MARCH 12, 2021
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
$2.00
VOL. 47 NO. 11
AGSN strengthens services via ownership change by Richard D. Brown
Eakes Office Solutions sees exponential growth in Lincoln community, beyond. – Page 2
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Universities, colleges look optimistically to future. – Page 5
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As uncertainty clouds economic forecast, startup communities get back to fundamentals. – Page 29
AGSN is the new abbreviated name of Awerkamp, Goodnight, Schwaller & Nelson, P.C., a 35-yearold Omaha-based tax and accounting firm that has added CPAs Steve Drucker, Brian Lodes and Brent Barnes as shareholders. CPAs Thomas Schwaller, John Pribramsky and Daniel Gilg will remain with the firm as principals. “By rebranding we want to keep the history of the firm and the current loyal customers,” said Drucker, spokesperson for the ownership team. Drucker, a 2003 Creighton accounting graduate with 15 years of professional experience under his belt, said AGSN, which has beenknown for its tax services, accounting and assurance services, estate and financial planning and business consulting, will continue to offer those services, plus add depth to meet the needs of about 1,000 clients. Drucker, now managing/majority shareholder of AGSN, said the firm that does work for clients in multiple states, often is recommended by Continued on page 27.
From left, Shareholder Steve Drucker, Shareholder Brent Barnes and Principal Thomas Schwaller … With new ownership and rebranding, the accounting firm is expanding its expertise. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
Omaha Children’s Museum builds efforts to diversify, rethink access to programs by Michelle Leach
As of Monday, the addition of the Omaha Children’s Museum’s first ever Director of Diversity and Access in its 45-year history, Cruz Cabrera de Cortiz, represents the latest in multi-faceted efforts to build access, leadership and perspectives across a diverse range of community members by leveraging the likes of new recruitment approaches, school
and community center partnerships and digital channels. “Our current inclusivity efforts build upon our previous efforts by focusing on the organization as a whole and not just the audience we serve,” said Executive Director Lindy Hoyer. For instance, the museum physically located downtown at 500 South 20th St., previously hosted exhibits Continued on page 27. Executive Director Cohagen Wilkinson … The space, which caters to nonprofits and purpose-driven businesses, recently entered into a partnership with Lincoln-based company Bagels & Joe to take over operations of The Foundry’s coffee shop.
The Foundry Community driven by new coffee shop partnership by Dwain Hebda
From left, Board of Directors President Sherman Willis and Executive Director Lindy Hoyer … With the most diverse board in its history, 45-year-old museum gets new life with array of digital channels, community center and school partnerships, and unique array of perspectives.
The Foundry Community, a co-working space located at 211 N. 14th Street in Lincoln, is charging into 2021 with a new sense of purpose. The organization, which caters to nonprofit tenants and purpose-driven businesses, recently entered into an agreement to turn its coffee shop, Foundry Coffee, into a Bagels and Joe location to help
fund tenant programming. “We ended up having a really good conversation with [Bagels & Joe owner] John Hasse, about how our values align, how what we’re trying to accomplish with this space aligns perfectly with what he wants to do with his business,” said Cohagen Wilkinson, Foundry executive director. “We’ve got a couple Continued on page 28.