Reaanddit Reap!
MAY 10, 2019
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
$2.00
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
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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.