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WE INTRODUCE
BILL SITZMANN
Celebrating Our Can Do Spirit Welcome to our literary and photographic celebration of our vibrant region. This year, we introduce a bold new brand and image that reflects our community’s strong work ethic, deep pride and “can do” spirit. Nimble in its application, this authentic We Don’t Coast brand – developed through an energetic, collaborative process – is being used across the region to communicate our character and quality of life; and to grow, retain and attract business and talent. We Don’t Coast speaks to: Our enviable central location, a key regional selling point along with a skilled labor pool; solid infrastructure; strong financial institutions; low power rates and generous business incentives. Our economic progress in the last decade has resulted in nearly 500 projects, representing nearly 24,500 jobs and more than $4.6 billion in capital investment. We’re not coasting – we’re working 2
diligently to attract more projects every day. Our quality of life is generous and family focused, benefitting from award-winning schools, affordable housing and a wealth of options for activity. Our philanthropic community is robust, and our cultural scene is a masterpiece in its own right. We thrive on attracting bold, national events such as the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in 2008, 2012 and again in 2016, and the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament in 2015. And the heavy hitter that is the NCAA Men’s College World Series, a national treasure that has called Omaha home for more than 60 years, and will continue to do so for the next 21! This issue is packed with stories about
businesses, organizations, institutions and neighbors that refuse to coast. Together, we’re achieving success and positively impacting our thriving metropolitan area. If you are thinking about expanding your business, moving your family or coming on your own, we welcome you – and we look forward to working with you. And remember: We don’t coast. We create extraordinary opportunities. David G. Brown President and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber Steve Seline 2014 Chairman, Greater Omaha Chamber Board of Directors President, Walnut Private Equity Partners
Delivering Comfort and Reliability
mudomaha.com
@ mudomahane facebook/mudomahane
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WE INTRODUCE “Omaha: We Don’t Coast” is a Greater Omaha Chamber publication produced in collaboration with the Omaha World-Herald to showcase the 30+ communities that make Omaha – Greater Omaha.
Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: WE DON’T COAST | PAGE 6
David G. Brown, President and CEO 1301 Harney St., Omaha, NE 68102 402-346-5000 info@OmahaChamber.org OmahaChamber.org SelectGreaterOmaha.com WeDontCoast.com GREATER OMAHA CHAMBER PROJECT TEAM Project Director: Alissa Nehe Creative Director: Kim Sellmeyer Project Coordinator: Kayti Rachwalik Project Contributor: Karla Ewert Project Contributor: Anne Branigan WORLD-HERALD PROJECT TEAM Project Coordinator & Editor: Chris Christen Assistant Editor: Amy LaMar Designer: Quentin Lueninghoener Writer: Dan McCann Copy Editor: Kurt A. Keeler Contributors: Heidi Thorson, Josh Corrigan, Dave Croy, Matt Haney Imaging Specialist: Patricia “Murphy” Benoit Print Manager: Wayne Harty Advertising Sales Manager: Carrie Kentch View this publication digitally at issuu.com/2014 Greater Omaha Chamber Book Copyright 2014 Omaha World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 600, Omaha, NE 68102 402-444-1094; omaha.com Every effort has been made to assure 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 Jacob North Printing, Lincoln, Nebraska. 4
BRAD J. WILLIAMS
BOB KERREY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CHAPTER 2: WE ENTERTAIN | PAGE 12
CHAPTER 7: WE INSPIRE | PAGE 74
CHAPTER 3: WE TOAST | PAGE 36
CHAPTER 8: WE CONTRIBUTE | PAGE 90
CHAPTER 4: WE WIN | PAGE 46
CHAPTER 9: WE CARE | PAGE 100
CHAPTER 5: WE EXPLORE | PAGE 50
CHAPTER 10: WE LAUNCH | PAGE 112
CHAPTER 6: WE WELCOME | PAGE 58
CHAPTER 11: WE BUILD | PAGE 124
ON THE COVER “We Don’t Coast” Creative Task Force members: Dana Altman, North Sea Films; Damon Andersen, Creative Reservoir Interactive + Design; Daryl Anderson, Clark Creative Group; Ben Drickey, Torchwerks; Jason Fischer, Surreal Media Lab; Jason Fox, Webster; Steve Gordon, RDQLUS Creative; Bruce Hartford, Bozell; Michael Johnson, Bozell; Katie Kemerling, Ervin & Smith; Dan McCann, DMC Freelance; Esther Mejia, E Creative; Dave Nelson, SecretPenguin; Jeff Reiner, Turnpost Creative Group; Ed Salem, Swanson Russell; Lynn Schneider, Emspace Group. Photographed by Brad Iwen/Admiral District
GROWTH GUIDANCE INSIGHT VISION PROFESSIONALS INTEGRITY SUCCESS VALUE EXPERTISE COMMITTED INVOLVED ALERT ANSWERS STRATEGIC VISION RELATIONSHIP COMMUNITY DEDICATION HIGH STANDARDS SKILLED NAVIGATORS ENGAGED ANTICIPATE THE NEXT MOVE GET TO THE ISSUE DO THE HOMEWORK BE THE BEST TRUST UNDERSTANDING EXPERIENCE PROACTIVE LISTEN ADVOCATES APPROACHABLE CONFIDENT FOCUS COLLABORATIVE RESPONSIVE ETHICAL INNOVATIVE FORWARD THINKING NIMBLE ENERGETIC GUIDANCE GROWTH GUIDANCE INSIGHT VISION PROFESSIONALS INTEGRITY SUCCESS VALUE EXPERTISE COMMITTED INVOLVED ALERT ANSWERS STRATEGIC VISION RELATIONSHIP COMMUNITY DEDICATION HIGH STANDARDS SKILLED NAVIGATORS ENGAGED ANTICIPATE THE NEXT MOVE GET TO THE ISSUE DO THE HOMEWORK BE THE BEST TRUST UNDERSTANDING EXPERIENCE PROACTIVE LISTEN ADVOCATES APPROACHABLE CONFIDENT FOCUS COLLABORATIVE RESPONSIVE ETHICAL INNOVATIVE FORWARD THINKING NIMBLE ENERGETIC GUIDANCE PROUD COUNSEL TO GREAT NEBRASKA COMPANIES GROWTH GUIDANCE INSIGHT VISION
OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST.
OUR SERVICES Banking & Finance Business & Corporate Creditors’ Rights Emerging Business Employee Benefits Employment Law & Labor Relations Environmental & Natural Resources Estate & Business Succession Planning Health Care Intellectual Property International Business Litigation Mergers & Acquisitions Real Estate Securities Tax
Koley Jessen P.C., LLO 1125 South 103rd Street Suite 800 Omaha, NE 68124 402.390.9500 5 koleyjessen.com
we don t coast Here, you earn everything you get. There is no standstill. No off switch. Only momentum, fueled by a drive to let go and do what we love. We are passionate about this community. Here in the heartland, we are more than a cozy place to live. We are a great place to be alive. Maybe not for everyone. Just anyone who wants to be someone. This is our story. We don’t coast. OLD MARKET
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WE DON T COAST
Bragging Rights ARM YOURSELF WITH 10 THINGS ONLY AN INSIDER WOULD KNOW …
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We’re 1,600 miles away from Hollywood – but closer than you might think.
• Omaha native and acclaimed filmmaker Alexander Payne collected Oscars for “Sideways” and “The Descendants” and was nominated for “Nebraska.” Other Oscar winners with Omaha ties include Mike Hill (film editing, “Apollo 13”) and Mauro Fiore (cinematography, “Avatar”). • George Clooney, Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson and Wesley Snipes have all starred in movies filmed, to some degree, in Omaha.
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We dream – and achieve – big. At age 11, Warren Buffett announced plans to be a millionaire by age 35. He achieved his goal in 1962, three years ahead of schedule.
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We help feed your family.
• Brands produced by locally headquartered ConAgra Foods can be found in 99 percent of America’s households. • Almost 50 years after the founding of the Table Supply Meat Company, the firm adopted its iconic name, Omaha Steaks. • Fremont’s Hormel Foods is one of the top two SPAM exporters nationwide. • Oh yeah, we also invented the Reuben sandwich and the classic TV dinner.
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We make it happen. Two temporary 50-meter, 10-lane pools were installed at the CenturyLink Center Omaha for the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials. Each pool held 800,000 gallons of water and weighed about 8 million pounds when filled. We’ll go aquatic again when the sport’s elite compete here in 2016. 8
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We persevere. The NCAA Men’s College World Series lost money for 10 of the first 12 years it was in Omaha. An underdog no more, it has matured into a profitable, world-class event. And it’s staying here, at least until 2035.
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We rock. We ranked No. 2 on MTV Iggy’s 2013 list of the world’s most up-and-coming cities for music, alongside Santiago, Chile, Athens and Barcelona. Our indie music scene is gaining national acclaim, and our CenturyLink Center attracts the world’s biggest entertainers, including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2, Billy Joel and Elton John.
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We have colossal companies.
• Omaha is home to five Fortune 500s. • Nebraska Furniture Mart is the nation’s largest home furniture store – and Borsheims is one of the nation’s largest jewelry stores.
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We connect. Our Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge over the Missouri River is the first pedestrian bridge ever to link two states – in this case, Nebraska and Iowa.
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We grow legends. Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, President Gerald Ford and Malcolm X were all born in Omaha. Ditto for Nick Nolte, Andy Roddick, author Nicholas Sparks and Gabrielle Union.
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We don’t coast – but we have our share of shark encounters. It has been well over 58,000 days without a single shark attack (Omaha was founded in 1854). And while we’re confident that streak will continue, it doesn’t mean we don’t interact. Visitors from far and near safely view sharks every day at our zoo – ranked No. 1 in the world.
BILL SITZMANN
BOB KERREY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
CONAGRA FOODS
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
THE WORLD-HERALD
ALEXANDER PAYNE
THE WORLD-HERALD
THE WORLD-HERALD
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WE DON T COAST WHERE WE CALL HOME
How We Stack Up MEDIAN HOME PRICE
POPULATION
Compared to $197,400 in the United States
(2013 Applied Geographic Solutions)
$145,700
(2013 National Association of Realtors report)
925,709
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$56,455
Compared to $51,929 in the United States (2013 Applied Geographic Solutions)
COST OF LIVING
11 percent Below national average (Council for Community & Economic Research Cost of Living Index for second quarter 2014)
PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER
31.4 percent
Compared to 27.9 percent nationally (2013 Applied Geographic Solutions)
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