Strictly Business Omaha May 2019

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OMAHA • MAY 2019

O N E DAY O N LY FRIDAY, MAY 31

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K N A B E T A G AT W E S T • Office Efficiency • Celebrating Mother’s Day • Summer Auto Care • Building/Financing Your Dream Home Client Spotlights • FireGuard, Inc. • Big Birge Plumbing • Creative Hair Design

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RIVER CITY SIX

In This Issue

Member FDIC

SARAH RIEDMANN Fun-Plex Waterpark & Rides

KEITH HOFFMAN AMY OLSON American National Bank Midland Pumping Service

KRIS MARTIN Cox Media Omaha

STEPHEN OSBERG MARY GROSSERODE Greater Omaha Chamber Bridge to Better Living

MAY 2019 Strictly Business

1

LAURI DAU NOY Perfect Plan Identifier

since 2010

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*Offer ends 8/31/19. Available to new commercial data and voice subscribers (excluding govt agencies and schools) in Cox service areas. $84.00/mo includes VoiceManagerSM Essential with unltd nationwide long distance and Cox Business InternetSM 50 for mos. 1-6 and $99.00 for mos. 7-36. Price based on 3 yr. contract. Early term. fees may apply. Std. rates apply thereafter. Price exclude equipment, installation, construction, inside wiring, taxes, surcharges and other fees, unless indicated. Offer is nontransferable to a new service address. Uninterrupted or error-free Internet service, or the speed of your service, is not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary. Rates and bandwidth options vary and are subject to change. DOCSIS 3.0 modem may be req’d, unless indicated. See www.cox.com/internetdisclosures for complete Cox Internet Disclosures. Unlimited plan is limited to direct-dialed domestic calls and is not available for use with non-switched-circuit calling, auto-dialers, call center applications and certain switching applications. Phone modem provided by Cox, requires electricity, and has battery backup. Access to E911 may not be available during extended power outage or if modem is moved or inoperable. Telephone services are provided by an affiliated Cox entity. Services are not available in all areas. Discounts can’t be combined or added with other promotions nor applied to any other Cox account. †Visa prepaid card available with qualifying new services ordered and activated between 5/1/19 and 8/31/19 with min. 3 yr. contract. Must mention “reward promo” when placing order. Account must remain active, be in good standing, and retain all services for a min. of 30 days after install. Online redemption req’d by 9/30/19 and must follow instructions rec’d after service activation. Limit one card per customer, total not to exceed $200. Allow 15 days after redemption for delivery. Card is issued by MetaBank,® Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring 2 Can be Strictly Business MAY 2019Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions #PrintProudDigitalSmart payments. used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. apply. Other restrictions apply. © 2019 Cox Communications Inc. All rights reserved.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

FireGuard’s PRICELESS PROTECTION,

HEALTHCARE DIVISION

Maintaining Compliance is an intensive and critically important process for every healthcare facility. FireGuard, Inc. is your One Call, One Source for ensuring that your compliance reporting, ongoing maintenance, and accreditation inspections are seamless.

FireGuard’s certified and professional team can handle all of your fire and life safety needs!

WHO WE SERVE:

Healthcare ScanSeries

Hospitals

Clinics

Assisted Living Facilities

Mental Health Facilities

Nursing Homes

Hospice Centers

Rehabilitation Facilities

Outpatient Offices

Laboratories

Dialysis Centers

Doctor’s Offices

And more..

TRUSTED. PROFESSIONAL. RELIABLE.

FireGuard offers a wide range of fire safety products and services: • • • • • • • • •

Life Safety Consulting Fire Alarm Systems Fire Sprinkler Systems Special Hazard Systems Fire Extinguishers Exit & Emergency Lights Fire Door Inspections Fire & Smoke Dampers Fire Extinguisher Training

Powered by Building Report’s digital reporting and unique bar code technology, FireGuard, Inc. provides accurate and comprehensive inspections that are fully documented and in compliance with regulatory standards. Third Party Verification ensures verifiable, trusted inspection results.

COMPLIANCE • • • • • •

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) The Joint Commission Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Local & National Regulatory Bodies

EXPERIENCE

• National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) Certified • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Certified • 24+ Years in Business • Family Owned and Operated

“It’s been less than 24 hours that I have been with FireGuard and I am truly impressed. I did not expect anyone here until the afternoon, especially with the storm that came through over the weekend, but they were here around 11 a.m. Both of the technicians were kind, thorough, pleasant, and professional.

I am excited to have a company that knows the difference between a quality job and a finished job.” - Nick K., Facility Manager for Philips County Hospital

SAFETY

• Life Safety Consulting • Mock Surverys • Fire Extinguisher Training

RELIABILITY • • • •

24/7 Service Automated Service Scheduling Single Point of Contact Unparalleled Service

For questions/inquiries, please contact Cliff directly!

Cliff McFalls

Director of Sales/Healthcare C: 402-505-0868 O: 402-592-1999 Cliff.McFalls@fireguardusa.com

4404 S. 76th Circle, Omaha, NE 68127 | (402) 592-1999 | fireguardusa.com #PrintProudDigitalSmart

MAY 2019 Strictly Business

3

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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

Step One: Compete With Your Unique Selling Proposition, Not With Price In our letter last month, we discussed the importance of a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) and the three key traits that define it. In brief, a USP is a unique claim or promise of benefits, it is distinctly different from the competition, and it is attractive enough that it motivates the consumer to choose you. While traditional branding and marketing can succeed at generating new leads and increasing the general public’s awareness, a USP approach is different because it competes for a specific customer with a specific promise. When a smaller business cannot compete with a large corporation on price, identifying a different demand can save their business. For examples of how to identify demand and compete on more than just price, we referenced Michael Senoff’s USP Magic System Tools transcript.

Senoff succinctly explains the problem for small businesses: “Many small businesses try to compete on price then blame Wal-Mart when they fail.

As ‘the low-price leader,’ Wal-Mart pretty much owns the market on bargain hunting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t compete. It just means you should probably stop trying to compete on price.”

One of the best ways to begin thinking about your own USP is to pay attention to the language used by companies that were able to successfully generate demand. Ask questions like, what kind of person is this advertisement appealing to and what promise is it making?

• Nyquil uses descriptive language which promises to fix specific symptoms: “The nighttime coughing, achy, stuffy head, fever, so you can rest medicine.”

• FedEx promised more than just fast delivery with this specific promise: “Absolutely, overnight.”

What is noteworthy about these examples is they appeal to a specific demand. Whichever business reaches a market first will gain a competitive advantage over newcomers because of the “top-of-mind awareness” phenomenon. This makes it especially important to identify what will cause the consumer to turn his or her head. If your USP is offering the cheapest product possible to bargain hunters, emphasize low

prices, but if your USP is offering “Lowering prices is a designer brands, your marketing dangerous way to compete, should focus on beauty and style. and not recommended.”

It is important to remember that a USP will be forced to change as the market changes over time. In the 1970s, when Dominos first became famous for delivering pizza in less than 30 minutes, they innovated a new demand for speedy pizza delivery. As time passed, all pizza delivery services were forced to compete with Domino’s promise of “Fresh, hot pizza delivered in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Contrast this with a later Dominos’ slogan: “Get the door, it’s Dominos.” This doesn’t promise anything specific about why you should order their pizza. It is succinct, but not effective.

While brevity can help a slogan or advertising message be memorable, brevity without clarity will not effectively tell a customer why your business is unique. The importance of clarity for businesses has been illustrated brilliantly by Drew Eric Whitman, author of Ca$hvertising: How to Use More than 100 Secrets of Ad-Agency Psychology to Make Big Money Selling Anything to Anyone. Whitman tells the story of how, while teaching frustrated business owners how to avoid wasting money on bad advertising, he would ask them to persuade him to become their customer. After listening to their attempt to persuade him, Whitman would always ask, “Why should I care!?!” in a booming voice. Every time he would repeat this question, the business owner’s responses would improve.

“Why should I care?” is the question every business owner needs to imagine the customer asking to identify a compelling USP. Lowering prices is a dangerous way to compete, and not recommended.

Why not focus on your expertise? Whether it’s a consumer’s sense of style or personal identity, or their desire for speed or convenience, finding a consumer demand you can guarantee to meet is the most effective way to stay ahead of competitors without continually slashing your prices.

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

Access over 297 hours of FREE downloadable mp3 audio interviews on sales, marketing, and business success experts. Michael Senoff has spent over a decade of his life creating fascinating streaming audio interviews with big-name marketers and getting them to spill the beans on how they got rich and famous and he’s offering his life’s work at www.hardtofindseminars.com.

CONTENTS NEWS

4 Business 22 Personnel

28 Non-Profit 36 Health

SPOTLIGHTS

1 15 16 27

FireGuard, Inc. Big Birge Plumbing River City Six Creative Hair Design

FEATURE STORIES

38 40 42 44 4

Office Efficiency Celebrating Mother’s Day Summer Auto Care Building/Financing Your Dream Home Strictly Business MAY 2019

Sarah

Holly

Hannah

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

Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright ©2019 by PZAK, Inc. Third Class Postage Paid at Lincoln, NE 68505

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ABOUT THE COVER

FESTIVAL OF F REE! On May 31, West Gate Bank locations in Lincoln and Omaha will host their annual Festival of Free. For nearly 10 years, West Gate Bank has held this event to celebrate their customers and welcome new customers with extended hours, free food throughout the day, games, and prizes. This year, each branch will hold a drawing to give away a GoPro HERO7 White*.

All locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Every new checking account opened that day will receive QFX® folding Bluetooth® stereo headphones as a free gift, up to $10 to buy back a debit card and/ or unused checks from your current bank, and a one-day only special for a free personalized debit card ($10 value).

“Festival of Free is something our branches look forward to hosting every year,” said Kristi Thornton, senior vice president, Omaha retail market manager. “It gives us an opportunity to thank our existing customers for their business and to invite new customers to experience the ease and convenience of our free checking account products. We pride ourselves on providing personal, friendly service and Festival of Free gives us the chance to demonstrate what that means.”

For the first time in the bank’s history, the event will be hosted at all locations in Lincoln and in Omaha on the same day. The theme for this year’s Festival of Free is “Vacation!” Each branch will develop their activities for the day based on that theme. For example, the location at 97th & Q in Omaha will display a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle from Defiance Harley-Davidson with a random drawing to giveaway a Harley-Davidson prize package.

“There’s a friendly competition between our locations for not only opening new accounts, but the fun and unique activities they can offer guests. We’ve had some really unexpected games and contests over the years, so it’s exciting each year to see what they come up with,” said Thornton.

West Gate Bank offers a variety of free checking account for personal and business use. The Completely FREE checking account is just that—an account with no minimum balance and no monthly service charge. Also offered are free accounts for customers age 50+, with interest (requires direct deposit or any automatic payment) and high interest checking.

Business checking accounts offered are Completely Free Business Checking, Business Interest Checking, and Commercial Checking. Visit westgate.bank for account details, or stop by any of the locations to learn more.

With 10 convenient locations in Lincoln and Omaha, West Gate Bank is a family-owned community bank. West Gate Bank is large enough to serve all your personal or commercial banking needs yet small enough to provide the outstanding personal service that only a community bank can deliver.

To learn more about West Gate Bank and the Festival of Free on May 31, visit westgate.bank.

FRIDAY, MAY 31 8AM –7PM

*One will be given away at each West Gate Bank branch.

Visit westgate.bank for more information.

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www.StrictlyBusinessOmaha.com MAY 2019 Strictly Business

5

BUSINESS NEWS Langer Electric Now Offers Mobile Booking

Control Depot Expands to Kansas

Langer Electric, led by Owner Chris Langer, is excited to announce that it now offers mobile booking. The company is constantly trying to stay ahead of the curve and make things more convenient for its customers. With mobile booking, people can now simply head to Langer Electric’s Facebook page and click to make an appointment. This is another example of how the business is growing and looking forward to more big things in the future.

Control Depot, your local building automation wholesaler/distributor, is excited to announce their recent expansion to Lenexa, KS. Vice President Jeff Killeen is proud to be the premier controls distributor, specializing in HVAC controls in the Nebraska, Iowa, and now Kansas area.

Langer Electric provides excellent and affordable electrical services to clients in Omaha and the surrounding area. For example, the company recently did fixture exchanges at fitness facility, adding low voltage wiring so the client could dim the lights during workouts for their customers, and the project turned out beautifully! Langer Electric strives to have repeated good experiences with its clients.

Chris hopes to bring more of a family-feel to the job. Recently, he was humbled to have been able to help fellow contractors with flood damage and repairs.

To learn more about Langer Electric, go online to langerelectricco. wix.com/electrical or check out photos from recent projects on the Facebook page (@LangerElectricCo). Contact Chris Langer at (402) 215-1914 / langerelectricco@hotmail.com.

Modern Work Suites Offers Innovative Office Space, Announces Upcoming Mixxer Modern Work Suites & Studios is excited to offer innovative private office space in its 50,000-square-foot “Business Ecosystem.”

The company, which welcomed its first tenant, Mr. Video, early last year, is very enthusiastic about creating more collaboration and builtin networking opportunities for its clients.

One way Modern Work is accomplishing this is by hosting monthly Networking Mixxers. The next event will be on Thursday, May 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. Any member of the Omaha business community is welcome to attend this event.

Altogether, Modern Work Suites & Studios has 46 single studios, 18 double studios, nine triple studios, and nine suites. Each floor plan delivers an ideal office space for businesses and entrepreneurs hunting for the right office space for rent in Omaha. The best part is, tenants are given the opportunity to customize their office space by selecting from a catalog of desks, bookshelves, chairs, and lamps—a free perk included in the rent! They even get to choose an accent wall color! Curt Brannon, founder of Modern Work, decided he wanted to create a space where business people can do serious work without taking themselves too seriously. People should love where they work!

Additional amenities at Modern Work Suites & Studios include three levels of WiFi a business can choose from; four separate conference rooms, which tenants can rent for free up to four hours a month; a 60s-style “mix lounge” where workers can relax and enjoy free coffee, along with food and beverage items for sale; a low-impact gym; free and easy access parking; a business service center, where things like fax services, copying, and scanning documents are available; a mailing and packaging service; and game rooms to blow off some steam, featuring a ping-pong table, pool table, and Lego room.

Take a virtual tour of Modern Work Suites & Studios, located at 8790 F St., online at modernworksuites.com or contact Kate Gallagher, on-site manager, at (531) 600-6901 / info@modernworksuites.com.

6 Strictly Business MAY 2019

The new location is at 9812 Pflumm Rd. in Lenexa and will be overseen

by Chris Hoffmann, along with business development representatives Frank Castro and Kenny Carroll. Chris encourages people to stop in and visit with him about Control Depot’s new LCBS thermostat, used to control Roof Top Units with VFD control as well as CO2 and humidity, all from an easy-to-use mobile app. As business development reps, Frank and Kenny are focused on sales and service to new and existing customers in Kansas’ gas detection industry. They have attended numerous safety days, conferences, and industry training seminars to stay abreast of the most recent technology and the needs of the customer.

Control Depot provides innovative, cost-effective control solutions, and web-based facility integration designs across a spectrum of building types in the residential and commercial markets. Contact Control Depot (www.controldepotinc.com) today for more information on how they can help you: (402) 934-0078 / sales@controldepotinc. com. To reach the Lenexa location, call (913) 766-5227.

Mayor Walsh and Cox Communications Declare Council Bluffs a “Gigabit City” On April 10, alongside leaders from Cox Communications and the Council Bluffs Chamber, Mayor Matt Walsh declared Council Bluffs a “Gigabit City” and announced that 100% of homes now have access to gigabit internet speeds.

Gigabit speeds, equal to 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps), allow users to download 100 songs within Picture L-R: Robbie Squires, Cox, affairs director; Dan three (3) seconds, 1,000 photos in government Koenig, Council Bluffs Chamber 16 seconds and a two-hour movie in president; Curt Stamp, Cox, eight (8) seconds. All Council Bluffs government affairs VP; Mayor citizens now have access to these Matt Walsh, Council Bluffs; Lynne speeds, cementing the community’s Sangimino, Cox, market VP; Jen place on the Silicon Prairie map and Rae Wang, Cox, government affairs enhancing residents’ connectivity manager; Calli Hite, Cox, senior public affairs manager; Keri Menage, and quality of life.

Cox, public affairs specialist.

With the average home expected to have more than 50 internet-connected devices by 2020, Cox prepared for its customers’ growing demands by rapidly expanding residential gigabit speeds, and now offers gig to all customers in the Council Bluffs area.

Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through broadband applications and services.

The largest private telecom company in America, Cox proudly serves six million homes and businesses across 18 states. They’re dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities, and the characteristics that makes each one unique. Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in 1898 by Governor James M. Cox. Learn more online at www.cox.com/residential/home.html. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

BUSINESS NEWS Omaha Chamber Celebrates Grand Opening of Prairie in Bloom

Eleven Twenty-Three Wins Silver ADDY® Award for Scooter’s 2018 Campaign

The Greater Omaha Chamber held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Prairie in Bloom on March 21, which also kicked off its grand opening weekend.

During this time, new customers had the chance to meet the staff and fall in love with the store’s unique home décor.

In addition to scheduled remarks delivered by co-owners Lukas Rix and Mark Kanitz; Winsley Durand, REACH director for the Omaha Chamber; and Delaney Nelson, PR director of the White Lotus Group, spoke at the ceremony as well.

Prairie in Bloom is proud to officially open the doors to its first-ever Omaha location within the historic Bloom Building on 17th and Cuming St. Mark and Lukas have previously operated a successful sister store in Wayne, NE called Rustic Treasures. In early summer 2016, the two owners realized their style of farmhouse chic was a growing trend across the nation, leading them to form strategic relationships with artisans to offer both new and vintage products, specializing in farmhouse and industrial home décor items. The new location will offer customers in the Metro area the chance to enjoy an eclectic mix of handpicked vintage and new products, creating a unique shopping experience for everyone. The team is looking forward to meeting customers and revealing new products!

Prairie in Bloom is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. To learn more, go online to www.prairieinbloom.com or call the store at (402) 502-5265.

Eleven Twenty-Three recently earned a Silver ADDY ® Award for their work on Scooter’s Coffee’s 2018 “The Next Amazing Caramelicious” campaign! The American Advertising Awards, home of the ADDYs, is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries every year in local AAF Ad Club competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

Centris Federal Credit Union Announces Future Site of Headquarters Building Centris Federal Credit Union finalized plans on Friday to build its new headquarters in Sterling Ridge at 132nd and Pacific Street. The new facility provides office space for 150 Centris employees and includes a full service branch, four drivethru lanes, and a publicly available community room.

Since moving into their existing headquarters in 2010, Centris has experienced a 43% growth from 71,248 members to over 100,000 members. Centris is currently Nebraska’s largest federally chartered community credit union.

“Our rapid growth in membership drove the decision to move to a larger building. With our new headquarters at Sterling Ridge, we’ll have room to grow in a space that’s at the center of our branch network and conveniently located for our employees,” said Steve Swanstrom, president and chief executive officer at Centris Federal Credit Union.

Centris operations are scheduled to move in the spring of 2021.

Centris retained the services of Holland Basham Architects to design the new building and MCL Construction to manage the implementation of the project.

Centris Federal Credit Union, founded in 1934, is Nebraska’s largest federally chartered community credit union. Centris serves Douglas, Sarpy, Lincoln, McPherson, and Pottawattamie counties and has 13 offices located in Omaha, Grand Island, North Platte, and Tryon, NE and Council Bluffs, IA. Their mission is to be a trusted life-long financial partner. Learn more online at www.centrisfcu.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Established in 2013 by Shana Boyd and David Distefano, Eleven Twenty-Three is a strategic creative and media planning agency in Omaha. They are proud to partner with businesses, like Scooter’s Coffee, to help them come up with good creative that attracts the right customer. For more information, visit www.11twentythree.com or call (402) 593-1123.

Nebraska Community Foundation Welcomes New York Times Columnist to Rural NE Recently, New York Times columnist David Brooks spent 72 hours in Greater Nebraska, in furtherance of Weave: The Social Fabric Project. Brooks and a team from the Aspen Institute are touring communities across the country to better understand our society and the elements that make for a strong community. One of the many observations Brooks made after his time in Nebraska was: “Everybody says rural America is collapsing, but I keep going to places with more moral coherence and social commitment than we have in booming urban areas. These visits prompt the same question: How can we spread the civic mind-set they have in abundance?”

Brooks spent time in McCook and Nebraska City, in addition to interacting with three dozen volunteer Nebraska Community Foundation affiliated fund leaders from Albion, Bertrand, Byron, Columbus, David City, Grand Island, Grant, Imperial, McCook, Nebraska City, Ogallala, Ord, Paxton, Red Cloud, and Taylor.

Casual open space discussions covered a variety of topics essential to community building from leadership development, to how to run a successful meeting, to diversity and inclusion.

For 25 years, Nebraska Community Foundation has been unleashing abundant local assets, inspiring charitable giving, and connecting ambitious people to build stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska. In the last five years, 41,776 contributions have been made to NCF and its affiliated funds. Since 1994, NCF has reinvested $323 million in Nebraska’s people and places.

“Nebraska Community Foundation is taking the wealth—the financial wealth, but also the intellectual wealth and the spiritual wealth— that is dispersed in the communities and getting people together so they can start a conversation on how we should use all our kinds of wealth…It’s been a model for what can be done around the country,” said Brooks of the organization.

Learn more about the Nebraska Community Foundation’s efforts at www.nebcommfound.org.

MAY 2019 Strictly Business 7

BUSINESS NEWS Nebraska Society of CPAs Announces that 2019 CPE Catalog is Now Available

Center Sphere Partners with ACCESSbank to Raise Money for Flood Victims

The Nebraska Society of CPAs is excited to announce that the 2019 CPE Catalog is now available. The 14th edition of the Society’s CPE Catalog arrived in mailboxes in April and can be accessed online at nescpa.org/cpecatalog. php. The catalog contains descriptions of nearly 100 live continuing professional education (CPE) courses offered from April to December 2019.

Download the catalog and register for courses online today!

In response to the devastation of the recent flooding, the Center Sphere Network joined together to help the community recover. Their goal was to raise $100,000 for families that have been directly affected by the flood. To achieve this goal, Center Sphere partnered with ACCESSbank to provide a safe way to donate. Throughout the month of April, members were encouraged to make personal donations at any ACCESSbank location. Center Sphere challenged each member to donate $20.

They also challenged each Chapter to raise a minimum of $1,000.

Along with course descriptions, the 2019 CPE Catalog also has information on the Society’s new Leadership Academy, membership benefits, committees, and much more.

The Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants is a dynamic association of nearly 2,600+ professionals dedicated to advancing the accounting profession and furthering the knowledge, competence, and performance of its members. The Society offers nearly 100 opportunities each year for CPAs and accounting professionals to meet and exchange ideas with their peers and develop leadership skills. For more information about the Nebraska Society of CPAs, or to access the 2019 CPE Catalog, please visit nescpa.org, email society@nescpa.org, or contact Society Vice President Kelly Ebert at (402) 476-8482 / kelly@nescpa.org.

8

Strictly Business MAY 2019

In addition to Center Sphere’s fundraising efforts, they hosted a network-wide BBQ event on April 23 at the offices of Carlson & Burnett. Attendees enjoyed food and beverages while raising some serious money for our impacted neighbors.

Center Sphere hosts a wide array of networking events all over the Metro area, designed to help members expand their professional network and grow their businesses. Center Sphere was founded in Omaha and is currently in eight different states. If you would like more information about Center Sphere or becoming a member, please go to www.centersphere.com or contact Amy Nieman at (402) 709-1774 / Amy@CenterSphere.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Bridge to Better Living Presents at Bryan 2019 Geriatric Conference Mary Ann Stallings, owner and founder of Bridge to Better Living, and Kristine Dykeman-Schoening, director of development, presented at the Bryan 2019 Geriatric Conference in April at the Gregorious Conference Center, located on Bryan West’s Campus. The audience was comprised of over 150 clinical psychologists, social workers, case managers, therapists, and nurses from Nebraska.

The Geriatric Conference’s agenda addressed new care options for the rapidly growing aging population. Focus was on the difficult decisions faced by seniors, their families, and caregivers who often seek resources from healthcare professionals. Bridge to Better Living addressed the challenges of aging, shared statistical information on geriatric healthcare changes, spoke about indicators of activity of daily living declines, and how planning is the best approach to enjoying quality of life. Financial costs were addressed when defining each type of community. This information is valued by professionals working with seniors and seeking resources.

Bridge to Better Living’s expert staff helps seniors and their families during the difficult navigation of researching retirement communities, including independent, assisted, memory-assisted, and long-term care.

They are the first locally owned transition service in Nebraska and have helped thousands of seniors since 2010. For more information on Bridge to Better Living’s no-cost service, call (402) 802-3301 or visit their website at www.BridgetoBetterLiving.com.

Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum Announces Helicopter Day Helicopter Day on May 18 is an indoor and outdoor event held at the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum in celebration of aviation careers and the history of helicopters.

Spectators will be able to watch in wonder as helicopters from military, law enforcement, and commercial pilots fly over the horizon and land right in front them. The helicopters begin descending at 10 a.m. After all helicopters land, spectators can visit with helicopter pilots about their careers and get a firsthand view of each aircraft. Helicopter rides will be available through Johnson Helicopter Services on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Activities will take place inside the museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including a drone workshop on flight and safety, free movies in the Museum’s theater, free balloon sculptors, and a make-andtake project. Outdoor festivities include: from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., helicopters will make their landing; helicopter rides, offered by Johnson Helicopter Services will begin at 10 a.m. and will operate until 4 p.m. The price per person is $60 plus tax, for an estimated eight to 10-minute ride. Registration for rides will start at 9 a.m. outside.

Indoor festivities include: drone workshop sponsored by Midwest Performance Flyers; free balloon sculptures made by a balloon artist; a free theater showing of Crazy Engineering: Mars Helicopter, presenting the challenges of helicopter motion on Mars, and The Future Goes Vertical, presented by NASA on the future of rotorcraft. Admission applies to indoor activities, prices are as follows: $12 for adults; $6 youth ages 4–12. Learn more online at www.SACMuseum.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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6th Annual Sip Nebraska Festival Entertainment Lineup Announced Sip Nebraska returns to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park May 10–11. The festival highlights Nebraska-produced wines, craft beers, and distilled spirits! Ro Hempel will be joining the festival both days with their reggae tunes in the afternoon. Christopher Raven will be at the festival on Saturday late afternoon with his mellow sound. Simplicated Band is an Omaha group bringing killer covers Friday night at 7 p.m. GhettoBlaster out of Lincoln will be performing at 7 p.m. with old school 90’s hip hop.

Guests are invited to taste 120+ types of Nebraska wines, craft beers, and distilled spirits from 26 Nebraska based beverage vendors! The two days include local bands, shopping at 20+ artisan and food vendors, blind tasting competitions, salsa and line dancing lessons, educational sessions, lawn games, fire pits, trolley tours, and more!

Other featured entertainment, food vendors, artisans, and more are posted on the Sip Nebraska Facebook page (@sipnebraska) and online at www.sipnebraska.com.

Omaha Chamber Celebrates $6.2M Expansion of Intercultural Senior Center On March 19, the Intercultural Senior Center (ISC) commemorated the completion of its new home with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5545 Center St., hosted by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

Speakers at the ribbon cutting included board of director emeritus Dr. Mary Lee Fitzsimmons and current board chair Cesar Garcia (DLR Group) with an open house for the public. This $6.2 million project began in June of 2018 and included renovation of the 22,000-square-foot building and an operating reserve. ISC’s new home offers areas for education, nutrition programs, exercise and wellness, case management, arts and crafts, and intergenerational activities. All of these vital services are made possible through partnerships with other community agencies and with the help of dedicated volunteers.

ISC was founded in 2009 to improve the dignity, quality of life, and physical well-being of seniors from around the world through advocacy, education, access to social services, and cultural enrichment activities that benefit the entire community. ISC’s vision is to lead Omaha in valuing the wisdom and experience of our diverse elders. The Intercultural Senior Center is a meal site for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Please check their website at interculturalseniorcenter.org for an activity calendar and lunch schedule.

MAY 2019 Strictly Business 9 Intercultural Senior Center above.

BUSINESS NEWS Construction Plans Prepared for MLCDC Las Americas Kitchen Express

Tech Mahindra and UNO Collaborate to Create a Future-Ready Workforce

AO, an Omaha-based architecture firm, has prepared construction plans for Las Americas Kitchen Express, the Midlands Latino Community D e ve l o p m e n t C o r p o r a t i o n’s (MLCDC) commercial kitchen, to present to the Omaha Planning Department. Las Americas Kitchen Express was formed to support food entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow their businesses. The goal is to increase the availability of local, healthy, and affordable food products and food-related employment in low income communities. This commercial kitchen will be located in a building at 5025 S. 33 St.

Tech Mahindra Ltd., a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business reengineering services and solutions, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) College of Information Science and Technology (IS&T) to partner in knowledge enrichment, hiring, industry-faculty collaboration and to share mutual information technology (IT) expertise.

MLCDC will give kitchen tenants the possibility to receive loans up to $50,000 through its lending program. Loans are made to businesses unable to get full financing needs met by traditional lenders (gap financing). The total investment in Las Americas Kitchen Express was projected to be $941,399 on October 31, 2017. MLCDC is updating the business plan and the budget of its economic development project now. The opening of Las Americas Kitchen Express is planned to be Spring 2020. This project is supported by the Office of Community Services from the DHHS Community Economic Development Grant.

The Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (www.midlandslatinocdc.org) provides Latinos and low-income communities with opportunities to generate economic growth by providing financing products, development services, and community development that advances their ability to develop a sustainable future in the Midlands.

Through this partnership, Tech Mahindra will help arm UNO students and faculty with the latest digital capabilities and in-demand skills needed to join the workforce. The students and the faculty will gain access to Tech Mahindra’s expertise in new digital technologies through regular speaker events, webinars, and hackathons. Tech Mahindra will also work closely with the students and faculty on proof-of-concepts, white papers, and research projects. In addition, Tech Mahindra will offer workshops and industry visits to allow students to experience the practical side of working in Information Technology and digital industry.

Tech Mahindra aims to attract a diverse range of individuals and competencies from the local Omaha area and equip them with digital skills required for working with cyber security, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.

Tech Mahindra has been a leading digital transformation provider to some of the largest customers in the Omaha region for the past two decades. This partnership with UNO will further strengthen their focus and investment in the region, and will play a significant role in turning Omaha into a destination for sought-after IT talent in the mid-west. As part of the TechMNxt charter, Tech Mahindra is creating an ecosystem that supports innovation through collaboration in the real sense. Learn more about this by visiting www.techmahindra.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Business Ethics Alliance May Ethics Luncheon to Address Workplace Harassment

Trane Moves to New Location, Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting

The Business Ethics Alliance Signature Program schedule for 2019 is designed to appeal to a broad business audience.

This month, the Alliance is hosting their Summer Ethics Luncheon on Thursday, May 30. The integrity sponsor of this event is MECA and the event will be held at TD Ameritrade Park from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Typical attendees are vice presidents, general counsels, middle managers, HR professionals, and those tasked with running their organization’s ethics program.

Trane, a heating equipment supplier in Omaha, grew out of their old location and moved into a bigger facility in November.

To celebrate the exciting office relocation, the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Trane on March 20. Previously stationed in Ralston, Trane’s new address is 11937 Portal Rd. in La Vista.

The luncheon will feature Mocha Suell from the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She will be raising awareness of workplace harassment—how to define it and how to educate employees to promote a healthy workplace. The vision of the EEOC is to have respectful and inclusive workplaces with equal opportunity for all. Ms. Suell will bring her expertise in workplace harassment and field questions from the audience.

The Business Ethics Alliance builds leadership, strengthens organizations, and elevates Greater Omaha through positive, practical business ethics. Registration for all events is open and can be found at businessethicsalliance.org/events. In addition, be sure to mark your calendar for the organization’s first-ever ethics conference EthicSpace on October 22, 2019.

Omaha Business Excellence Awards Recognize 22 Area Organizations The Greater Omaha Chamber recently announced the 2019 Business Excellence Award winners, an annual tradition recognizing regional organizations in each of these three categories: Leadership, Innovation, and Philanthropy.

Nearly 90 organizations competed for the recognition, with 22 unique businesses selected following a nomination and juried review.

The winners of a Business Excellence Award are: Abide; Anytime Tees; The Bike Union and Coffee; Don & Ron’s CARSTAR Auto Body Repair, Inc.; E & A Consulting Group, Inc.; First National Bank; Gallup; The Harry A. Koch Co.; Home Instead Senior Care; Latino Center of the Midlands; LEO A DALY; Lindsay Corporation; Makovicka Physical Therapy; Metropolitan Community College; NMC Group, Inc.; Physicians Mutual; Pinnacle Bank; Project Harmony Child Advocacy Center; Quantum Workplace; Revela; RTG Medical; and Signature Performance. The 2018 Small Business of the Year is: Peitzmeier Demolition and Concrete Cutting, Inc. Winners will be recognized at a public awards celebration on Thursday, May 16, 4–6 p.m., at the Omaha Design Center. At the event, milestone recognition will also be given to businesses celebrating an anniversary of 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, or 150 years in business. This year’s 150-year-old organization is the University of Nebraska. Sponsors include Premier Bank (Small Business Awards Sponsor) and Southwest Airlines (Official Airline Sponsor).

The mission of the Greater Omaha Chamber is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration. This is accomplished by advocating for a strong business climate, creating opportunities for member visibility and business connections, pursuing investment and jobs for the region, strengthening leaders and the community, and enhancing the region’s brand and image. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Trane serves Omaha, Lincoln, and western Nebraska. Their innovative design and engineering, combined with industry-leading energy efficiency and unparalleled services, makes Trane a global leader in building solutions. Their engineers are committed to continuous improvement across all of their product lines. They work tirelessly to increase energy efficiency and performance for all Trane systems, from light commercial to large applied solutions. To learn more about Trane’s HVAC products and equipment, building automation and energy services, and training opportunities, visit www.trane.com or call (402) 596-8000.

Better Business Bureau Shares Digital Spring Cleaning Advice Better Business Bureau (BBB) encourages businesses to protect their digital data by conducting a spring cleaning. While you may shred and properly discard documents containing your business’s sensitive information, it is easy to forget about your digital footprint. It’s important to do a “digital spring cleaning” in addition to your regular maintenance.

BBB urges businesses to do the following: 1. Keep Machines Clean • Keep all critical software current: This includes security software, web browsers, document readers, operating systems, and any other software regularly used.

• Clean up your mobile life: Delete unused apps and keep others current, including the operating system on your mobile device.

Actively manage location services, Bluetooth, microphone, and camera, making sure apps use them appropriately.

2. Make Sure You’re Secure • Turn on two-step authentication, also known as two-step verification or multi-factor authentication, on accounts where available.

• Secure your router and update router software.

• Create better passwords.

• Have separate passwords, at least for key accounts like email, banking, and social networking, to help thwart cybercriminals.

• Keep a safe record of passwords.

• Secure your phones: Use passcodes or a finger swipe.

3. Digital File Purge and Protection • Clean up your email: Only save emails you really need.

• Manage subscriptions: Unsubscribe to newsletters, email alerts, etc.

• Dispose of electronics securely: Wiping data isn’t enough. Look for facilities that shred hard drives, disks, and memory cards.

• Back it up: Copy important data to a secure cloud site or to another drive where it can be safely stored.

• Empty your trash or recycle bin on all devices: Make sure to permanently delete old files.

For further support, businesses can do a cyber safety check-up with Better Business Bureau’s “5 Steps to Better Business Cybersecurity” at bbb.org/cybersecurity.

MAY 2019 Strictly Business 11

BUSINESS NEWS ANB Employee Selected for Obama Foundation’s MBK Alliance Conference

Midwestern Gastropub Tavern 180 Adds 4th Location in Sioux Falls

Recently, American National Bank’s (ANB) Ames Branch Lead Teller Elijah Mitchell experienced a life-changing moment while attending the Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Alliance Conference. Elijah, who began his banking career through the Empowerment Network’s Step-Up Intern Program, was selected to participate in the MBK conference in Oakland, CA in February. While attending the conference, Elijah met with other youth who were impacting their communities in positive ways.

Tavern 180, an Omaha-based restaurant/bar chain known for its modern posh venue, outstanding prime steaks, and classy cocktail bar, will be opening its fourth Midwest location at The Galleria at 69th and Western in Sioux Falls this summer. Along with the expansion, Sioux Falls-based investment firm Crescent Capital Holdings has taken an equity position in Tavern 180.

One of the most memorable experiences was when Elijah had the opportunity to meet and speak with former President, Barack Obama.

Elijah not only had a moment to shake hands, but he was also able to ask the former President the last question during the conference’s final panel discussion.

Elijah emphasized that he learned many things while at the conference and felt very motivated to be successful in the future. “One of the most important things I learned from this experience would be if there’s not a seat at the table for you, then you make your own-table and you do the things that you want to do and surpass the others.”

American National Bank appreciates Elijah’s commitment to help make a change in the world and they are proud to have him as part of the ANB family. For more information, visit www.american.bank.

The gastropub’s new location will occupy about 3,000 square feet as one of five retail spaces on the first floor of The Galleria, which is under construction on the southwest corner of 69th Street and Western Avenue. Tavern 180 has three additional locations in Iowa and Nebraska, including both Lincoln and Omaha. The restaurant’s unique concept, referred to by staff as a ‘180 from the typical,’ consists of dishes including Wagyu beef sliders, Prime steaks, and a signature Wagyu hanging beef tenderloin.

Happy hour delivers some unique offerings, including the ‘Tavern Bubbles,’ a delicious fruit-flavored cocktail that bubbles, smokes, and has to be seen to be believed. Tavern 180’s full bar area also offers some classic twists on old favorites, like the Sazerac, its take on the traditional Old Fashioned.

The restaurant, founded in Omaha by Brett Clure, focuses on an exceptional dining experience with a mix of approachability, luxury ambience, and atmosphere. “We feel we’re a perfect complement to all the other exceptional surrounding businesses in The Galleria, and we can’t wait to serve Sioux Falls,” Clure said. For more information, visit tavern180.com.

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BUSINESS NEWS Conklin Commercial Roofing Systems to Host Spring Seminar

Veterans in Business Forum Announces Upcoming Meetings and Speakers

Heartland International, Inc. a nationwide distributor of Conklin Commercial Roofing Systems, has announced that the annual Spring Roofing Seminar, being hosted in Lincoln at Urethane Contracting Services (9931 West O St.), will be on Saturday, May 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This program is designed to provide an opportunity for experienced contractors to research the potential of expanding into large volume, high profit, commercial roofing. Presentations by experienced contractors will be followed by hands-on demonstrations of the installation of the CONKLIN COMMERCIAL ROOFING SYSTEMS.

The Veterans in Business Forum (VIBF) meets the first Friday of every month (0800-0900). Their next meetings are 3 May and 7 June at the University of Nebraska–Omaha College of Business Administration, Mammel Hall – Room 215, 6708 Pine Street, Omaha, NE 68182-0048. The May guest speakers are Tony Barnes from the Victory Riding Academy and Dean Kenkel from the Nebraska Veterans Coalition. Guest speaker for June is Cody Sears from the USPO. He will speak on USPS Every Door Direct Mail.

The mission of the Veterans in Business Forum is to provide business support, education, and advocacy to help veterans succeed in business and increase community awareness of veteran-owned business activities.

Veterans, active duty, reservists, and civilians are welcome to join and support each other and veteran-related goals.

For the latest information, to be a guest speaker, and/or to be added to the mailing list, contact Michel Thornhill at (402) 932-7243 / info@littlemountainwebdesign.com (email is preferable). Visit www. omahanebraska.com/VeteransinBusinessForumOmahaNetworking to learn more about the organization.

Dennis Nun, president of Heartland International, says, “We have been installing our proven systems for over 40 years. There continues to be a need for qualified contractors and general contractors as well as those with experience in remodeling, siding, insulation, and even commercial painting that have the essential experience to be trained as commercial roofing contractors installing our proven Conklin Roofing Systems. Today, we have 12 commercial roofing systems for all types of buildings.”

Interested contractors can also register for the four-day qualified training program that will be held June 4–7, 2019 in Kansas City, MO. For more information or to attend any of these programs, e-mail DennisLNun@gmail.com or call (402) 430-7727.

Empowerment Network Announces Speakers for Rebuilding the Village Conference The Empowerment Network has announced the speakers who will headline their 12th annual Rebuilding the Village Conference on Friday, May 24. The conference will take place at the Hilton Omaha – Downtown, 1001 Cass St. Registration for the event begins at 7 a.m. with the conference kick-off at 8 a.m. The concluding breakout session will begin at 1:30 p.m. The speaker lineup will include Simon T. Bailey, founder of Brilliance Institute Inc. / CEO of Simon T. Bailey International, and W. Cyrus Garrett, deputy director of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBK) with the Obama Foundation.

Simon T. Bailey and his company equip other companies with the tools necessary to effect cultural transformation, which results in higher employee engagement and platinum customer service experiences.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Simon knows how to engage and inspire leaders and team members.

Keynote speaker W. Cyrus Garrett with MBK - Communities Team works to achieve near-term impact focused on building safe and supportive communities for boys and young men through the implementation of action plans, connect resources, and interventions.

You won’t want to miss this inspiring talk describing Garrett’s placebased strategies that are working to impact hundreds of thousands of lives across the country, while generating millions of dollars to support the work.

To register or get more information for Empowerment Network’s Rebuilding the Village Conference, go online to empoweromaha.com.

Registration for the conference is available through May 19. Other questions can be directed to Vicki Quaites-Ferris at (402) 502-5153. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Nebraska Society of CPAs Announces 2019 Summer Conference Lineup The Nebraska Society of CPAs has announced the dates and information surrounding the Society’s 2019 summer conferences. The 23rd Annual NotNEBRASKA SOCIETY OF For-Profit Conference will take place on Wednesday, June 19, at The Certified Public Accountants Cornhusker Marriott (333 S. 13th St., in www.nescpa.org | 402-476-8482 Lincoln). Registration and breakfast will begin at 7:45 a.m. with the conference running from 8:20 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The event will be opened with an update on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) followed by numerous speakers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), HRD Initiatives, KPMG, Frankel Zacharia, and more. Presentations will include information about tax reform and tax updates, security controls for the CPA, succession planning, the new not-for-profit reporting model, ethics, and the Nebraska attorney general’s update.

Secondly, the 38th annual Nebraska Governmental Accounting and Auditing Conference (GAAC) will take place on Thursday, June 20, and Friday, June 21, at The Cornhusker Marriott. Registration and breakfast will begin both days at 7:30 a.m. Thursday’s conference will start at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Saturday’s festivities start at 8 a.m. and will end at 3:15 p.m.

This GAAC Conference will open with a presentation on the new 2018 Yellow Book by Mary Ann Hardy from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) followed by numerous speakers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), state auditors, HRD Initiatives, Zelle HR, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Cotton & Co., Frankel Zacharia, and more. Presentations will include information about GASB updates, security controls for CPAs, school districts, Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) updates, DHS cybersecurity offerings, DHS physical security offerings, ethics, state auditor’s updates, OMB Single Audit Requirements under Sec. 100-500, fraud, and more!

For more information about the Nebraska Society of CPAs or to register for either of these conferences, visit nescpa.org or contact Kelly Ebert at (402) 476-8482 / kelly@nescpa.org.

MAY 2019 Strictly Business 13

BUSINESS NEWS RD Industries Launches a New Tamper Evident Insert

Greater Omaha Chamber Welcomes The Community Supports Network

RD Industries Tamper Evident Insert is the next generation of Closed Loop Technology that provides an extra ‘lock’ to secure the chemicals in the container. The new Tamper Evident Insert takes “tamperevident” to a new level with consumer safety being an ever-present and important issue in the workplace. RD Industries Tamper Evident Insert features lugs that provide a secondary ‘lock’ in the bottleneck that adds another layer to help prevent leaks and spills to protect people and vital resources.

On March 5, The Community Supports Network, Inc (CSN) hosted a ribbon cutting, conducted in partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, to celebrate the merger of Developmental Ser vices of Nebraska, Developmental Services of Iowa, Inc., and Community Supports, Inc. to form CSN. CSN will boast over 500 employees across seven cities, in the Midwest, providing the full continuum of support for community members with intellectual disabilities and/or behavioral health needs. This combined support network will allow resources to be shared collaboratively in ways that were not previously possible prior to the merger.

CSN will also serve as an acronym for three core aspects of their mission: • Community: representing their commitment to supporting and advocating for the people receiving services to ensure each individual’s right to live, work, and recreate in the community of his or her choice.

• Supports: reflecting their commitment to partnering with people to help each individual to live a deep, meaningful life.

• Network: recognizing how the organization will now be able to combine a network of providers to better serve everyone across multiple states.

What has always been a family of organizations will now be coming together to create a stronger network of providers that will allow increased access to more resources spread across a single organization.

For more information on the Community Supports Network, visit thecsnetwork.com or call (402) 827-7652.

The Tamper Evident Insert is ideal for containing chemicals of all velocities. It will require an average of 40–50 pounds of force to remove the insert from the bottleneck of the container, which is equivalent to the weight of a 22-inch carry-on suitcase that you plan to store in the overhead compartment of an airplane.

Based in Omaha, RD Industries serves customers throughout North America, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Today, RDI’s products are found in chemical packaging used primarily for cleaning and are used in local schools and hospitals, the nation’s largest fast food chains, and in five-star restaurants and hotels around the world. Learn more online at www.rdindustries.com.

“

Community Supports Network Omaha Ribbon Cutting above

I’ve formed a lasting relationship with Allen from Cornhusker Bank, who takes the time to understand my unique personal and business needs, and can help me map out a financial roadmap to get me to my goals.

“

“The RD Industries’ Tamper Evident Insert takes chemical containment and safety to the next level for anyone looking to enhance their current or start a new Closed Loop System,” said Rod Laible, chairman and chief executive officer of RD Industries. “The Tamper Evident Insert is a positive step forward building consumer confidence and developing a hermetic connection to keep products contained which reinforces the RD Industries goal of making every container safe.”

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Strictly Business MAY 2019

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BUSINESS NEWS Papillion Community Foundation Announces New Activities at 72nd Annual Papillion Days

Five Below Celebrates Grand Opening at Metro Crossing

The 72nd Annual Papillion Days celebration June 12–15, presented by the Papillion Community Foundation, is proud to announce that Citizens State Bank will be this year’s Community Celebration’s principal sponsor. Through this partnership, Papillion Days will have fresh, new, and innovative activities to enjoy!

A grand opening celebration was held by the Five Below store at Metro Crossing on March 29. Geared towards youth, all items in the store are priced at $5 or less, and some special limited items are priced at $10 or less. In addition to their locations in Bellevue and Council Bluffs, Five Below now has three locations in the Metro area.

Five Below specializes in kid-friendly items, including a range of toys, décor, clothing, tech accessories, books, party gear, and art supplies.

Seasonal items to celebrate major holidays are also offered. As Five Below explains on their website, all their items are chosen to fit with a key theme: “Our stores are jam-packed with handpicked stuff that falls under eight cool categories: Style, Room, Sports, Tech, Crafts, Party, Candy, and Now.”

Come visit the new Market in the Park and grab some fun food and shop at the local artisan and business market. The Papillion Beer Fest will feature craft beer from Pint 9 and Glacier Till Vineyard, along with music from Red Delicious and Hi-Fi Hangover.

Everything begins on Wednesday, June 12 (gates open at 5:45 p.m.) with opening night at Sumtur Amphitheater featuring a FREE concert

by Recaptured, a Tribute to Journey. The carnival will open Thursday night and run through Sunday. Papillion Idol is Thursday night along with family night in the Beer Fest Tent with live Blues Music and Papillion Idol on the Park Stage. The amazing fireworks will be Friday night and the annual Papillion Days Parade and Kiddie Parade will take place on Saturday. There will be new activities coming as well, including the Papio Volksmarch and Fest on Sunday and lots of free entertainment in the Park. For the entire event schedule, go to www.papilliondays.org.

Sarpy Chamber’s 2019 Grand Giveaway Breaks Attendance Record The Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce was off to the races Kentucky Derby style on March 12 for their annual Grand Giveaway. The chamber’s largest fundraiser of the year once again moved to a different venue in anticipation of a growth in attendance. A record number of Grand Giveaway guests filled the Scott Conference Center for a night of live music, live and silent auctions, dinner, and drinks.

“We’ve broken our attendance record again this year and everyone at the chamber is so grateful for that continued support,” said Annisa Visty, vice president of events and special programs. “Our growth has enabled us to work with a number of our members to host this event the past few years and I’ve been so impressed with how our community venues can meet such a variety of needs.”

The fundraiser benefitted the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce, which holds over 160 events a year, designed to provide business and professional orientated education, advocacy, and leadership in the community.

Live music from Blues Agent entertained guests over the social hour, while Soaring Wings and Lucky Bucket provided wine and a signature drink. Tom Kerfoot with Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Martie Cordaro, president and general manager of the Omaha Storm Chasers, closed out the night by hosting a live auction.

The entire staff of the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all the donors, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees for making the 2019 Grand Giveaway another success. Learn more about the Sarpy Chamber at www.SarpyChamber.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Non-profit organizations can partner with Five Below to raise funds.

During a fundraising event, Five Below will donate 10% of all participating sales to a non-profit organization, which can include schools and youth athletic teams. Five Below supports the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer during the month of May, and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital each year, raising over one million dollars for each organization. You can visit the newest Five Below location at 3815 Metro Crossing Dr., and browse and shop for items online at www.fivebelow.com.

Raising Cane’s Franchisee Recognized at National Restaurant Gala Awards Dinner National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) presented Raising Cane’s franchisee – Southern Hospitality Ventures, Inc. – with the 2019 Restaurant Neighbor award on March 28 to celebrate their commitment to community service in the restaurant industry. The Nebraska Restaurant Association is very proud Pictured (L-R): Curtis Wilson, of founders Jennifer and Justin Jones, American Express Company; who accepted the award at the Gala Justin and Jennifer Jones, Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., Southern Hospitality Ventures; where they were able to share their Geoff Hill, National Restaurant story of giving back with industry icons Association Education Foundation. and members of Congress.

Each year, this award is presented to one small business, one mid-sized restaurant company, and one large national chain. Each restaurant must first win the Restaurant Neighbor Award at the state level and is then judged on a national level against the other state winners in their category. A Nebraska restaurant has not won at the national level for over 10 years.

Since opening the first Raising Cane’s restaurant in Lincoln in 2006, Jennifer and Justin have been committed to giving back to their restaurants’ communities and have given over $1.8 million back to the communities they serve. A few key highlights include: • Donating over 21,000 coats to those in need since 2007.

• Raising school supplies to help over 12,300 students and donating over $49,000 to local schools since 2009.

• Donating over 822,000 minutes in calling cards, and over $102,000 to Nebraska soldiers and veterans.

To learn more about the Raising Cane’s franchisee, Southern Hospitality Ventures, Inc., go to Facebook or Twitter (@RaisingCanesSHV). For more information on the winners, including images and videos, go to chooserestaurants.org/Industry-Involvement/Awards or reach out to the Nebraska Restaurant Association, the voice of Nebraska’s food service industry, by calling (402) 488-3999, visiting www.nebraska-dining.org, or going to Facebook (@NebraskaRestaurantAssociation).

MAY 2019 Strictly Business 15

BUSINESS NEWS CFO Systems Launches New Search and Staffing Company

Introducing Layer, a Smart Home for Your Building’s Data

Omaha’s CFO Systems is announcing the launch of a new company, CFO Systems Search & Staffing, as it continues to grow its business and diversify its position in the regional and national markets. Steve Getzfrid brings over 30 years of varied experience in Big 4 public accounting, private industry, and accounting and finance recruiting as he steps into a leadership role to execute his vision for the firm.

Available today, Layer is a flexible data management app that encourages team collaboration and integrates directly with Revit.

Layer makes it easy for architects, engineers, and building owners to manage project data, files, notes, and tasks from one intuitive workspace that organizes everything by its building context.

“CFO Systems has provided me with a solid platform to do what I really enjoy—building and nurturing long-term relationships with both clients and candidates,” Steve stated. “I am looking forward to developing deep relationships that can be carried forward into the future and make an impact in the lives of clients and candidates, whether through direct placement, career coaching, or by helping company leaders navigate through the hiring process to find the best candidate for each role.”

“Steve brings an innovative vision and a strong financial and recruiting/ staffing background to our team. His unique combination of experience in public accounting, internal audit, corporate finance, and executive recruiting is extremely valuable to our clients,” said Brett Frevert, CFO Systems managing director. “He provides our clients and candidates with a level of trust that encourages open conversation, collaborative brainstorming, and a clear vision.”

CFO Systems is a nationwide company founded in 2005 to provide practical, experienced financial and human resources leadership to middle-market companies. The firm was named on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies for four consecutive years. Its offices are located across the country in Omaha, Seattle, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas City, Tampa, and Hartford. Learn more about CFO Systems Search & Staffing at www.CFOS3.com or call Steve Getzfrid, (402) 983-8888.

Layer’s robust feature set is designed for cross-disciplinary teams in every phase of the design and construction process regardless of geographic location. Layer can be used as a standalone app on any browser or device or as a Revit Add-in, providing users instant access to project data as they click through a Revit model.

Features such as customizable fields, instant messaging, smart image recognition, and revision history, further differentiate Layer as an essential tool for AEC and building management professionals.

Layer was used in beta by the design team restoring the Nebraska State Capitol to successfully document and organize building data for more than 3,000 rooms and windows. Rather than choosing the typical workflow of keeping separate spreadsheets for data, separate file folders for photos, and long email chains and word documents for tasks and notes, the project team chose Layer. The app saved the team countless hours by syncing project data and centralizing communication into one easy-to-use dashboard that they could use on site while also working within the Revit model.

New users can test drive Layer with a 14-day free trial at Layer. team. Layer is priced per project with custom integration and enterprise solutions. Early bird pricing is available now through June 30, 2019. To schedule a demo and to view the full feature list with pricing, visit Layer.team.

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Trust UNICO to connect you to a full suite of insurance solutions. unicogroup.com 402.434.7200 16

Strictly Business MAY 2019

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YOUR PLUMBER IS LIKE A DOCTOR FOR YOUR HOME...

The circulatory system of your body is a lot like the plumbing in your home! Water circulates through your house in the pipes and valves, which are like your home’s veins and arteries, all making up your home’s plumbing system. This system is what supplies your home’s “organs,” like the sinks and bathtubs, washing machines, and even your radiators with the water they need to function properly. Whenever a water leak or obstruction occurs, it’s important to get it checked out by a plumber, before a much bigger problem occurs.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Why Are Plumbers So Expensive?

“Unfortunately for us, the media is not on our side when portraying a plumber. Plumbers are shown with their pants sagging down or as the ‘sleazy’ sales person that only wants to rip people off. In reality, plumbing is a very high-skilled profession that requires years of training and experience, just like lawyers, accountants, and doctors! They deserve proper compensation for the work they’ve put in to solves issues others cannot do themselves. “ - Brad and Lallenia Birge

FROM EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE LEARNED CUSTOMERS REALLY LIKE KNOWING WHAT SOMETHING WILL COST AHEAD OF TIME INSTEAD OF BEING SURPRISED AT THE END OF THE SERVICE. On top of the cost to hire on someone as skilled as a journeyman plumber, many people often forget what else falls into the cost of paying plumbers for their time and expertise. Plumbing companies must also be able to afford: • Taxes (Payroll, federal and state) • Employee Benefits (Company match 401k, PTO, paid holidays, bonuses, company parties, etc.)

• Insurance (liability, workman’s comp, and health) • Licensing • Bonding • Continuing education • Fully stocked vehicle & fuel to get to the jobs • Repairs and Maintenance • Materials & tools to do the work

• Equipment • Labor (support staff in addition to actual plumber if needed) • Advertising • Telephone • Internet • Lawyer, accountant, etc.

• Office supplies (Computers, programs, etc.)

• Rent and utilities (equipment storage, meeting space, and an office)

“As a growing plumbing company, our goal is to create a business in which we have the best plumbers in Omaha working for us. We do this by paying a very competitive hourly wage with benefits instead of a commission-based salary. This way our plumbers only need to worry about providing the best service they can for the work that needs to be done. Our plumbers are not incentivized to sell something that our customer doesn’t need and because of that our customers will never feel taken advantage of! We have implemented a flat rate price structure that allows us to give upfront pricing to our customers so there are no surprises when the job is done. Our pricing is not the most expensive or the least expensive, however, we stay competitive in the market by doing a lot of research and comparing our rates to others. As a result, we will be able to continue to provide for our team members and their families that rely on them. We want our customers to be proud to support our business and feel good about it!” - Brad and Lallenia Birge Plumbing is such a dynamic trade/profession. There is a lot for the plumbers need to take in, understand, and problem solve, as every house and plumbing system is entirely different from another. The average home is made up of many plumbing systems, including: • Waste and vent systems in the walls, below your home, and penetrating the roof.

• Gas lines in the attic, walls, and connected to appliances.

• Water lines snaking through the home and out to the street and irrigation.

• Toilets, faucets, water heaters, tubes, valves, and pumps.

Brad and Lallenia Birge are determined to be the difference in the plumbing industry. The whole team at Big Birge Plumbing has a passion for plumbing. They all take great pride in the work they provide, the team they have built, and the customers and contractors they service.

If you hire the right plumber, you might only need to see him or her every 4–6 years, saving you money in the long run.

Much like a good doctor, an experienced plumber stresses prevention and educates you on what symptoms to look out for, and how to keep your plumbing system healthy.

Service Areas include: Omaha, Elkhorn, Bennington, Ralston, Papillion, Gretna, Valley, and Wahoo.

GET US ON THE JOB! (402) 575-0102 | BIGBIRGEPLUMBING.COM #PrintProudDigitalSmart

MAY 2019 Strictly Business

17

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18

Strictly Business MAY 2019

SARAH

Sarah Riedmann

FUN-PLEX WATERPARK & RIDES Meet Sarah Riedmann, hiring manager for Fun-Plex Waterpark & Rides.

Tell us a little about your business. - Located off of 70th and Q St., Fun-Plex is home to Nebraska’s best water and ride park. From Memorial Day to Labor Day every year, we offer the Metro area something unique to do in the summer. With two large water slide complexes, go-karts, a lazy river, an aqua play structure, adult swim up bar, and other water and ride park favorites, we are the perfect destination for a fun little staycation in Omaha.

How did you get started in the business? - Luckily for me, Fun-Plex is our family business. I was initiated as a ride park worker in 2005 and the culture of the park engulfed me. Summer after summer, I came back. When there was an opening, I took a position in the office, which offered year-round work. Soon after that, I started helping out with human resources and eventually took over the role.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Every year, we hire 170 high schoolers, and every year, they present new challenges to us—from how to reach them and how to teach them. My favorite part of working is engaging with the teens and watching them grow year after year...just like I did!

Tell us a little about your family. - I am married to a sound engineer and we are parents to two small girls and three cats. We enjoy snow days, game nights, cooking, and movies. Being a parent in this industry can be difficult, my busiest time of the year is when the kids are out of school. I am lucky to have a husband who is supportive and able to pick up all of the parenting slack I leave on the table when I’m working overtime and on-call during those three precious months of the year.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - In the summer time, a lot of my days off are spent taking the kids to Fun-Plex. It’s the best perk of the job!

Who inspires you? - I am frequently inspired by our operations manager, Katie Anderson. She is a very fierce business woman who knows how to make work fun for everyone. She has a work ethic that can’t be beat and she genuinely cares about our staff and customers.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Life is 10% what happens, 90% how you react to it.”

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - It would be weird if humans had theme songs, but I was curious so I took a BuzzFeed quiz and I got “Intergalactic” by the beastie boys. Funny enough, that was the reception entrance song played at my wedding! However, I don’t think I could handle it every time I walked in to a room.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - Invisibility. I would solve a lot of mysteries.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I am very passionate about The Women’s Center for Advancement, an organization that assists people dealing with sexual assault and domestic violence.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - I am almost finished reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. It is certainly one of the best books I have read.

What is your favorite movie? - My default answer to this question is always Men in Black.

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

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Email is best (SarahRiedmann@fun-plex.com), otherwise, call the park at (402) 331-8436 or visit fun-plex.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

AMY

Amy Olson

AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK Meet Amy Olson, vice president of treasury management at American National Bank.

Tell us a little about your business. - With roots dating back to 1856, American National Bank (ANB) is one of the largest privately-owned banks in the Heartland, with 30 locations throughout Nebraska and Iowa. Our commitment is providing unmatched personal service and innovative banking products to individuals, families, and businesses.

American National Bank has invested considerable energy and financial resources in pursuit of building stronger relationships within the communities we serve. Throughout the year, ANB supports non-profits and community organizations, not only through monetary donations but employee volunteer hours as well.

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How did you get started in the business? - I started as a part-time teller when I was in college. I have worked as a teller, phone center representative, personal banker, consumer loan officer, and retail manager before I landed in the treasury management department.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - The biggest challenge I faced was balancing work and family when I was young in my career. I was fortunate to have a manager and mentor who helped me to be successful in both. I work hard to pay it forward to the next generation.

Tell us a little about your family. - I have been married to my wonderful husband Doug for 24 years and we have two daughters: Allisa, who is graduating college this spring and will be working as a special education teacher; and Erin, who is a freshman at UNK majoring in pre-nursing.

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Contact Amy Nieman, Area Director (402) 709-1774 Amy@CenterSphere.com

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Our family loves the great outdoors—hiking, boating, camping, and even yard work.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I grew up on a farm in the panhandle of Nebraska, where I learned the value of hard work at a young age.

Who inspires you? - I find inspiration from different people, at different times, and for different reasons.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - As my mom often says, “This too shall pass.” It’s a good reminder to relish the good times and learn from the bad.

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

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - Does time travel count? It would be interesting to see the advances in technology 50 years from now.

Which talent would you most like to have? - I would love to be able to sing (in public).

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - I am proud to serve on the board for both the American Red Cross and Heartland Family Services.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - Gone with the Wind.

What is your favorite TV show? - I have enjoyed The Goldbergs. I grew up in the 80s so it’s fun to reflect back.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Phone: (402) 255-5158; Email: alolson@anbank.com; Website: www. american.bank. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

MAY 2019 Strictly Business

19

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20

KEITH

Strictly Business MAY 2019

Meet Keith Hoffman, operations manager for Midland Pumping Service.

Tell us a little about your business. At Midland Pumping Service, we provide general pumping services of grease traps, septic tanks, car washes, and shop pits. We also provide septic inspections and hydro jetting. Midland can provide these services on a scheduled basis or as needed (24 hour service).

How did you get started in the business? - After high school and my time in the service, I had always wanted to own or manage a business.

I eventually ended up in the medical field and received a management degree. I was approached with this opportunity to partner in Midland and couldn’t turn it down!

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? Transitioning to Midland Pumping Service was/is not easy. The first few months were learning, learning, and more learning!

What has been your most important achievement professionally? Doing a 180-degree turn in career paths and taking over a business that has a great reputation in the metro and beyond, maintaining that reputation, and growing this business every day. Again, it hasn’t been easy, but it has been rewarding and I look forward to the coming years of business!

Tell us a little about your family. - My wife Aimee and I grew up together in a small South Dakota town and have been married for 13 years. We have four children: Abby, Mason, Sophia, and Gracelyn.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? Joining the Navy. Before that, I didn’t have a direction. Military service, if done correctly, is a great way to get a boost on a career, meet lifetime friends, get an education, and see different parts of the world!

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? - Spend time with my family, whether trying to do something outside or spending the day relaxing on the couch.

Who inspires you? - Aimee. Her ability to be a great mother, wife, and friend is incredible, all while managing the office work at Midland. She truly is one of a kind.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - Adapt and overcome.

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

If you could have a super power, what would it be? - I wish that I could read peoples’ mind, but I would want to have that super power strictly for business purposes. That way you could always be one step ahead of the customer.

Which talent would you most like to have? - I love music. I wish I could play every instrument.

If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? - I would be a doctor if I could go back and do it all again.

The human body is fascinating!

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - Dances with Wolves by Michael Blake What is your favorite movie? - I like old school movies like The Goonies and Stand by Me. What is your favorite TV show? - Survivor.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Phone: (402) 332-5575; Email: midlandpumpingservice@gmail.com; Website: midlandpumpingservice.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

KRIS

LEGACY RPM Legacy is new to the Omaha Metro Area. We specialize in residential property management and offer buying and selling real estate services.

Kris Martin

COX MEDIA OMAHA Meet Kris Martin, vice president of Cox Media Omaha.

Tell us a little about your business. - Cox Media is a full-service marketing company. We connect consumers to various local businesses or services through advertising and with our outstanding video and audio creative capabilities, including filming in 4D with a licensed drone pilot. Cox Media has extensive research capabilities, a full-service marketing department, an in-house marketing strategist, and a full-service digital marketing department.

How did you get started in the business? - I started in radio as a promotions manager, putting together marketing ideas for the radio stations as well as clients to gain additional audience and customers.

I loved creating ideas and working with clients—it was the best part of my job. I moved into sales so that I could work directly with clients and help them grow their businesses.

• Manage single family homes and residences • with up to 10 units • Help rental owners maximize revenue, • minimize expense, and avoid costly mistakes • Provide top notch customer service • Offer 24/7 maintenance support • Use cutting edge technology to market, • communicate, and maintain properties

LEGACY

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - As you’re building your career, it’s difficult at times to “turn it off.” One of my biggest challenges was learning work/life balance. I’ve learned the value of taking time for family and attending kids’ events. Time goes so fast and the precious moments and memories we gain from our children and family will inspire us.

RPM Legacy is new to the Omaha Metro RPM Legacy isArea. a full-service real estate brokerage firm founded We specialize in residential management and offer buying income. to protectproperty investments, minimize costs and maximize andand selling real estate services.

Jean James Duffy, Owners

Tell us a little about your family. - I was born and raised in Omaha.

I am married to a retired army ranger. I have three daughters and he has three sons, so we are the real Brady Bunch.

402.905.0459 | www.RealPMLegacy.com • Help rental owners maximize revenue,

Who inspires you? - My family. I am lucky enough to have three daughters who make me want to be the best I can be every day.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - My grandmother always told me, “If I learn something new today, it’s a good day.” I believe every day has a lesson or a learning opportunity.

Carmela K. homes Karni, • Manage single family residences @RealPMLegacy E: info@realpmlegacy.com | andBroker • with up to 10 units

• minimize expense, and avoid costly mistakes • Provide top notch customer service • Offer 24/7 maintenance support • Use cutting edge technology to market, • communicate, and maintain properties

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

If you had a theme song, what would it be? - “Life is a Highway”

by Rascal Flats.

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? - Refinishing woodwork! I love DIY projects and my husband says I am handier than most men he knows. I had a house that I completely re-stained all the golden oak to a warm chestnut. I mean every door, molding, staircase, window—I stripped, stained, and varnished. I’m also pretty good at laying flooring, which I’ve done three times.

Jean and James Duffy, Owners Carmela K. Karni, Broker

402.905.0459 | www.RealPMLegacy.com

Which talent would you most like to have? - Anything musical. I love music, however, I was given a voice that no one should be subjected to.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - My husband and I founded a 501c3 called For One For All. After serving two tours in Afghanistan, my husband has seen firsthand the impact trauma has on first responders, veterans, and their families. He has personally helped many he served with and sadly has lost 21 members from his unit. We want to bring awareness to the issues many are faced with, as well as their family members. Our mission is to facilitate or offer services that will enhance veterans’ emotional, physical, social, and family well-being.

Handshakes, smiles, open doors, and new opportunities.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? Email: kris.martin@coxmedia.com; Website: coxmedia.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

MAY 2019 Strictly Business 19_POG22_MAY_STRICTLYBUSINESS_BRIDGE_AD.indd 1

21 4/10/19 3:30 PM

STEPHEN

Stephen Osberg

GREATER OMAHA CHAMBER Meet Stephen Osberg, director of transportation development for the Greater Omaha Chamber.

Tell us a little about your business. - The Greater Omaha Chamber is a membership organization, striving to support the needs of businesses and stimulate economic growth in the Omaha metro area. We take a holistic view of our work, doing all that we can to make Greater Omaha a vibrant place to live, work, and do business.

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How did you get started in the business? - The Chamber embarked on a visioning process a few years ago to discern how to ensure our region’s economic health over the next several decades. The resulting vision laid the foundation for our current five-year strategic plan called Prosper 2.0. One prong of the plan includes a focus on how the built environment contributes to providing a quality of life that can attract and retain talent and ensure inclusive access to opportunities. Transportation plays a key role in determining the vitality of our community and connecting people to wherever they want to go. I joined the Chamber in July of 2017 to help lead an effort to reimagine our transportation system to meet our higher-level needs. Prior to joining the Chamber, I worked as a city planner for the City of Omaha and at SRF Consulting.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day details of life without taking a look at whether our daily choices are actually moving us toward where we want to be. My job is to bring people together to figure out how our region should function and collectively determine the best path to get there. The challenge lies in shifting people’s mindset toward one of empathy and intentionality about the future.

Tell us a little about your family. - I’ve got a wonderful wife and two darling daughters, one who is seven months old and the other four years old. My wife, Rachel Jacobson, founded and runs Film Streams, a nonprofit arthouse cinema. Her example has taught me so much about what it means to work for the betterment of the community.

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22

Strictly Business MAY 2019

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

- Right after finishing my bachelor’s degree, I started working at Blue Line Coffee in Dundee. I was petrified in my early days on the job due to pretty severe shyness. It was difficult for me to start conversations with all the customers that came through the door, a key part of being a barista. Over time, I learned to relax and enjoy interacting with everyone.

I heard stories about peoples’ lives and perspectives, and I experienced the value of a thriving neighborhood hub. My observations of that little community led directly to my interest in urban planning and propelled me to graduate school in the subject.

Who inspires you? - Janette Sadik-Khan, former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, is a tremendous inspiration to me and anyone else working on making urban spaces more interesting, vibrant places to live and work. I recommend everyone read her book.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? - Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino.

What is your favorite movie? - The Red Balloon, because it was my older daughter’s first favorite movie. It’s a French film without much dialogue, all about a boy and his best friend, a balloon. Also, The Gleaners and I from Agnes Varda is super.

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

- Contact me via email at sosberg@omahachamber.org or call the Chamber at (402) 346-5000. Learn more about what we are doing in Omaha by going online to www.omahachamber.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

MARY

Helping individuals find their purpose thru: -Values Assessments -Clarity Quizzes -Guided Meditations & Vision Boards

Mary Grosserode

BRIDGE TO BETTER LIVING Meet Mary Grosserode, transition consultant at Bridge to Better Living.

Tell us a little about your business. - Bridge to Better Living (BBL) helps seniors and families research and find the best retirement living options. I meet with clients to learn their social interests, medical needs, physical conditions, and financial status. This information is used to develop a plan with them to visit communities in the Omaha area to meet the client’s wishes and needs. We schedule tours at the client’s convenience. Each tour, a transition consultant (like me) accompanies the client and is available for any questions or feedback. If a client needs transportation, we are able to provide it in a BBL vehicle and we have an enjoyable day visiting retirement communities. This provides more time to know each other better as insights and histories are shared. Plus, there is no cost to the client or family. How awesome is that!

How did you get started in the business? - I have worked in the Omaha retirement industry for many years. The owner of BBL, Mary Ann Stallings, and I met several years ago when she was giving a client a tour at a retirement community where I was working. I recognized the value of her approach with seniors and the communities immediately. This year I reached out to her and, luckily, she had an opening.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? - Leaving my comfort zone. Cold calls were difficult to learn, but now I love them.

I look forward to meeting the person who is behind the “door” and needing my assistance.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? - In past sales positions, I achieved the President’s Club Status. This award honored my ability to fill a community by building trusted and long-lasting relationships with future residents.

Tell us a little about your family. - I have a daughter, son-in-law, and grand-dog in Omaha, all of whom I adore.

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

- Being a single mother.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? - I saved a child who was drowning.

Who inspires you? - My daughter.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? - “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” - Maya Angelou.

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 think I do use my greatest talent…listening.

What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? - The Alzheimer’s Association. My mother had this disease and I have experienced firsthand how hard it is to see a family member suffer from Alzheimer’s and how the entire family is affected.

What is your favorite TV show? - The Office.

What is your favorite local restaurant? - Gorat’s Steakhouse.

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? - I would like to have dinner with my parents.

They died very young, so when I work with seniors and listen to their life histories, it makes me wonder what stories my parents would have shared with me.

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

- Phone: (402) 802-3301; Email: mary@bridgetobetterliving.com; Website: www.BridgetoBetterLiving.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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MAY 2019 Strictly Business

23

PERSONNEL NEWS Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction Adds Candice Jacobs to Team

Lisa Daniels Named Partner at North Risk Partners

Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction is pleased to announce the addition of a new team member, Candice (Candi) Jacobs, at their La Vista location. Candi comes to Sadoff from the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce, where she was the membership engagement manager.

She also has experience in the customer relations field. With her B2B experience, she will be responsible for the purchasing of electronic scrap, customer relations, and account maintenance. Candi’s primary role will be to work with businesses on their data destruction and e-scrap recycling needs. She will also be a resource for any other metal recycling needs. Originally from California, Candi fell in love with Nebraska and decided to move here in 2016.

North Risk Partners, which merged with Bearence Management Group on May 1, 2018, has named Lisa Daniels as partner.

Sadoff Iron & Metal Company is a third-generation, family-owned scrap metal recycling company founded in 1947. Sadoff came to Lincoln in 1999 at the request of Deeter Foundry to supply the scrap metal for their melt operations. Starting with three employees in 1999, Sadoff now employs 32 in Lincoln and the surrounding area. For more information about Sadoff, please visit www.sadoff.com or call (402) 470-2510.

MLCDC Nominates Marcos Hernandez as New President of Board of Directors Marcos A. Hernandez will serve as president of the Board of Directors for the Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation (MLCDC). MLCDC is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

Hernandez looks forward to strengthening existing and expanding partnerships across private, public, non-profit, and government sectors to fulfill MLCDC’s current goals. He plans to develop a team of board and staff members to cohesively lead MLCDC and enhance its ability to sustain economic impact on the communities it serves.

Marcos Hernandez serves as vice president at US Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility group. As vice president, he places emphasis on building partnerships to meet community needs with lending, investment, service, and philanthropy opportunities.

Hernandez is an Air Force veteran who served in the Electrical Intelligence field, last assigned as senior analyst and project lead at USSTRACOM Joint Intelligence Center. Hernandez’s wide-ranging experience also includes residential and commercial real estate sales, commercial retail development, mortgage origination and processing, and he acquired FINRA securities and insurance product licenses.

In his new role as president of the Board of Directors, Hernandez will focus on MLCDC’s mission. His goals for MLCDC include: supporting the creation of new minority and women owned businesses, support development of childcare centers in low income communities, and develop and provide the best business loan program.z For more information about the Midlands Latino Community Development Corporation, contact Marta Sonia Londoño Mejía at (402) 933-4466 / info@midlandslatinocdc.org or go online to www. midlandslatinocdc.org.

24 Strictly Business MAY 2019

Lisa specializes in developing an innovative approach to benefits that meet the financial and risk needs of both the company and their individual employees. She believes that excellent customer service is the key underlying principal to good business and it is the framework for everything she does.

With 24 years of experience in the industry overseeing account management, sales, compliance, and business development, Lisa has been a key component in helping the Omaha office grow.

North Risk Partners specializes in strategic insurance solutions for businesses and individuals. They are committed to helping clients face risk head-on with right-fit insurance coverage and attention to opportunities for preventing avoidable losses. For businesses, they offer programming and compliance support in the areas of HR, safety, worksite wellness, and more. Learn more about North Risk by going online to northriskpartners.com. Lisa can be contacted directly at (402) 592-7777 / Lisa.Daniels@northriskpartners.com.

McGill Restoration Promotes Ron Stricklett and Justin Beckstrom McGill Restoration is excited to announce the promotions of Ron Stricklett to superintendent and Justin Beckstrom to foreman.

Stricklett has over 24 years of construction experience, running large-scale, concrete restoration projects. He came to work at McGill Restoration in 2001 and now has been with the company for over 18 years. Stricklett has spent most of his career with McGill Restoration in a leadership role, in which he has managed crews and projects for over 15 years. Stricklett served in the Marine Corps and is a veteran of Desert Storm. He is a member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and holds an ACI Certification as a Certified Shotcrete Nozzleman. Stricklett’s extensive experience and leadership skills will continue to help move McGill Restoration forward for years to come.

Ron Stricklett

Beckstrom has over eight years of construction experience and has been with McGill Restoration since 2010. He was one of the first candidates to be enrolled into McGill Restoration’s FIT (Foreman in Training) Justin Beckstrom Program, and he is the first candidate to successfully complete the training program and be promoted to foreman. Beckstrom has demonstrated to his peers that he has the qualities and experience to lead crews and manage projects successfully.

McGill Restoration is very committed to investing in the development and training of their employees. They work hard to keep their employees busy year-round and try hard not to be a seasonal construction company. If you are interested in starting a career in the construction industry at a company that offers a competitive benefit and compensation package, please apply on the McGill Restoration website at www.mcgillrestoration. com or contact the Omaha office at (402) 558-7989. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

PERSONNEL NEWS The Omaha Bakery Welcomes Front-End Manager Kevin Theesen

Parallel Technologies Promotes Tim Wisnieski to Operations Manager

The Omaha Bakery recently welcomed Kevin Theesen as the new front-end manager. Kevin, originally from Hastings, comes to the bakery with 15 years of barista experience. A big fan of The Food Network, Kevin had seen The Omaha Bakery and Owner Michelle Kaiser featured on the Spring Baking Championship.

He was quick to connect with Michelle after he moved to Omaha. Though he had already accepted another position, Michelle planted the idea of him coming to work for The Omaha Bakery. As his admiration for Michelle and the bakery progressed, Kevin decided the front-end manager position would be a perfect fit for him.

With his eldest son and granddaughter in Sioux Falls, a daughter in Omaha, and his youngest child is in Grand Island, Kevin is thrilled to be closer to these family members while working for a reputable, locallyowned business that allows him to put his experience and knowledge to use.

The Omaha Bakery has evolved over the years and is now a fullservice bakery, deli, and tasting experience for any occasion. The bakery also just added KETO items to its menu! Michelle believes baked goods should be an experience, not just another item on the tray. Drop by the bakery, located at 608 S. 72nd St., today! For more information, visit theomahabakery.com or go to the Facebook page (@ TheOmahaBakery).

Parallel Technologies, an industry-leading reliable data center and intelligent building solutions company, has promoted Tim Wisnieski to operations manager. Based out of the company’s Omaha office, Wisnieski will oversee the delivery of building automation projects that improve energy efficiency, reduced costs, and integrated disparate building control systems. In his new role as operations manager, Wisnieski is responsible for ensuring high client satisfaction through projects that are delivered on time and on budget. Reporting to Chris McPartland, general manager of Parallel Technologies’ Building Automation business, Wisnieski will also be tasked with driving continuous improvements in processes and standards, maintaining the strong culture of the 30-person Omaha office, and overseeing planned office expansion.

Wisnieski joined Parallel Technologies in 2017 when the company acquired Omaha-based Building Systems Solutions. As a sales engineer, he wore many hats, including estimator, presales engineer, and project manager. During his tenure at Parallel Technologies, he oversaw several large projects, including the Omaha Valmont building controls upgrade, Lund Landmark building ongoing controls upgrade, and USDA campus controls upgrade.

Founded in 1983, Parallel Technologies helps clients define their needs and delivers results through superior engineering and technology. Learn more online at www.ptnet.com or call (877) 482-1743.

Berkshire Hathaway’s Brian Wragge Closes Commercial Transactions at Farnam Building Brian Wragge, a real estate professional for Berkshire Hathaway Amb HS/Commercial Division, is passionate about the history and architectural beauty of the Farnam 1600 Building. Brian initially listed 16,567 square feet of commercial space (6 units total) at the Farnam property for FVG Farnam Investments LLC, and then sold it in just three days, on January 22, to his buyers at MAC Farnam LLC for $750,000. After completing a 45day close, he listed a 2,245-square-foot unit of the space, which had been vacant for 11 years, for MAC Farnam. He then immediately secured a 10-year leasing agreement with another client, M & V Investment LLC, who is now renovating the space into their new entity, which will be a pub called The Green Room. According to Brian, these relations were fostered over the listing/sales period of three commercial condos next door in the Regis Building. Including the Farnam Building representations, Brian successfully closed 23 commercial real estate positions in the first quarter of 2019!

The Historic Farnam 1600 Building, the original First National Bank building built in 1916, was enrolled on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It now houses 7,913 square feet of executive office space on the second floor and 3,870 square feet on the third. The 14-story building, featuring mahogany woodwork, vaulted ceilings, and marble pillars, also includes 81 luxury apartments, SY Dry Cleaners, and Culprit Café.

By offering creative and innovative solutions, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ Commercial Division’s network of commercial real estate brokerage professionals consistently deliver a higher return on investment. Find an agent to discuss the best commercial solution for your specific needs. You can contact Brian Wragge in Omaha at (402) 212-0199 / brian.wragge@bhhsamb.com. Learn more online at www. berkshirehathawayhs.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Cornhusker Bank Welcomes Heather Crockett, Douglas S. Dittman, David Shiffermiller Cornhusker Bank is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors: Heather Crockett, Douglas S. Dittman, and David Shiffermiller.

Heather Crockett comes to her directorship with 25 years at Cherry Hill Heather Crockett Douglas S. Dittman Companies, which includes the Legacy Retirement Communities, currently serving as its chief financial officer.

Doug Dittman is a farmer, dairyman, and owner of a creamery and the Hub Cafe.

David Shiffermiller serves Cornhusker Bank as executive vice president/lending and has been with the bank over a decade, leading the lending department.

“Cornhusker Bank and the community we serve are fortunate to have talented leaders like Heather, Doug, and David, willing to give their David Shiffermiller time, talents, and expertise to ensure the bank is meeting its mission to provide solutions for lifelong success,” reported John F. Dittman, Chairman.

Cornhusker Bank remains the oldest locally-owned bank, demonstrating stability, soundness, and investing in the future growth of the community, its valued customers and associates throughout its 115-year history. For more information, please visit www.CornhuskerBank.com.

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PERSONNEL NEWS Owner of Vision Maps with Angie Featured on Grow Your Biz Show

Project Advocates Promotes Matt Herzog to Principal of Firm

Angie Petersen-Green, owner of Vision Maps with Angie, was recently featured on growmedia.com’s Grow Your Biz Show.

In this episode, titled “Is Your Vision of Success Correct?” (Ep. 64), Angie inspires viewers to get active in their visualization techniques and Vision Mapping. She shares the value of visualizing your success in great detail and with great frequency.

This tool has helped her and many dozens of her clients to get where they want to go in the areas of health, income, career goals, romance, and other areas of importance.

Project Advocates is proud to announce that it has promoted Matt Herzog to principal with the firm. Herzog is a founding member of Project Advocates and has over 20 years of experience in the construction project management industry. He will continue to be a trusted advisor by ensuring client objectives are achieved on their projects.

Grow Your Biz Show is a weekly TV talk-show format program interviews strategic entrepreneurs and plays on social media (Facebook: @growyourbizshow). The show also plays four times every week on KPAO TV into 100,000 households in Omaha (Cox Cable channel 22 and Century Link channel 89).

Vision Maps with Angie offers a chance for individuals, couples, or teams to generate motivation and growth by creating a vision board.

A vision board, or a dream board, is a collage of images, pictures, and affirmations of one’s dreams and desires. Learn more about participating in a vision board workshop with Vision Maps with Angie by contacting Angie Petersen-Green at (402) 890-5375 / apstemley@yahoo.com.

Check out her website (www.visionmapswithangie.com) and the Facebook group as well!

After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, Herzog began his construction management career with an international contractor where he had the opportunity to work on infrastructure projects.

Upon moving to Omaha in 2007, Herzog worked for a general contractor before the creation of Project Advocates in 2010. He also volunteers as a Cub Scouts den leader, robotics coach, and is a cofounder of Big O Bocce.

Project Advocates is an Omaha company focused on providing highlevel program and project management services. Using detailed cost planning and program analysis, Project Advocates is able to clearly define and communicate project objectives. Their passion and experience empower clients to ensure objectives are accomplished and relationships are built.

For more information about Project Advocates, visit www.projectadvocates.com.

Building Relationships Through Craftsmanship Services: Parking Garages/Stadium Repairs Industrial Restoration & Coatings Infrastructure Repairs & High Performance Coatings Masonry Restoration

Let’s discuss your project today!

Omaha 402.558.7989 | mcgillrestoration.com | Lincoln 402.438.4110 26

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PERSONNEL NEWS Big Birge Plumbing Welcomes John Schlumberger as Finance Controller

Berry Law Firm Attorneys Attend 15th Annual Barristers’ Ball

Big Birge Plumbing is thrilled to have John Schlumberger on board as finance controller.

John was brought on in January. He possesses strong skills in accounting and has a very hard work ethic and big visions. John has a diverse background, which will help move Big Birge Plumbing forward in the right direction towards the company’s vision and culture.

A group of attorneys from Berry Law Firm were able to attend the 15th annual Barristers’ Ball on the evening of March 15 at the Embassy Suites–La Vista. Attendees enjoyed cocktails and dinner, a live and silent auction, and dancing the night away to live music by Pam & the Pearls.

The Barristers’ Ball is held by the Nebraska Lawyers Foundation. The proceeds from the event supports programs like the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP), the Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program (NLAP), the LSAT Prep Scholarship Program, and the Rural Practice Initiative. These programs support a strong legal profession and help ensure access to justice for all Nebraskans. Berry Law Firm was also proud to be a Silver Sponsor of this event.

Berry Law Firm was founded in 1965 by Attorney John Stevens Berry, Sr. They continue to uphold a heritage of aggressive, effective, and reliable legal advocacy to individuals in Omaha, Lincoln, and the entire state of Nebraska. Due to their team’s diligent work, thousands of clients have trusted Berry Law Firm with their cases and, more importantly, their futures. Learn more online at www.jsberrylaw.com.

Owners Brad and Lallenia Birge describe John as “not your typical accountant.” According to them, he is also a very savvy master motorcycle mechanic, which he enjoys doing during his off time. He is also a proud father of a one-year-old son, who apparently can already out race John on a three wheeler. When he is not busy working with numbers, motorcycles, or chasing after his son, he and his girlfriend, Jackie, are busy maintaining their acreage with their children and animals...they even have a baby calf named Theo!

The skilled professionals at Big Birge Plumbing have a passion for what they do. Whether you need help with a kitchen or bathroom remodel, water heater repair, gas or water piping, or the really fun stuff like drain cleaning and clogged toilets, Big Birge Plumbing will be there with a wrench and a smile. To learn more, please visit www.bigbirgeplumbing. com or call (402) 575-0102.

Omaha Symphony Names Ian Passmore Associate Conductor Omaha Symphony has named Ian Passmore as the orchestra’s associate conductor beginning in the 2019-20 season. Passmore previously held the title of assistant conductor, joining the orchestra in the fall of 2017.

As the associate conductor of the Omaha Symphony, Passmore is responsible for leading concerts in the areas of education and community engagement. These concerts include education programs such as Concerts for Youth, Link Up, Celebrate Creativity, and Mission Imagination, as well as the Symphony’s All Aboard Tour and community engagement initiatives. Passmore also works with Omaha Symphony staff to develop the scripts, musical selections, and curriculum goals on these programs.

In addition, Passmore has developed numerous programs in both the entertainment and education spheres. These include the Family Series concerts Is There a Doctor in the House? and a symphonic rock show with local rock band Pet Rock, both of which will debut in the 2019/20 season. He will also spearhead the creation of new concerts for Mission Imagination, Celebrate Creativity, and other education and community programs.

Behind the scenes, Passmore will continue to serve as a cover conductor, providing critical feedback during the rehearsal process and preparing to step in at a moment’s notice should any of the symphony’s conductors, including Music Director Thomas Wilkins, Principal Pops Conductor Ernest Richardson, or any guest conductor, be unable to perform.

The Omaha Symphony is a non-profit organization that presents more than 100 live orchestral performances from September through June.

In addition to MasterWorks, Symphony Pops, Symphony Rocks, Movies, Symphony Joslyn, and Family series concerts, the Omaha Symphony’s nationally recognized education and community programs touch the lives of more than 31,000 schoolchildren each year. For tickets or information regarding the Omaha Symphony, call (402) 345-0606 or visit omahasymphony.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Kara O’Connor Joins Farm Bureau Financial Services as Wealth Management Advisor Farm Bureau Financial Services is pleased to announce Kara O’Connor has joined its wealth management practice in Omaha. As a wealth management advisor, O’Connor will help Farm Bureau client/members prepare for the future and protect what matters by providing financial planning, advisory services, and investment solutions to families, individuals, and businesses. She will use Farm Bureau’s Your Future Advantage process to guide client/members through the steps to create customized plans to achieve both short- and long-term financial goals.

O’Connor has 15 years of experience in wealth management and financial advisory services. Her office is located at 13340 California St. in Omaha. O’Connor is a board member of both YMCA Downtown and Benson Theatre, as well as serving in Class 41 of Leadership Omaha with the Chamber of Commerce. When not helping client/members secure their financial futures, she can be found raising triplet teenage sons, working on rental properties with her husband, or spending time with her horse Trysckytt.

Farm Bureau Financial Services offers insurance and financial services products to client/members in 14 western and Midwestern states.

Advisors offer wealth management and financial planning services and work with agents who provide insurance products including auto, home, life, farm/ranch, business, and more. Founded 80 years ago by farmers for farmers, today Farm Bureau Financial Services offers people in rural and urban areas one of the most complete insurance, investment, and financial services offerings on the market today. Farm Bureau Financial Services is a brand representing the companies of FBL Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: FFG). Learn more at FBFS.com.

Securities & services offered through FBL Marketing Services, LLC+, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, 877-860-2904, Member SIPC. Advisory services offered through FBL Wealth Management, LLC+ +Affiliates.

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PERSONNEL NEWS

FE STIVAL OF FREE! FRIDAY, MAY 31 8AM–7PM

ONE DAY ONLY ALL LOCATIONS (MAY 31 ST, 8AM-7PM)

MENTOR Nebraska’s Deborah Neary to Present at Live402 Chats MENTOR Nebraska Executive Director Deborah Neary has been selected to present at this month’s Live402 Chat, a social gathering to discover your community and get plugged in. The event will be on Wednesday, May 22, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Kitchen Table Central (4952 Dodge St.). Grab a unique cocktail or snack from Kitchen Table, make a new friend, learn something new—what could be better!

Neary has devoted her professional life to the betterment of the lives of the more vulnerable populations in our community. She has 20+ years of leadership in educational non-profits, and she currently works with more than 100+ mentoring programs across Nebraska in her role as executive director of MENTOR Nebraska. Neary, a former foster parent to eight youth, is also newly elected to the Nebraska State Board of Education (SBOE) for District 8. Deborah pursued an elected position in addition to her non-profit leadership because she believes that, through advocacy and policy work, she can help lead long-term structural changes more efficiently. In both her role with MENTOR Nebraska and with SBOE, Neary works on systemic issues that insure the state is developing successful youth who are well-prepared for life and creating educational opportunities for equitable student engagement.

Discover your next great adventure and bank anywhere, anytime with Completely Free Checking!

MENTOR Nebraska’s vision is for every young person to have the supportive relationships they need to grow and develop into thriving, productive, and engaged adults. Learn more at www.

MENTORNebraska.org or call (402) 715-4164.

Plus, enter for your chance to win a GoPro HERO7 White!*

No Coast Business Advisors Brings on First Out-of-State Broker Giovanni Camarena No Coast Business Advisors (NCBA) co-owners, Jethro Hopkins and Jeff Dousharm, are excited to add Giovanni Camarena to the No Coast team as the company’s first out-of-state broker.

Giovanni is located in Austin, TX. No Coast already operates nationally, but now the company has officially expanded its physical presence outside of Nebraska. Jethro and Jeff are very proud to have a broker providing their clients with quality representation and buyer qualification in the Texas region.

*One will be given away at each West Gate Bank branch.

In addition to his role with NCBA, Giovanni is a technical sales director, managing the 12 western states. He has 12 years of experience in equipment sales and service, and he has built and managed sales teams throughout his career. Giovanni received his B.A. from California State University Fullerton, graduating cum laude, and is currently completing his MBA at Western Governors University.

MEMBER

FDIC No purchase necessary. One entry per person; must be 18 or older to enter; value will be reported on form 1099-MISC. We reserve the right to substitute a gift of similar value. One GoPro HERO7 White will be awarded at each branch.

Visit westgate.bank for more information.

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Strictly Business MAY 2019

Giovanni became an advisor because he enjoys business, from strategy down to the day-to-day work in B2B. He decided to join NCBA because its services are not limited to selling businesses; it includes other things for business owners too, such as finding them an investor/business partner, helping them find the funding required to take the next step, and providing recommendations for accounting and legal services. Giovanni can also help owners increase growth with strategy and deployment, improve social media visibility, and process improvement to increase efficiency.

The goal of No Coast Business Advisors is to help business owners to succeed. Learn more online at nocoastbusinessadvisors.com. Contact Jethro, your local No Coast advisor, at (402) 217-2833 / jethro@ ncbabroker.com. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

CREATIVE HAIR DESIGN Salon And Day Spa has been in business since 1982 and has grown into a 15,000-squarefoot luxurious salon in Omaha. Their technicians are continuously updating their artistic and technical skills with the latest knowledge in their individual fields of expertise.

NAIL SERVICES The professionally licensed nail technicians will bring your hands and feet to their natural strength and beauty.

Your hands speak volumes about you, so treat them right! Cuticles and nails are groomed before a soothing massage. Nails are then polished to perfection.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

A S A LO N MAD E F OR YOU!

• Manicure • Pedicure • Nail Treatments ESTHETIC SERVICES The estheticians are thoroughly trained in skin care techniques and professional products. Their services include facials, specialty treatments, brow and lash lifts, waxing, and more. They are also trained to recommend cosmetic products and advice upon request.

“We have grown to become Omaha’s #1 destination for salon and spa services. With a hair and nail salon on the first floor, and an extensive spa on the second floor, when you walk in our doors you become part of the “CHD” family. We consider it our privilege to provide quality services whether you visit us for a simple cut and color, or a full day at the spa.” - John Mangiameli, Owner

HAIR SERVICES Your initial hair service starts with a consultation. Not only should your style look great, but show others who you are and how you express yourself. Designers will create a soft natural look or a whole new image.

• Extensions • Coloring • Styling • Cuts and Trims WHY CUT YOUR HAIR REGULARLY? Beautiful, healthy hair starts with you! You should make it a point to schedule regular appointments for trims and haircuts. By trimming your hair every six to eight weeks, you prevent hair cuticles from splitting. Ask your CHD stylist for more tips on having that healthy, strong, and beautiful hair that you’ve always wanted. They carry great lines of products for every hair type in their salon! From thin and straight to full and curly, Creative Hair Design has the perfect combination of products to optimize your hair’s full potential.

• Waxing • Facials • CryoClear Treatment • Acne Clearing • Glycolic or Alpha Blend Treatment • ParaffinTreatment • Microdermabrasion • Exfoliation Peels • Brow/Lash Coloring • Lash Lifts MASSAGE SERVICES The therapists are both nationally certified and licensed by the State of Nebraska. They offer a variety of massages and body treatments customized to your unique needs. Whether you have specific areas that need that special attention, or you just need a little stress relief in your life.

• Couples Massage • Pregnancy Massage • Hydrotherapy Tub • Salt Glow Transformation • Vichy Exfoliation Treatment • Mini, Full Body, Mega, and Hot Stone Massages

HOURS

TUESDAY – THURSDAY: 8:00AM-8:00PM FRIDAY: 8:00AM-5:00PM SATURDAY: 8:00AM-5:00PM SUNDAY/MONDAY: Closed

(402) 330-5660 | 12025 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE info@creativehairdesign.com | creativehairdesign.com

#PrintProudDigitalSmart

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NON-PROFIT NEWS Child Saving Institute Sells Out Tickets for Jeff Dye Charity Comedy Show

The Set Me Free Project Receives Grant to Prevent Sex Trafficking

Comedian Jeff Dye proved so popular for Child Saving Institute’s (CSI) 2018 Cabaret fundraiser, the 2019 Event Chairs Addie and Robert Hollingsworth decided to bring him back this year. The event quickly sold out. In response, CSI has created a waiting list in the event of cancellations. Contact Megan Webb at mwebb@childsaving.org to be added to the wait list. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 11 at the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District, 222 N. 10th St. Dye is a nationally-touring comedian, actor, host, prankster, and Bigfoot enthusiast. He has been guest co-hosting Access Live for NBC, he finished filming the feature film The Wedding Year with Director Robert Luketic, and he shot an episode of The Brian Regan Show for Netflix. Dye has hosted NBC’s Better Late than Never for two seasons, which starred Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw, and George Foreman.

Funds raised from the evening support Child Saving Institute’s programs, including parenting workshops, an emergency shelter for youth, therapy, older child adoption, foster care, and developmental early childhood education. To learn more about the organization, please visit childsaving. org or contact Anna Willey at awilley@childsaving.org to arrange a tour.

In April, The Set Me Free Project, an organization that educates youth and families on preventing sex trafficking, was awarded a generous grant from Woodbine Community School District and Education Foundation for $9,400. The organization is extremely thankful for the continued support they receive from the Woodbine community.

BLUEBARN Theatre Presents “The Woodsman”

by James Ortiz BLUEBARN Theatre presents Strangemen Theatre Company’s O b i e Awa r d - W i n n i n g T h e

by James Ortiz Woodsman by James Ortiz with Music by Edward W. Hardy and may 16 – June 16, 2019 Lyrics by Jen Loring, May 16–June 16, Thursday–Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 26 and June 2 at 6 p.m.; and Sunday, June 9 and 16 at 2 p.m.

2016 Obie Award Winner

StrAngemen tHeAtre compAny’S

music by edward w. Hardy and lyrics by Jen lOring

Generously sponsored by

Amy HAddAd And Steve mArtin Kerry dobSon And bruce reneAud Anne tHorne WeAver

www.bluebarn.org

The Woodsman is a darkly beautiful, haunting, and heart-breaking story told through original music, physical storytelling, and innovative puppetry. Based on the writings of L. Frank Baum, The Woodsman tells the forgotten origin story of the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz, before he joins Dorothy on the yellow brick road. This ‘abundantly beautiful’ show follows Nick Chopper on a magical journey filled with dangers and wonders that are breathtaking to behold.

The performance ensemble for The Woodsman features Moira Mangiameli, Matt Olsen, Anna Jordan, Stephanie Jacobson, Barry Carman, Be Louis, Caulene Hudson, Michael Burns, and Beau Fisher.

BLUEBARN is bringing the original creative team behind The Woodsman to Omaha to work with our incredible local talent in bringing this haunting tale to life. The Strangemen Theatre Company and the BLUEBARN share another origin story—each company was formed by graduates of the same acting conservatory, SUNY-Purchase. Strangemen mainstays James Ortiz (director/playwright/set design), Claire Karpen (director), Will Gallacher (movement director), and Amanda Lederer (puppet master) will lead the BLUEBARN ensemble. The Woodsman will also feature stage management by Meghan Boucher, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, costume design by Jennifer Pool, and scenic painting by Craig Lee. This BLUEBARN Theatre production is generously sponsored by Amy Haddad and Steve Martin, Kerry Dobson and Bruce Reneaud, First National Bank, Valmont, and Anne Thorne Weaver. General admission ($35) and senior ($30) tickets are available at bluebarn.org. Educator, military, and BLUCrew tickets are available through the box office (402) 345-1576.

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As summer approaches, this is the most flexible time in the year for schools and communities to schedule an educational event with The Set Me Free Project. Their team would love the opportunity to present at parent nights, community events, youth groups, businesses, etc. Schedule now by going to the ‘request an educator’ tab at setmefreeproject.net. Presentations cover the following crucial topics: sex trafficking, social media safety, forming healthy relationships, and more. The Set Me Free Project curriculum is informative, interactive, and flexible, reaching students grades 3–12, educators, parents, and leaders in every facet of our communities.

The mission of The Set Me Free Project is to stop human trafficking before it starts. You can stay updated on the non-profit’s happenings by subscribing to their newsletter, available by scrolling to the bottom of their website (setmefreeproject.net). Further questions can be directed to Stephanie Olson at (402) 521-3080 / info@setmefreeproject.net.

Immanuel Celebrates Seniors, Active Retirement with Grand Opening Immanuel Communities’ Lakeside Village campus celebrated mission, innovation, and active retirement with the grand opening celebration of Thrive by Immanuel Wellness Center and Day Spa, three chef-inspired restaurants, and Nebraska’s first retirement community, designed for the young, active retiree, Lakeside Lofts. The celebrations, held on March 28, welcomed community members and leaders as well as senior residents who inspired the new amenities. A State of Nebraska Proclamation and Mayoral Proclamation were presented, declaring the day “Innovation in Retirement and Active Seniors Day.” Thrive by Immanuel Wellness Center and Day Spa allows residents a renewed focus on health and wellness, with enhanced programming that uplifts, connects, and encourages residents to live their best lives. Expert wellness staff help residents achieve goals to help them reinvent the retirement they want—whether that’s making new social connections, managing a health condition or getting ready for a trip.

With chef-inspired menus and local ingredients, three new restaurants on the Lakeside Village campus are revolutionizing senior dining. Bistro1887 honors the founding year of Immanuel and offers an upscale, urbanfeel casual bistro. At the Cast Iron Grille, you’ll find burgers, steaks, and potatoes, as well as a place for residents to gather together and share conversation over familiar food. The Reserve on Frances Street is the community’s new intimate, upscale restaurant, offering a rotating fourcourse menu with chef-inspired, fine-dining options, like crab beignet, roasted game hen, and salted caramel crème brûlée.

The cornerstone celebration of the event is Nebraska’s first ‘first-stage retirement community.’ Lakeside Lofts opened last fall and brings a larger, upscale, luxury apartment to the campus and features thoughtful architecture, open concepts, floor-to-ceiling windows and beautiful lake views.

As a not-for-profit, serving arm of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) Immanuel’s house of brands includes: Immanuel Communities, Immanuel Pathways, Immanuel Community Foundation and The Immanuel Vision Foundation. More about information can be found online at www. immanuel.com or by calling (402) 507-4899. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NON-PROFIT NEWS Domesti-PUPS Hosts Educational Seminar for Businesses Encountering Service Dog Users

Limited Spots Remain for Omaha Home for Boys 2019 Golf Classic

Domesti-PUPS recently hosted an educational seminar for businesses who may encounter service dog users, titled “Tighten the Leash on Fake Service Dogs.” The event took place on May 1 at Firespring. Businesses who attended learned about actionable insights for dealing with legitimate and fake service dogs. The unfortunate but real fact is that poorly behaved, poorly trained, and/or aggressive animals do not belong in places of public accommodation. These kinds of dogs can pose a danger to other people and service animals, potentially causing property damage and/or interfering with business operations.

Time is running out for teams to register for the Omaha Home for Boys 2019 Golf Classic, slated for June 5 at Tiburon Golf Club.

Proceeds from this four-person scramble tournament benefit the youth, young adults, and families served by Omaha Home for Boys.

The seminar covered the following topics: the how and whys of service dogs; differences between service dogs and emotional support animals; legalities around questioning service dog handlers; service dog laws and etiquette; and appropriate times for businesses to refuse a service dog.

Domesti-PUPS’ mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with special needs through the assistance of animals and to promote awareness through education. Domesti-PUPS provide service dogs for persons with disabilities, pet therapy programs, classroom dogs, and educational programs. Domesti-PUPS serve clients locally, regionally, and nationally. For more information about Domesti-PUPS and this topic, visit www.domesti-pups.org or email info@domesti-pups.org. Learn about upcoming events by following along on Facebook (@domestipups).

Inclusive Communities Launches LeadDIVERSITY Program In partnership with the Omaha Public Power District, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Ethics Alliance, Inclusive Communities announces the launch of LeadDIVERSITY, a new year-long leadership program centered around creating localized solutions for topics surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion.

Beginning this September, participants will receive exceptional skills training to move Nebraska workplaces and communities forward.

They will work together on a service project highlighting the imperative nature of implementing serious social change.

“Omaha has a wealth of diverse talent, but recent studies have shown that our city has room for improvement when it comes to recruiting, retaining, and promoting talent from underserved communities in particular young professionals of color,” said Cammy Watkins, Inclusive Communities deputy director. “LeadDIVERSITY aims to raise awareness about systemic inequities within our community, educate leaders on how to confront these issues, and develop a pipeline of change-makers and influencers to advocate for a more equitable and inclusive workforce.”

The goals of LeadDIVERSITY are to deliver skills to cross-sectional professionals and community leaders, create a pathway for sustainable diverse leadership, and improve business outcomes with increased effectiveness and innovation. Sessions will include discussion of topics such as identity, privilege, institutional inequities, discrimination, ethical leadership, and creating inclusion.

Applications for the first LeadDIVERSITY class will be accepted May 1–31. The program will be limited to 20 participants for the first year. For more information or to complete an application, visit www. inclusive-communities.org/leaddiversity. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Team registration includes all green and cart fees, golf, lunch, and dinner at a cost of $600 per foursome. A number of sponsorship opportunities are also available ranging in price from $150 to $2,000 and each offers a unique way to showcase businesses while also supporting the mission of Omaha Home for Boys. The Home extends thanks to RBC Wealth Management for serving as this year’s presenting sponsor and to Scheels for their dinner sponsorship.

Support of the Omaha Home for Boys 2019 Golf Classic raises critically needed funds that allow the Home to change and save lives!

Omaha Home for Boys empowers youth, young adults, and families with the skills and confidence needed to transition from a state of crisis to one of safety and growth. The Home takes a well-rounded, comprehensive approach to help clients thrive in all areas of their lives by addressing a number of needs including: education, employment, housing, health and wellness, life skills, transportation, and mentors. To register a foursome or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Omaha Home for Boys development office at (402) 457-7165 or visit OmahaHomeForBoys.org.

Amplify Arts to Open Exhibition of “Power Colors” May 10–June 21 Amplify Arts is pleased to announce the opening exhibition of Power Colors, curated by Amanda Smith (2018 Artist Support Grant recipient) and Angela Zonunpari. Free and open to the public, this exhibition is presented with support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Power Colors will be open May 10 through June 21 at Generator Space, located at 1804 Vinton St. Visit the exhibition anytime during regular gallery hours: every Thursday and Friday from noon to 5 p.m.

Red for power, yellow for happy, blue for competence; Power Colors examines the associative influence of color and its links to history, identity, and authority. Using a wide range of production skills, the four artists in the exhibition articulate and reconstitute fragmented experiences of place, personhood, and politics in vivid color.

Marsha Mack (Denver, CO) and Nicole Maloof (Bronx, NY) use the color yellow as a lynchpin in their investigations of how cultural identity is shaped by language, social customs, and economic systems. For Maloof, that investigation begins with a simple question: What color is a banana? Mack’s approach is equally pointed, creating objects, images, and installation that reframe the experience of her Vietnamese heritage through the lens of a tourist. Amy Jarding’s (Sioux Falls, SD) intuitive use of color in her fiber-based work serves as lively counterpoint to these research driven practices, while Amanda Smith’s (Omaha, NE) highly personal sense of color, space, and vision recall “past lives” through the process of revisiting old paintings and reworking them as quilts—new objects, steeped in cultural tradition, that become carefully constructed retrospective heirlooms.

Amplify Arts (formerly Omaha Creative Institute) is a 501c3 non-profit, promoting unity, innovation, and progress in the arts to build strong and vibrant communities. Learn more at www.amplifyarts.org.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands Waiting List Grows in Summer

Project Harmony Dares You to Rock One Sock this Month

As summer approaches, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands’ (BBBSM) waiting list of Littles grows immensely.

Summer is the time when they need mentors the most, so BBBSM is hoping Omaha Gives! 2019 will jumpstart a successful summer. The agency is encouraging Bigs and BBBSM supporters to create cheer pages and share their stories. Donations to BBBSM clear the path for Littles’ biggest possible futures by matching them with a Big who will ignite their potential.

Project Harmony, along with the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), is wearing one sock to raise awareness for missing children throughout the month of May and is challenging the rest of the community to do the same.

Have you ever finished folding laundry only to discover you are missing one sock?

We’ve all been there and we hang on to that one sock with hope we’ll find the other. #BeSomeone and #RockOneSock with Project Harmony, bringing hope that more missing children will come home safely and more children will have the childhoods they deserve, free from victimization.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands strives for all youth in the program to reach their full potential. A Big Brother, Big Sister, or Big Couple provides youth with a sense of safety and security, emotional support, and social skill promotion. Bigs and Littles are matched based on common interests, so they can have the benefit of doing activities together that they both enjoy. With a Big by their side, more Littles are discovering who they are and what they can achieve in life. BBBSM is working to clear the path for our youth’s biggest possible futures.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, go online to bbbsomaha.org or contact Emily Tonniges, assistant director of development, at (402) 905-3350 / etonniges@bbbsomaha.org.

Nebraska Recycling Council Joins the Community Services Fund of Nebraska Nebraska Recycling Council (NRC) was one of three new nonprofit agencies adopted into the Community Services Fund (CSF) in 2019. NRC provides resources and assistance for communities across Nebraska to reduce, reuse, and recover materials for their highest and best use to protect Nebraska’s good life for future generations.

Community Services Fund is a statewide federation of 70 non-profit organizations working to enhance the quality of life in Nebraska. They make it easy for workplaces and employees to support positive change in their communities by making donations to this group of non-profits through payroll deduction. CSF provides all the materials needed by employers, including an online giving/pledging option that can be customized.

Workplaces that include Community Services Fund in their annual employee giving programs like United Way, see increased employee participation and engagement. CSF member agencies provide quality health care for the underserved, conserve Nebraska’s environment, support children and families, and work for animal welfare.

Non-profit members include, among many others, Clinic with a Heart, Habitat for Humanity, Omaha Zoo Foundation, Lincoln Children’s Museum, MilkWorks, Nature Conservancy, Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska, Nebraska Public Radio and Television, Nebraska Appleseed, and Nebraska Recycling Council.

To learn more about Community Services Fund and implementing or enhancing your workplace’s campaign, visit the website at communityservicesfund.org, or call (402) 475-7759 to arrange a meeting with Melissa Filipi, CSF’s executive director.

Nebraska Recycling Council is a statewide, member-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Their mission is to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of resource recovery in Nebraska. Visit www. nrcne.org for more information.

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“Anyone can have the opportunity to make a significant difference in the life of a child through the vision of what is possible—the vision of what a child’s future can and should look like,” says Project Harmony’s Executive Director Gene Klein. “Together, let’s say, ‘No more!’ Together, let’s fight for the protection of our children. Together, let’s rock one sock.”

Project Harmony helps community members protect and support the most vulnerable, restoring courage, facilitating healing, and empowering all to be someone in the life of a child. Learn more online at ProjectHarmony.com or call (402) 595-1326 with any additional questions.

Black Hills Energy Supports Flood Relief, Donates to Midlands Community Foundation Black Hills Energy employees from across Nebraska who attended the company’s Safety Summit on April 3 at Embassy Suites utilized the event to support flood relief efforts in the area. The approximately 250 employees in attendance brought supplies for the benefit of flood victims. The supplies filled a 4’ trailer. At the conference, hardhats were passed around and over $1,800 was collected to be donated to Midlands Community Foundation (MCF). MCF will transfer the funds to the Bellevue Community Foundation and Louisville Area Foundation, affiliated funds of MCF, to aid flood victims in those communities.

“Healthy, vibrant communities is the lifeblood of Black Hills Energy and a huge part of the company’s culture is providing support to those who are most vulnerable. We are thankful for the Black Hills employees who stepped up to help those who have been impacted by the devasting flooding in these areas where Black Hills serves customers,” said Jan Davis, MCF board member and former Black Hills Energy employee.

Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer-focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. The company serves 1.27 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com and www.blackhillsenergy.com.

The mission of Midlands Community Foundation is to benefit the diverse needs of the Sarpy and Cass county communities by providing financial support, involvement, and service. Learn more at midlandscommunity. org or call (402) 991-8027. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NON-PROFIT NEWS CEDARS Earns GuideStar’s 2019 Platinum Seal of Transparency

Angels Among Us and Ronald McDonald to Host Open House

CEDARS recently earned a 2019 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of non-profit information.

Platinum Seals allows donors to learn about the organization’s impact and results. By sharing metrics that highlight CEDARS’ work toward its mission, the organization is helping donors move beyond simplistic ways of non-profit evaluation such as overhead ratios.

To reach the Platinum level, CEDARS added extensive information to its GuideStar Nonprofit Profile which is available at www.guidestar.org. By taking the time to provide this information, CEDARS has demonstrated its commitment to transparency and to giving donors and funders meaningful information to evaluate nonprofit performance.

CEDARS’ passion for helping kids in crisis and building strong families has been fueled by community involvement and support for over 70 years.

Since its founding in Lincoln in 1947, the organization has been on a mission to provide safe refuge to children and youth who have no other safe place to spend the night. This past year, CEDARS served 2,441 individuals and 194 families. To learn how CEDARS supports families visit cedarskids.org or call (402) 434-5437.

Angels Among Us and Ronald McDonald House are hosting a community-wide open house of the newly expanded Ronald McDonald House on May 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Ronald McDonald House has added 20,000 square feet to the building, including an additional 20 family units and Angels Among Us’ new office space, a key part of this great expansion.

This free event will include food, games, entertainment, and the chance to meet other local non-profits. Come and be a part of celebrating this incredible collaboration and get a tour of the house and new office spaces. By coming together, this will allow the many brave families fighting big battles to be better served and cared for, including housing, emotional, and financial support, all under one roof.

Angels Among Us is a Nebraska non-profit that provides financial and emotional support to families whose children are battling pediatric cancer. Any family living in or being treated in Nebraska is eligible to apply for financial support. In 2018, Angels Among Us provided financial support to 99 families, giving over $355,000, so they were able to remain stable during their pediatric cancer journey.

Please contact Alyssa Theilen, director of community relations/ development, at alyssa@myangelsamongus.org for any further questions, or visit www.MyAngelsAmongUs.org to learn more.

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska Continues to Accept Scholarship Applications

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Releases 2018 Annual Report

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska has awarded over 14 scholarships totaling $140,000 and wishes to continue the momentum. Kids’ Chance is currently accepting sc holarship applications from kids ages 16–25 with a high school diploma or GED, or who are currently enrolled in a high school student in good standing.

Scholarship proceeds are used for tuition, fees, or room and board only (paid directly to the institution, to go towards vocational/technical school, junior college, undergraduate, or graduate programs).

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) is excited to release its 2018 Annual Report, which highlights NAM’s mission to connect organizations with information, education, advocacy and collaboration. This allows members to focus their energy on the people and communities they serve.

The Mission of Kids’ Chance of Nebraska is to provide financial support to further the education of the children of Nebraska workers who have been severely injured, totally disabled, or killed as a result of employment-related injuries or occupational diseases. It is the goal of Kids’ Chance of Nebraska to make a difference in the lives of these children by providing scholarships to help eligible students achieve both their educational goals and their families’ dreams. A recent letter from a past recipient sums it up perfectly: “I wanted to send an email/letter of thanks to show my gratitude for Kids’ Chance of Nebraska. My sister and I can attend school together and support one another through hard times because of this scholarship. My parents have finally gotten to take a breath and focus on medical bills and other finances due to not having to worry about paying for our schooling. You gave us the most important gift that one could ask for and that is a chance at an education. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

Kids’ Chance of Nebraska is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Email kidschanceofnebraska@gmail.com with any questions. Please visit www.kidschanceofne.org for more information. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The 2018 Annual Report includes information on NAM’s various non-profit training programs and toolkits, structured to provide non-profit leaders with a vast amount of knowledge on grant writing, fundraising, human resources, board governance, volunteer management, marketing, diversity, media, and more. Information on NAM’s Guidelines and Principles, Nonprofit Executive Institute, and Salary and Benefit Trends Survey also is included in the report, in addition to a Save the Dates page, featuring upcoming events, including the annual Nonprofit Summit of the Midlands.

The Annual Report, which recognizes NAM’s membership organizations and business partners, helps non-profits and the public understand NAM’s offerings, finances, and public policy efforts. NAM’s 2018 Annual Report and past reports can be viewed at issuu.com/ namannualreport.

Nonprofit Association of the Midlands helps non-profits help their communities. There are thousands of non-profits in our area, each trying to make a difference on their own. NAM brings them together so that each member can benefit from their collective strength. NAM is the only membership organization in the state dedicated exclusively to working with non-profits in the midlands. Learn more online at www. nonprofitam.org or contact Hannah Young with further questions at (402) 557-5800 / hannah@nonprofitam.org.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS Kids Can Community Center Present Year Two of Kids Can In The Park

Outlook Nebraska Offers Sponsorship Opportunities for Tee It Up Fore Sight

Kids Can Comm unity Center i s exc i t e d t o a n n o u n c e t h a t registration is now open for year two of Kids Can in the Park. Beginning June 3, Kids Can will be hosting full-day summer programming for elementary aged children. Programming runs 7–6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sponsorship opportunities for Outlook Nebraska’s annual Tee It Up Fore Sight fundraiser, benefitting Outlook Enrichment Programs, are still available. The event takes place on Thursday, June 6 at Indian Creek Golf Course (3825 N. 202nd St., Elkhorn). This 18-round game will be a four-person scramble with a shotgun start at noon. Registration includes golf, lunch, and dinner.

Kids Can focuses on partnering the STEMsmart curriculum of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Strength, Music, Arts, Reading, and tutoring with dynamic field trips. There will also be weekly themes paired with on-site activities and field trips, academic skill building, and enrichment opportunities. In addition to exciting, hands-on activities, participants will receive breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. For more information about this event, go online to www.kidscan.org/out-of-school/ millerparksummer.html.

The mission of Outlook Nebraska is to positively impact everyone who is blind or visually impaired. This is done through robust employment opportunities, adaptive technology training, recreational programs, cultural experiences, community education, and collaborative programs that allow people to meet others with similar situations and open a world of organizations that are around to help.

Kids Can Community Center is a youth-serving agency whose mission is to educate, engage, and inspire children through early childhood care and out-of-school experiences. They are a state-licensed childcare provider for children ages 18-months to 13-years old, offering full-day early childhood education and out-of-school programs. For more information about Kids Can or the program, please visit www.kidscan.org or contact Josh Gillman at (402) 731-6988 / jgillman@kidscan.org.

Collective for Youth Students Recognized by Facebook’s Engineer for the Week Program A team of three students in The Collective for Youth and Boys & Girls Club Panther Pack program at Morton Middle School were selected as finalists for Facebook’s Engineer for the Week. These 7th and 8th grade students, and their after school staff members, attended the Achievement Summit held at Facebook Headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. Facebook’s Engineer for the Week is an immersive program that introduces students to the fast-paced world of engineering. Teams participated in building prototypes from design through the iteration of a final product. Throughout the process, students met virtually with a Facebook engineer. The Morton Middle School team designed a chat box to support students emotionally and offer information on bullying and other sensitive topics. The project was done with Cp3o, a local partner that teaches technology and media skills to students in afterschool programs.

Collective for Youth is a connector for advocacy, resources, and training for out of school time providers. They are committed to connecting youth to high quality programs and to growing a community of thriving partners who ignite the imagination and grow the minds of youth. There are 34 Omaha Public Schools and dozens of local non-profits that form Collective for Youth.

The organization serves nearly 7,400 children annually. For more information, visit www.collectiveforyouth.org or contact Cary Mohiuddin at (402) 932-2025 / info@collectiveforyouth.org.

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Whether you are looking to hit the links or to donate to a worthy cause, Outlook Nebraska has a sponsorship to fit your budget.

Sponsorship details can be found at outlookne.org or by calling Donna Faust Aman at (402) 614-3331.

Grief’s Journey to Host 21st Annual Remembrance Walk On Saturday, May 18, 8–11 a.m., Grief’s Journey will be hosting the 21st Annual Remembrance Walk. 2019 also marks the return of a 5K race to start the day. The event is at Miller’s Landing and is open to the public.

All run and walk registrations will support Grief’s Journey’s efforts to provide excellent and compassionate grief support, for free, to anyone in the community who seeks it.

Pre-registration for the event is preferred and is available at www. griefsjourney.org/events. Remembrance Walk registration is $18 for adults, kids $8 (ages 3–18), and age three and under are free. Walkers who register in advance will receive a photo button in memory of their special person or pet. Participants can also enjoy outdoor activities and games, memorial crafts and local celebrity appearances. Pricing for the 5K race is $28 for adults (ages 19+), $23 for youth (ages 3–18), ages three and under are free. Race registration includes a photo button of your special person or pet and Remembrance Walk activities. Prizes will be awarded to the top 5K finishers in each age category as well as overall winners (top 3) for both men and women. The 5K race is produced in-part with the Omaha Running Club.

Grief is a prevalent and critical public health issue that can have a profound impact on future wellbeing but has long been overlooked.

According to Judi’s House/JAG Institute, the childhood bereavement rate in Nebraska is one in 18, affecting more than 5.6% of youth in our community. As a result of the death of a loved one: 15% have broken things or damaged property; 20% have hurt themselves physically in some way; 41% acted in ways they knew were not good for them; 45% had more trouble concentrating in school. (New York Life, 2013 “The Grief Journey of a Child” from the perspective of youth responders.) In the workplace: one in four employees is grieving at any time; 30 work days are lost per year by each employee coping without support from co-workers or managers; 20% of grieving employees will continue losing work days for more than one year. (The Grief Recovery Institute.) This is why free access to comprehensive grief-focused, trauma-informed care and resources is essential. Grief’s Journey’s run/walk is an investment in awareness and prevention work to ensure a compassionate response to all. For more information, visit www.griefsjourney.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NON-PROFIT NEWS Midlands Community Foundation Awards Grants Totaling $93,250

Open Door Mission Presents Walk A Mile In My Shoes Event

Midlands Community Foundation (MCF) has awarded grants totaling $93,250 to 23 nonprofit organizations serving Sarpy and Cass counties including: • Bellaire Elementary PTA − $5,000 • Bellevue American Legion Post 339 − $3,500 • Bellevue Ministerial Association Food Pantry − $6,000 • CHI Health Midlands Hospital − $7,000 • The Durham Museum − $3,000 • Fontenelle Forest − $5,000 • Food Bank for the Heartland − $10,000 • HEALing Embrace Fund − $1,000 • Inclusive Communities − $3,000 • Joslyn Art Museum − $5,000 • Keipos, Inc. − $1,000 • Lift Up Sarpy County − $3,000 • Little Giants Foundation Fund − $1,000 • Mercy Housing Midwest − $3,500 • Merrymakers Association − $5,000 • Omaha Conservatory of Music − $2,500 • Omaha Symphony − $2,500 • St. Matthew the Evangelist School − $2,750 • Sarpy County Historical Society − $6,000 • Share A Fare, Inc. − $2,500 • Smart Girl Society, Inc. − $3,000 • Tri City Food Pantry − $7,000 • Village of Manley − $5,000 Pictured L-R: (Front Row) Julie Bear, Midlands Community Foundation grants committee chair; Georgie Scurfield, Lift Up Sarpy County; Maggie Wood, Inclusive Communities; Jennifer and Eloise Sommer, HEALing Embrace Fund; Amie Konwinski, Smart Girl Society, Inc.; Erin and Emily Koesters, Little Giants Foundation Fund; (Middle Row) Sandy Lemke, Merrymakers Association; Brian Barks, Food Bank for the Heartland; Joanie Mathis, Omaha Symphony; Kristen Minor, Belleaire Elementary PTA; Don Kiviniemi, Bellevue American Legion Post 339; Jolene Dalton, Village Manley; Shelby Voss, Mercy Housing Midwest; Amanda Smith, CHI Health Midlands Hospital; Ben Justman, Sarpy County Historical Society; Nancy Flearl, Share A Fare, Inc.; Karla Rupiper, Midlands Community Foundation board member; (Back Row) Tonee Gay, Midlands Community Foundation executive director; Corey Wilson, The Durham Museum; Melissa Nelson, Tri City Food Pantry; Jonathan Dodd, Keipos, Inc.; Johann Onnen, Bellevue Ministerial Association Food Pantry; Mark Kresl, Omaha Conservatory of Music; Agne Dizona, Joslyn Art Museum.

Not Pictured: St. Matthew the Evangelist School; Fontenelle Forest.

This is the second of two grant distributions for Midlands Community Foundation’s fiscal year. The next grant deadline will be August 1, 2019, with funds distributed in October. Through its grants program, Midlands Community Foundation places an emphasis on prevention and education.

The Foundation has a strong commitment toward programs benefiting health, art, culture, community, economic development, education, and human services.

The mission of the Midlands Community Foundation is to benefit the diverse needs of the Sarpy and Cass county communities by providing financial support, involvement, and service. Learn more online at www.

MidlandsCommunity.org or call (402) 991-8027.

Open Door Mission invites you to walk a mile in a homeless person’s shoes at their Walk A Mile In My Shoes event, sponsored by Runza, on Sunday, June 2. Participants can begin their walk anytime between 4 and 6 p.m. The path you will be walking is the most popular route taken by homeless men, women, and children seeking shelter.

The walk begins in Gallup’s parking area (1001 Gallup Dr.) and continues north on Abbott to Open Door Mission’s Garland Thompson Men’s Center (2705 N. 20th St. E). After walking, participants will receive a meal provided by Runza, a drawstring backpack, and an opportunity to tour Open Door Mission’s campus. Adults are $30; children (ages 6–12) $15. You can also do the virtual walk for $21.50. Sign up online at www.OpenDoorMission.org.

#PrintProudDigitalSmart

Open Door Mission serves the homeless and working poor, especially victims of domestic violence. Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission that meets the needs of individuals and families while inspiring HOPE for lasting change. Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 917 safe shelter beds to homeless men, women, and children, serves over 3,500 nutritious meals and provides preventative measures to more than 1,000 people living in poverty. Learn more on Open Door Mission’s website (www.OpenDoorMission.org) or contact Deb Saraka-Rubin at (402) 829-1503 / dsaraka-rubin@ opendoormission.org with further questions.

Omaha Police Foundation Works to Raise Final $225K for Body Cam Program The Omaha Police Foundation is working to raise the final $225,000 to support the purchase of 460 additional body cameras so that every uniformed patrol officer in the Omaha Police Department (OPD) will have his or her own camera, rather than sharing by precinct. The cost of storage of the camera footage is part of that fundraising package.

Deputy chief of Omaha Police, Kerry Neumann, says when OPD adopted body cameras three years ago, it seemed like a no brainer. The cams serve as unbiased witness in courts, being able to tell the story of what happened at crimes scenes, but agencies around the country are now struggling with managing this huge amount of digital evidence.

State law requires body cam videos be stored for at least 90 days.

OPD’s policy is to keep them for 120 days. So, they built the DREAM unit (short for Digitally Recorded Evidence Access and Management), a room inside their headquarters where they can locate all the video footage they collect and easily access it when requested by the courts.

OPD has spent just over $2 million on their body cam program, about two-thirds of which is being spent simply to store the digital evidence.

Thankfully for the taxpayers, the Omaha Police Foundation has raised the funds to pay for the bulk of the cost of this project. While the Omaha Police Foundation strives to raise much more for the OPD, they say it’s worth every penny and they plan to have every officer fully equipped by the end of 2019.

For more information on the Omaha Police Foundation or how you can support the Body Worn Camera project, visit www.

OmahaPoliceFoundation.org or contact Ms. Elizabeth Balazs at (402) 345-5401 Ext. 102 / ebalazs@vgagroup.com.

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NON-PROFIT NEWS Jewish Family Service Serves 165 Clients through Therapy Program in 2017-18

Fremont Contract Carriers and Nestle Purina Team Up for Flood Relief Donation

The Jewish Family Service provides many services to community members both inside and outside the Jewish Community. During the 201718 fiscal year, their small agency served 165 clients in their therapy program, through 1,316 therapy sessions, regardless of religious affiliation, and with financial support from the United Way of the Midlands.

Fifty parents/guardians, both Jewish and non-Jewish, attended Parenting the Love and Logic Way®, a course created by Jim Fay, Charles Fay, Ph.D., and Foster Cline, MD, and presented by Jewish Family Service & Woodhaven Counseling Associates. Ten families were served in their adoption program, which offers home-study and post-placement services regardless of religious affiliation.

Forty mental health professionals attended Jewish Family Service’s bi-yearly Ethics Workshop, which is open to any professional in Omaha and surrounding areas.

In addition, many Omaha schools, hospitals, and other non-Jewish organizations have benefitted from training programs facilitated

by Jewish Family Service staff. Jewish Family Service participated in Prevent Child Abuse Nebraska’s Pinwheels for Prevention®, an event held each year in the month of April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month.

Jewish Family Service is a member of the Metro Area Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Nebraska Adoption Agencies Association. For more information on any of their programs, please call (402) 330-2024 or visit www.jewishomaha.org.

At the beginning of April, Nestle Purina (purina.com) donated around 43,000 lbs of Purina pet food and litter to the Fur-Ever Home Rescue Pet Food & Supply Bank in Fremont. Fremont Contract Carriers (FCC; www.fcc-inc.com) then offered to deliver the four-and-a-half-ton donation from Nestle Purina’s facility in Crete to Fur-Ever Home free of charge. In addition, FCC has helped store and deliver things like boxed and canned food, cleaning supplies, bottled water, etc. for the communities of Hooper and Winslow, just north of Fremont.

21st Annual Goodwill Industrues Golf Classic Slated for August 26 On Monday, August 26, Goodwill Industries will be hosting their 21st Annual Golf Classic at The Players Club at Deer Creek. Participants will tee off to support Goodwill as they work to eliminate barriers to employment and help empower people with the skills needed to succeed. In the 21-year history of this tournament, they have raised over $706,000, which goes directly to support their mission employments programs!

Check-in begins at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon. Lunch will begin being served starting at 10:45 a.m. and a dinner buffet will be provided immediately following golf that evening. Prizes donated from sponsors such as Creighton University and Scooter’s Coffee are set to be awarded during dinner as well.

Many people know Goodwill as a place to donate used clothing or household items, but did you know Goodwill is also a place where thousands of formerly unemployed individuals have been given the opportunity to earn a living and the chance to succeed in life?

Goodwill Industries offers a variety of programs for individuals trying to obtain employment. They have seen the crucial role employment plays in the development of individuals in our community. When you sponsor or participate in the Goodwill Golf Classic, you are directly supporting the mission programs of Goodwill. For sponsorship opportunities and registration, please visit www.goodwillomaha.org/golf or contact info@ goodwillomaha.org / (402) 341-4609 with questions.

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Fur-Ever Home, Inc., is a local non-profit organization, providing lowcost spay/neuter, vaccination, and micro-chipping programs, as well as training to local Dodge County residents. For owners displaced by the flood in need of placement for their dogs, please call (402) 2690298. More information can be found at fetchingfureverhomes.org.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Opens New Thrift Store, Announces Plans for More The Society of St. Vincent de Paul recently opened its newest thrift store in Omaha at 5505 N. 90th St. Also in the works are a few other stores in the surrounding areas, such as Elkhorn, Bennington, Papillion, Central Omaha, and South-Central Omaha. The non-profit plans to not only change the location of their thrift stores, but the model of their business operations in 2019 and in upcoming years. In addition to donated items—clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc.—the shop will open up to stocked merchandise such as basic hygiene and sanitary items. The thrift store plans to seek out these items from surplus stores and manufacturers and resell the items with a minimal markup. Another aspect of the new operations model is for the stores to have their own individual warehouses, as opposed to their previous single centralized warehouse. St. Vincent even plans to start an appliance repair training program for their employees to learn how to fix donated appliances, therefore helping them acquire skills and to generate revenue for the store.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Omaha serves individuals and families in need through the Metro area. The store is open Monday– Saturday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday, noon–5 p.m. For more information, visit website svdpomaha.com.

The Rose House Launches Efforts for Single Mothers in Omaha, Presents A Big Hat Brunch New local non-profit, The Rose House, invites you to join them for A Big Hat Brunch on Saturday, May 4. This Kentucky Derby watch party their way of introducing themselves to community.

The event will give attendees the opportunity to learn about the organization, hearing their mission and vision directly from the president and founder of The Rose House, TaRae Peoples. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Trouvaille Omaha, 1104 S. 76th Ave. Guests will enjoy refreshments, brunch, and entertainment. Tickets are $20 and can be reserved online through the Eventbrite page (search for “The Rose House, Inc ‘Off To The Races’ Big Hat Brunch”).

TaRae founded The Rose House as an organization for single mothers and their children. As a woman who was a single mother, she relates to the struggle and insecurities that single motherhood brings, but knows there is a way through and out. This organization provides basic life skills and employment training, temporary housing, and mental health support, as well as self-empowerment tools to assist in the life transformations of these families. For more information, visit the website (www.therosehouseinc.org) or contact The Rose House at (402) 431-2366 / info@TheRoseHouseInc.org. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

NON-PROFIT NEWS WhyArts and Basic Hope Foundation Host Express Your Self Art Exhibit

Heartland Hope Mission Meets $20K Fundraising Goal to Fix Delivery Truck

WhyArts and The Basic Hope Foundation’s S.O.A.R. Program were proud to collaborate to create the Express Your Self Art Exhibit at the The B Side of Benson Theatre during the month of March. In collaboration with Collective for Youth and the Omaha Public Schools, student artwork from eight middle schools were able to be involved in the exhibit, including Monroe, Marrs, McMillan, Morton, Lewis and Clark, Norris, and Nathan Hale. Lead by their WhyArtist Mentors, students created art on the theme of expressing feelings.

In April, Heartland Hope Mission announced that, thanks to the support of the community, they successfully raised $10,000 more dollars to reach their fundraising goal of $20,000, the amount needed to repair their cube truck. After the campaign concluded, the final total for funds raised was $24,082. The Heartland Hope Mission’s cube truck is used for delivery services as part of their mission to serve those in need locally.

Lewis and Clark students created a banner with Joe Broghammer.

McMillan students created a painting showing one boy’s countless emotions over a single day. Kim Darling asked Monroe students to create self portraits which were then merged into a larger mural.

Marrs, Norris, and Lewis and Clark students created sculptures from clay and reclaimed materials with mentors Tom McLaughlin and Richard Chung. Nathan Hale students glazed tiles and created pencil sketches with Katherine Scarpello and Brandon Mass, while mentor Sarah Rowe asked Morton and Marrs students to explore what a completely blue or green day might look like. Amanda Caillau had McMillan students create a collaborative paper sculpture. Spray paint artist Hugo Zamorano let his Norris class loose on expandable foam and created a giant S.O.A.R. wall hanging. Two S.O.A.R. classes worked with spoken word artist Felicia Webster to create acrostic poems, which were put on display.

WhyArts, founded in 1990, is dedicated to providing Omaha’s underserved populations with access to inclusive quality arts programming. They believe each individual, no matter their circumstance, has unlimited creative potential. For information, visit www.whyartsinc.org or call (402) 541-4181.

Heartland Family Service Seeks Sponsors for Strike a Chord Gala Heartland Family Service (HFS) is in need of sponsorships for the upcoming Strike a Chord Gala on Friday, June 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Mid-America Center.

The 2019 fundraising goal is $94,000 to continue to make life-changing services possible for our southwest Iowa neighbors in need. This music-inspired event features live entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, games, silent and live auctions, dinner, and the video presentations of the Salute to Leadership and Salute to Achievement awards.

All proceeds will benefit Heartland Family Service’s southwest Iowa programming, including a K-12 Therapeutic School for students with major mental health diagnoses; housing and support services for families experiencing homelessness; professional mental health counseling for children and their parents; and community prevention education and treatment for those struggling with substance use and problem gambling.

The mission of Heartland Family Service is to strengthen individuals and families in our community through education, counseling, and support services. Founded in 1875, Heartland Family Service currently serves more than 52,000 individuals of all ages each year from over 15 locations in east central Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Learn more online at HeartlandFamilyService. org or contact Brenna Ashbrook with further questions at (402) 552-7426 / BAshbrook@HeartlandFamilyService.org. Don’t forget to donate to Heartland Family Service during the Omaha Gives! event either! #PrintProudDigitalSmart

The mission of Heartland Hope Mission is to be more than a pantry by providing clients with resources to be food secure and self-sufficient in a hope-filled environment. At Heartland Hope Mission’s South Omaha and Millard food pantries, working poor families choose a week’s supply of nutritious groceries, including milk, frozen meat, and fresh produce to prepare well-balanced meals at home. Clients also receive clothing, hygiene items, diapers, and access to a client service specialist, who assists with SNAP (food stamp) applications and navigational services. Last year, over 45,000 people received food at Heartland Hope Mission.

In addition to assisting the needy with food and other necessities, Heartland Hope also performs seasonal drives to bring cheer to needy families during the holidays. To find out how you can support Heartland Hope Mission, visit heartlandhopemission.org or contact (402) 733-1904.

Join Jennie Edmundson Foundation’s Annual “Wheels of Courage” Fundraiser June 22 Attention car enthusiasts of all ages, mark your calendars and plan to join the Jennie Edmundson Foundation on Saturday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Quaker Steak & Lube in Council Bluffs for the 5th Annual Wheels of Courage Car Show! You can be involved by registering your vehicle, purchasing a sponsorship, purchasing a t-shirt, or simply attending.

Wheels of Courage is an exciting outdoor car show plus auction and a raffle with amazing and unique prizes. Outside judging begins at noon with 13 car categories. First, second, and third-place trophies will be presented at 3 p.m. Raffle tickets can be purchased the day of the event and every Thursday night starting May 2, during the ‘Car Cruise-in’ at Quaker Steak & Lube, for a chance to win a 1999 Pontiac Firebird.

“It’s a fun event that brings together hundreds of car enthusiasts, sponsors and community members to help raise money for local cancer patients,” shares co-chair Pat Miller.

Proceeds benefit the Spirit of Courage Charitable Patient Fund, helping to ease the financial burdens of Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital cancer patients in the areas of medications, treatments and deductibles, as well as everyday living expenses.

For more information, call Jennie Edmundson Foundation at (712) 396-6040 or go online to www.jehfoundation@nmhs.org/events/ wheels-of-courage.

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HEALTH NEWS NAMI Omaha Announces June Public Educational Meeting with LGBTQ+ Speaker NAMI Omaha’s next Mental Health NAMI Affiliate meeting will be held on Thursday, June 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. This meeting is free and open to the public. Eli Rigatuso will speak at the meeting about the Intersectionality of Mental Health and the LGBTQ+ Identities, as well as on his work with helping local organizations and businesses offer more open and affirming spaces for transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming individuals. One of the ways Eli does this is through his web documentary channel, Speaking of Happy.

In addition to running this virtual outlet, documenting amazing stories of the LGBTQ+ community, Eli also works full-time at Bellevue University.

These meetings take place the first Thursday of each month at First United Methodist Church, located at 7020 Cass St. in Omaha. Parking is available on the east and north side of the church. Enter through doors #4 or #6 and proceed to room 112.

NAMI Omaha is a non-profit organization composed of consumers, family members, professionals, and friends who have come together to share and take comfort in the commonality of their experiences and to educate members of their communities about serious brain disorders.

Along with education/literature, support, workshops, conferences, and more. NAMI Omaha actively advocates at the local, state, and national levels to improve the services and the lives of those affected by mental illness and their families.

For information on NAMI Omaha, go to namiomaha.org or call (402) 345-8101 or (877) 463-6264. For helpful articles on mental illness, follow on Facebook (@NAMIOmaha).

American Cancer Society Creates Awareness for Skin Cancer Prevention The American Cancer Society reminds us that May is Melanoma/ Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. In fact, more skin cancers are diagnosed in the U.S. each year than all other cancers combined. The number of skin cancer cases has been going up over the past few decades.

Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Most of this exposure comes from the sun, but some may come from man-made sources, such as indoor tanning beds and sun lamps. The good news is that you can do a lot to protect yourself and your family from UV rays, as well as to catch skin cancer early so that it can be treated effectively.

Simply staying in the shade is one of the best ways to limit your UV exposure. If you are going to be in the sun, “Slip! Slop! Slap!® and Wrap” is a catchphrase that can help you remember some of the key steps you can take to protect yourself from UV rays—slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and skin around them.

You don’t need x-rays or blood tests to find skin cancer early, just your eyes and a mirror. If you have skin cancer, finding it early is the best way to make sure it can be treated with success.

The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) is on a mission to free the world from cancer by providing free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, advocacy groups to create awareness and impact, and much more. Get involved by calling (402) 423-4893.

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OrthoNebraska Opens New Location OrthoNebraska recently opened a clinic at 90th & Highway 370 in Papillion. Along with regularly scheduled office visits, the clinic also provides walk-in orthopedic urgent care services. To celebrate grand opening, the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting with OrthoNebraska’s team and supporters on April 2.

“In addition to providing high-quality, cost-effective care, we believe more people deserve the type of unmatched patient experience and convenient access to services that we provide,” stated Levi Scheppers, chief executive officer of OrthoNebraska.

OrthoNebraska Sarpy County, as it was formally referred to, will have an orthopedic provider on site seven days a week. The clinic provides emergency medicine, imaging, joint replacement, non-operative pain management, physical therapy, rheumatology, spine care, sports medicine, and surgical services. The Orthopaedic Urgent Care, located in both Papillion and at 144th & West Center, is open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit OrthoNebraska.com.

Creighton Receives Provisional Accreditation for New Physician Assistant Program After receiving provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education, Creighton University’s new Physician Assistant (PA) Program in the School of Medicine will welcome its inaugural class of 24 students in August 2019. Graduates of the program, which is only the fifth such program offered at Jesuit institutions in the United States, will receive a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree in just over two years.

According to US News & World Report, the physician assistant profession ranks third on the 2019 list of Best Jobs in America and first on the list of Best Health Care Jobs. A PA is a nationally-certified and state-licensed medial professional who practices medicine as a member of a health care team with physicians and other health professionals.

Students enrolled in the 28-month, two-phase curriculum will demonstrate competence in collaborative patient care, clinical medicine, practicebased learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism and systems-based practice.

Creighton University will began accepting applications on April 25 for a second cohort that will begin in August 2020. Graduates will go on to work and communicate effectively as leaders or members of a collaborative health care team to provide culturally competent and evidence-based, patient-centered care.

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Creighton University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Creighton University.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.

Creighton University has maintained continuous accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission since 1928. For information regarding the University’s accreditation status, visit creighton.edu/accreditation. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

HEALTH NEWS American Heart Association Brings Awareness to American Stroke Month

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Gerontology Now Available through UNL Online

To recognize May as American Stroke Month, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association are encouraging people to learn the signs of stroke, as strokes can be preventable and treatable although it is the No. 5 killer in the United States. The sudden signs of stroke can be easy to recognize using F.A.S.T., which is: • Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

• Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

• Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

• Time: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately because quicker treatment can lead to a quicker recovery. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Stroke victims need people who can recognize the signs of stroke as rapid reaction can be the difference between full recovery and permanent damage. By learning the signs of stroke today, you could save the life of someone who is experiencing a potentially deadly stroke emergency.

Anyone can experience a stroke regardless of age.

The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit heart.org.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is now accepting applicants for the fully online Bachelor of Science in Gerontology with a concentration in administration. Accepted applicants may enroll in courses for the fall 2019 semester.

To learn more about the online bachelors of gerontology, visit: online. nebraska.edu/gerontology.

The 120-credit-hour program uses a multidisciplinary approach to find solutions to issues related to the world’s aging population. Topics include independence, health changes, and programs and services for aging adults. Students also have the opportunity to gain real-world experience through practicum placements.

The demand for qualified professionals continues to grow with the growing population of citizens 65 and over. Career opportunities are numerous and varied and the degree offers students tailored coursework that compliments several industries.

Online learning through the University of Nebraska offers flexibility, convenience, and a high quality learning experience. Many students are full-time working adults and online learning gives them the ability to take a few courses a semester while also maintaining their busy life schedules.

University of Nebraska Online (online.nebraska.edu) is the University’s collaborative distance education initiative focused on providing greater access for more students to the high-quality courses and program offered online by the four campuses of the university system. By coordinating efforts among the campuses, the University of Nebraska offers more than 125 degree, certificate, and endorsement programs in 16 subject areas, including certificate, bachelor, master’s, and doctoral programs.

Nebraska Community Blood Bank Opens Omaha Donor Center West Omaha businesses have a new neighbor whose mission is to save lives through blood donation. Local non-profit Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB) opened its first Omaha donor center at 12100 Pacific St. on April 30. NCBB has been serving Nebraska for 50 years, and this new site will provide more accessibility to Omaha donors and help supply blood to NCBB’s newest hospital partners, Nebraska Medicine and Methodist Health Systems.

The donor center welcomes eligible community members to give whole blood, double red cell, and platelet donations Tuesday through Saturday.

Specific hours and eligibility requirements can be found at NCBB.ORG. Volunteer opportunities are also available.

“We are excited to have this new location to better serve the people and organizations who make Omaha what it is,” said Cheryl Warholoski, director of Nebraska operations. “Our mission has always been focused on supporting our community and we are excited to expand those relationships and to give members of the Omaha community another way to support each other.”

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the new Pacific Street site will take place the afternoon of Wednesday, May 29.

Nebraska Community Blood Bank is asking business professionals to help spread its news to colleagues, friends, and family. If you’re interested in booking an appointment or learning more about becoming a Nebraska Community Blood Bank blood donor, call (402) 486-9414 or visit donor. ncbb.org. NCBB also welcomes opportunities to coordinate corporate blood drives, host lunch-and-learns, or host free blood typing events to help educate professionals about the importance of blood donation.

Email blooddrives@ncbb.org for more information. Connect with NCBB on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

It’s Time To Start

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2 Rooms Cleaned For FREE!

•Quality assurance and customer satisfaction

Call 402-460-0883 today for an initial consultation!

www.360CleanCompany.com 1845 Pepper Ave., Lincoln, NE 68502 MAY 2019 Strictly Business

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Office Efficiency Did you know that the average American spends 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime? With that in mind, we think it’s important for employers and employees alike to do their part in making the office a positive and productive environment. For that to happen, office efficiency strategies have to be taken into consideration. Maybe you’re at a job right now and you often find yourself thinking about ways your operations could improve or you’ve identified a few little (or big) things in your office that are either currently happening or not happening, and are therefore hindering you from reaching your full potential at work. We talked to a few professionals in Omaha who had some interesting advice to share on this topic.

Since the impact and importance of a worker’s physical environment often go overlooked, we talked to Kate Gallagher, the on-site manager for Modern Work Suites & Studios, about how comfortable and efficient office space is essential to increase employee engagement. “Things like lighting, wall colors, desk arrangement, and quality of office equipment can make a difference to how employees work,” confirmed Kate.

If you haven’t heard of Modern Work Suites yet, well...Google it, but we have to warn you that the pictures you’ll find online don’t do it justice. We found this out quickly when Kate gave us a tour of their new 60s-inspired space, centrally located in Omaha at 8790 F St. As we talked to Kate, we thought about our readers who may be looking for a new office situation.

Especially with so many start-up companies popping up, there are likely a lot of you who are ready to graduate from working out of your home and giving your business its own Kate Gallagher address. Or maybe you’re someone who is in a Modern Work current commercial lease and you’re just ready Suites & Studios for something new, more conveniently located, with better amenities, or...fill in the blank. You might not even be looking for a new office space, but after hearing

NEED TO LEASE OFFICE SPACE? • 50,000 sq. feet with over 50 studios & suites.

• Completely private, fully furnished offices.

• Conference rooms available for large groups or entertaining clients.

• Amenities include: Business Center, Mixx Lounge Lego Room, Living Room, Gym, and Food Trucks.

• Built-in networking opportunites every week.

CONSIDER MODERN WORK...A Business Ecosystem

We are located in the historic Pamida headquarters at 8790 F Street Omaha, NE (2 turns off 84th & i-80) ModernWorkSuites.com | (531) 600-6901 40

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more about Modern Work Suites, you’ll be tempted to look into it more.

Working from home or out of a stand-alone building may be the right fit for your business, but imagine if you could enjoy the same privacy you get at home or in your own commercial property, while also being emerged in a business ecosystem with built-in networking opportunities and professional allies from various industries just down the hall from you. This set-up has proved to be advantageous to the many business owners and teams who have chosen to make Modern Work Suites their work home.

Like Kate explained to us, Modern Work Suites & Studios is designed to be a “business community” or “business neighborhood.” The hallways are labeled with street signs and everything! “Modern Work is a unique space where tenants are able to interact and converse with people from different companies and backgrounds, all under one roof,” Kate noted. “The Modern Work vision is to provide continuous networking opportunities with founders, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and corporateaffiliated employees from all over the Omaha area. We do this by hosting a weekly happy hour for our tenants and monthly Networking Mixxers, which take place on the second Thursday of each month and are open to the public—any and all business professionals in the community are welcome! Whether it’s conversing over a cup of coffee in the Mixx Lounge, taking in a game of pool or ping-pong on your break, or even giving your creativity a chance to reboot by building something at the Lego table—the opportunity for interaction and inspiration at Modern Work Suites is unmatched in Omaha.”

The founder of Modern Work Suites & Studios, Curt Brannon, decided he wanted to create a space where business people can do serious work without taking themselves too seriously. This progressive concept and vision facilitates the feeling of liking—even loving–where you work. It’s no secret that people who like their job work harder and are overall more productive. So, if you’re trying to achieve a higher level of efficiency in your office, we suggest planting (or replanting) your business at one of Modern Work’s private office spaces. They can accommodate various sizes of companies, from one-person studios to large suites that can office 10–15 people, and if you need more space than that, they will make it work. They currently have a company that is renting out an entire hallway of offices! Altogether, Modern Work Suites has 46 single studios, 18 double studios, nine triple studios, and nine suites. You can take a virtual tour of the floor plan on Modern Work’s website.

“A really neat thing we offer our clients is the ability to customize their office space by selecting from a catalog of desks, bookshelves, chairs, and lamps, which is a perk included in the rent,” added Kate. “Our tenants can even choose what color they want their accent wall to be! This allows people to really feel like their space is their own. Plus, businesses have access to three levels of WiFi, a mailing and packaging service, a business service center where things like fax services, copying, and scanning documents are available, a low-impact gym, free and easy access parking, and four separate conference rooms, which tenants can rent for free up to four hours a month.”

So, to increase productivity in your workplace, take a look around your current office, or maybe lack thereof, and think about what needs updating or what would help you feel good about the space you work in.

If you have employees, invite them to give their feedback on the current environment. Find out what aspects they’re happy with and what necessary changes need to be made. If there are a lot of changes and you decide your current situation just isn’t cutting it, look into leasing a private office at Modern Work Suites & Studios.

Physical and mental health plays a crucial role in the success of any company. Healthier employees could potentially result in fewer sick days and higher performance levels.

Sometimes, all it takes to achieve this is a clean office. You may be really content with your current office space, which is great, but are you keeping it clean and organized? We talked to Allisyn Meadows, Omaha manager for 360 Clean, LLC, about how important it is to keep your office clean. “The workplace can become very dirty very quickly, especially if Allisyn Meadows you work in a company with a lot of high-traffic 360 Clean, LLC

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areas where a lot of different people touch the same surface,” Allisyn addressed. “Consider elevator buttons, railings, door handles, countertops in the break room or conference room...these are some of the most germfilled places in an office. Wiping your keyboard and mouse every day with a disinfectant wipe will help kill organisms and prevent sickness. Little day-to-day cleaning efforts help a lot, but having a professional cleaning service come through once a month or even once a week is recommended.

At 360 Clean, we offer daily, weekly, and monthly office and building cleaning. We work with you to accommodate morning, afternoon, evening, or even after hour appointments. Our team is all about cleaning those places that most people forget about, or simply don’t have time during the work day to attend to themselves. Our commercial cleaning services include: restrooms, carpet, windows, and everywhere in between. We even do clean up for parking lots and construction projects.”

In addition to finding the right work space for your business and keeping that space clean, a major key to efficiency is having fast and reliable technology in place. Considering there aren’t many businesses that don’t utilize technology for at least one aspect of their operation, we interviewed Vern Kathol, VP of hardware and managed print services at Scantron Technology Solutions. Here are a few of the questions we asked him and his responses: In your opinion, what makes office efficiency Vern Kathol and productivity so critical for businesses? Scantron Technology Aside from the obvious cost and productivity Solutions benefits of optimized desktops and physical efficiencies of conveniently placed devices, businesses can benefit from a complete cultural shift to efficiency. It’s all hands on deck, looking for the best way to accomplish tasks and serve customers, all the time. This spurs innovation and exploration of new ideas. Being open to reevaluating your workflows, policies, and practices will uncover hidden waste and faulty assumptions that are costing you money.

What can you offer business owners who are looking for ways to improve upon their productivity and efficiency in the office?

Our solutions directly and immediately impact productivity and efficiency, primarily by relieving busy people of reactive or complex tasks and allowing them to focus more on value adding tasks. This effect is magnified in smaller companies, where a principal or senior manager already wears many hats in addition to IT manager or CIO. It’s about delegating to a trustworthy expert. The task might be something as basic as troubleshooting a computer issue, applying security patches, or mapping a printer. The task might also be more complex, such as right-sizing the printer fleet of a mid-sized office in order to place devices centrally to the optimal number of users, or configuring productivity application suites (like Office 365) for different departments according to their teams’ unique requirements. Our support model is scaled to handle the needs of very large companies across the country, yet smaller companies can enjoy the same depth of coverage and support infrastructure as a company with 10,000 personnel. We charge a unique cost per page for our managed print services, which entitles customers to unlimited service. They only pay for what they print and receive regular expert consultation. We have a fixed-fee offering for unlimited managed IT service, which means that we are incentivized to maximize performance and availability for each customer without charging trip fees or hourly billing.

In what ways can you come alongside local professionals to help achieve office efficiency and/or increase productivity?

There are several common situations where you might want to consult us to achieve measurable productivity and efficiency gains. One common event is the pending renewal of copier leases or retirement of aging printers and multi-function devices. Another would be an upgrade or refresh of your network servers, endpoint PCs, and laptops, or the deployment of Office 365 to your workforce.

It’s sad enough that a quarter of Americans say that work is their number one source of stress in life. We can’t control our boss, co-workers, clients/customers, or even things like the copy machine breaking down unexpectedly, but we can do our part to keep our space clean and tidy, and make sure that we have the best support system in place!

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402.991.9200

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

MOTHER’S DAY

It’s that time of year to start thinking about how we want to celebrate the moms in our lives this Mother’s Day—Sunday, May 12. There are many ways to show our appreciation and love for our mothers, but quality time is always best. Make sure you are accompanying flowers, chocolates, and/or jewelry with a little one-on-one time with Mom, whether that be a phone conversation or taking her to dinner. If you’re having a hard time thinking of some special ways to make your mom feel like the queen she is this Mother’s Day, here is some advice from local business owners and representatives in Omaha.

“Every woman deserves to be pampered every now and then, and moms especially!” exclaimed Tammy Longacre, a massage therapist at Creative Hair Design. We were very excited to talk to the experts at Creative Hair Design because they are known for being very well trained and knowledgeable about all things beauty, health, and

relaxation. “With a hair and nail salon on the first floor and an extensive spa on the second floor, we consider it our privilege to provide quality services to the Omaha community,” Tammy shared. “Whether you visit us for a simple cut and color, or a full day at the spa, you will be treated like a part of our ‘CHD’ family.”

For Mother’s Day, Tammy suggests their massage services. Massage therapy is an investment in your full creative expression, Tammy Longacre productivity, and sustained good health.

Creative Hair Design Doesn’t that sound like a good gift for Mom? “Therapeutic touch can change your world in many positive

GIVE THE GIFT OF RELAXATION THIS MOTHER’S DAY

PAMPER YOUR MOM WITH SPA SERVICES INCLUDING PEDICURES, FACIAL S, MASSAGES, AND MANICURES.

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12025 PACIFIC STREET 402-330-5660 CREATIVEHAIRDESIGN.COM

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ways,” Tammy said. “At Creative Hair Design, we offer a Full Body Massage, which will give the body restoration and relaxation.

It begins with a complimentary steam and shower, followed by a 55-minute massage of the head, neck, shoulders, back, and front and back of legs and arms. Our clients also love our Hot Stone Massage, during which the therapist strategically places and massages the body with heated basalt stones, leaving a deep penetrating heat to relax the mind and soul. This 85-minute massage is great for people with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and poor circulation, as well as the regular spa client.”

“That’s right, The Omaha Bakery is pleased to announce that we are now offering KETO baked goods on a daily basis,” Michelle Kaiser, owner of The Omaha Bakery announced. Don’t worry if you’re used to Chef Kaiser’s World Famous Cinnamon Rolls.

Those aren’t going anywhere! Kaiser, who recently dedicated herself to the KETO lifestyle several months ago, wanted to help others in the Omaha area who were practicing a KETO lifestyle but wanted to live normally, too. Everyone wants a sweet from time to time. By providing KETO options, The Omaha Bakery is actually expanding their customer base.

Being a mom is stressful! For our mom readers out there, don’t forget that it is totally acceptable to get yourself a gift this Mother’s Day. A massage is a perfect way to treat yourself to some well deserved R&R.

So, what is a KETO diet? You may or may not be familiar with the terms Ketogenic Diet or Ketosis; both are fairly new terms that are gaining in popularity. “It’s hard to pick up a magazine or scroll through Instagram without being inundated with KETO news or recipes,” Michelle noted. “The Ketogenic Diet is a high-fat, moderate protein, low carbohydrate diet. The KETO diet forces the body to burn stored fat for energy compared to a typical standard American diet where you’re burning glucose.”

In addition to body massages, Creative Hair Design also offers exfoliation treatments. Their Salt Glow treatment will make your mom feel new and refreshed. “The Salt Glow is great for women (and men!) to transform dull, dry skin into skin that’s soft and smooth,” Tammy told us. “It begins with a brisk invigorating dry brushing of the skin followed by a specially formulated exfoliation scrub, concluded with a nice steam and shower that makes our clients feel like new!”

For those soon-to-be and new mothers, Creative Hair Design has therapists who are certified in pregnancy and postpartum massage. “Pregnancy can cause women to experience back pain, joint pain, poor circulation, and headaches,” Tammy informed us. “Pregnancy massages are designed to help with all of these.

This 55-minute treatment helps to relieve stress, relax displaced muscles, and help reduce edema. It’s important to note that massage during pregnancy differs from a regular massage.

The anatomy of a pregnant woman requires specific positioning during the massage, which is critical to the safety and well-being of both the mother and the baby she is carrying. There are also parts of the body that should not be massaged.”

To work some one-on-one time with Mom into your gift, you may choose to make a spa day of it and get your toes and nails done together! Pedicures are the perfect chance for some uninterrupted time with Mom—sitting side by side in Creative Hair Design’s etched glass private room while enjoying the ultimate relaxation experience. Your feet will enjoy a therapeutic soak followed by an exfoliating treatment to remove any dead, dry skin. After nails and cuticles are groomed, you will experience a de-stressing massage from your knees to your toes. A nourishing mask will follow to soften your skin.

“At Creative Hair Salon, we cater to your special needs and wants,” added Tammy. “If you’re looking to spoil your mom this Mother’s Day, I highly recommend selecting one of our spa packages so your mom can enjoy our massage and nail services, along with all the other hair and beauty treatments we offer!

Our Premiere Package will treat your mom to a heavenly sixhours filled with an aromatherapy steam and shower, a full body massage, facial, spa lunch, pedicure, manicure, hot paraffin hand or foot treatment, and hairstyle and makeup application. We also offer the Necessary Package, designed for those busy moms who are always on the go. This package is for four hours and includes a facial, spa lunch, pedicure, manicure, and hairstyle and makeup application...covering all the bases with one fabulous swoop!”

Another great Mother’s Day gift is some beautifully-boxed goodies from The Omaha Bakery, especially if your mom is on a health kick! If you’re thinking that last sentence didn’t make sense—Baked goodies? A box-full? Healthy? What?— it’s because you haven’t heard that The Michelle Kaiser Omaha Bakery is now KETO friendly.

The Omaha Bakery #PrintProudDigitalSmart

Chef Kaiser has been practicing this diet for several months and has lost almost 70 lbs since July, is off of medicine, and has a new lease on life! If that sounds like something your mom would want, why not take this Mother’s Day to introduce her to KETO and start by trying some of The Omaha Bakery’s KETO treats.

Michelle highlighted their macaroons, fruit pies, and little cakes, which can all be customized and ordered ahead of time so you can pick it up from the bakery before surprising your mom with it.

If you’re looking for a full-on meal to enjoy with your mom, we know a place. How does an all-you-can-eat buffet sound? Garden Café is having their Mother’s Day Buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The local diner only does these grand all-you-can-eat buffets on holidays, so don’t miss out on this special treat! They will have brunch and lunch items, along with a soup and salad bar and a dessert bar. Prepare your heart and tummy for all the feel-good classics, like honey baked ham, mash potatoes, cheesy au gratin potatoes, green beans, biscuits and gravy, eggs, stratta, quiche, fresh fruit, garden potato breakfast casserole, and so much more.

The cost of the buffet is $14.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids.

This cost includes a drink as well!

Garden Café has been an Omaha tradition since 1985. Along with everything available for guests at the restaurant, Garden Café also has a full-service bakery at your service. Well-known for producing delicacies that are just as pretty on the table as they are delicious to eat, their amazing cakes and pies are a local favorite. You can also arrange to pick up party trays or place a carry-out order for a meal that’s ready to serve, and there’s even the option of home delivery if your mom doesn’t feel like leaving the house. Service areas include Omaha, Chalco, Ralston, La Vista, Millard, and Elkhorn, NE and Council Bluffs, IA. Mother’s Day is a time to treat our moms with the perfect gift or a gathering of family and loved ones, wherever that may be. If you are thinking of the perfect way to show a mother how much you appreciate her and value the role she plays in your life, truly nothing beats quality time. Garden Café, located at 11040 Oak St. in Rockbrook Village, offers the perfect laid back atmosphere for some one-on-one time. Moms will love the eclectic, old-fashioned vibe at Garden Café. When you’re sitting with mom, take that chance to ask her questions and update her on everything going on in your life. You may not think she wants to hear it all, but she does. Even the little things are a big deal to our moms.

We hope you enjoyed reading a few of our ideas for Mother’s Day gifts and some ways to spend quality time with the mom in your life! We are just so lucky to live in a community with so many amazing businesses and individuals who are constantly working hard to make Omaha the best place to call home...just like our mothers do for us.

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Summer Auto Care Last month, Nebraska endured what has ironically been described as its “fifth season,” with the temperatures seeming to switch from summer to winter from week to week. As the temperatures are finally becoming consistently warm, the season for summer road trips is right around the bend! No complaints here. However, even though the snow is gone (knock on wood), there are still seasonal car problems created by the intense summer heat that can be just as threatening as the winter. We asked Omaha auto experts for their perspective on how to keep you and your car safe when the sun is making you feel like you are baking.

Specializing in diesel performance and big rigs, DPC Unlimited’s owner Cody Simons has loved cars and trucks since childhood. We asked Cody about the problems extreme heat can create for diesel drivers. “Overheating your engine for one,” Cody began. “There are several possible causes of an overheated engine, but one cause that is easier to fix is to keep the cooling fins of the radiator clean and clear of bugs and debris. Using a pressure washer or compressed air if it’s not bad will blow all the junk out, but the best thing is to make sure all the fluids are filled to the proper level and the cooling fans are functioning correctly. “ In addition to caring for their vehicle, Cody also hopes truckers take care of themselves during the sweltering heat on the road. “Long-time truckers can get a tan on just their left side from exposure to the sun. If you don’t like sunscreen, a shirt with sleeves or a hat can keep the sun off you. Stay hydrated and look out for summer vacationers on the road. The highway gets busier during this time of year,” he added.

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In addition to providing performance Cody Simons parts and tuning to improve diesel DPC Unlimited performance, DPC Unlimited also offers custom items to make a truck look good for the long summer drives. “We specialize in all chrome or truck accessory needs, and we offer the diesel performance parts and tuning required for big rigs and light-duty pickups to perform their best on the road and off,” Cody said.

DPC Unlimited has a variety of products available at their shop, including visors. A properly built semi truck sun visor will keep the sun out of your direct line of vision and can deflect torrential rain to help your view during storms. DPC’s selection includes a wide variety of sizes and styles so you can find the exact one you need for your 18-wheeler.

In addition, DPC carries Cold Air Intakes, which will deliver more air to your engine, turning into efficiency, both in terms of fuel economy, as well as power. Without proper airflow, you end up having excessive fuel in the cylinders, causing heat, possibly even smoke.

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There are more thing to consider when it comes to auto care year-round than one would expect. Plus, different cars require different care. This is why we think it’s important to talk to as many professionals as possible.

Dingman’s Collision Center has been a family-owned business in Omaha since 1997. Currently the director of marketing and human resources, Darcie Dingman has gained 22 years of experience, growing up around cars and learning Darcie Dingman the automotive-related do’s and don’ts Dingman’s Collision Center #PrintProudDigitalSmart

to keep a vehicle reliable and running smooth. With all that knowledge, we were eager to hear what Darcie had to say about auto care, specifically in these hot spring-summer months.

Darcie explained that one of the best things you can do during the spring when the snow is finally gone is to ensure that your car is protected from long-term rust damage.

“In Nebraska, our spring is somewhat winter, so one thing as far as auto body care goes is to make sure you get a good wash and maybe a good hand wax to get all that salt off and prevent rust. It’s really important to get into those door jams and wheel wells because those are often the hard spots to hit. It’s a little more than what the eye sees on just the outside of the vehicle.”

As a mother, Darcie is also keenly aware of safety for hot summer temperatures. “Parking in the shade or using a reflective surface can keep your car from turning into an oven. You can also keep the windows open just a crack. Of course, never leave children or pets unattended in a car, because the trapped heat can reach deadly temperatures, but it always helps to have your car as cool as possible when you come back to it.”

Summer can also put additional stress on your air conditioning system. “Air conditioning systems tend to fail when you need them most, not when it’s a perfect day outside. A blown fuse or a problem with the air conditioner’s motor are common causes,” Darcie pointed out.

Vehicles are constantly changing. The amount of technology in vehicles is incredible, and because of all the technology, repairs have changed as well. It is important to find a shop that has ongoing training, as well as access to all vehicle manufacturer repair procedures.

“In addition to specializing in collision repair, we’ve also expanded into mechanical repair in recent years,” Darcie informed us. “We are proud of our reputation for auto body repair and our complete auto repair can help retain the value of your vehicle.”

It is Dingman’s commitment to ensure that all damage is repaired according to manufacturer specifications so that the safety is put back into the vehicle. Dingman’s Collision Center wants to be your choice for auto body repair.

In addition to an uncomfortable interior, extreme heat can also increase the danger of a tire blowout. A tire’s pressure is affected by heat. During the winter, you might have noticed you needed to fill your tires more often because the cold was decreasing your tire’s PSI. For the summer it’s the opposite. Use a tire pressure gauge to determine if your tires have become overinflated. Touch your tires to see if they feel noticeably hot. Apart from replacing worn tires, one of the best things you can do is stay within the speed limit on the highway. You don’t want your tires over inflated or under inflated, so you want to check your tire pressure in a place with moderate temperature, like a cool garage, to find the actual tire pressure there.

We went on to hear even more about this and other safety concerns for drivers during the summer from Mark Griger. As the owner of Fleetmark Solutions, Mark strives to provide trustworthy service, specializing in commercial vehicle repair.

Mark also stressed the danger of tire blowouts, informing us that May to October is known as “blowout season” because so many underinflated tires blowout from the heat. “Although blowouts Mark Griger due to underinflated tires can happen Fleetmark Solutions any time of year, it’s the combination of heat and underinflation that makes tires especially prone to mishap during summer,” said Mark. #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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He touched on another important reminder as well: “For the summer, one of the most important things people forget to check is their coolant,” Mark noted. “The coolant gradually gets mixed with rust and contaminants as it’s used. If the coolant isn’t periodically drained and replaced, it will corrode the system, and if your engine overheats, it can leave you stranded. Both extreme cold and extreme heat is what puts pressure on your coolant system, so it tends to fail on the worst day possible for it to fail.”

For families making long road trips during the summer, Mark offered some practical advice: “Have a map. If your GPS device dies on you (phones are known to run out of battery life faster when exposed to high temperatures), you don’t want to be clueless about where you are. If you do a lot of highway driving, there can be long stretches without a gas station. Fill up frequently.

No one wants to take a long walk to the gas station you passed by earlier with the sun beating on you. Apart from practical things like that, having a mechanic you trust is the most important advice I can give.”

A summer trip can turn from a rewarding, once-in-a-lifetime experience to a disaster leaving you stranded on the highway if your car isn’t taken care of. Invest in a tire pressure gauge, a spare tire, and the tools to change a flat or blown tire, and have more than one means of contact if you get stranded.

Not only should you stay hydrated and out of the sun to beat high temperatures, your car is also affected by the heat and a trip to a trustworthy mechanic should be a must before any long road trips.

Whether you are someone who is a car buff or someone who isn’t sure how to change your oil, don’t take a summer road trip without preparing for the extreme heat and keep your car protected from weather-related trouble.

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BUILDING/FINANCING YOUR DREAM HOME In the 19th century Sermons Preached at Brighton by Anglican Minister Frederick William Robertson, was written about home. In more or less words, he noted that we as people do not need an elaborate explanation to understand the idea of “home.” He goes as far to say that “Home is the place where we tear off that mask of guarded suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense...a happy home is the single spot of rest which a man has upon this earth...” So, if a home is such a place as Robertson describes it, there is no wonder why we all have a dream of what we want in our home—not just decor items to make it look how we want it to look, but also a strong foundation, reliable structure, dependable fixtures, etc. Home is where we should feel comfortable and safe.

Some new couples go the starter home or the rent-to-own route, while others choose apartment living to save for the future, but for growing families, the dream of owning a home is closely connected to their dream of having a secure place where children have the space to live and grow. Older individuals and empty nesters may choose a home based on where they want to spend their retirement years. When choosing between an older home and building a new house, there are several factors which can affect your finances and the efficiency and safety of your new home.

First, consider the financial side of building a new home. Is it any different from purchasing an existing home? For answers, we reached out to Matt Gutschenritter, mortgage lending officer for Cornhusker Bank, who is experienced with both the process of financing the purchase of a new home and the options available. Describing the overall process, Matt said that obtaining financing to build a new home is not much different than obtaining financing for an existing home. “Basically, at the end of the construction, all parties involved, including the borrower, the builder, the realtors, the bank, etc., will want to have the peace of mind that new owners have their long-term financing in place and ready to go,” Matt explained. “The process starts with getting pre-approved for their longterm financing. Once we have that in place, Making your dream it’s a matter of having the discussion with the Matt Gutschenritter builder to determine who will be taking out home a reality Cornhusker Bank the financing for the new construction and putting together a contract. If the builder takes out the construction loan, then we work with the buyer in getting them approved for a purchase transaction once the house is completed. If the buyer/ borrower takes out the construction loan, we work with them during the construction process and get them prepared to have their longterm financing set up as soon as their house is built. Upon completion of the construction, we would set up their long-term financing and pay off their construction loan.”

For a buyer, affording the construction process on a new home may limit their options, so knowing some fundamental distinctions between old and new homes is invaluable. “There are benefits to both building a new home as well as buying an established one,” Matt continued. “The most obvious advantage to building is that you are assured to get the features and floor plan that you want. However, when it comes to building, you may not be able to build in a neighborhood that is close to the area of town that you want to be in based on location near schools, work, shopping, friends and family, etc.”

Austin Toney

Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS# 606161 atoney@anbank.com 402.939.5339

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For costs, Matt points out that despite the initial costs of new construction, owners of new homes can save on repairs and insurance.

“As far as costs go, it can be more expensive to build than to buy, but not always,” he said. “The initial costs to get into a new construction may be higher, but chances are there should be minimal expenses when it comes to repairs, decorating, and general upkeep. With an existing home, there will likely be the need for replacing the roof, windows, utilities, etc. With a newly built home, everything is #PrintProudDigitalSmart

built to current code, and therefore should be less expensive to heat and cool. Most people do not realize that Homeowners Insurance is typically less expensive on a newly built home as well.”

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While mortgage rates continue to favor buyers, most experts expect rates to rise in the future. “Mortgage rates continue to be at or near record lows,” Matt informed us. “It seems most of the talk around the industry is that the Fed may soon be increasing the Federal Prime Interest rate, but Federal Prime Interest rate is not directly linked to mortgage rates, increases in both usually coincide.”

A common mistake Matt believes buyers make is focusing so much on the initial costs, that they forget to secure a good deal for their long-term payments. “Do not get overburdened with the construction loan itself,” Matt advises. “The bigger financial impact will come with the long term financing. Look for a lender that has your best interests at hand for the long term.”

To help ease clients concerned about future interest rate increases, Matt encourages buyers to ask about interest rate locks, which go into effect prior to a new homes’ completion. “As far as resources go, usually we take out an interest rate ‘lock’ around 60 days prior to the completion of a newly constructed home,” Matt told us. “However, with the threat of rates going higher in the near future, if someone is losing sleep over these interest rates, at Cornhusker Bank we offer a six-month ‘lock’ program to help eliminate this issue.”

Matt encourages potential buyers to visit Cornhusker Bank in person or online for information on mortgage loan applications or prequalifications. “The online application has worked well for many customers and their busy schedules,” assured Matt. “It is streamlined and therefore eliminates a lot of the questions, based on the answers given, that the regular paper application presents.”

Because of the expenses of building a new home, many families will require expertise to finance the building of their dream home, assuming nothing on the market meets their expectations. Why buy a new home if an existing home is already available? For a perspective on the risks and advantages of building a new home, we spoke to Austin Toney, mortgage loan originator for American National Bank (ANB). Austin is responsible for advising people considering their financial options when building a new Austin Toney home. He sees the benefits for many buyers, American National Bank but also has to advise them on how to maintain their finances to avoid biting off more than they can chew.

“The benefits for building a new home are simple. You can customize the home the way you want, have brand new carpet/flooring, appliances, etc. and you will be the original owners of the home,” Austin said. “This is right for many buyers as they simply want to tailor the home to their unique tastes and have something that is brand new.” Despite these advantages, because of the costs of building a new home, Austin councils buyers to take a close look at the housing market. Sometimes, an existing home might offer exactly what someone is looking for. “Deciding whether to build or buy existing is a family decision and should be evaluated carefully. Buyers have a difficult time finding what they are looking for on the existing market which is why they end up building, but sometimes patience is important to see if you can find the right property without having to build. Consider having a timeline on when you need to move. This will help determine if you should buy existing versus building new.”

One of the greatest demands in the market is for small starter homes under $200,000. “We simply do not have enough homes on the market to keep up with the demand from first-time home-buyers and other buyers in this price range,” Austin informed us. “Plus, the cost of new construction makes it unfeasible to build a new home for less than $200,000.” As a result, buyers seeking a small starter home often have to wait for an opportune seller to come along.

Furthermore, the housing market is gradually becoming less of a #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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buyers’ market. Austin explained that, although interest rates on homes are expected to start rising, they are currently lower than the historic norm. “We have been in such a low-interest rate environment for the past 10 years. Many buyers have become accustomed to seeing 30-year fixed interest rates in the 3’s, when historically an interest rate less than 8% was considered good. Interest rates are still extremely favorable for first-time home-buyers, as well as those buyers looking to get the move-up house. We have seen a drop in the 10-Year Treasury Note, which has caused rates to edge lower as of late, so if you are looking to buy I couldn’t think of a better time as rates still remain historically low. The economy is doing well with unemployment levels at their lowest levels since 1969. This is great for our country and should mean we have an influx of new buyers as more Americans are employed than we have had in a very long time.”

For those convinced that a new home is the best option for their future, Austin recommends not walking in blind. “Building a new home is very exciting, but can also be overwhelming,” counseled Austin. “When building a home, it is important to do your homework, including checking with your loan officer on financing options, how much money will you put down, and how much you want your monthly payment to be.”

A concern that Austin warns people to consider is their tax requirements: “As lenders, we often see buyers build a new house and then become overwhelmed by the tax burden on the property after the home is fully assessed by the county. When you build a home, you’ll have a lot of upfront costs in taxes. It’s always a good idea to review the tax levy percentage, and calculate what your future taxes will look like.”

Managing debt and a good credit score is critical to avoid paying more than necessary for a home. As Austin explained, “building a new home is an exciting process, but mistakes can be made while the construction of the home is happening. A few common mistakes I’ve MAY 2019 Strictly Business

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seen clients make include taking on new debt, which can affect their ability to qualify for the permanent financing upon completion, as well as increasing credit card balances, which can inadvertently have a negative impact on credit scores and, therefore, possibly cause an increase in the interest rate at the end. My best advice is to put off big purchases and taking on any new debt while building a home.”

Austin also believes it is wise to plan for delays during the construction process of a new house. “My rule of thumb is to add 60 days to whatever the builder anticipates for a completion date. We live in an area of the country that can experience unexpected weather situations causing delays throughout the construction process. This is not the builders’ fault, but we suggest clients allow some cushion in the projected completion date for the unexpected.” Practically speaking, delays in construction will affect when a family can move into their new home, which is another reason why every buyer should consider a timeline for when they need to move.

Austin noted that your different financing options will be affected by the lender you choose. “Some offer construction loans to build the house while others do not. Most lenders offer an extended rate lock program to protect the interest rate during a rising rate environment. However, doing an extended rate lock may be more costly. Another financial option would be to consider saving the money for an extended rate lock to buy down the rate when you’re ready to close on the permanent financing.”

Suppose that, in order to afford a new home, you need to sell your current home in a short window of time? Austin explained how certain financing options can apply someone’s equity in an old home towards their new home: “Building a new home takes time and, depending on if you elect to do an extended rate lock or not, can affect how much your monthly payment ends up being. If you have a property that needs to be sold to qualify, this can be challenging depending on what time of year you need to sell. Many clients will inquire about bridge loan financing so they can use their current equity

out of the home for the down payment on the new residence. This is acceptable if they can qualify with all the loans included in their obligations: the departure 1st mortgage, the bridge loan associated to the departure residence, and the mortgage for the new home.”

Building a new home is not a light decision. Austin thinks that, while buyers may have difficulty finding what they are looking for in the existing market, a careful buyer might be able to find their perfect home on the existing market with patience. “This will help determine if you should buy existing versus building new,” he adds.

For the difficult task of navigating different financing options and ensuring that your debt and credit score are optimal, Austin is proud of the options he can offer his clients. “American National Bank is a one-stop shop. We can provide everything from construction financing to permanent financing for your new home build. We pride ourselves on being a top five lender in the Omaha metropolitan area and providing first-class service to our customers,” concludes Austin.

Austin Toney can be contacted by phone at (402) 939-5339 or via email at atoney@anbank.com.

New homes are typically more energy efficient than older homes, having been built with newer building materials, better insulation, and state of the art technology.

Energy costs should be lower in a new construction versus a resale property.

Newly built homes are just that—new—and that has definite advantages. Roxanne Bobolz, mortgage loan originator for US Bank Home Mortgage, agrees that a new home will require fewer repairs and less maintenance, which can save money Roxanne Bobolz and time. “The buyer gets to select and US Bank Home Mortgage customize the home to their wishes,” Roxanne confirmed. “An advantage of building new is that you pay for only

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– Conventional, jumbo, FHA and VA loans – Mortgage options for physicians – Financing available for a wide price range of homes – Construction, lot loans and renovations to existing home Roxanne Bobolz Mortgage Loan Officer 1700 Farnam Street Omaha, NE 68102 Direct: 402.536.5102 Cell: 712.204.1224 roxanne.bobolz@usbank.com NMLS #: 488994

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what you want, whereas an existing home may have features you will pay a premium for even if you don’t want those features. Building a house can give you a level of satisfaction that you can’t achieve through buying an existing home. You have a home you created that matches your style and personality.”

When we asked Roxanna what the factors are that should be taken into consideration when deciding whether to build vs. buy, she said that the biggest drawbacks to building a home tend to be the higher costs and longer timeframe before moving in. “Both can increase during the home-building process,” noted Roxanna. “The typical homebuyer goes 15–20% over cost. As the project moves along, they decide to make changes and those changes add up to additional cost. Know you have the funds available to make those changes. To save both time and money, be sure to maintain open communication lines with your builder and make sure you are happy with the design and specs BEFORE the build begins. Also, remember that building, on average, is a 9- to 12-month process. If you do not have the luxury of time, then buying an existing home is the best route for you. Like I said, there is a higher risk of facing costly maintenance issues in an existing home, but talk with an experienced real estate agent.

They can help you decide whether building a house or purchasing an existing home will suit your needs. Rates are still at historically low rates and US Bank offers an extended rate lock program for new construction. The internet provides endless ideas for planning your dream home. Tour open houses. Connect with a reputable builder, realtor, and lender!”

When purchasing a new home, whether building from the ground up or shopping existing options, electric, heating, air conditioning (HVAC), and plumbing systems can all affect your monthly utility bills.

These are the bones of the house that you want to have confidence so that your home is comfortable and safe. Depending on location, some homes may require special services. We spoke to professionals in three fields about these special considerations: electricity, HVAC, septic tank systems, and plumbing.

can cost owners more every day of the year. “Probably one of the most important factors that gets overlooked is the duct work and making sure that there is a significant amount of return air flow back to the HVAC system so that it can run efficiently,” Gunnar addressed. “It gets the air pressure at a proper air flow throughout the house.”

When building a new house, Getzschman works closely with the construction crew to make recommendations for the HVAC system.

Gunnar Guenette “When we do work on new construction, one Getzschman Heating of our partners, Ron Getzschman, works with & Air Conditioning the designer to work through the design for the HVAC system in advance, based on the blueprints,” Gunnar explained. “We’ll write in our recommendations so that it meets specs.

We will do a load calibration. You start with the square footage of the house and you take into consideration doors and windows. You want to take into account negative pressure so you won’t feel like there is a vacuum in your home every time you open a door.”

One of the key advantages of a modern HVAC system is the improvements in overall efficiency. “The problem for the older duct work systems is the ratings were lower at that time,” said Gunnar.

“So, with current systems, those older duct systems are no longer sufficient. We would commonly add to their duct work. First, the equipment rating is significantly different in how it runs. Now, most of the equipment that is being put in is about 96% efficiency rating.

Ten years ago that would have been 80% efficiency. That is the amount of coolness or heat that is lost and not captured in the home.

So if the furnace generates 100% pure heat, 20% would be lost in older homes. Airflow is a big factor of this. A lot of people think of it like a refrigerator, but an HVAC system is more like a respiratory system. Imagine trying to put a really heavy cloth over your mouth and trying to breathe.”

ELECTRICITY After gaining over 10 years of experience as an electrician, Christopher Langer founded his own company, Langer Electric.

As he explained to, when constructing a new residence, electricians have to work closely with other professions. “If you don’t want your home’s construction to be delayed, it’s important to have all the materials and workers lined up on my end,” Chris advised.

“We communicate with the architects, the Christopher Langer HVAC team, all the other trades involved Langer Electric to move efficiently. Having a good working relationship with the inspector is important.

Safety is our priority and knowing what an individual inspector is looking for helps you work safely and smoothly.”

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Chris believes that one excellent option open for families building their dream home is improvements in artificial lighting which allow more cost-effective energy usage. “Incandescent lighting is simply outdated,” says Chris. “LED lights offer you a win-win scenario compared to older lights. Their lifespan is longer, they are significantly more efficient, they are so small they can be installed in places where old lighting would never fit, they are safer, and it’s possible to install dimmable LED lights. Don’t like blinding yourself by turning on a light in the dark? A dimmable light would let you flexibly adjust the light to just what you need, and it saves on your energy bill by not using 100% brightness when you don’t need it. I think a family designing their dream home could save around 90% on their energy bill by choosing LED,” Chris shared.

HVAC An HVAC system includes both heating in the winter and the cooling in the summer. As marketing manager for Getzschman Heating & Air Conditioning, Gunnar Guenette is aware of how inefficient systems #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Air filtration has also improved in recent years. “We usually go with a filter that’s 4” thick. They used to use 1” or more. If it’s thin and dense, it’s actually harder to allow air through there. Because the 4” filter is less dense, you are getting more filtration with less resistance. You are getting cleaner air and getting less resistance for the furnace.”

To help ensure ongoing energy efficiency, the Getzschman team offer G-Force Membership to all their customers, which includes regular checks on HVAC systems to ensure that airflow and efficiency meet specifications and correct inefficient systems.

SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS Because many new homes have to be built outside of the center of town, many buyers of new homes in rural and suburban areas may have to consider whether they need a septic tank system. In the event of buying an existing home, this is something that should be inspected prior to purchase to avoid costly repairs or replacements for the new owner. As the office manager for Midland Pumping, Aimee Hoffman understands Aimee Hoffman the hidden costs that can surprise home Midland Pumping buyers who aren’t diligent. “We highly recommend considering a certified septic inspection done on any property that has a septic system. This is done separately from the home inspection. Some types of loans will require a septic inspection but most in the state of Nebraska do not, therefore it is up to the buyer to determine if they want to spend the money to do their research in this area. An inspection provides valuable information about the overall state and function of the system,” says Aimee. When inspecting a home with a septic system, Midland Pumping will combine local research with questions to help spot faulty systems. “When we provide inspection services, we work

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to obtain any information that might be on file with the local county or city departments regarding installation or repairs made to the system. We also encourage buyers to ask the sellers questions about how the system has been cared for overall—how often has it been pumped? Is there any history of back-ups or other concerns? Do they know what size it is? Though the cost of an inspection may seem like an unnecessary expense in the process of a home purchase, it can truly save a buyer thousands of dollars in the future if any concerns about the system can be detected prior to the sale,” she concludes.

PLUMBING Owned and operated by Omaha locals Brad and Lallenia Birge, Big Birge Plumbing will soon celebrate its 7th anniversary of business and the 2nd anniversary of their new commercial space. They also have brought on three new hires this past year, making it a total of 17 on their team!

When building a new home, especially Lallenia Birge your dream home, plumbing is often overlooked. Many homeowners and some Big Birge Plumbing contractors want it done the cheapest way possible without a questioning if the system itself matters. Yes, the kind of plumbing system and the way it’s installed for your new home REALLY matters. It is one of the most important areas of the home that needs to be done correctly, to code, and work performed with the highest craftsmanship. It is not an area one should overlook or find the “cheapest” plumber around. When something goes wrong in your plumbing system, it can cost a lot of money and cause a lot of damage. It’s always best to make sure it’s done right and spend the extra money to get real plumbers that are licensed and do good work versus just going with the lowest bid. Big Birge Pumbing gets calls every day from new homeowners who are out of their year warranty and have issues that wouldn’t be there if the job was done right and to the Omaha code to begin with.

“We mostly take on remodels for residential homes and commercial construction,” Lallenia Birge informed us. “For a new construction project, one of our project managers reviews the blueprints and plans ahead with all the other teams involved.” Lallenia keeps up with recent trends in home remodeling for families and seniors considering a new home or a remodel. “Because of the Americans with Disabilities Act, taller toilets have become more standard.

For people who are aging or empty nesters who plan to remain in their home until their older age, I think the taller models are better for safety, comfort, and accessibility.” For examples of new options for homeowners to consider, Lallenia pointed out that a lot of new bathroom and kitchen fixtures can save money and prevent accidental damage to a home: “There are also innovations which reduce water waste for families who want to be less wasteful with resources. Faucets that turn off automatically in case you forget to stop them could save you from flooding your bathroom or kitchen. Water heaters have also become much more reliable and efficient in the past decade.”

Buying a newly constructed home can involve some significant costs during the initial construction phase, but different financing options can make it a feasible option in the long run. Asking questions and involving professionals during the planning stages can identify potential problems for the home before they start, and guarantee the most efficient energy and plumbing costs over time.

Call 402-554-1110

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Strictly Business MAY 2019

When saving up for your dream home, don’t forget to seek professional advice to ensure your investment will prepare you for the long run. Remember, home is where we are able to truly be ourselves—build it right and take care of it and it will take care of you! #PrintProudDigitalSmart

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Grow More Good The non-profit organizations that make Omaha a great place to live deserve their day of recognition. Omaha Gives! is a one-day online fundraising event to show off the area’s spirit of giving, raise awareness about local nonprofits, and celebrate the collective effort it takes to make this city great.

www.kidschanceofne.org (402) 573-2175

www.fhasinc.org (402) 934-7921

www.goodwillomaha.org (402) 341-4609

www.hetra.org (402) 359-8830

www.Heart.org/Omaha (402) 810-6870

www.setmefreeproject.net (402) 521-3080

www.cancerallianceofnebraska.org (402) 991-8070

www.summerbashforccc.squarespace.com (402) 510-4083

www.friendshipprogram.com (402) 393-6911

www.jehfoundation.org (712) 396-6040

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www.encapnebraska.org (402) 453-5656

www.fitgirlinc.com (402) 830-8108

www.parkinsonsnebraska.org (402) 715-4707

www.crosstc.com (402) 590-2100

www.opendoormission.org (402) 422-1111

www.santamonicahouse.org (402) 558-7088

www.collectiveforyouth.org (402) 932-2025

www.yesomaha.org (402) 345-5187

www.heartlandfamilyservice.org (402) 552-7447

Go to OmahaGives.org and make a gift on May#PrintProudDigitalSmart 22nd.

Strictly Business MAY 2019