Strictly Business Lincoln November 2017

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LINCOLN • NOVEMBER 2017

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NICK M. VUKO VICE PRESIDENT

• EOY BUSINESS SPENDING • LOOK OF SUCCESS • MEMORY CARE • HOLIDAY CHEER CLIENT SPOTLIGHTS • CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, NEBRASKA • WEST GATE BANK®

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Talon Room JMISKO Surgical Design MD NOVEMBER 2017 Strictly Business

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FOCUSING ON YOUR BRAND

PAIGE ZUTAVERN - President 402-730-0096 | Paige@StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com

Great Brands That Compete On Value: Tell Their Story Even in the diverse landscape of today’s marketplaces, it’s all too common you’ll find them to be saturated with competition. If there’s a product or service people need, you can guarantee there’s more than one provider that can be found locally. Even for something that isn’t a necessity, if there’s demand, there’s competition. So how does one business set itself apart from all of the others? Well, the most concise answer to that is – you guessed it – branding. Effectively, that is.

As defined in BusinessDictionary, branding is “The process involved in creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumers’ mind, mainly through advertising campaigns with a consistent theme. Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the market that attracts and retains loyal customers.”

Your brand messaging is what motivates, persuades, compels, inspires, encourages, influences – all synonymous with the impetus for one taking action, which is the ultimate goal. All you need to do is give the people you hope to do business with one reason to select you that resonates with them (but the more, the better). In order for that reason to be fully evident to your target audience, though, you must first take action yourself and purposefully define your brand.

There’s a lot of effort that goes into building a great brand.

From establishing it in the first place to diligently adding layers of complexity as you go along, it is something that needs to be delivered so it can be digested. If a brand has achieved widespread recognition, a significant amount of time and money has been devoted to the process of building it. It’s been carefully shaped, consciously developed, and there’s a consistent storyline.

Branding is all in the details, and your success in doing so is reliant on authenticity and the ability to tell a captivating story. Each business has one, and it’s unique from all the rest. This uniqueness

CONTENTS NEWS 4 Business 30 Personnel

38 Non-Profit 49 Health

SPOTLIGHTS 22 54 56 61

Star City Six Client Spotlight: Concordia University, Nebraska Client Spotlight: West Gate Bank® Hotel Exposé: Graduate Lincoln

FEATURE STORIES

58 62 66 72 4

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“Your brand messaging is what motivates, persuades, compels, inspires, Every month in encourages, influences – all synonymous with the impetus for one taking Strictly Business action, which is the ultimate goal.” you’ll find the is precisely what defines a brand.

Client Spotlight feature, which focuses on local businesses quite literally telling their story. Sometimes it’s an overview of the key points such as history, prominent figures, special achievements, tough challenges overcome, community involvement, a snapshot of what’s happening in that particular business/industry and projections of what’s to come, and so on. Other times it’s specific to a major project completed, milestone reached, or event held. The composition of this piece is such that there is a story told through the deliberate combination of words and images; it attracts attention and keeps it, just like any good story, and there are plenty of good ones to be told right here in our local marketplace.

Consider why we tell stories, something that dates back to the earliest of our human ancestors. We do it to connect and to share our experiences with others. With each story we build upon our knowledge base, which is full of connections that we associate with the world around us, recalling and applying when needed. The good ones draw us in and make a lasting impression, and they also lead us toward making our own conclusions. We interpret them as they apply to us, finding the value in it for ourselves – the takeaway. A great brand strategy utilizes storytelling in the exact same way.

In closing, there is one distinction to make between branding and value. It’s not the brand that makes your business valuable – it’s your reputation and unique characteristics that make you amazing.

Your brand is just a way of showing others those things. Sharing your story is a powerful means to that end.

To learn more about how Strictly Business can help you, contact me directly at (402) 466-3330 or visit strictly-business.com/connect. (You can also click on our Staff Letter tab online to view past articles)

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ABOUT THE COVER

Together,

Walker Tire and Quick Nick’s are second to none!

Walker Tire & Auto Service has proudly served the Lincoln community since 1951, a testament to the family owned and operated business’s commitment to caring for customers with superior service, knowledge, and products. Over time the company has grown to its current four locations, three in Lincoln and one in Wahoo, NE, and with the addition of Quick Nick’s, which is coming up on its 15th anniversary in 2018!

What you can expect at Walker Tire & Quick Nick’s is consistent, quality, trustworthy service. It’s been that way ever since the first customer walked in the door, and it will always be that way. Their approach is direct and informative, providing recommendations that are explained in detail, oftentimes shown to customers on the vehicle or demonstrated on models in the shop. Just ask owner Nick Vuko what he believes sets Walker Tire & Quick Nick’s apart from the competitors, and he’ll respond with one word – “Knowledge.” Transparency is easy because of the full confidence in a capable team of experts in their industry who are trained, certified, experienced, and knowledgeable in the products and services offered. All of this along with attention to detail and the desire to do the best job possible is what earns them the return business of so many loyal clients.

Right now it’s busy season at Walker Tire & Quick Nick’s as Lincolnites prepare for the winter weather ahead. Whether you need new tires, your car winterized, regular maintenance performed, or are due for an oil change, you can be sure that you’re in good hands. Safety is a priority, and something that the team at Walker Tire & Quick Nick’s takes very seriously.

Speaking of new tires and oil changes, with the combination of Walker Tire & Quick Nick’s, the two also offer the best deal in town – the FREE Oil Changes for Life Program! Customers who purchase four qualifying tires receive free conventional oil changes as often as every 3,000 miles for the life of the tires (for a period of up to 5 years). It’s good at all participating Walker Tire &

Quick Nick’s locations; you can stop by any one you like!

Additionally, Quick Nick’s offers the best protection plan on the market. The Titanium Lifetime Warranty never expires and lasts as long as you own your vehicle, while most other plans you’ll find expire at 210,000 miles. Whether you keep your car until it reaches 100,000 or 300,000 miles, it provides peace of mind that your vehicle’s major systems are protected.

There are also lower tiers of Preventative Maintenance Protection Plans available so you can get exactly what you need.

As for tires, when you see the certified stamp of approval, you know you have the very best tire on the market. That goes for the manufacturing, installation, and service. The professionals at Walker Tire will help you make the best tire decision based on your budget, needs, and optimal tire performance.

Then there’s the Rewards Club Membership, which is free and has plenty of great perks! You can earn money back towards future purchases, a free surprise on your birthday, and receive access to exclusive monthly promotions and special offers, which are loaded directly onto your card and ready to use.

Stop by today to get your car road ready for winter, the team at Walker Tire & Quick Nick’s looks forward to serving you!

9th & M Street | 48th & Pioneers | 56th & I-80 | walkertirequicknicks.com

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BUSINESS NEWS Five Nines Opens New Lincoln Headquarters Five Nines has made their 5th move in Lincoln, this time to an office that is completely their own. The new office was featured with an open house event to celebrate the growth of Five Nines with surrounding Nebraska communities. The purpose of the open house was to thank community partners for the growth and expansion that would not have been possible without them.

The new office will serve as the headquarters for Five Nines as they continue to pursue growth.

“Moving into our new headquarters in Lincoln is simply a reflection of our long-term vision of being the leading IT services and consulting partner in Nebraska. We are committed to growing our business throughout Nebraska, and this new headquarters gives us the room to grow and expand here,” said Nick Bock, CEO of Five Nines. “We are grateful for our dedicated team and loyal clients who trust us every day to be their Managed Services partner.”

Founded on an intense desire to solve problems and build longterm relationships with clients, Five Nines leverages technology to drive business success. With offices in Lincoln, Omaha & Kearney, Five Nines advises the best IT solutions for Nebraska based businesses, offering Managed IT Services. Through its unique service model, Five Nines’ clients experience reduced costs, accelerated growth, and increased productivity. Learn more at: www.gonines.com.

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Strictly Business NOVEMBER 2017

Businesses at 70th & Pioneers Join Together for Ladies’ Day Out Shopping Event Attention ladies, there’s a major shopping event this month that you won’t want to miss! A number of businesses in the 70th & Pioneers area will be participating in the Ladies’ Day Out shopping event on Thursday, November 9th. Each will be offering exciting, exclusive specials and giveaways for the day! Shoppers will also have the opportunity to play “Shop The Blocks Bingo” for a chance at winning the grand prize, a basket containing items from all of the featured businesses valued at over $850! Just complete the tasks to mark off your spaces and once you’ve completed a Bingo, enter your card into the drawing by dropping it off at any of the participating businesses.

Participating businesses for the Ladies’ Day Out shopping event include: Paul Daniels Interiors, Rockbrook Camera, Yours Truly, Myotherapy Institute College of Massage Therapy, The Oven, Chocolatier Blue, Paint Yourself Silly, Edible Arrangements, Wright’s Jewelers, Habitat, Hobby Town, The Black Swan, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Venue Restaurant & Lounge, Carmela’s Bistro, Kinja, nuVibe, Footloose & Fancy, Interiors

by Joan, Rachel’s Boutique, and Profile by Sanford. Businesses may have different hours of operation. For questions, contact individual stores for details.

Please join in the fun and get some of your holiday shopping done on Nov. 9th – see you there! These businesses will also be teaming up for another shopping event on Dec. 7th, so make sure to save the date!

BUSINESS NEWS New Senior Homecare Company Visiting Angels Opens in Lincoln Visiting Angels, one of the nation’s leading providers of assisted living services for seniors, has opened its newest franchise here in Lincoln, NE. The new location, owned and operated by Natalie Leon, provides non-medical senior homecare to help the elderly continue to live in their homes.

Natalie holds a Master of Health Care Administration degree from Clarkson College and earned her undergraduate degree from Nebraska Wesleyan in Business Administration. She has been in healthcare for over 10 years, with her career starting in high school as a CNA and Medication Aide. Her most recent experience was with the Alzheimer’s Association, where she helped with providing enhanced care and support to individuals with dementia, their families, health care professionals, and the community. Additionally, Natalie adjunct teaches “Introduction to Gerontology” at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

She has devoted her life to assisting the elderly and looks forward to helping your loved ones experience the best quality of life possible.

Visiting Angels services include: light housekeeping; bathing, grooming, dressing assistance; medication reminders; Alzheimer’s/dementia care; meal planning, preparation; joyful companionship; and 24-hour care is available. The office is located at 3120 O Street, Suite A. For more information on Visiting Angels, please visit www.visitingangels. com/lincoln or contact Natalie Leon at (402) 735-0999 / nleon@ visitingangels.com.

Berry Law Firm Named to 2017 Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Private Companies Inc. Magazine announced its annual list of the fastestgrowing private companies in America in September, including Berry Law Firm among its honorees based on the firm’s rapid revenue growth and commitment to innovation, service, and strategy.

While many of the awardees are recent start-ups, Berry Law Firm has been operating since 1965 and its attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience practicing law. Nonetheless, rapid growth in the past five years has placed the Firm on a trajectory to be included on the list alongside the fastest growing companies in America.

The Firm is dedicated and relentless in its defense of individual rights, protecting its clients against criminal charges, fighting for justice for victims of personal injury, and standing with professionals to help them keep their licenses to practice. The Firm is dedicated to supporting individuals, regardless of what their own Next Battle is.

While still practicing out of its original location in Lincoln, Nebraska, the firm also has locations in Omaha, Kansas City, and Phoenix, with plans to expand into additional markets. Berry Law Firm is also growing its battalion of attorneys, adding additional Nebraska criminal defense lawyers, and Lincoln and Omaha personal injury lawyers.

Managing Partner John S. Berry, Jr., is also the author of “The Next Battle: A Guide to Veterans’ Disability Claims.”

Interested parties can visit www.jsberrylaw.com for more information about Berry Law Firm.

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BUSINESS NEWS Essentials Opens for Business Essentials, a proactive home maintenance program serving homeowners in the Lincoln area, has officially opened for business effective September 25th.

Like oil changes for your car, your home needs routine checkups and repairs. The mission of Essentials is to stop problems before they start.

During every scheduled visit, Essentials focuses on a number of critical checkpoints in the areas of indoor maintenance, yard & exterior maintenance, and life safety.

Essentials is a subscription-based program that ensures small problems don’t become costly repairs. It is ideal for busy individuals/ professionals, seniors and children of aging parents who want to ensure the elderly individual’s home continues to be a healthy and safe environment, new homeowners, single-parent households, surviving spouses, spouses of deployed military professionals, those with debilitating health conditions, and more. The technicians at Essentials will take care of your regular basic maintenance quarterly, will offer the option of performing additional maintenance services as needed, and can even be utilized for home renovations. Essentials also offers Home Watch, a home monitoring plan to utilize when you are away.

Clients also have access to the mobile app, which allows them to easily access and review maintenance records, appointment records, communicate with the company, and place work requests.

To find out more about Essentials, visit www.essentialshomeservices .com or contact Mary McCombs at (402) 473-5325 / mmcombs@ essentialshomeservices.com.

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Strictly Business NOVEMBER 2017

New Online Programs Offered by University of Nebraska Campuses The University of Nebraska’s campuses have expanded their online program offerings. New programs on the University of Nebraska Online website include a graduate certificate in Public Relations and Social Media, a graduate certificate in German Language Teaching, a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a minor in Social Work. University of Nebraska Online, NU’s university-wide distance education initiative, shares information about these programs at online.nebraska.edu in addition to information on more than 125 online programs offered by the university’s four campuses.

The graduate certificate in Public Relations and Social Media offered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) enhances understanding of new communication platforms, helps students provide value to their workplace and keeps students abreast of current and changing technology. UNL’s graduate certificate in German Language Teaching is ideal for German teachers in K-12 schools and higher education. This program integrates research-informed approaches into language classroom practice. The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work equips students to impact the lives of individuals, families, organizations and communities. Graduates help meet workforce demands in human service areas. The minor in social work complements coursework of various majors and equips students with an understanding of human behavior and advancement of interpersonal skills.

For more information, visit www.online.nebraska.edu.

BUSINESS NEWS Prairie Ridge by Eastmont Announces Grand Opening Event Prairie Ridge

by E a s t m o n t invites you to be amongst the first to experience all that Lincoln’s newest 62+ lifestyle comm unity will have to offer!

On Tuesday, November 14th from 9:30-noon, Prairie Ridge by Eastmont will celebrate the grand opening of its Welcome Center, located at 8001 S. 15th St., Suite C. During the event, guests will have the opportunity to view the floor plans and interior selections available for the brand new garden homes and apartments available. The first 50 guests will receive a bag full of holiday treats, and the Lincoln Senior Chorus will perform at 10 a.m. It will be a fun and informative event you won’t want to miss! Please RSVP if you wish to attend by calling (402) 420-5555.

Prairie Ridge by Eastmont is a brand new community designed to offer an active and vibrant lifestyle full of flexibility and choice for seniors.

Here you’ll find innovative living options, with garden homes and modern apartment living featuring high-end, contemporary finishes, all with beautiful views of nature. With amenities and services designed to support healthy aging, including assisted living and memory care on-site as well as access to rehabilitation and skilled nursing, you’ll have the energy and freedom to live the life you choose. Find out more online at www.PrairieRidgeLiving.com.

Fields Floral Transitions to New Ownership, Cuts Ribbon on Newly Renovated Shop It’s been an exciting summer at Fields Floral!

T h e c o m p a ny transitioned ownership in June and the shop underwent renovations that were recently completed. To introduce the new owner Sara Reyes Sudman and debut the newly-remodeled space, an event was held on September 22. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce kicked off the celebration and was followed by an open house.

Fields Floral has a long-standing tradition in Lincoln, NE dating back to 1977. The unique shop, currently located in the historic College View area on 48th & Cooper, offers floral arrangements for any special occasion – weddings, anniversaries, funeral services, and just because. Fields Floral also offers gift items that add that special touch to your arrangement or gift basket. After four decades in business, the professionals at Fields Floral are still passionate about the superb quality of their stems and the fun relationships they build with customers. Fields Floral has evolved throughout the years to stay current with fresh ideas while staying true to its deep roots which are the foundation of its sterling reputation.

Fields Floral serves clients in the Lincoln community as well as Hickman, Waverly, Bennet, and surrounding areas. For your floral or gifting needs, call Fields Floral at (402) 483-4564 or email fieldsfloral@gmail.com.

You can find out more about Fields Floral online at www.fieldsfloral.com, and make sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram!

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BUSINESS NEWS Star City Heating & Cooling Receives 2017 BBB Integrity Award Star City Heating & Cooling recently received the prestigious Better Business Bureau (BBB) Integrity Award at an awards ceremony held at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel on October 10.

These awards focus on demonstrated ethical business practices with key stakeholders including customers, employees and community at large, rather than a company’s growth, profitability or popularity. The Integrity Award winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges consisting of metro Lincoln business leaders and members of the academic community.

It is an incredible honor to have received the 2017 Integrity Award and Star City Heating & Cooling is proud to bear the emblem that signifies the ethics and commitment to quality applied to all offerings, every decision made, and in all communication. The locally owned and operated company will continue to build upon the foundation of integrity, trust, and the values set forth as the guiding standards for providing integral heating, cooling, and air purification services. Star City Heating & Cooling would like to dedicate this award to their amazing team members, clients, the city of Lincoln, and surrounding areas who have supported the company throughout its 35 years in business.

For more information about Star City Heating & Cooling, please visit www.starcityair.com or contact Angela McRoberts at (402) 464- STAR (7827) / angela@starcityair.com.

Ovation Salon Relocates to South Lincoln Ovation Salon is moving to a new location at 5955 S. 56th Street, Suite 4 this month! Owner John Aguirre and the professional stylists at Ovation Salon have outgrown the former space at 719 N. 48th Street where it has been located since opening in 2005.

It is an exciting move to a fresh, new and more spacious salon that will allow for further expansion of the team and offerings. Ovation Salon will be open at its new location effective November 6th. An exciting addition to Ovation Salon, services performed by a licensed, experienced esthetician are now available!

Meeting all of your beauty needs, Ovation Salon is a progressive, fashion-forward full-service salon with a talented, experienced, and well-rounded team of professionals. With specialty areas ranging from children to eclectic, Ovation Salon offers an extensive service menu that features haircuts, coloring, extensions, blowouts and smoothing treatments, styling and wedding/special event updos for individuals and parties, wigs from designer lines with private custom-fitting and styling services performed by specialists with over 35 years of experience, men’s styling performed by master barbers from cuts to classic shaves and beard shaping/maintenance, and also offers spray tanning, waxing, and a selection of retail products from prestige lines.

New clients and walk-ins are welcome, and late evening appointments are available upon request. Call Ovation Salon at (402) 467-4646 to schedule an appointment or to find out more, and connect on Facebook for the latest updates!

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for New Canopy Row Development T h e L u m b e r wo r k s garage has officially begun its transformation into t h e n e w C a n o py Row development!

An official groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 13th to mark the occasion. In attendance were prominent figures involved in the public/private partnership as well as representatives of the Downtown Lincoln Association, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and members of the Lincoln community.

When the mixed-use development is completed, it will include Canopy Market, the first grocery store in downtown Lincoln, which is viewed as a critical piece to the redevelopment of the area, along with over 17,000 square feet of street-facing retail spaces along O Street and Canopy Street, over 12,000 square feet of office space within the 5-story building and 53 one- and two-bedroom market-rate apartments. The retail and office spaces were designed to be flexible to fit the varying needs of its occupants. All tenants will benefit from the broad selection of Haymarket amenities and adjacent on-site parking.

In total, Canopy Row will exceed 75,000 square feet across three buildings, at a cost of $11M. It was designed by Encompass Architects and NGC is the general contractor for the project. In partnership with Nelnet, Speedway Properties owns the property and will manage it upon completion.

For more information about Canopy Row and leasing opportunities that are available, please contact Tom Gifford, Brett Harris or Paige Keech at Speedway Properties.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Congratulations to Nebraska Recycling Council’s 2017 Award Winners

Immanuel Acquires Clark Jeary, Adds to Mission of Serving Seniors

At Nebraska Recycling Council’s 2017 Annual Awards Luncheon & Workshops on Thursday, October 19th eight awards were presented to Nebraska businesses and communities that have excelled at resource recovery and recycling.

• Member of the Year, awarded to Adam Prochaska, O’Neill, Heinrich, Damkroger, Bergmeyer & Shultz, P.C., L.L.O. • Service Provider of the Year, awarded to Omaha Biofuels Coop.

• Green Team of the Year, awarded to HDR. • Zero Waste Award, awarded to HopCat Lincoln.

• Waste Diversion Project of the Year, awarded to Firstar Fiber.

• Waste Diversion Product/Service of the Year, awarded to Red Willow County Household Hazardous Waste.

• End Market of the Year, awarded to Ripple Glass.

• Volunteer of the Year, awarded to Gene Hanlon, City of Lincoln Recycling Coordinator.

Nebraska Recycling Council is a statewide, member-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of resource recovery in Nebraska. Its goal is to re-energize recycling in Nebraska through innovation, education, training, and the power of collaboration. Visit www.nrcne.org for more information.

I m m a n u e l ( w w w. immanuel.com) is proud to be a leader in the field of retirement l i v i n g t h ro u g h o u t Omaha and Lincoln and in growing their mission of Christ-Centered Service to Seniors, Each Other and the Community, has acquired Lincoln’s Clark Jeary, a 122-apartment senior living community offering independent living, assisted living and memory support options in south Lincoln.

“We are proud of our mission,” said Eric Gurley, CEO of Immanuel. “That mission led us to partner with Clark Jeary, a like-minded organization.

We are called to work together to elevate the standard of senior living options in southeast Nebraska. We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Clark Jeary to the Immanuel family.”

The acquisition was effective October 2, 2017. Clark Jeary staff will continue their existing compassionate care for residents, which will now be backed by the expertise of Immanuel, Nebraska’s leader in senior living.

“It was clear from the start that Clark Jeary and Immanuel would make an incredible partnership,” said Mark Iverson, Immanuel vice president of operations. “Exceptional business practices and aligning missions means continued excellence for community seniors.”

Clark Jeary (www.clarkjeary.com), located in south Lincoln, has a 50-year history of offering independent, assisted living and memory care created with comfort and security in mind, with full-service dining experiences, maintenance-free accommodations, and compassionate support—when you need it, and more.

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BUSINESS NEWS

DE Guns to Host Grand Opening Celebration DE Guns is excited to announce the completion its two-year expansion project, and the grand opening of the new 110,000-square-foot, 34-acre distribution and retail location at 134th & O Street!

All are invited to join DE Guns to celebrate during a customer event to be held November 1718 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be many activities going on throughout the day, including indoor and outdoor factory demonstrations. Three shooting ranges will be open with firearm samples available for use, and you can also try out the fishing on the 3-acre catch and release pond onsite.

Additionally, DE Guns has added thousands of new products and will debut its new retail offerings. This includes clothing, tree stands, hunting gear, winter coats, sporting goods, auto knives, binary exploding targets, bulk ammo, safes, and more. New products will be arriving daily, and make sure to watch for the launch of AllAmericanOutdoors.com coming soon, which will feature all of the soft goods brands and clothing. Enjoy even more savings and more rewards with the All American Outdoors credit card!

Come check out all of the new products and offerings, and there will be plenty of swag to take home with you. Guests will also be treated to complimentary ice cream with bacon and coffee. Bring the whole family; pets are even welcome inside and outside – see you there!

Raising Cane’s and Latsch’s Stuff the Bus With School Supplies Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers recently partnered with KLKN’s Channel 8 and Latsch’s for its 9th annual school supplies drive. From July 17 through August 6, individuals received a free 22oz freshly squeezed lemonade when school supplies we r e d o n a t e d . I n addition to donating new and packaged s c h o o l s u p p l i e s , Pictured L-R: Alisha Parpart, Raising Cane’s; Pete Ferguson, Lincoln Public Schools customers were able Youth Development Team; Michael Hunter, to provide support District Transition Specialist; Bill Bryant, by adding any dollar Student Advocate for the African American amount to their ticket Community; Dee Collins, Raising Cane’s. while ordering.

Through these efforts, enough school supplies were donated to provide more than 2,100 students with the tools they need to start the school year off right, and over $8,600 in donations were collected and given to Lincoln public and private schools.

“The generosity of the community is truly humbling. Education gives children the opportunity to reach their full potential in life, and it is because of you that we are able to help students this school year,” says Jennifer Jones, co-owner of the franchise. “No matter what you were able to donate—thank you.”

Since 2006, the Lincoln and Grand Island franchise – Southern Hospitality Ventures - has given back over $1.4 million to the communities in which their restaurants are located. To find out about other community initiatives, follow Raising Cane’s on Facebook (facebook.com/CanesNebraska) or Twitter (twitter.com/CanesLincoln).

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BUSINESS NEWS

Grand Opening Held for Harbor House Senior Habitat Announces Upcoming Special Events Residence You’re invited! Habitat is delighted Two of Lincoln’s p r e m i e r e providers in senior living options, Immanuel and Ta b i t h a , h a v e joined forces for seniors in the opening of the l a t e s t Ta b i t h a Residence, Harbor House. It’s an innovative project offering home-like residences for seniors while providing skilled nursing and long-term care by Tabitha on Immanuel’s The Landing at Williamsburg Village campus. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce was held on October 11 in conjunction with its grand opening to formally mark the occasion.

Tabitha’s Harbor House provides skilled nursing care with independence at the forefront. It joins the neighboring Tabitha Residence, Cove House, that carries a five star rating–the highest overall score from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS).

Harbor House is the eighth community of its kind from Tabitha, which introduced this pioneering model of living to Nebraskans in 2006. The home features private suites along with outdoor and community gathering spaces. Learn more about this innovative choice at Tabitha.org or call a continuum navigator at (402) 486-8520 for a tour.

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to announce several exciting events taking place in November.

On Sunday, November 5th, Habitat will host its annual Holiday Open House. Shoppers will enjoy many in-store specials and will also have the opportunity to sample food and register for door prizes.

Due to its popularity last year, Ladies’ Day Out is back! Habitat will be one of many businesses in the 70th & Pioneers area that will be participating in the all-day shopping event on Thursday, November 9th. Open until 8 p.m., Habitat will be offering food samples, a free gift with any purchase, and customers who purchase any Baggallini item over $85 will receive a free Baggallini wristlet ($25 value)!

Finally, on Thursday, November 30th, Habitat will hold a cooking class led by the one and only Bobby Griggs, V.P. of American Clad Cookware! Bobby is as famous for his entertaining as he is for his recipes and cooking techniques that he will pass on to those in attendance. The class will be held at one of Venue Restaurant & Lounge’s event rooms from 6 - 8 p.m. Cost is $20, which may later be redeemed for purchases of this line made at Habitat. Registration is required in advance. Call the store at (402) 466-1522 for more details!

To find out more about these events and what’s happening at Habitat in the coming months, be sure to follow them on Facebook! (/habitatgift)

BUSINESS NEWS

JetSplash Honoring Veterans, Military Personnel on Nov. 11

Community HOPE Federal Credit Union Established in Lincoln

JetSplash is proud to unite with other businesses in the car wash industry nationwide as a participant in the Grace for Vets program. On Veteran’s Day, observed o n N o ve m b e r 1 1 t h , JetSplash will be honoring veterans and members of the U.S. military, offering a free car wash to those who have and continue to protect and serve our country. Stop by any of the four convenient Lincoln locations, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find the nearest one online at jetsplash.com.

The National Credit Union Administration granted a federal charter and Share Insurance Fund coverage to Comm unity HOPE Federal Credit Union in Lincoln, NE on June 8, 2017.

Community HOPE’s charter is able to serve approximately 40,000 residents and 25,000 students who live, work, worship, attend school, participate in associations headquartered in, or participate in programs to alleviate poverty or distress located in a prescribed community in Lincoln from its office at 1625 N Street, Suite A, in Lincoln’s Antelope Valley area.

The new credit union provides residents in the prescribed community access to affordable financial services. During its first year of operations, the credit union plans to offer regular shares, share drafts, short-term unsecured loans, share-secured loans, payday alternative loans, cashier checks, and wire transfers. Community HOPE is currently working to provide financial literacy programs in the future as well.

NCUA also granted Community HOPE a low-income designation, making it eligible for certain benefits—including NCUA grants and low-interest loans as well as an exemption from the member-business lending loan limit—to help it better serve low-income members in its community.

Community HOPE’s ribbon cutting was held on October 5th, conducted by officials with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

Bryan LifePointe Spa & MedSpa to Host Holiday Event O n S a t u r d a y, November 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., stop by the Bryan L i f e Po i n t e S p a and MedSpa for appetizers and tips on looking your best. Skin care experts will answer all your questions and share information on fillers, Botox, laser services and more. Enjoy 20% off all retail products and drawings for free Botox and other gift baskets. Get a jump on your holiday shopping with great discounts on skin care products and services.

From the moment you arrive at The Spa at Bryan LifePointe, you will enter a sanctuary of stress-free relaxation, healing and a complete focus on your well-being. The Bryan LifePointe MedSpa offers the latest in procedures and treatments in cosmetic dermatology in a beautiful, tranquil setting. Explore all of the relaxing offerings and make an appointment today. Both are open to the public and located at 7501 S. 27th St. Learn more about The Spa at Bryan LifePointe by calling (402) 481-6321 or visit the website at bryanlifepointe.com.

Heartland International Recognizes 2017 Family 21 Preferred Roofing Contractors Heartland International, Inc., a nationwide distributor of Conklin Commercial Roofing Systems, has named the recipients of their qualified Family 21 PREFERRED CONTRACTORS status. Each of these 21 contractors has installed multiple large-scale commercial roofing projects, met training and professional performance criteria, and qualified to participate in the PREFERRED CONTRACTOR annual trip to Cancun to provide input on the Conklin Company and enjoy meeting with contractors from across the nation.

Jeff and Ken Dean of Canton, IL were among those recognized for 20 years of achieving this status as CONKLIN PREFERRED CONTRACTORS. Heartland International, Inc. is based in Lincoln, Nebraska and is responsible to screen and train contractors to install the Conklin Roofing Systems. For more information or to apply for one of the current openings, contact Dennis Nun at DennisLNun@gmail.com or call (402) 430-7727.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Ebbeka Design Co. Hosts 16th Anniversary Celebration The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Ebbeka Design Co. (www. ebbekadesign.com) on September 7th, celebrating sixteen years of business and to reveal the agency’s new branding. Friends and clients of Ebbeka Design Co. filled their space in the Stacy Building located in the Historic Haymarket to help celebrate the milestone with music, food and drinks supplied by Yes Chef Catering and Meier’s Cork & Bottle.

Founded in 2001, Ebbeka Design Co. develops well-rounded brand experiences for small to medium-sized business and non-profits.

Specializing in WordPress website development, branding, print materials, corporate photography, video and social media management has aided in the steady growth of the company over the years.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Amy Ebbeka at (402) 441-4649 or via email at amy@ebbekadesign.com.

Fulwider Talks Entrepreneurial Successes, Failures on Lincoln Business Podcast

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Why did John Fulwider launch his fourth business after getting adult chicken pox and being unable to hug his kids for 17 days?

Find out as entrepreneurs Matt Taylor and Ali Schwanke interview him on Lincoln’s business podcast, Bar Napkin Business.

John tells stories about how: • Tangled cables, pizza crusts, and cat fur quickly doomed the first business he started.

• A lightning-bolt epiphany led him to the book Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business

by Gino Wickman.

• Implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System works in Lincoln businesses.

Past Bar Napkin Business episodes have featured these Lincoln business owners telling their entrepreneurial stories: Jon Camp, Haymarket Developers; Marcus Powers, Zipline Brewery; Paul Jarrett, Bulu Box; Alicia Reisinger, Wax Buffalo; and Meg Magsamen, Paper Kite.

About Bar Napkin Business: It’s no secret many business ideas get their start on a bar napkin over a round of drinks. Those are the ideas discussed on Bar Napkin Business! Guests give actionable tips, insight and stories about being in the trenches of entrepreneurship. Learn how to build profits, overcome failures and/or be entertained by the unfortunate experiences of other people working through the battles.

Find Bar Napkin Business on iTunes or your favorite podcast player, on Facebook and Instagram, and at barnapkinbusiness.co.

About gear80: gear80 helps Lincoln business owners get everything they want from their businesses. All gear80 does is help growth-oriented companies like Bluestem Fiber, Bulu Box, and ComPro implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System®, also known as Traction. It’s a proven set of practical tools that get your people rowing in the same direction; executing your vision with accountability and discipline; and working together as a healthy and cohesive team. If you’re frustrated with your people, profit, control, or solutions, text or call Professional EOS® Implementer John Fulwider at (402) 202-2820, or email john@ gear80.co.

BUSINESS NEWS

Announcing Essential You Aesthetics at Salon MohVi & Spa

Kearney First Stop for Yield Champions Nationwide Pro AG I Training Program

Salon MohVi & Spa is pleased to introduce Janet Bock, APRN and Tana Kenley, PA-C, operating as Essential You Aesthetics. They will be working closely with the salon’s team of professionals to provide medical procedures in a relaxing environment at the salon/spa, rather than in a doctor’s office.

Dennis Nun, President of Yield Champions, recently announced the first of their nationwide schedule of PRO-AG I programs will be offered in Kearney, Nebraska on November 29-30, 2017. This program is designed for crop producers, agronomists, seed, chemical and fertilizer dealers and landlords looking for ways to be profitable even with current commodity price levels.

Nun says, “We show growers how to lower production costs on a per acre and per bushel basis and that remains the key to profitability for farmers.” At this event two new products INTENSIFY™ and SYNTOSE FA™ Liquid Sugar with Fulvic Acid for in-furrow crop fertility will be discussed for use in the coming crop year.

Jerry Cox, 24-time NCGA National Corn Yield Champion has said, “I’ve attended the Pro Ag I program over 20 times and I learn something new every time I do! We’ve increased our farm-average yields by over 100 bushels per acre and have seen our top yields go from 221 to over 349 Bu/A over the past 12 years.”

Yield Champions exclusively markets the Conklin Company’s AgroVantage™ products for crop production used by more state and national NCGA corn yield champions than any other. For more information or to register for this event, contact Dennis Nun at (402) 430-7727 or go to www.300BushelCorn.info.

Essential You Aesthetics will be providing medical-grade aesthetic services, such as Botox to improve fine lines and wrinkles, laser hair reduction, and DermaFrac, which is a breakthrough microchanneling technology for beautiful skin with no pain or downtime.

With DermaFrac, you’ll enjoy the benefits of microdermabrasion, microneedling, and phototherapy, all during the same appointment!

A variety of other services and products carefully selected to support inner and outer beauty and health will also be offered. The ultimate goal is to help you realize and improve your most beautiful self.

These will be available for women and men from 20-80 years of age, and treatments will be supported with health and wellness counseling and personalized support.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Salon MohVi & Spa is centrally located at 5530 O Street #1 in Lincoln. The talented and experienced stylist, esthetician and massage therapist team at Salon MohVi & Spa provide services that relax and release your inner beauty. For more information or schedule an appointment, please call (402) 465-5363 or visit www.salonmohvi.com.

Concordia Breaks Ground on New Facility for Center of Liturgical Art Concordia University, Nebraska dedicated a new facility for the Center of Liturgical Art and a Colonnade for Bulldog Stadium on September 22.

The Center for Liturgical Ar t was built at 540 North Columbia Avenue in Seward, Nebraska, where the for mer Pictured L-R: Doris and Bill Hartmann; Marxhausen family Kurth Brashear, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Concordia; home stood. It is also Brian Friedrich, Concordia president. the site of Reinhold Marxhausen’s studio, where the art professor completed his two mosaic murals for the Nebraska State Capitol. The Center for Liturgical Art is the realization of Marxhausen’s wish to promote the use of exceptional visual art in worship and ministry. Since its establishment in 2002, the Center has become a recognized leader in liturgical art, providing meaningful, reflective and powerful pieces for ministries around the world.

The dedication of the Colonnade included the new Concordia Gate, Victory Bell and “The Victor” cross, additions to Bulldog Stadium on the Concordia campus. The gate bears the Weller Cross, and the Victory Bell is run after the Bulldogs win on the field. “The Victor,’ designed by the Center for Liturgical Art, is a physical affirmation of Concordia’s Christ-centered community made possible through the generosity of Bill and Doris Hartmann.

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university that currently serves more than 2,700 students, offering more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. For more information, visit cune.edu.

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BUSINESS NEWS First National Bank Sponsoring a Variety of Events This Holiday Season

Reserve Your Booth for the Nebraska Builders Home & Garden Show

First National Bank is pleased to celebrate the spirit of the holidays by sponsoring a variety of family-friendly events and activities in the Lincoln area.

The 46th Annual N eb r a s k a Builders Home & Garden Show will be held February 9-11, 2018 at the Lancaster Event Center, located at 84th & Havelock Avenue.

At SouthPointe Pavilions, First National Bank is the presenting sponsor of The Santa Station and The Santa Celebration. The Santa Station opens on Friday, November 24 and runs throughout the holiday season. Children can chat with Santa and have their photos taken in Santa’s cottage. The Santa Celebration takes place on Saturday, November 25 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Santa and a cast of holiday characters will flip the switch on one of the area’s biggest Christmas trees.

Live reindeer, music, activities and performers will be on hand to kick-off the start of the holiday festivities.

At First National Bank’s SouthPointe Pavilions branch, children can drop their letters for Santa off in the Mistletoe Mailbox. In addition, First National Bank is hosting a Coloring Contest from November 24 through December 15. Participants can drop off their submission at a participating First National Bank location in Lincoln for a chance to win the Ultimate Santa Experience, which includes dinner, movie passes, private session / photo package with Santa and choice of toy or game to donate to a favorite charity.

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Reach a year’s worth of customers in three days! Most homeowners believe that face-to-face is the most important source of home improvement information. The Home & Garden Show, which is sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Lincoln, provides a great opportunity to have “face-time” with potential customers.

Professionals who display their products and services include: New Home Construction – Remodeling - Kitchens & Bathrooms – Pools - Interior Design – Furniture - Landscaping & Water Features – Fencing - Financial & Professional Services - Food Products and Gifts.

Show hours are Friday, 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. With 46 years of history in Lincoln, it’s the largest show in the market, and a yearly event that’s a community favorite!

Exhibitor contracts are available by calling the HBAL office at (402) 423-4225 or visiting www.hbal.org.

BUSINESS NEWS LHRMA Announces November Meeting The Lincoln H u m a n Resource Management Association (LHRMA) will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 14 at 11:30 a.m.

The luncheon topic is “How to Win Employment Lawsuits Before They are Filed” presented by Pamela Bourne, Partner, Woods & Aitken. All members of the community are invited to attend this event. Register online at www.lincolnhr.org with a deadline of November 10th.

CBMC Announces Business Profile Events CBMC will host two Business Profile events this month. One will be Thursday, November 9th for breakfast (6:45-8:00 a.m.), and the second will be Tuesday, Nwwovember 14th for lunch (11:45-1:00 p.m.). Both events will be at Valentino’s at 70th and Van Dorn.

The theme of both events will be “Responding to Adversity.” Randy Tvrdik, a Waddell & Reed Financial Advisor, will discuss his journey from a normal upbringing in western Nebraska through a devastating accident which left him a quadriplegic. His responses to that adversity will challenge listeners, as attendees think together about adverse circumstances in their lives and businesses.

CBMC Lincoln is part of an international organization of Christians in business, leaders, and professionals who seek to encourage each other to conduct their lives in their business and vocation in a way that glorifies God and serves the community. In Lincoln, CBMC offers: *Small-group and 1-1 studies and discovery groups; *Peer advisory groups for business owners and leaders; *Connect meetings; and *A variety of training, networking, and relationship-building opportunities.

When businesses operate according to Godly principles, everybody wins! For more information, please visit Lincoln.cbmc.com, CBMC Lincoln on Facebook, or contact: Ed Nix, Area Director, Leadership Institute, at (402) 730-8797 or enix@cbmc.com; Larry Middendorf, Area Director, at (402) 540-1093 or lmiddendorf@cbmc.com; or Dean O’Bryan, Field Staff, at (402) 440-6816 or dobryan@cbmc.com.

Ellynne Bridal’s Designer Sale Raising Funds for Cancer Research Ellynne Bridal (ellynnebridal.com), one of the largest couture bridal galleries in Nebraska, will be hosting a Designer Off-the-Rack Sale through November to help advance ovarian cancer research.

A portion of the proceeds from all gowns sold during the event will be given in honor of the store’s founder, Lynne Rustad, a lifelong philanthropist whose strength endured throughout her personal battle with the cancer.

Gowns available include bridal couture, bridesmaid, mother of the bride, flower girl, homecoming, pageant, and special occasion formal wear. There are hundreds of styles available and all will be discounted 40% to 70% off. The Designer Off-the-Rack Sale is being held at the gallery’s second store, E2: Special Occasions, located in the Clocktower Shopping Center, 70th and A Streets, Lincoln.

Rachel’s Boutique Announces New Jewelry Line, Upcoming Events Heading into what’s shaping up to be an amazing 2017 holiday season, Rachel’s Boutique has plenty of exciting news to announce!

A new line of jewelry, Trollbeads, has been added to the boutique’s selection of accessories. Create a piece of jewelry that fits your style memories and personality with Trollbeads. Just choose your bracelet or necklace and add your favorite beads and a lock. Let your Trollbeads tell the best or most meaningful stories of your life in a beautiful way. Stop by the store to check out the new line for yourself!

On Wednesday, November 8 from 3-6 p.m., Rachel’s Boutique will be hosting a Brighton shoe open house, featuring the newest styles for the fall/winter season. Also, from November 1-11, Rachel’s will host a trunk show featuring jewelry by Obsidian. The stunning pieces on display and available for purchase are sterling silver and feature semi-precious stones.

Finally, don’t miss out on the Ladies Day Out events set for November 9th and December 7th! Rachel’s Boutique will be participating along with many other retailers in the area.

Rachel’s Boutique is located at 7121 Pioneers Blvd. The boutique carries a variety of renowned designers and features an exquisite selection of clothing, jewelry and other accessories. For more information about Rachel’s Boutique, please call (402) 420-3040 or “Like” them on Facebook to stay updated on upcoming events and new arrivals.

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BUSINESS NEWS

WISB to Host Monthly Luncheon on Nov. 8th T h e Wo m e n i n Sales and Business (WISB) monthly meeting will be held o n We d n e s d ay, November 8th at The Venue in the NE/Lancaster Room at 4111 P i o n e e r Wo o d s Drive, Lincoln, NE. The November meeting will be the first of a two-part series. This month, attendees will hear from the Heartland Cancer Foundation, a local non-profit. The mission of the Heartland Cancer Foundation is to connect local cancer patients to care and reduce the financial stress that often accompanies cancer treatment. They are doing important work in our community, and you’re invited to come hear more about it! Then, in December, WISB will have a holiday meeting where attendees will enjoy networking and bring their donations to bless the efforts of the Heartland Cancer Foundation.

Mark your calendars and please consider joining for both events in the coming months!

The meeting starts with lunch at 11:30 a.m., with the program following from 11:45 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. Cost is $18 which includes lunch (cost is $10 if you only attend the meeting). Please register online at www.wisblincoln.org on the Events page to RSVP. More information can also be found on the website or by contacting WISB via email at info@wisblincoln.org.

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Pooches on the Patio Fundraiser at MōMō Pizzeria & Ristorante a Success MōMō Pizzeria & Ristorante held its annual fundraiser, Pooc hes on the Patio, on September 30th. As one would expect, it was an afternoon full of fun with furry friends!

Pooches on the Patio was a red carpet affair; pets arrived with their owners, many in costume, making an appearance to have their photos taken as the stars of the show. After their grand entrance, guests mingled and enjoyed free pizza and soda courtesy of MōMō Pizzeria & Ristorante with a donation. There was also a silent auction and attendees left with a photo of their pet on the red carpet to commemorate the event, both of which also contributed to the total amount of donations received.

This year all proceeds benefit Domesti-PUPS, a local 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides service dogs for persons with disabilities, pet therapy programs, classroom dogs and educational programs. Special thanks are extended to all who donated and supported this year’s Pooches on the Patio event – it was a tail-wagging good time and a great success in support of a great cause!

To view the photos from the event and stay up-to-date about upcoming special events and new offerings, connect with MōMō on social media – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

BUSINESS NEWS

Roper & Sons Announces November Events At this month’s Topic Breakfast, being held at 7:30 a.m.

Thursday, November 16th, the group will be joined by Tom Bassett, Antiques Guru. Downsizing is a hot topic these days. Tom will share how to evaluate our prized possessions to determine what best to do with them. Please note, do not bring items to Tom to assess. He will be happy to schedule independent appointments for that purpose. Topic Breakfast, held on the third Thursday each month, is free and open to the public. To reserve your seat for Topic Breakfast, please call (402) 476-1225 or email info@roperandsons.com The Grief Program meets weekly on Sundays from 2 – 3:30 p.m. in the Reception Facility. Roper & Sons Grief Programs are open to the public, regardless of whether services were facilitated by Roper & Sons.

1st and 3rd Sundays: Guided Group with Facilitator Melissa Thorne, designed for those whose loss took place more than 18 months ago.

2nd and 4th Sundays: Structured Group with Facilitator Tiffany Eisenbraun, designed for those whose loss is more recent than 18 months, who may be addressing some more pressing first-time needs.

2nd Sunday: Art with Anna – a guided art program, considered “creative therapy,” allowing participants to address their grief through more creative outlets such as painting, ink designs, crafts and other artistic mediums. Great for all ages, regardless of artistic abilities.

Please visit www.roperandsons.com to learn more.

Cattle National Bank’s Arnold Elementary Branch Now Open The Arnold Elementary branc h of The Cattle National Bank & Trust Co. officially opened Oct. 4th and began accepting d e p o s i t s from Arnold Elementary students. To commemorate the grand opening of the branch the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce conducted an official ribbon cutting on September 26th.

The Cattle National Bank, along with Arnold Elementary leaders and Tammie Fischer from the University of Nebraska Center of Economic Education, have worked diligently over the last year to plan and organize this “Student Branch.” Staffed by student tellers, the branch will be accepting deposits from students once a week.

At the official ribbon cutting Ryne Seaman, President of Cattle National Bank, stated, “We hope that everyone in attendance today is as excited as we are about this new branch and the learning opportunities that it will provide to the students at Arnold Elementary.”

To help the students get started Cattle National Bank will match their first deposit up to $5. Incentives will also be provided as the students reach various savings goals. The intention of this program is to provide the students with opportunities to not only learn about savings and how financial institutions operate, but to also become savers themselves.

For more information, contact Chase Piel at (402) 420-8036 / chase@cattlebank.com.

The Cattle National Bank & Trust Co. (www.cattlebank.com) is a family owned, community bank that is headquartered in Seward, Nebraska with five locations in Seward and Lincoln.

Bearence Management Group Named Among Best Places to Work in Insurance Bearence Management Group, and its local division Benefit Professionals, Inc., are honored to announce the company was recently recognized among the Best Places to Work in Insurance.

The program annually recognizes employers for their outstanding performance in establishing workplaces where employees can thrive, enjoy their work and help their companies grow.

Bearence’s colleagues, including the team at Benefit Professionals, Inc., are focused on fulfilling the company’s core values; driven to serve, professional, innovative, collaborative, and competitive.

Best Places to Work in Insurance is presented by the Custom Publishing unit of Business Insurance and Best Companies Group that lists the agents, brokers, insurance companies and other providers with the highest levels of employee engagement and satisfaction. Business Insurance is the authoritative news and information source for executives concerned about risk and the impact on their business. Best Companies Group identifies the leading employers in the insurance industry by conducting an assessment of each company.

Established in 1989, Benefit Professionals, Inc., a Bearence Management Group Company, is a group benefits brokerage firm. The professionals at Benefit Professionals, Inc. work with clients in Nebraska and Iowa, finding solutions to meet the individual needs of each when it comes to employee benefits. For more information, please call (402) 592-7777 or visit www.benefitprofessionals.net.

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BUSINESS NEWS

Lincoln’s 2017 BBB Integrity Award Winners Announced

Capitol View Winery & Vineyards Celebrates 1st Anniversary

The Better Business Bureau is pleased to conduct annual awards programs to gain public recognition for organizations committed to ethical business practices. Each year, applicants are selected to receive these awards through regional competitions.

The 2017 Award Winners were honored on Tuesday, October 10th for their unique contributions to business excellence in metro Lincoln at BBB’s 19th Annual Integrity Awards Luncheon. Winners were selected by an independent panel of judges representing both the business and academic communities of Lincoln. The awards to for-profit businesses were presented to: Arroyo Roofing, LLC; Morrow Collision Center, Inc.; Star City Heating and Cooling; Wayne’s Body Shop, Inc.; and Ace Rent-to-Own. In addition, two charities received a BBB Integrity Award. One was the Food Bank of Lincoln, Inc. and the other was CenterPointe, Inc. All winning organizations received a crystal flame – a symbol that that they are lighting the way for an ethical marketplace in their community.

BBB President and CEO Hegarty stated, “BBB is pleased honor these organizations. In today’s challenging economic climate and complex world, honesty and integrity are more important than ever. Integrity Award Winners represent what is best about businesses in this area.

These organizations have solid business practices, based on a commitment to serve their customers with the highest standard of ethics. They have built successful companies because of the trust that has been established, and these Awards recognize their leadership in Lincoln.”

A cheers is in order! Join Capitol View Winery & Vineyards for a very special event in honor of their 1st anniversary. The celebration will be held November 17-19, kicking off with live music from the duo Dulcet on Friday night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy great discounts and prize giveaways throughout the weekend.

Much of the focus during this first year has been on developing quality wine, a success that Capitol View Winery & Vineyards takes great pride in achieving and offering to its patrons. There have been several new wines released, including bold, flavorful reds Champ ‘81, Vintner’s Blend, and 2016 Filibuster. Then there are the beautiful new white wines, a semi-sweet, Celebration, and a light, refreshing dry, Magari. Currently there are 13 wines available at Capitol View Winery & Vineyards. With the first harvest now complete, there are many new wines in the tanks that are set for release in 2018! The tasting room was also remodeled and expanded, with the addition of a deck that overlooks the vineyard.

Space is now available for private parties, business events, family gatherings and small intimate weddings.

Thank you to everyone who helped make it a successful year!

Capitol View Winery & Vineyards offers a relaxing and fun atmosphere where you’ll enjoy Nebraska wines and amazing views. Visit www. capitolviewwinery.com to find out more or contact Trish Meyer at (402) 328-3494 / trish@capitolviewwinery.com with inquiries or to book an event.

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ASK THE EXPERT: COMPRO 402-488-5100 www.comproins.com

by Chris McPike, Vice President ComPro Insurance

Open Enrollment Begins Open Enrollment for 2018 began November 1st and continues through December 15th.

Despite all the conversation in Washington DC about repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there was no legislation that passed both Houses of Congress. Therefore, the ACA remains the law of the land for 2018.

The Executive Orders that President Trump issued in mid-October will not impact Open Enrollment for 2018. The first Executive Order directed federal agencies to consider proposing regulations or revising guidance to improve 1) Association health plans, including the ability to form associations across state lines; 2) Short-term health insurance; and 3) Health reimbursement arrangements. The agencies have 60 to 120 days to respond. The second Executive Order discontinued the payment of Cost Share Reduction subsidies by the federal government and is effective immediately. This has NO impact on the consumer’s eligibility to receive the Cost Share Reduction (CSR) subsidy as a part of a Marketplace policy’s benefits. It DOES determine who is going to fund the CSR payments. There is a case before the appellate court awaiting a decision regarding the legality of the payments by the Federal government.

The loss of CSR subsidy payments means that the insurance companies are left to absorb the losses. Many insurance companies were aware that this action by President Trump was very possible and have already planned the 2017 rates with the assumption that the subsidies would NOT be paid.

Nebraskans will have only one insurance company to work with next year – Medica. Medica responded to the Executive Order regarding CSRs with a statement indicating “Our premiums for 2018 anticipated this action and were increased previously to account for it.” Medica’s benefit plans for 2018 include an option to utilize a new narrow network based on the CHI Health system in Nebraska. It is available in 23 counties. The broader-based Midlands Choice network is available throughout the state.

Those who were insured by Aetna in 2017 will lose coverage on 12/31/17. Those individuals will be automatically enrolled by Healthcare.gov into a similar Medica plan if they fail to update their 2018 application and select their own plan. Please take action so that you are in charge of selecting your health insurance for 2018, rather than allowing the government to do it for you. BlueCross BlueShield also withdrew from the Individual Market for 2018. If you have a “preACA” BCBS policy, it can continue next year. All others will terminate 12/31/17. Please contact your agent to get new coverage for 2018.

The agents at ComPro are ready to help individuals & families review their 2018 health insurance options.

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STAR CITY SIX

DAVID

David Medina

GENESIS HEALTH CLUBS

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Meet David Medina, the newest personal trainer at the Genesis Health Club located at 1801 Pine Lake Rd.!

Tell us a little about your business. - I’m in the business of self-improvement. I help my clients achieve their goals, and oftentimes surpass them. Whatever the objective – lifestyle modifications and changing habits, recovering from surgery, regaining full function post-injury, addressing a health condition, optimal athletic performance or just improving one’s fitness level or overall health and wellness - I’m there to help establish a plan and provide guidance and support along the way as we work towards accomplishing what they’ve set out to do.

How did you get started in the business? - Ever since childhood a healthy lifestyle was important to me and something I personally enjoyed.

As far as pursuing it professionally, that was a decision I made about 9 years ago. I was working for Wells Fargo at the time and crossed paths with a gentleman working at 24 Hour Fitness who inspired me. At the time I felt as if I was in the wrong profession, as if I had a higher calling to do something more meaningful. So I applied there and was hired, and proceeded to pursue my education and certification. It’s been rewarding beyond measure to play a part in changing people’s lives for the better.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? Continuing my education while working full-time and building a business.

I’m always working towards expanding my knowledge of specialty areas such as nutrition, post-surgical, corrective exercises, sports performance, rehabilitation, neurological development, and as a businessperson, even on things like marketing. But actually getting that degree while keeping everything else going was quite the formidable challenge.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? There are many I’ve shared with my clients, including recovery from the effects of a bad case of Lyme disease and from a complicated back surgery, which required a lot of research and extreme precision. For me personally, there’s a couple. I won first place in a major body-building competition and established a licensed business I operated for about a year, which were very valuable learning experiences too.

Tell us a little about your family. - We’re originally from Puerto Rico, and I’m the youngest of seven step-brothers by 10+ years. I was mostly raised by my strong, amazing, beautiful mother, and I’m definitely a mama’s boy!

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Currently I love exploring my new city, Lincoln, and partaking in all of the fun fall activities. I also enjoy meal prepping, cooking, and trying new recipes.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I’m a huge Trekkie and love antiques.

What are you the most proud of? - I’ve always known exactly who I am, even at an early stage in my life, and it’s helped me to grow into a person with strong values, morals, and work ethic who makes my mom proud. I was able to get to where I am today, accomplishing so many of my own goals and doing what I love for a living, because of my mom’s hard work and sacrifices, so making her proud makes me extremely proud.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!”

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I recently moved here so I’m currently looking to get more involved, but I’ve joined the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and plan to become a member of the Young Professionals Group.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Phone: (619) 240-5826; Email: dmsd82@gmail.com.

STAR CITY SIX

ALISHA

Alisha Parpart

RAISING CANE’S Raising Cane’s has ONE LOVE—quality chicken finger meals. The restaurants pride themselves on exceptionally high quality food, served quickly and conveniently.

Alisha Parpart is the Community Marketing Specialist at Southern Hospitality Ventures, Inc., the local franchisee of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.

How did you get started in the business? - I heard they were hiring, and when I discovered how much Raising Cane’s and our specific franchise gave back to the community, I knew it would be a career that fit my values and professional goals.

Tell us a little about your family. - I come from a family of five and was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. I have two older sisters and a brother-in-law who I look up to, love hanging out with, and see on a weekly basis—sometimes daily. I also have two nieces who are 4 ½ and almost 3 years old. They are extremely loving, hilarious, and keep us all on our toes. Weekly meals or get togethers have always been a staple in my family and are always something I look forward to attending.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I love being productive on a day off. Getting things done around the house, working out, running errands, or just completing small projects that I haven’t gotten to, makes me feel like my time was well spent. I also typically try to see my nieces on a day off to do something fun with them.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I have an extreme sweet tooth and possibly an ice cream addiction. What started out as a Sunday night family tradition soon became a semi-weekly ice cream run through whichever establishment is open. I also don’t discriminate between soft serve, custard, or regular ice cream. I like it all!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - A former colleague and friend always told me, ‘You can’t tell others how to feel.’ I always try to remember that in my everyday life.

Coincidentally enough, a similar quote is wrapped on our wall at the Raising Cane’s Support Office. The moment I saw it during the day of my interview, I knew I had found the right company to join.

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - My creativity. I studied fine art at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I have a photography business that I keep up with in my spare time, but I haven’t painted in years. I also have a great eye for design, typography, and layout.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I love the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. Raising Cane’s has been extremely involved with them throughout the years and we have a great relationship with them. I have also had the opportunity to volunteer for them on a personal level and utilize my photography degree by taking photos of their animals that they use for social media and marketing materials. The Lincoln Children’s Zoo has come a long way since I was little and it’s been really exciting seeing it evolve and helping play a part in that.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - My favorite sit-down restaurant is Lazlo’s. The service and quality is extremely consistent and the atmosphere is inviting.

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

- Phone: (402) 875-5754 Ext. 585; Email: community@shv-inc.com.

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STAR CITY SIX

JOHN

Dr. John Lionberger

POLARIS VETERINARY CENTER

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Polaris Veterinary Center (formerly Bethany Animal Clinic) is set to open this month at its brand new location, 2000 N. 112th Street! Dr. John Lionberger is one of the veterinarians on staff at Polaris Veterinary Center and is also co-owner of the practice.

Tell us a little about your business. - We provide veterinary care to family pets, mostly dogs and cats, including preventative care, surgery, and dentistry. We also offer boarding and daycare services.

How did you get started in the business? - I always knew I would be a veterinarian. When I started school at UNL, I got a job as a veterinary assistant at Bethany Animal Clinic. I worked there until I moved to Iowa to attend vet school at ISU. My senior year, Dr. Hoops contacted me about coming back as a veterinarian, and I was honored to return in that capacity.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - The process we’ve gone through with purchasing Trude’s Dog Motel and the property the business is located on, then building our new veterinary facility there. It has really required me to learn and do things outside of my comfort zone.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- Caring for the pets here in the Lincoln area throughout the years has been such a rewarding experience. I also take pride in the number of students who have worked with me and gone on to become veterinarians themselves, just as I did.

Tell us a little about your family. - My wife Kaz is also a veterinarian; she is my life partner and business partner. Our daughter Jasmine has made a career for herself in Human Resources and our son, James, is an event deejay and also provides I.T. support for our business.

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

- When I found out I was accepted into vet school. My dad passed away about three weeks prior. I felt like I needed to ‘grow up’ and at that point, I started taking things more seriously.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I have several. I enjoy working in the garden, bicycling, woodworking, going to flea markets, or just driving somewhere to see the countryside.

What are you the most proud of? - My kids, hands down. There are times each of them has driven me crazy, but they constantly amaze me with their individuality, drive, and originality.

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

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - I sing, mostly for myself, to relieve stress. My wife is often impressed with my memory of song lyrics; I do know quite a few!

Which talent would you most like to have? - I really would like to be more comfortable speaking in front of an audience. If I have to present a speech to more than several people, I get terribly nervous.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I have a lot of respect for Sadie Dog Fund and the Nebraska No-Kill Canine Rescue. They are two organizations that quietly do a lot of good.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Mazatlan; we’ve eaten there 3-4 times a month for years.

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

- Via email at bethanyvet@windstream.net. Once the new location is open, feel free to stop by to say hello and check it out! We’ll also have a new website launching soon at polarisveterinarycenter.com.

STAR CITY SIX

JASON

Jason Muehlhausen ECHO SYSTEMS

Echo Systems is a regional leader in commercial and residential technology, ranking #37 on CE Pro’s list of the top 100 AV companies in the U.S. Echo Systems is a division of the much larger Echo Group, a locally owned and operated company with 450 employees in 5 states. Jason Muehlhausen is a Sales Consultant for Echo Systems based in Lincoln, NE. Tell us a little about your business. - Echo Systems specializes in the design, installation and long-term service and support of advanced automation systems, audio and video distribution systems, lighting control, motorized shade solutions, video surveillance, video conferencing, huddle spaces, conference rooms, auditoriums, classrooms, and more. Operating one-of-a-kind $2.5 million “Experience Center” in Omaha, Echo Systems serves a wide geographical area with great attention to detail and commitment to quality.

How did you get started in the business? - I started working in the audio-visual industry in 1998. The company I worked for was a distributor/reseller of AV equipment. I quickly learned how big the AV industry truly was. After 12 years of working there, I decided it was time to make a change. AV integration was always on my radar. I wanted to be a part of providing clients with a turnkey AV solution, and build a lasting relationship with them along the way. In 2011, I made the transition and started working for an AV integration company. The learning curve was challenging to say the least. Now I specialize in providing solutions for corporate and higher education clients at Echo Systems.

Tell us a little about your family. - My girlfriend is the center of my universe. She’s always so supportive and helps me grow each day.

Family is everything to me. My mom and sister live in Arizona and my brother lives in Lincoln. I’m the proud uncle of three nephews and a niece.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy boating at Branched Oak and riding my ATV on the Tuttle Creek trails. They are remote, unforgiving and I enjoy the challenge of not knowing what obstacle is around the corner. One minute you’re on the trail and the next minute you’re on the edge of a cliff. It keeps me focused.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I’ve been taking Krav Maga classes for four years. It’s a mixed martial art that consists of a combination of techniques sourced from boxing, wrestling, aikido and judo. I was drawn to Krav Maga because of the discipline it requires.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Be humble.

Don’t criticize, condemn, or complain. If you can go through your day without doing these things it will change your mindset and so many other things in a positive way.

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

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - Teleportation because I love to travel. My favorite place on earth is Hawaii, where I’ve been lucky enough to visit twice. My favorite island is Kona. I spent a week on the Island and filled my days with adventure visiting the lava tubes, rainforests, snorkeling, and learning about the local culture.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I’d love to be a professional driver for the Corvette racing team.

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

- Direct: (402) 202-6242; Website: www.echosystemsmidwest.com.

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STAR CITY SIX

JEFF

Jeff Loeffler

JMISKO SURGICAL DESIGN MD

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With locations in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney, NE, JMISKO Surgical Design MD offers a wide variety of services including Stem Cell Therapy, Robotic Hair Transplant Procedures, Weight Loss Services, Hormone Replacement Services and Aesthetic Services. Jeff Loeffler is the co-owner of JMISKO Surgical Design MD. Tell us a little about your business. - We take a progressive approach in all of our services to provide our patients the life-changing results they deserve.

How did you get started in the business? - I got started in the industry by working for a local company out of Omaha that offered med spa services to a large demographic of patients. Through 6 years of handson experience working my way up I learned the ins and outs of business management, marketing, and how to manage the patient experience.

I also learned how differently I would run my own business and that’s truly what drove me to do so.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Finding the right business that I knew I would be passionate about and enjoy managing for the rest of my career.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? Owning this practice with my business partner Dr. Justin Misko. We have an incredible group of team players, and together, we’ve created a culture that is unparalleled in this industry. With the help and support of our team we have been able to introduce new and innovative medical treatments to the Nebraska market that otherwise would not be available.

Tell us a little about your family. - My wife Samantha is a 4th grade elementary school teacher and we have 3 children: Ally (5), Reid (3), and Carter (2 mos.).

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? Resigning from my old job. Staring at a dead end position I knew I had to make the tough decision to take fate into my own hands. With the risk of financial destruction and the stress of a family at home, I took a leap that was worth every sleepless night.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Anything outdoors, whether it’s volleyball, camping, fishing, golfing, or just being outside.

What are you the most proud of? - My family. I have been married 9 years and now raising our kids together I have never been happier.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Do what you love every day.

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

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - I like to build and fix things with my hands. I find great satisfaction in having created something tangible at the completion of a project.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - Regenerative Wellness Fund. They provide cutting-edge health and wellness care and ongoing research efforts with Stem Cell Therapy to military veterans and former professional athletes to improve their quality of life. This is a great way for me to stay involved in advancing our medical services as well give back to a very worthy group of people.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - Donald Trump because love him or hate him I guarantee it would be entertaining, not to mention a conversation starter.

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

- Phone: (402) 484-5144; Email: jeff@jmisko.com; Website: www.

JMISKO.com.

STAR CITY SIX

MATTHEW

Matthew Rogge TALON ROOM

Located in downtown Lincoln, the Talon Room is a unique reception and event venue offering a wide range of amenities on-site as well as off-site beverage catering services. Matthew Rogge is the co-owner of the Talon Room.

Tell us a little about your business. - The Talon Room is the perfect space to host a wedding reception, Husker tailgate, company party, business meeting, or social gathering. It’s a flexible space with a fullservice bar and a host of amenities to fit any need, and we’re more than happy to help plan all of the details. Or, let us bring the bar to you for your wedding reception, business after-hours, outdoor event, or other destination where you’ll need to arrange for one.

How did you get started in the business? - I began my college career pursuing an engineering degree, but discovered an interest in culinary science, so I switched my major. I landed a job at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, and then moved through several positions until I ended up doing banquets. I worked a lot of weddings, and gained a lot of experience in that area of the hospitality industry. An opportunity presented itself to work for ChefauChef, first in catering and then also as general manager of the café. When ChefauChef opened Talon Room in February of 2016, I took the lead role of operations until March of 2017, when I purchased the business.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - The criticism that often goes along with entrepreneurship. Everyone thinks that they know what’s best for you, and it does come from a good place, but it’s tough not to let people’s opinions and initial reactions deter you from doing what you feel in your gut is best for yourself. That being said, once they see you’re doing well, then you get the encouragement and compliments, which are still satisfying but also well-earned at that point.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

- Taking the leap to do something I’ve always wanted to do, start my own business.

Tell us a little about your family. - My family is originally from the Pleasantdale area. I’m the oldest of three, with a younger brother and sister. My mom, Michelle, is a dental assistant and my dad, Steve, is an engineer for Vankirk Bros. I’ve had excellent role models of business owners going back generations who I’ve admired and credit for getting me started on my entrepreneurship journey, including my dad, my grandpa Milt Rogge, and my great grandpa, William Rogge. I’m engaged to Nicole Rehbein, who works at West Gate Bank and is also my business partner and main source of inspiration. We have a puppy named Saul.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - I enjoy golfing and spending time with my fiancée.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I can operate heavy machinery.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - ProStart, a program offered to high school students that teaches culinary arts and restaurant management skills. I’m passionate about it because I participated in it, which led me to this career field. I’ve also been a mentor, which I really enjoyed.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - A favorite of mine is The Ten Commandments for Business Failure by Donald Keough.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Wilderness Ridge (shout out to Eric Straley!).

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

- Phone: (402) 641-0943; Email: matt@talonroom.com; Website: talonroom.com.

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ASK THE EXPERT: GEAR80 402-202-2820 www.gear80.co

by John Fulwider, Founder gear80

How to Hire and Fire Your Relatives This Holiday Season Family business owner: The only initials that entitle your relatives to seats in your company are G-W-C. Invite them to your Thanksgiving table if you love them. (Or even if you don’t. It’s Thanksgiving!) But don’t keep them in a seat at your business unless they: • Get it: Their brain cells obviously activate when you describe the role.

• Want it: They want to do the job for you. You can’t motivate, cajole, overpay, or—gag!—”incentivize” an employee. They have to want it, or not.

• Have the Capacity to do it: They have the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual capacity to perform their five Accountability Chart roles.

Therefore, they consistently do the job well in 100 percent of their time—it doesn’t take the constant “I’m giving 120 percent!” overwork that’s going to make them slump unconscious at the Thanksgiving table before the tryptophan in the turkey can even take hold.

GWC is the objective standard that cuts through the family politics and the uncomfortable Thanksgiving table silences to what really matters for you, the employees related to you, and (especially!) your employees who aren’t family: Running a profitable business.

Want to look across the table at family members with gratitude, instead of resenting them for not pulling their weight? Here’s your Thanksgiving recipe: 1. Thinking structure first, people second, draw the simplest and best Accountability Chart to get your company where you want to be six to 12 months from now. Your management team, for instance, will have three to seven seats, each with five key Roles for which that seat alone’s accountable.

2. Make sure potential seat-fillers live your Core Values first. (Blood’s no guarantee of that!)

3. Then, determine whether the seat-filler GWCs her or his five Roles. If the answer’s no, that’s not the right seat for her or him, family or not.

What do you want: The temporary pain of a frank discussion with a family member? Most people, relatives included, rise to the occasion when you call them to a higher standard of accountability and performance.

Or, do you want the permanent pains of festering resentment and an underperforming business?

The choice is yours.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Stacy Bingham Joins Launch Leadership as Executive Director On October 2, Launch Leadership welcomed its new Executive Director, Stacy Bingham, to the staff. With more than 15 years of strategic marketing experience and a heart for nonprofits and youth leadership development, Stacy is excited to serve Launch’s diverse, passionate and committed team.

Until now, Launch’s staff has consisted solely of hard-working volunteers. In the past few years, Launch has experienced incredible growth in the numbers of students it serves. To better serve those students and to reach even more, Launch created this full-time employed position to be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and strategic mission of the organization.

Launch plans on providing even more top-notch opportunities for youth leadership development with the creation of this new Executive Director position. Stacy will work hand in hand with the Launch volunteer staff to make connections, raise funds and awareness, and provide guidance to the organization.

Launch Leadership originated as a volunteer organization in 1976. It promotes and develops youth leadership through an annual five-day summer workshop in Wayne, Neb. and dozens of year-round services in Nebraska and beyond. Launch is based in Lincoln with more than 200 members across the United States.

To find out more about Launch Leadership, visit launchleadership.org or contact Stacy at (402) 437-0011 / launch@launchleadership.org.

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SP Group Welcomes Austin Zimmerman S P G ro u p i s exc i t e d t o i n t ro d u c e Austin Zimmerman as the newest Team Accountant. Austin graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2012 with a bac helor’s degree in Accounting, completing the Master of Professional Accountancy program in 2014. As a member of the Nebraska men’s golf team, he was a four-year letter winner and named to the Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll from 2008-2012.

Austin has 3+ years of public accounting experience, specializing in auditing and assurance services and tax preparation. Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Austin thrives on building relationships in the community, and is always happy to sit down with a client to help them reach their financial goals.

SP Group was founded on four core values: Relationships, The Power of Team, Life/Work Balance, and Competitiveness. Austin truly personifies SP Group’s core value of building strong, long-lasting relationships with clients and brings a new level of competitiveness to the office. The team at SP Group is confident that Austin will be an asset to both the company and their clients.

An accountant-client relationship requires good communication, so please reach out with any questions you may have or visit the website: www.spgrouppc.com. Give Austin a call at (402) 4207758 - who knows, you may talk him into a round of golf. He’ll be ready to go!

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PERSONNEL NEWS

Misty Davidson Joins Transworld Business Advisors Transworld Business Advisors is excited to welcome Misty Davidson to the team! She has assumed the position of Business Advisor and will focus on serving clients in the Lincoln market.

Misty comes to Transworld with a strong background in sales, including timeshare, telemarketing, and retail. She has been a partner with the owner of a large manufacturing business for the last four years.

Misty really enjoys working with people, and has strong skills in listening and helping people accomplish their goals.

She has a 7-year-old daughter, loves dogs, and enjoys traveling and the outdoors.

Misty Davidson can be contacted directly at (402) 840-8197 or via email at mistyd@tworld.com if you are interested in learning about the business opportunities that are available or listing your business.

Schedule your free consultation today!

More information about the local Transworld Business Advisors franchise, headquartered in Lincoln, NE and serving clients across Nebraska, can also be found online at www.tworld.com/lincoln.

BancWise Realty Promotes Four Agents BancWise Realty is pleased to announce four promotions.

During 2017, Luke Brown, Jess H u s t a d , Ka r e n Mayo, and Jessica Monroe successfully completed the Mentoring Luke Brown Jess Hustad Program under B o b Wa y n e, Ashely Hustad, Sandra Larsen, a n d A m y Pfingsten. These four valuable team members were promoted to Realty Specialists as a result. The BancWise Realty team is confident Karen Mayo Jessica Monroe they will continue forward in their careers and provide excellent assistance to their clients. They have already proven to be excellent problem-solvers who care deeply about their clients, continuing the reputation BancWise Realty is known for here in our community.

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BancWise Realty, located at 6120 Apples’ Way #100, is your full service, one-stop resource for saving time and money while minimizing stress during the process of buying and selling your home. Their experienced agents provide all of the guidance a home buyer or seller needs with flexible fees and proven results year after year. The mission of BancWise Realty is to simplify the process, while making a positive difference in the lives of their clients and employees. For more information, please call (402) 323-6777 or visit www.bancwise.com.

PERSONNEL NEWS

Headsetters™ Welcomes Mickaela Milby Mickaela Milby recently joined Headsets

by Headsetters™ as a National Account Manager. She is contributing all her years of sales and management experience to further expand sales and service to all of the company’s customers across North America.

Mickaela will be responsible for several existing national accounts and will consistently be adding clients to her portfolio. Those who are interested in learning more may contact her directly at mickaela@headsetters.com.

Established in 1992, Headsetters™ is a full service national provider of wireless, Bluetooth and corded headsets by Plantronics, GN Netcom, Jabra, VXI, Sennheiser, and Starkey. Additional services include all headset accessories, headset repairs, headset rentals and refurbished headsets. Find out more about Headsetters™ online at www.headsetters.com or contact Chelley Baack, General Manager, at (402) 951-9105 / chelley@headsetters.com.

Union Bank & Trust Promotes Stacy Brass and Cindy Tinkham Union Bank & Trust (www.ubt.com) recently promoted Stacy Brass to First Vice President of Private Banking & Commercial Lending and Cindy Tinkham to First Vice President of Compliance and Risk.

Brass joined Union Bank in 2001 and brings over 21 years of banking experience to her position. As First Vice President of Private Banking and Commercial Lending, she is responsible for overseeing the Private Banking Department. The Private Banking Team serves as a single point of contact for high net worth Stacy Brass individuals and their businesses. In this role, they strive to exceed clients’ expectations and proactively take care of all their financial needs. Stacy also serves on the Bank’s Asset & Liability, Retail Loan, Marketing, and Management Committees.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of NebraskaKearney and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Brass currently serves on the YMCA Board and Executive Committee as First Vice Chair. She Cindy Tinkham has previously served on the United Way Emerging Leader Board, Lincoln’s Young Professionals Group Board as Chair, Lincoln Public School’s Superintendent’s Advisory Council, amongst many others. Also active in her faith community, Stacy has served as St. Peter’s Catholic School SFA Board President, is a Marian Associate, and enjoys volunteering with the Lincoln Diocese’s Youth Ministry Programs.

Tinkham joined Union Bank in 2004 in the Internal Audit department and has over 31 years of banking experience. As First Vice President of Compliance and Risk, she is responsible for the development and coordination of the Bank’s compliance management system and enterprise risk identification and mitigation. She is also the chair of the Enterprise Risk Management Committee and Bank CRA Officer.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Tinkham is a graduate of the ABA National Compliance School as well as the KBA/ NBA Advanced School of Banking, School of Trust and Financial Planning, and Bank Compliance School. She holds the designation as a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager. Active in the community, Tinkham serves as a Board Member of City Impact and is on the broadcast team of Lincoln Berean Church.

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PERSONNEL NEWS

Terese Janovec Joins Keller Williams Lincoln Derek J Kats, Realtor and co-owner of Keller Williams Lincoln, along with the entire brokerage, welcomes the newest addition to the Keller Williams family, Terese Janovec.

Terese comes to Keller Williams Lincoln from the academia field with ties to the University of Nebraska. She has also been an avid investor in Lincoln’s real estate market, which helped develop her natural skill set for working with investors as well as traditional buyers and sellers. Terese was accepted into the mentorship program established by Kats for aspiring Realtors, which was put in place to unlock agents’ true potential and match them with the industry-leading tools and training that only Keller Williams can provide. Derek Kats and the agents at Keller Williams Lincoln look forward to watching her future growth and successes.

Located at 5539 S. 27th Street, Suite 206, Keller Williams Lincoln is part of the largest real estate franchise by agent count in the world, with local real estate professionals offering decades of combined expertise and proven results. Terese Janovec can be contacted directly at (402) 770-9447.

Sumner Place Adds New Leadership Sumner Place Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation is very proud to announce the addition of Shelly LeFever and Sarah Wiebusch to their leadership team.

Shelly LeFever, Quality Assurance Nurse, is well suited for her position due to her visionary approach. She looks beyond problems and develops precise solutions for the success of each resident. Shelly loves to look beneath the surface to discover the “whys.” Residents love Shelly because of her empathetic approach.

She is able to show the worth of a person by giving her undivided attention as she invests whatever is needed to heal the hurts of others. Shelly has been a dedicated nurse for the past seventeen years.

Shelly LeFever

Sarah Wiebusc h, Director of Social Services, is a lifelong learner who has an internal fire inside as she constantly needs to learn and achieve. Residents appreciate Sarah’s ability to import wisdom, maturity, and skill. Often Sarah is validating Sarah Wiebusch direction or helping to ensure completeness for each resident. Sarah can easily identify the unique qualities of each person, help people build bridges to understand the connectedness of life experiences and ultimately find meaning and purpose. With an undergraduate degree from UNK, Sarah is also working on getting her Masters in Social Work and Public Administration from UNO. Sumner Place is very fortunate to have Wiebusch and LeFever in their family!

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Sumner Place is one of 30 facilities owned and/or managed by Vetter Senior Living (VSL). The care center’s administrator and staff develop plans to continuously improve their services and facility with the support from the VHS network. Operating decisions are made locally to assure that Sumner Place remains responsive to the needs of its residents and community. For more information, please call (402) 475-6791 or visit www.sumnerplacecare.com.

PERSONNEL NEWS

West Gate Bank® Promotes Shane Myers The West Gate Bank® Board of Directors has elected Shane Myers to the title of Assistant Vice President, Assistant Mortgage Underwriting Manager for the West Gate Bank Mortgage division.

Myers is a Cum Laude graduate of Peru State College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He began his banking career in 2007 and joined West Gate Bank in December, 2014. In his current role as Assistant Vice President, Assistant Mortgage Underwriting Manager, Myers is responsible for underwriting both secondary market eligible mortgage loans and portfolio mortgage loans for West Gate Bank Mortgage.

He also counsels with lenders at West Gate Bank and correspondents regarding Investor loan eligibility requirements to help them serve their customers in a responsible manner.

Shane Myers is located at West Gate Bank® Center at 6003 Old Cheney Road, and can be reached at (402) 434-4079 or smyers@ westgate.bank.

West Gate Bank® is a full-service community bank focused on Lincoln.

Stop by any of the seven branches to experience the local community bank difference and see how Lincoln’s Bank can serve you. Visit www. westgatebank.com for more information.

Strictly Business Announces Promotion of Holly Ryan, Welcomes Kristin White Holly Ryan, who was hired on in 2016 as graphic designer for the Strictly Business Lincoln and Omaha publications, has recently been promoted to the position of Art Director.

Kristin White was selected to fill the role of graphic designer and officially joined the team on September 13th.

In her time with the company, Holly has worn many hats, from ad design and creative to print, video, web posting, photography and social media campaigns to playing a key role in the company’s organization process. She Holly Ryan has taken on the additional responsibilities of layout for both publications and management of the advertisement component of all client accounts. Holly has hit the ground running and is excited about the new responsibilities this role brings.

Kristin is a Lexington, NE native and attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Visual Communication & Design. Prior to assuming her new position at Strictly Business, she worked as a product photographer and Kristin White image editor at the Buckle Inc. in Kearney, NE while also doing freelance design on the side. Kristin will be assisting with designing ads and promotional materials along with posting content to the Strictly Business websites and social media accounts.

Together, Holly and Kristin are responsible for the entire creative side of the magazine and will work closely as a team to complete projects for a diverse range of clients in both markets.

Holly can be reached at our office, (402) 466-3330 or via email at design@strictlybusinessomaha.com. Kristin can also be reached at the office number or via email at creative@strictlybusinessomaha.com Please join us in congratulating Holly and Kristin on their new positions at Strictly Business!

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PERSONNEL NEWS

Joan Kurtenbach Celebrates 1st Anniversary Dan Granatowicz Joins CHC-NE State With Heartland Payroll Solutions Leadership Council Heartland Payroll Solutions congratulates Joan Kurtenbach on her one-year anniversary with the company! Joan is a Senior Product Advisor based in Lincoln, NE with over 20 years of experience in the payroll industry.

She specializes in finding optimal solutions for entrepreneurs with companies of all sizes and structures.

Managing payroll and keeping in compliance with labor laws can be challenging for an employer, and there are many reasons to outsource for these services. Keeping payroll “in house” carries increased liability, knowledge, time, and costs that often exceed the price for outsourcing to experts, which is why outsourcing has become so popular. Joan provides world-class service consistent with the Merchant Bill of Rights – Payroll Act, delivering on the promise not only to meet, but exceed, her clients’ expectations. With Heartland Payroll Solutions offering the industry’s only three-year price guarantee, there’s no worry about any hidden fees or annual price increases found with many other national payroll processors. Heartland Payroll Solutions also developed the industry’s first Oracle web-hosted payroll platform, a new service that provides clients the ability to customize their processes to an extent not available before. From web-based submission to completely paperless processing, Heartland Payroll Solutions allows clients to focus on growing their business rather than worrying about the ever-changing complexities of payroll.

Joan can be contacted directly at (402) 850-5384 / joan. kurtenbach@e-hps.com. Find out more about Heartland Payroll Solutions online at www.heartland.us.

Community Health Charities of Nebraska (CHC-NE; www.chcne.org) has announced that Dan Granatowicz, Continental ContiTech, has joined the organization’s State Leadership Council. He will focus his efforts on promoting and supporting CHC-NE’s 22 member charities in the Norfolk area as well as across the state.

Before relocating to Norfolk from Lincoln, Granatowicz served on CHC-NE’s Lincoln Board of Directors as the Board Chair and also served on the Campaign Cabinet in Lincoln.

HOME Real Estate Welcomes New Agents HOME Real Estate would like to welcome t h e fo l l ow i n g R E A LT O R S t o t h e c o m p a ny : K i m B u s s ey, Wya t t B e c k , Steve Maynock, To d d G o u l d , K e l s ey Pa r k , Kar lee Long and Elizabeth Bhandari who join the Midtown office at 5322 O Street.

T h e s e a ge n t s can now offer their clients the service, strength and stability that HOME Real Estate is known for. All HOME agents have undergone licensing through the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, as well as completing additional and ongoing training offered

by HOME Real Estate.

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Kim Bussey

Wyatt Beck

Steve Maynock

Todd Gould

Kelsey Park

Karlee Long

HOME Real Estate, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and subsidiary of HomeServices of America, has been voted Best of Lincoln 19 years running. The company’s agents are committed to providing clients with exceptional service in all stages of the building, buying, and selling process, including real estate, mortgage, title, and insurance. For more information about HOME Real Estate, visit www.

HomeRealEstate.com.

Elizabeth Bhandari

PERSONNEL NEWS

Nebraska Medical Association Announces New Officers, Award Winners On September 8th, the Nebraska Medical Association held its 2017 Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Ceremony. Installed as President was Rob Rhodes, MD of Lincoln.

Nominated as President-Elect was Britt Thedinger, MD of Omaha.

Award winners for 2017 were also named: Distinguished Service to Medicine - John Reed, MD, Lincoln; Physician of the Year Kim Coleman, MD, Lincoln; Young Physician of the Year - Mike Feilmeier, MD, Omaha; and Friend of Medicine - Bob Bartee, Omaha. In addition, 26 50-year practitioners were recognized and $40,500 worth of scholarships were presented to deserving medical students at UNMC and Creighton University.

Nebraska Mortgage Association Recognizes Cornhusker Bank Mortgage Originators Cornhusker Bank congratulates the members of its mortgage team recently recognized for the third consecutive year by the Nebraska Mortgage Association (NMA) as members of the 2017 Champions Circle. Mortgage Loan Originators Mike Barrett, Andrew Essay, Matt Gutschenritter and Luke Pictured L-R: Luke Mitchell, Matt Mitchell were recognized Gutschenritter, Andrew Essay and Mike Barrett. at the NMA luncheon in Omaha on September 21st. This recognition celebrates and honors the dedication and hard work mortgage professionals put into serving their clients during the home loan process. Benchmarks for being recognized include origination of either 100 loans or $12 Million in volume during the previous 12-month period. All four mortgage originators from Cornhusker Bank exceeded both benchmarks.

Cornhusker Bank remains Lincoln’s oldest locally owned bank, demonstrating hometown heart, stability, soundness and continued commitment to the success of its valued customers and associates.

Mike Hass Joins Ironhide Construction Ironhide Construction recently welcomed Mike Hass to its team in August as superintendent.

He is highly experienced, having served in this role for over a decade with previous employers, and has already proved to be an amazing asset to the company.

Ironhide Construction is a general contractor and structural restoration company serving clients across the Midwest. Whether an architect’s vision or a client’s idea not yet on paper, Ironhide Construction transforms metal into modern – delivering sophisticated, custom buildings that are both functional and stylish. Ironhide Construction is also one of only a few companies in the region that specializes in the challenges of structural restoration, as well as developing phased maintenance plans for buildings, parking garages, and other structures.

Ironhide Construction approaches every project with transparency, accountability, and quality results from proposal to completion. For more information, please visit www.ironhideconstruction.com or contact Troy Bridgford at (402) 420-4961 / troy@ironhideconstruction.com.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS Child Guidance Center Needs Warm Winter Gear for Boys Receiving Services Would you and your co-workers like to provide a war m coat, stocking hat and gloves for a boy in need this winter? Child Guidance Center is in need of new warm coats in sizes medium (M) through extra-large (XL) for boys ages 12 – 18 who are receiving residential treatment or intensive outpatient treatment at the Therapeutic Group Home. During the last program year, 35 boys and their families benefitted from this program.

Your generous gift of $100 - $125 will provide a new warm coat, stocking hat, and gloves for one boy in need this winter. Child Guidance Center is also in need of gifts to go toward helping to provide additional clothing, including shirts and pants for the boys.

Child Guidance Center inspires healthy futures for children and families through comprehensive behavioral and mental health care.

“We are so grateful for the ongoing generosity of local donors and community members who fulfill this need every year,” shared Katie McLeese Stephenson, Executive Director.

For more information or to give your gift online, go to www.childguidance.org, contact Jenny Cardwell at jcardwell@child-guidance. org or call (402) 475-7666. Thank you!

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5th Annual EYE RUN a Success Christian Record Services, Inc. held the 5th annual EYE RUN at Holmes Lake Park on Sunday, October 8. About 150 people participated in Lincoln or virtually, and among that number were eight legally blind walkers and runners.

Heavy rain in the area caused event planners to redesign the course route less than 24 hours before the bell ring start. This change did not deter James, a legally blind runner who traveled via Uber from Omaha to participate in the 10K. James had started running about a year ago, and his favorite events are 5K and 10K runs. He learned about the EYE RUN through friends at work.

Christian Record volunteers were on hand to guide blind runners and walkers through the course. Dean Carlisle, a local pastor and previous EYE RUN participant who regularly runs marathons, ran the 10K with James, and the pair held an 11:29-minute pace.

The EYE RUN included the Healthy Lifestyle Choice Expo, which featured booths with educational games, tips for maintaining eye health, and information from supportive agencies that serve people who are blind.

Proceeds from the EYE RUN provide free reading services, Bible, and Bible studies, and confidence-building summer and winter camp adventures through National Camps for Blind Children. Learn more at www.ChristianRecord.org.

NON-PROFIT NEWS Fresh Start Signs On With UBT Propelr Propelr is now helping raise money for Fresh Start each time you use your UBT Debit Card at participating merchants!

Enroll at www.propelrcard. com and select Fresh Start. When you make a purchase at participating stores with your UBT Debit Card, the store donates a percentage of the purchase. If you already have a UBT Debit Card, the Propelr service is added to your current card - you do not need a new or separate card.

Not a UBT customer? There are many ways to support Fresh Start through shopping this holiday season. When shopping online don’t forget to use AmazonSmile, Good Shop, or eBay for Charity. These programs help raise money for Fresh Start.

Fresh Start is able to offer safe housing, case management, and supportive services to women who are homeless working to change their lives. These services help the women who come to Fresh Start Home overcome the barriers that led to their homelessness and help them to recognize their strengths. Fresh Start has assisted over 1,500 women in our 25-year history.

Call Audrey at Fresh Start at (402) 475-7777 for more information, visit www.FreshStartHome.org or find Fresh Start on Facebook.

CEDARS Youth Opportunity Center Surpasses Goals When the CEDARS Youth Opportunity Center opened at the end of January 2017, staff projected that in the first year they would make 750 contacts with youth experiencing homelessness or who are at risk. Through these connections, resources could be provided and relationships could be built so that without pressure or judgment youth could be offered safe ways to leave the streets.

The CEDARS Youth Opportunity Center, called YOC for short, is an expansion of CEDARS 70-year-old tradition of providing safe refuge to children and youth who have no other safe place to spend the night. Any youth age 13-21 can “drop in” at the YOC for a meal, laundry, personal hygiene items, help with job or housing applications, and more.

By the end of June, the CEDARS team at the YOC made over 800 contacts with youth and are currently serving over 90 youth who rely on support three or more times a month. This critical aid to youth in crisis would not be possible without the support of the community to deliver life-changing services to children and families.

This year, CEDARS will serve 2,750 children, youth and their families through comprehensive efforts to help kids in crisis and build strong families. Nearly 300 children and youth will stay in CEDARS care over the holiday season.

For more information call (402) 434-KIDS (5437) or visit www. cedarskids.org.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS

2017 Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands Celebrates Nonprofits Breaking Barriers

24th Annual Okto Beerfest Fundraiser a Success

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) and D.A. Davidson are hosting the 11th annual Nonprofit Summit of the M i d l a n d s, h e l d Wednesday, November 1 at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in La Vista. The annual Summit celebrates more than a decade of nonprofits helping their communities.

The theme for this year’s Summit is “Breaking Barriers.” The Summit features breakout sessions, a Catalyst Award and workshops on a variety of topics, including fundraising, lobbying and moving strategic plans forward.

Blog author and nonprofit leader, Vu Le, who is widely known for his great humor and keen ideas, is the keynote speaker for this year’s Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands. Le is the Executive Director of Rainier Valley Corps, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by cultivating leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color and fostering collaboration between diverse communities. As the writer behind Nonprofit AF, Le is known not only for his humor but also for his no-nonsense approach.

“The Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands is an opportunity to highlight the work being done by the many great nonprofits in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa,” said Anne Hindery, CEO of the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands. “Our session leaders are local experts and thought leaders in the nonprofit community providing effective tools and valuable insights to help charitable organizations further their missions.”

The Nebraska State Stroke Association would like to thank all of the sponsors, vendors, food donors, breweries, distributors, auction donors, and attendees of the 24th Annual Okto Beerfest, which was held Thursday, October 19 at the Lancaster Event Center. More than 100 local businesses contributed to the success of the event and raising awareness of stroke prevention in Nebraska! Corporate sponsors included Alpha Media, the Lincoln Journal Star, Sportscasters Bar & Grill, Sapp Bros. Inc., Sid Dillon, Strictly Business magazine, Berks Foto Photography, Data Source Media, Four Star Card & Gift Gallery, HopCat, Screen Ink, and Biggerstaff Plumbing, Heating & Air. In particular, thanks are extended to the Lincoln Sertoma Clubs for their 24 years of leadership, service, and support. See photos and more at www.facebook.com/OktoBeerfestNebraska.com.

More than 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. The mission of the Nebraska State Stroke Association is to serve Nebraskans through stroke prevention, education, advocacy, and support services. Since 1985, NSSA has been providing education and outreach on the signs of stroke and serving as a resource for those affected by stroke in Nebraska. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Nebraska and the leading cause of disability in the U.S. To donate to NSSA, find a speaker or learn more, visit www.NebraskaStroke.org or contact Linda Stephen at (402) 484-8131 / hello@nebraskastroke.org.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS

Announcing Parent Life ThanksMas Dinner Parent Life is having a holiday dinner on Tuesday, December 12. Any pregnant and parenting teens in the Lincoln area are invited to join! The dinner is being held at the normal Parent Life meeting place, Calvary Community Church (Superior and First streets). The evening will include delicious free food, a gift exchange, games, and childcare fun for the kids!

Spread the word; it’s an open invitation to pregnant or parenting teen moms and/or dads and their children. The holiday party will begin at 6:15 p.m. and conclude around 8:30 p.m.

Youth for Christ Lincoln Area (www.yfclincoln.org) is a nondenominational, non-judgmental, non-profit organization serving youth in the Lincoln community and surrounding areas. Youth are engaged through three ministries: Campus Life for high school and middle school teens, Juvenile Justice for jailed teens, and Parent Life for pregnant and parenting teens. Through regular programming and special events, YFC Lincoln Area works with over 2,400 local youth with the goal of engaging them in a healthy relationship with God and others.

Local Golfers, Supporters Raise $40K for Heartland Cancer Foundation The Heartland Cancer Foundation raised almost $40,000 at the Cancer Classic Golf Scramble, September 21st, at Hillcrest Country Club. The annual golf tournament brings players from all over the community and benefits low-income cancer patients. The Cancer Classic was in memory of Mick Zangari of Lincoln, who lost his battle with metastatic are Laura Essay and Judy Johnson, head and neck cancer Pictured members of the volunteer guild. in 2016.

Thirty teams competed to win a trophy and hole games, such as “marshmallow longest drive” sponsored by Lexus of Lincoln and “the circle game” sponsored by Two Men and a Truck. The day was hot, but that didn’t dampen the players’ enthusiasm for golfing and raising money for the Foundation. After golfing, teams enjoyed an Italian buffet dinner, and live auction.

Larry Albers, President of Heartland Cancer Foundation’s board, said the funds would assist the foundation in its grant expansion efforts.

Cancer patients in Southeastern Nebraska and Northeastern Kansas may apply to receive assistance with payments towards car or housing, gas cards, prescription medication, medical supplies, and physical or occupational therapies related to cancer treatment. On the website, HeartlandCancerFoundation.org, applications for assistance can be submitted electronically, or printed for mailing.

The Heartland Cancer Foundation is based in Lincoln. Its mission is to provide practical and immediate assistance to cancer patients so they can focus on healing. The Foundation will be hosting its fundraising event, “Mardi Gras Casino Royale” on February 9th, 2018 at Wilderness Ridge, and is currently accepting community sponsors. For more information, email heidimoyerhcf@gmail.com or call (402) 261-9974.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS TeamMates Seeking Businesses to Help Build a Better Lincoln Currently there are over 1,200 Te a m M a t e s vo l u n t e e r s i n sc hools across the city, making a big difference with relatively little time each week. Yet there are still hundreds of students waiting to be matched with mentors. Companies like yours can have a dramatic impact in the lives of students in those schools, helping them to reach their full potential.

The program needs the support of local businesses in our community to make it successful. Think of it as investing in your business’s future.

People want to do business with and work for companies that care.

How better to show you care than by investing in our students? Aside from showing your customers and employees how much you care, your community investment may result in a stronger hiring pool for the future. It’s a win-win-win.

Look around, down the block, across the street - there is a school nearby with students waiting for mentors. You could help ensure those students find a TeamMate. Please consider joining the team of businesses positively impacting our schools and community!

If you are interested in collaborating with a school, go to www.

LincolnTeamMates.org/SB or call (402) 436-1990.

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Presents “Gardens Transformed” Educational Event Nebraska Statewide Arboretum is set to host the n ex t l e c t u r e in the Young Lecture series on November 10. It will be held at Hardin Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus, 3310 Holdrege St. The topic is “Gardens Transformed.” It will be presented by landscape architect Sandra Youssef Clinton. Guests will learn how to transform their own landscapes for amazing seasonal beauty.

A grassroots, member-based nonprofit organization, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum believes that landscapes have a dramatic impact on quality of life. They renew the environment, help form neighborly connections, create more vibrant business districts and improve the social, physical and psychological health of people of all ages—from toddlers to seniors. The organization works toward purposeful beauty in private and public landscapes through publications, workshops, regional plant recommendations and other outreach efforts.

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum uses its 40 years of experience with landscape efforts, science-based reasoning and a good dose of inspiration to encourage environmental efforts both large and small.

It is also the organization’s belief that people can have a positive impact on their surroundings and that thoughtful stewardship inspires and motivates change and hope. Nebraska Statewide Arboretum challenges and enables people to make a difference—in their homes and in their communities.

“We love plants. Give us a tree to hug. A flower to smell. Dirt in our nails. Learn with us.” Find out more at plantnebraska.org.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS Child Guidance Center in Need of Donations Survivors Rising Strives for Inclusion for Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Survivors Rising recently Will you help give a c hild a special Thanksgiving dinner?

O n Tu e s d a y, November 21st, Child Guidance Center is hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for the children and families of its Extended Day Treatment Program. This program operates five days a week, year round, and provides therapeutic services for children, ages 5 – 12, who need help with emotional regulation and social skills so that they can be successful in school, in the community, in their home settings and life in general.

This dinner is something that the children who participate in the Extended Day Treatment Program enjoy with their families and our staff each year. Sometimes this dinner is the only Thanksgiving Dinner that they have. Another highlight of this dinner is that the staff makes enough extra food to send home leftovers with families so they can enjoy their own Thanksgiving meal at home too.

To make a contribution to help purchase three turkeys and all of the fixings that make a Thanksgiving Dinner great, please go to www. child-guidance.org or mail your check to Child Guidance Center at 2444 “O” Street, Lincoln, NE 68510. For more information, please contact Jenny Cardwell at jcardwell@child-guidance.org / (402) 475-7666. Thank you.

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began to hold Survivor Community meetings c o n ve n i n g s u r v i vo rleaders from the comm unity to move toward a more inclusive approach. There is so much overlap between forms of violence. A survivor might have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and sex trafficking all in one relationship. In addition, there are similarities with the offenders of these crimes —all offenders focus on power and control, are extremely dangerous and sometimes lethal, and can be from any walk of life. Stay tuned for the announcement of the next event.

A ‘splitting’ approach to victims and survivors excludes people and minimizes the many types of violence an individual may experience.

In addition to expanding its scope to represent all forms of violence, Survivors Rising hopes to create a safe and inclusive space for many survivor voices that are often silenced or marginalized - LGBTQ, people of color, Native Americans, immigrants, refugees, people with a disability, people in lower socioeconomic status, and survivors who identify as men.

Survivors Rising is an organization dedicated to advocacy, education, and support for survivors of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, domestic/dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Programs include: speakers bureau, education & training, legislative and policy advocacy, and survivor engagement to promote system change and safety in our community. Find out more at survivorsrising.org or by contacting Kim at (402) 850-0301 / kimsurvivorsrising@gmail.com.

NON-PROFIT NEWS Plan to Show Your Support on Giving Tuesday More Than $110K Raised From Safe Quarters #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.

Celebrated across the U.S. on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely-recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.

One of the best ways to get involved is right here in your own community. Mark your calendars for November 28th and please consider supporting our local non-profit organizations that do such important work here in Lincoln to make it a better place for all.

Be sure to check out our recent Supporting Non-Profits story featured in the July 2017 issue and online at bit.ly/SupportingNPLNK if you’re looking for ideas and inspiration on where to direct your charitable giving!

Ribbon Cutting Marks Opening of Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln’s New Headquarters Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln recently celebrated the opening of its new administrative offices located at 4615 Orchard St. with a Chamber ribbon cutting, followed by tours of the new space and a celebratory cake donated by Sam’s Club.

Attendees included City Councilman Carl Eskridge, Lincoln Chamber members, Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln Board members, staff, construction crew, and Habitat homeowners.

“We are excited about the opportunities our new office provides,” says Josh Hanshaw, executive director of Habitat Lincoln. “It allows staff to operate more efficiently and effectively as a team. We also see the future possibilities of growing our impact, including expanding homeowner education and training, and ultimately serving more families in need of decent shelter.”

The new office, which is located next to the Habitat Lincoln ReStore, was built by Habitat Lincoln, its regular volunteer construction crew and community volunteer groups. Additional build support includes: Union Bank & Trust; Harold & Judeth Hoppe; City of Lincoln; Goetz Foundation Coating; Judson Irrigation; Maria Swanson; Pioneer Overhead Doors; Ray’s Lawn & Landscape; Jon Wiles, BVH Architects and member of Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln Board of Directors; and the Habitat Lincoln Relocation Task Force Board Committee.

For more information, visit www.lincolnhabitat.org or contact Christina Zink, Development Director, at (402) 235-8942 / czink@ lincolnhabitat.org.

On Sunday, October 8th, Safe Quar ters volunteers raised $111,635 for victims of domestic violence by knocking on doors in Lincoln and Lancaster County. Over 1,500 volunteers participated in Friendship Home’s largest annual fundraiser, going door-to-door and asking members in the community for donations.

The money raised through this event has a HUGE impact on the lives of families escaping abuse. Funds collected provide a safe, confidential home, crisis services and ongoing support for families who are rebuilding their lives because of domestic violence.

Friendship Home wants to thank all of the Safe Quarters sponsors and volunteers, as well as the generous people in the community who opened their doors.

If you didn’t get to donate, don’t worry, it’s not too late! You can donate online at http://bit.ly/2gtwT7p or mail your contribution to the following address: Friendship Home, Safe Quarters, P.O. Box 85358, Lincoln, NE 68501.

For more information about Friendship Home, visit www.friendshiphome. org. If you or someone you know needs help, call the confidential help line at (402) 437-9302.

American Cancer Society Announces Hope Gala Partnership With Norland Pure The Lincoln chapter of the American Cancer Society announces its Presenting Partnership with Norland Pure celebrating the 10th Anniversary Hope Gala. This year’s event will be held on Friday, November 10 at Hillcrest Country Club.

Want to join in the fight for a world without cancer? Visit www.

Hopegala.org to purchase tickets or donate online. Every dollar counts and with every donation, you are fueling progress to end this disease!

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NON-PROFIT NEWS

Homeless Expansion Efforts a Success at Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach

A Warmer Day Distributes More Than 400 Coats Locally

National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week is held annually the week before Thanksgiving. Last year Matt Talbot kicked off this special week by announcing a plan to find stable homes for those dealing with chronic homelessness.

One year later the results of these efforts are positive and exciting.

A grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development allowed Matt Talbot to provide permanent supportive housing to 12 individuals and 3 families who were previously chronically homeless.

Matt Talbot’s Landlord Liaison Program (LLP) has secured housing for 54 individuals to date. Overseen by a Housing Locator, the LLP works with landlords to provide housing to people who may not meet the current rental agreement criteria, and ensures tenants and landlords get support throughout the rental agreement.

“Often people experiencing chronic homelessness are the hardest to reach. Matt Talbot is known for providing a hot meal. But we also go out to the streets, under bridges, and anywhere the homeless are to offer blankets, hygiene products, sleeping bags and non-perishable food in the hopes that we can build trust,” said Susanne Blue, Executive Director. “We’ve seen that when trust is established they will come to us for more help, and we are able to share resources to give them a better and healthier life.”

National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week is a time to be thankful, share compassion, and work toward a world where no one experiences hunger and homelessness.

A Warmer Day, a local a l l - v o l u n t e e r c h a r i t y, distributed more than 400 coats to those in need on Saturday, October 21st.

The distribution took place at the F Street Community center in partnership with Cowboy Chicken, which also provided a delicious meal to the children at the center.

In addition to coats, A Warmer Day also distributed a great deal of hats, boots, scarves, gloves and mittens. There were often dozens waiting outside of their distribution truck during the 3-hour event.

Valerie Conde, one of the founders of A Warmer Day, stated, “The event was much larger than anticipated and was a remarkable success. No one had to leave empty-handed.”

A Warmer Day collects coats and other winter apparel for underprivileged children and families. All of the coats are laundered at no cost by the organization’s partners Starcrest Cleaners and Laundry Land before being distributed. A Warmer Day will host at least four additional distributions this year in southeast Nebraska.

You can contribute to their mission by donating a coat at one of their 50 donation drop-off sites located in Lincoln, Omaha, Beatrice, and surrounding towns. You can also make a tax-deductible financial contribution online at www.awarmerday.org. Your contribution will be used to cover the expenses associated with their collection and distribution efforts. A Warmer Day is an all-volunteer organization and has no payroll.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS

St. Monica’s Seeking Holiday Gift Donations The holidays are fast approaching, and your help is needed to make it a special time for women who are involved in the treatment and support programs at St. Monica’s. This includes adult women in the care of St. Monica’s as well as adolescent girls ages 13-18 in the Channels program.

St. Monica’s will be gathering gifts during the next two months. In the spirit of the season, please consider making a donation.

Details on how to give and suggested items are listed on the website at www.stmonicas.com/give. For more information about holiday gift donations, contact Valerie Murphy at (402) 441-3768 Ext. 111 / vmurphy@stmonicas.com.

St. Monica’s is committed to the sobriety of women of all ages through empowerment, stability and self-fulfillment. The organization has been serving women in our community for 53 years through both inpatient and outpatient programs. Visit www.stmonicas.com for more information.

Little Hats, Big Hearts™ 2018 Campaign Launches in Nebraska The American H e a r t Association is seeking handmade red hats, croc heted or knit, to provide to Nebraska newborns born during the next American Heart Month (February 2018), as a part of the national Little Hats, Big Hearts™ project. Sponsored by Union Bank & Trust in Lincoln, Little Hats, Big Hearts™ is raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases, the No. 1 killer in the United States, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country, occurring in one of 110 babies.

Hats will be given to each baby born in February at participating hospitals across the state. Hospitals that have already confirmed their participation can be found at: www.heart.org/littlehatsbighearts/ Last year, Nebraska participated in the project for the second time, distributing approximately 2,000 hats statewide and in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The American Heart Association is working with both the mother-baby units and Neonatal Intensive Care Units in hospitals so donations of red hats in both premature and newborn sizes are needed. Because bows and buttons may be a danger to newborn babies, only red hats without decorations can be accepted for Little Hats, Big Hearts.

The American Heart Association is also accepting donations of red yarn to help those who will be knitting or crocheting hats. Yarn must be cotton or acrylic, medium to heavy weight and machine washable and dryable.

All mailed-in donations must be received at the American Heart Association’s Greater Nebraska Regional Office in Lincoln (1540 S. 70th Street, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68506) no later than Jan. 13.

In-person donations can be made during regular business hours at the offices in Lincoln and Omaha (9900 Nicholas Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68114).

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HEALTH NEWS

Union Bank & Trust Receives Governor’s Wellness Award Union Bank & Trust (www. ubt.com) was presented the Large Grower Award at the Governor’s Wellness Award banquet held on October 11th.

The Governor’s Wellness Award was developed to encourage all businesses in the state of Nebraska to offer wellness programs to UBT Wellness Manager Carly Schlueter their employees. with CFO Brad Crain, CEO Angie Muhleisen, Union Bank & Trust met a and HR Officer Debbie Griffin. number of requirements to receive this award that include: demonstrating strong leadership as a wellness champion in the community, providing data such as aggregate biometric screening results and top health care costs, sharing a wellness plan with measurable objectives and outcomes, and presenting company policies and benefits that support wellness including health insurance, a tobacco free workplace, tuition reimbursement, health club reimbursement, weight management reimbursement, wellness days off, and lactation rooms amongst many others.

“I feel so fortunate to work for a company that is so invested in the health and wellbeing of their employees,” stated Carly Schlueter, Wellness Manger of Union Bank & Trust. “It is evident that the leadership and the entire organization are supportive of the wellness program.”

Nebraska Community Blood Bank: We’re So Thankful for Blood Donors Lydia started first grade this fall. She is smart, caring, and a proud big sister. But life hasn’t been easy for Lydia and her parents, Tony and Kristen Moser, because her story began in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Lydia was born 16 weeks early and needed five blood transfusions during her stay in the NICU. “Blood transfusions literally saved Lydia’s life,” said Kristen, recalling a few scary experiences in the NICU when the doctors believed she might die. “The transfusions were sometimes our last hope. We are very blessed blood was available when she needed it.”

An estimated 15 million babies around the world are born prematurely each year. Please consider donating blood this November in honor of Prematurity Awareness Month.

“We are so grateful for the donors who selflessly take time to give blood. Until we had a very critically ill child, we didn’t realize the true value of blood donation,” Kristen said. “I didn’t know starting life like Lydia did was even possible.” She hopes to help educate others about the needs of premature infants to give parents hope, even when they face difficult odds.

Visit NCBB.ORG or call (877) 486-9414 to learn more about hosting a blood drive or to sign up to donate blood at a donor center or blood drive.

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HEALTH NEWS

SCC’s Surgical Technology Program Receives Talent Plus® Ranked in Top Ten on Modern National Merit Award Healthcare’s 2017 Best Places to Work List Southeast Community C o l l e ge ’s S u r g i c a l Technology program has been recognized for achieving at least a 90-percent graduate pass rate on the Certified Surgical Technologist examination. The timeframe used was August 1, 2016, through July 31, 2017.

Sharon Rehn, program chair, said graduates routinely achieve a 100-percent first-time pass rate year after year, which is much higher than the competition.

“The national average hovers around 69 to 70 percent pass rates,” she added.

Graduates who obtain national certification understand the basic competencies for safe patient care in the operating room. The CST is widely recognized in the health care community as the foremost credential for surgical technologists in the nation. It’s also required for employment at many health care organizations.

Rehn said surgical technology is a stable career for students to consider when thinking about a future in health care.

“There are always job openings in this state for surgical technologists,” Rehn said. “Yet we struggle to find students who know much about our profession. Surgical technologists are highly paid health care professionals who play a vital role on the surgical team.”

For more information on the Surgical Technology program at SCC, visit www.southeast.edu/surgicaltech.

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Talent Plus, Inc. ® (www.talentplus.com) is honored to be named by Modern Healthcare as one of the Best Places to Work in the United States (www.modernhealthcare. com/bestplaces2017), ranking number six overall for suppliers and providers and number two on the Family Friendliest list.

As the Leading Talent Assessment PartnerSM in the industry, Talent Plus is excited to partner with health care organizations that are focusing on innovative solutions in this ever-changing environment. They are committed to helping client partners see real results that impact their bottom line while improving patient satisfaction, safety and quality.

Utilizing The Science of Talent ® enables health care companies to select the very best clinical and non-clinical personnel to sustain a strong future.

Talent Plus is honored to receive this award, knowing the culture that’s been created within the company is due in large part to the science put behind selecting its own associates. “If you select the most talented people that fit your needs, and they love what they do, they will produce more consistent value for your company in the long run. That’s our business model so we see it every day. We have the science to build great companies and it’s exciting to see the results,” Kimberly Rath, CoChairman and Founder, Talent Plus, relates.

“Our award winners can be proud of the role they play in elevating the standard for workplace excellence. These five-star organizations not only see higher employee retention, but also increased patient engagement and satisfaction and healthier bottom lines,” shared Fawn Lopez, publisher of Modern Healthcare.

HEALTH NEWS

Husker Rehab Celebrates Opening of Newest Clinic in Nebraska City H u s k e r Rehabilitation & We l l n e s s Centers, P.C. recently o p e n e d another clinic, expanding to serve clients in Nebraska City and surrounding areas. With locations in Lincoln, Beatrice, and Fairbury, and now with its newest location in Nebraska City, Husker Rehab has grown to be the premier physical therapy provider in southeast Nebraska. An official ribbon cutting and open house was held on Sept. 21, with the Nebraska City Chamber of Commerce, local business leaders and members of the community present for the ceremony. Husker Rehab’s Nebraska City location at 115 S. 8th Street breathes new life into the former site of Pendleton Outlet Store that closed in January 2017. It is a part of the revitalization of the area, with a number of other businesses renovating and repurposing other existing buildings in the business district. The Nebraska City location can be contacted directly at (402) 873-5151.

The mission of Husker Rehabilitation & Wellness is to provide costeffective holistic rehabilitation and occupational health services which exceed their customer’s expectations and maximize functional outcomes in an attractive and caring environment. Husker Rehab has six locations, all with the common mission of helping patients stay healthy and meeting the needs of those in the communities it serves.

Find out more about Husker Rehab online at www.huskerrehab.com.

Excellence in Worksite Wellness Award Winners Announced WELLCOM will be recognizing more than 20 of the Midlands’ healthiest companies at its annual awards luncheon from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesday, November 7 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in La Vista. This year’s event is in conjunction with WELLCOM’s Q4 Innovative Symposium, “Worksite Wellness and Sustainability – A Thriving Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Profit.”

The Excellence in Worksite Wellness Awards Luncheon honors organizations for positioning wellness programs as a strategic business opportunity and making a difference in their employees’ lives.

WELLCOM also has partnered with the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association in recognizing organizations who have achieved excellence at the workplace through wellness initiatives.

Award recipients include: 2017 Governor’s Wellness Award - Large Grower: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska; C&A Industries, Inc.; Gallup; RDG Planning & Design; University of Nebraska Foundation. Small Grower: Diabetes Education Center of the Midlands. Large Sower: Bennington Public Schools, CHI Health, Dial Retirement Communities – Nebraska, Hyatt Global Contact Center – Omaha, Nebraska Organ Recovery, Omaha Performing Arts, Streck, Tenaska.

2017 Trek Up the Tower Awards - Large Business Corporate Team Award: 1st Place: Berk Up – Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies/ National Indemnity Company; 2nd Place: Mutual of Omaha; 3rd Place: Kiewit Corporation. Small Business Corporate Team Award: 1st Place: UNMC College of Allied Health Professions; 2nd Place: RTG Medical – Team RTG; 3rd Place: IPG Global Centre for Healthy Workplaces Award - First Place – Small and Medium-Sized Category: Lincoln Industries.

To register for the event or for more information about WELLCOM, please visit: www.elevatingwellness.org.

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LINCOLN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

by Coby Mach, President & CEO

402-466-3419 • www.liba.org

Mayor to Raise Lincoln’s Spending Limit Again Mayor Beutler is once again calling on the City Council to override a state mandated spending limit for the City of Lincoln. This is the eighth time since Beutler has been mayor that he has asked the City Council to vote to exceed such a limit.

The Lincoln Independent Business Association (LIBA) believes it is important for the citizens of Lincoln to understand three things regarding this issue: 1) The city has improperly reported votes by our City Council to the state as approval to exceed our spending limit, when in fact, those votes failed to do so. State law requires that 75 percent of City Council members must vote to override the spending limit. We commend City Councilwoman Cyndi Lamm for raising awareness that in two years, the vote achieved fewer than six votes, which does not constitute the 75 percent majority of the seven council members needed. It is clear that Lincoln has not acted in accordance with state law. LIBA calls on the administration to work with state officials in correcting these errors.

2) The Beutler administration has raised your taxes several times in the past 10 years. Wheel tax increases, property tax increases, suing the City Council to force more spending, using some of this year’s property tax windfall, the new electricity tax disguised as a dividend, and adding another $40 million to the City’s debt without a vote of the people were not enough for this Mayor. Now, the Mayor is again trying to force City Council members to vote to increase spending.

LIBA NEW MEMBERS

Access Family Medicine Access Family Medicine is Lincoln, Nebraska’s first Direct Primary Care clinic. We are an insurance-free, membership-based clinic. Dr. Johnson built his clinic with two goals in mind - to provide high quality patient care at an affordable price. This model is intended to help the consumer use their insurance dollars more wisely. Insure the things you cannot afford or predict and pay for what you can.

Dr. Johnson believes primary care services can be very reasonable in price, and by eliminating insurance from his practice he is able to lower his costs by 40%. Access Family Medicine has a great option for small businesses, many of which cannot afford to provide health insurance for their employees. For a low monthly fee, business owners can now offer HEALTH CARE for their employees. We love what we do, and we think you will too.

Access Family Medicine is located at 2800 N. 83rd Street, Suite E. To find out more, please call (402) 858-1510, email info@accessdpc. com, or visit www.accessfamilymedicine.com.

Ingrid Kirst Consulting Does Your Nonprofit Need Answers?

Is your nonprofit struggling with a lack of time for your mission? Are you wondering how you can improve your organization or board? Are you worried you are missing out on opportunities, volunteers, or funding?

3) In October, the Mayor clearly threatened the City Council by telling them if they do not support a new spending limit override, they will be blamed for cuts to the most popular city programs.

This is the same hysteria the city administration has used before when faced with trying to limit city spending. The fact is that cuts to those areas do not need to happen to keep the city in compliance with budgetary restrictions. There are other, less popular and less necessary programs the city could cut without punishing the citizens of Lincoln. But the Mayor has chosen to scare Lincolnites into thinking that raising the spending limit is the only way for our city not to be ruined.

Let Ingrid Kirst help you optimize your nonprofit organization!

With almost 20 years of experience in managing and working in nonprofits, Ingrid has been through it before, and can help you take your organization to the next level. Ingrid specializes in working with boards, executive directors and on nonprofit systems including financial, fundraising, grants and operations.

LIBA asks the citizens of Lincoln to push back. Good fiscal common sense can solve this problem, and the Beutler administration should not treat the citizens of Lincoln like a bottomless pile of cash.

Soap is a family owned and operated fullser vice laundromat conveniently located at 16th & O Street in downtown Lincoln. Here you’ll find a safe and secure, contemporary f a c i l i t y s t a f f e d by friendly employees, and a clean, comfortable environment with amenities like free WiFi, snack/soap vending, and large-screen TVs.

Finally, I want to thank all the LIBA members who volunteered to help LIBA grow. Our recent membership drive was a huge success.

We added 171 new members during the drive! Would you like to become a member of LIBA? We would like to add your voice to our organization. Business memberships are $275 a year and individuals who believe in a conservative approach to government are also encouraged to join for only $110. For more information on joining LIBA, please call me at (402) 466-3419. You will also find more information about LIBA by visiting our website at www. liba.org. Thank you!

LIBA studies and promotes these types of issues that are important to businesses and our community.

If you have an interest in joining LIBA, please call me 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.

Contact Ingrid today for a free consultation at (402) 730-2532 or ingridkirst.com so you can stop searching for answers to your nonprofit questions.

Soap

For the convenience of customers, there are card readers on many of the machines, concierge services/programs such as pick-up/delivery and ironing for individuals and businesses, and a wide variety of machines including large, commercial-sized washers and dryers that can accommodate up to 9 loads! Then there’s Soap’s Loyalty Card program, with perks like 10% off all card-reader machines every day and the ability to earn bonus points towards a free dry during weekday hours.

To find out more about Soap or get in contact with the team, visit soaplnk.com, call (402) 435-0515, or stop in today!

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LINCOLN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

by Wendy Birdsall, President

402-436-2350 • www.lcoc.org

Shop Small, Shop Local, Shop Lincoln This Holiday Season The start of another holiday season is upon us. On behalf of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and all of our 1,700 members, I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season. I encourage you to spend time with those closest to you and thank them for the contributions they have made to your life. Personally, I’m thankful for the opportunity we’ve had at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce to make Lincoln a better place to live, start a business and find new opportunities unique to our community. The goal at the Lincoln Chamber has always been to create new opportunities for existing Lincoln businesses and to recruit new businesses that want to call Lincoln home. We believe the hard work is paying off with a vibrant economy.

The holiday season is also a time of giving and many of you will spend the next few weeks trying to find that perfect gift. As you shop, I encourage you to support your local economy and buy Lincoln first. The money you spend at retailers here in Lincoln helps boost our local sales tax base and helps our community grow. When local sales tax collections increase, it helps off-set the reliance on property tax revenues to fund all of the things a growing city needs to be successful. A shift in just a few of your purchases will lead to additional revenue for our community and promote job growth.

In addition to helping your community grow, when you buy local you also support the foundation on which all good economies are built, small business.

According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses have generated 64 percent of the net new private-sector jobs over the past 15 years. That’s why the Lincoln Chamber joined forces with American Express to promote Small Business Saturday.

For example: instead of ordering a new drum set from a catalog, consider stopping by a local music store. Instead of heading to Omaha to shop at a large national retailer, stop by a local store and see if you can make your purchase there. There are countless other examples I could point to as ways to make more of your purchases locally this holiday season, but the theme is the same. This effort is aimed at reminding shoppers to consider smaller, Lincolnbased businesses as a source of holiday giving.

Your money and how you spend it can make the difference in somebody else’s business.

I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season and cheers to making 2017 another successful year for business and job growth in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Chamber’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together. For more information, please contact Jaime Henning at jaimehenning@lcoc.com.

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DOWNTOWN LINCOLN ASSOCIATION

by Terry Uland, President

402-434-6900 • www.downtownlincoln.org

Hat Killers Delivers True Barbershop Experience

Hat Killers is the newest barbershop to open downtown.

Located in Haymarket Square and owned by Theo Burns, Hat Killers opened the beginning of September and aims to create a unique vibe and experience for its customers.

Owner Theo Burns said he picked the Haymarket after seeing a vacancy in Haymarket Square and wanted to create a business that encapsulated the rustic feel of the area.

Theo graduated from the College of Hair Design after training as a barber for a year prior to opening Hat Killers. His goal was to open a place that gave men a true barber, not salon, experience.

“I know a lot of guys who want a real barbershop experience--neck shave and a real straight razor shave,” Theo said.

Theo said the name for Hat Killers came from his experience of watching men finish up from a hair appointment and immediately put a ball cap on afterwards.

“It made me so mad,” Theo said with a laugh. “I just gave you a beautiful haircut and you just put a hat on it. So that’s when it popped in my head: ‘Hat killer.’”

Hat Killers is a family affair. Theo, his father, cousin and sister all played a role in creating the space and continue to support the business in various ways.

Theo’s sister Tiffany, who has a background in marketing and design, helped create the aesthetic and logo idea for Hat Killers. Theo said she wanted to help Hat Killers set itself apart with unique menu names and a classic-looking but stylish interior.

Though only open for less than a month, Theodore Burns, Theo’s father, said they’ve already received positive feedback from customers, especially from those who received a neck shave. Because neck shaves are the cornerstone of Hat Killers’ business, Theo said he knows there’s pressure in giving the customers the best shave possible.

“I can’t afford to nick people, my shave has to be perfect,” he said.

Hat Killers was inspired by coastal barbershops and wants to create the atmosphere and experience customers might find in a large city. To help complete this feel, Theo uses Californian American Pomade products.

“He’s tried a lot of different ones and I think [American Pomade] is tried and true and works with the kind of haircut he does,” said Theo’s cousin, who helps with the front desk at Hat Killers.

As the business is new, Theo is currently the sole barber at Hat Killers but said he hopes to hire more once he finds qualified barbers to join him. Theo said he often sees students who know how to cut hair, but lack in shaving skills.

“That’s going to be what sets us apart, the shaving,” Theodore said. “That’s our specialty. Other barbers can do it, but you don’t see it too often so we want to make that part of our regular treatment.”

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 multi-faceted 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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End Of Year Business Spending We are quickly approaching the end of the year, and many business owners are already preparing for the upcoming tax season. During a time when spending is most often thought about in relation to the holidays, it’s also a common time for business spending, depending on where you are at with your budget and in turn, how that will impact your taxes.

First, it’s a matter of to spend or not to spend, and which would be in your best interest. Then, if it’s determined you should indeed spend, exactly how much to spend in order to yield the best results for your business.

Finally, you must decide what to spend that money on. So before you get spend happy, it’s important to work closely with a professional to determine your strategy moving forward.

For example, if your profits for the year are larger than expected, it might be a good time to make some larger purchases for which you can record future depreciation. Your accountant will be able to advise you as to if you have the cash on hand to make those purchases and to ensure that you fully understand the depreciation rules.

“Since each client’s business is unique, knowing their business and what would work for them is important for year-end planning,” advises Kelly Barada, CPA with SP Group, P.C. “We take a close look at the activity for the current year and discuss projections for the coming year. An important question we address is, ‘Does it make sense to spend money this year to save on taxes or does that have a negative impact on the next year?’ Sometimes spending money to save money is not a great option or fit for our clients. We address each Kelly Barada, CPA client individually and look at their overall SP Group, P.C. situation when making recommendations for year-end planning. Going through this process together enables us to build long-term relationships with our clients and their families that lead to sustained success.

When we look at the client’s books for the year and what the next year may look like, we also discuss their goals. Once those goals are established, our team examines options that will benefit them best.

Sometimes these options include purchasing new equipment, paying expenses ahead of time, paying out bonuses, and setting up or putting money into a retirement plan. As a result of the unique circumstances each client brings to the table, it is important not only to look at the business year-end, but also their personal tax returns. This presents options for end-of-year business expenses, too.

If the current year has higher income compared to what the client thinks it will be in the future years, then paying ahead can benefit a cashbasis business for the current year to offset the higher income. It really depends on the goals the client is trying to achieve. There are many ways to reduce income in the current year, which reduces tax due. We look at those options in relation to each client and what would be of the most benefit to them.”

She concludes, “At SP Group, P.C. we want to build a strong and long-

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lasting relationship as our team develops a plan for our clients’ success.

SP Group, P.C., in partnership with our clients, reviews their tax situation before year-end to alleviate any surprises come April 15th. We have found this brings extra value to our clients that will have a positive impact on their future. Our pride is in the success of our clients and the path we have traveled together as we’ve grown alongside them. We feel our four core values: Relationships, The Power of Team, Life/Work Balance, and Competitiveness combine to provide the extra insight necessary to maximize the benefits of year-end planning.

Our team of seasoned and knowledgeable professionals wants to make the experience simple and hassle-free. We do so by providing our clients with the service they deserve from a team that truly cares about them. I believe our firm does a really good job of working with our clients by planning before year-end arrives. Tax planning, and looking at the whole picture in doing so, is an important service we offer to our clients. We analyze different options to save on taxes and discuss the current year along with what they expect in future years.

We recommend starting this discussion at the beginning of November each year so there is adequate time to evaluate the options and then to act on the decisions that are made before year-end. That being said, we also suggest that our clients contact us throughout the year as things come up so we can look at how they affect the tax year involved.”

As for other professionals you’d want to consult with or utilize related to end-of-year spending, when it comes to having enough cash flow to use towards purchases before the end of the year, collecting on accounts receivable is one of the best ways to make that happen. By enlisting the help of a professional, such as AR Solutions, you’ll have someone dedicated to working on that aspect of the business while you are still fully attentive to the other things that need to be done prior to year-end.

Once you have all of the information and access to the necessary funds, if you get the go-ahead, time is of the essence to spend those dollars. While many business owners have a good idea of where they would want to allocate the funds, if you don’t, although there’s a sense of urgency there’s no need to throw money around haphazardly just to reach a certain dollar amount spent.

There are items for which it’s a certainty that they’ll be needed and used, so you can’t go wrong as long as the amount purchased is kept somewhat in moderation compared to what you would normally use.

This might include things for your facility such as light bulbs or toilet paper, or office supplies such as printer cartridges, paper, and you can never have enough pens (where do they all go?).

You can also purchase gift cards, which can be used at a later date when the need arises. This goes for office supplies, but anything related to your business, really. For example, you could purchase a gift card to a business location where you frequently meet with customers or colleagues, or to a venue where you like to entertain clients.

Another wise investment to make in your business that can pay dividends is in marketing. It’s an area that many businesses and organizations tend to neglect, much to their detriment. Why not put your excess funds to work by finding ways to generate top-of-mind recognition and building out strategies throughout the coming year to reach your target audience and interact with them? There’s always something new you can be doing to attract customers and influence those in the marketplace who you want to do business with – capitalize on an opportunity to do just that and the dollars you invest will be working for you to generate more income.

There’s also the option of putting your funds towards the greater good of our community by contributing to causes that are important to you. ‘Tis the season - there are many needs to be met here in Lincoln during the holidays. While anytime is a good time to give, there is a special occasion coming up, Giving Tuesday, so mark your calendar for November 28th!

Spending wisely in areas where you can benefit most will allow you to end the current year strong and prepare you to start the coming year off on the right foot. But first, get all of the information you need to make an educated decision. Since time is of the essence, doing so sooner rather than later is advised. Be sure to set that appointment to consult with your accountant and financial advisor so you can establish a plan and make it happen before the ball drops – literally!

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Look of Success Ever heard the saying “Image is everything?” It may sound superficial, but we can all attest to how looking your best translates into feeling your best. When you exude that energy, those around you and with whom you do business (or with whom you want to do business) will pick up on it. The impression you’ll make on them that will last far beyond your meeting or encounter.

The personal brand you create to define yourself as a professional is that important. It truly speaks volumes. (There is even an article by Jim Joseph, contributing writer for Entrepreneur magazine, entitled “The First Step to a Great Personal Brand? A Distinct Look.” He’s 100% accurate.) To play the part, you must first look the part. There are different components that come together to make up one’s own look of success which should be thoughtfully considered, and when it comes to your day-to-day life, consistency is key. After all, our perception of others is a critical deciding factor in whether or not we want to do business with them. Just like the packaging for products entices us to buy them, your appearance acts in the same way, along with other important attributes that combine to form your personal brand.

Dating back to the very first human civilizations, our clothing and accessories have a rich history of importance, telling others much about who we are. Dressing the part is essential to convey an image of professionalism. “A clean, tidy appearance is a must, regardless of one’s personal sense of style,” says Cherie Travis with Rachel’s Boutique. “This goes for attire and items related to personal hygiene.

Being well-groomed all-around, from your hairstyle to pressed and well-

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fitted clothing, will make all of the difference in how you are received by others. Those who put in the effort to look their best gain respect for doing so – it’s not only a reflection of yourself but also the company you work for and represent. There are also attributes that are a part of how you carry yourself but aren’t necessarily a part of your look per se, such as using proper language and grammar, that are indicative of professionalism. All of these will determine your success in making a favorable impression on others.”

Cherie Travis As for advice specific to one’s wardrobe, for Rachel’s Boutique women, Travis advises, “Keep it classic. For any of your clothing pieces, invest in quality fabrics that will last. Choose items that will carry over from season to season and year to year, and appropriate in any setting. Consider saving the trendy items for accent pieces and when you’re not at work. Also, it’s wise to select items that can be mixed and matched. Then there are jewelry and accessories, which can always be utilized to update or change up a look. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Rachel’s Boutique encourages customers to bring in items they are looking to update or find something to match.”

Echoing the important role wardrobe plays in one’s overall look of success, Eddie Brown with Vicente Clothiers further advises, “It’s important to be intentional in shaping the message you are sending to others by

way of your appearance, which will factor into the impression you’re making on those you encounter. Whether or not you’re aware, people are watching you and expecting to see you mirror the career you represent. Business professionals essentially have a uniform that defines their brand. I’ve been in music and performed most of my life and believe the two are similar. From the moment I leave my home in the morning until my return that night, I am effectively on stage and in my uniform that aligns with my professional brand. I view my Eddie Brown business audience and interactions the same Vicente Clothiers way I do when I’m performing on stage, giving it my best all the time! When applying for a job you wouldn’t dare consider not giving as much attention as possible to polishing your resume, which is key to securing interviews, right? Take that same level of scrutiny and passionate purpose and convey that in your wardrobe.”

He also offers a few recommendations, stating, “It’s truly all about the fit of your garment! When you master this, you will more times than not be putting yourself in a great light. Start with the staple pieces - solid black, gray, and navy suits - as those colors never will go out of style.

From there, add some color and patterns depending on your personality as well as your profession and what’s appropriate for your ensembles.

Having a quality overcoat/car coat steps your look up a couple notches as well. Regardless of whether you’re putting together a professional wardrobe or refining your existing one, as previously noted, always look for pieces that are versatile. If you’re refining, take a look at garments which were trendy before but are not in style now and donate those to a worthy organization. Supplement those pieces out with new selections.

Here at Vicente Clothiers we have over a thousand fabric options with a wide array of price points. We are committed to helping you create the best looks, which fit both your body and budget! Contact us today for an in-home or at-work consultation.”

Regarding trends in menswear, industry veteran Gary Novotny with Gary Michaels Clothiers advises, “Tailored clothing has become very strongly represented in the workplace once again. This includes suits and sport coats. However, styling them more informally with an open-collar sport or dress shirt and no tie in favor of a pocket square as an accessory is now widely considered to be acceptable in a business setting. Sport coats have also become deconstructed in nature and very relaxed, with a three-quarter lining Gary Novotny and very soft shoulder. These are easily worn Gary Michaels Clothiers with a casual slack, a five-pocket cotton slack, or a pair of denims. You can dress either up or down accordingly. The sport coat can even be converted to your outerwear if needed or alternatively, can be layered with a sweater or vest underneath. These trends are predominantly reflected in the wardrobe selections for individuals between the ages of 25 to 39.”

All told, your personal style is what sets you apart from the rest, especially on a professional level. “There is beauty in our individuality,” says John Aguirre with Ovation Salon.

“To achieve a signature look that people remember you by, go with what accentuates your best features and makes you look and feel your very best. That will translate into all aspects of your life, including how you are perceived by others in a professional setting.

Never underestimate the power of great hair and skin! Confidence is potent and how you present yourself speaks volumes before you’ve even said a word, especially in the fashionforward world we live in today. It’s important to pay attention to all of the details that go John Aguirre into your appearance. Being polished and Ovation Salon

well-groomed does take effort and consistency, but it’s essential to look the part in order to be taken seriously. However, it doesn’t always have to be laborious. Businesspeople fully understand the value of working smarter, not harder, and to that end, there are plenty of tips and tricks that the professionals can offer.”

He also cautions, “While fashion blogs and Pinterest are great sources of inspiration, keep in mind that it might not be a look that can be achieved naturally or would be feasible to recreate daily. The model might be wearing a hairpiece or it could be insanely photoshopped. Or it might not work with your face shape, bone structure, complexion, and so on. Furthermore, there’s no point to walking out of the salon looking amazing if you can’t achieve that look on your own or if it doesn’t fit into your daily routine. Take advantage of the consultation! Good, open communication between you and your team of beauty professionals is critical to getting the best results out of the investment you’re making in yourself. I always say if my clients don’t look good, I don’t look good – and let’s be honest, we both don’t want that! At the end of the day as professionals in the beauty industry, it’s our job to give you options and deliver results that you love and that make you shine, but also that you can maintain as a part of your lifestyle.”

Tying personal style into health and fitness, there’s truly no better feeling than looking amazing in your favorite outfits. Whether that means losing the stubborn 5lbs in a target area or a significant amount of weight to get to your target body composition, Physicians WEIGHT LOSS Centers has a number of options to consider.

“We have six different programs that each address different needs and goals, all of which are clinically proven to deliver guaranteed results when followed as directed,” says Nancy Hopkins Nancy Hopkins with Physicians WEIGHT Physicians WEIGHT LOSS Centers. “We also offer powerful laser LOSS Centers

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body sculpting with LipoGenics and YOLO Curve systems. It is a safe and effective, non-invasive way to lose inches in targeted areas and also reduces the appearance of cellulite. It delivers results in as little as one treatment, which is pretty incredible.

Then there’s the newest addition to our offerings, which we are very excited about, the AM/PM Fat Burning & Appetite Suppressing Weight Control Patches. It’s an innovative system that works with your body’s natural rhythms, delivering the right ingredients at the right time, day and night, to help support maximum weight loss results. The ingredients are all-natural, and the benefits extend far beyond just the weight loss aspect. This system can be used as a standalone supplement, in combination with all other Advanced Fat Burning 24 Hour Thermogenics® products, or in conjunction with any of our weight loss programs.

As you can see there are many different options. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach; rather, our goal is to do what’s best for each client and to help them make lifestyle changes that last long-term.

We’d love to help you meet your goals so that you look and feel your very best.”

Natasha Plooster with Eat Fit Go further advises, “Psychology studies reveal that a 55 percent of person’s opinion of you is formed within the first 7 to 17 seconds of meeting.

Never forget your smile at home! Besides outward appearance, spend time finding the inner confidence. Being healthy is the first step.

Drink lots of water and eat clean. With the countless benefits of taking these two simple steps, you will be unstoppable!”

She elaborates, “There are many aspects to success—material wealth is only one Natasha Plooster component. Deepak Chopra points out, Eat Fit Go ‘Success also includes good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of well-being, and peace of mind.’

Nutrition is at the root of all these aspects. Through proper nutrition, you achieve balance in your body, mental clarity, a sense of self-awareness, and energy necessary to drive your ambition. At Eat Fit Go, we provide our customers with fresh and nutritionally-balanced meals that are ready to eat, freeing up their time to focus on executing their passion.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you feel good in your skin!”

In agreement, Tiffany Olson with Bryan LifePointe notes, “Studies have shown that the more confident you feel about your looks, the more confident you will feel about yourself in an interview or your professional life. One of the first things people will notice about you is the look and health of your skin on your face. We have many options for facial rejuvenation. These options range from an organic facial to a chemical peel provided by one of our physicians. We also have laser genesis available, a collagen-inducing laser Tiffany Olson procedure that gives the appearance of a Bryan LifePointe fuller face by reducing the fine lines and wrinkles that may have crept up over the years. Being able to feel confident in one’s self is something that should be evident about a professional in any job or interview out there. It is also proven that having regular massages can help lessen your stress, which in turn leaves your body more healthy and reenergized. We can help you relax with our soothing ambiance, calming music, private showers in the treatment rooms, and access to whirlpools and saunas, which is available before or after your treatment.

The Spa and Med Spa are open to the public. Whether you are looking for a place to unwind with a facial, massage or pedicure or you would like to get rid of some unsightly wrinkles, dark spots, or veins, we are the place to be. We welcome new clients and consultations are always free, which is a great way to get sound advice from our experts on what you can do that will help you look your best. When you feel confident about yourself you exude it to others and it may help you get an edge in your

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professional career or job interview. A happy you is a beautiful you.”

Indeed, a healthy you is a happy and more confident you, and there’s no doubt that certain aspects of health and wellness will contribute to your overall look of success.

“Fitness and nutrition are a big part of the holistic approach for a person who wants to achieve his or her goal of leading a healthy lifestyle, which translates to looking and feeling one’s best,” says David Medina with Genesis Health Clubs. “When people start to see positive changes in regards to their body composition, not only is their confidence boosted, but a feeling of achievement, selfworth, and purpose is established. In a sense, a new person evolves not only physically, but emotionally as well. Their new-found love for David Medina fitness opens new doors for them, to include Genesis Health Clubs new social groups, community involvement, improved career performance, and new self-presence.

Currently, the fitness industry is booming with ways for people to individualize their lifestyle change to their liking and what fits into their busy lives. As a trainer, it is my goal to be their biggest motivator throughout their transformation process. It is my goal to encourage my clients to not only learn from me, but to discover what daily changes need to be made in order to maintain what they have achieved. I am a huge advocate of looking the part based on my appearance, my passion for my business, and setting the expectation for my industry.

He further advises, “A lot of people make the mistake of coming into the gym for the first time wanting to achieve their desired results in a short amount of time. In this day and age, our society has been accustomed to instant gratification and the need to have what they want yesterday.”

Medina offers the following tips for a successful outcome when wanting to begin a fitness regimen: • Have patience. As long as you work hard and follow the recommendations your trainer has given you will succeed. Remember it’s a lifestyle.

• Establish a buddy system with a close friend or colleague that you can depend on that will not only motivate you, but can provide you with moral support during your transformation.

• Establish structure in your daily routine to include nutritious foods that are healthy for you. Ensure you are maintaining a good work/ life balance, and getting enough sleep each night.

• Set small goals to include timelines. Your transformation will not happen overnight, so setting small goals will encourage you to stay consistent and not get off track.

• Take a step back and look at the items in your home or daily routine that could prohibit you from accomplishing your fitness goals. This would include any junk food in your pantry that you may have an emotional attachment to when stressed and substituting binge eating with a short walk around your neighborhood.

• Most importantly, NEVER GIVE UP! Look into utilizing daily motivational quotes for inspiration and post them in a prominent place like the office, your cell phone screen saver, or your refrigerator.

• My personal quote that I share is “You never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”

In the wise words of the incomparable Arthur Ashe, “Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you’re behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.” Although as businesspeople it’s a common trait that we’re always working towards perfection, it’s important to establish realistic goals and then stay the course. Commitment to being your very best also includes making an investment in looking, and in turn feeling, your very best. Once you’ve defined and achieved your own personal look of success, the sky’s the limit!

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Memory Care November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, during which time we are called upon to learn more about this condition that has and will impact so many, and to support the individuals living with the disease and their caregivers.

Thanks to the efforts made by so many here in Lincoln and beyond to support campaigns that raise awareness and funds to further research, we are collectively working towards gaining a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, and thus, towards finding a cure. Although there are still challenges ahead to be overcome in order to reach that goal, there has been marked progress. During which time, there have been many developments made with respect to specialized care and support services for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

In observance, this month’s Memory Care feature story offers a compilation of information provided our local professionals who have extensive experience working in the field. We encourage you to educate yourself on the topic, as well as familiarizing yourself with the wide variety of resources found here in our community. We are privileged to live in a place where there are a wealth of excellent resources available for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, their caregivers, and their families.

“Lincoln is fortunate to have many communities with memory support that provide outstanding care; not only for the individual suffering from memory loss, but for the family as well,” says Beth Friesen with Oasis Senior Advisors. “However, be aware that not all memory support communities are the same.

It is important to understand how they differ and having an expert there to help guide you through this process is critical.

Many times the individual suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia will Beth Friesen reach a point when they are no longer safe Oasis Senior Advisors to be in their current living arrangement.

However, I’d advise connecting with us long before that. I’m not only the owner of the Oasis Senior Advisors Lincoln franchise, but a registered nurse who has traveled the journey through Alzheimer’s with my own mother. In addition, Tanya Godwin, our outreach coordinator, has an extensive background in elder law and can help guide families in that arena. When I was going through this with my mom, I so often felt alone.

I didn’t know where to turn for support, education, and guidance. Our team at Oasis Senior Advisors is always here to listen, to recommend strategies, books or even online learning to help you help your loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. When the time does come to move to a community with memory support, Oasis Senior Advisors will help you identify the communities that best meet your medical, social, geographical and financial needs. This will help you focus and streamline your search, saving you valuable time and reducing stress.

She also addresses assistance for caregivers, advising, “Caregiver stress is an enormous issue and often the caregiver can become ill and even pass away before the person with the disease. My dad was my mother’s primary caregiver, so this was also an area in which I focused on educating myself. Caregivers need care for themselves too! They need breaks, social interaction, exercise and stress relief. Again, involving Oasis Senior Advisors early in the disease can help you navigate this part of the journey as well. We can help you look at your current situation and determine if day services or in-home caregivers would be beneficial, or even help to arrange a respite stay for the affected person so that the caregiver can get away for a much-needed break or even a ‘staycation.’ Furthermore, the newly-formed Caregiver Advocacy Network can be found on Facebook. It provides many resources and a forum where questions can be asked and experts are standing by to help. I would encourage everyone reading this to look it up and like the page.”

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She concludes, “Understandably, but far too often, when there is a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, families tend to ‘put their head in the sand’ and try to pretend that this isn’t really happening to them or their loved ones. However, that is the ideal time to contact Oasis Senior Advisors and start the discussion. When my mother was diagnosed, it was too late to have these discussions. It left us guessing what she would have wanted. Oasis Senior Advisors is a completely FREE service for people and their families when facing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Call today to learn more or visit our website. We can be reached at (402) 429-8891 or on the web at Lincoln.OasisSeniorAdvisors.com.”

In agreement, Amy Fish with Lancaster Rehabilitation Center further emphasizes, “It’s important for everyone to look ahead and plan for the future. Moreover, with the vast and varied resources available to assist with dementia and Alzheimer’s care, it is important to access the most appropriate services at the most appropriate time, while anticipating future needs. I’d encourage everyone affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease to seek support, and accept the support services available and/or offered.

Amy Fish At Lancaster Rehabilitation Center we offer Lancaster Rehabilitation short- and long-stay care in our memory Center support neighborhood specially designed for those with dementia or other related memory loss. It is safe and secure, yet also allowing for fresh air in our spacious outdoor courtyards and gardens, and a variety of daily activities. It is important to continually explore options that engage an individual’s body, mind, and spirit, so we offer flexible activity enrichment programs designed to meet the cultural, recreational, educational and social interests of our residents.

We have a passionate group of team members who are truly devoted to caring for each individual, along with providing the safety and security expected. The assistance that the team at Lancaster Rehabilitation Center provides allows for a spouse or adult children to continue to serve in a family member capacity and not as the primary caregiver. We are just as dedicated to helping family members stay healthy and involved in their loved one’s lives. Stop by to tour Lancaster Rehabilitation whenever you wish. We’re anxious to show off all that’s new on our campus!”

There is also a brand new community in Lincoln, The Woodlands at Hillcrest, which is set to open soon and will offer memory care as well as assisted living. “The Woodlands will have a dedicated neighborhood for our dementia/ Alzheimer’s residents with specialized activities and programming for them,” says Barb Tyler with The Woodlands at Hillcrest. “It will have a secure courtyard to enjoy, a comfortable dining area where they can enjoy meals, and a specialized staff who understands the needs of those with dementia-related illnesses. Our Barb Tyler Heartfelt Connections and Life Bio programs The Woodlands at Hillcrest will help both staff and the individual families communicate with the resident as the disease progresses. Caregivers can reduce their own stress by using respite care and day services, which The Woodlands will be offering too. The person can stay overnight or for a week while the caregiver takes care of their own business.”

For those who are evaluating their options, Tyler offers the following advice, “To plan for the future, is it helpful to talk your loved one to understand his/her wishes, and to learn as much as you can about their type of dementia (there are many!) so you will know how to help and understand what changes to expect as the disease progresses. Then, always check out any community that is being considered whether for permanent residency or temporary respite or day services. Drop in unexpectedly to the community to see what the residents are doing.

Are they happy? Is the activity that they are participating in stimulating?

Are they looking their best? Is the staff responsive? In-home health care is also a possibility, but just like the others, check for references so you can be assured of the best care.

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Furthermore, I can’t stress enough the importance of utilizing respite and day care services when stress is becoming overwhelming! The person who goes to respite or to day care sees that they are not alone in their daily struggle with dementia. With respite, the caregiver is better at caring for their loved one, and in turn, that person receives better care. No one can do it all, so asking for help is not a bad thing; don’t let yourself be guilted out of it. Try these services out before an emergency situation so that everyone knows what to expect.”

Mary Ann Stallings with Bridge to Better Living adds, “As others have pointed out, the most important aspect of memory care communities to understand is that they are all different and each is unique in what they offer. We work with all memory communities in Lincoln, Omaha, and surrounding areas.

Knowing what is offered by each facility enables us to help families, at no charge, find the perfect fit for their loved ones. Our transition consultants have personally been affected by family members with Alzheimer’s Mary Ann Stallings and have a connection with those who are Bridge to Better Living presently on this journey. Utilizing our services is important to eliminate stress, time, and the personal emotional impact of finding the right community to meet your loved one’s personality and needs.

Studies have shown that the mortality rate for caregivers is higher than the loved ones affected by dementia. A caregiver needs to take care of themselves physically and emotionally in order to provide quality care for their loved one. Some communities offer respite services and Bridge to Better Living consultants would know these facilities and prices.

Another recommendation for respite care would be to apply for free care through an organization called Hilarity for Charity grant program.

Applications may be made for free respite care for a considerable amount of time online at www.HilarityforCharity.org.

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Bridge to Better Living supports the mission of the American Alzheimer’s Association and is even a co-facilitator in a dementia support group.

Loved ones need to become involved in a support group to realize they are not on this journey alone. This provides them an opportunity to connect with others who understand and have been through some of the same struggles.

Alzheimer’s is no longer a family secret and people are becoming more aware, more informed and more willing to discuss it openly. Endless research continues to search for a cure. Dementia does not go away and family members need to have open discussions about the wishes of the member affected and how the different stages may affect the caregiver. At what point will taking care of the affected family member mean moving to a memory assisted living community? Not knowing what the journey is going to be, emotion may dictate decisions instead of what is best for each person impacted unless these issues have been previously discussed. Remember quality of life and safety are two of the most important issues for families affected by dementia or Alzheimer’s.”

While the communities that offer memory support locally do vary with respect to things like amenities, you’ll find that generally the approach to creating an ideal environment, care practices, ongoing staff training, and a focus on engaging activities are quite similar. This is, again, a testament to the caliber of professionals and quality of offerings we are fortunate to have access to here in Lincoln.

“Seniors facing the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease and/or dementia need a safe, nurturing environment,” says Courtney Schmitz with Sumner Place Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation. “We specialize in individualized programs designed to reduce feelings of confusion, fear, and agitation and offer meaningful, enjoyable activities that stimulate the mind and body. Our services Courtney Schmitz focus on the resident’s wide range of abilities.

Sumner Place

Sumner Place has a specific Memory Support Neighborhood for those suffering from dementia symptoms; however, memory support is provided throughout the entire facility.

Schmitz also points out, “Since 2013, Sumner Place has utilized the Buddies Forever Program and has dedicated time and education to all who are employed for dementia communication. Team members have gone through extensive and continuous training in learning how to utilize certain communication skills that assist in completing daily tasks with residents who suffer from dementia symptoms. These communication skills are tailored to each individual resident, utilizing personal life experiences, which validate emotion and reality for the resident.”

Christy Merritt with The Waterford Communities also weighs in, stating, “There are a number of communities that offer excellent memory care services right here in Lincoln. The Waterford at Wilderness Hills is a community dedicated exclusively to those with a dementia diagnosis. As a memory care community, we have a team that is constantly receiving training on ways to successfully communicate and connect with residents suffering from dementia.

Most communities offer support groups that Christy Merritt are open to anyone who has a loved one The Waterford with a dementia diagnosis who is seeking Communities advice and information. The Waterford hosts a support group the first Tuesday of every month at 11:00 a.m. at our Williamsburg location, 3940 Pine Lake Road. Many memory care communities also offer respite stays and day services. We are able to offer short-term stays that allow caregivers time to spend with other family members, go on vacation or even allow them to get necessary medical care for themselves. Day services are a great way to introduce your loved one to a community without committing to a permanent move.

Our community has flexible times and days available for day services.

It is important to remember that no matter how advanced their dementia becomes, they still are the person you once knew. Honestly, most people remember to get the financial items taken care of, but they forget to really get to know their loved one. Understanding who they really are-some of their fondest memories, their likes and dislikes as well as their beliefs and dominant personality traits—can have a big impact as they progress through the stages of the disease and with their care.”

Then there’s in-home care, which can also be a very valuable resource to utilize. “After an initial diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or a related dementia illness, families struggle with difficult decisions about providing care for their loved one,” states Natalie Leon with Visiting Angels. “Families are faced with additional stresses involved with balancing life and their loved one’s needs. Those who are separated by great distances must make hard choices to provide care. You do have choices. Whether opting for care in the comfort of your loved Natalie Leon one’s own home, or providing a seamless Visiting Angels transition to a specialized community, we are here to help. Visiting Angels non-medical home care services allow your loved one to maintain the independence of their daily routines and familiar surroundings. Central to our mission is restoring hope by caring for the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of the client. We can help your loved one avoid the emotional trauma of leaving their cherished home while helping cope with dementia and providing respite care so important for the family. Our caregivers provide compassionate care, understand the client’s abilities and limitations, follow a client-specific customized plan of care, help re-engage the clients in meaningful activities, and use communication strategies to enhance quality of life.

Please feel free to contact me directly at (402) 735-0999 or nleon@ visitingangels.com to learn more about what we have to offer.”

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account, and that’s also concurrent with everyone’s best interests, is critical.

“For those with dementia, familiar surroundings are important,” notes Karla Frese with Prairie Ridge by Eastmont. “When living at home is no longer an option, or even before that point, a community that can provide access to continuum care is ideal. This allows the person’s needs to be met, even as they change, while they remain living at the same place.

For couples, it’s also advantageous because they can still live together, or very close to one another on the same campus, regardless of the varying degree of their individual Karla Frese needs.

At Prairie Ridge by Eastmont, we will Prairie Ridge by Eastmont have independent living, assisted living, and memory care options available. This allows both individuals to dine together, engage in activities together, and so forth while getting the individual care that they both need. Moreover, we are there to help aging adults and their families manage changes as they arise, whether the onset is gradual or immediate.

People who plan for the future when they’re healthy and capable of making well thought-out decisions are more likely to enjoy long-term satisfaction with their choices. There are so many advantages to making the move to a community well before any type of care is needed. With a long-term plan for your living situation in place, there is far less to worry about for all involved, and you can still enjoy all of the comforts of home.”

Furthermore, since many will be dealing with this type of issue for the first time, seeking advice from the professionals to put a plan together based on what you know now and what you might encounter in the future is advised. “At Legacy Arbors, we help individuals and their families determine the best plan of action when addressing dementia concerns,” says Michele Carlson with Legacy Arbors. “Depending on the situation, there are several different living arrangements that could be considered.

Michele Carlson Testing done by a doctor to determine the Legacy Arbors diagnosis and specifics related to it can be very insightful. You’ll have more information to guide your decisions, and oftentimes a doctor can also help provide recommendations for the best type of living and care situation for the individual, whether that’s as simple as in-home care or a memory care community. There are advances made every day, so don’t ever settle for the idea that a dementia diagnosis is a be-all and end-all. Some of the latest advances have been the development of a GPS-enabled shoe for those who wander because of dementia.”

Particularly regarding caregivers but also family and friends, for those seeking support, or who are considering it, she stresses, “You don’t have to go through this journey alone. The Alzheimer’s Association in Lincoln is always a great resource, and there are many support groups led by 72 Strictly Business NOVEMBER 2017

professionals in the industry that will guide you through the best tips and tricks for caring for a loved one with the disease. Here at Legacy Arbors, we host a support group for families of residents to help educate, share experience and tips. We often see the caregivers giving their entire self to the loved one, which quickly wears on the caregivers themselves. It’s important to seek out some level of assistance so that you can refuel and recharge to help you remain patient, caring and healthy. Also, while many may think of the obvious – to have a plan in place for the individual with memory issues – have a plan in place for you as the caregiver. If something happens to you that you can no longer care for your loved one, who will make those decisions for the individual with dementia? Make sure that whoever takes on your roll then knows the wishes of your loved one.”

Another area related to overall health, but that’s been specifically linked to dementia, is hearing loss. There are several studies that suggest that seniors with hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia than those who retain their hearing. Nebraska Hearing Center is in the business of prevention. “Hearing loss is a slow process and often ignored, that is why it is so important to have your hearing tested annually, like any other checkup,” says Leslie Frank MS, CCC-A with Nebraska Hearing Center. “Research suggests that the Leslie Frank strain of decoding sounds over the years may Nebraska Hearing Center overwhelm the brains of people with hearing loss, leaving them more vulnerable to dementia. Studies also show that hearing loss could lead to dementia by making individuals more socially isolated, which is a known risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Some warning sign’s to look for are: Constantly asking people to repeat themselves, having the television too loud, ringing in your ears, and problems hearing in noisy situations. Something as simple as hearing aids to improve your hearing could delay or prevent dementia. There is no better time than now to come in and see us at Nebraska Hearing Center for your complimentary hearing evaluation.”

Currently Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. Since it is ultimately fatal and there is currently no cure, end-of-life considerations such as hospice care and funeral planning are things to think about sooner rather than later. “As a provider of end of life care, Hospice Community Care of Nebraska is here for those facing this final journey,” says Lisa Pham with Hospice Community Care of Nebraska. “There are several indicators that may signal it’s time for a person living with dementia to pursue Lisa Pham hospice, but every person is different. These Hospice Community include a decline in daily function such as the Care of Nebraska loss of the ability to dress, bathe, or toilet oneself, repeated falls or infections, and decrease in verbal ability, typically with a person not being able to speak more than six words in the course of a normal conversation. Other conditions contributing to the prognosis will also be considered, for example – the dementia patient who also has heart failure, causing him/her to be short of breath or have swelling of the legs despite medication. The best place to start is the hospice company of your choice to request an evaluation. We can assist in communicating with your physician. Hospice Community Care brings in a skilled, caring and dedicated team of professionals to walk with those receiving our services, providing individualized care and giving our clients true VIP treatment.”

She also notes, “Hospice is not a substitute for the loving care that family members give to their loved ones. We’re there to assist and work alongside them. It is not here to hasten death either, but to allow an individual to choose the path of his/her life for as long as it lasts.

Sadly, many wait until the very end to start hospice care – missing out on all that hospice has to offer and allowing them to live life to the fullest through the support of a care team that works closely with them.”

Similarly, Bryan Block with Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home

offers a personal experience - a cautionary real-life tale ending with a moral of the story - that illustrates how important it really is to plan ahead. “When I think of a family dealing with all that is involved in the care and planning for a family member with Alzheimer’s or suffering with dementia, I always recall a personal story of dear friends in Omaha, a couple who were like second parents to my wife and I. She began having dementia issues and unfortunately it progressed rather rapidly. The three children (scattered across Bryan Block the country) were all so pleased that dad was Butherus, Maser & able to stay home and be the caregiver so Love Funeral Home they didn’t have to worry about their mother’s care. On the 3rd of July, the children were driving and flying into town for a family gathering over the holiday weekend. The first child arrived at their childhood home and found their mother upstairs, then discovered their father in front of a baseball game in the basement having died of a heart attack. The ensuing days were a nightmare for the children. Mom and Dad had never made any funeral plans; they had never even discussed their preferences with their children. They had to try to schedule everything from the funeral home to the cemetery and church arrangements, all while it was a holiday weekend and many of the people they wanted to contact were unavailable and out of town.

Additionally, they couldn’t leave mom alone when they left town after the funeral, so they had to quickly find living accommodations for her.

It was truly the worst case scenario for them and each of the children said they would do things so much differently given the opportunity.

Nobody likes to talk about end of life and funeral arrangements.

However, even though your thoughts and intentions may be to spare the uncomfortable discussion with the ailing person, one has to consider that he/she may be the survivor. Is that person able to assist in the process if left to make the arrangements? Have this discussion ahead of time.

All involved will be so grateful knowing they are following your wishes rather than wondering if they made the right decisions.”

“One mistake we commonly see at Roper & Sons is not planning for your end of life decisions, or assuming that your family is willing and able to take care of your final arrangements,” Jodi Freeman with Roper & Sons Funeral Care reiterates. “Planning early and maintaining your estate plan and/or will, financial affairs, healthcare wishes, and end of life plans are essential. Life is unpredictable – we always tend to think ‘Oh, I have plenty of time,’ until one day, we don’t. It is very difficult to think about our end of life decisions, without Jodi Freeman a doubt. However, it is even more difficult for Roper & Sons families in the midst of the greatest loss. We strongly encourage everyone to make their final wishes known, through pre-planning at a funeral home. Planning truly is one of the best ways you can give your loved ones the gift of peace of mind.

She also offers the following recommendation to consider: “As we age and our lives change, so do our priorities. Plans made in prior years may change for a number of reasons, therefore keeping them up-todate is key. It is also essential to plan for these things when our mental capacity is strong, because once we begin to decline, both mentally and physically, proper planning can become a challenge. Besides being challenging, questions about mental or physical capacity can draw criticism and concerns about the validity of your plans, potentially leading to arguments and disregard of the plans, and even legal implications.”

There’s much ground we still have to cover to get to the end goal of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s, and we still have much to learn about dementia in general, but where there’s effort there’s progress. Even here locally, there are so many professionals that are dedicated to and passionate about providing the very best care and support services possible while research continues towards eradicating the disease. If you need assistance or simply want to learn more, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask.

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Holiday holiday

Cheer

Hey there holidays, you’re finally here! With so much to do and so little time, it’s completely normal to feel stressed when you’re being pulled in so many directions and working within a jampacked schedule. Still, it’s all worth it when you finally get to spend time celebrating with loved ones and others who are an important part of your life and partaking in all of the traditions you hold dear. In the season of giving, it’s also a great feeling to deliver that perfect gift - to all of the people on your list, towards a charitable cause, whatever the case may be.

So, here’s a little encouragement to keep you going – you’ve got

this, and our local businesses are ready and willing to help you out with any and all of your holiday needs!

Holiday Gatherings – Let The Festivities Begin!

Your plans for the holiday season ahead likely include a number of different events that qualify as holiday gatherings. There’s a good chance you might be hosting in addition to attending, both of which requiring effort on your part to a varying degree. Either way, prior to the big events, there are of course the plans that will need to be made, and then the things to check off of your to-do list. There’s also the spur of the moment things to keep in mind just in case things don’t necessarily go according to plan, or during holidays in general, that don’t necessarily need to be arranged much in advance, if at all. Having options, and a backup plan, is an easy way to turn a holiday crisis into a great story that’s told for years to come – just reference any of the classic holiday movies, and you probably have some of your own already too.

Holiday Party Planning If you’re still making arrangements for a holiday party, there are still excellent options with availability in the next few months, although it’s going to be limited at this point. If you’re willing to be flexible on certain things, our local hospitality professionals and event planners can still deliver a magical, memorable holiday event.

“We’re here to help and there’s still time to put together a fantastic holiday party, although if you want a good turnout, it’s best to have your date set soon so you can send out invites and secure your spot on everyone’s calendars,” says Matthew Rogge with the Talon Room. “Our venue is ideal because it has the amount of space needed to accommodate large events, say your corporate holiday parties, but it’s a nice size for the small to medium-sized business holiday parties too. It’s intimate Matthew Rogge enough that it’s commonly booked for Talon Room private parties with a smaller invite list of family and friends as well. It’s all in the arrangement of the space, which is very flexible. It also lends well to décor, so transforming it into a winter wonderland or bringing your theme to life isn’t overly complicated, or you can just stick with the rustic charm and add accents as you like. As one of the more reasonably priced options in downtown Lincoln, which is such a festive area during the holidays as it is, we offer a great value for a memorable

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holiday event. The Talon Room is a hidden gem of sorts; once you see the space you see the possibilities. There’s a full bar and ample room to set up a catered spread, which we are more than happy to help arrange or you can bring in whatever you like.

We can set up to accommodate a DJ, or we can set up a stage area if you’d prefer a live musician, ensemble, or band for your entertainment. There is a lot of flexibility working with us, that’s for sure. Even if you want us to handle all of the arrangements, it’s not a problem. We have an all-inclusive package that covers the event space, food, drinks, decorations, and DJ, all for one set price up-front. Just come to us with your ideas and your needs, then leave it up to us to make your dream event happen!”

He also notes, “If you’re looking into booking bar services for your event, that’s also something we offer at the Talon Room.

We’ll bring the bar to you, wherever you’re hosting your holiday party. Concierge bar services include the fully-stocked mobile bar, drinkware, and bartenders based on how many guests you’ll be entertaining and any special requests. Want us to come up with a signature drink to serve? Done. Already have a bar but need someone to serve your guests? We’ve got you covered.”

An aspect of company holiday parties that everyone enjoys is the swag! Then there are all of the special touches you could incorporate to personalize it. You’ll want to order yours soon, depending on when you hope to have it ready for use during your event or giving as a gift at that time.

Amy Doele Flicker Promotions

great as well.

“Corporate parties can be branded in many ways,” advises Amy Doele with Flicker Promotions. “From napkins and tissues to personalized bags and drinkware, there are many ways to showcase your company. Branded items are a way for employees to feel a part of the company and feel appreciated.

An important way to do this is apparel for employees. Offering quality apparel in styles and brands that your employees want to wear provides the company another opportunity to be seen in the community and for employees to look

Flicker Promotions takes a concierge approach to offering promotional items. I love to work with my clients one-on-one to help define who they would like to reach and the best way to reach them. In fact, helping stressed-out marketing departments and business owners is what I do best. You no longer need to comb the Internet to find the latest trend. I relieve the stress of looking for just the right thing for the just the right time. Not only do I handle the entire ordering process, I track what you’ve done in the past so all of your marketing items are seamless and work together to create a complete message. You’re not working with just another vendor - you’re working with a marketing partner.

There are many specials running this fall and winter for items that meet many different price points and audiences. Please reach out to me so that I can help you design, decide and deliver the right punch you are looking for this holiday season.”

Home for the Holidays This year, you might be traveling in town to your destination or hosting the family at your house. Or, you might find yourself in the droves of people who are traveling by plane, train, bus, or automobile to their holiday gatherings.

Many will descend upon Lincoln to join their family and friends to celebrate the holidays. It’s a time when we get to see our loved ones who live all over the United States and even overseas, and we also have the pleasure of running into many friends and acquaintances who are in town visiting their loved ones. After all, there’s no place like home for the holidays.

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jot down the date(s) and time(s) you are hoping to book, how many people are in your group, if you plan on providing food and/or beverages and what your budget is. When you have this information, call our Special Events and Programs Director, Terri Jo Podraza at (402) 483-7763 or email at tjpodraza@48bowl. com. She’ll answer your questions and help build you the best package for your group and budget. We can accommodate groups and budgets sized small to large so don’t hesitate to see what we can arrange for you!

If you like to wing it or you’re hoping to have a casual outing with old friends or family in town, bowling is a fantastic social activity that everyone seems to enjoy. It’s fun to high five and fist bump when you strike and okay to laugh at yourself when you gutter. Both of our centers will be open and spreading the seasonal cheer on Thanksgiving Day and the entire holiday weekend. Expect the lanes to be busy at peak times, which include weekend/after dinner hours, but if you have to wait just sit back and enjoy a beverage from our full-service bar. Better yet, if you bring in a can of food (or another item of need) during the long holiday weekend of Nov. 22-27, we’ll give you 25% off your open bowling purchase. All donations will go to the Food Bank of Lincoln. It is possible that a center might be completely booked at certain times so we do recommend calling the center you’re hoping to bowl at to inquire about lane availability. For Parkway Lanes on 2555 S. 48th St., call (402) 483-7763. For Hollywood Bowl on 920 N. 48th St., call (402) 466-1911.”

Some will stay in the homes of parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, or other family members, while for others, it’s easiest to book a hotel room. For those who are looking into the latter, selecting a hotel will depend on a variety of things. You might want to find one that’s close to where everyone will be meeting up to spend time, or since it takes a relatively short time to get anywhere in Lincoln, you might want to stay close to where there is a lot to see and do while you’re not at family gatherings.

Graduate Lincoln just opened in the Haymarket bordering downtown, so it’s situated in a great spot with plenty of action within walking distance. It also features a restaurant and bar in the hotel, so it’s got the amenities to enjoy without even having to leave. The Haymarket, downtown, and the nearby Railyard District come alive during the holidays, making it a fun and festive area for travelers to take in during their stay in Lincoln.

While you’ll likely spend a significant amount of time in the homes of family and friends, it’s always fun to get out and go do something together. Catching a movie, grabbing a few drinks at a local bar, enjoying a meal out at your favorite restaurant, going ice skating, or hitting the lanes for a little friendly competition at the local bowling alley – these are all family-friendly and so much fun to do together as a group (or if just a few of you need to take a little break from the group…it’s OK, we’ve all been there.).

“The holidays are a great time to gather with your family, friends, and neighbors for some merriment and cheer, but take the pressure and work out of hosting it yourself and come to one of the friendly 48 Bowl, Inc. centers instead,” says Jennifer Davis-Korn with 48 Bowl, Inc. “There is good old-fashioned fun for all ages to enjoy at both Parkway Lanes and Hollywood Bowl. We’re happy to host your group on the lanes, in our bar, or both! We’ve got some helpful tips to help you pull off a successful celebration. If you’re a planner, know that we are ready to make this easy. Before calling us to inquire about reservation packages,

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Jen Miseno with Sun Valley Lanes adds, “Hosting a family gathering can be a stressful occasion, especially with extra people around the house. When you have guests from out of town who need something to occupy their time, allowing you to finish your preparations, send them bowling. It’s a great family bonding event that everyone can participate in.

Also, when the kids are out of school on break and looking for entertainment Jen Miseno during the week between Christmas and Sun Valley Lanes New Year, we give our league bowlers a break too. This means there are more open lanes available during prime time weeknights in order to come out for open bowling.”

All destinations considered, there are so many options for great places to gather locally, and our restaurants and bars here in Lincoln are among the most popular. Dining, drinking, both – there’s a venue to fit any mood, whether you’re looking for a low-key spot to relax and unwind, a vibrant place to celebrate, or a wild night filled with music, dancing and champagne toasts.

There’s definitely no place like MōMō Pizzeria & Ristorante, offering an upscale, extraordinary dining experience in a cozy yet modern neighborhood restaurant & bar setting. The chefinspired menu of house-crafted dishes changes with the seasons, and all of their fare is made with the freshest ingredients brought in from Italy or locally sourced. Not to mention the cocktail menu is a thing of beauty, and it is updated seasonally as well. If you want to impress your friends and family who are in town for the holidays by way of experiencing a taste of our local dining scene, this is the spot.

Back to the Haymarket, as well as downtown Lincoln and the Railyard, being festive areas with a diverse array of dining and entertainment options, if your guests from out of town want to experience Lincoln, a night out on the town is the way to go.

In the spirit of treating your guests to an experience and cuisine they can’t find at home, Ichiban Sichuan has plenty to offer in that area. There’s a great selection Asian-inspired cuisine, and for groups, the sushi boat or the Japanese Hot Pot, which is kind of similar to the popular fondue concept, are both excellent choices.

Since you’ll be eating all of the traditional holiday fare the rest of the time, why not switch it up and treat your taste buds to something different, right?

With so much holiday cheer, the “morning after” can sometimes be pretty rough on everyone. Have family in from out of town and not feeling up to everything that goes into preparing and serving breakfast or lunch at home? No problem, dine out! In fact, when traveling it’s always nice to try something new that you can’t find at home.

Greenfield’s Café serves brunch all day, in addition to a menu full of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner too. If you’re looking for a fast, casual place to grab a delicious bite to eat, it fits the bill to a tee. Or, just designate someone to come pick up the to-go order for the family and you can stay in your holiday peejays a bit longer!

When it comes to the holiday meal itself, traditionally speaking it’s the turkey that’s the star of the show. If you’re hosting this year and devoting your entire day to cooking the holiday meal isn’t really up your alley, good news, you can still serve it up with the best of them. Cowboy Chicken, a restaurant that specializes in wood fire rotisserie chicken that’s to-die-for, applies the same cooking method to turkeys for a limited time during the holiday season!

“Our wood fire rotisserie turkeys have the perfect flavor, and paired with our seasonal apple cobbler, makes every November and December special for our guests,” said Joe Armstrong with Cowboy Chicken Lincoln. “By using our proprietary Cowboy seasoning, and cooking over a wood-burning fire, you get layers of flavor.”

You can place an order for a wood fire rotisserie turkey or holiday meal package Joe Armstrong with all of the fixin’s and have it waiting Cowboy Chicken for you to stop by to pick up exactly when you need it, or catering services are also available for holiday parties.

Ham is also a popular holiday entrée, and if that’s what you have in mind, give Country Sliced Ham a try – you won’t regret it!

Hosting Duties & Details While we’re on the topic, for those who are hosting the family gathering in their homes this year, you’ve probably got your work cut out for you. With so much to do to prepare, while you might feel like you’ve got a good handle on everything, there’s always something that inevitably gets forgotten.

“I’d advise anyone who is hosting guests in their home for the holidays to make sure they are stocked up on snacks and morning coffee,” says Charlotte Ralston with RU Nuts and Ahroma Specialty Coffee. “It’s the little things. Having these staple items on-hand will ensure everyone is comfortable, satisfied, and able to fully enjoy their stay with you.

There’s nothing like starting the day off around the table with your loved ones Charlotte Ralston catching up over a fresh cup of coffee.

RU Nuts & Ahroma Instead of everyone having to venture out Specialty Coffee to grab a cup of coffee, you can bring the coffeehouse to your house with Ahroma’s locally-roasted coffee. It’s such a nice thing to do as a host to have great-tasting coffee on-hand. Plus the smell of freshly-brewed coffee wafting through the house is one that makes everyone feel at home, warm and cozy, as you make holiday memories holidays together. As far as snacks, munching throughout the day is fairly

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commonplace during holiday gatherings. It can seem like forever for it to be time to sit down and eat, and as the host, it’s nice to put a little spread out for grazing in the meantime. Light snacks like nuts, dried fruit, and trail mix are great because they’ll tide you over but not completely ruin your appetite. There’s surely an abundance of treats and a calorie-fest when it comes to holiday dinners, so it’s often a welcome surprise to at least have a few healthier options available too.

We even offer a specialty ‘Get Together’ gift basket packed with all of the essentials included. There’s mixed nuts, trail mix, a sweet treat, and both Ahroma premium coffee pot-size packs and single-serving packs of Big Train Chai tea. Whether you’re hosting or gifting, we have an assortment of gift baskets that are always a big hit. This includes Coffee Lovers, Holiday Cheer, Nebraska ‘Buy Local’, People Pleaser, The Good Times, and V.I.P. These are at a variety of price points as well, designed by us to fit the needs we find most common during the holidays.”

Not to worry, there will also be plenty of opportunities to indulge in sweet treats too. If you haven’t had the chance to try what Nothing Bundt Cakes is serving up, you are seriously missing out!

Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or bringing an item to the potluck, one of their cakes is sure to be a big hit.

“Our decorated 8” and 10” cakes make a perfect treat and centerpiece for your holiday gathering,” says Sharon Hansen with Nothing Bundt Cakes.

“We have several autumn, Thanksgiving and Christmas designs that will make a beautiful and festive addition to your table. If you have a larger group, we would recommend our Bundtinis, which are 2-3 bites, easy to serve, and available in all 10 flavors. Our featured flavor for November is Pumpkin Spice, and for December it’s Peppermint Chocolate Chip.

All sizes of cakes are available in the featured flavors.”

Sharon Hansen Nothing Bundt Cakes

Another detail that truly adds to any atmosphere is arrangements of fresh flowers! Whether it’s a centerpiece at the dining room table or displayed in prominent areas throughout the home to add color and beauty, you can’t go wrong with utilizing the talents of your local florist to take your décor to the next level.

“Even the smallest arrangement can brighten up a room, so you don’t need much to have a creative conversation starter or enhance a festive gathering,” says Sara Reyes Sudman with Fields Floral. “It’s also fun to incorporate what’s in season, especially for the holidays!”

She also offers some helpful words of advice for her fellow hosts and hostesses out there: “One thing that I have learned throughout the years that has made my Sara Reyes Sudman life easier is to focus on the things I am Fields Floral good at and delegate the rest. I think that applies to anything, especially during the holiday season. If you are a great cook, dedicate your time to getting the meals done or making your favorite dish and call us to help create that beautiful centerpiece or arrangement that you want to have, but don’t have the time to make. It’s also easy to forget birthdays, funerals, or other day-to-day celebrations during this time of year, so let us help you check one more thing off your do-to list. We have great designers that make your vision a reality and we offer delivery services, which saves you time!”

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Then there are the practical aspects of your home (or office) that play an important role during the holidays. Safety is important when dealing with things you’d commonly find during a holiday

season full of festivities, such as those impressive displays of lights or a countertop full of crock-pots, where you’ll want to be smart and exercise caution. While it might be funny when it’s in a movie, because hey, it’s Clark Griswold, having an electrical mishap to deal with is certainly no laughing matter in real life.

“One of the first things I think of when it comes to hosting family for holiday meals is crock-pots!” says Matt Collins with Oak Electric, Inc. “You’ve seen them, a tidy row along the countertop plugged into power strips and extensions cords. I have been to countless emergency calls where somebody smells smoke because they have overloaded a circuit and burned it out. Not only is this a safety hazard, but can hinder the holiday spirit. My wife and I host many family gatherings throughout Matt Collins the year and in my personal residence, I Oak Electric, Inc. have wired each and every outlet in our kitchen to its very own dedicated circuit.

I strongly encourage anyone who is planning to host to consider having a licensed electrician inspect their current situation.

Planning for the holidays also includes decorating. Over the years, I have been excited to see more and more Christmas lights using LED technology – this greatly reduces the load on your circuits.

Another tip to save energy would be to install timers to turn on and off your decorations. Some of my clients have even requested to have switched outlets installed in the overhangs so they can easily turn on and off their decorations with an interior switch.

Please consider these ideas and plan ahead – you will be disappointed if you wait until the last minute.

To schedule your project, please call me at (402) 440-5969 or visit our website at www.oakelectriccompany.com.”

After running yourself ragged ensuring all of your duties as a host are carried out to perfection, and setting all of the appointments for the items you’ll have performed by the professionals, make sure you get to a enjoy a little ‘me time.’ Who doesn’t want to look their very best when entertaining or celebrating for that matter?

“Salon and spa services are such a great way to treat yourself, especially when you want to look your best for a special night out, hosting a holiday party or just need to relax from the holiday stresses!” says Tasha Schmeichel with Tranquility Salon & Spa. “We are a full-service salon and day spa offering everything from all the latest trends in hair coloring, cutting & styling to our beautiful newlybuilt day spa! Relaxing time in our spa includes massages, facials, our signature Tasha Schmeichel spa pedicures, nail services, waxing, Tranquility Salon & Spa spa tanning, makeup and more! With a blowout in our beautiful blow dry bar, you’ll leave rejuvenated and ready to stun at your event.

When preparing for hosting a party, we can help relieve some of the stress that naturally comes with it with our wide variety of spa services, even if just for a 30 minute back, neck and shoulder massage. We also have a relaxation room to hang out in for quiet time or with a friend before and after each spa service, as well as private, secure locker rooms complete with steam showers.

Planning to come in on the day of your event for a shampoo, blowout and professional makeup application takes the pressure off of doing it yourself and allows time to relax while we perfect your look for the day!”

She also notes, “We are always offering specials and holiday packages that can be found on our website, www.

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tranquilitydayspaandsalon.com, and our social media sites. The first Tuesday of each month we offer 20% off everything in the salon from our spa gifts to our selection of luxury hair, skin and body products, so this is a great time to stock up on gifts or something for yourself! We can accommodate large and small office parties, wedding, bachelorette, holiday gatherings, or end your busy holiday shopping day with a nice, relaxing facial or massage! Our parties are handled by our Spa Manager, Rachel Heser and she will be happy to explain everything we have to offer!

Call early to reserve your time in our salon and spa as the closer we get to the holidays, space does become very limited. You can reach us at (402) 328-0777. We can’t wait to pamper you!”

Holiday Gift Giving – Make Your List & Check It Twice!

There’s nothing like finding the perfect gifts to give, and then presenting them with pride, to make one’s heart full. There are many wonderful people who might find their way onto your list this year – family, friends, neighbors, bosses, coworkers, clients, patrons, all of your favorite service providers, and so on. Let’s just say we all have our work cut out for us. Here are a few ideas to consider that can be found locally, because during the time of the year where we’re spending a significant amount of money, our dollars can do so much more if we spend them at the businesses here in our community!

“With the holidays right around the corner, gift ideas are always a common struggle for people. Whether it’s finding something for a loved one or a white elephant gift to the local office party, gift certificates are wonderful for those who just want to keep it simple but still want to give something nice. Why consider giving a gift of a professional massage? Many people don’t make appointments for themselves but would benefit from it immensely. They either ‘don’t have time’ or ‘forget’ to take care of themselves. When your

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significant other asks you to ‘massage’ out an area, it’s likely that driving a thumb into an area as hard as you can isn’t the right solution. It could cause more issues for the receiver AND cause pain to the giver when trying too hard. Instead, because it hurts, perhaps giving the gift of an appointment with an experienced professional who can help alleviate that pain is the key. If that’s something you want to do, finding out what the gift recipient expects from or desires in a Erin Lange massage is very important. That will guide 5 Elements Massage you in the right direction as to where you should get your gift certificate, depending on the service menu, specialty areas and/or techniques utilized.

We are offering some great specials during the holidays, so be sure to find us online or get in touch and ask about them!” – Erin Lange, 5 Elements Massage “Our Bundtlets make a terrific gift. They are a single-serving cake that can be gift wrapped and decorated in a 1, 2 or 3 tier tower.

They are a perfect way to say thank you to a friend, co-worker, boss or client and are always the perfect and delicious way to help someone celebrate a birthday! Our Bundtinis that are packaged by the dozen can also be gift wrapped and decorated for the holidays when you are gifting a larger group. We can gift wrap 1 or 2 dozen together.” – Sharon Hansen, Nothing Bundt Cakes “Gift ideas are our specialty! We offer gift cards to be purchased online, by phone or at the salon. Come in or get in touch with us to put together a special gift! We also offer a beautiful selection of spa items that make excellent stocking stuffers, can be given on their own or paired with a gift card. Gift cards to the spa are more than just a way to congratulate, wish someone a happy birthday, give as a Christmas gift or teacher gift. You are giving the gift

of time and health of mind and body! Who wouldn’t love that?

You can choose from any of our services, give a dollar amount or a spa package.” – Tasha Schmeichel, Tranquility Salon & Spa “I’m a big fan of gift cards. You just can’t beat the flexibility. Gift cards make it easy to maintain your budget and the recipient is able to choose exactly what they’d like whether it be something tangible or an experience. The wonderful thing about the gift of an experience is that it creates memories. An item can get lost or become worn out, but a memory will last a lifetime. This season we will be offering a special on gift cards. When you purchase a $25 Gift Card, we will throw in an extra $5 bonus arcade credit.

It’s just another way to help stretch those holiday dollars!” – Jen Miseno, Sun Valley Lanes “At Sartor Hamann Jewelers we pride ourselves on helping our customers find gifts for the most special times in their lives, and we have such an amazing selection in our stores during the holidays.

You’ll find all of the top brands and so many different styles to suit varying tastes. We also specialize in creating custom pieces. Let us help you find that perfect gift this holiday season!” – Jordan Hamann, Sartor Hamann Jewelers Jordan Hamann “This is a great time of year to be a bit Sartor Hamann Jewelers more creative with your gift giving. A

great gift option is an etched bottle of wine with your logo/name, recipient’s name, and/or personal message on it. Available in several options from champagne to merlot, these are a wonderful way to say thank you with a gift that can also be displayed. Sherpa blankets that are toasty warm and either embroidered or lasered with a logo/name are a great way to showcase your brand and gratitude or personalize your gift. These get a lot of use and are much appreciated. Many useful items can be branded/personalized and can be used to show appreciation any time of the year.” – Amy Doele, Flicker Promotions “Massage makes such a great gift, and it also pairs well with other spa services for a full pampering session. Gift certificates/ cards offer the flexibility to select a time that works best and the service(s) the recipient prefers, so I highly recommend that as the way to go. However, if you’re one of the lucky ones who does know exactly what the person would want and when they’d have the opportunity to fully enjoy the experience, it’s always nice to be surprised with plans already Dennis Varley made for you. Either way, we’re happy to The Body Shoppe help. We’ll be running a holiday special from Nov. 1 – Dec. 31 for a signature facial paired with your choice of a 60-minute deep tissue or Swedish massage for $99, which is an excellent value. These can be conveniently purchased online or by calling us to make arrangements.” – Dennis Varley, The Body Shoppe “Everyone loves flowers, so you can’t go wrong there. We recently launched a Fields Floral Membership program, which is a great option to look into for your year-round gifting needs. You can gift someone 12 months’ worth of flowers beginning with the holidays, or split it up and have gifts for everyone throughout the year!

We’ll send an arrangement to that special someone each month or you can freestyle it, meaning we’ll create something different for you every month. This is perfect for the busy business owner or working professional because we do all the planning for you and you walk away knowing that on Valentine’s Day, your significant other will get an arrangement, on your daughter’s birthday, she will receive a candy bouquet, etc. We also offer practical gifts for

different personalities, including barware for the drink enthusiast, baby outfits, books, stuffed animals for the new baby in your life, home decor and stationery. Feel free to stop by or check out our website for more ideas!” – Sara Reyes Sudman, Fields Floral “At the From Nebraska Gift Shop in the Haymarket, it’s a one-stop shop for great gifts. We offer all Nebraska products; anything grown or made in Nebraska, from food items, clothing, and art to award-winning wine, the store has something for everyone. The great thing about it is that we have pre-made gift baskets that are beautifully created or we can customize a basket to fit any need or budget. If the gift needs to be shipped, we can take care of that as well. When Barb Ballard it comes to our offerings at James Arthur From Nebraska Gift Shop Vineyards, wine always makes a great gift & James Arthur Vineyards for family, friends or co-workers. Whether it’s a gift for a host or wine for that special holiday dinner, we can help find the perfect match. Or you could give the gift of experience and go with a wine tasting.” – Barb Ballard, From Nebraska Gift Shop & James Arthur Vineyards With much to do to prepare for the holidays, and the flurry of activity that will ensue over the next couple of months, it’s wise to enlist the help of our local professionals. There’s no better feeling than having everything handled masterfully, which also allows you to enjoy the special moments throughout.

We wish you all well - let the holiday madness commence and may it be an incredible season full of blessings!

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FRIENDS4LUNCH

Last Month: Greenfield’s Cafe Greenfield’s Cafe ser ves fresh, casualstyle breakfasts and delicious lunches and dinners. Choose from their signature breakfast casseroles and griddle items, crowd-pleasing burgers, soups and sandwic hes, and hearty entrées, all to be enjoyed in a distinctly warm and welcoming environment.

Thank you to our friends who joined us this month!

This Month: Ichiban Sichuan Located in the Historic Haymarket at 151 N. 8th St. #100, Ichiban Sichuan is dedicated to offering the most memorable dining experience for its patrons.

Ingredients are selected with great care, using only the freshest and natural ones to prepare all of their signature dishes. Much attention has been paid to all aspects of the restaurant to ensure guests are treated to a cozy and inviting ambiance. It’s a place where you’ll not only enjoy a delicious and distinctive meal, but also the authentic atmosphere.

On behalf of our entire Strictly Business team, we would like to invite you to our next Friends4Lunch event we are holding on Tuesday, November 7th at Ichiban Sichuan at 11:30 a.m. (Lunch prices range approx. $4-$12).

Space is limited and RSVP is requested. Please email office@ strictlybusiness.com or call (402) 466-3330 to attend.

Friends4Lunch is one of our continued monthly networking events held at one of our favorite local restaurants. The tradition was established in the hopes of offering a casual way to make valuable connections with friends and strangers alike in the area over lunch while supporting our clients and enjoying their amazing cuisine.

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