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Publisher

Todd Lemke Omaha publication Editor

Linda Persigehl

Assistant Editors

Bailey Hemphill Chris Wolfgang Art direc tor

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junior graphic designer

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Contributing Writers

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OMAHA’S BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS MAGAZINE • spring 2013 • VOLUME 13 • NUMBER 1 Now check out B2B Omaha Magazine online. Using flipbook technology to give you a whole new magazine reading experience.

inside

on the web: www.b2boma.com

FE AT URES Royal Rebrand, Little King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Return of the Leggoons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Cover Feature: Joan Squires, Leading and Inspiring at Omaha Performing Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Omaha Business Hall of Fame 2013 Inductees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Special Section 2013 Best of B2B Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

On the Rise : Amy Mather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Business Events 2013 CREW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 OmAHA! Legends Comics and Coffee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 cover feature

Page 27

In the Office Pinnacle Bank Headquarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

columns

Social Media: What’s All the Hoopla About Hulu? . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Omaha CVB: Omaha Gets a Great Return. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Office Furniture: Get up, Get moving! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Know-It-All: Creativity, Ingenuity. and Work Ethic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Check us Out on Facebook and Find Out How to Subscribe and get a 50% discount. Search for Omaha Magazine. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 5

on the rise

S tor y b y C hris W ol f gang • P hoto b y B ill S itzmann

Amy Mather Curating Omaha with Podcasts

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

“P

eople fascinate me.”

So says Amy Mather, adult program manager at Omaha Public Library and host of the podcast “Whatever Mathers.” Friends and acquaintances had been telling her to post her knowledge of the city, about the food, the art openings. “A lot of people told me I should blog, and I really hate writing,” Mather says, “I overthink it, whereas if it’s coming out of my mouth, it comes out once.” When fellow Design Alliance Omaha board member Bryce Bridges told her she should do a podcast instead, “it took about six months for me to really consider it seriously,” www.OmahaPublications.com

she says. But after the first episode aired in September 2011 with the help of Clete Baker of Studio B, Mather embraced the idea of documenting what’s happening in the city now. “I think of it as curating Omaha,” she says with a smile. Bridges, who has a family background in radio, finalizes the themes and gathers the guests for the podcast’s three-speaker panels as executive producer of “Whatever Mathers.” “I wanted to sit people at a table and poke and prod and ask why they’re doing what they’re doing,” Bridges says of the podcast’s raison d’etre, “The only thing missing is alcohol.” He adds with a laugh that such lubrication is unnecessary thanks to the way Mather handles the hour-long conversations. “Amy has a great way of letting people just be honest. When we sit people around the table with her, good things happen.” He adds that there’s not even much editing, just a few outtakes of jokes at a podcast’s end. “I find people super interesting,” Mather admits. “There is a creativity explosion happening here. It’s an important thing to capture.” She typically asks three questions of her podcast guests, an example of which is “What do you think creativity is?” from her second podcast entitled “You don’t take sand to the beach.” “It’s a very basic question to ask, but you get so many different answers,” Mather says. Guests of “Whatever Mathers” have included local designer Steve Gordon, Design Alliance Omaha founder Tom Trenelone, acupuncturist Donna Hubert, and Anne Meysenburg of Kent Bellows Studio, just to name a few. Mather ends each podcast by asking her guests about their Big Love, encouraging them to reveal one thing they’re really excited about or have fallen in love with recently. The kale salad at Lot 2 has come up twice. Despite living in several other states for many years and only being in Omaha for five, Mather states with delight that Omaha is the center of the universe. “I mean, in five years, I’ve met tons of amazing people, and there’s all this stuff happening,” she says. “I love Omaha, and I’m really proud of it. I just want to show, you know, we’re a bunch of badasses here. Look at what we’re doing.” Interested listeners can visit whatevermathers.libsyn.com or search for “Whatever Mathers” on the iTunes store and subscribe to the podcast to hear new and old episodes. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 7

feature S t o r y b y m i c h a e l Wat k i n s • P h o t o s b y B i l l S i t z m a n n a n d W e b s t e r D e s i g n a s s o c i at e s

Royal Rebrand Little King sub shops get a makeover

Bob Wertheim, Little King’s COO, at right, hands off a sub to the chain’s co-owner and president, Nikhil Mehta.

ong before there were sandwiches hawked by Michael Phelps and Jared or commercials for subs being delivered at breakneck speed, Little King was building a product and brand featuring fresh meats and great taste right here in Omaha. Now, more than 40 years after the original store opened at 80th and Dodge streets, the Omaha-originated sub shop is undergoing a facelift while remaining true to its longstanding reputation and roots for providing a consistently outstanding product. “Little King has developed a new, fresh, and more contemporary look and feel,” said Jose Partida, vice president and chief franchising officer for the sub shops. “Our branding was dated and didn’t reflect the energy of today’s Little King. We believe our new branding offers us a solid foundation to compete with all of our competitors.” Partida said he and company president Nikhil Mehta, who bought the Little King brand and following from Chief Operating Officer Bob Wertheim, son of founder Sid Wertheim, in 2012, have been developing this new brand and positioning with local creative firm Webster Design Associates over the past 12 months. He admitted they are very proud and excited with the results and believe this is the right path for Little King’s future growth and success. He added that Little King’s core values remain the same—to provide fresh, wholesome food at a great value and in an inviting dining environment. “And of course, they’ve kept our signature sandwich, the #11!” Partida said. “If you don’t know what that means, it is the Royal Treat. We continue to slice fresh meats and produce and

bake fresh breads on a daily basis. Besides our new look, our customers will see only small changes in the Little King they have loved for over 40 years.” The current “branding rebirth” of Little King is described as the biggest evolution since the first store opened in 1969. While the company’s values have remained relatively unchanged over time, the brand continues to evolve. The new brand and position are a departure from where the company was, but there is still a strong tangible, visual connection to the past. A testament to this is the recent reopening of the Little King restaurant in the first level of the new building on 12th and Howard streets— the location where one of the first Little Kings sat for more than four decades. “‘Fresh Rules Here’ still speaks volumes

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

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The OPPD Lighting Incentive Rebate Program Matching funds w/The reEnergize Stimulus Grant Fund about where we have come from and where we are headed,” Mehta said. “At one time, Little King had over 100 units in over 17 states. Our plans are to surpass those numbers in the next five to seven years. “As a matter of fact, our 12th and Howard Street location is open again. It has undergone renovation to showcase our new corporate look and is now our flagship restaurant. We will be working with our current franchisees to convert to our new look over the next six to 12 months. Currently, we are looking at potential new sites throughout Omaha and Iowa.” To learn more about the new and improved Little King brand, visit www.littlekingsubs.com, follow it on Facebook at LittleKingDeliAndSubs and on Twitter @LittleKingSubs. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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feature S t o r y b y M i c h a e l Wat k i n s • P h o t o s b y B i l l S i t z m a n n & A j B r ow n P h o t o g r a p h y a n d p r o v i d e d b y C h a d C a r r

Return of the Leggoons

The colorful board shorts make a comeback.

had Carr’s love affair with Leggoons—the graphically obsessed, vibrantly patterned board shorts that were all the rage in Omaha and most of the nation in the late 1980s—began when his mom bought him his first pair at the Westroads Brandeis in 1985. “There were so many different designs, and they definitely stood out,” Carr said. “I hadn’t thought about Leggoons in a couple of decades until I saw someone wearing shorts in the Old Market several years ago that reminded me of them. It sparked my entrepreneurial interest in finding out what happened to them.” After doing some digging, he discovered that founders and Omaha natives Tom Ryan and Michael Kofoed had sold the logo and brand to some investors in the late ’80s. He scoured Omaha World-Herald archives for every article he could find about Leggoons, With the help of his attorney, Carr located two of the original investors to inquire about purchasing the brand and resurrecting the ’80s shorts that, at their height, rivaled Ocean Pacific and Hobe in the marketplace. The company had filed for bankruptcy in the 1990s, and after pulling the files in Missouri, where the brand moved after Ryan and Kofoed sold it, Carr purchased the rights. “I started this process eight years ago, and here we are now, bringing Leggoons back to the market with a fresh look and a nostalgic hook,” Carr said. An entrepreneur at heart—he started Ticket Express his senior year of college because he thought it would be a good way to see a lot of shows and concerts for free—Carr has never shied away from taking a chance or leap of faith.

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

Carr and family, June 1985 That’s kind of how he sees this new venture, although because of its history, he knows this brand and product already have legs, no pun intended. “I was always encouraged by my parents to work and make my own money,” said Carr, a 1988 graduate of Millard South. “I bought my first car with money I earned and saved for years from my paper route. It was always okay for me to think about working for myself instead of someone else. It was natural.” While the Leggoons name remains the same, the look and design have been updated. The men’s shorts are longer to reflect the trend while the women’s are shorter—straying from the original “unisex” appeal of the originals. Similarly, the patterns have been given a much-needed facelift to reflect today’s bold colors and designs, and, thanks to social media and the internet, the public relations and marketing strategy is much different this time around as well. “The inventors spent a lot of money on PR, had their own storefront, as well as placed the Leggoons in local and national department stores, but that’s not as important or necessary today,” said Carr, who re-launched Leggoons this past August during Omaha Fashion Week. “We’ve been able to create quite a buzz for Leggoons on Facebook and www.OmahaPublications.com

business events

feature

S t o r y b y L i n da P e r s i g e h l

Twitter, and fans of the shorts have been able to purchase them online at www.leggoons. com. Beginning this spring, Leggoons will be available in select Omaha boutiques as well, added Carr. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

“Shifting Gears” is Theme of April CREW Event

eal estate professionals from all over the region will soon converge for “shop talk” at Omaha’s 24th annual Commercial Real Estate Workshop (CREW), to be held at the CenturyLink Center Omaha on April 19, 2013. This year’s theme is “Shifting Gears – Are You Gaining Momentum?” “The CREW Planning Committee decided at our September 2012 meeting that the commercial real estate market had made a definite turn to the positive,” said Jerry Slusky, a partner with Smith Gardner Slusky Law and member of the CREW committee. “Noting that, CREW 2013 is using a bicycle theme to indicate that it’s time to shift your own gears and be in a position to take advantage of the momentum being created in the market. Each of the subjects of this year’s CREW is ‘geared’ to address that question,” Slusky explained. CREW’s keynote roundtable theme, “Crisis of Confidence: How We Fix a Flat Tire,” will include conversation with Nebraska’s top business leaders and how they view the current economy, their expectations for the short and long term, and how their views relate to job creation and real estate. As the Omaha mayoral election in May will have an economic impact on our economy, the CREW committee has invited the mayoral primary candidates to speak to attendees about their thoughts, plans, and goals for Omaha for 2013 and beyond. “All five mayoral candidates have accepted CREW’s invitation to speak at CREW 2013,” said Slusky. “The CREW Committee is preparing four or five questions that will be answered by the two mayoral finalists (decided in the April primary). It should be a very interesting.” Jason Fisher, president of The Lund Company and regular participant in CREW, commends the CREW committee’s efforts in presenting a great event. “The committee and Jerry do a great job of blending relevant national or global market trends with the primary focus on local and regional issues,” Fisher said. “Secondly, the panelists, presenters, and topics are usually representative of the real estate market in its entirety—developers, brokers, attorneys, engineers, lenders, etc…All are represented. In addition, the relationship and networking opportunity [of CREW] is unlike any other. You basically have 300+ industry-focused professionals in the same room for a full day. If you can’t have meaningful conversations about your trade at CREW, then you are probably in the wrong business.” B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 11

cover feature S t o r y b y J u dy h o r a n • P h o t o s b y b i l l s i t z m a n n

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Joan Squires

Leading and Inspiring at Omaha Performing Arts

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

oan Squires was living a cozy life in

Arizona where she was president and CEO of the Phoenix Symphony. But when Omaha Performing Arts leaders called 10 years ago, she couldn‘t resist the challenge. OPA wanted her help in operating two theaters in Omaha—the venerable Orpheum and the yet-tobe-built Holland Performing Arts Center. Who could pass up the chance to operate a theater built in 1927 that was undergoing a $10 million renovation? And who wouldn’t want to participate in the building of a $102 million performing arts center in Downtown Omaha? Squires saw it as a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. “There was a committed board and key leadership. Also at that time, no one in Omaha was bringing in shows.” OPA’s new president arrived in 2002 to find a staff of one and a lone computer housed in the offices of Heritage Services; the philanthropic foundation was OPA’s fundraiser. The Holland Performing Arts Center was only a sketch on an architect‘s drawing board. The Orpheum Theater was still owned by the City of Omaha. And few people knew much about the OPA. “One of our greatest challenges was branding the institution,” Squires said. “We had to go from not in existence to fully operational in three years.” Her first action was to

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 13

cover feature What Omaha says about Joan Squires I’ve said 100 times, we really, really were blessed to get her. Joan has a great knack for working with and inspiring people. She’s done a wonderful job helping other arts organizations. I have chaired five national organizations and I don’t know how many local, and…I put Joan high on my list as a very capable person. And a wonderful citizen of our community. — John Gottschalk, Chairman, Omaha Performing Arts Joan is marvelous. I just considered us lucky as hell when we found her. She took over and has done everything. It’s impossible to criticize anything. She’s that good. She can answer any question raised. She’s well-known in New York and all over the country because she attends things and asks questions. I would say of all women in Omaha, she’s got to be up there with the top. — Richard D. Holland, Vice Chairman, Omaha Performing Arts I’ve been struck by the nurturing quality that she has. She is looking for the next generation of artistic leaders. I think Omaha is well-served with Joan as artistic curator for the community. She is focused, measured, energetic, and visionary. Joan brings a wonderful insight to the deliberations (as an NEA grants panelist). She’s visionary and makes a difference. — Wayne S. Brown, National Endowment for the Arts 14

help set goals: 1) Assume management of the Orpheum from the city. 2) Prepare a strategic plan for the development of the organizational and administrative structure for OPA. 3) Participate in construction of the Holland. “In 2004, we opened Ticket Omaha (a local ticketing service for the arts). Tickets were on sale six months before the Holland’s first performance in 2005,” Squires said. A Decade Later Today, the OPA president has a staff of 90 full- and part-time employees and 500 volunteers. She oversees the 175,000-square-foot Holland Performing Arts Center and the renovated 2,600-seat Orpheum Theater that reopened in 2002. And Omaha Performing Arts now is the largest nonprofit arts organization in Nebraska. Seventy-five percent of funding is now from earned revenue and 25 percent is from contributions. Rankings in two industry publications in 2011 gave Omaha bragging rights. The Orpheum was ranked No.1 in Midwest ticket sales by Venues Today and No. 16 worldwide by Pollstar. The Holland was ranked in the top 10 nationally by Venues Today, an impressive ranking for a performing arts center that didn’t exist six years earlier. “There were those that said Omaha could not support the facility,” remembers John Gottschalk, OPA chairman since its formation in 2000. Squires has oversight of a $18 million operation. “And in six years she has never missed her budget. Never.”

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

Squires’ success in luring top talent has brought a financial benefit to the area, attracting visitors, creating jobs, and increasing tax revenue. A 2011 survey by University of Nebraska economists concluded that the two theaters had a cumulative economic impact on Douglas County of $128.49 million over five years and a $98.31 million impact on Nebraska. The widely praised acoustics of the Holland bring out the best of the Omaha Symphony. Broadway shows now seek out the Orpheum. Performances have included Wicked, Jersey Boys and Disney’s® Lion King, which returns in March. Check Squires’ iPhone and you’ll find an eclectic collection of music. But Broadway tunes rule. “From childhood on, I’ve loved Broadway musicals,” she said. OPA’s mission includes presenting educational programs for all ages, from student matinees to master classes to workshops taught by professionals. “An addition at the Holland designed for teaching dance classes was added about three years ago,” said OPA Vice Chairman www.OmahaPublications.com

cover feature Richard Holland. The performing arts center was named for him and his late wife, Mary. Squires has her finger on the pulse on Broadway theatre life and currently serves as a voting member for Broadway’s Tony Awards®. Active in Broadway League committees, she is a member of the Performing Arts Center Consortium and of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. She is an advisor for the Broadway Dreams Foundation. The Life of Joan Squires Joan was born and raised in Shippensburg, Pa., where her father ran a family business. Her twin brother, John, is the fourth generation in the business. Joan received her undergraduate degree in music education from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., and became a music teacher for three years. She loved her students, but teaching wasn’t her life’s mission. She moved into arts management, earning a master’s degree in both business and music arts administration from the University of Michigan. She served as an intern for the National Endowment for the Arts and participated in a yearlong fellowship under the sponsorship of the League of American Orchestras. Squires has worked in arts management for more than 25 years. Previous positions were with the Milwaukee, Utah, and Houston symphonies. She has received many honors including the Ak-Sar-Ben Court of Honor and the YWCA’s Woman of Vision. In 2012, she received a Governor’s Arts Award from the Nebraska Arts Council. Squires has a short commute to work. She lives in a downtown condo about halfway between the two theaters that she oversees. Her husband, Tom Fay, was a vice president of the Arizona State University Foundation before they moved to Omaha. A native New Yorker, he played the oboe for 17 years with the Pittsburgh Symphony and held a second career in arts management and academic fundraising. Fay and Squires have been married 22 years. She has three stepchildren and three grandchildren. Her husband has been supportive of her demanding career, said Squires. “He said he had his career, and it was now my turn.” Squires said despite all the long hours she logs at work, it’s all worth it. “At the end of the day, standing in the back of the theater and watching the audience react, I think I have the best job in town.” www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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The Results Are In! I t’s time for the highly anticipated Best of B2B Winners List! Now in its seventh year, the list is organized into categories, so if you’re looking for a specific product or service, you can easily find the best! These businesses have the coveted vote of confidence from B2B Omaha Magazine readers. The results were tabulated from ballots sent in from the Winter 2013 issue of B2B Omaha Magazine. Ballots had to be original, not photocopies, and more than half the ballot had to be filled out.

If you see some of the businesses you patronize on the winners list, be sure to congratulate them. They will greatly appreciate it! “This year, we received more votes than ever. The businesses who won in this year’s Best of B2B Omaha® contest should feel very proud of their accomplishment,” said Todd Lemke, publisher of B2B Omaha Magazine.

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Voted Top 100 Restaurants in America by Open Table

Prime Steak Fine Wine Premium Service

Top 100 Restaurants in America

13665 California Street Omaha, Nebraska 402.445.4380 www.mahoganyprime.com

LET US TELL YOUR STORY.

402.292.5553

www.alberscommunications.com www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 19

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Best of B2B 2013

Law Firm Baird Holm Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman, LLP 402-392-1250 www.akclaw.com

Public Relations Firm Zaiss & Co. 402-964-9293 www.zaiss.com

Carroll Communications

Social Media Consultant

YEARS IN A ROW

Albers Communications Group, LLC 402-292-5553 www.alberscommunications.com

www.onesourcebackground.com

IRiDian GROUP

Building Services Asphalt Company Layman Paving Inc. B & W Co.

Awning/Canopy Company Heartland Awning & Design Allied Awning & Siding

Burglar Alarms & Security SEi Security Equiptment

Have your cake. And eat it, too.

ADT Security

Dining. Family. Fun. Health & Beauty. Household. Retail. Services. Transportation.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 21

extreme limo • Corporate Events • Airport Service • Weddings, Prom • Last Day of School • Special Occasions

402.393.5466 THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEST OF B2B VOTE!

www.extremelimousineinc.com

Best of B2B 2013

Carpet & Rug Cleaning Sparkling Klean 402-399-9233 www.sparklingklean.com

Complete Carpet Care Inc.

Door Company Omaha Door & Window Norm’s Door Service

Electrical Service Miller Electric

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LTH ADV IsOr s Database 101’s

VIN GUP TA In The Office

HAY NEEDLE WINTE R

The Omaha-Metro Business to Business Magazine

2012 0 4>

U.S. $3.25

PERMIT NO. 5377 DENVER,

74470 63856

w w w. b 2 b o m a8 .com

Advanced Electrical Services

Fence Company

PAID

Omaha maGazine • 5921 S. 118th CirCle • Omaha, ne 68137

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

S&W Fence 402-333-5722 www.sw-fence.com

American Fence Co.

Protect Your Building & Investment with the BEST HIGH PERFORMANCE ROOFING CONTRACTOR IN OMAHA

Garbage Collection Abe’s Trash Services, Inc. 402-571-4926 www.abestrash.com

Deffenbaugh Industries

General Contractor Kiewit Corporation Hawkins Construction Co.

Elite Roofing Contractor since 2000

AVAILABLE 24/7 22

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

Affordable • Knowledgeable Professional Visit us online Ciaccioroofing.com or call 402.293.8707 for a FREE estimate! www.OmahaPublications.com

Businesses Are Buying Smarter The All Makes team is trained to help you make design and furniture purchases that ﬁt your ofﬁce atmosphere, your work style and your budget. Visit All Mak

165,000

ft. showroom to see the latest in new ofﬁce furniture, pre-owned ofﬁce furniture and business machines.

Thank you for voting us #1 for 8 consecutive years!

Take 25% off our everyday low price on any single new showroom item now through April 1, 2013. www.allmakes.com • Omaha: 2558 arnam t. | 402.341.2413 • Lincoln: 3333 O t. | 402.477.7131

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 23

BRAND YOUR ENVIRONMENT!

Take advantage of your environment as a powerful branding tool! We produce graphics and displays that create an atmosphere that motivates and instills pride in your employees, impresses your prospects and clients, creates the right buying atmosphere for your customers, and reinforces to shareholders that you have a vision for the company’s future. • lobby logos • wall murals • custom wallpaper • dimensional graphics • kiosks and display cases • floor graphics • hanging signs • window film

For 1000s of ideas, go to RENZE.COM 800.627.9131 X122

T hank You For Voting Us best of B2B Lawn & Landsc ape Contractor

5601 H arri son Street

Om a ha , NE 68157

4 0 2 .9 3 2 . 5 7 0 4

omahafriendlyservices.com 24

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

sunvalleyomaha.com www.OmahaPublications.com

Best of B2B 2013

68 Years of Business in Omaha!

Glass/Window Install City Glass Co. Quality Glass & Mirror

Heating/AC Service Standard Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. SOS Heating & Cooling

az ag

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FBG Service Corp.

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Janitorial Service

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402.733.5500

4315 South 50th Street

Forest Green Lawn & Landscaping 402-556-0595 www.forestgreenlawncare.com

Omaha Friendly Services

THANK YOU OMAHA!

402-932-5704 www.omahafriendlyservices.com

Locksmith Carl Jarl Group

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BEST FLORIST

Moving Company

“Taylor Made” for ALL your floral needs since 1950”

Office Furniture Installers Allied

402.733.2322

12310 K Plaza, Ste. 108 Locally Owned Since 1950 www.ReadOnlineNow.com

www.taylorsflowers24hours.com B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 25

Best of B2B 2013

Office Furniture All Makes Office Equipment Co. 402-977-3072 www.allmakes.com

Sheppard’s Business Interiors

Painting Contractor Midwest Painting & Services M.S. Services Inc.

Pest Control Company Omaha Pest Control Scott’s Pest Control

Picture Framing Malibu Gallery 402-391-4628 www.malibugalleries.com

Lewis Art Gallery 402-391-7733 www.LewisArtGallery.com

Plumbing Company Dave Janke Plumbing Carmody Plumbing

Property Management The Lund Company 402.393.8811 www.lundco.com

Byron Reed Co.

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 27

Voted Best Caterer in Omaha! “I want to thank the Omaha Business Community for selecting my company, Brandeis Catering, as the best caterer in the Metro Area for seven years in a row. We appreciate your support and will continue to work to make you proud.” Joe Thallas - Owner/General Manager

TipTop Downtown Ballroom 1502 Cuming Street

Livestock Exchange Ballroom 4920 South 30th Street

2440 S OUTH 141 ST C IRCLE

•

The Thompson Center at UNO 6705 Dodge Street

(402) 334-5446

•

Georgetowne Club 2440 South 141st Circle

www.brandeiscatering.com

A R C H I T E C T U R E | E N G I N E E R I N G | CO N S U LT I N G

www.hdrinc.com

Citizens by Design Thank you for your trust, Omaha! Voted #1 seven years in a row!

Metropolitan Community College Culinary Arts Institute | West Dodge Expressway | Joslyn Sculpture Garden

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Best of B2B 2013

Real Estate–Commercial NAI NP Dodge World Group

Regency Lodge Hotel.... O ur distinctive surroundings.... Create a lifetime of memories.... We were determined to become Omaha’s Best and with your votes, we succeeded. Thank you Omaha, we will live up to our title. Host your next event at Regency Lodge Hotel to experience why so many people voted us Best Business Conference Venue.

Roofing Company Ciaccio Roofing 402-293-8707 www.Ciaccioroofing.com

Scott Enterprises, Inc. 402.571.2364 www.scottent.com

Security Guard Service Frontline Private Security

909 S. 107th Ave. • Omaha, NE 68114 402.397.8000 • 800.617.8310 www.regencylodge.com

Omaha Security

Sign Company Best Buy Signs 402-861-0384 www.BestBuySigns.net

Thank You From All of us at Malibu!

Renze Display 800-627-9131 www.Renze.com

Snow Removal Service Clear Creek Landscapes Executive Lawn & Landscaping

Towing Company Neff Towing 402-733-5500

Big Red Tow, Inc.

M A L I B U G A L L E R Y

www.malibugalleries.com www.ReadOnlineNow.com

402.391.4628 301 North 78th St. One Block N of Dodge B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 29

THANK YOU FOR VOTING HILTON OMAHA AS YOUR

TOP HOTEL CHOICE FOR THE SEVENTH YEAR IN A ROW

Hilton Omaha, recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award, eight consecutive years

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

feature

Window Cleaning All Weather Services All Clear Window

Financial Services Bank First National Bank of Omaha Security National Bank

Credit Card Merchant Processing TSYS Merchant Solutions 402-574-7224 www.tsysomaha.com

American Payment Systems 402.502.9985 www.americanpayment.com

Payroll Service Payroll Maxx Ideal Payroll Service 402-614-3028 www.idealpayrollservice.com

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

8 Straight Years! BEST OF B2B AWARD

2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008| 2007 | 2006

Thank you for voting Better Business Equipment THE BEST company in Omaha for the eighth straight year

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 31

B2B best of omaha ad 2013_Layout 1 1/28/2013 1:17 PM Page 1

Thank You Omaha! Best of B2B Winner 3 years in a row!

Best of B2B 2013

Food Services Banquet Facility Scoular Ballroom 402-449-1424 www.ScoularBallroom.com

www.akclaw.com

402.392.1250

Paxton Ballroom

Caterer Brandeis Catering Hap Abraham Catering

Restaurant–Business Breakfast FarmHouse Cafe & Bakery The Egg & I

Restaurant–Business Lunch Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano Sullivan’s Steakhouse 402-342-0077 www.sullivanssteakhouse.com

Restaurant–Business Dinner Mahogany Prime Steakhouse 402.445.4380 www.mahoganyprime.com

801 Chophouse 402.341.1222 www.801chophouse.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

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Thank You for Voting Us Best of B2B 2 Years in a Row!

AUDIO VISUAL SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE: • • • •

System design/engineering Sales Consulting Installation

• Maintenance and Service • Custom Furnishings and Displays • Equipment Rental and Operation

Contact our Highly Trained and Certified Staff at 402-298-5011 | www.conceptsav.com 3712 S. 132nd Street | Omaha, NE 68144

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 33

Thanks for Voting S&W Fence the Best Again in 2013!

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We’re Not Just About Fences.

We Wanted To Thank Everyone That Voted For Us.

15803 Pacific St. • Omaha, NE • 402-333-5722

www.sw-fence.com

TSYS Merchant Solutions processes an average of

3 million

transactions a day.

402-556-0595

www.forestgreenlawncare.com

US ON

But they’ll remember this one — getting tickets to visit the new Scott Aquarium for the first time. We are honored to be named Omaha’s best of B2B for Credit Card Merchant Processing. After all, behind each and every payment is a person — and payments have the power to change lives.

David Radler Studio Thanks our business

For more than 30 years as a part of a deep history in Omaha, we’ve offered business owners payment products and services to meet their needs. Give us a chance to improve your business’ credit card acceptance.

Get to know us. 402.574.7224 www.tsysomaha.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

partners for voting us #1!

being

proactive

lasting relationships

www.davidradler.com 402-342-6230 www.OmahaPublications.com

Best of B2B 2013

Coffee Provider LaRue Coffee

OMAHA’S PREMIER SOURCE FOR PARTY AND EVENT RENTALS.

Ideal Pure Water & Coffee

Travel & Event Planning

Behind every excited bride, great event planner, caterer, production company or private party host, you will find a great rental company. United Rent-All Omaha is that company.

• Experience • Quality • Service • Reliability • Capability

Airline Southwest US Air

Audio-Visual Service

These are the cornerstones that also make United Rent-All your trusted event partner.

Concepts AV Integration 402-298-5011 www.conceptsav.com

402.556.1600

AVI Systems

www.unitedrent-all-omaha.com 811 S. 48th Street | Omaha

Business Conference Venue Scott Conference Center 402.778.6313 www.scottcenter.com

Regency Lodge Hotel 402-397-8000 www.regencylodge.com

Florist Taylor’s Flower Shop & Greenhouse 402-733-2322 www.taylorsflowers24hours.com

PROVIDING QUALITY INSTALLATIONS TO FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST SINCE 1979. VOTED BEST ROOFING COMPANY IN OMAHA! • COMMERCIAL • INSTITUTIONAL • INDUSTRIAL • 24-HOUR DEDICATED SERVICE DEPARTMENT 9684 N. 109TH AVE. • OMAHA, NE 68142 • 402-571-2364 • WWW.SCOTTENT.COM

Janousek Florist & Greenhouse

Thank you for voting us Best of B2B for Picture Framing!

Golf Course Omaha Country Club Happy Hollow Club

• Family Owned for 42 Years • Multi Award Winning Framing • One Week Service to Custom Framing • Over 900 In-Stock Mouldings • Expert Consultation

Lewis Art Gallery www.ReadOnlineNow.com

8600 Cass Street 402.391.7733

www.LewisArtGallery.com B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 35

Best of B2B 2013

Hotel Hilton Omaha 402.998.3400 www.omaha.hilton.com

Embassy Suites–LaVista

Limousine Service Old Market Limousine Extreme Limousine 402-393-5466 www.extremelimousineinc.com

Live Entertainment Michael Walker Complete Music

Event Planning Service PlanIt Omaha 402.333.3062 www.planitomaha.com

Step Group Inc.

Rental Service Store United Rent-All 402-556-1600 www.unitedrent-all-omaha.com

Honeyman Rent-All

Travel Agency Travel & Transport 402.399.4500 www.tandt.com

AAA Travel

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Thanks for Voting Travel and Transport “Best Travel Agency” in Omaha!

Together, for over 66 years, Travel and Transport and Omaha have been “Going Places”. From our innovative corporate travel solutions, to our expertise in planning unforgettable vacations, Travel and Transport is “Going Places” and we are excited to take Omaha along for the ride. Thank you for your support and watch for new things to come from Travel and Transport.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com www.tandt.com Located at 72nd & Mercy | 402.399.4500

Look for us on Facebook and Twitter

Omaha| Magazine Spring 2013 37 | vacaTiOns EvEnTs | • LOyaLTy CorporateB2B travel

Best of B2B 2013

RECYCLING FOR FREE!

CALL US TO FIND OUT HOW!

Business Services Advertising Specialties Bergman Incentives 402.661.7900 www.bergmanincentives.com

Ideal Images 402.596.1002 www.ideal-images.com

THANK YOU OMAHA FOR VOTING US BEST OF B2B THE LAST THREE YEARS! Please call us today at 402-731-3333 to learn more about commercial recycling *Recycling costs are offset by a reduction in your trash bill. Ask your sales person for details.

www.DeffenbaughInc.com 402-731-3333

Auto Repair All Tech Automotive Walker Tire & Auto Service

Background & Drug Screening Service One Source 402-933-9999 www.onesourcebackground.com

Grand Re-Opening March 2013

APS Resources

Business Appraiser/Broker Sunbelt Business Brokers Acclaro Valuation Advisors

Business Forms & Systems Performance Group 402-896-9400 www.formsguys.com

Donis Corp. Thanks for voting us Best of B2B!

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Thanks www.OmahaPrint.com

Named Best Printer, 8 Years Running.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 39

Struggling to Grow Sales?

We Can Help

Best of B2B 2013

Business Phone Systems in Touch

Call by 4/15 to Receive free DISC profile

VOTED #1 SALES TRAINER IN OMAHA

HunTel Communications

Cellular Service

Sandler Training® utilizes continual reinforcement

Sprint

through ongoing training and individual coaching sessions not only to help you learn but also to ensure your success. With over 200 training centers worldwide to provide support, you won’t fail...

Verizon Wireless

Computer Service

because we won’t let you.

Our Tech Schrock Innovations

T: 402-616-1098 • F: 888-712-3059 3828 Dodge St • Omaha, NE 68131

Copier & Supplies Co.

Karl Schaphorst President

Better Business Equipment 402-393-6666 www.bbeomaha.com

SolutionOne 800-742-0023 www.solutiononenow.com

Corporate Jet Service Jet Linx 402-422-0393 www.JetLinxOmaha.com

• • • • • •

I nteri or Pa i n t in g E x teri or Pa int in g C arpentr y Wal l C ov e r in g I n s t a ll a t io n Wal l C ov e r in g R e m o v a l H andy man & R e p a ir Se r v i ce

NetJets

Delivery Service Capital Express Hotshot Deliveries

37 YEARS OF BUSINESS IN OMAHA! www.gerstcontracting.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

THANK YOU!

For giving us the opportunity to serve your Search, Staffing, and Consulting needs. Omaha’s business leaders chose Hemphill as Omaha’s Best Employment firm in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, & 2013

The Right Match the First Time! Helping our clients get from GOOD to GREAT, one hire at a time!

402. 334. 4800 | w w w. hemphi l l searc h. com www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 41

When your company needs a merchant account we offer: • • • • • •

Guaranteed lower rates Quick approvals Low-cost terminals Top-rated customer service Gift and loyalty card programs (like the PinPoint Card program) Family owned and locally operated for over 30 years

Go to AmericanPayment.com for more for moreus at [402] 502.9985 information or call

Can potential clients find your business online? If not they will find your competitors.

Optimize with Localmize! Optimization Drives Traffic, Leads and Sales

• Web Design • SEO (Search Engine Optimization) • Monthly Monitoring • Comprehensive Reporting • Proven Results • Omaha Based Business

402.415.7740 localmize.com An Omaha Marketing Solutions Company 42

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Best of B2B 2013

Delivery Vehicles

Mailing Lists

Mercedes-Benz of Omaha

CAS Inc.

402-384-9999 www.OmahaMercedes.com

866-461-4693 www.cas-online.com

Omaha Truck Center

InfoUSA

Internet Provider

Mailing Service

Cox Business

Burke’s Direct Mail

402-934-3223 www.cox.com

Office Records Storage & Destruction Retrievex Records Management Solutions

Office Supplies Pay-Less Office Products OfficeMax

Omaha Mail

CenturyLink

Public Relations Works If it’s not for your business, you may be missing a vital connection. At Zaiss & Company our customer-based communications plans include effective, business-moving PR strategies that deliver marketplace results. For PR strategies that integrate with your total plan and connect to real, bottom-line benefits, partner with us.

You’ll be in good company. 402-964-9293

11626 Nicholas Street

zaissco.com

Customer-Based Planning and Communications

Best PR Agency 5 Years Running! www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 43

Best of B2B 2013

Commercial Photographer

Sales Training

Water–Bottled

David Radler

Sandler Sales

Ideal Pure Water

ActionCOACH

Deep Rock Water

Ervin Photography

Uniform Supply

Website Developer

Printer

Alamar Uniforms

JM Web Designs

Don’s Pioneer Uniforms

Rebel Interactive

402.342.6230 www.davidradler.com

Omaha Print 402-734-4400 www.OmahaPrint.com

Barnhart Press

Thank you for voting us

“Omaha’s Best Insurance Agency”

Thanks for Voting us Your #1 Locksmith!

Insurance Solutions That Have Withstood the Test of Time • Business Insurance • Employee Beneﬁts • Surety Bonding • Safety & Loss Control Services • Family Insurance The Harry A. Koch Co. Insurance & Financial Consultants Member of First Insurance Group, LLC

To see what else we are up to, check us out at: www.hakco.com

•

402.861.7000

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.carljarlgroup.com www.OmahaPublications.com

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 45

feature S t o r y b y J u dy Ho r a n • P h o t o s b y b i l l s i t z m a n n

Omaha Business Hall of Fame Chamber Names 2013 Inductees

Susan Jacques, President and CEO

he Omaha Business Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 1993 to honor the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce’s 100th anniversary. Since then, the chamber has recognized more than 100 men and women for their leadership in Omaha’s growth. Stories of the honorees inducted during the past 20 years are on display at The Durham Museum. Five successful business leaders will join them at the museum after they are inducted on April 23 at the Holland Performing Arts Center: Susan Jacques, Mogens Bay, Marshall Faith, William “Willy” Theisen, and James Young. Proceeds from the Omaha Business Hall of Fame gala support a permanent exhibit at The Durham Museum and provide funding for the Chamber’s Greater Omaha Young Professionals Summit.

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

Borsheims A gem of an executive, Susan Jacques is one of five business leaders headed for the Omaha Business Hall of Fame. While studying at the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica, Calif., Susan Jacques met a classmate who would change the direction of her career. Alan Friedman suggested she come work for his father’s store in Omaha to gain retail experience. His father, Ike Friedman, owned Borsheims at the time. Sol “Coke” Friedman remembers that his www.OmahaPublications.com

social media

feature

s t o r y B y W e n dy w i s e m a N

late brother, Ike, had high regard for Jacques. “She probably knew more about gemstones than anybody in the store.” Jacque’s passion for gems and jewelry began during her childhood in Rhodesia. She earned her graduate Gemology diploma in 1980 from the Gemological Institute of America. Jacques graduated with distinction from the Gemological Association of Great Britain and in 1982 was named “most outstanding student worldwide.” Her knowledge, along with business savvy, propelled Jacques from a sales clerk and appraiser in 1982 to the store’s top position in 1994. Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway—Borsheims’ majority owner since 1989—named Jacques president and CEO. Borsheims has become one of the nation’s largest independent jewelry stores, with 62,500 square feet of space and 100,000 pieces of inventory. “I’ve watched her grow as an individual and as a business person with the company as it has grown,” said Coke, a retired businessman. “She is just a good person. That might be the highest compliment you can pay a person.” Jacques is presently chairman of the Gemological Institute of America where she studied. She received the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women’s Jewelry Association and was inducted into the 1997 National Jeweler’s Retailer Hall of Fame. She serves on the Creighton University board of directors and is a trustee of the Business Ethics Alliance. She and her husband, Gene Dunn, have three sons. The couple recently bought Gorat’s Steakhouse from the family that had owned the restaurant since 1944. Shareholders have gathered for dinner at Gorat’s during the Berkshire Hathaway meeting for years. In a business that depends on trust and a handshake, Susan Jacques has found her niche at Borsheims. “She is one of those people if you didn’t know her, you would want to,” said Coke. “Susan has the knack of treating everyone as if they are a friend, which in the retail business is very important.” On April 23, Susan Jacques will join her former boss, the late Ike Friedman, and her >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

What’s All the Hoopla About Hulu?

ust to set the stage in the simplest of terms: Hulu is streaming TV (and a movie service with original content, but put this part aside for a minute). News Corp. and NBCUniversal started Hulu as internet video in 2007 as a single website offering the previous night’s episode of The Simpsons. From those humble yet visionary beginnings, the service has grown dramatically; this year, its on pace to exceed $600 million in revenue. Most of Hulu’s 25 million unique visitors access Hulu for free, but more than 2 million willingly pay $7.99 a month to access Hulu’s full library of programs from all six major broadcast networks and more than 400 content providers. That’s a reported 5,482 TV series and film titles, 181,020 videos, and more. Put in even simpler terms, Hulu is TV—just watched differently by time-crunched, multiscreen viewers. And this is where the traditional businessperson who wants to reach people has to put her head. Not-so-traditional marketers are adding Hulu to media plans to supplement the reach of TV gained the traditional way via network, cable, and spot schedules. Hulu serves up ads to both free access and paying viewers. Before the requested program streams, ads are served up for view. Users show tolerance for ads and are even asked if the ads are “relevant” to them. If they are, they may get an ad of similar relevance served up that they can sit through or skip. According to ComSource.com July 2012 online video rankings, Hulu leads the way serving 46.4 ads per viewer per month. Hulu says 96 percent of those ads are watched in full. Average age of viewer: 38, skewing younger and about even male/female. The young digital natives likely made it what it is today, but the user demos are expanding in age and showing a solid $85,000 average household income with 33 percent over $100,000. That’s why Hulu’s roster of more than 1,000 advertisers is growing, too, including national brands Geico and Toyota. Don’t misunderstand: Network and cable TV are nowhere near dead. But viewership is down 12.5 percent since Hulu’s launch and 3.6 million U.S. residents have abandoned pay-TV for internet video in the last five years. Ask the people under 30 in your office if they even own a TV… Hulu is one way to reach the multi-screen, time-shifted viewer. And at just four minutes of ads served up pre-program streaming vs. average eight minutes of ads on commercial breaks on network TV, Hulu brags that general, brand, and message recall plus likability are all higher among their viewers. Not bad attributes once you can get your head around “Hulu is TV.” Wendy Wiseman Vice President & Creative Director of Zaiss & Company, a customerbased planning and communications firm in Omaha. B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 47

Business Hall of Fame << current boss, Warren Buffett, in the Omaha Business Hall of Fame.

Mogens C. Bay, Chairman and Chief Ex ecutive Officer

Des Moines | oMaha | Kansas City | LeawooD

Omaha’s

Remanufactured

Valmont Industries Inc. A career with Valmont has taken Mogens Bay to Hong Kong, Madrid, and to Omaha’s corporate headquarters. He has led Valmont through a significant period of growth over the past 20 years to become the world’s leader in engineered products for infrastructure and efficient irrigation equipment for agriculture. He heads an organization with 100 worldwide manufacturing locations and more than 10,000 employees committed to making products that make the world a better place to live.

Cartridge Specialist Supplies, Sales & Service Laser & Ink Printers Copiers & Fax Machines

CALL NOW

(402) 331-1417

www.TheRetone.com - FREE LOCAL DELIVERY

or Stop In & Receive 25% OFF On your purchase of up to 2 in-house remanufactured cartridges!

M A R Y A N N E VAC CA R O Per sona l an d Bu si n ess I mage C o n s u l ta n t

To be a successful business…you have to look like one! What does your Name, Logo, Website, Office, Store, Studio and Look of your employees say about your business? As an Executive, Professional, Sales Rep, or aspiring Entrepreneur, how should you dress? My advice makes First and Lasting Impressions that Drive Success!

www.maryannevaccaro.com 402.398.1234 OMAHA • CH ICAGO • DENVER • KAN SAS CITY

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

M arshall Faith, V ice Chairman of the Board

The Scoular Company In 1967, Marshall Faith purchased a majority interest in The Scoular Company. Now with nearly 700 employees and 70 locations, Scoular serves customers in food, feed, and renewable fuel markets. Annual sales are more than $6 billion. In his 45th year with Scoular, Faith continues his philosophy of providing employees good jobs, good pay, and good opportunities. With a son and grandson in www.OmahaPublications.com

Omaha CVB the business, Faith is counting on Scoular continuing at least another 120 years.

stor y b y dana mar k el • illustration provi d e d b y U. S . T ravel A ssociation

W illiam (W illy) M. Theisen, President

Business Ventures LLC Many entrepreneurs come up with restaurant concepts. Making the idea work on a national level is how Willy Theisen stands out. He founded Godfather’s Pizza in 1973 and, by the time he sold the company 10 years later, Godfather’s was the country’s fastest-growing restaurant chain. The entrepreneur stayed “ahead of the curve” as owner of the Green Burrito chain in 1992 and Famous Dave’s in 2000. Theisen is now owner/founder of Pitch Coal Fire Pizzeria in Dundee.

James R. Young, Chairman

Union Pacific Corporation Since joining Union Pacific in 1978, Young has steadily risen in the ranks to the top position. He chairs an internationally focused company that employs 45,000 people in 23 states and 8,000 communities. Young remembers when railroads had a shrinking workforce and concerns about the future. Today, Union Pacific is strong and integral to the U.S. economy. Young has led the evolvement of U.P.’s culture to a dedication to vision, commitment, teamwork, and respect. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

They Get a Great Time. Omaha Gets a Great Return.

maha welcomes about 5 million overnight visitors every year; visitors who come to our city for a variety of different reasons—maybe it’s a business meeting, a college visit, or just a nice weekend getaway. You probably don’t think twice about them, but twice is exactly what you should be thinking. According to the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism, each dollar spent by tourists in Omaha is re-circulated in the economy to produce an additional $1 in business and income, creating an overall economic impact of $2. For example, a tourism dollar that goes for gasoline is spent by the business owner to pay the cashier, who then spends the dollar to buy groceries—it’s the multiplier effect. Take a Kansas City family of four visiting Omaha for a weekend: They need a place to stay; two nights at a hotel will run them around $200. They don’t have a kitchen; that means they will eat out four to six times while they are here, so add another $280 to their tab. The family plans to go to the zoo; with admission, snacks, and souvenirs, they’ll likely spend $130. While shopping, they spend another $230. Add in incidentals like gas…and when the weekend is over, they’ve spent a total of $1,000. Considering their money doubles as it trickles through the economy—that one family made a $2,000 economic contribution to our city. A recent Omaha tourism economic study showed overnight visitors drive an additional $1 billion into our economy annually. That’s a significant boost to our city’s financial health! Too bad visitors don’t wear a big ‘V’ on their shirts so we could thank them personally for their impact on our local economy!

Questions or comments? Email us at info@visitomaha.com. Dana Markel, Executive Director, Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau 1001 Farnam, Omaha, NE 68102 402-444-4660 • www.visitomaha.com B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 49

omAHA! S t o r y b y C h r i s W o l f g a n g • P h o t o s b y b i l l s i t z m a n n

Legend Comics and Coffee Making Comics Accessible

Pictured top left at Legend Comics and Coffee: left, David DeMarco and Jason Dasenbrock, right. 50

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

“C

offee is one of those things…” David DeMarco, part-owner of Legend Comics and Coffee, pauses as he tries to explain the welcoming qualities of the beverage. “You want to sit and read something? What better thing than to read a comic book with a cup of coffee?” DeMarco joined forces in 2011 with Jason Dasenbrock and Wendy Pivonka to move Legend Comics into a larger space on 52nd and Leavenworth. A space fit for a new kind of comic book store. Dasenbrock and Pivonka had been tossing around the thought of combining a coffee shop with their extant comics store. They put the idea to current landlord, Tom Simmons. “Tom wanted to do something that would bring in traffic to the location, and a coffee shop fit the bill,” Dasenbrock says. DeMarco hazards a guess that there may be fewer than 10 comic book/coffee shops in the www.OmahaPublications.com

Thank you Omaha for 15 great years! nation. DeMarco, Pivonka, and Dasenbrock took their inspiration from Des Moines store Cup o’ Kryptonite, but by the time Legend reopened with its new vision in 2011, that retailer no longer ran a full coffee shop. “We are standing on the shoulders of giants,” DeMarco says. Comic book stores can be intimidating for lots of people (the uneducated newbie or the wary female, for example), and coffee seems to be a natural way to bring in new fans. “This is not the boys’ club,” Dasenbrock says. “Everyone is welcome here, whether you’ve never read a comic or if you’ve read all of them.” “We are not intimidating,” DeMarco adds, “and I will tell you why. I…think we are very nice.” Definitely a modest way of expressing his pride in a retail space that was created specifically for comic books. “I wanted to design a comic store,” he says. Thanks to local firm Architectural Offices, the shop’s custom shelves, lighting, and chairs say Industrial Art Gallery rather than Some Dude’s Basement. In the same vein of making comics accessible to everyone, Legend hosts events like trivia nights every other Monday, raffles, and dunk tanks on Free Comic Book Day (May 4, mark your calendar). “We’re trying to be an advocate for the community,” DeMarco says. “Why wouldn’t we do fun stuff? And we have a room downstairs for games and for people to use.” It’s free for anything, from Magic tournaments to poetry workshops. DeMarco believes that some of the best reading material these days is in comic books. “It’s an untapped reservoir, and we will walk you through it.” One of his favorite ways of suggesting comics to the uninitiated is by quizzing them about their favorite TV shows. “If you like West Wing, try Ex Machina. It’s political intrigue with a splash of superhero-dom.” For LOST lovers, DeMarco recommends Morning Glories, a comic centered around kids isolated in a mysterious prep school. “Is it a government experiment? Are they dead? You don’t know!” Legend runs a subscription service for those who want to have their favorite comics reserved and ready for them to pick up whenever they walk in. Then, maybe, they’ll order the Legend custom blend (or perhaps a Green River phosphate) from the coffee bar and settle in to lose themselves with Spiderman. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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in the office S t o r y b y T r a c i O s u n a • P h o t o s b y To m K r e s s l e r

NatureInspired Office Space The Pinnacle Bank Headquarters

he four elements—earth, fire, wind, and water—connote

strength, simplicity, and timelessness andwere the source of inspiration for the design of the Pinnacle Bank Headquarters at 180th & Dodge streets in Omaha. Pinnacle Bank, a Nebraska-based institution now in eight states, worked closely with the team at Avant Architecture to make the building essentially a piece of modern art. Rising from the horizon, the stone, steel, and glass structure suggests strength and elegance, simplicity and beauty. “We’re really all about Nebraska and the Nebraska way,” says Chris Wendlandt, Senior Vice President of Marketing/Retail. Having previously worked with Avant, Wendlandt says the architecture firm knew their philosophy well. “Avant worked to match the building with the brand and I think they did a great job.” Wendlandt says that the goal was to create a space that would be simple, warm and inviting, and something that both employees and their customers would be proud of. Since their grand opening in June 2011, the response of employees and clients has been overwhelmingly positive.

B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

office furniture

The overall design of the building is sleek, yet elegant. “The emphasis is on light, openness, and views [of the exterior landscape],” says Wendlandt. Italian tile runs throughout the approximately 82,000-square-foot building. Other materials carried throughout the building’s design are the dark, German wood veneer, Oberflex, used in cabinets and doors, as well as a Gage Cast bronze metal that can be found near the teller line, in the elevator, and in other parts of the building. Glass plays a prominent role in the overall design as well. Running through the lobby is a green-tinted channel glass wall, hinting at the element of water and providing light, as well as privacy, to first-floor offices and conference rooms. Large glass-panel walls on both exterior and interior walls keep with the open and airy feeling. “The consistency throughout the whole building gives it that warm feeling, but then the artwork really brings [to life] what our brand is,” says Wendlandt. While the design of the space is minimalist, the artwork is what captures the attention of the viewer. Aided by Holly Hackwith of Corporate Art Co., the art in the building was commissioned especially for the Pinnacle Bank www.ReadOnlineNow.com

project. With the majority of the artists being from Nebraska and the surrounding area, their work conveys the feel of Pinnacle’s home state. “We went through and identified artists we thought worked for the building,” says Wendlandt. Some of the more prominently featured artists are Jorn Olsen, Helene Quigley, and Matt Jones. Then, in what Hackwith calls an extraordinary gesture, the Pinnacle executives allowed their employees to select which pieces would go into their personal offices. The result is an art collection that is a healthy mix of traditional and modern, serene and vibrant. “Their employees really felt like they were a part of the process,” says Hackwith. Each work of art includes a plaque detailing the name of the piece, the name of the artist, and a brief description of the piece and artistic process involved. The executive offices on the upper floors have glass-panel walls that look into the hallways and common areas. Employee cubicles have lower walls with glass panes imbedded, giving nearly every employee access to natural light and breathtaking views. A community meeting room was created so that many of Pinnacle’s nonprofit clients can reserve it for their own use. “Community is… very important to us,” says Wendlandt. She says that they made a conscious effort to include a conference room with community access to it. All conference rooms are equipped with the latest in audio-visual technology The top floor houses a green roof as well as a meeting area surrounded by glass-paneled walls that can slide open and be used to entertain clients or hold business meetings. The building has achieved its soughtafter LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification. To earn this distinction, the building must meet green building standards regarding energy performance, water efficiency and several other aspects. In September 2012, the Pinnacle Bank project was also honored for its superior design with a silver award in the CorporateHealthcare category by the Nebraska-Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). President Sid Dinsdale and the executives at Pinnacle Bank have created a new work space that reflects their values as a company. In doing so, they have also built a monument to where they came from and the clients they serve.

S tory & Photo Prov ided by All mak es office equipmen t

Get up, get moving!

v er get tir ed of sitting at your desk all day? By now, everyone has probably heard the reports of the health benefits of walking. The Surgeon General recommends a minimum of 10,000 steps or five miles per day, yet the average American walks less than half of this amount, leading to chronic health problems brought on by inactivity. By rethinking how you work, you can walk your way to better health while you work. The Treadmill Desk was recently designed to change the sedentary lifestyle and is continuing to gain popularity. Consisting of a desk with an integrated control console, the Treadmill Desk still allows you to accomplish daily tasks like emails, phone calls, and typing, while working. The console displays speed, distance, steps taken, time spent, and calories burned. It also allows you to synchronize data over Bluetooth to a Mac or PC, which synchronizes the information with an online account that allows you to set goals and track your walking progress. The treadmill’s quiet motor is ideal for the corporate or home office.

Our bodies are made to move, so get moving! Stop by the All Makes showroom at 25th & Farnam to see what’s new in the office and to demo the Treadmill Desk. The All Makes team is trained to help you make furniture and business equipment purchases that fit your office atmosphere, your work style, and your budget. B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013 53

the know-it-all

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B2B Omaha Magazine • Spring 2013

he United States is like no other place in the world because of the environment we maintain for providing incentive for those willing to think outside the box. As I travel talking to individuals who have taken a crazy idea all the way to a profitable venture, I am struck by how few of us even know about what these Americans do. Here are two examples which you will never see on even The Science Channel: First, there is a small division of a larger American company that uses patents developed in Star Wars labs to make possible that which was impossible just a few years ago. A small research team has developed the ability to use lasers to destroy incoming missiles, airplanes, or even mortar rounds—Instant, accurate, and very powerful lasers to heat and destroy in order to make us safe from these threats. In accomplishing this task, an idea emerged that a spin-off use of this kind of technology would be easy. As they say, tactical to practical. This small division uses powerful lasers to hammer metal into complex shapes and to stress metals in a manner that extends their useful life fivefold. What if the U.S. military purchased a fighter which cost $350 million…a fighter that, after a mere 800 hours of flight time, risked having the mounts securing the wings fail and the wings fall off? What if these mounts could easily be made many times stronger, and last many times longer, by hitting them with powerful lasers? What if a large, multinational aviation company determined that the aluminum frame for their aircraft would begin to fail after just a decade of use? What if the use of a powerful laser could extend the useful life of these frames fivefold? What if the U.S. nuclear power facilities learned that the steel reaction chambers were being harmed by the radiation in a manner

that failure was likely? What if these steel chambers could be strengthened by hitting the surface with powerful lasers, thus extending the useful life greatly? These and many more equally fascinating problems are being solved by this small group. Another example…There’s a unique American metal-working company that is capable of pressing hot alloys into complex shapes using pressures of 5.2 million pounds. The press weighing in at 5,300,000 pounds with three of the heaviest components weighing almost a million pounds each. Aerospace industries so rely on this company for its unique capabilities that they require backups for each of the press components to be kept on-site, so that any component failure can be quickly replaced. There is no other press like this in the world. Wouldn’t you consider these companies something to be heralded by the media? I, for one, find this infinitely more interesting than what fashion some actor prefers. These two companies, and the hundreds of other unique American companies, cause me to ask, what is so different about the United States that entrepreneurs are willing to risk all to chase their dreams? Profit, of course. The ability to bring a great idea, or capability, to market and be compensated for the passion, perseverance, and hard work it takes to overcome the myriad of obstacles every entrepreneur faces daily. So, when I hear the Occupy Wall Street types and short-sighted legislators say that the capital gains income tax rate should be the same as ordinary income, I want to scream out that we only need to look at what’s occurring in France now that their long-term investment tax rate is 60 percent. If we remove the profit incentive, we will remove the incentive to innovate, create, and work as hard as it takes to overcome the challenges of a new business venture. www.OmahaPublications.com

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