need more bandwidth, similar to adding more devices or streaming more at home.”

Additionally, she said it’s important to note that the large majority of wireless device traffic never actually touches the cell network — instead it travels over WiFi and then broadband.

Tyler Fiene, director of operations at Dice Communications, said previous versions of mobile technology laid the groundwork for the cellular systems used now.

“For instance, 3G really opened up the capabilities of transmitting data to mobile phones, such as text messaging,” he said.

“The next generation, 4G, really enabled the explosive growth of smartphones and the use of mobile internet. 5G will expand those capabilities with the ability to provide up to 20Gb throughput to devices.

With throughput like that, smartphones will have the capabilities to do applications that prior to this required a cabled

connection.”

According to Fiene, applications such as virtual reality and high definition enhanced reality can easily be handled by phones and cellular devices, as well as higher quality videos and movies can be streamed.

He said 5G will enable businesses to utilize the high bandwidth and utilization to do things like wireless backups for servers, high speed point to point connections and high speed redundant/failover connections.

“Dice Communications is currently working on projects for a couple of large universities and K-12 school districts who wish to install dedicated, or organization-owned, 5G systems on their campus that will allow them to provide high speed, reliable connectivity to any device on campus without having to cable to every device,” Fiene said. “Additionally, electric utilities are finding value in installing private 5G LTE to better enable their power distribution networks, allowing more automation and better visibility through every step of their power distribution.”

Follow us on @mbjpublications

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

9

Kubat Pharmacy opens mobility, rehabilitative equipment division Continued from page 1.

Mobility Center come from identifying basic falling becomes more prevalent.

West found a compact wheelchair that is been identifying growth niches for customer wheel ambulate equipment fit to the user’s services initiatives. needs. Mobility equipment is used by those relatively light in weight, easier to maneu“With improved design of complex who need a three-month rental while their ver and can be used in an older apartment rehabilitative wheelchairs we felt it was broken leg heals to very specialized answers with tight entrances to various rooms for a imperative to exfor the long-term to customer.

“She was surprised by what we came up pand and offer even Kubat Pharmacy fully disabled. more selection for the Phone: 402-558-8888 Atkins, a Kan- with for her to use,” West said. “She said unique needs of our Address: 4924 Center St., Omaha 68106 sas City native and ‘I can get a dog now, walk him and go into customers,” he added. Services: retail pharmaceutical, drug comgraduate of Missouri small closets for items, turn the chair around The Kubat broth- pounding services, and sales and rental of Western Community easily, and go out.’”

Atkins said there are challenges — often ers represent the third home health care equipment College who joined generation of their Owners: Matt & Mike Kubat Kubat in 2018, said formidable ones — to such success stories, family to operate Ku- Number of employees: 97 clients have ranged but many obstacles dealing with federal bat Pharmacy, which One-year goal: Carve out competitive from 3 to 98 years of eligibility and private insurance policy rules has grown from 70 to position as a family-owned player in rehabil- age. One boy was one are successfully navigated.

“We (Greg and Rick) are essentially tour 97 employees over itative industry. of 30 in the country the past 15 years and Industry outlook: Smaller, family-owned who had a rare condi- guides,” he said. “The complexities of the expanded into loca- firms are being acquired by larger multition that didn’t enable industry have put us on an island and while tions at 2401 N St. state providers. him to stand. With the we can’t do 90% of the documentation work in the south Omaha Website: www.kubatpharmacy.com assistance given by we can tell the occupational therapist or business district, and mobility equipment, referring physician what’s available.”

Atkins said vehicle modification work a presence in Fremont with a pharmacy at the child now is attending preschool.

350 W. 23rd St. and Fremont Medical Supply West, a Michigan native with a rehabil- to accommodate wheelchairs and easier, at 424 W. 23rd St. itation therapist degree from the University realistic driver controls is another growth Family members have told Midlands of Kansas and a master’s from University of area for Kubat. Home modification work, Business Journal in previous interviews Nebraska at Omaha, came to Kubat in 2004 coordinated by Kubat and done by area conthat longevity has come from staying loyal after more than two decades at UNMC as a tractors, is also important to serving patients.

Unlike some similar firms across the to core values, outpacing competitors and habilitation technician and expertise in seatcontinually looking for new products and ing. He said the elderly — especially when nation, Kubat can offer used equipment as geographic growth opportunities. living alone — worry family members when a solution.

The firm’s flagship pharmacy since 1969 has been located in an 11,000-square-foot building at 4924 Center St., immediately local business and you’re in an industry that Continued from page 1. west of the mobility center. people inherently do not trust then the most Services in addition to the retail phar- split the four stores they shared in the early important thing is to put them at ease and make macy include compounding — making 1980s, resulting in two stores each under the them understand that we’re on their side.” drugs and ointments from scratch to fulfill same business name. As time went on the elder Another major impetus to the name change special orders from physicians that involve Bettger expanded to three stores. Moberg exfrom House of Mufflers & Brakes to Omaha recipes that are not in demand to command panded to four stores and his son Jeff Moberg Car Care was that the company provides all attention from large manufacturers, special- owns three stores today, under the name House types of auto maintenance and repair, not just ty pharmaceutical items and vitamins and of Mufflers & Brakes. mufflers and brakes. supplements.

In 2001, after climbing the corporate ladder “We just removed Kubat Pharmacy offers home deliveries to a marketing director the barrier of what five days a week, allowing prescriptions role for a large cor- Omaha Car Care seems like a limiting called in by 10 a.m. to be delivered that day. poration and teaching Phone: 402-496-9389; 402-445-6708; name,” he said.

However, the Kubat brothers continue to himself the power of 402-339-5577 When Bettger first hold off on a decision to offer a prescription metrics along the way, Address: 13102 West Dodge Road; 5815 bought the stores in drive-up window at the Center Street loca- Rick Bettger bought Center St.; 8504 L St. 2001, 62% of its voltion. They fear the personalized one-to-one the company from his Services: full-service auto repair ume was mufflers and consultation offered at the in-store pickup dad and began setting Employees: 21 among all three locations brakes. Today, mufflers counter could get lost. up measurement sys- Founded: In 1970 as House of Mufflers by bring in less than 20% Despite the national trend of smaller tems, from building Ron Bettger and Gene Moberg while brakes have been pharmacies being acquired by national spreadsheets from old Website: www.omahacarcare.com trending up but not inchains, the Kubat brothers feel Kubat Phar- records to categorizing creasing dramatically. macy’s growth can be assured by building and tracking daily sales Some of the decline in mufflers and brakes on the customer loyalty and reputation going to tracking advertising results. sales can be attributed to longer lasting materiback to the south Omaha ties of their late “You have to have a lot of data to underals. Since 1995 manufacturers started making grandfather Amil Kubat. stand the business better,” Rick Bettger said. mufflers out of stainless steel, and brake pads In 2006 they invested more than $100,000 “My guys have an incredible understanding of are now made of ceramic materials. in upgrading their Center Street pharmacy. what they’re doing every day I think far and Engine work, however, has skyrocketed.

A sub-robotic, automated prescription filling above most places do.”

“The engine business is where we’re really system was installed. Most recently, they As part of its customer-focused initiatives, attracting new customers,” he said, adding that have capitalized on the popularity of CPAP Omaha Car Care bought a fleet of eight brandhe studies how many new customers come in equipment, which is being used in the home- ed loaner cars — a service that people might each month. “We do a lot of advertising and that based treatment of sleep apnea and other get from a dealer — to draw in higher-end advertising is all brand building. It’s designed to respiratory system disorders. customers. really introduce us to the market, which I still Kubat sees a growth area with their in“We’re trying to build trust and care and feel we’re doing.” vestment in So Clean, an automated CPAP treat our customers like a family member than Omaha Car Care has 21 employees among cleaner and sanitizer equipment. some kind of cash register … it’s one of the its three locations, and it’s looking to add anRehab Director Greg Atkins and Mo- reasons we picked this name,” he said. “We are other store in southwest Omaha because of the bility Specialist Rick West said So Clean owned by Omaha people and run by Omaha area’s growth and demographics. is indicative of the innovative and practical people. Our intent is to be here for many more Tim Garnett, a longtime employee since offerings of Kubat Mobility Center. The generations — we’re not in it for the short term. before Bettger bought the business, will equipment cleans 99.9% of CPAC germs and We’re in it to build relationships that people eventually take over the business as part of a bacteria from the patient’s mask, hose and are proud to talk about with their friends or succession plan. reservoir without the need for disassembly, family members; that’s going to make us more “His vision is to build more stores and I’m water and chemicals. successful than any kind of selling strategy. going to help with that,” he said. “We’re at the A large part of the revenues for Kubat “It sounds like a line but when you are a

“We’ll look at such equipment and see if it offers us a deal that can help a patient,” West said. “Refabrication of existing equipment can be done here or we can find replacement equipment.”

“We don’t walk away without trying to solve a situation,” Atkins said.

Kubat Mobility Center draws from hundreds of mobility products and manufacturers and customizes wheelchairs to ensure proper body alignment, pressure relief, fit and function. The accessibility solutions focus on adult, bariatric and pediatric wheelchairs, scooters and power mobility.

Individuals who benefit from complex rehab equipment include those with a progressive or degenerative neuromuscular disease, or those with limited functional capabilities due to an injury. An assistive technology professional is used to custom fabricate wheelchairs using specialized cushions, metalworking and stitching.

A specialized seating assessment room is available.

While work on Kubat Mobility Center’s building was being finalized last fall, a driver one night on Center suffered a medical episode and his truck crashed through the building, doing several thousand dollars in damage and setting back the firm’s grand opening.

Omaha Car Care rebranding effort drives positive results point where … our current stores [are] getting pretty close to capacity and we feel like the brand has now taken hold in the city and that there are other places that we can go.”

The greatest challenge to growth is finding skilled workers, particularly in the auto industry.

There are more positions available than people to fill them, he said.

“I think our industry has to do a better job of portraying these jobs as a career where you can be very successful … it can provide you a very good life, but I don’t think enough people have this image,” he said. “I think that goes back to the image of the car repair industry that was established years ago as opposed to what it is now, which is diagnostic work. Guys that can do diagnostic work with the new technology are the guys that are going to do well in this industry.”

For the past 10 years, Bettger has been involved with CUES, an organization that funds and operates three Omaha Catholic schools that educate underserved kids: Holy Name School, Sacred Heart School and All Saints Catholic School.

“I’m very attuned to our kids,” he said, noting that they have an over 90% graduation rate from high school. “We have 600 kids in these three schools and 80% of them are on free or reduced lunch, so they come from low-income backgrounds. So, we’re looking to set them on a path that breaks down that cycle for them.”

One such path might be going to Metropolitan Community College where scholarships and support are available, the cost of attending is less than a four-year university, and where there are many opportunities to learn various trades.

“People — not only in the auto industry — but people in other trades recognize that those are the jobs not being filled that are not allowing our entire state’s economy to grow,” he said.

“You talk to anybody [in the trades] — factory owners and manufacturing facilities — they can’t grow because they can’t find people and that is a hindrance to our whole state.”

10

• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Safety is a prime concern for engineers

by David Kubicek

With hazards for engineers ranging from working with toxic materials to high voltage equipment, safety is a No. 1 concern for the industry.

Dean Epperson, senior project manager and safety director at EAD, said one of the firm’s biggest safety precautions is modeling safe behaviors to one another.

“Our team members have developed safety habits like pointing out potential trip hazards or head knockers for people following them through an unfamiliar plant,” he said.

Each new employee goes through a face-to-face safety orientation during their on-boarding process. The orientation starts by sharing management’s commitment to safety and builds on specific requirements and behavior-based safety.

“We prepare ourselves for onsite work by planning our tasks, understanding the specific hazards and getting to know the local personnel,” Epperson said. “Standard contractor training provided by our clients is typically very appropriate, but it is important for our team to also become familiar with any temporary site conditions and getting a feel for the local safety culture.”

Simple actions like touring the entire area before diving into focused tasks help with recognizing potential hazards in the area.

EAD holds a “safety huddle” every Friday morning to provide interactive training on multiple safety topics. The firm has a different employee presenter each week who provides a PowerPoint presentation and Q&A session and often brings in outside sources to provide safety information.

The firm provides Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10- and 30-hour training for its employees depending on their capacity in the field. OSHA 30 is provided to anyone who will supervise or manage others.

“We prequalify our company with many clients through client qualification [web]sites such as ISNetworld, Appruv, First Verify, and Construct Secure,” Epperson said. “Many clients have prerequisites prior to being allowed on their sites. These [web]sites allow us to assign site-specific training to our employees, giving them insight to our clients’ safety requirements.”

Before mobilizing to a project, EAD performs a pre-job hazard analysis (PJHA) to identify the potential safety risks associated with the project as well as the hazard mitigation strategies it will put in place to either eliminate or reduce employees’ exposure.

3D scanning and photogrammetry allows engineers to visualize site conditions without exposing themselves to hazards — for example, using a drone to scan a structure or location that a person cannot easily access.

EAD has teamed up with its sister company, Industrial Panel Solutions (IPS), to develop and promote the Zero Energy Utility-disconnect Switch (ZEUS) — also known as a safety disconnect switch or isolation panel — which isolates incoming power from the main enclosure, lowering the risk for an arc flash hazard during maintenance of the interior panel devices.

The National Safety Council-Nebraska is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce injuries and save the lives of Nebraskans through education, training, and

advocacy, according to Vice President of Business Development Susan Booth.

“Last year I held several roundtable meetings with some of our members and asked what type of training or information that their teams needed,” Booth said. “Overwhelming response was the need for certain job types to receive safety training, in particular HR professionals and supervisors.”

Over the past year the organization worked with Human Resources Association of the Midlands (HRAM) to develop a program that allows HR professionals to receive Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) continuing education units (CEU) through a program called Safety for the HR Professional.

“We found that often, especially in small companies, the HR professional was being tasked with safety or tasked with supporting the safety person,” Booth said. “This year we are launching the Safety for Supervisors certificate program — again focused on helping those individuals understand the basics of safety so that they can be more supportive.”

EAD's Dean Epperson, senior project manager/safety director, left, and Mike Flohr, production supervisor at Industrial Panel Solutions, with a Zero Energy Utility-disconnect Switch (ZEUS), which simplifies shutting down equipment for maintenance or repairs.

This California goggle maker is helping China fight coronavirus. Here’s how

by Ronald D. White

The email from Chinese hospital officials last month got straight to the point, said Roy Paulson, chief executive of a California company that makes protective eyewear and other gear for clients as diverse as welders, firefighters, bomb squads and medical personnel.

“They wanted all we had,” Paulson said, “and they wanted it right now.”

A new strain of coronavirus was spreading quickly. The death toll was rising. Chinese officials were interested in Trends Paulson Manufacturing’s infectious disease control eye goggles and face shields to protect healthcare workers, who represented a large proportion of people infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) during 2003’s global epidemic.

Nothing about this order would be simple or cheap. But Paulson’s business has experience making a wide range of safety gear, including a new laser-protective face shield for riot police (a need highlighted by last year’s unrest in Hong Kong), and it found a way to overcome several obstacles to try to help stop the overseas contagion.

“I really feel sorry for the people with this exposure and the terror within society that this virus is spreading,” said Paulson, 61, whose father, Tom Paulson, founded the business in Temecula, California, in 1947.

“I have very good business in China. I manufacturer container loads of stuff and ship there all the time, and I’ve personally been involved with the sales effort in China, traveling there once a year,” he said.

“I was personally particularly interested” in making the deal happen, he said. The contract is worth about $2 million, the company said, about 5% of this year’s revenue.

Even though he had been expecting a request from China for his products, Paulson said he wasn’t prepared for the scope of the order or for reports about the state of affairs there.

Streets were empty, shops were closing, factories were idle as workers feared leaving their homes. And Chinese officials told him they were concerned about producing addi-

tional emergency medical equipment in their own country.

“They’re worried that the people that would be assembling the products might have the coronavirus,” Paulson said.

To get the job done, Paulson’s assembly lines had to be ratcheted up quickly to maximum capacity without sacrificing quality, enough to eventually produce an extra 5,000 goggles and 5,000 shields a day.

“That’s about 10 times as much as we are usually making in a day,” Paulson said. “I’m not even at that full production yet because it’s so far beyond my usual capacity.”

Within days, Paulson said, “we’re moving up toward full production power, like when you step on the throttle and you’re mashing it to the floor, and guess what we run into next?

We can’t get the stuff over there because they didn’t want it by sea, they want it by air, and all of these airlines have shut down on flying to China, so now there is a huge problem.

How do we send it?”

About 73 airlines on three continents had canceled more than 50,000 flights to, from and within China in the days since the outbreak, severely restricting options for air freight.

“We’ve told the shipping companies that these are critical medical products. We have to get these things over there to China. They’re waiting for them,” Paulson said. “I’m emphasizing the humanitarian angle on this thing, but not everybody was seeing it the same way.

“But there’s always somebody there that’s willing to carry the goods if you just pay a premium. So right now we’re having to pay a premium to get the stuff over there and we’re shipping it by United Parcel Service because they have dedicated aircraft.” The extra cost is being passed along to the customer, Paulson said.

Paulson Manufacturing ships products to 70 countries around the world in Europe, South America and Asia, so the CEO understands the risks inherent in exporting goods overseas — risks that don’t arise with domestic customers. He still remembers when a deal to ship police riot gear to Greece collapsed during the worst days of that coun-

try’s European debt crisis because the Athens government couldn’t pay the bill.

One question he faced was whether to add to his workforce of 150 employees and boost his production capacity for a crisis that might be over quickly. SARS was first discovered in Asia in February 2003, but the outbreak had been stopped by July of that same year.

Paulson decided to hire 10 additional people for now.

“We are expecting that the crisis in China will last three months,” Paulson said. “It would take longer than three months for me to add more capacity, and I think that it’ll all be over by the time you’re getting into midApril, end of April.”

Although the first shipment of shields and goggles went out Feb. 5, he’s having trouble getting the materials he needs to make the equipment while sticking to his business pledge of using raw materials only from the U.S. “These items have a foam interface that is on the product that goes against your face.

There’s a transparent anti-fog sheet material that’s very thin, about the thickness of a sheet of paper, and then there’s an elastic strap that goes around the back. It’s the simplest product I make in the factory, but for us, making this many requires an immense amount of material,” Paulson said.

“While I had the inventory of some of the raw materials, I didn’t have all that I needed,” Paulson said. “So I’m still pulling them in. All my vendors have been very gracious, very understanding, bending over backward. I’m just having to be creative to come up with the volume that I need.”

For many years before Paulson was able to make inroads into the Chinese market, he saw them as a fierce competitor to his domestic business. That’s not what he’s feeling right now.

“I have empathy for the people of China from visiting there for the last 12 years to develop business,” he said. “I feel a humanitarian pull to make this an effective program.” ©2020 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

11

‘Solar honey’ emerging as a win-win for clean-energy proponents, beekeepers and farm owners

by Neal St. Anthony

Dustin Vanasse, a Minnesota farm boy turned chef for 15 years, owns a small Twin Cities outfit called Bare Honey.

He was attractSustainability ing attention like bees on honey last week at the big Winter Fancy Food trade show in San Francisco.

Vanasse, 38, is a few years into a cutting-edge trend: making and bottling honey from bee colonies raised on restored, pollinaSUPER CROSSWORD

tor-friendly habitat also used for solar energy farms in rural Minnesota and elsewhere.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has noted that pollinator-based products, from lip balm to honey-infused beer, is a fast-growing trend. Meanwhile, the state is on track to increase from 2% to 5% or more the next few years the amount of power generated from solar energy, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association.

That’s a lot of acres on what often was marginal land. And it’s another derivative MULTIPLE LISTING

benefit of Minnesota’s fast-growing renewable-energy industry.

“The solar developer contracts with the farmer to build a solar array,” Vanasse said.

“Bare Honey reaches out and says we can add hives, if you are interested. We work with the solar energy developer, such as IPS Solar.

We plant native plants and provide pollinator education. We put our own bees on the solar field, or I contract with one of our affiliated beekeepers. We provide the contract to the solar energy developer.

Bare Honey generates and cares for the hives. At harvest season, the landowner gets paid per negotiated pollination contracts.

“It promotes their planting of the land in native habitat. It’s also good for the renewable-energy industry. It’s a ‘multi-stacking’ of environmental benefits,” Vanasse said. “We reduce reliance of fossil fuels while adding acres of native pollinator habitat. Bees, wasps, birds and bats.”

Vanasse also has a date to speak at the upcoming national conference Pheasants Forever, no small group, that also is interested in increasing natural habitat and conservation.

He sees a great opportunity with other stakeholders, and he already employs about 20, including contractors, to make a buck while tapping the demand for renewable energy, saving bees and cleaning often-polluted topsoil with native plants.

The Minnesota Agriculture Department recently highlighted two foods in which Minnesota is emerging a national leader.

One is the perennial grain called Kernza.

The other is honey harvested from flowering solar farms.

Industry supporters see the national, solar-honey market growing from 250,000 acres today to 3 million within the decade.

Advocates say there’s a triple-bottom line: restoration of the bee population and other pollinators, devastated by pesticides and other chemicals over the years; production of solar energy that has environmental and financial benefits; and the growth of the solar-honey industry.

And this pollination business is serious.

It’s estimated that pollinators produced $16 billion worth of edible crops in the United States annually.

Two years ago, the state acknowledged that honeybees and monarch butterflies, the flagship pollinator species, are in big trouble.

Minnesota has seen “unsustainable” bee-colony losses over the last decade.

“Solar honey” can be part of the solution.

Fresh Energy, the Twin Cities-based renewable-energy advocacy group, predicts a huge expansion of the estimated 4,000-plus acres of “pollinator-friendly” solar planted in Minnesota.

“Turf grass doesn’t provide much pollinator value,” said Rob Davis of Fresh Energy. “You have to mow it. In Minnesota, we’ve said let’s put panels up at waist height because of the snow, but it also gives an opportunity to plant diverse, flowering plants, native grasses … and we’ve created the nation’s first vegetation standard for pollinator-friendly solar farms.

“Bare Honey is saying, ‘Wow, there’s all these flowering acres of solar landscape paid for by solar panels.’ And more and more farmers are leasing land for solar arrays. Bare Honey and its customers love it. Beverage makers love it.”

For example, Bare Honey provided the Clif Family Winery in California with tons of honey last year from flowering solar-farm hives; about half its production.

In addition to wine, Clif sells jars of solar-grown honey, harvested and packaged

by Bare Honey, and other products that can be found online for $5 to $25, as well as on Bare Honey’s website.

Bare Honey expects to produce up to 30 tons of “Solar Grown honey” from Minnesota farms this year through its own and affiliated beekeeper operations.

Minnesota honey last fall yielded a price to beekeepers of around $3.50 per pound, or about $7,000 per ton, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Other clients include Lush Cosmetics.

And Minneapolis-based 56 Brewing created two beers that tap Bare Honey. They are Solarama Crush and Kernza Harvest Lager, which includes solar-farm honey and Kernza from Cascadian Farm cereals. ©2020 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Bio-methane from cow manure could be a ‘new gold rush’ on the farm

by Adam Belz

Answers on page 12.

The back end of a cow generates 80 pounds each day of what Dennis Haubenschild, who owns 750 of them near Princeton, Minn., refers to as a “non-depletable renewable resource.”

Now, technology and policy are aligning for farmers to Agriculture take advantage of all that manure in a surprising way — by turning it into gas that can fuel vehicles.

Haubenschild was among the first dairy farmers in the state to experiment with biogas production, and he uses manure-turnedgas to generate heat on his farm. But climate change policies in California and Oregon have created a different, national market for the gas that comes from livestock manure.

Farmers who capture the methane, a greenhouse gas more immediately potent than carbon dioxide, can earn lucrative

low-carbon credits. Dairies across the country, especially large ones, are investigating the prospect. “It’s the new gold rush,” Haubenschild said.

Two large dairies in northwest Indiana are already certified for credits in California. Three Wisconsin dairies are producing biogas for transportation fuel and three more projects there are under construction, according to the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas. In Minnesota, Riverview LLP, the company with an archipelago of massive dairies near Morris, aims to become the state’s first dairy to produce gas from cow manure for transportation fuel and low-carbon credits.

Environmentalists and climate activists are watching the development with caution.

While they are eager to see any industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some worry that government incentives prodding farmers Continued on next page.

12

• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Bio-methane from cow manure could be a ‘new gold rush’ on the farm Continued from preceding page. to produce biomethane will reward only very large operations.

At the moment, methane emissions from large dairies are under heightened scrutiny in Minnesota.

Plans for a 3,000-cow expansion at Daley Farms, near Lewiston, Minn., were halted by the Minnesota Court of Appeals in October when judges ordered the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to publish a greenhouse gas emissions estimate.

How it works Dairies that want to turn some of those emissions into fuel, and revenue, must pump their manure into an airtight chamber called an anaerobic digester.

In the digester, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide bubbles up in gaseous form in a matter of weeks.

“I look at it as a great big stomach, a living thing,” said Haubenschild, who built a digester in the late 1990s.

Haubenschild carefully regulates the temperature of the digester and “feeds” it at the same times every day, in the same quantities.

Once the raw gas is collected from the digester, carbon dioxide and other impurities can be filtered out in what’s called an upgrade plant. That makes the gas close to the quality of conventional natural gas so it can be injected into an interstate gas pipeline and purchased in other parts of the country.

Given the global warming potency of

methane, and the California Air Resources Board’s 2017 estimate that open lagoons at dairies accounted for 25% of the state’s methane emissions.

As a result, gas produced from manure receives a better carbon intensity score from the state of California than any other renewable fuel.

How credits make money Biomethane from cow manure can be used to generate electricity, but it’s not cost-effective.

Instead, the carbon credit systems in California and Oregon reward methane that’s captured and directed at the niche market of natural gas-fueled vehicles.

Fuel producers in those states, such as refiners, must meet annual targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction. If they don’t, they can purchase low-carbon credits to help them meet the target.

Once gas from a certified dairy digester enters the national pipeline system, buyers in California and Oregon can compress the gas for transportation fuel. When the gas is purchased as fuel for a vehicle, the dairy that produced the gas qualifies for credits it can sell to fuel producers, like refiners, who need them.

Credits for gas from dairy cow manure that is used to fuel a vehicle in California are trading for about $68 per dekatherm in that state, according to data compiled by Peter Weisberg, the Portland, Ore.-based director of product development at 3Degrees, a con-

sultancy that helps businesses use renewable energy.

Every operation is different, but the Fair Oaks dairy in northwest Indiana can produce 221,000 dekatherms of pipeline-ready gas each year from the manure of 10,500 cows, according to a 2017 study from Argonne National Laboratory.

Production costs for dairy digester biogas range roughly from $15 to $30 per dekatherm, Weisberg said.

That’s well above the spot market price for natural gas that comes from the ground, which has fluctuated between $2 and $4 per dekatherm this winter. But, Weisberg said, as long as the credit market for biogas in California doesn’t collapse from a shift in policy, biogas offers “a lot of additional return that you can get by investing in those projects.”

The opportunity, for now, makes the most sense for large dairies.

Tarah Heinzen, an attorney at Food & Water Watch, said her group and others signed a letter last year to Oregon regulators.

Scale matters The biogas operation Riverview is planning in western Minnesota will be larger than the Fair Oaks project.

AMP Americas, the firm that helped develop the projects in Indiana, will build pipelines connecting three Riverview dairies and an upgrade plant to clean the gas of impurities and carbon dioxide before it’s injected into an interstate pipeline.

Martin Gilkes, the company’s chief

Don’t toss that cup: McDonald’s and Starbucks are developing reusables

by Emily Chasan

In the future, when you order a coffee at McDonald’s or Starbucks, it could be served in the same cup you used a few months earlier.

That’s the vision behind pilot programs this week that will introduce two types of “smart” reusable Environment cups in independent coffee shops in San Francisco and Palo Alto, California. The models, made mostly from plastic and outfitted with RFID chips or QR codes for tracking, are the fruit of a two-year “moon shot” project known as the NextGen Cup Challenge, which was led by Starbucks Corp. and McDonald’s Corp.

Those two chains alone blow through billions of paper cups a year, and most are coated with a plastic lining that makes them almost impossible to recycle. Eliminating that waste would go a long way toward meeting environmental goals set by each company. The NextGen group also intends to try some new compostable and recyclable single-use cups in Oakland.

The key to leaving a lighter footprint on the planet may not be choosing the perfect material, because there are downsides to any disposable cup, whether paper, aluminum or plastic. Instead, NextGen’s big idea is to make cups durable and create a system in which they would be reused.

That means collecting, cleaning, redistributing and digitally tracking them — a process that could keep tabs on rates of reuse and attrition. It could theoretically identify areas where people are buying drinks but not returning cups, perhaps indicating a need for more collection sites nearby.

“This technology for tech-enabled reusable cups didn’t exist five years ago,” said Bridget Croke, managing director at Closed Loop Partners, a recycling-focused private equity firm that coordinated the challenge.

The pilot programs starting at independent coffee shops in California this week are a test for the public as well as for the new cups: Will consumers choose to drop cups at certain collection sites instead of in trash cans?

Two small startups will use this trial to scale up their logistics and get a sense of what it would be like to run a reusable cup system globally.

The model on trial in San Francisco, from the startup Muuse, is printed with a distinct QR code on each cup, which consumers can scan when they pick up and drop off cups. Muuse has been used on college campuses.

The model from a startup called CupClub, which will debut in Palo Alto, was designed by London-based architect Safia Qureshi in 2015. The cups are meant to be easily stacked at bright-yellow dropoff points, scattered throughout the city.

Then they will be piled into vans and sent for cleaning. Embedded with RFID tags, the cups can be scanned as they pass near certain points, like the coffee shop counter or a collection site. The startup has been selling the system to corporate offices and says reusing its cups can reduce landfill waste by as much as 40%.

Qureshi said people didn’t like the experience of drinking out of reusable metal cups, so the company settled on recyclable white plastic. “Consumers need a product that isn’t going to be so much of a step change,” she said.

©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

operating officer, said the project should go online in the third quarter of 2020. It’s projected to produce 365,000 dekatherms of gas per year.

“Riverview will be our largest project to date and will be a material increase in the size of our portfolio,” Gilkes said. “This is a big deal, and we’re pretty excited about partnering with this farmer.”

Brad Fehr, one of Riverview’s founders, said he doesn’t want to say much until it is up and running.

“We’re cautiously optimistic, but today there’s nothing to see,” he said. “We are excited about the industry and we’re curious about where it’s going to lead.”

There’s reason for caution. Riverview has digesters that were used to produce electricity to sell into the grid, but they sit idle now and will stay that way until the AMP Americas project is complete. And several digesters have been built in Minnesota over the past 20 years that don’t generate much, if any, financial return.

But the end market for Riverview’s project — low-carbon credits in states with low-carbon fuel standards — is new, and farmers are taking notice.

Haubenschild, who runs the 750-cow dairy near Princeton, said for now he can produce only enough biomethane to heat his digester through the year.

Figuring out how to keep the digester warm while producing enough gas to sell as renewable fuel will be a challenge, he said, as will purifying the gas to qualify for carbon credits. “We’re just investigating all that right now,” he said. ©2020 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

13

Buffett extols value of stock bets in a year without big deals

by Katherine Chiglinsky

Warren Buffett sought to justify the importance of his $248 billion stock portfolio, saying the investments are more than just “dalliances” with Investing the companies he takes stakes in.

The billionaire investor spent a portion of his annual shareholder letter, released recently, detailing how an accounting difference between his stock picks and his outright business takeovers creates a “standout omission” in Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s financial results. The conglomerate’s equity investments will produce capital gains that are at least equal to Berkshire’s share of the individual companies’ retained earnings, Buffett argued.

“Overall, the retained earnings of our investees are certain to be of major importance in the growth of Berkshire’s value,” Buffett said in the letter. For its equity investments, “only the dividends that Berkshire receives are recorded in the operating earnings we report. The retained earnings? They’re working hard and creating much added value, but not in a way that deposits those gains directly into Berkshire’s reported earnings.”

The value of Buffett’s equity portfolio last year increased about 44%, helped by the best year for Apple Inc. stock since 2009 and gains on holdings such as Bank of America Corp. and Coca-Cola Co. His own Berkshire shares didn’t fare quite as well, posting their worst annual underperformance relative to the S&P 500 Index in a decade.

Buffett has been hunting for ways to deploy his $128 billion cash pile to generate higher returns, but has struggled to find a massive deal amid “sky-high” prices. He ended up taking another path in 2019, spending a total of $5 billion on repurchases and being an overall net buyer of the stocks of other companies.

Berkshires stock investments shouldn’t be seen as “dalliances to be terminated because of downgrades by ‘the Street,’ an earnings ‘miss,’ expected Federal Reserve actions, possible political developments, forecasts by economists or whatever else might be the subject du jour,” Buffett said in the letter. The equity stakes represent “an assembly of companies that we partly own and that, on a weighted basis, are earning more than 20% on the net tangible equity capital required to run their businesses.”

Here are five other takeaways from Buffett’s annual letter and Berkshire’s fourth-quarter earnings report: 1. Berkshire Gives Preview of Life After Buffett Buffett waited until the very last page of his annual letter to reveal a big change: Investors will be hearing more from top lieutenants Ajit Jain and Greg Abel. The pair, seen as the top contenders to eventually replace Berkshire’s 89-year-old CEO, have often remained behind the scenes, tending to Buffett’s vast collection of businesses. But a quirk of last year’s annual Berkshire meeting, during which Jain and Abel both answered some shareholder questions, will become more formalized at the 2020 event.

Buffett said in the letter that he had received suggestions that Jain and Abel “be given more exposure at the meeting.

That change makes great sense.” He gave no further clues about his eventual replacement, and no indication that he or Charlie Munger, his 96-year-old business partner, would step away any time soon.

Jain and Abel are “the clear-cut front-runners,” said Matthew Palazola, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

2. Buffett Spends Record $2.2 Billion on Buybacks The Oracle of Omaha kicked his stock-buyback program into high gear, spending $2.2 billion on repurchases in the last three months of 2019, the most ever in a single quarter — and said he’s looking to buy even more.

Berkshire, which loosened its repurchase policy almost two years ago after being stymied on the dealmaking front, has since taken a cautious approach to buybacks, acquiring only $6.3 billion of stock. Even with the increase in repurchases, Berkshire’s pile of cash hovered close to a record.

The repurchases should make it easier for Buffett’s eventual successor to make additional buybacks, according to Tom Russo, who oversees more than $10 billion, including Berkshire shares, at Gardner Russo & Gardner LLC. “I wanted them to have no uncertainty, for whoever succeeds both Charlie and Warren, that the share buyback is a perfectly legitimate and highly valued tool to deliver growth in intrinsic value on a per-share basis,” Russo said.

Coronavirus doesn’t change this Fed president’s upbeat outlook for the US economy

by Erin Arvedlund

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland president Loretta Mester said the coronavirus poses a risk to the global economy, but that hasn’t changed her Economy forecast for continued growth of about 2% in the U.S. this year.

“I’m thinking about it as a risk,” Mester said at a Forum of Executive Women event in Philadelphia recently. The SARS epidemic “in 2003 is what economists are looking at” as a map for impact, but China today boasts a much bigger economy than during the last epidemic.

“The Chinese economy in the first quarter will see a drop,” Mester said. “It will have some dampening effect on the global economy,” but the full magnitude is unclear, she said. “We’re assessing what the impact could be on the U.S. economy,” but “I haven’t marked down my forecast because of it.”

Also, she maintained, the Fed doesn’t pay attention to Twitter, the favored medium of current President Donald Trump.

“We are not a partisan group at all. We really pride ourselves” on remaining above politics and not conceding to pressure from politicians, Mester said.

On inflation, “we’re running a little below 2% in terms of PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) inflation rate,” Mester said. “It won’t be sustainably at 2% until a year” or longer.

“It’s a slow move up, it’s not going to

be imminent.”

If investors buy a 10-year German bond today for $10,000 and wait 10 years, they’ll get back slightly less than $10,000 — a phenomenon known as negative interest rates.

Could that happen in the U.S.? Currently, short-term interest rates set by the Fed total about 1.5%.

“The European economies are in different places,” Mester said. “They’re weaker than the U.S. That said, there has been a worldwide decline in the level of interest rates. Demographics suggest people are more risk averse.”

During the financial crisis, “we did not bring our interest rate to negative numbers.”

The Fed opted to buy Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities instead during the 2008 recession.

“That had some positive impact. Also, we made forward guidance, and told people interest rates are low now, and we intend to keep them low,” she said.

Mester has longtime Philadelphia ties: She worked as research director at the Philadelphia Fed from 2000 to 2014, when she became president of the Cleveland Fed. She is an adjunct professor at Wharton.

Philadelphia is the sixth largest city in the country, but the third-worst city for income inequality behind Atlanta and New Orleans, noted Lara Rhame, chief economist at FS Investments, who interviewed Mester at the event.

“We’re trying to bring together parties who can do public-private partnerships.

One thing that’s loud and clear, it’s all great to have jobs, but there’s a lot of challenges,” Mester said. “Simple things like transportation and health care. Some people have to take off work because they can’t afford child care. There are pockets of things that are barriers to entering the workforce.”

“Labor is very strong. Wages are going up, and prices aren’t going up. Those labor market pieces are very similar across the country.”

At the Cleveland Fed, “we’re focusing on” bringing more women into economics, particularly at the central bank upper levels. “The American Economic Association has been championing more women” by increasing the pipeline of women coming out of undergraduate economics programs and retaining them in doctoral programs.

“If you have more diversity in house, you get better results” in profitability and share price, Mester said.

“There are lots of traditional organizations that are doing incredible work, whether banks or corporations. We have a retention piece; we’re good at hiring, but then we can’t retain. So the team has a monetary incentive. That shows we’re serious” about hiring diverse candidates.

Women in college are more deterred by low grades in introductory courses than men are, she noted. ©2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

3. Berkshire’s Earnings Hurt by Insurance Losses Berkshire’s operating earnings fell to $4.42 billion in the fourth quarter, down 23% from a year earlier, driven by underwriting losses at its namesake reinsurance group, which was hurt by typhoons in Japan, wildfires in California and Australia, and widening losses at its business writing retroactive reinsurance contracts.

Buffett’s company did better with its BNSF railroad, which posted a 3.8% gain in profit, just shy of record earnings in the previous three months, as a decline in expenses helped counter falling revenue across shipments of products such as coal, consumer items and agricultural goods.

A bigger problem for the conglomerate is Kraft Heinz Co., which counts Berkshire as its largest shareholder and had a tumultuous 2019, with writedowns, management shakeups and downgrades to junk. Berkshire carries its Kraft Heinz investment on its balance sheet at $13.8 billion, a figure unchanged since 2018’s fourth quarter, even as the market price of the stake dropped to $10.5 billion at the end of last year.

4. Buffett Chides CEOs for Wanting Cocker Spaniels Buffett often uses his annual letter to talk not just about Berkshire, but also the wider corporate environment. This year, Buffett, who’s served as a director at 21 publicly traded firms over the years, used a portion of his missive to complain that too many companies seek board members who won’t challenge a CEO’s decisions.

“When seeking directors, CEOs don’t look for pit bulls,” Buffett said in the letter. “It’s the cocker spaniel that gets taken home.”

Buffett’s discussion of corporate-governance issues also touched on board diversity. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which counts Berkshire as an investor, said last month that it won’t take a company public unless there’s at least one board member who’s not a white male. Adding female directors “remains a work in progress,” Buffett said in this year’s letter. At his company, three of the board’s 16 members are women.

5. Buffett Avoids U.S. Politics in Letter to Investors Buffett stayed out of the political fray in this year’s letter. He didn’t mention the words “election,” “Trump,” or any Democrat running for president.

The billionaire has trod carefully over the years as the U.S. has become more politically polarized. His 2019 letter focused on overall prosperity in the U.S., saying that America’s success over the decades has been achieved in a bipartisan manner.

Buffett has been known to campaign for candidates, including Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

He’s said more recently, though, that he prefers not to use his position at Berkshire to promote his political views — or to impose his political opinions on Berkshire’s business activities. ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

14

• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • 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).

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Payment options are cash or check.

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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.

AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), KHALIA BRADLEY You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 11/12/2019 on Case Number CI19-25571, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $3,225.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 4/06/2020 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RISING STARS SPORTS GROUP, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Rising Stars Sports Group, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 6611 Corby Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68104. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 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 XCANCERAIR, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that XCancerAir, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 17607 Gold Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. 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 January 16, 2020.

First publication January 24, 2020, final February 7, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CRUSE CONTROL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, LLC Designated Office: 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 Initial Agent/Address For Service: Allan M. Ziebarth/1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: TYLER BOVERHUIS You are hereby notified that on 09/06/19, the Plaintiff Credit Management Services, Inc., filed a Complaint in the COUNTY Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska, against you shown as Case Number CI19 19876. The object and prayer of which is a judgment in the amount of 333.04, plus court costs, pre-judgment interest and attorney fees, if applicable.

The Complaint prays that judgment be entered against you. You are hereby notified that you must answer the Complaint on or before 03/29/20 at the COUNTY court of DOUGLAS County, OMAHA Nebraska.

Edwina Heise #25377 P.O. Box 1512 Grand Island, NE 68802 (308)398-3801 Attorney for Plaintiff First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Soley Medical, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 7914 W Dodge rd, Ste 438 Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The Registered Agent of the Company is Sena Sekpe, at 7914 W Dodge Rd, Ste 438 Omaha, Nebraska 68116.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020

MARTIN P. PELSTER, Attorney C R O K E R , H U C K , K A S H E R , D E W I T T, A N D E R S O N & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 S. 72ND STREET, SUITE 1200 OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 16869 AUDREY STREET, LLC The name of the limited liability company is 16869 Audrey Street, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 15907 Josephine Street, Omaha, NE 68136. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Martin P. Pelster, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF WOLF FAMILY REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Wolf Family Real Estate Holdings, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 12930 Izard St., Omaha, NE 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 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 FOUNDATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND I GP, LLC The name of the Company is Foundation for Affordable Housing Fund I GP, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 900 South 74th Plaza, Suite 301, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Mark Hiatt, 900 South 74th Plaza, Suite 301, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. This limited liability company commenced business on February 14, 2020.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that 463 PROPERTIES, 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 initial registered agent is John S. Kampfe, and the registered agent’s address is 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 February 6, 2020, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 WAYNE S. RASMUSSEN, Attorney SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF VT MANAGEMENT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 14, 2020, VT Management, LLC was organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, with a designated office at 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. the Company’s initial agent for service of process is Wayne S. Rasmussen, 8712 West Dodge Rd., Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF HNK LEGACY INVESTMENTS, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is HNK Legacy Investments, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 13101 N. 190th Cir., Bennington, NE, 68007.

The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on February 14th, 2020 and shall perpetual duration.

The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF VAN NOY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that VAN NOY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1840 Timber Ridge Rd., Lincoln, Nebraska, 68522. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Jacob Van Noy, 1840 Timber Ridge Rd., Lincoln, Nebraska 68522. The limited liability company commenced business on November 26, 2019.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of Platte Investments, LLC has been amended to change the name of the limited liability company to Platte Group, LLC. First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 N O T I C E O F T H E O R G A N I Z AT I O N O F P E A R S O N ENTERTAINMENT, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Pearson Entertainment, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 19006 Ohio St., Elkhorn, NE 68002. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on February 10th, 2020 and shall perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is ANDERSON MOBILE THERAPY, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 7834 North 153rd Street, Bennington, NE 68007.

3. The Registered Agent and office of the limited liability company is Laura L. Anderson at 7834 North 153rd Street, Bennington, NE 68007.

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

5. The company commenced its existence on January 16, 2020, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual.

6. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members in accordance with the company’s operating agreement.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that MJG Enterprises, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 8020 N. 173rd Street, Bennington, Nebraska 68007.

The registered agent of the Company is Thomas E. Whitmore, 7602 Pacific Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was formed on February 12, 2020.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF CONVERSION OF PERLEBACH INVESTMENTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION OF PERLEBACH INVESTMENTS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Perlebach Investments Limited Partnership has been converted into Perlebach Investments, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office of the company is 516 South 96th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Office of the company is 516 South 96th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 and the Registered Agent at such address is George J. Perlebach. The conversion of the limited partnership into the limited liability company was accomplished by the filing of Articles of Conversion and Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 13, 2020.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF MAO CONSULTING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MAO CONSULTING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 3301 North 209th Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent is MATT J. KADE. The general nature of the business is to operate a general consulting 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 consulting 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 December 23, 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, 3 018 South 87th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF ADDMAR, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Addmar, LLC has filed with the Secretary of State a Statement of Dissolution effective December 31, 2019.

George N. Hatjinos, 14571 Grover Street, Omaha, NE 68144 as a Member of the LLC has been appointed by the members to wind up the affairs of the limited liability company and distribute the remaining assets after payment of liabilities, if any, to the members in accordance with their membership interest in the limited liability company. Any persons or entities must file a claim against the LLC by giving notice of same to George N. Hatjinos, 14571 Grover Street, Omaha, NE 68144 within five (5) years from the last published date of this Notice of Dissolution.

Addmar, LLC By: George N. Hatjinos, Member First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 MYRON J. KAPLAN, Attorney McGILL, GOTSDINER, WORKMAN & LEPP, P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 11404 West Dodge Road, Suite 500, First National Plaza Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2584 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF PLB, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that PLB, Inc., a Nebraska nonprofit corporation, has filed an Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation effective as of February 19, 2020, revoking Article V and substituting the following provision in its place: "ARTICLE V. The purpose or purposes for which the Corporation is organized are to foster national and international amateur sports competition in the sport of baseball, as a qualified amateur sports organization as defined

by Section 501(j)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and for educational and charitable purposes for youth by fostering, developing and approving competitive youth baseball programs, by educating the youth in a competitive environment through team activities without discrimination as to race, sex, color and religion; and to receive or maintain funds by gifts, donations, bequests, or otherwise, and to expend said funds and income therefrom exclusively for such purposes, all as may be designated by the Board of Directors to carry out the purposes of the Corporation."

Alex McCoy, President First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 CHARLES E. DORWART, Attorney MASSIH LAW, LLC 226 N. 114th Street Omaha, NE 68154 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-204 Estate of Rose Cwirko, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on February 13th, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of said Decedent and that Albert J. Cwirko, Jr., 4607 Margo Street, Omaha, NE 68157 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 April 21, 2020 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 SCHMIT LAW FIRM, LLC 1243 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 7 Papillion, Nebraska 68046 CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF VICTORY LANE CONSULTING, LLC THE UNDERSIGNED, desiring to form a limited liability company for the purpose hereinafter set forth, under and in conformity with the laws of the State of Nebraska, under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 21-101, et seq., being duly authorized to execute this Certificate of Organization, does hereby make this written certificate and hereby verify: 1. Name: The name of the limited liability company is “VICTORY LANE CONSULTING, LLC” (the “Company”).

2. Initial Designated Office: The address of the initial designated office and principal place of business of the Company is 14456 Burdette, Omaha, Nebraska 68116.

3. Initial Registered Agent: The name and address of the Company’s initial registered agent for service of process in Nebraska is Angela Schmit, SCHMIT LAW FIRM, LLC, 1246 Golden Gate Dr., Ste. 3, Papillion, NE 68046.

4. Purpose: The Company is organized for the purpose of engaging in any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, including but not limited to, health, life and business education, coaching and consulting.

5. Internal Affairs: The Operating Agreement may contain additional provisions concerning the member(s), obligations, management and operations of the Company which are not inconsistent with this Certificate of Organization.

6. Effective Date of Filing: This Certificate of Organization is executed by the undersigned and effective this 16th day of January 2020.

By: Angela Forss Schmit, Organizer First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020

BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CORDES PARTNERS, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Cordes Partners, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is Cordes Partners, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10250 Regency Cr. Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DEEZY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Deezy, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, designating its registered agent as Dale T. Eesley with its registered office at 614 S. 123rd Street, Omaha, NE 68154.

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

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MUSTARD SEED SOLAR, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Mustard Seed Solar, 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 6030 South 50th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68117 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 February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SECOND STORY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Second Story, 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 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 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 February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 STEVEN G. RANUM, Attorney C R O K E R , H U C K , K A S H E R , D E W I T T, A N D E R S O N & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 S. 72ND STREET, SUITE 1200 OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ADAPTIVE ADVICE, LLC The name of the limited liability company is Adaptive Advice, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 8420 West Dodge Road, Suite 110, Omaha, NE 68114. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Steven G. Ranum, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 RICHARD A. DEWITT, Attorney CROKER, HUCK, KASHER, DeWITT, ANDERSON & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, NE 68124 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF HOLY NAME MEN’S CLUB Holy Name Men’s Club (herein “the Corporation) amended Article IV of its Articles of Incorporation to provide additional purposes for which the Corporation was organized; said amendment to be effective November 27, 2019.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), SARA L GARCIA & CESAR F DIAZ GARCIA You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 11/07/2019 on Case Number CI19-25285, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $948.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 04/06/2020 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020

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

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 11451 S. 123rd Avenue, Papillion, Nebraska 68046. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OUTSWING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OutSwing, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 2514 N. 165th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ROY HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Roy Holdings, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 8661 S. 168th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68136. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MMS OMAHA 518, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MMS Omaha 518, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 8661 S. 168th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68136. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF EM&CO, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Em&Co, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 1407 N. Pennsylvania Ave., York, NE 68467. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on February 4th, 2020 and shall perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF ELITE FIRE DESIGN, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Elite Fire Design, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 5641 South 85th Circle, Omaha, NE 68127. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on February 5th, 2020 and shall perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PHILLIPS TILE & STONE LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Phillips Tile & Stone LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 4924 South 128th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The Registered Agent of the Company is Trevor Phillips, 4924 South 128th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68137.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF REBECCA MAX, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Rebecca Max, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 12452 Caspian Dr, Papillion, Nebraska 68046.

Its affairs are to be conducted by the owner Rebecca Max. Its registered agent is Rebecca Max and her office is located at 12452 Caspian Dr, Papillion, NE 68046.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020

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• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF HEARING In the District Court of Sherburne County, Minnesota. 71-FA-19-585 Case Type: Adoption In Re: the Petition of Jesse Aaron Hibbard and Jessica Marie Hibbard to Adopt Javelle McBride Hibbard, Jesiah Lonzelle Aaron McBride Hibbard To Adopt: Javelle McBride Hibbard Jesiah Lonzelle Aaron McBride Hibbard PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on November 25, 2019 a Petition for Adoption of the above-named child(ren) was filed by the above-named Petitioner(s) with the above named court. A copy of the Petition is attached.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT A FINAL ADOPTION HEARING regarding the Adoption Pettion and whether the adoption is in the best interests of the child(ren) will take place in court at the following date, time, and place.

Setting: March 27, 2020, Adoption Hearing, 8:00 AM at the following location: District Court Judge Walter Kaminsky Sherburne County District Court, Court Room 4 13880 Business Center Drive, Suite 100, Elk River MN 55330-1692, (p) 763-765-4600 YOU ARE EXPECTED TO APPEAR at the above time and place fully prepared to discuss the content of the adoption peptition and whether the adoption is in the best interest of the child(ren). The child(ren) to be adopted must be present at the hearing unless otherwise excused by the court.

You must immediately notify the Court Administrator if your address changes.

YOU HAVE BEEN SERVED WITH THIS NOTICE OF HEARING because, pursuant to statue or court rule: • You are a party to this proceeding or an attorney for a party; or • You are a person whose presence the court believes is important to a determination concering the best interests of the child(ren) who is/are the subjecct of the Adoption Petition.

IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR AT THE HEARING: • The court may conduct the hearing without you; and • The court may take testimony from others present at the hearing; and • The court may find that the factual allegations and statutory grounds set forth in the Petition have been proved; and • The courty may enter an order granting the petition for adoption of the child(ren), A STATEMENT OF YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IS ATTACHED, including the opportunity become a party (ask the ourt Admimstrator for the forms about how to intervene).

To receive an eReminder for future court dates via e-mail or text, visit www.mncourts.gov/Hearing-eREminders.aspx You are a party to this adoption proceeding pursuant to Rule 20.01 of the rules of Adoption Procedure if you are one of the following: • the child's guardian ad litem • the adoptee if age ten (10) or older • the child's legal custodian • the child's legal guardian • the petitioner • the adopting parent, in cases where the social services agency is the petitioner • the child's Indian tribe, if the child is an Indian child and the tribe is or was a party in an underlying juvenile protection matter as defined in Minn. R. Juv. Prot. P. 2.01(18) • the responsible social services agency, if the child is under the guardianship of the Commissioner of Human Services • the child placing agency if applicable • any person who intervenes as a party pursuant to Rule 21 • any person who is joined as a party pursuant to Rule 22 Your Rights as a party are as follows: To receive a copy of the Petition regarding this Adoption matter To receive notice of all hearings (only if you keep the court administrator informed of your address) To attend all hearings, unless excluded by the Court.

To conduct discovery and receive copies of your social services file and other records.

To bring motions before the court.

To participate in settlement discussions and agreements.

To subpeona witnesses to tesify on your behalf.

To present evidence.

To make argument in support of or against the petition.

To ask the court to order that witnesses be sequestered.

To examine and cross-examine witnesses.

To request review of the referee's findings and order, if your case is heard by a referee.

To bring post-trial motions and to appeal from final orders of the court.

To be represented by an attorney if you meet one of the qualitfication in Rule 23.

Automatic Right to Become a Perty You have a right to automatically become a party to the case if you are: (1) a child under age 10 who is the subject of the adoption; (2) the child's Indian tribe; or (3) the local social services agency. All other persons may ask the Court's permission to become a party. Ask the court Administrator for the correct form to intervene as a party. Parents whose rights have been terminated or who have executed a valid consent to adopt do not have the right to intervene.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS should be directed to your attorney or the judge. cc: SHERBURNE COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Virlee Rose McBride “via notice by publication” ELLEN MEAGHER MURPHY-FRITSCH First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020

BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MY REAL ESTATE, LLC Notice is hereby given that a professional limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is MY REAL ESTATE, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 20120 Chicago Street, Elkhorn, NE 68022.

Siok Yap, Member First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JJC REAL ESTATE, LLC Notice is hereby given that a professional limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is JJC REAL ESTATE, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128.

The designated office is located at 115 S. 32nd Street, Ashland, NE 68003.

Jacob Crnkovich, Member First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DITORO INVESTMENT TEAM, LLC Notice is hereby given that a professional limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is DITORO INVESTMENT TEAM, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 12502 Longshore Circle, Papillion, NE 68046.

Wendy Ditoro, Member First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 DAMILOLA J. OLUYOLE, Attorney YOLE LAW P.C., L.L.O. 10730 Pacific Street, Suite 247 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF YOLE INVESTMENTS, LLC Notice is hereby given that Yole Investments, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with its designated office at 10730 Pacific Street, Suite 247, Omaha, NE 68114. It is organized to transact any lawful business for which a Limited Liability Company may be organized under Nebraska laws and its duration is perpetual commencing from February 10, 2020. Its affairs are to be conducted by the manager Damilola J. Oluyole. Its registered agent is Damilola J. Oluyole and his office is located at 10730 Pacific Street, Suite 247, Omaha, NE 68114.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of On Your Time Cleaning, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is On Your Time Cleaning, LLC. Registered agent and office of On Your Time Cleaning, LLC is Alfredo P Garcia at 4819 N 31st Avenue, Omaha, NE 68111. The designated address is 4819 N 31st Avenue, Omaha, NE 68111. Initial members: Alfredo P Garcia and Celeste De Jesus Revolorio. 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 February 2020 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SJTJ, LLC Notice is hereby given that a limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is SJTJ, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 11102 Blondo Street, Suite 103, Omaha, NE 68164. The designated office is located at 12956 Jackson Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68116.

Joshua Bundren; Thomas C. Anstey, Inc.; James Mercer; and Sonya Stejskal, Members First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 MATTHEW T. PAYNE, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF FKLJ VENTURES, LLC Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, the Certificate of Organization of FKLJ VENTURES, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”) has been amended to change the name of the Company to KJ CROSSROADS VENTURE, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nebraska on February 12, 2020. In all other respects, the Certificate of Organization remains unchanged.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020

GNUSE & GREEN LAW OFFICES, P.C., Attorneys 11311 Chicago Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF TLC AT HOME, INC. Notice is hereby given of incorporation of TLC AT HOME, INC. under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The number of shares that the corporation is authorized to issue is up to 10,000 shares of voting common stock.

The name and address of the incorporator and the initial registered agent is Rodney G. Gnuse, 11311 Chicago Circle, Omaha, Nebraska, 68154.

The Corporation shall engage in any lawful business for which a corporation may be formed under the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. Perpetual existence commenced December 11, 2019, when articles were filed with the Secretary of State. Affairs are to be conducted by the Board of Directors and Officers authorized by the Bylaws and the Board.

Rodney G. Gnuse, Incorporator First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 BREASCH ACCOUNTING INC. 4879 S 132nd Avenue Omaha, NE 68137 CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF J.E. STEWART ENTERPRISES LLC A NEBRASKA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY 1. The name of the limited liability company is J.E. STEWART ENTERPRISES LLC 2. The period of duration for J.E. STEWART ENTERPRISES LLC is perpetual.

3. J.E. STEWART ENTERPRISES 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 J.E. STEWART ENTERPRISES LLC in Nebraska is 10524 Evans Plaza #720, Omaha, Nebraska 68134.

5. The name and address of the registered agent for J.E. STEWART ENTERPRISES LLC in Nebraska is Jesse Stewart, 10524 Evans Plaza #720, Omaha NE 68134.

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. Jesse Stewart, organizer(s) of J.E. STEWART ENTERPRISES LLC has signed the Foregoing Certificate of Organization effective this 23rd day of January, 2020.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, Attorneys 13330 California Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GOOSE ISLAND LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Goose Island Landowners Association, Inc. has been organized as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of Nebraska (the “Company”). The Company has designated its registered agent as CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, with registered office at 233 South 13th Street, Suite 1900, Lincoln, NE 68508. The Company was organized and commenced perpetual existence on February 7, 2020.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 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 CK WAITT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CK Waitt, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1125 South 103rd Street, suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on February 10, 2020.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 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 NABFAM BARN, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that NabFam Barn, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 8843 South 137th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68138. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Stephen W. Nabity, 8843 South 137th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68138.

The limited liability company commenced business on February 10, 2020.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF PAPIO VALLEY AUTO PARTS, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Articles of Incorporation of Papio Valley Auto Parts, Inc., a Nebraska corporation, have been amended and restated in their entirety and were duly filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on January 29, 2020. Included in the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation are amendments to the Registered Agent and Corporate Office of the Corporation and do not affect, exchange, reclassify or cancel any issued shares of the corporation.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES CHARLES E. DORWART, Attorney MASSIH LAW, LLC 226 N. 114th Street Omaha, NE 68154 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-179 Estate of Lawrence K. Spitler, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on February 7th, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Intestacy of said Decedent and that Carolyn Spitler of 2412 Hartman Avenue, Omaha, NE 68111 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 April 14, 2020 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: CASSANDRA L. BOX, 4223 N. 40th St, Omaha NE 68111, you are hereby notified that on January 13, 2020, Credit Acceptance Corp. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI20-717, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $5,657.91, 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 13th day of April, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 13, 2020 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is hereby given that EJ McMAHON CONSTRUCTION, INC. has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. Affairs will be conducted by the Corporations registered agent, Edward J. McMahon, who’s address and designated office is 3806 “V” Street Omaha, Nebraska 68107. The general nature of the company is to engage in any and all lawful business for which a corporation may be organized in the State of Nebraska and is authorized to issue 10,000 shares of common stock. The corporation’s duration is perpetual, commencing October 7, 2019. Incorporator is Sonia Becerra at 515 Post Oak Blvd. #300 Houston, TX 77027.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 WAYNE S. RASMUSSEN, Attorney SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ACE MANAGEMENT OF OMAHA, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on December 18, 2019, Ace Management of Omaha, LLC was organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, with a designated office at 8260 Hascall St., Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Company’s initial agent for service of process is Wayne S. Rasmussen, 8712 West Dodge Rd., Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF PACIFIC POINTE ESTATES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of Pacific Pointe Estates Homeowners Association (the “Association”) have been amended and restated in their entirety as follow: Article I states the name of the Association is Pacific Pointe Estates Homeowners Association.

Article II states that the Association is a mutual benefit corporation.

Article III states the principal office of the Association is 19454 Walnut Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.

Article IV states the Registered Office of the Association is 19454 Walnut Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, and the Registered Agent is Carl Andersen.

Article V states the purpose and powers of the Association.

Article VI states the provisions relating to membership of the Association.

Article VII states the provisions relating to dissolution.

Article VIII states the provisions relating to duration.

Article IX states the provisions relating to amendments.

The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 4, 2020.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 HOWARD KASLOW, Attorney ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 609 LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is 8712 W. Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Howard J. Kaslow, 8712 W. Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 PHILLIP A. BELIN, Attorney BELIN LAW FIRM, P.C., L.L.O. 12341 Westover Road Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is hereby given that TAP Church, Inc. has been organized as a non-profit corporation in the state of Nebraska. The address of the registered office of the corporation is 1305 South 95th Street, Omaha, NE 68124. The agent at such office is Jonathan C. Cook. The corporation is a religious corporation. The Company commenced on December 10, 2019, and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company are to be conducted by its board of directors.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: ERICK J. MURRAY, JR, 11131 Cottonwood Plz Apt R6, Omaha NE 68164, you are hereby notified that on November 11, 2019, American Family Mutual Ins. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-24957, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $46,042.78, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 6th day of April, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication February 14, 2020, final March 6, 2020

CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF HANK’S CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Hank’s Construction Services, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 25705 Blondo St., Waterloo, NE 68069. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on February 24, 2020 and shall perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020

MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OTT STRATEGIC PARTNERS, LLC Notice is hereby given that OTT STRATEGIC PARTNERS, 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 111 Admiral Drive, Blair, NE 68008. 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 February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020

RINGENBERG & RATTNER LAW 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 204 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF RINGENBERG & RATTNER LAW, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the Certificate of Organization of Ringenberg & Rattner Law, LLC, a Nebraska professional limited liability company, has been amended to change the Designated Office address and the Registered Agent’s address to 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 204, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 25, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020

MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CALL THE NIGHT NURSE LLC Notice is hereby given that CALL THE NIGHT NURSE 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 16607 Holmes Street, Omaha, NE 68135. 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 February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020

17

Daniel C. Pauley, Attorney LAMSON DUGAN & MURRAY LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF OLAF PROPERTIES, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Olaf Properties, LLC. The designated office address shall be 7914 West Dodge Road Unit 301, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business.

The company commenced existence on December 12, 2019 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Corporate Name: The Carol A. Drake and Robert N. Troia Charitable Foundation Type of Corporation: Public Benefit Registered Agent: Erickson & Sederstrom P.C. a limited liability organization Registered Office: 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 Members: Corporation will not have Members Incorporator: Daniel I. Dittman, 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RMDX, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that RMDX, 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 4910 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68132 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 February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FEVR, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that FEVR, 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 11272 Elm Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68144 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 February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LAUREN'S SHOWTIME POPCORN LLC Notice is hereby given that LAUREN'S SHOWTIME POPCORN 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 12100 W Center Rd., Ste. 112, Omaha, NE 68144. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118-3122.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF KJ TAX & ACCOUNTING, LLC Notice is hereby given that KJ Tax & Accounting, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with its designated office at of 3304 S 107th Ave, Omaha, NE 68124. It is organized to transact any lawful business for which a Limited Liability Company may be organized under Nebraska laws and its duration is perpetual commencing from January 6, 2020. Its affairs are to be conducted by the manager Kristianna M. Johnson. Its registered agent is Kristianna M. Johnson and her office is located at 3304 S 107th Ave, Omaha, NE 68124.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of Foundation for Affordable Housing Fund I GP, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended as follows: the limited liability company has changed its name to FAH Fund I GP, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 20, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020

18

• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION ZD Construction, Inc., whose registered agent is Zachariah Desormeaux and registered office is 3347 S. 126th Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68144, was formed on February 19, 2020 to engage in any lawful business. The corporation has authorized 10,000 shares of capital stock. The name and address of the incorporator is Chantelle R. Hope, 7602 Pacific St., Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

Chantelle R. Hope, Incorporator First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Dutta, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 3330 N. 104th Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. The registered agent of the Company is Satish Muktineni, 3962 S. 184th Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The Company was formed on February 21, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Inventive Control, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 9229 Redman Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. The registered agent of the Company is Thomas E. Whitmore, 7602 Pacific Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was formed on February 24, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 CHARLES E. DORWART, Attorney MASSIH LAW, LLC 226 N. 114th Street Omaha, NE 68154 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-10 Estate of Edward J. Kilton Deceased Notice is hereby given that on January 6th, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the testacy of said Decedent and that Theresa Mikkelson, of 5439 South 51st Avenue, Omaha, NE 68117 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 April 28, 2020 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Executive Wealth Strategies, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is 9802 Nicholas Street, Suite 375, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Thomas J. Malicki, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 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 TESTAROSSA TESTING, LLC The name of the Company is Testarossa Testing, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. This limited liability company commenced business on February 21, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 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 SCOTT ROAD PROPERTIES, LLC The name of the Company is Scott Road Properties, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. This limited liability company commenced business on February 21, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020

JACOB A. ACERS, Attorney SMITH, GARDNER, SLUSKY, LAZER, POHREN & ROGERS, LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SKAN PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 20, 2020, Skan Properties, LLC was organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, with a designated office at 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 The Company’s initial agent for service of process is Jacob A. Acers, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF BARNES TRUCKING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Barnes Trucking, LLC has filed with the Secretary of State a Statement of Dissolution effective December 31, 2019. Jeffrey Barnes, 19267 Ames Circle, Elkhorn, NE 68022 as President of the LLC has been appointed by the members to wind up the affairs of the limited liability company and distribute the remaining assets after payment of liabilities, if any, to the members in accordance with their membership interest in the limited liability company. Any persons or entities must file a claim against the LLC by giving notice of same to Jeffrey Barnes, 19267 Ames Circle, Elkhorn, NE 68022 within five (5) years from the last published date of this Notice of Dissolution.

By: Jeffrey Barnes, President First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of HDCD Construction, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is HDCD Construction, LLC . Registered agent and office of HDCD Construction, LLC is Jose Luis Lopez at 3415 Augusta Avenue, Omaha, NE 68144. The designated address is 3415 Augusta Avenue, Omaha, NE 68144. Initial members: Jose Luis Lopez. 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 February 2020 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Please Clap Entertainment, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 12, 2020, 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 Member. If you have a claim against Please Clap Entertainment, LLC, please provide the following information with respect to your claim: (1) your name or the name of your entity; (2) the nature of your claim; (3) the amount of your claim; and (4) the date your claim arose. All claims shall be mailed to 2003 Straightway Ave, Apt. 6, Nashville, Tennessee 37206. A claim against Please Clap Entertainment, LLC is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 RUSSELL S. DAUB, Attorney 2800 South 110th Court, Suite 1 Omaha, Nebraska 68144-4818 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is hereby given of the incorporation under the laws of the State of Nebraska of PROAG BANKWARE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. The corporation shall engage in any lawful business for which a corporation may be formed under the Nebraska Business Corporation Act. Authorized capital is $10,000.00, to be fully paid and nonassessable on issue. Perpetual existence commenced February 18, 2020, when Articles were filed with the Secretary of State. Affairs are to be conducted by the Board of Directors and officers authorized by the Bylaws and the Board. The street address of the corporation's initial registered office is 19927 Logan Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130-3718, and the name of the corporation's initial registered agent at that office is Raymond E. Garren. The name and street address of the incorporator is Raymond E. Garren, 19927 Logan Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130-3718.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 JACOB A. ACERS, Attorney SMITH, GARDNER, SLUSKY, LAZER, POHREN & ROGERS, LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF WINTERHOLD INVESTMENTS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 11, 2020, Winterhold Investments, LLC was organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, with a designated office at 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 The Company’s initial agent for service of process is Jacob A. Acers, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is WANNABEE’S VINTAGE, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 5036 Lake Street, Omaha, NE 68104.

3. The Registered Agent and office of the limited liability company is Colin Kastrick at 9859 South 168th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68136.

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

5. The company commenced its existence on October 21, 2019, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual.

6. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members in accordance with the company’s operating agreement.

Colin Kastrick First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is HERMAN APARTMENTS, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 105 West 5th Street, Herman, NE 68029.

3. The Registered Agent and office of the limited liability company is Jeannie Beck at 9291 De Soto Lane, Blair, NE 68008.

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

5. The company commenced its existence on October 7, 2019, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual.

6. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members in accordance with the company’s operating agreement.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is NEBRASKA STREET APARTMENTS, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 1229 Nebraska Street, Blair, NE 68008.

3. The Registered Agent and office of the limited liability company is Jeannie Beck at 9291 De Soto Lane, Blair, NE 68008.

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

5. The company commenced its existence on October 7, 2019, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual.

6. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members in accordance with the company’s operating agreement.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 JUDITH A. WELLS, Attorney 1603 Farnam Street Omaha, Nebraska 68102 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-234 Estate of ROBERTO D. HUBBARD, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on the 21st day of February, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of Will of said deceased and that, Carlos Hubbard, whose address is 3506 Meredith Circle, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 68111, has been formally appointed via Will as Personal Representative of the Estate of Roberto D. Hubbard, decendent named herein.

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 April 28, 2020 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: ProForums Name of Applicant: ReturnLogic, Inc. Address: 5702 Sea Turtle Place, Apollo Beach, FL 33572 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: 1/1/1999 General nature of business: operation of online communities MATTHEW D. MASER Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative February 28, 2020 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Alvarado's Flooring Name of Applicant: J. Jesus Alvarado-Vivar Address: 3065 S 72nd Ave. Omaha, NE 668124 Applicant is an Individual If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Date of first use of name in Nebraska: Up on filing General nature of business: Installation and Removal of Flooring JESUS ALVARADO Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative February 28, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES GNUSE & GREEN LAW OFFICES, P.C., Attorneys 11311 Chicago Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BEYOND GOLDEN PRODUCTS, L.L.C. A Nebraska Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given that Beyond Golden Products, L.L.C., a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 9691 Meadow Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of its business is to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the limited liability company’s initial registered office is 11311 Chicago Circle, Douglas County, Omaha, NE 68154 and the name of its’ initial registered agent at such address is Rodney G. Gnuse. The Certificate of Organization was filed in the office of the Nebraska Secretary of State on November 27, 2019. The Company commenced business thereon and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the Members.

Rodney G. Gnuse, Organizer First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 GNUSE & GREEN LAW OFFICES, P.C., Attorneys 11311 Chicago Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CIN-OMA PROPERTIES II, L.L.C. A Nebraska Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given that CIN-OMA Properties II, L.L.C., a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 11311 Chicago Circle, Omaha, NE 68154. The general nature of its business is to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the limited liability company’s initial registered office is 11311 Chicago Circle, Douglas County, Omaha, NE 68154 and the name of its’ initial registered agent at such address is Rodney G. Gnuse. The Certificate of Organization was filed in the office of the Nebraska Secretary of State on October 16, 2019. The Company commenced business thereon and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the Members.

Rodney G. Gnuse, Organizer First publication February 14, 2020, final February 28, 2020 DANIEL J. WATERS, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF BRM Farms, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is BRM Farms, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 10232 North 185th Circle, Bennington, NE 68007. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on January 10, 2020 and shall have perpetual duration.

The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF MEET THE NEED SIOUXLAND, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Meet The Need Siouxland, Inc. (the “Corporation”) has been incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Corporation is a public benefit corporation and shall have no members. Its initial registered agent and office is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

The incorporator is Thomas Langan, 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The corporate existence began on November 21, 2019 when the Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 RUSSELL S. DAUB, Attorney 2800 South 110th Court, Suite 1 Omaha, Nebraska 68144-4818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION FOR GARREN TECHNOLOGIES GLOBAL, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The name of the Company is GARREN TECHNOLOGIES GLOBAL, LLC. The address of the Initial Designated Office is 19927 Logan Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130-3718. The address of the registered office is 19927 Logan Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130-3718 and the name of the company’s initial registered agent is RAYMOND E. GARREN. The Company shall engage in any lawful business for which a Company may be formed under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act. The Company commenced business on January 13, 2020, and its duration shall be perpetual. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by its Members.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is PLAN WELL, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 9859 South 168th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68136.

3. The Registered Agent and office of the limited liability company is Andrew C. Sigerson, P.C., L.L.O. at 9859 South 168th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68136.

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

5. The company commenced its existence on October 22, 2019, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual.

6. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members in accordance with the company’s operating agreement.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BA REAL ESTATE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that BA Real Estate, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 4220 South 52nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68117. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF SWJKM, LLC Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Organization of SWJKM, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended to reflect its designated office as 6905 N. 97th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68122 and its registered agent as DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Articles of Organization have been restated in its entirety by way of an Amended and Restated Certificate of Organization. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 21, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 WALENTINE O'TOOLE, Attorneys 11240 Davenport Street P.O. Box 540125 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-0125 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION NEXT LIFE AKSARBEN, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has formed a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the corporation is NEXT LIFE AKSARBEN, INC. 2. The corporation shall have the authority to issue 10,000 shares of common stock.

3. The address of the initial registered office is 11240 Davenport Street, Omaha, NE 68154, and the initial registered agent at that office is Michael F. Kivett.

4. The name and address of the incorporator is Michael F. Kivett, 11240 Davenport Street, Omaha, NE 68154.

Michael F. Kivett, Incorporator First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020

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19

General Mills’ venture arm invests in company that delivers fresh-cooked meals for dogs

by Kristen Leigh Painter

The venture arm of General Mills is making its first outside investment in pet food and chose a startup that sends fresh-cooked meals directly to the homes of dog owners.

301 Inc., charged with finding the latest and greatest in food trends on behalf of General Mills, believes many pet owners are willing to pay a premium for a subscription meal-delivery service for their furry friends.

301 Inc. and DFE Capital Management are coleading a $9-million Series A funding round for Pet Plate, General Mills announced recently.

General Mills made a giant leap back into the pet food market two years ago by acquiring Blue Buffalo Pet Products for $8 billion. While Blue Buffalo is considered a higher-end dry dog food brand, a startup like Pet Plate captures a tier of pet parents willing to pay even more.

Trends New York-based Pet Plate appeared on ABC-TV’s “Shark Tank” several years ago, but the company was denied a deal. Instead, founder Renaldo Webb grew the business himself using the publicity received from his appearance on the show.

Since the “Shark Tank” episode aired in 2016, Pet Plate has prepared and sold more than 9.2 million meals for dogs — with names like Barkin’ Beef and Lip-Lickin’ Lamb — in 48 states and Washington, D.C. Pet Plate plans to use the funds to scale the business further and offer new meal options as well as supplements.

Pet Plate’s meals are formulated by the company’s resident veterinary nutritionist and then “kettle cooked” using human-grade food ingredients like ground turkey, butternut squash, quinoa, lamb liver, apples and broccoli. The subscription prices vary by breed, dog size, age and activity level.

For instance, feeding an active, but small, adult Labrador retriever would cost $119.26 per week, according to the company’s website.

“The pet food category is one of the largest food categories in the U.S., and it’s still growing,” John Haugen, managing director of 301 Inc., said in a statement.

He said pet owners are looking for the same quality meals for pets that they want for themselves. “Which is why we believe in the customer-centric approach that Pet Plate has taken,” Haugen said.

301 Inc. is using much of the same rationale for this investment as General Mills did when acquiring for Blue Buffalo.

The company cites data from Packaged Facts, which places the U.S. pet food market’s value at $30 billion and growing 2.6% per year. This is a faster growing market than the human food segment where General Mills usually plays. The biggest growth area in pet food is with so-called premium brands, which is expected to surpass traditional mass-marketed brands in sales by 2027.

Unlike acquisitions, General Mills uses these 301 Inc. investments as a way to test out new food trends to see if it’s something they want to formally bring into their portfolio.

To date, General Mills has not acquired any of the smaller brands it has invested in through 301. ©2020 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

SECTIONS

IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 6

AVIATION IN THE MIDLANDS

HIGHER EDUCATION

MARCH 13

CRE SUMMIT 2020

INVESTMENTS

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REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry urged support for two bills before the Business and Labor Committee.

The bills are designed to enhance workforce training and long-term, full-time employment for Nebraskans and statewide strategic economic development goals. LB813 would appropriate $4 million in general funding for Department of Labor apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. LB1160 would create a state longitudinal data system to track workforce outcomes, help guide students through coursework selection, provide information to educational institutions about developing workforce and training demands, help close educational attainment gaps, and help educational institutions and state leaders gauge return on investment of workforce readiness programs.

Apple Leisure Group Vacations inducted Celebrate Travel as a member of the 500 Club in 2020. This program, established over 30 years ago, recognizes travel agencies that are top supporters and producers of Funjet Vacations, Southwest Vacations, Blue Sky Tours and United Vacations. The 500 Club is a program based on relationships, recognition and rewards for travel agencies who have had outstanding sales and service achievements in the last year. 500 Club agencies have shown an expertise in working with these brands and the products offered to consumers to ensure an unforgettable vacation experience.

PETA selected the Top 10 Vegan Sweet Treats from restaurants and bakeries across the U.S. and the Pineapple Coconut Cream Pie from Modern Love earned a spot on the list. The award-winning dessert features a graham cracker crust filled with coconut mousse, pineapple topping, toasted coconut, and coconut whip with a cherry on top.

When Caprion Biosciences needed a trade show exhibit on a tight timeline to solve a scheduling problem, the company turned to Janet Denison and Vision Exhibits for a solution. The result was an award-winning exhibit that incorporated innovative graphics reflecting Caprion’s new branding — and that added another MarCom Award to Vision Exhibits’ growing list of honors.

With a new owner at the helm, Bare Body Shop, located in Rockbrook Village, is now offering the latest in skin care and treatments, including Platelet Rich Plasma facials in addition to its core hair removal, skin rejuvenation and skin care regimens.

Rachel Breitkreutz purchased the salon in Dec. 2019. Started in 2013, Bare Body Shop initially focused solely on laser hair removal.

Bare Body Shop currently has three nurse practitioners and two registered nurses on staff that serve clients.

The YMCA of Lincoln welcomed new board members and celebrated employees and corporate partners. Three new members joined the board of directors for 2020-21 including: Glen Moss, Jeff McPeak and David Shiffermiller. Board of directors officers for 2020 include: Curt Hartter, chair; Lori Druse, first vice chair; Bryan Sullivan, second vice chair; Kelly Wieseler, secretary; Chris Lindner, treasurer; Executive Committee at Large — Kent Endacott; Scott Wieskamp; Kaye Jesske; and Stacy Brass. It named Bison, Inc. as its 2019 Corporate Partner of the Year. Jenny Bane was named the YMCA’s part-time employee of the year. The 2019 YMCA of Lincoln volunteer of the year award went to Ted Eschliman.

Union Omaha announced the support of Bellevue University, Nebraska Medicine, Centris Federal Credit Union, Greenslate Management, Nike and CHI Health as six of twelve corporations to first join the club as corporate partners for its inaugural season.

These corporations were announced as the first to support the club through a variety of levels and sponsorships. The three entities leading the way include Bellevue University, Nebraska Medicine and Centris Federal Credit Union to form the inaugural members of the Founder’s Circle.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate – The Good Life Group has been named a Platinum Award winner by Cartus Broker Services for its performance during the past year. Platinum is the highest level of the Excellence Awards presented to principal brokers. Excellence Award recognition is based on performance results related to a wide variety of metrics including customer service, cost management, and effective analysis and marketing of homes.

Health care notes…

Dr. Leah M. Cook, assistant professor in Pathology & Microbiology of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine was honored as a recipient of a $792,000 American Cancer Society Scholar Grant. Cook’s research work focuses on prostate cancer with a special emphasis on prostate cancer that is metastatic to bone.

The new research funded by the American Cancer Society will attempt to: improve the killing of prostate cancer by PMNs; identify the mechanism that PMNs use to accomplish the killing of prostate cancer cells; and determine if PMNs can be used to prevent tumor bone remodeling.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center are looking for healthy children to participate in a non-invasive brain imaging research study of brain and cognitive development. The study goal is to identify healthy changes in the brain through childhood and teenage years. Understanding healthy brain development may help to identify abnormal brain changes in the future. The study is seeking children who: are between the ages of 6-8 or 11-13 years old; diagnosed with a psychiatric or neurological disorder; are medically healthy; are able to complete a series of mental tasks; and are willing to participate annually for five years.

Education notes…

The Certificate in Fundraising Management, beginning in March at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, provides in-depth training in vital areas of fundraising. The Spring 2020 schedule of classes are open for registration and features new topics and new instructors including Lisa Sock, nonprofit advocate, and John Levy, VP of the Scott Family Foundation. Topics include Effective Fundraising, Media for Fundraisers, Digital Communications, Corporate Giving, and Managing Up and Out. The classes are held from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. in the Weitz Community Engagement Center at UNO. The $279 registration includes materials, parking, and lunch. Register or get more information at cfm.unomaha.edu.

With the unanimous vote by the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, a bachelor’s degree in regional Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

21

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. and community forestry was approved for the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Students will be able to declare the major in fall 2020. Students in the program will learn to be leaders in tree management and planning in a way that addresses natural resources challenges, including the emerald ash borer and climate change, while also growing vibrant, livable communities. The program, developed by Eric North, an assistant professor of practice with the School of Natural Resources, offers specializations in urban forestry management and arboriculture.

Nebraska businesses and schools with an interest in the Developing Youth Talent Initiative grant program should take note of changes by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. DYTI has introduced more than 7,000 Nebraska middle school students in over two dozen school districts to manufacturing and information technology careers and concepts. Historically, DYTI grants have been awarded to for-profit firms, who partner with area middle schools to implement engaging, hands-on manufacturing and IT curriculum designed to inform and inspire youth career exploration in these high-wage, high-demand career fields. Changes can be found online.

College of Saint Mary has approved the construction of its new state-of-the-art $18 million athletic facility. The venue will feature a competition quality track, three basketball/volleyball courts, indoor batting tunnels, a golf simulator, new fitness areas and cardio equipment, modern locker rooms, meeting space, and more. The new addition also includes a Human Performance Lab that will enable faculty and students to engage in hands-on research. The expanded facilities will create a permanent home for the in-person portions of CSM’s new blended learning Doctorate of Physical Therapy program the College plans to launch in June of this year.

Activities of nonprofits…

United Way of the Midlands has been awarded a grant of $5,000 from Kum & Go. The grant will support UWM’s Book Trust initiative. Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is one of the most important predictors of high school graduation and MEETINGS AND SEMINARS Tuesday, March 3 Den Bishop, author of “The Voter’s Guide to Healthcare: A non-partisan, candid, and relevant look at politics and healthcare in America” will give a seminar on health care at the Embassy Suites – La Vista from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The seminar will include: U.S. health care ecosystem, The Affordable Care Act, price discrimination, payment reform, the pharmaceutical “border wall.” Reservations are avalible online.

A lunch seminar at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will discuss virtual exchange at noon. Virtual classroom projects represent a viable manner in which educators can provide local-global experiences for students. The seminar will feature Dipra Jha, who will share his experience as one of several faculty members across the university who have conducted courses with virtual classrooms, an exciting technological and pedagogical inroad into connecting students from around the world.

career success. To help more low-income children reach this important reading milestone, UWM supports the local Campaign for Grade Level Reading, known as Raise Me to Read. This campaign focuses on three key areas that impact grade-level reading: school readiness, school attendance and summer learning.

Veridian Credit Union has awarded $70,000 in grants to 15 organizations across Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Veridian awards Successful Financial Future Grants of up to $5,000 for general operating costs annually to nonprofit organizations who address barriers to financial stability through financial literacy and employment readiness. Omaha recipients include: Girls & Boys Club of the Midlands ($5,000), Heartland Family Service ($5,000) and Junior Achievement of the Midlands ($5,000).

Arts and events…

On March 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Buildertrend, Acton Academy Omaha will host fair participants for an inspirational workshop to help them be inspired, connected and equipped for their experience at the Omaha Children’s Business Fair coming up on March 29 at The Omaha Design Center. Local entrepreneurs will serve as encouragers and guides to offer business advice, product feedback and pitch practice, while seasoned participants will share stories of their experience as youth entrepreneurs to inspire newcomers.

The public is invited to participate in the 16th annual Meyer Foundation Walk and Roll for Disabilities on March 1 at 10:30 a.m. at the Oak View Mall in Omaha. The event is a fundraising drive for the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities, which supports recreation therapy programs for adults with developmental disabilities at the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This year, enter-

tainment will include the 501st Garrison, face painting by Dearheart the Clown and friends, a photo booth and visits from ROTC units and the drum team from Burke High School. Registration is online.

The Jewish Federation of Omaha is hosting Something Beautiful Happens …

When Community Comes Together on March 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Champions Club. The luncheon will bring together lessons of the Holocaust and how to find light in the darkest of times. Participants will meet the author of “Something Beautiful Happened” and her cousin and leave with real tools that allow them to confront issues of bias they may be facing and have the courage to fight hate. Registration and tickets are available online.

Nadia Paré, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of neurological sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will discuss how the brain creates and stores memories at the March 3 Omaha Science Café at 7 p.m. at the Slowdown. Paré will explore why some memories from youth are vivid while some from just a few months ago seem vague.

She also will explore how the brain triages memories and stores them; what the role of forgetting in healthy brain function looks like; and what we can do to keep memory cells healthy. This café is being held in partnership with The Bluebarn Theatre and its productions of “Wakey, Wakey” and “Marjorie Prime.”

Omaha’s Deliveron will host a special book launch with Audrey Crane, a design map partner and author of “What CEOs Need to Know About Design,” on March 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at KANEKO. Crane will highlight what managers, CEOs and others should know about design and how it can provide a powerful edge to fuel sales, customer satisfaction, and faster time

to market where today’s technology users are accustomed to the experience quality of Apple and Google.

Metropolitan Community College has been named a host site for the district National History Day 2020 competition.

Students from Douglas and Sarpy counties will conduct original research and present their findings through exhibits, live performances, documentaries, essays and websites. The event will be held March 6, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the South Omaha Campus. More than 300 students from area middle and high schools will be tasked with analyzing and interpreting original research pertaining to this year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers in History.”

For many, one unexpected financial setback can make the difference when it comes to being able to afford their utility payments. These families and individuals may have to choose between buying groceries or prescriptions, or keeping the lights and heat on in their homes. The Heat the Streets Run & Walk for Warmth, now in its 13th year, raises money for those struggling to pay their utility bills. Registration is open for the event, set for March 7. The race will start and finish at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village. The run starts at 9 a.m., followed immediately by the walk.

The Salvation Army is seeking nominations for the 2020 D.J.’s Hero Awards Scholarships. Select Nebraska high school seniors will be chosen to receive the award for overcoming adversity while demonstrating commitment to others and to their communities. Honorees will be selected by a panel of local civic leaders. Nominations are available online. Nominations must be received by March 9. Each honoree receives a $10,000 scholarship toward their selected college or university. This year, a minimum of 14 scholarships will be offered.

22

• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

In the Spotlight Paid Content

BUSINESS CONSULTING

BUSINESS CONSULTING

BUSINESS CONSULTING

BUSINESS CONSULTING

Appointed

Appointed

Appointed

Appointed

LaTricia Harris

Joshua Bruursema

Elizabeth Maynard

Bushra Dawood

Senior Manager Support Services

Staff Accountant - Audit Services

Staff Accountant - Tax and Accounting Services

Staff Accountant Audit Services

Hayes & Associates

Hayes & Associates

Hayes & Associates

Hayes & Associates

LaTricia Harris is in charge of the Omaha and Council Bluffs locations. She brings over two decades of management experience to Hayes & Associates with over 10 years in banking and 13 years of experience in the railroad/transportation industry working in a wide range of management roles.

LaTricia is an active member of Salem Baptist Church and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Joshua, MS, will be located at the Omaha location. He holds a Master of Science in Accounting with an emphasis in taxation. He has more than 10 years of experience as a tax professional and is a participant of the AFSP. Joshua trained to be a member of SeeD at Balamb Garden and is also a veteran of the United States Army.

Elizabeth will be at both the Omaha and Council Bluffs locations. Elizabeth holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Bellevue University, and is currently working to finish her MBA. Elizabeth enjoys the variety of clients that allows her to learn about different industries and situations.

She appreciates the care extended not only to the clients, but to the staff as well.

Bushra will be located at the Omaha location. Bushra holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and has great experience in performing audit fieldwork at various client locations throughout the metropolitan area including record verification, developing and completing audit program steps, and reading financial reports. He enjoys assisting our clients with the preparation of their federal and state income tax returns during the tax season.

BUSINESS CONSULTING

BUSINESS CONSULTING

BUSINESS CONSULTING

BUSINESS CONSULTING

Appointed

Appointed

Appointed

Appointed

Michael Beverly, Jr.

Michelle Gamble

Jennifer Doty

Jesse Tomair

Senior Manager – Audit Service

Staff Accountant – Audit Services

Senior Staff Accountant

Audit Paraprofessional – Audit Services

Hayes & Associates

Hayes & Associates

Hayes & Associates

Hayes & Associates

Jennifer will be in both the Omaha and Council Bluffs locations. Jennifer was an accountant with Hayes & Associates from 2012 to 2017 and has recently rejoined the Hayes’ team.

Before returning to Hayes, she worked as an Assistant Controller for a real estate development company. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Jesse will be located at the Omaha location.

Jesse graduated from Iowa Western Community College with his Associates Degree in ParaAccounting. Jesse worked in the retail business at SpartanNash Distributing as a manager for many years before joining the Hayes & Associates in December 2019.

He plans on returning to school to continue working towards earning his bachelor’s degree and acquiring his CPA licensing.

Michael, MBA, will be located at the Omaha location. Michael was born and raised in Omaha. He holds a bachelor’s degree, majoring in Finance, from Creighton University and went on to obtain a master’s in business administration with emphasis in Accounting from Bellevue University. His professional career extends over nine years within the banking industry where he held positions ranging from Risk Analyst, Assistant Controller, Controller and Internal Audit Manager.

Michelle will be located at the Omaha location. Michelle is originally from Bastrop, Louisiana.

She holds an accounting degree from Northeast Louisiana University.

Michelle is a wife and mother of two beautiful daughters. She noted, “I love numbers, I am hard working, a team player and have a very kind heart. I am a people person and I love my family.”

BUSINESS CONSULTING

BUSINESS CONSULTING

BUSINESS CONSULTING

INSURANCE

Promoted

Promoted

Promoted

Named

Austin Hanke

Marissa Lee

Bryan Broekemier

Jared Carlson

Senior Staff Accountant

Senior Staff Accountant – Tax and Accounting

Director of Audit and Attestation Services

Hayes & Associates

Hayes & Associates

Vice President, Individual Sales and Ventures

Hayes & Associates

Austin, CPA, will be located at the Omaha office. Austin gained hands on experience working with dozens of local and regional non-profit organizations. In addition, he serves as an outsourced controller for a local non-profit. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is licensed in the State of Nebraska as a Certified Public Accountant.

Marissa will be at both the Omaha and Council Bluffs locations. Marissa has been an accountant with Hayes & Associates since 2018. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics, as well as a certificate in Accounting. In the future, she plans to sit for the CPA exam and achieve various certificates. She is a part of the tax and accounting team.

Bryan previously worked with the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts. He has a Master of Professional Accountancy and is a Certified Public Accountant, and a Certified Fraud Examiner.

He serves as our firm liaison with BDO USA Alliance. He’s an active member in the BDO USA Alliance, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

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

Assurity

Assurity has named Jared Carlson vice president of Individual Sales and Ventures. A newly created role, he leads the company’s individual sales operations while overseeing Assurity Ventures Inc. (AVI), a business arm dedicated to building relationships with startups to harness new methods of interacting with customers. Carlson joined Assurity in 2017 and most recently served as director of AVI..

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

23

In the Spotlight Paid Content BUSINESS CONSULTING

FINANCIAL SERVICES

REAL ESTATE

HEALTH CARE

Joined

Achieved

Joined

Named

Scott Mingus

Scott Darrah

Josh White

Steve Rogers

Business Management Executive

Million Dollar Round Table Member

Vice President of Business Development

President, Shared Service Systems

Nabity Business Advisors

R. Scott Darrah

Metonic Real Estate Solutions

Methodist Health System

David Nabity, Founder of Nabity Business Advisors, welcomes business management executive Scott Mingus, as he joins the firm. Scott brings over 30 years of extensive corporate leadership experience with finance, enterprise project management and mergers and acquisitions. He has served in a variety of roles in companies such as GE and TD Ameritrade, as well as, small to mid-market, privately held companies in the healthcare, aviation management, and financial services segments. “These leadership roles provide him the unique ability to help business owners and their management teams identify key issues that are impacting performance and profitability,” said David Nabity. “Since he brings expertise in finance, operations, and corporate restructuring, Scott’s strategic visioning and problem-solving abilities will improve clients’ operational performance,” added Nabity. Mingus also serves on the JDRF Board of Directors for NE – Western IA. He is a graduate of University of Kearney and University of Pennsylvania-School of Wharton, Securities Industry Institute.

Business owners interested in scheduling a strategic review of their company’s growth strategy, operational and financial performance should contact Nabity Business Advisors at (402) 391-0222 or NBAoffice@ nabity.com.

R. Scott Darrah, a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Council Bluffs has achieved membership in the Million Dollar Round Table (MRDT), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. Darrah has achieved Million Dollar Round Table status for the 14th time. Darrah also achieved MRDT’s Top of the Table honors for the 6th time.

Darrah attained MDRT membership based, in part, on professional success, client service, adherence to a code of ethics, professionalism and involvement in at least one other industry association.

Attaining membership in MDRT is achieved by less than 1 percent of the world’s life insurance and financial services professionals. Each year, approximately 1,000 MDRT members qualify for the Top of the Table, representing the top 4 percent of the entire MDRT membership. As a Private Wealth Advisor, Darrah provide[s] financial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations and provided in one-onone relationships with his clients. For more information, please contact R. Scott Darrah at 712-256-4900 or visit the Ameriprise office at 120 S 6th Street Council Bluffs, IA 51501.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Metonic Real Estate Solutions is pleased to announce that Josh White will be joining its growing team as Vice President of Business Development. In his role, Josh will provide leadership to the Business Development Team at Metonic, including the fostering of investor relationships and further brand awareness. Metonic handles all aspects of the real estate investment process and executes strategic plans through the life cycle of each asset to produce the highest returns. Josh comes to Metonic after overseeing the growth and continued development of the Goosmann Law Firm within the Omaha market as the Executive Director. Previously, Josh spent over 16 years as a leader in college athletics, where he served as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for the University of Nebraska at Omaha and previously as Assistant Athletic Director at the University of NebraskaLincoln. While at UNO, Josh played an integral role in converting the university into a Division I athletic department and the construction and funding of the Baxter Arena. Josh received his Bachelor and Juris Doctorate Degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Steve Rogers, a veteran operations manager and director, has been named president of Shared Service Systems, a medical/surgical supplier for Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas. Rogers first served as chief operating officer with Shared in 2019 before being named president in January. He takes over the reins from Dave Koraleski, who has served in the role since 2008. Rogers will oversee the daily operations of the Methodist Health System affiliate that stocks more than 10,000 medical and surgical supplies from over 1,000 manufacturers. The main distribution center is in Omaha. A second distribution location is in Lincoln. Rogers was executive director of operations at Lester Electrical in Lincoln and served as production supervisor and value stream manager at Valmont Industries. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Bellevue University.

CONTRACTING

Promoted

Appointed

Alexandra Stewart Community Inclusion Coordinator Veridian Credit Union

Veridian Credit Union is pleased to announce the promotion of Alexandra Stewart to the position of community inclusion coordinator. Stewart, a resident of Omaha, Neb., has worked at Veridian for five years. She was previously Veridian’s branch manager in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Stewart has a bachelor’s degree in Family Services

and Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa. She is involved in the community as a board member for Centro Latino of Iowa and One Omaha.

Stewart is also the leadership committee chair with the local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Troy Gibler Senior Manager of Business Development The Weitz Company

Troy Gibler has accepted the role of Senior Manager of Business Development.

He will assume his position as a member of The Weitz Company’s regional leadership team after serving for over four years in a previous role. With over 23 years of industry sales and client management, Troy is uniquely positioned to provide continued client services for Weitz. His expertise and

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

connections will increase business opportunities and allow for further community service dedication.

24

• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands BusinessJournal

Higher Education

Aviation in the Midlands

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Higher Education in the Midlands overview • Online programs Workforce development • MBA and entrepreneurship programs Facility upgrades • Continuing education

Aviation in the Midlands overview • Career/education outlook Business travelers • Amenities/technology • Drones

Issue Date: March 6 • Ad Deadline: February 27

Issue Date: March 6 • Ad Deadline: February 27

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

The Midlands Business Journal is excited to be partnering with co-chairs Jerry Slusky and Alex Epstein of the CRE Summit to publish a special section about Greater Omaha’s largest commercial real estate event in our March 13 issue.

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Issue Date: March 13 • Ad Deadline: March 5

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Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

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

Weddings to be bolder, more intimate in 2020

by Gabby Christensen

A new wedding season calls for fresh trends, and local professionals say it’s going to be an exciting year for the industry.

Vernetta Kosalka, hospitality management instructor and banquet and services manager at Metropolitan Community College (MCC), said personality and individuality is a huge trend in 2020.

“Couples are choosing to celebrate more intimately and portray their lifestyle in their wedding details,” she said.

Micro weddings, which typically have about 50 guests or less, is a popular choice, as it’s an exclusive celebration that allows the option of sparing no expense.

According to Kosalka, couples are also forgoing the wedding cake and even the tradition of cutting the cake, instead opting for sweet and salty buffets.

Pops of color, new palettes, print mixing and statement hues that weddings haven’t seen before will be abundant for the season.

“We’re not just talking attire, couples are incorporating these bold colors into their décor choices,” she said. “The 2020 color trends are hues of mint green, cassis, mellow yellow and other jewel tones.”

MCC is now offering an Event and Wedding Planning noncredit certificate, giving entrepreneurs and professionals in the hospitality industry an opportunity to add credentials to their résumé.

The noncredit certificate offers specialized tracks in event planning, wedding planning and event design.

Students are required to take four core classes, followed by two electives that vary upon specialization.

“There are more than a dozen different courses available, including topics such as floral artistry, financial management, creative thinking, logistics, trends, marketing and more,” Kosalka said.

Mary Lou Scherer, owner of Suburban Bridal, said color remains strong in gowns, and champagne, nude and blush underlays are very popular.

“Destination weddings are increasing, which means brides are choosing simplistic styles with touches of glitter and beads to catch the sun,” she said.

Additionally, the comfort of a gown is very important right now.

“Handmade laces and hand beaded gowns are much more comfortable than

Rachel Campbell, owner of Noa Brides. their machine-made counterparts,” she has greatly modified production overseas, said. she said.

Recently, the industry has been imThe Chinese New Year, in which most pacted by the novel coronavirus, which citizens of China do not work during the

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February 28, 2020

months of January and February, puts production and shipping behind as well.

This year, Rachel Campbell, owner of Noa Brides, said more destination elopements paired with “backyard” receptions at home will be a popular choice.

She added that 2020 brides are either going bold with large skirts and tons of textures or keeping it sleek and understated.

The next few years will also be full of color, and some of the most popular dresses at Noa are non-traditional colors and separates.

While the plunge has had a great run over the past decade, Campbell noted that the higher necklines, puffed sleeves and big bows of the ’80s and ’90s will re-emerge this year.

Additionally, brides are looking to purchase gowns that will lessen or even eliminate their global impact.

In fact, Campbell said Noa, a benefit corporation, works exclusively with independent designers who create sustainably and ethically made garments.

“Some brides are choosing to shun the mass-produced bridal industry in favor of smaller design houses with earth friendly practices,” she said. “Another great way to go green is by incorporating more vintage in your wedding — reduce, reuse, recycle.”

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• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Weddings

Assure time is on your side to put a creative, unique stamp on the big day “Lucile’s Old Market, which is exby Michelle Leach It’s almost March. If couples getting tremely unique, has an amazing history, married this year don’t have a venue and our events at this venue range from 25 pinned down yet, there is no time like to 80 guests,” he said.

Larger venues span One Thousand now to solidify a place — and all the other Dodge (1002 Dodge Street) and elements that come with it, from 1316 Jones Street in the Old menus to music, videographers Market, each with seating up to to vino glasses and everything 250 to 300 guests; the Paxton in between.

Ballroom at 1403 Farnam St. “Dates book fast, so finding accommodates up to 300, while the right location and reserving The Pella at Blackstone (41st and the date are very important,” said Harney streets has been an “exChad Morford, president of 1316 tremely popular” as a venue with Jones LLC and Old Market Venseating up to 250 guests and an ues. “In our portfolio, we have a add-on feature on the lower level variety of venues that not only called “the Landing” (which can differ in size, but also style. All Pierce also be rented for smaller group of our Old Market and Midtown venues are in historic buildings, and offer events of up to 150 people).

“We offer a very wide variety of caterhistoric character and charm, each in its ing menus and bar options to choose from. own unique way.”

Its Aspen Room venue, Morford noted, We do not have any food/bar or beverage offers a rustic, log cabin or lodge environ- minimum spend requirements, so all of our event managers are experts at working with ment, seating 150 to 200 guests. varying budgets,” Morford said of the company’s catering service Abraham Catering.

At A Venue on the Ridge in Elkhorn, Director of Sales and Marketing Molly Dunning said all details are handled at the ‘30-day before the wedding meeting’ with her and the banquet manager.

“Our venue will accommodate up to 350 guests,” she said. “For larger weddings, having our newly constructed fenced-in outside patio will allow guests to bring their drinks outside and get a breath of fresh air with amazing views. For smaller events,

Chad Morford, president of 1316 Jones LLC. we are able to fill space in the venue with a soon as possible especially if you have spelounge area, additional cocktail tables and cific vendors that you want to work with; tables of six instead of eight, all to make popular vendors book up fast,” he said. the venue feel more ‘cozy.’”

“Joslyn Art Museum offers gallery viewing Dunning highlighted its outdoor cer- with all of our rental events. Guests may emony and patio space completed this tour the chosen gallery during the cocktail spring, and the addition of a bridal suite. hour. This is something that is our major “From the outdoor ceremony, indoor point of difference.” reception, on-site kitchen, linens, glassware Smaller weddings, he noted, may host … all included, there are less details for a the ceremony and reception at the Conagra couple to manage and stress over,” she said. Brands Atrium and Storz Fountain Court.

Enlisting vendors (be it florist or bak“Mid- to large-sized weddings can use er) is “the first task” after the wedding is the entire museum for their events, creating booked at any venue, noted Joslyn Art an amazing progression party where the Museum Events Manager James Laurent. guests are treated to beautiful new spaces “You want to be on their calendars as throughout the evening,” he said.

Lied Lodge at Arbor Day Farm Wedding Manager Patricia Pierce said now is the time for couples with a summer wedding on the horizon to do a menu tasting.

“We offer tastings, so couples can try the menu they have in mind for their special day,” she said. “We can also incorporate a wine tasting for those planning to serve our specialty wines at their wedding, or a dessert tasting if we’re providing a dessert or cupcake bar for the big day.”

Pierce described a unique, nature-inspired setting across seven venues and 260 acres in Nebraska City.

“We offer very intimate locations for smaller-sized weddings, as well as larger ceremony and reception venues that can accommodate hundreds of guests,” she said.

An “all-inclusive property,” it offers dinners to wedding ceremonies, and receptions to gift openings the following day.

“With our guest accommodations, spa treatments, and unique extracurricular activities across the property, couples and guests can enjoy a full weekend experience,” she said.

Pierce said wedding-related trends include a food station/hors d’oeuvres menu — a way for guests to socialize with a not-so-structured timeline and reception.

Morford spotlighted creative culinary and customized menu items, and creative or personalized touches with everything from lighting to signature bar drinks.

Dunning indicated one location that “does it all” has resonated, eliminating logistical considerations.

“The major trend that is happening now is that couples are planning their weddings Continued on next page.

Weddings •

Midlands Business Journal • FEBRUARY 28, 2020 •

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Plan ahead to make the most of destination weddings, honeymoons ences, planning is key to make a dream

by Jasmine Heimgartner Traveling has long been associated with honeymoon or nonlocal wedding come true.

“Plan early for destination weddings, honeymoons, but recent years have seen particularly in the winter, spring a rise in destination weddings, and summer, since dates will fill which give couples the opporup quickly,” said Abby Bebout, tunity to celebrate with family lead travel advisor at Travel Deand friends and vacation at the sign Lounge. “If you are looking same time. last minute, consider a date in If part of the wedding experithe middle of the week. Also, ence includes foreign locations, really think about what you are the options are endless, but take wanting in a vacation. Are you consideration. wanting adventure and activities Locales like Greece, Thaior relaxation and solitude?” land, Spain, Ireland and Mexico Regardless of where a couple continue to be popular, but there Bare goes, good knowledge of the has been an uptick to more exotic locales such as Aruba, Tahiti, Costa Rica destination is important.

“Some countries require the bride and and the Caribbean.

Whether keeping it small and relaxed groom to arrive a certain number of days stateside or adding some exotic experi- prior to the ceremony,” said Michelle Bare,

Catering, cakes and rentals

by David Kubicek

With the busy season for weddings approaching, it’s time to start thinking about food and rentals.

Elite Events Rental supplies chairs, tables, linens, centerpieces, dishes, and décor.

“Most commonly people are looking for tablecloths,” said Hilary Keiser, manager and event coordinator at Elite Events Rental. “A typical wedding would need about 30 tablecloths.”

Spring has always been a high-volume time, but fall has grown over the past few years with the increasing popularity of farm venues. “ We e n c o u r age clients to get a reservation started as soon as they are ready,” Keiser said.

“We have clients on popular weekends Keiser that will start to plan 12 months out. We also have clients that call two weeks before the wedding to secure the items they need.”

Save the Date Catering can usually add items if brides want something that isn’t on the firm’s standard menu, according to Catering Coordinator Kylie LaCour.

“Our chef has a great flavor palate and would love to think outside the box,” she said. “Chef has always been able to accommodate anyone’s request.”

Save the Date Catering has a classic buffet that includes two entrees, a side, a salad, a roll, a starch and any addition the bride requests. Many brides request late night snacks.

“We’ve gotten a lot of requests lately for grilled cheese and tomato soup, and pizza bites for the end of the evening,” LaCour said. “Brides also really like stations, so we have a pizza bar, nacho bar, or salad bar.”

The company provides vegetarian and gluten-free catering options and aroundthe-world events.

“We have a 100% gluten-free wedding coming up,” LaCour said.

Although the firm caters weddings all year round, the bulk of them are from April through July — although this year October is popular because of the numbers, espe-

cially Oct. 10, 2020.

Save the Date Catering prefers at least a month lead time to properly prepare, but sometimes things change.

“Brides have called us because their caterer dropped out, so we had a week to secure their menu and give them something,” LaCour said. “We’ve also had it where the day before someone changes their mind or adds 50 people to their wedding.”

The most common menu requests River City Star gets are a two-entree dinner buffet with chicken and another protein, said Fun Director Tami Bader.

“Lately, it seems like a lot of brides want to do something more relaxed, like a taco or pasta bar,” s h e s a i d . “ We ’ v e even had many requests for hors d’ Allen oeuvres only, and for a second menu served later in the evening, something like pizza or sandwiches of some type.”

Although the company doesn’t cater wedding cakes, Bader is getting requests for other options, like cupcakes or a dessert bar.

Because River City Star is an outdoor facility, its busiest times for wedding are in September and early October.

“We ask for a menu and an estimated guest count at least four weeks out, then we get a final guest count at least 10 days out,” Bader said.

Upstream Brewing Company caters weddings with up to 300 guests, said Event Coordinator Chip Allen.

“One of the things that’s very important now [to clients] is counting carbs,” he said.

“There are also gluten sensitivities and a lot of dairy issues.”

The firm can put together a smaller event in a week or two, but for larger events of 60 to hundreds of guests, two- or threemonths lead time is preferred. Lead time also varies depending on the details.

“If you’re doing a lot of rentals and really putting together an all-encompassing event, you need two or three months to make it successful,” he said.

travel agent manager at Celebrate Travel.

“It is also important to consider the weather during the travel time frame for your destination wedding. Sometimes the unexpected happens. As dreadful as it sounds, couples have had to cancel their honeymoons and destination weddings. When you have travel insurance and have to cancel for a covered reason, you will receive a refund back to your original form of payment.”

For couples that know they want to travel but aren’t sure where to go, an in-depth discussion not only helps them decide, but also provides a first step in being a cohesive married couple.

“A couple should discuss destinations they have visited and what they liked about those destinations,” Bare said. “By having this discussion, a couple can determine what their deal breakers are for their dream destination such as a nice beach, mountains, history, plenty of excursions for guests, etc.

When planning your honeymoon, pick a destination that you and your fiancé have never visited together so that you can create a new experience, then shoot for the moon but still be respectful of your budget. You never know when you are going to get a chance to take a vacation of this magnitude in the future.”

Recent trends in finding that perfect locale have included visiting the venue months or up to a year ahead of time to get a feel for the environment. Some couples are also exploring nearby locations, choosing to take a few days of alone time after the destination wedding.

Considering that few people have unlimited resources for their wedding, it’s

important to develop a budget and stick to it. Honeymoon bridal registries are a way for guests to assist with a couple’s plans. Honeymoons can also be put on layaway. In many cases, a small deposit can be put down and slowly paid up until around 45 days to departure. Delayed honeymoons are another way to spread out the time being taken off of work, as well as provide extra time to save while still getting away.

Time spent planning is also a consideration, so it is important to decide how involved one wants to be in the process.

Destination weddings can make planning easier if it is an all-inclusive resort. A clear understanding of the perfect wedding with a realistic budget can be attained.

“One of the things that I tell destination wedding couples that are on a smaller budget is to put the ‘packages’ aside,” Bebout said. “Sometimes paying for things a la carte is better than the package. You can pick and choose what is important to you and really be in control of the budget.”

Time is on your side

Continued from preceding page. as a snapshot of their lives together, what they find important and conventions that matter,” Laurent said. “Couples are very involved in the planning process and have very strong opinions on how they want their event to look, feel and flow. They might plan to use earth-friendly products, donate the dress to charity after the event, or skip traditional parts of a wedding that do not appeal to their sensibilities.”

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• FEBRUARY 28, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Weddings