Midlands Business Journal September 18, 2020 Vol. 46 No. 38 issue by Midlands Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS

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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

wt ro G ha ort ma Rep

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.

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Manna Industries grows with launch of new cosmetics line by Gabby Christensen

When Marcie Manna opened Manna Industries, an Omaha-based cosmetics company offering educational opportunities and products, in November 2018, her goal was to introduce new beauty products locally and nationally.

Manna Industries Phone: 402-679-6787 Founded: 2018 Service: beauty company offering hair extensions, sunless tanning and cosmetics Employees: 4 Goal: To develop a national customer base, help customers feel confident. Website: https://mannaindustries.com

The business, which specializes in extensions and sunless tanning, recently launched a new cosmetics line that includes products for face, eyes, lips and skin. The hair extensions are 100% pure Remy human hair and MannaGlow products are 95% organic, paraben free, vegan friendly, cruelty free, streak free and include natural DHA actives. Additionally, all products are crafted by Manna and tested by professionals in the

Owner Marcie Manna … Business has increased as more women have turned to beauty products to use at home. industry. full-service salon, Manna Salon. Aside from running the business and Although the recent pandemic has disdeveloping new items, she also operates a rupted the economy, sales have dramatically

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increased for tanning products, which is what prompted the cosmetics line. “Even though people were unable to visit salons or receive services earlier this year, we found that they still wanted to feel beautiful at home so they were purchasing more of our products,” she said. “People were also on their phone a lot more, so we utilized Instagram and online advertising to reach more customers, which also boosted our sales.” Primarily, the store serves teens and women ages 14 to 65, there are products for beginners and those who are more comfortable with cosmetics. As a business owner, Manna said it’s been exciting to receive support from locals. “We have found a lot of people who are on our team and are here to support us and help grow the business,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate to establish many connections over the years in the Omaha community.” For Manna, success has been measured through being able to serve a wider range of customers by continually expanding on products. Now with four employees on board, the woman-owned and -operated business is aiming to reach an even larger audience down the road. “Looking at 2021 and the years ahead, we have plans to hopefully participate in trade shows outside of Nebraska and gain customers on a national level,” she said. As a former cosmetology instructor and current cosmetologist and hair stylist with over 21 years of experience in the beauty landscape, Manna has found that helping others feel good is priceless — which will always be one of the business’ biggest goals. “Making people feel beautiful is so rewarding,” she said. “Knowing that our products have the power to give someone confidence is what fuels me.”

Midlands Business Journal Established in 1975

PUBLISHER & FOUNDER, Robert Hoig

ADMINISTRATION

How I got into the business: I originally majored in Finance & Accounting at UNL. I did a summer internship with a large broker and decided it wasn’t for me. Several of my friends were majoring in Construction Management and seemed to really like it, so I decided to switch majors. This turned out to be one of my better decisions in life. Accomplishments or milestones: I have successfully completed over $350 Million in healthcare projects and have made a lot of industry friends along the way. First job: Scheduler. Biggest career break: Becoming part of the Omaha JE Dunn family. It has truly been an amazing experience, we’ve more

than quadrupled in size, and we have a tight-knit culture where it’s fun to come to work. JE Dunn is a fantastic company that both challenges you and makes you feel appreciated for your hard work. The toughest part of the job: Balancing being sensitive to other people’s feelings vs. doing what needs to be done for the betterment of the whole. The best advice I have received: The only way to get through tough times or ambiguity is to focus on what you can control, manage that to the best of your ability, and have faith that the rest of it will work itself out. About my family: I’m married to my best friend who is not only much prettier, but way smarter than me. We have a great time together and she keeps me on the right path. We’re a blended family with (3) children; an 11 year-old daughter and (2) 9 year-old sons who are all becoming “little people” with lots of thoughts / ideas about the world around them. I enjoy our family life very much, but also look forward to a future where we can travel more and do things retired couples do together. Something else I’d like to accom-

plish: Start a Bed & Breakfast with my wife somewhere warm. How my business will change in the next decade: I think we’ll see some sort of response to the recent COVID-19 epidemic regarding the way that buildings are designed and built. I would anticipate some major spending on infectious disease labs, testing, and treatment facilities. Pre-fabrication of building systems will become even more prevalent. I also hope to see a lot more people go through trade school and / or apprenticeship programs in lieu of just going to college to get a degree they don’t end up using. We’ve had a shortage of skilled labor for many years now as more of the baby boomers are retiring. We need to do a better job of promoting our industry to high school students across the country. Outside interests: Fishing, golf, watching football and Netflix. Favorite vacation spot: Pulaski, New York salmon fishing. Other careers I would like to try: Fishing Guide. Favorite cause or charity: Open Door Mission.

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Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Lincoln Business Journal Pages

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

September 18, 2020

Flexible advanced education programs, career enrichment resources resonate amid recession dents, teachers and community, and then by Michelle Leach Look around and you will see Indeed’s developed a program to try to meet those survey findings in action; of more than needs.” The resulting research/needs assess1,000 workers surveyed by the job search engine, 50% reported pandemic-related ments led to other partnerships with schools and districts across the state to inadjustments to their work functions. “The present environment reveals a tegrate the arts (Crete, Niobrara, Lincoln). need for a broad degree that creates many Additionally, Engen-Wedin highlighted paths for the professional,” said Nikki the Nebraska Arts Council’s instrumental Pointer, admissions counselor for graduate, support for its professional development programming. adult and transfer programs at “We are fortunate to have Nebraska Wesleyan University. access to a number of great “Our MBA program is designed teaching artists through our to create a well-rounded busiaffiliation with the Kennedy ness professional who fits into Center Partners in Education unlimited career paths.” Program — most are really up NWU partners with comto speed with the most current panies in Lincoln and Omaeducational advances,” she said. ha, Pointer noted, to offer tu“In addition, we often survey ition discounts to employees the teachers about their interseeking degree advancement. ests — giving them options to “With this partnership, we Engen-Wedin participate if it is of interest.” offer free educational opportuNebraska poet Sarah McKinstry nities aimed at skill development to assist companies in employee development,” Brown, for instance, developed a popular workshop, Using Poetry and Visual Arts she said. Additionally, Pointer highlighted its to Stir Curiosity and Increase Compre$2,000 scholarships to MBA students from hension. Some local teaching artists are different professional backgrounds (alum- also paired with area teachers who work ni, diversity in leadership, nonprofits, and in Title I schools. At present, most of its work is virtual. government and public administration). “This fall we are holding ‘Creative “Applicants do not need a business background to be enrolled in our MBA Conversations’ over Zoom with teachers at many of our partner schools and next program,” she said. Its comprehensive nursing program, spring semester 2021 we will be offering too, includes a unique MSN/MBA joint an arts integration class called CREATE,” degree program (and an MSN to MBA Engen-Wedin said. For undergraduate and graduate credit bridge program). “The MSN program provides an em- at UNL, CREATE provides examples of phasis in administration or education,” integrating all the arts — dance/movePointer said. “Our graduate nursing pro- ment, literary, music, theater, media and grams uniquely prepare nurses for change visual arts. “To the teachers I say, ‘The arts will or advancement that is so important to change how your students feel about career longevity.” The Lied Center for Performing Arts learning,’” she said. “The arts will change has been offering professional develop- how teachers feel about teaching too. It’s ment workshops in arts integration to important for teachers — everyone, really Pre-K to Grade 12 teachers since 2001, — to experience the arts first-hand.” When asked about the roots of the when Nancy Engen-Wedin said the center was accepted to be a partner with the Nebraska Alumni Association’s formal Kennedy Center Partners in Education career enrichment-related programs, Senior Director Strategic Communications Program. “At that time, our partner school was Hilary Butler referred to the hiring of Dr. the Umonhon Nation School in Macy, Larry Routh as an alumni career specialist Nebraska,” said Engen-Wedin, of the part- in 2012, as kicking off its resources in nership’s education and grant programs. this area. “Over the years, Larry’s role changed “We had a planning team with the school and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and, since his retirement last year, we’ve where we assessed the needs of the stuContinued on next page.

Nikki Pointer, admissions counselor for graduate, adult and transfer programs at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

READY TO CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION? You can count on us for free help and resources.

EducationQuest.org/Adult-Learners

402.475.5222

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal • LBJ • Education Opportunities

Multiple training options for trades in Nebraska by Gabby Christensen

Educational and training opportunities for trades are readily available in Nebraska, industry professionals say. Roy Lamb II, training director at Lincoln Electrical Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee (JATC), said the program has a three-year and a five-year option, each with a different scope of work. “This is a way to get paid to learn a skilled trade, or ‘earn while you learn’ as we like to call it,” he said. “Our students come away with no student loan debt and a skill that is in very high demand. If you like to be challenged, can show up to work on time and are self-motivated, then you are someone we would be interested in talking to.” The skilled trades are an excellent way to earn a great wage and receive top-of-theline benefits. “For someone to earn a six-figure salary in the building trades is not uncommon at all,” Lamb said. “I can’t say enough good things about the career opportunities that

are available in the electrical industry — the sky’s the limit.” Melissa Palmer, HR manager at Lincoln Electric System (LES), said the company works with several universities, colleges and technical colleges to establish programming specific to LES’ trades jobs. “We work with Northeast Community College and Metropolitan Community College specific to the line technician degree and offer a four-year apprentice program for those persons who are offered line technician apprentice positions at LES,” she said. “We worked with Southeast Community College to establish their generation operations degree program. We offer cooperative learning arrangements, along with internships for students participating in these degree programs.” Palmer said utilities, in particular, need specialized skills that are often found in trades. “Trades training can give candidates interested in working with their hands and

in the outdoors a living wage career in 18 to 24 months,” she said. Anne Klute, president/CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors - Nebraska, said the State of Nebraska is very fortunate concerning training for craft professionals. “Associated Builders and Contractors offers true apprenticeship training, which is the longest standing method of post-secondary education,” she said. “Apprenticeship training allows for the students to work during the day to receive their on-the-job portion of their education and come to class at night.” ABC uses the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum, which was created for industry professionals by industry professionals, through curriculum specialists working with industry professionals to assess the knowledge required to work effectively and safely on any jobsite. “We currently offer training in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and welding,

with the ability to train in all of the crafts, with student interest,” Klute said. “In addition, we offer continuing education courses for our licensed professionals and leadership and safety training. Our program is established to prepare students to test for their journeyman’s license after four years of classroom time and on-the-job training, which offers the apprentices appropriate time to attain the required 8,000 hours in the field and gain the theory-based knowledge needed to earn their license. NCCER curriculum combines classroom instruction with hands-on training to prepare students for work on the jobsite.” Klute said the construction industry offers careers that allow a strong living wage, and training provided at ABC allows students to acquire their training with limited debt incurred. “Most of our students work for employers who pay for a majority of the tuition for them to attend class,” she said. “Our industry believes in training their team to ensure efficiency and safety. In addition to careers that are attained through apprenticeship, the construction industry hires professionals in many areas that may not be thought of as traditional construction careers. Careers in construction are far reaching and allow for a happy life supported by a good living wage.”

Education programs

Continued from preceding page. begun reimagining what form our career enrichment programming can take,” she said. “We’ve recently shifted our focus in this area and Jordan Gonzales, director of alumni engagement, has helped guide this program to its current form.” To that end, Gonzales said they’re working to provide a career design fellowship for alumni; over four weeks, alumni enroll in the fellowship and are guided through a career design process to help identify strengths, define career criteria, discover exciting new careers and create an “action plan” to land their “dream job.” Additionally, he said, alumni can register for Husker Connect to volunteer time and mentor a student or seek professional mentorship themselves, and should watch for its winter career-focused webinar series. Accordingly, Senior Director Marketing and Business Relations Jeff Sheldon said they’ve had to be nimble to adjust programming, relying on its longstanding UNL faculty, staff and alumni relationships to provide timely and relevant content. They’re further keeping an eye, Sheldon said, on trends in the alumni space and gaps to fill a need. The leadership trio referenced how career development resources are near the top of what members value from alumni associations, and further strengthen the university. Most recently, in 2020, 1,600-plus alumni signed up for the aforementioned new online mentoring and networking platform, Husker Connect, and its summer Career Enrichment Webinar series (May to July, spanning topics such as adjusting the job search during the recession) boasted almost 1,000 attendees. Its Nebraska Workplace Networks was also launched in recent years to “foster networking, develop camaraderie and bring the university to the workspaces of our alumni.”

LBJ • Education Opportunities •

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

• LBJ • Education Opportunities

Online certificate programs develop skills and expand job opportunities by David Kubicek

Certificate programs help meet the increasing demand for skilled workers in Nebraska. A certificate helps employees develop skills quickly, add to their resumes, and expand job opportunities. With an online certificate program, students can remain in their current jobs while pursuing further education. The University of Nebraska’s campuses offer seven fully online business-related certificate programs, according to a University of Nebraska spokesperson. The university offers undergraduate certificates in data management, systems development, and professional sales. It offers graduate certificates in business analytics, engineering management, public management and supply chain management. In general, certificates at one of the four campuses at the University of Nebraska earn between 12 and 15 credits. A University of Nebraska spokesperson noted many students in the program are part-time, taking a course or two each semester. DoaneX was created from the partnership between Doane University and edX, which was founded by Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Diona Hartwig, assistant director of e-learning programs at Doane University, said DoaneX provides a variety of certificate programs in topics ranging from cannabis studies, health care, marketing and executive administration. “Learners can earn professional certificates that show competency in high-demand job fields as well as earning college credit,” she said. “DoaneX offers MicroBachelors certificate programs that award three college credit hours upon successful completion as well as certificate programs that offer learners nine credit hours towards Doane University’s online MBA program.” The Marketing Essentials MicroBachelors Program has four courses that can be completed in two to three months for three college credits. The Healthcare Administration Micro-

Masters Program has eight courses, can be completed in seven months, and awards nine credits to the Doane Online MBA program. Certified Lifestyle Medicine Executive MicroMasters Program has 10 courses, can be completed in seven months for nine credits to the Doane Online MBA program. Sustainable Hartwig Agribusiness MicroMasters Program has seven courses, takes 12 to 14 months to complete, and awards nine credits to the Doane Online MBA program. Cannabis Science and Industries: Seeds to Needs is three courses, takes two to three months to complete, but offers no license or accreditation.

Lifestyle Medicine: Improving the Future of Health Care has four courses, takes two months to complete, and allows medical providers to prepare for the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) board exam and earns 30 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME). “Certificate programs are an excellent way for learners to gain valuable Michaelis knowledge to enhance their job skills or advance their career all while doing it at their own pace to fit busy lifestyles and schedules,” Hartwig said. Southeast Community College (SCC) has certificate programs with most of the classes offered online, but some also have a face-to-face lab requirement, said Vice

President of Education Joel C. Michaelis. Three types of business certificates don’t have a lab requirement — a business option, a client relations option, and an entrepreneurship option. All three earn 15 credit hours. The first two each take one 15-week term to complete and the entrepreneurship option takes two terms. Other online certificates SCC offers are Event-Venue Operations Management, which takes one term to complete and earns 15 credit hours. Dietary Manager takes one term to complete and earns 12 credit hours. Long Term Care Administration takes two terms to complete and earns 21 credit hours. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) — a computerized database management system for capturing, storing, retrieving, analyzing and displaying geographic information — takes four terms to complete and earns 18 credit hours. “We are going to be investigating more such programs in the future,” Michaelis said.

Virtual learning essential under COVID-19, but hardly new by Dwain Hebda

Digital learning may have received the lion’s share of the education spotlight since March, but experts in the field say it’s hardly a new concept. “Kidwell has utilized and deployed Office 365 and the infrastructure to support remote work for over 15 years,” said Katie Koester, vice president of operations. “Prior to COVID-19, remote-based working was something several of our customers utilized as well as the Office 365 platform to share documents and communicate through Teams. At the time, businesses were very familiar with the cloud but not all had utilized the full suite of products or capabilities that it could offer.” Koester said Kidwell’s track record proved essential to providing a ready alternative for schools having to teach remotely. “The biggest change with COVID-19 was the number of users and the demand for more tools,” she said. “Almost over-

night, we deployed increased licensing for VPNs and enhanced cloud licensing packages. Customers realized the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t going to go away and the IT planning they’d done was finally very much needed. “Those that didn’t plan had a harder ramp-up time, but the ease and flexibility of cloudbased systems allowed for a much more seamless transition than we would Koester have seen even five years ago,” she said. Still, digital instruction presented a steep learning curve for many parents, especially at the primary and secondary levels. Laura Roberts, executive director and lead teacher for Bluestem Montessori, said the school started out the school year digitally and while online learning seemed to fly in the face of the school’s mindset, staff and students adapted well. “The basis of Montessori is children going right at their own pace and teachers guiding them through the materials and the curriculum. That actually lends itself pretty well to distance learning,” she said. “There are ways to preserve the Montessori philosophy, even when we don’t have access to the materials. That’s been where our focus is.”

Roberts said there’s a learning curve for all involved, right down to the instructors who have to retrain their skill set for the digital environment. “In the classroom, we’re observing and going where we’re needed, right? But here, we have to really plan,” she said. “Not that there’s not a planning element in the classroom, but it’s a lot more free-flow. We have to be a lot Jurek more structured in exactly what our plan is.” In the midst of all of this, many education-related companies have pitched in to provide families with resources and help them adjust. “When students and parents were thrust into online learning due to the pandemic, many of them had never experienced this type of learning environment,” said Joan Jurek, director of college planning at EducationQuest Foundation. “Families have been forced to become much more savvy with technology and to even embrace it.” To help, EducationQuest offers timely blog posts at the organization’s website, EducationQuest.org. These include “5 Tips for 5 Virtual Learning Apps,” on how to make the most of Google Classroom, Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Moodle. Other blog posts help parents provide calming support to their children and give survival tips for college students. And, like most other entities, the organization also made changes to its own protocols. “When the pandemic hit, our staff was committed to providing all of our services, programs and events virtually to help Nebraska families plan and pay for college,” Jurek said. “It’s been stressful, but also fulfilling to provide the resources Nebraska families have come to depend on. I anticipate that we’ll continue to provide virtual appointments, financial aid programs and college fairs in the years to come.”

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

CLAAS perfects new combine harvester lines for North American market Continued from page 1. level showroom and upper-level meeting and training space for CLAAS employees and distributors. The new 12,000-square-foot addition is expected to be in use by the end of the year. Salz, in reflecting on the growth of the Omaha plant particularly in the past six years, said “The biggest element we’ve been targeting is to bring more of the product to final assembly here and to have significant — often double-digit — freight savings.” During that time period, additional dealerships have been started in North America and demonstrations and training at the Omaha facility have gained additional importance for groups from countries such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Nebraska retail locations include Wayne, Kearney, Seward, and the most recent store that opened three years ago in Ogallala. “There’s been a high quality of output from the Omaha plant and for 2021 we’re aiming for a 10% increase in improving on our targets,” Ristow said. “The mantra for our employees is ‘Do it right the first-time around.’” Salz, who grew up on a family corn and soybean farm in northeast Iowa and earned an undergraduate degree in ag engineering from Iowa State and an MBA from St. Ambrose University, said over 19 years the Omaha facility was built around strong investment in research and development, purchasing, quality, logistics and manufacturing in product development, in the production of tractors, grain and cotton harvesters for several major agricultural original equipment manufacturers. The mission for the Omaha facility continues

to be designing and building a product that offers models into a new performance class with the a good value proposition in terms of cost-per- successful concept of a combination of a tangenbushel for the farmer, he said. tial threshing unit with a pre-accelerator drum The Omaha plant is operating at about 75% and axial secondary separation. These characcapacity, an increase of about 5% in the past few teristics, together with the synchronization of years. the drum speeds, enable For example, six CLAAS Omaha a straight, gentle and product audits measur- Phone: 402-861-1000 fuel-saving crop flow. ing 13 indicators have Address: 8401 S. 132nd St., Omaha Additional features generated additional 68138 include Jet Stream alignment of proce- Services: manufacturer of hay tool, balcleaning and a new dures and, on occasion, er, self-propelled forage harvester and Quantimeter; the latter have encouraged senior combine harvester products to provide works with an impact employees to approach optimum performance for growers plate at the grain ela non-fully aligned em- Founded: 1913 by August Claas evator delivery point ployee with a “let me Employees: 200, but close to 300 in and measures the yield help you attitude.” Of- heavy demand spring and summer without requiring the ten, the most recent au- months thousand grain weight. dit will uncover fewer Website: www.claasofamerica.com Only one calibration items than earlier ones. process is required an“When we introduce new products, it is nually per crop type and this can be performed difficult to get it perfect,” Ristow said. “So, our from the cab. goal for 2020-21 is to achieve the best and be as Salz and Ristow emphasize the cost of operaclose to perfect as we can.” tion per acre is a differentiating factor of the new A matrix system was rolled out in October Lexion lines. The cost of such new technology 2018. such as operating monitoring can push new Offering more of a historical perspective, equipment into the $800,000 range. Lifespan Salz said the rollout of each new equipment can be as high as 20 years, with many variables. line — especially the Lexion 8000 and 7000 “The assembly process now is one that — offer production and assembly challenges we’ve had to realign and instruct our employees as additional enhancements have been made on,” Ristow explained. “There are so many cab to the equipment. In addition, equipment can comforts and digital communication products be customized to meet the needs of farmers in involved.” a particular region, or even the preferences of Salz said he’s going into retirement confident individual customers. that CLAAS Omaha employees will rise to the At the heart of the new Lexion lines is an occasion. The Omaha facility in 2017-18 won APS Synflow hybrid threshing unit; the engine an award as the best production company in the output of up to 790 HP or 581 kW takes the new CLAAS network.

The plant has about 60 suppliers in the U.S. Three to five strategic suppliers are used almost every day. Among them are Nebraska-based firms such as TMCO, Metal Tech Partners and John Day. Ristow said the sophistication of the new Lexion lines will require even more coordination with suppliers. A continuing challenge facing the Omaha facility is finding qualified assembly workers for the engine work. CLAAS Omaha is one of two Nebraska firms partnering with Metropolitan Community College as part of an engine apprenticeship program affiliated with the Industry Consortium for Advanced Technical Training. The three-year program starts this fall. Ristow said crucial training will also need to be available to service dealers and CLAAS retail location employees. Ristow, who came to the U.S. as a high school exchange student, received his bachelor’s degree in business and master’s degree in international business from Fresno State. He returned to Germany and worked for the largest privately held service company in Europe. He served as controller and treasurer with the U.S. branch of German-based MAN Truck & Bus in Florida. He spent time in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where he was administrator of four MAN companies. Ristow also spent four-and-a-half years in Turkey before returning to the U.S. to join Claas six years ago. CLAAS, based in Germany, established Claas America in 1979 as a marketing and distribution company and was also represented by a number of partners in North America.

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Wonder Bunch Media expands reach of children’s apps nearing 150,000 downloads Continued from page 1. creates educational products inspired by the wonder of nature. The illustrations and animation, the handiwork of local artist and graphic designer Skylar Hogan, prominently features landscapes near and far, from tropical islands complete with swimming turtles, to a field of pastel-hued flowers flanked by honeybees that could be anywhere. Hogan adapted his style to suit the series of apps and additional learning products on the way, making the visuals unique and exclusive to Wonder Bunch. He adapted his style to suit the series of apps and additional learning products on the way. “These are children out in nature,” Michelic said, of the characters featured in apps like

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Letter Meadow and Number Island. “Nobody “Depending on the content of the app, we has a superpower. They’re not doing anything might have a pediatrician, a yoga instructor, that our children couldn’t do.” early childhood educators, and a handful of Additionally, the Michelics highlighted parents who weigh in on our apps,” Meghan the soft, soothing look and feel of its na- Michelic said. ture-inspired apps — no seizure-inducing Of course, the couple also has a “mini-folights, sounds, low-quality animation and cus group” at home: four daughters, ages 6, 4, “addictive” character3 and nearing 1. Wonder Bunch Media istics here. As the apps ap“The first two Services: high-quality learning apps proached 150,000 apps are preschool/ inspired by the wonder of nature that eddownloads last month, kindergarten-focused ucate preschool-aged and older children, an outsider couldn’t and that was the birth and inspire relaxation and confidence help but wonder the of our company,” Founded: 2019 by Alex and Meghan role learning platMeghan Michelic Michelic forms available at noted. “Things have Website: wonderbunch.com one’s fingertips has really evolved; the during the pandemic. forthcoming apps appeal to a much larger The couple addressed how they are using child age group.” multiple channels (from social media to YouThese older age-appropriate apps include Tube and its parents’ newsletter) to provide Art Camp, Pollination Station, Peaceful support to caregivers who have been thrust Forest and Weather Mountain; for instance, into the role of educator or home office worker the Michelics are leveraging Meghan’s balancing “it all.” experience as a yoga teacher to create a Partially, these resources provide tips on breathing app for children, and the afore- things like offline activities and outdoor play. mentioned products also explore the likes of Within the apps, the featured Wonder photosynthesis and the bee’s contribution to Bunch characters wear facemasks to normalour world. ize this precaution for children as some have “We hear frequently that our apps hold returned to schools. [children’s] attention for a long period of The overall calming effect of the Wonder time,” she said. “Kids are really calm, they Bunch products has also been a “happy accifeel accomplished, and are proud of them- dent” for children and the parents of children selves.” who are neurodivergent. Alex Michelic added: “There is probably “We’re doing some blog posts and gathernothing more rewarding than to hear a kid, ing data on the best apps for kids with autism also our kids, to hear them say ‘I did it!’” and dyslexia,” she said, a nod to becoming The couple is also supported by a diverse more intentional in crafting products that team of advisers. resonate with children who may need a little

more support. Also going forward, the Wonder Bunch team is exploring a series of companion storybooks. They might follow a plastic bottle through its “life” and the process of being recycled anew. Or, via Molly’s Plane Takes Flight, children are introduced to “helpers” — members of the community such as veterinarians and police officers. Ultimately, the couple aims to have their content translated into multiple languages, expanding the Wonder Bunch “world.” The sky is the limit; other “worlds” might be explored, too, from life in outer-space to more down-to-earth pursuits (life on a ranch or in a hospital). The owners complement each other in this growing venture. But, not in the way that one might expect from an attorney (Meghan) and an artist-turned-software developer (Alex). “I drive the creative, from the concept to the color tones, and Alex, on the other hand, is very much the business mind,” she said. “He deals with the analytics of the apps, the software development and the coding.” For those embarking on a business with a spouse or other family member, Alex admits it’s “not for everybody.” “But if there is a strong enough vision … nothing gets in the way,” he said. Ultimately, for the Michelics, that vision is about coming full circle; the exploration of quality, substantive apps for their daughters. “It’s really for our kids, first and foremost,” she said. “That puts a stamp of approval on it. We make them for our kids first. It’s a unique business.”

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

Glassman Recycling & Repurposing startup creates sustainable glass recycling solution and venues that go through a lot of wine Continued from page 1. and beer bottles — and then ease into resthe things that go with that.” But mostly, recycling and repurposing idential collection. But with March came glass is common sense, he said, adding that the pandemic and he refocused the plan, “no one would accuse me of being an Earth starting with residential clients instead. “It’s almost a blessing in disguise beDay tree hugger, save every spotted owl there is, although those are good things” cause starting on the residential side, we — even though he is a “big outdoorsman, can have better control of our growth and a huge conservationist” and a board mem- we’re still able to brand ourselves while inber on the Nebraska Recycling Council, troducing ourselves to the businesses when involved in Ducks Unlimited and other they come back online, and that’s exactly what’s happening,” he said. “One of our organizations. “It doesn’t need to be an environ- major goals was to have 100 [clients] in the first 30 days and mental component, we hit that goal.” a l t h o u g h t h a t ’ s Glassman Recycling The company is p a r t o f t h e c o m - & Repurposing on track to reach its mon sense — why Phone: 402-578-4202 secondary goal of would we expend Services: residential and business/ 500 by the end of 60 so much energy to hospitality glass collection, recycling and days. The plan is to m a k e s o m e t h i n g repurposing, processed in Bellevue hire a new employee new when we can Founded: July 8, 2020 every 250 residenjust process what’s Employees: 2 tial customers. Longalready there and go Goal: Get to a minimum of 10,000 term, the target is a that route,” he said. clients in Omaha and 10% of Omaha minimum of 10,000 “From a tax stand- households participating and spinning clients in Omaha and point — create the off an array of businesses with the sand/ 10% of households jobs here, create tax aggregate byproducts. participating. revenue here, don’t Industry outlook: Local for-profit soluCurrently, the elask the government tions for glass recycling and reuse boost der Worthing, who for money because local economies by providing jobs and has a long career in you’re asking money generating local and state tax revenue, marketing, focuses from yourself any- along with keeping glass out of landon the administraway. If you can be a fills and creating new markets with the tive and marketing net improvement to byproducts. side. Simeon Worthyour own commu- Website: www.glassmanrandr.com ing collects the glass nity’s economy and create jobs, that will benefit everybody. (a $20 “grab” fee), separates it into the four major colors (blue, green, brown and Those are my motivations.” Up until Worthing and his son, Chief clear), and then grinds the glass down into Operating Officer Simeon Worthing, four different aggregates that will eventustarted the company on July 8 of this year, ally be reused in the marketplace once a Omaha residents’ only option was to take certain volume is reached. The plan is to scale the business, addglass to one of the 10 Kansas City-based Ripple Glass drop-off locations. Contract- ing more efficient, larger capacity equiped by the city, Ripple transports the glass ment as benchmarks are reached. A 2x2-foot tub holds 106 beer bottles, to its facility in Kansas City and converts it into fiberglass insulation. Like many or 33 wine bottles, and takes about five cities, Omaha has single stream recycling. minutes to grind with a 10 to 1 reduction. “Single stream recycling, the norm Once pulverized, 10 bottles take up the in most municipalities, in most cases no space of one. “When we break the glass down into longer accepts glass,” Joe Worthing said. “There are many reasons for this shift that sand it then gets separated into four differinclude changes in global markets, danger ent aggregates that we will then be filling to employees sifting through trash, and the back into the marketplace,” Joe Worthing price for glass does not justify the labor said. “There will be additional businesscosts. Therefore, curbside glass collection es spun out of the byproduct of how we via city contracts became a cost center and process the glass; there will be additional growth in the Omaha economy based on discontinued.” Worthing doesn’t see the city’s con- the byproduct.” Depending on its size, the sand can be tract with Ripple as competition, but as an option for people who want to recycle used for pool filters, sand traps, sandblastglass. However, since glass is transported ing, aggregate and cinder blocks, asphalt to another city, it increases the carbon (‘glassphalt’), a mulch alternative, or even footprint and doesn’t generate tax revenue in high-end countertops and tabletops. The collection tubs have been given for Omaha, muddying the benefits. When conducting market research, a second life through reuse by Glassman. Worthing found that a majority of Omaha First used as livestock “lick tubs,” they residents surveyed want to recycle glass, are a recycling issue for the cattle indusbut they don’t do it because it’s inconve- try in central and western Nebraska. The tubs, filled with molasses, sorghum and nient to take it to a dump site. “So, like many things that are not con- minerals, are placed in pastures for cattle venient — mowing one’s grass, cleaning to lick out. When empty, the United States up after a dog — many businesses start Department of Agriculture and Food and to do things that people don’t want to do Drug Administration do not allow reuse for themselves but that they would like to for that same purpose, which means the tubs are stacked up by the thousands at do,” he said. Initially, Worthing planned to target recycling centers. “I said well, it may cost us more but if the hospitality industry in March — hotels

we drove out there and brought back 1,000 at a time, power wash them, put holes in the bottom so that they don’t collect water or liquid, put our label on it, handles, so everybody who’s participating is in fact helping our rural communities with a major recycling problem they have out there,” he said. “It costs us a little bit more and that necessitated the registration fee that we have to try to defray some of the costs of going out and getting these and making them ready.” Simeon Worthing uses a route optimization planner for the most fuel-efficient route for the day’s collection (no need to set by the curb), using a dolly to haul and return the tub to its designated spot, typically near the house or garage. He also uses a lift assist he built on the trailer — when full, a tub weighs about 40 to 50 pounds. This method of collection benefits those who want to recycle but physically can’t lift or drag a heavy tub, like the elderly or disabled, he said. What’s more,

some clients don’t want their neighbors to see how much beer or wine they consume and are often outside when Simeon Worthing collects the glass, a humorous quirk he noticed. Joe Worthing has ideas for businesses where employees can bring glass from home to recycle at work as a perk, and for apartment complexes where a larger collection bin could be placed near the trash collection area as an added benefit. “There’s an even bigger marketing component to this and this is something I’ve done throughout my career — we’re looking to establish a community,” he said, adding that business clients will be listed as business partners on the company’s website and residential customers will be encouraged to patronize these companies. “We’re looking at doing things completely different with our business partners, where their business is growing because they’re recycling, and that’s another way we’ll get more people to participate.”

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Aviation education options are abundant in metro by Gabby Christensen

The opportunities for an education in aviation are out there and future careers are waiting, local flight professionals say. David Silchman, founder/CEO of Nebraska Flight Center, said aviation education is at a very exciting time, as many new technologies are being implemented Silchman and adapted to teach students. “In our case, we have seen a definite increase in the quality of pilots we train,” Silchman said. “Good pilots will always be in demand. We have a critical shortage of pilots and instructors. This is the time to start training.” Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lisa LaMantia, president of Advanced Air, said there was already a pilot shortage and it’s anticipated that in two years the shortage will be worse than before. “When COVID-19 hit, we thought we would be slow, but surprisingly we've been busier than ever as far as flight training,” LaMantia said. “There were several people that had always wanted to fly but never had the time. Due to COVID-19, they had time because all their events and activities had been canceled.” Additionally, LaMantia said more people are interested in getting their pilot license so they can rent and fly a plane to

take their family on vacations. “Instruction is one-on-one with a flight instructor,” she said. “They can also go to

industry right now, but they’ll get through that and the jobs will still be there.” According to Tarry, business aviation has recovered more quickly, but it might take longer for more people to become comfortable flying on airlines until a vaccine has been developed. As more people work remotely and have less need for traveling to conferences and meetings, he said this trend may extend

further into the future, as well. This fall, the university is seeing the highest number of majors in its history. Tarry said this is due to the fact that younger individuals want to work in an industry that they’re passionate about regardless of any possible long-term effects of the pandemic. “Our students are realizing that with good timing and good preparation they’ll be ready for the opportunities that await,” he said. “It’s definitely not a bad time to get aviation education and training.”

Local banks talk financing options for retail by Gabby Christensen

LaMantia Tarry places like the University of Nebraska at Omaha to enroll in the professional pilot program and get a degree. There is also online training available to help students study for the computerized knowledge test.” Scott Tarry, professor and director at the Aviation Institute at UNO, said the university currently offers a Bachelor of Science in aviation with three concentrations: professional flight; air transport administration, which prepares students for a variety of management and administration roles in airports and airline operations; and unmanned aircraft systems, which prepares students for a career in operating unmanned aircraft as well as management and operations of a company or organization that utilizes unmanned aircraft. “The demand for well-trained aviation professionals was extremely high before the pandemic,” he said. “COVID-19 has impacted the airlines and other parts of the

When it comes to getting the financing needed to open, bankers say there are many considerations for retailers to keep in mind. To m K e l l e y, chairman/CEO at Five Points Bank, said financing a retail space is challenging in ordinary times, but COVID-19 adds a new layer of complexity to the analysis and the process. “The major hurdle to financing Kelley retail space is that typically there is minimal collateral value to the object of the bank financing,” he said. “Consequently, underwriting retail operations, especially new ones, can be challenging. Typically, retail stores are going into leased spaces, so the bank’s collateral is mainly furniture, fixtures, equipment and inventory.” Similarly, the retail operator also has the competing creditor of the landlord. While the leased space is a necessary component to a retail operation, Kelley said some forget that the lease presents a substantial and ongoing liability for the operation, and oftentimes the owner, in the form of a personal guarantee. “It is important that the bank, the landlord and the operator have a clear understanding at the outset of which fixtures and equipment attach to the building and which are movable and not attached to the building,” he said. Another challenge is threats that are posed by e-commerce operations and whether or not the retail operation can

adapt to an e-commerce environment. “Because of all of the uncertainty surrounding the public health situation, as well as the retail environment in the face of a potent e-commerce threat, new retail operations may want to look long and hard at Small Business Administration backed loans,” Kelley said. “Both 7(a) and 504 loans are very attractive options for borrowers and banks. Banks like the government backing behind the Hernandez SBA loans, while customers appreciate the additional flexibility in terms they can afford. While there tends to be more paperwork and fees associated with SBA loans at the outset, many borrowers and banks are finding that the additional work and fees are well worth it — especially in this uncertain environment.” Adrian Hernandez, senior vice president at Dundee Bank, said business owners should always have a plan in place for paying back a loan, especially if their revenue is slower in the beginning. “As companies try to get back to ‘normal,’ a lot have become increasingly interested in the current SBA loan programs that are available for financing,” Hernandez said. “Right now, there’s definitely this spirit of cooperation between customers and the bank, as we try to help them navigate through this difficult time. We’ve noticed that the business owners who have been most successful are the ones who understand that it takes work from both sides to move forward.”

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

Worried about mobile banking security? Follow these best practices by Barbara Whelehan

More bank customers discovered they like the convenience of mobile banking as branches temporarily closed during the pandemic, and evidence suggests the behavior stands to stick. A survey released in mid-May by bank technology Cybersecurity provider FIS found that 31% of banked respondents intend to do more online and mobile banking in the future. But is this a safe way to conduct bank business? The FBI recently warned that SUPER CROSSWORD

hackers could exploit new mobile banking customers by using several techniques, including app-based banking Trojans and fake banking apps. Here are some of the risks and the steps you can take to reduce them. Is mobile banking safe? Mobile banking is both convenient and safe, say cybersecurity experts, but consumers need to take certain precautions. “If you download the mobile app from a secure store, that is just as safe as visiting a bank branch,” says Paul Benda, senior vice president of risk and cybersecurity policy at COUNTY EXTENSION

American Bankers Association. As he sees it, the best place to download an app is from your bank’s website, which provides the right link to the institution’s app. “Banks use extremely secure, high-end encryption technologies,” Benda says. “We like saying that mobile apps are like having a bank branch in your pocket.” Watch out for these cyberattack types There are myriad ways that fraudsters directly target consumers but the FBI’s public service announcement describes two forms of cyberattacks in particular: 1. App-based banking Trojans are hidden in unrelated apps such as games or tools that are downloaded by unsuspecting consumers. These “sideload” apps, which are downloaded from unofficial sources, could conceal malicious programs that lie dormant until a user launches a legitimate banking app. Then the Trojan springs to life, creating a pop-up overlay that mimics the bank’s login page. Once consumers enter their username and password, they are seamlessly passed on to the legitimate banking app login page and don’t even know they’ve been scammed. “The malware can be downloaded in a variety of ways, such as SMS (short message service, or text) with a malicious hyperlink,” says Teresa Walsh, global intelligence officer at Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, or FS-ISAC, an industry consortium focused on reducing cyber-risk in the global financial system. “This type of malware is actually on sale on the criminal underground marketplace.” 2. Fake banking apps are another major threat. They look like the real apps of major banks, and they’re designed to trick users into entering their login credentials. According to the FBI, this hacking technique represents “one of the fastest growing sectors of smartphone-based fraud.” Should you use a mobile banking app? If you’re worried about using a mobile banking app, be aware that security threats exist everywhere, including inside the bank lobby.

“There is the risk that the bank employee will do something that is illegal, like stealing your banking information – this is known as an insider threat,” says Donald Korinchak of CyberExperts.com. With a mobile app, Korinchak says “there are potential vulnerabilities related to the security posture of the app itself – vulnerabilities in code, encryption methods, etcetera – and also potential vulnerabilities related to the transmission of information.” Here’s the good news: “In both scenarios, the bank invests heavily to ‘bake in’ security,” Korinchak says. Financial institutions monitor their employees’ behavior and also look for vulnerabilities in their app that can be patched before they are exploited by criminals. There are also precautions you can take to reduce the risk. Tips on how to make mobile banking more secure 1. Download a verified banking app via your bank’s website. Many banks feature links to the app stores from their websites to help you download the right app. “Your bank should have available information on what type of mobile app they use, what features are on it and what you need for access to it,” FS-ISAC’s Walsh says. “Then, use a reliable app store, paying attention to the owner/developer of the app and whether there are other apps with the same name.” Confused? Talk to your bank to make sure but never download an app found on an open forum. 2. Make sure your bank uses two-factor or multi-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication requires customers to use not only a password or PIN to login to their account, but also a second way to confirm their identity, such as duplicating a code that had been sent via text message to their cell phone. As Korinchak sees it, two-factor authentication vastly increases security, but isn’t Continued on next page.

Apple buys startup to turn iPhones into payment terminals by Mark Gurman

Answers on page 12.

Apple Inc. has acquired Mobeewave Inc., a startup with technology that could transform iPhones into mobile payment terminals, according to people familiar with the matter. Mobeewave’s technology lets shoppers tap their credit card or smartphone on another phone to process a payment. The system works with an app and doesn’t require hardware beyond a Near Field Communications, or NFC, chip, which iPhones have Technology included since 2014. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant paid about $100 million for the startup, one of the people said. Mobeewave had dozens of employees, and Apple has retained the team, which continues to work out of Montreal, according to the people familiar. They asked not to be identified discussing a private transaction. “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans,” an Apple spokesman said. Apple typically buys startups to turn their technology into features of its products. Apple added Apple Pay to the iPhone in 2014, allowing users to pay for physical goods with a tap in

retail stores. Last year, it launched its own credit card, the Apple Card. Integrating Mobeewave could let anyone with an iPhone accept payments without additional hardware. This would put Apple into more direct competition with Square Inc., a leading provider of payment hardware and software for smartphones and tablets. On its website, Mobeewave shows a demonstration of a user typing in a transaction amount and then a customer tapping their credit card on the phone to process the payment on the device. Samsung Electronics Co. partnered with Mobeewave last year to allow its phones to use the technology. Samsung’s venture arm is also an investor in the startup, which has raised more than $20 million, according to PitchBook. The deal would be one of several for Apple this year. It recently acquired weather app Dark Sky and virtual-reality content broadcasting company NextVR. Other purchases include Voysis, Xnor.ai and Inductiv to improve Siri and artificial intelligence, and Fleetsmith for enterprise device management. ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Already endangered by COVID-19, farms and farmworkers face new threat from wildfires by Nina Shapiro

When Brewster, Wash., resident Erandy Montiel heard during the wildfires early last week that a large group of farmworkers had been evacuated to a city park, she went with her mom to see if they could help. Her father, Francisco Montiel, was a farmworker who died of COVID-19 in August, and she has been advocating for more protections for those in the fields and warehouses. “It broke our hearts,” she said of what she saw Tuesday Agriculture evening. The men she met — foreign guest workers from a labor camp run by a Bridgeport orchard — told Montiel they had spent a cold night without blankets, some in buses lining the park and some outside. Montiel’s mom runs a small business selling blankets, among other items, and they ran home to get them and bring them back. A bevy of other community members and the Red Cross also swooped in, providing food and shelter. But the delay underscored the vulnerability of farmworkers, including those from other countries without any local support system, amid frighteningly fast-moving fires hitting during the apple harvest. Farmworkers are more exposed to the hazards of wildfires than many. Smoke surrounds those who work outside and can create what Edgar Franks, political director of the farmworker union Familias Unidas por la Justicia, calls a greenhouse effect, making the already hot Eastern Washington climate

feel even hotter. Farmworkers already have a higher incidence of respiratory diseases like asthma and tuberculosis. The state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) requires employers to provide a safe place to work but has no specific regulations related to wildfires, according to spokesman Tim Church. Nonmandatory recommendations include rescheduling work and moving it to less smoky areas. Wildfires can also be devastating for agricultural employers. One Okanogan County rancher, directly in the path of the massive Cold Springs and Pearl Hill fires that began in Omak, lost at least 20 to 30 cows, 100 miles of fencing and 2,500 tons of hay stored to feed his cattle over the winter. Days later, he was riding around his 30,000 acres looking for injured and dead cows. “We’ve had fires before but nothing like this,” said the rancher, Dale Smith. Complicating everything, as usual, is COVID-19. “This is the crisis within a crisis,” said Andrea Schmitt, an attorney at Columbia Legal Services who has been advocating for farmworkers during the pandemic. As fires headed toward Bridgeport, Douglas County, last Monday, an evacuation order sent people fleeing. Some didn’t go far. Gebbers Farms, which has two labor camps in the area, took workers from one camp housing more than 100 workers to the other about a half-mile away, said spokeswoman Amy Philpott. It was safer there, she said. That option wasn’t available for the farmworkers who landed in a park in Brewster,

Worried about mobile banking security?

Continued from preceding page. 100% secure. “Someone could gain access to your phone or someone could intercept the SMS traffic to gain access to the code,” Korinchak says 3. Use a strong password. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to use a password that contains random upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. Don’t ask your browser to remember it for you either; use a reputable password manager instead. “Reputable password managers are coded in a way that reduces risk to the user and are highly hardened against potential attackers,” Korinchak says. “Most cyber security experts recommend password manager software.” 4. Avoid using public wi-fi. When you log onto a public wi-fi hotspot, you often get a warning that you’re not on a secure network, and that others may be able to watch your online actions. That’s a strong reason not to conduct any financial business using a public network. Instead, use your cellular network or your home wi-fi to better protect your personal information. 5. Practice phishing/smishing awareness. Phishing emails are where scammers attempt to manipulate recipients into divulging personal information, while smishing scammers use such bait in text messages. “Users should be familiar with their banking application in the first place to detect abnormal questions or pop-ups that look slightly different than the usual features,” Walsh says. 6. Set up alerts via email, text or the bank’s app.

This quick notification helps the consumer to detect potential fraudulent activity, which can then be addressed with your bank in a timely manner. How banks and financial institutions protect the consumer Banks, credit unions and investment firms are investing heavily to thwart these cybercriminals. Last year, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon announced that his firm alone spent nearly $600 million on cyber defenses, calling the threat of cybersecurity quite possibly “the biggest threat to the U.S. financial system.” “I think it’s safe to say banks spend billions to protect customer accounts,” says ABA’s Benda. “Due to Regulation E, they’re on the hook if there’s an attack.” Regulation E limits consumer liability to $50 if an unauthorized electronic funds transfer is caught by a customer within two business days, and up to $500 if caught outside the two-day window. While $500 is a considerable sum, financial institutions are responsible for everything above that amount. “Banks have very robust controls in place to control fraudulent activity,” says Benda, but the weak link is the consumer. “A lot depends on consumer behavior, making sure consumers follow safe practices.” Bottom line Banks are doing what they can to mitigate mobile banking app security, but consumers also need to take precautions to protect themselves. ©2020 Bankrate.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Okanogan County. The Red Cross, which in the past has set up shelters in Brewster High School near the park where the evacuees arrived, has since the pandemic been relying on hotels rather than large, one-room shelters, said spokeswoman Betsy Robertson. She said the organization let local officials know it had hotel rooms available in Wenatchee, about 70 miles away. Downed power lines and closed roads made it tough to execute that plan, Robertson said. At the request of local officials, the Red Cross set up a traditional shelter in the high school Tuesday evening, spacing cots 6 feet apart in the gym, according to Robertson. Ninety-one people stayed there that night. In the morning, a bus picked them up and took them to work, Robertson said. The same number came back for the next several nights, returning to their regular housing after dinner on Saturday. Businesses from around the region donated meals, including a Brewster bakery and a Wenatchee Mexican restaurant, according to Sandra Zumudio, a Brewster resident who helped coordinate them. Between 100 and 200 others also ate last week at the shelter, which closed over the weekend. Robertson did not know if those were farmworkers. Brewster has seen evacuees from the wider community, according to Okanogan County Emergency Management Director Maurice Goodall. As well as sending people into a group shelter, the wildfires have made guarding against COVID-19 more difficult in another way, noted Schmitt of Columbia Legal Services. Ventilation is crucial indoors, where the virus spreads more easily. Yet, when the

air is toxic, you shouldn’t open windows. There is one helpful byproduct of the pandemic. “At least now, workers have access to masks,” said Franks, of Familias Unidas por la Justicia. State rules require employers to provide them at no cost. Franks said he remains concerned, however, that the kind of masks most workers have, cloth or single-use ones, don’t offer the best protection against smoke. L&I is not recommending N95 masks, which if fitted correctly filter out tiny soot particles, because they are needed by health professionals working on the pandemic’s front line. Agency guidance noted some workers may ask to wear dust or KN95 masks, considered better at filtering particles than cloth but not as much as N95. Gebbers Farms, one of the state’s largest agricultural employers, gave out KN95 masks with paychecks to its 2,500 guest workers Friday, according to Philpott. She wasn’t sure if Gebbers’ domestic workers got KN95 Friday, too, but said they are available. Zaira Sanchez, emergency relief coordinator for the northwest branch of the UFW Foundation, a sister organization to the farmworker union, said her organization has been able to get thousands of coveted N95 masks despite being in short supply, and is in the process of giving them out to farmworkers throughout the area. Sanchez has also been visiting workers to see how they are doing during the wildfires. Three men she met in Yakima, guest workers from Mexico, said by phone they had been buying their own masks — like semi-ski masks you can pull up to your eyes — because the cloth masks provided by their Continued on page 22.

SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Puzzle on page 11.

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • 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 the Legal Department 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). As a publisher and not a legal advisor we print notices exactly as they are submitted and therefor only comp reruns when the notice was rejected or messed up due to a MBJ error. All companies submitting notices are responsible for ensuring the content fits with the State’s requirements and are responsible for the cost of republishing the notice if it is rejected due to misinformation or missing information 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 noon 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 the first week it runs and a copy of the affidavit filed with the courts the last week.

JODIE MCGILL, Attorney MCGILL LAW, P.C., L.L.O. 1411 N. 72nd St. Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION TRANSFORM FITNESS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned has formed a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, as follows: The name of the company is Transform Fitness, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 2319 N. 188th Terrace, Omaha, NE 68022 and the initial registered agent is Jodie McGill, 1411 N. 72 St, Omaha, NE 68114. The company is organized to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking and insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of Nebraska. The limited liability company commenced existence on the filing and recording of its Statement of Qualification with the Secretary of State on August 5, 2020 and shall have a perpetual period of duration from the date the Certificate was filed with the Secretary of State. Management of the Company shall be vested in its members in proportion to their contribution to the capital of the company, as adjusted from time to time, to reflect additional contributions or withdrawals by the members. First publication September 4 2020, final September 18, 2020

ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Deremer Sportswear, 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 3740 South 132nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are John G. Deremer, 3740 South 132nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

CHARLES E. DORWART, P.C., L.L.O., Attorney Massih Law, LLC 226 N. 114th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that B & Q FARM PROPERTIES, L.L.C. has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its registered office located at 12108 Iva Street, Gretna, NE 68028. The general nature of the business is to transact all lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the Nebraska law. The company was organized on August 26, 2020 and shall have a perpetual existence. Its purpose is to own, manage and invest in real estate sales, investment and management of properties. The affairs of the company are to be conducted by Member Managers as designated in the operating agreement. Deborah A. Quade, Member Manager By: Charles E. Dorwart, Attorney First publication September 4 2020, final September 18, 2020 AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), JOSEPH L FULLERTON You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 06/10/2020 on Case Number CI20-10515, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $ 177.04, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 10/18/2020 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly. CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication August 28, 2020, final September 11, 2020

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Nelson International Services, Inc., whose registered agent is Eric Nelson and registered office is 2505 Campanile Road, Waterloo, Nebraska 68069, was formed on August 28, 2020 to engage in any lawful business. The corporation has authorized 10,000 shares of capital stock. The name and address of the incorporator is Thomas E. Whitmore, 7602 Pacific St., Ste. 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

BROWN & WOLFF, P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys and Counselors at Law 1925 North 120th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF QUANTIFY ROI LLC NOTICE is hereby given that Quantify ROI LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The address of its registered office is 13520 Discovery Dr., Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The purposes for which the Company is organized are to engage in any and all lawful businesses for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska including but not limited to sales, marketing and distribution. The Company commenced on the 25th day of August, 2020, 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. The Company shall be managed by one (1) manager, KENNETH GORDMAN, whose address is 13520 Discovery Drive, Ste. 221, Omaha, Nebraska, 68137. First publication September 4 2020, final September 18, 2020

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 N O T I C E O F A M E N D M E N T T O T H E A RT I C L E S O F INCORPORATION OF CONNER PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, P.C. Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of Conner Psychological Services, P.C. have been amended to change the office address listed in Article VI to: 8710 Frederick Street, Suite A101, Omaha, Nebraska 68124-3061. The Amendment was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on August 17, 2020, with an effective date of September 1, 2020. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

AMANDA M. FORKER, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 4862 S 96th, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of 4862 S 96th, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is 4862 S 96th, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10511 Poppleton Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68124 3. The name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Amanda M. Forker 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 4 2020, final September 18, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION of a Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given the registration with the Nebraska Secretary of state’s office of Barillense Construction, LLC under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: The name of the company is Barillense Construction, LLC. Registered agent and office of Barillense Construction, LLC is Gaspar Francisco Baltazar at 1813 Spring Street, Omaha, NE 68108. The designated address is 1813 Spring Street, Omaha, NE 68108. Initial members: Gaspar Francisco Baltazar. 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 July 2020 for the perpetual duration and is managed by its members. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SBNA SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SBNA Software Solutions, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 13011 Scott Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68142 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 September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

SUSAN J. SPAHN, Attorney FITZGERALD, SCHORR, BARMETTLER, BRENNAN, P.C., L.L.O. 10050 Regency Circle, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3794 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-1249 Estate of MARY J. MEEHAN Notice is hereby given that on August 21, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, MICHAEL MEEHAN, whose address is 1854 S. 107th Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, has been informally appointed by the Registar as Personal Representative of this estate. Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before November 4, 2020 or be forever barred. CAROLL L. MILLS Registar First publication September 4 2020, final September 18, 2020

AMANDA M. FORKER, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 12305 Gold, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of 12305 Gold, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is 12305 Gold, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10511 Poppleton Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68124 3. The name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Amanda M. Forker 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 4 2020, final September 18, 2020

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BLIZZARD BOYS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Blizzard Boys, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 7116 Irvington Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF WWWT LLC Notice is hereby given that WWWT 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 18546 County Road P8, Herman, NE 68029. 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 September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF CARRIAGE 2117, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • 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 OPAL CITY INVESTMENTS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Opal City Investments, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 4026 Lafayette Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68131. 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 August 27, 2020. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF COYOTE PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Coyote Properties, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 5734 North 79th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68134 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 September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020 DAMILOLA J. OLUYOLE, Attorney YOLE LAW P.C., L.L.O. 10730 Pacific Street, Suite 247 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF YOLE FOUNDATION, INC. Notice is hereby given that Yole Foundation, Inc. has been incorporated as a public benefit non-profit corporation under Nebraska laws, with its designated office at 5404 N 99th Street, Suite B, Omaha, NE 68134. Its agent at that office is Damilola J. Oluyole. The corporation shall have members and its incorporator is Damilola J. Oluyole and his address is 5404 N 99th Street, Suite B, Omaha, NE 68134. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

AMANDA M. BARRON, Attorney P.O. Box 597 Fremont, Nebraska 68026 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANT(s), CHRISTOPHER P WILLIAMS, LAKETA P CHISM WILLIAMS You are hereby notified that Credit Bureau Services, Inc., a corporation, filed its complaint in the County Court of DOUGLAS County, Nebraska on 04/07/2020 on Case Number CI20-7431, the object and prayer of which is to recover the sum of $969.73, plus interest, attorney fees and court costs. You are required to answer the complaint of the Plaintiff on or before 10/18/2020 or the allegations in said complaint will be taken as true and judgment entered accordingly. CREDIT BUREAU SERVICES, INC., A CORPORATION First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF STEWML, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Stewml, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 11318 Jefferson Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68137. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THRASHER, INC. Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of Thrasher, Inc. have been amended and restated in their entirety as follow: Article 1 states the name of the Corporation as Thrasher, Inc. Article 2 states the purpose. Article 3 states the number of shares the Corporation is authorized to issue as 8 Class A and 3,030 Class B shares all having a par value of $1.00. Article 4 states the Registered Office of the Corporation as 25022 Farnam Circle, Waterloo, Nebraska 68069, and the Registered Agent as Gregory M. Thrasher. Article 5 states the Corporation shall have perpetual existence. Article 6 states the provisions relating to amending the Articles and Bylaws. Article 7 states that provisions relating to the director liability. Article 8 states that the shareholders shall not a have a preemptive right to acquire the unissued shares of the Corporation. The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on August 27, 2020. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BADER DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Bader Development Group, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is Bader Development Group, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 17225 Clay Street, Bennington, Nebraska 68007, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

CATHERINE E. FRENCH, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION OF ARLANDA SOLUTIONS, LLC Notice is hereby given that an Amendment to the Certificate of Organization of Arlanda Solutions, LLC was filed with the Secretary of State on September 3, 2020, to change the name of the business to Arlanda Business Solutions, LLC. The address of the company’s initial designated office is 200 South 31st Avenue, #4303, Omaha, Nebraska 68131. The name and address of the registered agent is LDM Business Services, Inc., 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

AMANDA M. FORKER, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF 7905 “L”, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of 7905 “L”, LLC. 1. The name of the limited liability company is 7905 “L”, LLC. 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10511 Poppleton Ave, Omaha, Nebraska 68124 3. The name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Amanda M. Forker 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF COTTON 15843, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF MÅNSSON NORD AMERIKA STUDIO, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MÅNSSON NORD AMERIKA STUDIO, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 7431 Nina Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The registered agent is ROBERT H. HOLMES. The general nature of the business is to operate a general tattoo parlor 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 tattoo parlor 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 June 10, 2020, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF ZAS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ZAS MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 8002 North 127th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68142. The registered agent is ZAHER A. SERHAN. The general nature of the business is to operate a general property management 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 property management 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 10, 2020, 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 ByLaws, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GCP III CONCOURSE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GCP III Concourse, 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 Registered Agent of the Company is Zachary A. Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF COTTON 15812, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BENSON 2538, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RED 15708, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BARK 4425, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF UST 19466, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ROB 16117, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ERS 16461, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF GRANT TAYLOR MADE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that GRANT TAYLOR MADE, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 12879 Bauman Ave, Omaha NE, 68112. The registered agent and office of the limited liability company is Veronica Switzer located at 2879 Bauman Ave, Omaha NE 68112. The limited liability company commenced business on June 29, 2020. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF TEDB LLC Notice is hereby given that TEDB 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 2229 Thurston Circle, Bellevue, NE 68005. 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 September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

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 AIRLOPA, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Airlopa, 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 800, 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 limited liability company commenced business on September 3, 2020. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

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 OBOETIENTIA II, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Oboetientia II, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 4361 Lafayette Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68131. 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 Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on September 2, 2020. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF ZOMD, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ZOMD, Inc. (the “Corporation”) has been incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Corporation shall have authority to issue 10,000 shares, having a par value of $1.00 each, all of which shall be common stock. The street address of the initial registered office of the Corporation is 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name of its initial registered agent at such address is DDLG Business Services, Inc. The name and street address of the incorporator of the Corporation is Seth J. Moen, 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

BENJAMIN J. PICK, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF FAIR OAKS, LLC Notice is hereby given of the organization of Fair Oaks, LLC: 1. The name of the limited liability company is Fair Oaks, LLC; and 2. The street and mailing address of the initial designated office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, and the name and street address of the initial agent for service of process is Benjamin J. Pick, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ROS Interiors, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ROS Interiors, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 3401 N. 97th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53222 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, NE 68114. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 ALLAN M. ZIEBARTH, Attorney 1702 South 10 Street, Suite 2 Omaha, Nebraska 68108 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF BURD 16456, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF KL PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that KL Properties, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 7116 Irvington Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020

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 LEGACY SPECTRUM ADVISORS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Legacy Spectrum Advisors, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 18514 Vinton Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. 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 August 31, 2020. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

JUDITH A. WELLS, Attorney Law Office of Judith A. Wells 5062 South 108th Street, #246 Omaha, Nebraska 68102 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-1284 Estate of CEATRICE COTTON, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on August 31, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, ROGER COTTON, whose address is 5925 North 24th Street, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, has been appointed Personal Representative of this estate. Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before November 11, 2020 or be forever barred. CARROL L. MILLS Registar First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

DANIEL C. PAULEY, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF BACTLD, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is BACTLD, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 166055 Oak Street, Omaha, NE 68130. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on July 31st and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 JARROD D. REECE, Attorney LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-1221 In Re: The Abigail Young Koch Revocable Trust Notice is hereby given that on August 11, 2020, a Petition for Determination of Trustee was filed in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. A hearing will be had on said Petition of Determination of Trustee before Honorable Marcela Keim, in Douglas County Courtroom 330, Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68138 on November 10, 2020, at 9 a.m. or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard. CARROL L. MILLS Registrar First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF EW FENCE, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Certificate of Organization of EW Fence, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been amended as follows: the limited liability company has changed its name to S & W Fence, LLC. The Amended Certificate of Organization was filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on September 2, 2020. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF PopOmaha!, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that PopOmaha!, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 5428 South 13th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107. The registered agent is AUBREY A. PALERMO. The general nature of the business is to operate a general licensed signage rental/installation 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 licensed signage rental/installation 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 May 27, 2020, 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 ByLaws, 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF TRUE IRON TATTOO, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that TRUE IRON TATTOO, INC., is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with a registered office at 11408 Elm Street, #16, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. The registered agent is AARON JOSEPH WERT. The general nature of the business is to operate a general tattoo shop 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 tattoo shop 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 June 24, 2020, 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 offi¬cers 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

DANIEL C. PAULEY, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF TL Speaks, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is TL Speaks, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 10358 Redick, Avenue, Omaha, NE 68122. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on May 20, 2020 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 N O T I C E O F A M E N D M E N T T O T H E A RT I C L E S O F INCORPORATION OF S & W FENCE, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of S & W Fence, Inc., a Nebraska corporation, were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on September 2, 2020 to amend Article I, changing the name of the corporation to SSAM Fence Holdings, Inc. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 TIMOTHY J. BUCKLEY, Attorney GOVIER, KATSKEE, SUING & MAXELL, PC, LLO 10404 Essex Court, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-1328 Estate of HARRY E SEVERSON, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on 2nd day of September, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that DOUGLAS E. SEVERSON, whose address is 15141 Edna St., Omaha, Nebraska 68138, was informally appointed by the Registrar as Personal Representative of the Estate. Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before November 11, 2020 or be forever barred. Kelley J. Golden Clerk of the County Court First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

LEGAL NOTICES DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF SAVANNAH LYNN STUDIOS, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Savannah Lynn Studios, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 2323 South 144th Street, Unit #17, Omaha, Nebraska 68144. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 4, 2020, final September 18, 2020 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 September 11, 2020, final September 18, 2020 JUDITH A. WELLS, Attorney 5062 South 108th Street, #246 Omaha, Nebraska 68137 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-1281 Estate of MAMIE LEE CARROLL, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on 8TH day of September, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said deceased and that CANZATER MCCARTY, whose address is 4265 Corby Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68111, was informally appointed via Will as Personal Representative of the Estate of Mamie Lee Carroll, decedent named herein. Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before November 18, 2020 or be forever barred. KELLEY J. GOLDEN Clerk of the County Probate Court First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020 ABRAHAMS KASLOW & CASSMAN LLP, Attorneys 8712 West Dodge Road, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION The Beard & Mane, Inc. has been incorporated under the Nebraska Business Corporation Act. The street address of the corporation's initial registered office is 2235 Saint Mary’s Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, and the name of the initial registered agent of the corporation at that office is Matthew B. Gosier. The corporation is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of Common Stock. The name and street address of the incorporator of the corporation are Matthew B. Gosier, 2235 Saint Mary’s Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF STARDUST EVENTS AND SERVICES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Stardust Events and Services, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 1310 North 29th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131 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 September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020

MARY E. VANDENACK, Attorney VANDENACK WEAVER LLC 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3 Omaha, Nebraska 68118 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF SHAPING YOUR WORLD MINISTRIES Shaping Your World Ministries has been incorporated under the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation Act. The corporation is a Public Benefit Corporation. The street address of the corporation’s initial registered office is 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118, and the name of the initial registered agent of the corporation at that office is Mary E. Vandenack. The corporation is organized for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes. The corporation commenced on September 8, 2020. The name and street address of the incorporator of the corporation is Mary E. Vandenack, 17007 Marcy Street, Suite 3, Omaha, NE 68118. The corporation will not have members. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

DVORAK LAW GROUP LLC 9500 West Dodge Road, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF MACK RESTAURANT CONSTRUCTION, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Mack Restaurant Construction, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 6207 S. 180th Ave Circle, Omaha, Nebraska 68135. The Registered Agent of the Company is DDLG Business Services, Inc., 9500 W. Dodge Road, Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that Boone Consulting, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 11225 Davenport Street, Ste. 108, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The registered agent of the Company is Scott M. Boone, 11225 Davenport Street, Ste. 108, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. The Company was formed on September 4, 2020. First publication September 11, 2020, final September 25, 2020 JEROME OKOLO, Attorney OKOLO LAW FIRM LLC 11605 W Dodge Rd, #5 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 LEGAL NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-1352 Estate of HENRY EMODI, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on 8TH day of September, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said deceased and that JUSTINA DONNELLY, whose address is 14102 Seward St., Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska 68154, has been formally appointed via Will as Personal Representative of the Estate of Henry Emodi, decedent named herein. Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before November 18, 2020 or be forever barred. KELLEY J. GOLDEN Clerk of the County Probate Court First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020 CHRIS ABBOUD, Attorney ABBOUD LAW FIRM 6530 South 84th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68127 NOTICE OF INFORMAL PROBATE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-1363 Estate of BONNY BURGESS ABBOUD, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on 8TH day of September, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, 17TH and Farnam Streets, Omaha, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written Statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said deceased and that ANDREW ABBOUD, 9 Club Vista Drive, Henderson, Nevada 89052, has been appointed Personal Representative of this Estate. Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before November 18, 2020 or be forever barred. KELLEY J. GOLDEN Clerk of the County Probate Court First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020 CHARLES E. DORWART, Attorney MASSIH LAW, LLC 226 North 114th Street Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE In the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska. PR20-1364 Estate of ELSIE EMMA HICKS, Deceased Notice is hereby given that on 8TH day of September, 2020, in the County Court of Douglas County, Nebraska, the Registrar issued a written statement of Informal Probate of the Will of said Decedent and that DARREL LECHNER, 9111 Valley View Drive, La Vista, NE 68128, was informally appointed by the Registrar as Personal Representative of the Estate. Creditors of this estate must file their claims with this Court, located at Courtroom No. 30, Third Floor, Probate Division, Douglas County Hall of Justice, 17th & Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68183, on or before November 18, 2020 or be forever barred. KELLEY J. GOLDEN Clerk of the County Probate Court First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020 Notice is hereby given that Gifted Minds Learning Center LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the state of Nebraska, with its initial designated office at 11235 Sahler Street, Omaha, NE 68164. The initial agent for service of process of the Company is Beverly Tate, 11235 Sahler Street, Omaha, NE, 68164. The company is member-managed. Nature of the Company is childcare. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

DENNIS P. LEE, Attorney JAKE T. HOULIHAN, Attorney LEE LAW OFFICE 2433 South 130th Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68144 NOTICE OF SUIT TO: STERLING RANDOLPH, 6417 N. 79th Avenue, Omaha NE 68134, you are hereby notified that on July 14, 2020, The General Insurance Co. filed a suit against you in the Douglas County Court at docket CI2012643, the object in prayer of which was to secure a judgment against you in the amount of $12,481.17, 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 9th day of November, 2020, the Petition against you will be considered as true and judgment will be entered against you accordingly. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 9, 2020

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 KBK INTEGRATED, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that KBK Integrated, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the limited liability company is 22145 West Maple Road, P.O. Box 131, 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 September 9, 2020. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE LLC 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is hereby given that South Creek Farms, L.L.C. (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The designated office of the Company is 3363 South 220th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68022. The registered agent of the Company is William S. Black, 3363 South 220th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68022. The Company was formed on September 9, 2020. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JAAK RESIDENTIAL HOLDINGS, LLC JAAK Residential Holdings, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The address of the designated office of the company is 9856 Devonshire Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Amy C. Wiechmann, 9856 Devonshire Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ACW, LLC ACW, LLC has been organized as a limited liability company under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. The purpose of the company is to render professional real estate sales services in the State of Nebraska. The address of the designated office of the company is 9856 Devonshire Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. The name and street and mailing address of the initial registered agent of the company for service of process are Amy C. Wiechmann, 9856 Devonshire Drive, Omaha, NE 68114. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

ROBERT J. LIKES, Esq. LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 N O T I C E O F O R G A N I Z AT I O N O F K AT I E B A U E R LY PHOTOGRAPHY LLC Notice is hereby given that Katie Bauerly Photography LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial designated office is 1546 South 79th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial agent for service of process is 1546 South 79th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68154 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Katie Bauerly. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RODFORCE 1, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Rodforce 1, 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 Registered Agent of the Company is Zachary A. Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ONE VISION PROPERTIES, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that One Vision Properties, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 12953 Ohio Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68164. The Registered Agent of the Company is James J Churray at 12953 Ohio Circle Omaha, Nebraska 68164. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

CAMERON M. RIECKE, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF LUGER, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is Luger, LLC. The address of the initial designated office is 13006 Scott Street, Omaha, Ne 68142. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business is any or all lawful business. The company commenced existence on September 10, 2020 and shall have a perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

MARK J. LAPUZZA, Attorney PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300 Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3728 NOTICE OF INCORPORATION OF CHROMATIC BLACK STUDIO, INC. Notice is hereby given of incorporation of CHROMATIC BLACK STUDIO, INC. under the laws of the State of Nebraska as follows: 1. The name of the professional corporation is CHROMATIC BLACK STUDIO, INC. 2. The number of shares that the professional corporation is authorized to issue is 10,000 shares of voting common stock. 3. The name of the initial registered agent is Mark J. LaPuzza, and the address of the initial registered office is 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. 4. The name and address of the incorporator is Mark J. LaPuzza, 10250 Regency Circle, Suite 300, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. 5. The general nature of the profession to be practiced by the Corporation is custom art and graphic design. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

GROSS & WELCH, P.C., L.L.O. 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska 68124 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF DUNCAN 1305 MAIN STREET, LLC a Nebraska Limited Liability Company Notice is hereby given that DUNCAN 1305 MAIN STREET, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 19604 V Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68135, its registered agent is Frederick D. Stehlik, and its registered office located at 2120 South 72 Street, Suite 1500, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. The general nature of its business is to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business, other than banking or insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Certificate of Organization was filed in the office of the Nebraska Secretary of State on September 3, 2020, the Company commenced business thereon, and shall have perpetual existence. The affairs of the Company are to be conducted by the Managing Member. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ESHELMAN CHIROPRACTIC, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Eshelman Chiropractic, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 909 Capitol Ave apt 507, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The Registered Agent of the Company is Nebraska Registered Agent, Inc., 530 South 13th Street, Suite 100, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION 1. The name of the limited liability company is Sarah Abegglen Professional Services, LLC 2. The address of the designated office of the company is 19820 Sherwood Circle Gretna NE, 68028 3. Agent of Service: Office: The initial mailing address of the initial agent for service 19820 Sherwood Circle, Gretna, NE 68028. The name of the initial agent for service of the company at such address is Nicholas J. Abegglen First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Mobile Anesthesia Consultants, LLC has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The limited liability company shall conduct the practice of medicine. The designated office of the limited liability company is 17330 West Center Road, Suite 110-340, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. 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 September 8, 2020. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

STATE OF NEBRASKA PAROLE BOARD HEARINGS NOTICE A total of 153 cases will be heard by the Board in September, 2020. The following case(s) sentenced in Douglas County will be seen by the Board of Parole. Due to COVID-19 lockdown, the Hearing Date has changed to the following: September 30, 2020 – 8:30 a.m. Nebraska State Penitentiary, Lincoln, Nebraska Tatreau, Randy 79579 Forgery 2nd Degree (3 counts) Carter, Kevin 80313 Robbery Lora, Jean 80736 Burglary (3 counts), Poss/Receive Stolen Firearm Owen, Laeshojn 81048 Accessory to a Felony, Robbery, Tampering Hotz, Jeffrey 82078 Aslt Peac Ofcr/DCS Emp 2nd Dgr, Terroristic Threats, Theft by Receiving Stolen Prop Smith, Leonard 82356 Driving Under Influence/Injury (2 counts), Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug Wright, Antonio 82424 Sexual Assault 1st Degree, Sexual Assault of Child 3rd Deg Milton, Gene 86012 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I Knight, Cotrell 86576 Poss Deadly Weap by Felon/Fug, Robbery Howell, Anthony 87710 Burglary Petkovich, Michael 89948 Burglary Thomas, Dominique 211326 Manu/Dist/Del/Disp or Poss W/I Penny, Zachary 211525 Robbery ROSALYN COTTON, CHAIR NEBRASKA BOARD OF PAROLE September 18, 2020

HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP, Attorneys 13330 California Street, Suite 200 Omaha, Nebraska 68154 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF KROS STRAIN MANAGEMENT, INC. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Kros Strain Management, Inc. (hereinafter the “Company”) was organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska and commenced perpetual existence on September 4, 2020. The Company is authorized to issue 200 shares of common stock. The Company has designated its registered agent as Scott Strain with registered office at 10411 Portal Road, Ste. 102, La Vista, NE 68128. The incorporator is Colleen Tieman with address at 13330 California Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68154. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

DARREN R. CARLSON, Attorney CARLSON & BURNETT, LLP 17525 Arbor Street Omaha, NE 68130 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF ESCAPE NETWORK, LLC Notice is hereby given that ESCAPE NETWORK, LLC is organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The initial designated office is 2002 Douglas Street, Ste. 102, Omaha, NE 68102. The initial registered agent is Darren R. Carlson, whose address is 17525 Arbor Street, Omaha, NE 68130. The purpose of the Company shall be to engage in any lawful business and activity, 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 with filing its Certificate of Organization on September 10, 2020 and shall have a perpetual period of duration. The Company is to be managed by the Manager of the Company. The initial Manager is Joel Jacobs, 2002 Douglas Street Ste. 102, Omaha, NE 68102. The initial Members of the Company are Joel Jacobs, 2002 Douglas Street Ste. 102, Omaha, NE 68102. Darren R. Carlson, Organizer First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION Notice is here by given that a limited liability company has been formed under the name of Pa Mas, LLC. The address of the registered office is 17102 Patrick Ave, Omaha, NE 68661. The general nature of its business is to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any and all lawful business other than banking or insurance, for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The company commenced on July 15, 2020 and has perpetual existence. The affairs of the limited liability company are to be conducted by its members until such time as their successors(s) are selected pursuant to the Operating Agreement. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

SCOTT A. MEYERSON, Esq. LIKES MEYERSON HATCH LLC 444 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF OLSEN AND RIHA LLC Notice is hereby given that Olsen and Riha LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial designated office is 12105 Wirt Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68164. The street and mailing address of the Company’s initial agent for service of process is 706 N. 129th St., Suite 121, Omaha, Nebraska 68154 and the Company’s initial agent for service of process at such address is Legalinc Corporate Services, Inc. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

ERICKSON l SEDERSTROM, P.C., Attorneys 10330 Regency Parkway Drive, Suite 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68114 NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF JZ PROPERTY GROUP, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that JZ Property Group, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, has been duly organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska, with its designated office located at 3031 NW 7th Street, Lincoln, NE 68521 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 September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

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 MMMT HOLDINGS, LLC The name of the Company is MMMT Holdings, LLC. The Designated Office of the Company is: 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. 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 September 14, 2020. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF True Splendor Diamonds and Gold, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that True Splendor Diamonds and Gold, LLC (the “Company”) has been organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska. The Designated Office Address of the Company is 8702 N 30th St Omaha, NE 68112 The Registered Agent of the Company is Cornell T Garrett., 8702 N 30th St Omaha, NE 68112. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

ANDREW J. HUBER, Attorney LAMSON, DUGAN and MURRAY, LLP 10306 Regency Parkway Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68114-3743 NOTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF B MORTON DESIGN, LLC Notice is hereby given of the formation of a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Nebraska, and that the name of the limited liability company is B Morton Design, LLC. The initial designated office is 2305 South 191st Street, Omaha, NE 68130. The name and address of the registered agent and office is LDM Business Services, Inc, 10306 Regency Parkway Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68114. The general nature of the business to be transacted is all lawful business. The company commenced existence on September 10, 2020 and shall have perpetual duration. The affairs of the company shall be conducted by the Members, as prescribed by the Operating Agreement. LDM#715241 LDM Business Services, Inc., Organizer First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

KOLEY JESSEN P.C., L.L.O., Attorneys 1125 South 103rd Street, Suite 800, One Pacific Place Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1079 N O T I C E O F A M E N D M E N T T O T H E A RT I C L E S O F I N C O R P O R AT I O N O F M A I N E L L I M E C H A N I C A L CONTRACTORS, INC. Notice is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of Mainelli Mechanical Contractors, Inc., a Nebraska corporation, have been amended to show that the Corporation shall have the authority to issue 1,000 shares of voting common stock and 19,000 shares of nonvoting common stock, each with a par value of $0.50. The Articles of Amendment were filed with the Nebraska Secretary of State on September 15, 2020. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

NOTICE OF ORGANIZATION OF RODFORCE 2, LLC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Rodforce 2, 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 Registered Agent of the Company is Zachary A. Wiegert, 10340 North 84th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68122. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • 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 DISSOLUTION OF MR INC. NO.3 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MR Inc. No. 3, a Nebraska corporation (“Corporation”), has filed Articles of Dissolution with the Nebraska Secretary of State on September 15, 2020, and the Corporation is in the process of voluntary dissolution. The terms and conditions of such dissolution are, in general, that all debts and obligations of the Corporation are to be fully paid and satisfied or adequate provision is to be made therefore. The President, Walter D Scott, will wind up and liquidate the Corporation’s business and affairs. The Corporation has no assets or liabilities as of the date hereof. First publication September 18, 2020, final October 2, 2020 APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADE NAME Trade Name to be registered is: The Academy of Pharmacy Technicians Name of Applicant: Judith Neville Pharmacy Practice Publications, Inc. Address: 17361 "Y" Street, Omaha, NE 68135 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: 3-17-2016 General nature of business: Publication, Training, Pharmacy, Scope, Author JUDITH NEVILLE Signature of Applicant or Legal Representative September 18, 2020

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Get a game plan for paying student loan debt in 2021 by Susan Tompor

September is traditionally a time for back to school and, even in a time of COVID-19 restrictions, September was to be the month when student loan payments got back on track. Well, like a lot of things, we’re looking at yet another new game plan here. And it’s one that savvy consumers might be able to use to their advantage. Borrowers across the country began receiving notices in April from their federal student loan servicers about temporary 0% rates and a pause in payments. No payments were due, which theoretically offered some relief to tight budgets as wages were cut and jobs were lost during the fight against the coroFinancial navirus pandemic. But that deal was set to end Sept. 30 and borrowers would have to resume making payments on these federal student loans soon. As the health crisis continues to loom, though, borrowers are now looking at receiving an automatic threemonth extension as the federal student loan forbearance program is set to run until Dec. 31. Loan servicers are expected to notify borrowers of the extension through the fall. And, according to the U.S. Department of Education department, borrowers can expect to see this extension reflected in their accounts over the next several weeks. — Who continued to pay student debt in 2020? The first round of relief came into play when a majority of student loan borrowers received more breathing room under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, signed by President Donald Trump on March 27. The new extension until Dec. 31 came into play after the White House issued an order on Aug. 8 and the Department of Education followed up on Aug. 21 to implement the memorandum. Not everyone is covered. About 9 million borrowers — those with private student loans, Perkins loans and Federal Family Education Loans not owned by the federal government — were left out of the picture, according to the Student Borrower Protection Center, a nonprofit advocacy group. Some efforts continue to try to get more student loan borrowers covered. A coalition of attorneys general, including Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, has urged the U.S. Senate to provide relief for all federal student loan borrowers, including borrowers whose federal student loans are owned by private entities. While the federal government supports or guarantees these loans against default, Nessel’s office noted that “these borrowers are struggling with the pandemic just as other federal student loan borrowers are, but do not have relief options under the CARES Act solely because of the entity that owns their loan.” — What should you do with extra cash in 2020? If you do qualify for relief now, take a look at your budget and financial situation to craft a plan that can help you down the road. Someone who continues to bring home a paycheck, for example, might redirect the money that would have been used toward student loan payments. If you have high cost credit card debt, for example, you could use that money toward paying off old credit card bills through the rest of the year. If you’d like to continue making student loan payments to pay that debt off quicker, you can continue to pay down student loan debt this year. “All borrowers with federally held student loans will have their payments automatically suspended until 2021 without penalty,” according to the Education Department. “Borrowers will continue to have the option to make payments if they so choose. Doing so will allow borrowers to pay off their loans more quickly and at a lower cost.” Or if you have very limited emergency savings, rebuild what cash you have on the sidelines for emergencies, like the day you might need new tires or might

have trouble paying the mortgage. “Save at least half a year’s salary in an emergency fund,” said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president of research for Savingforcollege.com. “You might have a job now, but who knows what will happen in a month or two, especially if there’s a second wave of the pandemic.” Kantrowitz noted that the average duration of unemployment during the 2008 economic downturn was five months. Depending on your skills and experience, it could take as long or longer to find another job in the latest recession. Take time now to prepare to be able to make your payments in 2021. Be aware of how much you’ll owe each month beginning in January and set some money aside for that bill. If your federal student loan payments were set to be automatically deducted from a bank account before, Kantrowitz said, you may need to sign up again before the student loan payments will be due next year. “This will probably be required because the lender doesn’t know if you still have the same bank account,” Kantrowitz said. — Will suspended payments count as qualifying payments in forgiveness programs? Fortunately, the answer is yes, according to Will Sealy, cofounder and CEO of Summer, a New Yorkbased startup that offers software to help borrowers keep track of their student loans. The Department of Education has confirmed that the three month extension from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 will count toward programs like income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. But Sealy cautioned that the borrower must already meet the other program requirements for this to work. — What if I face financial hardships in 2021? If you’re facing financial problems next year, it’s a good idea to contact the loan servicer to ask about options for financial relief. Payment options exist for federal loans, including the Federal Family Education Loans that were not eligible for the payment pause and interest waiver. You might be able to pause payments by tapping into the economic hardship deferment, unemployment deferment, and forbearances. But such breaks won’t be automatic. “If you were already in an income-driven repayment plan and your income has changed,” Kantrowitz said, “you can ask the loan servicer to recertify your income now instead of waiting until the annual recertification date.” If you’re having trouble making payments on private student loans, you can contact the lender. Many private student loan lenders are offering a 90-day COVID-19 forbearance upon request. If a borrower still has trouble paying the bills, Kantrowitz said, contact the lender or loan servicer to ask about options. Many are extending the COVID-19 forbearance on a case-by-case basis until the borrower’s financial situation improves. Student Loan Debt High Quality As part of the extension, struggling borrowers need to realize that debt collection on defaulted, federally held loans will continue to be halted too. If a borrower’s employer continues to garnish wages for such loans, the borrower will receive a refund of those garnishments. While there may be more resistance to expanding the relief, experts say the Dec. 31 extension is likely. Some haggling might be ahead with some questioning the legal authority of the Department of Education to simply extend the interest waiver, Kantrowitz said, but student loan borrowers still are likely to benefit. “Nobody is going to oppose it, because such an extension has bipartisan support,” Kantrowitz said. “It seems likely that it will be codified into law when the next stimulus is passed by Congress.” ©2020 Detroit Free Press Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

UPCOMING

SECTIONS

IN THE MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

SEPTEMBER 25

ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS

FAMILY BUSINESS

OCTOBER 2

REGIONAL LANDSCAPES

Briefs…

Approaching its five-year anniversary, North End Teleservices, LLC, an omni-channel global provider of outsourced contact center services to government and commercial sectors, has been named to Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing, privately held U.S. companies. North End Teleservices, LLC is the third highest-ranking Nebraskan company featured on this year’s list. All companies ranked on this year’s list have achieved significant three-year average revenue growth rates of more than 500 percent despite operating within an environment of economic loss and navigating the challenges of a global pandemic.

Education notes…

Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB1008, which includes funding for Chadron State, Peru State, and Wayne State Colleges’ Career Scholarship Program and funding for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services to establish the Corrections Workforce Development Pathways program. In its first year, the Career Scholarship Program will provide a total of $1 million in scholarships to be awarded to Chadron State College, Peru State College, or Wayne State College students who are pursuing careers in critical workforce areas.

Health care notes…

Health Resources and Services Administration has named OneWorld Community Health Centers as a Quality Leader. HRSA Health Center Program awarded OneWorld Community Health Centers with a Certificate of Achievement for ranking among the top 10% of all 1400 health centers nation-wide for best overall clinical performance. The Health Resources and Services Administration is an agency

of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.

Arts and events…

Kaneko is hosting a tbd. dance collective experience on Sept. 18 as part of its MOVEMENT Series Experience during Soiree Season. The event, which is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. will include hors d’oeuvres, complimentary wine, and a cash bar as the dance troupe improvises and experiments with movement. Only 50 tickets are available due to physical distancing and include access to all the new exhibits at Kaneko. Tickets are $125 online. The Joslyn Castle is kicking off a new program called A Little Dinner Music on Sept. 19. The inaugural event, Vive La France, will feature violinist Yaroslav Tereschenko and violist Anna Antropova who will play while guests enjoy a themed menu and signature cocktails. Tickets are available online. Superheroes of all ages are invited to save the day for congenital heart defects for the 8th Annual Omaha Virtual Superhero Heart Run, presented by Altitude Motion Media, Fusion Medical Staffing, BDB Waterproofing and Nathan Homes. Cross the virtual finish line with Heart Heroes, Inc. on Sept. 20 and join other attendees at noon for virtual activities including a virtual Heart Hero Parade, Heart Angel Remembrance, virtual warm-up and more. Registration is free. Fundraising prizes are available if you raise more than $30. The 17th Annual MBA Scholarship Scramble is taking place on Sept. 21 at the Oak Hills Country Club. The event, Continued on next page.

MEETINGS AND SEMINARS

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

MORTGAGES

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 address below. Karla Steele - karla@mbj.com Space and materials deadline is the Friday prior to the publication date. You may email us your insertion orders directly, or fax them to us at (402) 758-9315. We will acknowledge receiving your instructions.

Monday, Sept. 21 The Yeutter Institute is hosting a webinar on “Managing Risk in Agricultural Trade” from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. as part of its 2020 webinar series. Participants in international agricultural trade face operational risks related to price, credit, non-tariff barriers, and disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also face political risk — the likelihood that a political action will significantly affect their business. From both a corporate and a banking perspective, this session will examine the impact of these risks on the agricultural supply chain and tools that can address them. Registration is online. Thursday, September 23 Holmes Murphy is hosting a virtual webinar called “Returning to Work & School During COVID-19… Now What?” from 3 p.m. to 4: p.m. Natalya Boychenko Stone, account executive, EB/shareholder at Holmes Murphy will moderate the panel. Panelists will include: Dr. Scott Conard, chief medical officer at Holmes Murphy; Jo Ellen Whitney, attorney at David Brown Law Firm; and Ali Payne, president, organizational engagement/ shareholder, organizational at ethOs. Registration is online. Thursday, September 24 Registration is open for the Heartland Developers Conference, a software development conference for tech professionals.

HDC is moving online for 2020 and will be powered by Hopin, a virtual venue. The online format means more breakout sessions on new technologies and one-on-one networking opportunities. Topics include: DEV Best Practice; Frameworks; Containers; IT Culture; Design; Java//JS; .Net; and AI. Registration is online. Friday, September 25 The Yeutter Institute is hosting a webinar on “The Special (Trade) Relationships: U.S.-UK Negotiations” from noon to 1 p.m. Britain’s exit from the EU in January 2020 put the country back in charge of its trade policy. Now, it must settle the terms of its future trading relationship with the EU by the end of this year and decide whether/ how to pursue trade agreements with non-EU countries. Trade negotiations between the U.S. and UK launched in May 2020. Dr. Lorand Bartels and Dr. Kyle Handley will discuss the legal and economic implications of the uncertainty of the final EU-UK trading relationship on ongoing U.S.-UK trade negotiations as well as the scope and impact of a potential deal. Registration is online. The Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance Omaha Chapter is hosting a socially distanced networking event at Soaring Wings Vineyard from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests are invited to stick around after the social for an evening of music with Magick K Trio for $5 more. Registration is online.

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • REGIONAL LANDSCAPES Continued from preceding page. which starts at 11 a.m., is a chance to help Millard area students with college expenses. Proceeds are donated to the Millard Business Community Foundation Scholarship fund which provides six $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors each year. Registration for the event is online. Omaha Performing Arts will bring live entertainment back to the Holland Performing Arts Center this month. O-pa invites patrons to Holland Center Outdoors, featuring two days of free music and family activities Sept. 25 and 26. All events will take place on the east lawn next to the Holland Performing Arts Center, located at 12th and Dodge streets in downtown Omaha. Holland Center Outdoors features socially distanced lawn squares for one to eight people each, along with procedures providing audience, artists, staff and volunteers with a safe experience. Food will be provided by some of Omaha’s best food trucks. Concessions and bar service will also be available. Guests are invited to relax and enjoy Movie under the Moonlight — a casual night of food, friends, and a film in Joslyn Art Museums sculpture garden. Attendees should bring their own seating (chairs or blanket) and select a spot on Joslyn’s lawn for the screening from the grand staircase. Optional appetizers, snacks, and beverages may be pre-ordered — choices from charcuterie to candy, hummus plate to popcorn, wine and beer to soda. This 21 and over event begins at 6:30 p.m. with concessions pick-up and socializing (6

feet apart). Creative teens from Joslyn’s Kent Bellows Mentoring Program will create Basquiat-inspired graffiti art. Film screening begins at 7:30 p.m. The Latino Center of the Midlands will host its signature fundraising event, Destino Dinner, on Sept. 26 from 5 to 5:45 p.m. For everyone’s safety, the event will be virtual this year. While the format will certainly be different, organizers plan to deliver all of the culture, flavor, and heartwarming stories that make the Destino Dinner an annual tradition. Maya Saenz, Morning Anchor at KMTV 3 News Now, will host the 45-minute program. It will feature a Familia Y Comunidad award, interviews with young people and adults served by the Latino Center, a raise-the-paddle, silent auction, and a virtual dance-off. Proceeds from the event will support the Latino Center’s health, education, and workforce development programming, including new efforts in response to COVID-19. Tickets and sign up for the Virtual Dance-Off are available online. Kaneko is hosting an evening class with ceramicist Peter Scherr on Sept. 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. as part of its Soiree Season festivities. Scherr will give attendees an introduction into his personal creative philosophy as well as Jun Kaneko’s influence on his art. Hors d’oeuvres and complimentary wine/beer will be served after the class so attendees can enjoy an evening of ceramics and conversation. The class is limited to 12 people due to physical distancing and tickets are available for $125 online.

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

Already endangered by COVID-19, farms and farmworkers face new threat from wildfires Continued from page 12. employers are uncomfortable and don’t provide as much coverage. Still, said the three workers, speaking in Spanish while Sanchez interpreted, the smoke sometimes irritates their eyes and noses. When that happens, they sometimes want to stop work, they said, but have been told they can only take their regularly scheduled breaks. In addition to shortening hours, some employers have called off work for a day or more because of smoky conditions, said Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. “A lot of that depends on exactly where the growers are, and where they are in their harvest cycle,” he said. “Our apple harvest starts in August and goes into November. So different people are picking different varieties at different times. If you’re trying to do harvest now while conditions are really smoky then you have serious concerns about how to keep your workers safe.” Property damage is not as big a concern for orchard owners because fields of green trees are usually irrigated. “They tend not to burn completely,” he said, although “you might get a row of trees on the edge scorched.” Ranches, with their pastureland, are a different story. Smith, whose 100-year-old, 30,000acre ranch is on the Colville Indian Reservation, near the town of Monse, Okanogan County, was in Montana visiting a son last

Sunday when he got a 10 p.m. call about a raging fire on the way. It didn’t look good. Winds were blowing 30 to 40 mph, he heard. “We jumped in our rig and headed out,” he recalled. They drove 11 hours and pulled in about noon the next day. “The fire had not quite got to our ranch headquarters,” he said. But some 30 people from the agricultural community and beyond had gotten there to help the Fire Department, knowing Smith’s ranch was in the eye of the storm.

“Our vet was here. He was on his hands and knees clearing brush,” Smith said. “And he had just had back surgery six months ago.” Others brought bulldozers to create fire lines, one brought a generator to get a water pump going because power was out. Seeing his friends and neighbors stand behind him, he said, “was really emotional.” They got fire lines around the ranch’s handful of buildings and its haystacks composed of 1,300-pound bales. They saved

the buildings but not the hay, set ablaze by embers blowing from a half-mile away. Between the hay and the fencing, the destruction will cost Smith dearly, he said. He ticked off some figures that add up to more than a half-million dollars. “The worst part of it is, after a fire like this burns so hot, you can’t really pasture it much the next year. So you’re affected for two to three years.” ©2020 The Seattle Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

UPS holiday season hiring will top 100,000 amid e-commerce boom by Thomas Black

United Parcel Service Inc. said it will hire more than 100,000 seasonal workers to help handle an expected avalanche of holiday packages from online orders this year as shoppers avoid stores during the coronavirus pandemic. Trends The holiday hires, a slight increase from last year, will be on top of the thousands of workers the courier already has added to keep up with a surge in package demand. During the second quarter alone, UPS brought in 39,000 workers at its U.S. unit, which saw package volume surge by 23% from a year earlier. UPS estimated it hired about 100,000 holiday-season workers last year. “We’re preparing for a record peak holiday season,” Chief Human Resources Officer Charlene Thomas said in a state-

ment. “The Covid-19 pandemic has made our services more important than ever.” UPS, FedEx Corp. and other couriers have been inundated with residential demand since the virus took hold in the U.S., while business deliveries have suffered because of the lockdowns. Now, most state economies are reopening and the return of commercial demand coupled with the surge in holiday online shopping promises to make this year the busiest ever for couriers. FedEx recently announced it plans to hire about 75,000 workers, a 27% increase from a year ago. The company also moved up its prediction for the U.S. package market to reach 100 million daily deliveries by three years to 2023. Easier Hiring With the U.S. unemployment rate still at more than twice what it was before the

pandemic first struck in March, companies will probably have an easier time attracting temporary workers. UPS is the only major courier with a unionized workforce, putting pay among the highest in the industry. Part-time package handlers earn $14.50 an hour and seasonal drivers can make as much as $21 an hour, the company said. Still, UPS is sweetening its job offer for students, who can qualify for a bonus of up to $1,300 for college expenses. Also, the seasonal hiring has helped UPS find permanent employees. The company said an average of 35% of temporary jobs turn into permanent positions over the last three years. ©2020 Bloomberg News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

OMAHA

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal

September 18, 2020

Continued growth is on horizon for Omaha, surrounding communities by Gabby Christensen

When it comes to economic growth, industry professionals say Omaha is thriving, especially considering recent circumstances. For Greater Omaha, David Brown, president/CEO at the Greater Omaha Chamber, said economic performance continues to outpace its peers. “We’re currently the No. 3 best place to relocate to in America, according to Sperling’s Best Places,” he said. “Data from the U.S. Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show Omaha/ Brown Council Bluffs as the No. 3 best-paying small and midsize metro for millennial women. Currently, average private hourly wages in Omaha are up more than a dollar an hour over this time last year. Single-family construction is up, too. Since June, regional employment has increased by 11,000 jobs.” All of this “upward” momentum is contagious, according to Brown, and all parts of Omaha’s communities reflect this optimism. “From the recent launch of Vireo in Cass County, to expansions in Midtown, Blackstone and the Riverfront, Omaha is growing,” he said. “We don’t dare take it for granted because this kind of development is not happening everywhere, but we can thank our lucky stars for the leadership here and we can be happy to see the beginnings of this community coming out of the economic crisis on a sprint.” Deborah Ward, interim executive director for Visit Omaha, said this year was set up to be a banner year for tourism in Omaha, but unfortunately the pandemic struck. “When tourism in our city disappears, everyone feels the impact — hotels, restaurants, venues, attractions, retail shops and especially 18,000 of our friends, family and neighbors who depend on tourism for their livelihoods,” she said. “The Visit Omaha team has been working to recoup more than $258 million in meeting and event business lost due to the pandemic. We are slowly, but surely, making progress.” To date, Ward said the sales team successfully rebooked 17 of those canceled meetings, securing $95 million in business for the city. Six additional meeting groups, worth another $3.5 million, are pending. If those groups pan out, about 40% of business will be recouped.

Tonee Gay, executive director of the Midlands Community Foundation. “As we look ahead to 2021, we are cau- cities requesting the guide include Kansas tiously optimistic,” she said. “Tourism re- City, Minneapolis, Des Moines, St. Louis and search indicates that leisure travel will come Sioux Falls. This shows an interest in travel back first, in fact, Omaha Visitors Guide to Omaha from our key drive markets.” requests are up 32% year over year. The top As for convention groups and events,

Ward said Visit Omaha has secured 54 events for 2021 worth $161 million, but it is unknown how attendance at those events will be impacted by COVID, or if there are more cancelations to come. Since 2010, Tonee Gay, executive director at the Midlands Community Foundation (MCF), said Sarpy County has been ranked as one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Nebraska. “A growing, educated workforce, affordable high quality of life, a variety of available buildings and sites and strong leadership are all things Sarpy County has to offer new businesses, including Facebook, Verizon Media, Oxbow Animal Health and Google,” , she said. “New housing developments are at an all-time high, resulting in new home construction, roads and sewer projects. Additional growth is evidenced by the county’s school districts including Papillion, Bellevue and Gretna, all having recently passed or having plans to put before voters bond issues to build new elementary, middle and high schools or to renovate existing schools to accommodate the increased number of students in the county.” In an effort to lessen the impact of the coronavirus in the community, Gay said MCF established the Coronavirus Response Fund, which raised more than $186,000 and distributed over 25 grants totaling $130,000.

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal • Omaha Growth Report

Innovative metro A/E/C industry tackles a variety of area projects by Michelle Leach

Pacific Springs Center project. (Courtesy of Darland Construction)

Even as some indicators of viability in the architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C) world lag nationally, area firms are remaining busy. And it’s not just health care projects that are taking shape virtually or coming out of the ground. “We were recently awarded the new Gretna High School, and we’re at the beginning of that whole preconstruction proFucinaro cess right now,” said MCL Construction Senior Vice President Tony Fucinaro. “That’s been a fun project to be engaged with.” Fucinaro surmised that MCL is at the three-quarter point of turning over the new

home for the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute, which consolidates a number of different campuses into a single, central location. “They’re going to be in a home that really, truly reflects the new innovative stuff they’re doing,” he said. The project challenged the firm to identify creative ways to collaborate and build fast. More generalMatz ly, Fucinaro said the company has always stayed very engaged in its medical work. But, he indicated, it’s seeing more work in the K-12 environment. “Omaha is still a growing community, and in the surrounding communities, it’s very much the same,” Fucinaro said. “The needs inside those environments are still there, and those projects are still rolling.” MCL’s headquarters also represented a project that came out of the ground in La Vista; the move occurred earlier this summer. “We were already set up to be more in an environment where we could still collaborate at a distance at different locations, we didn’t need to co-locate to common spaces to do that, and we didn’t lose anything with that,” he said. “There’s no ‘skipping of beats.’” By that, Fucinaro said MCL is committed to sharing information and collaborating with different designs in real time and through models. “We’re able to still deliver on some of those really challenging projects,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like we’re missing out on any of the interaction we need if we were still sitting at a table together.” Darland Construction highlighted its work on Pacific Springs Center II; in July, the company announced the completion of the Class A office building at the northwest corner of 168th and Pacific streets. The two-story complex spans more than 58,000 square feet, of which 40,000 square feet is spec office space. “The area, known as Pacific Springs Vista, has seen a host of new development in the last several years, thanks to a growing residential market and the area’s convenient access to the nearby West Dodge Expressway,” said Principal Jay Matz. Leasing and management for the complex is being handled by Investors Realty. Janna Anderson, who handles marketing for Darland, also referenced its work with Baxter Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Ram as noteworthy. The dealership reportedly opened last week. Anderson said the adjacent Baxter Ford will open in October. “We completed a CHI Clinic in Millard — opened early summer — and Groundscapes near Valley will open at their new location next week,” she added. Recently on the architecture and engineering front of A/E/C, President Richard J. Onken of CLH Architects also highlighted its experience with health care projects as keeping the firm in good shape, despite persistently sluggish industrywide indicators. According to the AIA’s most recent report, released August 19, the Architecture Billings Continued on next page.

Omaha Growth Report •

The pandemic has pushed commercial and residential real estate in different directions

by David Kubicek and getting things back on track. While leasing The COVID-19 pandemic has divided this is slower than this time last year, we’re still year’s real estate market into two seeing deals get done.” segments. “When the COVID-19 shutBefore March, commercial real down first happened in early estate was doing well, said Sara spring, most lease and sale deals Hanke, an associate broker at The were paused,” said Ryan Kuehl, Lerner Co. Despite whispers of a an associate broker at Investors recession and retail continuing to Realty. “Leasing or buying new struggle nationally, people were space became difficult for tenants confident in the market. and buyers when they couldn’t “COVID did a good job of occupy or open their own retail and fast-forwarding all of the weakoffice space. Construction activity ness in our industry, and closures carried over and did not stop during Hanke became unavoidable,” Hanke said. the pandemic, which has kept the “We’re now in the very early stages industrial sector with limited vacancy.” of realigning the marketing, making that shift, The industrial sector remains strong and is

Medical, education

Continued from preceding page. Index remained at “40” in July — on pace with the score reported the month prior. Scores of 50 or lower are indicative of decreased billings. Additionally, new design inquiries eased very slightly (49.3 to 49.1), while new design contracts dropped more dramatically from 44 to 41.7. Onken indicated its intersection of government work and health care experience have contributed to the volume of work; the firm is certified as a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business by the

Center for Veterans Enterprise. Its projects within these realms, however, are increasingly diverse; for instance, he referred to work on design guidelines with Veterans Affairs on the West Coast. Opportunities in health care at Onken present are pushing new approaches to design, such as in how patients are placed in emergency rooms as they wait for care.

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

the most optimistic for the foreseeable future. Multifamily construction permits are on pace to get over half of the 1,648 units in 2019. Paycheck Protection Program loans helped employees keep their jobs and pay rent, but there could be a delayed effect with people moving to lower-priced multifamily units. “The uncertainty in multifamily has significantly reduced total sales in multifamily, which our office tracked at approximately $55,000,000 total in August compared to over approximately $220,000,000 in 2019,” Kuehl said. “Interest rates, especially in the second half of this year, have been a big driver,” Hanke said. “We’re seeing an uptick in demand for buying versus leasing than years prior. On the leasing side, [it’s] timing. Giving tenants additional months of discounted rent or flexibility on start dates is what’s keeping deals moving.” “COVID-19 has been a factor in almost Continued on next page.

902 Dodge, a property The Lerner Co. provides leasing for. (Courtesy of The Lerner Co.)

Olsson Nebraska Region Leader Brian Chaffin described the engineering firm’s workload as consistent. In fact, going into the pandemic the outlook was quite optimistic, as engineers were “breathing a sigh of relief,” being able to complete Chaffin repairs related to the March 2019 floods without the threat of repeat of that flooding and devastation. When Fucinaro looked back upon the en-

vironment for construction locally in midMarch, he characterized it as “saturated.” “I don’t know if that’s a fair way to put it, but there was a lot of work coming out, a lot of work going on … to the point where it just kind of felt like you're trying to keep your head above water,” he said. Going forward, Fucinaro noted the biggest opportunity for firms is identifying different and nontraditional ways to deliver projects; instead of the historical “stick by stick, piece by piece” approach, he sees more collaboration, prefabrication, and innovative ways to bring assembles to sites, which supports a safer environment.

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal • Omaha Growth Report

For the health care industry, challenges arise more rapidly in era of COVID-19

Chief Operating Officer Angeline Larson at Charles Drew Health Center.

by Dwain Hebda COVID-19 vaccines once they are on the More than any other industry, health market.” care has borne the brunt of coronavirus, Larson said new technology has come irrevocably shaping the medical landscape. standard with the pandemic. Companies statewide and around “Telehealth is part of the the country revamped operations wider health care landscape and technology as a result. and [is] here to stay,” she said. “As the COVID-19 pandemic “There are certainly parts of started to spread, we took a hard health care where a provider look at our emergency manageneeds to be hands-on with a ment plans. Specifically, we are patient, but other parts of care preparing for a mass vaccinaare easily administered through tion operation,” said Angeline telehealth technology, such as Larson, chief operating officer routine medication management at Charles Drew Health Center. or behavioral health therapy.” “We have a strong partnership Children’s Hospital and MedLinder with the Douglas County Health ical Center dealt with COVID-19 Department and as it is flu vaccination while also experiencing growth and exseason now, Charles Drew Health Center pansion. is setting up a mass operation to offer flu “Now more than ever, the demand for vaccines at little to no cost. This positions Continued on next page. us to easily lean into widely administering

Two segments

Continued from preceding page. every transaction I’m working on this year,” Kuehl said. “There are retail tenants in sectors like outdoor recreation (bicycles) who have multiplied sales and are bullish on their longterm future, looking to expand. Through June 2020, our office tracked 71 office leases signed in Omaha for approximately 176,000 square feet. Omaha usually has 200 transactions for 800,000 to 1 million square feet. Activity under 10,000 square feet seems to have been hit the hardest.” Sarpy County has been the beneficiary of much activity and growth because of its developable industrial ground and projected growth. “We’re working on listing the Avenue Kuehl One Multifamily and Senior Living land near 192nd and Dodge,” Kuehl said. “We view this as the last large mixed-use development on the West Dodge corridor and a gateway into Omaha for everyone living near the 204th Street corridor. We’ve had a lot of strong activity and hope to see this project develop over the next few years.” “Almost all aspects of the market have experienced a level of slow down,” Hanke said. “However, as a retail-focused brokerage, we’re seeing certain segments do well as we are driven by the demands of the consumer.” Drive-through and delivery-focused brands have had minimal collateral damage. Companies that were already leaders in e-commerce and convenience — like Amazon, Target and Walmart — have seen huge profits. “Those that aren’t able to adapt to consumers’ expectation of safety and convenience will continue to see a negative impact,” Hanke said. “When there’s a definitive light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, I hope to see activity back to normal and potentially busier with some pent-up demand,” Kuehl said. “Tenants, landlords and owner/occupiers will likely see a lot of change in the way people use their space and real estate, which will cause activity in commercial real estate.”

Omaha Growth Report •

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

Health care challenges

health careers because the pandemic has highlighted the need for these profesContinued from preceding page. sions and the tremendous opportunity to high-quality pediatric services is on the have a fulfilling career. Meanwhile, we rise,” said David Fett-Jones, vice presi- expect telehealth to be a more significant dent of clinical and ancillary services. “In component of patient care and we have response, we’re expanding in size, scope implemented team-based care to better and services to continue to meet the needs manage resources.” of children and families.” To this end, the University of Nebraska Headlining this growth is a new, state- Medical Center College of Medicine has of-the-art clinical facility, the shown as much ingenuity in edHubbard Center for Children, ucational programs as hospitals at 84th and Dodge streets, conhave in delivering care. structed to treat a wide range of “In the last two months, pediatric conditions. students have returned to clin“The Hubbard Center will ical learning and caring for house Children’s newborn and patients,” said Dr. Kelly Cavpediatric intensive care units, erzagie, associate dean for cardiac and cancer units, sureducational strategy. “For other gical space and much more,” students, schools have generally Fett-Jones said. “The new fafocused on transitioning to vircility will reflect the latest in tual learning while still having Caverzagie technology and design, which students gather in small groups will help us recruit top talent as we look with appropriate protections.” to hire more pediatric specialists, sub-speStill, it’s an uphill battle to keep medcialists, nurses and support staff.” ical and nursing students after graduation This latter point reflects a challenge and shortages of health care professionals throughout the health care community: continues to be a problem, particularly in how to attract and hold talent. rural locations. “Skilled nursing and other technical “Not all students stay in Nebraska positions have always been in great de- upon graduation and it goes without saymand,” said Dr. James Linder, CEO of ing that there continues to be a shortage Nebraska Medicine. “This [need] has of physicians and most all specialties increased, since caring for COVID-19 throughout the state,” he said. “That bepatients is labor-intensive. We have active ing said, we continue to have very strong outreach to high schools and colleges to applicants, a good portion of whom either make students aware of the opportunities stay or return to Nebraska to provide care in health care. for our citizens after finishing residency “I would expect increased interest in or fellowship programs.”

Allison Silk, director of programs at Do Space.

Community partners, embracing technology keeping educational opportunities thriving by Jasmine Heimgartner

Area educational institutions are navigating the unknowns and moving forward with innovative partnerships and programs to ensure that opportunities for students of all ages continue. A focus on communication, collaboration and revving up technology options have all made the start of the atypical

new school year full of promise. “Enrollment is higher than ever,” said Deborah Carlson, president and CEO at Nebraska Methodist College. “There are a lot of first-time freshmen, so we spent time figuring out how to connect with them. People can take it for granted how to build relationships, Continued on next page.

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal • Omaha Growth Report

Keeping educational opportunities thriving Continued from preceding page. so we are educating students on how to build those relationships and make sure students feel comfortable.” NMC, which has had an online presence since the 1980s, turned to technology to assist in that endeavor. Although already in the pipeline, COVID-19 pushed the development of NMCLink. Each faculty member and student received an iPad as a learning tool. Since technology alone doesn’t ensure success, the school Carlson conducted extensive training with faculty and students. NMCLink evolved in a way to link students with classes, mentors, advisers and much more. “We have also had some education on staying engaged on Zoom meetings and how to

use that effectively,” Carlson said. “We think because students are on their phones, they are good at technology, but learning online can be a challenge. We have developed tips and connections to help. The technology was huge but having the right resources and people to

Rayment Woods train made the difference, which has been the secret to our success.” Online opportunities and connecting as a community have fueled many new programs. Do Space, a community-based lab that opened in 2015, pivoted its focus to two groups: job seekers and youth. “We just created our first after-school digital club,” said Allison Silk, director of programs at Do Space. “It is digital, but it is a new type of digital. We work with area schools to provide supplemental STEM learning. Each day is themed, such as augmented and virtual reality, coding and maker activities, which are more engineering focused.” Do Space’s programs are free and online. It also is still providing safe lab space for anyone in the community who needs access to technology. That has been especially important for job seekers who may not have the tools or quiet space for the new way of hiring. “Most employers aren’t doing face-to-face interviews, so we wanted to ensure people have a place they can go with everything they may need, including a computer, webcam, microphone and video conferencing,” Silk said. Metropolitan Community College’s Workforce Innovation Division has also been hard at work providing new non-credit programs through a partnership with Coursera. “There are a series of professional Continued on next page.

Omaha Growth Report •

by Gabby Christensen

Educational opportunities Continued from preceding page. certificates that students can now get through MCC through that partnership,” said Derek Rayment, public and media relations manager at Metropolitan Community College. “It is short-term training that you can quickly add to your resume to make you stand out without having to spend two or four years. There are many options in an array of fields, including financial, marketing, IT, fiber optics and project management.” MCC used some of its CARES Act grant money to set up a one-time scholarship for students who were financially impacted by

direction the economy will take,” he said. “Low unemployment here in Nebraska and Omaha along with the business makeup of our community does make a difference in

“Several sectors are doing extremely well and those such as retail and restaurants are struggling,” Milobar said. “This pandemic has resulted in purchasing habit changes and a change in demand for goods and services.” Additionally, the traditional SBA loan guarantee program has been dominated by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and to a lesser extent the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. “Loans have been deferred and current demand for SBA loans is returning, but slowly,” he said. “SBA micro lending is still in demand by those businesses not bankable, but still qualify for a micro loan.” Milobar said the SBA has deferred loans and paid principal and interest on loans. “The next few months will tell us the

Murdock Milobar growth prospects. We are monitoring the need for technical assistance; demand is a good indicator for the direction of the economy and the demand is very strong.” Dr. Rebecca Murdock, dean of the College of Business at Bellevue University, said BU

offers a noncredit Entrepreneur Boot Camp designed to provide students with basic skills needed to take their small business, service or product from an entrepreneurial dream to reality. “In addition to providing a solid foundation for strategic business leadership in any organizational setting, the MBA program also allows students to select concentrations such as entrepreneurship, finance or marketing Millan — all designed to extend students’ background and knowledge and position them to lead growth strategies for any type of organization, including small businesses,” she said. Guadalupe Millan, director of the miContinued on next page.

COVID-19. It has provided an opportunity for people who have been laid off to hone or learn new skills. “We are always looking to add new relationships, but we pushed it forward,” Rayment said. “It was something that came at the right time. We are selective with classes and programs that we add and are adding ones that are in demand. We work with a lot of businesses, and they tell us what jobs they are looking to fill and ask if we can train students.” With so much happening online, it may seem collaborative partnerships are going to the wayside. The University of Nebraska at Omaha Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center is proving that collaboration can

thrive even in a virtual situation. “We have great collaborations that take place between all our partners,” said Sara Woods, director of the UNO Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (CEC). “That was what we envisioned when we created this space. Those opportunities just happen when you meet people in the lounge. It’s not quite as easy now on Zoom, but we have regular all-hands meetings to get everyone together and give them a chance to share what they are doing and connect. We also have a weekly coffee chat that we do on Zoom. Staying in touch is happening in really cool ways.” With a focus on service learning, volunteerism and internships — community-based

learning — the CEC continues to see students more engaged on campus and with community partners. It is in the process of adding new community partners and recently welcomed four new campus partners: Juvenile Justice Institute, Interdisciplinary Behavioral Consultation Scholars Program, Nebraska Education Policy Labs and Office of Sustainability. “We are all about collaboration and connecting, and COVID is about isolation,” Woods said. “We will get through this. Once we get past this, we would like to see how we can deepen collaborations with campus entities that we haven’t connected as well with, such as the sciences. There are more opportunities out there for that.”

Omaha’s small businesses taking advantage of resources to grow in unstable economy Small business in Omaha has continued to move forward with support from the community and assistance from local programs. Leon Milobar, district director at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), said there has been an increased demand for training and counseling especially in the Omaha area. Technical assistance delivery has changed to webinars and video chat. “Businesses can access resources via webinars and with more individual tele-working they are taking advantage of the technical assistance online,” he said. “This is a very positive sign and an indicator for future growth.” In terms of potential, one must look sector by sector and to the individual business.

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal • Omaha Growth Report

Banks, credit unions ramp up advisory focus, technology to streamline operations by Michelle Leach

Banks and credit unions are securing opportunities in the current environment — investments to heighten efficiency and provide invaluable support and resources to customers and members. Sustainability follows efficiency as the two most prominent initiatives keeping Dundee Bank busy at present. “We most recently completed a project to install solar panels on the roof of our Underwood branch that will generate an estimated 14,400 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is roughly the same amount of consumed energy by 16 Omaha households in an average month,” said Vice President of Retail Banking Terry Zitkovich. “We are also finding and investing in new technologies to help us be more efficient at routine daily tasks, such as file maintenance and organization.”

Zitkovich

Falk

By automating as much of these processes as possible, he said, staff are freed up to spend more time engaging with customers and finding the best solutions to their problems. As large social events have been postponed or canceled, UMB Bank is getting creative in letting business owners know it’s

Glenn

DeBoer

still here for them. “We’ve been connecting in unique ways, such as gifts, other thoughtful recognitions and outdoor socially distanced get-togethers,” said Joel Falk, president for the Nebraska region. “It’s important to show our value and that we’re here as advisers — not only can we help meet immediate needs, we can also provide advice that will be useful in the future.” As a team, Falk said they’ve connected through videoconferencing or outdoor lunches. And they’ve gone from supporting applications and securing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to shifting back toward what clients’ business looks like short-term and long-term as they provide aforementioned advisory support and as PPP has “wound down,” he said. “Just as we experienced at the beginning of PPP, community banks have been nimble, responsive and able to work directly with clients to navigate the challenges presented in our current economy,” said Melissa Glenn, SBA relationship manager at Core Bank. “Strong relationships and frequent communication have been key factors for small businesses and community banks alike.” Communication is important to keep up with and accurately disseminate ever-evolving changes and updates to the PPP application and forgiveness processes, Glenn noted. “Along with frequent communication, it is vital to keep accurate financial records and

routinely update your company’s budget,” she said. “We have all seen the impact of unforeseen circumstances in our economy, but we have also seen some businesses thrive while others struggle within the same industry.” Success during trying times, she said, can often be as simple as frequent and strategic planning and accurate record-keeping. Cobalt Credit Union remains focused on user-friendly technologies, including an enhanced digital experience across platforms. “Throughout the pandemic we’ve been reminded how important it is to be agile, pivoting services to the needs of our customers when and where they need us,” said President and CEO Gail DeBoer. “Even as we grow our video banking and mobile channels, we believe many of our members still want the personal interaction afforded them by visiting a branch. Our newest branches, such as the one currently under construction in Gretna, offer our members the best of both worlds.” In-branch services or interactive teller machines can be accessed at the same location. DeBoer said that Cobalt was able to shift operations through mobile banking platforms and video banking in no time after the start of the pandemic. “In fact, at one point we were taking as many video banking calls in a day than we would normally take in a week,” she said. Safety remains a top priority. “We’ve installed plexiglass screens in our branches, displayed social distancing signage and required mask usage for employees and members,” DeBoer said. “We continue to promote our mobile banking platforms as safe alternatives to visiting a branch, as well.” UMB’s Falk noted, prior to the pandemic, banks were generally growing, and the environment was competitive. “Local banks in particular were benefiting from a strong local economy and were hiring,” he said. “There was a certain amount of pressure due to low interest rates, but overall, due Continued on next page.

Small businesses headed in right direction

Continued from preceding page. crobusiness & asset development program at Catholic Charities, said the program has supported over 650 entrepreneurs annually for 26 years now, offering a wide range of services tailored to help entrepreneurs and small business owners. “We help create independence and self-sufficiency by promoting and supporting the development of small business enterprises,” she said. “Every year, nearly 100

individuals participate in our Microbusiness Training classes, which are offered in eightweek sessions.” Recently, services have been provided via Zoom video conferencing, telephone or email. Currently, the organization is providing virtual business training classes, business coaching/technical assistance and microloans. “Our business coaching is essential for these small business owners and startups by providing them the tools to help them innovate and become creative in the ‘new normal,’” she said. “Our Microbusiness Training Program has helped create over 1,500 new businesses in our community.” When the pandemic struck, Millan said Catholic Charities found alternative funding options for small businesses and its professionally trained staff were able to help business owners apply for economic stimulus when applicable. “It may seem overwhelming at times, but challenges bring many opportunities for people,” she said. “Creativity, or thinking outside the box, is a great ally for entrepreneurs, and many business owners have understood that change is an opportunity to help them grow their business. Unfortunately, some businesses may not be as lucky, but we will see new business opportunities arise in our community.”

Omaha Growth Report •

Midlands Business Journal • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 •

Nonprofits experience uptick in donations and volunteers by David Kubicek Although COVID-19 has altered the way nonprofits traditionally connect with their supporters, despite the pandemic, or possibly because of it, many nonprofit organizations have seen an increase in donations and volunteers. “When the pandemic arrived in Omaha, local organizations appropriately responded to COVID-19 and scaled back in-person volunteer activities; however, during this time, the public’s desire to do good expanded,” said SHARE Omaha Executive Director Marjorie Maas. The organization received over 1,000 applications from community volunteers during the first month of social distancing, volunteer sewers logged over 120 hours creating fabric masks with Fashion Institute Midwest and to date have written over 2,300 “nice notes” in conjunction with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Nebraska Chapter. “The pandemic dramatically impacts the charity work that is vital to the strength of our community,” Maas said. “Canceled events, fundraisers and programming mean that causes must look for new ways to meet their budget needs and carry out their mission.” Over the past six months, three crises — the pandemic, the resulting economic recession, and racial inequity — have impacted nonprofits, said Anne Hindery, CEO of Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM). “Some nonprofits, especially those that focus on basic needs, have seen a huge increase in demand for services,” Hindery said. “Others, such as arts organizations, saw an initial decrease and have come up with new ways to offer their services.” Fundraising events — the life blood for so many nonprofits — had to be canceled or moved online, which resulted in millions of dollars in lost revenue, although many local foundations and individuals have increased donations. NAM’s office moved the first week of March, but its staff is working primarily from home. The organization had to cancel two conferences and move other conferences and training online. “We will continue to offer more online trainings even when we can get together in person,” Hindery said. “Nonprofits are

Banks, credit unions Continued from preceding page. to the strength of the local economy, banks were doing well.” Falk sees increased adoption and familiarity with technology (both customers and bank associates) as streamlining processes. “The pandemic forced a quick adoption of new technology and ways of communicating that will change processes going forward — and in all industries, not just banking,” he said. Core Bank’s Glenn has a strong outlook for community banks. “We have been forced to come together as a society and the importance of reliable relationships cannot be understated,” she said. “Community banking has evolved as well, finding new and improved means of communication with clients along with a robust and creative mix of products to meet evolving needs. Though it was formed through and because of adverse circumstances, I am excited about the future we can create with a fresh mindset.”

Maas

Hindery

needed now more than ever.” From March 15 to June 30, 2020, Food Bank for the Heartland distributed 7,510,900 meals to children, families and seniors — 11,633,012 meals when including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — a 61% percent increase over the average number of meals distributed during the same period in 2018 and 2019, said President and CEO Brian Barks. During fiscal year 2020, the Food Bank

Barks

Isaacs

distributed 28.1 million meals — 5.5 million more than the previous year and the most in the organization’s 39-year history — and volunteers donated over 40,000 hours. The Food Bank partnered with local school districts in the Omaha metro and other organizations to launch the Mobile BackPack Program on March 20 to provide meals to at-risk children who no longer had access to meals due to school closings. By the time the program ended on Aug. 7, it had distributed

421,175 children’s meals. “With employees of many companies working remotely, we’ve experienced a shift in our volunteer population to include higher numbers of individuals and families and fewer corporate groups,” Barks said. “Supply chain interruptions throughout the pandemic have also impacted the Food Bank’s ability to regularly source food in the quantities needed.” Habitat for Humanity of Omaha works with families to help them acquire the access, skills and financial education necessary to become successful homeowners, said Chief Development Officer T.J. Isaacs. COVID-19 has forced the organization to change a few goals, including building 10 fewer houses, no volunteers on its job sites, and closing two ReStores for two months. The organization has also canceled its volunteer programs for 2020. “All of this affects Habitat Omaha financially and our prospective homeowners,” Isaacs said. “We recently merged with Sarpy County, so we are looking at land and homes to give families in those communities the same opportunities [as] in Douglas County.”

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• SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal

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