Strictly Business Omaha - August 2020

STRICTLYBUSINESSOMAHA.COM

OMAHA • AUGUST 2020

• Buying & Selling a Business • Wedding Planning • Buying a Home CLIENT SPOTLIGHTS • Berry Law • McGill Restoration • Midland Pumping Service

RIVER CITY SIX

IN THIS ISSUE

Fueling America with the Healthiest Beef Choice

STAN SMITH Heartland International

BRETT BECKER Morton Buildings

SHELLY HERMSEN North Risk Partners

NICOLE JESSE La Casa Pizzaria

BRETT BOYER Center Sphere

MONICA SEMPEK Monica Sempek Photography

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How would you like to shake hands with over 100,000 potential customers without leaving your office?

If you know of a local, woman-owned business, tell Strictly Business about them!

OCTOBER 2020 ISSUE

Calling all Women-Owned Businesses!

In the October 2020 issue of Strictly Business, we will run our first-ever “Women-Owned Businesses” feature to highlight the businesses in Omaha that are proudly owned and run by women.

“The world needs strong women. Women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce. Women of indomitable will.” – Amy Tenney

FEATURE INCLUDES: Strictly Business is direct mailed to over 15,000 businesses in Omaha every month! With a 2–4 month shelf life and a pass-along readership, it’s estimated that 1 copy of the magazine could reach up to 5 people. Editorial features are published on our website as well. We are proud to have a strong online presence.

Photo of owner(s), business logo & 150-word write-up/quote

To participate or nominate, contact: (402) 466-3330 | Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Berry Law — America’s Veterans Law Firm Berry Law supports and represents the servicemen and women who sacrificed for our nation, while also defending the Constitutional rights of all Nebraskans. They fight alongside those who choose to fight back when a conflict or injury jeopardizes their freedom, family, or future.

Berry Law represents veterans with VA appeals nationwide and maintains a regional trial practice which includes criminal defense, personal injury, civil litigation, and military law. The firm was also recognized by the Department of Labor for their commitment to hiring Veterans.

Berry Law is known for developing some of the best trial lawyers in the Midwest, and they are one of the largest trial firms in Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas. Leadership and technology differentiate Berry Law from their competitors. Their large referral network of clients, law firms, and vendors helps make their success possible. Their clients respect them and trust them to handle their most serious problems.

Founding attorney John Stevens Berry, Sr. has appeared in court in 24 states and two foreign countries. Following his military service, he was associated with the Henry B. Rothblatt Offices in New York in 1970 and 1971, where he tried a number of high-profile cases.

In 1971, he returned to Lincoln and has continued to have a regional criminal trial practice. His son, Attorney John S. Berry Jr., followed in his footsteps and is dedicated to helping his clients fight some of the most important battles of their lives. Not only has he led successful teams in the courtroom, resulting in several jury trial victories, but he has also led soldiers in deployments to Iraq and Bosnia. His warrior ethos has become the foundation for the firm’s success. Beyond the battlefield and the courtroom, John’s leadership experience extends to local community and national organizations that protect our constitutional rights and our veterans.

CULTURE - The culture of excellence at Berry Law shows in everything they do. They are a meritocracy; opportunities, promotions, and raises are based on performance and potential, not seniority or title. Leaders have emerged at all levels of the organization. They are a culture of winning, and proud to say that their VA appellate attorneys and non-attorney advocates consistently win backpay awards for their Veteran clients in excess of $100,000. They are also a culture of referrals. Berry Law’s clients trust them to handle their most important legal matters and do not hesitate to refer their closest friends and family to the firm.

PEOPLE - The attorneys and staff that make up Berry Law are hand selected. The firm provides outstanding employee development.

Team members bring unique perspective to every conversation and provide a collaborative working environment. Collaboration at all levels is prevalent as the team openly discusses how to improve Berry Law and themselves.

TRAINING - Berry Law trains to win. The training is realistic and challenging. They maximize on-the-job opportunities and they invest in education. New attorneys and staff participate in a 90-day onboarding program. Attorneys attend quarterly in-house training and staff receive monthly in-house training. They also conduct After Action Reviews after every jury trial.

ENVIRONMENT - Clients, guests, and team members feel the energy before they walk through the front doors of Berry Law. When entering the lobby, they can see they are patriots, Veterans, and defenders of the Constitution.

CLIENT SERVICE - The attorneys at Berry Law set clear standards of service with their clients, and they deliver on those services. They believe feedback is a gift, so if the client ever feels an attorney is failing to provide 5-Star service, Berry Law encourages honest feedback. In addition, they respond to client phone calls and emails the same day they are received, whether it be a substantive response or a mere acknowledgment of receipt. When they receive referrals, the referring attorney is proactively kept informed to the extent the client permits. When clients require after-hours service, the firm’s on-duty attorney is always available to assist with phone calls, jail visits, hospital visits, and more.

402-466-8444 | BerryLawFirm.com | 222 S 15th St., #405N | Omaha, NE 68102 #PrintProudDigitalSmart

AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

PAIGE ZUTAVERN - Omaha/Lincoln - President (402) 730-0096 | Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com

It’s Time to be Champions for Our Local Small Businesses We all know how uncertain these times have been—that is not what I intend to harp on here. In fact, I’d rather shift the attention to something I am certain about, which is that our small businesses need us to be champions for them now more than ever. What is happening to our local economy is frightening, and I’m not talking about big corporations. Yes, they have been hit too, but they will bounce back. We’re looking at multiple local businesses—the mom and pop shops—that will have to permanently close their doors because of the hard hit they took during COVID and the strenuous restrictions that have followed. When our small businesses fail, we fail as a community. We can’t let this happen.

establishments in the U.S. These businesses are responsible for more than 41% of net job creation, 45% of GDP, and 34% of all U.S. exports. These numbers just emphasize even more so the importance of protecting our small businesses throughout the pandemic. The Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings gathered data from March 13 to April 25 to show the average percentage change in revenue per state compared to early January before the pandemic hit. Nebraska is shown to have an average revenue loss of nearly 40%. I’ve personally spoken with individual local business owners and some have lost up to 80%! No business can operate for long under that kind of deficit. I’m a small business owner myself, and I can tell you firsthand how scary this is.

Just think about how different Omaha will look in five years if we lose half or even a quarter of the small businesses that make up our city.

Small business owners invest more than money into their business. For many, their business is who they are—their livelihood is ingrained in their DNA. Small business owners have a lot more at stake than a CEO of a large corporation in the sense that their customers and employees are far more than just that to them. In addition, closing shop means a small business owner can’t support themselves or their families, and they can’t pay for things like car payments, mortgages, childcare, or college tuition. The ripple effect seen here is a very heartbreaking one.

Strategist Denada Ramnishta, in an article published in Medium, notes that when you zoom out, those individual losses of small business owners will result in towns and cities looking drastically different in the future. Unfortunately, that means losing important lifelines to our communities, and to each other. Just think about how different Omaha will look in five years if we lose half or even a quarter of the small businesses that make up our city. I’m talking about nail salons, restaurants, mechanics, bookstores, wedding venues, dance studios, boutiques, art galleries...you name it!

According to the SBA, small businesses are the macroeconomy’s backbone—the lifeblood of America. There are around 30 million small businesses across the country, accounting for 99% of all business

Think about our downtown businesses—the ones that rely on events and game days for the majority of their revenue. Think about the breakfast nook in your neighborhood that depends on foot traffic to stay afloat. Think about the local drycleaner that is now twiddling their thumbs because so many people are working from home and aren’t socializing on the weekends.

More than just buying local, we have to urge our government to keep businesses open to protect the overall quality of life and freedoms we share. It’s time to wake up and really look at what is happening. Don’t stop living your life, but do so safely. Our small businesses and the welfare of our community depend on it.

I want to end this by saying thank you to our clients who have stuck with us even though we’re all struggling to get by, our readers who support Strictly Business by supporting the businesses we promote, and my staff for the enthusiasm and dedication they bring to the office each day. We will continue to adapt and serve our advertising partners the best we can, small and big businesses alike. We all have a stake in this, and we are all crucial to the success of our community.

Let Strictly Business help you lock in your status as THE EXPERT in your industry, utilizing print, the internet, and social media. Find out how by contacting Paige at (402) 466-3330.

CONTENTS NEWS

4 Business 23 Personnel

28 Nonprofit 36 Health

SPOTLIGHTS

1 Berry Law 15 McGill Restoration 38 Midland Pumping Service

COLUMNS

16 River City Six 22 Outlook Business Solutions

FEATURE STORIES

39 43 46 2

Buying a Business Wedding Planning Buying a Home Strictly Business AUGUST 2020

Hannah

Diane

Katherine

PRODUCTION TEAM: Editor/Operations Hannah Hundley - Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Copywriter Diane Gumaer - Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Art Director Katherine Crawford - Design@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com SALES TEAM: President/Sales Paige Zutavern - Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Publisher/Founder/Accounting Shayne Zutavern - SZutavern@yahoo.com STRICTLY BUSINESS is not responsible for unsolicited material. All rights to submission, including letters, will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to our unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially or creatively, unless otherwise negotiated with the author. Nothing may be printed in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. The publication of any advertisement in STRICTLY BUSINESS is not an endorsement of the advertiser or of the products or services advertised.

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ABOUT THE COVER Certified Piedmontese Beef: On a Journey to Become a Household Name

by Fueling America with the Healthiest Beef Choice You’re driving down North 84th Street in Lincoln, you look over and see a beautiful new building complex with Certified Piedmontese displayed on the side, and you ask yourself, “What is Certified Piedmontese?”

More than just a prestigious breed of cattle, Certified Piedmontese Beef represents years of passion and ingenuity that has resulted in a product unlike any other.

Before establishing the strong Nebraska roots it has today, the Piedmontese breed came over from Italy, landed in Canada, and then made its way through Montana and into the Midwest where it was purchased by Tom Peed in 2009, joining the growing empire of ventures that make up Sandhills Global. Tom Peed’s son Shane Peed is part-owner and general manager of Certified Piedmontese.

On its own, Piedmontese beef has gained notoriety for its superior genetic makeup compared to conventional cattle, but the Peeds took the operation to the next level with their commitment to responsible handling and environmental stewardship. Shane continues to take the industry by storm with his entrepreneurial spirit, backed by a dedicated production team and—the real superstars—the ranchers.

According to Director of Business Development Billy Swain, the greatest challenge Certified Piedmontese has faced is simply educating people

what Certified Piedmontese beef is and breaking the misconception that fat equals flavor.

What makes the Certified Piedmontese beef program unique and a step above the rest is the attention to detail that’s put into every aspect of the process, from birth to harvest. Certified Piedmontese cattle are raised with integrity on family ranches throughout Nebraska. They are never given antibiotics, steroids, or hormones.

Progressive ranching protocols are in place to guarantee the beef meets their high standards of quality. Certified Piedmontese is the only beef producer that tests for inactive myostatin, which means the final product has more muscle and less fat, resulting in a healthier beef option without sacrificing flavor or tenderness. Additional measures include EID (Electronic Identification) tagging technology, database tracking initiatives, voluntary third-party audits, and DNA testing to confirm heritage (they are able to trace the sire/father of every single calf).

Over the years, people have become more aware of what they are putting in their bodies, so Certified Piedmontese’s source-verified, ranch-to-fork beef program puts consumers at ease. “Natural and organic” is no longer a trend, it’s a way of life.

A Look Inside the New, State-of-the-Art Headquarters Building a major Certified Piedmontese campus was a long time coming. It was clear to see the need for one location to house all operations...and then some. In addition to a large cold-storage facility, grind house, and shipping warehouse, the new headquarters also has a separate building for its administrative offices that features a retail store and private dining/event space. The retail store will be open to the public seven days a week, showcasing Certified Piedmontese products that are available for purchase. Not only can people take home premium cuts, but also cheeses, vegetables, and other high-quality ingredients that can’t be found anywhere else in the area.

The upstairs restaurant is accessible by reservation and invitation only. The venue can fit 60-70 people, when operating at full capacity. Certified Piedmontese has a talented chef on staff who has ample experience working with area farmers and producers. He will have reign over a well-equipped kitchen that was designed with an open concept to give guests an intimate look at the culinary process. The menu will extend past Piedmontese beefs into a specialty tasting menu offering big-city dining options. Everything will be made in-house, including fresh pastas and vegetables grown in a substantial on-site garden.

A primary motivation behind the expansion was to be able to house inventory under a company-owned roof instead of relying on a third party. This allows Certified Piedmontese to provide the most reliable and efficient service to their customers. With such strict operating guidelines, proximity that cultivates more streamlined communication is key.

There are many benefits to being headquartered in Lincoln with operations that span across Nebraska. All of Certified Piedmontese’s land is irrigated with fresh water from the Ogallala Aquifer, and their ranchers and farmers are stewards of both the cattle and the region’s natural resources for supplemental feed. From a shipping standpoint, Lincoln is a perfect central location for delivering goods across the country. Plus, various local retailers and restaurants sell Certified Piedmontese beef, making their connection to the area even stronger.

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BUSINESS NEWS KPE Architecture – Engineering – Forensics Welcomed as New Member of Bio Nebraska

Scantron Sponsors Annual Future OPS Conference for Banking Professionals

Bio Nebraska welcomed KPE Architecture – Engineering – Forensics of Omaha as its newest member in mid-July. As a member, KPE supports the organization’s vision to elevate Nebraska’s bio-ecosystem to benefit mankind by providing better healthcare, enhanced agriculture, and a cleaner and safer environment, thus creating opportunities for e conomic development and growth throughout the state. A full-service architectural, engineering, and forensics firm, KPE planners and designers have been recognized for developing and implementing high-quality solutions that cut operations and maintenance expenses and improve indoor environmental quality.

Scantron Technology Solutions will sponsor the 10th annual Future OPS Conference on September 16, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Holiday Inn & Suites (2202 River Rd., Council Bluffs). The conference, which is free to registered attendees, provides technology education and insight for banking professionals. It attracts banking professionals from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and South Dakota. Last year’s event included 28 technology and product vendors and participants from more than 80 different banking organizations.

Bio Nebraska is a nonprofit organization that aims to be the champion of the bio industry in the state and an advocate for its member organizations by promoting academic, industry, and government partnerships to foster the growth of life sciences in Nebraska.

KPE Architecture – Engineering – Forensics is an industry leader in multi-disciplined full-service firms and also provides services in transportation improvements, including railroads, intermodal yards, truck centers, freight terminals, heavy-equipment repair, automotive dealerships, bus bars, and fl eet maintenance. To learn more, go to kpe-inc.com or contact the Omaha office, 1016 Leavenworth St., at (888) 484-4939.

Center Sphere Network Helps Business Professionals Bounce Back from COVID As the nation rallies together t o b o u n c e b a c k f ro m t h e COVID-19 crisis, Center Sphere’s networking services h a ve b e c o m e m o r e o f a necessity in the business community than ever before. While the thought of going back to normal sounds more and more like an impossibility every day, the organization remains committed to providing their members exceptional value at a low price point.

Starting at just $29.95/month, a nominal financial point of entry has always been top of mind to CEO and founder, Brett Boyer.

“Building relationships and referral connections is an essential part to a normal business world, but especially in these times,” Boyer said. “We’ve made a commitment to small businesses and to our members, and they are the ones who need us right now.

We want them to know that we will only be upping our game and not our prices.”

Since the pandemic hit, Center Sphere has rolled out multiple new initiatives to their membership, including a Member Perks program, Center Sphere Academy, and their Industry Collaborative Groups.

Center Sphere is an established network of business professionals whose mission is to share referrals, ideas, and resources through genuine relationships. The Omaha Network is currently made up of nearly 50 chapters and has access to members nationwide. For more information about Center Sphere or to inquire about attending a complimentary meeting or event, visit www.centersphere. com or connect with Omaha Area Director Lona Anderson at lonaanderson@centersphere.com or (402) 650-5380.

4 Strictly Business AUGUST 2020

Future OPS features multiple topic tracks, with several 30- to 35-minute sessions. Topics featured this year will include cybersecurity solutions, disaster recovery, mobile banking, consulting services, core providers, ITM & ATM products, and web design.

In addition, Scantron will deliver sessions on managed IT services and managed print services. Register for the free conference at futurebankops.com, or call (800) 888-2135 and ask to sign up for the Future OPS event.

Omaha-based Scantron Technology Solutions is a leading provider of managed IT solutions, hardware support services, managed print services, IT products, and IT project services to all industries, not just banking. Scantron empowers growth through intelligent, missioncritical assessment, technology, and data-capture solutions for business, education, certification, and government clients around the world. Learn more at scantron.com/omaha or call (402) 697-3308.

Union Bank & Trust Unveils Plans to Expand in Omaha Union Bank & Trust (UBT), a privately owned bank headquartered in Lincoln, announced plans on June 29 to expand its Omaha presence with a second building. Construction on the new facility, positioned on five acres of land at the intersection of 144th Street and West Dodge Road, is slated to begin this fall.

The five-story, 137,000-square-foot building, designed by The Clark Enersen Partners, is part of the Heartwood Preserve development and will include a full-service retail branch and drive-thru, as well as commercial lending, investment, and trust services. The existing Union Bank & Trust building located at 177th and Center Road will also remain fullservice. UBT expects to open the Heartwood Preserve location in 2022.

“Our new location represents our commitment to the Omaha community,” said Tom Weinandt, UBT’s Omaha president. “We have enjoyed continued growth since opening our first office in 2000 and moving to our own building in 2004 and are excited to take this next step.”

The UBT building will be an anchor of the Heartwood Preserve, a mixed-use, 500-acre redevelopment site that will include retail space, restaurants, offices, and residential areas, as well as an abundance of parks and open space. Several floors of the building will be available for lease.

Recently ranked by Forbes as the No. 2 bank in the United States, Union Bank & Trust offers complete banking, lending, investment, and trust services. The bank has 38 full-service and loan production offices in Nebraska and Kansas and is the third-largest privately owned bank in Nebraska, with bank assets of $5.4 billion and trust assets of $27.7 billion. To learn more, visit www.ubt.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS McGill Wins 2020 Award of Excellence for Best Facility Renovation on UNMC Work McGill Restoration recently was awarded the International Parking and Mobility Institute’s 2020 Award of Excellence for Facility Rehabilitation or Restoration for the restoration at and around the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s parking Lot 1. McGill teamed with Walker Consultants and Kiewit Building Group to restore the lot and the hospital front entrance in 2019. The renovation included a three-level parking structure, a drive-up patient and valet entrance, a helipad, doctor parking at grade level, and a waterproofed plaza system.

The scope of the award-winning work included replacement of expansion joints, post-tension cable repairs, masonry repairs, application of traffic coatings, application of penetrating sealer, and painting the interior ceiling surfaces. The project was completed on budget and on time—in less than six months—while never forcing closure of the garage or interrupting valet services at any time.

McGill Restoration is an Omaha-based construction company that specializes in concrete repair and restoration. They provide services for large-scale projects such as parking garages, stadiums, historical buildings, industrial facilities, and other infrastructure construction work across the Midwest. Learn more at mcgillrestoration.com or by calling (402) 558-7989 in Omaha or (402) 438-4110 in Lincoln.

Holly’s Healthy Holes Offers Monthly Subscription Box of Protein Donuts Holly’s Healthy Holes is excited to announce a new monthly subscription box option for their gluten-free protein donuts.

The subscription box ensures automatic delivery of your favorite donut addiction with an instant 20% off discount! This would put the cost for a half dozen at $15 and a whole dozen at $25. Once a month for six months, you can receive donuts directly to your door or a partnering pickup location of your choice. The box will include a mix of new monthly specialty flavors and ones you know and love. The default delivery date falls between the 10th and 20th of every month, but can be updated to another regular date upon request.

Holly’s Healthy Holes is an online bakery with delivery, catering, and wholesale services. They specialize in gluten-free protein donuts made without refined sugar and processed or artificial ingredients. Holly’s donuts are handcrafted in small batches using carefully chosen local, organic, and whole-food ingredients, and they are delivered fresh every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Founded by female veteran, personal trainer, and health coach Holly Wiest, Holly’s Healthy Holes was created to impact the lives of others through their health. Today, the business has grown to be a small team of women who have a passion for the same things: empowerment, health, and community. They operate their own 100% gluten-free production kitchen in downtown Omaha.

To learn more, visit hollyshealthyholes.com or contact Holly at healthyholes@gmail.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Topgolf Omaha Now Open A f t e r m u c h exc i t e m e n t and anticipation, Topgolf Omaha is officially open.

A soft opening was held on July 13 with a grand opening following later in the week on July 17. The original plan was to open in late March but COVID pushed everything back.

Fortunately, the 72 bays that make up Topgolf Omaha are already designed to be 11 feet apart, which is perfect for social distancing.

Additional measures have been put in place as well to ensure the experience is safe for both guests and staff. Only six are allowed in a bay at a single time and dividers have been hung between conjoining bays. Employees must go through temperature checks daily, and they are required to wear a mask at all times. Guests are not required to wear masks but it is strongly encouraged. Clubs and tables are also thoroughly sanitized after each reservation.

Marcus Parent, Topgolf Omaha’s director of operations, feels very confident in their ability to provide the Topgolf experience people know and love in a very safe environment. Marcus works alongside Rachel Rypel, director of sales. Rachel is excited to showcase Omaha’s newest and most unique event venues. In addition to golf bays, Topgolf Omaha has private rooms that connect to the bays and can be rented out for birthday parties, fundraisers, tournaments, company retreats, and more.

Topgolf Omaha, located off of I-680 and Dodge Street, is a part of a global sports entertainment community creating great times for all. With a worldwide fan base of nearly 100 million, Topgolf prides itself on its special blend of technology, entertainment, food, and beverages. All ages and skill levels are encouraged to come together for playful competition and meaningful connections.

To stay in the loop on all things Topgolf Omaha, follow on Facebook (@topgolfomaha) and on Twitter and Instagram (@ Topgolf). More information can also be found at topgolf.com/us/ omaha or by calling (531) 867-6165.

AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business 5

BUSINESS NEWS Sarpy County Chamber Foundation Awards $120K in Small-Business Grants

God’s Got Your Back Unveils New Inventory of Gifts, Jewelry, and Self-Care Products

The Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce announced July 14 that it awarded more than $120,000 in grants to 70 local small businesses through its Foundation. Applications for the smallbusiness grants opened June 1, and award letters went into the mail July 10.

Businesses with 50 or fewer employees were eligible, and the grants were open to all Sarpy Chamber members, as well as non-members, as long as they are located within the county. The Chamber’s advisory committee reviewed all applications to determine the amounts given, with the goal of helping as many businesses as possible.

God’s Got Your Back, LLC Owner Judy Obodougo announced that she has new products available in August, including Kit Fit and Detox Herbal tea from Arbonne, as well as hand sanitizers from Forever Living Products, Africa Map jewelry, and personalized magnets, pens, mugs, mouse pads, and keychains.

What’s more, if you buy a clothing product, you’ll get a copy of her God’s Got Your Back book for free!

“We are so excited to be in the position where we can offer this assistance to small businesses facing difficulties right now,” said Sarpy County Chamber President Karen Gibler. “We’re extremely grateful to all the donors who made it possible for us to support our business community.”

The Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce will continue to support and uplift the business community with their resources for networking, development, advocacy, and education, as their work will be integral to helping the community get back to business when and if normalcy returns. For more information about the Sarpy County Chamber, or to learn more about joining, visit sarpychamber.org or call (402) 339-3050.

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Strictly Business AUGUST 2020

Judy launched her Omaha business in March and has been growing her inventory since then. Her business grew from the message of the book she authored of the same name, God’s Got Your Back—the message being that people can achieve anything in life if they know, first and foremost, to trust in God. Judy started by offering that book and her second one, Mom is Home, plus a selection of t-shirts, hoodies, and golf shirts brandished with the God’s Got Your Back message. Beginning August 1, she is adding a full slate of Forever Living skin care, health, and wellness products that aim to help you “feel good and look right,” in addition to a wide selection of Arbonne self-care products that she sells as an independent consultant for the company.

For more information about God’s Got Your Back, LLC, visit ngozitowneagle.com or contact Judy at (402) 868-355.

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BUSINESS NEWS Business Ethics Alliance’s EthicSpace 2020 Conference Set for October 13 The Business Ethics Alliance’s EthicSpace Conference: In Crisis, Ethics Count is on tap for October 13. The virtual, day-long conference will focus on moral courage or having consistent ethical behavior even when it is difficult, unpopular, or comes at a cost. Because this year has been marked with controversy and hardship, people are paying more attention than ever to the actions of companies and individuals. EthicSpace will provide individual employees and companies of all sizes a foundation for ethical business practices and the confidence to be leaders instead of followers.

The Business Ethics Alliance casts a small but mighty light, though lots of ethical companies working together to do the right thing creates a lighted path. The Business Ethics Alliance is a beacon of business ethics in Omaha, and the EthicSpace Conference will offer a place for people of all career levels and job titles to learn how to act ethically in the workplace. Nobody knows the state of the world come October, but EthicSpace is taking steps to make the fourth quarter of 2020 one filled with hope and optimism in preparation for the new year.

All Copy Products Launches New Website In order to better ser ve their clients, All Copy Products (ACP) has launched a brand new website (allcopyproducts.com). The new site is easier to navigate and boasts a much cleaner look. It also offers a more dynamic experience for users, giving them an inside look on how ACP provides customers with everything their office needs to become more successful and reach new levels of efficiency. Users can now clearly (and virtually) see why ACP is the one-stop shop for all office technology needs.

All Copy Products opened its doors in 1975 as a printer and copier supplier. Over the years, they have expanded their products and services to provide businesses with all of the technology solutions they need to maximize their efficiency. Now, they have 13 locations across six states with over 400 employees. ACP provides individual products as well as managed services for all office needs, even coffee.

They offer customers competitive pricing, personal account managers, next and same-day delivery options, recycling services, and more.

To learn more about All Copy Products, go to allcopyproducts.com.

For more information about the Business Ethics Alliance or to register for the EthicSpace conference (time and location yet to be determined), please visit businessethicsalliance.org/events or contact Chrisna Clark at cclark@businessethicsalliance.org / (402) 280-2235.

Nebraska Startup, Breeze Partners with Assurity Life Breeze, a Nebraska startup, announced on June 22 its launch of the first API-driven disability insurance product with a digital application and underwriting process provided by Assurity Life. Breeze, which has already helped thousands of consumers apply for disability insurance coverage, is on a mission to help the 51 million working Americans without sufficient income protection in place.

Individuals can request a personalized disability insurance quote and complete a secure application process online in 10–15 minutes. By using existing data from health records and other sources, Breeze allows eligible applicants to skip the medical exam often required by manual underwriting. Policies from the Omaha-based company are issued by underwriting partner Assurity Life, which is rated “excellent” by AM Best for financial strength. Coverage is available in 49 states and the District of Columbia; it is not yet available in New York.

Breeze CEO and co-founder, Colin Nabity, believes this innovation comes at a time when the need for income protection is abundantly clear. As the COVID-19 pandemic sheds light on the vulnerabilities faced by a changing workforce, it is a reminder that an unexpected disability can happen to anyone. The Social Security Administration reports that one in four of today’s 20-year-olds will experience a disability that prevents them from working for at least one year before reaching the normal retirement age.

Breeze is modernizing disability insurance for today’s workforce. With a 100% online application process and digital underwriting, Breeze offers a quick, convenient, and affordable way for workers to protect their income from injury and illness. For more information, visit www. meetbreeze.com.

Assurity Life is working hard to make the business of insurance simple— more human—by listening, showing that they care, and offering customers invaluable insurance products and financial protection. More than a business with a bottom line, they’re a mutual organization whose mission is helping people through difficult times. Learn more at www.assurity.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

New Corporate Headquarters Announced for Sideline Power The Sideline Power group is excited to announce the opening of their brand-new Corporate Headquarters just off I-80 at exit 420 in Greenwood, NE, between Lincoln and Omaha. In 2011, Matt Starr, founder and CEO of Sideline Power, had a vision to provide the most cutting-edge technology and ultimate customer service for the coaching communications industry. Working with one product category, headsets, out of his basement, Starr dedicated himself to his vision and mission. Five years later, Sideline Power had grown into a thriving business that offered multiple product lines across three different categories, headsets, end zone cameras, and drones. By this time, Starr was ready to move his business to a stand-alone building. He moved operations and management to a humble 720-square-foot building in downtown Greenwood and built a warehouse and service center on the property behind his house. Now, four years later, Sideline Power has moved into brand new facility encompassing more than 6000 square feet. Moving into a larger facility is an opportunity for continued growth in Sideline Power’s current people, product, and processes.

In addition to the increased space for products in the warehouse, the new facility brings all facets of the company under one roof.

Sideline Power now has office management, sales, support, and service all working from a singular facility, maximizing efficiency and communication. This creates additional opportunities for Sideline Power to continue researching and bringing to the industry the most cutting-edge technology for coaching communications.

The newest of these technologies is called The CoachPad. The CoachPad is a revolutionary way to prepare for practices.

Whether loading PDF files or drawing by hand, The CoachPad allows coaches from all sports to design, erase, and redraw game plans easily and efficiently.

With over 5,000 schools ranging across all 50 states, Sideline Power offers the best in headsets, end zone cameras, drones, portable sound systems, timers, down markers, and The CoachPad. To learn more, sidelinepower.com.

AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business 7

BUSINESS NEWS Concentric Corporation Honors Staff with 5th Annual Banana Awards and a Few Chuckles

Omaha Fashion Week Slated for August 27–29 with Live and Digital Ticket Options

Recognizing the importance of teamwork in the success of any business, Concentric Corporation hosted a team-bonding event and cookout for its staff on July 2, including their 5th Annual Banana Awards. All in fun, the awards recognize people for their less-than-perfect moments throughout the year. Winners receive an actual banana-shaped award with whatever title the hosts choose. The hosts then get to select who will be the lucky ones hosting the year following!

Teambuilding is the lifeblood of Concentric’s business, and it has created employees who are dedicated and passionate every day. The company takes the time to recognize each staff person’s achievements throughout the year and celebrates their efforts during regular teambuilding activities.

Concentric Corporation is bringing back the fundamentals of recruiting, which starts with the relationship. They are upgrading the approach in executive search and recruiting by being deliberate and purposeful, always taking the extra step with their clients’ best interests in mind and uncovering true motives in hiring and career advancement by having transparent and honest conversations. This approach allows execution of what the company calls its “connecting excellence.” For more information, visit concentriccorp.com or contact Founder Andy Hawkins at (402) 991-8400 or andy@ concentriccorp.com.

Join Omaha Fashion Week for another exciting season of fashion and glamour, taking place August 27–29! This season features multiple ways to experience all the excitement, with both Live and Digital Ticket options available.

Live Tickets include premium seating along the runway, plus the Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery | Dreams MedSpa VIP Experience with valet parking, Absolut Juice signature cocktails, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Digital Tickets grant access to all the fashion and glamour of Omaha Fashion Week...online! Plus, exciting extras like designer interview videos, behind-the-scenes peeks backstage, and more. The show schedule is as follows: • Thursday, August 27: DISCORDIA Designer Showcase • Friday, August 28: HARMONIA Designer Showcase • Saturday, August 29: VIP Runway Finale On the inside, Omaha Fashion Week is a talent incubator that seamlessly connects designers, stylists, photographers, artists, and models through nurturing platforms and engaging opportunities. On the outside, it is the Midwest’s premier fashion event, spotlighting fashion innovations and celebrating creative excellence! Visit www. omahafashionweek.com/tickets to snag your tickets.

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BUSINESS NEWS Village PieMaker Moves All Operations to Omaha, Closes Eustis Shop Village PieMaker, which was opened by Judith Larsen in 2002 in Eustis, NE, and since acquired by Joe Ricketts, father of Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, announced on July 22 that the original production center would close and all operations would move to Omaha. The business built a state-of-the-art facility at 13306 Portal Dr. a couple of years ago and, despite efforts to upgrade the Eustis plant to keep up with customer demand, recently made the decision to streamline operations and consolidate production at the Omaha facility.

“While my decision to close the Eustis facility was not an easy one, I believe it positions Village PieMaker for long-term success—success that will mean good jobs for more people as more and more households around the country are introduced to our wonderful, Nebraska-made pies,” said Ricketts.

Village PieMaker’s delicious “take and bake” frozen fruit pies can be found nationwide in many of your favorite local grocery stores and markets. Customers love the handmade goodness and old-fashioned favorites cherry and strawberry-rhubarb. After all these years, Village PieMaker is still sharing happiness—one slice at a time. Anyone can order pies online or join the Pie of the Month Club for a special pie delivered directly to your door each month of the year. Learn more online at www.villagepiemaker.com.

BBB Offers Tips for Businesses on Latest Scams and Predatory Online Attacks With businesses more exposed than ever to online scams and predatory attacks, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has found that standard scamprevention measures are no longer effective when in-person communication isn’t an option. With that in mind, the BBB provided a list of types of scams for which business owners and operators should be on the lookout. Those include phishing attacks, HR scams, imposter scams, and identity theft. Below is some information about each of these: • Phishing scams—When employees are physically separated, in-person verifications involving financials or wire transfers are no longer possible. Phishing attacks are increasing and exposing millions to additional risks. Make sure that your employees are aware of the risks and provide effective countermeasures. Put policies in place so requests for financial information or transfers are verified first.

• HR scams—The latest twist in scamming involves Human-Resource (HR) departments receiving calls or emails from a current employee asking to update their direct deposit or mailing information to receive their paychecks. In reality, the request isn’t genuine, and the employee’s paycheck has just been stolen if you complete the request.

• Imposter scams—Scammers are stealing the name of a legitimate business and pretending to be them. These can take dozens of forms, but many involve employment scams, fake check or wire scams, government-imposter scams, and more.

• Identity theft—Report all suspected instances of identity theft to the FBI’s IC3 Department (ic3.gov/default.aspx). While many businesses are hesitant to admit that they have been compromised, investigators cannot pursue the criminals without the necessary information.

If you believe that your business has been compromised, report the scam on the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker or call (800) 649-6814. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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State Leaders Launch Applications for Grant Programs to Get Nebraska Growing On June 12, Governor Pete Ricketts and State officials hosted a press conference to provide updates on several new grant programs.

Combined, the programs will award $387 million in grants, using federal coronavirus relief dollars, to help get the Nebraska economy growing in the coming weeks and months. The new programs will be administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in partnership with the Nebraska Departments of Labor and Agriculture.

Each addresses a specific economic challenge or need created by the coronavirus pandemic.

A website has been created with information about these new grant programs, including eligibility requirements, how to apply, application deadlines, and frequently asked questions. The website is located at getnebraskagrowing.nebraska.gov. Additional questions can be directed to DED’s Get Nebraska Growing information hotline at (855) 264-6858.

Edge Magazine, Dine Magazine to Celebrate Anniversaries this Fall Edge Magazine and its sister publication Dine Magazine are celebrating two significant milestones this fall—the seven-year anniversary of Edge and the oneyear anniversary of Dine.

As West Omaha’s premier lifestyle publication, Edge Magazine features stories of the most interesting people, places, and events in the area, capturing the essence of community. Dine Magazine shares the knowledge of industry professionals, provides tips for cooking enthusiasts, and highlights events and opportunities available throughout the community, all with the hope of elevating the Nebraska dining experience. Additionally, over the course of the past year, the magazines have added an array of marketing and digital services to assist clients in maintaining a consistent and compelling brand across multiple platforms. Looking forward, both publications remain committed to showcasing the distinct qualities that make Omaha and Nebraska a superior place to live and thrive.

Edge Magazine is a bimonthly publication geared toward life in West Omaha. Dine Magazine is a quarterly publication that covers the unique dining scene throughout Nebraska. For more information or to inquire about advertising and feature ideas, visit edgemagazine.com / dinenebraska.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Stories Coffee Company Rolls Out New Summer Drinks, Available Through August

DoMore Consulting Company to Introduce Crestcom Training Program in Omaha

Stories Coffee Company treated their customers to some new drink flavors this summer, and they plan to offer them throughout August. The new drinks include Surfs Up, Purple Tea Float, Beach Getaway, and Coco Mocha. The Surfs Up blends the true summer tastes of mango, pineapple, and coconut milk; the Purple Tea Float is an iced earl grey tea with lavender, blackberry, club soda, and ice cream; the Beach Getaway is a refreshing hit of strawberry, lemonade, and mint; and the Coco Mocha is a cold brew coffee with coconut, cream, and mocha.

DoMore Consulting Company, led by James Mackiewicz, is excited to introduce the Crestcom Inter national, LLC training program to the greater Omaha area. James is a authorized licensee of Crestcom, and he is proud bring their valuable leadership materials and resources to the area. Leadership development is key to improving results, ensuring growth, and eliminating many recurring business issues. DoMore Consulting specifically offers leadership development for managers and direct coaching for financial advisors.

The coffee shop also has a wide variety of on-tap brews from local vendors and featured wines perfect for this time of year. On tap, you’ll find Kros Strain Fairy Necter IPA, Kinkaider Dan the Wiser Kolsch, Infusion Vanilla Bean Blonde, Zipline Copper Alt, Brickway Coffee Vanilla Stout, Glacial Till Cidar, and Nitro Brew. For the wine lovers, the bar serves Movendo Moscato, Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, and Diora Rose.

Crestcom International is an established leadership development organization, training more than one million leaders for 25,000 businesses in over 60 countries across the globe. Crestcom achieves this through a blend of live-facilitated multimedia video, interactive exercises, and shared learning experiences. Crestcom implements action plans and coaching accountability sessions to ensure measured development in 12 key leadership competency areas.

Stories Coffee Company is all about people, love, and coffee.

Located at 11426 Davenport St., STE 1, the shop serves high-quality coffee and drinks while giving back to the Omaha community. To learn more, visit the Facebook page (@storiescoffeecompany) or call (531) 213-2742.

Employ DoMore Consulting Company to take advantage of Crestcom International, LLC’s materials so that you can go from being a manager to being a leader—there is a difference. Learn more online at www.domoreconsulting.co or contact James directly at (402) 399-9239 / james@domoreconsulting.co.

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BUSINESS NEWS BNI Continues to Help Members Grow Business Through Online Plateform For the last several months, BNI® Heartland has continued to successfully utilize their BNI Online platform to help their members grow their businesses through referrals.

During a time when many businesses have struggled, BNI members in Nebraska have passed over $3.8 million in closed business, with much of it staying within the Omaha community. Globally, BNI members closed nearly $1.3 billion in June alone.

Many chapters are now returning to traditional in-person meetings.

BNI is taking extra precautions to protect their members and visitors while still providing the same quality results. Now is an excellent time to visit a chapter, either online or in-person, and see how the strong connections and resources of BNI can be helpful in uncertain economic times.

BNI is the world’s leading referral organization, with over 270,000 members in 70+ countries. Their members generate word-of-mouth business for each other through structured, results-driven groups around the world. In 2019 alone, their members generated over $16 billion (USD) in revenue for member-businesses. To learn more, visit bniheartland.com. You can also contact their regional office at (402) 880-6311 / info@bniheartland.com.

The Omaha Bakery Adds Ketogenic Meal Prep Service for Omaha and Lincoln With their ketogenic baked goods selling like hotcakes, The Omaha Bakery is taking things up a notch and offering Keto Meal Prep service to people in Omaha and Lincoln.

Owner Michelle Kaiser said the imminent launch of 15 different meals is the result of nine months of work by her team to find a way to offer delicious keto foods, made with fresh ingredients, to their customers. They’ve been tantalizing folks with photos of the mouthwatering meals on Facebook, and the feedback indicates that anticipation is high. Michelle teased followers with a photo of their Keto Chicken Prosciutto Cordon Bleu, a traditional Schnitzel made Italian Keto style (pictured). It comprises a chicken breast flattened, stuffed with fresh mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and prosciutto ham, all rolled up and breaded with pork rinds and aged parmesan, flash-fried to perfect crispiness, then baked.

Michelle’s love affair with the keto lifestyle stems from her change to a keto diet more than a year ago, in an effort to improve her health and reduce her pain. In her first year, she lost 100 pounds and became pain-free. From there, the bakery developed a superpopular line of ketogenic baked goods, which they’ve been shipping to customers all over the country. Michelle is planning to roll out the new meals at keto meal tastings in early August. The meals are being created by The Omaha Bakery’s Chef Maria, who has worked in five-star restaurants and internationally. While they ship their keto baked goods, the bakery won’t be shipping the keto meals immediately but can arrange for pickups in Omaha and Lincoln, and in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Omaha Bakery is a full-service bakery and tasting experience for any occasion. For more information, visit theomahabakery.com and their Facebook page (@TheOmahaBakery), or call (402) 991-9200. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum Announces Upcoming Events The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum has a couple of fun events lined up in the next couple of months. As a part of their commitment to learning and exploration, the Museum is excited to present the following upcoming event opportunities: • Behind the Scenes — Saturday, August 15, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Join the Museum’s curators as they take you on a journey through their archives. Explore the gear pilots and crews used in this “suited for flight” event!

• Patriot Day — Friday, September 11, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum salutes America and honors the fallen victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks and the heroes who have fought our nation’s battles throughout the years. The program honors active military and first responders with free admission to the event.

This program includes a guest speaker and begins at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation ending at 1 p.m. The program is included with general admission. All day first responders and active, retired, and veteran service members receive free admission into the Museum.

• Aircraft Adventure — Saturday, September 26, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. As a part of an ongoing monthly series, the Museum invites you to join them for a curator talk on rescue operations and the B-58 “Hustler”. A presentation will be given by a Curator and the aircraft will be open for public viewing immediately following the presentation where the staff will guide you through different areas of the aircraft. Museum members receive free admission to the event and admission applies to all non-member guests.

The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, located at 28210 West Park Hwy in Ashland (exit 426 off I-80 between Omaha and Lincoln), is a Smithsonian Affiliate. Public tours of the Museum are given daily. They begin at 11 a.m. and are conducted by a volunteer staff member. Private tours are also available when booking in advance. The Museum is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., seven days a week. Admission costs are $13 for adults, $11 for senior citizens and active/retired/veteran military, $6 for children (ages 4–12), and free for children under the age of three. COVID restrictions are in place for the safety of staff and visitors.

To learn more about the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, go online to sacmuseum.org or call the Museum at (402) 944-3100. For group admission pricing and to schedule a private tour, contact the event coordinator at (402) 944-3100, ext. 253 or by email at events@sacmuseum.org.

AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business 11

BUSINESS NEWS MBA to Hold After Hours, Ribbon Cutting at Third Sarpy Chiropractic Location

Patriarch Distillers - Soldier Valley Spirits Presents Whiskey & Wheels Car Show

The Millard Business Association (MBA) is scheduled to host an afterhours networking event on Tuesday, September 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. The event will double as a ribbon-cutting celebration for Sarpy Chiropractic’s third location at 1520 N 205th St. in Elkhorn. This is a great opportunity to connect with other local professionals while touring the new space. MBA will be closely monitoring social distancing guidelines.

Sarpy Chiropractic exists to provide you the best possible healthcare experience. They believe in delivering fast, friendly, and affordable care that is personalized to your unique health needs. The first location went up in Papillion, but the practice expanded into Millard and Elkhorn to meet the demand for top-notch chiropractic care. Sarpy Chiropractic is made up of Rodney White D.C., Justin Brazda D.C., Tim Sullivan D.C., and Christine Rollman D.C. If you’re a business owner who wants to connect with like-minded professionals and get involved with the community at large, the Millard Business Association organizes various events and programs throughout the year. Learn more online at millardbusinessassociation.org or follow the Facebook page (@MillardBusinessAssociation). Contact (402) 7072827 / info@millardbusinessassociation.org with questions.

Patriarch Distillers - Soldier Valley Spirits is excited to announce their plans to host their 2nd annual Whiskey & Wheels Car Show on Friday, September 11, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Patriarch Distillers is located at 12251 Cary Cir., La Vista. Masks are encouraged and social distancing will be practiced.

The show will feature automobiles and motorcycles, old and new. Food will be served by the Game Time Philly’s Food Truck until 10 p.m. There will also be a beer garden in their main parking lot and live music by the Jason Earl Band. Bottle prizes will be awarded to two vehicles, Soldier Valley’s employee choice as well as public choice, and one motorcycle.

Registration is highly requested so that they can have an estimated vehicle attendance number. The name, make, model, color, and year of the car should be emailed to tchickinelli@svspirits.com or texted to (402) 215-2053. If you’re interested in volunteering, you should contact Antonio at tchickinelli@svsp.com.

Faith, family, and service to country are the three core values of Patriarch Distillers - Soldier Valley Spirits. They originated from a desire to celebrate and honor U.S. veterans. They carefully handcraft all Soldier Valley products to keep with their high standards. Learn more about tasting room hours, tours, and ordering by going online to soldiervalleyspirits.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Sonburst Communication Creates New Virtual Event Platform, Sonstream

Sapphire Grill Reopens Food Truck, Available for Events

Sonburst Comm unication has developed a new virtual event platform—Sonstream—that can take all aspects of an in-person live event and translate it to online options for attendees. It can communicate with attendees via livestream general sessions, videos, remote speakers, breakout rooms, polling, chatting, and more. Sonstream features customizable branding and registration sites as well. Sonburst Communication met the new needs for communications in order to uphold their mission of keeping their clients at the forefront of planning and production.

After shutting down operations for a couple of months due to COVID, Sapphire Grill reopened their food truck on July 19—and their loyal customers were overjoyed!

Sapphire Grill has already been asked to serve their delicious bites at multiple events, such as graduation parties, family reunions, church gatherings, company celebrations, sporting games and tailgates, and more.

Proudly located in Omaha, Sonburst Communication has established a reputation for being one of the nation’s premier event planning and production companies. Since 1996, they’ve earned the trust of many different clients from global corporations, to startups, to national nonprofits. Their capable team combines event planning, creative elements, and video production to create experiences that dazzle and entertain audiences of any size. Learn more about Sonburst Communication and their newest service at sonburst.com. You can also contact Sean Olson, director of client services, at (402) 333-7620 / solson@sonburst.com for more information.

Xcel Roofing Collects Career Wear for Omaha Women’s Center for Advancement Xcel Roofing is collecting contributions of new or nearly new career wear to donate to the Career Closet at the Omaha Women’s Center for Advancement (WCA) through August 30. All you have to do is call/text a pickup location to (402) 345-9235 through August 30, and an Xcel team member will come get your donations and deliver them to the WCA for you!

Xcel Vice President of Marketing Meghan Lewis came up with the service project when a friend of hers reached out to her because she had a lot of brand new clothes and wanted to donate them to a good cause.

The WCA is the go-to place for anyone in the Omaha area who is experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. Their free, high-quality services address their clients’ immediate safety needs and help women and their children grow strong, safe, and independent. The Career Closet at WCA serves clients in need for job interviews and work. The organization also provides a vital service in education and prevention for the community at large, to raise awareness about issues of power and control—because, the truth is, nobody is immune to this epidemic.

For nearly 30 years, Xcel Roofing has provided customers in Omaha and other Midwest communities with quality products and services for their residential and commercial properties, including replacement and repair of roofing, siding, windows, and gutters.

For more information or to schedule a free, no-obligation roof or exterior inspection, visit loveourroof.com or message them on Facebook (@Xcel Roofing). #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Sapphire Grill has a mouthwatering menu, complete with Philly cheesesteaks, chicken wings, bacon-wrapped pork skewers, Doritos nachos, fried pickles, and crab cakes. Oh, and don’t forget the natural cut seasoned fries!

Business partners Candice Price and Ron Devers started Sapphire Grill on May 25, 2018. Self-proclaimed foodies, Candice and Ron took a leap of faith, drove five hours to buy a trailer, renovated it, and then built their brand. They put in a lot of hard work to bring their dream of a mobile food venue to life, and it paid off. Now, Sapphire Grill has become a go-to for many locals. To keep up with where you can find Sapphire Grill or reserve the food truck for your next event, visit sapphireflame.com, follow on Facebook (@SapphireGrillOmaha), or contact (402) 505-4998 / thegrill@sapphireflame.com.

Truck Center Companies to Acquire Harrison Truck Centers Truck Center Companies (TCC) announced it will acquire Harrison Truck Centers. TCC currently has 10 full-service dealership locations. TCC will expand its footprint across the heartland of America by acquiring Harrison Truck Center’s (HTC) eight locations throughout Minnesota and Central Iowa. HTC represents Freightliner, Western Star, and Autocar. The addition of HTC is an ideal geographic expansion for Truck Center Companies and fits their commitment of expanding its reach towards the company’s mission of being the best truck and trailer dealer as judged by its customers, employees, and peers. The acquisition is to be finalized on August 31 with the current Harrison ownership group staying on the TCC management team.

“My vision for Truck Center Companies has always been to grow.

The addition of Harrison Truck Centers locations is a great fit with that vision. We’re excited to grow our footprint to be able to provide great service to all customers and bring the Harrison Truck Centers employees into our family,” said Trey Mytty, CEO of Truck Center Companies.

Truck Center Companies is a Freightliner/Western Star dealership and also carries Isuzu, Thomas Built Buses, Kalmar Ottawa, SelecTrucks, Sidump’r and Stoughton Trailers and has locations throughout Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa. In business since 1975, Truck Center Companies is driven by owner Trey Mytty to deliver consistent, trusted service to its customers. TCC also provides parts and service, full maintenance, breakdown management, and fleet management.

For more information about Truck Center Companies, visit truckcentercompanies.com.

AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business 13

BUSINESS NEWS Nebraska Safety Council Offers Arc Flash Electrical Safety Training September 14-15

Hurrdat’s Local Search Fuel Partners with American Express for Meaningful Initiative

The Nebraska Safety Council is offering a two-day NFPA 70E® Arc Flash Electrical Safety Training course September 14-15, specifically aimed at employees who are electricians, maintenance or repair technicians, safety directors, building engineers, energy-management personnel, and plant or facility managers. Originally developed at OSHA’s request, NFPA 70E® helps companies and employees avoid workplace injuries and fatalities due to shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast.

The main goal of the Arc Flash Training is to keep workers safe when they are working on or near any electrically energized equipment. It is designed to reduce liability concerns of employers, at the same time maintaining a culture of safe work practices at places of business. The training runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. Day one covers basic safety information and hazards of electricity specific to arc flash, and day two discusses safety requirements for proper maintenance and special equipment, as well as the latest in changes in safety codes.

This training does not include any hands-on exercises.

The Nebraska Safety Council is a nonprofit headquartered in Lincoln with a mission to empower people to live safe and healthy lives. Seats for the safety training are limited, so early registration is encouraged.

To learn more, visit nesafetycouncil.org or contact Lisa Henning at (402) 483-2511, ext. 109 / lhenning@nesafetycouncil.org.

Hurrdat is proud to announce that Local Search Fuel, their local SEO solution developed for small businesses, was selected to partner with American Express for the Stand for Small initiative.

Stand for Small is a coalition of companies across multiple industries selected by American Express for their ability to provide support and resources for businesses nationwide during COVID-19. This includes everything from valuable marketing tools and delivery services to money-saving offers that help small businesses reduce operating costs, manage remote teams, and more.

As part of their partnership with American Express, Hurrdat is offering Local Search Fuel free for 90 days to help small businesses across the U.S. set up and manage local business listings that appear in search engines, map applications, and online business directories, such as Google, Apple Maps, Facebook, and Yelp.

Not only does Local Search Fuel provide a convenient dashboard where businesses can ensure their information is updated and accurate at all times, but it also offers a competitive edge in the digital marketing landscape. Small businesses have an opportunity to gain better visibility in search engine results that can help them compete more effectively with other companies in their area and reach new customers online.

Local Search Fuel by Hurrdat was created with one simple goal in mind—help small businesses compete more effectively in local search results. Visit their Stand for Small page at hurrdat.com/stand-for-small to learn more about how Hurrdat is helping businesses nationwide.

Cybersecurity threats keep changing. Is your business protected?

Your business faces evolving security challenges.

Cyberattackers are always looking for a new way in. How do you protect your vital business data?

Scantron helps businesses of all sizes create and implement a reliable data security plan.

We’re a premier sponsor of Future OPS 2020, the tech conference for banking professionals, Sept. 16, in Council Bluffs, IA. RSVP at futurebankops.com.

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Celebrating 35 Years of Advancement

in Restoration Data & Technology

2020 is a big year for McGill Restoration as it marks their 35th anniversary. The family-owned business was founded by Tim P. McGill, now operated by his son, Timothy F. McGill, who has continued to excel and transform the business into an award-winning and leading-edge construction company. Over the last four consecutive years, they have been recognized as one of the 5,000 fastest growing (privately owned) businesses in the U.S. by Inc. magazine. In addition, their projects have received multiple industry awards for their excellence in completing large-scale and complex jobs.

How have they done it?

For one, they continue to invest heavily in their people, but also the company has taken tremendous strides to advance their processes and products with a technology and data-driven approach. The outcomes have resulted in safer job sites and increased efficiencies, better workforce productivity, and the overall ability to tackle more intricate projects and exceed their customers’ expectations.

Let’s take a ‘look under the hood’ at three key areas McGill Restoration has invested in new technologies to excel their business:

1. Business Intelligence The company invested in and designed custom BI tools that allows them to have a holistic and accurate view of their job and workforce capacity in real time for now and in the future.

This includes attainment for each job against their contracted timelines as well as financial success.

As a result, customers receive more accurate start and completion dates as this data allows McGill to better align their pipeline of work with sales and project management. McGill teams are also more well-informed of project statuses and success, resulting in better communication to all parties involved.

Internally, McGill benefits by leveraging this immense amount of data and BI reporting to better understand their business. It allows them for better workforce planning, estimation, and pricing.

2. Integrated Accounting and Estimation It wasn’t too long ago that McGill operated heavily on paperbased forms and spreadsheets for their accounting processes. In order to take the business to the next level, McGill Restoration invested heavily into new digital accounting tools leveraging new cloud construction technology. The result?

Their accounting processes have gone paperless and their accounting information is accessible in real-time. Inventory of material is now accessible by all teams real-time in a

management system, and this data allows them to run leaner, plan better, and reduce wastes.

Going digital also introduced a new bidding platform. Now, McGill Restoration can leverage their historical bid data instantly to create accurate bids for upcoming work. This allows McGill to provide bids more quickly and accurately to customers.

3. Timekeeping and Human Resources McGill’s workforce productivity has reached new levels thanks to investments in timekeeping tools with features such as GPS geofencing and other timekeeping controls for more accurate time punches. Timekeeping software also offers McGill tons of data that feeds into their productivity ratios, influencing estimators' calculations on future bids.

Last, but certainly not least, all of these technological advancements have allowed McGill Restoration to significantly invest in hiring processes and employee development. One of McGill Restoration’s greatest secrets to success is having a reliable and highly knowledgeable workforce. Recruiting and developing top-tier talent continues to be critical, and as such, the company has begun leveraging industry-leading tools such as the Culture Index to identify and place the right candidates in the right seats. With this, McGill hopes they can ensure continuity in providing quality craftsmanship and great customer services to all customers for the next 35 years, and many more to come!

(402) 558-7989 Omaha | McGillRestoration.com | (402) 438-4110 Lincoln #PrintProudDigitalSmart

AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business

15

STAN

Stan Smith

HEARTLAND INTERNATIONAL, INC. OMAHA’S PREMIERE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER Corporate & Private Events Non-Profit Events Commercial/Branding Head Shots/Seniors

402-203-7908 | www.monicasempekphotography.com

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Meet Stan Smith, the director of operations for Heartland International, Inc. and sales director for Conklin Roofing Systems.

Tell us a little about your business. - Back in 1977, Conklin formulated acrylic roofing coatings, which offers superior protection against the elements and provides substantial energy efficiency. With more than 40 years of tested, proven, and trusted performance to deliver unsurpassed value for building owners, property managers, and contractors alike, no other company offers what Conklin does. I maintain and service our client list and build new relations with prospective clients.

How did you get started in the business? - My wife and I moved to Hickman in the summer of 2001. I responded to an ad in The Daily Nebraskan. This contact led me to Dennis Nun with Heartland International. Dennis is now my great friend and mentor.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Due to an accident and becoming a paraplegic in 1981, I was often judged by the fact that I am in a wheelchair. I was denied for many jobs I interviewed for because, I believe, people saw the chair before they saw me.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? Achieving the status of director in the Conklin organization and earning the respect from other professionals.

Tell us a little about your family. - I married my wife Vicky in May of 1974, and we have been blessed with four beautiful children and 10 grandchildren. In June of 2010, we lost our youngest son, Spencer, from a motorcycle accident.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?

- In December of 1978, I dedicated my life to Jesus Christ and asked Him to direct my path.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I love spending time with my wife and working in our yard.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I was a professional rodeo cowboy and participated in steer wrestling, bareback, calf roping, and team roping until my accident in 1981.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

(Philippians 4:13) If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Faithful.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “Always Stay Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - An auctioneer. My second son has achieved this very successfully.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Any homeless outreach organization. We are very thankful for the blessings we have and want to give to those that are less fortunate.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.

What is your favorite TV show? - The Price is Right.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Casey Tibbs, the famous world saddle and bareback bronc riding champion.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? (402) 318-1743; ssmith.conklin@gmail.com; www.thesecureroof.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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BRETT

Brett Becker

MORTON BUILDINGS Meet Brett Becker, area manager for Morton Buildings.

Tell us a little about your business. - Morton Buildings started off as a fence company in 1903 and has grown to be the icon of post-frame construction in 2020. Morton has innovated its way to success and has survived through many worldwide issues. We care about our customers and go the distance in making sure we live up to our tradition.

How did you get started in the business? - I have always had a strong interest with community relations and construction. Being able to be a part of a building project for a customer brings satisfaction knowing that we are building for generations of enjoyment.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? Whether the project is commercial, residential, or agricultural, we are always adapting and overcoming various obstacles involving site excavation, zoning, permitting, and everything else that is involved with the building process. Morton understands the process and has a streamline approach in being successful.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- I have been a part of a countless number of projects that have brought enjoyment to families and business owners alike. It is not just what goes into the project that measures success, it is the customers smile at the end that allows me to measure my achievements.

Tell us a little about your family. - I have been married since 2002 and have three children. My wife Stephanie Becker is a successful real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens for buyers and sellers. We have been a staple point within the Omaha Metro area for over 20 years. We enjoy a variety of activities, everything from travel to quiet evenings at home creating our own serenity.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?

- After graduating high school and heading to college, I felt a sense of independence. From that point, I was on my own and successfully obtained my four-year degree and furthered my journey in life.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Go on nature hikes.

Who inspires you? - That’s easy; my family inspires me to do my best each and every day.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Never make excuses, just do your best and move forward.

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Industrious.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon, the James Bond theme song.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - I like to travel, so being able to fly would really help with reducing my airline costs.

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - Landscaping.

Which talent would you most like to have? - Architecture.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - Good to Great authored by Jim Collins.

What is your favorite TV show? - The Goldbergs.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - My father who passed away several years ago.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

- Office: (402) 786-3000 / Cell: (402) 405-3093; brett.becker@ mortonbuildings.com; www.mortonbuildings.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business

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Shelly Hermsen

NORTH RISK PARTNERS Meet Shelly Hermsen, the account manager – employee Benefits at North Risk Partners.

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Tell us a little about your business. - North Risk Partners is one of the largest, privately owned independent insurance agencies in the Midwest with over 300 employees in 26 locations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. We work hard to help our clients face risk head-on, finding them the best fit insurance for their employees. We support them with keeping up with industry changes as they happen. I enjoy working with and building relationships with our clients to better learn their specific benefit needs to assist them with their claims, enrollment and benefit needs.

How did you get started in the business? - After being a stay-at-home mom for many years, I decided it was time to get out of the house and back into the workforce. I went to work in a part-time/temporary position for a major health insurance carrier in their small group installation and renewal department. A few years later, I decided to go to work for an insurance brokerage where I can work directly with clients providing service with their various needs. I also get to work with many different carriers who provide coverage for the numerous benefits we offer, such as health, dental, vision, life, and disability.

Tell us a little about your family. - I was born and raised in Omaha. I am married to my husband Dave and we live in Elkhorn. I have three children: Ashlynn (26), Jarret (24), and Kyle (21); and three stepchildren named Jordyn, Gage, and Hunter. Dave and I have two granddaughters— Brixtyn (4) and Brogyn (2 months)—whom we love spending time with!

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - In the winter, it might be curling up with a warm blanket and watching a movie. However, in the summer, I enjoy meeting up with friends and family and enjoying good food, drinks, and live music.

Who inspires you? - My kids! They make me proud of the young adults they have become.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - My grandmother always told me to “Kill’em with kindness!”

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Kind.

Which talent would you most like to have? - To be a good singer. I love music but am not gifted with any sort of singing talent.

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Strictly Business AUGUST 2020

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - To be a nurse and help people be well. I have a very weak stomach and do not like the site of blood, so that profession was out of the question for me.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - The Backpack Program through the Omaha Food Bank. I enjoy supporting them because I know how many children are helped by this program on a daily basis.

What is your favorite movie? - I love movies, but it is hard to pick just one! Among my favorites are The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, any movie starring Morgan Freeman, and Toy Story.

What is your favorite TV show? - Game of Thrones.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar for their mouthwatering filet mignon and relaxing atmosphere.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 905-9059; shelly.hermsen@northriskpartners.com; www. northriskpartners.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NICOLE

Nicole Jesse

LA CASA PIZZARIA

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Meet Nicole Jesse, general manager and coowner of La Casa Pizzaria. month First 3 months @ $4.95/mo. with installation cost of $149; after Tell us a little about your business. - Founded introductory period, rental is $23/mo. by my grandparents Joe and Nellie Patane in 1953, we continue to be family owned and operated by third and fourth generations. We make Shop and compare at ilovemywater.com a unique thin crust pizza and our signature pizza features freshly grated iLoveMyWater.com Romano cheese and ground beef that is seasoned and cooked in house.

TEMS We use original family recipes for our pasta sauces, salad dressings, WAT E R S OF N E R S · DRINKING SYS T E desserts, and other house specialties. Besides dine-in service and take-out, we also have a party room, do limited caterings, and have a Food Truck.

Products & Services How did you get started in the business? - I started working at La Life Safety Consulting Casa when I was 14 as a hostess. Our mom was looking to retire, so 2020AquaSystems_3_68x2_41.indd my 1 3/19/20 10:58 AM Fire Alarm Systems brother Joel and I were offered an opportunity to become owners in Fire Sprinkler Systems Full Service Fire Protection Company 1985. The rest is history, as they say!

Restaurant Systems Special Hazard Systems What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Our Fire Extinguishers industry has faced many challenges over the years, but I would have to Exit and Emergency Lights say that the current COVID pandemic has been the biggest. It’s added Fire Door Inspections health risks, anxiety, and greater uncertainty that must be addressed Fire and Smoke Dampers for both staff and customers.

Fire Extinguisher Training Path of Egress Illumination What has been your most important achievement professionally? - I CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION TODAY! …and more! was inducted into the Omaha Hospitality Hall of Fame in 2013. It was very humbling and special to me because I was chosen by my peers.

My grandfather Joe was inducted in 2009, so I’m honored to share that accomplishment with him!

4404 S. 76th Circle, Omaha, NE 68127 www.FireGuardUSA.com Tell us a little about your family. - John and I married in 1986. We met ElitePartner while both working at La Casa back in 1978 and started dating in 1981.

(I’ll let you do the math.) We have three children: Nick, Madeleine, and Genevieve. We welcomed two more to the family last year when Leah Svingen married Nick and Joel Warden married Madeleine.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?

- Becoming a mother. My view of life and the world changed instantly, in a very good way.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I love to garden and Private Tours Birthday Parties Company Picnics care for many houseplants. I also love to bake.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most Team Building Events Graduations Family Reunions people probably don’t know? - Baseball is my favorite sport.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever CALL TODAY TO received? - “Positively impacting even one person’s life is a life wellEDULE A TOUR! SCH lived.” Another good one is: “What other people say about you is none of your business.”

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Courageous.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - John and I volunteer with Habitat for Humanity because we are passionate about safe, affordable housing. I am also on the Board for Mercy High School (my alma mater) because I care about education for women. Through La Casa, I have also been able to support local organizations that provide food security.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - I really like historical fiction and non-fiction. I recently read All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or Find us on Facebook Your Guide present, who would it be? - My grandparents. I was pretty young when Kyle Kern they were still alive, and I’d love to ask them about their lives back in Sicily and early days in the U.S. (402) 699-4489 If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? RiverLifeTours.com (402) 556-6464; nicole@lacasapizzaria.net; lacasapizzaria.net. #PrintProudDigitalSmart AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business 19 * *FIRST 3 MONTHS @ $4.95/MO. WITH INSTALLATION COST OF $149; AFTER INTRODUCTORY PERIOD, RENTALS START AT $25/MO.

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BRETT

Brett Boyer

CENTER SPHERE Meet Brett Boyer, CEO of Center Sphere.

Tell us a little about your business. - Center Sphere is the leading professional network in the region. We’re focused on being a platform for growth for those serving their communities in any capacity. We believe that relationships trump any transactional business, as you do business with people who you know and trust.

How did you get started in the business? - In March 2010, we saw a need in Omaha for a better way to network. So, I guess you could say we started out of necessity for our own businesses, at the time, as well as our colleagues in the community.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? The achievement that I am most proud of professionally is that, through The Network and our awesome members, we have raised over $500,000 for local not-for-profit ventures! The majority of these funds came in the last four years.

Tell us a little about your family. - I am blessed to have married my best friend Jessica, who is a stylist and business owner in Omaha. We have a son named Jepson who recently turned two years old. He is our pride and joy, and he loves dinosaurs and golf!

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? When I realized for myself that money cannot buy happiness and what you do for a living should never fully define you as a person, it’s only part of who you are.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I love to travel and spend precious time with my family. Owning a business, there aren’t really days off…only slower days.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I love to cook. It relaxes me when I am in need of a stress reliever.

Who inspires you? - Anyone who has overcome adversity in their life and not allowed it to control their outcome. Everyone has a story to write and failures to learn from.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “We cannot help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”

- Ronald Reagan If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Selfless.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - To read people’s minds.

Which talent would you most like to have? - I wish I could play the guitar.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Center Sphere supports local nonprofits, as one of our core values is giving back.

We currently have 52 nonprofits represented in The Network today.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - I read Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar every day.

What is your favorite movie? - Anchorman.

What is your favorite TV show? - The Office.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Taste of Thailand.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Zig Ziglar.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

- (402) 650-5380; info@centersphere.com; www.centersphere.com.

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Strictly Business AUGUST 2020

#PrintProudDigitalSmart

MONICA

Need An Electrician?

Monica Sempek

MONICA SEMPEK PHOTOGRAPHY Meet Monica Sempek, founder and owner of Monica Sempek Photography.

Tell us a little about your business. Monica Sempek Photography is located in a beautiful event space in Omaha that comfortably holds 40 people.

Since my niche is events, I created my office as an event space. Life is made up of events. Events can be as simple as needing a new “mug shot” for your business profile or as exquisite as a wedding with a guest list of five hundred people. My role is to capture the experience and the emotion. If you need images for a magazine, I create an experience that will showcase your business in a way that will draw the attention of future clients. If you are a nonprofit and need to tell your story, I will capture images that will capture the heart of your mission. If you are hosting an event or conference, I will capture images that will not only showcase the event, but the images will be used to draw in guests for your next event. If you are marrying the love of your life, I will capture all the love and emotions of your special day so that when your grandchildren look at those images they feel as they were there with you.

How did you get started in your business? - When I lost my sister over 10 years ago, I was so heartbroken that I decided to grow a memorial garden. I always say the flowers are so beautiful because of all the tears I watered them with when I dug it up it up by hand.

My husband gave me a camera that year, and I started taking images of my beautiful flowers. Soon, I was capturing the neighbor’s flowers, my family’s flowers, and then it was flowers all around Omaha. As most photographers, I was soon asked to start taking photos at family parties. It was then that I noticed it was the expression on people’s faces that I loved to capture most. I ended up encountering a professional in the marketing world, and I will never forget what he said to me: “You do have a gift; you see things through a different lens.” That’s what it took for me to start dreaming of my future as a photographer.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? COVID has changed the landscape for creatives. This is my third year in business, and it was lining up to be the biggest one yet as I’ve gotten my name out in the community. All of a sudden, the phone stopped ringing. It was a devastation so many can relate to. I had to dig deep to find the inner strength to move forward. Events, weddings, and meetings are now virtual so I have to learn how to adapt my business to the new normal. I am now working on turning my event space into a place where people can create this online content such as podcast and YouTube videos.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- I was recently recognized by the Greater Omaha Chamber for Excellence in Philanthropy. Winning an award for my heart of giving means the world to me, and confirms I started my business for the right reasons.

Tell us a little about your family - I married my high school sweetheart. We have four amazing sons, two soon-to-be daughterin-laws, and two adorable grandsons. I also have a mom who is my best friend. They all live in Omaha, and we have family dinner every Sunday. There is nothing more important to me than family.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “If you do God’s will, he pays the bill.” I remind myself of this every day. I built my business to give back. My goal is to use my lens to capture the story of nonprofits and allow my images to be their voice. If I continue this, my business will always succeed.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

- (402) 203-7908; info@monicasempekphotography.com; www. monicasempekphotography.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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th Annual 8Party in the

Garden

Benefitting Domesti-PUPS

Save the Date

Friday, September 11, 2020 | 5:30 - 9 pm Zutavern Residence, 9200 Holdrege St, Lincoln Tickets: $40 (Includes food and drinks). Tables of 6 or 8 available for purchase.

Inclement Weather Reschedule Date: Friday, September 18, 2020

Festivities Will Include: Silent & Live Auction • Complimentary Hors d’oeuvres & Cocktails Live Music • Build Your Own Fairy Garden • & Much More!

PRESENTED BY:

Domesti-PUPS is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Lincoln, NE providing therapy dogs, service dogs for persons with disabilities, and trained rescue dogs.

Domesti-PUPS mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with special needs through the assistance of animals, and to promote awareness through education.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Michelle O’Dea at michelle.ashley.odea@gmail.com or Paige Zutavern at (402) 466-3330 / office@strictlybusinessomaha.com

AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business

21

WE WORK. WE GROW. WE LIVE. WE CONTRIBUTE.

Thank you to these businesses who recently joined the Chamber and invested in the community 101 Mobility

Lee Hecht Harrison

ADT Security

MassMutual Central US - Rodney Jewell

Aksarben Roofing Anna Buys Houses

Maxwell.App

Arbonne

Mildred D Brown Study Center

Assisted Living Locators

Nebraskans Embracing LIfe

Azul Sports Bar

Neil Wattier Enterprises, LLC

Bennington Chamber of Commerce

On The Spot Productions

City of Bennington Clark Storage, LLC Coolgreens

Patriarch/Soldier Valley Distillery Pure Maintenance Nebraska Release Inc Ron’s Auto Service

DeWitt Marketing and Consulting

Sanitizing Solutions

DoMore Consulting Company Dripped & Draped Edge Publishing

Sapphire Grill SL Jensen Construction Sonburst Communications Square Donut

GapWallet Gina Sterns Realty with Nebraska Realty GrainBridge Heartland Payments Holly’s Healthy Holes Home Team Auto Inner Rail Food Hall

Stephanie Rader with Nebraska Realty Stories Coffee Company Techtonic TierPoint Todd Menard Construction

OUTLOOK NEBRASKA (531) 365-5055

OutlookBiz.co/Accessibility

Seven Affordable Steps for Website Accessibility Every day, inaccessible web and app design prevents people with disabilities from accessing digital information. A recent Nucleus Research study revealed that two-thirds of the Internet transactions initiated by people with vision impairments end in abandonment because the websites they visit aren’t accessible enough. If your website cannot be accessed by a person with a disability, you could miss out on potential customers and face legal risk.

Listed below are some simple and affordable steps to ensure the accessibility of your website.

1. Use alt text. - Hovering your mouse over an image on a website brings up words called alt text. A screen reader user identifies that image with alt text provided. Take alt text seriously and use it to succinctly describe the image.

2. Produce transcripts and subtitles. - Provide subtitles to videos, especially if you’re producing the majority of your own video content.

Making a video transcription available online also helps hearing impaired users.

3. Describe your links. - Describe an embedded link instead of telling the reader to “click here.” Underline your links or make sure that there is a color contrast between hyperlinked text and regular text.

Colorblind users can find a link immediately without having to hover over it with their cursors.

4. Use color control. - Utilizing smart color choices is valuable for all websites. Avoid pairing garish colors, and be wary of using yellow, blue, and green close to one another (this is especially difficult for colorblind users). Black text on a white background is the best general practice, because it’s readable for most audiences.

5. Get clickable. - Users with mobility problems can struggle clicking on small items within a tiny clickable range. Give the clickable item a wider range so the user can click on it within the item’s general area.

6. Keep your copy clean and simple. - This is helpful for any audience, but critical for seniors or thosewith learning disabilities. Break large amounts of text into smaller paragraphs. Use headers and straightforward language.

7. Include an accessibility guide. - Create an explanation of the accessibility features used on your site. This communicates that you are making efforts to be disabled friendly and have provided tools for easy navigation.

Outlook Business Solutions provides accessibility testing for organizations and companies. Skilled technicians test various aspects of your online/ digital platforms and provide suggestions you can implement to ensure your content meets with ADA and WCAG guidelines.

Learn more about why equal access to your website and mobile app is so important in the white paper you can download from our website.

Valeo Business Solutions

KCAV

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Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel

Yummy Crab

Laura Kinney Therapy, LLC

Is your website as ADA-compliant as your restrooms?

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OmahaChamber.org/Membership

402-346-5000 22

Strictly Business AUGUST 2020

Call today for a free initial evaluation of your website.

outlookbiz.co/accessibility 531.365.5055 #PrintProudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS Ambius Welcomes Jess Dooley to Staff of Plant Professionals Ambius announced the addition of Jess Dooley to their staff of plant professionals on June 25. Jess is a practicing yogi and a self-proclaimed, full-on plant nerd with passions for animals and reading. When asked what is favorite interior plant was, he said he couldn’t decide, but maybe either Schefflera arboricola (umbrella plant), Codiaeum variegatum (croton), or Dracaena trifasciata (snake plant)!

Ambius is an interior landscaping company serving the Omaha and Lincoln areas.

Their plant professionals can keep your plants looking happy and healthy, and their services include live and artificial indoor plant displays for businesses, complete office-plant services, ambient scenting, commercial holiday decorations, green wall design, installation and maintenance, and more. Given all of the research showing that the presence of plants has positive effects on human psychology, Ambius believes that bringing more plants into your home and business is a smart choice in the modern era. Learn more at ambius.com or by calling (402) 999-4825.

JDRF Nebraska-Southwest Iowa Chapter Welcomes New Board Members J D R F, t h e l e a d i n g g l o b a l organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) researc h, announces the appointment of new Nebraska-Southwest Iowa Chapter board members and says farewell to those retiring. Board members provide volunteer guidance to the chapter and the local T1D community, playing a vital role in executing fundraising, leadership and advocacy activities to benefit local families and the 1.6 million Americans who live with this autoimmune disease.

The new JDRF Nebraska-Southwest Iowa Board members include: Rod Doerr, Union Pacific; Brad Grabill, Sirius; Andrew Kluver, Technology Group Solutions; Nate Lindley, Union Bank & Trust; John Pryor, Diabetes Supply; Kaitlin Reece, Catalyst Public Affairs; and Jared Wills, Inspro.

“We are delighted to welcome our new Board members to the Nebraska-Southwest Iowa Chapter,” said Laci Naber, executive director. “We’re confident their skills will provide the strengths needed to help advance JDRF’s goals of improving the lives of families and individuals living with type 1 diabetes as we continue to accelerate cures.”

T1D can strike both children and adults at any age. About 40,000 people are diagnosed each year in the U.S. It comes on suddenly, causes dependence on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications such as kidney, nerve or eye disease. JDRF is committed to advancing lifechanging breakthroughs from development to the marketplace and into the hands of people with T1D. The Nebraska JDRF Chapters were formed in 1970 (Lincoln) and 1985 (Omaha) and have since merged to service the entire state of Nebraska and southwest Iowa. The Chapter has sustained an impressive track record in raising funds for T1D research, community outreach, public awareness, and advocacy. To learn more, visit www.jdrf.org/nebraska. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Strictly Business Welcomes Tegan Colton Strictly Business recently welcomed Tegan Colton to the team as a sales intern.

Tegan’s positive attitude and eagerness for learning makes her a perfect fit for the position. In addition to calling potential clients and setting up meetings, she will also take on writing assignments each month to gain experience within the editorial field as well.

Tegan is currently pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She is a passionate storyteller with a penchant for developing human connections.

Tegan has worked in a variety of different industries, and she discovered her love for marketing through the art of storytelling and visual design. Tegan is proud to be a part of the Strictly Business team and is thrilled to be learning from the experts in content marketing and sales.

Strictly Business has been a reliable news sources and effective advertising tool in Omaha for 13 years, publishing original content in print and online. To learn more, visit strictlybusinessomaha.com.

Tegan can be reach directly at tegan@strictlybusinessomaha.com or by calling the office at (402) 466-3330.

Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman, LLP Welcomes Attorneys Nelson and O’Neill Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman, LLP (AKC Law) recently welcomed David C. Nelson and Samuel R. O’Neill as attorneys at the firm.

Nelson is a member of the firm’s Business Services Group. He has been practicing law in Omaha for over 30 years and regularly counsels clients on business matters related to real estate, development, construction, commercial transactions, and manufacturing.

He has extensive experience in assisting clients with business formation, zoning, trademarks, copyrights, technology, loans, construction, warehousing and more. Nelson also has a wealth of knowledge in drafting, reviewing, revising, and negotiating complicated contracts.

David C. Nelson

O’Neill joined the Litigation Team at AKC Law. Before joining the firm, he practiced Estate Planning, Litigation, Family Law, and Criminal Law for a firm in York, NE. O’Neill has focused on litigation since graduating from law school. He has represented clients through trial and has successfully argued in front of the Nebraska Supreme Court. As a litigator at Samuel R. O’Neill AKC Law, his practice will include commercial, landlord tenant, personal injury, and general civil litigation in addition to medical malpractice and political subdivision defense. In his estate planning practice, O’Neill prides himself on providing trustworthy and reliable advice to clients and their families.

Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman LLP is a full-service business law firm in Omaha. Their expertise is long-term strategic counsel on business, estate, and litigation matters. The firm was founded in 1944 and has a long history of providing clients with prompt and skillful legal services. To learn more, visit akclaw.com or call (402) 392-1250.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Ash Banaszek Advances to Toastmasters International Speech Contest Semifinals

Jessica Frenzen Marks One Year with Clearwater Counseling

After presenting a video recording of her speech entitled “I Raise My Hand” for the Toastmasters Region 4 Quarterfinals contest, Ash Banaszek of District 24 was selected as one of two winners in region four and will advance to the International Speech Contest Semifinals. Ash is one of 28 Toastmasters from worldwide competing in the semifi nals, which will take place during the 2020 Toastmasters International Virtual Convention, August 24–29. Ash’s semifi nal will take place on Tuesday, August 25, at 1 p.m. CST. A video recording of her presentation will be shown virtually and judged against other international speeches in one of four semifinals, where a group of judges will choose two winners from each semifinal to advance to the World Championship of Public Speaking.

Jessica Frenzen has recently celebrated one year with Clearwater Counseling, P.C. In her role as a certified mental health therapist, Jessica works with clients to treat a variety of diagnoses. Through her methods, Jessica helps clients recognize their strongest and truest potential while identifying strategies that work best for them to break down any barriers that may be holding them back. Jessica obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Nebraska–Kearney and her master’s degree in social work, clinical concentration, from the University of Nebraska–Omaha. Jessica has clinical experience working with children with past trauma/behavior issues, as well as teens and adults diagnosed with chronic mental health and substance use disorders.

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Lincoln, Omaha, and surrounding areas are served by Toastmasters District 24, grouping 70 Toastmasters clubs and 1,100 members. Learn more by visiting www.d24tm.org or the Facebook page (@D24TM). Full Region Quarterfinals results and additional details about the 2020 Virtual Convention can be found on the Toastmasters International website at www.toastmasters.org/events/2020-international-convention.

Clearwater Counseling works with clients who are struggling with a variety of mental health diagnoses, including depression, relationship issues, grief/loss/trauma, addiction and recovery, codependency, anxiety and phobias, parenting problems, sexual abuse and incest, physical abuse and violence, as well as various others. To learn more about staff, services, or resources, visit clearwatercounselingpc.org. To schedule an appointment with Clearwater Counseling or for more information about mental health services, please call (308) 210-8487 or email info@ clearwatercounselingne.org.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Omaha Public Library Board of Trustees Elects New Officers, Welcomes New Member

Nikki Wulff of Assisted Living Locators Omaha Completes Dementia Care Training

During their June 18 board meeting, the Omaha Public Library (OPL) Board of Trustees elected a new slate of officers. Officers hold their position for one year beginning on July 1, 2020.

President – Mike Kennedy, attorney at Kennedy Law; vice president – Keegan Korf, smart cities coordinator at Omaha by Design; secretary/ treasurer – Jen Rae Wang, head of government and regulatory affairs at Cox Communications; and outgoing president – Carol Wang, executive director of the Metro Omaha Medical Society, served six years on the board. Her vacancy will be filled by newly appointed board member Kristin Williams, director of community initiatives at The Sherwood Foundation.

Additional OPL board members include: Michael Alley, principal at Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture; John R. Barrett, director of government affairs at Great Plains Communications; Keith Lutz, former superintendent of Millard Public Schools, retired; Adrian SuarezDelgado, Subway business franchisee; Jesse Sullivan, senior director of accounting policy at First National Bank of Omaha.

Omaha Public Library is governed by a nine-member board. Board members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by city council to serve a three-year term. In accordance with the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, OPL board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. at different library locations. Schedules, agendas, and minutes from these meetings can be found at omahalibrary.org.

Nikki Wulff, local owner of Assisted Living Locators in Omaha, recently completed the Dementia Care Certified® training, a national model for educating caregivers, administrators, case managers, social workers, nurses, support group leaders, educators, and senior professionals.

The CDC® (Certified in Dementia Care) designation represents Nikki’s dedication to the senior industry and senior health.

Rejuvenating Women Announces Tim and Sue Dunning Honorary Chairs Rejuvenating Women is pleased to announce Douglas County Sheriff Tim and his wife Sue Dunning as Honorary Chairs for the 6th annual Restored Wings, Beautifully Broken Gala, which will be held on September 10 at Embassy Suites – La Vista Conference Center (doors open at 5:30 p.m.). The keynote speaker is Cyntoia BrownLong, a human trafficking survivor, author, and advocate for criminal justice reform. Brandi (Petersen) Paul is lined up as the emcee for the evening.

Tim and Sue have been married for 49 years and have four children and eight grandchildren. Sue is retired from Millard Schools after teaching first grade at Montclair Elementary for 20 years. Tim has been the Douglas County Sheriff for the past 26 years and has been in law enforcement since 1971. His other involvements include: past president, Nebraska Sheriff’s Association; past president, Metro Chiefs Association; commissioner for the Commission on Accreditation Law Enforcement Agencies; past chair, Domestic Violence Coordinating Council; member of Governor’s Task Force on Human Trafficking; advisory board member of Attorney General’s Task Force on Human Trafficking; board member of Coalition on Human Trafficking; and a multitude of other Boards locally and nationally, past and present.

Rejuvenating Women provides hope and restoration for individuals of human trafficking and exploitation while empowering the individuals to lead healthy and independent lives. They are committed to developing long-lasting relationships with the girls and women who have been deeply traumatized by “loving her right where she is at in life.” To learn more or purchase a ticket/table to the gala, visit www.rejuvenatingwomen.com. For a limited time, there is a discount on tables of eight by using the code: RWFLASH2020. Further questions can be directed to CEO Julie Shrader at (402) 522-6811 / julie@ rejuvenatingwomen.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Nikki earned her bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Nebraska–Omaha. After a successful career in telecommunications and healthcare, she stepped into the role of an Assisted Living Locators franchise owner for all of Omaha to provide care and guidance to seniors and families in the community. She is going on three years with the company. Nikki’s passion for seniors comes from her own family experience and knowing that there is a huge need for a senior referral and placement service in Omaha.

Assisted Living Locators is a community-oriented service that frees you to focus on the best care options, information, and resources available to you in finding care for your loved one. Without cost or obligation, and with no contract to sign, you can depend on Nikki to make finding an ideal community as simple and fast as possible. To learn more, visit assistedlivinglocators.com/omaha or contact Nikki at (402) 926-9505 / nikkiw@assistedlivinglocators.com.

FAMILY, Inc. Appoints Mark Draper New Board President FAMILY, Inc. is honored to announce that Mark Draper, EdS, PRSE, is their new Board president. Mark is a semi-retired education consultant, who served as a teacher, consultant, and administrator in both general education and special education for more than 40 years. A native of Council Bluffs, IA, Mark’s career in education led him to positions in Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa.

An active community volunteer, Mark also is on the Board of Directors of the Concord Mediation Center and is an active member of Countryside Community Church, the Christian partner in the Tri Faith initiative in Omaha. Mark has supported FAMILY, Inc. from its beginning, as family support services were first offered under the umbrella of the local Area Education Agency in 1991. Since then, he served as interim executive director from 2017-2018 and has been a member of the Board of Directors for the last two years. Much like his commitment to ensuring quality education for all children, Mark’s dedication to FAMILY, Inc. has been unwavering. He is a tremendous asset to children, community, and the FAMILY organization.

FAMILY, Inc. provides public-health and family-support services to women, children, and families. Their primary goal is to assist parents in becoming their child’s first and most influential teacher through education, empowerment, and wellness. To learn how FAMILY, Inc. can help you build a strong foundation and healthy future, visit familyia.org or follow them on Facebook (@ familyincia) and Twitter (@FAMILYIowa).

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PERSONNEL NEWS Cobalt Credit Union Appoints Steve Johnson as Business Relationship Manager

Outlook Business Solutions Hires Greg Rogers as Accessibility Testing Manager

Cobalt Credit Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Johnson as business relationship manager. Johnson will be responsible for business development and will work with business owners, assisting them in utilizing a full array of business services including; depository solutions, payment and cash flow tools, online, mobile banking and lending solution tools.

Johnson brings several years of banking and business lending experience to the credit union.

He attended Oklahoma State University and has over 20 years’ experience working with small businesses. Steve understands the challenges business owners face and works to eliminate barriers to improve their bottom line.

As an avid outdoorsman, Steve supports several outdoor organizations that provide opportunities for veterans. He has two sons with his wife of 25 years, Amelia. In his spare time he enjoys hunting and spending time helping on his family’s cattle ranch.

Cobalt Credit Union is locally owned by its members and recognized for its community involvement. Motivated by member service rather than profit, Cobalt’s focus is on providing safety, soundness, and convenience to its members. Cobalt Credit Union is a financial partner for life, helping members with better banking, financial planning, home buying, investing, education, retirement planning, commercial banking services, and more.

Anyone can join based on Cobalt’s field of membership; they currently serve over 110,000 members and have branch locations throughout Nebraska and Iowa. For more information, visit www.cobaltcu.com.

Outlook Business Solutions recently announced the hiring of Greg Rogers as the company’s accessibility testing manager. Greg specializes in helping businesses make their websites and apps accessible to people with disabilities. He has worked for 12 years with organizations to create inclusive workplaces that are compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which serves the some 20 million working-age adults in America who identify as disabled.

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Greg earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baker University and is certified in a variety of screen-reading assistive technology applications, including NVDA 17.3, Jaws, and ZoomText 2019. He also has experience in product development to ensure compliance with federation regulations and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and earned Web Accessibility Specialist and Document Accessibility certificates from Deque University.

Outlook Business Solutions, a sister company to Outlook Nebraska, provides marketing and customer-care services to businesses while creating knowledge-based jobs for people with vision loss, who face an unemployment rate of 70%. The company’s goal is to have 50% of its billable hours fulfilled by visually impaired professionals with skills in customer service, graphic design, copywriting, and videography. For more information about working with Outlook Business Solutions to make your website ADA-compliant and accessible, visit outlookbusinesssolutions.com/accessibility-services or call (531) 365-5055.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Quinten White State Farm Insurance Expands Services to Kansas

Madonna Rehabilitation Adds Gromowsky, Promotes Hedderman and Heydon

Recently, Quinten White State Farm Insurance announced that their office will now be providinbg State Farm coverage in Kansas. It means a lot to Quinten to be able to service his hometown.

Quinten White Insurance Agency has experienced extensive growth since its inception and is happy to be able to continue that progress. Their office already provided fantastic State Farm Insurance to Nebraska and Iowa residents. Quinten White Insurance Agency prides themselves on developing strong relationships with their clients while making sure they know how every dollar helps their family. They take the time to get to know all their clients in order to provide the best individualized insurance plan possible.

Quinten White State Farm Insurance provides auto, home, property, renters, business, life, and health insurance as well as banking and annuities services. Their team is comprised of compassionate and hardworking people dedicated to protecting their clients and saving them money. To learn more, visit lifeomaha.com or contact State Farm Insurance Agent Quinten White at (402) 885-8569. You can also stop into the office located at 3205 N 90th St., STE 105.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals is proud to welcome Jeff Gromowsky as vice president and physician practice administrator; and announce the promotion of Michael Hedderman to vice president and chief financial officer and Robert Heydon to chief information officer.

True North Technologies Brings on Jen Potters as Chief Operations Officer True North Technologies, a Lincoln-based business launched by Renee Sobotka, recently brought Jen Potters onto the team as chief operations officer. Jen is ecstatic to return to her roots of strategic digital marketing for small- to medium-sized businesses.

Jen, a Nebraska native from North Platte and UNL alumni, has held several positions throughout her career in leadership, business-to-business sales, and project management. After graduating, Jen started her career by joining Enterprise Rent-A-Car in their manager trainee program. She quickly advanced and was promoted to an assistant manager and later branch manager of many locations throughout Lincoln. At Enterprise, Jen gained the skills necessary to grow her branches through marketing efforts to local body shops, dealerships, insurance agencies, and other corporate renters. After Enterprise, Jen worked for several years for two different marketing companies as an outside sales representative. She helped many businesses develop digital marketing strategies dedicated to advancing their business’s growth and customer base. In 2017, Jen began working as a sales representative for Infogressive, a cybersecurity company located in Lincoln. Her focus was to build and nurture the north west territory of over 13 states. In 2019, Jen advanced her career beyond sales by eagerly accepting a position as a project manager for Toast Inc. in Omaha. This career shift increased her knowledge and experience in internal workflows and the importance of operational organization and its impact on a company’s growth and customer experience.

True North Technologies makes technology simple with website and mobile app development, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), branding, and social media marketing. Learn more online at www. go-tnt.com or call (402) 420-5101. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Gromowsky brings extensive leadership experience, most recently at Lyman-Richey Corporation where he held positions as director of information technology, vice president of administration, and chief financial officer. He previously worked as a consulting manager for Arthur Andersen.

In his new role at Madonna, Gromowsky collaborates with the vice president of medical affairs/chief medical officer to ensure the delivery of quality physician services. Additionally, he is responsible for coordinating effective physician clinic operations, managing the hospital’s contracted services and assisting with development of institutional affiliations and other business opportunities.

Michael Hedderman

Hedderman joined Madonna in 2017 as administrator of finance. His 30-plus years of healthcare finance expertise includes leadership roles at Chicago Lakeshore Hospital, Michael Reese Hospital, and a lengthy career at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital serving as senior vice president and chief financial officer and chief operations officer. In his new role at Madonna, Hedderman directs the fiscal operations and serves as the chief financial spokesperson for the organization.

Robert Heydon

Jeff Gromowsky

In his 20th year at Madonna, Heydon oversees the leadership, organization and direction of the communication and information system, including Information Technology Services and Telecommunication Services teams and related operations for the Lincoln and Omaha Campuses. Heydon most recently served as director of Technical Services. Prior to Madonna, Heydon worked for 15 years at First Commerce Technologies in various roles, including vice president of Data Center.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, located at 17500 Burke St. in Omaha, offers world-class physical and medical rehabilitation and research, specializing in brain and spinal cord trauma, stroke and neurological conditions for adults and children. Learn more by calling (402) 401-3100 or visit www.madonna.org.

It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know and Who Knows You! At Strictly Business, we strive to recognize local businessmen and women for their significant awards, promotions, achievements, and/or efforts in partnership with other organizations and the Omaha community.

If you know of someone who meets these criteria and wish to include their news in our publication, please call (402) 466-3330 or submit your news via www.strictlybusinessomaha.com.

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NONPROFIT NEWS American Heart Association to Host Virtual 2020 Omaha Go Red for Women® Expo

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Sponsors CHAD, 21 Statewide Health Agencies

The American Heart Association’s annual Omaha Go Red for Women® Expo will be held virtually on Tuesday, September 29, this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme of the evening is “Watch Me Go Red” and will be emceed

by KMTV 3 News Now’s Jennifer Griswold.

Presented locally by Methodist Health System and Cynthia & Robert Milligan, the event’s Honorary Event Chair is Cynthia Milligan and Circle of Red Co-chairs, Karen Hawkins and Melissa Marvin.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) recently announced sponsorship of Combined Health Agencies Drive (CHAD) and its 21 member charities, which will allow the agencies to provide critical care and resources to families and individuals suffering from chronic health conditions. The sponsorship, of an undisclosed amount, came prior to the kickoff of CHAD’s 202021 fundraising year in July, and at a time when the families it serves are suffering disproportionate repercussions of COVID-19 and need more support than ever.

The Association is working diligently to provide reliable, sciencebased information for the approximately 120 million people in the United States who currently have one or more cardiovascular conditions and who already may be at higher risk for COVID-19 complications. For women, this is vital as nearly half (48%) of women in the United States age 20 and up have some form of cardiovascular disease. For those living with heart disease or having survived a stroke, preventing the virus is key.

Go Red for Women® is nationally sponsored by CVS Health and is designed to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for women in the United States, as well as generate funds for lifesaving cardiovascular research for women.

To register for American Heart Association’s Omaha Go Red for Women® Expo and to get more information, visit www.heart.org/ omahagored.com.

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During its annual campaign, CHAD works with employers across the state to connect individuals with health causes that are important to them. The BCBSNE sponsorship and funds raised through the campaign go to the member charities – toward vital programs and services, education and prevention programs, medical research and advocacy. In the 2019 calendar year, CHAD’s members referred more than 7,500 Nebraskans to professionals or resources, ensured 1,150 patients access to a specialized care center, and invested $567 million in medical research, along with their national affiliates.

Combined Health Agencies Drive is a local, donor-designation-driven organization that has been raising funds for Nebraska’s premier health charities since 1972. Since its inception, CHAD has raised nearly $60 million for charities supporting those in need. For details, visit www.chadnebraska.org or contact Michelle Grossman at (402) 614-8500 or mgrossman@chadnebraska.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS NAM Encourages Nonprofits and Job Seekers to Use Career Center

RISE Academy Looking for Donations to Fill Builder Bags for People Leaving Incarceration

With high unemployment rates the norm of late, the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) is highlighting the Career Center section of their website, which provides up-to-date job information and opportunities in the Midlands. NAM’s Career Center is an imperative tool to ease the burden of job hunting by connecting passionate candidates with current employers.

To assist people coming out of incarceration, RISE Academy provides “Builder Bags” and currently is seeking donations to fill more of them. Among other things, RISE is looking for donations of men’s razors, as well as towels, washcloths, body wash, laundry detergent, female hygiene products, and dryer sheets. The Builder Bags make a tremendous difference to those exiting the prison system and trying to re-enter society.

Access the Career Center by creating a free profile on NAM’s website, from which you can submit an opening, purchase a career post (free to NAM members), conduct nationwide searches, or simply view active job postings. NAM members can add as many job postings to the Career Center as they would like, and if you’re with a nonprofit that’s looking to add more team members, it’s a great place to find candidates who are passionate about nonprofit work.

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands is a state association that represents more than 650 nonprofit organizations in Nebraska and southwest Iowa. NAM strengthens the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofits to enrich the quality of community life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. Access the NAM Career Center at nonprofitam.org/networking or contact Hannah Young at (402) 557-5800 / hannah@nonprofitam.org.

CenterPointe Acquires Campus for Hope, Plans $7M Renovation and Expansion CenterPointe has acquired Campus for Hope and is undertaking a $7 million renovation and expansion of the facility to add additional capacity for clients in need of crisis response, treatment, rehabilitation, housing, and peersupport services to address mental health and addiction challenges.

Campus for Hope is an Omaha facility with co-occurring residential and short-term residential treatment programs for the greater Omaha metro area.

Formerly operated by Catholic Charities, Campus for Hope contracted with CenterPointe to lease some space in the facility for residential care for more than three years. Catholic Charities recently decided not to operate the facility due to expenses and difficulties managing government regulations, so CenterPointe secured low-income-housing tax credits from the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, plus other funding, to acquire and expand the entire facility. CenterPointe did not seek any philanthropic financial support to cover the cost, as financing solutions proved adequate to fund the entire project.

The estimated $7 million in renovations will include a new roof, windows, flooring, paint, heating and air-conditioning systems, and a new kitchen and dining area. Another area of the building that CenterPointe didn’t formerly lease will be converted into a new 20-bed residential treatment facility that services individuals with substance use and co-occurring health issues.

CenterPointe offers a broad continuum of care, with more than 35 programs in Omaha and Lincoln, including treatment, rehabilitation, housing, and crisis services for people experiencing mental-health and substance-use disorders. For more information, visit centerpointe.org or contact Kelsey Lang at (712) 578-9352 / klang@centerpointe.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The barriers to re-entry for many formerly incarcerated people are substantial. Among things that can make the transition difficult include everything from insufficient employment opportunities, to mentalhealth problems, addiction, repairing relationships, lack of housing options, culture shock and, most important, the stigma of having a criminal record. RISE works diligently to assure that basic needs are met so these people can rejoin their communities and achieve meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Donations are crucial to RISE Academy’s mission to prepare and train those reentering—via intensive character development, employment readiness, job creation through entrepreneurship, and case management. Learn more about RISE at seeusrise.org, or donate to their wish list on Amazon.

Open Door Mission Seeks Supplies for New Art Therapy Studio for Adults and Children Open Door Mission recently is building a new Art Therapy Studio for adults and children staying at the Mission and is seeking donations of supplies to stock it.

The goal of art therapy is to help children, adolescents, and adults explore their emotions, improve their self-esteem, relieve stress, improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, and cope with physical illness or disability. Techniques used in art therapy can include drawing, painting, coloring, sculpting, and collage. As guests create, they may analyze what they have made and how it makes them feel. Through exploring their art, people can look for themes and conflicts that might be affecting their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

To stock the new studio, Open Door Mission is seeking donations of various items, including easels for the floor and tables; acrylic paint, watercolor paint, bristle paint brushes, canvases, oil pastels, silk paint brushes, embroidery hoops, markers, colored pencils, stencils, Play Doh and Play Doh toys, clay, adult and children aprons and scissors, and so much more. See the full list by scrolling to the bottom of the page at opendoormission.org/urgent-needs/ art-therapy-studio/.

Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission that was founded in 1954 and is committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus in Omaha offers 917 safe, shelter beds to people experiencing homelessness, serves more than 4,750 nutritious meals to the hungry, and provides homeless preventive resources to more than 1,000 people living in poverty to empower them to remain in their own homes. To donate to the Mission or for more information, visit opendoormission.org or contact Kristen Dineen at (402) 829-1538 / kdineen@opendoormission.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Angels Among Us Announces Virtual Fundraising Gala with a Twist

Cross Training Seeks Vehicle Donations to Help Struggling Adults Get on a Career Path

As operations continue to be far from normal, Angels Among Us is taking its biggest annual fundraising gala online on October 1 and 2. Silent auction items will be made available for viewing the morning of October 1 with virtual cocktail party games beginning at 4 p.m. Online bidding for the silent auction will open on October 2, then supporters are encouraged to tune into a one-hour program at 7 p.m. which will feature videos of child cancer patients and families, a live auction, and comedy by local icon Kris Covi.

The gala benefits the many cancer families that Angels Among Us serves every year. Proceeds help families dealing with cancer cover mortgages, rent, utilities, medical bills, and other needs that must be met while they focus on their child’s treatment and healing.

Aflac has stepped forward as the Presenting Host Sponsor to help make this year’s virtual event a success, while also encouraging supporters to stay home and stay healthy in honor of the Angels Among Us families. Corporate sponsors are encouraged to host watch parties of up to 10 people. Dinner, wine, and other accommodations will be delivered between 5 and 6 p.m. to these corporate watch parties as a part of the gala.

Angels Among Us is a Nebraska nonprofit that provides financial and emotional support to families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. For the full gala schedule, go online to myangelsamongus. org or contact Aly Theilen at alyssa@myangelsamongus.org / (402) 934-0999.

The Cross Training Center (CTC) is seeking donations of junkers, clunkers, and classic cars—whether they’re in great condition or on their last leg— to help undereducated adults get the training and experience they need to get employed and on a career path.

All vehicles donated to the nonprofit Cross Training Center are used for training purposes only and can be invaluable in helping families improve their access to food, water, and basic needs. As students expand their skills and gain vocational experience, they also earn certifications that can help them hone in on a career.

CTC accepts any kind of vehicle, regardless of its condition or whether it’s running or not, including cars, trucks, buses, RV’s, campers, trailers, motorcycles, farm and yard tractors, small-engine units, quads, work trucks, and anything else. They will provide a free towing service to pick up donated vehicles when necessary, and donations are fully tax-deductible, based on the market value of the vehicle.

The Cross Training Center provides vocational training and job experience for those who are not able to attain a job due to challenging backgrounds and circumstances. CTC empowers and equips those who have been incarcerated or homeless, involved in gangs or substance abuse, have mental or emotional disorders, have been a victim of human trafficking or domestic violence, or live in poverty for numerous reasons. If you are interested in making a vehicle donation, volunteering, or learning more about the Cross Training Center, please call (402) 590-2100 or visit www.crosstc.com.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Assistance League® of Omaha Announces New Thrift Shop Location

Jennie Edmundson Foundation to Host 2020 Spirit of Courage Gala Virtually

Assistance League® of Omaha (ALO) has purchased and is remodeling a new building to use as offices, meeting space, and a new thrift shop at 8502 West Center Rd. Plans are to open in late summer and then donations will be welcomed. ALO invites shoppers to visit one of the best thrift shops in Omaha, which is designed to help to support their signature programs: Operation School Bell®, Assault Survivor Kits®, Operation Recovery, Operation Bear Hug, Operation Teen Parent, Operation Literacy, and ACT/PSAT Review Sessions.

Assistance League® of Omaha is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit service organization whose members identify, develop, implement, and fund ongoing philanthropic programs to serve specific needs of local children and adults in the Greater Omaha area. To learn more, call (402) 342-428 or visit alomaha.org. Follow the Facebook page (@ assistomaha) for updates to be posted about a grand opening date.

Jennie Edmundson Foundation is excited to announce that the 2020 Spirit of Courage Gala tradition will continue—this year in a virtual format. On August 1, the annual Spirit of Courage Golf Tournament will take place as planned at Dodge Riverside Golf Club in Council Bluffs. A virtual celebration will then be held on Thursday, August 13, starting at 7 p.m. on Zoom, during which the foundation will honor all 60 past Spirit of Courage recipients and showcase Jennie’s exceptional cancer services. Guests can also participate in the digitally presented auction by bidding on incredible items or making a donation. For the auction, visit www.qtego.net/qlink/mjehgala.

NAMI Omaha Announces Upcoming August Virtual Support Groups NAMI Omaha (namiomaha. org) has announced that their upcoming Family Support Groups, hosted on Zoom, will be held on Mondays, August 3 and 17, 6:30–8 p.m. (Meeting ID #828 2269 3204). Connections Meetings and will still be available utilizing Zoom on the following dates/times: • Mondays, 6:30–8 p.m. (Meeting ID #627 585 818) • Fridays, 2:30–4 p.m. (Meeting ID #932 125 259) Registration is required and closes 30 minutes before each meeting starts. To register, go to Zoom.com, click on “Join A Meeting,” and enter the appropriate Meeting ID. NAMI Omaha actively advocates at the local, state, and national levels to improve the services and the lives of those affected by mental illness and their families. For information on NAMI Omaha, go to namiomaha. org or call (402) 345-8101 / (877) 463-6264. For helpful articles on mental illness, follow on Facebook (@NAMIOmaha).

Annual OHB Golf Classic Tees Off September 2 The Omaha Home for Boys (OHB) annual Golf Classic, presented

by RBC Wealth Management, will tee off on Wednesday, September 2 at Tiburon Golf Club, 10302 S 168th St. Proceeds from this fun-filled day and fourperson team scramble tournament benefit the more than 1,300 youth, young adults, children, and families served by OHB every year. Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch and a shotgun start at 11:45 a.m. The day concludes at 6 p.m. after a dinner, raffle, brief program, and awards.

The Omaha Home for Boys equips youth, young adults, and families with the skills needed to become self-sufficient and productive members of the community. Find information about the OHB Golf Classic, including sponsorship opportunities, at OHB.org or by contacting Lori Bechtold at (402) 457-7014 / giving@ohb.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

As the foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, the Spirit of Courage Gala directly supports the financial needs of their most vulnerable cancer patients. While much in this world is changing, the need for cancer services has not.

The Jennie Edmundson Foundation is dedicated to being “A Constant in a World of Change” and the bridge that connects the community with those in need at the Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital. For questions or event registration, call (712) 396-6040 or visit jehfoundation.org and click on the Spirit of Courage link.

First Responders Foundation JAVELAN Program Graduates Service Dog and Recipient The First Responders Foundation recently graduated a service dog, Moose, and his new owner and retired firefighter, Mike, from their JAVELEAN program, which funds training dogs as service dogs and pairs them with first responders and veterans. The program is unique in that the Foundation employs rescue dogs whenever possible, and the recipient assists with training the dog, which reduces the cost and creates an instant and long-lasting bond between the two. The total cost to train a team is $3,000 and takes an average of three to six months to complete.

Mike and Moose were led through their training by Russ Dillon of Dillon’s Dog Training.

The mission of the First Responders Foundation is to serve and honor all first responders and their families, build appreciation and respect for their work, and enhance public safety. Other programming includes the First Responders Support Team (FRST), which supports the mental and emotional needs of first responders and their families, the First Responders Fitness Program, the Home Safety Program, providing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the Awards of Excellence honoring graduating seniors of first responders, and programs supporting Officers on 4 Legs, K9’s and Mounted Patrol. For more information or to make a donation to the JAVELAN program, visit firstrespondersomaha.org/javelin or email contact@firstresondersomaha.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Amplify Arts Increases Grant Opportunities in Light of COVID-19 Repercussions on Artists

Boys Town Gets Near-Perfect Accreditation Score from the Teaching Family Association

Amplify Arts recently increased its grant monies available to area artists after getting the results of a COVID-19 Continuing Impact Survey that reveals how severely the pandemic is affecting artists on a national level. Completed in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance, 6% of the responses were Nebraskan artists, and the results indicate that:

Boys Town’s Home Campus Family Home Program once again received its three-year accreditation from the TeachingFamily Association with excellent ratings, following a rigorous five-day review earlier in the year. The review included personal observations by a team of four experienced evaluators, as well as interviews with Boys Town Family-Teachers and youth-care workers, who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of the nonprofit’s residential kids. Accreditation covers nine technical areas, and Boys Town received perfect or near-perfect scores in eight of those categories, as well as receiving perfect scores in every Teaching-Family model element, including teaching, self-determination, relationships, family-sensitive approach, diversity, and professionalism.

With nearly 350 boys and girls living in 60 Family Homes, the Boys Town Home Campus Family Home Program is one of the largest residential care communities in the country. Boys Town adopted the Teaching-Family Model in 1974, transitioning from a dormitory-style care approach to one that provides therapeutic care for youth in a family-style setting. With more than 30 years of studies and results, the Teaching-Family Model is one of the strongest and most studied evidence-based programs available for treatment.

Boys Town believes that every child deserves a future, and to fulfill that dream provides compassionate, high-quality care to at-risk children, focusing on the love, support, and education they need to thrive. Learn more at boystown.org or on Facebook (@ BoysTownMission).

• Almost one in five (18.2%) of responding artists have lost 100% of their income • Almost half (45.5%) of the responding artists have lost more than half of their income • These income impacts are markedly worse for artists of color and for performing artists • Only 3% of artists reported no impact In response to the results, Amplify Arts has more than doubled its grants pool of funds, including its Micro Grant program, which awards up to $500 to local artists for supplies, software, research, professional development, or marketing and promotional materials.

Amplify Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes unity, innovation, and progress in the arts to build strong and vibrant communities.

Artists having financially difficult times are encouraged to apply for grants at amplifyarts.submittable.com/submit. If you have comments, questions, concerns, or suggestions on how to best support the arts and artist community, please contact Andy Saladino at (402) 9824397 / Andy@amplifyarts.org.

African Culture Connection Receives Program Grant from Nebraska Arts Council African Culture Connection (ACC) announced in June the receipt of a $13,290 grant from Nebraska Arts Council for the Girls Inc. and Nelson Mandela Elementary School Summer and Fall Residencies and ACC’s Student-Focused Authentic Cultural Experiences with African Culture Connection (ACC).

“We are extremely grateful for the funding from Nebraska Arts Council,” said Charles Ahovissi, executive/artistic director of African Culture Connection. “This funding will support an ongoing partnership with Nelson Mandela Elementary through a summer and fall residency integrating authentic African drumming, dancing, and art into kindergarten through third grade classroom curriculum.”

The $13,290 awarded by the Nebraska Arts Council, through an Arts Project Grant, will support African Culture Connection’s during-school and summer residencies. ACC’s artists—Charles Ahovissi, Sondra McSwain, LaTryce Anderson, Felicia Webster, Deirdre McKinley, Audre Ahovissi, and Kimberly McGreevy—will work with 19 classrooms in eight schools in addition to implementing ACC’s after-school and summer programs at seven sites. The ACC sessions will enable students to build skills in traditional African dancing, drumming, and crafts while building self-esteem, cultural awareness, and an appreciation for diversity.

African Culture Connection is an organization of professional teaching and performing artists using authentic African dance, music, visual arts, and storytelling to encourage students to learn more about the positive contributions African cultures have made to society. Learn more online at www.africancultureconnection.org or follow on social media (@ACCNebraska).

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Goodwill Rounds Up $10K from Retail Customers for Food Bank for the Heartland Goodwill Industries, Inc. in Omaha initiated a “Round it Up for Food Bank for the Heartland” campaign when it reopened on May 15, which resulted in donations of about $10,000 from retail customers who voluntarily rounded up their purchases at the register to benefit the Food Bank for the Heartland. The campaign grew from the desire of Goodwill employees to give back to the community through the Food Bank, which served nearly 4 million meals during COVID-forced closures between March 15 and May 15 alone—well beyond the average 2.8 million meals in a typical two-month period.

Many customers not only rounded up their purchase totals to the next dollar, but they also donated additional money to the cause, according to Janelle Ellis, director of retail operations at Goodwill Omaha. Food Bank for the Heartland, a member of Feeding America, is a nonprofit in Omaha that acts as a central clearinghouse, distributing food to nearly 600 network partners across 77 counties in Nebraska and 16 counties in western Iowa.

Goodwill Industries, Inc. serves eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa by providing a place to donate used clothing and household items, or find great bargain. But the true mission of the nonprofit is the heart of the organization—to provide job training and placement services to people with disabilities and other disadvantages. For more information about Goodwill programs and their 18 locations in the region, visit goodwillomaha.org or follow them on Facebook, Twitter (@goodwillomaha), and YouTube (@goodwillomahatv). #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NONPROFIT NEWS MENTOR Nebraska Hosts Black Youth Town Hall to Process and Discuss Racial Tensions

Parkinson’s Nebraska Issues Walk the State Challenge August 31-September 12

To support young people through recent racial tensions and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, MENTOR Nebraska hosted a youthled Black Youth Town Hall on June 30. The presenting panel included Marqis Nunn (19), Londell Avant (17), Michaela Atkins (19), and Josie Kantaras (19), all of whom are extremely involved in the Omaha community and have a passion for achieving equality. The panelists discussed their experiences growing up as black youth in Omaha, what the BLM movement means to them, why it’s important for non-black people to understand what BLM really means, and a variety of other topics. The discussion is available for viewing at mentornebraska.org/townhall.

MENTOR Nebraska was launched in 1999 to improve the number and quality of mentoring programs available for Nebraska’s youth. They have been a frontrunner in the mentoring movement, providing no-cost training and consultation to more than 150 mentoring programs throughout Nebraska. MENTOR Nebraska also advocates for mentoring programs on local, state, and national platforms. Learn more about becoming a mentor at mentornebraska.org or by calling (402) 715-4164.

Parkinson’s Nebraska encourages the community to join in their virtual two-week 2020 Walk the State Challenge, August 31-September 12. During this period, participating teams work collectively to exercise, bike, walk, and run a combined total of 455 miles (the distance from Scottsbluff to Omaha). There is no cost to participate; however, teams are encouraged to raise money from friends, family, and coworkers to support the mission of Parkinson’s Nebraska. All funds will stay in Nebraska and be used to increase rural outreach efforts. Teams that raise $455 or more will receive a t-shirt for each member, and teams that raise $500 will be entered into a raffle and receive additional entries for every $250 more that they raise. The challenge will culminate with a virtual celebration on September 13.

United Way of the Midlands Awards $75K to the Stephen Center The Stephen Center was recently awarded a $75,000 grant from United Way of the Midlands. In response to COVID-19, the United Way modified its 2020 community investment process to address immediate needs. They made an initial investment in funded programs on July 1, but a portion of the funds will be withheld for laterin-the-year disbursement. This will allow United Way and its partners to address mid- and long-term needs as they arise. With homelessness on the rise, Stephen Center’s mission was flagged among organizations providing basic needs programs and other essential community activities important in stabilizing individuals and families.

Stephen Center provides emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing to an average of 185 people daily. These individuals often need help to navigate their way to housing stability.

Stephen Center case managers assist clients to set goals, plan, and execute steps to achieve success. With the help of this grant, Stephen Center clients will have the support to increase housing stability, increase treatment completion rates, increase measurable income, and increase goal achievement toward self-sufficiency and stabilization.

In 2019, case-management support helped 86% of individuals who exited Stephen Center’s emergency shelter or Permanent Supportive Housing programs move to positive housing destinations.

United Way of the Midlands focuses the efforts of many to help their neighbors stand strong—by addressing basic needs and fostering success in the classroom and the workplace. Located in South Omaha, Stephen Center partners with the community, families, and individuals to help overcome homelessness, addiction, and poverty.

The sober campus includes a homeless emergency shelter, inpatient/ outpatient co-occurring treatment, and permanent supportive housing for disabled and low-income individuals. For more information, visit www.stephencenter.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The purpose of Walk the State Challenge is not only to raise money for the Nebraska Parkinson’s community but also to raise awareness about the enormous benefits of exercise for people with Parkinson’s. Learn more at walkthestatene.causevox.com. Please contact Parkinson’s Nebraska if you have any questions about the challenge, forming a team, creating a fundraising page or any other inquiries by emailing amber@parkinsonsnebraska.org or calling (402) 715-4707.

YMCA of Greater Omaha Reopens Activities The YMCA of Greater Omaha reopened the doors at all Omaha branches on July 13, following months of closure due to COVID-19. As with any business, reopening looks a little different than pre-pandemic operations, so it’s important to learn what to expect before you go. With the safety of everyone in mind, the Y posted guidelines that will be in place when you return.

For starters, facilities are operating below full occupancy at all times and on a first-come, first-served basis. Members will scan in AND out. Youth ages 10 and older are allowed on the wellness floors, as long as they have completed fitness training. Childwatch and youth, teen, and family rooms are open. Registration for August 16 – September 26 swim lessons opens August 3 for members and August 7 for non-members. Lessons will be 30 minutes in length to allow for time to clean and disinfect before the next class. Group exercising, including aqua classes, has restarted, and pools are open for lap swimming, water walking, and open family swim (except for Twin Rivers YMCA and Kirn Pool, which are undergoing repairs), but be sure to bring your own towels. Cardio and weight equipment also are available, with markings for proper social-distancing in place.

The YMCA of Greater Omaha is dedicated to building healthy, confident, and connected communities through recreation and personal growth while fostering environments that encourage youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. With 10 branch locations, the YMCA provides easy access to youth and adult sports, aquatics, wellness centers, early learning and healthy living centers, group fitness classes, and so much more. For more information about the YMCA of Greater Omaha, visit metroymca. org or call (402) 341-1600.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands Returns to In-Person Meetings

Child Saving Institute Seeks Foster Parents for Children in Need

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands announced in July that Bigs and Littles have started meeting in-person again. After months of seeing each other only on computer screens, matches were thrilled to start coming face-to-face again.

In fact, Big Sister Michaela and Little Sister Madeline were the organization’s first virtual match back in April, and in July, became one of the first virtual matches to meet in person.

Child Saving Institute is in need of more foster parents for children in need of loving, nurturing role models.

These youths need safe, secure homes to shelter them from the trauma and pain they have had in their young lives. If you’re willing to become that safe haven and change a vulnerable child’s life, the Child Saving Institute wants to hear from you.

Because Big Brothers Big Sisters has the health and safety of all those involved in the program at heart, they require approval from Littles’ parents before an in-person meeting or outing can take place. Although the rain and mask-muffled conversation made for a bit of a challenge for Michaela and Madeline, they laughed the entire time they were together. More Bigs are always needed to get in on the laughter with our youth, though.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands strives for all youth in the program to reach their full potential. A Big Brother, Big Sister, or Big Couple provides youth with a sense of safety and security, emotional support, and social skill promotion. Bigs and Littles are matched based on common interests so they can have the benefit of doing activities together that they both enjoy. With a Big by their side, more Littles are discovering who they are and what they can achieve in life. Learn more and consider becoming a Big for a Little who could use a mentor and friend by visiting bbbsomaha.org.

Child Saving Institute offers one-on-one ongoing support for foster parents, including home visits for a foster-care specialist, ongoing educational opportunities and connections with experienced foster parents, and a team of people working together with you to ensure success and healthy relationships. Perhaps most important, you get access to an experienced, caring staff that is available to answer your phone calls any time of the day or night.

To be a Child Saving Institute foster parent, you must: be at least 21 years old and a resident of Douglas or Sarpy counties; be able to satisfy additional licensing requirements established by the State of Nebraska; participate in an 11-week foster-parent training class; provide a safe, secure, and nurturing environment; agree to be the primary provider for the foster children in your care, providing housing, transportation; serve as a member of the child’s treatment team; assist the child in setting and accomplishing goals; participate in home visits; and keep notes and records documenting the child’s care and progress. To learn more, visit childsaving.org. For more information or to get started on the road to becoming a foster parent, contact Joan at (402) 504-3649 or dcooper@childsaving.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Heartland Hope Mission Presents Escape Hunger Fundraiser via Facebook Live

HETRA Offers Two Free Monthly Programs for Veterans, Active Military, and Families

Heartland Hope Mission will be hosting their fundraiser, Escape Hunger, via Facebook Live (@HeartlandHopeMission) on Thursday, October 1, at 7 p.m. The night will begin with tours of the food pantry and a virtual silent auction. After that, there will be a live, interactive event, where participants will have to escape hunger from the comfort of their own home. The night will be full of bizarre twists, intriguing turns, and extraordinary mysteries revealed!

Sponsorship opportunities for Escape Hunger are still available.

Heartland Hope Mission has seen a dramatic increase in families needing food and basic necessities to survive due to the effects of the pandemic.

They need our community’s support to ensure they can continue providing for their neighbors in need for the remainder of the year.

Heartland Hope Mission operates one of the largest food pantries in the state, but they pride themselves on being more than a pantry. They also offer clothing, diapers, job resources, and community referrals to help families work toward self-sufficiency. You can find more information about the organization and sponsorship opportunities for the Escape Hunger event at heartlandhopemission.org.

The Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA) now is offering veterans’ wellness coaching and new monthly equine-experience events for veterans, active military, spouses, significant others, caregivers, and other immediate family members. The equine-experience events are designed to engage participants’ senses, teach communication techniques, and discover how equine partners can assist with reintegration. HETRA offers beginner, advanced, and family events. Veteran wellness coaching is aimed specifically at veterans and their spouses, with HETRA Mental Health Therapist and Veteran Kelli Hatzenbuehler working with participants on personal and relationship development, as well as creating a healthy work-life balance.

Youth Emergency Services Cancels 2020 Dance for a Chance Due to COVID-19 Even though Youth Emergency Services (YES) tried its best to keep the 2020 Dance for a Chance: The Roaring Twenty-Twenties fundraising event happening this year—even postponing it from August to October—the organization has decided to cancel the event due to COVID-19 and the ongoing need for social distancing.

“We want to thank everyone who had agreed to dance and instruct for us this year—we hope you’ll be back next year—as well as our presenting sponsor Lindsay Corporation for supporting this amazing event,” said YES Director of Development Barb Farho. “We are so grateful to everyone who supports us every day, but without our biggest fundraising event this year, we are looking for other ways to connect with our partners and sponsors moving forward to meet the financial needs of supporting our youth.”

The decision ultimately came down to the need to be responsible to the dancers and instructors, who wouldn’t be able to properly social distance during practice and performance, as well as the inability to host an event the size of Dance, which welcomes upwards of 500 people each year, during the pandemic.

YES has already secured August 5, 2021, at the Omaha Design Center for next year’s DFAC. Please mark your calendars and watch for more information in the coming year. If you or your company was a past sponsor of Dance for a Chance and you’d still like to make a donation, please contact Barb at bfarho@yesomaha.org.

Youth Emergency Services is the only nonprofit in Omaha with the sole mission to help youth experiencing homelessness and near-homelessness in the community. Last year, YES provided support and services to more than 3,000 youth—a record number—in the Omaha metro area. Many of these youth have been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused, making it unsafe for them to return home. YES offers a full continuum of care to ensure all youth receive the support they need, no matter their situation. This includes a Street Outreach Center, Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Program, Maternity Home, and Rapid Rehousing. To learn more, visit www.yesomaha.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy comprises a team of dedicated instructors, occupational, physical, and mental-health therapists, a band of dedicated volunteers, and 22 wonderful therapy horses. They work to improve the lives of children and adults living with disabilities, as well as veterans and their families. Registration for HETRA services is required at hetra.org. Learn more by contacting them at (402) 359-8830 or hetra@hetra.org.

Stahla Rentals Supports Party in the Garden Fundraiser Third Year Running This is the third year that Stahla Rentals (formally Stahla Services) has committed to being a crucial supporter of the Party in the Garden fundraiser by donating one of their luxury restroom trailers. Party in the Garden is organized and hosted by Strictly Annual Business to raise money for DomestiPUPS, a local nonprofit that provides therapy dogs and service dogs for persons with disabilities and trains rescue dogs. This year’s event will be on Friday, September 11, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Zutavern residence, 9200 Holdrege St. in Lincoln.

Attendees will enjoy free food and drinks, a live and silent auction, the chance to do some gardening fun with Earl May, and live music, all in a beautiful outdoor setting—which makes the restroom trailer donated by Stahla Rentals so helpful to the success of the evening.

Additional sponsors include the Vodka Sponsor: Professional Realty Group of Woods Bros Realty led by Ben Bleicher; and the Beer Sponsor: Kinkaider Brewing Co.

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Stahla Rentals was founded in Lincoln by Grant Stahla, and the company is grounded in Midwest values. Whether it be for a fundraiser, wedding, business event, construction site, etc., Stahla Rentals has top-of-the-line restroom and shower trailers. The trailers have features like a climate-controlled interior and Bluetooth sound system. From the center of the city to the middle of a field, their trailers allow you to offer best-in-class accommodations, regardless of your location. To learn more, visit stahlaservices.com.

To learn more about the Party in the Garden fundraiser, please contact (402) 466-3330 / editor@strictlybusinessomaha.com.

Individual tickets and tables of 6, 8, and 10 are now available through the Facebook event page and on the website at www. domesti-pups.org/2020-party-in-the-garden.

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HEALTH NEWS

Keep your body running at PEAK performance with our MEDICAL GYM MEMBERSHIP

Hillcrest Health Services Honored for Innovation by Greater Omaha Chamber Hillcrest Health Services recently was honored with an Innovation Award during the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards. Each year, the Chamber selects award winners from nominations gathered in the community.

The awards are a way of celebrating the organizations whose contributions elevate our community and make it a better place for everyone to do business, work, and live.

The award recognized Hillcrest for a number of innovations: Hillcrest Country Estates Cottages being the first and only freestanding nursing households in Omaha; integration of the Montessori method into dementia care; establishment of an intergenerational school at Hillcrest Silver Ridge; and partnering with Creighton University for a for a geriatric residency program.

Hillcrest Health Services offers the widest array of senior health care and housing services in the region, including independent and assisted living, memory support, post-acute rehabilitation, long-term care, adult day services, outpatient therapy, home health, hospice and in-home personal care. For more information about Hillcrest’s services, visit hillcresthealth.com or follow them on Facebook (@Hillcrest Health Services).

Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance Addresses Importance of Keeping Homes Pest Free

Includes: Supervised Medical Office Visits Hormone Replacement Therapy Peptide Therapy IV Therapy Emsculpt Weight Loss

Through their commitment to make homes safe and healthy, the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance recently addressed the importance of keeping homes pest free and shared a couple tips on doing so.

Having pests in the home has an adverse impact on the health of the family. Not only do pests carry disease, but they are a symptom trigger for anyone with asthma or allergies. All pests seek food, water, and shelter. By eliminating their access to these things, you can eliminate pests from your home. Even if you do not have pests in your home, it is important that you follow these preventive steps to keep your home pest free.

To keep your home pest free: • Seal cracks and openings throughout the home to take away potential places for pests to hide once within the home • Keep food stored in airtight containers • Avoid using cardboard containers to store clothing and other items as cardboard serves as a food source for many pests If you have pests in your home: • Use tricky-traps and baits in closed containers • Avoid using toxic pesticides or chemicals as these could have negative impacts on the health of family members, particularly those with asthma or allergies

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If you are concerned about pests in your home, the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance invites you to sign up for their waitlist to have one of their staff perform a Healthy Home Assessment using their eight principles to evaluate the health of your home. More information can be found at omahahealthykids.org or by calling (402) 934-9700. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

HEALTH NEWS Years of Work Come to Fruition with Completion of New $86M Veterans Hospital

Nebraska Hospital Association Presents 2020 Quest for Excellence Award

Years of work finally came to fruition on July 23, when private fundraisers delivered the keys to Omaha’s new veteran’s outpatient care and health clinic to Veterans Affairs (VA). The new state-of-the-art building will serve 150,000 veterans in Nebraska and western Iowa. Private philanthropy, working through local donor group Heritage Services, raised private money and $56 million from the VA and managed construction of the project in the first-of-its-kind public-private partnership.

Architect John Andrews of Leo A Daly designed the $86 million Veterans Affairs Medical Center to offer improved patient experience for veterans. It’s unlike any other VA campus, drawing on patriotic symbolism to honor veterans, according to the architectural firm: • Freedom and Sacrifice: A folded glass curtain wall covers the main façade, expressing the form of an American flag rippling in the wind.

• Honor: The breathtaking western façade is lined with glass panes of different hues that evoke the ribbon bars awarded to service members.

• Duty: A limestone wall separates public spaces from secure clinical areas. The wall’s physical strength represents security.

Limestones sedimentary composition references foreign soil tracked home, with layers representing periods of conflict and peace through which veterans have served.

The three-level building includes seven primary-care units, an outpatient surgery suite, a women’s health clinic, and a specialty medicine unit allowing 400 additional outpatients to visit the medical center each day. Everything about this project “is a love letter to America’s veterans,” Andrews said. Learn more at leoadaly.com/va-outpatient-omaha.

The Nebraska Hospital Association, in partnership with Nebraska Health & Human Services, Nebraska QIO, and the Nebraska Association for Healthcare Quality, Risk, and Safety are pleased to once again offer the Nebraska Hospital Quality Improvement 2020 Quest for Excellence award. The Quest for Excellence award was developed by the Rural Quality Improvement Steering Committee. Members of this committee include representatives of Nebraska’s critical access hospitals (CAHs); network hospitals; Nebraska Health & Human Services; the Nebraska Association for Healthcare Quality, Risk, and Safety; the Nebraska Rural Health Association; and the Nebraska Hospital Association. The purpose of the award is to recognize Nebraska hospitals for their efforts to improve quality and patient care. Applications for the award close on August 5.

One winner will be selected from the entries submitted by CAHs, and one winner will be selected from the entries submitted by non-CAHs. An award of $1,000 will be given to each of the two winners. Each project submitted will be included in a poster presentation at the NHA’s Annual Convention in October 2020 and will be posted to the NHA’s website.

If you have any questions about the Nebraska Hospital Association or 2020 Quest for Excellence award, please contact Margaret Woeppel, MSN, RN, CPHQ, vice president, quality & data at mwoeppel@nebraskahospitals.org / (402) 742-8145 or visit www. nebraskahospitals.org.

Free Nebraska Medicine to Open Adult Psychiatric Emergency Center This Fall Nebraska Medicine has announced plans to open a long-envisioned psychiatric emergency center for adults this fall in renovated space on the ground floor of Clarkson Tower, which is near 42nd Street and Dewey Avenue. The center will provide Omaha-area residents experiencing psychiatric or substance abuse issues a new emergency center geared to their needs. Traditional emergency rooms don’t always have such providers on staff, particularly overnight, which means patients may wait to start treatment. Not only is the unit expected to relieve pressure on the emergency room, it’s also anticipated that it will help keep some patients out of inpatient psychiatric beds in the community, for which there can be substantial wait times.

Currently, one in eight visits to an emergency room in the United States involves a patient with a psychiatric or substance abuse problem.

Nebraska Medicine alone has seen a nearly 80% increase in people with a psychiatric crisis in its ER from 2015 to 2019, with more than 3,000 such visits just last year. Once in an ER, such patients may wait hours or even days for transfer to inpatient psychiatric facilities. With the addition of the emergency center, officials are hoping to discharge up to 80% of patients, cutting those requiring inpatient care to as low as 20%.

The unit will feature four interview and triage rooms where patients can be assessed as well as an open observation area with capacity for 12 moderate-risk patients. Those could include patients with suicidal thoughts or manic symptoms from bipolar disorder. In addition, the unit will include a secure-care area with six private rooms where providers can stabilize patients at high risk of harming themselves or others or who are too agitated to be around other patients while they await transfer to an appropriate facility.

Nebraska Medicine, which does not have its own inpatient psychiatric beds, is working closely with CHI Health, which operates Immanuel, and other providers in the community to make sure it can efficiently admit patients who need inpatient care. Learn more at www.unmc.edu. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Medicaid Expands Adult Health Benefits for Low-Income Nebraskans The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) began accepting applications on August 1 for Heritage Health Adult, with benefits beginning October 1, 2020. Heritage Health Adult expands Medicaid to low-income Nebraskans ages 19 to 64 who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level. For 2020, this is an income of about $17,000 per year for a single adult or $36,000 for a household of four.

Medicaid expansion enrollees will receive benefits that include physical health, behavioral health, and pharmacy coverage in a comprehensive, coordinated program. Benefits are provided through managed care health organizations, also known as Heritage Health Plans. Applicants meeting certain conditions will also qualify for dental, vision, and over-the-counter medication coverage.

Eligible Nebraskans are able to apply for Medicaid in the following ways: • Online at www.ACCESSNebraska.ne.gov • Over the phone by calling ACCESS Nebraska at: • Omaha - (402) 595-1178 • Lincoln - (402) 473-7000 • Toll Free - (855) 632-7633 • TDD - (402) 471-7256 • By paper application (which may be downloaded from AccessNebraska.gov): • By fax at (402) 742-2351 • By email at DHHS.ANDICenter@nebraska.gov • By mail at P.O. Box 2992, Omaha, NE 68103-2992 • In person at any DHHS office Additional information regarding Medicaid expansion is available on the DHHS website at dhhs.ne.gov/medicaidexpansion.

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Professional Pumping, Hydro-Jetting, and Septic Tank Services in Omaha Midland Pumping Service, Inc. has been happily cleaning Omaha’s commercial pipes, drains, grease traps, and septic tanks for over 25 years. They’ve founded their business on forming a solid reputation with their clientele and offering quick and professional services every time. Despite being a small, locally and family-owned business, Midland Pumping has become the chosen company for many Omahans who’ve found they prefer that personal touch that’s often just not available with larger companies. Midland Pumping Service makes sure each of their customers are given their highest priority!

Many people need their sewer lines unclogged, their septic tanks pumped, or their grease traps cleaned on an emergency basis and they’re unsure who to call or trust. When a backup happens unexpectedly, it’s not just frustrating, it’s messy and overwhelming and can cause damage to your home or business if not treated right away. Oftentimes, a person is left wondering who they can call who won’t overcharge, will do a good job, and will show up right away. Midland Pumping’s 24-hour service eliminates those worries and turns a potentially expensive problem into an affordable and hassle-free solution.

“My company started using Midland Pumping Service when we purchased a commercial property that had an issue with the floor drain sump system. They took care of it in a timely manner, got the job done right the first time, and for a reasonable price. They currently take care of both my buildings as regular/ preventative maintenance. I have also referred this company to some friends in the restaurant business, all with positive feedback as well. If you are in need of their services, look no more because you have found the right company.” - Joshua R.

“Needed my restaurant grease trap pumped in an emergency.

My normal company wouldn’t come out. Midland Pumping was there within an hour and it was all taken care of. Switched to them permanently. Thanks guys!” - Charlie P.

Emergency services aren’t all Midland Pumping offers. They also offer preventive care so that those unwanted mishaps don’t sputter up unexpectedly.

In order to keep your home’s septic tank flowing properly, Midland Pumping suggests that you call a professional to get it pumped every three to five years. Additionally, grease traps should be pumped monthly to quarterly.

According to office manager Aimee Hoffman, septic tanks and grease traps that are neglected year after year will eventually become very difficult to clean and the buildup of solids could cause irreversible damage to the entire system. The regular maintenance that Midland Pumping offers will keep your home and restaurant plumbing healthy for years to come.

Midland Pumping doesn’t stop there. They will also hydro-jet clean any size of sewer line, remove clogs and blockages, clean car wash pits, lift stations, swimming pools, shop pits, and storm drains. If you have a question about a certain service they offer, don’t hesitate to call and ask the team!

(402) 332-5575 | midlandpumpingservice@gmail.com www.midlandpumpingservice.com 38

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Buying & Selling a Business Call in the Professionals to Get the Job Done Right Maybe you’ve contemplated buying a business because you have a dream to run your own company or a talent you want to showcase.

Or maybe you’ve been running your own business and are ready to get out or retire and you’re looking to sell. Either way, buying or selling a business is no small feat. If you think you can handle it on your own, you might want to think again. It’s a life-changing transaction, and you need some experts on your side to help determine true value and potential for the business. The last thing you want to do is end up buying a business based on numbers from the seller that were plumped up or deficiencies that were not disclosed. It’s not a handshake kind of deal. If your business isn’t doing well and you’re thinking of closing your doors, don’t just take the loss, either. Work with someone to sell it. After all, something is better than walking away and getting nothing.

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Reluctance has been demonstrated by many buyers lately, given the uncertainties of COVID, but now is actually a great time to buy or sell a business. We asked a professional business advisor for some insights.

“Now is a great time to buy a business,” said John Fullerton, real-estate and business broker for Transworld Business Advisors and Keller Williams. “It is really a strong buyer’s market right now.”

It’s also a good time to sell.

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“Lots of people have been laid off or visit successomaha.com. downsized, and have money to buy,” Fullerton said. “Also, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering special deals Success Omaha 4x6 card D2.1.indd 1 on loans; buyers can even get their first six SBA loan payments paid in full by the SBA!”

Transworld Business Advisors has more than 600 business brokers at 230 independently owned and operated local offices worldwide, including Omaha. As the world’s biggest business brokerage, Transworld has built world-class systems for selling businesses. Through Transworld’s multiple-listing service, the company’s business listings appear on more than 100 websites and their brokers undergo rigorous training using a 12-step system for selling businesses.

Transworld’s parent company, United Franchise Group, is a tremendous partner that provides resources that no other business brokerage can access. What’s more, Transworld brokers are continuously adding to their education. Fullerton says he is also looking for people who want to make good money as brokers.

“Our brokers have great resumes and talents that are truly exceptional and are the best-trained in the industry,” Fullerton #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Email info@successomaha.com to sign up today.

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AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business

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continued. “We participate in classroom training, online training, online discussions, and monthly webinars, and we hold an annual expo and other continuing-education events.

Fullerton recommends business owners start planning to sell about three years beforehand.

“If you want to sell your business, please schedule a free consultation with me as soon as possible at (402) 213-9945 so you can begin grooming your company to sell for top dollar,” Fullerton said. “We do business valuations for free for any business that lists with us, and we also do formal valuations for a fee—something you should do at least every five years for insurance purposes.”

Here to Serve Our Community As a community bank, we pride ourselves on being there when our customers need us.

Open a new personal or business checking or savings account online at our web site, westgate.bank. Access your accounts from anywhere or any time with our free Mobile Banking app or Online Banking. You can even sm apply for a mortgage with our Mobile Mortgage app, available at mobilemortgage.westgate.bank.

Purchasing Power If you’re looking to purchase a business, one of the most crucial steps in the process is getting pre-approved with the right financing option, and there are several from which to choose. West Gate Bank Vice President of Commercial Lending Rob Glorvick said some of those options are traditional bank debt, Small Business Administration financing, and carryback financing from the seller.

“The best plan is to sit down with your trusted banker, accountant, and attorney figure out Rob Glorvick what option is the best for you, as each case West Gate Bank is different,” Rob said. “Traditional bank financing tends to be the easiest transaction but it also has the most out-of-pocket money from the buyer. SBA financing is a great option for a new business or if the business you are buying has good will, or ‘blue sky.’ Benefits of SBA financing include putting less money down and having longer repayment periods on your debt.

Finally, carryback financing occurs when the seller provides financing for the buyer. A carryback loan will vary on rate and length of terms.

You can also do a combination of financing with any of these options.”

Like most aspects of our lives in 2020, Rob said COVID has caused a major disruption in the sale of businesses in the region. The uncertainty has slowed sales, though there has been a slight increase in transactions during the last 45 days or so.

“If COVID has affected the profitability of a company, this would cause a decrease in the sale price for the seller,” Rob said. “Sellers will tend to hold only their businesses rather than selling for a discount, but some sellers might not have that option to hold because they need the liquidity. Businesses are being forced to make those difficult decisions today in determining if they can weather the storm.”

You can count on West Gate Bank to keep you and your business running!

Visit us online at westgate.bank to learn more.

West Gate Bank makes it a practice to build a relationship—not just a transaction—with every client. They also have all the financing options and servicing products of a big bank but pride themselves on being a community bank with local decision-makers. They will sit down with a potential buyer or seller and listen closely to what they are looking for, then put together the best plan to achieve their goals.

“Every bank can lend you money or assist with your deposit needs, but we want to know what else you need and want and see if we can assist with something outside of banking,” Rob said. “At the end of the day, we try to be the best advisor to our customers and put together options that fit them individually instead of using a one-size-fits-all mentality.”

westgate.bank | 402.434.3456

EQUAL HOUSING

LENDER

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If you’re a first-time business buyer or seller, just be sure to hire professionals who will make sure you’ve crossed all the t’s and dotted all the i’s—and take your time!

“Do your due-diligence and don’t rush into anything,” Rob warned.

“Get a team together that you trust and that has your best interests at heart. Be prepared, and get everything you need to make a solid decision, whether it’s to buy or sell a business. If you are buying or selling, you must do what’s best for you. Ultimately, the final decision is based on your time and the effort you put into it. You need to put 110% into your business to get that return out of it.” #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Finding Your True North Stay-at-home orders sparked by COVID created a growing population of people sitting on their couches and shopping from their phones and tablets. In fact, research indicates that retail platforms enjoyed a 6% increase in global traffic increase in March 2020, registering 14.34 billion visits—up from 12.81 billion global visits in January 2020. One of the most important things you can do to increase the value of your business is to maximize your online presence. Oh, and don’t try to do it yourself. Free drag-and-drop website development tools aren’t going to get you far. They use templates that are generic and not specifically designed to meet your business needs.

Renee Sobotka True North Technologies

“It’s a must that you invest in a revenuege n e r a t i n g web s i t e, ” s a i d Re n e e Sobotka, founder and CEO of True North Technologies. “It’s more critical than ever for your business to be able to found online.

Whatever service you are offering—local, national, or international—people will go to Google to find you. If you’re looking to sell your business, the purchaser will require a high Google ranking and a large number of social-media followers. If you can be found easily, you’ll increase the value of your company.”

The main way to accomplish that is to increase your Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, which includes having the right keywords and meta-descriptions for every page.

“Google will verify that your heading matches your keywords, which gives you credibility,” Renee said. “With every page that earns credibility, you increase your ranking with Google. Every page counts.

If you do it right, your website ranking can prove to buyers that you’ll have continued growth in sales.”

True North Technologies has been experiencing a growing number of calls for website redesign and SEO. Business owners are figuring out how crucial it is to not just have a website, but to have a website that converts traffic to customers. To help you grow your business in Omaha, True North Technologies will augment your local and global SEO. Their attention to detail will be a tremendous benefit for your business.

“A lot of people don’t know that you need to claim your business to create a pin on Apple and Google maps. It’s completely free, and an accurate business listing will help you get phone calls and walk-ins from potential customers.”

In addition, True North Technologies will increase your backlinks and third-party references on other websites, or citations, which creates even more credibility for your business with Google. They can also create mobile apps with a Google review campaign to obtain those highly coveted five-star reviews.

In short, True North Technologies is focused on helping people grow their businesses.

“We want you to succeed as much as you want to succeed. To increase salability, an excellent web presence lends stability to revenue and profit margins,” Renee said. “Our proven strategy will demonstrate that you have replicable revenue. By sharing online traffic statistics, you can demonstrate growth and increased engagement. We are our clients’ biggest fans, and we want to see them knock it out of the park!”

Value of Receivables If you have found a business you’re considering buying, it’s crucial that you do a thorough evaluation of the company’s receivables before jumping in. AR Solutions, serving Omaha, has the tools to do just that.

“If you’re buying assets and liabilities, you need to know what those liabilities are and how likely it will be that you can collect #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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(402) 213-9945 • jfullerton@tworld.com www.BuySellBusinessOmaha.com them,” said AR Solutions President and CEO Aaron Newell. “We can analyze those receivables and check the age of them, whether there are any disputes, and what contractual obligations are tied to them.

We can figure out the difficulty level of collecting those receivables and work to get disputes resolved. The value of the business is significantly less if it’s burdened with receivables where the collectability is low.”

As a collection agency, AR Solutions just might Aaron Newell have more to offer than an accountant as AR Solutions you evaluate a business. They’ll work closely with you to know what the reason is for any nonpayment of receivables and find out how you’ve communicated with your customers to collect to help determine what you might expect to bring in from them.

“I’d argue that we would have a better handle on the true value of receivables than an accounting firm,” Aaron said, “because we do this every day and we could provide a better projection of collectability.”

Aaron said the bottom line for someone looking to purchase their first business is this: Know that not all 100% of the billings a business sends out will be paid. It’s crucial that you know that up-front and develop a policy for handling those cases of nonpayment. If you’ve owned a business before, AR Solutions can track and collect on receivables for you, so you can focus on what your business does to make money—and you don’t pay AR Solutions unless they collect the debt.

“If we don’t collect, we don’t eat,” Aaron said.

Plan for Growth Some people jump into buying a business without the proper planning and goalsetting. That’s where ActionCOACH comes in.

O w n e r Jim Bar ger ex p r e s s e d t h e importance of having detailed research and a long-term vision.

“One of the first things we offer is business valuation,” Jim said. “We can help business owners find out what their business is really worth and help people looking to buy a Jim Barger business find one with true value. A business ActionCOACH should pay its owner in two ways—operating profit and asset value growth—so we encourage a business owner to think about both. Too many people go and buy a job, but they need to go in with the idea that they’re going to buy an asset.”

In helping business owners with a valuation, ActionCOACH employs an online program that incorporates all of the tax information from AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business

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JOAN KURTENBACH - HEARTLAND PAYROLL SOLUTIONS It’s about time payroll was made easy. Our platform is intuitive and our personal service is exceptional. Gain access to employee management tools including employee paperless onboarding, tax credit screening, time & attendance, human resources and a full payroll and tax service.

“Entrepreneurs respectfully helping entrepreneurs”. It’s at the core of every client Joan sets up on the Heartland Payroll Service.

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402-817-3929 • ARSOLUTIONSINC.COM the business. Then Jim meets with the business owner and talks about ways to increase the value.

“We work with owners to build a business that works without the owner. Cash-flow businesses don’t require the owner every day, and that increases the value of that business. If you’re thinking about selling your business, you’ve got to get it to that level first. Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling a business, we have a great sixmonth course called ActionCLUB, which will get your business there.”

Jim says it takes time to buy a business so you have plenty of time to go through the six-month course while you’re looking, evaluating, and negotiating. If you’re going to become a first-time business owner, do not assume you’re qualified because you probably have a lot to learn.

“You have to learn about business ownership. Sometimes we have corporate executives that assume they know what they need, but business ownership is a different animal in lots of ways. For starters, you don’t have all the backup departments to support you. That’s all your job now—accounting, HR, everything!”

ActionCOACH also works with owners who aren’t planning to sell their business immediately but want to be able to down the road.

They help figure out what needs doing now to increase the value by the time they decide to sell, in five years or whenever. ActionCOACH can benefit business owners uniquely because they have a proven system that has worked for thousands and thousands of companies over 27 years, throughout the United States, and in Singapore, New Zealand, and more. Jim himself also has owned businesses, so he knows what he’s talking about.

In the end, he offers three major steps to take before buying a business. First, develop a clear vision about what you plan to do with the business, including what the opportunities are that you need to maximize. Second, put together a plan—not just a business plan for the bank but an operating business plan that addresses what you will do day-to-day, month-to-month, and year-to-year.

42 Strictly Business AUGUST 2020

“Plan your business like you would your wedding or vacation,” Jim said. “Get every detail set down to the tiniest little thing. You really need to take some time to seriously consider what is going to make your business unique. You have to have something special, and if you’re buying a business, make sure you buy into the culture, ethics, and everything the business is based on. Don’t just look at profits and losses. The third and final step is to put your operating business plan into action, and prepare yourself to stay on target and not get distracted by everyday stuff.”

Taking Care of Your Employees Some of that “everyday stuff” includes doing payroll and human-resources activities, and if you’re not an accountant or HR specialist, it can quickly get overwhelming and hugely time-consuming. Consider adding Heartland Payment Systems to your business plan.

Heartland Senior Product Advisor Joan Kurtenbach and her team can take the burden of managing these parts of your business off of your hands so you can focus on the core of your business.

Joan Kurtenbach “If you work with Heartland, you’ll be Heartland Payment assigned to a personal service representative Systems who will serve as your point person for all service-related needs,” Joan said. “For HR support, we provide our clients with access to HR professionals who are available for guidance on HR issues, state- and industry-specific laborlaw questions and needs, and create customized documents for you.”

Heartland’s web-based payroll service is customized to accommodate each client’s specific needs, whether it’s process employee payroll, time and attendance, workers’ compensation, or offering a 401(k) plan. It’s a complete workforce-management solution that supports business owners in their current stage, while providing flexibility for future enhancements as the needs arise—and it won’t break the bank.

“We want our clients to be able to focus on revenue-generating areas of their business rather than monitoring their payroll invoices,” Joan said. “That’s why we provide clear, straightforward payroll pricing for our all-inclusive service without hidden fees or surprises. Our superior technology also allows your payroll data to be securely accessed by providers of banking services, benefit programs , or insurance providers for a variety of payroll-related services. Nothing is more important to us than your business, and we pledge to earn it every day.”

Heartland Payroll+HR is a turnkey payroll service with a full range of human-resources tools to support your business. They are proud to offer a three-year price lock, a single point of contact for payroll, and a virtual SHRM rep for those businesses that could use a little extra compliance help with handbooks, policies, and consulting.

Their HR Support Center is a single source for critical HR materials, including customizable documents for hiring, managing, and paying employees. You’ll also receive personalized alerts on legal and regulatory changes that could affect your business, and they’ll always keep you compliant with labor-law posters, delivering updates that occur through the year and an annually updated poster. Finely, you can know that your employee files are always available and secure through Heartland’s build-in electronic employee file system.

“Balance your business time and attendance, human resources administration, tax reporting, and more in one online, integrated system,” Joan said. “Whether you’re looking for an easier way to pay employees or maintain compliance with your state’s HR laws, Heartland provides payroll services to businesses large and small with our customizable solutions.”

Buying or selling a business is a serious venture, for sure. After talking to these experts in the field, there’s one thing that’s absolutely unanimously clear: Hire professionals to help you maximize your prospects, regardless of whether you’re buying or selling. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Wedding Planning Making Your Big Day Match Your Dreams!

Summer typically is the most popular time of the year for weddings, especially in Nebraska, where nature’s beauty makes outdoor ceremonies a natural fit. Nothing has been typical about the summer of 2020, though. While there haven’t been as many weddings as usual this summer, there’s actually been even more wedding planning going on than ever before. That has included a lot of shifting of plans, which is booking up wedding venues in late summer, fall, and even a year or two out. Many of the weddings that happened in Omaha this summer were smaller than originally planned, though a slew of brides and grooms planned alternative ceremonies to get hitched on schedule. Others didn’t want to give up their dreams of an extravagant wedding with all their friends and family attending, and they postponed to a year or even two out.

Regardless of the unique situation that wedding parties and planners find themselves in this year, there are plenty of local businesses in Omaha that are highly experienced and skillful at putting their version of magic into your wedding plans and associated events. We asked a few local business owners what they offer to enhance wedding plans in the area, and we found companies that provide everything from catering to ceremony and reception venues, desserts, hair design, and accommodations for out-of-town guests—and yes, even luxury restroom rentals!

With everything that goes into wedding planning, it’s easy to make restrooms an afterthought, but when you invest so much into a day, getting the details right matters. That’s where Grant Stahla and Stahla Rentals come in. Among other services, Stahla is in the potties-for-parties business, you might say—and we’re not talking about stinky, dark, overheated, run-of-the-mill port-a-potties. Stahla rents luxury restrooms that will have your wedding guests thinking they’re in a Grant Stahla modern, affluent home bathroom. They Stahla Rentals are equipped with everything from air conditioning to Bluetooth sound systems, upscale amenities, and handicap access—and some even have showers and multiple stalls and can serve as a bridal suite for the wedding party to get ready.

“We offer wedding parties and their guests dignity and peace of mind,” Grant said. “We all have to use the restroom, so having a private, enclosed space that’s air-conditioned and not smelly is a really big deal. Once you’ve selected the trailer you want on our website, including the number of stalls, and paid your deposit, we do all the rest and we deliver it all and hook things up exactly where you want them. All you have to do it turn it on before the wedding. They’re really perfect for those Nebraska #PrintProudDigitalSmart

weddings that are on the family’s acreage or out in a field in the middle of nowhere.”

Their seventh year in business, the summer of 2020 has been quite different for Stahla Rentals, when it comes to their wedding business.

“Our business changed dramatically due to COVID-19, as far as what we do for weddings,” Grant said. “Typically, we serve weddings averaging about 175 guests, and this year that average is closer to 40. All is not lost, though, as they’re already looking at double the average number of weddings they’ll be doing in 2021, as weddings postponed this summer are moving to next.

Elegant, Neo-Classic Accommodations As you’re planning for your big day, you’ll want to get a block of guests rooms reserved for your wedding party and your out-of-town guests. That’s where The Kindler Hotel comes in—

Restroom Rentals for Weddings

Take care of your guests by providing luxury restroom trailers. We’ll tend to the details and make sure everything is ready to go for your big day.

(402) 858-5572 | stahlaservices.com AUGUST 2020 Strictly Business

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and these folks will treat you all like royalty, from the elegant accommodations to top-shelf customer service and designer rooms in a neo-classical building conceived and designed by the awardwinning Ross Vincent Design.

“The Kindler Hotel offers our guests a very personal experience, exceptionally high-level amenities, in a modern decodesigned and relaxed atmosphere,” said Kindler Sales Director Cheryl Deiro.

“The Kindler Hotel will assist with special wedding-guestroom block rates for you and your guests. We have beautiful bridal suites and special wedding-night packages to make your special day extra special.”

Cheryl Deiro The Kindler Hotel

Of course, the wedding scene has not been like most other years for The Kindler Hotel.

While it has still hosted some wedding parties and guests, most of them have been far smaller groups and many rescheduled to later dates when they can have the big wedding and guest list of their dreams.

“We are experiencing brides and grooms with smaller, more intimate weddings,” Cheryl said. “They are also gravitating to more private and guest-experience-oriented hotels with the highest sanitation and social-distancing standards like The Kindler Hotel. Keep in mind that your guests will remember and appreciate the accommodations you arrange for them, especially those coming from out of town.

Choosing a property with the highest level of cleanliness, sanitation, and social-distancing standards will help ease their reluctance to travel again. These standards and providing the highest level of hospitality are top priorities of The Kinder Hotel.”

What’s more, the lavishly appointed Boitano’s Lounge and newly opened patio will allow you to gather with your guests to enjoy

BEFORE

uniquely crafted cocktails and a seasonal dining menu develop by world-renowned Olympic medalist and Food Network star Brian Boitano. Put the cherry on top of your wedding plans and include The Kindler Hotel in them!

Looking Good!

Hairdos, perfect nails and the right makeup for the bride and her bridesmaids are essential parts of any wedding plans, and Creative Hair Design Salon and Spa has the experience and expertise to meet any beauty challenge you can throw their way.

What’s more, they offer relaxing spa services and waxing to perfect the picture. They also offer a handy schedule of events to help you plan your services with the proper amount of advance notice so they go exactly as planned.

“Creative Hair Design is your one-stop shop for ultimate pampering,” said Owner and President John Mangiameli. “We have a nurturing environment and love the challenges of creating the perfect wedding styles and helping the bride and bridesmaids relax and feel beautiful and comfortable for the big day. We have you work with a bridal coordinator to personalize your Creative Hair Design experience to fit your needs perfectly.”

John Mangiameli Ultimately, Creative Hair Design suggests Creative Hair that you schedule your wedding party Design and Spa visit, your trial hair and makeup day, and your nail services about six months prior to your wedding. Three months prior to the big day, they confirm your appointments and make any necessary changes, also scheduling your spa services and waxing. One month prior to your wedding date, they asked that you bring in your veil and any pictures you

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@ CHDSALON 12025 PACIFIC STREET | 402-330-5660 | CREATIVEHAIRDESIGN.COM

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want to share for your trial-run appointment. When the big day arrives, all you have to do is relax and let the talented stylists at Creative Hair Design take care of you so you’re ready to shine on your special day!

Time for Dessert While many brides and grooms choose traditional, layered wedding cakes decked out in flowers or other decorations for their receptions, others choose trendy cupcakes, decadent brownies, or even cheesecakes for their celebrations. Any way you choose to go, The Omaha Bakery can make it special. Their reputation, experience, and techniques enable them to create the perfect wedding-cake design that makes a statement about your personality and sense of style or fun. They specialize in the latest techniques in cake creations, including rolled fondant, which gives you the smooth porcelain-like finish that is so popular today. Of course, you’ll probably want to do a lot of tasting to make sure the flavor is just right, too!

“The most important thing about a wedding is the memories,” said The Omaha Bakery Cake Designer Dave Barry. “A wedding day comes and goes. The only thing we take with us are the memories, the stories, and the joys we experience. I say all the time, ‘I make cakes, sure, but what I’m really making are memories.’”

Because Omaha Bakery is a specialty bakery, they can also duplicate any cake you might see in a magazine or at another Dave Barry function and then customize it for you. You The Omaha Bakery may choose a sophisticated elegant look or show your playfulness and sense of humor with a more whimsical style. It should also fit well with your wedding location, decorations, and the ambiance you are creating for your reception. One thing you can definitely bet on is that when you see the finished product, it will reflect you and your good taste. Have fun and let your imagination run wild!

Have Some Fun If you’re planning several days of events for friends and family during your wedding week, the House of Conundrum offers the perfect opportunity for you to gather, have some fun and a little competition, and bond over mysteries. You and your group will be placed in a themed room of your choice for one hour, during which you must find hidden clues, decode messages, solve puzzles, and more to escape— and you can’t do it without coordinated teamwork. It’s a great way to bring your friends and family closer, build relationships, and learn about everyone’s hidden talents. You can choose from rooms including The Final Frontier, Zombie Apocalypse, Knight in the Museum, The Bat Cave Conundrum, The Sherlock Solution, Rescuing the Revolution, Saving Lincoln, Tomb of Doom, and 20,000 Leaks Under the Sea.

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so lovely YOUR GUESTS WILL BE SAYING “I DO” TOO.

Rent It If you’re having an outdoor wedding or holding your reception in a backyard or rented tent or community center, you can still have all the accoutrements of a professionally appointed celebration by renting what you need from Honeyman Rent-All. They offer everything from arches to candelabra’s, columns, decorative touches, china, tables and chairs, karaoke and sound systems, lighting, glassware, canopies, beverage servers, gorgeous wedding centerpieces, and vases for flowers or other decorations. The list goes on. You’ll find everything you need to throw the wedding of the century, at reasonable prices for high-end presentation.

Certainly, the summer of 2020 has been anything but normal. When it comes to planning your wedding, though, Omaha offers every possible amenity you could need. As you plan—or reschedule— your big day, remember to support local businesses that will treat you, your wedding party, and your wedding guests like family! #PrintProudDigitalSmart

T H E K I N D L E R H OT E L .CO M 4 0 2 . 2 6 1 .7 8 0 0 K I N D L E R H OT E L

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Buying a Home Getting Financing that is Just Right for YOU! Rather than being affected by short-term fluctuations in the economy, housing markets are largely shaped by longer-term demographic trends. Over the next decade, two generations will dominate activity in the housing market—the millennials (born 1981–2000) and the baby boomers (born 1946–1964). Statistics show that millennials are renting more than ever before, opting for one monthly payment rather than mortgage interest, property taxes, maintenance expenses, and any other costs associated with homeownership. Younger people also have greater student-loan debt than previous generations, so buying a home may seem just too far out of the budget for most. The thing about renting, though, is that you do not get any of your money back when you move. Long-time homeowners build equity that can be useful later in life. A paid-off house is a valuable asset that can be tapped into for college, to start a business, or retirement, to name a few.

Malinie Staben NMLS ID #536957

Debbie Lentz NMLS ID #536955

Mike Fosdick NMLS ID #422481

Alan Schmitz NMLS ID #1107752

Your money has home sweet home people Like our construction and home loans team, who will help you find financing that fits your unique needs — for a home that’s uniquely yours.

402.827.6969

Subject to credit approval. Member FDIC

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While COVID was blamed for a decline in existing home sales in March, prices remained strong. In fact, home prices increased in every sales region in the country, as they have for 97 consecutive months, with the median home price in the country increasing 8% for the month compared to March 2019. In the Midwest, that increase was 9.7%, second only to the West, where prices jumped 13.9% year-on-year but sales dropped significantly. National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun says that while we can expect to see some slight temporary interruptions in home sales in the short term, all signs point to prices continuing to rise.

In early March, the 30-year mortgage interest rate plunged to its lowest level in 50 years, at 3.29%, when the Fed dropped the federal funds rate to zero. Rates have remained in the high 2% to low 3% range since then, sending many homeowners rushing to refinance and lock in the lower rate. We heard stories of lenders across the country being overwhelmed with refinance applications.

For people looking to sell homes in Omaha today, the market is ripe with buyers, and financial institutions are keeping busy, for sure.

Because the housing market in Omaha also is one of the most competitive going, it’s more important than ever that people looking to purchase a home get their financing pre-approved so they can submit an offer on their dream house quickly when they find it—because it won’t last. Luckily, Omaha is home to some top-drawer financial institutions that are ready and able to walk you through every step of the financing process to get you the mortgage that works best for you. We talked to three residential mortgage lenders in Omaha recently to get a feel for the types of lending products and services they are offering and the types of home-buying activity they’re seeing.

Union Bank & Trust—which just announced plans to build a second location in Omaha, at the intersection of 144th Street and West Doge Road—offers all of the traditional mortgage products, including conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. They participate in the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA) and also offer construction loans and non-owner-occupied investment property loans.

“This year has been a very busy one for purchasing and refinancing homes,” said Union Bank & Trust Vice President of Residential Mortgage Mike Fosdick. “We have not seen any reduction of business due to COVID-19 but we have seen a change in how we provide the lending services. When our lobbies were closed to walk-in customers, for example, we were closing loans in the parking or through our drive-up window.”

Mike Fosdick Union Bank & Trust

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slowed down the home-financing transactions for Centris, thanks to the low interest rates that continue to be available. While buying a home is a big investment, they’ll walk you through every step.

“Whether you are buying your first home or your move-up home, it can feel like a stressful process,” Heidi said. “The loan staff at Centris is here to step you through it all and show you how we can make the home-buying process an exciting and fun experience.

Minimum down payments can vary depending on the programs you choose and your credit history. We will help show you the options available and find the best loan fit for you. We welcome first-time buyers—and all buyers—to come visit with us about their goals before they search for that perfect home. We want to ensure they are fully qualified before that search begins. This first step takes away a lot of the stress in the process.”

Historical Data: Freddie Mac. Projection based on 2020 forecast from 6 housing and financial authorities and the author's view of the market.

Disclaimer: Rates are volatile and will probably be drastically different even from the best projections. (c) TheMortgageReports.com

When you are thinking about purchasing a home, there are a few things to keep in mind out of the gate. First, be sure you stay within a realistic budget so you will be able to afford to make your payments. Those payments will depend on how much money you have for a down payment. The ideal down payment is 20% of the purchase price, but if a consumer does not have that 20% for a down payment, that should not be a roadblock to purchasing a home. The client can purchase Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) to make up for the amount that their down payment is below 20%. In addition to a conventional loan with PMI, the FHA, VA, and USDA loan programs can be used if the borrower has less than 20% for a down payment. That said, Mike recommends that anyone considering buying a home have at least 5% of the purchase price in the bank. That should be enough to combine with PMI to cover the minimum down payment and pay the closing costs.

“Of course, good credit is also important in obtaining a mortgage loan,” Mike said. “The better your credit rating, the better your interest rate will be. Credit ratings also will affect the cost of the Private Mortgage Insurance. Just because you have good credit, though, you don’t have to take the maximum loan you can get. Be sure that you know how much of your incomes you can realistically use for housing.

Mike recommends that all first-time homebuyers take a firsthomebuyer course, which is available at no cost. It requires a commitment of a couple of hours, but is well worth the time. In addition to seeking the services of a reputable professional realtor, find the bank that has the services you need most.

“Union Bank & Trust is unique when you compare our mortgage business to other companies in the area, in that we have staff underwriters that are part of our Nebraska mortgage team,” Mike said. “Union Bank & Trust also services the majority of our mortgage loans, which means that you are making your mortgage payments to Union Bank & Trust and not to a service company located outside of Nebraska. It’s always a good thing to keep your money in the local economy.”

Centris Federal Credit Union also offers conventional, FHA, and VA financing for home purchases and refinances, in addition to hybrid programs for 100% purchase financing. With the spread of COVID, their staff quickly adapted to a new digital platform, so they can make the home-buying process touchless through virtual meetings, phone calls, and online application that makes the process easy and convenient for everyone involved.

Heidi Weeks Assistant Vice President, Mor tgage Centris Federal Services, Heidi Weeks said COVID has not Credit Union #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Centris Federal Credit Union prides itself on having a small-town lender feel with big-city offerings. That means they can provide all of the same financing that the big banks do, but with exceptional service and a local touch. Centris is a not-for-profit financial organization, so they pass the savings on to you.

“Our entire staff all work, play, and service our local communities, Heidi said. “We also services our loans, which our members greatly appreciate. We don’t have stockholders, and any profits we make are turned back to our members in the form of lower rates on loans and higher rates on savings, as well as improved products and services.”

The low interest rates on home loans have kept the folks at Cornhusker Bank busy throughout the pandemic, too. They offer a variety of loan products to suit any borrower’s needs, including everything from a typical 30-/20-/15-year fixed-rate conventional secondary-market home mortgage to an in-house Portfolio Home Equity Line of Credit loan. If you are looking to upgrade from your current home to a more expensive one but haven’t sold your existing home, they also can provide a bridge loan to serve you until your existing house sells.

Your neighborhood mortgage Experts.

If you’re in the market for a new home or ready to refinance, our local mortgage experts are here to walk you through the home buying process.

Our mortgage loans are underwritten and serviced locally, and we take pride in ensuring all home loans close on time, every time.

With great rates and low processing fees, purchase with confidence.

Contact us today at 402.334.7000 or visit centrisfcu.org for more details.

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“The bridge loan gives borrowers time to get their current house sold,” said Cornhusker Bank Vice President, Mortgage Lending, Matt Gutschenritter. “We offer loans that require as little as 5% down payments, and we have a wide array of loan products that, after visiting with a client about their needs, will include a solution for them.”

While people seemed a little hesitant about getting out in public at the onset of Matt Gutschenritter COVID, Matt said that home purchases in Cornhusker Bank Omaha have remained strong throughout the pandemic—thanks in great part to the low interest rates. In the current market, it’s crucial that people looking to buy a home get pre-qualified with a financial institution.

“A lot of the home sales of late can be attributed to the low rates that resulted from the COVID pandemic,” he said. “Mortgage rates, for a day or two, hit all-time record lows. This caused a huge surge in the refinance activity, and eventually purchase activity picked up quite a bit, as well. Rates eventually went up some but are still near record lows. Many sellers are seeing very short periods of time that it takes to sell their houses. Buyers are more aware these days that they need to be pre-qualified for their home loan so that they are ready to make an offer on a house as soon as it hits the market. If they are not pre-qualified, many times they will miss out on opportunities to purchase a house that they really wanted.”

According to Matt, when some people think about choosing a mortgage lender, they often think first about which lender can get them the lowest rates. What they will find, however, is that rates from one institution to the next are pretty much the same. With that in mind, there are other qualities to watch for in a lending institution.

“My advice would be to find a lender that will not only help you with the purchase or refinance transaction but will also have your best interests in mind for the life of your loan,” he said. “At Cornhusker Bank, in a majority of cases, we will not sell off the servicing of your loan after the transaction is over. We are set up to retain the servicing of your loan locally. More than likely, at some point during the life of your loan, you will need to contact your loan servicer with a question or concern. Instead of calling an 800 number and talking to someone—hopefully not a machine—consumers call us right here in town to get your questions answered. I also recommend that people ask their friends, family, financial advisors, CPA’s, and the like to see if they have had a past positive or negative experience with a mortgage lender.”

If Matt had one piece of advice to give people who are looking to buy a house, it would be this: Get pre-qualified! Luckily, you can get started from your home, if you choose.

“In recent years, people’s preference for research in selecting a mortgage lender and applying for home loans has trended to using the internet,” he said. “At Cornhuskerbank.com, people can obtain information about the home-loan process, tinker around with some of our mortgage calculators, and even start the loan application itself, if they choose to—all from the comfort of their own home.”

Cornhusker Bank’s local ownership and management allows it to know the market and its needs thoroughly and form lasting relationships with organizations and customers. The new Cornhusker Bank location on Blondo is an indication of the bank’s commitment to serving the Omaha market as both a knowledgeable advisor and good neighbor

Building Lo

If you don’t work in the financial industry, the process for obtaining financing for a new home can seem overwhelming.

Clearly, however, Omaha is home to some excellent banking institutions that can walk you through every step of the process and work to get you pre-qualified for a loan. Then you can go and get started on the fun part—finding the house of your dreams!

Building Local Partnerships Cornhusker Bank’s full service location is here to help you.

Now open!

11102 Blondo Street 402-671-0200 CornhuskerBank.com

From left: Tyler Albers, VP/Relationship Manager; Jenn Latshaw, Customer Service Specialist; Zach Baedke, Senior Banker; Allen Chaffee, Omaha Market President

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