NOVEMBER 20, 2020
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
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VOL. 46 NO. 47
Foundation for Educational Services launches Filament for nonprofits by Michelle Leach
Omaha-based Moxie Mentoring grows national health care staffing client base. – Page 2
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SBA loans, federal relief funds among support to encourage growth through pandemic. – Page 3
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Public health concerns add to complexities of protecting various types of corporate assets. – Page 23
With a unique mission as a service-designated nonprofit, Foundation for Educational Services (FES) has grown through its roughly 34 years with the introduction of back-office solutions for municipalities, schools, and nonprofits in areas such as content management, branding, data security, tech support and, more recently, payroll and bookkeeping. This organic growth sparked the rollout of the Filament Essential Services brand in late June. “Obviously, launching a brand in the middle of 2020 has been interesting, to say the least,” said Senior Vice President, Nonprofit Services Dan Kunzman. “Different times call for different ways of thinking, and so much of what we do can be delivered without seeing anyone face-to-face.” From its headquarters at 1300 Street in Lincoln and an array of home offices, Filament Essential Services delivers SOCS websites and mobile apps, branding and Continued on page 7.
Senior Vice President, Nonprofit Services Dan Kunzman … Building off almost 35 years of serving nonprofit community to roll out brand of essential business services.
A1 Garage Door Service expands to metro with comprehensive services by Richard D. Brown
A1 Garage Door Service, a fast-growing family-owned business that was started in 2007 in Phoenix, has opened in the Omaha market via a four-employee branch in La Vista. The firm, specializing in commercial and residential garage door repairs, sales, maintenance and installation, has grown to 19 locations in 12 states and
expects overall sales this year to hit $55 million. “What differentiates us in each of our markets is that we give each of the employees we hire a training experience that not only teaches them how to do the job, but the reasons why we do it the way we do,” said Area Manager Mike Comer. The A1 Garage Door Service Continued on page 8. Owner Leslie Huerta … The independent bookstore has seen a 20% increase in sales over last year as online orders take off.
Customers flock to Lincoln’s Francie & Finch Bookshop amidst pandemic by Becky McCarville
Service Technician Colby Burke, left, and Kansas Area Manager Mike Comer … Building presence in Omaha market with emphasis on comprehensive training for technicians. (Photo courtesy of A1 Garage Door Service)
Francie & Finch Bookshop owner Leslie Huerta attributes a 20% sales increase in 2020 — during the pandemic — to the intrinsic value of books and reading, affordability, the ability to sell a physical product even with closed doors, and community support. The independent bookstore in downtown Lincoln has adjusted to lockdowns and limited capacity measures by shoring up its online ordering platform and email news-
letter. Most of the online orders are from new customers. “I am always conscious and pleased that I continue to get new customers and repeat customers, so [I] just keep trying to grow that,” Huerta said. “We’ve got about 10,000 on our email distribution right now.” The independent bookstore industry has withstood many ups and downs in recent memory — from the rise of Amazon and Continued on page 10.