Midlands Business Journal May 10, 2019 Vol. 45 No. 19 issue

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MAY 10, 2019

THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS

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VOL. 45 NO. 19

PeopleService grows with greater market penetration

by Richard D. Brown

Newly founded Ren-Mo Boutique works to uplift women, become more involved in community.

– Page 2

40 er d Un 40 Kerschke benefits from hands-on experience in marketing role at QLI.

– Page 3

ny pa gs m Co utin O

Venues set the stage for ‘postable’ moments and memorable activities.

– Page 4

By focusing on the management of water and wastewater system services to municipalities with from 1,000 to 20,000 residents in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Illinois, Omaha-based PeopleService is able to offer cost-effective water and wastewater operations utilizing specifically-trained technicians living in the community served.

It’s a niche the family/employee-owned business has been targeting since its inception in 1988. The larger providers in the industry tend to focus mainly on the largest communities and leave PeopleService, founded

by Alan Meyer, regional growth opportunities, but also a couple of formidable challenges.

“It is our belief that the small communities are really underserved in the water and wastewater area because they don’t have the expertise on staff as they don’t typically have the large staffs that the larger communities do,” said Continued on page 9.

Region Manager Duane Grashorn at the City of Valley Water Treatment Facility ... Emphasizing niche (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville) in water and wastewater services for smaller communities.

Project Advocates expands into new territories through evolving services

by Gabby Christensen

In less than a decade, Omaha-based construction management services firm, Project Advocates, has expanded to include two new locations by remaining consistent with its core mission to serve and impact local communities, according to Principal Matt Herzog.

Founded in 2010 with just three team members, Project Advocates has more than tripled its staff.

In addition to a location in Omaha, Project Advocates also is stationed in Kansas City and Dallas.

“Essentially, we started at ground zero and have since grown our portfolio and clientele, which has led to expanded services,” Herzog said.

According to Herzog, the business has largely grown due to word Continued on page 9.

Owner Ben Swan … Combining a passion for bicycling and redeveloping historic buildings to connect the community.

Greenstreet Cycles bets on historic neighborhoods in diverse markets

by Becky McCarville

Principal Matt Herzog … Seeking to fill niche in market with expanded services.

When Ben Swan, owner of Greenstreet Cycles, bought the Kellogg Hotel building at 24th and Harney streets nearly seven years ago, the prospect of walkable, rehabilitated city blocks between midtown and downtown Omaha was in the early stages.

The Highline Apartments,

once home to Northern Natural Gas, were in talks for redevelopment by NuStyle Development Corp. Midtown Crossing had opened a few years earlier and Mutual of Omaha had invested in the area as well.

With the hope of a vibrant urban core and a bike lane potentially connecting Saddle Continued on page 8.

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Newly founded Ren-Mo Boutique works to uplift women, become more involved in community

by Gabby Christensen

Nearly one year after opening the doors of Ren-Mo Boutique in Countryside Village, co-founder Morgan Morrison said the team still clings to its original intention to provide Omaha women of all ages with affordable, unique and trendy fashion.

The story behind the name of the boutique began with two best friends, Morrison and

Ren-Mo Boutique Phone: 402-502-7678 Address: 8721 Countryside Plaza, Omaha 68114 Founded: 2018 Service: local women’s boutique offering clothing, accessories and other items for all ages Employees: Three co-owners: Morgan Morrison, Erin Lynam and Jamie Morrison Goal: Become more involved in the Omaha community.

Website: https://renmoboutique.com

Erin Lynam.

The co-founders combined their names to create Ren-Mo Boutique, a store offering a variety of women’s clothing and accessory items.

The third woman who helped bring the boutique to life was Jamie Morrison, Morgan’s mother.

Correction

Dharma Dog Training helps between 40 and 50 dogs each month. An article in the May 3 Midlands Business Journal inadvertently stated those figures as yearly. Approximately 500-600 dogs are trained each year through its programs.

Co-owners, from left, Erin Lynam, Jamie Morrison and Morgan Morrison … Aiming to provide comfortable, uplifting shopping experience for area women.

Nearly 10 years prior to establishing know they can talk to us about fashion. We Ren-Mo Boutique, Jamie Morrison opened work hard to build relationships with each of her first store, J’Amour Boutique. our customers to make sure we satisfy them Now, the three fashionistas work together because that’s our overall end goal.” to ensure the two sister boutiques offer trendMorrison said yet another way the store ing styles for all women. pushes to reach as many women as possible “I think what makes us different is the fact is through offering a discount to all teachers that we created a place where our customers and students with proof of a school I.D. are able to get to know us on a personal levRen-Mo Boutique also offers modeling el,” Morgan Morrison said. “It’s really just opportunities to women of all ages. myself and Erin ‘Ren’ working here in the Morrison said the team works to create boutique. They see us when they walk in and a relaxing environment for all who walk

The Midlands Business Journal's

Business Minute Name: Kayla McClure.

Age: 29.

Title: Interior designer.

Place of employment: DLR Group.

Hometown: Lincoln.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

How I got into the business: I followed in my grandma’s footsteps; she was one of the first McClure at UNL to graduate with an interior design degree in the ‘50s. I debated between architecture, engineering and design, ultimately choosing interior design.

Accomplishments or milestones: I received my Interior Design License (NCIDQ) in April 2015. I started at DLR Group in Omaha in May 2018 and then became a WELL Accredited Professional in March 2019 (I am one of only 10 WELL APs currently in Nebraska). WELL certification focuses on optimizing design to advance human health and well being.

First job: D3 Interiors.

Biggest career break: Moving to Phoe-

Kayla McClure, interior designer, DLR Group

nix to work in commercial design for Phoenix Design One. This move helped give me the right stepping-stones to eventually move on to DLR Group, an international integrated design firm.

The toughest part of the job: Knowing and understanding the different building systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, acoustics, etc.) and how they affect the design of the space.

The best advice I have received: “Nothing worth doing is going to be easy or comfortable.”

About my family: I grew up in Lincoln as the middle of four daughters and have a twin sister. I have two nieces and one nephew, who helped me make the tough decision to move closer to home.

Something else I’d like to accomplish: Now that I am a WELL AP, my next goal would be to design a WELL certified building.

Book I finished reading recently: WELL Standard Guidebook. (It’s a real page-turner!)

Something about me not everyone knows: I was bit by a shark in the Galapagos while I was on a service-learning trip for

through the store’s doors.

“We want women to feel comfortable and, in a way, feel like they are in their home closet,” she said.

Currently, the store is focusing on bringing in trends that are casual and comfy, as well as some stand-out statement pieces.

“We also really strive for an affordable aspect,” Morrison said. “Everything in the store is $50 or less guaranteed.”

According to Morrison, customers from sister store J’Amour Boutique have really helped build Ren-Mo Boutique.

“Traffic from other businesses at Countryside Village has definitely helped us grow, as well,” Morrison said. “We’re really looking forward to seeing how much Countryside Village changes, and we are excited to watch as a new demographic will be coming in the next couple of years. We are like a community here and we love it.”

Like any other business owners, she said they are working diligently to market the new store, which has been a learning experience.

One way the team plans to spread the word about the store is through hosting a popup event, which will be held at Blackstone Social on Saturday, June 8.

Morrison said the celebration will include shopping, drinks, a food truck, raffle prizes and vendors.

She said this strategy will help the business get to know more people in the area, which is one of their recent goals.

“We really want to become more involved in the community,” Morrison said.

“We plan to host more pop-up events and wine nights in the future so we can meet more women and show them what we’re about.”

Without hesitation, she said the most gratifying aspect about this new business endeavor has been making connections with customers Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal Established in 1975

landscape architecture.

How my business will change in the next decade: The move to remote working will force us to think outside of the box to keep the workplace relevant and design spaces that people choose to spend their workdays.

Mentor who has helped the most in my career: Fred Messner, principle and owner of Phoenix Design One. He was my team leader and taught me the majority of what I know about commercial interior design.

Outside interests: Cooking, yoga, spin, golf, traveling.

Pet peeves: When people assume I pick out pillows and decorations for a living. There’s a difference between HGTV and real-life interior design.

Favorite vacation spot: New Orleans.

Other careers I would like to try: I would love to open my own restaurant.

Favorite movie: “Forrest Gump.”

Favorite cause or charity: Hearts United for Animals.

Favorite app: Mindbody (partially because I designed their call center in Scottsdale, Arizona).

(Interested in being featured in the Business Minute? Email news@mbj.com for more information.)

PUBLISHER & FOUNDER, Robert Hoig

ADMINISTRATION VP OF OPERATIONS, Andrea “Andee” Hoig

EDITORIAL EDITOR & VICE PRESIDENT OF NEWS, Tiffany Brazda EDITORIAL ASSISTANT, Savannah Behrends STAFF WRITER, Becky McCarville

ADVERTISING ADVERTISING CONSULTANT, Catie Kirby ADVERTISING CONSULTANT, Julie Whitehead OFFICE OFFICE ASSISTANT, Rosemary Gregurich BOOKKEEPING/LEGAL NOTICES, Beth Grube

(402) 330-1760 Zane D. Randall (1925-2006) Co-founder LeAnne M. Iwan (1932-1986) First News Editor

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 • MAY 10, 2019 •

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Kerschke benefits from hands-on experience in marketing role at QLI Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of profiles featuring Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40 award winners — entrepreneurs, business owners, managers and professionals under 40 years of age.

by Dwain Hebda

In his role as QLI’s Director of Marketing, Steve Kerschke communicates the company’s goals and values daily. And regardless of the audience — be it a prospective client or an internal work unit — he speaks with the authority of someone who has been there on the front lines. Which, not coincidentally, is exactly what he is.

From his very first job as a QLI physical therapist 12 years ago, Kerschke has served in a variety of roles, which provided him the perspective and experience that is essential to his marketing duties today.

“I think that experience helps me see where the pain points are for our team and what we’re good at and what we can improve upon internally from a leadership perspective,” he said. “It also gives me an inherent confidence when I’m connecting with people externally. Compared to other folks who don’t have that experience, it allows me to build relationships and credibility more quickly.”

Kerschke didn’t look to move into the marketing arm of QLI, but a keen eye for opportunity and a passion for learning the business helped him gravitate to that department. His ascent was aided by a company culture that welcomes professional and personal development.

“QLI is an interesting place in the sense that we develop folks internally and provide opportunities for people to go into different roles in the company,” he said. “It’s encouraged and often facilitated.

“For me, I had plenty to learn and spent several years doing that, but as each role became a little easier, I developed interests in leadership and how our business ran and how those are all connected.”

Kerschke was given ample opportunity to hone his leadership chops, playing a key role in expanding QLI’s reputation nationally as a model program for innovative services, specifically brain injury, spinal cord injury and pain rehabilitation.

As a member of the company’s executive leadership team, he helps oversee an organization made up of $80 million in facilities, 211 private residential rooms and more than 400

Ren-Mo Boutique Continued from preceding page. and helping women with their fashion choices.

“The best part about fashion is that it allows women to have a voice of their own,” Morrison said. “We love watching as women find unique pieces that they love and look great in.”

Ultimately, Morrison said Ren-Mo Boutique serves as a spot for women to unwind and be themselves.

“We hope to always bring in unique fashion trends for women of all ages,” Morrison said. “But more than anything, we really just want women to stop by, have fun and leave knowing that they’ve not only gaining new clothes, but also new friendships. We want all of our customers to leave our store feeling uplifted and confident.”

staff members. Specifically, he’s responsible for nationwide marketing efforts and messaging, which must walk a fine line between delivering excellent care and maintaining efficiency in operations.

“In my role, and through our marketing efforts, we end up speaking with insurance companies and individuals within those companies as they are oftentimes funding someone’s stay at QLI,” he said. “They are interested in what we can do to help get a great outcome for the patient in general. We tend to be really highly aligned there and that drives a lot of decisions on what’s best for that person and their family.

“The other things that they care about is with is that outcome, how can QLI be most efficient and effective. In other words, how can we achieve cost savings long term. And with that, how can the QLI team make life easier for all by providing great customer service.”

Kerschke has also played a role in developing QLI as a recognized best place to work. He said sustaining that environment is a challenge that takes input from all levels of the company.

“That has to do with having great leaders, and not just the president and CEO, but being very intentional about grooming new leaders from all areas of the company,” he said. “This language we use and the commitment to the mission and the values that we have are very

Director of Marketing Steve Kerschke career growth. much lived and not just talked about. I think that’s been present since day one.”

Kerschke graduated from St. Louis Uni-

… First-hand experience has facilitated versity with a degree in exercise science, and also earned a master’s degree in physical therapy there.

Proud Sponsors of the 2018 40 Under 40:

Banking growing with the times, Council Bluffs community

by Jasmine Heimgartner

As Council Bluffs continues to grow and create more big-town offerings, the heart of the city remains a small, connected community. For people who want to maintain a personal touch and connectivity while still having all the technological bells and whistles, the area’s local financial providers are ready to serve.

“We want to be the leader in the reWise surgence of community banking,” said Dave Wise, market president, TS Bank. “Community banks are great for a number of reasons. First, we lend, invest and donate locally. At the same time, we offer personal, business and ag products like the big banks and have invested a lot in technology to offer a more personalized experience. People have migrated to online and mobile but still like to come in and talk to people.”

From mobile apps to new locations and data analytics for enhanced offerings, plus other digital services, access to the latest technology has allowed community banks to compete in an extensive industry while maintaining their roots.

“Availa Bank has been in the ownership of the Gronstal family since 1949,” said Matthew Gronstal, president – Council Bluffs, Avalia Bank. “The continuity of the family ownership has been a positive force over the last 70 years. The family stresses the importance of the employees and the customers of

all the markets that we serve. Our structure within Availa Bank allows us to offer the personal service of a smaller community bank, yet we have the financial resources

Gronstal Garst and technology that you would expect of a much larger financial institution.”

The ability to provide all the needed offerings while ensuring decisions are made locally is a complementary duo for many customers.

“Security National Bank is large enough to offer a broad range of services, starting with traditional consumer banking and mortgages, and extending to private banking, commercial lending, trust services and wealth management,” said Matt Garst, vice president, relationship manager, Security National Bank. “Yet, the bank is the right size so that our customers can be assured they have a local connection with decisions made by people they know and trust. Our Council Bluffs staff prides itself of being hometown people who are active in the community.”

While offering a full range of personal and business services is essential for any bank’s success, the true testament of community banks is their local involvement.

“The most unique thing about TS Bank is that we reinvest 10% net back in locally,” Wise said. “That is one of our founding principles. We do that by hosting educational events, collaborating with nonprofits and our TS institute. This year we have been doing ‘Wellness Wednesdays’ once a month in which we host educational events for the community whether for retirement, commercial real estate, home finance, etc.”

Encouraging employees who live and work in the area is also an important aspect that further encourages a personal touch to banking. “[We at] Availa Bank pride ourselves of our community involvement,” Gronstal said.

“Employees in Council Bluffs are actively involved in many organizations including the chamber of commerce, the Iowa West Foundation, the YMCA, the Historic General Dodge House, Mercy Hospital, Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Union Pacific Railroad Museum and many others. Being active in our community is important because we are all working toward the same goal — to make our community a better place to work and live.”

As the city grows, expanding services to an ever-changing market is a vital element of growth.

“As our business in Council Bluffs continues to grow, we look at ways to meet the needs of the market,” Garst said. “While we’ve always serviced mortgages here, Alex Lammert joined the team as mortgage loan originator based in Council Bluffs to serve the growing needs in Southwest Iowa. We also recently launched an insurance division, SNBinsure, to provide quick, convenient insurance quotes.”

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Company Outings A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

May 10, 2019

Venues set the stage for ‘postable’ moments and memorable activities

by Michelle Leach

Organizations are upping the ante when it comes to distinctive experiences, be it one-of-a-kind venues, memorable onsite activities, or food that one still talks about fondly at the holiday party.

Chief Operating Officer Dennis Schnurbusch said Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium used reference photos from towns in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest in the design of Glacier Bay Landing, which officially opened to the public (including for rentals) April 19. He indicated this photo inspiration ties to the Pitschka Alaskan Adventure Splash Park and sea lion exhibit, slated to open next year.

“By all accounts, the area has been very popular and was a key reason in our reaching historic attendance numbers over the Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend,” Schnurbusch said. “In addition to the theming, we have added a semi-private nursing station and much improved restroom facilities adjacent to the facility.”

COO Dennis Schnurbusch at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium.

Indoor dining facility Fisherman’s exclusive access to Alaskan Adventure Landing is available for group picnic Splash Park, Bay Family Children’s Adoptions and evening packages, including venture Trails, Meadowlark Theater or its

Asian Highlands exhibit.

Schnurbusch indicated one would be challenged to find a more “atypical” function space in Omaha, featuring varied built-in entertainment while supporting the zoo’s mission. He further highlighted its outdoor kitchen and dedicated catering space to conveniently service Fisherman’s Landing guests, as well as North Gate-area parking with safe, lit walkways for evening guests.

“Companies are hosting smaller, intimate events more often for employees or clients, especially when there are speBrown cial events in town such as the Berkshire Annual Meeting or College World Series,” said Abraham Catering Service Vice President Ann Pitschka. “Many offices are adapting a culture of social fun. It encourages interacting and leads to deeper relationships and teamwork. Teams have happy hours, participate in philanthropic volunteerism, go golfing together, and then end the activity with dinner together.”

She said Abraham Catering identifies creative ways to incorporate seasonal or themed trends realistically and within one’s budget.

“Food trucks soared in popularity but then didn’t work well for all event types due to location, wait times in line … So, we recreate the feel of the trucks with stations and booths,” she said. “The décor can still match the concept, but it can be possible for indoor events.”

Consider capturing “postable” moments.

“We have seen everything from beachthemed photo booths with surfboard props, to matching tank tops with their company logo, to simply making sure the face painter is sitting near the company banner,” said Fun-Plex Waterpark and Rides General Manager Katie Anderson. “The summer picnic is the perfect opportunity for companies to show off what a great place they are to work, not only to their employees, but all their followers, too.”

She described a private company pavilion as “homebase” for volleyball or yard Continued on page 6.

Company Outings •

Event Manager Caitlin Knopik at Omaha Performing Arts.

Companies can choose experiences with varied venue options, offerings

by Gabby Christensen

Area event venues say businesses are looking for memorable company outing options this season.

Allen Wachter, vice president of Amazing Pizza Machine, said companies ultimately

want two things: unique experiences and a destination that works for all ages.

“Because of the first reason, we are always looking to add and expand what we offer to keep things fun, fresh and cutting edge,” Wachter said. “And because companies want

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 •

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The terrace is open during performances to create celebrations that the entire family can join in, we always try to design our experience and for private events and offers indoor and to work for all ages. This includes the wide outdoor spaces, including a rooftop bar and variety menu selections on the buffet to game terrace with sweeping views of downtown selections in the arcade to ride and attraction Omaha.

Additionally, the Orpheum Theater, built design.”

For company parties, Wachter said Amaz- in 1927, is popular with those interested in a ing Pizza Machine is able to welcome a party more vintage feel for an event.

Annabelle Schmitz, facility rental coordias small as 12 up to an event of 1,500 guests nator at the Durham Museum, said Omaha has or more. many great options for company “We provide instant dining outings. for up to 700 at a time, the conve“Whether you are looking for nience and family-friendly variety an outdoor adventure at the zoo of a full buffet menu, arcade game or Fontenelle Forest or want to fun experiences for all ages, and journey back in time here at the thrill rides and attractions that Durham Museum, this is a city are unique to the area, including that isn’t going to disappoint,” bumper cars to go-karts to laser Schmitz said. tag to our new Mission Vortex She said the Durham Museum thrill ride and our Hologate virtual offers some key elements that comreality attraction,” Wachter said. panies are looking for this year.

To make planning easy for Wachter “We are unique, we offer encompanies, he said Amazing Pizza Machine is able to customize and handle all gaging and interactive opportunities and most importantly, we are a ton of fun,” Schmitz the details of a celebration.

Caitlin Knopik, event manager at Omaha said.

The Durham Museum offers both daytime Performing Arts, said that smaller conferences and breakouts have been in high demand this and evening events ranging from tours to room rentals needed for a large meal. season.

“Here at the Durham Museum the inner She noted that the Holland Performing Arts Center has several small meeting spaces child of employees is sure to come alive by boarding a real passenger train and taking with a lot to offer.

“Our Scott Recital Hall can accommodate a journey back in time using their imaginaaround 375 to 400 for a conference and our tions,” Schmitz said.

Companies can request scavenger hunts creative catering team, Guckenheimer, can provide unique snacks and lunch for confer- through the permanent galleries or have a guided tour. The Durham Museum also offers ence attendees,” Knopik said.

Skyview Terrace at the Holland Center, private River City History Tours.

Guests can enjoy a visit to the Soda Founwhich opened last summer, has quickly become one of the most popular spaces, she said. tain, original to the building in 1931, she said.

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Company Outings

Contingency plan takes guesswork out of equation if disaster strikes

by Dwain Hebda

Whether throwing a sales rally or a company-wide holiday party, the details for putting together a corporate soiree are nearly endless. But one item many planning committees forget — and which experts say is critical — is formulating a plan for what to do when disaster strikes.

“It is always advisable to have a strong contingency plan in place, depending on the date, location, style and forum of your event,” said Tracey Fricke, professional event planner and owner of Occasion Designed. “Ask ‘What if...’ and consider your guest experience when making these plans.”

Fricke said good contingency plans outline the steps to follow in the event a function is affected by weather or other disruptions, up to and including cancellation. If done correctly, a contingency plan can keep a bad situation from turning into an expensive catastrophe.

“Ask your venue what their standard emergency or contingency plans are and how and when those might be executed,” Fricke said. “Be sure to clearly communicate the alternate plan with all of your vendors if applicable. And then, have a strategy and be ready to communicate the shift in event plans to your attendees.”

Professionals agreed that communication with all parties is vital.

“You have to be ready to communicate effectively to your registered attendees and also those invited in a timely and honest fashion to let them know if you are canceling or moving dates,” said Renee

Tracey Fricke, professional event planner and owner, Occasion Designed, at the Hilton in downtown Omaha.

Black, principal and senior event producer as providing info about where to park, what door to enter or what’s the best way at planitomaha.

Black said planners should try to come to travel to the venue,” she said.

Weather is an obvious consideration, but up with as many possible scenarios by which an event might be compromised. that just scratches the surface, Black said.

“Event planning contingency considThe best plans see things on a macro level, but address situations down to minute erations can be affected by many things besides weather,” she said. “At planitomadetails.

“Tried and true practice is to simply ha, we monitor issues such as a major road have an effective marketing and communi- closure or construction projects that could cation plan that’s prepared for the possible affect attendance. Safety is also a major iscontingency, even for simple things such sue to look at such as hotel or labor strikes in certain cities and also if a newsworthy

incident happened near or at the venue, deeming it unsafe.

“If a measles epidemic happens in Orange County, California, you have to be aware and prepare for airborne illness and possible food poisoning when hosting an event.”

One relatively simple way to guard against the unforeseen is with event insurance said Steven Finkle, CEO and events director with 402 Event Services.

“It is an added cost, yes, but we would much rather have clients pay for this than pay for everything else that is Black needed for the event and then not be able to get any of the money back for something that is 100% out of their control,” he said. “It is something that can easily be obtained through whomever you have your homeowner insurance or car insurance and it is very cost effective.”

Finkle said even without insurance, there are precautions planners should take to protect the company from expensive cancellations, such as paying a deposit for a backup indoor venue if needed.

“It is much easier to have contingency plans in place and paid for in advance rather than trying to bust your butt to get those things done closer to the day,” he said. “When you book things far in advance, you generally end up saving money, but it is also going to save you stress and problems.”

Venues set the stage for ‘postable’ moments Continued from page 4. game tournaments, limbo contests, health fairs and raffles — perfect moments to get out phones and “post, post, post!”

Fun-Plex has also seen an increase in both twilight picnics (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and family fun nights.

“Twilight picnics are a more economical way to provide a full picnic experience packed into a smaller timeframe,” Anderson said. “Our family fun night offer, which only includes admission to the park, is a risk-free and easy way for companies to provide a special summer event, even without a picnic budget.”

Lied Lodge and Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City is readymade for genuine, impactful experiences.

“Hopefully, these experiences inspire [attendees] to lean in a little closer,” said Director of Sales Theresa Brown. “All the proceeds go back to our mission.”

The Arbor Day Foundation inspires the planting, nurturing and celebration of trees; J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day in Nebraska City in 1872. “[Companies] are really interested in our recycling program and composting,” she said. “It’s one thing to say you’re composting and another to say you have a sustainable composting program.”

Heating and cooling and other aspects of operations are all looked at through the lens of how it’s impacting the environment, as Brown said some groups are very conservation-friendly and will “fact-check” to

see if systems are true to their being good environmental stewards.

Sustainable practices also weave through “farm to table” requests, which Brown indicated involve selecting local vendors in close proximity to the venue.

The venue reworked Apple House Market as Porter’s, which pays homage to the orchard’s early caretaker, and features barbecue as well as apple-based offerings — from apple pies to apple cider slushies.

Scavenger hunts, interactive murder mystery at the Morton Mansion, historic trolley rides and picking apples as a team that are then donated to the food bank — are among those unique experiences designed to “inspire guests,” she said.

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Company Outings •

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 •

Attendees are requesting more high-end picnic foods

by David Kubicek

Although sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled-pork, chicken, and traditional sides have been popular picnic staples for years, today’s picnickers often request high-end picnic foods.

Some of these requests include a luau theme with a whole roasted pig or a beach theme with poke bowls, according to Kaylin Wilken, director of marketing and PR for Attitude on Food, a full-service wedding, corporate and event catering company that was established in Omaha in 2002.

“We receive a lot of requests in the summer for corporate picnics, tailgates and employee lunches,” she said. “We also receive a few requests throughout the year for picnic foods at weddings. The classic all-American fare of hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled pork and chicken is a staple and never goes out of style.”

Marian Cihacek and her husband, Dennis, started Great Harvest Bread Co. in Omaha with one store 24 years ago and today have three locations. The firm offers eat-in, carry-out and catering.

“We’ve catered picnics before,” Marian Cihacek said. “Sometimes we’ve catered sandwiches only but other times we’ve

catered the entire picnic.”

Although the firm offers cookies and take-out soups, its signature item is sandwiches.

Great Harvest has the basic sandwiches, but chef Elaine Feekin and her assistant create a specialty sandwich of the month, such as April’s ham and Brie with apricot Dijon spread and May’s Spring Chicken Popper, which is a grilled chicken breast with bacon Wilken and a cream cheese jalapeno spread.

Grilling a slice of bread can change its texture and flavor, transforming ordinary bread into a gourmet treat.

“I think lots of people are doing that,” Cihacek said. “We have a spinach feta sourdough that we make several times a month. It’s amazing how brushing it with a little olive oil or butter and grilling it on both sides will change the whole slice of bread.”

Cihacek has noticed that picnickers

Team building at heart of company outings, helping employees bond

by Jasmine Heimgartner

The daily grind of meetings, deadlines, emails and everything else that goes into a successful business are imperative.

Providing employees an opportunity to unwind and get to know each other is also an important element to boosting morale and creating a more cohesive team. “ Te a m b u i l d ing activities bring new energy to your group,” said Dennis Pope, manager of adventure programs, Pope Carol Joy Holling Camp, Conference & Retreat Center.

“Engaging in intentional activities that require the entire group to work together enhances and strengthens bonds between team members.

“Team building activities also develop and advance skills like trust, collaboration, communication and teamwork. When these skills are weak or lacking, teams end up wasting time and energy.”

From standard activities like bowling or go-karting to more creative, community focused or adventurous avenues, working together — whether just for fun or to tackle a challenge — offers opportunities for employees to connect on a more personal level.

“Some groups are looking to have different coworkers interact, so they can meet new colleagues and build relationships they wouldn’t otherwise encounter in a day-today office setting,” said Meggan Thomas, development officer, Habitat for Humanity.

“Sometimes it’s about getting the leadership team involved with newer staff, providing

an opportunity for leadership to be exposed and mixed in with other staff. It also lets new employees see firsthand the company’s values. Having a logo tied to what we do offers a way for companies to express their values.”

Amidst it all should be the fun factor.

“It’s more like an experience for us.

It’s the whole vibe,” said Tiffany Ziesel, assistant manager, Corky Canvas. “It’s a fun place to put on an apron and let yourself Thomas go while getting to know each other better. With Corky Boards, they are actually helping each other out.

They are physically teaming up and helping each other out. It’s a good time, and you get to take the artwork home.”

Whether a small or large group, many venues are set up to make team building easy and offer various options to make that happen.

“The beauty is that we can customize a lot,” Thomas said. “We are really trying to promote a greater variety of opportunities.

We are known for team building, but we have a growing number of shifts in [Habitat] ReStores, which are like retail stores of donated material, discounted supplies, furniture, all kinds of things. For people preferring something different, that is another option.”

For smaller businesses, an outing can provide a way to help boost other local businesses while still having a unique and fun experience.

“Our big thing is we are a local small Continued on page 10.

may often go a notch above basic picnic foods like plain saltines and sliced cheese.

“People are also more conscious of keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot [for food safety] and using recyclable or compostable materials and not using plastic silverware,” she said. “[Blue Sushi Sake Grill is] on an endless pursuit to serving incredible, creative sushi, while making a positive impact on our oceans,” said Cihacek Sarah Dring, brand manager for Flagship Restaurant Group, which manages the restaurant. “This means we’re making better informed decisions on how we source our seafood.

Blue Sushi Sake Grill is equal parts play and heart. Blue is about making people feel good… good about the Earth, the incredible food, and those you share

7

your experiences with. We’re founded on the belief that sushi can and should be fresh and inventive while offering memorable dining experiences featuring quality, bold and creative ingredients and energetic vibes.”

Dring said that sushi is traditionally a finger food, which makes it a perfect alternative to classic picnic fare. The restaurant’s vegan rolls are always a table favorite.

“Fresh ingredients and healthy eating has been an ever-growing trend over the past few years, and we’ve seen a steady increase in interest in our vegan maki and lighter offerings,” Dring said.

Home-packed snacks and bites have always been a must for picnics, but in today’s fast-paced world, grab-and-go offerings mean picnickers can enjoy their favorite food, including sushi, in new and unexpected settings.

“We’ve seen an increase in mobile orders since launching our app,” Dring said.

“Offering a quick and convenient way to order sushi on-the-go makes it easier to pick up feel-good sushi and enjoy it in a more private and intimate setting.”

8

• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Greenstreet Cycles bets on historic neighborhoods in diverse markets Continued from page 1.

Creek Road to downtown, Swan rehabilitated the dilapidated Kellogg building and filled it with local retail shops. Bench was one of the first tenants (now at 1441 N. 11th St.) as well as Wag, a dog-grooming business owned

by Eryn Swan, which last year moved to a bigger location at 522 S. 24th St., a building bought by Swan on Jan. 1, 2017, and subsequently rehabbed. Felius Cat Café is a tenant next to Wag.

Greenstreet Cycles Phone: Midtown: 402-505-8002; Papillion: 402-932-0013 Address: 2452 Harney St., Omaha 68131; 225 S. Washington St., Papillion 68046 Services: Bicycle retail sales, service, repair and fittings Founded: March 2010 Employees: 9 for both locations One-year goal: To grow the service component of the business and train all staff to be able to personalize a bike for any rider.

Industry outlook: Big city ideas for active transportation and multiple methods of transportation are gaining traction with public officials in Omaha; retail bicycle shops trends include greater customization with the aid of technology-enhanced fittings.

Website: greenstreetcycles.com

Greenstreet Cycles, founded in March 2010, moved from its first location at the 22 Floors building near TD Ameritrade Park to 24th and Harney streets in January 2015.

Today, Greenstreet Cycles and adjoining Muglife Coffee fill two bays and the space previously occupied by Wag is up for lease.

New construction to revitalize the area is ramping up, filling in what was once a blighted corridor. Hotels are being constructed and retail shops are sprouting up.

“I’ve always believed [development] would happen and was willing to gamble … and I thought inevitably, this area would get filled in, which was a little hard to see back then because there was a lot of vagrancy and loitering,” he said. “[With] a hotel back here, a hotel over there, the new construction that’s going on in this direct area is demonstrating that it is meeting a need for people who want to be closer together and live in the urban core — and be closer to our riverfront and all of our city’s attractions.”

To make the intersection more inviting for customers and pedestrians and to give drivers a reason to slow down and take a second look, Swan has plans for landscaping, additional bike racks in the back of the building, adding a Heartland Bike Share station and potentially installing a new transit shelter on the corner.

With a passion for historic buildings and walkable neighborhoods, Swan chose Papillion’s historic downtown for his second location.

The shop at 225 S. Washington St. opened April 15, 2018.

“I had been wanting to open a second store for a long time, and I like historic areas, I like historic buildings,” he said. “That is a real nexus of walkability and recreation — that exact spot in Papillion along Washington Street, on the trail, in the historic downtown.”

He said it was the right time to buy the Papillion location, which was originally the historic movie theater and then a church. The 6,000-square-foot building had been maintained

Service specialist Justin Alexander works on a Specialized Fuse mountain bike at the Papillion location. and needed mostly cosmetic work, unlike the is a $20,000 Cervelo Lamborghini edition, one major overhaul the midtown location underwent of 25 made worldwide, “designed for the world for it to be habitable. traveler who does endurance triathlons, so it’s a The Papillion shop is two to three times the very specific customer,” he said. size of the midtown shop.

This particular bike hasn’t sold yet, but the “When you come in [to the midtown shop has sold three or four $15,000 bikes. location] it’s clearly a specialty shop,” he High performance adventure bikes are the said. “Here we have a very dense level of in- current consumer trend. ventory — it’s very tight, which gives it a big “Bikes are more capable than they have been city feel for this bike shop. And there it’s just in the past,” he said. “A lot of bikes that we sell expansive and big, and probably to somebody are able to be very fast on the road and very fun that walks in it has the attractive things of a and supportive of the rider off of the road. We big box store, but it also has that local flair do adventure bikes that feel great on gravel, and flavor.” feel great on dirt, feel great on a rough old road Greenstreet Cycles’ flagship brand is Spe- and feel great and fast on a freshly laid, brand cialized. It also carries Cervelo, Masi, Colnago, new road.”

3T and BMC. For Swan, it isn’t about selling the highest “All the brands that we [carry] have a pretty priced, highest performance bikes — the mission rich history and have a unique, premium offer- is to boost the community’s health, wellness and ing that sets them apart from the competitors,” connectedness through cycling. he said.

“What I’m just as excited about or more The most expensive bike Greenstreet carries excited about in many ways is taking a trade-

in bike and selling a $300 bike that’s been serviced to somebody who’s going to use it for transportation,” he said. “Or getting a husband and wife on two $800 bikes that have a lifetime warranty and are very high quality. Or getting a family … all on bikes — getting exercise and getting outdoors.”

Between the two stores, Greenstreet employs nine people. Swan’s goal is for each of his employees to be capable of servicing a bike mechanically, personalizing it for the customer and providing expert advice.

Greenstreet’s bicycling fitting studio capitalizes on the technology and customization trends for retail bike shops.

“Technology makes the bike better for the rider — makes the bike more personalized for that rider’s body,” he said. “So really customizing for the rider rather than try to put them in a category of height and gender. We’re trying to go towards a much deeper level of personalization.”

Outfitted with a motion capture trainer, a motion capture harness, a large monitor for 3D viewing and a fit bed, the fit specialist analyzes “20 different physical assessment steps to look at their range of motion, identify if there’s any limitations or asymmetries in their anatomy, and then really make sure that the bike accommodates them,” he said. “It’s actually a fun process.”

The store stocks parts and is able to make adjustments right away.

Swan is working to grow the service side of the business with a goal of 25% fittings, 25% service and repairs, 25% online sales and 25% in store retail.

In the upcoming years, Swan will also focus on restoring the Carnation Ballroom on North 24th Street, a former community gathering place that hosted musical greats like Ray Charles, James Brown, B.B. King and Fats Domino, among others.

“If you talk to Omahans especially in that community — first dates, fun nights on the weekend — a lot of great memories there and a lot of great cultural heritage that is pretty awesome for Omaha,” he said. “We want to restore that building and make it available for a community gathering place and a place for small businesses to thrive.”

Brand strategies set businesses apart, expand market presence

by Jasmine Heimgartner

The concept of a brand may have a long history, but how companies create and market that brand continues to evolve. Whether big or small and across industries, a company’s brand is an important tool for success in the market and among employees.

“Brand has always been there, but in the past it was more of a focus of larger businesses,” said Lyn Wineman, president and chief strategist at Wineman KidGlov. “In recent years, savvy small businesses and nonprofits have become more focused on branding. There are three benefits of a strong brand: you can command a higher price, ward off competitive threats and set the stage for a positive culture. When you think about it that way, it becomes a more important and thoughtful endeavor.”

Developing the right brand typically starts

with considering how a mission or vision can be communicated to the right audience. A brand represents what the company stands for.

“We believe a good brand strategy does

Nelson Broniecki three things,” said Dave Nelson, CEO of Secret Penguin. “Clarity: clearly communicates what a brand offers. Connects: connects on a human level with their customer. Stands out: the communication (marketing and branding) and the experience of interacting with the brand is so remarkable that it stands out. If a brand is consistent, it’s quicker to build trust versus if it’s inconsistent.”

Creating that consistency is part of using a strategy to encompass all aspect of a brand.

“Consistent brands have a unique voice and a personality that matches their office or storefront,” said Kathy Broniecki, CEO/co-owner, Envoy.

“Packaging, website, advertising, content marketing, social media and, most importantly, the customer experience, have to be consistent and dependable.

Know your audience, what brings them value Wiseman and what they expect from your brand.”

A key element of a successful brand is differentiation.

“Every business, regardless of type or size, requires distinction via a brand,” said Wendy Wiseman, president and chief creative officer at Zaiss & Co. “Call it a unique selling proposition (USP) or positioning; it’s the one thing that Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 •

9

Project Advocates expands into new territories through evolving services Continued from page 1. of mouth.

Through managing both the design and construction phase of a project, he said Project Advocates is able to provide ease of mind for owners.

“We saw a need in the market that had to be filled,” Herzog said. “We are able to provide that trusted knowledge. We recognized that owners needed to be able to have a team who knows the right questions to ask and is able to plan an entire project from start to completion.”

During the design process, he said the company helps to manage decisions so as to keep the project on budget through cost planning and estimating.

Even after occupancy, Herzog said Project Advocates stays in touch with clients to ensure the process is moving forward accordingly.

According to Herzog, Project Advocates serves clients in three main markets: community

Brand strategies Continued from preceding page. makes you different. When businesses compete for market share, a distinct brand helps consumers distinguish the difference for them. Without a strong brand, a small business will end up competing on price, which quickly becomes a downward spiral.”

When the stars align and the perfect branding or rebranding is achieved, all of it is for naught if it isn’t executed properly.

“Once you have that brand, thinking about how you launch is important,” Wineman said.

“You wouldn’t want your customers or employees to find out about it reading the newspaper.

You want to make sure you launch at the right time to the right audience in the right way. We start with an employee celebration so they can understand how it sits and let them get comfortable with it. Next, you go to customers, who should know before the general public.”

Word of mouth continues to be an effective form of advertising. With technology, the platform for it has expanded immensely. It creates more opportunities for businesses to connect their audience to their brand and clearly demonstrate their vision.

“All businesses must do more than lean into technology to compete,” Wiseman said. “Those who are leveraging it to the fullest are trusting marketing partners to navigate the various channels now available via today’s technology.

Importantly, a business’ website is the key landing space for social and digital media ads. This is where the brand can be its strongest with content that nails that USP [unique selling proposition] and gains followers, inquirers, leads and sales.”

Leveraging social media and other digital tools isn’t just about spreading a brand message. It also provides a unique opportunity for businesses to truly connect with and learn from customers.

“We believe the best use of social media for businesses goes beyond just posting about themselves,” Nelson said. “It’s using social media to connect with their customers with providing incredible customer service. For example, businesses should search who is talking about them.

If it’s negative, that’s a good thing. It’s better than if they said it behind closed doors where you can’t join the conversation and make things right.

If it’s positive, you can join the conversation and thank them and see how their experience was. It’s a great way to build relationships on a human level.”

nonprofits, education and religious groups. processes easier for clients.

The team also frequently works with indusAlthough project management is really at trial and corporate clients. the core of the business, Herzog said it also can In fact, during the help to manage furearly days of the com- Project Advocates niture and equipment pany, Project Advo- Address: 120 S. 31st Ave., Suite 5101, installations at the end cates was a cost con- Omaha 68131 of a project. sultant for TD Ameri- Founded: 2010 The company also trade and East Campus Service: Construction management seroffers building assessvices firm serving nonprofit, industrial and Realty. ments and helps com“One of the main corporate clients in Omaha, Kansas City panies with network reasons the compa- and Dallas areas solutions through other ny was founded was Employees: 16 trade partners. so we would be able Goal: Positively impact the communities Herzog, who first to work with groups it serves and gain additional projects and began his career in conthat are doing amaz- partners along the way. struction while in coling things around Website: www.project-advocates.com lege, said the industry the towns we serve,” can be very rewarding, Herzog said. “Our goal is to make the place we but also challenging at times. live better.”

“What we offer is new to the market, which Since its inception, Project Advocates’ has been somewhat challenging for us,” he services have continued to evolve to make said. “We’re challenging a lot of norms in the

construction industry and design community.”

Additionally, Herzog said it can be challenging to manage a client’s expectation, but also very exciting because there’s always a reward for meeting those challenges.

“In this industry, you really get to see the results of your work come through in the end, which is extremely satisfying,” he said.

Herzog has noticed a significant trend in organizations investing in their facilities, making it a busy time for the building industry as a whole.

“We’re working to stay up with the building boom and help groups get the most for their dollars,” he said.

Herzog said one thing remains constant for Project Advocates.

“Our main goal has never changed,” he said. “We want to be the most recommended project management firm in the areas we serve by not being driven financially, but driven by the possibility of influencing our community in a broader sense.”

PeopleService grows with greater market penetration Continued from page 1.

President Chad Meyer. “That’s what makes us a value to them as by contracting with us they get access to that expertise we have on staff.”

Chad Meyer, son of founder/chairman/ CEO Alan Meyer, said the fertile growth opportunities present PeopleService — which presently has about 150 clients under contract

PeopleService Phone: 877-774-4311 Address: 209 S. 19th St., Suite 555, Omaha 68102 Services: water and wastewater professionals Founded: 1988 by Alan Meyer Employees: 25 in Nebraska (120 overall) One-year goal: Increase number of customers with greater penetration into Kansas.

Industry outlook: Growth opportunities exist but are being threatened by many of the higher-licensed, long-tenured employees nearing retirement in an industry that has a shortage of workers.

Website: www.peopleservice.com

— with a double-edged sword. While smaller communities need to bring the expertise in on an economies-of-scale model such as that offered

by PeopleService, the Omaha-based firm is scrambling to find, train and certify a number of workers in states with some of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.

Forty of PeopleService’s customers are in Nebraska, said Region Manager Duane Grashorn.

“That’s as high as it has ever been,” Grashorn said. “A city hires us and then a neighboring community hears about us or we meet another city’s representatives at a league of municipalities conference.”

Grashorn, who started his career with the Department of Utilities in nearby Fremont, is in his 26th year with PeopleService.

He said Valley, Nebraska, with about 2,000 in population, is one of the smallest municipalities to contract with PeopleService. Included in the contract are the Trailridge Ranch sanitary and improvement district, for which services include taking samples of the water system, and the Pines Country Club, just south of Valley.

Most of PeopleService’s contracts are written for five years; a few are for as short as three.

The menu of services include routine operations, ongoing maintenance, regulatory compliance, rates and billing, safety and planning. For one client, PeopleService collects customer payments for water used.

Of the five broad categories of services offered, Grashorn said routine operations and ongoing maintenance offer PeopleService its greatest growth opportunities.

The younger Meyer, who joined the family business in 2009 after stints at Inacom and Conagra, adds expertise in financial analysis and risk management when addressing needs of clients.

For example, a client in Minnesota is a firm, which among other things, cracks eggs.

“They have a wastewater plant on site that discharges to the city and their maintenance staff was running the plant for them and because they didn’t understand the biological treatment process they were basically chemically treating the wastewater,” Meyer said. “Since contracting with us we have optimized the water treatment process and now have the biological treatment operating properly thus reducing their chemical usage and expense.”

Chemical expenses have been halved, he said.

PeopleService has worked in conjunction with state agencies in doing energy audits of plants and assessing where the energy is being consumed. Some audits are financed by a grant program available to cities with the intent of helping reduce the amount of energy used in a plant.

“At one of the plants the reduction was by almost 40%,” he said. “In all the facilities we operate our goal is always to optimize the operations which may result in chemical, energy and other audits.”

PeopleService still retains its first client signed 31 years ago. Another 20 clients have been with the firm for more than 20 years.

Meyer echoes the philosophy of his father that client relationships are enhanced by addressing current needs, but also by building a long-lasting, mutually rewarding partnership helping them to maximize their significant investment in their waste and wastewater facilities and deal with and remain compliant with the ever-changing regulatory requirements.

Grashorn said an important tool marketed to a city’s governing group — most often a council — is the computerized investment PeopleService has made. For example, equipment

problems are noted, added to a Diamond Maps software program, and a routine maintenance program is assigned and tracked.

He said a stand-by generator in one town had not been inspected or checked for at least five years when PeopleService took the contract over.

“Now a work order goes out, the project is done and the information is sent back to us to put in our system,” Grashorn said.

Diamond Maps, a user-friendly program adopted by PeopleService a year ago, after a successful pilot program, maps out a town’s valves for water, curb stops for each house, fire hydrant draining and flushing (as well as a history of each unit), sewer mains and depth of each, as well as manholes.

In Greenwood, Nebraska, Grashorn said his firm investigated alternatives to a fertilizer company’s washing of equipment and the impact it was making on the water. By switching the wash operation to a neighboring car wash, the water could be recycled.

Grashorn said a monthly report — typically three to four pages in length — is provided for each client.

Specific reports have tracked limits on phosphates being distributed into water and the impact of a fish kill in the central part of Nebraska, among others.

PeopleService is headquartered in Suite 555 of the Douglas Building, 209 S. 19th St. The firm employs six region managers and two assistant region mangers, which are required to maintain the highest or second highest water and wastewater licenses in the states they operate in. Many are industry veterans with credentials specific to regulations by state and federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, Occupational Safety & Health Administration, among others.

Grashorn said employment candidates are sought who are mechanically inclined and inquisitive, among other traits. They are then trained by PeopleService and must pass the necessary licensing exams.

Meyer said a shortage of employees in the industry, especially those holding higher-level licenses can be viewed as an obstacle to growth.

More responsibility is being taken by firms such as PeopleService in identifying candidates and training them specific to their responsibilities.

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

RVs, campers riding high, fueled by millennial enthusiasm

by Micah Walker

Americans have always embraced the open road, but now campers, the iconic symbol of middle-class success, are gaining ground with a new audience.

Millennials not only are traveling the country in them but also are renting camper trailers through Airbnb for a few days of rest and relaxation in a pretty setting.

Auto Many promote their peripatetic existence through #vanlife, #homeiswhereyouparkit and #campervan on a multitude of Instagram accounts.

This is one thing millennials can’t be accused of killing, it seems.

More than 1.4 million households started camping for the first time in 2018. Of this group, 56% are millennials and 51% identify as nonwhite, according to the 2019 North American Camping Report, an annual independent study supported by KOA, or Kampgrounds of America.

More than 78.8 million households camped at least once in 2018, an all-time high.

According to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, RV shipments saw their second-best year in 2018, with 483,672 units.

Classic campers, pop-top vans and RVs also are coming along for the ride. The insatiable appetite of some millennials for all things vintage, as well as a desire to escape the modern-day rat race, is helping to fuel their popularity. Motorhomes, camper vans, caravans, pop-up campers, travel trailers, VW Buses and truck campers are tricked out and exhaustively photographed for millions of social media followers.

Organizations like the Tin Can Tourists, a national group celebrating its 100th year in 2019, draw collectors looking for vintage camper style and design.

“I like the design, the shape of the unit, to

Team building Continued from preceding page. business,” Ziesel said. “It’s fun to help support each other. We have smaller businesses that come to us because we can accommodate smaller groups. And, we are just something different. We are here every day during the week and weekend, so people have options.”

For people hesitant to organize or participate in an outing, knowing there aren’t specific expectations can help ease people into enjoying the experience.

“The best way to tackle the day is to keep an open mind,” Thomas said. “You may not realize you love a chainsaw or circular saw or that someone you have worked with 10 years knows drywall or is great at painting. It can be intimidating when you arrive, but by the end of the day, you will have quite a few things to take away. Seeing yourself or coworkers differently can be very powerful. Make the experience your own, explore and have fun.”

Regardless of what is organized, what participants get out of it is often brought back with them to the office.

“Groups should expect to have fun and to be challenged,” Pope said. “We measure success not necessarily by the individual or group achievement, but by a person’s willingness to support their team and by what they learn from the experience. Success to us is when groups find a renewed joy in working together as a team.”

the fabrics used inside, to the woodwork,” said TCT member and hall of famer John Truitt regarding vintage travel trailers. “I like how it reflects past eras of design and workmanship.”

Truitt said the TCT group is seeing more interest from younger members, many of whom are in their late 20s and early 30s.

Lauren Albrecht of Holly, Mich., became fascinated with vintage campers because of her grandfather’s old Avion camper. The 26-year-old is in TCT with her parents and is “obsessed with all things vintage.”

“It’s cool to see the trailers restored,” she said. “That’s the most fun aspect of our group besides the people we camp with. Everyone is so creative, and they really care about preserving the history of these trailers.”

Edward Byrnes 38, of Commerce Township, Mich., first became aware of TCT after a member walked by while he was working on a 1959 Fan trailer in his driveway. Byrnes and his girlfriend, Jessica Neff, ended up going to their first TCT rally at Camp Dearborn in 2017.

“One of the reasons Jessica and I got together was our affinity for vintage campers,” he said. “After the rally, we were hooked, and attended as many rallies as we could.”

When the couple goes camping, Byrnes said he enjoys the “smell of campfire smoke

in the air, making memories and enjoying the company of other TCT members.”

RV brands are taking notice in the demographic shift and are designing trailers geared toward people in their 20s and 30s.

Perhaps the most iconic of all the RVs on the road is Airstream, resembling a gleaming silver bullet.

Airstream, which had its fifth consecutive year of growth last year and has seen a 218% growth in sales over the past five years, offers a compact RV called the Nest. Weighing 3,400 pounds, the mid-size trailer offers a two-stove burner, microwave and bathroom.

Users can also change the colors of the interior lighting with a smartphone app. Prices start at $45,900.

Volkswagen, celebrated for decades for its quirky Bus, offers a new California Camper Van for sale in Europe and is set to sell an electric version of its microbus — the I.D. Buzz — in 2022.

Can’t afford to own a camper or RV? Airbnb offers travel trailers to rent. Spend the weekend glamping in Los Angeles in a 1969 Airstream Globetrotter. Located in the San Gabriel Mountains, campers can take in the sights of L.A., such as the Hollywood sign and the city skyline, for $236 per night.

For something more rustic, an Airbnb list-

ing offers a vintage Airstream in Wimberley, Texas, near San Antonio and Austin. For $130 per night, the RV includes a hot tub, outdoor shower, patio grill, fire pit and a selection of Western movies.

RV camping clubs likely date back to the Tin Can Tourists, which started at a park in Tampa, Fla., in 1919. These early campers braved dust and mud to drive their Model Ts or Tin Lizzies across the U.S. before the interstate highway system was built. They camped by the side of the road, heated tin cans of food on portable stoves and bathed in streams.

Truitt has been a part of Tin Can trailers for about 16 years. He found out about the group while doing an online search for a small vintage trailer. Truitt eventually bought an Airstream that was owned by TCT President Forrest Bone, who invited him to a rally.

Truitt likes the friendly environment of the organization, as well as the bond forged through vintage trailers and collectibles.

“The trailers are a starting point for conversation,” Truitt said. “We get more interested in the person and each other than our stuff.

There’s no hoity-toity. … You agree to have a good time and be a good time.” ©2019 Detroit Free Press Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Facial recognition may help you get on a plane. Should you worry about privacy?

by Ron Hurtibise

Say goodbye to standing in long lines clutching boarding passes and other travel documents.

Step this way, instead. Look into the camera lens and off you go.

Sound convenient? Technology companies working with travel providers and the federal government to Technology install facial recognition systems at airports and cruise terminals hope you think so.

But privacy advocates don’t want you to become too comfortable. They worry that what we’re willing to accept for convenience sake today will soften our resistance to the idea of filling public spaces with cameras that can identify us and track our every move.

In South Florida, facial recognition systems are popping up at airports and seaports: At the new Terminal 25 in Port Everglades, passengers heading for their Royal Caribbean cruises can breeze through checkin and boarding if they pre-registered at home, thanks to a system developed for the cruise line by California-based biometrics developer Tascent.

In its announcement heralding the system’s debut in November, Tascent called it a “next-gen biometric traveler experience” that enables “frictionless arrivals.”

At PortMiami, Royal Caribbean worked with another provider, IDEMIA, on a facial recognition system used to speed debarkation, the process of getting people off the ship. IDEMIA’s MFace high-speed 3D face capture technology scans faces of travelers leaving ships and instantly verifies their identities by matching the scans with images collected at the beginning of cruises.

Testing of the system at PortMiami and Cape Liberty in New Jersey, announced in 2017, is complete and the system is “now moving into commercial production at these ports,” an IDEMIA news release stated.

The release quoted Capt. Thomas Hinder-

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer instructs an international traveler to look into a camera as he uses facial recognition technology to screen a traveler entering the United States at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/TNS At the airport’s Gate J17, Lufthansa flihofer, Royal Caribbean’s director of northeast ers can forego boarding passes entirely and port operations, as saying the cruise line has present just their faces. Additional airlines received “very positive feedback” on the new are expected to get the technology this year. system. “Innovative solutions that improve JetBlue offers a similar facial recognition our guests’ total experience — including system to speed boarding for select internathe final step of clearing Customs in a fast, tional flights at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood secure, frictionless process — is Royal CaInternational Airport. ribbean’s way of the future,” he said.

The new programs join other biometric Miami International Airport launched a scanning technologies, such as CLEAR, biometric entry pilot program in November which identifies passengers using eye and 2017 at its renovated Concourse E facility fingerprint scans. That technology, which rethat’s capable of screening up to 10 passenquires pre-enrollment, enables passengers to gers a minute — reducing passenger wait skip the document presentation line, but not times by 20 percent to 80 percent, the airport the physical Transportation Security Adminsaid on its website. The system works by istration inspection line. CLEAR is available comparing travelers’ scanned facial images Continued on next page. to images on their passports.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 •

11

Automation transforms supermarkets, boosting choice for consumers while worrying skittish workers

by Stephen Singer

Stop & Shop workers declared victory at the end of an 11-day strike, but the automated supermarket — a threat to union jobs that drew far less attention than debate over compensation and benefits — Trends is gathering speed across the industry.

Startup companies, digital technology and intense competition are expected to transform the $632 billion industry in coming decades.

The changes range from robots reporting spills in supermarket aisles to robotics in warehouses that pluck products for delivery SUPER CROSSWORD

to checkout counters scanning products and taking payments with no workers needed.

Even greater transformation is coming as businesses use artificial intelligence, algorithms and other technology to drive change. Among developments are digital food labels that provide price, nutritional information and promotions; an automated warehouse in a supermarket that selects products for customer pickup; and cameras in supermarkets that can guess a customer’s age, gender and mood to make targeted ads.

In negotiations between Stop & Shop and DIVIDING EXPERIMENT

the United Food and Commercial Workers representing 31,000 supermarket employees in southern New England, automation was an issue, though pay and benefits were bigger items of discussion.

Thomas A. Wilkinson, president of the UFCW Local 371, said the new contract calls for management and the union to meet and discuss specific technological changes as they arise and affect supermarket operations and employees.

“It’s the best we’re able to do at this time,” he said.

For example, food prepackaged outside Stop & Shop and other supermarkets and shipped to stores could jeopardize job creation.

However, “protective language” in collective bargaining agreements prohibits layoffs, Wilkinson said.

“It doesn’t mean more would not be hired in the future,” he said. “As automation comes, we’ll discuss the workforce and try to minimize losses.”

Frans Muller, chief executive officer of Ahold Delhaize, the Dutch parent company of Stop & Shop, told investor analysts on a conference call in February said two U.S. properties, Stop & Shop and Giant, will introduce robots as the company makes “one of the

largest deployments of robotics innovation in the U.S. grocery industry overall.”

And Ahold’s launch of “click and collect” points — places for consumers to pick up orders purchased on line — is on track with service at 53 Food Lion stores, he said.

The company also expects to open a fully mechanized distribution center in Holland that can deliver 400,000 crates and boxes a day, he said.

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Carr told analysts that Ahold will be “running more and more tests and roll-out of electronic shelf labeling.”

“We see a lot of work still being done in labor efficiency, by technology it continues to be an opportunity for us,” he said.

Where technology once extended to bar coding and scanning to speed up and make more accurate the checkout process and provide instant inventory information, change now embraces the entirety of grocery shopping and warehousing.

Products in the supermarket and grocery industry “have largely reached saturation levels,” with the only real growth from the introduction of new niche goods or advances in product formulas,” according to a Continued on page 13.

Facial recognition may help you get on a plane

Answers on page 12.

Continued from preceding page. at 28 U.S. airports, including terminals E and H at Miami International and terminals 1 and 2 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, for $179 a year.

A free version is available to travelers at participating stadiums and sports arenas, including American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami.

Systems that scan fingerprints or eyes aren’t as threatening as facial recognition systems, which can identify and track people with cameras installed throughout the public realm, including atop buildings, utility poles, street signs and traffic signals, privacy advocates say.

Operators of the new facial recognition systems say they take travelers’ privacy concerns seriously.

Travelers can opt out of participating in the biometric checks and proceed through their check-in by presenting traditional documents, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is overseeing programs involving international travel.

IDEMIA says no images used by its MFace technology to speed cruise ship debarkation will be stored after trips are completed.

And the Customs and Border Protection says it retains images of U.S. citizens and exempt non-citizens no more than 12 hours after their identities are verified. Images of non-citizens can be retained up to 14 days except under certain circumstances required by law. Images that fall under those exceptions will be retained by the Department of Homeland Security “as a biometrically-confirmed arrival or departure from the United States.”

Even if travelers’ photos are deleted after they return to the U.S., federal and state agencies retain photos of citizens’ passports, visas and driver licenses in their databases that could used at any time to identify faces recorded by surveillance cameras.

That’s the capability that worries privacy advocates, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and American Civil Liberties

Union.

At thousands of locations across the country, law enforcement agencies capture and store license plate numbers photographed by surveillance cameras positioned along city streets. Law enforcement agencies freely share their databases showing whose cars were where, when, and how many times, the EFF reported.

Faces also are photographed by police body cameras, the ACLU pointed out in a letter last year urging Amazon to stop licensing its surveillance system, Rekognition, which can recognize persons of interest in real time, to law enforcement agencies.

“People should be free to walk down the street without being watched by the government,” the ACLU said in the July letter.

“Facial recognition in American communities threatens this freedom.”

Amazon continues to market the product to police agencies, CNBC reported in December.

What makes facial recognition different from other biometrics “is that it’s very easy to collect from a person without their noticing,” said Adam Schwartz, an attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation in a story published in The Hill in December 2017.

The story pointed out that the FBI already has 412 million images in its facial recognition database to which surveillance cameras can be easily linked if the government chooses.

We’re more likely to accept that choice if we first learn to appreciate facial recognition as a time-saving convenience, Schwartz told The Hill.

“There’s a fear we have of increased normalization of this,” he said. “Once people start doing facial recognition on an airplane, they’ll get used to it in a supermarket. And then all of a sudden our lives become more and more on display.” ©2019 Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Seven ways to improve your credit score

by Kendall Little

The journey to improving your credit score is a marathon, not a sprint.

An excellent score can help you qualify for low-interest loans and premium rewards credit cards, but the process takes time.

Finance You can get started by checking your credit score to see where you currently stand.

Once you have an idea of how much room you have to grow, use these tips to begin building better credit.

1. Stay on top of payments Keep your debts in the green to show lenders you’re responsible with credit.

According to Experian, payment history is the most influential factor for both FICO and VantageScore, the most common scoring systems.

Your credit score is essentially a reflection of your ability to pay back debts effectively. From a lender’s perspective, an established history of timely payments is a good indicator you’ll handle future debts responsibly, too.

“You want to avoid things like late payments, defaults, repossessions, foreclosures and third party collections,” says John Ulzheimer, credit expert, formerly of FICO and Equifax. “And filing bankruptcy is a horrible idea. Anything that would indicate non-performance of a liability is going to harm your credit score.”

2. Keep tabs on your credit utilization rate Weigh your balances relative to your

credit limit to ensure you’re not using too much available credit, a practice which can indicate risk.

“The higher that ratio, the fewer points you’re going to earn in that category and your scores are absolutely going to suffer,” Ulzheimer says.

Credit utilization is one of the most influential categories that influence your score. Your ideal rate may vary depending on the scoring system used.

“In FICO’s systems, less than 10 percent is the optimal target,” Ulzheimer says. “In fact, people who have the highest average FICO scores have a utilization of 7 percent.” VantageScore, on the other hand, looks for a target utilization of 30 percent or below.

“I always default to 10 percent because that’s going to keep you in the good zone for both of the scoring platforms,” Ulzheimer says.

The date your revolving credit issuer reports your information to the credit bureaus may also impact your utilization rate.

According to Ulzheimer, FICO’s scoring systems don’t differentiate between those who pay in full each month and those who carry a balance; the utilization that appears when your issuer reports your account information is the rate scored. VantageScore, though, does consider whether you pay in full or carry your balance month to month.

If you struggle with high balances and mounting interest payments on your cards, consider consolidating with a zero

How to deal with a boss who swoops in and takes over

by Liz Reyer

Q: I work for a swooper. She gives me authority over people and projects, then swoops in and takes over. This causes confusion, rework and frustration for a lot of people. She has good ideas, but how can I get her to channel them Trends appropriately?

-Syd, 38, art director A: It’s in your court to be clear about your needs and expectations.

I assume that when you say it causes “frustration for a lot of people,” that includes you. For starters, then, you will need to get yourself calmed down. Discussing this when you are riled up won’t be helpful.

If you have been holding this in for a while, it might not be easy. Look for some low-risk ways to vent, maybe to a friend or by writing out your feelings. Think about the situation from her point of view, too, to try and bring some additional empathy to soften your reactions.

Assuming the identity of a third-party observer, write out the situations that have occurred. This will help you be objective as you discuss this with your boss. Include a description of ways things could have been improved.

Look at your role in this dynamic. Perhaps you are carrying an aura of uncertainty, giving her the sense that you need her help.

Also refresh your memory of the positive aspects of working with her to bring a full view to the table.

Once you are ready, find a neutral time to have a conversation about roles and responsibilities. Express the big-picture situation as you see it, along with your desired

outcome. Maintain a positive tone to reduce the chances that she will become defensive.

Ideally, she will be invested in resolving these sources of frustration. Even better, she will partner with you on ways she can bring her creativity and ideas to the work you do.

That still leaves you with the need to do clean up. Others on your team are likely having some struggles from this, so you will need to help them work through it.

There are a couple of different ways to handle this. If your boss had a major moment of realization and is completely on board with backing off, maybe you just acknowledge the past dynamic to your team and move forward. It could be handled fairly lightly, maybe even with some humor, depending on the personalities involved.

On the other hand, some people may feel more harmed by the past dynamic.

They may need to be guided through some of the venting and reflection work that you did. Be willing to take the time to support your team, as needed, taking care not to let things decline into a moan-fest.

Realistically, this behavior is probably part of her personality. She may be very enthusiastic, or be having a hard time with the distance from the work that comes with being in upper management.

In that case, expect her to regress. Talk about that in advance, and agree on ways to bring it to her attention in low-stress and collegial ways. Everyone — you, your team, and her — will all be happier and more successful. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

percent introductory rate balance transfer credit card.

3. Leave old debts on your report Once you finally get rid of student debt or pay off your auto loan, you may be impatient to get any trace of it wiped from your report.

But as long as your payments were timely and complete, those debt records may actually help your credit score. The same is true for you credit card accounts.

“An account that’s paid in full is a good thing; however, closing an account isn’t something that consumers should automatically do in the hopes that it will positively impact their credit score,” says Nancy Bistritz-Balkan, vice president of communications and consumer education at Equifax. “Having an account with a long history and solid track record of paying bills on time, every time, are the types of responsible habits lenders and creditors look for.”

Any bad debts that can impact your score negatively are automatically removed over time.

“Bankruptcies can stay on your report no longer than 10 years,” Ulzheimer says.

“Late payments and similar delinquencies like collections, repossessions, foreclosures and settlements, those are capped at seven years.”

4. Take advantage of score-boosting programs The number and average age of your accounts are both important factors in helping lenders determine how well you handle debt, which can leave those with a limited credit history at a disadvantage.

Experian Boost and UltraFICO are two

programs that allow consumers to boost a thin credit profile with other financial information.

After opting into Experian Boost, you can connect your online banking data and allow the credit bureau add telecommunications and utility payment history to your report. UltraFICO allows you to give permission for your banking data, like checking and savings accounts, to be considered alongside your report when calculating your score.

5. Time your applications carefully Every time you apply for a new line of credit, a hard inquiry is pulled on your report. This type of inquiry lowers your score temporarily.

“In general, the effects of a hard inquiry last anywhere from 6 to 12 months,” a TransUnion representative tells Bankrate.

“And that inquiry is only on your credit report for up to 24 months.”

Research your likelihood of approval to ensure you’re a good candidate before applying for a new credit card. You don’t want to risk lowering your score for a denied application.

You should also refrain from applying for several credit cards within a short time frame or before taking out a large loan like a mortgage.

When you shop for a mortgage, auto or personal loan, you can keep hard inquiries to a minimum by making rate comparisons within a short time period.

Applications for the same type of loan within a designated time frame will only appear as a single hard inquiry. According to FICO, this span can vary from 14 to 45 days.

6. Be patient You won’t raise your credit score overContinued on next page.

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 •

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Here’s how much money you’ll save shopping for a mortgage with multiple lenders

by Deborah Kearns

Let’s be real: Shopping around for a mortgage is about as enjoyable as applying for multiple jobs. Both involve a lot of paperwork, time and back-and-forth communication. You may never hear back from all (or any) of Real Estate those job prospects, but you’re likely to reap rewards by shopping for mortgage rates with a handful of lenders.

To put this mortgage shopping savings theory to the test, Freddie Mac conducted a study last year to find out how much money borrowers potentially leave on the table when they don’t shop around.

For a typical $250,000 mortgage, a borrower who gets one extra rate quote saves an average of $1,435 over the life of the loan, with 80 percent of those borrowers saving between $966 and $2,086 by shopping one additional lender, Freddie Mac reported. The more you shop around, the more savings you rack up. Borrowers who get five rate quotes save $2,914 — on average — with 80 percent of those shoppers who get five quotes saving between $2,089 and $3,904.

While a few thousand dollars may not seem like much spread out over a 30-year mortgage, consider this: Many homebuyers struggle to save enough cash to cover their down payment and/or closing costs. Saving $3,000 over the course of a mortgage because you shopped around can equate to

Seven ways to improve Continued from preceding page. night, which is why one of the best ways to achieve an excellent score is to develop good long-term credit habits.

According to Ulzheimer, two influential factors that go into your score are the average age of information and the oldest account on your report.

“You’re really going to need to have credit for a couple of decades before you max out those categories,” Ulzheimer says.

“It takes a really, really long time to improve a bad score and it takes a really short amount of time to trash a good score.”

Establish good habits, like paying your balances on time, keeping a low utilization rate and applying for credit only when you need it, and you should see those practices reflected in your score over time.

7. Monitor your credit When you view your own credit, a soft inquiry is pulled, which doesn’t affect your credit temporarily the way hard inquiries do.

“The information in the credit reports will not only enable you to see all of your financial accounts in one place, but reviewing them may also help you spot signs of identity theft,” Bisritz-Balkan says.

Monitoring your score’s fluctuations every few months can help you understand how well you’re managing your credit and whether you should make any changes.

According to Ulzheimer, “As long as you pay your bills on time and as long as you keep your credit card balances modest and as long as you only apply for credit when you need it, then you really have no choice but to have a good score.” ©2019 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

two months’ of mortgage payments.

The case for shopping around Getting rate quotes from more than one mortgage lender means that consumers are more likely to get a better interest rate and save money now and in the long term, said Doug McManus, director of financial research at Freddie Mac. “With lower monthly payments and lower fixed fees, the loan will be more affordable and, thus, safer,” McManus said.

The legwork involved in rate-shopping can be daunting. A mortgage broker can do the work for you, or you can visit multiple lenders on your own to do the research.

Many lenders provide free rate quotes online or by phone after you’ve provided a few details, such as your credit score range, loan amount, term (length of your loan) and the loan type you’re interested in. You can also check out Bankrate’s mortgage tool, which allows you to see rates from multiple lenders who offer home loans in your area.

To get a solid rate offer, however, you have to get preapproved for a mortgage with each lender. When you apply for a mortgage, a lender thoroughly vets your income, finances, employment and credit to determine how much you can borrow and what interest rate you qualify for.

With home prices still rising, it’s better to minimize your costs as much as you can on the borrowing side — and shopping around for a mortgage is the best way to do that.

“Consumers may have hundreds or thousands of dollars more in their pockets.

Not a bad return for a few phone calls or clicks,” McManus said.

Saving money is just one of the benefits Nabbing a lower interest rate and lower payment over the life of your loan is a big win. But it’s not the only reason it pays to shop around.

By comparing lenders, you’ll see variations in lender origination fees, points, mortgage insurance premiums and third-party fees. You’ll also get a sense of how long it takes lenders to close a loan, how well they communicate and their customer service philosophies.

It’s natural that most homebuyers want to get the lowest rate possible, but they shouldn’t ignore these other nuances when choosing a lender, said Joe Zeibert, senior director of products, pricing and credit for Ally Home.

When you get loan estimates from different lenders, pay close attention to the fees, Zeibert advises. If one lender charges higher fees than others, ask the lender to clarify what the fees are for and if they can be negotiated.

Shopping with a variety of lenders — big banks, credit unions, online lenders and regional banks, and a mortgage broker — helps you compare who’s charging what. You also get a sense of what kind of customer service you’ll receive, based on how smoothly the communication goes and how your lender processes

loan applications.

What you’ll pay in mortgage points (also called “discount points”) is another reason it’s worth getting more than one rate quote. Points are an up-front fee borrowers pay to buy down the loan’s interest rate.

One point equals about 1 percent of the loan amount, and lenders structure their points differently.

Some cash-strapped buyers who want to minimize out-of-pocket closing costs may prefer a slightly higher interest rate in order to avoid paying points at all, especially if they don’t plan to stay in their home long. But if you want to stay put for the long haul, shopping around to find a lender that offers the right mix of affordable rates and discount points can save you thousands, Zeibert said.

Bottom line Finding the right mortgage may be just as important as finding your dream home.

You don’t want to risk leaving thousands of dollars on the table because you didn’t bother to shop. Don’t forget that choosing a mortgage is a long-term relationship, Zeibert said.

“It’s complicated,” Zeibert said of the mortgage process, “so you want to work with someone who’ll hold your hand in the process — and not just go where you’ll get the cheapest discount. You might refinance or buy another home in the future, so you want to work with people you can trust.” ©2019 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Automation transforms supermarkets, boosting choice for consumers Continued from page 11.

December report by IBISWorld, an industry group.

“The market for grocery products has undergone little change in recent years,” it said.

But supermarkets have applied technological change in self-checkout aisles and automated warehouse equipment that have boosted operating efficiencies, IBISWorld said.

Wages, which are the second-largest cost in the industry, accounted for 10.2 percent of industry revenue in 2018, up about a half-percentage point over five years due largely to a higher minimum wage, the report said. Due to technological advances, such as self-service checkouts, many low wage industry jobs have been eliminated, leaving a larger share of higher skill workers who have greater compensation, IBISWorld said.

Technological changes in the offing include: The Kroger Co. and U.K.-based Ocado Group, announced in February their first automated warehouse with digital and robotic equipment near Kroger’s headquarters in Cincinnati. Kroger plans to order three customer fulfillment centers by the end of 2018 and identify up to 20 in three years.

Kroger and Microsoft announced a partnership to develop digital stores that provide digital displays of products showing prices, promotions and nutritional and dietary information. Kroger also will generate revenue by selling digital advertising space.

Amazon, which owns Whole Foods, has introduced Amazon Go that uses an app for shoppers to pick up items and billed to shoppers’ accounts as they leave the store. Last September, Marc Perrone, president of the

UFCW, said Amazon and CEO Jeff Bezos “are deploying a business model that poses an existential threat to millions of American jobs.”

And Sedano’s Supermarkets, a Florida grocer, is working with Takeoff Technologies, an e-grocery automation startup, on what they call the “first robotic supermarket.” Customers place grocery orders using a mobile app and orders are received and processed by an automated fulfillment facility, with help from supermarket staff. Takeoff said robots can assemble grocery orders of up to 60 items in several minutes, a fraction of the speed and cost of manually selecting items.

Technology, which has upended work since before the advent of the assembly line more than 100 years ago, could again bring unintended changes to the industry.

Automation could lead to dividing grocery sales along class and income levels with upscale customers shopping at small,

local and well-staffed stores and poor consumers using less pricey, bigger stores with lower-quality items, said Lane Windham, associate director at Georgetown University’s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.

In the short-term, automation is prompting concern among employees, not just about the future of jobs, but how much power they’ll have as automation advances, she said.

“Retail workers certainly see it. They’re in the stores, they see customers scanning their own groceries,” Windham said.

Or as Wilkinson, president of UFCW Local 371, said of his union members: “They know where the ball is going, no question about it.” ©2019 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

When this wise man speaks about power, Congress should listen At 96, James Buckley still is, like good cheddar, sharp and savory. Buckley, whose life has been no less accomplished than his brother Bill’s, recently said at a National Review gathering that his speech there would be his last public appearance. Let us eorge hope not.

He adorned all the governill ment’s branches — senator; undersecretary of state for international security affairs; judge on the nation’s second-most-important court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Shortly after his 1970 election to the Senate (as a member of New York’s Conservative Party; the age of miracles had not yet passed), he was handed a recent study showing that “the work of the average congressional office had doubled every five years since 1936.” He explains: “Given the fact that, in simpler times, Congress worked at a leisurely pace and was in session for only five or six months a year, its members could take the initial increases in stride simply by devoting more hours per day and more months per year to their work. Over time, however, the available hours and months had been exhausted, and the doubling could only be accommodated by squeezing deliberation out of the legislative process.”

In 1934, after 145 years of congressional activity, the U.S. Code consisted of one volume of federal statutes. Buckley says when he came to Opinion Congress 36 years later, there were 11 volumes. Today, 49 more years on, there are 41 volumes — supplemented by 242 volumes of regulations having the force of law. This, says Buckley, is the result of a Congress “that largely substitutes political reflex for reflection,” and that is so averse to “messy details” it delegates “essentially legislative authority to executive agencies.” All this stems, however, from “abandonment of the Constitution’s limits on federal authority.”

Buckley says the mischief erupted after a 1937 Supreme Court ruling that Congress, in promoting the “general welfare,” can supply states with money to implement programs that Congress has no enumerated power to write into law. When Buckley entered the Senate, such programs distributed $24 billion. Today, he says, the sum, properly computed, is in the “mid-$700 billions.”

The idea of enumerated powers having been erased, so has the 10th Amendment. (“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”)

Buckley has hitherto proposed converting all such programs into block grants to states. He now proposes a presidential tweet vowing to veto “any bill that tells the states how to run their own affairs.” He proposes, and believes “there is a chance,” that the Supreme Court might reverse its 1937 ruling on the ground that federal grants to states “have proven to be inherently coercive.” These proposals are equally sensible, and — the age of miracles has now passed — equally unlikely.

The problem, as Yuval Levin says, is Congress’s “willful underactivity.” But the growing problem that will continue to exacerbate this problem is this: Having marginalized itself, with judicial encouragement, Congress now attracts members who either disdain it or think members of the president’s party exist to tug their forelock when the president issues orders.

Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), who has been campaigning to escape from the Senate into the White House since arriving there 28 months ago, considers the legislative branch a constitutional superfluity: “Upon being elected, I will give the United States Congress 100 days to get their [sic] act together and have the courage to pass reasonable gun-safety laws, and if they fail to do it, then

G W

Let staff ask the questions

There aren’t many advantages to being old — and at nearly 72, I qualify — but having actually lived through historic events gives one certain insights. From 1972 to 1974, I was a young staffer on the House Judiciary Committee.

I was hired to the professional inda staff even though I did not have a law degree. I was the first havez woman on the professional staff outside the staff director, who began her career as a secretary for then-Chairman Emanuel Celler. Committee hearings at the time were pretty staid affairs, with members less likely to give long-winded speeches and more likely to leave the serious questions

L C

I will take executive action.” The 100 days are granted by the grace of Queen Kamala I. In January, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) explained why Republicans would not consider a bill funding the government without money for a border wall: “The president won’t sign it. Why would we work on it?” Perhaps because there is value in Congress expressing its independent view of the public good?

An omnipresent micromanaging federal government will necessarily be presidential government, with the chief executive’s discretion unbound, and unsupervised by a Congress that manages to be both harried and lethargic.

Many progressives have long understood this — and have approved of it because they thought Woodrow Wilson and the two Roosevelts would be the sort of presidents who would benefit from it. But because of the 45th president, progressives are having second thoughts. They should consider Buckley’s thoughts.

The Washington Post

to staff. Next to the chair and ranking minority member sat the majority and minority counsel, whose duty it was to ask substantive questions of the witnesses at committee hearings. Because I wasn’t an attorney, I usually sat behind the chairman and passed him questions that needed to be asked if he failed to follow up on the list I had given him in preparation for the hearings. But after serving in the role of staff analyst for two years, I finally got my chance to sit in the counsel seat and question witnesses. No member objected, nor did the witnesses.

My tenure on the Judiciary Committee staff coincided with the impeachment of Richard M. Nixon. The chairman of the committee by that time, Peter W. Rodino, hired an entire new staff of lawyers and reOpinion searchers to oversee the impeachment work, but the committee continued to function on two tracks, with subcommittees continuing their work on legislative and oversight issues while the hearings on impeachment proceeded separately. But on all the work, counsel — or in my case, staff analyst — asked many of the most substantive questions during the process.

In the Senate, the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, which came to be known as the Watergate Committee, made majority counsel Sam Dash almost as famous as the chairman, Sam Ervin, while John Doar became a well-recognized figure for his role as special counsel to the House impeachment inquiry.

So why does Attorney General William Barr object to being questioned by staff? His refusal to do so at Thursday’s scheduled House Judiciary Committee hearing has now prompted a showdown between Congress and the administration, one of many initiated by the president and his staff. Barr performed badly before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, despite having the Republican majority on his side. He obfuscated on some Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 •

15

Trade war uncertainty is weighing on the economy, Philly Fed president Harker says

by Erin Arvedlund

Trade tensions are part of an “umbrella of uncertainty” around the U.S. economic policy and are weighing on businesses and markets, according to Patrick Harker, president of Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

“It’s not a healthy thing for the economy overall,” Harker said recently, referring to tariffs Economy and talk of more trade barriers. “That said, we do want fair trade.”

President Donald Trump said he would ratchet up tariffs on $200 billion worth of imports from China, escalating the trade war between Washington and Beijing as talks between two of the world largest economies continue.

Trump’s threats rocked stock markets, reversing gains in recent months that have propelled equities to new records.

While speaking at the Global Interdepdence Center’s monetary and trade conference at Drexel University, Harker said that he was expecting one interest rate hike of 0.25 percent this year and possibly one more in 2020.

As for inflation, Harker said it would take more data to convince him that inflation requires changes to the Fed’s monetary policy.

The latest first quarter GDP reading “was a pleasant surprise, but it’s possible that drag usually seen in first quarters will show up in the second quarter,” Harker said

Jobs are booming in Trump Country, but pay lags The “what if” question of President Donald Trump's presidency is this: How would Trump have entered office if then-FBI Director James Comey had not told him about a “dossier” on Trump's ties with Russia — which major news organizations declined to report on because their crack reporters could not substantiate it — when they first met in Trump Tower on Jan. 6, 2017?

Is it possible that instead of delivering his dark “American carnage” inaugural address, Trump would have taken the oath of office with the optimism he displayed on election night? In the warm glow Economy of victory, Trump told America, “It is time for us to come together as one united people.”

But after the Comey reveal, after U.S. intelligence had failed to tell Trump about Russian attempts to interfere in the presidential race during the 2016 campaign and most of the three-month transition period, Trump had reason to be wary. Especially because, within days of his talk with

Let staff ask the questions

Continued from preceding page. of his answers and misled on others. Despite having answered a direct question in an April 10 House committee hearing on whether he had any reason to believe special counsel Robert Mueller had objections to Barr’s publicly announced conclusion about the report, he replied, “I don’t know whether Bob Mueller supported my conclusions.” A lawyer intent on nailing him down would have followed up with precision, pointing out that Barr had received a letter from Mueller objecting to Barr’s presentation of the report prior to his statement on April 10. “How do you reconcile your statement with Mr. Mueller’s letter of March 27, that you ‘did not fully capture the context, nature, and substance’ of the report and, therefore, ‘There is now public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation’?” he or she might ask. “This threatens to undermine a central purpose for which the Department appointed the special counsel: to assure full public confidence in the outcome of the investigations.”

The problem with politicians asking such questions is that they always look partisan, even when they ask them coolly and refrain from making speeches. Sen. Kamala Harris asked Barr the right questions, but no one watching could forget that she’s running for president, as is Sen. Corey Booker, who at least showed greater restraint this time than during the confirmation hearing for Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Republicans were more than happy to let a nonmember ask questions during the Kavanaugh hearings when witness Christine Blasey Ford testified against the nominee, but now you’d think Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler was suggesting an unprecedented procedure when he wanted to give the majority counsel 30 minutes to question the attorney general — with equal time for minority counsel to follow up.

Everything has become theater, with no concern for getting at the truth. Call me old-fashioned, but I’d like to return to a time when truth mattered and we could count on public officials to show up and answer questions — no matter who asked them — when Congress summoned.

Copyright 2019 Creators.com

Comey, BuzzFeed published the lurid “dossier” — which confirmed Trump's suspicions that the FBI and intelligence community were intent on discrediting him.

As the saying goes: Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

And it's hard not to feel that those who wrote the Mueller report believed they had evened the score when they wrote, “On June 14, 2017, the media reported that the Special Counsel's Office was investigating whether the President had obstructed justice. Press reports called this a ‘major turning point’ in the investigation: while Comey had told the President he was not under investigation, following Comey's firing, the President now was under investigation.”

So, after establishing that the “Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion” — but also failing to “establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government” — the Mueller team took after Trump's attempts to politicize the Department of Justice.

Of particular interest were Trump’s laments that Attorney General Jeff Sessions would not act as a political enforcer in the model of Robert Kennedy and Eric Holder, top lawmen to former Presidents John Kennedy and Barack Obama, respectively. Trump denies he told former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Sessions. But according to the report, Trump told McGahn, “You're telling me that Bobby and Jack didn't talk about investigations? Or Obama didn't tell Eric Holder who to investigate?”

It was an odd juxtaposition — the Mueller team exposing Trump for wanting to use the attorney general's office to stop an investigation while using the report on the investigation to get even with the president.

Was it a “coup,” as Trump has charged last week?

No. Call it a prolonged feud between the FBI and the president that entailed mutual bullying — turf in which Trump himself is no angel.

But it's not clear that it had to begin as it did — in Trump Tower with Comey telling the president-elect information the feds should have told him months earlier about the dossier that linked Trump to prostitutes in Moscow.

“There was a real chance that Donald Trump, politician and hardball deal-maker, would assume I was dangling the prostitute thing over him to jam him, to gain leverage,” Comey wrote in his book, “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership.” Comey added: “He might well assume I was pulling a J. Edgar Hoover, because that's what Hoover would do in my shoes.”

And still, that's how the head of the FBI handled a story that spawned an investigation for something Mueller could not establish as having occurred.

Trump, of course, is responsible for how he overreacted to Comey and the probe. The probe would have been over much sooner if the undisciplined Trump hadn't fired Comey and hadn't given contradictory reasons for the firing.

But you have to wonder: Would Trump have been a different president — even a little different — if Comey hadn't poisoned the well so close to the inauguration?

Copyright 2019 Creators.com

in prepared remarks.

Harker expect American’s GDP to expand by “a bit above 2 percent” in 2019 and about 2 percent in 2020 while seeing the unemployment rate hitting 3.5 percent.

After his speech, Harker took questions ranging from infrastructure, China’s Belt Road initiative, and Trump’s tweets about further trade barrier threats.

“Through our outreach to business leaders, the headline issue we hear about is policy uncertainty” at the national level, Harker said.

“Uncertainty in the board room is not a good thing.

So people are waiting” to make investment and capital commitment decisions, he said. “What we hear is ‘please just leave everything alone for a while’,” he added.

Uncertainty surrounding healthcare policy and drug pricing, for example, “weighs heavily” on Philadelphia’s largest employers — health systems, medical schools, and universities. ©2019 Philly.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

You are no longer expected to help out other teams.

Why is that unsettling?

by Liz Reyer

Q: My role at work is being revised following some reassignments and additional hiring by other teams. Assistance that I have been providing to those groups for the past couple of years will no longer be needed so I’ll be able to focus more on my official position. This should be good news, but I’m feeling a lot of loss and anxiety.

What should I do to get more comfortable in my situation?

-Andy, 50, operations director A: Understand the roots of your concerns and focus on the benefits you can realize.

When you step up to help other teams, there are a variety of possible intangible rewards. There can be a hero effect, with you coming in to save the day. That feels good, right? Or, in a company that rewards activity level over results, being busy might be seen as a route to security.

And it can also be a shield to not fully coming through on some responsibilities because you are so desperately needed elsewhere.

At the same time, you might simply really like the other tasks you have picked up and not want to go back to focusing completely on your main job.

Motivations like these are based on increasing pleasure or reducing fear. Give some thought to understanding your underlying emotions so that they are not unintentionally driving your actions. If you are being driven by fear, reflect on whether it’s realistic. Typically fears tend to be exaggerated, so you may be able to set some of this aside.

Then use this as an opportunity to optimize your job.

Examine the tasks you have been doing, identifying those that particularly resonate with you and that you are good at. For those that may not actually be part of “your” job, try to make a reasonable case for having them assigned to you rather than shifted to someone else. Most managers just want work to be done well, so it’s plausible to think you could officially take on some of those responsibilities.

If not, though, be sure to support colleagues who take them on, helping them succeed.

However, your most important focus should be on the work that is part of your core role.

With the removal of some workload, you have the opportunity to really shine. You will first need to identify gaps in your past performance.

Look for places where you could have really made a difference if you had given more effort or had used a different approach. Too often this type of reflection occurs too late, when insights can no longer be put into direct action. Take this time as a luxury, recognizing that finding ways to excel in your role will build enthusiasm and energy. Create specific action plans. For example, you Continued on page 22.

16

• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES MBJ legal notice instructions The following are some guidelines to consider when posting legal notices with the Midlands Business Journal: 1. Submit a written notice in either Microsoft Word or as a PDF document to Beth Grube at legals@mbj.com, fax to 402-758-9315 or mail: 1324 S. 119th St. Omaha, NE 68144.

For trade names, submit a copy of approved (bar code in upper right hand corner) Application For Registration of Trade Name from the Secretary of State to the same email address. Please include your billing address and the desired duration you’d like your notice to run (trade names run for only one week).

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

Payment options are cash or check.

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

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

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

AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), MEGAN N STEVENSON You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 01/31/2019 on Case Number CI19-3409, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $205.70, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 06/10/20190or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that GREVentures, L.L.C. (the“Company”)has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 15650 W. Maple Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68116.

The registered agent of the Company is Julie Brooks, 2328 N. 177th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The Company was formed on April 23, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NUTRA NETWORK Notice is hereby given that Nutra Network, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial agent for service of process as Brent Christensen, and with its initial designated office at 8408 S 64th Street, Omaha, NE 68157.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 SHANNON G. MCCOY, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HUSKER DEMO, 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 Husker Demo, LLC. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on April 8, 2019 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 April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 NOTICE PARTIAL TERMINATION OF NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, TAKE NOTICE: The Contracting Owner identified below gives notice that it caused to be filed a Partial Termination of Notice of Commencement on the 26th day of April, 2019, containing the following information: Contracting owner: Lifegate Church, a Nebraska non-profit corporation also known as Lifegate Church, a Nebraska corporation, formerly known as Trinity Church Interdenominational and formerly known as Word of Life of Omaha, Inc. Real Estate: Lot Two (2), Wycliffe Replat 5, an addition to the City of Omaha, in Douglas County, Nebraska.

Contracting owner's interest in the subject real estate: Fee Simple Title holder (if different from contracting owner): N/A The notice of commencement was recorded on June 7, 2018, as instrument number 2018043660 and is terminated as of May 28, 2019.

This termination applies only to the following described real estate: Lot Two (2), Wycliffe Replat 5, an addition to the City of Omaha, in Douglas County, Nebraska.

All lien claims for which a notice of lien is not recorded by the termination date may be defeated by a transfer of the real estate.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

DONALD HOSFORD, Attorney 1910 South 72nd Street, Suite 207 Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1734 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-524 Estate of VICTOR A. HANSEN, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on April 16th, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent; and that Curtis Dale Hansen, whose address is 11727 S. 109th St, Papillion, Nebraska 68046, 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 July 10, 2019 or be forever barred.

KELLY J. GOLDEN Clerk of the County Court First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION III, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION III, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION IV, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION IV, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION V, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION V, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION VI, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION VI, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION VII, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION VII, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION VIII, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION VIII, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF ART SPACE, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ART SPACE, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 220 South 31st Avenue, Apt. 3313, Omaha, Nebraska 68131. The registered agent is SARAH R. ZITO. The general nature of the business is to operate a general hair salon 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 hair salon 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 February 25, 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 3018 South 87th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF CHRISTENSEN LUMBER, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Articles of Restatement of Articles of Incorporation of Christensen Lumber, Inc., a Nebraska corporation, have been amended to eliminate the preemptive rights of the shareholders. The Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Restatement of Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on April 22, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 ADAMS & SULLIVAN, P.C., Attorneys 1246 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 1 Papillion, Nebraska 68046-2843 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PHIPPS RE, LLC The name of the limited liability company is Phipps RE, LLC. The address of the designated office in Nebraska is: 4794 S. 167th Street, Omaha, NE 68135. It is organized to transact any lawful business. Perpetual existence commenced February 27, 2019. The affairs of the limited liability company are to be conducted by the manager, Michael B. Phipps.

DATED this 22nd day of April 2019.

Agent for Service: Patrick J. Sullivan, 1246 Golden Gate Drive, Suite 1, Papillion, NE 68046 First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF REDWOOD INVESTMENTS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of Redwood Investments, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended as follows: the limited liability company has changed its name to Clayton and Jake, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on April 22, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Name: MIDWEST HEMP FORUM Type: A nonprofit membership public benefit corporation Registered Office: 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 Registered Agent: Allan M. Ziebarth Incorporator: Allan M. Ziebarth, 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION I, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION I, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION II, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION II, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF QUENCH IV SPA, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Quench IV Spa, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The limited liability company shall provide medical services. The designated office of the limited liability company is 12310 K Plaza, Suite 105, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen, P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124.

The limited liability company commenced business on April 22, 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BURIED ALIVE PARANORMAL PRODUCTIONS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Buried Alive Paranormal Productions, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company 14506 Franklin St., Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF THE STEPHENSON BUILDING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that The Stephenson Building, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company 14506 Franklin St., Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BALSAM TRAIL BUCKS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Balsam Trail Bucks, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company 741 N. 161st Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68118. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF KUZECO, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Kuzeco, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company 2357 S. 183rd Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OMAHA YARDS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Omaha Yards, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 9636 Boyd Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. The Registered Agent of the Company is Michael Aschenbrener, 9636 Boyd Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68134.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CWG HQ, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CWG HQ, 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 Zach Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GCP II HQ, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GCP II HQ, 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 Zach Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: TEQUILLA RUPERT You are hereby notified that on 11/15/18, the Plaintiff Credit Management Services, Inc., filed a Complaint in the COUNTY Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska, against you shown as Case Number CI18 23804. The object and prayer of which is a judgment in the amount of 890.00, plus court costs, pre-judgment interest and attorney fees, if applicable.

The Complaint prays that judgment be entered against you. You are hereby notified that you must answer the Complaint on or before 06/09/19 at the COUNTY court of DOUGLAS County, OMAHA Nebraska.

Megan L. Bischoff #25206 P.O. Box 1512 Grand Island, NE 68802 (308)398-3801 Attorney for Plaintiff First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LEONARD STREET LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Knoxville, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Knoxville, 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 Abe Schumacher.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LEONARD STREET LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Kingsport, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Kingsport, 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 Abe Schumacher.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LEONARD STREET LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Memphis, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Memphis, 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 Abe Schumacher.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

17

DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: DEXTER LEVERING, 2708 Iowa St, Omaha NE 68112, you are hereby notified that on March 27, 2019, AMERICAN FAMILY MUTUAL INS. Co., S.I. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-6932, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $8,897.60, 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 17th day of June, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Flex Mida Trucking Inc. a Nebraska corporation has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its registered office at 5648 S 49th St. Omaha, NE 68117 and its Registered Agent being Ignacio Hernandez Barrera. The general nature of its business is to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking or insurance, for which a corporation may be organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska. The company was organized and commenced on April 03, 2019, and its duration is perpetual. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by Ignacio Hernandez Barrera CEO. First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF EMBER PROPERTY GROUP, LLC The name of the Company is Ember Property Group, 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 April 17, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LONE TREE ANIMAL CARE CENTER, LLC The name of the Company is Lone Tree Animal Care Center, LLC. The Company has been organized to conduct the practice of veterinary medicine, all in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. 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 April 22, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LEONARD STREET LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Chattanooga, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Chattanooga, 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 Abe Schumacher.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ARBOR CARE CENTERS FRANKLIN, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Arbor Care Centers – Franklin, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Kenneth W. Klaasmeyer, 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on April 17, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LEONARD STREET LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Nashville Franklin, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Nashville Franklin, 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 Abe Schumacher.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ARBOR CARE CENTERS NELIGH, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Arbor Care Centers – Neligh, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Kenneth W. Klaasmeyer, 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on April 17, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LEONARD STREET LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Nashville Henderson, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Nashville Henderson, 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 Abe Schumacher.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ARBOR CARE CENTERS FULLERTON, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Arbor Care Centers – Fullerton, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Kenneth W. Klaasmeyer, 18807 Sahler Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on April 17, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

18

• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Copperfield Support Services, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on April 19, 2019, and the company is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the company are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore, and that the balance of any remaining assets are to be distributed to its Member. Brent J. Rising, D.D.S. will wind up and liquidate the company’s business and affairs. If you have a claim against the company, please provide the following information with respect to your claim: (1) your name or the name of your entity; (2) the nature of your claim; (3) the amount of your claim; and (4) the date your claim arose. All claims shall be mailed to 14406 Harrison Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68138. A claim against the company is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five (5) years after the publication date of the third required notice.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION J&J Chu, Inc., whose registered agent is Max Lau and registered office is 10685 Bedford Ave, #120, Omaha, Nebraska 68134, was formed on April 16, 2019 to engage in any lawful business. The corporation has authorized 10,000 shares of capital stock.

Thomas E. Whitmore, Incorporator First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 SMITH SLUSKY POHREN & ROGERS LLP 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on March 9, 2019, EB Properties, LLC was organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, with a designated office in Omaha, Nebraska. The Company’s initial agent for service of process is Danielle M. Dring, 8712 West Dodge Road, #400, Omaha, NE 68114.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF VECTOR AVIATION, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Vector Aviation, 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 7712 South 101st Street, LaVista, Nebraska 68128 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 April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RJS INSURANCE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that RJS Insurance, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 19920 Marcy Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 11, 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Her’s, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the Company’s designated office is 6915 Oak Plaza, Apt 522, Omaha, NE 68106, and the name of the registered agent at such address is Danielle Collier. The general nature of the business is any legal and lawful activity allowed pursuant to the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act and the laws of the State of Nebraska and elsewhere. The Company commenced business on 4/18/2019 and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be managed by its members. Danielle Collier, Member First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), LINDSAY J CARLSEN & DARRELL L CARLSEN You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 01/31/2019 on Case Number CI19-3406, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $183.54, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 06/17/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), HEATHER N SUTHERLAND You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 02/04/2019 on Case Number CI19-3225, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $294.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs.

You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 06/17/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION AND AMENDMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LSA Properties Management, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), was organized on February 3, 2017 under the laws of the State of Nebraska, having its designated office at 11718 Nicholas Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154 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.

On February 7, 2019, the Company filed an amendment to its Certificate of Organization changing its name to J & J Challenger, LLC. First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MIRANDEX, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Mirandex, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, designating its registered agent as Erickson | Sederstrom, P.C., a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

The Company was organized for the purpose of engaging in the transaction of any lawful business and the performance of any lawful activities that a limited liability company may engage in under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Company shall have perpetual existence unless dissolved in accordance with its Certificate of Organization, its Operating Agreement or the Limited Liability Company Act. Unless otherwise provided in the Company’s Operating Agreement, the affairs of the Company are to be managed by its (members) (managing member).

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RUCK SURFACES, LLC The name of the Company is Ruck Surfaces, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 2445 Deer Park Boulevard, Omaha, Nebraska 68105. 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 August 29, 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019

JESSICA E. THOMAS, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF ROYCE STERLING FALCON RIDGE, LLC ROYCE STERLING FALCON RIDGE, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the "Company"), filed its STATEMENT OF DISSOLUTION with the Nebraska Secretary of State on April 25, 2019.

Persons with claims against the Company must present such claim to: Royce Sterling Falcon Ridge, LLC c/o Lawrence R. James, II, 12910 Pierce Street, Suite 110, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. Claims against the Company must include the following information: (i) claimant's name, address and telephone number during business hours; (ii) any facts which may support the claim; and (iii) any amounts allegedly owed by the Company under the claim.

Claims not including this information will not be reviewed. Any claims against this Company will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce such claims is commenced within five (5) years after the date of this publication.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 JESSICA E. THOMAS, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF ROYCE STERLING STONE CREEK, LLC ROYCE STERLING STONE CREEK, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the "Company"), filed its STATEMENT OF DISSOLUTION with the Nebraska Secretary of State on April 25, 2019. Persons with claims against the Company must present such claim to: Royce Sterling Stone Creek, LLC c/o Lawrence R. James, II, 12910 Pierce Street, Suite 110, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. Claims against the Company must include the following information: (i) claimant's name, address and telephone number during business hours; (ii) any facts which may support the claim; and (iii) any amounts allegedly owed by the Company under the claim. Claims not including this information will not be reviewed. Any claims against this Company will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce such claims is commenced within five (5) years after the date of this publication.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 GNUSE & GREEN LAW OFFICES, P.C., Attorneys 11311 Chicago Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF SALWEEN THAI RESTAURANT III, INC. Registered Office: 10505 Mary Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122 The Corporation shall engage in any lawful business for which a corporation may be formed under the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. Authorized capital stock is $10,000 to be fully paid and non-assessable on issue. Perpetual existence commenced April 25, 2019, when articles were filed with the Secretary of State. Affairs are to be conducted by the Board of Directors and Officers authorized by the Bylaws and the Board.

Thomas C. Green, II, Incorporator First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TOUR GOLF LEAGUE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Tour Golf League has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 16472 Yates St, Omaha, Nebraska 68116.

The registered agent is Dennis Einspahr and his office is at 16472 Yates St, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The limited liability company commenced business in March of 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF STANDING BEAR PROPERTIES, LLC The name of the Company is Standing Bear Properties, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 13504 Cuming Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. 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 April 30, 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OMAVERM, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OMAVERM, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1336 N 131st Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Registered Agent of the Company is Michael P. Noonan, 1336 N 131st Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68154 First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF AM Aviation, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that AM Aviation, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 13520 Giles RDt, Omaha, Nebraska 68138. The Registered Agent of the Company is Aaron Stanger., 13520 Giles RD, Omaha, Nebraska 68138.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Hop Group, LLC (the "Company") has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 5009 N. 138th St. Omaha, NE 68164. The registered agent of the Company is Emily Hopkins, 5009 N. 138th St. Omaha, NE 68164.

The general nature of the business will be to engage in the transaction of any or all lawful business, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The LLC was filed with the State of Nebraska on April 17, 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BCD HOMES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that BCD Homes, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address and Registered Agent Address of the Company is 5094 S 175th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68135. The Registered Agent of the Company is David Yee. General nature of the business is to transact any and all lawful business for which limited liability companies are allowed by statute. The Company was organized in March 2019 for perpetual duration and is managed by its members.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 KATHRYN J. DERR, Attorney BERKSHIRE & BURMEISTER 1301 South 75th Street, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JLB RESALE ENTERPRISES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that JLB RESALE ENTERPRISES, 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 2229 Madison Street, Bellevue, Nebraska 68005. The registered office of the Company is 1301 S 75th St. Ste. 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68124, and the agent at such office is Kathryn J. Derr. The general nature of the business to be transacted by the company is any lawful business which may be carried on by a limited liability company organized under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The company commenced operations on April 23, 2019, and shall have a perpetual duration.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES C R O K E R , H U C K , K A S H E R , D e W I T T, A N D E R S O N & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF MAINKO CAPITAL, INC. Mainko Capital, Inc. has been incorporated under the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act. The Articles of Incorporation were filed on April 22, 2019. The street address of the corporation's registered office is 4700 South 222nd Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022, and the name of the initial registered agent at that office is Daniel Koch. The corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 shares of common stock.

Daniel Koch, Incorporator, 4700 South 222nd Street, Elkhorn, NE 68022 First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION TBD Distributors, 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 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Andrew P. Deaver and 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 BRANDON K. DICKERSON, Attorney LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 N O T I C E O F O R G A N I Z AT I O N O F I N C R E D I M A S T E R ENTERPRISES LLC Notice is hereby given that IncrediMaster Enterprises LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office and registered office of the Company is 3617 South 91st Street, Omaha NE 68124, and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Megan Harris.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 MATTHEW T. PAYNE, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DEANNA LARSON MD, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Deanna Larson MD, LLC 1. The name of the limited liability company is Deanna Larson MD, LLC 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 2212 S 64th Plz, Apt 432, Omaha, Nebraska 68106, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Deanna Larson, M.D., 2212 S 64th Plz, Apt 432, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 RUSSELL J. KREIKEMEIER, Attorney KREIKEMEIER LAW OFFICES 126 East Grove Street West Point, Nebraska 68788 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given of the Company formation and organization of MELIA-TUHY, LLC, with its registered office address at 126 East Grove, West Point, Nebraska 68788 and its principal office location being 15818 North 4th Street, Bennington, Nebraska, 68007. The purpose or purposes for which this Company is formed is to own, manage, lease, and deal with real property whether in this State or any other and to conduct all related activities thereto. The Company will conduct any other matter(s) including the transaction of all or any lawful business or engagement in any commercial venture permitted by the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, as amended, and all other applicable law. The initial capital of the Company has been contributed and evidence of membership in the Company will be issued by the Management Board. The Company commenced doing business on June 28, 2018, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company shall be conducted by a Management Board and such other Officers and Managers as may be provided for in the Operating Agreement of the Company.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 GROSS & WELCH, P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT OF K9 CUISINE HOLDINGS, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Nature Hills Nursery, Inc., a Nebraska Corporation, has filed Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation changing the name of the corporation to K9 Cuisine Holdings, Inc. on April 10, 2019. Its designated office remains 707 South 152nd Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. Its registered agent for service of process is Jeffrey Dinslage, with an address at 707 South 152nd Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68154.

Ronald L. Eggers, Organizer, 1500 Omaha Tower, 2120 South 72nd Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019

KARINE E. SOKPOH, Attorney SOKPOH LAW GROUP 10730 Pacific Street, Suite 247 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF NOUVELLE BEAUTEE, LLC Notice is hereby given that Nouvelle Beautee, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with its designated office at 11218 Grande Avenue, Omaha, NE 68164. 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 March 25th, 2019. Its affairs are to be conducted by the manager Fidele Mienso. Its registered agent is Fidele Mienso and her office is located at 11218 Grande Avenue, Omaha, NE 68164.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of F&A Construction, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is F&A Construction, LLC. Registered agent and office of F&A Construction, LLC at 6002 S 37th Street, Omaha, NE 68107. Initial members: Fernando Flores Jimenez.

General nature of the business is the general construction and to transact any and all lawful business for which limited liability companies are allowed by statute. The LLC was organized on May 2019 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 DEAN F. SUING, Attorney GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INTENT TO DISSOLVE ABSOLUTE GUTTERS, INC. Pursuant to the Nebraska Business Corporation Act, the undersigned corporation hereby publishes notice of its voluntary dissolution. The stockholder adopted a resolution to dissolve on March 1, 2019. The resolution received the unanimous vote of stockholder in attendance at said meeting. Michael Humphrey, 5517 N. 149th Street, Omaha, NE 68116, President of the corporation, is the person who is to manage the affairs during the dissolution of the corporation. The plan of dissolution will be to pay creditors of the corporation and then distribute the remaining assets of the corporation to the shareholder in accordance with the stock ownership in the corporation.

Absolute Gutters, Inc. By: Michael Humphrey, President First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 THOMAS C. LAURITSEN, Attorney ANDERSEN, LAURITSEN & BROWER 1005 South 107th Avenue, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF FILING OF CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF BRAD RAMP MUSIC, LLC A Limited Liability Company NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that BRAD RAMP MUSIC, LLC, a Limited Liability Company, has filed a Certificate of Organizatrotr under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of its registered office is 8904 N. l56th Avenue, Bennington, NE 68007. The general nature of the business is principally to provide musical entertainment and to engage in and to do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking or insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of Nebraska.

The company commenced business on April 22,2019, and its duration shall be perpetual. The affairs of the corporation are to be conducted by its members.

Member: Brad Ramp First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Omaha Integrative Medicine, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Omaha Integrative Medicine, LLC, a Nebraska professional limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, designating its registered agent as Erickson | Sederstrom, P.C. with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114.

The Company was organized for the purpose of engaging in the transaction of any lawful business and the performance of any lawful activities that a limited liability company may engage in under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Company shall have perpetual existence unless dissolved in accordance with its Certificate of Organization, its Operating Agreement or the Limited Liability Company Act. Unless otherwise provided in the Company’s Operating Agreement, the affairs of the Company are to be managed by its (members) (managing member).

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF KCH1, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that KCH1, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 12015 Jefferson Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124.

The limited liability company commenced business on May 1, 2019.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019

19

DEAN F. SUING, Attorney GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-568 Estate of Sally T. Theiler, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on May 1st, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that Frank Theiler Jr. a/k/a Frank Theiler, 7767 Eaglewood Lane, Arlington, NE 68002 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 July 10, 2019 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION IX, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION IX, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OZ VISION X, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that OZ VISION X, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20706 Cedar Circle, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on April 18, 2019.

First publication April 26, 2019, final May 10, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of Vecom, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is Vecom, LLC. Registered agent and office of Christian Vargas at 6133 S 191st Street, Omaha, NE 68135. Initial members: Christian Vargas. 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 April 2019 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of Mora Drywall, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is Mora Drywall, LLC. Registered agent and office of Oscar Javier Calderon Mora at 3033 California Street, Omaha, NE 68131. Initial members: Oscar Javier Calderon Mora. General nature of the business is the general construction and to transact any and all lawful business for which limited liability companies are allowed by statute. The LLC was organized on April 2019 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF DAGSON CONSULTING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of Dagson Consulting, LLC has been amended and restated. The designated office of the limited liability company is 12020 Shamrock Plaza, Suite 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on April 23, 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF USG CONSTRUCTION LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that USG Construction LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 13340 California Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Thomas Joseph Twit, 13340 California Street, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The limited liability company commenced business on April 23, 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019

20

• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ANTHONY TAMAYO REAL ESTATE, LLC Notice is hereby given that a professional limited liability company has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the company is ANTHONY TAMAYO REAL ESTATE, LLC. The company is organized to render real estate sales services. The name and street address of the company’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128.

The designated office is located at 4620 N. 175th Street, Omaha, NE 68116.

Anthony Tamayo, Member First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 NOTICE PARTIAL TERMINATION OF NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT Notice is hereby given that a Partial Termination of Notice of Commencement was recorded with the Douglas County Register of Deeds on May 6, 2019, as Instrument No. 2019029867 terminating the Notice of Commencement recorded with the Douglas County Register of Deeds on June 7, 2018 as Instrument No. 2018043660 against the real property legally described as follows: Real Estate: Lot Two (2), Wycliffe Replat 5, an addition to the City of Omaha, in Douglas County, Nebraska.

The Partial Termination of Notice of Commencement was filed by the contracting owner, Lifegate Church, a Nebraska non-profit corporation also known as Lifegate Church, a Nebraska corporation, formerly known as Trinity Church Interdenominational and formerly known as Word of Life of Omaha, Inc, whose address is 15555 West Dodge Road, Omaha, NE 68154.

The contracting owner is the fee simple owner of the above-described property. The Partial Notice of Commencement is terminated as of June 10, 2019.

All lien claims for which a notice of lien is not recorded by the termination date may be defeated by a transfer of the real estate.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: CRYSTAL L. JURA, 2547 Y Street, Omaha NE 68107, you are hereby notified that on February 18, 2019, Credit Acceptance Corporation filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-3962, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $8,468.71, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 24th day of June, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 24, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: JORGE ZEPEDA-CAMPOS, 1522 1/2 B Street, Omaha NE 68108, you are hereby notified that on March 26, 2019, AMERICAN FAMILY MUTUAL INS. Co., S.I. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-6846, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $10,520.64, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 24th day of June, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 24, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of Hills of Glory, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is Hills of Glory, LLC. Registered agent and office of Nazaret Llanas Pereyra at 5312 S 86th Ct. Apt. 10, Omaha, NE 68127. Initial members: Nazaret Llanas Pereyra and Caila Damaris Llanas. General nature of the business is the general construction and to transact any and all lawful business for which limited liability companies are allowed by statute. The LLC was organized on December 2018 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Los Tapatios Mexican Grill & Bar Name of Applicant: Margaritas LLC Address: 4915 South 72nd Street, Omaha, NE 68127 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: NE Date of first use of name in Nebraska: New General nature of business: Mexican Restaurant DAVID VALADEZ Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 10, 2019

NOTICE OF ORGANIZTION Notice is hereby given that ALZOLU Properties LLC, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska on 03/04/2019 with its initial designated agent and office: Edward Hunt, 10320 N 190th Ave, Bennington, NE 68007. The general nature of the business is Property Management. The business shall be Member-Managed.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 ROBERT J. LIKES, Attorney LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR19-454 Estate of Christa M. Tracy, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on April 4, 2019, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, Kathryn J. Tracy, 1154 South 95th Street, Omaha, NE 68124, 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 June 3, 2019 or be forever barred.

CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PACIFIC SOCIAL, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Pacific Social, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 900 South 74th Plaza, Suite 303, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The limited liability company commenced business on May 3, 2019.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PQOF I, LLC The name of the Company is PQOF I, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1127 Park Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68105. 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 May 1 2019.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Midwest Premier Academy, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The designated office of the Company is 18626 Holmes Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68135. The registered agent of the Company is David Hawkins, 18626 Holmes Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68135. The Company was formed on May 6, 2019.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that BA-EV, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the Company’s designated office is 1910 S. 44 ST, STE 100, Omaha, NE 68105, and the name of the registered agent at such address is Eric Vana.

The general nature of the business is any legal and lawful activity allowed pursuant to the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act and the laws of the State of Nebraska and elsewhere. The Company commenced business on 4/22/2019 and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be managed by its members. Eric Vana, Member First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DR. EMILY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has formed a limited liability company under the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, as follows: The name of the company is Dr. Emily, LLC. The address of the designated office is 4611 S. 96th Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68127 and the initial registered agent is Emily R. Campbell, PsyD, 17110 I Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68135. The company is organized to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking and insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of Nebraska. The limited liability company commenced existence on the filing and recording of its Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of State on April 29, 2019, and shall have a perpetual period of duration from the date the Certificate of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State. Management of the Company shall be vested in an initial board of one manager who shall serve until successors are appointed or elected.

Emily R. Campbell, PsyD, Registered Agent First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019

STATE OF NEBRASKA PAROLE BOARD HEARINGS A total of 161 cases will be heard by the Board in May, 2019. The following case(s) sentenced in Douglas County will be seen by the Board of Parole.

May 20, 2019 – 8:30 a.m. Nebraska State Penitentiary, Lincoln, Nebraska Clark, Adrian 71649 Robbery, Use Deadly Weap to Commit Fel Meja, Adam 81063 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop Primes, Kevin 81110 Sexual Assault 1st Degree Lewis, Amaya 83763 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug Easterling, Christopher 85657 Robbery (2 counts) May 23, 2019 – 9:30 a.m. Community Correctional Center - Omaha, Nebraska Barfield, Clinton 62131 Murder 2nd Degree, Use Deadly Weap to Commit Fel Summage, Henry 70541 Domestic Assault, Strangulation, Use Deadly Weap to Commit Fel Dean, Terrence 82388 Operate Motor Veh/Avoid Arrest Kinstler, Ryan 83737, Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug, Terroristic Threats, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop Hidalgo, Robert 84156 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug Smith, Kenneth 84216 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I Lucas, Nate 84481 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I Jessop, Phillip 84735 Theft by Deception, Theft by Unlwfl Taking or Disp Morelos, Javier 84951 Driving While Intoxicated Spencer, Marcus 85731 Robbery May 28, 2019 – 9:30 a.m., Tecumseh State Correctional Institution, Tecumseh, Nebraska McDaniels, Austin 79136 Criminal Impersonation, Theft by Deception (3 counts) Womack, Kandon 79596 Assault 2nd Degree Haynie, Jerell 8023, Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I (2 counts), Pos Cntrl Sub Except Marijuana May 28, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. Lincoln Correctional Center, Lincoln, Nebraska Baker, Robert 68627 Assault 2nd Degree, Robbery, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop, Theft by Unlwfl Taking or Disp ( 2 counts) Townsell Marvin 81202 Sexual Assault of Child 1st Deg Scripter, Jake 81359 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug Rowland, Jason 87136 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I Orozco, Alexis 89142 Burglary Hall, Thomas 89139 Assault 1st Degree Harris, Marklyn 69555 Possession of Defaced Firearm, Tampering, Unlawful Discharge of Firearm May 29, 2019 – 9:30 a.m. Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, York, Nebraska Country, Jasmine 99847 Pos Cntrl Sub Except Marijuana, Robbery Tyndall, Lea 99851 Driving While Intoxicated, Robbery Nowaczyk, Amy 99907 Enticement/Electronic Comm Dev, Sexual Assault of Child 1st Deg Ixta, Milea 99968 Accessory to a Felony, Theft by Unlwfl Taking or Disp King, Sabrina 99980 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug May 31, 2019 – 9:30 a.m. Omaha Correctional Center, Omaha, Nebraska Randolph, Jason 65861 Sexual Assault of Child 1st Deg Langford, Orlandus 69783 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug McDougald, Keith 73967 Pos of Over 1 LB of Marijuana, Sexual Assault 1st Degree Cervantes, Miguel 79354 Domestic Assault, Use Deadly Weap to Commit Fel Clayton, Alex 84315 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I Evans, Robert 84598 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug Berney, Jacob 85771 Child Abuse, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop (2 counts), Theft by Unlwfl Taking or Disp Preiksaitis, Derrick 87837 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I Priestino, Edward 64111 Burglary (3 counts), Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop (2 counts), Theft by Unlwfl Taking or Disp (4 counts) ROSALYN COTTON, CHAIR NEBRASKA BOARD OF PAROLE May 10, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Kari McElderry, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 1868 N. 150th Court, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The registered agent of the Company is Kari McElderry, 1868 N. 150th Court, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Company was formed on April 24, 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 17, 2019 BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: MAVERICK AUTOMOTIVE Name of Applicant: MAVERICK ENTERPRISES, LLC Address: 1740 Bondessen Street, Bennington, NE 68007 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: MAY 1, 2019 General nature of business: AUTO SALES JAKE ROMERO Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 10, 2019

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SITE DEVELOPMENT LEASE SIX, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Site Development Lease Six, 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 Zach Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ROCKBRICK CHIMNEYS LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Rockbrick Chimneys LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 14010 Camden Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68164. The Registered Agent of the Company is Breyton T. Pool, 14010 Camden Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68164. The limited liability company commenced business on April 29th, 2019 First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 HALEY REAL ESTATE GROUP, LLC 10703 J Street, Suite 101 Omaha, NE 68127 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION FOR POINTE 4, LLC A Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State for Pointe HC4, LLC (the “Company”) on April 19, 2019. The address of the Company’s designated office is 10703 J Street, Suite 101, Omaha, NE 68127. The name and address for the Company’s registered agent is Carl J. Troia, Jr., 10703 J Street, Suite 101, Omaha, NE 68127.

First publication May 10, 2019, final May 24, 2019 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BRENTWOOD SQUARE PLAZA, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Brentwood Square Plaza, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1505 North 203rd Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Frank R. Krejci, 1505 North 203rd Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The limited liability company commenced business on May 1, 2019.

First publication May 3, 2019, final May 24, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Midtown Craftsman Name of Applicant: Matthew Conn Address: 4838 Farnam Street Omaha NE 68132 Applicant is a Individual If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Date of first use of name in Nebraska: March 1, 2019 General nature of business: General Contractor MATTHEW CONN Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 10, 2019

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Augmented writing technology: a writer’s friend or foe?

by Melissa Hellmann

As a self-proclaimed skeptic of HR technology, Aubrey Blanche was reluctant to compose job posts using artificial intelligence that generates text.

But the software produced by Seattle-based Textio worked, said Blanche, whose title at software company Atlassian is global head of diversity and belonging. Not only did the writing technology help Atlassian diversify its candidate pool, it also identified gender-biased language used in the company’s performance assessments. That’s helped Technology the representation of women in technical roles at Atlassian nearly double to 19 percent since the company started using Textio in 2015, she said.

“Textio has been a core part of how we’ve moved the needle on representation,” Blanche added. “(It) helps move our culture and build awareness about the impact of the language.”

Now Textio has expanded the software’s tools from identifying biased language in job posts to helping writers express their ideas. Last week, Textio launched a new product called Textio Flow that Blanche anticipates will help Atlassian further strengthen its identity.

Textio Flow works by learning the phrases companies and individuals use to discuss jobs from a database of published documents. The software then deepens its understanding of the user’s personal voice with every keystroke, enabling it to craft original language that reflects the customer’s brand.

Like paramours who know each other so intimately they finish one another’s sentences, the software takes a simple phrase or sentence typed into the text box and offers to transform it into a rich paragraph. The writer still wields control of the document by choosing whether to implement a suggestion or edit the text.

In a trial run of the new product, Textio employees’ default language style was used to create a software-engineer job listing.

After choosing the role and job location from a drop-down menu, the user then types a word or phrase into the text box to describe the position and candidate qualifications. To help managers recruit diverse talent, Textio uses a database of phrases shown to attract qualified candidates.

For instance, when Textio Flow saw the sentence, “We are looking for an innovative software engineer to join our team,” a pop-up box indicated that the phrase “our team” attracts more female candidates. Textio Flow expanded the job description with the suggestion of adding: “We believe that the future of business documents is knowing how they’ll perform before they’re published. Textio builds the service that powers this revolution. Our platform is delighting customers, and we’re looking for creative and passionate frontend engineers to help lead our Seattle team.”

While it might sound like Textio Flow simply helps its customers plagiarize or repeat a company’s standard jargon, co-founder and CTO Jensen Harris is quick to say the software will not replace humans. “It’s not automated writing – it’s what we call augmented writing,” Harris said. “It’s not designed to take the human out of the loop.”

Textio seeks to evolve the creative process by helping its users focus on innovation and to leave the tedious writing to its software, he said.

The 130-person Textio team was founded by Kieran Snyder, a former product leader at Amazon and Microsoft with a Ph.D. in linguistics, and Harris, who was previously the Microsoft Mobile Labs director. The private company won’t disclose its revenue, but a spokesperson said more than 25 percent of Fortune 100 companies use its products.

Customers including McDonalds, Nestle and Johnson & Johnson have jumped on the augmented writing train to create a consistent language style that can be replicated companywide.

While Textio Flow is currently aimed at businesses, Harris said it has the potential to be applied everywhere, including by students completing college papers. The new software can be accessed on the Textio website with a subscription and is also embedded within extensions on Gmail and LinkedIn. A Textio Flow extension will also be available for Microsoft Outlook next month.

Artificial intelligence technology in the workplace has long drawn the ire of skeptics who fear their jobs could be replaced by a bloodless program. With its far-reaching applicability, the rollout of Textio Flow raises the question of whether writing jobs could be phased out completely. Harris downplayed that possibility, instead highlighting the software’s ability to empower humans.

“We’re about making writers better and about making the feeling of writing feel powerful and impactful,” Harris said. The goal is that “you would be able to use augmented writing to help you create better stories, to write faster, to feel like you’re able

to spend more time thinking about the ideas and the content.”

For the vast majority of people who don’t write for a living, he said, the tool helps them find the words to accurately express what they want to say.

Blanche said the program has helped enhance her ingenuity by eliminating writer’s block. With a click of a tab, the suggestions that appear on the screen get her creative juices flowing.

“The language that we use really shapes our reality,” Blanche said. “Investing in this kind of technology is important as part of a broader strategy to create equitable, balanced organizations.” ©2019 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Overconfidence leads to mistakes in retirement planning

by Janet Kidd Stewart

Among 55-plus working households, four in 10 have saved at least a quarter-million dollars for retirement, according to a long-running retirement confidence survey.

Is that enough to maintain their lifestyle in retirement? It’s difficult to say without knowing the full range of assets and matching them to former income.

However, this top group in the Employee Benefit Research Institute survey does have enough to attract the attention of unscrupulous advisers and salespeople, Retirement says a veteran advocate for fraud victims.

Attorney Andrew Stoltmann, who says he represents lottery winners, finds a lot of similarities between the lucky few and the masses of near and new retirees getting ready to roll over their 401(k) savings on their own.

“The parade of ‘horribles’ around lottery winners, professional athletes and rollovers are legendary,” said Stoltmann.

Part of the problem is overconfidence. EBRI and Greenwald & Associates found a troubling disconnect between workers’ overall level of savings and their confidence in a secure retirement.

The Retirement Confidence Survey found 67 percent of workers feel confident they have enough resources to retire comfortably, yet a relative few have spent much time creating formal financial plans and many have not saved enough. Strong stock market gains and economic growth likely drove the confidence numbers, officials said.

Combining overconfidence with a six-figure 401(k) plan leaves a lot of vulnerable near-retirees, Stoltmann said.

“Early mistakes can doom a lottery winner or a retiree in much the same way,” he said. Here are a few of the most common mistakes that Stoltmann sees: -Missing the risk target. Misjudging how conservative or aggressive to make the portfolio can make a pot of savings either needlessly volatile or so conservative that it gets eaten by inflation.

Lottery winners and retirees often are thrust into a risk profile very different from what they’ve had in the past, so they are particularly vulnerable to errors here. Workers who spent their careers stuffing contributions into a target-date fund without thinking much about how the allocation was changing could be particularly unprepared. The trick is to understand this and ask questions about how any investment manager arrived at the risk profile being recommended.

-Paying too much. Both types of investors hear lots of pitches for financial services, sometimes without knowing how to compare them.

Drill down on the cost of investing (expense ratios of mutual funds and ETFs, for example) and then ask how the firm charges for advice. Compare the total fees your prospective adviser will charge with what your old employer charges. Most 401k plans allow retirees to leave assets in the plans, though few have easyto-use mechanisms for drawing regular income. Some charge based on a percentage of assets they manage, while others offer flat fees. Know both what you’re paying and what you are getting for the money.

-Failing fiduciary. By now the term fiduciary has become fairly widely known, but this is still a tricky area. Fee-only financial advisers tout their pledge to put the interests of customers ahead of their own. You can get these advisers to sign a fiduciary pledge and investigate their track record, but that doesn’t mean they are free from future temptations toward fraud. And digging deeper, are they truly providing usable tax advice? Using a robust withdrawal strategy? In short, earning their fee? ©2019 Tribune Content Agency Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Condiments are hot again, thanks to millennials and their penchant for sauces

by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz

Heinz has long been the undisputed king of ketchup, with Hunt’s a distant runner-up and falling farther behind.

But as millennials and their flavor-seeking taste buds drive growth in Trends condiments, the underdog is putting up a fight.

Chicago-based Conagra Brands, which makes Hunt’s, is rolling out a revamped all-natural ketchup, premium barbecue sauces and new lines of hot sauces, flexing its muscle in a category it largely has ignored for years.

Meanwhile Kraft Heinz, co-headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh, is asserting its dominance on the condiment shelves with a line of mashups including Mayochup (mayonnaise and ketchup), Mayomust (mayo and mustard), Mayocue (mayo and barbecue) and Kranch (ketchup and ranch), seeking to capture the attention of shoppers hungry for new experiences.

The hustle in the normally sleepy condiment aisle comes as millennial shoppers display a penchant for sauce. While fresh food is commanding a greater share of grocery budgets, consumers are dousing their food with bottled flavors to liven up their meals and create variety throughout the week, said Darren Seifer, food and beverage industry analyst at market research firm NPD Group.

Chili sauce is particularly hot, with sales surging 23 percent between 2013 and 2018 and projected to climb another 16 percent by 2023, according to Euromonitor. That appetite for spice is driving manufacturers to give old standbys a kick, and curry ketchup and wasabi mayonnaise are joining the regular staples in many household refrigerators, said Megumi Matsunaga, senior analyst at Euromonitor.

Driving the saucing trend are millennials, who developed their taste buds eating out, often in ethnic restaurants, and turn to condiments for an affordable way to replicate those flavors at home, said Conagra CEO Sean Connolly.

The hope is to cater to those who grew up on Chipotle and Sriracha, he said.

“They love bold flavors, they love to sauce their foods, and they love brands,” Connolly said.

But standing out in the condiment aisle is challenging for brands when there are dozens of options that all look mostly the same.

It’s also a product with heavy competition from private-label manufacturers, including Amazon, which recently launched a mustard under its Happy Belly brand as it expands its private-label efforts.

Michael Whitaker, 36, was in a Mariano’s grocery store in Bucktown recently to buy buffalo sauce for vegetarian wings he planned to make. A fan of Frank’s RedHot brand, Whitaker chose Frank’s RedHot Wings sauce

You are no longer expected to help out other teams.

Continued from page 15. may realize that you haven’t done much mentoring of staff. Outline the steps you will take and hold yourself accountable.

As time goes on, review your performance, adjusting your actions to continue to meet your expectations for contributing to the company and having high satisfaction in your position. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Ro-Tel sauce tasted by employees at Conagra headquarters located in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Conagra is flexing its muscle in the condiment aisle with a revamped Hunts ketchup, premium Hunts barbeque sauces and new lines of hot sauces from its Frontera and Ro-Tel brands. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/TNS) even though the $4.99 price tag was $2 more ketchup has no high-fructose corn syrup, is than a competitor, because he knows he likes non-GMO and is “thicker and richer” thanks to more tomatoes, said Dale Clemiss, president the flavor profile.

But Whitaker is not brand loyal when he of grocery and snacks. It also switched from shops for ketchup, and focuses more on the an upright glass bottle to a squeezable plastic nutrition label on the back. He’ll usually buy container, catching up to its competitors, he said. the ketchup with the least amount of sugar at the At a local Mariano’s store, it’s priced 40 cents higher than the original Hunt’s. best price, regardless of who makes it, he said.

Hunt’s isn’t close to grabbing the No. 1 spot The introduction of healthier options has in the $885 million U.S. ketchup market. Market been driving much of the sales growth.

The Heinz brand posted record 8 percent leader Heinz’s ketchup sales topped $551 milgrowth last year, propelled mostly by its ketchup lion over the past year, while the No. 2 brand lines that are organic, free of high fructose corn Hunt’s had sales of$85.5 million, according to syrup, sugar-free or sweetened with honey, said IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm. PriSteve Cornell, president of sauces, meals and vate-label products accounted for $152 million frozen food at Kraft Heinz. Those better-for-you in ketchup sales.

But by making Hunt’s a premium product, products now represent 15 percent of ketchup Conagra hopes to win over shoppers and grow sales and are growing, he said.

“We are bringing back households that gave share.

That may not be an easy feat. up on condiments years ago,” Cornell said.

At Mariano’s, shopper Holly Hemwall, 33, Now Conagra is giving Hunt’s ketchup a stood before the condiment shelves holding a long overdue makeover.

The recently launched Hunt’s “Best Ever” regular Heinz ketchup in one hand and Simply

Heinz, its all-natural version, in the other. She was examining sugar content and chemicals in the list of ingredients, and ultimately threw the Simply Heinz into her basket.

Hemwall said she didn’t think to consider Hunt’s Best Ever, which was on the bottom shelf retailing for $1.99, a dollar less than Simply Heinz.

“I don’t see why I would change ketchups,” said her husband, Peter Hemwall, 30.

Conagra’s $1.2 billion condiments business is the company’s latest investment focus as Connolly, who took the helm in 2015, seeks to modernize its broad portfolio of packaged foods to appeal to more sophisticated, health-conscious consumers.

In addition to ketchup, Conagra is relaunching corn syrup-free Hunt’s barbecue sauces with flavors like “cherry wood chipotle” and “hickory cracked pepper.” It is debuting lines of hot sauces from Frontera, its brand of Mexican frozen meals and salsas developed with Chicago chef Rick Bayless, as well as Ro-Tel, a brand better known for diced tomatoes, boasting ingredients like fire-roasted hatch green chilies on the front label.

Kraft Heinz is promising condiment innovation also, and its line of mashups represent just the very beginning, Cornell said. The company last year asked on Twitter if consumers would like it to bring Mayochup to market, and it did so after it got more than 500,000 votes. By the end of the year, Mayochup was in 50 percent of grocery stores.

Don Fitzgerald, a food industry consultant and former Mariano’s executive, said anything to jazz up the condiment aisle is welcome because it’s been a ho-hum category for a long time.

But even though sauces are popular — and “dipping culture” in particular has caught on — other consumer trends don’t portend well for them, he said.

As people move away from meat toward more plant-based alternatives, they may move away from the foods that traditionally called for condiments — hamburgers and hot dogs.

“Do you really want to put ketchup on your Impossible Burger?” he said. ©2019 Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Getting at the root causes of your occasional blow ups

by Liz Reyer

Q: I totally lost it this morning. Parenting and working is a lot to handle, and I am almost always living life right at the edge of my limit. I was pushed over my limit this morning. I yelled at my kid because he was taking too long and making us late. How Workplace can I keep my cool and enjoy life more?

-Michelle, 40, client support team A: First of all, don’t be hard on yourself.

Truly, think about what you would say to your sister or your friend.

You would be kind and comforting, right?

There would probably be hugs involved, and then you would think about prevention and managing the next time you are going over your limit.

Let’s talk about root causes. What is going on in your life that is pushing you, besides the obvious? Get down to details.

Work, for example. To what extent does it invade your personal time and encroach on your family’s needs? Consider ways to time-box it so you are not taking calls during peak family

times, for example.

Also consider ways work can be enhanced to give you energy. If you commute, can you use that time for inspiration from music, podcasts or books?

If you work from home, develop a community of other work-from-home people for support to avoid isolation, which can add to the emotional intensity of a situation.

In family life, there are a few predictably fraught times of day, and morning can be one of the toughest. Think about ways to cut the expected conflict points and break some of the unconstructive patterns you may have fallen into.

Don’t do this alone — this is a family project. Get together for a family discussion and set a positive tone. Apologizing for losing it goes a long way to teaching kids that not even their mom is perfect, and opens the door to finding solutions together.

Be specific and age appropriate. Talk about “what can we each do to get out the door in time.” Solutions may be simple (not necessarily easy), like getting clothes and backpacks ready

the night before.

Make plans for how to make that happen that include actions on their part. Vagueness will foil these good intentions.

Then do family follow-ups to track how you are doing in a fun and unifying way.

Find parent mentors. People who have adult kids can have good ideas and be a source of hope. This too shall pass, and it’s good to see what other people have done to make it through the challenges.

Most importantly, think about your whole life outside of work and family — the “you” in it all. What do you need to replenish?

Look at your health. Have you been to a doctor lately? Make sure all is well, including your mental health. Do you eat foods that energize you? Get fresh air and sunshine?

Have other sources of meaning in your life.

Use your precious spare time on activities that are enriching to you outside work and family.

In all of it, love them and love yourself. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 •

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

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Education & Career Development

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Locally Grown overview • Highlighting area businesses 2019 Farmers Market preview • Benefits of buying local

Education overview • Trends in online learning Specialized careers and skills • Enrollment trends New technology on higher education • Professional development

Issue Date: May 17 • Ad Deadline: May 9

Issue Date: May 17 • Ad Deadline: May 9

Energy & Celebrate Construction Utilities A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Topics may include:

Celebrate Construction Overview • Custom home trends • Careers/education Greater Omaha, Lincoln and Council Bluffs area projects • Tech advances Sustainable design features • Integrated project delivery methods Infrastructure and road projects • Retrofits/renovations

Energy & Utilities • CNG • Energy-efficient building design Renewable energy in Nebraska • Customer education/outreach efforts Technology trends • lighting technologies/electrical innovations

Issue Date: May 24 • Ad Deadline: May 16

Issue Date: May 24 • Ad Deadline: May 16

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

Julie Whitehead - Julie@mbj.com • Catie Kirby - Catie@mbj.com

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

SECTIONS

IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 17

LOCALLY GROWN

EDUCATION & CAREER DEVELOPMENT MAY 24

CELEBRATING CONSTRUCTION

ENERGY & UTILITIES

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

Julie Whitehead - Julie@mbj.com • Catie Kirby - ads@mbj.com Space and materials deadline is the Friday prior to the publication date.

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

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

Aureus Group, a staffing and recruitment firm headquartered in Omaha, has been named by Forbes in its 2019 list of America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms. Aureus Group specializes in staffing within the practice areas of accounting & finance, information technology & systems, health care leadership, and executive search.

Aureus Group offers solutions ranging from direct hire and contract staffing to interim leadership. With a national reach, the firm is rooted in the Midwest with regional offices in Kansas City, Missouri and Des Moines, Iowa.

ABS Tree Care of Omaha business operations has joined with The Davey Tree Expert Co. to offer residential and commercial tree care services in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and in Omaha. The company has been accredited with the Tree Care Industry Association for six years. Approximately 10 employees work for ABS, and substantially all will be remaining with the business.

Gallup recognized Foster Group as a 2019 Great Workplace Award winner. It’s one of only two employers in Iowa and Nebraska to be a part of the list. Foster Group is one of only seven small employers to make the list of the 40 total employers chosen.

This is the second consecutive year Foster Group has received this award.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium was awarded the Spirit Award at the 2019 Omaha Sister Cities Association Gala. Each year, the OSCA board of directors nominates individuals or groups that have supported the efforts of OSCA to promote cultural or educational activities.

According to the OSCA, the Spirit Award was given to the zoo in appreciation of its continued support for OSCA activities, which includes hosting visiting sister city guests and the display of the Olmec head from Xalapa, Mexico, a sister city of Omaha.

BerganKDV has taken the Women Lead Change Epic Corporate Challenge by committing to increasing the percentage of women among the top 10% of the company’s senior positions and monitoring pay by gender and addressing gaps as they are discovered. The EPIC Corporate Challenge, led

by Women Lead Change, is an invitation to Iowa companies to formally commit to grow and retain women at all levels. The EPIC Corporate Challenge is about being part of a community of organizations working on the vital issues of recruiting, retaining, and promoting women in the workforce. It is committing to making progress.

Carson Wealth, a Barron’s Hall-ofFame wealth management and financial planning firm, has been recognized as a 2019 Best Places to Work for Financial Advisers as announced by InvestmentNews today.

Carson Wealth was chosen as one of this year’s top 75 firms, based on employer and employee surveys delving into everything from company culture, benefits, career paths, and more. InvestmentNews partnered with Best Companies Group, an independent research firm specializing in identifying great places to work, to compile the inaugural survey and recognition program.

This is the second consecutive year Carson Wealth has made this list in the financial advice industry.

Cushman & Wakefield/The Lund Company recognized the brokerage division’s top producers for 2018. Timothy Mettenbrink, senior strategic advisor, was presented with the Company’s Producer of the Year award.

Martin Patzner, vice president office specialist, was presented with the Company’s Agent of the Year award. Jason Fisher, James Hain, Matt Hasenjager, Scott Koethe, John Lund, Justin Riviera and Denny Sciscoe were also recognized as top producers. They are Cushman & Wakefield/The Lund Company’s highest achievers in commercial real estate transactions and are members of the Company’s 2018 Producers’ Club.

Smithfield Foods, Inc. has donated more than 18,000 pounds of protein to Food Bank for the Heartland. Smithfield’s contribution was part of the company’s 2019 Helping Hungry Homes donation tour.

Helping Hungry Homes is Smithfield’s signature hunger-relief initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure. The donation, equivalent to more than 74,000 servings, will help those affected by recent flooding fight hunger across the Midwest.

Nebraska Cattlemen has partnered with The Harry A. Koch Co. and recently began a joint venture known as the Nebraska Cattlemen Insurance Group. NCIG was established in order to provide Nebraska Cattlemen members with a full range of risk management services specific to the line of work they perform. NCIG offers members a variety of risk management products including farm owner, rancher and business protection, personal insurance as well as employee benefits.

Cushman & Wakefield/The Lund Company agents were awarded multiple 2018 CCIM BIG Deal awards. The Overall BIG Deal award was presented to Denny Sciscoe for the sale of 12118 S. 150th Street.

Scott Koethe was awarded the Multi-family BIG Deal with the 470-unit sale of Grandridge Apartments at 5439 N. 100th Plaza. Honorable mentions were given to: Richard Secor for the sale of 11810 Nicholas Street and 5801 S. 147th Street/5808 S. 144th Street; Spencer Secor for the sale of 1331 Capitol Avenue; and Denny Sciscoe for the sale of 10651 Chandler Road, 6363 John J Pershing Drive, and 13306 Portal Drive.

Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America, a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, recognized Eakes Office Solutions as a Hyakuman Kai Elite Dealer.

Sharp awards Hyakuman Kai Elite status to dealers that have achieved $5 million plus in sales during the past year. Eakes Office Solutions has been awarded Hyakuman Kai Elite Dealer status 12 times in the past 13 years and is a Top 5 Sharp dealer in the nation.

Tavern 180, a restaurant-bar chain that was started in west Omaha in 2016, will be opening its fourth Midwest location at The Galleria at 69th and Western in Sioux Falls this summer. The gastro pub will occupy about 3,000 square feet as one of five retail spaces on the first floor of The Galleria, which is under construction on the southwest corner of 69th Street and Western Avenue.

The Nebraska State Bar Foundation launched a redesigned website as a valuable resource for the legal community and Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 •

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REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. the public. The website is responsive and designed to work with a range of devices.

It features eight main tabs and a home page that displays photos and news stories of its most recent events. Of interest to the public are the Law-Related Education and Bench Media tabs. Of interest to the legal profession are the Foundation Fellows as well as the Jewell Trial Institute tab that features information about the annual Jewell Trial Institute for lawyers seeking additional trial experience.

Plattsmouth, Nebraska will be the location of Makovicka Physical Therapy’s 16th clinic location. Ground was broken just south of the Hy-Vee located at 16418 Westside Drive for the building where the clinic will be located. The building is projected to open this fall. Available services and other details will be announced closer to the clinic opening. Makovicka currently has three clinics in Sarpy County. This is the first Makovicka Physical Therapy clinic to be located in Cass County.

Signature Performance, Inc. has been named a 2019 Best Places to Work in Omaha. In addition, the company received a Business Excellence in Innovation award from the Greater Omaha Chamber. Both awards recognize Signature Performance’s commitment to creating associate engagement and satisfaction levels that are ranked highly among their peers, based on third-party review and measurement.

Alvine Engineering and IP Design Group in conjunction with WiredScore announced the first certified property in the state of Nebraska. The designation was assigned upon review of the building’s best-in-class connectivity, technological infrastructure and readiness to adopt emerging technologies. 1201 Cass Street achieved the certification’s highest level, Wired Certified Platinum. Iconic buildings, such as The Empire State Building and Willis Tower in Chicago are a few of the world-class properties that have achieved this recognition.

The property underwent a comprehensive certification process that evaluated the aspects of digital infrastructure that enable a seamless connectivity experience in which occupants are able to stay connected and maintain effective productivity levels.

Heath care notes…

CHI Health bought Big Garden a mobile kitchen to take its healthy food show on the road. The Gather mobile kitchen will go to schools, farmer’s markets and community events showing consumers how to grow, cook and eat healthy food on a budget. The mobile kitchen is an interactive learning lab, equipped with a gas stove, refrigerator and sink. The mobile kitchen is one way CHI Health is partnering in the community to provide people with the skills and confidence to make healthy, affordable meals.

Starting in May library goers will be able to check out a Heartland B-cycle pass from their local library. The library pass program was made possible through a Better Bike Share Mini-Grant and will be available at all Omaha Public Library, Council Bluffs Public Library, and Papillion Public Library locations.

Becker’s Hospital Review has published the 2019 edition of “100 Great Hospitals in America,” a collection of the most

recognized, progressive and cutting-edge health care facilities in the nation. For the sixth straight year, Becker’s named Nebraska Medicine — Nebraska Medical Center to the list. Nebraska Medical Center is the only hospital in Nebraska on the list. Hospitals are recognized nationally for excellence in clinical care, patient outcomes and staff and physician satisfaction. To develop the list, Becker’s Hospital Review’s editorial team conducted research and evaluated reputable hospital ranking sources, such as U.S. News & World Report, Truven Health Analytics, CMS star ratings, Leapfrog grades and several other resources.

Education notes…

The University of Nebraska is inviting community leaders to apply to serve as hosts for a new NU serviceship program that will send students across the state this summer to assist in recovery efforts from the recent devastating floods. Applicants will be asked to describe the projects students would perform, as well as skills that would be helpful. Nebraska Extension specialists, together with a university-wide team that is coordinating NU’s flood response efforts, will select the community hosts after evaluating potential projects based. Students will be paid $12.50 per hour and may have the opportunity to earn college credit. Applications are online.

Activities of nonprofits…

After 18 months of construction, Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha is ready to open its Hope and Healing Expansion. The organization invites the public to celebrate at an Open House and Community Fair on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 620 S. 38th Ave. The now-completed, $10.3-million project has doubled the size of the facility, adding 20 new guest rooms to accommodate 40 families every night. RMHC also built a larger kitchen, many new support spaces including a contemplation room and classroom, and office space being leased by another local nonprofit, Angels Among Us. AAU provides financial assistance to families battling pediatric cancer, and they are now headquartered in the House.

The NorthStar Foundation has elected Mark Brasee and Lee Stuart to its board of directors. Brasee has a bachelor’s degree in both history and business administration from Trinity University and a juris doctorate from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln School of Law. He is a partner at Fraser Stryker. Stuart graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Stuart is chairman of Nebraska Bank of Commerce, Mountain View Bank of Commerce, and CEO of NBC Bancshares, LLC, and a vice president of Nebraska Heavy Industries. He is the president of the Lee & Debbie Stuart Family Foundation and is a director of the Lincoln Community Foundation.

Hy-Vee, Inc. customer donations and corporate participation helped raise $207,733 to benefit the American Red Cross of Nebraska and Southwest Iowa following flooding in early March that devastated communities in Nebraska and Iowa. During the month long campaign, customer donations at 28 stores in Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa, totaled $157,733, with an additional $50,000 in corporate giving from Hy-Vee.

Arts and Events…

The Greater Omaha Chamber will honor 22 businesses at the 2019 Business Excellence Awards on May 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Omaha Design Center. The winners include: Abide, Anytime Tees, The Bike Union and Coffee, Don & Ron’s CARSTAR Auto Body Repair, Inc., E&A Consulting, First National Bank, Gallup, The Harry A. Koch Co., Home Instead Senior Care, Latino Center for the Midlands, Leo A Daly, Lindsay Corporation, Makovicka Physical Therapy, Metropolitan Community College, NMC Group, Inc., Physicians Mutual, Pinnacle Bank, Project Harmony Child Advocacy Center, Quantum Workplace, Revela, RTG Medical and Signature Performance. The 2018 Small Business of the Year is Peitzmeier Demolition and Concrete Cutting, Inc. Registration is available online.

Pinot, Pigs & Poets is celebrating its 10th year on May 16. The anniversary event benefitting Completely KIDS will include attendee favorites of pinot noir wines and pork dishes, as well as slam poetry by the Nebraska Writers Collective. Pinot, Pigs & Poets is a collaborative effort with the Nebraska Pork Producers Association. Tickets are available online.

Registration is open for March for Monarchs, a new family-friendly event

hosted by Wildlife Safari Park in partnership with Monarch Joint Venture, Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever. The nature walk will be on May 18 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Wildlife Safari Park. Participants are encouraged to dress as their favorite butterfly while they “migrate” around Wildlife Safari Park’s trail system. Along the trails, participants will learn about the life and migration paths of monarch butterflies. At 10 a.m. a prairie planting demonstration will take place at the visitor’s center. Registration is required for this ticketed event. Proceeds will be allocated to monarch conservation efforts in Nebraska and Wildlife Safari Park educational programming.

The Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum will host a Helicopter Day on May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Helicopter Day is an indoor and outdoor event to celebrate aviation careers and the history of helicopters.

Spectators can watch helicopters from military, law enforcement, and commercial pilots fly over the horizon and land. After helicopters land, spectators can talk to helicopter pilots about their careers and view each aircraft. Helicopter rides will be available through Johnson Helicopter Services. Activities include a drone workshop on flight and safety, movies in the Museum’s theater, balloon sculptors, and a make-and-take project.

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS Monday, May 13 Bellevue University’s College of Business will host a free public workshop, “Managing the Multigenerational Workforce,” at its Bellevue campus. A diverse panel, including Rodney Rahl from Nebraska Furniture Mart, will discuss strategies that employers can use to manage the needs, motivations and contributions made by the four very different generations that are currently in the workforce. Registration is required and available online.

Tuesday, May 14 Nebraska PRSA is hosting its monthly program from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Anthony’s Steakhouse. Communicators have a lot of power in shaping the narrative their communities. Participants will learn the impact that trauma — and re-living trauma — has on people. Speakers will also teach attendees how to check assumptions and biases, how to ask trauma-sensitive questions, how to consume media in a trauma-informed way, and other important skills. The benefits of a trauma-informed community are many, and by engaging through empathy, we can be a part of the collective healing process. Registration and tickets are online.

Wednesday, May 15 PromiseShip is hosting an All Aboard Community Meeting from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at DC Centre. The All Aboard Community Meetings provide professionals and other stakeholders from Douglas and Sarpy counties an opportunity to come together and learn about PromiseShip efforts. The keynote speaker will be Richard Webb, executive director at 100 Black Men of Omaha. Webb is also an active participant and serving on UNMC chancellor’s board of counselors, graduate of Nonprofit Association of the Midland’s Nonprofit Executive Institute, on University of Nebraska at Omaha’s African American Advisory

Cabinet, past president of the Urban League of Nebraska Young Professionals and currently enrolled in Leadership Omaha.

Thursday, May 16 The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands is hosting a workshop on “Benefits of job sharing as a talent management solution to hire and retain top talent” from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the NAM Training Room. Job sharing is a talent acquisition and retention solution that fills one traditional full-time position with two specialized individuals who are matched based on similar and/or complementary skills. Job Share Connect co-founders Jessica Charlsen and Jina Picarella will be presenting the workshop. Registration is available online.

Friday, May 17 APICS is hosting the 2019 Spring Seminar from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Mahoney State Park in Ashland. Keynote speakers will include Dr. Steve Schulz, University of Nebraska at Omaha Professor of Supply Chain Management and Anil Srinivasan, executive vice president of ProKarma Inc. Schulz will be discussing integrating talent and technology and Srinivasan will be discussing enterprise transformation using agile principles. Registration is available online but registration will close on May 15.

The first session of the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Inclusion Series will explore Implicit Bias from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the UNO Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center.

Participants will identify socialization in their own lives; view the difference and similarities of their experiences and others; and begin to understand how to recognize and deconstruct unconscious bias. The presenter will be Tena Hahn Rodriguez with Inclusive Communities. Registration is available online.

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal

Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer hires Andrews

The Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer has hired Lara Andrews as director of marketing and communications.

Andrews joins the BOC with 15 years of experience in brand, marketing and communications strategy. She has worked in a variety of industries — from consumer-packaged Andrews goods to health care.

Prior to joining the BOC, Andrews led brand strategy and creative direction for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. In addition, she has held marketing positions with First National Bank of Omaha and Procter and Gamble. Andrews also served as the vice president of programs and marketing for the Young Women’s Alliance of Northwest Arkansas. An experienced writer and presenter, Andrews has spoken at several national conferences.

Lamar Advertising Co. hires Mosley as account executive

Lamar Advertising Company has added Barry Mosley as an account executive for the Lincoln and central Nebraska office.

M o s l e y ’s p r o fessional career includes over 25 years of sales, marketing, and account management experience. He is also the founder of two Lincoln-based youth select sports programs (Lincoln Mosley Sox baseball and the Nebraska Blue Diamonds softball organizations) and coached select, high school and collegiate softball for over two decades. In his new role, Mosley will assist businesses in southeast Nebraska with billboard and out-of-home advertising programs within the state and Midwest region.

Koenig|Dunne adds Hahn, attorney

Koenig|Dunne, PC, LLO has added Scott Hahn to its team of family law attorneys.

Hahn joins the firm with 12 years of experience in the area of family law, spending much of his career as an advocate for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. He graduated from Creighton University Summa Hahn Cum Laude in 2001 and received his Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law in 2006.

Hahn worked at the Women’s Center for Advancement and Legal Aid of Nebraska.

Most recently, he was employed at Hightower Reff, where he primarily practiced family law. He is a trained collaborative divorce attorney and a skilled litigator.

Outlook Nebraska names Lohnes director of business development

Outlook Nebraska has named Blake Lohnes as director of business development.

As director of business development, Lohnes will lead and implement strategies that drive the sales of janitorial and restroom paper products manufactured in Outlook’s production facility in which more than Lohnes 75% of the associates who work there are legally blind.

Additionally, he will be responsible for expanding the nonprofit’s overall product line to meet client needs, collaborate with cross functional teams and assist in the development of Outlook Nebraska associates. Lohnes joined Outlook Nebraska after serving in roles that included director of sales for a member-based nonprofit and as a leading business development consultant for one of the world’s leading research firms.

Security National Bank hires Larsen for SVP, mortgage lending position

Security National Bank of Omaha has hired Rod Larsen as senior vice president, division head of mortgage lending.

Larsen has more than 25 years of residential lending experience and is a Certified Mortgage Planner. He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration and politiLarsen cal science from Morningside College. He is a member of the Nebraska Mortgage Association and an affiliate member of the Omaha Area Board of Realtors, Millard Business Association and the Metro Omaha Builders Association.

Nebraska Health Information Initiative names Conway chief information officer

The Nebraska Health Information Initiative has added Kevin Conway to the team as chief information officer.

As CIO, Conway will serve as the senior executive responsible for overseeing people, processes and technologies that support NEHII’s objectives and goals. He has a long history with the organization.

Prior to his leadership appointment, he served as vice president of the NEHII board of directors and has chaired a number of NEHII committees. Conway has over 30 years of experience in health care planning, finance and information technology with Nebraska organizations.

Prior to joining NEHII, he was vice president, health information for the Nebraska Hospital Association, and worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 10, 2019 •

First Westroads Bank selects Dalrymple for board of directors

First Westroads Bank has added Robert C. Dalrymple to the board of directors.

Dalrymple brings more than 35 years of experience to First Westroads Bank, recently retiring as the EVP, division executive of the Midwest division for Bank of the West. His diverse banking career includes leadership in commercial and retail management, business Dalrymple development, sales management, project management, and credit administration. Dalrymple received a political science degree from California State University, Northridge and is a 1996 graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School.

Cobalt Credit Union appoints Winkelmann as VP, operations

Cobalt Credit Union has added Scott Winkelmann as vice president of operations.

Winkelmann has more than 33 years of experience in the credit union industry.

His responsibilities include working with branch managers in Lincoln, Fremont and Omaha to support each branch’s strategic planning and goal setting as they relate Winkelmann to credit union goals.

He is active in the Nebraska Credit Union League-Services Committee.

Winkelmann received a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Managing a group that is smart but headstrong

by Liz Reyer

Q: I’m on a multi-department team that is overseeing some major organizational changes. It’s a smart and dedicated group.

The challenge is that we’ve had lots of turnover, revisiting of past Workplace decisions, and conflict resulting from opinions expressed by people with strong personalities. How do we manage this constructively?

-Annika, 43, project manager A: Open communication probably won’t be your problem! But it needs to be the right communication.

Fortunately, it sounds like you have all the raw materials to manage this situation.

You would be facing a more intractable problem if the team was ego-driven rather than dedicated to achieving the desired business outcomes.

That said, tempers can flare when stakes are high. Assuming that this has already occurred, let’s start with easing any tension that may exist.

Depending on the severity, it may be worth having some one-on-one chats with those most involved. Talk with each about the interactions, reflecting with them on triggers, causes, and potentially negative outcomes.

Also brainstorm more effective ways to disagree with colleagues.

Think about the effects of unconstructive interaction on others. Exchanges that are harsher than necessary can have a dampening effect on observers, with long term damage to the team’s ability to be effective.

Then, as a group, discuss your team culture. Established members and newcomers alike should agree on ground rules for interaction, focusing in particular on how to manage disagreements.

There are some obvious things that are off-limits. Name calling should have been

left behind in kindergarten. But how will you collectively manage passion and high emotion? Talking about this in a calm setting will help clarify expectations.

Consider each other’s needs. People who have helped make decisions may feel defensive if newer members question them. The new members, in turn, may feel ill-prepared or irrelevant if all important decisions seem to have been already made, and discussion is put off limits.

Now, turning from the group dynamics, look at your own role in helping the team through this. As project manager, you may feel that you are in the hot seat for addressing this.

At some level, this is true. The team will benefit from having a guide through this process. However, you also will need support and also need to be sure you have the necessary skills for this level of group facilitation.

If this is a development area for you, seek out training and other resources, perhaps from your company’s HR or organizational development team.

As a team, agree on some coping mechanisms. People with more aggressive styles could commit to dialing it back a bit, while more sensitive people could learn to take a deep breath and absorb that the energy is not personally directed against them.

Find ways to use humor to ease these differences and defuse tension, being sure that it doesn’t cross lines into sarcasm against others.

And always explicitly reaffirm mutual respect. Recognize that you are collectively charged with important work on behalf of your company, and that every one of you must be successful in order to accomplish your goal. ©2019 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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O’Neil Henrich Damkroger Bergmeyer & Schultz names Greenwald shareholder

Nelson

Johnson

HGM Associates adds Nelson, Johnson

HGM Associates has hired Kyle Nelson and Travis Johnson to its team.

Nelson graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2013. His background includes civil engineering projects throughout southwest Iowa, assisting with site layout, grading and drainage as well as rail design projects focusing on industrial rail spurs and ladder track terminal facilities located throughout the country.

At HGM, he will focus on design of municipal type projects throughout western Iowa. He has recently helped with observation for emergency repair work from the recent flooding.

Johnson graduated from Iowa Western Community College with an associate degree in civil engineering technology in 2008. His background is design, survey and construction observation of civil engineering and aviation projects throughout southwest Iowa and rail/transload projects in the continental United States. At HGM, Johnson will be involved in design of municipal and development projects throughout western Iowa.

The law firm of O’Neil Heinrich Damkroger Bergmeyer & Shultz, P.C., L.L.O. has named Jessica B. Greenwald to shareholder in the firm.

Greenwald assists clients with business and commercial transactions, corporate law, real estate transactions, business succession and estate planning matters. She graduated with high distinction from the University of Greenwald Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and received her law degree, with distinction, from the University of Nebraska, College of Law, in 2011.

Echo Systems hires Gilbertson

Echo Systems has hired Kyle Gilbertson as a drafter.

Gilbertson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has a vast employment history, including working in manufacturing jobs, as a sales engineer, Gilbertson and as a stock broker.

A desire to get back into technical work and customization led him to his new position at Echo Systems, which is the residential and commercial automation and lighting division of Echo Group.

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• MAY 10, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal