Strictly Business Omaha - October 2020

• Whole Body & Mind Health • Resell Remodeling • Holiday Planning • Women-Owned Businesses CLIENT SPOTLIGHTS • Stories Coffee Co. • Cars R Us Autobody • CFO Systems • Ambius

OMAHA • OCTOBER 2020 TM

Legendary Pizza and Pasta on Leavenworth

RIVER CITY SIX

IN THIS ISSUE

STRICTLYBUSINESSOMAHA.COM

DOUG NEILL EMILY GILLI Reveal & Heal Health and Top Spot Cleaning & Solutions Too Wellness Coaching

RICK KING King Insurance Agency

JUDITH NGOZI OBODOUGO God’s Got Your Back

BRENDA OUELLETTE CareBuilders at Home

GREG ROGERS Outlook Business Solutions

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Strictly Business Magazine PO BOX 57397, Lincoln, NE 68505

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Employing Omaha November 2020 Issue

CALLING ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES! Let people know why your company is a great place to work.

In the November 2020 issue of Strictly Business, we will run our bi-annual “Employing Omaha” feature to highlight great places to work in Omaha.

This is a special opportunity for companies to get their name and branding in front of all our readers by sharing their mission statement, talking about their team culture, and highlighting employment opportunities.

Strictly Business is direct mailed to over 15,000 businesses 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.

Feature Includes: Company logo & 150-word write-up

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

800.301.8549 metrofcu.org

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402.334.7000 centrisfcu.org

800.235.3228 veridiancu.org

402.697.8200 mutualďŹ rst.com

OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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

Shopping Local, Combating Consumer Fear, and Remaining Mentally Strong and Engaged With the holidays upon us, I want to encourage all of our readers to make it a priority to be supporting local businesses here in Omaha when you do your gift shopping, plan activities with family and friends, feed your staff or house guests, etc. Resist the temptation to do all your ordering online from out-of-the-market retailers. If you're going to order online, choose a local store to do business with. It really makes a difference when we all do our best to keep our money in our own city and state. Just ask yourself if the convenience or saving a few dollars is worth the family-owned business down the street closing its doors for good.

the winter. Many of us might have to say goodbye to a holiday tradition this year or will be unable to see family members who are choosing not to travel. That will be difficult, for sure, but we all need to do what we can to keep our spirits high. Take Vitamin D pills, listen to uplifting music, and remain engaged in life and relationships. Do not let isolation become the new norm. We were made for community. We were made to experience life together.

I heard this message a couple of Sundays ago from Pastor Brian Clark at Lincoln Berean Church. He addressed how it has never been easier to isolate ourselves, especially because of social media. At the end of the day, nothing can replace true human connection. Brian referred to a talk he heard

by Sherry Turkle, and she was talking about a conversation she had with a reporter from the New York Times. The reporter told her that in this six-month period since COVID struck, one of the dynamics of how people have dealt with this deep isolation is they have flooded ChatBox to seek consolation and empathy in their hour of need. Now, just to be clear, ChatBox is not a person; it’s a machine—it’s artificial intelligence that is programmed to respond to you. So, in people’s hour of need, they are turning to a machine to find the empathy that they long for. That speaks volumes for what has happened to us as a culture, Brian noted. (Full sermon can be found online at www.lincolnberean.org, audio or transcript.)

Do not let isolation become the new norm.

We were made for community. We were made to experience life together.

The pandemic has discouraged many people from traveling and getting out of their homes to shop, dine, and seek out entertainment. This consumer fear is crippling our economy. We want to see people continuing to live their lives, even if life looks a little different right now. COVID has taken a toll on our retail stores, restaurants, and especially our hotels. We have beautiful hotel properties here in Omaha, and you don't have to be from out of town to experience them. Why not plan a little staycation? Get a hotel room for the night and then go enjoy some of the shops, eateries, and bars nearby! Our businesses are taking the necessary precautions to ensure that we can still enjoy their services in a safe way, so let's do that.

I also want to keep reminding everyone to remain mentally strong as we start getting into the colder months. Avoid outlets (and people) that are constantly stirring up fear. There are already more mental health concerns surrounding this time of year—the days are shorter and low temperatures make us want to stay inside. There is no doubt that the presence of COVID will heighten the inclination to isolate ourselves from others even more so during

More than anything, I think about the impact these cultural shifts are going to have on the younger generations. This is why I'm so passionate about spreading the message of how important real human connection is, along with remaining engaged in our community. We have to do what we can to support our local businesses and each other in a responsible way.

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

5 Business 23 Personnel

27 Nonprofit 32 Health

SPOTLIGHTS 4 15 22 34

Hannah

Diane

Dillon

Stories Coffee Co. Cars R Us Auto Body CFO Systems Ambius

PRODUCTION TEAM: Editor/Operations Hannah Hundley - Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Copywriter Diane Gumaer - Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Art Director Dillon Crawford - Design@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com

14 Outlook Business Solutions 16 River City Six

SALES TEAM: President/Sales Paige Zutavern - Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Publisher/Founder/Accounting Shayne Zutavern - SZutavern@yahoo.com

COLUMNS

FEATURE STORIES

35 37 41 44 2

Whole Body & Mind Health Resell Remodeling Holiday Planning Women-Owned Businesses Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

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Legendary Pizza & Pasta on Leavenworth It was 1953. An eventful year in America. Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager would set a speed record in the Bell X-1 aircraft. TV Guide debuts. Sir Edmund Hillary would be the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest. And, somewhere in Omaha, probably as the Legendary Pizza and Pasta on Leavenworth Red Skelton show echoed in the background, La Casa Pizzaria Founder Joe Patane was convinced that Omaha was ready for some great Neapolitan pizza. An Omaha staple was about to be born at 4432 Leavenworth. Halfway through La Casa’s first evening of service, the family ran out of food, indicating Patane’s hunch was correct. Since then, La Casa has served patrons far and wide with its classic recipe.

• Whole Body & Mind Health • Resell & Remodeling • Holiday Planning • Women Owned Business CLIENT SPOTLIGHTS • Stories Coffee Co. • Cars R Us • CFO Systems • Ambius

The third and fourth generation of Joe’s family invites you to share in a part of Omaha’s restaurant heritage, La Casa Pizzaria, still operating in their original location at 4432 Leavenworth St. The restaurant also features a party room available to rent out. It comfortably accommodates 25–55 guests. Your group can enjoy a buffet of delicious pizza and pasta with the La Casa staff handling all details while you relax.

OMAHA • OCTOBER 2020 TM

RIVER CITY SIX

IN THIS ISSUE

STRICTLYBUSINESSOMAHA.COM

EMILY GILLI Reveal & Heal

DOUG NEILL Top Spot Cleaning & Solutions Too

BRENDA OUELLETTE Care Builders at Home

RICK KING King Insurance Agency

JUDITH NGOZI OBODOUGO God’s Got Your Back

GREG ROGERS Outlook Business Solutions

Order carry-out and curbside pickup through La Casa’s online ordering page lacasapizzaria.net or by phone (402) 556-6464.

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Strictly Business Magazine PO BOX 57397, Lincoln, NE 68505

Beyond their perfecting of Neapolitan-style pizza, La Casa has so much more to offer with their wide variety of menu items. The long list of appetizers is followed by several options including pasta dishes, paninis, salads, and soups. To complete the dining experience, La Casa has amazing desserts, including their famous cannolis that are offered in four flavors.

La Casa on Leavenworth offers dine-in, carry-out, and curbside pick-up for a touchless option. You can even let La Casa cater your next party or social event—business luncheons and meetings, too! The La Casa food truck is also available for events. Serve your guests or employees from ‘La Casa on Wheels’ offering a menu that includes something for everyone.

And, if you’re craving that Neapolitan-style pizza far away from where it all began, it can be shipped anywhere in the United States.

“La Vita È Troppo Breve Per Mangiare E Bere Poco” �Life is too brief to eat and drink poorly��

Family owned and Operated since 1953.

402-556-6464 | lacasapizzaria.net

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RESTAURANT EXPOSE

11426 Davenport St. | www.storiescoffeecom-

11426 Davenport St.|www.storiescoffeecompany.com

pany.com

Coffee With a Purpose We are so impressed by our experience at Stories Coffee Co. We’ve done hundreds of exposés at all kinds of restaurants...we didn’t expect too much from a coffee shop. We were envisioning a menu much like the one you’d see at a Starbucks, but we were far off! Stories Coffee has a deliciously crafted range of filling food options to compliment their drink offerings. What’s more is that a portion of their profits go directly to supporting organizations that are doing good in Omaha. So, not only will you fill up your belly, you’ll feel good about choosing Stories Coffee as your next workspace, meeting location, study spot, date-night destination, you name it.

Upon entry, we were dazzled by the depth of the venue and its warming ambiance. Dark features and modern decor with a very spacious floor plan give it sophistication without being pretentious. The coffee house is clean, wellarranged, and designed to appeal to today’s young professional. One thing we noted is all the different seating options, from living room furniture and booths to low- and hightop tables, catering to groups and individuals who visit.

No matter your purpose as a patron, whether it’s to get some work done on your laptop or to meet up with friends and enjoy live music, you’ll be able to select from Stories Coffee’s variety of coffee creations–roasted in house and available hot or cold–wine and beer menu, and substantial food options. Our group was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food, drinks, and service we received. We could tell the barista staff was well-trained to perfectly construct each drink order and they select premium beans from Guatemala, Costa Rica, Columbia, and Kenya.

Monday through Thursday, from 4 to 7 p.m., Stories Coffee features their happy hour menu. Everything on it incorporates locally

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sourced ingredients and mouth-watering recipes for a very reasonable price. A group favorite was the Spinach Artichoke Dip. Its amazing creaminess and natural flavor had us all wanting more. The Hummus Plate also satisfied with its warm, chewy, salted pita bread that went very well with the dip and veggies. We recommend the Patatas Bravas for the spicy sauce drizzled on top and the Club Sandwich for its perfectly toasted jalapeño cornbread. The Margherita Flatbread Pizza is made with pesto for the base sauce and you can definitely tell that fresh mozzarella slices are used. Stories Coffee also puts together a great charcuterie Cheese Board with tasty jam, pickled olives, and a variety of meats and cheeses.

All we could keep saying to each other is how impressed we were by every aspect of our time at Stories Coffee. There was even talented live music playing during our visit (shout out to Grace Music!). We also want to thank our lovely server, Erin, who took very good care of us.

Stories Coffee Co. is located at 114th and Davenport in the heart of Omaha. They also have a drive thru and conference room for guests. You can purchase their beans online along with trendy swag for the true Stories fans out there. To learn more about how they invest in the stories of their customers, vendors, partners, and those in need in our community by providing hope through coffee, go online to www.storiescoffeecompany.com. Follow on Facebook and Instagram (@storiescoffeecompany) for updated on seasonal menu items, new brews, and daily specials such as Mug Mondays, Crafty Tuesdays, Wine Wednesdays, and Tea Time Thursday!

Fill up. Feel good.

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BUSINESS NEWS King Insurance Expands Business to Serve Auto-Repair Markets in Omaha Region King Insurance, a family owned and operated insurance agency for more than 40 years, has merged with Empire Park Insurance to combine exper tise and resources in the greater Omaha and surrounding areas. King Insurance has extensive experience in both commercial and personal lines insurance. The relationship with Empire Park Insurance will leverage its ability to support and insure body shops, glass shops, and auto-repair shops. This merger increases King Insurance’s access to staff and markets, allowing them to be positioned for growth and ready to provide outstanding customer-account servicing.

“We’re committed to providing excellent service and building strong relationships with each and every one of our clients,” said Rick King, president of King Insurance. “We excel at providing the highest level of customer service and industry knowledge to these new markets.”

King Insurance is an independent agency that focuses on providing insurance solutions tailored to the needs of its commercial and personal clients. For more than 40 years, King Insurance has worked with a group of financially sound, reputable insurance companies to provide clients the best coverage at a competitive price. To learn more, visit kingins.com or call (402) 597-5224.

Certified Piedmontese Beef Opens New Retail Store, The Mercato Certified Piedmontese—a Nebraska-based beef company— has opened a retail location called The Mercato featuring a premium selection of its specialty beef in its new, state-of-the-art Lincoln headquarters located off of North 84th St. The Mercato is open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“The Mercato is a retail store and butcher shop featuring our Certified Piedmontese beef, as well as other quality meats and unique dry ingredients, that match the quality and uniqueness of our beef,” says Nick Munger, retail manager.

By opening this flagship store, Certified Piedmontese has given Lincoln and the surrounding areas and communities more access to its premium product as well as other ingredients that might not be available anywhere else in the state. The Mercato also offers Certified Piedmontese product that is not available anywhere else, making it a destination to come to and further establishing its brand.

Certified Piedmontese has worked to create a quality experience in every part of the process of its meat. With few other beef and cattle companies in the country having a retail shop directly selling their beef products as another aspect of their business, Certified Piedmontese stands out from the rest. The company strives for excellence in every part of its business and product.

Certified Piedmontese is a healthier beef option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor or tenderness. With fewer calories, less fat, and higher protein per ounce than beef from other breeds, it’s an ideal source of lean protein for a healthy diet. All Certified Piedmontese beef is verified all-natural and raised without hormones, antibiotics, or steroids. This ensures healthier cattle and higher-quality beef for consumers. Learn more at Piedmontese.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Greater Omaha Chamber Presents Conference on Opportunity, Diversity and Equity The Greater Omaha Chamber is hosting a virtual conference October 15-16—The Conference on Opportunity, Diversity and Equity—to teach businesses how to transform wor kplaces and develop strategies to address the society disparities that create barriers to access. A virtual platform overview runs from 8:45 to 9 a.m. on October 14, followed by a preconference professional development session, then various sessions throughout October 15 and 16. Keynote speakers include high-school football coach Rob Mendez, who was born with tetra-amelia syndrome—a rare disorder that caused him to be born without arms or legs—to share his story with Omaha. The conference also features Michele Meyer-Shipp, the chief diversity and inclusion officer at KPMG LLP. Rob’s work has been recognized nationally, including a feature on SportsCenter, an appearance in the 2019 Google Year in Review video, and an article in USA Today, highlighting his visits with various NFL Teams. At the 2019 ESPY’s, Coach Mendez was honored with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Michele leads KPMG’s diversity and inclusion efforts relating to workforce, workplace, and marketplace. She also serves on many industry and association task forces and committees, including Twitter’s Diversity Advisory Council, Working Mother Media’s Multicultural Advisory Board, and National Organization on Diversity, and is a contributor to Yahoo! Finance News.

You may purchase individual, group, or training add-on tickets via the Greater Omaha Chamber website at omahachamber.org/ theconference. Reservations are due by October 11.

OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business 5

BUSINESS NEWS Center Sphere Academy Creates Three-Part Professional Development Series

Veridian Credit Union Announces Match for ENCAP Donations

As one of Center Sphere’s newest initiatives, Center Sphere Academy is rolling out fresh learning opportunities with their Elevate Live series in September, October, and November. This three-part series, led by Academy Trainer and Executive Leadership Coach Amie Gamboian, will allow members to dive deeper into their professional development while they focus on champion rhythms, leadership zones, and the Law of thirds. Members of Center Sphere may purchase the courses for an exclusive members-only price at www.centersphereacademy.com.

Through Center Sphere Academy, members experience powerful personal and professional development content and resources while growing their network. Investment in the Academy will elevate members, their relationships, and their businesses. It is one of the simplest ways to strategically grow their leadership, expand their impact, and intentionally increase their success.

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 CenterSphere.com or connect with Omaha Area Director Lona Anderson at LonaAnderson@ CenterSphere.com or (402) 650-5380.

Veridian Credit Union has announced a gift-matc h campaign for the Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP) throughout the month of October. Veridian will match all donations to ENCAP from October 1–31 up to $10,000.

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“ENCAP provides vital support to our neighbors in their greatest time of need, and the pandemic has created unprecedented demand for their services,” said Matt Hillestad, Veridian’s regional manager.

ENCAP is a private, nonprofit community based organization that has been providing social and human services to people facing poverty in Douglas and Sarpy Counties since 1965. Learn more online at encapnebraska.org.

Veridian Credit Union, founded in 1934 in Waterloo, IA, is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members. The credit union offers a full range of business and consumer financial services with 900 employees and 30 branches across Iowa and eastern Nebraska. For more information, visit www.veridiancu.org.

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BUSINESS NEWS New Hurts Donut Location to Open in Omaha At 5 a.m. on September 30, the newest Hurts Donut Co. location officially opened its doors to the Omaha community. Located at 1726 N 120th St., the new donut store is overflowing with loud colors, real swing seats, and subtle, silly branding that Hurts fans have come to know and love. To prepare for the grand opening, Hurts sold t-shirts that double as a wearable coupon—acting as a fast pass to the front of the line and buy-one-get-one-free donuts for life.

Hurts make all their donuts fresh from scratch—no robots, just handmade dough! Hurts Donut started with a YouTube video explaining how to make a donut and equipment bought off of Craigslist in 2013. Now, they have 17 stores across the U.S., and they are just getting started.

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.

Everyone Matters.

402-850-5384 • joan.kurtenbach@e-hps.com • www.heartland.us

To learn more about Hurts Donut Co., visit wannahurts.com. To stay up to date on the new Omaha location, follow them on Facebook (@Hurts Donut Co. – Omaha Nebraska).

DC Retirement Strategies Finds New Home Young Inventors Association of America Targets Omaha in Phase One of Global Launch Omaha native Greg J. Micek, founder of Young Inventors Association of America (YIAA)— the brainc hild of Houston Inventors Association, is excited to announce plans to take their boots-on-the-ground, 12-week program to a global stage. In the first phase of the launch, YIAA will be targeting the Omaha market and establishing a local presence. The long-term goal is to have local programs launch in communities all over the world. Many coinciding initiatives are currently underway, as well.

In an effort to usher in a new wave of support, YIAA has expanded their team with the addition of Max Martin as executive director and Natalie Pumphrey as program director. They will also be assembling teams of paid staff and volunteers to manage areas such as social media, website, marketing, and showcase judging.

The organization is known for hosting the Young Inventors Showcase, an annual worldwide invention competition in Houston, TX. In phase two of the global launch, YIAA will focus on transforming the competition into a virtual “incubator” that will take the most commercially viable ideas to market. Other initiatives include creating quality requirements for YIAA sanctioning, sanctioning existing programs, establishing new invention programs within the home-school system, and collaborating with existing programs that have similar visions.

Stakeholders in the Greater Omaha area are encouraged to engage in the roll-out. Specific resources are sought in mentorship, social media expertise, venture management, and crowdfunding.

Empowering the world’s next inventors, the Young Inventors Association of America is a not-for-profit sanctioning body that establishes an approved invention program, controls the quality of execution of the program, and provides support to advocates using the program. Further, YIAA intends to teach the kids how to present as much as how to invent, which creates a second career as product spokesmen/women. To observe the success story of Sean Gilmore and his “Sleepover Pup Tent”, go to www.sleepoverbedtent.com/ about-the-inventor.html. Visit the newly revamped website at www. yiaa.org, which will become the “portal” for the inventor/invention launch with a social-media-driven landing page for each sanctioned program and young inventor, to learn more. Questions can be directed to nataliecpumphrey@gmail.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

West Dodge Hills Building II will be the newest home for DC Retirement Strategies. The office can be found at 18205 Capitol Ave., STE 303. The move allows for more accommodations to clients in the Omaha and surrounding area, in addition to enhancing the client experience with modern equipment and technology. Previously, the office was located at 14301 FNB Pkwy.

Owners Rick Dhabalt and Greg Cismoski met in 2001 while working together as relationship managers in the Retirement Services Division at First National Bank of Omaha. In 2004, with experience in plan design, compliance testing, IRS Form 5500 preparation, and numerous other areas of the retirement plan industry, Rick created the vision and service platform currently implemented on a daily basis to their clients. Greg followed shortly after in 2007 with similar experience and a passion to elevate service and provide retirement planning tools and education to all employees within the organizations they serve.

Currently, the expanded team serves over 130 retirement plans with nearly $700 million in assets under advisement. Earning and maintaining client trust and confidence remains the highest priority.

DC Retirement Strategies helps individuals and companies build, protect, and advance their financial well-being through retirement, insurance, and asset management solutions. They are passionate about helping clients of all income and portfolio sizes achieve their goals—offering innovative ideas, investment, and real-life solutions to make financial progress possible.

For more information on the move, please call DC Retirement Strategies at the office phone number: (402) 401-2319. To find out more about the company, visit DCretirement.com.

Insurance products from the Principal Financial Group® are issued

by Principal National Life Insurance Company (except in New York), Principal Life Insurance Company and the companies available through the Preferred Product Network, Inc. Securities and advisory products offered through Princor Financial Services Corporation, 800-247- 1737, member SIPC. Principal National, Principal Life, the Preferred Product Network, and Princor® are members of Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392. Rick Dhabalt and Greg Cismoski, Principal National and Principal Life Financial Representatives, Princor Registered Representatives, Financial Advisors. DC Retirement Strategies is not an affiliate of any company of the Principal Financial Group. 1308369-082020 OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business 7

BUSINESS NEWS Heartland International Holds Metal Roofing and Advanced Roofing Systems Training

TOSSIBLES Pivots to Heed Women’s Requests, Home Use is Here

Current and aspiring roofing contractors are invited to learn more about Conklin Roofing Systems at Heartland International, Inc.’s upcoming Metal Roofing and Advanced Roofing Systems Training seminars on tap in Kansas City in October. The one-day Metal Roofing System Training will cover not only the application process of a Conklin MR® System but also will provide an overview about how to get started as a Conklin contractor and introduce strategies for making sales calls, quoting a roof, presenting proposals, and working with building owners. The next Metal Roofing System Training program takes place on October 1, with more to be announced soon on the Heartland website.

The three-day Advanced Roofing Systems Training provides a more in-depth coverage of Conklin Roofing Systems and gives contractors a chance to participate in a hands-on construction of the systems using industry-standard tools and materials. Participants in this training must have completed a one-day Metal Roofing System Training program as a pre-qualification. The next Advanced Roofing Systems Training program is set for October 7–9.

For more information about the Heartland International, Inc. training programs, please visit heartland.conklinamerica.com and howiroofnow.com.

TOSSIBLES is proud to announce a pivot in its marketing plan, introducing beautiful options for personal use at home.

Women’s feedback was crystal clear during the company’s summer pilot program. They love TOSSIBLES and want them available at home during their periods, not just in commercial settings. Responses ranged from apartment residences in New York, to septic-system owners in Nebraska, to water-restricted residences in California: TOSSIBLES brought joy and stress-relief to the period disposal process!

TOSSIBLES is the first period disposal product to combine functionality and style—designed 100% from women’s feedback. Each TOSSIBLES pattern is created by a talented artist from around the world. When you shop TOSSIBLES, 10% of your purchase goes directly to providing feminine hygiene products to those who cannot afford them. With the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, people and businesses are more conscious than ever of creating more hygienic habits moving forward.

TOSSIBLES is transforming the female restroom experience by providing a sanitary and environmentally friendly way to toss soiled tampons, wipes, and pads with our biodegradable, disposable envelopes.

Easily take care of your period in any bathroom by ordering TOSSIBLES today. Learn more about TOSSIBLES at tossibles.com. Contact Owner Lisa Gill for more information at (402) 957-4700 / lisagill@tossibles.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS IQ Carwash Launches in Omaha, Makes Shining Up Your Vehicle a No-Brainer

Owner of God’s Got Your Back, LLC to Launch Calistus Multiple Myeloma Foundation

IQ Carwash launched in Omaha on March 24, in the early days of the pandemic, but the family-owned local business is going strong now—and they make cleaning your vehicle a no-brainer! No quarters required.

Just use your free app, pay at the kiosk, and pull into one of their bays. You can choose from the soft touch with 3D scanning, the touch-free automatic one, or the state-of-theart self-service bays, and you’re on your way to clean. Guaranteed. Maybe best of all, they’re open 24/7 and offer free vacuums, so you can spruce up your ride whenever the urge hits you.

The innovative technology and equipment employed by IQ Carwash is: SMARTER, thanks to 3D mapping technology that uses close-celled foam sponges; CLEANER due to high-tech equipment and premium biodegradable soaps; and GREENER because it uses less water and energy than many others. Check out the free IQ Carwash mobile app available for download in Google Play and the App Store, too. It’s time-saving, user-friendly, and convenient. Plus, you can use it to earn loyalty points, purchase wash bundles, single washes, or even gift a wash to someone to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, or good luck! All you have to do is scan your QR code in your app wallet at the kiosk, the doors will open, and you’re ready to wash!

For more information, take a spin through the IQ Carwash at 17477 Manderson St. in Omaha—just west of Dillon Brothers Harley Davidson on West Maple—call (402) 720-1069, or email Travis Barker at Travis@ iqcarwashomaha.com.

Judith Ngozi Obodougo, owner of God’s Got Your Back, LLC, will launch the Calistus Multiple Myeloma Foundation on Thursday, November 12, at noon. The online launch event, which lasts until 6 p.m., includes a virtual fundraiser to help families affected with the disease.

Judith decided to create the Calistus Multiple Myeloma Foundation in memory of her father, who died of Multiple Myeloma in 2016. The purpose of the foundation is to educate people about the disease, to help people recognize and watch out for the early stages, and to offer help and resources for those affected. Tickets to the fundraiser are available on Eventbrite.

Judith Ngozi Obodougo is an entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist who is active in Omaha’s business community. Not only has she written two books about navigating difficult paths in life, she’s also launched God’s Got Your Back, LLC and the Calistus Multple Myeloma Foundation in the same year. God’s Got Your Back is a business offering a selection of t-shirts, hoodies, and golf shirts with her message—that people can achieve anything they want in life, so long as they put their faith in God. For more information about God’s Got Your Back, LLC or the Calistus Multiple Myeloma Foundation, visit www.ngozitowneagle. com or contact Judith at (402) 686-3559.

Thank You Omaha!

Thank you for making our first shoe collection for One Day Without Shoes a success!

Cornhusker Bank and our partners pulled together to collect over 2000 pairs of shoes for the benefit of the Stephen Center. Together we are investing in our Omaha community and changing lives!

2020 Collection Site Partners Fraternal Order of Eagles Interiors Joan and Associates KSI Construction Prairie Homes Omaha Prchal Petersen Group QSR Services

Sarpy Chiropractic The Premier Advisory Group, LLC. Trios Salon ViewPointe Vision Woods Aitken Law Firm

From left: Cornhusker Bank Omaha Market President, Allen Chaffee; Bank VP/Relationship Manager, Tyler Albers; Stephen Center Executive Director, Michael Wehling; Bank President/ CEO, Barry Lockard; Stephen Center Chief Development Officer, Teri Corcoran; Donation Center Manager, Lori Swift; and Donation Center Assistant, Jen Summers. Photo at the Stephen Center with a sampling of shoe donations from One Day Without Shoes.

11102 Blondo Street | 402-671-0200 | CornhuskerBank.com | Member FDIC

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OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business

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BUSINESS NEWS Liberty First Credit Union Opens First Omaha Branch Location Liberty First Credit Union recently opened their first branch in Omaha, at 5011 S 108th St., and as the company continues to grow to meet members’ needs, they hired six new staff members for the new branch, as well as additional loan officers to serve their members in the Lincoln area.

Liberty First was originally chartered as the Burlington Employees Cooperative Credit Association in 1935 and served the employees of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. Over the years, Liberty First’s field of membership has grown to include family members, retirees, select groups of occupation and association, those living or working in Lancaster or Seward County, and those related to a member or someone within their field of membership. As their membership has grown, Liberty First has continually expanded their range of financial products and services to provide members with the services they desire.

Liberty First Credit Union is a full-service financial institution. Not-forprofit and member-owned, they offer everything from checking and savings to personal and mortgage loans. To learn more, contact Angie Schreiner at (402) 465-1000 / info@libertyfirstcu.com. You can also visit libertyfirstcu.com or visit their new Omaha location in person.

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Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

NAWIC Greater Omaha Introduces New Logo, Inducts 2020-21 Board of Directors In August, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) introduced its new logo and provided each of its 118 chapters—including NAWIC Greater Omaha Chapter No. 116—with their own personalized logos.

At the September 10 luncheon meeting of the NAWIC Greater Omaha Chapter, held at Pizza West in Omaha, the Chapter also inducted it 2020-21 officers and Board of Directors: • President: Ashley Meirose – University of Nebraska Medical Center • Vice president: Claire Andreesen – McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. • Secretary: Diane Fields – self-employed • Treasurer: Pam Bevins – Frank Bevins Painting, Inc. Other members of the new Board of Directors include: Vanicsa Czarnick, Project Control; Jennifer Harris, JE Dunn Construction; Karli Meisinger, Eyeman Plumbing Heating and Cooling; Lori Ruzicka, The Harry A. Koch Co.; Michele Shearer, Habitat for Humanity; and Sarah Tufly, Freedom Specialty Contracting, Inc. The core purpose of the National Association of Women in Construction is to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry. Meetings for the Greater Omaha Chapter No. 116 are held the second Thursday of each month. To learn more, visit nawicomaha.com or email nawicomaha@gmail.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Outlook Enrichment Launches Vision Beyond Sight in the Dark Series

Spirit Hub Makes Brickway Distillery Spirits Available Beyond State Lines

Outlook Enrichment is celebrating Blindness Awareness Month in a new way this year, with Vision Beyond Sight events—including Dessert in the Dark, Happy Hour in the Dark, and Dine in the Dark—to help bring services and a message of hope to people with vision conditions. Given the current uncertainties, Outlook Enrichment chose to celebrate the capabilities of their neighbors who are low-vision and blind through these new events. Sponsorship opportunities are still available to help raise money for the cause while everyone enjoys a little much-needed celebration in their lives.

Dessert in the Dark gives you everything you need to host an engaging experience for family and friends and to learn more about blindness.

Reserve your Dessert in the Dark to-Go experience at outlooken. org/vbs. Or you might choose to celebrate with the folks at Outlook Enrichment for Happy Hour in the Dark. You’ll get a chance to enjoy some delectable nibbles, meet some incredible people, and hear their stories of personal success, see adaptive technology firsthand, enjoy some special musical entertainment, and have some down-to-earth fun.

If you really want to get hands-on with the experience, you’ll want to choose the Dine in the Dark event, Outlook Enrichment’s sensory Dining Experience. You’ll enjoy an exclusive five-course tasting menu prepared by Chef Anthony of Dolce. The twist? You’ll wear a sleep shad throughout the event! For more information or to purchase your tickets for the fundraiser, visit outlooken.vbs or call (531) 365-5342.

Online craft spirits retailer Spirit Hub has partnered with Omaha’s Brickway Brewery & Distillery to make Brickway spirits available for delivery throughout Nebraska, Illinois, and North Dakota— and expanding. Based in Illinois, Spirit Hub is America’s only legally compliant, online craft-spirits retailer authorized to deliver independent distillers’ products direct-to-consumers. They select first-class independent distillers like Brickway and help them expand, in this case making Omaha-distilled American single-malt whisky, vodka, gin, etc. more accessible to customers outside of Nebraska for the first time ever. What’s more, Nebraska consumers now have access to direct delivery from Brickway and the 1,200 small-batch craft spirits from the more than 220 distilleries that Spirit Hub represents to date.

“Just being small, in general, makes it tough to compete with large producers,” said Brickway Brewery & Distillery President and Head Distiller Zac Triemert. “This gives us another platform with a great internet presence, so we can grow right along with Spirit Hub. They’ve been growing quite a bit, so we’re excited about the opportunity to expand into other markets.”

Spirit Hub’s role in the partnership is not without risks, either. They have the expertise to slog through the legal quagmire involved in selling over state lines and they maintain a three-tier regulatory compliance program for the partnership. Spirit Hub purchases craft spirits from Brickway at wholesale, then produces extensive online content for the brand—product descriptions, virtual happy hours, blogs, social media—all as part of a go-to-market strategy based specifically on Brickway’s product and values.

“The benefit to our business is to be able to ship directly and reach a lot more consumers,” Zac said. “If we tried to do it ourselves, we would have to find distribution partners in every territory and be beholden to them. Now, we have the ability to reach more states and increase our volume and footprint. It’s just a great opportunity for us.”

Spirit Hub Founder Michael Weiss said Spirit Hub “prides itself on creating a diverse market offering that gives consumers what they want and helps independent businesses grow in scale, especially amidst the economic challenges running rampant in 2020. We saw that independent distilleries had a huge challenge when it came to expanding their business outside of their local market. It takes a lot of resources that many small companies don’t have because they’re putting their resources back into the local market.”

Brickway Brewery & Distillery underwent a rigorous vetting process before Spirit Hub tendered the partnership. Spirit Hub verified that the Brickway brand is genuine with their trade and that it is legitimate.

They taste-tested, checked out the Brickway website, and learned about the founders, what they stand for, and why they exist.

“Delivering the consumer an authentic product is key to our delivery model,” Michael said. “We go through a process of about eight to twelve weeks of research, discussion, and interviews to ensure that we are delivering an authentic craft spirit from an independent distiller.

Brickway is a perfect match for us. We’re really excited to be in Nebraska. It’s a small market but has people who are loyal to their own, and we feel that it’s very good for our business to be in smaller, local markets and be able to know that people who live there will be able to enjoy things they have never had before.”

Brickway Brewery & Distillery is located at 1116 Jackson St. Learn about the tasting room and private events by going to www. drinkbrickway.com or calling (402) 933-2613. To order craft spirits online through Spirit Hub, visit www.spirithub.com.

OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business 11

AAN’s Nebraska Maintenance Academy Awarded FNBO Workforce Stability Grant The Nebraska Maintenance Academy of the Apartment Association of Nebraska (AAN) recently was awarded a First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) workforce-stability grant for its ongoing efforts to help workers displaced or suffering the ramifications of the pandemic on their jobs and incomes.

The Nebraska Maintenance Academy is a 501(c)(3) launched by the AAN in January 2019 to bring individuals into the multifamily maintenance industry by educating them at no cost. The tuitionfree program allows people looking for a new opportunity to begin a rewarding career as a maintenance technician even if they don’t have the finances to obtain costly vocational training.

With a consistently low rate of unemployment in Nebraska—at the same time that the apartment industry continues to grow steadily—the AAN recognized the need to help fill the maintenance requirements of its members. The Nebraska Maintenance Academy’s provision of hands-on, free instruction for individuals looking for a new, meaningful career amidst COVID was a perfect fit for FNBO’s workforce stability grant, which sought applicants that could specifically help displaced workers hit hardest by the pandemic. A subsidiary of First National of Nebraska, FNBO is committed to building stronger communities, including awarding more than $3 million in community development grants to organizations providing COVID-19 relief in May. The Apartment Association of Nebraska was founded in 2002 to provide its members with a one-stop resource for all industry information and education, in addition to advocating for members on all Nebraska multifamily legislative issues. For more information, visit aaneb.org or call (402) 333-5331. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS BBB Sends Cybersecurity Awareness Month Message to Businesses: #BeCyberSmart In recognition of October being National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is encouraging businesses and organizations to own their roles in protecting their little piece of cyberspace. In line with the NCSAM theme, Do Your Part: #BeCyberSmart, the BBB and the National Cyber Security Alliance aim to encourage implementation of stronger security practices, raise community awareness, educate vulnerable audiences, and train employees to create a safer and more resilient interconnected world for everyone.

BBB warns that criminals know that businesses are stressed out during the pandemic and are using the situation to steal their identities. They gain access to financial or other sensitive information by hacking, malware, phishing emails, and swiping credit-card information. Tips to avoid cyber scams include: protect your business’s bank accounts, including use of a two-person authorization system; protect your business identifying information, including your Employer and Tax identification numbers the way you would your Social Security information; and protect and monitor your state business-registration information, your business credit card, supplier, trade accounts, credit file, and your computers and networks.

The Better Business Bureau has been serving local communities since 1936.

The overall mission of the organization is to be a leader in advancing marketplace trust. Learn more about the BBB and tips for protecting your business against cybersecurity scams by visiting bbb.org/Nebraska or calling (800) 649-6814.

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Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

UNICO Named 2020 Best Practices Agency For the 11th year running, UNICO Group retained is Best Practices status in 2020, remaining part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies in the United States.

The award stems from UNICO’s participation in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big I) Best Practices Study and annual survey and study of leading independent insurance agencies that documents the business practices of the “best” agencies in the country and urges others to adopt similar practices.

“It is an honor to see UNICO listed amongst other great agencies in our industry,” said UNICO Group President Tom Champoux. “We are proud of our team’s commitment to growth as professionals and as people.

Our culture is built on teamwork and through that lies our success.”

Since 1993, the Big “I” and Reagan Consulting, an Atlanta-based management consulting firm, have joined forces to study the country’s leading agencies in six revenue categories. UNICO was nominated by either an IIABA affiliated state association or an insurance company and qualified based on its operational excellence. The selected Best Practices agencies retain their status during the three-year cycle by submitting extensive financial and operational data for review each year. This is the second year of the current three-year study cycle, for which more than 1,000 independent agencies throughout the U.S. were nominated to take part in the annual study in 2019 and only 262 agencies qualified.

UNICO Group is a full-service insurance agency with services ranging from commercial insurance, workers’ compensation, and employee benefits, to personal insurance and financial planning. To learn more, call (402) 434-7200 or visit unicogroup.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Former Boys Town Farm to Become Heartwood Preserve Development in West Omaha

New Sign to Kick-Start Fundraising for Inclusive Playground at Zorinsky Lake

The former Boys Town Farm at 144th Street and West Dodge Road is set to become a brand new development filled with shops, apartments, hotels, and office buildings called the Heartwood Preserve. The 500acre development will feature a “downtown” in its center, called The Row. The Row will be the life of Heartwood Preserve, lined with intimate, local restaurants and national retailers.

Fitness enthusiasts and families strolling around a beautiful lake view peninsula at Zorinsky Lake may notice a new sign next to an old, small, and seldom-used playground. The playground is surrounded by popular areas for fundraising walks and family gatherings. Imagine Inclusion, an Omaha 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is fundraising with the hope that this spot is soon transformed into a space where families of all abilities can gather and play together.

The multimillion-dollar development has been planned since 2016, after Applied Underwriters bought the plot of land in west Omaha.

Their purpose was to create something new for the people of Omaha and national visitors to live, work, shop, and play. According to Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley, the millions of dollars that will be invested in the property is a vote of confidence for the future of Nebraska.

The concept of Heartwood Preserve took over three years to develop and will likely take over 15 years to finish. The finished Heartwood development will be home to hundreds of businesses and shops, including a new Ovation retirement community, a residential district, a brand-new campus for Applied Underwriters, Valmont, and Carson Group, a beautiful walkable street front filled with shops and restaurants, an ONYX Automotive luxury car dealership, an amphitheater, farmers’ markets, and a beautiful, 19-acre park.

To find out what else is in store for Heartwood Preserve, visit www. heartwoodomaha.com or email info@heartwoodomaha.com.

Imagine Inclusion’s Zorinsky Lake project began with conversations between Omaha Parks and Recreation and Crouch Recreation. All three organizations are collaborating on this unique public-private partnership. Omaha Parks and Recreation approved the site and made a financial pledge equal to the replacement of the current playground. They will also maintain the playground after it is built.

With extensive input from Imagine Inclusion, Crouch Recreation designed the state of the art inclusive playground. The total cost of the project is $850,000 with $100,000 being raised by Imagine Inclusion. The group is responsible for raising the additional funds for the playground through grants, business sponsorships and private donations.

The plans for Imagine Inclusion’s inclusive playground include features meant for those with physical impairments, visual impairments, and sensory needs. Some of the features include flat rubber surfacing, two ramps, a roller slide, and a ground-level inclusive whirl. Donation and sponsorship information is available at www.imagineinclusion.org.

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OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business

13

ASK THE EXPERT: OUTLOOK NEBRASKA (531) 365-5055

OutlookBiz.co/Accessibility

Creating Accessible Digital Devices for Your Business In this digital age, we use technology for entertainment, shopping and conducting business. All companies use technology in some capacity.

Digital devices, such as keypads at ATMs, restaurant menus and airport check-ins are popular. These devices often make life convenient. However, just like websites and apps, if accessibility is not built into these devices, visually impaired and other disabled consumers have difficulty using them. According to the CDC, 61 million Americans have a disability that impacts major life activities. If your kiosks or other devices cannot be accessed by consumers with disabilities, you potentially miss out on millions of customers.

To ensure accessibility, here are Universal Design standards to keep in mind when creating a digital device: • Is the device easy to use if you cannot see well or at all?

• Is a text-to-speech feature available? And if so, does the device have a headphone jack?

• Is the device physically accessible for people in wheelchairs, Little People or anyone • who cannot stand upright?

• Is there a feature in place so that deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing people can use it?

These digital devices often use touch screens and cannot be accessed by blind people without tactile or audio features. Oftentimes, blind people lose privacy when asking for assistance. It is possible to modify existing devices and create new, fully accessible devices for blind and visually impaired consumers.

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Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

Is your website as ADA-compliant as your restrooms?

Expand your market reach and limit your legal risk.

Get affordable testing and remediation services from people who understand accessibility.

Call today for a free initial evaluation of your website.

outlookbiz.co/accessibility 531.365.5055 The Storm Audio-Mav is already being tested and used in the US. People with visual impairments, print disabilities and fine motor disabilities have had success with Storm Audio-Mav. It allows the user to navigate the screen with an audio feature. It has an illuminated, tactile display.

It can be fitted to existing devices or installed during the creation of new devices.

Companies with existing accessibility features for digital interfaces include: • IBM • SeePoint Technology • F-Origin As a way to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, we emphasize the critical role disabled customers can play in the economic success of businesses. Consumers with disabilities rely on digital devices to live independent lives, and you can be a leader in your industry when you ensure your devices can be used by everyone.

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You can trust that your car is always in good hands when you leave it with Cars R Us Auto Body in Omaha. They are a family-owned business specializing in putting customers’ best interest first—from cost and time to safety. The company was founded in 2000 by a second generation technician Chris Hunke. Cars R Us can see the results of their friendliness, professionalism, and quality of work by the customers who keep coming back time and time again.

Whether your car is suffering from rust damage or you were involved in an accident, they will work diligently to get your car in perfect condition and you back on the road as soon as possible.

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“I have taken pride in being the shop of choice for customers of highest scrutiny as well as being able to provide services to folks on budgets, while also being the shop of choice by some of the most talented technicians in the field.”

– Chris Hunke, Owner

BEFORE AFTER Collision Damage Rust Repair

BEFORE

Cars R Us provides free detailed estimates for all collisions.

Their staff guides you through the entire repair process to ensure you know what’s going on and where every cost stems from. Cars R Us is known for their great customer service and quick yet stellar repairs. They reserve priority space for collision customers in order to start working on the vehicle as soon as the auto body parts arrive. Customers can expect frequent updates on all aspects of the repair process.

AFTER

Chris added the Krown Rust Control brand to his offerings in November of 2018 because it is an environmentally-friendly product with unparallel results. Rust is truly the cancer of vehicles. Whether it is on a classic car or a daily driver, Cars R Us has a foolproof strategy to repairs. It could be a simple surface repair job or a full panel replacement, and Cars R Us will be ready to tackle the challenge. All qualified rust repairs are under warranty for five years with the use of Krown Rust Control products. Krown protection can also be used on motorcyles, bicycles, lawn mowers, snow blowers, hitches, power tools, latches and hinges, sliding doors, and more.

Cars R Us Auto Body keeps your exterior looking superior. They believe in honesty, integrity, and exceptional repairs. Jobs big or small, they can handle them all!

Here's what Cars R Us customers are saying!

“I was referred to Cars R Us Auto Body by 2 other body shops to repair cab corners on my truck. Chris did an excellent job repairing the truck and making sure that the repair was done correctly. I would refer anyone to Cars R Us if they need rust or collision repair.” –Alan S. “This is the kind of place that you could leave $500 in the console and it would still be there when you pick up your vehicle.”

–Thomas M.

“These guys are great. We’ve taken a few cars there, and referred several friends.

I’ve never had a negative experience, and neither have the people I sent their way.”

–Charlie L. “I would highly recommend Cars R Us! My husband and I have gone there three different times and were very impressed each time. They are great with communication and did a beautiful job on each repair.” –Caitlin C.

Contact Cars R Us Auto Body the next time your vehicle needs a repair. They’re located at 5020 William St. You can make an appointment by stopping by their shop, calling (402) 558-6393, or visiting their website at carsrusautobody.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business

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EMILY

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Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

Meet Emily Gilli, RN, functional medicine certified health coach, and the owner of Reveal & Heal Health and Wellness Coaching.

Tell us a little about your business. - Reveal & Heal provides health and wellness coaching in a functional medicine model of care. Coaching sessions are offered as a one-on-one service to men and women seeking to make permanent lifestyle changes either prompted by a medical provider or through their own self-awareness that a change needs to be made. I believe coaching fills a gap currently not offered in the healthcare system. It focuses on creation of heath so clients can attain true primary prevention of disease. I guide clients through personal reflection and positive psychology, character strengths, and goal setting in a way that leads to self-discovery and lasting change.

How did you get started in the business? - When I discovered functional medicine two years ago, I knew right away my career would take a different route. Functional medicine is a model I completely align with, and I wholeheartedly believe in it as the way of our future. It’s personal and integrative, and the goal is to heal disease and promote a healthy lifestyle, not just keep reacting to symptoms.

It doesn’t reject conventional medicine, but rather enhances it by looking at the issue from multiple dimensions. I decided to enroll in the 12-month FMCA (Functional Medicine Coaching Academy) program, and as they say, the rest is history!

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- Accepting myself as an informal leader. Most of my life was about achievement, for all the wrong reasons, then I realized that being in a high-up leadership position and actually leading are two different things. The day I accepted I was most effective outside the corporate ladder was the day I was set free.

Tell us a little about your family. - My husband Marco and I have three children: Lewe (18, pronounced Lee-uh-vuh), Xzavier (16), and Brody (15). We have a dog, four cats, and a green cheek conure. As a blended family, we have worked really hard to have open communication, structure, and function as a family unit even when the kids are all going different directions or living in different households for a time.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Breakfast with Marco, playing pickleball, a nap, and some reading.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I am what is called a transitional character. It’s a person, who in a single generation, changes the entire course of a lineage.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Transformative.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I’ve always had a passion for the Backpack Program with the Omaha Food Bank. I can’t understand how we have kids (anyone for that matter) going hungry in Omaha, in America, in the world.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk. It’s about how trauma reshapes the body and the brain, and how to reclaim your life after trauma.

What is your favorite TV show? - Recently, I binge-watched Outlander.

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

- emily@revealandheal.coach; www.revealandheal.coach. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

DOUG

Doug Neill

TOP SPOT CLEANING & SOLUTIONS TOO Meet Doug Neill, owner of Top Spot Cleaning & Solutions Too. Tell us a little about your business. - Top Spot Cleaning & Solutions Too is a facility maintenance company that started out as a professional floor and carpet care cleaning service. While we usually promote carpet and floor care to residential and commercial properties, amid the Covid-19 outbreak, we are heavily promoting the Solutions Too side of the business, which is the inventory division of the company. The names to remember are Benefect, Chlorline Dioxide, and Simix. Each of these disinfecting and sanitizing solutions have tremendous benefits.

I’m especially passionate about educating people on Chlorine Dioxide (CLO2). It sounds scary because of the chemical name, but it is a very versatile and effective decontaminating product. Not only is it completely safe to use, it is odorless. The CLO2 helps destroy bacteria, viruses, and some types of parasites that can make people sick. Right now, we are offering a special $50 package for businesses which includes three gallons of CLO2 and SIMIX, a high-Ph sanitizing product used to remove the top layers of biofilm.

How did you get started in the business? - I have a long background in cleaning. I started at the age of 19 with a Service Master franchise.

I was a part of building it from the ground up. In 1996, I founded A-Cross Time Cleaning. I eventually sold the company to pursue other interests and didn’t plan on getting back into the cleaning business, but I ended up missing it. So, in 2014, I started Top Spot Cleaning. My previous customers were very happy to hear I was back in the game.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Being 100% honest in everything I do despite the common temptation business owners have to be anything less.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- The customers who have stuck with me throughout all my years in this industry. It tells me I’m doing something right.

Tell us a little about your family. - My wife and I have two kids and four grandkids. They all live in the area.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Rest.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “It’s not time yet.” These are words that Morgan Freeman said in one of my favorite movies, Evan Almighty, and they struck me. It’s important to be patient and wait for the timing to be right.

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

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Insurance. It’s a profession that adds security to people’s life.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Bridges to Hope. I worked closely with Pastor Bud to get the organization started. Through generous donations, we are able to provide services, clothing, household items, and other essentials to men and women who have been released from incarceration. By doing so, we help ensure a peaceful and safe transition back into society.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers by Brian Kilmeade.

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

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 570-4307; TopSpotCleaning@hotmail.com; TopSpotCleaning.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

CAREBUILDERS AT HOME Meet Brenda C. Ouellette, the CEO at CareBuilders at Home in Omaha.

Tell us a little about your business. CareBuilders at Home in Omaha provides in-home, non-medical services and care for people of all ages. We are dedicated to helping our clients lead dignified, independent lifestyles in the comfort and safety of their own homes.

It is a gift to be a servant and to be trusted to care for something as intimate as someone’s healthcare needs. My clients and their family member(s) matter to me, and it is my goal with each person to bring them as much peace and comfort as possible.

How did you get started in the business? - Since about age 13, I have known that my purpose in life was to serve others, I just didn’t know to what capacity. A seed was planted in 1996 when I became a Certified Nurses Assistant at Millard Good Samaritan in Omaha.

From there, my path became more clear.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Not being able to help everyone who crosses my path with a need. Each person deserves the best quality of care and attention to detail, so I have to make sure I don’t stretch myself too thin. I trust my partnerships, and we all work closely to make sure everyone is taken care of.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? Stepping out on faith and partnering with CareBuilders at Home. Tell us a little about your family. - I have two beautiful children—Brittany (27) works for me as my HR manager and Brian (25) works for me as a Certified Nurses Assistant and Medication Aide. I also have the most amazingly smart grandson named Auriaun. I am the youngest child of four and my father was in the Air Force so I have lived in many places all over the world.

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

- In 2005 when I stepped out on faith and went to college full-time, I worked three jobs, was a single parent and obtained my associate’s degree in 2007, my bachelor’s degree in 2009, master’s degree in 2010, and my PhD in 2019.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I love to garden, paint, read, take long walks, volunteer, and, most importantly, spend time with my family.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Mahatma Gandhi If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Servant.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “I Give Myself Away”

by William McDowell.

Which talent would you most like to have? - To speak Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and French.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Missionary work.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - The Alzheimer’s Association. People with dementia deserve the best care possible.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.

What is your favorite movie? - A Walk in the Clouds.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 506-9368; bouellette@carebuildersathome.com; www. carebuildersathomeomaha.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

RICK

Rick King

KING INSURANCE AGENCY Meet Rick King, president at King Insurance Agency.

Tell us a little about your business. - We are a family-owned insurance agency with family values. You are so much more than just a customer. We want to know you and your family so we can provide the best insurance coverage for your needs.

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TEMS What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - After WAT E R S OF N E R S · DRINKING SYS TE 9/11, the insurance world changed along with so many things. At the same time, our largest carrier decided to get out of the insurance business leaving us scrambling for markets. Fortunately, we had a number of close relationships with agencies across the country. We 1 formed American Insurance Alliance and supported each other 2020AquaSystems_3_68x2_41.indd as we got new markets…and we still do.

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What has been your most important achievement professionally? I have been asked to present insurance/risk-related talks at a number of industry conventions. I feel honored to share my knowledge and expertise with others Tell us a little about your family. - Teresa and I have been married for 36 years. We have two boys, ages 29 and 26, and a daughter who is 19.

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

- I left a job teaching AP History to come to work for King Insurance.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy working in the yard and a good competitive game of pickleball.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I was a member of the Nebraska National Guard running team years ago. My favorite race was going to Washington, D.C. to run the Marine Corp Marathon.

Who inspires you? - My late grandfather Elmer Holmquist. He was a kind, honest, hardworking man that grew up on a Nebraska farm during the Great Depression.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Devoted.

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

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - Time jumper.

I love history. Going back in time to see the event that shaped history would be exciting.

Which talent would you most like to have? - Singing. I love to sing but, admittedly, I am off tune.

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If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I did enjoy teaching. I hope when I retire I will find a way to get back into the classroom in some capacity.

An annual Krown treatment is one of the best investments you can make.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I stay busy as president of my HOA, president of the Nebraska Manufactured Housing Association, and as an Elder plus clerk of the Session of Peace Presbyterian Church.

Book your appointment today!

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

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

- (402) 597-5224; rick@kingins.com; kingins.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

of Omaha 5020 William Street | Omaha, NE 68106 402-558-6393 | www.carsrusautobody.com OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business

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JUDITH

Judith Ngozi Obodougo

GOD’S GOT YOUR BACK Meet Judith Ngozi Obodougo, founder and CEO at God’s Got Your Back, LLC. Tell us a little about your business. - God’s Got Your Back is a health and wellness product business inspired by my book, God’s Got Your Back, which I authored in 2019. We offer a selection of t-shirts, hoodies, and golf shirts with this important and meaningful message on them.

How did you get started in the business? - After I released the book, I wanted to impact an even wider audience with items that had the God’s Got Your Back message on them and made people feel good about themselves whenever they wore or used the items.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - The pandemic hit right after I launched my business which has been difficult, but I’m putting everything in God’s hands.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? The connections I’ve formed with other female entrepreneurs in Omaha.

Tell us a little about your family. - I am the daughter of a Nigerian businessman. I have four older brothers and two younger sisters.

More than ever, this is what What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your defines our community. life? - Becoming a mother.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Catch up with my family (especially my sisters) and friends, watch and listen to webinars to implement into my business and foundation, work on my talk show guest list and questionnaires, meditate, work out, pamper myself (self care), and, most importantly, spend time with my son.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that 20_POG50_STRICTLYBUSINESS_OCT_DOG_AD.indd 1 9/4/20 2:39 PMmost people probably don’t know? - I feel things very strongly.

That can make me a bit of a cry baby at times, but I never allow negative thoughts to linger.

Who inspires you? - My dad. I am a female version of him.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Be kind.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child.

Controls If you could have a superpower, what would it be? - To be able Light Commercial HVAC Control Systems to help everyone. In God’s time, it will happen.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - A talk show host or I’d open up a camp for young women.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - My dad passed away from multiple myeloma cancer. I’m actually in the process of launching a foundation in his memory to educate people on the disease.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - I’ve been inspired by many authors and their work over the years, but my favorite has to be my own because of the amazing journey I had writing it and now sharing it with others.

Cloud based/Web Access • Zoning Applications • Easy To Install & Configure What is your favorite movie? - The Pursuit of Happiness.

Perfect For Retrofit Projects • Free Software • Easy Mobile Access What is your favorite TV show? - Grey’s Anatomy. I wanted to be a doctor when I was attending school in Nigeria before I came to the U.S., so it makes me feel like I am practicing medicine.

Prolon Controls is a leading manufacturer of HVAC control systems If you could have dinner with one famous person from the designed specifically light commercial buildings. past or present, who would it be? - Warren Buffet. I have a few pointers to get from him.

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Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

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GREG

Greg Rogers

OUTLOOK BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Meet Greg Rogers, the accessibility testing manager for Outlook Business Solutions.

Tell us a little about your business.

- Outlook Business Solutions provides marketing, customer care, and accessibility testing services to businesses. Our mission is to create an inclusive and integrated environment populated with talented professionals with consideration and accommodations for those who are blind or low vision. About half of our team members live with vision loss. Businesses can be successful and socially responsible by outsourcing accessibility testing, marketing, and customer care projects to Outlook Business Solutions.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - One of the biggest challenges I face is that most companies are either not aware of the need for accessibility of their digital content or they believe that an automated solution can resolve all issues. However, manual examination will provide them a true understanding of the experience of their applications and websites.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? I have had the privilege of working for large and small organizations in the public and private sectors. At various points of my career, I helped bring products to market to benefit individuals of all abilities.

I also assisted with testing of hardware, software/applications, and websites for accessibility issues. Finally, I had the opportunity to mentor a coworker who ended up with physical challenges later in life.

Tell us a little about your family. - I was raised by wonderful parents and have two beautiful sisters, one is a professor at a local college and the other does graphic design and coaches dance/gymnastics.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy the company of family and friends. I am also a sports, technology, and music enthusiast.

Who inspires you? - There is a friend who I attend church with every Sunday. This person is a faithful Catholic and puts family first. I admire their ability to lead and positive attitude in times of joy and when they face unexpected challenges.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

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

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - Music. I started playing the piano at age five and earned a college scholarship while doing so. I also played the cello through the beginning of my college years.

Which talent would you most like to have? - I wish I were a more fluent speaker. I find myself over thinking and looking for the right words. My delivery is generally not as smooth as I would like it to be.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I think voice acting is something I could have done reasonably well, with lots of refinement, of course. I have always envied announcers in professional sports settings. That is such a neat role.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I volunteered at a Catholic organization called Alexandra’s house in KC. Their mission was to support families with infants with limited life spans and provide essential services while helping them through their time of need.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Beacon Hills is very nice.

They have quality food and excellent service.

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

- (402) 616-1746; www.outlookbusinesssolutions.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

PERSONNEL NEWS

402.884.0066 | cfosystemsllc.com

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CFO Systems is a team of CFO's, controllers, bankers, accountants, finance, procurement, and human resources directors who are able to offer organizations of all sizes their expertise without the expense of a full-time executive hire. Not every business or organization has the resources available to get them to where they want to be, whether that be limited capital or management capabilities. That's why CFO Systems offers access on a fractional level so these organizations can get the leadership, resources, partnerships, strategy, creativity, and talent they need. Combined, CFO Systems has over 1,700 years of experience across multiple industries.

At CFO Systems, their vision is to be the partner that helps every company grow and reach their potential. They are accessible when you need it, for as much as you need it, and for as long as you need it. The CFO Systems team has led clients through mergers • Biotech and acquisitions, turnarounds, restructuring, spend management, • Construction steep growth, capital raises, organizational changes, and more.

• Family CFO Clients rely on them to be objective partners and strategic leaders.

• Financial Services • Food & Agriculture • Government • Healthcare • Fractional, Interim, Project, or Timeshare CFO • Manufacturing • Nonprofit • Accounting • Bank Loan Review • Capital • Controller • Renewable Energy • Human Resources • Project • Strategic Planning • Rural Hospitals • SEC Filing • Turnarounds • Transportation

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A separate entity under the CFO Systems brand is CFO Systems Search & Staffing. Regardless of the level of position or the industry, CFO Systems Search & Staffing is uniquely equipped to understand how best to pair candidates and employers in order to achieve career and organizational goals. Their own background in Big 4 accounting firms, Fortune 500 corporations, and regional companies offers clients and candidates distinct insights and expertise. Talent acquisition and retention is as critical to business as it is to the candidates—especially in accounting and finance. This is why CFO Systems Search & Staffing's selection methodology is detailed, personal, rigorous, and proven. It enables them to build a deep understanding of the professional and organization to ensure success in both the near and long term. CFO Systems Search & Staffing goes beyond the resume to understand the character and personality, drive, intelligence, and resourcefulness that are critical to professional success and satisfaction. They also understand that no two companies are alike—and neither are their accounting and finance needs. So, they invest in their partnerships with organizations to develop an insider’s understanding of the culture, demands, challenges, expectations, and rewards.

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Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

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PERSONNEL NEWS Strictly Business Welcomes Dillon Crawford Strictly Business recently welcomed Dillon Crawford to the team as art director. Dillon’s passion for working with clients to create compelling ads and layout design for the magazine make him a perfect fit for the position. He is responsible for communicating with clients and building ads that market their businesses in ways that translate to improved visibility and customer attraction and retention.

He also performs all layout for the magazine and has become the go-to photographer for all things visual. When Dillon’s not creating compelling design at the office, you’ll likely find Dillon following sports— especially football—creating tasty dishes at the helm of the grill, golfing, fishing, hiking, or watching thought-provoking flicks.

Strictly Business has been a reliable news source and effective advertising tool in Omaha for 14 years. To learn more, visit strictly-business.com.

Dillon can be reached directly at design@strictlybusinessomaha.com or by calling the office at (402) 466-3330.

Berry Law Attorneys Make Prestigious Super Lawyers List for Fourth Consecutive Year Super Lawyers recently recognized Berry Law attorneys John S. Berry, Jr., Justin Kalemkiarian, and Seth Morris with three of their annual awards, marking the fourth consecutive year that Berry Law lawyers have made the prestigious list. For the 2020 Great Plains list, John S. Berry, Jr. was honored as a Super Lawyer, while Justin and Seth were recognized as Rising Stars. The awards stem from peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research, and Super Lawyers selects only the highest and most impressive attorneys for the John S. Berry Jr. award. Of those nominated, only 5% are selected to the Super Lawyers list and only 2.5% of candidates under the age of 40 are named to the Rising Stars list.

John S. Berry Jr. practices primarily in criminal defense, assisting clients in some of the toughest battles in their lives. He is a past president of the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association and is a fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. He has lectured in areas of criminal defense, trial skills, and veterans’ disability appeals. This Justin Kalemkiarian marks John’s third consecutive of recognition

by Super Lawyers.

Justin represents clients facing criminal charges in state and federal courts. He practices primarily in criminal defense and related civil and license-defense cases, emphasizing drug crimes, Title IX allegations, white-collar crimes, and professional license defense. Justin was also named a Great Plains Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2019.

Seth has trial experience in civil and criminal cases at the state and federal levels. Primarily Seth Morris handling criminal-defense cases, this is Seth’s first year being named a Rising Star.

For more information about Berry Law, visit BerryLawFirm.com or contact Emily Schweitzer at (402) 466-8444 or marketing@jsberrylaw.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

KPE Promotes Jennifer Schoening to Manager of Marketing KPE Architecture – Engineering – Forensics is proud to announce that they promoted former front desk receptionist Jennifer Schoening to manager of marketing in July. Jennifer started with KPE just over a year ago, coming from more than seven years of work in the retail-management industry. Jennifer’s leap of faith into a new industry has paid off with this promotion.

Her hard work and determination shined through and quickly became a valuable asset for KPE. KPE is a full service architectural and engineering firm providing critical interdisciplinary in-house design services. For more than 20 years, clients have collaborated with KPE to create enduring places for living, learning, working, and community gathering. Each year, KPE investigates hundreds of property-loss claims, including structural integrity, roof damage, HVAC failures, plumbing failures, fires, and construction errors. KPE is proud to have a representation of 30% of women behind their brand. Professionals from all disciplines work side-by-side as design collaborators to create facilities that address specific client needs and are able to serve clients all across the Great Plains.

To learn more about KPE Architecture – Engineering – Forensics, visit kpe-inc.com, or contact Jennifer at (888) 484-4939 / jschoening@kpe-inc.com.

Nebraska Community Foundation Welcomes Michael Wunder as Community Storyteller Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) proudly welcomes Michael Wunder of Lincoln to its growing network of communitydevelopment specialists. Since joining the staff in March as a community storyteller, the Omaha native has worked with numerous volunteers in the NCF network’s more than 250 communities to share their stories of success and help promote their ongoing efforts to strengthen Greater Nebraska.

Wunder’s work will appear on NCF’s website, nebcommfound.org, as well as in newsletters and reports.

Wunder graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Prior to joining NCF, he spent five years covering multiple southeast Nebraska communities as a reporter for two weekly newspapers—The Waverly News and The Voice News of Southeast Nebraska. During that time, he received multiple writing and photography awards, include the Nebraska Press Association’s 2017 Outstanding Young Journalist Award for weekly newspaper journalists.

Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska Community Foundation unleashes abundant assets, inspires charitable giving, and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a greater Nebraska.

The Foundation serves communities, donors, and organizations by providing financial management, strategic development, education, and training to a statewide network of 1,500 volunteers serving 260 communities. In the last five years, 44,476 contributions have been made to NCF and its affiliated funds. Since 1994, they have reinvested $355 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For more information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.

OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business 23

PERSONNEL NEWS Xcel Roofing Welcomes Pastor Logan Merrick as Sales Representative

Ovation Heartwood Preserve Hires Jennifer Neid as Community Relations Director

In June, Xcel Roofing welcomed Logan Merrick as their new sales representative. Also a pastor, Logan’s responsibilities include inspecting home exteriors, including the roof, siding, windows, and gutters, plus walking customers through the insurance process.

Originally from Florida, Logan and his wife and four children moved to Nebraska three years ago to start a church. He has a background in ministry and his family enjoys serving right alongside him. The church they started, recently renamed Doxa Church, is currently meeting in a house with members of the community. Logan also served as a pastor and chaplain for the Nebraska National Guard serving the 126 Chemical Unit out of Omaha. He recently decided he wanted to expand his professional endeavors beyond his ministries, and his dedication to our troops and their families stood out to Xcel.

Logan feels passionate about Xcel’s insistence on honesty, integrity and involvement in community and is proud to work for a company whose values align closely with his own.

All of Xcel’s employees share a love for the Omaha community and feels passionately about honesty and integrity. To learn more, go to loveourroof.com or follow Excel Roofing on Facebook (@ XcelRoofingLoveOurRoof). To reach Logan directly, call (816) 382-1296 or email him at LoganMerrick@loveourroof.com.

Ovation by Heartwood Preserve recently announced the hiring of Jennifer Neid to fill the community relations director position. Jennifer brings a celebrated, decades-long hospitality background to Heartwood Preserve, including years of bringing large conventions, people, and jobs, to the Omaha Convention Center. She knows that Omaha is a hidden jewel and now enjoys telling families throughout the region about Ovation Heartwood Preserve and how it’s different from any other senior community of its kind. As the community relations director, it is Jennifer’s job to tell the story of the region’s lifestyle village that offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care.

Jennifer is a lifelong Husker fan, growing up in a Lil’ Red family and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. When she isn’t cheering on her favorite school or supporting the residents at Ovation Heartwood preserve, she’s off camping, scuba diving, traveling, or reading.

Ovation Heartwood Preserve offers exceptional, residential living and experiences and innovative technology options that allow guests to communicate with family, friends, and the world around them. To learn more, visit ovationheartwoodpreserve.com or call (402) 999-7900.

Millard Business Association Spotlights Members Ashley O’Neal and Matt Pinkerton Schmid Was Honorary Starter at PLV Schools Foundation Annual Golf Tourney With his long-time support of Papillion La Vista Community Schools and the entire community, it was fitting that Al Schmid served as the honorary starter for the 34th Annual PapillionLa Vista Schools Foundation Swing for Kids Golf Tournament on August Honorary Starter Al Schmid 3 at Eagle Hills Golf Course. Schmid (left) and Papillion La Vista kicked off the day with a ceremonial Schools Foundation Executive Director John Erickson. swing, joined by Schools Foundation Executive Director John Erickson, Superintendent Dr. Andy Rikli, and La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig.

Sc hmid’s dedication to the Foundation golf tournament spans more than three decades, and he Honorary Starter Al Schmid has supported Papillion La Vista (fourth from right) with his Schools as a business leader, donor, parent, grandparent, and friend. family members who turned out to support him.

Schmid also has served on multiple boards and committees, including the Papillion La Vista Board of Education, and he was inducted into the Papillion La Vista Community Hall of Fame as Community Booster in 2010.

This was the 34th Annual Swing for Kids Golf Tournament to benefit the Papillion-La Vista Schools Foundation. More than 115 golfers hit the course at 11 a.m. All proceeds raised will support 15 ongoing programs that allow for exceptional educational experiences for students in Papillion La Vista Community Schools. For more information about the Papillion-La Vista Schools Foundation, please visit plvschoolsfoundation.org.

24 Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

The Millard Business Association (MBA) is pleased to recognize two of its outstanding members—Ashley O’Neal and Matt Pinkerton.

MBA has thrived over the last 13 years because of outstanding members like these two, who are respected and admired for their community dedication, strong work ethic, and leadership.

Ashley is the marketing director at SignIT, leads the Millard Business Young Professional Committee, and is co-chair of the Golf Committee. SignIT helped the community with signs for restaurants and businesses Ashley O’Neal when COVID-19 started with shutdowns.

Ashley worked diligently to get the word out to help others with free SignIT signs.

Ashely’s clients know her to be passionate, motivated, and professional.

Matt Pinkerton is a financial advisor at Prudential Financial. He started the Millard Masterminds referral group, is vice president of the MBA Young Professionals Group, and is very active in MBA. Matt is a strong believer in honesty, integrity, confidentiality, and the utmost professionalism. His clients have come to Matt Pinkerton know and expect regular contact for account reviews, rapid responses to questions, prompt resolutions, individualized goals, and personalized strategies.

If you’re a business owner who wants to get more involved with likeminded individuals and the community at large, the Millard Business Association is a terrific outlet. As a member, you’ll find yourself in the perfect environment to share and connect with other professionals in a way that adds value, creates opportunities, and is fun for all. Learn more at millardbusinessassociation.org or connect on Facebook (@ MillardBusinessAssociation). #PrintProudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS West Gate Bank® Welcomes Chad Tettenborn, Nick Parker to Omaha Branches The West Gate Bank® Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Chad Tettenborn as vice president, commercial loan officer, and Nick Parker as assistant vice president, business banking solutions officer.

Tettenborn brings 15 years of experience in Financial Services to his new role at West Gate Bank. He will develop relationships in the Omaha market to assist commercial lending clients with their business-financing needs, including real-estate lending. He will be available to counsel customers on Chad Tettenborn different credit options and use West Gate Bank resources to help them meet other business needs.

Originally from Omaha, Tettenborn received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University and his MBA from Creighton University. He ser ves on the Finance Committee for Kids Can Community Center and is a past board member and treasurer; serves as an Advisory Board member for the Nebraska Enterprise Fund; and is Nick Parker active in St Margaret Mary’s Church. Chad Tettenborn is located at West Gate Bank® Pacific Springs branch at 1020 South 179th Ct. and can be reached at (402) 758-8723 or ctettenborn@westgate.bank.

A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Nick graduated from Metropolitan Community College in Omaha with an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice and from Bellevue University with a Bachelor of Science in Management. He brings 15 years of banking experience to his role with the Business Banking Solutions team, for which he will customize product solutions for customers to enhance business banking portfolios and create additional benefits for businesses, as well as develop and maintain business account relationships.

Nick served as Chairman of the Board for the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce in 2017 and 2020 and has been on the Board of Directors since 2011. He also serves on the Board for the YMCA Armbrust Chapter and volunteers with the Gretna Volunteer Fire Department. He coached Millard United Elite Baseball from 201419 and was the assistant coach for Millard United Classic in 2020.

Nick Parker is located at West Gate Bank at 9775 Q St. and can be reached at (402) 731-2179 or nparker@westgate.bank.

West Gate Bank® is a family-owned community bank with 10 locations in Lincoln and Omaha. West Gate Bank is large enough to serve all your personal or commercial banking needs yet small enough to provide the outstanding personal service that only a community bank can deliver. At West Gate Bank, their interest is you! Visit westgate.bank for more information.

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, email editor@strictlybusinessomaha.com, or submit your news online via www.strictlybusinessomaha.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

True North Technologies Brings On Tasha Dahlberg as Chief Integration Officer True North Technologies, a Lincoln-based business launched by Renee Sobotka, recently brought Tasha M. Dahlberg onto the team as chief integration officer. Tasha is eager to hit the ground running by implementing and cultivating the company’s vision and culture.

Tasha, a Nebraska native from Lincoln, brings exciting strengths including restorative, command, relator, activator, and achiever to the True North family. Throughout her career, Tasha has never shied away from rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands dirty. One thing is for sure, she is always willing to go the extra mile for her company and colleagues. From helping with a rapidly approaching deadline to hosting a last-minute event, Tasha is always there with a signature side dish in hand. She has one daughter who serves in the military and four very active boys at home. Tasha spends her off-hours busing them from one hockey tournament to the next while making sure her husband and his coaching staff are fed before they hit the bench. No one likes a hangry coach!

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.

Care Consultants for the Aging Welcomes Interns Amelia Lee and Natalie Stathos Care Consultants for the Aging in Omaha is excited to announce that they have brought on two new interns, Amelia Lee and Natalie Stathos. Both joined the team in mid-August and attend Creighton University.

Amelia is currently getting her undergraduate degree in Healthcare Administration and policy and will be interning for two months.

She has been leading some projects with Care Consultants Home Care in getting reviews, planning events, and learning from their customer-service programs. She enjoys playing Amelia Lee on the golf team at Creighton and is from Denver, CO. Amelia is excited to be learning things by actually being hands-on and loves that Care Consultants is a welcoming, kind, guiding environment.

Natalie is currently working as an administrative intern and is in charge of updating the resource handbook and company website, as well as confirming aspects of multiple caregivers’ applications. This includes verifying that their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) licenses are active, verifying employment with past Natalie Stathos and current employers, and calling personal references. Natalie’s passion for geriatric care was sparked when she spent time acting as her grandfather’s primary caregiver following his stroke in 2016. She hopes to pursue a career in assisted-living administration and obtain her MBA. Care Consultants for the Aging’s home care services provide the elderly and their adult children with support in their home, in the form of companionship, running errands, providing care, giving medications, and the like. To learn more, visit careconsultants.com or call (402) 398-1848.

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Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

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NONPROFIT NEWS Wear Yellow Nebraska Presents 2nd Annual East-West Groveler Gravel Race

CenterPointe Walk-in Crises Double, Hotline Calls Increase 42% in Wake of COVID

If you’re up for a little competition between friends while supporting a great cause, Wear Yellow Nebraska’s 2nd Annual East-West Groveler Gravel Race is for you.

On tap for October 10 to October 18, the “virtual” race format means that cyclists have that week to complete the race route starting and finishing at Parker’s Smokehouse in Ashland. Using the Platte River as the divide, register for a team (either East or West) by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 9 to participate. In an email along with your Strava, RidewithGPS, or Garmin handle, you will need to submit a picture of yourself, with your GPS device showing the time and distance when you finish the race route. The course spans about 40 miles.

While CenterPointe recognizes that COVID has clearly had negative effects on people’s physical health, their main focus has turned to the more pervasive and the devastating repercussions it is having on the community’s mental health. Calls to CenterPointe’s crisis hotline have increased 42% since March, and walk-ins to the clinic have doubled. On a national level, research indicates that the number of individuals reporting anxiety have increased an alarming 279% and those who are experiencing depression have increased 188% since April.

The Team with the lowest number of points wins! Once registration closes, team size will be set by the lowest number of participants signed up for the East or West team. Finishers receive a point equal to their finish position based on the finishing time provided in a photo with your GPS device. Your Strava, Garmin, or RidewithGPS handle will also need to be provided again for verification. On Monday, October 19, Wear Yellow Nebraska will be sharing the results through a live Facebook event (@ WearYellowNebraska).

Wear Yellow Nebraska is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a clear focus on niche initiatives that offer cancer survivors with support that was not otherwise addressed and for people who might otherwise fall through the cracks—truly caring for each individual’s special circumstances.

For more information about the East-West Groveler Gravel Race, visit wearyellownebraska.org/groveler or call (402) 965-1699.

Open Door Mission Seeking Donations to Meet Urgent Holiday Needs Open Door Mission needs the Omaha community’s help to provide for the neediest neighbors this holiday season, as they gear up to gather the required support through three holiday initiatives: Turkey ‘N’ Fixin’s, Project Santa, and Christmas Bells. This year has been hard on many people financially and more families need help, so the Mission is asking residents to consider hosting a drive or shopping their Amazon WishList to help them meet the most urgent needs.

This holiday season, Open Door Mission expects to provide more than 284,820 fresh, nutritious meals to the Heartland’s hungry and homeless.

To do this, their Turkey ‘N’ Fixin’s project collects canned vegetables and fruit, cereal, cookies, peanut butter, boxed meals and potatoes, stuffing, canned meat, pasta and pasta sauce, soup, mac ‘n’ cheese, and frozen turkeys and hams.

Project Santa provides toys to needy boys and girls so that everyone gets gifts on Christmas morning. Needed toys include toddler toys, small and medium Lego sets, all sports balls, board games and puzzles, dolls, gift cards for Walmart and Target, Play-Doh sets, cars, and more.

Finally, Open Door Mission’s Christmas Bells program will provide gifts to homeless men and women. Needed items include men’s underwear, decks of cards, earbuds, tube socks, men’s wallets, men’s and women’s watches, bath sets, makeup, hair dryers, adult coloring books with colored pencils, shaving kits, and gift cards.

If you want to make a difference this holiday season, consider hosting a drive to help Open Door Mission. Contact Kristen Dineen at (402) 829-1538 / kdineen@opendoormission to help. Learn more at opendoormission.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

If you are in need of mental-health or substance-abuse services or know somebody who is, CenterPointe’s crisis line is available 24/7 at (402) 475-6695. The organization’s new outpatient clinic in Lincoln is open to walk-ins without an appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The organization’s Lincoln location officially began operating as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center on August 1 and is looking to establish outpatient services at its Omaha location soon.

CenterPointe provides treatment, rehabilitation, housing, and crisis services for people experiencing mental-health and substance-use disorders. Their goal is to address mental-health and addictionrecovery needs, in concert with primary care, to support whole-bodyand-mind health in the journey toward overall well-being. For more information, visit centerpointe.org or call (402) 475-5161.

Midlands Community Foundation Brings Back Matching Charitable Program Midlands Community Foundation is excited to bring back its MCF Matching Charitable Program beginning on Giving Tuesday, December 1, 2020, and ending January 5, 2021. For years, Midlands Community Foundation (MCF) has provided donors a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving. As 2020 comes to a close, MCF looks forward to again helping donors accomplish their charitable objectives.

Under the Matching Charitable Program, MCF will provide matching funds for new contributions made to existing and newly created Affiliated General, Designated, Donor Advised, Field of Interest, and Scholarship Funds. Matching donations will be made on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to a limit of $5,000 per individual donor, and subject to a maximum of $100,000 of matching dollars being available in the aggregate for all Funds. If more than $100,000 is contributed on an aggregate basis to all Funds, the matching dollars will be pro-rated among such donors based on the total contributions made. Last year, 1,170 donors raised more than $794,821, with $481,154 qualifying for matching funds, to support the missions of 80 charitable funds established at MCF. “Our Matching Charitable Program offers a great opportunity for our new and existing charitable funds to stretch their charitable dollars, raise awareness, and make a difference, and we are pleased to be able to offer this program again this year,” said Tonee Gay, Midlands Community Foundation executive director.

The mission of Midlands Community Foundation is to benefit the diverse needs of the Sarpy and Cass county communities by providing financial support, involvement and service. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated millions of dollars to many worthy organizations. Learn more online at midlandscommunity.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Youth Emergency Services Raises More than $75K from Successful Golf Outing

Business Picks Back Up at Cross Training Center’s Electric Recycling Facility

More than 130 golfers from throughout the country gathered at the Player’s Club at Deer Creek Golf Course August 31 to raise more than $75,000 for the Youth Emergency Services’ (YES) mission to help youth who are experiencing homelessness and nearhomelessness. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year’s outing was held almost exclusively outside, including team check-in, meal distribution, the purchase of mulligans and raffle tickets and, of course, a gorgeous afternoon of golfing.

Youth Emergency Services is the only nonprofit in Omaha with the sole mission to help youth experiencing homelessness and near-homelessness in our community. Last year, YES provided support and services to more than 3,000 youth 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, via a Street Outreach Center, Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Program, Maternity Group Home, and Rapid Rehousing.

The 2021 YES Golf Outing is scheduled for May 3, 2021, once again at the Player’s Club at Deer Creek. Learn more about Youth Emergency Services at yesomaha.org, or contact Michael Watkins at mwatkins@yesomaha.org.

Technology has been the main means of productivity during these quarantine times, sparking businesses to upgrade their computers and electronic devices and leading to an uptick in business at Cross Electronic Recycling, operated and owned

by Cross Training Center (CTC). With more businesses in the area reopening, the need for electronic recycling becomes more prevalent. Cross Electronic Recycling properly discards unwanted electronics and securely disposes of data. All items and services are used for vocational training at the Cross Training Center.

United Way Awards Goodwill Omaha $15K Grant for At-Risk Youth Program

Drive-in Movie Night to Raise Funds for Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue

Goodwill Industries, Inc. of Omaha announced August 21 that it was awarded a $15,000 one-year grant from United Way of the Midlands. The grant will allow Goodwill Omaha to invest in virtual learning technology and tools for its YouthBuild program, which provides educational opportunities for at-risk youth ages 16 to 24.

YouthBuild gives disadvantaged youth who have struggled with sc hool a second c hance by providing them education, training, and a career path in construction.

Many of Goodwill Omaha’s YouthBuild students are underemployed or don’t have high-school diplomas. As program participants, the students also earn their general-education diplomas (GED’s) and receive leadership training and ongoing support from Goodwill’s teams. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for Goodwill Omaha’s Youthbuild students, most notably when the organization closed from March 23 to May 18. Trainers and case managers were challenged with keeping their students engaged and on track with their GED studies and testing at a time when the potential for recidivism increased significantly. With the help of this grant, YouthBuild is able to offer updated and extended virtual learning opportunities to students in situations when classroom learning isn’t possible.

Many people know of Goodwill Industries, Inc. as a place to donate used clothing and household items or find great bargains, but the mission at the heart of the organization is to provide job training and placement services to people with disabilities and other disadvantages. For more information, visit goodwillomaha.org or call (402) 341-4609.

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CTC 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 use, have mental or emotional disorders, have been a victim of human trafficking or domestic violence, or live in poverty for other reasons. When you utilize Cross Electronic Recycling, you not only get great service, but you also help others gain the skills they need to be set free from poverty.

Schedule an electronic and metal collection event with Cross Electronic Recycling today by contacting Mike Bunach, Cross Electronic Recycling’s business relations manager, at (402) 590-2100 / recycling@crosstc.com.

Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue has moved its annual fall fundraiser and birthday celebration to a socially distanced drive-in movie event. On Thursday, October 8, the movie Wasted! The Story of Food Waste will be shown at Falconwood Park in Bellevue. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and the program begins at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $50 each and include movie snacks. The event features a raffle and other donation opportunities, a cash bar and gourmet snack trays for purchase. Guests also will hear about Saving Grace’s work with area food vendors and nonprofit partner agencies to combat food waste and provide healthy food to feed the hungry. Proceeds raised by the event will support Saving Grace’s work of connecting nutritious surplus food to seniors, children, veterans and families most in need.

In the Omaha-Council Bluffs area, over 100,000 children, seniors and families experience hunger regularly, and the needs have increased during the pandemic.

Wasted! The Story of Food Waste, produced by the late Anthony Bourdain, aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. The movie shows how small changes, such as using excess food to feed the hungry, can help solve the problem of food waste. Attendees also will see how some of the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system.

Since operations began in October 2013, Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue has rescued more than 4.8 million pounds of healthy perishable foods—including fruits and vegetables; milk, yogurt and cheese; prepackaged sandwiches and prepared meals; turkeys and other meats—and redistributed it to over 40 nonprofit partner agencies that feed the hungry. For more information, contact Beth Ostdiek Smith at beth@savinggracefoodrescue.org / (402) 2156718. To find out more about the event and purchase tickets, go to savinggracefoodrescue.org/events. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NONPROFIT NEWS American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge™ Awards Grants to NE Schools Through their Kids Heart Challenge™ the American Heart Association (AHA) recently awarded grants to Messiah Lutheran School in Lincoln and St. Agnes Academy in Alliance to provide health equipment and resources for students and educators. The $3,760 awarded to the two schools is earmarked for new P.E. and sports equipment, with the aim of promoting whole-body wellness in support of physical and emotional health. The Nebraska grants represents a portion of the more than $400,000 that the AHA’s Kids Heart Challenge™ awarded to more than 180 elementary schools that participated in the program’s second year, 2019-2020.

The Kids Heart Challenge offers physical activations—including hoops or jumping rope paired with digital missions—to learn life-saving skills like Hands-Only CPR™. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, only 20% of kids get enough activity to meet physical activity recommendations. The Kids Heart Challenge is rooted in proven science, which has shown that kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood. In addition to improved physical health, the benefits of physical activity for children include improvements in grades, attendance, and behavior.

The American Heart Association is the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all. For more information about local representation, visit www.heart.org/Lincoln, call (402) 875-7382, or email Shannon.M.Hilaire@heart.org.

Rejuvenating Women Celebrates Successful Restored Wings, Beautifully Broken Gala Rejuvenating Women is grateful for the successful turnout—in-person and virtual—for their 6th Annual Restored Wings, Beautifully Broken Gala – Hybrid Event. The September 10 Gala featured keynote speaker and human trafficking survivor Cyntoia Brown-Long. While they had to cap attendance to maintain adequate social distancing this year, Rejuvenating Women is thankful for everyone who bought individual tickets and group tables to attend virtually and hear Cyntoia’s incredibly moving story. The online silent auction also was a success.

Rejuvenating Women is a nonprofit organization committed to providing hope and restoration to those enslaved in human trafficking. They are committed to developing long-lasting relationships with the girls and women who are deeply wounded by being a survivor of human trafficking. Rejuvenating Women provides short- and long-term housing, mentoring, and (now virtual) case consultation for women who have been trafficked. Their multidisciplinary team approach tailors the best possible care for each survivor to address the trauma and prevent future human trafficking.

Even though the Gala was a huge success, Rejuvenating Women is always in need of financial donations so that the staff is able to provide hope and healing to individuals affected by human trafficking. If you’d like to make a donation, please send it to P.O. Box 207, Boys Town, NE 68010.

If you haven’t heard Cyntoia’s story, Rejuvenating Women encourages you to read her book, Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System, to get an understanding of the severity of the human trafficking crisis. To learn more, go to rejuvenatingwomen.com or email info@rejuvenatingwomen.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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ENCAP Partners with State Farm Agent Matt Ricchini for Mobile Food Pantry O n J u n e 2 0 , E a s t e r n N eb ra s k a Community Action Partnership (ENCAP) partnered with local State Farm Insurance Agent Matt Ricc hini to provide food to nearly 100 households (296 individuals) in Bellevue, NE through a mobile food pantry event at Thanksgiving Church. Ricchini provided 150 insulated cooler bags to keep Pictured (L-R): ENCAP Deputy the produce cool, and even set-up a Director, Meredith Metcalf; tent and snow cone machine to add ENCAP nutrition center staff, some fun.

Brandi Curtis-Ford; ENCAP Commodity Supplemental

Leading up to the event, Ricc hini Food Distribution Coordinator, and his team generously organized Tiffany Turner. a community food drive June 10–17 to collect healthy protein items for distribution at the event, including fresh produce, peanut butter, nuts, and canned meat, to name a few. The goal was to fill four barrels of food.

Upon ac hieving the goal, Ricc hini wrote a check of $500 to go towards purchasing produce for the mobile food pantry. Along with Agent Matt Matt Ricchini (left) Ricchini’s State Farm location, ENCAP presents Aaron Bowen with a $500 check for would like to thank Dave Boever from mobile pantry event.

Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping and Dr. Todd Niemeyer of Niemeyer Family Chiropractic for their partnership and willingness to be food collection sites!

“ENCAP works to provide supports to help stabilize households experiencing crisis, so that they can move forward with their lives” said Aaron Bowen, ENCAP executive director. “This event was a success thanks to several community partners who came together to address the increasing need in Bellevue. We cannot do this work alone, and we don’t take for granted that this work would not be possible without the support of the community. Thank you to all who helped make this day possible.”

ENCAP is a nonprofit community based organization that has been providing social and human services to people facing poverty since 1965. For more information, find ENCAP online at www.encapnebraska.org or go to the Facebook page (@ encapnebraska).

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NONPROFIT NEWS Heartland Hope Seeks Volunteers for HyVee Stuff a Truck to Help Families

UNO Students Select Angels Among Us to Receive Assistance on Program Eval Process

During the third week of October, Heartland Hope Mission will host the Hy-Vee Stuff a Truck event. Volunteers are needed to serve 2.5-hour shifts between Thursday, October 15 and Sunday, October 18, giving shoppers entering Hy-Vee an opportunity to purchase a $5 or $10 bag of food to help feed families in need this holiday season. Sign up to volunteer for Stuff a Truck by emailing info@heartlandhopemission.org.

This is a family-friendly volunteer opportunity, as parents with kids of all ages are welcome to serve together and help build awareness about food insecurity in their own neighborhoods. Food items donated and funds raised during this event will go toward providing Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for families who rely on the Heartland Hope Mission’s pantry to make ends meet.

Heartland Hope Mission operates one of the largest food pantries in the state but is “More Than a Pantry” because they help families work toward self-sufficiency. They primarily serve working-poor families and those who may be facing a crisis situation with a week’s supply of food, clothing, diapers, job resources, and community referrals.

Learn more at heartlandhopemission.org or follow them on Facebook, Twitter (@HeartlandHopeMission), Linked In (@Hearland Hope Mission), or Instagram (@heartlandhopemission).

Angels Among Us was recently selected by two students from the UNO School of Social Work, MSW Course: Social Work Researc h and Evaluation class who will work together on improving the nonprofit’s program evaluation process. After learning about the students’ requirement to do a service project, Angels Among Us submitted for assistance on enhancing their process so they can ensure they are best assisting their pediatric cancer families. The students reviewed each submission and determined that Angels Among Us best aligned with their goals for the class. Ultimately, this will have significant success on the organization as they will be able to better serve their families and make an impact to their situations through services offered. The outcomes of this partnership could include better surveying, feedback, and communication with cancer families; and, ultimately, being able to build a better relationship to ensure the best possible experience while receiving Angels Among Us’ support.

Angels Among Us is a Nebraska nonprofit that provides financial and emotional support to families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. Any family living in or being treated in Nebraska is eligible to apply for financial support. Thus far in 2020, Angels Among Us provided financial support to over 100 families and is on track to give over $500,000 in support by the end of the year to help with mortgages, rent, and other expenses. For more information about events or to get involved, contact Aly Theilen at alyssa@ myangelsamongus.org or visit myangelsamongus.org.

HETRA Hosts “We Walk So They Can Ride” 5K Run, 2K Walk and Fundraiser The Hear tland E quine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA) is hosting a “We Walk So They Can Ride” 5K run / 2K walk on October 17 at their campus in Gretna. The charity event features an all-terrain, scenic route across HETRA’s 25-acre barn property to support sponsorships for HETRA’s participants and their families. The 5K Run kicks off at 7:30am, with the 2K Walk and Festivities starting at 9 a.m. Following the walk, participants are encouraged to enjoy family-friendly games with prizes available for adults and children alike. HETRA ambassadors—mini horses Stormy & Blue—also will be in attendance! Participants in this outdoor event are encouraged to social distance and follow the COVID-19 Safety Guidelines listed on the event website.

Funds raised at the event will benefit the Participant Sponsorship Fund and the families of Drive to Ride, HETRA’s largest family fundraiser.

Drive to Ride is an online campaign for which families raise funds for HETRA in exchange for free therapeutic sessions/courses in 2021.

Last year, participant families earned a combined total of over 500 free sessions in 2020, and six of the families earned a full year’s worth of free sessions!

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. For more information on the “We Walk So They Can Ride” 5K Run / 2K Walk Event, go to hetra.org/donate/drive-to-ride/walkevent.html.

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Jennie Edmundson Foundation Sponsors Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness Month In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, the Jennie Edm undson Foundation is committed t o p ro v i d i n g o n g o i n g education about breast cancer and will be selling Pink-Out t-shirts to raise funds to provide mammograms to uninsured or underinsured individuals. Annual mammograms are necessary to be proactive in fighting breast cancer, and educating yourself about the disease is one of the best ways to be informed about the signs and symptoms.

At the Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, they are committed to providing education on breast cancer. Their Breast Care Center has been recognized for excellence by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancers (NAPBC), a quality-assurance program administered by the American College of Surgeons. The Breast Care Center and a certified Breast Health Navigator at Jennie are the central points of contact for education, counseling, and compassion to all individuals. To schedule your mammogram or to see if you qualify for assistance, please call (712) 396-4117. (Limited funds available). Don’t delay—detection saves lives!

The Jennie Edmundson Foundation is dedicated to building a bridge between the Omaha and Southwest Iowa communities and Jennie Edmundson and other Methodist hospitals to meet the healthcare needs of the community. For more information about how you can support Jennie Edmundson Foundation’s efforts and purchase your 2020 Pink Out t-shirt, please contact the Foundation office at (712) 396-6040 or check out their website at jehfoundation.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NONPROFIT NEWS JDRF One Walk to End Type 1 Diabetes Aims for 1.6 Million Miles by November 1

FAMILY, Inc. Seeks Funding to Create Mobile Wellness Unit for Preventive Screenings

JDRF is changing up its annual One Walk to end type 1 diabetes (T1D) this year, making it a national event with the biggest goal ever— walkers covering 1.6 miles for the 1.6 million Americans living with T1D and raising $50 million in honor of JDRF’s 50th year! This format is in place of holding walks on separate weekends across the country and having everyone walk “together” from wherever they are to form the biggest JDRF One Walk this community has ever seen between now and November 1.

FAMILY, Inc. is seeking funding to create a new FAMILY Inc. Mobile Wellness Unit. They hope to acquire and retro-fit an RV that they can take into underserved and rural areas of our community to provide a host of preventive wellness screenings and assessments for children.

These would include dental, vision, hearing, and nutritional screenings, as well as lead testing and developmental assessments.

JDRF One Walk has a single goal: To create a world without type 1 diabetes. When you participate in the One Walk, the money you raise supports life-changing breakthroughs that give hope to everyone impacted by this disease. Plus, you’ll have a great time doing it, knowing that you’re walking “with” a committed community that is passionate about doing whatever it takes to live in a world without T1D. JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Join them for the One Walk by registering today at walk.jdrf.org/Omaha. On T1Day (November 1), JDRF will count up all the miles and donations and come together virtually to celebrate stories, collective accomplishments, and recognize the 1.6 million people and counting for whom JDRF and supporters are changing the world. For more information, call (402) 8813181 or email Chris Dunn at cdunn@jdrf.org.

NAM Launches Mission-Driven Executive Transition Toolkit for Hiring Management The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) recently released a new Mission-Driven Executive Transition Toolkit, available for purchase and download at any time.

The Toolkit is designed to give small to mid-sized organizations everything they need to design a well thought-out process to search for and hire an Executive Director or CEO who fits the current and future leadership needs of the organization.

Included in the toolkit is an easy-to-follow, 32-page document that helps nonprofit boards navigate the leadership-transition process through three phases of executive-transitions management: Prepare, Search, and Thrive. This resource includes comprehensive information that outlines best practices for leadership transitions with checklists, more than 20 recommended readings, and 22 templates/samples to make this process a little less complicated.

NAM understands the process of hiring executive leadership can be risky, so the goal of their Mission-Driven Executive Transition Toolkit is to help streamline that decision with ease. The toolkit is now being offered at a significantly reduced price thanks to the generous support of the Harry A. Koch Company. Purchase the Toolkit today at the Nonprofit Association of the Midland’s website nonprofitam. org/page/executivetransitiontoolkit.

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands represents more than 650 nonprofit organizations in Nebraska and southwest Iowa and is recognized by the National Council of Nonprofits—the nation’s largest network of nonprofits—as the state association for Nebraska.

For more information, visit nonprofitam.org or call (402) 557-5800. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

This project was spurred by COVID and FAMILY Inc.’s oral-health team. Normally, they conduct thousands of preventive dental screenings in schools each year but they will not be able to this year because of pandemic restrictions. FAMILY is looking for sponsors to get this project off the ground. If they’re able to get funding, thousands of children will gain access to health and safety assessments and be connected to the support they need to give them the best chances for success.

FAMILY Inc. provides public-health and family-support services to women, children, and families in Pottawattamie and Mills counties.

If you’re interested in donating toward or sponsoring the Mobile Wellness Unit, please contact Kimberly Kolakowski at kkolakowski@ familyia.org / (712) 256-9566, X240. Learn more at familyia.org.

Stephen Center Awarded Federal Grant to Serve Homeless Veterans Stephen Center, a South Omaha-based homeless shelter, permanent supportive housing, and co-occurring treatment center, was recently awarded a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Grant Per Diem (GPD) Program to serve homeless veterans. The VA’s GPD program provides funding to community organizations that provide transitional housing and supportive services for homeless veterans, with the goal of helping homeless veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and income, and achieve greater self-determination. The grant will allow Stephen Center to provide funding in the form of per diem beds in the HERO Addiction Recovery Program.

“We are very excited to have more GPD space for veterans,” said HERO Program Director Sharon Hughbanks. “They are a population that is underserved in our community.”

Stephen Center has received GPD funding since 2009. The new grant, effective October 1, increases the number of GPD funded beds at Stephen Center from three to five.

“No veteran should ever have to worry whether they will have stable housing, and these grants put us one step closer to ensuring all veterans are living in a safe and supportive environment,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilke.

Stephen Center is a sober campus of resources for mental health and addiction services. The clients they serve are the homeless, addicted, and in poverty. The campus includes a homeless emergency shelter, inpatient/outpatient co-occurring treatment, and permanent supportive housing for those with disabilities and low-income individuals. For more information, visit stephencenter.org.

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HEALTH NEWS Clearwater Counseling Advocates for World Mental Health Day, October 10

DGMD Medical Offers October Specials on ZO Skincare, Emsculpt, IV Treatments

Clearwater Counseling, PC is urging individuals to use their voices to raise awareness for mental health issues globally on World Mental Health Day October 10. In light of the pandemic and other social and economic issues, the need for mental health awareness and resources has become more crucial than ever, and Clearwater wants to use this special occasion to advocate for global mental health education and an end to the stigma surrounding mental health.

DGMD Medical has introduced some new October specials to help customers “Fall” into a new skin care routine. Deals include buy-one-ZO-skincare-product and get the second for 15% off. They’re also offering a free Emsculpt maintenance treatment with purchase of a series, and 15% off all IV treatments. Time to head into DGMD and fall back into your new routine!

ZO is a medical-grade line designed to treat all your skincare concerns.

They have three different product types—Getting Skin Ready, which features cleansers, exfoliates, and toners; Correct + Prevent, which includes anti-aging, brightening, and acne-prevention products; and Protect, which features various sunscreen SPFs and formulas. Emsculpt is a non-invasive, non-surgical body-toning procedure that induces powerful muscle contraction through energy, which penetrates to fat and muscle layers. Your body responds with a deep remodeling of its inner structure that results in muscle building and sculpting. DGMD’s variety of IV treatment options provides intravenous fluids, vitamins, and antioxidants to help you feel your best. IV treatments can cure a hangover or prep you for a marathon, all in a comfortable 45 minutes.

Located at 1501 Jackson St., STE 100, DGMD Medical grew out of a desire to provide a boutique experience and avoid the one-sizefits-all mentality that many people associate with medical treatments.

To schedule an appointment, call (402) 999-2329, email info@ DGMDmedical.com, or visit DGMDmedical.com.

Millions of people are affected by mental health diagnoses every year, and many factors can be attributed to the cause, including biological traits, life experiences, and even family history. Clearwater Counseling understands that mental health is just as important as physical health and works to fulfill the growing need for services in Nebraska. They work with clients who are struggling with a variety of mental health diagnoses including depression, relationship issues, grief/loss/trauma, addiction and recovery, co-dependency, anxiety and phobias, parenting problems, sexual abuse and incest, physical abuse and violence, and various others.

Clearwater Counseling, PC is a private practice offering mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults in the Omaha and Grand Island communities. To learn more about staff, services, or resources, visit clearwatercounselingpc.org. To schedule an appointment with Clearwater Counseling or for more specific information about mental health services, call 308-210-8487 or email info@clearwatercounselingne.org.

Seven Rays Healing Arts Studio Offers Online Meditation Services for Homes and Offices Seven Rays Healing Arts Studio i s n ow o f f e r i n g a n o n l i n e m e d i t a t i o n s e r i e s fo r a ny company or individual who wants to improve their mental and physical well-being. Owner and Founder Christina Pierce says her goal with the online meditation series is to offer a way for people at any level to be more efficient and stable in their work and home life, while also remaining safe and socially distant. The series starts with meditation fundamentals with grounding oneself, settling the nervous system, proper breathing techniques to alleviate stress, and improving the mind-body connection.

“More lessons are in the works, but I wanted to start with the fundamentals that anyone at any level can use fi rst,” owner Christina Pierce said.

Seven Rays also offers Feng Shui consulting for home and office environments, as well as Craniosacral Therapy, Myofascial Release, Reiki, meditation, and other holistic techniques to unwind the body, mind, and spirit. As a healing arts studio, Seven Rays is dedicated to assisting you in creating a deeper, more vibrant, mind-body connection. Whether the source of your pain and discomfort is physical, mental, or emotional, the desire is the same for all trauma; to be heard and tended to.

If interested in any of these services through Seven Rays Healing Arts Studio for yourself, your home, your office, or your employees, please reach out to Christina Pierce at (402) 812-0095 or christinalmt92@gmail.com. For more information, please visit Seven Rays’ website at www.sevenraysstudio.com.

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Malone Center Launches Maternal Wellness Program to Combat Racial Inequities On September 4, the Clyde Malone Community Center launched their new Malone Maternal Wellness programs to combat the disparities and inequities in black maternal health while providing safe and culturally competent care.

Their programs are led by BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) individuals and focus on education, empowerment, support, and client services during pregnancy and a year+ after childbirth.

The mission of the Maternal Wellness Program is to increase breastfeeding rates, provide doula services, and increase the number of doulas in the BIPOC population in Lincoln and Lancaster County. By providing a depth of resources and education, their families can make empowered and informed decisions during their birthing journey. The Malone Center offers birthing classes, sponsorship for pregnancy, labor, and postpartum doula services, as well as breastfeeding education and support programs.

According to the Malone Center, black infants are 21% less likely to be breastfed than white infants, and low breastfeeding rates add more than $3 billion per year to medical costs for mothers and their children.

Black women with at least a college degree are five times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death compared to white women with a similar education. Studies show black women are more likely to encounter barriers to receiving quality care and support for breastfeeding.

Since 1965, the Clyde Malone Community Center has created and facilitated programs to combat the racial disparities and inequities in justice, healthcare, and social systems. For more information about the Malone Center or its Maternal Wellness programs, visit MaloneCenter. org, call (402) 318-7541, or email Jillian Boldt at jillian.boldt@ malonecenter.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

HEALTH NEWS Ashley Hinze of Arbonne Promotes Holistic Approach to Life through Wellness Events

Nebraska Safety Council Resumes First Aid, CPR, and AED Training Courses

Arbonne’s health and wellness products can be purchased through Nebraska’s Regional Vice President Ashley Hinze. Ashley offers one-to-one consultations, healthy happy hour wellness events, Discover Arbonne socials, and more. Recently, she has made her events Zoom friendly to combat COVID. Ashley has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Science, and she fell in love with Arbonne as a consumer when she was a senior in college. She left her corporate career in sports medicine to focus on the needs of her family. She is proud to be able to serve many people and provide quality, pure, botanically-based skincare, nutrition, and other health products that are free of parabens, dyes, and sulfates.

N eb ra s k a S a f e t y Council (NSC) is pleased to announce the resumption of critical first aid, CPR, and AED training courses to educate individuals about the most up-to-date lifesaving skills. After evaluating all of the options, NSC decided to offer an online webinar course, combined with a short, in-person skills session for each student. The courses meet all of the latest medical and OSHA guidelines.

After completing the online course, participants must sign up for their skills session, which will be in the Nebraska Safety Council classrooms—with only four participants at a time to allow for distancing beyond six feet. Masks are mandatory, and the classroom and materials will be properly sanitized and/or disposed of to ensure the health and safety of every student.

Students will receive a workbook and practice materials and will leave confident in following emergency procedures, preventing disease transmission, rescuing, moving, and positioning victims, caring for a variety of injuries and illnesses, assisting a choking victim, administering basic life support (CPR), and using an AED. Participants will earn a Nebraska Safety Council two-year certificate. The cost for the full-day course is $75 for members and $85 for non-members.

To see available dates and times and to register for a course, visit the Nebraska Safety Council website at nesafetycouncil.org and click on the Training Courses page, or contact Syd Horken at (402) 483-2511 ext. 115.

Arbonne has collaborated with holistic experts within their passionate community to keep developing new products and educating families on safer alternatives to everyday health and wellness essentials. Arbonne believes in a holistic approach to beauty, health, and well-being, focusing on the whole person to help them flourish inside and out. Their product philosophy embraces the connection between a healthier mind, stronger body, and more beautiful skin. Arbonne is 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and their highly ethical and quality standards are guided by a stringent Ingredient policy.

To learn more about Arbonne and Ashley Hinze, visit Ashley’s website at ashleyhinze.arbonne.com or contact her directly by calling (402) 690-4434.

Creative Hair Design Launches Image MD Medical-Grade Anti-Aging Skincare Line Creative Hair Design Salon & Spa recently launched a new line of skincare products, Image MD, previously available only through dermatologists. These medical-grade products now are available locally because Creative Hair Design is an Image-line licensed salon. The retinol-based line includes 11 high-performance, doctordeveloped products that have been shown to dramatically improve skin health and provide tremendous anti-aging benefits.

Image Skincare pioneers clean, clinical skincare with naturally effective, mindful formulas that deliver real results. Their products are tried, true, and tested by a team of professionals to help clients feel confident in their skincare and their skin. The line fits well with Creative Hair Design’s services, which include hair, nail, and massage services, in addition to a full slate of esthetic services provided by estheticians who are thoroughly trained in skincare techniques and professional products. Their treatments include facials, specialty treatments, dermaplaning, brow and lash lifts, waxing, and more.

Creative Hair Design Salon & Spa has been in business since 1982 and has grown into a 15,000-square-foot luxurious salon in Omaha. Their technicians are continuously updating their artistic and technical skills with the latest knowledge in their individual fields of expertise. Creative Hair Design is located at 12025 Pacific St. To book an appointment online, visit creativehairdesign.com. For more information, call (402) 330-5660 or email info@creativehairdesign.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

CHAD Announces New Members for its Three Boards and Executive Committee Combined Health Agencies Drive (CHAD) recently announced the election of new members to its three boards of directors and its State Board Executive Committee.

New members are elected by the full board. At-large seats serve three-year terms, while member charity terms are two years each, and Executive Committee members serve one-year terms.

Elected to head up CHAD as new members of the Executive Committee are Jamie Gutierrez, Midwest Maintenance and Stephanie Vanicek of Hancock & Dana, PC. New Board of Directors members are Scot Adams, independent consultant; Jane Beerman, Nebraska Health Information Initiative; Krysti Cunningham, Security National Bank; Carla DeVelder, PayPal, Inc.; Carlo Rinaldi, New York Life Insurance; and Pete Senior, Galaska Painting and Flooring. New Lincoln Board members are Scott McLain, Garner Industries; and Linda Gill and Brent Koster, Nebraska AIDS Project. New West Central Board members include Roxann Holiday, Central Community College Hastings Campus; and Courtney Lierman, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce.

CHAD is a local, donor-driven organization that has been raising funds for Nebraska’s premier health charities for more than 40 years. Valuable donations help Nebraskans in need by providing care and support for those affected by a health diagnosis; funding education and prevention programs in our communities; and supporting advocacy and medical research. For more information about CHAD and the work of its member charities, visit chadnebraska.org, call (402) 614-8500, and follow them on social media (@CHADNebraska).

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

A F U L L - C I R C L E S O LU T I O N FOR A HYGIENIC WORKSPACE In business, it pays to keep things clean, safe, and hygienic. Ambius’s comprehensive, 360-degree solution is expertly designed to stop the spread of germs through surface, air, and hand across your facility. For over 50 years, they’ve proudly helped organizations create commercial spaces that promote well-being and health. Now, as businesses face their biggest health challenge in 100 years, Ambius has assembled a global coalition of expertise from their family of companies, including a century-old hygiene leader and a 30-year pioneer in the operational and customer experience assessment industry. Together, they’ve developed Hygiene360, a layered approach focused on healthy building strategies to minimize risk and improve long-term health and well-being.

What is Hygiene360?

Your Custom Hygiene360 Solution

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are hyperaware of conditions that impact health in public environments. Businesses are now faced with an onslaught of new decisions to make, including how to comply with ever-changing guidelines and legislation.

Consumers are now seeking out businesses that implement responsible practices and go the extra mile to protect their customers and employees.

Your business is unique. Shouldn’t your hygiene solution be, too? Ambius partners with you to understand your needs and determine how surface, air, and hand hygiene services would best work together in your environment. They will evaluate your operations for risks and highlight key areas for enhanced hygiene action in a customized plan, just for your business.

No single solution can tackle all germs, which is why Ambius developed a full-service, 360-degree approach to disrupt germs at any point along their journey. Surface, air, and hand hygiene services work in unison to protect health and enhance wellness in your workplace. The protocol assessment then verifies that your efforts are supporting the health and well-being initiatives of your organization.

It’s also important to recognize how germs spread. Studies show that people touch their faces an average of 23 times per hour. Doing so after grabbing onto a communal door handle could easily transfer bacteria to a source of entry, such as your eyes or mouth, without you even realizing it. Surface to person is not the only way that germs can spread, through. Air to person and person to person are the two other primary modes of germ transmission.

Ambius’s full-service experience is reliable, responsive, and helps you meet your compliance initiatives. Most importantly, they help you create memorable, healthy experiences that demonstrate your brand’s commitment and care. Protect your business by disrupting the journey of the germ and encouraging positive hygiene behaviors.

1. Surface Hygiene

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Ambius is the global leader in creating enhanced commercial spaces. They are changing the way we think about our commercial spaces and the indoor environment with which we want to surround ourselves. Most importantly, Ambius is getting you to think about what’s right for your company.

Through bespoke interior and exterior landscaping, and scenting solutions, Ambius provides a superior experience for your customers, visitors, and staff to create long lasting and profitable relationships.

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WHOLE BODY & MIND HEALTH From the time we are children, we become accustomed to visiting our pediatrician or family doctor for an annual physical and to treat our injuries or illnesses. Those visits remain critical elements to lifelong health, but there’s a lot more to overall health than just physical well-being.

Holistic medicine and related body-and-mind care practices date back thousands of years and are readily applied worldwide today to augment health by treating the whole person—mind and body—to maintain optimal physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

The upheaval in everyone’s lives since the arrival of COVID has precipitated unprecedented surges in physical and mental health issues for people of all ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. adults, in general, reported considerably elevated adverse mental-health conditions associated with the pandemic and quarantine times. Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, “essential” workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported having experienced disproportionately worse mental-health outcomes, increased substance abuse, and elevated suicidal ideation. The situation is serious and calls for increased intervention and prevention efforts.

Personalized, Compassionate Counseling Research shows, time and again, the extensive benefits that mental healthfulness has on overall health—and many of those benefits can be realized through the process of mental-health counseling. It has

our gifts t too. r been body, and or

been shown to improve communication and interpersonal skills, produce greater self-acceptance and self-esteem, help people change selfdefeating behaviors, improve expression of emotions, provide relief from depression, anxiety, and other mental-health conditions, and more.

Clearwater Counseling is a private practice with locations in Omaha and Grand Island, and they treat mental-health diagnoses through personalized and compassionate counseling practices that promote growth, development, and well-being to enhance people’s quality of life, especially amid all the changes that have come about in our lives with the pandemic.

“Many people experience mental-health struggles at some point in their life,” said Clearwater Co-owner and CEO Kayla Leddy, who is a licensed independent mental health practitioner and a licensed independent professional counselor. “Mental health battles may vary from anxieties, behavioral, life transitions, depression, and stress, all of which can affect our mood, thoughts, and behaviors. We know change can be scary, but we are here to help guide you through Kayla Leddy those changes in life. While positive change is sometimes hard to identify, we strive to Clearwater Counseling

DON’T STRESS ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR. Stay relaxed this holiday season and buy your gifts early.

Maybe even buy yourself a little treat too.

Finding the perfect care package has never been easier. We offer a wide range of hair, skin, body, and nail services. Visit our site to learn more, or call today to book an appointment.

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Fashion, Health, and Wellness Shop

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Emily@revealandheal.coach | www.revealandheal.coach help clients identify the good things that are happening in their lives. At Clearwater Counseling, we offers in-person and Telehealth services to help people address virtually every condition that affects their mental health—everything from depression to relationship matters, addiction, parenting issues, abuse, coping skills, professional development, marital problems, family conflicts, self-harm, life-threatening illness, and more.”

Functional Medicine Reveal & Heal Health and Wellness Coaching is a new business in Omaha that uses a functional medicine model. Owner Emily Gilli said functional medicine considers the whole person—body, mind, and spirit— while getting to the root causes and underlying factors affecting health and well-being. It is a holistic approach that empowers people to identify values and strengths, set goals, and access internal motivations that lead to lasting lifestyle changes. The pandemic has increased the need for holistic-health strategies.

Emily Gilli “COVID has created an increased sense Reveal & Heal Health and Wellness Coaching of loneliness and fear,” Emily said. “It has impacted our sense of community, moving some people from very socially interactive jobs to working at home and keeping us from visiting our loved ones in senior-care facilities. Both loneliness and fear increase levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in our systems, leading to weight gain, sleep disturbances, increased blood pressure, fatigue, irritability, intestinal problems like constipation, bloating, and diarrhea, all of which have lasting effects on our overall health.”

In this environment, there are a few things that people can do to improve their health, even with an overload or a lack of motivation. The keys are to start small and focus on activities that help you feel fulfilled.

“Make smaller changes that you can live with,” Emily advised. “When you are training for a marathon, you don’t start out running 26 miles.

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You might start out walking. The same thing applies with all aspects of health improvement. Pick one thing, set small goals, and commit to that small process, feel success, and add new goals when you feel solid with your new routines.”

“Negative self-talk is highly destructive to our mental state and affects our bodies at a cellular level,” Emily said. “Being kind and accepting of yourself as you are right now is some of the best medicine. Studies also show that slowing down and breathing mindfully can have a profound impact on our state of mind, ability to focus and relieve stress. Focusing on your breath brings you out of fight-or-flight mode and into a restand-digest state that, even for one minute, helps your body heal.”

The Power of Touch There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has been stressful.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that stress leads to fear and worry about your health and the health of your loved ones, as well as your financial situation or loss of support services you depend on. Changes in sleeping and eating, difficulty concentrating, worsening of chronic physical and mental health problems, and increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances also have proven common in the wake of COVID. “Everything about a person is interconnected,” said Tammy Longacre, massage therapist for Creative Hair Design Salon & Spa. “What a person feels emotionally also impacts their physical state. The power of touch is very important. With COVID, many of us are secluded to our homes, transforming our dining-room tables into an office, which isn’t ergonomically correct, and wearing masks when we are in public, which affects us socially because we aren’t seeing smiles anymore.

Humans need to be around people. We need Tammy Longacre touch and interaction. We need structure.”

Creative Hair Design Creative Hair Design various modalities of Salon & Spa massage therapy to ease your pain, inside and out. That includes Swedish, stone, and deep-tissue massage, which is a terrific option if you have chronic muscle problems like soreness, injury, or imbalance, and reflexology massage, which stimulates certain areas of your feet and promotes health and well-being. They also offer couples massage, so you can work out the kinks with your friend or significant other! For the expecting or lactating mother, there’s nothing more relieving than one of their prenatal massages, and a dip in the hydrotherapy tub is fantastic for your lymph system.

“With so many things being canceled or closed, make a special effort to find healthy alternatives to keep your physical mental, spiritual, emotional, and social health a priority,” Tammy said. “Massage and self-care are a terrific place to start!”

God’s Got Your Back Entrepreneur Judith Ngozi Obodougo created her Omaha business, God’s Got Your Back, LLC, very much with whole body-andmind health in mind. A single mother and the author of two books about navigating difficult paths in life as she had from the time she was a child in Nigeria through living today in Omaha, Judith produces apparel with the “God’s Got Your Back” messages on them and sells natural products out of her health and beauty shop to help people achieve overall health. That includes the Forever Aloe Vera products that Judith Ngozi Obodougo she recently introduced to her inventory.

God’s Got Your Back “Aloe vera products are tremendous for protecting your skin against free radicals and from the dryness caused by the increased stress of the times,” Judith said. “It also has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, aids in digestion, and speeds wound healing, which can strengthen your immune system!” With everything Judith does, her message is the same: “People can achieve anything in life if they know, first and foremost, to trust in God.” #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Resell Remodeling If selling your home was as easy as putting up a sign and publicizing a price, that would be…well, a dream. Literally. There’s so very much more to it, and it’s not a task to take lightly or attempt on your own.

Represented by sophisticated realtors, today’s buyers are more educated and, shall we say, more finicky than ever before. Realtors also help develop educated sellers and guide them through the process to get the best return possible on their investment.

According to realtors we’ve talked to in the area, one of the primary things that homebuyers are looking for today are houses that are move-in ready—with updated kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry and no unfinished basements or rooms. Another big one is curb appeal; if the exterior of your home and lawn aren’t well-kept and updated, you’ll have trouble drawing potential buyers in to see all the work you’ve done inside.

Maintenance is crucial inside and out.

Changing Times The resell remodeling industry has not gone untouched by the COVID pandemic, with housing trends changing to fit the times. According to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), walk-in master bedroom closets, low emissivity windows, and laundry rooms are the most oft-requested features in a new home as of January 2020.

With that in mind, the NAHB reported that two of the biggest adjustments they expect to see in housing trends post-COVID are increases in the demand for home offices and Ed Abersfeller exercise rooms. Storage Concepts Inc. Owner Ed Abersfeller said all manners of home Storage Concepts Inc. organization have been in high demand in recent years, and he’s already seen increased demand for home offices in the Omaha area in 2020.

“We see this trend appearing here locally with so many people working from home,” Ed said. “Interestingly, most home offices in remodeling we’re doing are designated to a spare bedroom, where we then incorporate a Murphy bed to maintain the functionality of a guest bedroom. The question now is: ‘Will this trend continue post-COVID-19?’

We believe it will.”

Storage Concepts Inc. is the oldest custom-closet company in the state of Nebraska, and they have a wonderful history with their customers across the entire upper Midwest. As a family-owned, non-franchise business, they are free to offer customers any range of products—from the closet to the garage, pantry, home office, or wine cellar—that best meets their wants and needs.

If you’re working from home or the kids are remote learning—or both—consider some of the fabulous home-office concepts that Storage Concepts Inc. can accomplish for you. They can truly bring your dreams to life. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Why Replace When You Can Restore

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“Let us get you out from behind the dining room table and maximize your productivity with a workspace that keeps your files close and at hand while giving you and your family ample work room, even with all the computers, tablets, school packets, and more,” Ed said. “Whether you have a corner nook, a flex room, or a designated space for a full home office, we have a solution to maximize the efficiency of that space.

The choices are as unlimited as your imagination!”

Maintenance Musts When homebuyers are looking for a new home, they’re looking for something that appears to have been cared for with pride, which points up the importance of maintaining all of its components throughout its lifetime. That includes floors, counters, showers, and all other surfaces.

The fine details truly count, and Lifetime Stone Restoration handles all types of stone restoration, including floors, counters, showers, tables, stairs, fireplaces, entryways, and even tombstones. Their specialty services include natural stone polishing, granite cleaning, sealing, chip and seal repair, tile and grout cleaning and sealing, and tiled shower cleaning, sealing, and re-caulking. These represent crucial maintenance tasks that potential homebuyers will notice.

“If a seller has not done the basics, potential buyers are going to assume that they haven’t maintained the big things, either, said Lifetime Stone Restoration Owner Don Mlnarik. “When it comes time to sell, we help a lot of clients who realize they have not maintained their house as they should have. We can help them with some basic updating items, such as re-caulking their backsplashes and cleaning their tiled floors, up to more detailed work, such as polishing a marble floor.”

Proper surface care is particularly important Don Mlnarik Lifetime Stone Restoration in the wake of COVID-19, as potential homebuyers want to feel comfortable that it is clean and disinfected. Don’t jump to the conclusion that you need

a new floor, though. There might be ways to bring it back to life without replacing it.

“Homebuyers will look at a tiled floor to see if it is maintained,” Don said.

“If it is dirty or grout is missing, we can fix that. Sometimes your tiled floor looks outdated, but instead of replacing it, sometimes changing the color of the grout can bring new life to your floor. Showers are something else that potential homebuyers want to see sparkle. We can make sure the moldy caulk is replaced and remove all the soap buildup from the tiles and grout. Similarly, if you have stone floors or counters, like marble, travertine, or limestone, we can make those look like new again.”

Lifetime Stone Restoration restores stone work naturally using diamonds to give it the natural appearance you’re looking for. All stone work is done dust-free, so you don’t have to worry about extra cleanup when they’re done bringing it back to life. What’s more, they have been doing stone restoration work since 2008, making them the most experienced stone restoration company in the area. Locally owned and operated, they do not have to deal with a franchise or corporate office telling them how to do their jobs. They are constantly updating their equipment and processes so they are always producing the best results possible.

Give Lifetime Stone Restoration a try and bring your house back to life before selling it. Shoot, don’t even wait until it’s time to sell; get it done now so you can enjoy the results for a while, too!

Bath Business Bathrooms are one of the key rooms in a home that should be repaired, remodeled, or added before selling. Having functional bathrooms—and enough of them—should be a primary goal before listing your home.

Potential buyers evaluate bathrooms in terms of the colors, the style, the layout, and the fixtures. They like to see new cabinets, vanities, and showers because those updates signal quality and value. If it’s in your budget to take on a complete bathroom remodel, it might be worth doing in some cases—but there’s a lot you can do to improve the space without that. Bath Fitter has more than 35 years of experience installing the bathtub you’ve always wanted to upgrade the look of your bathroom quickly and affordably!

Don’t wait for the Cold, Save Big Now...

Call 402-554-1110 or go to Getzschman.com 38

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“We specialize in tub solutions and tub-toshower conversions that can be completed in as little as a day in most cases,” said Brandon Delaney, branch manager of Bath Fitter in Omaha. “We offer a better way to replace your bathtub and cover encompassing walls, plus add new bathroom fixtures. Clients are constantly amazed at how quickly we can make their entire bathrooms look completely new and modern.”

Bath Fitter’s acrylic bathtub liners go over your existing tub, eliminating the need for tub Brandon Delaney removal, so there is no demolition required. The Bath Fitter company also can convert your tub to a shower area, per your preference or if you need to achieve easier access. You can also choose from their collection of faucets, shower rods, soap dishes, ceilings, wainscoting, and more to achieve the look you’re going for.

Of course, not everything that’s important in a bathroom can be seen.

The age and quality of your plumbing is crucial, and don’t fool yourself: Homebuyers WILL check it out.

“The quality of bathrooms in a home is important to potential buyers,” said Lallenia Birge with Big Birge Plumbing. “One leaky faucet could deter an interested buyer. While it may not bother you, buyers are just seeing money toward a water bill dripping down the drain a dollar at a time. Recently, more and more people are looking into our water-saving options and efficient fixtures. We also have our eco-friendly, low-flow toilets. They help save money on water bills, and they’re a big selling point to buyers.”

Lallenia Birge At Big Birge Plumbing, we understand the Big Birge Plumbing importance of both budget-friendly and aesthetically pleasing bathroom options for people remodeling to sell.

Recently, we’ve seen a significant shift in the number of people wanting energy-efficient yet high-performance toilets, sinks, and faucets in their bathrooms. They’re definitely a highlight on a house tour, especially if you’re able to compare your water bill from before and after the remodel. Some other simple fixes in the bathroom are re-grouting the tile, replacing caulk, and changing mirrors.”

Sometimes, a bathroom is just too outdated to work in your home.

If you have a sleek, modern aesthetic all throughout your home, but your bathroom looks the same as it did when Reagan was in office, it’s probably time to invest in an update.

Big Birge Plumbing does all things plumbing for bathroom and kitchen remodels, and their team is known to take pride in their work, be prompt and efficient, and to leave your home as clean as they found it. This family-owned business can help you with your clogged toilets, drain cleaning, water-heater repair, gas or water piping, and more.

They provide clean, trustworthy plumbers who are licensed, bonded, and insured.

When it comes to plumbing, it’s best to let the professionals take care of the work. You might be tempted to figure a problem out yourself in order to save some money, but there is a reason it takes so much training and experience to be considered a Master Plumber. You’ll likely end up spending more money if you go down the DIY path and the problem ends up getting worse because you didn’t really know what you were doing.

All Charged Up We recommend that you heed the same warning when it comes to electrical work. Not only can it be costly try to do the work yourself, it can also be dangerous. Dealing with wires and outlets is serious business.

If you’re going to be doing a remodeling project, chances are there will be electrical work involved.

When you’re preparing to complete a remodel in your home, don’t forget to strategize your energy needs and upgrades, with an eye toward maximizing energy efficiency and functionality for the long term. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

To accomplish this, you’ll want to be sure to hire a professional who can ensure that your electric upgrades are compliant with all codes and are safe for you and your family.

Langer Electric provides excellent and affordable electrical service to clients in Omaha and the surrounding area. The company strives to have repeated good experiences with its customers. Owner Chris Langer has many years of experience, and it’s important to him to keep his services affordable. Aside from overseeing the wiring and panel work during a project, Langer Electric also installs light fixtures. Specifically, he said, LED lights are great attractions for potential buyers.

Chris Langer “The hottest trend is upgrading everything Langer Electric to LED,” Chris said. “It seems like they keep coming out with easier products to install. It’s not such a big, bulky product anymore. Plus, LED’s use 90% less electricity than the standard incandescent bulb, so you’re getting more light for less power. Also, Wi-Fi switches are continually improving. People can install and control everything throughout their house, including security cameras. It’s like a one-stop shop that can all be controlled through an app on an iPad or phone. It’s becoming almost standard these days to have 24/7 surveillance of your home sent right to your phone.”

Creating Comfort There’s nothing like having your home at the perfect temperature. If you’re constantly nudging your thermostat back and forth to maintain a consistent room temperature, potential buyers are going to feel the inconsistency, too. You might consider “remodeling” your HVAC systems before selling your home. Getzschman Heating has everything you need to achieve seamless heat and cooling management to make your home your true comfort zone. They offer G-Verify testing and system efficiency diagnostics to ensure your installation or upgrade runs at its best.

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“We do a test drive for every installation we do,” said Scott Getzschman. “We use a program that’s called G-Verify, and we verify that your system is installed and tested before and after to make sure it is running at the same efficiency that is recommended by the manufacturer. With this program, we make sure that when it’s up and running, it’s not only safe and comfortable but that you’re going to receive the full benefit of the efficiency that you paid for when you sell your home.”

Getzschman Heating is one of Nebraska’s Scott Getzschman premier heating and air conditioning Getzschman Heating repair and installation companies. They pride themselves on being a family business that has been locally owned and operated since its inception in 1960. They offer a 100% customer-satisfaction guarantee that they back in writing, and all of their G-Force technicians are highly trained and backgroundchecked. They provide free estimates on equipment replacement, and you can talk to a real person 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

What’s more, Getzschman can handle your financing needs, and they are fully licensed, bonded, and insured.

“We’re the company that you can trust with your house keys,” Scott said.

Septic Care Finally, if you are among the more than one in five households in the U.S. that rely on septic systems, prepare for it to possibly be a little off-putting for potential buyers who are unfamiliar with them. The best thing to do to prevent confusion and concern during the selling process is to complete proper maintenance of your system throughout its lifetime and perform a complete septic assessment before you list your home on the market.

“To start, septic tanks should be routinely pumped every three to five years,” said Aimee Hoffmann, office manager at Midland Pumping Service. “The frequency of pumps is determined by your household size, septic-tank size, amount of waste generated, and other factors. If you don’t do these regular maintenance checks, you could end up spending thousands of dollars to repair or replace your malfunctioning system when it comes time to sell your home. Some banks won’t give mortgages to potential Aimee Hoffmann buyers if there are any issues with the septic system, so it could very possibly limit your Midland Pumping Service number of offers.”

In addition to making your home harder to cell, skipping proper maintenance of your septic system could be dangerous to you, your family, your neighbors, and the environment.

“Improperly treated sewage has the potential to contaminate all nearby surface waters,” Aimee said. “Malfunctioning septic tanks release bacteria, viruses, and chemicals to local waterways. You can promote the health of your system by not flushing random items and chemicals, like paper towels, paints, coffee grounds, kitty litter, and dental floss.

Basically no non-biodegradable products should be put into your septic system through drains or toilets.”

Midland Pumping provides superior pumping services, which are always prompt and affordable. They offer free estimates, a knowledgeable staff, and more than 25 years of experience. Let Midland help you with pumping and drain cleaning, grease trap systems, and septic tanks, to help your home sale go off without a hitch.

Even in a seller’s market like the Omaha housing market continues to experience in 2020, it’s important to consider how you can maximize the value of your home before putting it on the market. Just don’t try doing it on your own. We recommend contacting some of the professionals we’ve featured here to get the right work done right! #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Hplanning Holiday

HOLIDAY

With a year like no other in 2020, we’re all ready to fall back to familiar ground. Think holidays. Of course, the season is sure to look different this year—like everything else—but holiday cheer, time with loved ones, and the spirit of giving are sure to make this winter a special one regardless.

You don’t have to start singing Jingle Bells just yet, but believe it or not, it’s time to start working on plans so you can truly enjoy the season. That’s why we’re kicking of this three-part holiday series by talking about what you can do to have a stress-free holiday season at work and home.

First and foremost, we want to remind you that this has been a particularly hard year for your favorite local stores, restaurants, and businesses. We encourage you, with everything we have, to make sure your favorite momand-pop businesses feel the holiday spirit by making them your choice for holiday shopping, dining, and family and employee celebrations. Take

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402.991.9200

/TheOmahaBakery 608 S. 72nd St. • Omaha, NE

a stroll downtown and look for considerate, intentional gifts for all your loved ones and staff. If your family travels to spend time together at Christmas, plan early and have them come to Lincoln for the festivities. You can go all-out with decorations and treat them to all that our community has to offer. Welcome them with the smell of fresh-baked cookies, festive light displays, and paper-cut snowflakes. Finally, be sure to plan some fun outings—there are plenty of family-friendly entertainment options and prime hotels that will treat your family like their own.

Don’t worry, area business owners have worked diligently to make everything safe for everyone, so you can relax and enjoy yourselves and each other. We talked to some local business operators you’re sure to want to consider in your holiday planning. Get your pen ready and start your planning list right away!

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People. LOVE. Coffee.

Locally Roasted Coffee | Drive Thru and Dining Room Live Music |Craft Beer and Wine 11426 Davenport St Ste 1, Omaha, Ne 68154 531-213-2742 | www.storiescoffeecompany.com Light it Up! It’s never too early to start thinking about how to provide a warm, friendly holiday atmosphere with tastefully designed and prominently displayed decorations. As the décor experts, Ambius is cranking up for the holidays by reaching out to Omaha businesses about creating their dazzling 2020 holiday displays, which can transform spaces and captivate clients and passersby alike. The company provides stunning holiday displays, exterior lighting, and decorations such as trees, wreaths, garlands, swags, winter scenes, poinsettias, and a vast selection of other holiday florals, as well as fabulous holiday scents that create the ultimate holiday experience in your office or business.

Ambius designers work year-round to create fabulous new Christmas decorations that can be adapted to work in various business spaces, and they offer decoration rental, including installation and takedown services, so you can sit back and enjoy!

One of the best ways you can create a warm and inviting environment in your office or business this holiday season is putting up holiday decorations that really stand out,” said Ambius District Manager Tiffany Falconer.

“Not only will your own coworkers feel like their employer really cares, but your brand will receive a boost because of the positive impression you’ll make on visitors and clients.”

For decades, Ambius has helped countless Omaha-area businesses draw in customers with cheerful holiday decorations of all sizes, Tiffany Falconer colors, and themes. From small mom-and-pop Ambius shops to luxurious hotels to modern corporate headquarters to sprawling shopping centers, their design consultants have received numerous industry awards for their commercial holiday decorations, seasonal designs, and installations.

What’s extra-special is that you don’t even have to worry about that

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laborious task of taking decorations down after the holidays. Ambius does all the work for you, so you might even enjoy your decorations more knowing you don’t have to do the heavy lifting later!

Beef it Up! When you’re thinking about holiday planning, you can’t help but think of food, and if you’re looking for a premium eating or gifting experience, you can’t help but think of Certified Piedmontese beef. After all, what’s the best way to get to someone’s heart? Their stomach, of course!

From gift boxes to steaks to roasts, ground beef, and other assorted cuts, Certified Piedmontese goes above and beyond for business-gifting clients and celebrations alike. From custom-curated gift collections to preset gift boxes ranging from $50 to $200, all options, whether preset or custom, comes at a tremendous value. It’s never too early to start planning for the holidays, either, especially if you have a long list of recipients or are looking for more customization with the deliverable beef gift. These are both things that these folks can execute.

“At Certified Piedmontese beef, we pride ourselves on our quality, including unmatched nutritional benefits alongside a premium eating experience, said Joe Finegan. “You are bringing the steakhouse home. We are proud to afford businesses with the opportunity for employees, customers, and clients to create memories around their tables. For client gifting or bulk orders, Certified Piedmontese provides an unmatched level of customer service and complete customization, along with a variety of other options. Holiday gifting has never Joe FInegan been this easy!”

Certified Piedmontese With the crazy year that 2020 has been, it’s more important than ever that you remind your employees and clients how important they are to you, weathering the storm and sticking with you. You’re not likely to find a gift they’ll love more than Certified Piedmontese beef!

“Our beef is far and above the rest out there in being leaner and healthier, while not sacrificing tenderness or flavor,” Joe said, “and since we have started ramping up our efforts with holiday gifting, we are able to provide a high level of customization. It is one of the easiest decisions ever to gift with Certified Piedmontese, and it’s a gift that recipients will be raving out throughout the year!”

Stories of the Holidays If you really want to get in the Christmas spirit, you’ll definitely want to add Stories Coffee Co. to your holiday planning list. They’re really going to be serving it up big. A self-professed holiday-aholic, Owner Brooke Loutzenhiser and her husband, Dan, will be going all-out with holiday décor to deck out the entire place.

They also are planning special live Christmas music by local artists, have a conference room to rent out for holiday parties of up to 25 people, and the entire coffee shop available for rental—with full-service food and drinks— Brooke Loutzenhiser on Sunday evenings during the holiday season.

Stories Coffee Co. Finally, they’re hosting a big family-friendly Christmas party on December 5, complete with local pop-up shops, Christmas cookies, a kids’ station, adult drinks and shopping opportunities, a live local artist belting holiday tunes, and all of their delicious drinks and foods. (They’re hopeful that Santa will show up, but it will depend on COVID.) “We’re local and want to continue to host our community as we would in our own house,” Brooke said. “We open our Stories home to hundreds of people and want to make sure that people feel just as comfortable and safe here as they feel at home. Lots of people sell coffee, but we realize that lots of people come for the experience. We focus on the details to make sure we keep the experience alive. That includes our tremendous staff. We get as many positive reviews on Google for our staff as we do for our coffee, and we’re proud of that!” #PrintProudDigitalSmart

In the spirit of celebrating community, Stories is having holiday gift baskets created for purchase. The baskets will feature products from local business owners that will make perfect gifts for your employees, friends, and family alike. They’re creating four different tiers of gift baskets, ranging from about $30 to about $150, featuring local items, from hot cocoa to chocolate, coffee tumblers, popcorn, snacks, and the pièce de résistance: a coffee-scented Bianchi candle—using Stories Coffee’s signature coffee beans and hand-pou red in Papillion by Nic Bianchi, the entrepreneur who started his company at age 12.

Throughout the holiday season, Stories will offer special Christmas drinks and will continue to offer live music, with holiday tunes weaved in on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. They will continue to maintain adherence to COVID safety guidelines in all they do, and they will definitely keep the reason for the season at the fore of their business this Christmas.

“We hope everyone will focus on the meaning of why we’re getting together—family and faith—and put that foremost in their plans for the holidays,” Brooke said. “The venue is important, but if we forget why we’re doing it, it loses its luster.”

Healthy Holiday Treats What’s the holiday season without seasonal sweet treats? Well, we don’t really want to know. That’s because the holiday reminds us of The Omaha Bakery, and they know how to sweeten up the holiday spirit with treats and baked goods that are actually good for you, too!

“We now offer a variety of delicious keto treats made with all-natural sweeteners and clean-and-healthy non-GMO organic ingredients,” said The Omaha Bakery Owner Michelle Kaiser. “Even non-keto people love Michelle Kaiser our delicious healthy options because it helps The Omaha Bakery their bodies stay clean. I am now celebrating almost two years of being pain-free as a result of a keto diet. I lost 100 pounds in a year. Before, I couldn’t walk up steps or onto a curb without assistance. I started keto and it changed my life!”

The Omaha Bakery sets the bar high on quality and taste, too. Consider some tempting keto options like a cheesecake tray with pumpkin keto cheesecake and a variety of other keto flavors. The cheesecake trays can also include anything from peppermint candy cane or creamy mint to chocolate raspberry or plain keto cheesecake with strawberry sauce. The Omaha Bakery makes fantastic gifts for office or other holiday parties.

You’ll bring the holiday spirit to live with their brownies and bars, cakes, mouthwatering cheesecake, and delectable bread rolls and loaves.

“People love our take-and-bake cinnamon rolls,” Michelle said. “We have customers who make a tradition of baking them at home so they can have them fresh on Christmas morning while they open presents with their families.”

Classy Cajun If you want to treat your family or employees to a delectable intermingling of French and soul food, book your holiday event at Lux, formally Acadian Grille Dundee. This window into Bourbon Street serves up all of the lights, colors, live music, culture, and historic charm of the heart of New Orleans. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and it’s the perfect place to take family and guests for a special holiday night out.

“Instead of stressing about how to feel all your visiting relatives or how to entertain your friends during the holidays, come have a glass of wine and our delicious, warm, made-from-scratch small-plate cuisine at Lux,” said Owner Dan O’Brien. “Everything on our menu is prepared to satisfy, including our chilled Brussels, crab cake salad, and flat Dan O’Brien breads including the Veggie Flat Bread, which Lux

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CHECK OUT OUR DAILY SPECIALS AND ORDER ONLINE! WWW.ACADIANGRILLE.COM ACADIAN GRILLE - MIRACLE HILLS | 725 N 114 St. | 402.933.0980

features peppers, mushrooms, and onions on fresh homemade dough baked in olive oil. There’s something for everyone.”

Lux also has a timeless cocktail selection and features live music focused on local and traveling jazz and blue bands almost every evening. It really puts the cherry on top of the Cajun experience, and will have you relaxing and tapping your toes—or maybe even kicking up your heels a bit in front of the stage. If you’ve got a crew that enjoys a good laugh, book your holiday night at Lux for a Tuesday, when they feature comedy nights.

Step Out! If you’re planning a holiday party from family, friends, or coworkers, consider hosting it at Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch’s catered lodges.

Every building you see within the beautiful 80 acres of Bellevue Berry has been reconstructed using old barns from farming neighbors throughout Sarpy and Cass counties. The buildings have been decorated with old farming tools and implements, giving their venue a true country look and feel. During the holidays, Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch is dazzling with the sparkle of Christmas lights and decorations. This picturesque setting is ideal for groups who are looking to have a fun, casual time together.

If you want to turn your holiday celebration into a true teambuilding event, take your employees or family to the House of Conundrum— Omaha’s Escape Room. 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 House of Conundrum makes for a lively and entertaining holiday event, with a little edge of competition included. Skip the movies and take your family or friends on a challenging and unforgettable adventure instead.

There’s no doubt that 2020 has served up blow after blow for local businesses, but you can give back twice this holiday, with a season of giving to your friends and family AND to the businesses that make the Omaha community tick. They need your support more than ever—and in return, they’ll treat you to a holiday OCTOBER 2020 Strictly Business

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This is the first month Strictly Business is running a Women-Owned Businesses feature, and we could not be more thrilled. The reason we felt it was important to highlight female leaders in our community is to inspire other women with entrepreneurial ambitions. We promote supporting all local, reputable businesses, but this is a neat opportunity to showcase a minority group in the business community.

It’s an increasingly shrinking minority, though, as there are 114% more women entrepreneurs in the U.S. than there were 20 years ago (fundera.com). According to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), 40% of U.S. businesses are currently women-owned and they generate $1.8 trillion a year. As a women-owned and run business ourselves, there is a certain pride we can take from these statistics. By no means does this take away from the achievements of our male counterparts, but when women rally behind each other, amazing things happen. All women are powerful—stay-at-home

moms and business owners alike. As a business publication, we feel it’s our duty to run these types of features, and we look forward to continuing to expand our editorial calendar in this direction.

“Never start a business just to make money. Start a business to make a difference.” - Marie Forleo. Jenny Moraga is the owner/operator of LaborMAX Staffing Nebraska. Jenny’s staffing career started in 2010. With no previous staffing history and a background in sales and management, she started as a branch manager in the Reno, NV office, eventually moving into the role of regional manager of eight states and 26 branches. Jenny feels that her largest success has been developing branches by developing her team members, six of whom have moved on to become owner/operators of their own LaborMAX entity. One of them was the first woman owner in the company’s history.

In 2017, Jenny accepted the offer of a partner and moved to Bellevue with her husband and children. She took ownership of the Omaha and Lincoln locations. After working to build the LaborMAX name in the market, Jenny had the opportunity to open a third location in Des Moines.

“I love being a member of our community and the beautiful state of Nebraska. We take pride in the joy of finding people jobs that sustain their families and help rebuild their lives as well,” said Jenny.

The LaborMAX Staffing motto is, “Changing people’s lives is what we do, putting them back to work is how we do it.” To learn more, visit www.labormax.net or call the Lincoln office at (402) 805-4720.

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Manna Industries is the first beauty company of its kind in Omaha. It is fully owned and operated by women. Manna Industries was founded by Marcie Manna in 2018. Marcie, who has been in the beauty industry for over 20 years, realized that the Midwest needed more education for cosmetologists and products for the everyday consumer.

Marcie currently has three lines: Manna Glow, Manna Hair, and Manna Cosmetics. Manna Glow has four professional spray tanning solutions, sunless mousses, and bronzing mist. Manna Hair includes hand-tied hair extensions, tape-in extensions, and custom hair pieces. Manna Cosmetics has a base line of products for face, eyes, cheeks, lips; and limited edition collections which include eye shadow palettes, lip kits, and highlighters. During the nation-wide shut down, Marcie realized that despite the pandemic, her sales skyrocketed, which helped her realize that women love to feel beautiful regardless of what is going on in the world. At that point, Marcie decided that makeup and sunless tanning products were the front runner for helping women feel confident in their skin.

In her spare time, when she is not working on Manna Industries or working at the salon she owns, Manna Salon, Marcie enjoys spending time with her husband, four kids, and friends.

Marcie has high expectations for Manna Industries, and hopes to one day become a well-known nationwide beauty company.

Learn more online at mannaindustries.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Many of the following women were brought to our attention by their collegues, clients, staff, friends, or family. It’s clear that they have touched the lives of many through their work and their passions. All of these women felt strongly enough to invest in their own stories and share them with our readers. We are honored to have this opportunity to present them to you here.

Please join us in celebrating the following women-owned businesses in Omaha. Read their story, support their work, do business with them.

Who knows, one of them might even become your future mentor!

Zeal is a local lifestyle management company that connects people who need help with life’s busy to those who can provide help through a marketplace of trusted, vetted personal assistants and service providers.

Kelly Spurgeon, Zeal’s founder, lived the life of a busy professional and it was here where her work and personal life reached a point where life’s enjoyment was diminished because she often felt too busy to do all of it well.

She needed help and it was difficult to find.

She founded Zeal to solve this problem for herself and others by providing a platform to easily source and schedule help.

Zeal helps busy people and businesses alike.

Specifically, Zeal partners with businesses to host employee engagement events and to provide employees the employee benefit they most often want—help. To learn more, go online to www.zealhelps.com or call (402) 936-7399.

Carol Neff started the Remedy Intelligent Staffing franchise in Omaha 21 years ago. A veteran in the staffing industry, Carol was inspired by the impact she could make in the lives of others by helping them find gainful employment. She quickly grew the franchise from a team of two with her husband John to one of the most respected franchises under the largest industrial staffing company in the United States, EmployBridge.

Remedy Intelligent Staffing in Omaha is proud to offer short- and long-term temporary staffing assignments as well as opportunities for permanent hire in the light industrial, clerical, skilled, and professional areas. Carol and her staff love developing lasting relationships with customers and consistently exceeding expectations and standards.

Along with growing a thriving business and mentoring young professionals, Carol enjoys spending time with her two children and three grandchildren, reading, and gardening.

To learn more about Remedy Intelligent Staffing, visit www.remedystaffing.com.

Providing a patient experience based on a philosophy of compassion, care, and the highest treatment standards was the driving force behind Hilary Muhle and Leanne Bata’s opening of Allure Health & Med Spa nearly four years ago. Since opening, Allure has been voted Best of Omaha’s First Place for Female Hormone Replacement and First Place Med Spa. “Helping our clients discover the quality of life, health, and happiness they’ve been searching for is the most rewarding part,” Hilary explains.

Whether visiting Allure for bio-identical hormone replacement—a plant-based, safer form of hormone replacement—or for the variety of med spa services, customers feel welcomed, listened to, and have confidence in the quality of their treatment and results. Leanne summarizes, “The Allure experience is our foundation and we’re excited for continued growth of our female owned business with the values and standards our patients have come to know and trust.”

To learn more about Allure Health & Med Spa, visit www.AllureHealthMed.com or call (402) 881-3638. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

“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 Nikki Wulff is the local owner of Assisted Living Locators of Greater Omaha, a nocost community service that frees you to focus on the best care options, information, and resources available to you in finding care for your loved one. Nikki earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration 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 to provide care and guidance to seniors and families in the community. Nikki’s passion for seniors comes from her own family experience. She acknowledged that there was a huge need for a senior referral and placement service in Omaha. She’s been in business for nearly three years. In addition to running a business, Nikki has a passion for traveling the world and loves spending time with her family.

Instead of trying to handle the maze they call healthcare alone, let Nikki with Assisted Living Locators help you! She will guide you through the entire process. You can contact her at (402) 926-9505/nikkiw@assistedlivinglocators.com or visit www.assistedlivinglocators.com/omaha to learn more.

Judith Ngozi Obodougo authored a book titled God’s Got Your Back, which was released in September 2019. Judith then turned the name into an LLC in March 2020. Now, God’s Got your Back is a brand name for her clothing lines like Golf Polo shirts unisex, sweaters, long sleeves, and hoodies in different colors.

“I always wanted to open my own business, create jobs for people especially young girls, and be a great role model to them,” said Judith. “Although my company is not big enough to hire people, I see that happening in the future by God’s willing.”

Judith is inspired by the odds, and she is determined to be amongst the hardworking female entrepreneurs in Omaha and in Nebraska.

She noted that, according to statistics (www.nawbo.org), only one in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned. Judith is passionate about helping other females find their strength, and she is grateful to provide health and wellness products and accessories to both men and women.

God’s Got Your Back is located at 10154 Maple St. and items are available online at ggyb.store. Judith can be reached at judy. obodougo@gmail.com / (402) 6863559 and followed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedln.

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Wendy Fletcher, a third-generation beekeeper, is the owner of It’s All About Bees! Wendy wanted to share all the potential health benefits that honeybees provide with everyone. She started her company in 2000, soon after her mom Margi partnered with her to create gourmet artisan food recipes and all-natural formulas for the body care line, all made in small batches. Wendy’s honeybees pollinate crops for local commercial growers and, whenever possible, that locally grown produce and honey are used in their homemade recipes. It’s All About Bees! is an environment- and health-conscious business that encourages all glass jars that they sell to be returned to be reused.

Located in Ralston in the 84th and Park Drive Plaza, the current product line at It’s All About Bees! includes these popular items: a variety of raw, local, creamed honey, jams, jellies, salsa, BBQ, Elderhoney syrup, mustard, fruit butters, insect repellent, lip balms, bee magic salve, 100% bees wax candles, and a unique selection of bee themed gifts. To learn more, visit www.itsallaboutbees.com or call the store at (402) 216-4545.

“There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.” - Rihanna

Suzanne Wilke started out grooming in her aunt’s pet store as a teenager. That was 50 years ago. Suzanne’s passion for dogs and their owners eventually lead her to open her own business, Bark Avenue Omaha, specializing in overnight stays, daycare, and grooming for dogs. Her one-room facility, which was only open on alternating days, quickly evolved into what is now a 12,0000-square-feet, five-room space complete with four outdoor play areas for small and big dogs operating all seven days of the week. There are even individual sweets for each dog being boarded! Suzanne is most proud of the caring staff she has rallied together at Bark Avenue. They engage each dog in fun activities and give them constant supervision. Suzanne continues to educate herself and staff as the industry progresses in an ever-changing world.

“We face many challenges as women, let alone as business owners! Time management, confi dence, self-sacrifice, and tenacity—you need a lot of moxie to continue down this road.

We are proud to be celebrating 20 years of serving the Omaha community’s dogs and their families,” said Suzanne.

Bark Avenue Omaha, 13706 C St., continues to make additional services available to their family of clients and will soon offer puppy training classes. To learn more, visit www.barkavenueomaha. com or call Suzanne at (402) 933-4007.

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“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

-Shirley Chisholm

Jodie McGill is impassioned about supporting women and others who strive for independence, diversity, and recognition.

Jodie’s training and experience in Collaborative Divorce are unmatched in the Omaha area. Since 2011, she has helped families in Nebraska reach amicable, swift, and peaceful resolutions to their legal issues. Jodie’s mastery of family law and unique understanding of the trauma and stress families can experience with divorce are a few of the reasons why she has been locally and nationally recognized.

Jodie founded McGill Law in 2011 so that she could combine her passions, skills, and expertise to help more people. McGill Law now has three highly skilled attorneys and a dedicated support staff who help families achieve the best outcome for their legal issues. They specialize in family law issues including divorce, modifications, adoptions, estate planning and guardianships.

Learn more about McGill Law and their unique approach at www.mcgilllawomaha.com

Growing up in Russia, Valeriya Kettelhut followed several family members into the medical field. With a strong compassion for people in need, Valeriya earned a medical degree and practiced as a surgeon while promoting preventive cancer screening. Upon immigrating to the United States, she earned an MPH and a PhD in Biomedical Informatics from the UNMC. After 10 years working in a hospital, she decided to share her experience and expertise in another way—helping others achieve a healthy appearance and delay signs of skin and body premature aging.

With the opening of Valeriya Life, Valeriya’s dream became reality.

She assembled a team of dedicated professionals who share the same passion for helping men and women of all ages improve their health and look their best. Today, Valeriya Life offers natural, toxin-free natural skin rejuvenation and body contouring treatments through a holistic, multimodal approach based on science, advanced technologies, and the most recent biotech breakthrough.

Valeriya Life is not just another medical spa, but a center that gives back to the community.

To learn more about all the services offered, visit www.valeriya.life or call (531) 7772752 to make an appointment. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The term powerhouse comes to mind when talking about Barbara Moore, co-owner of Moore’s Concrete Construction, Inc. Barbara has always had an inclination for customer service and leadership, and found her niche in the construction industry. She and her husband, Steve, started their own company in 1996. Barbara earned her certification as a concrete flatwork technician from the American Concrete Institute. She handles daily operations of the business, including payroll, bookkeeping, and customer service. As a lead estimator, she responds to customer inquiries to give them the scope of their commercial or residential projects. In addition, she oversees the scheduling of contracted projects and manpower requirements.

Moore’s Concrete Construction, Inc. is family-owned and locally operated, serving the Omaha metro-area with 36 years of experience. They are fully insured and employ ACI-certified concrete finishers on-site and a certified technician in the office for estimating.

The team takes great pride in their work, whether commercial properties/ADA work or residential driveways, garage floors, sidewalks, and elegant decorative stamped concrete projects—and they strive for 100% customer satisfaction. To learn more, visit mooresconcrete.com or call (402) 491-3622.

Founded by Kimberly Remmereid in 2015, Contour Construction, a commercial rough and finish carpentry company, has overseen seen intricate and detailed woodworking projects come to life in commercial establishments around the Omaha metro. Under Kimberly’s leadership, the company has grown from a core team of professional craftsmen and women to employing over 30 talented carpentry experts. Women working in construction numbered 1.5% of the entire U.S. workforce in 2018, according to the National Association of Women in Construction.

“For years, the construction industry was dominantly lead by men. I’m so proud to be in the construction industry as a female and make a difference on how women are viewed in construction,” said Kimberly.

Kimberly’s passion for excellence in construction is evident in her company’s success and contributions to the Omaha Metro community. Kimberly can be reached at (402) 238-2362 / kimberly@contour-construct.com.

Learn more about Contour Construction online at contour-construct.com.

Teresa Elliott is co-owner of NextHome Signa tur e Real Estate, a progressive real estate franchise with consumer focused technology, a thriving culture, and world-class marketing.

Teresa works to be an award-winning real estate professional with a purpose for providing a luxury client experience. If asked why she chose this industry, she always answers that she loves helping people. For over 29 years, Teresa has counseled, contracted, and collaborated with a diverse client base in Omaha and surrounding cities. The amount of activity swirling in her community has provided great networking opportunities and, more importantly, a fulfilling and ever-growing philanthropic impact. Teresa’s dedication to encouraging and mentoring others extends beyond her professional responsibility, personally investing in the growth and success of her team members into impeccable producers. Real Estate is more than a job to her, it is her calling.

NextHome Signature Real Estate is an innovative and connected boutique of real estate professionals empowered to deliver an exceptional real estate experience throughout the community. To learn more, visit nexthomesre.com or contact Teresa at (402) 445-4899 / Teresa@ElliottOmaha.com.

Emily Gilli recently launched her own business: Reveal & Heal Health and Wellness Coaching. Emily worked in large healthcare systems as a Registered Nurse for 16 years. When she discovered functional medicine two years ago, she knew she would be making a shift in her career.

Functional Medicine (FM) is a patient-centered approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause and underlying factors affecting one’s health and well-being. The FM model fosters an individualized, whole person approach with a focus on creating health rather than continuing to respond to symptoms.

As a coach, Emily is passionate about filling the gap that is currently missing in the healthcare system. She helps her clients find their “why” for change; feel empowered as the expert of their own body, mind, and circumstances; and implement proactive and personalized health strategies. Ultimately, Emily creates transformative conversations and provides a safe container for her clients to explore their deepest challenges and obstacles.

When Emily is not working, she can be found playing pickleball, enjoying nature, and spending time with her husband and three children. Learn more about Reveal & Heal at www.revealandheal.coach or contact Emily at emily@revealandheal.coach.

Strictly Business organizes a variety of specialty features, such as the Women-Owned Businesses feature, throughout the year. Other features include Supporting Nonprofits, Joining Organizations, and Employing Omaha. If you are a woman business owner and would like to be featured in the next Women-Owned Businesses feature (April 2021), please reach out to editor@strictlybusinessomaha.com or call (402) 466-3330. This feature is available online as well at strictlybusinessomaha.com.

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Strictly Business OCTOBER 2020

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