Midlands Business Journal June 5, 2020 Vol. 46 No. 23 issue by Midlands Business Journal

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Health & Wellness A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Companies place health and wellness at forefront by Gabby Christensen

Now more than ever before there is a spotlight on health and wellness as companies implement changes to maintain the health and safety of employees. While technology was already increasingly being used by nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices and home health agencies to enrich residents’ and patients’ lives, Heath Boddy, president and CEO at the Nebraska Health Care Association, said COVID-19 accelerated its use even more. “We have seen many examples of health care workers getting creative and incorporating technologies like tablets and iPads to keep residents Boddy and patients connected with loved ones and other health care providers,” Boddy said. With a mortality rate of 20-30% for residents who become infected with COVID-19, he said long-term care facilities have been at the epicenter of this pandemic. “The focus has shifted entirely to COVID-19 relief and support — areas such as securing adequate personal protective equipment, adjusting to modified staffing requirements, accessing continuing education hours virtually and staying

James Summerfelt, president and CEO of Visiting Nurse Association. on top of the latest COVID-19 communica- hospice or home health agency. James Summerfelt, president and CEO at tions,” Boddy said. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, he Visiting Nurse Association, said VNA is actively said the availability of direct care workers was at caring for COVID positive patients, as well as a critical low. Now, as the virus impacts the pool sharing infection control expertise with patients, of available workers, Boddy said it’s even more homeless shelters and the community. “As a home health care organization, our vital to compel people to consider working for their local assisted living facility, nursing home, biggest adaptations have been increased use

June 5, 2020

of personal protective equipment (PPE) and accommodating our staff so they can work from the home or office safely and efficiently,” Summerfelt said. “VNA and the Infectious Disease Department of Nebraska Medicine have worked in partnership for over 20 years. In early March, we increased the amount of PPE required with every patient, no matter their exposure to COVID-19. Current PPE requirements for our staff includes gloves, mask and goggles or face shield.” He said these are anxious times for everyone. “At VNA and Easterseals, our staff members know their safety is very important to us, and we provide training, consultation and ample personal protective equipment to keep them safe,” Summerfelt said. “Beyond that, we recogVyhlidal nize their great work by providing gift cards for lunch, posting banners and sidewalk decals with words of encouragement, sending weekly emails that communicate information and gratitude and providing access to behavioral health resources for those who feel overwhelmed.” In the industry today, Tonya Vyhlidal, workplace culture and wellbeing director at The Wellbeing Partners, said two trends are really rising to the surface — mental health/ well-being technology solutions that include cognitive behavioral therapy protocol, mindfulness, resilience and stress management protocol. “Workplaces are looking beyond their EAP [employee assistance program] to provide larger scale solutions for their workforce,” she said. “There’s more focus on emotional intelligence and the importance of expanding emotional intelligence skills in the workplace.” According to Vyhlidal, the health and wellness industry has been impacted by COVID-19 both positively and negatively. While it has always been important for people to focus on their health and well-being, she said it has become even more highlighted during this time. “The COVID-19 crisis has provided many new challenges for people, communities and businesses,” Vyhlidal said. “All of the changes and concerns impact an individual’s overall mental, emotional and physical well-being. Because there is so much negativity and fear, it is more important than ever to find ways to take care of ourselves. Selfcare is vitally important, taking time each day to care for ourselves — physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually is an important way to help us cope and function well.”

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THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:

by Richard D. Brown

OneNeck builds on relationship with Microsoft, supports clients through pandemic. – Page 2

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Purdy combines variety of skills to create events at Omaha Performing Arts. – Page 3

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Crises present opportunities for far-reaching improvements to the ‘normal.’ – Page 21

Gathering the statistics of the employment rolls of more than 150 small business clients, analyzing the data and packaging it to meet the needs of area banks to be in compliance with Paycheck Protection Program requirements gave the 23 employees of Omaha-based The Alliance Group a hefty challenge a few weeks ago. However, President Michael S. Mapes and his wife Carolina Mapes, vice president of operations, still maintain that such back-office human resources work and their astute demands for accuracy are why their company — best described as a professional employer organization — continues to thrive. The 23-year-old Alliance Group has grown to become the largest and oldest locally-owned professional employer company in Nebraska. The firm also has an employee located in Denver and is pursuing additional growth opportunities. “Essentially we help our clients avoid the land mines in human resources management,” Michael Mapes said. “Everything we do is Continued on page 9.

President Michael S. Mapes and Vice President of Operations Carolina Mapes … Role as professional employment organization grows as PPP loan requirements move front and center. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)

Metro Stars Gymnastics rolls out social distancing program by Becky McCarville

With large, open spaces at its two facilities — 26,000 square feet in Papillion and 23,000 square feet in Elkhorn — Metro Stars Gymnastics is following guidelines to strategically and safely resume in-person classes, the lifeblood of the sport. Before the shutdown, Metro Stars

Gymnastics had just opened its new multimillion-dollar facility in Papillion. Its other location is in Elkhorn. “For us the whole thing is especially hard,” said co-owner Erik Lilla, who started the business with his wife Elizabeth Lilla in 2006 with just five students Continued on page 9.

From left, Amy Rummel, director of marketing and public relations and Nancy Round, director of education and outreach at Joslyn Art Museum.

Community ‘shows up’ to support stressed families, nonprofit needs by Michelle Leach

Co-owner Erik Lilla at the Papillion location … Gymnastics company hit wall after shutdown, but quick pivot to online programs filled gap before limited classes resumed.

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series sharing firsthand experiences from local organizations on how their respective industries are adapting to COVID-19. As COVID-19 reared its widespread and society-altering head, Joslyn Art Museum had to “start from scratch,” according to leadership with the museum. “Our usual programming relies on face-to-face encounters

with original works of art, so we really had to … rethink, reinvent everything,” said Nancy Round, director of education and outreach. “Everyone has had to learn new tech skills they never imagined needing — and everyone has really stretched and grow when it comes to creative problem-solving in order to accomplish a lot with limited resources.” Director of Marketing and Public Relations Amy Rummel Continued on page 8.

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

OneNeck builds on relationship with Microsoft, supports clients through pandemic by Gabby Christensen

Founded in 1997 and strategically acquired by Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000 company, in 2011, OneNeck IT Solutions has generated steady growth by placing an emphasis on client relationships and custom IT solutions, according to President/CEO Terry Swanson. “We leverage our technology through

OneNeck IT Solutions Phone: 402-934-8886 Address: 3850 South 149th St. #115, Omaha Founded: 1997 (acquired by TDS in 2011) Service: IT service provider offering a full suite of hybrid IT solutions including cloud and hosting solutions, managed services, enterprise application management, advanced IT services and hardware Employees: 500 (20 employees based in Nebraska) Goal: To refresh cloud platform, expand Microsoft relationship and expand on security offerings. Website: https://www.oneneck.com

partnerships with various providers, ultimately helping to assess a client’s current environment to create a plan that meets their goals so that we can implement a solution

Chris Jansen, district OEM sales lead … Aiding hybrid IT upgrades across industries as need rises. that delivers the outcomes their business at its various locations throughout the counrequires,” Swanson said. “We are able to try, offers a full suite of hybrid IT solutions offer complex solutions that are unique to including cloud and hosting solutions, manthe industry. Additionally, being part of a aged services, enterprise application managestrong organization like TDS allows access ment, advanced IT services and hardware. to capital that can help fund capabilities as Today, he said information technology is we continue to grow.” typically underfunded in terms of how much The company, which employs 500 people expertise is needed.

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“Our goal at OneNeck is to offer resources to keep up with the skillsets needed to support existing and new fast changing tech, while also helping clients implement those technologies into their environment,” he said. “Instead of worrying about day to day management of infrastructure, we want our clients to be able to free up their own tech team to work on initiatives that help move their business forward.” Historically, Swanson said IT leaders have needed to refresh technology every few years, but now there’s a multitude of options to choose from. “We help our clients prioritize what to invest in for their business model,” he said. Chris Jansen, district OEM sales lead in Omaha, said OneNeck primarily serves mid-market and enterprise companies. “In Nebraska and across the entire portfolio, we don't focus on any specific vertical,” Jansen said. “However, we do tend to work quite a bit in the financial services and health care space. Overall, we’ve been grateful to form many long-standing and trusted relationships with our clients, which is definitely gratifying to our team.” According to Swanson, embracing change and staying on the edge of new technology solutions is key in the industry. At the same time, he said it’s also important to stay true to core strengths. Recently, the company has accelerated its relationship with Microsoft, which has been one of the company’s strongest growth areas over the past year. “We are also looking to expand this relationship even further into data management and business intelligence,” Swanson said. As of late, security has been put in the forefront in packaging and solutions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said Continued on page 12.

Midlands Business Journal Established in 1975

Associations: NAIFA, FSP, NAHU. Hometown: Omaha, NE. Education: BSCJ, UNO.

How I got into the business: After graduating college, my dream was to be a U.S. Marshal. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I was entering the workforce in an off-cycle year. My dad spent over 30 years at Mutual of Omaha as an underwriter and suggested I apply there in the interim. I received my Life and Health and Property and Casualty licenses and fell in love with the insurance industry and never looked back. Accomplishments or milestones: Between Mutual and SMS, I have spent 23 years working for two great employers and am indebted to the leaders of both for

giving me such great opportunities to make a difference. First job: I was 14 and worked at Arby’s. Since then, I’ve had a great appreciation for food industry workers! Biggest career break: Having the opportunity to come to SMS and build a business. The toughest part of the job: Being patient. The best advice I have received: Take the emotion out of your decisions, which for me can prove to be difficult. About my family: My wife Michelle and I have known each other since we were about 10 years old. We started dating in college. We have 4 kids, Dane who will be a sophomore at UNL, Morgan who will be a senior at Papillion-LaVista, Reagan who will be a freshman at Papillion-LaVista, and my youngest Logan who will be in 6th grade at St. Gerald. Something else I’d like to accomplish: I love to travel and there are still quite a few places left on the bucket list. How my business will change in the

next decade: We’re focused in the senior market, so I think we’ll see more consolidation of carriers, more consumer education and a demand for true end-to-end enrollment of product solutions. Mentor who has helped the most in my career: Early in my career it was Mike Matlock and later on it’s been John Haver. Outside interests: All of our kids have been very active in soccer, volleyball, basketball and hockey, so most of our time is spent enjoying those activities with our kids. Favorite vacation spot: One of my fondest family vacations is Wisconsin Dells. One of our favorite trips with the whole family. Other careers I would like to try: None really. I was lucky enough to find my niche early on. Favorite cause or charity: Alzheimer’s Association and SMS is now working with AllPlay. AllPlay provides a unique opportunity for children with special needs to participate in sports. Favorite app: Twitter

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Purdy combines variety of skills to create events at Omaha Performing Arts by Dwain Hebda

As Special Projects Manager for Omaha Performing Arts, you might expect Andrea Purdy to have a background in the arts which she does, having spent almost a decade in a local band. You might not as easily connect her work in the arts with her education, which includes a master’s degree in sociology. The Grand Island native said her background in sociology informs her ability to address challenges from a variety of angles. “Music has always been a part of my life. I was in theatre as a kid in high school. I’ve been in bands throughout my adult life. It’s important to me,” she said. “And, as I’ve seen with my friends and colleagues, it’s a community all of its own, so I do also take it from the sociology perspective.” One conspicuous application of this blended viewpoint is Purdy’s work on the organization’s Inclusion Diversity Equity Accessibility committee (IDEA). Through this, Purdy helps ensure the arts are accessible to as wide a cross-section of the community as possible. “While the arts are particularly participated in by people who can afford to attend a show, we want to make sure that’s not always the case,” she said. “We want to ensure that there is affordability, there is accessibility. Every time you come to the venues you can see that. “With the different variety of shows that we put on, we’re really trying to reach everybody in the community. I think that’s really helpful, having a sociology background, to keep that in

the forefront of my mind and keep that in the forefront of senior leaderships’ minds.” The ability to make a wider social impact is something that attracted her to Omaha Performing Arts to begin with. “A career in nonprofits has been very important to me from day one,” she said. “I went into an educational career in sociology because I wanted to learn about people, learn about cultures and do something to help. A nonprofit really exemplified everything that I was looking for, being part of a team that offers some form of help, and I think that’s what Omaha Performing Arts does. "A lot of times, I considered getting a job in more of the social service nonprofits, but I think that what Omaha Performing Arts does is a social service. It really pulls people out of their comfort zone, out of their own world. It allows them to be a part of something that they’ve never been a part of before.” Purdy’s current projects continue to display a diversity of influences, from new and unique programming to harnessing technology to assist audiences having a better overall experience. “Another big one that I’m a part of is our sustainability committee. That one’s near and dear to my heart,” she said. “As much as I enjoy music and the community as a whole, I think that it’s really important that we continue reducing our carbon footprint and doing our part in that. “We are a big organization and we could make a big impact. Depending on how

2019

Special Projects Manager Andrea Purdy … Helping to expand initiatives for the organization from diversity to sustainability. COVID-19 works out in the next months or in the trash because they don’t have a vehicle year, you will see that we are going to start for that to go into. offering recycling and composting. We cur“There’s a lot more that’s behind-therently work with a catering company that offers scenes, energy audits and things of that nature. all-compostable materials when you eat and That’s one of the big initiatives you’ll see drink at the bar, yet everybody still throws that coming up.”

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• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Health & Wellness A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Companies place health and wellness at forefront by Gabby Christensen

June 5, 2020

Health & Wellness •

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 •

Effects of COVID-19 on exercise programs a lasting fixture of fitness organizations by Michelle Leach

With so many holistic, well-being-oriented benefits of exercise, if ever there was a time to “get with the program,” it would be now — amid current crises’ uncertainty and stress. In fact, Jacey Gengenbach and her team at Fitness and Beyond call their programs “exercise prescriptions,” tailored to each client’s needs, ability levels, medical history and goals. They took that same type of approach when adapting fitness programs to home environments. “Even with all of the changes and safety precautions my team and I were taking, it just didn’t seem like enough due to the seriousness of this virus and the unknowns about the virus as well,” said Gengenbach, owner and certified personal trainer. “Our last day of training at the studio was March 18. I then pivoted my business immediately to include virtual training services via Zoom. Time was of the essence.” Gengenbach and her team talked with all clients by phone, text, email and in person (by appointment) about the transition to Zoom (effective March 23). Since clients run the spectrum (from tech-savvy to those who don’t have Internet service at home), tech set-up/support appointments were “one of the best decisions” Gengenbach said she made — to make the transition as smooth as possible. “We allowed clients to ‘check out’ equipment from the studio to help with that aspect,” she said. “Things were changing so rapidly that we didn’t want to have our clients concerned about finding exercise equipment for their home.” They also discussed safety concerns when exercising at home (types of flooring, stairs,

floor space, etc.). Since the “social aspect” is so important, they’ve also done weekly “chat with the trainers,” even a “trivia night.” “Even though our virtual sessions have been successful, our clients really miss being in the studio,” Gengenbach said. “I knew at some point we would add virtual services for the business; however, COVID-19 accelerated that to the No. 1 priority for us.” While its delivery methods have changed, Chief Advancement Officer John Monson said YMCA of Greater Omaha’s mission to build healthy minds, bodies and spirits has not. “Through our Y Without Walls online virtual classes and programs, we are able to ensure that everyone has access to vital physical and educational instruction, from the comforts of their own homes,” Monson said. “Our members were very appreciative to have fresh content delivered each week. But some of the best feedback came from organizations and families not necessarily connected to the Y.” Everyone, especially health care providers and their staff, was encouraged to participate and benefit from online workouts. “Personally, though, having two boys in the thick of homeschooling challenges, I enjoyed the feedback from parents who appreciated the child education components like story-time and arts and crafts,” he said. “Any little bit helps. And, perhaps a little surprising to some of us close to the program, our online cooking classes and instruction, including weight loss, proved to be a popular program.” From group exercise to aquatics to child care to recipes, Monson said significant staff and hours were dedicated to the production and distri-

Jacey Gengenbach, owner of Fitness and Beyond. bution of content in specific areas of expertise. As fitness and personal training classes) — even as branches are reopened, Monson said they’ll be the JCC closed its facility in an effort to prevent monitoring participation in branches and online. the spread of COVID-19. “There will be a lasting need to deliver “We couldn’t just shut our doors and not online content so that people can continue to continue to serve our community during such socially distance if needed, while continuing to a difficult time,” said Executive Director Mark stay active and healthy,” he said. “Who knows? Martin. It could even be a new type of membership, an JCC also used its resources to develop pro‘online-only’ category.” gramming such as live events and on-demand Its new website in the coming months will videos that would be accessible to the whole feature innovative online virtual health and community, for free. wellness ideas. “As long as we are physically closed, we In early April, the Jewish Community Center are virtually open,” continued Martin. announced it quickly built a website with live At the time of this writing, JCC phased virtual events and on-demand resources (such as reopening was slated to begin June 1.

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Health & Wellness

A look into the shift to COVID-19 for the health care industry by David Kubicek

The health care industry has shifted its focus to battling the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), but an unfortunate side effect has been delaying tests and surgeries for other conditions, some of them chronic. Since the beginning of January the University of Nebraska Medical Center has been preparing for the potential impact of COVID-19, according to Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. UNMC has had experience with handling highly infectious agents dating back to the post-911 outbreak of SARS. “When the reality began to hit the U.S. in early January into February, the programs were really ramped up,” Gold said. “This included training for our workforce in using personal protective equipment (PPE), stockpiling appropriate types of PPE, designating space and changing airflow patterns to markedly expand the capability of negative air pressure flow, and ramping up both screening and testing capabilities for COVID-19.” UNMC developed and implemented

many of its own test kits, swabs and other testing technologies and is participating in clinical trials like the one for Remdesivir and several others in the area of antiviral treatments, sterilization of PPE so it can be conserved and reused and identifying viral transmission patterns to help protect patients, communities and employees. The biggest challenge for the industry Gold is finding the new normal in health care from the perspectives of teaching and learning, research and discovery, and health and healing. “To think that we’ll go back to where we were six to 12 months ago is unrealistic, at least for the near future,” Gold said. “I think a lot of the new normal will be based on the use of telehealth services.”

The operations of telehealth provider Visio Health haven’t changed much, but for the firm’s customers the COVID-19 pandem-

Stanley Mahlman ic has been a disruptive time, according to Vice President of Technology and Operations Anthony Stanley. “Right now they’re concerned about how to responsibly bring their workforces back while mitigating the impacts of future infection,” he said. “I think it’s settling in with people that this is a marathon and not a sprint. It won’t go away until we have a vaccine, widespread testing and contact tracing.” A major danger is that routine care is being deferred while the health care system is almost entirely focused on the COVID-19 response. “Just because we have a pandemic doesn’t mean that heart disease stops or diabetes takes a time out,” Stanley said. “Those conditions still exist, are worsening in patients who have them, and new patients

who otherwise would have been diagnosed and begun treatment regimens are now going without.” Medical liability insurance carrier COPIC has posted a COVID-19 resource center on its website and continues to update the information, according to Dale Mahlman, director of market relations. The firm helps medical providers navigate complex COVID-19 situations affecting areas like telehealth, scope of practice, liability issues and returning to elective procedures and surgeries. After getting calls from retired physicians offering their services, COPIC began offering a temporary medical liability policy specifically designed to support adding new providers to help manage COVID-19. The firm is also working with the Nebraska Medical Association to support its efforts including providing coverage for volunteer doctors they partner with who are providing counseling support for other physicians. “In addition, we are identifying and referring medical providers to other resources that focus on their well-bring and personal support to deal with COVID-19 issues,” Mahlman said. “We’ve provided an option to defer their policy payments for clients who are having difficulty with them, and we’ve focused on every community, not just on certain hotspots. The unknown right now is that those hotspots could be anywhere, and we just have not identified them yet.”

Growing need for mental health education, opportunities for care by Jasmine Heimgartner

While preventive physical health care has gained prominence in living healthier lifestyles, the mental health aspect sometimes lags behind. When thinking of mental illness, many people may think of persistent issues that require medication and hospitalization. Meanwhile, short-term hurdles may often be ignored. The result has been increasing rates of substance abuse, depression and suicide.

As people have been facing an unprecedented time of stay-at-home orders and readjusting how they live, the stress associated with that has made the need for mental health education and assistance even more important. “When talking about a crisis like this, it might not be people experiencing a long-term issue,” said Mary O’Neill, chief program officer at Heartland Family Service. “We see mental health symptoms arising not only from isolation but also from financial hardship or illness. People with a support system may be able manage that stress or episodic experiences, but some people may need outside help to manage it.” Even before the coronavirus changed everyone’s lives, approximately one in five adults was experiencing a mental illness. While many could be considered short-term, many people don’t often realize what exactly it is they are experiencing. For people with loved ones struggling with mental health issues, education and having a community to rely on play key roles in ensuring the best care is provided. “We have family-to-family groups that help families better understand what is going on in the brain of their loved and better communication techniques,” said Linda Jensen, volunteer program coordinator at NAMI Omaha (National Alliance on Mental Illness). “It helps them know that they aren’t alone and not the only one going through these issues. We provide some specific tips on how to approach things, as well as communication Continued on next page.

Health & Wellness •

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 •

Medical innovations abound among Midlands health care providers by Dwain Hebda

Technology and innovative thinking are watchwords for Midlands hospitals, both for dealing with coronavirus as well as other conditions. “The curve [to innovate] is definitely exponential,” said Gabe Linke, coordinator of the Advanced Imaging Program at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. “We began implementing 3D printing four years ago and started with one pediatric specialty. We now have almost every specialty requesting 3D visualization in one form or another.” Children’s recently added a 3D Ad-

Mental health education Continued from preceding page. techniques and information about the brain. We also have ways to help your loved one keep taking their medication. The main thing is giving people encouragement to never give up hope.” Luckily, an increasing focus on mental health has created an environment in which more people are willing to talk about their mental health. Unfortunately, the long-standing stigma associated with it can still have a powerful effect. Understanding the different services available, as well as the community benefits of changing perceptions of mental illness, can literally be a lifesaver. “If people don’t have experience with the mental health system, they may have some ideas in their mind that may be scary,” O’Neill said. “We want to help ease their fears. Just because you come for an appointment, it may not be long term. It is really looking at those services for whatever an individual needs. We are trying to meet the needs of the community individually, whether it is just talking to someone or providing a safe place to go.” With the recent state of the world, many mental health providers have been forced to rethink how they provide necessary support to continue helping those in need. Many have transitioned to virtual therapy through video conferencing or phone calls. “We had our support groups online in April,” Jensen said. “Now, we have started our first family-to-family class online. We also have peer-led support groups, which give people a chance to share their experiences and learn coping strategies for recovery. They are led by people who are recovering themselves and trained to help others. The people that have attended have been very thankful for a place to talk.” Mental health may have once been something that some people ignored, but the effects of doing so go beyond the person’s illness. Ignoring mental health issues can lead to physical ailments. As a community, coming together to address growing mental health needs has the potential for many impactful benefits. “If it begins to affect a person’s physical health, that costs our society because we aren’t helping or taking care of our own,” O’Neill said. “Whether starting when kids are home and drop out of school, issues in families like substance or people can’t go to work, if we aren’t taking care of our mental health, it leads to more expensive care. For employers, it affects productivity if people are struggling and not getting the help they need. For the community as a whole, it means a reduction in drug-related costs and crimes.”

vanced Visualization Lab specializing in technologies such as 3D printing, virtual reality and augmented reality. “We are able to bring 3D imaging from a 2D screen to print models of the patient anatomy for surgeons to better prepare for operations,” Linke said. “Supporting staff have a much better understanding of these cases as well. Linke The use of 3D anatomical models has shown to have a very positive impact on our care.” Dr. Michael Ash, chief transformation officer with Nebraska Medicine, said technology gives health providers additional reach. “We’ve provided a safe environment on

our campus, but are also providing options to receive care from home,” he said. “We provide telehealth eVisits and video visits by

Ash Sona all specialties at Nebraska Medicine. These include tools to help monitor after surgery, additional remote condition monitoring and more efficient digital check in options.” The organization has also leveraged technology to meet the challenges of COVID-19, Ash said. “We are leading (COVID-19) efforts,

being the first in the region to test all patients admitted to our hospital, prior to surgery and requiring mask and eye protection for all staff,” he said. “We were the first academic medical center in the U.S. to test Remdesivir and have other clinical trials, giving our patients access to the latest treatments.” The pandemic has fueled medical technology with a new urgency, said Greg Schardt, director of operations/specialty pharmacy for CHI Health. “Technological advances may happen faster now. People won’t wait as long to get the ball rolling because of what we’ve experienced with COVID-19,” he said. “There are a lot of things surrounding artificial intelligence and machine learning we may see sooner or later within CHI Health.” Among the innovations that CHI introduced during the pandemic: creating its own supply chain for PPE, using 3D printing to produce parts for powered air-purifying Continued on page 19.

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Community ‘shows up’ to support stressed families, nonprofit needs Continued from page 1. referred to its online engagement opportunities, Art from Afar, which include short courses for adults and virtual art camps for kids. “While encountering works of art in person is best, we have greatly increased our use of video to share with the community while in-gallery personal visits are not possible,” she said. “Selected programs with our partners (such as Symphony Joslyn) were canceled. So, we recreated the gallery talk portion of the event for all to enjoy online, complete with music provided by the Symphony.” Parents who have a lot of “unstructured” time to contend with find its Art Adventures Lives! (via Facebook Live and Zoom Virtual Camps) to be a lifesaver, as Round also said she encouraged the public to visit its sculpture and discovery gardens. Given Omaha’s historic support of the arts, Rummel said Joslyn wasn’t surprised people were responding well to the programs that resulted from its organization-wide pivot. “It has been terrific to find everyone ‘gathering’ in these new ways,” she said. “We will continue to use these new means of connecting with people going forward. Nothing replaces an in-person encounter with an original work of art, but as a supplement to that experience, at least

some of our virtual offerings will likely continue in the future.” “We’ll see virtual components added to lots of public programs, forever more — so in terms of access, that’s good,” Round said. “But I also think we’re going to see an increase in people’s hunger for real, in-person experiences with original works of art — which is great, because that’s our reason for being.” On the versatility and motivation of businesses in the community, Gretna Area Chamber of Commerce Boyce President Bryan Boyce noted he has been “continually impressed.” “We have seen sit-down restaurants adapt to provide take-out and delivery, retail stores going above and beyond for their employees, businesses moving remote without missing a single call, schools and pantries making accommodations for food and meals, and center day cares working with in-home day cares to be certain we are providing accommodations for the youngest generation, so their essential parents can serve

during a worldwide pandemic,” he said. Chamberwide, Boyce said it has refocused from networking and business development, to information management and business recovery. “Instead of coffees and after-hours, we are doing drive-through hand sanitizer handouts and creating resource systems,” he said. “We are assisting all business in the community with accessing federal, state, and local resources, while providing our members with updates from county health and guides for re-opening Kush safely.” Now is the time, Boyce said, to leverage the chamber’s contacts and connections. “Coming out of this experience, even the most technology-averse businesses will see increased virtual awareness,” he said. “I expect several of our members will continue to request video calls with us in favor of in-person meetings. Members who can’t attend larger gatherings

will choose to Zoom in or watch on Facebook Live. Increased applications of technology will become normal across all sectors of our economy.” The community also “showed up” in a big way in the face of a global pandemic, as the Omaha Community Foundation announced it raised more than $8.5 million May 20 during its 24-hour day of online giving: Omaha Gives. “This year’s Omaha Gives was unlike any other,” said OCF President and CEO Donna Kush. “Donors truly responded to the unprecedented needs of nonprofits at a time that is more urgent than ever due to the impact of COVID-19.” In fact, in its eighth year, three records were broken in 2020 of all years: total donors (23,375), total donations (65,160), and total nonprofits (1,010). Additionally, dollars raised surpassed the last three years’ totals, and almost matched the current “recordholder”: 2016 (at $8.9 million). OCF also reported urgent needs were spotlighted with the likes of “COVID-19 Alert boxes” on nonprofits’ pages featuring pandemic-related needs and options to donate to the foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, which further raised more than $141,000.

Employers may start seeing an increase in COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims by David Kubicek

Companies whose employees have a higher risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) than the general public — health care workers, first responders, mortuary employees — and employers with COVID-19 outbreaks among their employees may expect to see an increase in workers’ compensation claims. “Whether an employee’s contraction of COVID-19 is work-related will generally be determined on a caseby-case basis,” said Employment Law Attorney Sarah L. “Sally” McGill. Most employers are implementing measures to protect their McGill employees, including authorizing remote work, limiting meetings and in-person gatherings, implementing social distancing in the workplace, frequently and thoroughly cleaning the workplace, encouraging regular handwashing, providing or authorizing use of personal protective equipment (PPE), installing protective screens or other mitigation measures, and screening visitors and employees for COVID-19-related symptoms upon entry to the workplace. All trials and evidentiary hearings in the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court for the months of April and May have been conducted by videoconference or telephone. Starting with trials or evidentiary hearings scheduled on May 18, 2020, or after, the parties may file a motion requesting the trial be held live/in-person in either Douglas or Lancaster County. The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court is now accepting a new Cause of Injury Code for “Pandemic” and a new Nature of Injury Code for “COVID-19.” In Nebraska and Iowa, elective surgery has been limited, according to Gallner & Pattermann Attorney Laura L. Patterman. “While back, neck, knee or shoulder surgery is essential to the future function of the injured individual, in the context of COVID-19 such surgeries were postponed so all resources and

supplies could be diverted to the pandemic,” she said. This has created a delay in injured employees’ ability to recover and return to work, which has left employers short-staffed and insurance carriers continuing to pay benefits for the additional period the individual was off work waiting for the surgery. Both states have been holding hearings and trials via video. “With the exhibits exchanged electronically beforehand, we can conduct trials much the same as before,” Pattermann said. “The ability to have remote trials means the court docket doesn’t become Pattermann as backed up by the pandemic and affords litigants the ability to resolve their cases without risking anyone’s health.” Several Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court procedural rules were changed or updated by the Court in December 2019, and those that needed Supreme Court approval were approved in January 2020. Some of these were house-keeping matters and some were updates. These changes included: —Increased protection for a claimant’s private information by redacting it on specific forms or documentation. —Raising the mileage reimbursement rate to 57.5 cents per mile. —Raising the maximum weekly workers’ comp rate for Nebraska to $882 for injuries or illnesses occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2020, regardless of the employee’s income. In January, the Business and Labor Committee heard testimony on LB963, which would provide for “resilience training” for first responders to mitigate the risk that employment conditions will cause post-traumatic stress disorder to first responders and to modify the burden of proof for a first responder to recover workers’ compensation Continued on page 12.

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 •

Alliance Group benefits from expanded public sector regulations

Continued from page 1. non-productive for the client to do and we use our size to the client’s advantage.” Very rarely is our client spending more dollars in using our service than if they did it on their own, Carolina Mapes said.

The Alliance Group Phone: 402-344-7700 Address: 2566 Leavenworth St., Omaha 68105 Service: professional employment organization Founded: 1997 by Michael & Carolina Mapes Employees: 23 One-year goal: Help clients in applying for paycheck protection program loans and related unemployment filings due to the pandemic. Industry outlook: Good growth opportunities for PEOs, which stay abreast on the needs of clients and how they can be serviced as “new realities” become apparent in 2021. Website: www.alliance-peo.com

They cite the growing bureaucracies at both the federal and state levels. For example, in 1900 case law and common law were looked to but by 1940 state and local laws were added along with a half dozen other acts or regulatory agencies. By 1980 there were 35 agencies and regulations overseeing business and, at present, the total is 56 — and growing. “The federal government never fails to do something to disappoint by figuring out a way to make it harder to be in business,” Michael Mapes said. Services offered by Alliance Group including paperless onboarding, accurate and easy payroll, competitive benefits, human resources compliance, workers compensation processing, among others. The broad spectrum of small business clients include firms from one to about 200 employees. “Our best clients tend to be in the 10 to 50 range,” Michael Mapes said. While Alliance Group can help a client identify the best health insurance coverage, it does not select, offer or purchase the group policy. Rather the firm becomes the manager. “A back-office human resources department,” Michael Mapes said. “Most of our clients want to be good employers and do the right thing.” Many clients initiate a relationship with Alliance Group for payroll administration and workers’ compensation insurance. Additional services are often added to that. There’s an increased interest by clients to offer dental and eye doctor insurance coverage. The Mapes’ said clients have built relationships with Alliance Group, and later when their firm has been sold, the new owners have elected to build on that relationship. Such was the case with a central Nebraska manufacturer which first contracted with the Omaha provider when it had 12 employees; the second generation of the family owning it now has 60 employees. Alliance Group works with other professionals such as insurance agencies, employment firms, and technology providers — among others — to provide what Michael Mapes said might be needed, a different set of eyes to solve problems.

Carolina Mapes said from 75 to 80% of all the firm’s clients applied for PPP loans, a process that proves to be very labor-intensive by involving relationships with many banks and due to diversity among clients, a wide range of data needing to be compiled. However, she said affiliations with the Society for Human Resource Management and the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations — among several other trade associations — has enabled Alliance Group to keep up on changes in laws and regulations and to be able to install the best practices in assisting clients. She cited Alliance Group’s employee-retention rate, which is significantly higher than the national average, monitored by Society for Human Resource Management. The most veteran employee is Director of Human Resources Amy Guerra with 16 years. She left the firm once for another opportunity, but soon rejoined Alliance Group. “We have so many of our clients say ‘we couldn’t have done this without you guys — we would have had to shut the door,’” Carolina Mapes said. “A lot of it is because Mike is proactive and effectively communicates with

our clients as to what is pertinent.” The largest grouping of clients, about 20%, is medical offices, including dentists, family physicians, eye doctors and podiatrists. Property management firms that specialize in apartments, real estate developments, golf courses and similar venues are another large part of the billings. Both Michael and Carolina take pride in the number of nonprofits that are part of their portfolio. Fees are accessed by the number of employees and type of work done for a client. They believe that a business sends an important message to its employees by having a strong administration of its benefits program that is accurate, reliable, friendly and professional. A single source of contact works best, although they know of some businesses that might rely on up to four or five separate managers of services. He cites a 23-year client of Alliance Group, an auto repair shop, that attributes strong human resource management with a consistently high retention of workers. “Answering the phone calls of employees and not blowing them off is important,” he

said. “If we make a mistake we correct it as fast as we can.” Michael Mapes, a ‘79 graduate of Norfolk High School, came to Omaha for college and received his accounting degree from University of Nebraska at Omaha. Minutes after his commencement exercise, he and a friend drove to Chicago for a Billy Idol concert. While there they also visited the Chicago Board of Trade, where he was mesmerized by the activities. He started his career there as a floor runner, phone clerk and brokerage assistant. Carolina, a native of the Philippines, immigrated to Illinois with her parents. After completing college there, she and Michael met on June 26, 1987 on a blind date. Michael proposed to her that night — they were married a year later. Their son, Michael, works for the family business doing technology and payroll. The Alliance Group purchased its 20,000-square-foot building at 2566 Leavenworth St., which formerly housed an automotive business and renovated the structure. In addition to the 9,000 square feet the Alliance Group uses, House of Conundrum, Frost Media and Craft Axe Throwing are tenants.

Metro Stars Gymnastics rolls out social distancing program Continued from page 1. in a 1,400-square-foot space. “Obviously, our business is completely dependent upon getting together into large groups.” Since gymnastics is more of a “fringe sport,” Lilla said that the initial guidelines for gyms to reopen with only 10 athletes in a facility was tough to reconcile because Metro Stars’ facilities feature large, open spaces. With new directed health measures in place June 1, gyms will be limited to 25 people or 50% occupancy. “We actually have a lot of space where we can social distance very easily and it’s an individual sport, so that helps too,” he said, adding that if someone stands too close, they might get kicked. “Because of the uncertainty around how many students will return immediately, we had to ‘right size’ our schedule and re-enroll the customers interested in returning at this time. In the first three days we have had about 20% of our previous clients sign up.” Necessary upgrades to its old La Vista facility, rented by Metro Stars since 2008, was the catalyst for the new Papillion location that opened mid-February. The Elkhorn location, opened in 2016 “to great success,” was the first facility developed by Metro Stars. “To put money into a rental didn’t really make sense,” he said. “Having now done some development I thought we had a lot of comfort around that.” Both facilities have high visibility to two main traffic arteries in Sarpy County — the Elkhorn facility is visible from Highway 6 and the Papillion facility is near Werner Park, just off of Highway 370. “When you have 30,000 cars driving by every day, that’s much more effective than whatever kind of sponsored ads you have on Facebook,” he said. Pre-pandemic, both locations together saw over 400 kids per day. Metro Stars is adhering to current guidelines for gyms, with dedicated separate entrances for entering and exiting, weekly sign ups to keep the same kids together in one group every week to aid in tracking illness

if necessary, specific places for kids to stand some coaches are moving back into teaching that are eight feet apart, along with other live classes. stipulations like bringing their own water “We’re looking for connection with bottles, hand sanitizer and mask-wearing our employees and with our customers,” when entering the building. he said. “We’re looking for training — “We created a sohow can we teach cial distancing gym- Metro Stars Gymnastics our employees so that nastics program,” Phone: 402-505-7600 (Papillion), 402when we are able to Lilla said. “Our in- 991-5700 (Elkhorn) go back, they’re in tention is to keep ev- Address: 11153 Cumberland Dr., Papila better position to erybody safe and to lion 68046; 3706 S. 203rd Plaza, Omaha serve our customers 68130 follow the rules.” even better. A f t e r c l a s s e s , Founded: In 2006 by Erik and Elizabeth “[We] just try to coaches/staff have Lilla build value and cretime to sanitize the Employees: About 90-92 total; 24-25 ate relationships and full-time employees stations. that’s what we do. Immediately after Industry outlook: Since gymnastics is Our ‘why’ is to coach the pandemic was primarily an in-person sport with specialand to inspire others declared and non- ized equipment, it’s difficult to replicate so we can celebrate essential businesses classes online. their success.” were shuttered, Metro Website: www.metrostarsgym.com Metro Stars has Stars started an online a preschool program program geared to keeping kids moving developed by Elizabeth Lilla, who has a while at home, and social media-driven doctorate in occupational therapy, starting activities like a drive-thru Easter egg hunt kids around 18 months old. This age group and car parades to keep customers engaged. works on developmental aspects incorporatWith 90 to 92 employees total and about ing gymnastics — fine and gross motor skills 24 to 25 FTE, part-time employees were and social/emotional awareness. furloughed because there were no classes Metro Stars offers different levels of to teach. The Lillas deliberated whether or competitive and non-competitive programs not to apply for the Paycheck Protection and tumbling for cheer. Birthday parties Program (PPP) because of unknowns after have also been popular. the eight-week timeframe, but ultimately “It’s not necessarily like ‘I want to go decided to move forward. to the Olympics,’ sometimes it’s, ‘I want to Even before getting PPP, the owners learn a cartwheel,’” he said. “Their success had already made up their minds to keep is they make friends and relationships both full-time employees on the books at their with their teachers and fellow students. own expense. Sometimes we get to celebrate kids’ birthday Lilla said that employing people and parties — it’s their special day of the year helping them build careers in the industry and we get to share that with them and right are some of the main reasons that he and his now we don’t get to do that.” wife started and grew the company. In the past, some customers typically “We had made a choice from our core took a summer break from gymnastics to go values that we were going to keep our full- on vacation, but now, they might be looking time employees employed prior to any sort for kids’ activities as businesses start to of paycheck protection plan or anything reopen and parents need to go back to work. like that,” he said. “So that’s what we did.” “While the shutdown has definitely been Staff has focused on the company’s mis- a setback, now more than ever our team is sion and shifted to teaching online classes dedicated to coaching and inspiring others and boosting online programming. Now so we can celebrate their success,” he said.

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

SECTIONS

IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 12

ARCHITECTURE

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT JUNE 19

LINCOLN BANKING (LBJ)

TECHNOLOGY

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.

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

With the issues we all face relative to COVID-19, Nebraska Brewing Company made the decision to move the 2020 release window of its Barrel Aged Stout MOAB into mid-June. MOAB is the star of the NBC barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout line, which includes Black Betty and Sexy Betty which are aged in whiskey and brandy barrels respectively. MOAB is the only beer in the NBC line that is aged in a collection of bourbon barrels. The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities. Omaha Public Power District now has a new and improved process to help those interested in generating their own electricity through solar panels, wind turbines, or other sources. OPPD implemented a streamlined online application system, as well as resources for those considering Customer-Owned Generation, at www. oppd.com/COG. This new website contains information including a quick-start guide to help customers understand the process, as well as how net metering works with regards to billing. Customers will also find a calculator to determine their pay-off period for an investment in solar panels, and more. A regional task force of Greater Omaha business leaders announced THRIVE 2020, a consortium of CEOs, founders, executive directors and innovators who are spearheading a phased plan for economic recovery during changing times. Working collaboratively with the Greater Omaha Chamber, the THRIVE 2020 team launched “We Rise,” Omaha’s first comprehensive recovery strategy to collectively address the COVID-19 crisis. There are six committees: Economic Growth, Small Business, Diversity and Equity, Talent, Entrepreneurship and Public Policy. That plan begins with a better understanding of public health relative to economic risk and a plan that ensures people are protected, elevated and safe as they return to work. Attorney General Doug Peterson, along with a coalition of 34 attorneys general, announced a settlement with Santander Consumer USA, Inc. that includes the potential for more than $2.67 million in relief for Nebraska consumers. This includes approximately 1,044 consumers in Nebraska who can expect to receive just under $235,000 total in restitution. The settlement resolves allegations that Santander violated consumer protection laws through deceptive loan origination and servicing practices, failing to monitor its dealers, and knowingly taking advantage of consumers with subprime credit. A vision between two ethanol advocates to use excess ethanol to make hand sanitizer for Nebraskans has now became a nationwide effort. Nearly 7,000 gallons of Nebraska-made sanitizer has been donat-

ed and shipped to Maryland and dispersed throughout the country to United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service employees responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products. There are 6,500 FSIS field offices across the nation. The USDA’s initial request included 6,500 gallons of hand sanitizer but deliveries have continued as the need remains, now totaling 6,700 gallons. An additional 6,500 gallons is planned to also be donated. Godfather’s Pizza Inc. is opening a new location in Elkhorn, Nebraska. This new location at 18101 Chicago Street offers its thick-crust pizza. With this store opening, Godfather’s Pizza has a total of 580 franchise locations nationwide — 50 in Nebraska. Quantum Workplace, a provider of comprehensive employee engagement software, has been named the winner of four silver Stevie Awards in the 18th Annual American Business Awards. The four categories in which Quantum Workplace, its management, employees and solutions were recognized, include: Entrepreneur of the Year - Computer Software - Up to 500 Employees – Founder and CEO Greg Harris; Customer Service Team of the Year; Achievement in Product Innovation – Smart Conversation Boosters and Nextgen Talent Reviews; and Human Capital Management Solution – Nextgen Talent Reviews solution. The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry announced the members of its new Leadership Nebraska class. This year’s class is the thirteenth in the program’s history. Participants include: Mara Anderson, Jordan Rishel, Matthew Reed, Heidi Elliot, Jessica Colo, Renae Jimenez, Lori Schuppan, Rochelle Jurgens, Brenda Jensen, Kelly Kreger, Lisa Tschauner, Macala Carter, Ben Martens, Nate HcHargue, Bridgett Petzoldt, Lauren Sheridan-Simonsen, Dr. Tracy Kruse, Chance Schilling, Brook Aken, Britton Gabel, Julie Klug, Megan Murray, Jennifer Olds, Sarah Sjolie, Carole Swanson, David Chochon, Douglas Mader, Kevin Black and Edward Tjaden. Farm Bureau Financial Services announced its plan to refund 15% of Farm Bureau Member’s Choice personal auto premiums for the period of March 14, 2020 through May 31, 2020 to policyholders. Client/members do not need to take any action. The premium refund will be distributed as a credit toward auto insurance premium due, electronic funds transfer, or a check, beginning June 8. Farm Bureau is providing additional support to its client/members through temporary billing adjustments, flexible payment options, and waiving late fees for those who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.

Health care notes…

Rebekah Gundry, Ph.D., researcher at UNMC, is one of only 12 investigators nationwide to receive a “COVID-19 and Its Cardiovascular Impact Rapid Response Grant” from the American Heart Association. The one-year, $100,000 grant will allow Gundry to explore the role of glycans, carbohydrates attached to proteins and lipids, in cardiovascular injuries in COVID-19 patients. Glycans play critical roles in post-viral immune reactions, including those that involve Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 •

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. the heart. The Gundry lab has recently developed a new analytical platform, called GlyThyra, which is designed specifically to bring mass spectrometry-based glycomic analyses to precision medicine. ARCpoint Labs of Omaha announced a new lab-based COVID-19 antibody test that could change the way people and businesses are reacting to the pandemic. The test, which detects the COVID-19 antibodies IgM and IgG — specialized immune cells the body produces in reaction to SUPER CROSSWORD

the virus — may reveal whether or not an asymptomatic individual has already been infected with the virus. For the vast majority of viruses, antibodies signal immunity, meaning asymptomatic individuals who test positive are likely functionally immune to the novel coronavirus. The University of Nebraska Medical Center received a $1.5 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. With this grant, iEXCEL and SIM-NE will be able to oversee the purchase of 100 mechanical cardiopulmonary FALL NICKNAME

resuscitation devices and the distribution of them to more than 30 health care organizations across Nebraska and in part of western Iowa. iEXCEL also received two devices for use for training of students, residents, faculty and health care providers. The funding also provides support for the SIM-NE program to provide virtual training events for EMS agencies and critical access hospitals on the best practices in responding to medical situations involving COVID-19.

Education notes …

In an effort to ensure affordability and accessibility for students and their families, the University of Nebraska at Omaha announced a significant tuition rate reduction for in-state students taking online courses. The new rate will take effect in time for Fall 2020 courses. It will reduce UNO’s resident online tuition rate to $259 per credit hour, a move that would provide in-state students with significant savings for a three or four-credit hour online course. Additionally, UNO has created reduced rates for non-Nebraska residents through the Metropolitan Advantage Program. New educational materials to enhance health science curricula for students in grades 6 through 12 are now available. UNO & UNMC Building Excellence in Academics Through STEM (uBEATS) is a series of health science e-modules. This year’s uBEATS cohort was comprised of 23 UNO students and two alumni. This year’s cohort created 11 new modules on the subjects of pharmacology, pathology and microbiology to build on what students learn in the classroom. Thirty-nine interactive modules designed by uBEATS cohorts are available on the UNMC Interactive E-Learning Program website and are free for students, parents and teachers.

Seventy Five North is partnering with Prairie STEM this year to raise $10,000 to create STEM trailers that will be used to extend data/Wi-Fi connectivity in urban areas with poor connection. Omaha Public Schools students will be receiving LTE enabled devices in the Fall, but data/Wi-Fi connectivity problems may make it difficult to participate in remote learning. Prairie STEM found a lack of cell towers in east Omaha has created the inadequate access that is needed. STEM trailers with the ability to project data/Wi-Fi connectivity will allow a sturdier source of data/Wi-Fi. Donations are being accepted online.

Activities of nonprofits …

The Cooper Foundation awarded the second cycle of Rapid Response grants at the May board meeting to address the critical needs of nonprofits and the communities they serve. Grants will be awarded monthly for unrestricted general operating support with a simplified application process through September 2020. The Foundation awarded a total of $67,500 in unrestricted general operating grants to eight nonprofit organizations. Organizations awarded grants include: CenterPointe, ACLU of Nebraska, Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, Junior Achievement of Lincoln, Inc., Lincoln Children’s Museum, Lincoln Community Playhouse, Mid-America Arts Alliance, and Rabble Mill.

Arts & events…

The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is hosting a lunch and learn at 12 p.m. called “Collaging New Worlds.” Inspired by current exhibiting artist Claudia Wieser’s large-scale wallpaper collages, the virtual workshop will explore the endless possibilities of the medium.You’ll need: Paper (a variety of colors if possible), old magazines and glue. Registration is available online.

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS

Answers on page 12.

Tuesday, June 9 The Creighton University Heider College of Business, in partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Young Professionals, is offering a new virtual education opportunity free of charge to business professionals of all industries. This session, from noon to 12:30 p.m., will feature Anton Ames. Ames will discuss several simple, yet effective strategies you can implement immedietly in order to streamline IT support for your remote teams. Nebraska Cattlemen will be hosting Midyear Committee meetings via Zoom. These meetings are open to all current Nebraska Cattlemen members and registration is required. Brand and Property Rights kicks off the webinar sessions at 10 a.m. Senator Steve Halloran will discuss where Brand Legislation goes from here. Nebraska Brand Committee Executive Director John Widdowson and Chair Adam Sawyer will follow-up with an update from NBC. Taxation will start at 1 p.m. broadly discussing Nebraska’s 2020 Legislative session, COVID-19 implications, and a property tax relief outlook. The day ends with a Marketing and Commerce Committee webinar starting at 3:30 p.m. 100 Women Who Care Omaha will be hosting its spring meeting. The meeting will be held virtually on Zoom, starting at 6 p.m. 100 Women Who Care is a giving

circle of women who donate to local charities ($400 per year). Women under 40 can join with a commitment of $200 per year. Participants are encouraged to invite their friends, grab their favorite beverage and join the group on Zoom. For more information or for the link to the meeting, follow the group on Facebook at 100 Women Who Care Omaha or email the group at omaha100@yahoo.com. Wednesday, June 10 Nebraska Cattlemen will be hosting Midyear Committee meetings via Zoom. These meetings are open to all current Nebraska Cattlemen members and registration is required. Wednesday begins with the education committee webinar at 10 a.m. hearing from post-secondary institutions and Nebraska FFA. Starting at 1 p.m. the Animal Health and Nutrition meeting will discuss secure beef supply and traceability. The committee webinars will end at 3:30 p.m. with Natural Resources and Environment committee. Thursday, June 11 The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands is hosting a webinar in conjunction with Washington Nonprofits on “Taking the Pulse of Governance in Action.” The webinar, starting at 2 p.m., will discuss conducting a board assessment, incorporating the results of the assessment into a board development strategy and then the formation of a governance committee. Registration is online.

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

More than 1 in 4 Americans to tap retirement accounts during pandemic, survey shows by James Royal

The coronavirus is hitting not only Americans’ health but also their ability to save for retirement, as millions of Americans are tapping their accounts to offset lost income and contributing less to their accounts than before the pandemic. According to a new Bankrate survey, more than 27% Financial of those working or recently unemployed have already taken a withdrawal from their retirement savings accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA, or plan to use them as a source of income. The survey also reveals that nearly 1 in 5 Americans are contributing less to their retirement account now than before the crisis. “In addition to the 1-in-4 working households that hadn’t been contributing to retirement savings before the pandemic, a further 18% are now contributing less toward retirement,” says Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate chief financial analyst. “The runaway culprit is loss of income, cited nearly twice as often as the next most common reason of keeping more cash on hand.” Bankrate surveyed 1,326 working or recently employed American adults about retirement savings. Below are the main findings from the survey. —18% of Americans have reduced retirement contributions since the coronavirus crisis started. —62% of those tapping retirement accounts cite loss of income as the main reason. —More than 27% of those with retirement accounts have already tapped them or plan to do so. —Many Americans are saving less, but most are saving about the same The results show a sizable portion of Americans have had to reduce retirement

OneNeck builds on its Microsoft relationship Continued from page 2. this issue has become even more important. “We’ve definitely witnessed an uptick in our customers asking for assistance with implementing technology that allows them to be more secure while working from home,” he said. Since the pandemic, Jansen said there’s been a significant increase in security attack attempts. “In an effort to inform and assist our clients as they work from home, we’ve hosted a number of workshops about finding and mitigating threats that are out there,” he said. For OneNeck employees, the capability to work from home was already in place prior to the pandemic. Currently, nearly all employees are working from home and serving customers remotely. Over the years, Swanson said the company has generally witnessed growth in areas that have been aligned with the latest in the market. “As we move forward, our strategic growth areas include refreshing our cloud platform, expanding our relationship with Microsoft and also continuing to broaden our security offerings,” he said. “We will also continue to elevate our relationships with clients and our partners.”

contributions during coronavirus pandemic. About 18% of Americans are contributing less to their retirement account now than before the crisis. However, 8% are contributing more, while around 49% are contributing the same. One-quarter of working or recently unemployed adults were not contributing to retirement savings either before the pandemic or now. The number of Americans saving less squares up with the fact that about 1 in 5 workers have filed for unemployment since March 13. Overall, about 30% of households have experienced a decline in income, according to another recent Bankrate survey. For those who are recently unemployed, retirement contributions are more than twice as likely to decline as for those who are still working, with 31% contributing less compared to 14 percent. The recently unemployed were also less likely to have been contributing before or since the pandemic hit (37 percent) than those currently employed (22 percent). Of those still employed, 56% are contributing the same amount as before the outbreak, compared to only 22% among the recently unemployed. Higher incomes were associated with a higher likelihood of contributing about the same to their retirement accounts now and before the crisis: Of households earning less than $30,000, about 35% saved about the same for retirement. Of households earning between $30,000 and $49,999, about 43% said they were saving the same amount now as before the crisis. For households earning between $50,000 and $79,999, nearly 54% said they were saving about the same. About 62% of those earning more than $80,000 said they had maintained about the same saving rate. In contrast, about 23% of respondents with income between $30,000 and $49,999 said they were contributing less now – greater than the 15 to 16% in each of the other three income groups. Respondents earnings less than $30,000 were almost three times as likely to not have been contributing before or now as those earning $80,000 or more, 39% to 13 percent.

Retirement savings differed somewhat from generation to generation, although Generation X, millennials and boomers all looked broadly similar to one another: —Generation Z: About 27% are contributing less to their retirement than before the pandemic, while 35% were not contributing before or now. More than 12% are contributing more, while around 26% are contributing the same amount. —Millennials: Around 15% of millennials are contributing less to their retirement savings than before, and 24% were not contributing then or now. About 14% are contributing more since the crisis began, and 48% are saving the same. —Generation X: Almost 18% of Generation X are contributing less to retirement savings than before, while 24% were not contributing then or now. Just 5% are contributing more since the crisis began, while 52% are saving the same. —Boomers: About 16% of boomers are contributing less to their retirement than before, and 23% were not contributing before or now. Only 2% are contributing more since the crisis began, while 58% are saving the same. Loss of income is primary culprit for lower retirement savings Americans are cutting back on retirement savings for a variety of reasons, but most reasons cluster around one of a few broad areas. The top reasons cited include the following: —62% cited loss of income. —33% said they wanted to keep more cash on hand. —Additional expenses were cited by 20 percent. —About 18% said they needed to help

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

COVID-19 workers’ compensation Continued from page 8. benefits for mental health injuries that are unaccompanied by physical injury. The Committee also heard testimony on LB846, which would decrease the waiting period to receive full compensation for a disability from six weeks to two weeks. “The Legislative Session was suspended on March 25 due to safety concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic, so it is unclear whether legislation impacting workers’ compensation will be passed by the Legislature,” McGill said. The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court has increased enforcement on employers who fail to procure or maintain workers’ compensation coverage within the state. Employers can be fined up to $1,000 per occurrence, with each day of failure to have insurance coverage being considered a separate occurrence.

adult family members financially. —17% noted they had additional debt. —Nearly 6% cited none of the reasons. —About 2% cited other reasons, including being unemployed, a decreased or eliminated 401(k) match from an employer, the cost of food and maternity leave. Americans are tapping retirement savings to replace lost income To replace their lost income, Americans are hitting their retirement savings, a move that may alleviate momentary concerns but has the potential to create long-term problems. More than 27% of those working or recently unemployed have already tapped into their retirement savings (14 percent) or plan to use it (13 percent) as a source of immediate income during the crisis. “This is most pronounced among younger households, who may miss out on decades of future compounding if forced to turn to their retirement savings during these trying times,” says McBride. About 50% of the recently unemployed with retirement savings have already hit up their account for money or plan to do so, compared to 22% of the currently employed. About 20% of millennials and Generation Z with retirement savings have already used some to replace their income since the coronavirus crisis started. That compares with 8% of Generation X and nearly 10% of boomers. In total, more than 45% of Generation Z and nearly 38% of millennials have used a retirement account for money or plan to do so. Those figures compare to more than 18% of Generation X and more than 14% of boomers. Lower-earning households tended to be Continued on page 19.

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 •

US state jobless-benefit rolls post first decline of pandemic by Katia Dmitrieva

U.S. states’ jobless rolls shrank for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic in a sign people are starting to return to work, even as millions more Americans filed for unemployment benefits. Continuing claims, which tally Americans’ ongoing benefit claims in state programs, fell to 21.1 million for the week ended May 16, Economy Labor Department figures showed Thursday. Those data are reported with a one-week lag. That suggests the job market is starting to rebound as businesses reopen. Analysts had expected an increase in continuing claims. But the economic damage from the pandemic is still hitting hard throughout the country. Initial jobless claims for regular state programs totaled 2.12 million in the week ended May 23, to bring the 2 1/2-month total above 40 million. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 2.1 million claims. U.S. equities were higher Thursday, while 10-year Treasury yields were little changed. Despite optimism in financial markets, economists expect the recovery from the pandemic to take years, and with no vaccine or significant treatment yet available, a return to normal activity is unlikely. The U.S. reached a grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from the virus on Wednesday, the highest official toll in the world. Next week’s May jobs report is forecast to show an unemployment rate of around 20%, the highest since the Great Depression, when it peaked at an estimated 25.6%. “The data still point to a pretty significant loss of jobs but at least the numbers are moving in the right direction,” said Aneta Markowska, chief financial economist at Jefferies Group. “Even though initial claims are still very elevated, the

fact that continuing claims are declining means businesses are actually bringing a lot of workers back in and that is more than offsetting the new filings.” While the latest initial-claims tally was down from the prior week’s 2.45 million and marked the eighth straight weekly decline, it’s still far above the 212,000 average of initial claims in the first two months of 2020 and the pre-pandemic record of 695,000. California, New York, Florida and Georgia had the highest initial claims last week. Pantheon Macroeconomics chief economist Ian Shepherdson flagged one caveat with the continuing claims numbers: While “gross hiring is beginning to rebound,” the figure “overstates the true extent of the hiring,” given that California — where residents file every other week — posted a 1.4 million unadjusted decline, Shepherdson said in note. Florida also showed a drop of 1.6 million. Thursday’s report also showed that filings under the separate, federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program —

which expands unemployment benefits to those not traditionally eligible, such the self-employed and gig workers — fell to 1.19 million from 1.25 million on an unadjusted basis, covering 32 states. The prior week’s figure was revised lower by about 1 million due to an error by Massachusetts. The latest week’s figure for the federal pandemic claims brought the total number under federal and state programs to 3.11 million last week, down from 3.43 million the prior week. Many states are still reporting zero claims under the federal program. Total continuing claims under all state and federal programs — which provides the broadest look at the number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits — rose to 31 million in the week ended May 9 from 27.3 million. That number isn’t adjusted for seasonality and other factors. A separate report Thursday showed U.S. orders for durable goods sank sharply for a second month in April as the pandemic wrecked havoc on the manufacturing industry. State unemployment offices have

Small rural businesses fight for bailout aid by April Simpson

Travis Hogman describes himself as a “small fish” who competes with “just about everybody.” The owner of The Lumberyard in rural, far southwestern Wyoming, squares off with regional rivals like BMC West and heavyweights like Small Business Amazon, Lowe’s and Home Depot. “I fight the small-town mentality all the time,” Hogman said. “We’re always fighting every day for every penny that we get.” Over the past several months, small rural business owners like Hogman have been fighting another battle: getting their share of

federal coronavirus aid. The $2 trillion CARES Act Congress approved in late March funded several Small Business Administration programs. The Paycheck Protection Program distributed more than $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses that retain their employees. It was replenished with another $310 billion. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses up to $10,000 in loan advances that don’t have to be repaid. But critics say many rural entrepreneurs have been left out. They say unclear federal guidance has deterred many rural business owners from applying for help, and that many

US consumer spending plunges; government aid boosts incomes by Reade Pickert

U.S. consumer spending plunged in April by the most on record as widespread government lockdowns largely prevented Americans from spending federal stimulus payments in the month. Household outlays fell 13.6% from the prior month, the sharpest Economy drop in more than six decades worth of data, a Commerce Department report showed Friday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 12.8% decline. Incomes posted a record 10.5% increase, compared with estimates for a 5.9% decline, as federal stimulus payments were distributed under the CARES Act, the report said. It showed government social benefits rose by $3 trillion in April, up from a $70.2 billion gain the prior month. That helped drive the personal savings rate to a record 33% from 12.7%. U.S. consumer spending slumped, while government relief boosted incomes But the rise in income temporarily masks the fact that people are in a fragile economic position, said Michelle Meyer, head of U.S. economics at Bank of

struggled to keep up with record demand for benefits amid the economy’s sudden stop and wave of layoffs since mid-March. Many applicants have waited on edge for the payments without receiving them. California, the most populous state, said Wednesday it’s seeking 1,800 additional staff to help process claims, joining about 3,000 current and temporary employees working on the issue. The state said 700 employees worked over the Memorial Day weekend, particularly to process claims that arrived via paper. The weekly federal report has been marred by data errors and quirks recently, with mistakes from Connecticut and Massachusetts swinging the national figures and California distorting the continuing claims because of the biweekly schedule for residents to file. (With assistance by Kristy Scheuble, Sophie Caronello, Edith Moy and Samuel Dodge.) ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

America Corp. “Unemployment insurance only offsets less than half of the loss in compensation,” Meyer said. “The reason the numbers look so extreme this month was because of the one-time checks that were sent out — which won’t be continuing.” A separate report Friday showed consumer sentiment stumbled in late May as pessimism built about the economic outlook. The University of Michigan’s final sentiment index fell to 72.3 from a preliminary reading of 73.7. The coronavirus pandemic halted purchases of all but the most essential goods and services amid the lockdowns, but gradual reopenings nationwide will boost spending in the coming months. Even though the temporary income replacement will help Americans to start spending again, economists expect it will take a year or more before spending recovers to pre-virus levels. U.S. stocks fell as investors weighed the decline in consumer spending and awaited President Donald Trump’s latest response in his escalating feud with China. The yield on 10-year Treasuries sank. The Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of consumer prices rose 0.5% from a year

earlier, the slowest pace since 1961 and far below the central bank’s 2% target. The core price index, which excludes more-volatile food and energy costs, advanced 1%, the least since 2011. In a contrast with the headline income number, wages and salaries fell 8% from the prior month amid widespread job losses, reductions in hours and pay cuts. The income category of personal current transfer receipts surged 89.6%. A separate report Friday showed U.S. merchandise trade in April slumped to the lowest level in a decade as the pandemic curtailed demand and disrupted supply lines. After adjusting for inflation, spending fell by 13.2% in April, also the most ever, supporting forecasts for gross domestic product to shrink by a record in the April-June period. The main drivers of the monthly decline were spending on food and beverages, restaurants, hotels and health care. (With assistance by Kristy Scheuble, Elizabeth Dexheimer, Edith Moy and Sophie Caronello.) ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

of them lack the banking relationships necessary to tap the largest pot of federal money: the Paycheck Protection Program. “The failure of the Paycheck Protection Program to reach rural businesses is the direct result of decades of bank disinvestment from rural communities across the country,” Ines Polonius, CEO of Communities Unlimited, Inc., an Arkansas-based lender that serves small businesses in seven states, told members of a U.S. House subcommittee on small business last month. Responding to the criticism, the Small Business Administration and Treasury Department late last week announced they would set aside $10 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program to be lent exclusively to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which lend to rural, minority and underserved groups. It’s a step in the right direction, but not all CDFIs are participating in the paycheck program, said Vandell Hampton Jr., president and CEO of True Access Capital, which isn’t participating. Smaller lenders don’t have the capital to lend and wait to be reimbursed, nor do they have the capacity to quickly process loan applications, Hampton said. Instead, grant money to support such lenders, urban or rural, would have been more effective, he said. However, others note that some CDFIs target rural businesses, and that the new money will help expand their reach. A May 8 report by the Small Business Administration’s inspector general found that the SBA failed to follow congressional direction to prioritize small businesses in underserved and rural markets in the original paycheck protection lending program. And because the SBA did not collect demographic data on those borrowers, the agency doesn’t know how much money went to rural, minority and women-owned businesses. “It was a mess getting that PPP,” Hogman said of the Paycheck Protection Program loan. “I probably spent 80-plus hours trying Continued on page 18.

• JUNE 5, 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.

KARINE E. SOKPOH, Attorney SOKPOH LAW GROUP 10730 Pacific Street, Suite 247 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF THE LEAGUE FOR AFRICAN ADVANCEMENT, INC. Notice is hereby given that the League for African Advancement, Inc. has been incorporated as a public benefit non-profit corporation under Nebraska laws, with its registered office at 10730 Pacific Street, Suite 247, Omaha, NE 68114. Its agent at that office is Karine Sokpoh. The corporation shall have members and its incorporator is Marco Kpeglo whose address is 18006 Dewey Circle, Omaha, NE, 68022. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 13625 California Street, Suite 110 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HEYLMUN HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Heylmun Holdings, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the company is 1012 Beaver Lake Blvd., Plattsmouth, Nebraska 68048. The registered agent of the company is DDLG Business Services, Inc. and the registered address of the company is 13625 California Street, Suite 110, Omaha, NE 68154. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 GENE M. ECKEL, Attorney STALNAKER, BECKER & BURESH, P.C. 1111 N. 102nd Ct., Suite 330 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF NEBRASKA MAINTENANCE ACADEMY, INC. NEBRASKA MAINTENANCE ACADEMY, INC. has been incorporated under the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation Act. The street address of the corporation’s initial registered office is 4862 S. 96th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127, and the name of the initial registered agent of the corporation at that office is Rhonda Pederson. The Corporation shall engage in any lawful business for which a corporation may be formed under the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation Act of Nebraska. The name and street address of the incorporator of the corporation is Dave Conde, 4862 S. 96th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127. The corporation is a public benefit corporation. The corporation will not have members. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 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 RESIDENT ACCOUNTING SERVICES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Resident Accounting Services, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Kenneth W. Klaasmeyer, 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on December 17, 2018. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 BRANDON K. DICKERSON, Attorney LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JRI LLC Notice is hereby given that JRI 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 5401 F Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68117, and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is John Matthews. First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION 1. The name of the Corporation is Leap Advisors, Inc. 2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 shares having a par value of $1.00 each. 3. The Registered Office of the Corporation is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, and the Registered Agent at such address is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O. 4. The corporate existence began on December 12, 2018, when Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State. 5. The name and address of the Incorporator is: Taylor C. Dieckman, 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 N O T I C E O F O R G A N I Z AT I O N O F T E C H N O L O G Y TRANSFORMATION CONSULTING 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 Technology Transformation Consulting LLC. The address of the registered office is 12730 Burt St, Omaha, NE 68154 and the name of the Company’s initial registered agent is Steven T. White. The Company shall engage in any lawful business for which a Company may be formed under the Nebraska Limited Liability Act. The company commenced business November 26, 2018 and its duration shall be perpetual. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by Steven T. White. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 JAMES S. PIEPER, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ASSOCIATION OF DAR MASSALIET COMMUNITY IN AMERICA, INC. Notice is hereby given that ASSOCIATION OF DAR MASSALIET COMMUNITY IN AMERICA, INC. has been organized as a corporation under the Nebraska Non-Profit Corporation Act. The address of the initial designated office of the company is 120 South 38th Avenue #14, Omaha, NE 68131. The agent for service of process for the Company is Mary E. Vandenack located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118-3121. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 LAWRENCE F. HARR, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF STONETRUST PREMIER CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY 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 Stonetrust Premier Casualty Insurance Company. The Articles of Incorporation are on file with the Nebraska Secretary of State. The corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock of $2,500.00 par value per share. The name and street address of the corporation's registered agent and offrce is C T Corporation System, 5601 South 59th Street, Suite C, Lincoln, NE 68508. The incorporators are Michael G. Dileo, Melanie J. Forbes, Michael Shane Treigle, Robert Wolf and Christopher Neyrey, located at 5615 Corporate Blvd., Suite 700, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 79808. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 DANIEL J. WATERS, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF BMP II, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is BMP II, LLC. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on December 4, 2018 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 FREDERICK D. STEHLIK, Attorney GROSS & WELCH, P.C., L.L.O. 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MARKSMAN ACQUISITIONS, LLC a Nebraska Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given that MARKSMAN ACQUISITIONS, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its registered office located at 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The general nature of its business is to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking or insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Certificate of Organization was filed in the office of the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 10, 2018, the Company commenced business thereon, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the Managing Member. Frederick D. Stehlik, Organizer First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018

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 ARBOR CARE CENTERS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Arbor Care Centers, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Kenneth W. Klaasmeyer, 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on December 18, 2018. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 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 BILL RITE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Bill Rite, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Kenneth W. Klaasmeyer, 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on December 17, 2018. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 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 EMPLOYEE VERIFICATION SERVICES, LLC EMPLOYEE VERIFICATION SERVICES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Employee Verification Services, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Kenneth W. Klaasmeyer, 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on December 17, 2018. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION DreamCatchers Ride, Inc., a Nonprofit, Public Benefit Corporation. Initial Registered Office: 6640 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68507 Initial Incorporators: Jodi L. Freeman – 6640 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68507 Shane C. Freeman – 6640 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68507 Elizabeth Friesen – 3765 Pablo Ln, Lincoln, NE 68516 Tanya L. Godwin - 840 Smoky Hill Rd., Lincoln, NE 68520 Madison Hall – 6640 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68507 Brandon Otter -3650 W. Plum, Lincoln, NE 68522 The Corporation has members Registered Agent: Jodi L. Freeman, 6640 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE 68507, 402-679-3996 First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF AGILE TRANSFORMATION, INC. Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of Agile Transformation, Inc. have been amended and restated in their entirety as follow: Article First states the name of the Corporation as Agile Transformation, Inc. Article Second states the Registered Office of the Corporation as 11311 Chicago Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68154, and the Registered Agent as Thomas C. Green II. Article Third states the purpose. Article Fourth states the number of shares the Corporation is authorized to issue as 10,000,000 shares having a par value of $0.001 per share, of which 8,000,000 shares are designated as Class A voting common and 2,000,000 shares are designated as Class B non-voting common. Article Fifth states the Corporation shall have perpetual existence. Article Sixth states the provisions relating to amending the Articles. Article Seventh states that provisions relating to amending the Bylaws. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 NOTICE OFAMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION FOR POWERCANDIDATE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of PowerCandidate, LLC has been amended, changing the name of the company from PowerCandidate, LLC to One41 Partners, LLC. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Carebuilders at Home Name of Applicant: EHR 1Record LLC Address: 4611 South 96th Street, Suite 120, Omaha, NE 68127 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Michigan Date of first use of name in Nebraska: 12/11/2018 General nature of business: Non-medical home care, caring for those who are no longer able to care for themselves BRENDA C. OUELLETTE Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative December 28, 2018

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES DANIEL J. WATERS, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF SODUSTA HOLDINGS, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Sodusta Holdings, LLC. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on December 10, 2018 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 DANIEL J. WATERS, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF PANOWICZ HOLDINGS, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Panowicz Holdings, LLC. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on December 10, 2018 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 DANIEL J. WATERS, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF MINNETONKA I & II COMPLEX, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Minnetonka I & II Complex, LLC. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on December 10, 2018 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION S & P Construction, Inc. has been incorporated under the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. The street address of the corporation's initial registered office is 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska, and the name of the initial registered agent of the corporation at that office is Christopher O. Estwick. The corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 shares of Common Stock. The name and street address of the incorporator of the corporation are Christopher O. Estwick, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), AMBER M BROWN VELTON BROWN You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 10/08/2018 on Case Number CI18-21004, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $3,516.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 01/28/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly. CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 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 SBC LENDER, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SBC Lender, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 11, 2018. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018

QUINN R. EATON, Attorney HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP 13330 California St., Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68154 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: AEGIS WHOLESALE CORPORATION, 3010 Briarpark Drive, Suite 700, Houston, TX 77042, you are hereby notified that on November 1, 2018, WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO CITIBANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR SACO I TRUST 2006-6, MORTGAGE-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 20066 filed a cross-claim against you in the District Court of Douglas County at docket CI 18-7951, the object in prayer of which was to secure a superior entitlement to interpleaded funds in the amount of $78,006.31, together with court costs, interest and attorney’s fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the District Court of Douglas County on or before the 28th day of January, 2019, the cross-claim against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 MARK GOODALL, Attorney GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR18-1777 Estate of Sophia Riza, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on 6th day of December, 2018, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that Joan Vazquez, whose address is 6405 S 109th Street, Omaha, NE 68137, was informally appointed by the Registrar as Personal Representative of the Estate. Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before February 14, 2019 or be forever barred. CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF MHC SYSTEMS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of MHC Systems, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended as follows: the limited liability company has changed its name to CHM Systems, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 14, 2018. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Krohn, L.L.C., a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 6, 2018, 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. Robert Krohn will wind up and liquidate the company’s business and affairs. If you have a claim against Krohn, L.L.C., 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 1427 South 85th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. A claim against Krohn, L.L.C. 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 December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 MATTHEW T. PAYNE, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BERGER, ELLIOTT & PRITCHARD CPAS, L.L.C. Notice is hereby given of the organization of Berger, Elliott & Pritchard CPAs, L.L.C. 1. The name of the limited liability company is Berger, Elliott & Pritchard CPAs, L.L.C. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 1301 South 75th Street, Suite 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Robert H. Berger, 1301 South 75th Street, Suite 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GLASS VENTURES LLC Notice is hereby given that Glass Ventures, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 7615 Irvington Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68122, and the initial agent for service of process at such address is Trish Glass. First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 9826 Giles Rd, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 9826 Giles Rd, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom P.C. a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was organized for the purpose of engaging in the transaction of any lawful business and the performance of any lawful activities that a limited liability company may engage in under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Company shall have perpetual existence unless dissolved in accordance with its Certificate of Organization, its Operating Agreement or the Limited Liability Company Act. Unless otherwise provided in the Company’s Operating Agreement, the affairs of the Company are to be managed by its managers. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BABILI GROUP, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Babili Group, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C. a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was organized for the purpose of engaging in the transaction of any lawful business and the performance of any lawful activities that a limited liability company may engage in under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Company shall have perpetual existence unless dissolved in accordance with its Certificate of Organization, its Operating Agreement or the Limited Liability Company Act. Unless otherwise provided in the Company’s Operating Agreement, the affairs of the Company are to be managed by its members. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 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 LARO INVESTMENTS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LaRo Investments, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The limited liability company shall provide real estate services. The designated office of the limited liability company is 138 North 38th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131. 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 11, 2018. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Neal Insurance Agency, Inc., whose registered agent is Mike Massman and registered office is 13310 I Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68137, was formed on December 12, 2018 to engage in any lawful business. The corporation has authorized 10 shares of capital stock. Thomas E. Whitmore, Incorporator First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that JITM, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 7226 S. 173rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68136. The registered agent of the Company is Josiah Sohlden, 7226 S. 173rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68136. The Company was formed on December 12, 2018. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that JETA Builders, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 7602 Pacific Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent of the Company is Julie McCoy, 3015 N. 90th Street, Suite 7, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. The Company was formed on December 12, 2018. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 JAMES D. BUSER, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF REJ HOLDINGS, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of REJ Holdings, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is REJ Holdings, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 12910 Pierce Street, Suite 110, Omaha, Nebraska 68144, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is James D. Buser, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Mountain to Climb, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom P.C. a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was organized for the purpose of engaging in the transaction of any lawful business and the performance of any lawful activities that a limited liability company may engage in under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Company shall have perpetual existence unless dissolved in accordance with its Certificate of Organization, its Operating Agreement or the Limited Liability Company Act. Unless otherwise provided in the Company’s Operating Agreement, the affairs of the Company are to be managed by its manager. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Corporate Name: OAS Holdings, Inc. Registered Agent: Erickson & Sederstrom P.C. a limited liability organization Registered Office: 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 Authorized Number of Shares: 1,000,000 Incorporator: William T. Foley 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF Millard Asset Management, LLC Millard Asset Management, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has filed a Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State. The terms of the dissolution provide for the payment of liabilities of the company and the distribution of any remaining assets. The Company requests that persons with claims against it present them in accordance with this notice. Any claimant shall describe the claim and mail the claim to the above address. A claim against the company will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced within five years after the publication of this notice. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 LEGACY DESIGN STRATEGIES 9859 South 168th Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that JGF Management, Inc., a Nebraska corporation, filed its Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 13, 2018, and the company is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of the dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the company are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provisions are to be made thereof, and that the balance of any remaining assets are to be distributed to its Shareholders. Ronald Kent Jex, the President of the corporation, will wind up and liquidate the corporation’s business and affairs. The corporation has no current assets or liabilities. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 C R O K E R , H U C K , K A S H E R , D e W I T T, A N D E R S O N & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ENGELBERTZ PROPERTIES, LLC The name of the limited liability company is Engelbertz Properties, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 4532 Shirley Street, Omaha, NE 68106. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Robert M. Gonderinger, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. ENGELBERTZ PROPERTIES, LLC By: Robert M. Gonderinger First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 ROBERT E. BURNS, Attorney 11330 Q Street, Suite 220 Omaha, Nebraska 68137 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF Durham Plumbing, Inc. Notice is hereby given that Durham Plumbing, Inc. has incorporated under the Nebraska Business Corporation Act. The general nature of the business is to conduct any lawful business including but not limited to the business of performing plumbing services. Capital is 10,000 shares with a par value of $1.00 per share. The registered agent is: Zackary Durham and the registered office is located at 8820 South 97th Street, LaVista, NE 68128. The affairs of the corporation are to be conducted by the Board of Directors and such officers as it may elect. The corporation commenced existence on December 14, 2018 with the filing and recording of its articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State, and will have perpetual duration. First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019

AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), CHERISH WHITEFACE, LESTER RESPECTSNOTHING You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 08/16/2018 on Case Number CI18-17476, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $1713.73, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 01/28/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly. CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PRAIRIE IDEAS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Prairie Ideas, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 5104 N 135th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68164. The registered agent of the limited liability company is Sachin Pawaskar Ph.D, and his office is located at 5104 North 135th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68164. General nature of the business is to transact any and all lawful business for which limited liability companies are allowed by statute. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 SCHMIT LAW FIRM, LLC 1243 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 7 Papillion, Nebraska 68046 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Content Equals Money NE, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, was formed on November 14, 2018 and is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The company will be engaged in providing content development services, with it initial designated office at 1309 S 204th St, Ste 287, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The company’s initial registered agent for service of process is Angela Schmit, Schmit Law Firm, LLC at 1243 Golden Gate Dr., Ste. 7, Papillion, Nebraska 68046. Amie Marse, Founder & Organizer First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is OH BABY ULTRASOUNDS, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 8451 West Center Road, Unit 24920, Omaha, NE, 68124. The registered agent is Meagan Good and the Registered Agent's address is 8451 West Center Road, Unit 24920, Omaha, NE 68124. 3. The general nature of the Company is providing entertainment ultrasounds to prospective parents, provide early gender determination and 3D/4D ultrasound images. 4. The Company commenced on December 10, 2018, 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 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is WILLIAM A. MAYHAN, DDS, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 1004 N. 192nd Court, Apt #311, Elkhorn, NE 68022. 3. The registered agent is William A. Mayhan, DDS and the Register Agent's address is 1004 N. 192nd Court, Apt #311, Elkhorn, NE 68022. 4. The general nature of the Company is the practice of dentistry. 5. The Company commenced on December 10, 2018, and shall have perpetual existence. 6. 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 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 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 LAD CONSULTING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LAD Consulting, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 904 N. 143rd Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. 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 6, 2018. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 2JaVann, LLC Notice is hereby given that 2JaVann, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with its designated office at 5724 N 107th street, Omaha, Ne 68134. It is organized to transact any lawful business for which a Limited Liability Company may be organized under Nebraska laws and its duration is perpetual commencing from August 27, 2018. Its affairs are to be conducted by the manager Amen Lawson-Betum. Its registered agent is Eya Assignon, 10730 Pacific street, Omaha, Ne 68114. First publication December 14, 2018, final December 28, 2018

SAM R. BROWER, Attorney ANDERSEN, LAURITSEN & BROWER 1005 South 107th Avenue, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR18-1817 Estate of Robert E. Sehestedt, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on December 17, 2018, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written Statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that Melissa A. Sehestedt, whose address is 712 South West Street, #37, Valley, NE 68064, was informally appointed by the Registrar as Personal Representative of the Estate. Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before February 21, 2018 or be forever barred. CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication December 21, 2018, final January 4, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION BV Squared, LLC was organized as a Nebraska limited liability company on December 18, 2018. The Company's registered agent is Brian V. Vinchur and its registered office is 1327 South 199th Street, Omaha, NE 68130. First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 TIFFANY E. THOMPSON, Attorney 4611 South 96th Street, Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68127 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Turning the Mind Therapy, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, as of December 12, 2018, with its registered office at 4611 S. 96th Street, Suite 232, Omaha, NE 68127, and with Tiffany E. Thompson, as its initial agent for service of process at 4611 S. 96th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68127. The general nature of its business is to engage in and to do any lawful act and any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of Nebraska. First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 MARK J. LAPUZZA, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF FIVE FOUNTAINS VILLAS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Notice is hereby given of incorporation of Five Fountains Villas Homeowners Association under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the corporation is Five Fountains Villas Homeowners Association. 2. The Five Fountains Villas Homeowners Association is a mutual benefit corporation. 3. The street address of the Corporation's initial registered office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The name of its initial registered agent at that office is Mark J. LaPuzza. 4. The name and address of the incorporators are as follows: Michael Riedmann, NP Dodge Real Estate – Builder Services, 13321 California Street, Suite 300, Omaha, NE 68154 Herbert Freeman, NP Dodge Real Estate – Builder Services, 13321 California Street, Suite 300, Omaha, NE 68154 5. The Corporation shall engage in any lawful business for which a corporation may be formed under the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation Act. 6. The Corporation shall have members. First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JAMES WESTFALL & DR. KENNETH NOISEWATER, 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 James Westfall & Dr. Kenneth Noisewater, 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 at 11011 Q Street, Suite 104A, Omaha, Nebraska 68137 Shawn Swaney, Members First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BREZINSKI REAL ESTATE GROUP, LLC Notice is hereby given that a professional limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is BREZINSKI REAL ESTATE GROUP, LLC. The company is organized to render real estate services. 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 2604 N. 166th Street, Omaha, NE 68116. Michelle A. Brezinski, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Premier Technologies, 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 Premier Technologies, 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 1309 S. 204th Street, Suite 298, Elkhorn, NE 68022. James Meadows, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CWR SOLUTIONS, 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 CWR Solutions, 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 17610 T Street, Omaha, NE 68135. Rob Russel, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CORDOVA ESTATES, 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 Cordova Estates, 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 571 S. 182nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. Gabriel Romero, Members First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MANDI LACKAS REAL ESTATE, LLC Notice is hereby given that a professional limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is MANDI LACKAS REAL ESTATE, LLC. The company is organized to render real estate sales services. 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 12609 North Shore Drive, Springfield, NE 68059. Amanda M. Lackas, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LIFETIME CONSULTING GROUP, 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 Lifetime Consulting Group, 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 at 6651 Giles Road #306, Omaha, Nebraska. John J. Meneely Jr., Members First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF THE BLONDO PROJECT, 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 The Blondo Project, 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 1015 N. 98th Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68114. Jim Prchal and Russ Zeisler, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Hybrid85 Name of Applicant: Cover Crop Exchange LLC Address: 5324 Seward St. Omaha NE 68104 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: Now General nature of business: Agricultural seed sales NATHAN A. BELCHER Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative December 28, 2018

BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH SOLUTION, LLC Notice is hereby given that a professional limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is Alternative Mental Health Solution, 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 6107 Maple Street, Suite B, Omaha, Nebraska 68104. Joshua Friedman, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Blue Rose Properties, LLC Notice is hereby given that a limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is Blue Rose Properties, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 6212 S. 34th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68107. Nelson Pasillas, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF METRO PLUMBING, 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 METRO PLUMBING, 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 Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128, and its incorporators are Justin Gray, 22440 Norman Drive, Underwood, IA 51576 Justin Gray, Incorporators First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Dannehl Enterprises, 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 Dannehl Enterprises, 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 18407 C Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. Scott A. Dannehl, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF AAG PROPERTIES, LLC Notice is hereby given that a limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is AAG Properties, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 5030 S. 135th Street, Omaha, NE 68137. Sarah M. Ullsperger, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LIFETIME CONSULTING GROUP, 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 Lifetime Consulting Group, 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 at 6651 Giles Road #306, Omaha, Nebraska. John J. Meneely Jr., Members First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF SURBER FLOORING, 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 SURBER FLOORING, 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 Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128, and its incorporators are Jacob Surber, 10015 Cape Cod Landing Apt. F, Bellevue, NE 68123 and Jacob Surber 10015 Cape Cod Landing Apt. F, Bellevue, NE 68123. Jacob Surber, Incorporators First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Brezinski & Associates, LLC Notice is hereby given that a limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is Brenzinski & Associates, LLC The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128. The designated office is located at 2604 N. 166th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. Michelle A. Brezinski, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TBDH, 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 TBDH, 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 9413 Harney Street, Omaha, NE 68114 Drew Halvorson, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HMW CONSTRUCTION, 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 HMW CONSTRUCTION, 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 7887 F Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127. Jason Hatcher, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF STACY FELLOWS REAL ESTATE, LLC Notice is hereby given that a professional limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is STACY FELLOWS REAL ESTATE, LLC. The company is organized to render real estate sales services. 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 5375 S 156th Ct #102, Omaha, NE 68135. Stacy Fellows, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF NICK BENNER REAL ESTATE, LLC Notice is hereby given that a professional limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is NICK BENNER REAL ESTATE, LLC. The company is organized to render real estate sales services. 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 6720 N. 31st Ave, Omaha, NE 68112. Nicholas Benner, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF The Rude Shrimp Co., 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 The Rude Shrimp Co., 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 336 Shorewood Lane, Waterloo, Nebraska 68069. Anton J. Holzapfel, IV, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Full Profile Ag Services, 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 Full Profile Ag Services, 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 1014 Road R, York, Nebraska 68467. Jon Propheter, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Detav’s Property, 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 Detav’s Poperty, 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 1112 MacArthur Drive, Papillion, Nebraska 68046. Dan DeTavernier, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GVS OffersMaximum, 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 GVS OffersMaximum, 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 6623 Kansas Avenue, Omaha, NE 68104. Stevie Lomack, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MD Medical Solutions, 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 MD Medical Solutions, 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 1007 S. 198th Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. Mark Brown, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION gw50 LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing addresses of the initial designated office of the company are 12925 W. Dodge Road, Suite 106A, Omaha, NE 68154. The name and street and mailing addresses of the agent for service of process of the company are Kathryn A. Glissman, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Tech Hands, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 7602 Pacific Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent of the Company is Whitmore Law Office, LLC, 7602 Pacific Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was formed on December 19, 2018. First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 13625 California Street, Suite 110 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SOUTHLAKE HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Southlake Holdings, 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 241486, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 13625 California Street, Suite 110, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF InFITity, 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 InFITity, 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 2256 S. 218th Avenue, Elkhorn, NE 68022. Scott Koethe, Member First publication December 28, 2018, final January 11, 2019

Small rural businesses fight for bailout aid Continued from page 13. to get that thing set up and in motion.” To be sure, states with fewer COVID-19 cases and more community banks received more loans on a per-business basis than more urban states, according a study released May 6 by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. But small rural businesses applied for — and received — CARES Act dollars in smaller numbers than urban ones, according to an online survey the National Main Street Center conducted April 24-May 4. Of 631 respondents in 43 states, the vast majority employ fewer than 20 people. The survey found that in communities of fewer than 50,000 people, 76% of businesses applied, compared with 89% in places with larger populations. And 45% of small business applications in smaller areas were approved, compared with 59% in larger ones. “The situation in small towns and in rural America is about as severe as it is in big cities,” said Michael Powe, the report’s co-author and director of research at the National Main Street Center. Advocates also are calling on Congress to include the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) in future relief efforts. About 1,200 small rural businesses receive loans through the program. The recipients employ 10 or fewer people. Most of the businesses are service-oriented, such as hair salons, restaurants and retail outlets, said Johnathan Hladik, policy director of the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Nebraska. The Nebraska center and a coalition of small-business lenders are urging Congress to forgive up to $2 million in loan payments for six months, similar to loan relief in another SBA program funded by the CARES Act. Rural entrepreneurs and businessowners often struggle to obtain loan financing. It took Hogman several years before an RMAP loan provided the financing he needed to purchase his business in Evanston, Wyoming. “It’s basically the reason that I exist, to put it lightly,” Hogman said. ‘The Entire Town Feels It’ Employment loss during the early weeks of the pandemic was about 27% among firms with fewer than 100 employees and was concentrated among low-wage workers, according to a May 6 paper from economists at the ADP Research Institute, the Federal Reserve Board and the University of Chicago. Among private sector employment across the country, small businesses of fewer than 50 employees shed more than 6 million jobs from March to April, according to the April ADP Small Business Report. The service and goods-producing sectors shed the most. The share of jobs lost was even greater in businesses of fewer than 20 employees. Those small businesses are especially critical to the rural economy. Operating in places with low population density, small enterprises are credited with keeping profits in the community and building local leadership. Some scholars have found that counties with greater concentrations of small, locally owned businesses even have healthier populations. “I’ve lived the majority of my life in communities of less than 5,000 people, and when a business closes the entire town feels it,” said Waldo Smith, director of microlending at the Wyoming Women’s Business Center in Laramie. Several reports and experts have emphasized that banks prioritized paycheck protection loans with small businesses with whom they already had a relationship, to save money and avoid fraudulent applications. But decades of bank consolidation and decline in the numbers of community banks have left rural communities with fewer options for local banking. Small-businessowners face greater competition at large urban-based banks with local branches, which often make them a lower priority, said Becky McCray, a rural entrepreneur and small business expert based in Woods County, Oklahoma. “The PPP program wasn’t for everybody, and everybody didn’t have access to it,” said Hampton, whose organization lends to clients in Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania. “If you are a smaller business in a rural area, with not real strong banking relationships, you might have been overlooked,” Hampton said. “You had to be a sophisticated business to where you had payroll, and you were able to document the payroll that you have.” Rural Aid But small businesses in some rural areas have been more successful in getting federal help.

Fully 100% of rural bank CEOs surveyed in the latest Rural Mainstreet Index by Creighton University consider the PPP a success. More than 1 in 5 want to see the program expanded. The monthly index surveys bankers in rural areas of 10 states in the Midwest or West that depend on agriculture or energy. Rural states with fewer coronavirus cases and deaths had more early success with SBA loans than businesses in more urban states, according to an April 17 Reuters analysis of SBA and census data. North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Oklahoma received the most SBA loans per capita, while California, Nevada, New Jersey and New York received the least. But far more early federal relief loans reached small businesses in states where small, local banks comprise a greater share of the market, according to an April 29 report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. For example, banks in North Dakota issued about 1,444 loans per 100,000 people. One-fifth of that number were issued in Arizona, which has the fewest community banks per capita of any state. Lenders’ preference for borrowers with an existing relationship and the number of community banks largely explain geographical variations in PPP funding, according to the New York Fed study. It also found that, on a per business basis, the areas most affected by COVID-19, such as New York, New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania, received fewer loans than some Mountain States and parts of the Midwest. ©2020 Stateline.org Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Remote devices for telehealth see surge in demand by Gopal Ratnam

Smartphone apps and connected devices that largely have seen niche use in the telemedicine context are likely to see a significant growth as online and remote consultations with doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic become more routine and established in the months to come. The devices and apps range from ones that are worn like a skin patch and monitor vital signs to transmit Health care data to doctors to ones that a parent uses to send high-quality images and video of a child’s throat and ear to a physician. They also include apps that employ artificial intelligence technologies to detect signs of pneumonia from a person’s cough. While most telehealth connections between doctors and patients are being done through common audio and video apps including Zoom, WhatsApp and Facetime, “it would be a lot more powerful if we are able to add more information,” said Joseph Kvedar, vice president of Connected Health, and the president-elect of the American Telemedicine Association. “What information does a doctor need to make a diagnostic decision or make a change in a care plan and communicate it to you?” Kvedar, professor of dermatology at the Harvard Medical School and co-author of a book, Internet of Healthy Things, Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 •

How to hit pause button on mortgage payments during the coronavirus crisis by Susan Tompor

Disheartening levels of jobless claims will likely drive more homeowners to seek mortgage relief in the weeks ahead. Already almost 4 million homeowners were on forbearance plans as of May 3, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act — or CARES Financial Act — provides borrowers with home loans the right to request a temporary suspension of payments on federally backed mortgages. Forbearance is a temporary fix but it may be worth exploring in order to avoid a foreclosure down the road. In March, lenders might have initially offered to let homeowners who made such requests to postpone 90 days of mortgage payments through a forbearance agreement. Many of those agreements, though, would likely expire come late June or July. Consumers can see their payments paused for up to six months initially and possibly another six months. The debt isn’t forgiven and the regular interest keeps building. No additional fees can be charged. “Forbearance is really a deferral. They will still need to make these payments,” said Kathleen L. Kraninger, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in phone call Friday morning. Some early requests triggered a great deal of confusion and frustration, though, when some homeowners were told by some mortgage servicers that they’d be required to repay the money in a lump sum when the three months were up. But that’s not your only option. A new Consumer Relief Guide, which spells out the relief process associated with federally backed mortgages, was released Friday by the

Medical innovations Continued from page 7. respirators and more. “CHI Health is working with a couple of small companies in Omaha and Minden to provide testing booths,” he said. “Testing booths are used frequently in Asia and now on the East Coast. The hope is to have these deployed in June for mass COVID-19 testing locations for pre-surgery testing and as testing in general expands.” Kent Sona, vice president and chief information officer for Methodist Health System said ancillary technologies also help improve hospital operations. “Our COVID-19 screening hotline launched March 9, just three days after the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the community,” he said. “As hospital emergency departments, switchboards and clinics were getting increased call volumes, the decision was made we could move the responsibility to our 825 Building. This allowed us to take call volumes off the frontline staff so they could focus on providing patient care.” Methodist also implemented a means of addressing the stress of COVID-19, Sona said. “Recognizing the emotional toll COVID-19 was having on the community, Methodist Health System launched the Methodist Emotional Support Line,” he said. “Counselors are available to assist callers by answering questions, addressing concerns, scheduling counseling appointments for additional care and providing referrals to community resources. “The response has been very positive; people are thankful to have a resource like this available during the pandemic.”

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. The guide outlines the rights to mortgage payment forbearance and foreclosure protection under the federal CARES Act. See www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus for information on how to protect your finances during the coronavirus pandemic. Such relief is essential as 36.5 million workers across the country have applied for unemployment benefits in the past eight weeks. Much of the U.S. economy has been put on pause in an attempt to save lives during the coronavirus crisis. In the coming weeks, parts of the economy are expected to gradually reopen. Some workers may return to their jobs soon; others won’t. John W. Ryan, president and CEO of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, said borrowers are telling state regulators that they’re confused about mortgage relief, and in some cases, getting inconsistent information about

forbearance. Consumers have a right to get up to 180 days of forbearance initially, and then request an extension for up to another 180 days of payment relief. The consumer relief guide gives a summary of borrowers’ rights under the CARES Act, steps to access mortgage relief and repayment options. Many lenders and servicers are providing forbearance benefits regardless of federally backed status, according to the Consumer Relief Guide. Kraninger said the CFPB is working hand-in hand with other federal and state regulators to protect consumers during this national emergency. The guide notes: Homeowners have the right to obtain a 180-day pause in paying your mortgage or temporarily lower mortgage payments if you are a borrower on a federally backed mortgage loan and affirm that you are experiencing a fi-

nancial hardship due directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 emergency. Your mortgage servicer — or company where you send payments to each month — can tell you if your loan is federally backed. While in forbearance, you can still choose to make partial payments, which will reduce the amount you would need to repay in the future. In most cases, you should receive multiple options for repaying the monthly payments that were not made during the forbearance period. Foreclosure actions on loans federally backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD, which includes single family FHA loans and reverse mortgage HECM loans, are frozen until June 30, 2020. Loan types that are federally backed include: Conventional loans purchased or securitized by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. ©2020 Detroit Free Press Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Continued from preceding page. said use of devices and technologies to connect patients and doctors “are going to blossom.” Devices and technologies that enable socalled asynchronous connection, allowing a patient to send information or a picture that a doctor can review at the end of a day and respond with a diagnosis or a recommendation, are the “obvious next steps,” Kvedar said. Such communication would not tie up a doctor’s time with a live call during a work day. On the horizon are devices and apps that can help patients do blood testing at home or capture biomarker signals recorded by smartphones that can then be sent to physicians for evaluation of possible underlying causes, Kvedar said. Propelled by coronavirus The increased use of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a significant increase in demand for new technologies in the coming years, market forecaster

Frost & Sullivan said in a May 13 report. “The telehealth market in the United States is estimated to display staggering seven-fold growth by 2025, resulting in a five-year compound annual growth rate of 38.2 percent,” Frost & Sullivan said in its report. “In 2020, the telehealth market is likely to experience a tsunami of growth, resulting in a year-over-year increase of 64.3 percent.” The need to maintain social distancing will lead to an “unprecedented demand for telehealth, which involves the use of communication systems and networks to enable either a synchronous or asynchronous session between the patient and provider,” Victor Camlek, healthcare analyst at Frost & Sullivan, said in a statement accompanying the firm’s report. While private, employer-based healthcare systems have embraced telehealth services in recent years, the onset of the pandemic has resulted in an expansion of such services for publicly funded patients after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services waived restrictions on the use of remote consultation services for Medicare users. Bipartisan groups of lawmakers are seeking to extend the use of telehealth services for government-paid patients even after the pandemic ends. Some U.S. hospitals already have been experimenting with sensors and devices to help patients transition to home care without having to endure prolonged hospitalization. In January, the Annals of Internal Medicine published findings of a pilot program run by the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston showing that a so-called hospital-at- home program, which monitored recently discharged patients using remote sensors connected to doctors’ smartphones as well as other home-based care, could “reduce cost, health care use, and readmissions while improving patient experience.” Companies emerging to fill the need VitalConnect, a San Jose, Calif.-based company, makes a disposable biosensor called VitalPatch, which the company says is about the size of a Band-Aid and can be glued to a patient’s chest. The device has built-in electrodes to measure heart rate, accelerometers to detect motion, and technology to detect body temperature, according to the company’s website. The device also can be linked to other devices to measure blood pressure, blood oxygen levels and respiration, and send all the data wirelessly to a physician or hospital. Trapollo, a technology company that’s owned by Cox Communications, has seen a

surge of demand since COVID-19 for its software program that enables remote monitoring of patients. “In addition to the monitoring software, many organizations are seeking medical devices such as thermometers and pulse oximeters to monitor patients and even get employees back to work,” Victor Cooper, a spokesman for the company, said in an email. “So far, Trapollo has procured and delivered tens of thousands of non-connected devices in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.” Kvedar said makers of consumer-oriented medical apps and devices are trying to figure out a way to get more people to buy and adopt them. Sales of pulse oximeters, devices that measure a person’s heart rate and blood-oxygen level, have likely gone up in the last two months, driven by news reports that a drop in oxygen levels in one’s blood is a likely indicator of the onset of COVID-19, he said. Consumers may similarly take to buying other devices for home use, he said. Tyto Care, a company based in New York and Israel, makes a handheld exam device for home use along with an app that can help a parent, for example, examine a child’s ears and throat, listen to the lungs and send the information to a physician. Or they can conduct the exam under the guidance of a doctor, Kvedar said. Artificial intelligence-based apps and devices also are making inroads, Kvedar said, citing the example of two companies: Livongo and ResApp. Livongo, based in Mountain View, Calif., makes an app that’s connected to blood pressure and diabetes monitoring devices and alerts a physician when readings are out of range. It can also provide feedback and expert coaching to alter users’ lifestyles. ResApp, an Australian company, makes a smartphone app that can diagnose chronic and acute respiratory illness based on the recording of a patient’s cough, said Kvedar, who advises the company. “From the sound of your cough it can detect pneumonia, bronchitis or asthma,” Kvedar said. To diagnose such conditions, “typically a doctor wants to listen to your lungs, but this can obviate that need. Lots of applications like that are likely to emerge in the next few years.” ©2020 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Remote devices for telehealth see surge in demand

Americans to tap retirement accounts Continued from page 12. more likely to use retirement accounts than higher-earning households, with one notable exception: The lowest income households (less than $30,000) were most likely to tap retirement accounts, with almost 45% saying they had done so or planned to do so. About 30% of households earning between $30,000 and $49,999 said they had used retirement savings or would do so. Nearly 34% of households making between $50,000 and $79,999 said that they had used retirement savings or planned to do so. Less than 17% of households earning $80,000 or more had used retirement savings or planned to do so. Methodology This study was conducted for Bankrate via online interview by YouGov. Interviews were conducted from May 13 – May 15, 2020 among a sample of 1,326 adults. Data are weighted and are intended to be representative of all U.S. adults, and therefore are subject to statistical errors typically associated with sample-based information. ©2020 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Human Resource A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Management Topics may include the following:

Architecture overview • Architecture job market • Sustainable design • Landscape architecture Office/retail interior design trends including post pandemic workspaces Rising emphasis on residential design • Planning for the future: Heartland 2050 and beyond Innovations in design: from design software to high-tech building controls

• Human Resource overview • Guiding a team remotely Emphasis on mental health • Talent acquisition • Continued learning

Issue Date: June 12 • Ad Deadline: June 4

Lincoln Technology Banking Lincoln Business Journal Pages

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:

Banking overview • The latest on PPP loans • Security update Home refinancing • Investment banking

Overview • Greater emphasis on cloud and IoT for remote work • Telehealth Choosing the right digital services for your company • 3D printing gets more attention Payment processing trends in the midst of social distancing

Issue Date: June 19 • Ad Deadline: June 11

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 •

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

June 5, 2020

Crises present opportunities for farreaching improvements to the ‘normal’ by Michelle Leach

Amid the pandemic, the impact of human activity is apparent. Perhaps nothing conveys this process quite like the quote cited by W. Cecil Steward, founder and president/CEO of the Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities: “Did Mother Earth just send us all to our rooms so we can think about what we’ve done?” “The pandemic does not represent just a pause in the global social and economic events among the various cultures,” Steward said. “It signals a dire need for change of human events and activities, not just a resumption of pre-COVID life.” Of course, deaths and damaged health are the most tragic outcomes. But Steward said these tragedies have “exposed many self-imposed Steward weaknesses of the human-to-human, and human-to-nature relationships.” “The ‘pause,’” he noted, “is a grand opportunity for global, national, and community reassessments, new planning and new actions for a more sustainable quality of life on planet Earth.” COVID-19 and flooding offer Nebraskans opportunities to address social, economic and environmental injustices, such as vulnerable populations, lack of affordable housing and land use policies. “The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change are more than enough evidence of the necessity for changes in our behaviors, investments, politics and lifestyles,” Steward said. Humanity’s history exhibits overconsumption of natural resources and consequential needs for resiliencies, adaptations and adoptions of change, and Steward said we’ll be challenged to adjust for (and/or recover from) more frequent disruptive climate events. “Long term, the Midwest will experience warmer and longer growing seasons for agriculture, thereby disrupting current practices,” he said. “The emerging interest in regenerative agriculture will impact the form of rural, urban and peri urban habitats, especially in the Midwest U.S.” Steward indicated JISC has renewed innovative interests in assisting communities and organizations, as they seek changes and higher qualities of life. Exist Green founder Leigh Neary isn’t sure

she’s seen a huge shift in general public awareness of sustainable solutions yet. But stocking up on single-use items isn’t the only way to “prep” for hard times, she said. “Creating a ‘zero waste toolkit’ can prepare you better in the long run,” she said. Neary referred to the likes of reusable napkins, silicone bags, safety razors, even menstrual cups (no need to run out of tampons). And, if the city temporarily halts curbside recycling pickup, she imagines more Omahans will look into reusable alternatives. Fresh produce sales and, in turn, use of Exist Green’s compost bins are way up. “Offering a ‘front door’ pickup option for fresh produce serves a valuable niche in the neighborhood, minimizing the number of times customers need Hopley to go to a traditional grocer,” Neary said. With farmers market delays, Exist Green is connecting local farmers to consumers, as many small-scale growers have lost their primary source of income, restaurants. She surmised that compost use has gone up from more people cooking at home, and consumers without an alternative place to bring waste if they formerly brought it to school or work. While “visual cues” of air pollution are harder to come by in Nebraska, Neary hopes people worldwide will appreciate clear air so much they’ll be horrified when “smog” returns and want to make changes. “As oil prices drop to historic lows and demonstrate wide-spread volatility, large oil and gas companies may start reinvesting in diversified sources of energy, including renewables,” she said. “Often, the narrative is oil prices must be high to make renewable ‘cost-competitive.’” But companies aren’t going to be investing in new oil and gas extraction projects because they won’t be profitable. Since 2009, Metropolitan Community College has invested in classroom, campuses and community sustainability; its premier “Pass to Class” program provides free Metro Transit bus passes to credit students. The fleet’s fuel mix produces less greenhouse gases and air pollution than gasoline. “With reduced parking demand, MCC can use space that would have been a parking lot for Continued on next page.

Leigh Neary, founder of Exist Green.

â&#x20AC;˘ JUNE 5, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ Midlands Business Journal

â&#x20AC;˘ Sustainability

Local experts weigh in on sustainable design solutions by Gabby Christensen

Sustainability has become a significant concern across many industries, including the architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C) fields. Kim Cowman, national director of engineering at Leo A Daly, said the conversation of sustainability in the A/E/C industry seems to be moving toward an embodied carbon conversation as opposed to an operational carbon conversation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Think of operational carbon as the amount of energy being consumed by

Crises present opportunities Continued from preceding page. building use or green space,â&#x20AC;? said Sustainability Coordinator Sally Hopley. All new buildings are required to be built to LEED standards, reducing MCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consumption while making buildings healthier for staff, while Hopley said electric vehicle (E.V.) charging stations are available for free to the public and sustainability topics are infused into both credit and noncredit classes on wide-ranging subjects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;MCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sustainability Advancement Council guides the sustainability efforts at the college,â&#x20AC;? she said. Pass to Class has provided 1.5-plus million bus rides to date; MCC has six LEED-certified building; E.V. chargers avoided 3,500 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019; and three credit courses focus on sustainability (184-plus courses include sustainability topics). Hopley also said the Automotive Training Center will feature solar panels to produce 5% of its energy use, and three public E.V. chargers.

buildings for lighting, HVAC and equipment in the building,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Think of embodied carbon as the energy required in the manufacture, transport and installation of the construction materials used in building construction. The energy required for these building materials is now responsible for a greater percentage of the overall carbon footprint of the project.â&#x20AC;? According to Cowman, looking for ways to minimize material usage while still designing safe, economical building structures will beCowman come very important in the overall sustainability conversation. As embodied carbon has risen to an industry focal point, Jake Zach, structural engineer at Leo A Daly, said companies and organizations have endeavored to create tools for architects and engineers to streamline this process. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These tools are useful in comparing carbon impacts of multiple design options to inform decisions and compare to industry benchmark metrics that are being established for different building types,â&#x20AC;? he said. First and foremost, Zach said being smart and efficient with the amount of material used to construct a building is the first method of reducing embodied carbon. With regard to sustainability issues, Michael Goertzen, senior project manager

has certainly challenged those in the A/E/C industry to stop and think about sustainable design solutions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the pandemic first arrived in the U.S. our responses were reactive â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we were working to navigate our way through an ever changing and unfamiliar reality,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, as we gain a deeper understanding of the particular set of problems that come with widespread communicable diseases, we're asking better questions and providing better solutions. This gets to the heart of resilient Wollenburg design: looking beyond the present to plan for what tomorrow will bring.â&#x20AC;? For various market sectors, Wollenburg said COVID-19 has brought about unique design challenges. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From office buildings to day cares to senior living communities to health care facilities, we're having to look at how we design these spaces to respond not just in real-time, but in the long-term, as well,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our challenge is to place resilience at the forefront of our solutions, creating environments that are safe and usable today and that can evolve to meet the needs of a future that has been forever changed by COVID-19. In doing so, we give these buildings and spaces a much longer life, an approach that at its core makes our design truly sustainable.â&#x20AC;?

at Altus Architectural Studios, said architects and engineers today take two different approaches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is the passive approach, which is incorporating design elements that have little to no impact to the initial cost to the building

Zach Goertzen but include design elements that provide an overall operational cost savings,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The second way takes a more aggressive approach at design options which will have added cost to the project and may or may not have a return on investment.â&#x20AC;? The key to success is for the team of specialists, architects, mechanical engineers, lighting specialists, electrical engineers, interior designers and landscape architects to work together at key points in the design process to identify all points of potential sustainability coverage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These participants can often identify highly attractive solutions to design needs that would otherwise not be found or be costlier to implement later on,â&#x20AC;? Goertzen said. Brent Wollenburg, project architect at RDG Planning & Design, said COVID-19

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the renovation. The Scott Conference e Center, located in The additional Aksarben on the University the conference space allows of center to host Omahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Scott Nebraska at larger events and groups â&#x20AC;&#x201D; triCampus, has received a facelift pling the usable after 18 years with a new faĂ§ade space with room pre-function bigger entrance and artwork, mingle and check for guests to and in. The main areas, new carpet, reception entrance was moved and posibathrooms and upgrades to its audio/visual tioned to line up with the crosssystems and lighting. walk Holland street and parking lot across the Basham Architects and allows for easier navimann Construction and Haus- gation for attendees worked on of the Scott Continued on page 25.

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Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 •

In the Spotlight Paid Content

UTILITIES

Promoted

Doug Asche

Masa Niiya

Jeff Kohn

Denise Dolezal

Director, Maintenance

Director, Infrastructure Integrity

Director, Construction

Director, Gas Production

Metropolitan Utilities District

Doug Asche was promoted to director, Maintenance. He joined the District in 2005 and previously was manager, SCADA, Information Technology Services. Asche earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UNL and holds a professional mechanical engineer certification.

Metropolitan Utilities District

Masa Niiya was promoted to director, Infrastructure Integrity, and is serving as interim vice-president, Water Operations. He joined the District in 2000 and previously was a senior design engineer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UNL and holds a professional civil engineer certification. Niiya also holds a grade four water operator’s license for the state of Nebraska.

Jeff Kohn was promoted to director, Construction. He joined the District in 1989 and previously held positions as director, Maintenance, and superintendent, Platte South Water Treatment Plant. Kohn earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UNL and holds a professional civil engineer certification and a grade one water operator’s license in the state of Nebraska.

Denise Dolezal was promoted to director, Gas Production. She joined the District in 1987 and most recently was senior design engineercompliance/GIS, Engineering Design. Dolezal holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in business administration from UNO. She holds a professional mechanical engineer certification.

UTILITIES

ARCHITECTURE OFFICE SERVICES

HEALTH CARE

Promoted

Hired

Joined

Hired

Jon Zellars

Jim H. Hageman

Dennis Minton

David Burd

Vice President, Procurement and Enterprise Services

Senior Project Manager

Director of Sales

CLH Architects

All Makes Office Equipment

Senior Vice President, Operations

Metropolitan Utilities District

MUD Directors promoted Jon Zellars, to vice president, Procurement and Enterprise Services. Zellars joined the District in 1996 and most recently was director, Purchasing. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and a master’s degree in civil engineering from University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL). Zellars holds a professional civil engineer certification. UTILITIES Promoted

Michael Hall Director, Field Service Operations Metropolitan Utilities District

Michael Hall was promoted to director, Field Service Operations. He joined the District in 1999 and previously was a field foreman. Hall also held positions as senior customer service technician-chief backflow inspector, customer service technician and meter reader.

CLH Architects is pleased to announce the addition of Jim H. Hageman to our team. Hageman brings with him 42 years of architectural experience within the public and private sectors. He has worked on over 140 projects within the Hospitality, Commercial, Industrial Religious, Educational, Recreational, Medical, and Scientific Industries. Hageman’s primary focus has been on Health Care Facilities ranging between $0.5 to $500 million, nationally and internationally. Hageman graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a Bachelor’s of Science in Architectural Studies in 1978 and subsequently obtained his Masters of Architecture in 1981. He also brings with him, certifications from the National Council of Architectural Registration Board and American College of Healthcare Architects. CLH Architects is a nationally recognized architectural design firm and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business certified by the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE). We attribute our strength, growth and success over the last 50 years to our client-centric design approach and our commitment to design excellence and innovation. Our design process is a shared collaboration of client goals, industry experience, environmental stewardship, and community.

Omaha businessman Dennis Minton will join All Makes Office Equipment Monday, June 1, as Director of Sales overseeing teams in Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney, Columbus and Des Moines, Iowa. Minton brings a vast array of sales and consulting experience to the company with a track record of success in many industries. He’s co-owned and operated a consulting company, MintonDickes Consulting, since 2011, which specializes in working individually with different businesses to help their teams succeed in sales. Additionally, Dennis has served as the president of Minton Financial, Incorporated, for nearly three decades. “Much of Dennis’ success with area businesses over the years is due, in part, to his high personal integrity. People can trust him,” Jeff Kavich, All Makes CEO, said. “Those traits perfectly align with All Makes’ core values, which are the reason we’ve stayed in business for 102 years.” The tenure of the fourth-generation family business drew Minton to All Makes. “All Makes does business the right way and treats everyone they interact with like family,” Minton said. “I like to do things that I love. I’m looking forward to helping take All Makes into its second century.”

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

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital

David Burd, MHA, FHFMA, an innovative leader with over 20 years of experience in the health care industry, has joined Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital as senior vice president, operations. Burd comes to Jennie Edmundson from Thayer County Health Services in Hebron, Nebraska, where as CEO he led a staff of 150 employees through a culture transformation and helped the organization achieve improvements to its facilities and financial performance. He takes the place of Donna Hubbell, who is retiring after nearly 50 years in various roles at Jennie Edmundson. Burd has extensive experience in health care leadership. He previously served as vice president of finance for the Nebraska Hospital Association for over 12 years. He also was an accountant, patient accounts manager and systems coordinator for what is now Bryan Health in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also served as chief operating officer for All American Insurance in Lincoln and chief financial officer for Thayer County Health Services. Burd earned his associate degree in accounting from the Lincoln School of Commerce, his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his master’s degree in health care administration from Bellevue University.

• JUNE 5, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Midlands Business Journal • JUNE 5, 2020 •

More people could be working from home postpandemic; those returning to the office will see plenty of changes by Kenneth R. Gosselin

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only changing the configuration of offices as employers seek to safeguard the health of their workers, but it also is raising questions about the long-term place of the office in commerce. The virus outbreak has forced entire employee populations to work from home. And as workers settle into that rhythm, it is uncertain how many will actually need to report to the office five days a week after a coronavirus vaccine Workplace is found. Jeff Ziplow, a partner at accounting and consulting firm BlumShapiro, said the pandemic is almost certain to accelerate telecommuting, already enjoying increased acceptance for all or portions of a work week. “There is going to be a place for an office, but it’s going to be a lot smaller,” Ziplow said. “We can be looking at different ways to transact business. Many organization are going to rethink: ‘Do I really need this amount of office space?’” Not everyone agrees. Commercial real estate brokers say until there a vaccine is developed, there will be an appetite for telecommuting. “But there are two large occupiers in our market that are going through campus renovations that include putting their people in denser environments, and neither of those firms has wavered from their plans due to COVID-19,” said Patrick Mulready, senior vice president at CBRE in Hartford, the commercial real estate services firm. “ So I don’t see a seismic shift in how companies occupy office space long term.” Office leasing is seen as a key barometer of economic health and employment growth. In downtown Hartford, an uptick in office leasing in the last year is seen as integral to the city’s revitalization and Hartford taking its place, though a latecomer, in the country’s “back-to-cities” urbanization movement. In the last five years, downtown has added hundreds of new apartments a year, UConn opened a regional campus at Front Street and the Yard Goats successfully settled into a new minor-league ballpark. This week, the state is taking the first, tentative steps toward reopening its economy beyond essential workers: outdoor dining at restaurants, outdoor museums and zoos – and offices. Offices can only bring back up to 50% of their workers but the state is still encouraging working at home whenever possible. For office workers who do return, they will likely enter spaces radically altered from those they left in March, well beyond wearing a face mask and keeping six feet apart. Changing office design In recent years, office design had moved to open floor plans accommodating more people in less space, using shared workstations and more collaborative areas. But the pandemic suddenly has many employers rethinking that move – and how to spread people apart to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. Employers are considering plexiglass “cough dividers” like those in the grocery store. Many are installing decals on the floor to direct employees to move in one direction to avoid face-to-face contact. Cleaning may

happen more frequently and not just at night. Rita Joy, director of client development at Interscape Commercial Environments in Farmington, said in a recent webinar on the future of office space that employers will have to stagger workstations, either removing every other one or taping them up so no one sits next to each other. Collaborative areas, often used for brainstorming, will likely be used as work areas, and seats are coming out of conference rooms, Joy said. “Where conference rooms once held 12, now it’s just going to hold six and we might be putting up a plexiglass screen down the middle of the conference room table to help protect people who are across from each other,” Joy said. When buying new furniture, companies are likely to consider the cleaning of coverings, Joy said. “We had a client, we were working with them on a new order of furniture and, at the very last minute, when this COVID happened, they switched their fabric to a bleach-cleanable fabric,” Joy said. “We’re going to see a lot more of that – anti-microbial fabric and furniture, non-porous, solid surfaces.” Few quick returns In the Hartford area, insurance giant Travelers Cos. has about 7,000 employees, the majority of them in downtown Hartford. The company does not expect a quick return of workers, certainly not in the first few weeks.

“I think a good description is: if you have a dimmer switch in your dining room, it’s like we’re going to turn the dimmer switch up a little bit at a time, a little bit,” Andy Bessette, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, said. “We’re not just going to flip the switch on and have everyone come back in because we are successful working from home these days, so there’s no real rush to do it.” Of the 7,000 employees in the Hartford area, about 1,200 already have some kind of telecommuting arrangement with the insurer, allowing them to work remotely from one to five days a week. While a COVID-19 vaccine is still under development, the number of workers returning to the office is not likely to rise above 50% – and long-term that may mean more employees with telecommuting agreements. “Do I think we will have some additional people working from home? Yes, I do,” Bessette said. “But I think there is an importance of a company having people come into the office at some point, for a lot of different reasons, for meetings and comaraderie” and collaboration that is best done face-to-face. Some of the spontaneity of brainstorming and innovation could be lost with more people working remotely, Ziplow said, but he also says a new “watercooler” could be created with ongoing online chat rooms. “On a regular basis, people respond to those ideas, and the chatting back and forth reimagines how we can invigorate those types of discussions without being at the

watercooler,” Ziplow said. Urban centers In 2015, Boston-based Paradigm Properties bought downtown Hartford’s CityPlace I, the state’s tallest office building and the firm’s first purchase in Connecticut. Five years ago, Paradigm saw the seeds of revitalization taking root and the recent increase in office leasing, boosted by corporate moves from the suburbs and encouraging deals from companies outside of Connecticut, was an encouraging sign. Increasingly, employers have sought to establish locations near where their desired workforce – the millennial generation in recent years – has wanted to be and that has been urban centers. Paradigm chief executive Kevin McCall said office markets in Hartford and elsewhere are in uncertainty amid the pandemic. Will companies need more space per employee to spread out? Will downtown tenants want satellite offices in the suburbs? Will companies want less space because more employees will work remotely? “In the office markets, we are definitely going to see anecdotal evidence of all those possibilities,” McCall said. “But I think the desire to live and/or work in active, exciting urban environments is part of the DNA of millennials. I think that will win out over the competing possibilities.” ©2020 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Life on the front lines of the federal small business loan program by Mike Wagner

There was the owner of a food safety company who was hours away from telling some of his employees they were out of a job. There was the owner of a time-keeping company whose business was headed for collapse because there were no more high school sporting events. Small Business And there was the crying restaurant owner with 50 employees at two locations who likely would have closed both. They are among the thousands of small business owners who for weeks were keeping Bryan Brzozowski up at night — them and the coffee he was consuming like water to power through his work. They are the people he and his Columbus-based team at J.P. Morgan Chase helped secure loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, the federal government’s coronavirus relief program. Saving them from financial hardship became Brzozowski’s obsession. He feared letting someone down. And no matter what the circumstances, he often would blame himself if someone didn’t qualify for a loan. His wife at one point even hid his phone to save Brzozowski from himself. “These were life-saving loans, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher,” said Brzozowski, a business relationship manager for Chase. “I was an emotional wreck, but it wasn’t about me. It was a rush to the finish line to make sure their businesses stayed alive and the people they employed came out of this with their jobs.” The Paycheck Protection Program was established by Congress in late March after many businesses were ordered to shut down because

of the coronavirus pandemic. It was designed to allow businesses to keep making payroll for an eight-week period. But the loan process was chaos for thousands of businesses and bankers like Brzozowski, who scrambled to collect the proper documentation needed to apply and keep up with the rules that seemed to change daily. The system went live April 3, and the first $350 billion was gone in a matter of days, shutting out thousands of businesses. About three weeks later, Congress designated an additional $310 billion for the program, setting off another race for bankers to secure loans for desperate businesses. This time there was a little less confusion but no less pressure on the banks, both big and small. Ohio and many other states have begun to reopen their economies, but more than 36 million people across the country have lost their jobs since the pandemic began. “It was heartbreaking to listen to the despair from some of the businesses,” said Jenny Saunders, president of FCBank in Worthington. “The first round was frantic and everyone was afraid the money would run out. We would have to call people back again and again and say, ‘Now we need this documentation or this paperwork,’ and so many people didn’t have it. It was frustrating for all. We were trying to build the airplane and fly it at the same time.” But Saunders and her 40 employees helped hundreds of businesses stay afloat by securing PPP loans. Saunders had one new client who owned 19 restaurants and needed $1 million to continue paying her employees. Saunders remembers the business owner’s emotional plea for help on a Friday. Then they couldn’t get into the system to file the loan application on Saturday. They

were helping other clients on Sunday. Then on Monday the application was filed and the restaurant owner was approved the same day for the loan. About 10 days later, the restaurant owner received the money. “I know bankers get a bad rap at times, but there are thousands of bankers across the country doing whatever they can to help people,” Saunders said. “We are trying to keep the economy going.” There is still PPP money available from the second round of funding, and bankers continue to help businesses qualify for the loans. Chase Business Banking alone estimates it will fund more than $30 billion under the PPP for more than 250,000 loans, helping at least 3 million employees. In just Ohio, Chase has helped 7,100 businesses at an average loan size of $159,000 totaling about $1.1 billion, according to Chase Business Banking. Much of the PPP chaos has subsided, but Brzozowski isn’t done helping his clients secure the loans. He understands why some who didn’t get the loans earlier in the process sent him angry emails or blamed him. He took it personally when his clients didn’t get the money they needed. “There were some rough emails for sure and a feeling some times that I let them down,” Brzozowski said. “It was an emotional roller coaster for all of us, but I’m proud of how many people Chase was able to push across the finish line.” Brzozowski’s wife even gave him his phone back. ©2020 The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.