Midlands Business Journal May 29, 2020 Vol. 46 No. 22 issue

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Sarpy County Growth Report — inside MAY 29, 2020

THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS

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VOL. 46 NO. 22

Equipment upgrades poise Benson Machine Works for market share gains

THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:

by Richard D. Brown

Lincoln’s Barnwood & Leather centers on local and Americanmade trend.

– Page 2

40 er d Un 40

Personal experiences inform Wallar’s tenure serving homeless. – Page 3

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With safety in the spotlight, organizations adjust and reassert commitment to team, patrons.

– Page 25

Andrew Adams and Mat Burks collectively have about 30 years of experience at Benson Machine Works, a northeast Omaha job shop with custom design and fabrication specialties. The two longtime friends and colleagues have become the fourth owners of the 15-employee business, which has a history going back 70-some years and a myriad of projects for an eclectic mix of clients ranging from local inventors to several Fortune 500 players.

Products designed and or made

by Benson Machine Works include metal components for lighting at the new World Trade Center building in New York City, fire suppression units used in turbine plants abroad, about 50 airplane and buffalo benches used for a civic celebration in Bellevue and a number of dual drum asphalt rollers used by municipalities such as the city of Omaha for asphalt repairs to streets.

Sales Director Kevin W. Smith, a 15-year employee, said the manufacturer, located in 16,000 square feet at 1604 Fort St., has a customer list of about 200, a number Adams and Continued on page 10.

Co-owners Andrew Adams, left, and Mat Burks ... Capitalizing on opportunities in the machining industry, from individual inventors to Fortune 500 companies.

(Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)

KidGlov looks to impact projects, refocusing on bottom line profit

by Becky McCarville

In its tenth anniversary year, KidGlov, an advertising agency with locations in Lincoln, Omaha and Denver, recently moved its Lincoln headquarters to a new space at the Commerce Court Building near 12th and O streets in downtown Lincoln amid working from home. After

taking quick action in mid-March for all three locations to work from home, KidGlov’s Lincoln team realized they wouldn’t be working together from the old office again — a “weird” feeling, said founder, President and Chief Strategist Lyn Wineman.

Despite the head-spinning Continued on page 11.

Gina Vanderheiden, co-owner of Gina V Physical Therapy, and Kelly Grefe, ag/commercial lender and vice president of Northwest Bank.

Community banks help companies; aquatics specialists take precautions

by Michelle Leach

President and Chief Strategist Lyn Wineman at the Papillion office … Doubling down on culture initiatives and projects that have a positive impact during uncertain times.

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.

When Gina V Physical Therapy in Papillion first heard that Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds were available to apply for, the husband-wife co-owner team, Mark and Gina Vanderheiden, jumped into

action by reaching out to their banker straightaway.

“We had our funds in just a couple weeks,” said Mark Vanderheiden, who manages billing and other operational functions.

“We were one of the first to receive funds that I am aware of, at least in my network.”

As clinic owners, Vanderheiden said they often don’t receive payment until weeks after Gina and the other physical Continued on page 10.

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• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Lincoln’s Barnwood & Leather centers on local and American-made trend

by Gabby Christensen

After searching locally for unique furnishings for their own home, Mike and Brenda Clark quickly realized there was a need for a rustic furniture store in Lincoln. The Clarks, who always aspired to own a business, set out to fill that need by establishing Barnwood & Leather in September of 2019.

Just as the name implies, Barnwood &

Barnwood & Leather Phone: 531-500-4848 Address: 1401 Dahlberg Dr., Suite H, Lincoln 68512 Founded: 2019 Service: rustic home furnishings and customized cabinets Employees: 3 Goal: to expand customer reach outside of Lincoln and continue to find singular pieces for customers Website: www.barnwoodandleather.com

Leather offers custom designed leather and fabric home furniture along with a wide variety of wood dining, kitchen, bar and occasional tables.

Various accent pieces and wall art can also be found in the showroom.

According to Brenda Clark, the store’s main

Business Manager Lawrence de Villiers and co-owner Brenda Clark … Furniture customization options, craftsmanship draws clientele who are looking to invest in heirloom pieces. goal is to work with small business owners who can-made 100% reclaimed barnwood furniture manufacture American-made furniture products. and custom cabinet options made by craftsmen “We exclusively offer unique, Ameri- who pride themselves in creating each piece,”

Business Minute

Paid Content

Annette Otteman CPA, O’Donnell, Ficenec, Wills & Ferdig, LLP

Associations: Nebraska Society of CPAs, St. Stephen the Martyr (Martyr Mission Annual Fundraiser), and KAADA Hometown: Fremont, NE. Education: I attended Archbishop Bergan High School, UNL from which I obtained my B.S. in Finance and Accounting with a minor in Agriculture, then UNO where I earned my MBA.

How I got into the business: My first job was an accounting position with a national real estate management company in Chicago – LaSalle Partners. This inspired me to continue my education and sit for the CPA exam.

Accomplishments or milestones: I finished my MBA and passed the CPA exam while working full-time and having two children under the age of 6.

First job: Babysitting and detasseling corn.

Biggest career break: Getting hired to work in a CPA firm after years of working in the private industry and non-profit accounting.

The toughest part of the job: Staying on top of all of the current tax law changes

makes our jobs both challenging and interesting at the same time.

The best advice I have received: Take care of yourself so that you can be the best version of yourself at work and at home with your family.

About my family: My husband, Greg, works for Green Plains and spends his free time officiating all sports. Together, we have two daughters, 25 and 22, who share the same birthday! My oldest is a physical therapist and my youngest works in sports communications.

We enjoy cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, and all Husker teams. My daughters also convinced us to adopt a rescue puppy — Millie keeps us active as she is eight pounds full of energy.

Something else I’d like to accomplish: I would like to grow my business at OFWF while encouraging and supporting clients and co-workers to be successful.

Book I finished reading recently: 33 Days to Morning Glory by Michael A. Gaitley.

Something about me not everyone knows: I was a member of the Nebraska

Horse Judging Team!

How my business will change in the next decade: The greatest part about being a CPA is that the while the world is changing, the process is consistent. We can take problems and solve them by drawing on past experience.

Mentor who has helped the most in my career: I am lucky to have had so many people guide me along the way. It truly takes a village.

Outside interests: Riding horses, interior design, being outside, and work-out classes.

Favorite vacation spot: Any place that I can go and spend time with my family.

Other careers I would like to try: When I retire, I would like to work for an interior design boutique.

Favorite movie: Remember the Titans.

Favorite cause or charity: Nebraska 4-H Foundation and organizations that focus on mentoring.

Favorite app: Apple Podcasts — I currently am listening to the Happiness Project!

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

she said. “There’s literally American history in each of these pieces.”

The store plans to continue to build partnerships with local craftsmen, as well.

Customization options have been a big selling point for the business, Clark said, as many customers want to add a singular touch to their home.

“We are very willing to go to our clients’ homes and help them choose the right pieces to fit their space,” she said. “We try to personalize the experience as much as possible.”

The store offers high quality pieces that are meant to last, and customers are typically at a stage in life where they are able to invest in their home.

While piecing the business together has been challenging at times, Clark said seeing their vision come to life has been very fulfilling.

“Oftentimes, as a small business owner, you are a jack of all trades,” she said. “There’s many components to tackle, but it’s all very rewarding.”

Since opening nearly a year ago, Clark said the business has been very successful, but the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some hurdles.

As manufacturers have shut down, it’s been difficult to order new custom work, but customers have been very understanding.

“As always, our mantra has been featuring American-made items,” she said. “As we move forward with new marketing initiatives to bring people back out to shop, we want to focus on that. We are also a small business that believes in supporting other small businesses, which often draws customers.”

For the Clarks, the location of the business has been key, as they’ve strived to be easily accessible to those who travel from outside of town.

Looking ahead, the plan is to continue to Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal Established in 1975

Founded by Robert Hoig

ADMINISTRATION VP OF OPERATIONS, Andrea “Andee” Hoig

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

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

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Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

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Personal experiences inform Wallar’s tenure serving homeless

by Dwain Hebda

Brandy Wallar, program and development director with New Visions Homeless Services, has a keen understanding of the clients the Council Bluffs nonprofit serves.

It’s the kind of connection that can only come from someone who has “been there, survived that.”

“A lot of times, people just think, ‘Hey, tighten up your boot strings and get over it.’ But what if you’re not born with a pair of boots?” she said. “I always approach work situations not from an aspect of what’s wrong with you, but what’s happened to you? Somebody doesn’t just wake up and have no place to go, no contacts, no hope.

“Growing up, I was raised by a single mom with four kids; she had us all by the time she was 20. We had to lean on community support for our everyday basic needs. That plays a huge part in my thinking and the programs that I’ve implemented, having the experience of coming up in poverty from a single parent home. There’s always a backstory.”

In Wallar’s case, the backstory of her life in nonprofits lies with the investment of time and care that many mentors made in her as she was growing up. This inspired her to complete college and carry on that mentorship in her own professional life.

“I had a lot of people who played an important role in my family’s life to help us children succeed,” she said. “I always knew I wanted to be like them, from a very young age, probably about seventh grade. I made the decision that I would be a helper in the world.”

Wallar has been with the agency 17 years, nine of them in her current role. In that time, she’s been responsible for streamlining many of the services offered through New Visions, improving access for clients. For her work, she received the first Community Impact Award presented by the Council Bluffs School District last fall.

“When I approach a program, it’s not from a professional perspective, but how do I take those barriers down to get people help,” she said. “Yeah, it’s great that we have food pantries, but the food pantries aren’t even on a bus line, so how do people get there?

How do we make stuff more accessible?

“Again, I go back to my mom’s experience; she was in a domestic violence situation. She put the kids in the car, and she went to an agency and went to the wrong door. She thought she could get help [for the domestic violence], but they gave her food. So, my mom had to turn back and go back to the situation with a bag of food and she ended up getting severely beaten because her abuser thought she must’ve have gone out with another man to get food.”

Wallar said having life experiences so closely entwined with job duties gives her a helpful dose of perspective that is critical to warding off the burnout that many people in her industry experience.

“I don’t take anything personally,” she said. “I realize a lot of times, people are dealing with tough situations so if they’re upset, if they’re escalated, it has nothing to do with me. They just met me.

“You have to focus on the backstory; these people are struggling to find food; they have to humble themselves to come

2019

Lincoln’s Barnwood & Leather Continued from preceding page. reach outside of the Lincoln area and be known as a destination stop for travelers.

The owners also plan to explore avenues to better promote pieces online.

“For the time being, we are very focused on surviving this difficult time and bringing customers back into the shop again while keeping their safety and health a top priority,” she said. “As always, we will continue to find unique pieces for the store and help our customers design or find a piece that's exactly fit for them.”

Program and Development Director Brandy Wallar … Improving access for services and breaking down barriers for clients. in. So, they might not be the most polite “That’s really the biggest thing, just person ever. If you haven’t showered for having that perspective that these are hutwo weeks, you’re probably not bubbly, man beings. Their backstory doesn’t have you know? to dictate their future.”

Proud Sponsors of the 2019 40 Under 40:

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• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

SARPY COUNTY

GROWTH REPORT A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal • May 29, 2020

Sarpy organizations spring into action to get ahead of challenges

by Michelle Leach

From funding for pressing needs to nimble business support, Sarpy County is positioning itself to build upon decades of growth and thrive in a post-pandemic economy.

Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce support looks, partly, like Zoom meeting rooms for all groups, a COVID-19 resource page, and online classes (many are free). With support from Facebook, Google and others, President Karen Gibler said the Sarpy Chamber Foundation is offering grants to small businesses. Applications open June 1 at the Midlands ComGibler munity Foundation website.

Through regular calls with community leaders, the health department, Offutt Air Force Base, and sister chambers of commerce, Gibler said the organization learned of the need for hand sanitizer and food for local food banks.

“We immediately went into action working with Patriarch Distillers to help them get the products they needed to start making and

Tonee M. Gay, executive director of the Midlands Community Foundation.

“While some of these types of things distributing hand sanitizer to our communiaren’t in our regular job descriptions, our ty,” she said.

The Sarpy County Chamber also coordi- team has stepped up whenever asked to nated neighborhood food drives to help local brainstorm and figure out new ways to do things and achieve our goal of continuing to pantries refill storage.

support the communities of Sarpy County,” she said.

Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation’s immediate response was outreach and assessing immediate needs, while still working with potential new-to-market projects.

“And, now, we’re working with the Greater Omaha Chamber and others in the medical technology field to see how we can put Sarpy and Greater Omaha in a position to capitalize on potential expansions in medical technology and UNMC’s [University of Nebraska Medical Rainbolt Center] NExT program that will hopefully get funded later this year,” said Executive Director Andrew Rainbolt.

Site development remains its biggest priority.

“We’ve had a lot of success over the last few years in landing large projects,” Rainbolt added. “That means we’ve burned through many of our best sites for business expansion.”

The county, its cities and sewer agency are “carrying the water” to expand the infrastructure needed to make next-level sites competitive.

“They’re starting the long process of adding a new interchange to I-80 and, hopefully, will have a definitive sewer development plan very soon,” he said.

Work is underway to improve the levees that protect the area from potential devastating flood events.

“We want to know if there are other actions that can or need to be taken to attract employers who would be worried about future events,” Rainbolt said. “Sarpy County EDC has spent a lot of time and money trying to put the corridor in a position to attract a major industrial project, and it’s still our best location for rail-served industrial users.”

Rainbolt surmised the current crisis’ lasting effects may include a shift from justin-time delivery of goods to manufacturers and distributors to a model that allows for more slack in the system, bolstering the need for ready sites to accommodate storage and warehousing needs. The shift from recruiting employers to recruiting human capital is Continued on next page.

Sarpy County Growth Report •

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

Construction in Sarpy County still going strong

by David Kubicek

Sarpy County construction remains strong with some firms shifting focus slightly because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Over the past couple of months, B Douglas Construction Solutions has been doing more projects like home additions, home renovations, basketball courts, new decks and patios, said owner Bryan Boyce.

“People have been spending more time at home relaxing,” he said. “We’re working with some banks and restaurants, making them temporary plexiglass partitions to separate [tellers and clerks] from customers.”

The company also does a lot of work for Omaha property management firms, which have started to see a slowdown in showing empty spaces, possibly because people are reluctant to open new businesses at this time.

“I noticed in the past couple of days we’ve started to get more calls about property management stuff,” Boyce said. “I’m hoping we see a switch [in busy season] — rather than being busy in the spring and early summer we’ll be really busy in the summer and

Sarpy organizations Continued from preceding page. already occurring.

“If they can work remotely, can they work from the location of their choice? Sarpy County is already in a good position to attract mid-career professionals with families who may be looking to move out of large metros — What else can we do as communities and as a state to compete to attract these valuable ‘free agents’?” Rainbolt said.

Sarpy County EDC further supported the Housing Foundation for Sarpy County-led housing study, described by Rainbolt as a much-needed look at the housing market — providing direction to investors, developers and firms looking to capitalize on Sarpy’s growth.

Executive Director Tonee M. Gay noted the aforementioned Midlands Community Foundation continues to see strong growth patterns in donations and community involvement, with its grantmaking public charity, Match Program, raising more than $739,000 from 1,000-plus donors in one month, and its Annual Golf Tournament and Reflection Ball’s support of 79 charitable nonprofits last year.

Its commitment further shows in The MCF Coronavirus Response Fund, whereby pooled donations provide emergency food and financial help to the hardest-hit Sarpy and Cass households.

“MCF has seen an increase in donations to assist those who are experiencing hardship because of the outbreak and related closures and disruptions, and who are in the greatest need of resources,” Gay said. “The MCF Coronavirus Response Fund contributed to local food banks, assisted nonprofits with rent and utilities, provided funding to support student virtual learning, and helped provide counseling for those struggling with mental anguish.”

Additionally, its 140 established charitable funds have always emphasized health, arts, culture, community, economic development, education and human services; in the last few months, Gay said, MCF awarded $95,000 from its Grants Program to 20-plus nonprofits.

early fall.”

About six months ago the firm completed a 40,000-square-foot development on the northwest corner of Highways 31 and 370, which includes a new 15,000-square-foot

Boyce Henderson Inter-Tech Collision Center.

Just to the west of that, the firm completed an 18,000-square-foot building, which includes 7,000 square feet for its new headquarters that opened last month and 11,000 square feet of retail space to be leased.

In Papillion, the firm demolished Fricke Field’s old press box and is building a new two-story press box, which should be completed by early June.

H2C Construction founder Jim Henderson said that after completing a Tulip Daycare in Papillion last year, the firm started work on a new Laundry World laundromat, also in Papillion, which it finished early this spring.

“It’s very upscale for a laundromat,” Cabrera Henderson said. “The owner put in some very expensive equipment and some nice finishes.”

In April the firm completed an office renovation for Saint Francis Ministries, which went into the old Lockheed Martin building near 45th Street and Highway 370.

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“As an independent contractor, I haven’t seen an impact of COVID-19 as of yet because we’re able to maintain social distancing on site and are able to coordinate that fairly well,” Henderson said. “As far as the industry in general, I haven’t seen a slowdown as of yet. With projects on the books, it seems to be maintaining a steady pace at this time.

“I don’t know what the future holds, but as we start to get back to the new normal, I don’t think we’ll see any decline in the growth I see in Sarpy County and Omaha in general.”

Thrasher’s residential teams have kept busy on projects for Sarpy County customers, and its commercial team so far this year has completed or is in the middle of completing several projects in the technology, education and transportation market sectors, according to Matt Cabrera, general manager of the commercial group.

“We feel extremely fortunate that we are operating at near normal capacity, in spite of COVID-19,” he said. “We took a proactive approach early on in how we operate our business to ensure the safety of our team Continued on next page.

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• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Sarpy County Growth Report

Increased deposits, lending strong in Sarpy County

by Gabby Christensen

Sarpy County banks and credit unions said operations have adjusted during the pandemic, but the industry will continue to move forward and grow as time goes on.

Although the pandemic is new territory, Gail DeBoer, president/CEO of Cobalt Credit

Union, said Cobalt has strategically planned for emergencies and has put business solutions in place to continue to provide service

has seen in 2020 is that members are maintaining higher deposit balances.

“This can be attributed to the government

DeBoer Kisicki to members even in this environment.

“We want to see Sarpy County, and all 15 of the counties we serve, do well,” she said. “We are especially concerned for those members who have suffered a loss of income and/or have been affected by this pandemic directly.”

DeBoer said the biggest growth Cobalt

Kindig Henry stimulus checks that were paid in April, as well as due to social distancing orders and retail closures so our membership is spending less,” she said. “We have seen a surge in mortgage applications, which are mostly refinances. Our mortgage pipeline has remained strong in spite of the pandemic.”

Chris Kisicki, director of branch banking

Construction in Sarpy Continued from preceding page. as well as our customers. We believe that approach has helped to keep us busy during this unique time in history.

“The outlook for Sarpy County looks bright over the next year. The folks at the Sarpy County EDC have done a good job getting some big-name companies to move into the area, and it’s causing a trickle-down effect to attract small businesses to come as well. As the business population grows in a certain geography, the need for the infrastructure in that area grows too, which leads to continued demand for all things construction related.”

at First National Bank, said the current trend in the industry is to blend high-touch advice and guidance from branch and contact center personnel with online and mobile tools to make customers’ day-to-day financial management efficient and easy.

“Banks are striving to meet customers ‘where they are’ in their financial lives by providing lifestage based solutions to meet current and future needs,” he said.

The banking industry has seen increased deposits and Krauss lending in Sarpy County and the county continues to be one of FNBO’s best growth opportunities.

“With four branches in Sarpy County, we are well-positioned to be part of the tremendous economic expansion in the area,” he said.

“We expect to see above average growth in our business banking and consumer-oriented businesses in the coming years.”

Since the pandemic, Andrew Sajevic, commercial loan officer at Five Points Bank, said lobbies have moved to appointment-only, but basic banking has continued with steady drive thru traffic.

“The biggest trend that we’ve seen lately is the Paycheck Protection Program offered through the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Treasury,” he said. “It’s been a great way for us to provide funds to local businesses in need during the pandemic.”

Doug Kindig, relationship manager at Five Points Bank, said Sarpy County will continue to flourish despite the pandemic setback.

“We are still receiving requests from customers to help them with expansions or new businesses,” he said. “For years to come, Sarpy County is still going to lead the state in that area.”

According to Kindig, Sarpy County has new developments underway, which provides an opportunity for the bank to grow, as well.

Katie Henry, SVP, retail banking division manager at AccessBank, said mortgage rates are still at all-time lows, which has created a refinance boom.

“Early on in the onset of the pandemic, we invested time and resources in creating loan modification programs for both our business and consumer banking clients,” Henry said. “We’ve implemented upgraded cleaning practices and provided masks to our frontline employees. Sneeze guards will be installed, and social distancing decals will be placed in our lobbies when we reopen. With a large majority of employees working from home, there has been no disruption to service throughout the entire time.”

Neal Krauss, vice president/market manager at AccessBank, said Sarpy County is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, offering the opportunity for community banks to grow, too.

According to the FDIC Deposit Market Share Reports, Sarpy County’s deposits have grown 16.63% over the last five years and 44.19% over the last 10 years.

“From financing to deposit accounts, growth seems inevitable,” Krauss said. “At AccessBank, we work diligently to ensure our products meet the needs of the community; whether it’s our robust digital banking platform or in-branch delivery, we are working hard to align ourselves with Sarpy County’s growing community.”

Sarpy County Growth Report •

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

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Sarpy County health care focused on keeping people safe during COVID

by Dwain Hebda

Sarpy County health care organizations have leveraged all due resources to combat COVID-19, from medical expertise to technology.

“COVID-19 is impacting the health of our community both in terms of infection and delayed care out of fear and economic impact,” said Dr. Michael Ash, chief transformation officer at Nebraska Medicine.

“We want to reassure people we are here to provide safe, extraordinary care delivered either in person or via telehealth.”

Ash said Nebraska Medicine is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to safety protocols and cutting-edge tactics to serve patients during this unprecedented time.

“We will continue to evolve to meet our patients’ needs, providing the latest medical advancements and services in a way that’s convenient and effective for people who come in person or from the comfort of their home,” he said.

Kent Sona, vice president and chief information officer for Methodist Health System, said the hospital was already a leader in medical technology prior to COVID-19, especially with telehealth and virtual visits.

“IPads were deployed and we leveraged FaceTime to do provider-to-patient visits to help conserve personal protective equipment,” he said. “Webex and Qliq platforms were utilized for provider-to-patient scheduled visits in our clinic locations, minimizing exposure to the community and helping protect high-risk populations. AmWell is the platform we utilize for urgent care visits.”

Sona said the technologies have paid a number of dividends.

“Laptops and iPads were deployed to our four hospitals to leverage Zoom or FaceTime applications,” he said. “This allows

continue to expand our models for patient convenience by providing ‘call, click, chat or come in’ integrated services. Virtual visits

Ash Sona patients to video chat and see family, which has been so valuable after we implemented a ‘no visitor’ policy due to COVID-19.”

Julie Gernetzke, division vice president of Medical Group Enterprise Operations at CHI Health, said technology has also played a role in helping curtail the spread of the virus.

“CHI Health expanded its virtual care by adding providers, waiving the fee for patients and making providers available 24/7,” she said. “CHI Health also created a free, online screening tool anyone could use as an initial assessment for COVID-19, which helped them identify their risk and connect them with a provider, if necessary.”

Pandemic-related or not, Gernetzke said online tools provide a number of benefits in the health care space.

“Virtual care provides more options for patients to connect with their provider,” she said. “It’s important to provide patients options for their care when they need it. We

Gernetzke Stratman improve the ability to connect to patients sooner and enhance the patient experience overall.”

As great as technology is in these times, it doesn’t replace the expertise of live physicians, working in tandem to meet patient’s needs. That’s the formula employed by Hillcrest Health Services, said Liz Stratman,

director of communications.

“Our multi-disciplinary approach makes us one of the strongest providers because we can offer seniors everything they need and seamlessly transition them across our service lines,” she said. “This enables us to partner better with accountable care organizations and hospital networks that want one provider who will deliver excellent results for patients with cost savings for payors.”

This all-for-one mentality helped Hillcrest Health Services get out in front of COVID-19 and prepare health protocols accordingly.

“Because of the leadership of our chief medical officer, we knew what was coming early on and have been preparing for this for quite some time,” Stratman said. “We’ve updated our infection control procedures, trained team members, implemented restricted visitation protocols and have been screening team members since early March.

Many of the changes we’ve implemented will become long-term practices.”

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• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Sarpy County Growth Report

Residential real estate busy as ever, just a little later than normal

by Jasmine Heimgartner

Easy access to downtown Omaha and I-80, along with regular real estate movement for transfers to and from Offutt Air Force Base, has kept Sarpy County on the radar as a hot spot for homebuyers. Along with some new retail and commendable school systems, buyers continue to flock to the area.

“The houses that are a hot commodity are in the lower price points up to about

$250,000,” said Nebraska Realty Realtor Sarah Guy. “We can’t keep them on the market. The higher price points are still selling well, but it is really that first-time range that there is so much demand. Shortage has been an ongoing issue, and we continue to see a low inventory.”

Another draw for the area is the variety of housing available.

“You have everything from a $100,000 to $1.7 [million], so it offers range of pric-

Sarah Guy, Realtor at Nebraska Realty’s Papillion office. ing to meet many different needs,” said accommodating and embracing changes Shelli Klemke, real estate agent at Berk- in how they work to help people find their shire Hathaway. “You can find an acreage new home. or a smaller home in established areas with “The buyers are serious buyers looking lots of character. It’s really a great mix. to make a move, so we haven’t been seeing While the $250,000 and under market is a lot of people out and about just looking still multiple offers at houses,” Klemke and gone in a few said. “It has made days, it isn’t happenit more efficient for ing to all of them. sellers. Buyers are There are still opalso sensitive that portunities for firstthey are going into time homebuyers. someone else’s home We have also seen and come prepared awesome rates that with hand sanitizer, have let some peogloves and masks. ple spend more than We also have a lot what they thought more virtual tours Klemke Stevens they could with the with clients if they same mortgage.” are in a different state or not comfortable While quick turnaround and numer- going on-site. The real estate industry has ous offers remain the norm, stay-at-home quickly adapted to the latest technology.” orders issued in March, normally the start Since Offutt is located in Sarpy County, of the prime season, created a slight lull the military’s stop-movement order is also in the industry. Many Realtors are now playing a role in the flush market. experiencing some of their busiest times “There is still a lot of competition and and a “normal” spring market, as well as Continued on next page.

Sarpy County Growth Report •

Residential real estate Continued from preceding page. activity, but a lot of listings are being held off,” Guy said. “There are families who were planning on moving but that changed.

It has created a bit of uncertainty for people and makes it difficult to coordinate with sellers. Typically, we have a drop in July and August, but we may see those delays begin to hit then and spread out into fall and winter. We hope to see a pretty busy and healthy sellers’ market throughout the rest of the year for those military moves.”

Construction on new neighborhoods in the county have ramped up, creating more pending listings in those communities.

Bridgeport, Southern Pointe, Clearwater Falls, Falcon Pointe and Shadow Lake are a few of the areas beginning to fill up fast.

Since these houses are new construction, they tend to land in the over $400,000 range, keeping that segment of the market busy. For lower price points, more established areas and tough competition can make buying a home more of a challenge, so being prepared and educated is key.

“In order to even make an offer, you have to have preapproval,” said Devon Stevens, associate real estate broker at Stevens Real Estate. “You could see a house on the market today, and it will probably sell tomorrow. If you aren’t preapproved, you will miss out. Second, we try to educate buyers on where the market is before they really get into it. We can show them a house that sold and the list price and what it actually sold for, as well as help them understand how vital it is to jump right away.”

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

9

Where college debt is riskiest: graduate degrees

by Carla Fried

Navigating the workforce with a college degree can deliver a lifelong payoff.

A Federal Reserve study that looked at median household earnings from 1989 through 2016 found that when there was at least one person with a bachelor’s degree, earnings were 100% more than households without one. The gap was 175% for households with a graduate Education degree.

That a graduate degree often leads to higher lifetime earnings isn’t exactly surprising. Yet it can be an iffy financial move when borrowing is thrown into the mix.

For undergrads, the federal student loan program comes with a built-in safe-borrowing cutoff: Annual borrowing limits are no more than $7,500 and total federal borrowing to earn a bachelor’s degree can’t be more than $31,000 for students claimed as a dependent on their parent’s tax return. (Taking on more debt through personal student loans is where undergrads get into trouble.)

Student loan expert Mark Kantrowitz says aiming to emerge from school with total debt no greater than what the borrower will earn in the first year of adulting is a solid target. At that level, the debt should be able to be repaid in 10 years without eating up more than 10% of pay. Last year, the average salary for someone graduating with a bachelor’s degree was around $50,000, which would suggest $30,000 or so in debt would be manageable.

Where overborrowing becomes more of a risk is when the baccalaureate pursues an advanced degree.

The federal loan system for graduate school has no borrowing limits. The standard federal grad school borrowing program allows a total of $138,500 in borrowing. And if that’s not enough, the federal graduate PLUS loan program allows grad students to borrow as much as they need to cover school costs.

According to a think tank report, graduate students in the 2017-2018 academic year accounted for 15% of all students in college yet took out 40% of all federal student loans. Grad students’ share of total debt was 33% in the 2010-2011 academic year.

Moreover, federal grad school loans cost more. The fixed interest rate on loans taken out for the 2019-2020 school year was 4.53% for undergrads, 6.08% for grad student loans and 7.08% for PLUS graduate loans. The PLUS loan also levies a 4.24% origination fee, the other graduate loans have a 1.06% origination fee.

Students who completed their grad degree (one in four grad school students don’t finish within 10 years) emerged with total average debt (including undergrad borrowing) of $84,300 in 2016. For medical degrees the average was nearly $250,000, up from $124,700 at the turn of the century. For Ph.D.’s (excluding the field of education) the average debt for graduates was nearly $100,000, for non-Ph.D. doctorates, the average debt

at graduation was more than $132,000.

Master’s degree recipients left school with $66,000 in debt.

At those higher debt levels, it’s not a given that starting salaries will be as high. That’s where the value of a degree can begin to break down: If you take on so much debt for undergrad and grad school and then land a job that doesn’t pay at least an equal amount right out of the gate, you’re looking at some unpleasant financial stress. Or potentially taking a job that pays better than the job that really appeals.

The simple yet vital corrective is to study up on expected starting salaries for a grad degree before you accept a slot in a program and borrow. Don’t focus on a national average. You need to get actual starting salary info from every program you are considering.

For instance, average borrowing for a law degree in 2016 (the latest year available) was $145,000, including undergrad debt. Graduates of elite law schools might find that manageable, as one survey found that recent grads of elite law schools had an average starting salary in private practice of $180,000. But after the top 50 schools, the average starting salary was $90,000 and quickly dropped to $70,000. Borrowing $145,000 and earning half as much isn’t a recipe for financial security. ©2020 Rate.com News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Equipment upgrades poise Benson Machine Works for market share gains Continued from page 1.

Burks are seeking to significantly increase.

“Overall, our industry was booming last year with revenues up three-fold over 2018,” Adams said.

Opportunities are arising. A recent product is a metal bracket that connects

Benson Machine Works, Inc. Phone: 402-551-5544 Address: 1604 Fort St., Omaha 68110 Services: job shop with custom design and fabrication concentrations Founded: 1948 by George Vercruysse Employees: 15 One-year goal: updating equipment and expanding customer base Industry outlook: There is strong faith in American manufacturing capabilities.

Website: www.bensonmachine.com

a face shield to equipment for meatpackers to wear for protection from the COVID-19 virus. Benson Machine Works has collaborated with Omaha-based Power Protection Products on the shields, Burks said.

“We support many companies that produce products utilized in our country’s medical, agricultural, food, materials and defense supply chains,” he added.

Smith, a 1984 graduate of Omaha South High School who was formerly an owner of Sterling Smith — a downtown Omaha manufacturing plant that was later acquired by Ballantyne Strong — said Benson Machine Works is a diverse company with clients that include Lozier, Tommy Gate, Election Systems & Software, Omaha Standard Palfinger, Conagra, Strong Lighting, and CLAAS, among others.

Adams, a 2000 graduate of Omaha Central High School who attended the University of Wyoming’s Tech College, said Benson Machine Works, as a smaller, family-owned business, liberally works with local inventors that have ideas for products.

“We do prototypes for all types of different people,” he said. “Some of them are cutesy little trinkets.”

Burks, a 1999 graduate of Burke High School who attended Metropolitan Community College, said the Omaha manufacturer’s primary focus has been on deepening its customer base in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota.

The challenge, according to Adams, is to augment and replace aging equipment with some of the latest technology available.

Adams and Burks expect to invest more than $1 million in the ongoing project. Fiber-optic lasers are the top priority.

The plant operates on a single shift and with the planned increase in business, it will be seeking significant production efficiencies, such as increased production speed with automation. Part of the answer is technology that will enable “lightsout minimum crew operation.” That can be accomplished by an investment in a table-exchanger/automated loading and stacking machine that can be run during evening and nighttime hours.

“We have to be creative and keep up

with today’s demands,” Adams said, noting that some of the equipment being heavily used is of the post-WWII era.

A new machine center and lathe is another priority.

“Ideally we’d like to be able to get new equipment,” Adams said, regarding budget priorities.

A third priority is to strengthen the firm’s quality control department that will enable parts to be scanned with greater accuracy. Additional equipment to augment the firm’s 3D scanner is also on the list for its next three-to-five-year acquisition plan.

“There’s a growing faith in American manufacturing,” Burks said. “The future looks good because more Americans are using in-house fabrication rather than outsourcing the work.”

Adams, Burks and Smith are confident that Benson Machine Works can build on its 71-year-heritage.

Both Adams and Burks are replacing their retiring fathers — Daniel Adams and Gary Burks, respectively — at Benson Machine Works. Laser cutting, CNC machining, fabrication and welding and custom design is being done with highly skilled employees, often with more than one member of a family working at the firm.

“Many have worked here for most of their lives and that has given us low turnover,” Burks said.

The roots for what is now Benson Machine Works go back to founder George Vercruysse in the l940s. His family in-

Dan McGrath forms enclosures for Omaha-based Power Protection Products. cluded ancestors involved in founding a and spent several years at 1516 Military blacksmith shop on the Mormon Trail. Ave., until being moved to the Fort Street The firm started in Vercruysse’s garage building more than 10 years ago.

Community banks help companies; aquatics specialists take precautions Continued from page 1. therapists on staff provide services (due to how practices are reimbursed by insurance companies).

“So, we knew the PPP funds would help us get through the hard times in the following weeks,” he said. “Knowing that we have the PPP to fall back on has helped us maintain positivity through the slow few months.”

The Vanderheidens said PPP funds helped the clinic stay afloat — keeping their staff paid — and they hope business will pick up to normal pace by mid-summer.

Without the funds, the owners said they would have had a hard time staying open.

Kelly Grefe and the team at Northwest Bank have assisted the Vanderheidens and many other business owners; as of last week, the ag/commercial lender and vice president said the bank funded 1,233 loans totaling $186 million (round 1) and 506 totaling $14.5 million (round 2).

“All together, the loans impacted 22,000-plus employees in our communities,” he said. “Being a preferred lender of the SBA for many years allowed us to have knowledge of the transmission software, enabling us to be responsive.”

Additionally, the team reallocated resources from different areas of the bank to assist with time-sensitive components.

“The bank was fortunate to have staff that was willing to work extra hours into the evenings and weekends to help our

customers,” Grefe said.

Early in the process, the goalpost was moved as verbiage was altered, and inconceivable website issues arose.

“The banks relied on certain transmissions with the SBA website and due to sheer volume, it became challenging,” he said. “Responding to our customers before the funding was exhausted was essential.

Prioritizing those requests, while implementing a new loan product, approval system and onboarding within a matter of weeks, was a tremendous challenge that was rewarding for a community bank of our size to meet.”

Customers have largely asked about what is needed in eight weeks, related to the forgiveness provision associated with these loans.

“Do we need payroll numbers, employee count, bank statements …? Some questions are being raised about the calculations regarding entity type and what constitutes as an acceptable expense under the forgiveness guidelines,” Grefe said. “[Communication] is still paramount as the information needed can change daily.

When the bank receives info that we deem as valid, we do our best to communicate that to our customers.”

“Staying afloat” takes on a literal meaning at Diventures. With May representing Water Safety Month, and families having more “unstructured” time on their hands as school’s out, Aquatics Director and Certified Instructor Trainer Ben Sny-

der highlighted the company’s multi-layered safety approach in the COVID-19 environment. In addition to its sophisticated UV filter system, he referred to a number of precautions — from one-way flow through the facilities, to a separate lifeguard watching the pool at all times to help teachers safely maintain hands-off instruction.

As many public pools have been closed, Snyder highlighted safety measures for the backyard pool and lake alike.

“It’s important for families to ‘huddle up,’” he said. “Before you get in the water, point out anything that could be a dangerous area, and buoys and lifeguards.

Survey the area.”

The “buddy system” applies to adults, too.

“As a lifeguard for 15 years, I can’t tell you how many adults overestimate their skills and endurance,” Snyder said.

As children have innate skills and reflexes, he encourages water safety and swimming early — even at six months.

“One of the hardest transitions for young children is from the bathtub to the open pool,” he said.

Additionally, Snyder said parents should work on getting their children to grab the wall as soon as they jump in — that way, they associate walls with safety when their parents aren’t around.

“If they’re in a lake and there is no wall, they should practice jumping in and floating on their back,” he said.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

11

KidGlov looks to impact projects,refocusing on bottom line profit Continued from page 1. past couple of months because of new workplace and social guidelines and uncertainty due to the pandemic, KidGlov is strengthening its commitment to organizations that “impact social change” with an idea formed last November — The Agency for Change Challenge.

As part of its anniversary celebration, the company is giving away $10,000 worth of advertising agency services to an organization that is impacting social change. The deadline SUPER CROSSWORD

Answers on page 12.

for submissions is June 12.

“Because of who we are and who we have on our team, we’ve always worked with a number of nonprofits and human service organizations, including health care and senior living; a lot of financial institutions are really focused on taking care of their communities and their clients,” she said. “And so last fall we were taking a look at our own brand and we really decided to narrow our focus to organizations that are making positive change in the world. There are a lot of different types FIRST-CLASS ATHLETES

of organizations that do that, but we like to tives. Since we’ve gone through so much say, ‘we’re the people who are helping the growth over the last four years, we’re refocusing not on topline growth but on bottom people who are changing the world.’”

In the Omaha and Lincoln market, line profit — refocusing on profitability.”

A small team allows the company to be KidGlov has worked with Boys Town, Immanuel Communities, the Nebraska Family creative, cost efficient and flexible, and each Helpline, Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, location can focus on its regional market.

That being said, while Wineman isn’t CenterPointe, St. Monica’s, CEDARS and HopeSpoke, to name a few. On May 15, the currently looking to open offices in new maragency launched a new brand, Adeo, for a kets, KidGlov is starting to generate interest outside its respective Colorado organizamarkets. tion that helps support KidGlov “Because we’re people with brain and Phone: 402-483-9922 (Lincoln); 402learning to work respinal cord injuries.

509-5196 (Papillion); 303-536-8636 motely, we might “Hopefully it will (Denver) open it up a little bit be the only brand that Address: 1230 O St., Suite 111, Lincoln and instead of trying we launch in the mid- 68508 (headquarters); 105 S. Washingto build more offices dle of a pandemic,” ton St., Suite B, Papillion 68046; 2301 we might, in our own she said. “Instead of Blake St., Suite 100, Denver, CO 80205 digital pursuits, look having a big party Services: boutique advertising agency to go more national and employee meet- Founded: May 2010 by Lyn Wineman from the locations we ings, we had a series Employees: 15 have,” she said. “Your of Zoom town halls Industry outlook: Businesses brace digital advertising can and launched publicly for faster-paced information flow and a go across the state or with PR and boosted decentralized work structure. across the country. As social media.”

Website: www.kidglov.com we’re not going to see When the pandemic was declared, some companies pulled people in person, they can be anywhere. We back on marketing budgets because of eco- haven’t said anything for sure but that’s one nomic uncertainty and KidGlov lost about of the things we’re starting to explore as a result of the pandemic.” $100,000 of business.

With businesses slowly reopening, she “But we’ve really hustled, and we made it all up so far,” she said. “So, what I shared said that selling and business development with my team in a thank-you note not too long will be different in the future.

“In the past, we relied on networking and ago was, you know, it’s not just that we’re keeping our own business up but look at the meeting people, a lot of coffees and lunches,” things we’re doing for people. We’re helping she said. “As we’re helping our clients learn fight senior isolation and teen alcoholism and new ways of marketing and lead generation, drug use — just so many cool things that we we’re doing the same.”

Reflecting over the last 10 years, Wineget to do.”

With about 50 active clients among its man said that she has learned to be more pathree offices, KidGlov continues to work with tient and empathetic, not only with colleagues some of its first clients — like MembersOwn but also to understand clients’ needs.

“I’ve always personally been very driven Credit Union and Nebraska Healthcare Association — when she founded the company as and very goal driven,” she said. “I’ve always pushed myself. And while that has been really Wineman Communications Group.

In March 2013, the agency changed its important to my success, I think as I rise to a name to KidGlov, a reference to “treating different position and as I rally a team of peopeople and clients and brands with kid ple around me, I think empathy and patience and coaching are all important.” gloves.”

KidGlov’s new 2,100-square-foot space “It’s not just being friendly but it’s about trust and authenticity and about being really with an open office layout and various sized highly accountable to one another on our conference rooms, where she’s hoping to be team but really accountable to our clients as working from in June, is a far cry from the company’s start at Wineman’s dining room well,” she said.

To speak to the power of rebranding, after table.

“When we were moving, I came across my KidGlov helped a small Nebraska business rebrand, that client generated $50 million in notebook where I had my notes, from when I first started in May 2010, and I wrote in there revenue.

“We certainly can’t say that the rebrand that I wanted to create an agency that generwas responsible for all of it, but we can say ates results, that builds brands, builds people that the rebrand brought them some extra and gives back,” she said. “And I feel that attention and excitement and helped them we are continuing to accomplish all four of those things.” sharpen their message,” she said.

For an agency that’s grown 400% in the last four years, Wineman said that she attributes the growth to a small, hand-picked, senior level team that works well together, as well as using the EOS Traction management system.

“By doing the Traction process, we’ve focused on what we needed to do to grow as an organization and to make our culture strong,” she said. “It’s easy in a business like ours that’s so client-focused to just get so focused on your client that you don’t work on your own business.

“Even when we’re working from home, we’re doubling down on our culture initia-

12

• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Amid a pandemic, how to find the right financial advice

by Carla Fried Even in boom times, managing your affairs can be a demanding juggling act. Add in the personal and financial upheaval of a global pandemic, and it can seem overwhelming.

Little surprise then that, in a recent Nationwide Financial survey of more than 2,000 adults, three in four people said they’re concerned they won’t be able to meet their Financial financial obligations due to the pandemic.

Interestingly, one in four added that they’d recently hired a financial adviser for the first time. That can be a wise move. Some tips for finding the right help: If what you want is investment help, check out robo-advisers first. The bear market that hit in mid-February was a destabilizing event. But it was also just “another” bear market — that is a natural part of the investing cycle.

If you no longer want to be the sole driver of investment decisions, hiring an investment pro is a fine option. If what you’re looking for is sound diversification and asset allocation help, you might want to consider a robo-adviser.

Robo-advisers run clients through detailed questions to ascertain investment goals

and risk tolerance and use that to place them in an appropriate portfolio (typically a mix of low cost exchange-traded funds) that the advisery oversees. Annual fees can be twothirds less than hiring an adviser to personally manage your money. You can Google “robo-adviser.”

Red flag: a financial pro who, at a first meeting, starts telling you that you must/ should move money out of your 401(k) and 403(b). That’s a tip-off that the pro is a wee bit too eager to get the money into an account he manages and collects a fee on.

(Yes, he. There are currently very few women advisers.) There are fine reasons to do a 401(k) rollover, but it should only come after careful consideration of many factors, such as investment fees.

If you’ve recently been laid off, you now have the option to move your 401(k) or 403(b) retirement account into an IRA. But as long as you have at least $5,000 in the retirement account, you also have the option of doing nothing. And doing nothing may be the smart move, if your old employer’s plan offers low cost investments.

Careful vetting is a must, must, must if you want to hire an adviser to oversee your investment accounts. At a minimum, anyone you hire should be eager to put in writing that

they are a fiduciary.

Anyone who starts explaining why that’s not really worth anything should be crossed off your list. And be sure to use the BrokerCheck tool to see if an adviser has any disciplinary issues. The regulatory system for advisers could be more robust — oversight is a bit convoluted and the various parties don’t necessarily communicate well with each other — but it’s an important step nonetheless to see if anything negative pops up.

If the adviser is only a licensed insurance agent, that should be a huge flashing red light.

Agents earn commissions on what they sell you. That’s not who you want giving you investment advice.

A financial planner provides the best bang for the buck and can take a look at the whole enchilada. If the current financial crisis has you worried about, well, just about everything, take a deep breath and consider taking a wide-angle lens approach. Too often we get wrapped up in investment decisions and forget that there are so many important moving pieces to financial security.

A financial planner can help you put every piece out on the table: the current bills, the future savings needs (emergency, college, retirement), the insurance, and yes the investments, and then step back and build a

Yard-sign companies hustle to keep up with deluge of stay-at-home milestones

by Colleen Schrappen

The coronavirus shutdown scrubbed Tom St. John’s blowout birthday party — and the surprise visit from his son, flying in from Korea — weeks before April 8, when St. John turned 80. So daughter Gina Woodard, still hoping for a small surprise instead of a big one, called STL Yard Cards.

The Des Peres, Mo., Trends company showed up the night before the big day to spell out “Happy 80th, Grandpa Tom” in 2-foot-tall blue and black letters on his Affton lawn.

“This is like a stealth operation,” said Woodard, from Kirkwood, who placed a second order the same week to celebrate her son’s 11th birthday. “You just wake up, and they’re magically there.”

Stay-at-home orders and crowd limits have let the air out of birthday parties and school festivities, anniversary celebrations and retirements. In their place, yard signs have sprouted like Zoysia this spring, hailing graduations, family additions, first communions and even funerals. Yard-staking companies, almost always one- or two-person enterprises, have seen their orders increase exponentially, overnight. The pop-up messages have been pushed into a central role in commemorating life events when social distancing precludes other options.

“It’s almost like people are telling their story,” said Bill Gunn, who owns STL Yard Cards with his wife, Brandi.

Yard staking is an ideal side hustle, with flexible hours and minimal overhead. The signs are their own best advertisements: Folks pass by, or see a social media post, and a light bulb goes off.

It’s not magic, though. The evening rush involves order forms and inventory tracking, mapped-out routes of pickups and dropoffs, and minivans jammed with corrugated plastic letters. Celebratory messages, which cost about $75, are set up under the camouflage

of nightfall and dismantled 24 hours later.

The Gunns, both teachers in the Kirkwood School District, started STL Yard Cards in 2017 out of their Des Peres home after noticing the popularity of lawn greetings in Texas, where they have family. Three of the largest national yard-card companies — Sign Gypsies, Sign Dreamers and Card My Yard — are based out of the Lone Star State.

The couple wanted a project their three teenagers could be involved in. Prior to this spring, STL Yard Cards had been turning over one or two lawns a night. Their high is now 18. They shrunk their service area to a 15-mile radius to keep on top of orders, and Bill Gunn hired some of his high school students to help out. By mid-May, they had sold out the rest of the month, plus eight days into June.

“It’s turned from a hobby into a job,” said Bill Gunn. “We’re going to end up not having a garage any longer.”

Karen Hohlen of Chesterfield has already given hers over to the hundreds of letters, logos and emojis she has accrued for Sign Me St. Louis, which she started 14 years ago after having her first child.

Baby-bearing storks were her original focus, then birthday milestones took over: cupcake signs for sweet 16, “cheers, beers and many more years” for 21-year-olds, and a “holy cow” bovine stampede for 40.

Now, any old year has become a big deal.

“It’s anything goes,” Hohlen said.

And business has grown tenfold. She used to field calls whenever they came in, but has had to set up designated hours for the first time.

“I was just getting completely overwhelmed,” she said. “It’s a true family business now that COVID has hit. My two teenagers have been baptized by fire.”

Hohlen anticipates a slowdown as venues start to reopen, but she thinks she will stay busier than her prelockdown levels.

“People know about us now,” she said. And parents, she added, feel like once they get a custom greeting for one birthday, all their kids need one.

Bookings for her company, which serves west St. Louis County and St. Charles, alContinued on page 22.

cohesive long-term plan that addresses your most pressing priorities.

To be clear, financial planners aren’t magicians. They can’t snap their fingers and give you a six-month emergency fund. Or fix your retirement stress if you’re only saving 3% of your paycheck. They can help you best navigate current financial stress, and ideally work with you on a longer-term plan.

What a good planner will do is analyze everything. Assets and debts. Spending, not just saving. The really good ones will help nudge you to consider hard-but-smart tradeoffs: saving more for retirement rather than paying for a child’s college. (There are affordable student loans for that.) Suggest the right-size mortgage to keep your housing costs at a level that doesn’t interfere with other goals. And review insurance coverages, to make sure you have the right level of protection.

You can hire planners for one-off assignments. For example, a full blown financial plan typically costs around $2,400.

Or if you have a more specific concern you want to address, there are financial planners who operate as fiduciaries and charge hourly or project fees. If you don’t have references, you might check the Garrett Planning Network and the XY Planning Network for potential leads.

Unless you have a strong preference for in-person meetings, in today’s Zoom and Skype worlds, you don’t need to hire a local adviser. If someone you know across the country has a great relationship with a pro, maybe check ’em out.

Rate.com/research/new covers the worlds of personal finance and residential real estate. ©2020 Rate.com News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

13

Survey: Majority of Americans believe it’s too soon to reopen local businesses after coronavirus

by Sarah Foster

The U.S. economy isn’t like the movie “Field of Dreams:” If you reopen it, there’s no guarantee anyone will come.

With the unofficial start of summer just around the corner, states continue to tiptoe toward a nationwide reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. But just 1 in 3 adults (specifically 35 percent) say it’d take less than a month before they’d Economy feel comfortable visiting local businesses if they were to open up between now and the end of Memorial Day — even with enhanced safety procedures, according to a new Bankrate survey. That total includes 22% who’d feel comfortable visiting within a week.

Meanwhile, more than half (or 55 percent) say businesses are reopening too soon, and more than 2 in 5 (or 43 percent) say they expect to shop less in public than they did before the outbreak. Republicans and Democrats are on opposite sides of both of those issues, according to the poll.

It suggests the U.S. economy can’t be flipped on and off like a light switch, as experts far-and-wide echo concerns that the pandemic might wreak a toll on consumer spending that can’t immediately be made up.

It also highlights one of the most pressing pick-your-poisons in modern times that’s left both sides of the aisle divided: Saving lives or the economy.

“While retailers are naturally eager to welcome consumers back to brick-and-mortar locations, store traffic won’t return to normal in the near future,” says Mark Hamrick, Bankrate’s senior economic analyst. The survey indicates “consumer spending will remain under pressure.”

Key Takeaways: — More than half of Americans say it’s too soon to reopen the economy.

— More than 1 in 8 Americans say they won’t visit a business in-person unless there’s a vaccine or the virus is contained.

— More than 2 in 5 expect to shop less at brick-and-mortar stores.

— Three in 4 Democrats say it’s too soon to open economy, compared with 35% of Republicans.

— Half of U.S. households believe they were financially harmed from the coronavirus outbreak.

— Americans cautious about in-person trips to businesses The pandemic has wreaked havoc on

the financial system both here and abroad, unraveling a downturn unlike anything the U.S. economy has seen since World War II, according to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

States coast-to-coast issued stay-at-home orders in mid-March to keep as many people at home as possible, shutting down bars, restaurants, retailers, theaters, gyms and beauty salons to prevent the spread of the virus. The pathogen has infected more than 4.48 million worldwide, with about a third of the cases occurring in the U.S. Those efforts have deprived the U.S. economy of its main source of fuel: consumer spending. Yet, Bankrate’s survey suggests the main culprit might be the lockdowns combined with a fear of the virus.

When it comes to feeling comfortable about venturing out again, most Americans are eyeing a longer time-horizon. While nearly 35% say they will be comfortable visiting businesses within a month, nearly 1 in 5 (or 19 percent) say they’d rather wait between one month and less than three months. Another 11% say they’d prefer to wait between three months and six months. About 13% say they won’t want to visit stores in-person until there’s a vaccine or the virus is contained.

Individuals’ comfort levels with entering brick-and-mortar stores also posed a puzzling age divide, given that the virus has shown to be more deadly for individuals in older generations.

Those who are 73 or older, as well as those between the ages of 18 and 24, are the most eager to venture out. Nearly 44% and 42 percent, respectively, say they’d be comfortable visiting a store less than a month after its reopening. It’s the highest of any age group, and it compares with just 3 in 10 millennials who say they’d be willing to venture out within a month of a firm’s reopening.

At the same time, about 17% of those aged 73 or older won’t feel comfortable going to a store unless there’s a vaccine or the virus is contained, compared with 5% of those between the ages of 18 and 24.

When it comes to in-person trips, more americans plan to visit less Once Americans do return to stores, they aren’t expecting to shop in-person as much as they did before the outbreak began. More than 2 in 5 (or 43 percent) say they expect to shop less at brick-and-mortar locations once businesses reopen. Another 42% expect to stick to the same routine, while 5% say they

are going to ramp up their visits.

All of this foreshadows a continued slump in sales for traditional in-person retailers, long after the restrictions end.

That doesn’t bode well for growth moving forward, given that spending makes up twothirds of the economy.

“Nobody consumes as reliably as the American consumer. You give them a dollar, they will spend it,” says Michael Farr, president and CEO of Farr, Miller & Washington, a D.C.-based investment management firm.

“But if they feel threatened going to the marketplace, that’s going to stop a certain number of trips, and that’s going to lower consumer spending. Consumption is about 70% of GDP. It’s hard to grow your economy when two-thirds of it can’t support it.”

Reopening america’s businesses While more than half (or 55 percent) think local businesses are opening too soon, nearly a quarter (or 23 percent) say the timing is just about right. That compares with 9% who say it’s too late, and 13% who don’t know.

Women are more inclined to think it’s too soon for businesses to reopen, with 61% saying it’s too early compared to 49% of men. At the same time, 62% of baby boomers (those between ages 56-74) say it’s too soon to open the economy, versus 48% of those in Generation Z (individuals between the ages of 18-23).

“While governments are giving the goahead to Americans to venture out of their homes to resume a semblance of their lives before the lockdowns, a majority believe this is happening too soon,” Hamrick says.

Three-fourths of democrats say it’s too soon to reopen The coronavirus pandemic has become as much of a hot-button political issue as it has been a health concern, with red and blue states disagreeing on when and how to reopen.

Georgia garnered national attention May 1 after Republican Gov. Brian Kemp spearheaded an aggressive reopening, letting the state’s stay-at-home order expire on April 30.

As a result, businesses including hair salons, gyms, bowling alleys and theaters were permitted to open up with certain social-distancing restrictions. As of May 15, a total of 32 states have begun a partial reopening, eight are reopening parts of the state, and six are on their way toward reopening. Anti-lockdown protestors have gathered at capitals across the

US consumer confidence stabilized in May on reopening optimism

by Katia Dmitrieva and Elizabeth Dexheimer

U.S. consumer confidence stabilized in May, indicating Americans are optimistic that the economic drubbing from the coronavirus pandemic will be short-lived.

The Conference Board’s index rose by 0.9 point to 86.6, according to a report issued Tuesday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists had called for a reading of 87.

The group’s subindex Economy of expectations, based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions, rose for a second month to 96.9.

Attitudes about the present situation dropped by 1.9 points to 71.1, the lowest since 2013, as the proportion rating business conditions

as bad rose to the highest since 1983.

“While the decline in confidence appears to have stopped for the moment, the uneven path to recovery and potential second wave are likely to keep a cloud of uncertainty hanging over consumers’ heads,” Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, said in a statement.

U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, reaching the highest since early March, as investors speculated the worst of the pandemic’s damage to the global economy has passed.

The share of respondents expecting better business conditions in six months improved to a record 43.3%, while the proportion expecting more jobs was down slightly to 39.3%.

But just 14% of respondents said they

expected their incomes to increase in the next six months, the smallest share since 2013.

“Consumers remain concerned about their financial prospects,” Franco said.

While states are letting businesses reopen and Americans are starting to venture out again, confidence will be highly dependent on how well the coronavirus is contained and whether there’s a second wave of infections.

Economists expect a significant pick-up in activity in the third quarter, but a return to normal is still nowhere in sight as tens of millions of Americans are out of work and schools remain closed, with no vaccine or significant treatment yet available for COVID-19. ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

country, including in Illinois and Michigan, two of the four states that remain closed.

One argument favors opening the country to prevent further economic peril, suggesting businesses are capable of enforcing social-distancing restrictions. Others have advocated in favor of keeping the economy operating at a reduced capacity to prevent the virus from spreading more.

“There are folks who’ve made the economic argument to say that the economic damage done here will likely cause as much harm to human suffering as the disease may itself,” Farr says.

Bankrate’s survey underscored that deepening political divide, with Republicans and Democrats divided on every issue when it comes to staging a reopening. More than half (or 56 percent) of Republicans are ready to visit stores within a month of their reopening, compared with 20% of Democrats. At the same time, 75% of Democrats say opening the U.S. economy between now and the end of Memorial Day would be too soon, compared with 35% of Republicans.

Half of u.S. Households experiencing financial pain from pandemic But consumer spending is just as much about willingness to spend as it is ability, and Bankrate’s survey shows that both have been sapped by the pandemic.

Half of U.S. households in Bankrate’s nationwide poll say they or a family member has experienced financial harm from the outbreak, with the most common reasons being a layoff or furlough (19 percent), hours reduction (20 percent), or pay cut (16 percent).

It comes at a time when more than 36.7 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the week of March 13, when President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency to crack down on the virus’ spread. Meanwhile, businesses have cut more than 21 million jobs since March, the Labor Department’s April employment report showed. Joblessness has surged to levels not seen since the Great Depression, after holding at near half-century lows just two months earlier.

Experts foresee unemployment remaining elevated for years to come, prolonging the financial pain respondents pointed out in Bankrate’s survey.

Bottom line Given that fears of a second wave are at the top of many Americans’ minds, the coronavirus pandemic is unlikely to leave the national conversation anytime soon.

Bankrate’s survey suggests political parties couldn’t be more divided as the 2020 presidential race heats up, a high-stakes election for both sides come November.

“The nation’s political divide is in full view here with 3 of 4 Democrats saying it is too soon to be reopening businesses compared to about 1 in 3 Republicans,” Hamrick says.

President Trump released reopening guidelines for states in mid-April, laying out three phases and suggesting governors should kick-start the process once there’s been a 14-day period in which the number of new coronavirus cases have declined.

Online stores will likely have a competitive edge, given that Americans won’t have to contend with fears of catching the virus if they shop from home. But that might not be enough to fill the gap as hotels, airlines, Continued on page 19.

14

• MAY 29, 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.

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 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 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 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), GREGORY A FIRESTIEN & MARY R FIRESTIEN You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 12/22/2019 on Case Number CI19-28259, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $1,666.88, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 07/12/2020 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly.

CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 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

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 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 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

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 29, 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 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 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 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 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

15

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 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 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF KING BENEFIT SOLUTIONS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that King Benefit 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 9507 South 28th Avenue, Bellevue, Nebraska 68147 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 29, 2020, final June 12, 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

16

• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

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

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 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 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 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 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

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

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 4TBIZ, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 4TBiz, 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 13410 Blondo Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68164 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 29, 2020, final June 12, 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

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF AFTERIFY, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Afterify, 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 15113 Elmwood Drive, Bennington, Nebraska 68007 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 29, 2020, final June 12, 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

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 ALD PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ALD Properties, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1328 S. 208th Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O., 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on May 21, 2020.

First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020

ANDREW J. HUBER, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF VX, 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 VX, LLC. The initial designated office is 1011 North 128th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on May 22, 2020 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020 ANDREW J. HUBER, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF VK, 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 VK, LLC. The initial designated office is 1011 North 128th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on May 22, 2020 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020 ANDREW J. HUBER, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF VGW, 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 VGW, LLC. The initial designated office is 1011 North 128th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on May 26, 2020 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement.

LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020 MATTHEW WURSTNER, Attorney CARLSON & BURNETT, LLP 17525 Arbor Street Omaha, NE 68130 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HOPE CARE SERVICES, LLC Notice is hereby given that HOPE CARE SERVICES, LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial designated office is 17525 Arbor Street, Omaha, NE 68130. The initial registered agent is Matthew Wurstner, whose address is 17525 Arbor Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.

The purpose of the Company shall be to engage in any lawful business and activity, as may be mutually agreed upon by the Members from time to time, and which are not prohibited by the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The Company commenced with filing its Certificate of Organization on May 22, 2020 and shall have a perpetual period of duration. The Company is to be managed by the Manager of the Company.

The initial Manager and sole member is Kathryn Roberts 5115 N. 138th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68164.

Matthew Wurstner, Organizer First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020 COLIN KASTRICK LEGACY DESIGN STRATEGIES 9859 South 168th Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION 4SA Notice is hereby given that 4SA, a Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation, has been incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its initial registered office at 9859 S 168th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68136, and with its initial agent for service of process and incorporator as Colin Kastrick at 9859 S 168th Avenue, Omaha, NE 68136. 4SA is a mutual benefit corporation and shall have members.

First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 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

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES BARBARA MEDBERY-PRCHAL, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney 10305 Joseph Circle La Vista, Nebraska 68128 JOINT WRITTEN ACTION OF DIRECTOR(S) AND MEMBER(S) OF UNBOXED MINDS, LLC Pursuant to the Statutes of the State of Nebraska, as amended, and all other applicable provisions of the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, as amended, the undersigned, being the only Member and Director of UNBOXED MINDS, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, do, by written action in place of and without a special meeting of either the Board of Directors or the Members of said Company, unanimously act and consent to such action effective on May 1, 2020, as herein noted and recorded: RESOLVED, that all proceedings of the Board of Directors and all acts taken by members of the Board of Directors or by officers of the company, including but not limited to, the payment of salaries and bonuses, borrowing funds and any and all other actions taken by the Directors and officers in carrying on the business of the company since the last meeting of Directors and Members, are hereby ratified and approved in all respects as if all such acts had been duly recorded in minutes subscribed by the Secretary and approved by the Members and Directors.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the sole member, Nick Krecklow, desires to wind up and dissolve the Limited Liability Company. The members hereby unanimously agree to wind up and dissolve UNBOXED MINDS, LLC BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers and directors be, and hereby are, directed to approve of said dissolution, and that the officers of the company be, and they hereby are, generally authorized and directed forthwith to enter into such documentation as may be required for the dissolution and winding up.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers and directors be, and hereby are, authorized and directed to take any and all actions necessary to carry out the intents and purposes of these resolutions; and that all actions heretofore taken in this regard be, and they hereby are, ratified, approved and adopted in all respects.

Nick Krecklow Director, Secretary and Member First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 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 A M E N D M E N T T O T H E A RT I C L E S O F INCORPORATION OF ADULT & PEDIATRIC UROLOGY, P.C. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Articles of Incorporation of Adult & Pediatric Urology, P.C., a Nebraska professional corporation, have been amended to show that the Corporation shall have the authority to issue 10,000 shares of voting common stock and 90,000 shares of nonvoting common stock each with a par value of $0.10. The Articles of Amendment were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on May 22, 2020.

First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020 MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OFAMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF PATRIOT HEALTH WELLNESS COMPANY, 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 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Charred SP LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Charred SP LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 2910 Pine Lake Rd Suite N, Lincoln , NE 68516. The Registered Agent of the Company is Jason Kuhr, 2132 S 181st Circle Omaha, NE 68130.

First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF EMH Studios LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that EMH Studios LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska.

The Designated Office Address of the Company is 2323 S 144th ST STE. 12. The Registered Agent of the Company is Erica Hord, 14602 Gilder Ave., Bennington, NE 68007.

First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: FootSteps Footwear Name of Applicant: Foot and Ankle Center of Nebraska, P.C. Address: 9006 Ohio Street, Suite 1, Omaha, NE 68134 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: Medical services, primarily durable medical goods such as shoes, braces, and inserts ROBERT GREENHAGEN, D.P.M. Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 29, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SKOUT MEDIA, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Skout Media, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, commencing business on April 29, 2020, with its initial designated office at 5806 S. 113th Street, Omaha, NE 68137. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Ryan Pramberg, 5806 S. 113th Street, Omaha, NE 68137.

First publication May 29, 2020, final June 12, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Midwest Limb Preservation Center Name of Applicant: Foot and Ankle Center of Nebraska, P.C. Address: 9006 Ohio Street, Suite 1, Omaha, NE 68134 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: Medical services ROBERT GREENHAGEN, D.P.M. Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 29, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Vein and Vasculsar Institute of Nebraska and Iowa Name of Applicant: Foot and Ankle Center of Nebraska, P.C. Address: 9006 Ohio Street, Suite 1, Omaha, NE 68134 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: Medical/Interventional radiology services ROBERT GREENHAGEN, D.P.M. Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 29, 2020 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Omaha Media Service Pros Name of Applicant: Robert Vanderveen Address: 4452 S. 84th St. Ste. B Omaha, NE 68127 Applicant is an Individual If other than an Individual, state under whose laws entity was formed: N/A Date of first use of name in Nebraska: Upon Filing General nature of business: Website Design & Digital Media Services ROBERT VANDERVEEN Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 29, 2020 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: Skout Media Name of Applicant: Skout Media, LLC Address: 5806 S. 113th Street, Omaha, NE 68137 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: 4/26/2020 General nature of business: Media company for producing podcast and other social media materials.

JANAE HOFER Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative May 29, 2020

17

Instagram will help its stars make more money, taking on YouTube

by Sarah Frier

Instagram will let creators profit directly from their videos, helping popular users generate more revenue during the COVID-19 crisis, while moving into more direct competition with YouTube.

Starting next week, Instagram will show ads before clips that run on its IGTV service for longer-form videos. The company plans to share 55% of the revenue with creators, the same portion that YouTube gives its stars.

The company will also start testing a way for users to sell digital badges in their live videos. If viewers buy a badge, their names will stand out among fans’ comments, designating them as supporters. The video host will receive all the money directly for the first few months of the test, until Instagram starts taking a share of the revenue later this year or in 2021, Instagram Social Media said.

Influencers with large fan bases typically make their money from deals with brands to post about their products or events, negotiated without Instagram’s involvement. But some of that business has dried up during the pandemic lockdown. Travel influencers, for instance, aren’t being paid to stay in resorts while using certain brands.

“This has been a trying time, where creators have been there for their fans,” said Justin Osofsky, Instagram chief operating officer. “It’s a time of uncertainty with less paid work generally.”

But the move isn’t just to support influencers -- it’s for Instagram and parent Facebook Inc. to make money off a surge in attention. As people shelter in their homes, they’re on Instagram more than ever, with views of live videos surging 70% from February to March, the company said in a blog post. Still, stars had less incentive to create interesting clips, because there were more ways to make money on YouTube. Now Instagram will have a new way to retain this digital talent, while building another source of revenue.

The video ads start after users click a 15-second video preview in their main Instagram feed and are taken to IGTV to watch the full clip. This design gives creators an incentive to make more compelling videos to entice users to jump over to IGTV. The effort could make Instagram a bigger contributor to Facebook’s overall sales. In 2019, Instagram’s advertising accounted for about a quarter of Facebook’s revenue, or roughly $20 billion, people familiar with the matter have said.

Instagram, founded almost 10 years ago, long debated whether to become a direct source of income for its popular users. But now, with much of the world sheltering in place, it has become even more obvious that some users are building businesses from their Instagram content -without the company’s help. Creators have turned to the app to recreate experiences they might have otherwise hosted in person, some accepting tips via Venmo, or relying on outside services like Patreon to make money from their fan bases.

Instagram sees an opportunity to handle some of this commerce itself. Food influencers are doing home cooking classes; illustrators are teaching followers how to draw; music artists are going live from their living rooms. Now, their audiences can pay to support these efforts with badges at three different price points: 99 cents, $1.99 and $4.99. The badges only last for the duration of the video.

“We’re hoping badges will be a tool to support a broad range of uses,” Osofsky said. But, he emphasized, it’s a test and the plan could change. “We’re definitely in the early days.” ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

18

• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

More people could be working from home postpandemic; those returning to the office will see plenty of changes

by Kenneth R. Gosselin

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only changing the configuration of offices as employers seek to safeguard the health of their workers, but it also is raising questions about the long-term place of the office in commerce.

The virus outbreak has forced entire employee populations to work from home.

And as workers settle into that rhythm, it is uncertain how many will actually need to report to the office five days a week after a coronavirus vaccine Workplace is found.

Jeff Ziplow, a partner at accounting and consulting firm BlumShapiro, said the pandemic is almost certain to accelerate telecommuting, already enjoying increased acceptance for all or portions of a work week.

“There is going to be a place for an office, but it’s going to be a lot smaller,” Ziplow said. “We can be looking at different ways to transact business. Many organization are going to rethink: ‘Do I really need this amount of office space?’”

Not everyone agrees. Commercial real estate brokers say until there a vaccine is developed, there will be an appetite for telecommuting.

“But there are two large occupiers in our market that are going through campus renovations that include putting their people in denser environments, and neither of those firms has wavered from their plans due to COVID-19,” said Patrick Mulready, senior vice president at CBRE in Hartford, the commercial real estate services firm. “ So I don’t see a seismic shift in how companies occupy office space long term.”

Office leasing is seen as a key barometer of economic health and employment growth.

In downtown Hartford, an uptick in office leasing in the last year is seen as integral to the city’s revitalization and Hartford taking its place, though a latecomer, in the country’s “back-to-cities” urbanization movement.

In the last five years, downtown has added hundreds of new apartments a year, UConn opened a regional campus at Front Street and the Yard Goats successfully settled into a new minor-league ballpark.

This week, the state is taking the first, tentative steps toward reopening its economy beyond essential workers: outdoor dining at restaurants, outdoor museums and zoos – and offices. Offices can only bring back up to 50% of their workers but the state is still encouraging working at home whenever possible.

For office workers who do return, they will likely enter spaces radically altered from those they left in March, well beyond wearing a face mask and keeping six feet apart.

Changing office design In recent years, office design had moved to open floor plans accommodating more people in less space, using shared workstations and more collaborative areas.

But the pandemic suddenly has many employers rethinking that move – and how to spread people apart to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.

Employers are considering plexiglass “cough dividers” like those in the grocery store. Many are installing decals on the floor to direct employees to move in one direction to avoid face-to-face contact. Cleaning may

happen more frequently and not just at night.

Rita Joy, director of client development at Interscape Commercial Environments in Farmington, said in a recent webinar on the future of office space that employers will have to stagger workstations, either removing every other one or taping them up so no one sits next to each other.

Collaborative areas, often used for brainstorming, will likely be used as work areas, and seats are coming out of conference rooms, Joy said.

“Where conference rooms once held 12, now it’s just going to hold six and we might be putting up a plexiglass screen down the middle of the conference room table to help protect people who are across from each other,” Joy said.

When buying new furniture, companies are likely to consider the cleaning of coverings, Joy said.

“We had a client, we were working with them on a new order of furniture and, at the very last minute, when this COVID happened, they switched their fabric to a bleach-cleanable fabric,” Joy said. “We’re going to see a lot more of that – anti-microbial fabric and furniture, non-porous, solid surfaces.”

Few quick returns In the Hartford area, insurance giant Travelers Cos. has about 7,000 employees, the majority of them in downtown Hartford. The company does not expect a quick return of workers, certainly not in the first few weeks.

“I think a good description is: if you have a dimmer switch in your dining room, it’s like we’re going to turn the dimmer switch up a little bit at a time, a little bit,” Andy Bessette, executive vice president and chief administrative officer, said. “We’re not just going to flip the switch on and have everyone come back in because we are successful working from home these days, so there’s no real rush to do it.”

Of the 7,000 employees in the Hartford area, about 1,200 already have some kind of telecommuting arrangement with the insurer, allowing them to work remotely from one to five days a week.

While a COVID-19 vaccine is still under development, the number of workers returning to the office is not likely to rise above 50% – and long-term that may mean more employees with telecommuting agreements.

“Do I think we will have some additional people working from home? Yes, I do,” Bessette said. “But I think there is an importance of a company having people come into the office at some point, for a lot of different reasons, for meetings and comaraderie” and collaboration that is best done face-to-face.

Some of the spontaneity of brainstorming and innovation could be lost with more people working remotely, Ziplow said, but he also says a new “watercooler” could be created with ongoing online chat rooms.

“On a regular basis, people respond to those ideas, and the chatting back and forth reimagines how we can invigorate those types of discussions without being at the

watercooler,” Ziplow said.

Urban centers In 2015, Boston-based Paradigm Properties bought downtown Hartford’s CityPlace I, the state’s tallest office building and the firm’s first purchase in Connecticut.

Five years ago, Paradigm saw the seeds of revitalization taking root and the recent increase in office leasing, boosted by corporate moves from the suburbs and encouraging deals from companies outside of Connecticut, was an encouraging sign.

Increasingly, employers have sought to establish locations near where their desired workforce – the millennial generation in recent years – has wanted to be and that has been urban centers.

Paradigm chief executive Kevin McCall said office markets in Hartford and elsewhere are in uncertainty amid the pandemic.

Will companies need more space per employee to spread out? Will downtown tenants want satellite offices in the suburbs? Will companies want less space because more employees will work remotely?

“In the office markets, we are definitely going to see anecdotal evidence of all those possibilities,” McCall said. “But I think the desire to live and/or work in active, exciting urban environments is part of the DNA of millennials. I think that will win out over the competing possibilities.” ©2020 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Life on the front lines of the federal small business loan program

by Mike Wagner

There was the owner of a food safety company who was hours away from telling some of his employees they were out of a job.

There was the owner of a time-keeping company whose business was headed for collapse because there were no more high school sporting events.

Small Business And there was the crying restaurant owner with 50 employees at two locations who likely would have closed both.

They are among the thousands of small business owners who for weeks were keeping Bryan Brzozowski up at night — them and the coffee he was consuming like water to power through his work.

They are the people he and his Columbus-based team at J.P. Morgan Chase helped secure loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, the federal government’s coronavirus relief program.

Saving them from financial hardship became Brzozowski’s obsession. He feared letting someone down.

And no matter what the circumstances, he often would blame himself if someone didn’t qualify for a loan.

His wife at one point even hid his phone to save Brzozowski from himself.

“These were life-saving loans, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher,” said Brzozowski, a business relationship manager for Chase. “I was an emotional wreck, but it wasn’t about me. It was a rush to the finish line to make sure their businesses stayed alive and the people they employed came out of this with their jobs.”

The Paycheck Protection Program was established by Congress in late March after many businesses were ordered to shut down because

of the coronavirus pandemic. It was designed to allow businesses to keep making payroll for an eight-week period.

But the loan process was chaos for thousands of businesses and bankers like Brzozowski, who scrambled to collect the proper documentation needed to apply and keep up with the rules that seemed to change daily.

The system went live April 3, and the first $350 billion was gone in a matter of days, shutting out thousands of businesses.

About three weeks later, Congress designated an additional $310 billion for the program, setting off another race for bankers to secure loans for desperate businesses. This time there was a little less confusion but no less pressure on the banks, both big and small.

Ohio and many other states have begun to reopen their economies, but more than 36 million people across the country have lost their jobs since the pandemic began.

“It was heartbreaking to listen to the despair from some of the businesses,” said Jenny Saunders, president of FCBank in Worthington. “The first round was frantic and everyone was afraid the money would run out. We would have to call people back again and again and say, ‘Now we need this documentation or this paperwork,’ and so many people didn’t have it. It was frustrating for all. We were trying to build the airplane and fly it at the same time.”

But Saunders and her 40 employees helped hundreds of businesses stay afloat by securing PPP loans.

Saunders had one new client who owned 19 restaurants and needed $1 million to continue paying her employees. Saunders remembers the business owner’s emotional plea for help on a Friday. Then they couldn’t get into the system to file the loan application on Saturday. They

were helping other clients on Sunday. Then on Monday the application was filed and the restaurant owner was approved the same day for the loan. About 10 days later, the restaurant owner received the money.

“I know bankers get a bad rap at times, but there are thousands of bankers across the country doing whatever they can to help people,” Saunders said. “We are trying to keep the economy going.”

There is still PPP money available from the second round of funding, and bankers continue to help businesses qualify for the loans.

Chase Business Banking alone estimates it will fund more than $30 billion under the PPP for more than 250,000 loans, helping at least 3 million employees.

In just Ohio, Chase has helped 7,100 businesses at an average loan size of $159,000 totaling about $1.1 billion, according to Chase Business Banking.

Much of the PPP chaos has subsided, but Brzozowski isn’t done helping his clients secure the loans. He understands why some who didn’t get the loans earlier in the process sent him angry emails or blamed him. He took it personally when his clients didn’t get the money they needed.

“There were some rough emails for sure and a feeling some times that I let them down,” Brzozowski said. “It was an emotional roller coaster for all of us, but I’m proud of how many people Chase was able to push across the finish line.”

Brzozowski’s wife even gave him his phone back. ©2020 The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

Authorities say COVID-19 scams spreading

by Jim Spencer

The claim was at least unique. A Minnesota chiropractic practice said it had a way to help patients fight off COVID-19 infection.

No long after he heard about it, state Attorney General Keith Ellison sent a letter ordering the spine adjusting business to stop advertising the coronavirus treatment or face court action.

Then, he moved on to the Trends next get-rich-quick scam.

Suspect cures and price gouging on short supplies have become a game of Whac-A-Mole for state and federal regulators and some businesses during the pandemic.

From Jan. 1 to May 18, the Federal Trade Commission fielded more than 28,000 COVID-19 fraud claims. The FTC consumer blog now carries warnings about text message

scams involving COVID-19 contact tracing and what to do if your nursing home or assisted living facility took your stimulus check.

The wave of unethical and potentially criminal business strategies spills over on the private sector. Minnesota-based 3M has filed 10 lawsuits trying to stop businesses from using its name to sell millions of overpriced or nonexistent N95 masks that filter 95% of coronavirus molecules.

Federal prosecutors announced criminal charges Tuesday in the first of those 10 lawsuits.

The government arrested New Jersey used car salesman Ronald Romano for allegedly conspiring to charge desperate New York City officials 400% of the list price for millions of 3M masks that he had no access to and was not authorized to market.

Prosecutors say Romano fabricated a letter that said he had permission to sell 3M personal protective equipment and lied about a sale of masks to a public agency in Florida to try to make his case.

The severity of the pandemic leads to many more acts of selflessness and humanitarianism than crime, Ellison said.

“But we have seen some truly scurrilous behavior. What are the scruples of someone who goes into Target, buys every roll of toilet paper and tries to sell it on eBay for $5 a roll?”

The unprecedented nature of the crisis justifies, if not motivates, some of the bad actors, explained Katherina Pattit, who chairs the department of ethics and business law at University of St. Thomas’ Opus College of Business.

“An environment of ambiguity and un-

Corn prices keep slumping, and farmers keep planting more

by Adam Belz

Corn farmers are throwing another government-backed Hail Mary this year, planting more of the crop than in 2019 even though prices are near the bottom of a six-year slump.

“They call it plant and pray,” said Al Kluis, a commodities broker in Wayzata. “What you want is a disaster in some other part of the Corn Belt or some Agriculture other country.”

Favorable weather in April helped most Minnesota farmers get corn in the ground faster than last year, when a wet spring kept them out of some fields until June and some cornfields were never planted.

But despite all those problems, the 2019 crop yielded the sixth-largest harvest of all time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture now projects a record corn harvest in 2020.

“We have no problem producing the crop,” said Brian Thalmann, a farmer near Plato and president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. “We’ve had seven years now of steadily increasing production, and we’ve never had that before.”

Demand can’t keep up with supply. Corn futures hovered around $3.15 per bushel last week, nearly a dollar less than a year ago.

Farmers came into the spring with a large inventory of corn in storage, and demand for the commodity has been hit on multiple fronts since the onset of coronavirus.

Ethanol plants have shuttered due to decisions by the Trump administration to exempt oil companies from ethanol standards and, more recently, the cratered demand for all types of fuel caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ethanol production is running at about 70% of

Merck joins the race to develop coronavirus vaccines and therapies

by Marie McCullough

Merck, a global leader in vaccine development, is joining the frenzied rush to vanquish the coronavirus, announcing Tuesday that it is working on two vaccine candidates and a potential drug therapy.

Merck, which is headquartered in New Jersey and has several facilities in Pennsylvania, is backing two Health Care vaccines that involve genetically engineering an inactivated virus as a vehicle to deliver proteins that provoke an immune response to the coronavirus.

Merck has acquired Vienna-based Themis, which is using a weakened strain of the measles virus as the delivery vehicle. Merck is also partnering with IAVI, a nonprofit research organization, on a coronavirus vaccine that uses VSV (vesicular stomatitis virus) as the delivery vehicle. VSV is the same technology on which Merck’s Ebola vaccine is built.

Both experimental immunizations are completing testing in animals, and should begin human testing later this year, Merck said in news releases.

Merck is also collaborating with Miami-based Ridgeback Biotherapeutics on an oral antiviral treatment that was invented at Emory University and has undergone initial human safety tests.

“COVID-19 is an enormous scientific, medical, and global health challenge. Merck

is collaborating with organizations around the globe to develop anti-infectives and vaccines that aim to alleviate suffering caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection,” Roger M. Perlmutter, president of Merck Research Laboratories, said in a statement.

Around the world, research is hurtling forward on more than 150 vaccines and 350 drugs intended to relieve the pandemic’s devastation.

Merck had been conspicuously absent from the list of developers, including Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Moderna, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, and research centers such as Philadelphia-based Wistar Institute and Thomas Jefferson University. But with more than 125 years at the scientific forefront and breakthroughs such as the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, Merck is a noteworthy addition.

New vaccines traditionally take a decade or more to come to market, from invention to approval to mass production. Nonetheless, experts have said a coronavirus vaccine using some of the latest technologies might be available by mid-2021.

Perlmutter sounded more cautious in an interview with STAT News. “I think the clinical development is going to take longer than people imagine,” he said. “And I hate to sound what some people may regard as a sour note, but I don’t want to overpromise.” ©2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

capacity, Kluis said.

Meanwhile, the shutdown of restaurants and idling of meatpacking plants that have led to farmers euthanizing chickens and hogs means the need for corn to feed livestock will probably drop about 20%.

“Usually the cure for low prices is low prices, but that’s only true if demand improves with lower prices,” Kluis said. “Right now we have the worst of all worlds.”

Yet farmers have upped their corn acres.

That’s partly because they invested in seed, fertilizer and other inputs before the heavy impact of coronavirus was known, said Mike Peterson, a farmer near Northfield.

“Part of it is your guarantee on your revenue, part of it is your crop rotation, and just the general economics of a lot of this land is leased, you’ve got to try to be productive somehow,” he said. “Farmers are trying to be optimistic that prices will recover.”

Peterson planted 400 acres of corn this spring. He acknowledged that the best thing for Minnesota corn farmers would be a weather catastrophe in some other part of the Corn Belt or Brazil or Argentina.

“That’s a disheartening part about production agriculture right now, is you only really have success if some other farmer has a bad year,” he said.

The problem of corn oversupply can’t be solved by any one farmer, Peterson said.

“It’s economic suicide to try to fix the supply issue yourself,” he said. “You’re not going to drive by acres that aren’t producing anything, and there’s just not another crop out there. Corn and soybeans are our choices. I think we do need more diverse cropping practices and more diverse markets, I really do.”

Thalmann said farmers are investing in and hoping for a payoff from research into new uses for corn, such as corn-based plastics.

Ultimately government support is what makes corn-growing tenable, if not necessarily profitable. The most recent Farm Bill includes something called price loss coverage which pays farmers the difference when the average corn price falls below a certain level.

Also, crop insurance, which is 60% taxpayer subsidized, sets guaranteed revenue for corn at $3.88 per bushel this year.

“Without crop insurance, there’s not a bank around that would loan any money to a farmer,” Thalmann said. ©2020 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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certainty is a prime breeding ground for these behaviors,” she said.

People tend to do what others around them do. For instance, if no one else is throwing their trash on the ground, you tend not to litter. For most Americans, Pattit said, the current crisis is far “outside of any known range of behavior.”

In other words, where unique circumstances require new social and cultural norms, moral compasses can send people off in all kinds of directions.

The most prevalent coronavirus scam complaints in Minnesota center on websites selling products that never get delivered and sketchy COVID cures, Ellison said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to 54 companies for selling or promoting the sale of “fraudulent products with claims to prevent, treat, mitigate, diagnose or cure coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).”

The list includes everything from liquid dietary supplements infused with bits of silver to CBD, the pain relief element in marijuana, to a coronavirus prevention nasal spray.

The companies receiving warning letters include marketers of holistic health cures, such as “essential oils” and herbal remedies, as well as the television show of televangelist Jim Bakker and the radio broadcast of right wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

A wide range of people can convince themselves to trade on tragedy through a process called “moral disengagement,” said Michelle Duffy, chair of the department of work and organizations at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.

“While some people are more likely to disengage morally than others, the tendency is in all of us,” Duffy said. “And some situations can make this more likely to happen.

A loss of control is one of those situations.

Stay-at-home orders and other pandemic dictates took away control.

Duffy deconstructed attempts to trade on Continued on page 22.

Majority of Americans believe it’s too soon Continued from page 13. restaurants and cruise lines all feel a squeeze.

With many Americans still feeling financial pains from the shutdowns, they might not have the wherewithal to spend at the usual pace.

No one knows how long the current downturn will last, meaning it’s crucial to seek out ways to control the controllable and prepare your finances.

Cushioning your finances for a downturn includes building up your emergency savings and chipping away at high-cost credit card debt.

“We all want to be armchair experts about what we think is going to happen, but the real truth is, we don’t have any idea,” Farr says. “As long as we see that it’s an unknowable unknown, we can figure out ways to proceed.”

Methodology Bankrate.com commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,341 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken May 5-6, 2020. The survey was carried out online and meets rigorous quality standards. It employed a non-probability based sample using both quotas upfront during collection and then a weighting scheme on the back end designed and proven to provide nationally representative results. ©2020 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

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IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

JUNE 5

HEALTH & WELLNESS

SUSTAINABILITY

JUNE 12

ARCHITECTURE

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

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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 Business updates…

To meet the needs of job seekers, the Greater Omaha Chamber teamed up with The Startup Collaborative to develop an interactive employment and community-resource tool for those surprised by job loss. The no-cost, Resource Guide for Job Seekers, provides a positive first step for the newly unemployed, walking users through needs-based scenarios designed to connect individuals with community resources and opportunities. In addition to the Resource Guide for Job Seekers, the Greater Omaha Chamber also offers a COVID-19 Crisis Response Resource guide.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has developed the Pandemic Recovery Acceleration Model designed to assist public and private sector leadership in assessing the regional and statewide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and making informed decisions about social distancing and other key pandemic response measures.

The model provides daily assessments of the regional specific impact of COVID-19 and availability of medical resources across Nebraska, helping officials make real-time decisions about appropriate resources and recovery steps for their communities.

Wells Fargo & Company has received an “Outstanding” rating for Nebraska from the Community Reinvestment Act. Wells Fargo also received a national rating of “Outstanding” from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Wells Fargo’s most recent CRA rating covers the years 2012 to 2018. Specifically, in Nebraska, Wells Fargo received an “Outstanding” rating on the Lending Test, a “High Satisfactory” rating on the investment test and an “Outstanding” rating on the service test.

Briefs…

Werner Enterprises has announced Werner EDGE, the company’s commitment to technology and innovation. With this announcement, the company pledges to develop new solutions and offerings that enrich experiences for both associates and customers and optimize the entire ecosystem. First to launch within Werner EDGE are three new solutions built to enrich the performance and safety of professional drivers on and off the road. Innovations include: An untethered, tablet-based telematics solution; critical event management; and breakdown management.

Landscapes Golf Management will partner with four new clients. The new courses are Greeley Country Club located in Greeley, Colorado; Crystal Woods Golf Club located in Woodstock, Illinois; The Nebraska Club located in Lincoln, Nebraska and Brandon Golf Club located in Brandon, South Dakota.

These new partnerships span Landscapes’ wide range of service offerings from full management at Greeley Country Club and The Nebraska Club, to consulting at Brandon Golf Club, and Landscapes Select at Crystal Woods Golf Club.

LTi Technology Solutions announced that ConServ Capital is now live on ASPIRE. To advance its mission of providing flexible financing solutions for business owners and vendors in the Southeastern United States, ConServ selected LTi and its cloud-based solution, ASPIRE powered by LTiCloud to support its business. With a complete and integrated suite of applications to manage its business, ConServ will be able to streamline workflows, increase automation, and expand

organizational growth.

The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs has implemented a new live chat feature on its website to allow veterans to connect with a state veteran service officer virtually. Accredited VSOs are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., to assist veterans with filing first and supplemental claims, appealing USVA decisions, answering questions regarding pending claims, and providing appropriate USVA forms and assisting with completing them.

Zoup! Eatery, the fast-casual restaurant known for its wide variety of soups and broths, has stirred up quite a following over the years.

Now, Omaha residents will get to taste it for themselves as Jeff Hansen, an Omaha native, brings the popular concept to life at its newest location in the Aksarben Village on the first floor of the HDR building. Opening on July 20, the Omaha Zoup! Eatery is among the first locations to feature a full brand refresh, new menu innovation and a complete restaurant redesign created for an engaging customer experience.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the allocation of $4,770,755 to communities in Nebraska included in a third wave in CARES Act coronavirus relief funding totaling $1 billion through its Community Development Block Grant program. The targeted allocation of the $1 billion in CDBG funding will provide financial assistance to help communities support: Assistance for low-income individuals, elderly persons, and needy children; families and entities impacted by economic and housing market disruptions; efforts to reduce risk of transmission and number of coronavirus cases.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued targeted guidance and reminders that provide states with details regarding required integrity functions for their regular unemployment compensation programs, as well as those authorized by Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, in UIPL 23-20. The guidance aims to help states guard against fraud and abuse of their unemployment insurance systems. Guidance is online.

The National Association of Women in Construction Midwest Region announced the MWR 2020 Membership & Marketing Video Contest Winner. NAWIC Greater Omaha Chapter 116 claims the top prize for the second year in a row with their latest video titled “I Wonder if Girls Could do That? YOU CAN!” The national NAWIC 2020 Video Marketing & Membership Contest was launched to encourage all NAWIC chapters to use videos as marketing and membership tools. Each of the eight NAWIC Regions selects one winner from among the entries submitted by chapters in its region, and then submits that entry to compete for the national awards.

Chasers Charities announced the 2020 recipients of the annual Robinson Athletic Scholarship, presented by The Weitz Company. Livia McFadden from Omaha Northwest High School and Nolan Christianson from Omaha Burke High School will each receive $1,000 scholarships, which will be paid directly to their future academic institutions. McFadden and Christianson ranked near the top of their classes academically while engaging Continued on next page.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

21

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. in multiple activities at their respective high schools. McFadden, a senior softball captain at Northwest, plans to attend South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D., and study pre-nursing.

Christianson also intends to pursue a career in nursing while playing baseball collegiately at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.

The Greater Omaha Chamber released Monthly Economic Indicators for March 2020, noting regional commercial construction “rose in March, with two times more construction than last year.” New home construction was also up over 2019, with March 2020 permit values at $43 million. The Chamber’s business intelligence team noted the emerging impact of COVID-19 was beginning to show in regional unemployment, which rose to “3.6%, but continues to be below the [March] U.S. unemployment rate (4.1%).”

The Associated General Contractors of America is launching a new, nationwide program designed to help expand the diversity of the industry by making job sites more inclusive. The new program, called Culture of CARE (commit, attract, retain and empower), is designed to help firms create more welcoming workplace environments for staff, particularly those from diverse demographic backgrounds. The new Culture of CARE program calls on construction firms to sign a pledge to create more welcoming and inclusive workplace cultures. After firms sign the pledge, the association will work to provide training and suggested human resource practices.

Roger and Chris Stout-Hazard, the interior design duo behind Roger & Chris, have opened their first retail location in Omaha.

Originally planning to open in early April, the launch was put on hold once the pandemic hit in March. Appointments can be made by phone, text, or email. There will be a maximum of two people allowed per visit, allowing shoppers to explore at their own pace in a safe environment. Roger & Chris have also decided to debut their line of decor and accessories online in light of recent events.

R&R Realty Group announced the addition of several features designed to create a uniquely healthy environment inside its newest office building. The Waterford Building, a 180,000-square-foot office development is currently under construction at the intersection of 192nd Street and West Dodge Road in Omaha. The building is expected to be one of the first projects under development to respond to the current Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on workplaces. R&R is focusing its efforts on four targeted areas, including: Air quality; creating a touchless environment; germ-resistant materials; and technology.

Health care notes…

Protecting lungs from risks such as chemicals and dust is critical to keeping agricultural producers healthy. Despite current shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers and agricultural workers still need respiratory protection for many tasks in agriculture. The Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, in partnership with the Ag Safety and Health Alliance and the High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety have developed recommendations for conserving respiratory inventory while supplies are limited. The guide can be found on UNMC’s website.

The University of Nebraska Medical

Center’s Simulation in Motion-Nebraska program recently held three virtual training events attended by more than 600 providers.

In April, SIM-NE held COVID-19 training related to patient surge preparation, leadership and the rapidly changing rural health care environment. The trainings, conducted via Facebook Live, included presentations, panel discussions and question and answer sessions.

The UNMC iEXCEL visualization team created the training in cooperation with the Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center at UNMC. The video is archived on Facebook. SIMNE is a mobile training system that provides free statewide training.

Assisted Living Locators launched its franchise in Omaha and Council Bluffs.

Assisted Living Locators provides the full continuum of care offering free guidance in locating quality assisted living and in-home care options throughout the eastern Omaha and southwest Iowa region. The new franchise owner is Council Bluffs resident Jean Bohnker. Bohnker will helping seniors and their families during the coronavirus pandemic by offering an easy-to-use, online assessment tool, virtual consultations with families and online tours of senior communities.

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute announced the signing of a new Institutional Affiliation Agreement to further strengthen their longstanding collaboration and improve care, education and research for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the state of Nebraska and beyond. This new agreement specific to MMI and Children’s aims to enhance and expand genetics, developmental/ behavioral pediatrics, behavioral health and primary care medical home services provided in Nebraska and across the region. This IAA lives under the larger “umbrella” of a Master Affiliation Agreement between Children’s and UNMC.

Education notes…

The Rev. Roy Pereira, SJ, who is currently serving as the Anna and Donald Waite Endowed Chair in Jesuit Education, has been named the new Charles and Mary Heider Endowed Jesuit Faculty Chair at Creighton University effective July 1. Pereira came to Creighton in January as the Anna and Donald Waite Endowed Chair in Jesuit Education. The Waite Chair sponsors visiting Jesuits, who pursue writing, research, and teaching from a variety of disciplines. As the Heider Chair, Pereira will join the School of Medicine’s Department of Medical Humanities, while also contributing his experience and expertise in international and study abroad programming with the Global Engagement Office.

College of Saint Mary’s new blended-learning Doctor of Physical Therapy Program has been granted candidacy status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and is taking another important step in the accreditation process. The first cohort of students will begin classes on June 1, 2020.

The Commission’s decision to grant Candidate for Accreditation status is based on the program’s demonstration of satisfactory progress, to date, toward achieving compliance with the standards and required elements.

Metropolitan Community College will launch a series of noncredit and on-demand courses this June specific to blockchain and cryptocurrency, an emerging technology that many companies are seeking skilled workers

in. The classes are self-paced and entirely online, with career tracks and certification exams offered through the Blockchain Certification Association. Blockchain technology enables businesses to carry out operations more efficiently, by increasing security, creating more transparency, and preventing fraudulent activities. Businesses and organizations in industries such as health care, finance, logistics, retail and government may be seeking to train their employees in this new technology.

Nebraska Shakespeare is offering audiences an opportunity to create, engage and inspire with Shakespeare exclusive content and material. Through a new website and online learning page, the community will experience the culmination of original and national Shakespeare works. Through a new “At Home” page on the website, educators, students, and community members can engage with Shakespearean work from the comfort of their own home. Resources and enhanced content include video’s, study guides, taped performances, and activities. In addition, the ever-popular behindthe-scenes Scholars’ Forum has moved online and will feature staff, artists and special guests discussing an array of topics.

Activities of nonprofits…

The Durham Museum has made the following changes to its temporary exhibition schedule. It remains closed to the public until further notice. “Pulitzer Prize Photographs,” which was on display when the museum closed in March, will be extended through September 20, 2020. “GUITAR: The Instrument that Rocked the World” was originally scheduled for Summer 2020, this exhibit has been rescheduled for Winter/Spring 2021. “Beyond the Vote,” originally scheduled for Summer/ Fall 2020, has been rescheduled for Spring 2021.There has been no change to “The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited” and it will be on display from October 3, 2020 through January 10, 2021.

From April 23-29, 2020, Nonprofit Association of the Midlands conducted a second

pulse poll survey to gauge the evolving effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on Nebraska and Iowa’s nonprofits and the vital programs and services they provide. This was a follow-up to the survey conducted in mid-March 2020 This survey was taken by 231 nonprofit organizations. NAM found that nonprofits are continuing to step up without hesitation to serve their communities, to protect public health, and to support their own employees. The report can be found online.

Appsky has partnered with SHARE Omaha, a local nonprofit that supports hundreds of Omaha nonprofits, for a T-shirt campaign called Do Good for the Good Life. For every T-shirt sold, all of the proceeds will be donated to SHARE Omaha for them to continue providing support to nonprofits. The goal is to sell at least 300 shirts and the campaign ends on June 7.

Arts & events…

Due to current guidance from local and national health officials, as well as an abundance of caution given the changing nature of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Omaha Beer Week has announced that it is officially suspending all plans for 2020. Efforts will begin immediately for Omaha Beer Week 2021, which will take place next spring. The canceling of events for Omaha Beer Week 2020, which was scheduled to take place June 12-21, includes the Omaha Beer Week Craft Beer Bus Tour previously scheduled for Saturday, June 13. Any attendees who purchased tickets for the event will have their purchases refunded. Dates for Omaha Beer Week 2021 will be announced as soon as possible.

The annual Railroad Days event has been canceled due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Lauritzen Gardens, The Durham Museum, Union Pacific Railroad Museum, RailsWest Railroad Museum and the Historic General Dodge House made the difficult decision to cancel the event for the safety of the community. This would have been the 13th year of the event, which welcomes thousands of visitors from across the region.

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS Tuesday, June 2 The Creighton University Heider College of Business, in partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals, is offering a new virtual education opportunity offered free of charge to business professionals of all industries. This session, from noon to 12:30 p.m., will feature Tim McMahon, Ph.D., professor of practice in marketing, who will lead a discussion on maintaining authenticity, transparency and relevance during the ups and downs of business. Registration is online.

NBDC will offer virtual training events throughout the summer to help tech entrepreneurs prepare for pitch events and conferences as well as funding opportunities. Leading research experts from across Nebraska will share insights on emerging trends and needs in agriculture and rural communities during the Opportunities in Agricultural Innovation webinar on June 2. Panelists represent the innovation and research divisions of Nebraska’s Corn Board and Grain Sorghum Board as well as Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Public Power District, and Nebraska Rural Poll. The virtual panel is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and registration is online.

Wednesday, June 3 The West Omaha Chamber and SOLVE are hosting a free virtual training webinar from

11:30 a.m. to noon. This session will cover virtual leadership. This session helps organizational leaders to move beyond the basics and explore how to drive strategy, develop plans, and motivate others from a distance.

Registration is online.

With the advent of the pandemic, the CRE Summit board of directors will offer a refresher and training on the dynamic, structured, and interactive process that is mediation. Mediation experts will talk possible solutions in these disputes so that the landlords, tenants, and lenders can all make it through, without failure or bankruptcy, when the virus subsides.

One hour of continuing education credit will be offered for this training course. Registration for the event, which will take place at noon, is available online.

Thursday, June 4 The Creighton University Heider College of Business, in partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals, is offering a new virtual education opportunity offered free of charge to business professionals of all industries. This session, from noon to 12:30 p.m., will feature Bradley T. Klontz, Psy. D, CFP, who will reveal the seven psychological hacks to help you manage your personal finances and responsibility during this crisis.

Registration is online.

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• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Retailers deemed ‘nonessential’ are in big trouble

by Ben Muessig

U.S. retailers have laid bare the consequences of being deemed “essential” in the COVID-19 pandemic, as sales surged at those allowed to stay open but collapsed at department stores, clothing chains and other outlets forced to fall back on their online operations.

Financial results published this week have demonstrated how sometimes-contentious designations by various U.S. cities and states have influenced Retail billions of dollars’ worth of consumer spending.

Macy’s, Ross Stores and Victoria’s Secret owner L Brands each slumped to a quarterly loss after their stores were closed — in stark contrast to Walmart, which posted its biggest rise in quarterly U.S. sales in 15 years.

“You’ve got a whole slew of retailers whose sales were already slow, and they happened to be nonessential,” said Ken Perkins, head of the research group Retail Metrics. “As if things weren’t trending away from them, this just accelerated it.”

Macy’s warned it was set for a $1 billion quarterly operating loss after the closure of all its approximately 775 stores, including the Bloomingdale’s chain, caused a “precipitous decline” in revenues.

While its balance sheet has been in better shape than peers JCPenney and Neiman Marcus, both of which filed for bankruptcy protection this month, the closures have accelerated a decline at the company. Its total debt has swelled from $4.7 billion to an estimated $5.7 billion over the past year compared to an equity market capitaliation

Yard-sign companies hustle Continued from page 12. ready extend into September.

Amy Strong’s Grounded Greetings has been decorating twice as many yards in a week as it used to in a month.

“Crazy doesn’t begin to describe the situation,” said Strong.

The Waterloo business was even tapped to decorate for a drive-through memorial service at the Monroe County Fairgrounds, planting a “rest in peace” message at the beginning and a “thank you” at the end.

Most of Strong’s signs denote happier events. Kara Taylor called Grounded Greetings when it became obvious her daughter’s college graduation would not be the experience she had imagined.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville online ceremony was nice, but not quite enough to properly mark the occasion.

“She likes it loud,” Taylor said of her daughter. “She likes it big.”

Big enough to see from the street. Last week, Madison Taylor woke up to “Congrats, Maddie!” in front of her Belleville home. Balloons, stars and mortarboards framed the black-and-red message.

Her mom kept the signs an extra day, to maximize the drive-by honks and frontyard photo ops.

“Maddie said, ‘That’s so extra,’” Taylor said. “Coming out of a 22-year-old’s mouth, that’s the perfect compliment.” ©2020 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

of $1.7 billion.

Jeff Gennette, Macy’s chief executive, said business was likely to recover only “gradually.” The group said it had about 190 outlets open and expected another 80 to be up and running this weekend.

Foot Locker on Friday said more than half its 3,100 stores around the world — most of which are in shopping malls — were still closed, as the New York-based company reported a first-quarter net loss of $98 million and a 43% drop in sales to $1.18 billion.

In a sign that some of the effects of the crisis will be lasting, L Brands laid down plans this week to permanently shut 250 Victoria’s Secret stores across North America over the next several months.

Quarterly net sales at the long-struggling company, which temporarily closed all its North America stores in March, dropped 37% from a year ago to $1.65 billion, and it had net losses of $297 million.

The widespread closures have given a huge boost to the handful of companies that have been allowed to stay open by local authorities because they sell food and other “essential” items.

Some of these businesses, including

Target as well as Walmart, also stock a wide range of other goods, and sales at their departments selling more discretionary items from electronics to homewares have also risen.

The latest retailer to report a sales jump was BJ’s Wholesale Club, which has more than 200 membership outlets in the eastern U.S. Lee Delaney, chief executive, said BJ’s had become a “one-stop destination,” helping total revenues leap 21% in the quarter to $3.8 billion. Operating income more than doubled to $144 million.

Declarations by U.S. states and cities over which businesses must close have been contested, and several industry lobby groups fought hard to be given the valuable “essential” designation.

The National Retail Federation called on the White House to intervene, and called for “big box” outlets, among others, to be kept open.

The crisis has accelerated trends that were developing long before the outbreak and is threatening to widen the gulf between winners and losers in retail.

While department store chains and other companies with out-of-favor formats had been floundering long before the out-

break, chains such as Walmart have coped with the rise of e-commerce far better thanks to a mix of convenience and low prices in stores, as well as investments in online operations.

“The divide has really grown,” said Perkins. “It will be interesting to see whether the divide closes as the economy reopens, but it’s unlikely that it’s going to narrow drastically.”

Executives at companies that have outperformed during the pandemic said their successes were in large part due to their own initiative to attract and retain customers, which had often required them to reimagine how they operate.

Best Buy, the electronics chain, closed to in-store customers even in jurisdictions where it was not required to do so but remained opened for curbside collection.

Corie Barry, chief executive, said the company “believed it was the best way at the time to keep our customers and employees as safe as possible.”

First-quarter sales dipped 6% from a year ago to $8.6 billion while net income fell from $265 million to $159 million, yet the declines were less than some analysts expected. ©2020 Los Angeles Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Working from home isn’t enough: These employees can ‘work from wherever’

by Mitchell Schnurman

Place is overrated, or at least the place of the workplace is overrated.

That’s the take from Calvin Carter, founder and CEO of Bottle Rocket, a local firm best known for creating mobile apps and websites for dozens of well-known brands.

Like most tech companies, its 200-plus employees have been working from home for two months, and Carter isn’t eager to bring them back, even to the company’s cool digs in Addison. He’s fine if they never return, as long as they’re producing Workplace great stuff.

Last week, the company adopted a new policy, and for Carter, it wasn’t enough to say they could work from home as long as they wanted. The new motto: “Work from wherever.”

“Who am I to tell you how to do the best work of your life?” Carter said.

For many, that may happen at the corporate office, where impromptu connections and collaborations are part of the routine. For others, it may be a Starbucks or public library.

“It might be an RV in Yellowstone Park — with a good internet connection,” Carter said.

Bottle Rocket surveyed employees, and about 80% said they were as productive or more productive while working from home.

The company’s performance data, including deadlines for software development, supported those claims, he said.

The Addison headquarters was designed for high-tech collaborations, and people work in close quarters and across functions. They also cover thousands of square feet of whiteboard with various digital solutions and to-do lists. Much of that work has since migrated to online platforms and technology tools.

Employees use Zoom for meetings, Slack for instant messaging, Lattice for employee engagement, Salesforce for tracking the sales pipeline and Miro for an even better whiteboard, Carter said.

Social activities, including board games and the bourbon-tasting club, have moved

online, too.

“We thought collaboration had to be in person, but COVID forced us to realize we were wrong,” he said. “We did not have to be in the same place to do our best work.”

Carter deliberately used the word “wherever” to make a broader point: At Bottle Rocket, the work is much more important than where it’s done, and managers shouldn’t second-guess colleagues on that score.

The company let employees take their equipment home when the region went into lockdown. In addition to their Apple laptops, many workers borrowed 30-inch monitors, office chairs and even desks from the Addison office.

If they wanted something, he told them to go for it.

After announcing the new work plan, employees said they were “ecstatic, super-excited, crazy-pumped,” said Jana Boone, vice president of marketing.

“One said, ‘Holy cow. Is that real?’ Yeah, it’s real,” Boone said.

Almost no one has worked in the Addison office in recent weeks, and Carter said there would probably be a soft reopening in June.

More people may start returning in July and August, but he’s not planning a major retrofit of the facility, as others have done.

Eventually, Carter expects about a quarter of Bottle Rocket employees will come into the office many times a week, much as they did in the past. But half or more will probably visit just once or twice a week.

“There’s not gonna be consistency, but that’s OK,” Carter said. “Consistency in your work, in engagement and passion — that’s the stuff that matters.”

In surveying employees, about 20% said they weren’t doing their best work from home.

Many noted they didn’t have the variety or range of experiences they were used to.

What Carter misses most: frequently walking around the office to check on a project or get extra face time with employees.

He didn’t appreciate how much exercise

he was getting. At home, he sometimes sits at his desk for the entire day, and it bothers him to be so sedentary.

He developed a sore back and then started setting an appointment for a daily walk. That’s one way to create a “bookend” to separate his professional life from the personal.

“I was having a hard time understanding when my work day began and ended,” Carter said.

When he and colleagues were mulling “work from wherever,” they debated whether it was simply a response to the moment. If COVID-19 disappeared overnight, would Bottle Rocket drop the program?

No way, the team agreed.

“This is not work from home for the summer; this is not for the rest of the year,” Carter said. “This is our new reality and our future.

And it’s gonna be this way until we come up with something better.” ©2020 The Dallas Morning News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

COVID-19 scams spreading Continued from page 13.

3M’s name in selling face masks.

“First, we devalue people who are victims — basically dehumanize them — which then makes it OK to harm them,” she said. “Second, (people) can also reconstrue the harm they are doing into something else. Perhaps they think they are ‘morally justified’ because of some abstract concept like ‘organizational greed.’ The third way is to distort the consequences of what we do. Who got hurt here?”

Even presumably “good” people can succumb to a psychological mechanism called “moral licensing,” Pattit added.

“We’re being asked to make a lot of personal sacrifices,” she said. “So we allow ourselves more moral latitude in other areas.” ©2020 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

23

Health & SUSTAINABILITY Wellness

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Topics may include:

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

Issue Date: June 5 • Ad Deadline: May 28 A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Human Resource A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

Topics may include:

Management Topics may include the following:

Architecture overview • Architecture job market • Sustainable design • Landscape architecture Office/retail interior design trends including post pandemic workspaces Rising emphasis on residential design • Planning for the future: Heartland 2050 and beyond Innovations in design: from design software to high-tech building controls

• Human Resource overview • Guiding a team remotely Emphasis on mental health • Talent acquisition • Continued learning

Issue Date: June 12 • Ad Deadline: June 4

Issue Date: June 12 • Ad Deadline: June 4

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

24

• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Community needs, innovation fuel creation of new academic degree programs

by Jasmine Heimgartner

While many traditional areas of academia maintain a steady stream of students, an ever-evolving world embedded with rapidly changing technology often serves as a catalyst in creating new or enhanced fields of study. Area institutions keep their pulse on community needs, as well as high-demand jobs, to stay ahead of the curve to prepare the next generation entering the workforce.

“When deciding upon a new program, there are a number of factors that is based on,” said Dr. Dele Davies, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “For example, we are in the second year of our genetic counseling program, which arose because our community health partners came together and realized that with an aging population, the rates of cancer are higher. There was a community-identified need. Another aspect is looking at the landscape and asking, ‘Do we want to wait or be ready for change?’ We strive to be ahead of it by being aware of the needs and ensuring they are met by propelling the talent.”

Projected workforce demand also plays a role in establishing new programs. UNMC is in the final stages of establishing its Master of Diagnostic Cytology. The university already had a bachelor’s degree for this program. Looking to stay ahead of the curve, its success grew into developing a master’s program. Cytologists are a growing role of professionals assisting patients with fine needle aspiration procedures for the diagnosis of illnesses, such as cancer, benign tumors and infectious agents.

As the entire world anxiously awaits an end to COVID-19, programs like UNMC’s upcoming Doctor of Public Health will play a vital role in the future of health care.

“It is really an opportunity for people who want to be leaders in public health to learn how to manage public health and run those departments,” Davies said. “Having systems in place is critical, as well as people who want to make a difference in those systems. Many of these students will be people already in the practice who want to gain more leadership skills. It is an exciting program that will provide a direct and immediate value to them.”

Although on a different end of the spectrum, data scientists have become an integral part of understanding and analyzing the massive amounts of data that affect nearly every kind of business.

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“Data scientists have been front and center with COVID-19, helping people understand the spread, as well as will play a key role in containment,” said Dr. Mary Dobransky, College of Science and Technology dean at Bell e v u e U n i v e r s i t y.

“This field is immersed in the proper analysis of the data and was created to be interdisciplinary, thus there are many Davies opportunities for these kinds of jobs. A data scientist learns the tools and methodologies to store and process the data in meaningful ways that can help in decision-making.”

Bellevue launched its master’s program for the field in 2018. The program has already garnered the attention of hundreds of students, which led to the development of a 100% online bachelor’s program in the field.

S t u d e n t i n t e rest, job demand and community need also play major roles in Bellevue’s program development. Since technology seems to Dobransky continuously evolve, these programs see continuous improvement based on feedback all the way from advisory boards to instructors and students.

Staying up on trends has allowed the

university to see extensive growth in its cybersecurity, supply chain and logistics, and science programs.

Technology-focused programs aren’t the only ones seeing significant growth.

Its Master of Science in Child, Youth, and Family Studies and Doctorate of Business Administration, which became available in 2019, and hospital management degrees, which launched in 2018, continue to see a rise in student numbers.

“We are seeing growth in these partially because of our partnership with corporations, so we have been at the forefront of trends to provide educational opportunities,” Dobransky said. “We are fortunate to serve some of the major corporations in nation, which gives us a perspective into different industries and what the success would be.”

Virus-proofing could become popular feature in vehicles after coronavirus

by Mark Phelan

Automakers and suppliers around the world are investigating ways to virus-proof their vehicles to win customers in a postCOVID-19 market.

Ideas under consideration include blasting car interiors with ultraviolet light, using foggers to spray disinfectants, upgraded air filtration systems Auto and antimicrobial materials.

A third of vehicle shoppers recently told Cox Automotive they are more likely to consider air quality features for their next vehicle than before COVID-19.

“Safety is definitely top of mind for car shoppers,” said Vanesa Ton, Cox senior industry intelligence manager. “Not only are they expecting sanitization and social distancing protocols in place at the dealerships, they also want features in their cars to protect them such as air quality/ purifier options.”

In a sweeping five-country survey, 80% of respondents in the U.S., China, Japan, Germany and Italy told consultant IHS Markit they’d be willing to pay for systems to disinfect their vehicles.

“There’s customer sentiment to implement these features,” IHS supplier technology expert David Trippany said.

“People want their vehicles to sterilize themselves.”

A Michigan tech company has begun making UVC lights to sterilize the inside of ambulances, police cars and other emergency vehicles. UVA light is a component of the natural sunlight we’re exposed to daily. Shorter wavelength UVC is more toxic, but normally screened out by the Earth’s atmosphere. It can be produced by artificial lights and arc welders.

“We’ve been working on UVC light to clean and disinfect vehicles for some time,” said John Major, director of marketing for GHSP, Grand Haven.

GHSP’s grenlite system is in use on vehicles in Grand Rapids Boston and in North Carolina.

“COVID-19 has moved this to the forefront,” said Todd Fletemier,technology vice president of interior supplier Faurecia. “ We must combine the quick development and evaluation processes we’ve learned from the medical community with the auto

industry’s needs for safety and durability.”

There’s a definite need for the systems in mass transit and ride-hailing vehicles.

Demand for personal vehicles isn’t clear, but automakers are watching.

Clearing the air “Recent events have directed us to investigate additional technologies for improving cabin air for our heating and air conditioning systems. We’re also looking at antimicrobial materials and easily-cleanable surfaces for our interiors,” a Fiat Chrysler spokesperson said.

“COVID-19 will prompt more focus on air filtration and, perhaps, on more segregated climate zones in the cockpit, features there was already movement toward. But more extreme measures, like antibacterial touch surfaces, will be poorly rewarded in the long term if they mean less visually attractive or durable interiors” said Eric Noble of product development consultant The Carlab.

Using UV light to sterilize UV light can’t be used when people are in the vehicle, but its sterilizing effect is cumulative, meaning “you don’t have to kill 100% at once,” Major said. “Short bursts every time the vehicle is empty work. You do a full cleaning between shifts or at the end of the day and maintain it with short doses throughout the day.”

The lights can be integrated into headliners or existing lighting systems, he said.

Irradiating air in the climate control system’s ducts is another possibility.

Motion sensors and thermometers can determine the vehicle is empty and ready for irradiation, said Fletemier of Faurecia, which is looking at UVA and C sterilization.

Fogging interiors with disinfectant Fogging systems that spray hydrogen peroxide or another disinfectant into the cabin air are another candidate, and another system that would require occupant detection for safety, Fletemier said.

Supplier Magna is evaluating an ozone-generating system it used to disinfect personal protective equipment for automotive use “We hope to leverage this Magna technology to sanitize ride sharing vehicles and other future mobility applications,” Scott Mitchell, Magna’s global director of new

technology and innovation told the SAE International’s publication Autonomous Vehicle Engineering.

“It’s still too early to say how we’d go about implementing a sanitizing method for a vehicle interior, we have lots of options on the table that are under review,” Mitchell said.

Antimicrobials Supplier Lear makes antimicrobial leather and fabrics that resist viruses, bacteria, mold and fungus. “We are seeing increased interest from our customers on surface materials that repel microorganisms,” Lear chief technology officer John Absmeier said.

Antimicrobial treatments don’t necessarily remain effective as long as most vehicles stay in use, though. Buyers should find out how long the protection they pay for will last, if it can be renewed, and how much that costs No-touch technology Digital payments for gas, food and electric charging can eliminate physical contact with credit card readers and payment counters other customs have touched.

Lear’s Xevo Market and General Motors’ Marketplace allow you to pay for goods remotely.

General Motors has also created a program for its dealers to clean their facilities and vehicles to Center for Disease Control standards.

“We know that our customers’ expectations have changed and that more will need to be done to meet those expectations,” said Barry Engle, president of GM North America. “Our engineering, service and sales teams have worked closely with our dealer network to develop a program that follows best practices regarding the delivery of new, used or serviced vehicles.

Potential ways to fight the virus: Irradiating the interior with UVA or C light Fogging the interior with disinfectant Antimicrobial materials Surfaces that are easier to clean Relatively basic features like built-in hand sanitizer dispensers. ©2020 Detroit Free Press Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

25

Focus on Safety A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

May 29, 2020

With safety in the spotlight, organizations adjust and reassert commitment to team, patrons

by Michelle Leach

Safety is in the spotlight. And for those in the business of safety, the current elephant in the room represents additional considerations, programs and opportunities.

“We’re focused more on the foundations of safety,” said Omaha Track Corporate Employee Health and Safety Director Joseph Colgan.

“We’re going back to the basics.”

In the railroad industry, he noted some employees who might normally travel have returned home — and remained “in place.”

In turn, remaining employees may be working extra hours, fatigued, while balancing other stresses presented by the current crisis.

“The biggest hazard you might have is the employee that’s tired … or their mind Koeppe isn’t on the job, they’re thinking about their family,” he said.

Previously, the focus may have been more on “we have this rule in place; this is why we have this in place.”

Colgan is also encouraging the team to engage with its Employee Assistance Program; elements such as assuring traveling workers are getting proper nutrition when food is scarcer to come by due to abbreviated store hours and restaurant closures is a consideration that plays into overall well-being.

Regardless of if one works primarily outdoors, in a factory or an office, Colgan noted safety is generally the same — identifying hazards and addressing them — and he encouraged readers to add some good-natured levity to safety programs during such a serious time.

Be Safe Nebraska is a response to COVID-19; recently, the National Safety Council Nebraska Chapter (NSCN) announced this collaborative effort with the Greater Omaha Chamber, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, allowing companies to pledge to adopt best safety practices during the pandemic.

In the May 21 announcement, NSCN President/CEO Eric Koeppe said the collaboration aims to “share safety resource information to all Nebraska companies,” and companies who pledge will hopefully “maintain that same level of commitment towards safety moving forward.”

Furthermore, the program aims to bolster

public confidence, that they’re not incurring undue risk by patronizing a Be Safe Nebraska business.

A spokesperson reported the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have jointly and separately compiled and released numerous outreach materials, providing industry-specific and personal protective equipment-related guidance on safe work environments; for instance, decontamination filtering of facepiece respirations in health care settings.

Prior to and through the outbreak, the Omaha Area OSHA Office has focused on enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health Act. “Last month, OSHA participated in a virtual Stand-Up for Streebin Grain Safety to stress the importance of reducing injuries and preventing fatalities from engulfment in the grain industry,” said Area Director Matthew Thurlby, adding they continue to conduct inspections of worksites to verify compliance with the act’s standards, rules and regulations.

For around 20 of its 55-plus years, RDG Planning and Design has applied its scenario-based learning environments and simulations labs for higher education towards training environments and facilities for first responders.

“In some communities, we see expansions of public safety training in response to horrific events such as mass casualty shootings,” said Principal David Streebin. “We are already anticipating how the current COVID-19 pandemic will influence public safety training facility design and training requirements to better prepare first responders for future community health crises.”

As an essential community service, he noted consistent demand for public safety training facilities — from rural communities to large metros nationwide. Drivers include the need to modernize and expand facilities with community growth and change; for instance, Streebin said 30 years ago facilities weren’t preparing firefighters on best practices to extinguish the likes of electric car fires.

Class A and Class B burn buildings simulate real-life structures, with the former using combustible materials such as hay for real smoke and flame behaviors, while the latter

Joseph Colgan, corporate employee health & safety director at Omaha Track. uses propane-fired training “props” instead of The technology features real people simulathay or wood. ing the exact type of unpredictable and stressful “In architecture school, I never dreamed scenarios first responders would encounter; that someday I would be designing a building for example, an unstable robbery suspect is that could be burned repeatedly to temperatures confronted and pulls a knife, as an individual up to 1,200 degrees,” he said. “In addition, the with a smartphone approaches to capture the current work we are doing in creating highly event on video. realistic virtual reality training environments “Public safety training facilities tend to be to prepare first responders for active shooter ‘once-in-a-generation’-type projects,” Streebin scenarios, domestic violence situations … said. “They must endure constant use in extreme is fascinating.” conditions and perform consistently.”

26

• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• Focus on Safety

Experts say all companies should establish pandemic safety plan

by Gabby Christensen

Developing a workplace pandemic safety plan could save businesses time, resources, money and ultimately lives, local professionals say.

Steven Danon, risk control consultant at USI Insurance, said the company partnered with the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Center for Biopreparedness to conduct business pandemic workshops throughout the Midwest in response to the H1N1 and H5N1 influenza outbreaks in 2005 and 2009.

“As we have experienced with our government at all levels, businesses have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a factor associated with that was failure of government and individual businesses to plan adequately for an event such as a pandemic,” he said. “Risk control experts regularly advise organizations to develop comprehensive business continuity plans. Severe storms, fires and utility interruptions have always been on the radar. Planning for a pandemic was certainly on the low end of the priority planning list.”

According to Danon, national statistics indicate that 40% of businesses do not recover from a significant operational interruption primarily due to lack of planning and/or being underinsured.

He said companies must identify the critical operations of the business, determine how to keep each of these operating with these considerations, consider personnel issues and identify any issues in order to develop procedures and plans to continue

to operate.

In the construction industry, Anne Klute, president and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Cornhusker Chapter, said contractors and specialty contractors should create a health and safety plan that adheres to COVID-19 social distancing, mitigation and cleaning protocols, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Danon (CDC).

“Contractors and specialty contractors should post — at each jobsite — their COVID-19 control, mitigation and safety plan,” she said. “Commercial construction workers should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times and employers should develop temperature screening protocols for all employees upon discovery that the business has been exposed to a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19.”

Regardless of uncertainty, Klute said construction companies will continue to deliver work safely and assess the risk within the guidance of local and state health department guidelines, the CDC and local and state decisions on essential work.

“Every construction project is unique and requires project and site-specific assessments and safety plans in place to mitigate employee risk,” she said.

Some of the precautions ABC members have implemented include daily temperature checks before employees enter the jobsite or office space, conference calls or videoconferencing instead of in-person meetings, and changes in lunch or break schedules to maintain smaller groups.

While the COVID-19 pandemic is extremely unique, Aaron Adams, attorney at Goosmann Adams Law Firm, said proper protocol and planning should always be in place regardless of the type of emergency or outbreak.

“Companies must make sure they have

the proper health and cleaning supplies, as well as face masks, available should their employees want or need to use them,” he said. “Additionally, desks and workspaces should be as far apart as possible.”

On the legal side of things, it’s important for employers to understand the ramifications of not having a safety plan in place, especially the potential for lawsuits. From a health care standpoint, companies should have specific guidelines in place in order to stop the spread of a disease in their businesses and communities.

“Right now, we’re seeing that people and businesses are still being very cautious,” Adams said. “However, if we do reopen too quickly there could be a very bad rebound.

It’s critical that everyone continues to follow the current restrictions and that employers have a plan in place for now, as well as the next time there is an emergency.”

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Midlands Business Journal • MAY 29, 2020 •

In the Spotlight Paid Content

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Rusty Holiday CTO DataVizion

In efforts to guarantee cuttingedge solutions and support, Rusty Holiday has been promoted to CTO in January 2020. “Rusty is a strong addition to our growing team,� states Kelly Schrade, CEO & Founder of DataVizion. “The experience, talent, and drive they bring to the table is exactly what we are looking for to better serve our customers.� Rusty

Holiday brings over 20 years of tech industry experience. He is a business professional who thrives on big ideas, overcoming challenges and solving problems. At DataVision, his primary focus is building customer relationships which spurs innovation and growth.

Subscribe and pay online today at MBJ.com The Lincoln

BUSINESS

APRIL 2018

Vol. 21 No. 4 $2.00

Journal

Erickson Sullivan

Architects finding

ready market for

its Foodlines services.

Page 2

Lincoln Real Estate . Page 5 Insurance...........

Pages 6 - 7 Banking .............Pages 17-19

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THE BUSINESS

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FireSprint diversifies with investments in equipment to acco mmodate growth

by Michelle Leach

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If not for FireSpri nt’s $5,500 LQVXUDQFH FKHFN It was around this WKH UHVXOW same time screen-printer getting RI LWV ÂżUVW period that FireSpri freight, the trade-onl damaged in Hamzhie had originallnt was born; y started the probably wouldn’t y sign printer shop as TargetOm have go on, roughly eight survived to 2007 and brought aha Marketing in on brother, years later, to tor of be named among Customer Experien DirecInc. ce James est-growing compani 5000’s fast- Hamzhie, and longtime friend and according to CEO es in America, fellow owner/C OO, Mark Kistler, Gene Hamzhie. as partners a year “We ran out of later. he said. “That check cash in 2011,â€? “Prior to 2007, got us through I had an eBay Continued on page 14.

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Interest in new, internatio and entrepreneurship nal markets drives demand for programs. – Page 26

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Tim Hoffman CFO, COO DataVizion

In efforts to guarantee cuttingedge solutions and support, Tim Hoffman has joined the team as DataVizion’s new CFO and COO. He joined the team in March 2020. “Tim is a strong addition to our growing team,� states Kelly Schrade, CEO & Founder of DataVizion. “The experience, talent, and drive they bring to the table is exactly what we are looking for to

LEGAL SERVICES Welcomed

Lee E. Greenwald Attorney Baird Holm LLP

Baird Holm LLP is pleased to welcome Lee E. Greenwald to the firm. Lee’s practice focuses on commercial real estate and renewable energy.

He routinely represents clients in the development, financing, acquisition, and sale of real property, and commercial lease negotiations and title review. Lee also represents investors, developers, and lenders in various phases of renewable wind

energy projects. Prior to joining the firm, Lee practiced in civil litigation, where he represented clients in trial courts across the state of Nebraska and in front of the Nebraska Court of Appeals. Lee has a broad range of legal experience including business law, municipal law, estate planning, and probate practice areas. “Lee will be a valuable asset as part of our diverse and expanding Real Estate Group,� said Baird Holm Managing Partner, Richard E. Putnam. “He brings extensive experience that will immediately benefit our clients.�

Submit your company’s employee announcements to Spotlight@mbj.com

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Insurance princiInsurance Agency Inc. and Peterson Bros. pal. “Ultimately, we decided we Insurance Inc. have were stronger together joined their complementary Over the past year,.� clientele, carriers and cultures indicated the compan Thomas to Partners Insuranc create Dodge together to align ies worked e LLC. their teams, which are now based “We both were at the point of out of 8701 deciding where we wanted to be West Dodge Road in Omaha Continued on page — 24.

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HDM Corp adds new cloud-based, health products to enhance services

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Woodhouse expects Woodhouse said. a 50 percent there “But boost to just one [is not] a lot of of compliance ÂżYH GLYLVLRQ V E\ HDM Corp.’s management.

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FDUH LQGXVWU\ VLQ G FH “Quite a few people “Our mission stateme nt are doing Continued on page is 22.

Principal Julie Stavnea k at the Centerline on multiple commer project site cial projects and company to the adding a property ‌ Focusing roster. management

Veteran Omaha firms join forces to form Dodge Part ners Insurance

by Michelle Leach

better serve our customers.� Tim Hoffman embraces 30+ years of hands-on experience developing and improving the daily processes of business. Paired with a well-practiced accounting background, he knows how to use data and numbers to make effective and strategic business decisions. As COO/CFO he will be ensuring everyone and everything at DataVizion is operating to its fullest potential.

“Any government big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take all you’ve got.�

design Page 4

Journal — inside APRIL 20, 2018

COUNCIL BLUFFS

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27

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• MAY 29, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal