Midlands Business Journal March 6, 2020 Vol. 46 No. 10 issue

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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.

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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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Bridgepoint Investment Banking identifies market niche

by Richard D. Brown

IIA Ak-Sar-Ben Chapter emphasizes continuing education in sixth decade.

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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.

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

IIA Ak-Sar-Ben Chapter emphasizes continuing education in sixth decade

by Michelle Leach

Just 13 years after The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) got its start, the AkSar-Ben Chapter was chartered on Sept. 28, 1954. Today, the chapter serves the entire state, and spans around 530 active members and more than 20 student members, with heavy membership concentration in the Lincoln-Omaha metro. “Membership has historically — from decade to decade — increased,� said Chapter President Ron Povondra. “As people start to advocate for more internal auditing, it’s not just advocating on an individual basis — it’s worldwide advocacy. When Enron happened, Sarbanes-Oxley really drove home a lot of the management, and having controls in place.�

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 generally expanded requirements for all U.S. public company boards, management and public accounting firms, with a number of provisions extended to privately-held companies — federal legislation enacted in the fallout of then-recent corporate and accounting scandals; notably, Enron and WorldCom. Globally, the Florida-based professional association boasts more than 200,000 members across 159 chapters. As its name suggests, The IIA serves to be the “internal audit profession’s global voice, recognized authority, acknowledged leader, chief advocate, and principal educator.�

Members largely come from the internal auditing, risk management, governance,

Chapter President Ron Povondra ‌ Association for internal audit profession develops value-added programming around topics such as fraud, data analytics, agile auditing, cybersecurity. internal control, IT audit, education and a member of that organization as well and security worlds. have a certification from that organization. “We primarily partner with the ISACA We also partner with the Association of [Information Systems Audit and Control Certified Fraud Examiners.â€?

Association] organization, and that’s priAlongside these partners, the Ak-Sarmarily IT individuals,� Povondra said. “I’m Ben Chapter further partners with area colleges on student nights. “[Colleges] register students to come to the event,� Povondra said. “They learn more about what all three of the organizations do, and have an opportunity to network.�

Students have gone on to work as interns for companies such as Nelnet, where Povondra serves as director of internal audit.

IIA Ak-Sar-Ben and ISACA each award scholarships, too.

Programming represents partnerships with the local arms of professional associations. Povondra took a step back, and noted that every two years the IIA North America headquarters publishes a member needs survey. “We survey our members on an annual basis, to try to get from that survey what kind of program most interests them,� he said; for instance, surveys suggested an interest in fraud and data analytics topics.

From there, programs are developed; for example, Povondra referred to Deloitte and Touche as presenting on data analytics and continuous controls monitoring at its spring seminar. “Agile auditingâ€? presents future programming opportunities. “The methodology of using agile to develop software is starting to make its way into the internal auditing world — ‘How can we be more agile in internal auditing and do things more efficiently and more effec• Midlands Business Journal/one year ($75) tively?’â€? Povondra noted. “We’re diving • MBJ/two years ($140) into that as well.â€? • MBJ/three years ($190) From a program perspective, members also want to hear about cybersecurity and IT security.

LOOKING FOR BACK ISSUES “If you look at any business, small- or OF THE MBJ AND LBJ? medium-sized, you still need to have basic NOW ORDER THEM ONLINE AT MBJ.COM controls in place,� he said.

In fact, Povondra noted small organizations are just as susceptible (if not more

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A section prepared

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The Scott Conference le Center, located in The additional Aksarben on the University the conference space allows of center to host Omaha’s Scott Nebraska at larger events and groups — triCampus, has received a facelift pling the usable after 18 years with a new façade 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 and parking Basham Architects Holland street and allows lot across the for easier navimann Construction and Haus- gation for attendees worked on of the Scott Continued on page 25.

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so) than a large company to cyber-oriented breaches. “If you get the ‘big fish,’ you’re going to get a big payday, but those are going to be a bit harder to get into than some of these smaller companies that are doing the majority of their business on the web,� he said. “If you pick off six to 10 of those in a month, you might still get half of what you get from a big fish, from your basement.�

Those small fish add up. “And that’s just one example,� Povondra said. “And that’s over cybersecurity controls. As a small business, you may not have enough controls around bookkeeping.

It’s about knowing, understanding and being educated on controls around finances and bookkeeping.�

In the past five or six years, the chapter has leveraged technology to reach out to members outside of the Omaha metro; for instance, Povondra noted its livestreamed events in Lincoln.

Livestreaming further serves as validation of attendance for programs with a continuing education credit component.

They’re open to expanding livestreaming to communities with chapter membership clusters, such as Columbus. “Every four years we have a two-day district conference, and that might include people from the far reaches of Nebraska who stay for a couple of nights and get two full days of continuing professional education,� Povondra said.

He underscored that funds generated by the conference (which requires two years of planning, dozens of volunteers, and attracts more than 200 people), helps to keep the chapter afloat and membership expenses affordable.

The next conference is scheduled for 2023.

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The Midlands Business Journal (ISSN 0194-4525) is published weekly plus one by MBJ Inc. and is available for $2.00 per individual copy or $75 per year. Editorial offices are 1324 S. 119th St., Omaha, NE 68144. Periodical postage paid at Omaha NE POSTMASTER; Send address changes to Midlands Business Journal, 1324 S. 119th St., Omaha, NE 68144. All submissions to the Midlands Business Journal become the property of the Midlands Business Journal and will not be returned.

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Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

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Schneider works to provide opportunities for others at Emspace + Lovgren

by Dwain Hebda

Lynn Schneider, senior creative strategist for Emspace + Lovgren, is used to looking at old challenges in new ways. On the matter of developing the next generation of creatives, she helped create Forge, a professional development program for college students.

“When you’re going through a single program at any school, to be able to gather experience outside of that particular discipline is really hard,” she said.

“You can take an elective here and maybe you engage in a team or something like the ad club, if you’re willing to take that.

“Forge is another opportunity for students from multiple disciplines, not just design. We take writers, we take designers, we take developers, PR professionals; basically, anyone who might be entering into this creative communication skill and they’re able to meet not only students from other departments but from other schools.”

The program, launched in 2013, provides learning opportunities beyond a standard in-

2019

Proud Sponsors of the 2019

Senior Creative Strategist Lynn Schneider … Helping lead charge with program for students in creative communications. ternship. It helps college students in a variety To date, Schneider said, more than 60 of subject areas to make industry connections students from University of Nebraska-Linand gain insights around the professions they coln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, are preparing to enter. It is provided free of Creighton University and elsewhere have charge to 10 students each year and includes benefited from the program. participation from dozens of local profes“It’s not that our education systems aren’t sionals from studios, agencies, organizations doing a really good job at turning out talented and businesses across the region. designers and great professionals in general,” she said. “But for students who take that initiative and go outside of their curriculum, 40 Under 40: Forge allows them to graduate with a really well-rounded education.”

Schneider notes advantages of having a broad range of skills. Foremost among these advantages is developing a holistic approach

to her trade that sets her broad skillset apart.

“I don’t just specialize in web design only or print design only or brand design only. I cover it all from a full range of services, whether we’re just meeting and getting to know a client all the way down to the execution,” she said. “I’m invited to the table earlier and therefore I’m able to use my knowledge and skillset to guide how the solutions and problem-solving go. A lot of designers are handed the solution and told now make it happen. I feel really lucky that I’m able to be involved in figuring out what the solution is.”

A native of Nebraska City, Schneider has a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell College and a Master of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design. At Emspace + Lovgren, she’s been highly decorated for her work, from an award-winning web design and tourism campaign design in Iowa to nationally-prized logo designs and a television campaign for the Visiting Nurse Association.

She said while the awards are gratifying, it’s the practical impact of her work and leadership of others to the benefit of the client that brings her the most job satisfaction.

“I’ve been able to advance to more of the team building level because I’m able to have thoughts and ideas at my level and then also be able to distribute them down to the members of our team, whether it’s to the writer, the designer, to the vendors that we work with,” she said. “You’re not just making things pretty. You’re thinking of it at a much wider strategic level as well as utilizing all the creative ideas and skillsets that I have beyond design to problem solve and come to better, smarter and more effective solutions.”

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Aviation in the Midlands • MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

March 6, 2020

Airports, aviation businesses adapt to high demand within turbulent regulatory environment

by Michelle Leach

The demand for aviation services is coming from all directions and, likewise, challenges abound related to persistent personnel shortages and climbing aircraft insurance costs.

“Transient aircraft flying into our airport has increased 567%,” said Advanced Air President Lisa LaMantia. “The Council Bluffs Airport is a hidden gem.”

She isolated its two runways and instrument landing system. To further attract aircraft, Advanced Air offers contract fuel and has added services, such as lavatory.

Advanced Air has added two aircraft to deMayo its rental fleet; the pilot shortage is propelling demand for rentals and flight training.

“Instructors are getting their hours quicker, which allows them to move up to the airlines quicker,” she said. “Instructors used to instruct for about two years, and now they are only instructing for nine months.”

Requirements for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast in aircraft within certain airspace has kept its avionics shop busy, as has “insurance-approved training,”

Lisa LaMantia, president of Advanced Air. now required for more planes (not just jets), “I’ve heard from professors that students including many piston twins. in the maintenance courses oftentimes don’t “We are expanding our charter business know the names of basic tools,” LaMantia and are adding a Pilatus PC-12 to our charter said. “They have discussed the need for a certificate,” she said. remedial class to teach that kind of basic Maintenance is booked solid — but it’s information.” hard to find experienced mechanics.

Duncan Aviation has been spreading the

word about its U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Education-Registered Airframe Technician Apprenticeship Program to students interested in aviation.

The November announcement to coincide with the program’s launch noted 24 apprentices were working full time while preparing for their Airframe Technician Certification test; the program couples classroom instruction with hands-on lab training.

“The Registered Apprenticeship Program at Duncan Aviation is designed to provide those who enroll in it a streamlined and focused approach to training for the FAA McCoy [Federal Aviation Administration] Airframe Technician certificate,” said Airframe Shift Supervisor Matt Stolz.

Reportedly, apprentices have up to 24 months after enrolling to earn their certificates.

Last year, Silverhawk Aviation finetuned processes to harness across-the-board efficiencies.

“We … put a bigger emphasis on making sure we had the right people in the right positions,” said Director of Operations John Geary.

“We’ve also been able to work on a lot of internal efficiencies with hiring, fuel partners, and how we operate the aircraft, both in the air and when in for maintenance.”

An in-depth market research analysis was completed to adjust prices at the end of the year. Generally, Q4 is Silverhawk’s busiest time of year.

“Both with charter customers,” Geary said, “and clients looking for a tax write-off with the ownership program.”

The business has been adding owners to its Silverhawk Shares program and jet card clients.

Over the next 12 to 18 months, Silverhawk has been focusing on an aircraft management option to complete offerings available to owners. Investments on the horizon include two to four additional airplanes, some managed, others within its jet card and fractional programs.

“We are also hoping to add the next size larger aircraft, with the capability of going from Lincoln to the Caribbean, nonstop, and expanding into Central America,” Geary said.

“We would also like to find a charter company to partner with.”

This partnership, he said, would provide Continued on page 6.

Aviation in the Midlands •

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Aviation in the Midlands

Airports, aviation businesses adapt to high demand Careers in aviation field remain in high demand Continued from page 4. the ability to offer clients even larger airplanes to go to Europe or Hawaii, and provide backup options for its fleet.

Aon Strategic Risk Advisor Miles deMayo said premium increases of 20% to 30% over the last year have “not been uncommon.”

“The second quarter of 2018 is where we first saw the insurance markets transition after a decade of soft market conditions, with accelerated increases occurring in 2019,” he said.

Factors include overcapacity, which has created competition favorable to the consumer.

“Within the last five years there have been several significant losses that impacted insurance carrier profitability and led to the departure of some insurance carriers from the aviation insurance space, creating a supply and demand situation that drove rate increases,” deMayo said. “Additionally, carriers are closely examining and mitigating their risk by a combination of upward rate adjustments and/or decreased insurance coverage limits.”

He said businesses with aviation risks should be prepared for turbulence during their renewals.

“There will be more scrutiny on their programs and loss history,” he said. “Businesses should be ready to provide detailed information regarding their operations and maintenance programs, with increased emphasis on training and safety.”

Overall, it’s a fascinating time, deMayo said, for aviation.

“Alternative fuels, urban air travel, and renewed interest in supersonic flight has sparked great research and development, and the drone market continues to evolve,” he said.

Schematic design for the Omaha Airport Authority’s Terminal Modernization Program continues.

“There will be more to share (and show) later this year,” said Stephen J. McCoy, director, air service and business development.

In 2014, OAA completed the Airport Master Plan for facilities’ maintenance, improvement, and expansion to keep up with the passenger demand long term.

“In 2018, for the first time in Eppley Airfield’s history, over five million passengers traveled through the airport,” he said. “This is an increase of 9.4% from 2017.”

In response to growth, OAA moved completed plan projects, such as the north garage and rental car facility last summer, and airfield pavement replacements.

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

The Terminal Modernization Program began in March 2019. OAA contracted with a design-build team led by Holder Construction.

The process updated the previous master plan’s terminal concept, reflecting the needs of today’s travelers, while providing long-term flexibility for expansion to accommodate up to eight million annual passengers.

“Each step of the Terminal Modernization Program construction will be initiated systematically, based upon passenger demand for the facilities,” McCoy said. “As the Omaha community and economy grows, Eppley Airfield grows with it.”

Construction is slated for 2021, with all phased-in improvements to be completed by 2025.

by Gabby Christensen

The current career outlook for the aviation industry is stronger than ever and there are multiple educational opportunities available at this time, according to local experts in the field.

Silchman Poole With the rapid development and extensive practice of UAS (unmanned aircraft system) technology in recent years, Dr. Victor Huang, assistant professor of the Aviation Institute at the University of Nebraska Omaha, said professional UAS operators who know the state-of-art technology and critical supporting skillset will have great potential in diverse career fields, such as construction, agriculture, energy, emergency and disaster management and media.

According to Huang, the Aviation Institute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha offers the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program as one of the three concentrations of the Bachelor of Science degree in aviation.

“Students in the program will not only

develop professional civil UAS flight proficiency but also study a series of supporting skills, such as UAS design and maintenance, geographic information system, data analytics and business research methods to innovatively and sustainably apply UAS technology in a variety of business areas,” he said.

In addition to aviation and UAS education, Huang said a variety of aviation research projects are happening in the UNO Aviation Institute to address the challenges in the Heckathorn aviation industry, such as the recent shortage of airline pilots.

David Silchman, founder/CEO of Nebraska Flight Center, said the critical shortage of professional pilots is being aggravated by the lack of available instructors.

“Good, experienced instructors are hired away by other segments of the industry,” he said. “I've had to turn away prospective students because I have no instructors to teach them. The most relevant trend at this time is the explosive growth of the drone segment of aviation. Unpiloted aircraft are currently being developed to replace aircraft that now require human pilots aboard, all over every segment of civil and military aviation.”

Bill Heckathorn, president/founder of Continued on page 8.

Aviation in the Midlands •

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Scheduling flexibility and expense management important for business travelers

by David Kubicek

Among the major concerns corporations have for business travel is cost management and being able to schedule business trips with little or no downtime.

JetLinx is a private aviation company with 105 aircraft nationwide, 12 of which are located in Omaha, according to Omaha Base President Dan Longo.

The firm’s aircraft management service provides a turnkey ownership opportunity for individuals and corporations that own their own aircraft.

“The aircraft are operated under our certificate,” he said. “We handle the logistics for what we provide — private terminals and 24-hour customer service.”

The firm’s jet card service is for individuals or corporations that want to enjoy the benefits of flying privately without owning the aircraft.

“The evolution of the business traveler is focused on the time-savings and the amenities of an aircraft,” he said. “The key for our business travelers is their ability to pick and choose their departures and arrivals. If individuals want to travel to another city for a meeting, they can dictate their arrival time to coincide with the meeting so everything works seamlessly for them. Probably the greatest service that has evolved for the business traveler is having Wi-Fi on the aircraft. It turns an aircraft into a traveling office so there’s no downtime — it offers unlimited productivity for their workday.”

The firm asks individuals who have jet cards for a 48-hour notice ahead of their preferred flight time.

“Within 48 hours we do our best to accommodate requested times,” Longo said. “If you call us the day of, obviously there will be some

wiggle room, but we typically ask for 48 hours ahead of time.”

Travel Faire, located in Omaha’s Countryside Village, is a full-service travel agency that

Longo Evers handles corporate, leisure, groups and meetings, said Corporate Travel Spokesperson Jill Evers.

“I am busiest with business travelers from January through July,” she said. “Business travel slows down in November and December as companies are waiting for the new year and

new travel budgets.”

Lincoln-based Executive Travel focuses primarily on management of finances for its corporate clients and on safety and security of the travelers, said CEO Paul Glenn.

“A lot of what we do is based on custom online booking tools where we work with organizations on how to maximize [their travel policy] in order to meet their business initiatives and build those into a custom-built Glenn booking tool for that company,” he said.

Travel is a major expense for many corporations — typically in the top three- or four-line items if the firm is a big sales organization with many employees on the road — so expense management is important. Corporations must

make sure that travelers are taking the most cost-effective options to meet the initiatives of the organization and the needs of its clients while at the same time assuring the safety and security of the travelers.

“Our clients are reaching out for a partner in travel management who can build a system that’s balanced to meet the needs of not only the corporation, but also the travelers,” Glenn said.

The firm does about 80% of its transactions through its custom-built tool, whether on a computer or a mobile app.

“A lot of these road warriors aren’t sitting at a computer very often,” he said. “They may need to book something or change something while on the road, so giving those flexible booking options is key. Due to security aspects, they also need to get immediate alerts, especially for international travelers. [Companies] need to know what travelers they have and in what areas, at any given time. Having that data in the system, we can make our clients aware of any potential safety/security issues.”

terms of the type of information provided to pilots and the way in which the information is provided. These advances have vastly improved situational awareness to allow for easier decision-making in the cockpit.”

AIT primarily provides products focused on the high-speed networks used to connect the different components of the latest avionics flight deck systems.

“Our products and technologies are focused on ensuring networks at the core of the latest generation of avionics systems operate reliably for safety and at very high speeds to handle more information,” he said.

“This enables more pertinent information Robertson to be provided in the cockpit and for that to be achieved at lower costs of aircraft operation.”

Brian Bronson, president and CEO of Omaha Airplane Supply, said his company has seen similar advancements across its vast inventory of parts, even as airplane maintenance remains a very hands-on business.

“Aviation doesn’t have self-reporting from the unit,” he said. “A car talks to a technician, for instance, you plug the computer in and it talks to the technician. We don’t have that in aviation. It’s still a guy that’s running through troubleshooting.

“That’s the guy we provide parts to. We’re selling avionics, we’re selling starters, alternators, tires and brakes. There’s been a lot of technological advancements there, but as far as technicians go, it’s still a guy in a shop that is diagnosing that airplane from an old school method.”

The parts themselves, however, improve all the time to provide increased performance and reliability.

“The metallurgy is changing in some of the engine components; we work with a guy in California who takes certain parts and does cryogenic treatments to it. That makes the steel harder and gives better reliability,” Bronson said. “We’ve got aircraft tires now that have Kevlar belts in them. Ten years ago, we didn’t have that, but Goodyear has been leading the

manufacture of that.”

The future of corporate aircraft design is mind boggling, said Scott Robertson, president of Ultra Air, even if it’s likely not right around the corner.

“As with cars, everybody is talking about electric,” he said. “There’s a couple of issues there with airplanes. No. 1, battery systems right now are extremely heavy and that does not work in airplanes. If you’re going to add weight, you’re going to take away payload. The batteries Continued on page 10.

Aircraft technology continues to advance, says experts

by Dwain Hebda

Aircraft technology is continuously developing to provide better control for pilots and more creature comforts for passengers, say local aviation experts.

“In the era of the aerospace market that we are presently in, I’d say the most advancement in recent years has been seen in Integrated Avionics systems,” said Troy Troshynski, vice president of marketing and product development for Avionics Interface Technologies, A Teradyne Company.

“These systems have made large leaps in

Careers in aviation field

Continued from page 6.

Performance Aircraft, said the pilot shortage is a global issue.

“Eight hundred thousand new pilots are expected to be needed over the next 20 years,” he said. “This creates unprecedented opportunities for anyone interested in a career as a professional pilot.”

In fact, Performance Aircraft recently built a new flight training facility to help meet this growing need.

As the demand for new pilots grows, so does pay for professional pilot jobs. In many cases, Heckathorn said pay has more than doubled just in the last several years.

Dave Poole, general manager at Oracle Aviation, said it’s a very unique time in aviation, as it’s never been a better time for people entering the career field on both the flying and non-flying sides of the industry.

“Existing pilots in the airline industry have reached their maximum age for retirement, meaning new pilots are very needed,” he said. “With that being said, there’s also a huge need for flying personnel, as well as aviation technicians and other support jobs.”

As always, Poole said there is a certain amount of consolidation and reorganization in the industry, but as of late, a lot of regional carriers have started to realign with mainline carriers in 2020.

Additionally, there have been some changes in technology with the advances in avionics.

“There has also been a lot of interest in the electric motor with ground transportation so we will see if it’s viable to have an electrically-powered aircraft operating in the future,” he said.

“Overall, it’s an excellent time for people who are interested in aviation to consider entering the field.”

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

Bridgepoint Investment Banking identifies middle-market niche Continued from page 1. headquartered in Kansas City, and needed Husker 1999 and 2000 teams, to move back investment capital to purchase a Latin Amerto the Lancaster County community he ican competitor. had grown up in. He formed Bridgepoint “We did a $33 million investment capiInvestment Banking with co-founder Adam tal raise with two New York lenders,” Matt Claypool in 2006 with offices in Lincoln, Plooster said.

Omaha, Des Moines, Denver and Chicago.

The move, which involved the founder’s Matt and Natasha Plooster, married $10 million to $20 million in personal liquidity, and now have three children, operate an enabled the purchase of his competitor but Omaha-headquartered boutique investment also retaining the Kansas City headquarters. banking firm that has outgrown its current Matt Plooster, who has an MBA from 2,700-square-foot location at 450 Regency Columbia University in New York, said Parkway and is seeking about 7,000 square the growth of Bridgepoint has been largefeet as additional proly from stressing to fessionals are being Bridgepoint Investment employees the combrought on board. munity-betterment At least two new Banking thrust, social and enpositions are being Phone: 402-817-7900 vironmental impacts c r e a t e d a n d M a t t Address: 450 Regency Parkway, Suite and the importance of Plooster said a new 300, Omaha 68114; 816 P St., Suite offering a boutique of location is also in the 200, Lincoln 68508 diverse services — ofworks. Denver and Services: lower and middle market inten above and beyond St. Louis are being vestment banking and private equity firm those of the larger Founded: 2006 by Matt Plooster and considered.

Wall Street competBridgepoint In- Adam Claypool itors. vestment Banking has Employees: 22 “At Morgan clients throughout Ne- One-year goal: Move Omaha headStanley Matt was disbraska and contiguous quarters from 2,700 square feet to 7,000 couraged from servstates. Activity in the square feet. ing companies that Kansas City area has Industry outlook: Opportunities exist in were less than 500 been strong and other strong economy for companies to raise mm in size,” Natasha growth opportunities institutional money and transactions to Plooster said. “Feelfrom New York City, take place. ing burned out by the Nashville — among Website: www.bridgepointmb.com industry and moving others — are adding back to the Midwest to the firm’s opportunities. to honor our family values where we were Matt Plooster, 38, said Bridgepoint is able to reflect on the broken industry has been being perceived as “part of the next genera- important to us.” tion of investment bankers” and has attracted Natasha Plooster, who was born in Mostalent from 45 to 70 years old. Recent talent cow to a Russian mother and Cuban father, has been attracted from New York City and moved with her family at age 9 to Lawrence, Naples, Florida.

Kansas. Beginning in seventh grade, she was “The downside in building our business taking classes at University of Kansas and by was that in the first five years we were creat- 10th grade was spending much of her time ing a market for our services that nobody had on the Lawrence campus. ever done before,” he said. “Our philosophy She earned in three years a degree in that includes providing value for communi- industrial engineering from the University of ties is different.”

Michigan. She joined the Global Industrials The firm’s typical client size is much Group: Paper and Packaging Sector at Deutsmaller than that targeted by other investment sche Bank in Chicago. That’s where she met bankers: in the $20 million to $500 million Matt, who was part of the automotive group range. at Deutsche Bank.

“Boutique lending is the way today in She was inspired by watching a princethe investment banking landscape,” he add- and-pauper-themed movie in a tiny Russian ed. “We have moved $102 billion of capital apartment before moving to the U.S. across 129 completed debt, equity and merger “I wondered if America could possibly and acquisitions transactions.” be so perfect,” she said. “I became very Companies in the industrial/transporta- goal-oriented.” tion, software technology, financial services/ She’s proud to serve as the spiritual leader insurance, consumer/retail and health care are for Bridgepoint and spends most of the time among those served. on the firm’s value system and doing client The Ploosters’ passion for communi- development work. She joined the business ty-betterment projects in 2019 was evidenced full-time in 2017. in Scottsbluff when the third generation of a Earlier this year Mergers & Acquisitions family-owned trucking company sought a magazine named her a winner of the Most buyer for the business. Lots of diligence led Influential Woman in Middle Markets. to the discovery of Canadian public company In bringing a “softer side” to Bridgepoint, that was interested in the acquisition. she said she works with team members A major condition written into the agree- as they identify vulnerability and performent by Bridgepoint Investment Banking mance-enhancement issues. stipulated that the company was to remain “What’s important is lifting each other in Scottsbluff and maintain its employment up, becoming stronger and sharing vulnerbase there. abilities,” she added. “It’s an eye-opening On the capital-raising side of the busi- experience that when done in a collaborative ness, Bridgepoint represented the founder environment enables much more real buy-in of an information technology firm that was from team members.”

2020

We are now accepting nominations!

Deadline to submit: July 31, 2020

The 19th annual 40 Under 40 Awards will take place Nov. 20 at Embassy Suites La-Vista.

Midlands Business Journal is currently seeking nominations for professionals in the Greater Omaha and Council Bluffs area under the age of 40 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and career accomplishments. Our judges will seek out individuals that have made impacts within their organizations and our community.

We want to hear about the entrepreneurs, executives and small business owners in your lives. Involvement in nonprofits and community organizations will show judges how much candidates care about the Greater Omaha area.

Nominees must be under the age of 40 as of Dec. 31, 2020 for consideration and cannot nominate themselves.

Bottom line, we want to honor young professionals that are making a difference.

Visit MBJ.com to fill out the nomination form now!

Key information to include in the nomination: • • • • • • • •

Current company Current position Age Company address Company phone Email address Degrees earned Business accomplishments (promotions, projects, company initiatives) • Community involvement (volunteer work, seats on boards, local and national organizations) • Achievements (awards, recognitions, accreditations) • Supplemental materials such as articles on the nominee, written works, videos, photos, etc.

Sponsorship opportunities are available today!

What better way to get your company’s name in front of some of the most influential business leaders in the Greater Omaha area than sponsoring the 40 Under 40 Awards. Your company will receive recognition in the popular 40 Under 40 special section and at the award banquet that is anticipated to draw 600 attendees. Contact us at karla@mbj.com or call 402-330-1760 to learn more.

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Heartland Workforce Solutions reduces barriers, matches job seekers to jobs Continued from page 1. powered to make decisions and seek additional funding while governing its own board of directors, the organization is the only Work-

Heartland Workforce Solutions Phone: 402-444-4700 Address: 5752 Ames Ave., Omaha 68104 Service: nonprofit organization founded in legislation that connects job seekers and businesses in Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties Founded: 2010 Employees: 7 Industry outlook: Diverse populations are increasing yet without equity of opportunity. Creating equity means hiring a diverse workforce for managerial and executive positions.

Website: www.hws-ne.org

force Development Board in Nebraska with nonprofit status. Workforce development boards across the country are grounded in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Porterfield described the structure as “quasi-governmental.”

The legislation says, in part, “there needs to be a little responsibility and vision and strategy for people connecting to talent needs and industries,” she said. “It says, hey, all of these programs that are receiving federal and even local dollars to get people connected to fantastic careers and money should work together instead of in silos, instead of in competition with each other.”

Tackling poverty, unemployment and underemployment while addressing the specific needs of businesses requires collaboration from the many entities within Heartland Workforce Solutions — the Department of Labor, Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of Education and others. Nonprofit status enables the organization to receive federal/state dollars and seek outside funding sources. It also allows it to be responsive to community needs.

When Heartland Workforce Solutions began in 2011, the first full-year budget (2011-2012) was $3.5 million, almost all from the Department of Labor through what was then the Workforce Investment Act. This year (2019-2020), the budget is a little over $6 million with 70% through WIOA and 30% from a combination of funding from the city of Omaha and donations from local charitable foundations like the Peter Kiewit Foundation, Lozier Foundation, Sherwood Foundation, Suzanne & Walter Scott

Aircraft technology Continued from page 8. out there would be extremely range limited.”

Even more tantalizing are companies tinkering with supersonic business jet models.

Again, Robertson said the promise of such transportation far outruns practical application.

“There’s a lot of hurdles there. They’re trying to make it so it’s got a quieter sonic boom,” he said. “If they can’t go supersonic over land, obviously that takes away a huge selling point so they’re working on getting quiet boom technology. The other problem they have is an engine that produces enough thrust and has the fuel specifics so they get the range they want, and they’ve also got to accomplish noise restrictions around airports for takeoff and landing.”

Foundation and occasionally corporations like First National Bank. The goal is to be at about 50/50.

Initially, the city contributed about $10,000 and now contributes over $600,000.

“That’s a significant change and also an investment in what the city sees is working,” Porterfield said. “That kind of money allows us innovation and flexibility to attend specifically to areas of higher poverty and higher unemployment.

“North and southeast Omaha are the higher concentrations of poverty, unemployment or just plain under-employment — people working multiple jobs still not hardly able to make it work, not to mention the institutional racism and segregation we experience in the area.”

Last year, Heartland Workforce Solutions had around 35,000 visits, which is approximately two-to-three visits on average per person. That translates to an average of thousands of people walking through its doors at 5752 Ames Ave. every month. That number includes its Latino Center for the Midlands location.

Some barriers to finding jobs might be someone whose life has changed because of a disability, someone who has been laid off from a long-term job and might not know how to use a computer, or someone re-entering employment.

“If I had to say, where do we put our bench strength as a workforce development system, it would be those in-demand industries and occupations that say, this is a great job which

means money and benefits and full-time and dependable, all the more with opportunity to increase,” she said.

The most successful way for businesses to connect with qualified job seekers is through the “earn and learn model.”

For example, Turner Construction turned to Heartland Workforce Solutions to create a pipeline of talent and to diversify its workforce, anticipating a wave of retirements from trade positions.

“It’s bigger than just one answer,” she said.

So, they partnered with Metropolitan Community College to put together a training program and connected with its workforce development partners to alert people to the opportunity. HWS prepared people for interviews and helped them with their resumes so that Turner could enlist them in an earn and learn program and help pay for further education.

“People can’t just put their lives on hold,” she said. “And when they graduate from that period of time, they are hired and there is a ladder available that they can see.”

Industries need to create more of these types of models where the employer and employee are investing in each other and there is a ladder of opportunity, she said.

One example of this was an individual who turned to Heartland Workforce Solutions’ youth WIOA program after graduating early from high school so that he could get a job to help his family.

He connected with AIM Institute to gain

IT skills. After graduating from the program and through a series of events, was hired at a major local employer and is now a supervisor.

This employer is investing in him by paying for additional skill development because they see his potential and want to retain him.

Porterfield said that is the perfect example of connecting someone who faced barriers to a successful career path: “Understanding what business needs and getting that relationship and those positions ready, making sure that the skills are the right skills … then when it works and the business sees, they act to retain that individual by investing in them.”

One big indicator for success is that in general, businesses report an average 45% turnover. But last year, businesses working with the organization saw a 93% retention rate. “[This] says it’s worth it to the career seeker,” she said. “It says we are saving money to the business. And so now what we want to do is amplify that, escalate it, take it to scale — more on an industry focus opposed to only by business.”

Of note, Douglas County is now a Certified ACT Work Ready Community, the first county in Nebraska to earn the certification.

The ACT is the national career readiness certificate to help Omaha be more competitive when potential employers are looking to locate here, or when local companies are looking to expand. It indicates to businesses that there are systems and resources in place to link talent to jobs.

CPA firm Bland & Associates achieves employee ownership as tool for growth Incidentally, Bankers Trust Senior ComContinued from page 1. mercial Banking Team Lead and Vice President brought this to the attention of the Nebraska Joe DeJong knew McKinney from high school Board of Public Accountancy. and, accordingly, also knew Bland for a long “Then the process started in 2018 to modtime — allowing for an appreciation of how the ify the regulation,” he said. “The change went ESOP structure fit the firm and its employees. before the unicameral in January 2019 and was Bland got its start in 1976 (via Jerry Bland) signed into law in March 2019.” and has since become one of the “fastest-growVokt and McGrath North Attorney Joan ing firms in the U.S. based on industry rankCannon worked with the board on modifying ings,” according to firm the law. information, and it has “Nebraska in gen- Bland & Associates distinguished itself in eral allows employee Phone: 402-397-8822 both public accounting stock ownership plans Address: 450 Regency Parkway, Suite and business advisory (ESOPs) for most in- 340, Omaha 68114 services, while carving dustries,” he explained. Employees: around 100 out a large practice in “It’s just that the laws Services: public accounting, business government consultand regulations that advisory, government consulting (specifiing (serving the U.S. governed certified pub- cally, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Department of Health lic accounting firms Services) and Human Services were written in a way Founded: 1976 by Jerry Bland Centers for Medicare that simply didn’t al- Website: blandcpa.com, blandgovconand Medicaid services low it … The board sulting.com through massive changwas very open to the es in health care and administration). modifications in the ownership regulation, and “Bland was looking for a way to transition was easy to work with.” the financial, not the management aspect of the In addition, Bland enlisted Nebraska Senafirm,” said Vokt, a Council Bluffs native who tor John Stinner to sponsor LB 49, the specific joined the firm in 2006. “It’s important to know change to section 1-162.01 of the Public Acthat Bland’s shareholders are still in the positions countancy Act. Via a January announcement, they held prior to the conversion to an ESOP. the Legislative Bill amended and authorized “CPA firms just don’t ‘sell’ like all other ownership of public accounting firms by companies. Most CPA firms sell via unique ESOPs: “Under this bill, non-certified public formulas or merge with other firms to transition accountants are not allowed to exceed 49% of the financial aspect of the firm. We didn’t want total equity interest.” to do that. We wanted to change the model.”

A retired banker and former CPA, Sen. StinAdditionally, he noted the firm wanted to ner was quoted as saying: “I think it’s a positive find a way to have more than a “handful” of move for the industry to include employees in owners, a nod to an oft-cited thread woven into stock ownership.” the firm’s cultural fabric: “We believe all our Vokt and Majority Shareholders Jason L. employees act like owners, treat our clients as Tonjes and Troy McKinney further enlisted if they are owners and are extremely valuable the niche ESOP expertise of Des Moines, Ioto our firm. We felt our unique culture strongly wa-based Bankers Trust on initial financing of supported the ESOP model.” the ownership and guidance.

In early February, Vokt said employees were excited about how they can now “have a piece of the action.”

“With most of the firm obviously being accountants they can understand the value,” he said. “But it will be an education process over the next few months as we educate our employees on ESOPs and the value of ESOPs to them.”

Over the longer term, Vokt acknowledged how, as a 100% employee-owned S-corporation ESOP, the firm pays 0% tax.

“So, in general, eventually that excess cash flow saved from not paying taxes can be used for investments in firm infrastructure, firm salaries and benefits and also potential acquisitions,” he said. “This allows the value of the stock to grow and, in turn, increase the employees’ ESOP retirement balance … the employees pay nothing for this stock ownership but reap the increase in value each year as the company grows and expands.”

Vokt also indicated ESOP structure allows Bland to differentiate from other CPA firms in the state.

“Why wouldn’t someone want to work for a company that shares in ownership on day No. 1? We also believe this will empower our employees even more,” he said. “They now know everything they do day to day affects the value of their ESOP ownership shares in the company.”

Vokt, who noted there are eligibility requirements employees must meet, sees this regulatory change as spurring more interest from the firm’s clients or other companies to inquire about ESOPs as an ownership tool.

“Surround yourself with advisers that understand ESOPs,” he said. “Understand what your goals are. An ESOP is not a one-size fits all answer for everyone. There are a lot of other factors that go into that decision.”

He encourages owners to look at all options, and align them with their organization’s goals, ambitions and “current look.”

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

11

Everyone dies, so be nice to your family and leave proper documents

by Carla Fried

When it comes to your family, you likely operate with the credo that there is nothing you wouldn’t do for them. Right?

But, truth is, you likely Legal need to qualify that sentiment “ … with the exclusion of making sure they will have the easiest time possible when I die.” Survey after survey reports a minority of households have created the documents to help loved ones deal with financial accounts and other assets, give helpSUPER CROSSWORD

ful hints on what sort of funeral you want, and provide guidance on how you want later-life medical care to play out if you can no longer advocate for yourself.

It’s a disconnect with a deep emotional component. Confronting death is not easy.

Understood. But neither is the anxiety felt by loved ones left in the lurch.

Here’s how to ease their transition when you die: -Write down a laundry list of your financial life. Before we launch into the legal stuff, A STEP BACKWARDS

one of the biggest favors you will do loved ones is to have written down an inventory of every financial account you have and the basic account information. Bank accounts, investment accounts, credit card accounts, pension accounts. Insurance policies. Loan documents.

Right off the bat, this document lets survivors know what’s what and where it’s at, rather than keeping them guessing and searching. Write it down and then tell at least one person that the list exists, where it will be and how to access it.

-Help them avoid probate. When you die without documentation of how you want your assets handled, it typically means your family will need to head to court to get a judge to approve your plan. This takes time, and it may necessitate hiring a lawyer. Want to spare your heirs both hassles? A will won’t cut it. In most states, wills must go through the probate process unless you have a small amount of assets. (A web search of your state’s name and the term “small estate probate” will yield rules for a will that avoids probate.)

A will is still an important document. It’s where you lay out who inherits possessions — the jewelry, china, quilts that have been passed down, the beloved vintage car. For financial assets, you likely want more than a will.

To keep your family from having to deal with probate court, you have options. Bank accounts and non-retirement investment accounts can be set up with a “payable on death” (POD) or “transfer on death” (TOD) provision that will transfer your account to your stated beneficiary/beneficiaries. Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs require a beneficiary designation, so that money will pass to an heir(s) without probate.

Some states allow real estate to be inherited through a TOD document.

If you have minor children, POD or TOD is not the way to go. Minors can’t directly inherit assets. A workaround is creating a living revocable trust.

If the mere mention of the word trust has you thinking, “Whoa, that’s for the 1%, not me,” slow down. A revocable trust has nothing to do with the balances on your investment accounts. It is an elegant way to seamlessly transfer — without probate — your assets to your heirs. If you have minors, you can make the trust the beneficiary of all your accounts, and then the guardian of your children (you set that up in a will) will carry

out management of those assets as you have spelled out, for the benefit of your children.

No court approval required.

You can hire an estate planning lawyer to set up a trust (and other key docs). There are also online services that will guide you create legal documents including a living revocable trust and will.

-Check (and recheck) beneficiaries. All retirement accounts require a beneficiary. So, too, does life insurance. The listed beneficiary overrides whatever you may have spelled out in a will or trust. Once a year check your beneficiary designations. Marriage, divorce, birth of children (and grandchildren) and death of a beneficiary can require making changes.

-Tell your loved ones how you want to navigate a serious illness. Appoint someone your healthcare advocate. A living will spells out how much intervention you want, or don’t, if you become too ill to speak up for yourself. Do you want to be resuscitated? A feeding tube?

Too difficult to contemplate? Find a quiet time and place to think through how a living will may help your family. Without clear direction, family members will be left to guess what you want. That’s a lot to put on their shoulders. And you may inadvertently leave the door open to family arguments. You can download a free living will/advance directive for your state at the website of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

You also should consider asking someone to serve as your healthcare proxy or healthcare agent. If there comes a time when you are unable to convey your wishes, your healthcare proxy will step in and advocate for you, based on what you have laid out in your living will. The formal legal document is called a durable power of attorney for healthcare, or medical power of attorney. It will be included in the basic estate planning documents a lawyer can assist you with; you can also create them using online programs.

-Help them plan your funeral. Not just what you want, but most important, what you don’t want. At a time when family is grieving, having this direction can ease their burden.

And if you really don’t want the bells and whistles, say so! The average funeral costs more than $8,000. Letting your family know you’re good with keeping things simple can be a big financial relief. ©2020 Rate.com News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The new burger chef makes $3 an hour and never goes home. (It’s a robot)

by Sam Dean

Answers on page 12.

In a test kitchen in a corner building in downtown Pasadena, Calif., Flippy the robot grabbed a fryer basket full of chicken fingers, plunged it into hot oil — its sensors told it exactly how hot — then lifted, drained and dumped maximally tender tenders into a waiting hopper.

Trends A few feet away, another Flippy eyed a beef patty sizzling on a griddle. With its camera eyes feeding pixels to a machine vision brain, it waited until the beef hit the right shade of brown, then smoothly slipped its spatula hand under the burger and plopped it on a tray.

The product of decades of research in

robotics and machine learning, Flippy represents a synthesis of motors, sensors, chips and processing power that wasn’t possible until recently.

Now, Flippy’s success — and the success of the company that built it, Miso Robotics — depends on simple math and a controversial hypothesis of how robots can transform the service economy. Costing less to employ than a minimum-wage worker, Flippy is built to slip in right alongside humans on the fast food line.

Off-the-shelf robot arms have plunged in price in recent years, from more than $100,000 in 2016, when Miso Robotics first Continued on next page.

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

The new burger chef makes $3 an hour and never goes home. (It’s a robot) Continued from preceding page. launched, to under $10,000 today, with cheaper models coming in the near future.

As a result, Miso can offer Flippys to fast food restaurant owners for an estimated $2,000 per month on a subscription basis, breaking down to about $3 per hour. (The actual cost will depend on customers’ specific needs). A human doing the same job costs $4,000 to $10,000 and up per month, depending on a restaurant’s hours and the local minimum wage. And robots never call in sick.

If the cost of hardware hadn’t gone down so quickly, Miso’s business model would never have worked, said Buck Jordan, the company’s chief executive. “We took a bet,” he said. “A risky bet.

But it’s paying off.”

So far, early versions of Flippy have put in time on the line at Dodger Stadium and at locations of CaliBurger, a small quick-serve chain that Jordan says also functions as “a restaurant tech incubator masquerading as a burger joint” (Cali Group, CaliBurger’s parent company, is the parent company of Miso Robotics as well as two other restaurant industry startups). The next version of the robot will use the new, cheaper arms and be mounted on an overhead rail to conserve floor space in tight kitchens.

But Jordan believes Flippy is poised to become a regular part of fast food kitchens across the country in the next year, especially in markets with higher labor costs — and real estate costs — like California. Miso has raised more than $13 million in investment, and is currently trying to raise an additional $30 million to fund its push into fast food kitchens from small investors on the equity crowdfunding platform SeedInvest.

The restaurant industry as a whole has been facing a labor crisis for years, fueled by record-low unemployment across the economy and ever-rising consumer demand for prepared food. Nationally, the sector consistently has one of the highest percentages of open positions, with more than 820,000 unfilled jobs in December 2019, according to federal statistics. And turnover rates, which have always been high for low-paying fast food jobs, have climbed to more than 100% per year.

At fry stations, churn is even higher, with the average worker lasting just three months in front of the bubbling oil, according to Jordan.

Those problems are intensified in areas with high real estate costs, like many of California’s urban centers. Higher business rents put pressure on restaurants to increase revenues, while higher residential rents make nearby homes unaffordable for people earning fast food wages, stretching commute times beyond what workers will tolerate. That makes a worker who never leaves the premises that much more attractive.

Miso Robotics is hardly the first company to try to find profits in automating kitchen drudgery.

Food has long been on the forefront when it comes to replacing human effort with machine labor. In the 1920s, it was a new device called the dishwasher that was raising alarms, threatening to wipe out an entire category of back-of-house jobs.

Despite the intersecting trend lines of cheaper technology and tighter labor markets, however, restaurant robot companies have been struggling.

Zume, a Mountain View, Calif.,-based company that tried to build a fleet of pizza delivery trucks that used robot arms to cook the pizza en route, received $375 million from Softbank’s $100-billion Vision Fund in late 2018. In January, the company laid off more than half of its employees, and announced that it would no longer make or deliver pizza, focusing instead on industrial packaging. Zume’s pizza, according to reviews by customers, was never that good.

one was predicting the end of all bookkeeping and accounting jobs,” Goldberg said. “What actually happened was it changed the job, so accountants didn’t spend their time punching numbers into the adding machine all day, but instead started doing all these visualizations and scenario planning.”

Likewise, restaurants still need people to load and unload those dishwashers.

Goldberg spends part of his time working as the chief scientist at a robot startup called Ambidextrous, which is using similar technology to build robots to do another type of common low-wage work: picking and sorting objects into packages at warehouses.

“The problems you have in fast food are very analogous to the problem we’re facing in warehouses,” Goldberg said. “It’s actually difficult to hire enough people for the job.” In both cases, having a robot on-site fills a gap in the labor market, and makes it easier to ratchet up output during flash sales or the holiday season, for warehouse work, and during peak dinner hours or post-event rushes, in restaurants.

Beyond the technological debate, Miso’s CEO said that building robots that can work in existing kitchens alongside humans lets him avoid an even thornier problem: how to keep a new restaurant concept from tanking.

“All the competition is focused on making their own brands, which I get it, it’s a lot of fun,” Jordan said. “I would love to love to own a restaurant, too — in fact I did, and it went out of business.”

“We fit into existing brands that are already successful at making food,” rather than trying to build a new menu and dining experience from scratch, Jordan said. “You don’t ask Caltech roboticists to make an amazing chicken sandwich.” ©2020 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Flippy the robot demonstrates its ability to man a fry station at Miso Robotics in Pasadena, California. (Gina Ferazzi/Los AngelesTimes/TNS) Creator, a restaurant built around a main- workplaces was a far-off fantasy. Until recently, frame-sized robot that builds burgers from most required fully robot-centric environments. scratch, from grinding the beef and slicing the Similar to early computer mainframes, which tomatoes to assembling the final product, has built were scheduled for computational activity around a more loyal following (and better Yelp reviews) the clock, industrial robots have been too expenat its one location in San Francisco. But the com- sive to run at anything below maximum capacity pany has yet to expand beyond its single location, for most of their history. Unlike early computers, and a deal with the same Softbank Vision Fund high-output robots are also too strong and dumb reportedly hit the rocks in January. to safely work alongside humans.

And in China, e-commerce giant Alibaba But now that costs have come down and has a chain of largely automated grocery stores both motor and sensor technology has improved, with attached diners staffed by robot waiters. robots are safe and cheap enough to use in occaThe real estate giant Country Garden Holdings sional spurts in a normal work environment. That recently opened its first fully robotic restaurant in has given rise to panic about a “job apocalypse.”

Guangzhou, where computers and robots handle But many experts predict the real effects will be ordering, food prep, serving and cleanup. subtler and more mixed.

But not all restaurant robots are made alike, Ken Goldberg, a professor of engineering at and the industry is split between two distinct UC Berkeley, likens the effect on the workforce visions of how robots can transform the service to the advent of personal computers and software. sector.

“When spreadsheet software first came out everyOn one side, which includes Miso, are the robots that slot into existing human environments SUPER CROSSWORD to perform specific tasks in much the same way a person would. Flippy never tires, doesn’t mind a splash of hot oil, and produces a more consistent fried product, but ultimately it’s handling the same fry baskets and spatulas as a flesh-andblood worker.

On the other side, burger machines like Creator take a different approach: They remove the human entirely, operating in an enclosed environment in which robots can do things in more robotic ways.

Both camps think the other one is dead wrong.

Avidan Ross, whose venture capital fund Root Ventures has backed Creator, said, “My belief is that people who are using industrial robot arms today are primarily using those on a couple flawed assumptions.” He likened it to the idea of building a humanoid robot driver with robotic arms to drive a self-driving car.

“Doing everything based on human limitations makes no sense,” Ross said. “The better opportunity is to build robots from the ground up based on first principles.”

Aaron Ames, a professor of robotics at Caltech who specializes in making robots walk and who serves as a technical advisor to Miso Robotics (whose technical team is run by Caltech grads), could not disagree more strongly.

“My short answer is: Good luck with that,” Ames said. “I’m a firm believer that the real way to get things out of there, especially in a short time frame, is to go build robots that work in human environments. The only reason not to do it is that it’s harder.”

For most of the time robots have been around, the notion of building them to operate in human

Puzzle on page 11.

PUZZLE ANSWERS

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

13

Fed cuts rates half point in emergency move amid spreading virus

by Craig Torres

The Federal Reserve slashed interest rates by half a percentage point in the first such emergency move since the 2008 financial crisis, amid mounting concern that the coronavirus outbreak threatens to slow or stall the record U.S. economic expansion.

“My colleagues and I took this action to help the U.S. economy keep strong in the face of new risks to the economic outlook,” Fed Chairman Jerome Powell told a hastily convened press conEconomy ference in Washington recently. “The spread of the coronavirus has brought new challenges and risks.”

But in a sign of how skeptical investors are that rate cuts will be an effective tool in combating the economic damage caused by the virus, U.S. stocks only rallied briefly after the surprise announcement.

The S&P 500 index fell as much as 2% following Powell’s remarks before paring losses while the 10-year Treasury yield plunged toward 1%. Fed funds futures are pricing in roughly a total of a percentage point of easing this year.

The central bank said in its statement that it was “closely monitoring developments and their implications for the economic outlook and will use its tools and act as appropriate to support the economy.”

Powell, in response to a reporter question about the scope for further moves, said “we

do like our current policy stance,” before repeating the Fed’s reference to taking action if needed.

G-7 Coordination The Fed’s decision could presage a wave of easing from other central banks around the world although those in the euro-area and Japan have less scope to follow with rates already in negative territory.

It came hours after Powell and finance chiefs from the Group of Seven nations said they would “use all appropriate policy tools to achieve strong, sustainable growth and safeguard against downside risks.”

The vote for the rate cut to a range of 1% to 1.25% was unanimous. The Fed also said in the statement that the “fundamentals of the U.S. economy remain strong.”

The Fed move followed public pressure for a cut by President Donald Trump, whose stewardship of the economy is central to his reelection campaign this year.

After the shift he called for more, demanding in a tweet that the Fed “must further ease and, most importantly, come into line with other countries/competitors. We are not playing on a level field. Not fair to USA.” U.S. central bankers were scheduled to gather March 17-18 in Washington. The press conference was the first time the Fed had had acted outside its normal cycle of meetings or cut by more than 25 basis points since 2008.

The reduction marks a stark shift for

Powell and his colleagues. They had previously projected no change in rates during 2020, remaining on the sidelines during the election year, after lowering their benchmark three times in 2019 to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%.

Clarida Stance As recently as last week, some officials, including Vice Chairman Richard Clarida, had indicated they thought it was too soon to respond to the virus. They pledged to monitor the situation, but argued monetary policy was already easy and the fundamentals of the economy strong with unemployment near a 50-year low.

But as the number of reported cases of the virus rose around the world in recent days and the U.S. reported its first fatality, traders increasingly bet the Fed would step in. Powell seemed to cement that view with a promise to “act as appropriate,” which lent some support to stocks.

Lower rates do little for factories lacking needed materials from abroad and are unlikely to spur consumers to shop if they’re scared of infection. But they should support consumer and business sentiment as well as ease financial conditions by making debt payments easier to manage and by calming market volatility.

Powell has staked his chairmanship on sustaining the expansion, words he has used to describe the essential mission of the Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed’s

Five hundred points in 45 minutes: Dow close runs street ragged

by Claire Ballentine and Sarah Ponczek

A week that has served up more harrowing moments for traders than sometimes happen in a whole year turned terrifying into last week’s close. Stock indexes lurched to the biggest one-day loss in almost nine years as coronavirus anxiety started feeling Stock market like panic.

Forget the complacency of January: the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 500 points in 45 minutes and the Cboe Volatility Index closed at its highest point since 2015.

Here’s what traders said it was like at their firms.

Paul Nolte, a portfolio manager at Kingsview Asset Management in Chicago: How was my day today? We need a second bottle of wine. People are freaking out as if the bottom is falling out of stock market. That’s an overreaction. The last 40 minutes were nerve-wrecking, I kept staring at my screen in disbelief. I didn’t do anything. The economy will slow because of the virus, but the virus isn’t going to last forever. I had calls with people and they said, ‘This looks exactly like 2008. Get me out.’ It’s hard to find the right words to calm them down.

Joseph Saluzzi, Themis Trading LLC partner and co-head of equity trading: We were trading for clients. We were executing. I was buying and selling. The sellers were very, very aggressive there.

It was brutal. The bids were non-existent.

I haven’t seen a close like that if ever — almost 30 points in the S&P in the last 15 minutes. Tomorrow, I think we see more of the same.

Larry Weiss, head of equity trading at Instinet LLC in New York: We appeared to be leveling off midday, but the headline that California was monitoring 8,400 people for signs of exposure was startling. It really offset hopes that declining new diagnoses out of China, and possible Fed action to offset economic decline would alleviate market pressure.

Michael Antonelli, market strategist at Baird: That’s almost the exact opposite of what you’d want to see if you expected a bounce anytime soon. That’s as ugly of a close as I’ve seen in years. Four-percent down days have only occurred 0.6% of all trading days in the stock market since 1928. That’s indiscriminate selling across the board.

Scott Bauer, chief executive officer at Prosper Trading Academy in Chicago: I was trading at my desk, watching the headlines, watching the news and refreshing every news service out there to see what the next headline is. The straw that broke the camel’s back is the headline about the 8,400 people in California. That really is what set everything in motion again. Do I think that we’re going to recover 10% in the next two days let alone the next two weeks? I don’t.

Jeff Mills, chief investment officer at Bryn Mawr Trust: It was pretty nasty. What we’re dealing with right now is just general uncertainty.

When something like that happens, people are surprised to see the market move down that quickly. There was shock and staring at the screen. The swiftness of the move is not normal and unprecedented. Anyone would be surprised and they would be lying

if they said they weren’t.

Kim Forrest, chief investment officer at Bokeh Capital Partners: It just feels very 2008, 2009. But I don’t feel quite as hopeless as I did before.

Because that we really didn’t know what was going on. And this we do. This is a human interruption due to human beings not being able to go to work. This isn’t like what is happening in the dark part of finance that we have no idea.

(With assistance from Elena Popina and Vildana Hajric.) ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

rate-setting panel.

Despite the limited ability of monetary policy to ease the impact of a public health emergency, the rate cut could support consumer and business sentiment. Lawmakers are working on a $7.5 billion virus response bill, another reminder that critical fiscal policy can take weeks to move through Congress.

No Silver Bullet One lesson Fed officials will take away from this moment is how rapidly their policy space is used up in a crisis.

Total cuts of one percentage point this year, which several Wall Street firms are forecasting, would bring the bottom range of the Fed policy rate down to 0.5%. If the virus impact is worse than expected, or if the economy is hit by a separate shock, the policy rate could strike zero.

At that point, Fed officials are left with unconventional tools, such as purchases of longer-dated Treasuries — known as quantitative easing. The effectiveness of such tools when longer-term rates are already low remains to be seen.

The Fed is in the midst of a review of its tool kit to achieve its goal of maximum employment and stable prices. They are considering policies such as outcome-based forward guidance, where a policy change would be linked to some tangible metric such as achieving an inflation rate, and yield curve caps.

Wherever the discussion lands, the virus has highlighted the need for better fiscal and monetary policy coordination in a time of exceptionally low interest rates, says Julia Coronado, the president of MacroPolicy Perspectives.

The Fed is “carrying the domestic burden and the global burden,” Coronado said. “The fiscal policy response has been lacking. There are people that are going to be struggling to pay their bills and certain workers are going to lose incomes. This is the shock that needs to be insured and we are really behind the curve.”

(With assistance from Sophie Caronello, Alexandra Harris and Alister Bull.) ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CRUSE CONTROL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, LLC Designated Office: 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 Initial Agent/Address For Service: Allan M. Ziebarth/1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Soley Medical, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 7914 W Dodge rd, Ste 438 Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The Registered Agent of the Company is Sena Sekpe, at 7914 W Dodge Rd, Ste 438 Omaha, Nebraska 68116.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), SARA L GARCIA & CESAR F DIAZ GARCIA You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 11/07/2019 on Case Number CI19-25285, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $948.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

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

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 MATTHEW T. PAYNE, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF FKLJ VENTURES, LLC Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, the Certificate of Organization of FKLJ VENTURES, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”) has been amended to change the name of the Company to KJ CROSSROADS VENTURE, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nebraska on February 12, 2020. In all other respects, the Certificate of Organization remains unchanged.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Dutta, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 3330 N. 104th Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. The registered agent of the Company is Satish Muktineni, 3962 S. 184th Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The Company was formed on February 21, 2020.

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

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

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

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FOUNDATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND I GP, LLC The name of the Company is Foundation for Affordable Housing Fund I GP, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 900 South 74th Plaza, Suite 301, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Mark Hiatt, 900 South 74th Plaza, Suite 301, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. This limited liability company commenced business on February 14, 2020.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that 463 PROPERTIES, LLC, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with its designated office at 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The initial registered agent is John S. Kampfe, and the registered agent’s address is 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The general nature of the business is to engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized. The limited liability company was formed on February 6, 2020, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF MAO CONSULTING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MAO CONSULTING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 3301 North 209th Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent is MATT J. KADE. The general nature of the business is to operate a general consulting business, to own, operate and perform services of every kind and nature whatsoever, which are not inconsistent with law, which are necessary, suitable, proper, convenient or expedient to the operation of a general consulting business.

The authorized capital stock is $10,000.00, consisting of 10,000 shares of stock having a par value of $1.00 each, which stock shall be paid for wholly or partly by cash, by labor, by personal property and by real property. The corporation became a corporate body on December 23, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the corporation are to be conducted by a Board of Directors, the number of directors to be provided in the By-Laws, and the officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and such other officers as shall be designated in the By-Laws.

ANTHONY L. GROSS, Incorporator CATHERINE L. WHITE, Incorporator, 3 018 South 87th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication February 21, 2020, final March 6, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF ADDMAR, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Addmar, LLC has filed with the Secretary of State a Statement of Dissolution effective December 31, 2019.

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

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

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

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

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before April 21, 2020 or be forever barred.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michael F. Kivett, Incorporator First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF GOOD LIFE SMILES, P.C. Notice is hereby given that a professional corporation has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the corporation is Good Life Smiles, P.C. The corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock. The street address of the corporation is 1742 N. 175th Plz., Omaha, NE 68118. The name and street address of the corporation’s initial registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and address of the incorporator is Dr. Peter Harbert, DDS, MSD, 1742 N. 175th Plz., Omaha, Nebraska 68118.

Dr. Peter Harbert, DDS, MSD, Incorporator First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 BROWN & WOLFF, P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1925 North 120th Street, One Bennington Place Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF THE MSR GROUP, L.L.C. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of THE MSR GROUP, L.L.C. has been amended by revoking Section 1.1 in its entirety, and substituting the following: 1.1 Name. The Company shall be carried on under the name Worick Investments, L.L.C., a Nebraska limited liability company.

The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the Company is 1121 North 102 Court, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

The registered agent for the service of process is Paul M. Brown at 1925 North 120th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154.

This Amendment was filed on the 14th day of February, 2020.

THE MSR GROUP, L.L.C. By: Richard R.Worick, Jr., Member First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020

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WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Sekafi Investments, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 810 S. 59th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The registered agent of the Company is Chinnapat Wirachakul, 810 S. 59th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The Company was formed on February 26, 2020.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF CONVERSION OF THE MAIDS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND ORGANIZATION OF THE MAIDS INTERNATIONAL, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that The Maids International, Inc. has been converted into The Maids International, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office of the company is 9394 W. Dodge Road, Suite 140, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 68114. The Registered Office of the company is 233 South 13th Street, Suite 1900, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508. The Registered Agent is Daniel J. Bishop at 9394 W. Dodge Road, Suite 140, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 68114. The conversion of the corporation into the limited liability company was accomplished by the filing of Articles of Conversion and Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 27, 2020.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF CONVERSION OF TMI COMPANY STORE HOLDING CORP. AND ORGANIZATION OF TMI COMPANY STORE HOLDING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that The TMI Company Store Holding Corp. has been converted into TMI Company Store Holding, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office of the company is 9394 W. Dodge Road, Suite 140, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 68114. The Registered Office of the company is 233 South 13th Street, Suite 1900, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508. The Registered Agent is Daniel J. Bishop at 9394 W. Dodge Road, Suite 140, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 68114. The conversion of the corporation into the limited liability company was accomplished by the filing of Articles of Conversion and Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 27, 2020.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PERCIPIO KP HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Percipio KP Holdings, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 4924 Center Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Daniel Welch, 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1220, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 28, 2020.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF KUBAT BROS., INC. 1. The name of the Corporation is Kubat Bros., Inc. 2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 Common Shares having a par value of $1.00.

3. The Registered Office of the Corporation is: 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1220, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, and the Registered Agent at such address is Daniel Welch.

4. The corporate existence began on February 27, 2020, when Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State.

5. The name and address of the Incorporator is: Daniel Welch, 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1220, Omaha, Nebraska 68102.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FAB WEST SHORES, LLC The name of the Company is FAB West Shores, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. This limited liability company commenced business on February 27, 2020.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF K2 CONSULTING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that K2 Consulting, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 19017 Ohio Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020

16

• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To bring motions before the court.

To participate in settlement discussions and agreements.

To subpeona witnesses to tesify on your behalf.

To present evidence.

To make argument in support of or against the petition.

To ask the court to order that witnesses be sequestered.

To examine and cross-examine witnesses.

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

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

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

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

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

LEGACY DESIGN STRATEGIES 9859 South 168th Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is CAMO ENTERPRISES, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 2803 O Street, Auburn, NE 68305.

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

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

5. The company commenced its existence on May 6, 2019, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual.

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

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Corporate Name: The Carol A. Drake and Robert N. Troia Charitable Foundation Type of Corporation: Public Benefit Registered Agent: Erickson & Sederstrom P.C. a limited liability organization Registered Office: 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 Members: Corporation will not have Members Incorporator: Daniel I. Dittman, 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RMDX, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that RMDX, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 4910 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68132 and designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom P.C. a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FEVR, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that FEVR, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 11272 Elm Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68144 and designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C. a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LAUREN'S SHOWTIME POPCORN LLC Notice is hereby given that LAUREN'S SHOWTIME POPCORN LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The address of the initial designated office of the company is 12100 W Center Rd., Ste. 112, Omaha, NE 68144. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118-3122.

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

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

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

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

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

By: Jeffrey Barnes, President First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of HDCD Construction, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is HDCD Construction, LLC . Registered agent and office of HDCD Construction, LLC is Jose Luis Lopez at 3415 Augusta Avenue, Omaha, NE 68144. The designated address is 3415 Augusta Avenue, Omaha, NE 68144. Initial members: Jose Luis Lopez. General nature of the business is to transact any and all lawful business for which limited liability companies are allowed by statute. The LLC was organized on February 2020 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members.

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

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before April 28, 2020 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 RUSSELL S. DAUB, Attorney 2800 South 110th Court, Suite 1 Omaha, Nebraska 68144-4818 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is hereby given of the incorporation under the laws of the State of Nebraska of PROAG BANKWARE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. The corporation shall engage in any lawful business for which a corporation may be formed under the Nebraska Business Corporation Act. Authorized capital is $10,000.00, to be fully paid and nonassessable on issue. Perpetual existence commenced February 18, 2020, when Articles were filed with the Secretary of State. Affairs are to be conducted by the Board of Directors and officers authorized by the Bylaws and the Board. The street address of the corporation's initial registered office is 19927 Logan Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130-3718, and the name of the corporation's initial registered agent at that office is Raymond E. Garren. The name and street address of the incorporator is Raymond E. Garren, 19927 Logan Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130-3718.

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

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

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: CASSANDRA L. BOX, 4223 N. 40th St, Omaha NE 68111, you are hereby notified that on January 13, 2020, Credit Acceptance Corp. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI20-717, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $5,657.91, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 13th day of April, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication February 21, 2020, final March 13, 2020 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: ERICK J. MURRAY, JR, 11131 Cottonwood Plz Apt R6, Omaha NE 68164, you are hereby notified that on November 11, 2019, American Family Mutual Ins. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-24957, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $46,042.78, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 6th day of April, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication February 14, 2020, final March 6, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF HANK’S CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Hank’s Construction Services, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 25705 Blondo St., Waterloo, NE 68069. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on February 24, 2020 and shall perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 RINGENBERG & RATTNER LAW 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 204 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF RINGENBERG & RATTNER LAW, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the Certificate of Organization of Ringenberg & Rattner Law, LLC, a Nebraska professional limited liability company, has been amended to change the Designated Office address and the Registered Agent’s address to 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 204, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 25, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 DANIEL J. WATERS, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF BRM Farms, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is BRM Farms, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 10232 North 185th Circle, Bennington, NE 68007. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on January 10, 2020 and shall have perpetual duration.

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

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 S. 10th Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF PRIBYL APPLIANCE PARTS, LLC All claims against the company must be forwarded to the company c/o JOHN F. PRIBYL, 1702 S. 10 St., Suite. 2, Omaha, NE 68108, and contain the name of the claimant, the nature and amount of the claim, and the address and a contact person for the claimant. A claim against the company is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Joe Evans Real Estate, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is 331 Village Pointe Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68118. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are M. Tyler Johnson, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The company is organized to render the professional service of marketing and selling real estate requiring licensure under the Nebraska Real Estate License Act. First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Real Estate Entourage, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the company is 331 Village Pointe Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68118. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are M. Tyler Johnson, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The company is organized to render the professional service of marketing and selling real estate requiring licensure under the Nebraska Real Estate License Act. First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020

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

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

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JOHN Q. BACHMAN, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 N O T I C E O F A M E N D M E N T T O T H E A RT I C L E S O F INCORPORATION OF URBAN ROOTS, INC. Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of Urban Roots, Inc. (the “Corporation”) have been amended in the following respects: Article I of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended so that, as amended, said Article shall provide as follows: ARTICLE I NAME The name of the Corporation shall be Urban Roots Nursery, Inc. The Articles of Amendment were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 2, 2020. In all other respects, the Articles of Incorporation remain unchanged.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 GEORGE T. BABCOCK, Attorney LAW OFFICES OF EVELYN N. BABCOCK 16264 Rolling Ridge Road Omaha, Nebraska 68135 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF FLY LOW LLC Notice is hereby given that FLY LOW LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed a Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 28, 2020. Persons with claims against the company must present them in writing to George T. Babcock, Attorney. Such claim must specify the nature of the claim, the amount of the claim and the name and address of the claimant. Any claim against the company will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years after the date of the third required publication of this notice.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 LEGACY DESIGN STRATEGIES 9859 South 168th Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is INVEST 4 U, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 2803 O Street, Auburn, NE 68305.

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

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

5. The company commenced its existence on May 6, 2019, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual.

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

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 LEGACY DESIGN STRATEGIES 9859 South 168th Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is YANNI ENTERPRISES, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 2803 O Street, Auburn, NE 68305.

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

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

5. The company commenced its existence on May 6, 2019, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual.

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

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Ace Handyman Services Omaha Name of Applicant: Schenzel Holdings, LLC Address: 3414 North 49th 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: Upon filing General nature of business: handyman services, home repair and maintenance TURNER SCHENZEL Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative March 6, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF MEET THE NEED SIOUXLAND, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Meet The Need Siouxland, Inc. (the “Corporation”) has been incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Corporation is a public benefit corporation and shall have no members. Its initial registered agent and office is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

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

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

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

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

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

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

Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before April 28, 2020 or be forever barred.

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

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TESTAROSSA TESTING, LLC The name of the Company is Testarossa Testing, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. This limited liability company commenced business on February 21, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SCOTT ROAD PROPERTIES, LLC The name of the Company is Scott Road Properties, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. This limited liability company commenced business on February 21, 2020.

First publication February 28, 2020, final March 13, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR CUSTOM COOLING AND HEATING, INC. Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Custom Cooling and Heating, Inc. were adopted on February 28, 2020, to decrease the amount of authorized shares to 600.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020

BREASCH ACCOUNTING INC. 4879 S 132nd Avenue Omaha, NE 68137 CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF BILLY GLAZE ENTERPRISES LLC A NEBRASKA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY 1. The name of the limited liability company is BILLY GLAZE ENTERPRISES LLC 2. The period of duration for BILLY GLAZE ENTERPRISES LLC is perpetual.

3. BILLY GLAZE ENTERPRISES LLC is organized for the purpose of conducting any and all business as permitted by the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. 4. The address of the initial designated office for BILLY GLAZE ENTERPRISES LLC in Nebraska is 2404 S 60th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68106.

5. The name and address of the registered agent for BILLY GLAZE ENTERPRISES LLC in Nebraska is Cindy Breasch, 4879 S 132nd Ave, Omaha NE 68137.

6. Additional provisions, not inconsistent with the law, for the regulation of the internal affairs of the limited liability company shall be provided for in the Operating Agreement.

7. Geoffrey Harrison, organizer(s) of BILLY GLAZE ENTERPRISES LLC has signed the Foregoing Certificate of Organization effective this 21st day of February 2020.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: CHERE A. RICE, 3912 North 110th Plaza #1, Omaha NE 68164, you are hereby notified that on January 22, 2020, Ford Motor Credit Company, LLC filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI20-1534, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $5,169.09, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 27th day of April, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 27, 2020 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: JOSE RODRIGUEZ, 2007 Castelar St., Omaha NE 68108, you are hereby notified that on December 19, 2019, American Family Mutual Ins. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-27702, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $3,200.00, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 27th day of April, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 27, 2020 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: JUSTIN J. JOHNSON, 2723 Q Street, Omaha NE 68107, you are hereby notified that on January 30, 2020, American Family Insurance Company filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI20-2253, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $3,624.48, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 27th day of April, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 27, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HAIYAN FLOWERS, LLC Designated Office: 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 Initial Agent/Address For Service: Allan M. Ziebarth/1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Detroit Sterling Heights, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Detroit Sterling Heights, LLC (the “Company”) was formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the Company is 17645 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Capitol Corporate Services, Inc., 1125 S. 103rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of Terrie L. Larkowski, CPA, LLC Notice is hereby given that Terrie L. Larkowski, CPA, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska pursuant to the Limited Liability Company Act, with its initial designated office at 1705 North 107th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Terrie L. Larkowski, 1705 North 107th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company is organized for the purpose of providing public accounting services and all members shall be licensed to provide public accounting services in the State of Nebraska.

Terrie L. Larkowski, CPA, Member First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TCD PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that iphy, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 14613 leeman street, Bennington, NE. 68007. The Registered Agent of the company is Ifeanyi Onubogu., 14613 leeman street, Bennington , Nebraska . 68007 First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of Management House, LLC Notice is hereby given that Management House, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 2210 Wirt Street, Omaha, NE 68110. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Kyle N. Keith, 2210 Wirt Street, Omaha, NE, 68110 First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is hereby given that Indian Creek Reserve – Villas Owners Association, Inc. has been incorporated under the laws of the state of Nebraska. Its initial principal registered office is located at 14922 A Circle, Omaha, Nebraska, 68144. Its initial registered office agent is Jana Faller. The general nature of its business is to provide for the maintenance, preservation and architectural control of the improvements and common areas within the Indian Creek Reserve subdivision, a residential subdivision in Douglas County, Nebraska. The corporation is a perpetual mutual benefit corporation and shall have members. The Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 24, 2020. Its affairs shall be conducted by a Board of Directors, President, Secretary and Treasurer as may be prescribed by the bylaws, or appointed by the Board of Directors.

Its two incorporators are Jana Faller & Steve Faller whose address is 22809 Hansen Avenue, Elkhorn, NE, 68022.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-284 Estate of Ryan T. Hepburn, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on February 27, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, Travis Hepburn, whose address is 213 South 26th Avenue, Apartment 5, Omaha, Nebraska 68131, was informally appointed 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 May 6, 2020 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Real Estate Entourage Team Name of Applicant: Real Estate Etourage, LLC Address: 331 Village Pointe Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68118 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: 1/10/2020 General nature of business: Marketig and selling real estate JOSEPH A. EVANS Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative March 6, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: UPTOWN PRE-OWNED SUPER CENTER Name of Applicant: MADISON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC Address: 222 S. 15TH ST., STE 1404S, OMAHA NE 68102, Mail to: PO BOX 241468, Omaha, NE 68124 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: DELAWARE Date of first use of name in Nebraska: 7/15/2019 General nature of business: AUTOMOTIVE SALES DANIEL R. WHITE Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative March 6, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF WILLIAM PLACE, LLC The name of the Company is William Place, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 2125 South 114th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68144.

The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Adam Watson, 2125 South 114th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. This limited liability company commenced business on March 2, 2020.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of CE Surgical, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 14, 2020, CE Surgical, LLC was organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, with a designated office at 5931 North 166th Court, Omaha, NE 68116. The Company’s initial agent for service of process is Derek D. Durica, whose address is 5931 North 166th Court, Omaha, NE 68116.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SANJEL ENTERPRISES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Sanjel Enterprises, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 16331 Wright Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 and designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom P.C a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 DANA ROCHE, Attorney RINGENBERG & RATTNER LAW 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 204 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GOLDENROD AUGUSTA PLYMOUTH OPERATIONS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Goldenrod Augusta Plymouth Operations, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. The Registered Agent of the Company is Zachary A. Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 STEVEN G. RANUM, Attorney C R O K E R , H U C K , K A S H E R , D E W I T T, A N D E R S O N & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 S. 72ND STREET, SUITE 1200 OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68124 NOTICE OFAMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION Please take notice that the Certificate of Organization for DigiTechIQ LLC has been amended to state a change to the members of the company.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION FOR DORAN-OHLMANN INVESTMENTS, LLC Notice is hereby given that the Amended Certificate of Organization of Doran-Ohlmann Investments, LLC. were adopted on February 28, 2020 to restate the original Certificate of Organization originally adopted on March 26, 2007.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 SCOTT A. MEYERSON, Esq. LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Dr., #100 Omaha, NE 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BEST SHARE NOW, LLC Notice is hereby given that Best Shared Now, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial designated office is 220 South 216th Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial agent for service of process is 220 South 216th Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is John Matthews.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SNACK ATTACK VENDING CO LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SNACK ATTACK VENDING CO LLC (the company) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 2405 Royal Wood Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. The Registered Agent of the Company is Shirley Harrel, 2405 Royal Wood Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68144.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Midwest Plains Chapter of the AHMP Name of Applicant: Midwest Plains Chapter of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers Address: 12120 Shamrock Plaza, Suite 100, P.O. Box 541202, Omaha, NE 68154 Applicant is a Corporation If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: January 1, 2020 General nature of business: Professioal Organization BRIAN GORMAN Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative March 6, 2020 EXHIBIT 12 NOTICE OF REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING OR PUBLIC MEETING ON APPLICATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 12, 2020 at 2223 Dodge St.-Ste. 101, Omaha, the Midwest Housing Development Fund & Arch Icon Development Corporation will hold a public hearing or meeting as applicable concerning an application to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for a HOME Investment Partnership award. This funding is available for local affordable housing activities.

Midwest Housing Development Fund & Arch Icon Development Corporation is requesting $500,000 for the 1120 Lofts development: the new construction of affordable housing at 1120 N 20th Street (SWC of N 20th & Paul Street) – Omaha, NE 68110. The development will create 30 affordable multifamily apartments for tenants earning below 60% of the area median income. $500,000 in HOME funds is being requested which will benefit low and moderate income families. There will be no tenant displacement.

The grant application will available for public inspection at 2223 Dodge St., Omaha. All interested parties are invited to attend this public hearing at which time you will have an opportunity to be heard regarding the grant application. Written testimony will also be accepted at the public hearing scheduled for 10:30 AM, March 12th, 2020, at 2223 Dodge Street, Suite 101, Omaha. Written comments addressed to Darin Smith at 509 Walker Street, Woodbine, IA 51579 will be accepted if received on or before March 10, 2020.

Individuals requiring physical or sensory accommodations including interpreter service, Braille, large print, or recorded materials, please contact Darin Smith at 509 Walker St., Woodbine, IA 51579, (712) 647-3355 no later than March 10, 2020.

March 6, 2020 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is VBS INVESTMENTS, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 15236 Curtis Avenue, Omaha, NE 68116. The registered agent is Vanessa Schmidt and the Register Agent's address is 15236 Curtis Avenue, Omaha, NE 68116.

3. The general nature of the Company is residential rental real estate.

4. The Company commenced on January 2, 2020, and shall have perpetual existence.

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

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 SEAN D. MOYLAN, Attorney MOYLAN LAW, LLC 1010 South 120th Street, Suite 320 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF MALLARD REMODELING, INC. Notice is hereby given that MALLARD REMODELING, INC., a Nebraska Corporation, is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial registered agent Sean D. Moylan and registered office at 1010 South 120th Street, Suite 320, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The purpose for which MALLARD REMODELING, INC. has been established is to engage in the remodeling business, and any and all lawful businesses for which a corporation may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

Perpetual existence commenced on December 4, 2019. Management of the company shall be vested in its Board of Directors.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Detroit Novi, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Detroit Novi, LLC (the “Company”) was formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the Company is 17645 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Capitol Corporate Services, Inc., 1125 S. 103rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CFLEX TILE & STONE, LLC Designated Office: 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 Initial Agent/Address For Service: Allan M. Ziebarth/1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020

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DANA ROCHE, Attorney RINGENBERG & RATTNER LAW 14301 FNB Parkway, Suite 204 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF GOLDENROD FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Goldenrod Financial Services, Inc. (the “Corporation”) has been incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Corporation shall have authority to issue is 10,000 shares, having a par value of $1.00 each, all of which shall be common stock. The street address of the initial registered office of the Corporation is 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122, and the name of its initial registered agent at such address is Zachary A. Wiegert. The name and street address of the incorporator of the Corporation is Jennifer L. Rattner, 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication March 6, 2020, final March 20, 2020

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

SECTIONS

IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MARCH 13

CRE SUMMIT 2020

INVESTMENTS

MARCH 20

ICAN

SMALL BUSINESS IN LINCOLN (LBJ)

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REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

Swanson Russell received 23 awards at the 2020 Public Relations Society of America Nebraska Paper Anvil Awards Gala. Swanson Russell accepted 21 Awards of Excellence on behalf of its clients. The agency also accepted two Awards of Merit.

Jeff Huber, CEO of Home Instead, joined Serve America Together as campaign co-chair to advance efforts to make national service part of growing up in America. Each co-chair brings strategic leadership, credibility, visibility, and resources to the campaign at a time when it is vital for national service to be a priority for the political candidates leading into the 2020 elections.

Kane Transport, Inc. has been acquired

by Omaha-based TransWood Carriers, Inc. Kane is a Minnesota-based provider of bulk hazardous liquid transportation services. The company’s fleet of tanker trucks transports numerous grades and formulations of gasoline, biodiesel, liquid asphalt, ethanol and propane through 12 different hub locations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. The company was founded in 1949 by Joseph and Louis Kane as a single-truck operation to transport gas and fuel oil from Minneapolis to western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. After three generations of family ownership, Kane has grown to include 150 trucks.

The Human Resource Association of the Midlands diversity and inclusion committee announced the creation of a new award that will honor organizations who exhibit commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts. The HRAM IDEAL Award grew out of HRAM’s annual Mosaic Award and seeks to award organizations who demonstrate commitment across five dimensions: inclusion, diversity, equity, advocacy, and leadership. The new IDEAL award will be granted on three progressive levels designed to allow companies of all sizes and stages of diversity initiatives to be recognized for their accomplishments. Applications will be accepted through April 30 at hram.org/ page/HRAMIDEALAward. The inaugural Ideal Award winners will be announced at HRAM’s chapter program on June 9.

Saltgrass Steak House has opened its first Nebraska location in Omaha at 301 N. 175th Street in the Village Pointe Shopping Center. Saltgrass is an award-winning steakhouse famous for its certified angus beef steaks. Each morning, the restaurant bakes complimentary beer-bread, as well as homemade desserts from scratch. The menu features seafood, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. In addition, all soups and salad dressings are made in-house every day.

Visit Omaha won seven Nebraska ADDY awards for its Omar the Troll campaign. The Omar campaign included a bronze a Omar statue that was created and installed under the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, an Omar book, videos, a Snapchat filter, and an integrated promotional campaign that included social media advertising. The Omaha and Lincoln chapters of the American Advertising Federation awarded the Omar campaign with three gold ADDY awards for Best Installation, Best Printed Collateral, and Best Branded Content. Visit Omaha also received silver ADDY awards for Omar copywriting and animation, as well as a Silver ADDY for BobWalking, a social media campaign aimed at increasing bridge visitation.

Legislative Bill 461 was scheduled for first-round legislative debate on March 3.

The bill would end a requirement that limits competition among intrastate passenger carriers and moving companies. Current state law requires applicants who want to start a transportation business to receive a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Nebraska Public Service Commission. The current law allows existing transportation companies that hold a certificate to protest applications of new entrants to the marketplace.

A protest can effectively kill a new business, since the law requires applicants to prove both that their new business is needed and that their entry to the market will not impact existing transportation companies.

Health care notes…

Nebraska Methodist College announced an online Doctor of Education degree with a focus on Public Health Policy. The 44-credit hour program format consists of online courses along with two on-campus intensives. It can be completed in two years at full-time study or three years at part-time study. Because the majority of the program is online, it allows for students to have flexibility to complete coursework when it works best for their schedules. Unique to NMC, the Doctor of Education offers a scholarly translational research capstone project as opposed to a dissertation. The goal of the program is to facilitate leaders who can influence change through population and public health initiatives and health policy.

Education notes…

The Testing Ag Performance Solutions program, better known as TAPS, has been awarded an $850,000 Conservation Innovation Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. TAPS was one of 19 Conservation Innovation Grant projects awarded this year. TAPS was developed by University of Nebraska–Lincoln research and extension specialists in 2017. The program facilitates a number of interactive, real-life farm-management competitions, extension professionals, producers, industry leaders, agriculture students, government regulators, agency personnel and others. Participants are able to test agricultural strategies and technologies during the competition; afterward, they are able to access data from the competitions.

Do Space has created a weekly program called Littles Lab. Littles Lab was built with preschool aged kids (ages 3-5) in mind to promote and engage younger participants within the Do Space community. Littles Lab is being offered every week on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

The program Let’s Make will begin in April.

The Littles Lab will make space for simple projects that engage fine motor skills and the planning-revision process. Littles will try new projects each week, using materials like foam blocks and Wikki Stix for 3D models.

Registration opens March 7.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2019-2020 academic year by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. For more than 20 years, UNMC has participated in the Fulbright program, hosting fellows from countries across the world. Currently UNMC has 12 Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

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REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. enrolled Fulbright students from Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, Niger, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Being recognized as a top producer for this elite program enhances the global recognition of UNMC and increases the interest of students and scholars to study at and collaborate with UNMC. The National Association of College Stores, the professional trade association representing the campus store industry, installed Steven Westenbroek, store director MEETINGS AND SEMINARS Wednesday, March 11 The American Marketing Association Omaha is hosting a Power Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Spezia. Swanson Russell Vice President, Creative Director Charlie Stephan and Runza Director of Marketing Becky Perrett will be discussing the biggest challenges in marketing, including getting consumers attention. Registration is avalible online.

Thursday, March 12 The Greater Omaha Chamber is hosting Inside the C-Suite featuring Werner Enterprises President and CEO Derek Leathers from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Werner Enterprises, 10409 Conestoga Road. Leathers will share insighes from his 26 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry and his 18 years of leadership experience at Werner. Tickets are $50 and registation is online.

Friday, March 13 APICS will be hosting its March 2020 Tour from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Werner Enterprises at 14507 Frontier Road. After a tour of the truck simulator, Craig Stoffel, vice president of global logistics, will give a short presentation. Registration is avalible online.

Saturday, March 14 The MOBA Remodel Omaha Tour is taking place March 14-15. The Remodel Omaha Tour is a multi-site event in Omaha featuring projects completed by local remodelers. Attendees can meet potential clients face-to-face while showcasing their projects.

Registration is avalible online.

at College of Saint Mary campus store, as president/treasurer through CAMEX 2021.

Westenbroek has a bachelor’s degree from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has more than 20 years of experience in the college store industry. Westenbroek joined the College of Saint Mary in 2010 as the store manager and was promoted to director in 2012. He has volunteered extensively in the industry, presenting and facilitating sessions at CAMEX and the Mid-States Association of College Stores Annual Meeting.

Activities of nonprofits…

Each month Brownie Bar Omaha is aiming to make a donation to a nonprofit.

Nonprofits can go online to apply and see what months are available.

A new Omaha effort could help child advocacy centers across the nation improve child abuse investigations, reduce distress to children, and increase prosecutions. The University of Nebraska at Omaha has partnered with Project Harmony — one of the nation’s largest child advocacy centers — to examine the implementation, processes, and evaluability of core services. The two-year project began in January and is funded by a roughly $566,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice. The goal of the collaboration is to examine Project Harmony’s core services to obtain a baseline read on the feasibility of evaluating those services.

Arts and events…

Bellevue University’s Lozier Professional Center will host an Open House and Networking Event on March 12 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. to showcase its newly renovated facility at 2810 N. 118th Street. There will be a tour the University’s updated west Omaha facility, appetizers and conversation.

Renovations in the 22,000-square-foot building included updated technology, revamped meeting rooms and classroom space that can accommodate up to 64 attendees, remodeled common areas for small groups and networking events, and more. This also includes a new art piece, located near the entryway and titled “Starburst,” made by alumnus Carl Weiss of Weiss Studios.

The Tri-Faith Imitative, the University of Nebraska at Omaha Political Science Department, History Department, Interna-

tional Studies Department and its Religious Studies Page have partnered to present the “Dialogue with Muslim Communities in Omaha” project. Professor Mucahit Bilici, associate professor of sociology at John Jay College and CUNY Graduate Center, will be giving a presentation on “Second Amendment Muslims: Islam, Citizenship, Violence” on March 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the UNO Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center. This talk explores the implications of this development for Muslim citizenship in America.

The Nebraska Children and Families Foundation is hosting The Perfect Pour Craft Cocktail Competition on March 13 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Ackerhurst Dairy Farm Barn in Bennington. Guests will sample local mixologists’ best concoctions made with Avion Tequila as well as a selection of hors d’ oeuvres and a silent auction and raffle.

General admission tickets are $75 and can be purchased online up until March 9.

Join Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment for a hands-on culinary experience where participants will learn to

cook delicious meals from all around the world. Join Chef Karen Holden on March 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and discover The Art of Sushi Making in the new PACE Teaching Kitchen located inside the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center. There are a limited number of spots available and the cost is $100 per person. This event is recommended for adults, as alcohol will be served.

Baird Holm LLP and Burlington Capital Group are presenting Bracketfest 2020 on March 17 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Omaha Marriott-Capitol District. Guests will enjoy breakfast with a panel of basketball experts who’ll predict the teams that will and won’t make it through this year’s bracket.

Additionally, all attendees will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win tickets to attend the opening rounds of the college basketball tournament in Omaha. Proceeds from this event will support the Omaha Sports Commission’s work to make Omaha one of the premier sports communities in the United States by recruiting and promoting outstanding amateur sporting events.

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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

elevate the human experience through design offices local and worldwide ::: dlrgroup.com ::: listen.DESIGN.deliver

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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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Higher Education

Community partnerships seize opportunities

DESIGNED ON

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COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN THE LAST

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balance’ seems to be the magic word. That Continued from page 22. critical roles in health care improvement. said, the values a company professes and the “Our Joint Accreditation for Interprofes- values they actually practice are often at odds sional Continuing Education allows Creighton with one another. An unlimited vacation policy to partner with organizations to improve health sometimes leads to people taking less time off, care delivery and better patient outcomes,� or at least feeling guilty about the time they she said. do take. Onsite recreation can encourage too Much has been made commumuch time in the office and start nity- and region-wide of keeping to blur the line between work and the talent that is educated and home. Working from home further trained in the metro. blurs that line.�

FINANCIAL TAX PLANNING SELF IMPROVEMENT IN THE NEW YEAR WEDDINGS BUSINESS ANNUAL/PREVIEW RETIREMENT & SENIOR ISSUES REAL ESTATE The &aforementioned AIM InstiAccordingly, theyOMAHA noted how BUSINESS PLANNING SPORTS & RECREATION AIR HUB OMAHA VALENTINE’S GIFT GUIDE FINANCING STARTUPS TECHNOLOGY HEALTH INSURANCE PRINTING & tute boasts partnerships with indusAIM encourages continued learnGRAPHICS ENGINEERING PROFESSION BUSINESS SUCCESSION & TRANSITIONS WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE HOME TRENDS INVESTMENTS OFFICE try, workplaces, and educational champions accomplishments SERVICES GUIDE FASHION BANKING IN THE MIDLANDS GUIDE TO COMPANY PICNICS COMMERCIALing, REAL ESTATE WORKSHOP AG TRENDS IN THE MIDLANDS SAFETY & HEALTH SUMMIT BUSINESS APPEARANCE: INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR TECHNOLOGY SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION INVESTING FOR RETIREMENT institutions.

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RQ KHOSLQJ QRQSURÂżWV EXLOG DIFrom the Centerline complex fordable housing and completing along South 72nd Street, to KLVWRULF UHQRYDWLRQV 3ULQFLSDOV the Rise mixed-use apartment -XOLH 6WDYQHDN DQG -LP 5R\HU building in Council Bluffs, to set their sights on adding more KLVWRULF SUHVHUYDWLRQ SURMHFWV commercial projects and market LQ GRZQWRZQ 6LRX[ &LW\ WR WKH rate housing in Omaha and Sioux Sheltering Tree near 72nd and &LW\ ,RZD $PHV VWUHHWV - 'HYHORSPHQW “One of our goals was to is expanding its portfolio to inramp up and do more of our clude more commercial projects RZQ SURMHFWV ´ 6WDYQHDN VDLG and market rate housing. Âł7KDW UHDOO\ JRW XV PRWLYDWHG WR While past projects focused Continued on page 31.

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Higher Education •

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

Flexible, interactive online programs remain in high demand

by Gabby Christensen

To meet the needs of the current generation of students, local colleges and universities say advancement in online programs is pivotal.

Dr. Bruce Exstrom, dean of virtual learning at Southeast Community College, said the online environment continues to evolve.

“The last two decades have seen SCC develop from text version only to now all types of engaging activity, such as video, gaming, group discussion, break-out rooms, and many more options,” he said.

Exstrom Independent study is no longer the platform for online learning and student engagement is critical to providing a rigorous learning climate. Also, students now expect learning experiences that are able to fit into their busy schedules.

“As technology and society continue to change, so does the virtual education environment,” he said. “We are observing many students accessing their courses via their cell phone, apps are available to provide easy access, along with 24/7 helpdesk availability.

Students expect instant access from registration to course completion.”

Augmented reality and virtual reality are also being integrated into courses as a learning tool, he said.

Mary Dobransky, dean of the College of

Amy Clark, vice president of academic affairs at Nebraska Methodist College.

Science and Technology at Bellevue UniverAs online education has matured, students sity, said online programs allow BU to quickly have come to realize that online programs are and flexibly respond to the evolving needs of on par with on-campus learning. students and their employers.

“The online experience is very popular “We have seen a strong interest in our with students because it removes many of graduate data science program this past year, the challenges they may otherwise encounter and with the continuing growth of this exciting while attending college,” she said. “It allows field, we have been able to quickly respond to them to experience the same coursework as student demands and have developed a Bach- an in-class experience, taught by the same elor of Science in Data Science program that highly-qualified faculty.” begins in the fall of 2020,” she said.

The University of Nebraska’s four cam-

25

puses offer more than 150 online degree, certificate and endorsement programs, from bachelor to doctoral, across 16 fields of study.

Online programs are available in high-demand areas such as business, health care, computer science and education.

According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, in the next few years Nebraska will have 34,000 annual openings in jobs like engineering, nursing, business and IT. More than two-thirds of these jobs will require an associate degree or higher.

“Despite all of my experience, I knew I had to continue to find ways to be up to date with business trends and have credentials to be able to move forward in the Dobransky marketplace,” said Pedro Londono, MBA, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “I needed to have skills to keep learning, to keep thinking and rethinking, because that’s the new business norm. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s online Master of Business Administration program had the three components I was looking for: budget, flexibility and ranking.”

Amy Clark, vice president of academic affairs at Nebraska Methodist College, said one element of interest that seems to be reinventing itself within the online educational program world is bringing face-to-face communication back into the online classroom.

“Our doctoral programs have found that the weekly or monthly asynchronous classContinued on next page.

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Higher Education

Skills, corporate training integral elements in career advancement

Candice Batton, assistant vice chancellor for faculty affairs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

(Story at right)

Flexible, interactive online programs in demand Continued from preceding page. room experience where all of the students have a chance to interact and have a visual of their instructor and peers is very popular,” she said.

Students are much savvier about their desire to graduate as “debt-free” as possible; therefore, maintaining employment while going to school is non-negotiable for them.

As online offerings continue to grow around the country, Clark said students should consider the length of the courses since many

online programs are accelerated.

“It’s important for students to understand that a well-developed online program is not built on curriculum alone, but has a host of student support, faculty and a program director that understands, appreciates and can assist students who are online,” she said. “Online students have unique needs and should attend schools that have established online programs that not only understand those needs, but have resources specifically developed for those students.”

by Dwain Hebda Collaborative (NTC) - An Aksarben Workforce In today’s rapidly evolving business world, Initiative. The organization is comprised of skills-based continuing education has steadily more than 100 partners in business, governbecome a major factor in training the workforce ment, education and the nonprofit sector workof tomorrow, both in post-secondary institutions ing together to drive results and scale to build a and within corporations themselves. tech talent ecosystem.

Such was the motivation for Physicians “In April 2019, the Aksarben Foundation Mutual’s Callers to Coders program, a year- convened the first Tech Talent meeting at Malong tech initiative built right into honey State Park in Ashland,” said participants’ workday, said Nathan Jona Van Deun, NTC president.

Coberly, vice president of enterprise “This was a day of expressing architecture and development. shared concern and brainstorming “Callers to Coders is unique in solutions to retain and recruit a high that it’s actually part of the employskilled workforce. Six commitee’s full-time job,” he said. “The tees were formed to take a deeper employee works 32 hours per week look at each sector of the ecosysin our call center and then attends tem — K-12, higher education, two afternoon sessions during the internships, career change/veterworkday for tech training.” ans, talent attraction and diversity Coberly said the curriculum and inclusion.”

Coberly of Callers to Coders addresses The organization seeks to adanother common problem many dress the issue of workforce development in such programs have of addressing too narrow various ways, including additions to existing a technical skillset. primary and elementary education curriculum “With many of the existing programs, they and creating greater internship capacity at the focus on a single outcome, becoming a software secondary and post-secondary levels. developer,” he said. “However, the information “By creating greater internship capacity technology field is a spectrum of different jobs within Nebraska companies, we think that we and roles. Callers to Coders is structured in five can attract more students from out of state and stackable modules, students are encouraged retain them within Nebraska companies,” Deun to complete all modules, but are also free to said. “We want these students to know that you transition out once they’ve mastered the skills don’t have to flee to the big coastal cities to get for the position they desire.” an amazing tech experience and career. It can A broader tech program is Nebraska Tech Continued on next page.

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Higher Education •

Career building

Continued from preceding page. happen right in Nebraska.”

Other efforts address education professionals themselves, thus improving and enhancing the level of instruction they provide. For example, the University of Nebraska at Omaha Office of Academic Affairs and Center for Faculty Excellence recently announced it would help fund attendance at workshops and other educational outlets for professors to increase their understanding of diversity issues.

“Professional development opportunities help faculty stay current with regard to best practices for effective teaching,” said Candice Batton, assistant vice chancellor for faculty affairs. “This includes fostering an inclusive learning environment for a diverse student body.

It also means working toward equitable learning and educational outcomes for students.”

Batton said such training pays off in a better, more informed educational experience for all students.

“Faculty diversity broadens the perspectives involved in conversations and decision-making around strategic planning, curriculum and degree programs,” she said. “When students are exposed to diverse perspectives and experiences, in their classrooms and through independent work with faculty, they are better-educated and better-prepared for leadership, citizenship and professional competitiveness in a multicultural society.

“The small incentives we offer both reward and convey gratitude to faculty who participate in workshops and other professional development activities geared toward providing the tools and techniques they need to be successful in the classroom.”

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

27

MBA, entrepreneurship programs offer flexible, immersive learning

by David Kubicek

Area colleges and universities offer a variety of higher education programs to help students advance in their careers.

This spring the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center launched a dual Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Master of Business Administration (MBA).

“Health care is a business and nursing professionals who possess both clinical skills and a clear understanding of business

Hultquist Churchich management, leadership and strategic decision-making are well positioned to meet the leadership challenges of today’s health care and related business environments,” said Teresa Barry Hultquist, an associate professor at UNMC College of Nursing.

The 56-credit-hour program shares coursework between the MSN and MBA, allowing students to complete the program with fewer credit hours than if they completed each degree separately. Students may complete the program in either four or six years.

Melanie Krings, director of the executive MBA and executive education programs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Midland University’s hybrid MBA pro- ers who have experience in the real world,” gram meets approximately once a month at its she said.

Omaha location with online class meetings in Prospective students can follow the between, said Elizabeth Churchich, director online application process, which includes of the Center for Graduate & Professional an interview with MBA admissions staff.

Studies.

Midland offers merit-based scholarships to “[We use] local entrepreneurs and busi- help diversify its student body and the field ness leaders like Jill Slupe, the founder and of business as a whole.

CEO of Verde Martin, [so] our students learn “Our MBA in Entrepreneurial Leadership Continued on next page. about the entrepreneurial process from lead-

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28

• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Higher Education

MBA, entrepreneurship programs immerssive Continued from preceding page. can be completed in as little as 16 months or spread over two-and-a-half years, depending on the best path for each student,” Churchich said. “The concentration in entrepreneurship is embedded in the electives in the MBA.” In addition to a traditional MBA, UNO has an Executive MBA program, which can be completed online, said Melanie Krings, director of Executive MBA and Executive Education programs.

“Candidates [for the EMBA] must have an undergraduate degree and a minimum of six years of professional-level experience,” she said. “Candidates participate in an EMBA alumni panel interview where we look for experience in areas such as leading others,

may elect to take a one-semester clinic that gives them an opportunity to practice law working in teams, dealing with conflict, and under faculty supervision, said Brett C. Stohs, adapting to change.” a professor in the law college and The program can be comdirector of the Weibling Entreprepleted in 17 months, typically neurship Clinic. only meeting two weekends per Students work directly with month. Heavy emphasis is placed entrepreneurs to form legal entities on real-world scenarios that can be like limited liability companies and applied in the workplace. corporations, protect trademarks, “Students will learn about all draft and review contracts, work aspects of business, leadership, through regulatory questions and and teams,” Krings said. “We other legal matters. want them to take the knowledge “Students learn how entrepreand tools and start putting them in neurs work, what kinds of legal Stohs play for immediate impact in their needs they have, and how they can organizations.” be effective lawyers when working In their third and final year at the Uni- with these types of clients,” Stohs said. versity of Nebraska College of Law, students The course begins with an intensive boot

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camp for the first two weeks where students learn about the legal tools they need. Students have their first client intake interviews in the second week and engage with clients for the rest of the semester.

“I work with about 24 students each semester,” Stohs said. “Students practice law under my supervision. To encourage clients to hire our clinic, we don’t charge any fees.”

Renovations benefit students, faculty and community

by Jasmine Heimgartner

Among the many factors that play into a thriving, robust community is a dedication to ensuring local higher-learning institutions grow and flourish. Recent renovations point toward the philanthropic heart of Omaha’s residents and their desire to see current and future students succeed and become the next generation of givers.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha Strauss Performing Arts Center is slated for a second round of renovations this summer. The first phase, which Garcia was recently completed, included adding 25,000 square feet to the facility and renovating the Concert Hall.

The new state-of-the-art hall seats approximately 90 people.

“This was a game changer for many of our students,” said Washington Garcia, director of the School of Music at UNO. “We created an enviable acoustical environment that provides space for students. They now have one of the best performance spaces, which aids them in becoming better artists and teachers. Projects like this help us keep up with growth in the school and gives the community access to better and more suited spaces to hold events.”

The second phase includes the remodel of Continued on next page.

Higher Education •

Saving for college means starting early, leveraging financial tools

by Dwain Hebda

Statistics from multiple sources show a college degree still pays major dividends in earning power — about $1 million more over a lifetime. But having said that, there’s no denying that the cost of a college education is a major hurdle for many families.

“College costs continue to escalate,” said Jay Steinacher, 529 college savings manager with Union Bank & Trust. “When it’s time to pay for college, families will use savings, possibly income the student has from their job, family income and student loans to help pay for it.

“Every dollar they have saved is a dollar less that needs to be Goodkin borrowed. With $1.5 trillion in student loan debt today, any savings will help reduce the future college loan debt.”

Steinacher said the most fundamental strategy is still the best: start saving early.

“Rather than focusing on the large sum that will be needed down the road, we recommend investors get started saving and then increase the amount each year.”

Deborah Goodkin, managing director, savings plans with First National Bank of Omaha, said it’s never too early to start putting away money for a child’s college education.

“We believe that parents should start as early as they can, even when a child is born,” she said. “We tell parents to start small when the child is small with whatever the parent can afford to save. As the child grows, we hope that their savings can grow as well.”

Goodkin also said Nebraska’s 529 college savings program specifically provides a tax-

Renovations

free way to kick in for higher education. It also gives people other than the child’s parents an easy way to help grow college savings.

“We also encourage grandparents and friends to give the gift of education for birthdays and holidays via a contribution into their 529 savings account, as well as the toy they might want,” she said.

Many families also look for financial aid via scholarships, something that can pay off well with some preparation and homework, said Joan Jurek, director of college planning with EducationQuest Foundation.

“There are numerous scholarship possibilities for criteria such as gender, ethnicity, Jurek extracurricular activities and many others,” she said. “We encourage students to get involved and to build an activities resume that shows scholarship providers their teamwork and leadership skills.

“Students should check with their school counselor and college of interest and should explore ScholarshipQuest at EducationQuest. org which houses over 2,000 Nebraska-based awards.”

Jurek said filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during senior year of high school, and during every year of college, is the first step to landing scholarships and other financial aid. Given this, it pays to give special attention to getting that form done correctly and on time.

“Colleges use the results of the FAFSA to determine how much to award students in financial aid which could include scholarships, grants, work-study, and student loans,” she said.

at Metropolitan Community College. “MCC’s new facilities are going to give students more Continued from preceding page. opportunities, and local industries will see a 27 practice rooms for enhanced soundproofing, positive impact through an increase in qualified an additional classroom, a computer lab expan- applicants. We’re also proud to expand our sion to accommodate around 30 stations and military and veterans services, which will play building an inviting grand entrance. Other work a strong role in an area that has many students will include flattening the rehearsal of this status due to the closeness of room’s floor for increased flexibility Offutt Air Force Base.” and improved acoustics, and installPhase two of the project, with ing a smooth floor on the first level to an expected completion in 2021, is better transport instruments. a new Automotive Training Center.

With demand for skilled emThis two-story building will bring ployees on the rise, as well as an the Automotive Technology and increase in programs offered, MetAuto Collision Technology proropolitan Community College is in grams under one roof. the process of a major South Omaha “The new academic facilities Campus project. The first phase are opening doors to opportunities involves remodeling the Industrial for students,” Rayment said. “MCC Rayment Training Center to create the Center is proud to partner with Toyota for Advanced Manufacturing. It includes an in its Toyota T-TEN program, which will be additional 30,000 square feet to house the weld- housed inside the new Automotive Training ing program, as well as adds needed space for Center. The T-TEN program gives students Precision Machining Technology and Industrial the chance to learn from Toyota trained and and Commercial Trades. It also provides space certified instructors. Once a student graduates, for new programming in automation, high they’ll have a two-year degree in addition to school career academies and a new center to expert knowledge specific to Toyota cars. The serve active military and veteran status students. new academic facilities are also designed with “We hear from our industry partners that input from industry partners, so what students they are searching for more skilled workers,” see in MCC classrooms will be similar to what said Derek Rayment, public relations manager they’ll see after graduation.”

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

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Midlands Business

Journal • NOVEMBER 24, 2017 •

27

November 24, 2017

5055 Building at Bryan Health’s East Campus (Courtesy of Davis Design)

Unique Midlands

by Michelle Leach

Boys Town Clinic (Courtesy of Calvin L. Hinz Architects)

features, robust economy

Sandhills Publishing

Cyber Center Rendering (Courtesy of Sinclair Hille)

result in multi-sector

Mixed use building rendering (Courtesy of Studio 951)

Private giving and an economy that any one industry isn’t may stays,” but the level be Midlands “mainDundee harkening and the sheer need of cross-sector activity back for talent to meet in communities that to communities withdemand for services are newer-emerging sprung up on streetcar phenomenon or bus lines. for area firms.

He also speaks to “The architecture, engineering and lifestyle and the built a “balance in terms of construction industry the movement from environment”; consider Greater Omaha region is very strong in the and now “hybrids,” cubicles to open spaces at the moment,” said conference rooms which combine smaller BCDM Principal and areas where and employees can still have Director John Sullithat sense of community van, who also isolated but also privacy Sarpy County’s highas needed. growth.

“We’re moving Further, Sullivan to that direction, notes strength “nearnot because it’s the trend ly across the board” but because it’s — from office the and right thing,” he said. institutional to private The architecture sectors such as reliand engineering Palandri gious projects which, side of the construction he said, is “unusual” and “won’t last forever.” industry was described “The economic development as “robust,” into and growth Smith of the metro-area the has Design Senior Associatefinal quarter by Davis and the diversificationbeen steady and strong, and Senior Architect of the area economy Greg Smith.

— both of those factors add up to John Sullivan, principal things happening “Several projects and in the metro, and that’sgood by Sullivan: “One of the designed recently still in hopes of breaking things that’s unique director at BCDM Architects. necessarily true are not about Omaha across the state, environments, and ground is there is strong especially and if you’re in an ag philanthropic a shift in what people many of the large Downtown this fall and private support for area and go into central expect.”

Lincoln projects are gaining inertia,” key projects.” western Nebraska or AO’s … he said. “The interior Palandri speaks to remodel market modities-driven areas,”and some of the com- Palandri Managing Principal Randall J. is also strong and has seen the uptick nials and a lifestyle trying to attract millen- keep contractors this will in growth that He also referenced he said. became noticeable busy during winter urban centers are shift, whereby the more the many pockets around two years months.”

Many large-scale growth, from newer in demand from a of main steady ago reprojects, such as to Aksarben Village, areas such as Blackstone attributes in more recent months, which he perspective and offices that speakhousing Telegraph District’s the Marilyn Moore at the stage where particularly to infill-type generation are in-demand to this sion of that development extenprojects. from a workplace School/YMCA, Hudl, and Nelnet, Middle “There have come to form; however, of the projects featured is occurring. Some opment,” is a lot more emphasis on redevel- perspective. He also speaks, not Smith said necessarily he said. “What really to “vintage” or here in this section reflect another prominent “traditional” construction mains work in the build-outs. there still redrove it was, materials but to, trend mentioned there was a pent-up demand for market-rate He referenced perhaps, more “traditional” work at Bryan Health’s apartments and neighborhoodEast Campus, the in more walkable-type and community-building, new LES Operations Center, of with areas and projects for Eustis Autobody such as Benson, at 98th Street and Blackstone and Highway Continued on next page.

opportunities

Architecture — inside NOVEMBER 24,

2017

THE BUSINESS

NEWSPAPER OF

GREATER OMAHA,

Technology upgrade

THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:

by Richard D. Brown

LINCOLN AND

COUNCIL BLUFFS

s keep Interstate

$2.00

VOL. 43 NO. 47

Printing competitive

Interstate Printing ha-based firm founded Co., an Omaby a German immigrant with a special interest Business & Industrial in publishing ethnic Parks/Leasing newspapers, has used its family-ownership as an anchor, placed strong equipment upgrades, emphasis on and maintained a comprehensive list has enabled it to growof services that of its commercial with the needs Business & Industrial printing clients, which are located Park/Leasing throughout much of the country.

— inside “For our 100 years OCTOBER 20, we have main2017 tained a low-key approach, which has enabled us to attract THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE: with jobs that we business clients can on,” said William do a good job F. Peter, a third generation family member who became president five years ago.

“With each job we to say, ‘This came want to be able from us’ and that both our client and will be pleased with their customers 40 the results,” he der continued.

Un 40 Peter, who formerly practiced law full-time before succeeding his uncle Eugene Peter who retired from Locally owned Aksarben the business at age 88 five years ago, serves large demographicCinema From left, Continued on page with amenities.

8. reached its Senior VP of Sales Jim Mancuso centennial year – Page 2 with investments and President William Peter … in new tech.

The printing company has (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville) 28

40

der Un

• OCTOBER 20,

2017 • Midlands Business

Journal

October 20, 2017

40

No slowdown in demand

by Michelle

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

as availability presents

ongoing challenges

More buildings may Leach economy with upside be coming out of potential.” ground, but demand the NAI NP Dodge remains brisk. also being constructed “Demand for commercial at described the leasing Associate Kyle Pelster Opportunities are Highway Crossing.”

Edney indicated real estate market as “very tight.” loans is very strong,” this is driving “At any given and landlords leasing available for tenants such as the said Stephanie Moline, executive vice president aforementioned R&R. projects, to them. time, there are around These challenges ing with First National of Enterprise Lend- 100 properties, give or Bank. “Commercial A; Edney recalled aren’t limited to Class and industrial loan how the Kellogg take, listed/available demand is growing, building at 10203 Crown at a much slower but in the Omaha/Council Point Ave. near pace.”

Fort Blair High Road She said some of had “multiple offers and Bluffs couple of weeks.” in a in late 2016 is being the capital investment said. market,” he “Having said absorbed.

“There isn’t much “It would appear that, finding the of that type of product out there, either,” coris lagging the capital the anticipated revenue rect he said. square footage, expenditures,” Moline He also spoke to said. location, rental rates tures, such as greater demand for certain feaGrowth of C&I clear heights and and building layout dock doors — driven larger about the same as loans, she said, remains can by requirements be very difficult.” a year companies such as “Agribusiness loans ago. as He referred to are up year over year and using third-partyAmazon are growing and commercial Moline more providers. real estate is up Edney “We’re also seeing year over more construction in the last year — year,” she said.

Pelster with a lot of interest owner/user buildings “We are finally seeing from investors that Generally, businesses but some spec are an increase in new in spec industrial space are optimistic buildings as well. industrial properties,”looking to invest about potential tax on the market “The new Facebook he said. “A lot reform. project will add after a slowdown in new spec projects again of that interest is coming from “This would cause new infrastructure past,” he said. outside of some monies to in the the Midwest.” along the Highway repatriated and improving be 50 rental rates “The increases in term length, working capital corridor,” Pelster said. “This will Edney referred to and operating expenses and money that can break way to cap rates and be used for acquisitions for new projects and industrial continue ROI as lower steadily rise. or additional investment on the coasts, making one’s parks in that in equipment and/ area.”

“The rest of the market Omaha attractive as a secondary or people,” she said. seems to be catch- to He said Thrasher ing up with Chicago, New York or tertiary market and Freightliner more entrants into “There continues to be created have of the new the rental rates we are seeing out or Denver. large new buildings Regarding “behind-the-scenes” construction projects.” from loan productionthe local market; both leaving vacancies in their for themselves, offices OMNE Partners indusprevious locations.

Moline is encouraged and FinTechs.”

EVP Matt Edney Continued on page “Brook Valley continues Class A industrial by new market 30. entrants as: “People availability remains said to be the leader believe this is a vibrant in new industrial construction hard to find.” “really projects,” Pelster said. “The “And that type R&R Commerce of product is moving Park is pretty quick,” he said.

in Omaha

Green Arrow Junk Co. aims to reduce household, landfill clutter. – Page 2

Persistence paves way for for Contemporary Art’s The Union community impact.

– Page 3

n in me ss Wo ine Bus

Women’s representation in leadership: Ripples adding up to a sea change?

– Page 4

Archrival updates 10-year-old Haymarket space, establishes Los Angeles presence

by Michelle Leach

Archrival’s renovated space as one space,” said Clint! RunLincoln ge, headquarters at 720 founder and the unique mix of O St. speaks to director. “We managing creative a mature wanted our space years old and counting firm — 20 be a little further to along the business — and energetic startup spirit that has resulted chain … and at one point that was in campaigns with an ‘aspirational’ Redbull, space, it became Motorola, and expansion Adidas, us and we outgrew with sister mature it. It’s more offices and teams of a business than in the space gon, and Los Angeles.Portland, Ore- felt like.”

“We’ve been here The Haymarket for over 10 space breathes years, and wanted to rethink the entire Archrival’s niche in youth cultureContinued on page 10.

yee plo s Em efit Ben

Harness technology to overcome capacity constraints, attract business year-round – Page 6

President Nick upon 30-plus years Cusick … Equipment manufacturer builds soccer; tennis courtof innovation with safety features in volleyball, sports like pickleball.renovations to accommodate rising interest in

Bison makes gains Nebraskan Michael Forsberg focuses as new gyms built lens on Great Plains amid popularity of conservation. sports like pickleball – Page 34

by Michelle Leach

Founder/Managin g Creative Director Communications Clint! Runge Amy with focus on youth Filipi … Brand communications with Head of culture. firm flourishes

Depending on where pared to that,” said President Nick across Bison’s divisions one looks Cusick, who indicated its focus and product lines, the Lincoln-based was on other areas.

“Even without manufacturer’s growth is up at least 5 to a lot of direct marketing emphasis, 10 percent to 30 percent our site furnishing business, BRP, following or amid dealer base and ownership was up 5 to 10 percent.” transitions, and Falling under custom a business unit redesign. trial job shop manufacturerindusIM“Bison overall, its SCORP’s holding company umline, had an incredibleown product brella, wholly-owned year prior subsidiary and this last year was flat com- Bison is joined by SNA Sports Continued on page 10.

THE BUSINESS

NEWSPAPER OF

GREATER OMAHA,

Lamp Rynearson

by Richard D. Brown

Drone and innovative scanning technology is giving Lamp Rynearson, Omaha-based civil engineering, a 58-year-old landscape architecture, construction and surveying firm, administration a competitive advantage as it completes a wide range of private and public sector projects.

Nancy Pridal, a professional engineer and 20-year son employee who Lamp Rynearto president of the was promoted firm in August, stresses that leading the latest technologywith the use of the employee-owned has enabled increase its revenues company to by more than 100 percent over the while the employee past 10 years creased by 45 percent.count has in“With the investment we’ve made, we want to be viable in the future with the technology provided,” Pridal said.

“For example, we can scan a mound and get the typographic data and in scanning stockpiles we can get quantities.”

The purchase of a second drone Continued on page 12.

LINCOLN AND

COUNCIL BLUFFS

competes with innova

$2.00

VOL. 43 NO. 42

tive technology

President Nancy

Pridal … Leveraging

La Casa Pizzaria dishes out more options to customers from online orders to food

by Michelle Leach truck

tech investments

for variety of projects.

(Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)

La Casa Pizzaria Jesse. “Being a family restaurant, is evolving with offerings on wheels — its food our staff lives for interaction.” truck — and via She indicated there technologies such is a balas online ordering, ancing act for the third-generafocused on customerwhile staying tion, family-owned service from and operated the family that has been dishing restaurant, which is still located out its Neapolitan-style at 4432 pizza for the Leavenworth St. in Omaha — almost 75 years. same location that reportedly “Technology plays caught on so well that a part,” said General Manager/Treasurer Patane and his family Founder Joe “ran out of Nicole Continued on page 18.

Ashley Abel, property manager with Cushman Lund Co., for 1415 & Wakefield/ @ The Yard, demonstrates app during the IOTAS’ property grand opening event for the complex.

Smart-enabled apartment community delivers plug and play app to renters

by Becky McCarville

General Manager/Treasur er Nicole — from food truck to website and menu Jesse … A heaping of “new” on service, Neapolitan-style updates — blends with focus pizza and pasta.

At the recent grand lifestyle. opening of 1415 @ The Yard The platform also apartment comprovides data plex at 14th and Cuming streets, to property managers so they can property manager Ashley Abel with monitor and control energy usage, Cushman & Wakefield/Lund rent units Co., streamlinefaster through automation, logged onto the property labor costs and add dashboard value to launch the smart apartment app to properties. designed by Portland-based “It helps run the property IOTAS more (Internet of Things As a Service), efficiently,” Abel said, adding that demonstrating the she can control ease new tenant can control at which a ing, heating vacant units’ lightand air conditioning, automated technologyand integrate monitor maintenance to fit their issues as well Continued on page 39.

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Nebraska Business Development Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha welcomes Scott Asmus as Account Representative.

Scott will provide business consulting to organizations to improve core processes and develop talent across many industries. For more information on how Scott can assist your business with professional and organizational development: 402.554.6250 or sasmus@unomaha.edu.

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Jyl Brown joined SecuritiesAmerica in 2018 and has served as a strategic leader in accounting. Jyl has worked in the financial services industry her entire career, most of it in leadership roles within accounting and finance. She holds series 7, 27 and 63 securities industry licenses and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

Appointed

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Lynn Espeland

Rose Swenson

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Executive Administrator

WoodmenLife has appointed Lynn Espeland its Senior Vice President, General Counsel, effective Jan. 1. She provides legal guidance to the Executive Committee and National Board of Directors, and continues in her roles as Chief Privacy Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. Espeland has been with the organization for 34 years.

Bergman Incentives

Bergman is excited to announce Rose Swenson has joined the team. Rose comes to Bergman Incentives after spending 19 seasons in professional baseball, most recently 14 seasons with the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. While overseeing corporate partnerships, Rose also managed the ordering of the gameday giveaways & promotional items. Rose can be reached at RoseS@bergmanbrand.com or 402661-7900. For more information on Bergman Incentives and their services please visit www. bergmanbrand.com

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Christopher Reiner Senior Vice President Bank of Bennington

Michael Belluomini joined Securities America in 2005 as a practice management technology consultant and has held multiple roles, including associate vice president of relationship management & branch sales. He has a degree in political science from Creighton University and holds a series 7 securities industry license.

Bank of Bennington is excited to announce the addition of Christopher Reiner as a Senior Vice President leading an actively growing commercial credit and treasury management initiative. Chris is an accomplished banker and portfolio manager with 18 years of expertise in relationship development, financial structuring and product enhancement.

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Scott Briganti joined Securities America in 1999 and recently surpassed 20 years of service at the firm. Scott has held several positions in the firm’s sales division, most recently as senior regional director, Midwest Region. He takes great pride helping financial advisors throughout the region pave a path to an independent practice. Scott studied at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

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Scott Briganti

Sam Briganti joined Securities America in 1997 as an operations team leader. He spent nearly 15 years managing in operations and branch office development and became regional director of recruiting in July 2013. Sam has recruited over $50 million of new gross dealer concession to Securities America. He studied fine arts at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and holds a series 7 securities industry license.

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Bonnie Reed

Ryan Uher

First Vice President, Branch Office Development

Marketing Project Manager

Securities America

Bonnie Reed joined Securities America in 2015 as a senior regional director in branch office development. She has spent 25 years recruiting top level talent, 17 in the financial services industry. Bonnie has a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing from William Penn University and in business administration and management from Iowa State University.

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Outlook Business Solutions

Ryan Uher has been promoted to marketing project manager for Outlook Business Solutions, a sister company to Outlook Nebraska. Composed of professionals with vision loss, Outlook Business Solutions provides customer care, marketing and website accessibility testing services to organizations.

Uher will continue his project management role for Outlook Nebraska and Outlook Enrichment. He will also ensure the execution of marketing campaigns and other projects for Outlook Business Solutions’ clients.

Midlands Business Journal • MARCH 6, 2020 •

31

In the Spotlight Paid Content INSURANCE

INSURANCE

NONPROFIT

HIGHER EDUCATION

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Named

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Nate Smith

Ken Knaub

Tobi Mathouser

Dr. Kimberly Allen

Director and Chief Innovation Officer

Director, Applications Services

President, COO

Vice Pesident, Academic Affairs

WoodmenLife

WoodmenLife

WoodmenLife has appointed Nate Smith to Director and Chief Innovation Officer, effective Jan. 13. In this new role, Smith helps shape and oversee

WoodmenLife has hired Ken Knaub to serve as Director, Application Services.

In this unique and critical role, he focuses on delivering memorable customer experiences through

WoodmenLife’s digital strategy to ensure the organization continues to be innovative and forward-thinking in helping members, their families and their communities. He also works with associates across the organization to help enhance the customer experience.

technology. Knaub empowers associates to build and maintain innovative software solutions and processes that protect members' financial assets. He's also responsible for staying ahead of system and industry changes to maintain WoodmenLife’s competitive edge.

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

Topics may include: Investments overview/outlook • Financial tips for retirement • Diversifying is key Managing debt while still saving • Popular investing sectors Choosing an investment broker/financial adviser • Digitization of wealth management

Goodwill Omaha

Tobi Mathouser has been named president and COO of Goodwill Omaha. Over the next six months, the organization’s CEO, Dr. Michael McGinnis, will wrap up several projects and Mathouser will transition into the CEO role. Jim Rich, chairman of Goodwill Omaha’s Board of Trustees, said that McGinnis led Goodwill Omaha through major transformation over the past two

years, and now the organization looks to Mathouser to expand and grow its job training and placement programs.

Mathouser has worked for Goodwill Omaha since 2006 and most recently held the position of director of mission advancement. For the past year and a half, she has attended Goodwill Industries International’s Executive Development Program, an awardwinning program designed to mold experienced leaders within Goodwill organizations. Mathouser earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from the University of Nebraska–Omaha, and she is also a graduate of Goodwill Industries International’s Senior Leadership Program. Goodwill Omaha also announced that Erin Blackledge, PHR, has been promoted to human resources director, and Elaine Leibert has joined the executive team as finance director.

Blackledge has worked in Goodwill’s human resources department since May 2013. As HR director, she also oversees the organization’s safety program and loss prevention employees. Leibert has nearly 25 years of experience in the finance industry, and her previous role was as COO at the SAC Museum.

College of Saint Mary

College of Saint Mary (CSM) is pleased to announce that Dr. Kimberly Allen has been named the University’s new vice president for academic affairs. She began her duties on January 20. As vice president for academic affairs, Allen will serve as the chief academic officer for CSM and be responsible for all educational activities in the undergraduate and graduate academic programs. She will also direct faculty in planning, evaluating and revising curriculum. “Dr. Allen brings with her a strong array of experiences and skills from over 25 years of service in higher education,” said Dr. Sarah Kottich, provost at CSM. Allen comes to CSM from Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo., where she has served as assistant vice president for academic affairs since 2017. Prior to that, she held a variety of roles in academia, including associate teaching professor at Maryville University and assistant dean for student and faculty affairs for the College of Nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

“I am honored to work alongside CSM faculty and staff to provide the support and encouragement our students need to take risks, push boundaries and succeed both personally and professionally,” said Dr. Allen.

“Working together, we can achieve our mission by developing innovative and intentionally-designed learning experiences, which encourage mastery of knowledge and career readiness so that our students are well-equipped for the future.” Allen received her Ph.D. in Education and her Chancellor’s Certificate from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She holds an M.A. in student personnel administration from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and a B.S. in child development from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo.

Issue Date: March 13 • Ad Deadline: March 5 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.

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• MARCH 6, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal