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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
November 22, 2019
Firms balance technology, talent needs alongside diverse project stakeholders by Michelle Leach
Firmwide initiatives are reinforcing and reflecting industrywide transformation, while projects and partnerships are transforming the region’s landscape as investments in the future. “The architecture/construction business in Omaha/Council Bluffs is thriving and this trend does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon,” said HGM Associates Project Manager, Architect and LEED Accredited Professional Kim Bogatz. “Everyone in this industry seems to be saying the same thing: ‘We are busy.’” H G M ’s p r o j Wieseman ects range from a 2,000-square-foot office remodel to Iowa Western Community College’s 92,000-square-foot indoor turf/ wellness facility. “We do not have types of projects that keep us busy,” she said. “But our range of experience and services we offer is what keeps our team present.” BVH Architecture Business Development Strategist and Principal Corey Wieseman referred to diversification across sectors, and exploration of new geographies to diversify its service area. “The K-12 industry is becoming a bit more challenging because of agriculture and corn prices,” he said. “In rural Nebraska, it becomes a little more challenging
HGM Associates' Project Manager and Architect Kim Bogatz at the recently completed Dr. John W. and Jean Marshall Wellness Center at Iowa Western Community College. because those areas are heavily based on areas, represents another busy sector driven the success of ag … If the farming com- by favorable interest rates, alongside hismunity is doing well, it’s easier to pass toric preservation (i.e. county courthouses). referendums.” Where there are challenges, there are Wieseman referenced long development opportunities, Wieseman said; for instance, opportunities with school consolidation and automation and artificial intelligence facilia community retaining its identity in the tate new design, but may eliminate the need face of school closures; similarly, fund- for people and could present revenue losses ing-related challenges abound with state of 25% to 30%. government projects, while multi-family, “As efficiencies are gained, we may lose particularly in Omaha and Lincoln metro revenues,” he said.
Reaanddit
Enter Layer, a sister company whose focus is illustrated via BVH’s 10-year Nebraska State Capitol Building restoration project to document conditions in each of the Capitol’s hundreds of rooms. “We created an app that allowed us to provide direct information into a room and to tag information specific to a room,” Wieseman said. “It helps us organize, catalog and document for the owner’s use.” Tech meets talent, as Wieseman referenced success in securing “boomerang” Nebraska natives who spread their wings elsewhere and later return to the nest. “I have a lot of friends in competing firms and, even though we compete, we’re still friends,” he said. “The last thing we want to do is to ‘rob’ [employees]. It creates a vicious circle. We’re looking for the right employees to maintain and support the firm culture.” To specific prominent projects, OJB Landscape Architecture was awarded the Riverfront Revitalization Master Plan contract in fall 2016. “We joined our designer-partners in a 15-month development process, workshopping conceptual ideas and plans for nearly 200 acres along the Missouri riverfront,” said Managing Principal Kyle Fiddelke. “These included the River ’s Edge in Council Bluffs along with Lewis and Clark Landing, Heartland of America Park, and Gene Leahy Mall in Omaha.” Shepherded by a committee of stakeholders and city reps, the best use — from programming, design and financial standpoints — was identified, according to Continued on next page.
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Architecture — inside NOVEMBER 22, 2019
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
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Finigree eyes growth for platform via community banks by Richard D. Brown
Lifestyle Fitness opens with intent to improve health and wellness of community. – Page 2
in en ss omsine W u B
Despite increase in women business owners, executive representation, ethnic diversity lags. – Page 4
40 er d Un 40 Diaz pursues life’s work in senior health care at Immanuel Communities. – Page 10
Finigree, an eight-year-old Omaha-based fin-tech company that partners with banks and businesses to protect financial data as it is stored, used and shared, is moving upstairs into a 4,000-squarefoot suite that is being renovated in the former Grain Exchange Building at 1905 Harney St. Co-founders Wes Miller and Ryan Barry, with assistance from 31 investors and 10 employees, have built a platform targeting secure financial data aimed at small to middle-size banks and other businesses. “We’ve wanted our platform to offer innovation in a box,” said Miller, CEO. Miller, a Mingo, Iowa native with a degree in international banking and finance from Iowa State University, came to Omaha about 15 years ago as an employee of a major national bank. His banking experience targeted mortgage loans and he later co-founded Central Omaha Mortgage. Those experiences led him to discover a niche Continued on page 32.
Co-founder Wes Miller … Expanding reach of security software with niche in community banks.
BVH Architecture challenges industry norms by deploying strategic solutions by Savannah Behrends
For BVH Architecture, a 52year old company with footprints across the Midwest, the key to its longevity can be defined in one phrase: creative problem solving. Now in its third generation of ownership, solidified this fiscal year, creative problem solving is even more relevant as the four partners grapple with technology and hiring challenges.
“Our biggest challenge, and that of the profession generally, is the replacement of potential lost revenue,” said Principal & Business Development Strategist Corey Wieseman. That potential lost revenue, according to Wieseman and fellow Principal and Architect Cleveland Reeves, is the result of evolving technologies like artificial intelligence that can handle some of Continued on page 32. Hospital Administrator Heather Burwell … Adding Nebraska’s first board-certified neurologist in 2020.
VCA MidWest expanding facility, services to meet demand for specialized pet care by Becky McCarville
BVH Architecture Principals, from left, Cleveland Reeves and Corey Wieseman … Firm highlights sustainability in K-12, higher education, historic preservation and workplace markets as an area of focus.
Since VCA bought Midwest Veterinary Specialists in 2015, which was a nonprofit owned by KSU Veterinary Clinic, and acquired the emergency clinic next door in 2016 that had been operating since 1972, patient counts have increased from 8,000 in 2016, 9,700 in 2017, 11,000 in 2018 and on track for the same in 2019. Hospital Administrator Heather
Burwell said that the goal is to see 15,000 pets with the addition of a neurologist and another internist in 2020 — a realistic goal without sacrificing quality of care. “In April of 2016, we merged,” Burwell said. “It was two very different cultures merging … and that’s when we changed our name to what it is now VCA MidWest Veterinary Referral & Emergency Continued on page 11.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
Lifestyle Fitness opens with intent to improve health and wellness of community by Gabby Christensen
Just as the name of the business implies, Lifestyle Fitness is all about transforming lifestyles through fitness and health. Co-founded in 2019 by Ken Bartholomew and Matt Scott, this boutique-style fitness center is located inside Thrive Space, a multisport complex and business campus in Waterloo.
Lifestyle Fitness Phone: 402-509-3181 Address: 800 N. Front Street, Waterloo, NE 68069 (located in Thrive Space) Service: Fitness center geared toward lifestyle changes and health/wellness Founded: 2019 Employees: 5 + contracted instructors and trainers Goal: to establish more high intensity programs while continuing to promote healthy living Website: https://www.lifestylefitness.fit
Bartholomew and Scott said the location has been ideal, as the environment heavily revolves around sports and exercise. “We fit right in here,” Scott said. “Our concept focuses on overall family health and wellness. Our ultimate plan is to play a part in improving the lives of our community members.” He said Lifestyle Fitness is a health and wellness facility that offers a modern, technology incorporated, upscale fitness
From left, co-owners Matt Scott and Ken Bartholomew … As part of the co-working concept Thrive Space, the fitness center aims to be a wellness hub for the community. experience, all in a clean environment. Thrive Space is also home to the ElkScott, who is also the founder of the horn Soccer Club, which Bartholomew said American Health and Fitness Institute, a makes it easier for parents to drop off their nonprofit organization to raise awareness children at practice and then hit up the gym. for childhood obesity and other fitness reWhile the core demographic of gym lated issues facing kids in the community, goers range between 41 to 55 years of age, said the goal is to help families become he said the gym has something for every more active together. demographic.
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The center also sells health products, including individual snacks, as well as vitamin-infused coffee. Recently, the business released its own supplement protein line. Classes offered at the gym include yoga, Zumba, bootcamp, small group training, as well as personal training. Five employees, as well as multiple contracted instructors and trainers, make up the staff at the center. Despite delays in opening the doors of the business, Bartholomew said the center has prospered. “The biggest struggle we face is that we have so many ideas, but need to narrow them down and focus on the most important ones,” he said. “Since opening, we’ve honed in on what our members are interested in and really put an emphasis on those programs and offerings.” Bartholomew said he’s witnessed society changing its perception on health and wellness over the years. “The public is really reaching out and looking for healthier choices,” he said. “People have started wanting to do things that are good for them, which is where we come in and can really help out.” In time, the co-owners said they hope to incorporate more high intensity programs. For now, they hope to continue moving forward while taking advantage of opportunities as they come. “For us, this experience is all about making an impact in this great community and nurturing our relationships with other local business owners and our members,” Bartholomew said. “We don’t just celebrate the sale of a new customer, but we are actually excited about a new friendship being formed. We love watching as people become more healthy and active. We are all about empowering our local people.”
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How I got into the business: After finishing my master’s degree, my husband asked if we could put it to use and start an environmental consulting company. It is a field he had been involved in since we met many years before. With his subject expertise and my business acumen, we’ve built it into what it is today with over 50 people in six states. Biggest career break: Putting in the
time to study and obtain an MBA on top of what I learned from managing marketing based products in my career are one of the keys to B2E’s success. The toughest part of the job: People are the key to our business in a lot of different ways. I was lucky to have great friends in professional positions to help guide our tax and legal decisions; amazing clients that trusted us not to cut corners and help them with environmental services and key employees willing to take a chance on a new startup. I try to expand operations every year or two mostly through key hires as they come available in important markets for our clients. Those key hires are so critical. The wrong person in the wrong role erodes the entire business from time and energy. About my family: Everyone needs to be responsible for themselves. Let your kids learn how to become responsible for their decisions.
Book I finished reading recently: “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis” by J.D. Vance. Something about me not everyone knows: Following a passion from very early in life, I started competing on a national level with Arabian horses just five years ago. Mentor who has helped the most in my career: My husband, Bob. We met while in college. Good or bad I can trust him to tell me how he sees a situation. Outside interests: Arabian horses, travel, great food and friends. Pet peeves: When people do not take responsibility for their mistakes. Favorite vacation spot: No favorites. Other careers I would like to try: Dog daycare, training, boarding facility. Favorite movie: Holy Grail, Armageddon and Tombstone. Favorite cause or charity: Siena/ Francis House Homeless Shelter. Favorite app: Pinterest.
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Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
Women in Business A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
November 22, 2019
Despite increase in women business owners, executive representation, ethnic diversity lags by Michelle Leach
Strategies to increase women’s representation in underrepresented industries, across boardrooms, and entrepreneurship — make for a significant evolution, given that formerly these issues weren’t talked about. Data has informed effective approaches, while also helping to measure progress. For instance, Revela Group’s Andrea C. Fredrickson referred to McKinsey & Co.’s “Women in the Workplace 2019” five-year survey of around 600 compaFredrickson nies and 250,000 employees. While a 24% bump in C-suite representation was noted, women at the manager level and representation from women of color showed little to no improvement. “We work primarily with private and family-owned companies and have noticed more women in C-suite roles; business owners, CEOs, VPs and directors,” said Fredrickson, owner and president of the leadership and executive coaching firm. “Companies are making an effort and having conversations about the diversity of their executives. Industries that are traditionally male-dominated are still struggling but
Paula Hazlewood, executive director at Advance Southwest Iowa. many we work with are making progress.” boards, owners and executives reflect on Fredrickson said Revela is often in- how they can bring people to the team that volved in discussions related to promotion will challenge the way things have always and succession planning. been thought about and done,” she said. “We “We see one of our responsibilities is also challenge recruiting of employees into to help companies identify what skills, ex- non-traditional roles such as women into periences, beliefs, and capabilities that are production and project management. In needed now and in the future … helping order for women to be promoted into higher them to challenge the status quo, helping level management roles, there has to be a
pipeline of managers starting in entry-level management roles.” The Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW Network) 2019 “Accelerating the Advancement of Women in Commercial Real Estate,” reported CRE continues to lag when it comes to female representation, but important gains have been made. The network, which spans almost 12,000 members worldwide, noted more women are filling SVP, managing director and partner positions; the percentage of women Andersen with direct reports is “on par” with male counterparts; and career satisfaction has increased across all industry specializations. Top barriers cited include the lack of company mentors/sponsors; limited promotion opportunities; and gender discrimination. CREW Omaha PR Committee Member Kristi Anderson pointed to the metro organization’s continued growth as speaking to the positive impacts more women are having in their companies and community every day. “CREW Metro Omaha is now 161 members strong — a number that continues to grow each year,” she said. “Nearly 76% of our members are in leadership roles in their companies and serve as presidents, CEOs, or senior managers. Many of our members have been recognized for their contributions in large-scale community projects.” Despite these gains, she said, the underrepresentation of women in leadership still exists. “Work needs to continue to get more women seats at the decision table,” Anderson said. A member of the seven-county Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership, Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation has implemented LaUNch in August, as an answer to lingering entrepreneurial-oriented problems. “LaUNch is a program that is designed to work within the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pottawattamie County to connect future and existing entrepreneurs to the resources that they need to be successful,” said Executive Director Paula Hazlewood. Manager of Entrepreneurial Development, Niki Ferguson, works closely with Continued on page 6.
Women in Business •
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Women in Business
Executive representation, ethnic diversity lags Continued from prededing page. Iowa Western Community College Small Business Development Center’s Sue Pitts, food incubator Kitchen Council’s Holly Benson, Omaha Startup Collaborative’s Erica Wassinger, as well as local lenders, Iowa Economic Development Authority and numerous other partners to ensure a comprehensive suite of resources. “We’re building out the support structure,” she said. “If you have a passion or an innovative idea that you want to explore, there are resources in our region that can assist. Don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from pursuing your dream. Through the LaUNch initiative, Advance is helping to develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pottawattamie County …” Hazlewood generally said the landscape is better today than it’s ever been for the region’s women-owned businesses. “Some of the strongest and most resilient women I know have overcome insurmountable obstacles such as access to capital, gender equality and an overall lack of a support system to turn their passions into thriving
businesses,” she said. “I’m not saying that these obstacles still don’t exist in today’s ecosystem, but they’ve definitely improved which is why women-owned businesses saw a 114% increase between 1997 and 2017, with women of color realizing the strongest growth numbers overall.” Aforementioned data is derived from the 2017 “State of Women-Owned Businesses Report” commissioned by American Express, which further found that firms owned by women of color grew by 467%. CREW Network strategies to address quantifiable challenges include: strengthening the pipeline of women, such as leveraging assessment tools to evaluate core competencies and predictors of success; advancing mid-level women to senior executive roles, for instance, challenging women with “stretch” global assignments; achieving gender equity on the corporate board ( i.e. expanding the size of board, periodically assessing skill sets that are ideal for the board); and advancing women of color with the likes of training to address unconscious bias.
Leadership training and development programs key community resources by David Kubicek
Individuals who want to advance in their careers can find lots of help from local organizations that specialize in training and developing leaders. The ICAN Institute for Career Advancement Needs offers programs that focus on the soft skills of leadership, Vice President of Programs and Operations Amy McLaughlin said. These include communication skills, emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making and how to form and lead work teams. ICAN’s flagship program, Defining Leadership, is a group leadership developMcLaughlin ment course where participants spend eight days together over a four-month period. The organization also offers workshops on Emergenetics, emotional intelligence, ethics, communication techniques, and a variety of others. ICAN offers several customizable leader programs including Leadership Essentials for new or front-line supervisors, Manager Essentials for leaders on the rise and High Potentials for leaders who are ready to take the next step toward entering senior leadership positions. The annual ICAN Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) brings together the experience and knowledge of thought leaders from around the globe who provide tools and education to help leaders evolve and thrive in a complex business climate. The 7x7x7 Event, which ICAN holds each year in both Omaha and Lincoln, features seven community leaders who speak for seven minutes on seven different topics. The event is designed to give attendees new ideas and perspectives on leadership related topics. “Women in leadership is vital to the success of our country’s businesses and organizations,” McLaughlin said. “Research shows that businesses with more female leaders achieve greater financial performance. With so many critical skills in short supply, companies cannot afford
to underutilize women in the workplace. Yet, in so many instances we see women hitting the glass ceiling. One of the ways that ICAN shines a light on this issue is through the annual ICAN Women’s Leadership Conference.” NBDC Professional and Organizational Development provides open enrollment workshops and customized solutions for
Harter Young businesses and their employees, according to Marketing and Operations Supervisor Kim Harter. NBDC offers a Certificate in Leadership, which earns students 6.5 Continuing Education Credits after completing several classes in nine days. Other programs include project management, business analysis, supply chain management and safety leadership, which the organization offers in collaboration with the National Safety Council. In addition to training, NBDC offers coaching, consulting and mentoring. The organization recently started an alumni group where former students can meet to talk about issues and bounce ideas off one another. “Know what your skills are, and continue to develop those skills,” Harter advised. “Know your goals and priorities so you can focus on getting exactly what you need to grow. Know where your weaknesses are so you can fill in those gaps.” The Start Center for Entrepreneurship offers entrepreneurial and economic-based education to low income and underserved communities, in particular to women and minorities who are typically from northeast Omaha. “We want to cultivate and develop early Continued on next page.
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Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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Mentors, networking are key elements of female entrepreneurs’ success by Dwain Hebda
When it comes to success in business, what many women need most are, well, more women. Experts say one-on-one mentoring relationships and networking are particularly impactful for women in business, things that their male counterparts have leveraged for years. “I think it’s really important to surround yourself with other people who have that same mindset — a positive, optimistic outlook — who are trying to grow their
Leadership training Continued from preceding page. stage talent in order to have a massive generational impact on those communities,” Executive Director Julian Young said. “We expose them to success principals and help them develop entrepreneurial habits and skillsets that range from risk management to being problem solvers to making great decisions.” The Start Center finds future entrepreneurs primarily through word of mouth — individuals who have been helped by the programs who tell others. Every semester there is a waiting list for classes. “Entrepreneurship develops leaders in a way that no other incubator program can because a number of skillsets are being developed at one time, and that [knowledge] can be delivered back to the marketplace in a way that’s scalable and repeatable,” Young said. “We believe that entrepreneurship and leadership are synonymous — the purpose of entrepreneurship is to improve the lives of others.”
business and themselves personally,” said Beth Sharum, an entrepreneur and an administrator for Nebraska Women Entrepreneurs. “It’s tough being able to prioritize being a businesswoman and taking that seriously and then making others respect that and not sacrificing your family and your kids for it.” Sharum said she continues to benefit from the experience of others, even as she reaches out to help women who are just starting out in business. “I have a business coach and I also draw on women’s organizations and networking,” she said. “I’ve really been working on things like my mindset and time management and always being open to learning and growing as a person and as a businesswoman.” Beth Ryan, founder of Beth Ryan Media, said another thing women in business can derive from mentors and networking groups are coping strategies for dealing with the hostility and sexism that still exists in today’s workplace. “I don’t think that women lack confidence at all; I think that most men need to stop looking at the business owner and just see a woman,” she said. “I’ve experienced a lot of sexism; I can’t figure out why they would say the things they said to me other than the fact that they look at me and see a woman first and a videographer second.” Ryan organizes Ladies Who Launch, a networking group of businesswomen for businesswomen. “We meet once a month for lunch
Beth Ryan, founder of Beth Ryan Media and organizer for Ladies Who Launch. and learns,” she said. “I try to keep the The challenges faced by women in meetings very low-priced and I donate business are not limited to sexism, nor do the profits from the meeting to various they only affect entrepreneurs in Omaha. organizations that supports women and Anna Pratt, director of the Women’s Busigirls in Omaha such as Women’s Center ness Center at the Center for Rural Affairs for Advancement and You Go Girl Omaha. located in Lyons, said businesswomen “What I’m trying to do is really serve often suffer from a knowledge gap when each woman where she’s at. If she’s an en- it comes to getting their enterprises off the trepreneur, she can come and meet people. ground. Here again, mentorship is key and Even if she’s just starting her business and a big part of the centers’ services. watching every dollar she can, she still can “I think [mentors are] one of the most Continued on next page. come and network.”
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Women in Business
Executives find growth through support systems by Gabby Christensen
Undoubtedly, women in business have faced more than their fair share of struggles. However, CEOs and executives say businesswomen are finding success by working together. Maria Muhlbach, director of alumni outreach at the Nebraska Alumni Association, said as more women blaze trails forward into business leadership, they have taken great care to make sure others can follow. “A great growth strategy for women in business is to Muhlbach form a network and support system,” she said. “Lincoln is rich with opportunities to connect with other successful women and men who can help propel you toward your goals.” Muhlbach said becoming involved in
Angela Madathil, attorney at Goosmann Law Firm. groups such as the Nebraska Women’s Leadership Network, a program of the Nebraska Alumni Association, provides a nurturing community, professional development opportunities and connections to a wide variety of women leaders across the country. “These programs help women grow and thrive not only professionally but personally, as well,” she said. “Challenge yourself to join a new group, attend one new event, or connect with one new person because the benefits you gain could pay off for years to come.” Jill Heggen, communications director at Women’s Fund of Omaha, said there are a host of issues, including pay equity, paid family leave and leadership opportunities that remain a challenge for working women and continue to impact women’s economic security. “Public policies in these areas have been slow to change, but there is good news,” she said. “Businesses don’t have to wait to be regulated to change their policies to support working families. Across
the nation, we are seeing companies adopt more adequate paid family leave policies. There have been companies placing goals to reach gender parity on their boards or in their C-suites. We are seeing efforts to close the pay gap through pay transparency across all levels of employment. And we are seeing employees by the masses
Heggen Legge use their voice to demand these injustices be righted so they can live and work and support their families.” Additionally, Heggen said mentorship is a must for women. “But beyond having someone in your corner, women need to advocate for themselves and other women,” she said. Angela Madathil, attorney at Goosmann Law Firm, said women sometimes have a hard time finding women mentors that are in their chosen fields. “We all appreciate the male mentors that have helped us so much, but there is something very important about seeing a female that has dealt with perhaps more similar issues that has achieved the goals you are pursuing,” she said. Madathil said women pursuing a startup have a much harder time raising funds from private equity and other funders. So, to fund startups, Madathil said women and really any entrepreneur can “boot strap” their new venture to see growth. “This is essentially funding the initial operations on your own,” she said. “One tool to support boot strapping is using the company’s equity to pay initial key employees and partners.” Heather Legge, executive business and Continued on next page.
Mentors, networking Continued from preceding page. important things for small business owners, especially entrepreneurs who may have the financial knowledge, but they’re not sure about the marketing aspect of starting a business, or they may have the passion and the skill, but they don’t have the financial knowledge,” she said. “We have a network of 30 business consultants who work throughout the state and these consultants are paid by our program to do one-on-one business coaching and training with small business owners, whether that’s women or men.” Pratt said in addition to her organization’s efforts, many Nebraska entrepreneurs are finding mentors within their communities. “Folks in the community who see the passion these women have for their business want to help them be successful,” she said. “People want to get on board with that because it’s inspiring and because it’s a positive presence in the community.”
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Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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Avoid missed opportunities by creating a culture focused on dialogue, engagement, inclusion by Jasmine Heimgartner
Internally and externally, a business’s culture speaks volumes to its employees and clients. Considering that around half of the overall workforce is women, not engaging or providing platforms for women often results in missed opportunities. “Studies have shown that some of the largest organizations in the U.S. with at least some women at the top perform considerably better than those with mostly male executives and boards,” said Sharon Stahr, chief human Stahr resource officer at Cobalt Credit Union. “A diverse group of people, including women, almost always brings perspectives that can ultimately change decisions that are made and bring positive outcomes or
Support systems Continued from preceding page. leadership coach and trainer at Envision Success, recently published “Lead With Moxie: Surprising Ways Women Are Creating Success in Business,” a book based on over 100 interviews of women running businesses about what it takes to be successful, including their advice for other women. “Thirteen years of business ownership has taught me about what really matters and which strategies are likely to work,” she said. “It’s easy to get lost in too much fluff, and myriad distractions.” According to Legge, most people would benefit from gaining more clarity and focus, and going back to basics. “I have realized that we each have influence regardless of gender or title,” she said. “Every day, we have an opportunity to step up and lead by example, and a responsibility to remember what’s truly important, and guide others to be their best, too. This includes demonstrating how to stand up for ourselves without dishonoring anyone else.”
results for the organizations.” Low morale, disengagement, high turnover and lack of empathy are all indicators that a business’s culture needs to be addressed. “Culture is a like a company’s personality and a way of going about business,” said Lesley Brandt, co-owner at planitomaha. “It has a lot to do with action, behavior and belief. For a healthy culture, it has to be inclusive of everyone and go with employee engagement. It’s about having a seat at the table and a voice.” Listening to emBrandt ployees and actively seeking their feedback is an easy way to determine where issues may lie and what needs addressed. “The best way to know where culture is impacting the business is to create an opportunity for everyone in the company to provide feedback to the business in a safe way,” said Scott Hill, president at Harry A Koch. “We participate annually in the Best Places to Work survey, which facilitates objective, measurable data with benchmarking by industry. Through this feedback, a business can gauge where they are presently and accurately reflecting the workforce and also make decisions on where they want to be in the future.” Employee resource groups are another way for a business to engage employees and open a dialogue that creates a pathway for growth. “We often go to our social networks to grow as a professional,” said Cammy Watkins, deputy director at Inclusive Communities. “The problem with that is our circles are extremely tied to who we identify with. Many segments of our community can be left out of the conversation. People always have ideas, but they may not feel like they have a place to say it. ERGs are a great way to enhance culture and create a bridge between departments.” Creating open dialogue allows business to prioritize what is important from both the business and employee standpoint. Balancing Continued on page 12.
Cammy Watkins, deputy director at Inclusive Communities.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
Diaz pursues life’s work in senior health care at Immanuel Communities by Dwain Hebda
Michelle Diaz, executive director of Immanuel Communities, knew early what her life’s work was going to be, thanks to a very prominent and special mentor in her life. “I was attracted to this field because of my grandma,” Diaz said. “She drove that passion with me to get into the senior health care field. Because of her, it is one of my huge passions to help seniors, advocating for them, do what’s best for them.” Diaz’s late grandmother, Alice Vanscoy, showed her granddaughter the ropes of serving others through her volunteer activities. She also taught her about the health challenges that elders face and with the right help, how to face those challenges with courage and dignity. “When she was older, she got Alzheimer’s disease,” Diaz said. “I walked that journey with her, and it really inspired me as well.” Diaz began her career at Immanuel Communities in 2006 as a medication aide and credits the organization for fostering her growth, both in furthering her education and advancing her career. “Immanuel Communities has believed in
me so much over the years,” she said. “They’ve continued to promote me, build me up into the leader that I am. And they’ve continued to support me and invest the time in me. Most of all, they’ve believed in me, sometimes when I didn’t believe in myself.” As she rose through the ranks, garnering more and more responsibilities, Diaz has repaid that faith by investing time and expertise in others. Named the executive director in 2015, she’s maintained the perspective of the front-line worker, which better enables her to relate to what her staff faces on a daily basis. It’s a perspective she imparts with regularity. “I’m very hands-on with the management team, but also the front-line staff,” she said. “Those are the key people that truly drive our customer service. “I’m hands-on, touching base with them, talking with them, keeping an open door for them. I also spend a lot of time coaching managers to help them lead their departments and set the culture of everyone being equal. We’re all here for the same reason, and that’s the residents.” Diaz’s philosophy has paid off in organizational performance. She was instrumental in the
2019
Proud Sponsors of the 2019 40 Under 40:
Executive Director Michelle Diaz … With passion for caring for elders, climbing ranks of the senior care organization. implementation of a quality assurance and per- Passion Conference, the Omaha district chair for formance improvement program (QAPI) and on the Nebraska Assisted Living Association and her watch, Immanuel Courtyard Assisted Living a member of the Government Relations Comwas named a bronze quality award winner. She’s mittee and Quality Committee for the Nebraska also implemented an employee appreciation Healthcare Association. She said these roles program and co-chairs the company’s young have allowed her to see her profession from new professionals group. angles and work for its improvement. Individually, Diaz has become well-known “These roles have helped me connect with in senior health care circles, which has put her people within the geriatric network,” she said. on several industry boards and committees. “You get to know people, you get to learn from She’s the head of the planning committee for the folks that have been here and have built this University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Aging with Continued on page 19.
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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VCA MidWest expanding facility, services meet demand for specialized pet care Continued from page 1. Center. Our primary mission now is as a referral and emergency hospital. We are primarily made up of board-certified specialists.” The VCA’s business model is growth through acquisition instead of building new hospitals from the ground up — “the ultimate succession plan,” she said. “And with the cost of veterinary medicine … it’s really difficult for a new grad, who already has $200,000-300,000 worth of student loan debt to be able to afford to buy a new clinic. And so it’s really nice because VCA takes on the administrative portion so they can focus on medicine.” SUPER CROSSWORD
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The board-certified specialists include four internists (one joining in 2020), three criticalists, a surgeon and a neurologist joining in Sept. 2020, along with emergency doctors who are not board certified; however, all but one completed a rotating internship after graduating from vet school. In July, Dr. Michelle Meyer, a board-certified surgeon, was named medical director for VCA MidWest. In addition to seeing patients and performing surgeries, Dr. Meyer’s main goal is to ensure medical quality, Burwell said. To become board certified, veterinarians must complete one or two, one-year rotating CURRANT OPTIONS
Dr. Emily Burbach examines Indy. internships and then three to four years of res- the step-down unit. Two of the exam rooms will idency after graduating from vet school. After be specialty rooms, one as a separate “comfort residency, they need to take and pass a set of rig- room” for euthanasia and the other for infecorous exams in the area they’re specializing in. tious diseases. There are four surgical suites, or She said that there are no other pet hospitals operating rooms, one for orthopedics and three in town who have a group of boarded specialists, for soft tissue. and with its diagnostic tools and the addition The biggest demand in veterinary care is for of Nebraska’s first veterinary neurologist next neurology services. Currently, people have to year, people won’t have to travel to Kansas State travel to Missouri to see a boarded neurologist, University, Iowa State University, Colorado which makes the newly hired neurologist a State University or the major win not only for University of Missouri VCA MidWest Veterinary Rethe hospital but also for to get this level of care ferral & Emergency Center the area. for their pets. Referral CoordiPhone: 402-614-9000 “We’re the only Address: 9706 Mockingbird Dr., Omaha nator Laura Bates said ones in town that have 68127 that neurologists see boarded specialists like Services: referral and emergency veterpatients who have seithis in a group,” she inary hospital dedicated to specialty and zures, one-sided ataxia, said, noting that Oma- emergency medicine with board-certified spinal meningitis and ha also has a boarded specialists in an expanded state-of-the-art other brain-related disophthalmologist and facility orders. dermatologist who have Founded: VCA acquired with Midwest VetOther in-demand their own separate pri- erinary Clinic in 2015 and in 2016 merged services offered by vate practices. VCA MidWest are CT with the emergency clinic next door V C A M i d We s t Employees: 90 and scoping. offers treatments in One-year goal: To see 15,000 pets in 2020 “Some general cardiology, emergency after adding an internist and a neurologist practice veterinarians and critical care, diag- along with more emergency doctors. have scopes but having nostic imaging, internal Industry outlook: People are willing to a board-certified doctor medicine, oncology and spend more money on their pets, including who does this routinely surgery, working with health-related services; the small animal using that equipment primary care veterinar- veterinary unemployment rate is .4%, makis markedly different,” ians by referral. she said. “But then we ing it challenging to recruit doctors. The demand for the Website: vcamidwest.com can do things with the level of specialized care nasal area — rhinoscooffered at VCA MidWest Veterinary Referral pies, bronchoscopies — more down towards the & Emergency Center has driven the extensive lungs, things like that.” two-year renovation and remodel of the buildAlong with CT, MRI and other advanced ing, which connects the former clinic with the diagnostic capabilities, the hospital has capabilemergency department. Previously, the separate ities in ultrasound, oncology and cardiology. It businesses were connected with a secure door has an in-house lab, a ventilator, a pharmacy, and with an agreement that the emergency clinic the equipment and technology that accompanies staff would watch the overnight patients at its various specialties. When construction is Midwest Veterinary Clinic. completed, VCA MidWest will also have a USP With a projected completion in the Spring 800 compliance pharmacy and compounding of 2020, the hospital will encompass a total of suite complete with a hood to comply with a 17,000 square feet, not including the MRI trailer. new U.S. law setting guidelines for chemotherMD Architects and Kline Rostocil Construction apy mixing. have worked on the project. Along with the major challenge of recruiting “We currently have seven exam rooms,” doctors in a .4% unemployment rate for small Burwell said. “When construction’s done, we’ll animal veterinarians, mental health challenges have 11, which is a huge jump for us. We’ve can arise for people who work in veterinary needed it for a while.” medicine. The hospital has 22 ICU beds, two oxygen “The veterinary suicide rate is one of the cages in the ICU and around 22 to 24 beds in Continued on page 19.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
High-deductible health plans: How to think about your true costs by Carla Fried
If you have health insurance through an employer, chances are the premiums are a big — and growing — line item in your household budget. The independent, non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation reports that the average household with family Health care coverage pays more than $500 in monthly premiums. Over the past 10 years, the workers’ share of family premiums has increased more than 70%. Inflation over that stretch: 20%. That’s contributed to the rise of high-de-
ductible health plans (HDHPs), which have the seeming allure of lower premiums. KFF reports that 30% of workers with health insurance were enrolled in an HDHP in 2019, compared to 20% five years ago. (Almost all of the millions of people buying coverage through Obamacare are also on HDHPs.) The average employer HDHP family premium in 2019 was $4,866 compared to $6,638 for families enrolled in old-school preferred provider (PPO) plans. If you’re considering an HDHP, or your employer forces you into one, it’s crucial to understand that lower upfront premiums come
Women in the workplace: The glass ceiling may be breaking — but now the ‘broken rung’ is blocking advancement by Corilyn Shropshire
The glass ceiling has long been talked about as the barrier keeping women from top roles in the workplace. A new report says there’s a more pervasive problem facing women trying to climb the corporate ladder — a “broken rung” that inhibits their ability to step into that first management
Avoid missed opportunities Continued from page 9. the two can be symbiotic in a supportive environment. “Businesses can think of ways to solve real business problems by engaging employees who are looking for additional stretch assignments,” Hill said. “A stretch assignment might be planning and executing on a short-term project or leading a team meeting activity. These types of activities are a win-win for the business because it allows the business to complete necessary work while providing an area for employees to learn and develop new skills.” While a budget plays into where employee resources can be allocated, smaller businesses actually have a great opportunity in the space of inclusion and equity because they are small. “They can do many of the same practices that large companies do; it’s just on a different scale,” Brandt said. “When we start prioritizing different benefits, flexible hours or whatever the needs are, we are putting our money toward what is most important to us. What you put money toward doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. You can get a lot out of a team lunch.” Seeking out sponsors or mentors, as well as finding professional groups outside of the workplace, are ways to gain perspective and develop strategies to drive careers forward. “Institute for Career Advancement Needs has excellent programs and conferences that assist women in developing their leadership skills to include self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication skills and so on,” Stahr said. “For me personally, attending one of their leadership programs was a game changer in my career. The relationships and conversations I had with other women in the workplace inspired me to set and achieve meaningful goals that I might not have otherwise.” As more businesses aim to ensure they have welcoming and encouraging environments for women, it is also important to acknowledge that there is no longer a norm when it comes to culture and gender. “We can’t just think in the binary sense,” Watkins said. “Gender is a spectrum and encompasses more than just male and female, so it’s important to acknowledge that. Major companies around this city right now need to also welcome those brilliant minds into their fold as well.”
position. Instead, they get stuck in lower-paid, entry-level jobs with less mobility and few prospects for advancement, according to the report by consulting firm McKinsey & Co., and Lean In, a nonprofit formed to support women’s ambitions. The “Women in the Workplace” report found that for every 100 men promoted or hired into a manager role, only Workplace 72 women were. Researchers also found there had been little progress for women in the workplace since their first report in 2015. A case in point: in that first report, 37% of the women surveyed were in management-level positions. Four years later, only 38% of women surveyed were in managerial roles. “This early inequality has a long-term impact on the talent pipeline,” the researchers concluded. To gather the results, the report’s authors culled human resources data from 329 companies and surveyed more than 68,500 employees on their experiences in the workplace. In addition, this year’s findings build on data collected over the past four years and on similar research conducted by McKinsey & Co. in 2012, according to the report. There have been advances on the upper end of the ladder. Women’s representation in the C-Suite has increased to 21%, from 17% in 2015. In addition, 44% of companies have three or more women in the C-suite, up from 29% in 2015. Still, researchers said parity is a long way off: Only one in five top executives are women. And women of color, who face greater challenges overall in corporate America, represent only one in 25 C-suite executives. Takeaways of the report include: Women’s experiences in the workplace are not the same, and employers need to address “the unique challenges that different groups of women face,” the report said. To fix the “broken rung” problem, the survey’s authors suggested a starting place: Set a bold goal to grow the number of women managers and publicize it. Diverse slates should be required for hiring and promotion. Managers who make decisions about who is hired or promoted, including at the entry level, should go through unconscious bias training. One in four of the women surveyed believe their gender has played a role in missing out on a raise, promotion or chance to get ahead. More women should be offered high-profile assignments, leadership training and sponsorship opportunities within an organization to make them good candidates for advancement. ©2019 Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
with an agreement that you will cover a lot more in upfront costs. You’ll need a plan for what you’ll have to shell out. When you are signing on for a high deductible, the cost you pay before insurance kicks in. (Many plans provide basic preventive care without a deductible.) The average annual deductible for single coverage in an HDHP was nearly $2,500 in 2019, more than double the deductible for a PPO. For families with an HDHP plan where each family member has their own deductible, the all-in average family deductible cost was nearly $4,800 in 2019, about $2,000 more than the average deductible for family PPO coverage. What you save in premiums you can quickly give back if you actually use the plan. Some employers offer help with upfront costs. A feature of HDHPs is that you are allowed to have a health savings account (HSA) as long as the plan follows a few IRS rules. Money in an HSA can be used to pay for deductibles and other qualified medical expenses. If your employer kicks in some money, that’s obviously a big help, but find out what you are left to cover. And then make it the highest of priorities to have that much set aside in savings, or be prepared to cover it from regular cash flow. If you need to save up money, the HSA is the way to go. You can contribute to the HSA through a payroll deduction, just like saving in a retirement plan Uncle Sam offers up three valuable tax breaks if you contribute to your HSA, all covered in depth in this previous column on health savings accounts A study found that households that had an HDHP and an HSA were more likely to see a doctor than people with an HDHP but no savings fund at the ready to help pay for deductibles and
other out-of-pocket expenses. This is a point sometimes lost in the debate over Medicare for All. Even if your preference is to retain access to private insurance through an employer, the prohibitive cost of actually using that insurance is an issue for millions of Americans. In addition to the deductible, you also want to make sure you understand co-payments and co-insurance you could be on the hook for. The annual maximum out-of-pocket in 2020 for HDHP plans is $6,900 for individual coverage and $13,800 for family coverage. Those limits do not include premiums. That’s just the max; your employer may cap participants’ out-of-pocket at a lower level. For single coverage, KFF reported that 12% of HDHP enrollees in 2019 had a max out-of-pocket below $2,000, while 20% were on the hook for more than $6,000. If you run into a year with big medical expenses and limited savings, you’re likely going to back yourself into the dreaded corner of paying on your credit card, where the average rate these days is around 17%. That’s going to be a big hit to your financial health. So, this is a good time to start building a personal emergency fund. If you’ve borrowed unwisely in the past, also a good time to think about responsible use of credit cards While we can all hope that Washington steps up and addresses the high cost of care for the insured, there’s the matter of protecting your household today from budget-busting medical bills. If you are going to use an HDHP, push yourself to build up savings to cover your deductible and maximum out-of-pocket, just in case. If you use the HSA, you will at least get some very valuable tax breaks. ©2019 Rate.com News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS
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Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
Partisan lines fade with the right candidates by Froma Harrop
I think Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards meant it when he partly credited his reelection to LSU’s and the Saints’ winning season. That would be the football teams—Louisiana State University and the New Orleans Saints. “People are just in a Investing better mood,” the Democrat said. And he did have LSU coach Ed Orgeron vouching for him. Edwards pulled off a narrow win against a Republican whom President Donald Trump tried mightily to drag into the end zone. Trump was in Bossier City two days before and beseeched his MAGA crowd by saying, “You’ve got to give me a big win, OK?” (In 2016, Trump took Louisiana by 20 points.) Similar story in Kentucky, where Trump rallies failed to deliver a win for incumbent Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. Democrat Andy Beshear won by only a hair but in a state where Trump scored a 30-point margin. Well, what were these Democratic victories in the South and the Deep South about? They were partly about several things. One is that Trump’s magic sauce for energizing his base seems to have lost some potency. And after nearly three years of Trumpian mayhem, he’s energizing voters in the far less friendly cities and suburbs. But perhaps the deciding factor is that Americans tend to resist efforts by the major parties to nationalize state and local races. Edwards seemed to be focusing on the issues voters cared about, picking this from column A and that from column B. He raised spending on education and expanded Medicaid coverage, two Democratic causes. But he was far more hostile to abortion and gun control than his party’s mainstream. Voters are obviously willing to cross partisan lines in state and local elections. And that’s not the case only for Democrats in red territory. Three of deep blue New England’s six
states have Republican governors—Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. Add to the list liberal Maryland. Their voters tend to be fiscal conservatives and social liberals, and so do their Republican governors. Successful blue state Republicans steer clear of the ugly chaos in Trump’s Washington just as Democrats in red states ignore the bonfires consuming left-wing Twitter. That’s how Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock got reelected in red Montana by 4 points on the same Election Day Trump took the state by 20. Two years later, another Montana Democrat, Sen. Jon Tester, won reelection—and after Trump visited the
state four times to rally support for Tester’s Republican opponent. All this talk about the Democrats’ moving to the left belies the reality that the party’s resurgence has come from the center. The Democrats’ impressive House majority came not from a handful of radicals winning super safe Democratic districts but from moderates who yanked 40 seats from Republicans. Former President Barack Obama recently emerged from his silence to remind Democrats of this, warning them to look past “the activist wing” of the party. Don’t assume that the American people want to “tear down the system,” he said. And it is delusional to
by Sarah Foster
believe that the voting masses are waiting for something “bold enough” to rev their engines. Of course, he’s right, and this advice isn’t just useful for liberals. A Democrat now sits in the Kansas governor’s mansion in large part because her Republican predecessor, Sam Brownback, had nearly bankrupted the state with radical and reckless tax cuts. Notably, her Republican opponent, then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, campaigned by tying himself to Trump, wrists and ankles. Could it be that Americans are not quite as politically tribal as we are told? When it comes to state and local elections, it would seem not—and that should apply to national elections as well. Copyright 2019 Creators.com
U.S.-China trade war worries some in theme park industry as industry show nears by Marco Santana
As Orlando gears up for the biggest annual theme-park convention in the world, some industry leaders are fretting about how the U.S. trade war with China is affecting the attractions business. President Donald Economy Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have been trading barbs and retaliatory taxes on imports since 2018, when Trump set tariffs and other barriers on Chinese imports, as the administration pushed for a change to what it called “unfair trade practices.” NPR reported in June that Chinese tariffs on American-made amusement rides of more than 25% had caused some businesses in the industry to rethink their strategy in Asia. But the trade war also happened to coincide with a market that had already started to cool off, some experts said. “I have had noticeably less interest from China than I used to,” said John Gerner, a 30-year veteran of the industry who runs a Virginia-based consultancy called Leisure Business Advisers. “It’s consistent with
what I’m hearing in other parts of our industry. The government out there plays a major role in all industries, so it is not surprising they would use our industry as part of their reaction to tariffs.” But, thanks to an emerging South American and other world markets, the overall effect could be mitigated. “It would be silly to say there is no effect,” said Bill Coan, CEO of the entertainment theme park design company ITEC Entertainment Corporation in Orlando. “There isn’t a time when I’m in China that the trade conflict doesn’t come up. That’s natural. But when we do business there, it has not been affected by the trade discussions.” ITEC leaders and thousands of others plan to attend the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions convention at the Orange County Convention Center from Nov. 18-22. Last year, the convention brought more than 40,000 theme park professionals to discuss the latest developments with major theme park rides and see the newest theme park technology. Industry leaders generally make
How is the US economy doing? Here are 5 key signs to watch right now If the U.S. economy closely resembled any object, it’d probably be a broken traffic light. That’s because the overall financial and economic system is flashing every color possible, from healthy Economy green glows and yellow warning lights to heavy recession-red colors. With so many mixed signals, it isn’t exactly easy to tell just how strong any underlying momentum may be. “Right now, economic growth is decent, but once you dig below the surface, things look a little bit more fragile,” says Scott Anderson, chief U.S. economist at San Francisco-based Bank of the West. “It’s a bifurcated expansion. We’re really looking at a tale of two different realities.” Here’s what’s happening in the U.S. economy right now based on five main tiers — as well as what’s making or breaking it. 1. U.S. hiring flashes mixed signals, but job market holding up The job market has provided a comforting steadiness for those trying to spot check the health of the U.S. economy during such turbulent times. The unemployment rate is at 3.6 percent, near a 50-year low, while employers have added positions for a record 109-straight months.
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It’s been evident, however, that the pace of job creation is slowing. At this time last year, the U.S. economy had added nearly 2.26 million new positions. That total has fallen by 26% this year, with employers creating about 1.67 million positions. But with the U.S. expansion now in its eleventh calendar year — the longest on record — some slowing is to be expected. But there’s been some yellow caution tape to be concerned about. Employers in the U.S. added fewer jobs than economists expected, while private-sector hiring only expanded by 114,000. The main boost came from government hiring, including the hiring of 1,000 temporary workers for the 2020 Census. The unemployment rate, however, fell to a fresh, 50-year low, leading many economists to wonder whether the economy is nearing full employment. But that’s not exactly the case, says Brett Ryan, senior U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank. If the economy were at full employment, theory suggests that wages would rise at a more substantial pace as employers to try to attract workers. Wages in September, however, rose from 2.9% a year earlier, missing estimates. This snapped an almost year-long streak of pay gains that topped 3 percent. Total hours worked have also started to slow, while firms have cut back
on capital expenditures, Ryan says. “Is this slowdown that we’re seeing in the labor market supply driven in the sense that there just aren’t enough excess workers out there?” Ryan says. “Or is it demand driven, meaning firms are seeing a pullback in demand, and so therefore, they’re going to pull back in hiring. We would argue that the slowdown in the labor market is more demand-driven.” But the job market isn’t yet falling off a cliff. In October, employers blew past expectations, adding 128,000 new positions after an upwardly revised 180,000 in the prior month. That’s even amid Census Bureau hiring and a General Motors strike that the Labor Department estimated would shave 41,600 positions from the U.S. economy. Wage growth picked back up to 3 percent, while the unemployment rate edged up slightly to 3.6 percent. Now, hiring has averaged out to 176,000 over the past three months. “It’s a labor market that continues to defy expectations of softening,” Anderson says. 2. Consumers continue to prop up the U.S. economy, but storm clouds could be coming Broadly speaking, that’s keeping the American consumer intact, an important component for the economy. Two-thirds of Continued on page 19.
high-profile announcements at the trade show, which also often includes the North American debut of theme park rides in an outdoor area of the convention. Orlando “is like the Wall Street of tourism,” said George Aguel, CEO of Visit Orlando. “You have to be here (for IAAPA) if you are in the attractions industry.” While some experts expect a drop in attendance from China, they say that’s more likely related to IAAPA’s hosting of a show in China this June for the first time in three years. Officials with IAAPA, which moved its global headquarters to Orlando in August, did not have specifics about which Chinese companies plan to attend this year, but its pre-show packet showed that several will be there. “You’ll probably see a little bit less attendance because there are two shows now,” said Dennis Spiegel of International Theme Park Services in Cincinnati. “There does seem like there will be a lot more tire-kicking than buying this year, though.” As the market in China cools, South America has become a more viable market for attractions and theme-park builders. Solana Beach, Calif.,-based American Wave Machines recently landed a deal to build two out-of-ocean surfing attractions in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for example. Also, two years ago, Brazilian economic leaders exempted five parks, including a Wet ‘n Wild water park, from paying import taxes on new ride equipment. “There has been an explosion of development in South America,” said Speigel, noting that Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina joined Brazil in eliminating that tax. “It’s a huge issue they have been working on for years.” International business has become ITEC’s main driver, with Coan saying that the company now does 75% of its work in Asia and the Middle East. “Regardless of geopolitical challenges, we look for a developing environment so we can do our work,” he said. He said the IAAPA show is a chance to determine how well the industry has done in the past year. “IAAPA is a bell tower,” Coan said. “You can tell from those shows the sense of the health of the industry and where the cycle is.” ©2019 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • 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.
STEVEN G. RANUM, Attorney CROKER, HUCK, KASHER, DEWITT, ANDERSON & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. 2120 S. 72nd Street, Suite 1200 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BULLDOG SOLUTIONS LLC The name of the limited liability company is Bulldog Solutions LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 2522 Edward Babe Gomez Avenue, Omaha, NE 68107. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Steven G. Ranum, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 RICHARD L. ANDERSON, 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 DRLB 78, LLC The name of the limited liability company is DRLB 78, 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 Richard L. Anderson, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
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 WAITT PLYMOUTH, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Waitt Plymouth, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 425, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O, 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on November 7, 2019. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019
MARTIN P. PELSTER, 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 GRETNALAKE, LLC The name of the limited liability company is GRETNALAKE, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 11550 I Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68137. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is John Hughes, 11550 I Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68137. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Interiors by MW, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 8210 Decatur Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The registered agent of the Company is Meghan Wetterstrom, 8210 Decatur Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was formed on November 6, 2019. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019
MARTIN P. PELSTER, 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 MDC GILES PARTNERS, LLC The name of the limited liability company is MDC GILES PARTNERS, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 11550 I Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68137. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is John Hughes, 11550 I Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68137. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Detroit Novi, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Detroit Novi, LLC (the “Company”) was formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the Company is 17645 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Abe Schumacher. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019
MARTIN P. PELSTER, 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 192&370, LLC The name of the limited liability company is 192&370, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 11550 I Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68137. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is John Hughes, 11550 I Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68137. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
ROBERT J. KMIECIK, Attorney STINSON LLP 1299 Farnam Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68102-1818 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF Milan Laser Detroit Sterling Heights, LLC Notice is hereby given that a Nebraska limited liability company named Milan Laser Detroit Sterling Heights, LLC (the “Company”) was formed under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office of the Company is 17645 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Abe Schumacher. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of NW Omaha Kiddie Academy, LLC has been amended to change the name of the limited liability company to NW Omaha KA, LLC. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GCP II 900 C75, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GCP II 900 C75, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office address of the Company is 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. The name and address of the registered agent of the Company is Zachary A. Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019
MARTIN P. PELSTER, 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 MDC GRETNA, LLC The name of the limited liability company is MDC GRETNA, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 11550 I Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68137. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is John Hughes, 11550 I Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68137. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TANNERSGRILL, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that TANNERSGRILL, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 15505 Ruggles Street, #106, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF WOODSONIA-MOTB-D, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Woodsonia-MOTB-D, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68118. The Registered Agent of the Company is Drew Snyder, 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68118. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GCP II 1000 C75, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GCP II 1000 C75, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office address of the Company is 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. The name and address of the registered agent of the Company is Zachary A. Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 Notice of Non-Discriminatory Clause Heartland School does not discriminate on the basis of race/ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status or economic status, or veteran status, in the administration of any of its employment, educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, recreational, and other school-administered programs. Questions and/or concerns may be directed to Ms. Mary Quiroz; 5731 S 108th St.; Omaha, NE 68137 First publication November 15, 2019, final November 22, 2019 RICHARD A. DEWITT, 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 ROLLING PRAIRIE SOLAR, LLC The name of the limited liability company is Rolling Prairie Solar, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 1209 Harney Street #400, Omaha, NE 68102. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Richard A. DeWitt, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 RICHARD A. DEWITT, 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 BURT COUNTY SOLAR, LLC The name of the limited liability company is Burt County Solar, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 1209 Harney Street #400, Omaha, NE 68102. The name and address of the initial agent for service of process is Richard A. DeWitt, 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200, Omaha, NE 68124. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is STARDUST INDUSTRIES, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 18605 Cornish Road, Springfield, NE 68059. 3. The registered agent is Rachel E. Breitkreutz and the Register Agent's address is 18605 Cornish Road, Springfield, NE 68059. 4. The general nature of the Company is the practice of limited medical practice. 5. The Company commenced on November 8, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ACKERMAN HOLDINGS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Ackerman Holdings, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska on November 13, 2019. 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 November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 JOHN Q. BACHMAN, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF WESTBURY CREEK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Notice is hereby given of the incorporation of Westbury Creek Homeowners Association under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the Corporation is Westbury Creek Homeowners Association. 2. The Corporation is a mutual benefit corporation. 3. The name of the Corporation’s initial registered agent is John Q. Bachman and the address of the initial registered office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. 4. The names and street addresses of the incorporators are: Gerald L. Torczon, 11205 South 150th Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68138 Jeffery S. Torczon, 11205 South 150th Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68138 5. The Corporation will have members. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES LISA ROTHSCHADL, Attorney ZIESER & ROTHSCHADL LAW P.O. Box 476 Tyndall, South Dakota 57066-0476 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Bon Homme, South Dakota. PR19-16 Estate of Michael John Sykora, Deceased Notice is given that on the 15th day of October, 2019, Robert Schafer, whose address is 6026 Decatur Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68104 was appointed personal representative of the estate of Michael John Sykora. Creditor of decedent must file their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or their claims may be barred. Claims may be filed with the personal representative or may be filed with the clerk, and a copy of the claim mailed to the personal representative. Dated this 15 day of October, 2019. Robert Schafer, 6026 Decatur Street, Omaha, NE 68104 Heather Humphrey, Bon Homme Clerk of Courts, P.O. Box 6, Tyndall, SD 57066, (605) 589-4215 First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 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 WAITT OPTUM, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Waitt Optum, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 425, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O, 1125 S 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on November 1, 2019. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 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 CROSSON CLASSIC CARS, LLC The name of the Company is Crosson Classic Cars, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1625 North 136th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. 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 November 4, 2019. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 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 GP MED SUPPLY, LLC The name of the Company is GP Med Supply, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 9006 Ohio Street, Suite 1, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. 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 November 5, 2019. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF LAWN ARMOR, LLC Notice is hereby given that LAWN ARMOR, LLC (the "Company"), has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 6308 N. 153rd St., Omaha, NE 68116. The Registered Agent of the Company is Steven P. Ahlf, 11590 West Dodge Road,. Suite 1, Omaha, NE 68154. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Hidden Roots Healing 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 Randall C. Hanson, Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP, 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The company is organized to render the professional service of mental health therapy as a mental health practitioner requiring licensure under the laws of the state of Nebraska, and to render other related services as may be ancillary thereto. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 29, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF AUTHENTIC IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY, L.L.C. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that AUTHENTIC IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY, L.L.C., is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a designated and regis¬tered office at 5910 North 167th Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68116. The affairs of the company are to be conducted by the manager and registered officer, STACY D. THORNE. The Limited Liability Company is organized to transact any and all business, and perform services of every kind and nature whatsoever, which are not inconsistent with law. The Limited Liability Company commenced on October 23, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. STACY D. THORNE, Organizational Member, 5910 North 167th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68116 First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019
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JOHN Q. BACHMAN, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF WESTBURY FARM HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Notice is hereby given of the incorporation of Westbury Farm Homeowners Association under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the Corporation is Westbury Farm Homeowners Association. 2. The Corporation is a mutual benefit corporation. 3. The name of the Corporation’s initial registered agent is John Q. Bachman and the address of the initial registered office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. 4. The names and street addresses of the incorporators are: Gerald L. Torczon, 11205 South 150th Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68138 Jeffery S. Torczon, 11205 South 150th Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68138 5. The Corporation will have members. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that LEELO BUILDING, LLC, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with its designated office at 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The general nature of the business is to engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized. The limited liability company was formed on October 29, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION A M Westroads, Inc., whose registered agent is Syed Ghalib Ali and registered office is 809 S. 70th Plaza, Apt. 9, Omaha, Nebraska 68106, was formed on November 4, 2019 to engage in any lawful business. The corporation has authorized 1,000 shares of capital stock. Thomas E. Whitmore, Incorporator First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Whippourwill, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 5605 S. 126th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The registered agent of the Company is Holly Colling, 5605 S. 126th Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The Company was formed on November 4, 2019. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MAG MANAGEMENT, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MAG Management, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 222 S. 15th Street, Suite 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 NOTICE OF CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF Shaddai Company, LLC A Nebraska Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given that Shaddai Company, LLC, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial designated office of the company in the state of Nebraska is 3815 N 12th Street Lincoln NE 68521. The name and address of the registered agent is AF Bookkeeping Services, Inc, 11811 I Street, STE 204, Omaha, NE 68137. The Certificate of Organization was filed with the State of Nebraska on October 29, 2019. Luis Hong, Organizer First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION Heracles and Red Hawk, LLC (the “Company”), a Nebraska limited liability company, has been dissolved. Persons having claims against the Company shall present them in writing, with the details of any such claim, to Gerald P. Melchior, Jr., at 105 South 9th Street, Suite 804, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. A claim against the Company is barred unless an action to enforce the claim is commenced within five years after the third publication of this notice. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Mr. Picnic, 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 November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 KELLOGG & PALZER, P.C. 10828 Old Mill Road, Suite 6 Omaha, Nebraska 68154-2647 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Company is MARK BUSH HOLDINGS, LLC. 2. The street address of the initial designated office is 4929 North 117th Circle, Omaha, NE, 68164. The registered agent is Mark Bush and the Registered Agent's address is 4929 N. 117th Circle, Omaha, NE 68164. 3. The general nature of the Company is a holding company. 4. The Company commenced on October 30, 2019 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 November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MILLENNIAL IMPACT SIX, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Millennial Impact Six, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 17330 W Center Road, Suite 110-179, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The Registered Agent of the Company is Allyn Elizabeth Johnson, 17330 West Center Rd, Suite 110-179, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MOELLER CONSULTING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Moeller Consulting, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 6109 S. 102nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127. The Registered Agent of the Company is Rodney Moeller, 6109 South 102nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68127. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 IN THE DISTRICT COURT FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY NEBRASKA NOTICE TO DEFENDANTS TO: All Persons Having or Claiming Any Interest in the Following Described Property: All of Lots 1 and 2, Block 9, except the North 47.0 feet of said Lot 1 and the East 12-5/8’ of the North 47.0 feet of said Lot 2, lying in Improvement Association Addition, as surveyed, platted and recorded in Douglas County, Nebraska, Real Names Unknown. You are hereby notified that on the 7th day of November, 2019, Plaintiff, Vincentini Plumbing, Inc., f/d/b/a V & V Construction, Inc., a Nebraska corporation, filed a Complaint in the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska against you and each of you in Case No. CI19-8726, the object and prayer of said Complaint being to obtain a decree of the Court quieting the title of said Plaintiff in and to: All of Lots 1 and 2, Block 9, except the North 47.0 feet of said Lot 1 and the East 12-5/8’ of the North 47.0 feet of said Lot 2, lying in Improvement Association Addition, as surveyed, platted and recorded in Douglas County, Nebraska. The Complaint further prays that you and each of you be forever barred from having or claiming any right, title, interest or ownership in and to said real estate or any part thereof, and for such other and further relief as equity requires. You and each of you are hereby notified that you are required to answer said Complaint on or before the 29th day of December, 2019. VINCENTINI PLUMBING, INC., f/d/b/a V & V CONSTRUCTION, INC., A Nebraska Corp., By: Mark S. Dickhute #17586, 955 No. Adams St., Suite 1, Papillion, Nebraska 68046 Email:dickhutelaw@gmail.com Tel: 402-614-4060 First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 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 CEI INVESTORS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that CEI Investors, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. 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 October 30, 2019. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 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 BOOKSPLUS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that BooksPLUS, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 10830 Old Mill Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. 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 October 30, 2019. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
LEGAL NOTICES KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF AKSARBEN MORTGAGE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Aksarben Mortgage, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 20740 Rawhide Road, 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 limited liability company commenced business on November 1, 2019. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 TIEDEMAN, LYNCH, KAMPFE, McVAY & RESPELIERS, Attorneys 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68106-1045 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that LEELO DINING, LLC, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with its designated office at 6910 Pacific Street, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. The general nature of the business is to engage in any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized. The limited liability company was formed on October 28, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ADVANCED PAIN SOLUTIONS LLC Notice is hereby given that ADVANCED PAIN SOLUTIONS 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 1023 Creighton Rd., Papillion, NE 68046. The agent for service of process for the Company is VW Agents, LLC located at 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of LFM Construction, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is LFM Construction, LLC. Registered agent and office of LFM Construction, LLC at 4161 S 60th Street, Omaha, NE 68117. Initial members: Luis Fernando Mendez Alvarez. 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 November 2019 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: CM's Outdoor Solutions Group Name of Applicant: CM's Mowing Service, Inc. Address: 4604 Aspen Circle Omaha, NE 68157 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: June 1, 2019 General nature of business: lawn landscape, tree, irrigation, hardscape, concrete CHARLES E. MONICO Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative November 22, 2019 Public Notice of Registered Assumed Name Nebraska, Douglas County Please be advised that Rivers, Marcus Alexander, living at 5202 Kansas Avenue, [68104], is the Executor/Beneficiary/Name holder of the business now being carried on at 5202 Kansas Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68104, in the following assumed name, to wit; MARCUS RIVERS; and the nature of the said business is commerce. This statement is to be filed with the clerk of Superior Court of this county, this 31st day of October, 2019. Omaha, Nebraska, Douglas County. File Number: 1114414400029 File Date: 10/29/2019 Status: Active/Good Standing First publication November 22, 2019, final November 29, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), LATRISHLA S HOLLINGSWORTH & THOMAS HOLLINGSWORTH You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 08/21/2019 on Case Number CI19-19179, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $285.35, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 01/06/2020 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly. CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019
NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF A TO Z CLEANING, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that A TO Z CLEANING, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 2030 North 101st Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. The registered agent is BAN IBRAHEEM. The general nature of the business is to operate a general cleaning business, to own, operate and perform services of every kind and nature whatsoever, which are not inconsistent with law, which are necessary, suitable, proper, convenient or expedient to the operation of a general cleaning business. The authorized capital stock is $10,000.00, consisting of 10,000 shares of stock having a par value of $1.00 each, which stock shall be paid for wholly or partly by cash, by labor, by personal property and by real property. The corporation became a corporate body on August 29, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the corporation are to be conducted by a Board of Directors, the number of directors to be provided in the By-Laws, and the officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and such other officers as shall be designated in the By-Laws. ANTHONY L. GROSS, Incorporator CATHERINE L. WHITE, Incorporator 3018 South 87th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF PHARMAFIT USA, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that PHARMAFIT USA, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 15902 Bancroft Court, Apt. #1137, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The registered agent is MOHAMAD JAMAL DOUDI. The general nature of the business is to operate a general vitamin supplement sales business, to own, operate and perform services of every kind and nature whatsoever, which are not inconsistent with law, which are necessary, suitable, proper, convenient or expedient to the operation of a general vitamin supplement sales business. The authorized capital stock is $10,000.00, consisting of 10,000 shares of stock having a par value of $1.00 each, which stock shall be paid for wholly or partly by cash, by labor, by personal property and by real property. The corporation became a corporate body on October 5, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the corporation are to be conducted by a Board of Directors, the number of directors to be provided in the By-Laws, and the officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and such other officers as shall be designated in the By-Laws. ANTHONY L. GROSS, Incorporator CATHERINE L. WHITE, Incorporator 3018 South 87th Street, Omaha, NE 68124 First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), ANITA J MACKINS & ADRIAN T MACKINS You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 07/10/2019 on Case Number CI19-15849, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $193.99, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 12/22/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly. CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), ROBERT F PTACEK You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 08/21/2019 on Case Number CI19-19174, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $446.82, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 12/22/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly. CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), THOMAS O MEINEN You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 07/22/2019 on Case Number CI19-16646, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $292.52, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 12/22/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly. CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), BRANDON M THOMAS You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 08/08/2019 on Case Number CI19-17832, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $469.00, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 12/29/2019 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly. CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019
NOTICE OF DEFAULT You are hereby notified that Ramon Barragon, as Trustor executed and delivered to Robert M. Zuber, Trustee, a Deed of Trust (DOT) where Trustor conveyed the following real property: The North ½ of Lot 14 Block 9 Kountze 4th Addition SUPP, an Addition to the City of Omaha, as Surveyed, Platted, and Recorded in Douglas County Nebraska as security for repayment of a loan which the Trustor obtained from C & S Rentals, LLC, beneficiary of said DOT recorded on January 11, 2008 in the Register of Deeds office of Douglas County Nebraska as Instrument No. 2008003223. Jamie Martinez and Leonel Martinez then purchased the aforementioned real property from Trustor and assumed all responsibilities, obligations, duties, and indebtedness of the DOT and the Promissory Note associated with the DOT as shown and recorded in the Register of Deeds office of Douglas County Nebraska as Instrument No. 2009089672. C & S Rentals, LLC then assigned all its right, title, and beneficial interest in the DOT to Flying Horse, LLC as shown and recorded on January 11, 2017 in Register of Deeds office of Douglas County Nebraska as Instrument No. 2017002934. C & S Rentals, LLC also assigned the Note associated with the DOT to Flying Horse, LLC. Eric T. Dworak is successor Trustee, pursuant to a Substitution of Trustee filed on October 4, 2019 in the Register of Deeds office of Douglas County Nebraska as Instrument No. 2019084266. You are further notified a breach of the obligation for which the trust property was conveyed as security has occurred. The nature of the breach of the obligation secured by the DOT is the failure of the Trustor(s) to pay the Note secured by said DOT when due. The Beneficiary has elected to declare the entire amount of the Promissory Note remaining unpaid, together with any interest due, which is secured by the DOT, herein, due and payable at once. If the breach is not cured within the statutory timeframe allowed for under the Nebraska Trust Deeds Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1001 to 76-1018), the Beneficiary has elected to sell the Trustor's interest in the property and the proceeds thereof to be distributed, all in the manner provided for in the Nebraska Trust Deeds Act. Pursuant to the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are hereby notified that unless you contact the undersigned within thirty days after receipt of this notice to dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this debt will be assumed to be valid. Further, if you notify the undersigned in writing within the same thirty day period that you dispute this debt, or any portion thereof, the undersigned will obtain and send you verification of the debt. Also, if you request in writing within the same thirty day period, the undersigned will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor. THE FORGOING NOTICE IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Dated this 30 day of October, 2019. By: Eric T. Dworak, Trustee Eric T. Dworak, Attorney at law, NSBA#26564 For Tran & Associates Law, LLC, 1910 S. 44 ST, Suite 101, Omaha, NE 68105, 402.885.9919, eric.dworak@tranlg.com First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF VOLANT BUILDING GROUP, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Volant Building Group, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 222 S. 15th Street, Suite 1404S, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 JOHN Q. BACHMAN, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF WESTBURY FARM VILLAS ASSOCIATION Notice is hereby given of the incorporation of Westbury Farm Villas Association under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the Corporation is Westbury Farm Villas Association. 2. The Corporation is a mutual benefit corporation. 3. The name of the Corporation’s initial registered agent is John Q. Bachman and the address of the initial registered office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. 4. The names and street addresses of the incorporators are: Gerald L. Torczon, 11205 South 150th Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68138 Jeffery S. Torczon, 11205 South 150th Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68138 5. The Corporation will have members. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF HOOKS SOLO, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that HOOKS SOLO, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 19102 Q Street, Suite 110-114, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • LEGAL NOTICES LEGACY DESIGN STRATEGIES 9859 South 168th Avenue Omaha, NE 68136 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the Limited Liability Company is HERMAN APARTMENTS, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 105 West 5th Street, Herman, NE 68029. 3. The purpose for which the company is organized is to engage in any and all business which is lawful under the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Nebraska. 4. The company commenced its existence on October 7, 2019, and the period of duration of the Company shall be perpetual. 5. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by its Members in accordance with the company’s operating agreement. Andrew C. Sigerson, P.C., L.L.O. First publication November 1, 2019, final November 15, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JC LAWN AND LANDSCAPING, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that JC Lawn and Landscaping, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 10313 Fowler Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. The Registered Agent of the Company is Jamie Florian, 10313 Fowler Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68134. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF AGAPE COUNSELING, LLC Designated Office: 1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 Initial Agent/Address For Service: Allan M. Ziebarth/1702 S. 10 St., Suite 2, Omaha, NE 68108 First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: FRANCISCO E. HUPP, SR., 1404 Savannah Dr, Papillion NE 68133, you are hereby notified that on September 20, 2019, CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-20885, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $10,556.80, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 13th day of January, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 13, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Corporate Name: Tree of Life Church Type of Corporation: Nonprofit Religious corporation Registered Agent: Tower Kountze Registered Office: 209 South 19th Street, Suite 150, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 68102 Members: Corporation will have Members Incorporator: Tower Kountze, 209 South 19th Street, Suite 150, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 68102 First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 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 THOMPSON SILVER SPUR LODGE, LLC The name of the Company is Thompson Silver Spur Lodge, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 9102 North 225th Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. 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 November 5, 2019. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Corporate Name: The Alec Bohm Foundation Type of Corporation: Public Benefit Registered Agent: Erickson & Sederstrom P.C. a limited liability organization Registered Office: 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 Members: Corporation will not have Members. Incorporator: Daniel I. Dittman, 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 First publication November 8, 2019, final November 22, 2019
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Four Seasons Lawn & Lighting, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 4415 Decatur Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68111. The registered agent of the Company is Thomas E. Whitmore, 7602 Pacific Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was formed on November 12, 2019. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that All Clean, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 4648 Douglas Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68132. The registered agent of the Company is Thomas E. Whitmore, 7602 Pacific Street, Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The Company was formed on November 12, 2019. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Everest Food Service & Catering, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 17207 Shirley Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The registered agent of the Company is Sarita Rai, 17207 Shirley Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. The Company was formed on November 15, 2019. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 BROWN & WOLFF, P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1925 North 120th Street, One Bennington Place Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 186 BASKETBALL FACILITY, LLC NOTICE is hereby given that 186 Basketball Facility, LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of its registered office is 1925 North 120th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The purpose of the Company shall be to have such purposes and to engage in such activities with the exception of banking and insurance 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 on the 24th day of October, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by its Members and/or Managers as set forth in the terms of the company’s Operating Agreement from time to time. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JSPRH ENTERPRISES LLC Notice is hereby given that JSPRH ENTERPRISES 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 1439 S 87th St., Omaha, NE 68124. 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 November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of Cisneros Tree Service, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is Cisneros Tree Service, LLC. Registered agent and office of Cisneros Tree Service, LLC at 1010 S 25th Street, Omaha, NE 68105. Initial members: Luis Alberto CisnerosReyes. 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 November 2019 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 P.O. Box 45947 Omaha, Nebraska 68145 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: LONNIE D. STUBBLEFIELD, 3512 4th Ave,, Council Bluffs IA 51501, you are hereby notified that on October 1, 2019, American Family Mutual Ins. Co., filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI19-21585, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $18,158.56, together with court costs, interest and attorney's fees as allowed by law. Unless you file your Answer with the Douglas County Court on or before the 13th day of January, 2019, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 13, 2019
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DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GCP II 1100 C75, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GCP II 1100 C75, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office address of the Company is 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. The name and address of the registered agent of the Company is Zachary A. Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 ANGELA MADATHIL, Attorney Goosmann Law Firm 17838 Burke St., Suite 250 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION The name of the limited liability company is JCE Apparel LLC. The initial designated and registered office is 6541 Russell Emmett Ct., Papillion, NE 68133. The registered agent is Angela Madathil, c/o Goosmann Law Firm, PLC, 17838 Burke St., Suite 250, Omaha, NE, 68118. The general nature of the business to be transacted is any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act including owning property, and owning/operating day care centers. The Company commenced on November 7, 2019, and its duration is perpetual. The affairs of the Company will be conducted by its Officers. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 RUSSELL J. KREIKEMEIER, Attorney KREIKEMEIER LAW OFFICES 126 East Grove Street West Point, Nebraska 68788 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given of the organization of Stavas Medical Imaging, LLC, with its registered office address at 126 East Grove, West Point, Nebraska 68788 and its principal office location in Omaha, Nebraska. The purpose or purposes for which this Company is formed is to specialize in diagnosing injuries and diseases using medical imaging procedures such as X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and ultrasound; from body imaging to diagnostic radiology, mammography, to molecular medicine/imaging, interventional radiology procedures and medical consulting. The Company will conduct any other matter(s) including the transaction of all or any lawful business or engagement in any commercial venture permitted by the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, as amended, and all other applicable law. The initial capital of the Company has been contributed and evidence of membership in the Company will be issued by the Management Board. The Company commenced doing business on November 6, 2019, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company shall be conducted by a Management Board and such other Officers and Managers as may be provided for in the Operating Agreement of the Company. DATED the 11th day of November, 2019 First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF TRAN TEC, LLC Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Nebraska Limited Liability Company Act, the Certificate of Organization of Tran Tec, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”) has been amended to change the name of the Company to Tran-Tec, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nebraska on November 8, 2019. In all other respects, the Certificate of Organization remains unchanged. First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 NOTICE OF PUBLICATION TO: RODNEY WILSON Jr You are hereby notified that on 06/13/19, the Plaintiff Credit Management Services, Inc., filed a Complaint in the COUNTY Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska, against you shown as Case Number CI19 13104 . The object and prayer of which is a judgment in the amount of 500.00, plus court costs, pre-judgment interest and attorney fees, if applicable. The Complaint prays that judgment be entered against you. You are hereby notified that you must answer the Complaint on or before 01/05/20 at the COUNTY court of DOUGLAS County, OMAHA Nebraska. Edwina Heise #25377 P.O. Box 1512, Grand Island, NE 68802, (308)398-3801 Attorney for Plaintiff First publication November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019 ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TWIN ADVISERS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Twin Advisers, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Company”), has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office at 331 Village Point Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68118 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 November 15, 2019, final November 29, 2019
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that STL Enterprises, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with it's designated office at 19807 Buffalo Road Gretna, NE 68028. It is organized to transact any lawful business for which a Limited Liability Company may be organized under Nebraska laws and it's duration is perpetual commencing from October 1, 2019. It's affairs are to be conducted by the manager Kara Torczon. It's registered agent is Kara Torczon and her office is located at 19807 Buffalo Road, Gretna, NE 68028. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that CBT Custom Dream Homes, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under Nebraska laws, with it's designated office at 19807 Buffalo Road, Gretna, NE 68028. It is organized to transact any lawful business for which a Limited Liability Company may be organized under Nebraska laws and it's duration is perpetual commencing from October 1, 2019. It's affairs are to be conducted by the manager Chris Torczon. It's registered agent is Chris Torczon and his office is located at 19807 Buffalo Road, Gretna, NE 68028. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: CARE - Clinics for Abortion and Reproductive Excellence Name of Applicant: Bellevue Health & Emergency Clinic, Inc. Address: 1002 W Mission Avenue Bellevue, NE 68005 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: healthcare clinic which provides sexual and reproductive healthcare CHELSEA SOUDER Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative November 22, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MCR, LLC Company Name and address: MCR, LLC located at 12105 West O Street, Lincoln NE 68528. Nature of the business: Real estate investments, and engage in any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. Duration: Perpetual Commencement: November 5, 2019 Management: Member managed First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019
Experts speculate on Amazon’s approach to future grocery stores by Benjamin Romano
As Amazon readies its grocery chain, analysts and competitors are trying to predict how the commerce giant will make what many expect to be a major move into the biggest category of retail spending. Picture a grocery store with a miniature Trends version of a highly automated fulfillment center on an upper floor. Robots whiz between tall, narrow shelves, plucking canned goods and boxes of cereal ordered by customers shopping online or in the wide aisles of the fresh market on the floor below. Outside, delivery drivers wait to ferry grocery orders to nearby homes, while other customers drive up to collect their shopping. That’s one industry specialist’s vision for Amazon’s possible approach. It’s an idea already under development by Boston-based Alert Innovation — which has a crucial piece of it, the robots, in use at a Walmart store. Or perhaps Amazon’s new grocery chain will look more like that of German discount grocer Lidl, which takes a no-frills approach, providing low prices and rotating a selection of discounted general merchandise that gives customers a reason to come back regularly in search of deals. The company on Monday confirmed its first standalone grocery store will open next year in suburban Los Angeles. Earlier reports suggest the company has signed leases for more than a dozen other stores, and many industry watchers expect the company to open perhaps a thousand stores across the country in the coming decade. Amazon’s own job listings seek people to lead large-scale programs to support stores offering a “unique customer experience.” But just what that experience will be, Amazon isn’t saying. A company spokesperson said the new grocery store will have a conventional checkout experience, and is neither a version of the
Attention Law Firms
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 GEM HOLDINGS, LLC The name of the Company is GEM Holdings, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 144 Ginger Cove, Valley, Nebraska 68064. The Registered Agent and Office of the Company is: Dick R. Pierson, 144 Ginger Cove, Valley, Nebraska 68064. This limited liability company commenced business on November 19, 2019. First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 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 Greenarrow GP, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, filed its Statement of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on November 14, 2019, 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 Members. If you have a claim against Greenarrow GP, 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 1806 N 169th Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68118. A claim against Greenarrow GP, 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 November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that MPB Real Estate Solutions, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of the Company’s designated office is 16090 Girard Circle, Bennington, NE 68007, and the name of the registered agent at such address is Melissa Haugen. 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 9/30/2019 and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be managed by its members. Patrick Bauer, Member First publication November 22, 2019, final December 6, 2019
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natural and organic Whole Foods chain nor an Amazon Go, the convenience stores that use sensor technology to track customer purchases so they don’t have to wait in line to pay. John Lert, co-founder and CEO of Alert Innovation, said his company’s “Novastore” concept, which it’s developing independent of the robotics work with Walmart, would revolutionize the grocery business, letting customers peruse the fresh foods and produce, while automated systems quickly gather together the packaged foods on their grocery list and fulfill online orders. A crucial piece of the system is the company’s Alphabot, a small robot that would move among the shelves in the store’s micro fulfillment center. Walmart began using these robots earlier this year in its own micro fulfillment center for online orders added to the side of a store in Salem, N.H. The big box retail giant is using other robotic systems for cleaning floors and unloading merchandise at other stores, including in Washington. Walmart and Amazon and other competitors in mass-market grocery are putting together other pieces of a multi-channel grocery strategy using existing stores where employees or gig-economy workers go through picking up orders for online customers. The automation piece is the hardest part, Lert said. The systems have to be cheap and compact enough to install in hundreds or thousands of stores, but also fast and reliable enough to gather items before customers finish selecting their fresh foods in the market below. “There’s never been an automation application that can touch this in terms of complexity and challenge,” said Lert, who began working on grocery store automation in 1994. He said his company could have a working prototype of the Novastore concept in two to four years. If anyone else is poised to do it, it’s Amazon, he said, pointing to its network of increasingly automated large-scale fulfillment centers that use robotics technology first developed by Kiva Systems, which Amazon acquired in 2012. “How far they’ve gotten with solving the automation problem, I don’t know,” Lert said, adding, “when they figure it out, they’re going to build a lot of stores.” Amazon’s existing logistics prowess coupled with the opportunity to build grocery stores in this way from the ground up could give it a huge potential advantage as it vies for a bigger share of the trillion-dollar-plus grocery category. This kind of store-level automation would also extend the company’s fresh foods supply chain much closer to the end customer, facilitating faster grocery delivery. Lert said he expects the total cost of developing and operating an automated, multi-channel grocery store to be lower than that of today’s traditional stores, because they would require less land, parking and human labor, meaning they could sell groceries for lower prices. But no one expects Amazon to limit itself to grocery sales. Mike Trafton, a retired grocery executive from Boise, Idaho, sees another model for Amazon in German discount chain Lidl. He’s been living in Europe for a year, staying at Airbnbs and shopping exclusively at Lidl stores. “Lidl and Aldi” — another discount European grocery chain — “sell huge amounts of general merchandise, appliances, clothing, tools, just stuff that they buy on deals. The customers flock to their stores daily because if you don’t buy it, it’s gone,” Trafton said via e-mail. Amazon, he said, could do something similar. Moreover, the company’s world-leading inventory management systems could help manage out-of-stock items and shrinkage (shoplifting and employee theft), which are “a huge problem in the grocery business,” he said. Amazon’s long-rumored grocery store plans were confirmed in job postings for a single Woodland Hills, Calif., store. In recent months, the company has also posted several other positions related to its launch of “a new Amazon grocery store.” Language in the job listings point to Amazon’s ambition to create a large-scale chain of grocery stores with a “unique customer experience.” The company is seeking managers who “will develop the sourcing and procurement function within central store operations … (and) ensure both efficient store launches and smooth operations.” Other roles include a labor planning expert and several positions to design large-scale digital and physical training programs for grocery store employees. ©2019 The Seattle Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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How is the US economy doing? Here are 5 key signs to watch right now Continued from page 13. the U.S. economy is based off of consumer spending, so growth relies heavily on how willing consumers are to spend. Case in point: The U.S. economy grew by 1.9% in the third quarter of 2019. Net exports and private, fixed investments and inventories weighed on growth, but the U.S. consumer kept it on solid footing. That’s because consumption grew by 2.9 percent, contributing more to growth than any other category. “The consumer has been a big part of this story,” Anderson says. “They’re definitely the bright spot still.” It’s largely been the same story for U.S. retail sales, which jumped in July by the most in four months. After several months of volatility, retail sales grew for six straight months, offering economists a sigh of relief. But then in
VCA MidWest expanding Continued from page 11. highest,” Burwell said, especially for emergency doctors. She cited student debt load versus earning potential as a contributing factor, along with the practice of euthanasia to take away pain for pets and potential guilt associated with ending a pet’s life, and angry or negative online reviews from clients who don’t always understand the costs associated with veterinary care. “How we overcome that — that’s the challenge,” she said. “And we don’t just sit here and wallow. How we overcome is we try to overcommunicate what we’re doing.” For example, doctors and staff check in on each other often and have counseling staff on call and an employee assistance program. “It’s something that you integrate into your daily working life,” Bates said. Further, there are patient coordinators who call clients or communicate via a text messaging app called Woof to give updates about their pet’s health and/or financial status. VCA MidWest has partnered with Care Credit and One Main Financial to help clients with financing and works within the client’s financial parameter and respects their wishes. “I think some people are like, they just want my money, when in reality we just want what’s best, and sometimes that’s expensive,” Burwell said. “We may recommend a CT … we have a mechanical ventilator just like in human hospitals and that’s $1,500 a day just for the vent, not for medications or anything like that.” People today are willing to spend more money on their pets and want human-grade health services and diagnostics, but without insurance, the actual cost of care is high. Burwell said that unlike in the U.K., which boasts about a 90% insured rate of pets, only 10% of people have pet insurance in the U.S. “If people actually saw their cost of care — I’m a kidney donor, and my surgery was around $350,000 just to donate a kidney,” she said. “I didn’t have to pay for anything, but dollar to dollar, that’s how much it would have cost.” MidWest VCA collaborates with other primary care veterinarians in the community and offers continuing education classes for both licensed technicians and veterinarians. The hospital also partners with local rescue organizations, various animal organizations and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. “It’s their animals,” Bates said. “We work with their team. They bring their pets and we do the diagnostic and they do their animal specialty.”
September, retail sales unexpectedly fell, making economists worry that the U.S. economy’s bright spot may now be dimming. 3. Consumer confidence is showing signs of softening That drop could have been foreshadowed in reports about U.S. consumers’ sentiment, which have softened throughout the latter half of 2019. After reaching a more than two-year low following the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, consumers’ confidence rebounded, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index. In August, however, it plummeted even further than that January low, after fresh escalations to the U.S.-China trade war caused jitters. President Donald Trump on Aug. 1 announced that he’d slap tariffs on an additional round of imports from China, fueling market volatility. In the preliminary reading of the report, consumers were also worried about the expansion’s future after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in more than a decade. “Consumers strongly reacted to the proposed September increase in tariffs on Chinese imports,” said Richard Curtin, who leads the survey, in a statement accompanying the preliminary reading, released Aug. 16, while “the main takeaway for consumers from the first cut in interest rates in a decade was to increase apprehensions about a possible recession.” That doesn’t bode well for the future of consumer spending, Curtin said, with consumers concluding that they may “need to reduce spending in anticipation of a potential recession.” Sentiment in October edged up, rising to a three-month high. But Curtin in the release said that all eyes will be focused on the “potential threats to their prevailing optimism.” “Consumers really were a more optimistic bunch last year, and that carried over into this year as well,” Anderson says. “But the consumer isn’t immune to these confidence effects. We’ll see that more as data comes in. As soon as you start to see the market volatility hitting people’s 401(k) or see more visible layoffs and less hiring, consumers are going to have a rethink.” 4. Trade wars are causing a slowdown in business investment, manufacturing That’s not the only aspect of the U.S. economy struggling to parse through trade disputes. Manufacturing activity is contracting, with the Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing manager index registering below 50 for the third-straight month. A Federal Reserve gauge of industrial production has also dropped off after peaking in Dec. 2018 at 110.6. Between then and Sept. 2019, the most recent reading, production has fallen for two straight months to 109.5. With the current declines, it’s safe to say we can call this a global manufacturing recession, says Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM.
Diaz pursues life’s work Continued from page 10. community for a long time. “Belonging to the board of the Nebraska Healthcare Association has taught me so much. They’ve taught me how to truly see things from a legislative standpoint, keeping track of legislation that is going to affect seniors. The experience has taught me how to advocate more strongly, really doing what’s right for the residents and families of the people we serve.” Diaz graduated from Bellevue University in 2012 with a degree in health care management.
That comes with implications for the broader U.S. economy. “All the janitors, all the window washers, accountants — you go through and think about what it takes to maintain a factory,” Brusuelas says. “We’re concerned that the manufacturing recession will spill over into the service sector area because of the unusually large contribution the manufacturing sector makes toward the establishment and support of service sector jobs.” Businesses are also holding back on making investments. During the third quarter of 2018, private, fixed investment contributed 2.27 percentage points to gross domestic product. It’s since moderated, and shaved more than 1 percentage point off of growth in the second quarter of 2019. By the third quarter, however, it trimmed 0.2 percentage points. Businesses and producers are set back by the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, as well as a slowdown in the broader global economy. Though much about trade policy is up in the air, minutes from the Fed’s July 30-31 rate-setting meeting show that businesses throughout the country are operating under the assumption that these disputes won’t get resolved. “The causal linkage is that trade policy is imposing an uncertainty tax on the economy,” Brusuelas says. “Firms are now exceptionally concerned about the direction of that policy. Therefore, they’re pulling back on investments. If they don’t make those investments, productivity slows, hiring slows, and compensation begins to fall back.” 5. Financial conditions are improving after Fed comes to rescue Most economists would say that the markets aren’t the U.S. economy — but right now, financial conditions are an important part of the narrative. It’s been a rocky year. The 10-year, 2-year Treasury yield curve inverted Aug. 14 for the first time since the financial crisis, a recession indicator that’s widely watched by markets and economists. Markets took a beating Aug. 1 after fresh escalations in the U.S.-China trade dispute. They were also already down on July 31, after investors struggled to interpret Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments about future Fed moves. “Financial conditions are becoming much more important now,” Brusuelas says. “Excluding housing and tech, financial conditions are negative. They’re a drag on growth. When you get that sort of volatility in financial markets that we’ve seen caused by the trade wars and tariffs, upper and middle-income households are notoriously sensitive to swings in equity prices. It will tend to slow the pace of spending.” The picture might be getting better, at least as of late. The Fed on Oct. 30 cut rates for the third time this year and signaled that they thought rates were now in an “appropriate” place, meaning officials now prefer to wait-andsee before making any further moves. But when asked about the likelihood of the Fed getting back to hiking rates again, Powell indicated that there’s a high bar. “We would need to see a really significant move up in inflation that’s persistent before we would consider raising rates to address inflation concerns,” Powell said at the press conference. That hasn’t happened much throughout the current expansion, with inflation trailing the Fed’s 2% target most of the time. As a result, markets believed that the Fed hiking rates was close to impossible. At the same time, the U.S.-China trade war
appears to be moderating, helping send the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite to their highest levels on record. Officials are nearing the early stages of a “Phase One” trade deal, and Beijing and Washington are considering rolling back tariffs to pave the way, according to The Wall Street Journal. That’s helped the yield curve, with both spreads curves uninverting. A TALE OF TWO ECONOMIES It’s a “tale of two economies right now,” Brusuelas adds. “The American consumer is propping us up,” but other aspects, such as investment and manufacturing, are weakening. “What’s driving things? It’s obviously trade policy,” Brusuelas says. “The best thing for the U.S. economy right now would be for President Trump to say that the trade balance has narrowed, declare victory and end the trade war.” Even though the majority of the slowdown so far is happening among manufacturers, it’s still worth keeping an eye on, Anderson says. “In economics, we track cyclical sectors — or sectors that tend to go up and down with the business cycle. Some of the most sensitive to overall economic activity are manufacturing,” Anderson says. “Those sectors tend to move first in a downturn. The timing can vary; these things don’t happen overnight, but I think the trends are in motion in that direction, as long as this uncertainty continues to escalate from the trade war.” Powell in his October press conference said risks to the outlook have “moved in a positive direction,” later adding that change was mostly because of the trade war. But even though risks appear to have moderated, they’re not yet fully resolved. If the trade war deepens, Powell has said before that he doesn’t know how much monetary policy can aid the problem, according to a speech at a policy symposium in Wyoming. There are “no recent precedents to guide any policy response to the current situation,” Powell said. “Monetary policy is a powerful tool that works to support consumer spending, business investment and public confidence, it cannot provide a settled rulebook for international trade.” “They’re not making a lot of promises that the Fed is going to be all that effective to offset the risks from the trade war,” Anderson says. “What I worry (about) is, we don’t have the right tools or enough tools in place, both in fiscal and monetary policy, to handle a sharp recession. The Fed can soften the impact, but whether they can stop this freight train is another story.” BOTTOM LINE It’s a good time to start preparing for the end of the business cycle, Brusuelas says. For consumers, that means paying down high-cost debt, boosting your emergency savings and identifying ways that you can cut back in the event of a sudden loss of income. A recession, however, doesn’t look like it’s immediately around the corner, Anderson says. But a growth slowdown and market volatility is to be expected more than 10 years into the economic expansion as market participants navigate choppy waters from the trade war that can change any given day. “We’re in a fragile situation,” Anderson says. “The consumer has a lot of momentum, and it would take several months for further weakening to get to the danger zone in terms of economic growth, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be there a year or a year-and-a-half down the road. It’s getting harder and harder to point to what the good news is.” ©2019 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
UPCOMING
SECTIONS
IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL
NOVEMBER 29
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MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
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CONVENTIONS, MEETINGS & TRADESHOWS
DECEMBER 6
EXECUTIVE GIFT GUIDE
SARPY COUNTY GROWTH REPORT
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REGIONAL LANDSCAPES
Briefs…
Werner Enterprises was recognized as a 2019 Top 100 Trucker by Inbound Logistics for the fourth consecutive year. The Top 100 Truckers list is a resource guide that provides an in-depth index of carriers that match shippers’ diverse needs. Each year, Inbound Logistics selects the leading transportation providers after evaluating credentials, conducting personal interviews and completing online research. This year, Inbound Logistics editors selected the Top 100 from more than 300 service providers. The professional accounting firm formerly known as Fuhrman, Smolsky, and Furey, P.C. (FS&F) celebrated a one-year anniversary of its merger with HBE LLP by hosting a ribbon cutting with the Greater Omaha Chamber. The merger, which occurred in October 2018, united the FS&F partners and staff under the HBE brand, broadening the combined firm’s statewide presence and strengthening its accounting and financial management services in the Omaha market. It continues to serve clients from its existing office, located at 9802 Nicholas St. in Omaha. Two Omaha dessert companies, eCreamery Ice Cream and Gelato and Carson’s Cookie Fix, have merged into one specialty food gift operation. The new partnership combines the expertise of both companies in frozen specialty desserts and gourmet baking into a one-stop shop for customers looking for unique and customizable gifts for personal and business gift-giving. Personalized gifts are available for purchase online and at two locations in Omaha — eCreamery at 50th and Underwood streets and at Carson’s Cookie Fix at 114th and Dodge streets. Future plans include an expanded product line and a new website. Farmers across the U.S. and Canada can access advanced technology for marketing their grain more effectively and improving profitability when GrainBridge introduces STRATUM, a new digital platform, in the first quarter of 2020. Currently, farmers must rely on multiple applications and data points to track inputs, production and marketing activities. With STRATUM, farmers will be able to retrieve their respective agribusiness accounts so they can obtain location information, prices, grain contracts, and payment information, as well as enter into and manage grain contracts. The system currently includes more than 400 grain-buying locations. The Sarpy Chamber recognized outstanding members of the Sarpy County business community and celebrated another year of significant growth. Midwest Medical Billing was named New or Emerging Business of the Year. Moving Veterans Forward and Midlands Community Foundation tied for Nonprofit of the Year. Adams & Sullivan P.C., LLO took the title of Business of the Year 1-24 Employees. Omaha Performing Arts has changed its logo and look as part of an organization-wide branding process. The new branding system is designed to inspire a bold, artistic and flexible approach while providing a uniform method of identification. Pentagram, the world’s largest independent design studio, created the new system. The team reviewed processes and materials of the organization’s four core entities: Omaha Performing Arts, Ticket Omaha, Holland Performing Arts Center and the Orpheum Theater. Each entity
name contains an integral piece to the new brand - the letter “O”, a circular letter that represents community relationships and signals community as the heart of O-pa. The National Institute of Justice is drawing on University of Nebraska at Omaha’s expertise to support new efforts in evidence-based policing. Justin Nix, Ph.D., assistant professor in UNO’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, is one of four experts participating in the first year of the NIJ’s new Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science Academics program. The role will connect Nix with officers from around the country with the goal of sparking new research and encouraging information sharing between law enforcement and scholars. More than half the victims of domestic violence suffer from brain injury, according to a recent study conducted for the Brain Injury Alliance-Nebraska in partnership with the University of Nebraska and community organizations. Findings suggest that cognitive functioning is negatively affected by domestic-violence related brain injury, which often goes unidentified. The Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska led the two-year Brain Injury and Domestic Violence: Making the Connection and Improving Care project, which was funded by an $85,000 grant from the Women Investing in Nebraska and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Office of Injury Prevention. Omaha Public Power District is planning for the future, taking into account a rapidly changing energy landscape, the need to maintain the reliability and resiliency of the electric system, while accommodating the needs of growing communities. OPPD senior management made several key recommendations to the utility’s board of directors, including building hundreds of megawatts of utility-grade solar in what would become the largest solar presence in the state, along with natural gas backup. The proposal also includes modernizing some of OPPD’s natural gas assets. OPPD may also pursue adding voltage-support devices as the grid continues to evolve. V2verify was one of six companies selected from a pool of over 500 applicants to be part of Dreamit’s 2019 Fall Cohort. The Dreamit Cohort is a powerful group of companies that are solving challenges in cyber and physical security. Dreamit has accelerated more than 320 startups that collectively have gone on to raise more than $800 million and have a combined value of over $2 billion. Prime Therapeutics LLC, a pharmacy benefit manager serving more than 28 million members nationally, is moving its Omaha, Nebraska office to a newly renovated facility less than a block from its previous office. Prime’s 250 Omaha-based personnel will enjoy modern workspaces with state-of-theart amenities.
Health care notes…
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska has expanded Medicare Advantage coverage to 11 additional counties in Nebraska. The new counties are Buffalo, Hall, Adams, Hamilton, Merrick, Madison, Platte, Polk, York, Johnson and Nemaha. Medicare eligible residents in 26 Nebraska counties can select affordable plans with prescription drug coverage plus a new over-the-counter benefit in 2020. Plans include dental, hearing, vision and other benefits like a Silversneakers gym membership. Travel Continued on next page.
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. benefits are available too. Also new for 2020, a PPO plan that will have in and out-of-network copays. Fall Medicare Open enrollment continues to Dec. 7. On July 1, the first State of Nebraska employees who elected to enroll in a membership direct primary care practice through Strada Healthcare began using the services for their primary health care. The state offered this new option for employees who live or work in or near communities with DPC providers including the Omaha area, Lincoln, Norfolk, Kearney and Scottsbluff. The State of Nebraska offered eligible employees Strada Healthcare membership within several health benefits package options during the open enrollment period. It’s part of a program made possible last year when Nebraska lawmakers passed LB1119 to create a pilot program offering DPC to state employees. The program is anticipated to expand. Omaha-based Dial Senior Living acquired Orchard Gardens Assisted Living in Valley, Nebraska. Under Dial’s umbrella of care, Orchard Gardens will be offered as an assisted living community, providing seniors with the ability to live their lives independently, combined with a personalized level of assistance and support. Nursing services will allow residents to age in place. Apartment homes will be updated to feature quartz countertops, new cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, laminate flooring, upscale carpeting, and more. Additional changes include renovated common areas and a dining room that offers restaurant-style meals prepared under the direction of a chef.
Education notes…
The American College of Physicians has elected Dave O’Dell, M.D., of Omaha, as a recipient of its highest awards — the Mastership and the Dr. Jane F. Desforges Distinguished Teaching Award. O’Dell is a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine Division of General Internal at UNMC. The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing has received a grant designed to improve the health and well-being of military veterans. The Health Resources Services Administration three-year grant for $1.36 million will focus on recruiting more military veterans into the college’s bachelor’s degree in nursing program, provide pre-admission, as well as resources to facilitate student success. The grant also will educate nursing students and practicing nurses on the unique health needs of veterans and military members. The grant, which begins July 1, 2020, is focused on primary care nursing for chronic disease prevention and management, including mental health and substance use disorders. The University of Nebraska at Omaha has been nationally recognized as a top destination for military-affiliated students and their families. Military Times ranked UNO third nationally among four-year institutions on its Best for Vets: Colleges 2020 rankings. UNO has been consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally since 2012. UNO’s commitment to serving its military students is reflected by the number of military students who call UNO home. More than 1,700 military-affiliated students are currently enrolled at UNO. The University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha have launched a dual-degree Master of Science in Nursing Leadership/Master of
Business Administration. Applications are being accepted now. The UNMC/UNO collaboration, part of the University of Nebraska’s continuing effort to address workforce in the state, is targeted to registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The dual degree requires 56 credit hours, which includes 22 credit hours of the business graduate degree program and 34 of the graduate nursing program focused on leadership. The program, which includes practicum hours, can be completed full-time or part-time. Grants awarded by the Community Health Endowment will enable local health care providers to prescribe exercise to their patients through the BikeLNK bike share program and will support collaboration among local organizations that provide mentoring. At its most recent meeting, the CHE board of trustees approved grants totaling up to $324,494 for year one and $560,589 over three years. Other grants include: TeamMates of Lincoln, El Centro de las Americas, Malone Community Center, Asian Community and Cultural Center, and the Good Neighbor Center, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, HopeSpoke, Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools and Friendship Home.
Activities of nonprofits…
Midlands Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $97,301 to nonprofit organizations including: Assistance League of Omaha, Assure Women’s Center, Autism Action Partnership, Banister’s Leadership Academy, Bellevue Fire Department, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, College Possible, Common Fund of the Heartland, Happy Paws, Greater Omaha Attendance & Learning Services Center, Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy, Kids Can Community Center, Latino Center of the Midlands, Nebraska Children’s Home Society, Nebraska Mission of Mercy, Omaha Performing Arts, OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc., Papillion Area Historical Society, Radio Talking Book Service, Sarpy Community YMCA, Twin Ridge Elementary PTA, and Village of Elmwood Nebraska. Youth Emergency Services has received two $200,000 three-year federal grants from the Family and Youth Services Bureau from Runaway and Homeless Youth funding for both its Transitional Living Program and Maternity Group Home. The funds support YES’ TLP and MGH by providing housing for homeless youth and funding prevention and self-sufficiency initiatives to eventually help these youth live independently and safely. The grant for MGH will allow YES to continue to serve 45 homeless or near- homeless mothers and their children
per year over the next three year, helping them become more self-sufficient. Pottawattamie County Community Foundation announced its newly acquired affiliate, TS Community Foundation. The announcement was held during TS Community Foundation’s 20th Anniversary ribbon cutting. As an affiliate of PCCF, TS Community Foundation will continue to assist and grow its donors and organizations in the area and will also gain the internal strength and strategic vision, community insights, and leverage of the national accreditation and Endow Iowa tax credit capability that Pottawattamie County Community Foundation provides.
Arts and events…
Omaha Performing Arts announced plans to expand its campus, pending funding, by constructing a live music venue, which will be located from Dodge Street to Capitol Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street. Months of identified a performing arts gap for groups who are currently bypassing Omaha because of the lack of a downtown music venue to accommodate their audiences. Fundraising is underway to cover the costs of the $109 million facility, with a goal of opening in early 2023. United Way of the Midlands and the Omaha Federation of Labor will co-host the first annual Blue Collar Boxing event on Nov. 27. During Blue Collar Boxing, amateur boxers from more than 20 local labor unions will face
off in the boxing ring. Nearly 7,000 people are expected to attend this event, which will take place in the Baxter Arena. Proceeds from Blue Collar Boxing will be donated to United Way of the Midlands and the Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education. Families and individuals from across the metro area are invited to kick off the holiday season Nov. 27 at Shadow Lake Towne Center. Starting that evening at 6 p.m., participants will enjoy a parade followed by the ceremonial lighting of the center’s iconic holiday tree in the center of Main Street. Parade attendees will enjoy live performances from the SNJ Singers, Bellevue West ROTC, Papillion/La Vista South High School Titan Marching Band, award-winning Stepper-ettes Baton & Dance, and many more. Miss Nebraska, Allie Swanson, will be making an appearance in the parade, along with various popular characters, and Santa Claus. The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s outdoor ice skating rink will open Nov. 29 and remain open through Feb. 2. The outdoor rink, which is open to the public, is located just east of 42nd Street, midway between Emile Street and Dewey Avenue on the north side of the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education. Admission is $5, which includes skates (cash or credit card only — no checks or debit cards). The public admission rate has been lowered by $2 this year.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
November 22, 2019
Firms balance technology, talent needs alongside diverse project stakeholders by Michelle Leach
Firmwide initiatives are reinforcing and reflecting industrywide transformation, while projects and partnerships are transforming the region’s landscape as investments in the future. “The architecture/construction business in Omaha/Council Bluffs is thriving and this trend does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon,” said HGM Associates Project Manager, Architect and LEED Accredited Professional Kim Bogatz. “Everyone in this industry seems to be saying the same thing: ‘We are busy.’” H G M ’s p r o j Wieseman ects range from a 2,000-square-foot office remodel to Iowa Western Community College’s 92,000-square-foot indoor turf/ wellness facility. “We do not have types of projects that keep us busy,” she said. “But our range of experience and services we offer is what keeps our team present.” BVH Architecture Business Development Strategist and Principal Corey Wieseman referred to diversification across sectors, and exploration of new geographies to diversify its service area. “The K-12 industry is becoming a bit more challenging because of agriculture and corn prices,” he said. “In rural Nebraska, it becomes a little more challenging
HGM Associates' Project Manager and Architect Kim Bogatz at the recently completed Dr. John W. and Jean Marshall Wellness Center at Iowa Western Community College. because those areas are heavily based on areas, represents another busy sector driven the success of ag … If the farming com- by favorable interest rates, alongside hismunity is doing well, it’s easier to pass toric preservation (i.e. county courthouses). referendums.” Where there are challenges, there are Wieseman referenced long development opportunities, Wieseman said; for instance, opportunities with school consolidation and automation and artificial intelligence facilia community retaining its identity in the tate new design, but may eliminate the need face of school closures; similarly, fund- for people and could present revenue losses ing-related challenges abound with state of 25% to 30%. government projects, while multi-family, “As efficiencies are gained, we may lose particularly in Omaha and Lincoln metro revenues,” he said.
Enter Layer, a sister company whose focus is illustrated via BVH’s 10-year Nebraska State Capitol Building restoration project to document conditions in each of the Capitol’s hundreds of rooms. “We created an app that allowed us to provide direct information into a room and to tag information specific to a room,” Wieseman said. “It helps us organize, catalog and document for the owner’s use.” Tech meets talent, as Wieseman referenced success in securing “boomerang” Nebraska natives who spread their wings elsewhere and later return to the nest. “I have a lot of friends in competing firms and, even though we compete, we’re still friends,” he said. “The last thing we want to do is to ‘rob’ [employees]. It creates a vicious circle. We’re looking for the right employees to maintain and support the firm culture.” To specific prominent projects, OJB Landscape Architecture was awarded the Riverfront Revitalization Master Plan contract in fall 2016. “We joined our designer-partners in a 15-month development process, workshopping conceptual ideas and plans for nearly 200 acres along the Missouri riverfront,” said Managing Principal Kyle Fiddelke. “These included the River ’s Edge in Council Bluffs along with Lewis and Clark Landing, Heartland of America Park, and Gene Leahy Mall in Omaha.” Shepherded by a committee of stakeholders and city reps, the best use — from programming, design and financial standpoints — was identified, according to Continued on next page.
Architecture •
Project stakeholders
Continued from preceding page. Fiddelke, who said that OJB is involved designing three park areas and working drawings. The final design and permitting for all areas are slated within the next 12 months. “The design team continues to meet every three to four weeks with MECA [Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority], the city of Omaha and the Riverfront working group to review the latest plans, discuss new opportunities and hurdles,” Fiddelke said. “Given the urban nature of this project, there are numerous existing conditions and obstacles that need to be worked through.” He said they’re collaborating with agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, and Union Pacific Railroad on how to overlay design concepts and ideas within the area’s environmental and physical constraints, while prioritizing safety and usability. Demolition and grading at Gene Leahy Mall will continue into Heartland of America Park through 2020, as OJB works with HDR and the design team on preparing the site for varied amenities, and with MECA to develop activities, events, and programs. HGM’s Bogatz spotlighted its work on Iowa Western Community College’s 92,000-square-foot Dr. John and Jean Marshall Wellness Center; the 86,000-squarefoot Kinney Hall Technology Building; and a 40,000-square-foot football and wrestling building (locker rooms, practice area, coaching offices), as well Council
Bluffs Community School District’s renovations at Thomas Jefferson High School and Abraham Lincoln High school for its Trades Academy. “We see a huge benefit in not only providing students with an opportunity to have a well-paying job right of high school, but also these students can be contributors in helping the labor shortage in these trades,” Bogatz said. “Every day we see in our industry the effect the shortage of workers in all of these trades is having on the construction industry. Having a shortage in labor can cause construction costs to go up for our clients and the craftsmanship on building projects starts to drop.” As part of its referendum project, Omaha Public Schools and BVH partnered on a transition program designed to assist young adults with special needs after they graduate from high school, according to Wieseman, who also referenced BVH’s work on rebuilding the Nebraska National Guard’s Camp Ashland post-flooding. “Communities are often defined by their public spaces and the amenities that they provide to residents and visitors, whether it’s Millennium Park in Chicago, Klyde Warren Park in in Dallas or The High Line in New York, the commitment to these public spaces have been transformative in the perception of these cities’ identities and have greatly enhanced the social and economic value of their communities,” said OJB’s Fiddelke. “The Riverfront is an investment for the Greater Omaha region and will be a catalyst for both residential and economic growth in the core of the city attracting residents, jobs and other cultural amenities back into the heart of the community.”
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Architecture
Environmental considerations now standard in projects, say architects
Brittany Miller, AIA, with Holland Basham Architects.
by Dwain Hebda attract investors provides additional incentives The environmental impact of materials for companies to incorporate environmental and design in construction is fast becoming design into the planning of their spaces.” standard considerations in building projects, Miller said environmentally-friendly deand is a competitive differentiator among sign includes both how the building operates firms, demonstrating it is possible as well as impacting the behaviors to do well by doing good. of the people within the structure. “Environmentally conscious “An emerging trend in current design is discussed on almost evtechniques for sustainable design ery project regardless if LEED acgoes far beyond the built environcreditation is a specific goal for the ment to encourage modifications to client,” said Brittany Miller, AIA, behavior to reduce each individuwith Holland Basham Architects. al’s carbon footprint,” she said. “A client’s interest in sustainable “Examples include incorporating design typically aligns with the easy access to recycling areas, overall vision for the project to limiting disposable food containers augment the client’s company in break rooms and restricting hazWollenburg culture. ardous cleaning products.” “Investors are becoming inMaterials have also evolved considerably creasingly interested in companies that pro- when it comes to sustainability and other green mote environmental practices. The ability to building concepts, starting with analysis of what goes into building products. “Understanding embodied carbon in the materials we use is one of the first steps [toward environmental sustainability],” said Brent Wollenburg, architect with RDG. “Embodied carbon emissions from just the building materials and construction process produce 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Building operations account for an additional 28% of global greenhouse gas emissions.” One specific example of a greener trend is mass-timber construction, which replaces much of the steel, iron and concrete with wood. “Steel, iron, and concrete production make up the majority of the building’s materials and construction CO2 emissions,” Wollenburg said. “Mass-timber construction is a way to go carbon negative as sustainable wood production can sequester carbon by effectively removing CO2 from the environment. “Mass-timber doesn’t mean that you’re limited to a building that looks like a mountain lodge or old warehouse. Mass-timber construction can be designed to exceed well over a dozen stories [and] is quite fire resistant due Continued on next page.
Architecture •
In partnership with Omaha Public Power District, The Weitz Company has begun construction work to build the geothermal heating and cooling system for the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Mammel Hall addition. (Courtesy of Holland Basham Architects)
Environmental standard
Continued from preceding page. to its member sizing and construction, while exceeding many code requirements.” Jesse Turck, architect with BWBR and a specialist in sustainability and performance design, said codes and permitting have also evolved to demonstrate a greater sensitivity to the environmental impact of buildings. “Building codes are becoming more stringent from an energy standpoint in every version,” he said. “Nebraska recently adopted the 2018 version of the International Building Code, which mandates a building energy efficiency improvement of approximately 8% over the 2012 version. “BWBR, as have many architecture firms, adopted the AIA 2030 Commitment that is pushing for a carbon neutral standard for all
new structures and renovations by 2030, with these spaces using no greenhouse gas emitting energy to operate.” Turck said there are many trends in materials and design practices that bode well for meeting this goal. “Renewable energy has decreased in price dramatically over the last decade and is playing an increasing role in building design,” he said. “Roof-mounted solar panels are now a common occurrence. We design our roofs to accommodate solar panels in the future; if they aren’t in the plan in the near term, they likely will be installed over the life of the building. Building scale battery technology is also coming of age, which will make storage and use of renewable energy much easier. It is an exciting time to be working on the built environment that works well with the natural environment.”
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Architecture
Renovation, reuse of Omaha buildings a trend that isn’t going away anytime soon by Gabby Christensen
When it comes to renovating an older building for a new use, it can sometimes be hard to picture the outcome. However, experts say that salvaging history is well worth it in the
end, and more people are starting to realize the importance. Eileen Korth, architect at Jackson Jackson & Associates, said there is an emerging awareness and understanding that it makes environmental
Eileen Korth, architect at Jackson Jackson & Associates. She said the firm has completed numerous sense to reuse the embodied energy of an existbuilding renovation projects with Nebraska ing building. “More than their predecessors, members State Colleges, Peru State College, Wayne State of generations Y and Z have a desire to make a College and various financial institutions. positive impact on the world, and companies are taking note,” she said. “Building renovation speaks to many of the environmental causes they are passionate about including energy conservation and recycling.” According to Korth, older buildings Lund von Gillern Field can sometimes have opportunities for higher ceiling and larger Jay Lund, principal at GreenSlate Develvolumes, if companies are willing to expose opment, said bringing the Historic Blackstone the structure and other infrastructure, which Hotel back to life has been a dream come true. is a plus. “The rich history of this building and its significance to Omaha is incredible and what we are creating will be remembered for many generations to come,” he said. Lund said the renovation of the Blackstone Hotel is the culmination of over seven years of redevelopment of the Blackstone District. “We believe that the smaller the spaces are, the better they are,” he said. “We also design smaller living spaces to make them as affordable as possible. Most people prefer to spend time outside of their apartments and that is why they choose to live in this part of town.” Lund said mixing new construction with old buildings is how cities can — and should — develop and evolve over time. “Omaha is thriving and seeing historic neighborhoods renovate the existing building stock with a mix of new, modern construction is very exciting for us,” he said. Brad von Gillern, CEO of Lueder Construction, said the company is currently working on a number of large projects in the Omaha metro. “From the renovation of the original Woodmen of the World building into the Peregrine Hotel downtown, to the Blackstone Hotel in the thriving Blackstone District, to the new BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover and Mini Dealership in the Heartland Preserve (Boys Town) development, we have the town pretty well covered,” von Gillern said. He said the renovations for the Blackstone Hotel, which is set to open in spring 2020, includes 205 guest rooms, several restaurants, a swimming pool in a resort-style Continued on next page.
Architecture •
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
Shortage of architects makes for competitive job market by David Kubicek
Thanks to a strong economy, there is a slight shortage of experienced architects, which has created a competitive job market. “If the economy were on a downturn, there probably would be enough [architects], but the economy looks good,” said Calvin Hinz, president of CLH Architects. “People are building. We’re busy doing VA work all over the country.” Dan Kerns, senior project architect and project manager at Schemmer, agreed. “If you’re good and happy where you are, then you’re likely highly compensated,” he said. “Also, I think most firms with comparable employee numbers offer about the same level of benefits and salaries. That makes it harder for people to make a career change.” When interviewing job candidates, Hinz looks for architects who have three or four years of practical work experience, preferably in health care, which makes up the bulk of the firm’s work.
Renovation, reuse
Continued from preceding page. setting and almost 11,000 square feet of meeting space including the restored rooftop Grand Ballroom. Curt Field, architect/project manager at Prochaska & Associates, said commercial remodeling has increased over new commercial construction, with new buildings often more restricted to infill projects in older neighborhoods. Field said design trends for the inner commercial areas seem to all be following more of an urban eclecticism theme.
“If we’re looking for a lead architect, we’d check to see if they’re registered,” he said. Curtis A. Johnson, principal and central region leader at DLR Group, said the firm looks for job candidates with a passion for design and how design can influence communities and verbal and non-verbal presentation skills. “[They must have] a commitment to licensure and/or documenting their path to licensure,” he said. “We look at their experience level and Hinz types of projects in their portfolio, cultural fit with DLR Group, and if they have interests outside of our profession.” “At Schemmer, we look for good people that want to grow and be challenged as architects,” Kerns said. “We want creative According to Field, the firm has redeveloped several older retired Omaha Public Schools buildings into apartments, and has also spent significant effort on re-development of the P.E. Iler Building in the Old Market area, also into apartments, as well as the historic Prague Hotel on South 13th Street. “Renovating older, less appealing neighborhoods should always be one of the top priorities of healthy cities, and therefore, of their design/ construction communities,” he said. “The public has now embraced the trendy building design looks, and the commercial neighborhood ‘personalities’ achieved by the Benson, Dundee, Old Market and Little Bohemia areas.”
problem solvers who strive to practice their craft at a high level. We also look for people that not only want to excel in their professional life, but they want to excel in their personal life. You need to balance work with life.”
Kerns Johnson In Nebraska, the basic steps for initial licensure as an architect are graduation from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or meeting the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) education standard and completing the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) or its equivalent as determined and verified
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by NCARB. “Most licensure candidates will complete the AXP by reporting a minimum of 3,740 required professional hours across six experience areas,” Johnson said. “[Candidates must] pass all sections of the NCARB Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and pass an exam on the Nebraska statutes and rules.” Kerns said that although the NCARB has established the base standards for licensure in the United States, some states have a few extra requirements, but most follow a threestep process — education, experience and examination. “For education, you need an accredited architectural degree,” he said. “In most cases, this is a master’s degree. For the experience, there are specific rules and regulations on what type and how much experience is required. The experience has to be approved and signed off by a registered architect. For examination, aspiring architects would complete the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Once all three of those requirements are met, you can apply for architectural registration in your home state.” Once architects are registered in their home state, they can establish a record with NCARB, which would allow them to become Continued on next page.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Architecture
Construction is underway on the Millwork Commons.
New festival space, revitalized neighborhoods on the horizon by Michelle Leach
Winston Churchill’s “we shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us,” embodies the metro architectural community’s collective work at altering the region’s landscape — with big implications for growth and quality of life. “Millwork Commons is a game changer for Omaha,” said Megan Lutz, architect at Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture. “The district will be a hub of all the things that we love about Omaha, like our dynamic arts community, our strong startup and tech scene [and] our foodie culture.” Lutz characterized the project’s “mixeduse extension to the city’s urban core,” as prioritizing the pedestrian — creating a walkable, connected neighborhood critical to a viable, sustainable city of the future. “We are also working on Flywheel’s new offices in the historic Ashton Building,” she said of the Omaha-grown tech firm, the district’s “anchor tenant.” Black Dog Development engaged with Alley Poyner in Millwork Commons’ master planning and design in early 2018. “Since then our team has helped illustrate our client’s broad vision for this neighborhood, write a planning overlay for the entire district, and design a renovation of the historic Ashton building, which will open next year,” Lutz said. “Our firm has been headquartered in north downtown for over a decade. It’s exciting to see some of our city’s most visionary developers investing in this neighborhood, a place seeped in history
Shortage of architects
Continued from preceding page. registered as an architect in other states through a process called reciprocity. “Reciprocity generally involves the transmission of your NCARB record to the state you’re applying to so they can review it to make sure you meet their requirements,” Kerns said. “Most states also require a separate application as well as a small test regarding the rules and regulations of practicing architecture in that state.”
and potential.” Going forward, it’ll remain a resource to Black Dog Development. “A master plan is constantly evolving as new opportunities arise and new partners come to the table,” she said. “As part of the evolution, our firm is also working on the first new construction buildings within the district, which will start construction next year.” Kiewit just completed its new headquarters “topping off” event Nov. 8. “It occurs when a new structure reaches its maximum height,” said Bob Kula, vice president of corporate communications at Kiewit. “Kiewit placed a ceremonial beam atop the new building as one of the last steel beams installed on the project. The fun part was that many of our Omaha-based employees had an opportunity to sign the beam before it was installed.” In early November, Kula said Kiewit is in the process of performing pre-cast work for the exterior of the building in north downtown, and the parking garage is underway. “We continue to expect an early 2021 completion,” he said. “Our employees are getting excited about the move to the new headquarters.” Once completed, the building will reportedly encompass seven stories and 200,000 square feet. A nod to its significance, Kiewit averaged around 1,900 full-time Nebraska employees in 2018, and spends more than $300 million annually to support its headquarters and operations in the state. The construction and engineering company’s new headquarters are also part of the Builder’s District, efforts to revitalize the neighborhood undertaken by parties including the city of Omaha, First National, Union Pacific, Creighton University and Noddle Companies — the latter of which serves as the corporate headquarters’ developer; HDR is the architect. Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) is involved with the Gene Leahy Mall, part of Riverfront Revitalization Master Plan, and other efforts on the Omaha side of the river. “The former Gene Leahy Mall lagoon Continued on next page.
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Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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Interior design trends give emphasis on flexibility, wellness and simplicity by Gabby Christensen
Local interior design professionals say there are always evolving trends dictacting the design of a space. Charlsi Kratina, interior designer at BCDM Architects, said one of the most widespread trends is the adoption and growth of “third spaces.” “In commercial design, third spaces are defined by all spaces that fall between workstations and formal meeting rooms,” Kratina said. “This includes breakout zones, lounge areas, areas for a large group to gather, a couple people to collaborate, or just an individual to work by themselves away from
Revitalized neighborhoods Continued from preceding page. continues to approach street level, with fill efforts between 14th and 13th streets recently completed, and the blocks between 12th and 10th streets quickly nearing grade,” said Director of Communications Kristyna Engdahl. She said demolition between 10th and 8th streets are almost done, with the removal and rehoming of bricks, pavers, limestone and other materials within the Mall. Engdahl To a f o r e m e n tioned Kiewit, Engdahl said the firm is powering forward on 8th Street utility work — and they’re hopeful to wrap-up much of those efforts before long-term cold weather sets in. “Immediate next steps the public may anticipate includes the closure of Heartland of America Park for early work construction,” she said. “Weather permitting, the park will close on Dec. 2 with perimeter fences to follow.” The closure date accommodates events previously planned for the area. Removal of the 13th Street Bridge is tentatively scheduled for mid-December, she said, and is expected to reopen before the summer. Physically, landscaping changes abound; for instance, the Heartland of America Park’s great lawn will have the capacity, due to increased greenspace, to host live music festivals — potentially drawing thousands of people to the heart of the city. “Due to some creative and careful engineering, for the first time in many years there will be trees planted along the Lewis and Clark Landing (in conjunction with an artful food truck pavilion, sports courts, urban beach and play areas for children of all ages),” she said. “Aside from physicality, these parks will change the landscape of downtown Omaha’s connectivity — not only to the Missouri Riverfront, but between north downtown Omaha and The Old Market.” By bringing Gene Leahy Mall up to grade, she said the design creates continuous, easy pedestrian movement throughout the city’s core. “The addition of a river walkway and boardwalk will also encourage the community to pause and enjoy one of our most scenic, natural resources, while creating a truly special space that may be enjoyed for generations to come,” she said.
their workstation.” She said a second trend is a strong focus on the well-being of the building’s occupants. “Sustainable or ‘green design’ has been around for decades, but now there is a shift in thinking toward overall wellness, allowing people to live well now and into the future,” Kratina said. “Spaces are designed to encourage activity and social connectivity.” Melinda Stanton, Kratina director of business development at Office Interiors and Design, said designs are leaning more towards ergonomics and efficient offices. Stanton said this includes sit-to-stand desks with monitor arms for computer screens for easy user adjustability. “While workstations are getting smaller Continued on next page.
Eva Krueger, senior interior designer at Altus Architectural Studios.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal • Architecture
AIA Nebraska keeps eyes on the future of architecture industry by Dwain Hebda
The growing need for architects in Nebraska is moving the industry’s trade association, AIA Nebraska, toward more deliberate and proactive means of recruiting future talent. “It’s not just a shortage of skilled labor, but also a shortage of architects and engineers. There’s a big need for both within the state,” said Vanessa Schutte, central regional education leader for Schutte DLR Group and president of AIA. “Almost every firm I know is looking for more people. That’s a challenge that we all face in firms within the state.” AIA Nebraska realigned in recent years to combine the state’s three chapters into one and with that created new committees, including one targeting the next generation of professionals. “We developed some after-school programs for elementary students to learn more about what architecture is and the field of architecture,” Schutte said. “We’re in the process of creating a presentation we can share with others. A lot of architects go into schools and talk about what architecture is and we’re going to produce a video so any member can take that presentation and not have to rely on creating their own.” Sara Kay, AIA executive director, said developing future architects has been just one payoff of the recent reorganization. Being under one umbrella has also inspired wider participation in committees from all parts of the state. “We now have quite a few different com-
Code (IBC 2018). We are working diligently to relay this information to architects and designers statewide.” Sinclair said sustained interaction between the profession and the University of Nebraska School of Architecture is another critical step in the long-term health of the profession. “I know the college has been growing and I’d say the numbers have been good,” he said. “However, the focus is not always geared toward keeping students here in the Midwest. Sometimes we see them going off to the coast to the larger firms. That’s somewhat of a negative thing we’re seeing. We need to push hard to keep that talent here in the state.”
mittees that we’ve established,” she said. “[The realignment is] allowing members from across the state to get involved with a lot of different
Michael Sinclair, architect and shareholder with Schemmer and AIA Nebraska president-elect, said AIA’s future priorities include addressing code changes. “Next year, our profession locally will be facing a number of code changes both for building and energy performance,” he said. “Our organization is working to engage code officials on various levels to assist with easing this transition for members. “We have had a series of discussions with the Nebraska Energy Department regarding the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC 2018) as well as local building officials and plan reviewers for the International Building
Kay Sinclair committees and leadership opportunities. “I’m hearing from members now that I’d never heard from previously. That’s very exciting because we’re reaching a broader group of members.” Kay said as the group tackles future initiatives, it will be much easier for the Nebraska architecture community to move as one. “Our national organization has been instrumental over the years in encouraging zero net practices,” she said. “They took their initiative a step further this year and adopted a resolution at our national convention relating to climate change and sustainability. “They are going to be unveiling a new initiative relating to climate change and encouraging sustainability throughout the country. We’re really excited as far as what that’s going to look like and how we can bring that from a national initiative to a state and local initiative. That’s the big thing right now and I think it’s going to transform the way architects practice.”
Trends focus on flexibility, wellness and simplicity Continued from preceding page. since there is less paper, companies are providing comfort rooms such as wellness rooms, small conference spaces and phone booths so employees can work at their desk or break off and work in one of the other settings available to them,” Stanton said. Additionally, she said color trends are moving to darker hues and wood furniture, which offers a more elegant look to the space. Stanton said designers are also bringing in nature by including more greenery, whether that includes live plants or greenery walls. “These reconnect workers with nature by creating healthier, Stanton happier and more inspiring workplaces while also helping to purify the air,” she said. Eva Krueger, senior interior designer at Altus Architectural Studios, said healthier environments is a big consideration lately. “As a society we are looking at the longterm effects on our health from the space we’re in,” Krueger said. “Hospitals are starting to take on the ‘Healthier Hospital Initiative’ and one portion of that is about the building materials. Designers are looking more critically at the components in building materials and staying away from the ‘Red List’ items. Items on the ‘the Red List’ are known to pollute the environment, bio-accumulating up the food chain until they reach toxic concentrations, harming construction factory workers, and causing health concerns to building users.” As needs change and technology evolves,
she said spaces are needing to change quickly or be multi-purpose. “We are designing to meet current needs but also looking at how this can easily change in the future,” Krueger said. “With the speed at which technology and markets are changing companies must adapt quickly to stay relevant.” When it comes to home design, Pam Stanek, owner of The Interior Design Firm, said current trends incorporate muted and natural hues. “These are accented with dramatic pops of red, pink, yellow and green,” Stanek said. “Cool gray is fading, while warm gray is more popular.” Additionally, she said design trends from Stanek the ‘70s have made a comeback. “Geometric and large floral patterns in bold colors are seen in fabrics, wallpapers and tile,” she said. “Plush velvet in upholstery, window coverings and pillows is the hottest fabric this year.” Stanek said different types of furniture, versus every piece fitting into one genre, is really in right now, too. “Mixing metals in plumbing, lighting and hardware selections is also popular,” she said. Additionally, Stanek said larger scale light fixtures and art are balanced by smaller scaled upholstery. “Extreme minimalism is less prevalent, but homeowners are still using simple clean lines with less clutter and more tailored pieces,” she said. “Trends come and go, but good design is always in style.”
Rendering of the new Omaha Public Schools high school at 156th and Ida streets. (Courtesy of BCDM Architects)
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
Mergers & Acquisitions A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
Topics may include:
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Conventions, Meetings & Trade Shows
A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
Topics may include:
Mergers & Acquisitions • Business partners • All about deals Acquiring technology assets • Business after an M&A
Convention • Exhibit/booth dispay • Budgeting • Venue • Marketing Interactive experiences • Environmental responsibility • Inclusivity
Issue Date: November 29 • Ad Deadline: November 21
Issue Date: November 29 • Ad Deadline: November 21
SARPY COUNTY
GROWTH REPORT A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
Topics may include the following: This focus section will be published in the December 6th issue of MBJ with the advertising deadline set for November 28th.
• Economic Development Update • Impact of data centers/tech • Sarpy County Chamber working as a hub for cities in the community • Collaborative efforts between communities and businesses in the county • Job Market Overview • Real estate projects bringing an impact to the community • Educational institutions share the latest programs and facility upgrades
Issue Date: December 6 • Ad Deadline: November 28 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 • Joe Misiunas - joe@mbj.com
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
Finigree eyes growth for platform via community banks Continued from page 1. for Finigree: inter-operable data transfer. Miller and Barry, a Malmo, Nebraska, native, former nose tackle for the Huskers and holder of a business degree, started their collaboration with their founding of ATS Secured. They changed the name to Finigree earlier this year to better reflect the capabilities and mission of their venture.
Finigree Phone: 402-502-2202 Address: 1905 Harney St., Suite 650, Omaha 68102 Services: Software company that specializes in securing financial data for individuals an businesses. Founded: 2011 by Wes Miller and Ryan Barry as ATS Secured Employees: 10 One-year goal: Hit $200 million in dollars moved through the system. Industry outlook: It would weigh 670 tons in $100 bills for what banks need to spend on technology. Website: www.finigree.com
“At every level of risk (within large financial institutions) we found things were worked at differently,” Miller said. “With so many different silos of information mistakes could be made in the translation.” Hopes for the Miller-Barry duo have been buoyed by attention from national publications including Forbes and Business Insider have given to how much banks are likely to spend on technology. Miller cites one estimate at 670 tons in $100 bills. “This information points to a growing gap between the largest and smallest banks, and how much they can afford to invest in and develop new technology,” Miller said. “Smaller banks are falling behind and putting regional institutions at a competitive disadvantage.” Finigree, Miller said, is a technology company with the primary goal of bringing security and transparency to lenders, consumers and all stakeholders in the homebuying process. The platform and software solution addresses the complex and time sensitive concepts of the demanding settlement process in the real estate industry including escrow management, disbursement, reconciliation, fraud identification and prevention. “The smart network offers a social experience that shines the spotlight back on
the user,” he said. “And it was made with love in Omaha.” Finigree, which reached an important milestone in April 2018 by reaching $100 million in client funds moved through its platform, has set a 12-month goal of reaching the $200 million mark. The firm’s office move to space being renovated at the southeast corner of the sixth floor of its building will be needed for the 20 additional jobs being created and the need for essentially office-less collaboration among staff. “Today we have 70 financial institutions on our platform,” Miller said. “They are mostly the small guys and we have 3,500 of them around the country to market to.” Firms are asked to sign multi-year contracts with Finigree for its services, which are customized to meet the needs of the institution. Also important to Finigree’s growth is
its first partnership with Bank of Bennington as a client and beta partner. What has been built by the fin-tech company is tested by small, but growing, community banks. Consumers are growing leery about the authenticity of their data and are concerned about where it sits and who can access it. Finigree’s proprietary platform makes it faster for consumers to create financial data, then safely stores it and allows individuals and businesses to control their data. “We believe banks are important pillars of a community and a center of trust,” Miller said. “But they are at a disadvantage when having access to great technology and expertise in innovation.” He said the growth of Finigree is centered on the user’s control of the data. Revenues for Finigree, and what Miller said will likely be a growing group of competitors who can raise the double-digit millions for research and development,
will come from financial firms, licensing fees, transfer fees, and the most promising source: data exchange fees. In growing Finigree, Miller and Barry continue to study revenue potential, growing the leadership team, brand/product traction and the competitive landscape. Earlier this year The Tech Tribune, a two-year-old industry publication, and the California Association of Realtors recognized Finigree with industry innovation awards. For Miller and Barry, one of the biggest challenges is staying ahead of the curve to gain more of the $7 billion in transactions expected to be made nationally in the next 18 months. All Finigree transactions will be in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. “We’re strategically blessed with our very good group of investors,” Miller said. “Our focus will remain on working hard and smart.”
BVH Architecture challenges industry norms by deploying strategic solutions Continued from page 1. neutral by 2030. The board has also made a the back end processes, i.e. construction commitment to make every project LEED documents. registered as well as keeping WELL stanEnter Zach Soflin, who in 2019 was an dards in mind. associate with BVH Architecture working “There are obvious economic and on the overhaul of the HVAC system at the energy reasons but it’s also just the right Nebraska State Capital — a 35-year re- thing to do,” Reeves said. “It’s a challenge lationship. Each projin a budget-drivect requires specs and “You never know where en world, but it’s photos to be taken but a challenge we’re software to compile the the opportunities are coming trying to address information that wasn’t n every single from. You never know when oproject.” available. Soflin coded Layer you’re stepping into an area More often — now a subsidiary of then not, sustainBVH — a cloud-based what the end result is going a b i l i t y d e m a n d s app that integrates with to be, which is probably creative problem Revit to put all inforsolving. One curmation (notes, imagery, why most people like this rent project with etc.) in one place, inCouncil Bluffs creasing efficiency and profession,” said Principal Public Schools inleveraging technology and Business Development volves the transforto replace revenue lost mation of a former Strategist Corey Wieseman. Target into a swing by it. “It was the result of school during $30 a challenge that he solved through tech- million worth of renovations on Gerald R. nology,” Wieseman said. Kirn Middle School and Woodrow Wilson Sustainability continues to be another Middle School. challenge for the company and its clients. “It was a really interesting process to BVH leadership is pushing all projects get to what was the right solution to that to fall in line with the Architecture 2030 problem because like most clients the Challenge, which is the goal to be carbon needs outweighed the budget,” Reeves
said. BVH is also working on converting the old Hancock Fabric Store at 4839 N. 72nd Street into a facility for the Omaha Public Schools Transition Program. The Transition Program helps special education and disabled young-adults between the ages of 18-21 gain life and career skills as they
BVH Architecture Phone: Omaha, 402-345-3060; Lincoln, 402-475-4551 Address: 901 Jones Street, Omaha 68102; 440 N. 8th Street, Ste. 100, Lincoln 68508 Founded: 1968 by Lynn Vermeer and Deon Bahr. Current leadership includes Corey Wieseman, Cleveland Reeves, Mark Bacon and Dennis Coudriet. Website: bvh.com
transition from school to post-school. “I had more people come up to me on staff saying that they wanted to work on that project because of the difference that it’s going to make than I have on the really big, sexy projects,” Reeves said. “I think that’s also the testament to the [employees].” BVH has around 50 employees split about evenly between the Omaha office at 901 Jones Street and the Lincoln office at 440 N. 8th Street, Ste. 100. Like every firm, finding qualified talent is challenging but has given BVH another opportunity to think creatively. Leadership announced last week that they were doing a deep dive into a geographical expansion into Colorado. Reeves said that whether that’s hiring people out there, merging or acquiring another company, or relocating staff, “we have to figure out how those stars align.” In addition to working in the K-12 sector, the firm also specializes in higher education, historic preservation and workplace. “The workplace sector is a result of a lot of projects that started in another sector,” Wieseman said. “You never know where the opportunities are coming from. You never know when you’re stepping into an area what the end result is going to be, which is probably why most people like this profession.”
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
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Wealth management services continue to evolve with the times by Jasmine Heimgartner
As the first wave of baby boomers reliant on their own savings retire, wealth management requires people being more involved and approaching all aspects of finances in a more holistic manner. The evolution from pensions to 401(k)s and people generally living longer means looking at areas including investment management, income generation, accumulation strategies, risk management, estate planning and tax planning. “As early as 10 or 15 years ago, the main focus was on investment management, which has become a commodity and easier for individuals to access,” said Andrew Hunt, partner/co-founder of Hiley Hunt Wealth Management. “Wealth management has had to transform to cover all the other aspects that have changed as the environment changed. True wealth is tailored to the client. For someone in the accumulation stage, they may be focused on tax and retirement planning. When nearing retirement, the priority may become more estate and retirement planning.” While some people may have the time and know-how, others may start to find self-management of their wealth too complex. Like with most things, seeking help starts with a plan. “Take an inventory of your financial life,” said Ryan Swartz, managing director at Creative Planning. “Gather account statements, insurance policies, estate planning documents and any benefit information such as pensions, social security estimates or employment benefits statements. This will help you start to formulate your financial picture. Determine a budget to assess how much you spend now and what goals you have in the future that you want to work toward. By thinking through what your goals are you can start to envision where you want to go.” People often have a misconception that all financial planners and investment planners are wealth managers. Similar to other industries, the financial world also has its owns specialties. “First, find an adviser who works for a Registered Investment Advisor,” said James Shoquist, wealth advisor, Northwest Wealth Management. “They are required by law to act in your best interest. Not all ‘advisers’ have this requirement. Regardless of the message from the person you meet with, find someone you really trust. Fees matter, plans matter, but if you don’t trust the person you’re working with, you won’t stay disciplined.” Realizing that a plan may, and most likely will, change is an important element of the process. “Most take a sigh of relief once they have a financial plan in place, but there are so many variables that can impact the plan ongoing,” Swartz said. “As an example, just this past year tax laws changed, estate tax levels changed, education planning thresholds have changed, markets have moved, charitable guidelines have been modified to name a few variables. It is important to have a comprehensive review at least annually and at times of life changing events to make adjustments along the way.” Once a plan is in place, it can still be difficult facing spending the money that
Hunt Swartz took so long to build up, as well as ensuring it lasts. “The biggest trend we have seen is the popularity of our spend-down planning,” Shoquist said. “Our clients are extremely disciplined, successful and smart people. They have been amazing at saving for
their future. Spending what they’ve built is part art and part science. It’s an emotional hump to overcome to start spending this nest egg, and we help them in this capacity. It’s also a math problem we help them solve to be as tax Shoquist efficient and cost effective as possible, increasing their odds of not running out of money.” While some people may feel they don’t have enough to worry about an estate plan or other wealth management aspects, financial planning and accumulation should be part of everyone’s life. From deciding
guardians for small children to having a medical power of attorney to even planning for large purchases all play into the spectrum. “While it’s always helpful to have a clear understanding of what you have, even if it is just on a napkin, you need to have some dreams,” Hunt said. “We do goalsbased planning. It’s helpful if say a married couple can dream together beforehand and ask themselves, ‘What do we really want?’ People may be in different stages, but knowing what those dreams are can help inform the planning.” And, of course, save early and often. “Most millionaire and multi-millionaire families were not made from large monetary events,” Swartz said. “They saved early, and they saved diligently over time. It’s never too small to start.”
Tech presents opportunities to scale franchise smartly instance, through online capabilities. by Michelle Leach “Someone who has never been in busiTechnology presents opportunities for franchisors and franchisees to scale their ness or managed a business, may need the businesses, in what has remained a robust hand-holding that a franchise provides, but you’ve got to put in the time for industry since at least the last sure,” Eesley said. “It’s not like major downturn — complete with investing, where you put the new concepts that weren’t formermoney in and walk away.” ly franchised or franchised to the The risk of “bad reviews” degree that they are now. via online platforms such as “The boutique-type fitness Yelp is also higher; an admired space … more of a smaller footand reliable brand, especially in print than the ‘normal’ gym, and a the service businesses, remains specialized kind of fitness, whether paramount, according to Eesley. high-intensity spin exercises or “New experiences and conyoga and Pilates, are going well,” cepts are becoming more popsaid Franchise Resource LLC Eesley ular,” he added. “You see that co-founder Luke Towey. “And we’re seeing a lot of the blue-collar-type with the niches that are being created, like businesses — roofing and flooring, plumbing escape rooms. Some of them can be kind of and heating — franchise concepts are being faddish, but people are still looking for new experiences.” put behind those blue-collar trades.” So, he noted, it’s about having a product At least right now, Towey indicated Amazon isn’t able to replace these types of that people will come back to repeatedly. Take, for example, how the “big guys” have trades and services. “We’re just seeing a good mix,” he said. evolved. With the onslaught of specialty Initially, he noted the business focused on doughnut shops, Dunkin’ Donuts earlier this providing month-to-month bookkeeping and year rebranded itself as just “Dunkin’.” Furthermore, Eesley reminds potential accounting, and now they’re getting drawn franchisees of the importance of working earlier into the equation. “We’re being asked to review projections within the parameters of the system. One and look at the [franchise disclosure doc- can’t, for instance, simply add messaging to ument] with them,” he said. “We tell them his or her sign with personality without going the value is more than having financials done through the appropriate channels to assure it for tax purposes; we give them guidance to aligns with the brand. “We have a number of people in Omaha make adjustments each month to become who are big franchisors,” he said. “People more profitable.” Along these lines, Towey said they be- here are very generous with their time, assuming it’s not something that competes come very familiar with each brand. “There is a push for more transparency with them, and they will give you some time in the FDD,” he said. “FDDs are so much and advice.” The Action Card team helps to support stronger with an understanding of the true franchisors in assuring the experience at metrics.” Previously, Dale Eesley, Ph.D., director different franchise locations is uniform and of UNO’s Center for Innovation, Entrepre- seamless. “It’s not so much about franchise growth, neurship & Franchising, noted that the franbut it’s scale-ability,” said Director Tim chise industry remained steady since 2008. He said franchising remains very healthy. Schuman. “It’s the scale-ability of systems, “With the aging of the population, and not just personnel, but it’s technology and the my generation in particular, is increasingly processes that are involved with a business in a position where they can afford to buy that is scaling. It goes back to standards. into some of the better franchises. The other There is a massive challenge with, ‘How thing is that technology is changing the field do we stay true to our roots?’ And many times, brands start tripping over themto some extent.” Franchises themselves, he said, can offer selves, and grow so fast that they kind of fully turnkey opportunities — services, for forget their roots.”
The businesses they see may grow too fast, without having the backbone in place that is built partly with technology; their software, for instance, helps the consultant or regional manager out in the field to record what they’re seeing at each location and if standards are being upheld — such as grind consistency at a coffee chain. “It’s not just a data collection tool; it’s also a recording tool that helps the franchisor to get franchisee accountability,” Schuman said. At the time of this writing, Schuman said they were evolving from brand standards to also span a CRM application and business management tool. Instead of a simple “pass, fail,” he indicated this tool will aid in the management of locations including those nuances that may exist within the layout and attractions associated with a specific franchise from location to location. The franchises it partners with may have felt pain; for instance, working within outdated technologies such as Excel spreadsheets. Schuman also noted that Action Card’s team is aware of standards across many industries — from food services to day care — a reflection of the diversity of its clients.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
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Midlands Business
Journal • NOVEMBER 24,
2017 •
27
November 24, 2017
5055 Building at Bryan Health’s East Campus (Courtesy of Davis Design)
Unique Midlands by Michelle Leach
Boys Town Clinic (Courtesy of Calvin L. Hinz Architects)
features, robust economy
Sandhills Publishing Cyber Center Rendering (Courtesy of Sinclair Hille)
result in multi-sector
Mixed use building rendering (Courtesy of Studio 951)
Private giving and an economy that any one industry isn’t may stays,” but the level be Midlands “mainand the sheer need of cross-sector activity Dundee harkening for talent to meet back to communities demand for services are newer-emerging in communities that sprung up on withphenomenon for area firms. streetcar or bus lines. “The architecture, He also speaks to construction industry engineering and lifestyle and the built a “balance in terms of Greater Omaha region is very strong in the the movement from environment”; consider at the moment,” and now “hybrids,” cubicles to open spaces said BCDM Principal conference rooms which combine smaller and and areas where Director John Sulliemployees can still have that sense of community van, who also isolated but also privacy Sarpy County’s highas needed. growth. “We’re moving Further, Sullivan to that direction, notes strength “nearnot because it’s the trend ly across the board” but because it’s — from office the and right thing,” he said. institutional to private The architecture sectors such as reliPalandri and engineering gious projects which, side he said, is “unusual” of the construction and “won’t last forever.” industry was described “The economic development as “robust,” into and growth Smith of the metro-area the has and the diversificationbeen steady and strong, Design Senior Associatefinal quarter by Davis of the area economy and Senior Architect — both of those Greg Smith. factors add up John Sullivan, principal to good by things happening “Several projects and director at Sullivan: “One of in designed recently BCDM Architects. the things that’s unique necessarily true the metro, and that’s not about still in hopes of breaking are across the state, ground this fall and especially and Omaha is there is strong philanthropic environments, and a shift if you’re in an ag in what people many of the large Downtown private support for area and go into expect.” central Lincoln projwestern Nebraska key projects.” ects are gaining inertia,” AO’s … and some of the or he said. “The interior Palandri speaks to modities-driven com- Palandri Managing Principal Randall J. remodel market areas,” is also strong has seen the uptick nials and a lifestyle trying to attract millen- keep He also referenced he said. in growth that contractors busy during and this will shift, whereby the became urban centers more winter months.” growth, from newer the many pockets of main noticeable around two years ago Many large-scale re- perspective are in demand from a housing steady projects, such to Aksarben Village, areas such as Blackstone attributes in more recent months, which and offices that he generation speak to this Telegraph District’s Marilyn Moore as the at the stage where particularly to infill-type sion of that development are in-demand from extenSchool/YMCA, Hudl, Middle projects. “There of the projects featured is occurring. Some opment,” is a lot more emphasis on redevel- perspective. He also speaks, a workplace to form; however, and Nelnet, have come not necessarily Smith said there he said. “What really here in this section to “vintage” or reflect another prominent still re“traditional” construction mains work in the build-outs. drove it was, materials but to, trend mentioned there was a pent-up demand for He referenced perhaps, more “traditional” work at Bryan Health’s market-rate neighborhoodapartments and East Campus, in more walkable-type and community-building, new LES Operations of with areas Center, and projects the such as Benson, for Blackstone and Eustis Autobody at 98th Street and Highway Continued on next page.
opportunities
Architecture — inside
NOVEMBER 24,
2017
THE BUSINESS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
NEWSPAPER OF
40
GREATER OMAHA,
Technology upgr by Richard D. Brown
r 40 de Un
LINCOLN AND
COUNCIL BLUFFS
ades keep Interstate
$2.00
VOL. 43 NO. 47
Printing competitiv
e
Interstate Printing ha-based firm founded Co., an Omaby a German immigrant with a special interest in publishing ethnic newspapers, has used its family-owne anchor, placed strong rship as an equipment upgrades, emphasis on a comprehensive and maintained Green Arrow Junk list Co. aims to reduce has enabled it to growof services that household, landfill with the needs clutter. – Page 2 of its commercial printing clients, which are located throughout much of the country. “For our 100 years we have maintained a low-key approach, which has enabled us to attract with jobs that we business clients can on,” said William do a good job F. Peter, a third generation family member who became president five years Business & Industrial “With each job we ago. Parks/Leasing to say, ‘This came want to be able from us’ and that both our client and Persistence paves their customers way for The Union will be pleased with the for Contemporary Art’s results,” he community continued. impact. – Page 3 Peter, who formerly practiced law full-time before Business & Industrial uncle Eugene Peter succeeding his Park/Leasing who retired from the business at age — inside 88 five years ago, From left, Continued on page OCTOBER 8. reached its Senior VP of Sales20, Jim2017 Mancuso centennial year THE BUSINESS with investments and President William NEWSPAPER Peter … in new tech. The printing OF company GREATER OMAHA, has LINCOLN AND THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE: (Photo by MBJ / COUNCIL BLUFFS Becky McCarville) in 28
• OCTOBER 20, 2017
• Midlands Business
Journal
October 20, 2017
No slowdown in demand by Michelle
A section prepared
by the staff of
as availability presents
the Midlands
Business Journal
ongoing challenges
More buildings may Leach economy with upside potential.” ground, but demand be coming out of the NAI NP Dodge also being constructed remains brisk. at “Demand for commercial described the leasing Associate Kyle Pelster Opportunities are Highway Crossing.” Edney indicated this market as “very tight.” real estate loans is very strong,” is driving “At any given and landlords leasing available for tenants such as the said Stephanie Moline, aforementioned R&R. projects, executive vice president to them. time, there are around These challenges ing with First National of Enterprise Lend- 100 properties, Bank. “Commercial A; Edney recalled aren’t limited to Class give or and industrial loan how the Kellogg take, listed/available demand is growing, building at 10203 Crown at a much slower but in the Omaha/Council Point Ave. near pace.” Fort Blair High Road She said some of had “multiple offers and Bluffs market,” couple of weeks.” in a he in late 2016 is being the capital investment said. “Having said absorbed. “There isn’t much “It would appear of that type of product that, finding out there, either,” is lagging the capital the anticipated revenue rect square the corhe said. expenditures,” Moline footage, He also spoke to said. location, rental tures, such as greater demand for certain fearates Growth of C&I loans, clear heights and dock doors — driven larger she said, remains and building layout about the same as can be very difficult.” by requirements a year companies such as “Agribusiness loans ago. as He referred to are up year over year and using third-partyAmazon are growing and commercial Moline providers. more real estate is up Edney “We’re also seeing year over more construction in the last year — with year,” she said. Pelster a lot of interest owner/user buildings from investors that “We are finally seeing but some spec Generally, businesses are looking to invest buildings as well. spec industrial space an increase in new in industrial are optimistic about potential tax properties,” he on the market “The new Facebook reform. said. “A lot project will add after a slowdown in new spec projects again of that interest is coming from “This would cause new infrastructure past,” he said. “The outside of in the the Midwest.” some monies to along the Highway repatriated and improving increases in term be 50 rental rates length, working capital corridor,” Pelster said. “This will Edney referred to and operating expenses and money that can break for new projects cap rates and continue ROI as lower be and industrial parks way to steadily rise. or additional investmentused for acquisitions area.” on the coasts, making one’s in that Omaha “The rest of the market attractive as a secondary in equipment and/ or people,” she said. seems to be catch- to He said Thrasher ing up with the rental Chicago, New York or tertiary market and Freightliner more entrants into “There continues to be created rates we are seeing or Denver. have of the new large new buildings out Regarding “behind-the-scenes” construction from loan productionthe local market; both leaving vacancies in their for themselves, offices OMNE Partners projects.” indusprevious locations. Moline is encouraged and FinTechs.” Continued on page “Brook Valley continues Class A industrial EVP Matt Edney said by new market 30. entrants as: “People availability remains to believe this is a vibrant in new industrial constructionbe the leader hard to find.” “really projects,” Pelster said. “The “And that type R&R Commerce of product is moving Park is pretty quick,” he said.
en s om es W sin Bu
Women’s representatio n in leadership: Ripples adding up to a sea change? – Page 4
Archrival update s 10-year-old Hayma rket space, establishes Los Angeles presen by Michelle Leach ce
in Omaha
Archrival’s renovated space as one space,” said Clint! RunLincoln ge, headquarters at 720 founder and the unique mix of O St. speaks to director. “We managing creative a mature wanted our space years old and counting firm — 20 be a little further to along the business — and r 40energetic startup spirit that hasderesulted chain … and at one point that was in campaigns with 40 Un an ‘aspirational’ Redbull, space, it became Motorola, and expansion Adidas, us and we outgrew with sister mature it. It’s more offices and teams of a business than in the space gon, and Los Angeles.Portland, Ore- felt like.” Locally owned Aksarben “We’ve been here The Haymarket serves large demographicCinema for over 10 space breathes with years, and wanted amenities. to rethink the entire Archrival’s niche in youth culture– Page 2 Continued on page 10.
Lamp Rynearson by Richard D. Brown
competes with inno
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INSURANCE SERVICES
ACCOUNTING
SENIOR SERVICES
Joined
Joined
Named
Emma Perry
Stephanie Grade
Sales Executive
Senior Accountant
General Manager
The Harry A. Koch Co.
O’Donnell, Ficenec, Wills & Ferdig, LLP
Ovation Heartwood Preserve
The Harry A. Koch Co. acquired the Property Casualty book of business from PJ Ramaekers & Associates Inc. in September. With this acquisition Trevor Fiala joined the company as a Sales Executive. On the Koch Select team Trevor offers insurance and risk management tailored to the needs of small businesses. Visit www.hakco.com to learn more about The Koch Co.
VOL. 43 NO. 42
vative technolog
Drone and innovative scanning technology is giving Lamp Rynearson, Omaha-based civil engineering, a 58-year-old landscape architecture, construction and surveying firm, administration a competitive advantage as it completes a wide range of private and public sector projects. Nancy Pridal, a professional engineer and 20-year Lamp Rynearson employee who to president of the was promoted firm in August, stresses that leading President Nick with the use of latest technology … Equipment upon 30-plus yearstheCusick has enabled manufacturer of innovation employee-owith builds soccer; tennis courtthe wnedsafety company features to in volleyball, renovations increase its revenues to accommoda sports like pickleball. by more than te rising interest 100 percent over in the while the employee past 10 years ee count oy has increased by 45 percent. pl s Em nefit “With the investment Be we’ve made, we want to Harness technology be viable in the to overcome by Michellefuture capacity constraints, Leachwith the technology proattract businesson vided,” Depending pared to that,” said year-round said. where one Pridal “For example, President Nick looks across Bison’s we Cusick, – Page divisions can scan a mound who indicated 6 and prodits focus the uct lines, the Lincoln-base typographic was onand getareas. d manu-dataaand inother scanning “Even without facturer’s growth stockpiles lot of direct can is up at least 5we marketing get quantities.” emphasis, to our 10 percent to 30 percent The purchase furnishing business, following of asite second drone BRP, or amid dealer base was up Continued to 10 percent.” President Nancy and ownership on5page 12. Founder/Managing transitions, and Pridal … Leveraging Falling under custom a business unit Creative Director tech investments Communications redesign. trial job shop manufactureindusClint! Runge with for variety of projects. Amy Head of with focus on youth Filipi … Brand communica r IM“Bison overall, its SCORP’s holding (Photo by MBJ / tions firm flourishes culture. Becky McCarville) line, had an incredibleown product brella, wholly-owncompany umyear prior and this last year Bison is joined ed subsidiary bycomwas flat by SNA Sports Michelle Leach Continued Jesse. “Being La Casa Pizzaria is evolving on page 10. a family restaurant, with offerings on Nebraskan Michael wheels — its food our staff lives for interaction.” Forsberg focuses truck — and via lens on Great Plains She indicated there technologies such conservation. is a balas online ordering, ancing act for – Page 34 focused on customerwhile staying tion, family-ownthe third-generaed and operated service from the family that has been dishing restaurant, which is still located out its Neapolitanat 4432 Leavenworth almost 75 years. style pizza for the same location St. in Omaha — that reportedly “Technology plays caught on so well General Manager/Tre a part,” said Patane and his that Founder Joe family “ran out asurer Nicole of Continued on page 18.
y
Bison makes gains as new gyms built amid popularity of sports like pickleb all
INSURANCE SERVICES Joined
La Casa Pizzaria dishes out more options to customers from online orders to food truck
Katie Denson
Ashley Abel, property manager with Cushman Lund Co., for 1415 & Wakefield/ @ The Yard, demonstrat app during the es IOTAS’ property grand opening event for the complex.
Account Manager
Smart-enabled apartm ent community delivers plug and play app to renters by Becky McCarvil
General Manager/T reasurer Nicole — from food truck to website and menu Jesse … A heaping of “new” on service, Neapolitanupdates — blends style pizza and with focus pasta.
Trevor Fiala
le At the recent grand lifestyle. opening of 1415 @ The Yard The platform also apartment comprovides data plex at 14th and Cuming streets, to property managers so they can property manager monitor and control Ashley energy usage, Cushman & Wakefield/LAbel with rent units faster through automation, logged onto the property und Co., streamline labor costs and add value dashboard to launch the smart apartment app to properties. designed by Portland-base “It helps run the property d IOTAS more (Internet of Things As a Service), efficiently,” Abel said, adding that demonstrating the she can control ease new tenant can control at which a ing, heating vacant units’ lightand air conditioning automated technologyand integrate monitor maintenance , to fit their issues as well Continued on page 39.
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The Harry A. Koch Co.
The Harry A. Koch Co. acquired the Property Casualty book of business from PJ Ramaekers & Associates Inc. in September. Katie Denson joined The Koch Select team as an Account Manager. She enjoys building relationship with her clients and helping them find solutions to their risk management needs and day-to-day questions. Visit www.hakco.com to learn more about The Koch Co. BRANDING & MARKETING Promoted
Lisa Bowen Vice President: Managing Director KidGlov
Bowen has been promoted to Vice President: Managing Director. In this role, she is responsible for growing KidGlov’s Omaha office and helping brands advance their marketing and advertising goals in conjunction with the Denver and Lincoln offices. In 2017, Bowen joined KidGlov with 20+ years of marketing, communications and PR experience in both the private, non-profit and public sectors.
O’Donnell, Ficenec, Wills & Ferdig, LLP is pleased to announce that Emma Perry has joined the firm as a Senior Accountant. Emma graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a B.S. in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting and Marketing, and went on to achieve a Master’s Degree in Professional Accountancy. Emma is a Certified Public Accountant and has expertise in individual and business tax preparation, Form 5500 preparation, and small business accounting. In addition to her accounting experience, Emma is an alumna of the Kappa Delta Sorority, participated as a TeamMates Mentor for several years and currently serves as a member of Citylight Church. In her free time, Emma enjoys golfing, attending sporting events and church group, spending time with her husband, Mason, and traveling — in fact, she spent 3 months living in New Zealand! Emma is also passionate about fantasy football and has even had her own fantasy football advice segment on a Lincoln radio station. Since 1951, O’Donnell, Ficenec, Wills & Ferdig, LLP, has been more than accounting. They view every client relationship like a partnership and truly believe the firm’s success is a result of the clients’ success. They take pride in giving assurance that the professional service a client receives comes from years of advanced training, technical experience and financial acumen and provide the highest quality of personalized auditing, tax, valuation, accounting and consulting services in response to the clients’ specific and personal needs.
Stephanie Grade has been named General Manager of Ovation Heartwood Preserve, a new active adult lifestyle campus currently under construction in West Omaha. The campus will include a total of 300 residences including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Stephanie is a born and raised Nebraskan. Growing up in Crete, just about an hour outside Omaha, Stephanie looked at life through a different lens. Her passion for exceptional service drew her to the hotel and services industry, allowing her to travel the U.S., open hotels, and serve on the Board of Directors for the Omaha Restaurant Association and Metropolitan Hospitality Association. After 20 years of hospitality experience and award-winning program development, Stephanie has brought her expertise to Ovation Heartwood Preserve. “Ovation is such a reinvigorating and wonderful new development,” Stephanie said when asked why she chose to join and lead the Ovation team. “I look forward to sharing my background in hospitality with my fellow team members.” Ovation Heartwood Preserve offers exceptional, residential living and experiences, as well as innovative technology options that allow guests to communicate with family and the world around them. The campus includes multiple restaurants including the Peony Park Bistro, Millers@Omaha, and 1863 fine dining. Stephanie has a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from Iowa State University. She’s also a proud mother, wife, and owner of an English Bulldog named Lola — who gets all of the family’s attention. When she’s not earning an ovation for her hard work, she enjoys attending concerts, theatre performances, traveling, supporting the Joslyn Art Museum, and exploring Fontenelle Forest just outside Bellevue. Those interested in learning more about Ovation or meeting Stephanie can visit Ovation’s Reservation Showroom at Pepperwood Village, 573 North 155th Plaza, Suite 573. You can also call 402-999-7900 or visit www. OvationHeartwoodPreserve.com.
Midlands Business Journal • NOVEMBER 22, 2019 •
35
In the Spotlight Paid Content
WEALTH MANAGEMENT
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REAL ESTATE
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Katie Beacom
Nada Skaf, MD
Denny Sciscoe
Associate Wealth Management Advisor
Rheumatologist
Director of Industrial Services
Northwestern Mutual
Katie Beacom has been awarded the Retirement Income Certified Professional Designation (RICP®). Her career in the financial services industry began 12 years ago after spending the prior 15 years in finance management and accounting. An Omaha native with a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Management from Bellevue University, Katie works for the Randel’s Team at Northwestern Mutual Company.
OrthoNebraska
After spending a few years in practice at CHI Health, Dr. Skaf has joined OrthoNebraska to provide personalized care for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other rheumatoid and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Skaf completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Creighton University and her fellowship in Rheumatology at Case Western Reserve (MetroHealth). She accepts appointments at 144th and Center (Oakview) in Omaha.
Cushman & Wakefield/ The Lund Company
Denny Sciscoe, CCIM, Director of Industrial Services for Cushman & Wakefield/The Lund Company in Omaha, recently received the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation from CCIM Institute. The designation was awarded during the organization’s global conference in San Diego on Oct. 11-16. Sciscoe was among the 228 commercial real estate professionals who earned the designation by passing CCIM Institute’s comprehensive examination, the capstone element in the designation process. This new group of CCIM designees hails from 41 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., as well as Canada. To earn the CCIM designation, commercial real estate professionals must complete more than 160 hours of case-study driven
Submit your company’s employee announcements to Spotlight@mbj.com
education covering topics such as interestbased negotiation, financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, investment analysis, and ethics in commercial investment real estate. Candidates must also compile a portfolio demonstrating the depth of their commercial real estate experience and pass a comprehensive examination. At Cushman & Wakefield/The Lund Company, Denny has completed over $250M in real estate transactions. Denny was awarded with the CCIM Overall Big Deal award in 2018 and the CCIM Industrial Big Deal award in 2017 for the local CCIM Chapter. He has been awarded the CoStar Power Broker award in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Denny has been a member of The Lund Company’s Producers’ Club seven times and has been awarded as the Company’s Team Player of the Year twice. Denny has a Real Estate Salesperson’s license with the State of Nebraska and serves on the CoStar Industrial Advisory Board, the Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation Board, and the UNL Bureau of Business and Research Board.
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• NOVEMBER 22, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
Question: Where do you nd... Competitive wages? New lifestyle trends? Low cost of living with high quality of life?
Answer: WEST DES MOINES
Best place to live in Iowa Money
TOP EMPLOYERS:
Best place for young professionals in the USA Forbes
Best place to live in the USA Money
American Equity, Athene USA, Aureon, Baker Group, Bank Iowa, Bankers Trust, Bearence Management, BrownWinick Law Firm, Businessolver, Collins Aerospace, Des Moines Orthopaedic Surgeons, FBL Financial, First National Bank, GreenState Credit Union, GuideOne Insurance, Holmes Murphy, Homesteaders Life Company, Hubbell Realty, Hurd Real Estate, Hy-Vee, IMT Insurance, Iowa Clinic, Iowa Realty, Iowa Weight Loss Clinic, Knapp Properties, MailServices, McGowen Hurst Clark & Smith, Merchants Bonding Company, MercyOne, Microsoft, MidAmerican Energy, NCMIC, Neumann Brothers, Northwest Bank, Principal Midwest Region Business Center, R&R Realty, Sammons Financial Group, Shive-Hattery, Symetra, UnityPoint Des Moines, Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, West Bank
AREA ENTERTAINMENT:
Jordan Creek and West Glen Town Centers. Nation’s largest skate board park. World class broadway shows. Microbreweries. Blue Heron Lake boat house, kayaks, bike & paddle board rentals. 31 golf courses. Racoon River dog park. Smash Park pickleball, Iowa Cubs. Iowa Wild. Iowa Wolves. Iowa Barnstormers. Wells Fargo Arena. Spare Time Bowling and Entertainment Center. 800 miles of trails. 1,419 restaurants and bars. Coming in 2021: Dave & Busters and The Quarter Entertainment Center.
NEXT STEP:
Call us at 515.225.6009 or email kara@wdmchamber.org to connect to a West Des Moines employer.