Reaanddit Reap!
2019
May 16 4 – 6 p.m. Omaha Design Center Register
OmahaChamber.org/excellenceawards
Business Excellence Awards — inside MAY 3, 2019
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
$2.00
VOL. 45 NO. 18
Nebraska Machine Products diversifies in military sector by Michelle Leach
Dharma Dog Training shares experience with apprentice program, classes. – Page 2
40 er d Un 40 Community service, leadership define Gustwiller’s career. – Page 3
s luff rt cil B epo n u R Co wth Gro
From West Broadway to Riverfront, projects position Bluffs as destination. – Page 4
Almost eight years after an explosion and fire resulted in the total loss of Nebraska Machine Products’ original building at 9370 N. 49th St., the Omaha manufacturer has diversified into military and aerospace projects from a 60,000-square-foot space at 9101 F St. “When we first bought this building, we had visions of renting space out to another company,” said President Mike Schlimgen. “But we filled it out very quickly.” Founded in 1966 by Jack Rosso, Nebraska Machine Products makes parts from various materials for customers from ag and auto, to medical and oil and gas. “Since the fire, we had to buy everything new,” Schlimgen said. “That was kind of a blessing in disguise.” Some equipment couldn’t be accommodated in the former 40,000-square-foot facility. “Before, you couldn’t drive a forklift into the CNC area at all,” Continued on page 6.
President Mike Schlimgen … Firm continues late leader’s legacy with increasingly diverse expertise. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
Omaha Municipal Land Bank aims for ripple effect in community and state by Becky McCarville
The Omaha Municipal Land Bank (OMLB), a tax-exempt governmental subdivision that acquires, maintains and sells distressed properties, has a mission to revitalize neighborhoods by making these properties productive again — properties that might pose a danger to the community, have been abandoned or are tax delinquent and might not be attractive
to an investor because the cost of clearing the title is greater than the property value. “The land bank is a dream that the city of Omaha had for a long time,” said Executive Director Marty Barnhart. With an estimated 2,500 properties in Omaha with some level of code violation (based on the number of code violations and current Continued on page 7.
Vice President Mike Bresel … New industrial location boosting retail sales, presence for Omaha company.
Midwest Box sustains position in packaging, shipping supply market by Richard D. Brown
Executive Director Marty Barnhart … Reactivating Omaha’s distressed properties, spurring community growth, development and engagement.
While technology has impacted the market and a move from north central Omaha to an industrial park in Millard has increased its retail traffic, Mike Bresel, vice president of Midwest Box Co., said there’s one common denominator that has followed his family’s business over the past 50 years.
“Everybody’s going to need a box, sometime, somewhere,” said Bresel, who took over the daily operations of the 14-employee firm three years ago. His father, Jim Bresel, remains owner and president of the firm. The business was founded on North 16th Street in 1969 by the late Morris Bresel, who early Continued on page 24.