SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
$2.00
VOL. 46 NO. 37
Builders of the Future highlights careers in construction trade
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
by Richard D. Brown
Production Creek adapts to changes, aims for further expansion. – Page 2
2020 Announcing the 2020 40 Under 40 winners! – Page 3
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HR experts offer tips for conveying COVID-19 policies. – Page 4
Builders of the Future is a 27-year-old nonprofit with a mission that has only increased in importance since 1993: highlighting the opportunities provided by the construction trades to secondary teachers and students. Last year the programs aided 30 eastern Nebraska schools and 500-some technology students. “The greatest challenge is changing the perception that many have of the trades and show them that an electrician can make $56 an hour after three months on the job and get the necessary training in a shorter amount of time compared to occupations requiring a fouryear college degree,” said Builders of the Future President Ted Grace. Grace, president of Altech Builders who started his construction career in 1969 as a framing carpenter, said trades such as carpentry, electrician, plumber, HVAC installation — among others — often are in short-supply of workers and Builders of the Future Continued on page 9.
From left, program facilitator Mark Bowder and President Ted Grace … Working with local schools to encourage careers in the construction trades. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
Influencers, retro gaming enthusiasts drive demand for Laser Bear Industries by Michelle Leach
Officially debuting their LLC in January 2019, Gregory Collins and Mike Goble were growing their 3D design and production services with YouTubers, bloggers and, generally, retro gaming enthusiasts. Today, Laser Bear Industries is seeing renewed interest in its parts and open designs, as more people are increasingly homebound due to un-
precedented circumstances. And the friends-turned-business partners are serving an enthusiastic community from new digs. “We moved our operations to a commercial site in Omaha,” Collins said. “It was originally in my basement. With the move, we have purchased 12 more printers and a printer that uses resin for Continued on page 9. Executive Vice President of Business Development Fritz Buglewicz … Aiming to provide efficiency to print-to-mail industry following USPS Seamless Acceptance program. (Photo courtesy of CapStone Technologies)
CapStone Technologies offering solution for print-to-mail industry by Gabby Christensen
Founders Gregory Collins, left, and Mike Goble … 3D parts production, open design for retro gaming systems outgrows space; moves to larger commercial site to accommodate new printers, hires.
For more than 20 years, CapStone Technologies has worked to provide automation services and business engineering to the print-to-mail industry with robotic technology, advanced innovation and process engineering to create efficiencies and save labor, according to Fritz Buglewicz, executive vice president of business development. Specifically, Buglewicz said
the company’s cloud-based AutoViri robotics and software, which can be used in any print-to-mail environment, connects the physical and digital workflows to give mailers virtual visibility into the entire mail production process while reducing errors to protect United States Postal Service discounts. “The software puts real-time information, such as job status and Continued on page 8.