2021 We Don't Coast Magazine by Omaha World-Herald

OMAHA: WE DON'T COAST

When children are your everything, i Anything can be. At Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, science and heart lead us to even greater pediatric breakthroughs. We provide the very best in pediatric specialty care, advance pediatric research, educate tomorrow’s experts and advocate for children, families and entire communities – to improve the future of medicine, and the life of every child. To find a physician for your child, call 1.800.833.3100 or visit ChildrensOmaha.org.

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FIGHTING ON ALL FRONTS UNMC stands with Nebraskans in the fight against COVID-19. As your public academic health science center, we will continue to share our expertise, train future health care professionals, advance scientific research and help communities respond and recover. We pledge to do our part, and ask Nebraskans to do theirs by: Wearing a mask to protect yourself and others

Self-screening using the free 1-Check COVID app (available on Android and iOS)

Maintaining physical distancing of up to 6 feet

Staying home if you or members of your family are ill

Washing hands frequently

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We Welcome. W E W ELCO ME. | 7

This is us: rising, living, thriving If you’ve never been challenged, you don’t know, for sure, how you’ll respond. Will you have the strength to stand up, dust off and push on? Will you focus strictly on your own needs or continue to keep an eye out for others? Will you toss away your values or keep a tight grip? When the pandemic hit in spring 2020 – as businesses and schools were forced to shut down and our lives were isolated and upended – we had no doubt the Greater Omaha community would find ways to regain its footing and respond with innovation, compassion and perseverance. That’s what we do. While we’ve never been tested exactly like this, we’ve been tested – time and time again, through economic collapse, natural disaster and social unrest. And time and time again, we’ve risen, and thrived. Not content to go back to normal but determined to learn, adapt and move forward to something even better. Several years ago, members of the Greater Omaha creative community coined a rallying cry for the region – WE DON’T COAST. Those three words carry a lot of weight; a simple sentence that says we always stand back up, keep an eye out for each other and hold our values tightly. In times of crisis and periods of calm. That’s what we do. We rise. We live. We thrive. 2020 was not a normal year. This is not a “normal” edition of “We Don’t Coast.” It chronicles an extraordinary community’s response to an extraordinary set of circumstances and, equally important, where we go from here. We Don’t Coast is a testament to acceleration – not status quo and certainly not stagnation. If you’re thinking about expanding your business, moving your family or coming on your own, we look forward to welcoming you to our community. We can’t promise immunity from challenges; only that we’ll respond as we always do – with innovation, compassion and perseverance – whenever they arise.

Zuri Jensen DA LTO N CARP ER

DAVID G. BROWN President & CEO Greater Omaha Chamber

TIMOTHY J. BURKE Chairman, Greater Omaha Chamber Board of Directors President & CEO, Omaha Public Power District

“Omaha: We Don’t Coast,” 2021 edition, is a Greater Omaha Chamber publication created and produced by the Omaha World-Herald to showcase the 30+ communities that make Omaha – Greater Omaha.

President and CEO, David G. Brown 808 Conagra Drive, Suite 400, Omaha, NE 68102 402-346-5000 info@OmahaChamber.org OmahaChamber.org SelectGreaterOmaha.com

Hydrant party ANNA R E E D

We Welcome, 6 We Rise, 18 We Live, 54 We Thrive, 100

GREATER OMAHA CHAMBER PROJECT TEAM Project Coordinator: Jessica Perreault Art Director: Mike Pechacek Content Editors: Jill Bruckner, Michael Johnson Contributor: Anne Branigan OMAHA WORLD-HERALD PROJECT TEAM Editor: Chris Christen Designer: Christine Zueck-Watkins Imaging Specialist: Kiley Cruse Lead Writer: Dan McCann Copy Editors: Pam Richter, Kurt A. Keeler Advertising Sales Manager: Brett Snead Contributors: Sam Kirkwood, Amy Corrigan, Carol Perry, Nick Cavallaro; World-Herald staff writers and photographers ON THE COVER Medical residents, University of Nebraska Medical Center Photo by Kent Sievers View digital publication at omaha.com/ special_sections/omaha-we-dont-coast-2021 Copyright 2020 Omaha World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 600, Omaha, NE 68102 | 402-444-1094; omaha.com Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. The Greater Omaha Chamber and the Omaha World-Herald assume no responsibility for misinformation. No part of this publication may be reproduced without joint permission of the Greater Omaha Chamber and The World-Herald. Printed by Aradius Group

10 | WE WELCOME.

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2020: A year of grit, gratitude and resilience Let’s say it together: That slice of our lives between 2019 and 2021 was a time of “unprecedented challenge and uncertainty” that gave rise to a “new normal.”

ARTIFACT, pivoting to masks BRIDGET SAY LES

12 | WE WELCOME.

“We can be rocked by everything from disease to natural disaster, but as long as that foundation is solid, we know we can withstand, regroup and regain our forward momentum.” — David G. Brown, president & CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber

Here’s the thing about times of unprecedented challenge and uncertainty: They generate an unprecedented response. And, new normals? They lead to new ways of thinking and new ways of doing. We re-evaluate how “we’ve always done it” – adapting, developing and discarding – which can potentially spawn a newer and even better “new normal.” Not the way it used to be but the way it should be. The pandemic hit home for us in early March, with reports of the state’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 – a 36-year-old Omaha woman who had recently returned from the United Kingdom. More confirmations would follow, then widespread shutdowns. The result was a heartbreaking blend of loss – lives, livelihoods and traditions. No College World Series, Omaha Summer Arts Festival or Maha Festival. No in-person gathering of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. No spreading out on the Memorial Park lawn to watch fireworks and celebrate America. But dwelling on the losses tells only half the story. Throughout this health crisis, we – the Omaha community – also gained. We gained a deeper appreciation for our world-renowned health care institutions and

the people who staff them. While it’s tempting to use the word “tireless,” we know they grew tired – and yet our doctors, nurses, health aides and support teams persisted, quickly shifting from office visits and kindergarten physicals to the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Werner Park fireworks show AN NA R E E D

“This is what we signed up for when we wanted to be physicians,” said Dr. Heidi Hausmann, lead hospitalist at Omaha’s Methodist Hospital. “We all went into medicine to help people and our communities.” We gained an elevated respect for our dedicated educators who had to make speedy pivots of their own – from traditional classroom instruction to remote learning. Nebraska Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt called the shift herculean. “It’s about as remarkable as I could imagine.” See page 14

Window visit, Douglas County Health Center A NNA REED

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Standing Bear Lake RYA N S O DERLIN

continued from page 13 We gained fresh gratitude for our first responders, our masked grocery workers and the truckers who logged the miles and kept the supply chain steady. Beyond that – an acute awareness of how absence makes our hearts grow fonder for live arts and how compassion runs rampant throughout our region. Here’s to the mask makers, the hunger fighters and the providers of food and shelter. “Although it has been overwhelming to say the least, it’s been amazing to see the outpouring of love and care from the community for those experiencing homelessness during these unprecedented times,” said Candace Gregory, president and CEO of the Open Door Mission. Amid all the “unprecedented challenge and uncertainty,” we took some comfort in our community’s open spaces and strong economic underpinnings – advantages in quality of life, cost of doing business and entrepreneurship that will only speed our local recovery. “We can be rocked by everything from disease to natural disaster, but as long as that foundation is solid, we know we can withstand, regroup and regain our forward momentum,” said David G. Brown, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. 2020 was an incredible year – challenging and uplifting, scary but silver-lined, all of us together in our isolation. Not the way it used to be, perhaps, but the way it should be.

14 | W E WELCOME.

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CEOs FOR CODE

Our pledge to our community In June, the Greater Omaha Chamber hosted a coalition of nearly 150 CEOs, founders and leaders of the Omaha business community with the purpose of identifying collective action for diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces and communities.  Those CEOs for CODE (Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity and Equity) emerged with a commitment to our community:  “As part of our commitment to opportunity, diversity and equity, CEOs for CODE stands united against racism. Together we commit to investing in substantive change in our organizations and communities to address racial inequities and social justice. We believe everyone in Omaha has the right to earn a living with equal access, opportunity and share of our regional economic prosperity.  “To propel the group forward, we’ve identified the following actions as our responsibility in leading equitable changes which will uplift the individuals in our community who have been left vulnerable by historic and systemic barriers.

Carmen Tapio, Chamber Board member & CODE initiative chair D AN A D AME WO O D

16 | WE WELCOME.

“WE WILL educate ourselves and disseminate the history of systemic racism in Omaha and the barriers it continues to present today.  “WE WILL create opportunities to listen to those affected and marginalized by these barriers to learn how we can help.  “WE WILL support, lift up, collaborate with and fund nonprofit agencies who work tirelessly in marginalized communities.  “WE WILL use our influence and position to amplify unheard voices and endorse policies that lead to racial justice.  “WE WILL improve the employment, training, advancement, support and success of people of color in our workforces.  “WE WILL continue the conversation by engaging in ongoing CEOs for CODE meetings to collectively address the issues of racism, oppression and bias in our organizations and communities.“ Change is possible and we are capable, but it is going to take all of us.

“We are growing more diverse – and that’s a good thing. It makes us stronger, and in doing so, we have to grow more inclusive so that we can attract all the talent that we need to be what we can be.” — Lance Fritz, Union Pacific chairman, president & CEO; immediate past chairman, Greater Omaha Chamber Board; signer of the CEOs for CODE pledge

“We Don’t Coast. We listen. We care. We do better.”  The Chamber’s CODE initiative, launched in 2018, addresses diversity, inclusivity, equity and access to opportunity in Greater Omaha. All companies are encouraged to join CODE’s employer coalition, which aims to rally the business community to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace by working collectively across organizations and sectors.

From our earliest days, we were taught to face challenges head-on. Not alone but in community, extending a hand, taking a hand and embracing an all-in-thistogether mentality to regain our balance and power through the toughest of times.

Nebraska Army National Guard; Food Bank for the Heartland outreach C HR I S M AC H I AN

We Rise. W E R IS E. | 19

Stepping forward, eagerly and enthusiastically

First responder, UNMC KENT SI E VE R S

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Sewing face masks by the thousands for health care workers, assembling virtual classrooms, watching over seniors in need, delivering groceries to neighbors. Throughout the pandemic, people across our community stepped forward, eagerly and enthusiastically, to do their part.

10,000 masks for the medical community.

PPE for NE

The Durham Museum, while waiting out its pandemic shutdown, donated nitrile gloves and N95 masks – equipment staff uses to handle artifacts and build exhibits – to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

C H R I S MAC H I AN

Local hospitals, flooded with ideas and offers of assistance, formed committees to vet the suggestions.

UNMC medical students gave back while their rotations were on hold through a coronavirusrelief program called UNMC CoRe and other volunteer opportunities.

Organizers of school food programs quickly turned in-school meals into community food-distribution programs. Innovators stared down the unprecedented challenge and zeroed-in on high-tech solutions. At Nebraska Medicine, that meant devising a way to safely decontaminate N95 masks – and slow the shortage – using ultraviolet light. For the trio behind PPE for NE, it meant harnessing 3D printer networks and community volunteers to make thousands of face shields for local health care workers. “It’s an incredible opportunity for the community to pull together to do good,” said PPE for NE’s Matt Spaustat, who launched the effort with Matthew Van Zante and Jordan Points. Omaha’s Do Space, another maker of 3D-printed face shields, turned on 50 idle computers to join a global computing effort to analyze coronavirus proteins. The digital library also cranked out educational webinars, set up a virtual job interview lab for laid-off workers, and made its Wi-Fi available from the Do Space parking lot. Members of the Nebraska Chinese Association raised money to help flood victims in 2019 and, in 2020, raised money to donate thousands of masks to local hospitals. Fashion Institute Midwest in North Downtown coordinated an effort to make

Almost 225 med students and people from other UNMC colleges provided child care, ran errands and watched pets for health care workers. Others collected muchneed PPE or cheered those in isolation with pop-up concerts. A record number of metro-area residents contributed during the 2020 Omaha Gives campaign, donating $8.5 million for more than 1,000 nonprofits. “This year’s Omaha Gives was unlike any other,” said Donna Kush, Omaha Community Foundation president and CEO. Since its launch in 2013, Omaha Gives has raised more than $58 million for nonprofits in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties. There’s no end to the extraordinary stories of the pandemic. Day after day since March 2020, they’ve surfaced. “We Don’t Coast” celebrates each and every one. Turn the page for examples our remarkable community isn’t likely to forget.

Musicians for Healing C H R I S MAC H I AN

“It’s reassuring to know that people care about people and that they’re looking out for their neighbor.” – Karen Kresnik, director of supply chain, Nebraska Methodist Health System

W E R IS E. | 21

Rehabilitation Center, Immanuel Medical Center ANNA REED

FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE

Responding with grace, grit and world-class medicine 22 | WE RISE.

Our health care community has exemplified hard work and expertise throughout the pandemic, earning tremendous gratitude locally and recognition nationally. Healing those who sought their help. Preserving the finest traditions of their callings. During the most extraordinary of times.

In late February and early March 2020, as concerns about the pandemic were building locally, our health care systems – UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, CHI Health and Methodist Health System – immediately began updating preparedness plans and ramping up to manage a potentially large influx of patients.

UV machines NEBRASKA MEDICINE

All three established help lines to answer questions and screen people with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. They took steps to conserve supplies, including prioritizing testing to people at greatest risk, decontaminating health care workers’ N95 masks with UV light to extend their life, and partnering with local makers to obtain plastic face shields and cloth covers for medical masks. In February, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, its clinical partner, launched the first clinical trial in the United States of remdesivir, an experimental treatment for COVID-19. The first participant to enroll was an American who was brought to the UNMC campus after being evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan. The person, who volunteered to participate, was among 15 people from the ship under quarantine at UNMC – 13 in the National Quarantine Unit and two in the separate Nebraska Biocontainment Unit. “I think it’s fair to say that in the United States, this is probably the most rapid (clinical) trial initiation we’ve seen in American history,” the world was told by Dr. Andre Kalil, a professor at UNMC and infectious diseases physician with Nebraska Medicine. He was tapped to lead the Omaha-based arm of the national trial, which is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.

The study quickly enrolled its original goal of 440 patients nationwide. By April, the drug had been linked to shorter recovery times – four days on average – and showed a trend toward fewer deaths in patients who were ill enough to have lung involvement. “When I find a positive result in a study with that kind of strict methodology, it brings me not only hope but joy that we are bringing a treatment that did not exist until today,” Dr. Kalil said. “If we can shorten the recovery by a third and improve their survival, this is news to definitely get excited about.”

COVID-19 testing, Creighton University LI LY SMI TH

W E R IS E. | 23

Patient transfer to Nebraska Biocontainment Unit C HRI S M AC H I AN

Biopreparedness: Going above, beyond

Putting herself in the fight

Nebraska Medicine and UNMC’s experience in biopreparedness and infectious diseases put the medical center on the world stage early in the fight to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Methodist physician assistant Emily Struebing was just one of the many health care workers – doctors, nurses, health aides and support staff – whose duties shifted from office visits and kindergarten physicals to the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

A 10-bed biocontainment unit, commissioned in 2005 for the purpose of containing and treating patients with infectious diseases, treated patients who had contracted the Ebola virus while working in west Africa in 2014. Six years later, it would be at the forefront of the COVID response. Nebraska’s first confirmed case of COVID-19, a 36-year-old Omaha woman, was treated there.

The 32-year-old normally works at a Methodist Health System family clinic. In March, she volunteered to join one of Methodist’s COVID-19 testing site teams.

Kate Boulter, nurse manager for the biocontainment unit, told Omahans they could be confident that the staff was taking all necessary precautions – and then some – to keep themselves and the community safe. “We’ve always gone above and beyond for safety’s sake.” 24 | WE RISE.

“I’m a really low-risk person,” she said. “I looked at other providers: ‘You have kids, you have a heart condition, you don’t need to be there.’“ Struebing recalled a particularly taxing 11-day stretch of answering questions, giving advice and testing patients for COVID-19. When she wasn’t collecting test specimens, she was returning patients’ phone calls as they waited for test results. “It’s not necessarily physically stressful, but mentally, there’s a lot of things you can’t always answer for patients, and that wears on you a little bit,” Struebing said.

A surprise bouquet for all

An all-star thank you

Kara Walters, president of the Loveland Garden Club, described it as a “big thankyou bouquet” – so big it stretched across two benches in the circle drive at Nebraska Medicine’s Durham Outpatient Center. “We just want to do something nice for the health care workers,” Walters said. A “flower flash” was a logical next step for the 60-member club. The gardeners raided their yards for anything that was blooming − peonies, iris, weigela – and then a small subset of the group met early one morning to assemble the display. They dressed in black as a sign that it wasn’t about them, but instead about putting a smile on the faces of the workers and patients going in and out of the building. And it did.

A cast of famous Nebraskans sent an allstar thank you to doctors, nurses and staff members with Methodist Health System for their dedicated work during the pandemic. Actor Scott Porter, actress Jaime King, director Alexander Payne, actor Andrew Rannells, actor Chris Klein, Creighton basketball coach Greg McDermott and UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts all taped messages for the video. Porter, who wore a shirt with “Nebraska” on the front, gave a nod to a popular phrase from his show “Friday Night Lights.” “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose,” he said. “Thank you so much for everything you’re doing and, of course, Go Big Red.”

“Big thank-you bouquet,” Nebraska Medicine KENT SIEVERS

W E R IS E. | 25

ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE PANDEMIC Dr. Adi Pour: The voice of calm in the storm Throughout the storm of the pandemic, Dr. Adi Pour stayed the course, guarding the health of her community. “I think every day that I have to make the right decision for this community and for public health, and that’s my compass,” said Pour, who holds a Ph.D. “And I follow that compass very, very stern, so to say.” People who know the director of the Douglas County Health Department say she’s exactly the same person they’ve seen take on such community challenges as measles outbreaks, sexually transmitted diseases, obesity, health disparities and the surprise arrival of hurricane refugees. She’s taken heat from both sides on the issue of COVID-19: those who say the health restrictions she has imposed are too harsh and those who say they aren’t tough enough. “Sometimes that weighs on you,” she said. But the Swiss-born Pour remains unwavered. “I need to be the voice of calm in these times. I need to be calm for the community,” she said. “This is my community, and my biggest goal is to keep this community safe and healthy.”

Dr. Adi Pour Z LONG

“My biggest goal is to keep this community safe and healthy.” — Dr. Adi Pour, Ph.D., director, Douglas County Health Department

Dr. Ali Khan: Advising a safe path forward Dr. Ali Khan, an infectious disease and emergency preparedness expert at UNMC, has been a prominent figure in the fight against COVID-19, among other international health threats. In his 30-year career, he has responded to and led emergency responses to anthrax, Ebola and SARS. It’s been his passion since his medical residency and entering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention disease-detective training program. There’s no better place to do health security work than UNMC, said Khan, a former director of the CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response and current adviser to the World Health Organization. The most rewarding aspect of his work? “The people of Nebraska who are so accepting of efforts to control this pandemic,” Khan said. “They said yes to allowing rescued Americans to quarantine here, and for infected patients from the Diamond Princess to come to our amazing Nebraska Medical Center. Coming to Nebraska was the best career move I could have made after leaving the CDC.” Dr. Ali Khan C HRI S M AC H I AN

26 | WE RISE.

Emma Hutchinson: Nebraska’s first COVID-19 patient, fighting to win When Dr. Brian Boer got his first look at Nebraska’s first COVID-19 patient, he knew he had a battle on his hands. Emma Hutchinson, 36, had birth defects that hampered her breathing and was in rough shape. Her lungs had filled with fluid. The oxygen mask on her face wasn’t doing nearly enough. She was literally drowning in her hospital bed. Boer, medical director of the intensive care unit for critically ill COVID-19 patients at UNMC, frequently treats such dire cases of lung failure in patients with other viral infections, like influenza. But as he assumed the care of Emma on March 6, he saw that this was different. COVID-19 was more contagious and more dangerous than the flu. After 30 days at the medical center and three weeks of isolation at her father’s home in west Omaha, Emma said goodbye to her feeding tube and eventually was able to return to her own apartment and her job at a structured workshop for the developmentally disabled. In a podcast for her church, Emma said battling COVID-19 taught her to not take her family and friends for granted and to recognize that possessions aren’t that important. Emma’s father said he’s grateful for neighbors and friends, for the doctors and nurses who “cared so perfectly” for his daughter, and for the emails from well-wishers he didn’t know. “I’d like to name them all, but it would get as tedious as an Academy Award acceptance speech.”

State Sen. Tony Vargas CH RIS MACH IAN

Sen. Tony Vargas: Telling his family’s story to save others Tony Vargas has consoled those impacted by COVID-19 – and the state senator from South Omaha has received consolation. His father was diagnosed with COVID-19 in March in Long Island, New York, and died in late April. The loss inspired Vargas to use his family’s experience to persuade people to take the virus seriously. On social media, on Spanish-language television and radio, in English-language news outlets, in Zoom meetings and in person at food distribution and COVID-19 testing sites, Vargas has advocated for more testing sites and capacity, and for more protection for workers in jobs struck by outbreaks of the disease. In mid-March, Vargas organized a video meeting with key representatives of UNMC, Omaha Public Schools and the Latino Center of the Midlands that resulted in the community’s first all-Spanish language awareness video. That inspired the dissemination of more information in more languages.

UNMC’s first COVID-19 patient, Emma Hutchinson and her father A NN A R E E D

Vargas’ message: “Tons of people have reached out, and I’ve told them, I appreciate your condolences, but what I really want you to do is to continue spreading the message that this is serious and we need to protect each other.” W E R IS E. | 27

THE HELPERS

Beacons of hope “If you look for the helpers, you’ll know there’s hope.” Here in Greater Omaha, that wisdom from Mister Rogers’ mom is reflected in so many of our friends, neighbors and co-workers who extend a hand when it’s needed most. Our helpers don’t do it for the accolades, but we revere them anyway. While they might shrug modestly at the suggestion, they’ve all served as beacons of hope throughout the pandemic. Nebraska Masks for Medicine: An army of volunteers responds The Omaha community pulled together – one stitch at a time – to sew and distribute tens of thousands of cloth face masks and mask covers for local medical personnel.

28 | WE RISE.

• Metro Omaha Medical Society (MOMS), whose effort produced 45,000 face coverings for local families who weren’t able to buy or make them. At one point, volunteer sewers were cranking out 6,000 masks a week.

• Ann Kane and her family not only made hundreds of masks, they boosted restaurants in the Dundee area. The Kanes channeled monetary donations they received for their face coverings into restaurant gift cards, which they awarded, by drawing, to those who had ordered masks.

“We had some people who would just sew and sew; they never complained,’’ Murphy-Barstow said. “Whenever they would drop off a kit, they would pick up two more. We can’t believe our luck having these amazing sewers. Fabric and elastic cutters too.’’

“What a nice, positive community it has been,’’ they agreed. “It’s just been beautiful.’’

Several other organizations and individuals had us “covered” on the mask-making front.

• The costume design department at the Omaha Community Playhouse – busy refurbishing outfits for the Playhouse’s 45th annual production of “A Christmas Carol” – were joined by volunteers and a few staff members in making hundreds of cloth face masks for CHI Health staff and patients.

Nebraska Masks for Medicine, a powerhouse effort launched by neighbors Holly Murphy-Barstow and Patricia Longacre, initially set out to make 10,000 mask covers. Then, a crush of nearly 2,400 volunteers stepped forward. In four months, those volunteers wound up sewing more than 140,000 masks and mask covers. They also produced 3,600 surgical caps, 200 surgical isolation gowns, 500 face shields and thousands of ear savers.

With enough commercial masks available, Murphy-Barstow and Longacre “retired” from the intensive mask-making effort in July. They sacrificed lots of sleep over those four months, and counted heavily on their families for help and support.

Giving back, paying it forward

Holly Murphy-Barstow, Patricia Longacre CHRIS M ACH IAN

• Mona McGregor’s creations hung like ornaments on a tree. “Free masks,” the sign read. “Stay safe. We care.“ After her employer temporarily shut down because of the pandemic, McGregor went all-in, sewing hundreds upon hundreds of colorful fabric masks with her son, daughterin-law and grandson. “It’s just helping your community,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about. We want to make sure everybody’s safe.”

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The ARTIFACT team, promoting solidarity and safety in the global fight against COVID-19 D A N B R I O UL L E T T E

ARTIFACT: Pivoting to create reusable masks Chris Hughes launched ARTIFACT after losing his job during the Great Recession. He expanded its scope 10 years later because of the great pandemic. ARTIFACT is known for bags and aprons crafted in the company’s small but mighty Omaha workroom. In March, Hughes pivoted to add another product to the mix – reusable cotton masks with filters – to bulk up our nation’s tight supply of personal protective equipment. The ARTIFACT mask went from conception to prototype in 72 hours. Orders and 5-star ratings have since come in from all over the country. “We did not have to lay off any of our team, and we were able to hire an additional five to help with production,” Hughes said. “We’re proud of our effort in helping fight the spread of COVID-19,” Hughes said.

30 | WE RISE.

Outlook Nebraska: Rolling with it Sometimes when a need arises, you just roll with it. That’s what Omaha nonprofit Outlook Nebraska did back in March when toilet paper was the hottest of commodities. Outlook Nebraska is the largest employer of the blind and vision-impaired in a seven-state region. For 20 years, those workers have quietly made toilet paper and paper towels in the agency’s small Omaha shop. Outlook Nebraska usually concentrates on its contracts with businesses and federal entities, but it decided to branch out briefly and offer its first-ever direct sale to Omaha consumers. “We saw a need in the community,” said Rachel Carver, senior public relations specialist. Outlook Nebraska wound up selling 40,000 rolls of toilet paper in less than 24 hours. At one point, cars snaked out of the Outlook Nebraska parking lot more than a block down 72nd Street.

Brickway’s hand sanitizer B OW K IT E D E S I G N

Brickway: Expanding the region’s once-scarce supply of hand sanitizer Never in his wildest dreams did Zac Triemert imagine he’d be in the hand sanitizer business. Brewing beer and distilling spirits – that’s his thing. But when the pandemic hit and the need arose, the owner of Brickway Brewery & Distillery decided to do our community a service by making the sanitizing gel – lots of it. Between March and August, his copper pot stills produced more than 1.2 million ounces of hand sanitizer – a combination of high-proof alcohol, aloe, hydrogen peroxide and essential oils. For a while, due to high demand for the sanitizer, Brickway had to pause the distilling of its signature spirits, including single malt whiskeys and bourbons, rum, gin and vodka. But that operation has revved back up. The plan is to continue dual production through the end of the year and re-evaluate the need for hand sanitizer from there. The goal is to simply break even. Brickway gives bottles of sanitizer to those who can’t afford them, and accepts donations from those who can, including CHI Health and Union Pacific. “Almost everywhere I go now, publicly and socially, I see our hand sanitizer out on tables. It makes me smile,” Triemert said. “Knowing we are helping the community, it’s really been rewarding.” 32 | WE RISE.

Hygiene for Humanity: Putting the pedal to the metal Twelve area nonprofits received a share of 2,300 gallons of hand sanitizer in June, thanks to a true community effort, part of the “Hygiene for Humanity” supply drive. A team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln produced the sanitizer on the Nebraska Innovation Campus using material donations from Green Plains, Cargill, Syngenta, BASF and the State of Nebraska. Werner handled the transportation side of things while the Greater Omaha Chamber, NorthStar Foundation and United Way of the Midlands stepped up with additional support. All told, the UNL team produced 200,000 gallons of hand sanitizer over a four-month span before wrapping up the project July 31. The sanitizer was distributed free-of-charge.

Food Bank for the Heartland: Keeping hunger at bay During a stretch of greatest need – a time of layoffs, furloughs and school closings – not doing all it could to help feed the hungry was not an option at the Food Bank for the Heartland. To best serve its clients, the food bank launched numerous drive-thru pantries throughout the metro and mobilized its BackPack program. At multiple BackPack distribution sites, children in Omaha and Council Bluffs received bags containing five lunches, five breakfasts and five cartons of milk for the week – an extension of a program that typically ensures hungry students have meals on weekends and during school vacations. Omaha mom Tiffany Davis, who works for a call center, saw her hours reduced during the pandemic. She appreciated the food bank assist. “Every bit helps. I’m most grateful.” For its part, the food bank appreciates a generous community that has provided financial and food donations and a corps of hard-working volunteers that typically logs 44,000 annual hours of service – because not doing all they can to assist this vital organization is not an option.

Open Door Mission JE FFR E Y B E B E E

Open Door Mission: Doing more than ever The team at the Open Door Mission rallied during the onset and peak of the pandemic, caring for the homeless and the hungry by doing more than ever. With the campus closed for months to community partners and almost all volunteers, about 70 full-time staff members had to carry nearly the full load. Candace Gregory, president and CEO, along with 75% of the administration and development staff took on additional tasks to support the shelter’s work on the front lines. Then, they went a step further, branching out into the community by organizing a series of COVID-19 drive-thru relief events. Open Door Mission lifted its shelter-in-place protocols and began phase one of bringing volunteers back to the campus on June 1. 34 | WE RISE.

“It’s been amazing to see the outpouring of love and care from the community for those experiencing homelessness during these unprecedented times.” — Candace Gregory, president & CEO, Open Door Mission

Gretna Lunch Lady: Executing the perfect emergency plan A classically trained chef, Sharon Schaefer knows all about the importance of ingredients working together. That’s what it takes to execute the perfect meal – and a much-needed outreach during unprecedented times. Schaefer is director of food and nutrition services for Gretna Public Schools. During a typical school day, she and her team crank out 3,000 to 5,000 meals. In March, they rallied to fill a new order: Making sure no kids went hungry. Superintendent Rich Beran said he wasn’t surprised that within hours of announcing that schools were closing because of the pandemic, Schaefer had an emergency plan in place. She and her crew fed 600 families on March 17, the first time they offered drive-up meals. A month later, with a combination of federal lunch money and contributions from the community, they were passing out more than 4,250 breakfasts and lunches a week. Schaefer admits it was tiring but “definitely worth it when you think about all these families.” Gretna Public Schools served emergency meals through May 22, the last planned school day, and then transitioned those in need to other local support systems. Schaefer said all the ingredients came together for a successful effort – a giving staff who made, packed and distributed thousands of meals, and colleagues around the nation who shared ideas via phone and Facebook. Their reward? Genuine gratitude. “You are connecting with those families in a way they really need,” Schaefer said. “It’s such a gift. We fuel the education. We can’t lose that just because the kids aren’t in the building.”

Gretna Lunch Lady Sharon Schaefer A NNA REED

W E R IS E. | 35

PHILANTHROPIC TRIO

The right leaders for the moment Wendy Boyer, Rachel Jacobson and Donna Kush are committed to building a better Omaha through the nonprofits they lead. Here, the trio of recently minted civic leaders discusses the pandemic and our community’s collective path forward. “Omaha is lucky to have at its service a strong philanthropic spirit and commitment,” they say.

Wendy Boyer Executive Director, Peter Kiewit Foundation Wendy Boyer took the reins in early February at the Peter Kiewit Foundation, where she’d worked for the past five years as director of programs. Created in 1979, the year its namesake died, the Peter Kiewit Foundation was among the first major foundations in the city. Its focus has been on projects that build communities – whether that’s tangible projects like the downtown mall or building people. Boyer said she’s clear-eyed about what’s ahead: collaboration, innovation and resilience. “We will get through this together and come out stronger on the other side,” she said. Omaha’s strength, she adds, is its people. “We are resilient.” C HRI S M AC H I AN

36 | WE RISE.

“It will not be ‘business as usual.’ We understand that this could be a long recovery.”

Rachel Jacobson President, Heritage Services Rachel Jacobson began her role at Heritage Services on July 1, leaving Film Streams, the independent art-house theater she started. A big-projects nonprofit, Heritage Services was created to plan, raise money for and build longlasting structures that enhance life in Omaha. Over the past 30 years, the organization has shepherded improvements to local museums, athletic stadiums at Central and South High Schools and massive entertainment venues like CHI Health Center, TD Ameritrade Park and Baxter Arena. Jacobson brings an arts background and track record of being able to start and finish projects, a quality of vital importance to Heritage, said Omaha businessman and Heritage board member Mike McCarthy. Alexander Payne, the Omaha native, Oscar-winning film director and founding Film Streams board member, said Jacobson is the ultimate diplomat. “She’s a very affectionate, compassionate, people-person. And very effective. That’s what’s gotten her this far,” Payne said. Jacobson said the challenge before us is big – so is the call to work together.

Donna Kush President & CEO, Omaha Community Foundation  Donna Kush’s first day at the helm of the Omaha Community Foundation was March 23, one week into the city’s clampdown on gatherings. The community foundation collects and invests donor dollars, researches local needs and tries to match both. It’s a top-tier organization nationally with one of the highest rates of per capita giving. Last year, the foundation gave $169 million. On March 14, local philanthropists established a response fund through the community foundation that focused first on basic needs like food and housing, then on health care expenses and finally on long-term recovery. Connie Ryan, president and CEO of Streck Inc. and chair of the foundation board, calls Kush the right leader for the moment. “She’s a very talented person with lots of community relationships who understands how to build partnerships.”

C H R I S MAC H I AN

“We are constantly asking ourselves, ‘What is it that donors need? What do nonprofits need?’ ”

Kush said Omaha always comes together in a crisis, whether flood or pandemic, and emerges with a stronger infrastructure. C H R I S M AC H I AN

“This is a profound moment.”

“We learn,” she said.

W E R IS E. | 37

SPONSORED FEATURE

Growing to serve more children & families “To improve the life of every child.”

Hubbard Center for Children HDR

At Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, our mission – the heart of everything we do – is to improve the life of every child. As the region’s pediatric health care leader, we’re dedicated to exceptional clinical care, advocacy, research and education. Whether we’re providing care for critically ill children or championing child-centered legislation, we strive to improve the lives of children, families and entire communities. This commitment to mission is the very reason Children’s is in a season of exciting growth. Now, more than ever, the demand for high-quality pediatric services is on the rise.

Children’s is expanding – in terms of size, scope and services – to continue to meet the needs of children and families. The most visible sign of this growth is the construction of a new clinical facility on Children’s main campus at 84th and Dodge Streets. Opening in 2021, the state-of-the-art Hubbard Center for Children will house Children’s newborn and pediatric intensive care units, cardiac and cancer units, surgical space and much more. The Hubbard Center will enhance and expand care for all children – whether healthy, fragile, medically complex, critically injured or seriously ill. A strong new leader is at the helm as the Hubbard Center for Children opens to care for pediatric patients and families. Chanda Chacón, MPH, FACHE, serves as Children’s new president and chief executive officer. Chacón has devoted her career to pediatric health care, focused on ensuring patients receive safe, high quality, family-centered care, while strengthening organizations and growing programs of excellence. She came to Children’s from Arkansas Children’s, where she served as executive vice president and system chief operating officer and oversaw the system operations of two hospital campuses, clinical services, human resources and support services. Prior to leading in Arkansas, she served as the president for Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, Houston’s first community hospital designed exclusively for children. “I am deeply grateful to work alongside Children’s highly skilled, respected team to elevate pediatric care, advocacy, research and education in the region and beyond,” said Chacón. “As a passionate advocate for all children, I’m also thrilled to be leading the team as we open the Hubbard Center for Children – a leading-edge jewel of a facility that will help ensure that the region’s children and families have access to the most advanced, highestquality pediatric specialty care for decades to come,” she said.

President & CEO Chanda Chacón CH ILDREN’S H OSP ITAL & MEDICAL CENT ER

In addition to elevating Children’s ability to deliver clinical care, the Hubbard Center for Children will benefit the mission-critical aims of research and education, allowing the organization to further advance as a pediatric academic medical center enterprise. Reflecting the latest in technology and design, the new facility is an impressive draw for recruiting top talent, as the organization looks to hire more pediatric specialists, subspecialists, nurses and support staff. As Children’s physical footprint continues

to grow, so does its national reputation. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Children’s in four pediatric specialties in its 2020-21 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings: Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery and Urology. Children’s is the only health care system in the region to receive this honor for quality pediatric specialty care. We don’t coast. We care. We innovate. We grow ... to improve the life of every child.

Health care appreciation, OneWorld Community Health Care Centers

OneWorld: Stepping up in a COVID hot spot OneWorld Community Health Centers has been evolving to serve the Omaha metro for the last 50 years – but never more rapidly than in the spring of 2020. “The pandemic has dramatically affected the work we do,” said CEO Andrea Skolkin. OneWorld is headquartered in South Omaha, in what was Douglas County’s top COVID-19 hot spot – the 68107 ZIP code. As the crisis unfolded, the team swiftly set up drive-thru testing; implemented new screening, testing and case management protocols; devised a pharmacy walk-up and delivery program; and ramped up telehealth at its Livestock Exchange Building campus. “In our medical clinic, 70 to 75 percent of our visits are telehealth now,” Skolkin said. “We had a three-year plan that included primary care telehealth and pharmacy delivery services. Well, it’s all done now. We did that in 40 | WE RISE.

ANNA R E E D

the course of about two weeks.” Since opening in 1970 (as the volunteer-driven Indian-Chicano Health Center), OneWorld has moved into and expanded its South Omaha headquarters and opened satellite clinics in northwest Omaha, Plattsmouth and Bellevue. It has also launched school-based health centers in four Omaha public schools, mobile dental clinics, and two first-of-their-kind Teen and Young Adult Health Centers. It all comes back to OneWorld’s belief that everyone deserves access to the best health care possible. The federally qualified health center embraces an “open door” treatment policy – no one is turned away because of an inability to pay. Skolkin calls it “health justice.” “There shouldn’t be one person in this community worrying about whether they can see a doctor,” she said.

“Stepping up wasn’t a question of ‘if’ we do it, everyone was ready to do it. And they’ve done it with a lot of compassion.” – Andrea Skolkin, CEO, OneWorld Community Health Centers

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Excelling in the classroom and beyond 42 | WE RISE.

Our award-winning network of public and private schools, colleges and universities excels at pushing our students to succeed inside the classroom and beyond it, equipping them with the skills they need to join an evolving workplace and fill a soaring demand for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) professionals and educators.

Move-in day CREIGH T ON UNIVER SI TY

Early childhood classroom MARY OUR QUEEN

Our higher education landscape Bellevue University Clarkson College Our K-12 landscape, which spans nine counties, encompasses more than 300 public and private educational institutions, including a diverse population of magnet schools that focus on targeted subjects (e.g. engineering, math, or music and media technology).

College of Saint Mary

We consistently rank among the leading states in the nation for percentage of high school graduates, which means employers here have the benefit of drawing from a very well-educated workforce.

Metropolitan Community College

Situated between high school and a fulfilling career, tomorrow’s workforce will discover a higher education landscape that includes some of the nation’s leading colleges and universities and two internationally recognized medical schools – the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University School of Medicine.

The Creative Center Creighton University Creighton University School of Medicine Iowa Western Community College

Midland University Nebraska Christian College Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Fremont student JOE DEJKA

University of Nebraska at Omaha University of Nebraska Medical Center

W E R IS E. | 43

REMOTE LEARNING

Flexibility and grace rule To ensure our next generation of doctors, nurses, teachers and business leaders can face the challenges of tomorrow, our educators have rallied to confront a key challenge of today â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ensuring our kids can continue to learn effectively in the swirl of a pandemic.

Remote teaching lab, Millard West High School C HRI S M AC H I AN

44 | WE RISE.

OPS Superintendent Cheryl Logan, storytime before the pandemic

Our students returned to school in August – but not necessarily to the classroom.

RYAN S0DERLIN

Omaha Public Schools (OPS), the largest district in the state, announced in August that learning would be completely remote through October at least. To facilitate that, every student opened the school year with a new iPad at their service.

“There has never been a more important time than now to create community in our schools.”

OPS Superintendent Cheryl Logan said the $27.6 million investment in technology, largely funded by the federal coronavirus relief bill, was necessary to support students in a 21st-century learning environment and minimize potential future disruptions to education. Ralston Public Schools and Westside Community Schools opened with an alternating plan, rotating students between in-person and remote learning. Millard Public Schools implemented a similar start-of-year set-up for those high schoolers coming back to the classroom. All Millard families were given a choice – in person or remote learning. More than 20,000 students opted for in-person learning. Several thousand chose to enroll in the concurrent remote option. Other Omaha area school districts – as well as the Gretna and Bennington school districts – also offered fully remote learning options, but reopened with most students attending in person, social distancing protocols in place, and enhanced safety measures the new norm. “We know the best educational option for all our students is to be in our schools with our teachers,” Gretna Superintendent Rich Beran wrote to families. Aside from the occasional snow day, that was never an issue – until late March when the pandemic shut down Nebraska public and private schools. With a swift pivot the only

– Dr. Jim Sutfin, superintendent, Millard Public Schools, in a letter to parents

Remote learning, Westside Community Schools J O E DEJKA

option, educators made the switch from traditional classroom learning to remote learning for about 366,000 schoolkids in 1,200 schools. Nebraska Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt called the shift “herculean.” Some school districts, like Millard, had laptops or iPads for nearly every student. Others, like Papillion La Vista Community Schools, did not and raced to provide devices. Some districts made paper packets of lessons available, even delivering them, in some cases, by school bus. Keywords through the quick shift to distance learning were “flexibility” and “grace.” “Our teachers understand that families have unique stresses right now, so they are being

very flexible,” Rebecca Kleeman, Millard `Public Schools spokesperson, said in March. The start of the 2020-2021 school year brought with it a standard caution – namely that plans could change suddenly based on evolving health conditions. Like OPS, Ralston Public Schools hedged against future disruptions – and created a one-to-one computer ratio at the high school – with a significant technology purchase, Chromebook laptops in this case. For Ralston students who don’t have computer technology at home, Superintendent Mark Adler said the laptops, purchased with federal coronavirus dollars, help to level the playing field. “For me, it’s about equity in learning,” he said. W E R IS E. | 45

The power of those car parades Handmade signs and honking horns. Enthusiastic waves and heartfelt cheers. Just a few seconds of connection through car windows. Schools in Bellevue, Papillion, Omaha, Millard, Elkhorn and Council Bluffs all threw car parades over the spring, a simple but moving way for educators and students to brighten each other’s days after classrooms had gone dark. LeMay Elementary School’s parade – a line of about 30 cars – slowly looped through the Bellevue neighborhoods that surround the school and serve as housing for Offutt Air Force Base families. Students stood on sidewalks, in their driveways or 6 feet apart from each other in the park across the street from the school. “Hi, I miss you so much,” one teacher yelled to Brandi Udell and her three kids. “We miss you, too,” they yelled back. “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge blared from speakers in the back of Principal Andy Miller’s truck. Teachers at Westside Community Schools’  Westgate Elementary School saw the idea on Facebook, took to their students’ neighborhoods, and several of the district’s elementary schools followed suit. Westgate Principal Amanda Moon said it was a powerful day. Teachers cried. Students cried. Homemade signs carried the school’s slogan, “We can, we will.” 46 | WE RISE.

Teacher car parade, Elkhorn Valley Middle School. Top left: Student send-off, Legacy School A NNA R EED

“We can and we will come out of this situation stronger in the end.” — Amanda Moon, Westgate principal

C f o t c i r t is

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Millard Public Schools • 5606 S. 147th St. • 402.715.8200 www.mpsomaha.org Instagram: MPSCommunicates Twitter: @MillardPS Facebook: @MillardPublicSchools PAID FOR BY OUR FANTASTIC COMMUNITY SPONSORS OF THE MILLARD ACTIVITIES EXPRESS NEWSPAPER

Celebrating our graduates: Tapping our bandwidth When coronavirus upended our seniors’ capstone year and canceled or postponed live graduation ceremonies, our educators shifted to Plan B, enlisting technology to ensure our newest grads knew they were first-class. Millard Public Schools and Omaha Public Schools held virtual graduations in May. To avoid any technical glitches, Papillion La Vista officials went with a prerecorded ceremony, searching high and low for candid photos and videos of seniors to include. Ryleigh Parrack, a 2020 Papillion La Vista South grad, said students appreciated how the community responded to make things special, with such events as a stadium lighting, virtual honors night and fireworks show. Despite all the hardship caused by COVID-19, Papillion La Vista Community School Board President Bret Brasfield said there’s something unique and historic about a class of young people from the Information Age holding a virtual graduation. Such an event would have been hard to pull off even a decade ago. “We would not have had a whiff of the bandwidth to do this,” Brasfield said. Creighton University awarded more than 2,200 degrees during its first-ever virtual commencement ceremonies May 15 and 16. The University of Nebraska at Omaha held its own unprecedented virtual commencement the week before.

48 | WE RISE.

Westside graduation L I LY SMI TH

Westside High School: Flipping tassels in July Thousands of students in the Omaha area did get to don their caps and gowns – eventually. That included hundreds of students at Westside High School who attended a COVID-era commencement on a sweltering Saturday afternoon in July. For safety and social distancing, the school divided grads into three groups and held three ceremonies throughout the course of the afternoon. Students dispersed on folding chairs on the school’s Phelps Field. Guests spread out in the bleachers. During his commencement address, Westside school board member Adam Yale praised the students for their resilience, excellence and teamwork and took note of the latest chapter in America’s ongoing racial reckonings. “We are reminded that the society that we want to be, we are not yet,” Yale told the students. “We still have work to do. It is OK to feel the rush, shock and pain of all these circumstances. It’s OK to have that pit in your stomach. But to me, it’s important to see the flip side of uncertainty, of injustice, of need. These times will ultimately be sources of strength.”

OPS has more AP courses than any other district in the state. OPS Career Center students earned 838 career recognized certifications in 2019.

(most recent data available)

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Christ Child Society scholarship-winning moms, College of Saint Mary D A N M c C AN N

College of Saint Mary: Building careers, fostering dreams On a breezy Sunday morning, in the midst of a pandemic, five determined single moms turned a corner on long days in class and late nights of study, delicately balancing their roles of student and parent. They turned a corner toward their dreams of becoming nurses. They turned a corner on the campus of the College of Saint Mary – and found a hero’s welcome. Martha Montes, Maricela Ruiz, Hosanna Sok, Sierra Weitzel and Erin Wright – each socially distanced in their vehicles – were among the stream of CSM graduates in a rolling victory lap on May 17, what would have been their original commencement date. “Today I don’t even have words,” Montes said. “It’s such an emotional time for me.” The women all received $5,000 scholarships 50 | WE RISE.

for the 2019-2020 school year through Christ Child Society of Omaha, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and changing the future of young mothers and their children. In addition to those five women and one other CSM classmate – the organization’s first graduates – Christ Child Society of Omaha awarded renewable scholarships to six other local single mothers, a total of $60,000 pledged to help with CSM, Metropolitan Community College and University of Nebraska at Omaha tuitions for the 20192020 school year. Weitzel was Christ Child Society of Omaha’s first scholarship recipient in 2015. She’s received the award every year since. She gave birth, at age 17, to her son. Her dream of becoming a nurse was born then too. “Being in the hospital and being taken

care of in a way that was nonjudgmental – I wanted to provide that for someone else.” For Montes, the mother of two, graduation is both a promise fulfilled and a tribute to her own mother, who died of breast cancer six years ago. “It was throughout her battle with cancer that I realized I wanted to go into nursing,” Montes said. “I promised her I would go to college. This is me fulfilling that promise.” Scholarship recipient Sok made history as the first generation in her family to graduate college. For the future school nurse, turning this corner is about more than nurturing a new professional life. Sok gave birth to her second child in early May, just six days before the graduation drive-thru.

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Match Day: A virtual thrill Our next wave of homegrown doctors – those who’ll be on the frontlines for health challenges to come – is deep in the next phase of preparation. More than 260 graduates from Creighton University’s School of Medicine and University of Nebraska Medical Center set out for their residencies, months ago, in Arizona, California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Wisconsin and elsewhere. Match Day was a little different this year. Typically, fourth-year medical students gather in auditoriums full of classmates and family

members to receive envelopes containing their residency assignments. This year, many stayed home and received their assignments by email. Some at Creighton went to the Criss Health Sciences Building to pick up their envelopes – and a cupcake – in a socially distanced set-up.

Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. John Morelli of Kansas City, Missouri, opened his envelope at his house in Omaha. His wife, Creighton Prep teacher Madeleine Morelli, built a little stage for her husband. Two dozen people watched him open the envelope on live video through social media. Morelli is now training in pediatrics at

“We popped some champagne to celebrate,” Osayande said. “There were lots of hugs, of course.”

Match Day , Creighton University School of Medicine C HRI S M AC H I AN

52 | WE RISE.

On Match Day, Dr. Ferdinand Osayande of Omaha learned he was bound for the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he is now training in psychiatry. He opened the envelope at his parents’ house in front of his fiancée, sister and parents.

Creighton matched 138 students, including 43 in the Phoenix program, in March. UNMC matched 128. Residency training typically lasts three or four years.

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We live here – fully and authentically – even when times are tougher. Setbacks can slow our momentum but can’t stop it. Inevitably, we emerge stronger, roaring back with fresh gratitude.

Shooting hoops, Bryant Center L I LY S MI T H

We Live. W E LIVE. | 55

Wedding car parade ANNA REED

Roaring back, charging on

56 | WE LIVE.

Even in the midst of a pandemic, life goes on. It has to. Sure, there was a collective groan when we learned the NCAA Men’s College World Series was called off, that Billie Eilish wouldn’t be coming to the CHI Health Center as planned, and that our tickets to performances of “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Disney’s The Lion King” at the Orpheum Theater were only going to be good for automatic refunds.

For a city that prides itself on forward momentum – “no coasting allowed” – we had to devise ways to shelter in place without staying in limbo. And we did. Our restaurants quickly shifted business models to emphasize takeout, curbside pickup and delivery. Kids across the metro were equally quick to remind their parents the day after Monday was, in fact, “Takeout Tuesday.” As our eateries re-opened, enhanced cleaning protocols became standard and employees masked up. “We have to do what we have to do,” said Mo Tajvar, owner of Omaha Prime in the Old Market. “It’s not ideal, but we do have to keep ourselves and our guests safe.”

classes – everything from creative movement for preschoolers to advanced ballet. We celebrated our milestones with car parades and driveway parties, and kept our book club discussions going with an assist from Zoom. Since we couldn’t take a seat at TD Ameritrade Park for the CWS, we decided, instead, to stretch our legs and jog, stroll and bike on more than 120 miles of paved trails throughout the city. Others opted for the club. With room to spread out, the links were

a safe refuge for our golfers. As June rolled around, our kids sparkled on the diamonds again – baseball and softball – while their grateful parents spread out in the stands. We live here in Greater Omaha – fully and authentically – even when times are tough. Setbacks can slow our momentum but can’t stop it. Inevitably, we emerge stronger, roaring back with fresh gratitude for those way-of-life, quality-of-life amenities – the dining, arts, culture and so much more – that we can so easily take for granted.

For Tajvar, it’s not just about feeding people. “Our job is to make a difference in people’s evenings,” he said. “It’s a special-occasion place, and people come to celebrate. When they choose us, it makes us feel good about who we are and what we do.”

Omaha half-marathon, Minne Lusa neighborhood NANCY GAAR DE R

After our movie theaters shut down, the drive-in concept resurged. And, not just for films – concerts too. Some families took a more private approach and projected old blockbusters onto backyard big screens. The Omaha Community Playhouse converted its parking lot into a performance space for the first time as others innovated – and entertained – over the Internet. Omaha Performing Arts, which typically brings world-class live entertainment to the Orpheum and the Holland Performing Arts Center, delivered live concerts straight to our phones and laptops. Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts took its exhibitions online; the Omaha Summer Arts Festival also went virtual. American Midwest Ballet brought out the Baryshnikov in all of us by offering free, on-demand, online dance

Movie night, Corner Kick Street Tacos & Tequila Cantina PAUL McCRAE

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SHELTERING IN PLACE

Making the best of it People pursuing their passions regardless of circumstance – it’s a beautiful thing.

Isolation in the 402 ERIC F RANCIS

Documenting the pandemic, discovering ‘something big’ For Omaha’s Eric Francis, it started as a way to stay creative during a time of isolation. It quickly became clear that “this might become the most important thing I have done in my career.”

“It took a global pandemic and having my entire professional world just stripped away before I found some clarity and purpose to do something big.” – Eric Francis, freelance photojournalist and commercial photographer

The veteran freelance photojournalist and commercial photographer launched his “Isolation in the 402” Instagram photo series after a surreal day in March 2020. Just like that, every major photography job on his calendar for spring and summer – gone. “In the space of three hours, my entire professional world just disappeared,” Francis said of that day – Thursday, March 12. Photographers around the country were doing Porch Portrait projects. Francis, who normally doesn’t do portraits, shot his first few family sessions and was struck by the emotion in his subjects’ faces. “I wanted to know what they were feeling in those moments,” he said.

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So, he began to ask. “It went from 0 to 60 in a weekend,” Francis said of “Isolation in the 402,” a project that marries subjects’ quotes with their images. Over the spring and early summer, Francis photographed more than five dozen families in the 402 area code, where he was born and raised and continues to live. Francis shifted the project to phase II in August – and moved it from the front porch. “It’s the same kind of pictures I was taking in the spring, only now with individuals, groups of people or families in an environment that symbolizes what they’ve lost or given up this year.” Francis said he ultimately sees the entire “Isolation in the 402” portfolio driving a gallery show or a book. He doesn’t worry about that too much and won’t until this story tells him “when it’s done.”

Lifting spirits through music Medical student Natasha Hongsermeier-Graves continues to ace a fundamental life lesson – doing for others enhances our lives as well. When the pandemic canceled her clinical rotations at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, this self-proclaimed “feel-good Freddy” made cards for senior pen pals at nursing and assisted living facilities, gave blood, helped with a product drive for homeless shelters, and babysat for a UNMC resident as part of COVID Relief. The project closest to her heart, though, is Musicians for Healing, an enterprise she began with her flute teacher while at Morningside College. It took awhile to get it off the ground at medical school, she said, but once the coronavirus hit, about 30 medical students signed up to play outside nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the metro area. “Anything that sounds uplifting or positive,” Hongsermeier-Graves said. “Renaissance to modern pop, anything classical or things on the radio.” Residents at Fountain View Senior Living soaked up a visit in mid-May. “Many if not all residents with the ability to open windows or sit on their patios loved listening to the live music,” said Executive Director Stephanie Riggs. “It was a joy.” Hongsermeier-Graves said volunteering has kept her busy and fulfilled; a nice break from the grind of medical school. “It just keeps my soul alive.”

Surprise driveway party ANNA REED

Socially distanced surprises, too Our special occasions didn’t pause during the pandemic – the celebrations just looked a little different. Driveway parties became a thing to mark birthdays, graduations and other milestones. Teresa Elliott came home to one of those socially-distanced surprises in late March – six of her eight sisters cheering her on, in front of the house, with pink roses, encouraging signs and pink champagne. Elliott had just finished her 30-day course of radiation treatments at Nebraska Medicine’s Cancer Center at Village Pointe. Her sisters played “Fight Song” by Katy Perry – Elliott’s song – through a car speaker and danced, 6 feet apart, in the driveway. It was just what Elliott needed. “I was very emotional on the way home thinking I would be celebrating by myself.” The mother of four was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2019. “People were just so generous in reaching out, sending gifts,” she said. “I was just shocked by the amazing empathy that came from my friends and my sphere.”

Window concert, Fountain View Senior Living Community C H R I S M AC H I AN

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Artists fostering healing amid tragedy Using their passion and talents, Omaha artists began creating paths through the grief, anger and unrest of the summer of 2020.

BLM poster-making, The Union for Contemporary Art CHRIS MACH IAN

Screen-printed displays of unity The roots of The Union for Contemporary Art in North Omaha are buried in social justice, said founder and Executive Director Brigitte McQueen. “It’s how we move through everything we do.” The organization’s artists and programs address issues such as economic inequality; gay, lesbian and transgender rights; hunger; racism; mental health and more in a variety of creative ways: theater, photography, music, performance art, painting, textiles – and screen printing. That’s the technique staffers utilized in June for what McQueen calls “a spontaneous and impromptu effort” – the designing, printing and distribution of nearly 2,000 “Black Lives Matter” posters across the city. McQueen said the posters espouse more than an empty slogan.

The Union for Contemporary Art C HRI S M AC H I AN

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“Black Lives Matter,” she said, signifies a commitment to ending systemic racism in all areas: the economy, education, food security and many others. “It’s not saying that certain lives are more important than others. It’s correcting the thought that certain lives are less important than others,” she said.

Documenting 2020: The local experience A poem, a protest sign, a restaurant carryout bag; an original work of art. Local museums and libraries welcome it all to preserve the stories of how the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement are impacting Nebraska. “We are striving to document our ‘present’ history. … Our stories of struggle and triumph deserve to be told to future generations,” said Becky Putzer, collection manager at the Durham Museum. Joining the museum are the Douglas County Historical Society, El Museo Latino, Great Plains Black History Museum, History Nebraska, Sarpy County Museum, University of Nebraska at Omaha Criss Library Archives and Special Collections, and UNMC McGoogan Library of Medicine. Jeremiah Neal’s “Banksy”

A script about history that’s relevant today

C H R I S M AC H I AN

“By the time I got done, I got to meet some wonderful people. I’m humbled by the fact that I sat out there in the hot sun and painted a little picture on a wall, and now I’m getting this positive response. It feels great.” — Jeremiah Neal

A mural he didn’t know he wanted to paint Jeremiah Neal will tell you straight up: He wasn’t in the mood to paint a mural about love. Or unity. Or optimism. But his good friend, Ted Ostronic, insisted: There’s no better time to commit an act of hope than when you’re feeling despair. So on June 2, with the sun beating down on him, Neal went to work, painting fat brushstrokes of white and black on the side of a commercial building in midtown Omaha. Then something happened. Drivers started honking their horns. Strangers stopped to talk. A newspaper photographer snapped a picture. A woman posted a video on Facebook and that sparked more than 2,000 likes and a GoFundMe campaign. Neal created the mural on Ostronic’s building, Unique Automotive. The two agreed on the mural’s content: a copy of a painting by anonymous street artist “Banksy.” In the painting, a young man wearing a bandana over his face leans back to heave ... a bouquet of flowers. Neal said he likes how the flowers are counter to what people expect. For him, the message in the Bansky painting is one of love. “We fight for justice; we fight hard for financial success and certain things. We just have to fight hard for the real thing, to love people.”

Actor and playwright Beaufield Berry took a deep dive into local and national history when she wrote “Red Summer,” a play about the 1919 lynching of Omaha meatpacker Willie Brown, who was Black. The Blue Barn Theatre produced “Red Summer” in fall 2019 as a world premiere. Berry said her research gave her a disturbing look into racism in America, and she couldn’t help but see similarities between 1919 and 2020. “It feels like an elephant sitting on my chest,” she said of making “Red Summer” accessible to the masses. She linked to the complete script on her social media accounts and worked with Blue Barn Artistic Director Susan Clement-Toberer to add another link on the theater’s website. Burke High School drama teacher Emily Mokrycki told Berry she wanted her students to read the script. Others have contacted the playwright as well. “That really galvanized me,” Berry said. “Now I will be proactive about making sure it gets into students’ and educators’ hands.”

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EXTENDED INTERMISSIONS, ARTFUL SOLUTIONS

Omaha Symphony: This is us

Sometimes, you just have to improvise

Archived recordings of classic Omaha Symphony  concerts went online along with educational videos for students, teachers and families early in the pandemic. The symphony also began posting fun content from symphony musicians on its website.

When the coronavirus pandemic canceled our entertainment calendar – a full slate of spring, summer and fall concerts, plays, symphonies and more – our performers and entertainment venues did what comes naturally: they got creative and collaborative.

Meanwhile, symphony leaders began working with other groups in the community to create programs in locations that aren’t normally accustomed to classical music. Their efforts were part of a bigger endeavor among Omaha arts organizations to collaborate and share ideas as the coronavirus outbreak persisted. Fall concerts featuring the brass and woodwind quintets took place in venues that people might not expect. One of those was Dandelion Pop-Up, site of a weekly outdoor lunch with guest chefs near 13th and Howard Streets. A highlight of the first concert was that people who happened to be in the Old Market stopped and took it in. Attendees agreed: If you’ve never been to a classical music concert, it’s a great way to be introduced to it and catch it on your own terms.

Opera Outdoors

Opera Omaha: Inside edition

KENT SIEVERS

Omaha’s only opera company kept its sheltering-in-place audiences entertained with a series of interactive “Creativity Prompts” led by Holland Community Opera Fellows via Google Arts and Culture. In late September, virtual opera came into our homes with “Miranda,” co-produced with the Luma Art Projection Festival and the Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, New York. The 20-minute Steampunk murder mystery could be watched three ways: on YouTube, a gaming computer or a virtual reality headset. Every performance was live and involved viewers as jurors. Opera Omaha’s live productions in 2021 include “The Marriage of Figaro” in February and the Broadway musical “Sweeney Todd” in April directed by Blue Barn Theatre Artistic Director Susan Clement-Toberer.

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The symphony has a full slate of programming planned for its centennial and two other milestones in 2021: the end of Thomas Wilkins’ era as music director and the passing of the baton to Ankush Kumar Bahl. Wilkins, who has been with the symphony since 2005, announced in 2017 that the 2020-21 season would be his last in Omaha. He is the longest-tenured music director in the organization’s history. Bahl, a sought-after guest conductor, has impressed audiences in New York City, Washington, D.C., Amsterdam and Paris. He called the Omaha Symphony “a hidden gem.” He’ll take over for Wilkins in August 2021 for the 2021-22 season.

Ankush Bahl SC O TT SUC H MAN

Omaha Conservatory of Music: Amplifying its outreach The Omaha Conservatory of Music quickly composed a new plan after the coronavirus pandemic put a temporary end to in-person learning. The nonprofit school moved all of its private music lessons and group classes to virtual learning and implemented virtual spring 2020 recitals. It began transitioning back to in-person lessons at the end of May for some 900 students in private instruction and group classes. The 1,300 young violin, cello, bass and viola students in the conservatory’s popular String Sprouts program played virtually with an Omaha Symphony quartet from home in a spring concert. “Rave On! The Music of Buddy Holly” ANNA REED

Omaha Community Playhouse: From the inside out With modern technology and a large parking lot at its disposal, the Omaha Community Playhouse refused to call it curtains during the pandemic. Instead, the artistic team launched a series of streamed performances online. It also partnered with Omaha-favorite Billy McGuigan to make a little history with the Playhouse’s first-ever outdoor performance series. Throughout most of June, McGuigan slipped into the role of Buddy Holly, something he’s done about 2,500 times over the last two decades. Only this time, McGuigan’s “Rave On! The Music of Buddy Holly” was billed as a ’50s rock ‘n’ roll drive-in concert. Guests watched the high-energy performance from and alongside vehicles parked in a socially distanced checkerboard pattern.

In the conservatory’s ongoing push to build a diverse musical community, summer’s offering, “SoundWaves,” encompassed virtual master classes, lessons with guest artists from across the United States and in-person small chamber music experiences. “In Harmony: Stories From Childhood,” the conservatory’s fall program, had participants “narrate” children’s books with music. And spring 2021’s “Music Rewind,” an online music history module, will culminate in a performance by the Conservatory’s artist-faculty in full period costume.

The Playhouse went on to open its 2020-21 season with “Grounded,” a one-woman show about a fighter pilot whose career is stalled when she becomes pregnant. Leanne Hill Carlson played the role behind see-through barriers in the middle of the Howard Drew Theatre. Shows with small casts are planned into early 2021. The rest of the season is fluid, depending on COVID-19. W E LIVE. | 63

“Art is so important to daily life. It’s an outlet for people to be able to step back. We’re trying to keep moving forward and do what we normally do.” — Rachel Adams, chief curator and director of programs, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts

The Bemis: Virtual studio visits, tours and a dance party When the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts had to suspend programming in March, a splash of innovation entered the picture. Staff and artists-in-residence used Instagram to take art lovers into studio and gallery spaces and discuss the creative process behind works in progress. “The Gobernment,” a six-episode film project by artist Liv Schulman, posted online and included a live conversation with the artist and curator. The public also partied with the Bemis — while in isolation. Artist-in-residence Jesus Benavente hosted a five-hour virtual dance party on Zoom called “I’m Not Dancing, I’m Struggling to Survive: Shelter in Place.” The virtual event was so unique and successful, programming director Rachel Adams was inspired to host her own virtual dance party for her birthday a few weeks later. KANEKO

KANEKO: A “Community” in isolation

BEN SEMISCH

Since its founding, KANEKO has been a space dedicated to creativity, so it’s no surprise the organization thought outside the box when faced with temporary closure. It launched the “Tessellation Project” in March as a way to involve people of all ages in creating a large-scale public mural. “We had been talking about this project for the last several months, and this (the pandemic) accelerated it. This was a perfect opportunity,” said Stephan Grot, executive director.

Joslyn Art Museum: Art From Afar As talk turned to shutting down and sheltering in place, Joslyn staff began collaborating on a way to open a virtual portal that would keep the public involved with art. They arrived at “Art From Afar,” a multipronged approach for art lovers of all ages.

“Community,” a trio of pandemic-inspired exhibits by Watie White, Pamela ConyersHinson and Therman Stantom, opened progressively in October by timed reservation.

Included in the lineup: virtual exhibition tours; curator-led virtual gallery talks; “Crowdsourcing the Collection,” where the public could ask questions online about specific Joslyn works; and “Art Adventures Live,” Facebook Live broadcasts from the museum’s studio classroom.

KANEKO began programming in 2009 and officially opened as a public gallery in 2010, a milestone it celebrated at its annual fall Soirée. Instead of being one big event, the 2020 Soirée was “creatively redesigned” into a menu of smaller offerings to allow for social distancing.

“People need the comfort that art brings; it’s a bit of normalcy,” said Nancy Round, director of education and outreach. “We’re never going to run out of ideas.”

The theme for the project was “Isolation” – and the concept was simple: People created a work of art measuring 8 by 8 inches, took a photo and then emailed it to KANEKO. Staff and artists at the organization then would use all the submissions to compose a mosaic mural in the second-floor gallery space. The opening was planned for late November.

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Our venues, the Orpheum Theater and Holland Performing Arts Center, are Nebraskaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s destinations for extraordinary experiences that engage, inspire and connect.

We bring the best of: Broadway Jazz Popular Entertainment Family Events and more! Your safety is our number one priority. Visit o-pa.org/covid to view our policies.

The Rose Theater: Staying flexible, providing options American Midwest Ballet W I L L I A M H E S S P H O T O GRA PHY

American Midwest Ballet: Pirouetting and ‘Going Solo’ Ballet dancers are the masters of making the incredibly difficult look graceful. Same goes for American Midwest Ballet, our resident professional ballet company and academy. Its first performance (“Swing! Swing! Swing!”) at the new Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center in Council Bluffs was canceled along with the rest of its 10th anniversary season, “The Nutcracker” included, because of the coronavirus pandemic. And yet, with grace, American Midwest Ballet found innovative ways to share its passion with the community. In late July, it hosted a virtual Day of Dance complete with free activities, classes for all ages celebrating all styles of dance, and a virtual tour of its state-of-the-art home at the Hoff Center. To mark its 10th anniversary, the company produced a video version of its “Going Solo” show from dancers’ living rooms, isolated studios and a nearby lake, to name a few locations. Several guest choreographers signed on, and Lance Glenn was the filmmaker for the project. After the premiere, the ballet began releasing new episodes of a company member’s work every few weeks on its website and social media channels. “Going Solo” will serve as the centerpiece of AMB Interactive, a new platform on the American Midwest Ballet website that will be the home for all of its online resources for the community. Everything will be free, including “Going Solo.” 66 | WE LIVE.

The Rose Theater, one of the country’s largest professional children’s theaters, moved forward with live performances – by scaling back. For its 2020-21 season, the Rose launched a five-show “mini season,” a lineup that allowed for more flexibility to accommodate any schedule changes prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Highlights of the abbreviated season, which started in September, include a play about Nebraska-born nature photographer Joel Sartore, written by Omahan Ellen Struve, and the return of the first show at the Rose, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which premiered in 1995. A Disney musical, “The Descendants,” will end the season. To allow for social distancing for as long as advised, the Rose auditorium was divided into four-seat pods for families, with 6 feet between each pod. Patrons who weren’t quite ready to return to the theater didn’t have to miss out on the season. They could buy a digital streaming membership and watch the professionallyrecorded performances at home.

AROUND THE REGION

Marcus Twin Creek: Brooks on the big screen

CHI Health Center: Sellouts to remember

Country superstar Garth Brooks returned to the region in June – kind of. He beamed a live summer concert to 300 of the nation’s drive-in movie theaters, including the “parking lot cinema” at Marcus Twin Creek Cinema in Bellevue.

We did manage to sneak in a couple of big-name concerts at CHI Health Center Omaha before the coronavirus shutdown, including country superstar Jason Aldean and pop superstar Post Malone. Grammy-nominated Malone kicked off his 2020 tour before a sold-out crowd of more than 15,000 on Feb. 4, 2020. Three days later, Aldean sold out the CHI Health Center. “It’s been awhile since we’ve been back to Omaha,” Aldean told the crowd. “We’ve been excited to see you guys.” The crowd was especially excited for the end of the show, which contained Aldean’s oldest hits, including “Dirt Road Anthem,” “Hicktown” and “My Kinda Party.” CHI Health Center’s concert schedule was set to ramp up again in April 2021.

During his Omaha run in 2015, Brooks sold 101,863 tickets for six shows at CHI Health Center Omaha, according to Pollstar. He returned to the state in 2017 and sold more than 69,000 tickets at five concerts in Lincoln. Twin Creek’s parking lot cinema, which boasted a 42-foot screen attached to the side of the building, also showcased film classics, including “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

Falconwood Park: Drive-in. Rock out. In May 2020, Falconwood Park in Bellevue launched a series of drive-in concerts headlined by local bands, including Eckophonic, PetRock and Lemon Fresh Day. “When life hands you lemons, you book Lemon Fresh Day,” said park owner Brandon Miller. Falconwood Park has hosted drive-in movies in previous seasons as well as concerts and festivals such as the Hullabaloo Music Festival.

Jason Aldean KEVIN COFFEY

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Creative ambition celebrated at Hoff Center A 2018 report by the National Center for Arts Research looked at dozens of midsized U.S. cities and judged them on the vitality of their local arts community. The OmahaCouncil Bluffs area impressively ranked sixth – its first time in the Top 10. Credit the addition of the Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center to an already vibrant arts and culture landscape that includes the Joslyn Art Museum, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, the Holland Performing Arts Center, the Orpheum Theater and Blue Barn Theatre. In February, the $27 million, 95,000-square-foot Hoff Center in Council Bluffs became home to the American Midwest Ballet, Chanticleer Community Theater, Kanesville Symphony Orchestra and the Kitchen Council, an incubator with a commercial kitchen for entrepreneur chefs. Several artists gained individual studio spaces here as well, contributing to the vibrant cultural life of the four-story building. When Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment hosted the gala opening of the Hoff Center in February, the ballet company was preparing for its spring show “Swing! Swing! Swing!” and Chanticleer was deep into rehearsals for “The Music Man.” After a three-month pause, PACE reopened the gallery, classrooms and event venue spaces in early June; the theater and performing arts rehearsal spaces were reopened in July. Patrons now are enjoying everything from cake decorating and music production classes to special art exhibitions, including works by Iowa’s most famous artist, Grant Wood. 68 | WE LIVE.

Chanticleer Community Theater , Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center WILLIAM H ESS PH O TO GR APH Y

“The arts remind us that we’re all creative beings — and whether we’re making art, music, dancing, or sharing in the experience, we’re all connected.” – Danna Kehm, CEO, Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment (PACE)

Family Memberships Start as Low as $5 a Month

Joslyn: Creating a new ‘masterwork’ At almost 90 years old, our pink marble masterwork – Joslyn Art Museum – is looking forward to an expanded future. Planning is still underway for a new building that would add fresh gallery space, free up room in the original museum to showcase previously stored works, and allow for additional arts programming. Norwegian firm Snøhetta is handling the design and landscape work. It’s the same firm that designed the Sept. 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion, reimagined an ancient Egyptian library and expanded the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Al an J. L e v i n e T h e a t e r JE W I SH C O M M UN I T Y C ENTER

Jewish Community Center: Developing audiences This winter, it’s show time again at the Jewish Community Center. A $6 million rebuilt theater – one of the final pieces of a $33 million campus renovation – is scheduled to open as the Levine Center. The expanded 326-seat venue (not counting school facilities) will be the city’s biggest full-service theater and performing arts stage west of 72nd Street. “For people interested in the arts and who live in west Omaha, this is a facility that will bring a number of theater productions and events to their backyard,” said Steve Levinger of the umbrella Jewish Federation of Omaha. “It fills a void.” The new theater opens the door to musicals, dance programs and lectures that weren’t possible in the old space. It also expands opportunities for both adults and young people to participate in the performing arts and for the Jewish Community Center to host arts workshops, smaller ensembles and other programming. 70 | WE LIVE.

O-pa: Eyeing those touring bands Our arts and culture landscape continues to flourish. Omaha Performing Arts began construction over the summer on a $109 million downtown music venue. With a variable capacity of 1,500 to 3,000, it will have both a concert hall and a flexible performance space – a draw for touring bands. Located northeast of the O-pamanaged Holland Performing Arts Center, the venue is expected to be completed in 2023. Studies show that it could draw 155,000 people downtown and generate $13 million annually for the local economy.

Snøhetta founding partner Craig Dykers called the Joslyn “endearing.” He promised Snøhetta would respect it while designing a new building that would push Joslyn to become “more of the global community of museums.” When completed, the addition will most likely showcase some of the 50 works from the renowned Phillip G. Schrager Collection of Contemporary Art –”the single most important gift of art to Joslyn Art Museum since its founding, and one that instantly propels the Museum to a new position on the international museum stage.”

Dynamic Productions, Spectacular Artists, Community Focused 402.346.7372 | OPERAOMAHA.ORG

SPONSORED FEATURE

Excellence from generation to generation Old world skill, quality and innovation – they’re as essential to the Rotella’s legacy as flour, salt and yeast. 2021 will give rise to a major milestone at the family’s high-volume and ever-evolving specialty bakery: 100 years in the bread and roll business. Opened after Alessandro and Maria Rotella immigrated to America and settled in Omaha, Rotella’s Italian Bakery is now under the steady and visionary leadership of their grandson, Louis Rotella Jr. Handkneaded doughs and wood-fired ovens have given way to industrial mixers, state-of-the-art production lines and an expansive network of delivery routes. While revering the techniques of his Italian grandparents, the 71-year-old president and CEO has also accelerated the growth-momentum of his late father, Louis Sr., elevating the bakery from a local favorite to a powerhouse supplier nationwide. With a desire to make his father proud and an instinct for product innovation and business development, Louis Jr. expanded the bakery’s reach beyond Omaha. He launched a national campaign to sell fresh, frozen bread; steadily increased route distribution; and entered into sales agreements with regional and national restaurant chains. In 1989, Rotella’s Italian Bakery moved to its current 40-acre campus in La Vista. The CEO has prioritized technical advances, including automation, that have allowed the nation to experience Rotella’s line of more than 400 products. The notion of coupling modern technology with old world skill and experience is encapsulated in the Rotella’s mission and embraced by other family executives, including Louis Jr.’s sons Louis III and John. “My dad models excellence,” Louis III said. “He enjoys being in the plant, creating and developing new products, and saying hello to the employees — the Rotella’s Bakery family,” which, over the last century, has grown to more than 500 employees.

Rotella’s specialty products ROT ELLA’S ITALIAN BAKERY

“There’s a lot of pride, satisfaction and hard work that got us here.” — Louis Rotella Jr. 72 | WE LIVE.

A Century of Pride in Every Slice!

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rotellasbakery.com

ATTRACTIONS ROUNDUP

Safari encounters, sea lion thrills and butterfly sightings One of our marquee attractions – the Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari – opened its 2020 season with a record-setting roar in March. The drive-thru park in Ashland saw 7,663 visitors on March 27, beating the previous record of 2,735 logged on Sept. 1, 2019. From the comfort of their cars, self-isolating visitors scoped out bison, elk, sandhill cranes and more along the safari’s 4-mile route. The park was drive-thru only until June 15, when multiple areas re-opened to the public. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium debuted its upgraded Owen Sea Lion Shores in early September. Thanks to $26.8 million in private funds, the zoo’s sea lion power couple, Chino, 16, and Gemini, 10, are in new digs, along with pups Nova, 4, Raiden, 3, Elvira, 2, and Fluke, 1. The sea lions are swimming and splashing around an elaborate, 275,000-gallon pool in the middle of what used to be Bear Canyon. The exhibit is meant to mimic everything from ocean currents to isolated inlets. It even has a shaded sandy beach where pups can safely be raised until adult sea lions teach them to swim, something sea lion experts appreciate for its rarity. Visits are especially fun with nose-to-nose encounters between sea lions and humans from an observation deck above ground and separate kid and adult viewing windows below the water’s surface.

Feeding time at Omaha’s zoo D I TA A L AN G K AR A

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Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium Z L O NG

TreeRush Adventures M E G AN M c G I L L

Backpacking in the forest

New treetop adventure

Fontenelle Forest invited guests back to its visitors center on July 1 after a COVID-19 pause. But the wooded sanctuary’s 16 miles of trails and co-located TreeRush Adventures attraction, with tightropes, bridges and zip lines, were open prior to that. To enhance the outdoor experience and see more of the natural world, guests can now check out backpacks containing a map, local flora and fauna flashcards, nature-related activities and supplies. “It’s a good way for kids to really slow down and explore and get the most intimate experience with nature as they can,” said Hannah Miller, a naturalist educator at the forest.

The cool thing about adventure here in the metro? It’s always evolving. Mahoney State Park’s Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park added two bold attractions in July for those eager to get out and go a little wild. The Treetop Journey course, suspended 25 feet above ground, features tree-to-tree crossings, including 20 obstacles and two zip lines. The course takes about an hour to complete and is open to all ages (assuming the adventure seeker is at least 3 foot 3 inches tall). Those seeking a bigger thrill can head for the Monkey Drop’s 40-foot platform and enjoy the rush of a 10-foot free fall before being lowered back to the ground.

In addition to TreeRush Adventures at Fontenelle Forest, there’s Arbor Day Farms’ Treetop Village, the first attraction of its kind in the U.S. Spanning three acres, Treetop Village brings kinetic energy to the tree canopy as kids bounce on the giant WonderNet or explore 11 treehouses all connected by netted walkways and bridges.

Inspiring future astronauts The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum started welcoming back visitors in May after being grounded for two months. The timing couldn’t have been better with NASA and SpaceX’s mission to the International Space Station just taking off. W E LIVE. | 75

“The community has really shown up to support local vendors.” – Kristen Beck, Omaha Farmers Market manager, Vic Gutman & Associates

Omaha Farmers Market Z L ON G

Omaha Farmers Market: Keeping things fresh, flavorful

Summer Arts Festival: Coloring outside the lines

Even during the live event drought of 2020, our popular Omaha Farmers Market found a way to flourish.

When COVID-19 upended any chance of an Omaha Summer Arts Festival as we know it, organizers got busy coloring outside the lines for a one-day virtual event.

“There was a lot behind the scenes that happened in a very short amount of time,” said Kristen Beck, manager of the farmers market for event producer Vic Gutman & Associates. “This truly was a year of all hands on deck.”  Beck and her team postponed the opening of the Omaha Farmers Market from early May to early June, shifted the two locations to allow for more crowd control, and limited the roster to food vendors only. Despite the extra work, added precautions and unexpected expenses, Beck said the “why” made it all worth it. “We wanted to provide the community a safe place to purchase fresh, local goods,” she said.

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For six hours on June 6, the public browsed the works of 120 participating artists online and “entered” about 50 artist booths to interact face to face — no masks required — through chat rooms. Eight local and regional musicians performed. And there were short video demonstrations on cooking, crafts and art; a youth art exhibition; and a kids’ coloring contest with prizes. The format was so successful, event producer Vic Gutman & Associates said a hybrid festival of street booths and a virtual marketplace could emerge for 2021.

Butterfly garden, Lauritzen Gardens KENT SIEVERS

Botanical gardens, butterflies and streaks of luck Lauritzen Gardens joined the zoo – its neighbor to the west – in reopening to the public on June 1. A month later, the garden had an additional reason to celebrate. Dedicated “Butterfly Watch” volunteers Joanne Langabee and Holly Hofreiter sighted three new butterfly species in the gardens: the harvester, the banded hairstreak and the zebra swallowtail. That brings the garden’s total butterfly checklist to 60 species. Zebra swallowtail is an especially exciting find, because it’s rarely seen in our area.

Keeping you connected through books, online resources, movies, music, and more! Connect with us!

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Swim Trials C HRI S M AC H I AN

2021 marquee sporting events The world returns to Omaha.

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Burlington Capital International Omaha May 6-9, 2021 CHI Health Center

U.S. Olympic Swim Trials June 13-20, 2021 CHI Health Center

Billed as “The Greatest Equestrian Experience in the Midwest,” the 2021 event will be the eighth iteration in Omaha. Hosting an event like The International is uncommon for a city our size. Horse jumping and dressage events of this caliber usually are featured in more cosmopolitan cities like Toronto and Washington, D.C. In 2017, we hosted the World Cup finals, beating out international destinations London and Hong Kong.

USA Swimming, Michael Phelps and the citizens of greater Omaha played leading roles in making the Swim Trials a once-everyfour-years sports jewel that Omaha can place on its top shelf alongside the annual NCAA Men’s College World Series. This will be our fourth consecutive time hosting. We also welcomed theTrials in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

NCAA Volleyball Final Four 2021, 2022 CHI Health Center The NCAA announced in October that it was bringing postseason volleyball back to Omaha for 2022. We also hosted the title game in 2006, 2008 and 2015 (Nebraska won two of those). The 2020 championship event has been rescheduled for April 22 and 24, 2021, with Omaha as the host city. NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament 2024 CHI Health Center The 2024 event will mark the fifth time Omaha has hosted the NCAA tournament. The first and second rounds were here in 2008, 2012 and 2015. Omaha was the site of the 2018 Midwest Regional, featuring the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games. We were set to host the first and second rounds of the 2020 contest last spring, but March Madness was canceled because of the pandemic.

College World Series C H R I S M AC H I AN

College World Series June 19-30, 2021 TD Ameritrade Park

U.S. Senior Open July 8-11, 2021 Omaha Country Club

We have a special connection to this NCAA signature championship, which has been held in Omaha since 1950. Steeped in tradition, some of which has changed over the decades, the CWS is the culmination of the NCAA baseball tournament with the final eight teams competing. For many, the event also serves as a reunion for fans from across the country, regardless of which teams make it. Fun fact: 2021 won’t be the first time the Olympic Swim Trials and College World Series have overlapped. It happened in 2012 and 2016.

The championship features the world’s best senior players. “The entire community embraced the championship in 2013 and is excited to have the USGA return to Nebraska for this global event,” said Patrick Duffy, tournament co-chair. Omaha River City Rodeo Sept. 24-25, 2021 CHI Health Center Two nights of high-caliber PRCA action featuring all seven rodeo events, including steer wrestling, team roping and bull riding. World champion cowboys will compete for their official entry into the National Finals Rodeo.

River City Rodeo K E NT SI E VE R S

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GOLF ROUNDUP

18 Holes. Dozens of Choices.

Golf goes on

Ashland Iron Horse Golf Club Quarry Oaks

Coronavirus shut down so many of our spring and summer events – but our golfers played through. “It feels normal to still be playing golf,” said Field Club of Omaha member JJ Stannard. He tried to tee-up at least four times a week, breathing the fresh air and playing the same fairways that late golfing greats Bobby Jones and U.S. Open Champion and FCO Member Johnny Goodman once played. Dr. Rudolf Kotula, an infectious disease physician with Methodist Health System, was among those who continued to hit the links. “It’s safe to golf if you keep your social distance,” he said. Omaha Parks Department officials said the delight people take in golf is evident from the turnout. The city’s 18-hole and nine-hole courses are doing well, especially on pleasant days.

Bellevue Tregaron Golf Course Willow Lakes Carter Lake Shoreline Golf Course Council Bluffs Fox Run Golf Club Dodge Riverside Golf Club Elkhorn The Club at Indian Creek Elkhorn Ridge Golf Course Fremont Fremont Golf Club Gretna Lost Rail Golf Course (under development) Omaha Eagle Run Golf Course Miracle Hill Golf Course The Players Club Tiburon Golf Club Papillion Eagle Hills Golf Course Tara Hills Golf Course

13th hole rendering, Lost Rail Golf Club, Gretna LANDSCAP E UNLIMIT ED

Plattsmouth Bay Hills Golf Club Lake Ridge Country Club

Pinnacle Bank Championship: No spectators but still spectacular

Topgolf: A high-tech hit

A crowd favorite played on in Omaha – only without the crowd. More than 150 golfers teed up for The Pinnacle Bank Championship at The Club at Indian Creek, a summer stop on the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour. Going spectator-less was “the best option for us this year,” said Jessica Brabec, PBC tournament director.

Golf has been around since the 15th century – but not like this. Our golfers set course for a new, high-tech destination in July – the $23 million Topgolf facility near Westroads Mall. Golfers hit into a net-wrapped outdoor field, aiming at any of 11 color-coded, LED-illuminated targets or at the 155-foothigh back net. It’s 225 yards from the 72 climate-controlled hitting bays spread across two levels. Topgolf’s custom golf balls have microchips to track each player’s shot in real time, awarding points for accuracy (or luck).

Tournament protocols for players and caddies included pre-travel screening, testing before clubhouse entry and daily health and thermal screening. The goal was to maintain a “bubble” around the players. In the end, golfer Seth Reeves pulled off the tour’s largest come-from-behind victory since 2010 – an eight stroke rally that secured his championship win by a single stroke. “I fist pumped my birdie putt on No. 18 because I thought it secured a Top 10,” Reeves told PGA.com after his win became official. “I’m just kind of shocked, really.” 80 | WE LIVE.

Empowered to make an impact on the world.

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Werner Park: Pivoting for one win after another Minor League Baseball announced in late June that there would be no season for the first time since 1901. That set up a major challenge for the Omaha Storm Chasers – how do you salvage a pandemic-plagued summer at Werner Park without its minor league baseball team? No idea was off the table. Renting out the diamond for teams or families? Picnics in the outfield? Hosting one-time baseball games and recruiting showcases? Elaborate drive-up fireworks shows? Celebrating Father’s Day with a brunch and a catch? Church services, birthday parties, engagement photos, graduations? The staff tried all of that. “It was about adapting and not experiencing a total shutdown,” said Storm Chasers President Martie Cordaro. And keeping people safe in the process. Those efforts helped lay the groundwork for a milestone moment at Werner Park on Aug. 1, 2020, with pro soccer team Union Omaha making its debut in front of a socially-distanced crowd of about 2,400. (Union Omaha beat North Texas, 1-0.) 82 | WE LIVE.

Union Omaha, Werner Park ANNA R E E D

Omaha was one of three USL League One teams allowed to host fans. The other eight were not. Credit an order by Gov. Pete Ricketts that allowed up to 75% capacity at outdoor events. Other action at Werner Park over the summer included the inaugural Nebraska Prospects Day on June 23. Nebraska Prospects is a select baseball program. Its 2021, 2022 and 2023 teams scrimmaged each other in front of pro scouts and college recruiters. One of the top prospects to participate was Nebraska commit and Elkhorn senior Drew Christo. “The coolest part about it is getting to play against your buddies, and a place like Werner Park is pretty awesome,” Christo said. July 3, Werner Park stood out again by hosting the area’s only large-scale, public fireworks show, the Independence Fireworks Spectacular. The rousing and traditional 16-minute display followed a doubleheader by collegiate players in the summer Corn Belt League.

Waiting for fireworks ANNA R E E D

Corn Belt League: A great thing going Over the course of eight summer weeks, we could hear the sounds that so many were missing. Infield chatter. The crack of an aluminum bat. Fans cheering. The Corn Belt League, where collegiate players work hard to improve for the future, closed out its fifth season in August under the watchful eye of Joe Siwa, owner of the Strike Zone athletic facility. Siwa said the league’s numbers continue to

grow. During the past season, more than 150 players – representing more than 70 universities – competed on six teams; a chance to get back on the diamond after having spring play wiped out by COVID-19. Noah Ryan of Boise, Idaho, plays collegiately at Dakota Wesleyan in South Dakota. He competed in the Corn Belt League last year and returned in 2020. “I love coming here to play,’’ he said. “The

community loves college baseball.” Siwa said the league has found its niche, especially this year with the absence of the NCAA Men’s College World Series and our minor-league Storm Chasers. If players gain recognition and perhaps earn scholarships because of their Corn Belt participation, so much the better. “We’ve got a great thing going and we hope to make it even better,’’ Siwa said.

Corn Belt League, Seymour Smith Park C H R I S MAC H I AN

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We take to the lake: Boating Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area Visited by almost 1 million people each year, this is one of eastern Nebraska’s hottest spots for camping, picnicking, boating, fishing and water crafting. Lake Manawa State Park Another magnet for outdoor lovers; 660-acre Lake Manawa welcomes campers, hikers and boats of all sizes. Carter Lake An oxbow lake, three miles long and about one mile wide, created when the Missouri River overflowed its banks in 1877. A prime spot for rowing, boating and fishing. Lake Manawa Z L ON G

We paddle on: Canoeing + kayaking

We ride the rivers: Tubing + tanking Botna Bend Park

REGIONWIDE

Go somewhere you’ve never been, make connections and memories with people and nature, relax and clear your mind.

Relaxing with gusto No coasting also means relaxing with gusto – and here, outdoor recreation has always been “in.”  Our region is packed with dynamic state parks, outdoor recreation areas and waterways. Chart your course and then have at it. On land or in water. Spring to winter and seasons in between.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has designated 10 water trails on stretches of select rivers and creeks. These are generally calmer waters perfect for kayaks, canoes, inner tubes and stock tanks. Greg Wagner with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission encourages paddlers to check out the newly designated Lower Platte River Venture Park Water Trail and its redesigned, improved public access points. You can find information about the water trails, including access points and places to stop for camping, fishing and picnicking, at OutdoorNebraska.gov/watertrails. Don’t want to go it alone? Find river outfitters on the Nebraska Travel and Tourism website, VisitNebraska.com. Other prime spots to launch a canoe or kayak include Walnut Creek Lake, the Great Marsh at Fontenelle Forest, Fremont Lakes and Lake Manawa.

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A popular spot for tanking, tubing and kayaking; camping and fishing located next to southwest Iowa’s peaceful Nishnabotna River. Platte and Elkhorn Rivers Nebraska jewels for scenic floats. If you don’t have your own equipment, aquatic entrepreneurs, including Platte River Rentals and Tubing & Adventures, can set you up with rentals. RiverWest Park on the Elkhorn has tubing and tanking outfitters on-site and the fun flows from there. The park also has camping areas, a beach area and movie nights. More fun on (and in) the water • Driftwood Paddleboard Adventures offers sunset, sunrise, weekend and weekday paddleboard excursions on area lakes and reservoirs. • Soak up the beauty and serenity of the Missouri River on the River City Star, a 1940s-era paddlewheel-style riverboat.

We rough it – or not: Camping & glamping Eugene T. Mahoney State Park

Platte River State Park

Boasting a spectacular array of activities and lodging, including campgrounds, cabins and lodge rooms, our modern Eugene T. Mahoney State Park encompasses hiking trails, a family water park, fishing for bluegill and channel catfish, the Walter Scott Jr. Observation Tower and the Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park.

Campers, take your pick: cozy, vintage cabins or more luxurious glamping  accommodations.

Falconwood Park Whether you’re up for primitive camping, glamping or parking the RV, reservations include access to 26 acres of shaded greenspace with sand volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, a playground and fire pits.

Slattery Vintage Estates Vineyard & Tasting Room Billed as “the Midwest’s original glamour campground,” Slattery Vintage Estates sets its guests up in bungalow tents with antique furniture and electricity. Two Rivers State Recreation Area Sleep in any of 10 refurbished Union Pacific caboose cabins, fish for trout in a sandpit lake or rent a bike and explore the trails.

What is bike-packing? It’s camping by bicycle, and we have just the spots for it. Wabash Trace Nature Trail Council Bluffs to Blanchard, Iowa You’ll find multiple towns and places to camp along this crushed limestone trail through the Loess Hills. Relatively flat because the trail follows an abandoned rail line. “I love that I can pick a route, then ride as long or short as I want,” said bike-packer Ann Gentle. “You can go at your own pace. ... It’s completely self-directed. And, it’s so beautiful. The weather can turn, the terrain can be hard, but in the end, you can say you’ve done this amazing thing.” Hitchcock Nature Center Honey Creek, Iowa

Kimberly Creek Retreat Guests at Kimberly Creek Retreat say it’s like staying in a luxury hotel room in the middle of the woods. Located halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, this 22-acre escape offers glamping cabins, pods and geodomes — plumbing and electricity included. Guests have use of propane grills, fire pits, nature trails and a picnic grotto with solar-powered string lights for atmosphere.

Mahoney State Park KAY LA WOLF

Bicycling is not allowed on trails – so park your bike and pack in. Steamboat Trace Nebraska City Extensive flood damage kept the trail closed in 2020. Its reopening in 2021 is welcome news to those who enjoy biking this route nearly year-round. Two Rivers Recreation Area Waterloo Relatively flat. Ride here, pitch a tent in one of the more remote sites and enjoy day trips from your campsite.

Louisville State Recreation Area Described as “a camper’s park,” Louisville State Recreation Area boasts prime camping and outdoor recreation with canoe access to the Platte River, and five sandpit lakes,  one of which (Lake #2) is outfitted with a floating playground.

Another option for camping adventure? Bike-packing!

Louisville State Recreation Area Louisville Easy access to the MOPAC Trail. Loess Hills CHRIST IANE LEY

Platte River State Park Louisville Serenity reigns with the park’s scenic waterfall and picturesque hiking and biking trails.

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A sampling of other public lakes for casting a line Carter Lake Abbott Drive and Carter Lake Boulevard Brownell Creek Reservoir Syracuse Fremont Lakes State Park Fremont Jay Reservoir Nebraska City Lake Manawa State Park Council Bluffs Lake Wanahoo Wahoo Lawrence Youngman Lake West Omaha Lazy day at the lake C HRI S CH R I S T E N

“Fishing is a lot like golf in that everyone probably has an old set of clubs or a dusty Zebco 202 reel in their garage. You dig up some worms in the backyard and you’re ready to go.” – Greg Wagner, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

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FISHING

Anglers, aweigh! A push to get back to basics and enjoy the simple things – that’s been a “reel” side effect of the coronavirus in our communities and state. Once spring rolled around, we started hooking ourselves up with fishing permits – thousands more than last year. “We’re seeing people out there fishing that we haven’t seen in a while or ever,” said Greg Wagner of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “They are eager to get some sunshine, vitamin D, fresh air and exercise after being cooped up so long.” Sales of annual and one-day fishing licenses in Nebraska are up about 40% over a year ago. Heavy flooding was an issue in 2019, but even when compared with the pre-flood years, about 10% to 20% more people are casting lines into state lakes and rivers, according to license sales. Many are first-timers. With social distancing top of mind – and a must to avoid tangled lines – Wagner said there are plenty of lakes and rivers in Nebraska for everyone to spread out.

Louisville State Recreation Area Louisville Prairie Queen Recreation Area Papillion Prairie View Recreation Area Bennington Two Rivers State Recreation Area Waterloo Walnut Creek Reservoir Papillon Wehrspann Lake Chalco Hills Recreation Area

“Stay local or at least within your region,” he said. “Don’t travel across the state. From Zorinsky Lake to Fontenelle Park’s lagoon, there are a lot of fish biting.”

Standing Bear Northwest Omaha

Halleck Park in Papillion and Benson Park Pond in north-central Omaha both offer shaded areas to fish, with playgrounds close by.

Wilson Creek Reservoir Nebraska City

YOGA

Keeping us centered We believe you can teach a downward dog new tricks. Relax, breathe and check out these community yoga offerings that go beyond the studio and stretch the imagination.

Yoga for All Levels Lauritzen Gardens

High Vibe Festival Stinson Park, Aksarben Village

Yoga practitioners of all levels connect with nature and themselves in yoga workshops outdoors from April through October (weather permitting) and indoors from November through March. Omaha’s botanical gardens also offers tai chi sessions.

A part virtual, part in-person celebration of yoga, music and plant-based foods, hosted by Lotus House of Yoga in August, included a big, socially distanced community yoga class. Stinson Park was filled with local artisans, handmade goods and local grooves. “The High Vibe Festival is here to remind you that you are not alone,” organizers said.

Yoga at the Forest Fontenelle Forest Nature Center For 45 minutes each Sunday morning, you can lose yourself in a gentle Hatha-style yoga class surrounded by the beauty of the forest. Classes take place outdoors on the plaza, weather permitting. During the colder months, sessions move indoors. Yoga on the Rooftop 1912 – Benson’s Rooftop Bar

Garden Yoga Joslyn Art Museum Beyond its 11,000 curated works, Joslyn Art Museum has devised another way to help strengthen bodies and center minds. Garden Yoga brought us together every Sunday morning in August and September for hourlong, beginner-friendly sessions in the museum’s outdoor sculpture gallery.

An hour of outdoor, rooftop yoga with brunch afterward – that’s an elevated way to spend a summer Saturday morning.

Tai Chi C H R I S M ACHIA N

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SPONSORED FEATURE

Blending exploration and exhilaration to celebrate the quiet wild of nature

Fontenelle Forest trail

TreeRush Adventures tunnel

C O U R TES Y O F F O NTENELLE F O RES T

SH ELLI KLEMKE

Take just one step out the back door of Fontenelle Forestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nature Center and you can truly breathe, a deep inhale that expands your lungs, soothes your mind and activates your senses. Nearby, other visitors cluster in groups to discuss options for the day. What about viewing birds of prey in the Raptor Woodland Refuge? How about climbing and ziplining through the treetops at TreeRush Adventures? Should we hike parts of a 24-mile trail system that winds through 2,100 acres of oak savanna, prairies and wetlands? 88 | WE LIVE.

You opt for a hike. You start down the milelong ADA accessible boardwalk and pass the Acorn Acres playscape. There, children laugh while playing chase, building forts and friendships, and fostering a love for nature. (Education is deeply rooted at Fontenelle Forest, often disguised as outdoor play.) Deeper in the woods, the bustle of the city and the churn of the world can’t penetrate the forest canopy, a mighty protector of the quiet wild below. Nature provides the playlist here – an energetic chorus of crickets, birds and squirrels; and the breeze coursing through the dancing leaves. After immersing yourself in the moment, you consider your options. You can allow placards detailing the adventures of Lewis and Clark to draw you in. You can search for markers on History Trail that memorialize the forest’s namesake Logan Fontenelle, or follow Mormon Hollow Trail to re-trace the path of pioneers. For you, though, Hickory Trail beckons. You

step onto dirt hard packed by explorers like you. As you press toward the Missouri River, you feel it in your hamstrings and your quads, but even more, you feel it in your soul. Stop. Relax. Take a deep breath.

You put on a harness and always-locked-on climbing equipment and brace yourself for the excitement of more than 100 obstacles and ziplines, strung together into trails colorcoded by degree of difficulty.

Then, circle back on the trail to discover engagement with nature on a different level – literally. In 2019, TreeRush Adventures partnered with Fontenelle Forest to provide adrenaline seekers opportunities to test their courage and physical strength by hiking – and ziplining – in the trees. Yes, in the trees.

Step up and into the trees and your nervousness gives way to empowerment. You gain confidence, build momentum and ascend, conquering various challenges.

The first challenge with TreeRush is comprehending it all. Swinging wooden bridges, ziplines, cable walks, dangling rope handholds and netted tunnels are suspended among trees 10-55 feet above the forest floor. It’s a marvel of design that appeals to kids, teens and adults. Like the forest, TreeRush has its own soundtrack – the click of safety cables, the whir of ziplines in play, and the occasional whoop of guests unleashing their wild sides.

The thrill of TreeRush Adventures and the serenity of Fontenelle Forest stays with you long after your visit. You may ultimately discover, as research shows, that time in nature can elevate mood and improve health and that childhood experiences outdoors can strengthen emotional connections to others, build social skills, increase self-esteem and boost grades. Fontenelle Forest and TreeRush Adventures want everyone to have access to those kinds of benefits, welcoming people to immerse themselves in the natural world and to create memories that will last a lifetime.

WALK & WANDER

ZIP & CLIMB

DOWN LOW OR UP HIGH - HEALTHY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES! Join Us! Minutes from Downtown Omaha 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N, Bellevue, NE

FontenelleForest.org • (402) 731-3140

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“Human beings, we are the most unique creations and we have the ability to adapt – and that’s what we’ve been doing at Big Mama’s.” – Gladys Harrison, owner, Big Mama’s Kitchen

Le Bouillon, to the rescue! With its dining room closed, Le Bouillon staff brought out dinner in takeout boxes to Marni and Joe Heydt, who were celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary and her 45th birthday — from the bed of their pickup truck! Al fresco dining, Le Bouillion JON NYATAWA

Restaurants adapt When the order came down in mid-march – a mandate from Nebraska’s governor that effectively closed restaurant dining rooms – our eateries accepted that takeout was the new reality and served up a swift response. “It’s amazing how fast you can move when your business depends on it,” said Matt Johnson, owner of Barley’s in downtown Council Bluffs. Staying top of mind with customers was important. In addition to its social media presence, Barley’s maintained a physical presence with a roving beer truck stocked with craft beer and cocktail kits.

Chef Nick Strawhecker of Dante adapted by creating fewer specials but retaining locally sourced entrees such as roasted Plum Creek chicken and porchetta for takeout.

Servers at Porky Butts BBQ sprinted outside — even in the cold, rain and wind — to hand meals to drivers. It was a big change for workers who enjoyed leisurely conversations about jobs and family with familiar customers seated in comfy booths. “I had to reposition people,” said owner Blane Hunter. “Instead of running to tables, they’re running to cars.”

Owner Gladys Harrison, who delayed a dining room re-opening until late summer, said it’s been a tough year for everyone. “I don’t care what kind of business you have, this has been a real challenge, but human beings, we are the most unique creations and we have the ability to adapt — and that’s what we’ve been doing at Big Mama’s.”

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Big Mama’s Kitchen was just settling into its new location in the Highlander Accelerator building near 30th Street and Patrick Avenue when the coronavirus shut things down.

The couple weren’t about to let the coronavirus pandemic ruin their tradition of a progressive dinner on their special day. First stop was Creighton University, where they enjoyed antipasto from a little spot that overlooks the city. Then they headed down to the Old Market and parked in front of Le Bouillon, one of their favorite restaurants. They climbed into the truck bed, where Joe whipped out a tablecloth, flowers, napkins, silverware and water glasses. The menu included roasted cauliflower for starters, a specialty falafel for Marni and a shrimp roll for Joe. “It was perfect,” the Heydts said. Joe likes long, leisurely dinners, but this surpassed anything they’d ever experienced. Everyone who happened by their al fresco dinner wanted to say hello or snap a picture. They talked to so many people that they never made it to their third spot for dessert — land in Bellevue where they hope to build a house. But that was OK. They took the cake from Hardy Coffee home to enjoy with a special cocktail made by Joe.

It’s all about

COMMUNITY

MidtownCrossing.com

We Are One At Union Pacific, there’s no place for social injustice or inequality. We know embracing diversity, equity and inclusion brings positive impacts to our business and the communities we serve. We are proud to support the Greater Omaha Chamber’s CODE initiatives, and work with community partners to create opportunities for every person. In addition to these efforts, we can and will do more. Together, we are stronger, more innovative and vibrant – We Are One.

NEW FOODIE SPOTS

Feeding our culinary dreams We hold our local eateries in high esteem, and we welcome those newcomers who, in pursuing their own culinary dreams, give us new tastes to explore, expanding Omaha’s long-standing reputation as a remarkable spot for dining. Here are 10 newer-on-the-scene restaurants, coffee shops, food halls (and more) to add to your dining and drinking rotation. Alice A new, basement-level craft cocktail bar in west Omaha from the owner of The Berry & Rye, Wicked Rabbit and Laka Lono Rum Club. Azul Sports Bar & Grill Kick off your meal with Oyster Shots and a drink from the fully stocked bar. Move into the Cantina Tacos, Carne Asada or Mexicaninspired seafood specialties from there. Copps Pizza Company Kris Copp has been innovating since he and his dad opened Copps Pizza Company in October 2019. Try a slice of their burnt-ends pizza with Copp’s signature cream cheese sauce or the veggie pie drizzled with thick, spicy-sweet Gochujang, and you’ll see what we mean. In March, when the coronavirus temporarily knocked out dine-in service, Copp had to innovate much more than the menu. He began improvising, adjusting and creating new revenue streams. Copps Pizza expanded delivery to all of Omaha, Council Bluffs and Papillion out of its central Omaha 92 | WE LIVE.

location. It launched car-side service and take-home meals, including pizza-making kits, and started selling its dough, signature sauces and homemade ranch dressing. And that’s allowed Copps Pizza to flourish, even in tough times. A second location opened in the fall, this one in Papillion. At the heart of it all, Copp said, is a dedication to customer service, “very interesting, outside-the-box pizzas” and innovation.

Dripped + Draped CH RIS CH RIST EN

Dripped + Draped A coffee and clothing boutique in the heart of our Historic Benson neighborhood, born out of co-founders Vanelle Littrell and Vandra Caldwell’s “desire to create an inclusive, safe space for community members to dine, shop, and enjoy.”

Copps Pizza Company CH RIS MACH IAN

Stories Coffee Co. A coffee shop and roastery that’s committed to “providing hope through coffee” by donating a portion of its profits to organizations that are doing good in Omaha, including the Hope Center for Kids. The Switch Beer and Food Hall Located in our Blackstone District, this onestop, multi-tenant dining destination offers everything from Venezuelan fast food to Vietnamese street cuisine. Tenants include: •  Ansel’s Pastrami & Bagels, a New York-style sandwich shop. •  The Bubbly Tart, a bakery that was developed at the Kitchen Council incubator for chefs in Council Bluffs. •  El Arepon, express Venezuelan dishes from the owner of a food truck by the same name. •  M Squared, a juice bar from the co-owner of Darbar Indian Cuisine.

Inner Rail Food Hall

•  Piatto de Pasta, a fresh take on Italian by the owner of Sofra Creperie at the Inner Rail Food Hall in Aksarben Village.

C H R I S M AC H I AN

Inner Rail Food Hall Visitors to our Aksarben Village can choose from a slate of vendors offering tastes of Mexico, Italy, Kathmandu and more — all within this trendy new food hall called the Inner Rail. “This is a social spot,” said Jay Noddle, whose development company owns the food hall and several other pieces of the broader, 70-acre commercial, residential and office center. “We think it will wind up being a heartbeat of the Village.” Square Donut This west Omaha bake shop gets its name from the handcrafted, four-cornered doughnuts that owner Elizabeth Pooley learned to make after buying the recipe and equipment from a baker in Alabama. She leased a box-like space in a strip mall near 156th Street and West Maple Road, enlisted the recipe’s creator as a mentor and in March, was ready to welcome her first customers. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. She

•  Red Lantern, Vietnamese street food run by a family of brand-new restaurateurs.

Square Donut CH RIS CH RIST EN

launched anyway, and her doughnuts were immediately in demand. Many days, the shop sells out by noon. If you’re a regular, you’ve learned to call the day before with your order. Pooley said she loves her customers and their compliments, especially since she was afraid she may have lost momentum when she closed for a week to regroup to meet coronavirus health restrictions. “I opened back up on a wing and a prayer, and it (business) has been huge. … My motto has always been ‘Don’t ever give up. Ever.’”

“Our goal was to draw local businesses to The Switch that would fit well together and owners who could help each other be successful,” said Jay Lund of GreenSlate. The new tenants will join the Infusion Brewing Co., which operates the hall’s center bar. Wayne’s New Skoo BBQ The baby back ribs come at $2 a bone – and the catfish sandwich and BBQ smoked beef brisket nachos come highly recommended, along with a side of fried cabbage with bacon. Wonton Jon’s A food truck specializing in craft wontons filled with savory, sweet and salty ingredients. Signature ‘Tons include tangy pulled pork, mushroom ceviche and Thai peanut butter chicken. Be sure to save some room for the Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie ‘Ton. W E LIVE. | 93

OUTDOOR DINING

Our patio scene Even after our dining rooms re-opened, some found it more comfortable to eat out – outside. Then again, we have those who prefer a side of fresh air as a rule. Fortunately, our patio scene can fully accommodate anyone’s taste for al fresco dining and drinking. Barchen Tucked behind Barchen – a German beer hall in our Benson neighborhood – you’ll find its giant beer garden, a great place to huddle with friends and enjoy a big beer, sausages and soft pretzels. Blatt Beer + Table This North Downtown gastropub is the place to be for the College World Series. Its U-shaped bar, rooftop beer garden and outside seating space (throw open those garage doors!) pretty much guarantee the ultimate fan experience. Be sure to try the pretzel bites. When it comes to pub grub, they’re a home run Corkscrew Wine and Cheese This establishment has two excellent Omaha patios – one in Rockbrook Village, which boasts lush greenery and a fireplace for cool evenings; the other in the Blackstone District, which draws a crowd with its big fire pit. La Buvette Old Market-situated and arguably one of the best spots for people-watching in the entire city. If you love Paris, you’ll be transported, from the French menu, to the extensive wine selection, to the intimate conversations at tables. Linger and savor the experience; there isn’t another one like it in the city. 94 | WE LIVE.

B l att B eer + Tabl e BR E NDAN J. SUL L I VAN

Mr. Toad’s Pub Mr. Toad’s patio – the original Old Market patio – is one of the most iconic for its wrought-iron fence, towering trees and corner benches – excellent vantage points for people watching. M’s Pub A World-Herald food critic once called M’s Pub the Old Market’s living room. Without a doubt, the beloved bistro has one of the most popular patios in town for lunch and dinner and late-afternoon meet-ups for conversation and cocktails. The indoor dining room is packed with old and new faces every night, too. Score a table and you’re in for a culinary treat, whether you’re noshing crab

cakes or lahvosh, a signature baked dish or maybe even M’s famous carrot dog. Stirnella At first blush it doesn’t look like Stirnella in our Blackstone district has outdoor seating. But when the weather warms, the restaurant rolls up two garage door-style windows and the whole foyer turns into an all-season patio. Midtown Crossing Our Midtown Crossing development went “all in” to accommodate the outdoor dining crowd, amplifying its own patio scene by placing more than two dozen bistro tables around the neighborhood -- a fresh air option for those carrying-out from one of Midtown Crossing’s many restaurants.

Kitchen Council: Equipping entrepreneurial chefs Duane Foster’s passion for cooking has been simmering ever since he was a teenager. He was inspired, he said, by the best: “My mother is the best cook I’ve ever seen in my life; a southern-style woman who cooked for her family. She just started teaching me.” After spending about nine years serving in the U.S. Army and another seven years driving for Greyhound, Foster finally answered that persistent call to pursue a career in the food industry. “I owe it all to my mom, who told me, ‘Whatever you want to do, stick with it. If that’s your passion in life, do it,’” Foster said.

He’s worked in the kitchens at Ameristar, a couple of area nursing facilities and the VA Medical Center. In 2018, he pushed his affinity for food to another level and launched D’s Catering. Since then, he’s been showcasing his made-from-scratch homestyle cooking and signature barbecue – but he hasn’t been going it alone. Foster was the first entrepreneur to sign on with Kitchen Council, the region’s unique food startup incubator, and moved into the new Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center in early 2020.

Backed by the Greater Omaha Chamber, the Iowa West Foundation and the Council Bluffs Area Chamber, Kitchen Council’s 3,000-square-foot facility gives members access to a fully-equipped commercial kitchen, business development assistance and other resources. “You can ask questions. You can get help promoting your company,” Foster said. “This is a great way for anyone in the cooking industry to start a business” – all with the goal of lower barriers to entry for food entrepreneurs.

The Kitchen Council’s roster of startup food businesses includes: •  Primal Indulgence, a startup focused on making clean treats with quality ingredients. •  The Bubbly Tart, a boutique bakery offering specialty sweets and custom cakes. •  Bald Brothers Brewery and Catering, a familyowned operation focused on made-from-scratch catering with a brewery coming soon. •  Good Flour Confections, where founder and head baker Vicki Pospisal is on a mission to create delicious, gluten-free, dairy-free treats without sacrificing taste or texture.

The Kitchen Council WILLIAM H ESS P H OT OGRAP H Y

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AREA WINERIES

Our own Sonoma Valley Uncork a bottle and expand your horizons. Our local winegrowers are gaining renown – and an increasingly robust list of accolades. Soaring Wings Vineyard In addition to more than 20 wine selections and a growing menu of craft beers, the vineyard (when not curtailed by a pandemic) offers a full-bodied calendar of events, including the Annual Spring Wine, Beer, Blues and Hot Air Balloon Festival; year-round Acoustic Sundays; and a fall Harvest Festival. Safehouse Winery

Vineyard, Slattery Vintage Estates ELIZ A BET H BAUMAN

Prime Rate Red, Clean Getaway Rosé, Wise Guys Edelweiss … Sensing a theme? Brian and Ranelle Rundquist handcraft and serve those and other wines at their Safehouse Winery, located in the old Bank of Syracuse building. The winery’s name is a tribute to the original safe inside. The old vault is now a wine cellar. Historic décor, including bank-related items and pictures of Al Capone and the rest of the “gang,” add to the tasting room’s ambience.

Western Iowa Wine Trail

Too Far North

Call it the ultimate road “sip.” Fill the tank, chart your course and set out on the Western Iowa Wine Trail, a drivable cluster of four unique, local wineries. Enjoy free tastings, food pairings and chats with the winemakers, always eager to share a story and their love of the craft.

Slattery Vintage Estates Vineyard & Tasting Room

•  Breezy Hills Vineyard Minden

Owner Sandy Kucera knows the story of every Nebraska-made wine and beer she serves in her lively Fort Calhoun tasting room. She has plenty of tales, too, about the early 1900s building that once housed a saloon for the Metz Brothers Brewing Company. Order by the glass or the bottle, and make yourself at home. Too Far North sits on the Lewis & Clark Scenic Byway and enjoys good traffic, notably as a destination on the 2019 Passport Nebraska program.

Pairing award-winning Nebraska-made wine with a beautiful country setting, Slattery Vintage Estates typically hosts tastings, weddings, dozens of concerts and glamour camping.

•  Prairie Crossing Vineyard & Winery Treynor

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•  Bodega Victoriana Winery Glenwood

•  Vine Street Cellars Glenwood

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A retail legacy built on family, fun The aroma of freshly popped popcorn. The magic of the Christmas Room, 365 days a year. Costumes, masks and wigs that scream Halloween. Aisles of craft items to send your creativity soaring. Party and baking supplies for celebrations to remember. David M. Mangelsen’s isn’t your run-of-the-mill hobby and novelty retailer. “There isn’t another store like it in Omaha, perhaps even in the United States,” says second-generation owner, David Mangelsen. David’s parents, Bernice and Harold, opened the doors on May 4, 1961. David remembers it distinctly; it was his 11th birthday and his grandparents and siblings were on hand. For two years, when money was tight and ambition was high, the family lived in the store. “We slept on cots in the toy department,” David says. “I didn’t think anything of it.” To his fourth-grade friends, though, it was quite the novelty to run and play among the displays. Berenice and Harold had four sons, and each worked at the store at one time or another growing up. David stayed on and made the store his career while his brothers went different directions. Bill ventured into wholesale distribution; Tom became an award-winning wildlife photographer and conservationist; and Hal pursued a career in the import business. Today, David’s own children, Marla, David A. and Matt, are involved in the business. A warm, welcoming, family-friendly environment is part of the store’s legacy. David makes sure every employee understands and supports that. “I tell employees, ‘If we take care of the store, it will take care of you.’ And that means taking care of the customer.” David has been a familiar face in the aisles since Day 1, talking with customers and guiding them to merchandise. His favorite thing is encountering a customer and being able to say, “I remember you when you were in diapers.” Or having someone tell him that they worked at Mangelsen’s during their high school or college years and were grateful for the experience – and the extra money.

The Mangelsen’s team: David A., Matt, Marla and David M. MANGELSEN’S ARCH IVES

David M. Mangelsen’s has staying power because it offers something for everyone. A visit engages all of the senses, starting with that freshly popped popcorn. “The second bag is twice as free,” David says of the tradition. The store became Mangelsen’s in 1991-92, when David had an opportunity to spin off the retail segment from the wholesale side and called the kids together for a family vote. “It was the best board meeting I ever had,” David says. “They all said, ‘Yeah, Dad! Let’s do it.’ They all took ownership of it” – at ages 8, 12 and 14. “Today each has a niche and they’re hooked at the hip,” David says. “I’m very proud of my family.” Together, they’ve built family-owned Mangelsen’s into the largest independent retailer of its kind in the country.

“We’re loving what we do. We’re grateful for Omaha.” — David Mangelsen 98 | WE LIVE.

FAMILY RUN AND SELLING FUN

IN THE OMAHA COMMUNITY FOR 60 YEARS

Being a locally-owned, family run store is a source of pride at Mangelsen’s. David Mangelsen and his three children, Marla, David A. & Matt, work together with an amazing team of staff every day to provide an unforgettable shopping experience to Omaha. For 60 years, we have had the opportunity to provide services to nurture bonding time within Omaha families. From hosting family-oriented events, to selling a diverse selection of specialty items from our many departments – we thank you for letting us into your world! We look forward to serving you soon.

3457 SOUTH 84TH STREET, OMAHA, NE 68124 402-391-6225 • www.mangelsens.com

Even during a time of widespread pause, we find ways to keep moving forward, respecting the gravity of the present moment but also looking beyond it as we continue to build for the future.

Sojern B R E N D AN SUL L I VAN

We Thrive. W E T HR IVE. | 101

BUILDING & DEVELOPMENT

Pushing on, expanding our footprint Unstoppable momentum. That’s the heart of our We Don’t Coast mentality. We grow. We develop. We thrive. Enhancing our quality of life at every turn.

Farnamfest ANNA REED

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We kept going, full speed, over the spring and summer months at many Omaha-area construction and redevelopment sites – projects that are altering the landscape and expanding our options to live, work and play from the banks of the Missouri River to our surrounding suburbs. Work at the west Omaha Fountain Ridge  Office Park hasn’t skipped a beat. Nor has work at the R&R Commerce Park in Sarpy County. “We’re still plugging away,” said R&R Realty Group’s Mike Homa. “Construction is going on, and on pace with what we’d expect.” Also progressing? The $300 million, multiyear renovation of our city’s three downtown riverfront parks, the Mercantile mixed-use project underway on idle parts of the Conagra Brands campus, and Kiewit Corp.’s work on its global headquarters in north downtown. Economist Ernie Goss said ongoing real estate development is vital to a community’s long-term physical and economic growth. To underscore the force of our construction boom, building permits for Omaha projects green-lighted in 2019 hit a 10-year valuation high, jumping 25% over the prior year. Surpassing $1 billion, the ventures range from newly constructed residences to garage additions to sparkling new offices and converted hotels. Suburban areas have had eye-popping activity as well. Take Papillion, where tech titan Google is building a $600 million data center near an already ongoing $1 billion data center project for Facebook.

Millions of dollars of job-creating construction on the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus has spawned private investment in nearby neighborhoods, including the Blackstone Business District. Along and around the Farnam Street spine are new restaurants, bars and hundreds of new residences frequented and occupied (in part) by people in new health care jobs. Officials say Omaha’s rising identity as a sports entertainment mecca — including our (non-pandemic year) hosting of multiple, consecutive U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, the long-running College World Series and other NCAA events — has sparked spinoff construction, including youth athletic complexes and hotels. Developer Dan Marak of Kansas City

Farnamfest ANNA REED

has numerous hotel projects in Omaha and, in June 2020 proposed his latest: a seven-story, $17.5 million hotel mixed-use project in midtown. Omaha is a stable economic environment that hasn’t had the roller-coaster market swings like some bigger and coastal cities, he said. Marak and other developers say they’re drawn to the area’s solid business base, which also ushers in corporate travelers. Many have tapped local development tools such as tax-increment financing, which offsets certain construction costs. Google broke ground on its Papillion data center campus in October 2019. Dan Harbeke, Google’s regional head of public policy and external affairs, said members of Google’s site selection team – those involved at the granular level – found the two-year process rewarding. “Everyone they came into to contact with – from day one through the groundbreaking – understood the magnitude of our investment in the area,” he said. “And every one of them helped, ultimately, to make this happen.”

South 24th Street ANNA REED

Or La Vista, where the $235 million City Centre campus of residential, commercial and entertainment venues continues its climb to become the new heartbeat of that bedroom community. W E T HR IVE. | 103

THE RIVERFRONT

Three parks become one Omaha is in the midst of a nearly $300 million transformation of three downtown parks into The RiverFront – a cohesive, 90-acre greenspace designed to elevate our quality of life and rev up recruitment and retention of workforce talent. Major construction at Gene Leahy Mall is expected to wrap up in 2022. Heartland of America Park and Lewis & Clark Landing, in 2023. Final touches to the project will come in 2024.

Heartland of America Park, looking west OJB L an d s c a p e Arc h i t e c tu re

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Gene Leahy Mall Downtown Omaha The sloped lawn of the Gene Leahy Mall is being raised to street level to create an open, continuous park leading all the way to the Missouri River. The blueprint calls for 60,000 square feet of lawn for events and concerts, a sculpture garden, children’s play area, dog park, performance pavilion, interactive water features, native plantings to draw pollinators and birds, and space for potential future development, including restaurants, cafes and mixed-use buildings. Lewis & Clark Landing Missouri River near CHI Health Center Lewis & Clark Landing is destined to be a one-of-a-kind, high-energy, high-stimulation play zone. The crown jewel will be a $101 million science center with 82,000 square feet of interactive, family-friendly exhibits and programming. Heritage Services, the philanthropic force behind numerous major

civic projects in Omaha, is leading the fundraising effort. Set to open in 2023, community leaders behind the project hope it will inspire children’s interest in science, math, engineering and technology, helping to fill a critical need for workers in those STEM fields. Heartland of America Park Between the Conagra campus and the Missouri River In addition to access to the Missouri River, Heartland of America Park will have a large event lawn, slides and swings, and a ribbon that can be used for roller blading and roller skating in warmer weather and ice skating in winter. The overarching goal, said Roger Dixon, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA), who’s managing the project. “A scenic trail and a new pier in Heartland of America Park to help make this possible.”

“Redevelopment of an underutilized site is good anytime, and especially in downtown.” – Dave Fanslau, Omaha planning director

Fairmont Creamery A NN A R E E D

Fairmont Creamery

Landmark Building: Room service included

A rare Old Market area industrial complex is being transformed into a modern mix of condos, apartments, office, retail and gallery space.

Our roster of downtown renovation projects includes a $42 million overhaul of the glimmering Landmark building, one of our prominent office towers. Central to this endeavor: The transformation of six floors into a 125-room boutique hotel, the first in Omaha to be part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.

All told, the Fairmont Creamery complex — three buildings most recently used as a cold storage and meat-processing plant — is expected to grow from its present footprint of 132,000 square feet to 142,000 square feet. “This will help expand the Old Market,” said developer Paul Waggener, who bought the property for $3 million. “It’s such a beautiful corner, and the building was only 20% utilized; we think it needs to be 100% in use.” Sellers described the property as “one of the last large industrial historic rehab projects left” in the Old Market area. Waggener offered more than the asking price. “I fell in love with her. I wanted to make sure she was taken care of properly.” The nearly $30 million Fairmont Creamery renovation is expected to be complete in 2022.

The hotel’s name – The Farnam – is a nod to Henry Farnam, who was instrumental in bringing the Transcontinental Railroad through Omaha. His surname is also cemented in the building’s address: 1299 Farnam St. Internally, at commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield/The Lund Company, they’ve nicknamed The Farnam, which is set to open in March 2021, “The Humble Billionaire.” “We wanted to do a more modern hotel but Omaha-style. We want it to feel sophisticated but approachable, complex but not fussy,” said Jason Fisher, president of the firm. “We think it will be the most elevated hotel experience in Omaha.” In addition to the hotel – with its ground-level lobby, food and cocktail bar, fitness center, conference/event venues and original works by regional artists – the renovation will add 10,500 square feet of dining, lounge and entertainment space to the Landmark footprint. The almost 30-year-old building is across the street from the 90-acre riverfront revitalization project that will help to galvanize downtown Omaha. W E T HR IVE. | 105

The Capitol District: A gleaming, happening place Almost all of the pieces are now in place in the $205 million Capitol District, a redevelopment project that has re-invigorated a former two-block stretch of parking lots at 10th Street and Capitol Avenue. The Offices at The Capitol District, a new glassy structure featuring rooftop decks, earlier this year joined a dynamic mix of restaurants and themed bars, a full-service Marriott hotel and a 218-unit apartment tower. A football field-sized outdoor plaza area – a modern town square – has table seating and a big-screen TV. Steve Sheppard of CBRE/Mega Real Estate and Ryan Ellis of PJ Morgan Real Estate teamed up as the office project’s leasing agents. Sheppard and Ellis tout The Offices’ convenient and ample parking; accessibility to Eppley Airfield, the Interstate and public transit options; and, naturally, the building’s location within the entertainment-focused Capitol District, which typically hosts various outdoor events and programs throughout the year, including concerts and classic movie nights in spring and summer and ice skating in winter. This year, because of the pandemic, seethrough heated igloos will take the place of the skating rink on the plaza from November through Valentine’s Day. First envisioned in 2011, the Capitol District redevelopment was spearheaded by Shamrock Development and principal investor Paul Smith, who is also behind the Millwork Commons in nearby North Downtown. 106 | WE THRIVE.

Heated igloos for the holidays T H E CAP IT OL DI STR I C T

“Decades ago, it became clear that Omaha needed to power itself into the 21st century with continued investment in its downtown. And, so began an urban renewal effort that would become the envy of many other cities.” – capitoldistrictomaha.com

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Flywheel, Millwork Commons KIMBERLY D O VI PH O TO GR APH Y

NORTH DOWNTOWN

Millwork Commons

A modern-day renaissance

This collaborative community is designed to inspire and support the work of innovators and creators – from startups to large office tenants. The project launched with the now-completed restoration of the Ashton warehouse into a new home for tech company Flywheel.

Our North Downtown has experienced a renaissance over the last couple of decades, welcoming high-profile tenants that include CHI Health Center Omaha, Film Streams, Slowdown, TD Ameritrade Park, TipTop Apartments, the Mastercraft Building and Hot Shops Arts Center. That list is expanding.

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“We’ve had a great reception from a host of entities who are growing in our area and see this as an opportunity to position that growth for the future,” said Paul Smith, CEO of real estate development company Black Dog Management. To achieve its full vision for Millwork Commons, Black Dog purchased the Mastercraft Building, the Disbrow Block and a number of other properties – 50 acres of ground and buildings. Developers are restoring those properties with offices, shops, restaurants and services. Residential development is also on tap with the goal of creating a vibrant neighborhood. The 171-unit Hello apartments, one of two apartment buildings planned, is expected to open in summer 2022. The name reflects the property’s “personality” and is intended to send a welcoming vibe to people visiting, working and living in the broader 50-acre district.

The Builder’s District Development of the Builder’s District is taking place over roughly a 10-year period. Anchored by the rising new worldwide headquarters for Kiewit Corp. near 16th and Burt Streets, the district stretches south to Interstate 480 and west to the Creighton University campus. The plan envisions the ultimate construction of several office buildings, hundreds of apartments or condos, retail and restaurants. Partners in the effort include the City of Omaha, Creighton University, Union Pacific, First National Bank and Kiewit, whose roughly 200,000-square-foot headquarters will house up to 650 workers. The long-term revival is expected to bring in more than $300 million in investment. The partners see the project as a catalyst for further growth that would support an expanding Creighton and nearby city jewels, including the home stadium of the College World Series and CHI Health Center.

Ames Plaza: Revitalizing a ‘forgotten’ hub A North Omaha shopping hub near 56th Street and Ames Avenue is getting a new lease on life with about $18 million in a redevelopment effort led by Omaha’s White Lotus Group. In all, some 130,000 square feet in two structures have been revamped, and a brand new 12-unit row house community is adding to the sprawling Ames Plaza mix. Before, much of the space on the 14-acre retail site had been condemned, vacant or underused. “It was really kind of forgotten,” said White Lotus spokeswoman Delaney Nelson. “So to take that first phase and run with it, and bring it into that second chapter of life, was pretty exciting.” What once was an indoor mall, built in 1959, is now home to Planet Fitness, a self-storage company and offices for Heartland Workforce Solutions, which employs about 50 people and helps thousands. The project’s latest phase transformed the former Ames Bowling Center building – and its 44,000 square feet – into the Ames Innovation Center. ResCare Workforce Services has its headquarters inside that space. A new state driver’s licensing office is housed there, too.

New North Makerhood The Peter Kiewit Foundation initiated planning for New North Makerhood – what used to be old industrial properties and warehouses – more than a decade ago after a couple of years of deliberation. Tenants in this blossoming creative space now include craftsmen and artists – woodworkers, painters, pottery makers and more. Metro Community College also has a distinct presence in the Makerspace, where it offers several courses in skills that are nearly lost arts, like furniture upholstery and vintage fashion.

Row house neighborhood, 56th and Ames C H R I S MAC H I AN

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The Blackstone District: Historic stays, eats and swills A resurrected historic hotel is one the latest newcomers to our hip and growing Blackstone neighborhood in midtown Omaha. The Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel, formerly the Blackstone Hotel, is poised to open in early 2021 after a $75 million rehab that incorporates rescued historic vestiges, including a grand marble staircase, sunken bar and buried mosaic tiles. The eight-story property adds 205 guest rooms to our diverse lodging options that include a wave of other full-service properties that identify as boutiques and tout a local theme. At the Cottonwood, a prominent mural in the lounge features an image of the Missouri River banks. Many bathroom walls are decorated with Nebraska’s official flower, the goldenrod. The Cottonwood name is reminiscent of the hotel’s original Cottonwood Room lounge known for star-power attraction and the eye-catching cottonwood tree rising out of the bar. “It was one of the most iconic bars in the region,” said Jay Lund of Greenslate Development. “Celebrities gathered there. There are many stories behind it. It just felt right.” Greenslate’s Matt Dwyer said the hotel “is intended to be a series of reveals” and hopes guests have lots of wow moments winding through the property, which is dotted with a resort-style pool, restaurants, conference rooms and a top-floor ballroom with terraces and a nearby presidential suite.

Little Ricky’s CH RIS CH RIST EN

Other Blackstone stops: Meantime, the Blackstone commercial district continues to fill in, boosted by the addition of a burger (and more) joint and the neighborhood’s first rooftop bar. People walking along Farnam Street near 39th can’t miss it — the new Little Ricky’s bar has a life-size horse statue on the roof. The hangout is named after a friend of the owners, who had a racehorse also named Ricky. Patrons can order food from nearby Cheeseburgers, a new neighborhood restaurant that also serves hot dogs and fried chicken.

Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel C HRI S CH R I S T E N

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Over the years, millions of dollars have been invested in the Blackstone area, buoyed by increased building and growth of the nearby University of Nebraska Medical Center.

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Crossroads Mall: Signature remake coming soon It’s been a question raised for years: What does the future hold for central Omaha’s Crossroads Mall? In August, we received an estimated $500 million worth of clarity. The vision calls for the aging shopping center to be replaced with a series of structures, including one as high as 10 stories, that encompass an estimated 500,000 square feet of offices, 250 apartments, 130 senior living units, 150 hotel rooms and 200,000 square feet of retail stores. Scattered throughout “The Crossroads” would be 150,000 square feet of lifestyle space such as fitness, dining and entertainment venues, said Emily O’Connor, vice president of Lockwood Development, which is partnering on the project with Century Development. Public art, plazas and about 4,000 parking spots are in the plan. A “signature” pavilion would be a connector point, a symbolic crossroads, of the hotel and main office and entertainment center buildings. ORBT station, Westroads Mall KUR T A. KEELER

Omaha Rapid Bus Transit Omaha is taking steps toward better mass transit – a wish list item for many young professionals. Metro transit’s new ORBT (Omaha Rapid Bus Transit) bus line, debuting in fall 2020, is designed to be a quicker, more efficient bus ride than the regular Omaha bus lines. In other cities, bus rapid transit has been so popular real estate developers have invested in new shops and housing within walking distance of ORBT stations. Already in Omaha, an apartment developer at 46th and Dodge Streets said ORBT helped pique his curiosity. In anticipation of heightened development interest, the Omaha City Council updated the city’s master plan to encourage “Transit Oriented Development” along the ORBT line. The city wants to make sure future development fits with established neighborhoods. Transit advocates believe Omaha has pent-up demand for mass transit improvements. ORBT is Omaha’s largest mass transit investment in decades. In an update to the Greater Omaha Chamber Young Professionals, Metro’s Jason Rose wrote that ORBT “will make Omaha more competitive with other metropolitan areas by attracting talented employees and innovative businesses. It will increase mobility, save money, boost development, reduce emissions and connect the region.” 112 | WE THRIVE.

The site will be cleared of all but two structures: the Target store and the 2,200-stall parking garage to its north. Demolition was set to begin in fall 2020. If all goes as the developers hope, The Crossroads in its new form would open in 2024.

WEST OMAHA

Heartwood Preserve: ‘Different and cool’

New way of living in full swing

ONYX Automotive in January 2020 became the first business to launch operations on the 500-acre redevelopment site poised to become a mecca of office, housing and entertainment venues for west Omahans.

Three significant developments are changing the landscape in west Omaha – breaking ground in more ways than one.

Under construction are office campuses for big local businesses including Applied Underwriters, Valmont Industries and The Carson Group, which celebrated the “topping off” of its new headquarters in July and expects to move in by spring 2021. A 40-acre, $500 million town center — dubbed “The Row” — will rise in four phases, starting in 2021. The Row will be packed with offices, apartments, stores, diners, hotel rooms and more. Developer Jason Lanoha said the aim is to create a mixed-use hub unlike any other in the Midwest. “You can come to The Row and have 10 different cool and unique experiences,” he said. The 18-acre Heartwood Park, just east of The Row town center, will showcase a 5,000-spectator amphitheater, an ice skating rink and playgrounds. Park events are likely to kick off next year. The 45-acre Heartwood Estates area will feature luxury homes in the million-dollar range. Grading work started in August.

“TheRow” at Heartwood Preserve L A NO H A R E ALT Y

“We’re setting this up to be the place for our lifetimes.” — Jason Lanoha, developer

Ground work also was set to begin this fall on a 240-residence section for villas, row houses, duplexes and other housing options. Developers expect the property value of the overall Heartwood Preserve site, bounded generally by 144th, 153rd and Pine Streets and West Dodge Road, to rise by more than $1 billion when completed over the next 15-plus years.

Avenue One: A mega undertaking Two other huge multiyear projects, underway by two separate real estate developers, will transform some 250 acres around 192nd Street and West Dodge Road. The work, estimated to top $1.5 billion, includes office, commercial and residential venues on the southwest and southeast corners of the intersection. Developer Curt Hofer is leading the Avenue One project, and R&R Realty of West Des Moines is behind two office parks: Fountain Ridge East and Fountain Ridge West. When completed over multiple years, the office parks will contain about 880,000 square feet of space. The vision for Avenue One, which could take up to 20 years to fully realize, is mixed-use and mega: a planned 800,000 square feet of corporate and medical office space; 700,000 square feet of retail stores; 215 hotel rooms; 2,000 residential units; 26 acres of green space; a public plaza; and 6 miles of walking and biking trails. Phase 1 is underway on 458 multifamily units and 628,000 square feet of retail and office space.

Avenue One R&R Rea lty

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Ralston Granary Building In nearby Ralston, plans to revitalize the downtown area are fast gaining momentum. Entrepreneur and investor Gordon Whitten, founder of Sojern, is spearheading a public-private renovation of Ralston’s historic Old Granary building into a “live-work-and-play environment” that blends retail businesses, townhouses and a green space. The plan also calls for a business accelerator that will provide up-andcoming companies with guidance, support and capital investment. Whitten said the goal is to create 10 new businesses and 100 jobs.

Astro Theater in La Vista TA C K A R C H I T E C T S

La Vista City Centre

“The stars are aligning,” Whitten said. “This is a great economic development opportunity for Ralston.”

Construction continues at the $235 million City Centre campus — a mix of residential, commercial and entertainment uses along the 84th Street corridor in La Vista. An apartment complex has opened, and a slate of restaurants, including a sushi place and craft beer bar, are coming soon. Construction also is underway on the Astro Theater, an indoor-outdoor music venue that pays homage to Omaha’s past. A project of Omaha’s 1% Productions, Kansas-based Mammoth Live and Omaha developer City Ventures, the theater is a nod to the one-time movie house at 20th and Farnam Streets that now houses The Rose Theater. The new Astro is being built into a hillside near Civic Center Park. The park opened to the public in 2019 and features two lakes, a trail system and a lighted fountain.

The Hinge, Ralston C ITY O F RA LS TO N

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Ralston’s Old Granary K AYLA WO LF

He estimates the $14 million endeavor is at least two years from completion. It represents another key investment in Hinge, Ralston’s broader downtown revitalization project.

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Site selection: One-stop convenience It was another reverberating economic win – tech titan Google breaking ground in 2019 on a data center campus in Papillion in Sarpy County, its second in the Greater Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area. For Google, the Sarpy County site – 275-acres on the west side of Papillion – checked all of the boxes: affordable, reliable renewable-power, bandwidth and infrastructure; a skilled workforce; water for cooling; affordable real estate; disaster avoidance; and economic incentives. “It’s also about working with a community that’s excited to work with us, and I think we felt that excitement from the beginning,” said Dan Harbeke, Google’s regional head of public policy and external affairs.

Metro area economic development is unique in that seven counties participate in the overarching Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership, one of the few economic development programs to work collaboratively across boundary lines. By design, this Partnership is intended to deliver one-stop convenience for site selection consultants nationwide and a wider range of business, talent and investment options for prospective companies and clients. Andrew Rainbolt leads the Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation, a member of the Partnership. He said every business prospect looks at three things: “Do we have a place for them to build or a building that they can move into? Do we have the labor that can do the work? And

what’s the cost of doing business in the market?” As clients narrow their focus, economic developers begin coordinating site visits and meetings with key players, including representatives from the Nebraska Departments of Revenue and Economic Development who can dive deeper into available incentives. Google is participating in the Nebraska Advantage Act for its Papillion site. “There are a number of places that are attractive but not necessarily competitive when it comes to economic development. Because of some of the programs and policies Nebraska has in place, they were certainly competitive when it came to locating this facility,” Harbeke said. To further facilitate the site selection process – and increase our region’s competitive advantage – the Partnership launched the Go Ready Site Certification Program about eight years ago. The coalition controls, performs due diligence on and engineers available tracts of land to provide a direct pathway to development. Rainbolt said Go Ready proved to be key to landing Facebook’s data center in Sarpy County in 2017. “One of the biggest changes we’ve seen over the last few years – on some of these bigger projects – they’re always considering other options outside the Omaha area,” Rainbolt said. “You have to move fast enough to land them.”

Facebook data center, Sarpy County RYA N SO D E R L I N

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Jun Ka neko columns, The M edi c al C enter Pl az a

The Grand Compromise: Legislation that’s a ‘huge win’ Chalk it up to determination, collaboration and a willingness to make a deal. Nebraska senators, in August, passed what’s being called the “grand compromise” – Legislative Bill 1107. The sweeping measure combines elements of three separate bills that impacted business incentives (LB 720, the ImagiNE Act), property tax relief and UNMC’s NeXT project (a national pandemic-response center). “Passing LB 1107 represents a huge win for our state. It keeps Nebraska competitive with other states, and continues to position

us well for growth and accelerated recovery in the post-pandemic economy,” said David G. Brown, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. The ImagiNE Nebraska Act replaces the Nebraska Advantage Act, the state’s business incentives law, which sunsets at the close of 2020.  “There is no doubt that everyone across the state will benefit from the increased opportunity represented by the passage of LB 1107,” said Tim Burke, president and CEO of OPPD and chair of the Chamber board.

K E NT SI E VE R S

The NExt project is projected to include a $2.6 billion state-of-the-art academic medical center facility as well as a federal all-hazard, disaster-response military-andcivilian partnership. The joint endeavor will provide training in highly infectious threat management and offer critical care for federal, civilian and military personnel. In addition to the enormous financial investment, estimates suggest 8,700 high-paying jobs will be located at the facility.

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A region rising The Greater Omaha Chamber Economic Development Partnership is a seven-county economic development coalition, one of the few working collaboratively across geographic boundaries to create jobs and encourage capital investment for the benefit of our entire metropolitan region. The Partnership attracts business from a variety of growing industries. And it’s no wonder. Our region offers many qualities key to economic success, including a solid, hardworking and educated workforce; available commercial real estate in a variety of specifications and locations; lower costs and available incentives for business; and a decidedly pro-business environment. Here are key projects employing, serving and accelerating our economic momentum. 118 | WE THRIVE.

Vireo Resources ANNA R E E D

Cass County Cass County is home to a roster of global companies, including New Age Manufacturing and Vireo Resources, which broke ground on a second plant in Plattsmouth over the summer. Vireo is a nutraceutical company that manufactures holistic products for people and pets. Its expansion is expected to add more than $20 million to the regional economy and nearly 300 jobs over the next three to five years. It also “sets the stage for two more planned expansions that will continue to have more Nebraska products developed from Nebraska research done in partnership between Vireo and the University of Nebraska,” said Mark Faulkner, president of Vireo Systems. Vireo’s physical move to Plattsmouth started in 2008 with about 2,000 square feet and a handful of employees. Three years later, it built a 10,000-square-foot plant. Faulker said anticipated demand for its new Promera health product prompted the need for more manufacturing space. The immune support supplement boosts T cells, which fight against respiratory and other diseases, including coronavirus.

Pottawattamie County

CyrusOne

Iowa West Sports Plex

CyrusOne, a real estate investment trust that specializes in data center properties, is opening a $60 million data center in Council Bluffs.

The Iowa West Sports Plex, an $8.5 million indoor turf facility, is the latest addition to the Mid-America Center Entertainment District. It rounds out a handful of community-driven recreational initiatives, pursued by the Iowa West Foundation, that include more walking/biking trails, a new YMCA, a field house for volleyball and basketball, and indoor pickleball courts. “The multitude of recreational assets established just in the last five years will allow more young athletes in Southwest Iowa to play the sports they love year-round and stay within their community while doing so,” said Pete Tulipana, former president and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the Midwest.

“In many ways, Council Bluffs, with its location on the 41st parallel, is the epicenter of this new digital era,” said CyrusOne CEO Gary Wojtaszek. “The world’s leading cloud companies continue to invest billions of dollars along this parallel across multiple states, and planting a flag in Council Bluffs will allow our customers to capitalize on this unique part of the United States fiber network.” CyrusOne Chief Technology Officer Kevin Timmons describes the data center, set to open in fall 2020, as “our newest and grandest asset” – and said Council Bluffs is an ideal site for a number of reasons, including reliability of fiber optics and affordable power.

The Partnership brings together: Advance Southwest Iowa Corporation (Pottawattamie County) Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council Gateway Development Corporation (Washington County) Greater Fremont Development Council (Dodge County) Greater Omaha Chamber (Douglas County) Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corporation (Otoe County) Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation (Sarpy County)

Iowa West Sports Plex ANNA REED

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Dodge County Strategically located less than an hour from both downtown Omaha and the capital city of Lincoln, Fremont – the largest city in Dodge County – enjoys a diverse economic base with major employers spanning agribusiness, food processing, fabricated metal processing and electronics manufacturing. Cargill Campus M A R K R H O AD E S

Washington County

Sarpy County

Washington County, over the last few decades, has been one of Nebraska’s fastestgrowing areas. Economic developers agree – the attraction of Cargill in 1992 started the ball rolling.

Amazon broke ground on its newest robotic fulfillment center in October 2020, saying it expects the Sarpy County facility to create more than 1,000 full-time jobs and add nearly $204 million annually to the local economy when fully operational.

A global provider of food, agricultural and risk-management products, Cargill is part of the massive, 650-acre Blair Biorefinery Campus, the single-biggest industrial complex in the state. Late last year, Avansya – a joint venture between Cargill and Royal DSM – started production at its $50 million campus facility, the first U.S. commercial-scale fermentation facility for EVERSWEET, a stevia-based product. Other Blair Biorefinery Campus tenants are Corbion, Evonik, NatureWorks, Novozymes and Veramaris 120 | WE THRIVE.

The area of U.S. Highway 370 and Nebraska Highway 50 also continues its rise as the state’s data center hub. Google’s recently announced multimillion-dollar facility is the county’s eighth data center. Facebook is expanding its data center construction. A study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers found that operation of the county’s largest four data centers (at the time Fidelity, Travelers, Yahoo-turned-Oath and Facebook) had an annual statewide economic impact of $522 million, with an employment impact of nearly 1,900 direct and indirect jobs.

WholeStone Farms, which is owned by more than 200 independent farming producers, is investing in its future in Fremont with a two-phase, $200 million remodeling project. Phase one is upgrading the facility’s employee-focused spaces, including a new cafeteria and locker room area. Phase two will create a state-of-the-art processing floor. “These renovations will give WholeStone Farms, the 200-plus producers and over 1,400 employees who work here an opportunity to grow with this facility and our company,” said Scott Webb, CEO. Also in Fremont, fast-growing RTG Medical, a nationwide medical staffing firm, is anchoring into the community with a new 60,000-square-foot headquarters, and Western Integrated Seed is growing its local footprint with construction of a multimilliondollar, 70,000-square-foot warehouse.

Otoe County Otoe County’s Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corporation (NCAEDC) is the newest addition to our Economic Development Partnership, a member now for just over a year. “We see many great opportunities that will help grow this regional economy,” said Dan Mauk, NCAEDC’s executive director. “Nebraska City and Otoe County offer some key resources and infrastructure for future business development.” Recent projects include: Wayfare Foods The Montana-based producer of fresh, dairyfree foods – including butter, cheese and dips – has reinvigorated the former Diversified Foods plant, a facility that sat vacant in Nebraska City for a year.

“My broker said, ‘You’re going to love the people; you’re going to love the culture,’” said Wayfare founder Kelly Coffin. Coffin, who grew up in agriculture, said the central location only boosted the community’s bona fides. “All our in-bound and all our outbound are equidistant to the coasts. And there’s a lot of promise to raise a lot of our own raw materials right here in the fields. It was a win-win for us.” Preparing for the plant’s October opening involved “a lot of investment” in a number of state-of-the-art food safety modifications. “We’ve gone through the entire plant and we’ve brought everything up to our specifications. It’s a complete high-care hygienic facility now.” Wayfare’s operation is designed to accommodate 150 workers; 200 with a few simple modifications.

“The moment I rolled in I thought, ‘I like this place.’”

Mission Field In another second-life story, a former nursing home is now serving as home base for Mission Field, a private, Christian-based substance abuse treatment center with a staff of 19 and licensing for 28 residential treatment beds. “We purposely took our time, getting the right people in place,” said Clinical Director Craig Woolard. “We have a fully staffed detox (unit) and 24-hour nursing care.” The pandemic only enhanced the need for Mission Field, which opened in late April 2020. “The coronavirus contributed to a lot of people relapsing. I’m glad we have the opportunity to serve them in such a trying time,” said Dr. David Shaw, clinical supervisor. Majority owners Vic and Jeri Johns closed their third-generation real estate office in August to focus on the endeavor full time.

Lied Lodge Conference Center, Nebraska City NEBRASKA CIT Y ECO NO MI C DE VE L O PME NT

— Kelly Coffin, Wayfare founder, on Nebraska City W E T HR IVE. | 121

CHI Health K E NNE TH FE R R I E R A

Bucking the trend: ‘We’re hiring’ Many of our businesses bucked the trend during the height of the pandemic – hiring instead of firing or furloughing. Kathy Bressler, chief operating officer for CHI Health, said health care “is a booming industry even without COVID-19.” The health system, which includes hospitals and physician clinics from Kearney, Nebraska, to Corning, Iowa, was looking to add 300 people throughout the system, the majority in nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy and radiology services, and about 30% in nonclinical roles. “We need more people on our teams at 122 | WE THRIVE.

all of our campuses,” said Bressler. Andy Gorman, general manager for the Omaha franchise of Home Instead Senior Care, said his company needs “as many caregivers as we can get.” COVID-19, he said, accelerated demand for home care of senior citizens. Mosaic, an Omaha-based organization that provides long-term services and support to the developmentally disabled and others, launched its own springtime hiring spree with 127 openings to fill in Nebraska, 100 in Iowa. “The primary requirement is that somebody needs to have a heart for helping others,” said

Parker McKenna, Mosaic’s senior vice president for human resources. Cleaning services, trucking companies, supermarkets and packing plants also had a need for additional hires. In Nebraska, layoffs hit only about one in 50 workers in banking and insurance and very few within government. Reflecting the stability of the insurance industry, Mutual of Omaha CEO James Blackledge said the Fortune 500 company is projecting that it will need to add roughly 300 employees by the end of the year, which “is remarkable when you think about it.”

55th Wing CH ARLES J. H AY MON D

2020 Greater Omaha Major Employers Not only does our health care community treat, educate and advocate – it also employs tens of thousands of people. Company

Employees Industry

Offutt Air Force Base

5,000 and over Public Administration

CHI Health

5,000 and over Health Care and Social Assistance

Nebraska Medicine

5,000 and over Health Care and Social Assistance

Methodist Health System

5,000 and over Health Care and Social Assistance

Fiserv

2,500 to 4,999

Information

Mutual of Omaha

2,500 to 4,999

Finance and Insurance

Union Pacific Railroad

2,500 to 4,999

Transportation and Warehousing

FNBO

2,500 to 4,999

Finance and Insurance

TD Ameritrade

1,000 to 2,499

Finance and Insurance

PayPal

1,000 to 2,499

Finance and Insurance

Creighton University

1,000 to 2,499

Educational Services

Boys Town

1,000 to 2,499

Health Care and Social Assistance

CHI Health Center Omaha CH I H EALT H

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska 1,000 to 2,499

Finance and Insurance

Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs

1,000 to 2,499

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

Valmont Industries

1,000 to 2,499

Manufacturing

Harrah’s Council Bluffs Casino

1,000 to 2,499

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

PayPal

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

1,000 to 2,499

Health Care and Social Assistance

JESSICA T EEL

Source: omahachamber.org/economic-development/regional-data/

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2020 Business Excellence Award winners: Forging new paths Excellence is a way of life in Greater Omaha – earned not given. The Greater Omaha Chamber’s annual Business Excellence Awards honor the innovators, community builders and change makers among us. Winning organizations ignore traditional models and forge new paths, promote teamwork and collaboration, and significantly impact the health and well-being of Greater Omaha. Creating jobs. Building community. Raising our quality of life and immersing themselves in excellence.

Union Pacific JAMES R. BURNET T

2019 Small Business of the Year Bozell

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Generosity, in granular to giant proportions At the time of its founding, Union Pacific didn’t need to fit into the community – the community grew up around it. The consensus among local historians, in fact, is that Greater Omaha wouldn’t be Greater Omaha without U.P. Still, when it comes to community engagement, the Great Big Rollin’ Railroad isn’t coasting on past impact. The Union Pacific Foundation, through its Community Ties Giving Program, has distributed approximately $8.3 million to more than 600 organizations since 2018. Those grants support everything from community safety initiatives to workforce development and other local needs, including additional funding in 2020 for COVID-19 relief grants. While U.P. and the rest of our corporate community are known for their generosity,

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Sustained Excellence ACCESSbank FNBO Project Harmony Child Advocacy Center

civic engagement also happens on a granular level. The Greater Omaha Chamber’s Omaha Executive Institute assists by helping newly arrived executives and their spouses get familiar with – and get involved in – the community. As large organizations (and their leaders) become more connected to and immersed in a community – whether through economic impact, local hiring or philanthropy – smaller businesses benefit as well. “When large organizations are committed to supplier diversity and local supplier diversity in particular it can most definitely trickle down to help small business and minority-owned businesses,” said Carmen Tapio, president and CEO of North End Teleservices.

Leadership McCarthy Building Companies Inc. OneWorld Community Health Centers Inc. WoodmenLife Philanthropy Farm Credit Services of America Monica Sempek Photography Innovation Do Space Hillcrest Health Services North End Teleservices Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha Inc. Excellence in Leadership & Philanthropy Bland & Associates P.C. Omaha Public Power District Verdis Group

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‘SUPER REGION’ FOR TECH

Capitalizing on our corridor of innovation Cities and companies around the world are locked in fierce competition for tech talent. Our region’s competitive strengths are already on record. In April 2019, MarketWatch named Omaha/ Lincoln America’s No. 1 New Tech Hot Spot, citing such examples as being a haven for entrepreneurs and a supportive culture of tech businesses and having a history of successful startups. Blueprint Nebraska, a strategic plan to continue “growing the good life” for all Nebraskans, is also acutely aware of and focusing on our need for more tech workers. It’s calling for more startup companies, venture capital, high-quality jobs, graduates in science and technology, and research and development. Here’s a look at four programs focusing on training/teaching for tech and trade jobs.

Kirn Middle Sc hool c odi ng ac ti v i ty JO E SH E AR E R

The AIM Institute: Reaching the underserved The nonprofit at 19th and Harney Streets grows and connects the tech talent community through career development and educational programs that involve people of all ages. AIM staff might be helping companies such as Physicians Mutual with classes for call center representatives or providing digital education for youngsters who don’t have tablets and computers at home. “It creates a larger tech talent base for companies that are starving for workers,” said Nate Decker, student and employer engagement coordinator for AIM. AIM’s Code School student body is diverse: 48% are students of color, 50% are female and 49% begin studies with no coding experience. Since inception, 75% of AIM Code School’s 300-plus graduates have landed tech positions with an average median salary of $51,000. What makes AIM unique, Decker said, is that the organization is helping an underserved population. Two-thirds of the people it works with come from low-income backgrounds. During 2019, 4,000 youths participated in free technology education and exploration activities through AIM’s Youth in Tech programs in local school settings and at the tech-forward Brain Exchange building. In addition to burnishing their tech skills, they’re also learning leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, creativity and teamwork – skills that all lead to a higher likelihood of going to college.

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MCC: Building work-ready communities Kellee Mikuls, app develope r

Metropolitan Community College is at the forefront of seeking solutions to expand the area’s labor pool. One of its most successful programs is the Heartland Work-Ready Community Initiative, which has helped close the skills gap in Douglas County. As a result, Douglas is the first Nebraska county to earn a national designation as a work-ready community. Dodge County is on its way. “We have turned the traditional education and employment model on its head. What we do is understand a person’s skill sets, provide training and education, and connect career seekers with jobs,” said Tammy Green, director of workforce and IT innovation at Metro. Earn and Learn is another program that Metro started in collaboration with Mutual of Omaha. IT employees begin taking specific classes in that field and then have the opportunity to work for Mutual on a part-time or temporary basis.

Careerockit: Launching dreams Careerockit, an award-winning Chamber initiative, brings the community together one week each year to help students learn about career paths and build excitement for career options in our region. Careerockit 2020 covered 22 school districts, showcased more than 200 businesses and provided 23,000 career-learning experiences, including tours, workshops, hands-on activities and more. The Chamber’s Young Professionals Council joined in this year by hosting an experience for students at Cody Elementary. Along with sharing their own career paths and journeys, council members showcased a wide range of industries and careers through an interactive game and group activity.

SWISH BOOM

The Startup Collaborative: Fertile ground for new business growth We pride ourselves on what we grow. One of the ways we encourage local entrepreneurship and success – and ensure our region is as competitive as it can be – is through The Startup Collaborative (TSC), an initiative of the Greater Omaha Chamber. In 2019, TSC helped launch and support 48 tech startups. Just as any individual investor should diversify their portfolio, a strong, competitive business economy needs to be diversified too, said Erica Wassinger, TSC co-founder and senior director – entrepreneurship and innovation for the Chamber.  The focus is primarily on the tech-enabled or software-centric startup creation, so Omaha’s industries can stay ahead of emerging technology. This focus on tech also allows for more rapid job growth, wealth creation and distribution.  The Kauffman Foundation estimates that startups (companies that are less than two years old) are the largest catalyst for net-new job creation. Beyond creating jobs for employees, startups create wealth for founders. Some estimate that the average net worth increases 4.1 times for Latinos, 7.7 times for Blacks, and 2.2 times for women with business ownership.  Wassinger’s message to those interested in joining Omaha’s tech ecosystem: “There are no barriers to entry other than grit. If you’ve got the gumption to chase an idea and build a business, then you should participate.”

A few TSC success stories: Art Plug, a digital marketplace and subscription service to support emerging artists. HerHeadquarters, a brand partnership platform for female founders and entrepreneurs. Leverage RX, an online marketplace that makes it easy for doctors to compare and shop for loans and insurance. Retail Aware, which leverages a combination of artificial intelligence and proprietary IoT (Internet of Things) sensors and hardware to help clients optimize merchandising through real-world, near real-time data. Stature, a custom-tailored clothing solution for tall women. Swishboom, a babysitting scheduling app.

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Greater Omaha Worklab: Supporting frontline talent The goal is straightforward: To help workers stay active and productive in the workforce. The Greater Omaha Worklab (GrOW), a recent initiative of the Greater Omaha Chamber, is part of the Worklab Innovations national nonprofit network. At the core of GrOW’s work is the Sustainable Workforce Model, an employer-partnered approach to supporting frontline talent. GrOW’s services are offered in the workplace as an employer benefit. Employees can meet with navigators who offer confidential assistance, connect them with services and community resources, provide career and financial coaching and more. The aim is to improve people’s lives by addressing barriers to sustained employment and encouraging inclusive economic growth. In 2020, Google’s philanthropic arm supported GrOW with a $175,000 grant. The Nebraska Google.org Impact Challenge accepted applications from nonprofits with “bold and creative ideas to create economic opportunity.” Five organizations won.

Research and development scientist, Streck Inc. ANNA R E E D

Small business: Shifting, adapting, sharing How do you attract new clients and close deals in a social-distancing world? Our small businesses had questions about staying viable during and after the worst of the pandemic. The Greater Omaha Chamber came through with timely insights, rallying during the spring to lock in key experts and produce a small-business webinar series. Jeff Beals, sales consultant, author and keynote speaker, headlined one of those webinars, diving into ways for small operations to attract new business and sharing best practices for selling in stressful times. Jason Lauritsen, also a consultant, author and keynote speaker, spent his virtual time focusing on ways to improve employee engagement and performance in the COVID-19 age and beyond. The key? Making work feel more like a healthy relationship. Another source of continuing education – the

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Chamber’s fifth annual (and first-time virtual) HIRE Conference – connected hundreds of the region’s talent acquisition and HR professionals in July. Many were asking the same big questions: Are we going to hire? Who are we going to hire? How do we hire, onboard and engage workers remotely? “In the recruitment world, employer success with attracting and engaging talent is often dependent on how quickly businesses can adapt to economic and technological shifts,” said Ben Gano, Enova Group’s director of talent strategy, and a HIRE Conference co-creator. Keynote speaker Bryan Johanson, COO of The Adler Group, issued a concrete challenge for attendees – instead of going back to the way it used to be, reboot the hiring process and move forward to the way it should be. “I think it’s the perfect time to retool, to upscale, to rethink.”

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