Omaha: We Don't Coast 2018 by Omaha World-Herald

OMAHA: WE DON'T COAST

KYLEE

Age 14, Osteogenesis Imperfecta Born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease), Kylee has had broken bones all her life. That’s why her family turned to the orthopedic specialists at Children’s—an expert team ensuring this amazing teen can reach her full potential.

Experienced, unparalleled care for a full spectrum of bone, joint and muscle disorders brings families from across the Midwest and the United States to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. Our orthopedics program specializes in treatment for Osteogenesis Imperfecta, spinal irregularities and other congenital or acquired orthopedic conditions.

2018

For a pediatric orthopedic specialist, call 1.800.833.3100 or visit ChildrensOmaha.org/Orthopedics.

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The University of Nebraska Medical Center is poised to transform health care education, and – as aviation simulation changed the flight industry – propel the training of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals into the next generation with emerging virtual and augmented reality. UNMC’s iEXCEL initiative will be housed in the Dr. Edwin Davis & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center for Advanced Interprofessional Learning, which is being built on the southeast corner of 42nd and Emile Streets. Although the move is in 2019, iEXCEL already is transforming learning.

Through its iEXCELSM initiative, UNMC is enhancing connectivity and interdisciplinary education across the state through the strategic installation of iWalls in Omaha, Scottsbluff, Kearney, Lincoln and Norfolk. Thanks to a public-private partnership, the iEXCEL program will be based in the new $121.8 million Davis Global Center, along with the National Center for Health Security and Biopreparedness, which will train federal health care personnel in treating highly infectious diseases. Health care providers can visualize – in 3D – abnormalities of the heart or other organs. And, rather than a static CT scan, a 3D hologram allows physicians to walk around the organ – while seemingly suspended in space – for a truly realistic-looking image. Students in the EON Reality VR Innovation Academy, housed on the UNMC campus, will be trailblazers in filling a critical workforce need as augmented and virtual reality gains a foothold in education. The academy is one of five in the United States; one of 15 in the world. After 11 months, participating students earn an industry certificate from EON Reality.

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eartland, we are more than a cozy place to live. eat place to be alive. Maybe not for everyone. ne who wants to be someone. 6 â&#x20AC;˘ We Welcome

No standstill. No off switch. This is Omaha.

We welcome ERIC FRANCIS

We Welcome â&#x20AC;¢ 7

Moving at the speed of life I

f you’ve ever imagined your best self, the self you know you were born to be, and wondered where you might activate the aspirational human being you already are, then Greater Omaha is the place for you. Whether you were born here, are considering moving here or have recently relocated to the region, there’s a special kind of magic that makes this place feel like “home.” From startups (Livability ranked us the No. 1 up-and-coming tech hotspot) to Fortune 500 companies, excellence is in our DNA. Here’s why: Greater Omaha is all about you – your quality of life, your career, your sense of family and the need you have for personal and professional growth. Take a look around, and you’ll soon discover this Silicon Prairie is powered by rare air – a can-do spirit that weaves us together to push for something ever greater, to achieve our dreams and uplift each other for the benefit of all. 8 • We Welcome

ERIC FRANCIS

It’s no surprise, then, that each incredible individual powers our extraordinary whole. We are people who care. Who impact. Who innovate. Who move things forward. We are people who just don’t coast. Maybe you’re already home, or are considering making Omaha your new favorite place, regardless you’re in good company. On these pages, you’ll meet ambitious entrepreneurs and global organizations, first-rate restaurants, unrivaled arts and world-class schools. You’ll celebrate our wins – from Ziprecruiter ranking us “No.1 best market for new college grads” to Resonance Consultancy recognizing us as the nation’s No. 2 “best small city” – and you’ll realize our no-coasting-allowed spirit is as inherent as it is universal. For those who believe the world can be ever better, you’ve come to the right place.

We’re here to connect and elevate, to ignite and innovate, to accomplish more, together. Greater Omaha is a community of uncommonly inspired people just like you, each of whom has the overwhelming support of public-private leadership and the Greater Omaha Chamber, a chamber that has been fueling our collective momentum for more than 125 years. That support means We. Don’t. Coast. We move; and, as a result, we invite you to join us. We’ll never stop working to make this world-class place exactly what it should be: A place where dreams are realized. No coasting allowed. David G. Brown President and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber Dana Bradford Chairman, Greater Omaha Chamber Board

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CH RI S CH RI ST EN

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“Omaha: We Don’t Coast,” 2018 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.

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

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GREATER OMAHA CHAMBER PROJECT TEAM Project Director: Jill Bruckner Creative Director: Kim Sellmeyer Project Coordinator: Jessica Perreault Project Contributor: Anne Branigan OMAHA WORLD-HERALD PROJECT TEAM Editor/Art Director: Chris Christen Designers: Quentin Lueninghoener, Ben Vankat Writer: Dan McCann Copy Editors: Shelley Larsen, Melinda Keenan, Kurt A. Keeler Contributors: Amy Corrigan, Dave Kenney, Stan Carter, Maggie O’Brien, Mike Watkins Imaging Specialist: Kiley Cruse Advertising Sales Manager: Lauren Miller

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ON THE COVER Historic Old Market, Omaha Photo by Eric Francis courtesy of Visit Omaha View digital publication at Omaha.com/WeDontCoast Copyright 2018 Omaha World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha NE 68102 | 402-444-1094; Omaha.com

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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.

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OF SP RE ET AI

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We are a multi-discipline group of forward-thinking legal counselors serving the needs of business owners, executives and professionals in Omaha and around the country. We stay connected, engaged and attuned to our clients’ industries and operations to help them make key decisions.

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S P O N S O R E D F E AT U R E WELLCOM’s Trek Up the Tower

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RTG MEDICAL

RTG MEDICAL

Traveling R the country, delivering health care

egistered nurse Tamara Marbes lost everything in 2014. Within four years, she was able to pay off $90,000 in student and car loan debt, plus save $50,000 for a down payment on a condo. Marbes didn’t win the lottery, nor did she inherit a fortune. Instead, the 66-year-old found work as a traveling nurse with RTG Medical in Fremont, Nebraska. The job gives her a competitive salary, opportunities for growth and the chance to live in any state in the country. She loves the adventure of it all. “I’ve dangled my toes in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean,” she says.“I’ve worked at the top of a mountain and at 46 feet below sea level in the desert. I have friends in so many states I don’t think I’ll ever pay for a motel room

14 • We Welcome

on the road again.” RTG Medical is a veteran-owned company that began in 2001 to connect health care personnel with facilities across the U.S. in need of help on a temporary or permanent basis. Traveling nurses like Marbes are assigned one recruiter. By doing this, RTG separates itself from its competitors, says Veronica Barrientos, RTG Medical’s marketing and brand ambassador. Assignments, which recruiters line up, typically are for 13-week periods. Some crisis assignments (involving natural disasters, for example) are shorter, depending on the emergency. “We have two main segments of people who travel the country delivering health care: New

RTG salutes the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB

Company wiffle ball outing

RTG traveling nurse Tamera Marbes

grads who aren’t quite ready to settle down and are undecided about where they’d like to land, and empty-nesters with RVs who are ready to go wherever the jobs are,” Barrientos says. “Some have been traveling for 10-plus years. Some travel with us for two years, take six months off to volunteer overseas, then return and pick up where they left off with RTG Medical.” There’s a need in the health care industry for nurses, Barrientos says.“There’s a lot of work to be done.” RTG Medical’s in-house team has nearly doubled, from 40 in 2016 to just short of 80 this fall. The gains got the attention of Inc. Magazine, which ranked RTG Medical among

the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies in America. “RTG’s growth didn’t just happen. It has been in the works for years,” says Dave Guenthner, chief financial officer. “We have developed a culture that attracts performancedriven people, and we have invested in the systems, processes and procedures needed to support their success.” RTG Medical was named one of the 2017 Best Places to Work in Omaha in the category of medical staffing firms with 25 to 100 employees. In 2018, RTG Medical was among three firms receiving excellence awards in the same employee satisfaction survey sponsored by Baird Holm LLP, the Greater Omaha Chamber and Quantum Workplace.

“I know of no other job that will allow me to take a three-week vacation or the opportunity to see the country,” Marbes says. “In addition, I have been able to participate in two medical missions and have connected with distant relatives all over the country that would have never been possible before.”

We Welcome • 15

We entertain

U2 at CHI Health Center Omaha 16 â&#x20AC;˘ We Entertain

Sit back. Enjoy yourself. We’ll take care of the rest. Soak up the sights, sounds and creativity that typify our region and elevate our quality of life.

M AT T D I X O N

We Entertain • 17

Dundee Theater

Immerse yourself

Defining our entertainment scene is omething of an epic feat. It’s easier, perhaps, to say you’ll know it when you see it, hear it and feel it… In all corners of the region – at all times of year – you have an open invitation to immerse and enjoy. Every outdoor concert, community festival and gigantic firework that jolts the night sky was planned and executed just for you.

KU RT A. KE EL ER

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Our many stages specialize in transfixing and transporting. From Broadway blockbusters such as “Wicked” and “Hamilton,’’ at the historic Orpheum Theater, to award-winning productions at the 50-year-old Bellevue Little Theatre, we have the acting chops and musical muscle to entertain, electrify and transcend. Our newly renovated and re-opened Dundee Theater, a former vaudeville house, cemented its big comeback last year with the local premiere of “Downsizing,” a sci-fi satire directed by Oscar-winning Omaha native Alexander Payne.With Omaha billionaire Warren Buffett and “Downsizing” actress Hong Chau in attendance, Payne says he couldn’t have asked for a better place to debut his work than the theater where he grew up watching movies: “What better feeling could there be? To be sharing something you created in the town you love and with people you love.” Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment is creating something new and exciting for local creatives – the Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center in the historic Harvester II building in downtown Council Bluffs. Once completed in 2019, the center will welcome the Chanticleer Community Theater, the Kanesville Symphony and American Midwest Ballet (formerly Ballet Nebraska), the region’s only professional dance company. Outdoor entertainment is also “in” here, whether it’s a movie under the stars, Shakespeare on the Green, River’s Edge Taco Fest or a full slate of free summer concerts – from Jazz on the Green and Bridge Beats to Saturdays @ Stinson and Vibes at Village Pointe. The MainStreet of Fremont Concert in the Park series marked its 11th year in 2018, and Playing With Fire, showcasing the best in blues, soul, funk and R&B, has been a sizzling summer tradition since 2004.

River’s Edge Taco Fest

Experience wide-eyed excitement. Experience balancing on the edge of your seat. Experience laughing so hard you cry. Experience pure inspiration.

EXPERIENCE EXTRAORDINARY

Our venues, the Orpheum Theater and Holland Performing Arts Center, are Nebraska’s destinations for extraordinary experiences that engage, inspire and connect. We bring the best of:

• Broadway

• Popular entertainment

• Jazz

• Family events

• Dance

• And more!

Extraordinary is waiting for you.

OmahaPerformingArts.org | 1200 Douglas Street | 402.345.0202

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

Owl Ride

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Jazz on the Green

Maha Music Festival

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J Want more fresh sounds in the open air? Check out the powerhouse touring talent coming to Stir Concert Cove, SumTur Amphitheater and Westfair Amphitheater. If your idea of outdoor entertainment is active engagement, we have you covered there, too. • Trek across our 3,000-foot Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge (The Bob for short), pausing at the elevated NebraskaIowa border to do some “Bobbing.” (That’s where you strike a pose while standing simultaneously in two states. “Yeah,” reads a sign on the bridge,“it’s a thing.”) • Strike a different kind of pose at outdoor yoga at Fontenelle Forest, Turner Park or Aksarben Village – or maintain your balance with one of our group bike rides, including Thursday evening Taco Rides and the nighttime Owl Ride. • Gain smooth insight into the original American art form at Love’s Jazz & Arts Center, explore the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters or take yourself on a tour of monumental public art in Council Bluffs. Feeling festive? We love getting together to celebrate a holiday, a season or deep pride in the community itself – from Metro Credit Union Celebrates America at Memorial Park to the Holiday Lights Festival in downtown Omaha; Gretna, Dundee, John C. Fremont and Millard Days; and county fairs throughout Nebraska and Iowa.

Pokemon Go Hunt

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Sarpy County Fair

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Celebrate CB

Washington County Fair and Rodeo

African Culture Celebration

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We’re only as boring as you are Eat. Experience. Admire. Our “must-dos” will keep your calendar stacked. Get the full picture at wedontcoast.com/events.

Tempo of Twilight

Taste of Omaha

Heartland Pride Parade

Cinco de Mayo

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Offutt Open House

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Bemis Center for Contemporary Art

The Union for Contemporary Art

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The brain conjures it. Ey hands and soul work in The brain conjures tandem to create it. Here it. Eyes, hands to the art, the artist and and soul work collage of galleries throu in tandem to our region that curate, T AR Y create it. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AR OR showcase and celebrate MP E to the art, the NT CO incredible gift of creativit R FO N artist and the collage IO N U E TH of galleries throughout our region that curate, showcase and celebrate the incredible gift of creativity.

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“I feel great pride with our ever-increasing activity in the local art scene.”

LES BRUNING

T he art of passion W

hen you visit Les Bruning’s website, be prepared to scroll. Commissions. Major shows and exhibitions. Public art projects. Scroll, scroll, scroll… The expansive listings are evidence of an incredible 50 years of creation. (Les, 70, earned his first commission in 1968.) “My sophomore year in college (Nebraska Wesleyan University), I took a ceramics class and was hooked,” Les says.“From there on, I was focused on art.” One of Bruning’s latest projects is a bronze re-casting of a monument honoring those who served in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. The statue was unveiled in mid-August in Omaha’s Memorial Park. Another artistic 26 • We Entertain

BILL SITZMANN

challenge is guaranteed to follow. “It’s the next creative exercise that stimulates me,” Les says. In addition to creating art, Les has dedicated his life to nurturing artists. He taught art at Bellevue University for 38 years, was a founding member of Omaha Creative Institute, and before that, co-founded Hot Shops Art Center in burgeoning north downtown Omaha. “That’s been a great success because we’ve held true to our mission, which is to provide affordable space so anyone who wants to call themselves an artist can come in and do what they want without any interference from us,” Les says. Set in a former mattress factory, today’s

Hot Shops Art Center houses four anchor businesses – Bruning Sculpture, CK Fabrication, Crystal Forge and Hot Shops Pottery – as well as 80 artist studios, and gallery and exhibition spaces. The first art center of its kind in the area, it has had a waiting list since its 2000 opening. “We have people come from all over the country and say, ‘How do you do this?’ You do it by being tenacious,” Les says. The prolific septuagenarian, a grandfather of 17, says he has no desire to slow down anytime soon:“I plan to work another 30 years. There is a creative challenge every single day.”

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Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum

Joslyn Art Museum

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Omaha Children’s Museum

AD MU SE UM

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Union Pacific Railroad Museum

The Durham Museum

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Priceless collections

Every child should be able to gaze at a Monet or a Pollock. Here, every child can. History and culture are accessible – free or affordable – and we always leave our collection of world-class museums little richer than when we arrived. We Entertain • 29

We are home to a vibrant mix of artful entertainment and entertaining arts – world-renowned for our indie music, a favorite stop for big-name entertainers, fertile ground for local artists. We don’t have to go to Broadway – Broadway comes to us.

Lofte Community Theatre

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Omaha Fashion Week

Omaha Performing Arts Broadway Series

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Omaha Community Playhouse

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The Rose Theater N

See it. Hear it. Feel it.

OPL strengthens our communities by connecting people with ideas, information & innovative services.

Visit one of our 12 metro locations or connect with us online at omahalibrary.org.

Phantom of the Opera

Orpheum Theater

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An evening at The Rose inspires your imagination. Something magical happens as you go off seeking buried treasure, shrink down to get a bug’s eye view, uncover the things that go bump in the night or discover the Hundred Acre Wood with an old friend. As you laugh, sigh, sing and dance together, you bond with your child in a unique way and make memories that last a lifetime. Set the stage for an experience your whole family will enjoy -- at The Rose! 2018-19 SEASON

• Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt • The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites • The Little Engine That Could • Goosebumps - Phantom of the Auditorium • Elf the Musical • Return to Niobrara • Thumbelina • The Doll Maker’s Gift • Winnie the Pooh • Dragons Love Tacos • Roald Dahl’s Matilda

TICKETS: (402) 345-4849 or www.rosetheater.org

Changing lives N ATA S H A PA R T R I D G E - B U T L E R

BILL SITZMANN

“The arts and access to arts education can be lifechanging for a child.”

34 • We Entertain

ur community is filled with artists who deserve a standing “O’’ – passionate people like Natasha Partridge-Butler, a former “theater kid” whose double bill of access and opportunity is empowering a new generation of stars. “I was drawn to a desire to help young people find their spark, their passion and to help them see the importance of culture in their daily lives,” she says. Natasha founded Pear Tree Performing Arts in 2010 with five students and one overriding goal: To make arts education available and affordable for everyone. Since then, she says,“God has blessed us to be able to impact hundreds of lives each year, whether it’s in our studio, in outreach, through after-school programming or in-school partnerships.” The nonprofit, backed by a corps of experienced teachers, offers affordable dance and theater classes

grounded in four core values: culture, confidence, community and creativity. Sponsorships and tuition assistance are offered to any student in financial need.   “I am motivated by watching our students grow, become more confident and blossom in their own ways,” Natasha says. “I come from a family passionate about the arts,” she says.“My parents made sure I remained commited to the performance scene in Omaha. I had the privilege of performing on numerous stages and venues in Omaha and beyond.” She believes in holding those students (aka her babies) to a high standard:“Our youth can meet and exceed our expectations as long as we support them and are clear in our belief that they are capable. I love when our students use the word ‘empowered’ and parents tell us the impact the program has had.”

Fun Home

Aug. 17 – Sept. 16, 2018

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Shrek The Musical Sept. 14 – Oct. 14, 2018

The Bridges of Madison County March 1 – 24, 2019

One Man, Two Guvnors

She Kills Monsters

April 12 – May 5, 2019

A Christmas Carol

May 3 – 26, 2019

Oct. 12 – Nov. 4, 2018

Nov. 16 – Dec. 23, 2018

Yesterday And Today

Men on Boats Ragtime

May y 31 – June 30, 2019

Nov. 23 – Dec. 31, 2018

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Jan. 18 – Feb. 10, 2019

Of Mice and Men Feb. 15 – March 17, 2019

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We Entertain • 35

Opera Vox at Gallery 1516

CASEY WOOD

R Soaring OPERA OMAHA

voices land here

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aising our cultural profile with soaring voices. Opera Omaha, Nebraska’s only professional opera company, has been a source of community pride – and high-caliber entertainment – for 60 years now. Instilled with a spirit of adventure from the beginning, Opera Omaha launched a bold, new initiative last year: the Holland Community Opera Fellowship. It’s the centerpiece of Opera Omaha’s strategic vision for the future, a way to expand its impact beyond traditional outlets and populations. “It’s taking opera outside the concert hall and meeting people where they are,” says Lauren Medici, Opera Omaha’s director of engagement programs. Hired for two-year rotations, the fellows encompass several roles: teaching artists who educate about opera and the arts, performers in community concerts and recitals and Opera Omaha ambassadors in the community. “While the fellows’ work varies greatly, often it means helping others find that creative spark and facilitating others’ creative exploration and process,” Lauren says. Each project of the Community Opera Fellowship is developed in collaboration with

community partners, including area schools, the Learning Community Center of South Omaha, Girls Inc. and Omaha Children’s Choir. Jessica Johnson Brock is one of two fellows in the Opera’s outreach program. “The fellowship was intriguing because of its unusual nature,” the mezzo-soprano says. “It sounded very abstract, but its aim toward allowing meaningful artistic exploration, both for artists and community members, rang clear.” A native of Florence, Alabama, she began taking piano lessons at age 6 and studying classical voice at age 13. “The idea of using our art form as a tool for conversation and interpersonal connection seems to me to be the very core of the arts as a whole,” she says. Opera fellow Charbrelle Williams can relate. “One of my favorite parts about this job is watching people who may not consider themselves ‘artists’ experience creative thought,” says the Philadelphia-born soprano who grew up singing in church and school. “Getting people to explore their own creativity just for the sake of it, I think, is extremely significant,”she says.

Our work is beyond words.

Together, we cause people to think, feel uplifted, and be inspired! We’re proud to be your professional dance company.

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Choose from over 50 performances in our MasterWorks, Pops, Rocks, Family, Symphony Joslyn, and Movies series! See the full Season lineup at ™ & © UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

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We Entertain • 37

No second takes

There’s just something exhilarating about live entertainment – and our stages feature a year-round calendar that’s of the highest caliber. Take your seat, silence your cell phone and let our talented performers (or those passing through) treat you to an experience that Netflix and Hulu just can’t match.

tbd. Dance Collective

Broadway’s “School of Rock” Omaha Symphony

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American Midwest Ballet

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We Entertain • 39

EDEM GARRO

A soulful invitation Whatever she is doing – whether it’s singing, songwriting, motivating or mentoring – Edem Garro pours her soul into it, an attribute reflected in her professional name: Edem Soul Music. “The initiative behind Edem Soul Music is to share my identity in hopes that it will lead others to go and find their own identity,” she says. Multi-instrumental and predominantly self-taught, Edem has a beautiful sound – a lush blend of genres (Afro-rhythm, soul and world music) and languages (both English and Ga, native tongue of the Ga Tribe of Ghana, where her parents are from). She also has a beautiful outlook:“I want to really help cultivate positive impact in myself and my community.” She intertwines passion and purpose by investing a bit of her soul into each of her audiences and the students she encounters through her artistry, volunteer work with Omaha Girls Rock and as a teaching and touring artist with the Nebraska Arts Council.“When I’m in schools or partnering with other organizations, I try to be that positive, empowering and honest reinforcement. … Once these kids grasp that they can do anything if they put in that hard work, what are we creating? We are creating a future of unstoppable and fierce leaders.” You can catch Edem Soul Music at Slowdown, The Waiting Room and other local venues as well as area music festivals, including Omaha Under the Radar and AFROMAHA’s African Cultural Festival. An East Coast transplant since 2002, she says Omaha’s music scene is “warm and inviting to any and everyone who has a passion for music. I think that’s what’s going to help build the music scene even bigger than it is – that spirit of you’re my brother and you’re my sister in music.” KENT SIEVERS

40 • We Entertain

Omaha’s music scene is “warm and inviting to any and everyone who has a passion for music.”

The natural choice for in Omaha’s backyard.

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We Entertain • 41

Katy Perry, CHI Health Center Omaha

T hrow your hands in the air With all due respect to our Midwestern humility, we’ll just go ahead and say it – we rock. Ours is a thriving live music scene – touted for our indie musicians, a favorite stop for big-name entertainers. Large and small venues attract acts (and attention) from across the street, across the nation and across the world. 42 • We Entertain

Billy McGuigan, Holland Performing Arts Center

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Dropkick Murphys, Stir Cove

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Shania Twain, CHI Health Center Omaha

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Churches, The Waiting Room

Dirty Muggs, Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park

Luke Bryan, CHI Health Center Omaha

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We toast Every outing – outstanding.

If you want an extraordinary evening that’s homegrown and all our own, allow us to play tour guide and direct you to some of our local treasures. ERIC FRANCIS

We Toast • 47

Bonefish Grill

Foodie heaven

We are a community that revels in the ellowship that food inspires. More than entrees and appetizers, it’s about grabbing friends and seeking out avenues to experience food in new and exciting ways. From cocktails to coffee, if you’re ready to immerse in a dining scene that deftly (and deliciously) balances diversity, quality and affordability, we’re ready to lead the way. BONEFISH GRILL

MAIN COURSES

Acadian Grille – Northwest Omaha Omaha’s newest Cajun scratch kitchen serving up everything from crab cakes and po’ boy sandwiches to gator bites, boudin balls and a selection of Cajun-inspired pasta dishes. Stirnella – Blackstone District Foodies rejoice! Sophisticated pub dining with refined global influences for every palate. Della Costa – Midtown Omaha Seafood-inspired, Mediterranean concept that features regional dishes from the coasts of Italy, France, Spain, Morocco and Greece. El Dorado – South Omaha Known for its seafood specialties, including some truly impressive seafood platters, served with margaritas and live mariachi music.

Omaha Tap House – Downtown and West Omaha Beer, wine, wings and a full selection of handpattied burgers, including Berry Hangover, Pepper Jack Mac & Cheese, and Bleu Cheese Balsamic burgers.

ME S WA LM SL EY

48 • We Toast

Modern Love

Plank Seafood Provisions – Old Market Coastally inspired oyster bar and seafood grill with a menu grounded in fresh, high-quality ingredients and a “made-fromscratch mentality.”

Early Bird

Coneflower Creamery

The Backline

M AT T M I L L E R

C O C K TA I L S

COFFEE & MORE

Coneflower Creamery – Blackstone District. Everything is homemade, including the 20 or so flavors in the case – and its “farm-to-cone” approach means all milk and cream are local.

The Backline – Downtown Omaha. Comedy theater on a mission to help us become one of America’s greatest comedy cities, backed by a promise to keep its shows – and its beer – cheap.

Bob’s Donuts – Midtown Omaha. Coffee and artisan doughnuts, including crème brulee, maple bacon and Fruity Pebbles flavors. Also on the menu? Chicken & tots.

Ted and Wally’s – Old Market and Benson Neighborhood. A local icon in the ultrapremium homemade ice cream arena. Zesto – North Omaha, Northwest Omaha, Elkhorn. Family-owned and -operated, an Omaha landmark for more than 60 years.

Too Far North

R E B E C C A S . G R AT Z

I C E C R E A M / S W E E T T R E AT S

eCreamery – Dundee. Nationally renowned gourmet ice cream parlor that sells its scoops of frozen joy both in-store and online.

CHRIS MACHIAN

KE A.

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The Barrel – Council Bluffs. Specializes in a large selection of whiskeys and craft cocktails. Its “Bottom of The Barrel” space has regular live music and comedy nights. Laka Lono Rum Club – Old Market. Tropical oasis that “celebrates the notion of cocktail culture as a form of escapism.” Proof Whiskey Bar – Midtown. Quaint prohibition-themed bar offering a wide whiskey selection, craft cocktails and a personal approach to service. Red Lion Lounge – Blackstone District. Classic cocktail bar located in the lower level of the Colonial Hotel Apartments, featuring live music every Saturday night. Too Far North – Fort Calhoun. Nebraska beer and wine tasting room inside a 1902 saloon. Friendly owner with a story behind every pour. Taps change frequently; wine by the glass.

Early Bird – Blackstone District. Hip brunch spot that also serves coffee, cocktails and doughnuts. Felius Cat Café – Downtown Omaha. The area’s first nonprofit “cat café” – part coffee bar, part cat room (partitioned by a glass wall), where prospective adoptive owners can check out cats in need of homes and, for a small fee, get in some cuddle time. Hardy Coffee at 75 North – North Omaha. “Seriously useful coffee,” locally owned with its own We Don’t Coast roast. Crane Coffee – Multiple locations. Specializing in coffee trends and the craft of coffee in the Midwest.

“For many, coming back feels like coming home.”

KENT SIEVERS

M’S PUB

Cherished dining companion E

veryone loves a good comeback story, especially when it’s served with a seasonal cocktail and M’s famous lahvosh. A three-alarm fire destroyed one of our culinary landmarks in January 2016, a monumental blow to our Old Market and a legion of devoted diners. From that burned-out shell, M’s Pub has risen again. “I’m thrilled. Just thrilled,” says Rita Saunders, who’s been coming to M’s with her husband since it opened in the early ’70s. “It almost feels like it never was gone,” says longtime owner Ann Mellen.“It’s a dream come true — again.” Ann wanted to replicate the space as 50 • We Toast

faithfully as possible, so she enlisted the expertise of BVH Architecture. Gary Bowen led the project – a professional homecoming of sorts. He and former partners John Morford and Cedric Hartman designed the original M’s Pub in 1972. To Gary, M’s is more than a place to eat, it’s a local icon. “People have said that it’s a magical place, an Omaha institution,” he says. Such an M’s aficionado, the veteran architect turned author to help chronicle the restaurant’s return. “We felt that re-creating M’s was a story worth recording for posterity,” Gary says. A story that began when original owner Mary Vogel envisioned the establishment from its

warehouse shell, a shell that offered “intimacy and spaciousness.” M’s Pub reopened in November 2017. A cherished dining companion picked up right where it left off as a Georgetown-inspired, London-flaired neighborhood restaurant-pub reminiscent of romance, yet cosmopolitan, chic and extraordinary. “The ambiance is back,” says Evan TreKell, who ate lunch at M’s five days a week before the fire. And yes, the restaurant’s Renowned Baked Dishes, the Thai Lahvosh, the Lamb Burger, the Carrot Dog and the Omaha Grill are all back, as well.

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TA CO CO .

Pitch

Ryan’s Food & Spirits

The Blackstone Meatball

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The Hunger Block

Nonstop food rave

Boiler Room

From international fare to down-home cooking, we are a foodie’s delight. Without reservation, our dynamic restaurant scene covers the gastronomic gamut.

Society 1854

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Grey Plume

Taco Co.

La Buvette Au Courant

SA RA H HO FF MA N

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Yoshitomo

Dante Pizzeria

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BILL SITZMANN

MICHELLE KAISER

Sweet dreams “There are so many people here who believe in me and want me to succeed.” 54 • We Toast

ongtime baker Michelle Kaiser assumed her friends were pulling a prank. She had, after all, made no secret of her dream of appearing on national TV. Turns out, the person on the other end of the line really was from the Food Network, recruiting her to compete on season four of Spring Baking Championship. “She said,‘When we looked at your Facebook page, we realized you were a true, homestyle-type baker, and that’s what we were looking for,’” recalls Michelle, owner of The Omaha Bakery, a center-of-town sweet spot for wedding cakes, breads, brownies and peanut butter-bacon-sea salt Colossal Rolls. It is also the culmination of a 30-year rise in baking that started in a grandmother’s rural Nebraska kitchen and included formal study, apprenticeships, work and early

entrepreneurship in New York. (Music icon Madonna was a fan of Michelle’s carrot cake.) Even though she didn’t go home with the $50,000 prize, Michelle views the Food Network experience as a true blessing. She learned she could bake outside her comfort zone. (Coriander in a layered ombre cake? She attempted that.) More importantly, she gained a whole new appreciation for the community she now serves. “It was incredible – the number of people who came to the bakery after the show aired in March. They said,‘Michelle, you were humble; you were kind; you were everything that Nebraska is about.You represented Omaha so wonderfully that we can’t be anything but proud’… It was the most beautiful thing.”

Cravings quashed here

Whether you’re in the mood for a morning pick-me-up or a decadent bite you just can’t put down, we have artisans at the ready regionwide. Step to the counter, place your order and enjoy a special moment that is crafted – brewed, baked or squeezed – with care. International Bakery

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Muglife KE

The Grove

Farine + Four

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“I don’t think there has been a time in recent history that there have been so many culinary options in Omaha.” BÄRCHEN

Specializing in ‘chill’ T

he team at Bärchen Beer Garden is doing its part to infuse some more “chill” into our increasingly hyper-paced world. “We wanted a place to hang out and have a beer,” says Ryan Miller. So he and his partners opened Bärchen (pronounced Bear-shen) in our historic and happening Benson neighborhood a year ago. Its beer garden – a shaded urban oasis – has hangout space for about 150 people. Its approachable menu includes custom sausages made with locally sourced meats, sandwiches with intriguing names (Johnny Hammer Pants, anyone?), and a tapped array of rare, imported craft beers, most Scandinavian and German. “Everyone has 100 craft beers on tap now,” Ryan says. “Some of ours have never been tapped in Omaha before.” Local beers haven’t been left out though – neither have local businesses. Bärchen partners with Iowa-based Jon’s Naturals for its sausages, Omaha’s Culprit Cafe and Bakery for its soft, salty German pretzels, and Lincoln-based Le Quartier Bakery for its sandwich breads. Ryan, who started brewing beer about 17 years ago, says “good food and drink is an affordable luxury.” Bärchen is working hard to keep the prices fair, the service fast and the atmosphere casual. Manager Andrew Miller (pictured and no relation to Ryan) is drinking it all in (professionally speaking). He says he’s doing what he loves – providing guests with “a unique experience rooted in food and great beer” – in a city experiencing a culinary explosion. “I don’t think there’s been a time in recent history that there’s been so many culinary options in Omaha,” he says. “Bärchen really filled a void. Now, Omaha can boast one of the region’s largest and most authentic beer gardens.”

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BILL SITZMANN

Beercade The Dubliner T MA

Nosh

A LI

When the sun goes down, the party heats up From secret hole-in-the-wall treasures to trips inside the velvet rope, you’re in for an adventure that’s eminently Instagrammable.

Laka Lono Rum Club

Wicked Rabbit

57 • We Toast Kaitei

Great Marsh, Fontenelle Forest

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We play Moments to live in Thrilling competition. Big-time attractions. Outdoor recreation. An energy that flows easily between stimulation and relaxation. Explore, experience, expand your horizons. This place is yours to discover.

M. JULIE PHOTO

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State baseball championship

Papillion-La Vista B R E N D A N S U L L I VA N

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Senior Field Day

T he ultimate fan experience Whether we’re in the stands or right in the middle of the action, we rally time and again with a high-powered sports and recreation scene that just keeps supplying the highlights one hoop, home run and knockout at a time. In this corner, we continue to chart the meteoric rise of hometown boxing champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs). Considered among the best fighters in the world, he scored a knockout win over Jeff Horn in Las Vegas in June to claim the HBO welterweight title. We’re equally proud of the undisputed title we’ve earned – one of America’s amateur sports capitals. In March, we celebrated the madness by hosting the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Sweet 16 and Elite Eight (Midwest Regional) for the first time. In December, we’ll welcome the North American leg of the Curling World Cup. The honors add to the allure of a city that has hosted 69 College World Series, three U.S. Olympic Swim Trials and national championships in volleyball, wrestling and figure skating – not to mention NCAA tournament opening rounds in 2008, 2012 and 2015. “When you consider the success of the College World Series and the Swimming Trials, there’s absolutely no reason to consider Omaha a surprise host anymore,” says Don Schumacher, former executive director of the National Association of Sports Commissions. “It is the full package,” says Mike Unger, chief operating officer for N A IV LL USA Swimming.“It is coming to a city that is actively welcoming you.” SU N DA The Olympic Swim Trials will return to Omaha in 2020. EN BR When we’re not hosting marquee, national events, we’re cheering an array of local athletic talent – from the Omaha Storm Chasers (baseball) at Werner Park to the Omaha Beef (indoor football) and Omaha Lancers (hockey) at Ralston Arena.

Corporate Cup Run

Honey Creek Creamery

KENT SIEVERS

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA A T O M A H A M AV E R I C K S

Sports include hockey, baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball. C R E I G H T O N U N I V E R S I T Y B L U E J AY S

Sports include basketball, baseball, soccer, rowing, softball and volleyball. BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY BRUINS

Sports include basketball, soccer, golf and cross country. M I D L A N D U N I V E R S I T Y WA R R I O R S

Sports include football, hockey, wrestling, volleyball and e-sports. I O WA W E S T E R N C O M M U N I T Y COLLEGE REIVERS

G O I N G T H E D I S TA N C E

While opportunities to spectate abound, Greater Omaha isn’t hurting for avenues of activity either. We have some of the most vibrant sports and recreation programs in the country, including adult kickball and bocce ball leagues, a wealth of golf courses and an expansive jogging/bike trail system. Road races of varying distances, supporting an array of charities, run year-round – from the vibrant Color Run in July to the Glow ‘N’ Go 5K and perennially packed Corporate Cup 10K in September. For those looking to up the endurance ante, the Omaha Women’s Triathlon is a swim-bike-run blast in June, and the Omaha, Heartland and Nebraska Marathons offer 26.2-mile “tours” of the city in late September and October.

SARAH HOFFMAN

JUST FOR KICKS

If you prefer activity that doubles as entertainment, check into our many “daycation” options: • Hoofing it around our world-renowned Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium • Hiking through Fontenelle Forest, Neale Woods or one of our many state parks. • Ziplining at Mount Crescent or Eugene T. Mahoney State Park’s new Go Ape Treetop Adventure. • Boating, jet skiing, paddleboarding or otherwise making a water-sport splash at one of our area lakes. • Joining the “kids” for the latest yoga craze. Two locations in Honey Creek, Iowa – about 25 minutes outside of Omaha – began offering goat yoga this spring.

Sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, football, soccer, volleyball and more.

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Fremont Lakes State Rec Area

Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch

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Seymour Smith Park

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Fontenelle Forest Nature Center

No coast. No problem. We live in the center and still make waves year-round. 62 â&#x20AC;¢ We Play

Wehrspann Lake

Carter Lake

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Weeping Water FO NT EN EL LE FO RE ST NA TU RE CE NT

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Mahoney State Park

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Mt. Crescent

Prairie Queen Rec Area

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Elkhorn River Springfield Drug and Soda Fountain

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Hitchcock Nature Center

UNMC skating rink

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Memorial Park

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BILL SITZMANN

Eye for adventure B

ill Sitzmann loves what he does (professional photography), where he does it (we’ll get there), and who he often does it with (wife Kim and Ty,11, and Parker, 6). Talk about hitting the personal satisfaction trifecta! “The most profound thing in all of this – we are together for two to three weeks,” Bill says.“I feel like there is a lot of growth and a lot of parenting that happens during that time. It’s really been a bonding thing.” Picture some of the nation’s most beautiful national parks – Zion in Utah, Olympic in Washington, Mesa Verde in Colorado – Bill and his family have been there, hiking, camping and enjoying as Dad pauses for an epic snapshot here, a clip of video there. “I’ve spent the last three years building a portfolio that’s really geared toward outdoor recreation; finding pretty places, embedding myself and getting immersed in them,” Bill says.“I’ll travel for a couple of weeks, build a bunch of content, and then come back to Omaha and regroup.” He sells some of his nature work to stock photo clearinghouses. Long term, he hopes to help a couple of different brands create their look books. He also sees a coffee table compilation in his future. When he’s not loading up the Sprinter Van and adventuring with his family, Bill does editorial and commercial advertising photography for widely known clients – from locals Borsheims and TD Ameritrade to Sony/BMG Records, Money Magazine and Rolling Stone Magazine. He also serves as associate publisher for Omaha Magazine. He says Omaha, with its low cost of living and easy access to both coasts, is the perfect home base for a photographer (and anyone else) who loves to travel and see new things. “Omaha is very advantageous to that sort of lifestyle. It’s pretty hard to beat what we have here,” including our own backdrops for beautiful shoots. Fontenelle Forest, Hitchcock Nature Center and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge are just a few of his favorites.

“Omaha is the perfect homebase for anyone who loves to travel.” 66 • We Play

WILLIAM HESS

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A champion’s playground We rally time and again with a high-powered sports scene that excites and inspires, supplying the highlights one hoop, home run and knockout at a time.

The International

Elite Eight

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N VA RE

Olympic Curling Trials

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College World Series

Terence “Bud” Crawford

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Iowa Western Reivers

Omaha Storm Chasers IO

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Omaha Lancers MA

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Midland Warriors

UNO Mavericks

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High-octane sports When we’re not hosting marquee national events, we’re cheering our incredible, local athletic talent – from the Omaha Storm Chasers on the diamond and the Omaha Lancers on the ice, to our college teams that excel at bringing the noise.

High school lacrosse

Bellevue University Bruins BR

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Creighton Bluejays

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Day escapes All of our great escapes are an easy drive from home – a “daycation” just waiting to unfold.

Flanagan Lake

Lauritzen Gardens

Hitchcock Nature Center

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Platte River State Park We Play • 73

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

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Slattery Vintage Estates

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River City Star

Werner Park

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Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Walnut Creek Recreation Area

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Louisville State Recreation Area Gene Leahy Mall CH

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S P O N S O R E D F E AT U R E OM

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OMAHA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Extending the classroom

he children in Luisa Palomo Hare’s kindergarten class share a tremendous amount of ownership when it comes to the Omaha Children’s Museum. Because their school, Liberty Elementary, is across the street from the museum, her kids visit often – upward of six times a year. She says they love the opportunity to interact with the hands-on exhibits and learning activities – and when they see other children showing behavior unbecoming of their expectations, they aren’t afraid to speak up. “They love coming to Omaha Children’s Museum, and they visit so often, they often think of it as their museum, and that means everyone needs to treat it with respect and appreciate it,” says Palomo Hare, a member of the museum’s board of directors for the past few years. “I’m a big believer that it’s very important to put play back into the classroom – into learning – and Omaha Children’s Museum does a great job doing that.” Experiential – or hands-on – learning isn’t a new thing used in education. It’s been around for years – as long as kids have played outside with their friends and learned to socialize while exploring nature in their own backyards. Today, however, parents are choosing more controlled, safe environments for their children to learn through play – and Omaha Children’s Museum is an engaging hub. The museum’s interactive exhibits are intentionally designed to develop the executive brain function skills that every child needs to be successful at

76 • We Play

school, home and as an adult. “In our Imagination Playground, children can learn about handling money, grocery shopping, sorting, etc., through role-playing – taking what they are learning in the classroom and playing/acting it out in our First National Bank and Hy-Vee exhibits,” says Omaha Children’s Museum Executive Director Lindy Hoyer. “The same goes for our Super Graviton, a massive ball machine where kids learn about gravity, velocity and momentum. The best part is, they have so much fun that they don’t even realize they’re learning while they’re playing.” Mixed in with its permanent exhibits, museum staff imagines, creates and builds several temporary experiential learning exhibits each year. Hoyer says the process is a full-staff effort – bringing together many imaginations to create experiential learning opportunities each year for Palomo Hare’s students and thousands of other children. Through the Omaha Children’s Museum’s Welcome Fund – which significantly reduces the cost of memberships for low-income families – these opportunities reach more children from all parts of the city so they, too, can experience playing-to-learn. “We make it a point to stay current on childhood studies so we create exhibits that make hands-on learning fun for the entire family,” says Hoyer, who has been executive director for 16 years.“We’ve really focused on getting better about knowing what kids need to learn. It’s something we’ve done from the beginning and will always do to help children learn while playing.”

Inspiring the next generation of

leaders through hands-on learning and

play.

The mission of Omaha Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum is to engage the imagination and create excitement about learning. We

are

Omahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

primary

participatory

museum

designed to engage the entire family by providing hands-on exhibits, workshops, and special events that put children in touch with their ever-changing world.

Gene Leahy Mall

78 â&#x20AC;¢ We Live

We live Whether you want to live in the core, on the outskirts or somewhere in between, your “this is the one” is waiting – from newer multi-levels in the suburbs to historic homes in the heart of the city, from midtown condos with concierge service to acreages with room for horses.

B R E N D A N S U L L I VA N

We Live • 79

Your life, your way

Founders Row

Diversity. Stability. Affordability. These are the foundations of our housing scene, and they converge in communities across our region. What kind of an environment connects best with you and your family? We’re confident you’re going to find it – and thrive in it – right here.

B R E N D A N S U L L I VA N

URBAN

KU RT A.

Downtown Fremont

KE EL ER

80 • We Live

Our resurgent urban core is proving positively magnetic for young professionals and empty nesters alike. Both are finding an abundance of housing options here – from condominiums and lofts to row houses and town house developments. NU Style Development, a local leader in adaptive reuse, is adding more than 730 downtown apartments to our residential portfolio by transforming the former Creighton University Medical Center into the Atlas. The state’s largest single structure of market-rate apartments, it opened its first wave of rentals early this summer. Most tenants are expected to be young professionals and Creighton University students who can walk or bike to their connected campus via a steel truss bridge. Council Bluffs’ historic 100 Block has experienced its own resurgence in recent years with the opening of the $7 million Sawyer Building, which includes 26 apartments, 10 town homes and almost 9,000 square feet of commercial space, and the stylish Hughes-Irons Flats in the beautifully restored HughesIrons building.

CHRIS CHRISTEN

CHRIS MACHIAN

KURT A. KEELER

HISTORIC

SUBURBAN

RURAL

If your tastes lean more toward deeply rooted, our parade of historic neighborhoods includes Field Club, the Gold Coast/Cathedral Neighborhood, Dundee (our first suburb), Benson and the Blackstone District. The Blackstone is booming with new restaurants, commercial retail space and housing, including the Blackstone Corner and the Blackstone Depot.

Newer homes (from starter to spacious), green space and easy access to grocery stores, restaurants and recreation are hallmarks of our many suburbs. One of the fastestgrowing is located on the western edge of Sarpy County. Gretna, nestled between Omaha and Lincoln, offers booming housing developments and easy access to Interstate 80. Fellow Sarpy County suburbs Papillion and La Vista each received a shout on Money’s 2017 list of Top 100 Best Places to Live in the Midwest – No. 65 and No. 69, respectively.

Those craving a little extra space – and a taste of country living – can head south from the metro to the rolling hills of Cass County, which is one of the largest and earliest-settled counties in the state. Acreages abound with horse stables and wildlife – and a convenient proximity to both Omaha and Lincoln. In fact, our six-county region means rural life is within an easy commute of our metropolitan epicenter. Whether you choose lush Pottawattamie County, agriculture-rich Dodge County or Washington County, home to popular Fort Atkinson and the 650-acre Blair Biorefinery Campus, life with abundant space and sky is just a stone’s throw from OmahaCouncil Bluffs.

We Live • 81

Blackstone District

CHRIS CHRISTEN

MIXED USE

Bluewater, Valley JEFFREY BEBEE

L U X U RY L A K E L I V I N G

Even though we don’t coast, we still immerse ourselves in lake living. Ritz Lake, for one, is a spring-fed, sand-bottom lake development on the edge of Fremont, featuring 80 large shoreline lots and a short commute to west Omaha. Another emerging development, Bluewater, is a former sand-and-gravel operation that is being transformed into a “graceful lakefront residential community” outside of Valley. It boasts nearly 250 acres of water for boating and fishing, with more than seven miles of pure sand beaches. 82 • We Live

Are you a multi-tasker? Want a neighborhood to match? We’re perfecting the mixed-use development – multimilliondollar additions to the cityscape that revel in offering one-stop live, shop, dine and play walkability and convenience. • Midtown Crossing, a catalyst for revival in historic midtown Omaha, boasts ultracontemporary apartments and luxury condominiums just a short drive from downtown Omaha, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University. • Aksarben Village, another of our crackling mixed-use developments, is flourishing with three upscale apartment buildings – the Broadmoor, CUE and Pinhook Flats. •Newer on the scene is the Highlander Neighborhood, a vibrant community that includes row houses, live-work town houses and traditional apartment buildings, all in proximity to the Highlander Accelerator, a conduit for the transformative power of education, engagement and enrichment.

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We Live • 83

J AY M E S S I M E

Urban to the core T

he vibe and the 360-degree view from the rooftop. That’s what sealed it for Jaymes Sime, executive director of nonprofit Micah House. Last year, he made the move to The Breakers, a former power plant that has become a 214-unit downtown apartment complex. “I tell people to take Leavenworth Street all the way to the river and you’ll find The Breakers,” he says.“Access to Heartland of America Park, the riverfront and the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is a breeze from The Breakers.” Jaymes encourages others who are thinking about settling in the urban core to go for it. “In life, fear will prevent you from doing a lot of things; don’t let it prevent you from living in an environment that will inspire and excite you. It’s a great time to be in the urban core. The development of the Capitol District and River’s Edge in Council Bluffs is exciting to see. There is also much anticipation about the potential redevelopment of the Conagra campus and Gene Leahy Mall. “After a year of living in the urban core, I’m still learning about how to take advantage of the location, and it’s always exciting to find a new trail, restaurant or shop that is right in the neighborhood.”

84 • We Live

ERIC FRANCIS

“The urban lifestyle offers an excitement and pulse that sometimes is missing in neighborhoods.”

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Reconciling how and where you want to live has never been easier – all without sacrificing the region-wide amenities we love, including quality schools and a cost of living well below the national average.

A place to suit your taste

Clover takes care of the business side of your business. Get paid, sell more and run your business better with Clover in your corner. To learn more, visit www.clover.com or call Austin Parks, 402-249-4723. ÂŠ 2018 First Data Corporation. All Rights Reserved. The CloverÂŽ name and logo are registered trademarks owned by Clover Network, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of First Data Corporation, and are registered or used in the U.S. and many 2112402-01 foreign countries.

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KENT SIEVERS

MIKE VON WEIHE

New agri-urban commute M

ike Von Weihe has found the worklife balance that works perfectly for him. “I’m pretty content,” he says. A third-generation farmer, Mike has both figurative and literal roots in Carson, Iowa, his hometown and home to his family’s 77-yearold Old Tree Farm. “I love where I grew up and I love working on a farm. But I wasn’t – and still am not – ready to live there full time,” Mike says. His solution? A reverse commute:“There are so many people who live in Carson and commute to Omaha for work. I thought,‘Why can’t I do the opposite and have the social-

personal time that I want to have in Omaha?’” Turns out, with a little compromise, he absolutely could. During the growing season (March-November), Mike is on the farm every day and usually stays there three nights a week. The rest of the time, he and his partner live in the L15 Lofts, a converted cardboard factory in downtown Omaha that is a short walk to our historic Old Market and a reasonable 45-minute commute to Old Tree Farm. “We just love the look of lofts and being close to things to do,” Mike says.“I like being able to look out the window and see old brick and buildings that have history and character.”

On summer Saturdays, work and life merge about a half-mile from his apartment. Mike’s organically grown vegetables and vineyard-grown grapes are regulars at the downtown Omaha Farmers Market. He also sells on summer Sundays at Omaha farmers markets in Aksarben Village and downtown Omaha. “I thrive off that kind of direct interaction with customers,” he says. A working farmer since 2010, the urbanrural lifestyle blend has really grown on him: “I can get away and experience nature, but also experience the city whenever I want.”

“There are so many people who live in Carson and commute to Omaha for work. I thought,‘Why can’t I do the opposite?’” 88 • We Live

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We inspire Dream big and go for it.

A world of opportunity awaits at our award-winning schools and nationally recognized universities. Innovation and experience work in tandem, improving education for students of all ages. To them we say: Study hard and make it happen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no coasting allowed. KENT SIEVERS

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Passionate learners What is your child’s passion, and if we nurture it, where will it lead? We’re as eager as you are to find out. Our award-winning network of public and private schools, colleges and universities excels at pushing students inside the classroom and beyond, 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.

Hoover Elementary School

JOE SHEARER

STUDY HARD.

Our K-12 landscape, which spans six counties, encompasses more than 300 public and private educational institutions, including a diverse population of magnet schools that focuses on targeted subjects (e.g. , engineering, math, or music and media technology). ENGAGE YOUR BRAIN.

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

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 Medical Center. •Bellevue University •Clarkson College •College of Saint Mary •The Creative Center-College of Art and Design •Creighton University •Creighton University Medical Center •Doane University Omaha South High School 92 • We Inspire

•Iowa Western Community College •Metropolitan Community College •Midland University •Nebraska Christian College •Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health •Purdue University •University of Nebraska at Omaha •University of Nebraska Medical Center

Unique educational experiences aren’t confined to traditional classrooms. Community organizations and partnerships are enlightening, enriching – and uplifting.

Developing Mind, Soul and Body One of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading college prep educations for young men

A LOOK AT 2018

Class size: 57 Average ACT Score: 28.6 42% received 30 or higher $7.72 million was received in scholarships, averaging nearly $135,500 per graduate 1/3 of the class received 4-year full tuition scholarships to college Accepted for admission to 87 colleges in 30 states

mountmichael.com

admissions@mountmichael.org 22520 Mount Michael Road | Elkhorn, NE 68022

402.238.1457

String Sprouts

JOE SHEARER

O M A H A C O N S E R VA T O R Y OF MUSIC

Surreal Media Lab

COURTESY OF JASON FISCHER

CAREEROCKIT

Nebraska and Iowa’s largest, weeklong business/student learning initiative, Careerockit, ushered in another educational win for the region: More than 21,600 unique student experiences created by 200 organizations in six counties. The goal: to create career interest, grow the area’s talent pipeline and connect organizations with future employees. Experiences were custom-tailored to meet students’ needs and were available in a variety of industries, spotlighting a host of careers. “Exploration of what could be builds hope for students,” said Jim Sutfin, superintendent of the Millard Public Schools.“A thriving city has a pipeline from school to career. This is one step schools and businesses can take together to show our young people that they have a bright future right here in our amazing city. In Omaha, we don’t coast!” Sutfin, who champions inclusive, preparatory, world-class education, added,“Careerockit is an opportunity for students to explore careers and business leaders to create awareness about future jobs. I want our students to be thinking about careers that interest them and build upon their talents.”

94 • We Inspire

Omaha Conservatory of Music’s artistfaculty challenges and inspires a student body of more than 400 conservatory musicians and touches the lives of countless others through special programs, including String Sprouts. This groundbreaking offering connects children ages 3 through 8 in underserved areas to free violin, viola and cello classes. Not only are they learning to play a stringed instrument but they’re also showing significant improvement in schoolreadiness skills. SMART GIRL SOCIETY INC.

Working to “change society one Smart Girl at a time,” Smart Girl Society Inc. is on track to speak to 10,000 students and 10,000 parents and educators this year, encouraging authenticity and critical thinking skills in the digital age and educating on how to remain safe, private and on-brand on social media. Amie Konwinski, Smart Girl Society’s founder and CEO, says she launched the nonprofit to “disrupt the trajectory of negative digital behaviors and social media impacts in our community while simultaneously raising awareness, safety and positive self-worth in our youth.” Smart Girl Society accomplishes its mission through in-school student seminars and parenting workshops, innovative technology platforms and social media research.

Seniors earned $51 Million in Scholarships!

T S A O C T ’

N O D WE We

! t i d e earn

Millard Public Schools • 5606 S. 147th St. • Omaha. NE 68137 www.mpsomaha.org Instagram: MPSCommunicates Twitter:@MillardPS Facebook: MillardPublicSchools PAID FOR BY OUR FANTASTIC COMMUNITY SPONSORS OF THE MILLARD ACTIVITIES EXPRESS NEWSPAPER

Creating opportunities for children and families

Their Future. Our Future.

VISIT LearningCommunityDS.org

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L VE IS OUR MISSION Duchesne Academy and Preschool is a proud member of an international network of Sacred Heart schools, including 24 schools in the United States and Canada. Together we provide services and programs that promote and stimulate creative education and leadership. 3601 Burt Street Omaha, Nebraska 68131 DuchesneAcademy.org

Learning Community

Dreams and degrees connect here We’re a hub for higher education that includes some of the nation’s leading colleges and universities.

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Metropolitan Community College

University of Nebraska at Omaha

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Midland University Creighton University 98 • We Inspire

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We Inspire â&#x20AC;¢ 99

Our Our Focus Focus is is

Master Master of Business of Business Administration Administration (MBA) (MBA) Fully Fully online online Master Master of Science of Science in Education in Education (MSE) (MSE) 12 fully 12 fully online online options options available available Master Master of Science of Science in Organizational in Organizational Management Management (MSOM) (MSOM) - Fully - Fully online online Resource Resource â&#x20AC;˘ Human â&#x20AC;˘ Human Management Management Management Management â&#x20AC;˘ Information â&#x20AC;˘ Information Technology Technology â&#x20AC;˘ Sport â&#x20AC;˘ Sport andand Recreation Recreation Management Management â&#x20AC;˘ Public â&#x20AC;˘ Public Administration Administration Education Education Specialist Specialist (Ed.S.) (Ed.S.) - Fully - Fully online online

learn learn more more

www.wsc.edu/graduate www.wsc.edu/graduate

Nationally-Ranked Nationally-Ranked Graduate Graduate Programs Programs

No. 1No. in the 1 inNation the Nation (MSE(MSE program, program, 2018-19) 2018-19) Wayne Wayne StateState College College

No. 3No. in the 3 inNation the Nation (MBA(MBA program, program, 2018) 2018)

www.wsc.edu www.wsc.edu

No. 3No. in the 3 inNation the Nation (MBA(MBA program, program, 2018) 2018)

11111111 MainMain St. Wayne, St. Wayne, NE 68787 NE 68787

No. 5No. in the 5 inNation the Nation (Online (Online masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees, degrees, 2018) 2018)

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Your Future Your Future

The future of your business depends on quality employees with four-year degrees. Wayne State has the programs, partnerships, facilities to build a four-year great degrees. The future of your business dependsand on quality employees with Wayne State has the programs, partnerships, and facilities to build a great workforce for Nebraska. workforce for Nebraska.

â&#x20AC;˘ State-of-the-art learning environment, includingincluding our newour$15.2-million Center forfor â&#x20AC;˘ State-of-the-art learning environment, new $15.2-million Center Applied(2019) Technology (2019) Applied Technology â&#x20AC;˘ A solid work ethic that from a rigorous curriculum â&#x20AC;˘ A solid work ethic that comes fromcomes a rigorous curriculum â&#x20AC;˘

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ Our graduates are in high demand across the state â&#x20AC;˘ Our graduates are in high demand across the state Learn more about our Career Fairs, on-campus interviewing and recruiting, and how Learn more about our Career on-campus interviewing and recruiting, and how to advertise your Fairs, position on campus at

to advertise your position on campus at

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based on the most recent graduate survey based on the most recent graduate survey 2114670-02

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A new approach to corporate training The Metropolitan Community College Workforce Innovation Division offers corporate training on site, online or at the MCC Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology. Training classes can be scheduled for days, nights or weekends. WID offers: • Customized, company-specific employee training • Industry-recognized workshops • Job analysis to create training and proper resources • Post-hire coaching and training to help train and retain new hires To learn more about WID and its offerings, visit mccneb.edu/wid or call 531-MCC-4943. Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.

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What will you do with the tools of innovation? Improve your business, solve a complex problem, take action. Start by thinking like a designer. Our Design Thinking program, led by C-suite design-thinking experts, will prepare you to put innovative skills into practice. Sign up for the interactive online badge program: creighton.edu/designthinking

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We Exceed Expections!

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OUR AGENTS = YOUR SUCCESS A fair salary, generous benefits package, flexible hours, tuition assistance, management apprenticeship program and working close to home. All these things result in happy, dedicated, enthusiastic employees. Exactly the kind you want talking to your customers. We Help your Customers, You Help our Community

“We’re helping people create a vision for what their life can be like. Our responsibility is putting people on a path to achieve that.” Carmen Tapio, founder, president & CEO of North End Teleservices

Call us today (402) 934-5724 www.northendteleservices.com

“Omaha is great for access to resources, education, jobs and activities.”

CHRIS CHRISTEN

B R E VA N J O R G E N S O N

Driven by technology F

riends and family told him he was going to break his brand-new car – or worse, get himself killed. But Brevan Jorgenson didn’t listen. He converted his 2016 Honda Civic into one of Nebraska’s first self-driving cars. That’s how the recent University of Nebraska at Omaha grad rolls. “I love giving people rides,” he says.“When I watch their faces the first time they sit behind the wheel and it starts driving itself, it’s indescribable.” The project – driven by curiosity, ability and a couple of YouTube videos – has gained Brevan national attention, including an article in the MIT Technology Review and speaking engagements at the Drone Focus Conference

104 • We Inspire

in Fargo, North Dakota, and TEDxMileHigh in Denver, Colorado. “The best part about the attention is getting to share my knowledge and experiences to educate others,” he says. Brevan completed the upgrade over a couple of weeks last year. He reports no crashes or other issues. His Civic is partially automated (Level 2), meaning it can steer itself, accelerate and brake in certain conditions. He believes it’ll be at least 20 years before total (Level 5) autonomy and related benefits are the norm. “Self-driving cars will allow our society to continue to increase its trend of a more productive workweek. Imagine if those 45

minutes you lose on your morning commute became productive time.” Brevan graduated in May with two technology degrees. He works full time at UNO as a technical consultant and is pursuing a master’s degree in instructional technology. through online study. Living here, he says, made it “easy to get a great and affordable education that led to a career that is supportive of my hobbies outside of the office.” He’s eager to see what opportunities lie ahead as he begins his career. “I have always found the community to be supportive of innovative ideas from youth and young professionals.”

We make it convenient for you to continue working full-time while pursing your advanced degree. • Doctor of Education

• Master in Health Sciences

• Master in Occupational Therapy

• Master of Science in Kinesiology & Exercise Science

• Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies • Master of Arts in Teaching

• Master of Science in Nursing • Master of Science in Organizational Leadership CSM.EDU/GRADUATEPROGRAMS 402-399-2355 • 7000 Mercy Road • Omaha, Neb. 68106

College of Saint Mary graduate programs are open to both men and women. College of Saint Mary is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL, 60604-1413. 800-621-7440.

“This is a very family friendly city, and my daughter is getting a great education.”

ERIC FRANCIS

SHANNON HAINES, M.D.

Bold dream fulfilled C

hasing lofty goals. Always focusing on the finish, even in the face of incredible odds. Our community is filled with people who embody that “We Don’t Coast” mindset, including Shannon Haines, M.D., and her 12-year-old daughter, Kaylee. A mother at 17, Shannon refused to let her dream of becoming a doctor fade. She juggled the demanding roles of parent and student, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2013. A year later, backed by a degree in biotechnology, the single mom of an 106 • We Inspire

elementary-schooler began medical school. “I owed it to my daughter and to other teen parents in my situation,” she says.“I owed it to them to keep going and be a role model.” Over the years, daughter Kaylee did her part, serving as her mom’s study partner, dealing with endless piles of flashcards and tagging along at study sessions and medical events. (Shannon jokes that Kaylee deserves her own biotechology degree.) Chasing lofty goals. Always focusing on the finish. Shannon graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of

Medicine in May and two months later began her residency in pediatrics at the UNMC. For other young parents with bold dreams, she offers this advice: • Set realistic expectations.“It might take you an extra year or two to get your dreams accomplished.” • Don’t be afraid to look for or ask for help — especially single parents.“We’re not good at asking for help.” • Don’t give up.“Eventually you’ll be able to get there… It’s possible to achieve your dreams.” In other words, no coasting allowed.

Trusted Service. Sound Advice.

That’s Why Omaha Business Banks On Us. When you need solutions to the challenges you face, turn to Great Western Bank because we take the time to get to know you and your business. From simple business checking accounts to flexible lines of credit, cash management services, and security and convenience-enhancing technologies, you can always count on the people of Great Western Bank. Come in and visit with your business banker. After all, we enjoy Making Life Great for businesses, too.

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ACCESS TO EXCEP TIONAL

CONNECTIONS UNO’s network of Mavericks stretches across Omaha and beyond.

You’ll have access to programs that lead to internships, careers, and lifelong relationships within a thriving, global community of Mavericks. At UNO, sharing ideas and discovering your purpose are only limited by your imagination.

[ K NO W.UNOM A H A .EDU ]

2112666-01 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BASED ON RACE, COLOR, ETHNICITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, PREGNANCY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, RELIGION, DISABILITY, AGE, GENETIC INFORMATION, VETERAN STATUS, MARITAL STATUS, AND/OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION IN ITS PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, OR EMPLOYMENT. 0196ADUC1018V

We Inspire • 107

We care Generosity and compassion are in our DNA

108 â&#x20AC;˘ We Care

Holi Festival, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Ours is a community that works and celebrates together, and when hardship happens, we pull together. Generosity isn’t an extraordinary act here. It’s a way of life – and the lifeblood of so many organizations and individuals striving to make a difference in our region. KENT SIEVERS

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Unbridled Acres

‘It’s easy to do good. Together.’ It’s a core aspect of our “We Don’t Coast”mindset – a foundational belief that being others-focused is more than an occasional way to live, it’s a wall-to-wall way of life.

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24 Hours of Impact

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Siena-Francis House

That kind of thinking inspired Mosah Fernandez Goodman to launch 24 Hours of Impact with six other cofounders. The concept is simple: Local companies and organizations choose exactly one hour to do as much good as they can. The type of good is totally up to them. Over the last four years – including 24 Hours on July 27, 2018 – projects have run the gamut. The SecretPenguin team spent an hour delivering food and water to the homeless – by skateboard. Gavilon organized a Karaoke Hour, and ACCESSbank put sponge and soap to work in a fundraising carwash. “It’s incredibly important to be a strong corporate citizen,” Mosah says.“It makes sense to do good. It’s easy to do good in this way.” All in this together – with examples of compassion and generosity all around us. Big-hearted donors fortify our medical centers and cultural institutions. Our private sector routinely backs ambitious community improvement projects. An array of charitable foundations channels our giving into widespread community impact. Last May, the Omaha Community Foundation tapped into our spirit of giving with another Omaha Gives! fundraising challenge. The online effort raised more than $7.4 million in 24 hours to benefit 970 nonprofit organizations, including the

United Way of the Midlands

Race for the Cure

RE BE CC A S. GR AT Z KE

Nebraska Humane Society, Siena-Francis House, Habitat for Humanity Omaha and Food Bank for the Heartland. Since its start in 2013, Omaha Gives! has brought in more than $42 million. Portions of that generosity have benefited both Lutheran Family Services and Methodist Health System, two organizations that expanded their outreach to the underserved last fall. In partnership with Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church, they dedicated Kountze Commons, a facility that houses four services – a food pantry, a behavioral health clinic and two medical clinics – in the heart of the city. “We knew that collectively we would serve a greater purpose,” says Josie Abboud, Methodist’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. Colin Nabity, CEO and founder of LeverageRx, is committed to caring for the caregivers. His booming startup – an online marketplace – makes it easy for doctors to compare and shop for loans and insurance. Sue Miller-Harsin, a licensed therapist for 35 years, is impacting lives in her own way near Blair in Washington County. Certified in equine-assisted psychotherapy, Sue runs Unbridled Acres and uses her stable of horses to help clients build confidence, overcome anxiety, strengthen communication skills and develop leadership skills.“What we’re trying to do is help people overcome fear and dig inside themselves to solve a problem,” she says. In other words, embrace yet another aspect of our “We Don’t Coast” mindset.

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C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I TA L & M E D I C A L C E N T E R

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“To improve the life of every child.” At Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, this is our mission – and it’s the heart of everything we do. As the region’s pediatric health care leader, we’re dedicated to exceptional clinical care, research, education and advocacy. 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 and transformation. Now more than ever, the demand for high-quality pediatric services is on the rise. In response, Children’s is expanding – in size, scope and services – to continue to meet the needs of children and families. “Children are 20 percent of our population – and 100

percent of our future,” says Richard G. Azizkhan, M.D., Children’s president and CEO. “We’re evolving and investing today to improve the lives of children and families for generations to come.” Perhaps 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. The Hubbard Center for Children will be a nine-story, state-of-the-art clinical facility, opening in 2021. It 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. As Children’s physical footprint grows, so does its national reputation. U.S. News & World Report cited five

of our specialties in its 2018-19 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings: Cardiology and Heart Surgery, Pulmonology, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Orthopedics and Diabetes & Endocrine Disorders. This is the highest number of specialties Children’s has ranked since participating in the nationwide survey. “This recognition reflects our commitment to providing the highest quality of subspecialty care for the children and families we serve,” says Dr. Azizkhan.“We are honored and humbled to be a part of this elite group, and we will continue to challenge ourselves to further improve care to benefit children.” We don’t coast. We care. We innovate. We grow… to improve the life of every child. To learn more, visit ChildrensOmaha.org, or follow @ChildrensOmaha on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We Care • 113

Creighton University Medical Center

M ET HO DI ST HE AL TH SY ST EM

Nebraska Methodist College C

Optimal care

HE HI

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals

Fueled by an unrelenting quest for excellence, our health care community has earned a reputation for world-class treatment and research in cutting-edge facilities, including two internationally recognized medical schools. At the heart of it all are people, skilled and determined, creating legacies of hope and healing, elevating the well-being of our entire region.

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Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital & Medical Center UNMC College of Public Health KE NT SI EV ER S

114 â&#x20AC;˘ We Care

NOW YOU CAN Success in rehabilitation is measured in breakthroughsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;taking a step after a traumatic brain injury, finding your voice after a stroke, feeling a loved oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s touch after a spinal cord injury. Madonna is world-class rehabilitation. We rebuild the lives of people who have sustained traumatic injuries or illness. Our physician leadership and clinical expertise, break-through research and innovative technology instills hope, promotes healing and enables patients and families to understand the real possibilities of NOW YOU CAN.

madonna.org | 800.676.5448

onceived more than 10 years ago, the Tri-Faith Initiative is believed to be a global pioneer in its approach and ambitions — “a model for peaceful coexistence” that brings a synagogue (Temple Israel), a church (Countryside Community Church) and a mosque (The American Muslim Institute) together, by design, on one campus. The synagogue and mosque are now open. The church is slated to open in spring 2019. Fundraising is wrapping up for a fourth building – a shared Tri-Faith Center – that will open in 2019 or 2020.

F I V E V O I C E S O N O M A H A’ S P I O N E E R I N G T R I - F A I T H I N I T I AT I V E :

“ “ “ “ “

This initiative is helping people realize their relationship with God, their relationship with the creatures of God and their relationship with their neighbors.That can reduce a lot of tension and misunderstanding. From that perspective, it’s a positive. It’s good; it’s constructive. It’s an initiative that should give hope to people in general and people of faith in particular.” – Imam Mohamad Jamal Daoudi, American Muslim Institute I am re-learning a lesson I always seem to forget – that the most extraordinary things happen through ordinary people acting with extraordinary faithfulness.There are no ‘rock stars’ in the Tri-Faith Initiative.We are simply citizens of Omaha, Nebraska, who are trying to become the change we seek for our community and the world.” – Rev. Eric Elnes, Ph.D., senior minister, Countryside Community Church I think the Tri-Faith Initiative has the potential to change the landscape of religious life in the 21st century … What we’re doing is unique and visionary and groundbreaking, and I hope it will inspire people of different faiths around the world to come together for the purpose of building peace, friendship and mutual respect.” – Rabbi Brian Stoller, Temple Israel There’s been so much enmity and destruction over the years that has religious differences at its root. If those from the various Abrahamic faiths, at least, can get together and get to know each other – because it’s about relationships – then maybe we can destroy some of that enmity.” – Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM, President, College of Saint Mary; Chair, Tri-Faith Initiative Board of Directors The Tri-Faith Initiative needs to succeed because it represents a significant and daring investment in a new way of thinking about being neighborly. … When you get to know the religious other, you begin to see that they are very human, that they hold the same values you do in so many regards, and the walls come down on those things that seem like differences.” – Rev. Bud Heckman, executive director, Tri-Faith Initiative

T R I - FA I T H I N I T I AT I V E

A model for peace

A bold experiment. Visionary. Groundbreaking. Happening right here. APRICITY PHOTOGRAPHY

116 • We Care

A lot of good happens in this building. Years

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550+ Omaha Employees

Volunteer Hours in 2017

And we don’t stop there. We’ve grown our Midwest roots into a national organization, but we’ve called Omaha home since the beginning. Our $10.98 billion* life insurance company gives back to local communities nationwide, plus we’re a great place to work. Find out more at WoodmenLife.org.

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LANDON HARDING

ven though he’s allergic to cats and his dad is allergic to dogs, 13-year-old Landon Harding has enhanced the lives of hundreds of pets. Call it altruism – unleashed. “This was his way of doing something for the animals since we can’t adopt,” says Landon’s mother, Amy. The eighth-grader honed his charitable fetching skills last fall, rallying donations for Houston-area pets impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Amy spread the word on social media, and the community responded with a roar, piling cages, kennels, food, toys, towels and more at the Hardings’ doorstep. “We got a whole load of donations,” Landon says,“more than I could ever imagine.” Landon and his parents partnered with Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue, a nonprofit dog rescue organization, to get the supplies from the family dining room down to needy pet shelters, rescuers and families along Texas’ Gulf Coast, including the hard-hit towns of Splendora and Dickinson. Landon’s total haul filled three vehicles and one trailer. “All of us at Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue were moved by Landon’s compassion and dedication to helping pets in need. It was certainly an honor to work with him on this project, which embodies everything true rescue is made of,” says Terri Larson, founder of Muddy Paws. When Landon turned 13, he saw an opportunity for even more impact. Instead of presents, he asked friends to bring pet-focused donations. All told, he says it felt “really amazing” to receive so much support, with `everyone “coming together to help the animals.” Amy thinks her teenage son is, quite simply, the cat’s meow. “I was so proud of him and all of the effort he put into this.”

JEFFREY BEBEE

118 • We Care

Altruism unleashed “People in our community were so generous.”

COMPASSION AND EXCELLENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S HEALTH At Methodist, we’re honored to be part of a team that’s been making generations of families stronger for more than 125 years. With the latest technology and a variety of services throughout our community, we give you and your family access to comprehensive care when and where you need it. Whether it’s a minor medical need or a life-changing event, we know how important your health is, and we are dedicated to delivering the compassion you deserve. That’s what The meaning of care is all about, and it’s what you can expect from those of us who wear the Methodist badge. bestcare.org

We launch We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need a valley. We have a Silicon Prairie all our own. CreativeMornings/The Highlander

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We are the frontier. The cuttingedge. Home to inventors, investigators and innovators. We have a long history of looking forward; understanding the past to better guide the future. The next big thing happens here, in this Midwestern mecca of technology.

ERIC FRANCIS

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Dream it, build it

We’re driven by our pioneering spirit, founded and inspired by those who’ve taken nothing – and turned it into something. First National Bank, the nation’s largest privately held banking company, launched here in 1857; Union Pacific in 1862; and insurance stalwart Woodmen of the World in 1890. All serve as inspiration to a band of new pioneers. From entertainment to IT, a steady stream of “dream it, build it” ambitions are being activated right now – right here – by entrepreneurs and innovators undeterred by long hours, loud naysayers and uncertain outcomes.

BILL SITZMANN

N I G H T F O X E N T E R TA I N M E N T

With the development and debut of each new film, Timothy Christian is proving that Hollywood doesn’t have a monopoly on moviemaking. The film finance and production company he founded, Night Fox Entertainment, is Omaha-based. “I wanted to do that for two reasons: I wanted to show that you can have this kind of business in the Midwest, and I wanted to give people who wanted to be in the business – either behind or in front of the camera – an opportunity,” says Tim, who is president of the Nebraska Film Association. Backed by local investors, Night Fox makes independent films – $10 million budgets or less. Releases, so far, are 2018’s “Wilding,” a horror movie starring Liv Tyler, Brad Dourif and Bel Powley; the post-apocolyptic “Z for Zachariah” (2015); and on the “coming soon” list is CIA thriller “Headlock” and several new projects going into production soon – some of which will be shot in the Omaha area. “More than anything, our investors want Omaha and Nebraska to be successful,”Tim says.“They want to see people who have talent stay here and not take their talent to New York, L.A. or Chicago – and that drives them.”

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E D I S O N C R E AT I V E

N AT H A N I E L J E N S E N

E D I S O N C R E AT I V E

BLOCKERA

MEMOSNAG

The team at Edison Creative is known for delivering top-notch video production – both live action and animation – for its clients. A successful Kickstarter campaign has the crew exploring a new frontier: a sci-fi/western animated series.“The Axiom Chronicles,” the brainchild of illustrator/ animator Dillon Wheelock, revolves around a young hero named Rake. The pilot episode, in development and production for about two years now, could be completed in early-to-late fall. (A four-minute teaser is available online.) The crew, meantime, is working to pitch the series to Netflix and other service providers. “Whether it was story, characters or the visual design of Axiom, we were all given license to play to our strengths and contribute where we could. Mostly working on clientbased projects, Axiom became our passion project, a chance for all of us to create something of our own. It brought us together as a team and a family in a new way,” says Edison owner Luke Bolin.

The way Kyle Tut sees it, he is a prospector in the 21st century equivalent of the wild, wild west:“The future of blockchain is constantly changing, and most of it hasn’t even been written yet. It’s wild, wild west definitely.” Kyle is co-founder of BlockEra, an Omahabased startup devoted to creating, building and educating around revolutionary blockchain technology, also known as “the Internet of Money.” He says BlockEra is right at home on the Silicon Prairie “because it allows people to have more range to gain experiences they wouldn’t get elsewhere.”

Innovator Kimberly Perkins left a mid-sixfigure salary in Silicon Valley to spend more time with her three children and help grow memosnag, an application that lets users quickly save and organize content they find online. She says the choice to come to Omaha was not primarily driven by memosnag – but memosnag was a benefactor:“When we decided it was time to focus my time more on family and on our own venture, being here in Omaha – with its low cost of living – made it easier to do so.” Kimberly and her husband are not alone. More entrepreneurs are flocking from the coasts to the Midwest to make their dreams a reality. Over the past five years, the number of entrepreneurs in Greater Omaha has increased by more than 6 percent.Those entrepreneurs are earning more – $63,000 on average.That’s twice the national average and 26 percent more than those in Silicon Valley. Add to that Greater Omaha’s cost of living, which is more than 6 percent below the national average and significantly lower than other tech hubs. “In the Silicon Valley, we couldn’t afford to go down to one income to pursue building our own company.We can do it here – and that’s made all the difference,” Kimberly says. We Launch • 123

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Over 1.2 billion people still don’t have access to electric power. Power transmission structures from Valmont are helping to change that. This type of global change takes the kind of vision, can-do spirit and unwavering commitment that are the cornerstones of our community. It’s why Valmont is proud to be headquartered in Omaha. Our strong roots are what give us the power to change the world.

When developing countries want to cast their future in a different light,

“ the power we have

to help them

“

“It never gets old – walking into a store and seeing a board game with your name on it.”

ERIC FRANCIS

MARCUS ROSS

Game on More than Monopoly, way beyond Battleship, we are living in a board game renaissance. An invigorated Marcus Ross is helping to champion this new golden age by rolling the dice. A software developer by day, Marcus spends his spare evenings brainstorming, creating and marketing board games for his Omahabased design company, Water Bear Games. Titles, developed with cousin Cara Ryan, include award-winning Discount Salmon and BEEEEES! and the newly released Letter GO!. “It never gets old – walking into a store 126 • We Launch

and seeing a board game with your name on it,” says Marcus, who isn’t above wearing “ridiculous costumes” to promote Water Bear creations at various board game conventions. (A giant fish suit to market “Discount Salmon” – you get the idea…) Marcus says he dabbled in game-making as a Monopoly-obsessed child but never thought of doing it as “an actual venture” until 2010. Losing his father, he says,“was the impetus for me to start thinking,‘What do I want to do with my time?’ That’s when I really started doing board game design.”

Resources in Omaha, such as Spielbound, a board game café, have allowed Marcus to connect with a large community of designers and players that ultimately help improve his games. Have a can’t-miss idea for the nation’s next big board game? Marcus says get to it: “To do game design properly, you should first take the barest idea you have, make it into a prototype that you can play, and get it on the table as soon as possible. Everything else is just talking.”

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Meet Amber—Patient, Donor, Coordinator, Mom Blood donations saved Amber Gralheer’s life after excessive bleeding following childbirth. Today, she gives back by donating blood and coordinating blood drives. In two years, with Amber’s help, soldiers at Camp Ashland have donated more than 500 units of life-saving blood to the community.

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“Omaha is a great place to start. There’s ... plenty of economic opportunity and artists who need exposure.”

ERIC FRANCIS

X AV I E R J A C K S O N

Showcasing local talent Xavier Jackson is doing what entrepreneurs do – seeing a need and filling a need. The 24-year-old is the founding force behind Showcase, an evolving mobile platform that makes art accessible by connecting artists and art lovers. Inspired by Xavier’s own struggle to find outlets for his creative works, Showcase allows subscribers to pick from a variety of art pieces “that speak to them.” They can buy, rentto-buy or, for a minimum monthly fee, rotate through a number of different works. “It’s been a learning process for sure,” he says.“I’ve had to learn to find confidence in myself and my abilities.” 128 • We Launch

Assisting on that front is The Startup Collaborative (TSC) – a holistic, Chamberdriven business development program founded to radically improve the odds of startup success. Xavier is a TSC fellow. “They’ve been there for advice and mentorship. They’ve connected me with people I wouldn’t have met or even known to contact.” Still in the beta-testing stage, the Showcase goal is to become a location-based app, allowing users to find artists, galleries and events in any city. Beyond that, Xavier sees opportunity to help boost artistic talent in impoverished

nations.“It would be a source of hope.“ A 2017 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Xavier also launched The Foundation, a creative video production company. Not only is he doing what entrepreneurs do, but he has started doing what successful CEOs do as well. “I’ve been changing my lifestyle to fit more of a CEO lifestyle. I ‘Googled’ the top 10 things CEOs do and one of them was wake up at 4:30 every day. So, I started doing that, eating healthier and working out more.” His advice to other entrepreneurs? “Go for it. No time is going to be the perfect time.”

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At Bailey Lauerman, we have a name for the 92% of America that lives outside of its ten largest cities: The Everything In-Between.â&#x201E;˘ The people and places that defy over-generalized, inaccurate labels; that are driving both business and culture forward; that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud to represent. We are Bailey Lauerman and we are Made for America. baileylauerman.com

Jackson Lewis is a national labor and employment law firm with a longstanding Omaha office. We are committed to the Chamber’s vision to cultivate an Omaha community where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected. We are proud to be recognized as a Best Law Firm for Women by Working Mother and Law 360, and named among the Best Law Firms for Diversity by the American Lawyer.

With more than 850 attorneys in major locations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Jackson Lewis provides the resources to address every aspect of the employer-employee relationship.

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A POWERFUL FORCE IN ENERGY In 1987, we started out to build a power plant. Today, Tenaska is one of the largest and most successful independent energy companies in the United States. Forbes magazine ranks Tenaska among the largest privately held U.S. companies, with 620 employees and gross operating revenues of $10.5 billion. Headquartered in Omaha, with regional offices in Dallas, Denver, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, and Calgary and Vancouver, Canada, Tenaska is highly respected for its expertise, pursuit of opportunities and uncompromising values.

Power Generation Energy Marketing Development & Acquisitions

Tenaska.com 2114697-01

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We heat and cool downtown Omaha. With 99.9999% reliability, NRG Energy Center Omaha provides an

lower capital costs.

Omaha Downtown Service Map

Michelle Boles | 402.609.4808 | michelle.boles@nrg.com | Â Â? Â? Â? Â? Â Â Â? Â? Â&#x20AC; ÂÂ&#x201A;Â&#x192;Â&#x201E;ÂÂ&#x192;

Midtown Crossing at Turner Park

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The envy of the nation Companies, tiny to titan, flourish here – from the neighborhood mom & pop to the Fortune 500s known around the world. We work hard to keep the business climate friendly and taxes moderate. Our cost of living is low, our quality of life is high – and our steady economic growth is the envy of the nation.

We build ONELAPSE PHOTOGRAPHY

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Making an impact, excelling together

For a community to thrive, it needs to bring the “new.” New businesses. New jobs. New opportunities. Our region’s six-county economic development partnership tackles the task in a truly collaborative way, reaching across state lines to pursue higher-paying jobs, business growth and recruitment. How do we know we’re succeeding? Over the past year, we celebrated the opening or attraction of another rush of high-profile companies and institutions;

top-quality enterprises that are not only bringing the new, but also impacting lives on a local, national and global scale. They join our community of established companies that includes four Fortune 500s (Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific, Peter Kiewit Sons’ and Mutual of Omaha Insurance), five Fortune 1000s (TD Ameritrade, Green Plains, Valmont Industries, West and Werner Enterprises) and countless economy-propelling small businesses.

REGIONAL AMENITIES • An educated, skilled and motivated workforce • A cost of doing business 6.1 percent lower than the U.S. metro average • A cost of living 7.9 percent lower than the average for U.S. metros • Available, reliable utilities • Affordable real estate (office and housing) • A ring of Interstate highways, railroads, motor freight and international air service.

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CORE STRENGTHS Proud of our strong, pro-business climate, we especially excel at attracting and expanding companies in: • Agribusiness: The core of who we are – a leader in food, fuel and water industries • Financial services: With one of the highest density clusters, our business climate provides the perfect mix to thrive • Life science: Home to nationally acclaimed medical centers and one of four biocontainment units in the U.S. • Logistics: Our central location is the prime position to move people or products • Military & defense: Home to more than 65 defense-related companies and Offutt Air Force Base

S P R E E TA I L

NOVOZYMES

FA C E B O O K

S P R E E TA I L

Preserving resources, building better lives and investing in the community: Novozymes, a Danish bioscience innovator, is solving problems one enzyme at a time, and it’s doing it in Blair, Nebraska – as well as across the globe. The organization, which continues a more than $36 million expansion to its Nebraska operations, is well-positioned for ongoing success, especially with Nebraska and Iowa as the two largest ethanol-producing states in the U.S. Novozymes’ Blair plant produces enzymes used in ethanol fermentation, among other agribusiness staples.

Holding firm on its “powered by 100-percent renewable energy” promise, Facebook entered Phase 2 of its Papillion, Nebraska, expansion in Sarpy County. The organization’s massive data center also helped create an inaugural, renewable energy tariff, spawning subsequent renewable energy solutions, available to all Nebraska businesses. The result: A $300 million expansion promising hundreds of jobs in the local economy.

Nebraska startup Spreetail announced its Omaha expansion this year, projected to grow the e-commerce company by 15,000 square feet and nearly 200 employees over two years. The fast-moving innovator, with past revenue in excess of $250 million, expects the Omaha expansion, along with continued growth in Lincoln, Nebraska, to increase revenue by more than 50 percent over the next 12 months.

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BUILDING

CAREERS

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re invested in the future of Omaha.

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Rail is just one of the services we provide. Union Pacific also supports communities where we live and work, including Omaha, our hometown. We fuel the local economy with a payroll of more than 4,000 employees and charitable giving of more than $4.7 million.

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River’s Edge Pavilion

JOE SHEARER

METLIFE

TOAST

COSTCO

Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Now, the financial services and insurance leader has more than 150 customer service representatives slated for hire in downtown Omaha. They’ll join employees in a range of career positions housed in 40,000 square feet of space in the city’s cosmopolitan epicenter.

The fastest-growing restaurant-management platform in the U.S., Toast, recently made its Omaha debut. The organization, which launched in 2013, powers successful restaurants of all sizes with a technology platform that combines restaurant POS, front of house, back of house and guest-facing technology with a diverse marketplace of thirdparty applications.

Costco Wholesale Inc.’s growing economic development presence in Dodge County means the organization will realize a more than $300 million investment in the region, creating hundreds of jobs. Costco’s Fremont, Nebraska, plant alone, operating as Lincoln Premium Poultry and scheduled to open in 2019, projects nearly 380,000 square feet of processing space.

RIVER’S EDGE

LIQUID TRUCKING

Mixed-use design, pedestrian friendly and progressive, Council Bluffs, Iowa’s River’s Edge is under active development, going vertical with town homes, a Class A office building (home to Pillar Technologies’ newest Forge location) and two planned condo towers and entertainment venues designed to reflect the vibrancy of the region. The River’s Edge Pavilion, complete with a rooftop deck that accommodates 100 guests, offers conference and party space – and an impressive skyline view of Greater Omaha.

One of the nation’s 30 largest tank trucking companies is headquartered in Cass County, just south of Omaha. Liquid Trucking (family owned and Plattsmouth-founded) maintains an equipment, fabrication, fueling and transportation facility designed for consistent, on-time delivery – a facility that continues to grow to meet customer (and community) needs. Case in point: The organization is expanding its Omaha Tank Wash operation with a $1.5 million investment that includes a state-of-the art sewer infrastructure buildout, increasing customer and employee efficiency.

L I N D S AY C O R P O R A T I O N

Lindsay Corporation, a global manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology, recently announced a new Omaha headquarters. The worldwide organization has been at the forefront of research and development of innovative solutions to meet the food, fuel, fiber and transportation needs of the planet’s rapidly growing population, distributing solutions through its network of more than 350 dealers.

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LINDSAY CORPOR ATION

GLOBAL LEADER

IN IRRIGATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS

Building for the future

Iowa West Foundation

Unstoppable momentum. That’s at the heart of our We Don’t Coast mentality. We’re adding jobs, enhancing the quality of life at every turn. HD

Moselle at River’s Edge

Capitol Place

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O TT

E IT

listen.DESIGN.deliver

6457 Frances Street, Suite 200 | Omaha, Nebraska 68106 402.393.4100 | DLRGroup.com

The Atlas

Papillion Landing

R VE

The Peregrine

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O AN

O EL

E LL

R NE

T IE

T HI

OMAHA. NO BETTER PLACE TO THRIVE

Empower Tomorrow Gavilon is proud to call Omaha home. It’s not just in the middle of America’s heartland. It’s at the heart of the commodities markets around the world—from grain to feed and ingredients to fertilizer.

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Our business goes around the globe, but it all starts here. www.gavilon.com

Visit aon.com/fullpicture to learn more or contact Dave McCue, Resident Managing Director at 402.697.5213.

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Gene Leahy Mall

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BA SE 4 AR CH IT EC TS

Eppley Airfield

& EN GI NE ER S

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South 84th Street

Marriott Moxy Hotel

This is not a gym ad. This This This This

is is is is

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We don’t move business forward by going slow. Cox Business is proud to support businesses of all sizes, delivering fast and reliable connections throughout the greater metro area.

Make your connection to Cox Business today. 402.934.3254 | coxbusiness.com

OMAHA: WE DON'T COAST

KYLEE

2018

For a pediatric orthopedic specialist, call 1.800.833.3100 or visit ChildrensOmaha.org/Orthopedics.