Midlands Business Journal May 22, 2020 Vol. 46 No. 21 issue by Midlands Business Journal

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

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

May 22, 2020

Effects of pandemic drive what clients look for in design features, how builders procure supplies by Michelle Leach

Deemed “essential,” the construction industry in April lost a reported 975,000 jobs, amid what Associated General Contractors of America called “deteriorating demand.” Midlands builders remain busy, albeit in a changed world. Zak Olsen, general manager of Ronco Construction, cautions how early metrics, such as March and April permits and inspections data, don’t provide an Olsen accurate, full picture; comparing year-on-year June and July data may provide a better understanding of where things are at in construction. “The biggest question is, ‘What is the true economic forecast?’” he said. “There is a lot of reservation when it comes to analyzing what is next for facility expansion or relocation projects — ‘Are we building new and adapting to life after the pandemic?’ ‘Is technology the next big investment?’” Some projects are accelerated to take advantage of downtime, while others have been put on hold. Clients’ operations down the line represent

a big question mark; for instance, Olsen referred to how a west Omaha movie theater that wrapped on-time is sitting dormant. “There is no job creation there, and then they’ve got the responsibility of servicing debt,” he said. Additionally, Olsen noted some logjams in materials procurement and products such as light fixtures coming from overseas, China specifically. Largely, he said, the current environment feels different Frazell from the recession and other tumultuous periods, as there has been more of a “rallying spirit” and universal support, driving his optimistic forecast. Lueder Construction has remained busy, most recently, with the completion of larger multi-family complexes, an expanded senior living facility, church expansions, and several retail and office renovations and additions. “We are currently seeing far more general contractors bidding smaller projects more frequently in addition to less variety in projects,” said President Greg Key. “That said, CmR [Construction Manager at-Risk], design assist

Reaanddit

Brett Clarke, principal at Frontier Builders and vice president of MOBA. and hard bids continue as usual, as does work certain materials due to excess supply.” in the field.” Key anticipates jobsite hygiene practices As tradesmen fill and diversify pipelines, will persist, and technology such as live video Key’s team has seen an uptick in new trade feeds to limit face-to-face contact will ramp up, partner relationships. as the industry no longer has the option to be “While procurement of certain materials “slow-to-adopt” to powerful tech. coming from heavily-quarantined states and The supply chain will play a larger part of countries has caused disruptions, it is refreshing planning, but Key anticipates U.S. reshoring will to hear emphasis placed on procurement of eventually have a positive impact. American-made materials moving forward,” he “It seems reasonable to anticipate additionsaid. “Conversely, we’ve seen declines in cost for al costs with potential shortening of delivery times,” he said. At the onset, G. Lee Homes experienced a dramatic drop in remodels, what President Greg Frazell attributes to stock market shockwaves more than anything else; three weeks into ‘work-from-home,’ remodel activity picked up tremendously. “Clients may have a spouse in health care, and want to create different entrances,” said Frazell, who is also Metro Omaha Builders Association president. “We’ve had a lot of outdoor covered spaces, people who are redoing their decks and sports courts, or they’re adding home gyms. It’s had a pretty big impact on what people are looking at on the remodel side. It’s also giving us talking points on the new construction side.” For instance, clients rethink current layouts with design modifications to accommodate things like distance learning, and client-partners leveraging technology (i.e. sending a YouTube video critique of plan revisions). Frazell, too, referenced some bottlenecks in materials like windows, due to COVID-19-driven plant closures and personnel changes among domestic manufacturers. “Nebraska is such a unique place to live,” he Continued on next page.

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Celebrate Construction — inside MAY 22, 2020

THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS

THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:

$2.00

VOL. 46 NO. 21

Altus Architectural Studios sees uptick due to pandemic medical needs by Richard D. Brown

Building momentum to expand client base, Little Guy Design opens California location. – Page 2

40 er d Un 40

Matthews Tullius leverages experience to develop leaders. – Page 3

t en ym o l p g Em ffin oln Sta c Lin &

Staffing companies say virtual is the ‘new norm’. – Page 4

Altus Architectural Studios, an Omaha-based planning firm specializing in health care sector needs, is seeing an uptick in opportunities throughout a wider geographic area as clients are seeking help on an expedited schedule to address facilities for the testing and treatment of COVID-19 patients. Even long-term strategic planning projects involving multi-million dollar facilities are being designed by applying future pandemic best-practices modeling. “We specialize in medical design — it’s 95 to 98% of what we do as we grow to meet the needs of national health care clients,” said President Loren Lamprecht. Lamprecht, who along with colleagues Michael Hamilton and Michael Levin founded the firm in 2001, have seen the firm grow to 22 total employees; 17 work out of the Omaha headquarters at 12925 West Dodge Road. A Denver office opened two years ago has grown to five staffers. Altus Architectural Studios is dedicated to serving the architectural Continued on page 9.

From left, President Loren Lamprecht, Managing Principal Michael Hamilton and Project Architect Evan Lamprecht … Increasing workload with need for COVID-19 testing and treatment facilities. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)

Grow Nebraska yielding positive results for state’s entrepreneurs by Becky McCarville

After a move from its former facility in Holbrook, Nebraska in 2018 to its current headquarters at the Younes Campus in Kearney, the Grow Nebraska Foundation has ramped up its outreach beyond southwest Nebraska to cover the entire state. Grow Nebraska

helps small businesses leverage digital marketing by offering training and ecommerce solutions via its four online stores and its brick and mortar space in Kearney. In addition, the foundation partners with outside organizations to offer training on topics Continued on page 9.

Rob Wellendorf, president of Execso.

Reinforce advisory team to navigate PPP forgiveness, unchartered waters by Michelle Leach

At the annual MarkeTech Conference... After moving its headquarters to the Younes Campus in Kearney in 2018, longtime foundation evolves from regional to statewide, adapting to economic challenges. (Photo courtesy of Grow Nebraska Foundation)

Editor’s note: This article is part of a series sharing firsthand experiences from local organizations on how their respective industries are adapting to COVID-19. A business is often only as good as the banking, financial planning and accounting partners that enable owners to focus on business operations. In today’s environment, those trusted advisers are also helping

employers navigate the likes of Paycheck Protection Program waters. “When the announcement first came out that PPP funding was going to be available to businesses, we immediately began receiving calls from customers with questions on how to apply,” said AccessBank President Samantha Mosser. “Our familiarity with SBA financing gave us the knowledge we needContinued on page 10.

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Building momentum to expand client base, Little Guy Design opens California location by Gabby Christensen

Over the course of the past decade, Omaha-based Little Guy Design has grown from a project-based freelance model to a one-stop digital marketing agency. Co-owned and founded by Paul Eide and Matt Stewart, the business has expanded to include an office in California and has accumulated clients across the nation.

Little Guy Design Phone: (402) 882-1133 Address: 5330 S. 117th Court #302, Omaha 68137 Service: digital marketing agency primarily focusing on small and medium-sized businesses (the “little guy”), but also working with businesses of all sizes Employees: 4 full time, 20 subcontractors Founded: 2010 Goal: To continue to provide customers with effective digital marketing solutions and build up client base outside of Nebraska. Website: www.littleguydesign.com

Specializing in website design, search engine optimization, mobile app development, copywriting, e-commerce, social media management, video production, logo design, photography and brand development, Eide credits the business’ success to a personalized approach matched with quality results.

Co-owner Paul Eide … Averaging 20% growth year over year, working with companies small to large. “We definitely pride ourselves on hard initially targeted smaller businesses that were work and heart,” he said. “We care about sometimes overlooked by bigger agencies. helping our clients and we want the best for However, Eide said success with smaller them. We try to have fun, and we never treat a companies has led to partnerships with large project as though it’s too big or too small. We brands like Facebook, Old Spice, Gatorade take on anything, and we always treat every and Harley-Davidson. size of company with the same respect.” Currently, the business employs four fullEide and Stewart, who met during their time employees and 20 local subcontractors. freshman year of high school and later reFor Eide, the hiring process is the most connected to join forces as business partners, difficult aspect of running a business, but

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Matt Sovereign Superintendent, MCL Construction

the freedom and flexibility that come with being an entrepreneur helps to balance out the obstacles. The job entails learning new things every day. “It can be quite the time demand,” Eide said. “We are doing a lot of different things and have to always stay relevant in the industry. But, in the end, we get paid to use our imagination so it’s more than worth it.” He added that clear communication is key in this industry. “We are working with the non-tangible,” he said. “Basically, we take ideas and turn them into actual products. Prior to doing this, though, it’s our job to show clients that their money will be well spent on these services even though we don’t have a physical, tangible item to show them yet. We understand when businesses are hesitant to let us be the experts when it comes to their ‘baby,’ but everything we do is data driven with proven results. Ultimately, we are here to help our clients achieve success.” Since the COVID-19 pandemic, videoconferencing has really taken off, which is something that the Little Guy Design team adapted to early-on and continues to utilize. Eide said he’s witnessed that more people aren’t sweating the small stuff and are learning to enjoy even the small things amid this uncertain time. “The most important thing to remember is that it isn’t all about money,” he said. “The work you do and how you interact with the people in your life is what truly matters.” Despite the current global economic situation, the business is expected to continue to generate revenue as usual, with an average 20% growth year over year. Right now, Eide said the primary goal is to build additional clientele outside of Nebraska.

Midlands Business Journal Established in 1975

Hometown: Omaha. Education: Bachelor’s degree from UNO

Founded by Robert Hoig

ADMINISTRATION VP OF OPERATIONS, Andrea “Andee” Hoig

How I got into the business: I was looking for a part time job while going to college and found one with a residential contractor that was flexible with my hours. I was 18 and all I knew how to do was sweep and clean, so that’s what I did. Accomplishments or milestones: Professionally is being named Superintendent of the Lauritzen Outpatient Center and Fritch Surgery Center project at Nebraska Medicine. First job: Cashier at McDonalds when

I was 14. Biggest career break: When I was assigned to be an Assistant Superintendent for the OPS Gateway Elementary project. The toughest part of the job: Toughest part of the job is managing all of the people. You never know what you’re going to get from the same guy every day. As the leader of the jobsite it’s important to be able to recognize different personalities and be able to lead them down the path of successful project completion. The best advice I have received: I’ve been fortunate to have several people to look up to in my life but the best advice I’ve gotten is to self-evaluate daily, and to not be afraid of failure. About my family: My wife Jacque, sons Bryson, Cyler, and Jalen. Something else I’d like to accomplish: I would like to be in more of a leadership role for the company. I would like to help shape the next generation of construction workers. How my business will change in the next decade: Everything is going to be pre-fabricated in some shape or way. Also

technology improvements are going to dominate the way we build for years to come. Mentor who has helped the most in my career: I can’t name just one. Mike Waldmann, Charles Sachs, Tony Fucinaro, Mark Kidder, Jim Fleissner all helped shape me into the man/employee I am today. Outside interests: We have a big family on both sides so getting together with them is always fun. Also I like to fish/hunt, work on my car, and garden, among other things. Favorite vacation spot: Sherman Reservoir if the walleye are biting. Other careers I would like to try: I think I would’ve like being a structural engineer. That being said I love what I do, there isn’t any other career that would keep me wanting to come to work every day like construction does. Favorite cause or charity: I really like Habitat for Humanity. With a little hard work, H4H will help you make sure your family has a roof over their heads. Favorite app: I don’t really have one. After work is over I try to avoid my phone!

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

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

ADVERTISING 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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-The Publisher.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

2020 Leadership Development Specialist Laurie Matthews Tullius … Emphasizing the importance of leadership development. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Matthews Tullius)

Matthews Tullius leverages experience to develop leaders by Dwain Hebda

A desire to develop leaders and create corporate environments where leadership can thrive is Laurie Matthews Tullius’ daily mission. She said her work is not only personally fulfilling, but also helps make individuals and organizations better. “My interest in organizational development really started a long time ago when I was working in human resource management in the public schools in Minnesota,” she said. “That’s when I found out that human resource development is very different than human resource management. Human resource development is organizational development and training that has a lot to do with change management. For me, that was the beginning. “Now, one of the things I am the most passionate about in life, and get the most joy out of and hope that I can bring the most value to, is coaching.” Matthews Tullius joined Leadership Resources in February as a leadership development specialist. In that role, she helps individuals and companies understand the journey that leadership development represents. She said a critical aspect of this development lies within institutional support, something she helps companies formulate into their everyday culture. “People invest time and resources and money into formal leadership development programs or coaching and what can add to the longevity of that training is investment by the organization,” she said. “It has to be the investment of the organization itself into the long-lasting effects for that leader to thrive. For example, it’s being able to have some sponsors and some coaches, some people internally that

are following up with them on what they’re learning and how they’re implementing it. “We’ve all gone to that one great training or event and said, ‘Yes I want to implement that,’ and then we go back to work and there’s not the opportunity or you just get sucked right back into the flow of the business. So, it’s about companies being able to create a context and support system so employees can apply what they’re learning and everyone around them can get the best return on investment.” Prior to joining Leadership Resources, Matthews Tullius distinguished herself as an account representative with the University of Nebraska at Omaha/Nebraska Business Development Center. There, she was able to utilize her teaching skills in a variety of custom training programs for organizational development. “What I did was meet oneon-one with organizational leaders and talk through a needs analysis for all of them on what some of the root causes of their pain points were,” she said. “We discussed some of the issues that they were having and then we would drill that down into a needs analysis. Then I would design and propose different implementation programs to help address those needs. “You can imagine, it was a pretty broad range of subjects. Sometimes that meant teams getting along. It was organizational effectiveness. Sometimes it was strategic planning that they needed. It was all about where they were with their company and what they needed at the time.” Born in Wisconsin, Matthews Tullius also lived and studied abroad in Germany at the Albert Ludwig Universitaet-Freiburg. She Continued on page 12.

2019

Proud Sponsors of the 2019 40 Under 40:

We are now accepting nominations! Deadline to submit: July 31, 2020

The 19th annual 40 Under 40 Awards will take place Nov. 20 at Embassy Suites La-Vista. Midlands Business Journal is currently seeking nominations for professionals in the Greater Omaha and Council Bluffs area under the age of 40 who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and career accomplishments. Our judges will seek out individuals that have made impacts within their organizations and our community. We want to hear about the entrepreneurs, executives and small business owners in your lives. Involvement in nonprofits and community organizations will show judges how much candidates care about the Greater Omaha area. Nominees must be under the age of 40 as of Dec. 31, 2020 for consideration and cannot nominate themselves. Bottom line, we want to honor young professionals that are making a difference. Visit MBJ.com to fill out the nomination form now!

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

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

Sponsorship opportunities are available today!

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

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Lincoln EMPLOYMENT & STAFFING Lincoln Business Journal Pages

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Staffing companies say virtual is the ‘new norm’ by Gabby Christensen

While the employment and staffing industry has been required to make some changes during COVID-19, local professionals say this time is an opportunity for growth and development. Katie Kuhl, chapter president of the Association of Talent Development Nebraska, said the pandemic has shown companies in the staffing industry and beyond that video and virtual are no longer ideations of the future — they’re staples of the present. “Whether interviewing new talent, onboarding or deBouchard veloping that talent during their tenure, or maintaining business processes, video and virtual are our new norm and we aren’t shaking them once the pandemic fades,” Kuhl said. Many organizations are dedicating time, resources and manpower to assess virtual needs, as well as finding opportunities and strategies to support employees forced into a remote environment with the ultimate goal of finding new opportunities to maintain, grow and adapt the business

Katie Kuhl, chapter president of the Association of Talent Development Nebraska and learning experience manager at Medical Solutions’ Omaha office. from times of tribulation and adversity into the future. Kuhl said a common pitfall of many than from those that come easy,” she organizations during the pandemic is to said. “Coaching our employees to rise to offer an “out” on development or scurry new challenges can spark creativity and innovation, allowing them experiences to it down the ladder of importance. “As humans, we learn so much more shine and grow that would otherwise be unavailable. It also partners with succession planning efforts in your organization, illuminating high-potential employees that exhibit signs of leadership in even the direst of situations and rise to the occasion regardless of obstacles in their path.” Chris Bouchard, director of talent acquisition at Lutz, said the pandemic has imposed dramatic changes to the talent/ staffing landscape, namely relating to hiring needs and methods of communication. “There is still a great demand for

May 22, 2020

hiring in certain niche areas such as accounting, finance, human resources and temporary staffing,” he said. “However, it’s been challenging not to be able to do face-to-face interviews because of social distancing and COVID-19 guidelines. The pandemic has also affected many companies’ abilities to onboard, train or get new hires set up to work from home. We are all learning to work through these challenges by better utilizing virtual interviewing programs.” Through these challenging times, Bouchard said there’s an opportunity to learn. “It is hard to see all the positives that will come from this right now, but there are many,” he said. “We are beginning to North understand what our technologies are truly capable of, how to work remotely, the power of virtual communication, the ease and speed of online onboarding and how the impossible is possible when we need to get things done.” Patty North, general manager at Celebrity Staff, said the staffing industry has, by and large, seen declines during the pandemic, just as most industries have. However, she said a surprising number of companies include their temporary employees in their remote work initiatives. “This is a sign that organizations view temporary employees as a valuable part of their workforce and the need to be agile in today’s world,” North said. “Organizations are checking out computers and any equipment to temporary employees just like their full-time staff and have found it to be a good solution to retaining necessary staff.” Companies are also adjusting work environments to accommodate social distancing and safety measures so that employees feel safe and are safe when they reach the point of reporting to in-person work. It's important for managers to be flexible, understanding and supportive, North said, as well as willing to find ways to engage employees and help them stay connected with the organization. “Employees need to feel valued and small things like connecting over a video call to talk about non-work related topics can be a way to build and keep their trust,” she said. “Retaining employees both during and after this pandemic should be something managers keep in mind.”

Lincoln Employment & Staffing •

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Lincoln Employment & Staffing

Hiring processes are changing. Remote interviews are here to stay by Michelle Leach

For those hiring efforts that continue to move forward, technology is playing a “must-have” conduit, presenting new challenges and potential advantages to both interviewees and interviewers in remote environments. “The playing field is changing … This is a great option for people that are not located locally yet, and people currently working [who are] wanting a change in their career, but cannot take off while looking,” said Work USA/Work USA Environmental Office/Staffing Manager Mickaela Anders. “We will continue with remote interviews to get a candidate screened that could have been a missed opportunity in the past from them not being able to come into our office.” Senior Staffing Coordinator Sarah Malcolm said Express Employment Professionals is seeing most companies

conduct interviews remotely, unless the manufacturing/warehouse positions require walking through jobsites. “I do foresee most interviews initially being done remotely for the protection of candidates and employers,” she said. “We have learned that you can do a thorough resume review and interview over the phone or video Malcolm platforms in order to initially find out if someone is qualified for the position in which you are hiring.” Lincoln Human Resource Management Association President (and HR Consultant) Jamie Mohrman is starting to see a turn in the industry, as selection activities pick up

after being put on hold for the last month or so. “With that said, for those companies that have had to move forward on open positions, remote (phone, Skype, Zoom) … interviews have become the ‘new norm’ to allow applicants, managers and HR professionals to continue to practice social distancing,” Mohrman she said. “From personal experience, I have not conducted an in-person interview since March 10.” Past LHRMA President (and HR Officer) Lindsay Selig noted one of the things applicants miss out on during remote in-

terviews is the opportunity to experience the work environment in person. “During this time of social distancing, I would encourage applicants to ask HR professionals more questions about the work environment and culture — describe the layout of the office; what would my workspace look like; how close in proximity are the individuals I would be working with most; what are you doing to protect employees from COVID [and so on],” she said. In Anders’ experience, job candidates seem to be more relaxed than they would be for in-person interviews, providing more in-depth responses instead of short answers. “With the employees being more relaxed I feel that they are not asking as many questions to the person conducting the interview regarding positions,” she said. “Not asking the questions that they may want and need the answers to may result in them not being able to make an informed decision on the position they are interviewing for.” Additionally, without face-to-face interaction, Anders noted one doesn’t get to account for a person’s presence or eagerness. “With remote interviews, you can strictly go off of the information provided on their application and resume and go off of the experience that they state they have,” she said. Malcolm also noted that Express Employment Professionals is adapting to the challenge of not being able to greet candidates on a more personal level (with a handshake). “I think it is an advantage for the candidate, as well as they can complete their interview from the comfort of their home,” she said. “We do hire for a lot of manufacturing and warehouse roles and webcam or computers may not be available if required so that can present a challenge.” LHRMA has further adapted, according to Mohrman, with virtual meetings and webinars in lieu of in-person programs. “We have also created a COVID-19 Employer Resource page on our website, that allows our members a central location to access local, state, and federal guidelines, along with community resources, best practices, and [Society for Human Resource Management] virtual web tools,” she said.

Producers explore new distribution channels by David Kubicek

Manufacturing and logistics have the greatest need for employees because the large demand for a wide diversity of products require the greatest volume of workers. Other essential employers include customer service and food service. “This need hasn’t changed over the past couple of months,” said Julio Gil, branch manager of Allied Staffing (formerly Excel Personnel). “[Before the novel coronavirus], the market was doing great, and the production forecast was looking very Continued on next page.

Lincoln Employment & Staffing •

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

Producers explore new distribution channels Continued from preceding page. promising.” The job outlook for the rest of the year is hard to predict. Production plants have been identified as COVID-19 hot spots and are struggling to stay open, but other industries are booming, such as delivery/transportation, IT, customer service and health care. “I think online sales of any form are going to do great,” Gil said. “How the job outlook will play out for the rest of the year will depend on the individual’s circumstance, skill set and other factors.” Jason Randazzo, Omaha account executive at Paragon IT Professionals, said the firm sees the greatest need from companies that are innovative and diversified during the pandemic, like financial services, insurance and agriculture. “While economic times have impacted needs and availability over the years, there has always been a steady demand for tech

professionals,” he said. forward. Due to layoffs, typically unavailable talent “We’ve talked to many leaders within IT has been more accessible, but those individ- who believe that the need for contingent IT uals — at least within IT — aren’t staff will increase, while full-time on the market for long. positions may be pushed to 2021,” “Those ‘A’ players who have Randazzo said. “We expect the had their heads down and are demand for tech talent to continue generally tough to acquire, are to outweigh availability for the becoming more open to having most part, but again there could be conversations and entertaining an increasing demand for contract attractive offers,” Randazzo said. staff and a decrease in permanent “Overall, there continues to be a placements.” shortage of IT talent, and we don’t PeopleReady is as busy now as expect that to change in the near before the COVID-19 pandemic, future. For example, the demand although the firm’s focus has shiftRandazzo for cybersecurity and software ed slightly, according to Nebraska engineering professionals will continue to Manager Austin Lueth. increase.” “In February and March, we started callWhile hiring has slowed, IT remains rel- ing customers to ask what challenges they atively strong due to the ongoing need across were facing, not necessarily at that time, but sectors to conduct operations remotely and for a couple months down the road,” he said. businesses to move mission-critical initiatives “We let companies like Walmart and local

grocery stores know that we’re here to keep their shelves stocked even if the work is temporary.” He said the employers that are hurting the most are manufacturers who pay anywhere from the minimum wage to $11.80, primarily because of the stimulus check and how good the employees’ unemployment is, so they’d rather stay home and not take the chance of getting COVID-19. “We have people who still need to work, some of whom were laid off and are trying to replace that income,” Lueth said. “Today we’re actually growing because people see us as a resource. We work hand in hand with people to connect them with work. “We lost 100% of our hospitality positions, and the University of Nebraska is completely shut down, but we’ve picked up things like cleaning the bus stations in Lincoln and Omaha, and we picked up a company that does foam coolers that are used for medical supplies and meat products like Omaha Steaks, and road construction is one part of the world that hasn’t been affected.”

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Lincoln Employment & Staffing

Job training is up as people prepare for life post-COVID by Dwain Hebda

People in the Midlands are flocking to formal job training courses, government agencies and employment entities in order to prepare for life post-COVID. “We’re definitely seeing an uptick,” said Roy Lamb, training director for Lincoln Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center (JATC). “With COVID, as far as our workload with the contractors, it’s actually gotten busier. The issue that they’re running across is being able to keep enough people on the job.” Lamb said as the JATC trains people who are already employed by electrical contractors and construction firms, an uptick in demand means more people are hiring into the industry. He said he’s seen

a little bit of everything from the new crop. “It’s kind of across the board,” he said. “The majority of the individuals that we have coming through the door don’t have any [electrical] experience. They may have some construction experience, sometimes even that’s minimal. “Sometimes it’s word of mouth from other trades; somebody doing drywall or plumbing gets in contact with the individuals we work with and asks them, ‘I see what you do and it’s kind of cool. I’d like to get started.’ So, they contact us and we go from there.” Dylan Wren, workforce administrator for the city of Lincoln Greater Lincoln Workforce Development Board, which operates the Greater Lincoln American

Job Center, said increased demand for AJC services hasn’t hit yet, but it’s coming. “There is going to be a huge spike,” he said. “You’ve got all these people who were working at restaurants or bars, for instance, and as all those different sectors are opening back up, they’re not going to hire five bartenders, they’re going to hire maybe one. So, taking a vast part of the economy and transferring them into different sections or a different sector is going to require a lot of job training.” AJC provides a variety of services for different segments of the public including low-income adults, individuals unemployed due to a layoff or business closing and low-income youth. With the

Free digital copy every Friday through the end of June! During this tough time we want to continue to support our small business community and keep you up-to-date on the latest news about our local economy. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and we will send you a free digital copy every Friday through the end of June. Go to MBJ.com to subscribe to our newsletter

coronavirus, AJC is implementing new and easier ways to access programs. “Right now, we’re working on doing more things online,” Wren said. “Our goal is to be able to do our case management through Zoom for skills assessment. One of our goals is revamping our website to do some plug-ins with CareerOneStop.org so someone could do some career exploration online.” Kirstyn Sansom, regional director at Kelly Services, said many people are looking to make good use of COVID-19 downtime and her company has responded to those needs. “We typically have a suite of training skills people can use when they’re working with us,” she said. “We’ve got people saying, ‘I’m going to utilize this time to increase my office skills.’ If they want to upskill their Excel, PowerPoint, data entry or whatever it might be, once they’re hired on by Kelly, they have access to that system.” Sansom said some of the coming labor challenges aren’t skills-based, but economics-based, from a new taste for working from home to the cost-benefit of staying out of the workforce. “Summer programs are canceled for schools, so some people who want to work may not be able to if companies aren’t offering the flexibility of working from home,” she said. “And then you have some people where the reality is, they’re getting paid more in unemployment than if they go back to work. I’m not saying they’re lazy; if you’re in a financial crisis and you’re getting paid more in unemployment, that’s what you’re going to do. But it might take enticement to get people back to work.”

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

Altus Architectural Studios sees uptick due to pandemic medical needs

Continued from page 1. planning and design needs of both federal and private entities. Projects for about 350 clients range from relatively small endeavors such as the remodeling of a room or small groups of rooms in a medical facility to a current $85 million renovation of an Aksarben office building from

Altus Architectural Studios Phone: 402-334-2422 Address: 12925 West Dodge Road, Omaha 68154 Services: health care architecture, master planning, interior design Founded: 2001 by Loren Lamprecht, Michael Hamilton & Michael Levin Employees: 22 (17 in Omaha; 5 in Denver) One-year-goal: Respond to COVID-19 related needs of customer base — 95% of it in medical sector. Industry outlook: Multiple needs for new building construction and fast-track adaption of a wide range of facilities for pandemic-related testing and treatment are anticipated. Website: www.altusstudios.com

a technology headquarters into a new home for Munroe-Meyer Institute for Rehabilitation and Genetics. A regional project involves the construction of a 38,000-square-foot addition to MercyOne Health in Dubuque, which will be used as a new comprehensive cancer center. Altus Architectural Studios averages about 40 projects in progress at any time. The portfolio is divided between private sector and federal health care work. “We’ve learned how to put projects together, learned the trade fairly fast and enable the health care facilities to be built fairly quickly,” Lamprecht said. Last month Managing Principal Michael Hamilton, who also directs Altus Architectural Studios’ federal health care initiatives, was informed that the Omaha firm was awarded a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock (Arkansas) District Talk Order to deliver architectural design and engineering services to COVID-19 alternative care sites. Hamilton headed an Omaha-based team, that with just a few hours notice, executed a plan over a weekend of work that was needed to convert the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock to house 700 COVID-19 beds — 10 of which were allocated for critically ill patients— and with additional facilities to serve 408 patients at the J.Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, Arkansas. Altus Architectural Studios teamed up with Omaha-based Specialized Engineering Solutions to coordinate architectural concepts with mechanical, electrical and plumbing requirements. Altus Architectural Studios received another project in Arapahoe County, Colorado. Hamilton, who has a 1993 Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an MBA from University of Nebraska at Omaha, said the success of such work has been based on a solid understanding of design, code, managerial and technical aspects and its application to build-out or retrofit of existing space into alternate care space often found in arenas, convention centers and hotels, among other structures. Other projects include one at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where Altus provided technical review and oversight of a hospital renovation effort, plus other work at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs; Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Ft. Bliss, Texas.

Project Architect Evan Lamprecht, who has both undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture from UNL before joining his father in Altus Architectural Studios in 2017, said the $85 million Munroe-Meyer project will double the size of the building at 902 Pine Street that was recently abandoned by 1st Date Resources. The Munroe-Meyer Institute, housed for decades on the UNMC’s campus, will be moving into a unique building to serve the needs of patients from Nebraska, as well as throughout the nation needing help with autism, behavioral health, speech therapy and a variety of other needs. “The building is unique because it is multiple projects in one,” the younger Lamprecht said. Patients are segregated on floors with features such as padded rooms with higher security, classrooms, clinical treatment specialties, as well as a floor devoted to administrative offices. In addition to the segregation of services in defined areas, Lamprecht said of “critical importance” will be the improved technological infrastructure, which will enable the enhanced delivery of telemedicine to partner facilities.

In Dubuque, the MercyOne project involves a 38,000-square-foot addition to an existing hospital. Evan Lamprecht said the two-story facility — expected to open later this year — will include an infusion bay for the treatment of cancer patients and the ambiance of large windows offering a view of the nearby Mississippi River Valley. “We brought in experts to create such special environments,” he said. “Everything is much less institutionalized.” Loren Lamprecht, 64, said his architectural training at UNL and 1978 graduation, led to the start of his career at HDR, where he traveled to meet the needs of a variety of health care clients ranging from the Mayo Clinic and Shriners Hospitals to Loyola University. Venturing out on his own 19 years ago made more sense, he said, because he could put his interest and expertise in health care to good use. “We have completed more than 350 projects for Nebraska Medicine/UNMC and nearly 150 for CHI Health,” he said. “Projects of note” include a CHI Health

Clinic at 161st Street & West Maple Road and Creighton University’s Medical Center Academic University Campus at 24th & Cuming streets. Non-health care projects for Altus Architectural Studios at present range from Equitable Bank’s new Elkhorn Branch at 202nd & Pacific streets to Specialized Engineering Solutions’ renovated corporate office at 103rd Street & Ellison Circle. Loren Lamprecht and Michael Levin — one of his original partners in Altus Architectural Studios — are nearing retirement and will take a reduced role in the business. Other members of the executive team include Dwayne Meyer, senior project manager, Carrie Hinshaw, director of health care, and Ray Drzymala, managing partner of the Denver Branch. The senior Lamprecht said the firm’s six-member executive team will position the firm for even greater growth in the future. “We understand the responsibility that comes with creating environments that directly impact patient care and delivery,” he added.

Grow Nebraska yielding positive results for state’s entrepreneurs Continued from page 1. like accounting or food safety laws, for example. “We provide training to over 1,000 small businesses a year and we do one-on-one coaching to right around 600,” Anderson Ehrke said. “We are a membership organization.” At the same time as the move, the organization, then known as the Central Plains

Grow Nebraska Foundation Phone: 308-962-6767 Address: Younes Campus, 421 W. Talmadge St., Suite 1, Kearney 68845 Services: nonprofit aiming to connect rural businesses and grow them to the global marketplace Founded: 1992 as the Central Plains Foundation; Grow Nebraska Program started Jan. 1, 1998 by Janell Anderson Ehrke; foundation name changed to Grow Nebraska Foundation June 2018. Employees: 3 Website: grownebraska.org

Foundation, rebranded to the Grow Nebraska Foundation, a nod to what had become one of Central Plains’ primary focus, the Grow Nebraska Program, founded by CEO Janell Anderson Ehrke in 1998 with 60 members. She joined the foundation in 1995. The Grow Nebraska project had taken the lead under the Central Plains Foundation umbrella, carrying on its original mission to “help connect businesses and grow them to the global marketplace,” she said. The move and the rebranding “really solidified what we are and what we are trying to accomplish.” In addition, the foundation’s bylaws were updated, and the board went from regional to statewide, representing diverse industries. Today, there are 417 members from across the state ranging from Copycat Printing in Kearney to No More Empty Pots in Omaha to family-produced Nutt Family Jams & Jellies, to manufacturers like Jayhawk Boxes in Fremont and Dorothy Lynch Dressing in Columbus. Grow Nebraska Foundation’s roots date back to 1992, when Board President Rodney Whipple’s in-laws John M. and Sheryl Koller, who own ATC Communications, founded the Central Plains Foundation in Holbrook, Nebraska, out of concern that southwest Nebraska’s entrepreneurial endeavors would dry up because of tough economic times.

“The success of rural Nebraska is very declared a pandemic. Because of demand, it’s personal to my ‘in-laws,’ and their creation of now offering online training sessions twice Central Plains Foundation was a way to con- a month. “Now more than ever, if I’ve learned anytribute to that cause,” said Whipple, who is vice president of information services at ATC Com- thing from this pandemic, your digital marketing munications and has been on the foundation’s has to be on point,” Anderson Ehrke said. Companies are relying on online sales and board since 1997. At the time, Holbrook Public School con- many member companies are pivoting to offer solidated with Arapahoe Public Schools and in-demand products. “We have buynebraska.com, which is the the Holbrook school building was available. The Kollers bought the building and used it as largest Nebraska product site, we have a very suca small business incubator called Central Plains cessful Amazon store, Facebook Marketplace, and Development Center — a brick and mortar facil- then we have an eBay [store],” she said, adding ity to house and grow small businesses under the that there’s an average of 17,000 views of product photos each month. “When Amazon Central Plains Foundation umbrella. closed their distribution centers down, “Fiber and technology were it created an unbelievable opportunity brought to the facility very early,” for our small Nebraska businesses. he said. “Training was provided. I We went from averaging right about believe there was reduced rent and 15 to 17 daily orders online to over it really just started to develop into 168 a day.” more, especially as internet started to For example, flour has been in evolve and change the way rural Nesuch high demand that it’s sold out in braskans could conduct business.” some markets, resulting in increased The board works to address the sales for Grow Nebraska’s member many challenges that small busiflour companies, for example, Coonesses face. Whipple per’s Best, Heartland Gourmet and “Immediately when I started Grain Place Foods. working at the foundation it was very apparent to One family business, a T-shirt company me that ATC wanted to stay in the forefront and really get as many local small rural businesses out of Hastings, started making masks and was taking advantage of internet and digital market- selling them on Facebook. “We got a hold of her, put her on Amazon ing,” Anderson Ehrke said. “That’s what saved our foundation, to be quite honest, because we and we’ve already got close to 50 orders for didn’t have a budget for printed newsletters. We her,” Anderson Ehrke said. “It’s not going to were one of the first foundations with a Facebook completely pay her family bills, but she said, page. We were one of the first foundations with ‘you know, it’s just so nice to see some business trickling in — it gives me hope.’” an e-newsletter.” Anderson Ehrke added: “That’s what we’re In fact, Whipple said that the foundation was a pioneer in creating online platforms; for trying to do right now. The board is tasking example, an online cattle auction for Anderson me and I’m tasking my team, how can we make this lemon into lemonade for more of Livestock. “It was really early to the market with that our members?” Grow Nebraska hosts an annual conference and it was very successful,” he said. “I was very much a part of that; I used to run all the e-com- called MarkeTech, founded by Anderson Ehrke, merce for them — all the forms, all the creation which was rescheduled from April 15 to July 21 of spreadsheets for them. In that day, early on, it this year. It also has a pop-up retail store at the wasn’t very interactive … it was a lot more static Nebraska State Fair with 60 to 90 products on than what we are familiar with today, so it was display for the two-week event. “That allows us to see Nebraskans and other pictures and a lot of numbers and spreadsheets travelers that may come to the State Fair and and slowly evolved.” Since Grow Nebraska has been offering really promote and start the holiday harvest for monthly webinar training since 2013 with an the products and producers,” she said. “I think average of over 40 participants, it was poised it’s been a wonderful fit not only for us, but also to help its members when the coronavirus was a benefit to the State Fair.”

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Reinforce advisory team to navigate PPP forgiveness, unchartered waters Continued from page 1. ed to begin preparing our clients for what to consider and expect.” As of last week, the bank secured nearly $72.6 million in funds for 515 businesses. “There was confusion around eligible payroll expenses, how to account for independent contractors, whether mortgage interest and utilities were used in the calculation, federal and state payroll taxes [and so on],” Mosser said. The next step? The all-important forgiveness component. Mosser “With borrowers receiving funds as early as April 13, we are nearly six weeks into the eight-week period, and the rules are still being clarified,” she said. “Borrowers will need to properly document and complete the forgiveness application in order to ultimately determine their forgiveness amount. The remaining balance will need to be repaid in accordance with the loan terms.” As banks and borrowers provide feedback on what has been recently published, Mosser anticipates changes over the next few weeks. “We will continue to provide updates to our clients via email and our website,” she said. For succession planning and exit strategy firm Execso, utilization of PPP has been “vast,” as President Rob Wellendorf noted how several clients have “pushed the pause button” on continuing down the path of getting out of the business post-COVID-19. He indicated as additional guidelines on forgiveness continue to reveal themselves, the influx of cash will help buoy the businesses they work with. So, they can move forward and the present crisis will be a “distant memory.” At the core of any successful exit strategy is predictable cash flow. “I’ve got business owners in Southwest Iowa and our target was to have them done and out in December 2020,” he said. “Now, it might be June 2021. But it’s OK. They still have an exit strategy and there will be a day when they no longer own the business. It’s OK to press the pause button.” He does anticipate some folks will say, “I no longer have a business to transition to.” Patience overrides all projects; Wellendorf encourages owners to determine income sources, and update financial models and income planning scenarios in an environment whereby portfolios have been hit so hard. Another action item? Refresh and revisit estate plans. “Does your business plan play well with your estate plan?” he said. “They are concentric circles and need to be coordinated.” Communication remains key and, while it wasn’t unusual for Wellendorf to use Skype or Zoom to bridge the miles with national clients, it’s essential to be faceto-face when working in the space as a coordinator and collaborator. “I had a client in New Jersey who died of complications of COVID-19 and we had just finished up estate planning in Febru-

ary,” he said. “It’s a fifth-generation family business, and we had just got everything tidied up.” Several initial virtual meetings culminated in a face-to-face, providing comfort and confidence to the client in a way that one can’t over video call. “We also recognize the value of the other advisers, and we want to continue to be encouraging — we’ll get through this, but it does cause us to pause, and give us the opportunity to revisit and refresh the estate planning and business strategy,” he said.

Lutz highlighted opportunities to reach out and stay connected with clients, making sure they have someone to help as a sounding-board — bouncing ideas off of, and discussing problems and potential solutions with, according to Audit Shareholder and Director of Marketing and Business Development Scott Carrico. “Having another business owner and professional who knows their business and can lend an ear is huge right now,” he said. Additionally, with the migration back to work at the start of this month, Carrico

referenced the opportunity that is presented with Lutz’s internal resources to help owners as they bring people back. “We can assist with the technology strains this might have through Lutz Tech, and we can help with general logistics on bringing the workforce back with our new service line of risk assessment,” he said. Carrico, too, noted they’re in the process of helping clients take full advantage of PPP loan forgiveness calculations, via forecast and analysis of each company’s situation.

Three steps to a great interview: Be punctual, prepared and enthusiastic by Dwain Hebda

The secret to a great job interview doesn’t rest on one outstanding answer or the typeface on a resume. Experts say with all else being equal, successful candidates are those who best execute the fundamentals. “In the first few seconds of an interview, a hiring authority will draw initial conclusions about a candidate based on how the person dresses, how they carry themselves and how they walk into the room,” said Vicky Walz, manager of outplacement services, career coaching and resume writing for Hemphill Search Group. “So, the candidate must be on time and pay attention to professional attire, good posture, eye contact and a genuine smile.” Conversely, Walz said, being sloppy on basics can end a person’s opportunity before it begins. “It is important to show enthusiasm about the position, talk favorably about past employers and demonstrate the immediate value the candidate will bring to the role,” she said. “The focus should be on what’s in it for the employer, not what’s in it for the candidate. “The worst mistake is making the interview all about what the candidate wants, not what the employer wants. Coming across

as self-serving will derail the interview.” Marci Piasecki, career coach at Omaha Career Coach, said preparation is critical for a good job interview, be it to learn about the company or to help combat stage fright. “Think about the interview as a business conversation where you are the answer to the problem the employer has,” she said. “Think about how you can bring value to their situation and remember, it’s a twoway street. You’re deciding whether you like this employer and the company culture just as much as they’re deciding if you’re a good fit. “Practice thinking about your unique value and what’s going to make it a winwin for both parties. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel with any question they might throw at you.” Piasecki said much of the stress associated with job interviews comes from feeling unprepared. While a candidate cannot anticipate every question, there are some old standbys that should be considered in advance. “The ‘Tell me about yourself,’ question, nine out of 10 times, you get that right at the start of an interview,” she said. “Go back to the job description and prepare by highlighting some prominent required skills that you possess and then brainstorm how

Focus on Safety

to briefly describe yourself and showcase your strengths.” John Salow, CEO at Paradigm Coaching, said one of his cardinal rules for interviewing is also one of the most basic. “Be honest,” he said. “If you have gaps or dismissals in your professional history, acknowledge them if asked. If the gaps were for good reason, share them and focus on discussing why you chose to remain unemployed during that time. “If you were having trouble finding a job, focus on the things you were doing to uncover new opportunities. If you were fired, talk about what you learned from the experience and share what you plan to do differently in the future.” Salow reminds clients a job interview is a competition, so pay attention to the little things, even after the interview is over. “I read an article that said a majority of employers don't place too much emphasis on thank-you notes or emails anymore, but why take the chance?” he said. “If the interviewer is someone that thinks it is important, you may have missed an opportunity. If the interviewer doesn't care as much, a handwritten thank-you note can still set you apart. It also doesn't take too much time to do, so take advantage of every opportunity you can.”

SARPY COUNTY

GROWTH REPORT 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 the following: Topics may include:

• Sarpy County Growth Report Overview

Focus on Safety overview • Workers’ compensation Developing a workplace pandemic safety plan Transportation industry safety Predictive analytics and workplace safety

• Construction update • Banking • Health care

Issue Date: May 29 • Ad Deadline: May 21

• Data centers/Tech • Real Estate

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

About half of all small businesses in danger of failing during pandemic, survey finds by Kevin Baxter

Carlos Marroquin dropped wearily onto a wooden bench in the center of the tiny Newhall soccer shop to which he has poured 15 years of his life and all of his resources. “I’ve never Small Business felt as a scared as I do right now,” he said, unsmiling eyes peeking out from above a cloth face covering. “I pray to survive. I don’t know if I will.” Marroquin’s shop, Planet Soccer, weathered the 2008 recession, nearby wildfires and SUPER CROSSWORD

Answers on page 12.

a recent roof collapse caused by heavy rains. But all that pales in comparison to the hit his store, and most small businesses, have taken during the shutdown ordered two months ago by Gov. Gavin Newsom in response to the spread of COVID-19. The store was allowed to open, under certain restrictions, last week, but with business down more than 90%, that may prove to be a stay of execution rather than a full reprieve. Thirty-five miles away, in the Mid-City part of Los Angeles, Chiara Arroyo and Celene Navarrette have similar worries. They SELF DESCRIPTIONS

have already cut half the tiny staff at LA Librería, their Spanish-language children’s bookstore, and used a loan to pay the rent. “We don’t know about the future and how we will be able to sustain our business,” Arroyo said. “It’s kind of hard.” If the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic lasts past Memorial Day, which seems certain, about half of all small businesses could be in danger of failing, an April survey by the National Federation of Independent Business found. More than 6 in 10 could fold if the damage lasts until Labor Day. “The real question is about solvency,” said Brian T. Kench, dean of the college of business at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. “As the duration of the crisis continues, we are moving away from sort of the happy talk of quick V-shaped recovery into something that’s a little more U-shaped or L-shaped, where the duration lasts much longer. “That leads to more and more businesses that are just trying to hold on.” And while each shuttered restaurant or closed boutique is a body blow to its neighborhood, some of those punches will hurt more than others. In the case of shops like Planet Soccer and LA Librería — and so many others that fit a unique niche — closure would leave an unfillable hole in the community. “They’re very important, especially because they’re the only Spanish(-language) bookstore in the area” for children,” Anna Avalos, senior librarian for multilingual collections at the Los Angeles Public Library said of LA Librería. “Everybody else is in New York, Miami. LA Librería is the only bookstore that we have that the community can go and purchase books from.” Avalos stocks shelves at 73 public libraries partly with children’s material bought from LA Librería. And while those same books could be purchased online, what can’t be found on the web is the expertise of the bookstore’s two owners. “I work with them because I know that they’re going to be knowledgeable and they’re going to know the quality of the books they’re sending to me,” Avalos said. “They’re mothers like me who are trying to get the best items for our children. And because they have that knowledge, they’re able to provide that.” It was hard-won knowledge. Arroyo, who was born in Spain and has a master’s in journalism and bachelor’s in philosophy and literature, and Navarrette, a Mexican who teaches information technology at Cal State Dominguez Hills, met when they were assigned to the book-fair committee at their children’s bilingual elementary school. Appalled by the poor translations and the stereotypical roles of the characters in the books they found, Arroyo said, “We decided to take action and say ‘OK, let’s try to improve that.’” That was 2012 and the first collection of books they collected sold out so quickly that they opened a store in 2015. Today, half their customers don’t speak Spanish but come to LA Librería for advice on how to help their children become bilingual. “LA Librería is more than a bookstore. We’ve become a hub for many families,” Arroyo said of the 800-square-foot storefront along a weathered commercial stretch of Washington Boulevard. “People will come

from Tijuana because we have books that they won’t find in Mexico. People will come from Fresno because we have a workshop and the trip will be worth it for them. “It is a destination store now.” It is also a closed store now, with books available for curbside pickup only. And if it doesn’t reopen this summer, said Avalos the librarian, “there’s going to be a big hole in the community.” Back in Newhall, Marroquin, a former youth national team player in his native Guatemala who said he has two short stays with professional soccer clubs in Europe, is more than $9,000 behind on his rent in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. Catching up will be tough; Marroquin has already gotten rid of every employee he’s not related to, but since partially reopening a week ago, business is just 10% of normal. “The fundamental issue will all these small businesses is the revenue has dried up,” Kench, the business school dean, said. For Marroquin, 53, that revenue came from local club and American Youth Soccer Organization players or the five high school soccer teams his store outfits. With schools closed and club practices canceled by COVID-19, the stream of traffic through the store has slowed to a trickle. “Nobody is playing soccer right now,” said Marroquin, who speaks in a hurried manner, the words tumbling out in both English and Spanish, when he’s excited. “Nobody’s practicing.” But like LA Librería, Planet Soccer is selling more than merchandise, which would make its demise more painful. “This is a soccer store. We don’t sell only for selling,” said Marroquin, who opened the shop in 2005. “We are 100% sure that people have the right shoes, the right soccer ball, the right jersey. It’s not like you went to another place, you pick out whatever you want and you leave. You’re asking for advice.” That has paid off in loyalty, if not profits. “Everyone knows Carlos in the community. All the soccer moms,” said Noelle Watkins, who came in with her 13-year-old son and got a discount on her purchase because the boy plays in a local league. Outside the store, the women’s semipro team Marroquin sponsors is uncertain whether it will play this season. The Santa Clarita Blue Heat sent two players to the Women’s World Cup in France last summer and two years before that, one of its stars, Venezuela’s Deyna Castellanos, finished third in voting for the FIFA player of the year award. So if Marroquin has to close the doors to his 1,281-square-foot store permanently, Continued on next page.

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Staffing nursing homes was hard before the pandemic. Now it’s even tougher by Sophie Quinton

Residents have fallen ill with the new coronavirus in both the Worcester, Mass., nursing homes where Kwaku Tsibo Bondah works. Protective equipment is in short supply, he said, and many of his colleagues have tested positive or are calling in sick because they’re afraid to come to work. “It’s really chalHealth care lenging … everybody is in a state of anxiety,” said Bondah, a licensed practical nurse. “Because you are going into a room with someone who has COVID-19 there.” Many nursing homes and assisted living facilities were short-staffed before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Now it’s even harder to recruit and retain nurses needed to care for residents and stop infection from spreading. When nurses and nurse aides are stretched thin, they end up cutting corners. They might fail to wash their hands often enough, or try to lift a frail person by themselves — harming themselves or the people in their care, advocates and people who study the direct care workforce say. “We need to have enough staff to appropriately support the staff in there who are putting their lives on the line,” said Mairead Painter, Connecticut’s long-term care ombudsman. “When you’re working short, you make decisions you may not make on a good day.” Governors and health agencies nationwide are developing “strike teams” of National Guard members and clinicians to help manage coronavirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities. But some state leaders also are trying to solve longer-term staffing problems. Massachusetts and Colorado have launched websites to match job seekers with open longterm and residential care positions. Massachusetts is providing $1,000 bonuses for hires who stay on the job for a month, and Arkansas is boosting pay for nurses and other direct care workers from April 5 through the end of May. Illinois is among the states letting facilities hire nurses with an out-of-state or recently expired credential and temporarily hire unskilled workers to help feed and clothe residents — a role made possible for the time being by looser federal training and certification requirements for nurse aides. To fix staffing problems over the long term, however, worker advocates say direct care workers need better pay. And that, industry groups and labor unions say, will require more state and federal dollars for long-term care. “Post-pandemic, I think there needs to be a real conversation about valuing the roles of caregivers,” said Marlishia Aho, regional communications manager for 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, a union that represents roughly 2,000 nursing home workers in Massa-

Matthews Tullius Continued from page 3. has a degree in human resource development from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She said her career in consulting and coaching has always been fueled by the desire to “find a better way,” made more urgent by COVID-19 challenges. “Coaching leaders, especially in times like we’re going through right now, it’s incredible to see these skillsets and the perseverance and the grit that these leaders have for their teams and their organization,” she said. “It’s incredibly inspiring and I feel very privileged to be a part of it. That’s why I do this.”

chusetts, including Bondah. “And that requires wages that reflect the work that they are doing.” Most U.S. nursing homes don’t have enough staff to provide the 4.1 hours of daily nursing care experts recommend, said Charlene Harrington, an emeritus professor of nursing and sociology at the University of California, San Francisco, who studies long-term care staffing. “Seventy-five percent of all nursing homes did not meet the professional staffing standards that experts believed they should have before the virus hit,” Harrington said. “So that made them very vulnerable.” Care is mostly provided by nursing assistants, who have at least 75 hours of training and do everything from feeding residents and giving them medication to helping them move from a bed to a wheelchair. Instead of employing one nursing assistant for every seven residents — the minimum recommended by experts — some facilities employ one nursing assistant for every 10 or even 15 residents, Harrington said. There’s no standard federal ratio of staff to residents. A 1987 law requires nursing homes to have a registered nurse on duty eight hours a day, seven days a week; a licensed nurse on duty in the evenings and overnight; and staff “sufficient to meet nursing needs of its residents.” There’s no national data on nursing home staffing during the pandemic, because the federal government has suspended staff reporting requirements to give businesses a break from paperwork. Before the pandemic, the average nursing home could provide 3.9 hours a day of nursing care per patient, according to the most recent federal data. But workers, union leaders and industry groups say many workers are taking time off because they’ve contracted the virus, have caregiving responsibilities at home, or because they or a family member have a medical condition that makes them vulnerable to a deadly infection. “Many people are afraid to bring this home to their families,” said Aho of the SEIU. And jobs that already were empty are proving harder to fill as nursing homes and assisted living communities emerge as hotspots for coronavirus infections and deaths. A third of deaths from the virus in the United States have been residents and workers at longterm care facilities, according to The New York Times. In 13 states, including Massachusetts, it has been more than half. Before the pandemic began, 1 in 7 direct care or nursing jobs at Massachusetts long-term care facilities were vacant, said Jennifer Chen, director of membership and engagement for the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, a trade association for long-term care facilities. “We’ve seen this shortage of these nursing staff prior to COVID-19,” Chen said, “but the pandemic has really exacerbated the shortages.” Despite the Massachusetts job website, the state hasn’t attracted enough applicants to meet demand, Chen said. Some states also are allowing employers to hire temporary unskilled workers to support nurse aides. Illinois regulators require “temporary nursing assistants” hired during the pandemic to complete 16 hours of instruction and training. Massachusetts workforce development officials are promoting “resident care assistant” jobs that don’t require any prior training or a high school diploma. Using entry-level hires to perform simple tasks, such as holding up an iPad so isolated

residents can video chat with loved ones, isn’t a bad idea, Harrington said. But it doesn’t fix the fundamental problem. “That would not, in any way, replace the needs for registered nurses or certified nursing assistants,” she said. Worker advocates say long-term care nurses are underpaid. All types of nurses earn less in nursing homes than in hospitals, and low-paid nurse aides can struggle to afford rent and child care. “We estimate that about 44% of direct care workers live in or near poverty,” said Robert Espinoza, vice president of policy at PHI, a New York City-based organization that works to improve direct care jobs. PHI’s estimate includes people who provide hands-on care in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, residential facilities for people with disabilities and clients’ own homes. The average nurse aide earns about $13 an hour in a nursing home or assisted living center, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many long-term care facilities have boosted hourly pay during the pandemic and at least one state, Arkansas, has won permission from federal regulators to offer bonuses: $250 a week for full-time direct care workers, and $500 a week for full-time workers who are caring for a patient who has tested positive for the coronavirus. Industry groups acknowledge that pay is a problem but say employers’ hands are tied, because their revenue depends on how much states pay them to care for people on Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income and disabled people. In Massachusetts, 7 in 10 nursing home residents rely on Medicaid, Chen said, so state reimbursements dictate business revenue and therefore worker pay. “We can’t make these

investments unless the state really makes these investments with us,” she said. State lawmakers, in turn, say plummeting tax collections will make it hard to increase Medicaid reimbursements anytime soon. Massachusetts’ fiscal 2021 revenue may be 15% lower than expected, according to the nonpartisan Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a Boston-based research organization. “Staffing and staff pay are at the very center of what we need to do,” said state Sen. Patricia Jehlen, a Democrat and Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs. She said she hopes lawmakers can improve Medicaid rates for long-term care facilities and better police how facilities spend the money. But in the current budget environment, she said, “it’s going to be a very big challenge.” Employers can improve direct care jobs without increasing hourly pay, said Katie Lynn-Vecqueray, director of employer memberContinued on page 19.

Small businesses in danger of failing Continued from preceding page. Santa Clarita will lose not only its oldest soccer shop but its top-ranked soccer team as well. Sure, the big-box stores will keep selling soccer shoes. But those other holes will be hard to fill. “That’s the big difference between a small business and big corporations,” said Marroquin, who has no plans to quit just yet. “I’ll be here every day,” he promises, “no matter what.” ©2020 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

Americans are moving less, and that’s bad for the economy by Neal Templin

Even before the coronavirus imprisoned us in our homes, we were becoming a less mobile country. One in 10 Americans moved between 2018 and 2019, barely more than half the mobility rate in the mid-1980s. For those of us who have moved too many times over the years, staying put seems like a good thing Economy for all concerned. It isn’t. Americans’ traditional willingness to pack up and move for a better job elsewhere was a big plus for the economy, and something that separated us from more static labor markets in Europe, spurring faster growth here. While most short moves are spurred by housing or family reasons, half of long-distance moves are for jobs, according to a new research brief from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. In 1990, 3.3% of Americans made interstate moves each year; today, that number is around 1.5%, and that is worrisome. “Economists say that high migration rates allow labor markets to have flexibility and adaptability, and that low migration rates can lead to stagnation and income divergence between places,” writes Riordan Frost, the author of the Harvard research brief. Some believe that declining mobility contributes to growing income inequality. In his 2012 book “The New Geography of Jobs” economist Enrico Moretti wrote that the U.S. was segregating, with highly educated workers in high-income, highcost areas, and less-educated workers in

low-income, low-cost areas. It wasn’t always so. America was a country built by people willing to move. In 1948, the country’s mobility rate, or number of Americans who moved each year, was 20.2%, according to the Harvard research brief. As recent as the mid-1980s, it hovered around 18%. It’s been declining since. From 2018 to 2019, the most recent data available, the mobility rate was 10%. Why, say, aren’t more registered nurses relocating? Average pay for registered nurses, according to federal data compiled by Nurse.org, ranges from a low of $59,540 in South Dakota to $113,240 in California. Housing prices and other factors have people staying put, but at a tremendous cost. Teacher pay also varies widely. Many factors have made us less willing to move. People tend to move less as they age, and America is becoming an older country. The youngest baby boomers are now in their late 50s, while the oldest ones are in their 70s. The growth in two-income families is another biggie. Even if one spouse is offered a great job in a faraway state, it may not make sense to take it if the other spouse has to give up their job. I can attest to this first-hand. From 1983 to 2008, I moved all over the country multiple times to land better journalism jobs. It was possible because my wife wasn’t working during most of that time and either attended college or stayed home to raise our three children. I know older journalists who started their careers back in the 1970s and moved

even more. It was what you did to get ahead. It’s a price many two-income families don’t want to pay these days, and I don’t blame them. Even now I cringe every time I see a moving van. The soaring cost of housing in some parts of the country also impedes moves. California and the Northeast have particular trouble attracting migrants from other areas. This can create labor shortages, particularly for lower- and middle-income jobs. Some California towns fret that teachers and police officers can no longer afford to live nearby. That’s not good. Meanwhile, lower-cost states like Florida and Texas have profited by attracting immigrants from other states. If that in-flow slows, as some economists are predicting, it will hurt their economies.

by Reade Pickert

cies across the nation risk exacerbating the situation. One bright spot in Friday’s data was a surprise increase in consumer sentiment, which rose amid widespread virus-relief payments and discounts for big-ticket items. At the same time, pessimism deepened about the longer-term outlook for incomes and the economy. Businesses are equally downbeat about prospects, according to a survey by the Institute for Supply Management. Manufacturers and service providers expect 2020 revenue to decline more than 10% on average, details of the group’s semiannual forecast showed Friday. Employment and capital spending are seen weakening. “With 15 of the 18 manufacturing sector industries — including five of the six big industry sectors — predicting revenue declines for 2020, panelists forecast that recovery will likely not occur until near the end of the year,” Tim Fiore, chair of the ISM manufacturing business survey committee, said in a statement. The retail sales report, meantime, showed all but one of 13 major categories decreased, led by a 78.8% drop at clothing stores and a 60.6% decline at electronics and appliance outlets. The only category to record a gain was nonstore sales — including online sellers such as Amazon. com — which increased 8.4%. Receipts at food and beverage stores, which saw sales surge in March as Americans stocked up on essential goods, fell 13.1% in April. Sales at restaurants and bars were down 29.5% from the prior

What effect the coronavirus-induced recession will have on mobility is unclear. Home prices are holding up so far, but there is early evidence that fewer homes are being sold, which could depress mobility. There’s a dramatic increase in people working from home under the state quarantines, and if some of that shift becomes permanent, it could hurt the number of job-related moves, according to the Harvard research brief. On the other hand, the Harvard brief says there could be a “spike in mobility” after the quarantine ends and unemployed Americans look for cheaper housing. And it warns ominously: “There may also be a substantial increase in evictions and foreclosures after temporary bans end, unless payment assistance is provided on a large scale.” ©2020 Rate.com News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Pandemic makes end-of-life care harder by Froma Harrop

I just lost a dear elderly friend to cancer. Home hospice workers kept him comfortable. He spent his final weeks watching spring unfold in the outdoor Eden he had Economy nurtured for decades. He died peacefully at night with me present. My friend's death had little to do with COVID-19. One can say that he was spared the trauma of getting hit by that deadly virus in the jaws of a pandemic. He wasn't among the tragic thousands who died at home without medical attention. Nor did he pass away alone in a hospital that wouldn't let loved ones in for fear of spreading the virus. His nurses didn't have to FaceTime with loved ones to help them

US economy adds to grim records, signaling yearslong recovery U.S. retail sales and factory output registered the steepest declines on record in April, illustrating a recession so deep that it will likely take years to fully recover. Revenue at retailers and restaurants fell 16.4% from the prior month, almost double the 8.3% drop in March, which was previously the worst in data back to 1992, according to a Commerce Department report released Friday. That compared with the median projection for a 12% decline. Economy A separate report from the Federal Reserve showed industrial production decreased 11.2% last month, the steepest monthly drop in the 101-year history of the series. Manufacturing output plummeted by a record 13.7% amid declines in all major industries, the Fed said. “Activity was really suffering from the combination of lockdowns and fear,” said Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics. “Some of the most exposed sectors are, not surprisingly, the sectors that are dependent on consumer spending or on factory work.” With the coronavirus pandemic keeping most Americans stuck at home and unemployment the highest since the Great Depression era, people sharply reduced their spending in the month. Friday’s figures show how the breadth of the damage extends from factory floors to households and suggest the economy has a deeper hole to climb out of than previously thought. Further store closures and bankrupt-

month, with receipts about half the level of April 2019. A separate report Friday showed New York state manufacturing remains in distress, with a gauge of May factory activity shrinking at the second-fastest pace in records back to 2001. Other data showed U.S. job openings plunged in March to the lowest level since May 2017. U.S. stocks fell amid the bleak economic data and trade jitters. A sharp drop-off in consumer spending is one of the main drivers behind estimates for gross domestic product this quarter to post the sharpest drop in records dating back to 1947. With states starting to loosen some business curbs, spending will likely pick up in the coming months, though it could remain below pre-virus levels for some time. The monthly sales total of $403.9 billion was the lowest since 2012. Retail sales were down 21.6% from April 2019 after a 5.7% year-over-year decrease in March. The so-called “control group” subset of sales, which excludes food services, car dealers, building-materials stores and gasoline stations, fell 15.3% from the prior month. In more normal times, the measure is viewed as a better gauge of underlying consumer demand, though that’s less the case now. (With assistance by Kristy Scheuble, Vivek Shankar, Elizabeth Dexheimer, Sophie Caronello and Ana Monteiro.) ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

say goodbye. But even so-called good deaths have been harder to achieve in the age of the coronavirus. When my friend exhibited signs of a stroke, I had to weigh the dangers of sending him to a hospital, where he might have gotten infected, over not attending to a possible health crisis. I did call 911. As it turned out, he hadn't had a stroke (or COVID). Tests found evidence that the cancer's return affected speech. Reducing his calcium levels cleared up much of the immediate problem. But during his three days in the hospital, neither I nor other caregivers were allowed to visit. The busy doctors offered us disjointed reports of what was going on -- when they bothered (or had the minutes) to call at all. Upon his return, we immediately signed up for services provided by Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County in Connecticut. When you do that, emergency calls no longer go to 911 but to a number answered 24 hours a day by a hospice nurse. When patients are nearing the end, hospice care emphasizes comfort and quality of life over harsh medical interventions. People in hospice often live longer than those undergoing radical treatments that weaken the body. It may sound as though home hospice provided an island of calm far from the COVID front lines. It was far preferable to the harried and largely impersonal treatment in a hospital that focuses on keeping people alive at all costs. But the virus made even home care with superb help complicated. Two appointments with his palliative care doctor had to be done via video calls. She did her best to assess what he needed but could not obtain important information only observable in a face-to-face consultation -- things like checking the heart and weakness in the legs. The hospice workers themselves face new challenges. Some family members are afraid to even have them in the house. "I have one couple, both elderly," Jennifer Pool, a social worker with Visiting Nurse told me. "The wife is the caregiver right now." The woman asked her, "Should I have the aide come? I don't want to be the one to be responsible" for letting in the virus. And many such spouses are themselves older and medically vulnerable. Frail elderly people may also fear allowing family to visit. And family members may share their concern. Social distancing has forced hospices to cancel some of their services. They don't do massages these days, and it's difficult to offer Continued on page 19.

• MAY 22, 2020 • 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.

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF PROVIDER, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that PROVIDER, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.The Designated Office Address of the Company is 5036 Oaks Lane Omaha, Nebraska 68137.The Registered Agent of the Company is Attia Ahebla and her street and mailing address is 5036 Oaks Lane Omaha, Nebraska 68137. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Findo, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Findo, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 17505 Poppleton Ave. Omaha, NE, 68130. The Registered Agent of the Company is Jacob Gideon, 17505 Poppleton Ave. Omaha, NE, 68130. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BAET, LLC The name of the Company is BAET, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 5820 North 279th Circle, Valley, Nebraska 68064. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Margot J. Wichman, 1650 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. This limited liability company commenced business on April 30, 2020. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 85 SEABEES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 85 Seabees, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office address of the Company is 19710 Pine Street, 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 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF CN FRANCHISE HOLDCO, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CN Franchise Holdco, Inc., a Nebraska corporation (“Corporation”), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 20, 2019, and the Corporation is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the Corporation are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore. The President, Ryan M. Zink, will wind up and liquidate the Corporation’s business and affairs. The Corporation has no assets or liabilities as of the date hereof. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 GNUSE & GREEN LAW OFFICES, P.C., Attorneys 11311 Chicago Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MILEGI, L.L.C. A Nebraska Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given that Milegi, L.L.C., a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 4530 Manchester Drive, Omaha, NE 68152. The general nature of its business is to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the limited liability company’s initial registered office is 4530 Manchester Drive, Omaha, NE 68152 and the name of its’ initial registered agent at such address is Milton Schneider, III. The Certificate of Organization was filed in the office of the Nebraska Secretary of State on April 29, 2020. The Company commenced business thereon and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the Members. Rodney G. Gnuse, Organizer First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020

BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF PITCH IN FOUNDATION Notice is hereby given that a nonprofit corporation has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the corporation is Pitch IN Foundation. The corporation is a public benefit corporation and will not have members. The name and street address of the corporation’s initial registered agent is Law Offices of Barbara Medbery-Prchal, P.C., L.L.O., 10305 Joseph Circle, La Vista, NE 68128, and its incorporators are Jay Musil, Jason Dale, and Marcus Hebert, 3622 S. 197th Street, Omaha, NE 68130. Jay Musil, Jason Dale, and Marcus Hebert, Incorporators First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-606 Estate of EUGENE J. SIADEK, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on the 29th day of April, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Testacy of the Estate of Eugene J. Siadek and that the following surviving son was appointed as the Personal Representative of this estate.: Eugene S. Siadek, 1629 N. 160th Street, Omaha, NE 68118 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 8, 2020 or be forever barred. CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 DANIEL W. RYBERG, Attorney 11605 Arbor Street, Suite 150 Omaha, Nebraska 68144 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-600 Estate of SHARON K HERSKIND, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on the 28th day of April 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of informal probate of the Last Will and Testament of Sharon K Herskind and that Dennis Herskind, whose address is c/o Daniel W Ryberg, 11605 Arbor, Omaha, Nebraska 68144 was 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 8, 2020 or be forever barred. CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF D&W INVESTMENTS, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of D&W Investments, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is D&W Investments, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 1224 S. 118th Street, Omaha, NE 68144, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SCARLET SILK, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Scarlet Silk, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION 1. The name of the Corporation is Christina Pruitt, D.D.S., P.C. 2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 shares of common stock having a par value of $1.00 each. 3. The Registered Office of the Corporation is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 68124, and the Registered Agent at such address is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O. 4. The corporate existence began on May 6, 2020, when Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State. 5. The name and address of the Incorporator is: Christina Pruitt, D.D.S., 6026 Country Club Oaks Place, Omaha, Nebraska 68152. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020

BREASCH ACCOUNTING INC. 4879 S 132nd Avenue Omaha, NE 68137 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION 1. The name of the Corporation is A & M Dins Inc. 2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 shares of common stock having a par value of $1.00 each. 3. The Registered Office of the Corporation is: 4879 S 132nd Ave, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 68137, and the Registered Agent at such address is Cynthia Breasch. 4. Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on April 7, 2020. 5. The name and address of the Incorporator is: Adam Dinsmore, 15923 Curtis Ave, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 68116. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GOLDENROD GP III, LLC The name of the Company is Goldenrod GP III, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is Zachary A. Wiegert, whose mailing address is 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. This limited liability company commenced business on May 6, 2020. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 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 Waitt Brands, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on May 7, 2020, 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. If you have a claim against Waitt Brands, LLC, 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 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 425, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. A claim against Waitt Brands, LLC 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 May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 STEVEN G. RANUM, Attorney C R O K E R , H U C K , K A S H E R , D E W I T T, A N D E R S O N & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 S. 72ND STREET, SUITE 1200 OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68124 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE ORGANIZATION Please take notice that the Certificate of Organization for Betty 1976, LLC has been amended to change the name of the limited liability company to Betty 1956, LLC. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF CONVERSION OF THE MAIDS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND ORGANIZATION OF THE MAIDS INTERNATIONAL, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that The Maids International, Inc. has been converted into The Maids International, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office of the company is 9394 W. Dodge Road, Suite 140, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 68114. The Registered Agent is Daniel J. Bishop at 9394 W. Dodge Road, Suite 140, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 68114. The conversion of the corporation into the limited liability company was accomplished by the filing of Articles of Conversion and Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on February 27, 2020. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 N O T I C E O F O R G A N I Z AT I O N O F A N D R E A B E L L INTERNATIONAL, LLC The name of the Company is Andrea Bell International, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 9960 Bloomfield Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. 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 11, 2020. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Designinator LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with the following registered agent and registered office: Catherine White, 4206 Walnut Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68105. The company was organized on March 24 2020, and it shall continue in perpetuity unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms of its operating agreement. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RISE DECKS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Rise Decks, 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 7202 Giles Road, Suite 4, PMB 278, La Vista, 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 May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF VACEK HOLDINGS, INC. Notice is hereby given that a corporation has been formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the corporation is Vacek Holdings, Inc. The corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on May 5, 2020 and shall have perpetual duration. The name and street address of the corporation’s initial registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The name and address of the incorporator is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. LDM Business Services, Inc., Incorporator First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF BROKEN BAR K BEEF, 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 Broken Bar K Beef, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 5127 N. 160th Cir., Omaha, NE 68116. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on May 7th, 2020 and shall have a 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 May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF KATHOL LAND AND CATTLE, 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 Kathol Land and Cattle, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 5127 N. 160th Cir., Omaha, NE 68116. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on May 7th, 2020 and shall have a 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 May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF CONVERSION OF KUBAT PHARMACY, INC. AND ORGANIZATION OF KUBAT PHARMACY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Kubat Pharmacy, Inc. has been converted into Kubat Pharmacy, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office of the company is 4942 Center Street, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 68106. The Registered Agent is Daniel Welch and the registered address is 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1220, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The conversion of the corporation into the limited liability company was accomplished by the filing of Articles of Conversion and Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 12, 2020. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF CONVERSION OF KUBAT CUSTOM HEALTH CARE, INC. AND ORGANIZATION OF KUBAT CUSTOM HEALTH CARE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Kubat Custom Health Care, Inc. has been converted into Kubat Custom Health Care, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office of the company is 4942 Center Street, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, 68106. The Registered Agent is Daniel Welch and the registered address is 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1220, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The conversion of the corporation into the limited liability company was accomplished by the filing of Articles of Conversion and Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State on March 12, 2020. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Ihle Psychological Services, P.C. was formed on March 10, 2020. The initial registered office is at 15805 Bancroft Court, Apt. #1334, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 and its registered agent at that address is Christopher Ihle. The corporation is authorized to issue 10,000 shares of capital stock. The name and address of the incorporator is Christopher Ihle, 15805 Bancroft Court, Apt. #1334, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that FRS Express, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 14146 Cindy Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The registered agent of the Company is Jorge Flores, 14146 Cindy Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The Company was formed on April 29, 2020. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Gunworx Gunsmithing, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Gunworx Gunsmithing, 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 12933 No. 184th St., Bennington, Nebraska 68007 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Kalen A. Carr, 12933 No. 184th St., Bennington, Nebraska 68007. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION HG Electric, Inc., whose registered agent is Dennis Guinn and registered office is 9341 Davenport Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, was formed on May 7, 2020 to engage in any lawful business. The corporation has authorized 10,000 shares of capital stock. The name and address of the incorporator is Thomas E. Whitmore, 7602 Pacific St., Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020

TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that CLUSIVE CO., LLC, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with its designated office at 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The initial registered agent is John S. Kampfe, and the registered agent’s address is 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The general nature of the business is to engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized. The limited liability company was formed on April 28, 2020, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020

TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given that CREATIVE MINDS DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPLY GROUP, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company was administratively dissolved. Persons having claims against the company must present them in writing to John S. Kampfe, Tiedeman, Lynch, Kampfe, McVay & Respeliers, 300 Overland Wolf Centre, 6910 Pacific Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68106 and specify the nature of the claim, the amount of the claim and the name and address of the claimant. A claim against the company is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within 5 years after the publication date of the third required notice. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF CR HOLDCO, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CR Holdco, Inc., a Nebraska corporation (“Corporation”), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on December 20, 2019, and the Corporation is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the Corporation are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore. The CEO, Cory J. Wiedel, will wind up and liquidate the Corporation’s business and affairs. The Corporation has no assets or liabilities as of the date hereof. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020

MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF MCB PROPERTIES, LLC Notice is hereby given that Patriot Health Wellness Company, LLC has amended its Certificate of Organization as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The amended notice of organization reflects the name change from Patriot Wellness Company, LLC to 602 Merrill Enterprises, LLC. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 MICHAEL J. WEAVER, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FRIL OPERATING LLC Notice is hereby given that FRIL OPERATING 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 16934 Frances Street, Suite #200, Omaha, NE 68130. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HANSERMAN ACRES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Hanserman Acres, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that KRIS OF ALL TRADES LLC a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 2507 S. 148 AVE CIR., OMAHA, NE 68144. Its initial agent for service of process of the Company is USCA, INC. at 1603 FARNAM STREET, OMAHA, NE 68102. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 BENJAMIN E. MAXELL, Attorney GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JESSICA McMURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY, 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 Jessica McMurray Photography, LLC. The address of the designated office is 14821 N Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68137 and the initial registered agent is Benjamin E. Maxell, 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. 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 27, 2020, 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. Benjamin E. Maxell, Registered Agent First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Green Therapy Centers, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Green Therapy Centers, 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 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500, Omaha, Nebraska 68102 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Robert Kmiecik, 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that PraesensBIO, LLC has organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial designated office of the Company is University of Nebraska Medical Center, Wittson Hall, Room 4038, Omaha, NE 68106. The initial registered office of the Company is 1125 S. 103rd St., Ste. 800, Omaha, NE 68124, and the name of the initial registered agent of the Company at such address is Capitol Services, Inc. The purpose for which the Company is organized is to engage in any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Certificate of Organization was filed on the 29th day of April 2020. First publication May 8, 2020, final May 22, 2020

• MAY 22, 2020 • 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 CCAH, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on May 7, 2020, 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. Herbert Hartman, Jr. 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 6211 Chicago Street, Omaha, NE 68132. 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 May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 LEGACY DESIGN STRATEGIES 9859 South 168th Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION SMART WEALTH, LLC Notice is hereby given that Smart Wealth, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 13710 FNB Pkwy, #105, Omaha, NE 68154, and with its initial agent for service of process as Colin Kastrick, 9859 S 168th Street, Omaha, NE 68136. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 LEGACY DESIGN STRATEGIES 9859 South 168th Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION TAX SMART, LLC Notice is hereby given that Tax Smart, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 13710 FNB Pkwy, #105, Omaha, NE 68154, and with its initial agent for service of process as Colin Kastrick, 9859 S 168th Street, Omaha, NE 68136. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF P-3 SOLUTIONS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that P-3 Solutions, 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 1520 S. 189th Court, Omaha, NE 68130 and designating its registered agent as Erickson & Sederstrom, P.C., a limited liability organization with its registered office at 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68114. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION CGHH, 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 752 North 129th Street, Omaha, NE 68154. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are R. Craig Fry, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is HNS 2 PROPERTIES, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 14320 Industrial Road, Omaha, NE 68144. The registered agent is Jeffrey T. Palzer and the Register Agent's address is 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6, Omaha, NE 68154. 3. The general nature of the Company is real estate holding company. 4. The Company commenced on May 8, 2020, and shall have perpetual existence. 5. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by Members, the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as the Members shall determine. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 HEATHER VOEGELE ANSON 3516 North 163rd Plaza Omaha, Nebraska 68116 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF VOEGELE ANSON LAW, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Voegele Anson Law, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 3516 North 163rd Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The Registered Agent of the Company is Heather Voegele Anson, 3516 North 163rd Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020

EDWARD W. HASENJAGER, Attorney 3934 North 90th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68134 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-651 Estate of IRENE REGINA GLEBAVICIUS, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on May 8, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, PETER T. GRAYSON, whose address is 816 Driftwood Drive, Papillion, Nebraska 68046, has been informally appointed Personal Representative. 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 15, 2020 or be forever barred. KELLY J. HOLDEN Clerk of the Douglas County Court First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF WHOLLY LOVED MINISTRIES NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Wholly Loved Ministries has been incorporated as a nonprofit religious corporation under the laws of the State of Nebraska on March 20, 2020 (the “Company”). The Company has designated its registered agent as Jennifer Slattery, with registered office at 303 Longwood Dr Papillion, NE 68133. The Company will not have members. Its affairs are to be conducted by the Board of Directors who shall appoint officers including a President, Secretary and Treasurer. Jennifer Slattery, Incorporator, 303 Longwood Dr Papillion, NE 68133. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Wees Concrete, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 1735 N. 105th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent of the Company is Wade Wees, 1735 N. 105th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was formed on May 12, 2020. First publication May 15, 2020, final May 29, 2020 TIFFANY W. THOMPSON, Attorney 4611 South 96th Street, Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68127 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LEUCK BROS., LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, as of May 11, 2020, with its registered office at 3948 V Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107, and with Tiffany E. Thompson, as its initial agent for service of process at 4611 S. 96th Street, Omaha, NE 68127. The general nature of its business is to engage in and to do any lawful act and any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of Nebraska. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 JOSEPH J. SKUDLAREK, Attorney 1055 North 115th Street, Suite 301 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LLC The Nebraska llimited lliability company’s name is Lucky Shots Coffee, LLC. Its designated office is 17935 Welch Plaza - Suite 101, Omaha NE 68135. Its purpose is any lawful business. It commenced on May 13, 2020. Its affairs shall be managed by a Member/Manager. Joseph J. Skudlarek, Organizer First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Prescription Clinical Services KRC Name of Applicant: KRC, LLC Address: 825 N. 90th Street Omaha NE 68114 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 8, 2020 General nature of business: pharmaceutical services TOM LANGAN Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 22, 2020 TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: HEATHER MARCHIO BEAUTY Name of Applicant: H MARCHIO, LLC Address: 4710 Parker Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68104 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: April 1, 2020 General nature of business: Beauty Salon JOHN S. KAMPFE Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 22, 2020

FREDERICK D. STEHLIK, Attorney GROSS & WELCH, P.C., L.L.O. 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HUSKER VETERANS TEAM, LLC a Nebraska Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given that HUSKER VETERANS TEAM, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its registered office located at 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. 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 limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Certificate of Organization was filed in the office of the Nebraska Secretary of State on January 24, 2020, the Company commenced business thereon, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the Managing Member. Frederick D. Stehlik, Organizer First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 DAVID J. SKALKA, Attorney C R O K E R , H U C K , K A S H E R , D E W I T T, A N D E R S O N & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 S. 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LOUISE LOVE LLC The name of the limited liability company is Louise Love LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is David J. Skalka, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION CDH Land, 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 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 Thomas J. Malicki, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Brobst Financial, 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 Thomas J. Malicki, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDED CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF WONDER BUNCH, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization, as amended, of Wonder Bunch, LLC has been further amended to change the name of the limited liability company to Wonder Bunch Media, LLC and to change the designated office address to 1106 South 15th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68108. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on May 13, 2020. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that All Smiles Family Dentistry, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The limited liability company shall conduct the practice of dentistry. The designated office of the limited liability company is 6026 Country Club Oaks Place, Omaha, Nebraska 68152. 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 13, 2020. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 STATE OF NEBRASKA PAROLE BOARD HEARINGS NOTICE A total of 172 cases will be heard by the Board in May, 2020. The following case(s) sentenced in Douglas County will be seen by the Board of Parole. May 28, 2020 – 8:30 a.m. Nebraska State Penitentiary, Lincoln, Nebraska Simpson, James 77182 Assault 2nd Degree ROSALYN COTTON, CHAIR NEBRASKA BOARD OF PAROLE May 22, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF GLACIER SUPPLY, 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 Glacier Supply, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 25016 Emile Cir., Waterloo, NE 68069. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on May 13, 2020 and shall have a 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 May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 SEAN D. MOYLAN, Attorney 1010 South 120th Street, Suite 320 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF NEBRASKA SYNTHETIC GREEENS, LLC The name of the Company is Nebraska Synthetic Greens, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company. The registered agent Sean Moylan and designated office of the Company are both located at 1010 S. 120th Street, Suite #320, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. This limited liability company commenced business on May 13, 2020. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF AT HOME PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that At Home Properties, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 1820 S. 220th St., Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DIRECT TO OPERATIONAL CONTROL LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Direct To Operational Control, 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 102 South 52nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 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 May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF NEEXCEL EXPERT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that NEExcel Expert, 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 809 Stony Point Drive, Papillion, Nebraska 68046 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 May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of LAO Landscaping, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is LAO Landscaping, LLC. Registered agent and office of LAO Landscaping, LLC is Estanislao Hernandez at 4411 S 25th Street, Omaha, NE 68107. The designated address is 4411 S 25th Street, Omaha, NE 68107. Initial members: Estanislao Hernandez . 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 May 2020 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 RYAN COUFAL, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ARROWHEAD DEVELOPMENT LLC Notice is hereby given that ARROWHEAD DEVELOPMENT 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 1267 280th, Seward, NE 68134. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118-3121. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF EPRO COMAXX LLC Notice is hereby given that EPro CoMaxx LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with its designated office at 16455 Madison St. Omaha, NE. 68135. 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 May 6, 2020. Its registered agent is Carlos Santos located at 1512 Monroe St. Omaha, NE. 68107. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10th Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 N O T I C E O F A M E N D E D / R E S TAT E D A R T I C L E S O F INCORPORATION On 05*05*2020, BOB'S HOME AND BUSINESS REPAIR, INC., filed AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION repealing and replacing its Articles of Incorporation in their entirety changing its name to : BATHROOM & KITCHEN SPECIALISTS, INC., and restating articles including the following: Registered Office/Agent: 3004 N. 76 St., Omaha, NE 68134/Robert W. Polinko Authorized Shares: 10,000 shares of US $1.00 par value First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Titan Realty, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the Company’s designated office is 846 S 21st Street Omaha, NE 68108, and the name of the registered agent at such address is Kevin Green. 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 01/01/2020 and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be managed by its managers. Kevin Green, Member First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Sunhouse Global, 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. 44th St, Suite 101, Omaha, NE 68105, and the name of the registered agent at such address is Tran & Associates Law, LLC. 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 5/03/2019 and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be managed by its managers. Khanh Tran, Member First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Tristar Realty, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the Company’s designated office 1910 S. 44th Street, Ste. #101, Omaha, NE 68105, and the name of the registered agent at such address is Tran & Associates Law. 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 01/01/2020 and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be managed by its managers. Khanh Tran, Member First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TRE PROPERTY LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that TRE Property LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 6521 N 160th Ave, Omaha, NE 68116. The Registered Agent of the Company is Tamara Jo Eddie, 6521 N 160th Ave, Omaha, NE 68116. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Betsy Laufenberg HAIR LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Betsy Laufenberg Hair LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 3226 Fairway Drive, Plattsmouth, Nebraska 68048. The Registered Agent of the Company is USCA, Inc., 1603 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 GNUSE & GREEN LAW OFFICES, P.C., Attorneys 11311 Chicago Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68154 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Complete Containers Name of Applicant: Ideal Construction, Inc. Address: 4505 S 139th Street Omaha NE 68137 Applicant is a Corporation If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Nebraska Date of first use of name in Nebraska: Upon Filing General nature of business: General Contractor, Concrete & Flatwork, Demo, Interior Framing, Drywall, Painting, Carpentry, Cabinetry and Millwork JEFF HARTUNG Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 22, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Sanborn Properties, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the Company’s designated office is 11316 Burdette Circle, Omaha, NE 68164, and the name of the registered agent at such address is Michael Sanford. 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 03/01/2020 and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be managed by its managers. Michael Sanford, Member First publication May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 ANDREW J. HUBER, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF INTIMILES, 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 Intimiles, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 972 S. 45th Street, Omaha, NE 68106. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on May 13, 2020 and shall have a 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 May 22, 2020, final June 5, 2020 JAMES D. BUSER, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Avenue One Name of Applicant: JasperStone 192nd and Dodge, LLC Address: 16820 Frances Street, Ste. 206 Omaha NE 68130 Applicant is a Limited Liability Company If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: Delaware Date of first use of name in Nebraska: 6/20/2016 General nature of business: Real Estate Development JAMES D. BUSER Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 22, 2020

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• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Fishing boat returns with tons of tuna, but there’s no restaurant market — so they’re selling to the public by Sandi Doughton

When the tuna boat St. Jude motored out of Anacortes, Wash., in November for fishing grounds 5,000 miles away in the South Pacific, few people outside of microbiology labs had ever heard the word “coronavirus.” By the time the 95-foot vessel docked in Seattle this month, the microbe had shaken the entire world and turned the seafood business upside down. “Baboom!” said owner and captain Joe Malley, who returned from the six-month voyage to find the priRestaurants mary market for his high-quality albacore had vanished. “Who could have anticipated this?” Nearly three-quarters of the St. Jude’s catch usually winds up in restaurants, including several of Seattle’s most acclaimed dining destinations. Malley and his wife, Joyce, are close friends with some of the city’s top chefs. But with dining in eliminated during the coronavirus lockdowns, the Malleys now find themselves with a shortage of customers and a bounty of fish: Thirty-five tons in a cold-storage facility and another 48 tons stashed in the hold of their boat at minus 30 degrees. So the Bellevue couple decided to do something they haven’t done in nearly 20 years: Sell direct to the public at the dock. Fishermen from Maine to Massachusetts to California have been doing the same, trying to salvage what they can from a season of unprecedented upheaval that is impacting the entire industry. The massive economic stimulus package passed by Congress includes $300 million for fishing operations, seafood processors and charter boats, and industry representatives are calling for an additional $1.5 billion in aid. For those who know and revere the St. Jude brand — and for some who had never heard of it — the prospect of sushi-grade, whole tuna at $3 a pound was the perfect excuse to get out of the house on a drizzly Saturday and make the trek to Fishermen’s Terminal in Ballard. The Malleys plan to sell again over Memorial Day weekend – May 22 to 24, starting each day at 10 a.m. “This is a lot more fun than the supermarket,” said Vinh Bui, who drove from Renton with his wife, Thanh. The couple, who wore matching plaid masks, went home with a 16-pounder, some fillets and plans for sashimi and grilled tuna. It’s also a pretty good deal, with the price below the wholesale rate for whole fish. On Friday, the first day of sales, one woman bought 30 big tuna, said first mate Paul Raikeve, as he bagged up yet another of the shiny, frozen-stiff albacore. Anna and Travis Ankrom waited in line — at a safe distance from others — to buy 15 pounds of fillets, also called loins, selling for $12 a pound. The couple are devotees of St. Jude Tuna, which they often purchase at the Ballard or University District farmers markets. They intend to can Saturday’s haul, which Anna estimated would be enough for about 50 jars, each seasoned with olive oil, salt and a clove or two of garlic. “It’s just like canning anything else,” she said. “You just have to be sure your jars are sterile.”

Crew member Eseroma Lebaleba (CQ) emerges from the freezer below deck having brought up frozen albacore troll-caught tuna for buyers on dock at Fishermen’s Terminal. In the background on deck are captain Joe Malley, left, crew members Jone Ranawai and Paul Raikeve. (Alan Berner/Seattle Times/TNS) “It’s a lot easier to overcook than it is to Wearing a blue face mask and jeans, Joe Malley greeted customers on the dock and undercook,” he cautioned. Malley and his three-man crew fish with offered impromptu cooking tips. He advises cutting the loins into steaks an inch and a hooked lines up to 100 feet long, trolling lures quarter thick while still partly frozen, then near the surface where young albacore feed. seasoning and searing them on the grill, Each fish is hauled in separately by hand, immediately bled and flash-frozen, which is leaving the middle raw.

the key to high quality, he explained. The handling makes a difference, according to James Beard award-winning chef Maria Hines, of Tilth. “The flesh is always meaty and not beaten up,” she wrote in a text. “It always tastes clean, not fishy.” On the boat’s most recent trip, most of the fishing was done a thousand miles east of New Zealand. The crew weathered three typhoons, and only came ashore twice after setting off from American Samoa. In early February, they offloaded 70 tons of fish in New Zealand and barely heard a whisper about a frightening new virus. But by early April, when they arrived at Tahiti, the pandemic was raging. They were only allowed to linger in the harbor half a day and couldn’t leave the boat. So they fueled up and headed for Seattle — a journey that took 26 days. Malley is hoping the moribund restaurant market will revive as eateries slowly begin to reopen. In the meantime, some of the tuna can be canned and the rest kept in cold storage. At the minus 10 degrees common in commercial facilities, the fish will stay good for up to two years – though that might not be economically viable. “Every month you get another bill for the cold storage.” ©2020 The Seattle Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Restaurant distributor finds new demand in supermarkets, carryout and home delivery by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz

Eugene Lam, vice president of Chicago Oriental Wholesale Market, watched COVID-19 shutdowns deflate demand from his biggest customers: restaurants, airlines, casinos. But orders at the food service distributor founded by his parents 27 years ago perked up in other areas. Restaurants Supermarkets, normally 20% of his business, became 40% as their orders doubled and shifted to include more shelf-stable products and cleaning supplies. Restaurants offering carryout, particularly in the medical district, became a focus. The company, based in an industrial zone between Pilsen and Chinatown, struggled to keep up with demand for to-go containers. And there was a whole new audience in consumers holed up at home, reluctant to frequent grocery stores and struggling to book busy grocery delivery services. Lam had the food, but had to figure out how to get it to them. He found a partner in Choco, an ingredient sourcing and delivery app for the restaurant industry, which in mid-April launched a program to help farmers, fisherman, butchers and wholesalers with excess products sell directly to consumers. Choco, headquartered in New York and Berlin, launched e-commerce sites in 17 markets featuring products from local vendors and offered next-day delivery to people’s homes. The Chicago Choco site features a varied selection of produce and other products, including three types of bok choy, udon noodles, tofu, shrimp and garbage bags. Teaming up with Choco helped Lam, who didn’t want to send his large trucks or his drivers to people’s residences. He also

Gustavo Nicolas, bottom, and Francisco Rodriguez, both workers from Chicago Oriental Wholesale Market, unload a delivery to Manny's Deli in Chicago. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/TNS) appreciated Choco’s commitment to donate on dine-in restaurants and focus on growing 100% of profits to regional funds helping takeout, home delivery and supermarket restaurants survive the COVID-19 business customers. He also expects virtual restaurants — concepts created solely for delivery and closures. “That was really intriguing for us when carryout — to become increasingly important the majority of our business is food service,” customers. Lam is confident Chicago Oriental said Lam, 30. His company, which employs about 50 people, saw restaurant order volume Wholesale Market, which originally focused fall to a third of normal levels, and several on serving Asian restaurants but in recent small business owners told him they planned years developed mainstream accounts, will survive because it knows how to adapt. to call it quits. “We are just trying to continue shifting Sending food to consumers, rather than restaurants, meant doing a lot of repacking, as our offering to where the demand is,” he said. most people don’t want to receive a 70-count “Being agile in this climate is very crucial.” ©2020 Chicago Tribune pack of chicken, Lam said. He is now selling Distributed by 15-pound bags of rice instead of 150 pounds. Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Looking ahead, Lam expects to rely less

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

Truckers brace for long haul as virus makes them essential workers by Janet Moore

Trucker Will Hart has been hauling one thing or another for most of his adult life. But never in a pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak and its related shutdown this spring resulted in a sudden appreciation of the role people like Hart, a 44-year veteran driver from Bloomington, Minn., play in stocking grocery shelves, factory floors and distribution centers for popular online retailers. “Everyone in the trucking industry is making that sacrifice,” Hart said. “This is what we have to do.” Transportation The nation’s 2 million truck drivers, deemed essential workers in the pandemic, are now viewed by some as heroes — just like doctors, nurses and grocery store clerks. “Truck drivers are getting the credit they’ve long deserved in this crisis,” said John Hausladen, president and CEO of the Minnesota Trucking Association. With trucks moving about 71% of the nation’s freight, the industry “provides the essential goods that we need,” he added. As consumers experience flash shortages of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and other seemingly random household staples, they may suddenly wonder where it came from. “It takes a slowdown and stoppage in the economy to change the perspective on how it all works,” said Stephen Burks, a professor of economics and management at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Still, Hart seems a little uncomfortable with

all the hero talk. “I’ve never associated myself with doctors, nurses or people with five degrees attached to their names,” he said recently while hauling a load for the military in his 18-wheeler from Roanoke, Va., to Lansing, Mich. “I’m doing the best I can for the country,” Hart said. Truck drivers and their employers have found in recent months that a highly contagious virus and its economic fallout make an already challenging job even tougher. Just finding a place to eat in the middle of a national shutdown is problematic, because many restaurants and truck stops have closed or cut back to curbside service. Many drivers had already outfitted their cabs with refrigerators, freezers, slow cookers, coffeemakers and microwave ovens to make living on the road more homey. “My wife makes sure I have food. She makes it at home and then I put it in the fridge and freezer in the truck,” said Tim Porter, a driver based in Mankato. But sometimes, he just wants to stretch his legs and get out of the truck for a meal, a luxury no longer available. This month, Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order permitting food trucks to operate at six state rest stops along the busy Interstate 94, I-35 and I-90 corridors so that truckers and travelers could have another option for meals. On Friday, Walz extended previous executive orders that exempted vehicles and drivers hauling essential goods from some regulations, including limits on weight and hours of service.

Finding bathrooms and showers can be challenging, too. “I have a container of wipes and I’m wiping down countertops constantly,” said Porter, whose wife is a nurse, a cancer survivor and a stickler for sanitizing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated guidance for truck drivers with advice to “make a plan with your employer and your family as to what to do if you become sick while you’re on the road. Include where to stop, where and how to seek medical advice and treatment, and plans for freight delivery.” Trucker Bob Stanton said the prospect of getting sick while on the road is downright scary. “If a driver is too far away from home or not sick enough to go to the hospital, what do you do? The answer is, ‘I don’t know.’ You could check into a hotel to self-quarantine, but some won’t take you.” With testing already scarce, truckers could be at a loss to find proper health care on the road, said Stanton, who is based near Chicago but frequently hauls to Minnesota. Trucking companies say they’ve had to figure out what works best to keep employees safe. “There are a lot of tough individuals in and around the industry,” said Brent Bois, president of Twin Cities-based Calhoun Truck Lines. “But not having a playbook is the most frustrating part of it.” The CDC says potential sources of exposure for long-haul truckers include close contact

Bicycle sales surge with Americans eager to get moving again by Olga Kharif

Mike Olson, who owns 13 bike shops in Oregon and California, hasn’t had a moment’s peace. Since COVID-19 hit, customers have been lining up outside his Bike Gallery and Trek Bicycle Superstore shops every single day, sometimes for two hours. Models of all types have been flying out the door, leaving Olson in a struggle to stay stocked. Trends “It’s crazy and was not expected,” Olson said. “We are just seeing lots of new customers. Customers bringing out their cobweb-covered bikes and getting them tuned up.” Bike sales were up 30% in April, and have risen 60% so far in May, Olson said. He is now trying to hire 40 more staffers to meet surging demand. Bike shops across the nation are seeing a spike in demand. With gyms closed, some consumers switched to bikes for exercise and stress relief. Parents were hoping their kids — staying home from school — would burn up their pentup energy. As America slowly reopens, commuters are turning to bicycles to stay away from

Pandemic makes endof-life care harder Continued from page 13. spiritual guidance. When the person dies, one can't safely hold a funeral if it draws a large crowd. A funeral home director told me that many families are announcing that a service will be held at some future date. Those left behind may have to mourn their loss in isolation. Bereavement groups can't meet in person. Caring and grieving have always been arduous work. As with so many other life events, the pandemic has made it all that much harder. Copyright 2020 Creators.com

crowds in subways and buses. More than 80% of Americans see cycling as safer than taking public transportation, according to an April survey of 1,000 Americans by manufacturer Trek Bicycle, one of the the biggest-selling brands in the U.S., and researcher Engine Insights. As a result, the $54 billion global bicycle market, which grew 6.9% last year, should see some road-bike categories shoot up 35% this year, according to WinterGreen Research, based in Lexington, Massachusetts. Before the pandemic, the industry largely was stagnant, with battery-powered e-bikes and gravel bikes showing growth, and sales of traditional road bikes plummeting. Much of the growth in recent months has been in the U.S., where bike shops were deemed essential businesses and allowed to stay open in many states. (In parts of Europe, they were shut). The shops offer online sales, curbside pickup and delivery. Many are only letting one customer in at a time, and are putting clothing items clients tried on in a “decontamination zone,’’ where the products stay untouched for a while. With summer weather approaching, most bicycle-shop owners expect high demand to last for another month. The question is: Will it be a fad or will it last? Susan Eustis, chief executive officer of WinterGreen, thinks the latter. The new coronavirus is expected to remain a risk for the next three years. “People will use bicycles to avoid risk during that time,” she said. Road and mountain bikes in the $450 to $1,000 price range are the most popular, according to the Urban Cyclery Shop in East Orange, New Jersey. These bikes are almost sold out, and now customers are snapping up unpopular colors like orange and turquoise, and unusual sizes such as extra small and extra large, said co-owner Ozzie Hansen. “People are very desperate for bikes,” Hansen said. Sales are up 300% compared with a

year ago, he said. E-bikes are in demand as well, according to the Motion Makers Bicycle Shop in Asheville, North Carolina, which owns three locations. The Ashville store just had its best month ever, booking sales of $374,000 in April — more than what the chain’s three stores combined sold in the prior record-setting month, September 2019. “And we are doing it on more limited hours, and with more limited staff,” said Ben Hinker, manager of the store. “Our service department is a solid two weeks, maybe three weeks out.” The store is almost out of kids bikes, he said. Fortunately, some of his suppliers are diverting shipments intended for Europe to his store. With manufacturers low on stock, Toga Bikes in New York is now trying to get supply from third-party vendors. Sales are double what they were a year ago, said manager Will Alvarado. On Mother’s Day weekend, he sold 80 bikes, up from between 30 to 40 in pre-COVID-19 times. As the supply crunch continues, prices are spiking on eBay: Some kids bikes are offered at more than double the list price at regular stores. There are signs that shortages are easing now that China, where much of the bike production is based, has reopened its factories following closings at the end of January as part of its own efforts to contain the virus. “That’s the time of the year when they are making the bikes that are supposed to be in the U.S. in April, May and June,” said Eric Bjorling, brand director at Trek Bicycle, whose bikes are also made in Holland and Germany. “We are seeing thousands of bikes arriving every single day now; we think we are through the worst of it.” ©2020 Bloomberg News Visit Bloomberg News at www.bloomberg.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

with truck-stop attendants, store workers, dock workers and fellow truck drivers. While some companies provide employees with masks, hand sanitizer and wipes, they’re competing for the same protective goods needed by other essential employees. “We’re fighting with everyone else at Costco and Walmart to get them,” said Stanton. “I’m lucky my family buys it.” In a survey “Even the most basic precautions like frequently washing one’s hands become impossible if soap is not available in terminal bathrooms,” the survey notes. “Drivers expect their companies to be able to provide basic necessities. Without them, drivers not only feel unsafe, but also disrespected.” In addition, about a quarter of drivers responding to the WorkHound survey on virus issues expressed frustration over not receiving “hazard” pay while working during the pandemic. Truck drivers “overwhelmingly feel that their compensation does not accurately reflect their essential status,” the study notes. This issue may gather steam in coming months as the economy struggles to regain its footing. The initial surge of demand at the beginning of the pandemic has slowed, and now some drivers worry about their livelihood as parts of the economy shut down. Last month, there were about 88,300 fewer people working in the truck transportation industry than in March, according to preliminary figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Now we’re at the worst of times, a lot of corners of the economy aren’t functioning at all or on a limited basis,” Stanton said. As Burks noted, “There’s going to be layoffs or people driving less miles for some time; it will vary by company and by segment.” Early in the pandemic, Hart hauled thousands of pounds of cookies, pasta, granola bars and other staples to food banks across the country. He found himself thinking about who would be getting them. “It could be my son, my neighbors, this quietly minority of people you would normally see at restaurants, mechanics at garages, clerks at retail stores,” Hart said. The pandemic, he said, “is having an effect on everyone.” ©2020 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Staffing nursing homes Continued from page 12. ship at WorkLife Partnership, a Denver-based organization that helps employers retain employees. Long-term care facilities can give care workers free meals, create support groups to help them manage stress or let them take mental health days, for instance. After low pay, Lynn-Vecqueray said, stress is a major reason why direct care workers quit. Despite the pressure he and nurses like him are under now, Bondah said, he can’t think of any long-term care workers who have quit. He has been a nurse for 20 years, and he said he feels a duty to show people empathy and appreciation at the end of their lives. “We need to give them good care,” he said of the residents he looks after. “We need to love them.” ©2020 Stateline.org Visit Stateline.org at www.stateline.org Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

SECTIONS

IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

MAY 29

FOCUS ON SAFETY

SARPY COUNTY GROWTH REPORT

JUNE 5

HEALTH & WELLNESS

SUSTAINABILITY

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 • Karla Steele - karla@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

COVID-19 Business Updates…

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allocate $2,513,297 in COVID-19 relief funding to help low-income Americans in Nebraska residing in public housing. The funding, made available by the CARES Act legislation President Trump signed into law on March 27, 2020, will be awarded to Public Housing Authorities across the nation, including Nebraska. J. Gilberts and Saltgrass Steak House have reopened their dining rooms for the local community to enjoy while following CDC guidelines and recommendations such as limiting in-dining capacity to 25% as well as: employee screenings & health practices; social distancing; enhanced sanitizing and disinfecting; dining enhancements. For more details or the latest information, visit www. LandrysInc.com. Hy-Vee, Inc. announced that it is now offering a two-hour express pickup option as part of its Hy-Vee Aisles Online grocery ordering service, allowing customers to pay a fee to pick up their order faster. Customers will see a “Get It Faster” option on Aisles Online time slots where the two-hour pickup option is available. A limited number of two-hour pickup orders will be available for $9.95, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily, at all Hy-Vee store locations offering Aisles Online services. Customers will receive the same email and text notifications as they do for regular pickup orders. The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has made the difficult decision to furlough and eliminate positions at the zoo. All furloughed employees will retain their health benefits and have been notified. The furloughs are in addition to salary reductions, a hiring freeze and non-animal related expense reductions. The Zoo has been closed since March 16 due to the COVID-19 crisis. The closure has resulted in a projected revenue loss estimated up to $26.1 million by the end of the year. As a nonprofit, 91% of its operating income is a result of admission, membership and other sales. Godfather’s Pizza delivered 112 hot pizzas for dinner for men, women and children experiencing homelessness at the Open Door Mission. Godfather’s Pizza noted concerns about food insecurity in our community and wanted to do something to help. Goodcents has announced new in-store procedures to ensure customers and employees are safe. The Omaha locations of Goodcents will now include sneeze guards at the register and along the sandwich make line, directional signage, and enforce strict social distancing measures by positioning tables at least six feet apart. Additionally, self-serve items have been moved behind the register for customer safety. Employees are able to wear masks should they prefer, and also required to complete a wellness check prior to each shift. Goodcents will ramp up their already thorough cleaning procedures. Heartland Workforce Solutions opened on May 18 for all workforce-related services. HWS has implemented the following procedures to help keep clients, staff and the public safe: everyone, staff and patrons, are expected to wear masks; no more than 10 people will be allowed in at a time; physical distancing will be practiced throughout the facility; frequent cleaning and sanitizing will take place throughout the day; hand sanitizer will be available. Initial and weekly unemployment claims can be conducted online. In-person

assistance is available. EducationQuest Foundation wants Nebraska students and families to know that, during the pandemic, its staff is continuing to provide free college planning services via phone, virtual appointment, and live chat at EducationQuest.org. Students who may especially need help right now are high school seniors who haven’t yet completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or whose college plans have been disrupted due to COVID-19, and juniors who are uncertain about how to plan for college. Contact information can be found on the website.

Briefs…

Olsson Inc., a nationally recognized engineering and design firm, ranks among the top 100 design firms in the United States for the third consecutive year. Olsson is now ranked 94 on the 2020 annual ranking by Engineering News-Record. Olsson moved up two spots on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms list after growing revenue by nearly 13% in 2019. ENR ranks companies based on revenue for design services performed during the previous year. The firm first cracked the ENR’s Top 100 Design Firms list in 2018 at No. 98. As a community-owned public power company, Lincoln Electric System will pay $20.9 million to local governments in 2020 through its annual payment in lieu of tax and city dividend for utility ownership. LES’ 2019 payment in lieu of tax of $13.1 million was distributed to Lincoln Public Schools, Lancaster County and the city of Lincoln on April 30. The city of Waverly also received its quarterly payment. The payment in lieu of tax, required by the city charter, represents 5% of the previous calendar year’s retail electric revenue from the cities LES serves. May is Bike Month and Heartland B-cycle is celebrating with 50% off its annual passes. An annual Heartland B-cycle pass is usually $100 but for the month of May they are $50. Sign up is online or on the app with the promo code BIKEMONTH20. In addition to the Bike Month pass promotion, you can enter for your chance to win a custom Heartland B-cycle shirt this month. To enter, riders need to fill out an initial contest form and then start riding. Each week they ride with Heartland B-cycle in May earns them one contest entry. The entry form can be found online and can be filled out until the end of May. Revolution Wraps celebrated its 15-year anniversary by hosting open houses at both of its locations. Customers had an opportunity to tour the shops and learn about its capabilities. The company also hosted a companywide golf outing. Evans & Dixon announced that Sodoro Daly Shomaker, a firm of four attorneys, joined Evans & Dixon’s Omaha office effective May 18, 2020. Attorneys Joseph Daly, Thomas Shomaker, Mary Schott, and Catherine Stegman joined the team, bringing with them years of experience handling insurance defense litigation. Evans & Dixon’s Omaha office grew to seven attorneys, and the firm’s attorney head count now exceeds 100. Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. announced the acquisition of Dental Select, effective April 30, 2020. Terms of the agreement are not disclosed. Dental Select is a licensed third-party administrator and insurance agency based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Swanson Russell has been selected as creative agency for national workwear brand, Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. Walls Outdoor Goods. Walls products are built to keep workers safe, warm and dry. The agency will handle Walls’ creative needs including brand development and seasonal campaign work and focus on building deeper connection with professional tradesmen who are wired to be outdoors. AARP is accepting nominations for its 2020 Nebraska Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors Nebraskans age 50 plus who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members. Nebraska’s Andrus Award recipient will be honored with $2,500 to donate to their non-profit charity of choice. Nominations will be evaluated by AARP Nebraska based on how the volunteer’s work has improved the community, supported AARP’s vision and mission, and inspired other volunteers. The application deadline is July 15, 2020. Attorney General Doug Peterson joined a bipartisan coalition of 52 attorneys general in calling on USTelecom to continue its collaboration with state attorneys general by bolstering technological capabilities to improve enforcement against illegal robocallers. The letter asks USTelecom and its collaborative Industry Traceback Group to advance its abilities in identifying robocall campaigns and trends; conducting automated traceback investigations; and coordinating with relevant law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Small Business Administration published Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting program regulations that will provide a free, online certification and eligibility application process for women-owned small businesses and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses. The timeline for implementation of changes to SBA’s WOSB program has been delayed to accommodate those affected by the current pandemic. Starting July 15, 2020, SBA will begin to implement changes consistent with the Small Business Act as amended in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. Coolgreens, a healthy lifestyle eatery headquartered in Oklahoma City, is coming to Omaha. The first restaurant will be located in Loveland Shopping Center at 8990 West Center Road and is scheduled to open on June 1, 2020. The store is currently accepting applications for approximately 35 positions including cooks, shift supervisors, “Greens and Greeters” and “Expeditors.” Accommodations will be made for those individuals who need to interview online using FaceTime, Google Hangouts or Zoom. Appointments can also be made for in-person interviews at the restaurant. KidGlov, a strategic marketing and advertising agency, announced the Agency for Change Challenge, a contest for organizations dedicated to creating positive change in people’s lives through their programs, products or services. Online applications will be accepted through June 12, 2020. The selected winner will receive $10,000 in advertising agency services from KidGlov. The Challenge was developed as a way for the agency to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Attorney General Doug Peterson and the Attorneys General from 10 other Midwestern states are urging the Department of Justice to pursue a federal investigation into suspected national price fixing by meat

packers in the cattle industry. They expressed concern over the likelihood of manipulation of the market for processed beef. The four largest meat packing companies control more than 80% of the beef processing in the United States. The shelf price of beef is exceptionally high, while cattle prices are low.

Education notes…

The University of Nebraska at Omaha announced a series of new programs that will keep new and returning Mavericks on the fast track toward their future academic and professional goals. The five new, limited time programs include merit-based academic tuition assistance, vouchers for residents, incentives for new graduate students, reduced costs for online courses, and a unique package supporting health care workers and their families. Current and prospective students can learn more about each UNO Incentives program by applying to UNO today and visiting the UNO Incentives Program page. Metropolitan Community College Continuing Education face-to-face classes have been canceled through Aug. 31, 2020, with some online alternatives available. MCC continues implementing the recommendations of the Douglas County Health Department and the guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students who have registered for a summer class will be contacted via email and phone about the class cancelation and notified whether online options are available for the canceled class. In recognition of its continuous efforts to promote equity and social justice in health and health care, the UNMC College of Public Health has been awarded the Harrison C. Spencer Award for Outstanding Community Service by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. The UNMC College of Public Health is one of just two colleges of public health to receive the award. The other is the National Taiwan University College of Public Health. The award comes with a plaque and $5,000 cash prize intended to be distributed to one or more community partners. University of Nebraska President Ted Carter announced that tuition rates across the NU system will be frozen in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, another step to ensure affordability and predictability for students and families as they plan for the future. The two-year tuition freeze applies to undergraduate, graduate and professional students; resident and nonresident students; and those attending in-person and online. Carter will hold the line on the 2.75% tuition increase for 2020-21 that was approved by the Board of Regents last year. The University of Nebraska, with the guidance of the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, has developed a Higher Education COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Guide for institutions as they plan to resume in-person teaching and learning in the fall 2020 semester. The 19-page recovery guide is intended as a tool to guide higher education campuses through three steps based on disease prevalence and stability of available resources. Respective campuses would be able to identify relevant components of readiness and then meet a robust checklist of criteria that the campus selected for each of the steps before

advancing to the next step. Midland University has announced the addition of Women’s Flag Football to its athletic offerings beginning with the 202021 academic year. Women’s Flag Football will be the 33rd varsity program offered by the university located in Fremont, Nebraska. Women’s flag football is on its way to becoming an official National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics varsity sport, thanks to a two-year partnership between the NAIA, the National Football League and Reigning Champs Experiences.

Health care notes…

Nebraska Health Network partnered with Aunt Bertha, a national social services platform, to launch a new resource that enables users to search for local services and support. Community Relay is a free resource that features more than 140,000 listings nationwide and is available in 100 languages. Users can search online at CommunityRelay. com for free or reduced-cost services across categories like food, housing, transit, employment, medical, goods, legal, childcare and more. Lance Kugler, M.D., at Kugler Vision in Omaha is participating in the STAAR Surgical clinical study for the EVO Implantable Lens designed for correction of nearsightedness and astigmatism. Kugler will be one of a select group of clinical investigators across the United States for the EVO procedure study, and the only surgeon in the state of Nebraska participating in the EVO trial. The EVO procedure is designed to correct vision for those with nearsightedness or astigmatism, allowing them to see with clarity at a distance without reliance on eyeglasses or contact lenses. The Healthcare Worker Exposure Response & Outcomes Registry launched

this month, inviting U.S. health care workers to share clinical and life experiences in order to understand the perspectives and problems faced by those on the COVID-19 pandemic front lines. The HERO research program leverages PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, and is funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The HERO Registry is asking hundreds of thousands of health care professionals to participate.

Activities of nonprofits…

First National Bank of Omaha will award more than $3 million in community development grants and impact investments to 27 organizations in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas, providing relief to individuals and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Local organizations include: Fremont Area United Way, Heart Ministry Center, Intercultural Senior Center, Metro Area Continuum of Care, No More Empty Pots, Omaha Community Foundation, The Salvation Army, Together Inc., United Way of the Midlands, and Youth Emergency Services. Midlands Community Foundation moved quickly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to establish the MCF Coronavirus Response Fund, which will provide emergency funding to Sarpy and Cass County nonprofit organizations and residents. In addition, the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce Foundation Fund is being utilized to provide direct economic relief to small businesses impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak. Facebook has pledged significant contributions of $100,000 to the MCF Coronavirus Response Fund and $250,000 to the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce Foundation Fund to support our community when it needs it most.

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS Tuesday, May 26 The Creighton University Heider College of Business, in partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals, is hosting a virtual education opportunity offered free of charge to business professionals of all industries. This session, from noon to 12:30 p.m., will feature Professor Robert Johnson and focus on investing in a crisis: what would Warren Buffett do? Registration is online. Wednesday, May 27 The Battelle Memorial Institute and the Great Plains Institute are hosting a webinar series starting at 10 a.m. focused on carbon capture, utilization, and storage opportunities in Nebraska. This three-part webinar series will dive into: Basics about carbon capture technology; specific applications for carbon capture; technical and economic considerations for different projects; geology of Nebraska and prospects for geological storage of carbon dioxide and enhanced oil recovery; and more. Registration is available online. The American Marketing Association Omaha Chapter is hosting an online webinar from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mary Kate Gulick will walk guests through seven tactics that will build your email list, establish the expertise of your brand, and help you bring value to prospective customers before you even meet. We’ll also talk about list-building techniques that are not working

right now and why. Registration will be vailable online. The West Omaha Chamber and SOLVE have teamed up for weekly virtual training sessions. This week’s session, from 11:30 a.m. to noon, will focus on building resiliency. In this webinar participants will gain greater understanding of basic coping skills to help deal with stress, anxiety, and energy management during times of uncertainty. Registration is online. The Human Resource of the Midlands is hosting an Ethical Facilitation Webinar from 11 a.m. to noon. In the time of crisis, trials and decisions come fast and furious as we work to keep our businesses open. These are the times when people think the ends justify the means, meaning ethics sometimes takes a backseat. But now, more than ever, reputations depend on being thoughtful with the big trials and decisions being faced. In this course, attendees will look at how to facilitate discussions to ensure ethics stay front of mind. Registration is online. Thursday, May 28 The Creighton University Heider College of Business, in partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals, is hosting a virtual education opportunity offered free of charge to business professionals of all industries. This session, from noon to 12:30 p.m., will feature Cindy Corritore and will focus on online engagement. Registration is online.

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

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

May 22, 2020

Effects of pandemic drive what clients look for in design features, how builders procure supplies by Michelle Leach

Celebrate Construction •

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

Contractors emphasize safety amid, after coronavirus pandemic by Gabby Christensen

Like most industries, local contractors have been affected by the pandemic but continue to aim forward with current operations. Brian Mahlendorf, general manager at Weitz Co., said construction projects are all still underway, but the process and precautions to keep them that way is far from business as usual. “We have taken many safeguards for the health and safety of our clients, subcontractors and employees through well checks, sanitizing stations and carefully planned deliveries to ensure there are never too many people in one area,” he said. “Our warehouse and admin team have been great about amassing an arsenal of cleaning supplies, PPE [personal protective equipment], sanitizers and products and some of our employees have even driven supplies cross-country to our other business units.” Mahlendorf said safety has always come first, but safety has taken on a completely new meaning for contractors during the pandemic. “In order to keep sites operational, all measures are taken to ensure no one on site is in contact with someone that has tested positive,” he said. “Cleaning supplies and sanitation stations certainly help, as does distancing and avoiding all unnecessary contact.” Weitz has also assisted clients by providing hand sanitizer and cleaning products, and for the company’s senior living refresh project, a temporary isolation area for COVID-19 related emergencies has been created. Eric Klein, president of the National

How builders procure supplies Continued from preceding page. said. “Even during the recession, we were pretty well-protected; it didn’t feel as bad as on the coasts. That’s not to minimize [COVID-19] but I can see it in our industry. Everyone is willing to work with one another … all the vendors and subs, they understand if there is a delay.” Frazell acknowledged the unique, widespread nature of the pandemic, and the unique Midlands culture. Fellow MOBA VP, and Frontier Builders Principal, Brett Clarke, noted a very large uptick of interest in the likes of four-season rooms and home offices. “These are trends that have been around, but our current clients have rethought their layouts and plans to include these spaces,” he said. “People will be staying home more this summer and traveling less. Outdoor areas have included outbuildings, pools, swing sets and trampolines.” Plans are going “back to the drawing board,” with family-centric modifications. “We had one client request a larger dining area and table, so that they can all be around the table,” he said. “They previously had been so busy with kids’ activities, work trips … that they rarely ate all together at home.” Another client-turned-home chef requested an additional oven in the kitchen. MOBA’s signature Street of Dreams isn’t in the plans for this summer, but Executive Director Jaylene Eilenstine indicated the organization is cooking up plans for the 2021 event off “strong interest from developers and builders.” The Spring Parade of Homes has been postponed (to June or July). A multi-site event, the parade features homes by different builders in neighborhoods throughout the metro, while the 34-year-old Street of Dreams attracts up to 20,000 consumers.

Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) of Nebraska and project manager for Valley Corp., said the physical scope of work across the state has seen very little impact; however, the way it is performed has been impacted. “Face masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing have forced our crews to find new ways to perform their tasks,” he said. “There was an initial slowdown, but Mahlendorf the crews have adapted and persevered. This is just one more reason why our classification as essential workers stands true.” For the most part, Klein said jobs are on schedule and the state’s vital infrastructure is being installed and commissioned for service. However, there is concern of what the

looming results will be from the pandemic. “In the private sector, there are a lot of private owners and developers putting jobs on hold or canceling all together,” he said. Klein said challenges have arisen as courthouses have been closed, so members have been unable to obtain permits. There have also been challenges related to right-of-way agreements and easements. “Another issue Klein that could come up is our supply chains,” he said. “Factories all had inventory prior to COVID-19, but it is being rapidly bought up and depleted. The lull and actual catch-up time is one more uncertainty we hope can be avoided, but is on the radar as a very real possibility.”

According to Klein, the ability for utility companies to perform on-time locate requests (“call before you dig”) through the Nebraska One Call (811) notification system has greatly impacted projects. “The industry has been doing its best to allow for the most upfront communication and lead time possible; however, the tickets are still unfortunately not being completed on time in many cases,” he said. “All of this depends on geographic location in the state, but the contractors and locators are doing their best to work together.” Now that businesses are reopening, Klein said there is an uptick in demand for products and supplies that NUCA associate members provide. “This is a very challenging and unsettling time for all involved,” he said. “NUCA has been working diligently to stay ahead of the curve and we have been seeing it pay off, in turn reflecting that we live and work in a great state and industry.”

COVID-19 response emphasizes need for medical research labs by David Kubicek

The novel coronavirus pandemic is focusing increased attention on high-performance public health labs that conduct research related to infectious diseases, biological agents, and other sensitive scientific and medical research facilities. McCarthy Building Companies has overseen construction on more than 30% of the biosafety level 4 (BSL 4) facilities in the United States for Sawall clients, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Ames, Iowa, and Boston University in Boston, according to Central Region Vice President Ryan Sawall. Other trends in the industry include small business outreach, workforce development, prefabrication and underground mapping. One effective and efficient way to expedite

A construction worker operates a drone to capture overhead images of a project. (Photo courtesy of McCarthy Building Cos.) projects and deliver project value is to build for prefabrication in the health care sector in selected construction components offsite. response to the need to limit and minimize Continued on next page. McCarthy has seen an increased demand

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal • Celebrate Construction

COVID-19 response emphasizes need for medical research labs Continued from preceding page. worker presence. “To meet this demand, McCarthy’s new climate-controlled warehouse in Omaha is designed to accommodate the delivery and short-term onsite storage of construction materials, as well as space for pre-assembly of building components,” Sawall said. McCarthy MapFucinaro ping, a specialized team within McCarthy Building Companies, uses sophisticated geophysical, geomatics and design software tools to accurately locate and graphically represent underground utility lines or other hazards before they can cause unscheduled delays and expensive construction costs. MCL Construction has made a significant investment in prefabrication, not only of specific building components, but also of entire rooms and maybe soon of full floors and buildings, Senior Vice President Tony Fucinaro said. “Prefabrication provides so many advantages to construction while giving our clients better quality, a faster schedule, and potential cost savings,” he said. “Construction is a profession that hasn't changed a lot in the last 100 years. The industry is ripe for disruption, and MCL Construction wants to lead that disruption as we continue to grow.” MCL is seeing a lot of activity and high demand in two major sectors, health care and

education. “We should be asking what features they will want when the workplace returns to normal,” Fucinaro said. “I wouldn't be shocked to see separate handwashing and hygiene stations become commonplace and the return of a traditional office for better physical distancing.” Over the past 18 months The Graham Group’s Construction Gehrki Division has completed more than 10 pharmacy upgrades to reach new USP 800 standards, according to Regional Vice President BJ Gehrki. In addition, the firm is doing medical office building and clinic work. “Major health care systems are investing in both of these facilities to support their main campuses,” Gehrki said. Other projects the firm is working on include finishing out office specifications of tenants moving into new buildings, including interior and exterior renovations of aging structures, and work on industrial office, warehouse and distribution facilities. Clients are looking for the best products for their projects but don’t want the risk of it not showing up because it is stuck on a boat or had some international shipping issue. They want predictable shipping windows, which is a challenge in the COVID-19 era, Gehrki said. More clients are seeking construction managers and general contractors that are local,

plan to stay long-term, and have employees that live and participate in the community. “Lately we have been working with a lot of clients that have selected us to help them budget and build their projects,” Gehrki said.

“Instead of bidding out the work and seeing who has the lowest price, we are using our building history to define the right value/ price for the work. Our clients want the highest possible value — not the lowest possible price — but they also want to know they are getting a fair price.”

Career opportunities still strong in construction field by Dwain Hebda

The job outlook in the construction field is the highest in decades, which is good news for construction students and concerning for construction firms as they scramble to attract and retain quality help. “The career potential in the construction industry is as good as I’ve seen in the past 20 years,” said Dr. Nate Barry, dean of career and technical education at Metropolitan Community College. “Both the public and private sectors are Barry looking to update or construct new facilities, and for those looking to get into the infrastructure sector, roads and bridges are on the top of the list to get funding. “You add that to the existing aging workforce in our industry and it is a prime opportunity for the next generation to find themselves in very rewarding positions.” Barry said demand is so brisk in the construction field, technical schools and colleges are having trouble turning out graduates fast enough to meet demand. “Enrollment in construction programs

across the country and applications to apprenticeships are up in most regions of the country,” he said. “But we are still not replacing the existing positions at the rate of retirement in the construction industry.” Barry said one issue within construction careers is lack of diversity, but other professionals say things are changing. Claire Andreesen, senior project manager-mapping at McCarthy Building Companies and board member with Pesek the Greater Omaha Chapter of National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), said many local companies are taking a more enlightened approach to diversity in construction. “There are many opportunities for women and minorities in the field today,” she said. “At my company, McCarthy Building Companies, we have a McCarthy Partnership for Women organization within the company, which helps empower women to use their strengths in the construction industry to help speed their Continued on page 26.

Celebrate Construction •

Brisk infrastructure activity the norm, rather than the exception, in COVID-19 economy by Michelle Leach

A global pandemic is not slowing down Midlands-area infrastructure projects. “Infrastructure projects in the Omaha and Lincoln area have been steady and there are projects in the pipeline that are bidding for next year and thereafter currently, which is encouraging,” said McGill Restoration owner and President Timothy F. McGill. “With all of the construction and expansion of Omaha and Lincoln, I am hopeful that keeping these projects on track will help to stabilize the economy once the pandemic is over.” From McGill’s perspective, many owners and municipalities are focused on “getting through the current time” — less on future projects and budgets than what is typically “normal.” “This could create a lag in work in 2021 or beyond,” he said. “But it is too early to tell at this point in time.” In early May, McGill reported his firm has been busy on projects around I-80 and Mahoney State Park, I-680 and the Mormon Bridge, 156th and Blondo streets, and 180th and Dodge streets. “In Bellevue, we are working on the Bellevue Toll Bridge and the Harlan Lewis Road Bridge,” he said. “In Lincoln, we are working on the I-180 Viaduct.” As it relates to the Clean Solutions for Omaha (CSO), Jim Theiler, City of Omaha Public Works assistant director, environmental services, said the program, launched in 2006 to capture and/or treat 85% (at minimum) of the volume generated from the com-

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

bined sewer system, is “full steam ahead.” “Our goal is to save money for city ratepayers and do what is best for the community as we meet the objectives and requirements of the Clean Water Act,” he said, a reference to the EPA’s requiring 800-plus U.S. cities with combined sewer systems to reduce discharges from these systems into nearby rivers

will also eliminate localized flooding after heavy rains in the area.” He also noted additional sewer separation, new construction and facility upgrades among the projects that use dozens of local contractors and present opportunities for general contractors and other small businesses. Vice President Linda Lovgren and President Elizebeth Murphy of communications agency Emspace + Lovgren also noted how public outreach on CSO programming has pivoted to virtual opportunities, phone calls,

McGill Lovgren and streams. “Several projects are currently underway, the biggest of which is the Saddle Creek Retention Treatment Basin facility. You’ve probably seen the large cranes south of Center at 64th Avenue installing the massive supports for this structure.” The project to capture and treat overflows in Papillion Creek during wet weather will, he said, take combined sewage and divert it from the existing outlet channel to facility headworks, where large materials like cans, rocks and tree branches are removed. “As the tank fills up, an overflow channel is provided for the discharge of treated flow back to the creek,” Theiler said. “This process

Murphy Sibley and mail or neighborhood signage (as appropriate). Last week, they noted youth outreach and education programs have gone virtual, and virtual presentations are in the works for educators, parents and students to learn more about improving water quality. Resources include an educational video (ages 10 and older), activity guide (elementary, middle school students), and green infrastructure guide (middle, high school science students). As an important part of CSO, Murphy and Lovgren further noted public involvement is focused on virtual relationship-building and proactive, multiple touchpoints in lieu of public meetings.

For Kiewit Infrastructure Group, Inc., Steve Hansen, area project sponsor, said its local and state clients continue to move projects forward. “And there continues to be new projects to bid in the pipeline,” he said. “Ultimately, the viability and backlog of all construction projects will be determined by the availability of funding and economic strength of the clients and businesses that need our services.” Hansen said the company continues to advance riverfront construction and other projects, while pursuing opportunities in public and private markets. Kiewit Building Group is closely watching how COVID-19 will impact the market and the directives issued by the CDC and other experts as the economy opens, according to Senior Vice President John Sibley. “Early in the COVID pandemic, Kiewit adopted government safety guidelines on our projects across North America,” he said. “We have also consulted with industrial hygienists and medical experts to establish best practice protocols to support the health of employees and others on our projects and in our offices.” Sibley described a “renewed sense of teamwork,” as well as “enhanced communication and purpose” as local projects are safely completed. “We expect that strong teamwork between, client, contract manager, designer subcontractor, supplier and labor will lead to project successes that we can build on in the future,” he said. “Kiewit appreciates the work of all of our partners to keep the industry moving forward while minimizing the economic impact of this pandemic for so many families.”

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal • Celebrate Construction

Construction companies taking COVID-19 guidelines seriously by Dwain Hebda

Construction companies across Omaha are adhering to coronavirus recommendations as established by the Centers for

Disease Control and state guidelines. Matthew Mancuso, dean of distance education, mathematics and industrial technology for Iowa Western Community

College, said companies across the board are taking steps to create distance between employees and utilize personal protective equipment. However, he said the efforts lack uniformity. “Overall, construction is staying at a consistent pace, just changing policies and procedures,” he said. “Many companies and municipalities are taking advantage of the low traffic and Mancuso fewer pedestrians to do infrastructure like gas lines, water and sewer and street repairs. “Each of these companies is addressing the safety protocols in different ways, and in the future, we would see that these became uniform for all companies.” Mancuso said construction education is also affected by COVID-19 and could affect how fast new construction professional enter the market. “Iowa Western’s biggest challenge is to navigate the new normal in regard to the coronavirus. This could mean more focused labs, online simulations, different recruitment and more,” he said. “Students looking for internships are seeing some issues in finding sites. Iowa Western may address that by having them do a capstone project on campus. “Labor shortage is already a concern for all facets of construction, which is why IWCC has revamped programs to meet the needs of local and national employers. Depending on how long this lasts, this may continue to be an issue.” Shawn Kolterman, vice president of Kehm Contractors, said many of the steps the company has taken have been accom-

modated with little difficulty. “Masonry is our primary trade, so we already require use of respirators with certain aspects of our work. Switching to 100% use is not a major change, although they do tend to fog up safety glasses, making it harder to see clearly,” he said. “One new thing is having the general contractor take everyone’s temperature as they enter the jobsite. Copious use of hand sanitizer is another change. Beyond that, Mason our trade operates in a way that distancing is already part of what we do to work efficiently.” Kolterman said he expects guidelines for construction workers working indoors to only intensify; therefore, adopting and enforcing measures now only helps the company long-term. “I think work in confined spaces will be Continued on page 30.

Career opportunities still strong in construction field Continued from page 24. growth and enhance their success at work. “The bottom line is this: Diverse opinions drive better outcomes. Having more women and minority individuals at the table will help the business reach more effective solutions in the construction market.” As for the appeal of the careers themselves, Andreesen said construction has a lot to offer. “Construction careers are extremely stable, diverse and accommodate individuals with many different backgrounds from management positions, corporate positions, field staff or craft/union labor positions,” she said. “Pay and benefits are competitive due to the fast-paced nature of the work.” One issue that continues to impede the industry’s ability to attract workers are some stubborn stereotypes about the field. “I would say one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry is that people who work with tools work too many hours for too low of pay and have a limited career path. That could not be further from the truth,” said Chris Pesek, vice president of JE Dunn Construction. “There are supervisory and management opportunities open to those who work in the field. Construction superintendents are one of our most sought-after roles at JE Dunn, actually.” To combat these misconceptions, Pesek said the company has actively sought opportunities to tell the real story of working in the construction industry. “We have started partnerships with career colleges, community colleges, even high schools to educate students on the benefits of a career in construction,” he said. “We also work with advisers and school counselors to educate them on the career paths available. “Because of the changing technology, there are many more construction-related jobs out there now that didn’t even exist 10 or 15 years ago. As new opportunities arise, we also want to empower the upcoming workforce to know what the requirements are and what the needs might be in the future.”

Celebrate Construction •

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

Construction renovations continue with regulations in place by Gabby Christensen

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly impacted how construction companies maneuver through remodeling and renovation projects, and local companies say following guidelines has been a top priority right now. Tawnia Sanwick, office manager at Sanwick Remodeling Contractors, said some clients have chosen to push back their start dates. “We’re following federal and local guidelines for sanitizing and distancing,” she said. “Some counties are doing virtual inspections on projects or requiring everyone to wear Sanwick masks on site during the inspection. Some of our suppliers have temporarily closed their showrooms so customers can’t get into the stores to select products, which has pushed back completion dates. Our vendors are doing as much as they can virtually, but clients typically need to see products and samples in person to make their selections.” As far as trends go right now, Sanwick said most clients desire an open floor plan, thus removing walls and opening up kitchens and living spaces continues to be fairly popular. Additionally, many are choosing a durable Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) or Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring. Sheila Ost, co-owner of Ost Inc. Construction, said homeowners have really started to home in on exactly what they want, and a primary focus has been on kitchen and bathroom remodels. Since the pandemic, the company has been able to proceed with many projects, as most are unoccupied. There has also been much more communication via phone and email at this time. In the midst of these uncertain times, Ost said customers have remained very supportive and understanding. In addition to the open concept trend, Andy Hearn, owner of T. Hurt Construction,

Sheila Ost, co-owner at Ost Inc. Construction. said clean lines and simple colors and finish- houses are maintaining their classic exteriors but changing to a more modern interior es are also popular right now. “Currently, we’re seeing flat band-boards style.” Hearn said working during the pandemic used on upper cabinets instead of crown molding and cabinet knobs and pulls that has definitely presented some interesting have a more modern style,” he said. “This is challenges. “The governor never restricted constructrending regardless of the age of the house. For example, the Dundee and Country Club tion work, but since we had many ongoing

OUR CORE PURPOSE IS TO BUILD A BETTER WAY

www.weitz.com

projects in occupied homes, we had to review our practices to make sure everyone was properly protected,” he said. “We first considered a shut-down, but that would be very difficult for any project that was underway.” Typically, work areas are isolated from other parts of an occupied home to help control the spread of dust and dirt. “We took this a step further by not creating more than one ‘door’ in the plastic curtains and asking the work crews and owners to minimize contact with each other,” he said. “Where possible, we quickly completed what was needed to live in the house for the shortterm and then pulled the crews out. When the crisis is over, we Mertlik will restart the project and complete the original scope.” When it comes to the education space, J.P. Mertlik, president of D.R. Anderson Constructors, said there’s been an increase in industrial additions and classroom remodels. He said the construction industry has certainly been affected by the pandemic, but most companies have continued to move forward with projects. “As of now, we’ve had to pause three projects due to the pandemic,” Mertlik said. Continued on next page.

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal • Celebrate Construction

Technology boosts speed and efficiency in construction by David Kubicek

The construction industry’s use of the latest technology like drones, site capture and laser scanning technology, building information modeling (BIM), and job site connectivity platforms is growing fast because of the efficiencies and cost savings such technologies offer. “With drones, we can help team members visualize locations of underground utilities,” said Justin Cadwallader, virtual design and construction manager at Boyd Jones. “Owners can see a view of the site they’ve never seen before, and our project managers and office team can see site progress remotely.” Matterport scans and 360-degree cameras generate 3D models providing the firm with precise, as-built conditions. With BIM models, the firm leverages clash detection software to identify conflicts throughout the design and shop drawing phases, enabling designers to address challenges early on, which saves time and money in the field.

Over the next few years, artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics have the potential to create tremendous value in construction, and many companies are

Cadwallader Young starting to put them to use. “This is one of the areas where we may see the largest long-term impact,” Cadwallader said. “AI can also be used to automate internal processes, which frees up time from data entry and lets team members focus more time on quality and innovation.”

Zoom meetings have become a way of life for interoffice staff at Sampson Construction, said Director of Business Development Joseph Young. “All stakeholders can view the same document from their cellphones or other computers and cut our hours in travel and meetings per week,” he said. “This makes buildings faster to build at a high-quality level.” The firm uses Killeen technologies like Fieldwire, a field management software, and BIM technology, which is a 3D model-based process to efficiently plan and communicate with architecture and engineering partners. “[We also use] virtual walkthroughs to let our clients be inside their building safely as it’s being built,” Young said.

“We live in an era where buildings of any size and shape can become intelligent buildings,” said Engineered Controls President Pat Killeen. “With open protocol technology, they can connect multiple subsystems together, on one network — rather than operating them all independently — maximizing energy efficiency, lowering maintenance costs and providing centralized building control. One central location can now control all lighting, heating, cooling and security functions, including outdoor controls and elevator controls.” Wireless technology will continue to revolutionize the building automation system market by helping reduce the installation cost per square foot. Controlling and monitoring building automation controls over IP networks will have a dramatic impact on the building automation system (BAS) industry. “This trend has accelerated in the past few years with the availability of IP-based control systems from most of the major building control manufacturers,” Killeen said. Ethernet TCP/IP capability is built into the digital controller, which allows users to take advantage of an existing IP network for the main system communication backbone. This helps to eliminate the need for multiple tier network architectures, where only workstations are on the ethernet and everything else is on a lower level network. “It is expected that the internet of things (IoT) devices will be instrumental in the integration of heating and cooling systems, hot and chilled water systems, card access systems, video management systems, lighting systems, power generators, pumps and metering equipment, to name a few,” Killeen said. The building automation system market is expected to grow from $75 billion in 2019 to $121.5 billion by 2024, reflecting a growth of 60% over the next four years, he said. “The rise in the adoption of automated security systems in buildings, development of wireless protocols and wireless sensor network technology for BAS, and rapid penetration of IoT in building automation systems are the critical factors driving the growth of the BAS market,” he said.

Construction renovations continue with regulations Continued from preceding page. “We have another project that was in the design phase but is now being redesigned because of COVID-19. We are working as hard as we can to protect our employees and clients and we realize how important it is for clients to know that we are doing everything we can to be safe while we are occupying their building.” Some of these efforts include wearing masks, using sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer and respecting social distancing on each project. Additionally, Mertlik said some projects require that morning temperatures be taken prior to allowing employees access to the job site. “Right now, it’s really important for every industry to understand that there’s a lot of information out there and it's rapidly changing,” he said. “It’s important to stay up to date on regulations, whether it's federal, state or county, to ensure you’re compliant.”

Celebrate Construction •

Which home repairs you shouldn’t put on hold, even in a recession by Neal Templin

In an economic recession, homeowners may have to play defense when it comes to home repairs. We’ve all read articles on renovations or additions that can add value to our house: a new kitchen, remodeled bathrooms, a deck. Such upConstruction grades aren’t your priority just now. If you’re out of work, or at risk of being out of work, you need to focus on repairs that will preserve the value of your house. That means fixing roofs, shoring up foundations, repairing or replacing malfunctioning furnaces. In short, think of all the things that could cause your house to flunk a home inspection. It won’t be because you have ugly tile in your kitchen or lack a bidet in your bathroom. It will because your roof is shot, your house is sagging or there are flood marks on your basement walls. These are problems that threaten the integrity of the house, which is why home inspectors properly focus on them. One good thing about a tough economy is that fixing houses should cost less. Remodeling activity will be hit hard, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Contractors should be hungry for work and willing to bid aggressively. That’s good for you. Some repairs, like putting on a new roof, are apparent to buyers and will raise

the price of your house if you have to sell it. Others, like fixing basement leaks, won’t. Buyers aren’t paying extra for a leak-free house. But they will demand a discount, or not buy the house at all, if you don’t take care of the leaks Even if you plan to live in a house for the rest of your life, there are problems you can’t afford to ignore. —Roofs: Don’t wait until a roof leaks badly before fixing it. By then, much of the damage is done. You need to take preventative action. That means going into your attic to look for any sign of leaking. Likewise, you or someone else ought to get on your roof from time to time to make sure the shingles are in good shape. Bits of shingle in your gutters or errant shingles in your yard are bad signs. A leaking roof often doesn’t need to be replaced. Sometimes the leak can be fixed by repairing flashing around a chimney or repairing gutters, or even just keeping your gutters clear of leaves. If you need a new roof, expect to pay $5,000 to $8,000 for a basic asphalt roof. Bigger houses can run a good bit more than that. Here’s a calculator that estimates the size of your roof and the materials needed to replace it. When you’re ready to get bids from roofing contractors, you’ll know how many bundles of shingles are required for your roof. —Foundations: Nothing puts your Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 22, 2020 •

• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

History of online, blended courses positions schools well for transition to remote courses by Lee Schafer

One of the most optimistic reports in years about the venture capital available for startup companies in our region appeared this week, in the middle of a pandemic when it’s hard to feel great about anything. It is a good news story, though, even if more venture capital may not be the perfect measure of the health of a region’s entrepreneurial community. More beats less, no matter the economic environment. And the report’s details jump out for what they show about entrepreneurship here: that middle-of-the-country entrepreneurs seem to get more work done with less money. It might be a cultural trait born of necessity, but it seems significant now in 2020. Never easy, building a company from scratch is going to be harder in this year of the pandemic recession. This overview of venture capital in the middle of the country comes from the private company data of research firm Crunchbase Inc.

and from Omaha-based Dundee Venture Capital. In its 10-year history, Dundee has invested in nearly 50 different companies in 19 cities. Not only have venture capitalists from the coasts dramatically increased funding in the middle of the country, the report explained, there’s also been a slew of middle America venture funds created since 2010, at least 128. As described by Dundee partner Greg Beaufait, Dundee did the report with Crunchbase hoping to see data that confirmed what they’d been seeing in the market. In addition to total dollars, they also looked at things like the number of transactions, who was investing and the number of successful “exits,” which means companies that grew to the point they got acquired. Their focus was not on Minnesota or even the Midwest, but the 25 states that fill in the country between the coasts. This area encompasses the traditional Midwest along with the vibrant entrepreneurial community in and near

Continued from preceding page. house at risk like foundation problems; particularly in areas with lots of soil movement like Dallas, they can literally pull a house apart. Signs of foundation problems include cracking walls, doors and windows that don’t close, and sagging floors or ceilings. Foundation repairs generally aren’t cheap but if you don’t fix them, they could cost you a lot more. One caveat: It’s hard for a layperson to tell if a foundation repair is done correctly. Talk to previous customers before hiring a contractor. For complex jobs, it’s worth hiring an independent foundation expert to inspect the work afterward. —Exterior walls: In addition to protecting the roof and foundation, you have to protect what’s in between. Paint and exterior siding protect your house from the elements and help maintain structural integrity. They also help boost the curb appeal of a house, which is why flippers repaint a house before selling it. You can let painting slide for a while, but not too long. Beware of painters who bid way below

everyone else. Good painters spend a lot of time scraping and patching and priming before they start putting on the new paint. Unlike, say, foundation repairs, painting is something you can do yourself if need be. It’s a lot of work to do it right. —Heating and air conditioning system: If your furnace goes out in Minneapolis in the winter, you may damage your pipes, plus the house will become too cold to live in. Likewise, if you’re living in a humid place like Orlando, Florida, a working air conditioning system is essential for keeping out moisture and mold. On top of that, a malfunctioning furnace can be deadly if it leaks carbon monoxide. So, problems must be fixed. A tougher call is when to replace a heating or air conditioning system that is working but breaks frequently or is inefficient. Here is a new furnace cost calculator. You’ll get better deals if you get work done in spring and fall, the off-season for furnace and air conditioning contractors. ©2020 Rate.com News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Which home repairs you shouldn’t put on hold

Denver, extending down through Texas to include the hotbed of Austin and then back up through Pittsburgh, included by Crunchbase as it seems more Midwestern than not. Venture capital financing isn’t exactly evenly spread out across this area, clustering around the metro areas you’d expect to see on such a list, including the Twin Cities. Beaufait, who joined Dundee in 2013, moved to Minneapolis in 2016 to establish a Dundee presence in one of the most promising spots in the part of the country the firm called “the Mighty Middle.” Here in Minnesota there was $3.7 billion invested in the five-year period ended last year, a big jump from $2.4 billion in the previous five years. Chicago, greater Denver and Austin, Texas ranked well ahead of the Twin Cities in total dollars invested over the 10-year period, but the Twin Cities was sixth on the list among metros in this 25-state region, with investment roughly comparable to the Dallas and Pittsburgh metro areas. “The thing that was most compelling was the depth in the region,” Beaufait said. “It wasn’t any one or two or three companies, or any one or two or three cities. Almost any way you sliced the data, there was a doubling at least. Almost every single data point lined up with the narrative.” One thing that was eye-catching was how companies in the middle of the country on average never receive as much money in a given financing round as companies did in the coastal tech clusters, nearly 40% less in early stage rounds. One obvious explanation is that it’s simply cheaper to hire employees in Pittsburgh or the Twin Cities than it would be in the San Francisco Bay Area, so companies don’t need as much money. None of the Top 10 most expensive American cities on a well-known ranking are in the middle of the country. “It’s also a capital efficiency and a mind-set thing,” Beaufait said. “Capital doesn’t solve every problem, and, in fact, it can make some problems worse.” It also seemed true that for a long time Midwestern entrepreneurs likely concluded would be easier to find customers to keep the bills paid

Health & SUSTAINABILITY Wellness

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Health & Wellness Overview • Fitness at home • Emphasizing mental health Health care industry shifting focus to COVID-19 • Heath care innovations

Sustainability Overview • A/E/C and sustainability Environmental law trends • Sustainable energy • Green consumers

Issue Date: June 5 • Ad Deadline: May 28

in the early years than look for outside investors. Two of the well-known technology success stories in our region, Minneapolis-based Jamf Software and Code42 Software Inc., grew over the course of years without accepting a big slug of outside capital. While more capital has been flowing in the last few years, much of that bootstrappers approach of doing more with less money remains here in the Midwest, said venture capitalist Rob Weber of Great North Labs, which has invested alongside Dundee in two companies. To the story of Code42, a security software company that started out doing technology jobs for other clients, Weber told of a similar origin story for Zencoder, a locally based producer of video technology that his family invested in that got acquired in 2012. “Both Code42 and Zencoder (generated) very strong returns,” Weber said. “I got four or five other examples I could give you. I never came across a team in San Francisco that was running a services business when they were trying to build a product. I think that’s what happens in the kind of culture we have, and when there hasn’t been an abundance of capital.” It’s still too early to know two months into the pandemic-related recession, Beaufait said, how the rest of the year might go. Some startup companies have seen their opportunity shrivel while others — he mentioned one that sets up telemedicine for veterinarians — have suddenly found a much bigger market need. “The net of it is we have record amounts of dry powder on the sidelines,” he said, meaning uninvested money in venture funds. “There will still be plenty of investment activity at the early stages, and across all stages really, even in this environment.” ©2020 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Construction companies taking COVID-19 guidelines seriously

Continued from page 26. most highly scrutinized going forward,” he said. “When cold and flu season returns, the virus is likely to spread more actively in enclosed conditions, working indoors and in close proximity with several other trades simultaneously than working outdoors. “We practice careful observation of symptoms, zero-tolerance use of PPE, like respirators or masks and gloves, and further measures that have been established by the CDC and World Health Organization.” Patrick Mason, director of business development for Dicon Construction, said in addition to COVID-19 issues, construction firms also have to pay attention to a battery of other regulations to keep the workplace safe. “All aspects of construction jobsite safety are continually under a microscope,” he said. “Among others, PPE, fall protection, hazardous materials and overall site safety plans specific to different project types remain strong points of focus on a local and national level.” Mason couldn’t speculate on when, or if, the additional measures related to the coronavirus would ease, so the company is treating it as standard operating procedure, for now. “Safety regulations are continually evolving,” he said. “PPE and occupancy levels seem likely to remain at the top of the list for the foreseeable future. The question of whether measures such as temperature-taking and regular testing will eventually be implemented on a federal level remains unknown.”

Midlands Business Journal â&#x20AC;˘ MAY 22, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘

In the Spotlight Paid Content

AGRICULTURE

Named

Announced

Sam Kain

David Whitaker

Assistant Vice President, National Sales Manager

Area Sales Manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Central Region

Farmers National Company

Iowa native Sam Kain, ALC, GRI, ABRM, Assistant Vice President and National Sales Manager, has been with Farmers National Company since 1990. He took a position with Farmers National Company in our Des Moines, Iowa, office where he was Area Sales Manager-Central Area to promote and assist in real estate activity in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. In 2013 he was promoted to Assistant Vice President and National Sales Manager where, in addition to his Area Sales Manager responsibilities, Kain recruited real estate sales associates across the United States to join Farmers National Company. Kain is a past member of the Farmers National Company Board of Directors. Kain is retiring from the employee-owned company effective July 31, 2020. Sam was very involved in his local community and with the Realtor Land Institute (RLI) organization. Kain held several leadership roles and positions in committees of the Iowa Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, and Realtors Land Institute. He is Past President of both the local and the national chapters of RLI, and was named Land Realtor of America in 2009. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sam is a recognized leader within Farmers National Company and throughout the land real estate profession,â&#x20AC;? said Randy Dickhut, Senior Vice President â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Real Estate Operations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He has always put the needs of our clients first, whether they were selling or buying land. Through his ability to lead by example and teach to a wider audience, Sam has helped our agents be successful in meeting the needs of clients and growing the real estate business for Farmers National Company.â&#x20AC;?

Subscribe and pay online today at MBJ.com

Farmers National Company

Farmers National Company is pleased to announce Sam Kainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successor, David Whitaker of Ames, Iowa, who will join the Company on June 1. Whitaker comes to us from Whitaker Marketing Group where he was owner, broker, and auctioneer. He will work with farm managers and real estate sales associates in Iowa, Missouri, and other states to list, market, and sell agricultural real estate. Whitaker brings many years of experience in real estate auctions and sales and new business growth to his new role in supporting Farmers National Company agents in their real estate success. He is actively involved with the Realtor Land Institute, National Auctioneer Association, and a number of State Auctioneer Associations. David is the only person in the state of Iowa to hold both the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) and Certified Auction Institute (CAI) designations. With Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse portfolio of education and work experience and his drive to stay continually upto-date on current market trends, clients have looked to him as their trusted advisor in farmland sales and acquisitions. He has received numerous awards throughout his real estate and auctioneer career. For additional information about David Whitaker, please visit www. FarmersNational.com/DavidWhitaker, email DWhitaker@FarmersNational. com, or call (515) 460-8585. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very pleased to have David join the Farmers National Company team,â&#x20AC;? said Randy Dickhut, Senior Vice President â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Real Estate Sales. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He brings the same dedication to serving the needs of our real estate clients as has propelled our company for over 90 years. Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus on the marketing of a clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property coupled with his knowledge of the land market will support our agents to achieve successful sales for our clients. Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award winning auctioneer experience will help guide Farmers National Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s auctioneers in their success. David and Sam Kain will work together for a smooth transition over the coming months.â&#x20AC;?

Submit your companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s employee announcements to Spotlight@mbj.com

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FireSprint diversifies with investments in equipment to acco mmodate growth by Michelle Leach

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• MAY 22, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal