SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
$2.00
VOL. 46 NO. 38
CLAAS perfects new combine harvester lines for North American market
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
by Richard D. Brown
Manna Industries grows with launch of new cosmetics line. – Page 2
l na tio s a c u e Ed iti ln ortun o c p Lin Op
Flexible advanced education programs, career enrichment resources resonate amid recession. – Page 3
h
wt ro G ha ort ma Rep
O
Continued growth is on horizon for Omaha, surrounding communities. – Page 23
The 200,000-square-foot CLAAS Omaha plant, built in 2001 as a major player in the production of high-performance combine harvesters that are sold throughout much of North America, has undergone a change in top leadership, undertaken a building expansion, and is focusing the expertise of its 200-some employees on perfecting its products — which in terms of output are from 85 to 90% concentrated on the company’s newly rolled out Lexion 8000 and 7000 lines. “With all the improvements being made the end result we’re looking for is efficiency gains,” said Matthias “Matt” Ristow, who in April became the top decision-maker at the Omaha plant. As president and managing director of business administration, Ristow replaces Maury Salz, who has retired. Ristow, a native of Heidelberg, Germany who came to Omaha in 2014, said the two-story addition on the southside of the CLAAS plant at 8401 S. 132nd St., includes a lowerContinued on page 7.
President and Managing Director of Business Administration Matt Ristow … Looking to gain efficiency amid a leadership transition and growth of the Omaha facility. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
Wonder Bunch Media expands reach of children’s apps nearing 150,000 downloads by Michelle Leach
When Alex and Meghan Michelic surveyed the landscape of learning applications available for their young daughters, the couple embarked on doing it better. Almost two years later, Wonder Bunch Media’s app downloads have approached 150,000. “We really set out to create a product that had the highest level of quality animation and interactions,
and the goal of any of our content — videos, songs, anything downloadable — is for the child to learn something,” said Meghan Michelic, an attorney by trade. “It’s really important to honor children ‘where they are,’ and to respect them for who they are.” As its name suggests, Omaha-based Wonder Bunch Media Continued on page 8. Chief Operating Officer Simeon Worthing, left, and President Joe Worthing … Entrepreneurial father-son duo creates jobs and a solution to Omaha’s glass recycling issue.
Glassman Recycling & Repurposing startup creates sustainable glass recycling solution by Becky McCarville
COO Alex Michelic, left, and CEO Meghan Michelic … Calm-inducing, nature-inspired learning apps resonate now more than ever before in the era of COVID-19.
Joe Worthing, president of Glassman Recycling & Repurposing, a new glass recycling startup with curbside collection, is making a two-fold case for keeping glass recycling in Omaha. First, by starting a for-profit company, local jobs are created and the tax revenue generated stays in Omaha. Second, glass stays out of landfills and is repurposed, reducing energy
consumption and the impact on natural resources. “Glass is 100% recyclable,” Worthing said. “When it’s left in its solid state and put in a dump, it takes a million years for it to break back down … when I can do it in a millisecond, pop it through my grinder and then it goes back into the system — so no more quarrying … no more sand pits … no access lines and Continued on page 9.