Midlands Business Journal January 3, 2020 Vol. 46 No. 1 issue

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Health & Wellness A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal • January 3, 2020

Omaha making healthy strides but the road to wellness is a long one, say experts

by Dwain Hebda

Local health experts give Omaha credit for making progress in addressing health issues, but there is much more ground yet to cover.

“In general, I would say Omaha is a healthy community,” said Nicky Clark, vice president of community well-being at Heartland Family Service. “However, health includes so many other factors such as mental, spiritual and community. It also includes how all of those interplay with each other to create overall health and well-being.”

Where Omaha falters is on ethnic health disparities with nearly 40% of black children Clark and more than a third of Hispanic children living in poverty compared to just 9% of their white peers.

“There are major factors that link poverty to overall health, such as substandard housing, not enough economic opportunity, increased rates in violent crimes and food insecurity,” Clark said.

Heartland Family Service supports programs to address such systemic problems and was recently awarded a BUILD Health Challenge matching grant totaling

Michelle Grossman, president & CEO of Combined Health Agencies Drive (CHAD). $500,000 to address mental health issues in services for certain groups are all major barnorth Omaha. riers to receiving help.”

“Mental health is connected to every Companies are doing their part to promote aspect of our lives, however, there are so wellness in increasing numbers, Blue Cross many barriers to accessing mental health,” and Blue Shield of Nebraska being a notable Clark said. “Lack of insurance to pay for the example. services, stigma associated with receiving “When you consider employees spend services and lack of culturally appropriate at least one third of their lives at work, it’s a

Reaanddit

good place to start making the healthy choice the easy choice,” said Dr. Debra Esser, BCBS Nebraska chief medical officer.

“The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation reports 60% of what impacts the health of individuals consists of social and environmental factors and individual behavior. With communities and employers coming together to support healthy choices, it can become easier to access education, food and make different lifestyle choices.”

Recognizing this, BCBS Nebraska promotes health through its award-winning wellness program.

“We will kick off 2020 with a healthy weight challenge and continue with group Esser exercise classes, personal training, dietitians and healthy food options in our café,” Esser said.

“We also offer wellness options to the companies who are clients. Our staff of wellness experts provides wellness consultative services to help organizations strategize, set goals and create action plans for their workplaces. Our commitment to wellness never ceases throughout the year.”

Michelle Grossman, president and CEO of CHAD, said one health danger many people do not consider is how the health of others takes a toll on overall wellness.

“Health is personal,” she said. “What is important to most people is what their loved ones are afflicted with.

“If your parent, grandparent or spouse is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, this is front and center to you. The same thing if your child is born with cystic fibrosis or your nine-year-old is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes or your sister is diagnosed with breast cancer. Caring for chronically ill family members is one of the biggest barriers to wellness that we have in Omaha.”

CHAD partners with numerous agencies to help Nebraskans identify health risks and find ways to improve wellness. She said the effort reflects the mutual interest all stakeholders share in their communities.

“The World Health Organization defines health as ‘not only the absence of infirmity and disease, but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being,’” she said.

“Unhealthy lifestyles have not only personal impact but also economic impact.

Health is not just a personal concern; it is a community concern.”

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Health & Wellness — inside JANUARY 3, 2020

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VOL. 46 NO. 1

B2 Environmental expands presence and service portfolio

by Richard D. Brown

Monster Tote provides eco-friendly moving option in Omaha. – Page 2

40 er d Un 40 Barton combines health care, technology skills at Makovicka.

– Page 3

s es sin iew u B ev Pr

Organizations reinvent themselves to position metro for 2020 and beyond.

– Page 6

Omaha-based B2 Environmental, a woman-owned small business offering full service environmental, health and safety consulting, with offices in Iowa, Texas, Utah and California, has opened an office in Iowa City — not so much to augment the work of its year-old facility in Des Moines, but to help it move into the Illinois and Wisconsin growth corridor.

“There’s a lot of growth opportunities to be had up there,” said President Kris Arritt.

Arritt and her husband Bob Arritt, who brings more than a decade of industry experience to B2 Environmental, said their 60-employee enterprise, which was doing $5 million annually five years ago, is at the $8.5 million level and should hit $10 million by 2021.

“With our growth, our success is due to the pride we take in our work, our response time in serving clients, and remaining very nimble,” Kris Arritt said.

The Omaha headquarters has Continued on page 10.

President Kris Arritt … With geographic growth, the firm has expanded into work for new structures.

(Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)

Bio Nebraska building momentum for the state’s bio sciences sector

by Becky McCarville

While Bio Nebraska’s Executive Director Rob Owen is new to his current role, he isn’t new to the bio/life sciences sector in Nebraska. As former board chairman for Bio Nebraska, previous in-house counsel for Streck and of counsel at Pontiac, Michigan-based The Dobrusin Law Firm, Streck’s outside intellectual property law firm, he’s well-versed in Bio Nebraska’s mis-

sion to promote the state’s biotech industry and is focused on listening to what the 80-plus member companies want.

Established in 2005, the organization is building momentum based on its “three pillars,” formulated about eight years ago by former Executive Director Phil Kozera (who left Bio Nebraska for MatMaCorp this past Fall) and Owen, when he Continued on page 9.

Long Grain Furniture owner and designer Todd McCollister …

Creating custom furniture that will last generations.

McCollister aspires to bring people together with Long Grain Furniture

by Savannah Behrends

Executive Director Rob Owen … Promoting the bio/life sciences sector in Nebraska with networking events, issue advocacy and making connections.

At the heart of Todd McCollister’s handcrafted furniture is a drive to bring people together around a central object for generations, a challenging enterprise in a market that makes furniture easily replaceable.

“Expectations for furniture are lower than they use to be, which means prices can be lower,” he said. “People don’t expect

to have a piece of furniture that is made to last, designed well and especially a piece that is made specifically for them.”

While not blaming big box retailers, he noted that with companies such as Nebraska Furniture Mart in town it can be challenging to talk price points of custom furniture.

“Having the biggest game in Continued on page 11.

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Monster Tote provides eco-friendly moving option in Omaha

don’t have to mess around with 100 empty

by Gabby Christensen Monster Tote, a moving solutions com- boxes when all is said and done.”

McConnell said the totes can help people pany serving the Omaha metro, was formed in early 2018 by owner John McConnell who save money in the long run, too.

“Sometimes, people forget that they’re noted a need for an alternative moving and paying movers close to $200 an hour,” he storage option.

As opposed to the traditional cardboard said. “Our totes are all the same size and moving box, the e-commerce company stack uniformly. This means there aren’t as offers eco-friendly sanitized boxes with many loads for the movers.”

As a business owner, McConnell said hinged lids and handles for ease of carrying. it’s important to be Several options are Monster Tote able to be efficient available based on at wearing several Phone: 402- 401-7720 the size of home or hats, while also being Founded: March 2018 office, and the tote a good listener and Service: e-commerce moving solutions itself can carry up to decision-maker. company serving the Omaha metro area 75 pounds.

“I use any availEmployees: Three; plus hiring of local Additionally, the able resources as frebusinesses for social media ads and mailer business sells othquently as possible campaigns er moving supplies, to try to find the best Goal: To generate additional awareness, such as bubble wrap, solutions to apply as well as enter markets in other states. wrapping paper, zip them to my business Website: https://monstertote.com ties and rentable hand in order to be profitdollies.

After a purchase is made online, Monster able and continue to grow,” he said. “This Tote delivers the moving solutions to the March will be our second year in business customer’s door. Then, the totes are picked and we have seen our rentals in 2019 increase from 200% to 800% per month, up from the new residence at a later date.

The company works with apartment respectively.”

For McConnell, the trick is setting shortresidents, homeowners and commercial businesses. The business also works with mid- and long-range goals.

“Being profitable is very important to several Realtors in the area.

According to McConnell, it’s the con- staying in business,” he said. “Then, it’s all about growing.” venience that draws customers.

McConnell has plans to purchase addi“Our product makes moves so much tional totes this month, which will more than faster and less stressful,” he said. “Not only are the totes affordable, but our customers double the current inventory.

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Owner John McConnell … The company has seen exponential growth with its reusable tote business model.

Monster Tote has new marketing efforts Looking further ahead, he hopes to enter underway that will continue to create aware- the Colorado markets, Kansas City market ness for the brand. and the Lincoln market.

For now, and always, McConnell said he finds satisfaction in helping others.

“I know how difficult moving can be,” he said. “So, if we can make that process better and less stressful by saving our customers both time and money, that makes me really happy.”

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Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 •

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Barton combines health care, technology skills at Makovicka

by Dwain Hebda

Lisa Barton, chief financial officer with Makovicka Physical Therapy, didn’t plan on getting into health care management when she entered College of Saint Mary. But one class into her junior year of nursing school changed all that.

“Going through nursing school, you don’t start directly into your clinicals. I think that’s year two or three,” she said. “You have to go through the business classes, math classes and then you have health care management, like an overview class.

“When I took that one, I was like, this is what I want to do, the statistics and doing the number crunching. I knew I was interested in the billing aspect after I realized patient care was not my calling.”

Barton transferred to American Intercontinental University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in health care management and graduating magna cum laude. She landed at Makovicka Physical Therapy in 2013 as a billing specialist, but it wasn’t long before she showed talent suited for bigger things and promotions quickly followed.

Eventually, her knack for building a better mousetrap led her to a breakthrough that not only improved the company’s operations, but clinics throughout the country.

“We had a program and it just wouldn’t give us the information that we really wanted,” she said. “I was like, there has to be a way for this program to give us this information because all the information is there, we just have to extrapolate it out.”

Barton developed a template that allowed the information to be retrieved and compiled

into a report. It proved so effective, the developer of the software, Kareo, recognized her for her innovation.

“That was awesome,” she said of the honor.

“I was out in California; we were at a conference and I wasn’t expecting it. They just wanted to recognize me for doing it and gave me an iPad tablet as a thank you.”

Barton also distinguished herself for completing continuing education on her own initiative. She earned Certified Professional Coder certification (CPC) in 2011 and followed that up in 2014 with Certified Professional Medical Auditor coursework, both from the American Academy of Professional Coders — neither of which was required by her employer.

“The CPC I got because I wanted to truly understand billing,” she said. “I understood the surface of it, the generics.

“But I wanted to know the nuts and bolts of it and truly understand all aspects of the billing cycle. The certified professional medical auditor I did because when you’re in billing, you’re going to get audited. That certification is the same education that the auditors have, so I knew I was looking at the charts the same way they would be.”

For all her professional accomplishments, it was personal tragedy that ultimately led to her most lasting contribution. In 2010, her daughter died from SIDS, after which the local SIDS Foundation reached out to offer support. A few years later, she was given the opportunity to do the same for other families through the Nebraska SIDS Foundation.

“Every time a baby passes away from SIDS

2019

Nike built up a huge direct to consumer business, newer brands doing it, too

by Maria Halkias

This is the time of year when retail trends emerge and gain momentum or flop.

Here’s one to think about. Look at your holiday gift receipts. Did you shop directly from brands? Did you make purchases directly from New Balance, Apple or Lego?

Retail Nike said in November it didn’t need Amazon and pulled its products from the online behemoth.

So did Ikea.

“Consumers are interacting more with brands and brands are able to connect directly with consumers without the retailer in the middle,” said Joel Bines, global co-head of retail at consulting firm AlixPartners.

While it’s been happening for years with traditional brands of Nike, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, there’s a relatively new sphere of direct-to-consumer brands, backed by venture capital funds that are gaining market share, Bines said.

Brands used Black Friday to push direct traffic and sales. Heading into the holiday season, 78% of direct-to-consumer brands said they were increasing their advertising budgets versus 60% of traditional retailers, according to CommerceNext.

Tommy John had a percent-off coupon on RetailMeNot. So did Bombas, Rothy’s and Untuckit.

For now, these new direct-to-consumer brands are flush with funds from venture capi-

talists and don’t have to post profits.

“Casper sucked a lot of market share out of the mattress business and now it’s into pillows, blankets and bedding,” Bines said. “Allbirds, Everlane, they’re becoming brands that started out as venture capital-based brands that people never heard of.”

Take socks and underwear, a department store mainstay and a way that moms have padded the volume of gifts under the tree for decades.

Until the last few years, everyone bought their underwear at the local department store, said Sides, but now there are specialty brands advertising on TV and radio touting their designs that didn’t exist five years ago.

Bombas and more recently Kane 11 have flooded the airwaves with commercials.

Kane 11 is the brand this holiday season that informed us that men’s socks come in 11 individual sizes.

Tommy John underwear, now also for women, touts its briefs stretch in 16 directions.

“I didn’t realize there was a problem with men’s underwear. These brands are siphoning off sales,” said. Rod Sides, vice chairman at Deloitte and its U.S. retail and distribution leader, “I didn’t used to think much about my purchase of a 3-pack of socks.”

All the new entrants are trying to attract customers, too, Bines said. “Every dollar I spend at Everlane, I’m not spending Continued on page 8.

Chief Financial Officer Lisa Barton … A passion for crunching numbers has led to improved processes at the physical therapy organization. in the state of Nebraska, the Nebraska SIDS “Sometimes it’s nice to have somebody to Foundation is notified. We reach out, we send talk to that gets it. It’s not something anybody a welcome packet. Or, families will call us,” she ever wants to experience, but it’s nice talking to said. “Everybody on the board has lost a child to somebody that understands what you’re going SIDS, so families are able to talk to any of us. through and not just another random person.”

Proud Sponsors of the 2019 40 Under 40:

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Business Preview A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal •

January 3, 2020

Organizations reinvent themselves to position metro for 2020 and beyond

by Michelle Leach

The Nebraska District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration recently expressed confidence in the state’s entrepreneurial economy going into 2020, driven by a reported 50% of its loan approvals going to fund startup businesses, alongside the almost 3,300 jobs that were reportedly created or retained courtesy of $143.7 million in SBA-guaranteed financing over the past 12 months.

Across the river, Interim President and CEO with the Council Bluffs Area Chamber Shields of Commerce, Tom Hanafan, and Vice President of Communications and Leadership Development, Lori Shields, indicated the organization and community are on the upside of things, poised well for the new year; Shields referred to formerly vacant retail space that is being developed.

“It wasn’t creating tax revenue for a long time,” she said.

Leadership referenced riverfront, as well as West Broadway construction, and redevelopment at the Mall of the Bluffs. The composition of both Chamber and community leadership is also evolving; they referred to the city council’s

youth as well as Shields’ focus on engaging with youth leaders in the schools and at businesses and organizations throughout the community including nearly 40 HR professionals across Council Bluffs.

Broadly, the board is undergoing a strategic

McCoy Squires planning process, reevaluating the Chamber’s role in the community.

“It’s not your father’s Chamber,” Hanafan said. “We have to readjust in the community.”

It’s collaborating to address workforce development; for instance, Hanafan referred to onboarding a Chamber professional tasked with workforce development.

“We did a study here last year that showed 3,900 jobs have to be filled in the next five years,” he said.

Hanafan noted the Chamber is also addressing barriers to attracting and retaining talent,

Tom Hanafan, interim President and CEO, of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce. such as the cost of day care and the availability to assess their specific needs, via a taskforce or small group, with the ultimate goal of an of affordable housing.

Special events and groups to engage wom- inclusive Chamber.

Straddling the border, Eppley Airfield will be en and Latino business owners are also underway or on the horizon; for instance, Hanafan on the receiving end of “schematic design for the referenced how it analyzed the number of local terminal modernization program,” according to Latino businesses (approaching 100) and efforts Omaha Airport Authority Director, Air Service and Business Development, Stephen J. McCoy. He noted the OAA completed a comprehensive update to the airport master plan for Eppley in October 2014.

“The master plan outlined a long-term approach for maintaining, improving and expanding the airport facilities to keep up with passenger demand,” McCoy said. “Since the completion of the master plan, passenger activity at the airport has increased. In 2018, for the first time in Eppley Airfield’s history, over five million passengers traveled through the airport. This is an increase of 9.4% from 2017.”

As a response to such growth, the airport authority moved forward with projects from the plan; for instance, its new north garage and rental car facility opened summer 2019.

“The next major project will include a phased approach to the improvements of Eppley Airfield’s terminal facilities,” he said.

The master plan’s Terminal Modernization Phase involves renovating and expanding existing facilities.

“A modern terminal will position Eppley Airfield to support passengers for decades to come,” McCoy said. “In March 2019, as the Continued on next page.

Business Preview •

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 •

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Labor, technology will dominate architecture and construction headlines this year

by Dwain Hebda

Operating in a climate of steady and even brisk business, the struggle to find labor to support growth and the march of technology are both issues to watch in the new year.

That’s the message from experts in the local construction and architecture industry.

“Overall, the architecture industry has experienced several years of stable growth and according to the most recent Architectural Billings Index that trend is likely to continue through 2020,” said Tim Meyer, senior vice president of operations with Boyd Jones.

“Advancements in technology are proving to be a significant disrupter, with venture capital firms investing billions of dollars in construction tech deals. Firms open to adapting their business model to leverage these advancements are reaping the rewards of improved efficiencies and better client experiences.”

Meyer said this influx of funding has increased the number of construction apps exponentially, requiring careful vetting to get one that delivers on its promises.

“It’s important to understand how leaders Continued on next page.

Organizations reinvent themselves to position metro Continued from preceding page. first step of this program, the Omaha Airport Authority contracted with a design-build team led by Holder Construction to plan, design and construct the program.”

Through 2019, the team has worked to update and validate the previous master plan concept as it moves toward design.

“This process resulted in an updated terminal concept that reflects the needs of today’s travelers while providing the flexibility to continue to grow and expand to accommodate up to eight million annual passengers in the long term,” he said. “The design process will continue into 2020.”

Each step of TMP construction occurs “systematically,” McCoy said, based on passenger demand. So, “as the Omaha community and economy grows, Eppley Airfield grows with it.”

Construction may begin in 2021, with phased improvements slated for completion by 2025.

Omaha Performing Arts is actively addressing the issue of groups bypassing Omaha “because of the lack of a downtown music venue to accommodate their audiences,” according to a November release, by expanding its campus via a live music venue slated for Dodge Street to Capitol Avenue between 11th and 12th streets.

“There are a number of up and coming bands, solo performers and artists who are not making a tour stop in Omaha because of the lack of a music venue to meet their unique needs,” said O-pa President Joan Squires. “We believe the Live Music Venue will significantly improve music opportunities available in Omaha, especially for the key audience demographic of 21 to 45 years old.”

Reportedly, the venue will play a “major role” in O-pa’s expanded offerings — providing a flex space for local arts organizations to develop new works and to host touring bands and concerts. Additionally, the project was isolated as helping to “activate several major downtown development projects, including the current renovations along the Riverfront.”

After all funding is committed, the project will reportedly begin construction fall 2020, with an early 2023 opening.

“The addition of this music venue and its flexibility will also provide new opportunities for local artists and arts organizations,” said Board Chairman John Gottschalk. “We have held initial conversations with our arts partners and local organizations and are excited about what this could mean to the future of our community.”

According to a recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln economic impact study, this first phase campus expansion centered around the Holland Performing Arts Center, will bring 155,000 people downtown and increase O-pa’s

annual economic impact to $61 million — up from more than 500,000 and $48 million respectively (annual visitors to Holland Performing Arts and the Orpheum, and organization-wide impact).

Its slated “second phase” will include an education center east of the Holland to support O-pa’s community engagement programs.

Tim Meyer, senior vice president of operations at Boyd Jones, at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church project site, where Boyd Jones is the general contractor for the new sanctuary and offices.

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Business Preview

2020 looks bright for finance industry in Omaha metro

by Gabby Christensen

The new year presents new goals and trends for the banking and finance industry, according to local professionals.

Matt Hillestad, regional manager at Veridian Credit Union, said technology will continue to impact interaction with financial institutions.

“Small, routine transactions are still increasingly moving to mobile applications and other online platforms,” Hillestad said.

“While many of us prefer to speak with a knowledgeable professional for guidance on more complex financial topics, there will soon be a more convenient, digital way to achieve that interaction, as well. Video technology will soon allow consumers to connect with a financial specialist from the comfort of home using the camera on their mobile device.”

After recently upgrading its mobile and online banking platforms, he said Veridian Credit Union will continue to invest in technology to make its services more convenient and accessible.

“We also believe that face-to-face relationships and a community presence are still important,” Hillestad said. “In 2015, we committed to opening 10 to 15 Veridian branches in the Omaha area within 10 years. As we kick off 2020, we’ve opened five of those branches and look forward to opening more convenient locations in the years to come.”

David E. Shiffermiller, executive vice president at Cornhusker Bank, said leveraging technology will continue to be critical in 2020, and the banking industry is embracing all kinds of new technology to enhance customer experience, improve efficiency and remain competitive.

Additionally, Shiffermiller said the financial industry generates massive amounts of data, and managing that data to make business decisions and better understand customer needs and wants and streamline processes will help manage expectations and improve experiences.

“More and more of our banking software and services embrace cloud technology and are not maintained on our bank servers,” he said. “This improves efficiency

and customer service, while also controlling costs.”

Shiffermiller said technology advances

help understand business trends and drive business planning, is becoming very mainstream.

Hillestad Shiffermiller in managing fraud and cybersecurity continue to help financial institutions manage risk, as well.

He said the interest rate environment continues to be uncertain, and careful and diligent management of cost of funds will be critical as the bank grows loans and deposits.

Moving into 2020, he said the bank has goals to grow between 7% to 9%.

Looking ahead, Scott Carrico, audit shareholder and director of marketing and business development at Lutz, said business analytics, the use of data and statistics to

Carrico Randels “Business analytics are very powerful and can change the way owners and managers look at a business,” Carrico said.

“Common tools such as Power BI and other software are bringing technology that was once only affordable for very large companies to the middle market.”

Additionally, he said artificial intelligence, which is used to help with data and task automation, is also becoming increasingly popular.

Carrico said AI can help users get real-time information at a much more effective cost.

He said Lutz has goals to continue to build out some of its newer service line offerings, including family office services, business analytics and artificial intelligence.

For 2020, Rob A. Randels, wealth management advisor at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co., said the economy will continue to expand and experience strong growth, particularly domestically.

“We predict quarters one and two ... will be strong, with a potential for caution and weakness around the November elections,” Randels said. “Markets do not like uncertainty and if a new administration comes in, although we do not see this happening, there could be selloffs. With some of the concerns surrounding the market, such as easing of tensions and rollbacks of tariffs with China, we expect the market to continue to rise and be beneficial to investors.”

As far as business goals for the year, Randels said expanding the practice and adding to existing clientele is always a priority.

“We have recently expanded our team so we can best serve our growing number of clients,” Randels said. “We are always thinking about ways we can best serve our clients and making them financially secure, protecting them from financial risk, allowing them to leave a legacy and helping them achieve their financial goals.”

Labor, technology will dominate architecture and construction headlines this year Continued from preceding page. is great,” he said. “But it also means we’re in the construction tech industry are dealing with a significant workforce shortworking to integrate existing and future age. Oftentimes, a young designer will platforms to provide a holistic move to a larger city for a few system supporting the project years, and then decide to come lifecycle,” he said. back to Omaha. At RDG, we John Sova, president and make it known that we’re here for COO of RDG Planning & Dethose people when they get back. sign, said technological ad“Flexibility is also key to vancements are also being used retaining good talent; right now, to stretch existing productivity RDG has eight remote workers levels as a direct response to the across different parts of the suffocating labor shortage. Sova country. So, the goal is to not said the struggle to find enough only attract people but also to workers to support growth opretain them. And we can do this Sova portunities is another key thing by allowing them to explore to watch in the new year. and create professionally, whether here in “The industry is well into a five- to Omaha or elsewhere.” six-year continued growth pattern, which As for projects, Sova pointed to the office sector.

“As organizations move from office to office or campus to campus, the demand for services increases,” he said. “Going into 2020, we may see an increasing number of developers market speculative office buildings in response to this shift.”

James Walbridge, civic architecture director with HDR sees more radical changes in the new year as clients rethink the construction and function of their buildings.

“Resilient design and planning will be at the highest level of focus for the industry well into the next 100 years and beyond,” he said. “Responsible design strategies that promote stewardship of our natural resources and sustainable design will be expected, not requested.

“Social wellness is another immensely important consideration moving forward.

This focus on social wellness will have an enormous impact on workforce recruitment and retention. The industry’s top talent is prioritizing environment, wellness and culture as they make decisions about their careers.”

Walbridge also sees an ironic trend

amid the increasingly detached and digital corporate landscape — a rediscovery of high-touch over high tech.

“While the development and presence of technology will continue to be an enormous contributor to future growth, soft skills will become even more relevant and critical in client services and client relationship management,” he said. “Firms that can present and communicate their ideas and services with a greater degree of clarity and precision across all positions in the project delivery model will continue to gain more work.”

Direct to consumer Continued from page 3. at Macys.”

It’s a new challenge for traditional retailers that’s not coming from Amazon, said Al Sambar, Accenture retail managing director.

Basically, the consumer is king, Sambar said. “Brands are fighting to form a relationship with you. They want to form partnerships to help me achieve my fitness goals, beauty needs my ability to feed my family better.”

Fifteen years ago, starting a brand was a bigger, more costly proposition, Sides said. “You needed a fair amount of capital to open a store.

Now you can start a brand with a credit card.

There are no barriers.”

These companies are following a couple of strategies. Many brands are launched with tons of marketing and end up selling, maybe to a competitor, he said.

Others are making the transition into becoming a retailer with stores.

“I think as long as the economy stays where it’s at today we’ll see more and more of them,” Sides said.

Got any ideas about how to make a better consumer widget? Now’s your chance. ©2019 The Dallas Morning News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 •

9

Bio Nebraska building momentum for the state’s bio sciences sector Continued from page 1.

ICAN for a workshop on emotional intelliwas board chairman. gence for women in STEM. “Through some meetings with stakeOther member events are held throughholders we tried to find out — what can out the year, such as the popular Bio and Bio Nebraska offer its members and what Beers. do our members want, most importantly,” Owen said that since Bio Nebraska is a Owen said, adding that with less than two smaller organization, it’s focusing on supfull-time employees, the organization is porting women in STEM, not necessarily limited in what it can offer. Assistant Di- growing or raising STEM awareness. rector Sasha Forsen was hired part-time “We are responding to what women last April. in STEM are looking for that maybe The organization’s three pillars in- they’re not getting from their employer,” clude advocating for he said, adding that its members through Bio Nebraska employers are equalissue advocacy, coor- Services: life sciences trade association ly positive because dinating networking advocating for its members and Nebraska’s it supports women events and being a biotech industry in ways employers “go-to” resource in Founded: 2005 might not be able to. and out of the state, Members: 80-85 “It’s a win for all.” helping make con- Goal: To reach over $300,000 in annual With the state’s nections. life sciences comrevenue.

“As a result of Website: www.bionebraska.org panies ranging from that, we got our [fipharma/clinical trials nancial] footings — we flipped the model to animal health to industrial biotech to biofrom being 75% funded out of the univer- fuels, Owen said he might be talking with sity and now we’re 75% industry/private ProTransit Nanotherapy, an Omaha-based sector versus university,” he said. startup biotech company one day and an Revenue streams from membership industrial biotech company the next. The dues, corporate sponsorships and a portion majority of its members are in and around from a lab equipment purchase program Omaha and Lincoln. for members.

Lobbying efforts spurring economic “As a result of getting our footings and development knowing what we could offer and what our For Gary Madsen, Ph.D., co-founder, members wanted, we’ve figured out that president and CEO of ProTransit Nanothwe can now be proactive in some areas erapy, networking, camaraderie and Bio [like the] women in STEM initiative that Nebraska’s lobbying efforts are some of the we started about three years ago,” he said. tangible benefits of membership.

This initiative has grown from a In fact, he said that Laura Weber, Ph.D., luncheon that included women from the product development scientist at ProTranSTEM sector (not just bio) three years ago sit Nanotherapy, most likely would have to now, “an overwhelming response” from moved out of state after graduating with members who want networking opportu- her doctorate degree in nanomedicine from nities with other women, mentorship and the University of Nebraska Medical Cenprofessional growth opportunities. ter’s pharmacy school if she hadn’t known In October, a women in STEM lun- about some of the opportunities available cheon drew over 120 attendees with speak- in Nebraska. ers Shonna Dorsey, senior business systems Madsen said that nanomedicine is a big consultant at Mutual of Omaha, and Nancy area of research on campus. The university Williams, co-founder and president and upgraded its nanomedicine lab space about CEO of No More Empty Pots. On January a year ago.

23, 2020, Bio Nebraska has partnered with “There have been at least three others

ProTransit Nanotherapy’s Product Development Scientist Laura Weber, Ph.D., obtained her doctorate degree in nanomedicine at UNMC’s College of Pharmacy and is now helping scale up ProTransit’s nanoparticles.

Gary Madsen, Ph.D., co-founder, president and CEO of ProTransit Nanotherapy, a startup company developing its patented nanoparticles that deliver high-powered antioxidant enzymes that can prevent UV damage and skin cancer, among other potential applications. we’ve hired right out of school,” he said. Nebraska’s biotech sector. “[Bio Nebraska] really fosters that whole The biggest “win” over the years was infrastructure of biotechnology.” the passage of LB641— the Bio Sciences Madsen, who was hired as entrepre- Innovation Fund — that provides targeted neur in residence by UNeMed in 2012 investment and resources in bio science and moved to Nebraska from Madison, startups. Startup companies can apply for Wisconsin, said he can speak to the power grants — funding “that didn’t exist before,” of a strong biotech trade association after Owen said. witnessing successes in Wisconsin.

The biggest topic coming up this year “Out of the University of Wiscon- in the legislative session, he said, is the sin-Madison, they’ve sprouted hundreds of industry-wide Nebraska Advantage Act, a biotech companies — it’s just incredible,” tax incentive that is expiring. The legislahe said. “They’ve got a lot of funding there ture started working on a replacement bill and a lot of people who will invest in bio last year, but it was held up by a property tech. And, they’ve had several big buyouts tax issue. of companies.”

Bio Nebraska wants to ensure that the Bio Nebraska has grown since Madsen state’s biotech sector, along with other first came to Nebraska. industries, is eligible for tax incentives for “I think the organization has really capital investments, even if it only creates accomplished a lot both in terms of mem- five or six high growth, high paying jobs. bership, bringing people together — the “If Nebraska’s going to have this procamaraderie, if you will — getting the gram, let’s make sure that all industries are government attention, some of the lobbying eligible for it and especially in an industry things that have been going on,” he said. that’s showing high paying jobs,” he said.

“There have been a lot of big steps over Bio Nebraska’s goals are to reach over that time.” $300,000 in revenue, which would allow it ProTransit Nanotherapy, which has to hire a second full-time employee. Last been developing a skincare lotion that pre- year, revenue was about $260,000. vents skin cancer, is scaling up its patented “We’ve had a lot of good traction over nanoparticle production in lab space it rents the past five to six years — we want to keep at UNMC and has been a beneficiary of building that because again, I think our state grants for Phase 0, Phase 1 and Phase big focus is to promote, grow and support 2 of its research. the bio industry sector in Nebraska, and it The nanoparticles developed by Pro- needs that,” he said.

Transit Nanotherapy deliver high-powered antioxidant enzymes that can prevent UV skin damage that leads to photoaging and skin cancer, among other potential applications.

The company is currently working on submitting three more grants to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) this month — one for the reduction of hypertension, one for treatment of traumatic brain injury and the third for its product to prevent skin cancer.

The issue advocacy work by Bio Nebraska draws lawmakers’ attention to

10

• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

B2 Environmental expands presence and service portfolio Continued from page 1. just acquired a fourth bay at 4503 S. 90th St., an expansion that now gives the business 8,000 square feet. The extra bay will be used to accommodate the growing demand for consulting work being placed on them.

B2 Environmental Phone: 402-330-0763 Address: 4503 S. 90th St., Omaha 68127 Services: woman-owned small business offering full-service environmental, health and safety consulting Founded: 2007 by Bob & Kris Arritt Employees: 60 (30 located in Omaha) One-year goal: Expand into Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin corridor.

Industry outlook: Growth opportunities exist for expanding into building for new construction.

Website: www.B2E.com

There are 30 employees working out of Omaha. A business development specialist is being hired for Iowa and in the near future a similar position will be added for Nebraska.

“We’ve had a lot of growth in Southern California over the past two years and have 10 employees there now,” she added. “In southern and north California our biggest problem is finding staffers.”

In its multiple venues, B2 Environmental serves sectors including educa-

tion, commercial/industrial, government/ defense, banking/real estate, health care and insurance. Services include environmental remediation, training for industry professionals, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, asbestos and lead management, land and building development solutions, safety, environmental counseling and Phase I and II due diligence work.

Kris Arritt said B2 Environmental has about 2,000 customers, up by about 1,000 from five years ago. One reason for the increased diversity in the customer base is a policy she and her husband adopted that requires them to annually assess possible new things they can offer clients.

Recently B2 Environmental has expanded its abatement operations into the fireproofing and caulking of newly built structures. Due diligence work for banks, developers and construction companies is also on the rise.

“Our industry is seeing a stagnation of the number of competitors coming in,” she said. “Because of our age (12 years) we're still one of the newest companies of the four or so competitors here in Omaha.”

The largest share of B2 Environmental’s clients tend to come from the industrial and medical sectors because of looming constant oversight needs and issues. Other than the serious water quality issues raised by the incident in Flint, Michigan a few years ago, regulations have not significantly changed.

Asbestos remediation issues continue to emerge as older buildings are being evaluated for remodeling and costs of various alternatives are being weighed. In 2018 B2 Environmental had a full 15-member crew on the campus of the defunct Grace University for more than four months while such issues were addressed.

At present, work is being done in Tekamah where a developer of small housing needs phase one assessment investigation into what’s beneath a site that is believed to have formerly housed a gasoline station.

Governmental records, aerial shots and other historical documents will be important in B2 Environmental’s determination of possible lead contamination to the soil.

A larger number of development and real estate firms are seeking similar in-

formation in making development plans.

Work done for Union Pacific includes cleaning up old rail car storage yards and updating old bridges. Asbestos, lead-based paint, and petroleum records of tank cars are important considerations.

B2 Environmental crews did air monitoring for the first two years of the decommissioning of OPPD’s Fort Calhoun nuclear plant.

Assessment projects are done in about 40 states west of the Mississippi.

The Arritts met through social circles while attending University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Kris, an Elkhorn native, was an interior architecture-design major and Bob, an Idaho native and environmental science major, complement one another in what they bring to their business venture.

“I’m the foot soldier who is good in the trenches and she’s the general operations person and president in charge of running and managing the company,” he said.

Kris Arritt handles human resources, employee compensation and insurance.

They note that each position has the need for different skill sets.

The modern office features tech-ready, natural, flexible designs

by Jasmine Heimgartner

Each unique business may have special requirements when it comes to production, warehouse or manufacturing spaces, but across industries, contemporary offices

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are trending toward more open spaces that their environment are happier and more offer versatility. One element fueling that productive.” change is technology.

Choice of materials is another way to “Wireless networks equal mobile work enhance the overall feel of office space. A environments,” said Allison Fejfar, archi- natural biophilic approach, which incorpotectural associate at Studio951, a division rates wood grains and other natural materiof Shive-Hattery. “Offices no longer need als, can create a more relaxed atmosphere. to be a room with four walls. Non-as- Other trends include weathered materials, signed desks in conjunction with carpeting with a sense of moveloungy, soft seating allows for ment and faux-leather finishes. multiple users of a single fixed Incorporating an accent colspace and variety of work envior that represents a business’s ronments throughout the day.” branding is another way to subWith technology being used tly reinforce a team mentality. in all facets of operations, as well “Consider how a business’s as becoming more affordable, it specific office culture can shape creates opportunities to enhance the physical environment in spaces in different facets. which its employees work,” “Almost everyone is getting Fejfar said. “Consider how a dual monitors, and we’re seeing business wants their clients to Fejfar TVs in every conference, lobby view their company and how and break room possible,” said Kjersten the design of the office can enhance that Tucker, architect at Sinclair Hille Archi- message.” tects. “Some users even have a TV in each No matter how big or a small the space private office. We’re also seeing less and is, thoughtful design can help businesses less need for filing and paper storage. Our optimize use. According to Fejfar, ways to structural engineers have had to change achieve this include “less formal offices, their calculations to account for the de- utilize open office and activity-based work creased load — floors are bouncier without areas and flexible/combination spaces, i.e. all of those filing cabinets weighing them a single room can have multiple functions down.” depending on time of day and use.”

With less storage needed, businesses Keeping physical elements movable is can explore new ways to create an office an easy way for smaller spaces to be nimthat reflects its branding and creates a more ble. It’s also important to consider daily welcoming environment for employees and flow as the priority over investing in one clients. That extra space can be used in a big space for an annual meeting or jumping number of ways that reflect the evolving right into the décor and furniture. way work is done.

“Begin your design process by setting “Everyone wants more meeting space goals,” Tucker said. “We ask clients to — we often hear that all the conference brainstorm what needs to be accomplished rooms are always booked,” Tucker said. for the project to be considered a success, “Users really value a variety of collabora- and this helps to clarify what’s really tive spaces, too. Quick, informal, walk-up important. Throughout the process, when spaces with a counter height table and a there are hard decisions to be made, you wall you can write on, small rooms for will refer back to your goals for guidance. two to four people and, of course, the Aesthetics will follow. First you must classic larger conference rooms. The determine the results you want to achieve, key is to provide flexibility and choice and then you can work with a designer on to the users, as people with control over the look.”

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 •

11

McCollister aspires to bring people together with Long Grain Furniture Continued from page 1. town for 50 years [and having] a motto of not being undersold drives expectations down,” McCollister said. “It’s not just in Omaha, it’s all over the place.”

While more expensive than the furniture one would find at a typical furniture store, his pieces aren’t as expensive as what’s normal in larger metropolitan areas.

“If you go to the Design Center in Chicago it’s not unusual to spend $25,000 on a dining room table. I’m not making a $25,000 table,” he said.

Part of the pricing difference can be attributed to how the local community views SUPER CROSSWORD

and supports artists. Although organizations like Amplify Arts, OutrSpaces and PACE (Pottawattamie Arts Culture Entertainment) and The Union for Contemporary Arts have been working to elevate local artists, there are still inequities preventing artists from making a living.

To McCollister, having a thriving arts community is essential to the growth and development of the Greater Omaha area.

“People want culture,” he said. “Art and design are fundamental to that. You can’t have an interesting, thriving, challenging and compelling place to live without art.”

Supporting the aforementioned organizaCOUNTING DOWN

Handmade wooden ornaments. tions also helps McCollister in what he calls miss a supply delivery. Because he shares the the “long play.” By going to events populated shop with five other men, someone was able to by art patrons he is able to meet potential accept the delivery, avoiding delayed materials clients that may one day need a dining room and frustrated vendors. table, reception desk or even a sculpture.

Another added benefit, the ability to refer Because every piece is custom, McCol- each other for projects. lister is generally only working on physically “One of us will be asked to do something building one project at we’re not exactly cut a time, with up to four Long Grain Furniture out for but a lot of the in the design phase. Phone: 646-228-7879 time there’s someone Right now he’s work- Address: 2101 Woolworth Ave, Building else in the shop that’s ing on five. better suited for it so 5, Omaha 68108 Recent projects Founded: 2014 we can turn the job include the bar for the Service: custom, locally-made furniture over to them,” McCoTiny House Bar in the Outlook: Organizations that are working llister said.

Little Italy/Little Bo- to elevate the status of artists in the The space was a hemia neighborhood; community are prompting awareness big jump for McCothe altar for the new and a desire for locally made products. llister, who had reCountryside Commu- Website: longgrainfurniture.com turned home from a nity Church; and the six-year stint in New reception desk and a community table for the York City looking for a 2,000-square-foot Centerline Apartments. space.

Long Grain Furniture is based out of the McCollister received his MFA in SculpOmaha Quartermaster Depot Historic District ture in 2000 and moved to New York to work off of 22nd Street and Woolworth Avenue. as a sculptor. Originally his only interest in McCollister fronts the overhead costs for the woodworking was in relation to building small 5,200-square-foot building and then leases the parts needed for his sculptures but after clients space with five other local tradespeople work- began asking for furniture he shifted gears. ing in cabinetry and laminate countertops, “Since I’ve been back in Omaha people fixtures and residential remodeling. have been telling me that my furniture is art“The added benefit is that we’re helping work and it’s made me think of myself more each other out every day,” he said. “Whether as an artist again,” he said. it’s helping flip something or how a joint In his free time he’s begun experimenting should look.” with items that can be both decorative and For example, recently one of the men was functional, saying, “the middle ground is held up at his kid’s school and was going to interesting to me.”

Answers on page 12.

Bowl and table.

12

• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Retirement: The case for 70 being the new 65

by Carla Fried

Age 65 has long been the go-to target date for retiring. But it is in need of a 21st century update. Increased longevity for people who reach age 65 makes a case that age 70 is the Retirement equivalent of the 65 of our grandparents.

The age 65 retirement norm is a product of Social Security. When the program was first launched in the 1930s, 65 was the age when participants were eligible for full retirement benefits. Reform in the early 1980s raised Social Security’s full retirement age. Anyone born in 1960 or later now must wait until age 67 to receive 100% of earned benefits; starting sooner (you can begin as early as age 62) means accepting a reduced benefit. Yet it is still common for retirement-planning tools to default to age 65 as the norm. Old habits die hard.

Yet even 67 looks a bit young as a target retirement date. In a research paper for the Brookings Institution, academics from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College explained that, if the goal is to maintain the same ratio of work years-to-retirement years as was the norm in the 1940s, the correct national retirement age should be 69 years and nine months, rounded up to 70.

That should dispel any notion that working a bit longer than one’s parents or grandparents is somehow unfair. In reality, stopping work in your 60s is the potentially unfair move, as it puts more pressure on you to live off of retirement income for a very long period. Indeed, today’s 50-something workers often cite “working longer” as a key part of their retirement plan. That’s a smart intention, but without careful planning it may not be practical.

The challenge is to set yourself up to be able to have the right type of work in your 60s. There’s a good chance it may not be where you’re working in your 50s. The Urban Institute tracked government employment data for workers from age 50 to 65 and found that half suffered at least one involuntary job loss,

and among people who are laid off, 90% never made as much when they found another job.

Depressing? Yes. Are you powerless?

C’mon. Here’s how to build a retirement plan that will enable you to navigate your 60s, so you can land in full-blown retirement in your 70s in solid financial shape.

-Make a work downshift a feature, not a bug of your retirement plan. Take a look around your office. How many 66-, 67- or 68-year-olds are there? Not many, right?

The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies suggests there is a disconnect at work. In a recent survey, three in four employers insisted that they are “aging friendly,” yet barely half of employees felt the same. Sure, you can hope that between now and when you are in your 60s that employers become more enlightened, but the safer move is to not need to keep your current job (read: current salary) through your 60s. Your goal should be that you can afford to take a less intense job at a lower salary in your 60s. And that requires making some smart choices right now.

Keep reading.

-Save. More. Now. If your retirement strategy is to need to keep saving in your 401(k) and IRA all the way until age 70, you are putting pressure on yourself to keep earning enough to be able to do that.

To avoid that pickle, the goal should be to save as much as possible right now.

In 2020, anyone at least 50 years old can save as much as $26,000 in a 401(k) or 403(b) and up to $7,000 in an IRA. By saving more now, you also give that money more time to benefit from compound growth. A dollar invested at age 55 is going to be a lot more valuable at age 80 than a dollar you invested at 65.

If you can front-load more savings into your 50s, you give yourself breathing room to save less (or not need to save any more) in your 60s. That can be a huge help if you decide you want to downshift to a less demanding job, or you get pushed out of your career job. In either of those scenarios, all you would need to do is

find work in your 60s that can pay your current bills and allows you to leave your retirement savings marinating for a few more years before you start making any withdrawals.

-Spend. Less. Now. Perhaps you just read the prior advice and had a thought along the lines of “Yeah, right. As if I have more money to save.” You likely do, but only if you are open to reconsidering some of your spending choices.

Let’s start in the garage or driveway.

Any car payments? Your goal should be to get those paid off ASAP and then keep driving the car for many more years payment-free. Those are years where you can redirect the car payment into your retirement account. The average car payment is more than $520 a month. Save that much for five years, earning a 5% annualized return, and you will have more than $35,000 saved. If that $35,000 stays invested for another 15 years, it will be worth more than $58,000, assuming the same 5% annualized gain.

Got kids prepping for college? Frame the hunt as a search for a family dream school. The best school is one where your kid will emerge with a manageable amount of student loans, and you will not need to take out PLUS loans. Without the extra cost of PLUS loan repayments, you won’t feel so much pressure to keep earning a higher salary through your 60s.

If you plan to stay put in your home, another way to land in your 60s with

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more financial flexibility is to have the mortgage paid off in your early 60s.

Without that big-ticket claim on your cash flow, you will be fine if you are earning less. Or if your plan is to downsize to cut costs, perhaps you move that up in your retirement planning timeline, if practical.

If you land in your 60s without the pressure to hold on to your high-salary job, you shift the dynamics in your favor. If you don’t need to keep saving more for retirement, and the mortgage and other debts are paid off, you can set your sights on less intense work, perhaps with a flexible schedule. That’s going to go a long way to making working until age 70 not just practical, but more appealing too. ©2019 Rate.com News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 •

13

Will the U.S. economy steer clear of a recession in 2020?

by Susan Tompor

Could the U.S. economy really avoid a recession in 2020?

Well, the answer, as of late December anyway, is yes.

The longest economic expansion in U.S. history, which kicked Economy off in June 2009, apparently has more gas in the tank. It’s quite a change from last summer’s cloudy rumblings when some experts saw the the odds going up for the possibility of a recession by mid-2020.

Remember back in August when the Dow Jones industrial average tanked 800 points in just one day after a key signal in the bond market fueled fears of a recession ahead? The Dow closed at 25,479.42 on Aug. 14.

Now, never mind.

“I expect that the U.S. economy will avoid a recession in 2020,” said Robert A. Dye, chief economist at Comerica Bank.

Look for modest growth. Dye is forecasting that the nation’s gross domestic product — the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S. — will increase at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.9% in 2020.

That’s cooling down from 2.3% in 2019.

No recession isn’t a done deal While the outlook is generally rosy now, the no-recession mantra is far from written in stone.

All it takes is one more big run-in with China. Or a shift toward rising interest rates to drive up the cost of bloated corporate debt enough to send another round of pink slips to America’s workforce.

And there’s all the political drama: President Donald Trump’s impeachment (Trump is not expected to be removed from office by the GOP-led Senate), as well as the 2020 Democratic presidential primary debates, primaries and caucuses.

“Consumer and business confidence may slip as negative campaigning increases through 2020,” Dye said.

“It is fair to say that the business community has concerns about either a Sanders or a Warren presidency,” Dye said, referring to Democratic candidates U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Slower growth, of course, means that the U.S. economy would be more vulnerable to any hiccups or outside shocks that might trigger a downturn.

Again, might.

Yet if a recession took place, Dye said, it’s more likely that it would be less damaging than the last recession, which ran from December 2007 to June 2009.

Market watchers are using the adjectives “shallow” and “short-lived” to describe any possible recession in the near term.

Growth expected to be middling Most aren’t forecasting economic mayhem in 2020.

A no-recession forecast for 2020 was issued by University of Michigan economists, as well.

The forecast, produced by U-M’s Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics, noted that “economic growth has subsided after a sugar high of corporate tax cuts, investment incentives and lavish federal spending.”

As a result, the economy is likely to slow down but not come to a standstill. The U-M economists said: “Real GDP growth in 2019 promises to be middling.”

Among other things, the U-M forecast is calling for: -Light vehicle sales to slow to 16.8 million cars and light trucks in 2020 and 16.7 million vehicles in 2021 — down from an expected 17 million units in 2019.

-The annual U.S. jobless rate to inch down further to 3.5% in 2020 and 3.4% in 2021 — down from 3.7% in 2019.

-Job gains to stay steady in the 130,000 to 140,000 per month range in 2020-21.

-Total housing starts to rise modestly to 1.26 million units in 2020 and 1.28 million units in 2021 — up from 1.25 million in 2019.

In 2020, key signals to watch include jobs, consumer confidence, consumer spending and trade.

Consumers need paychecks to keep spending Economic anxiety was clearly the backdrop of the 2016 presidential election. New data released by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis show how a national slump in economic growth in 2016 fell most heavily on “Trump country,” according to a December report by Reuters.

A weak jobs picture in many parts of the country, including small towns and rural communities, fueled Trump’s campaign pledge to protect U.S. manufacturing and bring back jobs to the country.

In 2020 if the U.S. jobless rate starts going up, consumers could become increasingly on edge. Kiplinger’s noted that if the jobless rate starts rising above 4%, we likely would be looking at the start of a recession.

Companies seem to continue to find all sorts of excuses to cut back or hold back on making investments — the trade war, the worries about impeachment proceedings, softening economies abroad.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said in mid-December that he’s picking up

a “mood of concern, or it’s a mood of angst about growth going forward.”

Yet the lowly shopper has kept on shopping, either online or stopping by traditional stores.

Consumer spending has been key to the U.S. economy as business investment has slacked off.

“Consumers have been pulling their weight,” said Kurt Rankin, economist for the PNC Financial Services Group, noting that consumer spending has remained the main driver of economic growth.

If consumers lose jobs — or lose confidence for some reason — they would be more likely to hold onto their wallets more tightly in 2020.

Rankin said he will be keeping an eye on personal consumption expenditures, or household spending, in the new year.

Trump’s trade war with China — or what Rankin says often has turned into trade rhetoric — created much uncertainty in 2019 for the stock market, as well as for business owners. Many times, a late-hour deal clears the air and allows the economy to move ahead.

“President Trump’s truce in the trade war has reduced recession odds in 2020 to well less than even,” said Moody’s economist Mark Zandi.

“But since the trade war remains unsettled and will likely revive after the election if Trump is re-elected, businesses will remain cautious and economic growth in 2020 will be pedestrian,” Zandi said.

While stock prices are currently at record highs, consumer confidence also remains strong.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed at a record 28,267.16 points on Dec. 17. That’s up nearly 11% since that August slump.

Some market watchers even think that the

U.S. bull market for stocks could celebrate its 11th birthday in March 2020.

“If a recession was likely,” Zandi continued, “the stock market would fall sharply in value, as investors anticipate a tough economy and falling corporate profits.”

“Big declines in consumer confidence are also a red flag that a recession is imminent,” Zandi said.

Zandi said the odds of a recession in 2020 clearly have declined.

But he expressed concerns that a recession could hit in 2021, particularly if Trump is re-elected and opts to double-down on his trade war.

“A revival of the trade war with China is the prescription for a recession,” Zandi said.

Right now, he said investors are ignoring the impeachment because it is likely that Trump will “remain president and the impeachment doesn’t appear to have any bearing on how people will vote in the upcoming election.”

Investors and businesses could turn very unsure about the economy, though, in 2020 depending on the course of the presidential elections, given the wide differences in economic policy espoused by Trump and the Democratic candidates, he said.

Moving into early 2020, though, the optimism remains fairly high, thanks to a combination of low interest rates, improving profits and less uncertainty on tariffs, according to David Sowerby, managing director at Ancora Advisors.

Companies continue doing deals and acquisitions, as well, he said.

“The economy will stay positive in 2020,” Sowerby said, “But keep looking over your shoulder for signs of weakness.” ©2019 Detroit Free Press Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Latest opportunity zone rules give developers, investors breathing room, experts say

by Rob Wile and Rebecca San Juan

After almost two years of ambiguity, the Trump administration released final rules governing opportunity zones, a move that experts say will lead to Economy increased interest and investment in the program.

“Treasury has cleared up a number of areas, and we now have guidance that taxpayers can rely on that will lead to a lot more investment,” said Michael Novogradac, managing partner in the San Francisco office of Novogradac & Company LLP and an original proponent of the zones. “We’re pleased with the overall result, and expect there to be more investment dollars available.”

The opportunity zone program took effect in 2018 but has gone through multiple revisions as numerous issues were raised regarding eligibility and types of investments allowed. The United States Department of the Treasury released its final, 544-page report recently.

One big change: The period for investing gains from the sale of business assets, including most business real estate, now begins on the sale date; previously, it was the end of the year in which assets were sold. To get the full 15% gain exclusion, the investment had to be be made by Dec. 31, 2019, and held for a period of at least ten years to avoid tax on gain realized from the investment in the

OZ fund. The deferred gain invested in the OZ fund must generally be recognized by Dec. 31, 2026, less the 15% or 10% gain exclusions, as applicable.

“The timing issue was very important,” said David Blum, deputy chair of Akerman LP’s tax practice group. “Before, it made no sense.”

A survey from Novogradac showed that as the end of the year approaches, funds formed to invest in opportunity zones reported having raised nearly $4.5 billion — about 40% higher than its last report about 50 days ago.

In terms of investment focus, Novogradac said, residential real estate continues to lead the way, and nearly 50% of capital raised is in funds with a national geographic focus.

That remains the case in Miami-Dade.

Prominent local opportunity zone projects include The Solé Mia Shoreline mixed-use residential and commercial project in North Miami, and the 18-story Soleste Grand Central in Overtown.

Among Treasury’s other final rulings: -Only eligible capital gains taxable in the United States may be invested in a qualified opportunity zone fund.

-Non-resident foreign individuals and foreign corporations may make opportunity zone investments with capital gains that are “effectively connected” to a U.S. trade or business.

-The entire amount of capital gains from sale of investments can be invested in a qualified fund, as opposed to only amounts greater than losses from those sales.

The department also clarified what types of developments can receive investment from a fund — namely, new construction.

Previously it was not clear if that category strictly qualified.

And now, if a developer purchased an existing building in an opportunity zone for $1 million, the firm no longer has to invest another $1 million to renovate the building.

“The thought was before you had to put all investment in improving an existing structure,” Jaime Sturgis, founder and CEO of Fort Lauderdale-based commercial real estate brokerage Native Realty, said. “Now, you can put that money towards building an adjacent, ground up development. The idea is that a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Experts predict investment activity will pick up in the county’s opportunity zones.

“The new regulations are extremely positive and flexible in allowing developers to raise money,” said Ronnie Fieldstone, partner at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP. “Before you had very strict time constraints. As an investor, it gives me more time on where I should invest.” ©2019 Miami Herald Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• JANUARY 3, 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).

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

Payment options are cash or check.

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

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

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

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 VIRAL PROPERTIES, LLC The name of the Company is Viral Properties, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 3604 North 165th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: James Kuna, 3604 North 165th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. This limited liability company commenced business on December 10, 2019.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 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 PSG PROPERTIES, LLC The name of the Company is PSG Properties, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 2402 North 179th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. 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 December 12, 2019.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 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 CX PILOT LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CX Pilot LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 2711 South 99th Avenue, 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 December 12, 2019.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is WAKIN BACON, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 804 North 9th Street, Plattsmouth, NE, 68048. The registered agent is Julia K. Palzer and the Registered Agent's address is 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6, Omaha, NE 68154.

3. The general nature of the Company is a food wagon.

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

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

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-1877 Estate of MARJORIE H. QUIST, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on 18th day of December, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Intestacy of the Estate of Marjorie H. Quist and that the following surviving daughters were appointed as the Co-Successor Personal Representatives of this Estate: Karen M. Armstrong, 10000 Benton, Lincoln, NE 68527 Susan A. Quist, 5723 East Irish Place, Centennial, CO Amy Lynn Black, 817 North Turner Ave., Hastings, NE 68901 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 February 27, 2020 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication December 27, 2019, final January 10, 2020

SUMM AVIVA Y. GORDON, ESQ. Gordon Law, LLC Nevada Bar No. 5333 2850 W. Horizon Ridge, Suite 200 Henderson, NV 89052 (702)527-5557 agordon@gordonlawlv.com Attorneys for ROAM Nevada Trust and Home Loan Services, LLC DISTRICT COURT CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA ROAM NEVADA TRUST, a Nevada Trust Company and HOME LOAN SERVICES, LLC, a Nevada Limited Liability Company vs LK OMAHA I, LLC, a Wyoming limited liabilityCompany, EDWIN W. LESLIE, and DOES 1 – 10 Defendants Business Court Requested Plaintiffs, Case No. A-19-799512-B Dept.

No. 13 Exempt from Arbitration - Declaratory Relief Requested SUMMONS NOTICE! YOU HAVE BEEN SUED. THE COURT MAY DECIDE AGAINST YOU WITHOUT YOUR BEING HEARD UNLESS YOU RESPOND WITHIN 20 DAYS. READ THE INFORMATION BELOW. TO THE DEFENDANT(S): A civil Complaint has been filed by the Plaintiff(s) against you for relief set forth in the Complaint.

1. If you intend to defend this lawsuit, within 20 days after this Summons is served on you, exclusive of the day of service, you must do the following: (a) File with the Clerk of this court, whose address is shown below, a formal written response to the Complaint in accordance with the rules of the Court, with the appropriate filing fee. (b) Serve a copy of your response upon the attorney whose name and address is shown above.

2. Unless you respond, your default will be entered upon application of the Plaintiff(s) and failure to so respond will result in a judgment of default against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint, which could result in the taking of money or property or other relief requested in the Complaint.

3. If you intend to seek the advice of an attorney in this matter, you should do so promptly so that your response may be filed on time.

4. The State of Nevada, its political subdivisions, agencies, officers, employees, board members, commission members and legislators each have 45 days after service of this Summons within which to file an Answer or other responsive pleading to the Complaint.

STEVEN D. GRIERSON CLERK OF THE COURT Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89155 Aviva Y. Gordon, Esq., 2850 W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy., Suite 200, Henderson, NV 89052 Attorney for Plaintiff A civil Complaint has been filed by ROAM NEVADA TRUST, a Nevada trust Company and HOME LOAN SERVICES, LLC, a Nevada Limited Liability Company (the “Plaintiff”) against Edwin W. Leslie for Declaratory Relief, Breach of Guaranty, Breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing and for Alter Ego. The Plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $15,000. Unless Mr. Leslie responds to the Plaintiff’s Complaint, Mr. Leslie’s default will be entered upon application of the Plaintiff, and a judgment of default may be entered against Mr. Leslie for relief requested in the Complaint.

First publication December 13, 2019, final January 3, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MJMM, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MJMM, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The limited liability company shall provide consulting services. The designated office of the limited liability company is 4838 S 236th Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. 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 December 13, 2019.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 ANDREW J. HUBER, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF SEEDS DANCE PROJECT, INC. Notice is hereby given that a nonprofit corporation has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the corporation is Seeds Dance Project, Inc. The corporation is a public benefit corporation and will not have members. The name and street address of the corporation’s initial registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The name and address of the incorporator is LDM Business Services, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114.

LDM Business Services, Incorporator First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 SCOTT D. JOCHIM, 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 MEADOWLARK LEASING, LLC The name of the limited liability company is Meadowlark Leasing, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 436 South 161st Street, Omaha, NE 68118. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Scott D. Jochim, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 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 AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE ORGANIZATION Please take notice that the Certificate of Organization for Guadalupe Acosta, LLC has been amended to change the name of the limited liability company to 5223 Gertrude Street, LLC, and the designated office address and registered agent address have been changed to 5936 Q Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68117.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 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 AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE ORGANIZATION Please take notice that the Certificate of Organization for La Joya, LLC has been amended to change the name of the limited liability company to 4018 S 60th Street, LLC, and the designated office address and registered agent address have been changed to 5936 Q Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68117.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Peyton’s Carpet Creations, 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 Peyton’s Carpet Creations, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara MedberyPrchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 21021 Brittany Circle, Elkhorn, NE 68022.

Paul Peyton, Member First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OFAMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION On September 1, 2019, an Amendment to the Certificate of Organization for Heather Hruby MS LMHP LADC, LLC was filed to change the name of the company to Embodied Mind Counseling, LLC. First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 BROWN & WOLFF, P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1925 North 120th Street, One Bennington Place Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF QUANTUM GRETNA, LLC NOTICE is hereby given that Quantum Gretna, LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of its registered office is 1925 North 120th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The purpose of the Company shall be to have such purposes and to engage in such activities with the exception of banking and insurance as may be mutually agreed upon by the Members from time to time, and which are not prohibited by the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The Company commenced on the 12th day of December, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by its Members and/or Managers as set forth in the terms of the company’s Operating Agreement from time to time.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 RUSSELL J. KREIKEMEIER, Attorney KREIKEMEIER LAW OFFICES 126 East Grove Street West Point, Nebraska 68788 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF CORPORATION Notice is hereby given of the Dissolution of Stavas Medical Imaging, Inc., a Nebraska Business Corporation, with its principal place of business in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. Pursuant to the provisions of the statutes of the State of Nebraska, Stavas Medical Imaging, Inc. has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Secretary of State. The Articles of Dissolution contain the express will of the sole Shareholder to dissolve the Corporation and to wind up the Corporate business. It is hereby agreed to by the sole Shareholder and in accordance with the Articles of Dissolution that the proceeds of any assets of the Corporation shall first be paid in discharge of all Corporate liabilities. Creditors of this Corporation should file their claims with Joseph M. Stavas, c/o Russell J. Kreikemeier; 126 East Grove Street; West Point, Nebraska 68788.

EFFECTIVE the 5th day of November, 2019 Russell J. Kreikemeier First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF EAB PRODUCTIONS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that EAB Productions, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 6810 Underwood Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68132. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES 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 RANCH VIEW INVESTMENTS, LLC The name of the limited liability company is Ranch View Investments, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 13838 R Plaza, Omaha, NE 68137. 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 December 20, 2019, final January 3, 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 AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE ORGANIZATION Please take notice that the Certificate of Organization for Tacos Y Tacos, LLC has been amended to change the name of the limited liability company to Hacienda De Garcia, LLC. First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 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 AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE ORGANIZATION Please take notice that the Certificate of Organization for Maquina 501, LLC has been amended to change the name of the limited liability company to 4006 S 60th Street, LLC, and the designated office address and registered agent address have been changed to 5936 Q Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68117.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 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 AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE ORGANIZATION Please take notice that the Certificate of Organization for Legado Garcia, LLC has been amended to change the name of the limited liability company to 1510 Galvin Road S, LLC, and the designated office address and registered agent address have been changed to 5936 Q Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68117.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF CASTINADO ENTERPRISES, INC. Notice is hereby given that a corporation has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the corporation is CASTINADO ENTERPRISES, INC. The corporation is authorizied to issue 10,000 shares of common stock. The name and street address of the corporation’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara MedberyPrchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128, and its incorporator is Brett Castinado, 5151 N. 150th Street, Lincoln, NE 68037.

Brett Castinado, Incorporator First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 GNUSE & GREEN LAW OFFICES, P.C., Attorneys 11311 Chicago Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF TLC AT HOME, INC. Registered Office: 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. Authorized capital stock is $10,000 to be fully paid and non-assessable on issue. 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 December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 KATHRYN J. DERR, Attorney BERKSHIRE & BURMEISTER 1301 South 75th Street, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ROYAL TERRACE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ROYAL TERRACE, 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 1301 s 75th Street, Ste. 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The registered office of the Company is 1301 S 75th St. Ste. 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, and the agent at such office is Kathryn J. Derr.

The general nature of the business to be transacted by the company is any lawful business which may be carried on by a limited liability company organized under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The company commenced operations on November 19, 2019, and shall have a perpetual duration.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020

BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF TAW INTERIORS, INC. TAW INTERIORS, INC., a Nebraska corporation (the "Corporation"), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State with a dissolution date effective December 11, 2019. The terms of the dissolution provide for the payment of liabilities of the Corporation and the distribution of any remaining assets to the Shareholder of the Corporation. Terry A. Whitney, President, will manage the Corporation's affairs and distribute its assets. As of the close of business on December 11, 2019, the Corporation had no liabilities and no assets.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 RUSSELL S. DAUB, Attorney 2800 South 110th Court, Suite 1 Omaha, Nebraska 68144-4818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION FOR KOKAMO, 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 KOKAMO, LLC. The address of the registered office is 1515 S. 182nd Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 and the name of the company’s initial registered agent is PAUL DANIEL KOLKMAN. 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 December 13, 2019, and its duration shall be perpetual. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by its Members.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 ROBERT J. LIKES, Attorney LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JAL AG, LLC Notice is hereby given that JAL AG, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office and registered office of the Company is 1682 County Road G, Wahoo, Nebraska 68066, and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is John Walker Luedtke.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: ELIZABETH NEAL You are hereby notified that on 07/08/19, the Plaintiff Credit Management Services, Inc., filed a Complaint in the COUNTY Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska, against you shown as Case Number CI19 15000. The object and prayer of which is a judgment in the amount of 352.50, plus court costs, pre-judgment interest and attorney fees, if applicable.

The Complaint prays that judgment be entered against you. You are hereby notified that you must answer the Complaint on or before 02/02/20 at the COUNTY court of DOUGLAS County, OMAHA Nebraska.

Steven J. Morrison #24708 P.O. Box 1512 Grand Island, NE 68802 (308)398-3801 Attorney for Plaintiff First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: JORDAN DOUGLESS You are hereby notified that on 07/16/19, the Plaintiff Credit Management Services, Inc., filed a Complaint in the COUNTY Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska, against you shown as Case Number CI19 15622. The object and prayer of which is a judgment in the amount of 500.00, 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 02/02/20 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 December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF POHLMEIER CONCRETE, 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 December 13, 2019, final December 27, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Five Solas, 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 16511 Ehlers Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68135. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Adam Childs, 16511 Ehlers Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68135.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020

15

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that ConnectedPlanet, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 3334 S. 104th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The registered agent of the Company is Paul W. Ludwick, 3334 S. 104th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Company was formed on December 17, 2019.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ANNA OURADA HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Anna Ourada Holdings, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 15310 Amy Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ADAMS BURKS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Adams Burks, 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 5734 North 79th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68134 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 December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), GARRETT LOMELI You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 07/11/2019 on Case Number CI19-15846, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $336.26, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 02/03/2020 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), CRYSTAL J GUERRERO You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 09/10/2019 on Case Number CI19-20735, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $201.40, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 02/03/2020 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), NICHOLE L TROVATO You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 09/17/2019 on Case Number CI19-21045, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $128.62, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 02/03/2020 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 BRENT M. KUHN, Attorney 900 South 75th Street, Suite B Omaha, Nebraska 68114 IN THE COUNTY COURT OF DOUGLAS COUNTY, NEBRASKA IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF: JAYSON BRUNO PODERYS, Minor.

ORDER FOR HEARING Case No.: AD 19-278 YOU AND EACH OF YOU are hereby notified that the Petition for Step-Parent Adoption shall be heard by the Honorable Hendrix on the 16th day of January, 2020, at 1:30 p.m., in Courtroom # 330 in County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1701 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68183.

DATED this 19th day of December, 2019.

BY THE COURT: The Honorable MARCENA HENDRIX Judge First publication December 27, 2019, final January 10, 2020

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Corporate Name: Satyaysalud, Inc. Registered Agent: Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C., L.L.O. Registered Office: Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C., 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, NE68114 Authorized Number of Shares: 10,000 shares Incorporator: Charles V. Sederstrom, Jr. Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C., 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68114 First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MASTERCRAFT APARTMENTS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Mastercraft Apartments, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1536 Cuming Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SCM LINCOLN 1601 GP, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SCM Lincoln 1601 GP, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

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

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SCM LINCOLN 1601, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SCM Lincoln 1601, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

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

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 72ND STREET INVESTMENTS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 72nd Street Investments, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 222 South 15th Street, Suite 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, and its mailing address is P.O. Box 428, Boys Town, Nebraska 68010. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 MARKS CLARE & RICHARDS, L.L.C., Attorneys 11605 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 N O T I C E O F A M E N D M E N T S TO T H E A RT I C L E S O F INCORPORATION OF PERINATAL ASSOCIATES, P.C. Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of Perinatal Associates, P.C., a Nebraska corporation, have been amended to provide the following: 1) That the aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Eighty Thousand (80,000) shares of common stock at the par value of One Dollar ($1.00) per share, and 2) That the affairs of the corporation shall be conducted by a Board of Directors consisting of not less than three, but not more than eight directors, all of whom shall be shareholders of the corporation.

Andrew W. Robertson, M.D., President First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Cano Complete Cleaning, Inc. has been incorporated under the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. The street address of the corporation's initial registered office is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name of the initial registered agent of the corporation at that office is M. Tyler Johnson. The corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 shares of Common Stock. The name and street address of the sole incorporator of the corporation are M. Tyler Johnson, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication December 20, 2019, final January 3, 2020

ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF AK-SAR-BEN HOLDINGS, INC. AK-SAR-BEN Holdings, Inc., a Nebraska corporation, has been dissolved pursuant to the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. The corporation has collected its assets, disposed of its properties which were not distributed in kind to its shareholders, discharged or made provision for the discharge of its liabilities, distributed its remaining property among its shareholders according to their interests, and done every other act necessary to wind up and liquidate its business and affairs. Barbara Simonsen, President of the corporation, was the person who was responsible for winding up and liquidating the business and affairs of the corporation.

The corporation has no remaining assets or liabilities.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Connect Human Performance, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 4463 S. 145th Street, #5214, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The registered agent of the Company is Michael Servais, 5061 S. 135th Street, #5214, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The Company was formed on December 18, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION 1. The name of the corporation is HYDRONICS, INC. 2. The address of the registered office is 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6, Omaha, Nebraska 68154.

3. That on September 4, 2019 the Corporation approved a Resolution to Dissolve the Corporation and that on December 17, 2019 the corporation filed Articles of Dissolution with the Secretary of State.

4. The corporation’s president, Effie Kullenberg, will facilitate the wind up and liquidation of the corporation, which ceased operations on September 4, 2019 At this time the Corporation has assets of less than $2,000.00 and has liabilities in excess of $2,000.00 5. All creditors of HYDRONICS, INC., you have 120 days from the date of this notice to file said claim. If you wish to submit a claim against HYDRONICS, INC., please mail notification of your claim to HYDRONICS, INC. c/o Jeffrey T. Palzer, 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6, Omaha, NE 68154.

6. All claims must include the identity of the claimant, the amount of the claim, and the nature of the claim. All claims received after 120 days have elapsed since the date of this notice will be forever barred.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 BLACKSTONE MEATBALL WEST, LLC The name of the Company is Blackstone Meatball West, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1108 South 84th Street, 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 December 18, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 SAL1, LLC The name of the Company is SAL1, 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 December 19, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION 1. The name of the Corporation is Epic PLD, Inc. 2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 shares of common stock having a par value of $1.00 each.

3. The Registered Office of the Corporation is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 68124, and the Registered Agent at such address is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O. 4. Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 20, 2019; however, the corporate existence will begin on January 1, 2020.

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

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION KP Writes, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska on 12/02/2019, with its designated office and registered agent: Mark Adam Perley, 7902 S. 190th Ave, Omaha, NE 68136. The general nature of the business: Freelance business writing services. The company shall be Member-Managed.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 PERLEBACH SECURITIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Perlebach Securities, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 516 South 96th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is George J. Perlebach, 516 South 96th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The limited liability company commenced business on December 19, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 EPIC, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Epic, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 9300 Underwood Avenue, Suite 500, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on December 19, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 ADDRAD, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 17, 2019, with an effective date of December 31, 2019, and the company is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the company are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore, and that the balance of any remaining assets are to be distributed to its Member. Dr. Allen Dvorak will wind up and liquidate the company’s business and affairs. If you have a claim against the company, please provide the following information with respect to your claim: (1) your name or the name of your entity; (2) the nature of your claim; (3) the amount of your claim; and (4) the date your claim arose.

All claims shall be mailed to 9733 Brentwood Road, Suite 205, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. A claim against the company is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 OF CN FRANCHISE HOLDCO, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CN Franchise Holdco, Inc., a Nebraska corporation (“Corporation”), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 20, 2019, and the Corporation is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the Corporation are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore. The President of the Corporation, will wind up and liquidate the Corporation’s business and affairs. The Corporation has no assets or liabilities as of the date hereof.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 OF CR HOLDCO, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CR Holdco, Inc., a Nebraska corporation (“Corporation”), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 20, 2019, and the Corporation is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the Corporation are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore. The CEO of the Corporation will wind up and liquidate the Corporation’s business and affairs. The Corporation has no assets or liabilities as of the date hereof.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 NEW YEAR PROPERTIES, LLC The name of the Company is New Year 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 December 26, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Eccker Enterprises, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68154. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Kelsey M. Weiler, 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68154.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES 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 OMAHA UROLOGY PARTNERS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Omaha Urology Partners, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 10707 Pacific Street, Suite 101, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on December 23, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 192ND BUILDING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 192nd Building, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 8005 Farnam Drive, Suite 305, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Douglas J. Long, M.D., 8005 Farnam Drive, Suite 305, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The limited liability company commenced business on December 23, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 SGH Concepts, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 19, 2019, and the company is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the company are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore, and that the balance of any remaining assets are to be distributed to its Members. If you have a claim against SGH Concepts, 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 742 N. 109th Court, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. A claim against SGH Concepts, 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 January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF WRA RESEARCH GROUP, INC. WRA RESEARCH GROUP, INC., a Nebraska corporation (the "Corporation"), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State with a dissolution date effective December 17, 2019. The terms of the dissolution provide for the payment of liabilities of the Corporation and the distribution of any remaining assets to the Shareholder of the Corporation. Tom A. Wiese, President, will manage the Corporation's affairs and distribute its assets. As of the close of business on December 17, 2019, the Corporation had no liabilities and no assets.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF PULMONARY MEDICINE ASSOCIATES OF NEBRASKA P.C. PULMONARY MEDICINE ASSOCIATES OF NEBRASKA, P.C., a Nebraska corporation (the "Corporation"), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State with a dissolution date effective December 31, 2019. The terms of the dissolution provide for the payment of liabilities of the Corporation and the distribution of any remaining assets to the Shareholder of the Corporation. Lon W. Keim, M.D., President, will manage the Corporation's affairs and distribute its assets. As of the close of business on December 31, 2019 the Corporation had no liabilities and no assets.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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: SGH Concepts Name of Applicant: SGH Redglaze Holdings, Inc. Address: 742 N. 109th Court, Omaha, Nebraska 68154 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: 12/16/19 General nature of business: Any lawful Business.

TRACY SALMMAN Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative January 3, 2020

BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Staffolutions, 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 Staffolutions, 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 18801 Lafayette Avenue, Elkhorn, NE 68022.

Maura Roddy, Member First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Patriot Holdings 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 19903 Elkhorn Ridge Drive, Elkhorn, NE 68022. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are R. Craig Fry, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is INSPIRED EVENTS, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 10701 Mockingbird Drive, Omaha, NE 68130. The registered agent is Jeffrey T. Palzer and the Register Agent's address is 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6, Omaha, NE 68154.

3. The general nature of the Company is wellness.

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

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

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is AMR ENTERPRISES, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 16380 Grebe Street, Bennington, NE 68007. The registered agent is Charles Ring and the Register Agent's address is 16380 Grebe Street, Bennington, NE 68007.

3. The general nature of the Company is transition services for seniors.

4. The Company commenced on December 23, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence.

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

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 88 TACTICAL OMAHA, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 88 Tactical Omaha, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 222 South 15th Street, Suite 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, and its mailing address is P.O. Box 428, Boys Town, Nebraska 68010. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 GNUSE & GREEN LAW OFFICES, P.C., Attorneys 11311 Chicago Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF I LOVE PAD THAI, INC. Registered Office: 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. Authorized capital stock is $10,000 to be fully paid and non-assessable on issue. Perpetual existence commenced December 20, 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 January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION M J Squared 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 9906 N. 52nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68152. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Robert M. Schartz, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020

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JAMES D. BUSER, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF D&K HOLDINGS, INC. D&K HOLDINGS, INC., a Nebraska corporation (the "Corporation"), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State with a dissolution date effective December 20, 2019. The terms of the dissolution provide for the payment of liabilities of the Corporation and the distribution of any remaining assets to the Shareholders of the Corporation. David M. Nelson, President, will manage the Corporation's affairs and distribute its assets. As of the close of business on December 20, 2019, the Corporation had no liabilities and no assets.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 LAW OFFICES OF EVELYN N. BABCOCK 16264 Rolling Ridge Road Omaha, Nebraska 68135 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that RJRV, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska on December 19, 2019. The street and mailing address for the initial designated office is 16264 Rolling Ridge Rd, Omaha, Nebraska. The street and mailing address for the initial agent for service of process is 16264 Rolling Ridge Rd, Omaha, Nebraska 68135.

The name of the initial agent for service of process is George T. Babcock.

The general nature of the business is any and all business which is lawful under the Uniform Limited Liability Act of the State of Nebraska. The business of limited liability company will be conducted by its Members.

George T. Babcock, Organizer First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BARTHOLOMEW RESTAURANT HOLDINGS, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Bartholomew Restaurant Holdings, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is Bartholomew Restaurant Holdings, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF J&C SIMMENTALS LLC Notice is hereby given that J&C SIMMENTALS 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 1902 County Road 21, Bennington, NE 68007. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118-3121.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF EMILY PT LLC Notice is hereby given that EMILY PT 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 5815 Briggs Street, Omaha, NE 68106. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118-3121.

The Company’s members, managers, professional employees and agents are licensed or otherwise legally authorized to render services related to the providing of physical therapy services in this state.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Tixmatic, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 14301 FNB Parkway, Ste. 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154.

The registered agent of the Company is Thomas E. Whitmore, 7602 Pacific Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was formed on December 26, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ENDEBROCK REAL ESTATE, LLC Designated Office: 21213 Arbor Crt., Elkhorn, NE 68022 Initial Agent/Address For Service: Allan M. Ziebarth/1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 Purpose: To render the professional services of a duly licensed real estate salesperson First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES DAVID M. HOHMAN, Attorney FITZGERALD, SCHORR, BARMETTLER & BRENNAN, P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 10050 Regency Circle, 200 Regency One Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3794 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION JKCP 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 620 N. 114th Street, Omaha, NE 68154. The name, street address and mailing address of the initial agent for service of process of the Company are Justin M. Kohll, 620 N. 114th Street, Omaha, NE 68154.

Dated this 26th day of December, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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: DAVID M. WASHINGTON, 2921 Kansas Dr, Bellevue NE 68005, you are hereby notified that on November 11, 2019, American Family Mutual Ins. Co. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-24953, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $5,052.25, 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 24th day of February, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 24, 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: MELISSA M. CHLEBINSKI, 903 Donegal Circle, Papillion NE 68046, you are hereby notified that on November 14, 2019, Ford Motor Credit Company, LLC filed a suit against you in the Sarpy County Court at docket CI19-5407, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $7,793.63, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Sarpy County Court on or before the 24th day of February, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 24, 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: STONE CANYON KAUFFROATH, 6644 Charles Street, Omaha NE 68132, you are hereby notified that on November 12, 2019, American Family Mutual Ins. Co. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-25050, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $6,212.91, 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 24th day of February, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 24, 2020 TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that JTV FAMILY 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 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 December 12, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 C R O K E R , H U C K , K A S H E R , D e W I T T, A N D E R S O N & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Sandhills Wind Name of Applicant: Sandhills Wind Energy, LLC Address: 1209 Harney Street #400; Omaha, NE 68102 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: November 6, 2019 General nature of business: Wind Energy Michael Knapp Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative January 3, 2020

ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 S. 10th Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF BATTLESON ENTERPRISES LLC All claims against the company must be forwarded to the company c/o JEAN M. BATTLESON, 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108, and contain the name of the claimant, the nature and amount of the claim, and the address and a contact person for the claimant. A claim against the company is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 S. 10th Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF RCB MFG. & SUPPLY, INC. CYNTHIA M. GOFF, 1702 S. 10 St., Suite. 2, Omaha, NE 68108, President, will manage the wind up and liquidation of its business and affairs. Assets, if any, remaining after paying liabilities will be distributed pro-rata to the shareholders. All claims against the corporation must be forwarded to the corporation at the foregoing address and contain the name of the claimant, the nature and amount of the claim, and the address and a contact person for the claimant. A claim against the corporation is barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced within three years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020

CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR HILEY HUNT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, INC. Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management, Inc. were adopted on December 27, 2019, effective January 1st, 2020, to increase the amount of authorized shares to 1,960.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 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 OF OSCEOLA COMPANY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Osceola Company, a Nebraska corporation (“Corporation”), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 30, 2019, and effective December 31, 2019 and the Corporation is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the Corporation are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore. Johns S. Dinsdale, President of the Corporation, will wind up and liquidate the Corporation’s business and affairs. The Corporation has no assets or liabilities as of the date hereof.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 N O T I C E O F O R G A N I Z AT I O N O F A B O D E H O M E MANAGEMENT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Abode Home Management, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 13340 California Street, STE 104, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is Erin Anderson, 11422 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Online Trade Co, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The designated office of the Company is 5511 N. 111th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68164. The registered agent of the Company is Thomas E. Whitmore, 7602 Pacific Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was formed on December 26, 2019.

First publication January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020

ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PVB INTERIORS & DESIGN, 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 January 3, 2020, final January 17, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 •

19

Special software can help the blind access the internet, but not every website supports it

by Abdel Jimenez

Jose Martinez has been thwarted when buying concert tickets online. He changed banks after finding his financial institution’s mobile app wouldn’t work for him. Sometimes, when he can’t finalize a purchase on Technology an e-commerce site, he simply takes his business elsewhere.

Martinez, 37, is legally blind. The Chicago resident uses screen-reading software on his computer that converts text into descriptive speech, a technology that has made it possible for him to live independently.

“I live alone … I want to make my life as practical as possible,” Martinez said.

But not every website is compatible with the software Martinez and visually impaired consumers across the country use. There is no federal law requiring businesses to design websites that work with the tools blind and deaf consumers use to navigate the internet. Nor are there any federal guidelines on how to create one. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires companies to make accommodations for individuals with disabilities, but it was signed in 1990 when the internet was nascent, and it does not address websites.

As the internet has become an increasingly integral part of daily life, with everything from shopping and dating services to job applications moving online, there is a growing push to get companies to make their sites usable by all. But businesses and trade groups say that’s a costly, complex ask, and because of the lack of federal standards, it’s unclear how best to make the technological changes.

As a result, the number of lawsuits filed over companies’ websites is growing.

This year more than 2,200 cases have been filed in federal courts compared with 814 cases in 2017, according to UseableNet, a New York firm that helps businesses make their websites and mobile phone apps more suitable.

As the populace grows older and more Americans encounter age-related vision problems, the issue will become even more pressing, experts say.

“People access the world now through smart devices,” said Samantha Evans, certification manager at the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.

Efforts seek to give consumers “an equitable experience online,” she said.

No set standards Because the federal government has not imposed website accessibility standards, the issue has largely been left to the courts, and legal watchers say a suit filed against Domino’s Pizza may have opened the floodgates.

In October the U.S. Supreme Court denied Domino’s Pizza’s petition asking it to review a lower court ruling in a suit brought by a blind California man.

The lawsuit alleges Domino’s violated the ADA by not having a website and mobile app that worked with screen-reading software. The denial left in place a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that allowed the blind man’s lawsuit to move forward.

In its request to the Supreme Court, Domino’s warned, “Left undisturbed, the

Jose Martinez tests a website on his phone for its accessibility to visually impaired people at Chicago Lighthouse. Martinez, who is legally blind, works for the Lighthouse's accessibility consulting project, which helps businesses make sure their websites meet global accessibility standards. (Camille Fine/Chicago Tribune/TNS) Ninth Circuit’s decision would turn the into speech. flood of litigation into a tsunami.”

Also, website captcha programs, which According to UseableNet, an average require users to verify their identity by of 40 cases challenging website accessibil- typing in a series of letters and numbers, ity were filed each week after the Domino’s are incompatible with screen-readers. case, compared with about 30 case filings Sheri Byrne-Haber, head of accessibila week just before the Domino’s decision. ity for VMware, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based Demand letters — formal notices in software company, says magnification which consumers ask companies to rectify problems are one of her peeves. Some the problem — are also on the rise, said images become blurry when she enlarges UseableNet’s Chief Innovation Officer them.

Jason Taylor.

“It’s hard to zoom in and read the text.

Tim McIntyre, executive vice president When I do, it all comes up pixelated,” said of communication for Domino’s, said in Byrne-Haber, 54, a San Francisco-area an email the company has developed other resident. features to help disabled customers, like Byrne-Haber has glaucoma, an eye voice-activated ordering devices and a condition that causes vision loss, and she hotline that customers with screen-readers often needs to magnify text in order to can use to report difficulties with the site. read it. If she struggles with a website, she McIntyre also pointed tothe lack of often moves on. federal guidelines. “We also remain stead“I just go somewhere else. Sometimes fast in our belief in the need for federal if I have the energy to complain, I will standards for everyone to follow in making bring it up to their accessibility departtheir websites and mobile apps accessible,” ment, but sometimes I won’t,” she said. he wrote.

The glitches the visually impaired In 2010, the Justice Department said sometimes encounter when navigating the it was starting to develop guidelines that internet can be limiting. would govern website design, but the rules “Some banking sites are not accessible. were never released.

A large majority of work application forms Most companies and web developers are hard to get to. It’s even hard to read use an unofficial set of recommendations politician’s websites. People can’t even known as the Web Content Accessibility learn about their candidates if you can’t Guidelines. access their websites,” said Evans, of the Evans, of the International Association accessibility professionals group. of Accessibility Professionals, said those Evans said having a website that is easy unofficial rules serve as a placeholder until to reach for all users is a smart business federal standards are developed. strategy, especially with an aging populaThe problem tion of consumers.

Websites that can’t accommodate The association launched a certification screen-readers trip up the visually im- program for accessibility professionals in paired in a number of ways. One issue is 2016 and has since certified nearly 1,200 the graphic icons that are used to prompt people across the globe, she said. Those action or convey information. certified professionals help organizations For example, when someone is order- improve their websites so that they’re using pizza online, an image of pizza may able with screen-reading software. direct users to the purchasing web page, Martinez is one of three information but that image might not have descriptive technology specialists employed by the text coding behind it that can be converted Chicago Lighthouse working to obtain

such a certification. Chicago Lighthouse, which provides social services to visually impaired individuals, has created a department to help businesses test the accessibility of their websites.

Tribune Publishing, the owner of the Chicago Tribune and other daily newspapers, has updated most of the functions on its newspapers’ websites to make them suitable for use with assistive technology tools, said Ryan Urtheil, the company’s senior product manager.

“We work with a lot of third parties.

For example, we embed Youtube videos on our pages, which are technically out of our control from a coding perspective,” Urtheil said. “If we cannot update third-party elements or change their code, we actively reach out to our partners with the attention to bring awareness around ADA compliance regulations with hopes they’ll make quick updates to their products.”

No easy fix Some business and trade groups argue that organizations’ websites shouldn’t be a form of public accommodation.

Fixing a website is not easy, and the costs can vary depending on how complex a company’s site is, said Stephanie Martz, senior vice president and general counsel of the National Retail Federation, which filed a friend of the court brief supporting Domino’s.

“The problem with the law is that there is no set of legal standards. It’s difficult to avoid liability even when they have gone through the compliance effort to make their websites work with screen-readers,” Martz said.

“Everyone is getting hit. It runs the gamut from the little winery in New York to the Fortune 500 company,” said Minh Vu, an attorney at Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago who has been keeping count of website accessibility suits.

“Those (smaller) businesses don’t have the resources or the sophistication to make their websites accessible,” Vu said. Some hire third-party website developers and have little control over the relationship, she said.

According to UseableNet’s data, 97% of the cases are settled out of court.

Byrne-Haber said more web development courses should teach students to address compatibility with screen-reading software.

“It’s not taught, largely. People come out of training not knowing how to handle the issue,” she said. “They are not going to have the exposure that is necessary to resolve it.”

Training by groups like the Chicago Lighthouse can also help businesses improve their website accessibility. Martinez said it could give companies the opportunity to promote their sites as being compatible with assistive technology tools like screen-readers.

“It mutually beneficial. We provide them with feedback … we are helping each other,” Martinez said. “Many people like me are trying to make sure that the things (websites) they need work for them. It’s about creating a framework to ensure that the products in the future are accessible.” ©2019 Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

20

• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

SECTIONS

IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JANUARY 10

FINANCIAL & TAX PLANNING

LAW FIRMS IN THE MIDLANDS JANUARY 17

OMAHA REAL ESTATE

RETIREMENT

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

The No More Empty Pots Incubator Program is now accepting enrollment.

The four-month program is designed for entrepreneurs that are ready to build and grow food businesses. The program engages and supports entrepreneurs by offering comprehensive curriculum in the form of workshops, mentorship, networking and growth opportunities. NMEP has partnered with industry experts to develop curriculum for food business related workshops.

Incubator workshops will cover topics on business planning, concept development, small business basics, food handling and safety, pricing, packaging and brand positioning, financial management, investors pitch prepping, food photography and styling, Facebook basics, ad setup and evaluation, ordering and inventory and Google search engine optimization and website development.

Olsson’s Mike Milius has been awarded the Arthur Sidney Bedell award from the Water Environment Federation Member Association. The Bedell Award acknowledges extraordinary personal service to WEF. Milius’ career began in 1987 with an internship at Olsson. Following graduation he began full time employment at Olsson, first working in the Lincoln office, then the Holdrege office, driving growth at that location, and most recently, working as vice president and water/wastewater expert at Olsson’s Kansas City office. In 2008 Milius began serving on NWEA’s executive board as a director-at-large, association secretary. He moved through the chairs, ultimately serving as president in 2015. Today, he’s federation director.

Werner Enterprises has been named a 2019 FL100+ Top Software and Technology Provider by Food Logistics for the sixth consecutive year. Food Logistics’ 16th annual list showcases the leading 100plus software and technology providers whose technology offerings help food and beverage companies improve productivity and gain efficiency. The list includes companies whose products and services ensure efficient transportation and warehousing, minimize waste, facilitate safe operations and assure regulatory compliance.

America First Multifamily Investors, L.P. (the “Partnership”) has moved its Schedule K-1 information to a new website. The Partnership’s unit-holder K-1 information is now available using the Tax Package Support website at www. taxpackagesupport.com/ATAX. The new website contains various features designed to enhance the user experience and make it easier for unit-holders to access their Schedule K-1 information. In addition, it’s compatible with most web browsers and may also be accessed using mobile devices.

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS

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

Julie Whitehead - Julie@mbj.com • Karla Steele - karla@mbj.com Space and materials deadline is the Friday prior to the publication date.

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

Wednesday, Jan. 8 The American Marketing Association Omaha Chapter is hosting its January 2020 Power Lunch at Spezia from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The topic is “10 Strategic Planning Models and Tools to Roadmap Your Marketing Efforts.” Giving the talk will be presenter Olivier Ridder, marketing analytics manager at Nebraska Furniture Mart. Registration is online.

Truck Center Companies has purchased Wick’s Trucks, Inc. The purchase will make Truck Center Companies the exclusive dealer for Western Star Trucks for Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa.

All Truck Center Companies’ stores will now sell both Freightliner and Western Star Trucks. Wick’s customers will be serviced at Truck Center Companies locations.

Western Star produces custom heavy-duty trucks.

RDG Planning & Design Principal Martin Shukert, FAICP, has been awarded the 2019 MAPA Award of Merit.

The award, the highest honor of service conferred by the organization, recognizes individuals whose efforts have had an extraordinary influence on MAPA’s six-county region. With more than 40 years in planning and urban design, Shukert has helped shape major downtown and neighborhood development projects, including Omaha’s riverfront redevelopment and downtown housing programs. As leader of RDG’s Community and Regional Planning Studio, his work focuses on comprehensive planning, downtown and special district planning, housing, urban design and trail, transportation, bicycle and pedestrian systems.

Health care notes…

California company CareDx acquired Omaha company OTTR - Complete Transplant Management and is now paving the way for Omaha to become a digital health hub in the Midwest for organ transplantation. Following the acquisition of OTTR, new owner CareDx has been heavily expanding its footprint in Omaha. With an aggressive hiring plan, the company plans to double its presence and make this service more than 60 transplant centers in the US. The company is not only providing technology to improve matching of organs but also helps transplant center to keep track of transplant patients.

Education notes…

NET, Nebraska’s PBS Station, is now simulcasting live on YouTube TV. Dedicated live channels for NET and NET PBS KIDS, as well as on-demand programming, are now available to YouTube TV subscribers, expanding PBS’s digital footprint and offering viewers additional ways to stream PBS content. To access the full line-up available in Nebraska, you can visit the YouTube TV live guide or the PBS schedule online. YouTube TV represents NET’s first local live simulcast stream partnership and includes episodes and on-demand content from PBS favorites. NET content is available on all NET-branded PBS platforms as well as the PBS Video app and PBS KIDS Video app.

Faculty members and graduate students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Information Science and Technology have developed a database and visual dashboard that provides insight into trends, patterns, and statistics for Sarpy County’s 911 calls. This project will help Sarpy County police departments and the sheriff’s office make more informed decisions directed by trends they are seeing with the calls coming in. Sarpy County, the fastest growing county in the state, receives over 140,000 calls for service Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 • REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. a year, a number projected to increase.

In the past, little analysis of the 911 data could be performed due to limited access to the data.

Activities of nonprofits…

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands announced four new members to its 2020 board of directors. First-term board members are: Victoria Grasso, Cooper Foundation; Osuman Issaka, The Simple Foundation; Rob Trebilcock, Bank of the West; and Cammy Watkins, Inclusive Communities. Returning board members include: Anne Herman, AVA Insights; John Jeanetta, Heartland Family Service; Ralph Kellogg, Nebraska Appleseed; Emiliano Lerda, Paul G. Smith Associates; John Levy, Omaha Community Foundation; Jerry O’Doherty, Seim Johnson; Carolina Padilla, Intercultural Senior Center; Kerri Peterson, The Sherwood Foundation; Bryan Schneider, D.A. Davidson; Jaymes Sime, MICAH House; Jennifer Skala, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation; and Michelle Zych, Women’s Fund of Omaha. Zych will serve as the board’s president, beginning in January. Sime was named president-elect. Kellogg will serve as secretary and Peterson will serve as treasurer.

Meridian Clinical Research has donated more than $290,000 to people in need, fundraisers, and charitable organizations in 2019. The amount was accumulated through a novel employee incentive program that intertwines annual bonus and charitable giving budgets. A unique aspect of Meridian’s charitable program is Good Deeds Day, a tradition of spontaneous giving that began more than a decade ago. For Good Deeds Day, employees at each Meridian site are given a cash stipend and a simple instruction: Go into your community and make a difference.

Meridian employees decide on the best way to support local charities or perform acts of kindness.

Youth Emergency Services announced that Director of Development Barb Farho has been selected to participate in the upcoming class of the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Nonprofit Executive Institute. Farho, who joined YES in 2018, brings more than 25 years of management, fundraising, community-service and public relations experience to her role at YES. In her role, Farho is responsible for development, implementation and management of activities related to public relations/marketing, fundraising, special events and long-term fund development. Before joining YES, Farho served as senior director, communications and community engagement at the United Way of the Midlands.

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21

Repairing watches is a ‘dying’ art, but this watchmaker is turning away customers

by Allison Steele

Peter Whittle helps people get their time back.

From behind the counter of his Wayne repair shop, he brings life to 19th-century pocket watches, Small Business antique European clocks, and modern Rolexes. He’s dissected thousands of timepieces, and sifted through millions of tiny metal pieces to diagnose their ailments.

Digital watches and cell phones may have replaced traditional timekeepers for many, but in the 20 years since he opened Whittle’s Watch Works, the demand for his services has only grown. Open three days a week, Whittle’s shop takes in more than 1,000 watches a year, sometimes 10 in one day. Several times a year, he turns away customers for a month so he can catch up.

Sixty years ago, there were more than 50,000 independent watchmakers in America. These days, the number has dwindled to fewer than 6,000, according to Bureau of Labor estimates. As skilled watchmakers have retired or taken jobs with watch manufacturers, few new craftsmen have joined the industry — and business has boomed for people such as Whittle.

“Watchmakers everywhere are turning away work,” said Jordan Ficklin, executive director of the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute, an Ohio-based group with about 1,500 members.

Whittle, 64, knows his profession is a dying art — but it doesn’t seem that way when his small storefront is filled with customers.

“People say no one wears watches anymore,” Whittle said in an interview.

“But at home, somewhere in a drawer, you might have your mother’s watch, or your grandfather’s watch. And one day, you might find that you want to get it repaired.”

RESTORING MEMORIES Growing up on Long Island as one of seven siblings, Whittle remembers taking apart his father’s watch as a child, but said his interest in clocks lapsed. After college he worked for a company that dredged canals for ships. Then he met a jeweler who noticed Whittle’s attention to detail, and suggested he try watch repair.

At the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking in Queens, Whittle learned the basics on disassembling watches, replacing parts, and lubricating the tiny gears that keep a watch ticking. Before he even graduated he was offered a job with Wayne Jewelers, a longtime fixture at the center of the Delaware County town.

A decade later, Whittle was accepted into WOSTEP, an elite watchmaker ’s program in Switzerland that enrolled about a dozen students a year. There he studied advanced approaches to watch repair, training on machines he’d never before seen, and learning to manufacture new parts to fix timepieces.

He met his wife, Lucienne, at a Swiss cafe. When they returned to Pennsylvania, he opened his shop on South Wayne Avenue, just down the street from the jewelry store where his career began.

Surrounded by soothing ticks and gentle chimes that are punctuated by an occasional clang from clocks that crowd his shop’s walls, the bespectacled Whittle said he’s been busy since the day he

Owner and watch repairman Peter Whittle shown here working at Whittle's Watch Works, in Wayne, PA. Peter Whittle has operated his watch repair shop for 20 years.

Over the years, as the number of watch and clock repairmen declined, his business has increased. He now has so many customers that he often has to close his shop to catch up.

(Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS) opened. He doesn’t advertise, and barely In recent years, some watch companies has an online presence, but people knock have tightened their restrictions on spare on the door even when the closed sign is parts, creating additional challenges for up. During office hours he wears a long independent watchmakers such as Whittle. white coat that makes him look like a If a luxury brand won’t sell a needed part, surgeon, which he is, in a way.

Whittle turns to eBay or makes it himself.

He’s worked on everything from Otherwise, customers must mail the watch 1970s-era watches powered by the hum- to the company to get it fixed. ming of tuning forks to a 1645-era clock “It makes it harder for the smaller guys, inherited from his parents. Customers have and if a customer can talk to the person cried at seeing heirlooms repaired. Occa- who’s doing the work, I believe they presionally, he has the pleasure of informing a fer that,” said Ficklin, of the Watchmakcollector that a watch is worth many times ers-Clockmakers Institute. its purchase price. More often, he’s had to Recently Ficklin’s group launched let someone know that a watch is a fake. public-awareness campaigns with the goal Whittle’s services can cost very little, of attracting newcomers to the industry, or hundreds. Working on Rolexes, each like a mobile watchmaking classroom. with about 225 pieces inside, costs an There are six watchmaking schools in the average of $700. He’ll place a watch on a country, including the Lititz Watch Techsmooth wooden table behind his counter, nicum in Lancaster County, a tuition-free where his tools are displayed in his front program established by Rolex to address window like a miniature operating theater, the industry shortage. A watchmaker’s then take it apart with tiny screwdrivers, average starting salary is around $45,000, peering through his jeweler’s magnifying Ficklin said, and many earn $75,000 within glass — called a loupe — while he picks a few years. apart the belly with tweezers.

Though the proliferation of cell phones In the back of his one-room shop is a has led to fewer people wearing watches, row of tabletop machines used to service Ficklin sees hope for the industry in newer luxury watches, such as Cartiers or Patek devices like Apple watches, which he says Philippes. One device uses vibrations to are bringing back that sense of a physical shake loose particles of dirt; another tests connection with a wristwatch. And like for leaks, and a third simulates the pressure traditional timepieces, the marketing of being 1,000 feet underwater. around computerized watches often links But many clients bring in more mod- the device to emotional experiences: a est projects, like the customer who owns nonathlete training for a first marathon, several Rolexes but recently spent big to a parent monitoring his child’s diabetes, restore a cheap Timex. Or Joseph Caprara, people whose watches have become an a Wayne resident and watch collector who essential part of life. has been coming to Whittle’s for more Ficklin believes that as long as people than a decade. Of the dozens of vintage feel those strong emotional ties to watches, timepieces he’s brought to Whittle, one of there will be careers in watch repair. the most memorable was an inexpensive And Whittle is the proof. windup his mother wore.

“If you have a piece that’s sentimen“What he’s really doing sometimes tal,” Whittle said, “you will spend the is restoring memories,” Caprara said. money it takes to have it restored. But you “Sometimes a watch is worth a lot more to have to trust the person who’s doing it.” a person than what you’d think.” ©2019 The Philadelphia Inquirer HOW ELECTRONIC WATCHES Distributed by STIR BUSINESS Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

22

• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Health & Wellness A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal • January 3, 2020

Omaha making healthy strides but the road to wellness is a long one, say experts

by Dwain Hebda

Local health experts give Omaha credit for making progress in addressing health issues, but there is much more ground yet to cover.

“In general, I would say Omaha is a healthy community,” said Nicky Clark, vice president of community well-being at Heartland Family Service. “However, health includes so many other factors such as mental, spiritual and community. It also includes how all of those interplay with each other to create overall health and well-being.”

Where Omaha falters is on ethnic health disparities with nearly 40% of black children Clark and more than a third of Hispanic children living in poverty compared to just 9% of their white peers.

“There are major factors that link poverty to overall health, such as substandard housing, not enough economic opportunity, increased rates in violent crimes and food insecurity,” Clark said.

Heartland Family Service supports programs to address such systemic problems and was recently awarded a BUILD Health Challenge matching grant totaling

Michelle Grossman, president & CEO of Combined Health Agencies Drive (CHAD). $500,000 to address mental health issues in services for certain groups are all major barnorth Omaha. riers to receiving help.”

“Mental health is connected to every Companies are doing their part to promote aspect of our lives, however, there are so wellness in increasing numbers, Blue Cross many barriers to accessing mental health,” and Blue Shield of Nebraska being a notable Clark said. “Lack of insurance to pay for the example. services, stigma associated with receiving “When you consider employees spend services and lack of culturally appropriate at least one third of their lives at work, it’s a

good place to start making the healthy choice the easy choice,” said Dr. Debra Esser, BCBS Nebraska chief medical officer.

“The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation reports 60% of what impacts the health of individuals consists of social and environmental factors and individual behavior. With communities and employers coming together to support healthy choices, it can become easier to access education, food and make different lifestyle choices.”

Recognizing this, BCBS Nebraska promotes health through its award-winning wellness program.

“We will kick off 2020 with a healthy weight challenge and continue with group Esser exercise classes, personal training, dietitians and healthy food options in our café,” Esser said.

“We also offer wellness options to the companies who are clients. Our staff of wellness experts provides wellness consultative services to help organizations strategize, set goals and create action plans for their workplaces. Our commitment to wellness never ceases throughout the year.”

Michelle Grossman, president and CEO of CHAD, said one health danger many people do not consider is how the health of others takes a toll on overall wellness.

“Health is personal,” she said. “What is important to most people is what their loved ones are afflicted with.

“If your parent, grandparent or spouse is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, this is front and center to you. The same thing if your child is born with cystic fibrosis or your nine-year-old is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes or your sister is diagnosed with breast cancer. Caring for chronically ill family members is one of the biggest barriers to wellness that we have in Omaha.”

CHAD partners with numerous agencies to help Nebraskans identify health risks and find ways to improve wellness. She said the effort reflects the mutual interest all stakeholders share in their communities.

“The World Health Organization defines health as ‘not only the absence of infirmity and disease, but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being,’” she said.

“Unhealthy lifestyles have not only personal impact but also economic impact.

Health is not just a personal concern; it is a community concern.”

Health and Wellness •

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 •

23

Local experts weigh in on robust health of medical careers; significant need for talent

by Michelle Leach

Careers in health care remain as vibrant as ever, as professionals with their fingers on the pulse of talent weigh in on sought-after positions within their firms and industrywide.

“From our experience, nurses are still in demand and will be over the next few years,” said Veronica Sapp, director of business development at RTG Medical. “RTG Medical staffs medical professionals up to the physician level. So, we regularly measure trends and the Sapp health care staffing market — nurses are very much in demand.”

A large factor that is driving demand and will continue to do so, Sapp said, is aging Americans.

“We will continue to see the effects of baby boomers exiting the job force and more jobs will become open,” she said.

“Unfortunately, not only are they leaving a very important role in the health care process open, but they’re taking their knowledge and expertise with them.”

Sapp also described a “tireless” industry.

“In light of the high demand for our nurses, RTG Medical is taking an educational approach with our external

employees a.k.a. our traveling medical professionals,” she said. “So that they understand they may not have the appropriate onboarding time when they arrive for their temporary job at a hospital.”

Fusion Medical Staffing Director of Business Development and Sales Chris Sund spoke to managers across all the firm’s divisions to find out what the top 10 most in demand careers are at present.

“They are sonographers, respiratory therapists, registered nurses (RN), sleep Sindelar technicians, licensed practical nurses (LPN), speech language pathologists, cath lab technologists, certified nursing aides (CNA), medical technologists and physical therapists,” he said.

Demand for these career types is driven by many factors, Sund said.

“First off, there are a limited number of new graduates to fill the open positions,” he said. “There aren’t enough programs that graduate skilled workers to meet the growing demands. Also, sometimes, these graduates and young professionals will choose non-clinical work, which allows them more flexibility in their schedule.”

Boomers, too, he referenced are contributing to larger needs, as well as an

increase in the number of chronic diseases paired with medical professional retirements.

“Whenever there is a high demand for a health care career, if the facility is not able to fill those jobs over time with staff from their area, we help them,” Sund explained. “We will find the type of health care professional they are in need of, from a different area in the country that might

not have the same shortage, and they will travel to that location to work several months. We will continue to staff them until they are able to hire for the position they need to fill.”

Sometimes, he said, these shortages arise because a facility is located in a rural area.

“This can make it even harder to fill a Continued on next page.

Continued on next page.

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Health and Wellness

Employers look to wellness programs to boost morale and culture, bring down health care costs

by Gabby Christensen

While health care benefits are one of the most sought after benefits for employees, local experts say these perks can also be one of the most expensive for employers.

In fact, Alan Kohll, president and founder of TotalWellness, said employers are always looking at ways to reduce health care costs.

“One of the bigKohll gest trends I have seen is more companies offering virtual care,” he said. “It’s convenient, fast, and just as efficient as an in-office visit. It offers an opportunity for sick workers to use their health benefits from the comfort of their own home.”

Kohll said a big perk of having access to virtual care is the time and money saved by having health care access whenever and

wherever an employee needs it.

Lately, he said more employers are taking an active role in improving mental health.

“Developing a caring and empathetic work culture can improve retention rates and promote a healthier work environment where employees feel safe,” Kohll said. “Companies who invest in the mental health of their people and fosVyhlidal ter an open dialogue about mental health issues will also be creating a positive workplace and a place where people want to work.”

Tonya Vyhlidal, workplace culture and wellbeing director at The Wellbeing Partners, said employers are actively pursuing improved health and well-being through a variety of workplace programs and initiatives that range from healthy vending and stress/mindfulness support to health literacy.

According to Vyhlidal, developing a healthy culture means that leadership demonstrates support of the individual’s well-being on and off the job, there are supports internally to help the employee feel good, do good work and be well at work and home.

Additionally, she said it’s important to remember that social determinants of health can also greatly influence how people are impacted.

“If we provide great opportunities at work but the employee goes home to an environment that does not have the same social or financial support as they do at work these employees may find that they don’t have the resources to make the healthier choices they’ve been taught,” Vyhlidal said. “It will be important moving forward that organizations understand that peoples ZIP codes may have a greater impact on them than their genetics or work environment.”

Chanell Jaramillo, owner of Simplicity

Wellness Yoga + More, said employers are really recognizing the benefits of implementing fitness and wellness into their employees work days.

“Many employers want their employees to feel healthy, to feel connected to

their team members and find well-being,” Jaramillo said. “Sick employees increase costs for all employers, no matter how large or small. Time is money and sick employees cost a company time; time Continued on page 26.

Local experts weigh in on robust health of medical careers; significant need for talent Continued from preceding page. position when someone retires, has medical leave or relocates to a new area,” Sund said. “While they work to hire someone to move there to fill that position, we will help staff them with an experienced traveler to help them out.”

As the new year begins, Medical Solutions is actively seeking candidates for career opportunities — be it on the recruiting side (with nurses and medical professionals) or client side (working with hospitals and medical facilities) and its corporate positions, according to Director of Talent Acquisition Kim Sindelar.

“In our recruiting experience, we know that there are some key factors that job seekers deem important when exploring or seeking a new career in a fast-growing industry,” she said. “First, culture is a big one — exploring and aligning a company’s culture to see if there’s a fit. Our new hires consistently tell us that the reason they joined Medical Solutions was due to the strong culture they felt throughout the interview process.”

Sindelar also acknowledged that job-seekers increasingly rely on online company reviews to initially gauge an organization’s culture.

“Other factors important to job-seekers are: consistent company growth and stability, what the career path is within the role, and having competitive benefits and salary,” she said.

As part of a fast-growing industry, Sindelar said in 2019 Medical Solutions filled more than 300 corporate positions as an enterprise, with 129 of those positions through employee referrals.

“Our top source for corporate talent is employee referrals,” she said. “Sec-

ond in line is our internal transfers and promotions, third being Indeed, and fourth, LinkedIn. Our employee referrals supported more than 40% of our hires in 2019 alone. As a business, we love that our employees want to refer their friends and family to work here. It speaks highly of the way they feel about our culture, benefits, and their personal and professional growth opportunities at Medical Solutions. We really feel we’ve empowered our employees as part of our talent acquisition process.”

RTG Medical’s Sapp cited U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, tied to the unprecedented strength of the health care job market.

“U.S. employment is projected to grow by 8.4 million by 2028 with 40% of those jobs being in health care,” she said. “For those looking to go into the medical field, if they want to expand their resume by working in different settings or simply take in the experience of travel nursing, then RTG is here to help them achieve their goals.”

When asked about “food for thought” for job-seekers, Fusion Medical Staffing’s Sund reinforced the huge shortage of medical professionals compared to the number of available jobs.

“Add this to a growing population, and longer life spans, and you have a recipe for an even greater shortage coming,” he said.

“The health care field is one of the biggest and rapidly-growing fields today. We need people to take care of those in need, and there are so many benefits to going into this field. It comes with good pay, countless opportunities, and sometimes education and training will be reimbursed. These are also exciting careers that allow you to meet new people and make a difference on the lives they touch.”

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 •

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FINANCIAL AND Law Firms TAX PLANNING in the Midlands A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

2018 challenges and successes

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include the following:

Topics may include:

Financial planning in the new year • Next generation Fintech • Student Finances Benefits/insurance • Estate and gift planning

Law Firms in the Midlands • Employment Law • Growing practice areas Technology is constantly changing the way firms operate • The changing workforce

Issue Date: January 10 • Ad Deadline: January 2

Issue Date: January 10 • Ad Deadline: January 2

Retirement Omaha Real Estate A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Topics may include:

Real estate overview • Residential market overview • Efforts to combat equality issues Commercial/Office/Industrial Space Market Overviews • How lifestyle drives demand Mortgage trends/financing • Building renovations Tips for buying and selling a home • Legal considerations

Overview • Wealth management trends • Selecting the right kind of care Making wills and estate plans • Active retirement • Downsizing Wellness after 65 • Retirement planning steps at each stage of life

Issue Date: January 17 • Ad Deadline: January 9

Issue Date: January 17 • Ad Deadline: January 9

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

Julie Whitehead - julie@mbj.com • Karla Steele - karla@mbj.com • Joe Misiunas - joe@mbj.com

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Financial institutes recap 2019 in the banking/finance industry

by Gabby Christensen

As we enter 2020, leaders in the local banking and finance scene say 2019 has been mighty successful across the industry.

After a dismal fourth quarter in 2018 for markets across the globe, Ross Polking, lead advisor at Foster Group, said 2019 has provided an incredibly strong rebound.

“With the economy on solid footing, investor confidence is high,” Polking said. “Unemployment is at a 50-year low, wages are up, inflation is in check, monetary policy is loose, corporate cash is plentiful, consumer debt relative to assets is the lowest since the early ‘80s, and Black Friday sales were up 14% from last year.”

Additionally, Polking said 2019 has been a good year for American investors.

“Our challenge in the financial planning industry is to keep investors focused on the long-term,” Polking said. “Ongoing/ holistic planning enables the long-term approach and avoids the short-term angst.”

In 2019, Foster Group also celebrated 30 years of business.

“Our industry has to remain focused on serving the best interests of our clients,” Polking said. “There is a level of mistrust of advisers as a whole, thus the continued debate on an appropriate fiduciary standard. With markets at an all-time high, there is too much wealth at stake to take our roles lightly.”

Steven Knapp, Core Bank Omaha market president, said the bank has experienced a significant increase in mortgages and refinances over the course of this year.

On the flip side, Knapp said there has

been a delay in new construction due to the long winter and spring flooding.

“Banks continue to look for diversification of revenue, primarily ancillary fee generating services, which substantiate what many banks call relationship banking,” Knapp said.

In 2019, Core Bank moved into its new headquarters, which Knapp said Polking has unified team members in the Omaha market, helping create significant efficiencies and opened up multiple opportunities for collaboration among departments.

This past year, Core Bank expanded into the Nashville market with an SBA loan production office led by Jerry Woods.

Additionally, Knapp said Craig McGarry joined as executive vice president of the bank’s Private Client Group, adding breadth to product offerings and client relationships.

“Our Bel Air branch received a full remodel and celebrated a grand re-opening in October,” Knapp said. “It’s a beautiful new space that mirrors our headquarters branch, creating an environment where banking is casual and inviting.”

Knapp said Core Bank also hit a milestone of achieving over $600 million in assets in 2019, showing consistent and significant growth in all areas.

Paul West, managing partner at Carson

Employers look to wellness programs to boost morale and culture, bring down health care costs Continued from page 24. in finding temps, needing to train new employees, doubling workloads on other employees.”

She said some businesses might offer employees telemedicine, free yoga, free cardio boxing, lunch and learns on wellness services, lunchtime meditation or fitness classes, neck and shoulder massages and discounted services and supplements to stay healthy.

“When employees feel like they have time during their work day to work out they

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are more likely to get active and when an employee feels like their employer cares about their health and well-being they are more likely to express loyalty and increase job performance,” Jaramillo said.

Dr. Jason Wiese, owner of Life Source Chiropractic, said most businesses are attempting to drive down insurance cost and invest in employees.

“Employers want to improve productivity and increase morale,” Wiese said.

“If you think about it, most people spend most of their time at work, so if they’re able to do things to improve their physical and mental health, that’s an excellent benefit. Plus, employees are happy knowing that employers are giving back to them, as well.”

He said one major challenge businesses face is keeping up the engagement with the employees, and providing value with their program that people will follow consistently.

More recently, Wiese has noted a shift in the focus on wellness programs.

“More employers are wanting to include an educational component when it used to be primarily incentive based,” he said. “While some incentives and the testing can bring awareness, that doesn’t guarantee people will participate. A lot of times, the lack of participation is due to the lack of education and creating something easy to follow and fun.”

Wealth, said three things really dominated the news cycle throughout the year — trade wars, interest rates and, across the pond,

Knapp West Brexit.

“The trade chess game between the United States and China continued to headline the news and cause market volatility,” West said. “2019 also saw a trend downward in the Federal Reserve interest rate following end-of-year hikes in 2018.

And the Brexit back and forth — to vote or not to vote — kept the British referendum in the headlines.”

As for Carson Wealth, West said it’s really been an exciting year.

For the second year in a row, West was named by Barron’s as the top independent advisor in Nebraska.

Additionally, the company announced its new 200,000-square-foot headquarters that is currently under construction in the mixed-use Heartwood Preserve development.

“We were recognized for the third year running on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. and were recognized by InvestmentNews for the second year in a row as a Best Place to Work,” West said.

“We now serve more than 30,000 families across the country and manage more than $11.5 billion in assets.”

Need a job? The US Census Bureau has lots of openings and not enough applicants.

by Richard Stradling

If you’re looking for a part-time job that pays well over minimum wage, the U.S. Census Bureau is hiring. And at a time of historically low unemployment, the federal agency is struggling to fill a half million tempoCareers rary jobs nationwide, including thousands in the Triangle.

The Census Bureau is looking for people to help with the 2020 census, the once-a-decade count of everyone living in the United States. While the bureau needs office clerks to help with the count, most of the openings are for enumerators, the people who visit homes where no one has filled out the census form online or by mail.

The bureau is looking for people who are courteous, professional and not hesitant about knocking on a stranger’s door and starting a conversation, said spokeswoman Lindy Studds. It also wants people who are familiar with the places where they will be working, Studds said.

“Ideally we want to hire people either from within the community they’re going to work or to have worked in that community because they’ll be better received when they go knock on the door,” she said. “That gives them a leg up, if they’ve already had an association with that community in some way.”

Pay for enumerators varies from place to place, according to the Census Bureau’s website. In rural counties of North Carolina, you could expect to make $14.50 to $15.50 an hour for 20 to 25 hours a week; in the Triangle, it’s as much as $19. There’s reimbursement for mileage and other expenses, too.

Census director Stephen Dillingham has referred to the decennial census as the country’s largest peacetime mobilization of people. The last time around, in 2010, the country was struggling to emerge from the Great Recession, and plenty of people were looking for part-time work, Studds said.

With the national unemployment rate now at 3.5%, the lowest in 50 years, the Census Bureau anticipates more difficulty filling the jobs this time around.

One concern is that applicants will accept a census job, then not take it when something better comes along. As a result, the bureau is seeking more applicants — five or more for every job it hopes to fill — so it has an adequate pool to choose from.

“I don’t know if any other employer in the country is recruiting 2.7 million people,” Timothy Olson, associate director of field operations, said at a press conference in October to kick off the hiring effort.

“But I can tell you it’s a big job.”

Even more challenging than attracting enough applicants is finding bilingual ones. Of the 900,000 applicants the Census Bureau had on file in October, about 20% were bilingual, Olson said.

“We need people that speak the languages of the neighborhoods that they’re going to be working in,” he said.

Spanish-speakers will be in particular demand in the Triangle, where the bureau’s Raleigh and Durham offices are each looking for about 10,000 applicants for enumerator jobs. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number and be a U.S. citizen, though the bureau may, if necessary, hire non-citizen translators who are legally able to work in the U.S. For more information about Census 2020 jobs, or to apply for one, go to 2020census.gov/en/jobs or call 1-855JOB-2020. The Census Bureau will take applications through the end of January, and perhaps longer, Studds said. Those who are hired will go through paid training before being put to work.

The census forms will be available in mid-March, and Census Day is April 1.

Enumerators will begin visiting homes that haven’t responded in May. ©2019 The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • JANUARY 3, 2020 •

In the Spotlight Paid Content

UTILITIES Joined

Mark Benjamin Plant/ Project Manager, Omaha Clearway Energy

Mark Benjamin recently joined Clearway’s Energy Center Omaha as the Plant / Project Manager for the Omaha facilities.

Previously, Mark served as a U.S. Navy submarine Captain, where he served as Commanding Officer of three warships. He has 30 years of power plant experience in a wide variety of propulsion plants. He earned his Master’s Degree in National Security

and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, graduating with Distinction, and he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating with High Honor. Mark volunteers his time to community outreach; mentoring students, building work programs for those in poverty, and helping to equip immigrants in a large refugee community here in Omaha.

NONPROFIT Announced

Gary Steiner Chairman of the Board First Responders Foundation

The First Responders Foundation announces Gary Steiner, as Chairman of the Board in 2020. Steiner will help the Foundation fulfill its mission to serve and honor all First Responders and their families, build appreciation and respect for their work and enhance public safety. Steiner formed Steiner Consulting, Inc. in 2014 after 20 years of nonprofit management and fundraising work. His firm works with mid-sized nonprofits to develop visionary plans and to secure the

resources needed to turn those visions into realities. Steiner’s last position was Executive Director of the Millard Public Schools Foundation. Prior to that, Steiner was Senior Development Officer for the American Red Cross and he also held several positions with the Boy Scouts of America. Other civic and professional activities include past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Nebraska Chapter, current president of the Millard TeamMates Mentoring Program, a member of Keep Kids Alive: Drive 25 Foundation, and a Rotary member. He is a frequent presenter at state, regional and national conferences. Steiner takes over for Jim Hanson, Jr. owner of InTouch Communication, who has been with the Foundation since the beginning and will continue to serve as Chairman Emeritus.

LEGAL SERVICES Added

Jeremy C. Hollembeak Attorney Baird Holm LLP

Baird Holm is pleased to welcome Jeremy C. Hollembeak to the firm. Jeremy concentrates his practice on creditors’ rights, bankruptcy and commercial disputes. He manages all aspects of debt restructuring and claims monetization for his clients, including advising them on distressed investment opportunities, conflicts and ambiguities in contracts, and efficient litigation and collection strategies. He has extensive experience representing financial institutions, activist

hedge funds, credit agents, bond trustees, individual creditors, unsecured creditors’ committees, private equity sponsors, and other strategic parties in debtor-creditor and inter-creditor/priority disputes in state and federal courts. He has also worked with judgment creditors and litigation funders to design and implement assettracing and enforcement campaigns against recalcitrant debtors. Prior to joining Baird Holm, Jeremy practiced in New York City for 13 years. Jeremy continues to represent clients and practice before courts in New York. “Jeremy is a valuable and strategic addition to the Firm,” said Baird Holm Managing Partner, Richard E. Putnam.

“His experience in assisting clients with all forms of commercial transactions and disputes complements our existing team of creditor's rights and trial lawyers.”

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

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• JANUARY 3, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

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