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Higher Education • MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal
A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
March 6, 2020
Community partnerships seize opportunities for greater inclusivity, STEM careers by Michelle Leach
Cross-campus and cross-community collaboration are hallmarks of educational organizations, as the metro looks to attract and retain the next-generation of top talent and leadership. “We’ve seen tremendous success in partnering with the Omaha community,” said College of Saint Mary Provost Dr. Sarah Kottich, a reference to the new $18 million athletic facility. “This new facility will only augment those relationships and bring forth new opportunities to strengthen female athletics in the region.” In addition to supporting 11 athletic teams, Kottich said its Wellness and Athletic Center will be a “hub” for women’s and girl’s athletics throughout Omaha. “CSM has established partnerships with Omaha Public Schools and area Catholic schools, as well as community groups such as Ironhawk Fitness, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, Girls Inc., and several other organizations — and we feel they, too, will benefit from this new facility,” she said. Other partnerships speak to a key initiative: inclusivity. “Education is one of largest factors in helping families break the poverty cycle,” Kottich said. “So, it’s paramount that we provide access to quality education to
College of Saint Mary’s Dr. Sarah Kottich, provost, at the Lied Fitness Center. women of all backgrounds.” its “Voices” art exhibit in honor of Black With guidance from the Greater Omaha History Month, and its March Women’s Chamber and local groups, she said CSM History Month programming to also coinprovides inclusive programming, such as cide with 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln C.Y. Thompson Learning Commons
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Kottich noted CSM is expanding its summer academy programs, which invite women of color to campus for weeklong residential experiences in college prep and STEM, while its one-year AIM Collaborative provides first-time, full-time students with transformational college and career plan opportunities. “Our Mothers Living & Learning program continues to help single mothers continue their education by eliminating barriers, such as housing,” she said. A d d i t i o n a l l y, Kottich said CSM launched its new Occupational Therapy Doctorate program this fall and is poised to launch a “blended learning” Doctor Metzler of Physical Therapy program in June. “Organizations are streamlining their learning and development strategy this year by shopping for alternatives to internal training programs that will continue to provide high quality learning, yet customized to their needs,” said Jennifer L. Metzler, director of business development at Creighton University’s Center for Professional and Corporate Excellence. “Health care organizations often promote physicians and advanced practice professionals to leadership roles within their company, which has increased the need for continuing education courses that teach skills in emotional intelligence, mastering communication skills, increasing effectiveness in teambuilding and collaboration, and learning to effectively navigate change.” Metzler said lifelong learners and employers understand the value of “across campus” programs; for instance, in communication, negotiations, unconscious bias, vicarious trauma, collaborative care and emotional intelligence. “With Creighton University’s nine colleges and schools, choice matters,” she said. “Cross-functional teams are able to select topics of interest delivered by instructors who will challenge professionals to make thoughtful, focused leadership decisions that inspire others.” Metzler also noted how interprofessional education and team-based care play Continued on page 24.
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Higher Education — inside MARCH 6, 2020
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
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VOL. 46 NO. 10
Bridgepoint Investment Banking identifies market niche by Richard D. Brown
IIA Ak-Sar-Ben Chapter emphasizes continuing education in sixth decade. – Page 2
40 er d Un 40 Schneider works to provide opportunities for others at Emspace + Lovgren. – Page 3
in s ionland t a i d Av Mi e th
Airports, aviation businesses adapt to high demand within turbulent regulatory environment. – Page 4
Nebraska-based Bridgepoint Investment Banking in finding its mid-market, boutique investment niche is providing a winning approach in an industry that is frequently known for a group of large players in large cities and involving large transactions. Owners President Matt Plooster and wife COO Natasha Plooster also say their 22-employee firm is filling an “impact investment” role in an increasing number of communities. “The challenge for us is to identify and do truly impactful work,” Matt Plooster said. Natasha Plooster said a huge part of the experiences she and her then-future husband had while working in Chicago for one of the largest banks led to their conclusion that accounts of less than $500 million in value were not on the radar of large investment bankers. This led Matt, a Malcolm, Nebraska native and self-proclaimed “moving tackling dummy” on the Continued on page 9.
From left, President Matt Plooster and COO Natasha Plooster … The firm is seeing continued growth in mid-market investments. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
CPA firm Bland & Associates achieves employee ownership as tool for growth by Michelle Leach
When Bland & Associates was featured in the Midlands Business Journal summer 2016, the certified public accounting firm reportedly employed 62 associates. Today, among Bland’s roughly 100 employees are “employee-owners,” reflective of a significant change for the firm (and, potentially, other Nebraska CPA firms), and a tool for further growth. “Bland started researching be-
coming an [employee stock ownership plan] in 2017,” Managing Partner Jeremy Vokt said. “After doing some simple due diligence, we then explored the Nebraska regulations that governed CPAs and noticed we needed to get the law modified to allow it.” Bland, which offers public accounting, business advisory and government consulting services from its 450 Regency Parkway headquarters, Continued on page 10.
Executive Director Erin Porterfield … Producing a talent pipeline that meets local business needs through private/public collaboration.
Heartland Workforce Solutions reduces barriers, matches job seekers to jobs by Becky McCarville
From left, Managing Partner Jeremy Vokt, Partner Troy McKinney and Partner Jason Tonjes ... CPA firm builds upon momentum as one of country’s fastest-growing CPA firms, in government consultancy space, with employee ownership.
Much has been said of the need for workers in various industries in Nebraska, from tech to health care to the trades and skilled labor. To meet this demand and stave off Nebraska’s “brain drain,” Heartland Workforce Solutions’ Executive Director Erin Porterfield said that there’s a commonsense solution locally — tapping into the existing
talent pool. Serving Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties, Heartland Workforce Solutions leads the community’s workforce strategies to help people gain skills through public/private partnerships and to connect qualified talent with identified business and industry needs. Funded partly through the Department of Labor, yet emContinued on page 10.