Strictly Business Lincoln - April 2022

Strictly-Business.com

lINCOLN • April 2022 TM

Taking Real Estate to the Next Level • summer activities for kids • starting a business • spring landscaping • Graduation Parties • Unplanned life changes • women-owned businesses

client spotlights

• grand manse penthouse • union bank & Trust • visiting angels • tobacco free lancaster county • the copper kettle mule bar & eatery • Destination: Keystone

REAGAN RODENBURG

KATIE LECHNER

JOE BANNWARTH

ERIC NEFF

SAM KAVAN

RYAN SCHMIDT

UNICO Group

New Generation Construction

Tabitha

Calvert Venue

Farris Engineering

Tailored Dreams Limousines and Party Buses

Z.A.A. Inc./Strictly Business Magazine PO BOX 57397 Lincoln, NE 68505

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Z.A.A. Inc. LINCOLN, NE PERMIT 1328

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A) S. 82nd St (Suite A) 612 Seward St 4225 Lucile Dr 7101 S. 82nd St (Suite7101 Lincoln, NE 68506 Lincoln, NE 68516 Lincoln, NE 68516 Seward, NE 68434 402-540-5100 402-420-2339 402-420-2339 402-474-1030

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April 2022 Strictly Business

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

pAiGE ZUTAVErN - president (402) 730-0096 | paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com

Tripped Up on Tracking From gas at the pump to meat at the grocery store, everything seems to be getting more expensive, including the cost of advertising. This means that business owners and marketers have to be extra conscious of how they are allocating their marketing budget. Tracking seems to be the answer. However, while I agree that some tracking is good and should be factored in to your marketing decisions, there isn’t a single ad platform, analytics tool, automation system, or CRM that will give you 100% perfect data. There are also certain marketing tactics that are easier to track than others, such as digital vs. print, but that doesn’t make harder-to-track tactics void or worthless. You can’t track credibility, likability, and reputation.

Let’s say you’re currently investing in both digital and traditional marketing. You are running an ad on Google and you’re also running an ad in Strictly Business—or any other local business publication! A person sees your ad in the magazine and reads your press release or quote in a story. They don’t currently need your product or service, so they don’t pick up the phone right then and there to make an appointment or put in an order. A couple of months later, they do need your product or service, so they get on Google to do some searching. They come across your Google ad, which makes them recall learning about you in Strictly Business, so they click on the ad to visit your website. This ends up in a sale or, at the very least, a hot lead. What marketing medium gets the credit in this scenario? Technically, both mediums should get credit—Google put your business in front of the customer’s face when they needed it, but sharing your story in Strictly Business is what established the trust in your brand and, ultimately, tipped the scale in your favor over your competition. However, the data won’t tell you the full story. How could it? Trust me, I wish there was a way to know every time this very scenario has happened so I could put the datadependent minds at ease.

Using coupon codes or special phone numbers to track your traditional marketing efforts isn’t an error-proof plan either. Chances are, if a person sees your ad in a magazine, on a billboard, or through sponsorships

CONTENTS

NEWS 4 Business 25 Personnel

34 Nonprofit 42 Health

SPOTLIGHTS Grand Manse Penthouse

24 44 46 48 50 80

Union Bank & Trust Visiting Angels Tobacco Free Lancaster County The Copper Kettle Mule Bar & Eatery Destination: Keystone

FEATURE STORIES 52 Summer Activities for Kids 54 57 61 64 73 2

Starting a Business Spring Landscaping Graduation Parties Unplanned Life Changes Women-Owned Businesses Strictly Business April 2022

(typically with repetition), and they decide they want to hire you or buy what you’re selling, they’re going to get on their phone or computer and type your name into Google. From there, they’ll call or visit your website (which is why it’s so important to have a good website!). So unless you are extra vigilant about asking every person who does business with you why they chose you, how can you accurately track those marketing avenues? Even if you do have a system set up to get this feedback from customers, you’re not going to get perfect results because people often just cite their last impression, when really there were a couple of factors that influenced their decision.

If you’re dead set on relying on data for your click and conversion tracking, and have therefore given up on traditional marketing, please at least be aware of all the common discrepancies that exist between platforms such as Google Ads, Google Analytics, and Facebook Ads. Take the time to educate yourself on what the numbers you’re looking at actually mean. Also, depending on the types of digital ad campaigns you opt in for, keep in mind that there’s no guarantee that those ads will end up in front of real people. They might, instead, end up being served to bots or other “non-human signals.” This is known as ad fraud, and there are a lot of statistics out there that will shock you. For example, according to the Statista Research Department, the 2021 cost of digital ad fraud worldwide was estimated at 65 billion U.S. dollars. That is approximately half of what is spent on digital advertising in the United States annually. In 2021, PPC Protect found that 36% of display ad clicks were fraudulent or invalid.

The reason I’m addressing this topic is not to convince you to stop tracking altogether or to stop doing digital ads—I’m addressing it because it genuinely makes me sad to see businesses, especially local businesses here in Lincoln, get so tripped up on tracking their ROI that they overlook some of the tried and true traditional marketing methods.

Something my husband Shayne and I like to say is that the real ROI is Return on Integrity. It’s hard to build trust through an ad alone, which is why Strictly Business offers our clients so much more. We are in the business in telling stories and helping other local businesses gain credibility and a good reputation in print, online, and on social media.

Let’s talk if you want to learn more!

ASK THE EXPERT 17 ComPro Insurance COLUMNS 18 Star City Six 45 47 49 54

Strictly Business Upcoming Events Lincoln Independent Business Association Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Downtown Lincoln Association

Strictly Business Magazine PO BOX 57397, Lincoln, NE 68505 P 402.466.3330 • F 402.466.3476 STRICTLY BUSINESS is not responsible for unsolicited material. All rights to submission, including letters, will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to our unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially or creatively, unless otherwise negotiated with the author. Nothing may be printed in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. The publication of any advertisement in STRICTLY BUSINESS is not an endorsement of the advertiser or of the products or services advertised.

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ABOUT THE COVEr

PROFESSIONAL REALTY GROUP JOINS BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES TO TAKE REAL ESTATE TO THE NEXT LEVEL Throughout his eight years in real estate, Ben Bleicher has blazed his way to becoming one of the most recognized and respected names in the game. Ben took the real estate market in Lincoln by storm in 2018 when he established the Professional Realty Group (PRG). He took this step because he understands the value of teaming up with other agents like himself— dedicated and experienced professionals who are in constant pursuit of the knowledge and connections it takes to most benefit the client—and his next step takes this initiative to the next level...and beyond the bounds of Lincoln! While the PRG name remains the same, Ben and his team will now be a part of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS) enterprise.

The purpose of this expansion is for PRG to begin moving into other cities and states, bringing back the tradition of professionalism in the areas they expand into. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is the Brokerage partner that allows this expansion to take shape on a national level, therefore, PRG’s first office expansion will be in Omaha at the BHHS Ambassador office in the Village Pointe Plaza, with more offices to come in the very near future.

“This expansion has been two years in the making, as we had to make sure all bases were covered before moving forward to protect our greatest assets: our loyal clients and dedicated agents,” said Ben. “We will still offer the same outstanding service and expertise that I’ve guaranteed my clients for nearly a decade, but the expansion will bridge partnerships with ultra experienced agents from multiple brokerages and diverse backgrounds, to even better serve our clientele. PRG will continue to offer assistance with buying and selling residential, commercial, new construction, leasing, and investments.”

Another exciting development is BHHS’s plans to open up a central Lincoln office that will offer optimal visibility, workspace, and flow.

There will also be changes in management and company structure that will be appealing to agents, staff, and clients.

Ultimately, Ben decided to join Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices because he recognizes that the market is changing dramatically.

He wants to reposition the PRG team with new tools and techniques to combat the traditional model of being reliant on Zillow or Big Tech which has watered down our industry. PRG is here to be at the forefront of a shift back to realtors being fiduciaries as opposed to just “door openers”.

“The economic market, real estate tech, and the realtor industry, in general, is trending rapidly towards less effective firms being propped up by big-tech companies, whereas we consider ourselves at PRG to be professionals trained in marketing, contracts, negotiations, and technology, making us fiduciaries to our clients and not just a salesperson,” said Ben. Ben is joined by his wife, Andrea Bleicher, along with Amy Gewecke and Mark Salak from the PRG team. They have combined forces with Danny Poethig, and Prior Kats & Associates Team Leader Derek Kats and his team of agents, Amy Briggs, Carie Leyden, David Kim, and Leane Loofe, along with his staff members Brenda Carlson, Stacey Seuferer, and Marklyn Brabac, all of whom come from their own decorated careers in real estate, for support and long-term partnership.

“Our success has always hinged upon having experienced and aggressive agents, but also through extremely high-level support staff that keeps the wheels turning smoothly behind the scenes,” said Ben. “Real estate is such an important investment—usually the most expensive investment a person makes. Consumers deserve protection, expertise, and a team that genuinely cares.”

402.419.6309 | PRG-NE.COM

prODUCTiON TEAM: Editor/Operations Hannah Hundley – Editor@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Art Director Derek Nosbisch – Design@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Writer Devyn Sanderson – Office@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com SAlES TEAM: President/Sales Paige Zutavern – Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com Publisher/Founder/Accounting Shayne Zutavern – SZutavern@Yahoo.com

Hannah

Derek

Devyn

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April 2022 Strictly Business

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BUSINESS NEWS Dammi Dammi Celebrates Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting

ECR Announces Move of Capital Care Staffing to New 48th and Highway 2 Location

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce joined Dammi Dammi in February to officially commemorate their opening with a ribbon cutting. Guests gathered over the lunc h hour to celebrate with delicious Mediterranean cuisine and local drinks, along with Pat’s specialty gelato.

The new Mediterranean restaurant is owned by father-son duo Pat and Andy Lane. Their mission is to provide Lincoln with a variety of healthy food options that don’t compromise the deep flavor that Dammi Dammi offers.

Dammi Dammi, Italian for “gimme gimme,” is devoted to bringing modern Mediterranean cuisine to the community. Their menu features something for everyone – whether you are a carnivore, vegetarian, or vegan; gluten- or dairy-sensitive; or just a Mediterranean newbie wanting to try something new, they’ve got something perfect for you!

Stop by for a mouth-watering protein bowl, salad, tapas, cocktails, beer, wine, or bowl of soup – don’t forget to try one of their housemade flavors of gelato! Visit them from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 128 N 13th St. STE 144. For more information, visit dammidammi.com or contact them at (402) 266-6115 / contactus@dammidammi.com.

Ted and Robin Eschliman of Eschliman Commercial Real Estate (ECR) are proud to announce the move of Capital Care Staffing from downtown to their convenient new south Lincoln location at 5520 S 48 th St. They represented Company CEO Samantha McAtee in their lease.

Capital Care Staffing is a successful local staffing service for Southeast Nebraska, and one of the state’s top nursing agencies. They offer CNAs, Medication Aides, LPNs, and RNs at competitive rates. For the last six years, they have incorporated a quality staff that cares for each person they come into contact with as if they were family. Learn more about Capital Care Staffing at www.capitalcarestaffing.com.

Eschliman Commercial Real Estate is a three-decade old agency started by Robin Eschliman in the 1990s, with the recent addition of 40-year music retail store veteran and husband, Ted Eschliman, formerly of Dietze Music. The two provide site selection services for office, retail, warehouse, land, and commercial investment prospects, as well as listing and consulting services. For more information about Eschliman Commercial Real Estate, visit their website www.ecrproperty.com or contact them at (402) 4203239 / info@ecrproperty.com.

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Strictly Business April 2022

WE ARE SO CONFIDENT YOUR SERVICE, WE ARE #printproudDigitalSmart THAT YOUTHIS WILL ENJOY EXTENDING SPECIAL

BUSINESS NEWS Leadership Harbor Relocates, Invites Community to Open House April 27 Leadership Harbor recently relocated to a new space at 5730 R St., STE C2, and they are excited to celebrate with the community at their open house event on Wednesday, April 27. The open house will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Leadership Harbor will provide beverages and snacks for you to enjoy as you take a walk through their new space. This is a great opportunity to meet the Leadership Harbor team and get to know them while learning about the services they offer for team-building, personal development, leadership, and more. Leadership Harbor is thrilled to continue on in their journey of empowering people to realize their potential with confidence and influence in a brand new environment!

At Leadership Harbor, they help people develop the skills to be more relational and influential in their personal, business, and faith lives. They offer individual, group, and business coaching, mastermind groups (in-depth book study with hands-on application), and workshops. Leadership Harbor helps you train in a safe environment – the harbor – on your way to becoming all you were meant to be. To learn more information, visit leadershipharbor.com.

100% Patriot. Not a PoliticiaN.

A native Nebraskan with a 27 year career as a firefighter, Bob has spent the past two years fighting tirelessly on the frontline holding government officials accountable for their actions.

NGC Presents Hotel Indigo Downtown Omaha Tour, Telegraph District Block Party New Generation Construction (NGC) is excited to share two exciting events coming up in May. On Monday, May 9, CSI Nebraska members are invited to join NGC at their Omaha office (106 N 18th St.) at 4 p.m. for a tour of the Hotel Indigo Downtown Omaha. After the tour, members will return to the office for Q&A and treats with NGC’s Ambassador-Hosts: Taylor Shapland, senior project manager; Cory Claussen, lead superintendent; and Ryan Moore, superintendent.

Next up on Saturday, May 21, is the Telegraph District Block Party! From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be food and drink vendors, carnival-yard games, raffle prizes, live music, and attractions for the whole family to enjoy. NGC encourages guests to donate a non-perishable item to benefit the Food Bank of Lincoln. Open to the public. No entry fees; IDs required for alcohol consumption. Vendors at the Block Party include: Code Beer, Saro Cider, Baconazing, Root & Rebalance Mobile Massage Spa, Group Therapy Bike Tours, Food Bank of Lincoln, VFW Post 131 + Auxiliary, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Nebraska, Craft Axe Throwing, The Tastee Trailer, Notcho Nacho by Doorstep Diner Catering, Keating O’Gara Law, Charm Boutique & Bar, “2 of 4” live acoustic band, 106.3KFRX Lincoln’s Hit Music, Luxx Events Rental, Mid-West Rentals, and Speedway Properties.

New Generation Construction is a full-service general contracting firm specializing in Multi-Family, Mixed-Use, Living Centers, Urban Complex, and Hospitality sectors. NGC’s headquarters is located in Lincoln with a sister office in Omaha. NGC’s core service area is the Central Mid-West, with teams serving many states beyond. Learn more at ngcgroupinc.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

Join the fight at robertjborer.com *Paid for by Robert J. Borer for Secretary of State*

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BUSINESS NEWS ALLO’s Hosted VoIP Phone and Data Services Remodelers Council of Lincoln Announces Provides Business Communications Solution Tour of Remodeled Homes April 23–24 ALLO’s Hosted VoIP (Voiced over Internet Protocol) Phone and Data bundle is the complete business communications solution that provides all your voice and data needs for your business. This bundle is an easy and affordable answer for businesses that need to replace out-of-date equipment or have a new office location.

ALLO’s fully redundant network ensures connections stay up and running. It’s a scalable system that grows with your company no matter how small or big. Costs are reduced through: elimination of upfront high capital expenses of a phone system, ALLO’s installation of a fiber connection directly to your business location, and ALLO’s 24/7/365 monitoring and maintaining of your communications system.

The Hosted VoIP Phone and Data bundle makes working from home or in the office seamless. ALLO’s services allow you to stay connected to co-workers and clients as if you are in the office by simply using a softphone (computer or mobile phone) or by plugging your desk phone into your home router.

ALLO offers free quotes for customized solutions, free installation, local support, and the purchase of phones with no contracts. Leasing options are also available.

ALLO currently serves 21 communities in Nebraska, Colorado, and Arizona, with a total population of more than 800,000. For more information about ALLO, please visit AlloFiber.com.

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Strictly Business April 2022

The Remodelers Council of Lincoln, a group within the Home Builders Association of Lincoln (HBAL), is excited to announce the return of its annual Tour of Remodeled Homes set for April 23 – 24. For over 30 years, the public has toured everything from basic updates to incredible transformations of some of Lincoln’s finest homes. This year’s tour will include nine homes featuring kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and additions. Tours will available from noon – 5 p.m. both days. Admission is $5 and admits adults to all homes; children 12 years and under are free. You may purchase tickets and pick up a guidebook at any Tour home. For a complete list of entries, please visit hbal.org/events/tour-of-remodeled-homes.

The Remodelers Council of Lincoln is a group within the Home Builders Association of Lincoln that started in 1986 and today includes approximately 90 members. The Remodelers Council provides an array of activities for its members to promote their business and network with others in the residential construction industry. In February, the Council collected over 2,600 pounds of food with their Food Bank House at the Nebraska Builders Home & Garden Show. At their annual Christmas lunch, the group collects hats, mittens, and other warm clothing for local elementary schools to give to students who don’t have cold weather gear. They also have an aluminum ramp that can be installed for individuals in temporary need of wheelchair access to their home. For more information, visit hbal.org/remodelers-council.

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BUSINESS NEWS REGA Engineering Group Celebrates 19 Years in Business REGA Engineering Group, Inc., a M i dwe s t b a s e d f u l l - s e r v i c e engineering firm, is honored to celebrate its 19th anniversary and continue ser ving its communities for years to come. In that time, they have become licensed in 12 different states across the Midwest and developed an outstanding portfolio. Founder Dan Rosenthal has stated that he is proud of the last 19 years that REGA has provided and the footprint they have made on the community. Their continued success has allowed clients to see and trust their locally done work, showing the many different solutions REGA has completed in the Lincoln area.

REGA Engineering Group, Inc. has been providing civil engineering, surveying, land development, forensic engineering, landscape architecture, and obstruction observation to its clients since 2003. REGA is licensed in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Minnesota. To learn more, contact (402) 484-7342 or visit regaengineering.com.

WORKING With Buyers & Sellers

Bethany A Arnold, Financial Advisor 8135 S. 15th St., Suite B | Lincoln, NE (402) 421-7418

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NAWIC Celebrates Women in Construction Week in March, Recaps Events and Activities

10241 E. Old Cheney Rd. Lincoln, NE Mon-Sat: 7a-8p Sun: 10a-8p

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Greater Omaha Chapter #116 celebrated Women in Constr uction (WIC) Week, March 6-12, with several events and activities.

W I C We e k k i c ke d o f f o n Sunday, March 6, with a social media TikTok challenge. Construction employees were invited to show off the office side and construction side of their work.

On Monday, WIC Week entered the office and job site, and participants were encouraged to wear their NAWIC gear to show their support for women in construction.

A blood drive was held Tuesday to encourage donors to contribute to the dangerously low blood supply that is affecting the nation right now. Wednesday included a Lunch & Learn event, in which Total Tool/3M presented at the College of Engineering (Kiewit Hall) in Lincoln. Thursday, NAWIC members toured Buena Vista High School, which is scheduled for completion May 31.

On Friday, NAWIC members read the construction book Build It by Laura Seitz Danielsen to local elementary students and donated copies of the book to their libraries. Later that day, they enjoyed a networking happy hour at DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar in Aksarben Village. WIC Week concluded on Saturday with bowling at The Mark with friends and family.

National Association of Women in Construction Greater Omaha Chapter #116 based in Omaha also encompasses Lincoln, Council Bluffs, and the surrounding areas. For more information, visit www. nawicomaha.com and follow the chapter on Facebook at National Association of Women in Construction Greater Omaha Chapter #116. #printproudDigitalSmart

“Personal Banking Like You Remember” is putting you and your family first.

Checking | Savings | Mortgage | Home Equity

Follow us on social or visit lincolnfed.com!

Call us at 402-474-1400.

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April 2022 Strictly Business

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Cyberattacks Cost Businesses Millions Every Minute1 Cyberthreats are on the rise.

Kinetic Business’ comprehensive suite of security solutions, including Managed Network Security, DDoS Threat Mitigation and SOCaaS/Professional Services, can help safeguard your business from whatever the dark cyberworld throws your way.

Cybercrime reports have increased 300% since the beginning of the pandemic2

Scan to learn more about emerging post-pandemic cyberthreats that could impact your business and how to protect against them.

1 Source: RiskIQ.com, The Evil Internet Minute 2 Source: FBI’s Internet Crime Compliant Center, Internet Crime Report 2020 © 2022 Windstream Intellectual Property Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Kinetic and Windstream are registered service marks or trademarks of Windstream Intellectual Property Services, LLC and/or its affiliates. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

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BUSINESS NEWS True North Technologies Expands Through Suite of New Services True North Technologies, a Lincoln-based digital marketing firm founded

by Renee Sobotka, is proud to announce an expanded suite of new services!

Renee founded True North in 2019 to help small businesses improve their online presence. At first, they only offered website and mobile app development, but over the years they’ve adjusted to accommodate the growing needs of their clients. Last December, they revealed the addition of their text marketing platform. This innovative solution allows companies to reach their very own audience of loyal consumers.

The True North team understands and recognizes companies’ need for support with digital advertising. As a result, they now offer paid digital ad services on both Google and Facebook, as well as programmatic ad placements. They also expanded their branding packages to include photography, videography, and digital signage options. Add-ons like email marketing and Google review services are available, too.

If you’re unsure where to get started, they’ll gladly provide a free Digital Assessment of your current marketing strategies.

True North Technologies makes marketing simple with a range of digital services. With everything from custom website and mobile app development to branding, SEO, and social media management, they can help boost your company’s online presence. Visit www.go-tnt.com or call (402) 420-5101 for more information.

Northview Lincoln Business Association Celebrates 23 Years Northview Lincoln Business Association (NLBA) is excited to celebrate 23 years of supporting and encouraging businesses in the North Lincoln area. In 1999, five north Lincoln leaders, all working in the N 27th St. vicinity, had a vision for building a stronger business network on their side of town. Their NLBA members enjoying a tailgate at Haymarket Park before watching the aim was to start a group Lincoln Saltdogs play in Summer 2021 where local leaders could grow their network and business amidst the changing landscape of north Lincoln. They wanted an organization that would take an active voice in expanding the area and fight for the best interests of businesses.

Fast forward 23 years and NLBA continues to grow, change, and lead as an association. NLBA hosts meetings and socials in order to continually create connections among business leaders. Each month the association brings in speakers who inspire, inform, and provide valuable insight for business leaders in the area. Every NLBA gathering is an opportunity to create long-term business relationships and lifelong friendships.

Any organization that promotes, fosters, and supports growth in north Lincoln can join NLBA on the second Thursday of the month in the second floor meeting room of the Lincoln Hy-Vee at 1601 N 84th St. Networking and lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. and the formal meeting is from noon to 1p.m. Lunch is on NLBA for your first visit!

For more information about the Northview Lincoln Business Association, visit northviewlincolnbusiness.com or connect with current president Emily Koopmann at northlnkbusiness@gmail.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

The Chamber offers Visit lcoc.com/membership

Are you ready to be part of something powerful? From advocacy to networking and everything in between, the Lincoln Chamber is passionate about building a strong and vibrant business community. Visit lcoc.com/membership for more information.

Derek Feyerherm Senior Director of Membership 402-434-5344 dfeyerherm@lincoln.org

Shannon Hanke Investor Relations 402-890-7426 shanke@lcoc.com

April 2022 Strictly Business

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BUSINESS NEWS LIBA to Present Hiring Panel as Part of Leading Lincoln Series April 19

Gain Member Benefits Through Center Sphere’s Free with Three Membership Perks

Lincoln Independent Business Association (LIBA) will continue their Leading Lincoln Series with a hiring panel on Tuesday, April 19, from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. after the LIBA luncheon.

Panelists include Todd Watson, Century Sales & Management; Gina Clausen, CFO Systems; Greta Shanahan, John Henry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning; Scott Lockard, Hampton Enterprises; and Chad Klein, Doorstep Diner. The event will take place at the Grand Manse in the Jasmine Room at 129 N 10th St.

The Free with Three membership perk by Center Sphere is a great way to build your network while keeping your membership fees at a minimum. With Free with Three, you can pay once and then never pay again through the referral of new members!

Members who refer three paid members to The Network will receive a free one year membership upon renewal due date if they choose to redeem. One year of free membership will be granted for every three paid members referred. There is no limit to how many free memberships a member may earn as long as membership profile remains active.

Learn more about Center Sphere’s membership benefits at centersphere.com/member-perks.

Center Sphere is an established network of business professionals whose mission is to share referrals, ideas, and resources through genuine relationships. The Lincoln Network is currently made up of nearly 30 chapters and has access to members nationwide. For more information about Center Sphere or to inquire about attending a complimentary meeting or event, visit www.CenterSphere. com or connect with Lincoln Area Director Ronda Armstrong at RondaArmstrong@CenterSphere.com / (402) 450-8611.

The panelists will discuss how to teach employees to evangelize their business, write great ad copy, write a better job description, shorten the hiring process, and be known as a great place to work.

Tickets are free for LIBA members and $79 for non-members; day-of-event ticket purchases are also available. Please RSVP by calling (402) 466-3419 or emailing bud@liba.org.

The Lincoln Independent Business Association provides leadership and educational opportunities to the business community, educating the public concerning the vital role of business in the creation of meaningful jobs and in meeting the payrolls that allow citizens to enjoy the quality of life. LIBA communicates concerns of the business community with elected officials at all levels of local government, supporting political candidates who understand and promote the free enterprise system. For more information, visit liba.org.

Jayson proudly respresents these fine Lincoln neighborhoords. Contact Jayson today to find out more!

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Strictly Business April 2022

“I used Jayson to sell my home and the experience was excellent. Even when the buyer’s agent messed up, Jayson got us back on track and closed on the property. His attention to detail and professional manner is appreciated. We are using his skill on our current new build.” - Robert

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BUSINESS NEWS Women in Sales & Business to Hold Meeting April 13 at Venue Restaurant & Lounge The next Women in Sales & Business (WISB) monthly meeting will be held Wednesday, April 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The meeting will be hosted at Venue Restaurant & Lounge in the Lancaster/Nebraska room, located at 4111 Pioneer Woods Dr., STE 100. They will first hold their regular business meeting, followed by a presentation given by Marianne Chance. Marianne will present on the topic of “How to Deal with All the Feels.” Feelings can be overwhelming, even paralyzing. Marianne will give her top seven tips on how to deal with all the feels.

The cost to attend in-person is $16 for members with lunch, $10 without lunch, and FREE for first-time guests. All women attending should be prepared to make a brief introduction of themselves and their business. Those who plan on attending are asked to register on the Women in Sales & Business Facebook page (@wisblincoln).

Women in Sales & Business began meeting in 1987 to offer businesswomen in Lincoln the opportunity to network within an allfemale setting. Today, their goal is to encourage and develop creative leadership in women. They are dedicated to promoting their growth through the accumulation and sharing of knowledge, and they are always looking for new members to join their group! Learn more by calling (402) 472-8675 or visiting www.wisblincoln.org.

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Open Tuesday Saturday Open Tuesday -- Saturday 2001 N. St., Unit #101 2001 N. St., Unit #101 Lincoln, NE 68510 Lincoln, NE 68510 Charmchix.com (402) 210-0276 Charmchix.com

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UNICO Group Named 2021 Agency of the Year by Accident Fund Insurance Company UNICO Group has been recognized as the 2021 Agency of the Year by Accident Fund Insurance Company of America.

“UNICO is thrilled to be named Accident Fund’s Agency of the Year,” said Ric Stoakes, executive vice president. “UNICO is proud of the reputation we’ve built with our carrier partners. At UNICO, our team strives to create connections that go beyond professional and go deeper to personal, compassionate, and fun. We value our longstanding partnership with Accident Fund and their undertaking in providing our clients with personalized solutions and first-class service.”

“UNICO has been a tremendous, long-term partner of Accident Fund – a partnership that has demonstrated a mutual commitment to keeping the workplaces of our shared customers safe and productive,” said Steve Cooper, president of AF Group’s Workers’ Compensation Division. “We also share a common desire to do what’s right for the businesses we insure and to make a lasting impact upon the communities where we work and live, and this valued collaboration will carry us to a very promising future.”

Accident Fund Insurance Company of America is a member of AF Group. Insurance policies may be issued by any of the following companies within the AF Group: Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, Accident Fund National Insurance Company, Accident Fund General Insurance Company, United Wisconsin Insurance Company, Third Coast Insurance Company, or CompWest Insurance Company. Learn more at accidentfund.com.

UNICO Group is a client-focused insurance broker headquartered in Lincoln. Their consultative and relational approach develops customized solutions for clients all around the nation. Learn more at unicogroup.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

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531-500-3672 | cbdoflincoln.com April 2022 Strictly Business

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BUSINESS NEWS Charm Boutique & Bar Holds Ribbon Cutting, John Henry’s Expands Hot Water Hydro Announces New Fashion Fitness Partnership Jetting Department Charm Boutique & Bar has had much to celebrate this last month!

On March 18, they held a ribbon cutting in conjunction with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce to officially mark their opening in the community. This is the second location that Owner Lindsey Tederman has opened, with the original Charm located in her hometown of Gothenburg, NE.

John Henry’s Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning is pleased to announce that they have expanded their hydro jetting department through the addition of a second truck with jetting capability. John Henry’s hydro jetting services are in high demand this time of year as the ground thaws, so they are excited to improve in providing this service.

Charm has also formed an exciting new partnership with Little Movements to bring fashion fitness into the boutique. The business provides athletic and athleisure for women and will be located in Charm’s pop-up spot for the next three months. To celebrate this partnership, Little Movements and Charm held a kick-off after-hours party on March 25, offering guests shopping, specials, and drinks.

Hot water hydro jetting is a method of cleaning out sewers and drain lines by using high-pressure water streams through specialized jetting nozzles to dislodge and clear obstructions, as well as perform regular maintenance to prevent sewage backups. Regardless of whether the location is residential or a larger municipality, sewer jetting is vital to keeping commercial drains and sewer lines in peak condition, helping prevent damage and mitigate further deterioration of the sewers.

Charm Boutique & Bar is a new shopping concept developed by Owner Lindsey Tederman, where you can “sip ‘n’ shop” by browsing their selection of clothes, accessories, shoes, and more with a drink from their full bar. They also feature a revolving drink menu that changes when they feel like stirring things up! Charm is open Tuesday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and they are located in the Telegraph District at 200 S 21st St. Unit A114. Online shoppers can visit charmchix.com. They also offer private shopping parties! For more information or to set up a date for a private shopping party, contact Lindsey at charm@charmchix.com / (308) 529-2361.

There are a multitude of materials that can block and cause damage to sewer lines, including tree roots, grease, mud, sludge, and dirt. While there is a variety of machines, nozzles, and other tools that can tackle these jobs, sewer jetting remains one of the easiest, safest, and most effective methods of cleaning out sewer and drain lines.

Established in 1996, John Henry’s Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning is a full-service plumbing, heating, air conditioning, air quality, duct cleaning, and water treatment business. For more information, visit jhlincoln.com or call (402) 435-5555.

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Strictly Business April 2022

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BUSINESS NEWS “How did you hear about us?”

FNBO Celebrates the Future of Agriculture Through Donations to Nebraska FFA Chapters First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) is investing in the future of agriculture by donating to Nebraska FFA. The donations help to provide positive educational experiences for students enrolled in agricultural education in Nebraska.

FNBO is sponsoring the Nebraska FFA Launch! Program for the fifth year with a $12,000 donation. The funds will support the year-long program that serves as a catalyst in entrepreneurship-based education for Nebraska FFA members and agricultural education students. In addition, FNBO is donating to local FFA chapters across Nebraska while agribusiness lenders from the bank are volunteering to provide agribusiness education to the students in these chapters. FNBO is also donating to the Colorado FFA Foundation and local FFA chapters in Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wyoming as part of the bank’s broader efforts to celebrate National Agriculture Week, which took place in March. FNBO and its affiliates are among the largest agribusiness lenders in the country.

First National Bank of Omaha is a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska. First National of Nebraska and its affiliates have more than $26 billion in assets and nearly 5,000 employee associates. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Learn more at fnbo.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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T) 402-483-6656 1221 N Street | Suite 800 Lincoln, NE 68508 www.WillekeFinancialGroup.com

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Husker Rehab in Nebraska City Receives NCTC Golden Apple Award Husker Rehab in Nebraska City is excited to receive Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce’s (NCTC) Golden Apple Award for 2021.

NCTC started the Golden Apple Award in 2010. It is an award that recognizes and encourages best practices in customer service and is given to Nebraska City L-R: NCTC Board Member and Secretary/ businesses or individuals who Treasurer of NCTC Board Craig Taylor, demonstrate outstanding Janelle Gress, and Tara Nanninga customer service, flexibility, and personal attention to developing and maintaining relationships with customers and visitors.

Since opening their doors in 2017, Husker Rehab has made it a priority to provide outstanding customer service and to participate in local events. The nomination letter for Husker Rehab spotlighted Office Manager Janelle Gress and Tara Nanninga, M.P.T., as great representatives, saying they “go out of their way to promote Nebraska City when clients come into the office for a visit.” Both Janelle and Tara are active on NCTC committees and make sure to greet everyone with smiles on their faces. Congrats to Janelle, Tara, and all of Husker Rehab for earning the Golden Apple Award for 2021!

Husker Rehab proudly offers therapy services in five clinics in four different Nebraska cities, where they serve physicians and their patients with unique, highly-intensive, highly-customized rehabilitation, wellness, and preventative care therapies that make a difference in people’s lives. For more information about Husker Rehab and their services, visit huskerrehab.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

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Welcome to Lincoln’s new name for buying or selling homes.

NP Dodge has the same great agents you’ve trusted at Lincoln First Realty. Now with more ways to serve you. Plus, Nebraska’s most popular real estate website, npdodge.com.

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April 2022 Strictly Business

13

BUSINESS NEWS Vic’s Pizza Now Open During Lunch, Offers Evening Delivery

CBD American Shaman Announces New Comprehensive Immunity Support Product

Vic’s Pizza is ready to fulfill your lunch needs with their expansion to lunchtime hours. You don’t have to wait until dinner to enjoy the fresh and unique flavors that have quickly made Vic’s Lincoln’s number one pizza destination.

Treat your employees to the best pizza in town. Whether it’s a Signature Pizza like the robust Stamp Collector and the amazing Nebraska Pizza Massacre, or a classic like the pepperoni cream cheese, you’ll be the “World’s Greatest Boss” when you show up with stacks of Vic’s in hand.

Nighttime is the right time for pizza and now you don’t need to leave your home to enjoy Vic’s. They have drivers just waiting for the green light so they can deliver hot fresh Vic’s to your front door.

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for drinks and conversation before dinner, Eleanora Bar is the place to go. Conveniently located next to Vic’s and Honest Abe’s Burgers, Eleanora offers a variety of beers, cocktails, and Sebastian’s Table sangria. Menus for both restaurants are also available for ordering. Visit Eleanora from 5 – 11 p.m.

Sunday through Friday or 1 – 11 p.m. on Saturdays.

Vic’s Pizza is located at 8340 Glynoaks Dr., STE 100. They’re open seven days a week, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Delivery is available from 4 – 9 p.m., with expanded hours coming soon. To learn more, visit www.pizzavics. com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@thevicspizza).

CBD American Shaman is pleased to let the community know that they have tons of new products on their shelves, one of which offers comprehensive immunity support. This blend of CBDA (cannabidiolic acid), CBGA (cannabigerolic acid), CBD, and CBG cannabinoids comes along with Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Zinc to create a powerhouse of complete immunity support in water-soluble form.

This new formulation from CBD American Shaman is a pioneering charge into more well-rounded supplements that can give you the boost you need for your health. CBD American Shaman is also aligning the CBDA and CBGA with CBD and CBG in non-acid form to give you a full range of cannabinoids for a better range of entourage effect. The 30mL bottle has 60 total servings at a serving size of 20mg. It has 1,200mg of cannabinoids, 300mg of Vitamin D, 300mg of Vitamin C, and 90mg of Zinc. You now have control over your health with this combined product to give you serving sizes on the go or to mix into your food and drinks. Stop by any of CBD American Shaman’s three Lincoln locations to try a free sample!

CBD American Shaman is US Hemp Authority certified. To learn more about what CBD American Shaman has to offer, contact Lance Schroeder at (531) 500-3672 / lincolnamshaman@gmail. com, follow them on Facebook (@CBDofLincoln27th), or visit their website www.CBDofLincoln.com.

Family Friendly

BLOCK PARTY O&20th Lincoln Saturday

May 21, 2022 10am - 4pm

Food Trucks, Beer, Cider, “2 OF 4” Live Band, 106.3 KFRX Music, Games, Prizes, Local Biz Vendors, Displays, Tours and learn what the Telegraph District has to offer! ngcgroupinc.com/the-latest

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BUSINESS NEWS Luminescence MedSpa Moves into Krueger Development’s Sierra Suites, Opens in May Krueger Development is pleased to announce that their newest tenant, Luminescence MedSpa, is scheduled to officially open in May at their home in the Sierra Suites. They are excited to celebrate their grand opening at 7401 S 15th St. STE A. Luminescence MedSpa has a team of highly trained, professional staff that perform world-class rejuvenation, anti-aging, and regenerative treatments for both the face and body. They strive to make your journey to a more beautiful you positive and relaxing.

Discover the difference artistry makes when you visit their comfortable, client-centered, luxury medspa.

Services offered by Luminescence MedSpa include neuromodulator and dermal fillers, microneedling, laser hair removal, body sculpting, dermaplaning, microblading, facials, enzyme peels, waxing, teeth whitening, and medical massage. To learn more about Luminescence MedSpa, contact them at (402) 560-9272 / LuminescenceMedSpa@ gmail.com, or visit LuminescenceMedSpa.com.

For more than 30 years, the family-owned and operated Krueger Development has contributed to Lincoln’s commercial and residential marketplace by developing communities, retail centers, and multifamily residences. For more information about available commercial spaces, contact Krueger Commercial Property Manager Allison Santana at (402) 423-7377 / asantana@kruegerdevelopment.com.

NBDC’s Meet the Buyers Conference Set for April 19-20, Yields Opportunities The Meet the Buyers conference, sponsored by the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC), gives business owners and their leadership unique opportunities to present products and services to local, state, and federal agencies; prime contractors; and other businesses. The annual conference will begin with a virtual event on April 19, followed by an in-person event April 20 at the Thompson Alumni Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus, 6705 Dodge St. Kelly Tvrdy Benes is the founder and CEO of Shadow Tool Systems. Her company has created the Shadow Tool Staging System product lines that revolutionize tool accessibility and control in order to reduce physical strain and increase workflow for mechanics in a variety of industries.

Benes has attended a Meet the Buyers conference, where she received feedback from potential buyers.

“It has led to preliminary talks with one large company,” she said. “I also talked with others attending the conference and made connections with a government sales team. Overall, the conference was well worth my time.”

Agencies participating in the conference include Kiewit, Union Pacific, The Department of Veterans Affairs, University of Nebraska Procurement, and many more. For more information, contact NBDC Consultant Daniel Kuchar at dckuchar@unomaha.edu / (402) 554-6270.

The Nebraska Business Development Center began as one of eight University Business Development Centers in 1977 and has grown to a platform of services and programs that support business development and growth across Nebraska. To learn more about NBDC, visit nbdc.unomaha.edu. #printproudDigitalSmart

Multi Color Printing • Full Color Envelopes • Graphic Design • Digital Black & White Wide Format Color • Digital Color Copies • Engineering Copies – Color/B&W Crazy Fast Service

402.483.7575

www.pioneerprintinginc.com

Looking for a cool gift for someone special that will stand out from the rest? Or, maybe you want to treat-yo-self to a sweet sticker or T-shirt to rep your favorite Lincoln spot? Copper Kettle T-shirts, stickers & gift cards are available for purchase in-store or online!

Visit our website to purchase gift cards online, and visit our ChowNow to order tshirts and stickers (also available in person).

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BUSINESS NEWS SP Group, PC Balances Life and Work during 2022 Marks 10 Years in Business for Panology Tech Solutions Tax Season with Groutfit Saturday SP Group, P.C. celebrates working weekends during tax season with its Super Saturday Series; one of their favorites is Groutfit Saturday. A “groutfit” is an all-grey outfit.

Groutfit Saturday took place in February when the weather was almost spring-like. The workday got underway earlier than normal so an early exit could be made to enjoy the warm afternoon. In the morning, team members were greeted with an energizing music soundtrack and Krispy Kreme donuts as they entered the office. A brunch of breakfast pizzas and fruit were served later in the morning. The early afternoon finish allowed team members some much-needed family and play time in the sun.

SP Group believes Saturdays are for work AND a little fun during tax season. The firm was founded on four core values: Relationships, The Power of Team, Life/Work Balance, and Competitiveness. Life/Work Balance is essential this time of year and Groutfit Saturday is part of that effort.

Follow SP Group, P.C. on Facebook (@SP Group, P.C.) or Twitter (@ SPGroupPC) to watch the action unfold during the Tax Season Super Saturday Series. For more information about SP Group, please call (402) 420-7758 or visit www.spgrouppc.com.

M a r c h wa s a b i g milestone for Panology Tech Solutions, as they celebrated 10 years in business! The locally owned and operated company led by Darren Lichty has been providing computers, networks and cloud to local small businesses since 2012.

Over the years, Panology has grown to offer a variety of technology solution services to help businesses get the most out of their technology budget. In 2016, they shifted their focus to working exclusively with small-businesses with fewer than 100 employees. As a result, Panology has made technical support and cloud services easily accessible and affordable for fellow small business owners in the community. This has allowed these business owners to increase their efficiency by focusing on the goals of their business without having to worry about keeping the technology they rely on up and running.

Panology Tech Solutions is a technology solutions firm, providing consulting services to small businesses that are focused on computers, networks and cloud services. While they do not participate in traditional product distribution, they can (and often do) locate and acquire products on behalf of their clients. Additionally, these products are sold to clients at cost. This approach to technology product acquisition allows Panology to keep their focus upon the IT services and support they provide. With over 30 years of experience in various technologies, from consumer electronics to nationwide service delivery platforms, Panology benefits businesses by elevating their bottom lines.

Learn more at panologyinc.com.

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Strictly Business April 2022

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ASK THE EXPERT: COMPROby Kayla Northup (402) 488-5100 www.comproins.com

Employee Benefits Manager/Agent

Market Outlook for Employee Benefits Our world has been upended in the last two years. Businesses and employees have had to adapt to unprecedented changes and uncertainty. Covid has created new norms, new rhythms of business and new expectations from employees. Employers who can think creatively about how they can accommodate employee desires while also controlling costs are well positioned for future growth and stability.

Tips for attracting new and retaining current employees: Hiring is difficult. The available labor pool is small and there is a large number of job openings. Employers can differentiate themselves by rethinking their approach to benefits and employee engagement. Money isn’t the only factor. Flexible scheduling, mental health resources, and growth opportunities all top the list for sought after benefits of job seekers.

While benefits may get them on the payroll, employees are looking for a company culture that demonstrates how much they care about their workers. Now more than ever, people are looking for a career that aligns with their priorities. Talk with employees regularly to ensure they are feeling connected and engaged.

Telemedicine encourages well-being of your staff: Telemedicine uses technology to connect a physician with a patient and it exploded in popularity during the Covid pandemic. The use of telemedicine isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon. While telemedicine isn’t a good fit for all situations, it does provide patients greater flexibility and savings compared to in-person visits. Plus, the convenience encourages employees to see their doctor more frequently which helps to maintain overall health. Most health plans include telemedicine benefits.

Mental health care options offer support: Many employers are finding ways to better support the mental health of their staff. Reducing the office visit copay for mental health services is a great way to do so. A lower copay encourages better usage by removing a cost barrier. Another tool is Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). EAPs can be purchased as a stand-alone benefit and they are also often included as a value-add service with disability plans. An EAP provides a confidential source that employees can use to find support and resources for challenges they face. EAPs often include mental health counseling, caregiver support, family services and financial wellness services.

Health care cost control: Experts are expecting a 5% to 7% increase in health care costs in 2022. An employer-level strategy for cutting costs is alternative health plan models like Reference Based Pricing and Level Funding. Improving employee health care literacy is another tool to reinin costs. Arming employees with basic questions such as “How much will this cost?” and “Can I be treated in an equally effective but less costly manner?” can help them make more informed health care decisions.

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STAR CITY SIX

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Meet Reagan Rodenburg, an employee benefits advisor at UNICO Group.

Tell us a little about your business. - We are a client-focused, full-service, independent insurance agency. In my role, I work with employers to develop and manage employee benefit programs that fit the specific needs of their company and employees.

How did you get started in the business? - After working as an in-house claims attorney at Fidelity National Title Group for two years, I wanted to find a way to combine my legal expertise in the insurance field with my desire to work with people in my community.

UNICO Group proved to be the perfect intersect.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? The increasing cost of healthcare and the current labor shortage.

Employers are working harder than ever to attract and retain top talent. I work closely with my clients to make benefits as affordable as possible for their employees and explore customized solutions to round out their employee benefit packages.

Tell us a little about your family. - My husband Max and I met at the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2016. We got married in September of 2020 and enjoy spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and traveling. Some of our favorite adventures include biking the Katy Trail in Missouri, exploring National Parks in Utah and Arizona, and traveling to Montenegro, Croatia, Mexico, Vietnam, and Hawaii. We plan to explore Turkey in May. What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?

- Passing the Nebraska Bar Exam. Ever since I was in elementary school, I wanted to go to law school and be able to call myself an attorney. After completing 19 years of education, spending countless hours studying, and pushing my mind to new limits, passing the bar was the final step in achieving an almost lifelong goal.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Working on home projects and organizing our house sparks immense joy for me, sometimes to the dismay of my husband!

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I have my black belt in Taekwondo.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - It’s a three-way tie between: “Comparison is the thief of joy”, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”, and “Always have something to look forward to.” if you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Loyal. if you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Construction. I always thought it would be fulfilling to be a contractor or a house flipper because you regularly get to see something transform right in front of your eyes and get to be a part of something from beginning to end.

402-466-8749 WWW.USHERCUSTOMCABINETS.COM 18

Strictly Business April 2022

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Big Brothers Big Sisters. I have been a Big for over eight years and currently sit on the board of directors. Studies show that children who have role models are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs.

My Little has given me great perspective and a lifelong friendship. if our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? (402) 975-8634; rrodenburg@unicogroup.com; www.unicogroup.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

STAR CITY SIX

KATIE

Katie Lechner

TABITHA Meet Katie Lechner, the chief operating officer at Tabitha.

Tell us a little about your business.

- Tabitha is Nebraska’s local industry-leading and quality award-winning senior care expert. Tabitha offers results-driven rehabilitation, accessible at-home health care, innovative living communities, and compassionate hospice services.

How did you get started in the business? - I grew up in Lincoln so I was familiar with Tabitha, but my only experience in the senior field was from volunteering at an assisted living community as a kid.

I was working for another business that I loved, but it required me to travel often. With a brand new baby at home, I knew I wanted to find an organization that I could love and was close to home. A friend of mine who worked at Tabitha at the time informed me that they were seeking someone with the talent and skill set that I had, so I made the switch in 2015.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - I began my role as COO at Tabitha when COVID broke. There is truly no faster way to learn the ins and outs of operations than when you are in a pandemic.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- My growth at Tabitha. In my seven years, I’ve had three different roles. I started as an organizational development and culture specialist, then became VP of talent and culture, and then stepped in as COO. The work of re-organizing and re-designing our talent and culture team (formerly called human resources) is probably one of my proudest achievements, as I think it has been one of the most impactful on our organization.

Tell us a little about your family. - My husband Jay and I have been married for almost 11 years. We have two girls, Carter (7) and Charlie (5), who are two of the sweetest, funniest, and kindest humans on earth.

We have a 10-year-old tank of a golden retriever, Miley, whose claim to fame is eating anything and everything she can find on our kitchen counter. My parents and younger brother still live in Lincoln also!

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - In the winter, shop! In the spring and summer, I claim to be an amateur landscape artist (is that a thing?). I love plants and being outside.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - My husband and I met on a beach in Florida in college...even though we grew up in the same town, went to rival high schools, and had a ton of mutual friends.

Who inspires you? - My parents! Though they were very careerfocused, they never missed a dance recital, cheer event, practice, or piano lesson. It’s so important to me that my children grow up with the same values and feel that same love and presence from Jay and me. My parents are retired now. I still go to lunch with them a couple of times a month. They are great listeners, have a ton of wisdom, and are just fun to be with.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “May the best of your todays be the worst of your tomorrows.” if you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Kind.

What is your favorite movie? - I could watch Pretty Woman 100 times and not get sick of it.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill. if our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

- (402) 486-8551; katie.lechner@tabitha.org; www.tabitha.org. #printproudDigitalSmart

Dammi Dammi A Taste of the Mediterranean

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Stop by and enjoy a drink with your dinner after work, or split a plate from our new tapas menu with a friend or date!

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Corner of 13th & P Streets

April 2022 Strictly Business

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STAR CITY SIX

JOE

Joe Bannwarth

FARRIS ENGINEERING Meet Joe Bannwarth, a mechanical engineer and project manager at Farris Engineering.

Tell us a little about your business. - Most of our work is done behind the scenes, providing designs for central plants, generators, air handling systems, electronic power and lighting, and plumbing systems. We are an employee-owned company with additional expertise in fire protection engineering, lighting design, building commissioning services, technology systems design, and life safety systems engineering. Farris Engineering offers these services in a variety of markets including education, healthcare, government, commercial, and industrial. For all our projects, engineers focus on cost, safety, reliability, and visual impact. We listen to our clients’ needs and are dedicated to quality, service, and long-term partnerships. At Farris, we don’t just make buildings function, we “Bring Your Building to Life” through our designs.

How did you get started in the business? - I obtained my college education at South Dakota State University and majored in mechanical engineering. I was exposed to the HVAC side of mechanical engineering during my studies and was offered a position in Phoenix, AZ out of college. I worked in the A/E field in Arizona for four years before returning to the Midwest and joining Farris Engineering.

Tell us a little about your family. - My wife Kimberly and I have a daughter, Annika, and a son, Henry. We have been living in Nebraska for about 13 years and enjoy the Midwest way of life.

Your big projects and purchases have people Like Angie, who can help you secure a Ready Loan or home equity line of credit to make your next big project or milestone a reality.

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What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? - Having children. Raising kids has been rewarding and challenging. It is constantly helping me grow and adjust each day.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy spending time with my family, watching sports, and working on the family farm.

Who inspires you? - My dad. He instilled hard work and dedication into his profession. With dedication and hard work, your achievements will be endless.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Success doesn’t come to you, you go for it.” if you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Dedicated. if you could have a super power, what would it be? - Time-travel.

It would be great to go back in time and possibly in the future.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that I am passionate about. Blood donations are needed each and every day. It is gratifying to know that your donation can help others live.

What is your favorite movie? - Tommy Boy starring Chris Farley.

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Strictly Business April 2022

What is your favorite TV show? - None at the moment. Life is busy, so there isn’t much time to watch television. if our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 330-5900; jbannwarth@farris-usa.com; www. farris-usa.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

STAR CITY SIX

ERIC

Eric Neff

NEW GENERATION CONSTRUCTION Meet Eric Neff, the preconstruction manager at New Generation Construction.

Tell us a little about your business. - New Generation Construction (NGC) is a commercial general contractor headquartered in Lincoln and Omaha. We specialize in hospitality and multi-family projects.

We are relationship driven both with our internal team and our clients. The majority of our business is with repeat clients, and we believe our relationship-driven approach is a big part of our success.

How did you get started in the business? - I’ve been doing construction since I was 16, working for a small concrete contractor over the summer. I ended up working at Menards in high school and really enjoyed the people in the industry. From there, I attended UNL for Construction Management and started at NGC shortly out of college.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? Learning how to lead others has been one of my biggest challenges.

It’s easy to just try and take over a problem myself, but that doesn’t help others learn and grow in their roles. I’ve since learned to teach and trust others to perform their work.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- Being an integral part of the Telegraph District from its conception. Being a part of the construction and even working within the districts was very significant for me. I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to play a role in the Telegraph District’s meaningful impact to the Lincoln community.

Tell us a little about your family. - I’ve been married to my amazing wife Becky for 14 years and we have a 6-year-old girl and 4- and 2-year-old boys. They keep me very busy outside of work, and it’s fun to see them grow and learn new things every day.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Perfection is the enemy of progress.” – Winston Churchill. I’ve learned as I’ve become a leader in the company, that it’s always good to continue to strive for excellence, but that it should not be such a focus that it hinders progress. It’s okay to improve incrementally, and that if I wait for perfection before implementing new processes or systems, then they will never be implemented, and the original goal of improvement is lost. if you could have a super power, what would it be? - Flying faster than a speeding bullet would be neat!

Which talent would you most like to have? - I wish I were better at golf. if you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I would build classic hot rods. I’ve always loved watching Chip Foose and Boyd Coddington transform old muscle cars into modern, beautiful hot rods, and I actually almost went to school to learn how to do just that.

What is your favorite TV show? - Pretty much any World War 2 documentary.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill.

I love their Voodoo Chicken! if you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Elon Musk. Musk has such an open mind to new ideas, thoughts, and risks, and he wills things to happen.

He also surrounds himself with brilliant people who add to his success.

I think there’s a lot to learn from someone who can be successful in so many different arenas. if our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 310-8817; eneff@ngcgroupinc.com; ngcgroupinc.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

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21

STAR CITY SIX

SAM

Sam Kavan

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Strictly Business April 2022

Meet Sam Kavan, part-owner and the manager of Calvert Venue.

Tell us a little about your business. Calvert Venue, previously LoveLand Dance Hall, is a unique venue in a beautiful and quiet residential area. We are a stunning fit for those smaller gathering needs: smaller weddings and receptions, baby showers, graduation parties, and much more!

We offer catering services through Doorstep Diner Catering and even linen rentals if you need!

How did you get started in the business? - I have been in the event planning business for about five years now, but it’s been mostly fundraising or community based. Honestly, I got started by volunteering for community events and it just grew from there into an opportunity to become profitable at space/event managing.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? Learning to balance work and life outside of work.

Tell us a little about your family. - My husband Adam and I have been married for 11 years and we have four kids: Gabe (10), Nikki (8), Dinah (6), and Izzy (4). The kids keep us busy with school, sports, and family movie nights at home. Adam and I own and operate Kavan Custom Construction here in town, focusing on remodeling projects. We’ve seen an insane amount of growth with the company in the last two years.

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

- When my oldest went to kindergarten, I made the decision to stay home. It made a lot of sense for us financially, and I was already spending more time in the evenings on the construction company’s needs.

Having the ability for our household to be completely self-employed and have a 100% flexible schedule was an eye-opening moment.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - House projects!

There are very few things as rewarding as accomplishing something on the to-do list. I also enjoy reading a good book on my front porch swing with a beverage in my hand.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I went to college at a small university in Iowa on a track and cross-country scholarship.

Who inspires you? - My kids! Especially throughout the pandemic, our kids watched so many things, outside of their control, change and then change again. They’ve been handling it so well. They have had no problem asking us questions, standing up for their concerns, and talking through what’s going on.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - We have a saying in our family, “It could always be worse!” It’s not meant to be negative in any way, but rather a reminder to take a moment, assess whatever is happening at the time, and re-focus on what really matters. if you could have a super power, what would it be? - Speaking any language. if you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - Something to do with large animals.

My husband grew up on a dairy farm and I grew up in a small farming community. Our girls ride horses. I’ve always enjoyed my experiences with livestock.

What is your favorite TV show? - Friends. My sisters and I are known to speak in quotes from the show all the time—just ask our husbands and kids! if our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

- (402) 202-8304; events@calvertvenue.com; calvertvenue.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

STAR CITY SIX

RYAN

Ryan Schmidt

TAILORED DREAMS LIMOUSINES AND PARTY BUSES Meet Ryan Schmidt, a chauffeur at Tailored Dreams Limousines and Party Buses.

Tell us a little about your business. - Tailored Dreams Limousines and Party Buses safely transports passengers during their special events, whether it be for a wedding, a birthday, or just a night out with friends.

How did you get started in the business? - I got started chauffeuring in the early 2000s. I worked for a tow truck company which was under the same business as a limousine company in Omaha. The owner said that he was selling the tow business and I asked if I could drive limousines for him. From that point on, I was hooked.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- Achieving the ability to adapt to changing situations. Driving party buses and limousines, there is an ever-changing environment all around you. You need to see the change and adapt to it, whether it be on the streets in front of you or the precious cargo that you’re carrying.

Tell us a little about your family. - I’m in a relationship, and the only little ones that are running around are four-legged fur babies!

We currently have two dogs and two cats.

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

- Getting my commercial driver’s license. It has opened so many doors and opportunities for me. I have had the ability to see many parts of the country because of it and have met so many different people.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - When I’m not working or doing schoolwork, I enjoy being outside taking in nature.

On those cold winter days, I put in some video games and try to stay as warm as possible.

Who inspires you? - My family. They are the reason I strive to do the best I can in all things.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Do not wait. The time will never be just right. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” – George Herbert; “Be adaptable, flexible, and never stop learning. The rate of change will never stop and neither should you.” – Brian Regan if you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? - Unforgettable. I try to be the person who people remember months or even years after they have been on the bus. if you could have a super power, what would it be? - Telekinesis.

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - The Phoenix Remix Animal Rescue. They are a volunteer rescue designed to protect and preserve the lives of jeopardized, neglected, and at-risk domesticated animals.

What is your favorite movie? - The DaVinci Code. I like a good mystery thriller movie that makes you think.

What is your favorite TV show? - The Amazing Race.

What is your favorite local lincoln restaurant? - Lazlo’s. if you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Robin Williams. He was such an influence on who I am now. He was one that you never knew what he was going to say next but you paid attention because you knew it was going to be funny. if our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? - (402) 889-3870; tailoreddreamslimousines@gmail.com; tailoreddreamslimousines.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

The Grand Manse Penthouse An Enchanting Place to Entertain

T

he Grand Manse Penthouse is like no other destination in Lincoln, and we got to experience it and all its glory for a night. We are excited to tell you about our experience and why it should be your choice for your next special evening or weekend.

What sets the Grand Manse apart from other venues in the area is its history. The building was erected in 1904 and opened in 1906 as the U.S. Courthouse and Post Office. Nods to its origin are still seen throughout the halls today as residents, businesses, and esteemed event guests revel in its grandeur. The Strictly Business team invited an intimate group of our friends and clients to take in the enchantment and nostalgia of this Lincoln landmark with us.

The Penthouse is located on the fourth and fifth floors of the Grand Manse, and it also leads up to a terrace on the rooftop where you’ll find lounge chairs, a hot tub, and an unbeatable view of downtown Lincoln. Upon entering the Penthouse, we were faced with a great hallway that emerged us into the luxurious six-bedroom, five-bathroom living quarters. It is so convenient to be able to entertain guests on the main floor while being able to retreat to a private room when needed, and then lie your head down when the festivities have concluded.

The focal point of the Penthouse is the kitchen, which is in open air with a living room featuring a large fireplace and dining area that, combined, offers plenty of seating. The kitchen has ample counter space and an island for preparing and presenting food. There is also a back pantry room for storage and a second refrigerator. You may opt to cater in cuisine for your evening, but we asked our guests to bring appetizers to share. We created the perfect display! People were able to fix up small plates, grab a drink, and then scatter throughout the space to mingle with each other. The Penthouse also has a built-in surround-sound system so up-beat tunes could reach every corner of the party.

Our guests enjoyed touring the historic property, playing shuffleboard upstairs, and being elevated above the city lights for a night. A few of us took a dip in the hot tub as well. Everyone had such a fun time. Over the years, Strictly Business has hosted many a soiree, but this was definitely one of our favorites. It’s no wonder this has become such a popular place for rehearsal dinners, family reunions, Husker game day gatherings, and much more.

The Penthouse, which can sleep 20, is available to be rented out on weeknights and there is a two-night minimum on weekends. We can confidently say that the cost is worth it. It comes with three parking spaces in the covered garage beneath the Grand Manse and it is right in the heart of downtown Lincoln. Though, it’s hard to want to leave this beautiful space even to grab a drink. You can save a lot of money by bringing in your own food and beverages and enjoying them in this royal-like ambiance. Talk to Strictly Business about renting the Penthouse for your next occasion, or go on the Grand Manse website: www.grandmanse.com/Penthouse-suite.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Danielle Taylor Joins Lutz Team as Lincoln Office Receptionist

Home Care Partners Welcomes JT Plummer to Leadership Team

Lutz, a Nebraska-based business solutions firm, recently added Danielle Taylor to its Lincoln office.

Home Care Par tners is excited to announce JT Plummer as their new director of human resources. JT joined Home Care Partners in February after six years of previous experience in human resources. He now plays a key role in Home Care Partner’s office operations and leadership. As the demand for home care services in Lincoln rises, JT ensures that Home Care Partners employs quality caregivers to meet the needs of their clients and gives curre nt and potential employees the resources to feel supported.

Danielle joins the team as the Lincoln office receptionist. She is responsible for creating an exceptional experience for clients and visitors.

In addition, she will manage client inquiries and perform other administrative duties as needed. She graduated from Southeast Community College with an associate’s degree in early childhood education.

Lutz is the business solutions firm for people seeking a partner to help energize and heighten financial and organizational success. Born and raised in Nebraska, their experienced 275-plus person team simplifies complexities and provides accounting, wealth management, recruiting, M&A, and technology services. Lutz’ team communicates openly, collaborates eagerly, and encourages authentic personality– because if you can’t enjoy your business, neither can they. Teamwork with their peers and ready access to exceptional networking and business development opportunities helps Lutz serve you and your business whenever and wherever you need them. They embrace your business as their own to spark the right solutions and help you thrive.

Learn more about Lutz at www.lutz.us.

Kelly Kubicek of Fulcrum HR Consulting Accepted into Forbes Human Resources Council

“The reason I got into human resources is to be a shepherd of culture; I want to use my skill set to bring Home Care Partners to the next level,” shared JT. Additionally, JT works to affirm health, safety, and compliance in the workplace through policy and procedure creation and implementation.

Home Care Partners embodies a Culture of Caring to serve seniors in and around our community. They are an affordable and comparable alternative or complement to independent and assisted living, and provide additional support when needed for those already living in a senior community. For employment information, visit homecarepartnersofnebraska.com/careers. To learn more about their services, visit homecarepartnersofnebraska. com or call (402) 780-1211.

Kelly Kubicek, co-owner and CEO of Fulcrum HR Consulting, has been accepted into Forbes Human Resources Council, an invitation-only community for HR executives across all industries. Kelly was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of her experience.

Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

“We are honored to welcome Kelly Kubicek into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Human Resources Council. “Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.”

As an accepted member of the Council, Kelly has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help her reach peak professional influence. She will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Kelly will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share her expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

Finally, Kelly will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team. For more information about Forbes Human Resources Council or Forbes Councils, visit forbeshrcouncil.com / forbescouncils.com.

Fulcrum HR Consulting offers tools for your business to become the place for the right people to want to work versus chasing, begging, and overpaying. Learn more about their advanced assessments, software, training, and programs at www.fulcrumhrconsulting.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

April 2022 Strictly Business

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PERSONNEL NEWS Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists Welcomes Pooja Dave, MD

Luxury Landscape Hires Christina Krivolavek as New Office Assistant

Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists (LPH), a program of Lincoln Medical Education Partnership (LMEP), is pleased to welcome Pooja Dave, MD to their team.

Luxury Landscape is pleased to introduce their new office assistant, Christina Krivolavek. Christina will be helping in the office part-time with filing, answering the phone, sc heduling appointments, and keeping owners Ken and Jackie Svoboda organized. She is originally from Stromsburg, NE, and attended Southeast Community College, where she earned a degree in graphic design. Christina has lived in Omaha, Kansas City, and Lincoln working a variety of jobs pertaining to her degree. She is married to Paul Krivolavek and is mom to Ezven. Christina is also the owner of A Million Ideas, a company focused on helping grow small businesses with her unique skills in communication, graphic design, organization, event planning, and social media content creation. Please join Luxury Landscape in welcoming Christina!

Luxury Landscape offers an array of services when it comes to outdoor spaces, with their most popular being installation, design and consultation, landscape maintenance, and residential snow removal. The company began with Ken and Jackie Svoboda’s passion for creating unique and creative landscapes, using their 40+ years of landscape experience and offering it to their clients. For more information about Luxury Landscape and the services they provide, visit luxurylandscape-llc.com.

Dr. Dave received her medical school education at PramukhSwami Medical College, Sardar Patel University in India and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, MI. She is board-certified in pediatrics from the American Board of Pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She joins doctors Amy Pinkall, Kara Biven, Christina Peacock, Michelle Petersen, and Nadia Abraham; Kellie Larson, PA-C; and Karina Elias, APRN. Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists is a collaborative partnership with Bryan Health, CHI Health St. Elizabeth, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. The Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists program provides 24/7 in-hospital care of pediatric patients, from newborn to age 18, at all three Lincoln hospitals.

The mission of the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership is to provide exemplary patient healthcare and the additional resources that individuals need for successful and sustainable health. For more information about LMEP and the Lincoln Pediatric Hospitalists program, visit their website at LMEP.com.

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Strictly Business April 2022

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PERSONNEL NEWS Brokers Insurance Agency Adds New Customer Service Specialist Chris Williamson

DARING MINDS THERAPY “We believe healing is a collaborative endeavor that requires honest caring without judgment, and we cooperatively assist clients in clarifying their goals for treatment.”

Brokers Insurance Agency is pleased to announce that Chris Williamson has joined their team as a customer service specialist.

Chris has extensive insurance experience and began her insurance career with Nationwide in 1988 as a processor and moved onto an agency helping in the day-to-day operations and processes. She then spent the next 20 years at the Department of Insurance as an insurance analyst for property and casualty.

At Brokers, Chris will be working to help with any of your insurance service needs. She can be reached at chris@brokersinsuranceNE.com.

When Chris isn’t in the office, she enjoys working with stained and fused glass. She likes teaching the craft to others and doing commissioned work. Chris also loves to travel and read historical history and genealogy. She is often spending time with her two children and two grandchildren. Chris has a Lhasapoo named Lola and a black cat named Nigel who are the best furry friends.

Brokers Insurance Agency is a full service insurance agency specializing in helping individuals and business owners protect their assets and employees with the proper insurance planning. They pride themselves in providing the best service in the industry. They have a staff of six professionals with decades of combined experience to help with any industry questions or concerns you may have. To learn more, please call one of their agents today at (402) 420-5353 or visit their website at www.brokersinsuranceNE.com.

Farris Engineering Welcomes Back Bruce Lassek as Senior Electrical Designer In March, Bruce Lassek rejoined Farris Engineering as a senior electrical designer, adding his 25+ years of experience to the team. Bruce earned his associates degree in architectural technology from Southeast Community College. Since then, he has been designing electrical systems for hospitals, malls, high-rise buildings, Air Force bases, and industrial type projects.

At Farris Bruce will use this knowledge to create electrical plans for clients that fit an individual project’s needs.

“I left Farris several years ago in search of something better. I found the grass is not always greener on the other side.” Bruce said. “Farris doesn’t have that corporate feeling. I feel like a valued employee and can use my expertise to not only bring life to spaces, but also develop future talent within the company.”

His idiom seems appropriate as Bruce enjoys working on his farm outside of Crescent, IA. There he raises several different animals – his favorite being his flock of sheep. Bruce also enjoys hunting, fishing, and most of all spending time with his family.

Farris Engineering is an industry leader in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering with additional expertise in fi re protection engineering, lighting design, building commissioning services, technology systems design, and life safety systems engineering. They look forward to tackling your projects head-on with this talented team of employee-owners as they Bring Your Buildings to Life. To learn more, visit www.farris-usa.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

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ComPro Receives Special Recognition for 2021 Medicare Sales ComPro is excited to announce that they have received special recognition for 2021 Medicare sales, including regional recognition for agents Chris McPike, Melisa Haessler, and Krista Peeks Dittman.

On the national level, ComPro received an award from Kellogg Insurance Marketing for being the General Agency with the second highest number of Medicare policies sold within the Kellogg organization in 2021.

On the regional level, ComPro’s individual agents earned several awards from Pro Insurance Resources. Chris McPike received first place and Melisa Haessler received second place for “Most Policies Sold for All Medicare Products in 2021”.

Melisa Haessler and Krista Peeks Dittman tied for fourth place for “Most Medicare Supplement Policies Sold in 2021”.

Finally, Melisa Haessler received third place for “Most Medicare Advantage Policies Sold in 2021”.

It took hard work and dedication to receive this special recognition, and ComPro extends their congratulations to these deserving individuals. While this most certainly brings a smile to these agents’ faces to be recognized in this manner, it more importantly represents the many clients they were able to serve with excellence because they truly care for them. This ComPro Team will continue to welcome every opportunity to help each client get the most out of their Medicare insurance.

Chris McPike

Melisa Haessler

ComPro is committed to helping their Krista Peeks Dittman clients connect the dots of their health insurance. Their agents work one-on-one with each client to educate them on their options so they can make an informed decision. Let the agents at ComPro help you! To make an appointment, call (402) 488-5100 or visit comproins.com.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Kristina Hill of HomeShield Roofing Receives 2021 NWIR Rising Star Award

Deb Wagner Joins Nebraska Realty to Continue Successful Real Estate Career

HomeShield Roofing & Exteriors is excited to announce that their very own Kristina Hill was selected as the recipient of the 2021 National Women in Roofing (NWIR) World Rising Star Award. This award is given to a woman in the roofing industry who is not only an outstanding leader in her professional life, but in their personal community as well.

Nebraska Realty is excited to share that Deb Wagner has joined their team of real estate agents.

“After proudly building 20 years of my real estate career with Woods Bros Realty, I have recently joined Nebraska Realty, another Nebraska company with its beginning in Omaha, built on the same principles of family, clients, and doing best by all,” Deb said of the transition. “It’s the new experience, changes, and learning that I am excited about! I wouldn’t be here without where I’ve come from.”

Nebraska Realty is the largest independently owned real estate brokerage in the state, and now the largest real estate office in Lincoln. Deb brings 20 years’ experience working with buyers and sellers in Lincoln and surrounding areas in residential sales, existing homes, and new construction. Nebraska Realty believes in the local nature of real estate. As Owner Andy Alloway puts it, “It’s in our brand. Every market is local, and our agents and staff know and understand those local dynamics.” Nebraska Realty has offices in Lincoln, Omaha, Papillion, Grand Island, and Hastings. Deb can be reached at (402) 440-1314 / Deb@HomesalesByDeb.com. Learn more at nebraskarealty.com/agents/deb-wagner.

Kristina, who began her career in the roofing industry in 2018 as co-owner of HomeShield Roofing & Exteriors, did not have the benefit of professional guidance or mentorship. Realizing that many other women were in the same situation, she created an online Facebook community called “Harness & Heels - Women in Roofing” to support her female contemporaries.

As of January 2022, Harness & Heels has grown on social media to over 1,200 members between the United States and Canada – and still growing. Fortune magazine has also recognized Kristina as one of the Forbes Next 1000 up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

HomeShield Roofing & Exteriors is a husband-and-wife-owned residential and commercial roofi ng company serving Lincoln, Omaha, and the surrounding areas. For more information, visit their Facebook page (@HomeShieldNE) or website at homeshieldroofingandexteriors.com.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Lincoln Community Foundation Welcomes New Board Members The Lincoln Community Foundation welcomes five new members to its board of directors: Eric Buchanan, Buffett Early Childhood Fund; Mark Hesser, Pinnacle Bank; Kile Johnson, Johnson Flodman Guenzel & Widger Law Firm; Susie KeislerMunro, Assurity Life Insurance Company; and Lauren Pugliese, Nelnet.

Officers for 2022 include Marilyn Moore, board chair, retired Bryan College of Health Sciences; Mark Hesser, vice-chair, Pinnacle Bank; Ryan Beckman, treasurer, Olsson; Linda Major, secretary, retired University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Kim M. Robak, past chair, Mueller Robak LLC. The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. They support nonprofit organizations that improve the city’s quality of life, and foster community collaboration to address challenges and opportunities.

The Foundation serves as a faithful steward for many types of philanthropic gifts and helps donors create lasting legacies of giving.

They have distributed more than $195 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents.

To learn more, visit www.lcf.org.

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Legacy Retirement Communities and KFOR Announce 2022 Legacy Award Winners Legacy Retirement Communities a n d K F O R h a ve p a r t n e r e d together to honor individuals with the 2022 Legacy Awards, and are pleased to announce that this year’s recipients are Annette Kurth, Bruce Trautwein, and Leah Arington.

Annette is involved with People’s City Mission, Teammates, and FoodNet through Zion church.

Annette has also taught English as a second language through Lincoln Literacy. She has divided her $2,500 Jerry Joyce Living Legacy Award to go to People’s City Mission, the Teammates Mentoring Program, and Lincoln Literacy.

Bruce Trautwein is a Marine veteran who spearheaded the Lincoln Buddy Check for Veterans and has been the key fundraiser and organizer of the yearly Veterans Freedom Music Festival. Bruce also coordinates the monthly VA Coffeehaus event, where Quilts of Valor are presented to deserving veterans. Bruce has elected to pay forward his $2,500 Jerry Joyce Living Legacy Award to the VFW Foundation.

Leah Arington, director of the local nonprofit Theatre Arts for Kids (TAFK), helps instill a strong work ethic, professionalism, inclusiveness, and camaraderie in the young people who are part of TAFK. She has been dedicated to finding unique ways for kids to feel connected and cared about during the pandemic.

She will pay forward her $1,000 Caring Heart Award to help with the TAFK outreach.

Learn more about Legacy Retirement Communities at www.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Ameritas Wealth Advisors Names Jennifer Larabee of FUMA New Agent of the Year Farmers Union Midwest Agency (FUMA) is pleased to announce that Jennifer Larabee was named New Agent of the Year for 2021 by Ameritas Wealth Advisors. She had begun partnering with the organization within the last year.

Jennifer has been in the insurance industry for 17 years, beginning on the carrier side with group benefits for almost 12 years before working together with a State Farm agent on the Property and Casualty side of the business for nearly two years. She realized the life and health side of the industry was where her passion really lied, so she decided to become an agent and work for herself.

“I love what I do!” Jennifer exclaimed. “I love that I have so many different products that I can offer to help fit people’s needs. I can help people and that’s truly my passion!”

Ameritas Financial Center is an independent agency backed with financial strength. They offer their clients insurance, retirement, and investment products and services. Learn more at ameritasfc.net.

Farmers Union Midwest Agency provides insurance protection to individuals and businesses of all sizes. Through their agents, agency partners, and The Farmers Union Organization, they strive to provide strong relationships with agents and customers to exceed expectations and demonstrate the highest level of customer service. To learn more, visit www.fumainsurance.com. To get in touch with Jennifer, contact her at Jennifer@fumafinancial.com / (402) 560-0047.

Southeast Community College Milford Announces Kevin Uhler as New Associate Dean

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Kevin Uhler, who has worked on Southeast Community College’s Milford campus for the past 20 years in a variety of positions, is the newest associate dean effective March 7. Uhler replaces Todd Roth, who left SCC in December.

“I want to continue to promote unity and teamwork between all facets of our college,” Uhler said. “I am excited about helping our recently hired instructors, who are often fresh out of the industry, as they prepare to become educators in addition to being technical experts in their fields.”

A Fullterton, NE native, Uhler earned his Associate of Applied Science degree in the GM ASEP program at SCC, and later came back to work as an automotive instructor in 1999. In 2018 he was promoted to program director for Automotive Technology, GM ASEP, Ford ASSET, and MOPAR. In 2020 he became program director for Auto Collision Repair Technology, and then for Professional Truck Driver Training in 2021. When he’s not working, Uhler enjoys car restoration, car races, and activities. He lives in York with his wife Laurel, four daughters, and one son.

Southeast Community College is committed to providing accessible, dynamic, and responsive education in more than 50 programs to a diverse variety of students. They have degree, diploma, and certificate options. SCC is proud to have a staff of engaging, encouraging, and accomplished professors and educators. To learn more, visit www.southeast.edu. #printproudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS Zelazny Brings Hospice Leadership, Sales Experience to Tabitha

Kyle McMurray Takes Over Ownership of Play It Again Sports

Nonprofit Tabitha, Nebraska’s industryleading senior care provider, announced the addition of Shelia Zelazny to their organization as director of business development. In this role, she will supervise the senior living advisory team along with regional business development coordinators and will be based in Kearney.

Zelazny brings a wealth of experience and expertise in sales strategy, growth planning and operational management to Tabitha. Throughout her career— which includes more than eight years in leadership positions for hospice care providers and nearly a decade in sales—she has been responsible for nurturing and developing relationships with referral sources and prospective clients. She most recently served as an area vice president for hospice outreach in Kansas, Missouri, and South Dakota.

As the state’s quality award-winning senior care expert, Tabitha empowers people to live joyfully and age gratefully. Supporting friends and neighbors for over 135 years, Tabitha offers a range of services, from results-driven rehabilitation and accessible athome home health care to innovative living communities, resourceful serious illness support, and compassionate hospice services. “Tabitha is Your Answer for Senior Care!” Learn more at Tabitha.org.

Play It Again Sports is now under the ownership of Kyle McMurray, who has taken over after previous owner Diane Hesson retired in January. Kyle is excited to continue on Diane’s legacy and offer the Lincoln community quality sports and fitness equipment at an affordable price.

“I look at this opportunity as the new owner of Play it Again Sports as a privilege and a responsibility,” shared Kyle. “Every day, we will strive to maintain our reputation as Lincoln’s and the surrounding communities’ destination for their new and gently used sports equipment. It will be a challenge to fill Diane’s shoes, but we are going to work hard to make sure her legacy is maintained and our support for Lincoln continues.”

Play It Again Sports plans to hold a celebration for Diane and her service to the business for the last 14 years. Diane has been a big supporter for youth sports and their organizations in and around Lincoln over the years, and Play It Again Sports wants to honor and recognize her for her contributions. Stay tuned by following them on social media for an official event date!

Play It Again Sports, located off of 48th and Vine, buys, sells, and trades new and used sports and fitness equipment. The store has served Eastern Nebraska for over 20 years. Learn more at www. playitagainsportslincoln.com.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Orchard Park Assisted Living Welcomes Gayleen Bradley as New Administrator

Robert J. Borer Announces Candidacy for Nebraska Secretary of State

Orchard Park Assisted Living is excited to introduce their new Administrator Gayleen Bradley!

Gayleen has gained much experience in the senior-care industry over the last 14 years, having served the senior population in various roles in the Lincoln and Omaha area. She looks forward to helping move forward with Orchard Park’s mission to provide a happy, comfortable home where residents can receive assistance with daily living.

Orchard Park Assisted Living, located at 3110 S 48th St., was originally founded by Virgil and Jan Carner. Their mission was centered around long-term care that provided more than the traditional nursing home could. The community is committed to a health-first philosophy that emphasizes familiar comfort and creating moments of joy for each resident. Whether it’s growing tomatoes in the summer, playing a few hands of Gin Rummy, doing some craft projects, playing the piano, or just enjoying some quiet time with a favorite TV program, Orchard Park makes it easy for residents to continue the hobbies they’ve always loved. Learn more online at www.OrchardPark.us, or contact the office at (402) 488-8191 / gayleen.bradley@orchardpark.us.

Robert Borer of Lincoln announced that he will be a candidate for Secretary of State on Nebraska’s 2022 Primary Election ballot on Tuesday, May 10. Borer is a retired firefighter and recipient of the first-ever Congressional Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, the highest civilian distinction for courage and bravery.

“I am announcing my candidacy for the office of Secretary of State,” Borer stated. “I have dedicated the past two years to holding local and state government officials and agencies accountable for actions that have negatively impacted our civil liberties.

Nebraska needs a Secretary of State who will prioritize people over politics. Nebraska deserves a Secretary of State who will stand up against the Biden administration who wants to tank our country by instituting nationalized elections. I am looking forward to instilling integrity back into our state’s elections and restoring voter trust.”

The pinnacle of his 27-year firefighting career was ascending 1180’ up a 1500’ TV tower with an “attempt to rescue” that earned him and his team the inaugural Congressional Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor. Borer and his wife Cheryl reside in Lincoln. He is the father of six “bright, hardworking, wonderful” children.

For more information about Borer’s candidacy, visit RobertJBorer.com.

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PERSONNEL NEWS

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Strictly Business Welcomes Derek Nosbisch as Art Director Derek Nosbisch joined the Strictly Business team as the art director in January 2022.

Originally from Omaha, he graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. In his role as art director, Derek designs advertisements, magazine layouts, and promotional materials for Strictly Business. He also posts the magazines’ content online.

Derek enjoys the challenge of working with brands and businesses of all sizes, and his background in developing identity systems helps him represent the clientele of Strictly Business in print and online.

He cares deeply about how people interact with design in their everyday lives and strives to build a more designed world.

Derek is married to his better half, Caroline Nosbisch, who is the best cook on this side of the Missouri river. They’re owned by two cats: Calypso and Hannah.

Strictly Business has been a reliable news source and effective advertising tool in Lincoln for 28 years and in Omaha for 16 years, publishing engaging content in print, online, and on social media. To learn more, visit strictly-business.com. To contact Derek, email design@strictlybusinessomaha.com or call (402) 466-3330.

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Sarah Reinke Takes Over as Executive Director at Willard Community Center The Board of Directors for Willard Community Center is pleased to announce the promotion of Sarah Reinke to executive director.

Sarah attended Doane University, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and endorsement in early childhood development. She has been with Willard since 2009 and has served in several roles, including program director for the last 11 years. Sarah succeeds Janelle Soderling in this new role. Janelle will retire this upcoming May after serving 40 years with Willard.

“Sarah has a natural leadership talent and has built loyal relationships with the community we serve and our staff,” shared Janelle. “Sarah has tirelessly invested in making Willard one of the best community centers in Lincoln. You will see many new and exciting changes under her leadership.”

Willard Community Center focuses on youth development and education and presents programs across the age spectrum, including senior adults. Willard offers early childhood education preschool and Pre-K, before and after school programs for elementary schools, and social/educational opportunities for adults. Willard’s children attend Roper or Lakeview Elementary Schools; each serves a high percentage of free and reduced lunch participants. They address children’s educational and social needs while providing affordable, quality care. The Board is excited to work with Sarah as they continue to focus on their strategic goals and vision for the center. They look forward to the next chapter for Willard and the surrounding community under Sarah’s leadership. Learn more at willardcommunitycenter.org. #printproudDigitalSmart

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Pemberly Place Senior Living Appoints Tracy Magill as New Executive Director Pemberly Place Senior Living Community in Lincoln, managed by MJ Senior Living, has announced the appointment of Tracy Magill as its new executive director. As new Executive Director, Tracy will oversee day-today operations and work to help enhance the overall experience for Pemberly’s residents.

Tracy has over 18 years of senior living care experience. She is very experienced with providing the quality MJ Signature Senior Living Care programs in their communities.

Most recently Tracy has served as executive director at Fallbrook Assisted Living & Memory Care in Lincoln, another MJ Senior Living community.

“We are truly excited that Tracy Magill will be leading our operations at Pemberly Place Senior Living in Lincoln. She is the epitome of MJ DNA,” said MaryLynne Bolden, owner and co-founder of MJ Senior Living. “Tracy brings a tremendous amount of Lincoln area experience and knowledge to this new leadership role at Pemberly Place.”

Pemberly Place Senior Living Community is located in Lincoln and provides an excellent continuum of care campus which includes independent living, assisted living, and memory care. MJ Senior Living is based in Wahoo, NE and has over 20 years of successful senior living community management and ownership experience. MJ Senior Living manages and owns Nebraska senior living communities in Lincoln, Hastings, Ashland, Fremont, Bellevue, and La Vista. Learn more about MJ online at www.mjseniorhousing.com. Contact Pemberly Place at (402) 413-9770 / www.pemberlyplace.com.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Christian Record Services Releases 2022 Summer Camp Schedule and Locations

Mike Anderson Speaks at CBMC March Luncheon, Video Recap Available Online

Christian Record Services, Inc. has recently released its summer camp schedule and roster of locations as they prepare for another successful summer of camp experiences for children and adults who are blind or experiencing vision loss. This summer, campers may enjoy a plethora of indoor and outdoor activities at summer camps in five different locations across the country. Activities include horseback riding, archery, water skiing, crafts, cooking, and even a zip line over the lake.

A previous camper commented that he was “amazed” at how the camp staff treated the people who were blind: “They treated blind people like the rest of the people here. Like human beings.”

Since beginning in 1967, over 50,000 campers have experienced camps through National Camps for Blind Children, a program of Christian Record Services. Each camp is scheduled at a wellequipped site, chosen especially for the standard of excellence and geographical location. Committed staff and counselors are trained to meet the needs of legally blind campers who are between the ages of nine and 65. For more information, please visit blindcamps.org.

Christian Record Services, Inc. is an international ministry to people who are blind. The nonprofit was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Lincoln. To learn more, visit www.ChristianRecord. org, call (402) 488-0981, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn (@CRSBfriends).

The March luncheon held by CBMC featured Mike Anderson, CEO and owner of Anderson Auto Group, speaking on “God’s will or my will: How can we know?”

Mike shared his journey in growing and learning how to answer this question in multiple spheres of life. This quest started primarily after graduating from college, becoming a new business owner, and then with the tragic loss of one of his and his wife Barb’s sons. This pursuit continues to be an active goal in Mike’s life. The video of his talk is available on the CBMC website at lincoln.cbmc.com/lincoln-media.

Mike and his wife Barb have been married for 24 years and are the parents of two boys. He describes himself as a follower of Jesus Christ, a family man, business owner, and a proud American.

Originally from Wyoming, Mike and his family moved to Nebraska during his high school years. He was recruited by the Nebraska Cornhuskers and played football from 1989-1993.

CBMC Lincoln is part of a global ministry in over 300 cities in the U.S. and 95 countries. Its mission is to encourage and equip men toward spiritual development, personal integrity, principled leadership, and a desire to impact others. For further information, visit lincoln.cbmc.com, call (402) 540-1093, or connect with them on Facebook (@cbmclincolnne).

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NONPROFIT NEWS Catholic Social Services in Need of Children’s Clothing for St. Louise Gift & Thrift St. Louise Gift & Thrift, a program of Catholic Social Services (CSS) of Southern Nebraska, is in need of donations of children’s clothing. While all donations are graciously accepted, the program is specifically in need of clothing sizes 2T and up. If you can help, please drop off your items behind St. Louise Gift & Thrift at 22nd and O Street during regular business hours of 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

St. Louise Gift & Thrift is one more way CSS brings Hope in the Good Life while elevating the dignity of the person. Individuals who cannot afford items can apply to receive items for free through CSS’s Emergency Services programs in each of their outreach offices. All of the merchandise at St. Louise Gift & Thrift has been donated by generous supporters.

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska provides food pantry services, emergency services including rent and utility assistance, disaster relief, refugee and immigration services, St. Gianna Women’s Homes, and a clinical and family counseling program. Founded in 1932, CSS serves all individuals across the 24,000 square miles in southern Nebraska, regardless of faith. For more information, visit www.csshope.org or call (402) 474-1600.

12th Annual One Day Without Shoes Sponsored by Cornhusker Bank Benefits PCM People’s City Mission (PCM) is inviting the community to donate their new or used shoes for the 12th Annual One Day Without Shoes, sponsored by Cornhusker Bank, from April 4 – 16. A shoe giveaway will be held on April 29 at PCM’s Help Center.

Since 2011, Cornhusker Bank and PCM have partnered to help raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a person’s life by hosting a One Day Without Shoes event annually.

The public has been encouraged to bring new or used shoes, or cash donations to help put good shoes on the feet of Lincoln’s less fortunate. In the previous 11 years of hosting this event, Cornhusker Bank’s seven locations and numerous business partners have collected over 202,000 pairs of shoes and monetary donations totaling over $96,000!

During the event on April 29, Cornhusker Bank will present a check to PCM, followed by a press conference. Then PCM guests will be able to choose shoes for themselves and their families.

The remainder of the shoes collected will be distributed over the next several days to needy families who are served at the Help Center. For more information, including participating businesses and organizations, visit: cornhuskerbank.com/Day-Without-Shoes.aspx.

People’s City Mission was started in 1907 by local churches, offering food and shelter for transient and impoverished men, women, and children. To learn more about the organization, contact PCM at info@pcmlincoln.org / (402) 475-1303 or visit www.pcmlincoln.org. #printproudDigitalSmart

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Tickets Available for HopeSpoke’s May 6 Gourmet Comfort Classic Tickets are available for the Gourmet Comfort Classic, a celebration and fundraiser for HopeSpoke set for Friday, May 6. This benefit gala celebrates favorite comfort foods while supporting HopeSpoke’s mission to inspire healthy futures for children and families through comprehensive behavioral and mental health services. The fundraiser will be held at the Scottish Rite Ballroom in downtown Lincoln.

This year’s theme is Best Southern Comfort Food, featuring six chefs competing for guest votes to win a trophy and cash prize.

This year’s participating chefs represent Billy’s Restaurant; Chef Au Chef; Chez Hay Catering; DoorStep Diner; Mary Ellen’s Food for the Soul; and Venue Restaurant & Lounge.

Social and cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner, live music, a silent auction, and a short program. All proceeds from the evening help HopeSpoke provide a variety of mental health services for 1,500 children, teens, adults, and families annually.

Thanks to generous support through this event, HopeSpoke turns no one away due to inability to pay for therapy.

Individual tickets are $75 and can be purchased at hopespoke. ticket.qtego.net. HopeSpoke is honored to welcome Chateau Development as Benefactor Sponsor and ABC Electric as Visionary Sponsor of the Gourmet Comfort Classic. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For additional information about the event or to arrange for tickets or a sponsorship, please contact Becki Roberts, development director for HopeSpoke, at broberts@hopespoke.org or (402) 475-7666.

For more information about HopeSpoke, please visit www. hopespoke.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Matt Talbot Announces Feeding the Soul of the City Fundraiser June 9

Wear Yellow Ride, Fun Run & Walk to Benefit Wear Yellow Nebraska Set for May 14

Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach’s 16th annual Feeding the Soul of the City fundraiser will be held this year at the Country Club of Lincoln on Thursday, June 9. Businesses and families are invited to sponsor the event and join the effort to defeat hunger and homelessness in Lincoln.

Wear Yellow Nebraska invites you to join them for the 19th Annual Wear Yellow Ride, Fun Run & Walk on Saturday, May 14. The event will begin at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, NE.

Sponsorships are available in a variety of levels with all levels providing bold hope to Lincoln’s working poor and homeless. Sponsorship allows the organization to serve the needs of these individuals and families by relieving hunger, overcoming homelessness, addressing addiction, and providing outreach and advocacy.

Your support for Matt Talbot will change lives. With your help, they can continue to offer vital services such as meals to families struggling until their next paycheck, drug and alcohol counseling, and assistance to the chronically homeless. You will also know that you are supporting one of Lincoln’s most compassionate and effective nonprofits – 30 years strong!

Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach provides two meals 365 days a year to individuals and families in need, with volunteers providing, preparing, and serving the majority of the meals. Learn more about the organization or find information about the event and sponsorships at mtko.org.

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Riders will experience the very best of springtime in rural Nebraska, including 25-, 35-, 45-, and 55-mile options; a new 27-mile beginners gravel option; and a 55-mile experienced gravel riders route. Walkers and runners will enjoy a 5K route through beautiful Mahoney State Park.

All proceeds from the event support Wear Yellow Nebraska’s cancer fighting and cancer patient assistance programs. The event specifically supports the Wear Yellow Cab Ride Program and the Wear Yellow Grant Program. Register by April 24 to receive an event t-shirt; the registration link can be found at supportwyn.org/19.

Wear Yellow Nebraska is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a clear focus on niche initiatives that offered cancer survivors support in ways that were not being addressed and for people who would otherwise fall through the cracks, truly caring for an individual’s special circumstances. To learn more about the event or the organization, go to www.wearyellownebraska.org or contact them at contactus@wearyellownebraska.org / (402) 965-1699.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Habitat ReStore Announces Grand Opening BCC Announces 2nd Annual Free Book Fair of New Location, Celebration Set for May 7 April 19 – 20, Welcomes Book Donations Habitat ReStore, the discount home improvement store of Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln, is excited to share that the grand opening of their new location will be held Saturday, May 7. The public is invited to join Habitat ReStore at 5601 S 59th St., the old 7 Day Furniture Building, to celebrate the grand opening.

The new location has expanded the size of Habitat ReStore by four times, allowing them to offer even more items for the home improvement enthusiast.

Habitat ReStore is a home improvement thrift store selling new and used furniture, appliances, and building materials at a significant discount. Items are donated by individuals and businesses and then resold to the public. All proceeds go to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln, helping build homes for families in need of safe, affordable housing. For more information, visit www.LincolnHabitatReStore.org or contact Deanna Walz at dwalz@lincolnhabitat.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln was established in 1988 with a mission to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope to address the need for affordable housing. They have built or repaired 181 homes in Lancaster and Seward counties. In 2020, 10,255 hours were volunteered to assist with their mission.

Learn more at lincolnhabitat.org.

The Belmont Community Center (BCC) is preparing for their 2nd Annual Free Book Fair set for April 19 – 20. The BCC invites kids and families to stop by and pick out books to be added to their home libraries!

The BCC Free Book Fair began in 2021 after various community partners donated boxes of books to the center.

The BCC staff wanted to get books into the hands and homes of kids, so they spent weeks sorting books by reading level and preparing for a big giveaway. Siblings, parents, and kids from neighboring programs were all invited to participate. Children were encouraged and excited to hand-pick books that fit their personal interests. During the first ever BCC Free Book Fair, over 400 books were given away, and each child walked away with 3-10 books depending on reading level and supply.

Donations for new or gently used books can be brought to the BCC at 3335 N 12th St. on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.

Books can be for ages birth through teenage. Any books dropped off after Friday, April 15 will be stored and saved for next year.

If interested in supporting this effort, please contact Kylie Herbert by emailing kylie.herbert@belmontcommunitycenter.org or calling (402) 477-8854.

Fo r m o r e i n fo r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e B e l m o n t C o m m u n i t y Center, visit belmontcommunitycenter.org.

IQM Celebrates 25th Anniversary, Showcases Ardis & Robert James Collection Friends of the International Quilt Museum, the supporting organization of the International Quilt Museum (IQM), is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the museum by showing three exhibitions from the Ardis & Robert James Collection. The Jameses’ donation of 1,000 historical quilts in 1997 established the IQM and formed the core of the museum’s collection. Today, the IQM’s collection includes more than 6,000 quilts from five different centuries and over 60 countries.

To commemorate the anniversary, IQM is showcasing An Evolving Vision: The James Collection, 1997 - 2022 — Classics, an exhibition that will be on view through October 29. It highlights historically significant pieces that represent the groundbreaking findings in quilt research over the last 25 years. An Evolving Vision documents the significance of the James Collection but also underscores the broad vision its collectors developed not only for themselves, but for the museum they so vitally helped shape.

Two other exhibitions that present pieces from the Jameses’ original donation will be shown in the near future: New Horizons, quilt traditions from around the world, will be exhibited April 29 – October 29; and From the Studio, early and innovative art pieces from the collection will be on view from May 6 – October 12.

The International Quilt Museum, located on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus at 33rd and Holdrege, is dedicated to building a global collection and audience that celebrates the cultural and artistic significance of quilts. Visit www. internationalquiltmuseum.org for more information. #printproudDigitalSmart

WHEN April 27, 2022 TIME 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

WHERE 5730 R St, Suite C2 WHY Because we’re excited to show off our new space!

Help us celebrate our new move! We will be holding an open house for you to walk through our new space, beverages and snacks provided. See where we will be meeting you next!

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NONPROFIT NEWS K-8 Bright Lights Camp Registration Now Open, Camp Spaces Still Available If you haven’t already registered your children to attend the Bright Lights Summer 2022 camps, now is the time to do it! To see their available camps, visit BrightLights.org and click on the registration link. You can filter the camp results by grade so that you can see all the half-day and full-day camps your student can choose from. When registering, remember to base it on the grade your student is currently in. Camps will take place over five weeks: June 6-10, June 13-17, June 20-24, June 27-July 1, and July 11-15.

Bright Lights’ summer camps give students the opportunity to focus on their talents, strengths, and interests that make the most of their outof-school time. Want to make it a full day of fun? When registering, simply choose a half-day morning camp taking place at Roper Elementary, add Lunch Care, and then add a half-day afternoon camp also taking place at Roper. In addition, supervised Before Care is available beginning at 7:30 a.m. at select sites. Simply choose it during the online registration process.

Older students also have the opportunity to be a Bright Lights Camp Assistant! These valuable volunteers (ages 8th grade and up) provide support to teachers in each of Bright Lights’ 90+ camps, enriching the experience for students. Applications are being accepted now.

Learn more at www.brightlights.org/assistants.

To learn more about Bright Lights and their summer camps, visit BrightLights.org.

NAM Shares Agenda for April 21 Central Nebraska Nonprofit Conference The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) will offer seminar and networking sessions on a variety of topics to support nonprofits at the 5th Annual Central Nebraska Nonprofit Conference, Thursday, April 21, at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, NE. Thursday’s sessions on nonprofit trends, best practices, and issues affecting the sector will include: Key Ingredients to Your Strategic Planning Recipe, Building a Fundraising Board of Directors, The Importance of Hiring People Reflective of the Population You Serve, Y’all Means All, Nonprofit Financials 101, Marketing Trends Nonprofits Need to Know and Embrace, Social Media and Nonprofits, Non-traditional Fundraising Methods and Wrap Arounds: Getting Serious About the FUN in Fundraising, Elements of an Effective Board Orientation, and Leading Sustainable Change.

A pre-conference session will be held Wednesday, April 20, with presentations titled Embracing Creative Staff to Thrive and Crush Your Biggest Goals by Silencing Your Inner Critic and Banishing Limiting Beliefs.

The event is hosted in partnership with the Hamilton Community Foundation, Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, Kearney Area Community Foundation, Peter Kiewit Foundation, and DA Davidson. To register and view the full agenda, visit nonprofitam.org/events.

Nonprofit Association of the Midlands strengthens the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of more than 650 nonprofits to enrich the quality of community life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa. To learn more, visit nonprofitam.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS DSAF to Hold High Intensity Functional Training Classes April 2 – May 7

VMM Announces Three-Day Native American Filmmakers’ Summit April 28-30

Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska (DSAF) is excited to promote their High Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) classes that are being held April 2 – May 7. The HIFT program is offered to DSAF’s young adults and adult members with Down syndrome who want to branch out and enjoy a safe, adaptable, and effective program that incorporates equipment used by athletes who practice CrossFit. Lyndsie Koon, PhD, is certified in adaptive training and has partnered with CrossFit Lincoln to bring this exciting new opportunity to DSAF’s members to build strength and confidence of participants.

Vision Maker Media (VMM) is pleased to announce a three-day Native American filmmakers’ summit to take place in Lincoln from April 28–30 at the University of Nebraska City Campus Union building. The final day of the summit, Saturday, April 30, is free and open to the public to hear, learn from, and speak with Native filmmakers through film showings and panel discussions. Audiences can discuss Native American film stories on various topics. Some sessions will be available online for those unable to attend in-person. See the schedule at www.visionmakermedia.org.

The sessions will be held for six Saturdays: April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and May 7. Classes are $10 each. The last session of the month, April 30, will be free. Sessions will be held at CrossFit Lincoln, 720 Van Dorn St., from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. There will be enough coaches to accommodate up to 10 athletes for each session, so visit dsafnebraska. org/event-4727710 to register now to reserve your spot!

Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska recognizes that every person with Down syndrome is an individual who has a unique purpose and set of abilities. For more information about the organization, visit dsafnebraska.org or call (403) 421-1338.

Vision Maker Media is the premier source of public media by and about Native Americans since 1976. Their mission is empowering and engaging Native people to share stories. VMM envisions a world changed and healed by understanding Native stories and the public conversations they generate. They work with VMM funded producers to develop, produce, and distribute programs for all public media.

VMM supports training to increase the number of Native Americans and Alaska Natives producing public broadcasting programs. A key strategy for this work is in partnerships with Tribal nations and Native organizations and communities.

Vision Maker Media is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Learn more at visionmakermedia.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@visionmakermedia).

Community Action Celebrates National Volunteer Week, Thanks Volunteers

Fresh Start Receives $25K from Healthy Blue Nebraska to Support Homeless Women

National Volunteer Week gives organizations the opportunity to recognize the vital role that volunteers fill, and Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties is doing just that. This year’s National Volunteer Week will be celebrated April 17 – 23.

Community Action would like to send a giant thank you to the First Presbyterian Church volunteers more than 300 volunteers who Sue and Karl Tillinghast fill toserved the agency over the past go boxes at Community Action’s 12 months. Their dedication Gathering Place soup kitchen. to serving their community alongside Community Action resulted in almost 18,000 hours of volunteer service: a remarkable achievement and generous contribution to the agency’s anti-poverty work.

“The pandemic shined a light on what things look like without our volunteers, and it was not a world we would ever want to live in,” said Sam Bates, community engagement and partnerships specialist. “We are so grateful to the volunteers who returned and to all of the new volunteers who have started with us in the past year. You are so appreciated!”

Community Action’s mission is to empower people living in poverty to reach economic stability. Its programs and services address the causes and conditions of poverty in four impact areas: early childhood education, homelessness prevention, financial and family well-being, and hunger relief and healthy food access. You can learn more about Community Action volunteering and complete a volunteer application at www.communityactionatwork.org. #printproudDigitalSmart

Fresh Start, a transitional shelter for women experiencing homelessness, has received $25,000 from Healthy Blue Nebraska to further its mission to empower homeless women in overcoming barriers to self-sufficiency.

“This funding from Healthy Blue Nebraska will further our efforts to promote the health and wellbeing of the residents,” said Monica Zinke, Fresh Start executive director. “Often our participants have not been in places or positions where they could focus on their health. While at Fresh Start, we encourage them to make this a priority, so that when they leave Fresh Start they are in better place both physically and emotionally.”

Fresh Start, located in Havelock, provides women experiencing homelessness with a safe place to stay while they work on personal goals to address the problems they face—substance abuse, domestic violence, involvement in the justice system, as well as physical and mental health challenges. Fresh Start provides women with the tools, resources, and skills development to live independently. Women come to Fresh Start for different reasons but they all have the same goal: to improve their lives.

Fresh Start has been in operation since 1991. It houses women without children in their direct care—a population its founders recognized as underserved in Lincoln. It is a valuable landing place for women facing an array of challenges, including escaping abuse, freeing themselves from addiction, or starting over again after incarceration. For more information, visit freshstarthome.org or call (402) 475-7777.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Friendship Home’s Stuff the Bus Event Set for April 30 and May 1

Join NESC for the Conference, Trade Show, and Awards Luncheon on April 21

Friendship Home invites the Lincoln community to support the 23rd annual Stuff the Bus event benefiting domestic violence survivors and their children on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. The event is being held in partnership with StarTran and Alpha Media Radio Stations.

The Nebraska Safety Council ( N E S C ) i s exc i t e d t o h o s t their annual conference and tradeshow luncheon in Lincoln at the Graduate Hotel on Thursday, April 21. NESC has an exciting line-up of educational sessions, speakers, exhibitors, prizes, networking opportunities, and more.

Join them for the full conference, or if you are short on time, you can simply register for the Awards Luncheon that will be held between noon – 1:30 p.m. The Awards Luncheon will recognize winners of the NESC Awards, Worker 360° Awards, and Legacy Awards.

Participants will have an opportunity to earn up to three hours of CEU/ PDC Continuing Education; there will be three breakout sessions with the option to choose from Safety, Wellness, and General topics. In between breakout sessions, participants will have over two hours to visit the exhibit hall filled with safety products and services as well as additional worksite wellness vendors. Additionally, you will have a chance to see demonstrations of the latest safety and wellness products and services.

To see a full list of speakers and agenda highlights, or to register for the conference, visit NESC’s website at nesafetycouncil.org – Worker Education & Events – Conference & Events.

The Mission of the Nebraska Safety Council is to provide education and leadership to empower Nebraskans to live safe and healthy. To learn more or to sign up for a membership today, visit nesafetycouncil. org, call (402) 483-2511, or email nesc@nesafetycouncil.org.

Volunteers will be handing out needs lists with a variety of items and price ranges at all Lincoln area Walmart and Sam’s Clubs locations as well as stuffing busses from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday. Stuff the Bus is an opportunity for Friendship Home to help raise awareness about domestic violence while collecting basic needs for families served by the organization.

For more information on volunteering as an individual or a team for Stuff the Bus, or if you would like to purchase items from Friendship Home’s online needs list, please contact Dani at (402) 434-0167 or danib@friendshiphome.org.

Last year, Friendship Home provided services for over 1,350 victims of domestic violence; over 63% of those served in the shelter were children.

Friendship Home exists to support victims of domestic violence and their children through emergency shelter, transitional housing, and crisis services. If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call Friendship Home’s 24/7 crisis line at (402) 437-9302. For more information about Friendship Home visit www.friendshiphome.org.

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NONPROFIT NEWS Goodwill Helps UNL Students Declutter with I Love My Dog Expo to Benefit DomestiPUPS to Feature Lure Coursing April 9-10 Campus Move-Out Donation Drive Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc. is teaming up with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for their annual Campus Move-Out Donation Drive. During the first two weeks of May, Goodwill will place donation barrels inside residence halls so that students can conveniently donate their extra clothing, electronics, and home goods before they head home for the summer.

“The end of spring semester is the busiest time of year for college students,” said Alana Sesow, Goodwill’s communications coordinator.

“Our goal is to make campus move-out easy while giving students an opportunity to give back to the community.”

When students donate to Goodwill, they help change lives through the power of work. The revenue from Goodwill’s thrift stores in Lincoln and York helps fund local programs that assist job seekers as they overcome barriers to employment. In 2021 alone, Goodwill served over 3,500 individuals with employment-related services, such as job skills training, mentorship, mock interviews, and more.

Goodwill is grateful for support from organizations like UNL that make this community impact possible.

To stay connected with Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc. and learn more about upcoming events, visit their website at lincolngoodwill.org and follow them on Facebook (@LincolnGoodwill).

NeighborWorks Lincoln Facilitates FirstTime Homeownership NeighborWorks Lincoln (NWL) helped four new families achieve their dream of homeownership in February. NWL works to facilitate first-time, sustainable home purchase by low- to moderateincome families through its HUD certified Homeownership Program.

The NeighborWorks homeownership curriculum provides first-time homebuyers with an eight-hour pre-purchase readiness course. Clients who meet area median income guidelines (AMI) may qualify for a no interest, payment-free down payment assistance loan with NWL that includes a 5% down payment, closing costs, and funding for a basic rehabilitation scope. Income guidelines depend on the type of funding being used for the loan, but are generally at or below 100% AMI. Course graduates purchase an existing home in need of rehab or an NWL-constructed unit, depending on inventory.

“I’ve been wanting this since I was 14…I worked hard this past year to get my credit in order,” said Janice, an NWL client. “I feel like I came too far to leave this world without a mortgage receipt book with my name on it. Right now, I’m just so grateful for it all. To all the people who have donated funds to make this possible for me, I would like to thank them as well.”

The mission of NeighborWorks Lincoln is to revitalize neighborhoods and support homeownership, keeping Lincoln a safe and prosperous community. To help others like Janice on their path to homeownership and to stabilize neighborhoods throughout Lincoln, please consider supporting NeighborWorks Lincoln this Give to Lincoln Day (May 1 – May 26).

For more information, visit www.givetolincoln.com / www.nwlincoln.org. #printproudDigitalSmart

The I Love My Dog Expo, sponsored in part by The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation, is back for another year to benefit Domesti-PUPS. The event includes entertainment, games, training demonstrations, and plenty of shopping. This year, the expo brings back fanfavorites—the KC Disc Dogs— along with a new option for patrons to try: Lure Coursing. This activity provides fun for your dog while utilizing their natural ability to chase. Any dog that’s in good physical condition and exhibits prey drive is perfect for the sport.

The I Love My Dog Expo will also feature a pet medium and dog sport and obedience demos from the Greater Lincoln Obedience Club.

Domesti-PUPS will also present demonstrations on the life-saving tasks service dogs provide their owners. The event will be held from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., April 9 and 10. Admission is $12; children 10 and under (and well-behaved dogs) are free.

Domesti-PUPS is a service organization that provides assistance dogs for persons with disabilities, pet therapy programs, classroom dogs and educational programs, and a rescue dog training/adoption program. It’s their hope that this event will help the general public better understand and appreciate the many ways that dogs enrich our lives. For more information, contact Michelle O’Dea at info@ domesti-pups.org or visit www.ilovemydogexpo.com.

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HEALTH NEWS

During the past 12 months….

1) have you become restless or irritable when trying to stop/cut down on gambling?

2) have you tried to keep family & friends from knowing how much you gamble?

3) did you have to borrow money from family or friends because of gambling?

American Heart Association’s 2022 Lincoln Heart Walk Set for May 14

IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO THESE QUESTIONS, YOU HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM

Help is available—call today!

The Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program (GAP) pays for confidential counseling with certified problem gambling providers to Nebraskans and their families who suffer a gambling addiction. A list of all GAPcertified counselors in Nebraska is located at www.problemgambling.nebraska.gov

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Strictly Business April 2022

The American Heart Association is eager ly waiting to begin the 2022 Lincoln Heart Walk, taking place on May 14. The walk will begin at 9 a.m. and is being held at Antelope Park, with the starting line near the Bandshell. There will be one-mile and three-mile routes available.

Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun corporate, community, and family environment. They are excited to host their walk in-person this year with a few changes to ensure the safety of all participants.

It’s never been a better time to find new ways to boost physical and emotional health. Joining the Heart Walk is a great way to socially connect and get moving, all while making a great impact in our community and saving lives. The American Heart Association is hoping to reach a goal of $100,000 in donations for the event. You can check their progress and register for the event at www.lincolnheartwalk.com.

The American Heart Association’s mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. To achieve this, they work by driving equitable health impact in our communities. Every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life. As champions for health equity, the American Heart Association will advance cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health care access and quality. For more information, visit www.heart.org.

For further questions about the event, contact Luke Allmon at (402) 810-6844 / luke.allmon@heart.org.

Family Service WIC Alerts Community on Similac Formula Recall Family Service WIC has been working very closely with their store vendors and the Nebraska Depar tment of Health and Human Services to get their clients the most upto-date information related to the Similac recall in February.

Family Service WIC serves over 480 infants in their program, with nearly 380 of those infants consuming Similac formula in some capacity. Family Service Lincoln was able to provide their clients with gift cards to Walmart for their formula expenses in a comparable brand. Family Service WIC was then able to use a new text messaging system to send a message to nearly 480 clients with kids on formula to offer comparable formulas in other brands.

Of those clients, over 200 responded within 48 hours, and their staff worked evenings, weekends, and through all breaks to ensure clients were able to purchase formula using their WIC card or gift cards. Family Service WIC continues to work daily in assisting clients to find formula on the shelves, as the inventory continues to be sparse throughout the area.

Family Service WIC provides healthy foods at no cost to eligible participants to help keep pregnant women, infants, children up to age five, breastfeeding moms up to one year, and postpartum moms up to six months, healthy. To learn more about Family Service WIC or eligibility, visit familyservicelincoln.org/wicwomen-infants-children, their Facebook page at facebook.com/ FamilyServiceWIC, or contact Rachelle Palacios at (402) 441-8655 / Wic@familyservicelincoln.org. #printproudDigitalSmart

HEALTH NEWS Tobacco Free Lancaster County Celebrates Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action

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April 1. Some may think tobacco use is a thing of the past since we don’t Shop and compare at see many youth smoking cigarettes, ilovemywater.com iLoveMyWater.com but the tobacco industry’s continued marketing and emerging TEMS products that appeal to youth has ensured it’s an ongoing concern.

WAT E R S OF N E R S · DRINKING SYS TE Gummi Bear and Blue Raz Cotton Candy are just a couple of the over 15,000 different flavors available for vaping (which also contain nicotine), often packaged to look like candy. Flavored nicotine pouches are another new product that promotes discrete use for youth 2020AquaSystems_3_68x2_41.indd 1 3/19/20 10:58 AM and young adults. It’s no secret that tobacco products are marketed by promoting flavors and using a wide variety of media channels that are appealing to youth and young adults.

TFLC wants to make sure our community isn’t forced by Big Tobacco’s marketing tactics. They celebrate Take Down Tobacco National Day 3543 S. 85TH Street of Action by raising awareness of the continued problem of tobacco Suite 200 use in our community while encouraging youth to reject the tobacco industry’s deceptive marketing tactics and remain tobacco-free.

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Clearwater Counseling Celebrates Counseling Awareness Month This April, Clearwater Counseling, PC is celebrating Counseling Awareness Month, a time of advocacy for the profession and celebration of the outstanding efforts of counselors as they seek to facilitate the growth and development of all individuals. Counseling Awareness Month helps shine a light on the profession of counseling and promotes the importance of mental health.

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five Americans experience mental health issues – that’s more than 40 million adults each year. In many cases, counseling can help people overcome previous trauma or mental and emotional setbacks so they can reduce stress and anxiety, avoid emotional triggers, form healthy relationships, and take other positive steps to move forward.

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

Clearwater Counseling, PC is a private practice offering mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults in the Grand Island and Omaha area. Clearwater Counseling works to treat mental health diagnoses through personalized and compassionate counseling practices that promote growth, development, and well-being to further enhance quality of life. Learn more at clearwatercounselingpc.org. #printproudDigitalSmart

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April 2022 Strictly Business

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Tire rotations.

Dental cleanings.

Re-roofing the house.

COBRA administration.

Sure, you can do it yourself — but some things are better left to the pros. That’s why Omnify Employee Benefit Solutions is now offering COBRA administration: to help your organization stay compliant while saving time and money.

Learn more at ubt.com/goCOBRA or contact us to find out how you could get special pricing when you enroll in COBRA administration in 2022.

Katie Davis COBRA Manager

ubt.com/omnify . 844.472.6567 leadership@omnifybenefits.com

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Strictly Business April 2022

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STRICTLY BUSINESS UPCOMING EVENTS Last Month Recap March was a month full of spirit, as both of our events coincided with national celebrations! Our Friends4Drinks event wasn’t held on St. Patrick’s Day, but we gathered at McKinney’s Irish Pub the Friday before to kick off the occasion. We packed their upstairs area with our friends and clients. You could say we felt pretty lucky to be surrounded by such a wonderful group of people! Then for Friends4Lunch, we lined it up to fall on National Pi Day—and what better way to celebrate than with a delicious pie from Stauffer’s Cafe & Pie Shoppe! It was great seeing some new faces at this networking lunch. Thank you to all who joined us!

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Friends4lunch at rock ‘n’ Joe on Thursday, April 7, 11:30 a.m.

We’re excited to return to Rock ‘n’ Joe Coffee Bar for Friends4Lunch on Thursday, April 7, starting at 11:30 a.m. Rock ‘n’ Joe, located at 5025 Lindberg St., is a cool place for folks who love exceptional coffee and yummy food in a trendy and relaxing environment. Their full menu will be open to our group which includes a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, and pastries. There are even a few new sandwiches to choose from since the last time we were there! We’d love to have you join us for this opportunity to connect with fellow Lincoln professionals.

(402) 467-4646 www.ovation.salon

Friends4Drinks at Venue restaurant & lounge on Friday, April 22, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

This will be our first after-hours event at Venue Restaurant & Lounge! We’re very excited to host Friends4Drinks on Friday, April 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at this beautiful establishment.

Our group will gather in the Lincoln Room, which is your first left when you enter the restaurant. Guests will have the opportunity to go over to the bar and lounge area as well or order something to eat off the menu. We are eager to bring everyone together for this laid-back networking opportunity.

Our Friends4Lunch and Friends4Drinks events are open to anyone in the Lincoln business community who is interested in attending! There is no cost, you only pay for what you order.

RSVP is encouraged for these events. Please let the Strictly Business team know if you plan to attend by calling (402) 466-3330, emailing editor@strictlybusinessomaha.com, or marking yourself as “Going” on the Facebook event pages. #printproudDigitalSmart

April 2022 Strictly Business

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Find Compassionate Caregivers at

Visiting Angels

Visiting Angels has been providing compassionate senior care to families across the United States since 1998. Their network of home care franchised agencies is committed to providing families with the best possible in-home care services. Visiting Angels’ commitment is simple: They’ll help your loved one continue to live at home, and they’ll help you find peace of mind.

Life Care Navigation Visiting Angels’ Life Care Navigation program is designed to offer specialized senior care to each of their care recipients so that they receive the exact types of services that they need. The customized senior care programs offered under Life Care Navigation aim to address a wide range of the challenges that elderly adults often face. Their compassionate senior care providers build long-lasting relationships with their clients and their families in the Lincoln area through trust and effective communication. Life Care Navigation doesn’t just offer physical assistance and support.

With Visiting Angels’ variety of senior care programs, they aim to provide dignified care to those in need.

Senior Care Services Companion Care

Companion care provides a helping hand to seniors who need assistance with a variety of day-to-day tasks. These services may include help with meal preparation, housekeeping, and running errands.

Personal Care

Personal care gives support and assistance to those who struggle to live independently due to age-related challenges, including mobility issues. Visiting Angels’ compassionate senior care providers offer mobility support, assistance with hygiene routines, monitoring, and other helpful services.

Visiting Angels helps seniors in the Lincoln area grow and develop by learning how to use technology to connect with their loved ones and have fun in the process through their social care program.

Dementia Care

Dementia care services provide supportive assistance and helpful monitoring to help those with dementia continue living in the familiarity of their own homes.

Alzheimer’s Care

Visiting Angels’ Alzheimer’s care program has been designed specifically for those who are coping with the risks and challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, helping them maintain their established routines and daily habits.

Pet Therapy

End of Life Care

Ready-Set-Go Home

www.visitingangels.com/lincoln | (402) 735-0999

Zeke, Visiting Angels’ furry friend, is a licensed therapy dog who travels all over Lincoln including retirement living centers, rehabilitation centers, and in seniors’ own homes to provide older adults with companionship and boost the general health and well-being of older adults.

Visiting Angels’ non-medical transitional care program aims to reduce the chance of a hospital readmission by preventing complications in the critical period following discharge from the hospital.

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Social Care Program

Strictly Business April 2022

This non-medical senior care program offers support during the challenging endof-life process, focusing on making the care recipient as comfortable as possible while providing assistance to family members.

Book a no-cost consultation with Visiting Angels today to learn more about their Life Care Navigation program and wide range of senior care services for elderly adults in the Lincoln area.

#printproudDigitalSmart

LINCOLN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

by Bud Synhorst, President

(402) 466-3419 • www.liba.org

Connecting Business with Workforce Wor kforce! Wor kforce! Wor kforce!

Finding the workforce necessary to run businesses has been one of the most prominent issues we hear about at LIBA from our members. Leading into the pandemic, many were seeking more innovative ways to connect with prospective employees. The pandemic arrived with businesses being forced into closures, reductions in capacity, and shaken consumer confidence to go out and support their local businesses. These factors led to difficulty in finding and keeping employees. Now our community is facing record low unemployment and businesses are faced with the difficulty of finding employees at every level of their business.

Businesses need to have employees and connecting with potential employees has become more and more difficult.

A few months ago, I was sitting in a meeting with Josh Jones from The Career Academy (TCA), the joint venture between Lincoln Public Schools and Southeast Community College. TCA offers career orientated pathways for Skilled Trades (construction, masonry, electrical, HVAC, machine tool, welding, and culinary), IT (programming and networking/cybersecurity), human services (K-12 education, EDED, human services, and criminal justice), business (marketing, entrepreneurship, Microsoft applications, and customer service), health science (CAN, med aide, EKG, phlebotomy, EMT, and PT aide), and Ag-bio (horticulture, animal science, and biotechnology).

During our discussion of TCA, we shifted to ways students could connect with internships, part time jobs, and work experience utilizing the skills they are developing. Thus, an idea was born – hosting a job/career fair at TCA for local businesses and organizations to connect with students interested in these career pathways. So in March, LIBA partnered with TCA and our members to host a career/job fair. We had 53 businesses sign up to attend this event with the hope of gathering prospective students who would have training connected to their industry. The connections made between students and businesses were great to watch.

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Throughout the event, I walked around talking with both students and businesses. The response to this event was outstanding. Students were able to meet and speak with successful business owners, and they were able to connect and ask many questions about owning their own business one day.

I was overwhelmed hearing from businesses and organizations about the number of connections they made during the career/ job fair. Businesses were receiving applications, resumes, and contact information from students about the prospect of summer jobs and employment opportunities. Ultimately, this connection between students and opportunities was part of the vision when The Career Academy first opened.

Bringing together students looking for opportunities and business owners looking to fill their workforce needs was a way that LIBA could work to help our members address a growing concern throughout all industries. Connecting businesses to resources needed is a fundamental part of our work every day at LIBA. We will continue to be a resource needed by small businesses to succeed.

Look for more opportunities such as the career fair in the future!

LIBA studies and promotes these types of issues that are important to businesses and our community. If you have an interest in joining, please call LIBA at (402) 466-3419. LIBA membership is not restricted to just businesses. We also have “individual” memberships for those who want to help influence our local government decisions.

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Tobacco Free Lancaster County (TFLC) has been supporting tobacco-free efforts as part of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention Program for more than 20 years. Collaborating with over 30 community partner agencies and passionate individuals, the coalition works to educate community members about issues related to tobacco and e-cigarette use and exposure, support policies that inspire social norm change, and encourage cessation.

Tobacco Free Lancaster County is here ere to help TFLC’s dedicated staff is here to serve the community of Lincoln and Lancaster County. Below you’ll see some of the top ways we are here to help,, but feel free to reach out with any tobacco or e-cigarette related question or need. d. We are always looking for the best ways to serve our community to establish ish tobaccofree social norms.

Highlight your business and deliver FREE resources during the #GASOLNK #GASOLancasterCoNe event

RO

UD TO B

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P

Whether you feel your business has high rates of tobacco use or if you feel like you’re a tobacco-free champion, this free event helps educate and bring together our community to support tobacco quit attempts. TFLC provides ready-to-go emails, flyers, social media, and more you can use to celebrate the Great American Smokeout the third Thursday of November.

Learn more and register at tobaccofreelancastercounty.org/business.

Offer assistance and resources supporting smoke-free multi-unit housing policies

Over 90% of Nebraskans want to live in a smoke-free home, and it is no different for renters. If you own or manage properties, TFLC staff can develop and support a plan to transition your community to become smoke-free. If you’re already smoke-free or looking for a smoke-free rental property, visit our website to search our map of smoke-free options in Lancaster County.

Provide technical assistance to improve tobacco-free policies TFLC’s expert staff is focusing on working with health care campuses to determine what specific steps the organization may be ready for to improve or implement a tobacco-free campus policy. These kind of voluntary policies are one of the best ways to support tobacco cessation and create a tobacco-free social norm. Contact us if you'd like to recruit a health care provider you love.

Educate youth, young adults, and families about the risks of menthol and flavored tobacco products In recent years, vaping has become an epidemic that many youth and young adults find attractive. Flavor options are designed to make vaping more appealing, and it's working - more than 8 out of 10 youth who vape use flavored products. TFLC staff work with schools, youth organizations, and community events to help young adults understand the risks of use and resources to help them quit and to share with parents how to identify possible signs of e-cigarette use (vaping).

Promote and provide resources for the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline The Nebraska Tobacco Quitline offers FREE, confidential support for quitting tobacco. Contact TFLC for help getting resources for your business or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to get started.

402-441-8045 | TobaccoFreeLancasterCounty.org | info@TobaccoFreeLancasterCounty.org

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LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

by Jason Ball President

(402) 436-2350 www.lcoc.com

Educational Opportunities to Enhance Businesses in Lincoln

Providing our Lincoln Chamber of Commerce members with valuable resources to grow their businesses is at the core of the work we do, and we are so excited to announce new opportunities for our members to network, learn, and engage. The recent expansion of our existing programs and the launch of a new educational event series offers our members and Lincoln business leaders a platform to continue to grow and thrive in Lincoln.

Recognizing that small businesses are a vital part our community, we recently created the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advisory Council. Comprised of 15 Chamber small business members and representing a variety of industry sectors from all corners of our community, this council will meet on a monthly basis to discuss important opportunities and concerns impacting Lincoln’s small business landscape. We are eager to connect with this dedicated team of professionals and applaud their thoughtful input and leadership. The inaugural council will begin meeting in April and members will change on an annual basis. I am so pleased to announce the members of our inaugural Small Business Advisory Council and encourage you to visit lcoc.com/sm-business-council to learn more about the 2022 – 2023 Council.

We also launched our new Business Toolbox Series last month; a quarterly educational series that will touch on topics and resources important to our Chamber members and Lincoln’s business community. The first session explored opportunities for businesses to use Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, to connect and market their business with college athletes. The robust panel discussion featured Jonathan Bateman, Associate Director of Compliance at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Chris Aumueller, CEO and Founder of FanWord and Nick Maestas, owner of Muchachos restaurant. Together, they shared insights and information about the benefits of this new and emerging marketing capability. The next installment of our Business Toolbox Series will be announced soon—stay tuned for further details.

Our Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development’s Lincoln Manufacturing Tech Certification Program also continues to grow, with an increase in students and new classes on the horizon in 2022. The impactful six-week class offers a unique opportunity for individuals with no previous experience in the manufacturing industry to gain the important skills and training necessary to step into new manufacturing careers that offer excellent pay and benefits. This highly successful program builds pathways to connect members of our community with rewarding career opportunities while also helping our local manufacturing companies acquire new talent. The most recent section of the program, which was created in partnership with the Lincoln Manufacturing Council, concluded in early March with fourteen students receiving certificates of program completion. Additional information about the program’s exciting upcoming expansion will be announced soon. Learn more about the Lincoln Manufacturing Tech Certification Program at selectlincoln.org.

Countless opportunities exist for Lincoln businesses, and we are so excited to offer expanded educational and engagement options to our valued Lincoln Chamber members. To learn more about our unique events, programs or Chamber membership, visit our website at lcoc.com.

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The Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together. For more information, contact Derek Feyerherm at dfeyerherm@lincoln.org.

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RESTAURANT EXPOSÉ

The Copper Kettle Mule Bar & Eatery Nebraska’s Mule Bar

The Copper Kettle Mule Bar & Eatery is Nebraska’s Mule bar. They offer a wide selection of over 30 craft mules, all of which include freshly squeezed lime juice and are served in 100% copper mugs to give you the highest quality cocktail they can offer. When you first enter The Copper Kettle, you’re greeted by a quiet atmosphere boasting gorgeous copper décor.

We loved the unique blend of seating offered – high tops, booths and tables, bar seating, and even a living-room style couch area for cozy and relaxed after-hours drinks with friends.

We started off with a round of drinks.

The Caribbean was very tasty with pineapple vodka, coconut rum, fresh pineapple juice, lime, and ginger beer combined to offer a refreshing mellow taste. Next up was the Thai mule, which shined because of its chileinfused vodka. Our group raved over the perfect level of sweet and heat in this drink. The last mule we tried was the Spiced Pear, which is served with a slice of pear sprinkled with cinnamon, which works wonderfully to create a stunning mixture of citrus and spice. We also tried a craft cocktail, the Hi-Pom, a gorgeous drink created with house-crafted hibiscus liqueur. It is served in a tall glass and has a frothy texture.

The Copper Kettle has so many more options than just what we tried, so we heard from the owners to see what their favorites were to keep in mind for our next visit. Matt Rogge is a fan of the Irish mule, made with Jameson Irish Whiskey. Adam and Mackenzi Dodworth both agreed that the Juniper is their favorite, a combination of muddled mint and premium gin.

Our appetizers included chips with Salsa, Queso, and Jalapeno Spinach Artichoke Dip, as well as Kettle Nachos. The tortilla chips are made in-house with house-made taco seasoning. The house-made salsa is not your typical salsa; an arbol and ancho chile salsa, it offers a smooth consistency. Our favorite dip was the Jalapeno Spinach Artichoke Dip. This savory, warm dip is easy to eat, and much to our group’s pleasure, contains lots of spinach.

Our first entrée was a Wagyu Burger, offered exclusively on Wednesdays.

The burger comes with skinny seasoned fries and any toppings you choose: cheese, bacon, raw and grilled veggies, unique sauces, a fried egg, and more.

We also tried six different tacos, each of which were topped with the housemade red cabbage slaw and sauce and stuffed full to give you your value. The Carne Asada Tacos stuck out as a favorite from the meat options—very tender to make for easy eating. We also tried the Sweet Potato Vegan Tacos, which melted in our mouths with its sweet, natural taste, thanks to the variety of fresh vegetables and black beans combined in the shell. Even meat lovers will opt for this vegetarian option because of how delicious they are! The Black Bean Vegan Tacos were amazing as well. They come with zucchini, red bell pepper, roasted corn, vegan chipotle aioli, and cilantro, in addition to the black beans and red cabbage slaw. Finally, the Shrimp Tacos were Paige’s favorite. They were the only tacos served on a flour shell rather than a corn shell; Chef Adam finds the flour taste to better complement the shrimp, and we agreed.

Whether you are looking to grab a bite to eat or indulge in a delicious cocktail, Copper Kettle is the place for you!

Hours

Tuesday – Thursday: 4 – 11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 4 p.m. – midnight Closed Sunday and Monday

Kitchen Hours

Tuesday – Saturday: 4 – 9 p.m.

copperkettlemulebar.com

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Pictured (L-R) Matt Rogge, Adam Dodworth, Mackenzi Dodworth

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DOWNTOWN LINCOLN ASSOCIATION

(402) 434-6900 • downtownlincoln.org

by Todd Ogden, President

A Full-Service Commercial Real Estate Appraisal Firm

FUSE Coworking Brings a New Sense of Community Friends Bob Hinrichs, Matt Westenburg, and Andy Beecham created FUSE Coworking with three core values in mind: community, collaboration, and sustainability. Hinrichs and Westenburg had the feeling that Lincoln was the perfect place to attract young professionals. The next step was finding the neighborhood that fit their needs.

Originally above The Mill, FUSE is now located across the street in the Salvation Army Building in the Historic Haymarket. When Nelnet and Speedway found out what FUSE was doing, they wanted in on it. Starting with 12 members in the FUSE community, more space gave them a chance to grow. FUSE now has almost 150 active members in a space that is almost 10 times bigger than before.

Hinrichs mentioned that with COVID, there has been a shift in the coworking space. With everyone working from home, FUSE saw more people commit to the drop-in desks for a change of scenery and to get the familiar office feel without having an actual office.

It’s time to move away from coffee shops and the comfort of your own home, and into a new community of members with comfortable breakout rooms, conference rooms, and sizeable event spaces. FUSE offers numerous rental spaces including conference rooms, event spaces, and available suites for a more secluded work environment.

Amy Hengelfelt, community manager at FUSE Coworking, has been there for a little over a year.

“What FUSE brings is a sense of community, especially when all of our members work different hours,” Hengelfelt said. “All of our memberships except for the private offices are month-to-month for an easy and flexible lease. FUSE is also perfect for individuals and small groups working on their start-up businesses. There are 18-20 drop-in desks for people who want a day pass to enjoy the FUSE environment when they need it. It’s the perfect solution for those who are tired of working at home but have no office space.”

Some of the perks of joining the FUSE Coworking community include unlimited access to The Mill Coffee & Tea on-site, local beer on tap, and a great work environment. FUSE uses ALLO to give their community members 10g internet. They also offer to troubleshoot on-site for those pesky technology issues. For more privacy, FUSE offers little phone booths for those who need to take an important call. They also offer a new podcast studio, in addition to the basic amenities such as discounted HR benefits, sponsorships, free printing, coworking partnerships, programming, personal lockers, 24/7 secure access, dog-friendly offices, and many more.

Once someone joins FUSE Coworking, there is a strong sense of community. Oftentimes, individuals will join each other for lunch around the kitchen table and will partake in a happy hour after work. These organized happy hours are a chance to network and meet other young professionals and entrepreneurs in the city.

“It’s just so nice to have a sense of community within your workspace that you wouldn’t have at home,” Hengelfelt said.

Founded in 1967, the Downtown Lincoln Association provides services and champions initiatives for maintaining and enhancing our vibrant downtown. Our vision is to create an energetic downtown environment where we live, learn, work, invest and play. DLA has evolved into a multifaceted organization supporting a wide range of programs and activities including maintenance, economic development and advocacy. For a complete listing of downtown businesses, events and residences visit downtownlincoln.org. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at facebook.com/downtownlincoln.

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RELATIONSHIPS | TEAMWORK LIFE/WORK BALANCE | COMPETITIVE April 2022 Strictly Business

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Summer vacation is nearly here! The children are surely excited, but if you are the parent, you may be wondering how you are going to keep your kids busy throughout the summer. Lincoln provides a large variety of different activities, camps, and classes that will keep your kids moving and enjoying their summer break in a fun and even educational environment. Check out what some local businesses and organizations are offering for kids this summer!

Summer Camp Activities Bright lights is thrilled to be offering their summer camps for youth in grades K-8 beginning in early June. These week-long camps range between half-day and full-day activities that offer unique, motivating, hands-on learning experiences.

“Bright Lights is truly unique because of the large variety of camp topics presented,” shared Executive Director lori paulsen. “We offer nearly 100 camps on topics infused with STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. We hope to spark interest in a new topic or further inspire our students in an area they love.”

This year, Bright Lights is offering many exciting new camps, along with old favorites. With over 30 new camps in Lori Paulsen 2022, they have something for everyone.

Bright Lights They especially expanded their middle school camps this year, including an exciting new partnership with Southeast Community College in the culinary arts program.

Camps will be held June 6-10, June 13-17, June 20-24, June 27-July 1, and July 11-15. All camp information as well as registration can be found at brightlights.org; scholarships are also available through May 1, which can be found when registering.

“Our main program site this year will be Roper Elementary,” Lori said. “We’re excited to be at Roper, as well as at other locations throughout the community. This summer, Bright Lights looks forward to promoting life-long learning while having fun and making friends.”

School breaks are for running, jumping, playing, and climbing, which is exactly what World of Knowledge Child Development Center and preschool offers through their summer camp. Youth ages six to 13 can attend World of Knowledge’s summer camp to partake in educational games that keep kids learning so that they enter school in the fall with an extra boost; indulge in happy, healthy, and home-cooked meals and snacks; receive inspiration and support from an expert team; make new friends and develop their social skills for better confidence; and much more.

If you have kids too young for summer camp, World of Knowledge has a place for them, too. Programs are available for infant, toddler, pre-school, and kindergarten ages. Feel confident that your children are in a safe and supportive learning environment #printproudDigitalSmart

throughout the summer months, and participating in activities that are structured to both enrich your children’s minds and to encourage fun, social play.

Entertainment for the Whole Family This summer, visit Sun Valley lanes & Games for your prime onestop destination for fun for the whole family. Sun Valley Lanes & Games recently underwent a nearly $5 million renovation to become a full-fledged family entertainment center!

In addition to bowling, the whole family can now enjoy activities such as the Lucky Putt course, an indoor miniature golf course with automatic scoring; a two-story laser tag arena; and the arcade that comes with over 25 games and a fully-stocked prize redemption center. The renovation also included three sand volleyball courts; a larger bar and grill with an enhanced food menu; a heated outdoor seating area with two fire pits; and The Yard, which is a fenced-in, 3600-square-foot artificial turf field where guests can play cornhole and other yard games at no cost.

“We are truly a one-stop destination for family-friendly fun!” shared Jen Miseno, director of group sales. “Bring the family here for dinner and a few rounds of games without splitting the night up into visiting multiple destinations. We offer low cost and even some free activities for our guests. Families that visit us know that they are going to have a fun experience in a safe, clean, and family-friendly environment.”

Reservations can be made at their website, Jen Miseno Sun Valley Lanes & Games sunvalleylanes.com. Beginning May 26, all attractions will be open daily at 11 a.m.

Summer Sports play it Again Sports is your neighborhood sporting goods store providing great value and exceptional customer service in a clean and fun environment. You’ll find quality used and new sports and fitness equipment that can fit any budget.

“We strive to provide unmatched customer service in the sports equipment arena,” shared new Owner Kyle McMurray. “From brand new to gently used items ranging across nearly any sport you could think of, Play It Again Sports works hard to have products that meet the needs of everyone.

When it comes to fitness equipment, we offer ‘white glove’ delivery. We will bring pieces of equipment, such as treadmills and ellipticals, to your place of living and set it up without you ever having to Kyle McMurray lift a finger.”

Play It Again Sports Buying brand new sports equipment and gear can be expensive, so visit Play It Again Sports to see what they have to offer and how they can help your kids to stay active all summer long. Plus, it’s a great place to invest in quality gear at an affordable price for a new sport your kids want to try, rather than breaking the bank for something they may decide they don’t enjoy. Kyle also shared with us an exciting upcoming event Play It Again Sports is planning to honor the previous owner, Diane Hesson.

“While we have not set a date yet, we are planning a celebration of Diane’s service to Play It Again Sports,” shared Kyle. “She has set a very high bar with her ownership and the type of customer service that she has provided. Diane has been very supportive of youth sports and their organizations in and around Lincoln, and we need to make sure she is recognized for her contributions. Stay tuned and follow us on social media to find out the date for this event!”

Your children will have a summer of fun, faith-based sports when they visit Ambassadors Sports. This sports club organizes basketball, baseball, and eventually soccer tournaments for kids #printproudDigitalSmart

N E W ! Half-Day

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for kids 3 - 5 yrs old

Register for Camp!

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9 am - 12:30 pm |Follows LPS Calendar Participating in Step up to Quality Nebraska, Creative Curriculum, and ASQ – 3 assessments.

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8310 Wendell Way (402) 483-4769 Hrs: Mon. - Fri., 6:30 am - 6:00 pm WorldOfKnowledge@neb.rr.com

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ages 8–18. Students have the opportunity to try out for a team and be part of an enriching experience that will result in athletic and spiritual development.

“We develop fundamentally sound athletes who play and compete with increasing quality and character for the glory of God,” shared Co-owner and Executive Director CJ Cooper. “Our goal is to teach our young athletes through the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

In April, Ambassadors Spor ts will be offering spring skills and player development sessions for both boys and girls each week. All skill sessions are held at Lincoln Christian School and CJ Cooper cost $40 for the 4-week session. Visit Ambassadors Sports their website to learn more about their upcoming offerings and register your children today!

Fun with Inflatables Bounce into summer and take your kids’ birthday party, summer cookout, Fourth of July celebration, or any other gathering to the next level by renting from Lincoln Inflatables. They will enhance your event by bringing you top-of-the-line inflatable bounce house units, boxing rings, waterslides, or even a dunk tank. They are known for their prompt communication, punctuality, and quality customer service. Lincoln Inflatables has recently been taking advantage of the off-season to do some fine detailing on all their units to ensure they are extra clean and ready to go for another summer of fun!

Summer is just around the corner, so plan your children a season of fun events by taking advantage of the services and activities offered from these local businesses.

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STARTING A BUSINESS Simplifying real estate for your business

1530 S. 70th St., Suite 102 Lincoln, NE 68506 (402) 421-7474 guiderockrealty.com

Cathy Kottwitz, CPM James McCombs

If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, you’ve likely had a dream of starting your own business. It can be intimidating to follow through with the idea, but your dream can never come to life if you don’t take the first step. Starting your own business takes a lot of courage, and with adequate knowledge, preparation, and the right group of supporters standing behind you, it can be the best decision of your life. American businessman and entrepreneur Nolan Bushnell once said, “The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today.

The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.”

Are you ready to be a doer and take the plunge with your next great idea? Several local businesses shared their advice for up-and-coming entrepreneurs and how they can help you make your vision a reality.

Cover All the Bases with ECr Eschliman Commercial real Estate (ECR) offers site selection resources for office, retail, warehouse, land, and commercial investment prospects, as well as listing services. We sat down with Vice President Ted Eschliman to learn more about what they can do for prospective business owners.

“If your business requires a physical space, be it a warehouse, office, display, etc., Eschliman Commercial Real Estate can represent your needs in negotiating a lease,” explained Ted. “More often than not, as tenant you don’t Ted Eschliman Eschliman Commercial pay for these services because the landlord does. We can also help with research into Real Estate the neighborhood for demographics, traffic counts, and all you need to make the best decision about location.”

Professionals are necessary as they can help you think of what you may have missed. In leasing or buying commercial space, there are several

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things you must be sure you thoroughly understand: your obligations in maintaining a space, who is to cover the specific costs in the lease, what kind of physical limitations from the Neighborhood Association covenants and restrictions may be put on your business, the need for client or team parking, and viability of location in terms of access and visibility. A commercial realtor can help if you are running your business from outside the home, and help you plan for the costs of space.

“The biggest mistake we encounter with startups is lack of a professional business plan,” Ted shared. “You need to be handy with numbers for long-term survival, and you’ll often need to demonstrate you’ve planned for this on literal paper – not only in rent, but costs of utilities, advertising and promotion, supplies, and paying your vendors and employees. A good banker can be a great partner in success, so it’s a good idea to have that established first with savings, collateral, and eventually a good line of credit.”

Technology Solutions panology Tech Solutions is a technology solutions firm, providing computers, networks and cloud to local small businesses. They serve exclusively small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. When starting a business, Panology can help you get the most out of your technology budget.

“Our offerings have been designed with the needs and challenges of small-businesses in mind,” said Owner Darren lichty. “We take great pride in being able to help our clients achieve their goals for their businesses, making technical support and cloud services easily accessible and affordable. Additionally, we help to find efficiencies that can greatly benefit a business in a number of ways.”

By educating small business owners on the options available to them, they are in the position to make an informed decision – one Darren Lichty of many they’ll be making as they get their Panology Tech Solutions businesses up and running. Moving forward, Panology’s technology growth plan allows for the integration of faster and more advanced technology as a business grows. It does this by identifying and resolving any technology deficiencies early on in order to prevent growing pains when a business decides to expand its operations.

By implementing this in the very beginning, you’re setting yourself up for success and ensuring that the technology you’ll come to rely on is always working hard for you at peak performance.

Technology is critical to the success of your business operations, and lutz emphasizes that it’s important to invest in solid IT equipment to help make sure processes are running efficiently.

Their IT professionals can offer support in assessing your business technology needs and recommend the best options for you.

Furthermore, the Lutz Tech team can provide your startup with everything from managed network and IT services to custom software and application development to help your organization optimally function. #printproudDigitalSmart

They are designed to be your one-stop service as their expertise extends beyond IT operations. The Lutz Accounting and Financial teams can help you not only manage but optimize your financials so that you can focus on what truly matters—running your business. The Lutz Talent division can help relieve your staffing burden by searching, vetting, and hiring the top talent your business needs. In addition, the Lutz M&A division can help market your company for sale, recapitalization, or new investment as well as assist you in assessing future transactions through Quality of Earnings (QoE) reporting and transaction structuring.

Office Planning Made Easy HIP OffiCenters provided by Holroyd investment properties is a very low-risk way of getting your business started. They offer a wide range of lease terms to meet your commitment level. They have a variety of office sizes and styles, with the option of furnishing the office for you if you desire.

“At our OffiCenters, we staff a professional receptionist in a comfortable lobby to greet all of our tenants’ customers and professionally answer incoming phone calls,” explained Owner Michael Holroyd. “This lets tenants focus on taking care of their existing clients and building their businesses. Perception is important, and we strive to help you make every experience for every customer the best that it can be.”

Commercial real Estate Expertise in All Areas Michael Holroyd Holroyd Investments It’s wise to call a professional for help when Properties searching for commercial space for your new business because real estate agents can help locate the best options available on the market, and by comparing properties, they can ensure they are being leased at a fair rate.

Greenleaf Commercial real Estate takes their market research very seriously and releases the Greenleaf Market Report semi-annually to announce trends in vacancy rates, absorption rates, asking rents, building permits, and notable transactions.

“When searching for commercial space for a startup company, there are many things you need to consider,” explained Sales Associate Adam lowney. “First, you will want to determine the location for your new business.

Will your company be leasing or purchasing space? It is important for a startup to completely understand their occupancy costs.”

It’s common for entrepreneurs to underestimate the amount of start-up capital required for rent, build-out, equipment, and operating Adam Lowney expenses. Greenleaf can help entrepreneurs Greenleaf Commercial to understand their expected real estate Real Estate expenses and create a realistic budget.

“Site selection and proper lease drafting are the two most important components for any start-up business in relation to its new space,” said Adam. “Greenleaf provides expertise in these areas, as well as lease versus purchase analysis, negotiating leases, and making sure our client understands all the costs associated with the lease.”

Bring your Business Vision to life Guiderock Commercial realty llC is here to help you make the best decisions possible about leasing and investing in commercial real estate.

Their tenant and buyer services go beyond simply finding available space for your business. Their representation services include market knowledge to get you a fair price and favorable terms, due diligence to ensure the location meets your business requirements, and connections to their service partners for your legal, financial, and construction needs.

“As we work with prospective entrepreneurs, we want to learn as much as we can about the vision they have for their business and where they are in the startup process,” said Broker and Property Manager Cathy Kottwitz, CPM. “We help new and small businesses learn about leasing #printproudDigitalSmart

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and buying commercial real estate, but we know that our service is only a part of what new business owners need. We often hear from clients that they may not know about resources available or there may be areas that they need help thinking through. As we engage with them, we can then help connect entrepreneurs with professionals in other areas who can get them off to a strong start.

Through a collaborative approach, we help our clients make the immediate decisions needed to get their business going and create Cathy Kottwitz a foundation for their long-term success.”

Guiderock Commercial Promotion Time!

Realty LLC Put your new business out there in the community by ordering promotional items from Flicker Promotions.

Flicker can provide customized items such as drinkware, bags, technology, paper products, pens, and more that will make your company noticed in the community.

“The purpose of Flicker Promotions is to take the stress out of choosing items to fit your budget and brand,” said Owner Amy Doele.

“We curate options for your projects and take care of all the details.”

The team at Flicker brings an intensity to their work that ignites your brand through a concierge approach to ad specialties.

With over a decade of experience in the promotional industry, Amy and her team have honed their abilities to turn their connections with clients into something Amy Doele special, something that helps brands shine Flicker Promotions brighter than their competition.

Signage is a big piece of making your business known in the community and telling the public that you’re ready to provide them with your goods and services. Regardless of where you are at in your new business planning, Sign Pro of Lincoln has something to offer.

“We offer a wide variety of products for the different stages of getting a business going,” said Owner Julie Shald. “In the early stages, we can offer temporary signage such as ‘Coming Soon’ banners, yard signs, and temporary window signs. When your opening date is closer, we can give you many options for building signage, both interior and exterior. If your business is mobile or has delivery or service vehicles, we can produce a wide variety of vehicle graphics to meet any need and budget.”

Julie Shald Once you have the business up and running, Sign Pro of Lincoln Sign Pro can continue to help you with signage for special events, sales, or promotions. They encourage you to keep them in mind over the years as your business grows to help you keep your signage and graphics looking great.

Developing a Network With your business up and running, it’s important to make continued connections in the community to spread awareness of your brand and build relationships that will grow your business. Center Sphere is an established network that provides excellent opportunities for networking and building relationships. Joining The Network allows networking without boundaries. They also have chapters that you’re encouraged to join, if that fits your specific needs. Either way, The Network can and will help anyone in business develop relationships.

It’s an exciting time when your entrepreneurial spirit gives you that push to go forward with your dream of opening your own business. We encourage you to reach out to these local businesses and professionals to ensure your vision can be made a reality. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

SPRING LANDSCAPING

The only thing that can make great weather even better is a gorgeous landscape to enjoy it with. You might be a do-it-yourself landscaper, or perhaps you’d rather enlist some professionals to help you transform your property. Regardless of which route you’d like to take, Lincoln has seasoned landscaping professionals that can offer their advice and/or labor to help you create the perfect landscape, just in time for summer!

Boost Curb Appeal with Curbing legacy Curbing specializes in custom concrete landscape curbing that is used in place of plastic or metal edging in landscaping beds, gardens, around pools, and more. The curbing is continuous concrete mixed and colored on site, with texture added afterwards to mimic natural stone or brick. The curbing can be customized to fit any style or budget.

“Legacy Curbing is truly a family business,” said Owner and Operator Emily Shelton.

“We treat each other like family and our customers like friends. We are transparent in all we do, and we communicate with each customer from quote to installation and provide follow up service to ensure what we promise is what we deliver. I am at every installation, and I do all of the finishing work to ensure the details are perfect.”

Landscape curbing is a great element to include in your spring landscaping plans as Emily Shelton it adds value to a home, keeps in rock and Legacy Curbing mulch, and boosts curb appeal in a subtle fashion. In addition, the curbing is durable and lasts for years to come.

Emily recommends sealing it every 18-24 months to ensure the curb doesn’t collect mold or mildew, as well as to prevent the color from fading.

“I recommend to those interested in redesigning their landscape this spring to do their research and talk directly to the people who will be providing the service,” said Emily. “Legacy Curbing provides design consultations and quotes all year long. Call us right away to create a plan today!”

Eliminate Mosquitos and Ticks If you’re tired of battling annoying mosquitos and ticks in your backyard all summer long, there is a simple and effective solution available to you.

Mosquito Shield is proud to offer the best mosquito control service on the market. As an experienced outdoor pest and mosquito control service company, their services will transform your backyard into the peaceful place you and your family have always dreamed of.

“Our proprietary Mosquito Protection Blend is applied around all active areas such as decks, patios, pools, swing sets, etc.,” explained Owner Brian Byerly. “We return approximately every two weeks to ensure the utmost protection of your property. Visits typically take 10 minutes and the product dries by the time the technician leaves, so your family can enjoy your outdoor space right away.”

The pandemic inspired many people to invest Brian Byerly in their backyards and create an outdoor Mosquito Shield living space to enjoy while at home. However, many families, like Brian’s, couldn’t truly enjoy their outdoor space due to the high amount of mosquitos and ticks living on the property.

“We live on an acreage, and our kids would always come back inside bitten up,” explained Brian. “This inspired me to start Mosquito Shield.

Everyone deserves to enjoy their time outside without getting attacked by mosquitos and ticks. Especially when you have children and pets who spend extra time in the grass, our product is essential this time of year to ensure a high quality of life outdoors.” #printproudDigitalSmart

The blend that Brian and his team apply on your property is environmentally-friendly, so you don’t need to be concerned about spraying harmful toxins and chemicals across your yard. If you inquire about services before mosquito season is in place, Brian will return your call within 48 hours; if you call during mosquito season, Brian will be sure to have your place serviced within 48 hours.

“Mosquito Shield is really that simple,” concluded Brian. “It doesn’t take much to improve the quality of your time spent outdoors. I encourage anyone who is interested to reach out today to get started on implementing our services into your spring landscaping plans.”

Water Wisely!

Hunt irrigation, inc., The Water Smart Company, has seen some pretty substantial changes since the inception of their company in 1997. For example, pressure regulated sprinklers have taken their place in the market. These sprinklers reduce water consumption by up to 30% while improving the coverage your irrigation system supplies to your lawn and landscape as well as saving money on your water bill.

Drip and sub-surface irrigation has also dramatically improved how we irrigate both plants and turf. Sensors that react to rain, temperature, and solar radiation help improve your sprinklers output.

“But probably the greatest advancement has been Wi-Fi controllers,” said Jeremy Hunt, owner. “Wi-Fi controllers allow for more Jeremy Hunt precise, predictive watering adjustments to the Hunt Irrigation, Inc.

“ YOUR GARDEN, OUR PASSION”

Our schedule for 2022 is filling up rapidly... call us today to schedule a consult!

Ken & Jackie: luxurylandscape.ne@gmail.com 402.430.9430 | 402.640.6034 | luxurylandscape-llc.com

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The Right Choice, The Professional Choice, The Water Smart Choice Lincoln’s full service lawn sprinkler, commercial irrigation, and outdoor lighting experts

HuntIrrigation.com | Facebook.com/huntirrigationinc | 402-438-8151

CONTACT US TODAY! 402.476.8614 www.rayslawn.com

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Strictly Business April 2022

base program, as well as watering schedules based on temperature, forecasted rainfall probability, wind, and humidity to provide maximum water efficiencies.”

As spring arrives, Jeremy advised us of a few things that Lincoln residents and the surrounding communities should be aware of.

With the less than snowy weather and the prediction for a drier than normal spring, proper watering and a well-tuned irrigation system will be of the utmost importance. Hunt Irrigation specializes in water conservation and improving the efficiency of less than stellar irrigation systems. Their auditing team can arrive at your home or business, complete an assessment of your irrigation system, and offer recommendations to improve both your systems coverage and efficiency.

“Spring is also a great time to update or add a new lighting system to your home or business,” Jeremy suggested. “After the last two years of social distancing, now is the time to get friends and family together to celebrate the fact that we can again celebrate. Adding a lighting system to your outdoor living space will let you take your gathering out of the house and into the wilds of outside, all while adding safety, beauty, and ambience year around. Reach out today to learn about our landscape lighting services.”

Delivering Dedicated lawn Care for 20 Years Since 2002, TDK lawn Care has been taking care of its residential and commercial clients by providing them with a complete, honest, and professional lawn care service that includes lawn mowing, fertilizing, aerating, over seeding, yard cleanups, and snow removal. Owner lee Schumacher gave us a few important tips to remember when making spring landscaping plans: “If you want your grass to build up the strength to survive a potentially blistering summer, spring is the time to prepare,” Lee Lee Schumacher advised. “One of the biggest mistakes I TDK Lawn Care see people make is cutting their lawn too short. Mowing at a proper height is the best way to keep your lawn healthy. I personally keep my mower set at 3.25 inches year-round, but keeping it anywhere between 2.75 and 3.75 inches is fine, too.”

Taller grass chokes out weeds and helps your lawn retain moisture, which will help it prosper during hot summer days. In addition, correctly watering and delivering proper lawn nutrition is crucial to keep your lawn full and green.

Aeration 101 How do you know if your lawn needs aerated? larry Svoboda from ray’s lawn and Home Care dove a little deeper into this topic with us to explain the signs to look for, as well as the importance of hiring a professional to get the job done: “If your lawn is a high traffic area, you’re probably a person who should be aerating their lawn,” said Larry. “When soil gets compacted, it inhibits the flow of the essential air and nutrients that support a thicker, healthier lawn. Soil compaction Larry Svoboda could be caused by children playing, Ray’s Lawn and Home Care animals running on it, or even if you simply like to entertain outside. An easy way to tell if your lawn may need aerating is to watch and see if rainwater puddles in places where it used to be absorbed. While aeration machines can be rented and it’s possible to do it yourself, it can also negatively impact your lawn if done incorrectly or if it doesn’t even need done. If timed improperly, it can stress out your lawn very easily. We always recommend having professionals come to check the health of your lawn in terms of nutrients, water need, and soil density before starting any larger lawn projects.” #printproudDigitalSmart

Enjoy the Outdoors with luxury For all things landscaping, get in touch with luxury landscape. They design and install gorgeous unique landscapes including paver patios and walkways, retaining walls, steps, pergolas, arbors, gazebos, water and fire features, privacy and screening options, and plantings of all kinds! They work with both residential and commercial customers.

“Creating outdoor living spaces has been a hot topic this spring!” said Co-owner Jackie Svoboda. “Our customers want to enjoy the outdoors with a comfortable and functional space, including fire and water features close by. They’re contacting us early this year to ensure a spot on our 2022 project schedule.

It’s wise to schedule an appointment with us Jackie Svoboda as soon as possible to allow us the time to Luxury Landscape discuss your landscaping, devise a proposal, and order materials for the project.”

Jackie advises those eager to get started on landscaping projects to not rush the spring cleanup. While it’s tempting to get out in the yard with the amazing weather we’ve experienced this year, there are beneficial bugs and insects wintering in plants and grasses. If cut too early, it can disrupt their habitat. While you wait to get out in the yard, gather a few estimates instead. Jackie recommends doing this so that you can meet your potential landscaper face-to-face and see if there’s a positive connection, as well as learn the many different options available to them.

“Luxury Landscape really stands out in the local market because we take the utmost pride in our communication,” Jackie said. “We know how excited our customers are for taking the step to enhance their landscaping and we love sharing in the excitement!” let’s Get planting!

Whether you’re just looking for landscaping ideas; need a little help with a project; or are searching for quality, full-service landscape design and installation; you will find exactly what you need at your local Earl May Garden Center. The family-owned center makes it their top priority to provide exceptional customer service, and they always have Green Team experts ready to help you with any of your landscaping projects.

“Lately, we have been seeing our customers wanting to provide a safer space for pollinators in their landscape – and we love it,” said Jessica Jasnoch, manager of Earl May at 5555 S 48th St. “Anyone can do this by planting pollinator-friendly plants and utilizing cultural practices to protect their habitats, such as using fewer chemicals in the Jessica Jasnoch Earl May Garden Center landscape.”

Jessica said that spring is the time for homeowners to walk around their landscape and look over the health of the plants in their yard. Check evergreen trees and shrubs for discoloration, bare areas in the lawn that may need re-seeded, and broken branches in trees or shrubs that may need trimmed out. Spring is also a wonderful time to work on weed prevention in flower beds and lawns.

“If you are looking to do some planting this spring, our garden center carries a variety of plants that are proven to do well in the Nebraska climate,” suggested Jessica. “We encourage you to stop by and check out our selection. We are open seven days a week, year-round. Our goal is to make the world more beautiful, one backyard at a time!”

Eagle Nursery provides landscape design, hardscaping, landscape lighting, installation, and maintenance services for residential and commercial properties. They are proud to utilize Nebraska-grown trees, shrubs, and perennials. If you aren’t sure where to start with your landscaping plans, Eagle Nursery can send one of their professionals to your property to work with you and determine your preferences and goals for your landscape. #printproudDigitalSmart

Transform Your Outdoor Space Imagine your ideal outdoor space and start living it with the help of Eagle Nursery! We are a full service company dedicated to quality work, materials, & integrity service.

Patios | Walls | Water Features | Fire Pits | Trees | Shrubs | Annuals Perennials | Ornamental Grasses | Landscape Lighting | Potted Materials

I've known Tom for a long time! Always courteous and professional. Our new trees look great!!!! - Scott Mausbach

Start your outdoor transformation today!

402-781-9337 | www.EagleNurseries.com

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“If you are interested in planting trees, the best time to do so is when they are in their dormant period – typically early spring or late fall,” explained Owner Tom Scharfen.

“Trees are lifelong investments for your property, so it’s important to give them all the resources they require to grow. Unlike flora, shrubs and trees can be trickier to plant and raise, so we recommend going to a professional when making larger plant purchases and plantings.”

Fence in Your Landscape Tom Scharfen Eagle Nursery If your property already has a fence installed, it may present a challenge when creating a landscape design customized to your vision if it doesn’t already fit the intended aesthetic. Height, style, and material are important choices that can impact the outcome of the look of your fencing and, ultimately, your landscape. If you don’t know what type of fencing would best fit your landscape vision both functionally and aesthetically, the experts at Empire Netting and Fence can offer their advice.

“A good fence will provide privacy for your property while also fitting into your ideal design,” explained Owner Matt Warner.

“In addition, a fence should offer security and keep your kids and pets within your property. To ensure your fence will be installed properly to satisfy both of these needs, call a professional.”

Empire offers vinyl, wood, chain link, or aluminum fences, in addition to FenceTrac, a system that has virtually endless possibilities with a beautiful aesthetic look that is designed Matt Warner Empire Netting and Fence to simplify picket installation.

“The best way to get started is to visit our website and click on our ‘Instant Online Quote’ button,” Matt suggested. “Using our online estimating tool, you will be able to draw the layout for the fence and choose what style you would like. When you finish, you will get an email with a printable layout including total linear footage and budget for that specific fence.

This will help you get a ballpark estimate on the cost of your fencing project. We will contact you with more questions regarding your project and set up a time to meet onsite to verify measurements and get a good feel about what you want to achieve with your fencing.”

Landscaping Accents Are you tired of getting up on a ladder every year to hang your holiday lights? Are you interested in accenting your home differently? We have found a permanent, worry-free, hassle-free solution for you through Halo Custom Lighting. A sister company to Streamline Energy Solutions, they provide outdoor LED lighting that will last for 20+ years.

“They are maintenance-free and low-profile with a discreet design, and can be controlled through a free mobile app and connected via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth,” said Owner Jen Keller.

“Choose from 4,228,250,625 different color options, including warm white or cool white.

You can even control each individual bulb, which allows for a complete customization for everyday accent lighting.”

Halo lights are designed to be a sleek, lowprofile, custom fit and color to your home. The waterproof, climate-tested lights are rated Jen Keller to last 55,000 hours, and provide beautiful Halo Custom Lighting lighting to any property. Contact Halo Custom Lighting today to tie it all together with their gorgeous accent lighting!

Spring has sprung, so what are you waiting for? Reach out to these local landscaping and lawn care experts today to create your perfect outdoor environment today!

Gardening...Enjoy the Outdoors Create The Outdoor Space You’ve Always Dreamed Of!

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#PrintProudDigitalSmart

Graduation Parties Graduation day – one of the biggest moments of a student’s life.

While graduation marks the end of one’s schooling, it’s also the beginning of the next chapter, whether that’s additional school, starting a new job, moving to a different city, or embarking on a new adventure. Friends and family gather to celebrate achievements and forthcomings for the guest of honor, so be sure that the day is made special with the help of these local businesses!

Knock the party out of the park with Knockerballs Make the graduation party especially memorable by bringing Nebraska Knockerball to the celebration! A knockerball is a single chamber inflatable sphere with inner handles and adjustable shoulder straps.

They can be used singularly to perfect your rolls, flips, and wheels, but when two or more Knockerballs come together, the experience is catapulted into rip-roaring laughter and exhilarating knocks and rolls that will keep you coming back for more. Owner of Nebraska Knockerball is Manuel Walker, Manuel Walker who shared some more information on this Nebraska Knockerball enjoyable new offering.

“Knockerball packages begin at six, but we can go all the way up to 12 knockerballs to truly give your party crowd the best enjoyment and allow more to participate,” shared Manuel. “We can also bring more than the knockerballs to the party – we have several yard games, including Giant Jenga; Giant Connect Four; yard dice (called ‘Yardtzee’); cornhole; tug-of-war; human foosball; and foot darts, in which you kick Velcro soccer balls at a 12-foot-tall inflatable dart board. Lastly, while we are not a DJ service, we can provide two giant Bluetooth speakers to really amp up the party!”

Manuel knows how much is happening throughout the day when celebrating one’s graduation, so he wants you to rest assured that when you rent from Nebraska Knockerball, you will get to be a part of the party rather than be the one running it. He takes care of handling the knockerballs and yard games so that you can enjoy your time spent with guests.

“What makes us especially unique is that we are the only company providing these services in Nebraska,” Manuel said. “This is all new to the local market. We are so excited to be here and remind people what it’s like to have fun again – and what better time to do it than when celebrating the great achievements of your loved one?”

Downtown Venues Keep the celebrations all in one space by planning your post-graduation party at the newly-renovated Courtyard by Marriott – Downtown lincoln Haymarket. Conveniently located close to both Pinnacle Bank Arena and Memorial Stadium, the locations for this year’s graduate and undergraduate ceremonies held by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Courtyard allows you to make the party planning easy by keeping guests all in one spot. Furthermore, their staff goes above and beyond to make sure you aren’t feeling overwhelmed with party preparation on you or your loved one’s big day, allowing all in attendance to focus solely on the celebration.

“We have full event staff at the hotel,” explained Melanie Maynard, director of sales. “You’ll have our event manager working you through the details of your party. He will provide you with answers and solutions to all of your questions or concerns. If our meeting room is available #printproudDigitalSmart

HOST YOUR NEXT EVENT WITH US

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Join some of the area’s most successful businesses and plan your next business retreat to James Arthur Vineyards!

James Arthur Vineyards offers an exceptional location for any special occasion, company retreat, social event or family gathering.

Book your event today! 2001 W Raymond Rd, Raymond, NE 68428

402.783.5255 | www.jamesarthurvineyards.com beforehand, we allow you to come early to set up at no additional charge. We had a graduation party last year, and they came a full day early to set up; they definitely made the space their own. And that’s what we want…we want you to feel at home when you’re with us.”

By the end of your event, Melanie says you will know all of the staff by name, as they remain present from the planning stage through the end when it’s time to pack things up. They stay with you every step of the way Melanie Maynard to ensure that you are truly able to take in Courtyard by Marriott – the day.

Downtown Lincoln Haymarket “You only get to experience something like this once,” said Melanie.

“Take the time to breathe it all in. Don’t be stressed about the way your pictures or the centerpiece look. We’ll take care of that for you. Take in all of the love from your friends and family coming to celebrate YOU!” Another wonderful and convenient downtown location for graduation parties is the Talon room. In addition to the unique and gorgeous venue, Talon Room offers catering and bar service to make the party planning a breeze. They provide start-to-finish planning, and, if you are celebrating with other graduates, they offer plenty of space to host a combined party. Talon Room’s staff works hard to ensure that your day is perfect so that all in attendance can relax and celebrate. Owner Matthew rogge gave us a few things to keep in mind when planning a graduation party.

“When you are planning your celebration, approach it with an idea of how many guests Matthew Rogge you would like to invite and how much work you are anticipating putting in to plan it and Talon Room April 2022 Strictly Business 61

Nuzzled in the historic Spaghetti Works building, Talon Room has been established as the perfect venue to host a wedding reception, Husker tailgate, company party, business meeting, or social gathering downtown.

Call Matt today to book your event!

402-641-0943 | www.TalonRoom.com 230 N. 12th St. #1 Lincoln, NE

Village Gardens 5720 Hidcote Dr. Ste. 102 Lincoln, NE 68516

402-423-7848|1-800-556-SUIT www.GaryMichaels.com

set up,” explained Matthew. “Most families planning a graduation party realize after the party is over just how much work it takes to host it at their home. We provide the ease of allowing you to simply show up, have a good time, and leave without having the hassle of cleanup after. This way, you can truly focus on the graduate and celebrate their success.”

Talon Room will be offering special 2022 graduation party rates on select dates, so reach out to them today to get started on planning your big party!

Venues Outside of Downtown Calvert Venue is a new location for graduates to host their graduation parties in 2022. Originally LoveLand Dance Hall, the venue is now under new ownership and has been remodeled to offer a brand new look for its guests.

“Graduation parties are a great fit at Calvert Venue,” shared Sam Kavan, who owns the venue alongside Jayson Becker and Marty Fortney. “There’s even room to have a joint graduation party with friends.

Our elegantly designed space can hold up to 75 people, so it’s great for small- to mid-sized events.”

Not only is Calvert Venue gorgeous on the inside, but it’s in a fantastic location and is surrounded by a beautiful neighborhood, being located at 3601 Calvert St. When Sam Kavan booking at Calvert Venue, tables and Calvert Venue chairs are provided, and they are able to coordinate the rental of linens with notice.

“Graduation parties are really a time for the graduating student to greet everyone and chat with all the people who have come to wish them well,” said Sam. “Keep things like food and drinks simple, as people will be up and moving around as they interact with each other. We are happy to help you coordinate these plans 62 Strictly Business April 2022

through our partnership with the reputable Doorstep Diner Catering to make your role as event host even easier.”

Give your graduate something especially exciting to really mark their celebration as unique by booking your graduation party with robber’s Cave. Robber’s Cave not only has varying event spaces to accommodate your party size and needs, but they have Lincoln’s oldest tourist destination located below the venue, a historic Sandstone cave that can’t be found anywhere else in the region. When you book with Robber’s Cave, the venue comes with tables, chairs, setup, cleaning, and time to decorate before the big event.

“We want your seniors to feel like they are the center of attention that day,” said Justin Fuchs, venue manager. “To celebrate, you have to have food, and we partner with Yes Chef catering here in Lincoln. Their menu has a wide range of great options from appetizers to desserts. Want to have a theme? Yes Chef can accommodate their food selections to go along with it. All you need to do is show up and celebrate!”

Robber’s Cave has multiple areas available for Friday and Sunday graduation celebrations, Justin Fuchs which are broken down even further into Robber’s Cave morning, afternoon, and evening bookings so that you can have time to celebrate both your senior and their classmates at other times in the day. Robber’s Cave provides LCD displays to showcase a slideshow or video footage.

They offer special areas to set up a photo booth, display jerseys, or set out pictures.

“Our indoor and outdoor spaces work hand-in-hand with each other,” said Justin. “Outside we have a large deck and theater space that can be used for yard activities or outside gathering. Guests can also take a tour of the historic, 5,600-square-feet of tunnels located beneath the venue, and learn about the history that dates back to 1864! Robber’s Cave also offers convenience with our great parking and central location.”

College graduates or others who are 21+ may enjoy hosting their graduation party at a venue with a bar – or they may even take it up a notch and throw their party at James Arthur Vineyards and enjoy the added bonus of the beautiful scenery. The vineyard’s St. Croix Room is a party room overlooking both the St. Croix grapevines outside and the wine production area inside. The beautiful, sunny room features a stone fireplace, wine-tasting bar, catering kitchen, and French doors leading to a private deck.

“Guests are able to enjoy the natural beauty of the estate along with our award-winning signature wines, and our facilities on-site offer a warm and relaxed atmosphere ideal for gatherings of all sizes,” said Owner Jim Ballard. “For the party fare, you could opt for a spread of hors d’oeuvres or a sit-down meal, or alternatively, we can set up tasting stations. This approach allows guests to travel from station to station where a wine has been paired with a specific appetizer.

We also offer personalized wine bottle Jim Ballard labels with the graduate’s photo or a custom James Arthur Vineyards design, which are a great special touch for graduation parties as well as the perfect keepsake item.”

Located about 10 miles north of downtown Lincoln in Raymond, James Arthur Vineyards is just a short trip away. Reach out to them today to get started on creating a truly beautiful graduation party!

Dress to impress Gary Michaels Clothiers specializes in men’s tailored clothing. For a man concerned with looking his best, there is simply no better place to shop. With graduation being a big moment in a student’s life, we spoke to Owner Gary Novotny to learn more about why this is a great time to invest in a suit. #printproudDigitalSmart

“The average retail price for a quality, all-wool suit that is tailored to perfection is between a $495-$795 value,” explained Gary. “Investing in a suit is wise because many young individuals typically will need a suit multiple times over several years – especially recent graduates who are off to college or are beginning the job interview process. Suit rental can be over $200 for a single wearing; it just makes sense to invest in a quality, tailored suit that will last you for many years.”

Gary Novotny Gary Michaels Clothiers Gary recommends purchasing early, as the pandemic has created inventory challenges in certain sizes. However, they still have fresh items coming in daily, ranging across suits and sport coats. Trending colors as of late have been shades of blue and grey, and charcoal remains a strong choice both as a solid fabric or one with a slight pattern to it. party on Wheels!

For the 21+ graduates, consider renting a party bus from Tailored Dreams limousines and party Buses to really go out with a bang and make it a night that everyone will be talking about all summer long. Tailored Dreams is Lincoln’s premier party bus company, known for their friendly drivers and for creating an experience tailored to your particular group. Just reserve your bus ahead of time, and then tell your chauffeur where you want to go when you arrive for your party, and they’ll get you there and back safely.

“Our fleet consists of six party buses,” shared Owner DeeDee loomis. “The biggest bus can fit up to 45 people, so you can take along the whole gang to celebrate your graduation. Each bus has a Bluetooth sound system, loud speakers, heating and A/C, and fun LED lights. We are also the only party bus company in the area that has handicap accessible buses.”

Delicious Catering For catering recommendations, we suggest DeeDee Loomis Tipsy Tina’s Taco Cantina for their Tailored Dreams mouth-watering tacos made from quality Limousines and Party Buses ingredients and the made-from-scratch salsas, dips, and dressings that perfectly complement the tacos. Tipsy Tina’s catering menu includes a taco bar, where you can build your own taco or create some of their most popular options: Carne Asada, Carne Fajita, Al Pastor, Carnitas, American, or Pollo. Add on Elote or Chile Bites; chips and dips or salsas; seafood or fiesta salads; a side of rice or beans; churros; and Jarritos, or Mexican sodas.

“Another catering option we provide is our Taco Box. Pick out up to four different types of tacos, and we will make a total of 12,” said Nathan Stewart, co-owner.

“You have a variety of taco options to choose from; it’s your chance to try each corner of the menu. Try our Chorizo taco alongside the Buffalo Chicken, Shrimp, and Sweet Potato tacos. We even have breakfast tacos!”

Even if you’re not planning on ordering catering, Tipsy Tina’s is a great place to Nathan Stewart Tipsy Tina’s Taco Cantina enjoy with friends and family for a night out on the town to celebrate. They have 32 draft beers, over 200 tequilas, and signature blended drinks.

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Congratulations, graduate – you did it! It’s time to celebrate your success and the start of the next chapter. Reach out to these local businesses to make your graduation party one to remember! #printproudDigitalSmart

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Unplanned Life Changes We are told to “expect the unexpected,” – but how does one do that, really? Unplanned life changes can be uncomfortable and come with a string of emotions, ranging from anger and fear to helplessness and worry. It’s common to feel a sense of loss that comes with unexpected changes, as we are pulled away from what is familiar and comfortable. For seniors and their loved ones who find themselves in these situations, life can be challenging for some time as adjustments are made.

We spoke to local businesses and professionals who offered some words of wisdom and encouragement for us to share with our readers, seniors, and their loved ones who want to prepare for the event of unexpected changes – or those who may be going through unforeseen changes right now. The most common advice received is to plan ahead before something unexpected even happens. While it may seem obvious, it’s not always at the top of our minds when we seem to be living a healthy, stable life. If you are going to plan ahead for anything, we encourage you to, at the very least, plan ahead for the inevitable.

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Each of us will one day pass, but when it comes suddenly, it’s often one of the most challenging unexpected changes a family may face. Not only is this a painful time for all involved, but the family is needed to make important decisions during a trying time.

To avoid being in this difficult situation, we encourage families and their senior loved ones to speak with a professional about pre-planning for when the time comes.

By prearranging funeral and cemetery services, families won’t be caught off guard by the decisions they have to make and ultimately the cost of those services that are due at the time a loved one passes. Adam Shull, family service counselor with lincoln Memorial Funeral Home & Cemetery, offered a few words on why it is important to plan ahead so that the family can avoid this difficult situation.

“We never want to see families come in unprepared and uninformed when Adam Shull planning a funeral or burial for a loved Lincoln Memorial Funeral one who has passed,” said Adam.

Home & Cemetery “Unfortunately, many of the families we work with end up in just that situation. On one of the worst days of their life, they have to answer so many difficult questions in a very short amount of time, and they walk away wondering if they did the right thing. We encourage pre-planning funeral arrangements to avoid making an already tragic situation even more trying.”

In addition to protecting your family from financial stress at the time of your death, prepaid funeral plans can also help you save money. When you buy a guaranteed plan that specifies the exact goods and services you want, the price you agree to is locked in, no matter when your death occurs. That means even if the prices go up, your loved ones won’t have to pay more.

“Lincoln Memorial is with you and your family during the prearrangement process, at the time of passing, and even after the services have occurred by providing your family with a number of financial and grief resources,” Adam concluded.

Minimize the Stress with immanuel Often, when a senior faces an unplanned medical event, once the acuteness subsides, they will quickly begin thinking of recovery. If there is not someone in the home who can be a caregiver, short-term rehab may be the answer. immanuel offers individual short-term or rehab care at Cove and Harbor Houses in Lincoln on the Landing campus.

“Immanuel is deeply rooted in Nebraska,” said Director of Communications Connie Connie Chisholm Chisholm. “We were founded in Omaha Immanuel

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community to meet your needs and go the extra mile to put you at ease – this is what the staff at Orchard Park will do,” explained Administrator Gayleen Bradley.

Orchard Park provides additional care for bathing, medication management, laundry, transportation, and meals. Their friendly staff and residents will keep your loved one company during this transition, and don’t be surprised if new friendships quickly blossom.

Gayleen Bradley “What makes Orchard Park unique is Orchard Park that we work hard to fi nd a sense of Assisted Living purpose for our residents,” said Gayleen.

“That may be working in the vegetable or flower gardens or participating in all the different activities we provide to our residents, such as exercise class, playing cards, or enjoying the on-site beauty and barbershop.”

When Making Decisions, Understand Your Values Being a locally-owned and family-run company, legacy retirement Communities operates on a theory that every individual who walks through their doors is treated like their own family. The values and culture of their communities – family, compassion, integrity, community, and quality – are evident through the staff’s actions every single day. Their retirement living advisors work with individuals and their family members on the basis that they are there to serve and assist folks through the process, regardless of whether or not they pick a Legacy community in the end.

“Taking the first step is often the hardest step to take and yes, change is very difficult,” explained Nate liermann, retirement living advisor at Legacy Terrace. “Being prepared by doing your research and making phone calls to various communities in

over 130 years ago and since then have been committed to a not-for-profit mission. What this means for residents and their family is they can be confident and know that we are dedicated to what is in the interest of those we serve. We consistently invest directly into enhancing programming, updating our buildings, and supporting other like-minded community organizations. It’s the difference in knowing decisions are being made in the best interest of those who matter most – seniors.”

Immanuel has found that the best way to minimize stress for both seniors and their families during times of change is to start planning sooner rather than later. Know the senior living options and create a plan – even if it is a rough plan. The best way to begin this process is by visiting a few senior living communities to see how it feels for you or your loved one prior to being faced with an immediate need.

“At Immanuel, we have 16 communities on 11 campuses in Omaha and Lincoln, as well as Council Bluffs and Des Moines, IA,” shared Connie. “They all have a different feel and flavor. While each of our communities may be all different in name and location, the care and service remain the same: Christ Centered Service to Seniors, Each Other, and the Community.”

Assisted living at an Affordable Cost Orchard park Assisted living Founders Virgil and Jan Carner didn’t set out to create a fancy living facility or nursing home with resort-style amenities and gourmet chefs that came with a big hit on the wallet. Instead, they saw the need for a community where seniors could simply continue living the way to which they were accustomed. When life comes at you with a big unexpected change, keeping things as normal as possible is often the route everyone wants to take. Orchard Park keeps their focus on what they believe is most important at an affordable cost.

“If you are faced with a sudden change for yourself or a family member, it can feel overwhelming. This is when you need to find a

“The entire team at CountryHouse is an inspiration.”

Buffy, Friend of a CountryHouse resident As soon as Buffy met the caring team at CountryHouse, she was confident she’d found the right place for her dear friend and neighbor.

From their smiling faces to the way they approach their jobs with joy and grace, the staff members are dedicated to helping residents move forward and make the most of every day.

“From the moment you walk through your doors, something magical happens. The staff spreads cheer, goodwill and kindness.”

Discover care designed exclusively for those with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.

Schedule a tour of one of our Lincoln CountryHouse communities!

CountryHouse.net or (402) 853-7809 25th & Old Cheney

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your area will allow you to have a better understanding of retirement living and the options they provide. After you get a good understanding of what there is to offer, think about what values are important to you and find a community that aligns with them.”

Nate explained that understanding what you value as you begin the process of adjusting to unplanned changes will allow you to set yourself up for success and live the life that you want to live.

Nate Liermann Legacy Retirement “With no one having a crystal ball to tell Communities us what the future may look like, it can be challenging to prepare for any sort of change in your life,” Nate concluded. “Beginning this process early to educate yourself and your family will make those unplanned life changes easier to get through. Retirement communities don’t have to be the next step, but it is a possible solution. I encourage everyone to be informed, educated, and proactive about their futures.” prolong independence at Home with a Caregiver Staying independent in your own home is something we all strive for as we age, so an unexpected event that threatens this independence can be not only hard to accept, but hard to adjust to. This is where CCA Home Care steps in. They screen and refer independent contracted caregivers who work for families and provide clientdirected care, ensuring that you make the decisions regarding your care for that of your loved one. Having a private caregiver in your home for short periods of time will allow family the peace of mind to know their loved ones are being visited, and can give the client peace of mind knowing someone is there to check on them.

“CCA Home Care is the state’s largest home care registry,” said President and CEO Kyle Johnson. “The caregivers we provide

work privately for clients who are in need of additional help.

Many of these caregivers are certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and services through CCA are paid for on an hourly basis. Rates typically range from $21.50–$28.50 per hour, depending on length of visit, care needed, and client location.”

Another wonderful feature of CCA Home Care is their ElderCare Resource Handbook. Full of local senior living resources, it is published in both Lincoln and Omaha so that you can find the best options for you in your specific location. If you don’t have a printed copy, you can find each book online at OmahaHandbook. com or LincolnHandbook.com. Advertisers throughout the book allow CCA Home Care to print and hand out thousands of copies each year at no cost to the end user. long-term Care, Wherever You Need Home Care partners supports seniors’ needs throughout their long-term care continuum with care management and thoughtful, quality, dedicated care brought to wherever your loved one resides. Their care management services provide consistent, high-quality communication with healthcare and other service providers, as well as expert resources. Home Care Partners collaborates with the interdisciplinary teams in the healthcare continuum. That may involve therapy or hospice teams (RN, PT, OT, ST); providing schedule coordination; medication management; or setting step goals for restorative care to maintain the baseline of functionality with a home exercise/strength/balance program to continue progress.

“Without this coordinated support, 4060% of recently discharged patients will experience a decline in four to six weeks Karla Frese and risk possible readmissions,” advised Managing Partner Karla Frese. “We Home Care Partners

Here for you.

Not for profit.

As a not-for-profit senior living provider, we’re driven by a higher purpose to do things right. We serve seniors with compassion and respect and devote resources to bettering our communities.

Learn how Immanuel is different.

Schedule a visit today at Immanuel.com

Serving Lincoln at

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need to maintain strength, balance, and endurance. This may also involve our team monitoring and reporting vitals, ensuring all follow-up appointments are held, and providing family updates and education.”

When suddenly faced with the need for additional care, Karla suggests looking for an opening before starting the conversation with your loved one. It may be helpful to reference an article you recently read or something you saw on the news to break the ice.

For example: “I’m starting to think about estate planning, do you have any advice?” or “I just read an article about gathering all your important papers. Can you show me where yours are and what you’d like us to do just in case?”

“Express love and concern, and most importantly, listen,” said Karla. “Expect resistance and be honest about your expectations and/or limitations. Respect your loved one’s wishes. Make sure they are participating in the conversation as much as possible.

It’s important to center your caregiving plan on the wishes of the person receiving the care.”

Safe and Secure Memory Care Agemark Senior Living is the parent company of CountryHouse residence for Memory Care, which has established three locations in Lincoln. These assisted living communities provide secured memory care in home-like surroundings.

“There are many types of care and sometimes the hardest part is knowing which is needed – skilled, rehab, assisted, in-home chore or companion services, home health, memory support, or even hospice – so a thorough needs assessment is your first step,” said Marcia Houchin, vice president of life enric hment at Agemark. “Once your loved one’s doctor or other care provider has recommended additional care, you can begin looking. In addition to searching online and checking Marcia Houchin reviews, be sure to ask friends and family CountryHouse Residence who have gone through this before.” for Memory Care Marcia also suggested contacting a local consulting company whose sole focus is helping families find the right place for someone who needs more care, or visiting the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ website (dhhs.ne.gov) to view a roster of licensed care facilities. For those that choose an Agemark Senior Living community, Marcia says family can rest assured that their loved one will be highly prioritized.

“Every effort is made to welcome your family to ours, accommodate personal preferences, and help make each day the best it can be through our state-of-the-art life enrichment program,” said Marcia. “Our free transportation service helps residents stay connected to the people and places they love. And because family is so important, we offer educational programs and regular family events as well as Caregiver Connections, a monthly meeting to support those who are caring for a loved one with dementia conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Finally, we offer LifeLoop for families, which keeps them ‘in the loop’ through weekly updates and one-on-one messaging.”

Unplanned Changes are a New Chapter The Waterford Communities encourages any senior who is dealing with unexpected changes to look at it as a new chapter of their life in which the focus is on their health and their connections with friends and family.

“When you move into an assisted living community, you have assistance and amenities offered to you at your convenience,” said Gracia Kremer, Gracia Kremer executive director. “Take advantage of The Waterford Communities

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this! These offerings are there to make your day-to-day routine easier, which in turn also gives you more time during the day to do as you please. This may be improving your health, spending more time with friends or family, or devoting more time to a beloved hobby.”

The Waterford Communities is made up of three smaller communities: Williamsburg Assisted Living, College View Assisted Living, and Wilderness Hills Memory Care. Each community strives to make your loved one’s transition into a senior living community seamless by offering individualized care and working to accommodate special requests in their home-like environment.

“When life changes unexpectedly, it’s difficult – that’s no doubt,” said Gracia. “You can rarely ever change what has happened to you – but you are in control of how you respond.”

Quality Senior living Communities MJ Senior Living is committed to providing the best senior housing service through their communities located in Nebraska, two of which are found right here in Lincoln. Fallbrook Assisted living & Memory Care provides an environment that will relieve the stress your loved one may feel from living alone through great food, friends close by, entertaining things to do, a private apartment to call your own, and a caring staff available whenever needed.

Their assisted living apartments are carefully created for the active senior who prefers the additional security of having assistance nearby if necessary. Fallbrook’s memory care is led by the MJ Signature Memory Care Program, offered in a highly controlled environment specially designed for individuals with dementia. A brain-friendly meal program, Alzheimer’s Lounge, Journey Stations, ongoing educational opportunities for family members, and staff well-trained in all aspects of dementia make Fallbrook’s memory care facility exceptional.

MJ Senior Living’s newest acquisition, pemberly place, offers independent and assisted living as well as memory care; this

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makes the community especially ideal as a resident’s level of care can be adjusted as their needs change. As a new member of the MJ Senior Living family, they are thrilled to be implementing the MJ Senior Living quality of care standards, as well as the MJ Signature Memory Care Program. Right next to providing compassionate care for the seniors residing in their home, Pemberly prioritizes helping families find the best senior community for their loved one. They don’t have a competitive spirit when it comes to helping seniors find the right place for them; rather, they do their best to help them find safety and comfort, as well as ensure they are placed somewhere they are happy and fulfilled during this chapter of life.

In the event of something unexpected, Sumner place Skilled Nursing & rehabilitation will welcome your loved one into their community as though you’re already a part of the family. It is a licensed skilled nursing facility that provides long-term care, short-term rehabilitation services, and memory support. They strive to enrich the lives of their residents through regular activities and daily spiritual services. Their services include their restorative program, therapy programs, specialized and therapeutic diets, morning rounds by their medical director, a beauty and barber shop, and outings in the community when permitted. In addition, Sumner Place offers specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and individualized programs that are designed to reduce feelings of confusion, fear, and agitation and offer meaningful, enjoyable activities that stimulate the mind and body. live Joyfully, Age Gratefully at Tabitha The senior care services at Tabitha can bring reassurance and confidence when a senior loved one falls ill or gets injured. They include results-driven rehabilitation, accessible at-home health care, innovative living communities, and compassionate hospice care. They also offer a new service that supports chronically ill clients in between their doctor visits called Tabitha Care+Plus.

“When facing the need for additional care, start with Tabitha,”

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said Senior Living Advisor Manager Aubrey paulsen. “Once you c hoose Tabitha, our senior care experts work with each client, along with their entire support system, to determine current needs as well as to anticipate how those needs may evolve. They always keep in mind the goal to provide loving, compassionate, and professional care that enhances the safety and well-being of older adults while proactively avoiding the need to make major life and health decisions Aubrey Paulsen during times of crisis. Even if we can’t Tabitha provide the help, we have the resources that can direct you to someone who can.”

Aubrey acknowledged that it can be difficult to have that needed discussion about life changes or challenges, but reminded us that it’s a necessary first step in getting your loved one the care they deserve. Tabitha has experts available to help families through these tough conversations. In addition to this, Aubrey also shared with us Tabitha’s mission as a nonprofit, faith-based organization.

“Our focus is on our purpose to empower people to live joyfully, age gratefully – rather than on margin,” Aubrey said. “More than 50% of those we serve don’t have the financial resources for the care they need and deserve. At Tabitha, no one is ever turned away because of their inability to pay.”

Stay Comfortable and Cared For at Home With a sudden new illness, diagnosis, or accident, Visiting Angels can provide a caregiver for your senior loved one from anywhere between three-hour care to 24-hour care. Life changes can be temporary or long-term; Visiting Angels can help with both. Each of their caregivers has a strong employment history in caring for seniors, along with reliable references from previous clients, agencies, and volunteer agencies. Visiting Angels only delivers well-screened caregivers to provide the family with peace of mind during a new chapter.

“Our staff makes all the difference,” said Client Care Coordinator Julie Day. “We listen to you and evaluate your needs, offering years of experience on what to do next. We don’t just put names in open shifts. We meet as an office to discuss our clients’ needs and which caregiver best fits those needs. Personal preferences in terms of personality and style of caregiving are accommodated. Plus, our follow-up is second to none. If it looks like you need additional services, we are plugged into what Lincoln Julie Day offers and work with many good companies Visiting Angels to meet all your changing needs.”

Julie also emphasized the importance of utilizing the help that is available to you. Many families exhaust themselves as caregivers before they finally reach out for help. By contact Visiting Angels early on in these life changes, families can be relieved of stress and avoid burnout.

“One thing is certain,” Julie explained, “we will all age and will likely need some level of assistance in the future. It could be temporary help such as after a surgery, illness, or a fall, or it may be long-term changes. Visiting Angels exists so that people can stay in their homes. Educate yourself now so when you feel like you need a little extra help, you can be confident in knowing that we can help you.”

Quality Home Health Supplies Is your insurance company limiting your access to quality products? If so, we encourage you to reach out to Triumph Home Health Supplies, inc. They are a catheter, incontinence, enteral, wound, and ostomy provider located in Lincoln covering the Midwest. Nationally, there is a movement to address this issue #printproudDigitalSmart

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Living Family Triumph encourages consumers to stay vigilant with their insurance, as advantage plans are hyper-funding their advertising campaigns to get you to use their product. Be sure to check with • Memory Support your entire medical team to be sure everyone is in network.

• Rehabilitation Services Increasingly, Triumph is seeing insurance companies begin to exclude certain products within certain plans. No one has a crystal • Long Term Care ball and predicting your health is impossible. If an insurance plan excludes catheters, and you are diagnosed with radical Visit Us Today! 1750 South 20th Street, Lincoln prostatectomy, then you are in for an unexpected medical cost.

402.475.6791 | www.sumnerplacecare.com When insurance companies claim low premiums with robust networks, be sure their network meets your needs. Call the providers you already work with. Triumph is always happy to look at a plan and to confirm product coverage. Be proactive versus reactive, and do your homework. A couple of phone calls to your trusted team members can yield massive results when dealing with the National Insurance Industry hard pressing you LegacyRetirement.com for your business! post-injury Health improvements A GREAT PLACE TO A GREAT PLACE TO right Foot Forward Fitness has extensive experience working with senior health and fitness. Their team loves helping seniors lead an active lifestyle or get back their strength after an injury or surgery. Owner Jeff Madsen shared with us a common mistaken belief he sees often in seniors going through rehabilitation, and offered something he wants everyone to keep in mind in the event they go through an unexpected change in the future: “The misconception I see most often after Jeff Madsen SB 1/8 page ad.indd 1 2/14/22 Right Foot Forward Fitness an unplanned life change is the idea that after acute medical care and following therapeutic treatment, things are ‘as good as they’re going to get,’” shared Jeff. “This is seldom the case. Improvements in strength, bone density (in some cases limited to a deceleration of bone mineral density loss), proprioception, balance, and mobility are still available to all of us. We just have to stay focused on appropriate, safe movement patterns.”

Loading exercises, or the cumulative amount of exercise you’re doing over a timespan such as a week, may not be necessary or appropriate to begin with, but can be added in overtime. It may include bands, suspension systems (like TRX), small hand weights, etc. Jeff explained that these exercises can also be scaled to seated exercises, if that’s appropriate.

“My desire would be that, on an individual level, people will appreciate the physical abilities, mental toughness, and adaptation to exercise-induced stress that is available to everyone, regardless of age or physical challenges,” Jeff said.

“This is a passion of mine that has been inspired by the work I’ve done with my own clients.”

A Concierge pharmacy Is your insurance limiting As we age or suffer from sudden injury or illness, we inevitably your product selection? deal with the need for medications, which can become a huge hassle, and fi nding a pharmacy you can count on can be a Call Triumph to help. challenge. That’s why we recommend Nebraska lTC pharmacy.

They strive to offer the “small-town” level of service to help seniors prolong their independence, especially in the event of an unexpected change.

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1:30 PM

LOCATIONS

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may have,” shared New Patient Intake Specialist Hannah Fitzsimmons. “In my position, I meet patients in their homes to answer any questions they may have and help families create a custom care plan for their loved one.”

Nebraska LTC Pharmacy doesn’t keep you waiting – as soon as you are admitted to the pharmacy, they will meet with you either in-store or in-home to create a custom care plan to fit your specific needs.

They want to ensure that quality care Hannah Fitzsimmons continues to be available to you or your Nebraska LTC Pharmacy loved one during a life-changing event.

“We understand change is scary,” said Hannah. “We offer flexibility and availability to accommodate you during a challenging time. A lot of seniors tend to believe that they are doing fine without any additional services. While that may be the case for some, we want to assure those concerned about moving forward that our main goal is to make things easier with additional assistance – not to take any independence away.”

All the Senior living resources in One place While it seems clear to plan ahead in the event something unexpected comes up, we cannot plan for every scenario, and despite our every effort, things happen that care is needed suddenly. When that happens to you, someone you care for, or perhaps a patient of yours, call Oasis Senior Advisors. They can walk you through all of your options, including in-home, independent, assisted, and memory-care communities—and all of their services are free!

“In addition to senior housing, we can connect you with many resources across our community,” Owner Beth Friesen said.

“Some examples include in-home care, skilled nursing, home health, veterans’ benefits, elder law attorneys, and so much more. One call does it all when that call is to Oasis! We do more than just help you find a place for your loved one.

We welcome you into our Oasis family, provide resources, advocate for both you and your loved ones, and provide Beth Friesen a listening ear and shoulder to lean on.

You don’t have to do this alone. We do Oasis Senior Advisors this because it is our calling to serve those around us, and there is never a charge to you or your loved one to use our services.” pre-planning for the Unplanned Once again, there are no words to explain how difficult and sorrowful it can be when a loved one passes unexpectedly.

Planning a funeral when in this position can be overwhelming and stressful. We strongly recommend pre-planning your funeral and cemetery arrangements, and Wyuka Funeral Home is a wonderful choice that will help you and your family prepare for this day and ensure your wishes are fulfilled. By taking advantage of their pre-planning services, an individual can make informed and thoughtful decisions about their funeral. They can choose sentimental things they want included, compare prices, and help their family. Wyuka offers a pre-planning checklist with all the information you need to start the process, and they’ll help walk you through the entire process before a catastrophic event can force the issue. In the event that a loved one suddenly passes before arrangements are made, Wyuka will still be there to help you get through the tragic time, explaining and guiding you through each step of the process. They also have available an extensive list of grief resources and outreach that can be provided upon request.

We recommend reaching out to these local businesses to help you get through unplanned changes and adjust to the next chapter of life. #printproudDigitalSmart

Our bi-annual Women-Owned Businesses feature gives us the wonderful opportunity to highlight female leaders in our community and inspire other women with entrepreneurial ambitions. As a women-owned and run business ourselves, there is a certain pride we take in seeing so many other women leaders emerging in Lincoln. 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, it’s our great pleasure to put this Women-Owned Businesses feature together. If you would like to be in the next feature in October 2022, please let the Strictly Business team know!

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 themselves and their business or organization by sharing a little bit of their stories with our readers.

Please join us in celebrating the following women-owned businesses in Lincoln. Read their stories, support their work, and do business with them. Who knows, one of them might even become your future mentor!

Marci Hanshaw made her dream a reality in June of 2008 when the sign lit up for Carmela’s Bistro & Wine Bar in the quiet little area of Pioneers Woods Shopping Center, located on 70th and Pioneers.

“I was a very young entrepreneur back then at the age of 28,” said Marci. “In a sense, Carmela’s and I grew up together.”

Marci’s vision was to bring an elegant bistro with extraordinary food and wine to Lincoln. She was excited and nervous to join the ranks of all the other amazing restaurants in town, which were predominately led by men at the time.

“I was aware that restaurant industry was a strongly male-dominated space,” said Marci. “I was prepared to roll up my sleeves and do what I needed to do in order to be successful. Carmela’s was well received by Lincolnites, and we are still going strong after 14 years!”

Carmela’s Bistro & Wine Bar features date nights on Monday and Tuesday evenings, which includes a three-course meal for two and a bottle of wine for only $50! There are also Wine Down Wednesdays and First Thursday Wine Tasting events. Another highlight is the Chef Created Brunch Menu every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To view the full menu and hours, visit www. carmelasbistroandwinebar.com or call (402) 489-0005. #printproudDigitalSmart

Far mers Union Midwest Agency provides insurance protection to individuals and business of all sizes across the Midwest. They strive to build better communities by protecting where you work, where you live, what you own, and the ones you love. It is their individual and organizational goal to provide quality products and the highest level of customer service to not just meet their customer’s expectations, but to exceed them!

Jennifer larabee joined Farmer’s Union Midwest Agency in August of 2018. Her insurance career originally started in 2005 at Assurity Life Insurance where she worked in multiple positions for 12 years and then with State Farm for nearly two years. When she was given the opportunity to start an agency at Farmer’s Union Midwest Agency, she knew this was the right fit.

“I have always been passionate about insurance,” said Jennifer.

“I enjoy helping people find the best coverage that fits their needs and I want to be there for my clients by helping them understand their insurance benefits.”

Whether you need help with your individual life or health related needs or need assistance with your employee group benefits, Jennifer is happy to help! She can be reached at (402) 560-0047 / jennifer@fumafinancial.com or visit www. fumafinancial.com to learn more.

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Jackie Svoboda owns luxury landscape along with her husband Ken. Under Jackie’s leadership, she has not only made Luxury Landscape a trusted landscaping company in Lincoln, but also an amazing place to work. She goes the extra mile to make sure each member of the crew feels valued, heard, and appreciated. Her funny, interactive marketing schemes and team-building efforts create a positive environment for both employees and customers.

Jackie left a 26-year career in physical therapy because she couldn’t deny her passion for owning her own company one day. Growing up as the youngest of seven siblings, Jackie has pretty thick skin...and she definitely isn’t afraid of getting dirty! has FONT two grown INKShe FREE daughters of her own, and she gained two more children when she married Ken. Family is very important to Jackie, which is why she has made it a top value within her company as well. For fun, she enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

Luxury Landscape is a full-ser vice landscaping company backed by almost 50 years of experience. To learn more, visit www.luxurylandscape-llc.com.

Ka r a l y n H o e f e r , Tamera Toof, and Kalyssa Duncan are the dynamic trio that make up the Integrity Group of kwELITE. “Connect, Collaborate, and Communicate!” These three powerhouses decided to do just that and joined forces to put their experience and expertise to good use. Together, they own integrity Group, a small boutique real estate team within the brokerage of kwEliTE. Real estate is constantly changing and today’s competitive market reinforces the need for a strong advocate by your side, whether buying or selling. Integrity Group’s winning combination of negotiating experience, effective marketing strategies, and expert knowledge of the real estate market make them one of the top teams in Lincoln and Southeast Nebraska.

Karalyn, Tamera, and Kalyssa work very closely with their clients and pride themselves on the relationships they’ve created and the trust that they’ve built. They specialize in listening to their clients and cultivating a plan to achieve their clients’ goals. Each of these women are dedicated to helping their clients through all phases of life, and their TEAM approach means that there is ALWAYS someone to help you! Whether it’s buying your first home, upgrading, downsizing, or investing, Integrity Group has the experience, education, and expertise to smoothly guide you through the process.

If you are thinking about buying or selling real estate, Integrity Group of kwELITE looks forward to helping you! Call Tamera at (402) 450-8882 to sc hedule a consultation today! Visit Tamera Toof, Karalyn Hoefer, www.IntegrityGroupLincoln. and Kalyssa Duncan com to learn more.

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Shannon SchultzHammerschmidt is the owner and founder of Nebraska lTC pharmacy. Shannon has spent her entire life in Nebraska and has worked in many different pharmacy settings before settling into her passion here at Nebraska LTC Pharmacy.

“Here at Nebraska LTC Pharmacy, everything is about YOU,” said Shannon. “We are a locally owned ‘concierge’ pharmacy that specializes in compliance and adherence as well as simplifying the medication process from start to finish. Our attention to every little detail decreases hospitalizations while prolonging our patients’ independence by keeping them at home. We offer a free in home consultation, free blister packaging of medications, and free delivery. We accept all insurance plans, so what is not to love about our program!”

Nebraska LTC Pharmacy is off to a great start this year as they approach their 10-year anniversary this spring! There is no better time to join the Nebraska LTC Pharmacy family than now. Learn more online at www.neltcpharmacy.com or call the Lincoln office at (402) 328-0231.

“Life is uncertain, eat dessert first.”– Ernestine Ulmer.

Jaddin reyes is the owner/ operator of Sweets By J. Sweets

By J specializes in gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries and more delicious sweet treats. Jaddin started making chocolate-covered strawberries for friends on holidays and birthdays just as a sweet gesture.

“I made my friend Ari a large letter-A-shaped box filled with chocolate-covered strawberries for her 20th birthday,” said Jaddin. “From there, I would get strangers asking me if I could make chocolate-covered treats for them.”

Jaddin did a couple of dozen letter boxes before supporters encouraged her to start an official business. Sweets By J was established on January 20, 2021.

“I never expected to be a business owner at 20 years old,” said Jaddin. “When I graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 2019, I wanted to be a physical therapist assistant. Life always has a different plan for you. I’ve been living on my own since I was 17.

Having to start ‘adulting’ was a rude awakening. When life hits you, you grab your umbrella and get ready to walk in the rain. That’s what I did. I made something out of nothing. The best thing about owning a business isn’t the money or being your own boss. The best part is at pick up when the customer sees their beautiful treats. The big smile and mini ‘eek’ is what makes it all so worth it!”

Jaddin has taken this opportunity in life to help other small businesses grow.

Once a month, Sweets By J hosts a small business meeting. This is a chance for entrepreneurs to uplift other entrepreneurs and help each other grow and succeed!

To learn more about Sweets By J, visit the Facebook page (@sweetsbyJ402) or email sweetsbyj402@gmail.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

Lincoln native Heather Galloway is a licensed public adjuster, and her company is Claim Advocate llC. Public adjusting is not a widely known service but it should be a part of every property owner’s vocabulary.

Whether you own a small business, farm, rental property, commercial building, or a home, a public adjuster acts as your voice in case your property endures insurable damage and will work to maximize your claim settlement to bring your property back to pre-damage condition.

Heather is an independent contractor for one of the largest public adjusting companies in the U.S., Metro public Adjustment, inc. She has two bachelor’s degrees—animal science from UNL and environmental sciences from Oregon State University. Fun fact: Heather is a certified PADI Scuba Diving Instructor!

If you would like a policy review to discuss your coverage, get a free home inspection, write a claim, or reopen a claim that has been underpaid or denied, call Heather at (402) 623-0900 or email hgalloway. metropa@gmail.com. You can also learn more at www.ClaimAdvocatellc.com.

Christine Dwinell and Karina DeBoer met 20 years ago when they both felt impassioned to raise awareness about autism and worked together on the first autism walk in Nebraska. They remained friends over the years, working in different industries, Karina in construction equipment management and high-level customer service and Christine in marketing.

Christine began working as a business broker two years ago. She recognized a real need in the Southeast Nebraska market for business brokers to help people sell their businesses in complete confidentiality, so she collaborated with Karina to purchase Transworld Business Advisors of lincoln and Southeast Nebraska on December 10, 2021.

Transworld is a global company that focuses on helping buyers and sellers of businesses realize the American dream. Either to own their own business or sell their business and retire to live the good life!

When a business owner wants to sell their business, they need to keep it completely confidential in order to retain employees and continue doing what they do best...run their business.

With a world-wide network of over 600 brokers, Transworld has the ability to find buyers from all over the globe. In addition, they can create a franchise out of your unique business or find a desirable franchise to buy.

Christine and Karina set out to fill a void in Southeast Nebraska and help business owners with an often very difficult task, requiring discretion, empathy, diligence, and knowledge of the market. Transworld has provided vigorous training. As pictured, Chris and Karina completed the two full weeks of coaching and collaboration at the corporate office in West Palm Beach.

If you are interested in buying or selling a business, creating or purchasing a franchise, or just want to know more about being a business broker, give Christine and Karina a call at (402) 413Christine Dwinell and 1095 or visit www.tworld.com/lincoln!

Karina DeBoer #printproudDigitalSmart

John Henry’s plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning has been in business for over 25 years. One of their owners, lindsey reinke, has been working at John Henry’s for 20 years in different areas to fully understand how the business runs.

“Owning a company in a predominantly male industry encourages me to grow it with the same family values that were instilled in me from day one of John Henry’s,” said Lindsey. “Our slogan is “Our Family Serving Yours”, because that is what we want you to feel every time you call us!”

Learn more about the John Henry’s family at JHLincoln.com! You can also reach Lindsey at (402) 435-5555 or LReinke@jhlincoln.com Jilly’s Socks n’ Such a local novelty sock shop in Lincoln. It has been owned and run by women all of its fi ve years of business. lori Goff, owner and retired LPS teacher, opened Jilly’s with one of her former students with the goal of sharing her love of silly socks and giving Lincoln a uniquely different gift boutique. Jilly’s currently employs three former teachers and two former students all from Lincoln Southeast High School.

“We are so grateful to our community for supporting our local business and giving us the opportunity to lift up so many women through our business,” said Lori.

“Whether it be the women we employ or the organizations we work with, we are blessed to impact women around us. Like we always say, ‘Let your socks do the talking!’”

Jilly’s Socks ‘n Such is located at 3900 Old Cheney Rd. To learn more, visit jillyssocks. com or call the store at (402) 261-8308.

Shannon Filing started her f i r s t c o m p a n y, Transfor ma tion Marketing, nearly two decades ago. During that time, she met many great people, worked with a LOT of amazing companies, and even built a few additional companies of her own! Shannon’s success was made easier with the help of business coaches.

“I hired a business coach in order to take my business to the next level and sustain my family of four,” said Shannon. “I knew I wanted to shorten the learning curve and skip some costly and painful lessons.”

Today, Shannon is pleased to have the opportunity to coach, train, and lead others through ActionCOACH lincoln. She is certified in leadership, speaking, and coaching. Her passion is utilizing her skills and experience to help business owners improve their time, their team, and build predictable cash flow.

To learn more, visit www.actioncoachlincoln. com or let Shannon know how she can help you by contacting her at (402) 314-2181 / shannonfiling@actioncoach.com.

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Dr. Sarah rainey, DPT, Cert DN is the owner of invigorating Motion physical Therapy, llC. She founded the business in 2020.

Dr. Rainey has certifications in dry needling, SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment), FMS (Functional Movement Screen), the Y Balance Test, FCS (Fundamental Capacity Screen), and TPI (Titliest Performance Institute).

Sarah has been working as a physical therapist for 13 years. She played sports in high school and college which is what got her interested in PT to begin with. She decided to open her own practice after seeing so many changes in the health care system and it not being set up to PREVENT injuries, dysfunction, and disease. So many patients don’t even come to see therapists until they are already injured or have been dealing with pain for years. Sarah wanted to be part of the change. While Sarah truly enjoys working with clients after surgery, falls, or injury, she would love to reach these people before they have these deficits.

For her fitness clients, she utilizes Move2Perform, which is a movement measurement and analysis tool that identifies deficits and risk of injury.

Move2Perform has been studied with overwhelmingly positive results and has been adopted by the U.S. military and professional sports teams internationally. To learn more, visit www.invigoratingmotionpt. com or contact Sarah at (402) 817-2455 / contact@invigoratingmotionpt.com.

The APRNs at Health at Home Consultants provide care for patients in their home, not a clinic. Founded by Jamie peters MSN, APRN in 2009, Health at Home Consultants was the first nurse-practitioner owned house-call practice in the state of Nebraska. Patients all have a different definition of home: private homes, independent and assisted living, hospice, skilled, and long-term care. The Health at Home team works with the patient wherever they call home! They work with the patients’ primary care physician to provide a more comprehensive plan of care for the patient. The practice has a wide scope of care, including performing and interpreting diagnostic tests such as lab work and x-rays, flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, and all other injections; diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, and injuries; prescribe medications and other treatments; as well as mental health needs.

Individuals best served by house calls are the elderly, chronically ill, people with disabilities, and psychiatric conditions. Jamie and her team at Health at Home Consultants provide compassionate, coordinated, and cost-effective care. Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance are all accepted.

Jamie is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Academy of Home Care Physicians, and the Nebraska Nurse Practitioners. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and traveling.

The goal of Health at Home Consultants, LLC is to provide home care medicine in one of the most rapidly expanding areas of healthcare.

To learn more, visit healthathomeconsultants. com or contact Jamie at (402) 875-2500 / jpeters@healthathomeconsultants.com.

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Tammy Adcock, owner of Adcock Coaching, has personally been in a high-conflict divorce and custody case for over a decade. While in her own battle, she realized how much information was not made available to an individual unless they had an attorney and knew what questions to ask. Tammy obtained her master’s degree in management from Doane University.

During her high-conflict case, she became very involved in volunteering her time to all fundraisers involving the local domestic abuse shelter.

“My passion to help women and their children continued to grow,” said Tammy. “This is why I decided to take the only high-conflict certification program offered and start my own coaching business.

This work gives me the best feeling in the world—I love what I do.”

What makes Adcock Coaching unique is the wealth of personal knowledge Tammy brings from her background in a correctional facility.

It has given her insight into the vast amount of families that are affected by domestic abuse.

Together, with her personal and educational background and work experience, Tammy makes Lincoln a better place for women and families through her coaching services.

To learn more, visit www.adcockcoaching. com or email adcockcoaching@gmail.com.

Ashley Tobias created T Square Movers in 2016. She shared the idea of a moving company with her husband, who had previously been in the industry. They took the things they liked and didn’t like from other companies to create what they believe to be an ethically sound service.

“One night, we were in bed scrolling through social media and saw a lady who was desperate for help getting a new couch into her apartment,” said Ashley. “The company she bought it from wouldn’t bring it inside and no other moving company would agree to help. I reached out and told her if she gave us a chance, we would agree to only charge her if we completed the job successfully. Once we got on-site, she was recording the entire move and it went viral within hours. By the next day, we had dozens of people asking us to help them! I’m forever grateful for that first customer.”

“I still remember how scared we were in the beginning,” Ashley added.

“That fear drove us to hustle harder and ultimately drove our success.”

Ashley was born and raised in Springfield, IL. She and her husband, three children, and two dogs have called Lincoln home for eight years now. Ashley has an associate’s degree in graphic design and a bachelor’s degree in business psychology.

Prior to owning T Square, she was in human resources for about 13 years.

T Square Movers is unique because they help those who couldn’t normally afford professional services. Their target audience is middle-class folks who really enjoy saving 35-40% using T Square’s services, while still getting professionally trained and vetted staff. To learn more, visit tsquaremovers. com or contact Ashley at (217) 720-2763 / contact@tsquaremovers.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

Laurie Fraser leads her businesses with an “aggressive” mindset. She is also a servant leader. This was evident as the pandemic hit. She and her Doorstep Diner Catering Co-owner Chef Jeff and business partner Chad Klein went off the payroll to try to save the staff. Even though this was an incredibly hard time, Laurie remained headstrong.

She utilized social media and continued to reach out to potential clients that had any hint of a food or catering need. She wrote thank-you cards to anyone that spent money with them—hundreds and hundreds of cards, even if someone only spent a few dollars! Laurie had also bought Country Sliced Ham in March 2020, right as everything was shutting down. It was a good and bad thing. No one could dine in at the cafe, but Country Sliced Ham at 70th and O Streets sells a lot of retail food and is known for spiral-cut hams. Laurie owns The Event Space at 5550. She is thrilled to be hosting more events at this intimate event space in southeast Lincoln again as the world returns to normal.

Laurie’s spirit, resilience, and entrepreneurial heart are what get her up each and every day. You can connect with Laurie by calling (866) 505-2456. Learn more about her businesses online at www.doorstepdiner. com / www.countryslicedhamandcafe.com / www.eventspaceat5550.com.

Megan Leikam took over ownership and the executive director role at Associates in Counseling & Treatment in January 2020.

Megan has her provisional alcohol and drug license, provisional certified gambling license, and is certified as a domestic violence counselor. Alongside her duties as executive director, she serves the Lincoln community by conducting substance abuse evaluations, facilitating group, individual and family counseling sessions, and strives to resolve the mental health and substance use issues that affect our community in a caring, compassionate, and confidential manner. She believes that good mental health is essential for the well-being of individuals of all ages.

“Modern life can provide a variety of stresses that can have a negative impact on people. Problems can arise at any stage and our therapists can assist with helping you and your family with mental health and substance abuse,” said Megan.

Megan has worked hard to maintain much needed services in the Lincoln community and hopes that every individual that struggles with addiction, mental health, or domestic violence issues has an opportunity to get the help they need to recovery. To learn more about Associates In Counseling & Treatment, go online to actnebraska.org or contact (402) 261-6667 / information@actnebraska.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Oak Electric, your local premium contractor, is 100% owned and operated by Crystal Collins.

Did you know that less than 10% of electrical contractors nationally are owned by women (according to NECA)? As the leader of Oak Electric, Crystal has intentional focus on her team to ensure everyone has what they need to be successful. This includes anything from a new tool in the field to skills and safety training to administrative support.

What sets Oak Electric apart from other contractors is not only the belief, but the initiative, that if you take care of your employees, the employees will take care of your business.

“Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.” – Richard Branson.

Oak’s team of experienced electricians not only care about precision and craftsmanship, but value the real relationships that come with working with their customers.

Oak Electric prides itself on delivering quality customer service on every single job and finding the best solution by tackling every problem with creativity and experience.

Electricity, done right, guaranteed! Learn more online at oakelectriccompany.com or call (402) 440-5969.

When Michelle O’Dea founded Domesti-PUPS 22 years ago, she created a ripple that would end up touching the lives of many. In some cases, saving lives. Domesti-PUPS trains and provides service dogs for a variety of disabilities, including balance disorders, wheelchair/ mobility assistance, seizure response, and diabetic alert. This means that people with these disabilities get to experience the independence they deserve! They also experience improved self-esteem and psychological well-being. To make these service dogs available and affordable for these people is such a beautiful mission. Domesti-PUPS also offers therapy dog programs. From placing therapy dogs in the classroom to enhance the learning environment to taking them into nursing homes and hospitals to bring much-needed joy, these programs have a tremendous impact.

Michelle has had a passion for dogs since childhood. She saw the need for an animal’s assistance organization, and she hasn’t looked back.

Dealing with a disability herself, and even having to use a wheelchair and a service dog for a period of her life, has given Michelle an even deeper love for the work she gets to do through Domesti-PUPS. Being the humble and sweet soul she is, you’ll never hear Michelle brag, but what started as a local nonprofit is now a nationally-known organization that deserves all the praise it gets. There are many individuals and families across the country that can attest to this.

To connect with the loving and dynamic Michelle O’Dea, email info@domesti-pups. org. To learn more about Domesti-PUPS, visit www.domesti-pups.org.

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Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach was founded in 1992 by women who saw an unmet need and began serving meals on Saturday nights to people experiencing homelessness and addiction. Since that first meal was served, over 2.4 million meals have been provided.

Susanne Blue was hired as the first executive director in 1999 and has worked tirelessly to develop outreac h and prevention programs that go beyond hunger relief to comprehensively address the needs of the homeless and near homeless. Today Matt Talbot is a permanent fixture of Lincoln’s safety net with volunteers providing two meals a day and professional staff offering a wide range of services to prevent and alleviate homelessness.

“Our founders were strong faithfilled women who laid a foundation of compassion and hospitality,” said Susanne Blue. “Because of their vision, Matt Talbot is a beacon of hope and safety for our guests.”

Matt Talbot is celebrating 30 years of service to the community. Learn more at mtko.org.

Emmy Gorman is the owner of Blush Bridal Boutique in Lincoln.

Alongside being a business owner, Emmy is also a mother, a wife, and a pro-women powerhouse. She opened the doors of Blush in 2012 and has since changed the lives of thousands of women by providing them an unparalleled shopping experience.

This year, Blush Bridal will celebrate 10 years in business with many exciting ventures on the horizon.

Emmy has 11 employees at her boutique, all of whom are women. She leads the team as not just a boss, but also as a mentor and guide through the world of bridal and business. She provides her staff with in-depth hands-on training to make sure every bride gets the best care possible.

The wedding dress shopping experience is unlike any other, and when asked why she wanted to start Blush, Emmy said, “This boutique has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, and its flame was fanned in 2006 when my own wedding dress shopping experience fell flat.”

Due to her own lackluster search for her wedding gown, Emmy wants to make sure every single bride leaves Blush with not only their dream dress, but also memories to last a lifetime.

In the summer of 2021, Emmy launched Blush Bridal Boutique’s own private collection of gowns, Sweet Nothings. Sweet Nothings is exclusive to Blush, and designed/hand-picked by Emmy and the staff. This will allow brides to find a gown that is truly unique to them!

In the spring of 2022, Emmy will be opening the doors to the sister store of Blush. Refined Bridal Co will be nestled in the heart of downtown Hickman and will allow Emmy and her team to impact more brides than ever.

Emmy and her employees pride themselves on the care they show their brides. With thousands of positive reviews online, dozens of awards, and thousands of brides served, it is no question that Emmy and her team define women empowerment. They showcase what women in business can do. Emmy can be reached at (402) 261-5615 or emmy@ blushbridalne.com. Learn more at www. blushbridalne.com.

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Arrive Coworking + Community is a woman-focused coworking space in South Lincoln. Its mission is to empower entrepreneurs in Lincoln to start and grow their business. Arrive offers flexible space to work: either dropping in to work like a coffee shop, having your own dedicated desk, or having a private office all to yourself.

In addition to affordable space to work or hold a meeting, Arrive offers a support system. It provides access to business resources, educational workshops, and networking. Arrive is a refuge for women to come together and connect with one another.

Arrive Coworking is owned by Jenna Vitosh. Jenna has been a financial advisor with Edward Jones since 2011, where her focus is serving mature, successful women as they prepare for and enjoy retirement. She also currently serves as vice president for the Girls Code Lincoln board of directors.

In 2019, Jenna’s passion for serving women in Lincoln blossomed into a business when she opened the doors to Arrive Coworking + Community. Arrive is more than just a coworking space, it is a community focused on helping women entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. To learn more, visit www. arrivecoworking.com or contact Jenna at jenna@arrivecoworking.com.

Jenn Daum is a modern woman with a warrior’s spirit. She pushes forward even if obstacles seem insurmountable. She creates the life she’s always wanted instead of waiting for it to manifest itself for her.

Butterfly Bakery is an artisan, fromscratch bakery that specializes in custom desserts and pastries. If you can dream it, they can make it for you! Butterfly Bakery strives to make the best quality product with a distinct artistic touch. Their passion to create shows in every edible piece of art to enjoy.

“I had always wanted to own and run my own business but wasn’t sure how I would make that dream a reality,” said Jenn. “A bachelor’s in psychology and experience in social work doesn’t typically lead to owning a business. My wife Katie Dunn had worked at Butterfly Bakery since 2016, and I joined in a sales and administrative role in November of 2020. The owner at that time lived out of state and had left all the business operations to myself and my wife. After much deliberation, we decided in 2021 that we would pursue purchasing the Bakery and make it our own.”

Jenn has created an environment that is a safe space to work and for the community to gather. The first thing you see when you walk into the bakery is a banner that reads, “Love is Love”. When you enter, you are welcome and you are valued. Learn more about Butterfly Bakery at www.butterflybakeryne.com. #printproudDigitalSmart

Pa s s i o n a t e , p u r p o s e , a n d perseverance. Those are the three factors that Alyssa Herold believes are required to build a successful woman-owned business. As a multibusiness owner, she understands the grit required to overcome business challenges. Alyssa’s education and experience have allowed her to build the skills, knowledge, and self assurance to build a strong business, while encouraging others to do the same.

In March of 2020, Alyssa took her hobby and founded Hallie Jean Co. photography where she specializes in wedding, portrait, and lifestyle photography—as well as product, commercial work, brandwork, and her next venture, real estate. Alyssa chose the business name Hallie Jean by combining two leading ladies in her life, both of her grandmothers.

In June of 2021, Alyssa opened a brick and mortar called Cedar + Sage Studio. She turned a 1920s historic building into a photography studio and rental space for private events, in hopes of becoming a landmark amongst the community.

“Never be afraid to take risks and fail, over and over,” said Alyssa. “Find your inner confidence and remain committed to your growth. The risk is the reward.”

Learn more about Alyssa’s businesses and stay in touch at www.halliejeanco.photography and www.cedarandsagestudio.com.

Jenny Moraga is the owner/operator of laborMax Staffing Nebraska. With 12 years in the industry and five years of ownership in the Nebraska area, Jenny and her husband Donnie have developed four locations and are continuing to expand. “Changing people’s lives is what we do, putting them back to work is how we do it”. This is the motto LaborMax Staffing lives by every day.

“Balancing business ownership, family, team development, expansion, and working with business and people to create the right match is a passion,” said Jenny. “It is so fulfilling to help an employee find the right job for them as well as helping clients to find the right person and keep their business going.”

LaborMax Staffing has entered into the toughest employee market in history and still has success with matching employees and clients.

“You have to love this industry to do what we do every day!” said Jenny.

To learn more about LaborMax Staffing Nebraska, visit www.labormax.net or contact Jenny at (402) 805-4720 / (402) 614-2929 / jenny.moraga@ labormaxstaffing.com.

Fr ancene Blythe-lewis (Diné, Sisseton-Wahpeton, Eastern Band Cherokee) is the executive director for Vision Maker Media. Francene specializes in cultural education, cultural arts programming, and executive management in the arts by building sustainable grant programs, curating cultural art programming, creating philanthropic partnerships, and advocating for cultural voices in the arts and media. Her passion to inspire others with knowledge and discovery has helped expand learning and understanding of Native peoples worldwide.

With 20 years’ experience in media making and the arts, Francene recently led programmatic strategic planning and developed grant making opportunities as the director of programs at the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, located in the Pacific Northwest. There, she fostered and implemented successful grant programs for individual artists, community artist mentorships, and community projects that centered on social issues and partnerships in and around Native communities.

Prior to this, Francene also served eight years as the Director of the All Roads Film Project at the National Geographic Society. She steered this international program into an award-winning portfolio of grants that funded meaningful stories in fi lm and photo-journalism. These stories were created and produced by Indigenous and minority-culture artists from communities around the world. To learn more about Vision Maker Media or connect with Francene, please visit visionmakermedia. org or call (402) 472-3522. #printproudDigitalSmart

Life and Business Coac h Cour tney l o c k r i d g e , ow n e r o f Cour tney lockridge personal Coaching, is an entrepreneur and c heerleader at heart.

She is on a mission to help her clients do life beautifully, one intentional decision at a time.

After launching her company, NebraskaWeddingDay, in 2002, Courtney quickly became aware of her desire to help people succeed. Having built and sold the company for profit after 10 years, she maintained her love for helping others find their passion and live a deeply satisfying life. With experience in direct sales, advertising, speaking, and personal development she discovered her love for coaching and now owns a private coaching practice.

Courtney desires to help multi-passionate, big-hearted women take the next right step so they can reach their goals and be present in the moments that matter most.

Certified through Crosspoint Ministries as an Enneagram instructor, she currently offers an insightful, entertaining, and interactive half-day workshop for leaders and teams to best understand, communicate, and respect differences in order to work better together.

“Courtney helped me align my work with what mattered most in a way that honored both my family and my profession,” said Chelsea Cousins, messaging strategist and copywriter, in a testimonial for Courtney. “ She has the rare ability to draw out what I needed to understand (and do) to reach my goals.”

To get in touch or learn more about Courtney Lockridge Personal Coaching, visit www.courtneylockridge.com or email hello@courtneylockridge.com.

April 2022 Strictly Business 79

TRAVEL STORY

DESTINATION KEYST NE COLORADO F

rom outdoor adventures to fun restaurants and bars, Colorado is the perfect getaway. For this trip, we spent most of our time in the Keystone, Colorado area.

Keystone is our favorite place to go to hit the slopes. Since there were seven of us with all our snowboards and luggage, we had two options: drive separately or rent a van. If you’re anything like us, you know that part of the fun is road-tripping together, so we didn’t want to split up. Luckily, RENT A VAN in Lincoln has an impressive fleet of vans that can get you where you’re going for a reasonable price. We rented their 12-seat van, but they also have 8, 10, and 15 seaters for these kinds of trips.

If you’re going to a resort in Colorado to ski or snowboard, we highly recommend staying near the base. It will make your life a whole lot easier. Plus, then you get to be close to all the shops and restaurants at the resort! At Keystone Resort, River Run Village is the main base area with awesome amenities and mountain access. What makes Keystone so attractive is that it caters to all experience levels. In total, Keystone consists of three mountains – Dercum Mountain, North Peak, the Outback – and five bowls. You'll find runs of all difficulties. There are a couple of areas strictly dedicated to beginners. Keystone has also manufactured a worthy terrain park with its own lift so you can keep challenging yourself to hit jumps, rails, half pipes, and more. What sets Keystone apart the most is its night skiing on weekends and holidays. You can keep the adventure going until 8 p.m. on the runs that stay lit up on the front side of Dercum.

If you make it to the top of the Outback, brace yourself for the most stunning view. It’ll make your whole trip worth it.

After wearing ourselves out on the slopes, we answered the call of the Cottonwood Hot Springs, located in the highmountain ecosystem of Collegiate Peaks Range. You’ll want to spend at least a couple of hours here. There are five separate, gravity-fed hot water pools that make up this oasis, plus a bonus bath for the brave. Each of the five geothermal pools is slightly cooler or hotter than the next. Don't just head straight to the hottest one and stay there! Get the full experience by going from the lowest waters to the highest, and then repeat the process. This is a practice known as contrast hydrotherapy, which involves alternating hot and cold water treatment. You can really do this by going down to the river where the waters are freezing. A couple of us did this not once but twice! It awoke all our senses and left our bodies feeling rejuvenated. Cottonwood Hot Springs is truly a place of serenity and healing.

The final highlight of the trip was our time spent dining and dancing at GOAT Soup & Whiskey! The menu has a wide variety of delicious burgers, sandwiches, wraps, wings, and more. However, as the name suggests, the soups are truly what put the GOAT at the next level. Two items that stood out the most for all of us were the Broccoli Cheddar Soup and the Bacon & Bleu Burger. Also, Paige still can't stop thinking about the Chicken Noodle Soup! We recommend the Sweet Chili Wings as well. What made everything so good was knowing that it was all freshly made by the GOAT’s awesome chef, Sean Woods. Sean has a lot of experience in the kitchen, and he’s been perfecting the ingredients at the GOAT

Chef Sean Woods and Manager Derek Jackson, GOAT Soup & Whiskey

for about eight years. He was nice enough to come to our table to make sure everything tasted great, which it did. The manager, Derek Jackson, was also very hospitable to our group.

The GOAT is also a great place to grab a drink and live it up for the night. They have a great selection of local whiskeys and brews. On weekends, the GOAT brings in live music and they have a dance floor so you can bust a move. Check it out for yourself next time you're in Keystone!

For the extended version of this story and to view more photos from this trip, visit the travel section of strictly-business.com

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Strictly Business April 2022

#printproudDigitalSmart

Employing Lincoln MAY 2022 Issue

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

In the May 2022 issue of Strictly Business, we will run our quarterly “Employing Lincoln” feature to highlight great places to work in Lincoln.

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 10,000 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

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