MEET YOUR ALL STAR TEAM

New Faces at the Sarpy Chamber

New Staff

Tara Simons and Breann Lundblad had both been Sarpy Chamber members before they joined the staff, making them uniquely insightful in their new positions in Membership. Tara has over ten years of experience in sales and marketing and over three years as an Offi ce Manager and Assistant Project Manager. She previously held a position as an Offi ce Manager and Assistant Project Manager with a local manufacturing company. Breann is an experienced public relations specialist who previously worked as a Practice Representative for Millard Family Chiropractic. She’s worked extensively as a community and social services professional with a Master’s degree focused in Public Health Education and Promotion from Nebraska Methodist College. Breann and Tara enjoy using their experience as Sarpy Chamber members in their new roles that help members maximize the value of their membership, utilize chamber resources, and connect with their business community peers. Kelly Deane and Shelly Stotts are both returning to work at the Sarpy Chamber. Kelly fi rst worked with the Chamber in 2020 as a part-time employee and now returns as the full-time Event Director. While transitioning into her new role, Kelly assisted heavily with one of the chamber’s major events, the Grand Giveaway. Most recently she successfully carried out the return of the Economic Outlook event to an in-person gathering. Shelly last worked at the Sarpy Chamber six years ago as the Offi ce Manager. She previously worked as the service processor for Lincoln Financial Group in the Portability and Conversions Department. Shelly is now back with the Sarpy Chamber in the new position Development Director, working to expand the vision and mission of the Sarpy Chamber. She looks forward to building the Sarpy Chamber up to its full potential to benefi t its members and the larger Sarpy business community. Evan LaMontagne is the new face members and visitors will see at the front desk at the Sarpy Chamber. Evan has started as an Administrative Assistant and has already excelled in the collaborative spirit the position requires. He works with every member of the team to carry out everything from daily tasks to big-picture projects. Evan looks forward to learning more about the Sarpy County business community and getting to know the business leaders that make up the Sarpy Chamber membership.

New Board Members

In September Sarpy Chamber members elected three new board members. While they come from a range of industries and business sizes, they are all active and dedicated long-term chamber members. Jim Janicki is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Hillcrest Health Services. Ryan Ousey is the Founder and CEO of ROC Business Technologies. Nate Garcia the Founder of Insight Marketing Concepts. The Board of Directors helps develop the strategic plans and goals each year for the chamber and that impacts members and their businesses. The three new board members begin their terms in October. With so many new staff and board members comes new skills and perspectives. Everyone looks forward to serving the membership and encourages members to reach out and get to know the team that’s dedicated to their growth and success.

(Left to right: Jim Janicki, Ryan Ousey, Nate Garcia)

2021 Economic Outlook

The 2021 Economic Outlook brought together insight from leaders across the county to over 130 attendees. This year’s event returned to an in-person format at the Tiburon Golf Club. The presenters at the Economic Outlook included Craig Mielke, Environmental Group Manager for the Great Plains region of Alfred Benesch & Company, Sarpy County Engineer Dennis L. Wilson P.E., PhD, Randy Coleman the Skillbridge Program Director at Offutt Air Force Base, Abby Kossow the Program Director for Project Reset, and Dawn Nizzi and Collin Baldwin with the Metropolitan Community College Workforce Innovation Division.

Highlights on Project Development

I-80 Interchange – Craig Mielke presented on the I-80 Planning & Environmental Linkages Study that examines the area west of N-50 and south of N-370. The project has identifi ed two needs; Unacceptable traffi c operations and a lack of regional connections to I-80. He also shared established project goals: • Accommodate Regional Freight Movements • Improve Regional Connectivity to Local Street

Network • Encourage Economic Vitality and Placemaking • Foster Environmental Sustainability • Provide for Multi-Modal Connectivity

Local Home Loans

Customers can always expect: Resources & Capability Speed & Accuracy Community Focus Award Winning Customer Service “I am dedicated to throughly educating homebuyers about the loan products we offer that best suit their needs and goals.”

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Loan Originator NMLS 876206

402.510.7606 Direct Lisa.White@GatewayLoan.com www.lisahomeloan.com

(Presenters spoke at Tiburon Golf Club for the 2021 Economic Outlook.) Connect Sarpy Road Construction – Dennis Wilson covered a number of road construction projects in western Sarpy County including Schram Road at the western edge of the county, Generations Entertainment District at Werner Park, Platteview Road Freeway and more. He showcased a helpful online tool that maps different projects and gives real-time status updates on what is open to traffi c, what is closed, under construction, and expected timelines for different construction phases. This can be found at www.connectsarpy.com/updates along with drone video of projects and videos depicting future completed road construction.

Highlights on Workforce Development

DoD Skillbridge Program – Randy Coleman presented on this program that works with employers and service members transitioning into civilian sector jobs. Employers with the program gain access to a highly qualifi ed, skilled, and dedicated population of potential employees. Industry partners/employers can apply at dodskillbridge.usalearning.gov/industry-employers. htm Project Reset Program – Abby Kossow shared how this program’s mission is to mentor justice involved individuals into a life-changing career in the skilled trades and labor industry. Project Reset is a program under the nonprofi t organization The Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and Education. The project is relatively new but already seeing major success with transitional employment job retention at 79% and trade-based employment job retention at 83%.

Metropolitan Community College Workforce

Innovation Division - MCC WID meets the needs of businesses by offering a wide array of programs tailored specifi cally to today’s workforce. Dawn Nizzi and Collin Baldwin shared how the program can help employers maintain an internal and external employee pipeline. Visit www.mccneb. edu/workforce to take advantage of this resource.

The Return of In-Person Events

Events are back in full swing at the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce and this last quarter saw the creation of a new event in the Red White and Blue Poker Run, and the return to form of a favorite with the Grand Giveaway. The Sarpy Chamber’s Modern Professional Group engages an energized group of people who, regardless of age, are new to the workforce, in new positions, or starting in new industries. As the group has evolved, they’ve focused part of their energy on supporting local non-profi ts. This led to the creation of the Red, White, and Blue Poker Run, benefi tting the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation.

On July 1st participants formed teams to visit various checkpoints, drawing a playing card at each one with the objective to have the best poker hand at the end of the run. Businesses in Midlands Place hosted checkpoints, creating fun and lively spaces for networking and fundraising. The event raised over $900 for NVVMF’s mission to develop, erect and maintain a memorial to honor all Veterans who served during the Vietnam War and to further provide a lasting historic educational account for future generations. The Modern Professionals group is thankful to ROC Business Technologies for sponsoring the event as well as all the participating Midlands Place Businesses: Belay Bank, First Watch, PostNet, Spin Pizza, Mathnasium, Fairfi eld Inn & Suites Papillion, Ollie & Hobbes, Schrock Innovations, and Vision Specialists. In 2020 the Grand Giveaway event was reconfi gured to be a golf outing, but in 2021 the event was able to be held in its usual fashion as a dinner and auction. Over 350 guests gathered at A View on State on August 19th for a Game Night themed evening. Live music from Blues Agent entertained guests over the social hour while guests placed bids on auction items that highlighted the best of the local business community. Ryan Ousey with ROC Business Technologies and Lt. Jacob Betsworth with the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Offi ce closed out the night by hosting a live auction.

The fundraiser benefi tted the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce, who holds over 160 events a year designed to provide business and professional orientated education, advocacy, and leadership in the community. “Our focus at the chamber is on building you and your business up to its greatest potential,” said Sarpy Chamber president, Karen Gibler, “and the funds raised at this event go a long way towards keeping our events and programs either free or low-cost. This support helps us make our resources not only highquality, but accessible as well.”

(Grand Giveaway guests browse the auction items provided by local businesses and organizations.)