B2B Omaha - August/September 2018 by Omaha Magazine

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CURING CANCER

The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Chihuly Sanctuary

IN FROST WE TRUST BIG RED BUSINESSES SEE GREEN

BLOCKCHAIN

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LEGACY ISSUE SPONSORED CONTENT

02 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

MARKETING WHERE IT COUNTS

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senior graphic designer Derek Joy graphic designer II Mady Besch graphic designer I Katiuska Nuñez contributors Keith Backsen Leo Adam Biga Tamsen Butler Kirby Kaufman Beverly Kracher Lisa Lukecart Howard K. Marcus Kara Schweiss Scott Stewart contributed photography Katie Anderson Keith Binder Scott Drickey Ariel Fried Sarah Lemke B2B Magazine is published six times annually by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: 402-884-2000; fax 402-8842001. Subscription rates: $12.95 for 4 issues (one year), $19.95 for 8 issues (two years). Multiple subscriptions at different rates are available. No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of B2B Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations.

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 03

TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER

CURING CANCER ONE MACHINE AT A TIME TECHNOLOGY HELPS ADVANCE MEDICAL PRACTICES

FEATURES

IN FROST WE TRUST

BIG RED BUSINESSES SEE GREEN

BLOCKCHAIN

WHAT IS IT? WHAT DOES IT DO?

DEPARTMENTS

ENTREPRENEURS OF THE GREAT RECESSION

REFLECT ON BUSINESS DECISIONS

COLUMNS

06 BIZ + GIVING

18 LEADERS

05 FROM THE EDITOR

10 ON THE RISE

33 omAHA!

48 OMAHA CVB

16 HOW I ROLL

36 AFTER HOURS

48 ETHICS

WOODMEN OF THE WORLD

TREVOR HOLLINS

ROBERT OWEN'S RAILCARS

JAMIE WALKER

STORYBOOK COSMETICS

THE MANCUSOS' SPORTING MEMORIES

LEGACY MEANS MANY THINGS

OMAHA OFFERS A TRAVEL-WORTHY FOOD EXPERIENCE ETHICAL THINKERS AND THE GDPR

SPECIAL SECTIONS

Nearly 16,500 TREES have been reforested since April 2015 due to the printing of our publications. More information at printreleaf.com

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04 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE OUR BANQUET HALL OR NEW CONFERENCE ROOM IS THE PERFECT FIT FOR ANY CORPORATE OR PERSONAL EVENT CORPORATE GATHERINGS • HOLIDAY PARTIES • CONFERENCES • MEETINGS • WEDDING RECEPTIONS

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 05

FROM THE EDITOR

LEGACY MEANS MANY THINGS maha can proudly boast many companies that have been in existence since the early 1900s, and some that have even been in existence since the late 1800s. This is the second-annual legacy issue, and, although many of the stories do not scream “this is legacy,” the idea is spread throughout the magazine in a variety of ways. Of course, the first article, Biz + Giving, is about Woodmen of the World, which celebrates its 128th year in business in 2018. Two companies in the magazine, Owen Industries and JetLinx, can celebrate the legacy of having a son working in the same business as the father. Tyler Owen, president and general manager of Owen Industries, works for his father, CEO Robert Owen; while JetLinx President and CEO Jamie Walker has taken over the company from his father, founder Denny Walker. Also of note, these two articles both involve the luxury transportation industry. Then there is the legacy of the Huskers. Most people realize that Nebraska's beloved football team has won five national championships. When I moved to Omaha in 1998 (from Iowa City), I had no idea that football legacy is so important to this state. Leo Adam Biga reports on the “Scott Frost Effect.” You may have heard the news: Scott Frost is returning to coach Nebraska football. My husband, Wade, recently traveled to Kearney and stayed at the home of Tim and Hilary Christo, parents of former Nebraska quarterback Monte Christo, who played with Frost in the 1990s. Wade enjoyed spending time with the Christos, as they personfied “Nebraska Nice.” Monte's former teammate is now helping to translate Big Red memorabilia into big green, as in dollar bills. B2B

Daisy Hutzell-Rodman is the managing editor of B2B, a publication of Omaha Magazine LTD. She can be reached at daisy@omahamagazine.com.

06 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

PAT DEES

BIZ + GIVING | STORY BY KARA SCHWEISS | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN

WOODMEN OF THE WORLD SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE AND THOSE IN NEED

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 07

he Woodmen name has graced a downtown Omaha skyscraper for nearly 50 years, but the organization behind it, WoodmenLife, also stands tall with nearly $11 billion in assets, $38.5 billion of life insurance in force, and an A-plus/superior rating by the independent agency A.M. Best. Since its 19th-century beginnings, WoodmenLife has also built a towering history of philanthropy and service to the community. “WoodmenLife was founded in 1890 to provide financial security for families while making a difference in their community. As a not-forprofit fraternal organization, we’re able to offer competitive life insurance and cash-accumulating products,” President and CEO Pat Dees says. “When I say, ‘fraternal,’ it’s a not-so-common word, but it’s a description of our business model. My modern definition of ‘fraternal’ is ‘to find an unmet need in the community and purpose yourself to find a way to meet it.’ That’s the guidance that we give our individual local chapters throughout the U.S.” Brook Bench is director of City of Omaha Parks, Recreation, and Public Property, which has benefitted from Woodmen's beneficence through the donation of American flags. Woodmen has donated more than 3 million American flags to parks, schools, churches, and other civic organizations.

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“WoodmenLife's American flag donations have enhanced our parks for years. We are so fortunate to have brand-new American flags we can display in our parks to honor veterans and show patriotism towards our country,” Bench says. Although the range of activities is too extensive to enumerate, Dees says WoodmenLife focuses its support in three primary areas: family, community, and patriotic endeavors.

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One example of supporting family is the WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarship program for WoodmenLife members and families. Applicants who meet basic eligibility criteria are considered for awards based on factors including volunteer activity, work history, career goals, and patriotism. “We created this two years ago to support their futures and a chance to get ahead,” he says. “This is one of the unique benefits of being a member of WoodmenLife that extends to families.” CONT. PAGE 08

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08 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

"WOODMENLIFE'S AMERICAN FLAG DONATIONS HAVE ENHANCED OUR PARKS FOR YEARS. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE BRAND-NEW AMERICAN FLAGS WE CAN DISPLAY IN OUR PARKS TO HONOR VETERANS AND SHOW PATRIOTISM TOWARDS OUR COUNTRY." -BROOK BENCH FROM PAGE 07 One community-oriented activity specific to Omaha was providing funding to the Omaha Police Department Mounted Patrol. “WoodmenLife has generously donated funding to be used towards the purchase of new horses for the Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Unit,” says Sgt. Joseph Svacina of the OPD Mounted Patrol. “Several horses have been retired, creating a need for quality replacements. The Omaha Police Department welcomes and appreciates this relationship and financial support from our partners at WoodmenLife. This level of corporate support is invaluable in our growing city, particularly our evolving downtown riverfront area and entertainment district. We look forward to growing this relationship, as well as maintaining a highly professional mounted patrol unit.”

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Even after more than a century of giving, the people of WoodmenLife continue to look for ways of serving others, Dees says. Because like a tall building, WoodmenLife was built on a strong foundation—of giving, Dees says. “There are so many ways we connect with the community. It’s part of our founding principles,” he says. “It is who we are.”

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“We adopted a focus on a national scale to fight hunger,” he says. “One of the more powerful things we can offer is, that, because we have nearly 700,000 members throughout the country, we mobilize them for volunteer efforts in local food pantries, or to raise funds, or to have canned food drives to support food pantries. In just the last few years [since 2015] we have collected 627,337 pounds of food and donated $1,117,120 for community food banks.”

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“GOOD LIGHTING DESIGN IMPROVES THE WAY A USER VISUALLY EXPERIENCES ARCHITECTURE.” -TREVOR HOLLINS

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 11

ON THE RISE | STORY BY SCOTT STEWART | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN

DESIGNING SPACES WHERE ILLUMINATION MAKES THE DIFFERENCE TREVOR HOLLINS revor Hollins has a passion for how others see the world around them. Specifically, he has a passion for how thoughtful design and lighting affects the environment people experience and how it shapes their impressions, emotions, and activity. Hollins is the lighting design studio lead at HDR’s Omaha architecture studio. He helped pioneer lighting design at HDR by advocating for it to shift from electrical engineering to the architecture studio. The move allows the lighting design team to work directly with architects and interior designers, improving the quality of the lighting and the overall design of structures. “Good lighting design improves the way a user visually experiences architecture,” he says. “When you sit next to the people you are working on a project with, you are able to ask questions, bounce design ideas off of each other, and create better solutions to designs.” The lighting design team works on projects in various stages of development, and they can be a resource for projects where the team is not directly involved, Hollins says. As part of the architecture studio, the team brings awareness of the latest advances in lighting and controls technology to projects, improving architects' ability to stay within budget and meet other project requirements.

One of Hollins’ favorite projects is the Think Whole Person Healthcare facility near Aksarben Village, which features a six-story glass atrium that creates an inviting space for patients.“It is how we perceive architecture,” Hollins says. “It’s not putting out a cool lamp.” “Lighting within that atrium had to be visually cohesive from floor to floor in order to connect all public-facing areas of the building together,” he says. The design of the building uses the brain’s neural pathways as inspiration, Hollins says. “The lighting design for the building reinforced this architectural concept in the atrium by highlighting major hubs of activity with illuminated rafts that reference an activated neuron,” he says. “Visiting the doctor can be a stressful time, and being able to help to create an inviting environment that reduces stress, and improves the patient experience and the ability of doctors to provide care, is important to me.” Hollins was recently honored for his contributions to his industry with Lighting magazine’s “40under40” award, which is organized in association with global lighting brand Osram. He was recognized alongside professionals from “high design cities” around the world, putting Omaha among the likes of London, New York, Singapore, and Stockholm. Andy Yosten, vice president and director of mechanical engineering at HDR, says Hollins has evangelized for lighting design.

“He truly understands the impact that our design can have on the human experience,” Yosten says. “It’s one thing if there is just one stand-alone great individual, but his ability to pass that knowledge on and influence others and help others see the impact that that light design can have is very special with Trevor.” Clarence Waters, an architectural engineering professor at the University of Nebraska who has grown the program to national prominence, says Hollins has been an advocate for lighting design since graduating in 2004. Hollins regularly works with students, offering them feedback on projects and presentations. He also helps students looking to transition into the workplace. “He’s very willing to give up his time,” Waters says. “HDR hires a lot of our students as interns, and Trevor is always mentoring those student interns who are working for HDR.” As Hollins looks to continue to elevate lighting design in his industry and community, he hopes the next generation will recognize its potential to better illuminate our world. Visit hdrinc.com for more information. B2B

12 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4 A Varian True Beam Linear Accelerator at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center

“THE DELIVERY TIME FOR THIS KIND OF TREATMENT [RADIATION] HAS DECREASED FROM 18 MINUTES TO ABOUT THREE.” -DR. CHARLES ENKE

FEATURE | STORY BY KAMRIN BAKER | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN

CURING CANCER ONE MACHINE AT A TIME TECHNOLOGY HELPS ADVANCE MEDICAL PRACTICES

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 13

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riving down Leavenworth or Dodge streets, the average person might see the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, located on the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine campus, as something of a museum because of its notable artwork and architecture. It is also vital to note the advanced medical technology used to detect and treat cancer at UNMC/Nebraska Medicine. Mihaela Girbacica is a registered nurse who works directly with cancer patients every day and depends on smoothly functioning tech to do her job.

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“I sit next to a patient one-on-one for their entire treatment,” Girbacica says. “We become like a family. I bond with them, I know what makes them comfortable and [feel] taken care of when they are with us, and when things go well, I’m so happy to be there for that, too.” Having a support network (or favorite nurse) is a key facet to fighting the cancer battle, but finding and targeting cancerous tumors is at the forefront of fighting the war.

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Dr. Chad LaGrange, a urologist with the cancer center, has helped to revolutionize the discovery of prostate cancers by using an MRI Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy. Essentially, this procedure, which takes place at Nebraska Medicine’s Lauritzen Outpatient Center, blends the technology of an ultrasound and MRI by combining one image with another, overlaid, image to fuse into a 3-D view. LaGrange says this tool allows technicians to view a clearer image of the area they must work on to remove all of the cancer. The fusion biopsies also remove needless worry and unwarranted medical procedures if patients are not diagnosed with lifethreatening cancers. CONT. PAGE 14

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VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

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402.932.0514 | 5885 S. 118 Circle Omaha, NE | janiking.com FROM PAGE 13 “It’s been a night-to-day difference,” LaGrange says. “Patients will come into our office to find out that their regular biopsies didn’t tell the whole story. Our equipment ensures that part of the major diagnosis doesn’t go missed.”

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While this computer-aided detection has been used for mammography and breast cancer screenings for years, its assistance in prostate cancer detection has reimagined—and reimaged—the way doctors analyze potential deadly lesions. From easily treatable small cancers to aggressive life-threatening cancers, the next step can often lead to radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Dr. Charles Enke, chair of Radiation Oncology, regularly uses the department’s Varian True Beam Linear Accelerator, a radiation device that delivers treatment to patients 75 percent faster than any other previous piece of tech used at Nebraska Medicine.

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“We’ve gotten up to seeing 115 patients in one day because of this much more elegant system,” Enke says. “The delivery time for this kind of treatment has decreased from 18 minutes to about three, meaning we have the ability to treat more patients with less machines.”

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The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is home to three of these machines, which Enke says has increased the speed and quality of most radiation plans. Treatment has transformed from a six-week plan to five simple treatments, maintaining a Nebraska Medicine culture of patient-centered care. Enke also has the ability to work from home using the machine’s remote system. This makes room for peace, quiet, and well-rested research, resulting in an environment where work done in the office directly affects patients. People often assume a cure for cancer will be a revelation; a singular miracle. However, that in-office work, albeit common and routine, is what will bring further knowledge to the professionals. Curing cancer is a daily goal, comprised of small and strong steps, increased technological advancements, and a medical team ready to work. To learn more, visit nebraskamed.com. B2B

16 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

HOW I ROLL | STORY BY LISA LUKECART | PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

RIDIN’ THE RAILS ROBERT OWEN’S PRIVATE RAILCARS

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 17

obert Owen sipped a drink, smoked a cigar, and enjoyed the view from the back end of his “yacht on the tracks.” He didn’t have a care in the world. The rush of catching a plane, loading luggage, or dealing with the airport crowds faded in favor of the looming Rocky Mountains. The train chugged along at a leisurely pace after it left the station in Chicago. The pressures of being CEO of Owen Industries, a metal fabrication business, drifted away with the chugging of his 1928 vintage train car. The slick silver, red, and blue Pullman gleamed at the rear of Amtrak’s westbound No. 5 California Zephyr. He, along with other members of the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners (AAPRCO), headed to Napa Valley along the sturdy steel of the rail tracks just as their ancestors may have done in the late 1800s. The countryside, unhindered by automobiles or highways, seemed so primitive one could almost imagine an outlaw waiting in the wings for an old-fashioned train robbery.

“IT’S A FABULOUS WAY OF SEEING AMERICA. IT SPOILS YOU. IT IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF ENJOYING THE JOURNEY.” -JULIE KING The inside exuded the same plushness as the outside. The lounge’s soft blue chairs, creamy leather sofa, and refinished woodwork is the picture of refined elegance. The dining room is a throwback to the original Pullman. A long table is covered with a white tablecloth and linen napkins. Dinner was prepared by a chef and guests could partake of caviar, a filet, or champagne. Photos of the Boston Red Sox’s Ted Williams sit on a table, showcasing the history of its famous passenger. It’s a timeless travel adventure. Owen, 75, has taken 10 trips across the rails to different states in his very own private car. In his youth, taking a train was a popular way to travel. The rooms were fancier and bigger back then, but it allowed time for the family to bond and enjoy the countryside.

“Riding a train was a real treat,” Owen recalls. Owen and his grandfather would hitch a ride on the Burlington Zephyr, a stainless steel speed demon. The diesel-powered and electrically controlled locomotive blew Owen’s mind. He thought it would be cool to own his own railcar. The thought never really left him, even after air travel boomed in popularity.

“IT’S LIKE OWNING A PRIVATE JET OR LIKE BEING IN A FIVE-STAR HOTEL. THE GOAL IS FOR THE FOOD TO BE SPECIAL, THE SERVICE, EVERYTHING.” -TERRY PETERSON In 2011, Owen turned his boyhood dreams into reality. Owen contacted Warren Lucas, who worked at Union Pacific at the time, to purchase the executive car of a former railroad tycoon president, who affectionately named it Suitsme. A private rail car can cost anywhere from $300,000 to $800,000. That's why Terry Peterson, president of Omaha Track, jumped on board to become co-owner of the former Bangor and Aroostook railcar. But the cost of owning a railcar doesn’t stop with the initial price. Many of these antiques require refurbishment and restorations. Peterson laughs, saying he has sunk anywhere between $100,000 to half-a-million into this car. Owen says his particular railcar needed updating “on and under the frame.” Peterson elaborated that this meant new wheels, axles, suspension, brakes, and more. The railcar also needed a new HVAC system, water and holding tanks, a new electrical system, and plumbing fixes. An outside company from New Jersey that repairs passenger cars did most of the work. To those who can afford it, however, the luxury of traveling in a private railcar is worth any cost. “It’s like owning a private jet or like being in a fivestar hotel,” Peterson says. “The goal is for the food to be special, the service, everything.”

From left: Ron Shaw, Bob Owen, and Dave Henegar with Bob's Pullman car in 2013.

The first trip aboard Suitsme took Owen and friends down to Chattanooga, Tennessee, followed by others to Washington, D.C.; Seattle; and wine country in California. Members of the AAPRCO will sometimes attach their cars to the same engine for trips, which increases the chances for comradery or a party on wheels. “It’s a fabulous way of seeing America. It spoils you. It is the very essence of enjoying the journey,” says Julie King, executive director of AAPRCO. AAPRCO hosts excursions that include tours, museums, and sights, sometimes of historical railroad spots. The membership fee of $90 a year includes a subscription to their magazine and an invitation to an annual convention. Additionally, there are costs for fuel and parking. Amtrak rates for trips have risen to $3.26 a mile to pull the private railcar plus $155 or more for overnight parking. That doesn’t take into account the cost of the crew, which includes a cook, steward, and mechanic. Yet, the cost doesn’t stop Owen’s love for his hobby. He purchased a second railcar with co-owner Mike Margrave, a 1953 golden beauty called Promontory Point. It is named for the site of the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad, when the Union Pacific and Central Pacific rails were reportedly joined by a golden spike in 1869. “They [my family] all thought I was crazy, and I probably am,” Owen says with a laugh. “I always wanted to have one, and now I have two.” The added benefit of two cars is a more spacious voyage, with more bedrooms and bathrooms. Since then, Owen’s son and daughter, along with his seven grandchildren, have made use of them. Some will say railcar travel is a disease, an obsession, that hooks owners from every walk of life once he/she takes the first step back in time. Sure, some things have changed. Cigars are no longer allowed, but Owen still enjoys waving to people as the train disembarks for unknown adventures. Visit aaprco.com for more information. B2B

18 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

LEADERS | STORY BY KIRBY KAUFMAN | PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

SUCCESS FROM GREAT HEIGHTS JAMIE WALKER “IT’S REALLY A CHALLENGE. THE COMPANY’S GOAL IS TO SCALE AND RETAIN A LOCAL EFFORT (IN OMAHA).” -JAMIE WALKER

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 19

amie Walker can actually say he takes corporate success to greater heights. The 44-year-old, who serves as president and CEO of Omaha-based Jet Linx Aviation, often finds himself flying to far-off places. That’s not surprising, because he served as a vital component in growing the Midwest company to a national success. The company has 14 locations in the U.S. that provide private jet services. Jamie says the company was founded by his father, Denny, in 1999 as a means to slice into the market of private airline services for people who don’t want to deal with the hustle and bustle of more public transportation. Jamie joined the company in 2002 with one major goal—bring the company to a national scale. Previously, Walker had worked in sales and marketing, and residential development in New York City. In 2004, he launched Jet Linx Aviation’s Jet Card and Aircraft Management programs. Then in 2009, he established the company’s base partner program, a major win for fulfilling national expansion efforts.

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Walker says the program was, and continues to be, a successful effort to establish Jet Linx Aviation hubs in large metro areas. The requirement includes a base partner, who serves as a local buy-in and owns a small portion of the business. Jet Linx Aviation remains the majority stakeholder and primary decision-maker. Walker was successful in growing the company this way while mitigating financial risks to the company during the Great Recession. Then in 2014, he created the company’s first member-benefits program, Elevated Lifestyle.

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“It’s really a challenge,” Walker says of the private flight market. “The company’s goal is to scale and retain a local effort [in Omaha].” CONT. PAGE 20

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20 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

FROM PAGE 19 Since taking over leadership, Walker has grown the company from four aircrafts to a fleet of over 100. The company grew from 12 clients to over 1,300. At its start, Jet Linx Aviation had 20 employees. Now it boasts about 475 hard workers across the country. When Walker is traveling, he’s usually speaking with clients interested in private jet services. In Omaha, he’s helping develop programs that benefit his everyday employees. Part of this includes the management and retention of a positive work culture. Whenever Walker is in Omaha, he makes sure to communicate with his staff to ensure they arrive to a positive atmostphere every day.

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“One of the most important things we need to do is keep that culture in place,” Walker says. In Omaha, Walker is involved with the Knights of Aksarben and YPO, and remains active on the advisory boards for JetSmarter and Stellar Labs. He previously served on the board for Jet Aviation and the local YPO Chapter.

Trust. Integrity. Knowledge. 402.861.7000 | hakco.com

Thanks Omaha for over 30 Years! We would also like to thank Omaha for voting our company the Best of B2B™.

“Jamie was chapter chair [in 2012],” says Lund Co. President Jason Lund of the YPO board. “He recruited me to be on the board. It was at a pivotal time in the local chapter, and I think he’s a very innovative, forward-thinking leader.” Walker says the single most important thing he’s learned about nonstop travel is that family is more important than anything else. “It definitely makes me appreciate Omaha much more when I do travel,” Walker says. “The best thing about traveling is coming home.” Walker spends the majority of his free time with his wife and children. And that’s something he holds close to him, because then he never loses sight of what home really means.

8 Consecutive Years ®

“I love having Omaha as a home base,” Walker says. “To be in Omaha—to call it home—makes it much easier on the life-work balance.” Visit jetlinx.com for more information. B2B

402.399.9233 | www.sparklingklean.com

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 21

a national and regional powerhouse in meetings & events | planitomaha.com

Serving the Great Customers of Omaha for 73 Years! Thank You for Voting Us #1 for 7 Years! 402.733.5500 | 4315 South 50th Street

COMMERCIAL INTEGRATOR MAGAZINE’S TOP INTEGRATOR AWARD FOR TOP INTEGRATORS IN THE NATION. Out of 11 categories, we were named

B2B OMAHA WINNER

7 out of 8 years in business!

in the TOP OF 5 of them! 402-298-5011 / conceptsav.com / 4610 S. 133rd St, Suite 106 /Omaha, NE 68137

Our new look, ready for you! • Added space for your event • Improved reception & guest flow • New finishes & colors • Updated technology • Same great food and service

6450 Pine Street 402.778.6313 ScottCenter.com

22 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

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Legacy WRITTEN BY TAMSEN BUTLER AND KARA SCHWEISS | INTRO BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN | PHOTOS BY ARIEL FRIED AND KATIE ANDERSON

Omaha boasts more than 90 companies that claim to have been in business for more than 100 years, from the oldest (NP Dodge and The Weitz Co., which started in 1855) to All Makes, which claims centurion status for the first time this year. That is an impressive number, considering that Forbes magazine has reported that eight out of every 10 new businesses last less than 18 months. Like the sands of time through an hourglass, these companies continue to work steadily through the years—through recessions and recoveries, staff changes, office moves, and more. Omaha Publications is thankful to have the support of these legacy businesses on the following pages. These long-running companies have many reasons to be proud of their contributions to Omaha industry. *This sponsored list reflects a portion of the companies in Omaha that can claim legacy status.

15 YEARS

Olson Group theolsongroup.com

Forest Green Lawn forestgreenlawncare.com

Reed Design Architects reeddesignarchitects.com

Gloria’s Elegant Interiors gloriaselegantinteriors.com

Skin Specialists lovelyskin.com/dermatology

Lovelyskin lovelyskin.com

TEAM Software teamsoftware.com

Ciaccio Roofing nebraskasbestroofne.com

20 YEARS Koca Chiropractic kocachiropractic.com

A-1 United Heating ,Air & Electrical a1united.com

Cox Buisness coxbusiness.com

One Source onesourcebackground.com

30 YEARS

Payless OfficeProducts, Inc. paylessoffice.com

Profit Advantage Direct profit-advantage.com Batten Trailer Leasing Inc. battentrailerleasing.com

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AUGUST ·

SEPTEMBER | 23

70 YEARS

Sleight Advertising sleightadvertising.com

Lueder Construction lueder.com

Lockton Companies lockton.com Kohll's kohlls.com

40 YEARS

Ingersoll Rand company.ingersollrand.com

Since 1963

Norm's Door Service normsdoor.com Center Trophy centertrophy.net

Neff Towing 80 YEARS Miller Electric millerelect.com

Steamatic steamaticomaha.com Elman Print elmanprint.com Veridian veridiancu.org S&W Fence sw-fence.com

90 YEARS

160 YEARS

Futuramic's Clean Water Center omahawater.com

60 YEARS

Rotellas rotellasbakery.com Marco marconet.com

Valley Corp. valleycorp.com

Abe's Trash abestrash.com

AK &C

Abrahams,Kaslow & Cassman LLP akclaw.com

First National Bank firstnational.com

100 YEARS

All Makes Office Equipment allmakes.com

NAI NP Dodge— Commercial Real Estate nainpdodge.com The Florence Mill theflorencemill.org

50 YEARS

Mutual 1st mutualfirst.com

HDR hdrinc.com/home The Weitz Company weitz.com

Frankel Zacharia fzacpa.com

General Fire gfsomaha.com

Red Diamond Coffee & Tea reddiamondbevservice.com

SOS soshvac.com

Harry A Koch hakco.com

24 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

SPONSORED CONTENT

YEARS

ELMAN PRINT Elman sales executive Adam Michaelsen can’t help but be excited about some new additions to Elman Print, including the nine new pieces of state-ofthe-art equipment added in the last 18 months. Some of the equipment is designed to take a lot of the burden of physical labor off the employees while some of it was ordered because employees expressed an interest in a new challenge. “Our staff was ready to step outside the box and try something new, like die cutting, embossing, and foil stamping,” says Michaelsen, adding that Elman Print's leadership has a long history of listening to employees and poising them for success in new challenges. “The culture Mark has developed means looking out for our employees and customers. It’s like a family environment—we’re so close knit,” says sales executive Kelsey ElmanGoldsmith, referring to president Mark Elman.

“WE HAVE A LEGACY OF EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PROUD TO WORK AT ELMAN. WHEN THE AGES OF ALL 35 EMPLOYEES WORKING HERE ARE AVERAGED TOGETHER, THE MEDIAN AGE IS 42—SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY SINCE 1977." -KELSEY ELMAN-GOLDSMITH Elman Print has been encouraging employees to learn and excel. “Mark likes to make lives better for employees,” says Goldsmith. Goldsmith explains that Mark makes his equipment purchases in a very calculated way; not only does he listen to employee needs and wants, but it’s also about “continued growth.”

Visitors to Elman Print will likely notice the visible age differences among the staff. This mix of older employees working alongside younger employees isn’t a chance happening. It’s intentional, and it’s part of what helps Elman Print succeed. “It’s refreshing to see the young faces along with the experienced generation that’s been around for years and years,” says Michaelsen. “It’s a cool blend and it’s neat to see. The younger employees learn the tricks of the trade while the veteran employees learn all the newest technology and innovations.” With such a wide spectrum of ages working at Elman Print, there is “no lapse in knowledge,” explains Goldsmith. “We have a legacy of employees who are proud to work at Elman. When the ages of all 35 employees working here are averaged together, the median age is 42—some of those employees have been with the company since 1977.” “So while some people might say, ‘Wow, you have some really young staff,’ the truth is that it’s intended

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AUGUST ·

and strategic,” says Michaelsen. Goldsmith agrees, saying, “The veteran employees will always be a part of our legacy, and the younger employees are eager to step up to the plate. We want to have a seamless transfer of roles when the time comes.”

not going anywhere; we’re in it for the long haul.” Goldsmith is referring to the newest piece of equipment on the Elman Print production floor, a brand-new large format press that will launch Elman into a new market.

The result is a well-trained team, armed with stateof-the-art technology, serving a loyal customer base. “It’s rewarding to have customers come back every time,” says Michaelsen. “They’re putting faith in our team. If they come to us with a big project and not a lot of time to do it, we hit the ground running. It’s gratifying that they have faith and trust in our team.”

Similarly to all the staff working together seamlessly, all the equipment is synced using advanced software that allows the equipment to “talk” to each other. Modern technology allows Elman the flexibility to print on “just about anything,” says Goldsmith.

It’s no wonder customers have so much trust in Elman Print. The very first press used by the company is still in use right alongside the newest equipment because of the company’s longstanding practice of maintaining equipment impeccably. “We’re planning ahead with our equipment and software for the future,” says Goldsmith. “We’re

It’s a formula that’s worked well for Elman Print for more than 40 years: the old and the new, working side by side to get the job done. As time goes on, the faces of Elman may change, as may the equipment used to get the job done, but the high level of customer service and the quality of work will never change. Interestingly, the sales staff is trained on the entire printing process. “The sales staff can do anything

SEPTEMBER | 25

within the shop,” says Goldsmith. “Mark saw and understood the importance of understanding the print process from beginning to end. As salespeople we can’t explain the process without learning it ourselves. It took time but paid dividends in the long run,” says Michaelsen. Elman Print strives to be more than a printer; they want to be a partner to their customers. They want their products to be a piece of the puzzle that helps clients succeed. “When our clients see success, we’re proud to be their partner,” says Goldsmith. “We exceed our client’s expectations on every job and continue our culture of trust and continuous improvement.” 6210 S. 118TH ST. OMAHA, NE 68137 402.346.0888 ELMANPRINT.COM

26 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

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YEARS

GENERAL FIRE & SAFETY One might think that the act of saving lives and property would be enough to merit a company keeping its doors open for more than 50 years, but as CEO Jason McDonald reveals, “It’s about hiring good people, having a high character, and great attitudes!” “Stay smart and humble because nothing is guaranteed. Work hard every day; without our clients, we wouldn’t exist.” McDonald started as the general manager of General Fire & Safety in 1999 before he became part owner in 2014. He took full ownership of the company in January 2017 and has worked full steam ahead ever since then. “Instead of just putting in our eight hours of work and being done, we go the extra mile. If we tell customers something will get done, we get it done,” says McDonald. “Our clients know they can trust us. We’re going to pick up the phone any time of day or night and drop everything until the problem is resolved.”

Up-to-date training is vital in McDonald’s line of work. “We’re training our technicians every day,” he says. He also urges his employees to “see the bigger picture. “The client’s needs are our number one priority.” General Fire & Safety is one of the largest fire protection and safety equipment companies in Nebraska and Iowa. Customers turn to McDonald and his crew to provide equipment, inspections, and training in fire safety and prevention. Fire prevention technology has changed over the years, but General Fire & Safety stays on top of the latest technology. “We stay fresh and we don’t just rest on our laurels,” he said. A long history of success doesn’t guarantee future success without hard work and integrity. “Whether we’re installing or inspecting, we do it correctly and per the code and manufacturer’s guidelines every time.” McDonald and his crew frequently must deal with customers who aren’t having the best day. “It’s usually a fire or a fire issue,” said McDonald. “We understand and know that every second counts.” He instructs his employees to be “sincere, knowledgeable, and have a great attitude. Clients need to be the No. 1 objective.”

It’s no wonder clients like working with General Fire & Safety—they’re listened to, respected, and can be sure the technicians will do everything possible to exceed expectations. Clients expect the latest technology in fire safety and first aid, and General Fire & Safety delivers. General Fire & Safety is actively involved with the local community. McDonald serves as the president of the Elkhorn Athletic Association, serving more than 3000 local athletes. With locations in Omaha, Lincoln, and Des Moines, General Fire & Safety is a well-recognized leader in the local area. With award-winning service and a proven track record, this company’s future looks bright. When asked what he sees for the company’s future, McDonald has a simple answer: “Longevity,” he says confidently. 5641 S. 85TH CIRCLE OMAHA, NE 68127 402.281.1770 GFSOMAHA.COM

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SEPTEMBER | 27

YEARS

LOCKTON COMPAINES

•

Jack Struyk, an Omaha native, leads Lockton’s Nebraska business as president/partner of the Omaha office. Struyk has more than 35 years of experience in risk management, underwriting, and insurance brokerage. He has brokered insurance programs for large employers throughout the country for the last 25 years, in construction, health care, manufacturing, real estate, and retail.

•

Lockton was founded in 1966 in Kansas City with one associate, Jack Lockton. He worked hard to convince prospective clients to move their business from larger brokers to Lockton. As a small start-up, that wasn’t easy, so when Lockton got a client, they did what it took to keep them. That focus on service is alive and well at Lockton today.

•

For more than 20 years, Bob Harry has been an active leader in the insurance industry. He has extensive knowledge in the placement, servicing, and sales aspects in the manufacturing and real estate industries. Harry holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Lockton’s goal is to be the best place to work and do business, and their private ownership ensures that their strategic decisions are focused on their three constituents—associates, clients, and communities— versus delivering quarterly results for shareholder. As Lockton chairman David Lockton says, “Our horizon is a quarter of a century, not a quarter of a year.”

Lockton opened its Omaha office in 2011 under the leadership of Jack Struyk. Since then, Lockton Omaha has grown from seven associates to more than 40 associates. Lockton Omaha has several producers and dozens of experts ready to help clients protect their most valuable assets—their people, property, and reputations. Here’s an intro to some producers in the Lockton Omaha office:

•

Alex Petrovich is a business-to-business client advocate and adviser with a focus on developing customized risk management and employee benefits solutions for middle market, and large privately and publicly traded organizations. With more than a decade of experience his goal is to align the strategic goals of clients to their risk management objectives.

Associates, clients, and communities. Since day one, these have been at the center of what Lockton does. As the world’s largest privately owned, independent insurance broker and consultant, Lockton specializes in risk management, employee benefits, and retirement services.

With more than two decades of experience in investment management, retirement plan design, and fiduciary governance practices, Jason Smith helps clients with their bottom line. He has been named among the 300 most influential defined contribution advisers for four years running. Smith holds designations as both a qualified plan financial consultant and a certified financial planner (CFP).

LOCKTON COMPANIES 13710 FNB PARKWAY, SUITE NO. 400 OMAHA, NE 68154 402.970.6100 LOCKTON.COM

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147

YEARS

INGERSOLL RAND Ingersoll Rand boasts an impressive history—this global legacy company has been around for nearly 150 years. The Omaha branch of Ingersoll Rand has been in business for more than 30 years. “We provide compressed air solutions for a variety of industries throughout the world with focus on sustainability by providing efficient and reliable services and equipment to help our communities excel,” explains Jon Sprunk, area services leader of Compression Technology and Services. Sprunk attributes his company’s success to “putting customers first; it made us the local market leader.” He also says that “maintaining the top talent in the industry” was important for remaining a first-rate company. In fact, he credits the hard-working employees of Ingersoll Rand with being the primary reason for the company’s impressive success. “We have the best employees in the business; they work hard to make sure our customers are taken care of. They understand that what they do on a daily basis with our customers can either make us successful or not.” Sprunk adds that “maintaining the top talent in the industry” is vital to keeping Ingersoll Rand on top. Ingersoll Rand serves the Omaha and surrounding area with product sales and consultation, maintenance and repair, and parts and accessories. Sprunk urges other business owners wanting to enjoy similar success to “not be afraid to take calculated risks on your go-to business strategy. Think outside the box to bring value to your customers.” 13205 CENTENNIAL ROAD OMAHA, NE 68138 402.330.5831 INGERSOLLRANDPRODUCTS.COM

TEAM SOFTWARE, INC. When 130 people of TEAM Software celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary next year, they’ll certainly be looking back and reflecting on the history of the business. It’s a little ironic, because TEAM’s success was built on always looking ahead, CEO and President John Leiferman says. “We’re focused on innovation and continuing to deliver future value, not just current value,” he says. “We’ve had to adapt to rapid changes in technology and anticipate what our customers are going to need down the road.” TEAM Software was founded by Frank Labedz, Sherri Labedz, and Darrell Uttecht to provide an integrated, business management system to help building service and security contractors organize operations, streamline accounting processes, and gain insight into profitability. The company continues to make companies with distributed workforces more productive, competitive, and successful through transformative technology, so only the technology and channels have changed over the years. Today, TEAM Software primarily develops cloud-based business solutions designed for contractors in the building service and security industries throughout North America. “We’ve been serving those two markets for the entire 30 years,” Leiferman says. Since the beginning, TEAM Software has been known for a positive workplace culture and outstanding customer service. The company became employee-owned in 2007 and client relationships average over 11 years. “Our values have generally stayed the same,” Leiferman says. “Taking care of each other and taking care of our customers is really important to us, and as our customers have grown, so have we.” 407 S. 27TH AVE. OMAHA, NE 68131 800.500.4499 TEAMSOFTWARE.COM

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SEPTEMBER | 29

YEARS

CIACCIO ROOFING CORP.. In the 30 years since Pete Ciaccio founded Ciaccio Roofing Corp., the company has never needed its own services more than after a heavy round of destructive hail last summer. But the needs of its clients came first. “Our roof was totaled by that storm. The remainder of the year we worked long hours focused on helping all our neighbors, friends, previous customers, and new customers with their roof damage/ insurance claims while dealing with our own as well,” says Brett Ciaccio, the company’s general operations manager. Replacement work is finally in progress for the battered roof of the company’s 16,000-square-foot facility. In the typical “can-do” approach Ciaccio Roofing has become known for, the Ciaccios have turned devastating damage into an opportunity to showcase their capability and upgrade to a “more energized workplace,” Brett Ciaccio says. “We are implementing skylights in order to swap the old synthetic lighting for natural light,” he says. “We also doing this to provide a demo for our customers to come see for themselves if they are considering the same option.”

Ciaccio Roofing is known regionally for being the state’s largest contractor for Duro-Last, a premium commercial roof and roofing systems manufacturer. However, the past year has demonstrated why the company has earned a reputation for being able to handle an impressive variety of projects. “We are well-versed, and certified, to install multiple roof systems and roof accessories. We are experienced with installing metal, TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber), tile, slate, and modified roof systems as well as skylights. We have also designed and installed fascia, soffit, and metal wall systems,” Brett Ciaccio says. “I would like to emphasize to our potential residential customers that they do not have to stick with a typical asphalt shingle for their roof. There is a wide array of options out there, from exposed fastener and standing seam metal roofs to stone-coated steel to synthetic and natural slate/tile roofs. We can help you decide what options are available and are best for your roof.” To ensure Ciaccio Roofing maintains its high level of service, the company has made some operational and staffing changes in the last year, Brett Ciaccio says, but some elements imbedded into the organization’s structure are everlasting.

“We operate with the same honesty, integrity, and work ethic that my dad has exemplified through Ciaccio Roofing over the past 30-plus years,” he explains. “I believe we have lasted for more than three decades because of (that). We have always strived to build long-term customer relationships, meet our customer’s needs and wants big or small, and push ourselves to have some of the highest quality workmanship around.” Pete Ciaccio says his company was built on integrity and his team has endeavored since the beginning to instill both confidence and peace of mind. There’s no mystery behind its longevity or why business continues to grow through referrals. “We take care of our customers,” he says. 4420 IZARD ST. OMAHA, NE 68131 402.293.8707 CIACCIOROOFING.COM

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SPONSORED CONTENT

YEARS

REED DESIGN ARCHITECTS Trent Reed started Reed Design Architects in 1997 because he had “a desire and ambition to service clientele, and to build relationships. We listen to our clients and don't try to make their projects fit into our box.” His clients have become his friends and keep coming back. Recently, a customer from decades ago returned for yet another project. “We build relationships with our clients,” says Reed. He provides them with innovative designs customized to the clients' needs. “We blend great design with realworld parameters.” “Nobody else will personalize a project more than we do,” says Reed. His solid relationships with other industry professionals help Reed get things done. 151 N. EIGHTH STREET, SUITE NO. 517 LINCOLN, NE 68508 402.475.6574

OMAHA MAGAZINE Omaha is about the larger community—the artists, the businesspeople, the philanthropists, the families. Omaha Magazine publisher Todd Lemke truly believes this, which is why the company motto is “It’s About All of Us.”a The magazine celebrates 36 years of production in 2018. Lemke began the company in 1983, two years after graduating from UNL with a degree in journalism, with the purchase of an alternative newspaper called City Slicker. He turned the publication into a “slicker,” transitioning it immediately into a four-color glossy magazine. Upon discovering that advertisers wanted to appeal to people “past the party age,” he transitioned City Slicker into a free magazine titled Omaha Today. Lemke wanted to continue growing, and his next move, in 1987, was to purchase a monthly publication titled Our City, which listed local places to shop, eat, and be entertained—an ideal publication to place in hotels around our city. By this time, Lemke’s friend Greg Bruns began working with him in advertising sales. Bruns, having difficulty selling for a rather generically-named publication, asked Lemke to think about changing the name of Our City. That thought became a reality in 1989 when the preferred name, Omaha Magazine, became available.

last name Lemke—brother Tyler, niece Sarah, nephew Alex, and Todd’s mother, Gwen. Many children of the employees have held summer jobs or internships, even becoming full-time employees themselves. Today, nearly 30 employees adhere to the company’s core values of community, respect, passion, integrity, creativity, and excellence—driven by the desire to tell the best stories in Omaha. And it does. The magazine has won several awards for staffers' work, most recently the 2018 Magazine of the Year award, won by the creative staff from the Great Plains Journalism Awards in Oklahoma. In 2017, creative director Bill Sitzmann won Magazine Photographer of the Year, and nearly swept the magazine photography award categories, at the Great Plains Journalism Awards. “We are a read, not a flip,” Lemke says. “We are a rare combination of informative, entertaining material, great design, and incredible photography. Because of that, we have a highly educated reader.” Those readers include everyone from millennials to members of the greatest generation. Each issue brings readers people profiles, arts and culture stories, food-related reports, multiple event calendars, home articles, and unique features. “It's about all of us,” Lemke reiterates.

There has been an Omaha Magazine in the area since 1890, but in the late 1980s, the registration on the name lapsed, and Lemke grabbed the chance to gain the perfect name for the company while merging his two publications. Others believed Omaha Magazine to be the perfect name for the company, also. With a less generic name, the sales staff was able to increase revenue, which resulted in more content for the magazine. The editorial staff used the extra room to print profiles of people and more in-depth features about the community. Along the way, the family-owned company has retained a familyfriendly atmosphere. At least four employees currently hold the

5921 S 118TH CIR. OMAHA, NE 68106 402.884.200 OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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SEPTEMBER | 31

YEARS

MARCO When most people in Omaha hear the name Marco, they usually think of copiers and printers. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, says Dan Urzendowski, Marco’s IT regional sales manager. In reality, the company has quietly become a leading contender in business IT. Though Marco may be Omaha’s best kept IT secret, Urzendowski believes that’s about to change. Marco has been in the industry since 1973, and a business IT services provider since 1985. In the last five years, Marco has expanded its services in Omaha—and across the Midwest—to become a full-service integrator with pre- and post-sales engineering, project management, managed services, and managed cloud. To be a leader in business IT, Marco invests heavily in its people. More than half of its 1,200 employees are certified systems engineers and technical representatives. Many of those individuals staff Marco’s world class client services center. The company has also formed strong partnerships with leading technology providers such as Cisco, Mitel, Microsoft, HP, and Dell.

But, perhaps the biggest asset Marco brings to the IT table is its focus on the client experience. “We believe offering support services is not only about fixing technology problems but equally important is providing our clients with a great experience,” says Urzendowski. “To make that experience the best in the industry, we’re constantly working to perfect our methodologies and the processes…We put feedback to use to make the client experience even better the next time.”

Dedicated care teams To further deliver a more personal and efficient customer experience, Marco assigns each business a dedicated care team of 6-8 highly trained techs who know and understand the specific nuances of that client’s industry, vertical applications, and computing platform. This gives the technicians the ability to apply more context to issues and reach quicker resolutions. Comprehensive metrics

98 percent of live calls are answered within 7 seconds When a customer calls Marco, they get a live person who is part of the company’s rapid response team. These individuals are technically trained to resolve common requests that are easy to remediate.

The company continuously compiles and analyzes real-time data to determine how efficiently and effectively it is interacting with customers. It also measures its performance by surveying clients and end users. That information—along with other detailed metrics—is shared with the client on a regular basis.

Warm call transfers If a call requires a more advanced technical skill set, the rapid response team member will document and triage the ticket to provide the caller with a live, three-way dialogue between the caller, the rapid response team member and the level-two technician on the customer’s care team. This allows the end user to verify that the rapid response member understands the problem, and it prevents the caller from having to repeat the issue.

Urzendowski knows it’s only a matter of time before Omaha’s best kept IT secret goes mainstream. When it does, he says the Marco team in Omaha is ready. 7929 W. CENTER ROAD OMAHA, NE 68124 402.339.3006 MARCONET.COM

32 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

“Veridian combines credit union values, business knowledge and commercial lending together.” — Sean Miglini Senior Commercial Loan Officer

We have loans to meet all your business needs. As a local financial institution, we’re responsive and easy to work with. We’re committed to developing personal relationships, and we’ll work with you to help your business succeed.

That’s the value of Veridian. veridiancu.org/commercial

800.235.3228, ext. 8333

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 33

omAHA! | STORY BY TARA SPENCER | PHOTO PROVIDED

STORYBOOK COSMETICS A FAIRY TALE COME TRUE

from left: Missy, Erin, and Mandy Maynard

eveloping a cruelty-free cosmetics company may not have been the dream with which they started, but Maynard triplets Erin, Mandy, and Missy have combined their individual talents to make fantasy a reality. Storybook Cosmetics is an online business they created after Missy introduced her sisters to highend makeup about 10 years ago. At first, Mandy and Erin were worried about her “obsession.” Missy would spend $80 on a single brush. The two were slowly swayed and that love of high-end product influenced their decisions when creating their own line. The self-proclaimed “nerds” drew inspiration from their interests and channeled them into those products. Erin says she would often spend nights researching “how to start a cosmetics company” on the internet.

But she didn’t get far. “Labs will not even talk to you if you’re an indie brand. You need hundreds of thousands of dollars.” Erin sent drawings to her manufacturer from a previous online business. She surprised Erin one day by producing a prototype of their Wizard Wand Makeup Brushes. When Erin posted the picture of them on her Instagram account, the post blew up—engagement was in the thousands in about five minutes. She quickly removed it and the sisters decided to post it on a Storybook Cosmetics account they had created but had not used yet. The account went from 9,000 to over 100,000 followers “in a matter of days.” They started pitching themselves to beauty magazines right away, and publications like InStyle, Allure, and Teen Vogue started writing about them. Their social media was inundated with questions and comments.

The women knew this was their chance. Erin started at the top of the list of cosmetics labs she’d previously contacted. “I said, ‘Yeah we’re the creators of the magic wand makeup brushes,’ and they were like, ‘Please hold.’ They signed us on that day.” The brushes launched the brand, but there is a constant buzz around all of their products. “Honestly, we have a really loyal, awesome following.” she says. “Everything since then has been almost as successful.” So successful that they are now a multimillion dollar company. All from a $500 prototype. CONT. PAGE 35

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VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

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OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 35

FROM PAGE 33 Initial orders of brushes were shipped out of their mother’s living room in Omaha. Friends and family filled the house for three weeks during the Christmas season to help box products. Erin says it’s great being based in Omaha because it’s cheaper than if everything was based out of L.A., especially with the help of their extensive support system— the triples are three of six sisters. Roxane Cosgrove, a friend of their younger sister Erica, is not surprised by their success. The triplets' interest in makeup was evident early on, as Cosgrove recalls going over to their house while she was in middle school. “The triplets lived in the basement and they would give us makeup tutorials.” She remembers looking up to them, and is quick to mention that their mom is also a “superstar.” “They were always really innovative: the whole family is,” she says. “They were always figuring something out and they were always hard workers.” Besides that, she adds, “the Maynards have always been nerds at heart.” While having their support system around is key, the fact that Missy lives out west has its advantages. The triplets’ work is often based on popular movies or books, such as their Mean Girls Burn Book Palette, and it’s much easier for her to set up and get to meetings. And, according to Erin, she’s the right person to have in those meetings. “Missy is our mouthpiece, basically. She gets us all of our licensing,” she says, later adding, “She’s like the licensing whisperer.” Each of the girls brings something unique to the table. Mandy is the graphic designer and artist, so she handles the creative side. Erin says she is good at “the boring stuff,” dealing with logistics and manufacturing. “It’s very bizarre, but we like to say when we combine we make one normal superhuman.” While the business is currently only online, they are working on funding to branch into retail. A bigger investor can help them get to the next level. Erin says they have stores that are interested, but currently they can’t fill the orders. “That’s kind of the hurdle that we’re at right now in our growth,” she says, adding that it’s “obviously a good hurdle to have.”

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36 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

AFTER HOURS | STORY BY MICHAEL MCCURDY | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN

PLAY BALL! THE MANCUSOS’ SPORTING MEMORIES

“WHEN MY DAD STARTED COACHING AT NEBRASKA IN THE ’60S, HE GOT A COUPLE OF SEATS FOR EVERY FOOTBALL GAME,” MIKE SAYS. “WE’VE KEPT THOSE SEATS EVERY YEAR SINCE IT’S A TRADITION OF OURS TO ATTEND EVERY GAME, THROUGH THE GOOD AND THE BAD.” -MIKE MANCUSO

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OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 37

ancuso: a name revered in the Omaha area for their family’s event planning business, Mid-America Expositions.

One October 1994 game in Lincoln has remained apparent in his mind.

From hosting grand events in Omaha’s late Civic Auditorium to formulating events like “Taste of Omaha,” the Mancusos’ impact has been felt in the Omaha area for more than 50 years. It is their passion for sports, however, that has held the family together.

“It was a huge Big 8 matchup with Colorado, and Brook Berringer got the call at quarterback because Bobby Newcombe wasn’t feeling too good,” Mike says. “We had the tunnel walk and HuskerVision for the first time, and [then] Colorado came out before we [Nebraska] came out onto the field. And because of that, I can just remember the stadium… going absolutely nuts.”

Youngest son Mike says his father, Bob Sr., grew up in Omaha with a heavy interest in sports thanks to Mike’s grandfather, Joe, being in charge of the city parks. Mike also says because his father grew up in a time without television and video games, sports were something he could easily focus on.

For most games, the Mancusos have traveled to Memorial Stadium from Omaha. The family’s residence in Lincoln was cut short, in part due to Mike entreating his father to move home.

Bob Sr. took his passions to Kansas State University on a wrestling scholarship and later qualified to wrestle at the 1956 Olympic trials. However, before the trials started, Joe fell sick and passed away; Bob Sr. needed to move back to the area. Bob Sr. took a job coaching wrestling at Bellevue High School (now Bellevue East). He led the team to their first state championship, and within a few years, the University of Nebraska offered him a job coaching wrestling in Lincoln. “Bob Devaney was just hired as the head football coach in 1962 and Frank Sevigne was the track coach, so he was just really enjoying the new environment and coaching at the time, as were us kids,” Mike says. Since their days in Lincoln, the Mancuso family has owned tickets to every season of Nebraska football. “When my dad started coaching at Nebraska in the ’60s, he got a couple of seats for every football game,” Mike says. “We’ve kept those seats every year since it’s a tradition of ours to attend every game, through the good and the bad.” Mike says he best remembers Saturdays at Memorial Stadium with his dad.

“1964 is when our family decided to move back to Omaha, since coaching, at the time, wasn’t paid in a substantial amount like it is today,” Mike says with a laugh. “I inspired our dad to start [MidAmerica Expositions] and come to Omaha to start managing events.” Mike and his older brothers, Bob Jr. and Joe, took their Cornhusker pride and athletic passion to the ball diamonds and courts of Omaha. Bob Sr. was also a prominent figure in the Omaha sports community. “We grew up around Omaha sports, playing in a variety of different leagues,” Mike says. “Like his dad, my dad also coached a lot, mainly because he loved teaching. He also was very involved in the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, originated by my uncle Charlie, and continued by my dad after Charlie’s death.” Mike says his dad’s involvement in the Greater Omaha Sports Committee created many surreal experiences as a child, where he and his brothers worked as bat, and ball, boys for Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association exhibition games. CONT. PAGE 38

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VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

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FROM PAGE 37 “I remember one time I was a ball boy underneath the hoop and Sam Lacey was the big center and ‘Tiny’ Nate Archibald was the little guard,” Mike says, speaking of two Kansas City Kings players. “During the game, Lacey went after a ball and tumbled into the stands, causing everyone to [launch] their pops, creating a mess. I had to get my towel out and clean it up in front of everybody.” At the core of the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, and the city, was the College World Series. Bob Sr. and fellow committee members often held a welcome luncheon for all the participating teams, hoping to provide unforgettable experiences in Omaha.

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The Mancusos’ contribution and involvement in college baseball’s grand series carried on throughout the tournament as Mike and his brothers helped to enhance the experience in any way possible. “We would run the dugouts, trying to clean them up between each game,” Mike says. “We worked the fields, and if we had time, would run up and clean the press box. Up there we took care of the press by giving them something to eat and plenty of water to drink at the games. We’ll just say I made a lot of Zesto runs.”

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 39

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One time his father even gave up their family’s premier seats to former Saint Louis Cardinals pitcher and U.S. congressman Wilmer “Vinegar Bend” Mizell. “Ben Mizell came in for breakfast one morning before the games to speak in front of some of the players who were involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes,” Mike says. “After the speech, my dad generously told him to take our seats, kicking my brothers and I out. Luckily, there were spots up top in the GA [general admission] section, and at that age we liked to run around anyway.” Like Bob Sr., his three boys also played college sports. Mike inherited his father’s passion for wrestling, taking his talents to Iowa State University. Bob Jr. also took the Mancuso name to Ames, though for baseball, while Joe played baseball at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Although the brothers now longer watch sports with their dad, who passed away in 2015, in many ways, sports act as a microcosm in demonstrating the core aspects of family, which is why the Mancuso brothers’ passion in athletics ceases to fade. Visit showofficeonline.com for more information. B2B

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40 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

FEATURE | STORY BY LEO ADAM BIGA | PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

IN FROST WE TRUST BIG RED BUSINESSES SEE GREEN

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 41

"WE SOLD OUT OUR SPRING GAME, WHICH IS BASICALLY A SCRIMMAGE, IN LESS THAN 36 HOURS. [IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE GAME HAS SOLD OUT] IT WAS INCREDIBLE." -BILL MOOS

hen the University of Nebraska football program again failed to produce a winning season last fall, new athletic director Bill Moos fired head coach Mike Riley and promptly hired former Husker Scott Frost. After years of losing, Nebraska is hopeful that they have found a winner with Frost. The Wood River, Nebraska, native quarterbacked NU to its last national championship in 1997, under the direction of legendary Husker head coach Tom Osborne. Bringing Frost back into the fold for the muchscrutinized role of head football coach in Lincoln was an easy decision because he fits NU culture to a T. “Nobody else would have generated that type of enthusiasm,” Osborne says. “He's here now and we're glad to see it. Where Scott really brings a lot to the table is he understands Nebraska and what you have to do in a sparsely populated state where there's cold weather and not a lot of geographical advantages like beaches or mountains.” Osborne continues, “I don't think there's anybody more prepared than Scott to do the job. He's intelligent, he has energy, he's played and coached offense and defense at a high level.”

In Nebraska, Frost has only coached the 2018 exhibition spring game, but he is viewed as the deliverer who will lead the program out of the wilderness of mediocrity and irrelevancy it has fallen into. Fans are voicing their approval via social media and sports talk shows. They are also purchasing extensive amounts of Husker merchandise and tickets, making donations, and turning out for events at increased rates. Call it the Scott Frost Effect. NU is taking advantage of this return-of-theconquering-hero narrative by ramping-up development efforts wherever large bases of Husker fans reside. “We're really reaching outside the borders,” says NU Executive Associate Athletic Director Marc Boehm, who oversees external operations. He says fundraising junkets to Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, and Palm Springs and Naples, Florida, are tapping into “enthusiasm over the hire and for the direction the program is heading.” Nebraska Alumni Association Executive Director Shelley Zaborowski notes a ripple effect. “We have certainly seen increased interest from alumni,” she says. “Our trip to Chicago for the upcoming Northwestern football game sold out in record time, our allocation of football tickets sold quickly, and we have received a high volume of calls about the Nebraska Champions Club.” The association’s previous trips for the Northwestern game sold out between July 1 and the start of football season. This year tickets were nearly gone by the spring game in April; however, this is also the first year the alumni association has used an online ticketing system. The waiting list for tailgate spots at the Nebraska Champions Club has grown by nearly 50 percent this spring. Zabroski wrote in an email that the membership numbers for May were the third best since 2014.

“It’s a little soon for us to attribute a spike in membership to 'the Frost Effect,' but we have high hopes the collective enthusiasm will pay off in that way, too. Anecdotally, there are a lot of people excited—[with] our local alumni and our chapters across the country. His return home is a point of pride and enthusiasm for Nebraska alumni and friends.” University of Nebraska Foundation President & CEO Brian Hastings echoes the sentiment. “Our fundraisers travel around Nebraska and the country, and they certainly are hearing a lot of excitement and enthusiasm from our alumni and supporters. Athletics—especially football—is a front door to the university, so we are excited to have a lot of eyes on the University of Nebraska this fall.” Wherever Frost has appeared, he has been well received. A record 86,000-plus fans attended the April 21 spring game at Memorial Stadium. The June 11-12 Husker Nation Tour saw the new head coach, his assistants, and Moos and other administrators criss-cross the state to pump the Big Red well in anticipation of the 2018 season. High-energy crowds turned out at all 26 town stops. All good signs the Frost Effect is paying dividends. “There are barometers in which to confirm that,” Moos says. “We sold out our spring game, which is basically a scrimmage, in less than 36 hours. [It was the first time the game has sold out] It was incredible. Our season ticket renewal rate was 96 percent. That's about 1.5 percent higher than in 2017, but you've got to realize there aren't a lot of seats available year-to-year. “Our novelty stores and online site Fanatics were up about 10 percent in December [over the previous December] after Scott's hire from people jumping on the wagon to celebrate the coming home of one of our stars. We've seen a great surge in sales—over 15 percent—in Husker items from all of our licensees.” CONT. PAGE 42

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FROM PAGE 41 Husker Hounds owner Scott Strunc says, “Coach Frost has generated a ton of excitement again with Husker Nation. Our sales are up 40 percent from last year through May. I anticipate the excitement building as the first game gets closer. The 'Frost Effect' has been the best thing to happen to our business in 20 years.” Positive media spin generates free publicity.

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“The media has been all over our campus following this new era,” Moos says. “We've had USA Today, Sports Illustrated, espn.com, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, cbsports.com, and the Big Ten Network. It's a big story and big excitement.” Boehm has “seen a lot of ups and downs” with Husker football's following since 2001.”This past year it was getting concerning, where you saw a little apathy setting in, which is never good,” he says. “Then once that hire hit, it was game on. The biggest thing is that the state is now unified. When that happens, it can be a pretty big force.” Boehm says the economic engine of Husker football will be most felt in-season, when fans spend thousands of dollars at the stadium and at bars, restaurants, hotels, and shops in Lincoln. Fans watching the games at Omaha venues will do the same. “Nebraskans are very proud, and right now that pride is back,” he says, “and it's much more than the investment—it's the time and energy donors and prospects put into coming to the games. Forget about the financial end, it's actually showing up and being emotionally invested again.” Nebraska proudly touts the NCAA record for consecutive home football sellouts and Osborne says that streak “certainly was in dire jeopardy if we hadn't got somebody like Scott to come back,” adding, “I think it's important that people have hope and I think there's a renewed sense of hope.” Moos observes how “the feverish pitch of the fan base” is in stark contrast to the mood he found upon arriving in November.

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 43

“I've always felt that what intercollegiate athletics could do for an institution is be a source of leadership, morale, and positive feeling,” Moos says. “All those things are in place and it's just a real good time to be involved with the University of Nebraska. It's been my experience that when football is firing on all cylinders, then all boats rise. The attention a school's football program brings to it is something you can't really put a price tag on. Applications for admission grow. Already have. Donations across campus improve. When people have a good feeling about their university, are happy with the results, and anticipate a good future, they're more apt to loosen the purse strings and get involved, and that's where I feel we are right now.” Moos says the savvy Frost knows that as football goes, so goes the athletic department, and that, despite NU's recent on-the-field struggles, the school boasts the tradition, facilities, financial resources, and fan support to be competitive. “He's aware. Scott's been around the game a lot at every level and has been involved in some big-time college programs, so he knows what we have in comparison to others and is very appreciative.” Few wish to broach what will happen if things don't pan out with Frost. Osborne suggests this may be NU's last, best chance to regain top status. “I think people more or less realize if this doesn't work we're going to be really hard-pressed to find somebody who can do better, because Scott has pretty much all the pieces you're looking for.” Moos echoes Osborne in expressing guarded optimism that all the right moving parts are in place—Frost being the key chess piece on the board. “Scott definitely has the coaching know-how and not many times do you get to implement that at a place you love and that loves you. It's a dream come true.” Moos also knows fans' fickle nature can turn this honeymoon into hell if NU doesn't win big under Frost. He quips, “But, hey, we're still undefeated.” Visit huskers.com for more information about Nebraska football. B2B

STORIES OF

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44 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

FEATURE | STORY BY HOWARD K. MARCUS | PHOTOS BY BILL SITZMANN

BLOCKCHAIN WHAT IS IT? WHAT DOES IT DO?

“BLOCKCHAIN IS A NEW FORM OF THE INTERNET.” -ERICA WASSINGER

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 45

o industries that depend on verification as a core factor of their business, blockchain technology has much to offer, according to Erica Wassinger, co-founder of The Startup Collaborative and senior director of entrepreneurship and innovation for the Greater Omaha Chamber. B2B recently caught up with Wassinger to get her take on blockchain and its benefits to companies in Omaha and elsewhere. B2B: Please explain what blockchain technology is. Wassinger: Blockchain is a new form of the internet. The distinguishing factor between blockchain and the internet as we know it now is the fact that blockchain is not controlled by any central entity or person. It’s completely decentralized and distributed. Think of it like a public ledger that can record transactions of any type. A simple parallel might be that it can be a supply chain for just about anything, including information. When you dig deeply into the industries of Omaha, you think about our density within the supply chain. We're home to Union Pacific, Werner Enterprises, and some of these big logistics companies. Blockchain fits really nicely into the business models of those types of companies because it allows any organization or person to verify where something is on the supply chain. B2B: To make use of blockchain, you have to be appropriately credentialed, digitally, right? Wassinger: To an extent. Businesses can operate on blockchain, any person can cooperate on it. If you want to develop on the blockchain, it does require a certain level of skill. There are very few developers. I heard one source say there are as few as 1,300 true blockchain developers in the world. B2B: What are those individuals doing? Developing applications for different products? Wassinger: Yes. They're thinking of different use cases just like we would for the internet, where we think of how to create a web platform or an app that solves a problem. Blockchain developers are doing that same thing for blockchain use cases.

B2B: What are some blockchain use cases? Wassinger: You see blockchain used in the food industry with the verification of crop growth product formation. For example, if, as a consumer, I want to eat a food, and it matters to me greatly that that is a wholly organic food, I might want to go all the way back to the point at which that was planted in the soil to figure out how the crop was treated, how often was it watered, when was it harvested, where did it go, and what happened to it at the next facility. B2B: Is supply chain verification the most popular use of blockchain? Wassinger: Yes, at least here in the Nebraska blockchain market, whether it’s the food supply chain or the information supply chain. B2B: What are some local use cases for blockchain? Wassinger: Let’s dig into the economy of Omaha. We've got deep density in financial services— everything from payment processing to banking to insurance. All those bases are completely ripe for blockchain technology, especially when you think about the need for authenticating things. Think about insurance, for example. Wouldn't it be great if, upon buying a new policy, you could record every transaction very simply? That's happening now with certain insurance companies. They're testing that, and some are live right now. You can also look outside financial services and into the food industry. There's a startup we are working with called BlockEra that's working on an ingredient-to-table verification process. You can also think supply chain logistics. For example, if I am Union Pacific and I want to watch my train go from here to there, and I want to know what freight was loaded, when it was unloaded, and all of the details of that experience, blockchain becomes very relevant. B2B: What about an international use case? Wassinger: The United Nations, which works with massive refugee populations, has a really interesting blockchain use case. As a refugee, your anonymity is important to you—the ability to transact in any environment is important. You also fully expect to

have a physical wallet on you to carry cash. You're going to be crossing borders and deal with this, that, or the other. So the United Nations looked at that. We can respect these people’s anonymity through leveraging the block chain by giving refugees tokens that will allow them to transact across any border. As they reach certain points in their journey, we can make sure that they have enough tokens to fuel that piece of their journey. B2B: The technology sounds great. How does anybody make money from it? Wassinger: A lot of people are still trying to figure all of this out. Because the transactions are happening on blockchain, they require use of cryptocurrency. When you hear “cryptocurrency,” a lot of people are going to initially think of bitcoin. But there are several others that come up, Ether being one. Ether is the cryptocurrency of choice for the Ethereum blockchain. Ethereum is an open- source blockchain that is hinged around the idea of a smart contract, which is a really transparent way of two entities agreeing on a value for something and then recording that agreement transaction together. B2B: Is there anything you'd like to add? Wassinger: I think about Omaha and the talent pools we have here. I keep coming back to this: we’ve got really a strong agribusiness talent pool, we've got a really strong talent pool in supply chain and logistics, and we’ve got an incredibly dense and strong talent pool as it relates to financial services, insurance, and payment processing. I think our region needs to embrace blockchain. We need more people in the core industries where blockchain stands to be a major disruptive source to test and dabble and experiment earlier with the technology to look at it and say what levels of verification need to happen in those industries. I would love to see that embraced because I firmly believe that blockchain will be very important to the future of Omaha’s economy. Visit blockgeeks.com for more information about blockchain. B2B

46 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

“[THE BAGS] STARTED TO TAKE OFF FOR ME, SO THIS DECISION TO LAUNCH ARTIFACT WAS PARTLY DUE TO TIMING AND LARGELY DUE TO NECESSITY… I’M PRETTY RISK-AVERSE IN GENERAL AND THE IDEA OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP—IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MY FIRST PICK.” -CHRIS HUGHES

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST · SEPTEMBER | 47

FEATURE | STORY BY KARA SCHWEISS | PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN

ENTREPRENEURS OF THE GREAT RECESSION REFLECTING ON BUSINESS DECISIONS ven the Great Depression couldn’t keep some entrepreneurs down. Enduring companies and brands including Sony Music, Westin Hotels, Allstate, Rubbermaid, RayBan, and Tyson Foods all originated during the economic downturn in the early 20th century. Similarly, the period of economic recession that began a decade ago didn’t stop several local entrepreneurs from starting businesses during a time when numerous companies were floundering or failing. Kirt Jones was already a business owner when 2008 began. He had started Jones Construction in 2005 under a strong market climate, which may have helped him achieve financial stability, but, ironically, did not foster rapid growth. “[That] made it very hard to find lots to build houses on in good developments. Simultaneously, banks were not interested in working with a new company to provide construction lending,” he says. He started Castle Brook Builders in 2008 not knowing a market crash was around the corner. “The change to Castle Brook Builders was for marketing purposes. We wanted to bring brand awareness to the company by developing name recognition to the Omaha area. We started before the market crash, but we accelerated growth during the downturn,” he says. “When the market did slow down, banks paid more attention to our strong financial position and land developers were willing to listen to my proposals on multiple lot purchases. I developed a successful business model from these long-term lot purchase agreements, providing higher profitability for Castle Brook Builders.” The timing was advantageous but Jones says other factors also contributed to his success during a time when so many of his competitors struggled.

“I have a financial background, so developing longterm strategies and partnerships allowed me to rise above the competition with stronger sales and profits. We invested some of this profit into creating and continuing our brand awareness,” he explains. Having been through the economic downturn, he says he is ready now for anything that happens in the next 10 years and beyond. “Reputation is very important in the Omaha market. We have worked very hard to establish strong relationships and partnerships with other respectable homebuilders and land developers in the area. This will provide CBB a very strong competitive advantage far into the future,” he says. Chris Hughes' IT job was eliminated in 2009 as a result of the economic downturn, and he needed to create another source of income after landing a job that brought in about one-third of the salary he once commanded. “I was obviously looking for any other avenue, and I was making tote [bags] in my basement to sell on Etsy,” he says. “That started to take off for me, so this decision to launch Artifact was partly due to timing and largely due to necessity…I’m pretty riskaverse in general and the idea of entrepreneurship— it would not have been my first pick.” The well-crafted bags he sold on Etsy for extra cash became a big hit, and he officially launched Artifact Bags in 2010, when the economy was slowly starting to turn. It is thriving today. Looking back, Hughes says that, although he may have felt then like circumstances forced his hand a bit, waiting for the economy to turn around would have actually been a misstep.

“I think it’s becoming more and more difficult to do what I’m doing. The market is more saturated with people who are doing similar products or business models to what I’m doing,” he says. “I was on the bleeding edge of it and there was a time, with e-commerce, where Google was at a point where I was able to really leverage my standing in Google search in a way that was more democratic and didn’t require as much capital as it would require now to pay for that space.” The frustration he encountered in trying to find a new job turned out to be somewhat motivational, he adds. “When you’re backed in a corner and you’re trying to tell people what you’re capable of, there comes a point when you give up and you demonstrate what you’re capable of, through entrepreneurship or just doing your own thing. And I think that it speaks more than just your own self-speculation about what you think you can do for some company,” he explains. “Everybody’s got an idea written down on a napkin somewhere, but execution is everything. I’ve met a lot of people along the way through the eight years of doing Artifact, and I hear tons of great ideas all the time, but they don’t mean anything. A great idea that is never executed is worse than an average one that someone works their butt off to try to get out there in the world.” For more information, visit artifactbags.com and castlebrookbuildersomaha.com. B2B

48 | B2B MAGAZINE · 2018

VOLUME 18 · ISSUE 4

OMAHA CVB BY KEITH BACKSEN

OMAHA OFFERS A TRAVELWORTHY FOOD EXPERIENCE here are numerous reasons why visitors travel to Omaha. Some are in the city for business or a convention, while others come for an extended weekend getaway to see attractions like the zoo and museums. But there is another reason Omaha is growing in popularity—our food. In every corner of the city, you’ll find authentic cultural culinary creations that make Omaha quite the foodie destination. You can eat pizza certified by the Italian government at Dante in West Omaha and savor a steak prepared by a James Beard Award nominee at The Grey Plume in Midtown. In North Omaha, nobody does soul food like Big Mama’s–just ask the folks at the Travel Channel. And, despite a culture of fast food, in South Omaha you’ll find the Lithuanian Bakery, where bakers take three days to make a mouth-watering old-world Napoleon torte. Having restaurants that offer such unique cuisine is the cornerstone of building Omaha’s travel-worthy reputation, an equally important component is letting visitors know about our great food scene. In April of this year, Visit Omaha hosted a Foodie Blogger tour to see how many bloggers would be interested in telling Omaha’s story—25 bloggers expressed interest. Out of those 25, Visit Omaha selected four bloggers with the most impressive audience numbers and invited them to enjoy Omaha’s food scene on us. The bloggers traveled from Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, and Minnesota. They visited Monarch Prime and learned how the restaurant dry-ages its steaks in-house. They took a culinary class at Provisions by The Grey Plume and

experienced making their own pasta. The bloggers also enjoyed samplings at half-a-dozen foodie hot spots on an Omaha culinary tour. They did not leave disappointed; each was impressed with their Omaha dining experience and now plans to share Omaha’s story with a hungry audience of more than 357,000. The economic impact when visitors explore Omaha’s food scene is huge. Research shows that out-of-town guests spend $304 million every year on food and drinks while visiting our city. Those dollars help keep people in our community employed. These people—from wait staffs, to chefs and their kitchen staffs, to the drivers delivering the supplies to the restaurant—all have jobs thanks, in part, to all the tourists spending their money here. If it has been a while since you have had an evening out, give Omaha’s food scene a try. Omaha Restaurant Week (Sept. 14-23) is a great opportunity to try a new restaurant, or a new dish at an old favorite. After all, if people are traveling from places like Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, and Ohio to sample the flavor of Omaha, it’s definitely worth the trip outside your neighborhood. Visit omaharestaurantweek.com for details. B2B

ETHICS BY BEVERLY KRACHER

ETHICAL LEGACY THINKERS AND THE GDPR they have influence and will last a long, long time.”

he General Data Protection Regulation is a new European Union and European Economic Area privacy regulation. It has to do with how personal information of EU subjects is processed and applies to all enterprises, even if located outside the EU, that work with the EEA. Among other things, it requires that data collectors and processors receive opt-in consent from the data’s owner; certain data breaches must be reported within 72 hours; users have a right to request a copy of the data collected; and users have a right to have their data erased under specific situations. This last right is also called “the right to be forgotten.”

Ethical legacy thinkers have four attitudes in common, which were apparent in my GDPR conversations with them. First, they exhibited curiosity, asking questions such as, “What’s the difference between opt-in and opt-out?” and “What is personal information?” Second, they expressed concern for long-term business impact, asking“How can we continue to satisfy our customer’s need for privacy?” and “What will the overall cost be?”

When the GDPR became enforceable on May 25 it affected me. I was in Austria and I could not get access to several U.S. websites, including the Omaha World Herald. “Come on, what’s the privacy issue with our local paper?” I thought.

Third, these businesspeople showed a sense of the relationship between business and society, asking,“What are the social norms across communities and countries that drive different senses of privacy?” and “What is businesses’ role in maintaining these?”

Talking to several business leaders when I came back to the U.S., we reflected on how the new regulation affects Omaha businesses. There were two distinct responses.

Fourth, they always bring it back to their values and the core values of their firms. They asked “Why is privacy important to me?,” “How can I make sense of the right to be forgotten?,” and “How can our company use the spirit of this regulation to do what we do best—make good money through excellent customer service and respect for our customers?.”

The first was, “the GDPR is interesting to know about. But our firm doesn’t have clients in the EU so it’s not a regulation that I think too much about.” I’ll call this a short-term, narrow reaction. It doesn’t indicate that the businessperson’s perspective is far, wide, and high. The conversation closed down almost immediately. What I’ll call ethical legacy thinkers, however, consistently had a different take. Even if their firms don’t currently have EU clients, they exhibited attitudes and perspectives that left me with the thought, “I can see why

Ethical legacy thinkers are seers. They pose big-picture questions and seek long-term impact. They know that passing on a strong moral compass and a sense of purpose is meaningful. B2B

Keith Backsen is executive director of the

Beverly Kracher, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Business

Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Ethics Alliance and the Daugherty Chair in Business Ethics and Society at Creighton University.