VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 02 | WINTER 2023 THE BMW APP | DISMAL RIVER BEEF | O-PA | BMW XM
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ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT DAVE ARBAUGH CL IENT BENEFIT BMW APP CLIE NT SPOTLIGHT LISA GARCIA EN TERTAINMENT OMAHA PER FORMING ARTS ROAD TRIP ELMS HOTEL & SPA GOURMET DISMA L RIVER BEEF FEATURE BMW TECHNICI AN LONG DIHN FEATURE BMW XM Published by Omaha Publications. Omaha Magazine, LTD. is a publishing company that prints six regular publications created in-house. In addition, they publish the annual Best of Omaha® and Best of B2B® contests, as well as Faces of Omaha and custom projects. Subscribe online at omahamagazine.com/pages/subscribe. Omahamagazine.com | 402.884.2000 06 08 10 12 16 18 22 28 VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 02 WINTER 2023 Publisher Todd Lemke Associate Publisher Bill Sitzmann Contributing Editor Tom Coleman, ONYX Managing Editor Kim Carpenter Ad Sales Gil Cohen gil@omahapublications.com Graphic Designer Renee’ Ludwick Accounting/ Operations Manager Kyle Fisher
SALES MANAGER AS PROBLEM SOLVER
Dave Arbaugh’s Drive in Life
Story by Kara Schweiss // Photography by Bill Sitzmann
ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT
David Arbaugh has been successful in his decade-plus automotive sales career. He’s moved his way up from an entry-level sales position to serving today as both the MINI Cooper and pre-owned sales manager for ONYX Automotive, so it’s surprising to hear Arbaugh say he envisioned a very different career path.
“I went to college to be a youth pastor; I have a bachelor’s degree in youth ministry from Nebraska Christian College,” he said.
After graduating, Arbaugh—who grew up on a farm north of Council Bluffs, IA— took a job in Kentucky.
“I don’t fit in the Bible Belt very well,” he said. “I spent a year down there, and that’s all it took. And I was married with two young children and moving back to Omaha with no job.”
A college friend worked in automotive sales, so Arbaugh reached out.
“I called him up while I was driving the U-Haul back to Omaha. I was like, ‘Hey, I’m in Kansas. Can you give me an interview?’” he recalled. “I had one the same day I returned back to Omaha, got hired on the spot, and started to sell cars.”
He freely tells new-hires of his rocky start in the industry: “I didn’t have a knack for it. I never planned on having this be a career, at first; it was a necessity job until I figured out what my next step was going to be. In my first year in the car business, everybody told me I should probably move that timeline up and figure out something I’m good at, because I wasn’t very good at selling cars.”
Arbaugh said he didn’t feel professionally fulfilled at first, which held him back.
“With my background, I want to help people. That’s my drive in life,” he said. “But I learned and progressed and stayed with it—and became an okay salesperson.”
A shift in perspective changed everything.
“It was probably four or five years into my sales career. (Owner) Jeff Hinchcliff held a meeting. He said a phrase; I’ll never forget it: ‘We need to think of ourselves as problem-solvers, not just salespeople.’ And I took that to heart,” Arbaugh said.
own personality,” he said. “You can still look at a MINI from 100 yards away and know it’s a MINI.”
Today’s MINI models have abundant safety features and a luxury element that wasn’t part of their ancestors introduced in 1959. But they’re still fundamentally recognizable, Arbaugh said.
“They’ve gotten a little bit bigger over the years and they’ve adapted, but it’s still a little British car,” he said.
He’s also impressed with the fact that MINIs have all-wheel drive.
“They’re really pushing the envelope on what a smaller car could do outdoors. And that speaks to me highly; I’m kind of an adventure junkie,” said Arbaugh, whose hobbies number rock climbing (including with his wife and four kids) and mountain biking.
“I ended up physically rewriting my job description. To summarize it, my job was to have empathy for every customer that I come in contact with so I can build rapport and find out what problem they have so I can present a creative solution for them. So, I started approaching my sales like that, understanding that people aren’t coming to our store necessarily to buy a car; they’re coming to our store to fix a problem.”
As he guided people through the important investment of purchasing a vehicle, Arbaugh realized his work really was helping people.
“And that’s when I got good, when my career took off, when I started selling more cars,” he said. “And I was driving home at night feeling like I was making a difference.”
His sales experience encompasses many different makes of vehicles, but Arbaugh said he especially enjoys being associated with the MINI Cooper brand.
“The MINI is not like any other car out there, and it’s not trying to be like any other car out there. It very much has its
The MINI—much like Arbaugh’s automotive career—developed from necessity. And then it became so much more.
“It really changed the automotive industry...The designer of the original MINI was tasked with the project of making a small, fuel-efficient, economical car that had a small enough footprint to do that—but at the same time could hold four adults and luggage. He went to work and did exactly that,” Arbaugh explained. “But it isn’t as simple as it sounds.”
Engineer Alec Issigonis determined that a transverse-mounted engine would mean the car could be significantly smaller.
how just about every car now is produced. It really changed the industry the framework, and the trajectory of the automobile industry, across all brands,” Arbaugh said. “Every brand of car really goes back and has roots in the MINI Cooper.”
Visit onyxautomotive.com for more information.
“That’s
WE NEED TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS PROBLEM-SOLVERS INSTEAD OF PRODUCT-PUSHERS.
DAVID ARBAUGH
MY JOB WAS TO HAVE EMPATHY FOR EVERY CUSTOMER THAT I COME IN CONTACT WITH SO I CAN BUILD RAPPORT AND FIND OUT WHAT PROBLEM THEY HAVE SO I CAN PRESENT A CREATIVE SOLUTION FOR THEM.
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DAVID ARBAUGH
Story by Tamsen Butler // Photography Provided
CL IENT BENEFIT THE MY BMW APP Connecting Your Vehicle to Your World
When ONYX BMW Genius Manager Robert Gibson and his wife return from thawing out in Florida during the winter months, they have a habit of using the My BMW app to remotely start their parked BMW the second they step off the plane. This gets their car warmed up so it’s a comfortable ride home despite the cold temperatures outside.
If baggage claim takes too long, the car will shut itself off, so it doesn’t run indefinitely. And if they can’t remember where they parked their car in the garage, they have a few options available to them through the app to help them locate the vehicle. They can honk the horn, flash the lights, or they can have a look at what their vehicle can “see.” The app will help them locate their vehicle, giving them step-by-step directions to the car.
After they find their parked BMW, they can use their app’s remote fob to open the doors and drive away without needing to fumble through their bags to find a key. And if they drive to a restaurant after their flight instead of going straight home, they can use the app to help them find an open parking spot. “The app gives a level of excitement that most people aren’t ready for,” said Gibson.
“It’s just another way to interact with your vehicle,” added Ewa Guminska, BMW Product Specialist. It’s Guminska’s job to show new BMW owners how to use the My BMW app, and it’s a role she enjoys since so many clients get visibly excited once they realize all the fun things they can do with it. From checking the app to make sure the car’s windows aren’t down when rain starts falling to using the app to find the closest, most powerful charging station that is compatible with their vehicle (or the least expensive gas station nearby), BMW owners quickly learn to enjoy the interactive experience this helpful app provides.
When Guminska isn’t available to demonstrate the app to buyers, the sales staff eagerly steps in to show off all the helpful features the interactive technology provides. Everyone at the dealership is proud of the app and enjoys the opportunity to show it off.
Of course, plenty of car makers release apps to accompany their vehicles, but the My BMW app takes things to the next level with its slew of helpful features and intuitive format. The app makes the relationship between a driver and their vehicle more interactive—and enjoyable.
The MY BMW app comes standard with all new BMW models and is free for four years. After that, it becomes a subscription service that costs $129 annually. The remote start, remote lock and unlock features, real-time directions, ability to schedule service, and make BMW Financial payments through the app are so convenient that it’s no surprise many drivers keep the app after the four years have passed.
Professionals who are on-the-go will enjoy the app’s ability to log trips taken in the car, including the mileage. This feature simplifies expense reports that require mileage details for reimbursement by uploading information automatically.
Busy parents can build their own “virtual garage” within the app to keep track of all their BMW vehicles. This allows parents to know where their young drivers are at any time. The feature also has safety precautions to ensure only people who have the legal right to monitor someone’s whereabouts have access to the location information.
Guminska added that the app can be used to learn about the new BMW models that are coming out soon and that the app is great for drivers to get a “quick status” on their vehicles. Gibson pulled up a 3D view of his vehicle to demonstrate how the app provides a quick glimpse as to where the car is parked, along with its surroundings at that moment.
“There are some benefits that are specific to certain models,” explained Guminska, adding that anyone can download the My BMW app on an Apple device or compatible Android and play around with the features, even if they don’t yet own a BMW. It’s a fun way to preview what can be in store for future owners.
Visit bmwusa.com/my-bmw-app for more information.
“THE APP GIVES A LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT THAT MOST PEOPLE AREN’T READY FOR.”
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ROBERT GIBSON
MINI BUT MIGHTY
The Iconic Mini Cooper is Everything It Should Be - and More
Story by Kara Schweiss // Photography by Bill Sitzmann
CLIE NT SPOTLIGHT
The MINI Cooper has long been lauded as a city car, and former downtown Chicagoan Lisa Garcia certainly sees the advantages in her 2021 hardtop two-door from the urban dweller perspective.
The famed car is rooted firmly in history. In 1956 Great Britain lost control of the Suez Canal, which in turn triggered an oil crisis. The British Motor Corporation tasked Alec Issigonis with engineering a car that would feature ample interior space with seats for four passengers, minimum exterior dimensions, exquisite driving, and superior fuel economy—all at an affordable sticker price. In 1959, drivers were introduced to the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven, later called the Austin Mini.
Issigonis had accomplished more than designing a fuel-efficient, economical car: he created an icon.
Garcia agrees. “It’s quick, it’s nimble, the gas mileage is perfect,” she said. “You never have to worry about a place to park, that’s for darn sure. And it’s roomier than you would think.”
But Garcia doesn’t make her home in a major metropolitan area these days. Quite the opposite, in fact: she lives on a Nebraska acreage. Garcia and her husband had intended to purchase an Omaha condo in 2016 after 20 years in Chicago. They were in the process of purchasing an Old Market condo when they received news that the building, which also housed M’s Pub, was heavily damaged by an explosion and subsequent fire. So, the Garcias remained in Chicago for a few more years until a Nebraska real-estate agent told them about a very different kind of property outside Omaha.
Garcia said she was doubtful at first, but the house and acreage were gorgeous, and the peaceful setting was appealing. It’s been a significant lifestyle adjustment, but the Garcias are happy with their new home, she said.
“We moved here when we decided we wanted more quiet; it was at the time of COVID when we finally got all settled into this house. It was perfect. It’s a new-built home, it’s on one level, it’s wide open, it’s modern,” she said. “It’s beautiful, but it’s literally in the middle of nowhere.”
Garcia’s 2021 MINI hardtop two-door has proven to be just as suited to life outside the city, she said. The fuel efficiency is great for drives into Omaha. And when you live in the middle of nowhere, it’s doubly important to have a reliable vehicle. Garcia said she also likes the car’s interior ambient lighting and overall practicality.
“It has its big-car features and its littlecar body,” she said. “Everything’s where you think it should be. It’s very, very well thought out. I love that. It’s easy to maneuver and they paid attention to where everything’s set; it’s just well thought-out design… you feel really safe in it.”
The MINI is fun in a rural setting, though. “We’ve got all these big toys. It’s going to zip around them,” Garcia said.
It’s also important, she added, that she likes the vehicle’s looks. “It’s gray, like a flat matte gray. It’s insanely adorable,” she said, adding that the Mini fits her personally, too. “I’m a project manager. I really like things to be concise. I like them to be tidy and neat, moving quickly. I don’t know, it’s just packaged
perfectly; it’s like this little bundle of everything you need, and it’s perfect for my PM brain.”
The MINI has also been fun for vanity plates: one past plate for Garcia was “ME,” as in “Mini-Me.” Garcia’s enthusiasm for the Mini brand has even influenced an entire family; a friend and her husband and children now have five Minis among them. As Garcia put it, “I was like, ‘See? I told you it’s the best.’”
Garcia’s husband purchased his BMW through ONYX, so the couple naturally turned to ONYX for the Mini. It was a great choice, because the sales experience led by client advisor Dean Johnson was nothing but positive, Garcia said.
“He’s so knowledgeable. There’s no pressure,” she said. “I don’t want to be sold a bunch of features…my husband and I are no spring chickens, and we don’t want the whole spiel. Dean ‘got it’ right away. We said, ‘Look, here’s what we’re here for, and here’s what we want.’ And that’s exactly what he did.”
Garcia said ONYX works well for clients like her who know exactly what they’re looking for.
“I am stubborn. Whenever I have my mind set on something, it’s because I’ve done all my homework,” she said. “I just know what I want. And I know what I don’t want. Without hesitation, I would recommend ONYX.”
For more information, visit onyxautomotive.com.
LISA GARCIA
HAS ITS BIG-CAR FEATURES AND ITS LITTLE-CAR BODY,” SHE SAID. “EVERYTHING’S WHERE YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE. IT’S VERY, VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. I LOVE THAT. IT’S EASY TO MANEUVER AND THEY PAID ATTENTION TO WHERE EVERYTHING’S SET; IT’S JUST WELL THOUGHT-OUT DESIGN… YOU FEEL REALLY SAFE
IT.”
“IT
IN
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OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS’ WINTER SEASON
World-Class Culture is a Quick Car Ride Away
Story by Kim Carpenter // Photography by Omaha Performimg Arts
E NTERTAINMENT
Forget the Great White Way. There’s no need to go to New York to see smash Broadway hits like “Six” or “Disney’s Frozen.” Not in shape to trek the Himalayas and scale Everest? No worries. You don’t have to pack travel bags and catch a flight to enjoy your favorite classical music. In fact, you don’t have to go far at all this winter to experience some of the best cultural entertainment in the country, if not world. It’s all within easy driving distance, thanks to Omaha Performing Arts (O-pa), which, since its founding over two decades ago, has emerged as one of the largest arts institutions in Nebraska.
For good reason.
Every year, O-pa hosts more than 500 events at the Holland Performing Arts Center and the Orpheum Theater. Productions run the gamut from worldrenowned musicians and critically acclaimed dance troupes, to touring Broadway blockbusters and entertainment geared toward children and their families. And much, much more.
The Broadway shows alone offer a phenomenal season with four productions this winter (out of seven for the entire season) that appeal to a variety of theater goers. January sees, “SIX the Musical,” the imaginative retelling of Henry VIII’s mostly unfortunate wives. This Tony-Award-winning musical, set to explosively energetic pop, will make people remember the order of the Tudor monarch’s queens: “divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.”
In February, Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which the New York Times deemed “the most successful American play in Broadway history,” arrives in Omaha with Emmy-Award-winner Richard Thomas stepping into Atticus Finch’s inimitable shoes for this national tour.
In March, the streets of nineteenthcentury Paris come alive with “Les Misérables.” Seen in 53 countries by over 130 million people in 22 languages since its debut in 1980, this version of Victor Hugo’s classic testament to the human spirit remains one of the most popular musicals of all time. Fairytales and Disney princesses also make their appearance during April with “Disney’s Frozen.” Heralded for its sensational special effects, powerhouse music, and breathtaking costumes and sets, the production shimmers with wintry magic.
Swing to other O-pa events, and in February the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra showcases 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today. Led by with legendary jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, the orchestra will perform a vast repertoire ranging from original compositions and Jazz at Lincoln Center-commissioned works to rare historic compositions and masterworks by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, and many more. That same month, adventure, photographer, and filmmaker Keith Ladzinski brings audiences to the furthest reaches of all seven continents as part of the breathtaking National Geographic Live lecture series, which also includes a T. Rex during paleontologist Dr. Lindsay Zanno’s March talk and a visit to space—220 miles from Earth!—with astronaut Terry Virts in April.
Inside the Holland Center is also the Scott Recital Hall, where the Holland Music Club offers music lovers the chance to sit at reserved tables, order food and drink, and maybe even dance the night away for a more intimate live music experience. Louisiana’s Creole country comes to Omaha in February as Curley Taylor and his band Zydeco Trouble rev up for Fat Tuesday with their soulful, bluesy vocals and a hard-driving zydeco beat. The following month, trumpeter, vocalist, and songwriter Bria Skonberg demonstrates why she’s taking over the jazz world. In April musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwritercomposer and band leader Grace Kelly wows audiences with her electro jazzpop fusion.
Dance aficionados can indulge their passion in January with Ballet Hispánico, a troupe renowned for its innovative dance performances. Flights of fancy and fantasy take off in February, with mesmerizing large-scale puppetry in “Dragons and Mythical Beasts.”
AND DISNEY PRINCESSES ALSO MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE DURING APRIL WITH “DISNEY’S FROZEN.” HERALDED FOR ITS SENSATIONAL SPECIAL EFFECTS, POWERHOUSE MUSIC, AND BREATHTAKING COSTUMES AND SETS, THE PRODUCTION SHIMMERS WITH WINTRY MAGIC. 13
FAIRYTALES
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Traditional Japanese drumming takes to the stage in March with “Kodi: Tsuzumi,” which includes a dynamically choreographed exploration of this musical instrument. The Philadelphia Dance Company, or PHILADANCO, arrives in April to showcase its innovation, creativity, and preservation of predominantly African-American traditions in dance.
All of the above represents a fraction of what’s scheduled this winter season. Concert goers at the Holland can also make it a true evening out with appetizers at Ovations or Zinc, both located on the ground floor of the Holland Performing Arts Center (which also has valet parking). Ovations is for casual nibbles and drinks with menu selections such as a fruit and cheese board, antipasto platter, and bruschetta. Zinc offers upscale fine dining. Start with an appetizer such as the baked goat cheese, which features creamy chèvre paired with garlic orange marmalade, pepitas, fresh thyme, and warm bread. Main courses include entrees like charbroiled NY strip steaks with whipped bleu cheese, chicken with a pankoparmesan crust, and crispy pan-seared salmon. Then there’s “Mr. Holland’s Meatloaf,” named in honor of Dick Holland, the center’s main benefactor and patron. This dish features peach ketchup, crispy sweet onions, and a root vegetable gratin.
“Our 22/23 season has been spectacular so far, and there’s so much more ahead” said Lee Turkovich, Omaha Performing Arts’ Vice President of Marketing. “The Broadway shows include audience favorites like Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” and current Broadway smash hits like “SIX the Musical” that we’re excited to bring to Omaha! And our performances of jazz musicians, dance companies, family shows, and more provide a season filled with outstanding talent to delight audiences.”
For more information, ticket prices, and a complete listing of shows, concerts, and productions, visit ticketomaha.com.
“OUR 22/23 SEASON HAS BEEN SPECTACULAR SO FAR, AND THERE’S SO MUCH MORE AHEAD.”
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LEE TURKOVICH
RELAXATION IS JUST THREE HOURS AWAY
The Elms Hotel & Spa in Excelsior Springs, MO
Story by Kim Carpenter // Photography by Elms Hotel & Spa
ROAD TRIP
MARISSA KREMS
During the dead of winter, few things sound more appealing than lying on warm sand and inhaling salt air, but a weekend trip to the beach isn’t easy; by the time you’ve arrived at a warmer destination, you barely achieve some semblance of calm before it’s time to return home. Yet you can experience all that plus a whole lot of pampering in just three hours if you set your GPS to the Elms Hotel & Spa in Excelsior Springs, MO. There, a unique spa retreat awaits guests who need to unwind, detox, and destress.
The quaint locale is no stranger to people needing to relax and recover. During the 1880s, the public began flocking to the town to drink and bathe in its medicinal spring waters, which were said to cure everything from tuberculosis to rheumatoid arthritis. Entrepreneurs banded together and constructed the Elms Hotel, a grand luxury destination where people could stay while “taking the waters.”
A fire in 1898 burned the wooden building to the ground, and another one in 1910 destroyed the second one. The Elms, though, rose again, and in 1912 the third iteration, constructed from native limestone, opened its doors. Over the years, it has welcomed a bevy of famous—and infamous—guests. The likes of Bugsy Moran, Al Capone, and Pretty Boy Floyd allegedly hosted illegal “bathtub gin parties” at the height of Prohibition there. Capone, hotel legend says, sat in the grand ballroom in an area where he could keep a trained eye on both the entrance and exit—just in case.
Boxer Jack Dempsey and the New York Giants used the grounds for athletic training. And in a real historic milestone, presidential candidate Harry Truman stayed in room 200 the night before his legendary win and the infamous “Dewey Defeats Truman” newspaper headline. He came to “America’s Haven of Health” to enjoy a salt rub and massage as well as order room service of a simple sandwich and glass of milk according to hotel lore.
While the Elms’ popularity faded in ensuing decades as tourists began taking vacations elsewhere, the hotel has enjoyed a Renaissance in recent years. Even though the natural springs are no longer open to the public, the Elms, now part of the Destination by Hyatt brand, which is a collection of independent upscale luxury hotels and resorts, continues to add luxury spa treatments rooted in ancient healing practices.
“Overall, the hotel has always had a sense of wellness,” said Marissa Krems, executive director of spa and wellness at the Elms. “My goal as spa director is to restore the history of health and wellness.”
There’s no question she’s succeeding. Krems oversaw a recent renovation, which has turned the Elms into one of the largest spa retreats in the Midwest. It boasts 17 treatment rooms, two Vichy showers, which stimulate lymphatic drainage and detoxification, mud and seasonal wraps, a variety of massage therapies, including one with locally sourced CBD oil, an infrared detox sauna, and more.
“This is something we decided to do three years ago,” Krems shared. “We wanted to expand, and we wanted something different.”
That “different” includes two HALO salt caves illuminated with ambient lighting. “They are filled with Himalayan salt pumped into the air by a generator so you breathe it in,” explained the spa director. “It’s wonderful for bronchitis, asthma, or upper respiratory issues and really softens the skin. It’s so helpful for reducing stress and anxiety.”
There are several options for experiencing the salt caves, which were handcrafted from cedar by Italian artisans. Guests can select a 45-minute guided meditation during which they receive gentle breathing prompts. They can also add color light therapy based on their chakra, or energy point needs, and choose essential oils for aromatherapy.
“This is one of our most popular treatments,” Krems stated. “Sessions are booked back-to-back. People say, “I need to come back—that treatment was amazing! My inflammation is gone! My anxiety disappeared.’”
Quartz rituals are the Elms’ newest spa offering. Featuring a Gharieni quartz table, these sessions begin with spa attendants using dry heat from warm quartz sand to ergonomically cradle the body, alleviate joint and muscle pain, and provide deep relaxation. Therapists can also massage the back, face, and scalp with hot sand poultices, which stimulate the immune and lymphatic systems. A guided meditation and Tibetan singing bowl ritual deepens relaxation during this treatment.
“It’s like lying on a warm, sunny beach,” Krems said. “It really alleviates muscle and joint pain and soothes the mind and soul. You feel light as a feather when you get out.”
The Elms’ commitment to health doesn’t stop in the spa. In-house dining includes the Three Owls restaurant, which offers rustic Midwest fare like hearth-baked breads and tarts, spit-roasted meats, and fresh fish flown in daily, all seasoned with herbs grown from the hotel’s raised-bed gardens. “We do a lot of farm-to-table for our restaurant,” Krems said. “It’s part of wellness.”
And it’s all just a short road trip away. “Our treatments are so unique, and when I travel, I want to experience something I can’t get at home. The Elms really is a magical, calming experience.”
For more information, visit elmshotelandspa.com.
The spa recommends booking reservations about four weeks in advance to guarantee availability of services.
“IT’S LIKE LYING ON A WARM, SUNNY BEACH, IT REALLY ALLEVIATES MUSCLE AND JOINT PAIN AND SOOTHES THE MIND AND SOUL. YOU FEEL LIGHT AS A FEATHER WHEN YOU GET OUT.”
17
DISMAL RIVER BEEF
Premium Beef from Plains to Plate
Story by Tamsen Butler // Photography by Dismal River Beef
JOEL JACOBS
GOURMET
“RANCHERS GO TO WORK EVERY DAY, RAISE THEIR LIVESTOCK AND CATTLE, TAKE COWS TO THE SALE BARNS, AND DON’T KNOW WHERE THE BEEF GOES. NOW THEY KNOW WHERE THEIR BEEF IS GOING, AND THE CONSUMER KNOWS WHERE IT WAS RAISED.”
ismal River Beef owner and CEO Joel Jacobs has strong ties to Western Nebraska. A fifthgeneration rancher, he and his family can make a proud boast: “Our family has been ranching in Nebraska ever since cowboys have been herding cattle in the Sandhills.”
Simply put, this is a family that has beef in its blood.
When Jacobs started Dismal River Beef in 2019, he did so with a specific intention. “I wanted to create a premium beef experience that’s true to Nebraska and offer a ‘plains to plate’ experience,” he said. “It connects ranchers in Western Nebraska to the people eating the beef.”
And connect it does. Dismal River Beef sells premium Angus beef from ranches located in the heart of the Sandhills to most regions of the United States. “We deliver to every corner of the U.S.,” said Jacobs, adding that among the thousands of customers they have, the Midwest region comprises their largest customer base.
Surprisingly, Texans are also big fans of Dismal River Beef. Jacobs guesses Texans love his company’s offerings so much because “their culture is similar to ours. They have a connection to ranching and beef, but,” he added with a grin, “they know that Nebraska beef is best.”
This kind of success means that Dismal River Beef is planning to expand. Jacobs said the company is in talks with several country music stars for possible ambassadorships, but they are intentionally taking expansion plans slowly. “We don’t want to sacrifice the quality of the product to build the brand,” he explained.
Although Jacobs now resides in Omaha, his family still owns a ranch in Western Nebraska. All Dismal River Beef cattle are raised on approved ranches, and the ranchers they source from are all “family, friends, and associates for generations,” he said. “Some of the ranches supplying beef were among the original homesteads in Nebraska.”
That means that these cattle ranchers have always been cattle ranchers— as were their parents, grandparents, and the family members who came before them—and they raise their cattle in time-proven ways with care and pride. These ranchers have years of experience in how to best manage their
cattle to create a beef experience that is second to none. For example, herds are all grass fed as they grow and then grain fed for a few months before their transport. This feeding sequence creates marbling, tenderness, and the rich flavor profile that distinguishes Dismal River Beef.
Once ready, cattle is sent to a processing facility that is used only by the company, allowing Jacobs and his team to supervise “how the meat is harvested, aged, cut, and packed.” This kind of close monitoring, he said, is not something that larger beef suppliers can typically do.
Offerings include rib eyes, New York strips, filets, and burgers as well as selections from the smoker: beef sticks, smoked beef jerky, and smoked “hillbilly” jerky. Orders are shipped via UPS and are delivered within two days of leaving Dismal River Beef’s facility. Consumers can enjoy their purchases immediately or safely store beef for up to six months because the company vacuum seals and flash freezes it in a specialized freezer to ensure peek freshness.
Jacobs said that the cattle families he works with in Western Nebraska are all excited to provide high-end, premium beef to customers outside the state. “Ranchers go to work every day, raise their livestock and cattle, take cows to the sale barns, and don’t know where the beef goes. Now they know where their beef is going, and the consumer knows where it was raised.”
Linking cattle ranchers to consumers creates a farm-to-table bond between the two. It’s also a timely solution to the growing concerns among consumers about what they eat. The bipartisan American Beef Labeling Act of 2021 reinstated mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef products. Americans want to know where their food comes from, and they’re demanding more transparency.
That transparency ultimately means that the highest quality, best tasting Sandhills beef winds up on grills and tables across the country. It’s Dismal River Beef’s way of making sure everyone can experience “the good life,” and in this case, the best beef, that Nebraska has to offer.
Visit dismalriverbeef.com for more information.
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RACING AHEAD
Trackside with ONYX Automotive Technician Long Dinh
Story by Julius Fredrick // Photography by Bill Sitzmann
FEATURE
Blurs of motley-colored steel flash across Long Dinh’s eyes, the roar of twin-turbo engines surging into a whine as GT-class race cars muscle for position over a straightaway. Little more than four miles of track contains 14 turns, including a sharp backside junction dubbed “the kink” at Elkhart Lake’s Road America racetrack in Wisconsin—one of eight speedways to host SRO Motorgroup’s GT America Series nationally.
At the behest of BMW of North America and ONYX Automotive’s BMW of Omaha, automotive technician Long Dinh attended the event as more than a chrome-dazzled spectator; for three days in late August, he was welcomed as an honorary crew member by the BimmerWorld Racing Team.
“My manager, my shop foreman at the time, put my application in, and said ‘Okay, I’m putting you in, you want it?” Dinh recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah, let’s go!’ They picked me, and I’m one of 11 people they picked.”
The application was for BMW’s Race Crew Program, established in 2018 to reward and retain outstanding automotive technicians. It’s part of the luxury dealership’s response to a scarcity of skilled technicians, ongoing since 2012; the cost and difficulty of education required to perform the work and a generational shift away from skilled trades are oft-cited factors in the shortage.
“You’re going to have to know all the trades,” said ONYX BMW/MINI service manager, Nick Appletoft. “You have to know plumbing, you have to know electrical, you have to know construction and mechanical, and then you throw some IT in there. I think that’s why the job is so difficult.”
Still, Appletoft views the program as beneficial for all parties involved—BMW, his technicians, and especially the race teams with whom they partner.
“It’s a huge advantage for the race teams, right?” he said. “You bring in a professional who does this every day—these techs have taken apart that engine dozens of times—or they can take a look at the fault code and go ‘I
know exactly what’s wrong with the car, no further diagnosis needed.’”
While Dinh was celebrated for his invaluable expertise during his stint at Road America, he was quick to return the compliment.
“The team I worked with was really professional,” he said of the BimmerWorld crew. “They took like, two weeks to test the engine before the race, and when they came to the racetrack, everything was ready. They’re trained really well.”
BimmerWorld owner and racer, James Clay, wrote Dinh a letter thanking him for his contributions, and the whole crew signed and gifted him a t-shirt to commemorate the occasion.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity for him to go,” Appletoft said. “He’s got a great work ethic. He hasn’t been with the brand for a super long time, but that work ethic is something you can’t teach. [Many technicians in the industry] feel under-appreciated, which is something we try to do differently at ONYX.”
The experience was a dream come true for Dinh, one he could hardly envision growing up and attending university in his native Vietnam before emigrating with the majority of his extended family to Wisconsin in 2012. Dinh endured a hectic schedule upon arrival: working on cars, at his family’s nail salon, and in time, on furthering his education.
“YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO KNOW ALL THE TRADES, YOU HAVE TO KNOW PLUMBING, YOU HAVE TO KNOW ELECTRICAL, YOU HAVE TO KNOW CONSTRUCTION AND MECHANICAL, AND THEN YOU THROW SOME IT IN THERE. I THINK THAT’S WHY THE JOB IS SO DIFFICULT.”
NICK APPLETOFT
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“I worked for my aunt at the nail shop for two months, and every time she called my name I was like ‘Oh my…” Dinh recalled, laughing. “I’m working on the cars, but now I have to do something on a person, and that’s really scary, right?”
Shortly thereafter, a job proposition at a luxury dealership in Louisiana prompted Dinh to journey south, introducing him to the complex and fastidious world of German engineering. By 2016, his family had moved to Omaha, pleading with him to close the familial distance.
“With my culture, people live really close by—parents, brothers, sisters, you know?” he said. “We’ve got five families living [in Omaha]. My parents called me and said ‘please come back home’ because I was the only one living a far distance [away].”
Ever the loving son, he did just that, settling into yet another new city and attending classes at Metro Community College’s Automotive Tech Center. After completing his coursework, Dinh sent out a flurry of job applications, one of which landed him at ONYX automotive, where he was hired.
Today, Dinh not only enjoys the superb working conditions and cutting-edge technology that ONYX Automotive provides for their technicians, but he now also has fond memories of a once-in-alifetime, high-octane experience.
“My favorite part was sitting on the side of the race track, watching [the cars], feeling the breeze,” Dinh reflected. “They have radar, and everybody has one, and you can hear the whole team.
“You only see people race on TV, but now you’re there. I have no idea how to explain how it felt…but [when] I was on the team, I was really proud.”
Visit onyxautomotive.com for more information on the BMW brand and lifestyle.
FAVORITE PART WAS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE RACE TRACK, WATCHING [THE CARS], FEELING THE BREEZE.” LONG DINH Prime Steak, Fine Wine, Premium Service Scan to reserve your table for an unforgettable dining experience 13665 California St., Omaha, NE 68154 // (402) 445-4380 NEW YEAR! CHEERS to a Turn a Great Ride, Into a Great Donation We accept all types of vehicle donations. We'll maximize the sale of your car, RV, truck, motorcycle, or boat, and your gift is tax-deductible.
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A CLASS ALL ITS OWN
BMW Sets the Bar (Again) with Much-Anticipated XM
Story by Dwain Hebda // Photography by Onyx
FEATURE
JAKE KOCH
Throughout its long and storied history, BMW has distinguished itself by bringing high-performance luxury vehicles to market. All signs point to this legacy continuing with the highly anticipated XM, the most advanced SUV yet from the iconic German automaker.
It’s not often a vehicle comes along that transcends its category to create a whole new class, but the forthcoming BMW XM SUV holds the promise to accomplish just that, said Jake Koch, general sales manager with Onyx Automotive in Omaha.
“There’s a lot of people who are looking forward to this vehicle coming out,” Koch said. “BMW released the i4 and the iX last year, and all of those, in the third and fourth quarter, really started moving people into the showrooms. Now with the XM coming out, it’s going to be the biggest and baddest electric vehicle that BMW offers. It’s already generating a lot of excitement and interest.”
Currently available for preorder, Koch said he expects the hybrid vehicle to start delivery by mid-summer. But the hype machine has been in full swing for some time, with BMW enthusiasts captivated by the XM’s radical design features, technology, and power, which are delivered from both a thoroughbred engine and an advanced electric motor.
“This is the most powerful SUV that BMW has ever produced,” Koch said. “It’s 644 horsepower comes from a 4.4 liter V8 twin turbo engine. It also has a highperformance electric motor with it.”
As Drew Dorian noted recently in Car & Driver, applying a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 “isn’t new to the BMW powertrain portfolio,” but pairing it with the electric motor and battery pack breaks new ground.
“[We] estimated that it should get the XM to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds,” Dorian wrote. “That will put it in the same neighborhood as performance SUVs such as the Lamborghini Urus and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid.”
“FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR CLIENTS REALLY WANT THEIR VEHICLE TO PERFORM AND THE XM MATCHES THAT EXPECTATION LIKE NO OTHER, I THINK THAT AS FAR AS BEING THE NEXT STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE BRAND, EVERYBODY’S MOVING TOWARDS BEING ABLE TO OFFER ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING, HIGH-PERFORMING ELECTRIC VEHICLES OUT ON THE MARKET.”
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BMW pairs this power with control; the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and hybrid module is married to a coil-spring suspension system, engaging active anti-roll bars and adaptive dampers to provide a sure feel in Comfort Mode, which is ideal for road trips. Meanwhile, the Sport Mode brings out the XM’s spunkier side, responsive and nimble on any twisty-turny route drivers might venture down.
As for the XM’s innovative electric motor, BMW estimates the 25.7-kWh battery pack covers about 30 miles of electriconly operation per charge. Recharging the battery is also a technological advancement as the onboard charger hums along at up to 7.4 kW, putting estimated recharging time at about three hours.
Design and interior elements meet even the most discriminating driver’s expectations. The external lines and gaping grill openings make an immediate impression.
“The first thing about it is the exterior, which in my opinion, has got a very
aggressive stance,” Koch said. “It also sports 23-inch wheels and will actually have the first-ever vertical quad exhaust on it.”
Past the gleaming exterior, available in seven colors, the two-row cabin surrounds occupants in luxurious appointments and the latest technology, starting with the expansive curved dash display that has a futuristic, but intuitive, cockpit-like feel.
Overhead, a sculpted ceiling delivers a unique spacial element, complete with ambient lighting. Merino leather multifunction seats lend comfort throughout while the available Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System completes the sophisticated cabin environment. Everything about the vehicle’s aesthetic, down to the laser-etched roundels, demonstrate attention to detail, all of which is music to the BMW owner’s ears, Koch said.
“The biggest thing that our clients look for out of BWM would be performance luxury,” he said. “But our typical client also wants some of the finer features
out there as far as the interior is concerned like the leather and those sorts of things.”
Altogether, Koch said the XM is not only a quantum leap forward for the highperformance SUV class, a rare feat in itself, but represents an exciting new chapter in the evolution of the legendary BMW brand.
“First and foremost, our clients really want their vehicle to perform and the XM matches that expectation like no other,” he said. “I think that as far as being the next step in the evolution of the brand, everybody’s moving towards being able to offer electric vehicles. This will be one of the most exciting, highperforming electric vehicles out on the market.”
BMWusa.com reports the XM’s starting MSRP as $159,000.
Visit onyxautomotive.com for more information.
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